Phosphorylation strongly affects the inhibition of human carbonic anhydrase I CO hydration activity.

Human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) have essential roles in respiration, acid-base balance, and fluid secretion, with implications in diseases such as glaucoma, epilepsy, obesity, and cancer. Of the fifteen known hCAs, human CA I (hCA I) is particularly abundant in erythrocytes, playing a critical role in CO transport. Despite extensive research on hCA I, the impact of post-translational modifications (PTMs), particularly phosphorylation, on its catalytic activity and inhibitor binding remains poorly understood.

Protein Interaction Kinetics Delimit the Performance of Phosphorylation-Driven Protein Switches.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation and dephosphorylation can rapidly alter protein surface chemistry and structural conformation, which can switch protein-protein interactions (PPIs) within signaling networks. Recently, -designed phosphorylation-responsive protein switches have been created that harness kinase- and phosphatase-mediated phosphorylation to modulate PPIs. PTM-driven protein switches are promising tools for investigating PTM dynamics in living cells, developing biocompatible nanodevices, and engineering signaling pathways to program cell behavior.

Tuning the stator subunit of the flagellar motor with coiled-coil engineering.

Many bacteria swim driven by an extracellular filament rotated by the bacterial flagellar motor. This motor is powered by the stator complex, MotA MotB , an heptameric complex which forms an ion channel which couples energy from the ion motive force to torque generation. Recent structural work revealed that stator complex consists of a ring of five MotA subunits which rotate around a central dimer of MotB subunits.

Design of Tunable Protein Interfaces Controlled by Post-Translational Modifications.

The design of protein interaction interfaces is a cornerstone of synthetic biology, where they can be used to promote the association of protein subunits into active molecular complexes or into protein nanostructures. In nature, protein interactions can be modulated by post-translational modifications (PTMs) that modify the protein interfaces with the addition and removal of various chemical groups. PTMs thus represent a means to gain control over protein interactions, yet they have seldom been considered in the design of synthetic proteins.

Bacteriophage genotyping using BOXA repetitive-PCR.

Background: Repetitive-PCR (rep-PCR) using BOXA1R and BOXA2R as single primers was investigated for its potential to genotype bacteriophage. Previously, this technique has been primarily used for the discrimination of bacterial strains. Reproducible DNA fingerprint patterns for various phage types were generated using either of the two primers.

Structural Determination of a Filamentous Chaperone to Fabricate Electronically Conductive Metalloprotein Nanowires.

The transfer of electrons through protein complexes is central to cellular respiration. Exploiting proteins for charge transfer in a controllable fashion has the potential to revolutionize the integration of biological systems and electronic devices. Here we characterize the structure of an ultrastable protein filament and engineer the filament subunits to create electronically conductive nanowires under aqueous conditions.

Differential Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry for Detailed Analysis of the Proteome.

The field of proteomics is increasingly concerned with the diversity and functional relevance of protein modifications. Differential ion mobility spectrometry (DMS) is emerging as a tool to detect and quantify additional peptide and protein species that are difficult to analyse with conventional instrumental methods. In this review, recent advances in DMS are discussed, with a focus on the different types of DMS instruments now available to researchers in proteomics.

Novel N-terminal and Lysine Methyltransferases That Target Translation Elongation Factor 1A in Yeast and Human.

Eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) is an essential, highly methylated protein that facilitates translational elongation by delivering aminoacyl-tRNAs to ribosomes. Here, we report a new eukaryotic protein N-terminal methyltransferase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae YLR285W, which methylates eEF1A at a previously undescribed high-stoichiometry N-terminal site and the adjacent lysine. Deletion of YLR285W resulted in the loss of N-terminal and lysine methylation in vivo, whereas overexpression of YLR285W resulted in an increase of methylation at these sites.

A web of possibilities: network-based discovery of protein interaction codes.

Many proteins, including p53, the FoxO transcription factors, RNA polymerase II, pRb, and the chaperones, have extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs). Many of these modifications modulate protein-protein interactions, controlling interaction presence/absence and specificity. Here we propose the notion of the interaction code, a widespread means by which modifications are used to control interactions in the proteome.

Posttranslational modifications of desmin and their implication in biological processes and pathologies.

Desmin, the muscle-specific intermediate filament, is involved in myofibrillar myopathies, dilated cardiomyopathy and muscle wasting. Desmin is the target of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation, ADP-ribosylation and ubiquitylation as well as nonenzymatic modifications such as glycation, oxidation and nitration. Several PTM target residues and their corresponding modifying enzymes have been discovered in human and nonhuman desmin.

Long-term skeletal and dental stability of mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis with a hybrid distractor.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term skeletal and dental stability of mandibular symphyseal distraction osteogenesis (MSDO) with a tooth-borne and bone-borne hybrid distractor. To differentiate the effects of MSDO from the orthodontic movement and relapse, each phase of treatment was analyzed.

Methods: Twenty-five patients were included in the study, ranging in age from 12.