scholarly journals Evolution of Human-specific Alleles Protecting Cognitive Function of Grandmothers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudeshna Saha ◽  
Naazneen Khan ◽  
Troy Comi ◽  
Andrea Verhagen ◽  
Aniruddha Sasmal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Molecular Mimicry ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Immune Reactivity ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Set Domain ◽  
Human Specific

Late-onset Alzheimers Disease (LOAD) pathology is rare in our closest living evolutionary relatives (chimpanzees), which also express much lower microglial levels of CD33(Siglec-3), a myelomonocytic receptor inhibiting innate immune reactivity by extracellular V-set domain recognition of sialic acid(Sia)-containing self-associated molecular patterns (SAMPs). We earlier showed that V-set domain-deficient CD33-variant allele, protective against LOAD, is derived and specific to hominin-lineage. We now report that CD33 also harbors multiple hominin-specific V-set domain mutations and explore selection forces that may have favored such genomic changes. N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), the preferred Sia-ligand of ancestral CD33 is absent in humans, due to hominin-specific, fixed loss-of-function mutation in CMAH, which generates CMP-Neu5Gc from its precursor, CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). Extensive mutational analysis and MD-simulations indicate that fixed change in amino acid 21 of hominin V-set domain and conformational changes related to His45 corrected for Neu5Gc-loss by switching to Neu5Ac-recognition. Considering immune-evasive molecular mimicry of SAMPs by pathogens, we found that human-specific pathogens Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Group B Streptococcus (affecting fertility and fetuses/neonates respectively) selectively bind huCD33 and this binding is significantly impacted by amino acid 21 modification. Alongside LOAD-protective CD33 alleles, humans harbor additional, derived, population-universal, cognition-protective variants absent in great ape genomes. Interestingly, 11 of 13 SNPs in these human genes (including CD33), that protect the cognitive health of elderly populations, are not shared by genomes of archaic hominins: Neanderthals and Denisovans. Finally, we present a plausible evolutionary scenario to compile, correlate and comprehend existing knowledge about huCD33 evolution and suggest that grandmothering emerged in humans.

Closing the gap: an atomistic structural and functional perspective of S. mansoni universal stress G4LZI3 protein in complex with phenolic compounds

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Masamba ◽  
Geraldene Munsamy ◽  
Abidemi Paul Kappo
Keyword(s):  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Stress Protein ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Binding Energies ◽  
Developmental Cycle ◽  
Structure Based Drug Design ◽  
Bioinformatic Tools ◽  
Drug Of Choice ◽  
Functional Perspective

Background: For decades, Praziquantel has been the undisputed drug of choice for all schistosome infections, but rising concerns due to the unelucidated mechanism of action of the drug and unavoidable reports of emerging drug resistant strains has necessitated the need for alternative treatment drug. Moreover, current apprehension has been reinforced by total dependence on the drug for treatment hence, the search for novel and effective anti-schistosomal drugs. Uses: This study made use of bioinformatic tools to determine the structural binding of the Universal G4LZI3 stress protein (USP) in complex with ten polyphenol compounds, thereby highlighting the effectiveness of these recently identified ‘lead’ molecules in the design of novel therapeutics targeted against schistosomiasis. Upregulation of the G4LZI3 USP throughout the schistosome multifaceted developmental cycle sparks interest in its potential role as a druggable target. The integration of in silico tools provides an atomistic perspective into the binding of potential inhibitors to target proteins. Conclusion: This study therefore, implemented the use of molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to provide functional and structural insight into key conformational changes upon binding of G4ZLI3 to these key phenolic compounds. Post-MD analyses revealed unique structural and conformational changes in the G4LZI3 protein in complex with curcumin and catechin respectively. These systems exhibited the highest binding energies, while the major interacting residues conserved in all the complexes provides a route map for structure-based drug design of novel compounds with enhanced inhibitory potency against the G4LZI3 protein. This study suggests an alternative approach for the development of anti-schistosomal drugs using natural compounds.

Infrared spectra of N-acetyl-L-α-amino-acid N'-methylamides with aliphatic side chains in non-polar solvents

1981 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 772-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorga Smolíková ◽  
Jan Pospíšek ◽  
Karel Bláha
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Infrared Spectra ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Side Chains ◽  
Polar Solvents

Infrared spectra of the L-alanine (I), L-leucine (II), L-valine (III) and L-tert-leucine (IV) N-acetyl N'-methylamides were measured. Amides I-IV are not self associated in tetrachlormethane in the concentration 2 . 10-5 mol l-1 at room temperature and in tetrachloroethylene in the concentration 1.5 . 10-4 mol l-1 at temperatures above 65° C. True conformational changes are observable only with the least flexible amide IV which exists at room temperature in a C5 conformation. This conformational type is also highly populated in the valine derivative III, but is less important in the alanine and leucine derivatives I and II in which the intramolecularly bonded C7 and the distorted hydrogen-nonbonded conformations contribute seriously.

