scholarly journals Programmable Polymorphism of a Virus-Like Particle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Biela ◽  
Antonina Naskalska ◽  
Farzad Fatehi ◽  
Reidun Twarock ◽  
Jonathan Heddle
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery Systems ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
External Loop ◽  
Protein Dimer ◽  
Virus Like Particle ◽  
Single Protein ◽  
Size And Morphology

Abstract Virus-like particles (VLPs) have significant potential as both artificial vaccines and drug delivery systems. The ability to control their size has wide ranging utility, but achieving such controlled polymorphism using a single protein subunit is challenging as it requires altering VLP geometry. Here we achieve size control of MS2 bacteriophage VLPs via insertion of amino acid sequences in an external loop to shift its morphology to significantly larger forms. The resulting VLP size and geometry is controlled by altering the length and type of the insert used. Cryo-EM structures of the new VLPs, in combination with a kinetic model of their assembly, show that the abundance of wild type (T=3), T=4, D3 and D5 symmetrical VLPs can be controlled in this way. We propose a mechanism whereby the insert leads to a change in the dynamic behavior of the capsid protein dimer, affecting the interconversion between the symmetric and asymmetric conformers and thus determining VLP size and morphology.

Properties of the single protein and two nucleic acids of tomato ring-spot virus

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 1028-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne R. Allen ◽  
H. F. Dias
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Average Molecular Weight ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Spot Virus ◽  
Single Protein ◽  
Middle Component ◽  
Ring Spot

Purified preparations of several isolates of tomato ring-spot virus were shown by rate-zonal centrifugation in sucrose and equilibrium centrifugation in CsCl to be composed of two individual nucleoprotein components. Acrylamide-gel electrophoresis showed that the lighter (middle) component contained a nucleic acid (RNA 2) that was distinct from the species (RNA 1) contained in the heavier (bottom) component. The bottom was more infectious than the middle component and infectivity was enhanced by mixing the components, indicating that the virus genome is divided between component types. Similar results were obtained from infectivity tests on the two nucleic acids. The nucleic acid contents of the middle and bottom components were about 40 and 41%, respectively. The average molecular weights of RNA 2 and RNA 1 from three virus isolates, as determined by acrylamide-gel electrophoresis, were 2.5 and 2.6 × 106, respectively. Molecular complexing between the RNA species during electrophoresis was prevented with the use of formamide. The single protein subunit from the same three isolates had an average molecular weight of about 58 000. Serological comparisons of five tomato ring-spot isolates associated with diseases of fruit trees and grapevines indicated that only the grape yellow vein strain was antigenically distinct. These and other properties indicate that this virus is similar to other members of the nepovirus group.

scholarly journals DAF1, a mutant gene affecting size control, pheromone arrest, and cell cycle kinetics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 4675-4684 ◽  
Author(s):  
F R Cross
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Critical Size ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Mutant Gene ◽  
G1 Phase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Alpha Factor ◽  
Multiple Copies ◽  
Kinetics Of

The mating pheromone alpha-factor arrests Saccharomyces cerevisiae MATa cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Size control is also exerted in G1, since cells do not exit G1 until they have attained a critical size. A dominant mutation (DAF1-1) which causes both alpha-factor resistance and small cell size (volume about 0.6-fold that of the wild type) has been isolated and characterized genetically and by molecular cloning. Several alpha-factor-induced mRNAs were induced equivalently in daf1+ and DAF1-1 cells. The DAF1-1 mutation consisted of a termination codon two-thirds of the way through the daf1+ coding sequence. A chromosomal deletion of DAF1 produced by gene transplacement increased cell volume about 1.5-fold; thus, DAF1-1 may be a hyperactive or deregulated allele of a nonessential gene involved in G1 size control. Multiple copies of DAF1-1 also greatly reduced the duration of the G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Identification of proteins in the exosporium of Bacillus anthracis

