Biomedical subjects

Lothar Jänsch

Publications and source records attributed to Lothar Jänsch.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Fatty acid biosynthesis in mitochondria of grasses: malonyl-coenzyme A is generated by a mitochondrial-localized acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase.

We present biochemical evidence for the occurrence of a 250-kD multifunctional acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase in barley (Hordeum vulgare) mitochondria. Organelles from 6-d-old barley seedlings were purified by differential centrifugation and Percoll density gradient centrifugation. Upon analysis by two-dimensional Blue-native (BN)/SDS-PAGE, an abundant 250-kD protein can be visualized, which runs at 500 kD on the native gel dimension. A similar 500-kD complex is present in etioplasts from barley. The mitochondrial 250-kD protein is biotinylated as indicated by specific reaction with an antibody directed against biotin. Peptide sequence analysis by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of the 250-kD proteins from both organellar fractions revealed amino acid sequences that are 100% identical to plastidic acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase from wheat (Triticum aestivum). The 500-kD complex was also detected in wheat mitochondria, but is absent in mitochondrial fractions from Arabidopsis. Specific acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylation activity in barley mitochondria is higher than in etioplasts, suggesting an important role of mitochondria in fatty acid biosynthesis. Functional implications are discussed.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗

PubMed2003

Carbon starvation survival of Listeria monocytogenes in planktonic state and in biofilm: a proteomic study.

The proteomes of Listeria monocytogenes expressed in suspension and biofilm state, in the presence and absence of a carbon source, were analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis with the help of computer software. The up-regulated proteins in each case were identified by peptide sequencing using electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry and a database search against the Listeria genome was performed. Relevant functions could be attributed to a number of the induced proteins which contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of starvation survival of L. monocytogenes in planktonic state and in biofilm.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

New insights into the respiratory chain of plant mitochondria. Supercomplexes and a unique composition of complex II.

A project to systematically investigate respiratory supercomplexes in plant mitochondria was initiated. Mitochondrial fractions from Arabidopsis, potato (Solanum tuberosum), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and barley (Hordeum vulgare) were carefully treated with various concentrations of the nonionic detergents dodecylmaltoside, Triton X-100, or digitonin, and proteins were subsequently separated by (a) Blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), (b) two-dimensional Blue-native/sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE, and (c) two-dimensional Blue-native/Blue-native PAGE. Three high molecular mass complexes of 1,100, 1,500, and 3,000 kD are visible on one-dimensional Blue native gels, which were identified by separations on second gel dimensions and protein analyses by mass spectrometry. The 1,100-kD complex represents dimeric ATP synthase and is only stable under very low concentrations of detergents. In contrast, the 1,500-kD complex is stable at medium and even high concentrations of detergents and includes the complexes I and III(2). Depending on the investigated organism, 50% to 90% of complex I forms part of this supercomplex if solubilized with digitonin. The 3,000-kD complex, which also includes the complexes I and III, is of low abundance and most likely has a III(4)I(2) structure. The complexes IV, II, and the alternative oxidase were not part of supercomplexes under all conditions applied. Digitonin proved to be the ideal detergent for supercomplex stabilization and also allows optimal visualization of the complexes II and IV on Blue-native gels. Complex II unexpectedly was found to be composed of seven subunits, and complex IV is present in two different forms on the Blue-native gels, the larger of which comprises additional subunits including a 32-kD protein resembling COX VIb from other organisms. We speculate that supercomplex formation between the complexes I and III limits access of alternative oxidase to its substrate ubiquinol and possibly regulates alternative respiration. The data of this investigation are available at http://www.gartenbau.uni-hannover.de/genetik/braun/AMPP.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2003

Development of a Listeria monocytogenes EGDe partial proteome reference map and comparison with the protein profiles of food isolates.

