| 7551031 |
Genetic analysis of acidocin B, a novel bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus |
10.1099/13500872-141-7-1629. |
Microbiology (Reading) |
Genetic analysis of acidocin B, a novel bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus
Abstract
- The genes encoding the production of acidocin B, a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus strain M46 which is active against Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium sporogenes, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, but inactive against most other Lactobacillus species, were previously localized on a 4 kb XbaI-HindIII fragment of plasmid pCV461. In the present work, DNA sequence analysis revealed the presence of three consecutive ORFs, which potentially code for hydrophobic peptides composed of 60, 91 and 114 amino acids, respectively, and a fourth ORF of opposite polarity which could potentially encode a peptide of 59 amino acids. The middle ORF (ORF-2; acdB) was identified as the gene encoding acidocin B by comparing the amino acid composition of highly purified acidocin B with the deduced amino acid sequence of ORF-2. Our results suggest that acidocin B is synthesized as a precursor which is processed at a site which conforms to the ' -3, -1' rules of von Heijne to yield active acidocin B (59 amino acids). The presence of an immunity-protein-encoding gene on the 4 kb XbaI-BamHI fragment was deduced from the capacity of a plasmid vector harbouring this fragment to confer immunity upon transformation of L. fermentum NCK127. One of the three non-assigned ORFs may encode this immunity protein."
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| 7553856 |
Mutation in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene causes hereditary hypergonadotropic ovarian failure. |
10.1016/0092-8674(95)90275-9 |
Cell |
Mutation in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene causes hereditary hypergonadotropic ovarian failure.
Abstract
- Hypergonadotropic ovarian dysgenesis (ODG) with normal karyotype is a heterogeneous condition that in some cases displays Mendelian recessive inheritance. By systematically searching for linkage in multiplex affected families, we mapped a locus for ODG to chromosome 2p. As the previously cloned follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene had been assigned to 2p, we searched it for mutations. A C566T transition in exon 7 of FSHR predicting an Ala to Val substitution at residue 189 in the extracellular ligand-binding domain segregated perfectly with the disease phenotype. Expression of the gene in transfected cells demonstrated a dramatic reduction of binding capacity and signal transduction, but apparently normal ligand-binding affinity of the mutated receptor. We conclude that the mutation causes ODG in these families.
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| 7553986 |
Solution forms of antitumor cyclic pentapeptides with 3,4-dichlorinated proline residues, astins A and C, from Aster tataricus |
10.1248/cpb.43.1395. |
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) |
Solution forms of antitumor cyclic pentapeptides with 3,4-dichlorinated proline residues, astins A and C, from Aster tataricus
Abstract
- Conformational analysis of antitumor cyclic pentapeptides, astins A (1) and C (3), was made by a combination of NMR and computational techniques. These results indicated that the backbone conformations of 1 and 3, with lower activity than astin B (2), were different from that of 2. The backbone conformation together with a cis 3,4-dichlorinated proline residue was considered to play an important role in the antitumor activities of astins.
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| 7556599 |
The cyanobacterial toxin microcystin binds covalently to cysteine-273 on protein phosphatase 1. |
10.1016/0014-5793(95)00888-g |
FEBS Lett. |
The cyanobacterial toxin microcystin binds covalently to cysteine-273 on protein phosphatase 1.
Abstract
- The interaction between protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and microcystin (MC) was stable in 1% SDS or 70% formic acid indicative of a covalent interaction. Here we isolate the MC-binding peptide and demonstrate that Cys273 of PP1 binds covalently to the methyl-dehydroalanine (Mdha) residue of the toxin. Mutation of Cys273 to Ala, Ser or Leu abolished covalent binding to MC, as did reduction of the Mdha residue of the toxin with ethanethiol. The abolition of covalent binding increased the IC50 for toxin inhibition of PP1 by 5- to 20-fold. The covalent binding of MC to protein serine/threonine phosphatases explains the failure to detect this toxin post-mortem in suspected cases of MC poisoning.
