scholarly journals New Mastoparan Peptides in the Venom of the Solitary Eumenine Wasp Eumenes micado

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuhiro Konno ◽  
Kohei Kazuma ◽  
Marisa Rangel ◽  
Joacir Stolarz-de-Oliveira ◽  
Renato Fontana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membranes ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Biological Evaluation ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Small Peptides ◽  
Crude Venom ◽  
Peritoneal Mast Cells ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Wasp Venoms ◽  
Mast Cell Degranulating

Comprehensive LC-MS and MS/MS analysis of the crude venom extract from the solitary eumenine wasp Eumenes micado revealed the component profile of this venom mostly consisted of small peptides. The major peptide components, eumenine mastoparan-EM1 (EMP-EM1: LKLMGIVKKVLGAL-NH2) and eumenine mastoparan-EM2 (EMP-EM2: LKLLGIVKKVLGAI-NH2), were purified and characterized by the conventional method. The sequences of these new peptides are homologous to mastoparans, the mast cell degranulating peptides from social wasp venoms; they are 14 amino acid residues in length, rich in hydrophobic and basic amino acids, and C-terminal amidated. Accordingly, these new peptides can belong to mastoparan peptides (in other words, linear cationic α-helical peptides). Indeed, the CD spectra of these new peptides showed predominantly α-helix conformation in TFE and SDS. In biological evaluation, both peptides exhibited potent antibacterial activity, moderate degranulation activity from rat peritoneal mast cells, and significant leishmanicidal activity, while they showed virtually no hemolytic activity on human or mouse erythrocytes. These results indicated that EMP-EM peptides rather strongly associated with bacterial cell membranes rather than mammalian cell membranes.

scholarly journals Structural Analysis of Yoked Chorionic Gonadotropin-Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Ectodomain Complexes by Circular Dichroic Spectroscopy

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 1192-1202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory B. Fralish ◽  
Brian Dattilo ◽  
David Puett
Keyword(s):  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Homology Model ◽  
Difference Spectrum ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone Receptor ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Glycoprotein Hormone ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Α Helix

Abstract Binding of the heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone, chorionic gonadotropin (CG), occurs to the heptahelical LH receptor N-terminal ectodomain (ECD), a large portion of which has been modeled as a leucine-rich repeat protein. In this study, we expressed and purified three single chain N-CG-ECD-C complexes, one comprising the full-length ECD, 1–341 (encoded by exons 1–10 and a portion of 11), and two C-terminal ECD deletion fragments, 1–294 (encoded by exons 1–10) and 1–180 (encoded by exons 1–7). The fusion proteins, including yoked CG (N-β-α-C), were characterized by Western blot analysis and circular dichroism (CD). Analysis of the CD spectra obtained on the CG-ECD fusion proteins, and of the difference spectrum of each after subtracting the CG contribution, yielded secondary structures consistent with a repeating β-strand/α-helix fold as predicted in the homology model. A marked decrease in helicity was observed when the C-terminal 47 amino acid residues were removed from the ECD. Removal of an additional 114 residues, i.e. the region encoded by exons 8–10, results in the loss of fewer helical residues. These results suggest that the hinge region of the ECD, predicted to contain only limited secondary structure, interacts with and stabilizes the ligand-occupied N-terminal portion. Furthermore, the results support a repeating fold, consistent with the proposed model for the LHR ECD.

scholarly journals Conformation and membrane interaction studies of the potent antimicrobial and anticancer peptide palustrin-Ca

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Brendan Timmons ◽  
Chandralal M Hewage
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Peptide Sequence ◽  
Helical Conformation ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
American Bullfrog ◽  
Α Helix

Palustrin-Ca (GFLDIIKDTGKEFAVKILNNLKCKLAGGCPP) is a host defense peptide with potent antimicrobial and anticancer activities, first isolated from the skin of the American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus. The peptide is 31 amino acid residues long, cationic and amphipathic. Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy was employed to characterise its three-dimensional structure in a 50/50% water/2,2,2-trifluoroethanol-d3 mixture. The structure is defined by an α-helix that spans between Ile6-Ala26, and a cyclic disulphide bridged domain at the C-terminal end of the peptide sequence, between residues 23 and 29. A molecular dynamics simulation was employed to model the peptide's interactions with sodium dodecyl sulphate micelles, a widely used bacterial membrane-mimicking environment. Throughout the simulation, the peptide was found to maintain its α-helical conformation between residues Ile6-Ala26, while adopting a position parallel to the surface to micelle, which is energetically-favourable due to many hydrophobic and electrostatic contacts with the micelle.

Modèle topologique de la structure d’un antiport vacuolaire de type NHX chez la vigne cultivée (Vitis vinifera)

Botany ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Hanana ◽  
Olivier Cagnac ◽  
Ahmed Mliki ◽  
Eduardo Blumwald
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Vitis Vinifera ◽  
Molecular Mass ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Vitis Vinifera L ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Transmembrane Segments ◽  
Α Helix

