Inclusion complexation behavior of dyestuff guest molecules by a bridged bis(cyclomaltoheptaose)[bis(beta-cyclodextrin)] with a pyromellitic acid diamide tether

A novel bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin) with a pyromellitic acid 2,5-diamide tether (2) has been synthesized by reaction of 6(I)-(2-aminoethyleneamino)-6-deoxycyclomaltoheptaose [mono 6-(2-aminoethyleneamino)-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin] with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride. Its inclusion complexation behavior with some representative dyestuffs, i.e., Acridine Red (AR), Rhodamine B (RhB), Neutral Red (NR), Brilliant Green (BG), was studied by using UV-absorption, fluorescence, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Fluorescence titrations have been performed at 25 degrees C in pH 7.2 buffer solution to calculate the binding constants of resulting complexes. These results obtained indicated that bis(beta-cyclodextrin) 2 exhibits the strongly enhanced binding ability with all dye molecules examined compared with natural cyclodextrins. The binding modes of 2 with dye molecules have been deduced by 2D NMR experiments to establish the correlations between molecular conformations and binding constants of inclusion complexation. It is found that the improved binding ability and molecular selectivity of 2 could be attributed to double-cavity cooperative inclusion interaction and the size/shape matching between the host and guest.     

Expression and function of CCAAT/enhancer binding proteinbeta (C/EBPbeta) LAP and LIP isoforms in mouse mammary gland, tumors and cultured mammary epithelial cells

CCAAT/Enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) play important roles in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. This study investigated the expression and function of C/EBPbeta isoforms in the mouse mammary gland, mammary tumors, and a nontransformed mouse mammary epithelial cell line (HC11). C/EBPbeta mRNA levels are 2-5-fold higher in mouse mammary tumors derived from MMTV/c-neu transgenic mice compared with lactating and involuting mouse mammary gland. The "full-length" 38 kd C/EBPbeta LAP ("Liver-enriched Activator Protein") isoform is the predominant C/EBPbeta protein isoform in mammary tumor whole cell lysates, however, the truncated 20 kd C/EBPbeta LIP ("Liver-enriched Inhibitory Protein") isoform is also present at detectable levels (mean LAP:LIP ratio 5.3:1). The mammary tumor C/EBPbeta LAP:LIP ratio decreases 70% (from 5.3:1 to 1.6:1) when lysate preparation is switched from a rapid whole cell lysis protocol to a multistep nuclear/cytoplasmic fractionation protocol. In contrast to mammary tumors, only the C/EBPbeta LAP isoform is detectable in the mammary gland whole cell and nuclear lysates; the truncated "LIP" isoform is undetectable regardless of isolation protocol. Ectopic over expression of C/EBPbeta LIP or C/EBPbeta LAP did not alter HC11 growth rates. However, C/EBPbeta LIP over expressing HC11 cells (LAP:LIP ratio of approximately 1:1) exhibited a consistent 2-4 h delay in G(0)/S phase transition. C/EBPbeta LIP overexpressing HC11 cells did not express beta-casein mRNA (mammary epithelial cell differentiation marker) in response to lactogenic hormones. This defect in beta-casein expression was not corrected by carrying out the differentiation protocol in the presence of an artificial extracellular matrix. These results demonstrate that the "full-length" C/EBPbeta LAP isoform is the predominant C/EBPbeta protein isoform expressed in mouse mammary gland in vivo and mouse mammary epithelial cell cultures in vitro. C/EBPbeta LIP detected in mammary tumor lysates may result from in vivo production or ex vivo isolation-induced proteolysis of C/EBPbeta LAP. Ectopic overexpression of C/EBPbeta LIP (LAP:LIP ratio of approximately 1:1) inhibits mammary epithelial cell differentiation (beta-casein expression).     

