Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C M Soares

Publications and source records attributed to C M Soares.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

On the stability and plastic properties of the interior L3 loop in R. capsulatus porin. A molecular dynamics study.

Structural properties of Rhodobacter capsulatus porin are studied by molecular dynamics simulation using the GROMOS force field. Unconstrained simulations of the trimer and monomer show the trimer to be more stable than the isolated monomer. Simulations of the L3 loop inside the pore are used to assess its stability and plastic properties. Simulated annealing shows that the conformational space available to the L3 loop inside the pore is very large. Simulations at different temperatures show that the energy hypersurface around the open state is complex and flat. These studies also indicate four zones that are more flexible than the rest of the loop. Two of these are stabilized by the addition of the detergent molecule present in the X-ray structure. It is possible that the two remaining flexible zones, situated in the half of the loop facing the extracellular end of the porin molecule, residues Asp93-Gly98 and Arg110-Leu111, are involved in a mechanism for opening and closing of the pore.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

HSP 70 gene expression in Trypanosoma cruzi is regulated at different levels.

The level of HSP 70 mRNA is altered in Trypanosoma cruzi cells incubated at supra-optimal temperatures: the total amount of this RNA per cell is increased at 37 degrees C, and slightly decreased at 40 degrees C relative to its level at 29 degrees C. However, its amount is greater in the polysomes at either temperature. The relative increase of this RNA is larger in the polysomes fraction than it is in the total RNA. In addition the level of HSP 70 protein in heat-shocked cells is greater than would be expected from the recruitment of HSP 70 mRNA in the polysomal fraction. Taken together the data are interpreted as indicating that at 37 degrees C and 40 degrees C the HSP 70 gene regulation in T. cruzi involves both the selective accumulation of the HSP 70 mRNA in the polysomes and its preferential translation. At 37 degrees C, in addition, an increase in the total amount of this template is observed in the cells.

Animals↗

Alpha- and beta-tubulin mRNAs of Trypanosoma cruzi originate from a single multicistronic transcript.

The cluster of alternated alpha- and beta-tubulin genes in the genome of Trypanosoma cruzi was shown to be transcribed into a single RNA molecule which upon processing gives rise to the mature alpha- and beta-tubulin mRNAs. This conclusion was based on: (i) nuclear RNA species with the same molecular mass hybridize to both alpha- and beta-tubulin cDNA probes; (ii) S1 nuclease assay of the clustered tubulin genes has shown protected DNA fragments of the same size and of greater molecular mass than that corresponding to the mRNAs, hybridizable to both alpha- and beta-tubulin cDNA probes; (iii) beta-tubulin hybrid selected RNA is still able to hybridize to alpha-tubulin probe.

Animals↗

Expression of glycoprotein gp43 in stage-specific forms and during dimorphic differentiation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Expression of the 43 kDa glycoprotein (gp43) was analysed in several Paracoccidioides brasiliensis isolates. Using one- and two-dimensional analysis of crude cellular extracts, it was shown that protein expression in yeast and mycelium was dependent on the isolate analysed. In two strains, in both yeast and mycelium cells. gp43 was present, whereas expression was restricted to the yeast phase of two other strains. The clinical implications of this phase-specific gp43 expression are uncertain.

Antigens, Fungal↗

Protein synthesis patterns of Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis isolates in stage-specific forms and during cellular differentiation.

In this paper we compared the protein synthesis patterns of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis isolates. The protein profiles were compared for both yeast and mycelial forms and similarity analysis among them was performed by calculating similarity matrices and grouping the isolates in dendrograms. The examined isolates exhibited highly variable cellular morphology at 36 degrees C, when typical yeast cells were expected. On the other hand, at 26 degrees C all the isolates showed mycelial morphology. The analysis of protein synthesis profiles made it possible to cluster the P. brasiliensis isolates into groups that correlated with the morphological data. Interestingly, growth at 36 degrees C strongly decreased the heterogeneity of protein synthesis patterns seen in mycelial isolates. It was possible to cluster the isolates grown at 36 degrees C in three groups based on their two-dimensional protein synthesis analysis. The similarity index observed among the mycelial isolates was lower than that obtained with yeast cells, suggesting a more homogenous gene expression pattern in the host-adapted form than in the saprobic phase.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