Angshuman Bagchi

Restoration of Altered MicroRNA Expression in the Ischemic Heart with Resveratrol

Background Resveratrol, a constituent of red wine, is important for cardioprotection. MicroRNAs are known regulators for genes involved in resveratrol-mediated cardiac remodeling and the regulatory pathway involving microRNA has not been studied so far. Methods We explored the cardioprotection by resveratrol in ischemia/reperfusion model of rat and determined cardiac functions. miRNA profile was determined from isolated RNA using quantitative Real-time PCR based array. Systemic analyses of miRNA array and theirs targets were determined using a number of computational approaches. Results Cardioprotection by resveratrol and its derivative in ischemia/reperfusion [I/R] rat model was examined with miRNA expression profile. Unique expression pattern were found for each sample, particularly with resveratrol [pure compound] and longevinex [commercial resveratrol formulation] pretreated hearts. Longevinex and resveratrol pretreatment modulates the expression pattern of miRNAs close to the control level based on PCA analyses. Differential expression was observed in over 25 miRNAs, some of them, such as miR-21 were previously implicated in cardiac remodeling. The target genes for the differentially expressed miRNA include genes of various molecular function such as metal ion binding, sodium-potassium ion, transcription factors, which may play key role in reducing I/R injury. Conclusion Rats pretreated with resveratrol for 3 weeks leads to significant cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. A unique signature of miRNA profile is observed in control heart pretreated with resveratrol or longevinex. We have determined specific group of miRNA in heart that have altered during IR injuries. Most of those altered microRNA expressions modulated close to their basal level in resveratrol or longevinex treated I/R mice.

In silico functional profiling of human disease‐associated and polymorphic amino acid substitutions

An important challenge in translational bioinformatics is to understand how genetic variation gives rise to molecular changes at the protein level that can precipitate both monogenic and complex disease. To this end, we compiled datasets of human disease‐associated amino acid substitutions (AAS) in the contexts of inherited monogenic disease, complex disease, functional polymorphisms with no known disease association, and somatic mutations in cancer, and compared them with respect to predicted functional sites in proteins. Using the sequence homology‐based tool SIFT to estimate the proportion of deleterious AAS in each dataset, only complex disease AAS were found to be indistinguishable from neutral polymorphic AAS. Investigation of monogenic disease AAS predicted to be nondeleterious by SIFT were characterized by a significant enrichment for inherited AAS within solvent accessible residues, regions of intrinsic protein disorder, and an association with the loss or gain of various posttranslational modifications. Sites of structural and/or functional interest were therefore surmised to constitute useful additional features with which to identify the molecular disruptions caused by deleterious AAS. A range of bioinformatic tools, designed to predict structural and functional sites in protein sequences, were then employed to demonstrate that intrinsic biases exist in terms of the distribution of different types of human AAS with respect to specific structural, functional and pathological features. Our Web tool, designed to potentiate the functional profiling of novel AAS, has been made available at http://profile.mutdb.org/. Hum Mutat 31:1–12, 2010.

Hypoglycosylation of dystroglycan due to T192M mutation: a molecular insight behind the fact.

Abnormal glycosylation of dystroglycan (DG), a transmembrane glycoprotein, results in a group of diseases known as dystroglycanopathy. A severe dystroglycanopathy known as the limb girdle disease MDDGC9 [OMIM: 613818] occurs as a result of hypoglycosylation of alpha subunit of DG. Reasons behind this has been traced back to a point mutation (T192M) in DG that leads to weakening of interactions of DG protein with laminin and subsequent loss of signal flow through the DG protein. In this work we have tried to analyze the molecular details of the interactions between DG and laminin1 in order to propose a mechanism about the onset of the disease MDDGC9. We have observed noticeable changes between the modeled structures of wild type and mutant DG proteins. We also have employed molecular docking techniques to study and compare the binding interactions between laminin1 and both the wild type and mutant DG proteins. The docking simulations have revealed that the mutant DG has weaker interactions with laminin1 as compared to the wild type DG. Till date there are no previous reports that deal with the elucidation of the interactions of DG with laminin1 from the molecular level. Our study is therefore the first of its kind which analyzes the differences in binding patterns of laminin1 with both the wild type and mutant DG proteins. Our work would therefore facilitate analysis of the molecular mechanism of the disease MDDGC9. Future work based on our results may be useful for the development of suitable drugs against this disease.

