scholarly journals Functional characterization of a recombinant form of the C-terminal, globular head region of the B-chain of human serum complement protein, C1q

1998 ◽  
Vol 333 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uday KISHORE ◽  
Leonara E. A. LEIGH ◽  
Paul EGGLETON ◽  
Peter STRONG ◽  
Michael V. PERDIKOULIS ◽  
...  

The first step in the activation of the classical pathway of the complement system by immune complexes involves the binding of the six globular heads of C1q to the Fc regions of IgG or IgM. The globular heads of C1q are located C-terminal to the six triple-helical stalks present in the molecule; each head is considered to be composed of the C-terminal halves (3×136 residues) of one A-, one B- and one C-chain. It is not known if the C-terminal globular regions, present in each of the three types of chain, are independently folded modules (with each chain having distinct binding properties towards immunoglobulins) or whether the different binding functions of C1q are dependent upon a globular structure which relies on contributions from all three chains. As a first step towards addressing this question, we have expressed the globular head region (residues 87–226) of the C1q B-chain (ghB) as a soluble fusion protein with maltose-binding protein (MBP) in Escherichia coli. The affinity purified fusion protein, designated MBP–ghB, behaved as a dimer on gel filtration and bound preferentially to aggregated IgG rather than to IgM. It could also inhibit C1q-dependent haemolysis of both IgG- and IgM-sensitized erythrocytes. After its release from MBP, by use of Factor Xa, the free ghB exhibited a tendency to aggregate and come out of solution. Since MBP is known to be a monomeric molecule, the dimerization of the MBP–ghB fusion polypeptide is probably brought about by the ghB region, perhaps through hydrophobic interactions within the ghB region. The functional behaviour of MBP–ghB indicates that the globular regions of C1q may adopt a modular organization, i.e. each globular head of C1q may be composed of three structurally and functionally independent domains, thus retaining multivalency in the form of a heterotrimer.

2003 ◽  
Vol 171 (2) ◽  
pp. 812-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uday Kishore ◽  
Sanjeev K. Gupta ◽  
Michael V. Perdikoulis ◽  
Mihaela S. Kojouharova ◽  
Britta C. Urban ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 176 (5) ◽  
pp. 2950-2957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian D. G. McGrath ◽  
Mieke C. Brouwer ◽  
Gérard J. Arlaud ◽  
Mohamed R. Daha ◽  
C. Erik Hack ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 3742-3755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lakshmi Pillai ◽  
Jian Sha ◽  
Tatiana E. Erova ◽  
Amin A. Fadl ◽  
Bijay K. Khajanchi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human diseases caused by species of Aeromonas have been classified into two major groups: septicemia and gastroenteritis. In this study, we reported the molecular and functional characterization of a new virulence factor, ToxR-regulated lipoprotein, or TagA, from a diarrheal isolate, SSU, of Aeromonas hydrophila. The tagA gene of A. hydrophila exhibited 60% identity with that of a recently identified stcE gene from Escherichia coli O157:H7, which encoded a protein (StcE) that provided serum resistance to the bacterium and prevented erythrocyte lysis by controlling classical pathway of complement activation by cleaving the complement C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH). We purified A. hydrophila TagA as a histidine-tagged fusion protein (rTagA) from E. coli DE3 strain using a T7 promoter-based pET30 expression vector and nickel affinity column chromatography. rTagA cleaved C1-INH in a time-dependent manner. The tagA isogenic mutant of A. hydrophila, unlike its corresponding wild-type (WT) or the complemented strain, was unable to cleave C1-INH, which is required to potentiate the C1-INH-mediated lysis of host and bacterial cells. We indeed demonstrated colocalization of C1-INH and TagA on the bacterial surface by confocal fluorescence microscopy, which ultimately resulted in increased serum resistance of the WT bacterium. Likewise, we delineated the role of TagA in contributing to the enhanced ability of C1-INH to inhibit the classical complement-mediated lysis of erythrocytes. Importantly, we provided evidence that the tagA mutant was significantly less virulent in a mouse model of infection (60%) than the WT bacterium at two 50% lethal doses, which resulted in 100% mortality within 48 h. Taken together, our data provided new information on the role of TagA as a virulence factor in bacterial pathogenesis. This is the first report of TagA characterization from any species of Aeromonas.


1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 1535-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
J P Paccaud ◽  
W Reith ◽  
J L Carpentier ◽  
M Ravazzola ◽  
M Amherdt ◽  
...  

