Faculty Opinions recommendation of Principles of assembly reveal a periodic table of protein complexes.

Author(s):  
Ann Stock
Author(s):  
Guillermo Restrepo

The Periodic Table, Despite its near 150 years, is still a vital scientific construct. Two instances of this vitality are the recent formulation of a periodic table of protein complexes (Ahnert et al. 2015) and the announcement of four new chemical elements (Van Noorden 2016). “Interestingly, there is no formal definition of ‘Periodic Table’,” claims Karol (2017) in his chapter of the current volume. And even worse, the related concepts that come into play when referring to the periodic table (such as periodic law, chemical element, periodic system, and some others) overlap, leading to confusion. In this chapter we explore the meaning of the periodic table and of some of its related terms. In so doing we highlight a few common mistakes that arise from confusion of those terms and from misinterpretation of others. By exploring the periodic table, we analyze its mathematics and discuss a recent comment by Hoffmann (2015): “No one in my experience tries to prove [the periodic table] wrong, they just want to find some underlying reason why it is right.” We claim that if the periodic table were “wrong,” its structure would be variable; however the test of the time, including similarity studies, show that it is rather invariable. An approach to the structure of the periodic system we follow in this chapter is through similarity. In so doing we review seven works addressing the similarity of chemical elements accounting for different number of elements and using different properties, either chemical or physical ones. The concept of “chemical element” has raised the interest of several scholars such as Paneth (1962) and is still a matter of discussion given the double meaning it has (see, e.g., Scerri 2007, Earley 2009, Ruthenberg 2009, Ghibaudi et al. 2013, van Brakel 2014, Restrepo & Harré 2015), which is confusing, leading to misconceptions. The two meanings of the concept of chemical element are basic and simple substance. According to Paneth (1962), a basic substance belongs to the transcendental world and it is devoid of qualities, and therefore is not perceptible to our senses.


Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 350 (6266) ◽  
pp. aaa2245-aaa2245 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Ahnert ◽  
J. A. Marsh ◽  
H. Hernandez ◽  
C. V. Robinson ◽  
S. A. Teichmann

Author(s):  
E. H. Egelman ◽  
X. Yu

The RecA protein of E. coli has been shown to mediate genetic recombination, regulate its own synthesis, control the expression of other genes, act as a specific protease, form a helical polymer and have an ATPase activity, among other observed properties. The unusual filament formed by the RecA protein on DNA has not previously been shown to exist outside of bacteria. Within this filament, the 36 Å pitch of B-form DNA is extended to about 95 Å, the pitch of the RecA helix. We have now establishedthat similar nucleo-protein complexes are formed by bacteriophage and yeast proteins, and availableevidence suggests that this structure is universal across all of biology, including humans. Thus, understanding the function of the RecA protein will reveal basic mechanisms, in existence inall organisms, that are at the foundation of general genetic recombination and repair.Recombination at this moment is assuming an importance far greater than just pure biology. The association between chromosomal rearrangements and neoplasms has become stronger and stronger, and these rearrangements are most likely products of the recombinatory apparatus of the normal cell. Further, damage to DNA appears to be a major cause of cancer.


Author(s):  
R. Herrera ◽  
A. Gómez

Computer simulations of electron diffraction patterns and images are an essential step in the process of structure and/or defect elucidation. So far most programs are designed to deal specifically with crystals, requiring frequently the space group as imput parameter. In such programs the deviations from perfect periodicity are dealt with by means of “periodic continuation”.However, for many applications involving amorphous materials, quasiperiodic materials or simply crystals with defects (including finite shape effects) it is convenient to have an algorithm capable of handling non-periodicity. Our program “HeGo” is an implementation of the well known multislice equations in which no periodicity assumption is made whatsoever. The salient features of our implementation are: 1) We made Gaussian fits to the atomic scattering factors for electrons covering the whole periodic table and the ranges [0-2]Å−1 and [2-6]Å−1.


