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Comparison of Botryosphaeran production by the ascomyceteous fungus Botryosphaeria sp., grown on different carbohydrate carbon sources, and their partial structural features.

The influence of glucose concentration and other carbohydrates (monosaccharides: fructose, galactose, mannose; polyols: mannitol and sorbitol; disaccharides: lactose, sucrose and commercial sucrose; and industrial sugarcane molasses) were compared as sole carbon sources for the production of Botryosphaeran, an exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Botryosphaeria sp. The optimum glucose concentration for EPS production was 50 g l(-1). With the exception of mannitol, the fungus produced EPS on all carbon sources studied, with highest yields occurring with sucrose followed by glucose. All EPS showed exclusively glucose after acid hydrolysis and monosaccharide analysis. FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of beta-anomers indicating that all the EPS produced by Botryosphaeria sp. on the different carbon sources were essentially of the beta-D-glucan type.

Ascomycota↗

Spectrin oligomers: a structural feature of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton.

Spectrin reversibly self-associates to high molecular weight oligomers through a concentration-driven process characterized by association constants of about 10(5) mol(-1). This association if prominent under physiological conditions of pH, ionic strength, and temperature. It is disrupted by urea, but not Triton X-100. The process of spectrin association appears mathematically to resemble that for tropomyosin, although the mechanism is probably different. Spectrin association is weak compared to other prominent protein-protein associations in the red cell membrane skeleton. The linkage of these weak and strong associations suggests a process whereby the membrane skeleton spontaneously assembles. Such affinity-modulated assembly involving weak associations is likely to abe the focus of numerous membrane.

Detergents↗

The relationship between structural features of peripheral nerves and suture methods for nerve repair.

Based on techniques for identifying and distinguishing motor, sensory, and mixed fasciculi in peripheral nerves, the authors propose guidelines for selecting suture methods for nerve repair. When many mixed fasciculi are known to exist at the nerve lesion, epineurial repair is preferable; fascicular (perineurial) repair is more suitable when pure motor and sensory fasciculi are clearly recognized. Generally, epineurial repair is indicated for more proximal injuries, with fascicular repair most appropriate for more distal sites. A greater ratio of epineurial connective tissue to intrafascicular nervous tissue implies an inclination toward fascicular repair.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Structural features of the abalone egg extracellular matrix and its role in gamete interaction during fertilization.

Abalone eggs are surrounded by a complex extracellular coat that contains three distinct elements: the jelly layer, the vitelline envelope, and the egg surface coat. In this study we used light and electron microscopy to describe these three elements in the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and ascribe function to each based on their interactions with sperm. The jelly coat is a spongy matrix that lies at the outermost margin of the egg and consists of variably sized fibers. Sperm pass through this layer with their acrosomes intact and then go on to bind to the vitelline envelope. The vitelline envelope is a multilamellar fibrous layer that appears to trigger the acrosome reaction after the sperm binding. Next, sperm release lysin from their acrosomal granules, a nonenzymatic protein that dissolves a hole in the vitelline envelope through which the sperm swims. Sperm then contact the egg surface coat, a network of uniformly sized filaments lying directly above the egg plasma membrane. This layer mediates attachment of sperm, via their acrosomal process, to the egg surface.

Animals↗

The influence of structural features on facile McLafferty-type, even-electron rearrangements in tandem mass spectra of carboxylate anions.

In contrast to the well-described McLafferty rearrangement in odd-electron cations, relatively little has been reported on comparable rearrangements in even-electron ions, especially negative ions. This work reports a systematic study using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) fragment ion spectra of carboxylate anions having a suitably acidic proton in the gamma position. The rearrangement process was studied in both ion trap and triple quadrupole mass spectrometers; characteristic enolate anions and stable neutral products were formed at low collision energies. The process has diagnostic and analytical potential in, for example, the analysis of peptides having C-terminal serine residues and of 3-hydroxy- or 3-aminocarboxylic acids in complex mixtures.

Acrylates↗

Erythropoietin receptor: cloning strategy and structural features.

