RESUMEN
An expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract within the deubiquitinase ataxin-3 protein is believed to play a role in a neurodegenerative disorder. Ataxin-3 contains a Josephin catalytic domain and a polyQ tract that renders it intrinsically prone to aggregate, and thus full-length protein is difficult to characterize structurally by high-resolution methods. We established a robust protocol for expression and purification of wild-type and expanded ataxin-3, presenting 19Q and 74Q, respectively. Both proteins are monodisperse as assessed by analytical size exclusion chromatography. Initial biophysical characterization was performed, with apparent transition melting temperature of expanded ataxin-3 lower than the wild-type counterpart. We further characterize the molecular envelope of wild-type and expanded polyQ tract in ataxin-3 using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Characterization of protein-protein interactions between ataxin-3 and newly identified binding partners will benefit from our protocol.
Asunto(s)
Ataxina-3/química , Enfermedad de Machado-Joseph/genética , Péptidos/química , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Proteínas Represoras/química , Ataxina-3/biosíntesis , Ataxina-3/genética , Ataxina-3/aislamiento & purificación , Cromatografía en Gel/métodos , Clonación Molecular , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Expresión Génica , Vectores Genéticos/química , Vectores Genéticos/metabolismo , Humanos , Leucocitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Leucocitos Mononucleares/patología , Enfermedad de Machado-Joseph/metabolismo , Enfermedad de Machado-Joseph/patología , Modelos Moleculares , Péptidos/metabolismo , Dominios Proteicos , Pliegue de Proteína , Estructura Secundaria de Proteína , Proteínas Recombinantes/biosíntesis , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/aislamiento & purificación , Proteínas Represoras/biosíntesis , Proteínas Represoras/genética , Proteínas Represoras/aislamiento & purificación , Dispersión del Ángulo Pequeño , Difracción de Rayos XRESUMEN
Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment of choice for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The efficiency of platinum-based therapies is directly influenced by the development of tumor resistance. Multiple signaling pathways have been linked to tumor resistance, including activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). We explore a novel mechanism by which NFκB drives HNSCC resistance through histone modifications. Post-translational modification of histones alters chromatin structure, facilitating the binding of nuclear factors that mediate DNA repair, transcription, and other processes. We found that chemoresistant HNSCC cells with active NFκB signaling respond to chemotherapy by reducing nuclear BRCA1 levels and by promoting histone deacetylation (chromatin compaction). Activation of this molecular signature resulted in impaired DNA damage repair, prolonged accumulation of histone γH2AX and increased genomic instability. We found that pharmacological induction of histone acetylation using HDAC inhibitors prevented NFκB-induced cisplatin resistance. Furthermore, silencing NFκB in HNSCC induced acetylation of tumor histones, resulting in reduced chemoresistance and increased cytotoxicity following cisplatin treatment. Collectively, these findings suggest that epigenetic modifications of HNSCC resulting from NFκB-induced histone modifications constitute a novel molecular mechanism responsible for chemoresistance in HNSCC. Therefore, targeted inhibition of HDAC may be used as a viable therapeutic strategy for disrupting tumor resistance caused by NFκB.
RESUMEN
The nucleoid-associated protein H-NS is a major component of the bacterial nucleoid involved in DNA compaction and transcription regulation. The NMR solution structure of the Xylella fastidiosa H-NS C-terminal domain (residues 56-134) is presented here and consists of two beta-strands and two alpha helices, with one loop connecting the two beta-strands and a second loop connecting the second beta strand and the first helix. The amide (1)H and (15)N chemical shift signals for a sample of XfH-NS(56-134) were monitored in the course of a titration series with a 14-bp DNA duplex. Most of the residues involved in contacts to DNA are located around the first and second loops and in the first helix at a positively charged side of the protein surface. The overall structure of the Xylella H-NS C-terminal domain differ significantly from Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica H-NS proteins, even though the DNA binding motif in loop 2 adopt similar conformation, as well as ß-strand 2 and loop 1. Interestingly, we have also found that the DNA binding site is expanded to include helix 1, which is not seen in the other structures.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/química , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismo , ADN/metabolismo , Xylella , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , ADN/genética , Secuencia Rica en GC , Modelos Moleculares , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Fragmentos de Péptidos/química , Fragmentos de Péptidos/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Alineación de Secuencia , SolucionesRESUMEN
The ORF XF2234 in the Xylella fastidiosa genome was identified as encoding a small heat-shock protein of 17.9â kDa (HSP17.9). HSP17.9 was found as one of the proteins that are induced during X. fastidiosa proliferation and infection in citrus culture. Recombinant HSP17.9 was crystallized and surface atomic force microscopy experiments were conducted with the aim of better characterizing the HSP17.9 crystals. X-ray diffraction data were collected at 2.7â Å resolution. The crystal belonged to space group P4(3)22, with unit-cell parameters a = 68.90, b = 68.90, c = 72.51 Å, and is the first small heat-shock protein to crystallize in this space group.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Choque Térmico Pequeñas/química , Xylella/química , Cristalografía por Rayos X , Proteínas de Choque Térmico Pequeñas/ultraestructura , Microscopía de Fuerza AtómicaRESUMEN
The genome data of bacterium Xylella fastidiosa strain 9a5c has identified several orfs related to its phytopathogenic adaptation and survival. Among these genes, the surE codifies a survival protein E (XfSurE) whose function is not so well understood, but functional assays in Escherichia coli revealed nucleotidase and exopolyphosphate activity. In the present study, we report the XfSurE protein overexpression in E. coli and its purification. The overall secondary structure was analyzed by CD. Small-angle X-ray scattering and gel filtration techniques demonstrated that the oligomeric state of the protein in solution is a tetramer. In addition, functional kinetics experiments were carried out with several monophosphate nucleoside substrates and revealed a highly positive cooperativity. An allosteric mechanism involving torsion movements in solution is proposed to explain the cooperative behaviour of XfSurE. This is the first characterization of a SurE enzyme from a phytopathogen organism and, to our knowledge, the first solution structure of a SurE protein to be described.