PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Bi-Cheng Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Bi-Cheng Wang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Crystal structure of a Ca2+-discharged photoprotein: implications for mechanisms of the calcium trigger and bioluminescence.

Ca2+-regulated photoproteins are members of the EF-hand calcium-binding protein family. The addition of Ca2+ produces a blue bioluminescence by triggering a decarboxylation reaction of protein-bound hydroperoxycoelenterazine to form the product, coelenteramide, in an excited state. Based on the spatial structures of aequorin and several obelins, we have postulated mechanisms for the Ca2+ trigger and for generation of the different excited states that are the origin of the different colors of bioluminescence. Here we report the crystal structure of the Ca2+-discharged photoprotein obelin at 1.96-A resolution. The results lend support to the proposed mechanisms and provide new structural insight into details of these processes. Global conformational changes caused by Ca2+ association are typical of the class of calcium signal modulators within the EF-hand protein superfamily. Accommodation of the Ca2+ ions into the loops of the EF-hands is seen to propagate into the active site of the protein now occupied by the coelenteramide where there is a significant repositioning and flipping of the His-175 imidazole ring as crucially required in the trigger hypothesis. Also the H-bonding between His-22 and the coelenterazine found in the active photoprotein is preserved at the equivalent position of coelenteramide, confirming the proposed rapid excited state proton transfer that would lead to the excited state of the phenolate ion pair, which is responsible for the blue emission of bioluminescence.

Calcium↗

Structure of mouse Golgi alpha-mannosidase IA reveals the molecular basis for substrate specificity among class 1 (family 47 glycosylhydrolase) alpha1,2-mannosidases.

Three subfamilies of mammalian Class 1 processing alpha1,2-mannosidases (family 47 glycosidases) play critical roles in the maturation of Asn-linked glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi complex as well as influencing the timing and recognition for disposal of terminally unfolded proteins by ER-associated degradation. In an effort to define the structural basis for substrate recognition among Class 1 mannosidases, we have crystallized murine Golgi mannosidase IA (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1)), and the structure was solved to 1.5-A resolution by molecular replacement. The enzyme assumes an (alphaalpha)(7) barrel structure with a Ca(2+) ion coordinated at the base of the barrel similar to other Class 1 mannosidases. Critical residues within the barrel structure that coordinate the Ca(2+) ion or presumably bind and catalyze the hydrolysis of the glycone are also highly conserved. A Man(6)GlcNAc(2) oligosaccharide attached to Asn(515) in the murine enzyme was found to extend into the active site of an adjoining protein unit in the crystal lattice in a presumed enzyme-product complex. In contrast to an analogous complex previously isolated for Saccharomyces cerevisiae ER mannosidase I, the oligosaccharide in the active site of the murine Golgi enzyme assumes a different conformation to present an alternate oligosaccharide branch into the active site pocket. A comparison of the observed protein-carbohydrate interactions for the murine Golgi enzyme with the binding cleft topologies of the other family 47 glycosidases provides a framework for understanding the structural basis for substrate recognition among this class of enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

X-ray crystal structure of Desulfovibrio vulgaris rubrerythrin with zinc substituted into the [Fe(SCys)4] site and alternative diiron site structures.

The X-ray crystal structure of recombinant Desulfovibrio vulgaris rubrerythrin (Rbr) that was subjected to metal constitution first with zinc and then iron, yielding ZnS(4)Rbr, is reported. A [Zn(SCys)(4)] site with no iron and a diiron site with no appreciable zinc in ZnS(4)Rbr were confirmed by analysis of the anomalous scattering data. Partial reduction of the diiron site occurred during the synchrotron X-ray irradiation at 95 K, resulting in two different diiron site structures in the ZnS(4)Rbr crystal. These two structures can be classified as containing mixed-valent Fe1(III)(mu-OH(-))(mu-GluCO(2)(-))(2)Fe2(II) and Fe1(II)(mu-GluCO(2)(-))(2)Fe2(III)-OH(-) cores. The data do not show any evidence for alternative positions of the protein or solvent ligands. The iron and ligand positions of the solvent-bridged site are close to those of the diferric site in all-iron Rbr. The diiron site with only the two carboxylato bridges differs by an approximately 2 A shift in the position of Fe1, which changes from six- to four-coordination. The Fe1- - -Fe2 distance (3.6 A) in this latter site is significantly longer than that of the site with the additional solvent bridge (3.4 A) but significantly shorter than that previously reported for the diferrous site (4.0 A) in all-iron Rbr. The apparent redox-induced movement of Fe1 at 95 K in the ZnS(4)Rbr crystal implies an extremely low activation barrier, which is consistent with the rapid (approximately 30 s(-1)) room temperature turnover of the all-iron Rbr during its catalysis of two-electron reduction of hydrogen peroxide. ZnS(4)Rbr does not show peroxidase activity, presumably because the [Zn(SCys)(4)] site, unlike the [Fe(SCys)(4)] site, cannot mediate electron transfer to the diiron site. One or both of the diiron site structures in the cryoreduced ZnS(4)Rbr crystal are likely to represent that (those) of transient mixed-valent diiron site(s) that must occur upon return of the diferric to the diferrous oxidation level during peroxidase turnover.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Structure determination of fibrillarin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus.

