[Analysis of death rates in patients with tuberculosis and HIV infection].

The proportion of those who died at a hospital in 2001 is 3.8% of the treated patients and that in 2002 is 4.2%. In 2003, mortality rates increased more than 3-fold and accounted for 13.4%. Patients with a long history of tuberculosis were found to have pulmonary tuberculosis without extrapulmonary foci. Generalized forms of tuberculosis were detectable in more than a third of the cases and more frequently encountered in patients with significant immunodeficiency for whom tuberculosis was opportunistic infection.

Structure of Escherichia coli glutamate decarboxylase (GADalpha) in complex with glutarate at 2.05 angstroms resolution.

Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is a pyridoxal enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-glutamate into gamma-aminobutyric acid and carbon dioxide. The Escherichia coli enzyme exists as two isozymes, referred to as GADalpha and GADbeta. Crystals of the complex of the recombinant isozyme GADalpha with glutarate as a substrate analogue were grown in space group R3, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 117.1, c = 196.4 angstroms. The structure of the enzyme was solved by the molecular-replacement method and refined at 2.05 angstroms resolution to an R factor of 15.1% (R(free) = 19.9%). The asymmetric unit contains a dimer consisting of two subunits of the enzyme related by a noncrystallographic twofold axis which is perpendicular to and intersects a crystallographic threefold axis. The dimers are related by a crystallographic threefold axis to form a hexamer. The active site of each subunit is formed by residues of the large domains of both subunits of the dimer. The coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) forms an aldimine bond with Lys276. The glutarate molecule bound in the active site of the enzyme adopts two conformations with equal occupancies. One of the two carboxy groups of the glutarate occupies the same position in both conformations and forms hydrogen bonds with the N atom of the main chain of Phe63 and the side chain of Thr62 of one subunit and the side chains of Asp86 and Asn83 of the adjacent subunit of the dimer. Apparently, it is in this position that the distal carboxy group of the substrate would be bound by the enzyme, thus providing recognition of glutamic acid by the enzyme.

Isolation, crystallization, and investigation of ribosomal protein S8 complexed with specific fragments of rRNA of bacterial or archaeal origin.

The core ribosomal protein S8 binds to the central domain of 16S rRNA independently of other ribosomal proteins and is required for assembling the 30S subunit. It has been shown with E. coli ribosomes that a short rRNA fragment restricted by nucleotides 588-602 and 636-651 is sufficient for strong and specific protein S8 binding. In this work, we studied the complexes formed by ribosomal protein S8 from Thermus thermophilus and Methanococcus jannaschii with short rRNA fragments isolated from the same organisms. The dissociation constants of the complexes of protein S8 with rRNA fragments were determined. Based on the results of binding experiments, rRNA fragments of different length were designed and synthesized in preparative amounts in vitro using T7 RNA-polymerase. Stable S8-RNA complexes were crystallized. Crystals were obtained both for homologous bacterial and archaeal complexes and for hybrid complexes of archaeal protein with bacterial rRNA. Crystals of the complex of protein S8 from M. jannaschii with the 37-nucleotide rRNA fragment from the same organism suitable for X-ray analysis were obtained.

Detailed analysis of RNA-protein interactions within the ribosomal protein S8-rRNA complex from the archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii.

The crystal structure of ribosomal protein S8 bound to its target 16 S rRNA from a hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii has been determined at 2.6 A resolution. The protein interacts with the minor groove of helix H21 at two sites located one helical turn apart, with S8 forming a bridge over the RNA major groove. The specificity of binding is essentially provided by the C-terminal domain of S8 and the highly conserved nucleotide core, characterized by two dinucleotide platforms, facing each other. The first platform (A595-A596), which is the less phylogenetically and structurally constrained, does not directly contact the protein but has an important shaping role in inducing cross-strand stacking interactions. The second platform (U641-A642) is specifically recognized by the protein. The universally conserved A642 plays a pivotal role by ensuring the cohesion of the complex organization of the core through an array of hydrogen bonds, including the G597-C643-U641 base triple. In addition, A642 provides the unique base-specific interaction with the conserved Ser105, while the Thr106 - Thr107 peptide link is stacked on its purine ring. Noteworthy, the specific recognition of this tripeptide (Thr-Ser-Thr/Ser) is parallel to the recognition of an RNA tetraloop by a dinucleotide platform in the P4-P6 ribozyme domain of group I intron. This suggests a general dual role of dinucleotide platforms in recognition of RNA or peptide motifs. One prominent feature is that conserved side-chain amino acids, as well as conserved bases, are essentially involved in maintaining tertiary folds. The specificity of binding is mainly driven by shape complementarity, which is increased by the hydrophobic part of side-chains. The remarkable similarity of this complex with its homologue in the T. thermophilus 30 S subunit indicates a conserved interaction mode between Archaea and Bacteria.

