| 1. |
- Irbäck, A, et al.
(författare)
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On hydrophobicity correlations in protein chains
- 2000
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495. ; 79:5, s. 8-2252
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We study the statistical properties of hydrophobic/polar model sequences with unique native states on the square lattice. It is shown that this ensemble of sequences differs from random sequences in significant ways in terms of both the distribution of hydrophobicity along the chains and total hydrophobicity. Whenever statistically feasible, the analogous calculations are performed for a set of real enzymes, too.
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| 2. |
- Ryde, Ulf
(författare)
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Carboxylate binding modes in zinc proteins : A theoretical study
- 1999
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495. ; 77:5, s. 2777-2787
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The relative energies of different coordination modes (bidentate, monodentate, syn, and anti) of a carboxylate group bound to a zinc ion have been studied by the density functional method B3LYP with large basis sets on realistic models of the active site of several zinc proteins. In positively charged four-coordinate complexes, the mono- and bidentate coordination modes have almost the same energy (within 10 kJ/mol). However, if there are negatively charged ligands other than the carboxylate group, the monodentate binding mode is favored. In general, the energy difference between monodentate and bidentate coordination is small, 4-24 kJ/mol, and it is determined more by hydrogen-bond interactions with other ligands or second- sphere groups than by the zinc-carboxylate interaction. Similarly, the activation energy for the conversion between the two coordination modes is small, ~6 kJ/mol, indicating a very flat Zn-O potential surface. The energy difference between syn and anti binding modes of the monodentate carboxylate group is larger, 70-100 kJ/mol, but this figure again strongly depends on interactions with second-sphere molecules. Our results also indicate that the pK(a) of the zinc-bound water ligand in carboxypeptidase and thermolysin is 8-9.
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| 3. |
- Sparr, E., et al.
(författare)
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Responding phospholipid membranes : Interplay between hydration and permeability
- 2001
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495. ; 81:2, s. 1014-1028
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Osmotic forces are important in regulating a number of physiological membrane processes. The effect of osmotic pressure on lipid phase behavior is of utmost importance for the extracellular lipids in stratum corneum (the outer part of human skin), due to the large gradient in water chemical potential between the water-rich tissue on the inside, and the relative dry environment on the outside of the body. We present a theoretical model for molecular diffusional transport over an oriented stack of two-component lipid bilayers in the presence of a gradient in osmotic pressure. This gradient serves as the driving force for diffusional motion of water. It also causes a gradient in swelling and phase transformations, which profoundly affect the molecular environment and thus the local diffusion properties. This feedback mechanism generates a nonlinear transport behavior, which we illustrate by calculations of the flux of water and solute (nicotine) through the bilayer stack. The calculated water flux shows qualitative agreement with experimental findings for water flux through stratum corneum. We also present a physical basis for the occlusion effect. Phase behavior of binary phospholipid mixtures at varying osmotic pressures is modeled from the known interlamellar forces and the regular solution theory. A first-order phase transformation from a gel to a liquid - crystalline phase can be induced by an increase in the osmotic pressure. In the bilayer stack, a transition can be induced along the gradient. The boundary conditions in water chemical potential can thus act as a switch for the membrane permeability.
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| 4. |
- Almqvist, Nils, et al.
(författare)
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Elasticity and adhesion force mapping reveals real-time clustering of growth factor receptors and associated changes in local cellular rheological properties
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 86:3, s. 1753-1762
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cell surface macromolecules such as receptors and ion channels serve as the interface link between the cytoplasm and the extracellular region. Their density, distribution, and clustering are key spatial features influencing effective and proper physical and biochemical cellular responses to many regulatory signals. In this study, the effect of plasma-membrane receptor clustering on local cell mechanics was obtained from maps of interaction forces between antibody-conjugated atomic force microscope tips and a specific receptor, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. The technique allows simultaneous measurement of the real-time motion of specific macromolecules and their effect on local rheological properties like elasticity. The clustering was stimulated by online additions of VEGF, or antibody against VEGF receptors. VEGF receptors are found to concentrate toward the cell boundaries and cluster rapidly after the online additions commence. Elasticity of regions under the clusters is found to change remarkably, with order-of-magnitude stiffness reductions and fluidity increases. The local stiffness reductions are nearly proportional to. receptor density and, being concentrated near the cell edges, provide a mechanism for cell growth and angiogenesis.
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| 5. |
- Antzutkin, Oleg, et al.
