Modulation of phospholipase A2 activity generated by molecular evolution

Snake venom oligomeric neurotoxins offer several unique examples of modulation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity generated by molecular evolution. This phenomenon was found in evolutionary younger snakes and is probably common for representatives of the genus Vipera. At present, the best-studied example is the heterodimeric neurotoxin vipoxin from the venom of the southeast European snake Vipera ammodytes meridionalis. It is a complex between a basic strongly toxic PLA2 and an acidic and catalytically inactive PLA2-like component (Inh). This is the first reported example of a high degree of structural homology (62%) between an enzyme and its natural protein inhibitor. The inhibitor is a product of the divergent evolution of the unstable PLA2 in order to stabilize it and to preserve the pharmacological activity/toxicity for a long time. Inh reduces both the catalytic activity and toxicity of PLA2. Vipoxin also illustrates evolution of the catalytic into a inhibitory function. Vipoxin analogues have been found in the venom of viperid snakes inhabiting diverse regions of the world. An attempt is made to explain modulation of the toxic function by the three-dimensional structure of vipoxin.     

Crystal structure of the CusBA heavy-metal efflux complex of Escherichia coli

Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, expel toxic chemicals through tripartite efflux pumps that span both the inner and outer membrane. The three parts are an inner membrane, substrate-binding transporter; a membrane fusion protein; and an outer-membrane-anchored channel. The fusion protein connects the transporter to the channel within the periplasmic space. A crystallographic model of this tripartite efflux complex has been unavailable because co-crystallization of the various components of the system has proven to be extremely difficult. We previously described the crystal structures of both the inner membrane transporter CusA and the membrane fusion protein CusB of the CusCBA efflux system of E. coli. Here we report the co-crystal structure of the CusBA efflux complex, showing that the transporter (or pump) CusA, which is present as a trimer, interacts with six CusB protomers and that the periplasmic domain of CusA is involved in these interactions. The six CusB molecules seem to form a continuous channel. The affinity of the CusA and CusB interaction was found to be in the micromolar range. Finally, we have predicted a three-dimensional structure for the trimeric CusC outer membrane channel and developed a model of the tripartite efflux assemblage. This CusC(3)-CusB(6)-CusA(3) model shows a 750-kilodalton efflux complex that spans the entire bacterial cell envelope and exports Cu I and Ag I ions.     

Crystal structure of a potassium ion transporter, TrkH

The TrkH/TrkG/KtrB proteins mediate K(+) uptake in bacteria and probably evolved from simple K(+) channels by multiple gene duplications or fusions. Here we present the crystal structure of a TrkH from Vibrio parahaemolyticus. TrkH is a homodimer, and each protomer contains an ion permeation pathway. A selectivity filter, similar in architecture to those of K(+) channels but significantly shorter, is lined by backbone and side-chain oxygen atoms. Functional studies showed that TrkH is selective for permeation of K(+) and Rb(+) over smaller ions such as Na(+) or Li(+). Immediately intracellular to the selectivity filter are an intramembrane loop and an arginine residue, both highly conserved, which constrict the permeation pathway. Substituting the arginine with an alanine significantly increases the rate of K(+) flux. These results reveal the molecular basis of K(+) selectivity and suggest a novel gating mechanism for this large and important family of membrane transport proteins.     

Crystal structure of a phosphorylation-coupled saccharide transporter

Saccharides have a central role in the nutrition of all living organisms. Whereas several saccharide uptake systems are shared between the different phylogenetic kingdoms, the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system exists almost exclusively in bacteria. This multi-component system includes an integral membrane protein EIIC that transports saccharides and assists in their phosphorylation. Here we present the crystal structure of an EIIC from Bacillus cereus that transports diacetylchitobiose. The EIIC is a homodimer, with an expansive interface formed between the amino-terminal halves of the two protomers. The carboxy-terminal half of each protomer has a large binding pocket that contains a diacetylchitobiose, which is occluded from both sides of the membrane with its site of phosphorylation near the conserved His250 and Glu334 residues. The structure shows the architecture of this important class of transporters, identifies the determinants of substrate binding and phosphorylation, and provides a framework for understanding the mechanism of sugar translocation.     

Crystal structure of an Eph receptor-ephrin complex.

The Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their membrane-anchored ephrin ligands are important in regulating cell-cell interactions as they initiate a unique bidirectional signal transduction cascade whereby information is communicated into both the Eph-expressing and the ephrin-expressing cells. Initially identified as regulators of axon pathfinding and neuronal cell migration, Ephs and ephrins are now known to have roles in many other cell-cell interactions, including those of vascular endothelial cells and specialized epithelia. Here we report the crystal structure of the complex formed between EphB2 and ephrin-B2, determined at 2.7 A resolution. Each Eph receptor binds an ephrin ligand through an expansive dimerization interface dominated by the insertion of an extended ephrin loop into a channel at the surface of the receptor. Two Eph-Ephrin dimers then join to form a tetramer, in which each ligand interacts with two receptors and each receptor interacts with two ligands. The Eph and ephrin molecules are precisely positioned and orientated in these complexes, promoting higher-order clustering and the initiation of bidirectional signalling.     

铑催化剂上CO的吸附态及其加氢反应

用红外光谱法测定表明：各种硅胶负载仲进型铑催化剂上，线ＣＯ／桥ＣＯ红外吸收强度比值与金属助剂（Ｍ）的关系变化顺序为（５０：１）（Ｒｈ－Ｍｎ）〉（２２：１）（Ｒｈ－Ｌｉ）〉（９．１：１）（Ｒｈ－Ｍｎ－Ｆｅ－Ｌｉ）〉（３．５：１）（Ｒｈ－Ｆｅ）〉２．８：１）（Ｒｈ）。在各种Ｒｈ－Ｍ／ＳｉＯ２催化剂上，线、桥ＣＯ吸附态的加氢原位ＦＴＩＲ跟踪实验表明：随着加氢的进行，线ＣＯ／桥ＣＯ吸收强度比值均逐渐减少…