The oligomerization of the coiled coil-domain of occludin is redox sensitive

The transmembrane tight junction protein occludin is sensitive to oxidative stress. Occludin oligomerizes; however, its function in the tight junction is unknown. The cytosolic C-terminal tail contains a coiled coil-domain and forms dimers contributing to the oligomerization. The regulation of the oligomerization remains unclear. As the domain area contains sulfhydryl residues, we tested the hypothesis that the dimerization of the coiled coil-domain depends on these residues. We showed that the dimerization is modulated by the thiol concentration in the low-millimolar range, which is relevant both for physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Masking the sulfhydryl residues in the fragment by covalent binding of 4-vinyl pyridine prevented the dimerization but did not affect its helical structure and cylindric shape. The data demonstrate, for the first time, that disulfide bridge formation of murine cystein 408 is involved in the dimerization. This process is redox-sensitive but the secondary structure of the domain is not. It is concluded that the dimerization of occludin may play a regulatory role in the tight junction assembly under physiological and pathological conditions.

On the self-association potential of transmembrane tight junction proteins

Tight junctions seal intercellular clefts via membrane-related strands, hence, maintaining important organ functions. We investigated the self-association of strand-forming transmembrane tight junction proteins. The regulatory tight junction protein occludin was differently tagged and cotransfected in eucaryotic cells. These occludins colocalized within the plasma membrane of the same cell, coprecipitated and exhibited fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Differently tagged strand-forming claudin-5 also colocalized in the plasma membrane of the same cell and showed fluorescence resonance energy transfer. This demonstrates self-association in intact cells both of occludin and claudin-5 in one plasma membrane. In search of dimerizing regions of occludin, dimerization of its cytosolic C-terminal coiledcoil domain was identified. In claudin-5, the second extracellular loop was detected as a dimer. Since the transmembrane junctional adhesion molecule also is known to dimerize, the assumption that homodimerization of transmembrane tight junction proteins may serve as a common structural feature in tight junction assembly is supported.

The chilling of carcasses

Biochemical processes and structural changes that occur in muscle during the first 24h postmortem play a great role in the ultimate quality and palatability of meat and are influenced by the chilling processes that carcasses are subjected to after slaughter. For beef and lamb, employing chilling parameters that minimize cold shortening is of greatest importance and can be best addressed by ensuring that muscle temperatures are not below 10°C before pH reaches 6.2. For pork, because of the impact of high muscle temperatures and low pH on the development of pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) pork, a more rapid chilling process is needed to reduce PSE with the recommended internal muscle temperature of 10°C at 12h and 2-4°C at 24h. Spray chilling, a system whereby chilled water is applied to carcasses during the early part of postmortem cooling, is used to control carcass shrinkage and to improve chilling rates through evaporative cooling. Delayed chilling can be used to reduce or prevent the negative effects of cold shortening; however, production constraints in high-volume facilities and food safety concerns make this method less useful in commercial settings. Electrical stimulation and alternative carcass suspension programs offer processors the opportunity to negate most or all of the effects of cold shortening while still using traditional chilling systems. Rapid or blast chilling can be an effective method to reduce the incidence of PSE in pork but extreme chilling systems may cause quality problems because of the differential between the cold temperatures on the outside of the carcass compared to the warm muscle temperatures within the carcass (i.e., muscles that are darker in color externally and lighter in color internally).

Occludin binds to the SH3-hinge-GuK unit of zonula occludens protein 1: potential mechanism of tight junction regulation

The interaction between tight junction proteins occludin and zona occludens protein 1 (ZO-1) was clarified. The sequence cc1 within the hinge region of ZO-1, connecting its SH3 and GuK domains, was identified as a new association site for the occludin C-terminus, core binding area GLRSSKRNLRKSR (mouse ZO-1(606-618)). Occludin also bound to the sequence H2 within GuK, core area HKLRKNNH (ZO-1(759-766)). In occludin, the binding core was ELSRLDKELDDYREESEEY (mouse occludin(455-473)). Helicity of the sequences was suggested by circular dichroism. Because basic residues in ZO-1, acidic residues in occludin (underlined), coiled-coil helix-forming leucine heptad motifs (bold) in occludin and, probably, in cc1 were essential, we conclude that interactions were both helical and ionic. Moreover, the GuK domain bound other GuK molecules, suggesting oligomerization of ZO-1. Generally, the assumption is supported that the SH3-hinge-GuK region represents a functional and regulatory unit in ZO-1 forming a multiprotein tight junction complex with occludin.

Identification and transcriptional analysis of a Treponema pallidum operon encoding a putative ABC transport system, an iron-activated repressor protein homolog, and a glycolytic pathway enzyme homolog

We have characterized a 5.2-kilobase (kb) putative transport related operon (tro) locus of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (Nichols strain) (Tp) encoding six proteins: TroA, TroB, TroC, TroD, TroR and Phosphoglycerate mutase (Pgm). Four of these gene products (TroA-TroD) are homologous to members of the ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) superfamily of bacterial transport proteins. TroA (previously identified as Tromp1) has significant sequence similarity to a family of Gram-negative periplasmic substrate-binding proteins and to a family of streptococcal proteins that may have dual roles as substrate binding proteins and adhesins. TroB is homologous to the ATP-binding protein component, whereas TroC and TroD are related to the hydrophobic membrane protein components of ABC transport systems. TroR is similar to Gram-positive iron-activated repressor proteins (DesR, DtxR, IdeR, and SirR). The last open reading frame (ORF) of the tro operon encodes a protein that is highly homologous to the glycolytic pathway enzyme, Pgm. Primer extension results demonstrated that the tro operon is transcribed from a sigma 70-type promoter element. Northern analysis and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions provided evidence for the presence of a primary 1-kb troA transcript and a secondary, less abundant, troA-pgm transcript. The tro operon is flanked by a Holliday structure DNA helicase homolog (upstream) and two ORFs representing a purine nucleoside phosphorylase homolog and tpp15, a previously characterized gene encoding a membrane lipoprotein (downstream). The presence of a complex operon containing a putative ABC transport system and a DtxR homolog indicates a possible linkage between transport and gene regulation in Tp.

