The vertebrate visual cycle hinges on enzymatically converting all-trans-retinol (at-ROL) into 11-cis-retinal (11c-RAL), the chromophore that binds to opsins in photoreceptors, forming light-responsive pigments. When struck by a photon, these pigments activate the phototransduction pathway and initiate the process of vision. The enzymatic isomerization of at-ROL, crucial for restoring the visual pigments and preparing them to receive new light stimuli, relies on various enzymes found in both the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium cells. To function effectively, retinoids must shuttle between these two cell types. Retinol-binding protein 3 (RBP3), located in the interphotoreceptor matrix, probably plays a pivotal role in this transport mechanism. Comprised of four retinoid-binding modules, RBP3 also binds fatty acids, potentially aiding retinal function by facilitating the loading and unloading of different retinoids at specific cell types thereby directing the cycle. In this study, we present a 3.67 Å cryoEM structure of porcine RBP3, along with molecular docking analysis and corroborative in-solution small-angle X-ray scattering data for titration of RBP3 with relevant ligands, that also give insights on RBP3 conformational adaptability.

• Klíčová slova
• RBP3, SAXS, conformational changes, cryoEM structure, molecular docking,
• MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie metody   MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl * MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• oční proteiny MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• proteiny vázající retinol * chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• vitamin A metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• interstitial retinol-binding protein MeSH Prohlížeč
• oční proteiny MeSH
• proteiny vázající retinol * MeSH
• vitamin A MeSH

Protein-protein interactions, controlling protein aggregation in the solution phase, are crucial for the formulation of protein therapeutics and the use of proteins in diagnostic applications. Additives in the solution phase are factors that may enhance the protein's conformational stability or induce crystallization. Protein-PEG interactions do not always stabilize the native protein structure. Structural information is needed to validate excipients for protein stabilization in the development of protein therapeutics or use proteins in diagnostic assays. The present study investigates the impact of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecular weight and concentration on the spatial structure of human hemoglobin (Hb) at neutral pH. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in combination with size-exclusion chromatography is employed to characterize the Hb structure in solution without and with the addition of PEG. Our results evidence that human hemoglobin maintains a tetrameric conformation at neutral pH. The dummy atom model, reconstructed from the SAXS data, aligns closely with the known crystallographic structure of methemoglobin (metHb) from the Protein Data Bank. We established that the addition of short-chain PEG600, at concentrations of up to 10% (w/v), acts as a stabilizer for hemoglobin, preserving its spatial structure without significant alterations. By contrast, 5% (w/v) PEG with higher molecular weights of 2000 and 4000 leads to a slight reduction in the maximum particle dimension (Dmax), while the radius of gyration (Rg) remains essentially unchanged. This implies a reduced hydration shell around the protein due to the dehydrating effect of longer PEG chains. At a concentration of 10% (w/v), PEG2000 interacts with Hb to form a complex that does not distort the protein's spatial configuration. The obtained results provide a deeper understanding of PEG's influence on the Hb structure in solution and broader knowledge regarding protein-PEG interactions.

• MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření * MeSH
• hemoglobiny * chemie   MeSH
• koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
• krystalizace * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl * MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• molekulová hmotnost MeSH
• polyethylenglykoly * chemie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hemoglobiny * MeSH
• polyethylenglykoly * MeSH

It is generally known that, unlike structured proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, IDPs, exhibit various structures and conformers, the so-called conformational ensemble, CoE. This study aims to better understand the conformers that make up the IDP ensemble by decomposing the CoE into groups separated by their radius of gyration, Rg. A common approach to studying CoE for IDPs is to use low-resolution techniques, such as small-angle scattering, and combine those with computer simulations on different length scales. Herein, the well-studied antimicrobial saliva protein histatin 5 was utilized as a model peptide for an IDP; the average intensity curves were obtained from small-angle X-ray scattering; and compared with fully atomistic, explicit water, molecular dynamics simulations; then, the intensity curve was decomposed with respect to the different Rg values; and their secondary structure propensities were investigated. We foresee that this approach can provide important information on the CoE and the individual conformers within; in that case, it will serve as an additional tool for understanding the IDP structure-function relationship on a more detailed level.

• MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• histatiny * chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• konformace proteinů * MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• simulace molekulární dynamiky * MeSH
• vnitřně neuspořádané proteiny * chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• histatiny * MeSH
• vnitřně neuspořádané proteiny * MeSH

Ca2+ /CaM-dependent protein kinase kinases 1 and 2 (CaMKK1 and CaMKK2) phosphorylate and enhance the catalytic activity of downstream kinases CaMKI, CaMKIV, and protein kinase B. Accordingly, CaMKK1 and CaMKK2 regulate key physiological and pathological processes, such as tumorigenesis, neuronal morphogenesis, synaptic plasticity, transcription factor activation, and cellular energy homeostasis, and promote cell survival. Both CaMKKs are partly inhibited by phosphorylation, which in turn triggers adaptor and scaffolding protein 14-3-3 binding. However, 14-3-3 binding only significantly affects CaMKK1 function. CaMKK2 activity remains almost unchanged after complex formation for reasons still unclear. Here, we aim at structurally characterizing CaMKK1:14-3-3 and CaMKK2:14-3-3 complexes by SAXS, H/D exchange coupled to MS, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results revealed that complex formation suppresses the interaction of both phosphorylated CaMKKs with Ca2+ /CaM and affects the structure of their kinase domains and autoinhibitory segments. But these effects are much stronger on CaMKK1 than on CaMKK2 because the CaMKK1:14-3-3γ complex has a more compact and rigid structure in which the active site of the kinase domain directly interacts with the last two C-terminal helices of the 14-3-3γ protein, thereby inhibiting CaMKK1. In contrast, the CaMKK2:14-3-3 complex has a looser and more flexible structure, so 14-3-3 binding only negligibly affects the catalytic activity of CaMKK2. Therefore, Ca2+ /CaM binding suppression and the interaction of the kinase active site of CaMKK1 with the last two C-terminal helices of 14-3-3γ protein provide the structural basis for 14-3-3-mediated CaMKK1 inhibition.

• Klíčová slova
• 14-3-3 proteins, CaMKK, SAXS, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, fluorescence spectroscopy, hydrogen/deuterium exchange coupled to MS, protein-protein interaction,
• MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• katalytická doména MeSH
• kinasa proteinkinasy závislé na vápníku a kalmodulinu * chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• proteiny 14-3-3 * metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kinasa proteinkinasy závislé na vápníku a kalmodulinu * MeSH
• proteiny 14-3-3 * MeSH

Recent complications on the use of polypropylene meshes for hernia repair has led to the development of meshes or films, which were based on resorbable polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). These materials are able to create suitable bioactive environment for the growth and development of cells. In this research, we mainly focused on the relations among structure, mechanical performance and biocompatiblity of PCL/PLA and PCL/PLGA and blends prepared by solution casting. The films were characterized regarding the chemical structure, morphology, physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, biocompatibility and cell growth. All the films showed high tensile strength ranging from 9.5 to 11.8 MPa. SAXS showed that the lamellar stack structure typical for PCL was present even in the blend films while the morphological parameters of the stacks varied slightly with the content of PLGA or PLA in the blends. WAXS indicated preferential orientation of crystallites (and thus, also the lamellar stacks) in the blend films. In vitro studies revealed that PCL/PLGA films displayed better cell adhesion, spreading and proliferation than PCL/PLA and PCL films. Further the effect of blending on the degradation was investigated, to understand the significant variable within the process that could provide further control of cell adhesion. The results showed that the investigated blend films are promising materials for biomedical applications.

