Molecular Modeling and Experimental Approaches toward Designing a Minimalist Protein Having Fc-binding Activity ofStaphylococcalProtein A

Azobenzenes immobilization on a solid support enables the usage of their trans-cis isomerization ability for preparation of functional materials. The behavior of azobenzenes in the interlayer space of α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) upon the UV–Vis irradiation was investigated. Two experimental approaches were performed: (1) co-intercalation of benzylalkylammonium surfactants and azobenzene in the interlayers of ZrP (ZBCnA), and (2) intercalation of p-aminoazobenzene (ZpA). The materials were characterized with XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis, CHN analysis, and the molecular modeling. The molecules in ZBCnA samples were sparsely packed and held by weak hydrophobic interactions. Conversely, the molecules in ZpA sample were strongly H-bonded to the ZrP, well-ordered, and densely packed. These structural features determined the samples’ photoresponsive behavior. Low density of molecules in the ZBCnA samples, allowed the effective, fast, and reversible isomerization of azobenzene. Whereas the ZpA sample did not react to the UV irradiation because of the steric hindrance of tightly packed molecules.

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Glycan arrays lead to the discovery of autoimmunogenic activity of SARS-CoV

Physiological Genomics ◽

10.1152/physiolgenomics.00102.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 245-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Denong Wang ◽

Jiahai Lu

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Binding Activity ◽

Carbohydrate Binding ◽

Carbohydrate Structure ◽

Phaseolus Vulgaris L ◽

Complex Carbohydrate ◽

Viral Pathogens ◽

Infected Cells ◽

Experimental Approaches ◽

Selection Of

Using carbohydrate microarrays, we characterized the carbohydrate binding activity of SARS-CoV neutralizing antibodies elicited by an inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine. In these antibodies, we detected undesired autoantibody reactivity specific for the carbohydrate moieties of an abundant human serum glycoprotein asialo-orosomucoid (ASOR). This observation provides important clues for the selection of specific immunologic probes to examine whether SARS-CoV expresses antigenic structures that mimic the host glycan. We found that lectin PHA-L ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.), which is specific for a defined complex carbohydrate of ASOR, stained the SARS-CoV-infected cells specifically and intensively. Taken together, we present immunologic evidence that a carbohydrate structure of SARS-CoV shares antigenic similarity with host glycan complex carbohydrates. The experimental approaches we applied in this study are likely applicable for the identification of immunologic targets of other viral pathogens.

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Genomic analysis of C-type lectins

Biochemical Society Symposium ◽

10.1042/bss0690059 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 69 ◽

pp. 59-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

Kurt Drickamer ◽

Andrew J. Fadden

Keyword(s):

Biological Effects ◽

Cell Signalling ◽

Genomic Analysis ◽

Binding Activity ◽

Immunoglobulin Superfamily ◽

Carbohydrate Binding ◽

Carbohydrate Recognition ◽

Calcium Dependent ◽

Binding Domains ◽

Carbohydrate Recognition Domains

Many biological effects of complex carbohydrates are mediated by lectins that contain discrete carbohydrate-recognition domains. At least seven structurally distinct families of carbohydrate-recognition domains are found in lectins that are involved in intracellular trafficking, cell adhesion, cell–cell signalling, glycoprotein turnover and innate immunity. Genome-wide analysis of potential carbohydrate-binding domains is now possible. Two classes of intracellular lectins involved in glycoprotein trafficking are present in yeast, model invertebrates and vertebrates, and two other classes are present in vertebrates only. At the cell surface, calcium-dependent (C-type) lectins and galectins are found in model invertebrates and vertebrates, but not in yeast; immunoglobulin superfamily (I-type) lectins are only found in vertebrates. The evolutionary appearance of different classes of sugar-binding protein modules parallels a development towards more complex oligosaccharides that provide increased opportunities for specific recognition phenomena. An overall picture of the lectins present in humans can now be proposed. Based on our knowledge of the structures of several of the C-type carbohydrate-recognition domains, it is possible to suggest ligand-binding activity that may be associated with novel C-type lectin-like domains identified in a systematic screen of the human genome. Further analysis of the sequences of proteins containing these domains can be used as a basis for proposing potential biological functions.

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Abscisic acid promotes novel DNA-binding activity to a desiccation-related promoter of Craterostigma plantagineum

The Plant Journal ◽

10.1046/j.1365-313x.1994.5040451.x ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 451-458 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Donald Nelson ◽

Francesco Salamini ◽

Dorothea Bartels

Keyword(s):

Abscisic Acid ◽

Dna Binding ◽

Binding Activity ◽

Dna Binding Activity ◽

Craterostigma Plantagineum

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Molecular Modeling of Nucleic Acids

10.1021/bk-1998-0682 ◽

1997 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Keyword(s):

Molecular Modeling ◽

Nucleic Acids

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Learned Placebo Effects in the Immune System

Zeitschrift für Psychologie ◽

10.1027/2151-2604/a000184 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 222 (3) ◽

pp. 148-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sabine Vits ◽

Manfred Schedlowski

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Immune System ◽

Associative Learning ◽

Placebo Response ◽

Immunosuppressive Drug ◽

Immune Functions ◽

Placebo Effects ◽

New Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Biological Variables ◽

Experimental Approaches

Associative learning processes are one of the major neuropsychological mechanisms steering the placebo response in different physiological systems and end organ functions. Learned placebo effects on immune functions are based on the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral immune system. Based on this “hardware,” experimental evidence in animals and humans showed that humoral and cellular immune functions can be affected by behavioral conditioning processes. We will first highlight and summarize data documenting the variety of experimental approaches conditioning protocols employed, affecting different immunological functions by associative learning. Taking a well-established paradigm employing a conditioned taste aversion model in rats with the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA) as an unconditioned stimulus (US) as an example, we will then summarize the efferent and afferent communication pathways as well as central processes activated during a learned immunosuppression. In addition, the potential clinical relevance of learned placebo effects on the outcome of immune-related diseases has been demonstrated in a number of different clinical conditions in rodents. More importantly, the learned immunosuppression is not restricted to experimental animals but can be also induced in humans. These data so far show that (i) behavioral conditioned immunosuppression is not limited to a single event but can be reproduced over time, (ii) immunosuppression cannot be induced by mere expectation, (iii) psychological and biological variables can be identified as predictors for this learned immunosuppression. Together with experimental approaches employing a placebo-controlled dose reduction these data provide a basis for new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of diseases where a suppression of immune functions is required via modulation of nervous system-immune system communication by learned placebo effects.

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