proteins

Identification of multiple subclasses of plasma low density lipoproteins in normal humans

Ronald M. Krauss
Jan 1, 1982; 23:97-104
Articles




proteins

Thematic review series: Adipocyte Biology. The perilipin family of structural lipid droplet proteins: stabilization of lipid droplets and control of lipolysis

Dawn L. Brasaemle
Dec 1, 2007; 48:2547-2559
Thematic Reviews




proteins

The amphipathic helix in the exchangeable apolipoproteins: a review of secondary structure and function

JP Segrest
Feb 1, 1992; 33:141-166
Reviews




proteins

Co-crystal structures of HIV TAR RNA bound to lab-evolved proteins show key roles for arginine relevant to the design of cyclic peptide TAR inhibitors [Molecular Biophysics]

RNA-protein interfaces control key replication events during the HIV-1 life cycle. The viral trans-activator of transcription (Tat) protein uses an archetypal arginine-rich motif (ARM) to recruit the host positive transcription elongation factor b (pTEFb) complex onto the viral trans-activation response (TAR) RNA, leading to activation of HIV transcription. Efforts to block this interaction have stimulated production of biologics designed to disrupt this essential RNA-protein interface. Here, we present four co-crystal structures of lab-evolved TAR-binding proteins (TBPs) in complex with HIV-1 TAR. Our results reveal that high-affinity binding requires a distinct sequence and spacing of arginines within a specific β2-β3 hairpin loop that arose during selection. Although loops with as many as five arginines were analyzed, only three arginines could bind simultaneously with major-groove guanines. Amino acids that promote backbone interactions within the β2-β3 loop were also observed to be important for high-affinity interactions. Based on structural and affinity analyses, we designed two cyclic peptide mimics of the TAR-binding β2-β3 loop sequences present in two high-affinity TBPs (KD values of 4.2 ± 0.3 and 3.0 ± 0.3 nm). Our efforts yielded low-molecular weight compounds that bind TAR with low micromolar affinity (KD values ranging from 3.6 to 22 μm). Significantly, one cyclic compound within this series blocked binding of the Tat-ARM peptide to TAR in solution assays, whereas its linear counterpart did not. Overall, this work provides insight into protein-mediated TAR recognition and lays the ground for the development of cyclic peptide inhibitors of a vital HIV-1 RNA-protein interaction.




proteins

Development of a novel mammalian display system for selection of antibodies against membrane proteins [Immunology]

Reliable, specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are important tools in research and medicine. However, the discovery of antibodies against their targets in their native forms is difficult. Here, we present a novel method for discovery of antibodies against membrane proteins in their native configuration in mammalian cells. The method involves the co-expression of an antibody library in a population of mammalian cells that express the target polypeptide within a natural membrane environment on the cell surface. Cells that secrete a single-chain fragment variable (scFv) that binds to the target membrane protein thereby become self-labeled, enabling enrichment and isolation by magnetic sorting and FRET-based flow sorting. Library sizes of up to 109 variants can be screened, thus allowing campaigns of naïve scFv libraries to be selected against membrane protein antigens in a Chinese hamster ovary cell system. We validate this method by screening a synthetic naïve human scFv library against Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the oncogenic target epithelial cell adhesion molecule and identify a panel of three novel binders to this membrane protein, one with a dissociation constant (KD) as low as 0.8 nm. We further demonstrate that the identified antibodies have utility for killing epithelial cell adhesion molecule–positive cells when used as a targeting domain on chimeric antigen receptor T cells. Thus, we provide a new tool for identifying novel antibodies that act against membrane proteins, which could catalyze the discovery of new candidates for antibody-based therapies.




proteins

Mapping the transition state for a binding reaction between ancient intrinsically disordered proteins [Molecular Biophysics]

Intrinsically disordered protein domains often have multiple binding partners. It is plausible that the strength of pairing with specific partners evolves from an initial low affinity to a higher affinity. However, little is known about the molecular changes in the binding mechanism that would facilitate such a transition. We previously showed that the interaction between two intrinsically disordered domains, NCBD and CID, likely emerged in an ancestral deuterostome organism as a low-affinity interaction that subsequently evolved into a higher-affinity interaction before the radiation of modern vertebrate groups. Here we map native contacts in the transition states of the low-affinity ancestral and high-affinity human NCBD/CID interactions. We show that the coupled binding and folding mechanism is overall similar but with a higher degree of native hydrophobic contact formation in the transition state of the ancestral complex and more heterogeneous transient interactions, including electrostatic pairings, and an increased disorder for the human complex. Adaptation to new binding partners may be facilitated by this ability to exploit multiple alternative transient interactions while retaining the overall binding and folding pathway.




