Investigating the conformational stability of prion strains through a kinetic replication model

Prion proteins are known to misfold into a range of different aggregated forms, showing different phenotypic and pathological states. Understanding strain specificities is an important problem in the field of prion disease. Little is known about which PrP(Sc) structural properties and molecular mechanisms determine prion replication, disease progression and strain phenotype. The aim of this work is to investigate, through a mathematical model, how the structural stability of different aggregated forms can influence the kinetics of prion replication. The model-based results suggest that prion strains with different conformational stability undergoing in vivo replication are characterizable in primis by means of different rates of breakage. A further role seems to be played by the aggregation rate (i.e. the rate at which a prion fibril grows). The kinetic variability introduced in the model by these two parameters allows us to reproduce the different characteristic features of the various strains (e.g., fibrils' mean length) and is coherent with all experimental observations concerning strain-specific behavior

The Thermoanaerobacter Glycobiome Reveals Mechanisms of Pentose and Hexose Co-Utilization in Bacteria

Author Summary Renewable liquid fuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass could alleviate global energy shortage and climate change. Cellulose and hemicellulose are the main components of lignocellulosic biomass. Therefore, the ability to simultaneously utilize pentose and hexose (i.e., co-utilization) has been a crucial challenge for industrial microbes producing lignocellulosic biofuels. Certain thermoanaerobic bacteria demonstrate this unusual talent, but the genetic foundation and molecular mechanism of this process remain unknown. In this study, we reconstructed the structure and dynamics of the first genome-wide carbon utilization network of thermoanaerobes. This transcriptome-based co-expression network reveals that glucose, xylose, fructose, and cellobiose catabolism are each featured on distinct functional modules. Furthermore, the dynamics of the network suggests a distinct yet collaborative nature between glucose and xylose catabolism. In addition, we experimentally demonstrated that these novel network-derived features can be rationally exploited for product-yield enhancement via optimized timing and balanced loading of the carbon supply in a substrate-specific manner. Thus, the newly discovered modular and precisely regulated network elucidates unique features of thermoanaerobic glycobiomes and reveals novel perturbation strategies and targets for the enhanced thermophilic production of lignocellulosic biofuels.Yeshttp://www.plosgenetics.org/static/editorial#pee

Systemic α-synuclein injection triggers selective neuronal pathology as seen in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an α-synucleinopathy characterized by the progressive loss of specific neuronal populations. Here, we develop a novel approach to transvascularly deliver proteins of complex quaternary structures, including α-synuclein preformed fibrils (pff). We show that a single systemic administration of α-synuclein pff triggers pathological transformation of endogenous α-synuclein in non-transgenic rats, which leads to neurodegeneration in discrete brain regions. Specifically, pff-exposed animals displayed a progressive deterioration in gastrointestinal and olfactory functions, which corresponded with the presence of cellular pathology in the central and enteric nervous systems. The α-synuclein pathology generated was both time dependent and region specific. Interestingly, the most significant neuropathological changes were observed in those brain regions affected in the early stages of PD. Our data therefore demonstrate for the first time that a single, transvascular administration of α-synuclein pff can lead to selective regional neuropathology resembling the premotor stage of idiopathic PD. Furthermore, this novel delivery approach could also be used to deliver a range of other pathogenic, as well as therapeutic, protein cargos transvascularly to the brain

Enhancements of enantio and diastereoselectivities in reduction of (Z)-3-halo-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one mediated by microorganisms in ionic liquid/water biphasic system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Reductions of (Z)-C6H5CH=CXC(=O)CH3 (X=Cl, Br) mediated by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Rhodotorula glutinis, Geotrichum candidum and Micrococcus luteus gave the corresponding halohydrins through consecutive reduction reactions of C=C and C=O bonds. In general, the reactions performed in the biphasic system water/[(bmim)PF6] gave better diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity than in pure water. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.85-866164Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Enantiodivergence in the reduction of alpha-methyl and alpha-halomethyl enones by microorganisms

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Enones (Z)-3-methyl-(Z)-3-chloromethyl- and (Z)-3-bromomethyl-4-R-3-buten-2-one (R = n-pentyl, phenyl, 2'- and 4'-chlorophenyl, 3'- and 4'-nitrophenyl, 4'-methoxyphenyl) were synthesized and subjected to reduction by the microorganisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Geotrichum candidum. Whereas the bioreduction of 3-methy-4-R-3-buten-2-ones afforded the corresponding (S)-4-R-3-methybutan-2-ones, the bioreduction of 3-chloromethyl- and 3-bromomethyl-4-R-3-buten-2-ones afforded the corresponding (R)-4-R-3-methybutan-2-ones. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.2417973981Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Stereoselective Oxidation of 1-Phenyl-1,2-propanediol Mediated by Microorganisms

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The enantioselective oxidation of (1R,2S)-1-phenyl-1,2-propanediol [(1R,2S)-1], mediated by baker's yeast, gave (-)-(S)- 1-phenyl-2-hydroxy-1-propanone [(S)- 2] in 64% isolated yield and 93% ee. Kinetic experiments of the bio-oxidation of (+/-)-anti-1 revealed that the enantiomer (1R,2S)-1 was more reactive than (1S,2R)-1. Therefore, this result allowed us to devise a kinetic resolution experiment to obtain (1S,2R)-1 in > 99% ee from (+/-)-anti-1. The preparation of (1S,2R)-1 is interesting, as it is the antipode of the product obtained by the reduction of 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione using baker's yeast. Other microorganisms, such as Micrococcus luteus, Candida albicans, and Geotrichum candidum, were also used for kinetic resolution experiments of (+/-)-anti-1. The best result was obtained using Geotrichum candidum, which gave (1S,2R)-1 in 32% yield and 99% ee.3914691473Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [03/05882-0

Harvestman Phenols and Benzoquinones: Characterisation and Biosynthetic Pathway

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Benzoquinones are usually present in arthropod defence exudates. Here, we describe the chemical profiles of 12 harvestman species belonging to the neotropical family Gonyleptidae. Nine of the studied species produced benzoquinones, while three produced alkyl phenols. Two benzoquinones and one phenol exhibited biological activity against bacteria and fungi. We also studied the biosynthesis of 2-ethyl-1,4-benzoquinone by feeding Magnispina neptunus individuals with C-13-labelled precursors; the benzoquinones were biosynthesised through a polyketide pathway using acetate and propionate building blocks.1891142911451Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)PetrobrasFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [FAPESP-GM 08/06604-7]FAPESP [AJM 10/51278-0

Knoevenagel Condensation of Aromatic Aldehydes with Ethyl 4-Chloro-3-oxobutanoate in Ionic Liquids

Knoevenagel condensations of aromatic aldehydes with ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate catalyzed by morpholine/acetic acid were carried out in ionic liquids to give ethyl 2-chloroacetyl-3-arylpropenoates in 44-84% yield after 0.5 to 2 h at room temperature (25-28 degrees C). These conditions represent a greener protocol for the Knoevenagel condensation than those using refluxing benzene or toluene as solvent. Aromatic aldehydes having aryl groups 4-chlorophenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 2-thiofuranyl, 2-furanyl, phenyl and 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl gave (E)/(Z) diastereomeric ratios of products from 56/44 to 85/15. The two isomers of each compound were separately isolated and characterized. The structure of the (E)-isomer of ethyl 2-chloroacetyl-3-(3',4' methylenedioxyphenyl) propenoate was determined by X-ray crystallography and an unequivocal methodology of (E)/(Z)-structural analysis by C-13 NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) is presented.23582583