Bioinformatic Analysis of Structural Proteins of Paramyxovirus Tianjin Strain

The amino acid sequences of the NP, P, M, F, HN and L proteins of the paramyxovirus Tianjin strain were analyzed by using the bioinformatics methods. Phylogenetic analysis based on 6 structural proteins among the Tianjin strain and 25 paramyxoviruses showed that the Tianjin strain belonged to the genus Respirovirus, in the subfamily Paramyxovirinae, and was most closely related to Sendai virus (SeV). Phylogenetic analysis with 14 known SeVs showed that Tianjin strain represented a new evolutionary lineage. Similarities comparisons indicated that Tianjin strain P protein was poorly conserved, sharing only 78.7% - 91.9% amino acid identity with the known SeVs, while the L protein was the most conserved, having 96.0% - 98.0% amino acid identity with the known SeVs. Alignments of amino acid sequences of 6 structural proteins clearly showed that Tianjin strain possessed many unique amino acid substitutions in their protein sequences, 15 in NP, 29 in P, 6 in M, 13 in F, 18 in HN, and 29 in L. These results revealed that Tianjin strain was most likely a new genotype of SeV. The presence of unique amino acid substitutions suggests that Tianjin strain maybe has a significant difference in biological, pathological, immunological, or epidemiological characteristics from the known SeVs.

The Structural Proteins of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus Bacteriophage MAC-1

In the present investigation the structural proteins associated with MAC-1 bacteriophage have been characterized using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE);tandem mass spectrometry of protein bands from SDS-PAGE gel;from the open reading frames (ORFs) deduced from MAC-1 genome sequence and amino acid sequence homology searches from the Uniprot database (up000002418). Results have led to the identification of at least three structural proteins associated with MAC-1 phage genome. They are: capsid protein (~55,000-daltons);spike protein (~22,000-daltons) and a low molecular weight DNA binding protein (~4000-dal- tons). In addition, two other minor proteins were tentatively identified as replicative and scaffold proteins based on two to three unique peptides from mass spectrometry data. However, other proteins coded (ORFs) by phage genome remain to be identified.

Prokaryotic Expression and Immunogenicity of Dominant Epitope Region of Goose Parvovirus Structural Protein VP3

[Objective] The paper was to develop a subunit vaccine candidate for prevention and control of goose parvovirus infection. [Method]Based on the prokaryotic expression system, the antigenic epitopes and locations of the structural protein VP3 were predicted by software analysis,and the region displaying a large portion of antigenic epitopes was amplified by PCR. The target VP3 DNA fragment was inserted into pET-30 a-VP3 vector, was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 competent cells for protein expression and animal test. The SPF chickens were immunized with the recombinant protein and the antisera were collected for neutralization test by using a goose embryo fibroblast. [Result] The recombinant plasmid was constructed, and the target region of VP3 protein was expressed efficiently in a soluble form. The neutralizing titers of antisera could reach up to-2.608. [Conclusion] The target region displaying a large portion of antigenic epitopes of the structural protein VP3 could be expressed efficiently in soluble form, and the expressed protein could induce neutralizing antibodies in SFP chicken.

Characterization of physicochemical and immunogenic properties of allergenic proteins altered by food processing:a review

Food allergens are mainly naturally-occurring proteins with immunoglobulin E(IgE)-binding epitopes.Understanding the structural and immunogenic characteristics of allergenic proteins is essential in assessing whether and how food processing techniques reduce allergenicity.We here discuss the impacts of food processing technologies on the modification of physicochemical,structural,and immunogenic properties of allergenic proteins.Detection techniques for characterizing changes in these properties of food allergens are summarized.Food processing helps to reduce allergenicity by aggregating or denaturing proteins,which masks,modifies,or destroys antigenic epitopes,whereas,it cannot eliminate allergenicity completely,and sometimes even improves allergenicity by exposing new epitopes.Moreover,most food processing techniques have been tested on purified food allergens rather than food products due to potential interference of other food components.We provide guidance for further development of processing operations that can decrease the allergenicity of allergenic food proteins without negatively impacting the nutritional profile.

