The use of Pseudomonas acyl-CoA synthetase to form acyl-CoAs from dicarboxylic fatty acids.

Pseudomonas acyl-CoA synthetase is shown to act on saturated dicarboxylic acids with a chain length of C10 or greater to produce conjugates containing a single CoA unit. The synthetase can, therefore, be used to generate novel acyl-CoA analogues for studies on proteins that utilise, bind to, or are modulated by acyl-CoAs.

Mechanisms for ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling.

During the past year, major advances have been made towards understanding the function of ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling activities both in vitro and in vivo. These suggest that ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling activities are capable of both altering the structure of individual nucleosomes and acting in concert with other forms of chromatin-modifying enzymes, to regulate the formation and decondensation of chromatin fibres.

Generation of superhelical torsion by ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activities.

ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activities participate in the alteration of chromatin structure during gene regulation. All have DNA- or chromatin-stimulated ATPase activity and many can alter the structure of chromatin; however, the means by which they do this have remained unclear. Here we describe a novel activity for ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activities, the ability to generate unconstrained negative superhelical torsion in DNA and chromatin.

A novel subset of murine B cells that expresses unmasked forms of CD22 is enriched in the bone marrow: implications for B-cell homing to the bone marrow.

CD22 is a B-cell-restricted transmembrane protein, which acts as a negative regulator of B-cell signalling. CD22 also has lectin-like adhesive properties. When expressed on transfected fibroblasts, it is capable of mediating adhesion to other cells via recognition of cell-surface glycoconjugates terminating in alpha2,6-linked sialic acids.

Mechanisms for ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling.

Gene regulation involves the generation of a local chromatin topology that is conducive to transcription. Several classes of chromatin remodelling activity have been shown to play a role in this process. ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling activities use energy derived from the hydrolysis of ATP to alter the structure of chromatin, making it more accessible for transcription factor binding.

Inducible gene expression in transgenic Xenopus embryos.

The amphibian Xenopus laevis has been successfully used for many years as a model system for studying vertebrate development. Because of technical limitations, however, molecular investigations have mainly concentrated on early stages. We have developed a straightforward method for stage-specific induction of gene expression in transgenic Xenopus embryos [1] [2].

The structure of reduced tryparedoxin peroxidase reveals a decamer and insight into reactivity of 2Cys-peroxiredoxins.

Tryparedoxin peroxidase (TryP) is a recently discovered 2Cys-peroxiredoxin involved in defence against oxidative stress in parasitic trypanosomatids. The crystal structure of recombinant Crithidia fasciculata TryP, in the reduced state, has been determined using multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion methods applied to a selenomethionyl derivative. The model comprises a decamer with 52 symmetry, ten chloride ions with 23 water molecules and has been refined, using data to 3.

The three-dimensional structure of a Plasmodium falciparum cyclophilin in complex with the potent anti-malarial cyclosporin A.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a potent anti-malarial compound in vitro and in vivo in mice though better known for its immunosuppressive properties in humans. Crystal structures of wild-type and a double mutant Plasmodium falciparum cyclophilin (PfCyP19 and mPfCyP19) complexed with CsA have been determined using diffraction terms to a resolution of 2.1 A (1 A=0.

A model for anteroposterior patterning of the vertebrate limb based on sequential long- and short-range Shh signalling and Bmp signalling.

It has been proposed that digit identity in chick limb bud is specified in a dose-dependent fashion by a long-range morphogen, produced by the polarising region. One candidate is Sonic hedgehog (Shh) protein, but it is not clear whether Shh acts long or short range or via Bmps. Here we dissect the relationship between Shh and Bmp signalling.

Siglec-8. A novel eosinophil-specific member of the immunoglobulin superfamily.

We describe the characterization of siglec-8, a novel sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin that is expressed specifically by eosinophils. A full-length cDNA encoding siglec-8 was isolated from a human eosinophil cDNA library. Siglec-8 is predicted to contain three extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic tail of 47 amino acids.