Elongation Factor P Modulates the Incorporation of Structurally Diverse Noncanonical Amino Acids into Escherichia coli Dihydrofolate Reductase.

The introduction of noncanonical amino acids into proteins and peptides has been of great interest for many years and has facilitated the detailed study of peptide/protein structure and mechanism. In addition to numerous nonproteinogenic α-l-amino acids, bacterial ribosome modification has provided the wherewithal to enable the synthesis of peptides and proteins with a much greater range of structural diversity, as has the use of endogenous bacterial proteins in reconstituted protein synthesizing systems. In a recent report, elongation factor P (EF-P), putatively essential for enabling the incorporation of contiguous proline residues into proteins, was shown to facilitate the introduction of an N-methylated amino acid in addition to proline. This finding prompted us to investigate the properties of this protein factor with a broad variety of structurally diverse amino acid analogues using an optimized suppressor tRNAPro that we designed. While these analogues can generally be incorporated into proteins only in systems containing modified ribosomes specifically selected for their incorporation, we found that EF-P could significantly enhance their incorporation into model protein dihydrofolate reductase using wild-type ribosomes. Plausibly, the increased yields observed in the presence of structurally diverse amino acid analogues may result from the formation of a stabilized ribosomal complex in the presence of EF-P that provides more favorable conditions for peptide bond formation. This finding should enable the facile incorporation of a much broader structural variety of amino acid analogues into proteins and peptides using native ribosomes.

Interlocking activities of DNA polymerase ß in the base excision repair pathway.

SignificanceBase excision repair (BER) is one of the major DNA repair pathways used to fix a myriad of cellular DNA lesions. The enzymes involved in BER, including DNA polymerase ß (Polß), have been identified and characterized, but how they act together to efficiently perform BER has not been fully understood. Through gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and kinetic analysis, we discovered that the two enzymatic activities of Polß can be interlocked, rather than functioning independently from each other, when processing DNA intermediates formed in BER. The finding prompted us to hypothesize a modified BER pathway. Through conventional and time-resolved X-ray crystallography, we solved 11 high-resolution crystal structures of cross-linked Polß complexes and proposed a detailed chemical mechanism for Polß's 5'-deoxyribose-5-phosphate lyase activity.

An assay for DNA polymerase ß lyase inhibitors that engage the catalytic nucleophile for binding.

DNA polymerase ß (Pol ß) repairs cellular DNA damage. When such damage is inflicted upon the DNA in tumor cells treated with DNA targeted antitumor agents, Pol ß thus diminishes their efficacy. Accordingly, this enzyme has long been a target for antitumor therapy. Although numerous inhibitors of the lyase activity of the enzyme have been reported, none has yet proven adequate for development as a therapeutic agent. In the present study, we developed a new strategy to identify lyase inhibitors that critically engage the lyase active site primary nucleophile Lys72 as part of the binding interface. This involves a parallel evaluation of the effect of the inhibitors on the wild-type DNA polymerase ß (Pol ß) and Pol ß modified with a lysine analogue at position 72. A model panel of five structurally diverse lyase inhibitors identified in our previous studies (only one of which has been published) with unknown modes of binding were used for testing, and one compound, cis-9,10-epoxyoctadecanoic acid, was found to have the desired characteristics. This finding was further corroborated by in silico docking, demonstrating that the predominant mode of binding of the inhibitor involves an important electrostatic interaction between the oxygen atom of the epoxy group and Nε of the main catalytic nucleophile, Lys72. The strategy, which is designed to identify compounds that engage certain structural elements of the target enzyme, could find broader application for identification of ligands with predetermined sites of binding.

Study of the Lyase Activity of Human DNA Polymerase ß Using Analogues of the Intermediate Schiff Base Complex.

DNA polymerase ß (Pol ß) participates in mammalian base excision repair. The enzyme has a two-domain architecture, reflecting its dual functionality. The polymerase activity, which replaces damaged nucleosides removed during an initial excision process, is within the C-terminal 31 kDa domain, while the N-terminal 8 kDa domain participates in a lyase function, working to remove a 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (5'-dRP) moiety from the damaged DNA substrate. The currently accepted mechanism of the lyase reaction involves a transient covalent enzyme-DNA intermediate in the form of a Schiff base connecting Lys72 of the enzyme with the 5'-dRP moiety. The Schiff base intermediate is resolved via a ß-elimination reaction, initiated by abstraction of a C2'-H atom from the 5'-dRP moiety. Presently, we describe the preparation of three Pol ß enzymes modified at position 72 with aminooxy or hydrazinyl analogues of lysine. These enzymes form transient covalent bonds with the 5'-dRP moiety of the damaged DNA, in the form of an oxime or hydrazone, respectively. Both types of enzyme DNA intermediates are ultimately resolved by the lyase activities of each of the modified enzymes. Unsurprisingly, the formation and resolution of these E-S complexes proceed with diminished kinetics, and with an altered pH profile. The performed experiments provide additional support for Schiff base formation as an obligatory intermediate on the pathway to DNA repair, as well as for the proposed participation of Lys72 in effecting opening of the 5'-dRP ring via protonation of the ring oxygen atom, and for complex resolution via a ß-elimination reaction.

