Cryptogein is a small 10 kDa elicitor produced by the phytoparasitic oomycete Phytophthora cryptogea. The protein also displays a sterol carrier activity. The native protein crystallizes in space group P4(1)22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 46.51, c = 134.9 A (diffraction limit: 2.1 A). Its complex with cholesterol crystallizes in space group C222(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 30.96, b = 94.8, c = 65.3 A and a resolution enhanced to 1.45 A. The large inner non-specific hydrophobic cavity is able to accommodate a large variety of 3-beta-hydroxy sterols. Cryptogein probably acts as a sterol shuttle helping the pathogen to grow and complete its life cycle.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S0907444902011745 | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
December 2024
Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, 35400-000, Brazil.
Atherosclerotic vascular changes can begin during childhood, providing risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. Identifiable risk factors such as dyslipidemia accelerate this process for some children. The apolipoprotein B (APOB) gene could help explain the inter-individual variability in lipid levels among young individuals and identify groups that require greater attention to prevent CVD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLipids Health Dis
December 2024
Department of Nephrology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi, 545005, People's Republic of China.
Background: Lipid metabolism is influenced by mutations in the EH domain binding protein 1 gene (EHBP1). This study investigated the link between the EHBP1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and dyslipidemia risks in maintenance dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease in Chinese Han population.
Methods: A total of 539 patients were divided into dyslipidemia (379) and control (160) groups.
Methods Mol Biol
December 2024
Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
Maistero-2 is a novel, non-toxic cholesterol-binding protein derived from an edible mushroom Grifola frondosa mRNA. Maistero-2 specifically binds to lipid membranes containing 3-hydroxy sterols with a lower cholesterol concentration threshold than cholesterol-binding domain 4 (D4) of perfringolysin O (PFO) and anthrolysin O (ALO). Maistero-2 binding is particularly sensitive to the size and conformation of the A-, B-, and D-ring of sterols but not very sensitive to modifications of the isooctyl side chain commonly found in phytosterols.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecules
December 2024
Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Square 24, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland.
The aim of this research was to design and synthesize new lipid conjugates of 7-DHC that could serve as a new storage form of esterified provitamin D, increasing the reservoir of this biomolecule in the epidermis and enabling controlled production of vitamin D even during periods of sunlight deficiency. Acylglycerol and glycerophospholipid containing succinate-linked provitamin D at the -2 position of the glycerol backbone were synthesized from dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and -glycerophosphocholine (GPC), respectively. The three-step synthesis of 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-(7-dehydrocholesterylsuccinoyl)glycerol involved the esterification of DHA with palmitic acid, reduction of the carbonyl group, and conjugation of the resulting 1,3-dipalmitoylglycerol with 7-dehydrocholesterol hemisuccinate (7-DHC HS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLangmuir
December 2024
Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, CP 369, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
The design of chemotherapeutic drug carriers requires precise information on their interaction with the plasma membrane since the carriers should be internalized by cells without disrupting or compromising the overall integrity of the membrane. In this study, we employ Langmuir monolayers mimicking the outer leaflet of plasma membranes of healthy and cancerous cells to determine the molecular-level interactions with a water-soluble calixarene derivative, -sulfonic acid calix[4]arene (SCX4), which is promising as drug carrier. The cancer membrane models comprised either 40% 1,2-dipalmitoyl--glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) or 1,2-dioleoyl--glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 30% cholesterol (Chol), 20% 1,2-dipalmitoyl--glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE), and 10% 1,2-dipalmitoyl--glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (DPPS).
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