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PubMed1991

In vitro synthesis of West Nile virus proteins indicates that the amino-terminal segment of the NS3 protein contains the active centre of the protease which cleaves the viral polyprotein after multiple basic amino acids.

A virus-encoded protease that cleaves after multiple basic amino acid residues has been implicated in the processing of the flavivirus polyprotein. Recently, a computer search of amino acid residues which might form the active site of a protease led to the suggestion that the amino-terminal segment of the NS3 protein represents a serine protease. To examine this possibility we constructed an mRNA which encodes a polyprotein with an amino-terminal signal sequence derived from the influenza virus haemagglutinin, followed by a segment of the West Nile flavivirus polyprotein which includes the non-structural (NS) proteins NS2A, NS2B and the amino-terminal part of the NS3 protein. This polyprotein contains two sequences, located at the termini of the NS2B protein, which are cleaved by the viral protease that cleaves after multiple basic residues in the authentic polyprotein. The proteins that are generated by this mRNA during in vitro translation in the presence of rough endoplasmic reticulum membranes indicate that these two proteolytic cleavages occur in vitro. In vitro translation of polyproteins shortened at the carboxy terminus shows that a polyprotein which does not contain the complete set of proposed catalytic residues present in the NS3 protein segment accumulates as a membrane-associated molecule without proteolytic processing. Similarly, substitution of residue histidine 51 of the NS3 polyprotein segment, which is predicted to be part of the protease catalytic centre, with an alanine residue, blocks the processing of the polyprotein in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of the promoter region of the gene for the rat neutral and basic amino acid transporter and chromosomal localization of the human gene.

The promoter region of the rat kidney neutral and basic amino acid transporter (NBAT) gene has been isolated and sequenced. The major transcription initiation site was mapped by primer extension. The entire promoter region and a set of 5' deletions within it were expressed at a high level in LLC-PK1 cells using the luciferase indicator gene. Positive and negative regulatory elements in the promoter region were observed. A human genomic clone of the transporter was also obtained and was used to localize the NBAT gene at the p21 region of chromosome 2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1975

[Studies on the protein and amino acid metabolism of laying hens using 15N labeled casein. 2. 15N incorporation into the N fractions and basic amino acids of the hen stomach and into the contents of the crop and stomach].

4 colostomated laying hens received 15N labelled casein as sole protein source for a period of 6 days. Two birds each were slaughtered on the 8th and 12th day of experiment. 23.5% of the total N in the glandular stomach and the gizzard were TCE soluble. The amino acid composition of the gastric proteins was broader than that of the proteins of flesh, with the exception of lysine and histidine. The atom % 15N' of the N of the stomach was roughly the same as that of the protein N; the level of labelling in the TCE soluble N fraction was only slightly higher. 2 and 6 days after the final administration of tracer N an appreciable proportion of 15N was found in the N fractions and in the basic amino acids contained in the crop and the stomach. From this is may be concluded that a considerable portion of the N-containing substances previously absorbed were secreted into the lumen of the crop and the stomach.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1983

The role of basic amino acids of the seminal plasma in fertility.

The role of basic amino acids in male infertility is discussed. The changes in the arginine, ornithine and total amino acid concentrations of the seminal plasma in various types of pathospermia are commented upon in the light of published evidence and of the authors' own observations. A recent procedure (CV-technique) introduced by the authors into the routine investigation scheme of infertility is reported. The method detects the arginine-deficient type of pathospermia, thus contributing to the possibility of its selective correction.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1994

HIV type 1 infection of CD4+ T cells depends critically on basic amino acid residues in the V3 domain of envelope glycoprotein 120.

The third variable domain (V3 domain) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein gp120 is a major determinant of phenotypic variability. The V3 domain of HIV-1 has many basic amino acid residues. Lymphocytotropic HIV-1 tends to have a V3 domain with a higher density of positive charge than does monocytotropic HIV-1. The importance of basic residues in the V3 domain for the HIV-1 infectivity, however, has not been well investigated. Here we show that mutation of basic amino acid residues at positions 303, 306, 309, 313, and 325 in the V3 domain of the lymphocytotropic isolate NL4-3 results in a dramatic elimination of both virus infectivity and syncytium-inducing ability. Three basic amino acid substitutions (at position 306, 309, and 313) induced a decrease in the binding ability of two kinds of neutralizing antibodies (NEA9284 and 0.5 beta) that recognize a different site in the V3 domain. This suggests that the basic residues play an important role in maintaining the tertiary structure of the V3 domain. Monocytotropism was not simply dependent on either decreased positive charge in the V3 domain of NL4-3 or on mutation of lysine to glutamate at position 320, which is a characteristic amino acid of monocytotropic HIV-1. These findings contribute to our understanding of the significance of basic residues on the function of envelope glycoprotein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

A family of basic amino acid transporters of the vacuolar membrane from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Among the members of the major facilitator superfamily of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we identified genes involved in the transport into vacuoles of the basic amino acids histidine, lysine, and arginine. ATP-dependent uptake of histidine and lysine by isolated vacuolar membrane vesicles was impaired in YMR088c, a vacuolar basic amino acid transporter 1 (VBA1)-deleted strain, whereas uptake of tyrosine or calcium was little affected. This defect in histidine and lysine uptake was complemented fully by introducing the VBA1 gene and partially by a gene encoding Vba1p fused with green fluorescent protein, which was determined to localize exclusively to the vacuolar membrane. A defect in the uptake of histidine, lysine, or arginine was also observed in the vacuolar membrane vesicles of mutants YBR293w (VBA2) and YCL069w (VBA3). These three VBA genes are closely related phylogenetically and constitute a new family of basic amino acid transporters in the yeast vacuole.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1994

Membrane topology of the rat kidney neutral and basic amino acid transporter.

