Biochemistry and Cell Biology
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Cơ quản chủ quản: National Research Council of Canada , Canadian Science Publishing
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BiochemistryMolecular BiologyCell Biology
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Published since 1929, this bimonthly journal explores general biochemistry and includes up-to-date coverage of experimental research into cellular and molecular biology in eukaryotes, as well as review articles on topics of current interest and notes contributed by recognized international experts. The journal does not publish papers on the expression pattern and impact of microRNAs and non-coding RNAs in disease states. Special issues each year are dedicated to expanding new areas of research in biochemistry and cell biology.
Các bài báo tiêu biểu
Comparison of the interaction of uridine, cytidine, and other pyrimidine nucleoside analogues with recombinant human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 (hENT2) produced in<i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> The human equilibrative nucleoside transporters 1 and 2 (hENT1, hENT2) share 50% amino acid identity and exhibit broad selectivities, accepting purine and pyrimidine nucleosides as permeants. The permeant selectivity of hENT2 is less well understood because of the low abundance of the native transporter in cells amenable to functional analysis. Recent studies of hENT2 produced in recombinant form in functional expression systems have shown that it differs from hENT1 in that it transports nucleobases. To further understand the structural requirements for permeant interaction with hENT2, we compared the relative abilities of uridine, cytidine, and their analogues to inhibit transport of [3 H]uridine by recombinant hENT1 and hENT2 produced in yeast. hENT1 and hENT2 tolerated halogen modification at the 5 position of the base and the 2' and 5' positions of the ribose moieties of uridine whereas removal of the hydroxyl group at the 3' position of the ribose moiety of uridine eliminated interaction with both transporters. hENT2 displayed a lower ability, compared with hENT1, to interact with cytidine and cytidine analogues, suggesting a low tolerance for the presence of the amino group at the 4 position of the base.Key words: hENT2, hENT1, araC, uridine, NBMPR.
Tập 80 Số 5 - Trang 639-644 - 2002
Binding of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) to human and dog serum albumins. An equilibrium dialysis and <sup>113</sup>Cd-NMR study The binding of Cd(II) and Zn(II) to human serum albumin (HSA) and dog serum albumin (DSA) has been studied by equilibrium dialysis and 113 Cd(II)-NMR techniques at physiological pH. Scatchard analysis of the equilibrium dialysis data indicate the presence of at least two classes of binding sites for Cd(II) and Zn(II). On analysis of the high-affinity class of sites, HSA is shown to bind 2.08 ± 0.09 (log K = 5.3 ± 0.6) and 1.07 ± 0.12 (log K = 6.4 ± 0.8) moles of Cd(II) and Zn(II) per mole of protein, respectively. DSA bound 2.02 ± 0.19 (log K = 5.1 ± 0.8), and 1.06 ± 0.15 (log K = 6.0 ± 0.2) moles of Cd(II) and Zn(II) per mole of protein, respectively. Competition studies indicate the presence of one high-affinity Cd(II) site on both HSA and DSA that is not affected by Zn(II) or Cu(II), and one high-affinity Zn(II) site on both HSA and DSA that is not affected by Cd(II) or Cu(II). 113 Cadmium-HSA spectra display three resonances corresponding to three different sites of complexation. In site I, Cd(II) is most probably coordinated to two or three histidyl residues, site II to one histidyl residue and three oxygen ligands (carboxylate), while for the most upfield site III, four oxygens are likely to be involved in the binding of the metal ion. The 113 Cd(II)-DSA spectra display only two resonances corresponding to two different sites of complexation. The environment around Cd(II) at sites I and II on DSA is similar to sites I and II, respectively, on HSA. No additional resonances are observed in any of these experiments and in particular in the low field region where sulfur coordination occurs. Overall, our results are consistent with the proposal that the physiologically important high-affinity Zn(II) and Cd(II) binding sites of albumins are located not at the Cu(II)-specific NH2 -terminal site, but at internal sites, involving mostly nitrogen and oxygen ligands and no sulphur ligand.Key words: albumin, human serum, dog serum, cadmium, zinc, copper, NMR, equilibrium dialysis, binding.
