Multifunctional Molecule (multifunctional + molecule)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Cloning, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of SET/TAF-I,,N from Homo sapiens

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 8 2010
Zhen Xu
The histone chaperone SET encoded by the SET gene, which is also known as template-activating factor I, (TAF-I,), is a multifunctional molecule that is involved in many biological phenomena such as histone binding, nucleosome assembly, chromatin remodelling, replication, transcription and apoptosis. A truncated SET/TAF-I,,N protein that lacked the first 22 residues of the N-terminus but contained the C-terminal acidic domain and an additional His6 tag at the C-terminus was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using sodium acetate as precipitant at 283,K. The crystals diffracted to 2.7,Å resolution and belonged to space group P43212. [source]


Insight Into the Kinetic of Amyloid , (1,42) Peptide Self-Aggregation: Elucidation of Inhibitors' Mechanism of Action

CHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 17 2007
Manuela Bartolini Dr.
Abstract The initial transition of amyloid , (1,42) (A,42) soluble monomers/small oligomers from unordered/,-helix to a ,-sheet-rich conformation represents a suitable target to design new potent inhibitors and to obtain effective therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. Under optimized conditions, this reliable and reproducible CD kinetic study showed a three-step sigmoid profile that was characterized by a lag phase (prevailing unordered/,-helix conformation), an exponential growth phase (increasing ,-sheet secondary structure) and a plateau phase (prevailing ,-sheet secondary structure). This kinetic analysis brought insight into the inhibitors' mechanism of action. In fact, an increase in the duration of the lag phase can be related to the formation of an inhibitor,A, complex, in which the non-amyloidogenic conformation is stabilized. When the exponential rate is affected exclusively, such as in the case of Congo red and tetracycline, then the inhibitor affinity might be higher for the pleated ,-sheet structure. Finally, by adding the inhibitor at the end of the exponential phase, the soluble protofibrils can be disrupted and the A, amyloidogenic structure can revert into monomers/small oligomers. Congo red and tetracycline preferentially bind to amyloid in the ,-sheet conformation because both decreased the slope of the exponential growth, even if to a different extent, whereas no effect was observed for tacrine and galantamine. Some very preliminary indications can be derived about the structural requirements for binding to nonamyloidogenic or ,-sheet amyloid secondary structure for the development of potent antiaggregating agents. On these premises, memoquin, a multifunctional molecule that was designed to become a drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, was investigated under the reported circular dichroism assay and its anti-amyloidogenic mechanism of action was elucidated. [source]


Fibrinogen and detached retina with or without proliferation

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 6 2000
I. P. Theoharis
ABSTRACT. Purpose: Fibrinogen is a multifunctional molecule, participating in processes such as wound healing, inflammation and cell proliferation. Therefore a comparative study of plasma fibrinogen levels was performed on patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy after RRD (PVR). Method: Plasma fibrinogen levels were measured preoperatively in three groups of patients; twenty-two (n=22) patients from the ORL department of our hospital, serving as a control group; twenty-eight (n=28) patients with RRD; and twenty (n=20) patients with PVR after RRD. Patients' ages were matched for all three groups; diabetics and patients with cardiovascular disease were excluded. T-Student's test was performed for the comparison of the plasma fibrinogen mean values of the aforementioned groups. Results: Statistically significant (p value: 0.013) elevation of fibrinogen plasma levels was observed in patients with RRD compared to those of the control group. In addition, patients with PVR had significantly higher plasma fibrinogen levels (p value: 0.03) than RRD patients. Conclusion: The results suggest a correlation between fibrinogen plasma levels and the development of RRD and PVR. [source]


Cell wall hemicelluloses as mobile carbon stores in non-reproductive plant tissues

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
G. HOCH
Summary 1As essential compounds of plant cell walls, hemicelluloses account for about a quarter of all plant biomass worldwide. 2In seed cotyledons and endosperm of species from several plant families, hemicelluloses are used as mobile carbon reserves. Whether cell wall hemicelluloses of non-reproductive plant tissue are multifunctional molecules, which can also serve as carbon sources during periods of enhanced carbon demand, is still equivocal. 3This review summarizes the current understanding of a possible reserve function of hemicelluloses. Although several descriptive and experimental studies suggested at least partial mobility of cell wall polysaccharides in mature, non-reproductive plant tissues, there is still a need for a broad-scale, ecophysiological exploration of the actual nature of hemicelluloses beyond their structural function. 4The chemical heterogeneity of hemicelluloses may be the major problem for precise quantitative analyses on a large, comparative scale. 5Because of the abundant distribution of hemicelluloses in plants, the existence of a significant mobile carbohydrate pool in cell walls of non-reproductive organs would shed rather new light on plant carbon relations in a source-sink context. 6Consequently, a reserve function of hemicelluloses questions the conventional division of cell compounds into structural (i.e. immobile) and non-structural (i.e. mobile) compounds. [source]


Development and Application of a New General Method for the Asymmetric Synthesis of (E)-(2-En-3-ynyl)-amines

ADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 3 2009
Chao Yin
Abstract The first direct approach for the asymmetric synthesis of (E)-2-arylidene-1,4-diphenylbut-3-yn-1-amines by addition of alkynylzinc to chiral N - tert -butylsulfinylimines is reported with excellent diastereoselectivity and good yield. This asymmetric addition reaction provides a practical, economical and concise synthesis of multifunctional molecules with the 1,3-enyne side chain and an amino group. In addition, this methodology can be applied to the synthesis of substituted vinyl iodide compounds, and substituted chiral dihydropyrroles. [source]


Dentin matrix proteins and soluble factors: intrinsic regulatory signals for healing and resorption of dental and periodontal tissues?

ORAL DISEASES, Issue 2 2004
TA Silva
Dentin contains numerous polypeptides and signaling molecules sequestered in a mineralized matrix. The exposure and release of these molecules occur as a consequence of injury to the pulp and periodontal ligament, which may result from luxation, orthodontic movement or infections of tooth and periodontal structures. When released at these sites, dentin constituents have the potential to act on different surrounding cells, including periodontal cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and inflammatory cells, and to affect the course of dental disease. Experimental studies have highlighted the interactions between dentin and cells from tooth and periodontal tissues and reveal dentin to be a cell adhesive, signaling and migratory stimulus for various mesenchymal and inflammatory cells. These results support the hypothesis that dentin molecules might function as regulatory signals for the healing and resorption of dental and periodontal tissues. Data from recent and classical investigations are summarized, many open questions are discussed, and current hypotheses concerning the mechanisms of tooth resorption and periodontal healing are outlined. Many questions regarding the importance of dentin as a source of multifunctional molecules remain unanswered and provide important directions for future studies. [source]