scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of Thermostable Y-Family DNA Polymerases η, ι, κ and Rev1 From a Lower Eukaryote, Thermomyces lanuginosus

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Vaisman ◽  
John P. McDonald ◽  
Mallory R. Smith ◽  
Sender L. Aspelund ◽  
Thomas C. Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Dna Polymerases ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Thermomyces Lanuginosus ◽  
Thermophilic Fungi ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Y Family ◽  
Identification And Characterization ◽  
Lower Eukaryote

Y-family DNA polymerases (pols) consist of six phylogenetically separate subfamilies; two UmuC (polV) branches, DinB (pol IV, Dpo4, polκ), Rad30A/POLH (polη), and Rad30B/POLI (polι) and Rev1. Of these subfamilies, DinB orthologs are found in all three domains of life; eubacteria, archaea, and eukarya. UmuC orthologs are identified only in bacteria, whilst Rev1 and Rad30A/B orthologs are only detected in eukaryotes. Within eukaryotes, a wide array of evolutionary diversity exists. Humans possess all four Y-family pols (pols η, ι, κ, and Rev1), Schizosaccharomyces pombe has three Y-family pols (pols η, κ, and Rev1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae only has polη and Rev1. Here, we report the cloning, expression, and biochemical characterization of the four Y-family pols from the lower eukaryotic thermophilic fungi, Thermomyces lanuginosus. Apart from the expected increased thermostability of the T. lanuginosus Y-family pols, their major biochemical properties are very similar to properties of their human counterparts. In particular, both Rad30B homologs (T. lanuginosus and human polɩ) exhibit remarkably low fidelity during DNA synthesis that is template sequence dependent. It was previously hypothesized that higher organisms had acquired this property during eukaryotic evolution, but these observations imply that polι originated earlier than previously known, suggesting a critical cellular function in both lower and higher eukaryotes.

scholarly journals N-glycan chitobiose core biosynthesis by Agl24 strengthens the hypothesis of an archaeal origin of the eukaryal N-glycosylation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin H. Meyer ◽  
Ben A. Wagstaff ◽  
Panagiotis S. Adam ◽  
Sonja-Verena Albers ◽  
Helge C. Dorfmueller
Keyword(s):  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Similar Process ◽  
List Type ◽  
Histidine Residue ◽  
Functional Importance ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Distant Relation ◽  
Identification And Characterization

AbstractProtein N-glycosylation is the most common posttranslational modifications found in all three domains of life. The crenarchaeal N-glycosylation begins with the synthesis of a lipid-linked chitobiose core structure, identical to that in eukaryotes. Here, we report the identification of a thermostable archaeal beta-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, named archaeal glycosylation enzyme 24 (Agl24), responsible for the synthesis of the N-glycan chitobiose core. Biochemical characterization confirmed the function as an inverting β-D-GlcNAc-(1→4)-α-D-GlcNAc-diphosphodolichol glycosyltransferase. Substitution of a conserved histidine residue, found also in the eukaryotic and bacterial homologs, demonstrated its functional importance for Agl24. Furthermore, bioinformatics and structural modeling revealed strong similarities between Agl24 and both the eukaryotic Alg14/13 and a distant relation to the bacterial MurG, which catalyze the identical or a similar process, respectively. Our data, complemented by phylogenetic analysis of Alg13 and Alg14, revealed similar sequences in Asgardarchaeota, further supporting the hypothesis that the Alg13/14 homologs in eukaryotes have been acquired during eukaryogenesis.HighlightsFirst identification and characterization of a thermostable β-D-GlcNAc-(1→4)-α-D-GlcNAc-diphosphodolichol glycosyltransferase (GT family 28) in Archaea.A highly conserved histidine, within a GGH motif in Agl24, Alg14, and MurG, is essential for function of Agl24.Agl24-like homologs are broadly distributed among Archaea.The eukaryotic Alg13 and Alg14 are closely related to the Asgard homologs, suggesting their acquisition during eukaryogenesis.

