| 22500421 |
[Study on the secondary metabolites from the marine sponge Phakellia fusca fungi PF18] |
None |
Zhong Yao Cai |
[Study on the secondary metabolites from the marine sponge Phakellia fusca fungi PF18]
Abstract
- To study the secondary metabolites from the marine sponge Phakellia fusca epiphytic fungi.
The compounds were isolated by column chromatography over silica gel and purified by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and preparative TLC. The structures were elucidated by means of physiochemical properties and spectroscopic analyses.
Four compounds were separated and identified as: cyclo-(L-Val-L-Pro) (1), cyclo-(L-Phe-L-Pro) (2), cyclo-(L-Tyr-L-Pro) (3), cyclo-(3-hydroxy-4-methyldecanoyl-Gly-L-Val-D-Leu-L-Ala-L-Phe) (4).
Compounds 1-4 are obtained from the marine sponge Phakellia fusca epiphytic fungi for the first time.
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| 22502643 |
Structural analysis of a new cytotoxic demethylated analogue of neo-N-methylsansalvamide with a different peptide sequence produced by Fusarium solani isolated from potato |
10.1021/jf205217v. |
J Agric Food Chem |
Structural analysis of a new cytotoxic demethylated analogue of neo-N-methylsansalvamide with a different peptide sequence produced by Fusarium solani isolated from potato
Abstract
- A novel cytotoxic cyclic pentadepsipeptide, neosansalvamide, was produced by Fusarium solani KCCM90040 isolated from Fusarium -contaminated potato in Korea. The molecular formula of neosansalvamide was analyzed as C₃₂H₅₀N₄O₆ by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and combined structural analysis. The one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and absolute configuration of amino acid spectral data allowed for the resolution of cyclic five subunits linked in the following order: (S)-leucic acid, two L-leucine, L-valine, and L-phenylalanine, and this sequence shows a molecular structure as a new demethylated analogue of neo-N-methylsansalvamide but having a different peptide sequence. The cytotoxic effects of neosansalvamide were investigated by sulforhodamine B bioassay on four human cancer cell lines. The IC₅₀ value of neosansalvamide required to inhibit cell growth in vitro by 50% for A549 (lung cancer), SK-OV-3 (ovarian cancer), SK-MEL-2 (skin melanoma), and MES-SA (uterine sarcoma) cell lines were 11.70 ± 0.55, 10.38 ± 0.64, 13.99 ± 1.32, and 11.75 ± 0.13 μM, respectively (mean ± standard error).
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| 22521417 |
Meconium ileus caused by mutations in GUCY2C, encoding the CFTR-activating guanylate cyclase 2C. |
10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.03.022 |
Am. J. Hum. Genet. |
Meconium ileus caused by mutations in GUCY2C, encoding the CFTR-activating guanylate cyclase 2C.
Abstract
- Meconium ileus, intestinal obstruction in the newborn, is caused in most cases by CFTR mutations modulated by yet-unidentified modifier genes. We now show that in two unrelated consanguineous Bedouin kindreds, an autosomal-recessive phenotype of meconium ileus that is not associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by different homozygous mutations in GUCY2C, leading to a dramatic reduction or fully abrogating the enzymatic activity of the encoded guanlyl cyclase 2C. GUCY2C is a transmembrane receptor whose extracellular domain is activated by either the endogenous ligands, guanylin and related peptide uroguanylin, or by an external ligand, Escherichia coli (E. coli) heat-stable enterotoxin STa. GUCY2C is expressed in the human intestine, and the encoded protein activates the CFTR protein through local generation of cGMP. Thus, GUCY2C is a likely candidate modifier of the meconium ileus phenotype in CF. Because GUCY2C heterozygous and homozygous mutant mice are resistant to E. coli STa enterotoxin-induced diarrhea, it is plausible that GUCY2C mutations in the desert-dwelling Bedouin kindred are of selective advantage.
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| 22526241 |
Effect of hydrocarbon stapling on the properties of α-helical antimicrobial peptides isolated from the venom of hymenoptera |
10.1007/s00726-012-1283-1. |
Amino Acids |
Effect of hydrocarbon stapling on the properties of α-helical antimicrobial peptides isolated from the venom of hymenoptera
Abstract
- The impact of inserting hydrocarbon staples into short α-helical antimicrobial peptides lasioglossin III and melectin (antimicrobial peptides of wild bee venom) on their biological and biophysical properties has been examined. The stapling was achieved by ring-closing olefin metathesis, either between two S-2-(4'-pentenyl) alanine residues (S (5)) incorporated at i and i + 4 positions or between R-2-(7'-octenyl) alanine (R (8)) and S (5) incorporated at the i and i + 7 positions, respectively. We prepared several lasioglossin III and melectin analogs with a single staple inserted into different positions within the peptide chains as well as analogs with double staples. The stapled peptides exhibited a remarkable increase in hemolytic activity, while their antimicrobial activities decreased. Some single stapled peptides showed a higher resistance against proteolytic degradation than native ones, while the double stapled analogs were substantially more resistant. The CD spectra of the singly stapled peptides measured in water showed only a slightly better propensity to form α-helical structure when compared to native peptides, whereas the doubly stapled analogs exhibited dramatically enhanced α-helicity.
