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Development and testing of computer models of phospholipid membranes
Nencini, Ricky ; Jungwirth, Pavel (advisor) ; Předota, Milan (referee)
Molecular dynamics simulations are an important tool for the study of biological systems, such as biomembranes. The missing electronic polarization in classical non- polarizable force fields, however, produces significant inaccuracies in the interactions of membranes with charged particles, such as ions. In this work, we implement the missing electronic polarization effects into CHARMM36 force field for phospatidylcholine lipids. This implementation is done in the mean field way by using electronic continuum correction (ECC) model. We will validate the strength of ion-membrane interactions using the electrometer concept. This concept connects the response of choline order parameters of lipid molecules with the amount of charge present in the surface of the membrane. Keywords: phosphatydylcholine, calcium ions, sodium ions, electronic continuum cor- rection, electrometer concept 1
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BopN function in the Bordetella type III secretion system
Kincová, Veronika ; Kamanová, Jana (advisor) ; Večerek, Branislav (referee)
Species of the Bordetella genus cause the highly contagious whooping cough disease in humans (B. pertussis, B. parapertussis) and related respiratory diseases in other mammals (B. bronchiseptica, B. parapertussis). One of the virulence systems of Bordetellae is the type III secretion system (T3SS) employed for translocation of effector proteins directly from bacterial cytosol into the cytosol of host cells. The T3SS protein BopN protein has been categorized as a Bordetella effector protein. Nevertheless, the homologous proteins in other gram-negative bacteria function in establishing the secretion hierarchy through T3SS and some of them block T3SS secretion in high calcium environments before bacteria-host cell contact has been established. In this thesis I examined the function of the BopN protein and the role of calcium ions in T3SS activity of B. bronchiseptica. Two independent methods have been used for determination of T3SS secretion activity. Addition of 2 mM calcium ions into bacterial media decreased secretion of the T3SS reporter, while no such effect was observed in a B. bronchiseptica strain lacking the bopN gene. Mass spectrometry data confirmed the inhibition of T3SS activity in the presence of calcium ions. Enhanced calcium levels resulted in decreased mobilization and secretion of...
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Effect of calcium ions and cholesterol on channel forming activity of Adenylate-cyclase toxin
Doktorová, Eliška ; Fišer, Radovan (advisor) ; Horák, Martin (referee)
1 Abstract Adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) is one of the major virulence factors of bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which is a causative agent of whooping cough. CyaA belongs to the family of RTX toxin-hemolysins. The toxin targets primarily cells expressing integrin receptor CD11b/CD18 but it can also penetrate cells lacking this receptor. CyaA acts on host cells by two independent activities. One is formation of small cation-selective channels, which can lead to colloid osmotic lysis of target cells. The second is disruption of cell signaling through the translocation of the adenylate cyclase (AC) domain to host cell cytosol, which leads to the conversion of ATP into cyclic AMP. It was recently shown that cholesterol affects endocytosis of CyaA. CyaA translocates it's AC domain after relocation of CyaA molecule to the cholesterol-rich lipid raft (Bumba et al. 2010). In this work I examined the effect of cholesterol on channel- forming activity and selectivity of ion channels created by CyaA. For measurements I used artificial membranes enriched with cholesterol. CyaA channels are voltage-dependent. The positive membrane potential on the side of toxin is rquired for incorporation of CyaA molecule into cell membrane. I tried to find out whether the value of voltage has effect on channels opening time....
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