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L Franzoni

Publications and source records attributed to L Franzoni.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The X-ray structure of a recombinant major urinary protein at 1.75 A resolution. A comparative study of X-ray and NMR-derived structures.

Major urinary proteins belong to the lipocalin family and are present in the urine of rodents as an ensemble of isoforms with pheromonal activity. The crystal structure of a recombinant mouse MUP (rMUP) was solved by the molecular-replacement technique and refined to an R factor and R(free) of 20 and 26.5%, respectively, at 1.75 A resolution. The structure was compared with an NMR model and with a crystallographic structure of the wild-type form of the protein. The crystal structures determined in different space groups present significantly smaller conformational differences amongst themselves than in comparison with NMR models. Some, but not all, of the conformational differences between the crystal and solution structures can be explained by the influence of crystallographic contacts. Most of the differences between the NMR and X-ray structures were found in the N-terminus and loop regions. A number of side chains lining the hydrophobic pocket of the molecule are more tightly packed in the NMR structure than in the crystallographic model. Surprisingly, clear and continuous electron density for a ligand was observed inside the hydrophobic pocket of this recombinant protein. Conformation of the ligand modelled inside the density is coherent with the results of recent NMR experiments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Structure of two fragments of the third cytoplasmic loop of the rat angiotensin II AT1A receptor. Implications with respect to receptor activation and G-protein selection and coupling.

The structural bases that render the third intracellular loop (i3) of the rat angiotensin II AT1A receptor one of the cytoplasmic domains responsible for G-protein coupling are still unknown. The three-dimensional structures of two overlapping peptides mapping the entire i3 loop and shown to differently interact with purified G-proteins have been obtained by simulated annealing calculations, using NMR-derived constraints collected in 70% water/30% trifluoroethanol solution. While the NH2-terminal half, Ni3, residues 213-231, adopts a stable amphipathic alpha-helix, extending over almost the entire peptide, a more flexible conformation is found for the COOH-terminal half, Ci3, residues 227-242. For this peptide, a cis-trans isomerization around the Lys6-Pro7 peptide bond generates two exchanging isomers adopting similar conformations, with an alpha-helix spanning from Asn9 to Ile15 and a poorly defined NH2 terminus. A quite distinct structural organization is found for the sequence EIQKN, common to Ni3 and Ci3. The data do suggest that the extension and orientation of the amphipathic alpha-helix, present in the proximal part of i3, may be modulated by the distal part of the loop itself through the Pro233 residue. A molecular model where this possibility is considered as a mechanism for G-protein selection and coupling is presented.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Trypanosoma cruzi: conformational preferences of antigenic peptides bearing the immunodominant epitope of the B13 antigen.

The Trypanosoma cruzi recombinant protein B13 contains tandemly repeated domains and shows high sensitivity in the serological diagnosis of Chagas' disease. It has been shown that the immunodominant epitope of B13 is contained in the GDKPSLFGQAAAGDKPSLF-NH(2) sequence and that the hexapeptide AAAGDK seems to be the "core" of that epitope. Three peptides containing that "core" sequence, one corresponding to the entire repeat motif GDKPSLFGQAAAGDKPSLF-NH(2), pB13, and two smaller fragments, FGQAAAGDK-NH(2), S4, and QAAAGDKPS-NH(2), S5, have been tested in competitive ELISA with recombinant protein B13 in the solid phase against 40 chagasic sera from Brazilian patients. The median percentage inhibition for pB13, S4, and S5 were, respectively, 91, 86, and 68%. The possibility that the distinct antigenic activity of those peptides correlates with the existence of preferential conformational properties has been investigated by CD and NMR spectroscopy. Results indicate their propensity to adopt a helical configuration, centered in the AAAGDK sequence, and whose extent and stability directly correlates with the peptides' antigenicity. The data are discussed in the light of the existence of conformational preferences involving immunodominant epitopes in tandemly repeated antigens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Solution structure of a recombinant mouse major urinary protein.

