1
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Lodhi L, Ahi JD, Gupta N, Pradhan BL, Sen P, Ghosh M, Dey KK. Exploring the structure and dynamics of soft and hard cuticle of Bombyx mori using solid-state NMR techniques. Sci Rep 2024; 14:22378. [PMID: 39333695 PMCID: PMC11437033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69984-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
This study conducts a comprehensive analysis and comparison of Bombyx mori cuticles across different developmental stages, ranging from larval to adult, utilizing advanced solid-state NMR techniques. The primary objective is to elucidate the underlying reasons for the contrasting hardness of adult cuticles and softness of larval cuticles. Notably, PXRD analysis reveals a prominent broad peak at 19.34°, indicating the predominantly amorphous nature of both larval and adult cuticles. Analysis of 13C CP-MAS SSNMR spectra highlights an elevated proportion of phenoxy carbon in adult cuticles (6.77%) compared to larval cuticles (1.24%). Furthermore, a distinctive resonance line at 144 ppm is exclusively observed in adult cuticles, due to catechols, suggesting potential biochemical pathway variations during development. Significant variations in the primary components of 13C chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensors for aliphatic carbons of amino acids, catechols, and lipids between adult and larval cuticles indicate alterations in electronic environments. Additionally, the shorter spin-lattice relaxation time of carbon nuclei in larval cuticles compared to adult cuticles implies slower motional dynamics with enhanced degree of sclerotization in adults. By investigating the internal structure and dynamics of cuticles, this research not only contributes to biomimetic material development but also enhances our understanding of structural changes across different developmental stages of B. mori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lekhan Lodhi
- Department of Zoology, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, 470003, India
| | - Janak Dulari Ahi
- Department of Zoology, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, 470003, India
| | - Neelima Gupta
- Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, 470003, India.
| | - Bijay Laxmi Pradhan
- Physics Section, Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India
| | - Prince Sen
- Department of Physics, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, 470003, India
| | - Manasi Ghosh
- Physics Section, Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221005, India.
| | - Krishna Kishor Dey
- Department of Physics, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, 470003, India.
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2
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Lehmann FO, Gorb S, Moussian B. Spatio-temporal distribution and genetic background of elastic proteins inside the chitin/chitosan matrix of insects including their functional significance for locomotion. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 168:104089. [PMID: 38485097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
In insects, cuticle proteins interact with chitin and chitosan of the exoskeleton forming crystalline, amorphic or composite material structures. The biochemical and mechanical composition of the structure defines the cuticle's physical properties and thus how the insect cuticle behaves under mechanical stress. The tissue-specific ratio between chitin and chitosan and its pattern of deacetylation are recognized and interpreted by cuticle proteins depending on their local position in the body. Despite previous research, the assembly of the cuticle composites in time and space including its functional impact is widely unexplored. This review is devoted to the genetics underlying the temporal and spatial distribution of elastic proteins and the potential function of elastic proteins in insects with a focus on Resilin in the fruit fly Drosophila. The potential impact and function of localized patches of elastic proteins is discussed for movements in leg joints, locomotion and damage resistance of the cuticle. We conclude that an interdisciplinary research approach serves as an integral example for the molecular mechanisms of generation and interpretation of the chitin/chitosan matrix, not only in Drosophila but also in other arthropod species, and might help to synthesize artificial material composites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fritz-Olaf Lehmann
- Fritz-Olaf Lehmann, Department of Animal Physiology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Stanislav Gorb
- Stanislav Gorb, Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Bernard Moussian
- Bernard Moussian, Institute Sophia Agrobiotech, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, 38 Av. Emile Henriot, 06000, Nice, France.
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3
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Woodrow C, Cullen DA, Montealegre-Z F, Gonzalez-Rodriguez J. Non-invasive characterization of the elastic protein resilin in insects using Raman spectroscopy. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127967. [PMID: 37944738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Resilin is an extremely efficient elastic protein found in the moving parts of insects. Despite many years of resilin research, we are still only just starting to understand its diversity, native structures, and functions. Understanding differences in resilin structure and diversity could lead to the development of bioinspired elastic polymers, with broad applications in materials science. Here, to better understand resilin structure, we offer a novel methodology for identifying resilin-rich regions of the insect cuticle using non-invasive Raman spectroscopy in a model species, the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). The Raman spectrum of the resilin-rich semilunar process of the hind leg was compared with that of nearby low-resilin cuticle, and reference spectra and peaks assigned for these two regions. The main peaks of resilin include two bands associated with tyrosine at 955-962 and 1141-1203 cm-1 and a strong peak at 1615 cm-1, attributed to the α-Amide I group associated with dityrosine. We also found the chitin skeletal modes at ~485-567 cm-1 to be significant contributors to spectra variance between the groups. Raman spectra were also compared to results obtained by fluorescence spectroscopy, as a control technique. Principal component analysis of these resulting spectra revealed differences in the light-scattering properties of resilin-rich and resilin-poor cuticular regions, which may relate to differences in native protein structure and relative abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Woodrow
- University of Lincoln, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Darron A Cullen
- University of Lincoln, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; University of Hull, School of Natural Sciences, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Fernando Montealegre-Z
- University of Lincoln, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Jose Gonzalez-Rodriguez
- University of Lincoln, School of Chemistry, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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4
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Huang Q, Gavor E, Tulsian NK, Fan J, Lin Q, Mok YK, Kini RM, Sivaraman J. Structural and functional characterization of Aedes aegypti pupal cuticle protein that controls dengue virus infection. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4761. [PMID: 37593853 PMCID: PMC10510476 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
The pupal cuticle protein from Aedes aegypti (AaPC) inhibits dengue virus (DENV) infection; however, the underlying mechanism of this inhibition remains unknown. Here, we report that AaPC is an intrinsically disordered protein and interacts with domain I/II of the DENV envelope protein via residues Asp59, Asp61, Glu71, Asp73, Ser75, and Asp80. AaPC can directly bind to and cause the aggregation of DENV, which in turn blocks virus infection during the virus-cell fusion stage. AaPC may also influence viral recognition and attachment by interacting with human immune receptors DC-SIGN and CD4. These findings enhance our understanding of the role of AaPC in mitigating viral infection and suggest that AaPC is a potential target for developing inhibitors or antibodies to control dengue virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Huang
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Edem Gavor
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Nikhil Kumar Tulsian
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Department of BiochemistryNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Jingsong Fan
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Qingsong Lin
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Yu Keung Mok
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - R. Manjunatha Kini
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - J. Sivaraman
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
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5
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Mitchell JL, McKellar RC, Barbi M, Coulson IM, Bukejs A. Morphological and organic spectroscopic studies of a 44-million-year-old leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in amber with endogenous remains of chitin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5876. [PMID: 37041264 PMCID: PMC10090159 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32557-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
This study details the quality of preservation of amber deposits in the Eocene. Through Baltic amber crack-out studies using Synchrotron Micro-Computed Tomography and Scanning Electron Microscopy it was found that the cuticle of a specimen of leaf beetle (Crepidodera tertiotertiaria (Alticini: Galerucinae: Chrysomelidae)) is exceptionally well preserved. Spectroscopic analysis using Synchrotron Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy suggests presence of degraded [Formula: see text]-chitin in multiple areas of the cuticle, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy supports the presence of organic preservation. This remarkable preservation is likely the result of several factors such as the favourable antimicrobial and physical shielding properties of Baltic amber as compared to other depositional media, coupled to rapid dehydration of the beetle early in its taphonomic process. We provide evidence that crack-out studies of amber inclusions, although inherently destructive of fossils, are an underutilised method for probing exceptional preservation in deep time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerit L Mitchell
- Department of Physics, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada.
