scholarly journals Current Developments in Native Nanometric Discoidal Membrane Bilayer Formed by Amphipathic Polymers

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1771
Author(s):  
Mansoore Esmaili ◽  
Mohamed A. Eldeeb ◽  
Ali-Akbar Moosavi-Movahedi
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Synthetic Polymers ◽  
Multiple Series ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Self Assembling ◽  
Amphipathic Polymers ◽  
Membrane Mimetic ◽  
Invaluable Tool ◽  
Membrane Scaffold

Unlike cytosolic proteins, membrane proteins (MPs) are embedded within the plasma membrane and the lipid bilayer of intracellular organelles. MPs serve in various cellular processes and account for over 65% of the current drug targets. The development of membrane mimetic systems such as bicelles, short synthetic polymers or amphipols, and membrane scaffold proteins (MSP)-based nanodiscs has facilitated the accommodation of synthetic lipids to stabilize MPs, yet the preparation of these membrane mimetics remains detergent-dependent. Bio-inspired synthetic polymers present an invaluable tool for excision and liberation of superstructures of MPs and their surrounding annular lipid bilayer in the nanometric discoidal assemblies. In this article, we discuss the significance of self-assembling process in design of biomimetic systems, review development of multiple series of amphipathic polymers and the significance of these polymeric “belts” in biomedical research in particular in unraveling the structures, dynamics and functions of several high-value membrane protein targets.

scholarly journals Intrinsically Disordered Proteins as Regulators of Transient Biological Processes and as Untapped Drug Targets

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2118
Author(s):  
Yusuke Hosoya ◽  
Junko Ohkanda
Keyword(s):  
Drug Targets ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins ◽  
Dynamic Control ◽  
Disordered Proteins ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Phase Separations ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
New Drug ◽  
Liquid Phase Separations

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are critical players in the dynamic control of diverse cellular processes, and provide potential new drug targets because their dysregulation is closely related to many diseases. This review focuses on several medicinal studies that have identified low-molecular-weight inhibitors of IDPs. In addition, clinically relevant liquid–liquid phase separations—which critically involve both intermolecular interactions between IDPs and their posttranslational modification—are analyzed to understand the potential of IDPs as new drug targets.

scholarly journals Membrane proteins: always an insoluble problem?

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 790-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea E. Rawlings
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Native Sequence ◽  
Protein Research ◽  
New Methodologies

Membrane proteins play crucial roles in cellular processes and are often important pharmacological drug targets. The hydrophobic properties of these proteins make full structural and functional characterization challenging because of the need to use detergents or other solubilizing agents when extracting them from their native lipid membranes. To aid membrane protein research, new methodologies are required to allow these proteins to be expressed and purified cheaply, easily, in high yield and to provide water soluble proteins for subsequent study. This mini review focuses on the relatively new area of water soluble membrane proteins and in particular two innovative approaches: the redesign of membrane proteins to yield water soluble variants and how adding solubilizing fusion proteins can help to overcome these challenges. This review also looks at naturally occurring membrane proteins, which are able to exist as stable, functional, water soluble assemblies with no alteration to their native sequence.

scholarly journals A Human DUB Protein Array for Clarification of Linkage Specificity of Polyubiquitin Chain and Application to Evaluation of Its Inhibitors

Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Hirotaka Takahashi ◽  
Satoshi Yamanaka ◽  
Shohei Kuwada ◽  
Kana Higaki ◽  
Kohki Kido ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Targets ◽  
Protein Array ◽  
Polyubiquitin Chain ◽  
Deubiquitinating Enzymes ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Model Study ◽  
Biochemical Analyses ◽  
Almost All

Protein ubiquitinations play pivotal roles in many cellular processes, including homeostasis, responses to various stimulations, and progression of diseases. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) remove ubiquitin molecules from ubiquitinated proteins and cleave the polyubiquitin chain, thus negatively regulating numerous ubiquitin-dependent processes. Dysfunctions of many DUBs reportedly cause various diseases; therefore, DUBs are considered as important drug targets, although the biochemical characteristics and cellular functions of many DUBs are still unclear. Here, we established a human DUB protein array to detect the activity and linkage specificity of almost all human DUBs. Using a wheat cell-free protein synthesis system, 88 full-length recombinant human DUB proteins were prepared and termed the DUB array. In vitro DUB assays were performed with all of these recombinant DUBs, using eight linkage types of diubiquitins as substrates. As a result, 80 DUBs in the array showed DUB activities, and their linkage specificities were determined. These 80 DUBs included many biochemically uncharacterized DUBs in the past. In addition, taking advantage of these active DUB proteins, we applied the DUB array to evaluate the selectivities of DUB inhibitors. We successfully developed a high-throughput and semi-quantitative DUB assay based on AlphaScreen technology, and a model study using two commercially available DUB inhibitors revealed individual selectivities to 29 DUBs, as previously reported. In conclusion, the DUB array established here is a powerful tool for biochemical analyses and drug discovery for human DUBs.