We screened a human cDNA library with a probe derived from a partial SEC23 mouse homologue and isolated two different cDNA clones (hSec23A and hSec23B) encoding proteins of a predicted molecular mass of 85 kDa. hSec23Ap and hSec23Bp were 85% identical and shared 48% identity with the yeast Sec23p. Affinity-purified anti-hSec23A recognized a protein of approximately 85 kDa on immunoblots of human, mouse, and rat cell extracts but did not recognize yeast Sec23p. Cytosolic hSec23Ap migrated with an apparent molecular weight of 350 kDa on a gel filtration column, suggesting that it is part of a protein complex. By immunoelectron microscopy, hSec23Ap was found essentially in the ribosome-free transitional face of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and associated vesicles. hSec23Ap is a functional homologue of the yeast Sec23p as the hSec23A isoform complemented the temperature sensitivity of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae sec23-1 mutation at a restrictive temperature of 34 degrees C. RNase protection assays indicated that both hSec23 isoforms are coexpressed in various human tissues, although at a variable ratio. Our data demonstrate that hSec23Ap is the functional human counterpart of the yeast COPII component Sec23p and suggest that it plays a similar role in mammalian protein export from the ER. The exact function of hSec23Bp remains to be determined.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2718-2729
Author(s):  
S F Kash ◽  
J W Innis ◽  
A U Jackson ◽  
R E Kellems

Transcription arrest plays a role in regulating the expression of a number of genes, including the murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene. We have previously identified two prominent arrest sites at the 5' end of the ADA gene: one in the first exon and one in the first intron (J. W. Innis and R. E. Kellems, Mol. Cell. Biol. 11:5398-5409, 1991). Here we report the functional characterization of the intron 1 arrest site, located 137 to 145 nucleotides downstream of the cap site. We have determined, using gel filtration, that the intron 1 arrest site is a stable RNA polymerase II pause site and that the transcription elongation factor SII promotes read-through at this site. Additionally, the sequence determinants for the pause are located within a 37-bp fragment encompassing this site (+123 to +158) and can direct transcription arrest in an orientation-dependent manner in the context of the ADA and adenovirus major late promoters. Specific point mutations in this region increase or decrease the relative pausing efficiency. We also show that the sequence determinants for transcription arrest can function when placed an additional 104 bp downstream of their natural position.


1979 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunrokuro Arima ◽  
Ryoya Niki ◽  
Kenji Takase

SUMMARYThe temperature and concentration dependent association of β-casein was studied by means of viscometry, gel filtration chromatography, electron microscopy, analytical ultracentrifugation and UV difference spectrophotometry. Degrees of polymerization of 12, 22 and 49 and free energies of association of –21, –23 and – 25 kJ/mole monomer were found at temperatures of 10, 15 and 20 °C respectively in 0·2 M Na phosphate buffer pH 6·7.Monomeric β-casein was not a completely random coil but became more compact with increasing temperature, due to hydrophobic interactions.


1984 ◽  
Vol 160 (3) ◽  
pp. 695-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
E R Podack ◽  
P J Konigsberg

The cytoplasmic, dense granules of cloned T cell lines were isolated and analyzed for their functional and biochemical properties. Isolated granules of approximately 90% homogeneity, in the presence of Ca, effect strong tumoricidal and hemolytic activity. Tumor cell lysis is complete in less than 30 min, with less than 2 micrograms granule protein corresponding to a killer/target ratio of 3-6:1 by assuming 50% yield for granule isolation. The granules contain a set of unique proteins, responsible for cytolytic activity and designated K1 to K6, in the molecular weight range of 14,000 to 75,000, as defined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide slab gel analysis under reducing and nonreducing conditions. Cytolysis mediated by isolated granules is accompanied by the assembly of tubular complexes of 160 A (poly P1) and of approximately 70 A width (poly P2) that are inserted into membranes and form ultrastructural membrane lesions. As shown by immunofluorescence and by Percoll gradient fractionation, cytolytic granules are detected in cells of cytolytic T cell lineage and not in the T cell lymphomas E14 and S194. Poly perforin 1 assembled by CTLL-2 upon stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was isolated by detergent extraction and gel filtration. Poly P1 is composed of disulfide-linked subunits that, after reduction, co-migrate with certain granule proteins. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that the dense granules of cytolytic T cells contain cytolytic proteins that polymerize to disulfide-linked tubular poly perforins in a Ca-dependent reaction and may cause cytolysis by membrane insertion and transmembrane channel formation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 278 (47) ◽  
pp. 46974-46982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Gaboriaud ◽  
Jordi Juanhuix ◽  
Arnaud Gruez ◽  
Monique Lacroix ◽  
Claudine Darnault ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document