99901
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De Rosa L, Diana D, Di Stasi R, Romanelli A, Sciacca MFM, Milardi D, Isernia C, Fattorusso R, D'Andrea LD. Probing the helical stability in a VEGF-mimetic peptide. Bioorg Chem 2021; 116:105379. [PMID: 34563997 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of the forces governing helix formation and stability in peptides and proteins has attracted considerable interest in order to shed light on folding mechanism. We analyzed the role of hydrophobic interaction, steric hindrance and chain length on i, i + 3 position in QK peptide, a VEGF mimetic helical peptide. We focused on position 10 of QK, occupied by a leucine, as previous studies highlighted the key role of the Leu7-Leu10 interaction in modulating the helix formation and inducing an unusual thermodynamic stability. Leu10 has been replaced by hydrophobic amino acids with different side-chain length, hydrophobicity and steric hindrance. Ten peptides were, hence, synthesized and analyzed combining circular dichroism, calorimetry and NMR spectroscopy. We found that helical content and thermal stability of peptide QK changed when Leu10 was replaced. Interestingly, we observed that the changes in the helical content and thermal stability were not always correlated and they depend on the type of interaction (strength and geometry) that could be established between Leu7 and the residue in position 10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy
| | - Donatella Diana
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy
| | - Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessandra Romanelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Michele F M Sciacca
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Catania, Italy
| | - Danilo Milardi
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Catania, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Luca D D'Andrea
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy.
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99902
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Shams A, Higgins SA, Fellmann C, Laughlin TG, Oakes BL, Lew R, Kim S, Lukarska M, Arnold M, Staahl BT, Doudna JA, Savage DF. Comprehensive deletion landscape of CRISPR-Cas9 identifies minimal RNA-guided DNA-binding modules. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5664. [PMID: 34580310 PMCID: PMC8476515 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25992-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins evolve through the modular rearrangement of elements known as domains. Extant, multidomain proteins are hypothesized to be the result of domain accretion, but there has been limited experimental validation of this idea. Here, we introduce a technique for genetic minimization by iterative size-exclusion and recombination (MISER) for comprehensively making all possible deletions of a protein. Using MISER, we generate a deletion landscape for the CRISPR protein Cas9. We find that the catalytically-dead Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 can tolerate large single deletions in the REC2, REC3, HNH, and RuvC domains, while still functioning in vitro and in vivo, and that these deletions can be stacked together to engineer minimal, DNA-binding effector proteins. In total, our results demonstrate that extant proteins retain significant modularity from the accretion process and, as genetic size is a major limitation for viral delivery systems, establish a general technique to improve genome editing and gene therapy-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arik Shams
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Sean A Higgins
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Scribe Therapeutics, Alameda, CA, 94501, USA
| | - Christof Fellmann
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Thomas G Laughlin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Benjamin L Oakes
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Scribe Therapeutics, Alameda, CA, 94501, USA
| | - Rachel Lew
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Shin Kim
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Maria Lukarska
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Madeline Arnold
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Brett T Staahl
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Scribe Therapeutics, Alameda, CA, 94501, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Graduate Group in Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - David F Savage
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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99903
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Juárez-Hernández J, Castillo-Hernández D, Pérez-Parada C, Nava-Galicia S, Cuervo-Parra JA, Surian-Cruz E, Díaz-Godínez G, Sánchez C, Bibbins-Martínez M. Isolation of Fungi from a Textile Industry Effluent and the Screening of Their Potential to Degrade Industrial Dyes. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:805. [PMID: 34682227 PMCID: PMC8540792 DOI: 10.3390/jof7100805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Six fungal strains were isolated from the textile industry effluent in which they naturally occur. Subsequently, the fungal strains were identified and characterized in order to establish their potential decolorizing effect on textile industry effluents. The strains of interest were selected based on their capacity to decolorize azo, indigo, and anthraquinone dyes. Three of the strains were identified as Emmia latemarginata (MAP03, MAP04, and MAP05) and the other three as Mucor circinelloides (MAP01, MAP02, and MAP06), while the efficiency of their decolorization of the dyes was determined on agar plate and in liquid fermentation. All the strains co-metabolized the dyes of interest, generating different levels of dye decolorization. Plate screening for lignin-degrading enzymes showed that the MAP03, MAP04, and MAP05 strains were positive for laccase and the MAP01, MAP02, and MAP06 strains for tyrosinase, while all strains were positive for peroxidase. Based on its decolorization capacity, the Emmia latemarginata (MAP03) strain was selected for the further characterization of its growth kinetics and ligninolytic enzyme production in submerged fermentation under both enzyme induction conditions, involving the addition of Acetyl yellow G (AYG) dye or wheat straw extract, and no-induction condition. The induction conditions promoted a clear inductive effect in all of the ligninolytic enzymes analyzed. The highest level of induced enzyme production was observed with the AYG dye fermentation, corresponding to versatile peroxidase (VP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP). The present study can be considered the first analysis of the ligninolytic enzyme system of Emmia latemarginata in submerged fermentation under different conditions. Depending on the results of further research, the fungal strains analyzed in the present research may be candidates for further biotechnological research on the decontamination of industrial effluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juvenal Juárez-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Tepetitla de Lardizabal 90700, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Dalia Castillo-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Tepetitla de Lardizabal 90700, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Cristhian Pérez-Parada
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Tepetitla de Lardizabal 90700, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Soley Nava-Galicia
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Tepetitla de Lardizabal 90700, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Jaime Alioscha Cuervo-Parra
- Escuela Superior de Apan, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Apan-Calpulalpan, Chimalpa Tlalayote, Apan 43900, Hidalgo, Mexico
| | - Edy Surian-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Tepetitla de Lardizabal 90700, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Díaz-Godínez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Carmen Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Martha Bibbins-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Aplicada, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Tepetitla de Lardizabal 90700, Tlaxcala, Mexico
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99904
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Reyes RA, Clarke K, Gonzales SJ, Cantwell AM, Garza R, Catano G, Tragus RE, Patterson TF, Bol S, Bunnik EM. SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific memory B cells express markers of durable immunity after non-severe COVID-19 but not after severe disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.09.24.461732. [PMID: 34611662 PMCID: PMC8491845 DOI: 10.1101/2021.09.24.461732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits a robust B cell response, resulting in the generation of long-lived plasma cells and memory B cells. Here, we aimed to determine the effect of COVID-19 severity on the memory B cell response and characterize changes in the memory B cell compartment between recovery and five months post-symptom onset. Using high-parameter spectral flow cytometry, we analyzed the phenotype of memory B cells with reactivity against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein or the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) in recovered individuals who had been hospitalized with non-severe (n=8) or severe (n=5) COVID-19. One month after symptom onset, a substantial proportion of spike-specific IgG + B cells showed an activated phenotype. In individuals who experienced non-severe disease, spike-specific IgG + B cells showed increased expression of markers associated with durable B cell memory, including T-bet, FcRL5, and CD11c, which was not observed after severe disease. Five months post-symptom onset, the majority of spike-specific memory B cells had a resting phenotype and the percentage of spike-specific T-bet + IgG + memory B cells decreased to baseline levels. Collectively, our results suggest that the memory B cell response elicited during non-severe COVID-19 may be of higher quality than the response after severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael A. Reyes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kathleen Clarke
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - S. Jake Gonzales
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Angelene M. Cantwell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rolando Garza
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Gabriel Catano
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, University Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Robin E. Tragus
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, University Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Thomas F. Patterson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, University Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sebastiaan Bol
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Evelien M. Bunnik
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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99905
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Gamper H, Mao Y, Masuda I, McGuigan H, Blaha G, Wang Y, Xu S, Hou YM. Twice exploration of tRNA +1 frameshifting in an elongation cycle of protein synthesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10046-10060. [PMID: 34417618 PMCID: PMC8464047 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inducing tRNA +1 frameshifting to read a quadruplet codon has the potential to incorporate a non-natural amino acid into the polypeptide chain. While this strategy is being considered for genome expansion in biotechnology and bioengineering endeavors, a major limitation is a lack of understanding of where the shift occurs in an elongation cycle of protein synthesis. Here, we use the high-efficiency +1-frameshifting SufB2 tRNA, containing an extra nucleotide in the anticodon loop, to address this question. Physical and kinetic measurements of the ribosome reading frame of SufB2 identify twice exploration of +1 frameshifting in one elongation cycle, with the major fraction making the shift during translocation from the aminoacyl-tRNA binding (A) site to the peptidyl-tRNA binding (P) site and the remaining fraction making the shift within the P site upon occupancy of the A site in the +1-frame. We demonstrate that the twice exploration of +1 frameshifting occurs during active protein synthesis and that each exploration is consistent with ribosomal conformational dynamics that permits changes of the reading frame. This work indicates that the ribosome itself is a determinant of changes of the reading frame and reveals a mechanistic parallel of +1 frameshifting with –1 frameshifting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard Gamper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Yujia Mao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Isao Masuda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Henri McGuigan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Gregor Blaha
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Yuhong Wang
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Shoujun Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Ya-Ming Hou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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99906
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Newkirk SJ, An W. UHRF1: a jack of all trades, and a master epigenetic regulator during spermatogenesis. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:1147-1152. [PMID: 32101289 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Newkirk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Wenfeng An
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
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99907
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Yan L, Zhang Y, Cai G, Qing Y, Song J, Wang H, Tan X, Liu C, Yang M, Fang Z, Lai X. Genome assembly of primitive cultivated potato Solanum stenotomum provides insights into potato evolution. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6330624. [PMID: 34568923 PMCID: PMC8496330 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Genetic diversity is the raw material for germplasm enhancement. Landraces and wild species relatives of potato, which contain a rich gene pool of valuable agronomic traits, can provide insights into the genetic diversity behind the adaptability of the common potato. The diploid plant, Solanum stenotomum (Sst), is believed to have an ancestral relationship with modern potato cultivars and be a potential source of resistance against disease. Sequencing of the Sst genome generated an assembly of 852.85 Mb (N50 scaffold size, 3.7 Mb). Pseudomolecule construction anchored 788.75 Mb of the assembly onto 12 pseudochromosomes, with an anchor rate of 92.4%. Genome annotation yielded 41,914 high-confidence protein-coding gene models and comparative analyses with closely related Solanaceae species identified 358 Sst-specific gene families, 885 gene families with expansion along the Sst lineage, and 149 genes experiencing accelerated rates of protein sequence evolution in Sst, the functions of which were mainly associated with defense responses, particularly against bacterial and fungal infection. Insights into the Sst genome and the genomic variation of cultivated potato taxa are valuable in elaborating the impact of potato evolution in early landrace diploid and facilitate modern potato breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Yan
