CX, DPX and PRIDE: WWW servers for the analysis and comparison of protein 3D structures

The WWW servers at are dedicated to the analysis of protein 3D structures submitted by the users as the Protein Data Bank (PDB) files. CX computes an atomic protrusion index that makes it possible to highlight the protruding atoms within a protein 3D structure. DPX calculates a depth index for the buried atoms and makes it possible to analyze the distribution of buried residues. CX and DPX return PDB files containing the calculated indices that can then be visualized using standard programs, such as Swiss-PDBviewer and Rasmol. PRIDE compares 3D structures using a fast algorithm based on the distribution of inter-atomic distances. The options include pairwise as well as multiple comparisons, and fold recognition based on searching the CATH fold database

fac-Tris(4-amino­benzohydroxamato)iron(III) ethanol solvate

In the structure of the title compound, [Fe(C7H7N2O2)3]·CH3CH2OH, the FeIII atom is in a distorted octa­hedral O6 environment with the three hydroxamate O atoms (and the three carbonyl O atoms) arranged in a fac configuration and one of the hydroxamate ligands being puckered. The methyl C atom of the ethanol solvent mol­ecule is disordered over two positions with occupancies of 0.626 (13) and 0.374 (13), respectively. The cocrystallized ethanol mol­ecule is hydrogen bonded to one of the hydroxamate O atoms. O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O inter­actions generate infinite three-dimensional networks along [100], [010] and [001]

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor delta acts as a neuroblastoma tumor suppressor by destabilizing the aurora kinase a oncogene.

BACKGROUND: Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor delta (PTPRD) is a member of a large family of protein tyrosine phosphatases which negatively regulate tyrosine phosphorylation. Neuroblastoma is a major childhood cancer arising from precursor cells of the sympathetic nervous system which is known to acquire deletions and alterations in the expression patterns of PTPRD, indicating a potential tumor suppressor function for this gene. The molecular mechanism, however, by which PTPRD renders a tumor suppressor effect in neuroblastoma is unknown. RESULTS: As a molecular mechanism, we demonstrate that PTPRD interacts with aurora kinase A (AURKA), an oncogenic protein that is over-expressed in multiple forms of cancer, including neuroblastoma. Ectopic up-regulation of PTPRD in neuroblastoma dephosphorylates tyrosine residues in AURKA resulting in a destabilization of this protein culminating in interfering with one of AURKA\u27s primary functions in neuroblastoma, the stabilization of MYCN protein, the gene of which is amplified in approximately 25 to 30% of high risk neuroblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: PTPRD has a tumor suppressor function in neuroblastoma through AURKA dephosphorylation and destabilization and a downstream destabilization of MYCN protein, representing a novel mechanism for the function of PTPRD in neuroblastoma

Metal complexes of cyclic hydroxamates. Synthesis and crystal structures of 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3H-quinazolin-4-one (ChaH) and of its Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes

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Absolute net charge and the biological activity of oligopeptides

Sequences of human proteins are frequently prepared as synthetic oligopeptides to assess their functional ability to act as compounds modulating pathways involving the parent protein. Our objective was to analyze a set of oligopeptides, to determine if their solubility or activity correlated with features of their primary sequence, or with features of properties inferred from three-dimensional structural models derived by conformational searches. We generated a conformational database for a set of 78 oligopeptides, derived from human proteins, and correlated their 3D structures with solubility and biological assay activity (as measured by platelet activation and inhibition). Parameters of these conformers (frequency of coil, frequency of turns, the degree of packing, and the energy) did not correlate with solubility, which was instead partly predicted by two measures obtained from primary sequence analysis, that is, the hydrophobic moment and the number of charges. The platelet activity of peptides was correlated with a parameter derived from the structural modeling; this was the second virial coefficient (a measure of the tendency for a structure to autoaggregate). This could be explained by an excess among the active peptides of those which had either a large number of positive charges or in some cases a large number of negative charges, with a corresponding deficit of peptides with a mixture of negative and positive charges. We subsequently determined that a panel of 523 commercially available (and biologically active) peptides shared this elevation of absolute net charge: there were significantly lower frequencies of peptides of mixed charges compared to expectations. We conclude that the design of biologically active peptides should consider favoring those with a higher absolute net charge.<br/

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor delta acts as a neuroblastoma tumor suppressor by destabilizing the aurora kinase a oncogene

Abstract Background Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor delta (PTPRD) is a member of a large family of protein tyrosine phosphatases which negatively regulate tyrosine phosphorylation. Neuroblastoma is a major childhood cancer arising from precursor cells of the sympathetic nervous system which is known to acquire deletions and alterations in the expression patterns of PTPRD, indicating a potential tumor suppressor function for this gene. The molecular mechanism, however, by which PTPRD renders a tumor suppressor effect in neuroblastoma is unknown. Results As a molecular mechanism, we demonstrate that PTPRD interacts with aurora kinase A (AURKA), an oncogenic protein that is over-expressed in multiple forms of cancer, including neuroblastoma. Ectopic up-regulation of PTPRD in neuroblastoma dephosphorylates tyrosine residues in AURKA resulting in a destabilization of this protein culminating in interfering with one of AURKA's primary functions in neuroblastoma, the stabilization of MYCN protein, the gene of which is amplified in approximately 25 to 30% of high risk neuroblastoma. Conclusions PTPRD has a tumor suppressor function in neuroblastoma through AURKA dephosphorylation and destabilization and a downstream destabilization of MYCN protein, representing a novel mechanism for the function of PTPRD in neuroblastoma.</p