| | - Ryan C McKellar
- Royal Saskatchewan Museum, 2445 Albert St., Regina, SK, S4P 4W7, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Mauricio Barbi
- Department of Physics, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Ian M Coulson
- Department of Geology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Andris Bukejs
- Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Vienîbas 13, Daugavpils, 5401, Latvia
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6
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Heymann D, Mohanram H, Kumar A, Verma CS, Lescar J, Miserez A. Structure of a consensus chitin-binding domain revealed by solution NMR. J Struct Biol 2021; 213:107725. [PMID: 33744410 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2021.107725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chitin-binding proteins (CBPs) are a versatile group of proteins found in almost every organism on earth. CBPs are involved in enzymatic carbohydrate degradation and also serve as templating scaffolds in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and insects. One specific chitin-binding motif found across a wide range of arthropods' exoskeletons is the "extended Rebers and Riddiford" consensus (R&R), whose mechanism of chitin binding remains unclear. Here, we report the 3D structure and molecular level interactions of a chitin-binding domain (CBD-γ) located in a CBP from the beak of the jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas. This CBP is one of four chitin-binding proteins identified in the beak mouthpart of D. gigas and is believed to interact with chitin to form a scaffold network that is infiltrated with a second set of structural proteins during beak maturation. We used solution state NMR spectroscopy to elucidate the molecular interactions between CBD-γ and the soluble chitin derivative pentaacetyl-chitopentaose (PCP), and find that folding of CBD-γ is triggered upon its interaction with PCP. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental 3D structure of a CBP containing the R&R consensus motif, which can be used as a template to understand in more details the role of the R&R motif found in a wide range of CBP-chitin complexes. The present structure also provides molecular information for biomimetic synthesis of graded biomaterials using aqueous-based chemistry and biopolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Heymann
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 637553, Singapore; NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building (EMB), 59 Nanyang Drive, Level 06-01, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Harini Mohanram
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 637553, Singapore
| | - Akshita Kumar
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 637553, Singapore; Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Chandra S Verma
- School of Biological Sciences, NTU, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore (NUS), 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Julien Lescar
- School of Biological Sciences, NTU, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building (EMB), 59 Nanyang Drive, Level 06-01, Singapore 636921, Singapore.
| | - Ali Miserez
- Biological and Biomimetic Material Laboratory, Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 637553, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, NTU, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore; NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building (EMB), 59 Nanyang Drive, Level 06-01, Singapore 636921, Singapore.
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7
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Tsurkan MV, Voronkina A, Khrunyk Y, Wysokowski M, Petrenko I, Ehrlich H. Progress in chitin analytics. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 252:117204. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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8
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Volpe MG, Ghia D, Safari O, Paolucci M. Fast non-destructive assessment of heavy metal presence by ATR-FTIR analysis of crayfish exoskeleton. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:21021-21031. [PMID: 32253699 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08405-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater crayfish are bioindicators of environmental pollution, often used for the assessment of heavy metal (HM) presence in the tissues, a time-consuming and expensive task. In this study, we propose the use of the vibrational spectroscopy to detect in a fast, non-destructive and sensitive way the presence of HM in the cephalothorax exoskeleton of the freshwater crayfish. Incorporation of HM into the cephalothorax exoskeleton was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. In particular, the cephalothorax exoskeleton of five crayfish species (Astacus leptodactylus, Procambarus clarkii, Austropotamobius pallipes, Faxonius limosus, and Pacifastacus leniusculus) was analyzed by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transformed infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in the presence or absence of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) up to 4 weeks at various concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, ppm). The ATR-FTIR profile of the crayfish cephalothorax exoskeleton was compatible with the presence of amorphous calcium carbonate, chitin, and proteins. The incubation with the HM revealed two main modifications: the shift of the peak from 859 to 872 cm-1 and the appearance of a peak at 712 cm-1. Both are ascribable to the HM interaction with calcium carbonate. The absorbance of both peaks increased along with the time of incubation, and the HM concentration. We conclude that ATR-FTIR analysis can be a useful, quick, and cost-sensitive tool to detect HM presence in the crayfish cephalothorax exoskeleton. However, it has to be regarded as a non-specific analytical technique for assessing HM contamination, since it is unable to discriminate between different HM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Volpe
- Institute of Food Sciences -National Research Council (ISA-CNR), Via Roma 64, 83100, Avellino, Italy
| | - Daniela Ghia
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 24, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Omid Safari
- Department of Fishery, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Marina Paolucci
- Institute of Food Sciences -National Research Council (ISA-CNR), Via Roma 64, 83100, Avellino, Italy.
