Context-dependent effects of asparagine glycosylation on Pin WW folding kinetics and thermodynamics

Asparagine glycosylation is one of the most common and important post-translational modifications of proteins in eukaryotic cells. N-glycosylation occurs when a triantennary glycan precursor is transferred en bloc to a nascent polypeptide (harboring the N-X-T/S sequon) as the peptide is cotranslationally translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In addition to facilitating binding interactions with components of the ER proteostasis network, N-glycans can also have intrinsic effects on protein folding by directly altering the folding energy landscape. Previous work from our laboratories (Hanson et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2009, 109, 3131-3136; Shental-Bechor, D.; Levy, Y. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2008, 105, 8256-8261) suggested that the three sugar residues closest to the protein are sufficient for accelerating protein folding and stabilizing the resulting structure in vitro; even a monosaccharide can have a dramatic effect. The highly conserved nature of these three proximal sugars in N-glycans led us to speculate that introducing an N-glycosylation site into a protein that is not normally glycosylated would stabilize the protein and increase its folding rate in a manner that does not depend on the presence of specific stabilizing protein-saccharide interactions. Here, we test this hypothesis experimentally and computationally by incorporating an N-linked GlcNAc residue at various positions within the Pin WW domain, a small β-sheet-rich protein. The results show that an increased folding rate and enhanced thermodynamic stability are not general, context-independent consequences of N-glycosylation. Comparison between computational predictions and experimental observations suggests that generic glycan-based excluded volume effects are responsible for the destabilizing effect of glycosylation at highly structured positions. However, this reasoning does not adequately explain the observed destabilizing effect of glycosylation within flexible loops. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that specific, evolved protein-glycan contacts must also play an important role in mediating the beneficial energetic effects on protein folding that glycosylation can confer.     

The specific surface area and porous structure of graphite materials

Transformations of the specific surface area and porous structure of carbon materials based on graphite were studied by low-temperature adsorption of nitrogen. Exfoliated graphite and graphite foil were found to have a developed (compared with the initial graphite) surface (up to 90 m²/g) and a porous structure formed by slit-like mesopores with a characteristic radius of ∼20 ?. The determining influence of the method of synthesis on the adsorption properties of materials was demonstrated for the first time. Original Russian Text ? O.N. Shornikova, E.V. Kogan, N.E. Sorokina, V.V. Avdeev, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 6, pp. 1161–1164.     

Specificity of complex formation of benzoin (phthalazin-1-yl)hydrazone with copper(II) and nickel(II): Physicochemical study and quantum-chemical simulation

Benzoin (phthalazin-1-yl)hydrazone and its complexes with copper(I), copper(II), and nickel(II) were synthesized. Acid-base properties of benzoin (phthalazin-1-yl)hydrazone were studied, and its ionization constants and energies of possible conformers were calculated by quantum-chemical methods. The structure of the isolated complexes was determined on the basis of their elemental compositions, IR spectra, and data of thermogravimetric, conductometric, and magnetochemical measurements. Copper(II) acetate with benzoin (phthalazin-1-yl)hydrazone forms dinuclear complex, nickel(II) acetate and chloride produce mononuclear octahedral complexes, and copper(II) halides give rise to copper(I) complexes with the oxidized hydrazone.

     

Copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes with bis(azomethine)—a condensation product of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-formyl-5-mercaptopyrazole with 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol

The copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes based on bis(azomethine), which is the condensation product of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-formyl-5-mercaptopyrazole with 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol, are synthesized. Bis-azomethines can form both binuclear and mononuclear complexes in which the hydroxy group is not involved in coordination. The binuclear copper(II) complexes with the acetate and pyrazolate bridges exhibit an antiferromagnetic exchange, which strength is determined by the nature of the bridge (2J = ?154 and ?424 cm^?1, respectively). The structure parameters of the coordination spheres of the complexes are determined by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The structure of the CHCl₃ solvate of the binuclear copper(II) complex with the pyrazolate bridge is solved by X-ray diffraction analysis (CIF file CCDC 964655).     

Molecular and crystal structure of iron(III) and nickel(II) complexes with 1′-phthalazinylhydrazones of heterocyclic carbonyl compounds

Journal of Structural Chemistry - The structures of iron(III) and nickel(II) complexes with the composition [FeL2]Cl·H2O (1) and [Ni(HL′2)]·DMSO·0.5H2O (2), where L and...     

