scholarly journals Secondary structure and biophysical activity of synthetic analogues of the pulmonary surfactant polypeptide SP-C

1995 ◽  
Vol 307 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Johansson ◽  
G Nilsson ◽  
R Strömberg ◽  
B Robertson ◽  
H Jörnvall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Structure ◽  
Pulmonary Surfactant ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Helical Structure ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Synthetic Analogues ◽  
Charged Amino Acids ◽  
Phospholipid Micelles ◽  
Helical Content ◽  
Biophysical Activity

Native pulmonary-surfactant-associated lipopolypeptide SP-C, its chemically depalmitoylated form and several synthetic analogues lacking the palmitoylcysteine residues were analysed for secondary structure in phospholipid micelles and for biophysical activity in 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine/phosphatidylglycerol/palmitic acid (68:22:9, by wt.). Compared with the native molecule, with the entire poly-valyl part in a known alpha-helical conformation, depalmitoylated SP-C was found to be still mainly alpha-helical, but with an approx. 20% decrease in the helical content. A synthetic hybrid polypeptide where the entire poly-valyl alpha-helical part of native SP-C had been replaced with the amino acid sequence of a transmembrane helix of bacteriorhodopsin is also predominantly alpha-helical. In contrast, synthetic SP-C analogues lacking only the palmitoyl groups, by replacement of the palmitoylcysteine residues with cysteine, phenylalanine or serine, or lacking the positively charged amino acids by replacement with alanine, are considerably less alpha-helical than both native and depalmitoylated SP-C. The data indicate that the SP-C palmitoyl groups are important for maintenance of the alpha-helical conformation in parts of the polypeptide, and that the poly-valyl alpha-helical conformation is not fully formed in synthetic SP-C polypeptides. Furthermore, the helical structure of both native and depalmitoylated SP-C in dodecylphosphocholine micelles is very resistant to thermal denaturation, exhibiting ordered structure at 90 degrees C. The alpha-helical content grossly parallels the peptide-induced acceleration of the spreading of phospholipids at an air/water interface and the increase of surface pressure. The data suggest that the alpha-helical conformation itself, rather than just the covalent structure, is of prime importance for the biological function of synthetic pulmonary-surfactant peptides.

scholarly journals Naphthalimide-Containing BP100 Leads to Higher Model Membranes Interactions and Antimicrobial Activity

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 542
Author(s):  
Gustavo Penteado Battesini Carretero ◽  
Greice Kelle Viegas Saraiva ◽  
Magali Aparecida Rodrigues ◽  
Sumika Kiyota ◽  
Marcelo Porto Bemquerer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Helical Structure ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Property A ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Low Toxicity

In a large variety of organisms, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are primary defenses against pathogens. BP100 (KKLFKKILKYL-NH2), a short, synthetic, cationic AMP, is active against bacteria and displays low toxicity towards eukaryotic cells. BP100 acquires a α-helical conformation upon interaction with membranes and increases membrane permeability. Despite the volume of information available, the action mechanism of BP100, the selectivity of its biological effects, and possible applications are far from consensual. Our group synthesized a fluorescent BP100 analogue containing naphthalimide linked to its N-terminal end, NAPHT-BP100 (Naphthalimide-AAKKLFKKILKYL-NH2). The fluorescence properties of naphthalimides, especially their spectral sensitivity to microenvironment changes, are well established, and their biological activities against transformed cells and bacteria are known. Naphthalimide derived compounds are known to interact with DNA disturbing related processes as replication and transcription, and used as anticancer agents due to this property. A wide variety of techniques were used to demonstrate that NAPHT-BP100 bound to and permeabilized zwitterionic POPC and negatively charged POPC:POPG liposomes and, upon interaction, acquired a α-helical structure. Membrane surface high peptide/lipid ratios triggered complete permeabilization of the liposomes in a detergent-like manner. Membrane disruption was driven by charge neutralization, lipid aggregation, and bilayer destabilization. NAPHT-BP100 also interacted with double-stranded DNA, indicating that this peptide could also affect other cellular processes besides causing membrane destabilization. NAPHT-BP100 showed increased antibacterial and hemolytic activities, compared to BP100, and may constitute an efficient antimicrobial agent for dermatological use. By conjugating BP100 and naphthalimide DNA binding properties, NAPHT-BP100 bound to a large extent to the bacterial membrane and could more efficiently destabilize it. We also speculate that peptide could enter the bacteria cell and interact with its DNA in the cytoplasm.

scholarly journals NMR structure of the water soluble Aβ17–34 peptide

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Genadiy Fonar ◽  
Abraham O. Samson
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Helical Structure ◽  
Nmr Structure ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Aβ Amyloid

