scholarly journals TGF-β Prodomain Alignments Reveal Unexpected Cysteine Conservation Consistent with Phylogenetic Predictions of Cross-Subfamily Heterodimerization

Genetics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 214 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Wisotzkey ◽  
Stuart J. Newfeld
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Cleavage Site ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Evolutionary Relationships ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Β Function

Evolutionary relationships between prodomains in the TGF-β family have gone unanalyzed due to a perceived lack of conservation. We developed a novel approach, identified these relationships, and suggest hypotheses for new regulatory mechanisms in TGF-β signaling. First, a quantitative analysis placed each family member from flies, mice, and nematodes into the Activin, BMP, or TGF-β subfamily. Second, we defined the prodomain and ligand via the consensus cleavage site. Third, we generated alignments and trees from the prodomain, ligand, and full-length sequences independently for each subfamily. Prodomain alignments revealed that six structural features of 17 are well conserved: three in the straitjacket and three in the arm. Alignments also revealed unexpected cysteine conservation in the “LTBP-Association region” upstream of the straitjacket and in β8 of the bowtie in 14 proteins from all three subfamilies. In prodomain trees, eight clusters across all three subfamilies were present that were not seen in the ligand or full-length trees, suggesting prodomain-mediated cross-subfamily heterodimerization. Consistency between cysteine conservation and prodomain clustering provides support for heterodimerization predictions. Overall, our analysis suggests that cross-subfamily interactions are more common than currently appreciated and our predictions generate numerous testable hypotheses about TGF-β function and evolution.

Peroxisomal multifunctional enzyme type 2 from the fruitfly: dehydrogenase and hydratase act as separate entities, as revealed by structure and kinetics

2011 ◽  
Vol 435 (3) ◽  
pp. 771-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatu J. K. Haataja ◽  
M. Kristian Koski ◽  
J. Kalervo Hiltunen ◽  
Tuomo Glumoff
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Multifunctional Enzyme ◽  
Domain Composition ◽  
Substrate Channelling

All of the peroxisomal β-oxidation pathways characterized thus far house at least one MFE (multifunctional enzyme) catalysing two out of four reactions of the spiral. MFE type 2 proteins from various species display great variation in domain composition and predicted substrate preference. The gene CG3415 encodes for Drosophila melanogaster MFE-2 (DmMFE-2), complements the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MFE-2 deletion strain, and the recombinant protein displays both MFE-2 enzymatic activities in vitro. The resolved crystal structure is the first one for a full-length MFE-2 revealing the assembly of domains, and the data can also be transferred to structure–function studies for other MFE-2 proteins. The structure explains the necessity of dimerization. The lack of substrate channelling is proposed based on both the structural features, as well as by the fact that hydration and dehydrogenation activities of MFE-2, if produced as separate enzymes, are equally efficient in catalysis as the full-length MFE-2.

scholarly journals Mutational activation of c-raf-1 and definition of the minimal transforming sequence.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2503-2512 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Heidecker ◽  
M Huleihel ◽  
J L Cleveland ◽  
W Kolch ◽  
T W Beck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Features ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Raf Kinase ◽  
Rich Domain ◽  
Binding Residue ◽  
Transforming Activity ◽  
Mutational Activation

A series of wild-type and mutant raf genes was transfected into NIH 3T3 cells and analyzed for transforming activity. Full-length wild-type c-raf did not show transforming activity. Two types of mutations resulted in oncogenic activity similar to that of v-raf: truncation of the amino-terminal half of the protein and fusion of the full-length molecule to gag sequences. A lower level of activation was observed for a mutant with a tetrapeptide insertion mapping to conserved region 2 (CR2), a serine- and threonine-rich domain located 100 residues amino-terminal of the kinase domain. To determine essential structural features of the transforming region of raf, we analyzed point and deletion mutants of v-raf. Substitutions of Lys-56 modulated the transforming activity, whereas mutation of Lys-53, a putative ATP binding residue, abolished it. Deletion analysis established that the minimal transforming sequence coincided precisely with CR3, the conserved Raf kinase domain. Thus, oncogenic activation of the Raf kinase can be achieved by removal of CR1 and CR2 or by steric distortion and requires retention of an active kinase domain. These findings are consistent with a protein structure model for the nonstimulated enzyme in which the active site is buried within the protein.

Structure–function analysis of full-length midkine reveals novel residues important for heparin binding and zebrafish embryogenesis

2013 ◽  
Vol 451 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackwee Lim ◽  
Sheng Yao ◽  
Martin Graf ◽  
Christoph Winkler ◽  
Daiwen Yang
Keyword(s):  
Function Analysis ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Domain Growth ◽  
Heparin Binding ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Zebrafish Embryogenesis

Midkine is a heparin-binding di-domain growth factor, implicated in many biological processes as diverse as angiogenesis, neurogenesis and tumorigenesis. Elevated midkine levels reflect poor prognosis for many carcinomas, yet the molecular and cellular mechanisms orchestrating its activity remain unclear. At the present time, the individual structures of isolated half domains of human midkine are known and its functionally active C-terminal half domain remains a popular therapeutic target. In the present study, we determined the structure of full-length zebrafish midkine and show that it interacts with fondaparinux (a synthetic highly sulfated pentasaccharide) and natural heparin through a previously uncharacterized, but highly conserved, hinge region. Mutating six consecutive residues in the conserved hinge to glycine strongly abates heparin binding and midkine embryogenic activity. In contrast with previous in vitro studies, we found that the isolated C-terminal half domain is not active in vivo in embryos. Instead, we have demonstrated that the N-terminal half domain is needed to enhance heparin binding and mediate midkine embryogenic activity surprisingly in both heparin-dependent and -independent manners. Our findings provide new insights into the structural features of full-length midkine relevant for embryogenesis, and unravel additional therapeutic routes targeting the N-terminal half domain and conserved hinge.

Polyadenylation of mRNA: minimal substrates and a requirement for the 2' hydroxyl of the U in AAUAAA

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1705-1713
Author(s):  
P L Wigley ◽  
M D Sheets ◽  
D A Zarkower ◽  
M E Whitmer ◽  
M Wickens
Keyword(s):  
Cleavage Site ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Conserved Sequence ◽  
Specificity Factor

mRNA-specific polyadenylation can be assayed in vitro by using synthetic RNAs that end at or near the natural cleavage site. This reaction requires the highly conserved sequence AAUAAA. At least two distinct nuclear components, an AAUAAA specificity factor and poly(A) polymerase, are required to catalyze the reaction. In this study, we identified structural features of the RNA substrate that are critical for mRNA-specific polyadenylation. We found that a substrate that contained only 11 nucleotides, of which the first six were AAUAAA, underwent AAUAAA-specific polyadenylation. This is the shortest substrate we have used that supports polyadenylation: removal of a single nucleotide from either end of this RNA abolished the reaction. Although AAUAAA appeared to be the only strict sequence requirement for polyadenylation, the number of nucleotides between AAUAAA and the 3' end was critical. Substrates with seven or fewer nucleotides beyond AAUAAA received poly(A) with decreased efficiency yet still bound efficiently to specificity factor. We infer that on these shortened substrates, poly(A) polymerase cannot simultaneously contact the specificity factor bound to AAUAAA and the 3' end of the RNA. By incorporating 2'-deoxyuridine into the U of AAUAAA, we demonstrated that the 2' hydroxyl of the U in AAUAAA was required for the binding of specificity factor to the substrate and hence for poly(A) addition. This finding may indicate that at least one of the factors involved in the interaction with AAUAAA is a protein.

Mathematical Resolution of MBTI Creativity Data Into Personality Type Components

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglass J. Wilde
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Design Education ◽  
Personality Type ◽  
Personality Types ◽  
Dimensional Vector ◽  
Coordinate Systems ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Usual Manner ◽  
American Society

Abstract A novel approach to the quantitative analysis of psychological issues in design is formulated. It treats any quadruple of Myers-Briggs Personality Index (MBTI) scores as a four-dimensional vector decomposable into components in the usual manner of vector analysis. To make the MBTI scores more understandable to the engineer untrained in psychology, new coordinate systems are proposed in which the component axes point toward human personality types such as “Strategist” rather than the usual idealized psychological concepts such as “Introvert”. Also presented as a semantic aid to understanding is a tentative matrix of oversimplified word labels serving as a bridge between terse psychological designators such as “INTJ” and their corresponding detailed personality type descriptions. The methods are used to analyze results from two American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) faculty workshops on creativity in design education.

A Novel Approach for Quantitative Analysis of 3D Phosphenes

2013 ◽  
pp. 342-349
Author(s):  
C. Soto-Sanchez ◽  
Andrés Olmedo-Payá ◽  
D. de Santos-Sierra ◽  
C. Agullo ◽  
Eduardo Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Novel Approach

scholarly journals Cryo-EM structure of phosphodiesterase 6 reveals insights into the allosteric regulation of type I phosphodiesterases

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. eaav4322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahil Gulati ◽  
Krzysztof Palczewski ◽  
Andreas Engel ◽  
Henning Stahlberg ◽  
Lubomir Kovacik
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Second Messengers ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Type I ◽  
Regulatory Domains ◽  
Catalytic Domains ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Density Map ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) work in conjunction with adenylate/guanylate cyclases to regulate the key second messengers of G protein–coupled receptor signaling. Previous attempts to determine the full-length structure of PDE family members at high-resolution have been hindered by structural flexibility, especially in their linker regions and N- and C-terminal ends. Therefore, most structure-activity relationship studies have so far focused on truncated and conserved catalytic domains rather than the regulatory domains that allosterically govern the activity of most PDEs. Here, we used single-particle cryo–electron microscopy to determine the structure of the full-length PDE6αβ2γ complex. The final density map resolved at 3.4 Å reveals several previously unseen structural features, including a coiled N-terminal domain and the interface of PDE6γ subunits with the PDE6αβ heterodimer. Comparison of the PDE6αβ2γ complex with the closed state of PDE2A sheds light on the conformational changes associated with the allosteric activation of type I PDEs.

scholarly journals Unconventional Myosins: How Regulation Meets Function

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Fili ◽  
Christopher P. Toseland
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Motors ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Tight Control ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Binding Partners ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Multiple Levels

Unconventional myosins are multi-potent molecular motors that are assigned important roles in fundamental cellular processes. Depending on their mechano-enzymatic properties and structural features, myosins fulfil their roles by acting as cargo transporters along the actin cytoskeleton, molecular anchors or tension sensors. In order to perform such a wide range of roles and modes of action, myosins need to be under tight regulation in time and space. This is achieved at multiple levels through diverse regulatory mechanisms: the alternative splicing of various isoforms, the interaction with their binding partners, their phosphorylation, their applied load and the composition of their local environment, such as ions and lipids. This review summarizes our current knowledge of how unconventional myosins are regulated, how these regulatory mechanisms can adapt to the specific features of a myosin and how they can converge with each other in order to ensure the required tight control of their function.

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