Major urinary proteins (MUPs) form an ensemble of protein isoforms which are expressed and secreted by sexually mature male mice only. They belong to the lipocalin superfamily and share with other members of this family the capacity to bind hydrophobic molecules, some of which are odorants. MUPs, either associated with or free of their natural ligands, play an important role in the reproductive cycle of these rodents by acting as pheromones. In fact, they are able to interact with receptors in the vomeronasal organ of the female mice, inducing hormonal and physiological responses by an as yet unknown mechanism. In order to investigate the structural and dynamical features of these proteins in solution, one of the various wild-type isoforms (rMUP: 162 residues) was cloned and subsequently isotopically labeled. The complete 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignment of that isoform, achieved by using a variety of multidimensional heteronuclear NMR experiments, has been reported recently. Here, we describe the refined high-resolution three-dimensional solution structure of rMUP in the native state, obtained by a combination of distance geometry and energy minimization calculations based on 2362 NOE-derived distance restraints. A comparison with the crystal structure of the wild-type MUPs reveals, aside from minor differences, a close resemblance in both secondary structure and overall topology. The secondary structure of the protein consists of eight antiparallel beta-strands forming a single beta-sheet and an alpha-helix in the C-terminal region. In addition, there are several helical and hairpin turns distributed throughout the protein sequence, mostly connecting the beta-strands. The tertiary fold of the beta-sheet creates a beta-barrel, common to all members of the lipocalin superfamily. The shape of the beta-barrel resembles a calyx, lined inside by mostly hydrophobic residues that are instrumental for the binding and transport of small nonpolar ligand molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Structure of the C-terminal fragment 300-320 of the rat angiotensin II AT1A receptor and its relevance with respect to G-protein coupling.

Angiotensin II AT1A receptor is coupled to G-protein, and the molecular mechanism of signal transduction is still unclear. The solution conformation of a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 300-320 of the rat AT1A receptor, located in the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail and indicated by mutagenesis work to be critical for the G-protein coupling, has been investigated by circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and restrained molecular dynamics calculations. The CD data indicate that, in acidic water, at concentration below 0.8 mM, the peptide exists in a predominantly coil structure while at higher concentration it can form helical aggregates; addition of small amounts of trifluoroethanol induces a secondary structure, mostly due to the presence of helical elements. Using NMR-derived constraints, an ensemble of conformers for the peptide has been determined by restrained molecular dynamics calculations. Analysis of the converged three-dimensional structures indicates that a significant population of them adopts an amphipathic alpha-helical conformation that, depending upon experimental conditions, presents a variable extension in the stretch Leu6-Tyr20. An equilibrium with nonhelical structured conformers is also observed. We suggest that the capability of the peptide to modulate its secondary structure as a function of the medium dielectric constant, as well as its ability to form helical aggregates by means of intermolecular hydrophobic interactions, can play a significant role for G-protein activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The chemical synthesis of N-[1-(2-naphthol)]-phosphatidylethanolamine, a fluorescent phospholipid for excited-state proton transfer studies.

A procedure for the preparation of N-[1-(2-naphthol)]-phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPH-PE) has been developed. The synthesis is based on the Schiff base formation between the NH2 of the phospholipid and the aldehyde moiety of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde. Then selective reduction of the imine is used to obtain the stable secondary amine, NAPH-PE. Formation of the intermediate Schiff base and the final product is confirmed by 13C- and 1H-NMR. Similar to free 2-naphthol, the excited-state pKa (pKa*) of its phospholipid derivative appears to be significantly lower than the ground-state pKa. At pH 7.4, the excitation spectrum of NAPH-PE shows no deprotonated species in the ground-state, while the emission spectrum presents a significant contribution of this species. Thus the fluorescent phospholipid exhibits the typical behavior of excited-state proton-transfer probes. NAPH-PE is found to incorporate in dimyristoyllecithin (DML) vesicles. The emission spectrum of the probe inserted in the liposomes is affected by acetate used as a proton acceptor. These properties should also be manifest in other lipid bilayers (e.g., plasma membranes of cells) and used for excited-state proton transfer studies.

Fluorescence↗
PubMed1991

Fluorescence and CD studies on the conformation of the gastrin releasing peptide in solution and in the presence of model membranes.