The methyltransferase fibrillarin is the catalytic component of ribonucleoprotein complexes that direct site-specific methylation of precursor ribosomal RNA and are critical for ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes and archaea. Here we report the crystal structure of a fibrillarin ortholog from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus at 1.97A resolution. Comparisons of the X-ray structures of fibrillarin orthologs from Methanococcus jannashii and Archaeoglobus fulgidus reveal nearly identical backbone configurations for the catalytic C-terminal domain with the exception of a unique loop conformation at the S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) binding pocket in P. furiosus. In contrast, the N-terminal domains are divergent which may explain why some forms of fibrillarin apparently homodimerize (M. jannashii) while others are monomeric (P. furiosus and A. fulgidus). Three positively charged amino acids surround the AdoMet-binding site and sequence analysis indicates that this is a conserved feature of both eukaryotic and archaeal fibrillarins. We discuss the possibility that these basic residues of fibrillarin are important for RNA-guided rRNA methylation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Preparation and X-ray crystallographic analysis of the Ca2+-discharged photoprotein obelin.

Ca(2+)-regulated photoproteins belong to the EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding protein family. The addition of calcium ions initiates bright blue bioluminescence of the photoproteins, a result of the oxidative breakdown of coelenterazine peroxide to coelenteramide. Crystals of the Ca(2+)-discharged W92F mutant of obelin from Obelia longissima have been grown, representing the first crystallization of a photoprotein after the Ca(2+)-triggered bioluminescence. A green fluorescence observed from the crystals clearly demonstrates that coelenteramide, the bioluminescence product of coelenterazine peroxide, is bound within the protein. The diffraction pattern exhibits tetragonal Laue symmetry. Systematic absences indicate that the space group is either P4(3)2(1)2 or P4(1)2(1)2. The unit-cell parameters are a = b = 53.4, c = 144.0 A. The crystals diffract to 1.9 A resolution.

Animals↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of GlcNAc alpha 1,4Gal-releasing endo-beta-galactosidase from Clostridium perfringens.

The unique clostridial endo-beta-galactosidase (Endo-beta-Gal(GnGa)) capable of releasing the disaccharide GlcNAc alpha 1,4Gal from O-glycans expressed in the gastric gland mucous cell-type mucin has been crystallized. The crystal belongs to space group P6(3), with unit-cell parameters a = 160.4, c = 86.1 A. Under cryocooled conditions and using a synchrotron X-ray source, the crystals diffract to 1.82 A resolution. The asymmetric unit contains two or three molecules.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Monitoring the anomalous scattering signal and noise levels in X-ray diffraction of crystals.

A statistical index R(as) is proposed in order to monitor the overall signal-to-noise ratio in an anomalous scattering data set. In this approach, symmetry-equivalent reflections are merged and grouped into centric and non-centric subsets. Reflections in the centric subset, which in theory should be equal, are used to estimate the noise level in the data. This approach differs from that used by most data-processing programs, in which the centric reflections are merged and averaged. By preserving the differences in centric reflections during data processing, an internal measure of the noise level can be estimated and used to analyze the quality of the anomalous signal in the data. An index R(as) is defined as the ratio of the average Bijvoet difference of merged acentric reflections to merged centric reflections. Test results on a variety of data show that R(as) has good correlation with the capability to determine the anomalous scattering substructure from the data. R(as) can also be useful in monitoring the quality of the data in terms of the data-collection strategy, instrument settings and data-processing software used. R(as) analysis has been implemented in the program 3DSCALE as part of a data-processing program suite that is under development in our laboratory.