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| 22532483 |
Orally active peptidic bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists engineered from a cyclotide scaffold for inflammatory pain treatment |
10.1002/anie.201200984. |
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl |
Orally active peptidic bradykinin B1 receptor antagonists engineered from a cyclotide scaffold for inflammatory pain treatment
Abstract
|
| 22561606 |
Tespa1 is involved in late thymocyte development through the regulation of TCR-mediated signaling |
10.1038/ni.2301. |
Nat Immunol |
Tespa1 is involved in late thymocyte development through the regulation of TCR-mediated signaling
Abstract
- Signaling via the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) during the CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive developmental stage determines thymocyte selection and lineage commitment. Here we describe a previously uncharacterized T cell-expressed protein, Tespa1, with critical functions during the positive selection of thymocytes. Tespa1(-/-) mice had fewer mature thymic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, which reflected impaired thymocyte development. Tespa1 associated with the TCR signaling components PLC-γ1 and Grb2, and Tespa1 deficiency resulted in attenuated TCR signaling, as reflected by defective activation of the Erk-AP-1 and Ca(2+)-NFAT pathways. Our findings demonstrate that Tespa1 is a component of the TCR signalosome and is essential for T cell selection and maturation through the regulation of TCR signaling during T cell development.
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| 22591221 |
Modification of ginseng flavors by bitter compounds found in chocolate and coffee |
10.1111/j.1750-3841.2012.02716.x. |
J Food Sci |
Modification of ginseng flavors by bitter compounds found in chocolate and coffee
Abstract
- Ginseng is not widely accepted by U.S. consumers due to its unfamiliar flavors, despite its numerous health benefits. Previous studies have suggested that the bitter compounds in chocolate and coffee may mask the off-flavors of ginseng. The objectives of this study were to: (1) profile sensory characteristics of ginseng extract solution, caffeine solution, cyclo (L-Pro-L-Val) solution, theobromine solution, and 2 model solutions simulating chocolate bitterness; and (2) determine the changes in the sensory characteristics of ginseng extract solution by the addition of the bitter compounds found in chocolate and coffee. Thirteen solutions were prepared in concentrations similar to the levels of the bitter compounds found in coffee and chocolate products. Twelve panelists participated in a descriptive analysis panel which included time-intensity ratings. Ginseng extract was characterized as sweeter, starchier, and more green tea than the other sample solutions. Those characteristics of ginseng extract were effectively modified by the addition of caffeine, cyclo (L-Pro-L-Val), and 2 model solutions. A model solution simulating dark chocolate bitterness was the least influenced in intensities of bitterness by the addition of ginseng extract. Results from time-intensity ratings show that the addition of ginseng extract increased duration time in certain bitterness of the 2 model solutions. Bitter compounds found in dark chocolate could be proposed to effectively mask the unique flavors of ginseng. Future studies blending aroma compounds of chocolate and coffee into such model solutions may be conducted to investigate the influence on the perception of the unique flavors through the congruent flavors.
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| 22610225 |
V1a receptor agonists: the search for clean and green alternatives to vasopressin |
10.1097/CCM.0b013e3182514c2a. |
Crit Care Med |
V1a receptor agonists: the search for clean and green alternatives to vasopressin
Abstract
|
| 22615937 |
Proteomic analysis of S-acylated proteins in human B cells reveals palmitoylation of the immune regulators CD20 and CD23 |
10.1371/journal.pone.0037187. |
PLoS One |
Proteomic analysis of S-acylated proteins in human B cells reveals palmitoylation of the immune regulators CD20 and CD23
Abstract
- S-palmitoylation is a reversible post-translational modification important for controlling the membrane targeting and function of numerous membrane proteins with diverse roles in signalling, scaffolding, and trafficking. We sought to identify novel palmitoylated proteins in B lymphocytes using acyl-biotin exchange chemistry, coupled with differential analysis by liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. In total, we identified 57 novel palmitoylated protein candidates from human EBV-transformed lymphoid cells. Two of them, namely CD20 and CD23 (low affinity immunoglobulin epsilon Fc receptor), are immune regulators that are effective/potential therapeutic targets for haematological malignancies, autoimmune diseases and allergic disorders. Palmitoylation of CD20 and CD23 was confirmed by heterologous expression of alanine mutants coupled with bioorthogonal metabolic labeling. This study demonstrates a new subset of palmitoylated proteins in B cells, illustrating the ubiquitous role of protein palmitoylation in immune regulation.
