Dimeric Form (dimeric + form)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Syntheses, Characterization, and Luminescent Properties of Monoethylzinc Complexes with Anilido,Imine Ligands

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 26 2007
Qing Su
Abstract The syntheses of three anilido,imine ligands of the general formula ortho -C6H4(NHAr,)(CH=NAr, [Ar, = 7-(2,4-Me2)C9H4N, Ar, = 2,6-Me2C6H3 (2a); Ar, = 7-(2,4-Me2)C9H4N, Ar,= 2,6-Et2C6H3 (2b); Ar, = 7-(2,4-Me2)C9H4N, Ar,= 2,6- iPr2C6H3 (2c)] and four zinc(II) complexes of the general formula [ortho -C6H4(NHAr,)(CH=NAr,)]ZnEt [Ar, = 7-(2,4-Me2)C9H4N, Ar,= 2,6-Me2C6H3 (3a); Ar, = 7-(2,4-Me2)C9H4N, Ar,= 2,6-Et2C6H3 (3b); Ar, = 7-(2,4-Me2)C9H4N, Ar, = 2,6- iPr2C6H3 (3c); Ar, = 2,6-Me2C6H3, Ar, = 2,6- iPr2C6H3 (3d)] are described. The complexes were synthesized from the reaction of ZnEt2 with corresponding ligands 2 by alkane elimination. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of compounds 2a, 2b, 3b, and 3c were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The X-ray analysis reveals that complexes 3b and 3c exist in the dimeric form with the N atom in the quinolyl ring coordinating to the other Zn atom to make the Zn atoms four coordinate. Luminescent properties of ligands 2a,2d and complexes 3a,3d in both solution and the solid state were studied. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007) [source]


Salt-resistant homodimeric bactenecin, a cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 15 2008
Ju Y. Lee
The cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide bactenecin is a ,-hairpin molecule with a single disulfide bond and broad antimicrobial activity. The proform of bactenecin exists as a dimer, however, and it has been proposed that bactenecin is released as a dimer in vivo, although there has been little study of the dimeric form of bactenecin. To investigate the effect of bactenecin dimerization on its biological activity, we characterized the dimer's effect on phospholipid membranes, the kinetics of its bactericidal activity, and its salt sensitivity. We initially synthesized two bactenecin dimers (antiparallel and parallel) and two monomers (,-hairpin and linear). Under oxidative folding conditions, reduced linear bactenecin preferentially folded into a dimer forming a ladder-like structure via intermolecular disulfide bonding. As compared to the monomer, the dimer had a greater ability to induce lysis of lipid bilayers and was more rapidly bactericidal. Interestingly, the dimer retained antimicrobial activity at physiological salt concentrations (150 mm NaCl), although the monomer was inactivated. This salt resistance was also seen with bactenecin dimer containing one intermolecular disulfide bond, and the bactenecin dimer appears to undergo multimeric oligomerization at high salt concentrations. Overall, dimeric bactenecin shows potent and rapid antimicrobial activity, and resists salt-induced inactivation under physiological conditions through condensation and oligomerization. These characteristics shed light on the features that a peptide would need to serve as an effective therapeutic agent. [source]


Crystal structure of highly thermostable glycerol kinase from a hyperthermophilic archaeon in a dimeric form

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 10 2008
Yuichi Koga
The crystal structure of glycerol kinase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis (Tk-GK) in a dimeric form was determined at a resolution of 2.4 Å. This is the first crystal structure of a hyperthermophilic glycerol kinase. The overall structure of the Tk-GK dimer is very similar to that of the Escherichia coli glycerol kinase (Ec-GK) dimer. However, two dimers of Ec-GK can associate into a tetramer with a twofold axis, whereas those of Tk-GK cannot. This may be the reason why Tk-GK is not inhibited by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, because the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate binding site is produced only when a tetrameric structure is formed. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses indicate that Tk-GK is a highly thermostable protein with a melting temperature (Tm) of 105.4 °C for the major transition. This value is higher than that of Ec-GK by 34.1 °C. Comparison of the crystal structures of Tk-GK and Ec-GK indicate that there is a marked difference in the number of ion pairs in the ,16 helix. Four ion pairs, termed IP1,IP4, are formed in this helix in the Tk-GK structure. To examine whether these ion pairs contribute to the stabilization of Tk-GK, four Tk-GK and four Ec-GK derivatives with reciprocal mutations at the IP1,IP4 sites were constructed. The determination of their stabilities indicates that the removal of each ion pair does not affect the stability of Tk-GK significantly, whereas the mutations designed to introduce one of these ion pairs stabilize or destabilize Ec-GK considerably. These results suggest that the ion pairs in the ,16 helix contribute to the stabilization of Tk-GK in a cooperative manner. [source]


