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Background: Previously, we detected that chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) was involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD)., Objective: In this study, we aimed to use high-throughput screening (HTS) approaches to identify critical factors associated with the function of CLIC1 in knock-down cells., Methods: We down-regulated CLIC1 in human A549 cells via siRNA and then conducted serial HTS studies, including proteomics integrated with a microarray and the implementation of bioinformatics algorithms., Results: Together, these approaches identified several important proteins and genes associated with the function of CLIC1. These proteins and genes included tumor rejection antigen (gp96) 1, nucleophosmin, annexin I, keratin 1 and 10, FLNA protein, enolase 1, and metalloprotease 1, which were found using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) proteomics. Separately, NTNG1, SEMA5A, CLEC3A, GRPR, GNGT2, GRM5, GRM7, DNMT3B, CXCR5, CCL11, CD86, IL2, MNDA, TLR5, IL23R, DPP6, DLGAP1, CAT, GSTA1, GSTA2, GSTA5, CYP2E1, ADH1A, ESR1, ARRDC3, A1F1, CCL5, CASP8, DNTT, SQSTM1, PCYT1A, and SLCO4C1 were found using a DNA microarray integrated with PPI mapping., Conclusion: CCL11 is thought to be a particularly critical gene among the candidate genes detected in this study. By integrating the datasets and utilizing the strengths of HTS, we obtained new insights into the functional role of CLIC1, including the use of CLIC1-associated applications in the treatment of human diseases such as AD., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Fibrinolytic protease from Euphausia superba (EFP) was isolated., Objective: Biochemical distinctions, regulation of the catalytic function, and the key residues of EFP were investigated., Methods: The serial inhibition kinetic evaluations coupled with measurements of fluorescence spectra in the presence of 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzene sulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (AEBSF) was conducted. The computational molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were also applied for a comparative study., Results: The enzyme behaved as a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of about 28.6 kD with K m BApNA = 0.629 ± 0.02 mM and k cat /K m BApNA = 7.08 s-1/mM. The real-time interval measurements revealed that the inactivation was a first-order reaction, with the kinetic processes shifting from a monophase to a biphase. Measurements of fluorescence spectra showed that serine residue modification by AEBSF directly caused conspicuous changes of the tertiary structures and exposed hydrophobic surfaces. Some osmolytes were applied to find protective roles. These results confirmed that the active region of EFP is more flexible than the overall enzyme molecule and serine, as the key residue, is associated with the regional unfolding of EFP in addition to its catalytic role. The MD simulations were supportive to the kinetics data., Conclusion: Our study indicated that EFP has an essential serine residue for its catalyst function and associated folding behaviors. Also, the functional role of osmolytes such as proline and glycine that may play a role in defense mechanisms from environmental adaptation in a krill's body was suggested., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: We investigated melanogenesis- and anti-apoptosis-related melanoma factors in melanoma cells (TXM1, TXM18, A375P, and A375SM)., Objective: To find melanoma associated hub factor, high-throughput screening-based techniques integrating with bioinformatics were investigated., Methods: Array CGH analysis was conducted with a commercial system. Total genomic DNAs prepared individually from each cell line with control DNA were properly labeled with Cy3-dCTP and Cy5-dCTP and hybridizations and subsequently performed data treatment by the log2 green (G; test) to red (R; reference) fluorescence ratios (G/R). Gain or loss of copy number was judged by spots with log2-transformed ratios. PPI mapping analysis of detected candidate genes based on the array CGH results was conducted using the human interactome in the STRING database. Energy minimization and a short Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation using the implicit solvation model in CHARMM were performed to analyze the interacting residues between YWHAZ and YWHAB., Results: Three genes (BMP-4, BFGF, LEF-1) known to be involved in melanogenesis were found to lose chromosomal copy numbers, and Chr. 6q23.3 was lost in all tested cell lines. Ten hub genes (CTNNB1, PEX13, PEX14, PEX5, IFNG, EXOSC3, EXOSC1, EXOSC8, UBC, and PEX10) were predicted to be functional interaction factors in the network of the 6q23.3 locus. The apoptosis-associated genes E2F1, p50, BCL2L1, and BIRC7 gained, and FGF2 lost chromosomal copy numbers in the tested melanoma cell lines. YWHAB, which gained chromosomal copy numbers, was predicted to be the most important hub protein in melanoma cells. Molecular dynamics simulations for binding YWHAB and YWHAZ were conducted, and the complex was predicted to be energetically and structurally stable through its 3 hydrogen-bond patterns. The number of interacting residues is 27., Conclusion: Our study compares genome-wide screening interactomics predictions for melanoma factors and offers new information for understanding melanogenesis- and anti-apoptosis-associated mechanisms in melanoma. Especially, YWHAB was newly detected as a core factor in melanoma cells., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Arginine kinase is an essential enzyme which is closely related to energy metabolism in marine invertebrates. Arginine kinase provides a significant role in quick response to environmental change and stress. In this study, we simulated a tertiary structure of Sepia pharaonis arginine kinase (SPAK) based on the gene sequence and conducted the molecular dynamics simulations between SPAK and Zn(2+). Using these results, the Zn(2+) binding sites were predicted and the initial effect of Zn(2+) on the SPAK structure was elucidated. Subsequently, the experimental kinetic results were compared with the simulation results. Zn(2+) markedly inhibited the activity of SPAK in a manner of non-competitive inhibitions for both arginine and ATP. We also found that Zn(2+) binding to SPAK resulted in tertiary conformational change accompanying with the hydrophobic residues exposure. These changes caused SPAK aggregation directly. We screened two protectants, glycine and proline, which effectively prevented SPAK aggregation and recovered the structure and activity. Overall, our study suggested the inhibitory effect of Zn(2+) on SPAK and Zn(2+) can trigger SPAK aggregation after exposing large extent of hydrophobic surface. The protective effects of glycine and proline against Zn(2+) on SPAK folding were also demonstrated.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) plays an important antioxidant defense role in organisms exposed to oxygen. Copper- and zinc-containing SOD (Cu/Zn-SOD) catalysis and the change in folding behavior of this enzyme in response to inactivators are therefore of interest. We studied the inhibitory effects of trifluoroethanol (TFE) on the activity and conformation of a Cu/Zn-SOD from Bos taurus. We found that TFE inactivated the enzyme and disrupted the tertiary and secondary structures of Cu/Zn-SOD. Kinetic studies showed that TFE-induced inactivation of Cu/Zn-SOD follows first-order reaction kinetics and that TFE binding sites are distinct from the copper- and zinc-containing active site. These structural changes occurred prior to enzyme activity loss. A computational docking simulation of Cu/Zn-SOD and TFE (binding energy of Dock 6.3: -11.52 kcal/mol) suggested that THR37, ASP40, and GLU119, which are located near the active site, interact with TFE. Evaluation of the ligand binding kinetics of Cu/Zn-SOD during unfolding in the presence of TFE combined with computational prediction allowed us to gain insight into the inactivation of Cu/Zn-SOD.