Integrating Pathways of Parkinson's Disease in a Molecular Interaction Map

in Molecular Neurobiology (2014)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major neurodegenerative chronic disease, most likely caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Information on various aspects of PD pathogenesis is ... [more ▼]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major neurodegenerative chronic disease, most likely caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Information on various aspects of PD pathogenesis is rapidly increasing and needs to be efficiently organized, so that the resulting data is available for exploration and analysis. Here we introduce a computationally tractable, comprehensive molecular interaction map of PD. This map integrates pathways implicated in PD pathogenesis such as synaptic and mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired protein degradation, alpha-synuclein pathobiology and neuroinflammation. We also present bioinformatics tools for the analysis, enrichment and annotation of the map, allowing the research community to open new avenues in PD research. The PD map is accessible at http://minerva.uni.lu/pd_map . [less ▲]

Analysis of ELP4, SRPX2, and interacting genes in typical and atypical rolandic epilepsy

in Epilepsia (2014), 55(8), 8993

Rolandic epilepsy (RE) and its atypical variants (atypical rolandic epilepsy, ARE) along the spectrum of epilepsy–aphasia disorders are characterized by a strong but largely unknown genetic basis. Two ... [more ▼]

Rolandic epilepsy (RE) and its atypical variants (atypical rolandic epilepsy, ARE) along the spectrum of epilepsy–aphasia disorders are characterized by a strong but largely unknown genetic basis. Two genes with a putative (ELP4) or a proven (SRPX2) function in neuronal migration were postulated to confer susceptibility to parts of the disease spectrum: the ELP4 gene to centrotemporal spikes and SRPX2 to ARE. To reexamine these findings, we investigated a cohort of 280 patients of European ancestry with RE/ARE for the etiological contribution of these genes and their close interaction partners. We performed next-generation sequencing and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)–array based genotyping to screen for sequence and structural variants. In comparison to European controls we could not detect an enrichment of rare deleterious variants of ELP4, SRPX2, or their interaction partners in affected individuals. The previously described functional p.N327S variant in the X chromosomal SRPX2 gene was detected in two affected individuals (0.81%) and also in controls (0.26%), with some preponderance of male patients. We did not detect an association of SNPs in the ELP4 gene with centrotemporal spikes as previously reported. In conclusion our data do not support a major role of ELP4 and SRPX2 in the etiology of RE/ARE. [less ▲]

Evolutionary multi objective optimisation with diversity as objective for the protein structure similarity problem

Scientific Conference (2014)

On different aspects of network analysis in systems biology

in Systems Biology (2013), 1

Network analysis is an essential component of systems biology approaches toward understanding the molecular and cellular interactions underlying biological systems functionalities and their perturbations ... [more ▼]

Network analysis is an essential component of systems biology approaches toward understanding the molecular and cellular interactions underlying biological systems functionalities and their perturbations in disease. Regulatory and signalling pathways involve DNA, RNA, proteins and metabolites as key elements to coordinate most aspects of cellular functioning. Cellular processes depend on the structure and dynamics of gene regulatory networks and can be studied by employing a network representation of molecular interactions. This chapter describes several types of biological networks, how combination of different analytic approaches can be used to study diseases, and provides a list of selected tools for network visualization and analysis. It also introduces protein-protein interaction networks, gene regulatory networks, signalling networks and metabolic networks to illustrate concepts underlying network representation of cellular processes and molecular interactions. It finally discusses how the level of accuracy in inferring functional relationships influences the choice of methods applied for the analysis of a particular biological network type. © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013. All rights are reserved. [less ▲]

The C-terminal cavity of the Na,K-ATPase analyzed by docking and electrophysiology

in Molecular Membrane Biology (2013), 30(2), 195-205

The Na,K-ATPase is essential to all animals, since it maintains the electrochemical gradients that energize the plasma membrane. Naturally occurring inhibitors of the pump from plants have been used ... [more ▼]

The Na,K-ATPase is essential to all animals, since it maintains the electrochemical gradients that energize the plasma membrane. Naturally occurring inhibitors of the pump from plants have been used pharmaceutically in cardiac treatment for centuries. The inhibitors block the pump by binding on its extracellular side and thereby locking it. To explore the possibilities for designing an alternative way of targeting the pump function, we have examined the structural requirements for binding to a pocket that accommodates the two C-terminal residues, YY, in the crystal structures of the pump. To cover the sample space of two residues, we first performed docking studies with the 400 possible dipeptides. For validation of the in silico predictions, pumps with 13 dipeptide sequences replacing the C-terminal YY were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and examined with electrophysiology. Our data show a significant correlation between the docking scores from two different methods and the experimentally determined sodium affinities, which strengthens the previous hypothesis that sodium binding is coupled to docking of the C-terminus. From the dipeptides that dock the best and better than wild-type YY, it may therefore be possible to develop specific drugs targeting a previously unexplored binding pocket in the sodium pump. [less ▲]

Fuzzy oil drop model to interpret the structure of antifreeze proteins and their mutants

in Journal of Molecular Modeling (2012), 18(1), 229-237

Mutations in proteins introduce structural changes and influence biological activity: the specific effects depend on the location of the mutation. The simple method proposed in the present paper is based ... [more ▼]

