Molecular Dynamics of Synthetic Flagelliform Silk Fiber Assembly.

In order to better understand the relationship between Flagelliform (Flag) spider silk molecular structural organization and the mechanisms of fiber assembly, it was designed and produced the Nephilengys cruentata Flag spidroin analogue rNcFlag2222. The recombinant proteins are composed by the elastic repetitive glycine-rich motifs (GPGGX/GGX) and the spacer region, rich in hydrophilic charged amino acids, present at the native silk spidroin. Using different approaches for nanomolecular protein analysis, the structural data of rNcFlag2222 recombinant proteins were compared in its fibrillar and in its fully solvated states. Based on the results was possible to identify the molecular structural dynamics of NcFlag2222 prior to and after fiber formation. Overal rNcFlag2222 shows a mixture of semiflexible and rigid conformations, characterized mostly by the presence of PPII, ß-turn and ß-sheet. These results agree with previous studies and bring insights about the molecular mechanisms that might driven Flag silk fibers assembly and elastomeric behavior.

A Custom-Designed Recombinant Multiepitope Protein for Human Cytomegalovirus Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has infected more than 90% of the world population and its prevalence can be related to the individuals geographical and socialeconomic status. Serological tests based on ELISA are pivotal for HCMV diagnosis. Due to the lack of standardization in the production/purification of antigens from viral preparations, ELISA tests are based on several recombinant proteins or peptides. As an alternative, multiepitope proteins may be employed. OBJECTIVE: In this work, we developed a recombinant multiepitope protein (rMEHCMV) for HCMV diagnosis based on conserved and immunodominant epitopes derived from tegument (pp150, pp65 and pp28), glycoprotein gB (pp38) and DNA polymerase subunit (pp52) of HCMV. METHODS: The rMEHCMV gene was synthesized de novo and overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity using a Ni-NTA column. Biophysical analysis of recombinant protein was performed by circular dichroism. A preliminary biological activity test was performed using 12 positive human sera samples by using an in-house IgG ELISA. The following patents database were consulted: Espacenet, Google Patents and the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI, Brazil). RESULTS: The recombinant multiepitope protein was successfully expressed in E. coli. The structural data obtained by circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that rMEHCMV is structurally disordered. An in-house IgG ELISA test with rMEHCMV was successfully used to recognized IgG from human serum samples. CONCLUSION: Together, our results show that rMEHCMV should be considered as a potential antigenic target for HCMV diagnosis.

Expression and Biochemical Characterization of a Yersinia intermedia Phytase Expressed in Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND: Phytases are enzymes capable of degrading phytic acid and used in animal feed supplementation in order to improve digestibility through the release of minerals such as phosphorus. OBJECTIVE: The main goal of this study was to express and characterize a Yersinia intermedia phytase expressed in Escherichia coli cells. METHODS: The Y. intermedia phytase gene was synthesized and overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells. The phytase recombinante (rPHY) was purified to homogeneity using a Ni-NTA column. The biochemical and biophysical properties of the rPHY were measured in order to fully characterize the recombinant enzyme. The following patents database were consulted: Espacenet, USPTO, LATIPAT, Patent Scope, WIPO and Google Patents. RESULTS: The results showed that the rPHY is active at 37-40ºC and presented an optimal pH and temperature of 8.0 and 40°C, respectively. The phytase rPHY was activated by Cu2+ ion and showed resistance to trypsin and pepsin, retaining 55% of the activity at the ratio of 0.02. Furthermore, the dissociation constant (Kd = 1.1150 ± 0.0087 mM), as estimated by a fluorescence binding assay, suggests a medium affinity of the enzyme with the substrate. CONCLUSION: The results of this article can be considered as innovative and for this reason, they were protected by Intellectual Property Law in Brazil. Take together, the biochemical properties of the rPHY could be useful in future for its industrial application of this enzyme as an additive in the monogastric feed.

Activity of Scorpion Venom-Derived Antifungal Peptides against Planktonic Cells of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans Biofilms.

The incidence of fungal infections has been increasing in the last decades, while the number of available antifungal classes remains the same. The natural and acquired resistance of some fungal species to available therapies, associated with the high toxicity of these drugs on the present scenario and makes an imperative of the search for new, more efficient and less toxic therapeutic choices. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential class of antimicrobial drugs consisting of evolutionarily conserved multifunctional molecules with both microbicidal and immunomodulatory properties being part of the innate immune response of diverse organisms. In this study, we evaluated 11 scorpion-venom derived non-disulfide-bridged peptides against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida spp., which are important human pathogens. Seven of them, including two novel molecules, showed activity against both genera with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 3.12 to 200 µM and an analogous activity against Candida albicans biofilms. Most of the peptides presented low hemolytic and cytotoxic activity against mammalian cells. Modifications in the primary peptide sequence, as revealed by in silico and circular dichroism analyses of the most promising peptides, underscored the importance of cationicity for their antimicrobial activity as well as the amphipathicity of these molecules and their tendency to form alpha helices. This is the first report of scorpion-derived AMPs against C. neoformans and our results underline the potential of scorpion venom as a source of antimicrobials. Further characterization of their mechanism of action, followed by molecular optimization to decrease their cytotoxicity and increase antimicrobial activity, is needed to fully clarify their real potential as antifungals.