• Klíčová slova
• Biocompatibility, Mechanical properties, Nanoscale morphology, Polycaprolactone, Resorbable blends,
• MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• glykoly * MeSH
• kopolymer kyseliny glykolové a mléčné MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• polyestery MeSH
• vstřebatelné implantáty * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• glykoly * MeSH
• kopolymer kyseliny glykolové a mléčné MeSH
• poly(lactide) MeSH Prohlížeč
• polycaprolactone MeSH Prohlížeč
• polyestery MeSH

Nano-structured and functionalized materials for encapsulation, transport, targeting and controlled release of drugs are of high interest to overcome low bioavailability in oral administration. We develop lipid-based cubosomes, which are surface-functionalized with biocompatible chitosan-N-arginine and alginate, displaying internal liquid crystalline structures. Polyelectrolyte-shell (PS) cubosomes have pH-responsive characteristics profitable for oral delivery. The obtained PScubosomes can strongly interact with serum albumin, a protein which is released in the stomach under gastric cancer conditions. An effective thermodynamic PScubosome-protein interaction was characterized at pH 2.0 and 7.4 by isothermal titration calorimetry at 37 °C. A high increment of the albumin conformation transition temperature was evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry upon incubation with PScubosomes. The performed structural studies by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed essential alterations in the internal liquid crystalline topology of the nanocarriers including an Im3m to Pn3m transition and a reduction of the cubic lattice parameters. The PScubosome nanoparticle interaction with serum albumin, leading to inner structural changes in a range of temperatures, promoted the release of water from the cubosomal nanochannels. Altogether, the results revealed effective interactions of the PScubosomes with albumin under simulated gastrointestinal pH conditions and suggested promising nanocarrier characteristics for triggered oral drug release.

• MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• gastrointestinální nádory * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• polyelektrolyty MeSH
• sérový albumin * MeSH
• uvolňování léčiv MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polyelektrolyty MeSH
• sérový albumin * MeSH

Lipid nanocarriers are among the most employed systems for drug delivery purposes in several research and industrial sectors, since their favorable properties ensure broad applicability. The design and characterization of these nanosystems are of paramount importance to obtain controlled outcome, since the supramolecular structure and molecular interactions deeply impact the functionality of the resulting aggregates. The choice of the most appropriate formulation for the target of interest relies on in-depth physico-chemical characterization in order to optimize stability, loading rates and sustained release. Several supramolecular architectures suited for carrier development can be obtained from lipid building blocks, by varying lipid composition and packing parameter. In particular, cubosome and liposome aggregates are often used as drug vectors thanks to their high cargo capability and biocompatibility. Moreover, the possibility to employ lipids from natural sources i.e. biomasses to prepare nanosystems makes them especially attractive. In this work, two aggregate types were characterized and compared as drug vectors for poorly water-soluble antioxidants, particularly curcumin and two adjuvants (i.e. tocopherol and piperine). The nanovectors were obtained by extracting lipids from algal biomasses with different lipid composition, and characterized by advanced structural (DLS, SAXS, Cryo-TEM) techniques, spectroscopy (NMR) and calorimetry (ITC). Finally, the structural stability of both aggregate types was evaluated.

• Klíčová slova
• Algal lipids, Molecular interactions, Morphology, Nanocarriers, Structure,
• MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• kurkumin * chemie   MeSH
• lipidy * chemie   MeSH
• liposomy MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• nosiče léků chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kurkumin * MeSH
• lipidy * MeSH
• liposomy MeSH
• nosiče léků MeSH

The nucleocapsid protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus comprises two RNA-binding domains and three regions that are intrinsically disordered. While the structures of the RNA-binding domains have been solved using protein crystallography and NMR, current knowledge of the conformations of the full-length nucleocapsid protein is rather limited. To fill in this knowledge gap, we combined coarse-grained molecular simulations with data from small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments using the ensemble refinement of SAXS (EROS) method. Our results show that the dimer of the full-length nucleocapsid protein exhibits large conformational fluctuations with its radius of gyration ranging from about 4 to 8 nm. The RNA-binding domains do not make direct contacts. The disordered region that links these two domains comprises a hydrophobic α-helix which makes frequent and nonspecific contacts with the RNA-binding domains. Each of the intrinsically disordered regions adopts conformations that are locally compact, yet on average, much more extended than Gaussian chains of equivalent lengths. We offer a detailed picture of the conformational ensemble of the nucleocapsid protein dimer under near-physiological conditions, which will be important for understanding the nucleocapsid assembly process.

