RESUMO
The centromere, defined by the enrichment of CENP-A (a Histone H3 variant) containing nucleosomes, is a specialised chromosomal locus that acts as a microtubule attachment site. To preserve centromere identity, CENP-A levels must be maintained through active CENP-A loading during the cell cycle. A central player mediating this process is the Mis18 complex (Mis18α, Mis18ß and Mis18BP1), which recruits the CENP-A-specific chaperone HJURP to centromeres for CENP-A deposition. Here, using a multi-pronged approach, we characterise the structure of the Mis18 complex and show that multiple hetero- and homo-oligomeric interfaces facilitate the hetero-octameric Mis18 complex assembly composed of 4 Mis18α, 2 Mis18ß and 2 Mis18BP1. Evaluation of structure-guided/separation-of-function mutants reveals structural determinants essential for cell cycle controlled Mis18 complex assembly and centromere maintenance. Our results provide new mechanistic insights on centromere maintenance, highlighting that while Mis18α can associate with centromeres and deposit CENP-A independently of Mis18ß, the latter is indispensable for the optimal level of CENP-A loading required for preserving the centromere identity.
RESUMO
Resistance to drought stress is fundamental to plant survival and development. Abscisic acid (ABA) is one of the major hormones involved in different types of abiotic and biotic stress responses. ABA intracellular signaling has been extensively explored in Arabidopsis thaliana and occurs via a phosphorylation cascade mediated by three related protein kinases, denominated SnRK2s (SNF1-related protein kinases). However, the role of ABA signaling and the biochemistry of SnRK2 in crop plants remains underexplored. Considering the importance of the ABA hormone in abiotic stress tolerance, here we investigated the regulatory mechanism of sugarcane SnRK2s-known as stress/ABA-activated protein kinases (SAPKs). The crystal structure of ScSAPK10 revealed the characteristic SnRK2 family architecture, in which the regulatory SnRK2 box interacts with the kinase domain αC helix. To study sugarcane SnRK2 regulation, we produced a series of mutants for the protein regulatory domains SnRK2 box and ABA box. Mutations in ScSAPK8 SnRK2 box aimed at perturbing its interaction with the protein kinase domain reduced protein kinase activity in vitro. On the other hand, mutations to ScSAPK ABA box did not impact protein kinase activity but did alter the protein autophosphorylation pattern. Taken together, our results demonstrate that both SnRK2 and ABA boxes might play a role in sugarcane SnRK2 function.
RESUMO
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan, responsible for Chagas disease, that parasites triatomines and some vertebrates, mainly Homo sapiens. In 2010, nearly 10 million people in whole world, most from Latin America, had Chagas disease, which is an illness of high morbidity, low mortality, and serious problems of quality of life. The available treatment has high toxicity and low efficacy at chronic phase. Some of the protozoan antigenic or virulence factors include complex carbohydrate structures that, due to their uniqueness, may constitute potential selective targets for the development of new treatments. One example of such structures is NETNES, a low abundance T. cruzi glycopeptide, comprising 13 amino acid residues, one or two N-glycosylation chains, a GPI anchor and two P-glycosylations. In this context, the current work aims to obtain an atomic model for NETNES, including its glycan chains and membrane attachment, in order to contribute in the characterization of its structure and dynamics. Based on POPC and GPI models built in agreement with experimental data, our results indicate that, in the first third of the simulation, NETNES peptide is very flexible in solution, bending itself between asparagine residues and lying down on some carbohydrates and membrane, exposing amino acid residues and some other glycans, mainly terminal mannoses, to the extracellular medium, remaining in this position until the end of simulations.