Biomedical subjects

Wieger Hemrika

Publications and source records attributed to Wieger Hemrika.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Origin and evolution of the peroxisomal proteome.

BACKGROUND: Peroxisomes are ubiquitous eukaryotic organelles involved in various oxidative reactions. Their enzymatic content varies between species, but the presence of common protein import and organelle biogenesis systems support a single evolutionary origin. The precise scenario for this origin remains however to be established. The ability of peroxisomes to divide and import proteins post-translationally, just like mitochondria and chloroplasts, supports an endosymbiotic origin. However, this view has been challenged by recent discoveries that mutant, peroxisome-less cells restore peroxisomes upon introduction of the wild-type gene, and that peroxisomes are formed from the Endoplasmic Reticulum. The lack of a peroxisomal genome precludes the use of classical analyses, as those performed with mitochondria or chloroplasts, to settle the debate. We therefore conducted large-scale phylogenetic analyses of the yeast and rat peroxisomal proteomes. RESULTS: Our results show that most peroxisomal proteins (39-58%) are of eukaryotic origin, comprising all proteins involved in organelle biogenesis or maintenance. A significant fraction (13-18%), consisting mainly of enzymes, has an alpha-proteobacterial origin and appears to be the result of the recruitment of proteins originally targeted to mitochondria. Consistent with the findings that peroxisomes are formed in the Endoplasmic Reticulum, we find that the most universally conserved Peroxisome biogenesis and maintenance proteins are homologous to proteins from the Endoplasmic Reticulum Assisted Decay pathway. CONCLUSION: Altogether our results indicate that the peroxisome does not have an endosymbiotic origin and that its proteins were recruited from pools existing within the primitive eukaryote. Moreover the reconstruction of primitive peroxisomal proteomes suggests that ontogenetically as well as phylogenetically, peroxisomes stem from the Endoplasmic Reticulum. REVIEWERS: This article was reviewed by Arcady Mushegian, Gáspár Jékely and John Logsdon. OPEN PEER REVIEW: Reviewed by Arcady Mushegian, Gáspar Jékely and John Logsdon. For the full reviews, please go to the Reviewers' comments section.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Structure of complement component C2A: implications for convertase formation and substrate binding.

C2a provides the catalytic center to the convertase complexes of the classical and lectin-binding pathways of complement activation. We determined two crystal structures of full-length C2a, with and without a pseudo ligand bound. Both structures reveal a near-active conformation of the catalytic center of the serine protease domains, while the von Willebrand factor A-type domains display an intermediate activation state of helix alpha7 with an open, activated metal-ion-dependent adhesion site. The open adhesion site likely serves to enhance the affinity for the ligand C4b, similar to "inside-out" signaling in integrins. Surprisingly, the N-terminal residues of C2a are buried in a crevice near helix alpha7, indicative of a structural switch between C2 and C2a. Extended loops on the protease domain possibly envelop the protruding anaphylatoxin domain of the substrate C3. Together with a putative substrate-induced completion of the oxyanion hole, this may contribute to the high substrate specificity of the convertases.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2003

Identification of anti-repressor elements that confer high and stable protein production in mammalian cells.

The expression of transgenic proteins is often low and unstable over time, a problem that may be due to integration of the transgene in repressed chromatin. We developed a screening technology to identify genetic elements that efficiently counteract chromatin-associated repression. When these elements were used to flank a transgene, we observed a substantial increase in the number of mammalian cell colonies that expressed the transgenic protein. Expression of the shielded transgene was, in a copy number-dependent fashion, substantially higher than the expression of unprotected transgenes. Also, protein production remained stable over an extended time period. The DNA elements are small, not exceeding 2,100 base pairs (bp), and they are highly conserved between human and mouse, at both the functional and sequence levels. Our results demonstrate the existence of a class of genetic elements that can readily be applied to more efficient transgenic protein production in mammalian cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Expression of the vanadium-dependent bromoperoxidase gene from a marine macro-alga Corallina pilulifera in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and characterization of the recombinant enzyme.

The vanadium-dependent bromoperoxidase from the marine macro-alga Corallina pilulifera was heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The enzyme was purified and crystals in "tear drop" form were obtained. The catalytic properties of the recombinant enzyme were studied and compared with those of the native enzyme purified from C. pilulifera. Differences in thermal stability and chloroperoxidase activity were observed. The recombinant enzyme retained full activity after preincubation at 65 degrees C for 20 min, but the native enzyme was completely inactivated under the same conditions. The chlorinating activity of the native enzyme was more than ten times higher than that of the recombinant enzyme. Other properties, such as K(m) values for KBr and H(2)O(2), and optimal temperature and pH, were similar for each source of C. pilulifera bromoperoxidase.

Bromides↗

PubMed1998

Enantioselective Sulfoxidation Catalyzed by Vanadium Haloperoxidases.

Vanadium haloperoxidases catalyze the oxidation of halides by hydrogen peroxide to produce hypohalous acid. We demonstrate that these enzymes also slowly mediate the enantioselective oxidation of organic sulfides (methyl phenyl sulfide, methyl p-tolyl sulfide, and 1-methoxy-4 (methylthio)benzene) to the corresponding sulfoxides (turnover frequency 1 min(-)(1)). The vanadium bromoperoxidase from the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum converts methyl phenyl sulfide to the (R)-enantiomer of the sulfoxide (55% yield and 85% enantiomeric excess (ee)). At low peroxide concentrations a selectivity of 91% can be attained. The enzyme catalyzes the selective sulfoxidation reaction over a broad pH range with an optimum around pH 5-6 and remains completely functional during the reaction. When the vanadium bromoperoxidase from the red seaweed Corallina pilulifera is used the (S)-enantiomer (18% yield and 55% ee) is formed. In contrast, the vanadium chloroperoxidase from the fungus Curvularia inaequalis catalyzes the production of a racemic mixture (54% yield), which seems to be an intrinsic characteristic of this enzyme.

Journal Article↗