Chain Of Amino Acid Residues Research Articles

СТРУКТУРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ МОЛЕКУЛ СОЙМОРФИНОВ

The conformational capabilities of soymorphine-5 (Thr1-Pro2-Phe3-Val4-Val5-NH2), soymorphine-6 (Tyr1-Pro2-Phe3-Val4-Val5-Asn6-NH2) and soymorphine-7 (Tyr1- Pro2-Tyr3-Val4-Val5-Asn6-Ala7-NH2) molecules have been studied by the method of theoretical conformational analysis. The potential function of the system is chosen as the sum of non-valence, electrostatic and torsion interactions and the energy of hydrogen bonds. The low-energy conformations of soymorphine-5, soymorphine-6 and soymorphine-7 molecules were found, the dihedral angles of the main and side chains of amino acid residues that make up the molecule were found, and the energy of intra- and interresidual interactions was estimated. Thus, the spatial structure of soymorphine-5, soymorphine-6 and soymorphine-7 molecules can be represented by eight structural types. It can be assumed that the molecules perform their physiological functions in these structures. Comparison of the low-energy structures of soymorphins shows that in all molecules the first four low-energy conformations are representatives of the structural types efef, efee, efff, effe for soymorphine-5, effff, efeff, efffe, effee for soymorphine-6, efffff, efeffe, efffef, effeee for soymorphine-6. soymorphine-7. On the basis of these structures, it is possible to propose their artificial analogues for synthesis. It was shown that the spatial structure of soymorphine-5, soymorphine-6 and soymorphine-7 molecules is represented by the conformations of eight shapes of the peptide skeleton. The results obtained can be used to elucidate the structural and structural-functional organization of soymorphine molecules.

Solid Phase Synthesis and TAR RNA-Binding Activity of Nucleopeptides Containing Nucleobases Linked to the Side Chains via 1,4-Linked-1,2,3-triazole.

Nucleopeptides (NPs) represent synthetic polymers created by attaching nucleobases to the side chains of amino acid residues within peptides. These compounds amalgamate the characteristics of peptides and nucleic acids, showcasing a unique ability to recognize RNA structures. In this study, we present the design and synthesis of Fmoc-protected nucleobase amino acids (1,4-TzlNBAs) and a new class of NPs, where canonical nucleobases are affixed to the side chain of L-homoalanine (Hal) through a 1,4-linked-1,2,3-triazole (HalTzl). Fmoc-protected 1,4-TzlNBAs suitable for HalTzl synthesis were obtained via Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) conjugation of Fmoc-L-azidohomoalanine (Fmoc-Aha) and N1- or N9-propargylated nucleobases or their derivatives. Following this, two trinucleopeptides, HalTzlAAA and HalTzlAGA, and the hexanucleopeptide HalTzlTCCCAG, designed to complement bulge and outer loop structures of TAR (trans-activation response element) RNA HIV-1, were synthesized using the classical solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) protocol. The binding between HalTzls and fluorescently labeled 5'-(FAM(6))-TAR UCU and UUU mutant was characterized using circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy. CD results confirmed the binding of HalTzls to TAR RNA, which was evident by a decrease in ellipticity band intensity around 265 nm during complexation. CD thermal denaturation studies indicated a relatively modest effect of complexation on the stability of TAR RNA structure. The binding of HalTzls at an equimolar ratio only marginally increased the melting temperature (Tm) of the TAR RNA structure, with an increment of less than 2 °C in most cases. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that HalTzlAAA and HalTzlAGA, complementary to UUU or UCU bulges, respectively, exhibited disparate affinities for the TAR RNA structure (with Kd ≈ 30 and 256 µM, respectively). Hexamer HalTzlTCCCAG, binding to the outer loop of TARUCU, demonstrated a moderate affinity with Kd ≈ 38 µM. This study demonstrates that newly designed HalTzls effectively bind the TAR RNA structure, presenting a potential new class of RNA binders and may be a promising scaffold for the development of a new class of antiviral drugs.

