Stroke burden is substantially increasing but current therapeutic drugs are still far from ideal. Here we highlight the vast potential of staphylokinase as an efficient, fibrin-selective, inexpensive, and evolvable thrombolytic agent. The emphasis is escalated by new recent findings. Staphylokinase nonimmunogenic variant was proven noninferior to alteplase in a clinical trial, with decreased risk of intracranial hemorrhage and the advantage of single bolus administration. Furthermore, our detailed kinetic analysis revealed a new staphylokinase limiting bottleneck whose elimination might provide up to 1000-fold higher activity than the clinically approved alteplase. This knowledge of limitations unlocks new possibilities for improvements that are now achievable by the community of protein engineers who have the required expertise and are ready to transform staphylokinase into a powerful molecule. Collectively, the noninferiority and safety of nonimmunogenic staphylokinase together with the newly identified effectivity limitation make staphylokinase a perfect candidate for further exploration, modification, and advancement to make it the next-generation widely accessible thrombolytic drug effectively treating stroke all around the world, including middle- and low-income countries.

• MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• fibrin MeSH
• fibrinolytika * terapeutické užití   MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy metabolismus   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• tkáňový aktivátor plazminogenu terapeutické užití   MeSH
• trombolytická terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Leishmania tarentolae is a non-pathogenic trypanosomatid isolated from lizards widely used for heterologous protein expression and extensively studied to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of leishmaniasis. The repertoire of leishmanolysin genes was reported to be expanded in L. tarentolae genome, but no proteolytic activity was detected. Here, we analyzed L. tarentolae leishmanolysin proteins from the genome to the structural levels and evaluated the enzymatic activity of the wild-type and overexpressing mutants of leishmanolysin. A total of 61 leishmanolysin sequences were retrieved from the L. tarentolae genome. Five of them were selected for phylogenetic analysis, and for three of them, we built 3D models based on the crystallographic structure of L. major ortholog. Molecular dynamics simulations of these models disclosed a less negative electrostatic potential compared to the template. Subsequently, L. major LmjF.10.0460 and L. tarentolae LtaP10.0650 leishmanolysins were cloned in a pLEXSY expression system into L. tarentolae. Proteins from the wild-type and the overexpressing parasites were submitted to enzymatic analysis. Our results revealed that L. tarentolae leishmanolysins harbor a weak enzymatic activity about three times less abundant than L. major leishmanolysin. Our findings strongly suggest that the less negative electrostatic potential of L. tarentolae leishmanolysin can be the reason for the reduced proteolytic activity detected in this parasite.

• MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• Leishmania * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• leishmanióza * parazitologie   MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy metabolismus   MeSH
• paraziti * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Mitochondrial protein quality control is crucial for the maintenance of correct mitochondrial homeostasis. It is ensured by several specific mitochondrial proteases located across the various mitochondrial subcompartments. Here, we focused on characterization of functional overlap and cooperativity of proteolytic subunits AFG3L2 (AFG3 Like Matrix AAA Peptidase Subunit 2) and YME1L (YME1 like ATPase) of mitochondrial inner membrane AAA (ATPases Associated with diverse cellular Activities) complexes in the maintenance of mitochondrial structure and respiratory chain integrity. We demonstrate that loss of AFG3L2 and YME1L, both alone and in combination, results in diminished cell proliferation, fragmentation of mitochondrial reticulum, altered cristae morphogenesis, and defective respiratory chain biogenesis. The double AFG3L2/YME1L knockdown cells showed marked upregulation of OPA1 protein forms, with the most prominent increase in short OPA1 (optic atrophy 1). Loss of either protease led to marked elevation in OMA1 (OMA1 zinc metallopeptidase) (60 kDa) and severe reduction in the SPG7 (paraplegin) subunit of the m-AAA complex. Loss of the YME1L subunit led to an increased Drp1 level in mitochondrial fractions. While loss of YME1L impaired biogenesis and function of complex I, knockdown of AFG3L2 mainly affected the assembly and function of complex IV. Our results suggest cooperative and partly redundant functions of AFG3L2 and YME1L in the maintenance of mitochondrial structure and respiratory chain biogenesis and stress the importance of correct proteostasis for mitochondrial integrity.

• MeSH
• ATPázy spojené s různými buněčnými aktivitami genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondriální membrány metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondriální proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondrie metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• proliferace buněk genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• proteasy závislé na ATP genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
• western blotting MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Upon their translocation into the mitochondrial matrix, the N-terminal pre-sequence of nuclear-encoded proteins undergoes cleavage by mitochondrial processing peptidases. Some proteins require more than a single processing step, which involves several peptidases. Down-regulation of the putative Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial intermediate peptidase (MIP) homolog by RNAi renders the cells unable to grow after 48 hours of induction. Ablation of MIP results in the accumulation of the precursor of the trypanosomatid-specific trCOIV protein, the largest nuclear-encoded subunit of the cytochrome c oxidase complex in this flagellate. However, the trCOIV precursor of the same size accumulates also in trypanosomes in which either alpha or beta subunits of the mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) have been depleted. Using a chimeric protein that consists of the N-terminal sequence of a putative subunit of respiratory complex I fused to a yellow fluorescent protein, we assessed the accumulation of the precursor protein in trypanosomes, in which RNAi was induced against the alpha or beta subunits of MPP or MIP. The observed accumulation of precursors indicates MIP depletion affects the activity of the cannonical MPP, or at least one of its subunits.

