The kinetic mechanism of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase has been determined to be random in the direction of MgADP phosphorylation by using initial velocity studies in the absence and presence of the product, phospho-Serpeptide (Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser[P]-Leu-Gly) , and dead-end inhibitors. In contrast to the kinetic parameters obtained in the direction of Serpeptide phosphorylation, the only kinetic parameters affected by Mg^2+ are the dissociation constants for E:phospho-Serpeptide and E:MgADP, which are decreased by about 4-fold. The dead-end analog MgAMPCP binds with an affinity equal to that of MgADP in contrast to MgAMPPCP, which binds weaker than MgATP. The ratio of the maximum velocities in the forward and reverse reactions is about 200, and the Haldane relationship gives a K-eq of (7.2 ± 2) x 10^2. The latter can be compared to the K-eq obtained by direct measurement of reactant concentrations (2.2 ± 0.4) x 10^3 and 31-P NMR (1 ± 0.5) x 10^3. Data for the pH dependence of kinetic parameters and inhibitor dissociation constants for the cAMP dependent protein kinase are consistent with a mechanism in which reactants selectively bind to an enzyme with the catalytic base unprotonated and an enzyme group required protonated for Ser-peptide binding. Preferentially MgATP binds fully ionized and requires an enzyme residue (probably lysine) to be protonated. The maximum velocity and V/K-MgATP are pH independent. The V/K for Serpeptide is bell-shaped with estimated pK values of 6.2 and 8.5. The dependence of 1/K-i for Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ala-Leu-Gly is also bell-shaped, giving pK values identical with those obtained for V/K-Serpeptide, while the K-i for MgAMPPCP increases from a constant value of 650 μM above pH 8 to a constant value of 4 mM below pH 5.5. The K-i for uncomplexed Mg^2+ obtained from the Mg^2+ dependence of V and V/K-MgATP is apparently pH independent.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed on June 24, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-101).

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly problematic human pathogen due to its ability to cause devastating infections, paired with a capacity to withstand the action of a large fraction of available antibiotics. Both pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance are encoded by numerous genomic elements, though the expression of these factors is energetically costly and not always beneficial for cellular survival. Therefore, S. aureus has developed sophisticated regulatory networks to integrate a multitude of signals, enabling it to navigate the delicate balance between its pathogenic lifestyle and baseline needs for cellular energy homeostasis. It is thus imperative to study S. aureus behavior and its underlying regulatory circuits not as isolated entities, but rather holistically as part of an optimized, highly interconnected system. To do so, we must seek to achieve a comprehensive understanding of all encoded regulators, that is, not only historically well defined elements like transcription factors, two-component systems and σ factors, but also the lesser studied ’non-classical’ regulators like small regulatory RNAs and regulatory subunits of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP). To this end, we describe here the identification of numerous, previously unidentified sRNAs and their incorporation into a new standardized cataloging and annotation system. The identification and annotation procedures are based on a number of RNAseq experiments performed in three different S. aureus backgrounds (MRSA252, NCTC 8325, and USA300). We then apply RNAseq to evaluate the expression patterns of these elements when grown in human serum, thus probing for possible connections between sRNAs and S. aureus pathogenicity. In addition, we characterize the role of two small RNAP subunits, δ and ω, for S. aureus RNAP function. δ is of particular interest, as it is unique to Gram-positive bacteria; deletion of the subunit results in a loss of transcriptional stringency and decreased expression of numerous virulence determinants. These alterations are accompanied by impaired survival of the δ mutant in whole human blood, increased phagocytosis by human leukocytes, and decreased survival in a murine model septicemia when compared to its parental strain. In contrast, there is no indication of direct and gene-specific transcriptional functions for ω. Rather, we describe a role for ω in the structural integrity of the RNAP complex, where its loss leads to a structural disturbance in the RNAP complex that causes altered affinities for (alternative) σ factors and the δ subunit. Overall, the findings presented here contribute to a better understanding of the intricate regulatory systems that guide the lifestyle of an organism that presents an immense burden to patients and our health care system alike.

Clathrin coated vesicles were the first type of coated vesicle to be characterised. The coat consists of two components, clathrin and adaptor (or AP) complexes, the AP-1 complex is associated with the clathrin coated vesicles that bud from the TGN and the AP-2 complex is associated with the clathrin coated vesicles that bud from the plasma membrane. A new type of adaptor-like complex was discovered in our laboratory and was published in 1996. The complex has been shown to consist of two known proteins, beta3B and mu3B, and two unknown proteins of 160kD and 22kD. Unlike the conventional adaptor complexes this complex is not associated with clathrin. The aim of this thesis was to complete the characterisation of the adaptor-like complex and to establish its function. My studies have shown that, the adaptor-like complex consist of an alpha/gamma like subunit, delta, a beta subunit (beta3A/B), a mu subunit (mu3A/B) and a sigma subunit (sigma3A/B). We named the adaptor-like complexAP-3, by analogy with the AP-1 and AP-2 complexes. The AP-3 complex is localised to perinuclear and more peripheral membranes in non-neuronal cells, with little overlap with endocytic markers. The beta subunit of the AP-3 complex is the major target for phosphorylation. Analysis of mice with mutations in the beta3A subunit, and in the delta subunit of the AP-3 complex, have revealed that the beta subunit is required for the stability of the mu subunit and that the delta subunit is essential for the stability of the whole complex. Further analysis of the mutant mice indicated that the mice lack significant levels of functional AP-3 complex. Studies on fibroblasts generated from these mice revealed that the AP-3 complex plays a role in the trafficking of LAMPI to lysosomes.

