scholarly journals The conserved cysteine-rich domain of a tesmin/TSO1-like protein binds zinc in vitro and TSO1 is required for both male and female fertility in Arabidopsis thaliana

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (13) ◽  
pp. 3657-3670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stig Uggerhøj Andersen ◽  
Randi Groslier Algreen-Petersen ◽  
Martina Hoedl ◽  
Anna Jurkiewicz ◽  
Cristina Cvitanich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Female Fertility ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Rich Domain ◽  
Cysteine Rich Domain

scholarly journals Increased Susceptibility of  Thymocytes to Apoptosis in Mice Lacking AIM, a Novel Murine Macrophage-derived Soluble Factor Belonging to the Scavenger Receptor Cysteine-rich Domain Superfamily

1999 ◽  
Vol 189 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toru Miyazaki ◽  
Yumiko Hirokami ◽  
Nobuyuki Matsuhashi ◽  
Hisakazu Takatsuka ◽  
Makoto Naito
Keyword(s):  
Scavenger Receptor ◽  
The Body ◽  
Murine Macrophage ◽  
Double Positive ◽  
Differential Signal ◽  
Rich Domain ◽  
Macrophage Scavenger Receptor ◽  
Cysteine Rich Domain

Apoptosis of cells must be regulated both positively and negatively in response to a variety of stimuli in the body. Various environmental stresses are known to initiate apoptosis via differential signal transduction cascades. However, induction of signals that may inhibit apoptosis is poorly understood, although a number of intracellular molecules that mediate inhibition of apoptosis have been identified. Here we present a novel murine macrophage-specific 54-kD secreted protein which inhibits apoptosis (termed AIM, for apoptosis inhibitor expressed by macrophages). AIM belongs to the macrophage scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain superfamily (SRCR-SF), members of which share a highly homologous conserved cysteine-rich domain. In AIM-deficient mice, the thymocyte numbers were diminished to half those in wild-type mice, and CD4/CD8 double-positive (DP) thymocytes were strikingly more susceptible to apoptosis induced by both dexamethasone and irradiation in vivo. Recombinant AIM protein significantly inhibited cell death of DP thymocytes in response to a variety of stimuli in vitro. These results indicate that in the thymus, AIM functions in trans to induce resistance to apoptosis within DP cells, and thus supports the viability of DP thymocytes before thymic selection.

scholarly journals Melatonin in male and female fertility

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-151
Author(s):  
Zainab M. Alawad ◽  
Hanan L. Al-Omary
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
The Body ◽  
Female Fertility ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Cancer Agent

Melatonin, a hormone synthesized mainly by the pineal gland, has been found in extra-pineal organs as well. It’s known as an organizer of circadian rhythms and more recently as an anti-oxidant. In addition to its role in maintaining immunity, pathophysiology of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and as an anti-cancer agent, evidence has demonstrated that melatonin exerts a positive impact on male and female fertility primarily through oxygen scavenging effects. In In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) programs, supplementation of melatonin may be associated with better outcomes in terms of sperm quality, oocyte quality, embryo quality and pregnancy rates. This review summarizes various actions of melatonin on the body focusing on male and female fecundity.

scholarly journals The vacuolar DHHC-CRD protein Pfa3p is a protein acyltransferase for Vac8p

2005 ◽  
Vol 170 (7) ◽  
pp. 1091-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Smotrys ◽  
Marissa J. Schoenfish ◽  
Monica A. Stutz ◽  
Maurine E. Linder
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Vacuolar Membrane ◽  
Membrane Association ◽  
Rich Domain ◽  
Vacuole Fusion ◽  
Cysteine Rich Domain