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world. Its most significant symptoms are memory loss and decrease in cognition. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by aggregation of two proteins in the brain namely Aβ (amyloid β) and tau. Recent evidence suggests that the interaction of soluble Aβ with nAChR (nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) contributes to disease progression. In this study, we determine the NMR structure of an Aβ17–34 peptide solubilized by the addition of two glutamic acids at each terminus. Our results indicate that the Aβ peptide adopts an α-helical structure for residues 19–26 and 28–33. The α-helical structure is broken around residues S26, N27 and K28, which form a kink in the helical conformation. This α-helix was not described earlier in an aqueous solution without organic solvents, and at physiological conditions (pH 7). These data are in agreement with Aβ adopting an α-helical conformation in the membrane before polymerizing into amyloid β-sheets and provide insight into the intermediate state of Aβ in Alzheimer's disease.

scholarly journals The role of prolines and glycine in the transmembrane domain of LAT

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Glatzová ◽  
Harsha Mavila ◽  
Maria Chiara Saija ◽  
Tomáš Chum ◽  
Lukasz Cwiklik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Helical Structure ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Transmembrane Segment ◽  
Proline Residue ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTLAT is a critical regulator of T cell development and function. It organises signalling events at the plasma membrane. However, the mechanism, which controls LAT localisation at the plasma membrane is not fully understood. Here, we studied the impact of helix-breaking amino acids, two prolines and one glycine, in the transmembrane segment on localisation and function of LAT. Using in silico analysis, confocal and superresolution imaging and flow cytometry we demonstrate that central proline residue destabilises transmembrane helix by inducing a kink. The helical structure and dynamics is further regulated by glycine and another proline residue in the luminal part of LAT transmembrane domain. Replacement of these residues with aliphatic amino acids reduces LAT dependence on palmitoylation for sorting to the plasma membrane. However, surface expression of these mutants is not sufficient to recover function of non-palmitoylated LAT in stimulated T cells. These data indicate that geometry and dynamics of LAT transmembrane segment regulate its localisation and function in immune cells.

scholarly journals N-Terminal (1→3)-β-d-Glucan Recognition Proteins from Insects Recognize the Difference in Ultra-Structures of (1→3)-β-d-Glucan

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adachi ◽  
Ishii ◽  
Kanno ◽  
Tetsui ◽  
Ishibashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Triple Helix ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Helical Structure ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Insect Host ◽  
Mealworm Beetle ◽  
Indian Meal ◽  
Recognition Protein ◽  
Human Igg1 ◽  
The Difference

Recognition of (1→3)-β-d-glucans (BGs) by invertebrate β-1,3-d-glucan recognition protein (BGRP) plays a significant role in the activation of Toll pathway and prophenoloxidase systems in insect host defense against fungal invasion. To examine the structure diversity of BGRPs for the recognition of physiochemically different BGs, the binding specificity of BGRPs cloned from four different insects to structure different BGs was characterized using ELISA. Recombinant BGRPs expressed as Fc-fusion proteins of human IgG1 bound to the solid phase of BGs. Based on the binding specificities, the BGRPs were categorized into two groups with different ultrastructures and binding characters; one group specifically binds BGs with triple-helical conformation, while the other group recognizes BGs with disordered conformations like single-helical or partially opened triple helix. The BGRPs from the silkworm and the Indian meal moth bound to the BGs with a triple-helical structure, whereas BGRPs from the red flour beetle and yellow mealworm beetle showed no binding to triple-helical BGs, but bound to alkaline-treated BGs that have a partially opened triple-helical conformation. This evidence suggests that the insect BGRPs can distinguish between different conformations of BGs and are equipped for determining the diversity of BG structures.

scholarly journals Helix-sense-selective Polymerization of 3,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)phenylacetylene Rigidly Bearing Galvinoxyl Residues and Their Chiroptical Properties

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi ◽  
Wang ◽  
Teraguchi ◽  
Aoki ◽  
Kaneko
Keyword(s):  
Main Chain ◽  
Helical Structure ◽  
Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding ◽  
Catalyst System ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
Cotton Effect ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Cd Spectra ◽  
Cotton Effects ◽  
Intramolecular Hydrogen