- Panxi Crops Research and Utilization Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Xichang University, Sichuan 615000, China
| | - Yizheng Zhang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Guangze Cai
- Panxi Crops Research and Utilization Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Xichang University, Sichuan 615000, China
| | - Yuan Qing
- Panxi Crops Research and Utilization Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Xichang University, Sichuan 615000, China
| | - Jiling Song
- National Potato Improvement Center, Keshan Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Heilongjiang 161600, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Xuemei Tan
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Chunsheng Liu
- National Potato Improvement Center, Keshan Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Heilongjiang 161600, China
| | - Mengping Yang
- National Potato Improvement Center, Keshan Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Heilongjiang 161600, China
| | - Zhirong Fang
- Panxi Crops Research and Utilization Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Xichang University, Sichuan 615000, China
| | - Xianjun Lai
- Panxi Crops Research and Utilization Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Xichang University, Sichuan 615000, China
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99908
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Huang YW, Sun CI, Hu CC, Tsai CH, Meng M, Lin NS, Hsu YH. NbPsbO1 Interacts Specifically with the Bamboo Mosaic Virus (BaMV) Subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) Promoter and Is Required for Efficient BaMV sgRNA Transcription. J Virol 2021; 95:e0083121. [PMID: 34379502 PMCID: PMC8475527 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00831-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many positive-strand (+) RNA viruses produce subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) in the infection cycle through the combined activities of viral replicase and host proteins. However, knowledge about host proteins involved in direct sgRNA promoter recognition is limited. Here, in the partially purified replicase complexes from Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV)-infected tissue, we have identified the Nicotiana benthamiana photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex protein, NbPsbO1, which specifically interacted with the promoter of sgRNA but not that of genomic RNA (gRNA). Silencing of NbPsbO1 expression suppressed BaMV accumulation in N. benthamiana protoplasts without affecting viral gRNA replication. Overexpression of wild-type NbPsbO1 stimulated BaMV sgRNA accumulation. Fluorescent microscopy examination revealed that the fluorescence associated with NbPsbO1 was redistributed from chloroplast granal thylakoids to stroma in BaMV-infected cells. Overexpression of a mislocalized mutant of NbPsbO1, dTPPsbO1-T7, inhibited BaMV RNA accumulation in N. benthamiana, whereas overexpression of an NbPsbO1 derivative, sPsbO1-T7, designed to be targeted to chloroplast stroma, upregulated the sgRNA level. Furthermore, depletion of NbPsbO1 in BaMV RdRp preparation significantly inhibited sgRNA synthesis in vitro but exerted no effect on (+) or (-) gRNA synthesis, which indicates that NbPsbO1 is required for efficient sgRNA synthesis. These results reveal a novel role for NbPsbO1 in the selective enhancement of BaMV sgRNA transcription, most likely via direct interaction with the sgRNA promoter. IMPORTANCE Production of subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) for efficient translation of downstream viral proteins is one of the major strategies adapted for viruses that contain a multicistronic RNA genome. Both viral genomic RNA (gRNA) replication and sgRNA transcription rely on the combined activities of viral replicase and host proteins, which recognize promoter regions for the initiation of RNA synthesis. However, compared to the cis-acting elements involved in the regulation of sgRNA synthesis, the host factors involved in sgRNA promoter recognition mostly remain to be elucidated. Here, we found a chloroplast protein, NbPsbO1, which specifically interacts with Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) sgRNA promoter. We showed that NbPsbO1 is relocated to the BaMV replication site in BaMV-infected cells and demonstrated that NbPsbO1 is required for efficient BaMV sgRNA transcription but exerts no effect on gRNA replication. This study provides a new insight into the regulating mechanism of viral gRNA and sgRNA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wen Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hisng University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chu I Sun
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hisng University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chung Chi Hu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hisng University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ching Hsiu Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hisng University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Menghsiao Meng
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hisng University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Na Sheng Lin
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yau Heiu Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hisng University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
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99909
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Bandera AM, Bartho J, Lammens K, Drexler DJ, Kleinschwärzer J, Hopfner KP, Witte G. BusR senses bipartite DNA binding motifs by a unique molecular ruler architecture. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10166-10177. [PMID: 34432045 PMCID: PMC8517857 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyclic dinucleotide second messenger c-di-AMP is a major player in regulation of potassium homeostasis and osmolyte transport in a variety of bacteria. Along with various direct interactions with proteins such as potassium channels, the second messenger also specifically binds to transcription factors, thereby altering the processes in the cell on the transcriptional level. We here describe the structural and biochemical characterization of BusR from the human pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae. BusR is a member of a yet structurally uncharacterized subfamily of the GntR family of transcription factors that downregulates transcription of the genes for the BusA (OpuA) glycine-betaine transporter upon c-di-AMP binding. We report crystal structures of full-length BusR, its apo and c-di-AMP bound effector domain, as well as cryo-EM structures of BusR bound to its operator DNA. Our structural data, supported by biochemical and biophysical data, reveal that BusR utilizes a unique domain assembly with a tetrameric coiled-coil in between the binding platforms, serving as a molecular ruler to specifically recognize a 22 bp separated bipartite binding motif. Binding of c-di-AMP to BusR induces a shift in equilibrium from an inactivated towards an activated state that allows BusR to bind the target DNA, leading to transcriptional repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian M Bandera
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Joseph Bartho
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Katja Lammens
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - David Jan Drexler
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Jasmin Kleinschwärzer
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Karl-Peter Hopfner
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Gregor Witte
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, D-81377 München, Germany
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99910
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Shrestha LB, Tedla N, Bull RA. Broadly-Neutralizing Antibodies Against Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Front Immunol 2021; 12:752003. [PMID: 34646276 PMCID: PMC8502962 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.752003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants have become a major concern in the containment of current pandemic. The variants, including B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P1 (Gamma) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) have shown reduced sensitivity to monoclonal antibodies, plasma and/or sera obtained from convalescent patients and vaccinated individuals. Development of potent therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with broad neutralizing breadth have become a priority for alleviating the devastating effects of this pandemic. Here, we review some of the most promising broadly neutralizing antibodies obtained from plasma of patients that recovered from early variants of SARS-CoV-2 that may be effective against emerging new variants of the virus. This review summarizes several mAbs, that have been discovered to cross-neutralize across Sarbecoviruses and SARS-CoV-2 escape mutants. Understanding the characteristics that confer this broad and cross-neutralization functions of these mAbs would inform on the development of therapeutic antibodies and guide the discovery of second-generation vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lok Bahadur Shrestha
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicodemus Tedla
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rowena A. Bull
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Kirby Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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99911
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Zhang L. Interaction of Human β Defensin Type 3 (hBD-3) with Different PIP2-Containing Membranes, a Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4670-4686. [PMID: 34473496 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Human β defensin type 3 (hBD-3) is a cysteine-rich small antibacterial peptide. It belongs to the human innate immune system. hBD-3 has six cysteine residues, which form three pairs of disulfide bonds, and those bonds break in the reducing condition. It is known that hBD-3 can interact with bacterial membrane, and even eukaryotic cell membrane, which has a low concentration of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) lipids. PIP2 is a vital component in cell membranes and has been found to play important roles during antimicrobial peptide (AMP) interaction with membranes. To understand the functional mechanism of hBD-3 interacting with PIP2-containing membranes, the binding structures of hBD-3 on 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayers mixed with 10% of PIP2 were predicted using two kinds of methods. The first one is by placing the hBD-3 monomer in different orientations above the POPC + 10%PIP2 membrane to set up five different initial simulation systems and performing long-term simulations on each to predict the most stable binding structure. It was found that hBD-3 analogue binds on the mixed lipid membrane on the two loop regions. The second method is by running long-term simulations on one or nine hBD-3 dimers binding on POPC mixed with 10%PIP2 lipid bilayer starting from the solid-state NMR (ssNMR)-suggested orientation. The dimer dissociated, and the most stable binding of hBD-3 in wild-type on the mixed membrane is also through the two loop regions, which agrees with the prediction from both the first method and the lipid self-assembly result. The PIP2 lipids can form long-lasting hydrogen bonds with positively charged residues such as Arg and Lys on hBD-3, thus forming clusters with hBD-3. As a comparison, hBD-3 dimers binding with a combined bilayer having 1,2-palmitoyl-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine (POPS) on the upper and POPC on the lower leaflets and the combined POPS + POPC bilayer mixing with 10%PIP2 were also studied. The long-term simulation result shows that hBD-3 can bind with the heads of negatively charged POPS and PIP2 lipids and form hydrogen bonds. The stable binding sites of hBD-3 on PIP2 or POPS mixed bilayers are still on the two loop regions. On the combined POPS + POPC mixed with 10%PIP2 bilayer, the binding of hBD-3 with PIP2 lipids became less stable and fewer because of the competition of binding with the POPS lipids. Besides that, binding with hBD-3 can decrease the membrane thickness of the POPC + PIP2, POPS + POPC, and POPS + POPC + PIP2 bilayers and make POPS and PIP2 lipids more flexible based on the order parameter calculations. Our results supply molecular insight on AMP binding with different membranes and can help understand the functional mechanism of hBD-3 disrupting PIP2-containing membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee 38505, United States
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99912
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Jørgensen E, Bjarnsholt T, Jacobsen S. Biofilm and Equine Limb Wounds. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2825. [PMID: 34679846 PMCID: PMC8532864 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In chronic wounds in humans, biofilm formation and wound chronicity are linked, as biofilms contribute to chronic inflammation and delayed healing. Biofilms are aggregates of bacteria, and living as biofilms is the default mode of bacterial life; within these aggregates, the bacteria are protected from both antimicrobial substances and the immune response of the host. In horses, delayed healing is more commonly seen in limb wounds than body wounds. Chronic inflammation and hypoxia are the main characteristics of delayed wound healing in equine limbs, and biofilms might also contribute to this healing pattern in horses. However, biofilm formation in equine wounds has been studied to a very limited degree. Biofilms have been detected in equine traumatic wounds, and recent experimental models have shown that biofilms protract the healing of equine limb wounds. Detection of biofilms within wounds necessitates advanced techniques that are not available in routine diagnostic yet. However, infections with biofilm should be suspected in equine limb wounds not healing as expected, as they are in human wounds. Treatment should be based on repeated debridement and application of topical antimicrobial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Jørgensen
- Costerton Biofilm Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Thomas Bjarnsholt
- Costerton Biofilm Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine Jacobsen
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark;
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99913
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Abstract