scholarly journals Small-Molecule Modulation of Lipid-Dependent Cellular Processes against Cancer: Fats on the Gunpoint

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aswin T. Srivatsav ◽  
Manjari Mishra ◽  
Shobhna Kapoor
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Membrane Microdomains ◽  
Critical Function ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Cancer Phenotypes ◽  
Critical Intervention ◽  
Distinct Membrane

Lipid cell membrane composed of various distinct lipids and proteins act as a platform to assemble various signaling complexes regulating innumerous cellular processes which are strongly downregulated or altered in cancer cells emphasizing the still-underestimated critical function of lipid biomolecules in cancer initiation and progression. In this review, we outline the current understanding of how membrane lipids act as signaling hot spots by generating distinct membrane microdomains called rafts to initiate various cellular processes and their modulation in cancer phenotypes. We elucidate tangible drug targets and pathways all amenable to small-molecule perturbation. Ranging from targeting membrane rafts organization/reorganization to rewiring lipid metabolism and lipid sorting in cancer, the work summarized here represents critical intervention points being attempted for lipid-based anticancer therapy and future directions.

scholarly journals Protein Transduction Domain Mimic (PTDM) Self-Assembly?

Polymers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas D. Posey ◽  
Gregory N. Tew
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Protein Delivery ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Aqueous Media ◽  
Protein Transduction ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Invaluable Tool ◽  
Therapeutic Development ◽  
Intracellular Protein Delivery

Intracellular protein delivery is an invaluable tool for biomedical research, as it enables fundamental studies of cellular processes and creates opportunities for novel therapeutic development. Protein delivery reagents such as cell penetration peptides (CPPs) and protein transduction domains (PTDs) are frequently used to facilitate protein delivery. Herein, synthetic polymer mimics of PTDs, called PTDMs, were studied for their ability to self-assemble in aqueous media as it was not known whether self-assembly plays a role in the protein binding and delivery process. The results obtained from interfacial tensiometry (IFT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmittance assays (%T), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated that PTDMs do not readily aggregate or self-assemble at application-relevant time scales and concentrations. However, additional DLS experiments were used to confirm that the presence of protein is required to induce the formation of PTDM-protein complexes and that PTDMs likely bind as single chains.

scholarly journals Design of self-assembling transmembrane helical bundles to elucidate principles required for membrane protein folding and ion transport

2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1726) ◽  
pp. 20160214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan H. Joh ◽  
Gevorg Grigoryan ◽  
Yibing Wu ◽  
William F. DeGrado
Keyword(s):  
Protein Folding ◽  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Protein Design ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Membrane Protein Folding ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Membrane Pores ◽  
Self Assembling ◽  
And Function

Ion transporters and channels are able to identify and act on specific substrates among myriads of ions and molecules critical to cellular processes, such as homeostasis, cell signalling, nutrient influx and drug efflux. Recently, we designed Rocker, a minimalist model for Zn 2+ /H + co-transport. The success of this effort suggests that de novo membrane protein design has now come of age so as to serve a key approach towards probing the determinants of membrane protein folding, assembly and function. Here, we review general principles that can be used to design membrane proteins, with particular reference to helical assemblies with transport function. We also provide new functional and NMR data that probe the dynamic mechanism of conduction through Rocker. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Membrane pores: from structure and assembly, to medicine and technology’.

scholarly journals Dnm1 forms spirals that are structurally tailored to fit mitochondria

2005 ◽  
Vol 170 (7) ◽  
pp. 1021-1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Ingerman ◽  
Edward M. Perkins ◽  
Michael Marino ◽  
Jason A. Mears ◽  
J. Michael McCaffery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Membrane Dynamics ◽  
Nucleotide Hydrolysis ◽  
Mitochondrial Division ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Self Assembling ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
Rate Limiting ◽  
Common Function