Role of the N- and C-terminal regions of the PufX protein in the structural organization of the photosynthetic core complex of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 7 2002
Francesco Francia
The core complex of Rhodobacter sphaeroides is formed by the association of the light-harvesting antenna 1 (LH1) and the reaction center (RC). The PufX protein is essential for photosynthetic growth; it is located within the core in a 1 : 1 stoichiometry with the RC. PufX is required for a fast ubiquinol exchange between the QB site of the RC and the Qo site of the cytochrome bc1 complex. In vivo the LH1,PufX,RC complex is assembled in a dimeric form, where PufX is involved as a structural organizer. We have modified the PufX protein at the N and the C-terminus with progressive deletions. The nine mutants obtained have been characterized for their ability for photosynthetic growth, the insertion of PufX in the core LH1,RC complex, the stability of the dimers and the kinetics of flash-induced reduction of cytochrome b561 of the cytochrome bc1 complex. Deletion of 18 residues at the N-terminus destabilizes the dimer in vitro without preventing photosynthetic growth. The dimer (or a stable dimer) does not seem to be a necessary requisite for the photosynthetic phenotype. Partial C-terminal deletions impede the insertion of PufX, while the complete absence of the C-terminus leads to the insertion of a PufX protein composed of only its first 53 residues and does not affect the photosynthetic growth of the bacterium. Overall, the results point to a complex role of the N and C domains in the structural organization of the core complex; the N-terminus is suggested to be responsible mainly for dimerization, while the C-terminus is thought to be involved mainly in PufX assembly. [source]


The Planck,Benzinger thermal work function in the condensation of water vapor

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 15 2006
Paul W. Chun
Abstract Based on the Planck,Benzinger thermal work function using Chun's method, the innate temperature-invariant enthalpy at 0 K, ,H0(T0), for the condensation of water vapor as well as the dimer, trimer, tetramer, and pentamer form in the vapor phase, was determined to be 0.447 kcal mol,1 for vapor, 1.127 for the dimer, 0.555 for the trimer, 0.236 for the tetramer, and 0.079 kcal mol,1 for the pentamer using ,G(T) data reported by Kell et al. in 1968 and Kell and McLaurin in 1969. These results suggest that the predominant dimeric form is the most stable of these n -mers. Using Nemethy and Scheraga's 1962 data for the Helmholtz free energy of liquid water, the value of ,H0(T0) was determined to be 1.21 kcal mol,1. This is very close to the value for the energy of the hydrogen bond EH of 1.32 kcal mol,1 reported by Nemethy and Scheraga, using statistical thermodynamics. It seems clear that very little energy is required for interconversion between the hypothetical supercooled water vapor and glassy water at 0 K. A hypothetical supercooled water vapor at 0 K is apparently almost as highly associated as glassy water at that temperature, suggesting a dynamic equilibrium between vapor and liquid. This water vapor condensation is highly similar in its thermodynamic behavior to that of sequence-specific pairwise (dipeptide) hydrophobic interaction, except that the negative Gibbs free energy change minimum at ,Ts,, the thermal setpoint for vapor condensation, where T,S = 0, occurs at a considerably lower temperature, 270 K (below 0°C) compared with ,350 K. The temperature of condensation ,Tcond, at which ,G(T) = 0, where water vapor begins to condense, was found to be 383 K. In the case of a sequence-specific pairwise hydrophobic interaction, the melting temperature, ,Tm,, where ,G(Tm) = 0 was found to be 460 K. Only between two temperature limits, ,Th, = 99 K and ,Tcond, = 383 K, where ,G(Tcond) = 0, is the net chemical driving force favorable for polymorphism of glassy water and hypothetical supercooled water vapor. Analysis of the water vapor condensation process based on the Planck,Benzinger thermal work function confirms that a thermodynamic molecular switch occurs at 10 K, wherein a change of sign in [,Cp(T)]cond leads to a true negative minimum in the Gibbs free energy of vapor condensation, and hence a maximum in the related equilibrium constant, Kcond. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006 [source]


