Quality, Quantity and Type of Child Care : Effects on Child Development in the USA

ABC transport systems account for most import of necessary nutrients in bacteria. The periplasmic binding component (or an equivalent membrane-anchored protein) is critical to recognizing the cognate ligand and directing it to the appropriate membrane permease. Here we report X-ray structures of D-xylose-binding protein from Escherichia coli in ligand-free open, ligand-bound open and ligand-bound closed forms, at 2.15, 2.2, and 2.2-Å resolution, respectively. The ligand-bound open form is the first such structure to be reported at high resolution; the combination of the three different forms from the same protein furthermore gives unprecedented detail concerning the conformational changes involved in binding protein function. As is typical for the structural family, the protein has two similar globular domains, which are connected by a three-stranded hinge region. The open liganded structure shows that xylose binds first to the C-terminal domain, with only very small conformational changes resulting. After a 34° closing motion, additional interactions are formed with the N-terminal domain; changes in this domain are larger, and serve to make the structure more ordered near the ligand. An analysis of the interactions suggests why xylose is the preferred ligand. Further, a comparison with the most closely related proteins in the structural family shows that the conformational changes are distinct in each type of binding protein, which may have implications for how the individual proteins act in concert with their respective membrane permeases

Особливості трудового виховання і профорієнтації в умовах нової парадигми освіти

(uk) У статті розкривається проблема формування майбутнього учителя-предметника, готового до забезпечення трудового виховання у професійній діяльності у світлі нової освітньої парадигми

Synthesis and evaluation of β-substituted fosmidomycin analogues as inhibitors of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase

Blocking the MEP pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis offers interesting prospects for inhibiting Plasmodia growth. Fosmidomycin (1) and its homologue FR900098 (2) potently inhibit 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (Dxr), a key enzyme in this pathway. Although fosmidomycin is a remarkably safe antimalarial agent, low oral absorption, short serum half-life and malaria recrudescence preclude its use in monotherapy. The development of more lipophilic Dxr inhibitors able to passively permeate into cells with improved pharmacokinetic properties could lead to more efficacious agents. Previously, we discovered that analogue 4, featuring a 3,4-dichlorophenyl substituent in α-position of the phosphonate, surpasses fosmidomycin’s potency in inhibiting P. falciparum growth. Here we explored the introduction of aryl or aralkyl substituents at the β-position of the known hydroxamate analogue 3. We studied the effect of introducing substituents in β-position of the hydroxamate analogue 3. While direct addition of a β-aryl moiety resulted in poor P. falciparum Dxr inhibition, longer linkers between the carbon backbone and the phenyl ring were generally associated with better binding to the enzyme. X-ray structures of the parasite Dxr-inhibitor complexes show that the “longer” compounds generate a substantially different flap structure, in which a key tryptophan residue is displaced, and the aromatic group of the ligand lies between the tryptophan and the hydroxamate’s methyl group. Several analogues emerged as highly potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro growth. In some cases (e.g. for compounds 7b and 7f) good Dxr inhibitory activity failed to translate in good in vitro activity against the parasite, which may be due to inefficient uptake. Compounds 5a-e likewise failed to inhibit EcDxr and MtbDxr while 6c was optimal for inhibition of these enzymes

N-glycans of Human Protein C Inhibitor: Tissue-Specific Expression and Function

Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a serpin type of serine protease inhibitor that is found in many tissues and fluids in human, including blood plasma, seminal plasma and urine. This inhibitor displays an unusually broad protease specificity compared with other serpins. Previous studies have shown that the N-glycan(s) and the NH2-terminus affect some blood-related functions of PCI. In this study, we have for the first time determined the N-glycan profile of seminal plasma PCI, by mass spectrometry. The N-glycan structures differed markedly compared with those of both blood-derived and urinary PCI, providing evidence that the N-glycans of PCI are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. The most abundant structure (m/z 2592.9) had a composition of Fuc3Hex5HexNAc4, consistent with a core fucosylated bi-antennary glycan with terminal Lewisx. A major serine protease in semen, prostate specific antigen (PSA), was used to evaluate the effects of N-glycans and the NH2-terminus on a PCI function related to the reproductive tract. Second-order rate constants for PSA inhibition by PCI were 4.3±0.2 and 4.1±0.5 M−1s−1 for the natural full-length PCI and a form lacking six amino acids at the NH2-terminus, respectively, whereas these constants were 4.8±0.1 and 29±7 M−1s−1 for the corresponding PNGase F-treated forms. The 7–8-fold higher rate constants obtained when both the N-glycans and the NH2-terminus had been removed suggest that these structures jointly affect the rate of PSA inhibition, presumably by together hindering conformational changes of PCI required to bind to the catalytic pocket of PSA

