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M A Kennedy

Publications and source records attributed to M A Kennedy.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A comprehensive approach for accurate measurement of proton-proton coupling constants in the sugar ring of DNA.

Stereo-selectivedeuteration has been explored as an approach for improving the accuracy of NMR-derived, three-bond vicinal proton-proton coupling constants in the 12-base-pair DNA Dickerson sequence [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)(2)]. The coupling constants are useful for DNA structure determination in restrained molecular dynamics calculations. Specifically, the A5 and A6 residues were prepared with the H2" proton stereo-selectively replaced with a deuteron. Deuteration of the H2" leads to a 42-fold reduction in the transverse cross-relaxation rate of the H2' spin, effectively negating the contribution of transverse cross relaxation to the cross peak frequencies and phases. Calculated linewidth and polarization transfer functions indicated that the reduced dipolar interaction is also expected to result in a significant increase in intensity for all cross peaks involving the H1', H2', or H3' spin. The spectral complexity is also reduced by selective deuteration. Time-shared homonuclear decoupling of passive spins during acquisition was implemented, reducing the spin system, in some cases, to an effectively isolated two-spin system. This enables the use of a 90 degrees mixing pulse instead of the 35 degrees pulse commonly used in standard P.E.COSY experiments, leading to an additional 75% increase in signal intensity. Selective excitation pulses were used to reduce the number of increments required in the indirect dimension by as much as a factor of 4. The cumulative improvement in sensitivity is striking, approaching three orders of magnitude per unit time. Separate experiments, referred to as Stripe-COSY and Superstripe-COSY, were optimized for each coupling constant measured. Finally, J-doubling was used to obtain the most accurate peak separations. This comprehensive approach shows promise as an effective method for extracting highly accurate homonuclear vicinal coupling constants in DNA.

Algorithms↗

Cloning and sequencing of the Candida albicans C-4 sterol methyl oxidase gene (ERG25) and expression of an ERG25 conditional lethal mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The ERG25 gene encoding the Candida albicans C-4 sterol methyl oxidase was cloned and sequenced by complementing a Saccharomyces cerevisiae erg25 mutant with a C. albicans genomic library. The Erg25p is comprised of 308 amino acids and shows 65 and 38% homology to the enzymes from S. cerevisiae and Homo sapiens, respectively. The protein contains three histidine clusters common to nonheme iron-binding enzymes and an endoplasmic reticulum retrieval signal as do the proteins from S. cerevisiae and humans. A temperature-sensitive (ts) conditional lethal mutation of the C. albicans ERG25 was isolated and expressed in S. cerevisiae. Sequence analysis of the ts mutant indicated an amino acid substitution within the region of the protein encompassed by the histidine clusters involved in iron binding. Results indicate that plasmid-borne conditional lethal mutants of target genes have potential use in the rescue of Candida mutations in genes that are essential for viability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tibiofibular syndesmosis and ossification. Case report: sequelae of ankle sprain in an adolescent football player.

Heterotopic ossification development within the interosseous membrane of the ankle is an uncommon occurrence after routine ankle sprains. We present a case of a high school football player who sustained a syndesmosis ankle sprain. After 4 weeks, he continued to have pain, swelling, and range of motion restriction despite being treated with cryotherapy, NSAIDs, supportive taping, and progressive rehabilitation. The radiographs revealed a heterotopic ossification within the interosseous membrane of the distal extremity. The patient was initially treated conservatively and went on to have surgical excision with an excellent result. Symptomatic patients will require definitive surgery even without frank synostosis.

Adolescent↗

NMR structure determination and structure-based functional characterization of conserved hypothetical protein MTH1175 from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum.

The solution structure of MTH1175, a 124-residue protein from the archaeon Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum has been determined by NMR spectroscopy. MTH1175 is part of a family of conserved hypothetical proteins (COG1433) with unknown functions which contains multiple paralogs from all complete archaeal genomes and the archaeal gene-rich bacterium Thermotoga maritima. Sequence similarity indicates this protein family may be related to the nitrogen fixation proteins NifB and NifX. MTH1175 adopts an alpha/beta topology with a single mixed beta-sheet, and contains two flexible loops and an unstructured C-terminal tail. The fold resembles that of Ribonuclease H and similar proteins, but differs from these in several respects, and is not likely to have a nuclease activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural proteomics of an archaeon.