The Biogenic Amine Tyramine and its Receptor (AmTyr1) in Olfactory Neuropils in the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Brain.

This article describes the cellular sources for tyramine and the cellular targets of tyramine via the Tyramine Receptor 1 (AmTyr1) in the olfactory learning and memory neuropils of the honey bee brain. Clusters of approximately 160 tyramine immunoreactive neurons are the source of tyraminergic fibers with small varicosities in the optic lobes, antennal lobes, lateral protocerebrum, mushroom body (calyces and gamma lobes), tritocerebrum and subesophageal ganglion (SEG). Our tyramine mapping study shows that the primary sources of tyramine in the antennal lobe and calyx of the mushroom body are from at least two Ventral Unpaired Median neurons (VUMmd and VUMmx) with cell bodies in the SEG. To reveal AmTyr1 receptors in the brain, we used newly characterized anti-AmTyr1 antibodies. Immunolocalization studies in the antennal lobe with anti-AmTyr1 antibodies showed that the AmTyr1 expression pattern is mostly in the presynaptic sites of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). In the mushroom body calyx, anti-AmTyr1 mapped the presynaptic sites of uniglomerular Projection Neurons (PNs) located primarily in the microglomeruli of the lip and basal ring calyx area. Release of tyramine/octopamine from VUM (md and mx) neurons in the antennal lobe and mushroom body calyx would target AmTyr1 expressed on ORN and uniglomerular PN presynaptic terminals. The presynaptic location of AmTyr1, its structural similarity with vertebrate alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, and previous pharmacological evidence suggests that it has an important role in the presynaptic inhibitory control of neurotransmitter release.

Enhanced Binding Affinity for an i-Motif DNA Substrate Exhibited by a Protein Containing Nucleobase Amino Acids.

Several variants of a nucleic acid binding motif (RRM1) of putative transcription factor hnRNP LL containing nucleobase amino acids at specific positions have been prepared and used to study binding affinity for the BCL2 i-motif DNA. Molecular modeling suggested a number of amino acids in RRM1 likely to be involved in interaction with the i-motif DNA, and His24 and Arg26 were chosen for modification based on their potential ability to interact with G14 of the i-motif DNA. Four nucleobase amino acids were introduced into RRM1 at one or both of positions 24 and 26. The introduction of cytosine nucleobase 2 into position 24 of RRM1 increased the affinity of the modified protein for the i-motif DNA, consistent with the possible Watson-Crick interaction of 2 and G14. In comparison, the introduction of uracil nucleobase 3 had a minimal effect on DNA affinity. Two structurally simplified nucleobase analogues (1 and 4) lacking both the N-1 and the 2-oxo substituents were also introduced in lieu of His24. Again, the RRM1 analogue containing 1 exhibited enhanced affinity for the i-motif DNA, while the protein analogue containing 4 bound less tightly to the DNA substrate. Finally, the modified protein containing 1 in lieu of Arg26 also bound to the i-motif DNA more strongly than the wild-type protein, but a protein containing 1 both at positions 24 and 26 bound to the DNA less strongly than wild type. The results support the idea of using nucleobase amino acids as protein constituents for controlling and enhancing DNA-protein interaction. Finally, modification of the i-motif DNA at G14 diminished RRM1-DNA interaction, as well as the ability of nucleobase amino acid 1 to stabilize RRM1-DNA interaction.

Probing the Flexibility of the Catalytic Nucleophile in the Lyase Catalytic Pocket of Human DNA Polymerase ß with Unnatural Lysine Analogues.

