A Chemical Approach to Assess the Impact of Post-translational Modification on MHC Peptide Binding and Effector Cell Engagement.

The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a pivotal role in the presentation of peptidic fragments from proteins, which can originate from self-proteins or from nonhuman antigens, such as those produced by viruses or bacteria. To prevent cytotoxicity against healthy cells, thymocytes expressing T cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize self-peptides are removed from circulation (negative selection), thus leaving T cells that recognize nonself-peptides. Current understanding suggests that post-translationally modified (PTM) proteins and the resulting peptide fragments they generate following proteolysis are largely excluded from negative selection; this feature means that PTMs can generate nonself-peptides that potentially contribute to the development of autoreactive T cells and subsequent autoimmune diseases.

Disordered-to-ordered transitions in assembly factors allow the complex II catalytic subunit to switch binding partners.

Complex II (CII) activity controls phenomena that require crosstalk between metabolism and signaling, including neurodegeneration, cancer metabolism, immune activation, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. CII activity can be regulated at the level of assembly, a process that leverages metastable assembly intermediates. The nature of these intermediates and how CII subunits transfer between metastable complexes remains unclear.

Framework for creating storytelling materials to promote African American/Black adult enrollment in research on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

Introduction: African American/Black adults are severely underrepresented in basic, clinical, and behavioral research studies in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). Innovative, evidence-based, and culturally salient strategies can maximize the recruitment of African American/Black adults into ADRD research.

Methods: We conducted and analyzed semi-structured interviews to capture the research participation stories of African American/Black participants and study partners from the University of Pittsburgh's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Data highlighting phenotypic diversity of urine-associated isolates.

This article provides a reusable dataset describing detailed phenotypic and associated clinical parameters in n=303 clinical isolates of urinary collected at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. De-identified clinical data collected with each isolate are detailed here and correlated to biofilm abundance and metabolomics data. Biofilm-abundance data were collected for each isolate under different conditions along with datasets quantifying biofilm abundance of each isolate under different conditions.

Lysophospholipid G protein-coupled receptor binding parameters as determined by backscattering interferometry.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) activates cognate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to initiate biological signaling cascades. Lysophospholipid (LP) receptor binding properties remain incompletely assessed because of difficulties with ligand lipophilicity and lipid "stickiness." These inherent attributes produce high levels of nonspecific binding within cell-membrane preparations used to assess GPCRs, as has been shown in classical binding assays using radiolabeled ligands, making accurate measurements of lipid binding kinetics difficult to achieve.

Predictive Power of Different Types of Experimental Restraints in Small Molecule Docking: A Review.

Incorporating experimental restraints is a powerful method of increasing accuracy in computational protein small molecule docking simulations. Different algorithms integrate distinct forms of biochemical data during the docking and/or scoring stages. These so-called hybrid methods make use of receptor-based information such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) restraints or small molecule-based information such as structure-activity relationships (SARs).

The Need for Speed in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Imaging Mass Spectrometry.

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) has emerged as a powerful analytical tool enabling the direct molecular mapping of many types of tissue. Specifically, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization (MALDI) represents one of the most broadly applicable IMS technologies. In recent years, advances in solid state laser technology, mass spectrometry instrumentation, computer technology, and experimental methodology have produced IMS systems capable of unprecedented data acquisition speeds (>50 pixels/second).

Unusual structural transition of antimicrobial VP1 peptide.

VP1 peptide, an active domain of m-calpain enzyme with antimicrobial activity is found to undergo an unusual conformational transition in trifluoroethanol (TFE) solvent. The nature of, and time dependent variations in, circular dichroism associated with the amide I vibrations, suggest that VP1 undergoes self-aggregation forming anti-parallel β-sheet structure in TFE. Transmission electron micrograph (TEM) images revealed that β-sheet aggregates formed by VP1 possess fibril-like assemblies.

Structure of 5-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-1-methylpyrid-4-one and 13C NMR relaxation studies of its gadolinium(III) complex.

In order to further elucidate the properties and biological behavior of 5-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-1-methylpyrid-4-one (M1), its X-ray structure has been determined, and the ability of its gadolinium complex to enhance the relaxation of 13C nuclei has been examined. X-ray analysis using Mo K alpha radiation shows that M1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a complex intermolecular array of hydrogen bonding. No water molecules were present within the unit cell.

The role of the renin-angiotensin system in cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

The role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the pathogenesis of cisplatin nephrotoxicity was evaluated in an experimental rat model using a specific, nonpeptide angiotensin II(AII) receptor blocker, losartan. Rats were treated with a single dose of losartan (at 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg, i.p.

Some aspects of the winkler determination of oxygen in water.

The reactions in the Winkler determination of oxygen have been examined with a rotating platinum electrode and a recording polarograph. In this manner the extent of the reaction has been determined over the pH range 7-10; at a pH of 7 only about 5% of the dissolved oxygen reacts; at a pH of 9 or above the reaction is essentially quantitative. The reaction of dissolved oxygen with manganese(II) is quite rapid.