Phosphorylation-dependent dimerization and subcellular localization of islet-brain 1/c-Jun N-terminal kinase-interacting protein 1

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 16 2007
T. Borsello
Abstract Islet-brain 1 [IB1; also termed c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-interacting protein 1 (JIP-1] is involved in the apoptotic signaling cascade of JNK and functions as a scaffold protein. It organizes several MAP kinases and the microtubule-transport motor protein kinesin and relates to other signal-transducing molecules such as the amyloid precursor protein. Here we have identified IB1/JIP-1 using different antibodies that reacted with either a monomeric or a dimeric form of IB1/JIP-1. By immunoelectron microscopy, differences in the subcellular localization were observed. The monomeric form was found in the cytoplasmic compartment and is associated with the cytoskeleton and with membranes, whereas the dimeric form was found in addition in nuclei. After treatment of mouse brain homogenates with alkaline phosphatase, the dimeric form disappeared and the monomeric form decreased its molecular weight, suggesting that an IB1/JIP-1 dimerization is phosphorylation dependent and that IB1 exists in several phospho- forms. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation induced a dephosphorylation of IB1/JIP-1 in primary cultures of cortical neurons and reduced homodimerization. In conclusion, these data suggest that IB1/JIP-1 monomers and dimers may differ in compartmental localization and thus function as a scaffold protein of the JNK signaling cascade in the cytoplasm or as a transcription factor in nuclei. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Novel dimer structure of a membrane-bound protease with a catalytic Ser,Lys dyad and its linkage to stomatin

JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, Issue 3 2008
Hideshi Yokoyama
Membrane-bound proteases are involved in various regulatory functions. A previous report indicates that the N-terminal region of PH1510 (1510-N) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii is a serine protease with a catalytic Ser,Lys dyad (Ser97 and Lys138), and specifically cleaves the C-terminal hydrophobic region of the p-stomatin PH1511. According to the crystal structure of the wild-type 1510-N in dimeric form, the active site around Ser97 is in a hydrophobic environment suitable for the hydrophobic substrates. This article reports the crystal structure of the K138A mutant of 1510-N at 2.3,Å resolution. The determined structure contains one molecule per asymmetric unit, but 1510-N is active in dimeric form. Two possible sets of dimer were found from the symmetry-related molecules. One dimer is almost the same as the wild-type 1510-N. Another dimer is probably in an inactive form. The L2 loop, which is disordered in the wild-type structure, is significantly kinked at around A-138 in the K138A mutant. Thus Lys138 probably has an important role on the conformation of L2. [source]


Outer-membrane phospholipase A: known structure, unknown biological function

MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
MicroReview
Outer-membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) is one of the few enzymes present in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The enzymatic activity of OMPLA is strictly regulated to prevent uncontrolled breakdown of the surrounding phospholipids. The activity of OMPLA can be induced by membrane perturbation and concurs with dimerization of the enzyme. The recently elucidated crystal structures of the inactive, monomeric and an inhibited dimeric form of the enzyme provide detailed structural insight into the functional properties of the enzyme. OMPLA is a serine hydrolase with a unique Asn-156,His-142,Ser-144 catalytic triad. Only in the dimeric state, complete substrate binding pockets and functional oxyanion holes are formed. A model is proposed for the activation of OMPLA in which membrane perturbation causes the formation of non-bilayer structures, resulting in the presentation of phospholipids to the active site of OMPLA and leading to the formation of the active dimeric species. Possible roles for OMPLA in maintaining the cell envelope integrity and in pathogenicity are discussed. [source]


Cytochrome c oxidase of mammals contains a testes-specific isoform of subunit VIb,the counterpart to testes-specific cytochrome c?,

