Scaffolding proteins control the localization of protein kinases. During translation, the scaffolding proteins eIF4G and DAP5 recruit the Ser/Thr kinase Mnk1 to phosphorylate the mRNA cap-binding protein eIF4E and modulate translation. Biochemical deletion analysis previously showed that the interaction between Mnk1 and eIF4G/DAP5 is mediated by N-terminal residues in Mnk1 and C-terminal residues in eIF4G/DAP5. Using X-ray crystallography I have determined the structure (1.5 A) of the C-terminal domain of DAP5 (DAP5C). This structure reveals that DAP5C contains two atypical HEAT domains similar to the ones seen previously in the structure of the C-terminal region of eIF4G (4GC). Using ITC I showed that the Kd for the interaction between the N-terminus ofMnk1 and 4GCIDAPSC is 20 muM and 10 muM, respectively. Using NMR chemical shifts we have mapped the residues on both Mnk1 and 4GC/DAP5C which are important for maintaining this interaction. Finally, using SAXS a low resolution configuration of the hMnk1-4GC complex was modeled. It is hoped that an understanding of the structural basis for the recruitment of protein kinases to their sites of action will allow the design of small-molecule compounds that can be used to modulate the location of the kinase and hence its activity.

Serine proteases are a family of proteases that utilize an activated serine residue in the sub&not / strate-binding pocket to catalytically hydrolyze peptide bonds. Enzymes which belong to this family, with a diverse array of metabolic and regulatory functions, play critical roles in cell physiology and pathology. &lsquo / Clp&rsquo / s are a class of ATP dependent serine proteases which are composed of a protease (ClpP) and an ATPase (ClpA or ClpX) component. Their involvements in degrading proteins are especially implicated under stress conditions. In contrast to members of Bacteria and Eukarya, little is known about the energy-dependent proteolysis and there is no report on Clp family proteases in Archaea. In this study, for the fist time, a periplasmic Clp P-like (PSP) and a membrane bound serine protease (MSP) genes from thermophilic archaeon Thermoplasma volcanium GSS1 were cloned and expressed in E. coli. PCR amplifications at 55 &ordm / C yielded unique fragments of 971 and 1521bp, for PSP and MSP genes, respectively, which were ligated to p-Drive cloning vectors and introduced into E.coli TG1 competent cells. Recombinant clones were screened depending on blue/white colony selection. Putative recombinant plasmids were analyzed by restriction enzyme digestions. Serine protease activities of the three positive clones (E. coli TG-S1, E. coli TG-S4 and E. coli TG-M1) were determined spectrophotometrically by using chromogenic oligopeptide substrates. These results indicated that cloned PSP and MSP genes were successfully expressed in E. coli under the control of their own promoters. Heterologous expression of PSP gene was also attempted by adding 6xHis tag to the 5&acute / end of the PSP gene in pQE 30 expression vector. Competent E.coli TG1 cells were transformed by pQE expression constructs. Positive clones were detected on colony blots using Anti-His HRP conjugates and chromogenic DAB substrate. Plasmids of these colonies were analyzed by restriction digestions to select the true recombinants. Expression of the 6xHis-PSP fusion protein from the recombinant E. coli TG-pQE-S1.7 strain was confirmed by functional analysis and SDS-PAGE. An NCBI domain search and multiple sequence alignment using Clustal W 1.82 program indicated homologies between PSP and MSP of Tp. volcanium and various bacterial ATP dependent ClpPs. Signal peptide search using Signal P 3.0 server predicted a signal peptide sequence in MSP homologous to that of Gram (+) bacteria.

Tuberculosis, caused by the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in our world today. In order to survive within the host the bacteria need to sense and respond to changes in the environment; however, signal transduction in this bacterium is poorly understood. PknB is a serine/threonine kinase essential for the in vitro survival of M. tuberculosis and therefore a potential drug target against the bacteria. It is the goal of the current study to elucidate downstream substrates of PknB. We have found that PknB shares in vitro substrates with another serine/threonine kinase, PknH, implying the potential complexity of the signaling pathways in the bacteria. We have also provided the first description of the coupling between serine/threonine kinases PknB and PknH with a two-component system response regulator DevR, and further proposed Ser/Thr phosphorylation as the negative regulator of DevR transcription activator activity based on LC-MS/MS analysis. Finally, we have identified a previously unknown phosphoprotein glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase encoded by the ORF Rv1436, which demonstrates autophosphorylation activity and which phosphorylation is independent of PknB. Overall, the current study has contributed to advance our understanding of the signal transduction pathways and phosphoproteome in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-100).

Dissertation (Ph.D.).--University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Dept. of Human Genetics. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/30). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-111) Also available in print.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2006. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 138-139

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-168). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.