Strength of CH···π interactions in the C-terminal subdomain of villin headpiece

The relative free energies of the folded structures of the seven model peptides with PLX (X = W, Y, F, H, and A) and ALX (X = W and A) sequences to the corresponding extended structures are calculated using the density functional methods in water to evaluate the relative strengths of CH···π interactions, especially proline···aromatic interactions for the PLX motif of the C-terminal subdomain of villin headpiece. It has been found that the Pro···π contacts for the folded structures of the PLW, PLY, PLF, and PLH peptides have in common a geometric pattern having the edge of the Pro ring interacting with the face of the aromatic ring, as found for functionally important Pro residues in proteins. At the M06-2X/cc-pVTZ//SMD M06-2X/6-31+G(d) level of theory, the relative stabilities of the folded structures to the extended structures are obtained in the order PLW > ALW > PLA > PLH > PLY > ALA > PLF by the conformational Gibbs free energies in water, which is reasonably consistent with the observed results from the CD thermal analysis for wild-type and mutants of the C-terminal subdomains of villin headpieces. Although the interaction energies excluding the solvation free energies play a role in determining the relative stabilities of the PLX and ALX peptides, the solvation and entropic terms are found to be of consequence, too. In particular, it has been known that ～40% of the total interaction energy of the PLW peptide is ascribed to the CH···π interactions of the contacting side chains for Pro and Trp residues, in which the dispersion terms play a role.     

Flexibility of A · Pairs in Left-Handed DNA Helices

Abstract

We have analysed by various approaches the structure of cloned synthetic sequences in supercoiled plasmids. Individual inserts were formed by d(C-G)_n blocks interrupted by the presence of A · T pairs positioned either in phase or out of phase of pur-pyr alternation. Based on the thermodynamic analysis we obtained results confirming that A · T pairs are easily incorporated into left-handed helices without significant energetic penalty. Sequences GTAC which are known to form cruciform structures in multiple repetition underwent a B-Z transition. In the case of plasmids containing AA/TT code words and substantial discontinuities in purine-pyrimidine alternation our analysis indicates that Z-Z junctions formed by A · T pairs contributed little to the overall energetic demands of the B-Z transition probably thanks to their high conformational flexibility.     

The conformational states of Mg·ATP in water

The conformational equilibria of Mg·ATP in solution is studied using molecular dynamics (MD) augmented with umbrella sampling methods. Free energy comparisons show that the Mg²⁺ ion is equally likely to coordinate the oxygens of the two end phosphates, or of all three phosphates. The MD trajectories reveal two major degrees of freedom of the Mg·ATP molecule in solution, and we compute the free energy as a function of these variables, and determine its elastic properties. Comparing the free energy function with several crystallographic structures of ATP analogs, we find that the crystal structures correspond to states where ATP would be elastically strained. The average water density around Mg·ATP is investigated to show the average number of hydrogen bonds and the hydrophobicity.     

Non-canonical H-bonds in β-lactamases: importance of C–H···π interactions

β-Lactamase production is the common mechanism of resistance of β-lactam antibiotics. Knowledge of inter-residue interactions in protein structures increases our understanding of protein structure and stability. We have systematically analysed the contribution of C–H···π interactions to the stability of β-lactamases. Most of the interactions are long range and most of the interacting residues are evolutionarily conserved. The occurrence of C–H···π interactions in active sites and metal binding sites is very low in β-lactamases. Hence, C–H···π interactions are important determinants of stability in β-lactamases and they may not play a significant role in specificity. The results from this study provide valuable insights for understanding the stability patterns of β-lactamases and their relation to various other environmental preferences.     

Occurrence of 40 S·polysomal complexes in polysome profiles of reticulocyte lysates

In most reticulocyte lysates 40 S · polysomal complexes have such a short lifetime that they will not show up in the polysome profile. Here we describe a reticulocyte lysate where these 40 S · polysomal complexes apparently have a highly increased lifetime and therefore these complexes can be seen in the polysome profile as shoulders on the di-, tri- and tetrasome peak. The presence of these complexes in lysates probably signals an increased speed in the association of 40 S subunits with mRNA since similar alterations as described above show up in the polysome profile of normal lysates to which native ribosomal 40 S subunits were added.     

Conferences in the Field of Virology Invitation·Main Programme

正2016·2017|Erlangen(DE)·Marburg(DE)Dear Sir or Madam,Dear colleague,We would like to give you a brief overview of upcoming virological conferences.You are cordially invited to join and visit us in Erlangen and Marburg(Germany).Frontiers of Retrovirology Conference 201612-14September 2016·Erlangen(DE)·www.frontiers-of-retrovirology.com     

Roles of electrostatic interaction and dispersion in CH···CH,CH···π, and π···π ethylene dimers

The structural, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of orthorhombic Bi₂S₃ and Bi₂Se₃ compounds have been investigated by means of first principles calculations. The calculated lattice parameters and internal coordinates are in very good agreement with the experimental findings. The elastic constants are obtained, then the secondary results such as bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, anisotropy factor, and Debye temperature of polycrystalline aggregates are derived, and the relevant mechanical properties are also discussed. Furthermore, the band structures and optical properties such as real and imaginary parts of dielectric functions, energy-loss function, the effective number of valance electrons, and the effective optical dielectric constant have been computed. We also calculated some nonlinearities for Bi₂S₃ and Bi₂Se₃ (tensors of elasto-optical coefficients) under pressure.