DNA polymerase ß (Pol ß) is a key enzyme in mammalian base excision repair (BER), contributing stepwise 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (dRP) lyase and "gap-filling" DNA polymerase activities. The lyase reaction is believed to occur via a ß-elimination reaction following the formation of a Schiff base between the dRP group at the pre-incised apurinic/apyrimidinic site and the ε-amino group of Lys72. To probe the steric constraints on the formation and subsequent resolution of the putative Schiff base intermediate within the lyase catalytic pocket, Lys72 was replaced with each of several nonproteinogenic lysine analogues. The modified Pol ß enzymes were produced by coupled in vitro transcription and translation from a modified DNA template containing a TAG codon at the position corresponding to Lys72. In the presence of a misacylated tRNACUA transcript, suppression of the UAG codon in the transcribed mRNA led to elaboration of full length Pol ß having a lysine analogue at position 72. Replacement of the primary nucleophilic amine with a secondary amine in the form of N-methyllysine (4) affected mainly the stability of the Schiff base intermediate and resulted in relatively moderate inhibition of lyase activity and BER. Elongation of the side chain of the catalytic residue by one methylene group, achieved by introduction of homolysine (6) at position 72, apparently shifted the amino group to a position less favorable for Schiff base formation. Interestingly, this effect was attenuated when the side chain was elongated by replacing one side-chain methylene group with a bridging S atom (thialysine, 2). In comparison, replacement of lysine 72 with an analogue having a guanidine moiety in lieu of an ε-amino group (homoarginine, 5) or a sterically constrained secondary amine (piperidinylalanine, 3) led to almost complete suppression of dRP excision activity and the ability of Pol ß to support BER. These results help to define the tolerance of Pol ß to subtle local structural and functional alterations.

Biophysical Characterization of a Vaccine Candidate against HIV-1: The Transmembrane and Membrane Proximal Domains of HIV-1 gp41 as a Maltose Binding Protein Fusion.

The membrane proximal region (MPR, residues 649-683) and transmembrane domain (TMD, residues 684-705) of the gp41 subunit of HIV-1's envelope protein are highly conserved and are important in viral mucosal transmission, virus attachment and membrane fusion with target cells. Several structures of the trimeric membrane proximal external region (residues 662-683) of MPR have been reported at the atomic level; however, the atomic structure of the TMD still remains unknown. To elucidate the structure of both MPR and TMD, we expressed the region spanning both domains, MPR-TM (residues 649-705), in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein (MBP). MPR-TM was initially fused to the C-terminus of MBP via a 42 aa-long linker containing a TEV protease recognition site (MBP-linker-MPR-TM). Biophysical characterization indicated that the purified MBP-linker-MPR-TM protein was a monodisperse and stable candidate for crystallization. However, crystals of the MBP-linker-MPR-TM protein could not be obtained in extensive crystallization screens. It is possible that the 42 residue-long linker between MBP and MPR-TM was interfering with crystal formation. To test this hypothesis, the 42 residue-long linker was replaced with three alanine residues. The fusion protein, MBP-AAA-MPR-TM, was similarly purified and characterized. Significantly, both the MBP-linker-MPR-TM and MBP-AAA-MPR-TM proteins strongly interacted with broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies 2F5 and 4E10. With epitopes accessible to the broadly neutralizing antibodies, these MBP/MPR-TM recombinant proteins may be in immunologically relevant conformations that mimic a pre-hairpin intermediate of gp41.

Protein Synthesis with Ribosomes Selected for the Incorporation of ß-Amino Acids.

In an earlier study, ß³-puromycin was used for the selection of modified ribosomes, which were utilized for the incorporation of five different ß-amino acids into Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). The selected ribosomes were able to incorporate structurally disparate ß-amino acids into DHFR, in spite of the use of a single puromycin for the selection of the individual clones. In this study, we examine the extent to which the structure of the ß³-puromycin employed for ribosome selection influences the regio- and stereochemical preferences of the modified ribosomes during protein synthesis; the mechanistic probe was a single suppressor tRNA(CUA) activated with each of four methyl-ß-alanine isomers (1-4). The modified ribosomes were found to incorporate each of the four isomeric methyl-ß-alanines into DHFR but exhibited a preference for incorporation of 3(S)-methyl-ß-alanine (ß-mAla; 4), i.e., the isomer having the same regio- and stereochemistry as the O-methylated ß-tyrosine moiety of ß³-puromycin. Also conducted were a selection of clones that are responsive to ß²-puromycin and a demonstration of reversal of the regio- and stereochemical preferences of these clones during protein synthesis. These results were incorporated into a structural model of the modified regions of 23S rRNA, which included in silico prediction of a H-bonding network. Finally, it was demonstrated that incorporation of 3(S)-methyl-ß-alanine (ß-mAla; 4) into a short α-helical region of the nucleic acid binding domain of hnRNP LL significantly stabilized the helix without affecting its DNA binding properties.

Coronavirus envelope (E) protein remains at the site of assembly.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) assemble at endoplasmic reticulum Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) membranes and egress from cells in cargo vesicles. Only a few molecules of the envelope (E) protein are assembled into virions. The role of E in morphogenesis is not fully understood. The cellular localization and dynamics of mouse hepatitis CoV A59 (MHV) E protein were investigated to further understanding of its role during infection. E protein localized in the ERGIC and Golgi with the amino and carboxy termini in the lumen and cytoplasm, respectively. E protein does not traffic to the cell surface. MHV was genetically engineered with a tetracysteine tag at the carboxy end of E. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) showed that E is mobile in ERGIC/Golgi membranes. Correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM) confirmed the presence of E in Golgi cisternae. The results provide strong support that E proteins carry out their function(s) at the site of budding/assembly.

