Further evidence for the absence of polyproline II stretch in the XAO peptide

It has been suggested that the alanine-based peptide with sequence Ac-XX-[A](7)-OO-NH(2), termed XAO where X denotes diaminobutyric acid and O denotes ornithine, exists in a predominantly polyproline-helix (P(II)) conformation in aqueous solution. In our recent work, we demonstrated that this "polyproline conformation" should be regarded as a set of local conformational states rather than as the overall conformation of the molecule. In this work, we present further evidence to support this statement. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed only a very small peak in the heat capacity of an aqueous solution of XAO at 57 degrees C, whereas the suggested transition to the P(II) structure should occur at approximately 30 degrees C. We also demonstrate that the temperature dependence of the (3)J(HNHalpha) coupling constants of the alanine residues can be explained qualitatively in terms of Boltzmann averaging over all local conformational states; therefore, this temperature dependence proves that a conformational transition does not occur. Canonical MD simulations with the solvent represented by the generalized Born model, and with time-averaged NMR-derived restraints, demonstrate the presence of an ensemble of structures with a substantial amount of local P(II) conformational states but not with an overall P(II) conformation.     

Kinetics and Equilibrium Studies of Tet Repressor–Operator Interaction

Binding of a Tet repressor mutant containing a single Trp43 residue in the tet operator recognition α-helix leads to the quenching of the protein fluorescence down to about 23% in the case of the tet O₁ operator and to 40% in the case of the tet O₂ operator. We have used fluorescence detection to describe the binding equilibrium and kinetics of the Tet repressor interaction with the 20-bp DNA operators tet O₁ and tet O₂. Stopped-flow measurements in an excess of the tet operators performed in 5 mM NaCl or 150 mM NaCl indicate that the reaction can be described by at least three exponentials characterized by different relaxation times. The mechanism of interaction for both operators as well as for two salt concentrations used can be described as TetR + Operator ? Complex 1 ? Complex 2 ? Complex 3. Only the much faster process can be described as a second-order reaction characterized by a bimolecular rate constant equal to 2.8 × 10⁶ M^?1 sec^?1 for both operators. The medium and slow processes may be described by relaxational times ranging from 50 msec to seconds. The results of the binding equilibrium measurements extrapolated to 1 M NaCl concentration, which reflects the specific nonionic interaction between TetR and tet operators, indicate K _as equal to 3.2 × 10⁴ and 4.0 × 10⁵ M^?1 for tet O₁ and tet O₂, respectively. The number of monovalent ions replaced upon binding can be calculated as about 5 and 3 for tet O₁ and tet O₂, respectively. The binding of Tet repressor to the operators leads to changes in the circular dichroism spectra of the DNA which could indicate transitions of B-DNA into A-like DNA structure.     

Chromium(III) and iron(III) inhibits replication of DNA and RNA viruses

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of treating of chromium(III) and iron(III) and their combinations on Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus (BVDV) replication. The antiviral efficacies of chromium(III) and iron(III) on HSV-1 and BVDV were evaluated using Real Time PCR method. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of these microelements was examined using the MTT reduction assay. The IC₅₀ (50% inhibiotory concentration) for the chromium chloride was 1100 μM for Hep-2 cells and 1400 μM for BT cells. The IC₅₀ for the iron chloride was 1200 μM for Hep-2 cells and more than1400 μM for BT cells. The concentration-dependent antiviral activity of chromium chloride and iron chloride against HSV-1 and BVDV viruses was observed. In cultures simultaneously treated with (1) 200 μM of CrCl₃ and 1000 μM of FeCl₃, (2) 1000 μM of CrCl₃ and 200 μM of FeCl₃, (3) 400 μM of CrCl₃ and 800 μM of FeCl₃, (4) 800 μM of CrCl₃ and 400 μM of FeCl₃ a decrease in number of DNA or RNA copies was observed compared with control cells and cells incubated with chromium(III) and iron(III) used separately. The synergistic antiviral effects were observed for chromium(III) and iron(III) against HSV-1 and BVDV.     

Mutation on Gly115 and Tyr205 of the cyclic dipeptide C2-prenyltransferase FtmPT1 increases its catalytic activity toward hydroxynaphthalenes

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - The fungal cyclic dipeptide prenyltransferase FtmPT1 from Aspergillus fumigatus catalyzes a regular C2-prenylation of brevianamide F (cyclo-l-Trp-l-Pro) and...     

