| 1. |
- Georgieva, Polina, et al.
(författare)
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The reaction mechanism of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase : A density functional theory study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Proteins and Proteomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1570-9639 .- 1878-1454. ; 1794:12, s. 1831-1837
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hybrid density functional theory methods were used to investigate the reaction mechanism of human phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (hPNMT). This enzyme catalyzes the S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent conversion of norepinephrine to epinephrine, which constitutes the terminal step in the catecholamine biosynthesis. Several models of the active site were constructed based on the X-ray structure. Geometries of the stationary points along the reaction path were optimized and the reaction barrier and energy were calculated and compared to the experimental values. The calculations demonstrate that the reaction takes place via an S(N)2 mechanism with methyl transfer being rate-limiting, a suggestion supported by mutagenesis studies. Optimal agreement with experimental data is reached using a model in which both active site glutamates; are protonated. Overall, the mechanism of hPNMT is more similar to those of catechol O-methyltransferase and glycine N-methyltransferase than to that of guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase in which methyl transfer is coupled to proton transfer.
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| 2. |
- Karlsson, Oskar, et al.
(författare)
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MALDI imaging delineates hippocampal glycosphingolipid changes associated with neurotoxin induced proteopathy following neonatal BMAA exposure.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3002 .- 1878-2434. ; 1865:7, s. 740-746
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The environmental toxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been proposed to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. We have previously shown that neonatal exposure to BMAA results in dose-dependent cognitive impairments, proteomic alterations and progressive neurodegeneration in the hippocampus of adult rats. A high BMAA dose (460mg/kg) also induced intracellular fibril formation, increased protein ubiquitination and enrichment of proteins important for lipid transport and metabolism. The aim of this study was therefore to elucidate the role of neuronal lipids in BMAA-induced neurodegeneration. By using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS), we characterized the spatial lipid profile in the hippocampus of six month-old rats that were treated neonatally (postnatal days 9-10) with 460mg/kg BMAA. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed long-term changes in distinct ganglioside species (GM, GD, GT) in the dentate gyrus. These changes could be a consequence of direct effects on ganglioside biosynthesis through the b-series (GM3-GD3-GD2-GD1b-GT1b) and may be linked to astrogliosis. Complementary immunohistochemistry experiments towards GFAP and S100β further verified the role of increased astrocyte activity in BMAA-induced brain damage. This highlights the potential of imaging MS for probing chemical changes associated with neuropathological mechanisms in situ. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: MALDI Imaging, edited by Dr. Corinna Henkel and Prof. Peter Hoffmann.
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| 3. |
- Lohkamp, Bernhard, et al.
(författare)
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Insights into the mechanism of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase from site-directed mutagenesis targeting the active site loop and redox cofactor coordination
- 2010
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Proteins and Proteomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1570-9639 .- 1878-1454. ; 1804:12, s. 2198-2206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In mammals, the pyrimidines uracil and thymine are metabolised by a three-step reductive degradation pathway. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) catalyses its first and rate-limiting step, reducing uracil and thymine to the corresponding 5,6-dihydropyrimidines in an NADPH-dependent reaction. The enzyme is an adjunct target in cancer therapy since it rapidly breaks down the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil and related compounds. Five residues located in functionally important regions were targeted in mutational studies to investigate their role in the catalytic mechanism of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase from pig. Pyrimidine binding to this enzyme is accompanied by active site loop closure that positions a catalytically crucial cysteine (C671) residue. Kinetic characterization of corresponding enzyme mutants revealed that the deprotonation of the loop residue H673 is required for active site closure, while S670 is important for substrate recognition. Investigations on selected residues involved in binding of the redox cofactors revealed that the first FeS cluster, with unusual coordination, cannot be reduced and displays no activity when Q156 is mutated to glutamate, and that R235 is crucial for FAD binding.
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| 4. |
- Lundberg, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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A35Cl--NMR study of the singular anion-binding properties of dromedary hemoglobin
- 1989
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3002 .- 1878-2434. ; 999:1, s. 12-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 35Cl(-)-NMR measurements of chloride binding to carbonmonoxy- and deoxy-dromedary hemoglobin reveal the existence of two classes of chloride-binding sites, one of high and the other of low affinity. Although this situation resembles that described for human hemoglobin, it was found that the number of binding sites as well as the association equilibrium constant for chloride binding are significantly higher in the dromedary protein. This difference may be due to the greater number of basic residues exposed to solvent and to the higher flexibility of dromedary hemoglobin. The two oxygen-linked polyanion-binding sites characteristic of this hemoglobin show competition for some of the high-affinity chloride-binding sites in keeping with their location in the cleft enclosed by the beta chains and between the alpha chains termini. It is suggested that the observed anion-binding properties of dromedary hemoglobin may contribute to the control of the physiological osmotic shock after rehydration.
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| 5. |
- Al-Furoukh, Natalie, et al.
