Identification of three phases in Onconase refolding

Onconase is an extremely stable member of the RNase A superfamily. The increase in the thermodynamic stability by 20 kJ x mol(-1) in comparison to RNase A was expected to result in altered folding behavior. Despite the lack of cis-Pro residues in native Onconase, refolding at low concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride was complex and showed three kinetic phases (fast, medium, and slow), with rate constants differing by a factor of about 10 each. None of the phases could be accelerated by peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases, pointing to the absence of kinetic phases that are limited by Pro isomerization. The detailed analysis by various probes indicates that the burial of the N-terminal Trp3, which is associated with the restoration of the active site, occurs in the slow phase, i.e. in the last step of refolding. Evidently, in contrast to the folding of RNase A, there is no catalytically active native-like intermediate in the folding of Onconase.     

Insights into the structure of plant alpha-type phospholipase D

Phospholipases D play an important role in the regulation of cellular processes in plants and mammals. Moreover, they are an essential tool in the synthesis of phospholipids and phospholipid analogs. Knowledge of phospholipase D structures, however, is widely restricted to sequence data. The only known tertiary structure of a microbial phospholipase D cannot be generalized to eukaryotic phospholipases D. In this study, the isoenzyme form of phospholipase D from white cabbage (PLDalpha2), which is the most widely used plant phospholipase D in biocatalytic applications, has been characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering, UV-absorption, CD and fluorescence spectroscopy to yield the first insights into its secondary and tertiary structure. The structural model derived from small-angle X-ray scattering measurements reveals a barrel-shaped monomer with loosely structured tops. The far-UV CD-spectroscopic data indicate the presence of alpha-helical as well as beta-structural elements, with the latter being dominant. The fluorescence and near-UV CD spectra point to tight packing of the aromatic residues in the core of the protein. From the near-UV CD signals and activity data as a function of the calcium ion concentration, two binding events characterized by dissociation constants in the ranges of 0.1 mm and 10-20 mm can be confirmed. The stability of PLDalpha2 proved to be substantially reduced in the presence of calcium ions, with salt-induced aggregation being the main reason for irreversible inactivation.     

Genome size and chromosomes in marine sponges [Suberites domuncula,Geodia cydonium]

The genome size of the marine sponges Suberites domuncula and Geodia cydonium has been determined by flow cytofluorometric analysis using diamidino-phenylindole [DAPI]. Using human lymphocytes as reference the amount of DNA in cells from S. domuncula has been determined to be 3.7 pg and that of G. cydonium 3.3 pg. While no chromosomes could be identified in G. cydonium, the karyotype of the Suberites domuncula is 32 chromsomes in the diploid state. The size of the chromosomes was between 0.25 and 1.0 μm. No pronounced banding pattern was visible.     

Antarctic reptant decapods: more than a myth?

The impoverished Antarctic decapod fauna is one of the most conspicuous biodiversity phenomena in polar science. Although physiological and ecological approaches have tried to explain the reason for the low decapod biodiversity pattern in the Southern Ocean, the complexity of this problem is still not completely understood. The scant records of crabs south of the Polar Front were always considered as exceptional, and have mostly been ignored by marine biologists world-wide, creating one of the most dogmatic paradigms in polar science. We herein review the record of both adults and larvae of reptants from the Southern Ocean. At present, several species of only lithodid crabs maintain considerable adult populations in circum-Antarctic waters, although they remain absent from the high-Antarctic shelves.     

Resource pulses,species interactions,and diversity maintenance in arid and semi-arid environments

Arid environments are characterized by limited and variable rainfall that supplies resources in pulses. Resource pulsing is a special form of environmental variation, and the general theory of coexistence in variable environments suggests specific mechanisms by which rainfall variability might contribute to the maintenance of high species diversity in arid ecosystems. In this review, we discuss physiological, morphological, and life-history traits that facilitate plant survival and growth in strongly water-limited variable environments, outlining how species differences in these traits may promote diversity. Our analysis emphasizes that the variability of pulsed environments does not reduce the importance of species interactions in structuring communities, but instead provides axes of ecological differentiation between species that facilitate their coexistence. Pulses of rainfall also influence higher trophic levels and entire food webs. Better understanding of how rainfall affects the diversity, species composition, and dynamics of arid environments can contribute to solving environmental problems stemming from land use and global climate change.     

