A5076351163- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Spectroscopy and Laser Applications
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Carbohydrate Chemistry and Synthesis
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Biochemical effects in animals
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Laser Design and Applications
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Dendrimers and Hyperbranched Polymers
KU Leuven
2019-2025
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research
2019-2025
Ghent University
2013-2022
UCLouvain
1981-1990
Transition of soluble proteins into insoluble amyloid fibrils is driven by self-propagating short sequence stretches. However, accurate prediction aggregation determinants remains challenging. Here, we describe WALTZ-DB 2.0, an updated and significantly expanded open-access database providing information on experimentally determined amyloid-forming hexapeptide sequences (http://waltzdb.switchlab.org/). We have 2.0 with new entries, including: (i) experimental validation in-house developed...
Abstract The amyloid conformation can be adopted by a variety of sequences, but the precise boundaries sequence space are still unclear. currently charted is strongly biased towards hydrophobic, beta-sheet prone sequences that form core globular proteins and Q/N/Y rich yeast prions. Here, we took advantage increasing amount high-resolution structural information on cores available in protein databank to implement machine learning approach, named Cordax ( https://cordax.switchlab.org ),...
Abstract Aggregates of medin amyloid (a fragment the protein MFG-E8, also known as lactadherin) are found in vasculature almost all humans over 50 years age 1,2 , making it most common currently known. We recently reported that aggregates blood vessels ageing wild-type mice, causing cerebrovascular dysfunction 3 . Here we demonstrate amyloid-β precursor (APP) transgenic mice and patients with Alzheimer’s disease co-localizes vascular deposits, deficiency reduces deposition by half. Moreover,...
The tendency for proteins to form aggregates is an inherent part of every proteome and arises from the self-assembly short protein segments called aggregation-prone regions (APRs). While posttranslational modifications (PTMs) have been implicated in modulating aggregation, their direct role APRs remains poorly understood. In this study, we used a combination proteome-wide computational analyses biophysical techniques investigate potential involvement PTMs aggregation regulation. Our findings...
The rhizosphere isolate Pseudomonas putida BW11M1 produces a mixture of cyclic lipopeptide congeners, designated xantholysins. Properties the major compound xantholysin A, shared with several other lipopeptides, include antifungal activity and toxicity to Gram-positive bacteria, supportive role in biofilm formation, facilitation surface colonization through swarming. Atypical is lipopeptide's capacity inhibit some Gram-negative including xanthomonads. lipotetradecadepsipeptides are assembled...
The enhanced cognitive abilities characterizing the human species result from specialized features of neurons and circuits. Here, we report that hominid-specific gene LRRC37B encodes a receptor expressed in cortical pyramidal (CPNs) selectively localized to axon initial segment (AIS), subcellular compartment triggering action potentials. Ectopic expression mouse CPNs vivo leads reduced intrinsic excitability, distinctive feature some classes CPNs. Molecularly, binds secreted ligand FGF13A...
Amyloid fibrils (AFs) are highly ordered protein nanofibers composed of cross β-structure that occur in nature, but also accumulate age-related diseases. propensity is a generic property proteins revealed by conditions destabilize the native state, suggesting food processing may promote AF formation. This had only been shown for foie gras, not common foodstuffs. We here extracted dense network fibrillar from commonly consumed boiled hen egg white (EW) using chemical and/or enzymatic...
Drug-resistant bacteria pose an urgent global health threat, necessitating the development of antibacterial compounds with novel modes action. Protein biosynthesis accounts for up to half energy expenditure bacterial cells, and consequently inhibiting efficiency or fidelity ribosome is a major target existing antibiotics. Here, we describe alternative mode action that affects same process: allowing translation proceed but causing co-translational aggregation nascent peptidic chain. We show...
Abstract A rapid and efficient total synthesis is reported for the cyclic lipodepsipeptide pseudodesmin A. This member of Pseudomonas viscosin group active against Gram‐positive bacteria features self‐assembling properties. conserved serine residue within lactone macrocycle exploited initial immobilization on 2‐chlorotrityl chloride resin through ether formation with side‐chain alcohol. Subsequent elongation proceeds Fmoc solid‐phase peptide synthesis, including automated incorporation...
Article7 October 2021Open Access Source DataTransparent process The cellular modifier MOAG-4/SERF drives amyloid formation through charge complementation Anita Pras orcid.org/0000-0003-2752-152X European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Groningen, Medical Centre Netherlands These authors contributed equally to this work. Search more papers by author Bert Houben orcid.org/0000-0002-6750-011X VIB-KU Leuven Center Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium Switch...
Cyclic lipo(depsi)peptides (CLiPs) from Pseudomonas constitute a class of natural products involved in broad range biological functions for their producers. They also display interesting antimicrobial potential including activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Literature has indicated that these compounds can induce membrane permeabilization, possibly through pore-formation, leading to the general view cellular constitutes primary target mode action. In support this view, we previously...
There is an arms race between beta-lactam antibiotics development and co-evolving beta-lactamases, which provide resistance by breaking down rings. We have observed that certain beta-lactamases tend to aggregate, persists throughout their evolution under the selective pressure of on active sites. Interestingly, we find existing beta-lactamase site inhibitors can act as molecular chaperones, promoting proper folding these factors. Therefore, created Pept-Ins, synthetic peptides designed...
Abstract The viscosin group covers a series of cyclic lipodepsipeptides (CLPs) produced by Pseudomonas bacteria, with range biological functions and antimicrobial activities. Their oligopeptide moieties are composed both L ‐ D ‐amino acids. Remarkably, the Leu5 amino acid—centrally located in nonapeptide sequence—is sole residue found to possess either an or configuration, depending on producing strain. impact this / switch solution conformation was investigated NMR‐restrained molecular...
Two Pseudomonas strains, identified as closely related to tolaasii, were isolated from milk of a farm with frequent false-positive Delvotest results for screening putative antibiotic residues in raw executed part the regulatory quality programme. Growth at 5 7°C these isolates resulted high lipolysis and production bacterial inhibitors. The two main inhibitors have molecular weight 1168.7 1140.7 Da respectively, are heat-tolerant inhibit Geobacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis, test...
Cyclic lipodepsipeptides (CLPs) are a group of metabolites produced by Pseudomonas bacteria, involved in various biological functions and displaying wide range properties, including antibacterial antifungal activities. The white line-inducing principle (WLIP) is member the viscosin featuring Glu2 amino acid. Recently, total synthesis pseudodesmin A – Gln2 counterpart WLIP was described, we here expand this route to containing CLPs. We report first at same time establish that substitution has...
With the use of a Q-switched spin-flip Raman laser rovibrational lines ethylene in 2000 cm-1 region have been measured with an accuracy order 0·005 cm-1. On basis these data and previous conventional high resolution spectra analysis v 7 + 8, 4 8 10 has performed. The results permit calculation harmonic anharmonic contributions to rotational constants allow be estimated.
The overconsumption and inappropriate use of antibiotics is escalating antibiotic resistance development, which now one the 10 top threats to global health. Introducing with a novel mode action into clinical urgently needed address this issue. Deliberately inducing aggregation target proteins disrupting protein homeostasis in bacteria via amyloidogenic peptides, also called Pept-ins (from pept ide terferors), can be lethal shows considerable promise as strategy. However, translation clinic...