Highly selective labeling of the E. coli RNA-polymerase promoter complex with reactive derivatives of oligonucleotide primers of various specificity

A technique of highly selective affinity labelling, which includes covalent modification of the enzyme-T7A2 promoter complex with reactive oligonucleotide derivatives and subsequent elongation of the attached oligonucleotide residue with a radioactive substrate was used to study the product-binding site of E. coli RNA polymerase. Different oligonucleotides complementary to the T7A2 promoter (with lengths ranging from 2 to 8 residues) containing 5'-terminal phosphorylating, alkylating or aldehyde groups were used for the labelling. The procedure resulted in labelling DNA and beta-, beta'- or sigma-subunits of the enzyme, which are therefore believed to contact with growing RNA in the course of initiation. Consideration of the labelling patterns as a functions of the oligonucleotide's length as well as of the structure and chemical specificity of the reactive groups led to a tentative topographic scheme of the RNA polymerase product-binding region.     

Adsorption of non-membrane proteins on the surface of model phospholipid membranes

1. Two new methods are proposed for enhancement of the binding of hydrophilic proteins by liposomes. 2. An alkylating derivative of phosphatidic acid has been obtained by its reaction with N,N,N′-tris(2-chloroethyl)-N′- (p-formylphenyl)propylene-1,3-diamine. The alkylating activity of this derivative is very low due to the electron-acceptor effect of the formyl residue. Phosphatidylcholine liposomes which contain this alkylating derivative in the lipid bilayer may be obtained. The compound residing in the outer monolayer may be reduced by NaBH₄. Upon reduction, the formyl residue is transformed into a hydroxymethyl residue. Therefore, the alkylating group of the compound is activated, and proteins may be attached covalently to the outer monolayer by alkylation with such chemically reactive liposomes. 3. Reaction of alkylating liposomes with myoglobin results in covalent binding of this hydrophilic protein. Complement-mediated leakage of such myoglobin-carrying liposomes may be induced by antibodies against myoglobin. 4. Modification of hydrophilic proteins with dansyl chloride results, even at small extents of modification, in a dramatic increase of the affinity of such proteins to phosphatidylcholine liposomes.     

Highly selective affinity labeling of the primer-binding site of E. coli DNA polymerase I

Membrane-associated phosphoinositidase C activity has been identified in Dictyostelium discoideum using phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate as exogenous substrate. Maximal activity was observed with 0.4 mM phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate at pH 7.0. The enzyme was stimulated

by micromolar concentrations of free calcium with maximal activity at 100 μM.     

Mapping the active site of yeast RNA polymerase B (II)

Yeast RNA polymerase B (II) was incubated with a collection of 13 different nucleotide derivatives and affinity labeled by allowing DNA-directed phosphodiester bond formation. The 32P-labeled site was localized in the C-terminal part of the B150 subunit by microsequencing a proteolytic fragment, then further mapped by a combination of extensive or single-hit chemical cleavage reactions and analysis of the labeled peptide patterns. The affinity label was mapped to between Asn946 and Met999, within one of the nine regions that are conserved between B150 and the bacterial beta subunit. The results underscore the conservative evolution of the catalytic center of eukaryotic and bacterial RNA polymerases.     

Host genetic risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia

This study was conducted to establish the contribution of genetic host factors in the susceptibility to community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the Russian population. Patients with CAP (n = 334), volunteers without a previous history of CAP, constantly exposed to infectious agents, control A group (n = 141) and a second control group B consisted of healthy persons (n = 314) were included in the study. All subjects were genotyped for 13 polymorphic variants in the genes of xenobiotics detoxification CYP1A1 (rs2606345, rs4646903, and rs1048943), GSTM1 (Ins/del), GSTT1 (Ins/del), ABCB1 rs1045642); immune and inflammation response IL-6 (rs1800795), TNF-a (rs1800629), MBL2 (rs7096206), CCR5 (rs333), NOS3 (rs1799983), angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE (rs4340), and occlusive vascular disease/hyperhomocysteinemia MTHFR (rs1801133). Seven polymorphic variants in genes CYP1A1, GSTM1, ABCB1, NOS3, IL6, CCR5 and ACE were associated with CAP. For two genes CYP1A1 and GSTM1 associations remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Multiple analysis by the number of all risk genotypes showed a highly significant association with CAP (P = 2.4 × 10^− 7, OR = 3.03, 95% CI 1.98–4.64) with the threshold for three risk genotypes. Using the ROC-analysis, the AUC value for multi-locus model was estimated as 68.38.     

Massive light-driven translocation of transducin between the two major compartments of rod cells: a novel mechanism of light adaptation

We report a new cellular mechanism of rod photoreceptor adaptation in vivo, which is triggered by daylight levels of illumination. The mechanism involves a massive light-dependent translocation of the photoreceptor-specific G protein, transducin, between the functional compartments of rods. To characterize the mechanism, we developed a novel technique that combines serial tangential cryodissection of the rat retina with Western blot analysis of protein distribution in the sections. Up to 90% of transducin translocates from rod outer segments to other cellular compartments on the time scale of tens of minutes. The reduction in the transducin content of the rod outer segments is accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the amplification of the rod photoresponse, allowing rods to operate in illumination up to 10-fold higher than would otherwise be possible.     

EPYLRFamide-mediated reduction of acetylcholine-induced inward currents in Helix lucorum-identified neurones: role of NAADP-dependent and IP3-dependent Ca2+ release from internal stores,calmodulin and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II

The effect of seven compounds intracellularly applied by spontaneous diffusion were investigated on the EPYLRFamide-induced reduction of acetylcholine-induced inward current (ACh-current) recorded from identified neurones from Helix lucorum. Inward currents were recorded from neurones LPa2, LPa3, RPa3 and RPa2 in isolated ganglia preparations using two-electrode voltage clamp technique. ACh was applied ionophoretically. Heparin, an antagonist of IP(3) receptors (IP(3)Rs), and IP(3), the agonist of IP(3)Rs, decreased the effect of EPYLRFamide. Thio-NADP, a blocker of NAADP-induced Ca(2+) release, beta-NAADP, Ca(2+) releaser, R24571, W-7 (both calmodulin antagonists), and KN-62, a selective inhibitor of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, did not change the modulatory effect of EPYLRFamide. These data suggest that EPYLRFamide decreases ACh-current through elevation of the basal intracellular level of the putative endogenous agonist of IP(3)Rs which activates release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores. It is concluded that intracellular free Ca(2+) acts on ACh receptor/ionic channel without activation of calmodulin and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.