- Department of Science and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via Port'Arsa, 11, 82100, Benevento, Italy.
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9
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Mantilla SMO, Alagappan S, Sultanbawa Y, Smyth HE, Cozzolino D. A Mid Infrared (MIR) Spectroscopy Study of the Composition of Edible Australian Green Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina)—a Qualitative Study. FOOD ANAL METHOD 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12161-020-01783-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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10
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Pezzotti G, Zhu W, Adachi T, Horiguchi S, Marin E, Boschetto F, Ogitani E, Mazda O. Metabolic machinery encrypted in the Raman spectrum of influenza A virus-inoculated mammalian cells. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:5146-5170. [PMID: 31710091 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Raman spectroscopy was applied with a high spectral resolution to a structural study of Influenza (type A) virus before and after its inoculation into Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. This study exploits the fact that the major virus and cell constituents, namely DNA/RNA, lipid, and protein molecules, exhibit peculiar fingerprints in the Raman spectrum, which clearly differed between cells and viruses, as well as before and after virus inoculation into cells. These vibrational features, which allowed us to discuss viral assembly, membrane lipid evolution, and nucleoprotein interactions of the virus with the host cells, reflected the ability of the virus to alter host cells' pathways to enhance its replication efficiency. Upon comparing Raman signals from the host cells before and after virus inoculation, we were also able to discuss in detail cell metabolic reactions against the presence of the virus in terms of compositional variations of lipid species, the formation of fatty acids, dephosphorylation of high-energy adenosine triphosphate molecules, and enzymatic hydrolysis of the hemagglutinin glycoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Pezzotti
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Ceramic Physics Laboratory, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.,The Center for Advanced Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Wenliang Zhu
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Ceramic Physics Laboratory, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Adachi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Dental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Horiguchi
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Dental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Elia Marin
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Ceramic Physics Laboratory, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Dental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Francesco Boschetto
- Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Ceramic Physics Laboratory, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Eriko Ogitani
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Osam Mazda
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Wang S, Liu M, Tian D, Su M, Li Q, Li Z, Zhou Z. Identifying Initiation and Aging of Hens During the Laying Period by Raman Analysis of Beaks. J Poult Sci 2019; 56:159-165. [PMID: 32055210 PMCID: PMC7005389 DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.0180094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Raman spectroscopy has been widely applied in the analysis of biological tissues. In this study, beak cuticle was studied to investigate its compositional and secondary structural changes during the laying period and aging of laying hens. The analysis revealed markedly increased contents of amide I and amino acids (phenylalanine and tyrosine) within the beak during the intense laying period from 17 to 20 weeks. In addition, α-helical protein was also gradually synthesized in this period. The relative area ratio of 1003/1448 cm-1 (assigned to the vibrations of phenylalanine and organic C-H respectively) was confirmed as an excellent indicator for estimating the start of the laying period. This ratio increased from 0.36 to 0.42 from 17 to 20 weeks. The Raman peak at 1156 cm-1 was assigned to carotenoids in the beak. The intensities of the 1156 cm-1 peak significantly decreased during aging. The area ratio of 1156/1448 cm-1 was successfully applied to estimate ages (still within the laying period) of laying hens. This study shows the potential of using Raman spectroscopy to quantify ages and laying period of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujie Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Mohan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Da Tian
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Mu Su
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Qiao Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Zhen Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Zhenlei Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
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12
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Mechanics of Arthropod Cuticle-Versatility by Structural and Compositional Variation. ARCHITECTURED MATERIALS IN NATURE AND ENGINEERING 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-11942-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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13
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Abstract
This article presents an overview of the development of techniques for analyzing cuticular proteins (CPs), their transcripts, and their genes over the past 50 years based primarily on experience in the laboratory of J.H. Willis. It emphasizes changes in the kind of data that can be gathered and how such data provided insights into the molecular underpinnings of insect metamorphosis and cuticle structure. It describes the techniques that allowed visualization of the location of CPs at both the anatomical and intracuticular levels and measurement of the appearance and deployment of transcripts from CP genes as well as what was learned from genomic and transcriptomic data. Most of the early work was done with the cecropia silkmoth, Hyalophora cecropia, and later work was with Anopheles gambiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith H Willis
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602;
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14
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Abehsera S, Peles S, Tynyakov J, Bentov S, Aflalo ED, Li S, Li F, Xiang J, Sagi A. MARS: A protein family involved in the formation of vertical skeletal elements. J Struct Biol 2017; 198:92-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2017.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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15
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Valverde Serrano C, Leemreize H, Bar-On B, Barth FG, Fratzl P, Zolotoyabko E, Politi Y. Ordering of protein and water molecules at their interfaces with chitin nano-crystals. J Struct Biol 2015; 193:124-31. [PMID: 26687414 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Synchrotron X-ray diffraction was applied to study the structure of biogenic α-chitin crystals composing the tendon of the spider Cupiennius salei. Measurements were carried out on pristine chitin crystals stabilized by proteins and water, as well as after their deproteinization and dehydration. We found substantial shifts (up to Δq/q=9% in the wave vector in q-space) in the (020) diffraction peak position between intact and purified chitin samples. However, chitin lattice parameters extracted from the set of reflections (hkl), which did not contain the (020)-reflection, showed no systematic variation between the pristine and the processed samples. The observed shifts in the (020) peak position are discussed in terms of the ordering-induced modulation of the protein and water electron density near the surface of the ultra-thin chitin fibrils due to strong protein/chitin and water/chitin interactions. The extracted modulation periods can be used as a quantitative parameter characterizing the interaction length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Valverde Serrano
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Hanna Leemreize
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Benny Bar-On
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheba 84105, Israel; Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Friedrich G Barth
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Emil Zolotoyabko
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Yael Politi
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany.