proteins

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange memory NMR reveals structural epitopes involved in IgE cross-reactivity of allergenic lipid transfer proteins [Protein Structure and Folding]

Identification of antibody-binding epitopes is crucial to understand immunological mechanisms. It is of particular interest for allergenic proteins with high cross-reactivity as observed in the lipid transfer protein (LTP) syndrome, which is characterized by severe allergic reactions. Art v 3, a pollen LTP from mugwort, is frequently involved in this cross-reactivity, but no antibody-binding epitopes have been determined so far. To reveal human IgE-binding regions of Art v 3, we produced three murine high-affinity mAbs, which showed 70–90% coverage of the allergenic epitopes from mugwort pollen–allergic patients. As reliable methods to determine structural epitopes with tightly interacting intact antibodies under native conditions are lacking, we developed a straightforward NMR approach termed hydrogen/deuterium exchange memory (HDXMEM). It relies on the slow exchange between the invisible antigen-mAb complex and the free 15N-labeled antigen whose 1H-15N correlations are detected. Due to a memory effect, changes of NH protection during antibody binding are measured. Differences in H/D exchange rates and analyses of mAb reactivity to homologous LTPs revealed three structural epitopes: two partially cross-reactive regions around α-helices 2 and 4 as well as a novel Art v 3–specific epitope at the C terminus. Protein variants with exchanged epitope residues confirmed the antibody-binding sites and revealed strongly reduced IgE reactivity. Using the novel HDXMEM for NMR epitope mapping allowed identification of the first structural epitopes of an allergenic pollen LTP. This knowledge enables improved cross-reactivity prediction for patients suffering from LTP allergy and facilitates design of therapeutics.




proteins

Novel Proteomic Profiling of Epididymal Extracellular Vesicles in the Domestic Cat Reveals Proteins Related to Sequential Sperm Maturation with Differences Observed between Normospermic and Teratospermic Individuals

Tricia Rowlison
Dec 1, 2020; 19:2090-2103
Research




proteins

Proteomic analyses identify differentially expressed proteins and pathways between low-risk and high-risk subtypes of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma and their prognostic impacts

Juntuo Zhou
Nov 30, 2020; 0:RA120.002384v1-mcp.RA120.002384
Research




proteins

Proteomic identification of Coxiella burnetii effector proteins targeted to the host cell mitochondria during infection

Laura F Fielden
Nov 11, 2020; 0:RA120.002370v1-mcp.RA120.002370
Research




proteins

PLRP2 selectively localizes synaptic membrane proteins via acyl-chain remodeling of phospholipids

Hideaki Kuge
Dec 1, 2020; 61:1747-1763
Research Articles




proteins

Cholesterol transport between red blood cells and lipoproteins contributes to cholesterol metabolism in blood

Ryunosuke Ohkawa
Dec 1, 2020; 61:1577-1588
Research Articles




proteins

WITHDRAWN: The Fundamental And Pathological Importance Of Oxysterol Binding Protein And Its Related Proteins [Thematic Reviews]

This article has been withdrawn by the authors as part of this review overlapped with the contents of Pietrangelo A and Ridgway ND. 2018. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 75; 3079-98.




proteins

PLRP2 selectively localizes synaptic membrane proteins via acyl-chain remodeling of phospholipids [Research Articles]

The plasma membrane of neurons consists of distinct domains, each of which carries specialized functions and a characteristic set of membrane proteins. While this compartmentalized membrane organization is essential for neuronal functions, it remains controversial how neurons establish these domains on the laterally fluid membrane. Here, using immunostaining, lipid-MS analysis and gene ablation with the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we report that the pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (PLRP2), a phospholipase A1 (PLA1), is a key organizer of membrane protein localization at the neurite tips of PC12 cells. PLRP2 produced local distribution of 1-oleoyl-2-palmitoyl-PC at these sites through acyl-chain remodeling of membrane phospholipids. The resulting lipid domain assembled the syntaxin 4 (Stx4) protein within itself by selectively interacting with the transmembrane domain of Stx4. The localized Stx4, in turn, facilitated the fusion of transport vesicles that contained the dopamine transporter with the domain of the plasma membrane, which led to the localized distribution of the transporter to that domain. These results revealed the pivotal roles of PLA1, specifically PLRP2, in the formation of functional domains in the plasma membrane of neurons. In addition, our results suggest a mode of membrane organization in which the local acyl-chain remodeling of membrane phospholipids controls the selective localization of membrane proteins by regulating both lipid-protein interactions and the fusion of transport vesicles to the lipid domain.