Microbiology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Redmond ◽  
Leslie W. J. Baillie ◽  
Stephen Hibbs ◽  
Arthur J. G. Moir ◽  
Anne Moir
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Adsorbed Proteins ◽  
Spore Coat Proteins ◽  
Ames Strain ◽  
A Site ◽  
Novel Protein

Spores of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, possess an exosporium. As the outer surface layer of these mature spores, the exosporium represents the primary contact surface between the spore and environment/host and is a site of spore antigens. The exosporium was isolated from the endospores of the B. anthracis wild-type Ames strain, from a derivative of the Ames strain cured of plasmid pXO2−, and from a previously isolated pXO1−, pXO2− doubly cured strain, B. anthracis UM23Cl2. The protein profiles of SDS-PAGE-separated exosporium extracts were similar for all three. This suggests that avirulent variants lacking either or both plasmids are realistic models for studying the exosporium from spores of B. anthracis. A number of loosely adsorbed proteins were identified from amino acid sequences determined by either nanospray-MS/MS or N-terminal sequencing. Salt and detergent washing of the exosporium fragments removed these and revealed proteins that are likely to represent structural/integral exosporium proteins. Seven proteins were identified in washed exosporium: alanine racemase, inosine hydrolase, ExsF, CotY, ExsY, CotB and a novel protein, named ExsK. CotY, ExsY and CotB are homologues of Bacillus subtilis outer spore coat proteins, but ExsF and ExsK are specific to B. anthracis and other members of the Bacillus cereus group.

New Generation Vaccines for COVID-19 Based on Peptide, Viral Vector, Artificial Antigen Presenting Cell, DNA or mRNA

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzieh Rezaei ◽  
Mahboobeh Nazari
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Virus Like Particle ◽  
Artificial Antigen ◽  
Attenuated Virus ◽  
Antigen Presenting ◽  
New Generation

At present, effective vaccines have been developed as the most successful approaches for preventing widespread infectious disease. The global efforts are focusing with the aim of eliminating and overcoming the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and are developing vaccines from the date it was announced as a pandemic disease. In this study, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrial.gov, WHO reports, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Springer databases were searched for finding the relevant studies about the COVID-19 vaccines. This article provides an overview of multiple vaccines that have been manufactured from December 2020 up to April 2021 and also offers a perspective on their efficacy, safety, advantages, and limitations. Currently, there are several categories of COVID-19 vaccines based on Protein Subunit (PS), Inactivated Virus (IV), Virus Like Particle (VLP), Live Attenuated Virus (LAV), Viral Vector (replicating) (VVr) and Viral Vector (non-replicating) (VVnr) in progress or finalized as indicated by the WHO reporting of April 1, 2020.

The kinetics of the B cyclin p56cdc13 and the phosphatase p80cdc25 during the cell cycle of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

1996 ◽  
Vol 109 (6) ◽  
pp. 1647-1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Creanor ◽  
J.M. Mitchison
Keyword(s):  
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Main Band ◽  
The Times ◽  
G1 Cells ◽  
Mutant Cells ◽  
Kinetics Of

The levels of the B cyclin p56cdc13 and the phosphatase p80cdc25 have been followed in selection-synchronised cultures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe wild-type and wee1 mutant cells. p56cdc13 has also been followed in induction-synchronised cells of the mutant cdc2-33. The main conclusions are: (1) cdc13 levels in wild-type cells start to rise from base line at about mid-G2, reach a peak before mitosis and then fall slowly through G1. Cells exit mitosis with appreciable levels of cdc13. (2) cdc13 levels in wee1 cells fall to zero in interphase. They also start to rise at the beginning of G2, which may be related to the absence of a mitotic size control. (3) cdc25 starts to rise later and reaches a peak after mitosis. This is not what would be expected from a simple mitotic inducer and suggests that cdc25 has an important function at the end of mitosis. (4) An upper (heavier) band of cdc25 peaks at the same time as the main band but rises and falls more rapidly. If this is a hyperphosphorylated form, its timing shows that it is most unlikely to function in the ways shown for such a form in eggs and mammalian cells. (5) Experiments with the mutant cdc10-129 and with hydroxyurea show that the initial signal to begin synthesis of cdc13 originates at Start. (6) In induction synchrony, where G2 spans across cell division, there is evidence that some events in one cycle cannot start in the previous one. (7) Revised timings are given for the times of mitosis in these cultures.