(författare)
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Site-Specific Identification of Non-ß-Strand Conformations in Alzheimer's ß-Amyloid Fibrils by Solid-State NMR
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 84:5, s. 3326-3335
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The most well-established structural feature of amyloid fibrils is the cross-ß motif, an extended ß-sheet structure formed by ß-strands oriented perpendicular to the long fibril axis. Direct experimental identification of non-ß-strand conformations in amyloid fibrils has not been reported previously. Here we report the results of solid-state NMR measurements on amyloid fibrils formed by the 40-residue ß-amyloid peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease (Aß1-40), prepared synthetically with pairs of 13C labels at consecutive backbone carbonyl sites. The measurements probe the peptide backbone conformation in residues 24-30, a segment where a non-ß-strand conformation has been suggested by earlier sequence analysis, cross-linking experiments, and molecular modeling. Data obtained with the fpRFDR-CT, DQCSA, and 2D MAS exchange solid-state NMR techniques, which provide independent constraints on the and backbone torsion angles between the labeled carbonyl sites, indicate non-ß-strand conformations at G25, S26, and G29. These results represent the first site-specific identification and characterization of non-ß-strand peptide conformations in an amyloid fibril
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| 6. |
- Arner, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Calcium transients and the effect of a photolytically released calcium chelator during electrically induced contractions in rabbit rectococcygeus smooth muscle
- 1998
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 1542-0086 .- 0006-3495. ; 75:4, s. 1895-1903
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intracellular Ca2+ was determined with the fura-2 technique during electrically induced contractions in the rabbit rectococcygeus smooth muscle at 22 degreesC. The muscles were electrically activated to give short, reproducible contractions. Intracellular [Ca2+] increased during activation; the increase in [Ca2+] preceded force development by approximately 2 s. After cessation of stimulation Ca2+ fell, preceding the fall in force by approximately 4 s. The fluorescence properties of fura-2 were determined with time-resolved spectroscopy using synchrotron light at the MAX-storage ring, Lund, Sweden. The fluorescence decay of free fura-2 was best described by two exponential decays (time constants approximately 0.5 and 1.5 ns) at low Ca2+ (pCa 9). At high Ca2+ (pCa 4.5), fluorescence decay became slower and could be fitted by one exponential decay (1.9 ns). Time-resolved anisotropy of free fura-2 was characteristic of free rotational motion (correlation time 0.3 ns). Motion of fura-2 could be markedly inhibited by high concentrations of creatine kinase. Time-resolved spectroscopy measurements of muscle fibers loaded with fura-2 showed that the fluorescence lifetime of the probe was longer, suggesting an influence of the chemical environment. Anisotropy measurements revealed, however, that the probe was mobile in the cells. The Ca2+-dependence of contraction and relaxation was studied using a photolabile calcium chelator, diazo-2, which could be loaded into the muscle cells in a similar manner as fura-2. Photolysis of diazo-2 leads to an increase in its Ca2+-affinity and a fall in free Ca2+. When muscles that had been loaded with diazo-2 were illuminated with UV light flashes during the rising phase of contraction, the rate of contraction became slower, suggesting a close relation between intracellular Ca2+ and the cross-bridge interaction. In contrast, photolysis during relaxation did not influence the rate of force decay, suggesting that relaxation of these contractions is not determined by the rate of Ca2+ removal or due to an increased Ca2+ sensitivity, but instead is limited by other processes such as deactivation by dephosphorylation or detachment of tension-bearing cross-bridges, possibly regulated by thin filament systems.
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| 7. |
- Balbach, John J., et al.
(författare)
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Supramolecular Structure in Full-Length Alzheimer's β-Amyloid Fibrils: Evidence for a Parallel β-Sheet Organization from Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 83:2, s. 1205-1216
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report constraints on the supramolecular structure of amyloid fibrils formed by the 40-residue β-amyloid peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease (Aβ1–40) obtained from solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of intermolecular dipole-dipole couplings between 13C labels at 11 carbon sites in residues 2 through 39. The measurements are carried out under magic-angle spinning conditions, using the constant-time finite-pulse radiofrequency-driven recoupling (fpRFDR-CT) technique. We also present one-dimensional 13C magic-angle spinning NMR spectra of the labeled Aβ1–40 samples. The fpRFDR-CT data reveal nearest-neighbor intermolecular distances of 4.8 ± 0.5 Å for carbon sites from residues 12 through 39, indicating a parallel alignment of neighboring peptide chains in the predominantly β-sheet structure of the amyloid fibrils. The one-dimensional NMR spectra indicate structural order at these sites. The fpRFDR-CT data and NMR spectra also indicate structural disorder in the N-terminal segment of Aβ1–40, including the first nine residues. These results place strong constraints on any molecular-level structural model for full-length β-amyloid fibrils.