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| 7558588 |
Acid catalysis in the formation of dioxopiperazines from peptides containing tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid at position 2 |
10.1111/j.1399-3011.1995.tb01321.x. |
Int J Pept Protein Res |
Acid catalysis in the formation of dioxopiperazines from peptides containing tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid at position 2
Abstract
- The kinetics of the spontaneous formation of 2,5-dioxopiperazines from peptides containing the Tic (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid) residue in the 2-position of the sequence has been studied in DMSO and water solution. The reaction is first order in Tic-peptide and subject to general-acid catalysis. Moreover, only the fraction of peptide having the amino terminal group in the deprotonated state reacts with appreciable rate. In pure organic solvent, and in aqueous solution with low buffer concentration, the degradation reaction of Tic-peptides is very low; at 20 degrees C for the peptide H-Tyr-Tic-Phe-Phe-NH2, in DMSO and in neutral water in the absence of buffer, the half-lives (t1/2) are 3 x 10(4) and 1.2 x 10(4) h, respectively. The addition of carboxylic acids or buffers to the reaction solutions markedly increases the reaction rate; in 0.01 m HAc in DMSO and in 0.1 M phosphate buffer in water, pH 7.1, t1/2 values for the tetrapeptide are 61 and 121 h, respectively.
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| 7559478 |
Distinct modes of interaction of SHC and insulin receptor substrate-1 with the insulin receptor NPEY region via non-SH2 domains |
10.1074/jbc.270.40.23258. |
J Biol Chem |
Distinct modes of interaction of SHC and insulin receptor substrate-1 with the insulin receptor NPEY region via non-SH2 domains
Abstract
- Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and src homology and collagen protein (SHC) are signaling proteins which are rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosines after insulin receptor (IR) activation. We have recently shown that both SHC and IRS-1 interact with the tyrosine-phosphorylated NPEY motif of the IR and insulin-like growth factor I receptor via non-SH2 domains (Gustafson, T. A., He, W., Craparo, A., Schaub, C. D., and O'Neill, T. J. (1995) Mol. Cell. Biol. 15, 2500-2508; O'Neill, T. J., Craparo, A., and Gustafson, T. A. (1994) Mol. Cell. Biol. 14, 6433-6442; Craparo, A., O'Neill, T. J., and Gustafson, T. A. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 15639-15643). In this study we characterize these interactions by examining the effects of 18 amino acid substitutions within and around the IR NPEY motif upon interaction with SHC and IRS-1. We confirm that Tyr-960 within the NPEY motif of the IR is essential for both IRS-1 and SHC interaction and that Asn-957 and Pro-958 are essential for IRS-1 interaction and important but not critical for SHC interaction. Additional mutations surrounding the NPEY motif revealed completely distinct patterns of interaction for SHC and IRS-1. Specifically, mutation of Leu-952 or Tyr-953 (at positions -7 and -8 from Tyr-960) markedly reduced IRS-1 interaction but had no effect upon SHC interaction. Likewise, mutation of Ala-963 (+3) reduced IRS-1 but not SHC interaction. Conversely, substitution of Leu-961 (+1) with either Ala or Arg reduced SHC interaction by 70 and 90%, respectively, yet had no effect upon interaction with IRS-1. Our data show that the sequences within and surrounding the NPEY contribute differentially to either SHC or IRS-1 recognition. Our findings suggest mechanisms by which the differential interaction of known receptors with IRS-1 and SHC may be mediated.
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| 7562552 |
The endothelin receptor profile in L6 myotubes |
None |
J Pharmacol Exp Ther |
The endothelin receptor profile in L6 myotubes
Abstract
- In this study we characterized the endothelin (ET) receptors of cultured L6 myotubes in order to gain a further insight into the mechanism of the ET effect on skeletal muscle cells. Displacements of 125I-ET-1 by unlabeled ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3 revealed receptors with a high affinity (Kd < 1 nmol/l) to ET-1 and ET-2 and a low affinity (Kd > 100 nmol/l) to ET-3, which suggested the presence of primarily ETA receptors on L6 myotubes. These findings were complemented by displacement binding kinetics, in which the ETA receptor antagonist JKC-301 was used. More-over, the ET-1-evoked increase in the cytosolic free Ca was blocked by JKC-301 but not by the ETB receptor antagonist IRL-1038. Collectively, these findings indicate that the ET-mediated response in cultured skeletal muscle cells is through the ETA receptor.