Spatial structure of soymorphin-6 molecule

By the method of the theoretic conformational analysis the conformational capabilities of the soymorphin-6 (Tyr1-Pro2-Phe3-Val4-Val5-Asn6-NH2) molecule were studied. The potential energy of this molecule is given as the sum of nonvalent, electrostatic and torsional interactions and the energy of hydrogen bonds. Low-energy conformations of the soymorphin-6 molecule, the values of the dihedral angles of the main and side chains of amino acid residues that make up the molecules are found, the energy of intra- and inter-residual interactions is estimated. It is shown that the spatial structure of the soymorphin-6 molecule can be represented by eight conformations. The results obtained can be used to study the structure and structural-functional organization of the soymorphin molecules.

Albumin from sera of rheumatoid arthritis patients share multiple biochemical, biophysical and immunological properties with in vitro generated glyco-nitro-oxidized-albumin

The purpose of the present study is to explore the effects of endogenous stressors on structure and function of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients’ albumin. In contrast to glycated-albumin or nitro-oxidized-albumin, high titre antibodies against glyco-nitro-oxidized-albumin were found in the sera of RA patients. Also, compared to the other two modified forms of albumin, glyco-nitro-oxidized-albumin showed highest percent inhibition. Albumin isolated from RA patients’ sera displayed hyperchromicity and quenching of tyrosine and tryptophan fluorescence. Fluorescence spectroscopy studies also revealed the presence of dityrosine and advanced glycation end products in RA patient’s albumin. RA patients’ albumin showed weaker binding with 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid dye. Secondary structure alterations were demonstrated by circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Biochemical investigations revealed substantial decline in the availability of free side chains of amino acid residues; increased carbonyls and decreased sulfhydryls in RA patients’ albumin. The functional impairment in RA patients’ albumin was revealed by their low binding with bilirubin and cobalt. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine and 3-nitrotyrosine in RA patients’ albumin. The amyloidogenic aggregation of RA patients’ albumin was confirmed by Congo red absorption and thioflavin-T fluorescence assays. The morphology of the aggregates was visualized under scanning and transmission electron microscope. From the above findings, we inferred that endogenous stress in RA patients have modified albumin and produce structural/functional abnormalities. Also, the presence of anti-glyco-nitro-oxidized-albumin antibodies along with other clinical features may be used as biomarker for the diagnosis and assessment of treatment responses in RA patients. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Design of Tetra-Peptide Ligands of Antibody Fc Regions Using In Silico Combinatorial Library Screening.

Peptides, or short chains of amino-acid residues, are becoming increasingly important as active ingredients of drugs and as crucial probes and/or tools in medical, biotechnological, and pharmaceutical research. Situated at the interface between small molecules and larger macromolecular systems, they pose a difficult challenge for computational methods. We report an in silico peptide library generation and prioritization workflow using CmDock for identifying tetrapeptide ligands that bind to Fc regions of antibodies that is analogous to known in vitro recombinant peptide libraries' display and expression systems. The results of our in silico study are in accordance with existing scientific literature on in vitro peptides that bind to antibody Fc regions. In addition, we postulate an evolving in silico library design workflow that will help circumvent the combinatorial problem of in vitro comprehensive peptide libraries by focusing on peptide subunits that exhibit favorable interaction profiles in initial in silico peptide generation and testing.

A Path to Protein Quantitation: PBMCs to Western Blot

Proteins are biopolymers made up of one or more long chains of amino acid residues. These proteins mediate thousands of metabolic pathways that determine how an organism functions. When proteins are thoroughly investigated, they can provide information about health and disease. A variety of methods have been developed to quantify both complex protein mixtures for total protein content as well as a single type of protein. This manuscript covers the methodologies standardized in our lab based on previously published protocols, beginning with the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from human blood samples, cell viability testing, cell counting, total protein extraction methods, and protein quantification and estimation techniques, which enable a researcher to find the protocol from PBMCs to Western blot in a single manuscript.

