Evolution of an Epidermal Differentiation Complex (EDC) Gene Family in Birds

The transition of amniotes to a fully terrestrial lifestyle involved the adaptation of major molecular innovations to the epidermis, often in the form of epidermal appendages such as hair, scales and feathers. Feathers are diverse epidermal structures of birds, and their evolution has played a key role in the expansion of avian species to a wide range of lifestyles and habitats. As with other epidermal appendages, feather development is a complex process which involves many different genetic and protein elements. In mammals, many of the genetic elements involved in epidermal development are located at a specific genetic locus known as the epidermal differentiation complex (EDC). Studies have identified a homologous EDC locus in birds, which contains several genes expressed throughout epidermal and feather development. A family of avian EDC genes rich in aromatic amino acids that also contain MTF amino acid motifs (EDAAs/EDMTFs), that includes the previously reported histidine-rich or fast-protein (HRP/fp), an important marker in feather development, has expanded significantly in birds. Here, we characterize the EDAA gene family in birds and investigate the evolutionary history and possible functions of EDAA genes using phylogenetic and sequence analyses. We provide evidence that the EDAA gene family originated in an early archosaur ancestor, and has since expanded in birds, crocodiles and turtles, respectively. Furthermore, this study shows that the respective amino acid compositions of avian EDAAs are characteristic of structural functions associated with EDC genes and feather development. Finally, these results support the hypothesis that the genes of the EDC have evolved through tandem duplication and diversification, which has contributed to the evolution of the intricate avian epidermis and epidermal appendages.

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The Effect of Single CpG Demethylation on the Pattern of DNA-Protein Binding

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20040914 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 914 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Barbara Sobiak ◽

Wiesława Leśniak

Keyword(s):

Rna Binding ◽

Rna Binding Proteins ◽

Epidermal Differentiation ◽

Keratinocyte Differentiation ◽

Splicing Factors ◽

Targeted Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Factors Analysis ◽

Epidermal Differentiation Complex ◽

Complex Process ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Ngs

Epidermal differentiation is a complex process and its regulation may involve epigenetic factors. Analysis of DNA methylation in 20 selected regions within the epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) gene cluster by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) detected no or only minor changes in methylation, mostly slight demethylation, occurring during the course of keratinocyte differentiation. However, a single CpG pair within the exon of the PGLYRP3 gene underwent a pronounced demethylation concomitant with an increase in PGLYRP3 expression. We have employed a DNA-affinity precipitation assay (DAPA) and mass spectrometry to examine changes in the composition of proteins that bind to DNA containing either methylated or unmethylated CpG. We found that the unmethylated probe attracted mostly RNA binding proteins, including splicing factors, which suggests that demethylation of this particular CpG may facilitate PGLYRP3 transcription and/or pre-mRNA splicing.

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Editing of non-cognate aminoacyl adenylates by peptide synthetases

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj3420715 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 342 (3) ◽

pp. 715-719 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Maja PAVELA-VRANCIC ◽

Ralf DIECKMANN ◽

Hans VON DÖHREN ◽

Horst KLEINKAUF

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Aromatic Amino Acids ◽

Substrate Selection ◽

Peptide Synthetases ◽

Substrate Analogues ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Stability ◽

Acid Substrate ◽

Amino Acid Substrate ◽

Selection Of

Non-ribosomally formed peptides display both highly conserved and variable amino acid positions, the variations leading to a wide range of peptide families. Activation of the amino acid substrate proceeds in analogy to the ribosomal biosynthetic mechanism generating aminoacyl adenylate and acyl intermediates. To approach the mechanism of fidelity of amino acid selection, the stability of the aminoacyl adenylates was studied by employing a continuous coupled spectrophotometric assay. The apo-form of tyrocidine synthetase 1 (apo-TY1) was used, generating an L-phenylalanyl-adenylate intermediate stabilized by the interaction of two structural subdomains of the adenylation domain. Adenylates of substrate analogues have shown variable and reduced degrees of stability, thus leading to an enhanced generation of pyrophosphate due to hydrolysis and continuous adenylate formation. Discrimination of the non-aromatic amino acids L-Leu and L-Met, or L-Phe analogues such as p-amino- and p-chloro-L-Phe derivatives, as well as the stereospecific selection of L-Phe, is supported by less-stable adenylate intermediates exhibiting elevated susceptibility to hydrolysis. Breakdown of the L-phenylalanyl intermediate utilizing 2′-deoxy-ATP as the nucleotide substrate was significantly enhanced compared with the natural analogue. Apo-TY1 engineered at positions involved in adenylate formation showed variable protection against hydrolysis. The results imply that stability of the aminoacyl intermediates may act as an essential factor in substrate selection and fidelity of non-ribosomal-peptide-forming systems.

