Search results for "CONSERVE"
showing 10 items of 127 documents
The Structure of Rauvolfia serpentina Strictosidine Synthase Is a Novel Six-Bladed β-Propeller Fold in Plant Proteins
2006
Abstract The enzyme strictosidine synthase (STR1) from the Indian medicinal plant Rauvolfia serpentina is of primary importance for the biosynthetic pathway of the indole alkaloid ajmaline. Moreover, STR1 initiates all biosynthetic pathways leading to the entire monoterpenoid indole alkaloid family representing an enormous structural variety of ∼2000 compounds in higher plants. The crystal structures of STR1 in complex with its natural substrates tryptamine and secologanin provide structural understanding of the observed substrate preference and identify residues lining the active site surface that contact the substrates. STR1 catalyzes a Pictet-Spengler–type reaction and represents a novel…
Two α subunits and one β subunit of meprin zinc-endopeptidases are differentially expressed in the zebrafish Danio rerio
2007
Abstract Meprins are members of the astacin family of metalloproteases expressed in epithelial tissues, intestinal leukocytes and certain cancer cells. In mammals, there are two homologous subunits, which form complex glycosylated disulfide-bonded homo- and heterooligomers. Both human meprin α and meprin β cleave several basement membrane components, suggesting a role in epithelial differentiation and cell migration. There is also evidence that meprin β is involved in immune defence owing to its capability of activating interleukin-1β and the diminished mobility of intestinal leukocytes in meprin β-knockout mice. Here we show for the first time by reverse transcription PCR, immunoblotting a…
A Globin Gene of Ancient Evolutionary Origin in Lower Vertebrates: Evidence for Two Distinct Globin Families in Animals
2004
Hemoglobin, myoglobin, neuroglobin, and cytoglobin are four types of vertebrate globins with distinct tissue distributions and functions. Here, we report the identification of a fifth and novel globin gene from fish and amphibians, which has apparently been lost in the evolution of higher vertebrates (Amniota). Because its function is presently unknown, we tentatively call it globin X (GbX). Globin X sequences were obtained from three fish species, the zebrafish Danio rerio, the goldfish Carassius auratus, and the pufferfish Tetraodon nigroviridis, and the clawed frog Silurana tropicalis. Globin X sequences are distinct from vertebrate hemoglobins, myoglobins, neuroglobins, and cytoglobins.…
Conserved Structure and Promoter Sequence Similarity in the Mouse and Human Genes Encoding the Zinc Finger Factor BERF-1/BFCOL1/ZBP-89
2001
Abstract We have characterized the genomic structure of the mouse Zfp148 gene encoding Beta-Enolase Repressor Factor-1 (BERF-1), a Kruppel-like zinc finger protein involved in the transcriptional regulation of several genes, which is also termed ZBP-89, BFCOL1. The cloned Zfp148 gene spans 110 kb of genomic DNA encompassing the 5′-end region, 9 exons, 8 introns, and the 3′-untranslated region. The promoter region displays the typical features of a housekeeping gene: a high G+C content and the absence of canonical TATA and CAAT boxes consistent with the multiple transcription initiation sites determined by primary extension analysis. Computer-assisted search in the human genome database allo…
The hemoglobin genes of Drosophila
2006
We recently reported the unprecedented occurrence of a hemoglobin gene (glob1) in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Here we investigate the structure and evolution of the glob1 gene in other Drosophila species. We cloned and sequenced glob1 genes and cDNA from D. pseudoobscura and D. virilis, and identified the glob1 gene sequences of D. simulans, D. yakuba, D. erecta, D. ananassae, D. mojavensis and D. grimshawi in the databases. Gene structure (introns in helix positions D7.0 and G7.0), gene synteny and sequence of glob1 are highly conserved, with high ds/dn ratios indicating strong purifying selection. The data suggest an important role of the glob1 protein in Drosophila, which may b…
Comparative genomic sequencing reveals a strikingly similar architecture of a conserved syntenic region on human chromosome 11p15.3 (including gene S…
2001
Comparative genomics is a superior way to identify phylogenetically conserved features like genes or regions involved in gene regulation. The comparison of extended orthologous chromosomal regions should also reveal other characteristic traits essential for chromosome or gene function. In the present study we have sequenced and compared a region of conserved synteny from human chromosome 11p15.3 and mouse chromosome 7. In human, this region is known to contain several genes involved in the development of various disorders like Beckwith-Wiedemann overgrowth syndrome and other tumor diseases. Furthermore, in the neighboring chromosome region 11p15.5 extensive imprinting of genes has been repo…
Discovery and molecular characterization of a plasmid localized in Buchnera sp. bacterial endosymbiont of the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi
1995
We have identified and completely sequenced a novel plasmid isolated from the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi. Evidence which suggests that the plasmid occurs localized within the bacterial endosymbionts is presented. The plasmid contains the four genes that constitute the entire leucine operon. This fact makes it really unique since most plasmids are dispensable and lack genes that encode essential anabolic functions. Four more phloem-feeding aphid species also seem to contain homologous plasmids. Although further work is necessary, we hypothesize that this plasmid has appeared during the evolution of the symbiotic association between the aphid and the bacterial endosymbiont. The fact that this p…
Modification of the proteolytic fragmentation pattern upon oxidation of cysteines from ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase.
2003
The proteolytic susceptibility of the native CO 2 -fixing photosynthetic enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39, Rubisco) has been shown to increase in vitro after oxidative treatments that affect cysteine thiols. A limited incubation of oxidized (pretreated with the disulfide cystamine) Rubisco from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with subtilisin or proteinase K generated fragments of molecular mass about 53 kDa (band I in SDS-PAGE) and 47 kDa (band II) derived from the large subunit (55 kDa) of the enzyme. In contrast, proteolysis of the reduced Rubisco (pretreated with the free thiol cysteamine) produced only the 53 kDa band. The same fragmentation pattern was repr…
Heat diffusion in the disordered electron gas
2015
We study the thermal conductivity of the disordered two-dimensional electron gas. To this end we analyze the heat density-heat density correlation function concentrating on the scattering processes induced by the Coulomb interaction in the sub-temperature energy range. These scattering processes are at the origin of logarithmic corrections violating the Wiedemann-Franz law. Special care is devoted to the definition of the heat density in the presence of the long-range Coulomb interaction. To clarify the structure of the correlation function, we present details of a perturbative calculation. While the conservation of energy strongly constrains the general form of the heat density-heat densit…
Delocalization-Localization Transition due to Anharmonicity
2008
Analytical and numerical calculations for a reduced Fermi-Pasta-Ulam chain demonstrate that energy localization does not require more than one conserved quantity. Clear evidence for the existence of a sharp delocalization-localization transition at a critical amplitude is given. Approaching the critical amplitude from above and below, diverging time scales occur. Above the critical amplitude, the energy packet converges towards a discrete breather. Nevertheless, ballistic energy transportation is present, demonstrating that its existence does not necessarily imply delocalization.