scholarly journals The ftsH Gene of the Wine Bacterium Oenococcus oeni Is Involved in Protection against Environmental Stress

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 2512-2520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Paul Bourdineaud ◽  
Benjamin Nehmé ◽  
Sonia Tesse ◽  
Aline Lonvaud-Funel
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Bradyrhizobium Japonicum ◽  
Osmotic Shock ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Gene Expression Pattern ◽  
Oenococcus Oeni ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Inhibitory Compounds ◽  
Growth Inhibitory

ABSTRACT The wine bacterium Oenococcus oeni has to cope with harsh environmental conditions, including an acidic pH, a high alcoholic content, nonoptimal growth temperatures, and growth-inhibitory compounds such as fatty acids, phenolic acids, and tannins. We describe the characterization and cloning of the O. oeni ftsH gene, encoding a protease belonging to the ATP binding cassette protein superfamily. The O. oeni FtsH protein is closest in sequence similarity to the FtsH homologue of Lactococcus lactis. The O. oeni ftsH gene proved to be stress-responsive, since its expression increased at high temperatures or under osmotic shock. O. oeni FtsH protein function was tested in an Escherichia coli ftsH mutant strain, and consistent with the O. oeni ftsH gene expression pattern, the O. oeni FtsH protein provided protection for the E. coli ftsH mutant against heat shock. O. oeni and Bradyrhizobium japonicum FtsH proteins also triggered E. coli resistance to wine toxicity. Genes homologous to O. oeni ftsH were detected in many other lactic acid bacteria found in wine, suggesting that this type of gene constitutes a well-conserved stress-protective molecular device.

scholarly journals Molecular Cloning and Characterization of P4 Nuclease from Leishmania infantum

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safar Farajnia ◽  
Leila Rahbarnia ◽  
Bahram Maleki zanjani ◽  
Mohammad Hossein Alimohammadian ◽  
Shahin Abdoli Oskoee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leishmania Infantum ◽  
Drug Target ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Leishmania Species ◽  
Class I ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Essential Enzyme ◽  
Sequence Similarity Analysis

Parasite of the genus Leishmania is reliant on the salvage pathway for recycling of ribonucleotides. A class I nuclease enzyme also known as P4 nuclease is involved in salvage of purines in cutaneous Leishmania species but the relevant enzymes have not been characterized in Leishmania infantum (L. infantum). The aim of this study was to clone and characterize the gene encoding class I nuclease in L. infantum. DNA extracted from L. infantum was used for amplification of P4 nuclease gene (Li-P4) by PCR. The product was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in E. coli for further characterization. Analysis of the sequence of Li-P4 revealed that the gene consists of an ORF of 951 bp. Sequence similarity analysis indicated that Li-P4 has a high homology to relevant enzymes of other kintoplastids with the highest homology (88%) to p1/s1 class I nuclease from L. donovani. Western blotting of antirecombinant Li-P4 with promastigote and amastigote stages of L. infantum showed that this nuclease is present in both stages of parasite with higher expression in amastigote stage. The highly conserved nature of this essential enzyme in Leishmania parasites suggests it as a promising drug target for leishmaniasis.

scholarly journals Biosynthesis of Osmoregulated Periplasmic Glucans inEscherichia coli: The Phosphoethanolamine Transferase Is Encoded byopgE

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Bontemps-Gallo ◽  
Virginie Cogez ◽  
Catherine Robbe-Masselot ◽  
Kevin Quintard ◽  
Jacqueline Dondeyne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Inescherichia Coli ◽  
Membrane Phospholipids ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
E Coli

Osmoregulated periplasmic glucans (OPGs) are oligosaccharides found in the periplasm of many Gram-negative bacteria. Glucose is the sole constitutive sugar and this backbone may be substituted by various kinds of molecules depending on the species. InE. coli, OPG are substituted by phosphoglycerol and phosphoethanolamine derived from membrane phospholipids and by succinyl residues. In this study, we describe the isolation of theopgEgene encoding the phosphoethanolamine transferase by a screen previously used for the isolation of theopgBgene encoding the phosphoglycerol transferase. Both genes show structural and functional similarities without sequence similarity.

