Amphipathic Motifs Regulate N-BAR Protein Endophilin B1 Auto-inhibition and Drive Membrane Remodeling.

Membrane remodeling is a common theme in a variety of cellular processes. Here, we investigated membrane remodeling N-BAR protein endophilin B1, a critical player in diverse intracellular trafficking events, including mitochondrial and Golgi fission, and apoptosis. We find that endophilin B1 assembles into helical scaffolds on membranes, and that both membrane binding and assembly are driven by interactions between N-terminal helix H0 and the lipid bilayer.

Structural basis of host protein hijacking in human T-cell leukemia virus integration.

Integration of the reverse-transcribed viral DNA into host chromosomes is a critical step in the life-cycle of retroviruses, including an oncogenic delta(δ)-retrovirus human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1). Retroviral integrase forms a higher order nucleoprotein assembly (intasome) to catalyze the integration reaction, in which the roles of host factors remain poorly understood. Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the HTLV-1 intasome at 3.

Structure-guided design of a potent peptide inhibitor targeting the interaction between CRK and ABL kinase.

CT-10 regulator of kinase (CRK) proteins play important roles in human cancer metastasis and invasion. Moreover, CRK proteins are the major phosphorylation substrates of ABL kinase and its oncogenic mutant BCR-ABL kinase. The interaction between CRK and BCR-ABL plays important roles in chronic myeloid leukemia.

The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Hijack of Host Proteins by the 1918 Spanish Influenza Virus.

The 1918 Spanish influenza A virus (IAV) caused one of the most serious pandemics in history. The nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of the 1918 IAV hijacks the interaction between human CrkII and JNK1. Little is, however, known about its molecular mechanism.

Kinetic Insights into the Binding between the nSH3 Domain of CrkII and Proline-Rich Motifs in cAbl.

The interaction between CrkII and cAbl is implicated in diverse cellular processes. This interaction starts with the binding of the N-terminal Src homology 3 (nSH3) domain of CrkII to the proline-rich motifs of cAbl (PRMs). Despite its critical importance, the detailed binding mechanism between the nSH3 domain and PRMs remains elusive.

Binding Mechanism of the N-Terminal SH3 Domain of CrkII and Proline-Rich Motifs in cAbl.

The N-terminal Src homology 3 (nSH3) domain of a signaling adaptor protein, CT-10 regulator of kinase II (CrkII), recognizes proline-rich motifs (PRMs) of binding partners, such as cAbl kinase. The interaction between CrkII and cAbl kinase is involved in the regulation of cell spreading, microbial pathogenesis, and cancer metastasis. Here, we report the detailed biophysical characterizations of the interactions between the nSH3 domain of CrkII and PRMs in cAbl.

Site-selective glycosylation of hemoglobin with variable molecular weight oligosaccharides: potential alternative to PEGylation.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) conjugation (i.e., PEGylation) is a commonly used strategy to increase the circulatory half-life of therapeutic proteins and colloids; however, few viable alternatives exist to replicate its functions.

Insights into role of the hydrogen bond networks in substrate recognition by UDP-GalNAc 4-epimerases.

UDP-hexose 4-epimerases are critical in galactose metabolism and often important in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis as well. Three groups of these enzymes have been reported based on their substrate specificity towards non-acetylated substrates (group 1), dual specificity towards N-acetylated and non-acetylated substrates (group 2) and specificity towards N-acetylated substrates (group 3). We recently reported the structure of a novel UDP-GalNAc 4-epimerase called WbgU and based on the structure proposed a model of specific substrate recognition by UDP-GalNAc 4-epimerases.

Structure of Greyhound hemoglobin: origin of high oxygen affinity.

This study presents the crystal structure of Greyhound hemoglobin (GrHb) determined to 1.9 Å resolution. GrHb was found to crystallize with an α₁β₁ dimer in the asymmetric unit and belongs to the R2 state.

Altered architecture of substrate binding region defines the unique specificity of UDP-GalNAc 4-epimerases.

UDP-hexose 4-epimerases play a pivotal role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis and Leloir pathway. These epimerases are classified into three groups based on whether they recognize nonacetylated UDP-hexoses (Group 1), both N-acetylated and nonacetylated UDP-hexoses (Group 2) or only N-acetylated UDP-hexoses (Group 3). Although the catalysis has been investigated extensively, yet a definitive model rationalizing the substrate specificity of all the three groups on a common platform is largely lacking.

Overexpression and topology of bacterial oligosaccharyltransferase PglB.

Campylobacter jejuni contains a post-translational N-glycosylation system in which a STT3 homologue, PglB, functions as the oligosaccharyltransferase. Herein, we established a method for obtaining relatively large quantities of homogenous PglB proteins. PglB was overexpressed in Escherichia coli C43(DE3) at a level of 1 mg/L cell cultures.

In vitro reconstitution of Escherichia coli O86 O antigen repeating unit.

Polysaccharides constitute a major component of the bacterial cell surface. They play critical roles in the interactions between bacteria and the host environments, and consequently contribute to the virulence of pathogens. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) found on the surface of gram-negative bacteria consists of three parts: lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and the O antigen.

Site-selective glycosylation of hemoglobin on Cys beta93.

In this work, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a novel glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb) with high oxygen affinity as a potential Hb-based oxygen carrier. Site-selective glycosylation of bovine Hb was achieved by conjugating a lactose derivative to Cys 93 on the beta subunit of Hb. LC-MS analysis indicates that the reaction was quantitative, with no unmodified Hb present in the reaction product.