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16
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Habraken WJ, Masic A, Bertinetti L, Al-Sawalmih A, Glazer L, Bentov S, Fratzl P, Sagi A, Aichmayer B, Berman A. Layered growth of crayfish gastrolith: About the stability of amorphous calcium carbonate and role of additives. J Struct Biol 2015; 189:28-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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17
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Intra-population variation and geographic correlation in Canthon humectus hidalgoensis using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. Ecol Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s11284-014-1195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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18
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Chu X, Lu W, Zhang Y, Guo X, Sun R, Xu B. Cloning, expression patterns, and preliminary characterization of AccCPR24, a novel RR-1 type cuticle protein gene from Apis cerana cerana. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 84:130-144. [PMID: 24115354 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular proteins (CPs) are key components of insect cuticle, a structure that plays a pivotal role in insect development and defense. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA of a CP gene from Apis cerana cerana (AccCPR24). An amino acid sequence alignment indicated that AccCPR24 contains the conserved Rebers and Riddiford consensus sequence and shares high similarity with the genes from other hymenopteran insects. We then isolated the genomic DNA and found that the first intron, which is present in other CP genes, is absent in AccCPR24. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed that AccCPR24 is highly expressed in the late pupal stage and midgut. Expression was inhibited by an exogenous ecdysteroid in vitro but was enhanced by this hormone in vivo; environmental stressors, such as heavy metals and pesticides, also influenced gene expression. In addition, a disc diffusion assay showed that AccCPR24 enhanced the ability of bacterial cells to resist multiple stresses. We infer from our results that AccCPR24 acts in honeybee development and in protecting these insects from abiotic stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, People's Republic of China
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19
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Wang WQ, Bao YH, Chen Y. Characteristics and antioxidant activity of water-soluble Maillard reaction products from interactions in a whey protein isolate and sugars system. Food Chem 2013; 139:355-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.01.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Revised: 12/16/2012] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Kumagai H, Matsunaga R, Nishimura T, Yamamoto Y, Kajiyama S, Oaki Y, Akaiwa K, Inoue H, Nagasawa H, Tsumoto K, Kato T. CaCO3/Chitin hybrids: recombinant acidic peptides based on a peptide extracted from the exoskeleton of a crayfish controls the structures of the hybrids. Faraday Discuss 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2fd20057k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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21
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Lyons RE, Wong DCC, Kim M, Lekieffre N, Huson MG, Vuocolo T, Merritt DJ, Nairn KM, Dudek DM, Colgrave ML, Elvin CM. Molecular and functional characterisation of resilin across three insect orders. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2011; 41:881-90. [PMID: 21878390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2011.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2011] [Revised: 08/03/2011] [Accepted: 08/11/2011] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Resilin is an important elastomeric protein of insects, with roles in the storage and release of energy during a variety of different functional categories including flight and jumping. To date, resilin genes and protein function have been characterised only in a small number of flying insects, despite their importance in fleas and other jumping insects. Microscopy and immunostaining studies of resilin in flea demonstrate the presence of resilin pads in the pleural arch at the top of the hind legs, a region responsible for the flea's jumping ability. A degenerate primer approach was used to amplify resilin gene transcripts from total RNA isolated from flea (Ctenocephalides felis), buffalo fly (Haematobia irritans exigua) and dragonfly (Aeshna sp.) pharate adults, and full-length transcripts were successfully isolated. Two isoforms (A and B) were amplified from each of flea and buffalo fly, and isoform B only in dragonfly. Flea and buffalo fly isoform B transcripts were expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system, yielding soluble recombinant proteins Cf-resB and Hi-resB respectively. Protein structure and mechanical properties of each protein before and after crosslinking were assessed. This study shows that resilin gene and protein sequences are broadly conserved and that crosslinked recombinant resilin proteins share similar mechanical properties from flying to jumping insects. A combined use of degenerate primers and polyclonal sera will likely facilitate characterisation of resilin genes from other insect and invertebrate orders.
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22
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Andersen SO. Are structural proteins in insect cuticles dominated by intrinsically disordered regions? INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2011; 41:620-627. [PMID: 21477652 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2011.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2011] [Revised: 03/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fifty years ago it was concluded that the highly elastic cuticular protein, resilin, is devoid of secondary structure and that the peptide chains are randomly coiled and easily and reversibly deformed. These properties indicate that resilin is an intrinsically disordered protein and suggest that also other cuticular proteins may contain disordered regions. Amino acid sequences are now available for cuticular proteins from many insect species, and several programs have been developed to predict the probability for a given protein to contain disordered regions. The present paper describes the results obtained when the predictors are applied to various types of cuticular proteins from several insects. The results suggest that most cuticular proteins contain shorter or longer disordered regions, and the possible functions for such regions are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svend Olav Andersen
- The Collstrop Foundation, The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, H.C. Andersens Boulevard 35, 1553 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
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23
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Podstawka-Proniewicz E, Kosior M, Kim Y, Rolka K, Proniewicz LM. Nociceptin and its natural and specifically-modified fragments: Structural studies. Biopolymers 2010; 93:1039-54. [PMID: 20629016 DOI: 10.1002/bip.21516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The vibrational structures of Nociceptin (FQ), its short bioactive fragments, and specifically-modified [Tyr¹]FQ (1-6), [His¹]FQ (1-6), and [His(1,4)]FQ (1-6) fragments were characterized. We showed that in the solid state, all of the aforementioned peptides except FQ adopt mainly turn and disordered secondary structures with a small contribution from an antiparallel β-sheet conformation. FQ (1-11), FQ (7-17) [His¹]FQ (1-6), and [His(1,4)]FQ (1-6) have an α-helical backbone arrangement that could also slightly influence their secondary structure. The adsorption behavior of these peptides on a colloidal silver surface in an aqueous solution (pH = ∼8.3) was investigated by means of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). All of the peptides, excluding FQ (7-17), chemisorbed on the colloidal silver surfaces through a Phe⁴ residue, which for FQ, FQ (1-11), FQ (1-6), [Tyr¹]FQ (1-6), and [His¹]FQ (1-6) lies almost flat on this surface, while for FQ (1-13) and FQ (1-13)NH₂ adopts a slightly tilted orientation with respect to the surface. The Tyr¹ residue in [Tyr¹]FQ (1-6) does not interact with the colloidal silver surface, suggesting that the Tyr¹ and Phe⁴ side chains are located on the opposite sides of the peptide backbone, which can be also true for His¹ and Phe⁴ in [His¹]FQ (1-6). The lone pair of electrons on the oxygen atom of the ionized carbonyl group of FQ (1-13) and FQ (7-17) appears to be coordinated to the colloidal silver nanoparticles, whereas in the case of the remaining peptides, it only assists in the adsorption process, similar to the --NH⁴ group. We also showed that upon adsorption, the secondary structure of these peptides is altered.