Crystallization of carbamazepine pseudopolymorphs from nonionic microemulsions

Crystallization of carbamazepine (CBZ), an antiepileptic drug, precipitated from confined spaces of nonionic microemulsions was investigated. The study was aimed to correlate the structure of the microemulsion [water-in-oil (W/O), bicontinuous, and oil-in-water (O/W)] with the crystalline structure and morphology of solid CBZ. The precipitated CBZ was studied by DSC, TGA, powder XRD, single-crystal XRD, SEM, and optical microscopy. The results suggest that the microstructure of the microemulsions influences the crystallization process and allows crystallizing polymorphs that exhibit different crystal structure and habits. W/O nanodroplets orient the crystallizing CBZ molecules to form a prismlike anhydrous polymorphic form with monoclinic unit cell and P21/n space group. Bicontinuous structures lead to platelike dihydrate crystals with orthorhombic unit cell and Cmca space group. The O/W nanodroplets cause the formation of needlelike dihydrate crystals with monoclinic unit cell and P21/c space group. The morphological features of solid CBZ remain predetermined by the basic symmetry and parameters of its unit cell. Precipitation of CBZ pseudopolymorphs from supersaturated microemulsion is discussed in terms of oriented attachment that provides perfect packing of numerous separately nucleated ordered nuclei of CBZ into microscale platelets and then into macroscopic crystals. Crystallization from microemulsion media enabling one to obtain the drug (CBZ) with predicted structure and morphology should be of great significance for pharmaceutical applications.     

Room temperature Ni-catalyzed reduction of aryl tosylates by borane hydrides

Mild Ni-catalyzed homogeneous reductions of aryl tosylates are described for the first time. The catalytic system Ni(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ and PCy₃ is shown to be general for hydrogenolysis of a wide range of tosylates, including hindered, deactivated, heterocyclic, and bifunctional examples.     

Biocatalytic reversible control of the stiffness of DNA-modified responsive hydrogels: applications in shape-memory,self-healing and autonomous controlled release of insulin

The enzymes glucose oxidase (GOx), acetylcholine esterase (AchE) and urease that drive biocatalytic transformations to alter pH, are integrated into pH-responsive DNA-based hydrogels. A two-enzyme-loaded hydrogel composed of GOx/urease or AchE/urease and a three-enzyme-loaded hydrogel composed of GOx/AchE/urease are presented. The biocatalytic transformations within the hydrogels lead to the dictated reconfiguration of nucleic acid bridges and the switchable control over the stiffness of the respective hydrogels. The switchable stiffness features are used to develop biocatalytically guided shape-memory and self-healing matrices. In addition, loading of GOx/insulin in a pH-responsive DNA-based hydrogel yields a glucose-triggered matrix for the controlled release of insulin, acting as an artificial pancreas. The release of insulin is controlled by the concentrations of glucose, hence, the biocatalytic insulin-loaded hydrogel provides an interesting sense-and-treat carrier for controlling diabetes.

Biocatalytic control over the stiffness of pH-responsive hydrogels is applied to develop shape-memory, self-healing and controlled release matrices.     

Physicochemical study of binuclear copper(II), oxovanadium(IV), and iron(III) complexes with bis-1′-phthalazinylhydrazone of 2,6-diformyl-4-tert-butylphenol

Binuclear copper(II), oxovanadium(IV), and iron(III) complexes with bis-1′-phthalazinylhydrazone of 2,6-diformyl-4-tert-butylphenol have been prepared. An antiferromegnetic exchange interaction between the paramagnetic centers was found. Redox properties of the complexes were studied by the methods of cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry; the reduction of Cu(II) complexes was shown to proceed in two consecutive one-electron steps.     

Activity-based chemical proteomics accelerates inhibitor development for deubiquitylating enzymes

Converting lead compounds into drug candidates is a crucial step in drug development, requiring early assessment of potency, selectivity, and off-target effects. We have utilized activity-based chemical proteomics to determine the potency and selectivity of deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) inhibitors in cell culture models. Importantly, we characterized the small molecule PR-619 as a broad-range DUB inhibitor, and P22077 as a USP7 inhibitor with potential for further development as a chemotherapeutic agent in cancer therapy. A striking accumulation of polyubiquitylated proteins was observed after both selective and general inhibition of cellular DUB activity without direct impairment of proteasomal proteolysis. The repertoire of ubiquitylated substrates was analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry, identifying distinct subsets for general or specific inhibition of DUBs. This enabled identification of previously unknown functional links between USP7 and enzymes involved in DNA repair.