scholarly journals Pontocerebellar hypoplasia due to bi-allelic variants in MINPP1

Author(s):  
Bart Appelhof ◽  
Matias Wagner ◽  
Julia Hoefele ◽  
Anja Heinze ◽  
Timo Roser ◽  
...  

Abstract Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) describes a group of rare heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases with prenatal onset. Here we describe eight children with PCH from four unrelated families harboring the homozygous MINPP1 (NM_004897.4) variants; c.75_94del, p.(Leu27Argfs*39), c.851 C > A, p.(Ala284Asp), c.1210 C > T, p.(Arg404*), and c.992 T > G, p.(Ile331Ser). The homozygous p.(Leu27Argfs*39) change is predicted to result in a complete absence of MINPP1. The p.(Arg404*) would likely lead to a nonsense mediated decay, or alternatively, a loss of several secondary structure elements impairing protein folding. The missense p.(Ala284Asp) affects a buried, hydrophobic residue within the globular domain. The introduction of aspartic acid is energetically highly unfavorable and therefore predicted to cause a significant reduction in protein stability. The missense p.(Ile331Ser) affects the tight hydrophobic interactions of the isoleucine by the disruption of the polar side chain of serine, destabilizing the structure of MINPP1. The overlap of the above-mentioned genotypes and phenotypes is highly improbable by chance. MINPP1 is the only enzyme that hydrolyses inositol phosphates in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and several studies support its role in stress induced apoptosis. The pathomechanism explaining the disease mechanism remains unknown, however several others genes of the inositol phosphatase metabolism (e.g., INPP5K, FIG4, INPP5E, ITPR1) are correlated with phenotypes of neurodevelopmental disorders. Taken together, we present MINPP1 as a novel autosomal recessive pontocerebellar hypoplasia gene.

2001 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 95-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Doig ◽  
Charles D. Andrew ◽  
Duncan A. E. Cochran ◽  
Eleri Hughes ◽  
Simon Penel ◽  
...  

Pauling first described the α-helix nearly 50 years ago, yet new features of its structure continue to be discovered, using peptide model systems, site-directed mutagenesis, advances in theory, the expansion of the Protein Data Bank and new experimental techniques. Helical peptides in solution form a vast number of structures, including fully helical, fully coiled and partly helical. To interpret peptide results quantitatively it is essential to use a helix/coil model that includes the stabilities of all these conformations. Our models now include terms for helix interiors, capping, side-chain interactions, N-termini and 310-helices. The first three amino acids in a helix (N1, N2 and N3) and the preceding N-cap are unique, as their amide NH groups do not participate in backbone hydrogen bonding. We surveyed their structures in proteins and measured their amino acid preferences. The results are predominantly rationalized by hydrogen bonding to the free NH groups. Stabilizing side-chain-side-chain energies, including hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding and polar/non-polar interactions, were measured accurately in helical peptides. Helices in proteins show a preference for having approximately an integral number of turns so that their N- and C-caps lie on the same side. There are also strong periodic trends in the likelihood of terminating a helix with a Schellman or αL C-cap motif. The kinetics of α-helix folding have been studied with stopped-flow deep ultraviolet circular dichroism using synchrotron radiation as the light source; this gives a far superior signal-to-noise ratio than a conventional instrument. We find that poly(Glu), poly(Lys) and alanine-based peptides fold in milliseconds, with longer peptides showing a transient overshoot in helix content.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (13) ◽  
pp. 7097-7111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gen Wang ◽  
John W. Barrett ◽  
Steven H. Nazarian ◽  
Helen Everett ◽  
Xiujuan Gao ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT M11L, a 166-amino-acid antiapoptotic protein of myxoma virus, was previously shown to bind to the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor by hydrophobic interactions at the outer mitochondrial membrane. Here we demonstrate that an additional property of M11L is the ability to constitutively form inhibitory complexes with the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bak in human cells. This binding interaction was identified by both FLAG-tagged pull-down assays and tandem affinity purification from transfected and virus-infected human cells. M11L binds constitutively to human Bak and, under some inducible conditions, to human Bax as well, but not to the other Bcl-2 family members (Bad, Bid, Bcl-2). When stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells, M11L effectively protects these cells from Fas ligand-induced apoptosis, thereby blocking release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase 9, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. We also demonstrate in coexpression studies that M11L can interact with Bak independently of any involvement with Bax. Furthermore, cells stably expressing M11L function to prevent apoptosis that is induced by overexpression of Bak. We conclude that M11L inhibits, in a species-independent fashion, apoptotic signals mediated by activation of Bak.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaozhen Liu ◽  
Fuxiang Li ◽  
Zhaoliang Zhu ◽  
Gaoyi Peng ◽  
Danfei Huang ◽  
...  