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2003
Maik Hüttemann
Abstract Sperm motility is highly dependent on aerobic energy metabolism, of which the apparent rate-limiting step of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is catalyzed by cytochrome c oxidase (COX). COX is the only electron transport chain complex to display isoforms, consistent with its suggested rate-limiting role. Isoforms were previously described for four of the 13 subunits. We now report the discovery that COX subunit VIb displays a testes-specific isoform in human, bull, rat, and mouse (COX VIb-2). Analysis of a variety of rat and mouse tissues, including ovaries, demonstrates exclusive expression of VIb-2 in testes, whereas VIb-1 transcripts are absent in rodent testes, even at early developmental stages. In contrast, both isoforms are transcribed in human testes. In situ hybridizations with human, rat, and mouse testes sections reveal VIb-2 transcripts in all testicular cell types. Within the seminiferous tubules, VIb-1 shows stronger signals in the periphery than in the lumen. Previously, cytochrome c was the only component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain known to express a testes-specific isoform in mammals. COX subunit VIb connects the two COX monomers into the physiological dimeric form, and is the only COX subunit that, like cytochrome c, is solely located in the inter-membrane space. Significant differences between the isoform sequences, in particular changes in charged amino acids, suggest interactions with cytochrome c and sperm-specific energy requirements. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 8,16, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Stress-related RNase PR-10c is post-translationally modified by glutathione in birch

PLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 6 2002
K. M. Koistinen
Abstract The PR-10c (previously termed as Bet v 1-Sc3) protein of birch belongs to the family of intracellular pathogenesis-related proteins. The high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) analysis of PR-10c-His fusion protein, produced in Escherichia coli, revealed three major peaks and masses. Enzymatic digestions and HPLC-ESI-MS and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization , time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analyses of each fraction indicated that PR-10c-His protein is post-translationally modified by carbamylation and S-glutathiolation. Carbamylation was localized into the N-terminal end of PR-10c-His and does not represent a biologically significant modification. The possible nuclease activity of PR-10c was analysed with S-glutathiolated and reduced fractions of PR-10c-His fusion protein. Both forms of PR-10c-His as well as the dimeric form of the protein possess RNase activity which is capable of digesting different RNA substrates. None of the fractions showed activity against single- or double-stranded DNA. The MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of PR-10c polypeptide extracted from zinc-exposed birch roots showed that the protein is post-translationally modified by glutathione (, -Glu-Cys-Gly) also in vivo. The S-glutathiolated cysteine residue of PR-10c is not conserved among Bet v 1 homologous proteins and is also unique in the PR-10 family. As far as we know this is the first observation of S-glutathiolation in plants, or any post-translational modification in the PR-10 family of proteins. [source]


Crystal structure of a dimeric form of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA1)

PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 9 2004
Matthew D. Baker
Abstract Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA1) is a bacterial superantigen associated with scarlet fever and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). SpeA1 is found in both monomeric and dimeric forms, and previous work suggested that the dimer results from an intermolecular disulfide bond between the cysteines at positions 90 of each monomer. Here, we present the crystal structure of the dimeric form of SpeA1. The toxin crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with two dimers in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The final structure has a crystallographic R-factor of 21.52% for 7248 protein atoms, 136 water molecules, and 4 zinc atoms (one zinc atom per molecule). The implications of SpeA1 dimer on MHC class II and T-cell receptor recognition are discussed. [source]


Mature monomeric forms of Hop stunt viroid resist RNA silencing in transgenic plants

THE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 6 2007
G. Gómez
Summary Viroids, small non-coding pathogenic RNAs, are able to induce RNA silencing, a phenomenon that has been associated with the pathogenesis and evolution of these small RNAs. It has been recently suggested that viroids may resist this plant defense mechanism. However, the simultaneous degradation of non-replicating full-length viroid RNA, and the resistance of mature forms of viroids to RNA silencing, have not been experimentally demonstrated. Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing a dimeric form of Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) that have the capability to cleave and circularize this viroid RNA were used to address this question. A reporter construct, consisting of a full-length HSVd RNA fused to GFP-mRNA, was agroinfiltrated in these plants and its expression was suppressed. Interestingly, both circular and linear HSVd molecules were stable and able to traffic through grafts in these restrictive conditions, indicating that the mature forms of HSVd are able, in some way, to resist the RNA-silencing mechanism. The observation that a full-length HSVd RNA fused to GFP-mRNA, but not circular and/or linear viroid forms, was fully susceptible to RNA degradation strongly suggests that structures adopted by the free mature monomer protect the pathogenesis-associated forms of the viroid from RNA silencing. [source]