Algorithms↗

Expression of nuclear factor-kappa B and target genes in gastric precancerous lesions and adenocarcinoma: association with Helicobactor pylori cagA (+) infection.

AIM: To examine the expression of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and its target genes in intestinal metaplasia (IM), dysplasia (DYS) and gastric carcinoma (GC) infected with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) and to investigate the mechanism underlying H pylori cytotoxin associated gene A (cag A) infection leading to gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Expressions of NF-kappaB/p65 and its target genes: c-myc, cyclinD1 and bcl-xl were immunohistochemically examined in 289 cases of gastric biopsy and resection specimens from patients with IM, DYS and GC infected with H pylori. H pylori in the above mentioned tissues was detected by Warthin-Starry stain and rapid urease tests. IgG antibody to cagA in sera of the patients was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The positive rates of NF-kappaB/p65 were significantly higher in groups with cagA of IMI-II(28/33), IM III(48/52), DYSI(27/31), DYS II-III(28/32), GC(35/40) than in groups without cagA of IMI-II(4/17), IMIII(3/20), DYSI(3/20), DYSII-III(6/21), GC(10/23). The expressions of c-myc, cyclinD1, and bcl-xl were significantly higher in groups with cagA of IM III(47/52, 49/52, 46/52), DYSII-III(29/32, 26/32, 25/32) than in groups without cagA of IM III(8/20, 7/20, 5/20), DYSII-III(10/21, 8/21, 3/21), which were in conformity with the expression of NF-kappaB in IM III, and DYSII-III. A significantly higher expression level of NF-kappaB/p65, c-myc, cyclinD1 and bcl-xl was detected in intestinal type GC(27/28, 18/28, 22/28, 24/28) than in diffuse type GC(8/12, 3/12, 3/12, 6/12), respectively. CONCLUSION: There may be two different molecular mechanisms in the occurrence of intestinal and diffuse type gastric carcinomas. Intestinal type gastric carcinoma is strongly associated with high expression of c-myc, cyclinD1 and bcl-xl through NF-kappaB/p65 activated by H pylori cagA. Inhibiting the activity of NF-kappaB is an effective and promising way to prevent intestinal type gastric carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Structural basis for the exocellulase activity of the cellobiohydrolase CbhA from Clostridium thermocellum.

Numerous bacterial and fungal organisms have evolved elaborate sets of modular glycoside hydrolases and similar enzymes aimed at the degradation of polymeric carbohydrates. Presently, on the basis of sequence similarity catalytic modules of these enzymes have been classified into 90 families. Representatives of a particular family display similar fold and catalytic mechanisms. However, within families distinctions occur with regard to enzymatic properties and type of activity against carbohydrate chains. Cellobiohydrolase CbhA from Clostridium thermocellum is a large seven-modular enzyme with a catalytic module belonging to family 9. In contrast to other representatives of that family possessing only endo- and, in few cases, endo/exo-cellulase activities, CbhA is exclusively an exocellulase. The crystal structures of the combination of the immunoglobulin-like module and the catalytic module of CbhA (Ig-GH9_CbhA) and that of an inactive mutant Ig-GH9_CbhA(E795Q) in complex with cellotetraose (CTT) are reported here. The detailed analysis of these structures reveals that, while key catalytic residues and overall fold are conserved in this enzyme and those of other family 9 glycoside hydrolases, the active site of GH9_CbhA is blocked off after the -2 subsite. This feature which is created by an extension and altered conformation of a single loop region explains the inability of the active site of CbhA to accommodate a long cellulose chain and to cut it internally. This altered loop region is responsible for the exocellulolytic activity of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Displacement of iron by zinc at the diiron site of Desulfovibrio vulgaris rubrerythrin: X-ray crystal structure and anomalous scattering analysis.

