To obtain proteins with the complement-depleting activity of Cobra Venom Factor (CVF), but with less immunogenicity, we have prepared human C3/CVF hybrid proteins, in which the C-terminus of the alpha-chain of human C3 is exchanged with homologous regions of the C-terminus of the beta-chain of CVF. We show that these hybrid proteins are able to deplete complement, both in vitro and in vivo. One hybrid protein, HC3-1496, is shown to be effective in reducing complement-mediated damage in two disease models in mice, collagen-induced arthritis and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Human C3/CVF hybrid proteins represent a novel class ofbiologicals as potential therapeutic agents in many diseases where complement is involved in the pathogenesis.
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Structure
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Electronic address:
High-risk human papillomavirus E6 oncoprotein is a model system for the recognition and degradation of cellular p53 tumor suppressor protein. There remains a gap in the understanding of the ubiquitin transfer reaction, including placement of the E6AP catalytic HECT domain of the ligase concerning the p53 substrate and how E6 itself is protected from ubiquitination. We determined the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the E6AP/E6/p53 complex, related the structure to in vivo modeling of the tri-molecular complex, and identified structural interactions associated with activation of the ubiquitin ligase function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrends Biotechnol
January 2025
College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address:
Engineering nitrogen fixation in cereals could reduce usage of chemical nitrogen fertilizers. Here, a nitrogenase biosynthesis pathway comprising 13 genes (nifB nifH nifD nifK nifE nifN nifX hesA nifV nifS nifU groES groEL) was introduced into rice by transforming multigene vectors and subsequently by sexual crossing between transgenic rice plants. Genome sequencing analysis revealed that 13 nif genes in F hybrid rice lines L12-13 and L8-17 were inserted at two loci on rice chromosome 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Ornamental Plants Germplasm Innovation & Molecular Breeding, National Engineering Research Center for Floriculture, Engineering Research Center of Landscape Environment of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, China. Electronic address:
The GRAS gene family, is instrumental in a myriad of biological processes, including plant growth and development. Our findings revealed that Paeonia ludlowii (Stern & G.Taylor) D.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Biochem Biophys
January 2025
Department of Pain Management, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. Electronic address:
Yes-associated protein (YAP), a focal point of current biological research, is involved in regulating various life processes. In this report, live-cell fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging was employed to unravel the YAP complexes in MCF-7 cells. Fluorescence imaging of living cells co-expressing CFP (cyan fluorescent protein)-YAP and YFP (yellow fluorescent protein)-LATS1 (large tumor suppressor 1) plasmids revealed that YAP promoted LATS1 oligomerization around mitochondria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsect Biochem Mol Biol
January 2025
Institute of Insect Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address:
Troponin C (TnC) is a calcium-binding subunit of the troponin complex that regulates muscle contraction in animals. However, the physiological roles of TnC, especially in insect development and reproduction, remain largely unknown. We identified seven TnC genes encoding four EF-hand motif protein in the rice pest, the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens.
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