| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Hammar, Petter, et al.
(författare)
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The lac repressor displays facilitated diffusion in living cells
- 2012
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 336:6088, s. 1595-1598
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins that regulate the expression of genes by binding sequence-specific sites on the chromosome. It has been proposed that to find these sites fast and accurately, TFs combine one-dimensional (1D) sliding on DNA with 3D diffusion in the cytoplasm. This facilitated diffusion mechanism has been demonstrated in vitro, but it has not been shown experimentally to be exploited in living cells. We have developed a single-molecule assay that allows us to investigate the sliding process in living bacteria. Here we show that the lac repressor slides 45 ± 10 base pairs on chromosomal DNA and that sliding can be obstructed by other DNA-bound proteins near the operator. Furthermore, the repressor frequently (>90%) slides over its natural lacO(1) operator several times before binding. This suggests a trade-off between rapid search on nonspecific sequences and fast binding at the specific sequence.
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| 3. |
- Marklund, Erik G., et al.
(författare)
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Transcription-factor binding and sliding on DNA studied using micro- and macroscopic models
- 2013
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 110:49, s. 19796-19801
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transcription factors search for specific operator sequences by alternating rounds of 3D diffusion with rounds of 1D diffusion (sliding) along the DNA. The details of such sliding have largely been beyond direct experimental observation. For this purpose we devised an analytical formulation of umbrella sampling along a helical coordinate, and from extensive and fully atomistic simulations we quantified the free-energy landscapes that underlie the sliding dynamics and dissociation kinetics for the LacI dimer. The resulting potential of mean force distributions show a fine structure with an amplitude of 1 k(B)T for sliding and 12 kBT for dissociation. Based on the free-energy calculations the repressor slides in close contact with DNA for 8 bp on average before making a microscopic dissociation. By combining the microscopic molecular-dynamics calculations with Brownian simulation including rotational diffusion from the microscopically dissociated state we estimate a macroscopic residence time of 48 ms at the same DNA segment and an in vitro sliding distance of 240 bp. The sliding distance is in agreement with previous in vitro sliding-length estimates. The in vitro prediction for the macroscopic residence time also compares favorably to what we measure by single-molecule imaging of nonspecifically bound fluorescently labeled LacI in living cells. The investigation adds to our understanding of transcription-factor search kinetics and connects the macro-/mesoscopic rate constants to the microscopic dynamics.
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| 4. |
- Adler, Marlen, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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High Fitness Costs and Instability of Gene Duplications Reduce Rates of Evolution of New Genes by Duplication-Divergence Mechanisms
- 2014
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Ingår i: Molecular biology and evolution. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0737-4038 .- 1537-1719. ; 31:6, s. 1526-1535
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An important mechanism for generation of new genes is by duplication-divergence of existing genes. Duplication-divergence includes several different sub-models, such as subfunctionalization where after accumulation of neutral mutations the original function is distributed between two partially functional and complementary genes, and neofunctionalization where a new function evolves in one of the duplicated copies while the old function is maintained in another copy. The likelihood of these mechanisms depends on the longevity of the duplicated state, which in turn depends on the fitness cost and genetic stability of the duplications. Here, we determined the fitness cost and stability of defined gene duplications/amplifications on a low copy number plasmid. Our experimental results show that the costs of carrying extra gene copies are substantial and that each additional kbp of DNA reduces fitness by approximately 0.15%. Furthermore, gene amplifications are highly unstable and rapidly segregate to lower copy numbers in absence of selection. Mathematical modelling shows that the fitness costs and instability strongly reduces the likelihood of both sub- and neofunctionalization, but that these effects can be off-set by positive selection for novel beneficial functions.
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| 5. |
- Bai, Shi, et al.