Unveiling the nanoscale architectures and dynamics of protein assembly with in situ atomic force microscopy

Proteins play a vital role in different biological processes by forming complexes through precise folding with exclusive inter-and intra-molecular interactions.Understanding the structural and regulatory mechanisms underlying protein complex formation provides insights into biophysical processes.Furthermore,the principle of protein assembly gives guidelines for new biomimetic materials with potential appli-cations in medicine,energy,and nanotechnology.Atomic force microscopy(AFM)is a powerful tool for investigating protein assembly and interactions across spatial scales(single molecules to cells)and temporal scales(milliseconds to days).It has significantly contributed to understanding nanoscale architectures,inter-and intra-molecular interactions,and regulatory elements that determine protein structures,assemblies,and functions.This review describes recent advancements in elucidating protein assemblies with in situ AFM.We discuss the structures,diffusions,interac-tions,and assembly dynamics of proteins captured by conventional and high-speed AFM in near-native environments and recent AFM developments in the multimodal high-resolution imaging,bimodal imaging,live cell imaging,and machine-learning-enhanced data analysis.These approaches show the significance of broadening the horizons of AFM and enable unprecedented explorations of protein assembly for biomaterial design and biomedical research.

Expression and self-assembly of HCV structural proteins into virus-like particles and their immunogenicity

Background The synthesis of virus-like particles (VLPs) provides an important tool to determine the structural requirements for viral particle assembly and virus-host interactions. Our purpose was to express simultaneously all three structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in insect cells to investigate the proteins assembly into VLPs and the immunogenicity of these particles KH*2/5DMethods HCV gene sequences encoding the structural proteins C, E1, and E2 were amplified with PCR, and recombinant baculoviruses were constructed using recombinant DNA techniques The expression of HCV structural proteins in insect cells was analyzed by immunofluoresceoce and SDS-PAGE The interaction of expressed structural proteins was investigated by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting The VLPs in the insect cells were visualized by electron microscopy (EM) VLPs were then purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation and used to immunize BALB/c mice Antibodies against HCV were tested for in mouse serum samples by an ELISA assay Results The recombinant baculoviruses reBV/C and reBV/E1-E2 were constructed successfully Insect cells co-infected with reBV/C and reBV/E1-E2 expressed HCV C, E1, and E2 proteins with the expected molecular weights of 20kD, 35kD, and 66kD, respectively The results of immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting assays revealed the coimmunoprecipitation of C, E1, and E2 proteins, indicating association of the three structural proteins Electron microscopy of insect cells co-infected with reBV/C and reBV/E1-E2 demonstrated spherical particles (40 to 60 nm in diameter) similar to the HCV virions from serum samples or hepatic tissue samples of HCV infected humans The VLPs were partially purified Antibodies to HCV were detectable in the serum of mice immunized with VLPs Conclusion HCV structural proteins simultaneously expressed in insect cells can interact with each other and assemble into HCV-like particles, which are shown to be immunogenic in mice

Structural changes of proteins in liver cirrhosis and consequential changes in their function

The liver is the site of synthesis of the majority of circulating proteins.Besides initial polypeptide synthesis,sophisticated machinery is involved in the further processing of proteins by removing parts of them and/or adding functional groups and small molecules tailoring the final molecule to suit its physiological purpose.Posttranslational modifications(PTMs)design a network of molecules with the common protein ancestor but with slightly or considerably varying activity/localization/purpose.PTMs can change under pathological conditions,giving rise to aberrant or overmodified proteins.Undesired changes in the structure of proteins most often accompany undesired changes in their function,such as reduced activity or the appearance of new effects.Proper protein processing is essential for the reactions in living beings and crucial for the overall quality control.Modifications that occur on proteins synthesized in the liver whose PTMs are cirrhosis-related are oxidation,nitration,glycosylation,acetylation,and ubiquitination.Some of them predominantly affect proteins that remain in liver cells,whereas others predominantly occur on proteins that leave the liver or originate from other tissues and perform their function in the circulation.Altered PTMs of certain proteins are potential candidates as biomarkers of liver-related diseases,including cirrhosis.This review will focus on PTMs on proteins whose structural changes in cirrhosis exert or are suspected to exert the most serious functional consequences.

