Composition of human skin microbiota affects attractiveness to malaria mosquitoes

The African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto continues to play an important role in malaria transmission, which is aggravated by its high degree of anthropophily, making it among the foremost vectors of this disease. In the current study we set out to unravel the strong association between this mosquito species and human beings, as it is determined by odorant cues derived from the human skin. Microbial communities on the skin play key roles in the production of human body odour. We demonstrate that the composition of the skin microbiota affects the degree of attractiveness of human beings to this mosquito species. Bacterial plate counts and 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that individuals that are highly attractive to An. gambiae s.s. have a significantly higher abundance, but lower diversity of bacteria on their skin than individuals that are poorly attractive. Bacterial genera that are correlated with the relative degree of attractiveness to mosquitoes were identified. The discovery of the connection between skin microbial populations and attractiveness to mosquitoes may lead to the development of new mosquito attractants and personalized methods for protection against vectors of malaria and other infectious diseases.     

The influence of downstream protein-coding sequence on internal ribosome entry on hepatitis C virus and other flavivirus RNAs

Some studies suggest that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) requires downstream 5' viral polyprotein-coding sequence for efficient initiation of translation, but the role of this RNA sequence in internal ribosome entry remains unresolved. We confirmed that the inclusion of viral sequence downstream of the AUG initiator codon increased IRES-dependent translation of a reporter RNA encoding secretory alkaline phosphatase, but found that efficient translation of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) required no viral sequence downstream of the initiator codon. However, deletion of an adenosine-rich domain near the 5' end of the CAT sequence, or the insertion of a small stable hairpin structure (deltaG = -18 kcal/mol) between the HCV IRES and CAT sequences (hpCAT) substantially reduced IRES-mediated translation. Although translation could be restored to both mutants by the inclusion of 14 nt of the polyprotein-coding sequence downstream of the AUG codon, a mutational analysis of the inserted protein-coding sequence demonstrated no requirement for either a specific nucleotide or amino acid-coding sequence to restore efficient IRES-mediated translation to hpCAT. Similar results were obtained with the structurally and phylogenetically related IRES elements of classical swine fever virus and GB virus B. We conclude that there is no absolute requirement for viral protein-coding sequence with this class of IRES elements, but that there is a requirement for an absence of stable RNA structure immediately downstream of the AUG initiator codon. Stable RNA structure immediately downstream of the initiator codon inhibits internal initiation of translation but, in the case of hpCAT, did not reduce the capacity of the RNA to bind to purified 40S ribosome subunits. Thus, stable RNA structure within the 5' proximal protein-coding sequence does not alter the capacity of the IRES to form initial contacts with the 40S subunit, but appears instead to prevent the formation of subsequent interactions between the 40S subunit and viral RNA in the vicinity of the initiator codon that are essential for efficient internal ribosome entry.     

cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) induced distortion of a single and double stranded deoxydecanucleosidenonaphosphate studied by nuclear magnetic resonance

The structural distortion of a single- and a double-stranded decadeoxynucleotide upon binding of cis-PtCl2(NH3)2 was studied by 1H-NMR. After selective platination of d(T-C-T-C-G-G-T-C-T-C) (I) at the central d(-GpG-) site (resulting in I-Pt), several non-exchangeable base protons as well as H1', H2', H2" and H3' protons could be assigned by means of conventional NMR double-resonance techniques. Addition of the complementary decamer strand to I and I-Pt yielded the double-stranded III and III-Pt, respectively. All non-exchangeable base, H1', and most of the H2' and H2" protons in the two double stranded compounds could be assigned using 2D-chemical shift correlation (COSY) and nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOESY) techniques. The double stranded compound III appears to adopt a B-DNA like structure. Comparison of NOEs and proton-proton coupling constants in the d(-GpG-).cisPt part in I-Pt and III-Pt reveals that their structure displays large similarity. Significant chemical shift changes (i.e. larger than 0.1 ppm) between III and III-Pt are restricted to the central four base pairs. It follows that the outer three base pairs, located on either side of the central four base pairs in III-Pt are likely to adopt a regular B-DNA type helix. The observed large upfield and downfield chemical shifts in the d(-CpGpG-) part of III with respect to III-Pt can be rationalized by describing the distortion of the double helix as a kink. A discussion of the observed physical effects upon platination of a double-stranded oligonucleotide is presented.     

