scholarly journals Selective cysteine-to-selenocysteine changes in a [NiFe]-hydrogenase confirm a special position for catalysis and oxygen tolerance

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (13) ◽  
pp. e2100921118
Author(s):  
Rhiannon M. Evans ◽  
Natalie Krahn ◽  
Bonnie J. Murphy ◽  
Harrison Lee ◽  
Fraser A. Armstrong ◽  
...  

In [NiFe]-hydrogenases, the active-site Ni is coordinated by four cysteine-S ligands (Cys; C), two of which are bridging to the Fe(CO)(CN)2 fragment. Substitution of a single Cys residue by selenocysteine (Sec; U) occurs occasionally in nature. Using a recent method for site-specific Sec incorporation into proteins, each of the four Ni-coordinating cysteine residues in the oxygen-tolerant Escherichia coli [NiFe]-hydrogenase-1 (Hyd-1) has been replaced by U to identify its importance for enzyme function. Steady-state solution activity of each Sec-substituted enzyme (on a per-milligram basis) is lowered, although this may reflect the unquantified presence of recalcitrant inactive/immature/misfolded forms. Protein film electrochemistry, however, reveals detailed kinetic data that are independent of absolute activities. Like native Hyd-1, the variants have low apparent KMH2 values, do not produce H2 at pH 6, and display the same onset overpotential for H2 oxidation. Mechanistically important differences were identified for the C576U variant bearing the equivalent replacement found in native [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases, its extreme O2 tolerance (apparent KMH2 and Vmax [solution] values relative to native Hyd-1 of 0.13 and 0.04, respectively) implying the importance of a selenium atom in the position cis to the site where exogenous ligands (H−, H2, O2) bind. Observation of the same unusual electrocatalytic signature seen earlier for the proton transfer-defective E28Q variant highlights the direct role of the chalcogen atom (S/Se) at position 576 close to E28, with the caveat that Se is less effective than S in facilitating proton transfer away from the Ni during H2 oxidation by this enzyme.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2250
Author(s):  
Evita Athanasiou ◽  
Antonios N. Gargalionis ◽  
Fotini Boufidou ◽  
Athanassios Tsakris

The role of certain viruses in malignant brain tumor development remains controversial. Experimental data demonstrate that human herpesviruses (HHVs), particularly cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6), are implicated in brain tumor pathology, although their direct role has not yet been proven. CMV is present in most gliomas and medulloblastomas and is known to facilitate oncomodulation and/or immunomodulation, thus promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression. EBV and HHV-6 have also been detected in brain tumors and high-grade gliomas, showing high rates of expression and an inflammatory potential. On the other hand, due to the neurotropic nature of HHVs, novel studies have highlighted the engagement of such viruses in the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches in the context of oncolytic viral treatment and vaccine-based strategies against brain tumors. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of recent scientific data concerning the emerging dual role of HHVs in malignant brain pathology, either as potential causative agents or as immunotherapeutic tools in the fight against these devastating diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Höllmüller ◽  
Simon Geigges ◽  
Marie L. Niedermeier ◽  
Kai-Michael Kammer ◽  
Simon M. Kienle ◽  
...  

AbstractDecoding the role of histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) is key to understand the fundamental process of epigenetic regulation. This is well studied for PTMs of core histones but not for linker histone H1 in general and its ubiquitylation in particular due to a lack of proper tools. Here, we report on the chemical synthesis of site-specifically mono-ubiquitylated H1.2 and identify its ubiquitin-dependent interactome on a proteome-wide scale. We show that site-specific ubiquitylation of H1 at position K64 modulates interactions with deubiquitylating enzymes and the deacetylase SIRT1. Moreover, it affects H1-dependent chromatosome assembly and phase separation resulting in a more open chromatosome conformation generally associated with a transcriptionally active chromatin state. In summary, we propose that site-specific ubiquitylation plays a general regulatory role for linker histone H1.


