Biomedical subjects

Jawed Shafqat

Publications and source records attributed to Jawed Shafqat.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Changes in albumin precursor and heat shock protein 70 expression and their potential role in response to corneal epithelial wound repair.

Many proteins displayed differential expression (either up- or down-regulation) when proteome of migrating and non-migrating epithelium was assessed using 2-DE and ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS. From the up-regulated set, we have identified for the first time a 69-kDa albumin precursor protein with four peptides sequences and 70-kDa heat shock protein (hsp70) with one peptide in the active phase of cell migration (48 h) during the healing process. Western blot analysis was used to further characterize these proteins at different phases (24, 48 and 72 h) of healing. An increase in the mRNA expression (measured using RT-PCR) in the active migration phase (48 h) for albumin precursor and hsp70 was also observed. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation studies with anti-albumin precursor and anti-hsp70 antibodies, followed by immunoblotting with anti-fibronectin antibody demonstrated a novel and biologically relevant interaction between albumin precursor protein and fibronectin in corneal epithelial wound healing but not with hsp70. The increased gene and protein expression of albumin and hsp70 during the active phase of cell migration (48 h) in the corneal epithelium suggests their possible role in corneal wound healing. These findings may have broader implications for developing therapeutic strategies for treating wound healing disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Leukotriene A4 hydrolase, insights into the molecular evolution by homology modeling and mutational analysis of enzyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mammalian leukotriene A4 (LTA4) hydrolase is a bifunctional zinc metalloenzyme possessing an Arg/Ala aminopeptidase and an epoxide hydrolase activity, which converts LTA4 into the chemoattractant LTB4. We have previously cloned an LTA4 hydrolase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae with a primitive epoxide hydrolase activity and a Leu aminopeptidase activity, which is stimulated by LTA4. Here we used a modeled structure of S. cerevisiae LTA4 hydrolase, mutational analysis, and binding studies to show that Glu-316 and Arg-627 are critical for catalysis, allowing us to a propose a mechanism for the epoxide hydrolase activity. Guided by the structure, we engineered S. cerevisiae LTA4 hydrolase to attain catalytic properties resembling those of human LTA4 hydrolase. Thus, six consecutive point mutations gradually introduced a novel Arg aminopeptidase activity and caused the specific Ala and Pro aminopeptidase activities to increase 24 and 63 times, respectively. In contrast to the wild type enzyme, the hexuple mutant was inhibited by LTA4 for all tested substrates and to the same extent as for the human enzyme. In addition, these mutations improved binding of LTA4 and increased the relative formation of LTB4, whereas the turnover of this substrate was only weakly affected. Our results suggest that during evolution, the active site of an ancestral eukaryotic zinc aminopeptidase has been reshaped to accommodate lipid substrates while using already existing catalytic residues for a novel, gradually evolving, epoxide hydrolase activity. Moreover, the unique ability to catalyze LTB4 synthesis appears to be the result of multiple and subtle structural rearrangements at the catalytic center rather than a limited set of specific amino acid substitutions.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2005

Electroimmobilization of proinsulin C-peptide to a quartz crystal microbalance sensor chip for protein affinity purification.

Proinsulin C-peptide was electroimmobilized to a quartz crystal microbalance sensor chip, localizing this low-pI peptide for covalent attachment to activated surface carboxyl groups. The resulting chip was used in a continuous flow biosensor to capture anti-C-peptide antibodies, which could subsequently be eluted in 5% formic acid between air bubbles for efficient recovery and mass spectrometric identification. The method is reproducible through repeated cycles, providing affinity purification of proteins under real-time monitoring of the binding and elution processes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Large-surface biosensor technology for enhanced recovery in protein characterization.

A large-surface biosensor technique using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was tested for protein purification by recovery of a monoclonal antibody against human proinsulin C-peptide. Notably, both reversible attachment/desorption and actual purification of the antibody from a multi-component protein mixture was shown. For initial chip attachment of the peptide ligand, C-peptide was biotinylated and attached to neutravidin on plastic chips with a large gold surface (effective area 26 mm(2)). Antibody binding and desorption was monitored in real-time SPR, and for elution different conditions were employed. Five percent formic acid (in contact with the chip surface for 3 min) in a 60-mul segment between air bubbles was efficient for subsequent analysis. In this manner, protein amounts up to 35 pmoles were recovered in a single capture/elution cycle. Evaluation by SDS-PAGE showed essentially no carryover between fractions in this elution process, and also not with other proteins in the mixture after purification. Compared to existing commercial instruments, this technique gives higher recovery and makes it possible to monitor monitor protein binding/desorption. Recovery of affinity partners at the multi-pmole level is demonstrated for protein purification in SPR approaches.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2004

Class III alcohol dehydrogenase: consistent pattern complemented with the mushroom enzyme.

Mushroom alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from Agaricus bisporus (common mushroom, champignon) was purified to apparent homogeneity. One set of ADH isozymes was found, with specificity against formaldehyde/glutathione. It had two highly similar subunits arranged in a three-member isozyme set of dimers with indistinguishable activity. Determination of the primary structure by a combination of chemical, mass spectrometric and cDNA sequence analyses, correlated with molecular modeling towards human ADHs, showed that the active site residues are of class III ADH type, and that the subunit differences affect other residues. Class I and III forms of ADHs characterized define conserved substrate-binding residues (three and eight, respectively) useful for recognition of these enzymes in any organism.

Agaricus↗

PubMed2003

Short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR): the 2002 update.

