Characterization of substrate UpA binding to RNase A--computer modelling and energetics approach.

In the past two decades RNase A has been the focus of diverse investigations in order to understand the nature of substrate binding and to know the mechanism of enzyme action. Although this system is reasonably well characterized from the view point of some of the binding sites, the details of interactions in the second base binding (B2) site is insufficient. Further, the nature of ligand-protein interaction is elucidated generally by studies on RNase A-substrate analog complexes (mainly with the help of X-ray crystallography). Hence, the details of interactions at atomic level arising due to substrates are inferred indirectly. In the present paper, the dinucleotide substrate UpA is fitted into the active site of RNase A Several possible substrate conformations are investigated and the binding modes have been selected based on Contact Criteria. Thus identified RNase A-UpA complexes are energy minimized in coordinate space and are analysed in terms of conformations, energetics and interactions. The best possible ligand conformations for binding to RNase A are identified by experimentally known interactions and by the energetics. Upon binding of UpA to RNase A the changes associated,with protein back bone, Side chains in general and at the binding sites in particular are described. Further, the detailed interactions between UpA and RNase A are characterized in terms of hydrogen bonds and energetics. An extensive study has helped in interpreting the diverse results obtained from a number of experiments and also in evaluating the extent of changes the protein and the substrate undergo in order to maximize their interactions.

恒河猴黄体中tPA,uPA和PAI-1的鉴别与其功能的研究

在大鼠和恒河猴卵巢颗粒细胞(GC)存在组织型(tPA)和尿激酶型(uPA)纤溶酶原激活因子(PA)和一种PA的抑制因子(PAI-1).在排卵、排精和子宫内膜的周期性变化中tPA和PAI-1基因在这些组织的同类细胞或不同类型细胞间的协调表达起重要作用.因为恒河猴GC和膜-间质细胞(TC)在促性腺激素作用下都能产生tPA,uPA和PAI-1,而排卵后GC和TC转化为黄体细胞(LC),后者分泌孕酮,维持妊娠.本研究目的:(1)探讨LC是

Geographic note on species of the genus Upa Kimsey, 1991 (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae, Thynninae) in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Upa Kimsey is a poorly known genus of Tiphiidae with seven species. This genus has records in forest areas and in this paper we present new records to four species. All specimens were collected by malaise traps in four areas of Atlantic Rain Forest and three of Atlantic Semi-deciduous forest, mainly from high and mid-elevations. The new records indicate that species of Upa are not as rare as others genera of Tiphiidae, which are virtually unknown in many Neotropical regions.