A metal-chelate affinity reverse micellar system for protein extraction

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 1 2010
Xiao-Yan Dong
Abstract A new nonionic reverse micellar system is developed by blending two nonionic surfactants, Triton X-45 and Span 80. At total surfactant concentrations lower than 60 mmol/L and molar fractions of Triton X-45 less than 0.6, thermodynamically stable reverse micelles of water content (W0) up to 30 are formed. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP; 1,2 mmol/L) is introduced into the system for chelating transition metal ions that have binding affinity for histidine-rich proteins. HDEHP exists in a dimeric form in organic solvents and a dimer associated with one transition metal ion, including copper, zinc, and nickel. The copper-chelate reverse micelles (Cu-RM) are characterized for their W0, hydrodynamic radius (Rh), and aggregation number (Nag). Similar with reverse micelles of bis-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT), Rh of the Cu-RM is also linearly related to W0. However, Nag is determined to be 30,90 at W0 of 5,30, only quarter to half of the AOT reverse micelles. Then, selective metal-chelate extraction of histidine-rich protein (myoglobin) by the Cu-RM is successfully performed with pure and mixed protein systems (myoglobin and lysozyme). The solubilized protein can be recovered by stripping with imidazole or ethylinediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. Because various transition metal ions can be chelated to the reverse micelles, it is convinced that the system would be useful for application in protein purification as well as simultaneous isolation and refolding of recombinant histidine-tagged proteins expressed as inclusion bodies. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010 [source]


Molecular modeling of the dimeric structure of human lipoprotein lipase and functional studies of the carboxyl-terminal domain

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 18 2002
Yoko Kobayashi
Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a key role in lipid metabolism. Molecular modeling of dimeric LPL was carried out using insight ii based upon the crystal structures of human, porcine, and horse pancreatic lipase. The dimeric model reveals a saddle-shaped structure and the key heparin-binding residues in the amino-terminal domain located on the top of this saddle. The models of two dimeric conformations , a closed, inactive form and an open, active form , differ with respect to how surface-loop positions affect substrate access to the catalytic site. In the closed form, the surface loop covers the catalytic site, which becomes inaccessible to solvent. Large conformational changes in the open form, especially in the loop and carboxyl-terminal domain, allow substrate access to the active site. To dissect the structure,function relationships of the LPL carboxyl-terminal domain, several residues predicted by the model structure to be essential for the functions of heparin binding and substrate recognition were mutagenized. Arg405 plays an important role in heparin binding in the active dimer. Lys413/Lys414 or Lys414 regulates heparin affinity in both monomeric and dimeric forms. To evaluate the prediction that LPL forms a homodimer in a ,head-to-tail' orientation, two inactive LPL mutants , a catalytic site mutant (S132T) and a substrate-recognition mutant (W390A/W393A/W394A) , were cotransfected into COS7 cells. Lipase activity could be recovered only when heterodimerization occurred in a head-to-tail orientation. After cotransfection, 50% of the wild-type lipase activity was recovered, indicating that lipase activity is determined by the interaction between the catalytic site on one subunit and the substrate-recognition site on the other. [source]


Detection of the human GPR50 orphan seven transmembrane protein by polyclonal antibodies mapping different epitopes

JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007
Hassina Ould Hamouda
Abstract:, GPR50 is an orphan seven transmembrane protein related to the melatonin receptor subfamily comprising MT1 and MT2 receptors. In the absence of any known ligand for GPR50, other tools are critical for the characterization of this protein. Here, we describe the generation, purification and characterization of the first rabbit polyclonal antibodies generated against peptides corresponding to the N-terminus, C-terminus and two additional regions within the intracellular tail of GPR50. Immune sera were purified on peptide-antigen affinity columns. Antibodies specifically recognized a GPR50-YFP fusion protein on the plasma membrane of HEK 293 cells in immunofluorescence experiments. In Western blot experiments, the monomeric and dimeric forms of GPR50 were detected as proteins of 66 and 130 kDa, respectively. In addition, these new antibodies were sufficiently sensitive to detect GPR50 in brain slices of the rat pituitary and human hippocampus. In conclusion, we successfully produced antibodies against the orphan GPR50 protein that will become valuable tools for functional studies of this protein. [source]


