Search

The myosin II SH1 helix is a joint that links the converter subdomain to the rest of the myosin motor domain and possibly plays a key role in the arrangement of the converter/lever arm. Several point mutations within the SH1 helix in human myosin IIs have been shown to cause diseases. To reveal whether these SH1 helix mutations affect not only motile activities but also thermal properties of myosin II, here we introduced the E683K or R686C point mutation into the SH1 helix in Dictyostelium myosin II. Thermal inactivation as well as thermal aggregation rates of these mutant proteins demonstrated that these mutations decreased the thermal stability of myosin II. Temperature dependence of sliding velocities of actin filaments showed that these mutations also reduced the activation energy of a rate-limiting process involved in actin movement. Given that these mutations are likely to alter coupling between the subdomains, and thus their thermal fluctuations, we propose that the SH1 helix is a key structural element that determines the flexibility and thermal properties of the myosin motor. These characteristics of the SH1 helix may contribute to the pathogenesis of the human diseases caused by mutations within this structural element.

A methanol oxidation catalyst with improved durability in acidic environments is reported. The catalyst consists of PtRu alloy nanoparticles on a carbon support that were stabilized with a silane-coupling agent. The catalyst was prepared by reducing ions of Pt and Ru in the presence of a carbon support and the silane-coupling agent. The careful choice of preparatory conditions such as the concentration of the silane-coupling agent and solution pH resulted in the preparation of catalyst in which the PtRu nanoparticles were dispersively adsorbed onto the carbon support. The catalytic activity was similar to that of a commercial catalyst and was unchanged after immersion in sulfuric acid solution for 1000 h, suggesting the high durability of the PtRu catalyst for the anode of direct methanol fuel cells.

T-antigen (Galβ1-3GalNAcα-1-Ser/Thr), also known as Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TF antigen), is an oncofetal antigen commonly found in cancerous tissues. Availability of anti-T-antigen human antibodies could lead to the development of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Four groups of single-chain variable fragment (scFv) genes were previously isolated from a phage library (Matsumoto-Takasaki et al. (2009) Isolation and characterization of anti-T-antigen single chain antibodies from a phage library. BioSci Trends 3:87-95.). Here, four anti-T-antigen scFv genes belonging to Group 1-4 were expressed and produced in a Drosophila S2 cell expression system. ELISA and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analyses confirmed the binding activity of 1E8 scFv protein to various T-antigen presenting conjugates. NMR experiments provided evidence of the folded nature of the 1E8 scFv protein. ScFv-ligand contact was identified by STD NMR, indicating that the galactose unit of T-antigen at the non-reducing end was primarily recognized by 1E8 scFv. This thus provides direct evidence of T-antigen specificity.

A human myopathy has been reported to be caused by a point mutation in a fast myosin heavy chain gene. This myopathy is autosomal dominant inclusion-body myopathy type3 and is caused by the mutation, which change glutamic acid into lysine at the 706th amino acid, is located at the SH1 helix region of the myosin II motor domain. The mutation in the SH1 helix is located a highly conserved region of motor domain. The SH1 helix region acts as a linker for transmitting the structural changes of ATP-binding site in the catalysis domain to the lever arm. To investigate the effect of the mutation on the actin-myosin motility, we have introduced a corresponding mutation into the SH1 helix of Dictyosterium myosin II (E683K). The mutation resulted in a decrease in the actin-myosin sliding velocity (about 1/3 of the wild type), a decrease in thermal stability and the thermal aggregation of the myosin, which might be implicated in the disease process. This suggests that SH1 helix has an important function in the motor activity and the ability to interact with F-actin is reduced.

We previously isolated phage antibodies from a phage library displaying human single chain antibodies (scFvs) by screening with a mannotriose (Man3)-bearing lipid. Of four independent scFv genes originally characterized, 5A3 gene products were purified as fusion proteins such as a scFv-human IgG1 Fc form, but stable clones secreting 1A4 and 1G4 scFv-Fc proteins had never been established. Thus, bacterial expression systems were used to purify 1A4 and 1G4 scFv gene products as soluble forms. Purification of 1A4 and 1G4 scFv proteins from inclusion bodies was also carried out together with purification of 5A3 scFv protein in order to compare their Man3-binding abilities. The present studies demonstrated that 1A4 and 1G4 scFv proteins have a higher affinity for Man3 than 5A3 scFv protein, which may determine whether scFv-Fc proteins expressed in mammalian cells are retained in the ER or secreted. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of anti-Man3 1G4 scFv and anti-Tn antigen scFv proteins on MCF-7 cell growth were evaluated. Despite the fact that no obvious difference was detected in cell growth, microscopic observations revealed inhibition of foci formation in cells grown in the presence of the anti-carbohydrate scFv proteins. This finding provides a basis for the development of cancer therapeutics.