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24
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Papandreou NC, Iconomidou VA, Willis JH, Hamodrakas SJ. A possible structural model of members of the CPF family of cuticular proteins implicating binding to components other than chitin. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2010; 56:1420-6. [PMID: 20417215 PMCID: PMC2918691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2010] [Revised: 04/05/2010] [Accepted: 04/05/2010] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The physical properties of cuticle are determined by the structure of its two major components, cuticular proteins (CPs) and chitin, and, also, by their interactions. A common consensus region (extended R&R Consensus) found in the majority of cuticular proteins, the CPRs, binds to chitin. Previous work established that beta-pleated sheet predominates in the Consensus region and we proposed that it is responsible for the formation of helicoidal cuticle. Remote sequence similarity between CPRs and a lipocalin, bovine plasma retinol binding protein (RBP), led us to suggest an antiparallel beta-sheet half-barrel structure as the basic folding motif of the R&R Consensus. There are several other families of cuticular proteins. One of the best defined is CPF. Its four members in Anopheles gambiae are expressed during the early stages of either pharate pupal or pharate adult development, suggesting that the proteins contribute to the outer regions of the cuticle, the epi- and/or exo-cuticle. These proteins did not bind to chitin in the same assay used successfully for CPRs. Although CPFs are distinct in sequence from CPRs, the same lipocalin could also be used to derive homology models for one A. gambiae and one Drosophila melanogaster CPF. For the CPFs, the basic folding motif predicted is an eight-stranded, antiparallel beta-sheet, full-barrel structure. Possible implications of this structure are discussed and docking experiments were carried out with one possible Drosophila ligand, 7(Z),11(Z)-heptacosadiene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos C. Papandreou
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Athens 157 01, Greece
| | - Vassiliki A. Iconomidou
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Athens 157 01, Greece
| | - Judith H. Willis
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Stavros J. Hamodrakas
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Athens 157 01, Greece
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis 157 01, Athens, Greece, Phone: +30-210-7274931, Fax: +30-210-7274254,
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25
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Uzest M, Gargani D, Dombrovsky A, Cazevieille C, Cot D, Blanc S. The "acrostyle": a newly described anatomical structure in aphid stylets. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2010; 39:221-9. [PMID: 20170746 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2010.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2009] [Accepted: 02/10/2010] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The recent demonstration that a plant virus could be retained on protein receptors located exclusively in a small area inside the common duct at the tip of aphid maxillary stylets indicated the possible existence of a distinct anatomical structure at this level. Since no distinct feature within the common duct of any aphid species has ever been reported in the literature, we first carefully re-examined the distal extremity of the maxillary stylets of Acyrthosiphon pisum using transmission- and scanning-electron microscopy. Here, we describe an area of the cuticle surface displaying a different structure that is limited to a "band" paving the bottom of the common duct in each opposing maxillary stylet. This band starts at the very distal extremity, adopts a "comma-like" shape as it continues up towards the salivary canal, reducing in width and disappearing before actually reaching it. Investigations on several aphid species led to the conclusion that this anatomical feature-which we have tentatively named the "acrostyle"-is highly conserved among aphids. We then produced an antibody recognizing a consensus peptide located in the middle of the RR-2 motif of cuticular proteins from A. pisum and showed that this motif is accessible specifically within the acrostyle, indicating a higher concentration of cuticular proteins. While it is clear that at least some viruses can use the acrostyle to interact with their aphid vectors to ensure plant-to-plant transmission, the role of this new "organ" in aphid biology is unknown and calls for further investigation in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyne Uzest
- UMR BGPI, INRA/CIRAD/AgroM, TA A54/K, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
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26
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Lin HT, Dorfmann AL, Trimmer BA. Soft-cuticle biomechanics: a constitutive model of anisotropy for caterpillar integument. J Theor Biol 2008; 256:447-57. [PMID: 19014955 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2008.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2008] [Revised: 10/05/2008] [Accepted: 10/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of soft tissues are important for the control of motion in many invertebrates. Pressurized cylindrical animals such as worms have circumferential reinforcement of the body wall; however, no experimental characterization of comparable anisotropy has been reported for climbing larvae such as caterpillars. Using uniaxial, real-time fluorescence extensometry on millimeter scale cuticle specimens we have quantified differences in the mechanical properties of cuticle to circumferentially and longitudinally applied forces. Based on these results and the composite matrix-fiber structure of cuticle, a pseudo-elastic transversely isotropic constitutive material model was constructed with circumferential reinforcement realized as a Horgan-Saccomandi strain energy function. This model was then used numerically to describe the anisotropic material properties of Manduca cuticle. The constitutive material model will be used in a detailed finite-element analysis to improve our understanding of the mechanics of caterpillar crawling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huai-Ti Lin
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
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27
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Togawa T, Dunn WA, Emmons AC, Nagao J, Willis JH. Developmental expression patterns of cuticular protein genes with the R&R Consensus from Anopheles gambiae. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2008; 38:508-19. [PMID: 18405829 PMCID: PMC2416445 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2007] [Revised: 12/17/2007] [Accepted: 12/19/2007] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
CPR proteins are the largest cuticular protein family in arthropods. The whole genome sequence of Anopheles gambiae revealed 156 genes that code for proteins with the R&R Consensus and named CPRs. This protein family can be divided into RR-1 and RR-2 subgroups, postulated to contribute to different regions of the cuticle. We determined the temporal expression patterns of these genes throughout post-embryonic development by means of real-time qRT-PCR. Based on expression profiles, these genes were grouped into 21 clusters. Most of the genes were expressed with sharp peaks at single or multiple periods associated with molting. Genes coding for RR-1 and RR-2 proteins were found together in several co-expression clusters. Twenty-five genes were expressed exclusively at one metamorphic stage. Five out of six X-linked genes showed equal expression in males and females, supporting the presence of a gene dosage compensation system in A. gambiae. Many RR-2 genes are organized into sequence clusters whose members are extremely similar to each other and generally closely associated on a chromosome. Most genes in each sequence cluster are expressed with the same temporal expression pattern and at the same level, suggesting a shared mechanism to regulate their expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Judith H. Willis
