41 research outputs found
MucR binds multiple target sites in the promoter of its own gene and is a heat-stable protein: Is MucR a H-NS-like protein?
The protein MucR from Brucella spp. is involved in the expression regulation of genes necessary for host interaction and infection. MucR is a member of the Ros/MucR family, which comprises prokaryotic zinc-finger proteins and includes Ros from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the Ml proteins from Mesorhizobium loti. MucR from Brucella spp. can regulate the expression of virulence genes and repress its own gene expression. Despite the well-known role played by MucR in the repression of its own gene, no target sequence has yet been identified in the mucR promoter gene. In this study, we provide the first evidence that MucR from Brucella abortus binds more than one target site in the promoter region of its own gene, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which this protein represses its own expression. Furthermore, a circular dichroism analysis reveals that MucR is a heat-stable protein. Overall, the results of this study suggest that MucR might resemble a H-NS protein
Caratterizzazione di proteine importanti nella patogenicità del Mycobacterium tuberculosis
A Trans-Kingdom Antimicrobial Peptide Targeting Cystic Fibrosis Pathogens
More than 90% of lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients
are caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa [1]; further CF pathogens
include clinical isolates of Burkholderia cepacia, Staphylococcus aureus
and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a newly emerging pathogen [2].
Current therapies are targeted at reducing obstruction, inflammation,
or infection, but pathogenic bacteria easily develop resistance to
conventional antibiotics [3]. Such molecules affect vital microbial
functions through recognition and interaction with specific targets
involved in metabolic reactions within cells. The susceptibility of these
target molecules to mutations makes it easy for the microbes to become
resistant to antibiotics. This strongly encourages the quest of novel
antimicrobials especially for the treatment of chronic infections
MucR binds multiple target sites in the promoter of its own gene and is a heat-stable protein: Is MucR a H-NS-like protein?
The protein MucR from Brucella spp. is involved in the expression regulation of genes necessary for host interaction and infection. MucR is a member of the Ros/MucR family, which comprises prokaryotic zinc-finger proteins and includes Ros from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the Ml proteins from Mesorhizobium loti. MucR from Brucella spp. can regulate the expression of virulence genes and repress its own gene expression. Despite the well-known role played by MucR in the repression of its own gene, no target sequence has yet been identified in the mucR promoter gene. In this study, we provide the first evidence that MucR from Brucella abortus binds more than one target site in the promoter region of its own gene, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which this protein represses its own expression. Furthermore, a circular dichroism analysis reveals that MucR is a heat-stable protein. Overall, the results of this study suggest that MucR might resemble a H-NS protein
Sam domain-based stapled peptides: Structural analysis and interaction studies with the Sam domains from the EphA2 receptor and the lipid phosphatase Ship2
Thermus thermophilus as source of thermozymes for biotechnological applications: homologous expression and biochemical characterization of an α‑galactosidase
Background: The genus Thermus, which has been considered for a long time as a fruitful source of biotechnological
relevant enzymes, has emerged more recently as suitable host to overproduce thermozymes. Among these,
α-galactosidases are widely used in several industrial bioprocesses that require high working temperatures and for
which thermostable variants offer considerable advantages over their thermolabile counterparts.
Results: Thermus thermophilus HB27 strain was used for the homologous expression of the TTP0072 gene encoding
for an α-galactosidase (TtGalA). Interestingly, a soluble and active histidine-tagged enzyme was produced in larger
amounts (5 mg/L) in this thermophilic host than in Escherichia coli (0.5 mg/L). The purified recombinant enzyme
showed an optimal activity at 90 °C and retained more than 40% of activity over a broad range of pH (from 5 to 8).
Conclusions: TtGalA is among the most thermoactive and thermostable α-galactosidases discovered so far, thus
pointing to T. thermophilus as cell factory for the recombinant production of biocatalysts active at temperature values
over 90 °C
On the possibility that the effects of copper and nickel on nuclear basic proteins and on DNA oxidative damage depend on copper-arginine and nickel-lysine interactions
The essential player in adipogenesis GRP78 is a novel KCTD15 interactor
KCTD15 is a member of the K+ Channel Tetramerization Domain family, implicated in crucial physio-pathological processes. Recent evidences suggest that KCTD15 is an obesity-linked protein in humans and its Drosophila homologue is involved in food uptake. KCTD15 molecular mechanism in these processes is still unknown. To fill this gap, KCTD15 was biophysically characterized showing a folded, pentameric region endowed with a remarkable thermal stability. Notably, the C-terminal domain significantly contributes to the stabilization of the BTB N-terminal domain. The availability of large amount of stable recombinant protein also made possible a functional proteomic approach in 3T3-L1 cells to search for novel KCTD15 interactors. These investigations led to the discovery that GRP78 is a KCTD15 partner in all the adipogenesis phases. Our data clearly prove the physical interaction of the two proteins and also indicate that GRP78 plays an active role in the stabilization of KCTD15. Furthermore, the presence in Drosophila of a GRP78 homologue corroborates the physiological role played by the complex KCTD15-GRP78 in the adipogenesis process and indicates that it is evolutionarily conserved. Present results also suggest that KCTD15 may be a new target for obesity control