X-ray crystal structures of recombinant Desulfovibrio (D.) vulgaris rubrerythrin (Rbr) have shown a diiron site, whereas the crystal structure of Rbr "as-isolated" from D. vulgaris was reported to contain a mixed Zn,Fe binuclear site. To investigate the possibility that zinc had displaced iron during isolation or crystallization of the "as-isolated" D. vulgaris Rbr, the X-ray crystal structure of recombinant D. vulgaris all-iron Rbr that had been incubated with excess zinc sulfate prior to crystallization, yielding a protein labeled Zn,FeRbr, was solved. Analysis of the anomalous scattering data obtained at two different wavelengths showed that zinc had displaced a significant proportion of iron from both iron centers of the diiron site, and that no iron had been displaced from the [Fe(SCys)(4)] site. UV-visible absorption spectra of the redissolved Zn,FeRbr crystals showed 30-40% retention of oxo-bridged diferric sites, and the redissolved crystals had 37% of the peroxidase specific activity of the starting all-iron Rbr, which, together with the crystallographic results, indicate a predominant mixture of Fe1,Fe2 and Zn1,Zn2 sites. The structure of the Zn(Fe)1,Fe(Zn)2 binuclear site in the Zn,FeRbr crystals was very similar to that of the Zn,Fe binuclear site reported for the "as-isolated" D. vulgaris Rbr, including tetrahedral four-coordination at the Zn(Fe)1 site. The diiron sites in the recombinant Zn,FeRbr crystals were likely at least partially reduced during synchrotron irradiation. Our results suggest that the mixed-metal binuclear site reported for the "as-isolated" D. vulgaris Rbr could be due to displacement of iron from a native diiron site by adventitious zinc during isolation and/or crystallization, and that reduced diiron and dizinc sites can adopt very similar structures in Rbr.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Atomic resolution structure of obelin: soaking with calcium enhances electron density of the second oxygen atom substituted at the C2-position of coelenterazine.

The spatial structure of the Ca(2+)-regulated photoprotein obelin has been solved to resolution of 1.1A. Two oxygen atoms are revealed substituted at the C2-position of the coelenterazine in contrast to the obelin structure at 1.73A resolution where one oxygen atom only was disclosed. The electron density of the second oxygen atom was very weak but after exposing the crystals to a trace of Ca(2+), the electron densities of both oxygen atoms became equally intense. In addition, one Ca(2+) was found bound in the loop of the first EF-hand motif. Four of the ligands were provided by protein residues Asp30, Asn32, Asn34, and the main chain oxygen of Lys36. The other two were from water molecules. From a comparison of B-factors for the residues constituting the active site, it is suggested that the variable electron densities observed in various photoprotein structures could be attributed to different mobilities of the peroxy oxygen atoms.

Binding Sites↗

Violet bioluminescence and fast kinetics from W92F obelin: structure-based proposals for the bioluminescence triggering and the identification of the emitting species.

Obelin from the hydroid Obelia longissima and aequorin are members of a subfamily of Ca(2+)-regulated photoproteins that is a part of the larger EF-hand calcium binding protein family. On the addition of Ca(2+), obelin generates a blue bioluminescence emission (lambda(max) = 485 nm) as the result of the oxidative decarboxylation of the bound substrate, coelenterazine. The W92F obelin mutant is noteworthy because of the unusually high speed with which it responds to sudden changes of [Ca(2+)] and because it emits violet light rather than blue due to a prominent band with lambda(max) = 405 nm. Increase of pH in the range from 5.5 to 8.5 and using D(2)O both diminish the contribution of the 405 nm band, indicating that excited state proton transfer is involved. Fluorescence model studies have suggested the origin of the 485 nm emission as the excited state of an anion of coelenteramide, the bioluminescence reaction product, and 405 nm from the excited neutral state. Assuming that the dimensions of the substrate binding cavity do not change during the excited state formation, a His22 residue within hydrogen bonding distance to the 6-(p-hydroxy)-phenyl group of the excited coelenteramide is a likely candidate for accepting the phenol proton to produce an ion-pair excited state, in support of recent suggestions for the bioluminescence emitting state. The proton transfer could be impeded by removal of the Trp92 H-bond, resulting in strong enhancement of a 405 nm band giving the violet color of bioluminescence. Comparative analysis of 3D structures of the wild-type (WT) and W92F obelins reveals that there are structural displacements of certain key Ca(2+)-ligating residues in the loops of the two C-terminal EF hands as well as clear differences in hydrogen bond networks in W92F. For instance, the hydrogen bond between the side-chain oxygen atom of Asp169 and the main-chain nitrogen of Arg112 binds together the incoming alpha-helix of loop III and the exiting alpha-helix of loop IV in WT, providing probably concerted changes in these EF hands on calcium binding. But this linkage is not found in W92F obelin. These differences apparently do not change the overall affinity to calcium of W92F obelin but may account for the kinetic differences between the WT and mutant obelins. From analysis of the hydrogen bond network in the coelenterazine binding cavity, it is proposed that the trigger for bioluminescence reaction in these Ca(2+)-regulated photoproteins may be a shift of the hydrogen bond donor-acceptor separations around the coelenterazine-2-hydroperoxy substrate, initiated by small spatial adjustment of the exiting alpha-helix of loop IV.