A set of 424 nonmembrane proteins from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum were cloned, expressed and purified for structural studies. Of these, approximately 20% were found to be suitable candidates for X-ray crystallographic or NMR spectroscopic analysis without further optimization of conditions, providing an estimate of the number of the most accessible structural targets in the proteome. A retrospective analysis of the experimental behavior of these proteins suggested some simple relations between sequence and solubility, implying that data bases of protein properties will be useful in optimizing high throughput strategies. Of the first 10 structures determined, several provided clues to biochemical functions that were not detectable from sequence analysis, and in many cases these putative functions could be readily confirmed by biochemical methods. This demonstrates that structural proteomics is feasible and can play a central role in functional genomics.

Cloning, Molecular↗

NMR evidence for base dynamics at all TpA steps in DNA.

NMR evidence is presented indicating that the exceptional conformational dynamics found at TpA steps in DNA is general to all immediate sequence contexts. One easily tractable NMR parameter that is sensitive to TpA base dynamics is the resonance linewidth of the TpA adenine H2 proton. This resonance experiences a temperature-dependent broadening due to conformational dynamics. Unusual dynamics at TpA steps were originally observed in the sequence context (T)pTpTpApAp(A). We have since shown that the evidence for TpA dynamics persists when either the thymine preceding the TpA step or the adenine following the TpA step is preserved [McAteer et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 23, 3962-3966 (1995)]. Here, in order establish whether or not exceptional TpA dynamics occurs in all DNA sequence contexts, we investigated a series of DNA sequences of the form GCNaTANbNbTANaGC, where N=A,T,C,G. In this family of sequences, all 16 possible immediate sequence context environments of the form NaTANb were examined using 10 DNA sequences. Our NMR results show that the TpA adenine H2 resonance contains a temperature dependent excess linewidth indicative of dynamics in all 16 sequence context environments. By studying a complete set of sequence contexts, it was possible to recognize trends relating resonance parameters and sequence environment. For example, the magnitude of the maximum linewidth is largely determined by the identity of the nucleotide following the TpA step and the magnitude of the linewidth maximum is moderately correlated (r=0.56) with the temperature of the linewidth maximum. The physical basis for these correlations is discussed.

Adenine↗

Cadmium mutagenicity and human nucleotide excision repair protein XPA: CD, EXAFS and (1)H/(15)N-NMR spectroscopic studies on the zinc(II)- and cadmium(II)-associated minimal DNA-binding domain (M98-F219).

Human XPA is a 31 kDa protein involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER), a ubiquitous, multi-enzyme pathway responsible for processing multiple types of DNA damage in the eukaryotic genome. A zinc-associated, C4-type motif (C105-X(2)-C108-X(17)-C126-X(2)-C129) located in the minimal DNA-binding region (M98-F219) of XPA (XPA-MBD) is essential for damaged DNA recognition. Cadmium is a known carcinogen and can displace the zinc in many metal-binding proteins. It has been suggested that the carcinogenic properties of cadmium may result from structural changes effected in XPA when Cd(2+) is substituted for Zn(2+) in the metal-binding site. The solution structure of XPA-MBD containing zinc(II) has recently been determined [Buchko et al., (1998) Nucleic Acids Res., 26, 2779-2788; Buchko et al., (1999) Biochemistry, 38, 15116-15128]. To assess the effects of cadmium(II) substitution on the structure of XPA-MBD, XPA-MBD was expressed in minimal medium supplemented with cadmium acetate to yield a protein that was almost exclusively (>95%) associated with cadmium(II) (CdXPA-MBD). Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra collected on ZnXPA-MBD and CdXPA-MBD in frozen (77 K) 15% aqueous glycerol solution show that the metal is coordinated to the sulfur atoms of four cysteine residues with an average metal-sulfur bond length of 2.34 +/- 0.01 and 2.54 +/- 0.01 A, respectively. Comparison of the circular dichroism, two-dimensional (1)H,(15)N-HSQC, and three-dimensional (15)N-edited HSQC-NOESY spectra of ZnXPA-MBD and CdXPA-MBD show that there are no structural differences between the two proteins. The absence of major structural changes upon substituting cadmium(II) for zinc(II) in XPA suggests that cadmium-induced mutagenesis is probably not due to structural perturbations to the zinc-binding core of XPA.