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| 7564333 |
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TP-9201, a GPIIbIIIa antagonist, in rats and dogs |
10.1097/00005344-199506000-00006. |
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol |
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TP-9201, a GPIIbIIIa antagonist, in rats and dogs
Abstract
- Because activation of the glycoprotein IIbIIIa (GPIIbIIIa) on platelets represents the final common pathway of platelet aggregation, inhibition of fibrinogen binding to the GPIIbIIIa complex provides an excellent target for inhibiting platelet aggregation. Peptides containing the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence have been shown to inhibit the binding of fibrinogen to the GPIIbIIIa receptor on platelets competitively. We studied the pharmacokinetics of TP-9201, a synthetic cyclic peptide containing the RGD sequence, in rats and dogs after a 24-h intravenous (I.V.) infusion at three doses. The mean plasma clearance of TP-9201 after intravenous infusions of 30, 150, and 600 mg/kg/day in rats was 20.2, 18.7, and 18.5 ml/min/kg, respectively. In beagles, TP-9201 clearance was 9.0, 7.5, and 7.3 ml/min/kg, corresponding to infusions of 10, 75, and 600 mg/kg/day, respectively. The volume of distribution was larger than plasma volume, and the terminal half-life (t1/2) was short in both species studied ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 h in rats and from 2.5 to 2.6 h in dogs. The results suggest that TP-9201 follows linear pharmacokinetics over the dose range studied. Despite the multiple blood sampling procedure used in the study, there were no hemorrhagic complications. Pharmacodynamic assessment in beagles showed that TP-9201 produces a dose-dependent inhibition of ADP-mediated platelet aggregation. The estimated in vivo IC50 value and sigmoidicity were 124 and 3.5 ng/ml, respectively, suggesting that TP-9201 is a potent GPIIbIIIa antagonist with a steep concentration-effect relationship. TP-9201 is rapidly cleared from the circulation on termination of the intravenous infusion. There is a corresponding reversal of platelet inhibition as TP-9201 is cleared from the circulation.
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| 7565718 |
Differential expression and function of two homologous subunits of yeast 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase. |
10.1128/mcb.15.10.5671 |
Mol. Cell. Biol. |
Differential expression and function of two homologous subunits of yeast 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase.
Abstract
- 1,3-beta-D-Glucan is a major structural polymer of yeast and fungal cell walls and is synthesized from UDP-glucose by the multisubunit enzyme 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase. Previous work has shown that the FKS1 gene encodes a 215-kDa integral membrane protein (Fks1p) which mediates sensitivity to the echinocandin class of antifungal glucan synthase inhibitors and is a subunit of this enzyme. We have cloned and sequenced FKS2, a homolog of FKS1 encoding a 217-kDa integral membrane protein (Fks2p) which is 88% identical to Fks1p. The residual glucan synthase activity present in strains with deletions of fks1 is (i) immunodepleted by antibodies prepared against FKS2 peptides, demonstrating that Fks2p is also a component of the enzyme, and (ii) more sensitive to the echinocandin L-733,560, explaining the increased sensitivity of fks1 null mutants to this drug. Simultaneous disruption of FKS1 and FKS2 is lethal, suggesting that Fks1p and Fks2p are alternative subunits with essential overlapping function. Analysis of FKS1 and FKS2 expression reveals that transcription of FKS1 is regulated in the cell cycle and predominates during growth on glucose, while FKS2 is expressed in the absence of glucose. FKS2 is essential for sporulation, a process which occurs during nutritional starvation. FKS2 is induced by the addition of Ca2+ to the growth medium, and this induction is completely dependent on the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent phosphoprotein phosphatase calcineurin. We have previously shown that growth of fks1 null mutants is highly sensitive to the calcineurin inhibitors FK506 and cyclosporin A. Expression of FKS2 from the heterologous ADH1 promoter
Results in FK506-resistant growth. Thus, the sensitivity of fks1 mutants to these drugs can be explained by the calcineurin-dependent transcription of FKS2. Moreover, FKS2 is also highly induced in response to pheromone in a calcineurin-dependent manner, suggesting that FKS2 may also play a role in the remodeling of the cell wall during the mating process.