Homology modeling of a transcriptional regulator SoxR of the lithotrophic sulfur oxidation (Sox) operon in α-proteobacteria

Abstract Microbial oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds in the environment is one of the major reactions of the global sulfur cycle mediated by phylogenetically diverse prokaryotes. The sulfur oxidizing gene cluster (sox) of α-Proteobacteria comprises of at least 15 genes, which form two transcriptional units, viz soxSRT and soxVWXYZABCDEFGH. Sequence analysis reveals that SoxR belongs to the ArsR family of helix-turn-helix DNA binding proteins. Although SoxR proteins do not contain the conserved metal-binding box, ELCVCDL, but there are a number of well conserved residues present throughout the sequence that are previously identified in the known ArsR family proteins. We employed homology modeling to construct the three-dimensional structure of the SoxR from chemolithotrophic α-Proteobacteria Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans KCT001. The predicted homology model of SoxR shows an overall structural similarity with winged helix- turn-helix family proteins. Since dimerization is essential for DNA binding and repression by the ArsR family proteins we have generated the dimeric model of SoxR that enables us to predict the DNA binding residues of the protein as well as the interaction of SoxR with the predicted promoter region of sox gene cluster.

Structural characterizations of metal ion binding transcriptional regulator CueR from opportunistic pathogen pseudomonas aeruginosa to identify its possible involvements in virulence.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen present in the environment. It is responsible behind a variety of diseases specifically the multidrug-resistant nosocomial infections and chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. One of the vital genes of the organism responsible for its multidrug-resistant behavior is the gene PA3523 which codes for the multidrug efflux transporter. The expression of PA3523 is regulated by the dimeric transcription factor CueR having helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif. So far, there have been no previous reports that depict the characterization of CueR protein from P. aeruginosa from a structural point of view. In the present work, an attempt has been made to characterize CueR protein by structural bioinformatics approach. The dimeric structure of CueR was built by comparative modeling technique. The dimeric model of CueR was then docked onto the corresponding promoter region of the PA3523 gene encoding the multidrug efflux transporter. The docked complex of promoter DNA with CueR protein was subjected to molecular dynamics simulations to identify the mode of DNA-protein interactions. So far, this is the first report that depicts the mechanistic details of gene regulation by CueR protein. This work may therefore be useful to illuminate the still obscure molecular mechanism behind disease propagation by P. aeruginosa.

Structural insight into the mode of interactions of SoxL from Allochromatium vinosum in the global sulfur oxidation cycle

Microbial redox reactions of inorganic sulfur compounds are one of the important reactions for the recycling of sulfur to maintain the environmental sulfur balance. These reactions are carried out by phylogenetically diverse microorganisms. The sulfur oxidizing gene cluster (sox) of α-proteobacteria, Allochromatium vinosum comprises two divergently transcribed units. The central players of this process are SoxY, SoxZ and SoxL. SoxY is sulfur compound binder which binds to sulfur anions with the help of SoxZ. SoxL is a rhodanese like protein, which then cleaves off the sulfur substrate from the SoxYZ complex to recycle the SoxY and SoxZ. In the present work, homology modeling has been employed to build the three dimensional structures of SoxY, SoxZ and SoxL. With the help of docking simulations the amino acid residues of these proteins involved in the interactions have been identified. The interactions between the SoxY, SoxZ and SoxL proteins are mediated mainly through hydrogen bonding. Strong positive fields created by the SoxZ and SoxL proteins are found to be responsible for the binding and removal of the sulfur anion. The probable biochemical mechanism of sulfur anion oxidation process has been identified.

Analyses of the presence of mutations in Dystrophin protein to predict their relative influences in the onset of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Muscle plays a vital role in the life of vertebrates like humans. Muscle contraction is the only criterion required for locomotion. Muscle fibers also play a vital role as the provider of mechanical strength and act as a large repository of building blocks for protein synthesis in living beings. Muscles function as per the messages received from the extra-cellular signals. One of the central players responsible for capturing and transmission of extra-cellular signals to maintain the integrity of muscle function is the protein called Dystrophin (Dp). However, the wild type Dp protein accumulates some mutations which lead to a severe disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The disease is so frequent that it is known to affect 1 in 3500 newborns per year. There are a number of reports that identify the mutations leading to DMD. Interestingly, it is also observed that the type of mutations affects the severity of the disease. But the biochemical mechanism of the DMD onset is still obscure. In the present scenario, an attempt has been made to analyze the mutations in the development of the disease. We analyzed the changes in secondary structure, solvent accessibility and stability of the Dp protein associated with the mutations. We tried to correlate the type of mutations with the severity of the disease. So far this is the first report that deals with the analyses of the mutations leading to DMD. This study would therefore be essential to come up with a plausible mechanism of DMD disease onset.