Sirtuin1 is a nutrient-sensitive class III histone deacetylase which is a well-known regulator of organismal lifespan. It has been extensively studied for its role in metabolic regulation as well. Along with its involvement in ageing and metabolism, Sirtuin1 directly deacetylates many critical proteins controlling cardiovascular pathophysiology. Studies using conditional expression and deletion of Sirtuin1 have revealed that it functions in a highly tissue/organ-specific manner. In the vasculature, Sirtuin1 controls endothelial homoeostasis by governing the expression of inflammatory mediators, oxidants and essential transcription factors. Adding to this complexity, Sirtuin1 expression and/or function is also governed by some of these target proteins. Therefore, the importance of better understanding the organ and tissue specificity of Sirtuin1 is highly desirable. Considering the huge volume of research done in this field, this review focuses on Sirtuin1 targets regulating vascular endothelial function. Here, we summarize the discovery of Sirtuin1 as a transcription controller and the further identification of direct target proteins involved in the vascular physiology. Overall, this review presents a holistic picture of the complex cross-talk involved in the molecular regulation of vascular physiology by Sirtuin1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitendra Kumar
- François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Santosh Kumar
- François M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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99914
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Özpolat BD, Randel N, Williams EA, Bezares-Calderón LA, Andreatta G, Balavoine G, Bertucci PY, Ferrier DEK, Gambi MC, Gazave E, Handberg-Thorsager M, Hardege J, Hird C, Hsieh YW, Hui J, Mutemi KN, Schneider SQ, Simakov O, Vergara HM, Vervoort M, Jékely G, Tessmar-Raible K, Raible F, Arendt D. The Nereid on the rise: Platynereis as a model system. EvoDevo 2021; 12:10. [PMID: 34579780 PMCID: PMC8477482 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-021-00180-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Nereid Platynereis dumerilii (Audouin and Milne Edwards (Annales des Sciences Naturelles 1:195-269, 1833) is a marine annelid that belongs to the Nereididae, a family of errant polychaete worms. The Nereid shows a pelago-benthic life cycle: as a general characteristic for the superphylum of Lophotrochozoa/Spiralia, it has spirally cleaving embryos developing into swimming trochophore larvae. The larvae then metamorphose into benthic worms living in self-spun tubes on macroalgae. Platynereis is used as a model for genetics, regeneration, reproduction biology, development, evolution, chronobiology, neurobiology, ecology, ecotoxicology, and most recently also for connectomics and single-cell genomics. Research on the Nereid started with studies on eye development and spiralian embryogenesis in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Transitioning into the molecular era, Platynereis research focused on posterior growth and regeneration, neuroendocrinology, circadian and lunar cycles, fertilization, and oocyte maturation. Other work covered segmentation, photoreceptors and other sensory cells, nephridia, and population dynamics. Most recently, the unique advantages of the Nereid young worm for whole-body volume electron microscopy and single-cell sequencing became apparent, enabling the tracing of all neurons in its rope-ladder-like central nervous system, and the construction of multimodal cellular atlases. Here, we provide an overview of current topics and methodologies for P. dumerilii, with the aim of stimulating further interest into our unique model and expanding the active and vibrant Platynereis community.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Duygu Özpolat
- Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
| | - Nadine Randel
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK
| | - Elizabeth A. Williams
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Gabriele Andreatta
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9/4, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Guillaume Balavoine
- Institut Jacques Monod, University of Paris/CNRS, 15 rue Hélène Brion, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Paola Y. Bertucci
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Developmental Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David E. K. Ferrier
- Gatty Marine Laboratory, The Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB UK
| | | | - Eve Gazave
- Institut Jacques Monod, University of Paris/CNRS, 15 rue Hélène Brion, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Mette Handberg-Thorsager
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Hardege
- Department of Biological & Marine Sciences, Hull University, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU67RX UK
| | - Cameron Hird
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Yu-Wen Hsieh
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jerome Hui
- School of Life Sciences, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kevin Nzumbi Mutemi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Developmental Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Q. Schneider
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 11529 Taiwan
| | - Oleg Simakov
- Department for Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hernando M. Vergara
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, Howland Street 25, London, W1T 4JG UK
| | - Michel Vervoort
- Institut Jacques Monod, University of Paris/CNRS, 15 rue Hélène Brion, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Gáspár Jékely
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Florian Raible
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9/4, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Detlev Arendt
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Developmental Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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99915
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Ternary Copper Complex of L-Glutamine and Phenanthroline as Counterions of Cyclo-Tetravanadate Anion: Experimental–Theoretical Characterization and Potential Antineoplastic Activity. METALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/met11101541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, therapeutic metallodrugs have become substantially effective in the treatment of cancer. Thus, developing new effective anticancer drugs is a significant research area against the continuing increase in cancers worldwide. In the search for heterobimetallic prodrugs containing V/Cu, a new cyclo-tetravanadate was synthesized and characterized by UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopies and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. L-Glutamine and 1,10-phenanthroline allow the crystallization of [Cu(L-Gln)(phen)(H2O)]4[V4O12]∙8(H2O) (1), in which the cyclo-tetravanadate acts as a free anion. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to characterize the frontier molecular orbitals and molecular electrostatic potential. Global reactivity indexes were calculated and analyzed to give insight into the cyclo-tetravanadate anion and complex counterions interactions. Also, using Bader’s theory of atoms in molecules (AIM), non-covalent interactions were analyzed. Docking analysis with the Casiopeina-like complex resulting from the hydrolysis of compound 1 provided insights into these complex potential anticancer activities by interacting with DNA/tRNA via H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The release of both components could act together or separately, acting as prodrugs with potential dual antineoplastic activities.
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99916
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Genetic variations and epigenetic modulations in CYP genes: Implications in NSAID-treatment of arthritis patients. THE NUCLEUS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13237-021-00373-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
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99917
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Popenda M, Zok T, Sarzynska J, Korpeta A, Adamiak R, Antczak M, Szachniuk M. Entanglements of structure elements revealed in RNA 3D models. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9625-9632. [PMID: 34432024 PMCID: PMC8464073 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Computational methods to predict RNA 3D structure have more and more practical applications in molecular biology and medicine. Therefore, it is crucial to intensify efforts to improve the accuracy and quality of predicted three-dimensional structures. A significant role in this is played by the RNA-Puzzles initiative that collects, evaluates, and shares RNAs built computationally within currently nearly 30 challenges. RNA-Puzzles datasets, subjected to multi-criteria analysis, allow revealing the strengths and weaknesses of computer prediction methods. Here, we study the issue of entangled RNA fragments in the predicted RNA 3D structure models. By entanglement, we mean an arrangement of two structural elements such that one of them passes through the other. We propose the classification of entanglements driven by their topology and components. It distinguishes two general classes, interlaces and lassos, and subclasses characterized by element types-loops, dinucleotide steps, open single-stranded fragments-and puncture multiplicity. Our computational pipeline for entanglement detection, applied for 1,017 non-redundant models from RNA-Puzzles, has shown the frequency of different entanglements and allowed identifying 138 structures with intersected assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz Popenda
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Zok
- Institute of Computing Science & European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Sarzynska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Korpeta
- Institute of Computing Science & European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Ryszard W Adamiak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science & European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Antczak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science & European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Szachniuk
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science & European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
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99918
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Rymut SM, Sukumaran S, Sperinde G, Bremer M, Galanter J, Yoshida K, Smith J, Banerjee P, Sverkos V, Cai F, Steffen V, Henderson LM, Rhee H, Belloni PN, Lin JH, Staton TL. Dose-dependent inactivation of airway tryptase with a novel dissociating anti-tryptase antibody (MTPS9579A) in healthy participants: A randomized trial. Clin Transl Sci 2021; 15:451-463. [PMID: 34581002 PMCID: PMC8841439 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptase is the most abundant secretory granule protein in human lung mast cells and plays an important role in asthma pathogenesis. MTPS9579A is a novel monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits tryptase activity by dissociating active tetramers into inactive monomers. The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PKs), and systemic and airway pharmacodynamics (PDs) of MTPS9579A were assessed in healthy participants. In this phase I single‐center, randomized, observer‐blinded, and placebo‐controlled study, single and multiple ascending doses of MTPS9579A were administered subcutaneously (s.c.) or intravenously (i.v.) in healthy participants. In addition to monitoring safety and tolerability, the concentrations of MTPS9579A, total tryptase, and active tryptase were quantified. This study included 106 healthy participants (82 on active treatment). Overall, MTPS9579A was well‐tolerated with no serious or severe adverse events. Serum MTPS9579A showed a dose‐proportional increase in maximum serum concentration (Cmax) values at high doses, and a nonlinear increase in area under the curve (AUC) values at low concentrations consistent with target‐mediated clearance were observed. Rapid and dose‐dependent reduction in nasosorption active tryptase was observed postdose, confirming activity and the PK/PD relationship of MTPS9579A in the airway. A novel biomarker assay was used to demonstrate for the first time that an investigative antibody therapeutic (MTPS9579A) can inhibit tryptase activity in the upper airway. A favorable safety and tolerability profile supports further assessment of MTPS9579A in asthma. Understanding the exposure‐response relationships using the novel PD biomarker will help inform clinical development, such as dose selection or defining patient subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon M Rymut
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Siddharth Sukumaran
- Department of Preclinical and Translational PKPD, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Gizette Sperinde
- Department of BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Meire Bremer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Metabolism, Neurology, and Immunology Biomarker Development (OMNI-BD), Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joshua Galanter
- Department of Safety Science, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kenta Yoshida
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jordan Smith
- Department of Biostatistics, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Prajna Banerjee
- Oncology Biomarker Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Viyia Sverkos
- Department of BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Fang Cai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Metabolism, Neurology, and Immunology Biomarker Development (OMNI-BD), Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Verena Steffen
- Department of Biostatistics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lindsay M Henderson
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Horace Rhee
- Early Clinical Development, Ophthalmology, Metabolism, Neurology, and Immunology (OMNI), Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Paula N Belloni
- Early Clinical Development, Ophthalmology, Metabolism, Neurology, and Immunology (OMNI), Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joseph H Lin
- Early Clinical Development, Ophthalmology, Metabolism, Neurology, and Immunology (OMNI), Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Tracy L Staton
- Department of Ophthalmology, Metabolism, Neurology, and Immunology Biomarker Development (OMNI-BD), Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
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99919
