A number of recently cloned chromoproteins homologous to the green fluorescent protein show a substantial bathochromic shift in absorption spectra. Compared with red fluorescent protein from Discosoma sp. (DsRed), mutants of these so-called far-red proteins exhibit a clear red shift in emission spectra as well. Here we report that a far-red chromoprotein from Goniopora tenuidens (gtCP) contains a chromophore of the same chemical structure as DsRed. Denaturation kinetics of both DsRed and gtCP under acidic conditions indicates that the red form of the chromophore (absorption maximum at 436 nm) converts to the GFP-like form (384 nm) by a one-stage reaction. Upon neutralization, the 436-nm form of gtCP, but not the 384-nm form, renaturates instantly, implying that the former includes a chromophore in its intact state. gtCP represents a singlechain protein and, upon harsh denaturing conditions, shows three major bands in SDS/PAGE, two of which apparently result from hydrolysis of an acylimine C‫؍‬N bond. Instead of having absorption maxima at 384 nm and 450 nm, which are characteristic for a GFP-like chromophore, fragmented gtCP shows a different spectrum, which presumably corresponds to a 2-keto derivative of imidazolidinone. Mass spectra of the chromophore-containing peptide from gtCP reveal an additional loss of 2 Da relative to the GFP-like chromophore. Tandem mass spectrometry of the chromopeptide shows that an additional bond is dehydrogenated in gtCP at the same position as in DsRed. Altogether, these data suggest that gtCP belongs to the same subfamily as DsRed (in the classification of GFP-like proteins based on the chromophore structure type).A variety of fluorescent proteins from Anthozoa species has been described recently (1-6). These proteins represent the GFP-like family according to their homology to the green fluorescent protein from Aequorea victoria jellyfish. A growing interest in GFP-like proteins was stimulated largely by their potential utilization as biomarkers in living cells (7). Besides their applications to cellular biology, GFP-like proteins are of significant interest as the subjects of basic protein chemistry and enzymology. The main feature distinguishing these proteins from other known chromoproteins is the chromophore moiety composed of modified amino acid residues. Accordingly, the color of GFP-like protein is encoded genetically, and the chromophore center is assembled post-translationally by autocatalytic reactions inside the protein molecule. Thus, GFP-like proteins break the earlier adopted concept that chromoproteins are formed by combining an apoprotein with a prosthetic group.Currently, about 30 members of this family have been described (4); they are conventionally divided into two groups, proteins with inherent fluorescence (FP) 1 and naturally nonfluorescent proteins (CP). Remarkably, all known CPs can be converted to fluorescent analogues by means of mutagenesis (3) or by irradiation with light of fixed wavelength (8, 9). Despite great diversity in the colors of coral pr...

Database search post-processing by neural network was employed in peptide mapping experiments. The database search was performed using both the known algorithms and score functions, such as Bayesian, MOWSE, Z-score, correlations between calculated and actual peptide length fractional abundance, and, in addition, the probability of protein digest pattern in peptide fingerprint, all embedded in locally developed program. The new signal-processing algorithm based on neural network improves signal-noise separation and is acceptable for automatic protein identification in mixtures. Its power was tested on Helicobacter pylori protein inventory after preceding protein separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Increase in protein identification success rate was observed, and about 100 proteins were identified with no need of human participation in database search estimation.

The gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori is found in human gastric mucosa. A widely distributed H. pylori infection is associated with chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and malignant neoplasms. In this study proteome maps of four H. pylori clinical isolates derived from patients of two Russian regions (Moscow/Moscow Region and Novosibirsk) were obtained using 2D-electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF-mass-spectrometry. Variability of some H. pylori proteins and the level of their expression have been evaluated. These four isolates could be easily subdivided into two equal groups characterized by the close proteome profiles and the isolate from Moscow Region and the isolate from Novosibirsk constituted one group. The present study demonstrates the potential of proteome technology, which can be employed together with genome and transcriptome studies for the multiparameter typing of clinical isolates of pathogenic microorganisms.

Step high-temperature condensation of dihydric phenols [1,4-dihydroxybenzene, 4,4`-dihydroxybiphenyl, and 2,2'-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane] with phenylphosphonous bis(diethylamide) is carried out. The molecular weight, composition, and structure of the resulting oligomeric arylene phenylphosphonites were assessed by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The widest mass range was observed in the mass spectrum of 4,4`-dihydroxybiphenyl, which corresponds to an oligomer having about 30 elementary units. The obtained data agree with the the molecular weight measured by high-speed sedimentation. The reactions of phenylphosphonous bis(diethylamide) with dihydric phenols give both acyclic and cyclic arylene phenylphosphonites.

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