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| 8. |
- Barg, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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Fast exocytosis with few Ca(2+) channels in insulin-secreting mouse pancreatic B cells
- 2001
-
Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 1542-0086 .- 0006-3495. ; 81:6, s. 3308-3323
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The association of L-type Ca(2+) channels to the secretory granules and its functional significance to secretion was investigated in mouse pancreatic B cells. Nonstationary fluctuation analysis showed that the B cell is equipped with <500 alpha1(C) L-type Ca(2+) channels, corresponding to a Ca(2+) channel density of 0.9 channels per microm(2). Analysis of the kinetics of exocytosis during voltage-clamp depolarizations revealed an early component that reached a peak rate of 1.1 pFs(-1) (approximately 650 granules/s) 25 ms after onset of the pulse and is completed within approximately 100 ms. This component represents a subset of approximately 60 granules situated in the immediate vicinity of the L-type Ca(2+) channels, corresponding to approximately 10% of the readily releasable pool of granules. Experiments involving photorelease of caged Ca(2+) revealed that the rate of exocytosis was half-maximal at a cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration of 17 microM, and concentrations >25 microM are required to attain the rate of exocytosis observed during voltage-clamp depolarizations. The rapid component of exocytosis was not affected by inclusion of millimolar concentrations of the Ca(2+) buffer EGTA but abolished by addition of exogenous L(C753-893), the 140 amino acids of the cytoplasmic loop connecting the 2(nd) and 3(rd) transmembrane region of the alpha1(C) L-type Ca(2+) channel, which has been proposed to tether the Ca(2+) channels to the secretory granules. In keeping with the idea that secretion is determined by Ca(2+) influx through individual Ca(2+) channels, exocytosis triggered by brief (15 ms) depolarizations was enhanced 2.5-fold by the Ca(2+) channel agonist BayK8644 and 3.5-fold by elevating extracellular Ca(2+) from 2.6 to 10 mM. Recordings of single Ca(2+) channel activity revealed that patches predominantly contained no channels or many active channels. We propose that several Ca(2+) channels associate with a single granule thus forming a functional unit. This arrangement is important in a cell with few Ca(2+) channels as it ensures maximum usage of the Ca(2+) entering the cell while minimizing the influence of stochastic variations of the Ca(2+) channel activity.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
- Chamberlain, Aaron K, et al.
(författare)
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Ultrastructural organization of amyloid fibrils by atomic force microscopy
- 2000
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Cell Press. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 79:6, s. 3282-3293
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Atomic force microscopy has been employed to investigate the structural organization of amyloid fibrils produced in vitro from three very different polypeptide sequences. The systems investigated are a 10-residue peptide derived from the sequence of transthyretin, the 90-residue SH3 domain of bovine phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase, and human wild-type lysozyme, a 130-residue protein containing four disulfide bridges. The results demonstrate distinct similarities between the structures formed by the different classes of fibrils despite the contrasting nature of the polypeptide species involved. SH3 and lysozyme fibrils consist typically of four protofilaments, exhibiting a left-handed twist along the fibril axis. The substructure of TTR(10-19) fibrils is not resolved by atomic force microscopy and their uniform appearance is suggestive of a regular self-association of very thin filaments. We propose that the exact number and orientation of protofilaments within amyloid fibrils is dictated by packing of the regions of the polypeptide chains that are not directly involved in formation of the cross-beta core of the fibrils. The results obtained for these proteins, none of which is directly associated with any human disease, are closely similar to those of disease-related amyloid fibrils, supporting the concept that amyloid is a generic structure of polypeptide chains. The detailed architecture of an individual fibril, however, depends on the manner in which the protofilaments assemble into the fibrillar structure, which in turn is dependent on the sequence of the polypeptide and the conditions under which the fibril is formed.
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| 12. |
- Copello, J A, et al.
(författare)
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Heterogeneity of Ca2+ gating of skeletal muscle and cardiac ryanodine receptors.