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Yubero P, Poyatos JF. Dissecting the Fitness Costs of Complex Mutations. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:4520-4531. [PMID: 34175930 PMCID: PMC8476139 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The fitness cost of complex pleiotropic mutations is generally difficult to assess. On the one hand, it is necessary to identify which molecular properties are directly altered by the mutation. On the other, this alteration modifies the activity of many genetic targets with uncertain consequences. Here, we examine the possibility of addressing these challenges by identifying unique predictors of these costs. To this aim, we consider mutations in the RNA polymerase (RNAP) in Escherichia coli as a model of complex mutations. Changes in RNAP modify the global program of transcriptional regulation, with many consequences. Among others is the difficulty to decouple the direct effect of the mutation from the response of the whole system to such mutation. A problem that we solve quantitatively with data of a set of constitutive genes, those on which the global program acts most directly. We provide a statistical framework that incorporates the direct effects and other molecular variables linked to this program as predictors, which leads to the identification that some genes are more suitable to determine costs than others. Therefore, we not only identified which molecular properties best anticipate fitness, but we also present the paradoxical result that, despite pleiotropy, specific genes serve as more solid predictors. These results have connotations for the understanding of the architecture of robustness in biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Yubero
- Logic of Genomic Systems Laboratory, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan F Poyatos
- Logic of Genomic Systems Laboratory, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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99920
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Havranek B, Chan KK, Wu A, Procko E, Islam SM. Computationally Designed ACE2 Decoy Receptor Binds SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) Protein with Tight Nanomolar Affinity. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4656-4669. [PMID: 34427448 PMCID: PMC8409145 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Even with the availability of vaccines, therapeutic options for COVID-19 still remain highly desirable, especially in hospitalized patients with moderate or severe disease. Soluble ACE2 (sACE2) is a promising therapeutic candidate that neutralizes SARS CoV-2 infection by acting as a decoy. Using computational mutagenesis, we designed a number of sACE2 derivatives carrying three to four mutations. The top-predicted sACE2 decoy based on the in silico mutagenesis scan was subjected to molecular dynamics and free-energy calculations for further validation. After illuminating the mechanism of increased binding for our designed sACE2 derivative, the design was verified experimentally by flow cytometry and BLI-binding experiments. The computationally designed sACE2 decoy (ACE2-FFWF) bound the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 tightly with low nanomolar affinity and ninefold affinity enhancement over the wild type. Furthermore, cell surface expression was slightly greater than wild-type ACE2, suggesting that the design is well-folded and stable. Having an arsenal of high-affinity sACE2 derivatives will help to buffer against the emergence of SARS CoV-2 variants. Here, we show that computational methods have become sufficiently accurate for the design of therapeutics for current and future viral pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Havranek
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United
States
| | - Kui K. Chan
- Orthogonal Biologics Inc.,
Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Austin Wu
- Department of Computer Science,
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208,
United States
| | - Erik Procko
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Center at
Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801,
United States
| | - Shahidul M. Islam
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United
States
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99921
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Wang J, Liang YP, Zhu JD, Wang YX, Yang MY, Yan HR, Lv QY, Cheng K, Zhao X, Zhang X. Phototropin 1 Mediates High-Intensity Blue Light-Induced Chloroplast Accumulation Response in a Root Phototropism 2-Dependent Manner in Arabidopsis phot2 Mutant Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:704618. [PMID: 34646282 PMCID: PMC8502927 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.704618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Phototropins, namely, phototropin 1 (phot1) and phototropin 2 (phot2), mediate chloroplast movement to maximize photosynthetic efficiency and prevent photodamage in plants. Phot1 primarily functions in chloroplast accumulation process, whereas phot2 mediates both chloroplast avoidance and accumulation responses. The avoidance response of phot2-mediated chloroplasts under high-intensity blue light (HBL) limited the understanding of the function of phot1 in the chloroplast accumulation process at the HBL condition. In this study, we showed that the phot2 mutant exhibits a chloroplast accumulation response under HBL, which is defective when the root phototropism 2 (RPT2) gene is mutated in the phot2 background, mimicking the phenotype of the phot1 phot2 double mutant. A further analysis revealed that the expression of RPT2 was induced by HBL and the overexpression of RPT2 could partially enhance the chloroplast accumulation response under HBL. These results confirmed that RPT2 also participates in regulating the phot1-mediated chloroplast accumulation response under HBL. In contrast, RPT2 functions redundantly with neural retina leucine zipper (NRL) protein for chloroplast movement 1 (NCH1) under low-light irradiation. In addition, no chloroplast accumulation response was detected in the phot2 jac1 double mutant under HBL, which has been previously observed in phot2 rpt2 and phot1 phot2 double mutants. Taken together, our results indicated that phot1 mediates the HBL-induced chloroplast accumulation response in an RPT2-dependent manner and is also regulated by j-domain protein required for chloroplast accumulation response 1 (JAC1).
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99922
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Veldman W, Liberato MV, Souza VP, Almeida VM, Marana SR, Tastan Bishop Ö, Polikarpov I. Differences in Gluco and Galacto Substrate-Binding Interactions in a Dual 6Pβ-Glucosidase/6Pβ-Galactosidase Glycoside Hydrolase 1 Enzyme from Bacillus licheniformis. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4554-4570. [PMID: 34423980 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial glycoside hydrolase 1 (GH1) enzymes with 6-phospho-β-galactosidase and 6-phospho-β-glucosidase activities have the important task of releasing phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated monosaccharides into the cytoplasm. Curiously, dual 6-phospho-β-galactosidase/6-phospho-β-glucosidase (dual-phospho) enzymes have broad specificity and are able to hydrolyze galacto- and gluco-derived substrates. This study investigates the structure and substrate specificity of a GH family 1 enzyme from Bacillus licheniformis, hereafter known as BlBglC. The enzyme structure has been solved, and sequence analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy calculations offered evidence of dual-phospho activity. Both test ligands p-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactoside-6-phosphate (PNP6Pgal) and p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucoside-6-phosphate (PNP6Pglc) demonstrated strong binding to BlBglC although the pose and interactions of the PNP6Pglc triplicates were slightly more consistent. Interestingly, known specificity-inducing residues, Gln23 and Trp433, bind strongly to the ligand O3 hydroxyl group in the PNP6Pgal-BlBglC complex and to the ligand O4 hydroxyl group in the PNP6Pglc-BlBglC complex. Additionally, the BlBglC-His124 residue is a major contributor of hydrogen bonds to the PNP6Pgal O3 hydroxyl group but does not form any hydrogen bonds with PNP6Pglc. On the other hand, BlBglC residues Tyr173, Tyr301, Gln302, and Thr321 form hydrogen bonds with PNP6Pglc but not PNP6Pgal. These findings provide important details of the broad specificity of dual-phospho activity GH1 enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayde Veldman
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
| | | | - Valquiria P Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Vitor M Almeida
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Sandro R Marana
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Özlem Tastan Bishop
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
| | - Igor Polikarpov
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
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99923
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Gao Y, Suding Z, Wang L, Liu D, Su S, Xu J, Hu J, Tao J. Full-length transcriptome analysis and identification of transcript structures in Eimeria necatrix from different developmental stages by single-molecule real-time sequencing. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:502. [PMID: 34579769 PMCID: PMC8474931 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05015-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Eimeria necatrix is one of the most pathogenic parasites, causing high mortality in chickens. Although its genome sequence has been published, the sequences and complete structures of its mRNA transcripts remain unclear, limiting exploration of novel biomarkers, drug targets and genetic functions in E. necatrix. Methods Second-generation merozoites (MZ-2) of E. necatrix were collected using Percoll density gradients, and high-quality RNA was extracted from them. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing and Illumina sequencing were combined to generate the transcripts of MZ-2. Combined with the SMRT sequencing data of sporozoites (SZ) collected in our previous study, the transcriptome and transcript structures of E. necatrix were studied. Results SMRT sequencing yielded 21,923 consensus isoforms in MZ-2. A total of 17,151 novel isoforms of known genes and 3918 isoforms of novel genes were successfully identified. We also identified 2752 (SZ) and 3255 (MZ-2) alternative splicing (AS) events, 1705 (SZ) and 1874 (MZ-2) genes with alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites, 4019 (SZ) and 2588 (MZ-2) fusion transcripts, 159 (SZ) and 84 (MZ-2) putative transcription factors (TFs) and 3581 (SZ) and 2039 (MZ-2) long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). To validate fusion transcripts, reverse transcription-PCR was performed on 16 candidates, with an accuracy reaching up to 87.5%. Sanger sequencing of the PCR products further confirmed the authenticity of chimeric transcripts. Comparative analysis of transcript structures revealed a total of 3710 consensus isoforms, 815 AS events, 1139 genes with APA sites, 20 putative TFs and 352 lncRNAs in both SZ and MZ-2. Conclusions We obtained many long-read isoforms in E. necatrix SZ and MZ-2, from which a series of lncRNAs, AS events, APA events and fusion transcripts were identified. Information on TFs will improve understanding of transcriptional regulation, and fusion event data will greatly improve draft versions of gene models in E. necatrix. This information offers insights into the mechanisms governing the development of E. necatrix and will aid in the development of novel strategies for coccidiosis control. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05015-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Zeyang Suding
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Lele Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Shijie Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Jinjun Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Junjie Hu
- Biology Department, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jianping Tao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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99924
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Marcos-Torres FJ, Maurer D, Juniar L, Griese JJ. The bacterial iron sensor IdeR recognizes its DNA targets by indirect readout. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10120-10135. [PMID: 34417623 PMCID: PMC8464063 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The iron-dependent regulator IdeR is the main transcriptional regulator controlling iron homeostasis genes in Actinobacteria, including species from the Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium and Streptomyces genera, as well as the erythromycin-producing bacterium Saccharopolyspora erythraea. Despite being a well-studied transcription factor since the identification of the Diphtheria toxin repressor DtxR three decades ago, the details of how IdeR proteins recognize their highly conserved 19-bp DNA target remain to be elucidated. IdeR makes few direct contacts with DNA bases in its target sequence, and we show here that these contacts are not required for target recognition. The results of our structural and mutational studies support a model wherein IdeR mainly uses an indirect readout mechanism, identifying its targets via the sequence-dependent DNA backbone structure rather than through specific contacts with the DNA bases. Furthermore, we show that IdeR efficiently recognizes a shorter palindromic sequence corresponding to a half binding site as compared to the full 19-bp target previously reported, expanding the number of potential target genes controlled by IdeR proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dirk Maurer
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linda Juniar
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Julia J Griese
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
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99925
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Genomic and phenotypic comparison of two Salmonella Typhimurium strains responsible for consecutive salmonellosis outbreaks in New Zealand. Int J Med Microbiol 2021; 311:151534. [PMID: 34564018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2021.151534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT160 was the predominant cause of notified human salmonellosis cases in New Zealand from 2000 to 2010, before it was superseded by another S. Typhimurium strain, DT56 variant (DT56v). Whole genome sequencing and phenotypic testing were used to compare 109 DT160 isolates with eight DT56v isolates from New Zealand animal and human sources. Phylogenetic analysis provided evidence that DT160 and DT56v strains were distantly related with an estimated date of common ancestor between 1769 and 1821. The strains replicated at different rates but had similar antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Both strains were resistant to the phage expressed from the chromosome of the other strain, which may have contributed to the emergence of DT56v. DT160 contained the pSLT virulence plasmid, and the sseJ and sseK2 genes that may have contributed to the higher reported prevalence compared to DT56v. A linear pBSSB1-family plasmid was also found in one of the DT56v isolates, but there was no evidence that this plasmid affected bacterial replication or antimicrobial susceptibility. One of the DT56v isolates was also sequenced using long-read technology and found to contain an uncommon chromosome arrangement for a Typhimurium isolate. This study demonstrates how comparative genomics and phenotypic testing can help identify strain-specific elements and factors that may have influenced the emergence and supersession of bacterial strains of public health importance.