proteins

Cholesterol transport between red blood cells and lipoproteins contributes to cholesterol metabolism in blood [Research Articles]

Lipoproteins play a key role in transport of cholesterol to and from tissues. Recent studies have also demonstrated that red blood cells (RBCs), which carry large quantities of free cholesterol in their membrane, play an important role in reverse cholesterol transport. However, the exact role of RBCs in systemic cholesterol metabolism is poorly understood. RBCs were incubated with autologous plasma or isolated lipoproteins resulting in a significant net amount of cholesterol moved from RBCs to HDL, while cholesterol from LDL moved in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the bi-directional cholesterol transport between RBCs and plasma lipoproteins was saturable and temperature-, energy-, and time-dependent, consistent with an active process. We did not find LDLR, ABCG1, or scavenger receptor class B type 1 in RBCs but found a substantial amount of ABCA1 mRNA and protein. However, specific cholesterol efflux from RBCs to isolated apoA-I was negligible, and ABCA1 silencing with siRNA or inhibition with vanadate and Probucol did not inhibit the efflux to apoA-I, HDL, or plasma. Cholesterol efflux from and cholesterol uptake by RBCs from Abca1+/+ and Abca1–/– mice were similar, arguing against the role of ABCA1 in cholesterol flux between RBCs and lipoproteins. Bioinformatics analysis identified ABCA7, ABCG5, lipoprotein lipase, and mitochondrial translocator protein as possible candidates that may mediate the cholesterol flux. Together, these results suggest that RBCs actively participate in cholesterol transport in the blood, but the role of cholesterol transporters in RBCs remains uncertain.




proteins

Proteomics of Galapagos Marine Iguanas Links Function of Femoral Gland Proteins to the Immune System [Research]

Communication between individuals via molecules, termed chemosignaling, is widespread among animal and plant species. However, we lack knowledge on the specific functions of the substances involved for most systems. The femoral gland is an organ that secretes a waxy substance involved in chemical communication in lizards. Although the lipids and volatile substances secreted by the femoral glands have been investigated in several biochemical studies, the protein composition and functions of secretions remain completely unknown. Applying a proteomic approach, we provide the first attempt to comprehensively characterize the protein composition of femoral gland secretions from the Galápagos marine iguana. Using samples from several organs, the marine iguana proteome was assembled by next-generation sequencing and MS, resulting in 7513 proteins. Of these, 4305 proteins were present in the femoral gland, including keratins, small serum proteins, and fatty acid-binding proteins. Surprisingly, no proteins with discernible roles in partner recognition or inter-species communication could be identified. However, we did find several proteins with direct associations to the innate immune system, including lysozyme C, antileukoproteinase (ALP), pulmonary surfactant protein (SFTPD), and galectin (LGALS1) suggesting that the femoral glands function as an important barrier to infection. Furthermore, we report several novel anti-microbial peptides from the femoral glands that show similar action against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis such as oncocin, a peptide known for its effectiveness against Gram-negative pathogens. This proteomics data set is a valuable resource for future functional protein analysis and demonstrates that femoral gland secretions also perform functions of the innate immune system.




proteins

An Interaction Network of RNA-Binding Proteins Involved in Drosophila Oogenesis [Research]

During Drosophila oogenesis, the localization and translational regulation of maternal transcripts relies on RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Many of these RBPs localize several mRNAs and may have additional direct interaction partners to regulate their functions. Using immunoprecipitation from whole Drosophila ovaries coupled to mass spectrometry, we examined protein-protein associations of 6 GFP-tagged RBPs expressed at physiological levels. Analysis of the interaction network and further validation in human cells allowed us to identify 26 previously unknown associations, besides recovering several well characterized interactions. We identified interactions between RBPs and several splicing factors, providing links between nuclear and cytoplasmic events of mRNA regulation. Additionally, components of the translational and RNA decay machineries were selectively co-purified with some baits, suggesting a mechanism for how RBPs may regulate maternal transcripts. Given the evolutionary conservation of the studied RBPs, the interaction network presented here provides the foundation for future functional and structural studies of mRNA localization across metazoans.




proteins

Depolarization-dependent Induction of Site-specific Changes in Sialylation on N-linked Glycoproteins in Rat Nerve Terminals [Research]