scholarly journals Identification and characterization of novel small molecule inhibitors of the human Y‐family DNA polymerases

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Ketkar ◽  
Maroof K Zafar ◽  
Leena Maddukuri ◽  
Narsimha R Penthala ◽  
Peter Crooks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Dna Polymerases ◽  
Y Family ◽  
Identification And Characterization

scholarly journals Biochemical characterization of specific Alanine Decarboxylase (AlaDC) and its ancestral enzyme Serine Decarboxylase (SDC) in tea plants (Camellia sinensis)

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peixian Bai ◽  
Liyuan Wang ◽  
Kang Wei ◽  
Li Ruan ◽  
Liyun Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Duplication ◽  
Camellia Sinensis ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Protein Sequences ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
High Similarity ◽  
New Gene ◽  
Tea Plants

Abstract Background Alanine decarboxylase (AlaDC), specifically present in tea plants, is crucial for theanine biosynthesis. Serine decarboxylase (SDC), found in many plants, is a protein most closely related to AlaDC. To investigate whether the new gene AlaDC originate from gene SDC and to determine the biochemical properties of the two proteins from Camellia sinensis, the sequences of CsAlaDC and CsSDC were analyzed and the two proteins were over-expressed, purified, and characterized. Results The results showed that exon-intron structures of AlaDC and SDC were quite similar and the protein sequences, encoded by the two genes, shared a high similarity of 85.1%, revealing that new gene AlaDC originated from SDC by gene duplication. CsAlaDC and CsSDC catalyzed the decarboxylation of alanine and serine, respectively. CsAlaDC and CsSDC exhibited the optimal activities at 45 °C (pH 8.0) and 40 °C (pH 7.0), respectively. CsAlaDC was stable under 30 °C (pH 7.0) and CsSDC was stable under 40 °C (pH 6.0–8.0). The activities of the two enzymes were greatly enhanced by the presence of pyridoxal-5′-phosphate. The specific activity of CsSDC (30,488 IU/mg) was 8.8-fold higher than that of CsAlaDC (3467 IU/mg). Conclusions Comparing to CsAlaDC, its ancestral enzyme CsSDC exhibited a higher specific activity and a better thermal and pH stability, indicating that CsSDC acquired the optimized function after a longer evolutionary period. The biochemical properties of CsAlaDC might offer reference for theanine industrial production.

Functional and Biochemical Characterization of Immunologically Derived Equine Platelet-Activating Factor

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Wimberly ◽  
D. O. Slauson ◽  
N. R. Neilsen
Keyword(s):  
Functional Activity ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Platelet Activating Factor ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Rabbit Platelets ◽  
Rapid Reaction ◽  
Specific Challenge

Antigen-specific challenge of equine leukocytes induced the non-lytic release of a platelet-activating factor in vitro. The equine platelet-activating factor stimulated the release of serotonin from equine platelets in a dose-responsive manner, independent of the presence of cyclo-oxygenase pathway inhibitors such as indomethacin. Rabbit platelets were also responsive to equine platelet-activating factor. The release of equine platelet-activating factor was a rapid reaction with near maximal secretion taking place in 30 seconds. Addition of equine platelet-activating factor to washed equine platelets stimulated platelet aggregation which could not be inhibited by the presence of aspirin or indomethacin. Platelets preincubated with equine platelet-activating factor became specifically desensitized to equine platelet-activating factor while remaining responsive to other platelet stimuli such as collagen and epinephrine. The following biochemical properties of equine platelet-activating factor are identical to those properties of 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (AGEPC): stability upon exposure to air and acid; loss of functional activity after basecatalyzed methanolysis with subsequent acylation that returned all functional activity; and identical relative mobilities on silica gel G plates developed with chloroform:methanol:water (65:35:6, volume/volume). The combined functional and biochemical characteristics of equine platelet-activating factor strongly suggest identity between this naturally occurring, immunologically derived equine factor and AGEPC.