Molecular insight into the activity of LasR protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the regulation of virulence gene expression by this organism.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen. This organism attacks human patients suffering from diseases like AIDS, cancer, cystic fibrosis, etc. One of the important virulent factors produced by this organism is Hydrogen Cyanide. This is expressed from the genes encoded by the hcnABC operon. The expressions of the genes encoded by hcnABC operon are mediated mainly by the interactions of LasR protein with the corresponding promoter region of the hcnABC operon. The LasR protein acts as a dimer and binds to the promoter DNA with the help of an autoinducer ligand. However, till date the detailed molecular mechanism of how the LasR protein interacts with the promoter DNA is not clearly known. Therefore, in this work, an attempt has been made to analyze the mode of interactions of the LasR protein with the promoter DNA region of the hcnABC operon. We analyzed the three dimensional structure of the LasR protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and docked the protein with the autoinducer ligand. We then docked the ligand-bound-LasR-protein as well the LasR-protein-without-the-autoinducer-ligand on to the promoter DNA region of hcnABC operon. We analyzed the details of the interaction profiles of LasR protein with the autoinducer ligand. We also deciphered the details of the LasR promoter-DNA interactions. We compared the modes of DNA bindings by the LasR protein in presence and absence of the autoinducer ligand and tried to analyze the molecular details of the binding of LasR protein with the promoter DNA region of hcnABC operon during hcnABC gene expression. This study may therefore pave the pathway for future experiments to determine the relative effects of the amino acid residues of LasR protein in DNA binding during the transcription of hcnABC operon.

New Direction to the Solution of Protein Folding Problem

Recently we saw an interesting paper entitled “A Stoichiometry Driven Universal Spatial Organization of Backbones of Folded Proteins: Are there Chargaff’s Rules for Protein Folding?” by Aditya Mittal, B. Jayram, Sandhya Shenoy and Tejdeep Singh Bawa which appeared in the Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (1). The paper comes up with a very revolutionary idea about protein folding. The authors point out that the frequencies of amino acids in the primary structures of proteins guide the folding patterns of the proteins. This very idea is quite contrary to the existing belief of the theory behind protein folding. According to the current understanding behind the mechanism of protein folding, the process of protein folding relies predominantly on non-covalent interactions between the side chains of amino acid residues in proteins (2-10) as well as with the surrounding environment in which the proteins reside. This preferential interaction between amino acids is the basis of the development of knowledge-based potentials and protein structure prediction which is common place nowadays by modeling and simulations. (11, 12 and references therein).

Structural interaction between DsrE-DsrF-DsrH proteins involved in the transport of electrons in the dsr operon.

Abstract Biological redox reactions of inorganic sulfur compounds are important for the proper maintenance of environmental sulfur balance. These reactions are mediated by phylogeneticaly diverse set of microorganisms. The protein complex that is involved in such redox reactions of sulfur compounds is the complex encoded by dsr operon. The ecological and industrial importance of these microorganisms led us to investigate the structural details of the mechanism of the process of electron transport during such redox reactions performed by the dsr operon. Among the gene products of the operon, the proteins DsrE, DsrF, and DsrH are small soluble cytoplasmic proteins acting as α2β2γ2 heterohexamer and are involved in the process of electron transport in these ecologically as well as industrially important microorganisms. Since no structural details of the proteins were available we employed homology modeling to construct the three-dimensional structures of the DsrE, DsrF, and DsrH from Chlorobium tepidum. The putative three dimensional structures of the proteins were predicted from the models. Since DsrE, DsrF, and DsrH proteins act as a hetero-hexameric complex, the modeled proteins were subjected to molecular docking analyses to generate the model of the biochemically active complex. This allowed us to predict the probable binding modes of the proteins as well as the biochemical and the structural basis of the mechanism of the electron transport process by this complex. The hexamerization of the proteins would help to bring the Cys residues in close proximity, which enables the complex to actively take part electron transport process.