Corrigendum to “Synaptic release of zinc from brain slices: Factors governing release, imaging, and accurate calculation of concentration” [J. Neurosci. Meth. 154 (2006) 19–29]

Conformational investigations of bis(α-aminoalkyl)phosphinic acids and studies of the stability of their complexes with Cu(II)

Abstract Conformational investigations of a group of bis(α-aminoalkyl)phosphinic acids were performed by use of NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. In the case of one of the studied compounds, substituted with aminobenzyl and amino(p-chlorobenzyl) moieties, a pH-dependent equilibrium between conformers, stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds was observed. Potentiometric studies proved that these molecules formed stable complexes with copper(II) ions, where stoichiometry was 1:1 and 1:2 depending on pH of their aqueous solution.

Influence of solvents on conformation of dehydropeptides

Abstract Structural investigations of dehydropeptides containing (Z)-dehydrophenylalanine in solvents characterized by different polarity are discussed. The conformational analysis are based on spectroscopic methods (NMR, CD), molecular modeling techniques and in case of the tripeptide, ab initio methods. The results of temperature experiment indicate, that the only conformation of the investigated hexapeptide 3 is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Depending on the length of the peptide chain, the polarity of solvent influences on arrangement of the side chain of the amino acids or of the main chain of the peptide.

Unnatural amino acids increase activity and specificity of synthetic substrates for human and malarial cathepsin C

Mammalian cathepsin C is primarily responsible for the removal of N-terminal dipeptides and activation of several serine proteases in inflammatory or immune cells, while its malarial parasite ortholog dipeptidyl aminopeptidase 1 plays a crucial role in catabolizing the hemoglobin of its host erythrocyte. In this report, we describe the systematic substrate specificity analysis of three cathepsin C orthologs from Homo sapiens (human), Bos taurus (bovine) and Plasmodium falciparum (malaria parasite). Here, we present a new approach with a tailored fluorogenic substrate library designed and synthesized to probe the S1 and S2 pocket preferences of these enzymes with both natural and a broad ran…

Isolation of carcinoembryonic antigen N-terminal domains (N-A1) from soluble aggregates

Abstract Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was identified as a prominent tumor-associated antigen in human colorectal cancer and it is still intensively investigated. However, its physiological role remains unclear. The CEA molecule is composed of seven highly hydrophobic, immunoglobulin-like domains, six of which contain a single disulphide bridge. The production of recombinant protein containing Ig-like domains in bacterial expression systems often results in partial degradation or insolubility due to aggregation hampering the analysis of their native structure and function. Here, we present a new method of expression and purification of CEA N-terminal domains (N-A1) fused to MBP in Escheric…

Conformational studies of hexapeptides containing two dehydroamino acid residues in positions 3 and 5 in peptide chain

Abstract Synthesis and structural studies of hexapeptides containing two dehydroamino acid residues in positions 3 and 5 in a peptide chain were performed. All the investigated peptides adopted bent conformations, stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding, and could exist as two different conformers in solution. Only in the case of the peptide containing ΔAla residues, expected 3 10 -helical conformation was found.

Conformational studies of hexapeptides containing two dehydroamino acid residues in positions 2 and 5 in peptide chain

Conformational preferences of a group of hexapeptides containing two dehydroamino acid residues in Positions 2 and 5 in peptide chain were investigated by means of spectroscopic methods (NMR and CD) and theoretical calculations. In the case of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution, only peptide with free N-termini adopted rigid 310-helical conformation, for the rest of examined peptides extended and “zig-zag” conformers were predominant. CD measurements showed that only in chloroform solution the conformational freedom of investigated peptides was restricted. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 89: 691–699, 2008. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “…