Protein & Peptide Letters, Volume 10, No. 2, 2003
Contents
Mini - Review
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Normal
Mode Analysis with Simplified Models to Investigate the Global Dynamics of
Biological Systems Pp.119-132
Florence
Tama
Regular Papers
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
A
Simplified Model of the Binding Interaction Between Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1
Chemokine and Cxc Chemokine Receptor 4 Pp.133-138
Pasquale
Palladino , Carlo Pedone , Raffaele Ragone , Filomena Rossi , Michele Saviano ,
and Ettore Benedetti
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Binding
Energetics of the Inhibitor Cystatin to the Cysteine Proteinase Actinidin Pp.139-145
Maricela
Neria-Rios, Jaqueline Padilla-Zuniga, Enrique Garcia-Hernandez, Salvador R.
Tello-Solis and Rafael A. Zubillaga
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Synthesis
of Chemotactic Peptide Analogs with a Photoaffinity Cross-Linker As New Probes
for Analysis of Receptor-Ligand Interaction Pp.147-153
Mitsukuni
Shibue , Masahiro Yoshiki , Masaya Miyazaki , Ichiro Fujita , Satoshi Osada ,
Seiji Yasuda, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Yuhei Hamasaki , Michio Kondo , Hideaki Maeda
, Hiroaki Kodama and Hazime Shimizu
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Investigations
on the Binding of Mercury Ions to Albumins Employing Differential Pulse Voltammetry
Pp.155-164
Clarissa
Silva Pires de Castro1, Jurandir Rodrigues SouzaDe2 and Carlos Bloch Jr.
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Purification
and Characterization of a Lectin from Annona Coriacea Seeds Pp.165-173
Mirela
B. Coelho , Maria das Graças M. Freire , Marcos H. Toyama , Sergio Marangoni ,
Jose C. Novello and Maria Ligia R. Macedo
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
An
Efficient Fusion Expression System for Protein and Peptide Overexpression
in Escherichia Coli and Nmr Sample Preparation Pp.175-181
Yuan
Cheng, Dongsheng Liu, Yanming Feng, Guozhong Jing
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Isolation
and Some Characterizations of a Glycosylated Fibrinolytic Enzyme of Earthworm,
Eisenia Fetida Pp.183-190
Li
Li, Jing Zhao and Rong-Qiao He
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Renal
Alterations Promoted by the Lectins from Canavalia Ensiformis (Cona) and Dioclea
Guianensis (Dguil) Seeds Pp.191-197
Alexandre
Havt , Paulo S. F. Barbosa, Ticiana M. Sousa, Alice M. C. Martins, Arlandia C. L.
Nobre, Kyria S. Nascimento , Edson H. Teixeira, Vicente P. T. Pinto, Alexandre
H. Sampaio, Manassés C. Fonteles , Benildo S. Cavada , Helena S. A. Monteiro
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
The
Effect of Polyols on the Reactivation of Guanidium Chloride-Denatured Arginine
Kinase from Shrimp Feneropenaeus Chinensis Muscle Pp.199-211
Zhenhang
Yu and Biao Li
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Expression
of Recombinant Xvax2 Peptide-104 of Xenopus Laevis and Preparation of the
Antibody Pp.213-219
Yang
Liu , Ying Liu , Wei Liu , Giuseppe Lupo , Rong-qiao He and Giuseppina Barsacchi
Crystallization Report
[Abstract] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Crystallization
of the N-Terminal Domain of Dff45: The Mutual Chaperone Mechanism is
Challenged Pp.221-225
Li T. , Li X. , Yang W. , Rao Z. & Zhai Zh.
Abstracts
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Normal Mode Analysis with Simplified Models
to Investigate the Global Dynamics of Biological Systems
Florence
Tama
Dynamical properties
of macromolecules are increasingly being recognized as significantly
contributing to biological functions, including catalysis, regulation of
activity, etc. In this review, theoretical approaches to the study of dynamics
of biological systems and their application are discussed. In particular,
simplified models for the normal mode analysis are described.