scholarly journals Correlation of membrane protein conformational and functional dynamics

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghavendar Reddy Sanganna Gari ◽  
Joel José Montalvo‐Acosta ◽  
George R. Heath ◽  
Yining Jiang ◽  
Xiaolong Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Functional Dynamics ◽  
Ph Dependent ◽  
Open States

AbstractConformational changes in ion channels lead to gating of an ion-conductive pore. Ion flux has been measured with high temporal resolution by single-channel electrophysiology for decades. However, correlation between functional and conformational dynamics remained difficult, lacking experimental techniques to monitor sub-millisecond conformational changes. Here, we use the outer membrane protein G (OmpG) as a model system where loop-6 opens and closes the β-barrel pore like a lid in a pH-dependent manner. Functionally, single-channel electrophysiology shows that while closed states are favored at acidic pH and open states are favored at physiological pH, both states coexist and rapidly interchange in all conditions. Using HS-AFM height spectroscopy (HS-AFM-HS), we monitor sub-millisecond loop-6 conformational dynamics, and compare them to the functional dynamics from single-channel recordings, while MD simulations provide atomistic details and energy landscapes of the pH-dependent loop-6 fluctuations. HS-AFM-HS offers new opportunities to analyze conformational dynamics at timescales of domain and loop fluctuations.

scholarly journals Codon harmonization reduces amino acid misincorporation in bacterially expressed P. falciparum proteins and improves their immunogenicity

AMB Express ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeraja Punde ◽  
Jennifer Kooken ◽  
Dagmar Leary ◽  
Patricia M. Legler ◽  
Evelina Angov
Keyword(s):  
Protein Structure ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Codon Usage ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Codon usage frequency influences protein structure and function. The frequency with which codons are used potentially impacts primary, secondary and tertiary protein structure. Poor expression, loss of function, insolubility, or truncation can result from species-specific differences in codon usage. “Codon harmonization” more closely aligns native codon usage frequencies with those of the expression host particularly within putative inter-domain segments where slower rates of translation may play a role in protein folding. Heterologous expression of Plasmodium falciparum genes in Escherichia coli has been a challenge due to their AT-rich codon bias and the highly repetitive DNA sequences. Here, codon harmonization was applied to the malarial antigen, CelTOS (Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites). CelTOS is a highly conserved P. falciparum protein involved in cellular traversal through mosquito and vertebrate host cells. It reversibly refolds after thermal denaturation making it a desirable malarial vaccine candidate. Protein expressed in E. coli from a codon harmonized sequence of P. falciparum CelTOS (CH-PfCelTOS) was compared with protein expressed from the native codon sequence (N-PfCelTOS) to assess the impact of codon usage on protein expression levels, solubility, yield, stability, structural integrity, recognition with CelTOS-specific mAbs and immunogenicity in mice. While the translated proteins were expected to be identical, the translated products produced from the codon-harmonized sequence differed in helical content and showed a smaller distribution of polypeptides in mass spectra indicating lower heterogeneity of the codon harmonized version and fewer amino acid misincorporations. Substitutions of hydrophobic-to-hydrophobic amino acid were observed more commonly than any other. CH-PfCelTOS induced significantly higher antibody levels compared with N-PfCelTOS; however, no significant differences in either IFN-γ or IL-4 cellular responses were detected between the two antigens.

scholarly journals A Novel Pinkish-White Flower Color Variant Is Caused by a New Allele of Flower Color Gene W1 in Wild Soybean (Glycine soja)

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1001
Author(s):  
Jagadeesh Sundaramoorthy ◽  
Gyu Tae Park ◽  
Hyun Jo ◽  
Jeong-Dong Lee ◽  
Hak Soo Seo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Substitution ◽  
Functional Activity ◽  
Glycine Soja ◽  
Wild Soybean ◽  
Flower Color ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Protein Variation ◽  
Color Variant ◽  
Color Gene

The enzyme flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H) plays an important role in producing anthocyanin pigments in soybean. Loss of function of the W1 locus encoding F3′5′H always produces white flowers. However, few color variations have been reported in wild soybean. In the present study, we isolated a new color variant of wild soybean accession (IT261811) with pinkish-white flowers. We found that the flower’s pinkish-white color is caused by w1-s3, a single recessive allele of W1. The SNP detected in the mutant caused amino acid substitution (A304S) in a highly conserved SRS4 domain of F3′5′H proteins. On the basis of the results of the protein variation effect analyzer (PROVEAN) tool, we suggest that this mutation may lead to hypofunctional F3′5′H activity rather than non-functional activity, which thereby results in its pinkish-white color.

