No abstract

Penicillins and cephalosporins are among the most widely used therapeutic agents. These antibiotics are produced from fermentation-derived materials as their chemical synthesis is not commercially viable. Unconventional steps in their biosynthesis are catalysed by Fe(II)-dependent oxidases/oxygenases; isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) creates in one step the bicyclic nucleus of penicillins, and deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS) catalyses the expansion of the penicillin nucleus into the nucleus of cephalosporins. Both enzymes use dioxygen-derived ferryl intermediates in catalysis but, in contrast to IPNS, the ferryl form of DAOCS is produced by the oxidative splitting of a co-substrate, 2-oxoglutarate (alpha-ketoglutarate). This route of controlled ferryl formation and reaction is common to many mononuclear ferrous enzymes, which participate in a broader range of reactions than their well-characterized counterparts, the haem enzymes. Here we report the first crystal structure of a 2-oxoacid-dependent oxygenase. High-resolution structures for apo-DAOCS, the enzyme complexed with Fe(II), and with Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate, were obtained from merohedrally twinned crystals. Using a model based on these structures, we propose a mechanism for ferryl formation.

The Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS) from Streptomyces clavuligerus was expressed at ca 25 % of total soluble protein in Escherichia coli and puri®ed by an ef®cient large-scale procedure. Puri®ed protein catalysed the conversions of penicillins N and G to deacetoxycephems. Gel ®ltration and light scattering studies showed that in solution monomeric apo-DAOCS is in equilibrium with a trimeric form from which it crystallizes. DAOCS was crystallized AEFe(II) and/or 2-oxoglutarate using the hanging drop method. Crystals diffracted to beyond 1.3 A Ê resolution and belonged to the R3 space group (unit cell dimensions: a b 106.4 A Ê , c 71.2 A Ê ; a b 90 , g 120 (in the hexagonal setting)). Despite the structure revealing that Met180 is located close to the reactive oxidizing centre of DAOCS, there was no functional difference between the wild-type and selenomethionine derivatives. X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies in solution generally supported the iron co-ordination chemistry de®ned by the crystal structures. The Fe K-edge positions of 7121.2 and 7121.4 eV for DAOCS alone and with 2-oxoglutarate were both consistent with the presence of Fe(II). For Fe(II) in DAOCS the best ®t to the Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) associated with the Fe K-edge was found with two His imidazolate groups at 1.96 A Ê , three nitrogen or oxygen atoms at 2.11 A Ê and one other light atom at 2.04 A Ê . For the Fe(II) in the DAOCS-2-oxoglutarate complex the EXAFS spectrum was successfully interpreted by backscattering from two His residues (Fe-N at 1.99 A Ê ), a bidentate O,O-co-ordinated 2-oxoglutarate with Fe-O distances of 2.08 A Ê , another O atom at 2.08 A Ê and one at 2.03 A Ê . Analysis of the X-ray crystal structural data suggests a binding mode for the penicillin N substrate and possible roles for the C terminus in stabilising the enzyme and ordering the reaction mechanism.

Plastic deformation processes in oriented polyethylene are investigated by the X-ray method, and changes in texture produced by transverse compression are interpreted in terms of twinning, slip and phase transformation. The crystal structure of the new form produced by the phase transformation is determined, and the unit cell is a monoclinic one with a=8.09, b=2.53, c=4.79 Å and β=107.9°. The phase transformation is considered to be of diffusion-less type and a transition mechanism similar to that of twinning is proposed.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a cytokine formerly known as interferon-gamma- (IFN-gamma-) inducing factor, has pleiotropic immunoregulatory functions, including augmentation of IFN-gamma production, Fas-mediated cytotoxicity and developmental regulation of T-lymphocyte helper type I. We determined the solution structure of IL-18 as a first step toward understanding its receptor activation mechanism. It folds into a beta-trefoil structure that resembles that of IL-1. Extensive mutagenesis revealed the presence of three sites that are important for receptor activation: two serve as binding sites for IL-18 receptor alpha (IL-18Ralpha), located at positions similar to those of IL-1 for IL-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI), whereas the third site may be involved in IL-18 receptor beta (IL-18Rbeta) binding. The structure and mutagenesis data provide a basis for understanding the IL-18-induced heterodimerization of receptor subunits, which is necessary for receptor activation.