- 1997
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 73:1, s. 141-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The single-channel activity of rabbit skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (skeletal RyR) and dog cardiac RyR was studied as a function of cytosolic [Ca2+]. The studies reveal that for both skeletal and cardiac RyRs, heterogeneous populations of channels exist, rather than a uniform behavior. Skeletal muscle RyRs displayed two extremes of behavior: 1) low-activity RyRs (LA skeletal RyRs, approximately 35% of the channels) had very low open probability (Po < 0.1) at all [Ca2+] and remained closed in the presence of Mg2+ (2 mM) and ATP (1 mM); 2) high-activity RyRs (HA skeletal RyRs) had much higher activity and displayed further heterogeneity in their Po values at low [Ca2+] (< 50 nM), and in their patterns of activation by [Ca2+]. Hill coefficients for activation (nHa) varied from 0.8 to 5.2. Cardiac RyRs, in comparison, behaved more homogeneously. Most cardiac RyRs were closed at 100 nM [Ca2+] and activated in a cooperative manner (nHa ranged from 1.6 to 5.0), reaching a high Po (> 0.6) in the presence and absence of Mg2+ and ATP. Heart RyRs were much less sensitive (10x) to inhibition by [Ca2+] than skeletal RyRs. The differential heterogeneity of heart versus skeletal muscle RyRs may reflect the modulation required for calcium-induced calcium release versus depolarization-induced Ca2+ release.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Edwards, Katarina, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of polyethyleneglycol-phospholipids on aggregate structure in preparations of small unilamellar liposomes
- 1997
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 73:1, s. 258-266
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Phospholipids with covalently attached poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG lipids) are commonly used for the preparation of long circulating liposomes. Although it is well known that lipid/PEG-lipid mixed micelles may form above a certain critical concentration of PEG-lipid, little is known about the effects of PEG-lipids on liposome structure and leakage at submicellar concentrations. In this study we have used cryogenic transmission electron microscopy to investigate the effect of PEG(2000)-PE on aggregate structure in preparations of liposomes with different membrane compositions. The results reveal a number of important aggregate structures not documented before. The micrographs show that enclosure of PEG-PE induces the formation of open bilayer discs at concentrations well below those where mixed micelles begin to form. The maximum concentration of PEG-lipid that may be incorporated without alteration of the liposome structure depends on the phospholipid chain length, whereas phospholipid saturation or the presence of cholesterol has little or no effect. The presence of cholesterol does, however, affect the shape of the mixed micelles formed at high concentrations of PEG-lipid. Threadlike micelles form in the absence of cholesterol but adapt a globular shape when cholesterol is present.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Elinder, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Role of individual surface charges of voltage-gated K channels
- 1999
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 77:3, s. 1358-1362
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fixed charges on the extracellular surface of voltage-gated ion channels influence the gating. In previous studies of cloned voltage-gated K channels, we found evidence that the functional surface charges are located on the peptide loop between the fifth transmembrane segment and the pore region (the S5-P loop). In the present study, we determine the role of individual charges of the S5-P loop by correlating primary structure with experimentally calculated surface potentials of the previously investigated channels. The results suggest that contributions to the surface potential at the voltage sensor of the different residues varies in an oscillating pattern, with the first residue of the N-terminal end of the S5-P loop, an absolutely conserved glutamate, contributing most. An analysis yields estimates of the distance between the residues and the voltage sensor, the first N-terminal residue being located at a distance of 5-6 Angstrom. To explain the results, a structural hypothesis, comprising an a-helical N-terminal end of the S5-P loop, is presented.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Fridberger, Anders, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Measuring hearing organ vibration patterns with confocal microscopy and optical flow
- 2004
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Cell Press. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 86:1, s. 535-543
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A new method for visualizing vibrating structures is described. The system provides a means to capture very fast repeating events by relatively minor modi. cations to a standard confocal microscope. An acousto-optic modulator was inserted in the beam path, generating brief pulses of laser light. Images were formed by summing consecutive frames until every pixel of the resulting image had been exposed to a laser pulse. Images were analyzed using a new method for optical flow computation; it was validated through introducing artificial displacements in confocal images. Displacements in the range of 0.8 to 4 pixels were measured with 5% error or better. The lower limit for reliable motion detection was 20% of the pixel size. These methods were used for investigating the motion pattern of the vibrating hearing organ. In contrast to standard theory, we show that the organ of Corti possesses several degrees of freedom during sound-evoked vibration. Outer hair cells showed motion indicative of deformation. After acoustic overstimulation, supporting cells contracted. This slowly developing structural change was visualized during simultaneous intense sound stimulation and its speed measured with the optical flow technique.
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| 24. |
- Friedman, Ran, et al.