Investigating the dynamic nature of the ABC transporters: ABCB1 and MsbA as examples for the potential synergies of MD theory and EPR applications

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1023-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Stockner ◽  
Anna Mullen ◽  
Fraser MacMillan
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structures ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Abc Transporters ◽  
Epr Spectroscopy ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Molecular System ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Substrate Spectrum

ABC transporters are primary active transporters found in all kingdoms of life. Human multidrug resistance transporter ABCB1, or P-glycoprotein, has an extremely broad substrate spectrum and confers resistance against chemotherapy drug treatment in cancer cells. The bacterial ABC transporter MsbA is a lipid A flippase and a homolog to the human ABCB1 transporter, with which it partially shares its substrate spectrum. Crystal structures of MsbA and ABCB1 have been solved in multiple conformations, providing a glimpse into the possible conformational changes the transporter could be going through during the transport cycle. Crystal structures are inherently static, while a dynamic picture of the transporter in motion is needed for a complete understanding of transporter function. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy can provide structural information on ABC transporters, but the strength of these two methods lies in the potential to characterise the dynamic regime of these transporters. Information from the two methods is quite complementary. MD simulations provide an all atom dynamic picture of the time evolution of the molecular system, though with a narrow time window. EPR spectroscopy can probe structural, environmental and dynamic properties of the transporter in several time regimes, but only through the attachment sites of an exogenous spin label. In this review the synergistic effects that can be achieved by combining the two methods are highlighted, and a brief methodological background is also presented.

scholarly journals Determinants That Control the Specific Interactions between TAB1 and p38α

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 3824-3834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huamin Zhou ◽  
Min Zheng ◽  
Jianming Chen ◽  
Changchuan Xie ◽  
Anand R. Kolatkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Docking Site ◽  
C Terminus

ABSTRACT Previous studies have revealed that transforming growth factor-β-activated protein kinase 1 (TAB1) interacts with p38α and induces p38α autophosphorylation. Here, we examine the sequence requirements in TAB1 and p38α that drive their interaction. Deletion and point mutations in TAB1 reveal that a proline residue in the C terminus of TAB1 (Pro412) is necessary for its interaction with p38α. Furthermore, a cryptic D-domain-like docking site was identified adjacent to the N terminus of Pro412, putting Pro412 in the φB+3 position of the docking site. Through mutational analysis, we found that the previously identified hydrophobic docking groove in p38α is involved in this interaction, whereas the CD domain and ED domain are not. Furthermore, chimeric analysis with p38β (which does not bind to TAB1) revealed a previously unidentified locus of p38α comprising Thr218 and Ile275 that is essential for specific binding of p38α to TAB1. Converting either of these residues to the corresponding amino acid of p38β abolishes p38α interaction with TAB1. These p38α mutants still can be fully activated by p38α upstream activating kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6, but their basal activity and activation in response to some extracellular stimuli are reduced. Adjacent to Thr218 and Ile275 is a site where large conformational changes occur in the presence of docking-site peptides derived from p38α substrates and activators. This suggests that TAB1-induced autophosphorylation of p38α results from conformational changes that are similar but unique to those seen in p38α interactions with its substrates and activating kinases.

THEORETICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON ELUCIDATING FUNDAMENTAL MECHANISMS OF CATALYSIS AND DYNAMICS INVOLVED IN TRANSCRIPTION BY RNA POLYMERASE

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (08) ◽  
pp. 1341005 ◽  
Author(s):  
FÁTIMA PARDO-AVILA ◽  
LIN-TAI DA ◽  
YING WANG ◽  
XUHUI HUANG
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Normal Mode Analysis ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Mode Analysis ◽  
Transcription Process ◽  
Nucleotide Addition ◽  
Theoretical Investigations ◽  
State Models ◽  
Elongation Process

RNA polymerase is the enzyme that synthesizes RNA during the transcription process. To understand its mechanism, structural studies have provided us pictures of the series of steps necessary to add a new nucleotide to the nascent RNA chain, the steps altogether known as the nucleotide addition cycle (NAC). However, these static snapshots do not provide dynamic information of these processes involved in NAC, such as the conformational changes of the protein and the atomistic details of the catalysis. Computational studies have made efforts to fill these knowledge gaps. In this review, we provide examples of different computational approaches that have improved our understanding of the transcription elongation process for RNA polymerase, such as normal mode analysis, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, Markov state models (MSMs). We also point out some unsolved questions that could be addressed using computational tools in the future.

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