Polymer-based microfluidic device for on-chip counter-diffusive crystallization and in situ X-ray crystallography at room temperature.

Proteins are long chains of amino acid residues that perform a myriad of functions in living organisms, including enzymatic reactions, signalling, and maintaining structural integrity. Protein function is determined directly by the protein structure. X-ray crystallography is the primary technique for determining the 3D structure of proteins, and facilitates understanding the effects of protein structure on function. The first step towards structure determination is crystallizing the protein of interest. We have developed a centrifugally-actuated microfluidic device that incorporates the fluid handling and metering necessary for protein crystallization. Liquid handling takes advantage of surface forces to control fluid flow and enable metering, without the need for any fluidic or pump connections. Our approach requires only the simple steps of pipetting the crystallization reagents into the device followed by either spinning or shaking to set up counter-diffusive protein crystallization trials. The use of thin, UV-curable polymers with a high level of X-ray transparency allows for in situ X-ray crystallography, eliminating the manual handling of fragile protein crystals and streamlining the process of protein structure analysis. We demonstrate the utility of our device using hen egg white lysozyme as a model system, followed by the crystallization and in situ, room temperature structural analysis of the hub domain of calcium-calmodulin dependent kinase II (CaMKIIβ).

Regulation of the Enzymatic Activities of Lysozyme by the Surface Ligands of Ultrasmall Gold Nanoclusters: The Role of Hydrophobic Interactions.

Nanomaterials for biological applications would inevitably encounter and interact with biomolecules, which have a profound impact on the properties, functions, and even fates of both nanomaterials and biomolecules. Among the biomolecules, lysozyme (Lys) is of great importance in defending the bacterial intruder and maintaining health. Here, the interactions between fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) (∼2 nm) capped with different surface ligands and Lys were thoroughly investigated. Fluorescence spectroscopic studies showed that dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA)-capped and glutathione (GSH)-capped AuNCs both quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of Lys by different quenching mechanisms. Agarose gel electrophoresis and zeta-potential assays showed that statistically one DHLA-AuNC could bind one Lys, while one GSH-AuNC could bind 3-4 Lys, providing new examples for the concept of a "protein complex". Activity assays indicated that DHLA-AuNCs heavily inhibited the enzymatic activity of Lys, while GSH-AuNCs had little effect. By synchronous fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopic studies, it was deduced that both AuNCs would interact with Lys by electrostatic attractions due to the distinct surface charges, and then DHLA-AuNCs would further interact with Lys by hydrophobic interactions, probably due to the hydrophobic carbon chain of DHLA and the hydrophobic side chains of amino acid residues in Lys, which was proved by the significant secondary structure changes caused by DHLA-AuNCs. Meanwhile, conformational changes induced by GSH-AuNCs with zwitterionic ligands were neglectable. Therefore, this work provided a comprehensive study of the consequences and mechanisms of the interactions between Lys and AuNCs, which was essential for the design and better use of nanomaterials as biological agents.

Selective ESI-MS detection of carbonyl containing compounds by aminooxyacetic acid immobilized on a resin

There are numerous examples of bioactive compounds containing carbonyl groups including modified proteins with oxidation of side chain of amino acid residues to aldehyde/ketone groups which are frequently considered as markers of oxidative stress. The carbonyl unit can be also distinguished as a substructure in many illegal drugs including anabolic steroids as well as cations derivatives. Based on chemoselective formation of oximes by solid phase immobilized hydroxylamine derivatives we proposed the protocol for derivatization and selective detection of carbonylated compounds in human serum albumin hydrolysate as a complex peptide mixture and of testosterone in urine samples. This allowed for the removal of the matrix and the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the derivatized analyte by LC-MS/MS (or LC-MRM). Herein we report the preparation and chemical characterization of a novel, ChemMatrix - based resin functionalized with aminooxyacetic acid (AOA). The hydroxylamine moiety in this resin is combined with a peptide linker (GRG) containing an arginine residue to enhance the ionization efficiency. Application of an isotopically labeled carbonylated peptide ((H-Leu-Val-Thr(O)-Asp-Leu-Thr-Lys [13C6,15N2]-OH and testosterone-d3 allowed us to carry out quantitative analyses of detected compounds. Our method is general and may be applied for analysis of carbonylated compounds in biological samples. Our method based on application of functionalized resin allowed to quantify the level of free testosterone in small sample (0.5 mL) of urine, while the non-derivatized testosterone from urine sample was not detected during direct LC-MRM analysis.

