Human and Bacterial Toll-Interleukin Receptor Domains Exhibit Distinct Dynamic Features and Functions

Toll-interleukin receptor (TIR) domains have emerged as critical players involved in innate immune signaling in humans but are also expressed as potential virulence factors within multiple pathogenic bacteria. However, there has been a shortage of structural studies aimed at elucidating atomic resolution details with respect to their interactions, potentially owing to their dynamic nature. Here, we used a combination of biophysical and biochemical studies to reveal the dynamic behavior and functional interactions of a panel of both bacterial TIR-containing proteins and mammalian receptor TIR domains. Regarding dynamics, all three bacterial TIR domains studied here exhibited an inherent exchange that led to severe resonance line-broadening, revealing their intrinsic dynamic nature on the intermediate NMR timescale. In contrast, the three mammalian TIR domains studied here exhibited a range in terms of their dynamic exchange that spans multiple timescales. Functionally, only the bacterial TIR domains were catalytic towards the cleavage of NAD⁺, despite the conservation of the catalytic nucleophile on human TIR domains. Our development of NMR-based catalytic assays allowed us to further identify differences in product formation for gram-positive versus gram-negative bacterial TIR domains. Differences in oligomeric interactions were also revealed, whereby bacterial TIR domains self-associated solely through their attached coil-coil domains, in contrast to the mammalian TIR domains that formed homodimers and heterodimers through reactive cysteines. Finally, we provide the first atomic-resolution studies of a bacterial coil-coil domain and provide the first atomic model of the TIR domain from a human anti-inflammatory IL-1R8 protein that undergoes a slow inherent exchange.     

90Sr/90Y determination in milk by Cherenkov radiation after microwave digestion

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - A separation procedure was developed and implemented for the isolation of gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) radionuclides from deuteron irradiated Pt...     

Triazole-tethered ferrocene-quinoline conjugates: solid-state structure analysis,electrochemistry and theoretical calculations

Structural Chemistry - Ferrocenyl-, triazole- and quinoline-containing compounds are known to possess potential for biological activities. The synthesis and biological activities of O-alkylated...     

Study of uranium biosorption process in aqueous solution by red beet peel

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Red beet peel was utilized for U(VI) removal in a batch system. The characterization of prepared biosorbent was performed by Fourier transform...     

Study of binary systems of β-cyclodextrin with a highly potential anti-mycobacterial drug

The present research paper is dedicated to the obtaining and physicochemical characterization of a highly potential anti-mycobacterial drug candidate with β-cyclodextrin (βCD). The active substance is a 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivative, 2-phenyl-5-{[(2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)methyl]sulfanyl}-1,3,4-oxadiazole, further named DIOX. DIOX–βCD binary systems were obtained as a physical mixture and a lyophilized product with molar ratio between the main components equal to 1:1 and 1:2. The obtained systems were submitted to physicochemical characterization applying the following instrumental methods: infrared spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Besides, a molecular modeling analysis has been performed. The research data suggested certain intermolecular interaction between DIOX and βCD, suggesting formation of a three-molecular inclusion complex DIOX:βCD, including one DIOX molecule and two molecules of βCD. The main parts of the DIOX molecule included in the hydrophobic cavity of the cyclodextrin molecules most probably are dioxolane cycle and two benzene rings.     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of Seseli montanum subsp. tommasinii essential oil

The essential oil isolated from Seseli montanum L. subsp. tommasinii Reich. f. was analyzed by GC/MS and the most abundant components were beta-pinene (30.2%), germacrene D (10.1%), sabinene (8.0%), alpha-pinene (7.2%) and limonene (6.6%). The antimicrobial effect of the essential oil was evaluated against four bacterial and four fungal species among which were food contaminants, spoilage fungi, and plant, fungal and animal pathogens. The oil possessed moderate to strong antimicrobial activity.     

Host–guest system of Vitamin B10 in β-cyclodextrin: characterization of the interaction in solution and in solid state

Conventional drugs are usually formulated for the immediate release of the medicinal substances and for obtaining the desired therapeutic effect. The aim of this paper was to investigate the possible interactions between Vitamin B10 and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), to determine the physical-chemical characteristics and the interactions present in the corresponding inclusion compound. The so-obtained compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction, DSC and FTIR spectroscopy. ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopic methods were employed to study the inclusion process in aqueous solution. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns demonstrate the inclusion compound formation, especially for the lyophilized product where the amorphous phase dominates. The existence of the inclusion compounds obtained by different methods was confirmed by comparing with DSC and FTIR data of the pure compounds and the (1:1) Vitamin B10:β-CD physical mixture (pm). ¹H NMR measurements on aqueous solutions of Vitamin B10 and β-CD in D₂O allowed us to establish the corresponding Vitamin B10’s and cyclodextrin’s protons implied in the complexation process. 2D NMR spectroscopy established the geometry of the inclusion complex. ¹H NMR, UV–Vis and fluorescence data were used to obtain the stoichiometry and the stability constant of the complex.     

Ethylene and ammonia traces measurements from the patients’ breath with renal failure via LPAS method

The application of laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS) for fast and precise measurements of breath biomarkers has opened up new promises for monitoring and diagnostics in recent years, especially because breath test is a non-invasive method, safe, rapid and acceptable to patients. Our study involved assessment of breath ethylene and breath ammonia levels in patients with renal failure receiving haemodialysis (HD) treatment. Breath samples from healthy subjects and from patients with renal failure were collected using chemically inert aluminized bags and were subsequently analyzed using the LPAS technique. We have found out that the composition of exhaled breath in patients with renal failure contains not only ethylene, but also ammonia and gives valuable information for determining efficacy and endpoint of HD.