The role of fibrinogen glycation in ATTR: evidence for chaperone activity loss in disease.

Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) belongs to a class of disorders caused by protein misfolding and aggregation. ATTR is a disabling disorder of autosomal dominant trait, where transthyretin (TTR) forms amyloid deposits in different organs, causing dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system. We previously discovered that amyloid fibrils from ATTR patients are glycated by methylglyoxal.

Breaking through the stress barrier: the role of BolA in Gram-negative survival.

The morphogene bolA plays a significant role in the adaptation of Escherichia coli to general stresses. In general, bacteria can thrive and persist under harsh conditions, counteracting external stresses by using varied mechanisms, including biofilm formation, changes in cell shape, size and protein content, together with alterations in the cell wall structure, thickness and permeability. In E.

Characterization of the BolA homolog IbaG: a new gene involved in acid resistance.

BolA protein homologs are widely distributed in nature. In this report, we have studied for the first time YrbA, the only BolA homolog present in Escherichia coli, which we have renamed ibaG. We have constructed single and multiple ibaG mutants, and overexpressed ibaG in wildtype strains, in order to characterize this gene.

BolA affects cell growth, and binds to the promoters of penicillin-binding proteins 5 and 6 and regulates their expression.

The gene bolA was discovered in the 80's, but unraveling its function in the cell has proven to be a complex task. The BolA protein has pleiotropic effects over cell physiology, altering growth and morphology, inducing biofilm formation, and regulating the balance of several membrane proteins. Recently, BolA was shown to be a transcription factor by repressing the expression of the mreB gene.

The critical role of RNA processing and degradation in the control of gene expression.

The continuous degradation and synthesis of prokaryotic mRNAs not only give rise to the metabolic changes that are required as cells grow and divide but also rapid adaptation to new environmental conditions. In bacteria, RNAs can be degraded by mechanisms that act independently, but in parallel, and that target different sites with different efficiencies. The accessibility of sites for degradation depends on several factors, including RNA higher-order structure, protection by translating ribosomes and polyadenylation status.