We recently isolated a cDNA clone encoding the murine erythropoietin (Epo) receptor from a PXM expression library made from uninduced murine erythroleukemia cells. The clone was identified by screening COS cell transfectants for internalization of radiolabeled recombinant human Epo. As inferred from the cDNA sequence, the murine Epo receptor (Epo-R) is a 507 amino acid polypeptide with a single membrane-spanning domain. Extensive homology was found between the Epo-R and the interleukin 2 receptor beta chain, both at the level of amino acid sequence and at the level of regional hydrophobicity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Assessment of structural features of the pseudomonas siderophore pyochelin required for its ability to promote oxidant-mediated endothelial cell injury.

We previously showed that iron chelated to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophore pyochelin enhances oxidant-mediated injury to pulmonary artery endothelial cells by catalyzing hydroxyl radical (HO(*)) formation. Therefore, we examined pyochelin structural/chemical features that may be important in this process. Five pyochelin analogues were examined for (i) capacity to accentuate oxidant-mediated endothelial cell injury, (ii) HO(*) catalytic ability, (iii) iron transfer to endothelial cells, and (iv) hydrophobicity. All compounds catalyzed similar HO(*) production, but only the hydrophobic ones containing a thiazolidine ring enhanced cell injury. Transfer of iron to endothelial cells did not correlate with cytotoxicity. Finally, binding of Fe(3+) by pyochelin led to Fe(2+) formation, perhaps explaining how Fe(3+)-pyochelin augments H(2)O(2)-mediated cell injury via HO(*) formation. The ability to bind iron in a catalytic form and the molecule's thiazolidine ring, which increases its hydrophobicity, are key to pyochelin's cytotoxicity. Reduction of Fe(3+) to Fe(2+) may also be important.

Animals↗

Some structural features of cluster-coordinating cysteines of Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin are revealed by 2D TOCSY 1H NMR on the oxidized protein.

Different sets of geminal J coupling constants for the eight beta-CH2 protons in the iron-coordinating cysteines in Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin were detected by 2D TOCSY 1H NMR experiments on the oxidized protein. Four resonances were characterized by quite similar high values of J, two more resonances had a J value about half of the former ones, while the last two had extremely low J values. These findings suggest that the cysteines required for cubane symmetry around the iron atoms are constrained into different geometries. The simplified model used for fine tuning of tau m in these TOCSY experiments is also presented and discussed.

Clostridium↗

Chromosomal location and some structural features of human clathrin light-chain genes (CLTA and CLTB).

Two human clathrin light-chain genes have been defined. The gene (CLTA) encoding the LCa light chain maps to the long arm of chromosome 12 at 12q23-q24 and that encoding the LCb light chain (CLTB) maps to the long arm of chromosome 4 at 4q2-q3. Isolation and characterization of partial genomic clones encoding human LCa and LCb reveal the neuron-specific insertions of the LCa and LCb proteins to be encoded by discrete exons, thus proving that clathrin light chains undergo alternate mRNA splicing to generate tissue-specific protein isoforms. The insertion sequence of LCb is encoded by a single exon and that of LCa by two exons. The first of the two neuron-specific LCa exons is homologous to the corresponding LCb exon. An intronic sequence of the LCb gene with similarity to the second neuron-specific exon of the LCa gene has been identified.

Animals↗

Solution structure, domain features, and structural implications of mutants of the chromo domain from the fission yeast histone methyltransferase Clr4.

