Journal Issue - Volume 18 Issue 3 (March 2009)

• Conformation of a plasmid replication initiator protein affects its proteolysis by ClpXP system

• Marcin Pierechod, Agnieszka Nowak, Anna Saari, Elzbieta Purta, Janusz M. Bujnicki, Igor Konieczny
• Published in Wiley Interscience on Jan 28, 2009
• DOI: 10.1002/pro.68 (p 637-649)

Abstract Proteins from the Rep family of DNA replication initiators exist mainly as dimers, but only monomers can initiate DNA replication by interaction with the replication origin (ori). In this study, we investigated both the activation (monomerization) and the degradation of the broad‐host‐range plasmid RK2 replication initiation protein TrfA, which we found to be a member of a class of DNA replication initiators containing ...

• Solution structure of the cysteine‐rich domain in Fn14, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily

• Fahu He, Weirong Dang, Kohei Saito, Satoru Watanabe, Naohiro Kobayashi, Peter Güntert, Takanori Kigawa, Akiko Tanaka, Yutaka Muto, Shigeyuki Yokoyama
• Published in Wiley Interscience on Jan 06, 2009
• DOI: 10.1002/pro.49 (p 650-656)

Abstract Fn14 is the smallest member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, and specifically binds to its ligand, TWEAK (TNF‐like weak inducer of apoptosis), which is a member of the TNF superfamily. The receptor‐ligand recognition between Fn14 and TWEAK induces a variety of cellular processes for tissue remodeling and is also involved in the pathogenesis of some human diseases, such as cancer, chronic autoimmune...

• Solution structure of the FCS zinc finger domain of the human polycomb group protein L(3)mbt‐like 2

• Bernhard C. Lechtenberg, Mark D. Allen, Trevor J. Rutherford, Stefan M. V. Freund, Mark Bycroft
• Published in Wiley Interscience on Jan 06, 2009
• DOI: 10.1002/pro.51 (p 657-661)

Abstract Polycomb group proteins are epigenetic regulators that maintain patterns of gene expression over multiple rounds of cell division. Many of these proteins, including polyhomeotic and the MBT repeat containing proteins SCM and dSfmbt, contain an atypical C2C2 zinc finger with a characteristic phenylalanine–cysteine–serine sequence motif. The reoccurrence of this so‐called FCS zinc finger in a variety of polycomb group...

• Re‐examining the role of Lys67 in class C β‐lactamase catalysis

• Yu Chen, Andrea McReynolds, Brian K. Shoichet
• Published in Wiley Interscience on Jan 11, 2009
• DOI: 10.1002/pro.60 (p 662-669)

Abstract Lys67 is essential for the hydrolysis reaction mediated by class C β‐lactamases. Its exact catalytic role lies at the center of several different proposed reaction mechanisms, particularly for the deacylation step, and has been intensely debated. Whereas a conjugate base hypothesis postulates that a neutral Lys67 and Tyr150 act together to deprotonate the deacylating water, previous experiments on the K67R mutants of class...

• Fast structural dynamics in reduced and oxidized cytochrome c

• Weixia Liu, Jon N. Rumbley, S. Walter Englander, A. Joshua Wand
• Published in Wiley Interscience on Jan 22, 2009
• DOI: 10.1002/pro.72 (p 670-674)

Abstract The sub‐nanosecond structural dynamics of reduced and oxidized cytochrome c were characterized. Dynamic properties of the protein backbone measured by amide 15N relaxation and side chains measured by the deuterium relaxation of methyl groups change little upon change in the redox state. These results imply that the solvent reorganization energy associated with electron transfer is small, consistent with previous theoretical analyses....

• Structure of a novel c polymer

• P. Raj Pokkuluri, Yuri Y. Londer, Norma E.C. Duke, Jill Erickson, Miguel Pessanha, Carlos A. Salgueiro, Marianne Schiffer
• Published in Wiley Interscience on Feb 23, 2009
• DOI: 10.1002/pro.70 (p 675-675)