| 1. |
- Lesch, Christine, et al.
(författare)
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A role for Hemolectin in coagulation and immunity in Drosophila melanogaster
- 2007
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Ingår i: Developmental and Comparative Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0145-305X .- 1879-0089. ; 31:12, s. 1255-1263
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hemolectin has been identified as a candidate clotting factor in Drosophila. We reassessed the domain structure of Hemolectin (Hml) and propose that instead of C-type lectin domains, the two discoidin domains are most likely responsible for the protein's lectin activity. We also tested Hml's role in coagulation and immunity in Drosophila. Here we describe the isolation of a new hml allele in a forward screen for coagulation mutants, and our characterization of this and two other hml alleles, one of which is a functional null. While loss of Hml had strong effects on larval hemolymph coagulation ex vivo, mutant larvae survived wounding. Drosophila thus possesses redundant hemostatic mechanisms. We also found that loss of Hml in immune-handicapped adults rendered them more sensitive to Gram(-) bacteria infection. This demonstrates an immunological role of this clotting protein and reinforces the importance of the clot in insect immunity.
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| 2. |
- Petersson, Ulrika A., et al.
(författare)
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The Prx Q protein of Arabidopsis thaliana is a member of the luminal chloroplast proteome
- 2006
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Ingår i: FEBS Letters. - : Wiley. - 0014-5793 .- 1873-3468. ; 580:26, s. 6055-6061
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Peroxiredoxins have been discovered in many organisms ranging from eubacteria to mammals, and their known biological functions include both oxidant defense and signal transduction. The genome of Arabidopsis thaliana encodes for ten individual peroxiredoxins, of which four are located in the chloroplast. The best-characterized member of the chloroplast peroxiredoxins is 2-Cys Prx that is associated with the stroma side of the thylakoid membrane and is considered to participate in antioxidant defense and protection of photosynthesis. This study addressed the chloroplast peroxiredoxin Prx Q and showed that its subcellular location is the lumen of the thylakoid membrane. To get insight in the biological function of the Prx Q protein of Arabidopsis, the protein levels of the Prx Q protein in thylakoid membranes were studied under different light conditions and oxidative stress. A T-DNA knockout mutant of Prx Q did not show any visible phenotype and had normal photosynthetic performance with a slightly increased oxygen evolving activity.
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| 3. |
- Korayem, Ahmed, et al.
(författare)
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Evidence for an immune function of lepidopteran silk proteins
- 2007
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Ingår i: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications - BBRC. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-291X .- 1090-2104. ; 352:2, s. 317-322
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hemolymph coagulation stops bleeding and protects against infection. Clotting factors include both proteins that are conserved during evolution as well as more divergent proteins in different species. Here we show that several silk proteins also appear in the clot of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella. RT-PCR analysis reveals that silk proteins are expressed in immune tissues and induced upon wounding in both Galleria and Ephestia kuehniella, a second pyralid moth. Our results support the idea that silk proteins were co-opted for immunity and coagulation during evolution.
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| 4. |
- Djupedal, Ingela, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of small RNA in fission yeast; centromeric siRNAs are potentially generated through a structured RNA
- 2009
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Ingår i: EMBO Journal. - : Wiley. - 0261-4189 .- 1460-2075. ; 28:24, s. 3832-3844
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The formation of heterochromatin at the centromeres in fission yeast depends on transcription of the outer repeats. These transcripts are processed into siRNAs that target homologous loci for heterochromatin formation. Here, high throughput sequencing of small RNA provides a comprehensive analysis of centromere-derived small RNAs. We found that the centromeric small RNAs are Dcr1 dependent, carry 50-monophosphates and are associated with Ago1. The majority of centromeric small RNAs originate from two remarkably well-conserved sequences that are present in all centromeres. The high degree of similarity suggests that this non-coding sequence in itself may be of importance. Consistent with this, secondary structure-probing experiments indicate that this centromeric RNA is partially double-stranded and is processed by Dicer in vitro. We further demonstrate the existence of small centromeric RNA in rdp1D cells. Our data suggest a pathway for siRNA generation that is distinct from the well-documented model involving RITS/RDRC. We propose that primary transcripts fold into hairpin-like structures that may be processed by Dcr1 into siRNAs, and that these siRNAs may initiate heterochromatin formation independent of RDRC activity. The EMBO Journal (2009) 28, 3832-3844. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2009.351; Published online 26 November 2009
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| 5. |
- Fisher, Linda, et al.
