scholarly journals Characterization of insulin cross-seeding: the underlying mechanism reveals seeding and denaturant-induced insulin fibrillation proceeds through structurally similar intermediates

RSC Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (50) ◽  
pp. 29885-29899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Akbarian ◽  
Maryam Kianpour ◽  
Reza Yousefi ◽  
Ali Akbar Moosavi-Movahedi
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Fibrils ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Amorphous Aggregation ◽  
High Level

Native insulins in the presence of low urea concentrations or seeds with low hydrophobicity form ordered aggregates (amyloid fibrils), while high urea concentrations or the seeds with high level of hydrophobicity can induce the amorphous aggregation.

scholarly journals Characterization of design grammar of peptides for regulating liquid droplets and aggregates of FUS

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoto Kamagata ◽  
Rika Chiba ◽  
Ichiro Kawahata ◽  
Nanako Iwaki ◽  
Saori Kanbayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Amyloid Fibrils ◽  
Droplet Formation ◽  
Liquid Droplets ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Aggregate Formation ◽  
Fused In Sarcoma ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

AbstractLiquid droplets of aggregation-prone proteins, which become hydrogels or form amyloid fibrils, are a potential target for drug discovery. In this study, we proposed an experiment-guided protocol for characterizing the design grammar of peptides that can regulate droplet formation and aggregation. The protocol essentially involves investigation of 19 amino acid additives and polymerization of the identified amino acids. As a proof of concept, we applied this protocol to fused in sarcoma (FUS). First, we evaluated 19 amino acid additives for an FUS solution and identified Arg and Tyr as suppressors of droplet formation. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the Arg additive interacts with specific residues of FUS, thereby inhibiting the cation–π and electrostatic interactions between the FUS molecules. Second, we observed that Arg polymers promote FUS droplet formation, unlike Arg monomers, by bridging the FUS molecules. Third, we found that the Arg additive suppressed solid aggregate formation of FUS, while Arg polymer enhanced it. Finally, we observed that amyloid-forming peptides induced the conversion of FUS droplets to solid aggregates of FUS. The developed protocol could be used for the primary design of peptides controlling liquid droplets and aggregates of proteins.

scholarly journals Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights into the Mechanism of Astaxanthin Enrichment in a Mutant of the Ridgetail White Prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 618
Author(s):  
Yue Jin ◽  
Shihao Li ◽  
Yang Yu ◽  
Chengsong Zhang ◽  
Xiaojun Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Cuticle Proteins ◽  
Apolipoprotein D ◽  
High Level ◽  
Lower Expression

A mutant of the ridgetail white prawn, which exhibited rare orange-red body color with a higher level of free astaxanthin (ASTX) concentration than that in the wild-type prawn, was obtained in our lab. In order to understand the underlying mechanism for the existence of a high level of free astaxanthin, transcriptome analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the mutant and wild-type prawns. A total of 78,224 unigenes were obtained, and 1863 were identified as DEGs, in which 902 unigenes showed higher expression levels, while 961 unigenes presented lower expression levels in the mutant in comparison with the wild-type prawns. Based on Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, as well as further investigation of annotated DEGs, we found that the biological processes related to astaxanthin binding, transport, and metabolism presented significant differences between the mutant and the wild-type prawns. Some genes related to these processes, including crustacyanin, apolipoprotein D (ApoD), cathepsin, and cuticle proteins, were identified as DEGs between the two types of prawns. These data may provide important information for us to understand the molecular mechanism of the existence of a high level of free astaxanthin in the prawn.

scholarly journals Diversity of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Landraces in Mozambique: New Opportunities for Crop Improvement and Future Breeding Programs

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 991
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Figueira Gomes ◽  
David Draper ◽  
Nascimento Nhantumbo ◽  
Rafael Massinga ◽  
José C. Ramalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vigna Unguiculata ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Nutrition Security ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
High Level ◽  
Nutrition Sensitive

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a neglected crop native to Africa, with an outstanding potential to contribute to the major challenges in food and nutrition security, as well as in agricultural sustainability. Two major issues regarding cowpea research have been highlighted in recent years—the establishment of core collections and the characterization of landraces—as crucial to the implementation of environmentally resilient and nutrition-sensitive production systems. In this work, we have collected, mapped, and characterized the morphological attributes of 61 cowpea genotypes, from 10 landraces spanning across six agro-ecological zones and three provinces in Mozambique. Our results reveal that local landraces retain a high level of morphological diversity without a specific geographical pattern, suggesting the existence of gene flow. Nevertheless, accessions from one landrace, i.e., Maringué, seem to be the most promising in terms of yield and nutrition-related parameters, and could therefore be integrated into the ongoing conservation and breeding efforts in the region towards the production of elite varieties of cowpea.

scholarly journals Host Range of Streptomycete Strains Causing Common Scab

Plant Disease ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 901-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Goyer ◽  
Carole Beaulieu
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Daucus Carota ◽  
Dna Hybridization ◽  
Common Scab ◽  
Genetic Cluster ◽  
Dna Relatedness ◽  
Physiological Characterization ◽  
Genetic Clusters ◽  
High Level

Ten Streptomyces isolates from common scab lesions on carrots (Daucus carota) were characterized. Morphological and physiological characterization of the carrot isolates established that they were closely related to S. scabies. DNA-DNA hybridization studies were carried out between DNA from the carrot isolates and DNA from two potato strains belonging to the two genetic clusters of S. scabies. Most of the carrot isolates exhibited a high level of DNA relatedness (average of 90%) to strain EF-54, which belongs to genetic cluster 1 of S. scabies. Three carrot isolates could not be included in either S. scabies genetic cluster 1 or 2. The pathogenicity of six S. scabies isolates from potato or carrot, two isolates of S. caviscabies, and one isolate of S. acidiscabies was determined on potato, carrot, radish, beet, turnip, and parsnip. All S. scabies isolates were pathogenic on carrot and radish, but pathogenicity on beet, parsnip, turnip, and potato was variable. Even though S. acidiscabies and S. caviscabies until now have been isolated only from potato, we demonstrated that isolates of these species also could infect other crops, such as radish, carrot, parsnip, and turnip.

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