Sequence variation in CYP51A from the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi alters its sensitivity to inhibition

CYP51 (sterol 14α-demethylase) is an efficient target for clinical and agricultural antifungals and an emerging target for treatment of Chagas disease, the infection that is caused by multiple strains of a protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. Here, we analyze CYP51A from the Y strain T. cruzi. In this protein, proline 355, a residue highly conserved across the CYP51 family, is replaced with serine. The purified enzyme retains its catalytic activity, yet has been found less susceptible to inhibition. These biochemical data are consistent with cellular experiments, both in insect and human stages of the pathogen. Comparative structural analysis of CYP51 complexes with VNI and two derivatives suggests that broad-spectrum CYP51 inhibitors are likely to be preferable as antichagasic drug candidates.     

A conserved α helix of Bcs1, a mitochondrial AAA chaperone,is required for the Respiratory Complex III maturation

Bcs1 is a transmembrane chaperone in the mitochondrial inner membrane, and is required for the mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Complex III assembly. It has been shown that the highly-conserved C-terminal region of Bcs1 including the AAA ATPase domain in the matrix side is essential for the chaperone function. Here we describe the importance of the N-terminal short segment located in the intermembrane space in the Bcs1 function. Among the N-terminal 44 amino acid residues of yeast Bcs1, the first 37 residues are dispensable whereas a hydrophobic amino acid in the residue 38 is essential for integration of Rieske Iron-sulfur Protein into the premature Complex III from the mitochondrial matrix. Substitution of the residue 38 by a hydrophilic amino acid residue affects conformation of Bcs1 and interactions with other proteins. The evolutionarily-conserved short α helix of Bcs1 in the intermembrane space is an essential element for the chaperone function.     

Impact of membrane-anchored fluorescent probes on the mechanical properties of lipid bilayers

Fluorescent probes are used in membrane biophysics studies to provide information about physical properties such as lipid packing, polarity and lipid diffusion or to visualize membrane domains. However, our understanding of the effects the dyes themselves may induce on the membrane structure and properties are sparse. As mechanical properties like bending elasticity were already shown to be highly sensitive to the addition of “impurities” into the membranes, we have investigated the impact of six different commonly used fluorescent membrane probes (LAURDAN, TR-DPPE, Rh-DPPE, DiIC18, Bodipy-PC and NBD-PC) on the bending elasticity of dye containing POPC GUVs as compared to single component POPC GUVs. Small changes in the membrane bending elasticity compared to single POPC bilayers are observed when 2 mol% of Rh-DPPE, Bodipy-PC or NBD-PC are added in POPC membranes. These binary membranes are showing non reproducible mechanical properties attributed to a photo-induced peroxidation processes that may be controlled by a reduction of the fluorescent dye concentration. For TR-DPPE, a measurable decrease of the bending elasticity is detected with reproducible bending elasticity measurements. This is a direct indication that this dye, when exposed to illumination by a microscope lamp and contrary to Rh-DPPE, does not induce chemical degradation. At last, LAURDAN and DiIC18 probes mixed with POPC do not significantly affect the bending elasticity of pure POPC bilayers, even at 2 mol%, suggesting these latter probes do not induce major perturbations on the structure of POPC bilayers.     

Ionizing radiation‐induced long‐term expression of senescence markers in mice is independent of p53 and immune status

Exposure to IR has been shown to induce the formation of senescence markers, a phenotype that coincides with lifelong delayed repair and regeneration of irradiated tissues. We hypothesized that IR‐induced senescence markers could persist long‐term in vivo, possibly contributing to the permanent reduction in tissue functionality. Here, we show that mouse tissues exposed to a sublethal dose of IR display persistent (up to 45 weeks, the maximum time analyzed) DNA damage foci and increased p16^INK4a expression, two hallmarks of cellular senescence and aging. BrdU‐labeling experiments revealed that IR‐induced damaged cells are preferentially eliminated, at least partially, in a tissue‐dependent manner. Unexpectedly, the accumulation of damaged cells was found to occur independent from the DNA damage response modulator p53, and from an intact immune system, as their levels were similar in wild‐type and Rag2^?/? γC^?/? mice, the latter being deficient in T, B, and NK cells. Together, our results provide compelling evidence that exposure to IR induces long‐term expression of senescence markers in vivo, an effect that may contribute to the reduced tissue functionality observed in cancer survivors.     