Cadmium↗

Structural studies of a baboon (Papio sp.) plasma protein inhibitor of cholesteryl ester transferase.

A 38-residue protein associated with cholesteryl ester transfer inhibition has been identified in baboons (Papio sp.). The cholesteryl ester transfer inhibitor protein (CETIP) corresponds to the N-terminus of baboon apoC-I. Relative to CETIP, baboon apoC-I is a weak inhibitor of baboon cholesteryl ester transferase (CET). To study the structural features responsible for CET inhibition, CETIP was synthesized by solid-phase methods. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to model the lipoprotein environment, the solution structure of CETIP was probed by optical and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Circular dichroism data show that the protein lacks a well-defined structure in water but, upon the addition of SDS, becomes helical (56%). A small blue shift of 8 nm was observed in the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of CETIP in the presence of saturating amounts of SDS, suggesting that tryptophan-23 is not buried deeply in the lipid environment. The helical nature of CETIP in the presence of SDS was confirmed by upfield 1Halpha secondary shifts and an average solution structure determined by distance geometry/simulated annealing calculations using 476 NOE-based distance restraints. The backbone (N-Calpha-C=O) root-mean-square deviation of an ensemble of 17 out of 25 calculated structures superimposed on the average structure was 1.06+0.30 A using residues V4-P35 and 0.51+/-0.17 A using residues A7-S32. Although the side-chain orientations fit the basic description of a class A amphipathic helix, both intramolecular salt bridge formation and "snorkeling" of basic side chains toward the polar face play minor, if any, roles in stabilizing the lipid-bound amphipathic structure. Conformational features of the calculated structures for CETIP are discussed relative to models of CETIP inhibition of cholesteryl ester transferase.

Animals↗

Reducing the progression of myopia with atropine: a long term cohort study of Olmsted County students.

BACKGROUND: Myopia is an important public health problem because it is common and is associated with increased risk for chorioretinal degeneration, retinal detachment, and other vision- threatening abnormalities. In animals, ocular elongation and myopia progression can be lessened with atropine treatment. This study provides information about progression of myopia and atropine therapy for myopia in humans. METHODS: A total of 214 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota (118 girls and 96 boys, median age, 11 years; range 6 to 15 years) received atropine for myopia from 1967 through 1974. Control subjects were matched by age, sex, refractive error, and date of baseline examination to 194 of those receiving atropine. Duration of treatment with atropine ranged from 18 weeks to 11.5 years (median 3.5 years). RESULTS: Median followup from initial to last refraction in the atropine group (11.7 years) was similar to that in the control group (12.4 years). Photophobia and blurred vision were frequently reported, but no serious adverse effects were associated with atropine therapy. Mean myopia progression during atropine treatment adjusted for age and refractive error (0.05 diopters per year) was significantly less than that among control subjects (0.36 diopters per year)(P<.001). Final refractions standardized to the age of 20 years showed a greater mean level of myopia in the control group (3.78 diopters) than in the atropine group (2.79 diopters) (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The data support the view that atropine therapy is associated with decreased progression of myopia and that beneficial effects remain after treatment has been discontinued.

Adolescent↗

Interactions of human nucleotide excision repair protein XPA with DNA and RPA70 Delta C327: chemical shift mapping and 15N NMR relaxation studies.

