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Characterization of the calcium binding protein family in zebrafish.

ABSTRACT: Calcium Binding Proteins (CaBPs), part of the vast family of EF-Hand-domain containing proteins, modulate intracellular calcium levels. They thereby contribute to a broad spectrum of biological processes - amongst others cell migration, gene expression and neural activity. In this study we identified twelve members of this protein family in zebrafish including one gene (cabp4b) currently not present in the zebrafish genome assembly. To gain insight into their biological functions, we carried out a detailed analysis of the expression patterns of these genes during zebrafish late embryonic and early larval development. We detected specific transcription for most of them in different neuronal cell populations including the neuroretina, the inner ear and the notochord. Our data supports potential roles for CaBPs during neuronal development and function and provides a starting point for genetic studies to examine CaBPs' function in these tissues and organs.

SUBMITTER: Di Donato V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3547026 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characterization of the calcium binding protein family in zebrafish.

Di Donato Vincenzo V Auer Thomas O TO Duroure Karine K Del Bene Filippo F

PloS one 20130116 1

Calcium Binding Proteins (CaBPs), part of the vast family of EF-Hand-domain containing proteins, modulate intracellular calcium levels. They thereby contribute to a broad spectrum of biological processes - amongst others cell migration, gene expression and neural activity. In this study we identified twelve members of this protein family in zebrafish including one gene (cabp4b) currently not present in the zebrafish genome assembly. To gain insight into their biological functions, we carried out ...[more]

PMID: 23341937

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Project description:Strontium salts are used for treatment of osteoporosis and bone cancer, but their impact on calcium-mediated physiological processes remains obscure. To explore Sr2+ interference with Ca2+ binding to proteins of the EF-hand family, we studied Sr2+/Ca2+ interaction with a canonical EF-hand protein, α-parvalbumin (α-PA). Evaluation of the equilibrium metal association constants for the active Ca2+ binding sites of recombinant human α-PA ('CD' and 'EF' sites) from fluorimetric titration experiments and isothermal titration calorimetry data gave 4 × 109 M-1 and 4 × 109 M-1 for Ca2+, and 2 × 107 M-1 and 2 × 106 M-1 for Sr2+. Inactivation of the EF site by homologous substitution of the Ca2+-coordinating Glu in position 12 of the EF-loop by Gln decreased Ca2+/Sr2+ affinity of the protein by an order of magnitude, whereas the analogous inactivation of the CD site induced much deeper suppression of the Ca2+/Sr2+ affinity. These results suggest that Sr2+ and Ca2+ bind to CD/EF sites of α-PA and the Ca2+/Sr2+ binding are sequential processes with the CD site being occupied first. Spectrofluorimetric Sr2+ titration of the Ca2+-loaded α-PA revealed presence of secondary Sr2+ binding site(s) with an apparent equilibrium association constant of 4 × 105 M-1. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy data evidence that Ca2+/Sr2+-loaded forms of α-PA exhibit similar states of their COO- groups. Near-UV circular dichroism (CD) data show that Ca2+/Sr2+ binding to α-PA induce similar changes in symmetry of microenvironment of its Phe residues. Far-UV CD experiments reveal that Ca2+/Sr2+ binding are accompanied by nearly identical changes in secondary structure of α-PA. Meanwhile, scanning calorimetry measurements show markedly lower Sr2+-induced increase in stability of tertiary structure of α-PA, compared to the Ca2+-induced effect. Theoretical modeling using Density Functional Theory computations with Polarizable Continuum Model calculations confirms that Ca2+-binding sites of α-PA are well protected against exchange of Ca2+ for Sr2+ regardless of coordination number of Sr2+, solvent exposure or rigidity of sites. The latter appears to be a key determinant of the Ca2+/Sr2+ selectivity. Overall, despite lowered affinity of α-PA to Sr2+, the latter competes with Ca2+ for the same EF-hands and induces similar structural rearrangements. The presence of a secondary Sr2+ binding site(s) could be a factor contributing to Sr2+ impact on the functional activity of proteins.

Project description:BackgroundIdentification of species-specific trypanosome molecules is important for laboratory- and field-based research into epidemiology and disease diagnosis. Although Trypanosoma congolense is the most important trypanosome pathogen of cattle in Africa, no species-specific molecules found in infective bloodstream forms (BSF) of the parasites have been identified, thus limiting development of diagnostic tests.MethodsImmuno-mass spectrometric methods were used to identify a protein that is recognized by a T. congolense-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) Tc6/42.6.4. The identified molecule was expressed as a recombinant protein in E. coli and was tested in several immunoassays for its ability to interact with the mAb. The three dimensional structure of the protein was modeled and compared to crystal- and NMR-structures of the homologous proteins from T. cruzi and T. brucei respectively, in order to examine structural differences leading to the different immunoreactivity of the T. congolense molecule. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to measure antibodies produced by trypanosome-infected African cattle in order to assess the potential for use of T. congolense calflagin in a serodiagnostic assay.ResultsThe antigen recognized by the T. congolense-specific mAb Tc6/42.6.4 was identified as a flagellar calcium-binding protein, calflagin. The recombinant molecule showed immunoreactivity with the T. congolense-specific mAb confirming that it is the cognate antigen. Immunofluorescence experiments revealed that Ca2+ modulated the localization of the calflagin molecule in trypanosomes. Structural modelling and comparison with calflagin homologues from other trypanosomatids revealed four non-conserved regions on the surface of the T. congolense molecule that due to differences in surface chemistry and structural topography may form species-specific epitopes. ELISAs using the recombinant calflagin as antigen to detect antibodies in trypanosome-infected cattle showed that the majority of cattle had antibody responses. Area under the Receiver-Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, associated with host IgG and IgM, were calculated to be 0.623 and 0.709 respectively, indicating a positive correlation between trypanosome infection and the presence of anti-calflagin antibodies.ConclusionsWhile calflagin is conserved among different species of African trypanosomes, our results show that T. congolense calflagin possesses unique epitopes that differentiate this protein from homologues in other trypanosome species. MAb Tc6/42.6.4 has clear utility as a laboratory tool for identifying T. congolense. T. congolense calflagin has potential as a serodiagnostic antigen and should be explored further for its utility in antigen-detection assays for diagnosis of cattle infections.

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Characterization of the calcium binding protein family in zebrafish.

Publications

Characterization of the calcium binding protein family in zebrafish.

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