CarSite-II: an integrated classification algorithm for identifying carbonylated sites based on K-means similarity-based undersampling and synthetic minority oversampling techniques

BackgroundCarbonylation is a non-enzymatic irreversible protein post-translational modification, and refers to the side chain of amino acid residues being attacked by reactive oxygen species and finally converted into carbonyl products. Studies have shown that protein carbonylation caused by reactive oxygen species is involved in the etiology and pathophysiological processes of aging, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, diabetes, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, and tumor. Current experimental approaches used to predict carbonylation sites are expensive, time-consuming, and limited in protein processing abilities. Computational prediction of the carbonylation residue location in protein post-translational modifications enhances the functional characterization of proteins.ResultsIn this study, an integrated classifier algorithm, CarSite-II, was developed to identify K, P, R, and T carbonylated sites. The resampling method K-means similarity-based undersampling and the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE-KSU) were incorporated to balance the proportions of K, P, R, and T carbonylated training samples. Next, the integrated classifier system Rotation Forest uses “support vector machine” subclassifications to divide three types of feature spaces into several subsets. CarSite-II gained Matthew’s correlation coefficient (MCC) values of 0.2287/0.3125/0.2787/0.2814, False Positive rate values of 0.2628/0.1084/0.1383/0.1313, False Negative rate values of 0.2252/0.0205/0.0976/0.0608 for K/P/R/T carbonylation sites by tenfold cross-validation, respectively. On our independent test dataset, CarSite-II yield MCC values of 0.6358/0.2910/0.4629/0.3685, False Positive rate values of 0.0165/0.0203/0.0188/0.0094, False Negative rate values of 0.1026/0.1875/0.2037/0.3333 for K/P/R/T carbonylation sites. The results show that CarSite-II achieves remarkably better performance than all currently available prediction tools.ConclusionThe related results revealed that CarSite-II achieved better performance than the currently available five programs, and revealed the usefulness of the SMOTE-KSU resampling approach and integration algorithm. For the convenience of experimental scientists, the web tool of CarSite-II is available in http://47.100.136.41:8081/

Effects of Ethylene Glycol on the Structure and Stability of Myoglobin Using Spectroscopic, Interaction, and In Silico Approaches: Monomer Is Different from Those of Its Polymers.

Investigation of changes in thermal stabilities and structures of proteins in the presence of different co-solutes (ligands) is an integral part in the basic research, discovery, and development of drugs. Ethylene glycol (EG) is known to be toxic and causes teratogenic, inducing primarily skeletal and external malformations and other diseases. The effect of EG on the structure and thermal stability of myoglobin (Mb) was studied using various spectroscopic techniques at pH 7.0 and two different temperatures. As revealed by circular dichroism, Trp fluorescence, nano-DSF, and absorption (UV and visible) measurements, EG (i) has no significant effect on secondary and tertiary structures of Mb at 25 °C, and (ii) it decreases the thermal stability of the protein, which increases with increasing concentration of EG. As revealed by ANS (8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid) fluorescence measurements, heat-induced denatured protein has newly exposed hydrophobic patches that bind to ANS. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that the interaction between EG and Mb is temperature dependent; the preferential interaction of EG is entropy driven at low temperature, 298 K (25 °C), and it is enthalpy driven at higher temperature, 343 K (70 °C). Molecular docking study showed that EG interacts with side chains of amino acid residues of Mb through van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonding.