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99926
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Stopp M, Steinmetz PA, Unden G. Properties of transmembrane helix TM1 of the DcuS sensor kinase of Escherichia coli, the stator for TM2 piston signaling. Biol Chem 2021; 402:1239-1246. [PMID: 34355547 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The sensor kinase DcuS of Escherichia coli perceives extracellular fumarate by a periplasmic PASP sensor domain. Transmembrane (TM) helix TM2, present as TM2-TM2' homo-dimer, transmits fumarate activation in a piston-slide across the membrane. The second TM helix of DcuS, TM1, is known to lack piston movement. Structural and functional properties of TM1 were analyzed. Oxidative Cys-crosslinking (CL) revealed homo-dimerization of TM1 over the complete membrane, but only the central part showed α-helical +3/+4 spacing of the CL maxima. The GALLEX bacterial two-hybrid system indicates TM1/TM1' interaction, and the presence of a TM1-TM1' homo-dimer is suggested. The peripheral TM1 regions presented CL in a spacing atypical for α-helical arrangement. On the periplasmic side the deviation extended over 11 AA residues (V32-S42) between the α-helical part of TM1 and the onset of PASP. In the V32-S42 region, CL efficiency decreased in the presence of fumarate. Therefore, TM1 exists as a homo-dimer with α-helical arrangement in the central membrane region, and non-α-helical arrangement in the connector to PASP. The fumarate induced structural response in the V32-S42 region is suggested to represent a structural adaptation to the shift of TM2 in the TM1-TM1'/TM2-TM2' four-helical bundle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Stopp
- Microbiology and Wine Research, Institute for Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, BZ II, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Philipp A Steinmetz
- Microbiology and Wine Research, Institute for Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, BZ II, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Gottfried Unden
- Microbiology and Wine Research, Institute for Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, BZ II, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
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99927
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Rasmussen M, Jin JP. Troponin Variants as Markers of Skeletal Muscle Health and Diseases. Front Physiol 2021; 12:747214. [PMID: 34733179 PMCID: PMC8559874 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.747214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ca2 +-regulated contractility is a key determinant of the quality of muscles. The sarcomeric myofilament proteins are essential players in the contraction of striated muscles. The troponin complex in the actin thin filaments plays a central role in the Ca2+-regulation of muscle contraction and relaxation. Among the three subunits of troponin, the Ca2+-binding subunit troponin C (TnC) is a member of the calmodulin super family whereas troponin I (TnI, the inhibitory subunit) and troponin T (TnT, the tropomyosin-binding and thin filament anchoring subunit) are striated muscle-specific regulatory proteins. Muscle type-specific isoforms of troponin subunits are expressed in fast and slow twitch fibers and are regulated during development and aging, and in adaptation to exercise or disuse. TnT also evolved with various alternative splice forms as an added capacity of muscle functional diversity. Mutations of troponin subunits cause myopathies. Owing to their physiological and pathological importance, troponin variants can be used as specific markers to define muscle quality. In this focused review, we will explore the use of troponin variants as markers for the fiber contents, developmental and differentiation states, contractile functions, and physiological or pathophysiological adaptations of skeletal muscle. As protein structure defines function, profile of troponin variants illustrates how changes at the myofilament level confer functional qualities at the fiber level. Moreover, understanding of the role of troponin modifications and mutants in determining muscle contractility in age-related decline of muscle function and in myopathies informs an approach to improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Rasmussen
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jian-Ping Jin
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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99928
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The Implication Inferred from the Expression of Small Heat-Shock Protein Genes in Dinoflagellate Resting Cysts Buried in Marine Sediment. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13100471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Dinoflagellates are unicellular eukaryotic microalgae, occupying pivotal niches in aquatic ecosystems with great ecological, biological, and economic significance. Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are the most omnipresent, but the least conserved, family of molecular chaperones found in all domains of life. Although their common name (small Hsp) implies to exclusively stress their heat shock-responsive function, many sHsps in fact engage in a variety of physiological processes, from cell growth and proliferation to embryogenesis, development, differentiation, apoptosis, and even to human disease prevention. Recent years have greatly expanded our understanding of sHsps in higher plants; however, comprehensive study aiming to delineate the composition and expression pattern of dinoflagellate sHsp gene family has not yet been performed. In this study, we constructed dinoflagellate-specific environmental cDNA library from marine sediment and sequenced using the third-generation sequencing technique. Screening of sHsp genes from the library returned 13 entries with complete coding regions, which were considered to be transcriptionally activated in the natural community of dinoflagellate resting cysts. All the 13 dinoflagellate sHsps consisted of a solely characteristic α-crystallin domain, covering 88–123 amino acid residues with the typical A-X-X-X-N-G-V-L motif, flanked by variable N- and C-terminal extensions. Multiple alignment revealed considerable amino acid divergence (~26.7% average similarity) among them. An unexpected close relationship was revealed between dinoflagellate and green algal sHsps in the phylogenetic tree, seemingly reflecting a close evolutionary relationship of these sHsps themselves. We confirmed that sHsp mRNAs are expressed during dormancy of the resting cyst assemblages of dinoflagellates that were buried in marine sediment, which raised the possibility that the sHsp expression is part of the machinery of maintaining the dormancy or/and the adaptation to ambient conditions of dinoflagellate resting cysts. Our results, although preliminary, gained an important glance on the universal presence of sHsps in dinoflagellates and their active expressions in the assemblage of resting cysts that were buried in the marine sediment. The essentiality of sHsps functioning in resting cysts necessitate more intensive and extensive investigations on all possible functions of Hsps in dinoflagellates, a group of protists with vital ecological and biological importance.
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99929
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The Effect of Cyclosporine A on Proteins Controlling Intracellular Calcium Concentration in Breast Cancer Cells. J Membr Biol 2021; 255:33-39. [PMID: 34580765 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-021-00201-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Cyclosporine A (CsA) is an immunosuppressive drug commonly used to prevent autoimmune diseases. At the same time, CsA is a calcineurin (CaN) inhibitor. It affects the intracellular calcium signaling pathway. The effect of CsA on breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, plasma membrane calcium pump 1 (PMCA1), calmodulin (CaM), calcineurin (CaN), and cMyc, which are proteins that affect calcium signaling, were investigated. CsA inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells but did not affect the migration of the cells. After 24 h of incubation, CsA suppressed the PMCA1 protein, which pumps intracellular calcium out of the cell. At the same time, calcium started to accumulate inside the cell and CaM protein was expressed, while PMCA1 was suppressed. The CaN protein was suppressed 72 h after the administration of CsA, but the cMyc protein was expressed. Interestingly, 24 h incubation when the PMCA1 protein is down-regulated after the duration of time, the cMyc protein is also down-regulated. Although the indirect effect of CaN and cMyc is known, this relationship between PMCA1 and cMyc was not known. As a result, it has been shown that CsA affects the PMCA pump by disrupting the intracellular calcium pathway in breast cancer cells.