Interaction of ochratoxin A with human serum albumin. Binding sites localized by competitive interactions with the native protein and its recombinant fragments

Competitive interactions of ochratoxin A (OTA) and several other acidic compounds were utilized to gain insight into the localization of binding sites and the nature of binding interactions between anionic species and human serum albumin (HSA). Depolarization of OTA fluorescence in the presence of a competing anion was used to quantify ligand-protein interactions. The results obtained were rationalized in terms of OTA displacement from its major binding site. Based on their ability to displace OTA, two distinct groups of the anionic ligands were revealed. The first group contained structurally diverse compounds that shared a common binding site in subdomain IIA (Sudlow Site I). The second group consisted of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which showed much lower affinity to Site I than the OTA dianion. The major site for these drugs was located in domain III. Fluorescence spectroscopy measurements of OTA, warfarin (WAR) and naproxen (NAP) complexes with recombinant proteins corresponding to the domains of HSA (D1-D3) revealed binding to all domains but with different affinities. The binding constants for OTA and WAR decreased in the series D2z.Gt;D3>D1. In contrast, NAP showed the most favorable interaction with D3 and comparable affinities to the two remaining domains. The OTA binding constant for D2, 7.9 x 10(5) M(-1), was smaller than the largest constant for HSA by a factor of approximately 7. The binding constant for OTA with D3, 1.1 x 10(5) M(-1), was very close to that of the secondary binding site for HSA.     

Pheromone binding by polymorphic mouse major urinary proteins

Mouse major urinary proteins (MUPs) have been proposed to play a role in regulating the release and capture of pheromones. Here, we report affinity measurements of five recombinant urinary MUP isoforms (MUPs-I, II, VII, VIII, and IX) and one recombinant nasal isoform (MUP-IV) for each of three pheromonal ligands, (+/-)-2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole (SBT), 6-hydroxy-6-methyl-3-heptanone (HMH), and (+/-)dehydro-exo-brevicomin (DHB). Dissociation constants for all MUP-pheromone pairs were determined by isothermal titration calorimetry, and data for SBT were corroborated by measurements of intrinsic protein fluorescence. We also report the isolation of MUP-IV protein from mouse nasal extracts, in which MUP-IV mRNA has been observed previously. The affinity of each MUP isoform for SBT (K(d) approximately 0.04 to 0.9 micro M) is higher than that for DHB (K(d) approximately 26 to 58 micro M), which in turn is higher than that for HMH (K(d) approximately 50 to 200 micro M). Isoforms I, II, VIII, and IX show very similar affinities for each of the ligands. MUP-VII has approximately twofold higher affinity for SBT but approximately twofold lower affinity for the other pheromones, whereas MUP-IV has approximately 23-fold higher affinity for SBT and approximately fourfold lower affinity for the other pheromones. The variations in ligand affinities of the MUP isoforms are consistent with structural differences in the binding cavities of the isoforms. The data indicate that the concentrations of available pheromones in urine may be influenced by changes in the expression levels of urinary MUPs or the excretion levels of other MUP ligands. The variation in pheromone affinities of the urinary MUP isoforms provides only limited support for the proposal that MUP heterogeneity plays a role in regulating profiles of available pheromones. However, the binding data support the proposed role of nasal MUPs in sequestering pheromones and possibly transporting them to their receptors.     

Doxorubicin directly binds to the cardiac-type ryanodine receptor

The clinical use of doxorubicin, an antineoplasmic agent, is limited by its extensive cardiotoxicity which is mediated by the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ from SR. In order to elucidate the mechanism of Ca2+ release, we analyzed the binding sites of doxorubicin on rabbit cardiac SR (sarcoplasmic reticulum). One of the binding sites was identified as cardiac-type ryanodine receptor (RyR2) which was purified by immunoprecipitation from solubilized cardiac SR in the presence of DTT. Ligand blot analysis revealed the direct binding of doxorubicin to RyR2. The binding of doxorubicin to RyR2 was specific and displaced by caffeine. Both doxorubicin and caffeine enhanced [3H]-ryanodine binding to RyR2 in a Ca2+ dependent manner. These results suggest that there is a doxorubicin binding site on RyR2.     

