scholarly journals Urm1, not quite a ubiquitin-like modifier?

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 256-261
Author(s):  
Lars Kaduhr ◽  
Cindy Brachmann ◽  
Keerthiraju Ethiraju Ravichandran ◽  
James D. West ◽  
Sebastian Glatt ◽  
...  

Ubiquitin related modifier 1 (Urm1) is a unique eukaryotic member of the ubiquitin-fold (UbF) protein family and conserved from yeast to humans. Urm1 is dual-functional, acting both as a sulfur carrier for thiolation of tRNA anticodons and as a protein modifier in a lysine-directed Ub-like conjugation also known as urmylation. Although Urm1 conjugation coincides with oxidative stress and targets proteins like 2-Cys peroxiredoxins from yeast (Ahp1) and fly (Prx5), it was unclear how urmylation proceeds molecularly and whether it is affected by the activity of these antioxidant enzymes. An in-depth study of Ahp1 urmylation in yeast from our laboratory (Brachmann et al., 2020) uncovered that promiscuous lysine target sites and specific redox requirements determine the Urm1 acceptor activity of the peroxiredoxin. The results clearly show that the dimer interface and the 2-Cys based redox-active centers of Ahp1 are affecting the Urm1 conjugation reaction. Together with in vivo assays demonstrating that high organic peroxide concentrations can prevent Ahp1 from being urmylated, Brachmann et al. provide insights into a potential link between Urm1 utilization and oxidant defense of cells. Here, we highlight these major findings and discuss wider implications with regards to an emerging link between Urm1 conjugation and redox biology. Moreover, from these studies we propose to redefine our perspective on Urm1 and the molecular nature of urmylation, a post-translational conjugation that may not be that ubiquitin-like after all.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Luzuriaga ◽  
Raymond P. Welch ◽  
Madushani Dharmawardana ◽  
Candace Benjamin ◽  
Shaobo Li ◽  
...  

<div><div><div><p>Vaccines have an innate tendency to lose their structural conformation upon environmental and chemical stressors. A loss in conformation reduces the therapeutic ability to prevent the spread of a pathogen. Herein, we report an in-depth study of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and its ability to provide protection for a model viral vector against dena- turing conditions. The immunoassay and spectroscopy analysis together demonstrate enhanced thermal and chemical stability to the conformational structure of the encapsulated viral nanoparticle. The long-term biological activity of this virus-ZIF composite was investigated in animal models to further elucidate the integrity of the encapsulated virus, the bio-safety, and immunogenicity of the overall composite. Additionally, histological analysis found no observable tissue damage in the skin or vital organs in mice, following multiple subcutaneous administrations. This study shows that ZIF-based protein composites are strong candidates for improved preservation of proteinaceous drugs, are biocompatible, and capable of controlling the release and adsorption of drugs in vivo.</p></div></div></div>


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Oláhová ◽  
Bradley Peter ◽  
Zsolt Szilagyi ◽  
Hector Diaz-Maldonado ◽  
Meenakshi Singh ◽  
...  

AbstractWhile >300 disease-causing variants have been identified in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymerase γ, no mitochondrial phenotypes have been associated with POLRMT, the RNA polymerase responsible for transcription of the mitochondrial genome. Here, we characterise the clinical and molecular nature of POLRMT variants in eight individuals from seven unrelated families. Patients present with global developmental delay, hypotonia, short stature, and speech/intellectual disability in childhood; one subject displayed an indolent progressive external ophthalmoplegia phenotype. Massive parallel sequencing of all subjects identifies recessive and dominant variants in the POLRMT gene. Patient fibroblasts have a defect in mitochondrial mRNA synthesis, but no mtDNA deletions or copy number abnormalities. The in vitro characterisation of the recombinant POLRMT mutants reveals variable, but deleterious effects on mitochondrial transcription. Together, our in vivo and in vitro functional studies of POLRMT variants establish defective mitochondrial transcription as an important disease mechanism.