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Isolation and Characterization of Human Repetin, a Member of the Fused Gene Family of the Epidermal Differentiation Complex

Journal of Investigative Dermatology ◽

10.1111/j.0022-202x.2005.23675.x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 124 (5) ◽

pp. 998-1007 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Marcel Huber ◽

Georges Siegenthaler ◽

Nicolae Mirancea ◽

Ingo Marenholz ◽

Dean Nizetic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Family ◽

Epidermal Differentiation ◽

Isolation And Characterization ◽

Epidermal Differentiation Complex ◽

Fused Gene

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Genome-wide characterization of the MLO gene family in Cannabis sativa reveals two genes as strong candidates for powdery mildew susceptibility

10.1101/2021.07.16.452661 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Noémi Pépin ◽

Francois Olivier Hebert ◽

David L Joly

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Powdery Mildew ◽

Gene Family ◽

Cannabis Sativa ◽

Protein Sequences ◽

Cultivated Plants ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Functional Domain ◽

Wide Range

Cannabis sativa is increasingly being grown around the world for medicinal, industrial, and recreational purposes. As in all cultivated plants, cannabis is exposed to a wide range of pathogens, including powdery mildew (PM). This fungal disease stresses cannabis plants and reduces flower bud quality, resulting in significant economic losses for licensed producers. The Mildew Locus O (MLO) gene family encodes plant-specific proteins distributed among conserved clades, of which clades IV and V are known to be involved in susceptibility to PM in monocots and dicots, respectively. In several studies, the inactivation of those genes resulted in durable resistance to the disease. In this study, we identified and characterized the MLO gene family members in five different cannabis genomes. Fifteen Cannabis sativa MLO (CsMLO) genes were manually curated in cannabis, with numbers varying between 14, 17, 19, 18, and 18 for CBDRx, Jamaican Lion female, Jamaican Lion male, Purple Kush, and Finola, respectively (when considering paralogs and incomplete genes). Further analysis of the CsMLO genes and their deduced protein sequences revealed that many characteristics of the gene family, such as the presence of 7 transmembrane domains, the MLO functional domain, and particular amino acid positions, were present and well conserved. Phylogenetic analysis of the MLO protein sequences from all five cannabis genomes and other plant species indicated seven distinct clades (I through VII), as reported in other crops. Expression analysis revealed that the CsMLOs from clade V, CsMLO1 and CsMLO4, were significantly upregulated following Golovinomyces ambrosiae infection, providing preliminary evidence that they could be involved in PM susceptibility. Finally, the examination of variation within CsMLO1 and CsMLO4 in 32 cannabis cultivars revealed several amino acid changes, which could affect their function. Altogether, cannabis MLO genes were identified and characterized, among which candidates potentially involved in PM susceptibility were noted. The results of this study will lay the foundation for further investigations, such as the functional characterization of clade V MLOs as well as the potential impact of the amino acid changes reported. Those will be useful for breeding purposes in order to develop resistant cultivars.

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Genome-Wide Characterization of the MLO Gene Family in Cannabis sativa Reveals Two Genes as Strong Candidates for Powdery Mildew Susceptibility

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.729261 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Noémi Pépin ◽

Francois Olivier Hebert ◽

David L. Joly

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Powdery Mildew ◽

Gene Family ◽

Cannabis Sativa ◽

Protein Sequences ◽

Cultivated Plants ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Functional Domain ◽