Tập 69 Số 12 - Trang 809-820 - 1991
A Zn(II)-translocating P-type ATPase from <i>Proteus mirabilis</i>
Tập 76 Số 5 - Trang 787-790 - 1998
Dolichol: function, metabolism, and accumulation in human tissues Dolichol, a homologous series of α-saturated polyisoprenoid alcohols containing 14–24 isoprene units, was first isolated and characterized about 30 years ago. The phosphorylated form, dolichyl phosphate, is required for the biosynthesis of biologically important N-linked glycoproteins. Dolichol itself is synthesized by a common isoprenoid pathway from acetate and synthesis can be inhibited by some of the factors that inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis. It is metabolized very slowly and accumulates in tissues during aging and in certain lipid storage diseases. Dolichyl phosphate and cholesterol also accumulate in tissues during aging, but to a lesser extent than dolichol. Although dolichol and cholesterol have important metabolic functions, their accumulation in tissues can have deleterious effects.Key words: dolichyl phosphate, cholesterol, glycoprotein synthesis, aging, lipid storage diseases.
Tập 70 Số 6 - Trang 382-384 - 1992
Assigning the NMR spectra of aromatic amino acids in proteins: analysis of two Ets pointed domains The measurement of interproton nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOEs) and dihedral angle restraints of aromatic amino acids is a critical step towards determining the structure of a protein. The complete assignment of the resonances from aromatic rings and the subsequent resolution and identification of their associated NOEs, however, can be a difficult task. Shown here is a strategy for assigning the 1 H, 13 C, and 15 N signals from the aromatic side chains of histidine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine using a suite of homo- and hetero-nuclear scalar and NOE correlation experiments, as well as selective deuterium isotope labelling. In addition, a comparison of NOE information obtained from homonuclear NOE spectroscopy (NOESY) and 13 C-edited NOESY - heteronuclear single quantum correlation experiments indicates that high-resolution homonuclear two-dimensional NOESY spectra of selectively deuterated proteins are invaluable for obtaining distance restraints to the aromatic residues.Key words: NMR assignment, aromatic residue, transcription factor, NOE, dihedral angle.
Tập 76 Số 2-3 - Trang 379-390 - 1998
Coupling between apical and paracellular transport processesThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled CSBMCB — Membrane Proteins in Health and Disease. Transcellular transport affects the paracellular flux through 2 distinct mechanisms: by determining the driving force and by altering the permeability of the paracellular pathway. Such coordination ensures efficient transepithelial transport by preventing the build-up of large electrical and osmotic gradients. The regulation of paracellular permeability was originally recognized as increased paracellular flux of water and solutes upon the activation of the intestinal Na+ -coupled glucose uptake. Despite great advances in the molecular characterization of the tight junctions that form the structural basis of epithelial barrier functions, the mechanisms whereby apical transporters alter the paracellular pathways remains unresolved. Recent studies suggest that myosin-based contractility is central to this coupling. In this minireview, we summarize our current knowledge of paracellular permeability, its regulation by contractility, and the various signaling events that link apical Na+ -glucose cotransport to myosin phosphorylation. While the role of myosin phosphorylation appears to be universal, the mechanism(s) whereby apical transport triggers this process is likely cell specific. The current model suggests that in intestinal cells, a key factor is a p38 MAP kinase-induced Na+ /H+ -exchanger-mediated alkalinization. We propose an alternative, nonexclusive mechanism in kidney tubular cells, in which the key event may be a Na+ -cotransport-triggered plasma membrane depolarization, which in turn leads to Rho-mediated myosin phosphorylation.
Tập 84 Số 6 - Trang 870-880 - 2006
Studies on the metabolism of glycolyl-CoA Glycolyl-CoA can be formed during the course of the β-oxidation by rat liver mitochondria of 4-hydroxybutyrate. The existence of this β-oxidation has been previously supported by the occurrence of 4-hydroxybutyrate and its β-oxidation catabolites in urine from patients with 4-hydroxybutyric aciduria, an inborn error of γ-aminobutyric acid metabolism due to the deficiency of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase. The characteristics of the mitochondrial β-oxidation of 4-hydroxybutyrate were, in rat liver, compared with those of the mitochondrial β-oxidation of butyrate. The inhibition by malonate of the oxidation of 4-hydroxybutyrate was about twofold weaker than that of oxidation of butyrate, whereas both oxidations were abolished by preincubating the mitochondria with 1 mM valproic acid, a known inhibitor of mitochondrial β-oxidation. Mitochondria from rat kidney cortex were demonstrated to catalyse, as previously shown for hepatic mitochondria, the carnitine-dependent oxidation of 12-hydroxylauroyl-CoA. ω-Hydroxymonocarboxylyl-CoAs are thus concluded to be precursors of glycolyl-CoA also in rat kidney cortex. In addition, 3-hydroxypyruvate was found to be a precursor of glycolyl-CoA, since it was oxidized by bovine heart pyruvate dehydrogenase with a cofactor requirement similar to that of pyruvate oxidation. Glycolyl-CoA was a substrate of carnitine acetyltransferase (pigeon breast muscle). Pig heart citrate synthase was capable of catalyzing the condensation of glycolyl-CoA with oxaloacetate. The product of this reaction induced low NADH production rates dependent on the addition of porcine heart aconitase and isocitrate dehydrogenase.Key words: glycolyl-CoA, ω-hydroxymonocarboxylates, β-oxidation, 4-hydroxybutyrate, CoA-dependent 3-hydroxypyruvate oxidation, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, hydroxy citrate.
