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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Two-Faced Nature Of Small Heat Shock Proteins: Amyloid Assembly And The Inhibition Of Fibril Formation. Relevance To Disease States, Heath W. Ecroyd, S Meehan, John A. Carver Dec 2012

The Two-Faced Nature Of Small Heat Shock Proteins: Amyloid Assembly And The Inhibition Of Fibril Formation. Relevance To Disease States, Heath W. Ecroyd, S Meehan, John A. Carver

Heath Ecroyd

The ability of small heat-shock proteins (sHsps) such as alphaB-crystallin to inhibit the amorphous (disordered) aggregation of varied target proteins in a chaperone-like manner has been well described. The mechanistic details of this action are not understood. Amyloid fibril formation is an alternative off-folding pathway that leads to highly ordered beta-sheet-containing aggregates. Amyloid fibril formation is associated with a broad range of protein conformational diseases such as Alzhiemer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's and sHsp expression is elevated in the protein deposits that are characteristic of these disease states. The ability of sHsps to prevent fibril formation has been less well characterised. …


Enhanced Molecular Chaperone Activity Of The Small Heat-Shock Protein Alphab-Cystallin Following Covalent Immobilization Onto A Solid-Phase Support, V Bellotti, Heath Ecroyd, J Carver, H J Griesser, B Thierry, J G Shapter, S S Griesser, S Giorgetti, M R Nussio, J A Gerrard, J Garvey Dec 2012

Enhanced Molecular Chaperone Activity Of The Small Heat-Shock Protein Alphab-Cystallin Following Covalent Immobilization Onto A Solid-Phase Support, V Bellotti, Heath Ecroyd, J Carver, H J Griesser, B Thierry, J G Shapter, S S Griesser, S Giorgetti, M R Nussio, J A Gerrard, J Garvey

Heath Ecroyd

The well-characterized small heat-shock protein, alphaB-crystallin, acts as a molecular chaperone by interacting with unfolding proteins to prevent their aggregation and precipitation. Structural perturbation (e.g., partial unfolding) enhances the in vitro chaperone activity of alphaB-crystallin. Proteins often undergo structural perturbations at the surface of a synthetic material, which may alter their biological activity. This study investigated the activity of alphaB-crystallin when covalently bound to a support surface; alphaB-crystallin was immobilized onto a range of solid material surfaces, and its characteristics and chaperone activity were assessed. Immobilization was achieved via a plasma-deposited thin polymeric interlayer containing aldehyde surface groups and reductive …


Chemical Cross-Linking Of The Chloroplast Localized Small Heat-Shock Protein, Hsp21, And The Model Substrate Citrate Synthase, Emma Ahrman, W Lambert, Andrew Aquilina, C V Robinson, Cs Emanuelsson Oct 2012

Chemical Cross-Linking Of The Chloroplast Localized Small Heat-Shock Protein, Hsp21, And The Model Substrate Citrate Synthase, Emma Ahrman, W Lambert, Andrew Aquilina, C V Robinson, Cs Emanuelsson

J. A. Aquilina

The molecular mechanism whereby the small heat-shock protein (sHsp) chaperones interact with and prevent aggregation of other proteins is not fully understood. We have characterized the sHsp-substrate protein interaction at normal and increased temperatures utilizing a model substrate protein, citrate synthase (CS), widely used in chaperone assays, and a dodecameric plant sHsp, Hsp21, by chemical cross-linking with 3,3'-Dithiobis[sulfosuccinimidylpropionate] (DTSSP) and mass spectrometric peptide mapping. In the absence of CS, the cross-linker captured Hsp21 in dodecameric form, even at increased temperature (47 degrees C). In the presence of equimolar amounts of CS, no Hsp21 dodecamer was captured, indicating a substrate-induced Hsp21 …


Learning From The South: Common Challenges And Solutions For Small-Scale Farming, L C Stringer, C Twyman, Leah Gibbs Jun 2012

Learning From The South: Common Challenges And Solutions For Small-Scale Farming, L C Stringer, C Twyman, Leah Gibbs

Leah Maree Gibbs

Small-scale farmers all over the world face a number of common biophysical and socio-economic challenges. In this paper we draw on data from a workshop held in the UK in 2005, to assess whether experiences in addressing these challenges, as gained in the global South, may be used to inform solutions to similar challenges in the UK. In doing so, we contribute to a growing body of literature that seeks to challenge predominantly North-South flows of knowledge and resources. We first identify specific common challenges faced by small-scale farmers in the global North and South. We then compare the different …