scholarly journals Functional constraints on replacing an essential gene with its ancient and modern homologs

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betül Kacar ◽  
Eva Garmendia ◽  
Nurcan Tunçbağ ◽  
Dan I. Andersson ◽  
Diarmaid Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Essential Gene ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Protein Translation ◽  
Protein Activity ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Functional Conservation ◽  
Genes Encoding

AbstractThe complexity hypothesis posits that network connectivity and protein function are two important determinants of how a gene adapts to and functions in a foreign genome. Genes encoding proteins that carry out essential informational tasks in the cell, in particular where multiple interaction partners are involved, are less likely to be transferable to a foreign organism. Here we investigated the constraints on transfer of a gene encoding a highly conserved informational protein, translation elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), by systematically replacing the endogenoustufAgene in theEscherichia coligenome with its extant and ancestral homologs. The extant homologs representedtufvariants from both near and distant homologous organisms. The ancestral homologs represented phylogenetically resurrectedtufsequences dating from 0.7 to 3.6 bya. Our results demonstrate that all of the foreigntufgenes are transferable to theE. coligenome, provided that an additional copy of the EF-Tu gene,tufB, remains present in theE. coligenome. However, when thetufBgene was removed, only the variants obtained from the γ-proteobacterial family (extant and ancestral), supported growth. This demonstrates the limited functional interchangability ofE. coli tufwith its homologs. Our data show a linear correlation between relative bacterial fitness and the evolutionary distance of the extanttufhomologs inserted into theE. coligenome. Our data and analysis also suggest that the functional conservation of protein activity, and its network interactivity, act to constrain the successful transfer of this essential gene into foreign bacteria.

scholarly journals Periplasmic synthesis and purification of the human prolactin antagonist Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL

AMB Express ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam F. Suzuki ◽  
Larissa A. Almeida ◽  
Stephanie A. Pomin ◽  
Felipe D. Silva ◽  
Renan P. Freire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Exclusion Chromatography ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Osmotic Shock ◽  
Size Exclusion ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Human Prolactin ◽  
Exclusion Chromatography

AbstractThe human prolactin antagonist Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL is a 21.9 kDa recombinant protein with 188 amino acids that downregulates the proliferation of a variety of cells expressing prolactin receptors. Periplasmic expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli has been considered an option for obtaining a soluble and correctly folded protein, as an alternative to cytoplasmic production. The aim of this work was, therefore, to synthesize for the first time, the Δ1-11-G129R-hPRL antagonist, testing different activation temperatures and purifying it by classical chromatographic techniques. E. coli BL21(DE3) strain was transformed with a plasmid based on the pET25b( +) vector, DsbA signal sequence and the antagonist cDNA sequence. Different doses of IPTG were added, activating under different temperatures, and extracting the periplasmic fluid via osmotic shock. The best conditions were achieved by activating at 35 °C for 5 h using 0.4 mM IPTG, which gave a specific expression of 0.157 ± 0.015 μg/mL/A600 at a final optical density of 3.43 ± 0.13 A600. Purification was carried out by nickel-affinity chromatography followed by size-exclusion chromatography, quantification being performed via high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The prolactin antagonist was characterized by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and MALDI-TOF–MS. The final product presented > 95% purity and its antagonistic effects were evaluated in vitro in view of potential clinical applications, including inhibition of the proliferation of cancer cells overexpressing the prolactin receptor and specific antidiabetic properties, taking also advantage of the fact that this antagonist was obtained in a soluble and correctly folded form and without an initial methionine.

scholarly journals Evolution of Chi motifs in Proteobacteria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angélique Buton ◽  
Louis-Marie Bobay
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Dna Double Strand Breaks ◽  
Large Dataset ◽  
High Sequence Similarity ◽  
Strand Breaks ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Dna Motif ◽  
And Staphylococcus Aureus