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A Simplified Model of the Binding Interaction
Between Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 Chemokine and Cxc Chemokine Receptor
4
Pasquale Palladino , Carlo Pedone , Raffaele Ragone , Filomena Rossi , Michele Saviano , and Ettore Benedetti
We have
synthesised the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (29-39) peptide, CXCR4{29-39}. This
peptide is located in the N-terminal region of the receptor and is likely to be
involved in the docking step of the receptor interaction with its natural
ligand stromal cell-derived factor-1 chemokine, SDF-1. Preliminary experiments,
performed in the presence of micellar detergents to model a membrane-like
environment, show that the (1-17) segment of SDF-1 binds to CXCR4{29-39}.
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Binding Energetics of the Inhibitor Cystatin
to the Cysteine Proteinase Actinidin
Maricela
Neria-Rios, Jaqueline Padilla-Zuniga, Enrique Garcia-Hernandez, Salvador R.
Tello-Solis and Rafael A. Zubillaga
The binding
energetics of actinidin to chicken cystatin was determined from fluorometric
titrations at different temperatures. It is shown that the association of
actinidin with cystatin is both enthalpically and entropically driven, with a
negative change in the heat capacity. The molecular basis of these
contributions are analyzed within the framework of surface-area models, using a
3D model of the actinidin-cystatin complex, which was obtained using the x-ray
structure of the homologous complex papain-stefin B as template.
[Back to top] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
Synthesis of Chemotactic Peptide Analogs with
a Photoaffinity Cross-Linker as New Probes for Analysis of Receptor-Ligand
Interaction
Mitsukuni
Shibue , Masahiro Yoshiki , Masaya Miyazaki , Ichiro Fujita , Satoshi Osada ,
Seiji Yasuda, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Yuhei Hamasaki , Michio Kondo , Hideaki Maeda
, Hiroaki Kodama and Hazime Shimizu
Formylpeptide
receptors are well-characterized receptors which participate in host defense
responses of neutrophils. We designed and synthesized chemotactic peptide
analog with pbenzoylphenylalanine (Bpa) and biotin to probe structural and
mechanistic aspects of peptide-receptor interaction. These peptides possess
biological activities which were dependent upon spacer residue length of and
Bpa position. The covalent photoaffinity label was detected by
Streptavidine-blot, which was inhibited by the parent peptide.
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Investigations on The Binding of Mercury Ions
to Albumins Employing Differential Pulse Voltammetry
Clarissa
Silva Pires de Castro, Jurandir Rodrigues SouzaDe and Carlos Bloch Jr
Binding of mercury
to BSA and Ovalbumin was investigated by Differential Pulse Voltammetry. The
method relies on the direct monitoring of peak current variation due to mercury
oxidation in the presence of these two albumins. Linear calibration graphs were
obtained for both BSA and Ovalbumin in concentrations ranging from 2.49 x 10-7
to 19.6 x 10-9 mol L-1. The acquired data was used to quantify these two
proteins independently and to calculate the dissociation constants of Hg-BSA
and Hg-Ovalbumin complexes.
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Purification and Characterization of A Lectin
from Annona Coriacea Seeds
Mirela
B. Coelho , Maria das Graças M. Freire , Marcos H. Toyama , Sergio Marangoni ,
Jose C. Novello and Maria Ligia R. Macedo
A novel lectin,
denominated ACLEC, was isolated from Annona coriacea seeds, belonging to the
Annonaceae family. The lectin presented one protein band in SDS-PAGE of 14 kDa.
Of the sugars tested, Dglucose and D-mannose were the best inhibitors. A search
sequence database showed that ACLEC had homology with other plant lectins,
belonging to leguminous lectin family.
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An Efficient Fusion Expression System for Protein
and Peptide Overexpression in Escherichia Coli and Nmr Sample Preparation
Yuan
Cheng, Dongsheng Liu, Yanming Feng, Guozhong Jing
An efficient
fusion expression system with a small fusion partner, His6-tagged N-terminal
fragment of staphylococcal nuclease R, has been constructed and tested with two
genes. The results show that the system is not only suitable for overexpression
of small proteins and peptides but simplifies purification of target proteins
and peptides. The study also provides a practical method for preparation of
isotope-labeled protein sample for NMR analysis.