SAPH‐ire TFx: A Machine Learning Recommendation Model and Webtool for the Prediction of Functional Post‐Translational Modifications

Post‐translational Modifications (PTMs), chemical or proteinaceous covalent alterations to the side chains of amino acid residues in proteins, are a rapidly expanding feature class of significant importance in cell biology. Due to a high burden of experimental proof and the lack of effective means for experimentalists to prioritize PTMs by functional significance, currently less than ~2% of all PTMs have an assigned biological function. Here, we describe a new artificial neural network model, SAPH‐ire TFx for the functional prediction of experimentally observed eukaryotic PTMs. Unlike previous functional PTM prioritization models, SAPH‐ire TFx is trained to emphasize metrics that maximally capture the range of diverse feature sets comprising the functional modified eukaryotic proteome. The model of was generated through systematic evaluation of input features, model architectures, training procedures, and interpretation metrics using a 2018 training dataset of 430,750 PTMs containing 7,480 PTMs with literature‐supported evidence of biological function. The resulting model was used to classify an expanded 2019 dataset of 512,015 PTMs (12,867 known functional) containing 102,475 PTMs unencountered in the original dataset. Model output from the 2019 extended dataset was benchmarked against pre‐existing prediction models, revealing superior performance in classification of functional and/or disease‐linked PTM sites, including drawing attention to PTMs that were previously thought inconsequential. Finally, a dynamic web interface provides customizable graphical and tabular visualization of PTM and SAPH‐ire TFx data within the context of all modifications within a protein family, exposing several metrics by which important functional PTMs can be identified for investigation.

Thermal characterization of antimicrobial peptide stigmurin employing thermal analytical techniques

Stigmurin is a peptide with amidated C-terminus (FFSLIPSLVGGLISAFK-NH2) identified in the transcriptome of the scorpion Tityus stigmurus that has shown antimicrobial action against methicillin-resistant pathogens and low antihemolytic activity, and recently proved to be efficient in controlling sepsis. Despite its pharmacological potential, there is no report about thermal studies for the characterization of the amorphous solid. The objective of this work is to characterize stigmurin using thermoanalytical techniques in the solid state in an inert and oxidative atmosphere. Stigmurin presents glass transition temperature at 149 °C. The results of TG–FTIR and pyrolysis suggest that the pathways for decomposition include homolytic breakdown of the side chains of amino acid residues. Decomposition possibly begins at the N-terminus, with formation of the aromatic compounds, amines, nitriles, alcohols, and ethers among others followed by defragmentation reactions (mainly decarboxylation and deamination) and intramolecular condensation reactions. It generates compounds similar to 2,5-diketopiperazine or DKP, and releases water and low molecular mass products (CO2, NH3, CO, HCNO). The decomposition of stigmurin is an endothermic process where the product of decomposition is originated in the liquid state according to DSC-photovisual images. Stigmurin is more stable in nitrogen atmosphere than synthetic air. This approach provides important information about the thermal decomposition of stigmurin, a molecule endowed with potent antimicrobial activity, supplying relevant parameters (temperature, degradation products, etc.) for technological strategies focusing on quality control and development studies of preformulation involving stigmurin and synthetic peptides in general.

PEP-FOLD design, synthesis, and characteristics of finger-like polypeptides.

Polypeptides with finger-like structures can often intercalate into the grooves of DNA, thereby affecting DNA repair or activating gene transcription, both of which are crucial for the regulation of physiological processes. Their conserved amino acid sequence and simple structure have provided useful elements for the design and assembly of functional molecules. In this paper, using the C2H2 zinc finger domain and the PEP-FOLD3 online simulation platform 11 polypeptides containing 22 amino acid residues were designed. In addition, the CD spectroscopy was combined with the fluorescence spectroscopy to study the polypeptide structures and their interaction with DNA. Results showed that although addition of zinc ions affected the polypeptide structure, particularly of the polypeptides A4, B1, and B3, zinc ion was not an essential factor for increasing polypeptide-DNA interactions. Our study revealed an increase in the interaction strength between mutated polypeptides and DNA, suggesting that mutations disrupt polypeptide structure, and polypeptides interact with DNA by groove and electrostatic binding. Mutations at the 12th and 15th amino acid residues had the greatest effect. The stronger binding between A2 or B2 and DNA indicates that the polypeptide has a spatial structure that can stably interact with DNA. The structure and characteristics of these polypeptide domains can provide information for the design and development of new polypeptide functional molecules, which could have potential significance and applications. However, this information also suggests that there are many challenges facing polypeptide design due to the synergistic effects between the side chains of amino acid residues.

