A Study of the Structure of Trypsin-Like Serine Proteinases. 2. A Study of Tryptophan Fluorescence in Variants of Miniplasminogen with an Altered Primary Structure

Biophysics - Abstract—Variants of miniplasminogen with an altered primary structure have been designed to study previously described changes in tryptophan fluorescence during plasminogen...     

An overview of malaria transmission from the perspective of Amazon Anopheles vectors

In the Americas, areas with a high risk of malaria transmission are mainly located in the Amazon Forest, which extends across nine countries. One keystone step to understanding the Plasmodium life cycle in Anopheles species from the Amazon Region is to obtain experimentally infected mosquito vectors. Several attempts to colonise Ano- pheles species have been conducted, but with only short-lived success or no success at all. In this review, we review the literature on malaria transmission from the perspective of its Amazon vectors. Currently, it is possible to develop experimental Plasmodium vivax infection of the colonised and field-captured vectors in laboratories located close to Amazonian endemic areas. We are also reviewing studies related to the immune response to P. vivax infection of Anopheles aquasalis, a coastal mosquito species. Finally, we discuss the importance of the modulation of Plasmodium infection by the vector microbiota and also consider the anopheline genomes. The establishment of experimental mosquito infections with Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium berghei parasites that could provide interesting models for studying malaria in the Amazonian scenario is important. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the parasites in New World vectors is crucial in order to better determine the interaction process and vectorial competence.     

Structure based virtual screening of ligands to identify cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist

Montelukast and Zafirlukast are known leukotriene receptor antagonists prescribed in asthma treatment. However, these fall short as mono therapy and are frequently used in combination with inhaled glucocorticosteroids with or without long acting beta 2 agonists. Therefore, it is of interest to apply ligand and structure based virtual screening strategies to identify compounds akin to lead compounds Montelukast and Zafirlukast. Hence, compounds with structures having 95% similarity to these compounds were retrieved from NCBI׳s PubChem database. Compounds similar to lead were grouped and docked at the antagonist binding site of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1. This exercise identified compounds UNII 70RV86E50Q (Pub Cid 71587778) and Sure CN 9587085 (Pub Cid 19793614) with higher predicted binding compared to Montelukast and Zafirlukast. It is shown that the compound Sure CN 9587085 showed appreciable ligand receptor interaction compared to UNII 70RV86E50Q. Thus, the compound Sure CN 9587085 is selected as a potent antagonist to cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 for further consideration in vitro and in vivo validation.     

Template synthesis, structure and spectra of the semiclathrochelate and clathrochelate 1,4-pentadienylboron-capped iron(II) oximehydrazonates

The direct template condensation of diacetylmonooxime hydrazone with the 1,4-pentadienylboronates as Lewis acids on an iron(II) ion matrix led to the 1,4-pentadienylboron-capped semiclathrochelate iron(II) oximehydrazonates. The H⁺-ion-catalyzed macrocyclization of these precursors with an excess of triethyl orthoformate resulted in macrobicyclic complexes with a single apical 1,4-pentadienyl substituent. The complexes obtained were characterized using elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H, ¹¹B{¹H} and ¹³C{¹H} NMR, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopies, and X-ray crystallography. The X-ray diffraction and NMR data for complexes obtained showed the syn,syn,syn-orientation of all ethoxy substituents in 1,3,5-triazacyclohexane capping fragment in relation to a clathrochelate framework.     

Expression of a deleted variant of human plasminogen in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

A recombinant plasmid carrying a modified gene of human plasminogen (mini-plasminogen), lacking four kringle domains and an amino terminal fragment, and containing an additional oligopeptide of six N-terminal histidine residues has been constructed. The plasmid was used for transformation of E. coli JM 109 cells to obtain a strain producing a recombinant modified human plasminogen. The target protein is superexpressed in a form of inclusion bodies and is composed of more than 50% insoluble protein. The renaturated and chromatographically purified protein exhibits amidolytic activity specific for plasminogen proenzyme in a fibrinolytic system.     

Cage iron(II) complexes with apical and ribbed adamantyl substituents: The creation of second (hydrophobic) shell of an encapsulated metal ion

The iron(II) clathrochelates with apical adamantyl substituents were synthesized by the direct template reaction on a metal ion matrix. The nucleophilic substitutions of reactive hexachloride precursors with adamantylthiolate anion afforded hexa- and octaadamantyl cage iron(II) complexes. Clathrochelates obtained have been characterized using elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF mass, IR, UV-Vis, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray crystallography. Configurations intermediate between trigonal prismatic and trigonal antiprismatic have been deduced for the low-spin iron(II) ion coordination polyhedra of all clathrochelates obtained using ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer parameters and confirmed by X-ray crystallography data. Two apical and up to six ribbed adamantyl substituents allow one to change the physical properties of clathrochelates synthesized in wide range. In particular, these substituents form second (hydrophobic) shell that opens up the possibility to membrane and cellular transport of the cage complexes.     

DNA-Binding activity of bis-netropsin containing a cis-diaminoplatinum group between two netropsin fragments

The binding of Pt-bis-Nt and its modified analog Pt*-bis-Nt, which has two additional glycine residues in the linker between two netropsin fragments, to DNA has been studied. The elongation of the linker in the bis-netropsin molecule increases the cytotoxicity and leads to an almost complete loss of the antiherpetic activity of bis-netropsin. The study of the binding of two bis-netropsins to an oligonucleotide duplex containing an AT cluster, which is present at the origin of replication of herpes virus (OriS), revealed significant structural differences between the complexes of bis-netropsins with this DNA oligomer. It was shown by CD spectroscopy that the binding of Pt-bis-Nt in the extended conformation and in hairpin form with the parallel orientation of two bis-netropsin fragments makes a greater contribution to the interaction with the duplex than in the case of Pt*-bis-Nt. At high binding levels, Pt*-bis-Nt binds to the AT cluster in OriS predominantly in the form of associates based on the antiparallel, double-stranded, pyrrolcarboxyamide motif. The interaction of Pt-bis-Nt and Pt*-bis-Nt with a single-stranded oligonuclotide (64 nt) corresponding to the upper strand at the origin of replication of herpes virus (OriS*) was also studied. Substantial differences in the binding of bis-netropsins to OriS* and the thermostability of the resulting complexes were found by CD spectroscopy and UV melting studies.