Dynamin-related proteins (DRPs) are large self-assembling GTPases whose common function is to regulate membrane dynamics in a variety of cellular processes. Dnm1, which is a yeast DRP (Drp1/Dlp1 in humans), is required for mitochondrial division, but its mechanism is unknown. We provide evidence that Dnm1 likely functions through self-assembly to drive the membrane constriction event that is associated with mitochondrial division. Two regulatory features of Dnm1 self-assembly were also identified. Dnm1 self-assembly proceeded through a rate-limiting nucleation step, and nucleotide hydrolysis by assembled Dnm1 structures was highly cooperative with respect to GTP. Dnm1 formed extended spirals, which possessed diameters greater than those of dynamin-1 spirals but whose sizes, remarkably, were equal to those of mitochondrial constriction sites in vivo. These data suggest that Dnm1 has evolved to form structures that fit the dimensions of mitochondria.

scholarly journals Application of the Subtractive Genomics and Molecular Docking Analysis for the Identification of Novel Putative Drug Targets against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Poona

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanvir Hossain ◽  
Mohammad Kamruzzaman ◽  
Talita Zahin Choudhury ◽  
Hamida Nooreen Mahmood ◽  
A. H. M. Nurun Nabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Subcellular Location ◽  
Essential Genes ◽  
Scoring Functions ◽  
Essential Proteins ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Subtractive Genomics ◽  
Resistance Patterns

The emergence of novel pathogenic strains with increased antibacterial resistance patterns poses a significant threat to the management of infectious diseases. In this study, we aimed at utilizing the subtractive genomic approach to identify novel drug targets against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Poona strain ATCC BAA-1673. We employed in silico bioinformatics tools to subtract the strain-specific paralogous and host-specific homologous sequences from the bacterial proteome. The sorted proteome was further refined to identify the essential genes in the pathogenic bacterium using the database of essential genes (DEG). We carried out metabolic pathway and subcellular location analysis of the essential proteins of the pathogen to elucidate the involvement of these proteins in important cellular processes. We found 52 unique essential proteins in the target proteome that could be utilized as novel targets to design newer drugs. Further, we investigated these proteins in the DrugBank databases and 11 of the unique essential proteins showed druggability according to the FDA approved drug bank databases with diverse broad-spectrum property. Molecular docking analyses of the novel druggable targets with the drugs were carried out by AutoDock Vina option based on scoring functions. The results showed promising candidates for novel drugs against Salmonella infections.

scholarly journals Regulatory effects of post-translational modifications on zDHHC S-acyltransferases

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (43) ◽  
pp. 14640-14652
Author(s):  
Filip Zmuda ◽  
Luke H. Chamberlain
Keyword(s):  
Drug Targets ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Fatty Acyl ◽  
Fatty Acyl Chain ◽  
Physiological Importance ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Cell Growth And Differentiation ◽  
Regulatory Effects ◽  
The Stability ◽  
And Function

The human zDHHC S-acyltransferase family comprises 23 enzymes that mediate the S-acylation of a multitude of cellular proteins, including channels, receptors, transporters, signaling molecules, scaffolds, and chaperones. This reversible post-transitional modification (PTM) involves the attachment of a fatty acyl chain, usually derived from palmitoyl-CoA, to specific cysteine residues on target proteins, which affects their stability, localization, and function. These outcomes are essential to control many processes, including synaptic transmission and plasticity, cell growth and differentiation, and infectivity of viruses and other pathogens. Given the physiological importance of S-acylation, it is unsurprising that perturbations in this process, including mutations in ZDHHC genes, have been linked to different neurological pathologies and cancers, and there is growing interest in zDHHC enzymes as novel drug targets. Although zDHHC enzymes control a diverse array of cellular processes and are associated with major disorders, our understanding of these enzymes is surprisingly incomplete, particularly with regard to the regulatory mechanisms controlling these enzymes. However, there is growing evidence highlighting the role of different PTMs in this process. In this review, we discuss how PTMs, including phosphorylation, S-acylation, and ubiquitination, affect the stability, localization, and function of zDHHC enzymes and speculate on possible effects of PTMs that have emerged from larger screening studies. Developing a better understanding of the regulatory effects of PTMs on zDHHC enzymes will provide new insight into the intracellular dynamics of S-acylation and may also highlight novel approaches to modulate S-acylation for clinical gain.

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