Engineering of N. benthamiana L. plants for production of N-acetylgalactosamine-glycosylated proteins--towards development of a plant-based platform for production of protein therapeutics with mucin type O-glycosylation.

BACKGROUND: Mucin type O-glycosylation is one of the most common types of post-translational modifications that impacts stability and biological functions of many mammalian proteins. A large family of UDP-GalNAc polypeptide:N-acetyl-α-galactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-Ts) catalyzes the first step of mucin type O-glycosylation by transferring GalNAc to serine and/or threonine residues of acceptor polypeptides. Plants do not have the enzyme machinery to perform this process, thus restricting their use as bioreactors for production of recombinant therapeutic proteins. RESULTS: The present study demonstrates that an isoform of the human GalNAc-Ts family, GalNAc-T2, retains its localization and functionality upon expression in N. benthamiana L. plants. The recombinant enzyme resides in the Golgi as evidenced by the fluorescence distribution pattern of the GalNAc-T2:GFP fusion and alteration of the fluorescence signature upon treatment with Brefeldin A. A GalNAc-T2-specific acceptor peptide, the 113-136 aa fragment of chorionic gonadotropin ß-subunit, is glycosylated in vitro by the plant-produced enzyme at the "native" GalNAc attachment sites, Ser-121 and Ser-127. Ectopic expression of GalNAc-T2 is sufficient to "arm" tobacco cells with the ability to perform GalNAc-glycosylation, as evidenced by the attachment of GalNAc to Thr-119 of the endogenous enzyme endochitinase. However, glycosylation of highly expressed recombinant glycoproteins, like magnICON-expressed E. coli enterotoxin B subunit:H. sapiens mucin 1 tandem repeat-derived peptide fusion protein (LTBMUC1), is limited by the low endogenous UDP-GalNAc substrate pool and the insufficient translocation of UDP-GalNAc to the Golgi lumen. Further genetic engineering of the GalNAc-T2 plants by co-expressing Y. enterocolitica UDP-GlcNAc 4-epimerase gene and C. elegans UDP-GlcNAc/UDP-GalNAc transporter gene overcomes these limitations as indicated by the expression of the model LTBMUC1 protein exclusively as a glycoform. CONCLUSION: Plant bioreactors can be engineered that are capable of producing Tn antigen-containing recombinant therapeutics.

Suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages by aqueous extract of Clinopodium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The wild basil Clinopodium vulgare L. is commonly used in Bulgarian folk medicine for treatment of irritated skin, mastitis- and prostatitis-related swelling, as well as for some disorders accompanied with significant degree of inflammation (e.g. gastric ulcers, diabetes, and cancer). AIM OF STUDY: To determine the effect of aqueous extract of Clinopodium vulgare L. on LPS-induced inflammatory responses of murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Protein expression levels were monitored by Western blot analysis. Production of NO and PGE(2) was measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. Activation of MMP-9 was visualized by gelatin zymography. Cytokine levels were determined by BioPlex assay. Intracellular ROS and free radical scavenging potential were measured by DCFH-DA and DPPH method, respectively. Xanthine oxidase activity was evaluated spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: The extract suppresses NF-kappaB activation by preventing I kappa-B phosphorylation and inhibits the phosphorylation of p38 and SAPK/JNK MAPKs. It down-regulates iNOS expression which manifests as a drastic decrease of NO production, inhibits MMP-9 activation, but does not affect COX-2 protein levels and reduces only slightly the released PGE(2). Secretion of IL-1 beta and Il-10 is greatly reduced, whereas suppression of TNF-alpha and GM-CSF production is less dramatic. The extract has strong free radical scavenging properties and exerts inhibitory effect on xanthine oxidase activity, which lowers the levels of intracellular ROS. CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence for the anti-inflammatory potential of Clinopodium vulgare L. aqueous extract.

Folbos, a new foldback element in rice.

A new class I foldback element, Folbos, has been discovered in O. sativa L. Its long terminal inverted repeats (IVRs) are 303 and 331 bp long and the left one encodes a short open reading frame of 76 codons. The IVRs consist of inner and outer domains, the latter built up of 6 tandem repeats of about 30 bp each. The central region is represented by 90 bp conservative stretch adjacent to a variable length (19-33 bp) A-tail, which in most cases includes the sequence 5'-TGACTT-3'. Folbos targets AT-rich regions and the insertion results in 7 bp target site duplications. Half of the copies found in annotated sequences of O. sativa japonica cv. Nipponbare are positioned in close proximity to (< 1kb) or within the transcribed regions, thus they have the potential to contribute to plant genome evolution.