|
| 7568275 |
Full sequence and characterization of two insect defensins: immune peptides from the mosquito Aedes aegypti |
10.1098/rspb.1995.0139. |
Proc Biol Sci |
Full sequence and characterization of two insect defensins: immune peptides from the mosquito Aedes aegypti
Abstract
- We report the complete amino acid sequence and biological activity of two immune peptides, from the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, that are induced in response to infection. Both peptides display biological activity against the Gram positive microbe Micrococcus luteus and substantial sequence homology to insect defensins, small heat-stable, antibiotic peptides previously described from several non-vector insects. These mosquito peptides, designated Ae. aegypti defensins A and B, are isoforms. Defensin B is the most abundant antibacterial peptide in this species whereas defensin A is much less abundant and carries two amino acid substitutions compared to defensin B, making it more basic in character. Apparent convergence between isoforms from Ae. aegypti and the fleshfly Phormia terranovae is discussed. The synergistic activity previously described between Ae. aegypti immune haemolymph and lysozyme is not caused by these peptides because synergy occurred only at concentrations far outside the physiological range seen in Ae. aegypti.
|
| 7572600 |
Novel antiplatelet therapies for treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease: inhibitors of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa integrin receptor |
10.1016/0002-8703(95)90091-8. |
Am Heart J |
Novel antiplatelet therapies for treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease: inhibitors of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa integrin receptor
Abstract
- Blood platelets play essential roles in normal coagulation and in coronary atherosclerotic disease and its complications. Various antiplatelet therapies, including aspirin, ticlopidine, and dipyridamole, have been developed for use in patients with known coronary artery artery disease to prevent ischemic complications. More recently a more complete anti-aggregation effect has been accomplished by the use of monoclonal antibodies and specific peptide and nonpeptide compounds that bind to the platelet GP IIb/IIIa surface receptor. This receptor becomes activated by platelet stimulation and binds fibrinogen molecules between platelets in the aggregation process. These new antiplatelet drugs are now being evaluated in clinical trials in patients undergoing balloon coronary angioplasty, in whom fewer ischemic events occur when the receptor blocker is used intravenously than with standard therapy, and in patients with stable and unstable angina. Excessive bleeding is an important problem with these agents, and efforts must be made to eliminate this side effect.
|
| 7574523 |
New semisynthetic pneumocandins with improved efficacies against Pneumocystis carinii in the rat |
10.1128/AAC.39.6.1320. |
Antimicrob Agents Chemother |
New semisynthetic pneumocandins with improved efficacies against Pneumocystis carinii in the rat
Abstract
- A new series of semisynthetic, water-soluble pneumocandin analogs has been found to be extremely potent against Pneumocystis carinii in an immunocompromised-rat model. These compounds are 5 to 10 times more potent than the parent natural product, pneumocandin B0 (L-688,786) (R. E. Schwartz et al., J. Antibiot. 45:1853-1866, 1992), and > 100 times more potent than cilofungin. One compound in particular, L-733,560, had a 90% effective dose against P. carinii cysts of 0.01 mg/kg of body weight when delivered parenterally (subcutaneously, twice daily for 4 days). This compound was also effective when given orally for the treatment and prevention of P. carinii pneumonia. For treating acute P. carinii pneumonia, oral doses of 2.2 mg/kg twice daily for 4 days were required to eliminate 90% of the cysts. A once-daily oral prophylactic dose of 2.2 mg/kg prevented cyst development, and a dose of 6.2 mg/kg prevented any development of P. carinii organisms (cysts and trophozoites), as determined through the use of a P. carinii-specific DNA probe (P. A. Liberator et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. 30:2968-2974, 1992). These results demonstrate that the antipneumocystis activities of the pneumocandins can be significantly improved through synthetic modification. Several of these compounds are also extremely effective against candidiasis (K. Bartizal et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 39:1070-1076, 1995) and aspergillosis (G. K. Abruzzo et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 39:860-894, 1995) in murine models, making them attractive as broad-spectrum antifungal agents.
