Macromolecular protein complexes catalyze essential physiological processes that sustain life. Various interactions between subunits could increase the effective mass of certain peptide groups, thereby compartmentalizing $\alpha$-helices. Here, we study differential effects applied massive barriers upon soliton-assisted energy transport within proteins. We demonstrate excentric barriers, locali...

To identify the structural elements of the prion protein (PrP) necessary for its protective function against Bcl-2 associated protein X (Bax), we performed structure-function analyses of the anti-Bax function of cytosolic PrP (CyPrP) in MCF-7 cells. Deletions of 1, 2, or 3 N-terminal Bcl-2 homology domain 2-like octapeptide repeats (BORs), but not deletion of all four BORs, abolish CyPrPs anti-...

The Escherichia coli RNA polymerase alpha-subunit binds through its carboxy-terminal domain (alpha CTD) to a recognition element, the upstream (UP) element, in certain promoters. We used genetic and biochemical techniques to identify the residues in alpha CTD important for UP-element-dependent transcription and DNA binding. These residues occur in two regions of alpha CTD, close to but distinct...

alpha CDCP is a neuropeptide produced by the caudodorsal cells of Lymnaea stagnalis and encoded by the genes of the egg-laying hormone (ELH). The use of a polyclonal antiserum raised against alpha CDCP resulted in the detection of about 800 immunoreactive neurons in the parietal ganglia and a small population (60 cells) in the cerebral ganglia of Helix aspersa. As the genes of ELH are well cons...

Signal peptides are selectively recognized and degraded by membrane associated proteases called as signal peptide peptidases. The hydrolysis of the signal peptide occurs only after its cleavage from the precursor. The possible reasons for this selectivity have been investigated. The results indicate that in signal peptides, leucine residues are clustered to a large extent on the same side of th...

In the absence of ATP, increasing concentrations of calcium within a range between 0.1--8.0 mmol . 1(-1) gradually lowered the alpha-helix content of proteins in rat heart sarcolemma requiring no energy supply. In the presence of ATP, similar concentrations of calcium stepwise activated the sarcolemmal low-affinity Ca2+-ATPase. A mathematical analysis of the data obtained revealed a quantitativ...

Although it is commonly known as a helix breaker, proline residues have been found in the alpha-helical regions of many peptides and proteins. The antimicrobial peptide gaegurin displays alpha-helical structure and has a central proline residue (P14). The structure and activity of gaegurin and its alanine derivative (P14A) were determined by various spectroscopic methods, restrained molecular d...