(författare)
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The role of small intraprotein cavities in the catalytic cycle of bacteriorhodopsin
- 2003
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 85:2, s. 886-896
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The last phase of the proton transfer cycle of bacteriorhodopsin calls for a passage of a proton from D38 to D96.This reaction utilizes a narrow shaft ;10-A˚ long that connects the two carboxylates that cross through a very hydrophobicdomain. As the shaft is too narrow to be permanently hydrated, there are two alternatives for the proton propagation into thechannel. The proton may propagate through the shaft without solvation at the expense of a high electrostatic barrier;alternatively, the shaft will expand to accommodate some water molecules, thus lowering the Born energy for the insertion ofthe charge into the protein (B. Scha¨ tzler, N. A. Dencher, J. Tittor, D. Oesterhelt, S. Yaniv-Checover, E. Nachliel, and G. Gutman,2003, Biophys. J. 84:671–686). A comparative study of nine published crystal-structures of bacteriorhodopsin identified, next tothe shaft, microcavities in the protein whose position and surrounding atoms are common to the reported structures. Some ofthe cavities either shrink or expand during the photocycle. It is argued that the plasticity of the cavities provides a working spaceneeded for the transient solvation of the shaft, thus reducing the activation energy necessary for the solvation of the shaft. Thissuggestion is corroborated by the recent observations of Klink et al. (B. U. Klink, R. Winter, M. Engelhard, and I. Chizhov, 2002,Biophys. J. 83:3490–3498) that the late phases of the photocycle (t $ 1 ms) are strongly inhibited by external pressure.
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| 25. |
- Hofsäss, Christofer, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular dynamics simulations of phospholipid bilayers with cholesterol
- 2003
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 84:4, s. 2192-206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To investigate the microscopic interactions between cholesterol and lipids in biological membranes, we have performed a series of molecular dynamics simulations of large membranes with different levels of cholesterol content. The simulations extend to 10 ns, and were performed with hydrated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers. The bilayers contain 1024 lipids of which 0-40% were cholesterol and the rest DPPC. The effects of cholesterol on the structure and mesoscopic dynamics of the bilayer were monitored as a function of cholesterol concentration. The main effects observed are a significant ordering of the DPPC chains (as monitored by NMR type order parameters), a reduced fraction of gauche bonds, a reduced surface area per lipid, less undulations--corresponding to an increased bending modulus for the membrane, smaller area fluctuations, and a reduced lateral diffusion of DPPC-lipids as well as cholesterols.
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| 26. |
- Karolin, J, et al.
(författare)
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Donor-donor energy migration for determining intramolecular distances in proteins : I. Application of a model to the latent plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).
- 1998
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 74:1, s. 11-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A new fluorescence spectroscopic method is presented for determining intramolecular and intermolecular distances in proteins and protein complexes, respectively. The method circumvents the general problem of achieving specific labeling with two different chromophoric molecules, as needed for the conventional donor-acceptor transfer experiments. For this, mutant forms of proteins that contain one or two unique cysteine residues can be constructed for specific labeling with one or two identical fluorescent probes, so-called donors (d). Fluorescence depolarization experiments on double-labeled Cys mutant monitor both reorientational motions of the d molecules, as well as the rate of intramolecular energy migration. In this report a model that accounts for these contributions to the fluorescence anisotropy is presented and experimentally tested. Mutants of a protease inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), containing one or two cysteine residues, were labeled with sulfhydryl specific derivatives of 4,4-difluoro-4-borata-3a-azonia-4a-aza-s-indacence (BODIPY). From the rate of energy migration, the intramolecular distance between the d groups was calculated by using the Forster mechanism and by accounting for the influence of local anisotropic orientation of the d molecules. The calculated intramolecular distances were compared with those obtained from the crystal structure of PAI-1 in its latent form. To test the stability of parameters extracted from experiments, synthetic data were generated and reanalyzed.
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| 27. |
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| 28. |
- Leitz, Guenther, et al.
(författare)
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Stress response in Caenorhabditis elegans caused by optical tweezers : wavelength, power, and time dependence
- 2002
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Biophysical Society. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 82:4, s. 2224-2231
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optical tweezers have emerged as a powerful technique for micromanipulation of living cells. Although the technique often has been claimed to be nonintrusive, evidence has appeared that this is not always the case. This work presents evidence that near-infrared continuous-wave laser light from optical tweezers can produce stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. A transgenic strain of C. elegans, carrying an integrated heat-shock-responsive reporter gene, has been exposed to laser light under a variety of illumination conditions. It was found that gene expression was most often induced by light of 760 nm, and least by 810 nm. The stress response increased with laser power and irradiation time. At 810 nm, significant gene expression could be observed at 360 mW of illumination, which is more than one order of magnitude above that normally used in optical tweezers. In the 700-760-nm range, the results show that the stress response is caused by photochemical processes, whereas at 810 nm, it mainly has a photothermal origin. These results give further evidence that the 700-760-nm wavelength region is unsuitable for optical tweezers and suggest that work at 810 nm at normal laser powers does not cause stress at the cellular level.
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| 29. |
- Lindahl, E, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Mesoscopic undulations and thickness fluctuations in lipid bilayers from molecular dynamics simulations.