Author(s):  
C.A. Mannella ◽  
K.F. Buttle ◽  
K.A. O‘Farrell ◽  
A. Leith ◽  
M. Marko

Early transmission electron microscopy of plastic-embedded, thin-sectioned mitochondria indicated that there are numerous junctions between the outer and inner membranes of this organelle. More recent studies have suggested that the mitochondrial membrane contacts may be the site of protein complexes engaged in specialized functions, e.g., import of mitochondrial precursor proteins, adenine nucleotide channeling, and even intermembrane signalling. It has been suggested that the intermembrane contacts may be sites of membrane fusion involving non-bilayer lipid domains in the two membranes. However, despite growing interest in the nature and function of intramitochondrial contact sites, little is known about their structure.We are using electron microscopic tomography with the Albany HVEM to determine the internal organization of mitochondria. We have reconstructed a 0.6-μm section through an isolated, plasticembedded rat-liver mitochondrion by combining 123 projections collected by tilting (+/- 70°) around two perpendicular tilt axes. The resulting 3-D image has confirmed the basic inner-membrane organization inferred from lower-resolution reconstructions obtained from single-axis tomography.


Author(s):  
L. T. Germinario ◽  
J. Blackwell ◽  
J. Frank

This report describes the use of digital correlation and averaging methods 1,2 for the reconstruction of high dose electron micrographs of the chitin-protein complex from Megarhyssa ovipositor. Electron microscopy of uranyl acetate stained insect cuticle has demonstrated a hexagonal array of unstained chitin monofibrils, 2.4−3.0 nm in diameter, in a stained protein matrix3,4. Optical diffraction Indicated a hexagonal lattice with a = 5.1-8.3 nm3 A particularly well ordered complex is found in the ovipositor of the ichneumon fly Megarhyssa: the small angle x-ray data gives a = 7.25 nm, and the wide angle pattern shows that the protein consists of subunits arranged in a 61 helix, with an axial repeat of 3.06 nm5.


2005 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 15-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen C. Ardley ◽  
Philip A. Robinson

The selectivity of the ubiquitin–26 S proteasome system (UPS) for a particular substrate protein relies on the interaction between a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2, of which a cell contains relatively few) and a ubiquitin–protein ligase (E3, of which there are possibly hundreds). Post-translational modifications of the protein substrate, such as phosphorylation or hydroxylation, are often required prior to its selection. In this way, the precise spatio-temporal targeting and degradation of a given substrate can be achieved. The E3s are a large, diverse group of proteins, characterized by one of several defining motifs. These include a HECT (homologous to E6-associated protein C-terminus), RING (really interesting new gene) or U-box (a modified RING motif without the full complement of Zn2+-binding ligands) domain. Whereas HECT E3s have a direct role in catalysis during ubiquitination, RING and U-box E3s facilitate protein ubiquitination. These latter two E3 types act as adaptor-like molecules. They bring an E2 and a substrate into sufficiently close proximity to promote the substrate's ubiquitination. Although many RING-type E3s, such as MDM2 (murine double minute clone 2 oncoprotein) and c-Cbl, can apparently act alone, others are found as components of much larger multi-protein complexes, such as the anaphase-promoting complex. Taken together, these multifaceted properties and interactions enable E3s to provide a powerful, and specific, mechanism for protein clearance within all cells of eukaryotic organisms. The importance of E3s is highlighted by the number of normal cellular processes they regulate, and the number of diseases associated with their loss of function or inappropriate targeting.


2016 ◽  
pp. 126-129
Author(s):  
M. Makarenko ◽  
◽  
D. Hovsyeyev ◽  
L. Sydoryk ◽  
◽  
...  

Different kinds of physiological stress cause mass changes in the cells, including the changes in the structure and function of the protein complexes and in separate molecules. The protein functions is determined by its folding (the spatial conclusion), which depends on the functioning of proteins of thermal shock- molecular chaperons (HSPs) or depends on the stress proteins, that are high-conservative; specialized proteins that are responsible for the correct proteinaceous folding. The family of the molecular chaperones/ chaperonins/ Hsp60 has a special place due to the its unique properties of activating the signaling cascades through the system of Toll-like receptors; it also stimulates the cells to produce anti- inflammatory cytokines, defensins, molecules of cell adhesion and the molecules of MHC; it functions as the intercellular signaling molecule. The pathological role of Hsp60 is established in a wide range of illnesses, from diabetes to atherosclerosis, where Hsp60 takes part in the regulation of both apoptosis and the autoimmune processes. The presence of the HSPs was found in different tissues that are related to the reproductive system. Key words: molecular chaperons (HSPs), Toll-like receptors, reproductive function, natural auto antibody.


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