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- Becker, D., et al.
(author)
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Engineering of a glycosidase Family 7 cellobiohydrolase to more alkaline pH optimum : the pH behaviour of Trichoderma reesei CeI7A and its E223S/A224H/L225V/T226A/D262G mutant
- 2001
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In: Biochemical Journal. - 0264-6021 .- 1470-8728. ; 356, s. 19-30
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The crystal structures of Family 7 glycohydrolases suggest that a histidine residue near the acid/base catalyst could account for the higher pH optimum of the Humicola insolens endoglucanase Cel7B, than the corresponding Trichoderma reesei enzymes. Modelling studies indicated that introduction of histidine at the homologous position in T. reesei Cel7A (Ala(224)) required additional changes to accommodate the bulkier histidine side chain. X-ray crystallography of the catalytic domain of the E223S/A224H/L225V/T226A/D262G mutant reveals that major differences from the wild-type are confined to the mutations themselves, The introduced histidine residue is in plane with its counterpart in H. insolens Cel7B, but is 1.0 Angstrom (= 0.1 nm) closer to the acid/base Glu(217) residue, with a 3.1 Angstrom contact between N-2 and O'(1). The pH variation of k(cat)/K-m for 3,4-dinitrophenyl lactoside hydrolysis was accurately bell-shaped for both wildtype and mutant, with pK(1) shifting from 2.22+/-0.03 in the wild-type to 3.19+/-0.03 in the mutant, and pK(2) shifting from 5.99+/-0.02 to 6.78+/-0.02. With this poor substrate, the ionizations probably represent those of the free enzyme. The relative k(cat) for 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl lactoside showed similar behaviour. The shift in the mutant pH optimum was associated with lower k(cat)/K-m values for both lactosides and cellobiosides, and a marginally lower stability. However, k(cat) values for cellobiosides are higher for the mutant. This we attribute to reduced nonproductive binding in the +1 and +2 subsites; inhibition by cellobiose is certainly relieved in the mutant. The weaker binding of cellobiose is due to the loss of two water-mediated hydrogen bonds.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Jones, Iwan, et al.
(author)
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Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Spiggin : An androgen-regulated extraorganismal adhesive with structural similarities to von Willebrand Factor-related proteins
- 2001
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In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - : Elsevier. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 276:21, s. 17857-17863
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- One of the most definitive examples of a vertebrate extraorganismal structural protein can be found in three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). In the breeding male the kidney hypertrophies and synthesizes an adhesive protein called "spiggin," which is secreted into the urinary bladder from where it is employed as a structural thread for nest building. This paper describes the first molecular characterization of spiggin and demonstrates that this adhesive is a protein complex assembled from a potential of three distinct subunits (alpha, beta, and gamma). These subunits arise by alternative splicing, and 11-ketoandrogens induce their expression in stickleback kidneys. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence of each subunit reveals a modular organization whose structural elements display a similarity to the multimerization domains found within von Willebrand Factor-related proteins. These results implicate that spiggin utilizes a conserved multimerization mechanism for the formation of a viscous agglutinate from its constituent subunits in the urinary bladders of male sticklebacks. This novel extraorganismal structural protein is therefore ideally suited to its function as an adhesive thread.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Stahlberg, J., et al.