Binding and dissociation of human topoisomerase I with hairpin-loop RNAs: implications for the regulation of HIV-1 replication

Cellular topoisomerase I has been reported to be present in retroviral particles and to enhance viral cDNA synthesis; however, the mechanisms involved remain unknown. In the present study, it has been demonstrated that human topoisomerase I combines with a stem-loop RNA and that the bound topoisomerase I can be dissociated from RNA substrates in the presence of ATP. In addition, in vitro cleaved synthetic RNA bound by topoisomerase I is subsequently relegated when the topoisomerase I is dissociated by ATP. A mechanism is proposed in which human topoisomerase I is carried into virions and regulates the repair of genomic RNA by its ligation activity.     

Role of mutation Y6F on the binding properties of Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase

The role of the hydroxyl group of tyrosine 6 in the binding of Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase has been investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). A site-specific replacement of this residue with phenylalanine produces the Y6F mutant, which shows negative cooperativity for the binding of reduced glutathione (GSH). Calorimetric measurements indicated that the binding of GSH to Y6F dimer is enthalpically driven over the temperature range investigated. A concomitant net uptake of protons upon binding of GSH to Y6F mutant was detected carrying out calorimetric experiments in various buffer systems with different heats of ionization. The entropy change is favorable at temperatures below 26 °C for the first site, being entropically favorable at all temperatures studied for the second site. The enthalpy change of binding is strongly temperature-dependent, arising from a large negative ΔC°_p1=−3.45±0.62 kJ K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the first site, whereas a small ΔC°_p2=−0.33±0.05 kJ K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the second site was obtained. This large heat capacity change is indicative of conformational changes during the binding of substrate.     

Random binding of dimers to chains

We develop a probabilistic model for the binding of a small linear polymer to a larger chain. We assume that we can approximate the energy of interaction of the two chains by summing the pairwise interactions between subunits. Because the energy of interaction between a pair of subunits can depend on neighboring subunits, which we assume vary along the chain, we assign the pairwise energies of interactions according to a specified probability distribution. Thus we develop a statistical model for the binding of two molecules. While such models may not be appropriate for studying the interaction of a particular pair of molecules, they can provide insight into questions that deal with populations of molecules, such as why do MHC molecules bind peptides of a certain size? Here we analyze in detail the special case of a heterodimer binding to a polymer.     

Optimized Binding of [35S]GTPγS to Gq-Like Proteins Stimulated with Dopamine D1-Like Receptor Agonists

Subtypes of dopamine D₁-like receptors are coupled through the G proteins Gs or Gq to stimulate either adenylate cyclase or phospholipase C signaling cascades. In the present study, we have uncovered the marked enhancement by sodium deoxycholate of D1-like agonist-stimulated [³⁵S]GTPS binding to Gq-like G proteins in brain membranes, and determined the optimal experimental conditions for assessing agonist effects on [³⁵S]GTPS binding in the presence of the detergent. Factors and their optimal levels that were found to significantly enhance the sensitivity and robustness of the agonist-stimulated [³⁵S]GTPS binding reaction include protein concentration at 40 g/ml, cationic concentrations of 120 mM Na⁺, 1.8 mM K⁺, and 20 mM Mg²⁺, a molar guanine nucleotide ratio of 100,000 GDP to [³⁵S]GTPS, the presence of 1 mM deoxycholate, and an overall incubation duration of 30–120 min. Under the optimized conditions, the D₁-like agonist SKF38393 induced potent and highly efficacious (up to 1000%) stimulation of [³⁵S]GTPS binding in membrane preparations from the striatum and other rat brain regions. In striatal membranes incubated with drug for 2 h, immunoprecipitation of the [³⁵S]GTPS-bound proteins with specific G antibodies showed that at least 70% of SKF38393-stimulated [³⁵S]GTPS binding was to Gq. The present reaction parameters are consistent with conditions previously found to support dopaminergic stimulation of phospholipase C-mediated signaling in brain slice preparations. These results imply that different but equally physiologically relevant conditions can be obtained under which subtypes of dopaminergic receptors may couple preferentially to Gs and the adenylate cyclase pathway or to Gq and the phospholipase C pathway.