Project description:Proteomic analysis of Connaught Tuberculin 68 (PPD-CT68), a tuberculin preparation generated froM. tuberculosis, was carried out in this study. PPD-CT68 is the protein component of a commercially available tuberculin preparation, Tubersol, which is used for tuberculin skin testing. Using a high resolution LTQ-Orbitrap Velos mass spectrometer, we identified 265 different proteins. The identified proteins were compared with those identified from PPD M. bovis, PPD M. avium and PPD-S2 from previous mass spectrometry-based studies. In all, 142 proteins were fo PPDs (i.e. proteins in either PPD-CT68 or PPD-S2), 37 proteins were found to be shared with M. avium PPD and 80 were shared with M. bovis PPD. Alignment of PPD-CT68 proteins with proteins encoded by 24 lung infecting bacteria revealed a number of similar proteins (206 bacterial proteins shared epitopes with 47 PPD-CT68 proteins), which could potentially be involved in causing cross-reactivity
Project description:Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) transcripts are subject to degradation by at least two host-mediated nuclear RNA decay pathways, PABPN1 and PAPα/γ-mediated RNA decay (PPD) and an ARS2-dependent decay pathway. KSHV expresses the multifunctional protein ORF57, which increases viral transcripts stability by protecting them preferentially from ARS2-dependent decay. However, a subset of viral transcripts succumb to PPD even in the presence of ORF57, but the role of PPD during KSHV infection is not completely understood. We inactivated both decay pathways using siRNA and monitored their contribution to viral gene expression in the presence of ORF57 by RNA-Seq at 24 hours post induction (hpi). Inactivation of PPD, but not ARS2-mediated decay, results in aberrant accumulation of late transcripts, which are typically expressed at 48 hpi. PPD exerts its functions post-transcriptionally as the upregulation of late genes is independent of viral transactivation factors needed for their expression. Remarkably, at their proper time of expression, PPD inactivation has no effect on late transcripts. We further show that PPD evasion by late transcripts requires the host factor NRDE2. In conclusion, our studies show that KSHV uses PPD to fine-tune the temporal expression of its genes by preventing their premature accumulation.
Project description:PAZ/PIWI-domain (PPD) proteins carrying small RNAs (sRNAs) function in gene and genome regulation. The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila encodes numerous PPD proteins exclusively of the Piwi clade. We show that the three Tetrahymena Piwi-family proteins (Twis) preferentially expressed in growing cells differ in their genetic essentiality and subcellular localization. Affinity purification of all eight distinct Twi proteins revealed unique properties of their bound sRNAs. Deep sequencing of Twi-bound and total sRNAs in strains disrupted for various silencing machinery uncovered an unanticipated diversity of 23-24 nt sRNA classes in growing cells, each with distinct genetic requirements for accumulation. Altogether Twis distinguish sRNAs derived from loci of pseudogene families, three types of DNA repeats, structured RNAs, and EST-supported loci with convergent or paralogous transcripts. Most surprisingly, Twi7 binds complementary strands of unequal length while Twi10 binds a specific permutation of the guanosine-rich telomeric repeat. These studies greatly expand the structural and functional repertoire of endogenous sRNAs and RNPs.
Project description:p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a strong contact allergen used in hair dye that is known to cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). We investigated the effects of PPD exposure on the skin of occupationally exposed subjects with and without clinical symptoms.
Project description:Cassava is the most important root crop in the tropics but rapid post-harvest physiological root deterioration (PPD) is a major constraint to commercial cassava production. We used label-free quantitative proteomics to generate an extensive cassava root and PPD proteome. Over 2400 unique proteins were identified in the cassava root and nearly 300 proteins showed significant abundance regulation during PPD. A candidate gene for reducing PPD was identified from the regulated proteins with enzymatic assays and afterwards verified with a transgene approach. This demonstrates the relevance of proteomics approach for crop improvements.
