scholarly journals Palmitoylation of the 25-kDa synaptosomal protein (SNAP-25) in vitro occurs in the absence of an enzyme, but is stimulated by binding to syntaxin

1999 ◽  
Vol 345 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael VEIT
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Cysteine Residues ◽  
Binary Complex ◽  
Protein Receptor ◽  
Protein Palmitoylation

The neuronal N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor-attachment-protein receptor (SNARE) proteins 25-kDa synaptosomal protein (SNAP-25), syntaxin 1 and synaptobrevin 2 interact to form the intermembrane SNARE complex, which mediates docking and fusion of synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane. Assembly of the SNARE complex is accompanied by conformational changes, especially in SNAP-25. SNAP-25 is palmitoylated in vivo at cysteine residues located in the middle of the molecule. Acylation is required for membrane binding or membrane targeting of this intrinsically hydrophilic protein. Palmitoylation of recombinant SNAP-25 was studied in vitro in the absence of an enzyme source with [3H]palmitoyl-CoA as the lipid donor. [3H]Palmitate incorporation into unbound SNAP-25 was negligible, but was stimulated 100-fold when SNAP-25 was present in the SNARE complex. SNAP-25 in a binary complex with syntaxin 1 was palmitoylated with almost the same efficiency. A mutant of SNAP-25, which was not acylated in vivo, did not incorporate [3H]palmitate in this assay. [3H]Palmitate incorporation into wild-type SNAP-25 was blocked by chemical blocking of free SH groups, but slightly stimulated by reduction of disulfide-bonds. This shows that palmitoylation of SNAP-25 in vitro occurs at the same cysteine residues that are palmitoylated in vivo. This demonstrates that efficient palmitoylation of SNAP-25 depends on an interaction with a physiological binding partner. It suggests further that palmitoylation of SNAP-25 requires the α-helical conformation of the protein, which is induced by binding to syntaxin 1.

Protective effects of Cathelicidin against glomerulonephritis through promotion of host defense

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-198
Author(s):  
Ajay H. Bahl ◽  
Wanda Lee
Keyword(s):  
Host Defense ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Antimicrobial Protein ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Risk Of Death

Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptides are a family of polypeptides found in lysosomes of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Some of these peptides can assume an alpha-helical conformation, others contain one or two disulfide bonds, still others are Pro- and Arg-rich, or Trp-rich. Higher levels of human cathelicidin antimicrobial protein (hCAP18), which are up-regulated by vitamin D, appear to significantly reduce the risk of death from infection in dialysis patients. Using in vitro and in vivo models of kidney infection, we demonstrate key antimicrobial and host immunomodulatory properties of cathelicidins. To directly assess the role of endogenous cathelicidin in the development of glomerulonephritis, WT and mCRAMP KO mice were provided with 5% DSS to induce glomerulonephritis. Some mice groups were administered with E. coli DNA I.P. Our findings showed that mCRAMP KO mice develop more severe glomerulonephritis. These data demonstrate key roles for cathelicidins in host defense against glomerulonephritis and the potential to inform the development of synthetic analogues to modulate specific host-pathogen interactions as novel antimicrobial therapeutics.

scholarly journals Reduced O-GlcNAcylation of SNAP-23 promotes cisplatin resistance by inducing exosome secretion in ovarian cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luomeng Qian ◽  
Xiaoshan Yang ◽  
Shaohui Li ◽  
Hang Zhao ◽  
Yunge Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Protein Modification ◽  
Snare Complex ◽  
Ovarian Cancer Cells ◽  
Attachment Protein ◽  
Protein Receptor ◽  
Sensitive Factor

AbstractExosomes have been associated with chemoresistance in various cancers, but such a role in ovarian cancer is not yet clear. Here, using in vitro cell-based and in vivo mouse model experiments, we show that downregulation of O-GlcNAcylation, a key post-translational protein modification, promotes exosome secretion. This increases exosome-mediated efflux of cisplatin from cancer cells resulting in chemoresistance. Mechanistically, our data indicate that downregulation of O-GlcNAclation transferase (OGT) reduces O-GlcNAclation of SNAP-23. Notably, O-GlcNAcylation of SNAP-23 is vital for regulating exosome release in ovarian cancer cells. Reduced O-GlcNAclation of SNAP-23 subsequently promotes the formation of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex consisting of SNAP-23, VAMP8, and Stx4 proteins. This enhances exosome release causing chemoresistance by increasing the efflux of intracellular cisplatin.

CarR, a MarR-family regulator from Corynebacterium glutamicum, modulated antibiotic and aromatic compound resistance

2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (21) ◽  
pp. 3141-3159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meiru Si ◽  
Can Chen ◽  
Zengfan Wei ◽  
Zhijin Gong ◽  
GuiZhi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Corynebacterium Glutamicum ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Cysteine Oxidation ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Ligand Free ◽  
Redox Sensing

Abstract MarR (multiple antibiotic resistance regulator) proteins are a family of transcriptional regulators that is prevalent in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Understanding the physiological and biochemical function of MarR homologs in C. glutamicum has focused on cysteine oxidation-based redox-sensing and substrate metabolism-involving regulators. In this study, we characterized the stress-related ligand-binding functions of the C. glutamicum MarR-type regulator CarR (C. glutamicum antibiotic-responding regulator). We demonstrate that CarR negatively regulates the expression of the carR (ncgl2886)–uspA (ncgl2887) operon and the adjacent, oppositely oriented gene ncgl2885, encoding the hypothetical deacylase DecE. We also show that CarR directly activates transcription of the ncgl2882–ncgl2884 operon, encoding the peptidoglycan synthesis operon (PSO) located upstream of carR in the opposite orientation. The addition of stress-associated ligands such as penicillin and streptomycin induced carR, uspA, decE, and PSO expression in vivo, as well as attenuated binding of CarR to operator DNA in vitro. Importantly, stress response-induced up-regulation of carR, uspA, and PSO gene expression correlated with cell resistance to β-lactam antibiotics and aromatic compounds. Six highly conserved residues in CarR were found to strongly influence its ligand binding and transcriptional regulatory properties. Collectively, the results indicate that the ligand binding of CarR induces its dissociation from the carR–uspA promoter to derepress carR and uspA transcription. Ligand-free CarR also activates PSO expression, which in turn contributes to C. glutamicum stress resistance. The outcomes indicate that the stress response mechanism of CarR in C. glutamicum occurs via ligand-induced conformational changes to the protein, not via cysteine oxidation-based thiol modifications.

scholarly journals Mechanism of CK2.3, a Novel Mimetic Peptide of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type IA, Mediated Osteogenesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vrathasha Vrathasha ◽  
Hilary Weidner ◽  
Anja Nohe
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
C2c12 Cells ◽  
Molecular Sequence ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Protein Receptor

Background: Osteoporosis is a degenerative skeletal disease with a limited number of treatment options. CK2.3, a novel peptide, may be a potential therapeutic. It induces osteogenesis and bone formation in vitro and in vivo by acting downstream of BMPRIA through releasing CK2 from the receptor. However, the detailed signaling pathways, the time frame of signaling, and genes activated remain largely unknown. Methods: Using a newly developed fluorescent CK2.3 analog, specific inhibitors for the BMP signaling pathways, Western blot, and RT-qPCR, we determined the mechanism of CK2.3 in C2C12 cells. We then confirmed the results in primary BMSCs. Results: Using these methods, we showed that CK2.3 stimulation activated OSX, ALP, and OCN. CK2.3 stimulation induced time dependent release of CK2β from BMPRIA and concurrently CK2.3 colocalized with CK2α. Furthermore, CK2.3 induced BMP signaling depends on ERK1/2 and Smad1/5/8 signaling pathways. Conclusion: CK2.3 is a novel peptide that drives osteogenesis, and we detailed the molecular sequence of events that are triggered from the stimulation of CK2.3 until the induction of mineralization. This knowledge can be applied in the development of future therapeutics for osteoporosis.

scholarly journals E3 Ubiquitin Ligase SPL2 Is a Lanthanide-Binding Protein

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5712
Author(s):  
Michał Tracz ◽  
Ireneusz Górniak ◽  
Andrzej Szczepaniak ◽  
Wojciech Białek
Keyword(s):  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
E3 Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Lanthanide Ions ◽  
E3 Ligases ◽  
Fluorescence Measurements ◽  
Partial Unfolding

The SPL2 protein is an E3 ubiquitin ligase of unknown function. It is one of only three types of E3 ligases found in the outer membrane of plant chloroplasts. In this study, we show that the cytosolic fragment of SPL2 binds lanthanide ions, as evidenced by fluorescence measurements and circular dichroism spectroscopy. We also report that SPL2 undergoes conformational changes upon binding of both Ca2+ and La3+, as evidenced by its partial unfolding. However, these structural rearrangements do not interfere with SPL2 enzymatic activity, as the protein retains its ability to auto-ubiquitinate in vitro. The possible applications of lanthanide-based probes to identify protein interactions in vivo are also discussed. Taken together, the results of this study reveal that the SPL2 protein contains a lanthanide-binding site, showing for the first time that at least some E3 ubiquitin ligases are also capable of binding lanthanide ions.

scholarly journals Predicting Absorption-Distribution Properties of Neuroprotective Phosphine-Borane Compounds Using In Silico Modeling and Machine Learning

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2505
Author(s):  
Raheem Remtulla ◽  
Sanjoy Kumar Das ◽  
Leonard A. Levin
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Neural Networks ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Oral Absorption ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
In Silico Methods

Phosphine-borane complexes are novel chemical entities with preclinical efficacy in neuronal and ophthalmic disease models. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that the metabolites of these compounds are capable of cleaving disulfide bonds implicated in the downstream effects of axonal injury. A difficulty in using standard in silico methods for studying these drugs is that most computational tools are not designed for borane-containing compounds. Using in silico and machine learning methodologies, the absorption-distribution properties of these unique compounds were assessed. Features examined with in silico methods included cellular permeability, octanol-water partition coefficient, blood-brain barrier permeability, oral absorption and serum protein binding. The resultant neural networks demonstrated an appropriate level of accuracy and were comparable to existing in silico methodologies. Specifically, they were able to reliably predict pharmacokinetic features of known boron-containing compounds. These methods predicted that phosphine-borane compounds and their metabolites meet the necessary pharmacokinetic features for orally active drug candidates. This study showed that the combination of standard in silico predictive and machine learning models with neural networks is effective in predicting pharmacokinetic features of novel boron-containing compounds as neuroprotective drugs.

scholarly journals Plant Physiology, 2021 Functional redox links between lumen thiol oxidoreductase1 and serine/threonine-protein kinase STN7

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianghao Wu ◽  
Liwei Rong ◽  
Weijun Lin ◽  
Lingxi Kong ◽  
Dengjie Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Light Harvesting ◽  
Photosynthetic Electron Transport ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
Light Harvesting Complex ◽  
Light Harvesting Complex Ii

Abstract In response to changing light quantity and quality, photosynthetic organisms perform state transitions, a process which optimizes photosynthetic yield and mitigates photo-damage. The serine/threonine-protein kinase STN7 phosphorylates the light-harvesting complex of photosystem II (PSII; light-harvesting complex II), which then migrates from PSII to photosystem I (PSI), thereby rebalancing the light excitation energy between the photosystems and restoring the redox poise of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Two conserved cysteines forming intra- or intermolecular disulfide bonds in the lumenal domain (LD) of STN7 are essential for the kinase activity although it is still unknown how activation of the kinase is regulated. In this study, we show lumen thiol oxidoreductase 1 (LTO1) is co-expressed with STN7 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and interacts with the LD of STN7 in vitro and in vivo. LTO1 contains thioredoxin (TRX)-like and vitamin K epoxide reductase domains which are related to the disulfide-bond formation system in bacteria. We further show that the TRX-like domain of LTO1 is able to oxidize the conserved lumenal cysteines of STN7 in vitro. In addition, loss of LTO1 affects the kinase activity of STN7 in Arabidopsis. Based on these results, we propose that LTO1 helps to maintain STN7 in an oxidized active state in state 2 through redox interactions between the lumenal cysteines of STN7 and LTO1.

scholarly journals Furin Processing and Proteolytic Activation of Semliki Forest Virus

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 2981-2989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinyong Zhang ◽  
Martin Fugère ◽  
Robert Day ◽  
Margaret Kielian
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Secretory Pathway ◽  
Semliki Forest Virus ◽  
Fusion Reaction ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Protein Fusion ◽  
Proteolytic Activation ◽  
Control Virus

ABSTRACT The alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infects cells via a low-pH-dependent membrane fusion reaction mediated by the E1 envelope protein. Fusion is regulated by the interaction of E1 with the receptor-binding protein E2. E2 is synthesized as a precursor termed “p62,” which forms a stable heterodimer with E1 and is processed late in the secretory pathway by a cellular furin-like protease. Once processing to E2 occurs, the E1/E2 heterodimer is destabilized so that it is more readily dissociated by exposure to low pH, allowing fusion and infection. We have used FD11 cells, a furin-deficient CHO cell line, to characterize the processing of p62 and its role in the control of virus fusion and infection. p62 was not cleaved in FD11 cells and cleavage was restored in FD11 cell transfectants expressing human furin. Studies of unprocessed virus produced in FD11 cells (wt/p62) demonstrated that the p62 protein was efficiently cleaved by purified furin in vitro, without requiring prior exposure to low pH. wt/p62 virus particles were also processed during their endocytic uptake in furin-containing cells, resulting in more efficient virus infection. wt/p62 virus was compared with mutant L, in which p62 cleavage was blocked by mutation of the furin-recognition motif. wt/p62 and mutant L had similar fusion properties, requiring a much lower pH than control virus to trigger fusion and fusogenic E1 conformational changes. However, the in vivo infectivity of mutant L was more strongly inhibited than that of wt/p62, due to additional effects of the mutation on virus-cell binding.

Identification of novel α-gliadin genes

Genome ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng-Fei Qi ◽  
Yu-Ming Wei ◽  
Qing Chen ◽  
Thérèse Ouellet ◽  
Jia Ai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Protein Band ◽  
Cysteine Residues ◽  
Disulphide Bonds ◽  
Chain Extenders ◽  
Domain I ◽  
Unique Domain

Ten novel α-gliadin genes (Gli-ta, Gli-turg1, Gli-turg2, Gli-turg3, Gli-turg4, Gli-turg5, Gli-turg6, Gli-cs1, Gli-cs2, and Gli-cs3) with unique characteristics were isolated from wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), among which Gli-cs1, Gli-cs2, Gli-cs3, and Gli-turg6 were pseudogenes. Gli-cs3 and nine other sequences were much larger and smaller, respectively, than the typical α-gliadins. This variation was caused by insertion or deletion of the unique domain I and a polyglutamine region, possibly the result of illegitimate recombination. Consequently, Gli-cs3 contained 10 cysteine residues, whereas there were 2 cysteine residues only in the other nine sequences. Gli-ta/Gli-ta-like α-gliadin genes are normally expressed during the development of seeds. SDS–PAGE analysis showed that in-vitro-expressed Gli-ta could form intermolecular disulphide bonds and could be chain extenders. A protein band similar in size to Gli-ta has been observed in seed extracts, and mass spectrometry results confirm that the band contains small molecular mass α-gliadins, which is a characteristic of the novel α-gliadins. Mass spectrometry results also indicated that the two cysteine residues of Gli-ta/Gli-ta-like proteins participated in the formation of intermolecular disulphide bonds in vivo.

scholarly journals Kinetic analysis of GTP hydrolysis catalysed by the Arf1-GTP–ASAP1 complex

2007 ◽  
Vol 402 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruibai Luo ◽  
Bijan Ahvazi ◽  
Diana Amariei ◽  
Deborah Shroder ◽  
Beatriz Burrola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binary Complex ◽  
Gtp Hydrolysis ◽  
Gtpase Activating Proteins ◽  
Steady State Kinetics ◽  
Catalytically Active ◽  
Ras Family ◽  
Src Homology ◽  
Significant Conformational Change

Arf (ADP-ribosylation factor) GAPs (GTPase-activating proteins) are enzymes that catalyse the hydrolysis of GTP bound to the small GTP-binding protein Arf. They have also been proposed to function as Arf effectors and oncogenes. We have set out to characterize the kinetics of the GAP-induced GTP hydrolysis using a truncated form of ASAP1 [Arf GAP with SH3 (Src homology 3) domain, ankyrin repeats and PH (pleckstrin homology) domains 1] as a model. We found that ASAP1 used Arf1-GTP as a substrate with a kcat of 57±5 s−1 and a Km of 2.2±0.5 μM determined by steady-state kinetics and a kcat of 56±7 s−1 determined by single-turnover kinetics. Tetrafluoroaluminate (AlF4−), which stabilizes complexes of other Ras family members with their cognate GAPs, also stabilized a complex of Arf1-GDP with ASAP1. As anticipated, mutation of Arg-497 to a lysine residue affected kcat to a much greater extent than Km. Changing Trp-479, Iso-490, Arg-505, Leu-511 or Asp-512 was predicted, based on previous studies, to affect affinity for Arf1-GTP. Instead, these mutations primarily affected the kcat. Mutants that lacked activity in vitro similarly lacked activity in an in vivo assay of ASAP1 function, the inhibition of dorsal ruffle formation. Our results support the conclusion that the Arf GAP ASAP1 functions in binary complex with Arf1-GTP to induce a transition state towards GTP hydrolysis. The results have led us to speculate that Arf1-GTP–ASAP1 undergoes a significant conformational change when transitioning from the ground to catalytically active state. The ramifications for the putative effector function of ASAP1 are discussed.

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