Ferritin is the major protein responsible for the sequestration, storage and release of intracellular iron. The ferritin protein shell exists as heteropolymers of various combinations of two types of subunits, the H-subunit and L-subunit, a phenomenon that gives rise to the existence of isoferritins. As the roles of the H-subunit and L-subunit differ in the mineralization process, the subunit composition of ferritin will influence the metabolic properties of the assembled ferritin molecules. The primary aim of the present study was to quantitatively measure the expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation. A second aim was to investigate the possible role that the expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin may have in the establishment and maintenance of an iron transfer block. The study subjects included 48 patients with chronic diseases from the Department of Internal Medicine, Kalafong Hospital and 10 patients with osteoarthritis, scheduled for hip replacement at the Department of Orthopaedics, Pretoria Academic Hospital. Bone marrow and blood samples were collected from each patient. The expression of the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin in bone marrow macrophages and cells of the erythron was quantitatively evaluated by post-embedding immunolocalisation with immunogold transmission electron microscopy. The patients were subdivided into groups with a predominantly T-helper cell type-1 immune reaction (pro-inflammatory) and normal immune status on the basis of C-reactive protein, neopterin and cytokines (INF-γ, TNF-α, Il-1β, Il-6, Il-12, Il-2, Il-8, GM-CSF, Il-4, Il-5, TGF-β and Il-10). The study showed • up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation • no effects for chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation on the expression of the L-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage • no effects for chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation on the expression of either the H-subunit or L-subunit of ferritin in cells of the bone marrow erythron • a 70% prevalence of iron transfer block in patients with chronic T-helper cell type-1 immune stimulation • up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the bone marrow macrophage in osteoarthritis patients who had normal T-helper cell type-1 immune activity, but significantly increased TGF-β levels • up-regulation of the H-subunit of ferritin in the patients with iron transfer block • iron availability loses its primary role in the establishment of the circulating red blood profile in conditions with chronic pro-inflammatory activity • indications that the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin may play a role in the iron availability for red blood cell haemoglobin production • various correlations in the osteoarthritis patients between the H-subunit and L-subunit of ferritin and different cytokines / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Physiology / unrestricted

Ligand-gated ion channels couple intra- and extracellular chemical signals to cellular excitability. In response to a specific ligand, these channels change their permeability to certain ions by opening or closing their ion conductive pathway, a controlling mechanism known as channel gating. Although recent studies with X-ray crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis have revealed several structures potentially important for channel gating, the gating mechanism is still elusive. Ligand-dependent channel gating involves a series of transient events and asymmetric movements of individual subunits. Understanding of these events appears to be a challenge to current approaches in gating studies by using the homomeric wild-type or mutant channels. I therefore took an alternative approach by constructing heteromeric channels. Subunit stoichiometric studies of the Kir1.1 channel showed that a minimum of one functional subunit was required for the pH-dependent gating of the channel. Four subunits in this channel were coordinated as dynamic functional dimers. In Kir6.2 channel, stoichiometry for proton-binding was almost identical to that for channel gating in the M2 helix, suggesting a one-to-one direct coupling of proton binding in C-terminus to channel gating in M2 helix. Positive cooperativity was suggested among subunits in both the proton binding and channel gating. Ligand binding can be differentiated from channel gating by studying the ATP-dependent gating of Kir6.2 channel. Disruptions in ATP binding were found to change both the potency and efficacy of the concentration-dependent curves, while the baseline activity instead of maximum inhibition was affected by disruptions of channel gating. Four subunits in the Kir6.2 channel undergo negative cooperativity in ATP binding and positive cooperativity in channel gating. The ligand binding was coupled to the gating mechanism in the same subunit and neighboring subunits, although the intrasubunit coupling was more effective. These results are well described with the operational model which we have applied to ion channel studies for the first time. By manipulating the relative distance and the interaction of two transmembrane helices, the inner helix bundle of crossing was found to not only serve as a gate but also determine the consequence of ligand binding.

How will digitalization influence the role of corporate headquarters (CHQs) and their relationships with their operating units? We recently asked 67 senior CHQ managers this question. The results suggest that CHQs expect to become more powerful and more involved in their operating units. These conclusions seem to be driven by perceptions that the ongoing digitalization will provide CHQ managers with more timely and better information. In this "Point of View", we discuss the potential pitfalls of such a narrative. We also offer ideas for how to avoid mistakes and ensure that CHQs increase their value-added in times of digitalization. In particular, we suggest that CHQs place emphasis on social interactions for data to be effectively collected and analyzed, for decision-making power to be adequately allocated, and for CHQ involvement to be informed and necessary.