Structural Basis for the Essential Role of Ca in the Lytic Activity of Staphylococcus aureus PlyGRCS Endolysin Targeting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus causes a wide range of infections, from mild skin conditions to severe, life-threatening diseases. Bacteriophage endolysins exhibit a selective capacity to degrade the peptidoglycan layer of Gram-positive bacteria, making promising biotherapeutic agents against antibiotic-resistant infections. PlyGRCS, a specific endolysin derived from S.

Astroglia proliferate upon the biogenesis of tunneling nanotubes via α-synuclein dependent transient nuclear translocation of focal adhesion kinase.

Astroglia play crucial neuroprotective roles by internalizing pathogenic aggregates and facilitating their degradation. Here, we show that α-SYN protofibril-induced organelle toxicities and reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause premature cellular senescence in astrocytes and astrocyte-derived cancer cells, resulting in a transient increase in the biogenesis of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). TNT-biogenesis and TNT-mediated cell-to-cell transfer lead to clearance of α-SYN-induced organelle toxicities, reduction in cellular ROS levels, and reversal of cellular senescence.

Tau-S214 Phosphorylation Inhibits Fyn Kinase Interaction and Increases the Decay Time of NMDAR-mediated Current.

Fyn kinase SH3 domain interaction with PXXP motif in the Tau protein is implicated in AD pathology and is central to NMDAR function. Among seven PXXP motifs localized in proline-rich domain of Tau protein, tandem 5th and 6th PXXP motifs are critical to Fyn-SH3 domain interaction. Here, we report the crystal structure of Fyn-SH3 -Tau (207-221) peptide consisting of 5th and 6th PXXP motif complex to 1.

Structural and biochemical insights into the bacteriophage PlyGRCS endolysin targeting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and serendipitous discovery of its interaction with a cold shock protein C (CspC).

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes life-threatening human infections. Bacteriophage-encoded endolysins degrade the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria by selectively hydrolyzing the peptidoglycan layer and thus are promising candidates to combat bacterial infections. PlyGRCS, the S.

Structure-based discovery of an antipsychotic drug, paliperidone, as a modulator of human superoxide dismutase 1: a potential therapeutic target in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Aggregates of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are one of the major contributors to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations in SOD1 lead to an unstable structure and aggregation that perturbs the balance of reactive oxygen species in cells. Oxidation damage to the solvent-exposed Trp32 also causes aggregation of SOD1.

High-affinity binding of celastrol to monomeric α-synuclein mitigates in vitro aggregation.

α-Synuclein (αSyn) aggregation is associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). The region αSyn acts as the nucleation 'master controller' and αSyn as a 'secondary nucleation site'. They drive monomeric αSyn to aggregation.

Molecular insights into α-synuclein interaction with individual human core histones, linker histone, and dsDNA.

α-Synuclein (αS) plays a key role in Parkinson's disease (PD). The αS nuclear role, its binding affinity and specificity to histones and dsDNA remains unknown. Here, we have measured the binding affinity ( ) between αS wild-type (wt) and PD-specific αS S129-phosphorylation mimicking (S129E) mutant with full-length and flexible tail truncated individual core histones (H2a, H2b, H3, and H4), linker histone (H1), and carried out αS-dsDNA interaction studies.

screening of small molecule modulators and their binding studies against human sirtuin-6 protein.

Sirtuin-6 (SIRT6), class III family of deacetylase regulates several biological functions, including transcriptional repression, telomere maintenance, and DNA repair. It is unique among sirtuin family members with diverse enzymatic functions: mono-ADP-ribosylase, deacetylase and defatty-acylase. The studies so far implicated SIRT6 role in lifespan extension, tumor suppression, and is considered as an attractive drug target for aging-related disease.

Crystal structure of enoyl-CoA hydratase from Thermus thermophilus HB8.

Fatty-acid degradation is an oxidative process that involves four enzymatic steps and is referred to as the β-oxidation pathway. During this process, long-chain acyl-CoAs are broken down into acetyl-CoA, which enters the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, resulting in the production of energy in the form of ATP. Enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECH) catalyzes the second step of the β-oxidation pathway by the syn addition of water to the double bond between C2 and C3 of a 2-trans-enoyl-CoA, resulting in the formation of a 3-hydroxyacyl CoA.

PARP1 exhibits enhanced association and catalytic efficiency with γH2A.X-nucleosome.

The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, PARP1, plays a key role in maintaining genomic integrity by detecting DNA damage and mediating repair. γH2A.X is the primary histone marker for DNA double-strand breaks and PARP1 localizes to H2A.

Biochemical insight into pseudouridine synthase 7 (PUS7) as a novel interactor of sirtuin, SIRT1.

Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) forms a dynamic regulatory network with multiple proteins. The SIRT1 protein interactome comprises histone, non-histone substrates, and modulators of SIRT1 deacetylase. Proteomic studies have enlisted several proteins in SIRT1 network, but the structural and functional details of their interactions remain largely unexplored.

Nucleosome acidic patch-targeting binuclear ruthenium compounds induce aberrant chromatin condensation.

The 'acidic patch' is a highly electronegative cleft on the histone H2A-H2B dimer in the nucleosome. It is a fundamental motif for protein binding and chromatin dynamics, but the cellular impact of targeting this potentially therapeutic site with exogenous molecules remains unclear. Here, we characterize a family of binuclear ruthenium compounds that selectively target the nucleosome acidic patch, generating intra-nucleosomal H2A-H2B cross-links as well as inter-nucleosomal cross-links.