Carbon-13 NMR in conformational analysis of nucleic acid fragments. 4. The torsion angle distribution about the C3''-O3'' bond in DNA constituents.

Carbon-13 and proton NMR spectra of a series of oligodeoxynucleotides (d(CT), d(CC), d(TA), d(AT), d(CG), d(GC), d(AG), d(AAA), d(TATA) and d(GGTAAT] were measured at various temperatures. The three coupling constants that are related to the magnitude of backbone angle epsilon (J(C4'-P), J(C2'-P) and J(H3'-P] are analyzed in terms of a three-state equilibrium about this bond. Two epsilon (trans) angles occur, which differ in magnitude depending on the conformation (N or S) of the adjoining deoxyribose ring. The S-type deoxyribose ring is associated with a smaller epsilon (trans) angle: epsilon (t,S) = 192 degrees. The N-type deoxyribose ring is associated with a larger epsilon (trans) angle epsilon (t,N) = 212 degrees. The third rotamer participating in the conformational equilibrium, is a gauche(-) (epsilon (-] conformer and occurs exclusively in combination with the S-type sugar ring (epsilon (-,S) = 266 degrees). Within the limits of experimental error, the magnitude of these three angles appears to be independent of the particular base sequence, except in the case of d(CG) where a slightly larger epsilon (t,S) angle (197 degrees) is indicated. A simple equation is proposed which may be used to calculate the population of epsilon (t,S) conformer in cases where only J(H3'-P) is known.     

Conformation of ribooligonucleotide duplexes containing an alternating C-G sequence which show an unusual circular dichroism spectrum

The poly[r(G-C)] duplex shows an unusually large negative band in the long wavelength region of the CD spectrum. In order to elucidate this phenomenon, r(C-G-C-G) and r(C-G-C-G-C-G) were synthesized chemically and their properties were examined by UV and CD, and 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. These ribooligomers form a self-complementary duplex at low temperature, the CD spectrum of which shows a negative band at around 290 nm and a positive band at around 265 nm with almost equal magnitudes. The proton resonances in the 1H NMR spectra of the oligo[r(C-G)] duplexes were assigned by nuclear Overhauser effect experiments. The chemical shift-temperature profiles of the base proton signals and the sharp singlets observed for all H1' protons are consistent with a normal A-RNA structure but not with a Z-DNA like structure. Moreover, a 500-MHz two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect experiment recorded for r(C-G-C-G-C-G) shows that all guanine bases adopt the normal anti-conformation. CD-temperature profiles and 31P NMR spectra of oligo[r(C-G)]s support this conclusion. These results indicate that duplexes of oligo- and polyribonucleotides containing alternating C-G sequences can give an unusually large negative CD band in the long wavelength region despite their right-handed helical structure.     

Derivatives of methanopterin, a coenzyme involved in methanogenesis

Degradational studies of methanopterin, a coenzyme involved in methanogenesis, are reported. The results of these studies are in full accordance with the proposed structure of methanopterin as N-[1'-(2'-amino-4'-hydroxy-7' -methyl-6'-pteridinyl)ethyl]-4-[2', 3', 4', 5'-tetrahydroxypent-1'-yl(5'-1' )O-alpha-ribofuranosyl-5'-phosphoric acid] aniline in which the phosphate group is esterified with alpha-hydroxyglutaric acid. Acid hydrolysis of methanopterin cleaved the 5'----1' glycosidic bond and yielded a 'hydrolytic product' which was identified as N-[1'-(2'-amino-4'-hydroxy-7' -methyl-6'-pteridinyl)ethyl]-4-[2', 3', 4', 5'-tetrahydroxypent-1'-yl]aniline. Alkaline permanganate oxidation of methanopterin yielded 7-methylpterin-6-carboxylic acid. Catalytic (or enzymatic) hydrogenation of methanopterin gave a mixture of 6-ethyl-7-methyl-7,8-dihydropterin, 6-ethyl-7-methylpterin and a third compound, named methaniline which was identified as 4-[2', 3', 4', 5'-tetrahydroxypent-1'-yl(5'----1')O-alpha -ribofuranosyl-5'-phosphoric acid]aniline, in which the phosphate group is esterified with alpha-hydroxyglutaric acid. Methanosarcina barkeri contains a closely related coenzyme called sarcinapterin, which was identified as a L-glutamyl derivative of methanopterin, where the glutamate moiety is attached to the alpha-carboxylic acid group of the alpha-hydroxyglutaric acid moiety of methanopterin via an amide linkage.     