1989 ◽  
Vol 264 (2) ◽  
pp. 735-744
Author(s):  
T Ohnishi ◽  
H Schägger ◽  
S W Meinhardt ◽  
R LoBrutto ◽  
T A Link ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (15) ◽  
pp. 4405-4412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rojana Sukchawalit ◽  
Suvit Loprasert ◽  
Sopapan Atichartpongkul ◽  
Skorn Mongkolsuk

ABSTRACT Analysis of the sequence immediate upstream of ohrrevealed an open reading frame, designated ohrR, with the potential to encode a 17-kDa peptide with moderate amino acid sequence homology to the MarR family of negative regulators of gene expression. ohrR was transcribed as bicistronic mRNA with ohr, while ohr mRNA was found to be 95% monocistronic and 5% bicistronic with ohrR. Expression of both genes was induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH) treatment. High-level expression ofohrR negatively regulated ohr expression. This repression could be overcome by tBOOH treatment. In vivo promoter analysis showed that the ohrR promoter (P1) has organic peroxide-inducible, strong activity, while the ohrpromoter (P2) has constitutive, weak activity. Only P1 is autoregulated by OhrR. ohr primer extension results revealed three major primer extension products corresponding to the 5′ ends ofohr mRNA, and their levels were strongly induced by tBOOH treatment. Sequence analysis of regions upstream of these sites showed no typical Xanthomonas promoter. Instead, the regions can form a stem-loop secondary structure with the 5′ ends ofohr mRNA located in the loop section. The secondary structure resembles the structure recognized and processed by RNase III enzyme. These findings suggest that the P1 promoter is responsible for tBOOH-induced expression of the ohrR-ohr operon. The bicistronic mRNA is then processed by RNase III-like enzymes to give high levels of ohr mRNA, while ohrR mRNA is rapidly degraded.


2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (33) ◽  
pp. 10427-10435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos Krokos ◽  
Fabian Spänig ◽  
Michaela Ruppert ◽  
Andreas Hirsch ◽  
Dirk M. Guldi

2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lanny S. Liebeskind ◽  
Jiri Srogl ◽  
Cecile Savarin ◽  
Concepcion Polanco

Given the stability of the bond between a mercaptide ligand and various redox-active metals, it is of interest that Nature has evolved significant metalloenzymatic processes that involve key interactions of sulfur-containing functionalities with metals such as Ni, Co, Cu, and Fe. From a chemical perspective, it is striking that these metals can function as robust biocatalysts in vivo, even though they are often "poisoned" as catalysts in vitro through formation of refractory metal thiolates. Insight into the nature of this chemical discrepancy is under study in order to open new procedures in synthetic organic and organometallic chemistry.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. L. Maruthanila ◽  
J. Poornima ◽  
S. Mirunalini

Rising evidence provides credible support towards the potential role of bioactive products derived from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, brussels sprouts, turnips, kohlrabi, bok choy, and radishes. Many epidemiological studies point out thatBrassicavegetable protects humans against cancer since they are rich sources of glucosinolates in addition to possessing a high content of flavonoids, vitamins, and mineral nutrients. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) belongs to the class of compounds called indole glucosinolate, obtained from cruciferous vegetables, and is well-known for tits anticancer properties. In particular, I3C and its dimeric product, 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), have been generally investigated for their value against a number of human cancersin vitroas well asin vivo. This paper reviews an in-depth study of the anticancer activity and the miscellaneous mechanisms underlying the anticarcinogenicity thereby broadening its therapeutic marvel.


2012 ◽  
Vol 393 (9) ◽  
pp. 999-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes M. Herrmann ◽  
Tobias P. Dick

Abstract Redox reactions are at the heart of bioenergetics, yet their biological role is not restricted to metabolism. One specific focus of contemporary Redox Biology is the study of how the folding, stability, activity, and interactivity of proteins are subject to redox control. Key questions pertain to the chemical nature of physiological redox changes and their exact location inside the cell, the nature and distribution of protein redox modifications, and their meaning for cellular physiology. In recent years, Redox Biology has developed novel methodological directions, for example, the proteomic profiling of protein redox modifications and the noninvasive monitoring of redox processes in vivo. These and other approaches allow asking new questions for which the answers are almost completely unknown. To stimulate exchange of technical knowledge and the appreciation of Redox Biology in general, the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) recently founded a Study Group for Redox Biology.