(author)
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Structural basis for enantiomer binding and separation of a common beta-blocker : Crystal structure of cellobiohydrolase Cel7A with bound (S)-propranolol at 1.9 angstrom resolution
- 2001
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In: Journal of Molecular Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-2836 .- 1089-8638. ; 305:1, s. 79-93
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cellobiohydrolase Cel7A (previously called CBH 1), the major cellulase produced by the mould fungus Trichoderma reesei, has been successfully exploited as a chiral selector for separation of stereo-isomers of some important pharmaceutical compounds, e.g. adrenergic beta -blockers. Previous investigations, including experiments with catalytically deficient mutants of Cel7A, point unanimously to the active site as being responsible for discrimination of enantiomers. In this work the structural basis for enantioselectivity of basic drugs by Cel7A has been studied by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic domain of Cel7A was co-crystallised with the (S)-enantiomer of a common beta -blocker, propranolol, at pH 7, and the structure of the complex was determined and refined at 1.9 Angstrom resolution. Indeed, (S)-propranolol binds at the active site, in glucosyl-binding subsites -1/ + 1. The catalytic residues Glu212 and Glu217 make tight salt links with the secondary amino group of (S)-propranolol. The oxygen atom attached to the chiral centre of (S)-propranolol forms hydrogen bonds to the nucleophile Glu212 O-epsilon1 and to Gln175 N-epsilon2, whereas the aromatic naphthyl moiety stacks with the indole ring of Trp376 in site +1. The bidentate charge interaction with the catalytic glutamate residues is apparently crucial, since no enantioselectivity has been obtained with the catalytically deficient mutants E212Q and E217Q. Activity inhibition experiments with wild-type Cel7A were performed in conditions close to those used for crystallisation. Competitive inhibition constants for (R)- and (S)-propranolol were determined at 220 muM and 44 muM, respectively, corresponding to binding free energies of 20 kJ/ mol and 24 kJ/mol, respectively. The K-i value for (R)-propranolol was 57-fold lower than the highest concentration, 12.5 mM, used in co-crystallisation experiments. Still several attempts to obtain a complex with the (R)-enantiomer have failed. By using cellobiose as a selective competing ligand, the retention of the enantiomers of propranolol on the chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on Cel7A mutant D214N were resolved into enantioselective and non-selective binding. The enantioselective binding was weaker for both enantiomers on D214N-CSP than on wild-type-CSP.
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| 6. |
- Stern, Natalia, et al.
(author)
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Subchronic toxicity of Baltic herring oil and its fractions in the rat II : Clinical observations and toxicological parameters.
- 2002
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In: Pharmacology and Toxicology. - : Wiley. - 0901-9928 .- 1600-0773. ; 91:5, s. 232-244
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study aimed to increase the knowledge about the toxicity of fish-derived organohalogen pollutants in mammals. The strategy chosen was to separate organohalogen pollutants derived from Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) fillet, in order to obtain fractions with differing proportions of identified and unidentified halogenated pollutants, and to perform a subchronic toxicity study in rats, essentially according to the OECD guidelines, at three dose levels. Nordic Sea lodda (Mallotus villosus) oil, with low levels of persistent organohalogen pollutants, was used as an additional control diet. The toxicological examination showed that exposure to Baltic herring oil and its fractions at dose levels corresponding to a human intake in the range of 1.6 to 34.4 kg Baltic herring per week resulted in minimal effects. The spectrum of effects was similar to that, which is observed after low-level exposure to pollutants such as chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDD/F) and chlorinated biphenyls, despite the fact that these contaminants contribute to a minor part of the extractable organically bound chlorine (EOCl). The study confirmed previous findings that induction of hepatic ethoxyresorufin deethylase (EROD) activity takes place at daily intake levels 0.15 ng fish-derived CDD/F-TEQs/kg body weight. The study also demonstrated that hepatic vitamin A reduction takes place at somewhat higher daily exposure levels, i.e. 0.16–0.30 ng fish-derived CDD/F-TEQs/kg body weight. Halogenated fatty acids, the major component of EOCl, could not be linked to any of the measured effects. From a risk management point of view, the study provides important new information of effect levels for Ah-receptor mediated responses following low level exposure to organohalogen compounds from a matrix relevant for human exposure.
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| 7. |
- Svane, Torben Ernst, 1953-, et al.
(author)
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Knowledge by user demand and self-reflection : New models for teaching and assessment in edutainment software design
- 2001
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In: Frontiers in Education Conference, Conference Proceedings. - Champaign, IL : Stipes Publishing L.L.C.. - 1539-4565. ; III, s. T1B-1-T1B-6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper reports on experiences from applying Knowledge by User Demand (KBUD) to teaching at the Edutainment Software Design programme at Halmstad University, Sweden. ’Edutainment’ denotes educational and recreational systems for homes, schools and work. Upon graduation, students may find careers in game design, project management, systems development etc. KBUD emphasizes participation in selection and creation of course contents, to foster a continuous review process of how to attain competencies needed to accomplish a task. Continuous self-reflection, on how and why competencies develop, and how personal learning can be refined, is highlighted in discussions and through using projects from previous courses as case studies. KBUD classes offer a core of approximately 50% of course content. Students select another 25% from a range of teacher-prepared themes and develop themselves the remaining themes under teacher supervision. KBUD modules combine subject adherence with encouraging student interest and participation, whilst also ensuring content vitality. © 2001 IEEE
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