scholarly journals Towards “bionic” proteins: replacement of continuous sequences from HIF-1α with proteomimetics to create functional p300 binding HIF-1α mimics

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (31) ◽  
pp. 5421-5424 ◽  
Author(s):  
George M. Burslem ◽  
Hannah F. Kyle ◽  
Alexander L. Breeze ◽  
Thomas A. Edwards ◽  
Adam Nelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Extended Sequence ◽  
P300 Binding ◽  
Α Helix

An extended sequence of α-amino acids in HIF-1α is replaced with a non-natural topographical mimic of an α-helix comprised from an aromatic oligoamide to reproduce its p300 recognition properties.

scholarly journals The key amino acids of E protein involved in early flavivirus infection: viral entry

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Hu ◽  
Zhen Wu ◽  
Shaoxiong Wu ◽  
Shun Chen ◽  
Anchun Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Envelope Protein ◽  
Cell Attachment ◽  
Envelope Proteins ◽  
Infection Process ◽  
Early Infection ◽  
Protein Amino Acids ◽  
Α Helix

AbstractFlaviviruses are enveloped viruses that infect multiple hosts. Envelope proteins are the outermost proteins in the structure of flaviviruses and mediate viral infection. Studies indicate that flaviviruses mainly use envelope proteins to bind to cell attachment receptors and endocytic receptors for the entry step. Here, we present current findings regarding key envelope protein amino acids that participate in the flavivirus early infection process. Among these sites, most are located in special positions of the protein structure, such as the α-helix in the stem region and the hinge region between domains I and II, motifs that potentially affect the interaction between different domains. Some of these sites are located in positions involved in conformational changes in envelope proteins. In summary, we summarize and discuss the key envelope protein residues that affect the entry process of flaviviruses, including the process of their discovery and the mechanisms that affect early infection.

scholarly journals TraA and its N-terminal relaxase domain of the Gram-positive plasmid pIP501 show specific oriT binding and behave as dimers in solution

2005 ◽  
Vol 387 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta KOPEC ◽  
Alexander BERGMANN ◽  
Gerhard FRITZ ◽  
Elisabeth GROHMANN ◽  
Walter KELLER
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Broad Host Range ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Nick Site ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays ◽  
Dna Complex ◽  
Β Sheet

TraA is the DNA relaxase encoded by the broad-host-range Grampositive plasmid pIP501. It is the second relaxase to be characterized from plasmids originating from Gram-positive organisms. Full-length TraA (654 amino acids) and the N-terminal domain (246 amino acids), termed TraAN246, were expressed as 6×His-tagged fusions and purified. Small-angle X-ray scattering and chemical cross-linking proved that TraAN246 and TraA form dimers in solution. Both proteins revealed oriTpIP501 (origin of transfer of pIP501) cleavage activity on supercoiled plasmid DNA in vitro. oriT binding was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Radiolabelled oligonucleotides covering different parts of oriTpIP501 were subjected to binding with TraA and TraAN246. The KD of the protein–DNA complex encompassing the inverted repeat, the nick site and an additional 7 bases was found to be 55 nM for TraA and 26 nM for TraAN246. The unfolding of both protein constructs was monitored by measuring the change in the CD signal at 220 nm upon temperature change. The unfolding transition of both proteins occurred at approx. 42 °C. CD spectra measured at 20 °C showed 30% α-helix and 13% β-sheet for TraA, and 27% α-helix and 18% β-sheet content for the truncated protein. Upon DNA binding, an enhanced secondary structure content and increased thermal stability were observed for the TraAN246 protein, suggesting an induced-fit mechanism for the formation of the specific relaxase–oriT complex.

scholarly journals A novel method for achieving an optimal classification of the proteinogenic amino acids

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Then ◽  
Karel Mácha ◽  
Bashar Ibrahim ◽  
Stefan Schuster
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Interaction Potential ◽  
Binary Separation ◽  
Multiple Alignments ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Optimal Classification ◽  
Helix Propensity ◽  
Α Helix

Abstract The classification of proteinogenic amino acids is crucial for understanding their commonalities as well as their differences to provide a hint for why life settled on the usage of precisely those amino acids. It is also crucial for predicting electrostatic, hydrophobic, stacking and other interactions, for assessing conservation in multiple alignments and many other applications. While several methods have been proposed to find “the” optimal classification, they have several shortcomings, such as the lack of efficiency and interpretability or an unnecessarily high number of discriminating features. In this study, we propose a novel method involving a repeated binary separation via a minimum amount of five features (such as hydrophobicity or volume) expressed by numerical values for amino acid characteristics. The features are extracted from the AAindex database. By simple separation at the medians, we successfully derive the five properties volume, electron–ion-interaction potential, hydrophobicity, α-helix propensity, and π-helix propensity. We extend our analysis to separations other than by the median. We further score our combinations based on how natural the separations are.

