Search results for "beta"
showing 10 items of 3374 documents
Insights into the determinants of ��-sheet stability: 1H and 13C���NMR conformational investigation of three-stranded antiparallel ��-sheet-forming p…
2008
In a previous study we designed a 20-residue peptide able to adopt a significant population of a three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet in aqueous solution (de Alba et al. [1999]Protein Sci.8, 854-865). In order to better understand the factors contributing to beta-sheet folding and stability we designed and prepared nine variants of the parent peptide by substituting residues at selected positions in its strands. The ability of these peptides to form the target motif was assessed on the basis of NMR parameters, in particular NOE data and 13Calpha conformational shifts. The populations of the target beta-sheet motif were lower in the variants than in the parent peptide. Comparative analysis…
Fast determination of prominent carotenoids in tomato fruits by CEC using methacrylate ester-based monolithic columns.
2007
In this study, the major carotenoids (beta-carotene and lycopene) present in tomato fruits were analyzed by CEC with a methacrylate ester-based monolithic column. The effects of the porogenic solvent ratio, and the hydrophobicity of bulk monomer employed were examined on carotenoids separations. A fast separation of these analytes was achieved in less than 5.0 min in a mobile phase containing 35% THF, 30% ACN, 30% methanol, and 5% of a 5 mM Tris aqueous buffer, pH 8, with lauryl methacrylate-based monoliths. The CEC method was evaluated in terms of detection limit and reproducibility (retention time, area, and column preparation) with values below 1.6 microg/mL and 7.2%, respectively. The p…
Role of hexagonal structure-forming lipids in diadinoxanthin and violaxanthin solubilization and de-epoxidation
2005
In this study, we have examined the influence of different lipids on the solubility of the xanthophyll cycle pigments diadinoxanthin (Ddx) and violaxanthin (Vx) and on the efficiency of Ddx and Vx de-epoxidation by the enzymes Vx de-epoxidase (VDE) from wheat and Ddx de-epoxidase (DDE) from the diatom Cyclotella meneghiniana, respectively. Our results show that the lipids MGDG and PE are able to solubilize both xanthophyll cycle pigments in an aqueous medium. Substrate solubilization is essential for de-epoxidase activity, because in the absence of MGDG or PE Ddx and Vx are present in an aggregated form, with limited accessibility for DDE and VDE. Our results also show that the hexagonal st…
Synthesis, crystal structure and molecular conformation of the tBuCO-D,L-Ala-Δz-Phe-NhiPr α,β-unsaturated dipeptide
2009
The crystal structure of the tBuCO-D,L-Ala-delta Z-Phe-NHiPr dipeptide has been solved by X-ray diffraction. The peptide crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 13.445 (3) A, b = 35.088 (4) A, c = 14.755 (3) A, beta = 116.73 (1) degree, Z = 12 and dc = 1.151 g.cm-3. The three independent molecules per asymmetric unit accommodate a beta II-folded conformation, but only one of them contains the typical i + 3----i interaction characterizing a beta-turn. In the other two molecules, the N...O distance exceeds 3.2 A, a value generally considered the upper limit for hydrogen bonds in peptides. In solution, the beta II-turn conformation is largely predominant.
Estimation of the density of the protocatechuate-degrading bacterial community in soil by real-time PCR
2008
Summary The β-ketoadipate pathway is the major route for degradation of aromatic compounds by various soil microorganisms. Protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase, a key enzyme of this pathway and which is encoded by pcaGH genes, catalyses the ring cleavage of protocatechuate. Microorganisms harbouring pcaGH genes are widely distributed in the environment but little is known about their relative abundance within the total microflora. Hence, this paper reports the development of a real-time PCR assay to quantify the bacterial pcaH sequence that encodes the β sub-unit of the protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase. This real-time PCR assay was linear over seven orders of magnitude with a calculated efficienc…
Molecular Design of the Cαβ Interface Favors Specific Pairing of Introduced TCRαβ in Human T Cells
2008
Abstract A promising approach to adoptive transfer therapy of tumors is to reprogram autologous T lymphocytes by TCR gene transfer of defined Ag specificity. An obstacle, however, is the undesired pairing of introduced TCRα- and TCRβ-chains with the endogenous TCR chains. These events vary depending on the individual endogenous TCR and they not only may reduce the levels of cell surface-introduced TCR but also may generate hybrid TCR with unknown Ag specificities. We show that such hybrid heterodimers can be generated even by the pairing of human and mouse TCRα- and TCRβ-chains. To overcome this hurdle, we have identified a pair of amino acid residues in the crystal structure of a TCR that …
O-linked mannose composition of secreted invertase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
1989
The secreted invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a glycoenzyme that contains N- and O-linked mannoses in 40/1 proportion. The small amount of mannose chains O-linked to invertase is distributed as follows: mannose (20%), mannobiose (50%), mannotriose (6%), mannotetraose (7%) and mannopentaose (17%).
Calculation of the molecular masses of two newly synthesized thermostable enzymes isolated from thermophilic microorganisms
1995
Two thermostable enzymes synthesized by thermophilic microorganisms were isolated and purified. A thermostable beta-galactosidase was produced in a continuous fermentation process by Bacillus stearothermophilus TP 32 as an intracellular enzyme. After applying different concentration procedures the raw extract enzyme was prepurified on a Sephadex G-200 size exclusion column. The isolated beta-galactosidase fraction was then separated with HPLC on a TSK G 3000 SW size exclusion column to determine the molecular mass based on calibration curves of standard proteins. The other enzyme, a thermostable protease, was synthesized by Bacillus stearothermophilus TP 26 as an extracellular enzyme. After…
Impact of Reactive Oxygen Species on the Expression of Adhesion Molecules in Vivo
2008
Many non-surgical tumor treatments induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which result in cell damage. This study investigated the impact of ROS induction on the expression of adhesion molecules and whether alpha-tocopherol pre-treatment could have a protective effect. Experimental rat DS-sarcomas were treated with a combination of localized 44 degrees C-hyperthermia, inspiratory hyperoxia and xanthine oxidase which together lead to a pronounced ROS induction. Further animals were pre-treated with alpha-tocopherol. The in vivo expression of E- and N-cadherin, alpha-catenin, integrins alpha v, beta 3 and beta 5 as well as of the integrin dimer alpha v beta 3 was assessed by flow cytometry. The…
De-epoxidation of Violaxanthin after Reconstitution into Different Carotenoid Binding Sites of Light-harvesting Complex II
2001
In higher plants, the de-epoxidation of violaxanthin (Vx) to antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin is required for the pH-dependent dissipation of excess light energy as heat and by that process plays an important role in the protection against photo-oxidative damage. The de-epoxidation reaction was investigated in an in vitro system using reconstituted light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) and a thylakoid raw extract enriched in the enzyme Vx de-epoxidase. Reconstitution of LHCII with varying carotenoids was performed to replace lutein and/or neoxanthin, which are bound to the native complex, by Vx. Recombinant LHCII containing either 2 lutein and 1 Vx or 1.6 Vx and 1.1 neoxanthin or 2.8 Vx per mono…