Synaptic transmission leading to release of neurotransmitters in the nervous system is a fast and highly dynamic process. Previously, protein interaction and phosphorylation have been thought to be the main regulators of synaptic transmission. Here we show that sialylation of N-linked glycosylation is a novel potential modulator of neurotransmitter release mechanisms by investigating depolarization-dependent changes of formerly sialylated N-linked glycopeptides. We suggest that negatively charged sialic acids can be modulated, similarly to phosphorylation, by the action of sialyltransferases and sialidases thereby changing local structure and function of membrane glycoproteins. We characterized site-specific alteration in sialylation on N-linked glycoproteins in isolated rat nerve terminals after brief depolarization using quantitative sialiomics. We identified 1965 formerly sialylated N-linked glycosites in synaptic proteins and found that the abundances of 430 glycosites changed after 5 s depolarization. We observed changes on essential synaptic proteins such as synaptic vesicle proteins, ion channels and transporters, neurotransmitter receptors and cell adhesion molecules. This study is to our knowledge the first to describe ultra-fast site-specific modulation of the sialiome after brief stimulation of a biological system.




proteins

Correction: Concentration Determination of >200 Proteins in Dried Blood Spots for Biomarker Discovery and Validation [Addition and Correction]




proteins

MSstatsTMT: Statistical Detection of Differentially Abundant Proteins in Experiments with Isobaric Labeling and Multiple Mixtures [Technological Innovation and Resources]

Tandem mass tag (TMT) is a multiplexing technology widely-used in proteomic research. It enables relative quantification of proteins from multiple biological samples in a single MS run with high efficiency and high throughput. However, experiments often require more biological replicates or conditions than can be accommodated by a single run, and involve multiple TMT mixtures and multiple runs. Such larger-scale experiments combine sources of biological and technical variation in patterns that are complex, unique to TMT-based workflows, and challenging for the downstream statistical analysis. These patterns cannot be adequately characterized by statistical methods designed for other technologies, such as label-free proteomics or transcriptomics. This manuscript proposes a general statistical approach for relative protein quantification in MS- based experiments with TMT labeling. It is applicable to experiments with multiple conditions, multiple biological replicate runs and multiple technical replicate runs, and unbalanced designs. It is based on a flexible family of linear mixed-effects models that handle complex patterns of technical artifacts and missing values. The approach is implemented in MSstatsTMT, a freely available open-source R/Bioconductor package compatible with data processing tools such as Proteome Discoverer, MaxQuant, OpenMS, and SpectroMine. Evaluation on a controlled mixture, simulated datasets, and three biological investigations with diverse designs demonstrated that MSstatsTMT balanced the sensitivity and the specificity of detecting differentially abundant proteins, in large-scale experiments with multiple biological mixtures.




proteins

Novel Proteomic Profiling of Epididymal Extracellular Vesicles in the Domestic Cat Reveals Proteins Related to Sequential Sperm Maturation with Differences Observed between Normospermic and Teratospermic Individuals [Research]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by the epididymal epithelium transfer to spermatozoa key proteins that are essential in promoting motility and subsequent fertilization success. Using the domestic cat model, the objectives were to (1) characterize and compare protein content of EVs between segments of the epididymis, and (2) compare EV protein compositions between normo- and teratospermic individuals (producing >60% of abnormal spermatozoa). Epididymal EVs from adult cats were isolated and assessed via liquid chromatography tandem MS. Both male types shared 3008 proteins in total, with 98 and 20 EV proteins unique to normospermic and teratospermic males, respectively. Expression levels of several proteins changed between epididymal segments in both male types. Several proteins in both groups were related to sperm motility (e.g. hexokinase 1, adenylate kinase isoenzyme) and zona pellucida or oolemma binding (e.g. disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain proteins, zona binding proteins 1 and 2). Interestingly, seven cauda-derived EV proteins trended downward in teratospermic compared with normospermic males, which may relate to poor sperm quality. Collective results revealed, for the first time, EV proteins related to sequential sperm maturation with differences observed between normospermic and teratospermic individuals.




proteins

Site-specific N-glycosylation Characterization of Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins [Research]

The glycoprotein spike (S) on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 is a determinant for viral invasion and host immune response. Herein, we characterized the site-specific N-glycosylation of S protein at the level of intact glycopeptides. All 22 potential N-glycosites were identified in the S-protein protomer and were found to be preserved among the 753 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences. The glycosites exhibited glycoform heterogeneity as expected for a human cell-expressed protein subunit. We identified masses that correspond to 157 N-glycans, primarily of the complex type. In contrast, the insect cell-expressed S protein contained 38 N-glycans, completely of the high-mannose type. Our results revealed that the glycan types were highly determined by the differential processing of N-glycans among human and insect cells, regardless of the glycosites’ location. Moreover, the N-glycan compositions were conserved among different sizes of subunits. Our study indicate that the S protein N-glycosylation occurs regularly at each site, albeit the occupied N-glycans were diverse and heterogenous. This N-glycosylation landscape and the differential N-glycan patterns among distinct host cells are expected to shed light on the infection mechanism and present a positive view for the development of vaccines and targeted drugs.




proteins

Proteomic identification of Coxiella burnetii effector proteins targeted to the host cell mitochondria during infection [Research]

Modulation of the host cell is integral to the survival and replication of microbial pathogens. Several intracellular bacterial pathogens deliver bacterial proteins, termed ‘effector proteins’ into the host cell during infection by sophisticated protein translocation systems, which manipulate cellular processes and functions. The functional contribution of individual effectors is poorly characterised, particularly in intracellular bacterial pathogens with large effector protein repertoires. Technical caveats have limited the capacity to study these proteins during a native infection, with many effector proteins having only been demonstrated to be translocated during over-expression of tagged versions. Here we developed a novel strategy to examine effector proteins in the context of infection. We coupled a broad, unbiased proteomics-based screen with organelle purification to study the host-pathogen interactions occurring between the host cell mitochondrion and the Gram-negative, Q fever pathogen Coxiella burnetii. We identify 4 novel mitochondrially-targeted C. burnetii effector proteins, renamed Mitochondrial Coxiella effector protein (Mce) B to E. Examination of the subcellular localisation of ectopically expressed proteins confirmed their mitochondrial localisation, demonstrating the robustness of our approach. Subsequent biochemical analysis and affinity enrichment proteomics of one of these effector proteins, MceC, revealed the protein localises to the inner membrane and can interact with components of the mitochondrial quality control machinery. Our study adapts high-sensitivity proteomics to study intracellular host-pathogen interactions, providing a robust strategy to examine the sub-cellular localisation of effector proteins during native infection. This approach could be applied to a range of pathogens and host cell compartments to provide a rich map of effector dynamics throughout infection.




proteins

Proteomic analyses identify differentially expressed proteins and pathways between low-risk and high-risk subtypes of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma and their prognostic impacts [Research]

The histopathological subtype of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is closely associated with prognosis. Micropapillary or solid predominant LUAD tends to relapse after surgery at an early stage, whereas lepidic pattern shows a favorable outcome. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unknown. Here, we recruited 31 lepidic predominant LUADs (LR: low-risk subtype group) and 28 micropapillary or solid predominant LUADs (HR: high-risk subtype group). Tissues of these cases were obtained and label-free quantitative proteomic and bioinformatic analyses were performed. Additionally, prognostic impact of targeted proteins was validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas databases (n=492) and tissue microarrays composed of early-stage LUADs (n=228). A total of 192 differentially expressed proteins were identified between tumor tissues of LR and HR and three clusters were identified via hierarchical clustering excluding eight proteins. Cluster 1 (65 proteins) showed a sequential decrease in expression from normal tissues to tumor tissues of LR and then to HR and was predominantly enriched in pathways such as tyrosine metabolism and ECM-receptor interaction, and increased matched mRNA expression of 18 proteins from this cluster predicted favorable prognosis. Cluster 2 (70 proteins) demonstrated a sequential increase in expression from normal tissues to tumor tissues of LR and then to HR and was mainly enriched in pathways such as extracellular organization, DNA replication and cell cycle, and high matched mRNA expression of 25 proteins indicated poor prognosis. Cluster 3 (49 proteins) showed high expression only in LR, with high matched mRNA expression of 20 proteins in this cluster indicating favorable prognosis. Furthermore, high expression of ERO1A and FEN1 at protein level predicted poor prognosis in early-stage LUAD, supporting the mRNA results. In conclusion, we discovered key differentially expressed proteins and pathways between low-risk and high-risk subtypes of early-stage LUAD. Some of these proteins could serve as potential biomarkers in prognostic evaluation.




proteins

A human cancer cell line initiates DNA replication normally in the absence of ORC5 and ORC2 proteins [DNA and Chromosomes]