Short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) form a large, functionally heterogeneous protein family presently with about 3000 primary and about 30 3D structures deposited in databases. Despite low sequence identities between different forms (about 15-30%), the 3D structures display highly similar alpha/beta folding patterns with a central beta-sheet, typical of the Rossmann-fold. Based on distinct sequence motifs functional assignments and classifications are possible, making it possible to build a general nomenclature system. Recent mutagenetic and structural studies considerably extend the knowledge on the general reaction mechanism, thereby establishing a catalytic tetrad of Asn-Ser-Tyr-Lys residues, which presumably form the framework for a proton relay system including the 2'-OH of the nicotinamide ribose, similar to the mechanism found in horse liver ADH. Based on their cellular functions, several SDR enzymes appear as possible and promising pharmacological targets with application areas spanning hormone-dependent cancer forms or metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, and infectious diseases.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

PubMed2003

Tetrameric NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase.

Three-dimensional structures of the ethanol-induced, tetrameric alcohol dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli have recently been determined in the absence and presence of NAD. The structure of the E. coli enzyme is similar to those of the dimeric mammalian alcohol dehydrogenases, but it has a deletion of 21 residues located at the surface of the catalytic domain. The catalytic zinc ions have two different types of coordination, which are also observed in the class III dimeric mammalian alcohol dehydrogenase. Comparison of the structures provide new insights into the relationship between tetrameric and dimeric alcohol dehydrogenases and provide a link to the structure of the tetrameric yeast alcohol dehydrogenase.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

PubMed2002

Comparative enzymology of 11 beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 from glucocorticoid resistant (Guinea pig) versus sensitive (human) species.

Type 1 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase constitutes a prereceptor control mechanism through its ability to reduce dehydroglucocorticoids to the receptor ligands cortisol and corticosterone in vivo. We compared kinetic characteristics of the human and guinea pig 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isozymes derived from species differing in glucocorticoid sensitivity. Both orthologs were successfully expressed as full-length enzymes in yeast and COS7 cells and as soluble transmembrane-deleted constructs in Escherichia coli. Both isozymes display Michaelis-Menten kinetics in intact cells and homogenates and show low apparent micromolar K(m) values in homogenates, which are lowered by approximately one order of magnitude in intact cells, allowing corticosteroid activation at physiological glucocorticoid levels. Recombinant soluble proteins were expressed and purified with high specific dehydrogenase and reductase activities, revealing several hundred-fold higher specificity constants than those reported earlier for the purified native enzyme. Importantly, these purified soluble enzymes also display a hyperbolic dependence of reaction velocity versus substrate concentration in 11-oxoreduction with K(m) values of 0.8 microm (human) and 0.6 microm (guinea pig), close to the values obtained from intact cells. Active site titration was carried out with the human enzyme using a novel inhibitor compound and reveals a fraction of 40-50% active sites/mol total enzyme. The kinetic data obtained argue against the involvement of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase as a modulating factor for the glucocorticoid resistance observed in guinea pigs. Instead, the expression of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in the Zona glomerulosa of the guinea pig adrenal gland suggests a role of this enzyme in mineralocorticoid synthesis in this hypercortisolic species.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2↗

PubMed2002

Molecular effects of proinsulin C-peptide.

The proinsulin C-peptide has been held to be merely a by-product in insulin biosynthesis, but recent reports show that it elicits both molecular and physiological effects, suggesting that it is a hormonally active peptide. Specific binding of C-peptide to the plasma membranes of intact cells and to detergent-solubilised cells has been shown, indicating the existence of a cell surface receptor for C-peptide. C-peptide elicits a number of cellular responses, including Ca(2+) influx, activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, and of endothelial NO synthase. The pentapeptide EGSLQ, corresponding to the C-terminal five residues of human C-peptide, mimics several of the effects of the full-length peptide. The pentapeptide displaces cell membrane-bound C-peptide, elicits transient increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and stimulates MAP kinase signalling pathways and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. The Glu residue of the pentapeptide is essential for displacement of the full-length C-peptide, and free Glu can partly displace bound C-peptide, suggesting that charge interactions are important for receptor binding. Many C-peptide effects, such as phosphorylation of MAP-kinases ERK 1 and 2, stimulation of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and increases in intracellular calcium concentrations are inhibited by pertussis toxin, supporting interaction of C-peptide with a G-protein-coupled receptor. However, all C-peptide effects cannot be explained in this manner, and it is possible that additional interactions are involved. Combined, the available observations show that C-peptide is biologically active and suggest a molecular model for its physiological effects.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular and cellular effects of C-peptide--new perspectives on an old peptide.

New results present C-peptide as a biologically active peptide hormone in its own right. Although C-peptide is formed from proinsulin and cosecreted with insulin, it is a separate entity with biochemical and physiological characteristics that differ from those of insulin. There is direct evidence of stereospecific binding of C-peptide to a cell surface receptor, which is different from those for insulin and other related hormones. The C-peptide binding site is most likely a G-protein-coupled receptor. The association constant for C-peptide binding is approximately 3 x 10(9) M(-1). Saturation of the binding occurs already at a concentration of about 1 nM, which explains why C-peptide effects are not observed in healthy subjects. Binding of C-peptide results in activation of Ca2+ and MAPK-dependent pathways and stimulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase and eNOS activities. The latter 2 enzymes are both deficient in several tissues in type 1 diabetes. There is some evidence that C-peptide, and insulin may interact synergistically on the insulin signaling pathway. Clinical evidence suggests that replacement of C-peptide, together with regular insulin therapy, may be beneficial in patients with type 1 diabetes and serve to retard or prevent the development of long-term complications.

Amino Acid Sequence↗