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99930
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Brüning JG, Marians KJ. Bypass of complex co-directional replication-transcription collisions by replisome skipping. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9870-9885. [PMID: 34469567 PMCID: PMC8464059 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Collisions between the replisome and RNA polymerases [RNAP(s)] are the main obstacle to DNA replication. These collisions can occur either head-on or co-directionally with respect to the direction of translocation of both complexes. Whereas head-on collisions require additional factors to be resolved, co-directional collisions are thought to be overcome by the replisome itself using the mRNA transcript as a primer. We show that mRNA takeover is utilized primarily after collisions with single RNAP complexes with short transcripts. Bypass of more complex transcription complexes requires the synthesis of a new primer downstream of the RNAP for the replisome to resume leading-strand synthesis. In both cases, bypass proceeds with displacement of the RNAP. Rep, Mfd, UvrD and RNase H can process the RNAP block and facilitate replisome bypass by promoting the formation of continuous leading strands. Bypass of co-directional RNAP(s) and/or R-loops is determined largely by the length of the obstacle that the replisome needs to traverse: R-loops are about equally as potent obstacles as RNAP arrays if they occupy the same length of the DNA template.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Gert Brüning
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kenneth J Marians
- Molecular Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
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99931
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Atre I, Mizrahi N, Levavi-Sivan B. Characteristics of Neurokinin-3 Receptor and Its Binding Sites by Mutational Analysis. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10100968. [PMID: 34681067 PMCID: PMC8533089 DOI: 10.3390/biology10100968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
NKB (Neurokinin B) is already known to play a crucial role in fish reproduction, but little is known about the structure and function of NKB receptors. Based on an in silico model of the tilapia NKB receptor Tachykinin 3 receptor a (tiTac3Ra) found in the current study, we determined the key residues involved in binding to tilapia NKB and its functional homologue NKF (Neurokinin F). Despite studies in humans suggesting the crucial role of F2516.44 and M2897.43 in NKB binding, no direct peptide interaction was observed in tilapia homologs. In-silico, Ala mutations on residues F2516.44 and M2897.43 did not influence binding affinity, but significantly affected the stability of tiTac3Ra. Moreover, in vitro studies indicated them to be critical to tiNKB/tiNKF-induced receptor activity. The binding of NKB antagonists to tiTac3Ra both in-vitro and in vivo inhibits FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) release and sperm production in mature tilapia males. Non-peptide NKB antagonist SB-222200 had a strong inhibitory effect on the Tac3Ra activation. SB-222200 also decreased LH plasma levels; two hours post intraperitoneal injection, changed sperm volume and the ratios of the different stages along the spermatogenesis in tilapia testes.
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99932
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Vela Gurovic MS, Díaz ML, Gallo CA, Dietrich J. Phylogenomics, CAZyome and core secondary metabolome of Streptomyces albus species. Mol Genet Genomics 2021; 296:1299-1311. [PMID: 34564766 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-021-01823-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
A phylogenomic study conducted with different bioinformatic tools such as TYGS, REALPHY and AAI comparisons revealed a high rate of misidentified Streptomyces albus genomes in GenBank. Only 9 of the 18 annotated genomes available in the public database were correctly identified as S. albus species. The pangenome of the nine in silico confirmed S. albus genomes was almost closed. Lignocellulosic agroresidues were a common niche among strains of the S. albus clade while carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) were highly conserved. Relevant enzymes for cellulose degradation such as beta glucosidases belonging to the GH1 family, a GH6 cellulase and a monooxygenase AA10-CBM2 were encoded by all S. albus genomes. Among them, one GH1 glycosidase would be regulated by CebR. However, this regulatory mechanism was not confirmed for other genes related to cellulose degradation. Based on AntiSMASH predictions, the core secondary metabolome of S. albus encompassed a total of 23 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), where 4 were related to common metabolites within Streptomyces genus. Species specific BGCs included those related to pseudouridimycin and xantholipin. Additionally, four BGCs encoded putative derivatives of ibomycin, the lasso peptide SSV-2086, the lanthipeptide SapB and the terpene isorenieratene. Known metabolites could not be assigned to ten BGCs and three clusters did not match with any previously described BGC. The core genome of S. albus retrieved from nine closely related genomes revealed a high potential for the discovery of novel bioactive metabolites and underexplored regulatory genomic elements related to lignocellulose deconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Soledad Vela Gurovic
- CERZOS UNS-CONICET CCT-Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga Km7, B8000FWB, Bahía Blanca, Argentina. .,Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
| | - Marina Lucía Díaz
- CERZOS UNS-CONICET CCT-Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga Km7, B8000FWB, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.,Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Cristian Andres Gallo
- CERZOS UNS-CONICET CCT-Bahía Blanca, Camino La Carrindanga Km7, B8000FWB, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Julián Dietrich
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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99933
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Porto D, Matsunaga Y, Franke B, Williams RM, Qadota H, Mayans O, Benian GM, Lu H. Conformational changes in twitchin kinase in vivo revealed by FRET imaging of freely moving C. elegans. eLife 2021; 10:e66862. [PMID: 34569929 PMCID: PMC8523150 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The force-induced unfolding and refolding of proteins is speculated to be a key mechanism in the sensing and transduction of mechanical signals in the living cell. Yet, little evidence has been gathered for its existence in vivo. Prominently, stretch-induced unfolding is postulated to be the activation mechanism of the twitchin/titin family of autoinhibited sarcomeric kinases linked to the mechanical stress response of muscle. To test the occurrence of mechanical kinase activation in living working muscle, we generated transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing twitchin containing FRET moieties flanking the kinase domain and developed a quantitative technique for extracting FRET signals in freely moving C. elegans, using tracking and simultaneous imaging of animals in three channels (donor fluorescence, acceptor fluorescence, and transmitted light). Computer vision algorithms were used to extract fluorescence signals and muscle contraction states in each frame, in order to obtain fluorescence and body curvature measurements with spatial and temporal precision in vivo. The data revealed statistically significant periodic changes in FRET signals during muscle activity, consistent with a periodic change in the conformation of twitchin kinase. We conclude that stretch-unfolding of twitchin kinase occurs in the active muscle, whereby mechanical activity titrates the signaling pathway of this cytoskeletal kinase. We anticipate that the methods we have developed here could be applied to obtaining in vivo evidence for force-induced conformational changes or elastic behavior of other proteins not only in C. elegans but in other animals in which there is optical transparency (e.g., zebrafish).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Porto
- Interdisciplinary Bioengineering Program, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
| | - Yohei Matsunaga
- Department of Pathology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Biology, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Rhys M Williams
- Department of Biology, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Hiroshi Qadota
- Department of Pathology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Olga Mayans
- Department of Biology, University of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Guy M Benian
- Department of Pathology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Hang Lu
- Interdisciplinary Bioengineering Program, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaUnited States
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99934
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Abstract
Almost 25 years have passed since a mutation of a formin gene, DIAPH1, was identified as being responsible for a human inherited disorder: a form of sensorineural hearing loss. Since then, our knowledge of the links between formins and disease has deepened considerably. Mutations of DIAPH1 and six other formin genes (DAAM2, DIAPH2, DIAPH3, FMN2, INF2 and FHOD3) have been identified as the genetic cause of a variety of inherited human disorders, including intellectual disability, renal disease, peripheral neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, primary ovarian insufficiency, hearing loss and cardiomyopathy. In addition, alterations in formin genes have been associated with a variety of pathological conditions, including developmental defects affecting the heart, nervous system and kidney, aging-related diseases, and cancer. This review summarizes the most recent discoveries about the involvement of formin alterations in monogenic disorders and other human pathological conditions, especially cancer, with which they have been associated. In vitro results and experiments in modified animal models are discussed. Finally, we outline the directions for future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel A. Alonso
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
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99935
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Jawad B, Adhikari P, Podgornik R, Ching WY. Key Interacting Residues between RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 Receptor: Combination of Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Density Functional Calculation. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4425-4441. [PMID: 34428371 PMCID: PMC8409146 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 receptor via its receptor-binding domain (RBD), with the RBD-ACE2 complex presenting an essential molecular target for vaccine development to stall the virus infection proliferation. The computational analyses at molecular, amino acid (AA), and atomic levels have been performed systematically to identify the key interacting AAs in the formation of the RBD-ACE2 complex for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 with its Alpha and Beta variants. Our study uses the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) method to predict the binding free energy (BFE) and to determine the actual interacting AAs, as well as two ab initio quantum chemical protocols based on the density functional theory (DFT) implementation. Based on MD results, Q493, Y505, Q498, N501, T500, N487, Y449, F486, K417, Y489, F456, Y495, and L455 have been identified as hotspots in SARS-CoV-2 RBD, while those in ACE2 are K353, K31, D30, D355, H34, D38, Q24, T27, Y83, Y41, and E35. RBD with Alpha and Beta variants has slightly different interacting AAs due to N501Y mutation. Both the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions are the main driving force to form the AA-AA binding pairs. We confirm that Q493, Q498, N501, F486, K417, and F456 in RBD are the key residues responsible for the tight binding of SARS-CoV-2 with ACE2 compared to SARS-CoV. RBD with the Alpha variant binds with ACE2 stronger than the wild-type RBD or Beta. In the Beta variant, K417N reduces the binding, E484K slightly enhances it, and N501Y significantly increases it as in Alpha. The DFT results reveal that N487, Q493, Y449, T500, G496, G446, and G502 in RBD of SARS2 form pairs via specific hydrogen bonding with Q24, H34, E35, D38, Y41, Q42, and K353 in ACE2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahaa Jawad
- Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
64110, United States
| | - Puja Adhikari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
64110, United States
| | - Rudolf Podgornik
- Wenzhou Institute of the University of
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000,
China
- School of Physical Sciences and Kavli Institute of
Theoretical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Beijing 100049, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics,
Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
100090, China
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and
Physics, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana,
Slovenia
| | - Wai-Yim Ching
- Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
64110, United States
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99936
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Mitra A, Sarkar A, Borics A. Universal Properties and Specificities of the β 2-Adrenergic Receptor-G s Protein Complex Activation Mechanism Revealed by All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10423. [PMID: 34638767 PMCID: PMC8508748 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are transmembrane proteins of high pharmacological relevance. It has been proposed that their activity is linked to structurally distinct, dynamically interconverting functional states and the process of activation relies on an interconnecting network of conformational switches in the transmembrane domain. However, it is yet to be uncovered how ligands with different extents of functional effect exert their actions. According to our recent hypothesis, based on indirect observations and the literature data, the transmission of the external stimulus to the intracellular surface is accompanied by the shift of macroscopic polarization in the transmembrane domain, furnished by concerted movements of highly conserved polar motifs and the rearrangement of polar species. In this follow-up study, we have examined the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) to see if our hypothesis drawn from an extensive study of the μ-opioid receptor (MOP) is fundamental and directly transferable to other class A GPCRs. We have found that there are some general similarities between the two receptors, in agreement with previous studies, and there are some receptor-specific differences that could be associated with different signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argha Mitra
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, 62. Temesvári krt., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (A.M.); (A.S.)
- Theoretical Medicine Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 97. Tisza L. krt., H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Arijit Sarkar
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, 62. Temesvári krt., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (A.M.); (A.S.)
