13 research outputs found
Additional file 4: Figure S4. of The tymbal muscle of cicada has flight muscle-type sarcomeric architecture and protein expression
SDS gel electrophoretic and immunoblot patterns of the muscle fibers from Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata. (A), Coomassie brilliant blue-stained SDS gel electrophoretic pattern; (B), Western blot pattern obtained by using an antibody against flight muscle-specific troponin-I (troponin-H). Lanes: a, DLM; b, DVM; c, forewing basalar; d, forewing subalar; e, hindwing basalar; f, hindwing subalar; g, forewing 3Ax, h, hindwing 3Ax; i, tymbal; j, tensor; k; leg. (TIFF 980 kb
Additional file 3: Figure S3. of The tymbal muscle of cicada has flight muscle-type sarcomeric architecture and protein expression
X-ray diffraction patterns of the flight and tymbal muscles of Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata. (A) and (B), DLM; (C) and (D), basalar; (E) and (F), tymbal muscle. A, C and E were recorded in the relaxed state, and B, D and F in rigor. Weaker sampling on the layer line reflections may be due to the long-term storage (10 months in 50% glycerol). (TIFF 5668 kb
Additional file 1: Figure S1. of The tymbal muscle of cicada has flight muscle-type sarcomeric architecture and protein expression
X-ray diffraction patterns of the flight and tymbal muscles of Platypleura kaempferi. (A) and (B), DLM; (C) and (D), basalar muscle; (E) and (F), tymbal muscle. A, C and E were recorded in the relaxed state, and B, D and E in rigor. (TIFF 7312 kb
A Compact Intermediate State of Calmodulin in the Process of Target Binding
Calmodulin undergoes characteristic conformational changes
by binding Ca<sup>2+</sup>, which allows it to bind to more than 300
target proteins and regulate numerous intracellular processes in all
eukaryotic cells. We measured the conformational changes of calmodulin
upon Ca<sup>2+</sup> and mastoparan binding using the time-resolved
small-angle X-ray scattering technique combined with flash photolysis
of caged calcium. This measurement system covers the time range of
0.5–180 ms. Within 10 ms of the stepwise increase in Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration, we identified a distinct compact conformational
state with a drastically different molecular dimension. This process
is too fast to study with a conventional stopped-flow apparatus. The
compact conformational state was also observed without mastoparan,
indicating that the calmodulin forms a compact globular conformation
by itself upon Ca<sup>2+</sup> binding. This new conformational state
of calmodulin seems to regulate Ca<sup>2+</sup> binding and conformational
changes in the N-terminal domain. On the basis of this finding, an
allosteric mechanism, which may have implications in intracellular
signal transduction, is proposed
Revised Stereochemistry of Ficifolidione and Its Biological Activities against Insects and Cells
Ficifolidione (<b>1</b>), a
moderately active insecticidal
compound from two species of <i>Myrtaceae</i>, and its derivatives
were synthesized to evaluate their insecticidal activity. X-ray crystallographic
analyses and specific rotation values of ficifolidione and its C-4
(<b>2</b>) demonstrated that the structure of ficifolidione
differs from the reported absolute structure; that is, the C-4 configuration
of ficifolidione should have an <i>S</i> configuration.
The reported insecticidal activity of ficifolidione (<b>1</b>) and its C-4 epimer (<b>2</b>) against adult houseflies (<i>Musca domestica</i>), mosquito larvae (<i>Culex pipiens</i>), and cutworms (<i>Spodoptera litura</i>) was not observed.
The cytotoxicities of ficifolidione and its derivatives (<b>1</b>–<b>4</b>) against four cell lines, Sf9, Colon26, HL60,
and Vero, were also measured because ficifolidione has a phloroglucinol-derived
moiety, a motif that is often present in the structure of cytotoxic
chemicals. Compound <b>1</b> exhibited IC<sub>50</sub> values
of ca. 32, 9, 3, and 12 μM for Sf9, Colon26, HL60, and Vero
cells, respectively, indicating that ficifolidione possesses selective
cytotoxicity against the four cell lines. In HL60 cells treated with <b>1</b>, DNA fragmentation and the activation of procaspase 3 were
observed, suggesting that the cytotoxicity is induced by apoptosis
Revised Stereochemistry of Ficifolidione and Its Biological Activities against Insects and Cells
Ficifolidione (<b>1</b>), a
moderately active insecticidal
compound from two species of <i>Myrtaceae</i>, and its derivatives
were synthesized to evaluate their insecticidal activity. X-ray crystallographic
analyses and specific rotation values of ficifolidione and its C-4
(<b>2</b>) demonstrated that the structure of ficifolidione
differs from the reported absolute structure; that is, the C-4 configuration
of ficifolidione should have an <i>S</i> configuration.
The reported insecticidal activity of ficifolidione (<b>1</b>) and its C-4 epimer (<b>2</b>) against adult houseflies (<i>Musca domestica</i>), mosquito larvae (<i>Culex pipiens</i>), and cutworms (<i>Spodoptera litura</i>) was not observed.
The cytotoxicities of ficifolidione and its derivatives (<b>1</b>–<b>4</b>) against four cell lines, Sf9, Colon26, HL60,
and Vero, were also measured because ficifolidione has a phloroglucinol-derived
moiety, a motif that is often present in the structure of cytotoxic
chemicals. Compound <b>1</b> exhibited IC<sub>50</sub> values
of ca. 32, 9, 3, and 12 μM for Sf9, Colon26, HL60, and Vero
cells, respectively, indicating that ficifolidione possesses selective
cytotoxicity against the four cell lines. In HL60 cells treated with <b>1</b>, DNA fragmentation and the activation of procaspase 3 were
observed, suggesting that the cytotoxicity is induced by apoptosis