Human XPA is an essential component in the multienzyme nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. The solution structure of the minimal DNA binding domain of XPA (XPA-MBD: M98-F219) was recently determined [Buchko et al. (1998) Nucleic Acids Res. 26, 2779-2788, Ikegami et al. (1998) Nat. Struct. Biol. 5, 701-706] and shown to consist of a compact zinc-binding core and a loop-rich C-terminal subdomain connected by a linker sequence. Here, the solution structure of XPA-MBD was further refined using an entirely new class of restraints based on pseudocontact shifts measured in cobalt-substituted XPA-MBD. Using this structure, the surface of XPA-MBD which interacts with DNA and a fragment of the largest subunit of replication protein A (RPA70 Delta C327: M1-Y326) was determined using chemical shift mapping. DNA binding in XPA-MBD was highly localized in the loop-rich subdomain for DNA with or without a lesion [dihydrothymidine (dhT) or 6-4-thymidine-cytidine (64TC)], or with DNA in single- or double-stranded form, indicating that the character of the lesion itself is not the driving force for XPA binding DNA. RPA70 Delta C327 was found to contact regions in both the zinc-binding and loop-rich subdomains. Some overlap of the DNA and RPA70 Delta C327 binding regions was observed in the loop-rich subdomain, indicating a possible cooperative DNA-binding mode between XPA and RPA70 Delta C327. To complement the chemical shift mapping data, the backbone dynamics of free XPA-MBD and XPA-MBD bound to DNA oligomers containing dhT or 64TC lesions were investigated using 15N NMR relaxation data. The dynamic analyses for the XPA-MBD complexes with DNA revealed localized increases and decreases in S2 and an increase in the global correlation time. Regions of XPA-MBD with the largest increases in S2 overlapped regions having the largest chemical shifts changes upon binding DNA, indicating that the loop-rich subdomain becomes more rigid upon binding DNA. Interestingly, S2 decreased for some residues in the zinc-binding core upon DNA association, indicating a possible concerted structural rearrangement on binding DNA.

Binding Sites↗

A phylogenetic approach to target selection for structural genomics: solution structure of YciH.

Structural genomics presents an enormous challenge with up to 100 000 protein targets in the human genome alone. At current rates of structure deter-mination, judicious selection of targets is necessary. Here, a phylogenetic approach to target selection is described which makes use of the National Center for Biotechnology Information database of Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COGS). The strategy is designed so that each new protein structure is likely to provide novel sequence-fold information. To demonstrate this approach, the NMR solution structure of YciH (COG0023), a putative translation initiation factor from Escherichia coli, has been determined and its fold classified. YciH is an ortholog of eIF-1/SUI1, an integral component of the translation initiation complex in eukaryotes. The structure consists of two antiparallel alpha-helices packed against the same side of a five-stranded beta-sheet. The first 31 residues of the 11.5 kDa protein are unstructured in solution. Comparative analysis indicates that the folded portion of YciH resembles a number of structures with the alpha-beta plait topology, though its sequence is not homologous to any of them. Thus, the phylogenetic approach to target selection described here was used successfully to identify a new homologous superfamily within this topology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fecal shedding of feline coronavirus in adult cats and kittens in an Abyssinian cattery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine patterns of fecal shedding of feline coronavirus (FCV) by cats, age at which kittens first began to shed FCV in their feces, and whether there was any relationship between fecal shedding of FCV and serum antibody titers in adult cats or kittens. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. ANIMALS: 15 adult cats and 18 kittens from a single cattery. PROCEDURE: Blood and fecal samples were collected from adult cats every other month for 13 months. Serum FCV antibody titers were measured by use of an indirect immunofluorescence assay. A reverse-transcriptase, nested polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect FCV in feces. Blood and fecal samples were collected from kittens at approximately 2-week intervals from 3 weeks to 15 weeks of age. RESULTS: Adult cats shed FCV intermittently. All adult cats shed virus in their feces at least once during the year, and 4 of 15 shed virus > 75% of the time. Serum antibody titer was not significantly associated with shedding of FCV. For the kittens, median age at the time FCV was first detected in feces was 67 days (range, 33 to 78 days). All except 1 of the kittens was found to be shedding virus in their feces before or at the time of seroconversion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that serum FCV antibody titers are not a good indicator of shedding of FCV in the feces. Kittens may shed FCV in their feces before they seroconvert, and all kittens in a cattery in which FCV infection is endemic may be infected before 12 weeks of age.

