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Biomedical subjects

A M Eroshkin

Publications and source records attributed to A M Eroshkin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

ProMSED: protein multiple sequence editor for Windows 3.11/95.

MOTIVATION: Most protein sequence alignment algorithms give similar results on closely related proteins, while manual intervention may be needed for distantly related molecules. To correct the alignment, it is often necessary to repeat calculations on selected parts of the alignments and edit the alignment manually. Software implementing such interactive alignment procedures is of significance. RESULTS: This paper presents a new MS Windows application called ProMSED for both automatic and manual protein sequence alignment. The program reads main sequence formats and has a user-friendly interface. ProMSED performs automatic (ClustalV algorithm) alignments, alignment visualization and editing, and it allows sequences to be aligned interactively leaving previously aligned regions unchanged. Manual alignment and sequence analysis are facilitated by colouring schemes reflecting amino acid similarity of mutational and physicochemical properties. The interactive alignment of a diverged set of reverse transcriptases has located four out of six known conserved motifs. AVAILABILITY: ProMSED is available on request from the authors. DEMO is available from ftp://ftp.ebi.ac.uk/pub/ software/dos/promsed/ or ftp://iubio.bio.indiana.edu/molbio/ ibmpc/.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

[Use of a phage peptide library in mapping the group-specific hemagglutinating domain of alpha-virus glycoprotein E2].

Phage display peptide library f88-4/15 (G. P. Smith, USA) was used for mapping the hemagglutination activity domain of glycoprotein E2 of alphaviruses. Using affinity selection and ELISA, we selected the clones binding monoclonal antibody 4H5 to Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus and inhibiting alphavirus hemagglutinating activity. Analysis of the similarity between the peptides amino acid sequences with the alphavirus glycoprotein E2 sequences revealed a structural motive of 4 amino acid residues (HTSR) which was identified in the 85-88 region. Bacteriophages F36 and F19 contained motives corresponding to 102-SXXM-105 and 109-AXXP-112 regions in alphavirus proteins E2. These data permit us to propose that the detected regions are fragments of a group-specific alphavirus hemagglutination domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Design of immunogens as components of a new generation of molecular vaccines.

Three new approaches to design effective immunogens are considered. At first, we derived an expression vector from bacteriophage M13 allowing the exposure of short peptides on the virion surface. EIA demonstrates that antibodies against a recombinant phage carrying the antigenic determinant of the HIV-1 gag protein reacted with the 17-kDa core protein of the virus and also with its polyprotein precursor p55 in immunoblotting. In another approach, we chose the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) particle as a vehicle for the presentation of foreign antigenic determinants to the immune system. Chimerical particles of HBcAg containing epitope of the VEE virus were obtained. A vector system for insertion of foreign antigenic determinants and production of both hybrid and wild HBcAg proteins were also obtained. The third approach relies on construction of immunogens from different T- and B-cell epitopes of the HIV-1. We suggested to construct HIV-1 vaccines in a form of the TBI (T- and B-cell epitopes containing Immunogen) with a predetermined tertiary structure, namely, a four-alpha-helix bundle. The gene of the TBI protein consisting of nine HIV-1 epitopes was synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. Mice immunized with TBI showed humoral and cellular immune responses to HIV-1. Anti-TBI antibodies displayed HIV-1 neutralizing activity. These new approaches offer promise in the development of new effective vaccines.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1995

PROANAL version 2: multifunctional program for analysis of multiple protein sequence alignments and for studying the structure--activity relationships in protein families.

A new version of the program PROANAL is described. A multiple linear regression analysis of the protein structure--activity relationship allows one to investigate the combinations of protein sites and factors influencing the activity. The program also provides the possibility to seek out protein sites, conservative or variable in variations of physicochemical characteristics, and regions with high or low values of these characteristics. PROANAL2 may be useful in the simulation of protein-engineering experiments and in the search of a number of protein regions such as functional sites, secondary structures, solvent-exposed regions, T- and B-cell antigenic determinants, etc.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1995

Design of four-helix bundle protein as a candidate for HIV vaccine.

To be efficient, a synthetic vaccine should contain different T and B cell epitopes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens, and the B epitope regions in the vaccine and in the HIV should be conformationally similar. We have suggested previously the construction of vaccines in the form of a protein with a predetermined tertiary structure, namely a four-alpha-helix bundle. Antigenic determinants of cellular and humoral immunity are blocks for the vaccine design. From experimentally studied HIV-1 T and B cell epitopes, we constructed a sequence of a four-helix protein TBI (T and B cell epitopes containing immunogen). The gene of the protein was synthesized and the protein was produced in C600 Escherichia coli cells under recA promoter from Proteus mirabelis. CD spectroscopy of the protein demonstrated that 30% of amino acid residues adopt an alpha-helical conformation. Mice immunized with TBI have shown both humoral and cellular immune responses to HIV-1. The obtained data show that the design of TBI was successful. The synthesized gene structure makes possible further reconstruction and improvement of the protein vaccine structure.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1993

Algorithm and computer program Pro__Anal for analysis of relationship between structure and activity in a family of proteins or peptides.

In this paper we introduce a computer algorithm and program Pro__Anal for analysis of the structure-activity relationship in a family of evolutionarily related (and/or artificially mutated) proteins/peptides. The program uses aligned amino acid sequences with data of their activity (pK, Km, ED50 or any other) and searches for correlations between data on activity and various physico-chemical characteristics of different regions in primary structures. In automatic mode, the program generates and verifies hypotheses on the disposition of a sequential modulating region in a protein, and key characteristics of the region. In manual mode, users can generate and analyze their own hypotheses. The program is implemented on IBM PC or compatible computers. It is designed to be easily handled by the occasional computer user and yet it is powerful enough for experienced professionals. Pro__Anal operation is demonstrated on the example of finding modulating centers in a family of disintegrins-proteins from snake venoms which inhibit fibrinogen interaction with platelet receptors. In another example it is shown that the immunogenicity of peptides is connected with their positive charge.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1993

Artificial protein vaccines with predetermined tertiary structure: application to anti-HIV-1 vaccine design.

A successful approach to the development of a safe and effective synthetic vaccine requires that different B and T cell epitopes of the infectious agent be included in the vaccine construction. In this paper we suggest a new approach to vaccine design in the form of an artificial protein with a predetermined tertiary structure (PTS vaccines). Based on B and T cell epitope properties, we substantiate the possible use for vaccine construction of one well-known protein spatial motif--the four-alpha-helix bundle. Antigenic determinants of cellular immunity (amphipathic alpha-helices) and humoral immunity (flexible hydrophilic loop regions) are used as blocks for vaccine design. General principles of PTS vaccine construction have been applied to anti-HIV-1 vaccine design.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1992

Inserting foreign peptides into the major coat protein of bacteriophage M13.

Foreign DNA fragments were inserted into filamentous phage gene VIII to create hybrid B-proteins with foreign sequences in the amino terminus. The hybrid proteins are incorporated into the virions which retain viability and infectivity. Virions with hybrid B-proteins have the same contour length and the same number of B-protein molecules as virions with natural B-proteins. It was shown that for one of hybrid B-proteins the position of the processing site had changed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Protein fragment variability analysis and some principles of protein engineering of vaccines.

Based on protein sequence databank (PIR), the 'variable fragment' bank, comprising pairs of closely-related proteins, containing one or more strongly differing sites of primary structures, was formed. The bank includes 465 'variable fragments' in 383 protein pairs. The amino acid composition of 'variable fragments' was examined and indices of potential amino acid residue variability were formed. An analysis of the interchangeability of amino acid fragments depending on the substitution site (N- or C-terminal, or middle part of a chain), the fragment length differences and physico-chemical properties of residues, such as volume, hydrophobicity, polarity and isoelectric point, was carried out. Based on this analysis some general empirical rules of peptide insertions in carrier proteins were created. The rules are directed at performing modifications leaving the general structure and function of the carrier protein molecule unchanged. The selection scheme for the regions suitable for modification and the criteria for determination of the range of acceptable variations in these regions were suggested. The use of the potential variability profile for detecting regions suitable for peptide insertion was considered using surface protein of hepatitis B virus as an example.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

[Primary structure of the mutant genes of human leukocyte interferon alpha2].

Nucleotide sequences of 10 mutant genes of human leukocyte interferon alpha 2 (IFN) with the use of 4 oligonucleotide primers containing ethyl substituents at phosphate groups were determined. To design primer sequences, an approach based on the local similarity profile of the IFN gene and M13mp7 vector DNA is described.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Construction and expression in Escherichia coli of a gene of hybrid hemagglutinin H1-H3 of influenza virus].

The hybrid gene of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) of the H1-subtype, carrying the sequence coding for the fragment of H3-subtype antigenic site B, was constructed. The product of expression of this gene in E. coli was obtained as a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase. The chimeric protein was shown to retain the antigenic properties of HA of H1-subtype and to interact specifically with antibodies against the synthetic peptide corresponding to the B site fragment of HA of the H3-subtype.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Directed reconstruction of the influenza virus hemagglutinin gene].

A new approach to create chimeric genes by directed exchange of oligonucleotide fragments was developed. By oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis a few deletion mutants of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) gene were obtained. These variants of HA gene contain unique restriction sites in DNA regions coding for the A and B epitopes of the HA molecule. The obtained special vectors may be used for cloning DNA fragments coding for new amino acid sequences in internal sites of the HA gene.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The use of filamentous phage M13 in protein engineering].

M13B1 vector based on the filamentous phage M13 has been constructed. M13B1 phage carries the gene of resistance to ampicillin and contains the unique site of recognition for BamHI restriction endonuclease in gene VIII coding for the major coat protein. BamHI restriction site has been inserted into the gene of the major coat protein by means of oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis. The synthetic DNA fragment coding for the model peptides has been inserted through BamHI site into the M13B1 DNA. The possibility of inserting foreign peptides into the N-terminus at maintaining the viability of hybrid phages has been shown. The differences in specificity of the recombinant phage maturation have been determined by analysing the amino acid sequence of B-protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Development of rules for vaccine engineering based on the variability of peptide fragments in closely related proteins].

Based on the protein sequence data bank (PIR), the "variable fragment" bank, comprising pairs of closely related proteins, containing one or more strongly differing sites of primary structures was formed. The bank includes 465 "variable fragments" of 383 protein pairs. Amino acid residues composition of "variable fragments" was examined and indexes of potential amino acid residues variability was formed. An analysis of amino acid fragments replaceability was carried out by substituting the N-, C-terminal, or middle part of a chain), the fragments length differences and physico-chemical properties of residues, such as volume, hydrophobicity, polarity, isoelectric point, etc. Some general empirical rules of peptide insertions in carrier-proteins were created based on these analyses. The rules are directed for performing modifications maintaining the common structure and function of the carrier-protein molecule. The selection scheme for determining the regions suitable for modification and the criteria for defining the width of acceptable modifications in this regions were suggested. The use of potential variability profile for detecting regions suitable for peptide insertion was considered on the model of hepatitis B surface protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The nature of amino acid substitution in antigenic drift of hemagglutinin N3 and neuraminidase N2 from the influenza virus].

The nature of amino acid replacements in 16 drift variants of hemagglutinin H3 subtype and 5 drift variants of neuraminidase N2 subtype of the influenza A virus were studied. The dependences of relative replacement frequencies and relative quantities of frequent replacements upon differences of properties of substituted residues are plotted. In contrast to most of the known proteins, amino acid replacements in hemagglutinin and neuraminidase depend weakly on the physico-chemical parameters of amino acids. For the antigenic determinants studied the replacement frequencies were compared to those calculated according to two models: one for conservative replacements and the other for accidental mutation of the genetic code. The differences in the nature of amino acid replacements are found in four antigenic determinants of hemagglutinin. The replacements in experimentally selected proteins are shown to go beyond limitations of natural variants. The explanations of the reasons of low epidemicity of some strains and ineffective attempt to imitate the natural antigenic drift of viruses by using experimental selection are proposed. The causes of time-limited circulation of H3N2 influenza virus subtype are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A method of calculatiing immunochemical cross-reactions between homologous proteins].

The effects of amino acid substitutions within the antigenic sites, within the residues close to these sites and within other parts of the molecule on the cross-reaction with the antisera to homologous protein were considered. The method for calculus the values of cross-reactions, based on using primary structures data, X-ray coordinate of one of the homologues and the locations of the antigenic sites is proposed. The values obtained by this method for the cross-reactions of ten myoglobins from various species with antisperm-whale myoglobin sera have a good correlation with the known experimental data. The possibility of using the method to make the location of protein antigenic sites more precise is discussed.

Amino Acids↗