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| 22640883 |
Genotoxicity and cellular uptake of cyclotides: evidence for multiple modes of action |
10.1016/j.mrgentox.2012.05.006. |
Mutat Res |
Genotoxicity and cellular uptake of cyclotides: evidence for multiple modes of action
Abstract
- Cyclotides are a family of ultra-stable, head-to-tail cyclic mini-proteins from plants, with each member comprising about 30 amino acid residues. Their stability derives from the unique structural topology where the cyclic backbone and two disulfide bonds make up an embedded ring, which is knotted by a third disulfide bond. The cyclotides find potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry as stable peptide-based scaffolds for unstable drugs, and also as medicinal agents, due to the wide range of their inherent pharmacological activities. However, there is a lack of fundamental toxicological studies on this type of compound. The current study determined the possible DNA-damaging effects of three cyclotides, i.e., cycloviolacin O2, vaby D, and kalata B1, in human lymphoma cells by use of the alkaline version of the comet assay. The three cyclotides induced massive DNA fragmentation at lethal concentrations. At a sub-lethal concentration, cycloviolacin O2 and vaby D gave a bell-shaped dose-response curve for their DNA-damaging effect. Kalata B1 caused no significant DNA damage at sub-cytotoxic concentrations. Single-cell micro-autoradiography was carried out on tritium-labeled cycloviolacin O2 in order to understand the mechanism behind the dose-response curve. The results revealed that the peptide is taken up into the cell, both at cytotoxic and at low concentrations. Most biological effects of the cyclotides have been taken to follow from the disruption of cell membranes, but even if the intracellular mechanisms and targets still remain unknown, the current study has unequivocally demonstrated that cyclotides also must have other dose-dependent modes of action.
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| 22642609 |
Cyclic heptapeptides, cordyheptapeptides C-E, from the marine-derived fungus Acremonium persicinum SCSIO 115 and their cytotoxic activities |
10.1021/np300152d. |
J Nat Prod |
Cyclic heptapeptides, cordyheptapeptides C-E, from the marine-derived fungus Acremonium persicinum SCSIO 115 and their cytotoxic activities
Abstract
- Three new cycloheptapeptides, cordyheptapeptides C-E (1-3), were isolated from the fermentation extract of the marine-derived fungus Acremonium persicinum SCSIO 115. Their planar structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive MS, as well as 1D and 2D (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopic data analyses. The absolute configurations of the amino acid residues were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Marfey's method, and chiral-phase HPLC analysis. Compounds 1 and 3 displayed cytotoxicity against SF-268, MCF-7, and NCI-H460 tumor cell lines with IC(50) values ranging from 2.5 to 12.1 μM.
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| 22649097 |
Sequence-specific recognition of a PxLPxI/L motif by an ankyrin repeat tumbler lock |
10.1126/scisignal.2002979. |
Sci Signal |
Sequence-specific recognition of a PxLPxI/L motif by an ankyrin repeat tumbler lock
Abstract
- Ankyrin repeat family A protein 2 (ANKRA2) interacts with the plasma membrane receptor megalin and the class IIa histone deacetylases HDAC4 and HDAC5. We report that the ankyrin repeat domains of ANKRA2 and its close paralog regulatory factor X-associated ankyrin-containing protein (RFXANK) recognize a PxLPxI/L motif found in diverse binding proteins, including HDAC4, HDAC5, HDAC9, megalin, and regulatory factor X, 5 (RFX5). Crystal structures of the ankyrin repeat domain of ANKRA2 in complex with its binding peptides revealed that each of the middle three ankyrin repeats of ANKRA2 recognizes a residue from the PxLPxI/L motif in a tumbler-lock binding mode, with ANKRA2 acting as the lock and the linear binding motif serving as the key. Structural analysis showed that three disease-causing mutations in RFXANK affect residues that are critical for binding to RFX5. These results suggest a fundamental principle of longitudinal recognition of linear sequences by a repeat-type domain. In addition, phosphorylation of serine 350, a residue embedded within the PxLPxI/L motif of HDAC4, impaired the binding of ANKRA2 but generated a high-affinity docking site for 14-3-3 proteins, which may help sequester this HDAC in the cytoplasm. Thus, the binding preference of the PxLPxI/L motif is signal-dependent. Furthermore, proteome-wide screening suggested that a similar phosphorylation-dependent switch may operate in other pathways. Together, our findings uncover a previously uncharacterized sequence- and signal-dependent peptide recognition mode for a repeat-type protein domain.
