Cyanovirin-N Binding to -Acetyl-d-glucosamine Requires Carbohydrate-Binding Sites on Two Different Protomers.

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N) binds high-mannose oligosaccharides on enveloped viruses with two carbohydrate-binding sites, one bearing high affinity and one low affinity to Manα(1-2)Man moieties. A tandem repeat of two CV-N molecules (CVN2) was tested for antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) by using a domain-swapped dimer. CV-N was shown to bind -acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) and -acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) when the carbohydrate-binding sites in CV-N were free to interact with these monosaccharides independently.

Decorating phenylalanine side-chains with triple labeled C/F/H isotope patterns.

We present an economic and straightforward method to introduce C-F spin systems into the deuterated aromatic side chains of phenylalanine as reporters for various protein NMR applications. The method is based on the synthesis of [4-C, 2,3,5,6-H] 4-fluorophenylalanine from the commercially available isotope sources [2-C] acetone and deuterium oxide. This compound is readily metabolized by standard Escherichia coli overexpression in a glyphosate-containing minimal medium, which results in high incorporation rates in the corresponding target proteins.

Synthesis of a C-methylene-labeled isoleucine precursor as a useful tool for studying protein side-chain interactions and dynamics.

In this study, we present the synthesis and incorporation of a metabolic isoleucine precursor compound for selective methylene labeling. The utility of this novel α-ketoacid isotopologue is shown by incorporation into the protein Brd4-BD1, which regulates gene expression by binding to acetylated histones. High quality single quantum C- H-HSQC were obtained, as well as triple quantum HTQC spectra, which are superior in terms of significantly increased C-T times.

Stabilization of the Quadruplex-Forming G-Rich Sequences in the Rhinovirus Genome Inhibits Uncoating-Role of Na and K.

Rhinoviruses (RVs) are the major cause of common cold, a respiratory disease that generally takes a mild course. However, occasionally, RV infection can lead to serious complications in patients debilitated by other ailments, e.g.

Detecting anisotropic segmental dynamics in disordered proteins by cross-correlated spin relaxation.

Among the numerous contributions of Geoffrey Bodenhausen to NMR spectroscopy, his developments in the field of spin-relaxation methodology and theory will definitely have a long lasting impact. Starting with his seminal contributions to the excitation of multiple-quantum coherences, he and his group thoroughly investigated the intricate relaxation properties of these "forbidden fruits" and developed experimental techniques to reveal the relevance of previously largely ignored cross-correlated relaxation (CCR) effects, as "the essential is invisible to the eyes". Here we consider CCR within the challenging context of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and emphasize its potential and relevance for the studies of structural dynamics of IDPs in the future years to come.