Tập 68 Số 5 - Trang 846-851 - 1990
Physico-chemical and in-silico analysis of a phytocystatin purified from<i>Brassica juncea</i>cultivar RoAgro 5444 This study describes the isolation and purification of a phytocystatin from seeds of Brassica juncea (Indian mustard; cultivar RoAgro 5444), which is an important oilseed crop both agriculturally and economically. The protein was purified by gel filtration chromatography with 24.3% yield and 204-fold purification, and visualised by 2D gel electrophoresis. The 18.1 kDa mustard cystatin was highly specific for cysteine proteinases. The plant cystatin inhibited cathepsin B, confirming its role in conferring pest resistance. The inhibitor was highly stable over a pH range of 3–10 and retained significant inhibitory potential up to 70 °C. The stoichiometry of its interaction with papain, determined by isothermal calorimetry, suggests a 1:1 complex. Secondary structural elements calculated by far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy show an 18.8% α-helical and 21% β-sheet structure. The protein was a non-competitive inhibitor of thiol proteinases. The Stokes radius and frictional co-efficient were used to describe the shape and size of the protein. Homology modelling and docking studies proposed a prototype illustrating the Brassica phytocystatin mediated papain inhibition. Molecular dynamics (MD) study revealed the excellent stability of the papain–phytocystatin complex during a simulation for 100 ns. Detailed results identify the mustard cystatin as an important member of the phytocystatin family.
Tập 94 Số 6 - Trang 584-596 - 2016
Structure-function relationships of antimicrobial peptides Antimicrobial peptides are ubiquitously produced throughout nature. Many of these relatively short peptides (6-50 residues) are lethal towards bacteria and fungi, yet they display minimal toxicity towards mammalian cells. All of the peptides are highly cationic and hydrophobic. It is widely believed that they act through nonspecific binding to biological membranes, even though the exact nature of these interactions is presently unclear. High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has contributed greatly to knowledge in this field, providing insight about peptide structure in aqueous solution, in organic cosolvents, and in micellar systems. Solid-state NMR can provide additional information about peptide-membrane binding. Here we review our current knowledge about the structure of antimicrobial peptides. We also discuss studies pertaining to the mechanism of action. Despite the different three-dimensional structural motifs of the various classes, they all have similar amphiphilic surfaces that are well-suited for membrane binding. Many antimicrobial peptides bind in a membrane-parallel orientation, interacting only with one face of the bilayer. This may be sufficient for antimicrobial action. At higher concentrations, peptides and phospholipids translocate to form multimeric transmembrane channels that seem to contribute to the peptide's hemolytic activity. An understanding of the key features of the secondary and tertiary structures of the antimicrobial peptides and their effects on bactericidal and hemolytic activity can aid the rational design of improved analogs for clinical use.Key words: structure, antimicrobial peptide, NMR, membrane, hemolytic.
Tập 76 Số 2-3 - Trang 235-246 - 1998
Advances in the osteoblast lineage Osteoblasts are the skeletal cells responsible for synthesis, deposition and mineralization of the extracellular matrix of bone. By mechanisms that are only beginning to be understood, stem and primitive osteoprogenitors and related mesenchymal precursors arise in the embryo and at least some appear to persist in the adult organism, where they contribute to replacement of osteoblasts in bone turnover and in fracture healing. In this review, we describe the morphological, molecular, and biochemical criteria by which osteoblasts are defined and cell culture approaches that have helped to clarify transitional stages in osteoblast differentiation. Current understanding of differential expression of osteoblast-associated genes during osteoprogenitor proliferation and differentiation to mature matrix synthesizing osteoblasts is summarized. Evidence is provided to support the hypothesis that the mature osteoblast phenotype is heterogeneous with subpopulations of osteoblasts expressing only subsets of the known osteoblast markers. Throughout this paper, outstanding uncertainties and areas for future investigation are also identified.Key words: skeletal development, differential gene expression, heterogeneity.
Tập 76 Số 6 - Trang 899-910 - 1998