After identifying and isolating a grapevine ( Vitis vinifera L.) NHX vacuolar antiporter and before initializing functional genomic studies, we juged necessary to acquire a minimum of knowledge about the VvNHX1 protein. Thus, we realized a bioinformatic analysis to determine its basic characteristics and to get structural informations that could guide us through the functional characterization. We have determined important physico-chemical parameters (molecular mass, isoelectric point, hydrophobic regions, etc.) and obtained interesting structural data (primary, secondary, and tertiary structures; conserved domains and interaction motives; etc.). The VvNHX1 gene, which encodes this 541 amino-acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 60 kDa, is made of 14 exons and measures 6.5 kb. The amino-acidic composition of this protein is very important, in particular, for the establishment of the α-helix structure, which represents more than 50% of the protein, but also for charge distribution, which generates critical electrostatic interactions for the ionic flux. The secondary structure of VvNHX1 contains multiple transmembrane α-helix segments that are made of hydrophobic amino-acid residues, thus facilitating its insertion in the membrane. Globally, VvNHX1 has one hydrophobic N-terminal region, made of 10 transmembrane segments with 440 amino-acid residues, and one hydrophilic C-terminal region, made of 100 residues. The region located between the fourth and fifth transmembrane segments represents, with its structure mainly helicoidal and the presence of a favourable electrostatic environment, the pore where cation flux is performed across the membrane. VvNHX1 contains various interaction domains as well as several putative posttranslational modification sites, mainly at the C-terminus but also at the N-terminus, that play an important part in regulating protein activities, influence protein structural stability, or interact with other proteins or signalling molecules.

scholarly journals Theoretical study of two-photon circular dichroism on molecular structures simulating aromatic amino acid residues in proteins with secondary structures

RSC Advances ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (105) ◽  
pp. 60974-60986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuly Vesga ◽  
Carlos Diaz ◽  
Florencio E. Hernandez
Keyword(s):  
Circular Dichroism ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Study ◽  
Secondary Structures ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Random Coil ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Two Photon ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Circular Dichroïsm

Calculation and comparative analysis of the theoretical two-photon circular dichroism (TPCD) spectra of l-His, l-Phe, and l-Tyr simulating residues in proteins with secondary structures (α-helix, β-strand and random coil), down to the far-UV region (FUV).

scholarly journals Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a 5-6-5 Imidazole-Phenyl-Thiazole Based α-Helix Mimetic

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Cummings ◽  
Nathan T. Ross ◽  
William P. Katt ◽  
Andrew D. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Biological Evaluation ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Synthesis And Biological Evaluation

scholarly journals Noncharged amino acid residues at the solvent-exposed positions in the middle and at the C terminus of the α-helix have the same helical propensity

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1169-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitri N. Ermolenko ◽  
John M. Richardson ◽  
George I. Makhatadze
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Α Helix

Arabidopsis and Lobelia anceps access small peptides as a nitrogen source for growth

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona M. Soper ◽  
Chanyarat Paungfoo-Lonhienne ◽  
Richard Brackin ◽  
Doris Rentsch ◽  
Susanne Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Nitrogen Source ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Small Peptides ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Metabolic Products ◽  
Species Specific

While importance of amino acids as a nitrogen source for plants is increasingly recognised, other organic N sources including small peptides have received less attention. We assessed the capacity of functionally different species, annual and nonmycorrhizal Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Brassicaceae) and perennial Lobelia anceps L.f. (Campanulaceae), to acquire, metabolise and use small peptides as a N source independent of symbionts. Plants were grown axenically on media supplemented with small peptides (2–4 amino acids), amino acids or inorganic N. In A. thaliana, peptides of up to four amino acid residues sustained growth and supported up to 74% of the maximum biomass accumulation achieved with inorganic N. Peptides also supported growth of L. anceps, but to a lesser extent. Using metabolite analysis, a proportion of the peptides supplied in the medium were detected intact in root and shoot tissue together with their metabolic products. Nitrogen source preferences, growth responses and shoot–root biomass allocation were species-specific and suggest caution in the use of Arabidopsis as the sole plant model. In particular, glycine peptides of increasing length induced effects ranging from complete inhibition to marked stimulation of root growth. This study contributes to emerging evidence that plants can acquire and metabolise organic N beyond amino acids.

scholarly journals The Respiratory Syncytial Virus M2-1 Protein Forms Tetramers and Interacts with RNA and P in a Competitive Manner

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (13) ◽  
pp. 6363-6374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi-Lan Tran ◽  
Nathalie Castagné ◽  
Virginie Dubosclard ◽  
Sylvie Noinville ◽  
Emmanuelle Koch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Polymerase Complex ◽  
Bacterial Rna ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Α Helix ◽  
Zinc Binding Domain

ABSTRACT The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) M2-1 protein is an essential cofactor of the viral RNA polymerase complex and functions as a transcriptional processivity and antitermination factor. M2-1, which exists in a phosphorylated or unphosphorylated form in infected cells, is an RNA-binding protein that also interacts with some of the other components of the viral polymerase complex. It contains a CCCH motif, a putative zinc-binding domain that is essential for M2-1 function, at the N terminus. To gain insight into its structural organization, M2-1 was produced as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli and purified to >95% homogeneity by using a glutathione S-transferase (GST) tag. The GST-M2-1 fusion proteins were copurified with bacterial RNA, which could be eliminated by a high-salt wash. Circular dichroism analysis showed that M2-1 is largely α-helical. Chemical cross-linking, dynamic light scattering, sedimentation velocity, and electron microscopy analyses led to the conclusion that M2-1 forms a 5.4S tetramer of 89 kDa and ∼7.6 nm in diameter at micromolar concentrations. By using a series of deletion mutants, the oligomerization domain of M2-1 was mapped to a putative α-helix consisting of amino acid residues 32 to 63. When tested in an RSV minigenome replicon system using a luciferase gene as a reporter, an M2-1 deletion mutant lacking this region showed a significant reduction in RNA transcription compared to wild-type M2-1, indicating that M2-1 oligomerization is essential for the activity of the protein. We also show that the region encompassing amino acid residues 59 to 178 binds to P and RNA in a competitive manner that is independent of the phosphorylation status of M2-1.

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