Recycling cell surface glycoproteins undergo limited oligosaccharide reprocessing in LEC1 mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells

The ability of particular cell surface glycoproteins to recycle and become exposed to individual Golgi enzymes has been demonstrated. This study was designed to determine whether endocytic trafficking includes significant reentry into the overall oligosaccharide processing pathway. The Lec1 mutant of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells lack N - acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GlcNAc-TI) activity resulting in surface expression of incompletely processed Man5GlcNAc2 N -linked oligosaccharides. An oligosaccharide tracer was created by exoglycosylation of cell surface glycoproteins with purified porcine GlcNAc-TI and UDP-[3H]GlcNAc. Upon reculturing, all cell surface glycoproteins that acquired [3H]GlcNAc were acted upon by intracellular mannosidase II, the next enzyme in the Golgi processing pathway of complex N -linked oligosaccharides (t1/2= 3-4 h). That all radiolabeled cell surface glycoproteins were included in this endocytic pathway indicates a common intracellular compartment into which endocytosed cell surface glycoproteins return. Significantly, no evidence was found for continued oligosaccharide processing consistent with transit through the latter cisternae of the Golgi apparatus. These data indicate that, although recycling plasma membrane glycoproteins can be reexposed to individual Golgi-derived enzymes, significant reentry into the overall contiguous processing pathway is not evident.      

Loopstructures in synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides.

A comparative nuclear magnetic resonance study of the hydrogen-bonded imino protons in a series of synthetic DNA fragments is presented. The fragments ATCCTA(Tn)TAGGAT are in principle capable of forming either a self-complementary hairpin loop structure (monomer form) or an interior loop structure (dimeric form). It has been shown, that for n = 1 only the dimer structure is present in aqueous solution, whereas the exclusive existence of the hairpin loop structure is indicated for n = 3, 4 & 5. Surprisingly, for n = 2 two different structures appear to be present in solution. Concentration studies show that both monomers and dimers exist side by side in this case. Hairpins as well as interior loops form extra "melting sites" in addition to the wellknown fraying phenomenon at the terminus of the double helix.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on yeast tRNAPhe. II. Assignment of the iminoproton resonances of the anticodon and T stem by means of nuclear Overhauser effect experiments at 500 MHz.

Resonances of the water exchangeable iminoprotons of the T and anticodon stem of yeast tRNAPhe were assigned by means of Nuclear Overhauser Effects (NOE's). Together with our previous assignments of iminoproton resonances from the acceptor and D stem (A. Heerschap, C.A.G. Haasnoot and C.W. Hilbers (1982) Nucleic Acids Res. 10, 6981-7000) the present results constitute a complete assignment of all resonances of iminoprotons involved in the secondary structure of yeast tRNAPhe with a reliability and spectral resolution not reached heretofore. Separate identification of the methylprotons in m5C40 and m5C49 was also possible due to specific NOE patterns in the lowfield part of the spectrum. Our experiments indicate that in solution the psi 39 residue in the anticodon stem is orientated in a syn conformation in contrast to the normally observed anti orientation of the uracil base in AU basepairs. Evidence is presented that in solution the acceptor stem is stacked upon the T stem. Furthermore, it turns out that in a similar way the anticodon stem forms a continuous stack with the D stem, but here the m2(2)G26 residue is located between the latter two stems (as is found in the X-ray crystal structure). The stacking of these stems is not strictly dependent on the presence of magnesium ions. NOE experiments show that these structural features are preserved when proceeding from a buffer with magnesium ions to a buffer without magnesium ions although differences in chemical shifts and NOE intensities indicate changes in the conformation of the tRNA.