Animals↗

Crystal structure of a nucleoside diphosphate kinase from Bacillus halodenitrificans: coexpression of its activity with a Mn-superoxide dismutase.

We found that when grown under anaerobic conditions the moderate halophile, gram-positive bacterium Bacillus halodenitrificans (ATCC 49067) synthesizes large amounts of a polypeptide complex that contains a heme center capable of reversibly bind nitric oxide. This complex, when exposed to air, dissociates and reassociates into two active components, a Mn-containing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a nucleoside diphosphate kinase (BhNDK). The crystal structure of this latter enzyme has been determined at 2.2A resolution using molecular replacement method, based on the crystal structure of Drosophila melanogaster NDK. The model contains 149 residues of a total 150 residues and 34 water molecules. BhNDK consists of a four-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, whose surfaces are partially covered by six alpha-helices, and its overall and active site structures are similar to those of homologous enzymes. However, the hexameric packing of BhNDK shows that this enzyme is different from both eukaryotic and gram-negative bacteria. The need for the bacterium to presynthesize both SOD and NDK precursors which are activated during the anaerobic-aerobic transition is discussed.

Air↗

The Southeast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics: a high-throughput gene to structure factory.

The Southeast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics consists of four working groups. The protein production group supplies/develops high-output production of Pyrococcus furiosus, Caenorhabditis elegans, and selected human proteins. The X-ray crystallography group conducts high-throughput structure production in parallel with production-related research/development in nanocrystallization robotics, capillary crystallization cassette, synchrotron/home X-ray instrumentation, sample mounting robotics, data processing and pipelined structure analysis, combined refinement/validation protocols, and direct use of unlabeled native crystals (Direct Crystallography). The NMR group emphasizes/develops sample screening and backbone structure determination from residual dipolar coupling data. The bioinformatics group implements/develops local database interfaces, pipelined sequence/structure information search/updates, and database/bioinformatics toolkits.

Animals↗

The crystal structure of augmenter of liver regeneration: A mammalian FAD-dependent sulfhydryl oxidase.

The crystal structure of recombinant rat augmenter of liver regeneration (ALRp) has been determined to 1.8 A. The protein is a homodimer, stabilized by extensive noncovalent interactions and a network of hydrogen bonds, and possesses a noncovalently bound FAD in a motif previously found only in the related protein ERV2p. ALRp functions in vitro as a disulfide oxidase using dithiothreitol as reductant. Reduction of the flavin by DTT occurs under aerobic conditions resulting in a spectrum characteristic of a neutral semiquinone. This semiquinone is stable and is only fully reduced by addition of dithionite. Mutation of either of two cysteine residues that are located adjacent to the FAD results in inactivation of the oxidase activity. A comparison of ALRp with ERV2p is made that reveals a number of significant structural differences, which are related to the in vivo functions of these two proteins. Possible physiological roles of ALR are examined and a hypothesis that it may serve multiple roles is proposed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Helicobacter pylori infection generated gastric cancer through p53-Rb tumor-suppressor system mutation and telomerase reactivation.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection and the expressions of the p53, Rb, c-myc, bcl-2 and hTERT mRNA in a series of diseases from chronic gastritis (CG), intestinal metaplasia type I or II(IMI-II), intestinal metaplasia type III (IMIII), mild or modest dysplasia (DysI-II), severe dysplasia (DysIII) to gastric cancer(GC) and to elucidate the mechanism of gastric carcinogenesis relating to H.pylori infection. METHODS: 272 cases between 1998 and 2001 were available for the study including 42 cases of CG, 46 cases of IMI-II, 25 cases of IMIII, 48 cases of DysI-II, 27 cases of DysIII, 84 cases of GC. H.pylori infection and the expressions of p53, Rb, c-myc, bcl-2 were detected by means of streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical method. HTERT mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization (ISH). RESULTS: The expressions of p53, Rb, c-myc, hTERT mRNA and bcl-2 were higher in the GC than in CG, IM, Dys. The expression of c-myc was higher in IMIII with H.pylori infection (10/16) than that without infection (1/9) and the positive rate in DysI-II and DysIII with H.pylori infection was 18/30 and 13/17, respectively, higher than that without infection (4/18 and 3/10, respectively). In our experiment mutated p53 had no association with H.pylori infection, the expression of Rb was associated with H.pylori infection in GC, but the p53-Rb tumor-suppressor system abnormal in DysI-II cases, DysIII and GC cases with H.pylori infection was 21/30, 15/17 and 48/48 respectively, higher than non-infection groups (4/18, 3/10, 28/36). Furthermore the level of hTERT mRNA in GC with H.pylori infection (47/48) was higher than that without infection (30/36), however the relationship between bcl-2 and H.pylori was only in IMIII. C-myc had a close association with hTERT mRNA in DysIII and GC (P=0.0 253,0.0 305 respectively). CONCLUSION: In the gastric carcinogenesis, H.pylori might cause the severe imbalance of proliferation and apoptosis in the precancerous lesions (IMIII and GysIII) first, leading to p53-Rb tumor-suppressor system mutation and telomerase reactivation, and finally causes gastric cancer.