Abstract Homologous recombination is a key pathway found in nearly all bacterial taxa. The recombination complex allows bacteria to repair DNA double strand breaks but also promotes adaption through the exchange of DNA between cells. In Proteobacteria, this process is mediated by the RecBCD complex, which relies on the recognition of a DNA motif named Chi to initiate recombination. The Chi motif has been characterized in Escherichia coli and analogous sequences have been found in several other species from diverse families, suggesting that this mode of action is widespread across bacteria. However, the sequences of Chi-like motifs are known for only five bacterial species: E. coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Bacillus subtilis, Lactococcus lactis and Staphylococcus aureus. In this study we detected putative Chi motifs in a large dataset of Proteobacteria and we identified four additional motifs sharing high sequence similarity and similar properties to the Chi motif of E. coli in 85 species of Proteobacteria. Most Chi motifs were detected in Enterobacteriaceae and this motif appears well conserved in this family. However, we did not detect Chi motifs for the majority of Proteobacteria, suggesting that different motifs are used in these species. Altogether these results substantially expand our knowledge on the evolution of Chi motifs and on the recombination process in bacteria.

scholarly journals Signaling through Adenylyl Cyclase Is Essential for Hyphal Growth and Virulence in the Pathogenic FungusCandida albicans

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3631-3643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cintia R. C. Rocha ◽  
Klaus Schröppel ◽  
Doreen Harcus ◽  
Anne Marcil ◽  
Daniel Dignard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclase ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Hyphal Growth ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Growth Defect ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclases ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Mutant Cells

The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans switches from a budding yeast form to a polarized hyphal form in response to various external signals. This morphogenetic switching has been implicated in the development of pathogenicity. We have cloned theCaCDC35 gene encoding C. albicansadenylyl cyclase by functional complementation of the conditional growth defect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells with mutations in Ras1p and Ras2p. It has previously been shown that these Ras homologues regulate adenylyl cyclase in yeast. The C. albicans adenylyl cyclase is highly homologous to other fungal adenylyl cyclases but has less sequence similarity with the mammalian enzymes. C. albicans cells deleted for both alleles ofCaCDC35 had no detectable cAMP levels, suggesting that this gene encodes the only adenylyl cyclase in C. albicans. The homozygous mutant cells were viable but grew more slowly than wild-type cells and were unable to switch from the yeast to the hyphal form under all environmental conditions that we analyzed in vitro. Moreover, this morphogenetic switch was completely blocked in mutant cells undergoing phagocytosis by macrophages. However, morphogenetic switching was restored by exogenous cAMP. On the basis of epistasis experiments, we propose that CaCdc35p acts downstream of the Ras homologue CaRas1p. These epistasis experiments also suggest that the putative transcription factor Efg1p and components of the hyphal-inducing MAP kinase pathway depend on the function of CaCdc35p in their ability to induce morphogenetic switching. Homozygouscacdc35Δ cells were unable to establish vaginal infection in a mucosal membrane mouse model and were avirulent in a mouse model for systemic infections. These findings suggest that fungal adenylyl cyclases and other regulators of the cAMP signaling pathway may be useful targets for antifungal drugs.

scholarly journals Alkaloid-Rich Crude Extracts, Fractions and Piperamide Alkaloids of Piper guineense Possess Promising Antibacterial Effects

Antibiotics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice Mgbeahuruike ◽  
Pia Fyhrquist ◽  
Heikki Vuorela ◽  
Riitta Julkunen-Tiitto ◽  
Yvonne Holm
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Piper Guineense ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Growth Inhibitory ◽  
Derivatives Of