Four kinds of newly synthesized achiral phenylacetylenes bearing a phenylhydrogalvinoxyl residue at 4-position were polymerized by using a chiral rhodium catalyst system, [Rh(nbd)B(C6H5)4] or [Rh(nbd)Cl]2 catalysts in the presence of chiral (R)-(+)- or (S)-(–)-1-phenylethylamine ((R)- or (S)-PEA) cocatalysts. Poly(m-HGDHPA) and poly(m-HGTHPA) in THF showed Cotton signals at the absorption regions of the main chain and hydrogalvinoxyl in the circular dichroism (CD) spectra. It indicated that excess of one-handed helical polyacetylene backbone was induced by helix-sense-selective polymerization (HSSP) under the asymmetric conditions despite the achiral monomer, and the hydrogalvinoxyl moieties were also arranged to form one-handed helical structure. However, there was no Cotton effect for poly(p-HGDHPA) and poly(p-HGTHPA) because the intramolecular hydrogen bonding did not act well to stabilize the helical conformation. The hydrogalvinoxyl units of poly(m-HGDHPA) and poly(m-HGTHPA) were converted to the corresponding galvinoxyl radicals after treatment with PbO2. In the CD spectra of the polyradicals, the Cotton effects decreased depending on their static stability of helical conformation, suggesting that reversal conformation of the polymer chain arose.

scholarly journals Systematic FTIR Spectroscopy Study of the Secondary Structure Changes in Human Serum Albumin under Various Denaturation Conditions

Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usoltsev ◽  
Sitnikova ◽  
Kajava ◽  
Uspenskaya
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Structure ◽  
Human Serum Albumin ◽  
Serum Albumin ◽  
Human Serum ◽  
Ftir Spectroscopy ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Random Coil ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Structure Changes

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant protein in blood plasma. HSA is involved in the transport of hormones, fatty acids, and some other compounds, maintenance of blood pH, osmotic pressure, and many other functions. Although this protein is well studied, data about its conformational changes upon different denaturation factors are fragmentary and sometimes contradictory. This is especially true for FTIR spectroscopy data interpretation. Here, the effect of various denaturing agents on the structural state of HSA by using FTIR spectroscopy in the aqueous solutions was systematically studied. Our data suggest that the second derivative deconvolution method provides the most consistent interpretation of the obtained IR spectra. The secondary structure changes of HSA were studied depending on the concentration of the denaturing agent during acid, alkaline, and thermal denaturation. In general, the denaturation of HSA in different conditions is accompanied by a decrease in α-helical conformation and an increase in random coil conformation and the intermolecular β-strands. Meantime, some variation in the conformational changes depending on the type of the denaturation agent were also observed. The increase of β-structural conformation suggests that HSA may form amyloid-like aggregates upon the denaturation.

scholarly journals Transmembrane signaling and cytoplasmic signal conversion by dimeric transmembrane helix 2 and a linker domain of the DcuS sensor kinase

2020 ◽  
pp. jbc.RA120.015999
Author(s):  
Marius Stopp ◽  
Philipp Aloysius Steinmetz ◽  
Christopher Schubert ◽  
Christian Griesinger ◽  
Dirk Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transmission ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Helical Structure ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Sensor Kinase ◽  
Transmembrane Signaling ◽  
Activated State ◽  
Sensor Kinases ◽  
And Function ◽  
Cytoplasmic Side

Transmembrane signaling is a key process of membrane bound sensor kinases. The C4-dicarboxylate (fumarate) responsive sensor kinase DcuS of Escherichia coli is anchored by transmembrane helices TM1 and TM2 in the membrane. Signal transmission across the membrane relies on the piston-type movement of the periplasmic part of TM2. To define the role of TM2 in transmembrane signaling, we use oxidative Cys cross-linking to demonstrate that TM2 extends over the full distance of the membrane and forms a stable transmembrane homodimer in both the inactive and fumarate-activated state of DcuS. A S186xxxGxxxG194 motif is required for the stability and function of the TM2 homodimer. The TM2 helix further extends on the periplasmic side into the α6-helix of the sensory PASP domain, and on the cytoplasmic side into the α1-helix of PASC. PASC has to transmit the signal to the C-terminal kinase domain. A helical linker on the cytoplasmic side connecting TM2 with PASC contains a LxxxLxxxL sequence. The dimeric state of the linker was relieved during fumarate activation of DcuS, indicating structural rearrangements in the linker. Thus, DcuS contains a long α-helical structure reaching from the sensory PASP (α6) domain across the membrane to α1(PASC). Taken together, the results suggest piston-type transmembrane signaling by the TM2-homodimer from PASP across the full TM region, whereas the fumarate-destabilized linker dimer converts the signal on the cytoplasmic side for PASC and kinase regulation.

Two Hydrophobic Protein Fractions of Ovine Pulmonary Surfactant: Isolation, Characterization, and Biophysical Activity

2001 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Bünger ◽  
Ralph-Peter Krüger ◽  
Sylvia Pietschmann ◽  
Nadeshda Wüstneck ◽  
Lutz Kaufner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Surfactant ◽  
Protein Fractions ◽  
Hydrophobic Protein ◽  
Biophysical Activity
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