- 2000
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 79:1, s. 426-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecular dynamics simulations of fully hydrated Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers, extending temporal and spatial scales by almost one order of magnitude, are presented. The present work reaches system sizes of 1024 lipids and times 10-60 ns. The simulations uncover significant dynamics and fluctuations on scales of several nanoseconds, and enable direct observation and spectral decomposition of both undulatory and thickness fluctuation modes. Although the former modes are strongly damped, the latter exhibit signs of oscillatory behavior. From this, it has been possible to calculate mesoscopic continuum properties in good agreement with experimental values. A bending modulus of 4 x 10(-20) J, bilayer area compressibility of 250-300 mN/m, and mode relaxation times in the nanosecond range are obtained. The theory of undulatory motions is revised and further extended to cover thickness fluctuations. Finally, it is proposed that thickness fluctuations is the explanation to the observed system-size dependence of equilibrium-projected area per lipid.
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| 30. |
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| 31. |
- Månsson, Alf
(författare)
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Changes in force and stiffness during stretch of skeletal muscle fibers, effects of hypertonicity
- 1989
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 56:2, s. 429-433
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Slow stretch ramps (velocity: 0.17 fiber lengths s-1) were imposed during fused tetanic contractions of intact muscle fibers of the frog (1.4–3.0 degrees C; sarcomere length: 2.12–2.21 microns). Instantaneous force-extension relations were derived both under isometric conditions and during slow stretch by applying fast (0.2 ms) length steps to the fiber. An increase in tonicity (98 mM sucrose added to control Ringer solution) led to significant reduction of the maximum isometric tension but at the same time to marked increase in the force enhancement during slow stretch. The maximum force level reached during the stretch was affected very little. Experiments on relaxed fibers showed that recruitment of passive parallel elastic components were of no relevance for these effects. Hypertonicity slightly increased the instantaneous stiffness of the active fiber both in the presence and in the absence of stretch. The total extension of the undamped fiber elasticity was considerably reduced by increased tonicity under isometric conditions but was only slightly affected during slow stretch. The change in length of the undamped cross-bride elasticity upon stretch was thus greater in the hypertonic than in the normotonic solution suggesting a greater increase in force per cross-bridge in the hypertonic medium. The contractile effects are consistent with the assumptions that hypertonicity reduces the capability of the individual cross-bridge to produce active force and, furthermore, that hypertonicity has only minor effects on the number of attached cross-bridges and the maximum load-bearing capacity of the individual bridge.
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| 32. |
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| 33. |
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| 34. |
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| 35. |
- Ratilainen, Tommi, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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A simple model for gene targeting
- 2001
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 81:5, s. 2876-2885
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sequence-specific binding to genomic-size DNA sequences by artificial agents is of major interest for the development of gene-targeting strategies, gene-diagnostic applications, and biotechnical tools. The binding of one such agent, peptide nucleic acid (PNA), to a randomized human genome has been modeled with statistical mass action calculations. With the length of the PNA probe, the average per-base binding constant k(0), and the binding affinity loss of a mismatched base pair as main parameters, the specificity was gauged as a "therapeutic ratio" G = maximum safe [PNA](tot)/minimal efficient [PNA](tot). This general, though simple, model suggests that, above a certain threshold length of the PNA, the microscopic binding constant k(0) is the primary determinant for optimal discrimination, and that only a narrow range of rather low k(0) values gives a high therapeutic ratio G. For diagnostic purposes, the value of k(0) could readily be modulated by changing the temperature, due to the substantial DeltaH(o) associated with the binding equilibrium. Applied to gene therapy, our results stress the need for appropriate control of the binding constant and added amount of the gene-targeting agent, to meet the varying conditions (ionic strength, presence of competing DNA-binding molecules) found in the cell.
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| 36. |
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
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| 39. |
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| 40. |
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| 41. |
- Song, Z., et al.
(författare)
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Conformational transitions of the phosphodiester backbone in native DNA: two-dimensional magic-angle-spinning 31P-NMR of DNA fibers
- 1997
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 73:3, s. 1539-1552
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Solid-state 31P-NMR is used to investigate the orientation of the phosphodiester backbone in NaDNA-, LiDNA-, MgDNA-, and NaDNA-netropsin fibers. The results for A- and B-DNA agree with previous interpretations. We verify that the binding of netropsin to NaDNA stabilizes the B form, and find that in NaDNA, most of the phosphate groups adopt a conformation typical of the A form, although there are minor components with phosphate orientations close to the B form. For LiDNA and MgDNA samples, on the other hand, we find phosphate conformations that are in variance with previous models. These samples display x-ray diffraction patterns that correspond to C-DNA. However, we find two distinct phosphate orientations in these samples, one resembling that in B-DNA, and one displaying a twist of the PO4 groups about the O3-P-O4 bisectors. The latter conformation is not in accordance with previous models of C-DNA structure.
