Biomedical subjects

Natalia V Malkova

Publications and source records attributed to Natalia V Malkova.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Reverse transcriptase and endonuclease activities encoded by Penelope-like retroelements.

Penelope-like elements are a class of retroelement that have now been identified in >50 species belonging to at least 10 animal phyla. The Penelope element isolated from Drosophila virilis is the only transpositionally active representative of this class isolated so far. The single ORF of Penelope and its relatives contains regions homologous to a reverse transcriptase of atypical structure and to the GIY-YIG, or Uri, an endonuclease (EN) domain not previously found in retroelements. We have expressed the single ORF of Penelope in a baculovirus expression system and have shown that it encodes a polyprotein with reverse transcriptase activity that requires divalent cations (Mn2+ and Mg2+). We have also expressed and purified the EN domain in Escherichia coli and have demonstrated that it has EN activity in vitro. Mutations in the conserved residues of the EN catalytic module abolish its nicking activity, whereas the DNA-binding properties of the mutant proteins remain unaffected. Only one strand of the target sequence is cleaved, and there is a certain degree of cleavage specificity. We propose that the Penelope EN cleaves the target DNA during transposition, generating a primer for reverse transcription. Our results show that an active Uri EN has been adopted by a retrotransposon.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Beta-endorphin-like peptide SLTCLVKGFY reduces the production of 11-oxycorticosteroids by rat adrenal cortex through nonopioid beta-endorphin receptors.

Beta-endorphin-like peptide immunorphin (SLTCLVKGFY), a selective agonist of nonopioid beta-endorphin receptor, was labeled with tritium to specific activity of 24 Ci/mmol. It was used for the detection and characterization of nonopioid beta-endorphin receptors on rat adrenal cortex membranes (Kd = 31.6 +/- 0.2 nM, Bmax = 37.4 +/- 2.2 pmol/mg protein). Immunorphin at concentrations of 10(-9) to 10(-6) M was found to inhibit the adenylate cyclase activity in adrenal cortex membranes, while intramuscular injection of immunorphin at doses of 10-100 microg/kg was found to reduce the secretion of 11-oxycorticosteroids from the adrenals to the bloodstream.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

PubMed2003

The Stimulating Effect of the beta-Endorphin-Like Peptide Immunorphin on the Human T-Lymphoblastoid Cell Line Jurkat Is Mediated by a Non-Opioid Receptor for beta-Endorphin.

It was shown that beta-endorphin and the synthetic decapeptide SLTCLVKGFY that corresponds to the amino acid sequence 364-373 of the human IgG heavy chain (referred to as immunorphin) is able to stimulate growth of the human T-lymphoblastoid cell line Jurkat. The antagonist of opioid receptors naloxone did not inhibit the stimulating effect of the peptides. Studies on [(3)H]-immunorphin binding to Jurkat cell receptors have demonstrated that it binds with high affinity to naloxone-insensitive receptors (K(d) = 1.3 nM; n = 5.2 x 10(5)). Unlabeled beta-endorphin and the 6-10 fragment of immunorphin completely inhibited the labeled ligand specific binding to naloxone-insensitive receptors on T lymphocytes (K(i) = 1.4 x 10(-7) and 3.7 x 10(-5) M, respectively). Thus, beta-endorphin and immunorphin share the naloxone-insensitive receptors on human T-lymphoblastoid cell line Jurkat.

Humans↗

PubMed2002

Synthetic peptide SLTCLVKGFY competes with beta-endorphin for naloxone-insensitive binding sites on rat brain membranes.

The synthetic decapeptide Ser-Leu-Thr-Cys-Leu-Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr (termed immunorphin) corresponding to the sequence 364-373 of the CH3 domain of human immunoglobulin G heavy chain and its synthetic fragment VKGFY were found to compete with 125I-labeled beta-endorphin for high-affinity naloxone-insensitive binding sites on membranes isolated from the rat brain cortex (K(i)=1.18+/-0.09 and 1.58+/-0.11 nM, respectively). The binding specificity study revealed that these binding sites were insensitive not only to naloxone but to [Met(5)]enkephalin and [Leu(5)]enkephalin as well. The K(d) values characterizing the specific binding of 125I-labeled immunorphin and its fragment Val-Lys-Gly-Phe-Tyr to these binding sites were determined to be 2.93+/-0.27 nM and 3.17+/-0.29 nM, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