Structure of ribosomal protein TL5 complexed with RNA provides new insights into the CTC family of stress proteins.

The crystal structure of Thermus thermophilus ribosomal protein TL5 in complex with a fragment of Escherichia coli 5S rRNA has been determined at 2.3 A resolution. The protein consists of two domains. The structure of the N-terminal domain is close to the structure of E. coli ribosomal protein L25, but the C-terminal domain represents a new fold composed of seven beta-strands connected by long loops. TL5 binds to the RNA through its N-terminal domain, whereas the C-terminal domain is not included in this interaction. Cd(2+) ions, the presence of which improved the crystal quality significantly, bind only to the protein component of the complex and stabilize the protein molecule itself and the interactions between the two molecules in the asymmetric unit of the crystal. The TL5 sequence reveals homology to the so-called general stress protein CTC. The hydrophobic cores which stabilize both TL5 domains are highly conserved in CTC proteins. Thus, all CTC proteins may fold with a topology close to that of TL5.

N-terminal domain, residues 1-91, of ribosomal protein TL5 from Thermus thermophilus binds specifically and strongly to the region of 5S rRNA containing loop E.

In this work we show for the first time that the overproduced N-terminal fragment (residues 1-91) of ribosomal protein TL5 binds specifically to 5S rRNA and that the region of this fragment containing residues 80-91 is a necessity for its RNA-binding activity. The fragment of Escherichia coli 5S rRNA protected by TL5 against RNase A hydrolysis was isolated and sequenced. This 39 nucleotides fragment contains loop E and helices IV and V of 5S rRNA. The isolated RNA fragment forms stable complexes with TL5 and its N-terminal domain. Crystals of TL5 in complex with the RNA fragment diffracting to 2.75 A resolution were obtained.

A mutant form of the ribosomal protein L1 reveals conformational flexibility.

The crystal structure of the mutant S179C of the ribosomal protein L1 from Thermus thermophilus has been determined at 1.9 A resolution. The mutant molecule displays a small but significant opening of the cavity between the two domains. The domain movement seems to be facilitated by the flexibility of at least two conserved glycines. These glycines may be necessary for the larger conformational change needed for an induced fit mechanism upon binding RNA. The domain movement makes a disulfide bridge possible between the incorporated cysteines in two monomers of the mutant L1.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of ribosomal protein S8 from Thermus thermophilus.

Crystals have been obtained for recombinant ribosomal protein S8 from Thermus thermophilus produced by Escherichia coli. The protein crystals have been grown in 40 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) in hanging drops equilibrated against saturated ammonium sulfate (unbuffered) with 2-methyl-2,4-pentandiol (v/v). The crystals belong to the space group P4(1(3)) 2(1)2 with cell parameters a = b = 67.65 A, c = 171.12 A. They diffract x-rays to 2.9 A resolution.

Crystal structure of the RNA binding ribosomal protein L1 from Thermus thermophilus.

L1 has a dual function as a ribosomal protein binding rRNA and as a translational repressor binding mRNA. The crystal structure of L1 from Thermus thermophilus has been determined at 1.85 angstroms resolution. The protein is composed of two domains with the N- and C-termini in domain I. The eight N-terminal residues are very flexible, as the quality of electron density map shows. Proteolysis experiments have shown that the N-terminal tail is accessible and important for 23S rRNA binding. Most of the conserved amino acids are situated at the interface between the two domains. They probably form the specific RNA binding site of L1. Limited non-covalent contacts between the domains indicate an unstable domain interaction in the present conformation. Domain flexibility and RNA binding by induced fit seems plausible.

Crystal structure of the ribosomal protein S6 from Thermus thermophilus.

The amino acid sequence and crystal structure of the ribosomal protein S6 from the small ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus have been determined. S6 is a small protein with 101 amino acid residues. The 3D structure, which was determined to 2.0 A resolution, consists of a four-stranded anti-parallel beta-sheet with two alpha-helices packed on one side. Similar folding patterns have been observed for other ribosomal proteins and may suggest an original RNA-interacting motif. Related topologies are also found in several other nucleic acid-interacting proteins and based on the assumption that the structure of the ribosome was established early in the molecular evolution, the possibility that an ancestral RNA-interacting motif in ribosomal proteins is the evolutionary origin for the nucleic acid-interacting domain in large classes of ribonucleic acid binding proteins should be considered.

Crystals of protein L30 from the 50 S ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus. Preliminary crystallographic data.