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| 42. |
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| 43. |
- Thomson, Neil H., et al.
(författare)
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Oriented, active Escherichia coli RNA polymerase : an atomic force microscope study
- 1999
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 76:2, s. 1024-1033
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- RNA polymerase (RNAP) molecules to be imaged under aqueous buffer using tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). Recombinant RNAP molecules containing histidine tags (hisRNAP) on the C-terminus were specifically immobilized on ultraflat gold via a mixed monolayer of two different Ω-functionalized alkanethiols. One alkanethiol was terminated in an ethylene-glycol (EG) group, which resists protein adsorption, and the other was terminated in an N-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) group, which binds the histidine tag through two coordination sites with a nickel ion. AFM images showed that these two alkanethiols phase-segregate. Specific binding of the hisRNAP molecules was followed in situ by injecting proteins directly into the AFM fluid cell. The activity of the hisRNAP bound to the NTA groups was confirmed with a 42-base circular single-stranded DNA template (rolling circle), which the RNAP uses to produce huge RNA transcripts. These transcripts were imaged in air after the samples were rinsed and dried, since RNA also has low affinity for the EG-thiol and cannot be imaged under the buffers we used.
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| 44. |
- Westemark, Pål, et al.
(författare)
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A model of phosphofructokinase and glycolytic oscillations in the pancreatic beta-cell
- 2003
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 85:1, s. 126--139
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have constructed a model of the upper part of the glycolysis in the pancreatic beta-cell. The model comprises the enzymatic reactions from glucokinase to glyceralclehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD). Our results show, for a substantial part of the parameter space, an oscillatory behavior of the glycolysis for a large range of glucose concentrations. We show how the occurrence of oscillations depends on glucokinase, aldolase and/or GAPD activities, and how the oscillation period depends on the phosphofructokinase activity. We propose that the ratio of glucokinase and aldolase and/or GAPD activities are adequate as characteristics of the glucose responsiveness, rather than only the glucokinase activity. We also propose that the rapid equilibrium between different oligomeric forms of phosphofructokinase may reduce the oscillation period sensitivity to phosphofructokinase activity. Methodologically, we show that a satisfying description of phosphofructokinase kinetics can be achieved using the irreversible Hill equation with allosteric modifiers. We emphasize the use of parameter ranges rather than fixed values, and the use of operationally well-defined parameters in order for this methodology to be feasible. The theoretical results presented in this study apply to the study of insulin secretion mechanisms, since glycolytic oscillations have been proposed as a cause of oscillations in the ATP/ADP ratio which is linked to insulin secretion.
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| 45. |
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| 46. |
- Åman, Ken, et al.
(författare)
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Structure and dynamics of interfacial water in an L-alpha phase lipid bilayer from molecular dynamics simulations
- 2003
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 84, s. 102-15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Based on molecular dynamics simulations, an analysis of structure and dynamics is performed on interfacial water at a liquid crystalline dipalmitoylphosphatidycholine/water system. Water properties relevant for understanding NMR relaxation are emphasized. The first and second rank orientational order parameters of the water O-H bonds were calculated, where the second rank order parameter is in agreement with experimental determined quadrupolar splittings. Also, two different interfacial water regions (bound water regions) are revealed with respect to different signs of the second rank order parameter. The water reorientation correlation function reveals a mixture of fast and slow decaying parts. The fast (ps) part of the correlation function is due to local anisotropic water reorientation whereas the much slower part is due to more complicated processes including lateral diffusion along the interface and chemical exchange between free and bound water molecules. The 100-ns-long molecular dynamics simulation at constant pressure (1 atm) and at a temperature of 50degreesC of 64 lipid molecules and 64 x 23 water molecules lack a slow water reorientation correlation component in the ns time scale. The (H2O)-H-2 powder spectrum of the dipalmitoylphosphatidycholine/water system is narrow and consequently, the NMR relaxation time T-2 is too short compared to experimental results.
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| 47. |
- Benninger, R. K. P., et al.