Structural studies of sugar binding proteins

Binding proteins, which are themselves non-enzymatic, play an important role in enzymatic reactions as well as non-enzymatic processes by providing a binding platform for the specific recognition of particular molecules. For example, periplasmic binding proteins play a vital role in nutrient uptake in Gram-negative bacteria. In the present study, three sugar binding proteins, including two periplasmic binding proteins and a β-glucan binding protein, are described. The glucose/galactose binding protein in complex with (2R)-glyceryl-β-D-galactopyranoside, another physiologically relevant ligand for the protein, was revealed. The structure was solved using the molecular replacement method and refined to 1.87 Å with R and R free values 17% and 22%. The structure displays the closest form among the available glucose/galactose binding protein structures with three additional binding residues, which are conserved among the group. We also present three different conformations of E. coli xylose binding protein structures, open ligand free, open liganded and closed liganded. This is the first structure of the open liganded form in the pentose/hexose sugar-binding cluster. The structures were solved using molecular replacement method and refined to 2.15 Å, 2.1 Å and to 2.2 Å respectively. The new family of antimicrobial protein, secreted upon fungal attacks from Pinus sylvestris was present here with the binding and activity assays. The inhibition of vegetative growth and the spore germination of the causative agent of the disease, root and butt rot was proved with low concentrations of the peptide. The assays determined its ability to bind with β-(1,3)-D-glucans. The homology model was made using the PDB structure 1C01, the antimicrobial protein from Macadamia integrifolia, which has 64% sequence identity

Conformational Changes and Ligand Recognition of Escherichia coli d-Xylose Binding Protein Revealed

ABC transport systems account for most import of necessary nutrients in bacteria. The periplasmic binding component (or an equivalent membrane-anchored protein) is critical to recognizing the cognate ligand and directing it to the appropriate membrane permease. Here we report X-ray structures of D-xylose-binding protein from Escherichia coli in ligand-free open, ligand-bound open and ligand-bound closed forms, at 2.15, 2.2, and 2.2-Å resolution, respectively. The ligand-bound open form is the first such structure to be reported at high resolution; the combination of the three different forms from the same protein furthermore gives unprecedented detail concerning the conformational changes involved in binding protein function. As is typical for the structural family, the protein has two similar globular domains, which are connected by a three-stranded hinge region. The open liganded structure shows that xylose binds first to the C-terminal domain, with only very small conformational changes resulting. After a 34° closing motion, additional interactions are formed with the N-terminal domain; changes in this domain are larger, and serve to make the structure more ordered near the ligand. An analysis of the interactions suggests why xylose is the preferred ligand. Further, a comparison with the most closely related proteins in the structural family shows that the conformational changes are distinct in each type of binding protein, which may have implications for how the individual proteins act in concert with their respective membrane permeases

Expression and beta-glucan binding properties of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) antimicrobial protein (Sp-AMP)

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) secretes a number of small, highly-related, disulfide-rich proteins (Sp-AMPs) in response to challenges with fungal pathogens such as Heterobasidion annosum, although their biological role has been unknown. Here, we examined the expression patterns of these genes, as well as the structure and function of the encoded proteins. Northern blots and quantitative real time PCR showed increased levels of expression that are sustained during the interactions of host trees with pathogens, but not non-pathogens, consistent with a function in conifer tree defenses. Furthermore, the genes were up-regulated after treatment with salicylic acid and an ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid, but neither methyl jasmonate nor H(2)O(2) induced expression, indicating that Sp-AMP gene expression is independent of the jasmonic acid signaling pathways. The cDNA encoding one of the proteins was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The purified protein had antifungal activity against H. annosum, and caused morphological changes in its hyphae and spores. It was directly shown to bind soluble and insoluble beta-(1,3)-glucans, specifically and with high affinity. Furthermore, addition of exogenous glucan is linked to higher levels of Sp-AMP expression in the conifer. Homology modeling and sequence comparisons suggest that a conserved patch on the surface of the globular Sp-AMP is a carbohydrate-binding site that can accommodate approximately four sugar units. We conclude that these proteins belong to a new family of antimicrobial proteins (PR-19) that are likely to act by binding the glucans that are a major component of fungal cell walls

Hydrolysis and dispersion properties of aqueous Y2Si2O7 suspensions

Eukaryotic cytosolic ACBPs (acyl-CoA-binding proteins) bind acyl-CoA esters and maintain a cytosolic acyl-CoA pool, but the thermodynamics of their protein-lipid interactions and physiological relevance in plants are not well understood. Arabidopsis has three cytosolic ACBPs which have been identified as AtACBP4, AtACBP5 and AtACBP6, and microarray data indicated that all of them are expressed in seeds; AtACBP4 is expressed in early embryogenesis, whereas AtACBP5 is expressed later. ITC (isothermal titration calorimetry) in combination with transgenic Arabidopsis lines were used to investigate the roles of these three ACBPs from Arabidopsis thaliana. The dissociation constants, stoichiometry and enthalpy change of AtACBP interactions with various acyl-CoA esters were determined using ITC. Strong binding of recombinant (r) AtACBP6 with long-chain acyl-CoA (C16-to C18-CoA) esters was observed with dissociation constants in the nanomolar range. However, the affinity of rAtACBP4 and rAtACBP5 to these acyl-CoA esters was much weaker (dissociation constants in the micromolar range), suggesting that they interact with acyl-CoA esters differently from rAtACBP6. When transgenic Arabidopsis expressing AtACBP6pro::GUS was generated, strong GUS (beta-glucuronidase) expression in cotyledonary-staged embryos and seedlings prompted us to measure the acyl-CoA contents of the acbp6 mutant. This mutant accumulated higher levels of C18:1-CoA and C18:1- and C18:2-CoAs in cotyledonary-staged embryos and seedlings, respectively, in comparison with the wild type. The acbp4acbp5acbp6 mutant showed the lightest seed weight and highest sensitivity to abscisic acid during germination, suggesting their physiological functions in seeds.Article Number: e00165</p