The encapsulation of otherwise transcribable loci within transcriptionally inactive heterochromatin is rapidly gaining recognition as an important mechanism of epigenetic gene regulation. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, heterochromatinization of the mat2/mat3 loci silences the mating-type information encoded within these loci. Here, we present the solution structure of the chromo domain from the cryptic loci regulator protein Clr4. Clr4 is known to regulate silencing and switching at the mating-type loci and to affect chromatin structure at centromeres. Clr4 and its human and Drosophila homologs have been identified as histone H3-specific methyltransferases, further implicating this family of proteins in chromatin remodeling. Our structure highlights a conserved surface that may be involved in chromo domain-ligand interactions. We have also analyzed two chromo domain mutants (W31G and W41G) that previously were shown to affect silencing and switching in full-length Clr4. Both mutants are significantly destabilized relative to wild-type.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural features of the murine gene encoding the RI beta subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

The activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is controlled by the regulatory (R) subunits of the holoenzyme. Here we present a characterization of the mouse RI beta subunit gene, which in contrast to other subunit genes of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is expressed almost exclusively in neurons. It was determined that RI beta is relatively large with 11 exons spanning a minimum 75 kb. The mouse chromosomal locus (designated Prkar1b) was determined by interspecific backcross mapping and found to reside on the distal arm of chromosome 5. Previously, it was shown that 3.5 kb of DNA encompassing the RI beta promoter could direct neural-specific gene expression in transgenic mice. Analysis of this DNA suggests the presence of an unusually large number of binding sites for transcription factors ranging from tissue-specific regulators, immediate-early genes, and mediators of hormone action. In addition to 18 putative SP1 sites, we identified 27 consensus sequences for basic Helix-Loop-Helix, POU, and Pax family members, 5 AP1 sites, and over 40 half-sites for the superfamily of steroid hormone receptor. Gel mobility-shift assays employing brain nuclear extract and pure transcription factor protein established that many of these DNA sequences are functional in binding protein. The abundance and configuration of transcription factor binding sites within the promoter region of RI beta suggests that this gene is subject to complex modes of regulation in neurons.

Animals↗

Structural features of two kininase I-type enzymes revealed by molecular cloning.

Kininase I-type carboxypeptidases remove a single C-terminal Arg residue from kinins. The circulating kininase I (carboxypeptidase N) contains two types of subunits: a 50 kDa catalytic subunit and an 83 kDa carrier subunit which protects the active subunit in blood. The 83 kDa subunit contains 12 leucine-rich tandem repeats, similar in sequence to other proteins with binding functions. Human carboxypeptidase M is a widely distributed "tissue kininase I" bound to plasma membranes. It has 41% sequence identity with the 50 kDa subunit of carboxypeptidase N and may regulate the activity of kinins and other peptides at the cell surface.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural features of the plastid ribosomal RNA operons of two red algae: Antithamnion sp. and Cyanidium caldarium.

The nucleotide sequences of the plastid 16S rDNA of the multicellular red alga Antithamnion sp. and the 16S rDNA/23S rDNA intergenic spacers of the plastid DNAs of the unicellular red alga Cyanidium caldarium and of Antithamnion sp. were determined. Sequence comparisons support the idea of a polyphyletic origin of the red algal and the higher-plant chloroplasts. Both spacer regions include the unsplit tRNA(Ile)(GAU) and tRNA(Ala)(UGC) genes and so the plastids of both algae form a homogeneous group with those of chromophytic algae and Cyanophora paradoxa characterized by 'small-sized' rDNA spacers in contrast to green algae and higher plants. Nevertheless, remarkable sequence differences within the rRNA and the tRNA genes give the plastids of Cyanidium caldarium a rather isolated position.

Base Sequence↗

Structural features and quantitative age-dependent changes in the intervascular barrier of the guinea-pig haemochorial placenta.

The haemomonochorial placenta of the guinea-pig undergoes several quantitative changes between the 49th and 64th days of gestation, all of which are in such a direction as to increase the efficiency of transplacental transport. The fetal vessels become larger, the maternal vessels increase in surface area by proliferation of microvilli, and the effective mean distance between the two vessel sets decreases. The magnitude of these changes suggests that the efficiency of transport of hydrophilic solutes across the maternal-fetal interface could double, although changes in the number of permeation sites per unit area may modify this relationship. The presence of open intercellular spaces and fenestrations in the fetal endothelium suggests that this layer may not be a major permeability barrier in the guinea-pig, but may create an unstirred layer of extracellular fluid between endothelium and syncytiotrophoblast.

Animals↗