• Klíčová slova
• EROS, Nucleocapsid, SARS-CoV-2, SAXS,
• MeSH
• COVID-19 * MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• nukleokapsida - proteiny chemie   MeSH
• nukleokapsida MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• nukleokapsida - proteiny MeSH

Signaling by the human C-type lectin-like receptor, natural killer (NK) cell inhibitory receptor NKR-P1, has a critical role in many immune-related diseases and cancer. C-type lectin-like receptors have weak affinities to their ligands; therefore, setting up a comprehensive model of NKR-P1-LLT1 interactions that considers the natural state of the receptor on the cell surface is necessary to understand its functions. Here we report the crystal structures of the NKR-P1 and NKR-P1:LLT1 complexes, which provides evidence that NKR-P1 forms homodimers in an unexpected arrangement to enable LLT1 binding in two modes, bridging two LLT1 molecules. These interaction clusters are suggestive of an inhibitory immune synapse. By observing the formation of these clusters in solution using SEC-SAXS analysis, by dSTORM super-resolution microscopy on the cell surface, and by following their role in receptor signaling with freshly isolated NK cells, we show that only the ligation of both LLT1 binding interfaces leads to effective NKR-P1 inhibitory signaling. In summary, our findings collectively support a model of NKR-P1:LLT1 clustering, which allows the interacting proteins to overcome weak ligand-receptor affinity and to trigger signal transduction upon cellular contact in the immune synapse.

• MeSH
• antigeny povrchové MeSH
• buňky NK * MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• lektinové receptory NK-buněk - podrodina B MeSH
• lektiny typu C MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• receptory buněčného povrchu * MeSH
• shluková analýza MeSH
• synapse MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antigeny povrchové MeSH
• lektinové receptory NK-buněk - podrodina B MeSH
• lektiny typu C MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• receptory buněčného povrchu * MeSH

MHC-E regulates NK cells by displaying MHC class Ia signal peptides (VL9) to NKG2A:CD94 receptors. MHC-E can also present sequence-diverse, lower-affinity, pathogen-derived peptides to T cell receptors (TCRs) on CD8+ T cells. To understand these affinity differences, human MHC-E (HLA-E)-VL9 versus pathogen-derived peptide structures are compared. Small-angle X-ray scatter (SAXS) measures biophysical parameters in solution, allowing comparison with crystal structures. For HLA-E-VL9, there is concordance between SAXS and crystal parameters. In contrast, HLA-E-bound pathogen-derived peptides produce larger SAXS dimensions that reduce to their crystallographic dimensions only when excess peptide is supplied. Further crystallographic analysis demonstrates three amino acids, exclusive to MHC-E, that not only position VL9 close to the α2 helix, but also allow non-VL9 peptide binding with re-configuration of a key TCR-interacting α2 region. Thus, non-VL9-bound peptides introduce an alternative peptide-binding motif and surface recognition landscape, providing a likely basis for VL9- and non-VL9-HLA-E immune discrimination.

• Klíčová slova
• CD8 T cells, CP: Immunology, HLA-E, MHC Ia, MHC-E, NK cells, NKG2A, SAXS, T cell receptor, VL9, X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray scatter,
• MeSH
• antigeny HLA-E MeSH
• CD8-pozitivní T-lymfocyty MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• histokompatibilita - antigeny třídy I * metabolismus   MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• lektinové receptory NK-buněk - podrodina C metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• peptidy metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• histokompatibilita - antigeny třídy I * MeSH
• lektinové receptory NK-buněk - podrodina C MeSH
• peptidy MeSH