Rpm2, the Protein Subunit of Mitochondrial RNase P in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Also Has a Role in the Translation of Mitochondrially Encoded Subunits of Cytochrome c Oxidase

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 573-585
Author(s):  
Vilius Stribinskis ◽  
Guo-Jian Gao ◽  
Steven R Ellis ◽  
Nancy C Martin
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽  
Mitochondrial Biogenesis ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Rnase P ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Mitochondrial Translation

Abstract RPM2 is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae nuclear gene that encodes the protein subunit of mitochondrial RNase P and has an unknown function essential for fermentative growth. Cells lacking mitochondrial RNase P cannot respire and accumulate lesions in their mitochondrial DNA. The effects of a new RPM2 allele, rpm2-100, reveal a novel function of RPM2 in mitochondrial biogenesis. Cells with rpm2-100 as their only source of Rpm2p have correctly processed mitochondrial tRNAs but are still respiratory deficient. Mitochondrial mRNA and rRNA levels are reduced in rpm2-100 cells compared to wild type. The general reduction in mRNA is not reflected in a similar reduction in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Incorporation of labeled precursors into mitochondrially encoded Atp6, Atp8, Atp9, and Cytb protein was enhanced in the mutant relative to wild type, while incorporation into Cox1p, Cox2p, Cox3p, and Var1p was reduced. Pulse-chase analysis of mitochondrial translation revealed decreased rates of translation of COX1, COX2, and COX3 mRNAs. This decrease leads to low steady-state levels of Cox1p, Cox2p, and Cox3p, loss of visible spectra of aa3 cytochromes, and low cytochrome c oxidase activity in mutant mitochondria. Thus, RPM2 has a previously unrecognized role in mitochondrial biogenesis, in addition to its role as a subunit of mitochondrial RNase P. Moreover, there is a synthetic lethal interaction between the disruption of this novel respiratory function and the loss of wild-type mtDNA. This synthetic interaction explains why a complete deletion of RPM2 is lethal.

scholarly journals Analysis of flagellar size control using a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with a variable number of flagella.

1982 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
M R Kuchka ◽  
J W Jarvik
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Pool Size ◽  
Precursor Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Protein Pool ◽  
Mutant Cells ◽  
Pool Sizes

A mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with a variable number of flagella per cell has been used to investigate flagellar size control. The mutant and wild-type do not differ in cell size nor in flagellar length, yet the size of the intracellular pool of flagellar precursor protein can differ dramatically among individual mutant cells, with, for example, triflagellate cells having three times the pool of monoflagellate cells. Because cells of the same size, but with very different pool sizes, have flagella of identical length, it appears that the concentration of the unassembled flagellar precursor protein pool does not regulate flagellar length. The relation between cell size, pool size, and flagellar length has also been investigated for wild-type cells of different sizes and ploidies. Again, flagellar length appears to be maintained independent of pool size or concentration.

scholarly journals Isoprenylcysteine Carboxy Methylation Is Essential for Development in Dictyostelium discoideum

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 4106-4118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Chen ◽  
Kyle J. McQuade ◽  
Xiao-Juan Guan ◽  
Peter A. Thomason ◽  
Michael S. Wert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Small Gtpase ◽  
Intercellular Signaling ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Encoding Gene ◽  
Carboxy Terminal ◽  
Mutant Cells ◽  
Do So

Members of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases and the heterotrimeric G protein γ subunit are methylated on their carboxy-terminal cysteine residues by isoprenylcysteine methyltransferase. In Dictyostelium discoideum, small GTPase methylation occurs seconds after stimulation of starving cells by cAMP and returns quickly to basal levels, suggesting an important role in cAMP-dependent signaling. Deleting the isoprenylcysteine methyltransferase-encoding gene causes dramatic defects. Starving mutant cells do not propagate cAMP waves in a sustained manner, and they do not aggregate. Motility is rescued when cells are pulsed with exogenous cAMP, or coplated with wild-type cells, but the rescued cells exhibit altered polarity. cAMP-pulsed methyltransferase-deficient cells that have aggregated fail to differentiate, but mutant cells plated in a wild-type background are able to do so. Localization of and signaling by RasG is altered in the mutant. Localization of the heterotrimeric Gγ protein subunit was normal, but signaling was altered in mutant cells. These data indicate that isoprenylcysteine methylation is required for intercellular signaling and development in Dictyostelium.

scholarly journals NADPH Oxidases Are Involved in Differentiation and Pathogenicity in Botrytis cinerea

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 808-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadja Segmüller ◽  
Leonie Kokkelink ◽  
Sabine Giesbert ◽  
Daniela Odinius ◽  
Jan van Kan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Botrytis Cinerea ◽  
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Host Tissue ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Phytopathogenic Fungus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Nadph Oxidases ◽  
Knock Out

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH) oxidases have been shown to be involved in various differentiation processes in fungi. We investigated the role of two NADPH oxidases in the necrotrophic phytopathogenic fungus, Botrytis cinerea. The genes bcnoxA and bcnoxB were cloned and characterized; their deduced amino acid sequences show high homology to fungal NADPH oxidases. Analyses of single and double knock-out mutants of both NADPH oxidase genes showed that both bcnoxA and bcnoxB are involved in formation of sclerotia. Both genes have a great impact on pathogenicity: whereas bcnoxB mutants showed a retarded formation of primary lesions, probably due to an impaired formation of penetration structures, bcnoxA mutants were able to penetrate host tissue in the same way as the wild type but were much slower in colonizing the host tissue. Double mutants showed an additive effect: they were aberrant in penetration and colonization of plant tissue and, therefore, almost nonpathogenic. To study the structure of the fungal Nox complex in more detail, bcnoxR (encoding a homolog of the mammalian p67phox, a regulatory subunit of the Nox complex) was functionally characterized. The phenotype of ΔbcnoxR mutants is identical to that of ΔbcnoxAB double mutants, providing evidence that BcnoxR is involved in activation of both Bcnox enzymes.

scholarly journals Cloning of two Bombyx homologues of the Drosophila rosy gene and their relationship to larval translucent skin colour mutants

1998 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
YUJI YASUKOCHI ◽  
TOSHIO KANDA ◽  
TOSHIKI TAMURA
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Specificity ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Striking Similarity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Phage Dna ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Reading Frames

To clone the Bombyx xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) gene as a dominant marker for silkworm transgenesis, we performed nested reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using embryonic mRNA and primers designed from the conserved region of Drosophila and rat XDH genes. Sequencing of amplified 180 bp fragments showed that two different sequences were present in the fragments. Since both possessed striking similarity to XDH genes of other organisms, we considered these to be portions of silkworm XDH genes and designated them BmXDH1 and BmXDH2. Subsequently we cloned separately the entire region of the two cDNAs by PCR using phage DNA of an embryonic cDNA library and sequenced them. The two cDNAs were around 4 kb in size and possessed complete open reading frames. The deduced amino acid sequences of the two BmXDHs were very similar to each other and to those of other organisms. The expression pattern of wild-type larvae basically followed the tissue specificity of the enzyme and no significant difference was observed between the two XDH genes. The expression of both genes was detected in the XDH-deficient mutants, oq and og, but non-synonymous substitutions were specifically detected in the BmXDH1 of the oq mutant. In addition, a length polymorphism of the second intron of the BmXDH1 co-segregated with the oq translucent phenotype, suggesting that deficiency in BmXDH1 is the cause of the oq translucent phenotype.

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