A partially annotated proteome reference map of the food pathogen Listeria monocytogenes was developed for exponentially growing cells under standardized, optimal conditions by using the sequenced strain EGDe (serotype 1/2a) as a model organism. The map was developed by using a reproducible total protein extraction and two-dimensional (2-D) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis procedure, and it contained 33 identified proteins representing the four main protein functional classes. In order to facilitate analysis of membrane proteins, a protein compartmentalization procedure was assessed. The method used provided partial fractionation of membrane and cytosolic proteins. The total protein 2-D profiles of three serotype 1/2a strains and one serotype 1/2b strain isolated from food were compared to the L. monocytogenes EGDe proteome. An average of 13% of the major protein spots in the food strain proteomes were not matched in the strain EGDe proteome. The variation was greater for the less intense spots, and on average 28% of these spots were not matched. Two of the proteins identified in L. monocytogenes EGDe were missing in one or more of the food isolates. These two proteins were proteins involved in the main glycolytic pathway and in metabolism of coenzymes and prosthetic groups. The two corresponding genes were found by PCR amplification to be present in the four food isolates. Our results show that the L. monocytogenes EGDe reference map is a valuable starting point for analyses of strains having various origins and could be useful for analyzing the proteomes of different isolates of this pathogen.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Inter- and intraclonal diversity of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteome manifests within the secretome.

The proteomes of cultured Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from chronically infected cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs were compared by using genetically divergent clones and isogenic morphotypes of one strain. Cellular extracts gave very similar protein patterns in two-dimensional gels, suggesting that the conserved species-specific core genome encodes proteins that are expressed under standard culture conditions in vitro. In contrast, the protein profiles of extracts of culture supernatants were dependent on the growth phase, and there were significant differences between clones. The profiles also varied within clonally related morphotypes from one CF patient, including a hyperpiliated small-colony variant. Mass spectrometry revealed that this variant overexpressed proteins secreted by the type I secretion system (including proteins involved in iron acquisition) and by the type III secretion system. Furthermore, the proteins in the supernatant extracts from the small-colony variant which were recognized by sera from different CF patients varied greatly. We concluded that the secretome expression is a sensitive measure of P. aeruginosa strain variation.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed2002

Inactivation of the srtA gene in Listeria monocytogenes inhibits anchoring of surface proteins and affects virulence.

During infection of their hosts, Gram-positive bacteria express surface proteins that serve multiple biological functions. Surface proteins harbouring a C-terminal sorting signal with an LPXTG motif are covalently linked to the cell wall peptidoglycan by a transamidase named sortase. Two genes encoding putative sortases, termed srtA and srtB, were identified in the genome of the intracellular pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Inactivation of srtA abolishes anchoring of the invasion protein InlA to the bacterial surface. It also prevents the proper sorting of several other peptidoglycan-associated LPXTG proteins. Three were identified by a mass spectrometry approach. The DeltasrtA mutant strain is defective in entering epithelial cells, similar to a DeltainlA mutant. In contrast to a DeltainlA mutant, the DeltasrtA mutant is impaired for colonization of the liver and spleen after oral inoculation in mice. Thus, L. monocytogenes srtA is required for the cell wall anchoring of InlA and, presumably, for the anchoring of other LPXTG-containing proteins that are involved in listerial infections.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

High-level resistance to class IIa bacteriocins is associated with one general mechanism in Listeria monocytogenes.

Class IIa bacteriocins may be used as natural food preservatives, yet resistance development in the target organisms is still poorly understood. In this study, the understanding of class IIa resistance development in Listeria monocytogenes is extended, linking the seemingly diverging results previously reported. Eight resistant mutants having a high resistance level (at least a 10(3)-fold increase in MIC), originating from five wild-type listerial strains, were independently isolated following exposure to four different class IIa bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (including pediocin PA-1 and leucocin A producers). Two of the mutants were isolated from food model systems (a saveloy-type sausage at 10 degrees C, and salmon juice at 5 degrees C). Northern blot analysis showed that the eight mutants all had increased expression of EII(Bgl) and a phospho-beta-glucosidase homologue, both originating from putative beta-glucoside-specific phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase systems (PTSs). However, disruption of these genes in a resistant mutant did not confer pediocin sensitivity. Comparative two-dimensional gel analysis of proteins isolated from mutant and wild-type strains showed that one spot was consistently missing in the gels from mutant strains. This spot corresponded to the MptA subunit of the mannose-specific PTS, found only in the gels of wild-type strains. The mptACD operon was recently shown to be regulated by the sigma(54) transcription factor in conjunction with the activator ManR. Class IIa bacteriocin-resistant mutants having defined mutations in mpt or manR also exhibited the two diverging PTS expression changes. It is suggested here that high-level class IIa resistance in L. monocytogenes and at least some other Gram-positive bacteria is developed by one prevalent mechanism, irrespective of wild-type strain, class IIa bacteriocin, or the tested environmental conditions. The changes in expression of the beta-glucoside-specific and the mannose-specific PTS are both influenced by this mechanism. The current understanding of the actual cause of class IIa resistance is discussed.

Bacteriocins↗