The Arctic mutation alters helix length and type in the 11-28 beta-amyloid peptide monomer-CD, NMR and MD studies in an SDS micelle

The beta-amyloid (Abeta) is the major peptide constituent of neuritic plaques in Alzheimer's disease, and its aggregation is believed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Naturally occurring mutations resulting in changes in the Abeta sequence (pos. 21-23) are associated with familial Alzheimer's-like diseases with extensive cerebrovascular pathology. It has been demonstrated that such mutations alter the aggregation ability of Abeta and its neurotoxicity. Among the five mutations at positions 21-23 there is one with distinct clinical characteristics and a potentially distinct pathogenic mechanism-the Arctic (E22G) mutation. We have examined the structures of fragment 11-28 of the native peptide and its E22G variant. This fragment was chosen because it has been shown to be a good model for conformational and aggregation studies as it contains the hydrophobic core responsible for aggregation and the residues critical to alpha-secretase cleavage of APP. The detailed structure of the two peptides was determined using CD, 2D NMR and molecular dynamics techniques under water-SDS micelle conditions. Our studies indicated the existence of partially alpha- and 3(10)-helical conformations in the native and mutated peptide, respectively.     

Solution conformations of bradykinin antagonists modified with Calpha-Calpha cyclized nonaromatic residues

The conformations of four BK antagonists, [D-Arg 0, Hyp3, Thi5, D-Phe7, Acc8]BK (1), Aaa[D-Arg 0, Hyp3, Thi5, D-Phe7, Acc8]BK (2), [D-Arg 0, Hyp3, Thi5, 8, Apc7]BK (3), and Aaa[D-Arg(0), Hyp(3), Thi(5, 8), Apc7]BK (4) were studied by using 2D NMR spectroscopy and MD simulations with time-averaged (TAV) restraints. According to the results of the NMR measurements, the BK antagonists contain 7-30% of minor conformation resulting from cis/trans isomerization of the peptide bonds preceding either Pro or Hyp residues. The major conformation of each peptide possesses all peptide bonds in trans configuration. Peptides modified with the Apc residue at position 7 (peptides 3 and 4) possess a higher percentage of minor isomer.Peptide 1 exhibits the strongest vasodepressor potency among the analogs studied and as a single one forms the betaII-turn in the 2-5 fragment, which is believed to be crucial for antagonistic activity. This peptide is also the most compact. The radius of gyration (Rg) amounts to 6.9 A and is by ca 1.5 A lower than that of the remaining analogs. With peptide 4, the ST-turn of type I within the Ser6-Thi8 fragment was found.     

Characterization of Phages Virulent for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> Rhizobia

Three lytic phages (ΦRP1, ΦRP2, and ΦRP3) specific for Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia were isolated from the soil under black locust. They were characterized by their morphology, host range, and some other properties including DNA molecular weights. Studied phages have been found to belong to Siphoviridae family that comprises viruses with long, and noncontractile tails. They had broad host ranges and effectively lysed not only Robinia pseudoacacia microsymbionts but also different Mesorhizobium species. The phages were homogenous in latent periods (300 min) but heterogeneous in burst sizes (100–200 phage particles per one infected cell) and rise periods (90–120 min). They showed a distinct adsorption rate to Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia (70.4–93.94%). The molecular weights of phage DNAs estimated from restriction enzyme digests were in the range from ca. 82 kb to ca. 105 kb.     

Cytotoxic activity of Enterobacter cloacae human isolates

We examined 55 Enterobacter cloacae isolates from clinical specimens for the production of cytotonic and cytotoxic toxins and the presence of the type III secretion system (TTSS). Twelve isolates (22%) revealed cytotoxic activity that caused destruction of Vero cells, whereas 28 (51%) strains induced lysis of the murine macrophage J774 cell line. TTSS genes were present in 27% of the isolates. The results indicated that these bacteria may destroy phagocytes and epithelial cells, which may lead to spread within the host.     

Acceptance of low-saponin lines of alfalfa with varied phenolic concentrations by pea aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae)

This research aims to examine the effect of phenolics on pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) (Homoptera: Aphididae) development and feeding behaviour, on leaves of selected low-saponin lines of Radius alfalfa (Medicago sativa). There was a slight, negative correlation (Spearman rank correlation r _s = −0.80) between concentrations of saponins and phenols. Lines with higher concentrations of saponins had less phenolics. Levels of phenolics in low-saponin lines of alfalfa cv. Radius were related to their acceptance by the pea aphid. Our data revealed an inverse relationship between level of phenolics and the aphid abundance and its biology on studied alfalfa lines. Larval development of the pea aphid was longer, reproduction period was shorter, and the fecundity was lower on low-saponin lines with higher level of phenolics. There were observed some tendencies in the pea aphid feeding behaviour on these lines: prolonging the probing of the peripheral tissues (epidermis and mesophyll) and shortening the period of phloem sap ingestion. The better hosts for the pea aphid were low-saponin lines with low levels of phenolic compounds.