Wide Range

Cannabis sativa is increasingly being grown around the world for medicinal, industrial, and recreational purposes. As in all cultivated plants, cannabis is exposed to a wide range of pathogens, including powdery mildew (PM). This fungal disease stresses cannabis plants and reduces flower bud quality, resulting in significant economic losses for licensed producers. The Mildew Locus O (MLO) gene family encodes plant-specific proteins distributed among conserved clades, of which clades IV and V are known to be involved in susceptibility to PM in monocots and dicots, respectively. In several studies, the inactivation of those genes resulted in durable resistance to the disease. In this study, we identified and characterized the MLO gene family members in five different cannabis genomes. Fifteen Cannabis sativa MLO (CsMLO) genes were manually curated in cannabis, with numbers varying between 14, 17, 19, 18, and 18 for CBDRx, Jamaican Lion female, Jamaican Lion male, Purple Kush, and Finola, respectively (when considering paralogs and incomplete genes). Further analysis of the CsMLO genes and their deduced protein sequences revealed that many characteristics of the gene family, such as the presence of seven transmembrane domains, the MLO functional domain, and particular amino acid positions, were present and well conserved. Phylogenetic analysis of the MLO protein sequences from all five cannabis genomes and other plant species indicated seven distinct clades (I through VII), as reported in other crops. Expression analysis revealed that the CsMLOs from clade V, CsMLO1 and CsMLO4, were significantly upregulated following Golovinomyces ambrosiae infection, providing preliminary evidence that they could be involved in PM susceptibility. Finally, the examination of variation within CsMLO1 and CsMLO4 in 32 cannabis cultivars revealed several amino acid changes, which could affect their function. Altogether, cannabis MLO genes were identified and characterized, among which candidates potentially involved in PM susceptibility were noted. The results of this study will lay the foundation for further investigations, such as the functional characterization of clade V MLOs as well as the potential impact of the amino acid changes reported. Those will be useful for breeding purposes in order to develop resistant cultivars.

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Comparative Study on Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase of Plasmodium Species by Using in silico Method

Scientific Research Journal ◽

10.24191/srj.v9i1.9411 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Mohd Fakharul Zaman Raja Yahya ◽

Hasidah Mohd Sidek

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

In Silico ◽

Nuclear Export ◽

Nuclear Export Signal ◽

Plasmodium Species ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽

Multiple Sequence ◽

Wide Range ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein ◽

Human Plasmodium

Malaria parasites, Plasmodium can infect a wide range of hosts including humans and rodents. There are two copies of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in Plasmodium, namely MAPK1 and MAPK2. The MAPKs have been studied extensively in the human Plasmodium, P. falciparum. However, the MAPKs from other Plasmodium species have not been characterized and it is therefore the premise of presented study to characterize the MAPKs from other Plasmodium species-P. vivax, P. knowlesi, P. berghei, P. chabaudi and P.yoelli using a series of publicly available bioinformatic tools. In silico data indicates that all Plasmodium MAPKs are nuclear-localized and contain both a nuclear localization signal (NLS) and a Leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES). The activation motifs of TDY and TSH were found to be fully conserved in Plasmodium MAPK1 and MAPK2, respectively. The detailed manual inspection of a multiple sequence alignment (MSA) construct revealed a total of 17 amino acid stack patterns comprising of different amino acids present in MAPKJ and MAPK2 respectively, with respect to rodent and human Plasmodia. It is proposed that these amino acid stack patterns may be useful in explaining the disparity between rodent and human Plasmodium MAPKs.

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Comparative Study on Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase of Plasmodium Species by Using In silico Method

Scientific Research Journal ◽

10.24191/srj.v9i1.5052 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Mohd Fakharul Zaman Raja Yahya ◽

Hasidah Mohd Sidek

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

In Silico ◽

Nuclear Export ◽

Nuclear Export Signal ◽

Plasmodium Species ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽

Multiple Sequence ◽

Bioinformatic Tools ◽

Wide Range ◽

Human Plasmodium

Malaria parasites, Plasmodium can infect a wide range ofhosts including humans and rodents. There are two copies ofmitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in Plasmodium, namely MAPK1 and MAPK2. The MAPKs have been studied extensively in the human Plasmodium, P. falciparum. However, the MAPKs from other Plasmodium species have not been characterized and it is therefore the premise ofpresented study to characterize the MAPKs from other Plasmodium species-P. vivax, P. knowlesi, P. berghei, P. chabaudi and P.yoelli using a series ofpublicly available bioinformatic tools. In silico data indicates that all Plasmodium MAPKs are nuclear-localizedandcontain both a nuclear localization signal (NLS) anda Leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES). The activation motifs ofTDYand TSH werefound to befully conserved in Plasmodium MAPK1 and MAPK2, respectively. The detailed manual inspection ofa multiple sequence alignment (MSA) construct revealed a total of 17 amino acid stack patterns comprising ofdifferent amino acids present in MAPK1 and MAPK2 respectively, with respect to rodent and human Plasmodia. 1t is proposed that these amino acid stack patterns may be useful in explaining the disparity between rodent and human Plasmodium MAPKs.