- Corresponding author: Judith H. Willis, Tel: +1-706-542-0802; Fax: +1-706-542-4271, E-mail:
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28
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Karouzou MV, Spyropoulos Y, Iconomidou VA, Cornman RS, Hamodrakas SJ, Willis JH. Drosophila cuticular proteins with the R&R Consensus: annotation and classification with a new tool for discriminating RR-1 and RR-2 sequences. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2007; 37:754-60. [PMID: 17628275 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2007] [Revised: 03/07/2007] [Accepted: 03/13/2007] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The majority of cuticular protein sequences identified to date from a diversity of arthropods have a conserved region known as the Rebers and Riddiford Consensus (R&R Consensus). This consensus region has been used to query the whole genome sequence of Drosophila melanogaster. One hundred one putative cuticular proteins have been annotated. Of these, 29 had been annotated previously, and for several their authenticity as cuticular proteins had been verified by protein sequence data from isolated cuticles or by localization of their transcripts in epidermis when cuticle synthesis was occurring. The original names have been retained, and the 72 newly annotated proteins have been given names beginning with Cpr followed by the chromosomal band in which the gene is located. Proteins with the R&R Consensus can be split into three groups RR-1, RR-2 and RR-3, with some correlation to the type or region of the cuticle in which they occur. Previous classification was manual and subjective. We now have developed a tool using profile hidden Markov models that allows more objective classification. We describe the development and verification of the validity of this tool that is available at the cuticleDB website http://bioinformatics2.biol.uoa.gr/cuticleDB/index.jsp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Karouzou
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Athens 157 01, Greece
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29
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Dombrovsky A, Sobolev I, Chejanovsky N, Raccah B. Characterization of RR-1 and RR-2 cuticular proteins from Myzus persicae. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2007; 146:256-64. [PMID: 17196860 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2006.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2006] [Revised: 10/30/2006] [Accepted: 11/03/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A cDNA library for Myzus persicae has served to identify sequences coding for cuticular proteins (CPs) with RR-1 and RR-2 consensus. Two putative CPs showed a common RR-2 chitin binding domain (CBD) but differed in their C and N terminals. Two other predicted CPs showed a typical RR-1 CBD but differed in size and sequence of the C and N terminals. An additional sequence encoding for a protein that showed terminal amino acid repeats similar to those of putative CPs from M. persicae, but lacked the R & R consensus, was also described. A comparison of the sequences obtained from the cDNA library with those attained from the genomic DNA, confirmed their identity as cuticular proteins genes. Presence of introns was revealed in the Mpcp4 and Mpcp5 genes coding for CPs with an RR-1 consensus. The Mpcp4 has a single large intron, while the Mpcp5 has two shorter ones. Introns were not found in the Mpcp2 and Mpcp3 genes encoding for CPs with RR-2 consensus. Differences were also noticed for 3' UTR and 5' UTR of both the RR-1 and RR-2 CPs. CPs genes were expressed in bacteria, and the resulting protein was identified as a CP by amino acid sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviv Dombrovsky
- The Volcani Center, Department of Virology, Bet Dagan, Israel
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30
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Díaz-Rojas EI, Argüelles-Monal WM, Higuera-Ciapara I, Hernández J, Lizardi-Mendoza J, Goycoolea FM. Determination of Chitin and Protein Contents During the Isolation of Chitin from Shrimp Waste. Macromol Biosci 2006; 6:340-7. [PMID: 16685688 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200500233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Accurate determination of chitin and protein contents in crustacean biomass and the intermediate products during the industrial isolation of chitin cannot be made directly from the total nitrogen content, unless the appropriate corrections are applied. This method, however, is affected by the presence of other nitrogen-containing chemical species that are formed endogenously or by the action of microorganisms during the handling of the sample. Therefore, an alternative rapid method to estimate the contents of these components can be very useful both in research and in various fields of application. An original method has been developed to address this problem. The method consists of the development of a set of equations based on the stoichiometric contents of nitrogen of chitin and protein whereby the amounts of each component can be estimated from the value of the total nitrogen content, provided the rest of the proximate composition of the sample is accurately known. In order to validate the procedure, a set of model mixtures of pure chitin and protein concentrate in the solid state, both extracted from shrimp head waste, are used. Excellent agreement between the predicted and real values of chitin and protein are obtained (R2=0.98, slope=0.90). When the proposed method is tested in the analysis of real samples obtained from five different processing protocols of pretreatment of raw shrimp head, it is found that in general the values of protein and chitin contents throughout the various stages of the process vary as expected. [GRAPH: SEE TEXT] Variation of the measured total nitrogen versus calculated stoichiometric total nitrogen of the chitin-protein mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika I Díaz-Rojas
- Laboratory of Biopolymers, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. P.O. Box 1735, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
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31
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Sugawara A, Nishimura T, Yamamoto Y, Inoue H, Nagasawa H, Kato T. Self-Organization of Oriented Calcium Carbonate/Polymer Composites: Effects of a Matrix Peptide Isolated from the Exoskeleton of a Crayfish. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2006; 45:2876-9. [PMID: 16550616 DOI: 10.1002/anie.200503800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ayae Sugawara
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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32
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Sugawara A, Nishimura T, Yamamoto Y, Inoue H, Nagasawa H, Kato T. Self-Organization of Oriented Calcium Carbonate/Polymer Composites: Effects of a Matrix Peptide Isolated from the Exoskeleton of a Crayfish. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2006. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.200503800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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33