The origin recognition complex (ORC), composed of six subunits, ORC1–6, binds to origins of replication as a ring-shaped heterohexameric ATPase that is believed to be essential to recruit and load MCM2–7, the minichromosome maintenance protein complex, around DNA and initiate DNA replication. We previously reported the creation of viable cancer cell lines that lacked detectable ORC1 or ORC2 protein without a reduction in the number of origins firing. Here, using CRISPR-Cas9–mediated mutations, we report that human HCT116 colon cancer cells also survive when ORC5 protein expression is abolished via a mutation in the initiator ATG of the ORC5 gene. Even if an internal methionine is used to produce an undetectable, N terminally deleted ORC5, the protein would lack 80% of the AAA+ ATPase domain, including the Walker A motif. The ORC5-depleted cells show normal chromatin binding of MCM2–7 and initiate replication from a similar number of origins as WT cells. In addition, we introduced a second mutation in ORC2 in the ORC5 mutant cells, rendering both ORC5 and ORC2 proteins undetectable in the same cells and destabilizing the ORC1, ORC3, and ORC4 proteins. Yet the double mutant cells grow, recruit MCM2–7 normally to chromatin, and initiate DNA replication with normal number of origins. Thus, in these selected cancer cells, either a crippled ORC lacking ORC2 and ORC5 and present at minimal levels on the chromatin can recruit and load enough MCM2–7 to initiate DNA replication, or human cell lines can sometimes recruit MCM2–7 to origins independent of ORC.




proteins

Genetic evidence for the involvement of mismatch repair proteins, PMS2 and MLH3, in a late step of homologous recombination [Cell Biology]

Homologous recombination (HR) repairs DNA double-strand breaks using intact homologous sequences as template DNA. Broken DNA and intact homologous sequences form joint molecules (JMs), including Holliday junctions (HJs), as HR intermediates. HJs are resolved to form crossover and noncrossover products. A mismatch repair factor, MLH3 endonuclease, produces the majority of crossovers during meiotic HR, but it remains elusive whether mismatch repair factors promote HR in nonmeiotic cells. We disrupted genes encoding the MLH3 and PMS2 endonucleases in the human B cell line, TK6, generating null MLH3−/− and PMS2−/− mutant cells. We also inserted point mutations into the endonuclease motif of MLH3 and PMS2 genes, generating endonuclease death MLH3DN/DN and PMS2EK/EK cells. MLH3−/− and MLH3DN/DN cells showed a very similar phenotype, a 2.5-fold decrease in the frequency of heteroallelic HR-dependent repair of restriction enzyme–induced double-strand breaks. PMS2−/− and PMS2EK/EK cells showed a phenotype very similar to that of the MLH3 mutants. These data indicate that MLH3 and PMS2 promote HR as an endonuclease. The MLH3DN/DN and PMS2EK/EK mutations had an additive effect on the heteroallelic HR. MLH3DN/DN/PMS2EK/EK cells showed normal kinetics of γ-irradiation–induced Rad51 foci but a significant delay in the resolution of Rad51 foci and a 3-fold decrease in the number of cisplatin-induced sister chromatid exchanges. The ectopic expression of the Gen1 HJ re-solvase partially reversed the defective heteroallelic HR of MLH3DN/DN/PMS2EK/EK cells. Taken together, we propose that MLH3 and PMS2 promote HR as endonucleases, most likely by processing JMs in mammalian somatic cells.




proteins

Identification of Mosquito Eggshell Proteins from Aedes aegypti by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Proteomic Analysis

The insect eggshell is a multifunctional structure with several important roles, including generating an entry point for sperm via the micropyle before oviposition, serving as an oviposition substrate attachment surface, and functioning as a protective layer during embryo development. Eggshell proteins play major roles in eggshell tanning and hardening following oviposition and provide molecular cues that define dorsal–ventral axis formation. Precise eggshell formation during ovarian follicle maturation is critical for normal embryo development and the synthesis of a defective eggshell often gives rise to inviable embryos. Therefore, simple and accurate methods for identifying eggshell proteins will facilitate our understanding of the molecular pathways regulating eggshell formation and the mechanisms underlying normal embryo development. This protocol describes how to isolate and enrich eggshells from mature oocytes of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and how to extract their eggshell proteins for liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) proteomic analysis. Although this methodology was developed for studying mosquito eggshells, it may be applicable to eggs from a variety of insects. Mosquitoes are ideal model organisms for this study as their ovarian follicle development and eggshell formation are meticulously regulated by blood feeding and their follicles develop synchronously throughout oogenesis in a time-dependent manner.




proteins

Flu viruses have evolved proteins that let them break through mucus

Computer simulations of how influenza A moves through human mucus found it is ideally configured to slide through the sticky stuff on its way to infecting cells




proteins

Differential Tissue Abundance of Membrane-Bound Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporter Proteins by Global Proteomics [Special Section on New and Emerging Areas and Technologies in Drug Metabolism and Disposition, Part II]