Adult↗

[Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and expression of c-myc, Bcl-2, and Bax protein in different gastric mucosa lesions].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori (HP) has been believed to be a carcinogen of gastric carcinoma. However, its mechanism was yet not clearly understood. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between HP infection and gastric epithelial cell proliferation as well as apoptosis in different gastric mucosa lesions and elucidate the probable mechanism of gastric carcinogenesis relating with HP infection. METHODS: A total of 272 cases were available for the study including 42 cases of chronic gastritis (CG), 46 cases of intestinal metaplasia I or II (IM I- II), 25 cases of intestinal metaplasia III (IM III), 21 cases of mild dysplasia (Dys I), 54 cases of modest or severe dysplasia (Dys II- III), and 84 cases of gastric cancer (GC). HP infection was detected by Warthin-Starry bacterium staining method and streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical method. HID-AB(pH2.5)- PAS method was used to define the quality of mucus. The expression of c-myc, Bcl-2, and Bax were detected using SP immunohistochemical method. The chi-square test and the Fisher's exact probability test were used to compare the frequencies. RESULTS: (1)The expression of c-myc and Bcl-2 increased as gastric mucosa lesions developed from CG,IM,Dys to GC,but the expression of Bax decreased. The expression of c-myc was significantly higher in GC than that in Dys II- III and IM III(all P< 0.01), but the expression of Bax was significantly lower in GC than that in Dys II- III and IM III(P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). (2)The expression of c-myc in IM III and Dys II- III with HP infection was 62.50% and 66.67%,respectively, significantly higher than that without infection(11.11%,27.78%,all P< 0.05). The expression of Bax in CG, IM I- II and IM III with HP infection were 87.10%, 81.25%, and 62.50%, respectively, significantly higher than those without infection (54.55%, 42.86%, 11.11%, all P< 0.05). Furthermore HP infection was associated with the expression of Bcl-2 in IM III, Dys II- III and GC (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: HP infection can cause serious imbalance between cell proliferation and apoptosis in the precancerous lesions (IM III and Dys II- III), giving chances for gastric carcinogenesis.

Adult↗

Crystal structure of the cytoskeleton-associated protein glycine-rich (CAP-Gly) domain.

Cytoskeleton-associated proteins (CAPs) are involved in the organization of microtubules and transportation of vesicles and organelles along the cytoskeletal network. A conserved motif, CAP-Gly, has been identified in a number of CAPs, including CLIP-170 and dynactins. The crystal structure of the CAP-Gly domain of Caenorhabditis elegans F53F4.3 protein, solved by single wavelength sulfur-anomalous phasing, revealed a novel protein fold containing three beta-sheets. The most conserved sequence, GKNDG, is located in two consecutive sharp turns on the surface, forming the entrance to a groove. Residues in the groove are highly conserved as measured from the information content of the aligned sequences. The C-terminal tail of another molecule in the crystal is bound in this groove.

Amino Acid Sequence↗