Robust asymmetric synthesis of unnatural alkenyl amino acids for conformationally constrained α-helix peptides

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (43) ◽  
pp. 8775-8782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Aillard ◽  
Naomi S. Robertson ◽  
Adam R. Baldwin ◽  
Siobhan Robins ◽  
Andrew G. Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Schiff Base ◽  
Asymmetric Synthesis ◽  
Schiff Base Complex ◽  
Conformationally Constrained ◽  
Base Complex ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Peptide Stapling

The efficient asymmetric synthesis of unnatural alkenyl amino acids required for peptide ‘stapling’ has been achieved using alkylation of a fluorine-modified NiII Schiff base complex as the key step.

scholarly journals Structural and Physical Properties of a Necrosis-Inducing Toxin from Pyrenophora tritici-repentis

1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Fen Zhang ◽  
Leonard J. Francl ◽  
James G. Jordahl ◽  
Steven W. Meinhardt
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Structure Prediction ◽  
Secondary Structure Prediction ◽  
Cd Spectroscopy ◽  
Tan Spot ◽  
Pyrenophora Tritici Repentis ◽  
Membrane Adhesion ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Β Sheet

Cultivar-specific toxic metabolites of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis are involved in the appearance of necrotic and chlorotic foliar lesions characteristic of tan spot. A P. tritici-repentis necrosis-inducing toxin, Ptr necrosis toxin, was purified from isolate 86-124, sequenced by gas-phase amino acid microsequencing, and characterized by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and isoelectric focusing. The purified protein had a similar amino acid composition and molecular weight as previously reported. Analysis of the CD spectrum from 178 to 250 nm indicated a protein consisting of 13% α-helix, 36% antiparallel β-sheet, 25% turns, and 25% other structures. The Ptr necrosis toxin from isolate 86-124 has an isoelectric point near pH 10. Using overlapping proteolytic fragments obtained from the toxin, a sequence of 101 continuous amino acids was obtained, but the amino terminus was blocked and 9 to 16 amino acids could not be sequenced. Secondary structure prediction based on the amino acid sequence indicated a β-sheet protein with little α-helix, which is in agreement with the structure determined by CD spectroscopy. Sequence analysis indicated the presence of a possible membrane adhesion site and several possible phosphorylation sites that may be involved in phytotoxicity.

scholarly journals Structure-Microbicidal Activity Relationship of Synthetic Fragments Derived from the Antibacterial α-Helix of Human Lactoferrin

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 418-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Håversen ◽  
N. Kondori ◽  
L. Baltzer ◽  
L. Å. Hanson ◽  
G. T. Dolphin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Peptide Sequence ◽  
Activity Relationship ◽  
Human Lactoferrin ◽  
Alanine Scanning ◽  
Microbicidal Activity ◽  
Test Organisms ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Relationship Of

ABSTRACT There is a need for new microbicidal agents with therapeutic potential due to antibiotic resistance in bacteria and fungi. In this study, the structure-microbicidal activity relationship of amino acid residues 14 to 31 (sequence 14-31) from the N-terminal end, corresponding to the antibacterial α-helix of human lactoferrin (LF), was investigated by downsizing, alanine scanning, and substitution of amino acids. Microbicidal analysis (99% killing) was performed by a microplate assay using Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans as test organisms. Starting from the N-terminal end, downsizing of peptide sequence 14-31 showed that the peptide sequence 19-31 (KCFQWQRNMRKVR, HL9) was the optimal length for antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, HL9 bound to lipid A/lipopolysaccharide, as shown by neutralizing endotoxic activity in a Limulus assay. Alanine scanning of peptide sequence 20-31 showed that Cys20, Trp23, Arg28, Lys29, or Arg31 was important for expressing full killing activity, particularly against C. albicans. Substituting the neutral hydrophilic amino acids Gln24 and Asn26 for Lys and Ala (HLopt2), respectively, enhanced microbicidal activity significantly against all test organisms compared to the amino acids natural counterpart, also, in comparison with HL9, HLopt2 had more than 10-fold-stronger fungicidal activity. Furthermore, HLopt2 was less affected by metallic salts than HL9. The microbicidal activity of HLopt2 was slightly reduced only at pH 7.0, as tested in the pH range of 4.5 to 7.5. The results showed that the microbicidal activity of synthetic peptide sequences, based on the antimicrobial α-helix region of LF, can be significantly enhanced by optimizing the length and substitution of neutral amino acids at specific positions, thus suggesting a sequence lead with therapeutic potential.

scholarly journals The Human CXC Chemokine Granulocyte Chemotactic Protein 2 (GCP-2)/CXCL6 Possesses Membrane-Disrupting Properties and Is Antibacterial