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Xiao H, Xie Y, Liu Q, Xu X, Shi C. The studies of FT-IR and CD spectroscopy on catechol oxidase I from tobacco. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2005; 61:2840-8. [PMID: 16165022 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2004.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2004] [Revised: 10/23/2004] [Accepted: 10/25/2004] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
A novel copper-containing enzyme named COI (catechol oxidase I) has been isolated and purified from tobacco by extracting acetone-emerged powder with phosphate buffer, centrifugation at low temperature, ammonium sulfate fractional precipitation, and column chromatography on DEAE-sephadex (A-50), sephadex (G-75), and DEAE-celluse (DE-52). PAGE, SDS-PAGE were used to detect the enzyme purity, and to determine its molecular weight. Then the secondary structures of COI at different pH, different temperatures and different concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) were studied by the FT-IR, Fourier self-deconvolution spectra, and circular dichroism (CD). At pH 2.0, the contents of both alpha-helix and anti-parallel beta-sheet decrease, and that of random coil increases, while beta-turn is unchanged compared with the neutral condition (pH 7.0). At pH 11.0, the results indicate that the contents of alpha-helix, anti-parallel beta-sheet and beta-turn decrease, while random coil structure increases. According to the CD measurements, the relative average fractions of alpha-helix, anti-parallel beta-sheet, beta-turn/parallel beta-sheet, aromatic residues and disulfide bond, and random coil/gamma-turn are 41.7%, 16.7%, 23.5%, 11.3%, and 6.8% at pH 7.0, respectively, while 7.2%, 7.7%, 15.2%, 10.7%, 59.2% at pH 2.0, and 20.6%, 9.5%, 15.2%, 10.5%, 44.2% at pH 11.0. Both alpha-helix and random coil decrease with temperature increasing, and anti-parallel beta-sheet increases at the same time. After incubated in 6 mol/L guanidine hydrochloride for 30 min, the fraction of alpha-helix almost disappears (only 1.1% left), while random coil/gamma-turn increases to 81.8%, which coincides well with the results obtained through enzymatic activity experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hourong Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
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34
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Iconomidou VA, Willis JH, Hamodrakas SJ. Unique features of the structural model of 'hard' cuticle proteins: implications for chitin-protein interactions and cross-linking in cuticle. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2005; 35:553-560. [PMID: 15857761 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2005.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2004] [Revised: 01/26/2005] [Accepted: 01/27/2005] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular proteins are one of the determinants of the physical properties of cuticle. A common consensus region (extended R&R Consensus) in these proteins binds to chitin, the other major component of cuticle. We previously predicted the preponderance of beta-pleated sheet in the consensus region and proposed its responsibility for the formation of helicoidal cuticle (Iconomidou et al., Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 29 (1999) 285). Subsequently, we verified experimentally the abundance of antiparallel beta-pleated sheet in the structure of cuticle proteins (Iconomidou et al., Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 31 (2001) 877). Homology modelling of soft (RR-1) cuticular proteins using bovine plasma retinol binding protein (RBP) as a template revealed an antiparallel beta-sheet half-barrel structure as the basic folding motif (Hamodrakas et al., Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 32 (2002) 1577). The RR-2 proteins characteristic of hard cuticle, have a far more conserved consensus and frequently more histidine residues. Extension of modelling to this class of consensus, in this work, reveals in detail several unique features of the proposed structural model to serve as a chitin binding structural motif, thus providing the basis for elucidating cuticle's overall architecture and chitin-protein interactions in cuticle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassiliki A Iconomidou
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 157 01, Greece.
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Togawa T, Nakato H, Izumi S. Analysis of the chitin recognition mechanism of cuticle proteins from the soft cuticle of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2004; 34:1059-1067. [PMID: 15475300 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2004.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2004] [Accepted: 06/15/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Insect cuticle is composed mainly of chitin, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, and chitin-binding cuticle proteins. Four major cuticle proteins, BMCP30, 22, 18, and 17, have been previously identified and purified from the larval cuticle of silkworm, B. mori. We analyzed the chitin-binding activity of BMCP30 by use of chitin-affinity chromatography. The pH optimum for the binding of BMCP30 to chitin is 6.4, which corresponds to hemolymph pH. Competition experiments using chitooligosaccharides suggested that BMCP30 recognizes 4-6 mer of N-acetylglucosamine in chitin fiber as a unit for binding. The comparison of the binding properties of BMCP30 with those of BMCP18 showed that their binding activities to chitin are similar in a standard buffer but that BMCP30 binds to chitin more stably than BMCP18 in the presence of urea. BMCPs possess the RR-1 form of the R&R consensus, about 70 amino acids region conserved widely among cuticle proteins mainly from the soft cuticle of many insect and arthropod species. Analysis of the binding activity using deletion mutants of BMCPs revealed that this type of conserved region also functions as the chitin-binding domain, similarly to the RR-2 region previously shown to confer chitin binding. Thus, the extended R&R consensus is the general chitin-binding domain of cuticle proteins in Arthropoda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Togawa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiosawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
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Dombrovsky A, Huet H, Zhang H, Chejanovsky N, Raccah B. Comparison of newly isolated cuticular protein genes from six aphid species. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2003; 33:709-715. [PMID: 12826098 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(03)00065-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports on the first aphids' cuticular proteins. One gene (Mpcp1) was obtained by screening a cDNA library of Myzus persicae with antibodies to a lepidopteran cuticle protein. MpCP1 presents a putative signal peptide, a central extended R&R domain, flanked by N- and C-terminal repeats of alanine, tyrosine and proline. The mRNA of Mpcp1 could be detected in a larval and in adult stages. Primers based on Mpcp1 allowed isolating and comparing cuticle protein genes from five aphid species, but not from whitefly or thrips. Comparison revealed a high degree of similarity. Data from this paper suggest that this cuticle protein family is typical and predominant to aphids. The conformation of these cuticle proteins and the significance on particular properties of aphid cuticle is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dombrovsky