Alternative pathway linked by hydrogen bonds connects heme-Fe of cytochrome c with subunit II-CuA of cytochrome a

The bridging element for electron transfer in proteins is the hydrogen bond according to the new experimental perspective in preference to carbon-carbon σ-bond presently used. The purpose of this study is to identify an alternative pathway linked by hydrogen bonds suitable for electron transfer from heme-Fe of cytochrome c to subunit II-CuA of cytochrome a. A pathway consisting of 15 delocalized electron systems including peptide bonds, 5 polar groups of side chains of amino acid residues and 8 water molecules, linked by 27 hydrogen bonds, exists between the two metal electron centers of heme-Fe of cytochrome c, cytochrome c and of subunit II-CuA of cytochrome a. Pathways built of delocalized π-electron systems, polar groups and water molecules linked by hydrogen bonds may be considered for intramolecular and intermolecular electron transfer in proteins.

Hydrogen bond-linked pathways of peptide units and polar groups of amino acid residues suitable for electron transfer in cytochrome c proteins

Electron transfer occurs through heme-Fe across the cytochrome c protein. The current models of long range electron transfer pathways in proteins include covalent σ-bonds, van der Waals forces, and through space jump. Hydrogen-bond-linked pathways of delocalized electron units in peptide units and polar side chains of amino acid residues in proteins and internal water molecules are better suited for intramolecular atom-to-atom electron transfer in proteins. Crystal structures of cytochrome c proteins from horse (1HRC), tuna (3CYT), rice (1CCR), and yeast (3CX5) were analyzed using pymol software for 'Hydrogen Bonds' marking the polar atoms within the distance of 2.6-3.3Å and tracing the atom-to-atom pathways linked by hydrogen bonds. Pathways of hydrogen-bond-linked peptide units, polar side chains of the amino acid residues, and buried water molecules connect heme-Fe through axially coordinated Met80-S and His18-N have been traced in cytochrome c proteins obtained from horse, tuna, rice and yeast with an identical hydrogen-bonded sequence around the heme-Fe: Asn-N-water-O-Tyr-O-Met-S-heme-Fe-His (HN-C=N)-Pro-Asn-Pro-Gly (peptide unit, HN-C=O)-water-O. More than half of the amino acid residues in these pathways are among the conserved list and delocalized electron units, internal water molecules and hydrogen bonds are conspicuous by their presence.

The toolbox for protein digestion in decapod crustaceans: a review

AbstractPancrustacea, including both crustaceans and insects, is the most abundant and diverse clade of Animalia and occupy all types of environments. They are studied because of their ecological, agricultural, health and economic issues, some being delicatessens. Crustaceans evolved during the Cambrian, thanks to adaptations, such as macrophagy, that allowed them to prey on diverse and energy‐rich foods, which depended on complex digestive systems that drove evolution. As heterotrophs, crustaceans depend on their ability to obtain nutrients to fulfil their material, mostly carbon and energy requirements. Protein is the most important nutrient; up to 70% dry mass of a crustacean is protein. Hence, food protein is needed to obtain free amino acids to synthesize protein de novo (from scratch), because animals cannot synthesize the ten essential amino acids de novo. The ability to digest protein must have emerged early in evolution, as shown by the finding of trypsin coding genes in eubacterial genomes. Primitive organisms selectively fixed the ability to use foreign protein as a source of amino acids by synthesizing enzymes, now termed peptidases, which were capable of recognizing and hydrolysing peptide bonds in a specific region of a polypeptide chain, based on specificity for the side chains of amino acid residues in the carboxylic side of the site of cleavage. Here, we present a brief history on what and how digestive peptidases in crustaceans became known.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES

A protein is a large biomolecule which consists of one or more chains of amino acid residues. Proteins exhibit a biological phenomenon in which, they are misfolded as aggregates (i.e., accumulate and clump together) either intra- or extracellularly. This process plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) - 2 and common for many degenerative diseases. In this case, the histopathological consequences of protein misfolding such as sensile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in AD and lewy bodies in Parkinson’s disease occur. 8–10% of adult population shares risk factors with AD. Amyloid fibrils which build up in tissue as an abnormal protein form Amyloidosis. Conformational change in three-dimensional structure forms amyloid fibrils. Type 2 DM is characterized by the deposition of islet amyloid polypeptide within beta cells of the pancreas which leads to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion that result in degeneration of neuroglial cells.

Abstract 5486: Oxidative stress and selective protein carbonylation in human breast cancer tissue

Abstract Protein carbonylation is an irreversible modification to the side chain of amino acid residues induced by severe oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are constantly produced under normal as well as stress-induced conditions, and play a role in both cancer progression and cancer suppression. Tumor tissue are known to have higher ROS levels compared to surrounding healthy tissue but ROS-induced specific protein carbonylation and its unique role in cancer progression/suppression are poorly understood. In this study we compared the relative total and specific protein carbonylation in flash frozen human breast cancer and matched adjacent normal tissue using ELISA, two-color western blot, mass spectrometry, and immunoprecipitation approaches. To understand antioxidant capacity in tumor tissue, we analyzed superoxide dismutase (SOD) for its antioxidant activity and protein level. Our results indicate that tumor tissue has greater total protein carbonylation, lower SOD activity, lower SOD protein levels, and elevated levels of autophagy compared to matched adjacent healthy tissue. We also identified three specific proteins that showed higher level of carbonylation selectively in tumor tissue compared to adjacent normal tissue. Our findings were further confirmed using the immortalized MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line and MCF-12A noncancerous normal human epithelial breast cell. Identification of selectively carbonylated proteins in cancer tissue, and understanding their specific role in cancer progression may promote the development of targeted therapeutic approaches to mitigate or enhance oxidative damage of such proteins selectively in tumor tissue. Citation Format: Baikuntha P. Aryal, Ashutosh Rao. Oxidative stress and selective protein carbonylation in human breast cancer tissue [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5486. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5486

Biochemical and structural characterisation of the second oxidative crosslinking step during the biosynthesis of the glycopeptide antibiotic A47934.

The chemical complexity and biological activity of the glycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs) stems from their unique crosslinked structure, which is generated by the actions of cytochrome P450 (Oxy) enzymes that affect the crosslinking of aromatic side chains of amino acid residues contained within the GPA heptapeptide precursor. Given the crucial role peptide cyclisation plays in GPA activity, the characterisation of this process is of great importance in understanding the biosynthesis of these important antibiotics. Here, we report the cyclisation activity and crystal structure of StaF, the D-O-E ring forming Oxy enzyme from A47934 biosynthesis. Our results show that the specificity of StaF is reduced when compared to Oxy enzymes catalysing C-O-D ring formation and that this activity relies on interactions with the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase via the X-domain. Despite the interaction of StaF with the A47934 X-domain being weaker than for the preceding Oxy enzyme StaH, StaF retains higher levels of in vitro activity: we postulate that this is due to the ability of the StaF/X-domain complex to allow substrate reorganisation after initial complex formation has occurred. These results highlight the importance of testing different peptide/protein carrier constructs for in vitro GPA cyclisation assays and show that different Oxy homologues can display significantly different catalytic propensities despite their overall similarities.