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 2599-2607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena M. Linge ◽  
Mattias Collin ◽  
Pontus Nordenfelt ◽  
Matthias Mörgelin ◽  
Martin Malmsten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Membrane Disruption ◽  
Minimal Bactericidal Concentration ◽  
Bacterial Surface ◽  
Bacterial Membranes ◽  
Chemotactic Protein ◽  
Cxc Chemokine ◽  
Α Helix

ABSTRACT Granulocyte chemotactic protein 2 (GCP-2)/CXCL6 is a CXC chemokine expressed by macrophages and epithelial and mesenchymal cells during inflammation. Through binding and activation of its receptors (CXCR1 and CXCR2), it exerts neutrophil-activating and angiogenic activities. Here we show that GCP-2/CXCL6 itself is antibacterial. Antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria of relevance to mucosal infections was seen at submicromolar concentrations (minimal bactericidal concentration at which 50% of strains tested were killed, 0.063 ± 0.01 to 0.37 ± 0.03 μM). In killed bacteria, GCP-2/CXCL6 associated with bacterial surfaces, which showed membrane disruption and leakage. A structural prediction indicated the presence of three antiparallel NH2-terminal β-sheets and a short amphipathic COOH-terminal α-helix; the latter feature is typical of antimicrobial peptides. However, when the synthetic derivatives corresponding to the NH2-terminal (50 amino acids) and COOH-terminal (19 amino acids, corresponding to the putative α-helix) regions were compared, higher antibacterial activity was observed for the NH2-terminus-derived peptide, indicating that the holopeptide is necessary for full antibacterial activity. An artificial model of bacterial membranes confirmed these findings. The helical content of GCP-2/CXCL6 in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide or negatively charged membranes was studied by circular dichroism. As with many antibacterial peptides, membrane disruption by GCP-2/CXCL6 was dose-dependently reduced in the presence of NaCl, which, we here demonstrate, inhibited the binding of the peptide to the bacterial surface. Compared with CXC chemokines ENA-78/CXCL5 and NAP-2/CXCL7, GCP-2/CXCL6 showed a 90-fold-higher antibacterial activity. Taken together, GCP/CXCL6, in addition to its chemotactic and angiogenic properties, is likely to contribute to direct antibacterial activity during localized infection.

scholarly journals Characterization of Bacteriophage Lambda Excisionase Mutants Defective in DNA Binding

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (20) ◽  
pp. 5807-5812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Hee Cho ◽  
Renato Alcaraz ◽  
Richard I. Gumport ◽  
Jeffrey F. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Glutamic Acid ◽  
Cooperative Interaction ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Factor For Inversion Stimulation ◽  
Α Helix

ABSTRACT The bacteriophage λ excisionase (Xis) is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein required for excisive recombination. Xis binds cooperatively to two DNA sites arranged as direct repeats on the phage DNA. Efficient excision is achieved through a cooperative interaction between Xis and the host-encoded factor for inversion stimulation as well as a cooperative interaction between Xis and integrase. The secondary structure of the Xis protein was predicted to contain a typical amphipathic helix that spans residues 18 to 28. Several mutants, defective in promoting excision in vivo, were isolated with mutations at positions encoding polar amino acids in the putative helix (T. E. Numrych, R. I. Gumport, and J. F. Gardner, EMBO J. 11:3797–3806, 1992). We substituted alanines for the polar amino acids in this region. Mutant proteins with substitutions for polar amino acids in the amino-terminal region of the putative helix exhibited decreased excision in vivo and were defective in DNA binding. In addition, an alanine substitution at glutamic acid 40 also resulted in altered DNA binding. This indicates that the hydrophilic face of the α-helix and the region containing glutamic acid 40 may form the DNA binding surfaces of the Xis protein.

Putative identification of an amphipathic α-helical sequence in hemolysin of Escherichia coli (HlyA) involved in transmembrane pore formation

2008 ◽  
Vol 389 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Valeva ◽  
Isabel Siegel ◽  
Mark Wylenzek ◽  
Trudy M. Wassenaar ◽  
Silvia Weis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Cysteine Residue ◽  
Binding Properties ◽  
Cysteine Scanning ◽  
Helix Structure ◽  
Cysteine Scanning Mutagenesis ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Polarity Sensitive

AbstractEscherichia colihemolysin is a pore-forming protein belonging to the RTX toxin family. Cysteine scanning mutagenesis was performed to characterize the putative pore-forming domain of the molecule. A single cysteine residue was introduced at 48 positions within the sequence spanning residues 170–400 and labeled with the polarity-sensitive dye badan. Spectrofluorimetric analyses indicated that several amino acids in this domain are inserted into the lipid bilayer during pore formation. An amphipathic α-helix spanning residues 272–298 was identified that may line the aqueous pore. The importance of this sequence was highlighted by the introduction of two prolines at positions 284 and 287. Disruption of the helix structure did not affect binding properties, but totally abolished the hemolytic activity of the molecule.

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