Beta glucosidase from Bacillus polymyxa is activated by glucose-6-phosphate.

Optimization of cellulose enzymatic hydrolysis is crucial for cost effective bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. Enzymes involved in cellulose hydrolysis are often inhibited by their end-products, cellobiose and glucose. Efforts have been made to produce more efficient enzyme variants that are highly tolerant to product accumulation; however, further improvements are still necessary. Based on an alternative approach we initially investigated whether recently formed glucose could be phosphorylated into glucose-6-phosphate to circumvent glucose accumulation and avoid inhibition of beta-glucosidase from Bacillus polymyxa (BGLA). The kinetic properties and structural analysis of BGLA in the presence of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) were investigated. Kinetic studies demonstrated that enzyme was not inhibited by G6P. In contrast, the presence of G6P activated the enzyme, prevented beta glucosidase feedback inhibition by glucose accumulation and improved protein stability. G6P binding was investigated by fluorescence quenching experiments and the respective association constant indicated high affinity binding of G6P to BGLA. Data reported here are of great impact for future design strategies for second-generation bioethanol production.

Crystal structure of the Bowman-Birk Inhibitor from Vigna unguiculata seeds in complex with beta-trypsin at 1.55 A resolution and its structural properties in association with proteinases.

The structure of the Bowman-Birk inhibitor from Vigna unguiculata seeds (BTCI) in complex with beta-trypsin was solved and refined at 1.55 A to a crystallographic R(factor) of 0.154 and R(free) of 0.169, and represents the highest resolution for a Bowman-Birk inhibitor structure to date. The BTCI-trypsin interface is stabilized by hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen bonds, involving two waters and a polyethylene glycol molecule. The conformational rigidity of the reactive loop is characteristic of the specificity against trypsin, while hydrophobicity and conformational mobility of the antichymotryptic subdomain confer the self-association tendency, indicated by atomic force microscopy, of BTCI in complex and free form. When BTCI is in binary complexes, no significant differences in inhibition constants for producing a ternary complex with trypsin and chymotrypsin were detected. These results indicate that binary complexes present no conformational change in their reactive site for both enzymes confirming that these sites are structurally independent. The free chymotrypsin observed in the atomic force microscopy assays, when the ternary complex is obtained from BTCI-trypsin binary complex and chymotrypsin, could be related more to the self-association tendency between chymotrypsin molecules and the flexibility of the reactive site for this enzyme than to binding-related conformational changes.

The highly expressed yeast gene pby20 from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis encodes a flavodoxin-like protein.

A gene encoding the entire highly expressed protein previously identified in the proteome of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells as PbY20 has been isolated. The pby20 sequence reveals an open reading frame of 1364bp and a deduced amino acid sequence of 203 residues, which shows high identity to benzoquinone reductase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium (72.0%), Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ycp4 (65%), and Schizosaccharomyces pombe p25 (59%), and to allergens from Alternaria alternata Alt a7 (70%) and from Cladosporium herbarum, Cla h5 (68%). Low levels of the pby20 transcript in the mycelium and highly induced ones in infective yeast cells during the transition of this dimorphic fungus indicate transcriptional control of its expression. PbY20 was immunologically detected only in yeast cell extract, suggesting an important role in cell differentiation or even in the maintenance of the yeast form. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that PbY20 is found inside large granules and vacuoles, in the nucleus, and also in the cytoplasm. Through sequence comparisons analysis and fluorescence emission assay, PbY20 was recognized as a member of the flavin mononucleotide flavodoxin-like WrbA family, which are involved in heat shock and oxidative stress in biological systems. Assuming that PbY20 belongs to this family, a similar role could be attributed to this protein.

pH dependence thermal stability of a chymotrypsin inhibitor from Schizolobium parahyba seeds.