(författare)
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Targeting cytokine expression in glial cells by cellular delivery of an NFκB decoy
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Neuroscience. - 0895-8696 .- 1559-1166. ; 31:3, s. 209-219
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inhibition of nuclear factor (NF)-κB has emerged as an important strategy for design of anti-inflammatory therapies. In neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory reactions mediated by glial cells are believed to promote disease progression. Here, we report that uptake of a double-stranded oligonucleotide NF-κB decoy in rat primary glial cells is clearly facilitated by noncovalent binding to a cell-penetrating peptide, transportan 10, via a complementary peptide nucleic acid (PNA) sequence. Fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide decoy was detected in the cells within 1 h only when cells were incubated with the decoy in the presence of cell-penetrating peptide. Cellular delivery of the decoy also inhibited effects induced by a neurotoxic fragment of the Alzheimer β amyloid peptide in the presence of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL) 1β. Pretreatment of the cells with the complex formed by the decoy and the cell-penetrating peptide-PNA resulted in 80% and 50% inhibition of the NF-κB binding activity and IL-6 mRNA expression, respectively.
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| 6. |
- Koeck, Philip J. B., et al.
(författare)
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Single particle refinement in electron crystallography : A pilot study
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Structural Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1047-8477 .- 1095-8657. ; 160:3, s. 344-352
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Electron crystallography can be used to determine the structures of membrane proteins at near-atomic resolution in some cases. However, most electron crystallography projects remain at a resolution around 10 Å. This might be partly due to lack of flatness of many two-dimensional crystals. We have investigated this problem and suggest single particle processing of locally averaged unit cells to improve the quality and possibly the resolution of three-dimensional maps. Applying this method to the secondary transporter melibiose permease we have calculated a three-dimensional map that is clearer and easier to interpret than the map derived using purely electron-crystallographic methods.
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| 7. |
- Figueroa, Ricardo, et al.
(författare)
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A transmembrane inner nuclear membrane protein in the mitotic spindle
- 2010
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Ingår i: Nucleus (Austin). - 1949-1042. ; 1:3, s. 249-253
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have recently characterized a novel transmembrane protein of the inner nuclear membrane of mammalian cells. The protein has two very interesting features. First, despite being an integral membrane protein it is able to concentrate in the membranes colocalizing with the mitotic spindle in metaphase and anaphase. Hence, the protein was named Samp1, Spindle associated membrane protein 1. Secondly, it displays a functional connection to centrosomes. This article discusses various aspects of Samp1 in relation to possible cellular function(s).
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| 8. |
- Kaiser, L, et al.
(författare)
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Structural characterization of the tetrameric form of the major cat allergen Fel d 1
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-2836 .- 1089-8638. ; 370:4, s. 714-727
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Felis domesticus allergen 1(Fel d 1) is a 35 kDa tetrameric glycoprotein formed by two heterodimers which elicits IgE responses in 95% of patients with allergy to cat. We have previously established in vitro conditions for the appropriate folding of recombinant Fel d 1 using a direct linkage of chain 1 to chain 2 (construct Fel d 1 (1+2)) and chain 2 to chain 1 (construct Fel d 1 (2+1)). Although the crystal structure of Fel d 1 (2+1) revealed a striking structural similarity to that of uteroglobin, a steroid-inducible cytokine-like molecule with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, no functional tetrameric form of Fel d 1 could be identified. Here we present the crystal structure of the Fel d 1 (1+2) tetramer at 1.6 A resolution. Interestingly, the crystal structure of tetrameric Fel d 1 reveals two different calcium-binding sites. Symmetrically positioned on each side of the Fel d 1 tetramer, the external Ca(2+)-binding sites correspond to a putative Ca(2+)-binding site previously suggested for uteroglobin. The second Ca(2+)-binding site lies within the dimerization interface, stabilizing the formation of the Fel d 1 tetramer, and inducing important local conformational changes that directly govern the shape of two water-filled cavities. The crystal structure suggests a potential portal for an unknown ligand. Alternatively, the two cavities could be used by the allergen as a conditional inner space allowing for the spatial rearrangement of centrally localized side-chains, such as Asp130, without altering the overall fold of the molecule. The striking structural similarity of the major cat allergen to uteroglobin, coupled to the identification in the present study of a common Ca(2+)-binding site, let us speculate that Fel d 1 could provoke an allergic response through the modulation of phospholipase A2, by sequestering Ca ions in a similar manner as previously suggested for uteroglobin.
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| 9. |
- Ivanova, Natalia, et al.
(författare)
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Structure probing of tmRNA in distinct stages of trans-translation
- 2007
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Ingår i: RNA. - : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. - 1355-8382 .- 1469-9001. ; 13:5, s. 713-722
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ribosomes stalled on problematic mRNAs in bacterial cells can be rescued by transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA), its helperprotein (small protein B, SmpB), and elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) through a mechanism called trans-translation. In this work weused lead(II) footprinting to probe the interactions of tmRNA with SmpB and other components of the translation machinery atdifferent steps of the trans-translation cycle. Ribosomes with a short nascent peptide stalled on a truncated mRNA were reactedwith Ala-tmRNA EF-Tu GTP, SmpB, and other translation components to initiate and execute trans-translation. Free tmRNA was d dprobed with lead(II) acetate with and without SmpB, and ribosome bound tmRNA was probed in one of four different trans-translation states stabilized by antibiotic addition or selective exclusion of translation components. For comparison, we alsoanalyzed lead(II) cleavage patterns of tmRNA in vivo in a wild-type as well as in an SmpB-deficient Escherichia coli strain. Weobserved some specific cleavages/protections in tmRNA for the individual steps of trans-translation, but the overall tmRNAconformation appeared to be similar in the stages analyzed. Our findings suggest that, in vivo, a dominant fraction of tmRNA isin complex with SmpB and that, in vitro, SmpB remains tmRNA bound at the initial steps of trans-translation.
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| 10. |
- Lindgren, Malin, 1975-
(författare)
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Molecular and functional characterization of the insect hemolymph clot
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- All metazoans possess an epithelial barrier that protects them from their environment and prevents loss off body fluid. Insects, which have an open circulatory system, depend on fast mechanism to seal wounds to avoid excessive loss of body fluids. As in vertebrates, and non-insect arthropods such as horseshoe crab and crustaceans, insects form a clot as the first response to tissue damage. Insect hemolymph coagulation has not been characterized extensively at the molecular level before, and the aim of my studies was to gain more knowledge on this topic. Morphological characterization of the Drosophila hemolymph clot showed that it resembles the clots previously described in other larger bodied insects, such as Galleria mellonella. The Drosophila clot is a fibrous network of cross-linked proteins and incorporated blood cells. The proteins building up the clot are soluble in the hemolymph or released from hemocytes upon activation. Since bacteria are caught in the clot matrix and thereby prevented from spreading it is likely that the clot serves as a first line of defense against microbial intruders. The bacteria are not killed by the clot. What actually kills the bacteria is not known at this point, although the phenoloxidase cascade does not seem to be of major importance since bacteria died in the absence of phenoloxidase. We identified and characterized a new clot protein which we named gp150 (Eig71Ee). Eig71Ee is an ecdysone-regulated mucin-like protein that is expressed in salivary glands, the perithophic membrane of the gut and in hemocytes, and can be labeled with the lectin peanut agglutinin (PNA). Eig71Ee was found to interact with another clot protein (Fondue), and the reaction was catalyzed by the enzyme transglutaminase. This is the first direct functional confirmation that transglutaminase acts in Drosophila coagulation. A protein fusion construct containing Fondue tagged with GFP was created. The fusion construct labeled the cuticle and the clot, and will be a valuable tool in future studies. Functional characterization of the previously identified clotting factor Hemolectin (Hml) revealed redundancy in the clotting mechanism. Loss of Hml had strong effects on larval hemolymph clotting ex vivo, but only minor effects, such as larges scabs, in vivo when larvae were wounded. An immunological role of Hml was demonstrated only after sensitizing the genetic background of Hml mutant flies confirming the difficulty of studying such processes in a living system. Hemolectin was previously considered to contain C-type lectin domains. We reassessed the domain structure and did not find any Ctype lectin domains; instead we found two discoidin domains which we propose are responsible for the protein’s lectin activity. We also showed that lepidopterans, such as Galleria mellonella and Ephestia kuehniella, use silk proteins to form clots. This finding suggests that the formation of a clot matrix evolved in insects by the co-option of proteins already participated in the formation of extracellular formations.
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