XRD studies, vibrational spectra, and molecular structure of 1H-imidazo [4,5-b]pyridine based on DFT quantum chemical calculations

JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 9 2010
L. Dymi
Abstract The molecular structures and vibrational properties of 1H -imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in its monomeric and dimeric forms are analyzed and compared to the experimental results derived from the X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR), and Raman studies. The theoretical data are discussed on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculations using Lee,Yang,Parr correlation functional (B3LYP) and 6-31G(d,p) basis. This compound crystallizes in orthorhombic structure, space group Pna21(C2v9) and Z = 4. The planar conformation of the skeleton and presence of the NH···N hydrogen bond was found to be characteristic for the studied system. The temperature dependence of IR and Raman modes was studied in the range 4,294 K and 8,295 K, respectively. The normal modes, which are unique for the imidazopyridine derivatives are identified. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Crystal structure of a dimeric form of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA1)

PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 9 2004
Matthew D. Baker
Abstract Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SpeA1) is a bacterial superantigen associated with scarlet fever and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). SpeA1 is found in both monomeric and dimeric forms, and previous work suggested that the dimer results from an intermolecular disulfide bond between the cysteines at positions 90 of each monomer. Here, we present the crystal structure of the dimeric form of SpeA1. The toxin crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with two dimers in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The final structure has a crystallographic R-factor of 21.52% for 7248 protein atoms, 136 water molecules, and 4 zinc atoms (one zinc atom per molecule). The implications of SpeA1 dimer on MHC class II and T-cell receptor recognition are discussed. [source]


The structure of DinB from Geobacillus stearothermophilus: a representative of a unique four-helix-bundle superfamily

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2010
David R. Cooper
The crystal structure of the dinB gene product from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GsDinB) is reported at 2.5,Å resolution. The dinB gene is one of the DNA-damage-induced genes and the corresponding protein, DinB, is the founding member of a Pfam family with no known function. The protein contains a four-helix up,down,down,up bundle that has previously been described in the literature in three disparate proteins: the enzyme MDMPI (mycothiol-dependent maleylpyruvate isomerase), YfiT and TTHA0303, a member of a small DUF (domain of unknown function). However, a search of the DALI structural database revealed similarities to a further 11 new unpublished structures contributed by structural genomics centers. The sequences of these proteins are quite divergent and represent several Pfam families, yet their structures are quite similar and most (but not all) seem to have the ability to coordinate a metal ion using a conserved histidine-triad motif. The structural similarities of these diverse proteins suggest that a new Pfam clan encompassing the families that share this fold should be created. The proteins that share this fold exhibit four different quaternary structures: monomeric and three different dimeric forms. [source]


Conformational Structure and Energetics of 2-Methylphenyl(2,-methoxyphenyl)iodonium Chloride: Evidence for Solution Clusters

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 34 2010
Dr. Yong-Sok Lee
Abstract Diaryliodonium salts allow the efficient incorporation of cyclotron-produced [18F]fluoride ions into electron-rich and electron-deficient arenes to provide potential radiotracers for molecular imaging in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET). This process (ArI+Ar,+18F,,Ar18F+Ar,I) is still not well understood mechanistically. To better understand this and similar reactions, it would be valuable to understand the structures of diaryliodonium salts in organic media, where the reactions are typically conducted. In this endeavor, the X-ray structure of a representative iodonium salt, 2-methylphenyl(2,-methoxyphenyl)iodonium chloride (1), was determined. Our X-ray structure analysis showed 1 to have the conformational M,P dimer as the unit cell with hypervalent iodine as a stereogenic center in each conformer. With the ab initio replica path method we constructed the inversion path between the two enantiomers of 1, thereby revealing two additional pairs of enantiomers that are likely to undergo fast interconversion in solution. Also LC,MS of 1 showed the presence of dimeric and tetrameric anion-bridged clusters in weak organic solution. This observation is consistent with the energetics of 1, both as monomeric and dimeric forms in MeCN, calculated at the B3LYP/DGDZVP level. These evidences of the existence of dimeric and higher order clusters of 1 in solution are relevant to achieve a deeper general understanding of the mechanism and outcome of reactions of diaryliodonium salts in organic media with nucleophiles, such as the [18F]fluoride ion. [source]