Search results for "binding site"

Effects of alpha-melanotropin C-terminal tripeptide analogues on macrophage NO production.

2003

The C-terminal tripeptide of melanocyte-stimulating hormone, MSH (11-13) (Lys-Pro-Val), possesses strong anti-inflammatory actions, which are mediated via mechanisms that are not fully understood. To shed more light into these mechanisms we have here synthesised and evaluated the activities of L- and D-Val substituted cyclic modifications of MSH (11-13) on nitric oxide (NO) in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, as well as on binding to melanocortin receptors (MCRs) in B16-F1 and MCR expressing insect cells, and for effects on cAMP. MSH (11-13) and its analogues did neither bind to MCRs nor stimulate cAMP in RAW 264.7 and B16-F1 cells, except H-, which showed a tendency to increase cAMP at high (10…

Cops and robbers: putative evolution of copper oxygen-binding proteins.

2000

Two closely related copper proteins, phenoloxidase and haemocyanin, are known to be involved in different physiological functions such as the primary immune response and oxygen transport. Although the proteins differ structurally, they have the same active site by which dioxygen is bound. Recent results reveal that haemocyanin also exhibits phenoloxidase activity. A scenario is proposed for the evolutionary relationships among copper oxygen-binding proteins (COPs).

Physostigmine and Neuromuscular Transmission

1993

Single channel studies carried out in cultured rat myoballs and cultured hippocampal neurons, and ion flux studies performed on Torpedo electrocyte membrane vesicles, showed that physostigmine (Phy), a well-established acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, interacts directly with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Low concentrations (0.1 microM) of Phy activate the receptor integral channel, whereas higher concentrations blocked the channel in its opened state. In contrast to channel activation by acetylcholine (ACh) and classical cholinergic agonists, however, Phy was capable of activating the nAChR channel even when the ACh binding sites were blocked by competitive antagonists, such as …

Photoaffinity labeling of Torpedo acetylcholine receptor by physostigmine.

1993

The plant alkaloid physostigmine, an established anti-cholinesterase agent of the carbamate type, has recently been shown to bind to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo marmorata electrocytes [Okonjo, K. O., Kuhlmann, J.Maelicke, A. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 200, 671-677]. Pharmacological studies of physostigmine-induced ion flux into nicotinic-acetylcholine-receptor-rich membrane vesicles, indicated distinct binding sites for physostigmine and acetylcholine. As shown in this study by photoaffinity labeling with [phenyl-(n)-3H](-)physostigmine, the physostigmine-binding site is located within the same subunit (alpha polypeptide) of the receptor as the acetylcholine-binding site.…

The fungal elicitor cryptogein is a sterol carrier protein

1997

AbstractCryptogein is a protein secreted by the phytopathogenic pseudo-fungus, Phytophthora cryptogea. It is a basic 10 kDa hydrophilic protein having a hydrophobic pocket and three disulfide bridges. These common features with sterol carrier proteins led us to investigate its possible sterol transfer activity using the fluorescent sterol, dehydroergosterol. The results show that cryptogein has one binding site with strong affinity for dehydroergosterol. Moreover, this protein catalyzes the transfer of sterols between phospholipidic artificial membranes. This is the first evidence for the existence of an extracellular sterol carrier protein and for a molecular activity of cryptogein. This p…

Identification of a plasminogen-binding motif in PAM, a bacterial surface protein.

1995

Surface-associated plasmin(ogen) may contribute to the invasive properties of various cells. Analysis of plasmin(ogen)-binding surface proteins is therefore of interest. The N-terminal variable regions of M-like (ML) proteins from five different group A streptococcal serotypes (33, 41, 52, 53 and 56) exhibiting the plasminogen-binding phenotype were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant proteins all bound plasminogen with high affinity. The binding involved the kringle domains of plasminogen and was blocked by a lysine analogue, 6-aminohexanoic acid, indicating that lysine residues in the M-like proteins participate in the interaction. Sequence analysis revealed that the…

Highly selective and sensitive chromo-fluorogenic detection of the Tetryl explosive using functional silica nanoparticles

2011

Silica nanoparticles containing polyamines and thiol groups have been used as probes for the selective detection of Tetryl. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Oxidative Addition of Halogens on Open Metal Sites in a Microporous Spin-Crossover Coordination Polymer

2009

l-Glutamate receptor binding in bovine retina

1982

Using a centrifugation technique saturable specific [ 3 H]glutamate binding in bovine retina could be demonstrated. Scatchard analysis revealed only one population of binding sites with a dissociation constant of about 3 μ m and a maximal number of binding sites of about 0·2 pmol/mg retinal protein. Several glutamic acid analogues inhibit specific [ 3 H]glutamate binding in bovine retina with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations similar to those reported in other areas of the CNS. Specific [ 3 H]glutamate binding and sodium dependent synaptosomal uptake of glutamate are largely concentrated in the P2 fraction of bovine retina homogenates consisting of conventionally sized synaptosomes. Th…

Pressure-Induced Binding Sites in Molecularly Imprinted Network Polymers

1997

Molecular imprinting in network polymers under high pressure was studied as a means of inducing selective binding sites for molecular recognition. Network polymers of methacrylic acid and ethylene ...