Development of polarity in the ovules of the F2-progeny of theOenothera hybridalbicans · hhookeri

In the F₂-progeny of hybrids from crosses betweenOenothera biennis orsuaveolens andOe. hookeri with theRenner-complexesalbicans and^hhookeri, the development of callose pattern in meiocytes and megaspore tetrads is the same as in the F₁ and the parentOe. hookeri. During the development of the megaspore tetrads and the embryo sacs primary and secondary heteropolarity as well as homopolarity is observed. Estimates for the initial frequency of homo- and heteropolar tetrads at the end of the degeneration of megaspores in the tetrads immediately before the start of embryo sac development could be calculated. The F₂-plants can be arranged in three groups, distinguished by the frequency of the two polarity types. One of these groups behaves similar to the parentOe. hookeri, the two others have more homopolar tetrads. The segregation can be interpreted as recombination of genes, which influence the development of the polarity in the ovules. This is possible by crossing-over of genes between the twoRenner-complexes of the hybrid.     

The in situ formation of DNA · DNA duplexes of Drosophila virilis satellite DNA

The DNA of Drosophila virilis brains and imaginal discs was labeled in vitro to a specific activity of 6 X 10(-5) dpm/mug, using an organ culture medium. The DNA was fractionated on neutral and alkaline CsC1 gradients and the heavy strands of satellite I annealed in situ to denatured polytene chromosomes from squash preparations of larval salivary glands. Nuclease S1 from Aspergillus oryzae was used to digest the unpaired ssDNA, resulting in a distinct labeling of the alpha-heterochromatin in the chromocenter and a small amount of diffused labeling in the proximal beta-heterochromatic part of the X-Chromsome.     

Intramolecular C---H···O hydrogen-bond mediated stabilization of a cis-DPro imide-bond in a stereocontrolled heterochiral model peptide

The X-ray diffraction analysis of a stereocontrolled heterochiral designed model peptide Boc-(D) Pro-Thr-OMe (1) revealed the existence of an unusual folded molecular structure, stabilized via an effective unconventional C---H…O type intramolecular hydrogen-bond, encompassing a noncovalent 12-membered ring-motif. Together with an uncommon type a disposition of the urethane moiety, the tightly folded topology is compounded with a cis-(D) Pro imide-bond. The overall conformation is suggested to be the reminiscent of specific type VI β-turn structures, hitherto, characterized across the Aaa-cis-Pro peptide-bonds in globular proteins and polypeptides. The (13) C NMR spectrum of 1 in an apolar CDCl(3) environment revealed the presence of approximately an equal population of cis and trans isomers unexpectedly, analogous to Pro side-chain, the (13) C NMR chemical-shifts of Thr C(β) -resonance is observed to be sensitive toward cis-trans isomerization. In conjunction with solid-state FT-IR spectral data, we established that a network of complex intermolecular hydrogen-bonds stabilize a self-complementary noncovalent helical hexagonal self-assembly and crystallographic supramolecular aggregate. The results incline us to highlight that the stabilization of cis-(D) Pro peptide-bond in crystalline state may be driven by the favorable energy of formation of an unconventional weak C---H…O intramolecular hydrogen-bond.     

Mapping of the SecA·SecY and SecA·SecG interfaces by site-directed in vivo photocross-linking

The two major components of the Eubacteria Sec-dependent protein translocation system are the heterotrimeric channel-forming component SecYEG and its binding partner, the SecA ATPase nanomotor. Once bound to SecYEG, the preprotein substrate, and ATP, SecA undergoes ATP-hydrolytic cycles that drive the stepwise translocation of proteins. Although a previous site-directed in vivo photocross-linking study (Mori, H., and Ito, K. (2006) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103, 16159-16164) elucidated residues of SecY needed for interaction with SecA, no reciprocal study for SecA protein has been reported to date. In the present study we mapped residues of SecA that interact with SecY or SecG utilizing this approach. Our results show that distinct domains of SecA on two halves of the molecule interact with two corresponding SecY partners as well as with the central cytoplasmic domain of SecG. Our data support the in vivo relevance of the Thermotoga maritima SecA·SecYEG crystal structure that visualized SecYEG interaction for only one-half of SecA as well as previous studies indicating that SecA normally binds two molecules of SecYEG.     