Project description:Global transcriptome analyses provide an excellent basis for the identification and definition of biomarkers with high relevance in infection processes, therapeutic intervention and protective immunity. The measurement applies three different state of the art transcriptomic technologies for global expression profiling to vaccine development. Different microarray platforms in conjunct to next generation sequencing (NGS) will build the basis for comparative approaches, such as up-down classification and correlation coefficients. This measurement is based on Agilent microarrays and a clinical trial phase Ia study with M. bovis BCG vaccination, using two different tuberculin skin test (PPD negative and PPD positive) groups. • Surrogate measurement using PBMCs • 4 time points: d0 (naïve, pre-immunization) and d29, d57, d180 post m. bovis BCG immunization • Responses of PPD negative and PPD positive study groups • Group size of approximately 9 individuals European network of vaccine research and development (TRANSVAC)
Project description:20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) and 20(S)-Protopanaxatriol (PPT) are major metabolites of ginseng in humans and are considered to have estrogenic activity in cellular bioassays. In this study, we conducted in silico analyses to determine whether PPD and PPT interact with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and compared them with ERα agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists to identify their ERα activity.
Project description:The timing of reproductive development determines spike architecture and thus yield in temperate grasses such as barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Reproductive development in barley is controlled by the photoperiod response gene Ppd-H1 which accelerates flowering time under long-day (LD) conditions. A natural mutation in Ppd-H1 prevalent in spring barley causes a reduced photoperiod response, and thus, late flowering under LD. However, it is not very well understood how LD and Ppd-H1 control pre-anthesis development, and thus spike architecture and yield in barley. We performed a detailed morphological analysis of the pre-anthesis development in the spring barley cultivar Scarlett and its wild barley derived introgression line S42-IL107, carrying the photoperiod responsive Ppd-H1 allele. Characterization of shoot apex development in these genotypes indicated that floral transition and initiation of floral primordia occurred under LD (16h light/ 8h dark) and short day (SD, 8h light/ 16h dark) conditions, while inflorescence and seed development strictly required LDs. Additionally, a fast photoperiod response in the presence of the dominant Ppd-H1 allele promoted floret fertility under LDs. To characterize the effects of the photoperiod and allelic variation at Ppd-H1 on gene expression during pre-anthesis development we performed RNA sequencing of leaves and developing main shoot apices during the vegetative phase and early stages of inflorescence development in Scarlett and S42-IL107 grown under SD and LD conditions. Main shoot apices of both genotypes were sampled at defined developmental stages, i.e. Waddington stage W0.5, W1.0, W2.0 and W3.5, respectively. Leaf samples were harvested from plants before (W1.0) and after floral transition (W2.0). We identified genes that were specifically regulated at floral transition independent of day-length and Ppd-H1 and thus may serve as markers for the staging of floral transition. Furthermore, we identified transcripts differentially expressed between photoperiods and between genotypes in leaves and in shoot apices. This set of transcripts might act as candidates downstream of Ppd-H1 and are correlated with the promotion of shoot apex development and higher floret fertility under LD and in the presence of the photoperiod responsive Ppd-H1 allele.
Project description:PAZ/PIWI-domain (PPD) proteins carrying small RNAs (sRNAs) function in gene and genome regulation. The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila encodes numerous PPD proteins exclusively of the Piwi clade. We show that the three Tetrahymena Piwi-family proteins (Twis) preferentially expressed in growing cells differ in their genetic essentiality and subcellular localization. Affinity purification of all eight distinct Twi proteins revealed unique properties of their bound sRNAs. Deep sequencing of Twi-bound and total sRNAs in strains disrupted for various silencing machinery uncovered an unanticipated diversity of 23-24 nt sRNA classes in growing cells, each with distinct genetic requirements for accumulation. Altogether Twis distinguish sRNAs derived from loci of pseudogene families, three types of DNA repeats, structured RNAs, and EST-supported loci with convergent or paralogous transcripts. Most surprisingly, Twi7 binds complementary strands of unequal length while Twi10 binds a specific permutation of the guanosine-rich telomeric repeat. These studies greatly expand the structural and functional repertoire of endogenous sRNAs and RNPs. 11 libraries were analyzed. 5 are total sRNA (from knockout strains or WT background strains), and 6 are Argonaute-bound sRNA