Search results for "wall"
showing 10 items of 970 documents
Novel Sortase A Inhibitors to Counteract Gram-Positive Bacterial Biofilms
2019
Sortase A (SrtA) is a membrane enzyme responsible for the covalent anchoring of surface proteins on the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. Nowadays it is considered an interesting target for the development of new anti-infective drugs which aim to interfere with important Gram-positive virulence mechanisms. Along the years, we studied the anti-staphylococcal and anti-biofilm activity of some natural and synthetic polyhalogenated pyrrolic compounds, called pyrrolomycins. Some of them were active on Gram-positive pathogens at a μg/mL range of concentration (1.5-0.045 μg/mL) and showed a biofilm inhibition in the range of 50-80%. [1-3] In light of these encouraging results, herein we present…
Effect of Xyloglucan Oligosaccharides on Growth, Viscoelastic Properties, and Long-Term Extension of Pea Shoots
1997
Abstract The growth-promoting effect of xyloglucan-derived oligosaccharides was investigated using a bioassay with entire pea (Pisum sativum L., var Alaska) shoots. After a 24-h incubation period at 25[deg]C, xyloglucan oligosaccharide (XGO) solutions with concentrations of 10–6 M notably increased the growth rate of pea shoots, whereas the same oligosaccharides at 10–7 M were less effective. To investigate the possible correlation between growth rate changes in the XGO-treated shoots and changes in the wall mechanical properties of their growing regions (third internodes), we used a short-term creep assay. The promotion of elongation by XGOs was reflected in an enhancement of the viscoelas…
Cell wall-degrading enzymes produced in vitro by isolates of Phaeosphaeria nodorum differing in aggressiveness
2000
The relationships between in vitro production of cell wall-degrading enzymes and aggressiveness of three Phaeosphaeria nodorum isolates were investigated. When grown in liquid medium containing 1% cell wall from wheat leaves as the carbon source, the isolates secreted xylanase, α-arabinosidase, β-xylosidase, polygalacturonase, β-galactosidase, cellulase, β-1,3-glucanase, β-glucosidase, acetyl esterase and butyrate esterase. Time-course experiments showed different levels of enzyme production and different kinetics between isolates. A highly aggressive isolate produced more xylanase, cellulase, polygalacturonase and butyrate esterase than did the two weakly aggressive isolates. Xylanase was …
Determination of the stability of protein pools from the cell wall of fungi.
2002
Stability of the protein populations present in the cell wall of three ascomycetous fungi Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica was investigated. Cell wall proteins were either labeled with biotin or radiolabeled with amino acids, and chased for a period of time representing several generations. Proteins linked by non-covalent or covalent bonds were separated and their turnover was analyzed. No significant turnover took place during the chase period, and in fact radioactive proteins were accumulated in the wall during the period possibly by transfer through the secretory pathway. This transfer did not involve de novo protein synthesis; it was inhibited by azide,…
Killer Toxins of Yeasts: Inhibitors of Fermentation and Their Adsorption.
2019
The killer toxin (KT 28), a glycoprotein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 28, was almost completely adsorbed by bentonite, when applied at a concentration of 1 g per liter. No significant differences were found between several types of bentonite. Killer toxin KT 28 is similarly adsorbed by intact yeast cells or by a commercial preparation of yeast cell walls that has been recommended to prevent stuck fermentations. An investigation of the cell wall fractions revealed that the toxin KT 28 was mainly adsorbed by mannan, that removed the toxin completely. The alkali-soluble and the alkali-insoluble β-1,3- and β-1,6-D-glucans lowered the toxin concentration to one tenth of the original amount…
Analysis of the proteins involved in the structure and synthesis of the cell wall of Ustilago maydis
2008
Abstract A study of the proteins involved in the synthesis and structure of the cell wall of Ustilago maydis was made by in silico analysis of the fungal genome, with reference to supporting experimental evidence. The composition of the cell wall of U. maydis shows similarities with the structural composition of the walls of Ascomycetes, but also shows important differential features. Accordingly, the enzymes involved in the synthesis of the U. maydis wall polysaccharides chitin and β-1,6 glucans displayed some differential characteristics. The most salient difference in protein composition was the predicted absence of Pir proteins, an important class of proteins present in the Ascomycetes.…
A xyloglucan from persimmon fruit cell walls
1998
Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) fruit cell walls have been shown to contain a high proportion of xyloglucan. This hemicellulosic polysaccharide appears to play a crucial role in the softening process that accompanies fruit ripening. In the present work, xyloglucan from persimmon fruit cell walls was extracted, purified and chemically characterized from alkali-extracted hemicelluloses. Monosaccharide analysis of purified xyloglucan showed a molar ratio of Glc:Xyl:Gal:Fuc of 10.0:6.0:3.4:1.4. Linkage analysis showed a high proportion of terminal residues, indicating a low degree of polymerization of side-chains.
Separation of chitosomal chitin synthetase from cell-free extracts ofNeurospora crassa “Slime” variant agglutinated with concanavalin A
1989
Cell-free extracts of the wall-less slime variant ofNeurospora crassa were treated with concanavalin A (Con A); this treatment caused a massive agglutination of the particulate structures in the cell-free homogenate, although most (73%) of the chitin synthetase initially present in the cell-free extract remained in the supernatant obtained after sedimentation of the lectin-flocculated material. This chitin synthetase showed the sedimentation properties of chitosomes (unique microvesicular structures) and failed to bind [3H]Con A. A significant percentage (42%) of the chitin synthetase activity associated with the Con A-flocculated material probably corresponds to mechanically trapped chitos…
Cell wall xyloglucan incorporation by xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase in pine hypocotyls
2004
Abstract In the present study, we have examined the incorporation of labelled xyloglucan oligosaccharides into the cell wall xyloglucan of pine hypocotyl sections, and the effect of plant hormones on the incorporation and on XTH enzyme activity (EC 2.4.1.207). Xyloglucan heptasaccharide [ 3 H ]XXXGol was absorbed, transported and incorporated into the cell wall xyloglucan of de-rooted pine hypocotyls. Incorporation of [ 3 H ]XXXGol into soluble and cell wall xyloglucan was induced by IAA, brassinolides and XXXG in pine hypocotyl segments. A relationship between growth induction, by IAA, brassinolides and XXXG, and both soluble and cell wall-bound XTH was found. We suggest that IAA induced-g…
Chitin: A Structural Biopolysaccharide with Multiple Applications
2014
Chitin is a naturally occurring fibre-forming polymer that plays a protective role in many lower eukaryotes similar to that of cellulose in plants. Chemically it is a long-chain unbranched polysaccharide made of N-acetylglucosamine residues linked through β-1,4 covalent bonds; it is the second most abundant organic compound in nature, after cellulose. Taking into account the role played by chitin in different biological structures (i.e. fungal cell walls, insect peritrophic matrix, insect and crustacean cuticles, eggshells from nematodes, cyst wall of protozoa), its metabolism (biosynthesis and degradation) is essential for different morphogenetic events. Absent in vertebrates and plants, c…