Animals↗

Troponin I inhibitory peptide (96-115) has an extended conformation when bound to skeletal muscle troponin C.

We have utilized CD and NMR spectroscopy to study the conformation of the troponin I (TnI) inhibitory peptide [TnI(96-115)] free in solution and when bound to troponin C (TnC). Analysis of the CD spectrum of the free peptide in aqueous solution indicates it is only approximately 3% helix. Upon complex formation with TnC, there is no change in total helix content compared to the sum of the free components. The NMR data support a predominantly extended conformation for the free peptide. TnI(96-115) bound to TnC was selectively observed by NMR using deuterated TnC (dTnC). For the 1:1 ratio of TnI(96-115) to dTnC used, 95% of the peptide was bound to dTnC. The chemical shifts of the TnC-bound peptide resonances are similar to those of the free peptide, indicating that the change in peptide conformation as a consequence of binding to TnC is small. For the TnC-bound TnI(96-115) peptide, the ratios of sequential Halpha-HN to intraresidue HN-Halpha NOE cross-peak volumes support a predominantly extended conformation, possibly kinked at Gly104. The results presented here are in agreement with sequence analysis predictions for TnI(96-115) as a free peptide or within the intact TnI sequence. The predominantly extended structure for the 96-115 inhibitory sequence segment of TnI with a kink at Gly104 may facilitate its binding alternately to actin or TnC in response to the Ca2+ signals that control thick and thin filament interactions during the contractile cycle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transcriptional regulation of the squalene synthase gene (ERG9) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The ergosterol biosynthetic pathway is a specific branch of the mevalonate pathway. Since the cells requirement for sterols is greater than for isoprenoids, sterol biosynthesis must be regulated independently of isoprenoid biosynthesis. In this study we explored the transcriptional regulation of squalene synthase (ERG9) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the first enzyme dedicated to the synthesis of sterols. A mutant search was performed to identify genes that were involved in the regulation of the expression of an ERG9-lacZ promoter fusion. Mutants with phenotypes consistent with known sterol biosynthetic mutations (ERG3, ERG7, ERG24) increased expression of ERG9. In addition, treatment of wild-type cells with the sterol inhibitors zaragozic acid and ketoconazole, which target squalene synthase and the C-14 sterol demethylase respectively, also caused an increase in ERG9 expression. The data also demonstrate that heme mutants increased ERG9 expression while anaerobic conditions decreased expression. Additionally, the heme activator protein transcription factors HAP1 and HAP2/3/4, the yeast activator protein transcription factor yAP-1, and the phospholipid transcription factor complex INO2/4 regulate ERG9 expression. ERG9 expression is decreased in hap1, hap2/3/4, and yap-1 mutants while ino2/4 mutants showed an increase in ERG9 expression. This study demonstrates that ERG9 transcription is regulated by several diverse factors, consistent with the idea that as the first step dedicated to the synthesis of sterols, squalene synthase gene expression and ultimately sterol biosynthesis is highly regulated.

Base Sequence↗

Novel endotheliotropic herpesviruses fatal for Asian and African elephants.

A highly fatal hemorrhagic disease has been identified in 10 young Asian and African elephants at North American zoos. In the affected animals there was ultrastructural evidence for herpesvirus-like particles in endothelial cells of the heart, liver, and tongue. Consensus primer polymerase chain reaction combined with sequencing yielded molecular evidence that confirmed the presence of two novel but related herpesviruses associated with the disease, one in Asian elephants and another in African elephants. Otherwise healthy African elephants with external herpetic lesions yielded herpesvirus sequences identical to that found in Asian elephants with endothelial disease. This finding suggests that the Asian elephant deaths were caused by cross-species infection with a herpesvirus that is naturally latent in, but normally not lethal to, African elephants. A reciprocal relationship may exist for the African elephant disease.

Africa↗

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure evidence for a single metal binding domain in Xenopus laevis nucleotide excision repair protein XPA.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is an important cellular mechanism, conserved from bacteria to humans, responsible for eliminating multiple types of structurally distinct DNA lesions from the genome. The protein XPA appears to play a central role in NER, recognizing and/or verifying damaged DNA and recruiting other proteins, including RPA, ERCC1, and TFIIH, to repair the damage. Sequence analysis and genetic evidence suggest that zinc, which is essential for DNA binding, is associated with a C4-type motif, C-X2-C-X17-C-X2-C. Sequence analysis suggests that a second, H2C2-type zinc-binding motif may be present near the C-terminal. Seventy percent of the amino acid sequence of Xenopus laevis XPA (xXPA) is identical to human XPA and both putative zinc-binding motifs are conserved in all known XPA proteins. Electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy data show that xXPA contains only one zinc atom per molecule. EXAFS spectra collected on full-length xXPA in frozen (77 K) 15% glycerol aqueous solution unequivocally show that the zinc atom is coordinated to four sulfur atoms with an average Zn--S bond length of 2.33 +/- 0.02 A. Together, the EXAFS and mass spectroscopy data indicate that xXPA contains just one C4-type zinc-binding motif.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Solution-state structure of a DNA dodecamer duplex containing a Cis-syn thymine cyclobutane dimer, the major UV photoproduct of DNA.

The solution structures of a duplex DNA dodecamer containing a cis-syn cyclobutane thymine dimer d(GCACGAAT[cs]TAAG).d(CTTAATTCG TGC) and its native parent sequence were determined using NMR data collected at 750 MHz. The dodecamer sequence corresponds to the section of a site-specific cis-syn dimer containing 49-mer that was found to be the binding site for the dimer-specific T4 denV endonuclease V repair enzyme by chemical and enzymatic footprinting experiments. Structures of both sequences were derived from NOE restrained molecular dynamics/simulated annealing calculations using a fixed outer layer of water and an inner dynamic layer of water with sodium counterions. The resulting structures reveal a subtle distortion to the phosphodiester backbone in the dimer-containing sequence which includes a BII phosphate at the T9pA10 junction immediately 3' to the dimer. The BII phosphate, established experimentally by analysis of the 31P chemical shifts and interpretation of the 3JP-H3' values using an optimized Karplus relationship, enables the DNA helix to accommodate the dimer by destacking the base 3' to the dimer. Furthermore, the structures provide explanations for the unusually shifted T8-N3H imino, A16-H2 and T8-Me proton resonances and T9pA10 (31)P NMR resonance and are consistent with bending, unwinding, and thermodynamic data. The implications of the structural data for the mechanism by which cis-syn dimers are recognized by repair enzymes and bypassed by DNA polymerases are also discussed.

Base Pairing↗

Structural features of the minimal DNA binding domain (M98-F219) of human nucleotide excision repair protein XPA.

XPA, an essential protein in nucleotide excision repair (NER), interacts with damaged DNA and other proteins (RPA, ERCC1 and TFIIH) to remove a wide variety of chemically and structurally distinct DNA lesions from the eukaryotic genome. To understand the structural basis for the role of XPA in the repair process, the structure of the minimal DNA binding domain of human XPA [XPA-MBD (M98-F219)] was studied by NMR spectroscopy. A three-dimensional structure for XPA-MBD was generated using distance geometry and simulated annealing methods from NOE-based distance restraints, hydrogen bond and Zn-S distance restraints, and dihedral restraints. The structure calculations indicate that XPA-MBD contains elements of well-defined secondary structure interspaced with disordered loops organized into two non-interactive sub-domains: a zinc-binding core (D101-K137) and a loop-rich domain (L138-F219). The zinc-associated core contains an antiparallel beta-sheet (Y102-C105 and K110-M113) and an alpha-helix (C126-K137) separated by a poorly defined turn, reminiscent of the structure of the zinc-binding domain of the chicken erythroid transcription factor GATA-1 when bound to its cognate DNA sequence. The loop-rich domain contains a triple-strand antiparallel beta-sheet (L138-T140, L182-M178 and K163-K167), three loops (K151-L162, N169-D177 and Q208-F219) and three alpha-helices (K141-L150, K183-W194 and Q197-R207). The XPA-MBD structure is discussed in terms of known functions: binding single- and double-stranded DNA and binding RPA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