Crystals have been obtained of protein L30 from the large ribosomal subunit of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, using ammonium sulphate as a precipitant. The crystals belong to space group P3(1)12 with cell parameters a = b = 64.2 A, c = 78.3 A. They diffract X-rays to at least 2.3 A resolution.

Ribosomal proteins from Thermus thermophilus for structural investigations.

In parallel with crystallographic studies of ribosomes from Thermus thermophilus, a long-term program on the crystallization and structural investigations of ribosomal proteins from the same microorganism has been started at the Institute of Protein Research (Pushchino, Russia). At present, more than half of the individual ribosomal proteins from T thermophilus have been purified without denaturating agents on a preparative scale and some of them have been obtained in the crystalline form. X-ray structural analysis of two ribosomal proteins, L1 and S6, is being carried out jointly with the Institute of Molecular Biology (Moscow, Russia) and laboratory of professor A Liljas (Lund University, Sweden). L1 is the large protein of the large ribosomal subunit. It can bind not only to a specific site on the 23S rRNA, but also to the mRNA that codes for L1 and L11, thereby acting as a translational repressor for the synthesis of these proteins. The crystals of L1 are orthorhombic and diffract to about 2 A resolution. Native data and data for several heavy atom derivatives have been collected. S6 is a small acidic protein from the small ribosomal subunit. The crystals of S6 are orthorhombic and diffract to 2 A resolution. Native data and derivatives' data have been collected.

Crystal structure of calf eye lens gamma-crystallin IIIb at 2.5 A resolution: its relation to function.

The crystal structure of gamma-crystallin IIIb (gamma C) from calf eye lens has been refined at 2.5 A resolution. The molecule of about 21 kDa consists of two similar domains. Each domain is composed of two motifs with the 'Greek key' topology which form a pair of four-stranded beta-sheets with an antiparallel packing. The molecule has three hydrophobic cores: one within each domain and one between them. Six of the eight functionally important cysteines are located within the N-domain, and only two in the C-domain. Several large clusters of charged residues are at the surface of the molecule. Surface residues Val 101, Met 103 and Leu 155 are important for packing of molecules in crystal medium and possibly in the lens. Features of the gamma-crystallin IIIb molecule which may be related to its function in the vertebrate eye lens are briefly discussed. An attempt has been made to correlate molecular characteristics with some general properties of the eye lens such as high density and refractive index gradients and strong stability of the lens during an organism's lifetime.

Crystals of protein S6 from the 30 S ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus.

Crystals of protein S6 from the small ribosomal subunit of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, have been obtained by the hanging-drop/vapor diffusion technique using methane pentanediol as a precipitant in the presence of potassium fluoride. The crystals belong to the space group C222 with cell parameters a = 106.7, b = 52.8, c = 41.0 A. They diffract to 2.0 A resolution.

Crystals of protein L1 from the 50 S ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus. Preliminary crystallographic data.

Crystals have been obtained of protein L1 from the large ribosomal subunit of an extreme thermophile. Thermus thermophilus, using a mixed solution of ammonium sulphate/methane pentanediol. The crystals belong to the space group P2(1)2(1)2, with cell parameters a = 82.7 A, b = 63.4 A, c = 44.7 A. They diffract X-rays to 2.3 A resolution.

Crystals of threonyl-tRNA synthetase from Thermus thermophilus. Preliminary crystallographic data.

Crystals have been obtained of threonyl-tRNA synthetase from the extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus using sodium formate as a precipitant. The crystals are very stable and diffract to at least 2.4 A. The crystals belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell parameters a = 61.4 A, b = 156.1 A, c = 177.3 A.

[Evolutionary conservatism of the molecular structure of gamma-crystallins of vertebrates]. / Evoliutsionnyi konservatizm molekuliarnoi struktury gamma-kristallinov pozvonochnykh.

Homology of 18 amino acid sequences of lens gamma-crystallins of several vertebrates: frog, mouse, rat, calf and human being--has been considered. Pair sequence homology varies in the range from 57 to 100%, the mean value is equal to 74%. The spatial structures have been determined only for two calf gamma-crystallins. The protein molecule consists of four-fold repeated "motifs" (patterns) which are joint in two domains. After comparison of 18 gamma-crystallin sequences it was found that "motifs" domains and whole protein molecules have about 10, 30 and 58% conservative residues, respectively, that seem to be related to the evolution of these structural units. Structure analysis shows that almost all the conservative residues have an important structural meaning and play a basic role in the domain and molecular structure organization. This result allows us to make a conclusion about the homology of spatial structures of all considered gamma-crystallins of vertebrates.