(författare)
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Contiguous binding of decylsulfate on the interface-binding surface of pancreatic phospholipase A2
- 2008
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : ACS. - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 47:9, s. 2899-2907
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pig pancreatic IB phospholipase A(2) (PLA2) forms three distinguishable premicellar E-i(#) (i = 1, 2, and 3) complexes at successively higher decylsulfate concentrations. The Hill coefficient for E-1(#) is n(1) = 1.6, and n(2) and n(3) for E-2(#) and E-3(#) are about 8 each. Saturation-transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other complementary results with PLA2 show that decylsulfate molecules in E-2(#) and E-3(#) are contiguously and cooperatively clustered on the interface-binding surface or i-face that makes contact with the substrate interface. In these complexes, the saturation-transfer difference NMR signatures of H-1 in decylsulfate are different. The decylsulfate epitope for the successive E, complexes increasingly resembles the micellar complex formed by the binding of PLA2 to preformed micelles. Contiguous cooperative amphiphile binding is predominantly driven by the hydrophobic effect with a modest electrostatic shielding of the sulfate head group in contact with PLA2. The formation of the complexes is also associated with structural change in the enzyme. Calcium affinity of E-2(#) appears to be modestly lower than that of the free enzyme and Ell. Binding of decylsulfate to the i-face does not require the catalytic calcium required for the substrate binding to the active site and for the chemical step. These results show that E-i(#) complexes are useful to structurally characterize the cooperative sequential and contiguous binding of amphiphiles on the i-face. We suggest that the allosteric changes associated with the formation of discrete E-i(#) complexes are surrogates for the catalytic and allosteric states of the interface activated PLA2.
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| 6. |
- Belikov, Sergey, et al.
(författare)
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Quantification of transcription factor-DNA binding affinity in a living cell
- 2016
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Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 44:7, s. 3045-3058
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The apparent dissociation constant (K-d) for specific binding of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and androgen receptor (AR) to DNA was determined in vivo in Xenopus oocytes. The total nuclear receptor concentration was quantified as specifically retained [H-3]-hormone in manually isolated oocyte nuclei. DNA was introduced by nuclear microinjection of single stranded phagemid DNA, chromatin is then formed during second strand synthesis. The fraction of DNA sites occupied by the expressed receptor was determined by dimethylsulphate in vivo footprinting and used for calculation of the receptor-DNA binding affinity. The forkhead transcription factor FoxA1 enhanced the DNA binding by GR with an apparent K-d of similar to 1 mu M and dramatically stimulated DNA binding by AR with an apparent K-d of similar to 0.13 mu M at a composite androgen responsive DNA element containing one FoxA1 binding site and one palindromic hormone receptor binding site known to bind one receptor homodimer. FoxA1 exerted a weak constitutive- and strongly cooperative DNA binding together with AR but had a less prominent effect with GR, the difference reflecting the licensing function of FoxA1 at this androgen responsive DNA element.
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| 7. |
- Berg, Otto G., et al.
(författare)
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The helical structure of DNA facilitates binding
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics A. - : IOP Publishing. - 1751-8113 .- 1751-8121. ; 9:36
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The helical structure of DNA imposes constraints on the rate of diffusion-limited protein binding. Here we solve the reaction-diffusion equations for DNA-like geometries and extend with simulations when necessary. We find that the helical structure can make binding to the DNA more than twice as fast compared to a case where DNA would be reactive only along one side. We also find that this rate advantage remains when the contributions from steric constraints and rotational diffusion of the DNA-binding protein are included. Furthermore, we find that the association rate is insensitive to changes in the steric constraints on the DNA in the helix geometry, while it is much more dependent on the steric constraints on the DNA-binding protein. We conclude that the helical structure of DNA facilitates the nonspecific binding of transcription factors and structural DNA-binding proteins in general.
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| 8. |
- Berg, Otto G., et al.
