The extended cleavage specificities of two hematopoietic serine proteases originating from the ray-finned fish, the spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), have been characterized using substrate phage display. The preference for particular amino acids at and surrounding the cleavage site was further validated using a panel of recombinant substrates. For one of the enzymes, the gar granzyme G, a strict preference for the aromatic amino acid Tyr was observed at the cleavable P1 position. Using a set of recombinant substrates showed that the gar granzyme G had a high selectivity for Tyr but a lower activity for cleaving after Phe but not after Trp. Instead, the second enzyme, gar DDN1, showed a high preference for Leu in the P1 position of substrates. This latter enzyme also showed a high preference for Pro in the P2 position and Arg in both P4 and P5 positions. The selectivity for the two Arg residues in positions P4 and P5 suggests a highly specific substrate selectivity of this enzyme. The screening of the gar proteome with the consensus sequences obtained by substrate phage display for these two proteases resulted in a very diverse set of potential targets. Due to this diversity, a clear candidate for a specific immune function of these two enzymes cannot yet be identified. Antisera developed against the recombinant gar enzymes were used to study their tissue distribution. Tissue sections from juvenile fish showed the expression of both proteases in cells in Peyer’s patch-like structures in the intestinal region, indicating they may be expressed in T or NK cells. However, due to the lack of antibodies to specific surface markers in the gar, it has not been possible to specify the exact cellular origin. A marked difference in abundance was observed for the two proteases where gar DDN1 was expressed at higher levels than gar granzyme G. However, both appear to be expressed in the same or similar cells, having a lymphocyte-like appearance.
more »
« less
Stereoselective Synthesis of β-Glycinamide Ribonucleotide
A diastereoselective synthesis of the β-anomer of glycinamide ribonucleotide (β-GAR) has been developed. The synthesis was accomplished in nine steps from D-ribose and occurred in 5% overall yield. The route provided material on the multi-milligram scale. The synthetic β-GAR formed was remarkably resistant to anomerization both in solution and as a solid.
more »
« less
- PAR ID:
- 10342570
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Molecules
- Volume:
- 27
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 1420-3049
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 2528
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
null (Ed.)Reported herein is a new method for a highly effective synthesis of β-glycosides from mannuronic acid donors equipped with the 3- O -picoloyl group. The stereocontrol of glycosylations was achieved by means of the H-bond-mediated aglycone delivery (HAD). The method was utilized for the synthesis of a tetrasaccharide linked via β-(1 → 3)-mannuronic linkages. We have also investigated 3,6-lactonized glycosyl donors that provided moderate to high β-manno stereoselectivity in glycosylations. A method to achieve complete α-manno stereoselectivity with mannuronic acid donors equipped with 3- O -benzoyl group is also reported.more » « less
-
Nitric oxide (NO) is an ancestral key signalling molecule essential for life and has enormous versatility in biological systems, including cardiovascular homeostasis, neurotransmission and immunity. Although our knowledge of NO synthases (Nos), the enzymes that synthesize NO in vivo , is substantial, the origin of a large and diversified repertoire of nos gene orthologues in fishes with respect to tetrapods remains a puzzle. The recent identification of nos3 in the ray-finned fish spotted gar, which was considered lost in this lineage, changed this perspective. This finding prompted us to explore nos gene evolution, surveying vertebrate species representing key evolutionary nodes. This study provides noteworthy findings: first, nos2 experienced several lineage-specific gene duplications and losses. Second, nos3 was found to be lost independently in two different teleost lineages, Elopomorpha and Clupeocephala. Third, the expression of at least one nos paralogue in the gills of developing shark, bichir, sturgeon, and gar, but not in lamprey, suggests that nos expression in this organ may have arisen in the last common ancestor of gnathostomes. These results provide a framework for continuing research on nos genes’ roles, highlighting subfunctionalization and reciprocal loss of function that occurred in different lineages during vertebrate genome duplications.more » « less
-
Abstract An asymmetric approach toward the synthesis of the marine natural product aspergillide‐C has been developed. The convergent asymmetric synthesis uses two asymmetric Noyori transfer hydrogenations to enantioselectively prepare the two key fragments, aC‐1 toC‐7 pyranone fragment and aC‐8 toC‐14β‐keto‐sulfone fragment. The absolute stereochemistry of the pyranone fragment was established by a Noyori reduction ofβ‐furylketoester to form a furyl alcohol. An Achmatowicz rearrangement was used to stereoselectively convert the furyl alcohol in to the key pyranone fragment. The absolute stereochemistry of theβ‐keto‐sulfone fragment was established by a Noyori reduction of an ynone to form a propargyl alcohol. An alkyne zipper isomerization was used to stereospecifically convert the propargyl alcohol in to theβ‐keto‐sulfone fragment. Finally, a Pd‐catalyzedC‐glycosylation was used to diastereoselectively couple the two fragments, which when combined with a reduction and Julia‐Kocienski type elimination formed a protected variant of the 4‐epi‐seco‐acid of aspergillide‐C.more » « less
-
Abstract During the early stages of limb and fin regeneration in aquatic vertebrates (i.e., fishes and amphibians), blastema undergo transcriptional rewiring of innate immune signaling pathways to promote immune cell recruitment. In mammals, a fundamental component of innate immune signaling is the cytosolic DNA sensing pathway, cGAS‐STING. However, to what extent the cGAS‐STING pathway influences regeneration in aquatic anamniotes is unknown. In jawed vertebrates, negative regulation of cGAS‐STING activity is accomplished by suppressors of cytosolic DNA such as Trex1, Pml, and PML‐like exon 9 (Plex9) exonucleases. Here, we examine the expression of these suppressors of cGAS‐STING, as well as inflammatory genes and cGAS activity during caudal fin and limb regeneration using the spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) and axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) model species, and during age‐related senescence in zebrafish (Danio rerio). In the regenerative blastema of wounded gar and axolotl, we observe increased inflammatory gene expression, including interferon genes and interleukins 6 and 8. We also observed a decrease in axolotlTrex1and garpmlexpression during the early phases of wound healing which correlates with a dramatic increase in cGAS activity. In contrast, theplex9.1gene does not change in expression during wound healing in gar. However, we observed decreased expression ofplex9.1in the senescing cardiac tissue of aged zebrafish, where 2′3′‐cGAMP levels are elevated. Finally, we demonstrate a similar pattern ofTrex1,pml, andplex9.1gene regulation across species in response to exogenous 2′3′‐cGAMP. Thus, during the early stages of limb‐fin regeneration, Pml, Trex1, and Plex9.1 exonucleases are downregulated, presumably to allow an evolutionarily ancient cGAS‐STING activity to promote inflammation and the recruitment of immune cells.more » « less
An official website of the United States government