The conformation of the heptacosapeptide hormone, gastrin releasing peptide, has been studied in buffer and in the presence of lipids, using static and dynamic fluorescence and CD. The results obtained show that, in buffer, the hormone exists in a collection of flexible, random coil type conformers, characterized by a beta-turn between residues 14-19. On the other hand, organic solvents can induce some degree of ordered secondary structure in the peptide chain. The marked changes, observed in CD and fluorescence spectra upon addition of lysolecitin micelles and dimyristoylphosphatidylserine vesicles, clearly show that the peptide interacts with lipids, assuming a lipid specific configuration. Interestingly, no significative spectroscopic changes are produced by exposure to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles both in the gel and liquid-chrystalline phases, suggesting a requirement for negatively charged lipids during the process of hormone-membrane interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Conformation of bombesin in buffer and in the presence of lysolecithin micelles: NMR, CD, and fluorescence studies.

The conformation of the tetradecapeptide hormone bombesin has been studied in buffer and in the presence of lysolecithin micelles, using static and dynamic fluorescence, CD, and one- and two-dimensional nmr. The results obtained show that in buffer bombesin is present in an extended flexible chain, with no evidence for any ordered secondary structure. A marked change in the CD spectrum is observed changing from buffer to the lipid suspension. Concomitantly, the 1H-nmr spectrum of bombesin, in a D2O lipid dispersion, shows the persistence of resonances due to exchangeable protons and in similar conditions the fluorescence intensity increases. We think therefore that these results strongly support the hypothesis that bombesin interacts with the lipid phase, assuming ordered secondary structure. Finally, the marked dependence of tryptophan fluorescence quantum efficiency and order parameter from the hormone concentration in the presence of lysolecithin but not in buffer leads to the conclusion that bombesin can associate into the lipid matrix.

Bombesin↗
PubMed1989

pH regulation of calcium recognition by an amino acid containing acyclic ionophore.

Calcium ion recognition by a dicarboxylic ionophore containing two (S)-phenylalanine residues joined via an amide bond by a flexible tri-oxa-undecanoyl bridge (Phe-3-O) has been investigated in a wide pH range (from pH 2 to 12). Experiments were performed in methanol and chloroform by 1H and 13C NMR, relaxation times and 2D NMR (COSY, NOESY and J-resolved experiments). Recognition is shown to be regulated by pH, as it occurs in at least three different coordination modes according to the experimental conditions. Even at low pH (pH 2) the ion is already complexed in the compartment created by the ethereal oxygens and the amide carbonyls. At higher pH, it becomes fully encapsulated in a pseudo-cyclic structure and at very basic pH it is localized between the amide carbonyls and the carboxylates. For these peculiar properties Phe-3-O appears to be a very promising ionophore in a trans-membrane pH gradient system.

Calcium↗
PubMed1978

Rat brain ribonucleases.

Rat brain ribonucleases (RNases) were studied. Three types of RNases with maximum activities at pH 5.0, 7.2 and 9.5 were found. The activity of the pH 7.2 enzyme can be detected only by avoiding the interference of a very active inhibitor with p-chlor-mercuri-benzoic acid (PCMB). The effect of bivalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+), Na+ and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) was investigated. The activities studied showed a different subcellular distribution. Changes in RNase activity during postnatal rat brain development were studied. The pH 7.2 and 9.5 enzymes have a similar behavior increasing up to the 15th-20th day and remaining constant thereafter. The pH 5.0 enzyme remains constant from the 5th to the 20th day, decreasing thereafter.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis of N alpha-protected aminoacyl 7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin amide by phosphorous oxychloride and preparation of specific fluorogenic substrates for papain.

We report an improved procedure for the synthesis of fully protected aminoacyl 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin amide (MCA) employing the phosphorous oxychloride anhydride method. Seven Boc-X-MCA [where X = Arg(NG Tos), Cys(S-Bzl), Thr(O-Bzl), Ser(O-Bzl), Phe, Leu and Gly] and Z-Tyr(O-Me) were synthesized using this procedure, with yields ranging from 50% to 75%. These aminoacyl-MCA derivatives were employed for the synthesis of epsilon-NH2-caproyl-Leu-X-MCA, a fluorescent peptide series, which were assayed as papain substrates. All of them were completely hydrolyzed by papain, indicating that all of the Boc-X-MCA derivatives obtained were practically free of racemization. Since epsilon-NH2-Caproyl-Leu-(S-Bzl)Cys-MCA is very susceptible to hydrolysis by papain, quite resistant to hydrolysis by chymotrypsin and not hydrolyzed by trypsin, it is recommended for assays of thiol-proteinases in which specificity is required.

Amino Acids↗