Structure of the human histamine H1 receptor complex with doxepin

The biogenic amine histamine is an important pharmacological mediator involved in pathophysiological processes such as allergies and inflammations. Histamine H(1) receptor (H(1)R) antagonists are very effective drugs alleviating the symptoms of allergic reactions. Here we show the crystal structure of the H(1)R complex with doxepin, a first-generation H(1)R antagonist. Doxepin sits deep in the ligand-binding pocket and directly interacts with Trp?428(6.48), a highly conserved key residue in G-protein-coupled-receptor activation. This well-conserved pocket with mostly hydrophobic nature contributes to the low selectivity of the first-generation compounds. The pocket is associated with an anion-binding region occupied by a phosphate ion. Docking of various second-generation H(1)R antagonists reveals that the unique carboxyl group present in this class of compounds interacts with Lys?191(5.39) and/or Lys?179(ECL2), both of which form part of the anion-binding region. This region is not conserved in other aminergic receptors, demonstrating how minor differences in receptors lead to pronounced selectivity differences with small molecules. Our study sheds light on the molecular basis of H(1)R antagonist specificity against H(1)R.     

Genome-wide association study identifies a new melanoma susceptibility locus at 1q21.3

We performed a genome-wide association study of melanoma in a discovery cohort of 2,168 Australian individuals with melanoma and 4,387 control individuals. In this discovery phase, we confirm several previously characterized melanoma-associated loci at MC1R, ASIP and MTAP-CDKN2A. We selected variants at nine loci for replication in three independent case-control studies (Europe: 2,804 subjects with melanoma, 7,618 control subjects; United States 1: 1,804 subjects with melanoma, 1,026 control subjects; United States 2: 585 subjects with melanoma, 6,500 control subjects). The combined meta-analysis of all case-control studies identified a new susceptibility locus at 1q21.3 (rs7412746, P = 9.0 × 10(-11), OR in combined replication cohorts of 0.89 (95% CI 0.85-0.95)). We also show evidence suggesting that melanoma associates with 1q42.12 (rs3219090, P = 9.3 × 10(-8)). The associated variants at the 1q21.3 locus span a region with ten genes, and plausible candidate genes for melanoma susceptibility include ARNT and SETDB1. Variants at the 1q21.3 locus do not seem to be associated with human pigmentation or measures of nevus density.     

Three-dimensional structure of motor molecules

Images, calculated from electron micrographs, show the three-dimensional structures of microtubules and tubulin sheets decorated stoichiometrically with motor protein molecules. Dimeric motor domains (heads) of kinesin and ncd, the kinesin-related protein that moves in the reverse direction, each appeared to bind to tubulin in the same way, by one of their two heads. The second heads show an interesting difference in position that seems to be related to the directions of movement of the two motors. X-ray crystallographic results showing the structures of kinesin and ncd to be very similar at atomic resolution, and homologous also to myosin, suggest that the two motor families may use mechanisms that have much in common. Nevertheless, myosins and kinesins differ kinetically. Also, whereas conformational changes in the myosin catalytic domain are amplified by a long lever arm that connects it to the stalk domain, kinesin and ncd do not appear to possess a structure with a similar function but may rely on biased diffusion in order to move along microtubules.     

Prostacyclin-like activity of endothelium and subendothelium — important for atherosclerosis?

Summary Morphological control of Moncada's bioassay for prostacyclin (PG I₂) activity measurement shows that the activity depends not only on endothelium, but in important amounts on subendothelial tissue too. Therefore, it can be concluded that platelet thrombus formation after endothelial cell injury does not depend only on the PG I₂-producing ability of the tissue.     

Neutral theory: the stability of forest biodiversity

The unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography provides a dynamic null hypothesis for the assembly of natural communities. It is also useful for understanding the influence of speciation, extinction, dispersal and ecological drift on patterns of relative species abundance, species-area relationships and phylogeny. Clark and McLachlan argue that neutral drift is inconsistent with the palaeorecord of stability in fossil pollen assemblages of the Holocene forests of southern Canada. We show here that their analysis is based on a partial misunderstanding of neutral theory and that their data alone cannot unambiguously test its validity.     

A model of synthetase/transfer RNA interaction as deduced by protein engineering

The recognition of transfer-RNA by their cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is the crucial step in the translation of the genetic code. In order to construct a structural model of the complex between the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrTS) from Bacillus stearothermophilus and tRNATyr, 40 basic residues at the surface of the TyrTS dimer have been mutated by site-directed mutagenesis and heterodimers created in vitro by recombining subunits derived from different mutants. As reported here a cluster of basic residues (Arg 207-Lys 208) in the N-terminal domain of one TyrTS subunit interacts with the acceptor stem of tRNATyr and two separated clusters of basic residues (Arg 368-Arg 371; Arg 407-Arg 408-Lys 410-Lys 411) in the C-terminal domain of the other subunit interact with the anticodon arm. The TyrTS would thus clamp the tRNA in a fixed orientation. The precise alignment of the flexible... ACCA 3' end of the tRNA for attack on the tyrosyl adenylate is made by contacts closer to the catalytic groups of the enzyme, such as with Lys 151.     

A large increase in enzyme-substrate affinity by protein engineering

A single point mutation has been engineered in the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase that improves its affinity (KM) for its substrate ATP by a factor of 100. In the crystal structure of the tyrosyl tRNA synthetase (of Bacillus stearothermophilus), the side-chain hydroxyl of Thr 51 appears to make a weak hydrogen bond with the AMP moiety of the substrate intermediate, tyrosyl adenylate. In the absence of substrate, however, the hydroxyl group should make a strong hydrogen bond with water which would favour dissociation of the enzyme-substrate complex. We have used oligodeoxynucleotide-directed mutagenesis to construct two point mutants at this site: one to remove the hydroxyl group (Thr 51 leads to Ala 51) and the other, in addition, to distort the local polypeptide backbone (Thr 51 leads to Pro 51). We report here that both mutants have increased activity (kcat/KM for ATP) but one mutant (Pro 51) shows a massive 25-fold increase due mainly to a lowered KM for ATP. This demonstrates dramatically the potential of in vitro mutagenesis for improving the affinity of an enzyme for its substrate.     

Sterilising activity of methoprene and hydroprene inTribolium castaneum (Herbst)

Summary The productivity ofT. castaneum adults, previously reared in flour incorporating either the IGR methoprene or hydroprene, was found to be impaired depending on the concentration of the IGR in the flour, whether or not the individual was morphologically deformed, and its sex.The authors are indebted to Mr P. B. Du Guesclin for technical assistance, and Dr J. Diekman, Zoecon Corporation, California, for supplying the IGRs. This work was financed in part by the Australian Wheat Industry Research Council.