• MeSH
• down regulace MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• malá interferující RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy antagonisté a inhibitory   klasifikace   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondrie enzymologie   MeSH
• podjednotky proteinů antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• respirační komplex IV metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA interference MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• substrátová specifita MeSH
• Trypanosoma brucei brucei metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Staphylococcus sciuri is a bacterial pathogen associated with infections in animals and humans, and represents a reservoir for the mecA gene encoding methicillin-resistance in staphylococci. No S. sciuri siphophages were known. Here the identification and characterization of two temperate S. sciuri phages from the Siphoviridae family designated ϕ575 and ϕ879 are presented. The phages have icosahedral heads and flexible noncontractile tails that end with a tail spike. The genomes of the phages are 42,160 and 41,448 bp long and encode 58 and 55 ORFs, respectively, arranged in functional modules. Their head-tail morphogenesis modules are similar to those of Staphylococcus aureus ϕ13-like serogroup F phages, suggesting their common evolutionary origin. The genome of phage ϕ575 harbours genes for staphylokinase and phospholipase that might enhance the virulence of the bacterial hosts. In addition both of the phages package a homologue of the mecA gene, which is a requirement for its lateral transfer. Phage ϕ879 transduces tetracycline and aminoglycoside pSTS7-like resistance plasmids from its host to other S. sciuri strains and to S. aureus. Furthermore, both of the phages efficiently adsorb to numerous staphylococcal species, indicating that they may contribute to interspecies horizontal gene transfer.

• MeSH
• bakteriální geny * MeSH
• fosfolipasy metabolismus   MeSH
• genom virový MeSH
• genomika metody   MeSH
• hostitelská specificita MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy metabolismus   MeSH
• plazmidy genetika   MeSH
• přenos genů horizontální MeSH
• přichycení viru MeSH
• stafylokokové bakteriofágy fyziologie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• Staphylococcus virologie   MeSH
• transdukce genetická * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum are the causative agents of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, respectively. Several aspects of the vector-parasite interaction involving gp63 and phosphoglycans have been individually assayed in different studies. However, their role under the same experimental conditions was not studied yet. Here, the roles of divalent metal chelators, anti-gp63 antibodies and purified type I phosphoglycans (PGs) were evaluated during in vitro parasite attachment to the midgut of the vector. Parasites were treated with divalent metal chelators or anti-gp63 antibodies prior to the interaction with Lutzomyia longipalpis/Lutzomyia intermedia midguts or sand fly LL-5 cells. In vitro binding system was used to examine the role of PG and gp63 in parallel. Treatment with divalent metal chelators reduced Le. infantum adhesion to the Lu. longipalpis midguts. The most effective compound (Phen) inhibited the binding in both vectors. Similar results were observed in the interaction between both Leishmania species and the cell line LL-5. Finally, parallel experiments using anti-gp63-treated parasites and PG-incubated midguts demonstrated that both approaches substantially inhibited attachment in the natural parasite-vector pairs Le. infantum/Lu. longipalpis and Le. braziliensis/Lu. intermedia. Our results suggest that gp63 and/or PG are involved in parasite attachment to the midgut of these important vectors.

• MeSH
• chelátory metabolismus   MeSH
• kovy metabolismus   MeSH
• Leishmania braziliensis fyziologie   MeSH
• Leishmania infantum fyziologie   MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy metabolismus   MeSH
• polysacharidy metabolismus   MeSH
• Psychodidae parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Endothelin (ET) signalling is essential for normal embryonic development. Disruption of this pathway leads to defects in the development of subsets of cranial and cephalic neural crest derivatives. Endothelin-converting enzyme 1 (ECE-1) is a ratelimiting step in the biosynthesis of ET-1. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the protective role of folic acid (FA) against congenital anomalies via increasing the expression of ET-1. We have tested whether FA supplementation can rescue craniofacial and cardiac defects observed in the ECE1-/- embryos. ECE1+/- mice were caged together to obtain litters containing embryos of all possible genotypes. The treatment group had the diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg of FA from the day of discovery of the vaginal plug. FA supplementation did not result in modified proportions of the genotypes, indicating no rescue of the embryonic mortality. There was also no effect on the litter size. Craniofacial and cardiac defects were likewise identical in the ECE1-/- embryos of both groups. There was a mild but significant reduction in the embryo size in wild-type and heterozygous FA-supplemented embryos, and there were haemorrhages in the wild-type supplemented embryos at ED14.5. Expression of ET receptor A detected by immunohistochemistry was up-regulated in the ECE1-/- embryos, but FA supplementation had no effects on the distribution of staining intensity. We conclude that FA is not able to rescue the phenotype in this model, suggesting an alternative pathway for its action. These results also caution against indiscriminate use of dietary supplements in attempts to prevent congenital anomalies.

