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Domain Architecture (domain + architecture)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	54%
Chemistry	27%

Selected Abstracts

Myosin diversity in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum,

CYTOSKELETON, Issue 3 2010
Matthew B. Heintzelman
Abstract This report describes the domain architecture of ten myosins cloned from the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Several of the P. tricornutum myosins show similarity to myosins from the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana as well as to one myosin from the oomycete Phytophthora ramorum. The P. tricornutum myosins, ranging in size from 126 kDa to over 250 kDa, all possess the canonical head, neck and tail domains common to most myosins, though variations in each of these domains is evident. Among the features distinguishing several of the diatom myosin head domains are N-terminal SH3-like domains, variations in or near the P-loop and Loop 1 regions close to the nucleotide binding pocket, and extended converter domains. Variations in the length of the neck domain or lever arm, defined by the light chain-binding IQ motifs, are apparent with the different diatom myosins predicted to contain from one to nine IQ motifs. Protein domains found within the P. tricornutum myosin tails include regions of coiled-coil structure, ankyrin repeats, CBS domain pairs, a PB1 domain, a kinase domain and a FYVE-finger motif. As many of these features have never before been characterized in myosins of any type, it is likely that these new diatom myosins will expand the repertoire of known myosin behaviors. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Evolution of astacin-like metalloproteases in animals and their function in development

EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2006
Frank Möhrlen
SUMMARY Astacin-like metalloproteases are ubiquitous in the animal kingdom but their phylogenetic relationships and ancient functions within the Metazoa are unclear. We have cloned and characterized four astacin-like cDNAs from the marine hydroid Hydractinia echinata and performed a database search for related genes in the draft genome sequence of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. These sequences and those of higher animals' astacins were subjected to phylogenetic analysis revealing five clusters within the Eumetazoa. The bone morphogenetic protein-1/tolloid-like astacins were represented in all eumetazoan phyla studied. The meprins were only found in vertebrates and cnidarians. Two clusters were taxon-specific, and one cluster represented astacins, which probably evolved after the split of the Cnidaria. Interestingly, grouping of astacins according to the protease catalytic domain alone resulted in clusters of proteins with similar overall domain architecture. The Hydractinia astacins were expressed in distinct cells during metamorphosis and some also during wound healing. Previously characterized cnidarian astacins also act during development. Based on our phylogeny, however, we propose that the developmental function of most of them is not homologous to the developmental function assigned to higher animals' astacins. [source]

Intramembrane-sensing histidine kinases: a new family of cell envelope stress sensors in Firmicutes bacteria

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2006
Thorsten Mascher
Abstract Two-component signal-transducing systems (TCS) consist of a histidine kinase (HK) that senses a specific environmental stimulus, and a cognate response regulator (RR) that mediates the cellular response. Most HK are membrane-anchored proteins harboring two domains: An extracytoplasmic input and a cytoplasmic transmitter (or kinase) domain, separated by transmembrane helices that are crucial for the intramolecular information flow. In contrast to the cytoplasmic domain, the input domain is highly variable, reflecting the plethora of different signals sensed. Intramembrane-sensing HK (IM-HK) are characterized by their short input domain, consisting solely of two putative transmembane helices. They lack an extracytoplasmic domain, indicative for a sensing process at or from within the membrane interface. Most proteins sharing this domain architecture are found in Firmicutes bacteria. Two major groups can be differentiated based on sequence similarity and genomic context: (1) BceS-like IM-HK that are functionally and genetically linked to ABC transporters, and (2) LiaS-like IM-HK, as part of three-component systems. Most IM-HK sense cell envelope stress, and identified target genes are often involved in maintaining cell envelope integrity, mediating antibiotic resistance, or detoxification processes. Therefore, IM-HK seem to constitute an important mechanism of cell envelope stress response in low G+C Gram-positive bacteria. [source]

Primitive complement system of invertebrates

IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2004
Masaru Nonaka
Summary:, Most components of the human complement system have unmistakable domain architectures, making evolutionary tracing feasible. In contrast to the major genes of the adaptive immune system, which are present only in jawed vertebrates, complement component genes with unique domain structures are present not only in jawed vertebrates but also in jawless fish and non-vertebrate deuterostomes. Recent progress in genome analysis in several eukaryotes, occupying the phylogenetically critical positions, showed that most individual domains found in the complement components are metazoa specific, being found both in deuterostomes and in protostomes but not in yeast or plant. However, unique domain architecture of complement components is not present in protostomes, suggesting that the complement system has been established in the deuterostome lineage not by invention of new domains but by innovation of unique combination of the pre-existing domains. The recently assembled Ciona intestinalis draft genome contained the most modular complement genes, except for factor I. However, some possible C. intestinalis complement components show critical structural divergence from the mammalian counterparts, casting doubt on their mutual interaction. Thus, another integrative step seems to have been required to establish the modern complement system of higher vertebrates. [source]

The SUPERFAMILY database in structural genomics

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 11 2002
Julian Gough
The SUPERFAMILY hidden Markov model library representing all proteins of known structure predicts the domain architecture of protein sequences and classifies them at the SCOP superfamily level. This analysis has been carried out on all completely sequenced genomes. The ways in which the database can be useful to crystallographers is discussed, in particular with a view to high-throughput structure determination. The application of the SUPERFAMILY database to different target-selection strategies is suggested: novel folds, novel domain combinations and targeted attacks on genomes. Use of the database for more general inquiry in the context of structural studies is also explained. The database provides evolutionary relationships between target proteins and other proteins of known structure through the SCOP database, genome assignments and multiple sequence alignments. [source]

Structure of the adenylation domain of NAD+ -dependent DNA ligase from Staphylococcus aureus