Palmitoylation of the vacuolar membrane protein Vac8p is essential for vacuole fusion in yeast (Veit, M., R. Laage, L. Dietrich, L. Wang, and C. Ungermann. 2001. EMBO J. 20:3145–3155; Wang, Y.X., E.J. Kauffman, J.E. Duex, and L.S. Weisman. 2001. J. Biol. Chem. 276:35133–35140). Proteins that contain an Asp-His-His-Cys (DHHC)–cysteine rich domain (CRD) are emerging as a family of protein acyltransferases, and are therefore candidates for mediators of Vac8p palmitoylation. Here we demonstrate that the DHHC-CRD proteins Pfa3p (protein fatty acyltransferase 3, encoded by YNL326c) and Swf1p are important for vacuole fusion. Cells lacking Pfa3p had fragmented vacuoles when stressed, and cells lacking both Pfa3p and Swf1p had fragmented vacuoles under normal growth conditions. Pfa3p promoted Vac8p membrane association and palmitoylation in vivo and partially purified Pfa3p palmitoylated Vac8p in vitro, establishing Vac8p as a substrate for palmitoylation by Pfa3p. Vac8p is the first N-myristoylated, palmitoylated protein identified as a substrate for a DHHC-CRD protein.

scholarly journals The yeast DHHC cysteine-rich domain protein Akr1p is a palmitoyl transferase

2002 ◽  
Vol 159 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy F. Roth ◽  
Ying Feng ◽  
Linyi Chen ◽  
Nicholas G. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Mechanism ◽  
Enzymatic Reaction ◽  
Conserved Sequence ◽  
Rich Domain ◽  
Protein Palmitoylation ◽  
Domain Protein ◽  
Polytopic Membrane Protein ◽  
Cysteine Rich Domain

Protein palmitoylation has been long appreciated for its role in tethering proteins to membranes, yet the enzymes responsible for this modification have eluded identification. Here, experiments in vivo and in vitro demonstrate that Akr1p, a polytopic membrane protein containing a DHHC cysteine-rich domain (CRD), is a palmitoyl transferase (PTase). In vivo, we find that the casein kinase Yck2p is palmitoylated and that Akr1p function is required for this modification. Akr1p, purified to near homogeneity from yeast membranes, catalyzes Yck2p palmitoylation in vitro, indicating that Akr1p is itself a PTase. Palmitoylation is stimulated by added ATP. Furthermore, during the reaction, Akr1p is itself palmitoylated, suggesting a role for a palmitoyl-Akr1p intermediate in the overall reaction mechanism. Mutations introduced into the Akr1p DHHC-CRD eliminate both the trans- and autopalmitoylation activities, indicating a central participation of this conserved sequence in the enzymatic reaction. Finally, our results indicate that palmitoylation within the yeast cell is controlled by multiple PTase specificities. The conserved DHHC-CRD sequence, we propose, is the signature feature of an evolutionarily widespread PTase family.

Papilin in development; a pericellular protein with a homology to the ADAMTS metalloproteinases

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (24) ◽  
pp. 5475-5485 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.A. Kramerova ◽  
N. Kawaguchi ◽  
L.I. Fessler ◽  
R.E. Nelson ◽  
Y. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cdna Sequence ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Malpighian Tubule ◽  
Basement Membranes ◽  
Rich Domain ◽  
Cysteine Rich Domain ◽  
Embryonic Death

Papilin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that we have found to be involved in, (1) thin matrix layers during gastrulation, (2) matrix associated with wandering, phagocytic hemocytes, (3) basement membranes and (4) space-filling matrix during Drosophila development. Determination of its cDNA sequence led to the identification of Caenorhabditis and mammalian papilins. A distinctly conserved ‘papilin cassette’ of domains at the amino-end of papilins is also the carboxyl-end of the ADAMTS subgroup of secreted, matrix-associated metalloproteinases; this cassette contains one thrombospondin type 1 (TSR) domain, a specific cysteine-rich domain and several partial TSR domains. In vitro, papilin non-competitively inhibits procollagen N-proteinase, an ADAMTS metalloproteinase. Inhibiting papilin synthesis in Drosophila or Caenorhabditis causes defective cell arrangements and embryonic death. Ectopic expression of papilin in Drosophila causes lethal abnormalities in muscle, Malpighian tubule and trachea formation. We suggest that papilin influences cell rearrangements and may modulate metalloproteinases during organogenesis.

scholarly journals Influence of Induced Polyploidy on Fertility and Morphology of Rudbeckia Species and Hybrids

HortScience ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 1217-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly M. Oates ◽  
Thomas G. Ranney ◽  
Darren H. Touchell
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Female Fertility ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
New Varieties ◽  
Number Of Stems ◽  
Delayed Flowering ◽  
Overwintering Survival

Rudbeckia spp. are adaptable and valuable ornamental wildflowers. Development of new varieties of Rudbeckia spp., with improved commercial characteristics, would be highly desirable. Interspecific hybridization and induced polyploidy may be avenues for improvement within the genus. The objective of this study was to evaluate fertility, morphology, phenology of flowering, and perennialness (overwintering survival) for lines of diploid and induced allotetraploids of R. subtomentosa × hirta and diploid and autotetraploids of R. subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’. Polyploid lines were developed and propagated in vitro and then grown ex vitro in a randomized complete block design with 12 replications. Compared with their diploid counterparts, autotetraploid lines of R. subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ had similar internode lengths, plant heights, number of stems, flowering times (date at first anthesis), and fall and spring survival (100%); reduced number of inflorescences and male and female fertility; and increased inflorescence diameters. Compared with their diploid counterparts, allotetraploids of R. subtomentosa × hirta had similar internode lengths, reduced number of inflorescences, delayed flowering times, and increased pollen staining. Allotetraploids had limited male and female fertility compared with no detectable fertility in their diploid counterparts. Plant height and number of stems either decreased or showed no change with induced allotetraploidy. Spring survival of diploid hybrid genotypes ranged from 0% to 82% and was not improved in the allotetraploid hybrids. For a given genotype, some polyploidy lines varied significantly in certain morphological traits (e.g., plant height) indicating somaclonal variation may have developed in vitro or there were variable genomic or epigenetic changes associated with induced polyploidy.

scholarly journals Structure/Function Relationships in the Minicollagen ofHydraNematocysts

2002 ◽  
Vol 277 (51) ◽  
pp. 49200-49204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suat Özbek ◽  
Olivier Pertz ◽  
Martine Schwager ◽  
Ariel Lustig ◽  
Thomas Holstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Triple Helix ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Disulfide Linkage ◽  
Collagen Triple Helix ◽  
Rich Domain ◽  
Reducing Conditions ◽  
Cross Links ◽  
Polymeric Structures ◽  
Cysteine Rich Domain

The minicollagens found in the inner layer of theHydranematocyst walls are the smallest collagens known with 12–16 Gly-X-Yrepeats. Minicollagen-1, the best characterized member of this protein family so far, consists of a central collagen triple helix of 12 nm in length flanked at both ends by a polyproline stretch and a conserved cysteine-rich domain. The cysteine-rich tails are proposed to function in the assembly of soluble minicollagen trimers to high molecular structures by a switch of the disulfide linkage from intramolecular to intermolecular bonds. In this study, we investigate the trimeric nature of minicollagen-1 and its capacity to form disulfide-linked polymersin vitro. A fusion protein of minicollagen-1 with maltose-binding protein is secreted as a soluble trimer with only intrachain and no interchain disulfide bridges as confirmed by melting the collagen triple helix under reducing and non-reducing conditions. The conversion of minicollagen-1 trimers to monomers takes place between 40 and 55 °C with the melting point being ∼45 °C. Oxidative reshuffling of the minicollagen-1 trimers leads to the formation of high molecular aggregates, which upon reduction show distinct polytrimeric states. Minicollagen trimers in isolated nematocyst capsules proved to be sensitive to SDS and were engaged in polymeric structures with additional cross-links that were resistant to reducing agent.

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