Structural analyses of the nucleosome complexes with human testis-specific histone variants, hTh2a and hTh2b.

Th2a and Th2b are the testis-specific histone variants highly expressed during spermatogenesis. Approximately 4% of the genome is retained in nucleosomes in mature human sperm, which is enriched at loci of developmental importance. Our recent studies revealed that the mouse histone variant homologs TH2a and TH2b are involved in reprogramming.

Structural and functional analyses of nucleosome complexes with mouse histone variants TH2a and TH2b, involved in reprogramming.

Histone variants TH2a and TH2b are highly expressed in testes, oocytes and zygotes. Our recent analysis suggested that these histone variants enhance the induced generation of pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) when co-expressed along with four transcription factors, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc (OSKM), and are associated with an open chromatin structure [1]. In the present study, we report the crystal structures of nucleosomes (NCPs) with the mouse histone variants, TH2a and TH2b.

Revelation of endogenously bound Fe(2+) ions in the crystal structure of ferritin from Escherichia coli.

Ferritin is an iron regulatory protein. It is responsible for storage and detoxification of excess iron thereby it regulates iron level in the body. Here we report the crystal structure of ferritin with two endogenously expressed Fe atoms binding in both the sites.

Crystal structure of the single-stranded RNA binding protein HutP from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans.

RNA binding proteins control gene expression by the attenuation/antitermination mechanism. HutP is an RNA binding antitermination protein. It regulates the expression of hut operon when it binds with RNA by modulating the secondary structure of single-stranded hut mRNA.

Histone variants enriched in oocytes enhance reprogramming to induced pluripotent stem cells.

Expression of Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) can reprogram somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) can also be used for reprogramming, suggesting that factors present in oocytes could potentially augment OSKM-mediated induction of pluripotency. Here, we report that two histone variants, TH2A and TH2B, which are highly expressed in oocytes and contribute to activation of the paternal genome after fertilization, enhance OSKM-dependent generation of iPSCs and can induce reprogramming with Klf4 and Oct3/4 alone.

Crystal structure of archaeal chromatin protein Alba2-double-stranded DNA complex from Aeropyrum pernix K1.

All thermophilic and hyperthermophilic archaea encode homologs of dimeric Alba (Sac10b) proteins that bind cooperatively at high density to DNA. Here, we report the 2.0 Å resolution crystal structure of an Alba2 (Ape10b2)-dsDNA complex from Aeropyrum pernix K1.

Design of a novel nucleoside analog as potent inhibitor of the NAD dependent deacetylase, SIRT2.

Sirtuins (class III histone deacetylase) are evolutionarily conserved NAD(+)-dependent enzymes that catalyze the deacetylation of acetyl-lysine residues of histones and other target proteins. Because of their associations in various pathophysiological conditions, the identification of small molecule modulators has been of significant interest. In the present study, virtual screening was carried out with NCI Diversity Set II using crystal structure of hSIRT2 (PDB ID: 1J8F) as a model for the docking procedure to find potential compounds, which were then subjected to experimental tests for their in vitro SIRT2 inhibitory activity.

Structure of the major carrot allergen Dau c 1.

Dau c 1 is a major allergen of carrot (Daucus carota) which displays IgE cross-reactivity with the homologous major birch-pollen allergen Bet v 1. The crystal structure of Dau c 1 has been determined to a resolution of 2.7 A, revealing tight dimers.

Crystal structures of YkuI and its complex with second messenger cyclic Di-GMP suggest catalytic mechanism of phosphodiester bond cleavage by EAL domains.

Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous bacterial second messenger that is involved in the regulation of cell surface-associated traits and the persistence of infections. Omnipresent GGDEF and EAL domains, which occur in various combinations with regulatory domains, catalyze c-di-GMP synthesis and degradation, respectively. The crystal structure of full-length YkuI from Bacillus subtilis, composed of an EAL domain and a C-terminal PAS-like domain, has been determined in its native form and in complex with c-di-GMP and Ca(2+).

High-affinity IgE recognition of a conformational epitope of the major respiratory allergen Phl p 2 as revealed by X-ray crystallography.

We report the three-dimensional structure of the complex between the major respiratory grass pollen allergen Phl p 2 and its specific human IgE-derived Fab. The Phl p 2-specific human IgE Fab has been isolated from a combinatorial library constructed from lymphocytes of a pollen allergic patient. When the variable domains of the IgE Fab were grafted onto human IgG1, the resulting Ab (huMab2) inhibited strongly the binding of allergic patients' IgE to Phl p 2 as well as allergen-induced basophil degranulation.

Crystal structure of the major allergen from fire ant venom, Sol i 3.

Fire ant venom is an extremely potent allergy-inducing agent containing four major allergens, Sol i 1 to Sol i 4, which are the most frequent cause of hypersensitivity reactions to hymenoptera in the southern USA. The crystal structure of recombinant (Baculovirus) major fire ant allergen Sol i 3 has been determined to a resolution of 3.1 A by the method of molecular replacement.

Identification of a B-cell epitope of hyaluronidase, a major bee venom allergen, from its crystal structure in complex with a specific Fab.

The major allergens of honeybee venom, hyaluronidase (Hyal) and phospholipase A2, can induce life-threatening IgE-mediated allergic reactions in humans. Although conventional immunotherapy is effective, up to 40% of patients develop allergic side effects including anaphylaxis and thus, there is a need for an improved immunotherapy. A murine monoclonal anti-Hyal IgG1 antibody (mAb 21E11), that competed for Hyal binding with IgEs from sera of bee venom allergic patients, was raised.