The identification of catalytic pentad in the haloalkane dehalogenase DhmA from Mycobacterium avium N85: reaction mechanism and molecular evolution

Haloalkane dehalogenase DhmA from Mycobacterium avium N85 showed poor expression and low stability when produced in Escherichia coli. Here, we present expression DhmA in newly constructed pK4RP rhodococcal expression system in a soluble and stable form. Site-directed mutagenesis was used for the identification of a catalytic pentad, which makes up the reaction machinery of all currently known haloalkane dehalogenases. The putative catalytic triad Asp123, His279, Asp250 and the first halide-stabilizing residue Trp124 were deduced from sequence comparisons. The second stabilizing residue Trp164 was predicted from a homology model. Five point mutants in the catalytic pentad were constructed, tested for activity and were found inactive. A two-step reaction mechanism was proposed for DhmA. Evolution of different types of catalytic pentads and molecular adaptation towards the synthetic substrate 1,2-dichloroethane within the protein family is discussed.     

Proteomics analysis of the Francisella tularensis LVS response to iron restriction: induction of the F. tularensis pathogenicity island proteins IglABC

Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent, facultative intracellular pathogen that causes tularemia in humans and animals. Although it is one of the most infectious bacterial pathogens, little is known about its virulence mechanisms. In this study, the response of F. tularensis live vaccine strain to iron depletion, which simulates the environment within the host, was investigated. In order to detect alterations in protein synthesis, metabolic labeling, followed by 2D-PAGE analysis was used. Globally, 141 protein spots were detected whose levels were significantly altered in the iron-restricted medium. About 65% of the spots were successfully identified using mass spectrometric approaches. Importantly, among the proteins produced at an increased level during iron-limited growth, three proteins were found encoded by the igl operon, located in the F. tularensis pathogenicity island I (FPI). Of these, the IglC and IglA proteins were previously reported to be necessary for full virulence of F. tularensis. These results, obtained at the proteome level, support and confirm recently published data showing that the igl operon genes are transcribed in response to iron limitation.     

Acetylcholinesterases--the structural similarities and differences

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a widely spread enzyme playing a very important role in nerve signal transmission. As AChE controls key processes, its inhibition leads to the very fast death of an organism, including humans. However, when this feature is to be used for killing of unwanted organisms (i.e. mosquitoes), one is faced with the question - how much do AChEs differ between species and what are the differences? Here, a theoretical point of view was utilized to identify the structural basis for such differences. The various primary and tertiary alignments show that AChEs are very evolutionary conserved enzymes and this fact could lead to difficulties, for example, in the search for inhibitors specific for a particular species.     

Comparison of different kinds of probes used for analysis of variant telomeric sequences

In this work we aimed to compare and critically evaluate results obtained by different types of probes used for hybridisation to detect variant telomeric sequences with respect to their reliability and information value. Using slot-blot hybridisation we investigated three types of probes (oligonucleotides, cloned fragments and concatenated probes) under various conditions of hybridisation and washing. The concatenated probes exhibited the highest specificity although all three types are suitable for hybridisation of telomeric sequences under appropriate experimental conditions. We demonstrate how understanding generated from these data enables interpretation of hybridisation patterns of oligonucleotide probes to genomic DNAs.     

Rapid protocol for electroporation of Clostridium perfringens

A rapid and simple method has been developed for the electroporation of Clostridium perfringens with plasmid DNA. The new improvements, harvesting cells early in the logarithmic stage of growth, keeping the cells at room temperature and the absence of post-shock incubation on ice increased transformation efficiency by one order of magnitude.     

Degradation of beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane by Haloalkane Dehalogenase LinB from Sphingomonas paucimobilis UT26

Beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) is the most recalcitrant among the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-isomers of HCH and causes serious environmental pollution problems. We demonstrate here that the haloalkane dehalogenase LinB, reported earlier to mediate the second step in the degradation of gamma-HCH in Sphingomonas paucimobilis UT26, metabolizes beta-HCH to produce 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohexanol.     

Simulation of intrafollicular conditions prevents GVBD in bovine oocytes: a better alternative to affect their developmental capacity after two-step culture

To increase the developmental competence of bovine oocytes isolated from small, medium, and large follicles (2-3, 3-4, and 4-6 mm in diameter, respectively), we tried to modify the conditions for their in vitro culture. The first step involved conditions maintaining at least for 48 hr a reversible inhibition of the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and the second step stimulated the resumption of meiosis and completion of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation during the subsequent 20-22 hr of culture. The effectiveness of this model depended mainly on the medium composition (reduced NaHCO3, substitution of serum with serum albumin, addition of antioxidants (curcumin), increased viscosity by agar, the reduction of oxygen concentration (within 6%-8%), the reduction of the proportion between the number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), and the reduction of the amount of a medium (within 6-7 mul per COC) to amplify the GVBD-inhibitory effect of oocyte surrounding granulosa cells. The COCs were incubated in clumps of 6-7 COCs. The effectiveness and reversibility of GVBD inhibition depended also on the duration of COCs isolation. The full reversibility of the GV block was controlled morphologically and also by measuring histone H1 and MAP kinase activities. The two-step versus one-step (24 hr) maturation technique was evaluated by the percentage of total and hatched blastocysts at day 9. When compared with one-step maturation, the two-step culture showed a slightly increased proportion of total and hatched blastocysts developed from growing follicles, mainly from the smallest category (13.9% vs. 7.1% and 9.2% vs. 3.3% for total blastocysts and hatched, respectively). However, the two-step culture of oocytes from large regressing follicles substantially reduced the blastocyst yield (9.7% vs. 39.1% and 4.9% vs. 26.7% for total blastocysts and hatched, respectively). The transfer of ten blastocysts (developed after two-step culture) to ten recipients resulted in seven pregnancies.     

Multi-analyte surface plasmon resonance biosensing

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors are affinity sensing devices exploiting a special mode of electromagnetic field-surface plasmon-polariton-to detect the binding of analyte molecules from a liquid sample to biomolecular recognition elements immobilized on the surface of the sensor. In this paper, we review advances of SPR biosensor technology towards detection systems for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes (multi-analyte detection). In addition, we report application of a recently developed multichannel SPR sensor based on spectroscopy of surface plasmons and wavelength division multiplexing of sensing channels to multi-analyte detection.     

A comparison of the potency of trimedoxime and other currently available oximes to reactivate tabun-inhibited acetylcholinesterase and eliminate acute toxic effects of tabun

Tabun (O-ethyl-N,N-dimethyl phosphoramidocyanidate) belongs to highly toxic organophosphorus compounds misused as chemical warfare agents for military as well as terroristic purposes. It differs from other highly toxic organophosphates by its chemical structure and by the fact that tabun-inhibited acetylcholinesterase is extraordinarily difficult to reactivate. The potency of trimedoxime and other commonly used oximes (pralidoxime, obidoxime, the oxime HI-6) to reactivate tabun-inhibited acetylcholinesterase and to eliminate tabun-induced acute effects was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo methods. In vitro calculated kinetic parameters of reactivation of tabun-inhibited acetylcholinesterase from rat brain homogenate and in vivo determined percentage of reactivation of tabun-inhibited blood and tissue acetylcholinesterase in poisoned rats show that trimedoxime seems to be the most efficacious reactivator in the case of tabun poisonings. Trimedoxime was also found to be the most efficacious oxime in the elimination of acute lethal toxic effects in tabun-poisoned rats and mice. The oxime HI-6, so efficacious against soman, does not seem to be sufficiently effective oxime to reactivate tabun-inhibited acetylcholinesterase and to counteract acute lethal effects of tabun.