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 11 2009
Seungil Han
DNA ligase catalyzes phosphodiester-bond formation between immediately adjacent 5,-phosphate and 3,-hydroxyl groups in double-stranded DNA and plays a central role in many cellular and biochemical processes, including DNA replication, repair and recombination. Bacterial NAD+ -dependent DNA ligases have been extensively characterized as potential antibacterial targets because of their essentiality and their structural distinction from human ATP-dependent DNA ligases. The high-resolution structure of the adenylation domain of Staphylococcus aureus NAD+ -dependent DNA ligase establishes the conserved domain architecture with other bacterial adenylation domains. Two apo crystal structures revealed that the active site possesses the preformed NAD+ -binding pocket and the `C2 tunnel' lined with hydrophobic residues: Leu80, Phe224, Leu287, Phe295 and Trp302. The C2 tunnel is unique to bacterial DNA ligases and the Leu80 side chain at the mouth of the tunnel points inside the tunnel and forms a narrow funnel in the S. aureus DNA ligase structure. Taken together with other DNA ligase structures, the S. aureus DNA ligase structure provides a basis for a more integrated understanding of substrate recognition and catalysis and will be also be of help in the development of small-molecule inhibitors. [source]

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of ,-glucosidase from Kluyveromyces marxianus NBRC1777

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 11 2009
Erina Yoshida
The intracellular ,-glucosidase from Kluyveromyces marxianus NBRC1777 (KmBglI) belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 3 and has a unique domain architecture. Selenomethionine-labelled KmBglI was purified and crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using the purified enzyme at 30,mg,ml,1, 0.04,M potassium dihydrogen phosphate pH 5.1, 16%(w/v) PEG 8000 and 20%(v/v) glycerol. The crystal belonged to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 245.8, b = 148.7, c = 119.9,Å, , = 112.9°. Multiple-wavelength anomalous dispersion data were collected at 2.4 and 2.5,Å resolution. A tetramer was assumed to be present in the asymmetric unit, which gave a Matthews coefficient of 2.6,Å3,Da,1. [source]

The leucine-rich repeat domain in plant innate immunity: a wealth of possibilities

CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Meenu Padmanabhan
Summary The innate immune system of both plants and animals uses immune receptors to detect pathogens and trigger defence responses. Despite having distinct evolutionary origin, most plant and animal immune receptors have a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain. The LRR domain adopts a slender conformation that maximizes surface area and has been shown to be ideal for mediating protein,protein interactions. Although the LRR domain was expected to be a platform for pathogen recognition, the NB-LRR class of plant innate immune receptors uses its LRR domain to carry out many other roles. This review discusses the domain architecture of plant LRRs and the various roles ascribed to this motif. [source]

The Plasmodium TRAP/MIC2 family member, TRAP-Like Protein (TLP), is involved in tissue traversal by sporozoites

CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
Cristina K. Moreira
Summary In the apicomplexan protozoans motility and cell invasion are mediated by the TRAP/MIC2 family of transmembrane proteins, members of which link extracellular adhesion to the intracellular actomyosin motor complex. Here we characterize a new member of the TRAP/MIC2 family, named TRAP- Like Protein (TLP), that is highly conserved within the Plasmodium genus. Similar to the Plasmodium sporozoite protein, TRAP, and the ookinete protein, CTRP, TLP possesses an extracellular domain architecture that is comprised of von Willebrand factor A (vWA) and thrombospondin type 1 (TSP1) domains, plus a short cytoplasmic domain. Comparison of the vWA domain of TLP genes from multiple Plasmodium falciparum isolates showed relative low sequence diversity, suggesting that the protein is not under selective pressures of the host immune system. Analysis of transcript levels by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that TLP is predominantly expressed in salivary gland sporozoites of P. falciparum and P. berghei. Targeted disruption of P. berghei TLP resulted in a decreased capacity for cell traversal by sporozoites, and reduced infectivity of sporozoites in vivo, whereas in vitro sporozoite motility and hepatocyte invasion were unaffected. These results indicate a role of TLP in cell traversal by sporozoites. [source]

Novel domains of the prokaryotic two-component signal transduction systems

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2001
Michael Y. Galperin
Abstract The archetypal two-component signal transduction systems include a sensor histidine kinase and a response regulator, which consists of a receiver CheY-like domain and a DNA-binding domain. Sequence analysis of the sensor kinases and response regulators encoded in complete bacterial and archaeal genomes revealed complex domain architectures for many of them and allowed the identification of several novel conserved domains, such as PAS, GAF, HAMP, GGDEF, EAL, and HD-GYP. All of these domains are widely represented in bacteria, including 19 copies of the GGDEF domain and 17 copies of the EAL domain encoded in the Escherichia coli genome. In contrast, these novel signaling domains are much less abundant in bacterial parasites and in archaea, with none at all found in some archaeal species. This skewed phyletic distribution suggests that the newly discovered complexity of signal transduction systems emerged early in the evolution of bacteria, with subsequent massive loss in parasites and some horizontal dissemination among archaea. Only a few proteins containing these domains have been studied experimentally, and their exact biochemical functions remain obscure; they may include transformations of novel signal molecules, such as the recently identified cyclic diguanylate. Recent experimental data provide the first direct evidence of the participation of these domains in signal transduction pathways, including regulation of virulence genes and extracellular enzyme production in the human pathogens Bordetella pertussis and Borrelia burgdorferi and the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris. Gene-neighborhood analysis of these new domains suggests their participation in a variety of processes, from mercury and phage resistance to maintenance of virulence plasmids. It appears that the real picture of the complexity of phosphorelay signal transduction in prokaryotes is only beginning to unfold. [source]