Sexual selection,seminal coagulation and copulatory plug formation in primates

This study examines the question of whether multipartner matings by female primates, with resulting sperm competition among males, may have favored the evolution of biochemical mechanisms to enhance seminal coagulationand copulatory plug formation. Comparative ratings of seminal coagulation (using a four-point scale where 1 = no coagulation and 4 = copulatory plug formation) were obtained for 40 species representing 26 primate genera. Coagulation ratings were highest (mean = 3.64) in those genera where females commonly mate with multiple partners, and lowest (mean = 2.09) in genera where females are primarily monogamous or belong to polygynous (one male) units(p < 0.0001). This result remained significant (p < 0.001) after the use of comparative analysis of independent contrasts (CAIC) to control for possible phylogenetic biases in the data set. Results indicate that sexual selection has played an important role in the evolution of seminal coagulation, and copulatory plug function, in primates.     

Burial of nonpolar surface area and thermodynamic stabilization of globins as a function of chain elongation

Proteins are biosynthesized from N to C terminus before they depart from the ribosome and reach their bioactive state in the cell. At present, very little is known about the evolution of conformation and the free energy of the nascent protein with chain elongation. These parameters critically affect the extent of folding during ribosome‐assisted biosynthesis. Here, we address the impact of vectorial amino acid addition on the burial of nonpolar surface area and on the free energy of native‐like structure formation in the absence of the ribosomal machinery. We focus on computational predictions on proteins bearing the globin fold, which is known to encompass the 3/3, 2/2, and archaeal subclasses. We find that the burial of nonpolar surface increases progressively with chain elongation, leading to native‐like conformations upon addition of the last C‐terminal residues, corresponding to incorporation of the last two helices. Additionally, the predicted folding entropy for generating native‐like structures becomes less unfavorable at nearly complete chain lengths, suggesting a link between the late burial of nonpolar surface and water release. Finally, the predicted folding free energy takes a progressive favorable dip toward more negative values, as the chain gets longer. These results suggest that thermodynamic stabilization of the native structure of newly synthesized globins during translation in the cell is significantly enhanced as the chain elongates. This is especially true upon departure of the last C‐terminal residues from the ribosomal tunnel, which hosts ca., 30–40 amino acids. Hence, we propose that release from the ribosome is a crucial step in the life of single‐domain proteins in the cell. Proteins 2014; 82:2318–2331. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Associations between retinol-binding protein 4 and cardiometabolic risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis in recently postmenopausal women: Cross-sectional analyses from the KEEPS Study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The published literature regarding the relationships between retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and cardiometabolic risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis is conflicting, likely due, in part, to limitations of frequently used RBP4 assays. Prior large studies have not utilized the gold-standard Western Blot analysis of RBP4 levels. METHODS: Full-length serum RBP4 levels were measured by Western Blot in 709 postmenopausal women screened for the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study. Cross-sectional analyses related RBP4 levels to cardiometabolic risk factors, carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), and coronary artery calcification (CAC). RESULTS: The mean age of women was 52.9 (+/- 2.6) years, and the median RBP4 level was 49.0 (interquartile range 36.9-61.5) ug/mL. Higher RBP4 levels were weakly associated with higher triglycerides (age, race, and smoking-adjusted partial Spearman correlation coefficient= 0.10; P=0.01), but were unrelated to blood pressure, cholesterol, C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin, and CIMT levels (all partial Spearman correlation coefficients [less than or equal to]0.06, P>0.05). Results suggested a curvilinear association between RBP4 levels and CAC, with women in the bottom and upper quartiles of RBP4 having higher odds of CAC (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 2.10 [1.07-4.09], 2.00 [1.02-3.92], 1.64 [0.82-3.27] for the 1st, 3rd, and 4th RBP4 quartiles vs. the 2nd quartile). However, a squared RBP4 term in regression modeling was non-significant (P=0.10). CONCLUSIONS: In these healthy, recently postmenopausal women, higher RBP4 levels were weakly associated with elevations in triglycerides and with CAC, but not with other risk factors or CIMT. These data using the gold standard of RBP4 methodology only weakly support the possibility that perturbations in RBP4 homeostasis may be an additional risk factor for subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00154180.     

The G5 domain: a potential N-acetylglucosamine recognition domain involved in biofilm formation

SUMMARY: Biofilms are complex microbial communities found at surfaces that are often associated with extracellular polysaccharides. Biofilm formation is a complex process that is being understood at the molecular level only recently. We have identified a novel domain that we call the G5 domain (named after its conserved glycine residues), which is found in a variety of enzymes such as Streptococcal IgA peptidases and various glycosyl hydrolases in bacteria. The G5 domain is found in the Accumulation Associated Protein (AAP), which is an important component in biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus. A common feature of the proteins containing G5 domains is N-acetylglucosamine binding, and we attribute this function to the G5 domain. CONTACT: agb@sanger.ac.uk.     

Membrane ruffling requires coordination between type Ialpha phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase and Rac signaling

Membrane ruffle formation requires remodeling of cortical actin filaments, a process dependent upon the small G-protein Rac. Growth factors stimulate actin remodeling and membrane ruffling by integration of signaling pathways that regulate actin-binding proteins. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) regulates the activity of many actin-binding proteins and is produced by the type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKIs). Here we show in MG-63 cells that only the PIPKIalpha isoform is localized to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced membrane ruffles. Further, expression of kinase dead PIPKIalpha, which acts as a dominant negative mutant, blocked membrane ruffling, suggesting that PIPKIalpha and PIP2 participate in ruffling. To explore this, PIPKIalpha was overexpressed in serum-starved cells and stimulated with PDGF. In serum-starved cells, PIPKIalpha expression did not stimulate actin remodeling, but when these cells were stimulated with PDGF, actin rapidly reorganized into foci but not membrane ruffles. PIPKIalpha-mediated formation of actin foci was independent of both Rac1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activities. Significantly, coexpression of dominant active Rac1 with PIPKIalpha in PDGF-stimulated cells resulted in membrane ruffling. The PDGF- and Rac1-stimulated ruffling was inhibited by expression of kinase-dead PIPKIalpha. Combined, these data support a model where the localized production of PIP2 by PIPKIalpha is necessary for actin remodeling, whereas formation of membrane ruffles required Rac signaling.     

Dynamics of T cells and TCR excision circles differ after treatment of acute and chronic HIV infection

We quantified T cell proliferation and thymic function in primary HIV infection (PHI; n = 19) and chronic HIV infection (CHI; n = 14) by measuring Ki67 staining and TCR excision circle (TREC) number. After antiretroviral therapy of PHI there is a profound decrease in the number and percentage of Ki67(+) T cells (<6% Ki67(+)) with no significant increase in TREC per million cells and a transient increase in TREC per milliliter. In contrast, after antiretroviral therapy of CHI there is a reduction in the percentage but little change in the total number of Ki67(+)CD4(+) T cells associated with increases in both TREC per million cells and TREC per milliliter. Using a mathematical model that accounts for proliferation, death, and redistribution of T cells, we find that redistribution is consistent with the TREC changes observed during treatment of PHI and that an increase in thymic output is needed to explain the increase in TREC during treatment of CHI. Consideration of TREC per milliliter shows that changes in proliferation alone cannot explain the changes in TREC. In addition, although increased proliferation of memory cells in HIV infection has been established, we find no difference in TREC per million CD45RA(-) "memory" T cells between healthy and infected individuals (p = 0.154 for CD4(+); p = 0.383 for CD8(+)). Finally, although the number of TREC per million cells is always much lower in memory T cells than in naive T cells, in the setting of HIV infection, given that memory cells make up a larger proportion of total T cells, we find that 50% of TREC per milliliter in CD4(+) T cells is harbored in the CD45RA(-) "memory" subset of our infected subjects.