scholarly journals Identification and biochemical characterization of a novel PP2C-like Ser/Thr phosphatase inE. coli

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krithika Rajagopalan ◽  
Jonathan Dworkin
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Bacterial Genomes ◽  
Phosphatase Inhibitors ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Number Of Bacteria

AbstractIn bacteria, signaling phosphorylation is thought to occur primarily on His and Asp residues. However, phosphoproteomic surveys in phylogenetically diverse bacteria over the past decade have identified numerous proteins that are phosphorylated on Ser and/or Thr residues. Consistently, genes encoding Ser/Thr kinases are present in many bacterial genomes such asE. coli,which encodes at least three Ser/Thr kinases. Since Ser/Thr phosphorylation is a stable modification, a dedicated phosphatase is necessary to allow reversible regulation. Ser/Thr phosphatases belonging to several conserved families are found in bacteria. One family of particular interest are Ser/Thr phosphatases which have extensive sequence and structural homology to eukaryotic Ser/Thr PP2C phosphatases. These proteins, called eSTPs (eukaryotic-like Ser/Thr phosphatases), have been identified in a number of bacteria, but not inE. coli.Here, we describe a previously unknown eSTP encoded by anE. coliORF,yegK,and characterize its biochemical properties including its kinetics, substrate specificity and sensitivity to known phosphatase inhibitors. We investigate differences in the activity of this protein in closely relatedE. colistrains. Finally, we demonstrate that this eSTP acts to dephosphorylate a novel Ser/Thr kinase which is encoded in the same operon.ImportanceRegulatory protein phosphorylation is a conserved mechanism of signaling in all biological systems. Recent phosphoproteomic analyses of phylogenetically diverse bacteria including the model Gram-negative bacteriumE. colidemonstrate that many proteins are phosphorylated on serine or threonine residues. In contrast to phosphorylation on histidine or aspartate residues, phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues is stable and requires the action of a partner Ser/Thr phosphatase to remove the modification. Although a number of Ser/Thr kinases have been reported inE. coli, no partner Ser/Thrphosphatases have been identified. Here, we biochemically characterize a novel Ser/Thr phosphatase that acts to dephosphorylate a Ser/Thr kinase that is encoded in the same operon.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a β-cyanoalanine synthase expressed in germinating seeds of Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 638-650
Author(s):  
Ruth Ololade Amiola ◽  
Adedeji Nelson Ademakinwa ◽  
Zainab Adenike Ayinla ◽  
Esther Nkechi Ezima ◽  
Femi Kayode Agboola
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Parameters ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Catalytic Properties ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Subunit Molecular Weight ◽  
Cyanoalanine Synthase ◽  
Germinating Seeds ◽  
Sorghum Bicolor L

Abstract Background β-Cyanoalanine synthase plays essential roles in germinating seeds, such as in cyanide homeostasis. Methods β-Cyanoalanine synthase was isolated from sorghum seeds, purified using chromatographic techniques and its biochemical and catalytic properties were determined. Results The purified enzyme had a yield of 61.74% and specific activity of 577.50 nmol H2S/min/mg of protein. The apparent and subunit molecular weight for purified β-cyanoalanine synthase were 58.26±2.41 kDa and 63.4 kDa, respectively. The kinetic parameters with sodium cyanide as substrate were 0.67±0.08 mM, 17.60±0.50 nmol H2S/mL/min, 2.97×10−1 s−1 and 4.43×102 M−1 s−1 for KM, Vmax, kcat and kcat/KM, respectively. With L-cysteine as substrate, the kinetic parameters were 2.64±0.37 mM, 63.41±4.04 nmol H2S/mL/min, 10.71×10−1 s−1 and 4.06×102 M−1 s−1 for KM, Vmax, kcat and kcat/KM, respectively. The optimum temperature and pH for activity were 35°C and 8.5, respectively. The enzyme retained more than half of its activity at 40°C. Inhibitors such as HgCl2, EDTA, glycine and iodoacetamide reduced enzyme activity. Conclusion The biochemical properties of β-cyanoalanine synthase in germinating sorghum seeds highlights its roles in maintaining cyanide homeostasis.