Protein abundance data of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters (DMETs) are useful for scaling in vitro and animal data to humans for accurate prediction and interpretation of drug clearance and toxicity. Targeted DMET proteomics that relies on synthetic stable isotope-labeled surrogate peptides as calibrators is routinely used for the quantification of selected proteins; however, the technique is limited to the quantification of a small number of proteins. Although the global proteomics-based total protein approach (TPA) is emerging as a better alternative for large-scale protein quantification, the conventional TPA does not consider differential sequence coverage by identifying unique peptides across proteins. Here, we optimized the TPA approach by correcting protein abundance data by the sequence coverage, which was applied to quantify 54 DMETs for characterization of 1) differential tissue DMET abundance in the human liver, kidney, and intestine, and 2) interindividual variability of DMET proteins in individual intestinal samples (n = 13). Uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 2B7 (UGT2B7), microsomal glutathione S-transferases (MGST1, MGST2, and MGST3) carboxylesterase 2 (CES2), and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) were expressed in all three tissues, whereas, as expected, four cytochrome P450s (CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP2C9, and CYP4F2), UGT1A1, UGT2B17, CES1, flavin-containing monooxygenase 5, MRP3, and P-glycoprotein were present in the liver and intestine. The top three DMET proteins in individual tissues were: CES1>CYP2E1>UGT2B7 (liver), CES2>UGT2B17>CYP3A4 (intestine), and MGST1>UGT1A6>MGST2 (kidney). CYP3A4, CYP3A5, UGT2B17, CES2, and MGST2 showed high interindividual variability in the intestine. These data are relevant for enhancing in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of drug absorption and disposition and can be used to enhance the accuracy of physiologically based pharmacokinetic prediction of systemic and tissue concentration of drugs.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

This study quantified the abundance and compositions of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in pooled human liver, intestine, and kidney microsomes as well as individual intestinal microsomes using an optimized global proteomics approach. The data revealed large intertissue differences in the abundance of these proteins and high intestinal interindividual variability in the levels of cytochrome P450s (e.g., CYP3A4 and CYP3A5), uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 2B17, carboxylesterase 2, and microsomal glutathione S-transferase 2. These data are applicable for the prediction of first-pass metabolism and tissue-specific drug clearance.




proteins

Flu viruses have evolved proteins that let them break through mucus

Computer simulations of how influenza A moves through human mucus found it is ideally configured to slide through the sticky stuff on its way to infecting cells




proteins

Flu viruses have evolved proteins that let them break through mucus

Computer simulations of how influenza A moves through human mucus found it is ideally configured to slide through the sticky stuff on its way to infecting cells




proteins

Proteins in Meat and Milk May Block Intestinal Tumor Growth

A study has found that proteins from meat and milk help prevent small intestine tumors by acting as protective antigens.




proteins

Use of Mini-Proteins in Targeted Cancer Therapy

Mini-proteins are engineered protein capsule, bcapable of delivering targeted radiation dose directly to tumor cells expressing Nectin-4/b. Nectin-4




proteins

Researchers Develop Rapid Screening System to Target Harmful Amyloid Proteins

An international research team led by the University of Toronto has created an effective system using the iC. elegans/i nematode to identify compounds that can halt the growth of amyloid proteins.




proteins

Molecular sandwich-based DNAzyme catalytic reaction towards transducing efficient nanopore electrical detection of antigen proteins

Faraday Discuss., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4FD00146J, Paper
Lebing Wang, Shuo Zhou, Yunjiao Wang, Yan Wang, Jing Li, Xiaohan Chen, Daming Zhou, Liyuan Liang, Bohua Yin, Youwen Zhang, Liang Wang
A molecular sandwich-based DNAzyme catalytic reaction is capable of transducing detectable nucleic acids as a substitute for difficult to yield protein detection in complicated biological matrices, in a nanopore.
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proteins

In silico design of misfolding resistant proteins: the role of structural similarity of a competing conformational ensemble in the optimization of frustration

Soft Matter, 2024, 20,3283-3298
DOI: 10.1039/D4SM00171K, Paper
Bondeepa Saikia, Anupaul Baruah
The degree of similarity of the non-native conformations to the target plays a prominent role in designing misfolding resistant protein sequences.
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proteins

Synthesis and characterization of a nanostructure conductive copolymer based on polyaniline and polylactic acid as an effective substrate in proteins impedimetric biosensing

RSC Adv., 2024, 14,12600-12611
DOI: 10.1039/D4RA01061B, Paper
Open Access
  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
Ehsan Dinpanah, Moslem Mansour Lakouraj, Ebrahim Fooladi, Vahid Hasantabar
Despite of all the developments in DNA microarray technology, there is not sufficient knowledge about protein abundance or their function in processes such as proteolysis, phosphorylation.
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proteins