Piper guineense is a food and medicinal plant commonly used to treat infectious diseases in West-African traditional medicine. In a bid to identify new antibacterial compounds due to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, twelve extracts of P. guineense fruits and leaves, obtained by sequential extraction, as well as the piperine and piperlongumine commercial compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria. HPLC-DAD and UHPLC/Q-TOF MS analysis were conducted to characterize and identify the compounds present in the extracts with promising antibacterial activity. The extracts, with the exception of the hot water decoctions and macerations, contained piperamide alkaloids as their main constituents. Piperine, dihydropiperine, piperylin, dihydropiperylin or piperlonguminine, dihydropiperlonguminine, wisanine, dihydrowisanine and derivatives of piperine and piperidine were identified in a hexane extract of the leaf. In addition, some new piperamide alkaloids were identified, such as a piperine and a piperidine alkaloid derivative and two unknown piperamide alkaloids. To the best of our knowledge, there are no piperamides reported in the literature with similar UVλ absorption maxima and masses. A piperamide alkaloid-rich hexane leaf extract recorded the lowest MIC of 19 µg/mL against Sarcina sp. and gave promising growth inhibitory effects against S. aureus and E. aerogenes as well, inhibiting the growth of both bacteria with a MIC of 78 µg/mL. Moreover, this is the first report of the antibacterial activity of P. guineense extracts against Sarcina sp. and E. aerogenes. Marked growth inhibition was also obtained for chloroform extracts of the leaves and fruits against P. aeruginosa with a MIC value of 78 µg/mL. Piperine and piperlongumine were active against E. aerogenes, S. aureus, E. coli, S. enterica, P. mirabilis and B. cereus with MIC values ranging from 39–1250 µg/mL. Notably, the water extracts, which were almost devoid of piperamide alkaloids, were not active against the bacterial strains. Our results demonstrate that P. guineense contains antibacterial alkaloids that could be relevant for the discovery of new natural antibiotics.

Glycosylated flavones as selective inhibitors of topoisomerase IV.

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 992-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
F X Bernard ◽  
S Sablé ◽  
B Cameron ◽  
J Provost ◽  
J F Desnottes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Cleavage ◽  
Topoisomerase Ii ◽  
Coli Strain ◽  
Selective Inhibitors ◽  
Topoisomerase Iv ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Cottonseed Flour ◽  
Dna Topoisomerase ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Pbr322 Dna

Three flavonoids which promoted Escherichia coli topoisomerase IV-dependent DNA cleavage were isolated from cottonseed flour and identified as quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucose-[1,6]-O-alpha-L-rhamnose (rutin), quercetin 3-O-beta-D-galactose-[1,6]-O-alpha-L-rhamnose, and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucose (isoquercitrin). The most active one (rutin) also inhibited topoisomerase IV-dependent decatenation activity (50% inhibitory concentration, 64 microg/ml) and induced the SOS response of a permeable E. coli strain. Derivatives of quercetin glycosylated at position C-3 were shown to induce two site-specific DNA cleavages of pBR322 DNA, which were mapped by DNA sequence analysis to the gene encoding resistance to tetracycline. Cleavage at these sites was hardly detectable in cleavage reactions with quercetin or fluoroquinolones. None of the three flavonoids isolated from cottonseeds had any stimulatory activity on E. coli DNA gyrase-dependent or calf thymus topoisomerase II-dependent DNA cleavage, and they were therefore specific to topoisomerase IV. These results show that selective inhibitors of topoisomerase IV can be derived from the flavone structure. This is the first report on a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor specific for topoisomerase IV.

scholarly journals The proteome: structure, function and evolution

2006 ◽  
Vol 361 (1467) ◽  
pp. 441-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiran Fleming ◽  
Lawrence A Kelley ◽  
Suhail A Islam ◽  
Robert M MacCallum ◽  
Arne Muller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Structural Annotation ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Link Type ◽  
University College London ◽  
Automated Pipeline ◽  
3D Genomics ◽  
And Function ◽  
Structural Homologue

This paper reports two studies to model the inter-relationships between protein sequence, structure and function. First, an automated pipeline to provide a structural annotation of proteomes in the major genomes is described. The results are stored in a database at Imperial College, London (3D-GENOMICS) that can be accessed at www.sbg.bio.ic.ac.uk . Analysis of the assignments to structural superfamilies provides evolutionary insights. 3D-GENOMICS is being integrated with related proteome annotation data at University College London and the European Bioinformatics Institute in a project known as e-protein ( http://www.e-protein.org/ ). The second topic is motivated by the developments in structural genomics projects in which the structure of a protein is determined prior to knowledge of its function. We have developed a new approach PHUNCTIONER that uses the gene ontology (GO) classification to supervise the extraction of the sequence signal responsible for protein function from a structure-based sequence alignment. Using GO we can obtain profiles for a range of specificities described in the ontology. In the region of low sequence similarity (around 15%), our method is more accurate than assignment from the closest structural homologue. The method is also able to identify the specific residues associated with the function of the protein family.

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