Abstract Biological effect of an individual nonylphenol (NP) isomer extremely relies upon the side chain structure. This research was designed to evaluate the impact of NP isomer, 4-[1-ethyl-1-methylhexy]-phenol (NP65), on Sertoli cells in vitro. Sertoli TM4 cells were exposed to various concentration (0, 0.1, 1, 10, or 20 μM) of NP65 for 24 h, and the outcomes indicated that treatment of NP65 induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, oxidative stress as well as apoptosis for Sertoli TM4 cells. In addition, it was found that NP65 exposure affected homeostasis of Ca2+ in Sertoli TM4 cells by increasing cytoplasm [Ca2+]i, inhibiting Ca2+-ATPase activity and decreasing cAMP concentration. Pretreatment with ROS scavenger, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), attenuated NP65-induced oxidative stress as well as apoptosis for TM4 cells. Furthermore, NAC blocked NP65-induced disorders of Ca2+ homeostasis by attenuating the growth of intracellular [Ca2+]i and the inhibition of Ca2+-ATPase and cAMP activities. Thus, we have demonstrated that NP65 induced apoptosis as well as acted as a potent inhibitor of Ca2+-ATPase activity and resulted in disorder of Ca2+ homeostasis in Sertoli TM4 cells, ROS participated in the process. Our results supported the view that oxidative stress acted an essential role within the development of apoptosis and Ca2+ overload in TM4 cells as a consequence of NP65 stimulation.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 1147-1147
Author(s):  
Duraiswamy Navaneetham ◽  
Dipali Sinha ◽  
Peter N. Walsh

Abstract Abstract 1147 Factor XIa (FXIa) activates FIX and is regulated by platelet-secreted protease nexin 2 (PN2) that contains a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor (KPI) domain. Trypsin is regulated by basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). The primary and tertiary structures of trypsin and the catalytic domain of FXIa are highly homologous, and KPI and BPTI are nearly identical structurally. We have previously identified two loop structures (loops 1 and 2) in the KPI domain of PN2 that interact with residues in the FXIa catalytic domain. Based on the structure of the FXIa/KPI complex crystal structure, residues within loops 1 and 2 were mutated for experiments examining the inhibition of FXIa and trypsin. Results show that the loop-1-region P1 site residue Arg15 of PN2KPI plays a major role in FXIa inhibition by protruding into the S1 specificity pocket of FXIa. Ala mutation at this site renders PN2KPI non-inhibitory for both FXIa and trypsin. BPTI has Lys15 at the P1 site. BPTI inhibits both FXIa and trypsin significantly less effectively than PN2KPI. PN2KPI-R15K lost FXIa inhibitory activity, whereas BPTI-K15R substantially gained affinity for FXIa. Like FXIa, trypsin preferred BPTI-K15R showing a significant enhancement in affinity. Thus, a major determinant of the inhibitory activity of PN2KPI and BPTI against FXIa and trypsin is the P1 residue, with Arg being preferred over Lys for both inhibitors and both proteases. In addition, loop 1 residues Pro13 and Arg20 make important contributions to both FXIa and trypsin inhibition as demonstrated by significantly elevated Ki values for Ala mutations (P13A, and R20A) at these sites. In contrast, Ser19 makes no significant contribution to inhibition of either FXIa or trypsin whereas Met17 makes a significant contribution to the inhibition of trypsin, but not FXIa. In loop 2, only Phe34 is identified as a residue making significant contributions to the inhibition of both FXIa and trypsin, since the PN2KPI-F34A mutant displayed reduced inhibitory activity for both FXIa (6-fold) and for trypsin (3-fold). To rationalize these findings, we examined the crystal structures of the FXIa(catalytic domain)/PN2KPI complex, and the trypsin/BPTI complex. Structurally, the PN2KPI loop-1, P1-site residue Arg15 makes a complex primary interaction with Asp189 of both FXIa and trypsin. Disruption of this site by R15A mutation renders PN2KPI non-inhibitory because it preempts salt bridge interactions from two nitrogen atoms of the guanidinium group of Arg15 with Asp189 and Gly218 in FXIa. In addition, the Arg15 carbonyl oxygen forms hydrogen bonds with main-chain nitrogen atoms of one of the catalytic triad residues, Ser195, and with Gly193. The other important interaction in FXIa/PN2KPI or trypsin/BPTI is hydrophobic, between PN2KPI-Phe34 and FXIa-Tyr143 and between BPTI-Val34 and trypsin-Tyr151. This intermolecular interaction is further strengthened by an intramolecular interaction in which the side chain of Phe34 packs closely with the side chain of Met17 within PN2KPI, altogether forming a strong hydrophobic patch in FXIa-PN2KPI and trypsin-PN2KPI. PN2KPI-F34A disrupts both inter- and intramolecular hydrophobic interactions, leading to discernable reductions in affinity for both FXIa and trypsin. Despite occupying extreme positions in the autolysis loops, (143YRKLRDKI151 in FXIa and 143NTKSSGTSY151 in trypsin), Tyr143/151 residues still orient themselves in close proximity to Phe34. Thus, loop-1 residues of PN2KPI establish complex ionic interactions that play a major role, which is supplemented by the loop-2 residue, Phe34 (in PN2KPI) or Val34 (in BPTI), which establish hydrophobic interactions with residues in FXIa and trypsin leading to very high-affinity enzyme-inhibitor complexes. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (23) ◽  
pp. 8137-8148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-Yu Sun ◽  
Tzu-Ping Ko ◽  
Chih-Jung Kuo ◽  
Rey-Ting Guo ◽  
Chia-Cheng Chou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hexaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (HexPPs) from Sulfolobus solfataricus catalyzes the synthesis of trans-C30-hexaprenyl pyrophosphate (HexPP) by reacting two isopentenyl pyrophosphate molecules with one geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. The crystal structure of the homodimeric C30-HexPPs resembles those of other trans-prenyltransferases, including farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPs) and octaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (OPPs). In both subunits, 10 core helices are arranged about a central active site cavity. Leu164 in the middle of the cavity controls the product chain length. Two protein conformers are observed in the S. solfataricus HexPPs structure, and the major difference between them occurs in the flexible region of residues 84 to 100. Several helices (αI, αJ, αK, and part of αH) and the associated loops have high-temperature factors in one monomer, which may be related to the domain motion that controls the entrance to the active site. Different side chain conformations of Trp136 in two HexPPs subunits result in weaker hydrophobic interactions at the dimer interface, in contrast to the symmetric π-π stacking interactions of aromatic side chains found in FPPs and OPPs. Finally, the three-conformer switched model may explain the catalytic process for HexPPs.