|
| 7578941 |
Conformation of cyclobradykinin by NMR and distance geometry calculations |
10.1002/bip.360360409. |
Biopolymers |
Conformation of cyclobradykinin by NMR and distance geometry calculations
Abstract
- The conformation of the head-to-tail cyclic analogue of bradykinin in DMSO was investigated by nmr. Three sets of resonances were detected and fully assigned. These were attributed to the presence of three stable conformers, two of which were exchanging on the nmr time scale. A fourth, incomplete set of resonances was detected but not assigned. The three major conformers differ in the conformation at the three X-Pro bonds present. From nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) spectra, three sets of interproton distances were derived and used in NOE-restrained distance geometry calculations. The resulting structures were refined by energy minimization to yield families of structures. Conformer I is characterized by the presence of two type VIb beta-turns between Arg1 and Gly4 and between Phe5 and Phe8. The first beta-turn is present also in conformer II, while an inverse gamma-turn bridging Pro3 is the most pronounced structural feature of conformer III.
|
| 7578953 |
Crystal and molecular structure of the centrosymmetric meso-valinomycin analogue--cyclo (D-Val-D-Hyi-D-Val-L-Hyi-L-Val-D-Hyi-L-Val-L-Hyi-L-Val-D-Hyi-D-Val-L-Hy i) (C60H102N6O18) |
10.1002/bip.360360507. |
Biopolymers |
Crystal and molecular structure of the centrosymmetric meso-valinomycin analogue--cyclo (D-Val-D-Hyi-D-Val-L-Hyi-L-Val-D-Hyi-L-Val-L-Hyi-L-Val-D-Hyi-D-Val-L-Hy i) (C60H102N6O18)
Abstract
- The crystal structure of cyclo (D-Val-D-Hyi-D-Val-L-Hyi-L-Val-D-Hyi-L-Val-L-Hyi -L-Val-D-Hyi-D-Val-L-Hyi).2H2O has been solved by x-ray direct methods. The crystals (grown from a mixture of octane/CH2Cl2) are an orthorhombic, centrosymmetric space group Pbca, cell parameters a = 11.458 (2), b = 25.613 (3), c = 23.691 (3) A, Z = 4; therefore the molecule lies on a center of inversion in the cell. The atomic coordinates for the C, N, and O atoms were refined in the anisotropic thermal motion approximation (allowing for H-atom contribution to Fcal) to a standard R-factor value of 0.081. In contrast to meso-valinomycin, the analogue under study does not adopt an octahedral cage bracelet conformation. It has an unusual centrosymmetric elongated form with two type II terminal beta-bends formed by N-H ... C=O 4-->1 type intramolecular H bonds. Two symmetry-related water molecules reside in the elongated molecular cavity of the centrosymmetric depsipeptide ring.
|
| 7582984 |
Three more cyclotheonamides, C, D, and E, potent thrombin inhibitors from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei |
10.1016/0968-0896(95)00106-q. |
Bioorg Med Chem |
Three more cyclotheonamides, C, D, and E, potent thrombin inhibitors from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei
Abstract
- Three new thrombin and trypsin inhibitors, cyclotheonamides C (3), D (4), and E (8) were isolated from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei. Their structures were determined by spectral and chemical methods.
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