- Volcani Center, Department of Virology, Bet Dagan, Israel
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Ditzel N, Andersen SO, Højrup P. Cuticular proteins from the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2003; 134:489-97. [PMID: 12628379 DOI: 10.1016/s1096-4959(02)00291-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Proteins were purified from the carapace cuticle of a juvenile horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, and several of them were characterized by amino acid sequence determination. The proteins are small (7-16 kDa) and their isoelectric points range from 6.5 to 9.2. They have high contents of tyrosine, ranging from 13.5 to 35.4%. Some of the proteins show sequence similarity to cuticular proteins from other arthropod groups, with the most pronounced similarity to proteins from the cuticle of the spider Araneus diadematus. Two proteins show sequence similarity to a hexamerin storage protein from Blaberus discoidalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Ditzel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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Shi C, Dai Y, Liu Q, Xie Y, Xu X. The FT-IR spectrometric analysis of the changes of polyphenol oxidase II secondary structure. J Mol Struct 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2860(02)00471-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Hamodrakas SJ, Willis JH, Iconomidou VA. A structural model of the chitin-binding domain of cuticle proteins. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2002; 32:1577-1583. [PMID: 12530225 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(02)00079-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The nature of the interaction of insect cuticular proteins and chitin is unknown even though about half of the cuticular proteins sequenced thus far share a consensus region that has been predicted to be the site of chitin binding. We previously predicted the preponderance of beta-pleated sheet in the consensus region and proposed its responsibility for the formation of helicoidal cuticle (Iconomidou et al., Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 29 (1999) 285). Consequently, we have also verified experimentally the abundance of antiparallel beta-pleated sheet in the structure of cuticle proteins (Iconomidou et al., Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 31 (2001) 877). In this work, based on sequence and secondary structure similarity of cuticle proteins, and especially that of the consensus motif, to that of bovine plasma retinol binding protein (RBP), we propose by homology modelling an antiparallel beta-sheet half-barrel structure as the basic folding motif of cuticle proteins. This folding motif may provide the template for elucidating cuticle protein-chitin interactions in detail and reveal the precise geometrical formation of cuticle's helicoidal architecture. This predicted motif is another example where nature utilizes an almost flat protein surface covered by aromatic side chains to interact with the polysaccharide chains of chitin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros J Hamodrakas
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Athens 157 01, Greece.
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Andersen SO. Characteristic properties of proteins from pre-ecdysial cuticle of larvae and pupae of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2002; 32:1077-1087. [PMID: 12213244 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(02)00045-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Proteins extracted from the cuticle of pharate larvae and pupae of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor are more soluble at low temperatures than at higher temperatures, a behaviour characteristic of hydrophobic proteins. When the temperature of an unfractionated cuticular extract is raised from 4 to 25 degrees C the solution becomes turbid, droplets of a heavy, protein-rich phase are formed, which gradually settles, leaving an upper protein-poor phase, indicating that the aggregation process is a coacervation. The aggregation of the dissolved cuticular proteins is influenced by changes in temperature, pH, and ionic strength. The process has been studied by measuring development of turbidity in unfractionated cuticular extracts and in solutions of three purified proteins from Tenebrio pharate larvae and pupae (TmLPCP-A1a, TmLPCP-E1a, and TmLPCP-G1a), while temperature, pH or ionic strength of the solutions were varied. Protein aggregation was also studied by determination of changes in fluorescence intensity, when the hydrophobicity probe, 8-anilinonaphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) was added to solutions of the cuticular proteins. Only when the protein solutions had developed a measurable turbidity was an increase in ANS-fluorescence observed, indicating formation of tightly packed clusters of hydrophobic amino acid residues during aggregation. The temperature range for aggregation depends upon protein concentration: the higher the concentration the lower and more narrow is the temperature range within which aggregation occurs. The tendency for the individual cuticular proteins to aggregate is most pronounced near their isoelectric points, and most of the cuticular proteins have alkaline isoelectric points. The influence of salts on the tendency of the proteins to aggregate varies among the proteins and depends upon how close they are to their isoelectric point. A solution containing both protein TmLPCP-A1a and TmLPCP-E1a becomes more turbid and develops a more intense ANS-fluorescence when warmed from 10 to 30 degrees C than corresponding to the sum of measurements performed on separate solutions of the two proteins, indicating that the two proteins interact during aggregation. The Tenebrio larval/pupal cuticular proteins are characterized by an abundance of hydrophobic amino acid residues, and especially their contents of alanine and proline are high. The behaviour of the cuticular proteins in solution resembles that of another hydrophobic protein, tropoelastin, and it seems reasonable to suggest that similar interactions govern the folding and aggregation of the peptide chains in the two types of proteins. The proline and alanine rich chain segments in the pharate cuticular proteins are suggested to form a series of beta-turns and to fold into a relatively open structure at low temperatures, giving water access to the hydrophobic residues and making the proteins water soluble. At increased temperatures the structure of the ordered water layer surrounding the hydrophobic groups breaks down, and the peptide chains tend to collapse into a more closed structure and to interact more tightly with hydrophobic regions in neighbouring molecules. In dilute solutions in the test tube this results in aggregation and precipitation of the proteins; in intact, pharate cuticle at ambient temperatures the proteins will preferably be in an aggregated, easily dissociated state. Accordingly, small changes in intercuticular pH and ionic strength can produce pronounced changes in the mechanical properties of unsclerotized solid cuticle by interference with protein interactions, in agreement with reports that some cuticles undergo plasticization during and/or immediately after ecdysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S O Andersen
- Biochemical Department, August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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