Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

0 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Structures of the DfsB Protein Family Suggest a Cationic, Helical Sibling Lethal Factor Peptide.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria have developed a variety of mechanisms for surviving harsh environmental conditions, nutrient stress and overpopulation. Paenibacillus dendritiformis produces a lethal protein (Slf) that is able to induce cell death in neighbouring colonies and a phenotypic switch in more distant ones. Slf is derived from the secreted precursor protein, DfsB, after proteolytic processing. Here, we present new crystal structures of DfsB homologues from a variety of bacterial species and a surprising version present in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Adopting a four-helix bundle decorated with a further three short helices within intervening loops, DfsB belongs to a non-enzymatic class of the DinB fold. The structure suggests that the biologically active Slf fragment may possess a C-terminal helix rich in basic and aromatic residues that suggest a functional mechanism akin to that for cationic antimicrobial peptides.

SUBMITTER: Taylor JD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4773401 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Publications

Structures of the DfsB Protein Family Suggest a Cationic, Helical Sibling Lethal Factor Peptide.

Taylor Jonathan D JD Taylor Gabrielle G Hare Stephen A SA Matthews Steve J SJ

Journal of molecular biology 20160121 3

Bacteria have developed a variety of mechanisms for surviving harsh environmental conditions, nutrient stress and overpopulation. Paenibacillus dendritiformis produces a lethal protein (Slf) that is able to induce cell death in neighbouring colonies and a phenotypic switch in more distant ones. Slf is derived from the secreted precursor protein, DfsB, after proteolytic processing. Here, we present new crystal structures of DfsB homologues from a variety of bacterial species and a surprising vers ...[more]

PMID: 26804569

Similar Datasets

DNA phosphate crowding correlates with protein cationic side chain density and helical curvature in protein/DNA crystal structures.

Project description:Sequence-specific binding of proteins to their DNA targets involves a complex spectrum of processes that often induce DNA conformational variation in the bound complex. The forces imposed by protein binding that cause the helical deformations are intimately interrelated and difficult to parse or rank in importance. To investigate the role of electrostatics in helical deformation, we quantified the relationship between protein cationic residue density (Cpc) and DNA phosphate crowding (Cpp). The correlation between Cpc and Cpp was then calculated for a subset of 58 high resolution protein-DNA crystal structures. Those structures containing strong Cpc/Cpp correlation (>±0.25) were likely to contain DNA helical curvature. Further, the correlation factor sign predicted the direction of helical curvature with positive (16 structures) and negative (seven structures) correlation containing concave (DNA curved toward protein) and convex (DNA curved away from protein) curvature, respectively. Protein-DNA complexes without significant Cpc/Cpp (36 structures) correlation (-0.25<0<0.25) tended to contain DNA without significant curvature. Interestingly, concave and convex complexes also include more arginine and lysine phosphate contacts, respectively, whereas linear complexes included essentially equivalent numbers of Lys/Arg phosphate contacts. Together, these findings suggest an important role for electrostatic interactions in protein-DNA complexes involving helical curvature.

| S-EPMC3753625 | biostudies-literature

Lethal protein produced in response to competition between sibling bacterial colonies.

Project description:Sibling Paenibacillus dendritiformis bacterial colonies grown on low-nutrient agar medium mutually inhibit growth through secretion of a lethal factor. Analysis of secretions reveals the presence of subtilisin (a protease) and a 12 kDa protein, termed sibling lethal factor (Slf). Purified subtilisin promotes the growth and expansion of P. dendritiformis colonies, whereas Slf is lethal and lyses P. dendritiformis cells in culture. Slf is encoded by a gene belonging to a large family of bacterial genes of unknown function, and the gene is predicted to encode a protein of approximately 20 kDa, termed dendritiformis sibling bacteriocin. The 20 kDa recombinant protein was produced and found to be inactive, but exposure to subtilisin resulted in cleavage to the active, 12 kDa form. The experimental results, combined with mathematical modeling, show that subtilisin serves to regulate growth of the colony. Below a threshold concentration, subtilisin promotes colony growth and expansion. However, once it exceeds a threshold, as occurs at the interface between competing colonies, Slf is then secreted into the medium to rapidly reduce cell density by lysis of the bacterial cells. The presence of genes encoding homologs of dendritiformis sibling bacteriocin in other bacterial species suggests that this mechanism for self-regulation of colony growth might not be limited to P. dendritiformis.

| S-EPMC2851949 | biostudies-literature

Designing helical peptide inhibitors of protein-protein interactions.