微流控技术对细胞微环境的模拟及应用研究

细胞微环境是一个多因素组成的、时空可变的复杂集合,对细胞的行为和功能发挥起着决定性作用。但传统的细胞生物学研究方法很难在体外为细胞提供这样一个复杂的、微尺度的生长环境,致使许多体外研究结果与在体情况相差甚远。近年来,微流控技术与细胞培养技术的结合为细胞微环境的模拟和控制提供了可能。文章通过提炼微环境的重要参数及其特征,介绍微流控技术是如何满足这些参数的需求,探讨了微流控技术在体外模拟细胞微环境的可行性,并总结了近年来该技术在微环境体外模拟研究中取得的成果,对微流控技术在细胞微环境构建中的发展方向和应用前景进行了展望。     

Water relations of Picea abies. II. Determination of the apoplastic water content and other water relations parameters of needles by means of capillary microcryoscopy and the pressure-volume

Using the pressure volume analysis (PV analysis) on the shoots of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and the here presented capillary microcryoscopy of the needle press sap of the same shoots, it was possible to determine the amount of apoplastic water in the needles (W_an) as well as in the defoliated shoots (W_as). Additionally, the bulk osmotic pressure at full water saturation in the symplast of the needles and defoliated shoots (π_on and π_os) was determined. The dependence of the bulk-averaged turgor pressure (P_t) on the water content and the relationship between the bulk modulus of elasticity of the needles (?_n) and the bulk-averaged needle turgor pressure (P_tn) was shown with help of the PV analysis on the whole shoots and defoliated shoots. The study was conducted at the end of the vegetation period in 1987 and during winter 1988. The proportion of W_an in the total needle water content (W_tn) was 14% in September 1987 and 12.5% in March 1988. The respective percentage of W_as in W_ts were 27% and 25%. The amount of apoplastic water depended on the ratio of the dry weight of defoliated shoots to the dry weight of the whole shoots. A standard mean value for the amount of W_an in the total water content of the shoots (W_t) was therefore not possible. The bulk osmotic pressure at full water saturation in the needle symplasts was –1.9 MPa in September 1987 and –2.2 MPa in winter 1988. The respective values of the bulk osmotic pressures in the symplast of the defoliated shoots (π_os) were –1.5 MPa and –1.7 MPa. Thus π_on was 0.1 MPa lower and π_os 0.3–0.4 MPa higher than the average osmotic pressure during full water saturation in the symplast of the whole shoots (π_o). The relation between bulk-averaged turgor pressure and water content showed that during water loss P_tn dropped more rapidly than the turgor pressure of defoliated shoots (P_ts). Consequently the needles were less elastic than the defoliated shoots. The turgor values of whole shoots followed an intemediate course between P_tn and P_ts. The flat course of P_ts seems to be the main reason for the often observed “plateau” of ψ-isotherms of whole shoots near full turgor.     

Dodecameric structure and ATPase activity of the human TIP48/TIP49 complex

TIP48 and TIP49 are two related and highly conserved eukaryotic AAA(+) proteins with an essential biological function and a critical role in major pathways that are closely linked to cancer. They are found together as components of several highly conserved chromatin-modifying complexes. Both proteins show sequence homology to bacterial RuvB but the nature and mechanism of their biochemical role remain unknown. Recombinant human TIP48 and TIP49 were assembled into a stable high molecular mass equimolar complex and tested for activity in vitro. TIP48/TIP49 complex formation resulted in synergistic increase in ATPase activity but ATP hydrolysis was not stimulated in the presence of single-stranded, double-stranded or four-way junction DNA and no DNA helicase or branch migration activity could be detected. Complexes with catalytic defects in either TIP48 or TIP49 had no ATPase activity showing that both proteins within the TIP48/TIP49 complex are required for ATP hydrolysis. The structure of the TIP48/TIP49 complex was examined by negative stain electron microscopy. Three-dimensional reconstruction at 20 A resolution revealed that the TIP48/TIP49 complex consisted of two stacked hexameric rings with C6 symmetry. The top and bottom rings showed substantial structural differences. Interestingly, TIP48 formed oligomers in the presence of adenine nucleotides, whilst TIP49 did not. The results point to biochemical differences between TIP48 and TIP49, which may explain the structural differences between the two hexameric rings and could be significant for specialised functions that the proteins perform individually.     

Structural comparison of fucosylated and nonfucosylated Fc fragments of human immunoglobulin G1

Removal of the fucose residue from the oligosaccharides attached to Asn297 of human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) results in a significant enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) via improved IgG1 binding to Fcgamma receptor IIIa. To provide structural insight into the mechanisms of affinity enhancement, we determined the crystal structure of the nonfucosylated Fc fragment and compared it with that of fucosylated Fc. The overall conformations of the fucosylated and nonfucosylated Fc fragments were similar except for hydration mode around Tyr296. Stable-isotope-assisted NMR analyses confirmed the similarity of the overall structures between fucosylated and nonfucosylated Fc fragments in solution. These data suggest that the glycoform-dependent ADCC enhancement is attributed to a subtle conformational alteration in a limited region of IgG1-Fc. Furthermore, the electron density maps revealed that the traces between Asp280 and Asn297 of our fucosylated and nonfucosylated Fc crystals were both different from that in previously reported isomorphous Fc crystals.