• MeSH
• aspartátové endopeptidasy nedostatek   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• embryo savčí účinky léků   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• imunohistochemie MeSH
• kyselina listová farmakologie   MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy nedostatek   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši knockoutované MeSH
• myši MeSH
• potravní doplňky MeSH
• regulace genové exprese enzymů účinky léků   MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

An all atomic, non-restrained molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in explicit water was used to study in detail the structural features of the highly conserved glycine-rich loop (GRL) of the α-subunit of the yeast mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) and its importance for the tertiary and quaternary conformation of MPP. Wild-type and GRL-deleted MPP structures were studied using non-restrained MD simulations, both in the presence and the absence of a substrate in the peptidase active site. Targeted MD simulations were employed to study the mechanism of substrate translocation from the GRL to the active site. We demonstrate that the natural conformational flexibility of the GRL is crucial for the substrate translocation process from outside the enzyme towards the MPP active site. We show that the α-helical conformation of the substrate is important not only during its initial interaction with MPP (i.e. substrate recognition), but also later, at least during the first third of the substrate translocation trajectory. Further, we show that the substrate remains in contact with the GRL during the whole first half of the translocation trajectory and that hydrophobic interactions play a major role. Finally, we conclude that the GRL acts as a precisely balanced structural element, holding the MPP subunits in a partially closed conformation regardless the presence or absence of a substrate in the active site.

• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• glycin chemie   MeSH
• katalytická doména MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• podjednotky proteinů chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzymologie   MeSH
• sekundární struktura proteinů MeSH
• simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
• substrátová specifita MeSH
• výpočetní biologie * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Intramembrane proteases cleave membrane proteins in their transmembrane helices to regulate a wide range of biological processes. They catalyse hydrolytic reactions within the hydrophobic environment of lipid membranes where water is normally excluded. How? Do the different classes of intramembrane proteases share any mechanistic principles? In this review these questions will be discussed in view of the crystal structures of prokaryotic members of the three known catalytic types of intramembrane proteases published over the past 7 years. Rhomboids, the intramembrane serine proteases that are the best understood family, will be the initial area of focus, and the principles that have arisen from a number of structural and biochemical studies will be considered. The site-2 metalloprotease and GXGD-type aspartyl protease structures will then be discussed, with parallels drawn and differences highlighted between these enzymes and the rhomboids. Despite the significant advances achieved so far, to obtain a detailed understanding of the mechanism of any intramembrane protease, high-resolution structural information on the substrate-enzyme complex is required. This remains a major challenge for the field.

• MeSH
• aminokyselinové motivy MeSH
• aspartátové proteasy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• DNA vazebné proteiny chemie   MeSH
• endopeptidasy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• katalytická doména MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• membránové proteiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• preseniliny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny Drosophily chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny z Escherichia coli chemie   MeSH
• proteolýza MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• serinové proteasy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• substrátová specifita MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Binding of promastigotes to the sand fly midgut epithelium is regarded as an essential part of the Leishmania life cycle in the vector. Among Leishmania surface molecules putatively involved in attachment to the sand fly midgut, two GPI-anchored molecules are the most prominent: lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and promastigote surface protease gp63. In this work, we examined midgut attachment of Leishmania lines mutated in GPI-anchored molecules and compared results from 2 different techniques: in vivo development in sand flies and in vitro competitive binding assays using fluorescently labelled parasites. In combination with previous studies, our data provide additional support for (1) an LPG-independent parasite-binding mechanism of Leishmania major within the midgut of the permissive vector Phlebotomus perniciosus, and provide strong support for (2) the crucial role of L. major LPG in specific vector Phlebotomus papatasi, and (3) a role for Leishmania amazonensis gp63 in Lutzomyia longipalpis midgut binding. Moreover, our results suggest a critical role for GPI-anchored proteins and gp63 in Leishmania mexicana attachment to L. longipalpis midguts, as the wild type (WT) line accounted for over 99% of bound parasites.

• MeSH
• galaktosyltransferasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• glykokonjugáty genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• glykosfingolipidy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• hmyz - vektory parazitologie   MeSH
• kompetitivní vazba MeSH
• Leishmania fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• metaloendopeptidasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• Phlebotomus parazitologie   MeSH
• protozoální proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Psychodidae parazitologie   MeSH
• stadia vývoje MeSH
• trávicí systém parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH