Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Conservation analysis”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

The 1.8 A resolution structure of hevamine, a plant chitinase/lysozyme, and analysis of the conserved sequence and structure motifs of glycosyl hydrolase family 18.

The three-dimensional structure of hevamine, a plant enzyme with chitinase and lysozyme activity, has been refined at 1.8 A resolution to an R-factor of 14.9% and a free R-factor of 19.6%. The final model consists of all 273 amino acid residues and 206 ordered water molecules. Two non-proline cis-peptides were identified, involving Phe32 and Trp255, both of which are implicated in substrate binding. Other glycosyl hydrolase family 18 proteins with known three-dimensional structure are bacterial chitinase A, endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F1, endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, and the two plant proteins concanavalin B and narbonin, which have no known enzymatic activity. All these structures contain a (beta alpha)8 barrel fold, with the two family 18 consensus regions roughly corresponding to the third and fourth barrel strands. This confirms the grouping of these proteins into family 18, which was only based on weak and local sequence similarity. The substrate specificity of the enzymes is determined by the loops following the barrel strands that form the substrate binding site. All enzymes have an aspartic acid and a glutamic acid residue in positions identical with Asp 125 and the catalytic Glu127 of hevamine. The lack of chitinase activity of concanavalin B and narbonin can be explained by the absence of one of these carboxylate groups, and by differences in the loops that form the substrate-binding cleft in hevamine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutational analysis of the conserved bases C1402 and A1500 in the center of the decoding domain of Escherichia coli 16 S rRNA reveals an important tertiary interaction.

Interactions within the decoding center of the 30 S ribosomal subunit have been investigated by constructing all 15 possible mutations at nucleotides C1402 and A1500 in helix 44 of 16 S rRNA. As expected, most of the mutations resulted in highly deleterious phenotypes, consistent with the high degree of conservation of this region and its functional importance. A total of seven mutants were viable under conditions where the mutant ribosomes comprised 100 % of the ribosomal pool. A suppressor mutation specific for the C1402U-A1500G mutant was isolated at position 1520 in helix 45 of 16 S rRNA. In addition, lack of dimethylation of A1518/A1519 caused by mutation of the ksgA methylase enhanced the deleterious effect of many of the 1402/1500 mutations. These data suggest that a higher-order interaction between helices 44 and 45 in 16 S rRNA is important for the proper functioning of the ribosome. This is consistent with the recent high-resolution crystal structures of the 30 S subunit, which show a tertiary interaction between the 1402/1500 region of helix 44 and the dimethyl A stem loop.

Aminoglycosides↗

Mutational analysis of the 'conserved region' of maize streak virus suggests its involvement in replication.

Maize streak virus as well as other geminiviruses contain a potential hairpin structure with the conserved sequence TAATATTAC in the loop. We assessed the possible involvement of this structure in replication and symptom induction of the virus. A series of insertion and deletion mutants were analyzed by agroinfection. Deletion of the hairpin or insertions in the conserved sequence abolished symptom development. Viral DNA could not be detected in the infected tissue. However, a mutant with a point mutation in the 'conserved' sequence, isolated after inoculation of maize plants with an insertion mutant, was able to replicate and to induce symptoms.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗

Analysis of chromosome conservation in Lemur catta studied by chromosome paints and BAC/PAC probes.

A panel of human chromosome painting probes and bacterial and P1 artificial chromosome (BAC/PAC) clones were used in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments to investigate the chromosome conservation of the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta, LCA) with respect to human. Whole chromosome paints specific for human chromosomes 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, and X were found to identify a single chromosome or an uninterrupted chromosomal region in LCA. A large set of partial chromosome paints and BAC/PAC probes were then used to refine the characterization of the rearrangements differentiating the two karyotypes. The results were also used to reconstruct the ancestral Lemuridae karyotype. Lemur catta, indeed, can be used as an outgroup, allowing symplesiomorphic (ancestral) rearrangements to be distinguished from apomorphic (derived) rearrangements in lemurs. Some LCA chromosomes are difficult to distinguish morphologically. The 'anchorage' of most LCA chromosomes to specific probes will contribute to the standardization of the karyotype of this species.

Animals↗

Molecular analysis of the conserved C4 region of the S11-RNase of Solanum chacoense.

The stylar component to gametophytic self-incompatibility in Solanaceae is an S-RNase. Its primary structure has a characteristic pattern of two hypervariable regions, involved in pollen recognition, and five constant regions. Two of the latter (C2 and C3) constitute the active site, while the highly hydrophobic C1 and C5 are believed to be involved in protein stability. We analyzed the role of the C4 region by site-directed mutagenesis. A GGGG mutant, in which the four charged residues in the C4 region were replaced with glycine, did not accumulate the protein to detectable levels in styles, suggestive of a role in protein stability. A R115G mutant, in which a charged amino acid was eliminated to reduce the potential binding affinity, had no effect on the pollen rejection phenotype. This suggests the C4 does not interact with partners such as potential pollen tube receptors facilitating S-RNase uptake. Finally, a K113R mutant replaced a potential ubiquitination target with arginine. However, this RNase acted as the wild type in both incompatible and compatible crosses. The latter crosses rule out the role of the conserved C4 lysine in ubiquitination.

Conserved Sequence↗

IL-6 signaling via the STAT3/SOCS3 pathway: functional analysis of the conserved STAT3 N-domain.

The conserved N-domain of the STAT proteins has been implicated in several activities crucial to cytokine signaling including receptor recruitment and STAT activation, cooperative DNA binding and STAT-dependent gene expression. We evaluated the role of the STAT3 N-domain in the IL-6 signal transduction pathway leading to Socs3 gene expression, an essential mechanism that controls the quality and magnitude of IL-6-dependent transcriptional responses. Based on the model for STAT N-domain function in cooperative gene expression and the presence of tandem STAT binding motifs in the murine Socs3 promoter, we anticipated that stabilizing interactions between adjacent STAT3 dimers via N-domain sequences might be essential for Socs3 gene expression. This was underscored by the tight conservation in the location and sequence of the tandem STAT binding sites between the murine and human Socs3 promoters. Using reconstitution into Stat3-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (Stat3-/- MEFs), we find that a STAT3 N-domain deletion mutant (Delta 133STAT3) is activated by tyrosine phosphorylation in response to IL-6 and then undergoes dephosphorylation with kinetics similar to full-length STAT3. These results highlight important differences compared to other STATs where the N-domain has been shown to mediate activation (STAT4) or dephosphorylation (STAT1). STAT3 binds predominantly to a single STAT consensus site in the Socs3 promoter, despite the presence of an adjacent STAT motif. Significantly, Delta 133STAT3 stimulates expression of the endogenous Socs3 gene in Stat3-/- MEFs upon IL-6 treatment with an activity similar to reconstituted STAT3, demonstrating that the N-domain is dispensable for Socs3 gene expression. We propose that the Socs3 gene in its chromosomal context is activated by the IL-6/STAT3 pathway independent of STAT3 N-domain sequences.

Animals↗

Comparative analysis of the conserved region of the orthopoxvirus genome encoding the 36K and 12K proteins.

Genes encoding virus-specific proteins with molecular masses of 36 kDa and 12 kDa were mapped in HindIII-P and HindIII-U DNA fragments of vaccinia strain LIVP and ectromelia strain K-1 viruses, respectively, by hybrid selection of RNA to cloned DNA fragments followed by in vitro translation. The 36K translation initiation codon was detected in the HindIII-J fragment. The nucleotide sequences of corresponding genes from vaccinia, ectromelia, cowpox and variola virus genomes were determined. The 12K protein has similarity to mammalian glutaredoxins. The derived amino acid sequence of the 36K polypeptide was compared with the protein bank PIR. No homology was found between the 36K protein and known structures of proteins. The 36K protein genes of vaccinia and ectromelia viruses were cloned in pUR290, which led to the production of E. coli chimeric proteins, consisting of the sequence of beta-galactosidase and the viral protein on their C-ends. The chimeric proteins were shown to possess viral antigenic specificity. To identify the protein product of the 36K gene monospecific antisera to chimeric proteins were obtained. The late 36K protein is associated with virosomes but is not incorporated into the virions of orthopoxviruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of Sparus aurata osteonectin cDNA and in silico analysis of protein conserved features: evidence for more than one osteonectin in Salmonidae.

Osteonectin is a matricellular protein involved in various cellular mechanisms but its exact function remains unclear despite numerous studies. We present here the cloning of Sparus aurata partial osteonectin cDNA and the reconstruction of 15 other sequences from both vertebrates and invertebrates, almost doubling the set of available sequences (a total of 35 sequences is now available). Taking advantage of the resulting large amount of data, we have created multiple sequence alignments and identified osteonectin putative conserved features (intra- and inter-disulfide bonds, collagen- and calcium-binding domains and phosphorylation sites) likely to be important for protein structure and function. This work also provides the first evidence for the presence of more than one osteonectin in some species. Finally, S. aurata osteonectin gene expression has been shown to initiate during larval development shortly after gastrulation, and to be high in bone-derived cell lines while down-regulated during extracellular matrix mineralization, further emphasizing the important role of osteonectin in skeletal development and bone formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of Sparus aurata bone morphogenetic protein 2: molecular cloning, gene expression and in silico analysis of protein conserved features in vertebrates.

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) is a secreted signaling molecule that acts as an inducer of bone formation and a regulator of embryonic development. The objectives of this work were as follows: (1) to clone the full-length cDNA of BMP-2 in a marine fish model, (2) analyze its gene expression during development, in adult tissues and in cell lines, and (3) identify protein conserved features of vertebrate BMP-2. Using a combination of RT- and 5'-RACE-PCR, a 1653-bp fragment corresponding to Sparus aurata BMP-2 cDNA (SaBMP-2) was amplified. Levels of SaBMP-2 gene expression were estimated using quantitative real-time PCR and shown to be strongly increased (150-fold induction) at gastrulation, thus suggesting a key role for BMP-2 in fish development. Tissue distribution of SaBMP-2 mRNA revealed highest levels in the calcified tissues bone, caudal fin and scales and in liver. BMP-2 was also found to be highly expressed in S. aurata bone-derived cell lines VSa13 and VSa16 and to be up-regulated (more than 10-fold induction) in mineralized VSa13 chondrocyte-like cells. Using bioinformatic tools and all vertebrate protein sequences available, conserved features of BMP-2 were characterized. The mature protein was shown to be highly conserved across 20 species indicating that BMP-2 function has been conserved throughout evolution, a finding that is in agreement with the widely accepted view of the important role played by BMPs in vertebrate development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and analysis of a conserved immunoglobulin E-binding epitope in soybean G1a and G2a and peanut Ara h 3 glycinins.

To identify conserved immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding epitopes among legume glycinins, we utilized recombinant soybean G2a and G2a-derived polypeptide fragments. All of these fusion polypeptides bound IgE, and the C-terminal 94-residue fragment appeared to bind more IgE. Using synthetic peptides we identified S219-N233 (S(219)GFAPEFLKEAFGVN(233)) as the dominant IgE-binding epitope. Alanine scanning of this epitope indicated that six amino acids (E224, F225, L226, F230, G231, and V232) contributed most to IgE binding. Among these amino acids, only G231 of soybean G2a is not conserved in soybean G1a (S234) and peanut Ara h 3 (Q256). Synthetic peptides corresponding to the equivalent regions in G1a and Ara h 3 bound IgE in the order Ara h 3>/=soybean G2a>soybean G1a. This sequence represents a new IgE-binding epitope that occurs in a highly conserved region present in legume glycinins. Such IgE-binding sites could provide a molecular explanation for the IgE cross-reactivity observed between soybean and peanut proteins.

Allergens↗

Analysis of the conserved acidic residues in the regulatory domain of PhoB.

The PhoB protein from Escherichia coli is a member of the two-component signal transduction pathway that controls an adaptive response to limiting phosphate. Activation involves its phosphorylation on a conserved aspartate. Site-directed mutations were introduced at conserved acidic residues. The E9D, D10E, D10N, E11A, E11D and E11Q mutants were each able to induce alkaline phosphatase under low phosphate growth conditions whereas the E9A, D10A, D53A, D53E and D53N could not. The E9Q mutant was constitutively active. Phosphorylation assays showed that only the E9D, E11A, E11Q and E11D mutants were phosphorylated by acetyl phosphate. Most mutants also displayed defects in magnesium binding.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Specificity analysis of the conserved hexanucleotides for the replication of bamboo mosaic potexvirus RNA.

In order to investigate the possible function of the potexviral conserved hexanucleotide sequence (ACc/uUAA) found in the 3' untranslated region of bamboo mosaic potexvirus (BaMV) genomic RNA, each nucleotide in the hexamer motif was substituted. Transcripts derived from wild-type and mutants with a loop deletion or a single-nucleotide substitution were inoculated into protoplasts. The accumulation levels of viral coat protein and RNAs detected from Western and Northern blots of each inoculation were examined after a 48-h incubation. Our data revealed that the nucleotides at positions 4-6 of the hexamer motif cannot be replaced by other nucleotides; the first position of this hexamer is purine specific, and the second position is restricted to pyrimidine. Substitution at the third position has less effect on viral accumulation in protoplasts. In addition to the results reported previously that the E. coli over-expressed BaMV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase could specifically interact with the hexamer motif, the hexanucleotides were thought to serve as a recognition site of viral replicase and the specificity may be derived from the functional groups of each nucleotide of this hexamer motif.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Serine proteases and their homologs in the Drosophila melanogaster genome: an initial analysis of sequence conservation and phylogenetic relationships.

Serine proteases (SPs) and serine protease homologs (SPHs) constitute the second largest family of genes in the Drosophila melanogaster genome. Eighty-four SPs comprise less than 300 amino acid residues, and a significant portion of them are probably digestive enzymes. Some larger SPs may contain one or more regions important for protein-protein interactions, including clip domains, low-density lipoprotein receptor class A repeats, and scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domains. We identified 37 clusters of SP or SPH genes, which probably evolved from relatively recent gene duplication and sequence divergence. A majority of the SPs may be trypsin-like and activated by cleavage after a specific arginine or lysine residue. Among the 147 SPs and 57 SPHs studied, 24 SPs and 13 SPHs contain at least one regulatory clip domain. A multiple sequence alignment of the clip domains provided further information on structural conservation of these regulatory modules. Detailed sequence comparison led to an improved classification system for SPs containing clip domains. These analyses have established a framework of information about evolutionary relationships among the Drosophila SPs and SPHs, which may facilitate research on these proteins as well as homologous molecules from other invertebrate species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular modeling of CD28 and three-dimensional analysis of residue conservation in the CD28/CD152 family.

CD28/CD152-CD80/CD86 receptor-ligand interactions result in costimulatory signals critical for optimal T cell activation. CD28/CD152 and CD80/CD86 are members of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF). Despite common receptor-ligand interactions, both receptor and ligand pairs share only limited sequence identity. A detailed molecular model of the extracellular Ig-like domain of human CD28 was constructed using a combination of different modeling methods. The model was based on the solution structure of CD152 and sequence comparison of the CD28/CD152 family. Assessment of the model revealed good stereochemical quality and sequence-structure compatibility. The CD28 model was used to map surface residues, N-linked glycosylation sites, and to compare residue conservation in CD28 and CD152. The location of N-linked glycosylation sites in CD28/CD152 restricts the surface area available for binding. Rigorous sequence conservation in CD28 and CD152 is limited to core IgSF consensus positions and surface residues implicated in ligand binding. Other surface residues vary greatly in CD28/CD152. Residues critical for ligand binding are surrounded by surface patches conserved only in either CD28 or CD152.

Abatacept↗

p-Aminobenzoate synthesis in Escherichia coli: mutational analysis of three conserved amino acid residues of the amidotransferase PabA.

p-Aminobenzoate synthesis in Escherichia coli requires three enzymes, PabA, PabB, and PabC, acting respectively as glutaminase, chorismate aminase, and 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate aromatase. PabA requires stoichiometric amounts of PabB to display glutaminase activity. PabA has conserved cysteine (C79), histidine (H168), and glutamate (E170) residues that have been suggested in the analogous anthranilate synthase to form a type of catalytic triad in an acylenzyme mechanism. Mutations at each of these residues of PabA lead to the following observations. C79S PabA has 40-fold lower kcat and 10(4) lower kcat/Km with no detectable acylenzyme accumulation in steady-state turnover (vs wild-type PabA at 0.56 mol fraction of gamma-glutamyl-enzyme). H168Q has no catalytic activity and does not compete with wild-type PabA for PabB (this may indicate a folding defect). Four E170 mutants give three outcomes. E170D and E170A yield active PabA species, down 4-fold and 150-fold, respectively, in kcat/Km ratios from wild-type PabA. E170Q has no detectable glutaminase activity but does bind to PabB in competition with wild-typoe PabA while E170K has neither detectable catalytic activity nor the ability to be recognized by PabB.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