A putative ariadne-like E3 ubiquitin ligase (PAUL) that interacts with the muscle-specific kinase (MuSK)

Formation of the postsynaptic membrane at the skeletal neuromuscular junction (NMJ) requires activation of the muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK). Few intracellular mediators or modulators of MuSK actions are known. E3 ubiquitin ligases may serve this role, because activities of several receptor tyrosine kinases, G-protein-coupled receptors and channels are modulated by ubiquitination. Here, we report identification of a putative Ariadne-like ubiquitin ligase (PAUL) that binds to the cytoplasmic domain of MuSK. PAUL is expressed in numerous tissues of developing and adult mice, and is present at NMJs in muscle fibers but is not confined to them.     

A link of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> to cAMP oscillations in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyostelium</Emphasis>: the calmodulin antagonist W-7 potentiates cAMP relay and transiently inhibits the acidic Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-store

Background  

During early differentiation of Dictyostelium the attractant cAMP is released periodically to induce aggregation of the cells. Here we pursue the question whether pulsatile cAMP signaling is coupled to a basic Ca²⁺-oscillation.     

Gene therapy: prospects for glycolipid storage diseases

Lysosomal storage diseases comprise a group of about 40 disorders, which in most cases are due to the deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme. Since lysosomal enzymes are involved in the degradation of various compounds, the diseases can be further subdivided according to which pathway is affected. Thus, enzyme deficiencies in the degradation pathway of glycosaminoglycans cause mucopolysaccharidosis, and deficiencies affecting glycopeptides cause glycoproteinosis. In glycolipid storage diseases enzymes are deficient that are involved in the degradation of sphingolipids. Mouse models are available for most of these diseases, and some of these mouse models have been used to study the applicability of in vivo gene therapy. We review the rationale for gene therapy in lysosomal disorders and present data, in particular, about trials in an animal model of metachromatic leukodystrophy. The data of these trials are compared with those obtained with animal models of other lysosomal diseases.     

Conformational changes,plasma membrane penetration,and infection by human rhinovirus type 2: role of receptors and low pH

Human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV2) is internalized by members of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) family. It then progresses into late endosomes, where it undergoes conversion from D- to C-antigenicity at pH < 5.6. Upon uncoating, the viral RNA is transferred into the cytoplasm across the endsosomal membrane. However, C-antigenic particles fail to attach to LDLR; this raised the question of whether the virus remains attached to the receptors and is carried to late compartments or rather falls off at the higher pH in early endosomes. We therefore determined the pH dependence of virus-receptor dissociation and virus conversion to C-antigen under conditions preventing endocytosis. (35)S-HRV2 was attached to HeLa cells at 4 degrees C and incubated in buffers of pH 7.4 to 5.0; levels of native virus and C-antigenic particles remaining cell associated or having been released into the medium were determined by immunoprecipitation. At pH 6.0, HRV2 was readily released from plasma membrane receptors in its native form, whereas at pH < or = 5.4, it was entirely converted to C-antigen, which, however, only dissociated from the surface upon prolonged incubation. The antigenic conversion occurred at the same pH regardless of whether HRV2 was free in solution or bound to its receptors. These data suggest that, in vivo, the virus is no longer bound to its receptors when the antigenic conversion and uncoating occur in more acidic late endosomes. When virus was bound to HeLa cells at 4 degrees C, converted into C-antigen by exposure to pH 5.3, and subsequently warmed to 34 degrees C in the presence of bafilomycin (to prevent endosomal uncoating), viral de novo synthesis was detected. This study demonstrates for the first time that a nonenveloped virus such as HRV2 can infect from the plasma membrane when artificially exposed to low pH. This implies that the viral RNA can gain access to the cytoplasm from the plasma membrane.