ACS Catalysis ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 7915-7927
Author(s):  
Simon L. Dürr ◽  
Olga Bohuszewicz ◽  
Dénes Berta ◽  
Reynier Suardiaz ◽  
Pablo G. Jambrina ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Jouvet ◽  
Mitsuhiko Miyazaki ◽  
Masaaki Fujii

A general model of excited state hydrogen transfer (ESHT) which unifies ESHT and the excited state proton transfer (ESPT) is presented from experimental and theoretical works on phenol–(NH3)n. The hidden role of ESPT is revealed.


1988 ◽  
Vol 263 (36) ◽  
pp. 19662-19669
Author(s):  
T L Solomon ◽  
L R Solomon ◽  
L S Gay ◽  
P A Rubenstein
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
pp. 153568412110124
Author(s):  
Anna Reosti

This study illuminates an understudied pathway through which disadvantage is reproduced in the rental housing market: the housing search, application, and tenant screening process. Using in-depth interviews with 25 housing-seekers with criminal conviction records, past evictions, and damaged credit histories, this article examines the direct role of the rental housing search and application process in reproducing economic precarity and social disadvantage among renters with discrediting background records, beyond delimiting their housing options. Its findings suggest that navigating the housing search from a position of acute market disadvantage comes with significant costs for this population, including the financial burden of repeated application fees and the psychological strains associated with the specter of indefinite housing insecurity. The findings also demonstrate how the housing search process may undermine the willingness of stigmatized renters to contest exploitative or unlawful rental practices by reinforcing awareness of their degraded status in the rental market.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Aishat Motolani ◽  
Matthew Martin ◽  
Mengyao Sun ◽  
Tao Lu

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor central to inflammation and various malignant diseases in humans. The regulation of NF-κB can be influenced by a myriad of post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, one of the most popular PTM formats in NF-κB signaling. The regulation by phosphorylation modification is not limited to NF-κB subunits, but it also encompasses the diverse regulators of NF-κB signaling. The differential site-specific phosphorylation of NF-κB itself or some NF-κB regulators can result in dysregulated NF-κB signaling, often culminating in events that induce cancer progression and other hyper NF-κB related diseases, such as inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, as well as neurodegenerative diseases, etc. In this review, we discuss the regulatory role of phosphorylation in NF-κB signaling and the mechanisms through which they aid cancer progression. Additionally, we highlight some of the known and novel NF-κB regulators that are frequently subjected to phosphorylation. Finally, we provide some future perspectives in terms of drug development to target kinases that regulate NF-κB signaling for cancer therapeutic purposes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 216 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Le Bacquer ◽  
Gurvan Queniat ◽  
Valery Gmyr ◽  
Julie Kerr-Conte ◽  
Bruno Lefebvre ◽  
...  

Regulated associated protein of mTOR (Raptor) and rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR (rictor) are two proteins that delineate two different mTOR complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2 respectively. Recent studies demonstrated the role of rictor in the development and function of β-cells. mTORC1 has long been known to impact β-cell function and development. However, most of the studies evaluating its role used either drug treatment (i.e. rapamycin) or modification of expression of proteins known to modulate its activity, and the direct role of raptor in insulin secretion is unclear. In this study, using siRNA, we investigated the role of raptor and rictor in insulin secretion and production in INS-1 cells and the possible cross talk between their respective complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. Reduced expression of raptor is associated with increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and intracellular insulin content. Downregulation of rictor expression leads to impaired insulin secretion without affecting insulin content and is able to correct the increased insulin secretion mediated by raptor siRNA. Using dominant-negative or constitutively active forms of Akt, we demonstrate that the effect of both raptor and rictor is mediated through alteration of Akt signaling. Our finding shed new light on the mechanism of control of insulin secretion and production by the mTOR, and they provide evidence for antagonistic effect of raptor and rictor on insulin secretion in response to glucose by modulating the activity of Akt, whereas only raptor is able to control insulin biosynthesis.


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