Search results for "Endopeptidases"
showing 10 items of 285 documents
Preferential induction of 20S proteasome subunits during elicitation of plant defense reactions: towards the characterization of "plant defense prote…
2003
Plants have evolved efficient mechanisms to resist pathogens. The earliest defense response is the hypersensitive response (HR) considered as the main step leading to plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR) that protects the whole plant against a large spectrum of pathogens. We showed previously that elicitation of defense reactions in tobacco cells by cryptogein, a proteinaceous elicitor of plant defense reactions, leads to a rapid and differential accumulation of transcripts corresponding to genes encoding defense-induced (din) subunits of 20S proteasome: beta1din, alpha3din and alpha6din.Here, expression of these three subunits was investigated by Northern blotting and by Western blotti…
Proteases, Protease-Activated Receptors, and Atherosclerosis
2018
Coagulation activation by the TF (tissue factor) pathway plays pivotal roles in triggering platelets and precipitating acute coronary syndromes. Although dual antiplatelet therapy is effective in secondary cardiovascular prevention, combining platelet antagonism with low-dose aspirin and the oral coagulation FXa antagonist rivaroxaban has a synergistic clinical benefit over monotherapy in preventing the composite outcome of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction.1 It is, therefore, of considerable interest to understand the roles of coagulation proteases and their cell signaling effects in the development of atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation. Acute thrombosis in anim…
Progranulin overexpression in sensory neurons attenuates neuropathic pain in mice: Role of autophagy
2016
Peripheral or central nerve injury is a frequent cause of chronic pain and the mechanisms are not fully understood. Using newly generated transgenic mice we show that progranulin overexpression in sensory neurons attenuates neuropathic pain after sciatic nerve injury and accelerates nerve healing. A yeast-2-hybrid screen revealed putative interactions of progranulin with autophagy-related proteins, ATG12 and ATG4b. This was supported by colocalization and proteomic studies showing regulations of ATG13 and ATG4b and other members of the autophagy network, lysosomal proteins and proteins involved in endocytosis. The association of progranulin with the autophagic pathway was functionally confi…
Development of Novel Peptide-Based Michael Acceptors Targeting Rhodesain and Falcipain-2 for the Treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
2017
This paper describes the development of a class of peptide-based inhibitors as novel antitrypanosomal and antimalarial agents. The inhibitors are based on a characteristic peptide sequence for the inhibition of the cysteine proteases rhodesain of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and falcipain-2 of Plasmodium falciparum. We exploited the reactivity of novel unsaturated electrophilic functions such as vinyl-sulfones, -ketones, -esters, and -nitriles. The Michael acceptors inhibited both rhodesain and falcipain-2, at nanomolar and micromolar levels, respectively. In particular, the vinyl ketone 3b has emerged as a potent rhodesain inhibitor (k2nd = 67 × 106 M-1 min-1), endowed with a picomolar b…
In silico drug discovery of major metabolites from spices as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors
2020
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious illness caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), originally identified in Wuhan, China (December 2019) and has since expanded into a pandemic. Here, we investigate metabolites present in several common spices as possible inhibitors of COVID-19. Specifically, 32 compounds isolated from 14 cooking seasonings were examined as inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), which is required for viral multiplication. Using a drug discovery approach to identify possible antiviral leads, in silico molecular docking studies were performed. Docking calculations revealed a high potency of salvianolic acid A and curcu…
Nuclear Translocation of RELB Is Increased in Diseased Human Liver and Promotes Ductular Reaction and Biliary Fibrosis in Mice.
2019
Background & Aims Cholangiocyte proliferation and ductular reaction contribute to the onset and progression of liver diseases. Little is known about the role of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in this process. We investigated the activities of the RELB proto-oncogene NF-κB subunit in human cholangiocytes and in mouse models of liver disease characterized by a ductular reaction. Methods We obtained liver tissue samples from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis, hepatitis B or C virus infection, autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, or without these diseases (controls) from a tissue bank in Germany. Tissues were analyzed by immu…
Endothelial Dab1 signaling orchestrates neuro-glia-vessel communication in the central nervous system.
2018
Developing the bloodbrain barrier During development, signals need to be dynamically integrated by endothelial cells, neurons, and glia to achieve functional neuro-glia-vascular units in the central nervous system. During cortical development, neuronal Dab1 and ApoER2 receptors respond to a guidance cue called reelin. Studying mice, Segarra et al. found that Dab1 and ApoER2 are also expressed in endothelial cells (see the Perspective by Thomas). The integration of reelin signaling in endothelial cells and neurons facilitates the communication between vessels, glia, and neurons that is necessary for the correct positioning of neurons during cortical development. This integration is also impo…
Cardiac electrical defects in progeroid mice and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome patients with nuclear lamina alterations
2016
This work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) Grants SAF2010-16044 and SAF2013-46663-R (to V.A.), SAF2011-30312 and SAF2014-58286-C2-1-R (to L.H.-M.), SAF2011-30088 (to E.D.), and SAF2014-52413-R (to C.L.-O.) and Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III Grants RD12/0042/0028 (to V.A.), RD12/0042/0011 (to J.T.), and RD12/0042/0002 (to L.H.-M.), with cofunding from the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional and the Progeria Research Foundation. J.A.G. is the recipient of a U-Mobility Grant from the Marie Curie cofunding of Regional, National and International Programme (Grant 246550). The Instituto Universitario de Oncología is sup…
Repurposing a Library of Human Cathepsin L Ligands: Identification of Macrocyclic Lactams as Potent Rhodesain and Trypanosoma brucei Inhibitors.
2018
Rhodesain (RD) is a parasitic, human cathepsin L (hCatL) like cysteine protease produced by Trypanosoma brucei (T. b.) species and a potential drug target for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). A library of hCatL inhibitors was screened, and macrocyclic lactams were identified as potent RD inhibitors (Ki < 10 nM), preventing the cell-growth of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (IC50 < 400 nM). SARs addressing the S2 and S3 pockets of RD were established. Three cocrystal structures with RD revealed a noncovalent binding mode of this ligand class due to oxidation of the catalytic Cys25 to a sulfenic acid (Cys–SOH) during crystallization. The P-glycoprotein efflux ratio was mea…
The Use and Abuse of LexA by Mobile Genetic Elements
2016
The SOS response is an essential process for responding to DNA damage in bacteria. The expression of SOS genes is under the control of LexA, a global transcription factor that undergoes self-cleavage during stress to allow the expression of DNA repair functions and delay cell division until the damage is rectified. LexA also regulates genes that are not part of this cell rescue program, and the induction of bacteriophages, the movement of pathogenicity islands, and the expression of virulence factors and bacteriocins are all controlled by this important transcription factor. Recently it has emerged that when regulating the expression of genes from mobile genetic elements (MGEs), LexA often …