scholarly journals Mycobacteriophages as Incubators for Intein Dissemination and Evolution

mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle S. Kelley ◽  
Christopher W. Lennon ◽  
Marlene Belfort ◽  
Olga Novikova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Posttranslational Regulation ◽  
Homing Endonucleases ◽  
Nucleic Acid Binding ◽  
Active Centers ◽  
Functional Sites ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Self Splicing

ABSTRACT Inteins are self-splicing protein elements that are mobile at the DNA level and are sporadically distributed across microbial genomes. Inteins appear to be horizontally transferred, and it has been speculated that phages may play a role in intein distribution. Our attention turns to mycobacteriophages, which infect mycobacteria, where both phage and host harbor inteins. Using bioinformatics, mycobacteriophage genomes were mined for inteins. This study reveals that these mobile elements are present across multiple mycobacteriophage clusters and are pervasive in certain genes, like the large terminase subunit TerL and a RecB-like nuclease, with the majority of intein-containing genes being phage specific. Strikingly, despite this phage specificity, inteins localize to functional motifs shared with bacteria, such that intein-containing genes have similar roles, like hydrolase activity and nucleic acid binding, indicating a global commonality among intein-hosting proteins. Additionally, there are multiple insertion points within active centers, implying independent invasion events, with regulatory implications. Several phage inteins were shown to be splicing competent and to encode functional homing endonucleases, important for mobility. Further, bioinformatic analysis supports the potential for phages as facilitators of intein movement among mycobacteria and related genera. Analysis of catalytic intein residues finds the highly conserved penultimate histidine inconsistently maintained among mycobacteriophages. Biochemical characterization of a noncanonical phage intein shows that this residue influences precursor accumulation, suggesting that splicing has been tuned in phages to modulate generation of important proteins. Together, this work expands our understanding of phage-based intein dissemination and evolution and implies that phages provide a context for evolution of splicing-based regulation. IMPORTANCE Inteins are mobile protein splicing elements found in critical genes across all domains of life. Mycobacterial inteins are of particular interest because of their occurrence in pathogenic species, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae , which harbor inteins in important proteins. We have discovered a similarity in activities of intein-containing proteins among mycobacteriophages and their intein-rich actinobacterial hosts, with implications for both posttranslational regulation by inteins and phages participating in horizontal intein transfer. Our demonstration of multiple insertion points within active centers of phage proteins implies independent invasion events, indicating the importance of intein maintenance at specific functional sites. The variable conservation of a catalytic splicing residue, leading to profoundly altered splicing rates, points to the regulatory potential of inteins and to mycobacteriophages playing a role in intein evolution. Collectively, these results suggest inteins as posttranslational regulators and mycobacteriophages as both vehicles for intein distribution and incubators for intein evolution.

scholarly journals Phenotypic Characterization of Sulfolobus islandicus Strains Lacking the B-Family DNA Polymerases PolB2 and PolB3 Individually and in Combination

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter B. Bohall ◽  
Stephen D. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Dna Repair ◽  
Acute Treatment ◽  
Dna Polymerases ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Repair Pathway ◽  
Enhanced Sensitivity ◽  
Sulfolobus Islandicus ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Mutant Lines

Across the three domains of life, B-family DNA polymerases play a variety of roles in both DNA repair and DNA replication processes. We examine the phenotypic consequences of loss of the putative repair polymerases PolB2 and/or PolB3 in the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus islandicus. We detect a modest growth advantage when cells lacking the polymerase are grown in unperturbed conditions. Further, we observe a striking insensitivity of the mutant lines to acute treatment with the oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide. In addition, cells lacking PolB3 show enhanced sensitivity to the DNA damaging agent 4-NQO. Our data therefore suggest that these non-essential DNA polymerases may influence DNA repair pathway choice in these hyperthermophilic aerobes.

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