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Single Amino Acid Based Self-Assemblies of Cysteine and Methionine

10.26434/chemrxiv.5972173.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Nidhi Gour ◽

Bharti Koshti ◽

Chandra Kanth P. ◽

Dhruvi Shah ◽

Vivek Shinh Kshatriya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Aromatic Amino Acids ◽

Neutral Condition ◽

Single Amino Acid ◽

Binding Assays ◽

Human Neuroblastoma ◽

Cytotoxicity Assays ◽

First Time

We report for the very first time self-assembly of Cysteine and Methionine to discrenible strucutres under neutral condition. To get insights into the structure formation, thioflavin T and Congo red binding assays were done which revealed that aggregates may not have amyloid like characteristics. The nature of interactions which lead to such self-assemblies was purported by coincubating assemblies in urea and mercaptoethanol. Further interaction of aggregates with short amyloidogenic dipeptide diphenylalanine (FF) was assessed. While cysteine aggregates completely disrupted FF fibres, methionine albeit triggered fibrillation. The cytotoxicity assays of cysteine and methionine structures were performed on Human Neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells which suggested that aggregates are not cytotoxic in nature and thus, may not have amyloid like etiology. The results presented in the manuscript are striking, since to the best of our knowledge,this is the first report which demonstrates that even non-aromatic amino acids (cysteine and methionine) can undergo spontaneous self-assembly to form ordered aggregates.

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Predicting the Strength of Stacking Interactions Between Heterocycles and Aromatic Amino Acid Side Chains

10.26434/chemrxiv.7628939.v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea N. Bootsma ◽

Analise C. Doney ◽

Steven Wheeler

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Aromatic Amino Acid ◽

Aromatic Amino Acids ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Side Chains ◽

Stacking Interactions ◽

Inhibitor Binding ◽

Protein Binding Sites ◽

Amino Acid Side Chains

<p>Despite the ubiquity of stacking interactions between heterocycles and aromatic amino acids in biological systems, our ability to predict their strength, even qualitatively, is limited. Based on rigorous <i>ab initio</i> data, we have devised a simple predictive model of the strength of stacking interactions between heterocycles commonly found in biologically active molecules and the amino acid side chains Phe, Tyr, and Trp. This model provides rapid predictions of the stacking ability of a given heterocycle based on readily-computed heterocycle descriptors. We show that the values of these descriptors, and therefore the strength of stacking interactions with aromatic amino acid side chains, follow simple predictable trends and can be modulated by changing the number and distribution of heteroatoms within the heterocycle. This provides a simple conceptual model for understanding stacking interactions in protein binding sites and optimizing inhibitor binding in drug design.</p>

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Application of the Innovative and Non-Invasive Technique, Molecular Music Therapy (MMT), Bio-Frequency Therapy, for the Treatment of a Wide Range of Disorders and Pathologies, with Consequent Verification of Molecular Parameters by Using Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (BDORT)

Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research ◽

10.3727/036012920x15779969212928 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 177-189

Author(s):

Momir Dunjic ◽

Stefano Turini ◽

Dejan Krstic ◽

Katarina Dunjic ◽

Marija Dunjic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Music Therapy ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Sirtuin 1 ◽

Ring Test ◽

Invasive Technique ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Radiofrequency Therapy ◽

Wide Range ◽

Clinical Pictures

Radiofrequency therapy is an unconventional method, already applied for some time, with numerous results in numerous clinical pictures. Our group has developed a software, later called SONGENPROT-SOLARIS, capable of directly converting nucleotide sequences (DNA and/or RNA) and amino acid sequences (polypeptides and proteins) into musical sequences, based on mathematic matrices, designed by the French physicist and musician Joel Sternheimer, which allows to associate a musical note with a nucleotide or an amino acid. Innovation in our software is that, in the algorithm that defines it, a variant is directly implemented that allows the reproduction of sounds, phase-shifted by 30 Hz, between one ear and another reproducing the phenomenon of Binaural Tones, capable of induce a specific brain activity and also the release of particles called solitons. Thanks to this software we have developed a technique called MMT (Molecular Music Therapy) and currently, we are in the phase of applying the technique on a cohort of 91 patients, with a high spectrum of clinical pictures, examining the same, using the technique Bi-Digital-ORing-Test (BDORT), before and after treatment with MMT. Aim of project is to stimulate the expression of a specific gene (the same genetic sequence that the patient listens to, translated into music), only through the use of sound sequences. We have concentrated our attention on three main molecules: Sirtuin-1, Telomers and TP-53. The results obtained with BDORT, after treatment with MMT, showed a significant increase in the values of the three molecules, on all the examined patients, demonstrating the operative efficacy of the technique and the its applicability to numerous diseases. In order to confirm the data obtained by BDORT, we propose, with the help of an accredited laboratory, to perform epigenetic tests on the three parameters listed above, paving the way to understanding how frequencies can influence gene expression.

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