A recently cloned rat kidney protein (NBAT) mediates the sodium-independent transport of neutral as well as basic amino acids and cystine when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The human equivalent of this transporter may be the one that is defective in cystinuria. Immunocytochemical studies have indicated that NBAT is primarily localized in the brush border membranes of rat kidney and intestinal epithelial cells, a localization consistent with its proposed role in amino acid transport. Two contrasting topological models have been proposed for NBAT: a four membrane-spanning domain (MSD) Nin-Cin model and a single MSD Nin-Cout model. We have investigated the topology of this membrane protein using two different approaches. One method was an immunofluorescent labeling technique in which intact or membrane-permeabilized cells expressing NBAT were probed with antibodies directed against putative extracellular and intracellular domains of the protein. In the second method, fragments generated by limited surface proteolysis of intact brush border membrane vesicles were subjected to immunoblot analysis using several site-specific antibodies. Both approaches yielded results consistent with a four MSD Nin-Cin topological model for NBAT.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

A naturally occurring single basic amino acid substitution in the V3 region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 env protein alters the cellular host range and antigenic structure of the virus.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 circulates in vivo as a mixture of heterologous populations (quasispecies). We previously analyzed the quasispecies of the third hypervariable region (V3) in the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 in an infected individual and found that the species with a basic amino acid substitution (lysine for aspartic acid) at a particular position evolved and became a distinct population within a short period, followed by progression to the typical immunodeficiency stage (S. Oka et al., AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses 10:271-277, 1994). In the present study, we examined the biological significance of this amino acid substitution by constructing recombinant viruses with specific point mutations and comparing their replication capabilities in different cell types. The results demonstrated that the single basic amino acid substitution was sufficient to render a virus fully capable of replicating in human T-cell lines under certain conditions. With an acidic amino acid at the position, the virus grew much less fast or did not grow at all in the T-cell lines. Viral neutralization assay and peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays further showed that this amino acid substitution resulted in different recognition by several of the serum specimens from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals and thus could alter the antigenic structure. An additional finding worthy of note was that at the terminal stage, the proviral sequences of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the viral isolates from them were without exception of the late type with the basic amino acid substitution, whereas the early sequence without the substitution was retained as a major subset in the spleen. These results support the notion that basic amino acid substitutions in V3 are a strong predictor of virus tropism and may be relevant to disease progression.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

A comprehensive survey of the acid-stable fluorescent cross-links formed by ribose with basic amino acids, and partial characterization of a novel Maillard cross-link.

Cross-linking of proteins by sugars is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of disorders associated with diabetes and aging; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process are not well understood. A new, general method for cross-link analysis, using precolumn derivatization with the reagent diphenylborinic acid (DPBA), was applied to the problem of detection and characterization of Maillard (sugar-derived) cross-links. DPBA analysis of reaction mixtures containing ribose, lysine, and arginine showed the presence of the Maillard cross-link pentosidine, along with a novel cross-link which was also found in acid hydrolyzates of ribose-treated proteins. Evidence is presented that this cross-link and pentosidine are the major acid-stable fluorescent cross-links formed by ribose with basic amino acids. Since it was determined that the new cross-link is derived from two lysine residues and at least one pentose per molecule, it was named penK2. PenK2 was found to be identical, by three different methods of chromatographic analysis, to the Maillard product "LM1', which was isolated from cataractous lens by Nagaraj and Monnier, but not yet structurally characterized (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1116, (1992) 34-42).

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1990

Expression of a human proprotein processing enzyme: correct cleavage of the von Willebrand factor precursor at a paired basic amino acid site.

Intracellular proteolytic processing of precursor polypeptides is an essential step in the maturation of many proteins, including plasma proteins, hormones, neuropeptides, and growth factors. Most frequently, propeptide cleavage occurs after paired basic amino acid residues. To date, no mammalian propeptide processing enzyme with such specificity has been purified or cloned and functionally characterized. We report the isolation and functional expression of a cDNA encoding a propeptide-cleaving enzyme from a human liver cell line. The encoded protein, called PACE (paired basic amino acid cleaving enzyme), has structural homology to the well-characterized subtilisin-like protease Kex2 from yeast. The functional specificity of PACE for mediating propeptide cleavage at paired basic amino acid residues was demonstrated by the enhancement of propeptide processing of human von Willebrand factor when coexpressed with PACE in COS-1 cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Substrate specificity of recombinant dengue 2 virus NS2B-NS3 protease: influence of natural and unnatural basic amino acids on hydrolysis of synthetic fluorescent substrates.

A recombinant dengue 2 virus NS2B-NS3 protease (NS means non-structural virus protein) was compared with human furin for the capacity to process short peptide substrates corresponding to seven native substrate cleavage sites in the dengue viral polyprotein. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer peptides to measure kinetics, the processing of these substrates was found to be selective for the Dengue protease. Substrates containing two or three basic amino acids (Arg or Lys) in tandem were found to be the best, with Abz-AKRRSQ-EDDnp being the most efficiently cleaved. The hydrolysis of dipeptide substrates Bz-X-Arg-MCA where X is a non-natural basic amino acid were also kinetically examined, the best substrates containing aliphatic basic amino acids. Our results indicated that proteolytic processing by dengue NS3 protease, tethered to its activating NS2B co-factor, was strongly inhibited by Ca2+ and kosmotropic salts of the Hofmeister's series, and significantly influenced by substrate modifications between S4 and S6'. Incorporation of basic non-natural amino acids in short peptide substrates had significant but differential effects on Km and k(cat), suggesting that further dissection of their influences on substrate affinity might enable the development of effective dengue protease inhibitors.

Amino Acids, Basic↗