Functional characterization of Narc 1, a novel proteinase related to proteinase K

The NARC 1 gene encodes a novel proteinase K family proteinase. The domain structure of rat Narc 1 resembles that of the subtilisin-like proprotein convertases (SPCs), except that rNarc 1 lacks the canonical P-domain of SPCs, retaining only the RGD motif as part of what might be a cryptically functioning P-domain. Narc 1 undergoes autocatalytic intramolecular processing at the site LVFAQ/, resulting in the cleavage of its prosegment and the generation of an active proteinase with a broad alkaline pH optimum and no apparent calcium requirement for activity. Both primary and secondary structural determinants influence Narc 1 substrate recognition. Our functional characterization of Narc 1 reinforces the inference drawn from the analysis of its predicted structure that this enzyme is most closely related to representatives of the proteinase K family, but that it is also sufficiently different to warrant its possible classification in a separate sub-family.     

Molecular characterization of calreticulin from Anopheles stephensi midgut cells and functional assay of the recombinant calreticulin with Plasmodium berghei ookinetes

Transmission blocking vaccines (TBVs) that target the antigens on the midgut epithelium of Anopheles mosquitoes are among the promising tools for the elimination of the malaria parasite. Characterization and analysis of effective antigens is the first step to design TBVs. Calreticulin (CRT), a lectin-like protein, from Anopheles albimanus midgut, has shown antigenic features, suggesting a promising and novel TBV target. CRT is a highly conserved protein with similar features in vertebrates and invertebrates including anopheline. We cloned the full-length crt gene from malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (AsCrt) and explored the interaction of recombinant AsCrt protein, expressed in a prokaryotic system (pGEX-6p-1), with surface proteins of Plasmodium berghei ookinetes by immunofluorescence assay. The cellular localization of AsCrt was determined using the baculovirus expression system. Sequence analysis of the whole cDNA of AsCrt revealed that AsCrt contains an ORF of 1221 bp. The amino acid sequence of AsCrt protein obtained in this study showed 64% homology with similar protein in human. The AsCrt shares the most common features of CRTs from other species. This gene encodes a 406 amino-acid protein with a molecular mass of 46 kDa, which contains a predicted 16 amino-acid signal peptides, conserved cysteine residues, a proline-rich region, and highly acidic C-terminal domain with endoplasmic reticulum retrieval sequence HDEL. The production of GST-AsCrt recombinant protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis using an antibody against the GST protein. The FITC-labeled GST-AsCrt exhibited a significant interaction with P. berghei ookinete surface proteins. Purified recombinant GST-AsCrt, labeled with FITC, displayed specific binding to the surface of P. berghei ookinetes in comparison with control. Moreover, the expression of AsCrt in baculovirus expression system indicated that AsCrt was localized on the surface of Sf9 cells. Our results suggest that AsCrt could be utilized as a potential target for future studies in TBV area for malaria control.     

Role of Conserved TGDGVND-Loop in Mg2+ Binding, Phosphorylation, and Energy Transfer in Na,K-ATPase

In the P-domain, the 369-DKTGTLT and the 709-GDGVNDSPALKK segment are highly conserved during evolution of P-type E₁–E₂-ATPase pumps irrespective of their cation specificities. The focus of this article is on evaluation of the role of the amino acid residues in the P domain of the subunit of Na,K-ATPase for the E₁P[3Na] E₂P[2Na] conversion, the K⁺-activated dephosphorylation, and the transmission of these changes to and from the cation binding sites. Mutations of residues in the TGDGVND loop show that Asp⁷¹⁰ is essential, and Asn⁷¹³ is important, for Mg²⁺ binding and formation of the high-energy MgE₁P[3Na] intermediate. In contrast Asp⁷¹⁰ and Asp⁷¹³ do not contribute to Mg²⁺ binding in the E₂P–ouabain complex. Transition to E₂P thus involves a shift of Mg²⁺ coordination away from Asp⁷¹⁰ and Asn⁷¹³ and the two residues become more important for K⁺-activated hydrolysis of the acyl phosphate bond at Asp³⁶⁹. Transmission of structural changes between the P-domain and cation sites in the membrane domain is evaluated in light of the protein structure, and the information from proteolytic or metal-catalyzed cleavage and mutagenesis studies.