scholarly journals The Bacterial Actin-Like Cytoskeleton

2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 888-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rut Carballido-López
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Similarity ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Cell Morphogenesis ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Macromolecular Trafficking ◽  
Nucleoprotein Complexes ◽  
Dna Partitioning

SUMMARY Recent advances have shown conclusively that bacterial cells possess distant but true homologues of actin (MreB, ParM, and the recently uncovered MamK protein). Despite weak amino acid sequence similarity, MreB and ParM exhibit high structural homology to actin. Just like F-actin in eukaryotes, MreB and ParM assemble into highly dynamic filamentous structures in vivo and in vitro. MreB-like proteins are essential for cell viability and have been implicated in major cellular processes, including cell morphogenesis, chromosome segregation, and cell polarity. ParM (a plasmid-encoded actin homologue) is responsible for driving plasmid-DNA partitioning. The dynamic prokaryotic actin-like cytoskeleton is thought to serve as a central organizer for the targeting and accurate positioning of proteins and nucleoprotein complexes, thereby (and by analogy to the eukaryotic cytoskeleton) spatially and temporally controlling macromolecular trafficking in bacterial cells. In this paper, the general properties and known functions of the actin orthologues in bacteria are reviewed.

scholarly journals A COUP-TF/Svp homolog is highly expressed during vitellogenesis in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Miura ◽  
J Zhu ◽  
NT Dittmer ◽  
L Chen ◽  
AS Raikhel
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Blood Meal ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Similarity ◽  
Receptor Complex ◽  
Ecdysone Receptor ◽  
Ecdysteroid Receptor

In the mosquito Aedes aegypti, vitellogenesis is activated via an ecdysteroid hormonal cascade initiated by a blood meal. The functional ecdysone receptor is a heterodimer composed of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle, the homolog of the retinoid X receptor. The precise tuning of this hormonal response requires participation of both positive and negative transcriptional regulators. In Drosophila, Svp, a homolog of chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor (COUP-TF), inhibits ecdysone receptor complex-mediated transactivation in vitro and in vivo. Here we report the cloning and characterization of the Svp homolog in mosquito Aedes aegypti, AaSvp. It possesses a high degree of amino acid sequence similarity to the members of the COUP-TF/Svp subfamily. AaSvp transcripts and protein are present in the fat body at high levels from the state of arrest to about 60 h post blood meal. AaSvp binds strongly to a variety of direct repeats of the sequence AGGTCA, but weakly to inverted repeats such as hsp27 EcRE. Transient transfection assays in Drosophila S2 cells showed that AaSvp was able to repress 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E)-dependent transactivation mediated by the mosquito ecdysteroid receptor complex. These data suggest that AaSvp negatively regulates the 20E signaling in the fat body during mosquito vitellogenesis.

Characterization of the novel OXA-213-like β-lactamase OXA-822 from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Tietgen ◽  
Laura Leukert ◽  
Julian Sommer ◽  
Jan S Kramer ◽  
Steffen Brunst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Acinetobacter Calcoaceticus ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Similarity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
The Novel ◽  
High Turnover

Abstract Objectives This study analysed the novel carbapenem-hydrolysing class D β-lactamase OXA-822 identified in the clinical Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolate AC_2117. Methods WGS was employed for identification of β-lactamases. Micro-broth dilution was used for evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility of AC_2117 and transformants containing blaOXA-822. After heterologous purification of OXA-822, OXA-359 and OXA-213, enzyme kinetics were determined using spectrometry. The effect of OXA-822 upon meropenem treatment was analysed in the Galleria mellonella in vivo infection model. Results OXA-822 is a member of the intrinsic OXA-213-like family found in A. calcoaceticus and Acinetobacter pittii. Amino acid sequence similarity to the nearest related OXA-359 was 97%. Production of OXA-822, OXA-359 and OXA-213 in Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC® 19606T resulted in elevated MICs for carbapenems (up to 16-fold). Penicillinase activity of the purified OXA-822 revealed high KM values, in the millimolar range, combined with high turnover numbers. OXA-822 showed the highest affinity to carbapenems, but affinity to imipenem was ∼10-fold lower compared with other carbapenems. Molecular modelling revealed that imipenem does not interact with a negatively charged side chain of OXA-822, as doripenem does, leading to the lower affinity. Presence of OXA-822 decreased survival of infected Galleria mellonella larvae after treatment with meropenem. Only 52.7% ± 7.7% of the larvae survived after 24 h compared with 90.9% ± 3.7% survival in the control group. Conclusions The novel OXA-822 from a clinical A. calcoaceticus isolate displayed penicillinase and carbapenemase activity in vitro, elevated MICs in different species and decreased carbapenem susceptibility in A. baumannii in vivo.

scholarly journals Differential regulation of the levels of three gap junction mRNAs in Xenopus embryos.

1990 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 597-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
R L Gimlich ◽  
N M Kumar ◽  
N B Gilula
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junction ◽  
Connexin 43 ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Cdna Libraries ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Similarity ◽  
Oocyte Growth ◽  
Gap Junction Proteins ◽  
Junction Proteins

Xenopus mRNAs that potentially encode gap junction proteins in the oocyte and early embryo have been identified by low-stringency screening of cDNA libraries with cloned mammalian gap junction cDNAs. The levels of these mRNAs show strikingly different temporal regulation and tissue distribution. Using a nomenclature designed to stress important structural similarities of distinct gap junction gene products, the deduced polypeptides have been designated the Xenopus alpha 1 and alpha 2 gap junction proteins. The alpha 2 gap junction mRNA is a maternal transcript that disappears by the late gastrula stage. It is not detected in any organ of the adult except the ovary, and resides primarily, if not exclusively, in the oocytes and early embryos. The alpha 1 gap junction mRNA appears during organogenesis, and is detected in RNA from a wide variety of organs. It is also found in full-grown oocytes, but is rapidly degraded upon oocyte maturation, both in vivo and in vitro. The alpha 1 and alpha 2 mRNAs encode proteins with different degrees of amino acid sequence similarity to the predominant gap junction subunit of the mammalian heart (connexin 43). Together with our earlier report of a mid-embryonic (beta 1) gap junction mRNA, the results suggest that intercellular communication during oocyte growth and postfertilization development is a complex phenomenon involving the coordinated regulation of several genes.

scholarly journals Physical and Functional Interaction between the Eukaryotic Orthologs of Prokaryotic Translation Initiation Factors IF1 and IF2

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 7183-7191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Ki Choi ◽  
DeAnne S. Olsen ◽  
Antonina Roll-Mecak ◽  
Agnes Martung ◽  
Keith L. Remo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Translation Initiation ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Start Codon ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Similarity ◽  
Physical Interaction ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Initiation Factors ◽  
Translation Initiation Factors

ABSTRACT To initiate protein synthesis, a ribosome with bound initiator methionyl-tRNA must be assembled at the start codon of an mRNA. This process requires the coordinated activities of three translation initiation factors (IF) in prokaryotes and at least 12 translation initiation factors in eukaryotes (eIF). The factors eIF1A and eIF5B from eukaryotes show extensive amino acid sequence similarity to the factors IF1 and IF2 from prokaryotes. By a combination of two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, and in vitro binding assays eIF1A and eIF5B were found to interact directly, and the eIF1A binding site was mapped to the C-terminal region of eIF5B. This portion of eIF5B was found to be critical for growth in vivo and for translation in vitro. Overexpression of eIF1A exacerbated the slow-growth phenotype of yeast strains expressing C-terminally truncated eIF5B. These findings indicate that the physical interaction between the evolutionarily conserved factors eIF1A and eIF5B plays an important role in translation initiation, perhaps to direct or stabilize the binding of methionyl-tRNA to the ribosomal P site.

A Comparison of the Effect of Decorsin and Two Disintegrins, Albolabrin and Eristostatin, on Platelet Function

1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (05) ◽  
pp. 1316-1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ann McLane ◽  
Jagadeesh Gabbeta ◽  
A Koneti Rao ◽  
Lucia Beviglia ◽  
Robert A Lazarus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Aggregation ◽  
Platelet Function ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ◽  
Antiplatelet Drug ◽  
Rgd Sequence ◽  
Fibrinogen Receptor ◽  
Activated Platelets

SummaryNaturally-occurring fibrinogen receptor antagonists and platelet aggregation inhibitors that are found in snake venom (disintegrins) and leeches share many common features, including an RGD sequence, high cysteine content, and low molecular weight. There are, however, significant selectivity and potency differences. We compared the effect of three proteins on platelet function: albolabrin, a 7.5 kDa disintegrin, eristostatin, a 5.4 kDa disintegrin in which part of the disintegrin domain is deleted, and decorsin, a 4.5 kDa non-disintegrin derived from the leech Macrobdella decora, which has very little sequence similarity with either disintegrin. Decorsin was about two times less potent than albolabrin and six times less potent than eristostatin in inhibiting ADP- induced human platelet aggregation. It had a different pattern of interaction with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa as compared to the two disintegrins. Decorsin bound with a low affinity to resting platelets (409 nM) and to ADP-activated platelets (270 nM), and with high affinity to thrombin- activated platelets (74 nM). At concentrations up to 685 nM, it did not cause expression of a ligand-induced binding site epitope on the (β3 subunit of the GPIIb/IIIa complex. It did not significantly inhibit isolated GPIIb/IIIa binding to immobilized von Willebrand Factor. At low doses (1.5-3.0 μg/mouse), decorsin protected mice against death from pulmonary thromboembolism, showing an effect similar to eristostatin. This suggested that decorsin is a much more potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation in vivo than in vitro, and it may have potential as an antiplatelet drug.

scholarly journals Considerations when investigating lncRNA function in vivo

eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R Bassett ◽  
Asifa Akhtar ◽  
Denise P Barlow ◽  
Adrian P Bird ◽  
Neil Brockdorff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Normal Cell ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Genomic Locus ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Cell Processes ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Dna Regulatory Elements

Although a small number of the vast array of animal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have known effects on cellular processes examined in vitro, the extent of their contributions to normal cell processes throughout development, differentiation and disease for the most part remains less clear. Phenotypes arising from deletion of an entire genomic locus cannot be unequivocally attributed either to the loss of the lncRNA per se or to the associated loss of other overlapping DNA regulatory elements. The distinction between cis- or trans-effects is also often problematic. We discuss the advantages and challenges associated with the current techniques for studying the in vivo function of lncRNAs in the light of different models of lncRNA molecular mechanism, and reflect on the design of experiments to mutate lncRNA loci. These considerations should assist in the further investigation of these transcriptional products of the genome.

scholarly journals In VivoEfficacy of Anuran Trypsin Inhibitory Peptides against Staphylococcal Skin Infection and the Impact of Peptide Cyclization

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 2113-2121 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Malik ◽  
O. N. Silva ◽  
I. C. M. Fensterseifer ◽  
L. Y. Chan ◽  
R. J. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Inhibitory Activities ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusis a virulent pathogen that is responsible for a wide range of superficial and invasive infections. Its resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs is a global problem, and the development of novel antimicrobial agents is crucial. Antimicrobial peptides from natural resources offer potential as new treatments against staphylococcal infections. In the current study, we have examined the antimicrobial properties of peptides isolated from anuran skin secretions and cyclized synthetic analogues of these peptides. The structures of the peptides were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, revealing high structural and sequence similarity with each other and with sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1). SFTI-1 is an ultrastable cyclic peptide isolated from sunflower seeds that has subnanomolar trypsin inhibitory activity, and this scaffold offers pharmaceutically relevant characteristics. The five anuran peptides were nonhemolytic and noncytotoxic and had trypsin inhibitory activities similar to that of SFTI-1. They demonstrated weakin vitroinhibitory activities againstS. aureus, but several had strong antibacterial activities againstS. aureusin anin vivomurine wound infection model. pYR, an immunomodulatory peptide fromRana sevosa, was the most potent, with complete bacterial clearance at 3 mg · kg−1. Cyclization of the peptides improved their stability but was associated with a concomitant decrease in antimicrobial activity. In summary, these anuran peptides are promising as novel therapeutic agents for treating infections from a clinically resistant pathogen.

Stanniocalcin-1, an inhibitor of macrophage chemotaxis and chemokinesis

2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (2) ◽  
pp. F356-F362 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Kanellis ◽  
Roger Bick ◽  
Gabriela Garcia ◽  
Luan Truong ◽  
Chun Chui Tsao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Multiple Organs ◽  
Chemotactic Protein ◽  
Stromal Cell Derived Factor ◽  
Mammalian Counterpart

In macrophages, changes in intracellular calcium have been associated with activation of cellular processes that regulate cell adhesion and motility and are important for the response of macrophages to antigenic stimuli. The mammalian counterpart of the fish calcium-regulating hormone stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) is expressed in multiple organs including the thymus and spleen, and hence, we hypothesized that it may have a role in modulating the immune/inflammatory response. Using murine macrophage-like (RAW264.7) and human monoblast-like (U937) cells to study chemotaxis in vitro, we found that STC1 attenuated chemokinesis and diminished the chemotactic response to monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and stromal cell-derived factor-1α. Consistent with these findings, STC1 blunted the rise in intracellular calcium following MCP-1 stimulation in RAW264.7 cells. In vivo studies suggested differential expression of STC1 in obstructed kidney and localization to macrophages. MCP-1 and STC1 transcripts were both upregulated following ureteric obstruction, suggesting a functional association between the two genes. Our data suggest a role for mammalian STC1 in modulating the immune/inflammatory response.

scholarly journals MiRNA-143 mediates the proliferative signaling pathway of FSH and regulates estradiol production

2017 ◽  
Vol 234 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Zhang ◽  
XiaoXin Zhang ◽  
Xuejing Zhang ◽  
Yu Lu ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Granulosa Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
Genes Expression ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) play important regulatory roles in many cellular processes. MiR-143 is highly enriched in the mouse ovary, but its roles and underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In the current study, we show that miR-143 is located in granulosa cells of primary, secondary and antral follicles. To explore the specific functions of miR-143, we transfected miR-143 inhibitor into primary cultured granulosa cells to study the loss of function of miR-143 and the results showed that miR-143 silencing significantly increased estradiol production and steroidogenesis-related gene expression. Moreover, our in vivo and in vitro studies showed that follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) significantly decreased miR-143 expression. This function of miR-143 is accomplished by its binding to the 3’-UTR of KRAS mRNA. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that miR-143 acts as a negative regulating molecule mediating the signaling pathway of FSH and affecting estradiol production by targeting KRAS. MiR-143 also negatively acts in regulating granulosa cells proliferation and cell cycle-related genes expression. These findings indicate that miR-143 plays vital roles in FSH-induced estradiol production and granulosa cell proliferation, providing a novel mechanism that involves miRNA in regulating granulosa cell functions.

Control of AMP deaminase 1 binding to myosin heavy chain

1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (3) ◽  
pp. C870-C881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ichiro Hisatome ◽  
Takayuki Morisaki ◽  
Hiroshi Kamma ◽  
Takako Sugama ◽  
Hiroko Morisaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Energy Charge ◽  
Adenylate Energy Charge ◽  
Amp Deaminase ◽  
Amino Terminal

AMP deaminase (AMPD) plays a central role in preserving the adenylate energy charge in myocytes following exercise and in producing intermediates for the citric acid cycle in muscle. Prior studies have demonstrated that AMPD1 binds to myosin heavy chain (MHC) in vitro; binding to the myofibril varies with the state of muscle contraction in vivo, and binding of AMPD1 to MHC is required for activation of this enzyme in myocytes. The present study has identified three domains in AMPD1 that influence binding of this enzyme to MHC using a cotransfection model that permits assessment of mutations introduced into the AMPD1 peptide. One domain that encompasses residues 178–333 of this 727-amino acid peptide is essential for binding of AMPD1 to MHC. This region of AMPD1 shares sequence similarity with several regions of titin, another MHC binding protein. Two additional domains regulate binding of this peptide to MHC in response to intracellular and extracellular signals. A nucleotide binding site, which is located at residues 660–674, controls binding of AMPD1 to MHC in response to changes in intracellular ATP concentration. Deletion analyses demonstrate that the amino-terminal 65 residues of AMPD1 play a critical role in modulating the sensitivity to ATP-induced inhibition of MHC binding. Alternative splicing of the AMPD1 gene product, which alters the sequence of residues 8–12, produces two AMPD1 isoforms that exhibit different MHC binding properties in the presence of ATP. These findings are discussed in the context of the various roles proposed for AMPD in energy production in the myocyte.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document