scholarly journals Biochemical and Structural Aspects of Cytokinin Biosynthesis and Degradation in Bacteria

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1314
Author(s):  
Jitka Frébortová ◽  
Ivo Frébort
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Catalytic Properties ◽  
Enzyme Assays ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
Cytokinin Biosynthesis ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Structural Aspects

It has been known for quite some time that cytokinins, hormones typical of plants, are also produced and metabolized in bacteria. Most bacteria can only form the tRNA-bound cytokinins, but there are examples of plant-associated bacteria, both pathogenic and beneficial, that actively synthesize cytokinins to interact with their host. Similar to plants, bacteria produce diverse cytokinin metabolites, employing corresponding metabolic pathways. The identification of genes encoding the enzymes involved in cytokinin biosynthesis and metabolism facilitated their detailed characterization based on both classical enzyme assays and structural approaches. This review summarizes the present knowledge on key enzymes involved in cytokinin biosynthesis, modifications, and degradation in bacteria, and discusses their catalytic properties in relation to the presence of specific amino acid residues and protein structure.

scholarly journals Screening of Neutrophil Activating Factors from a Metagenome Library of Sponge-Associated Bacteria

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 427
Author(s):  
Yoshiko Okamura ◽  
Hirokazu Takahashi ◽  
Atsuyuki Shiida ◽  
Yuto Hirata ◽  
Haruko Takeyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Maximum Activity ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Metagenome Library ◽  
Peptide Synthetase ◽  
Sponge Associated Bacteria ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Chemotactic Factors ◽  
By Products

Marine sponge-associated bacteria are known as bio-active compound produce. We have constructed metagenome libraries of the bacteria and developed a metagenomic screening approach. Activity-based screening successfully identified novel genes and novel enzymes; however, the efficiency was only in 1 out of 104 clones. Therefore, in this study, we thought that bioinformatics could help to reduce screening efforts, and combined activity-based screening with database search. Neutrophils play an important role for the immune system to recognize excreted bacterial by-products as chemotactic factors and are recruited to infection sites to kill pathogens via phagocytosis. These excreted by-products are considered critical triggers that engage the immune system to mount a defense against infection, and identifying these factors may guide developments in medicine and diagnostics. We focused on genes encoding amino acid ligase and peptide synthetase and selected from an in-house sponge metagenome database. Cell-free culture medium of each was used in a neutrophil chemiluminescence assay in luminol reaction. The clone showing maximum activity had a genomic sequence expected to produce a molecule like a phospho-N-acetylmuramyl pentapeptide by the metagenome fragment analysis.

scholarly journals A Transcriptomic Approach to the Metabolism of Tetrapyrrolic Photosensitizers in a Marine Annelid

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 3924
Author(s):  
Maria Leonor Santos ◽  
Mariaelena D’Ambrosio ◽  
Ana P. Rodrigo ◽  
A. Jorge Parola ◽  
Pedro M. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Molecular Networks ◽  
Bile Pigments ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Bright Green ◽  
Green Coloration

The past decade has seen growing interest in marine natural pigments for biotechnological applications. One of the most abundant classes of biological pigments is the tetrapyrroles, which are prized targets due their photodynamic properties; porphyrins are the best known examples of this group. Many animal porphyrinoids and other tetrapyrroles are produced through heme metabolic pathways, the best known of which are the bile pigments biliverdin and bilirubin. Eulalia is a marine Polychaeta characterized by its bright green coloration resulting from a remarkably wide range of greenish and yellowish tetrapyrroles, some of which have promising photodynamic properties. The present study combined metabolomics based on HPLC-DAD with RNA-seq transcriptomics to investigate the molecular pathways of porphyrinoid metabolism by comparing the worm’s proboscis and epidermis, which display distinct pigmentation patterns. The results showed that pigments are endogenous and seemingly heme-derived. The worm possesses homologs in both organs for genes encoding enzymes involved in heme metabolism such as ALAD, FECH, UROS, and PPOX. However, the findings also indicate that variants of the canonical enzymes of the heme biosynthesis pathway can be species- and organ-specific. These differences between molecular networks contribute to explain not only the differential pigmentation patterns between organs, but also the worm’s variety of novel endogenous tetrapyrrolic compounds.

scholarly journals Genetic Diversity of the cagA gene of Helicobacter pylori strains from Sudanese Patients with Different Gastroduodenal Diseases

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadeel Gassim Hassan ◽  
Abeer Babiker Idris ◽  
Mohamed A. Hassan ◽  
Hisham N. Altayb ◽  
Kyakonye Yasin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Novel Mutation ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Gastrointestinal Malignancy ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
High Level ◽  
Chloride Method

AbstractBackgroundThere is an increase in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Sudan, accompanied by a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal malignancy. The cytotoxin-associated gene cagA gene is a marker of a pathogenicity island (PAI) in H. pylori and plays a crucial role in determining the clinical outcome of Helicobacter infections.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the frequency and heterogeneity of the cagA gene of H. pylori and correlate the presence of cagA gene with clinical outcomes.Materials and methodsFifty endoscopy biopsies were collected from Fedail and Soba hospitals in Khartoum state. DNA was extracted using the Guanidine chloride method followed by PCR to amplify 16S rRNA and cagA gene of H. pylori using specific primers. DNA amplicons of cagA gene were purified and sequenced. Bioinformatics and statistical analysis were done to characterize and to test the association between cagA gene and gastric complications.ResultsCagA gene was detected in 20/37(54%) of the samples that were found positive for H. pylori. There was no association between endoscopy finding and the presence of the cagA gene (p = 0.225). Specific amino acid variations were found at seven loci related to strains from a patient with duodenitis, gastric ulcer, and gastric atrophy (R448H, T457K, S460L, IT463-464VA, D470E, A482Q, KNV490-491-492TKT) while mutations in cancerous strain were A439P, T457P, and H500Y.ConclusionDisease-specific variations of cagA of H. pylori strains, in the region of amino acid residues 428-510, were evident among Sudanese patients with different gastroduodenal diseases. A novel mutation (K458N) was detected in a patient with duodenitis, which affects the positive electrostatic surface of cagA. Phylogenetic analysis showed a high level of diversity of cagA from Sudanese H. pylori strains.

