The Proteomic Code: a molecular recognition code for proteins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Proteomic Code is a set of rules by which information in genetic material is transferred into the physico-chemical properties of amino acids. It determines how individual amino acids interact with each other during folding and in specific protein-protein interactions. The Proteomic Code is part of the redundant Genetic Code.</p> <p>Review</p> <p>The 25-year-old history of this concept is reviewed from the first independent suggestions by Biro and Mekler, through the works of Blalock, Root-Bernstein, Siemion, Miller and others, followed by the discovery of a Common Periodic Table of Codons and Nucleic Acids in 2003 and culminating in the recent conceptualization of partial complementary coding of interacting amino acids as well as the theory of the nucleic acid-assisted protein folding.</p> <p>Methods and conclusions</p> <p>A novel cloning method for the design and production of specific, high-affinity-reacting proteins (SHARP) is presented. This method is based on the concept of proteomic codes and is suitable for large-scale, industrial production of specifically interacting peptides.</p

Cell fusion and tissue regeneration

Cell fusion is a natural process implicated in normal development, immune response, tissue formation, and with a prominent role in stem cell plasticity. The discovery that bone marrow stem cells fuse with several cell types, under normal condition or after an injury, introduces new possibilities in regenerative medicine and genetic repair. Cell fusion has been shown to be implicated in regeneration, and the complementation of recessive mutations affecting the liver, brain, muscle, lung and gut, under appropriate conditions. However, we should be cautious and better understand the mechanisms that govern cell fusion during regeneration before to consider it as clinically relevant. In this chapter, we will present the current evidences about the role of cell fusion in tissue regeneration and its future potential as therapy. Cell fusion is an exciting and promising research field. In addition, we will review the challenges that should face the fusion process to become therapeutically effective and safe.M.M-L. is a “Sara Borrell” postdoctoral from Institute Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health.Peer Reviewe

B cell-mediated pathogenesis of ANCA-mediated vasculitis

B cells and their progeny that produce and release anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) are the primary cause for an aggressive form of necrotizing small vessel vasculitis. Cytoplasmic ANCA antigens are released at the surface and in the microenvironment of cytokine-primed neutrophils. Binding of ANCA to ANCA antigens activates neutrophils by both Fc receptor engagement and direct Fab’2 binding to antigen on the cell surface. ANCA-activated neutrophils release factors that induce alternative complement pathway activation, which establishes a potent inflammatory amplification loop that causes severe necrotizing vascular inflammation. The origin of the ANCA autoimmune response is unknown but appears to involve genetically determined HLA specificities that allow the autoimmune response to develop. One putative immunogenic mechanisms begins with an immune response to a peptide that is complementary to the autoantigen and evolves through an anti-idiotypic network to produce autoantibodies to the autoantigen. Another putative immunogenic mechanism begins with an immune response to a microbe-derived molecular mimic of the autoantigen resulting in antibodies that cross-react with the autoantigen. Release of neutrophil extracellular traps, apoptosis and increased granule protein expression of ANCA antigens may facilitate the initiation of an ANCA autoimmune response, augment established pathogenic ANCA production, or both. The ANCA B cell autoimmune response is facilitated by quantitatively and qualitatively impaired T cell and B cell suppression, and by release from activated neutrophils of B cell activating factors that enhance B cell proliferation and retard B cell apoptosis