Changes of structure and functional properties of rice protein in the fresh edible rice during the seed development

It has been reported that fresh edible rice has more bioactive compounds and its protein is easier to digest and has lower hypoallergenic than mature rice. In this paper, the changes in structure and functional properties of proteins at five different stages, including early milky stage(EMS), middle milky stage(MMS), late milky stage(LMS), waxy ripe stage(WS)and ripening stage(RS), during the seed development were investigated. It was found that with the seed developing, the molecular weight of fresh rice protein gradually become larger while the secondary structure changed from the highest content of disordered structure at MMS to the highest content of ordered structure at RS, which affect the surface hydrophobicity and then the functional properties of proteins, including foaming properties, emulsifying properties and oil holding capacity. Fresh rice protein at MMS has the strongest surface hydrophobicity while fresh edible rice protein at RS has the strongest oil holding capability. The results of our study can provide a theoretical basis for the application of fresh rice protein in the food industry and help to develop new fresh edible rice food.

Structural modeling of proteins by integrating small-angle x-ray scattering data

Elucidating the structure of large biomolecules such as multi-domain proteins or protein complexes is challenging due to their high flexibility in solution. Recently, an ＂integrative structural biology＂ approach has been proposed, which aims to determine the protein structure and characterize protein flexibility by combining complementary high- and lowresolution experimental data using computer simulations. Small-angle x-ray scattering（SAXS） is an efficient technique that can yield low-resolution structural information, including protein size and shape. Here, we review computational methods that integrate SAXS with other experimental datasets for structural modeling. Finally, we provide a case study of determination of the structure of a protein complex formed between the tandem SH3 domains in c-Cb1-associated protein and the proline-rich loop in human vinculin.

A Novel Design Method for Protein-Like Molecules from the Perspective of Sheaf Theory

Proteins perform a variety of functions in living organisms and their functions are largely determined by their shape. In this paper, we propose a novel mathematical method for designing protein-like molecules of a given shape. In the mathematical model, molecules are represented as loops of n-simplices (2-simplices are triangles and 3-simplices are tetrahedra). We design a new molecule of a given shape by patching together a set of smaller molecules that cover the shape. The covering set of small molecules is defined using a binary relation between sets of molecules. A new molecule is then obtained as a sum of the smaller molecules, where addition of molecules is defined using transformations acting on a set of (n + 1)-dimensional cones. Due to page limitations, only the two-dimensional case (i.e., loops of triangles) is considered. No prior knowledge of Sheaf Theory, Category Theory, or Protein Science is required. The author hopes that this paper will encourage further collaboration between Mathematics and Protein Science.

Advances of Studies on the Viral Proteins of PRRSV

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome( PRRS) is one of viral diseases with severe reproductive obstacle of pregnant sows and respiratory tract symptoms and higher mortality of piglets as characteristics,which is caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus( PRRSV). PRRS has brought great threats to swine industry in the world. The advances of studies on the viral proteins of PRRSV were reviewed from the genome,non-structural proteins and structural proteins of PRRSV.

Quantum Chemical Studies on Proteins in the Reaction Center of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The electronic structure of protein chains L and M in photosynthetic reaction center (PRC) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (Van Niel) Imhoff, Truper et Pfennig) was studied by using the Overlapping Dimer Approximation method and the Extended Negative Factor Counter method at ab initio level. The result indicated that: (1) Amino acid residues, the molecular orbitals of which composed the main components of frontier orbitals of protein chain L (M), are located at the random coil areas of chain L (alpha helix areas of chain M). Since the random coil is flexible and more easy to change its conformation in the electron transfer process and to reduce the energy of the system, and the structure of the alpha helix is reletively stable, this difference might be one of the causes for the electron transfer in photosynthetic reaction center (PRC) only takes place along the L branch. (2) The His residues which axially coordinated to the 'special pair' P and accessory chlorophyll molecules (ABChls) are essentially important for the E-LUMO levels of P and ABChl. But, the corresponding molecular orbitals of these His residues do not appear in the composition of frontier orbitals of protein chains. It means that the interaction between pigment molecules and protein chains do not influence the contribution to the frontier orbitals of protein chains explicitly, but influences the corresponding E-LUMO levels significantly.

Construction of eukaryotic expression plasmid containing HCV NS3 segment and protein expression in human HL-7702 hepatocytes

AIM： To construct the eukaryotic expression plasmid containing HCV NS3 segment and to analyze the expression of NS3 protein in normal human hepatocyte HL-7702.METHODS： We amplified HCV NS3 fragment from plasmid pBRTM/HCV 1-3011 containing the whole length of HCV genome, recombined it with expression vector pcDNA3.1（-） to form the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1（-）/NS3, and transfected human HL-7702 hepatocytes with the recombined plasmid by cationic polymers. The expressed HCV NS3 protein was detected and analyzed by immunohistochemical method and Western blot.RESULTS： The amplified NS3 fragments had correct molecule weight and sequence. The successfully constructed eukaryotic expression plasmids were transfected to HL-7702 cells. The expressed NS3 proteins had correct molecular weight 70000.CONCLUSION： Eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 （-）/NS3 containing NS3 segment of HCV can be constructed, the sequence of NS3 fragments is consistent with the template. Normal human HL-7702 hepatocytes can efficiently express specific HCV NS3 protein in vitro.

Half a century after their discovery:Structural insights into exonuclease and annealase proteins catalyzing recombineering

Recombineering is an essential tool for molecular biologists,allowing for the facile and efficient manipulation of bacterial genomes directly in cells without the need for costly and laborious in vitro manipulations involving restriction enzymes.The main workhorses behind recombineering are bacteriophage proteins that promote the single-strand annealing(SSA)homologous recombination pathway to repair double-stranded DNA breaks.While there have been several reviews examining recombineering methods and applications,comparatively few have focused on the mechanisms of the proteins that are the key players in the SSA pathway:a 5′→3′exonuclease and a single-strand annealing protein(SSAP or“annealase”).This review dives into the structures and functions of the two SSA recombination systems that were the first to be developed for recombineering in E.coli:the RecET system from E.coli Rac prophage and the𝜆Red system from bacteriophageλ.By comparing the structures of the RecT and Red𝛽annealases,and the RecE and𝜆Exo exonucleases,we provide new insights into how the structures of these proteins dictate their function.Examining the sequence conservation of the𝜆λExo and RecE exonucleases gives more profound insights into their critical functional features.Ultimately,as recombineering accelerates and evolves in the laboratory,a better understanding of the mechanisms of the proteins behind this powerful technique will drive the development of improved and expanded capabilities in the future.

Changes in physicochemical characteristics of wheat flour and quality of fresh wet noodles induced by microwave treatment

Fresh wet noodles(FWN) are popular staple foods due to its unique chewy texture and favorable taste. However,the development of FWN is limited by its short shelf life and high browning rate. It has been found that the quantity of original microorganisms in wheat flour produced by traditional method is relatively high, which is detrimental to the processing quality and storage stability of FWN. Consequently, it becomes imperative to decrease microorganisms in wheat flour. Microwave treatment has been regarded as a promising method in the food industry due to its potential in inhibiting microbial growth and inactivating enzymes without causing adverse effect on the food quality. This study aims to investigate the effects of microwave treatment of wheat kernels under different powers(1, 2, 3, 4, 5 kW) on the physicochemical properties of wheat flour and the quality of FWN. The results revealed that microwave treatment had a significant effect on microbial inhibition and enzyme inactivation, wherein the total plate count(TPC) and yeast and mold counts(YMC) decreased by 0.87 lg(CFU/g) and 1.13 lg(CFU/g) respectively, and PPO activity decreased from 11.40 U to 6.31 U. The dough quality properties, such as stability, extensibility, and starch viscosity, improved significantly under different microwave conditions. Confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM) images indicated that starch and proteins aggregated gradually in treated flour, altering rheological properties of dough. From the results of scanning electron microscopy(SEM), microwave treatment led to the appearance of disrupted structure in the gluten proteins, but the secondary structure of proteins altered slightly. Rheological properties of dough confirmed that the microwave treatment greatly affected processing characteristics of wheat flour products, with significant advantageous consequences on product quality, especially for textural properties of FWN. Furthermore, FWN darkening could be inhibited noticeably after microwave treatment, thereby prolonging its shelf life. Therefore, microwave treatment could thus be an effective, practical technology to produce low-bacterial flour and thereby enhance its product quality.

Prediction of Protein OmpH in Structure of C47-8 Pasteurella multocida

[Objective] This study aimed to predict the structure of protein OmpH from Pasteurella multocida C47-8 （PmC47-8） strain of yak. [Method] Online BLAST, signal peptide prediction, secondary structure prediction and protein characteristics of sequencing result of gene OmpH from PmC47-8 strain were analyzed. [Result] The similarities of gene OmpH from PmC47-8 with the published 81 OmpH genes were between 84% and 99%; a signal peptide was found with the cleavage sites between 20 and 21 in the polypeptide; secondary structure prediction showed that folding structure accounted for 49.8% and loop structure for 50.2%; it predicted that there were 7 O-glycosylation sites in OmpH protein with the amino acid residual sites of 2, 45, 48, 330, 716, 721, 723, respectively, and 2 N-glycosylation sites with the amino acid residual sites of 15 and 35. [Conclusion] This study lays the foundation for the study on the immunity of OmpH gene from yak.

The Influence of Newcastle Disease Virus Major Proteins on Virulence

The Newcastle disease virus(NDV)negative-strand RNA genome contains six genes.These genes encode nucleoprotein(NP),phosphoprotein(P),matrix protein(M),fusion protein(F),hemagglutinin-neuraminidase(HN),and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase(L)proteins.The six proteins affect the virulence of NDV in different ways,but available information on the six proteins is disparate and scattered across many databases and sources.A comprehensive overview of the proteins determining NDV virulence is lacking.This review summarizes the virulence of NDV as a complex trait determined by these six different proteins.

FTIR Analysis of Protein Secondary Structure in Cheddar Cheese during Ripening

Proteolysis is one of the most important biochemical reactions during cheese ripening.Studies on the secondary structure of proteins during ripening would be helpful for characterizing protein changes for assessing cheese quality.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),with self-deconvolution,second derivative analysis and band curve-fitting,was used to characterize the secondary structure of proteins in Cheddar cheese during ripening.The spectra of the amide I region showed great similarity,while the relative contents of the secondary structures underwent a series of changes.As ripening progressed,the α-helix content decreased and the β-sheet content increased.This structural shift was attributed to the strengthening of hydrogen bonds that resulted from hydrolysis of caseins.In summary,FTIR could provide the basis for rapid characterization of cheese that is undergoing ripening.

Does mRNA structure contain genetic information for regulating co-translational protein folding？

Currently many facets of genetic information are illdefined. In particular, how protein folding is genetically regulated has been a long-standing issue for genetics and protein biology. And a generic mechanistic model with supports of genomic data is still lacking. Recent technological advances have enabled much needed genome-wide experiments. While putting the effect of codon optimality on debate, these studies have supplied mounting evidence suggesting a role of m RNA structure in the regulation of protein folding by modulating translational elongation rate. In conjunctions with previous theories, this mechanistic model of protein folding guided by m RNA structure shall expand our understandings of genetic information and offer new insights into various biomedical puzzles.

Proteins:From sequence to structure

Protein sequences as special heterogeneous sequences are rare in the amino acid sequence space. The specific sequen- tial order of amino acids of a protein is essential to its 3D structure. On the whole, the correlation between sequence and structure of a protein is not so strong. How well would a protein sequence contain its structural information？ How does a sequence determine its native structure？ Keeping the globular proteins in mind, we discuss several problems from sequence to structure.