(författare)
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Fluorescence imaging of two-photon linear dichroism : Cholesterol depletion disrupts molecular orientation in cell membranes
- 2005
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 88:1, s. 609-622
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The plasma membrane of cells is an ordered environment, giving rise to anisotropic orientation and restricted motion of molecules and proteins residing in the membrane. At the same time as being an organized matrix of defined structure, the cell membrane is heterogeneous and dynamic. Here we present a method where we use fluorescence imaging of linear dichroism to measure the orientation of molecules relative to the cell membrane. By detecting linear dichroism as well as fluorescence anisotropy, the orientation parameters are separated from dynamic properties such as rotational diffusion and homo energy transfer ( energy migration). The sensitivity of the technique is enhanced by using two-photon excitation for higher photo-selection compared to single photon excitation. We show here that we can accurately image lipid organization in whole cell membranes and in delicate structures such as membrane nanotubes connecting two cells. The speed of our wide-field imaging system makes it possible to image changes in orientation and anisotropy occurring on a subsecond timescale. This is demonstrated by time-lapse studies showing that cholesterol depletion rapidly disrupts the orientation of a fluorophore located within the hydrophobic region of the cell membrane but not of a surface bound probe. This is consistent with cholesterol having an important role in stabilizing and ordering the lipid tails within the plasma membrane.
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| 48. |
- Jabak, Adam A., et al.
(författare)
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Effect of Chirality on the Elastic Properties of the DNA-Threading Binuclear Ruthenium Complex
- 2020
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 118:3, Supplement 1, s. 617a-
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transition metal-based small molecules have been promising candidates for cancer treatments. A certain type of these molecules falls into a category known as threading intercalators, that have a dumbbell shape with a flat intercalating section in between bulky side chains. In order to bind to DNA, they must thread one of their bulky side chains through the DNA base pairs. The ruthenium-based molecule, ΛΛ-[μ-bidppz(phen)4Ru2]4+ (ΛΛ-P for short), is a transition metal-based threading intercalator. We use optical tweezers to study the interactions of ΛΛ-P with DNA to compare it with the previously studied ΔΔ-P, a complex that has the same chemical components but an opposite chirality. In these studies, we use the optical tweezers to trap a single DNA molecule and stretch it in the presence of various concentrations of ΛΛ-P. The DNA stretches obtained at saturated concentrations of ΛΛ-P at various forces allows us to obtain the effective elastic properties of the DNA-ΛΛ-P complex. This allows us to compare these properties to the previously studied ΔΔ-P complex to determine whether chirality has an effect. This type of comparison may lead us towards a better understanding of the role chirality has towards DNA binding.
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| 49. |
- Lindgren, Mikael, et al.
(författare)
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Detection and characterization of aggregates, prefibrillar amyloidogenic oligomers, and protofibrils using fluorescence spectroscopy
- 2005
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Ingår i: Biophysical Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3495 .- 1542-0086. ; 88:6, s. 4200-4212
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Transthyretin (TTR) is a protein linked to a number of different amyloid diseases including senile systemic amyloidosis and familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy. The transient nature of oligomeric intermediates of misfolded TTR that later mature into fibrillar aggregates makes them hard to study, and methods to study these species are sparse. In this work we explore a novel pathway for generation of prefibrillar aggregates of TTR, which provides important insight into TTR misfolding. Prefibrillar amyloidogenic oligomers and protofibrils of misfolded TTR were generated in vitro through induction of the molten globule type A-state from acid unfolded TTR through the addition of NaCl. The aggregation process produced fairly monodisperse oligomers (300–500 kD) within 2 h that matured after 20 h into larger spherical clusters (30–50 nm in diameter) and protofibrils as shown by transmission electron microscopy. Further maturation of the aggregates showed shrinkage of the spheres as the fibrils grew in length, suggesting a conformational change of the spheres into more rigid structures. The structural and physicochemical characteristics of the aggregates were investigated using fluorescence, circular dichroism, chemical cross-linking, and transmission electron microscopy. The fluorescent dyes 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS), 4-4-bis-1-phenylamino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (Bis-ANS), 4-(dicyanovinyl)-julolidine (DCVJ), and thioflavin T (ThT) were employed in both static and kinetic assays to characterize these oligomeric and protofibrillar states using both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. DCVJ, a molecular rotor, was employed for the first time for studies of an amyloidogenic process and is shown useful for detection of the early steps of the oligomerization process. DCVJ bound to the early prefibrillar oligomers (300–500 kD) with an apparent dissociation constant of 1.6 mM, which was slightly better than for ThT (6.8 mM). Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay of ANS was shown to be a useful tool for giving further structural and kinetic information of the oligomeric aggregates. ThT dramatically increases its fluorescence quantum yield when bound to amyloid fibrils; however, the mechanism behind this property is unknown. Data from this work suggest that unbound ThT is also intrinsically quenched and functions similarly to a molecular rotor, which in combination with its environmental dependence provides a blue shift to the characteristic 482nm wavelength when bound to amyloid fibrils.
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| 50. |
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