Benzanthrins A and B, a new class of quinone antibiotics. II. Isolation, elucidation of structure and potential antitumor activity

The benzanthrins, which were produced by Nocardia lurida, were extracted from the fermentation broth with CH2Cl2. Subsequent purification on Sephadex LH-20 and diolbonded silica gel, followed by countercurrent chromatography, afforded analytically pure benzanthrins A and B. FAB-MS revealed that benzanthrins A and B were isomeric. It was demonstrated through degradative and spectroscopic studies that the benzanthrins were di-glycosides of a trihydroxy benz[a]anthraquinone chromophore where one of the sugars was linked through carbon and the other through oxygen. Benzanthrins A and B differed in the stereochemistry of the O-glycosidic sugar. Both compounds inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and 9KB, 9PS and 9ASK tumor cells in tissue culture.

Spenolimycin, a new spectinomycin-type antibiotic. II. Isolation and structure determination

A new water-soluble, basic antibiotic has been isolated from the fermentation beers of Streptomyces gilvospiralis sp. nov. The structure of the antibiotic has been deduced from spectral studies and confirmed by chemical degradation to spectinomycin. This structure, 3'-O-methylspectinomycin-3',4'-enol ether has led to the name spenolimycin.

Lysinomicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic. II. Structure and stereochemistry

The structure of lysinomicin, a new aminocyclitol antibiotic, was established as 3-epi-2'-N-(L-beta-lysyl)-4',5'-didehydro-6'-de-C-methylfortimi cin B (1) on the basis of spectral evidence and chemical degradation of the antibiotic. In the course of the degradation of 1, three additional compounds with interesting biological properties were obtained: 3-epi-2'-N-(L-beta-lysyl)-6'-de-C-methylfortimicin B (4), 3-epi-4',5'-didehydro-6'-de-C-methylfortimicin B (6) and 3-epi-6'-de-C-methylfortimicin B (7).

N-Didemethyl-n-propionyl-6,9;9, 12-erythromycin A-spiroketal, a new metabolite of erythromycin ethyl succinate in man

A novel, neutral metabolite of erythromycin was isolated from the urine of a patient treated with erythromycin ethyl succinate. After separation and purification on Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, the structure of the metabolite was deduced from spectral data to be the propionamide of the didemethylated 6,9;9, 12-spiroketal of erythromycin A.

Modification of seldomycin factor 5 at C-3'

Attempted removal of the 3'-hydroxyl group of seldomycin factor 5 via displacement of a sulfonate ester has led to 3'-epi-seldomycin factor 5. Removal of the hydroxyl group has been effected by the Barton procedure. The antibacterial activity of 3'-epi- and 3'-deoxyseldomycin factor 5 against various aminoglycoside-resistant strains is discussed.

Biotransformation of lankamycin, darcanolide, and 11-acetyllankolide by a blocked mutant of the erythromcyin producing organism Streptomyces erythreus

The biotransformation of lankamycin and congeners darcanolide and 11-acetylankolide by a blocked mutant of the erythromycin-producing organism Streptomyces erythreus, which cannot synthesize erythromycin without supplementation with erythromycin precursors, was investigated. Darcanolide and 11-acetyllankolide were converted into the corresponding 15-deoxy-15-oxo derivatives. Lankamycin was transformed to 15-deoxy-15-oxolankamycin, 4''-deacetyl-15-deoxy-15-oxolankamycin and 3'-de-O-methylankamycin. None of the derivatives possessed high antimicrobial activity.

Fortimicins A and B, new aminoglycoside antibiotics. III. Structural identification

The structures of fortimicins A and B have been determined by PMR, CMR, mass spectra and CD combined with chemical degradations. Both antibiotics are pseudodisaccharides and incorporate a novel aminocyclitol, fortamine. In contrast to the diaminocyclitol moieties of known aminoglycosides, fortamine is a 1,4-diamine, contains both N- and O-methyl groups and possesses chiro stereochemistry. Both antibiotics are glycosides of 6-epi-purpurosamine B, but fortimicin A differs from fortimicin B by being a glycyl amide.

A new aminoglycoside antibiotic complex--the seldomycins. III. The structures of seldomycin factors 1 and 2+

The structures of seldomycin factors 1 and 2 have been determined by consideration of chemical degradation and spectral properties. Factor 1, also known as XK-88-1, is shown to be 6-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-xylopyranosyl) paromamine (1) and factor 2, also known as XK-88-2, is shown to be 4'-deoxy-neamine (2). Mass spectral evidence has been obtained that suggests the most probable structure for seldomycin factor 3, also known as XK-88-3, is 6'-amino-6'-deoxyseldomycin factor 1 (12).

A new antibiotic XK-62-2. III The structure of XK-62-2, a new gentamicin C complex antibiotic

The structure of XK-62-2 has been firmly established to be 6'-N-methylgentamicin C1a (3) by application of spectroscopic methods in conjunction with chemical degradation. The data obtained in every case are completely consistent with the proposed structure.