Hypertension ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel N Meijles ◽  
Imad Al Ghouleh ◽  
Sanghamitra Sahoo ◽  
Jefferson H Amaral ◽  
Heather Knupp ◽  
...  

Organismal aging represents an independent risk factor underlying many vascular diseases, including systemic and pulmonary hypertension, and atherosclerosis. While the mechanisms driving aging are largely elusive, a steady persistent increase in tissue oxidative stress has been associated with senescence. Previously we showed TSP1 elicits NADPH oxidase (Nox)-dependent vascular smooth muscle cell oxidative stress. However mechanisms by which TSP1 affects endothelial redox biology are unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that TSP1 induces endothelial oxidative stress-linked senescence in aging. Using rapid autopsy disease-free human pulmonary (PA) artery, we identified a significant positive correlation between age, protein levels of TSP1, Nox1 and the cell-cycle repressor p21cip (p<0.05). Age also positively associated with increased Amplex Red-detected PA hydrogen peroxide levels (p<0.05). Moreover, treatment of human PA endothelial cells (HPAEC) with TSP1 (2.2nM; 24h) increased expression (~1.9 fold; p<0.05) and activation of Nox1 (~1.7 fold; p<0.05) compared to control, as assessed by Western blot and SOD-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction. Western blotting and immunofluorescence showed a TSP1-mediated increase in p53 activation, indicative of the DNA damage response. Moreover, TSP1 significantly increased HPAEC senescence in a p53/p21cip/Rb-dependent manner, as assessed by immunofluorescent detection of subcellular localization and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining. To explore this pathway in vivo, middle-aged (8-10 month) wild-type and TSP1-null mice were utilized. In the TSP1-null, reduced lung senescence, oxidative stress, Nox1 levels and p21cip expression were observed compared to wild-type supporting findings in human samples and cell experiments. Finally, prophylactic treatment with specific Nox1 inhibitor NoxA1ds (10μM) attenuated TSP1-induced HPAEC ROS, p53 activation, p21cip expression and senescence. Taken together, our results provide molecular insight into the functional interplay between TSP1 and Nox1 in the regulation of endothelial senescence, with implications for molecular control of the aging process.


Pathogens ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávia Roberta Brust ◽  
Luana Boff ◽  
Danielle da Silva Trentin ◽  
Franciele Pedrotti Rozales ◽  
Afonso Luís Barth ◽  
...  

Enterobacter cloacae complex has been increasingly recognized as a nosocomial pathogen representing the third major Enterobacteriaceae species involved with infections. This study aims to evaluate virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility of subpopulations generated from macrocolonies of NDM-1 producing Enterobacter hormaechei clinical isolates. Biofilm was quantified using crystal violet method and fimbrial genes were investigated by PCR. Susceptibility of antimicrobials, alone and combined, was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration and checkerboard assays, respectively. Virulence and efficacy of antimicrobials were evaluated in Galleria mellonella larvae. Importantly, we verified that some subpopulations that originate from the same macrocolony present different biofilm production ability and distinct susceptibility to meropenem due to the loss of blaNDM-1 encoding plasmid. A more in-depth study was performed with the 798 macrocolony subpopulations. Type 3 fimbriae were straightly related with biofilm production; however, virulence in larvae was not statistically different among subpopulations. Triple combination with meropenem–rifampicin–polymyxin B showed in vitro synergistic effect against all subpopulations; while in vivo this treatment showed different efficacy rates for 798-1S and 798-4S subpopulations. The ability of multidrug resistant E. hormaechei isolates in generating bacterial subpopulations presenting different susceptible and virulence mechanisms are worrisome and may explain why these infections are hardly overcome.


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