Project description:Short helical peptides combine characteristics of small molecules and large proteins and provide an exciting area of opportunity in protein design. A growing number of studies report novel helical peptide inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. New techniques have been developed for peptide design and for chemically stabilizing peptides in a helical conformation, which frequently improves protease resistance and cell permeability. We summarize advances in peptide crosslinking chemistry and give examples of peptide design studies targeting coiled-coil transcription factors, Bcl-2 family proteins, MDM2/MDMX, and HIV gp41, among other targets.

| S-EPMC5282971 | biostudies-literature

Phasing statistics for alpha helical membrane protein structures.

Project description:In this report we highlight the latest trends in phasing methods used to solve alpha helical membrane protein structures and analyze the use of heavy atom metals for the purpose of experimental phasing. Our results reveal that molecular replacement is emerging as the most successful method for phasing alpha helical membrane proteins, with the notable exception of the transporter family, where experimentally derived phase information still remains the most effective method. To facilitate selection of heavy atoms salts for experimental phasing an analysis of these was undertaken and indicates that organic mercury salts are still the most successful heavy atoms reagents. Interestingly the use of seleno-L-methionine incorporated protein has increased since earlier studies into membrane protein phasing, so too the use of SAD and MAD as techniques for phase determination. Taken together this study provides a brief snapshot of phasing methods for alpha helical membrane proteins and suggests possible routes for heavy atom selection and phasing methods based on currently available data.

| S-EPMC3831681 | biostudies-literature

Sibling rivalry among the ZBTB transcription factor family: homodimers versus heterodimers.

Project description:The BTB domain is an oligomerization domain found in over 300 proteins encoded in the human genome. In the family of BTB domain and zinc finger-containing (ZBTB) transcription factors, 49 members share the same protein architecture. The N-terminal BTB domain is structurally conserved among the family members and serves as the dimerization site, whereas the C-terminal zinc finger motifs mediate DNA binding. The available BTB domain structures from this family reveal a natural inclination for homodimerization. In this study, we investigated the potential for heterodimer formation in the cellular environment. We selected five BTB homodimers and four heterodimer structures. We performed cell-based binding assays with fluorescent protein-BTB domain fusions to assess dimer formation. We tested the binding of several BTB pairs, and we were able to confirm the heterodimeric physical interaction between the BTB domains of PATZ1 and PATZ2, previously reported only in an interactome mapping experiment. We also found this pair to be co-expressed in several immune system cell types. Finally, we used the available structures of BTB domain dimers and newly constructed models in extended molecular dynamics simulations (500 ns) to understand the energetic determinants of homo- and heterodimer formation. We conclude that heterodimer formation, although frequently described as less preferred than homodimers, is a possible mechanism to increase the combinatorial specificity of this transcription factor family.

| S-EPMC9468604 | biostudies-literature

Synthetic cationic peptide IDR-1018 modulates human macrophage differentiation

Project description:Synthetic, innate defense regulators (IDR) peptides, designed based on natural host defenses peptides, have enhanced immunomodulatory activities and reduced toxicity leading to protection in infection and inflammation models that is dependent on macrophages/monocytes. Here we measured the effect of IDR-1018 on macrophage gene expression during differentiation. Differentiation in the presence of IDR-1018 induced a unique signature of immune responses suggesting that IDR-1018 drives macrophage differentiation towards an intermediate M1-M2 state, enhancing anti-inflammatory functions while maintaining certain pro-inflammatory activities important to the resolution of infection.

2013-10-16 | GSE40131 | GEO

Close mimicry of lung surfactant protein B by "clicked" dimers of helical, cationic peptoids.

