Search results for "binding"

Functional analysis of the classical, alternative, and MBL pathways of the complement system: standardization and validation of a simple ELISA.

2004

Primary defence against invading microorganisms depends on a functional innate immune system and the complement system plays a major role in such immunity. Deficiencies in one of the components of the complement system can cause severe and recurrent infections, systemic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and renal disease. Screening for complement deficiencies in the classical or alternative complement pathways has mainly been performed by haemolytic assays. Here, we describe a simple ELISA-based format for the evaluation of three pathways of complement activation. The assays are based on specific coatings for each pathway in combination with specific buffer systems. We ha…

Poly-Gly Region Regulates the Accessibility of Metal Binding Sites in Snake Venom Peptides

2022

It is supposed that the presence of poly-His regions in close proximity to poly-Gly domains in snake venoms is related to their biological activity; poly-His/poly-Gly (pHpG) peptides inhibit the activity of metalloproteinases during venom storage via the chelation metal ions, necessary for their proper functioning. This work shows that only the histidyl residues from the N-terminal VDHDHDH motif (but not from the poly-His tag) were the primary Zn(II) binding sites and that the poly-Gly domain situated in the proximity of a central proline residue may play a regulatory role in venom gland protection. The proline induces a kink of the peptide, resulting in steric hindrance, which may modulate…

Addressing selectivity criteria in binding equilibria

2012

Abstract Chemical systems, in particular those involving biological and environmental backgrounds, develop through selective processes which are determined by multiple equilibria. Several methods that have been developed to assess thermodynamic selectivity in binding equilibria, including the analysis of selectivity coefficients, the use of calculated species distribution diagrams, selectivity diagrams, and conditional stability constants, are reviewed in this paper with reference to examples mainly related to chemical systems of biological and/or environmental concern. Also the concept of binding affinity has been dealt with, since binding selectivity in equilibrium systems relates to the …

Weak interactions between trivalent pnictogen centers: computational analysis of bonding in dimers X3E...EX3 (E = pnictogen, X = halogen).

2009

The nature of weak interactions in dimers X(3)E...EX(3) (E = N-Bi, X = F-I) was investigated by wave function and density functional theory (DFT)-based methods. Out of the 20 systems studied, 10 are found to be bound at the CP-MP2 and LMP2 levels of theory. Detailed partition of the interaction energy into different components revealed that dispersion is the primary force holding the dimers together but there also exists an important ionic component whose contribution increases with increasing halogen size. As expected, standard density functionals fail to describe bonding in the studied systems. However, the performance of DFT methods can be easily improved via empirical dispersion correct…

On the G‐Quadruplex Binding of a New Class of Nickel(II), Copper(II), and Zinc(II) Salphen‐Like Complexes

2021

Cavitands incorporating a Lewis acid dinickel chelate function as receptors for halide anions.

2015

The halide binding properties of the cavitand [Ni2(L(Me2H4))](2+) (4) are reported. Cavitand 4 exhibits a chelating N3Ni(μ-S)2NiN3 moiety with two square-pyramidal Ni(II)N3S2 units situated in an anion binding pocket of ∼4 Å diameter formed by the organic backbone of the (L(Me2H4))(2-) macrocycle. The receptor reacts with fluoride, chloride (in MeCN/MeOH), and bromide (in MeCN) ions to afford an isostructural series of halogenido-bridged complexes [Ni2(L(Me2H4))(μ-Hal)](+) (Hal = F(-) (5), Cl(-) (6), and Br(-) (7)) featuring a N3Ni(μ-S)2(μ-Hal)NiN3 core structure. No reaction occurs with iodide or other polyatomic anions (ClO4(-), NO3(-), HCO3(-), H2PO4(-), HSO4(-), SO4(2-)). The binding ev…

Reaction of dirhodium and diruthenium paddlewheel tetraacetate complexes with nucleophilic protein sites: A computational study

2022

Abstract The biomolecular affinity of three paddlewheel dinuclear complexes Rh2(µ-O2CCH3)4(H2O)2, Ru2(µ-O2CCH3)4(H2O)Cl, [Ru2(µ-O2CCH3)4(H2O)2]+ for the binding at cancer-specific protein targets was determined by means of DFT approaches. Thermodynamics of axial ligand substitution reaction by models of suitable protein sites was investigated in order to assess the binding selectivity displayed by the paddlewheel complexes. Both Rh2(µ-O2CCH3)4(H2O)2 and Ru2(µ-O2CCH3)4(H2O)Cl resulted to react favorably with most of the examined models of the protein side chains, with higher exergodicity demonstrated in the reaction of Arg, Cys, His, Lys, Sec, thus showing a limited selectivity. On the other…

Ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography of nucleotides and polypeptides on new types of ion-exchange sorbents, based on polystyrene-coate…

1991

A novel type of ion exchanger was prepared by multipoint covalent binding of polystyrene chains onto the surface of porous silica followed by polymer-analogous modification of the bonded layer. Both anion and cation exchangers were synthesized and examined in the separation of nucleotides and proteins. Rapid and efficient separation of basic polypeptides on strong anion exchangers and that of acidic polypeptides on strong cation exchangers could be achieved. For the separation of complete mixtures of polypeptides the application of zwitter-ionic ion exchangers can be recommended.

The Drosophila ACP65A cuticle gene: deletion scanning analysis of cis-regulatory sequences and regulation by DHR38

2005

1526-954X (Print) Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; The regulatory sequences of the Drosophila ACP65A cuticle gene were analyzed in vivo in transgenic flies, using both fusion genes constructs and transposase-mediated deletions within a P element containing ACP65A regulatory sequences fused to the lacZ gene (deletion scanning). The sequences located between -594 and +161 are sufficient to confer both temporal and spatial expression specificities, indicating the presence of tissue-specific enhancers and response elements to hormone-induced factors. In addition, timing of expression and tissue-specificity appear to be controlled by distinct cis-regulatory elements, which sugge…

Functional characterization of two human olfactory receptors expressed in the baculovirus Sf9 insect cell system

2005

Olfactory receptors (ORs) are the largest member of the G-protein-coupled receptors which mediate early olfactory perception in discriminating among thousands of odorant molecules. Assigning odorous ligands to ORs is a prerequisite to gaining an understanding of the mechanisms of odorant recognition. The functional expression of ORs represents a critical step in addressing this issue. Due to limitations in heterologous expression, very few mammal ORs have been characterized, and so far only one is from human origin. Consequently, OR function still remains poorly understood, especially in humans, whose genome encodes a restricted chemosensory repertoire compared with most mammal species. In …