scholarly journals The Isolation and Identification of Anthocyanin-Related GSTs in Chrysanthemum

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Yajing Li ◽  
Xiaofen Liu ◽  
Fang Li ◽  
Lili Xiang ◽  
Kunsong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Anthocyanin Biosynthesis ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Luciferase Assay ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Anthocyanin Accumulation ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Protein Sequence Alignment ◽  
Glutathione S Transferases ◽  
Transient Overexpression

Anthocyanin is the crucial pigment for the coloration of red chrysanthemum flowers, which synthesizes in the cytosol and is transported to the vacuole for stable storage. In general, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play a vital role in this transport. To date, there is no functional GST reported in chrysanthemums. Here, a total of 94 CmGSTs were isolated from the chrysanthemum genome, with phylogenetic analysis suggesting that 16 members of them were clustered into the Phi subgroup which was related to anthocyanin transport. Among them, the expression of CmGST1 was positively correlated with anthocyanin accumulation. Protein sequence alignment revealed that CmGST1 included anthocyanin-related GST-specific amino acid residues. Further transient overexpression experiments in tobacco leaves showed that CmGST1 could promote anthocyanin accumulation. In addition, a dual-luciferase assay demonstrated that CmGST1 could be regulated by CmMYB6, CmbHLH2 and CmMYB#7, which was reported to be related to anthocyanin biosynthesis. Taken together, we suggested that CmGST1 played a key role in anthocyanin transport and accumulation in chrysanthemums.

Recent Advances in Photoredox Catalysis Enabled Functionalization of α-Amino Acids and Peptides: Concepts, Strategies and Mechanisms

Synthesis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (14) ◽  
pp. 2759-2791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Quan Liu ◽  
Andrey Shatskiy ◽  
Bryan S. Matsuura ◽  
Markus D. Kärkäs
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Visible Light ◽  
Hypervalent Iodine ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Photoredox Catalysis ◽  
Metal Catalysis ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Redox Active ◽  
Decarboxylative Coupling

The selective modification of α-amino acids and peptides constitutes a pivotal arena for accessing new peptide-based materials and therapeutics. In recent years, visible light photoredox catalysis has appeared as a powerful platform for the activation of small molecules via single-electron transfer events, allowing previously inaccessible reaction pathways to be explored. This review outlines the recent advances, mechanistic underpinnings, and opportunities of applying photoredox catalysis to the expansion of the synthetic repertoire for the modification of specific amino acid residues.1 Introduction2 Visible-Light-Mediated Functionalization of α-Amino Acids2.1 Decarboxylative Functionalization Involving Redox-Active Esters2.2 Direct Decarboxylative Coupling Strategies2.3 Hypervalent Iodine Reagents2.4 Dual Photoredox and Transition-Metal Catalysis2.5 Amination and Deamination Strategies3 Photoinduced Peptide Diversification3.1 Gese-Type Bioconjugation Methods3.2 Peptide Macrocyclization through Photoredox Catalysis3.3 Biomolecule Conjugation through Arylation3.4 C–H Functionalization Manifolds4 Conclusions and Outlook

scholarly journals Uncoupling of the apyrimidinic/apurinic endonucleolytic and 3′→5′ exonucleolytic activities of the Nfo protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae through mutation of specific amino acid residues

Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (6) ◽  
pp. 1087-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Estevão ◽  
Pieternella E. van der Spek ◽  
Annemarie M. C. van Rossum ◽  
Cornelis Vink
Keyword(s):  
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Dna Recombination ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Mycoplasma Genitalium ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Cleavage Activity ◽  
Ap Sites

The DNA recombination and repair machineries of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium were predicted to consist of a set of ~11 proteins. The function of one of these proteins was inferred from its homology with proteins belonging to the Endo IV enzyme family. The members of this family function in the repair of apyrimidinic/apurinic (AP) sites in DNA. As such activity may be crucial in the mycoplasmal life cycle, we set out to study the Endo IV-like proteins encoded by M. pneumoniae and M. genitalium. Both proteins, termed Nfo Mpn and Nfo Mge , respectively, were assessed for their ability to interact with damaged and undamaged DNA. In the absence of divalent cations, both proteins exhibited specific cleavage of AP sites. Surprisingly, the proteins also recognized and cleaved cholesteryl-bound deoxyribose moieties in DNA, showing that these Nfo proteins may also function in repair of large DNA adducts. In the presence of Mg2+, Nfo Mpn and Nfo Mge also showed 3′→5′ exonucleolytic activity. By introduction of 13 single point mutations at highly conserved positions within Nfo Mpn , two major types of mutants could be distinguished: (i) mutants that showed no, or limited, AP cleavage activity in the presence of EDTA, but displayed significant levels of AP cleavage activity in the presence of Mg2+; these mutants displayed no, or very low, exonucleolytic activity; and (ii) mutants that only demonstrated marginal levels of AP site cleavage activity in the presence of Mg2+ and did not show exonucleolytic activity. Together, these results indicated that the AP endonucleolytic activity of the Nfo Mpn protein can be uncoupled from its 3′→5′ exonucleolytic activity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document