Reactivity of essential histidine residues in EF-Tu · GDP and EF-Tu · GTP from Escherichia coli

The microenvironment of histidine residues located in the binding site of elongation factor EF-Tu from Escherichia coli for the 3′ terminus of aminoacyl-tRNA is altered during transition of EF-Tu · GDP to EF-Tu · GTP.     

Enhancement of protonated molecular ions and ammonium·molecular ion complexes in direct-liquid-introduction-mass spectrometry of carbohydrates

Addition of ammonium acetate to the mobile phase in direct-liquid-introduction mass spectrometry enhances the abundance of the protonated molecular ion or ammonium·molecular ion complex for compounds of biological interest. The efficacy of the method was investigated by comparing mass spectra obtained, with and without ammonium acetate, for a variety of underivatized, per-O-acetylated, and per-O-alkylated carbohydrates, and for several underivatized peptides. The mass spectra of the per-O-alkylated carbohydrates obtained by direct-liquid-introduction mass spectrometry with ammonium acetate were also compared to those obtained by thermospray mass spectrometry.     

Lobe-specific functions of Ca2+·calmodulin in alphaCa2+·calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activation

N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor-dependent long term potentiation (LTP), a model of memory formation, requires Ca2+·calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII) activity and Thr286 autophosphorylation via both global and local Ca2+ signaling, but the mechanisms of signal transduction are not understood. We tested the hypothesis that the Ca2+-binding activator protein calmodulin (CaM) is the primary decoder of Ca2+ signals, thereby determining the output, e.g. LTP. Thus, we investigated the function of CaM mutants, deficient in Ca2+ binding at sites 1 and 2 of the N-terminal lobe or sites 3 and 4 of the C-terminal CaM lobe, in the activation of αCaMKII. Occupancy of CaM Ca2+ binding sites 1, 3, and 4 is necessary and sufficient for full activation. Moreover, the N- and C-terminal CaM lobes have distinct functions. Ca2+ binding to N lobe Ca2+ binding site 1 increases the turnover rate of the enzyme 5-fold, whereas the C lobe plays a dual role; it is required for full activity, but in addition, via Ca2+ binding site 3, it stabilizes ATP binding to αCaMKII 4-fold. Thr286 autophosphorylation is also dependent on Ca2+ binding sites on both the N and the C lobes of CaM. As the CaM C lobe sites are populated by low amplitude/low frequency (global) Ca2+ signals, but occupancy of N lobe site 1 and thus activation of αCaMKII requires high amplitude/high frequency (local) Ca2+ signals, lobe-specific sensing of Ca2+-signaling patterns by CaM is proposed to explain the requirement for both global and local Ca2+ signaling in the induction of LTP via αCaMKII.     

A model of O·2 - generation in the complex III of the electron transport chain

Oxidation of semiquinone by O₂ in the Q cycle is known to be one of the sources of superoxide anion (O·₂ ^-) in aerobic cells. In this paper, such a phenomenon was analyzed using the chemical kinetics model of electron transfer from succinate to cytochrome c, including coenzyme Q, the complex III non-heme iron protein FeS_III and cytochromes b₁, b_h and c₁. Electron transfers from QH₂ to FeS_III and cytochrome b₁ were assumed to occur according to direct transfer mechanism (dynamic channelling) involving the formation of FeS^red _III -Q·^- and Q·^--cytochrome b₁ complexes. For oxidation/reduction reactions involving cytochromes b_h and b₁, the dependence of the equilibrium and elementary rate constants on the membrane potential () was taken into consideration. The rate of O·₂ ^- generation was found to increase dramatically with increase in above the values found in State 3. On the other hand, the rate of cytochrome c reduction decreased sharply at the same values of the membrane potential. This explains experimental data that the O·2^- generation at State 4 appears to be very much faster than at State 3. A mild uncoupling in State 4 can markedly decrease the superoxide generation due to a decrease in below the above mentioned critical level. pH appears to be equally effective as in stimulation of superoxide production which depends, in fact, upon the ^- _H + level.     

Chain length-dependent association of distamycin-type oligopeptides with A·T and G·C pairs in polydeoxynucleotide duplexes

Different binding affinities of various distamycin analogs including the deformylated derivative with poly(dA-dC)·poly(dG-dT) were investigated using CD measurements. The inhibitory effect of distamycins on the DNAase I cleavage activity of DNA duplexes strongly supports the binding data. The base specificity of the ligand interaction with duplex DNA depends on the chain length of distamycin analogs. Netropsin, distamycin-2 and the deformylated distamycin-3 show no binding to dG·dC containing sequences at moderate ionic strength and are classified as highly dA·dT specific. In contrast distamycin having three, four or five methylpyrrolecarboxamide groups also forms more or less stable complexes with dG·dC-containing duplexes. These ligands possess a lower basepair specificity. The correlation between binding behavior and oligopeptide structure shows that presence of the number of hydrogen acceptor and donor sites determines the basepair and sequence specificity. The additional interaction with dG·dC pairs becomes essential when the number of hydrogen acceptor sites exceeds n = 3.