Project description:A family of peptoid dimers developed to mimic SP-B is presented, where two amphipathic, cationic helices are linked by an achiral octameric chain. SP-B is a vital therapeutic protein in lung surfactant replacement therapy, but its large-scale isolation or chemical synthesis is impractical. Enhanced biomimicry of SP-B's disulfide-bonded structure has been previously attempted via disulfide-mediated dimerization of SP-B(1-25) and other peptide mimics, which improved surface activity relative to the monomers. Herein, the effects of disulfide- or "click"-mediated (1,3-dipolar cycloaddition) dimerization, as well as linker chemistry, on the lipid-associated surfactant activity of a peptoid monomer are described. Results revealed that the 'clicked' peptoid dimer enhanced in vitro surface activity in a DPPC:POPG:PA lipid film relative to its disulfide-bonded and monomeric counterparts in both surface balance and pulsating bubble surfactometry studies. On the pulsating bubble surfactometer, the film containing the "clicked" peptoid dimer outperformed all presented peptoid monomers and dimers, and two SP-B derived peptides, attaining an adsorbed surface tension of 22 mN m(-1), and maximum and minimum cycling values of 42 mN m(-1) and near-zero, respectively.

| S-EPMC2860423 | biostudies-literature

Structures of AAA protein translocase Bcs1 suggest translocation mechanism of a folded protein.

Project description:The mitochondrial membrane-bound AAA protein Bcs1 translocate substrates across the mitochondrial inner membrane without previous unfolding. One substrate of Bcs1 is the iron-sulfur protein (ISP), a subunit of the respiratory Complex III. How Bcs1 translocates ISP across the membrane is unknown. Here we report structures of mouse Bcs1 in two different conformations, representing three nucleotide states. The apo and ADP-bound structures reveal a homo-heptamer and show a large putative substrate-binding cavity accessible to the matrix space. ATP binding drives a contraction of the cavity by concerted motion of the ATPase domains, which could push substrate across the membrane. Our findings shed light on the potential mechanism of translocating folded proteins across a membrane, offer insights into the assembly process of Complex III and allow mapping of human disease-associated mutations onto the Bcs1 structure.

| S-EPMC8482623 | biostudies-literature

Structures of human exonuclease 1 DNA complexes suggest a unified mechanism for nuclease family.

Project description:Human exonuclease 1 (hExo1) plays important roles in DNA repair and recombination processes that maintain genomic integrity. It is a member of the 5' structure-specific nuclease family of exonucleases and endonucleases that includes FEN-1, XPG, and GEN1. We present structures of hExo1 in complex with a DNA substrate, followed by mutagenesis studies, and propose a common mechanism by which this nuclease family recognizes and processes diverse DNA structures. hExo1 induces a sharp bend in the DNA at nicks or gaps. Frayed 5' ends of nicked duplexes resemble flap junctions, unifying the mechanisms of endo- and exonucleolytic processing. Conformational control of a mobile region in the catalytic site suggests a mechanism for allosteric regulation by binding to protein partners. The relative arrangement of substrate binding sites in these enzymes provides an elegant solution to a complex geometrical puzzle of substrate recognition and processing.

| S-EPMC3093132 | biostudies-literature

Structures suggest a mechanism for energy coupling by a family of organic anion transporters.

Project description:Members of the solute carrier 17 (SLC17) family use divergent mechanisms to concentrate organic anions. Membrane potential drives uptake of the principal excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate into synaptic vesicles, whereas closely related proteins use proton cotransport to drive efflux from the lysosome. To delineate the divergent features of ionic coupling by the SLC17 family, we determined the structure of Escherichia coli D-galactonate/H+ symporter D-galactonate transporter (DgoT) in 2 states: one open to the cytoplasmic side and the other open to the periplasmic side with substrate bound. The structures suggest a mechanism that couples H+ flux to substrate recognition. A transition in the role of H+ from flux coupling to allostery may confer regulation by trafficking to and from the plasma membrane.

| S-EPMC6532931 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data