|
| 22700981 |
Cyclotides associate with leaf vasculature and are the products of a novel precursor in petunia (Solanaceae) |
10.1074/jbc.M112.370841. |
J Biol Chem |
Cyclotides associate with leaf vasculature and are the products of a novel precursor in petunia (Solanaceae)
Abstract
- Cyclotides are a large family of plant peptides that are structurally defined by their cyclic backbone and a trifecta of disulfide bonds, collectively known as the cyclic cystine knot (CCK) motif. Structurally similar cyclotides have been isolated from plants within the Rubiaceae, Violaceae, and Fabaceae families and share the CCK motif with trypsin-inhibitory knottins from a plant in the Cucurbitaceae family. Cyclotides have previously been reported to be encoded by dedicated genes or as a domain within a knottin-encoding PA1-albumin-like gene. Here we report the discovery of cyclotides and related non-cyclic peptides we called "acyclotides" from petunia of the agronomically important Solanaceae plant family. Transcripts for petunia cyclotides and acyclotides encode the shortest known cyclotide precursors. Despite having a different precursor structure, their sequences suggest that petunia cyclotides mature via the same biosynthetic route as other cyclotides. We assessed the spatial distribution of cyclotides within a petunia leaf section by MALDI imaging and observed that the major cyclotide component Phyb A was non-uniformly distributed. Dissected leaf midvein extracts contained significantly higher concentrations of this cyclotide compared with the lamina and outer margins of leaves. This is the third distinct type of cyclotide precursor, and Solanaceae is the fourth phylogenetically disparate plant family to produce these structurally conserved cyclopeptides, suggesting either convergent evolution upon the CCK structure or movement of cyclotide-encoding sequences within the plant kingdom.
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| 22705119 |
Large-scale discovery of conopeptides and conoproteins in the injectable venom of a fish-hunting cone snail using a combined proteomic and transcriptomic approach |
10.1016/j.jprot.2012.06.001. |
J Proteomics |
Large-scale discovery of conopeptides and conoproteins in the injectable venom of a fish-hunting cone snail using a combined proteomic and transcriptomic approach
Abstract
- Predatory marine snails of the genus Conus use venom containing a complex mixture of bioactive peptides to subdue their prey. Here we report on a comprehensive analysis of the protein content of injectable venom from Conus consors, an indo-pacific fish-hunting cone snail. By matching MS/MS data against an extensive set of venom gland transcriptomic mRNA sequences, we identified 105 components out of ~400 molecular masses detected in the venom. Among them, we described new conotoxins belonging to the A, M- and O1-superfamilies as well as a novel superfamily of disulphide free conopeptides. A high proportion of the deduced sequences (36%) corresponded to propeptide regions of the A- and M-superfamilies, raising the question of their putative role in injectable venom. Enzymatic digestion of higher molecular mass components allowed the identification of new conkunitzins (~7 kDa) and two proteins in the 25 and 50 kDa molecular mass ranges respectively characterised as actinoporin-like and hyaluronidase-like protein. These results provide the most exhaustive and accurate proteomic overview of an injectable cone snail venom to date, and delineate the major protein families present in the delivered venom. This study demonstrates the feasibility of this analytical approach and paves the way for transcriptomics-assisted strategies in drug discovery.
|
| 22742208 |
Elucidation of the molecular envenomation strategy of the cone snail Conus geographus through transcriptome sequencing of its venom duct |
10.1186/1471-2164-13-284. |
BMC Genomics |
Elucidation of the molecular envenomation strategy of the cone snail Conus geographus through transcriptome sequencing of its venom duct
Abstract
- The fish-hunting cone snail, Conus geographus, is the deadliest snail on earth. In the absence of medical intervention, 70% of human stinging cases are fatal. Although, its venom is known to consist of a cocktail of small peptides targeting different ion-channels and receptors, the bulk of its venom constituents, their sites of manufacture, relative abundances and how they function collectively in envenomation has remained unknown.
We have used transcriptome sequencing to systematically elucidate the contents the C. geographus venom duct, dividing it into four segments in order to investigate each segment's mRNA contents. Three different types of calcium channel (each targeted by unrelated, entirely distinct venom peptides) and at least two different nicotinic receptors appear to be targeted by the venom. Moreover, the most highly expressed venom component is not paralytic, but causes sensory disorientation and is expressed in a different segment of the venom duct from venoms believed to cause sensory disruption. We have also identified several new toxins of interest for pharmaceutical and neuroscience research.
Conus geographus is believed to prey on fish hiding in reef crevices at night. Our data suggest that disorientation of prey is central to its envenomation strategy. Furthermore, venom expression profiles also suggest a sophisticated layering of venom-expression patterns within the venom duct, with disorientating and paralytic venoms expressed in different regions. Thus, our transcriptome analysis provides a new physiological framework for understanding the molecular envenomation strategy of this deadly snail.
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