Computational Design and Biophysical Characterization of Aggregation-Resistant Point Mutations for γD Crystallin Illustrate a Balance of Conformational Stability and Intrinsic Aggregation Propensity

Biochemistry ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 628-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erinc Sahin ◽  
Jacob L. Jordan ◽  
Michelle L. Spatara ◽  
Andrea Naranjo ◽  
Joseph A. Costanzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Stability ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Biophysical Characterization ◽  
Aggregation Propensity

scholarly journals Dissecting the role of glutamine in seeding peptide aggregation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Exequiel E. Barrera ◽  
Francesco Zonta ◽  
Sergio Pantano
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Structural Heterogeneity ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Biophysical Characterization ◽  
Aggregation Propensity ◽  
Toxic Species ◽  
Dynamical Nature ◽  
Spatio Temporal

ABSTRACTPoly glutamine and glutamine-rich peptides play a central role in a plethora of pathological aggregation events. However, biophysical characterization of soluble oligomers —the most toxic species involved in these processes— remains elusive due to their structural heterogeneity and dynamical nature. Here, we exploit the high spatio-temporal resolution of simulations as a computational microscope to characterize the aggregation propensity and morphology of a series of polyglutamine and glutamine-rich peptides. Comparative analysis of ab-initio aggregation pinpointed a double role for glutamines. In the first phase, glutamines mediate seeding by pairing monomeric peptides, which serve as primers for higher-order nucleation. According to the glutamine content, these low molecular-weight oligomers may then proceed to create larger aggregates. Once within the aggregates, buried glutamines continue to play a role in their maturation by optimizing solvent-protected hydrogen bonds networks.TOC / Abstract Figure

Purification and Biophysical Characterization of an 11S Globulin from Wrightia tinctoria Exhibiting Hemagglutinating Activity

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 499-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramod Kumar ◽  
Dipak N. Patil ◽  
Anshul Chaudhary ◽  
Shailly Tomar ◽  
Dinesh Yernool ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hemagglutinating Activity ◽  
Biophysical Characterization ◽  
11S Globulin ◽  
Wrightia Tinctoria

Biophysical Characterization of Glycodendrimers As Nano-carriers for HIV Peptides

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (31) ◽  
pp. 3935-3943 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ionov ◽  
K. Ciepluch ◽  
B. Moreno ◽  
D. Appelhans ◽  
J. Sanchez-Nieves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biophysical Characterization

scholarly journals Remote Sensing Methods for the Biophysical Characterization of Protected Areas Globally: Challenges and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 384
Author(s):  
Javier Martínez-López ◽  
Bastian Bertzky ◽  
Simon Willcock ◽  
Marine Robuchon ◽  
María Almagro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Biophysical Characterization ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Scale Characterization

Protected areas (PAs) are a key strategy to reverse global biodiversity declines, but they are under increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities and concomitant effects. Thus, the heterogeneous landscapes within PAs, containing a number of different habitats and ecosystem types, are in various degrees of disturbance. Characterizing habitats and ecosystems within the global protected area network requires large-scale monitoring over long time scales. This study reviews methods for the biophysical characterization of terrestrial PAs at a global scale by means of remote sensing (RS) and provides further recommendations. To this end, we first discuss the importance of taking into account the structural and functional attributes, as well as integrating a broad spectrum of variables, to account for the different ecosystem and habitat types within PAs, considering examples at local and regional scales. We then discuss potential variables, challenges and limitations of existing global environmental stratifications, as well as the biophysical characterization of PAs, and finally offer some recommendations. Computational and interoperability issues are also discussed, as well as the potential of cloud-based platforms linked to earth observations to support large-scale characterization of PAs. Using RS to characterize PAs globally is a crucial approach to help ensure sustainable development, but it requires further work before such studies are able to inform large-scale conservation actions. This study proposes 14 recommendations in order to improve existing initiatives to biophysically characterize PAs at a global scale.

scholarly journals Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy enables quantification of potassium channel subunit dynamics and stoichiometry

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Tedeschi ◽  
Lorenzo Scipioni ◽  
Maria Papanikolaou ◽  
Geoffrey W. Abbott ◽  
Michelle A. Digman
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Protein Diffusion ◽  
Ion Diffusion ◽  
Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy ◽  
Biophysical Characterization ◽  
Kv Channels ◽  
Subunit Stoichiometry ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Voltage Sensing Domain

AbstractVoltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are a family of membrane proteins that facilitate K+ ion diffusion across the plasma membrane, regulating both resting and action potentials. Kv channels comprise four pore-forming α subunits, each with a voltage sensing domain, and they are regulated by interaction with β subunits such as those belonging to the KCNE family. Here we conducted a comprehensive biophysical characterization of stoichiometry and protein diffusion across the plasma membrane of the epithelial KCNQ1-KCNE2 complex, combining total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and a series of complementary Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy (FFS) techniques. Using this approach, we found that KCNQ1-KCNE2 has a predominant 4:4 stoichiometry, while non-bound KCNE2 subunits are mostly present as dimers in the plasma membrane. At the same time, we identified unique spatio-temporal diffusion modalities and nano-environment organization for each channel subunit. These findings improve our understanding of KCNQ1-KCNE2 channel function and suggest strategies for elucidating the subunit stoichiometry and forces directing localization and diffusion of ion channel complexes in general.

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