Sequence-defined structural transitions by calcium-responsive proteins

Polym. Chem., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4PY00907J, Paper
Marina Chang, Winnie Huang, Gatha Shambharkar, Kenny Hernandez, Danielle Jamie Mai
Biopolymer sequences dictate their functions, and protein-based polymers are a promising platform to establish sequence–function relationships for novel biopolymers. To efficiently explore vast sequence spaces of natural proteins, sequence repetition...
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proteins

Tuning the affinity of probes with transmembrane proteins by constructing peptide-conjugated cis/trans isomers based on molecular scaffolds

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4TB01801J, Paper
Jing-Jing Hu, Juliang Yang, Yiheng Liu, Guangwen Lu, Zujin Zhao, Fan Xia, Xiaoding Lou
Peptide-conjugated cis/trans isomers were designed. cis-RTP interacts more stably with cell membranes than trans-RTP, and it has shown more excellent properties in inhibiting cell migration and killing cells.
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proteins

Imaging specific proteins in living cells with small unnatural amino acid attached Raman reporters

Analyst, 2024, 149,5476-5481
DOI: 10.1039/D4AN00758A, Paper
Erli Cai, Yage Chen, Jing Zhang, Haozheng Li, Yiran Li, Shuai Yan, Zhiyong He, Quan Yuan, Ping Wang
For living HeLa cells, we report a small and minimally-invasive Raman reporter (about 2 aa and <1 kDa), which can be site-specifically introduced into proteins by genetic codon expansion combined with tetrazine ligation.
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proteins

Carbon NPs seize the accumulation of storage proteins and check the generation advancement of polyphagous insect pest tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D3EN00939D, Paper
Manisha Mishra, Rashmi Pandey, Ranjana Chauhan, Sharad Saurabh, Anoop Shukla, Sheelendra Pratap Singh, Pradhyumna Kumar Singh, Farrukh Jamal
Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is considered one of the most important agricultural pests, globally. It is a highly prevalent and very damaging insect pest to several vegetables and crops like...
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proteins

Characterization of black carbon and silica nanoparticle interactions with human plasma proteins

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D3EN00773A, Communication
Si-si Chen, Hong-juan Chen, Xue-wen Guo, Wei-juan Zheng, Hong-zhen Lian
Black carbon and silica nanoparticles, modeling different sources of PM, differ in protein corona composition and effects on protein structure.
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proteins

Molecular recognition of peptides and proteins by cucurbit[n]urils: systems and applications

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2024, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D4CS00569D, Review Article
Open Access
Lilyanna Armstrong, Sarah L. Chang, Nia Clements, Zoheb Hirani, Lauren B. Kimberly, Keturah Odoi-Adams, Paolo Suating, Hailey F. Taylor, Sara A. Trauth, Adam R. Urbach
The molecular recognition of peptides and proteins by cucurbit[n]uril synthetic receptors in aqueous solution occurs with high affinity and with selectivity that is predictive from the sequence of amino acids and has enabled many applications.
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proteins

Sequence-dependent Conformational Transitions of Disordered Proteins During Condensation

Chem. Sci., 2024, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4SC05004E, Edge Article
Open Access
Jiahui Wang, Dinesh Devarajan, Keerthivasan Muthukumar, Youngchan Kim, Arash Nikoubashman, Jeetain Mittal
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can form biomolecular condensates through phase separation. It is recognized that the conformation of IDPs in the dense and dilute phases, as well as at the...
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proteins

Researchers uncover new role of mutant RAS proteins in some of the deadliest cancers

A new study led by NCI researchers shows that mutant RAS proteins help release a nuclear protein from a complex transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, kicking off a series of events that lead to the breakdown of a tumor suppressor protein.




proteins

Synthorx raises $63 million to make synthetic proteins from an expanded genetic code




proteins

Chemists synthesize and screen massive library of nonnatural proteins

Such screens could yield protein drugs with advantages over natural ones




proteins

One-pot, cell-free method makes glycoproteins

Technology is a step on the path to on-demand manufacturing of biologics




proteins

Fatty acid binding proteins appear to guide intestinal adaptation

Response to partial removal of small intestine analyzed.




proteins

Viruses and viral proteins

The X-ray structures of viruses and viral proteins currently available are providing high-resolution snapshots of viral molecular machineries, expanding our vision of the virus world and giving crucial information on potential targets for future antiviral therapies.