Cover Picture: Proteomics 11'10

Abstract

AbstractTreacle: It's not just for toastTalk about a stressful position, lung cells have it, facing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) 24/7. Just breathing along and someone adds H2O2 to the air mix, so now who do you call? Using a stable isotope technique, Duan et al. found 31 changes >2× out of more than 800 identified proteins. None of the 31 had a prior history of involvement in oxidative stress jobs. Mutations in treacle (a protein, not a sweet syrup, associated with Treacher Collins‐Franceschetti syndrome) had been accused of causing the syndrome through linkage to p53. The research reported here demonstrated that the timing and control were incompatible with a causative link. It also raised the question of treacle's role in control of oxidation products in the lungs.Duan, X. et al., Proteomics 2010, 10, 2165–2174.Q. What do quorum‐sensing lactobacilli wear to work?A. Flowered togas ( ;‐). After all, they are responsible for raising the level of the humor around here. They are also responsible for much of the flavor of sourdough breads and fermented dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Commonly found in multispecies colonies, Di Cagno et al. used proteomic techniques to examine the effects of co‐cultivation of a pheromone‐producing variety, Lactobacillus plantarum DC400, which produces plantaricin A (PlnA), with other strains. Two strains showed signs of growth inhibition and decreased survival when co‐cultivated with DC400, but they also increased the synthesis of PlnA. Some 58 proteins were significantly changed in expression levels, 51 of which could be identified. Of special interest was a model system with human cells that showed increased viability and enhanced transepithelial electrical resistance after treatment with partially purified Pln A.Di Cagno, R. et al., Proteomics 2010, 10, 2175–2190.Carving the heart of muscle: Remodeling after a heart attackAfter a myocardial infarct (MI, otherwise known as a heart attack) the body attempts to restore some of the function by “remodeling” the remaining muscle by revascularizing and replenishing the surrounding extracellular membrane (ECM). However, too much of a good ECM can be fatal, so the amount of ECM is controlled by a family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs constitute a family of more than 25 members, so generic MMP inhibitors paint with too broad a brush. Zamilpa et al. look atmore specific targets by comparing the proteomes of wild type (wt) and double deletion (−/−, null) mutants of MMP‐9 after surgically induced MI. Comparing 31 spots with significant differences post‐MI yielded 9 higher and 22 lower in intensity. Of particular interest were the spots that were proteolytically cleaved, such as fibronectin. Validated by immunoblots, these look like a good starting place for target hunting.Zamilpa, R. et al., Proteomics 2010, 10, 2214–2223.