The thermal stability of a Schizolobium parahyba chymotrypsin inhibitor (SPCI) as a function of pH has been investigated using fluorescence, circular dichroism, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The thermodynamic parameters derived from all methods are remarkably similar and strongly suggest the high stability of SPCI under a wide range of pH. The transition temperature (T(m)) values ranging from 57 to 85.3 degrees C at acidic, neutral, and alkaline pH are in good agreement with proteins from mesophilic and thermophilic organisms and corroborate previous data regarding the thermal stability of SPCI. All methods gave transitions curves adequately fitted to a two-state model of the unfolding process as judged by the cooperative ratio between the van't Hoff and the calorimetric enthalpy energies close to unity in all of the pH conditions analyzed, except at pH 3.0. Thermodynamic analysis using all these methods reveals that SPCI is thermally a highly stable protein, over the wide range of pH from 3.0 to 8.8, exhibiting high stability in the pH region of 5.0-7.0. The corresponding maximum stabilities, DeltaG(25), were obtained at pH 7.0 with values of 15.4 kcal mol(-1) (combined fluorescence and circular dichroism data), and 15.1 kcal mol(-1) (DSC), considering a DeltaC(p) of 1.72 +/- 0.24 kcal mol(-1) K(-1). The low histidine content ( approximately 1.7%) and the high acidic residue content ( approximately 22.5%) suggests a flat pH dependence of thermal stability in the region 2.0-8.8 and that the decrease in thermal stability at low pH can be due to the differences in pK values of the acidic groups.

Purification and pH stability characterization of a chymotrypsin inhibitor from Schizolobium parahyba seeds.

Schizolobium parahyba chymotrypsin inhibitor (SPCI) was completely purified as a single polypeptide chain with two disulfide bonds, by TCA precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. This purification method is faster and more efficient than that previously reported: SPCI is stable from pH 2 to 12 at 25 degrees C, and is highly specific for chymotrypsin at pH 7-12. It weakly inhibits elastase and has no significant inhibitory effect against trypsin and alpha-amylase. SPCI is a thermostable protein and resists thermolysin digestion up to 70 degrees C.

Functional and genetic characterization of calmodulin from the dimorphic and pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Calmodulin (CaM) modulates intracellular calcium signalling and acts on several metabolic pathways and gene expression regulation in many eukaryotic organisms including human fungal pathogens, such as Candida albicans and Histoplasma capsulatum. The temperature-dependent dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the aetiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). The mycelium (M) to yeast (Y) transition has been shown to be essential for establishment of the infection, although the precise molecular mechanisms of dimorphism in P. brasiliensis are still unknown. In this work, several inhibitory drugs of the Ca(2+)/calmodulin signalling pathway were tested to verify the role of this pathway in the cellular differentiation process of P. brasiliensis. EGTA and the drugs calmidazolium (R24571), trifluoperazine (TFP), and W7 were able to inhibit the M-Y transition. We have cloned and characterized the calmodulin gene from P. brasiliensis, which comprises 924 nucleotides and five introns that are in a conserved position among calmodulin genes.

Effects of black-eyed pea trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor on proteolytic activity and on development of Anthonomus grandis.

The cotton boll weevil Anthonomus grandis (Boheman) is one of the major pests of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the New World. This feeds on cotton floral fruits and buds causing severe crop losses. Digestion in the boll weevil is facilitated by high levels of serine proteinases, which are responsible for the almost all proteolytic activity. Aiming to reduce the proteolytic activity, the inhibitory effects of black-eyed pea trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor (BTCI), towards trypsin and chymotrypsin from bovine pancreas and from midguts of A. grandis larvae and adult insects were analyzed. BTCI, purified from Vigna unguiculata (L.) seeds, was highly active against different trypsin-like proteinases studied and moderately active against the digestive chymotrypsin of adult insects. Nevertheless, no inhibitory activity was observed against chymotrypsin from A. grandis larval guts. To test the BTCI efficiency in vivo, neonate larvae were reared on artificial diet containing BTCI at 10, 50 and 100 microM. A reduction of larval weight of up to approximately 54% at the highest BTCI concentration was observed. At this concentration, the insect mortality was 65%. This work constitutes the first observation of a Bowman-Birk type inhibitor active in vitro and in vivo toward the cotton boll weevil A. grandis. The results of bioassays strongly suggest that BTCI may have potential as a transgene protein for use in engineered crop plants modified for heightened resistance to the cotton boll weevil.

Topographical analysis of Schizolobium parahyba chymotrypsin inhibitor (SPCI) by atomic force microscopy.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been a useful tool for molecular surface analysis and to estimate topographical properties of proteins. Here we report a topographical study of a chymotrypsin inhibitor from Schizolobium parahyba seeds (SPCI) by AFM. The underlying structure of SPCI oligomers has been resolved in nanometer order resolution. SPCI oligomerize in hexagonal, ellipsoid, comet, pyramidal, and "Z" shaped. The hexagonal was the most observed oligomer shape.