(författare)
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Binding to G-quadruplex RNA activates the mitochondrial GTPase NOA1
- 2013
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Ingår i: Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Cell Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-4889. ; 1833:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- NOA1 is an evolutionary conserved, nuclear encoded GTPase essential for mitochondrial function and cellular survival. The function of NOA1 for assembly of mitochondrial ribosomes and regulation of OXPHOS activity depends on its GTPase activity, but so far no ligands have been identified that regulate the GTPase activity of NOA1. To identify nucleic acids that bind to the RNA-binding domain of NOA1 we employed SELEX (Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) using recombinant mouse wildtype NOA1 and the GTPase mutant NOA1-K353R We found that NOA1 binds specifically to oligonucleotides that fold into guanine tetrads (G-quadruplexes). Binding of G-quadruplex oligonucleotides stimulated the GTPase activity of NOA1 suggesting a regulatory link between G-quadruplex containing RNAs, NOA1 function and assembly of mitochondrial ribosomes. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Aspenström, Pontus
(författare)
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Integration of signalling pathways regulated by small GTPases and calcium
- 2004
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3002 .- 1878-2434. ; 1742:1-3, s. 51-58
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Ras superfamily of small GTPases constitutes a large group of structurally and functionally related proteins. They function as signalling switches in numerous signalling cascades in the cell. During the recent years, an increased awareness of a communication between signalling systems employing Ras-like GTPases and signalling systems employing calcium has emerged. For instance, the intensity of the activation of Ras-like GTPases is regulated by calcium-dependent mechanisms, acting on proteins that facilitate the activation or inactivation of the small GTPases. Other Ras-like GTPases have a direct influence on calcium signalling by regulating the activity of certain calcium channels. In addition, several small GTPases collaborate with calcium signalling in regulating cellular processes, such as cell adhesion, cell migration and exocytosis.
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| 7. |
- Autelli, Riccardo, et al.
(författare)
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Divergent pathways for TNF and C₂-ceramide toxicity in HTC hematoma cells
- 2009
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - : Elsevier. - 0006-3002 .- 1878-2434. ; 1793, s. 1182-1190
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We previously showed that, in the rat hepatoma cell line HTC, TNF brings about a non-caspase-dependent, apoptosis-like process requiring NADPH oxidase activity, an iron-mediated pro-oxidant status, and a functional acidic vacuolar compartment. This process may thus involve mechanisms such as autophagy or relocation of lysosomal enzymes, perhaps secondary to the formation of ceramide by acidic sphingomyelinase. Here we investigated whether ceramide formation contributes to the apoptogenic process. HTC cells were found to be sensitive to exogenous ceramide and significantly protected against TNF by desipramine, an inhibitor of lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase. However, Bcl-2 transfection and Bcl-x(L) upregulation by dexamethasone significantly diminished the apoptogenic effect of ceramide but not that of TNF, suggesting that ceramide is not directly involved in TNF toxicity. Moreover, Bcl-x(L) silencing precluded dexamethasone-induced protection against ceramide and, by itself, induced massive death, demonstrating the strict dependence of HTC cells on Bcl-x(L) for survival also under standard culture conditions.
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| 8. |
- Badhai, Jitendra, et al.
(författare)
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Ribosomal protein S19 and S24 insufficiency cause distinct cell cycle defects in Diamond-Blackfan anemia
- 2009
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3002 .- 1878-2434. ; 1792:10, s. 1036-1042
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a severe congenital anemia characterized by a specific decrease of erythroid precursors. The disease is also associated with growth retardation, congenital malformations, a predisposition for malignant disease and heterozygous mutations in either of the ribosomal protein (RP) genes RPS7, RPS17, RPS19, RPS24, RPL5, RPL11 and RPL35a. We show herein that primary fibroblasts from DBA patients with truncating mutations in RPS19 or in RPS24 have a marked reduction in proliferative capacity. Mutant fibroblasts are associated with extended cell cycles and normal levels of p53 when compared to w.t. cells. RPS19 mutant fibroblasts accumulate in the G1 phase, whereas the RPS24 mutant cells show an altered progression in the S phase resulting in reduced levels in the G2/M phase. RPS19 deficient cells exhibit reduced levels of Cyclin-E, CDK2 and retinoblastoma (Rb) protein supporting a cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. In contrast, RPS24 deficient cells show increased levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and a seemingly opposing increase in Cyclin-E, CDK4 and CDK6. In combination, our results show that RPS19 and RPS24 insufficient fibroblasts have an impaired growth caused by distinct blockages in the cell cycle. We suggest this proliferative constraint to be an important contributing mechanism for the complex extra-hematological features observed in DBA.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Belew, M, et al.
(författare)
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Structure-activity studies on synthetic analogs to vasoactive peptides derived from human fibrinogen.
- 1980
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Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - 0006-3002 .- 1878-2434. ; 632:1, s. 87-94
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Counterparts to two vasoactive peptides previously isolated from fibrin(ogen) degraded by plasmin (EC 3.4.21.7) were synthesized by the solid phase procedure. The synthetic undecapeptide (Ser-Gln-Leu-Gln-Lys-Val-Pro-Pro-Glu-Trp-Lys) was isolated in a homogeneous state by chromatography on Sephadex G-25 and DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and the pentapeptide (Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys) by chromatography on BioGel P-6 and column zone electrophoresis. The effect of these two peptides and of fifteen analogs to the pentapeptide on microvascular permeability in rat skin was investigated. The two synthetic counterparts were as potent as the natural peptides. With respect to the analogs, the influence of different functional groups was first studied. This was followed by attempts to minimize the active structure, induce or relieve rigidity of the peptide back-bone or otherwise accomplish modifications by a change in chirality at critical positions. Our results show that the tetrapeptide Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys has the same effect on microvascular permeability as the pentapeptide in the assay system used. Basic amino acids at both ends, as well as a proline residue adjacent to the N-terminal amino acid appear important for full or essentially full activity. On the other hand, substitution of the Ala at position 4 with several other amino acids did not result in a significant loss in biological potency.
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