Mutations in proteins introduce structural changes and influence biological activity: the specific effects depend on the location of the mutation. The simple method proposed in the present paper is based on a two-step model of in silico protein folding. The structure of the first intermediate is assumed to be determined solely by backbone conformation. The structure of the second one is assumed to be determined by the presence of a hydrophobic center. The comparable structural analysis of the set of mutants is performed to identify the mutant-induced structural changes. The changes of the hydrophobic core organization measured by the divergence entropy allows quantitative comparison estimating the relative structural changes upon mutation. The set of antifreeze proteins, which appeared to represent the hydrophobic core structure accordant with "fuzzy oil drop" model was selected for analysis. [less ▲]

The early-stage intermediate

in Roterman-Konieczna, I. (Ed.) Protein Fold Silico Protein Fold Versus Protein Struct Predict (2012)

The multistep polypeptide chain folding model presented in this chapter involves several intermediates, the first of which is called the early-stage (ES) intermediate. This intermediate is assumed to be ... [more ▼]

The multistep polypeptide chain folding model presented in this chapter involves several intermediates, the first of which is called the early-stage (ES) intermediate. This intermediate is assumed to be defined solely on the basis of the backbone conformation and does not take side chains into account. The geometric principles that guide the backbone alignment process and its quantitative influence on the structural arrangement of the folded chain can be expressed by means of a contingency table, linking known structural motifs to specific polypeptide sequences. The basic unit of this algorithm is the tetrapeptide, and the corresponding ES conformational subspace is assumed to consist of seven types of motifs. This limited subspace represents a subset of the full conformational space (i.e., the Ramachandran plot). The volumetric structure of the ES intermediate corresponds to the output of the early folding stage and, simultaneously, provides input for further stages of the folding process. [less ▲]

PPARγ population shift produces disease-related changes in molecular networks associated with metabolic syndrome

in Cell Death and Disease (2011), 2(8), 192

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation and has an important role in metabolic syndrome. Phosphorylation of the receptor's ligand-binding ... [more ▼]

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation and has an important role in metabolic syndrome. Phosphorylation of the receptor's ligand-binding domain at serine 273 has been shown to change the expression of a large number of genes implicated in obesity. The difference in gene expression seen when comparing wild-type phosphorylated with mutant non-phosphorylated PPARγ may have important consequences for the cellular molecular network, the state of which can be shifted from the healthy to a stable diseased state. We found that a group of differentially expressed genes are involved in bi-stable switches and form a core network, the state of which changes with disease progression. These findings support the idea that bi-stable switches may be a mechanism for locking the core gene network into a diseased state and for efficiently propagating perturbations to more distant regions of the network. A structural analysis of the PPARγ-RXRα dimer complex supports the hypothesis of a major structural change between the two states, and this may represent an important mechanism leading to the differential expression observed in the core network. [less ▲]

The complement regulator CD46 is bactericidal to Helicobacter pylori and blocks urease activity

in Gastroenterology (2011), 141(3), 918-28

BACKGROUND & AIMS: CD46 is a C3b/C4b binding complement regulator and a receptor for several human pathogens. We examined the interaction between CD46 and Helicobacter pylori (a bacterium that colonizes ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND & AIMS: CD46 is a C3b/C4b binding complement regulator and a receptor for several human pathogens. We examined the interaction between CD46 and Helicobacter pylori (a bacterium that colonizes the human gastric mucosa and causes gastritis), peptic ulcers, and cancer. METHODS: Using gastric epithelial cells, we analyzed a set of H pylori strains and mutants for their ability to interact with CD46 and/or influence CD46 expression. Bacterial interaction with full-length CD46 and small CD46 peptides was evaluated by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and bacterial survival analyses. RESULTS: H pylori infection caused shedding of CD46 into the extracellular environment. A soluble form of CD46 bound to H pylori and inhibited growth, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, by interacting with urease and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, which are essential bacterial pathogenicity-associated factors. Binding of CD46 or CD46-derived synthetic peptides blocked the urease activity and ability of bacteria to survive in acidic environments. Oral administration of one CD46 peptide eradicated H pylori from infected mice. CONCLUSIONS: CD46 is an antimicrobial agent that can eradicate H pylori. CD46 peptides might be developed to treat H pylori infection. [less ▲]

Determining receptor-ligand interaction of human galanin receptor type 3

in Neurochemistry International (2010), 57(7), 804-11

Galanin is a neuropeptide found throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems of a wide range of species, ranging from human and mouse to frog and tuna. Galanin mediates its physiological roles ... [more ▼]

Galanin is a neuropeptide found throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems of a wide range of species, ranging from human and mouse to frog and tuna. Galanin mediates its physiological roles through three receptors (GalR1-3), all members of the G-protein coupled receptor family. In mapping these roles, receptor subtype selective ligands are crucial tools. To facilitate the ligand design, data on receptor structure and interaction points are of great importance. The current study investigates the mechanism by which galanin interacts with GalR3. Mutated receptors were tested with competitive binding analysis in vitro. Our studies identify six mutagenic constructs that lost receptor affinity completely, despite being expressed at the cell surface. Mutations of the Tyr103(3.33) in transmembrane helix (TM) III, His251(6.51) in TM VI, Arg273(7.35) or His277(7.39) in TM VII, Phe263(6.63) or Tyr270(7.32) in the extracellular loop III all result in complete reduction of ligand binding. In addition, docking studies of an in silico model of GalR3 propose that four of the identified residues interact with pharmacophores situated within the galanin(2-6) sequence. This study provides novel insights into the interaction between ligands and GalR3 and highlights the requirement for correct design of targeting ligands. [less ▲]