2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 883-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Souad Souirti ◽  
Michel Baboulene

We describe here a convenient route to a new family of bolaforms bearing sulfobetaine and cationic heads, which could be scaled up for industrial applications. Their aggregation modes were studied by measurement of surface tension and by dynamic light scattering and transmission electronic microscopy methods. Grafting a hydrophobic chain onto the cationic head modifies both the surface properties and aggregation. Compared to conventional bolaforms, the relationship between the length of the spacer and the side-chain and the resultant hydrophobic interactions are at the origin of these novel properties. Various models of these molecular associations were proposed.Key words: dissymmetric bolaform, sulfobetaine, cationic amphiphile, aggregation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 919-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ineke Labrijn-Marks ◽  
Galhana M. Somers-Bolman ◽  
Stijn L. M. In ’t Groen ◽  
Marianne Hoogeveen-Westerveld ◽  
Marian A. Kroos ◽  
...  

1967 ◽  
Vol 167 (1009) ◽  
pp. 441-442 ◽  

It has been known for some time that penicillin exerts its antibiotic action by inhibiting the synthesis of the cell wall mucopeptide polymer in sensitive bacteria. Richmond and I, seeking an explanation for this specificity, suggested that there was a structural similarity between penicillin and N -acetylmuramic acid, one of the components in the polymer, and that penicillin might inhibit one of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of the polymer because of this similarity (Collins & Richmond 1962). It is therefore very interesting to hear that phenoxymethyl-penicillin has a single binding site in the lysozyme molecule, which is also the binding site for α -benzyl- N -acetylmuramic acid (the site number 5, in Dr Phillips’s notation). With the data from the 6 Å resolution picture of these enzyme complexes obtained by Dr Johnson, it is not possible to determine which groups are involved in interactions between lysozyme and the bound molecules of penicillin and benzy- N -acetylmuramic acid. Examination of the lysozyme model in the region where these molecules are bound shows some groups which may be involved in hydrophobic interactions, but few polar groups. This weakens the possibility that the similarity suggested by Richmond and me underlies the interaction between the molecules in these complexes, since we found the maximum similarity to lie in the disposition of polar groups in penicillin and in N -acetylmuramic acid. Briefly, we drew an analogy between the carboxyl groups, between the ring nitrogen atom in penicillin and the ether oxygen atom in the lactyl side-chain of N -acetylmuramic acid, and between the carbonyl groups in the amide links in the two molecules.


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