Publications

Export 4 results:
Sort by: Author Title Type [ Year  (Desc)]
2013
NMR Solution Structure and SRP54M predicted interaction of the N-Terminal sequence (1-30) of the ovine Doppel protein, Pimenta, Jorge, Viegas Aldino, Sardinha João, Martins Ivo C., Cabrita Eurico J., Fontes Carlos M. G. A., Prates Jose A. M., and Pereira Rosa M. L. N. , Peptides, Volume 49, p.32-40, (2013) AbstractWebsite

Prion protein (PrPC) biosynthesis involves a multi-step process that includes translation and post-translational modifications. While PrP has been widely investigated, for the homolog Doppel (Dpl), limited knowledge is available. In this study, we focused on a vital step of eukaryotic protein biosynthesis: targeting by the signal recognition particle (SRP). Taking the ovine Dpl (OvDpl(1-30)) peptide as a template, we studied its behavior in two different hydrophobic environments using CD and NMR spectroscopy. In both trifluoroethanol (TFE) and dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DHPC), the OvDpl(1-30) peptide revealed to fold in an alpha-helical conformation with a well-defined central region extending from residue Cys8 until Ser22. The NMR structure was subsequently included in a computational docking complex with the conserved M-domain of SRP54 protein (SRP54M), and further compared with the N-terminal structures of mouse Dpl and bovine PrPC proteins. This allowed the determination of (i) common predicted N-terminal/SRP54M polar contacts (Asp331, Gln335, Glu365 and Lys432) and (ii) different N–C orientations between prion and Dpl peptides at the SRP54M hydrophobic groove, that are in agreement with each peptide electrostatic potential. Together, these findings provide new insights into the biosynthesis of prion-like proteins. Besides they also show the role of protein conformational switches in signalization toward the endoplasmic membrane, a key event of major significance in the cell cycle. They are thus of general applicability to the study of the biological function of prion-like as well as other proteins.

2011
NMR Insight into the Supramolecular Structure of Daunorubicin Loaded Polymer Nanoparticles, Ivanova, Galya, Simeonova Margarita, Cabrita Eurico J., and Rangel Maria , Journal of Physical Chemistry B, FEB 10 2011, Volume 115, Number 5, p.902-909, (2011) Abstract
n/a
2007
A new lupene triterpenetriol and anticholinesterase activity of Salvia sclareoides, Rauter, Amelia P., Branco Isabel, Lopes Rui G., Justino Jorge, Silva Filipa V. M., Noronha Joao P., Cabrita Eurico J., Brouard Ignacio, and Bermejo Jaime , Fitoterapia, DEC 2007, Volume 78, Number 7-8, p.474-481, (2007) Abstract
n/a
1999
Novel acid catalysed 1,4-addition-type ring-opening polymerisation of cyclic phosphorimidates, Cabrita, E. J., Candeias SX, Ramos A. M., Afonso CAM, and Santos AG , Tetrahedron Letters, JAN 1 1999, Volume 40, Number 1, p.137-140, (1999) Abstract
n/a