(författare)
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Thermodynamic Reciprocity of the Inhibitor Binding to the Active Site and the Interface Binding Region of IB Phospholipase A2
- 2009
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 48:14, s. 3209-3218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interfacial activation of pig pancreatic IB phospholipase A(2) (PLA2) is modeled in terms of the three discrete premicellar complexes (E-i(#), i = 1, 2, or 3) consecutively formed by the cooperative binding of a monodisperse amphiphile to the i-face (the interface binding region of the enzyme) without or with an occupied active site. Monodisperse PCU, the sn-2-amide analogue of the zwitterionic substrate, is a competitive inhibitor. PCU cooperatively binds to the i-face to form premicellar complexes ((E) over tilde (i), i = 1 or 2) and also binds to the active site of the premicellar complexes in the presence of calcium. In the (E) over tilde I-i complex formed in the presence of PCU and calcium, one inhibitor molecule is bound to the active site and a number of others are bound to the i-face. The properties of the (E) over tilde (i) complexes with PCU are qualitatively similar to those of E-i(#) formed with decylsulfate. Decylsulfate binds to the i-face but does not bind to the active site in the presence of calcium, nor does it interfere with the binding of PCU to the active site in the premicellar complexes. Due to the strong coupling between binding at the i-face and at the active site, it is difficult to estimate the primary binding constants for each site in these complexes. A model is developed that incorporates the above boundary conditions in relation to a detailed balance between the complexes. A key result is that a modest effect on cooperative amphiphile binding corresponds to a large change in the affinity of the inhibitor for the active site. We suggest that besides the binding to the active site, PCU also binds to another site and that full activation requires additional amphiphiles on the i-face. Thus, the activation of the inhibitor binding to the active site of the E-2(#) complex or, equivalently, the shift in the E-1(#) to E-2(#) equilibrium by the inhibitor is analogous to the allosteric activation of the substrate binding to the enzyme bound to the interface.
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| 9. |
- Devos, David, et al.
(författare)
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Trial of Deferiprone in Parkinson’s Disease
- 2022
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Ingår i: New England Journal of Medicine. - : Massachusetts Medical Society. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 387:22, s. 2045-2055
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUNDIron content is increased in the substantia nigra of persons with Parkinson's disease and may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disorder. Early research suggests that the iron chelator deferiprone can reduce nigrostriatal iron content in persons with Parkinson's disease, but its effects on disease progression are unclear.METHODSWe conducted a multicenter, phase 2, randomized, double-blind trial involving participants with newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease who had never received levodopa. Participants were assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) to receive oral deferiprone at a dose of 15 mg per kilogram of body weight twice daily or matched placebo for 36 weeks. Dopaminergic therapy was withheld unless deemed necessary for symptom control. The primary outcome was the change in the total score on the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS; range, 0 to 260, with higher scores indicating more severe impairment) at 36 weeks. Secondary and exploratory clinical outcomes at up to 40 weeks included measures of motor and nonmotor disability. Brain iron content measured with the use of magnetic resonance imaging was also an exploratory outcome.RESULTSA total of 372 participants were enrolled; 186 were assigned to receive deferiprone and 186 to receive placebo. Progression of symptoms led to the initiation of dopaminergic therapy in 22.0% of the participants in the deferiprone group and 2.7% of those in the placebo group. The mean MDS-UPDRS total score at baseline was 34.3 in the deferiprone group and 33.2 in the placebo group and increased (worsened) by 15.6 points and 6.3 points, respectively (difference, 9.3 points; 95% confidence interval, 6.3 to 12.2; P<0.001). Nigrostriatal iron content decreased more in the deferiprone group than in the placebo group. The main serious adverse events with deferiprone were agranulocytosis in 2 participants and neutropenia in 3 participants.CONCLUSIONSIn participants with early Parkinson's disease who had never received levodopa and in whom treatment with dopaminergic medications was not planned, deferiprone was associated with worse scores in measures of parkinsonism than those with placebo over a period of 36 weeks.
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| 10. |
- Fange, David, et al.
(författare)
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Stochastic reaction-diffusion kinetics in the microscopic limit
- 2010
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 107:46, s. 19820-19825
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Quantitative analysis of biochemical networks often requires consideration of both spatial and stochastic aspects of chemical processes. Despite significant progress in the field, it is still computationally prohibitive to simulate systems involving many reactants or complex geometries using a microscopic framework that includes the finest length and time scales of diffusion-limited molecular interactions. For this reason, spatially or temporally discretized simulations schemes are commonly used when modeling intracellular reaction networks. The challenge in defining such coarse-grained models is to calculate the correct probabilities of reaction given the microscopic parameters and the uncertainty in the molecular positions introduced by the spatial or temporal discretization. In this paper we have solved this problem for the spatially discretized Reaction-Diffusion Master Equation; this enables a seamless and physically consistent transition from the microscopic to the macroscopic frameworks of reaction-diffusion kinetics. We exemplify the use of the methods by showing that a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation motif, commonly observed in eukaryotic signaling pathways, is predicted to display fluctuations that depend on the geometry of the system.
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