- Theoretical Medicine Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 97. Tisza L. krt., H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Borics
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, 62. Temesvári krt., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; (A.M.); (A.S.)
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99937
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Dohnalová H, Lankaš F. Deciphering the mechanical properties of
B‐DNA
duplex. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hana Dohnalová
- Department of Informatics and Chemistry University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Praha 6 Czech Republic
| | - Filip Lankaš
- Department of Informatics and Chemistry University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Praha 6 Czech Republic
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99938
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Lee K, Ziegelhoffer T, Delewski W, Berger SE, Sabat G, Craig EA. Pathway of Hsp70 interactions at the ribosome. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5666. [PMID: 34580293 PMCID: PMC8476630 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25930-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, an Hsp70 molecular chaperone triad assists folding of nascent chains emerging from the ribosome tunnel. In fungi, the triad consists of canonical Hsp70 Ssb, atypical Hsp70 Ssz1 and J-domain protein cochaperone Zuo1. Zuo1 binds the ribosome at the tunnel exit. Zuo1 also binds Ssz1, tethering it to the ribosome, while its J-domain stimulates Ssb’s ATPase activity to drive efficient nascent chain interaction. But the function of Ssz1 and how Ssb engages at the ribosome are not well understood. Employing in vivo site-specific crosslinking, we found that Ssb(ATP) heterodimerizes with Ssz1. Ssb, in a manner consistent with the ADP conformation, also crosslinks to ribosomal proteins across the tunnel exit from Zuo1. These two modes of Hsp70 Ssb interaction at the ribosome suggest a functionally efficient interaction pathway: first, Ssb(ATP) with Ssz1, allowing optimal J-domain and nascent chain engagement; then, after ATP hydrolysis, Ssb(ADP) directly with the ribosome. Here, the authors use in vivo site-specific crosslinking to provide molecular-level insight into how the fungal Hsp70 chaperone system — the Ssb:Ssz1:Zuo1 triad — assists the folding process for the nascent peptide chain emerging from the ribosome tunnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanghyun Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Thomas Ziegelhoffer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Wojciech Delewski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Scott E Berger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, 18042, USA.,Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Grzegorz Sabat
- Biotechnology Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Craig
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA.
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99939
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López-Ardila IY, Martínez-Pérez FJ, Rondón-González F. Aplicación del modelo de pérdida de ADN para el diseño de cebadores en Potamotrygon magdalenae (Potamotrygonidae). ACTA BIOLÓGICA COLOMBIANA 2021. [DOI: 10.15446/abc.v27n1.87401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
El diseño de cebadores es fundamental para amplificar regiones de genes debido a que la especificidad que mantienen cebador-secuencia de interés puede causar el éxito o fracaso en la reacción de PCR. En relación a Potamotrygon magdalenae (especie de interés de acuerdo al PAN Tiburones-Colombia), existe poca información disponible de aspectos relacionados con la genética poblacional de esta Raya. El objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en diseñar cebadores bajo los criterios del Modelo de Pérdida de ADN (DNA-LM), que permitan evaluar el estado genético de las poblaciones de P. magdalenae. Alineamos secuencias de la superfamilia Dayastoidea, disponibles en el NCBI, de los genes mitocondriales Citocromo C Oxidasa 1 (MT-CO1) y Citocromo b (MT-CYB). Se guimos los parámetros Gap open penalty (5), Gap extension penalti (0,2) y Terminal gap penalties (0,1) y seleccionamos dos pares de cebadores de acuerdo con el DNA-LM. Estimamos el producto amplificado del gen MT-CO1 en 916 pb y del gen MT-CYB en 774 pb, en muestras de P. magdalenae procedentes de diferentes ciénagas del Magdalena medio. Discutimos los resultados desde la perspectiva de validar la especificidad de los cebadores diseñados, teniendo en cuenta la correspondencia e identidad de las secuencias de los genes considerados. Los cebadores aquí reportados pueden contribuir a ampliar el conocimiento de la genética poblacional, biogeografía y filogenética de la raya de agua dulce P. magdalenae.
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99940
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Guan X, Leven I, Heidar-Zadeh F, Head-Gordon T. Protein C-GeM: A Coarse-Grained Electron Model for Fast and Accurate Protein Electrostatics Prediction. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4357-4369. [PMID: 34490776 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The electrostatic potential (ESP) is a powerful property for understanding and predicting electrostatic charge distributions that drive interactions between molecules. In this study, we compare various charge partitioning schemes including fitted charges, density-based quantum mechanical (QM) partitioning schemes, charge equilibration methods, and our recently introduced coarse-grained electron model, C-GeM, to describe the ESP for protein systems. When benchmarked against high quality density functional theory calculations of the ESP for tripeptides and the crambin protein, we find that the C-GeM model is of comparable accuracy to ab initio charge partitioning methods, but with orders of magnitude improvement in computational efficiency since it does not require either the electron density or the electrostatic potential as input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyi Guan
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Itai Leven
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Farnaz Heidar-Zadeh
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Teresa Head-Gordon
- Pitzer Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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99941
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Yang Y, Zhang L, Tian J, Ye F, Xiao Z. Integrated Approach to Identify Selective PTP1B Inhibitors Targeting the Allosteric Site. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4720-4732. [PMID: 34521197 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is an intractable target for drug discovery due to its conservative and cationic catalytic site. Targeting alternative allosteric sites of PTP1B is a promising strategy to achieve specificity and bioavailability. A hierarchical virtual screening based on a previously identified allosteric site was applied to search for potential PTP1B inhibitors with better pharmacological profiles. Four potent PTP1B inhibitors (H1, H3, H7, and H9) with structures distinct from known inhibitors were identified. Among them, H3 and H9 demonstrated evident selectivity to PTP1B over homologous T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) and SHP2. Molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) calculations recognized Phe280, Phe196, Leu192, and Asn193 as key residues responsible for potent allosteric inhibition and excellent PTP selectivity. The results not only expand the structural diversity but also aid the future molecular design of PTP1B allosteric inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P. R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P. R. China
| | - Jinying Tian
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Mechanisms and Pharmacological Evaluation Study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P. R. China
| | - Fei Ye
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Mechanisms and Pharmacological Evaluation Study, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyan Xiao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Active Substance Discovery and Druggability Evaluation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, P. R. China
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99942
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Ettinger CL, Byrne FJ, Collin MA, Carter-House D, Walling LL, Atkinson PW, Redak RA, Stajich JE. Improved draft reference genome for the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis), a vector for Pierce's disease. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6324818. [PMID: 34568917 PMCID: PMC8496328 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Homalodisca vitripennis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), known as the glassy-winged sharpshooter, is a xylem feeding leafhopper and an important agricultural pest as a vector of Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce’s disease in grapes and a variety of other scorch diseases. The current H. vitripennis reference genome from the Baylor College of Medicine's i5k pilot project is a 1.4-Gb assembly with 110,000 scaffolds, which still has significant gaps making identification of genes difficult. To improve on this effort, we used a combination of Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing technology combined with Illumina sequencing reads to generate a better assembly and first-pass annotation of the whole genome sequence of a wild-caught Californian (Tulare County) individual of H. vitripennis. The improved reference genome assembly for H. vitripennis is 1.93-Gb in length (21,254 scaffolds, N50 = 650 Mb, BUSCO completeness = 94.3%), with 33.06% of the genome masked as repetitive. In total, 108,762 gene models were predicted including 98,296 protein-coding genes and 10,466 tRNA genes. As an additional community resource, we identified 27 orthologous candidate genes of interest for future experimental work including phenotypic marker genes like white. Furthermore, as part of the assembly process, we generated four endosymbiont metagenome-assembled genomes, including a high-quality near complete 1.7-Mb Wolbachia sp. genome (1 scaffold, CheckM completeness = 99.4%). The improved genome assembly and annotation for H. vitripennis, curated set of candidate genes, and endosymbiont MAGs will be invaluable resources for future research of H. vitripennis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L Ettinger
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Frank J Byrne
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Matthew A Collin
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.,Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Derreck Carter-House
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Linda L Walling
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.,Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Peter W Atkinson
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.,Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Rick A Redak
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.,Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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99943
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Babii O, Afonin S, Diel C, Huhn M, Dommermuth J, Schober T, Koniev S, Hrebonkin A, Nesterov‐Mueller A, Komarov IV, Ulrich AS. Diarylethen‐basierte lichtschaltbare Inhibitoren von Serinproteasen. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202108847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Babii
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) POB 3640 76021 Karlsruhe Deutschland
- Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT) KIT Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Deutschland
| | - Sergii Afonin
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) POB 3640 76021 Karlsruhe Deutschland
| | - Christian Diel
- Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC) KIT Fritz-Haber-Weg 6 76131 Karlsruhe Deutschland
| | - Marcel Huhn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC) KIT Fritz-Haber-Weg 6 76131 Karlsruhe Deutschland
| | - Jennifer Dommermuth
- Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC) KIT Fritz-Haber-Weg 6 76131 Karlsruhe Deutschland
| | - Tim Schober
- Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC) KIT Fritz-Haber-Weg 6 76131 Karlsruhe Deutschland
- Lumobiotics GmbH Auer Straße 2 76227 Karlsruhe Deutschland
| | - Serhii Koniev
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv vul. Volodymyrska 60 1601 Kyiv Ukraine
| | - Andrii Hrebonkin
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) POB 3640 76021 Karlsruhe Deutschland
| | - Alexander Nesterov‐Mueller
- Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT) KIT Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Deutschland
| | - Igor V. Komarov
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv vul. Volodymyrska 60 1601 Kyiv Ukraine
- Lumobiotics GmbH Auer Straße 2 76227 Karlsruhe Deutschland
| | - Anne S. Ulrich
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) POB 3640 76021 Karlsruhe Deutschland
- Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC) KIT Fritz-Haber-Weg 6 76131 Karlsruhe Deutschland
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99944
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Lee KZ, Mechikoff MA, Kikla A, Liu A, Pandolfi P, Fitzgerald K, Gimble FS, Solomon KV. NgAgo possesses guided DNA nicking activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9926-9937. [PMID: 34478558 PMCID: PMC8464042 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic Argonautes (pAgos) have been proposed as more flexible tools for gene-editing as they do not require sequence motifs adjacent to their targets for function, unlike popular CRISPR/Cas systems. One promising pAgo candidate, from the halophilic archaeon Natronobacterium gregoryi (NgAgo), has been the subject of debate regarding its potential in eukaryotic systems. Here, we revisit this enzyme and characterize its function in prokaryotes. NgAgo expresses poorly in non-halophilic hosts with most of the protein being insoluble and inactive even after refolding. However, we report that the soluble fraction does indeed act as a nicking DNA endonuclease. NgAgo shares canonical domains with other catalytically active pAgos but also contains a previously unrecognized single-stranded DNA binding domain (repA). Both repA and the canonical PIWI domains participate in DNA cleavage activities of NgAgo. NgAgo can be programmed with guides to nick targeted DNA in Escherichia coli and in vitro 1 nt outside the 3' end of the guide sequence. We also found that these endonuclease activities are essential for enhanced NgAgo-guided homologous recombination, or gene-editing, in E. coli. Collectively, our results demonstrate the potential of NgAgo for gene-editing and provide new insight into seemingly contradictory reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kok Zhi Lee
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Michael A Mechikoff
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Archana Kikla
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Arren Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Paula Pandolfi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Kevin Fitzgerald
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
| | - Frederick S Gimble
- Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Science Program (PULSe), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Kevin V Solomon
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA.,Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Science Program (PULSe), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
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99945
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Feng Y, Zhang K, Wu Q, Huang SY. NLDock: a Fast Nucleic Acid-Ligand Docking Algorithm for Modeling RNA/DNA-Ligand Complexes. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4771-4782. [PMID: 34468128 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-ligand interactions play an important role in numerous cellular processes such as gene function expression and regulation. Therefore, nucleic acids such as RNAs have become more and more important drug targets, where the structural determination of nucleic acid-ligand complexes is pivotal for understanding their functions and thus developing therapeutic interventions. Molecular docking has been a useful computational tool in predicting the complex structure between molecules. However, although a number of docking algorithms have been developed for protein-ligand interactions, only a few docking programs were presented for nucleic acid-ligand interactions. Here, we have developed a fast nucleic acid-ligand docking algorithm, named NLDock, by implementing our intrinsic scoring function ITScoreNL for nucleic acid-ligand interactions into a modified version of the MDock program. NLDock was extensively evaluated on four test sets and compared with five other state-of-the-art docking algorithms including AutoDock, DOCK 6, rDock, GOLD, and Glide. It was shown that our NLDock algorithm obtained a significantly better performance than the other docking programs in binding mode predictions and achieved the success rates of 73%, 36%, and 32% on the largest test set of 77 complexes for local rigid-, local flexible-, and global flexible-ligand docking, respectively. In addition, our NLDock approach is also computationally efficient and consumed an average of as short as 0.97 and 2.08 min for a local flexible-ligand docking job and a global flexible-ligand docking job, respectively. These results suggest the good performance of our NLDock in both docking accuracy and computational efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyu Feng
- School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, P. R. China
| | - Keqiong Zhang
- School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, P. R. China
| | - Qilong Wu
- School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, P. R. China
| | - Sheng-You Huang
- School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, P. R. China
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99946
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Johnson SL, Libohova K, Blount JR, Sujkowski AL, Prifti MV, Tsou WL, Todi SV. Targeting the VCP-binding motif of ataxin-3 improves phenotypes in Drosophila models of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 160:105516. [PMID: 34563642 PMCID: PMC8693084 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Of the family of polyglutamine (polyQ) neurodegenerative diseases, Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3) is the most common. Like other polyQ diseases, SCA3 stems from abnormal expansions in the CAG triplet repeat of its disease gene resulting in elongated polyQ repeats within its protein, ataxin-3. Various ataxin-3 protein domains contribute to its toxicity, including the valosin-containing protein (VCP)-binding motif (VBM). We previously reported that VCP, a homo-hexameric protein, enhances pathogenic ataxin-3 aggregation and exacerbates its toxicity. These findings led us to explore the impact of targeting the SCA3 protein by utilizing a decoy protein comprising the N-terminus of VCP (N-VCP) that binds ataxin-3's VBM. The notion was that N-VCP would reduce binding of ataxin-3 to VCP, decreasing its aggregation and toxicity. We found that expression of N-VCP in Drosophila melanogaster models of SCA3 ameliorated various phenotypes, coincident with reduced ataxin-3 aggregation. This protective effect was specific to pathogenic ataxin-3 and depended on its VBM. Increasing the amount of N-VCP resulted in further phenotype improvement. Our work highlights the protective potential of targeting the VCP-ataxin-3 interaction in SCA3, a key finding in the search for therapeutic opportunities for this incurable disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean L Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Kozeta Libohova
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Jessica R Blount
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Alyson L Sujkowski
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Matthew V Prifti
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Wei-Ling Tsou
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Sokol V Todi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
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99947
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Cantwell AM, Singh H, Platt M, Yu Y, Lin YH, Ikeno Y, Hubbard G, Xiang Y, Gonzalez-Juarbe N, Dube PH. Kinetic Multi-omic Analysis of Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Model of Severe COVID-19. J Virol 2021; 95:e0101021. [PMID: 34319784 PMCID: PMC8475517 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01010-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The host response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is poorly understood due to a lack of an animal model that recapitulates severe human disease. Here, we report a Syrian hamster model that develops progressive lethal pulmonary disease that closely mimics severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We evaluated host responses using a multi-omic, multiorgan approach to define proteome, phosphoproteome, and transcriptome changes. These data revealed both type I and type II interferon-stimulated gene and protein expression along with a progressive increase in chemokines, monocytes, and neutrophil-associated molecules throughout the course of infection that peaked in the later time points correlating with a rapidly developing diffuse alveolar destruction and pneumonia that persisted in the absence of active viral infection. Extrapulmonary proteome and phosphoproteome remodeling was detected in the heart and kidneys following viral infection. Together, our results provide a kinetic overview of multiorgan host responses to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo. IMPORTANCE The current pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has created an urgent need to understand the pathogenesis of this infection. These efforts have been impaired by the lack of animal models that recapitulate severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we report a hamster model that develops severe COVID-19-like disease following infection with human isolates of SARS-CoV-2. To better understand pathogenesis, we evaluated changes in gene transcription and protein expression over the course of infection to provide an integrated multiorgan kinetic analysis of the host response to infection. These data reveal a dynamic innate immune response to infection and corresponding immune pathologies consistent with severe human disease. Altogether, this model will be useful for understanding the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 and for testing interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelene M. Cantwell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Select Agent Research Core, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Harinder Singh
- Infectious Disease and Genomic Medicine Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Maryann Platt
- Infectious Disease and Genomic Medicine Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Yanbao Yu
- Infectious Disease and Genomic Medicine Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Yi-Han Lin
- Infectious Disease and Genomic Medicine Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Yuji Ikeno
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Gene Hubbard
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Yan Xiang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Select Agent Research Core, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Norberto Gonzalez-Juarbe
- Infectious Disease and Genomic Medicine Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter H. Dube
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Select Agent Research Core, UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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99948
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Timmons PB, Hewage CM. Biophysical study of the structure and dynamics of the antimicrobial peptide maximin 1. J Pept Sci 2021; 28:e3370. [PMID: 34569121 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Maximin 1 is a cationic, amphipathic antimicrobial peptide found in the skin secretions and brains of the Chinese red belly toad Bombina maxima. The 27 amino acid residue-long peptide is biologically interesting as it possesses a variety of biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumour and spermicidal activities. Its three-dimensional structural model was obtained in a 50/50% water/2,2,2-trifluoroethanol-d3 mixture using two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Maximin 1 was found to adopt an α-helical structure from residue Ile2 to Ala26 . The peptide is amphipathic, showing a clear separation between polar and non-polar residues. The interactions with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles, a widely-used bacterial membrane-mimicking environment, were modelled using molecular dynamics simulations. The peptide maintains an α-helical conformation, occasionally displaying a flexibility around the Gly9 and Gly16 residues, which is likely responsible for the peptide's low haemolytic activity. It is found to preferentially adopt a position parallel to the micellar surface, establishing a number of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions with the micelle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B Timmons
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science,UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Chandralal M Hewage
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science,UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
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99949
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Pseudomonas Phage MD8: Genetic Mosaicism and Challenges of Taxonomic Classification of Lambdoid Bacteriophages. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910350. [PMID: 34638693 PMCID: PMC8508860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas phage MD8 is a temperate phage isolated from the freshwater lake Baikal. The organisation of the MD8 genome resembles the genomes of lambdoid bacteriophages. However, MD8 gene and protein sequences have little in common with classified representatives of lambda-like phages. Analysis of phage genomes revealed a group of other Pseudomonas phages related to phage MD8 and the genomic layout of MD8-like phages indicated extensive gene exchange involving even the most conservative proteins and leading to a high degree of genomic mosaicism. Multiple horizontal transfers and mosaicism of the genome of MD8, related phages and other λ-like phages raise questions about the principles of taxonomic classification of the representatives of this voluminous phage group. Comparison and analysis of various bioinformatic approaches applied to λ-like phage genomes demonstrated different efficiency and contradictory results in the estimation of genomic similarity and relatedness. However, we were able to make suggestions for the possible origin of the MD8 genome and the basic principles for the taxonomic classification of lambdoid phages. The group comprising 26 MD8-related phages was proposed to classify as two close genera belonging to a big family of λ-like phages.
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99950
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A Comparative Analysis of the Structure and Biological Properties of Films and Microfibrous Scaffolds Based on Silk Fibroin. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13101561. [PMID: 34683854 PMCID: PMC8541150 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A comparative analysis of the structure and biological properties of silk fibroin constructions was performed. Three groups of constructions were obtained: films obtained by casting an aqueous solution of silk fibroin and electrospun microfibrous scaffolds based on silk fibroin, with the addition of 30% gelatin per total protein weight. The internal structures of the films and single fibers of the microfibrous scaffolds consisted of densely packed globule structures; the surface area to volume ratios and volume porosities of the microfibrous scaffolds were calculated. All constructions were non-toxic for cells and provide high levels of adhesion and proliferation. The high regenerative potential of the constructions was demonstrated in a rat full-thickness skin wound healing model. The constructions accelerated healing by an average of 15 days and can be considered to be promising constructions for various tasks of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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