The crystal structure of glutathione synthetase from Escherichia coli B complexed with ADP, glutathione, and sulfate has been determined at 2.0 A resolution. Concerning the chemical similarity of sulfate and phosphate, this quaternary complex structure represents a pseudo enzyme-substrate complex in the reverse reaction and consequently allows us to understand the active site architecture of the E. coli glutathione synthetase. Two Mg2+ ions are coordinated with oxygen atoms from the alpha- and beta-phosphate groups of ADP and from the sulfate ion. The flexible loops, invisible in the unliganded or the binary and ternary complex structures, are fixed in the quaternary complex. The larger flexible loop (Ile226-Arg241) includes one turn of a 310-helix that comprises the binding site of the glycine moiety of GSH. The small loop (Gly164-Gly167) is involved in nucleotide binding and acts as a phosphate gripper. The side chains of Arg210 and Arg225 interact with the sulfate ion and the beta-phosphate moiety of ADP. Arg 210 is likely to interact with the carboxylate of the C-terminal gamma-glutamylcysteine in the substrate-binding form of the forward reaction. Other positively charged residues in the active site (Lys125 and Lys160) are involved in nucleotide binding, directing the phosphate groups to the right position for catalysis. Functional aspects of the active site architecture in the substrate-binding form are discussed.

Modelling of transmission towers is an essential part of the travelling-wave analysis of lightning surges in overhead power-transmission lines. In thc papcr an equivalent distributed constant line model of a transmission tower is developed. The model consists of three parts: main legs, bracings and crossarms. The surge impedance of each part is expressed by the functions of their dimensions and geometry. This tower model is applied to a 500 kV transmission tower whose surge performance characteristics are measured. It is found that the tower voltage wave shapes, calculated from this model, closely agree with the measured ones. This proves that the authors' proposed tower model simulates well the surge performances of actual transmission towers.

Cigarette smoking is associated with the development of inflammatory lung diseases representing major health problems worldwide. We hypothesized that the redox-regulating molecule thioredoxin-1 (TRX), which shows anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic effects, could be induced by cigarette smoke (CS) and contribute to protect against CS-induced inflammation and lung destruction. In an acute study, human TRX transgenic mice and C57BL6/J mice were exposed to mainstream CS for 3 days. In the lungs of CS-exposed mice, bronchial epithelial injury and bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophilia were observed. Oxidative stress and apoptosis were enhanced, and the expression of cytokines macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-␣ was increased 15.3-and 2.4-fold, respectively. Compared with C57BL6/J mice, TRX-transgenic mice had significantly less inflammation, oxidative damage, and apoptosis, as well as decreased levels of matrix metalloprotease-12 mRNA and serum TNF-␣. When recombinant human TRX (40 g/body/day, 3 days) was injected i.p. into CS-exposed C57BL6/J mice, a significant effect to offer protection against CS-induced lung injury was observed through suppression of neutrophil influx. In the chronic study, TRXtransgenic mice and C57BL6/J mice were exposed to CS for 6 months. This chronic exposure caused pulmonary emphysema in C57BL6/J mice accompanying prominent infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils to lung. These pathological changes were significantly suppressed in TRX-transgenic mice. In conclusion, TRX induction ameliorated CS-induced lung inflammation and emphysema in mice. TRX-1 may therefore play a preventive or therapeutic role in lung inflammatory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Cigarette smoke (CS)-associated diseases such as ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and pulmonary diseases are the major health problem. Among those, the most important is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because morbidity is high and increasing (Pauwels et al., 2001;Rabe et al., 2007). The pathology of COPD is characterized as inflammation of the airways and loss of alveolar structure. The development of COPD is associated with chronic smoking that cause chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and proteolysis. CS induces the production of large numbers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which disturb the balance between oxidants and antioxidants, promoting lung cell apoptosis and amplifying the inflammatory responses in the lungs (Rabe et al., 2007).The activation of alveolar macrophage by oxidants results in releasing of several inflammatory cytokines and chemotactic factors that recruit circulating inflammatory cells such as neutrophils, which are also a secondary source of ROS (Hautamaki et al., 1997;Ofulue et al., 1998). TNF-␣ is a well documented chemotactic factor that is activated by the macrophage metalloelastase MMP-12 in a CS-induced lung inflammation (Churg et al., 2003). The recruited neutrophils and activated alveolar macrophages...