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Isolation and Some Characterizations of A Glycosylated
Fibrinolytic Enzyme of Earthworm, Eisenia
Fetida
Li
Li, Jing Zhao and Rong-Qiao He
Resin
coupled with m-aminophenylbornic acid
was used to isolate a glycosylated component from homogenate of earthworm (Eisenia
fetida). The fraction showed a single band on SDS-PAGE with a molecular
weight of 34,193 Da determined by mass spectroscopy. The N-terminal region is
AQVCCPDI, different from those of earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes reported
previously (Nakajima et al. 1993).
This glycosylated component showed an activity on digesting both Chromozym-TH
and fibrin, suggesting that it is a novel fibrinolytic enzyme.
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Renal Alterations Promoted by the Lectins from
Canavalia Ensiformis (Cona) and Dioclea Guianensis (Dguil) Seeds
Alexandre
Havt , Paulo S. F. Barbosa, Ticiana M. Sousa, Alice M. C. Martins, Arlandia C.
L. Nobre, Kyria S. Nascimento , Edson H. Teixeira, Vicente P. T. Pinto,
Alexandre H. Sampaio, Manassés C. Fonteles , Benildo S. Cavada , Helena S. A.
Monteiro
The lectin from
the seeds of Canavalia ensiformis (ConA) and Dioclea guianensis (DguiL) was
tested upon its renal effects using the isolated perfusion rat kidney method.
Both lectins (10 mg/ml) affected perfusion pressure and renal vascular
resistance, but DguiL showed a much greater action than ConA. However, ConA,
but not DguiL, affected potassium tubular transport.
[Back to top] [Purchase Issue/Articles]
The Effect of Polyols on the Reactivation of
Guanidium Chloride-Denatured Arginine Kinase from Shrimp Feneropenaeus Chinensis
Muscle
Zhenhang
Yu and Biao Li
The influence of glycerol,
sorbitol, glucose and sucrose, on the refolding and reactivation courses of
guanidine-denatured arginine kinase was studied. Glycerol, sucrose, and
sorbitol, but not glucose, could improve the reactivation of the denatured
arginine kinase, although in all cases aggregation was inhibited. Size
exclusion chromatography showed that misfolded products were still formed
during polyol-assisted refolding. The chemical and physical characteristics of
polyols might explain the various observations.
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Expression of Recombinant Xvax2 Peptide-104
of Xenopus Laevis and Preparation of the Antibody
Yang
Liu , Ying Liu , Wei Liu , Giuseppe Lupo , Rong-qiao He and Giuseppina Barsacchi
An N-terminal
polypeptide (XVAX2-P104) of the XVAX2 protein, which is involved in controlling
the dorsoventral patterning of the retina in Xenopus laevis, was expressed and
purified as a Histagged fusion protein (pHis-XVAX2-P104), and it was employed
to generate an anti-XVAX2 antibody in New Zealand white rabbits. ELISA analysis
shows that the titer of the antibody is as high as ~1:100,000. The antibody
could specifically recognize the full-length XVAX2 protein in extracts of
Xenopus embryos, as determined by Western Blotting.
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Crystallization of the N-Terminal Domain of
Dff45: The Mutual Chaperone Mechanism is Challenged
Li
T. , Li X. , Yang W. , Rao Z. & Zhai Zh.
DNA fragmentation factor
45 (DFF45) regulates DNase DFF40 as its inhibitor and chaperone. It was
reported that the N-terminal domain (NTD) of DFF45 alone is disordered and
DFF40 is necessary as a mutual chaperone for the folding of NTD. However, here
we reported the crystallization of DFF45 NTD. These crystals diffract to 9Å
using a synchrotron radiation source. In spite of the low resolution, the
demonstration of crystal formation indicates that DFF45 NTD itself is not
unstructured, which strongly questions the mutual chaperone speculation about
DFF45 and DFF40.