1
|
Papakonstantinou E, Io Diakou K, Mitsis T, Dragoumani K, Bacopoulou F, Megalooikonomou V, Kossida S, Chrousos GP, Vlachakis D. Molecular fusion events in carcinogenic organisms: a bioinformatics study for the detection of fused proteins between viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes. EMBNET.JOURNAL 2022; 27:e1004. [PMID: 35464257 PMCID: PMC9029568 DOI: 10.14806/ej.27.0.1004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Molecular fusion events have a prominent role in the initial steps of carcinogenesis. In this study, a bioinformatics analysis was performed between four organisms that are known to induce cancer development in humans: two viruses, Human Herpesvirus 4, and Human T-cell leukaemia virus, one bacterium, Helicobacter Pylori, and one trematode, Schistosoma mansoni. The annotated proteomes from these organisms were analysed using the SAFE software to identify protein fusion events, which may provide insight into protein function similarities and possible merging events during the course of evolution. Based on the results, five fused proteins with very similar functions were detected, whereas proteins with different functions that might act in the same molecular complex or biochemical pathway were not found. Thus, this study analysed the above four well-known cancer-related organisms with de novo bioinformatics programs and provided useful information on protein fusion events, hopefully leading to deeper understanding of carcinogenenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thanasis Mitsis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Dragoumani
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Flora Bacopoulou
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasilis Megalooikonomou
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, School of Engineering, University of Patras, Patras. Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- IMGT, The International ImMunoGeneTics Information System, Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire d'ImmunoGénétique Moléculaire and Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Papageorgiou L, Papakonstantinou E, Salis C, Polychronidou E, Hagidimitriou M, Maroulis D, Eliopoulos E, Vlachakis D. Drugena: A Fully Automated Immunoinformatics Platform for the Design of Antibody-Drug Conjugates Against Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1194:203-215. [PMID: 32468536 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32622-7_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies are proteins that are the first line of defense in the adaptive immune response of vertebrates. Thereby, they are involved in a multitude of biochemical mechanisms and clinical manifestations with significant medical interest, such as autoimmunity, the regulation of infection, and cancer. An emerging field in antibody science that is of huge medicinal interest is the development of novel antibody-interacting drugs. Such entities are the antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which are a new type of targeted therapy, which consist of an antibody linked to a payload drug. Overall, the underlying principle of ADCs is the discerning delivery of a drug to a target, hoping to increase the potency of the original drug. Drugena suite is a pioneering platform that employs state-of-the-art computational biology methods in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases using ADCs. Drugena encompasses an up-to-date structural database of specialized antibodies for neurological disorders and the NCI database with over 96 million entities for the in silico development of ADCs. The pipeline of the Drugena suite has been divided into several steps and modules that are closely related with a synergistic fashion under a user-friendly graphical user interface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantinos Salis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Marianna Hagidimitriou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Maroulis
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Raftopoulou S, Nicolaides NC, Papageorgiou L, Amfilochiou A, Zakinthinos SG, George P, Eliopoulos E, Chrousos GP, Vlachakis D. Structural Study of the DNA: Clock/Bmal1 Complex Provides Insights for the Role of Cortisol, hGR, and HPA Axis in Stress Management and Sleep Disorders. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1195:59-71. [PMID: 32468460 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32633-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we deploy an in silico pipeline of structural bioinformatics, thermodynamics, and molecular dynamics to investigate the role of cortisol in circadian rhythms, biorhythms, stress response, and even sleep disorders. Our study shows that high concentrations of cortisol intercalate in the minor groove of DNA. This phenomenon widens the adjacent major grooves and provides the Clock/Bmal1 complex with more space to dock and interact with DNA. Then, the strong charges of cortisol pull the alpha helices of the Clock/Bmal1 complex and bend it inward, thus establishing stronger interactions and prolonged signaling. Our results indicate that elevated cortisol levels play an important role in stress, inflammation, and sleep disorders as a result of prolonged and stronger dsDNA - Clock/Bmal1 interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Raftopoulou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Affidea Healthcare Company, Athens, Greece
| | - Nicolas C Nicolaides
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Louis Papageorgiou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Amfilochiou
- Sismanoglio General Hospital of Attica, Respiratory Function & Sleep Study Unit, Marousi, Greece
| | - Spyros G Zakinthinos
- Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evangelismos Hospital, Medical School of Athens University, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Olive Oil Polyphenols in Neurodegenerative Pathologies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1195:77-91. [PMID: 32468462 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32633-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases lead to the death of nerve cells in the brain or the spinal cord. A wide range of diseases are included within the group of neurodegenerative disorders, with the most common ones being dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. Millions of older people are suffering from such pathologies. The global increase of life expectancy unavoidably leads to a consequent increase in the number of people who will be at some degree affected by neurodegenerative-related diseases. At this moment, there is no effective therapy or treatment that can reverse the loss of neurons. A growing number of studies highlight the value of the consumption of medical foods, and in particular olive oil, as one of the most important components of the Mediterranean diet. A diet based on extra virgin olive oil seems to contribute toward the lowering of risk of age-related pathologies due to high phenol concentration. The link of a polyphenol found in extra virgin olive oil, namely, tyrosol, with the protein tyrosinase, associated to Parkinson's disease is underlined as a paradigm of affiliation between polyphenols and neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
|
5
|
Lin H, Zhang Z, Iomini C, Dutcher SK. Identifying RNA splicing factors using IFT genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Open Biol 2019. [PMID: 29514868 PMCID: PMC5881031 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraflagellar transport moves proteins in and out of flagella/cilia and it is essential for the assembly of these organelles. Using whole-genome sequencing, we identified splice site mutations in two IFT genes, IFT81 (fla9) and IFT121 (ift121-2), which lead to flagellar assembly defects in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The splicing defects in these ift mutants are partially corrected by mutations in two conserved spliceosome proteins, DGR14 and FRA10. We identified a dgr14 deletion mutant, which suppresses the 3′ splice site mutation in IFT81, and a frameshift mutant of FRA10, which suppresses the 5′ splice site mutation in IFT121. Surprisingly, we found dgr14-1 and fra10 mutations suppress both splice site mutations. We suggest these two proteins are involved in facilitating splice site recognition/interaction; in their absence some splice site mutations are tolerated. Nonsense mutations in SMG1, which is involved in nonsense-mediated decay, lead to accumulation of aberrant transcripts and partial restoration of flagellar assembly in the ift mutants. The high density of introns and the conservation of noncore splicing factors, together with the ease of scoring the ift mutant phenotype, make Chlamydomonas an attractive organism to identify new proteins involved in splicing through suppressor screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huawen Lin
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zhengyan Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Carlo Iomini
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susan K Dutcher
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 4523 Clayton Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
| |
Collapse
|