Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
This paper presents a microfluidic system, characterizing the red blood cell (RBC) deformability through its transit time in a microchannel, which dimensions reproducing blood microcirculation capillary. Electrodes are integrated within the microchannel for electrical measurements. The transit time is measured with the electrical blockade produced when the RBC squeezes in the microchannel (d = 5 μm diameter, while the cell diameter is 8 μm). In order todetermine most suitable electrical frequency range for the voltage applied to excitation electrodes, FEM numerical simulation of the bioimpedance is achieved and presented in this paper. We investigated the frequency response of the bioimpedance taking into account the electrode polarization, the dielectric properties of the medium, a single shell model for RBC and finally the RBC position within the microchannel.
Eurosensors
Paris, France

hal-01592142
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01592142
DOI : 10.3390/proceedings1040517

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Ferrata Storti Foundation
Résumé : International audience
Lionnet et al. recently reported a high prevalence of retinopathy (RET) and otologic disorders (OTD) in patients with sickle cell-hemoglobin C disease (SC), while a significant number of patients had renal diseases (mainly glomerulopathy; GLO) and osteonecrosis (OST). The pathophysiological processes of these complications in SC are not well defined, although blood hyperviscosity has been suspected, but never tested to the best of our knowledge, as responsible for several chronic complications in SC disease1,2. The aim of this study was to analyze the associations between hematological and hemorheological parameters and chronic complications in adult SC patients.
ISSN: 0390-6078

inserm-01081709
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01081709
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01081709/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01081709/file/2014%2C%20Lemonne%20-%20Impaired%20blood%20rheology%20plays%20a%20role%20in%20the%20chronic%20disorders%20associated%20with%20sickle%20cell-hemoglobin%20C%20disease.pdf
PUBMED : 24633868

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Travaux Pratiques de Biochimie, IUT 2e année. Mise en place d'un réacteur enzymatique. Beta galactosidase. Transformation de l'oNPG en orthonitrophénol et galactose.
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459246
Terre Sainte, France

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/
medihal-00459246
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459246
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459246/image
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459246/file/tp_biochimie_iut13.jpg

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Travaux Pratiques de Biochimie, IUT 2e année. Mise en place d'un réacteur enzymatique. Beta galactosidase. Transformation de l'oNPG en orthonitrophénol et galactose.
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459237
Terre Sainte, France

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/
medihal-00459237
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459237
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459237/image
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459237/file/tp_biochimie_iut04.jpg

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
A relevant and accurate description of three-dimensional (3D) protein structures can be achieved by characterizing recurrent local structures. In a previous study, we developed a library of 120 3D structural prototypes encompassing all known 11-residues long local protein structures and ensuring a good quality of structural approximation. A local structure prediction method was also proposed. Here, overlapping properties of local protein structures in global ones are taken into account to characterize frequent local networks. At the same time, we propose a new long local structure prediction strategy which involves the use of evolutionary information coupled with Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Our prediction is evaluated by a stringent geometrical assessment. Every local structure prediction with a Calpha RMSD less than 2.5 A from the true local structure is considered as correct. A global prediction rate of 63.1% is then reached, corresponding to an improvement of 7.7 points compared with the previous strategy. In the same way, the prediction of 88.33% of the 120 structural classes is improved with 8.65% mean gain. 85.33% of proteins have better prediction results with a 9.43% average gain. An analysis of prediction rate per local network also supports the global improvement and gives insights into the potential of our method for predicting super local structures. Moreover, a confidence index for the direct estimation of prediction quality is proposed. Finally, our method is proved to be very competitive with cutting-edge strategies encompassing three categories of local structure predictions. Proteins 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
ISSN: 0887-3585

inserm-00348740
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00348740
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00348740/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00348740/file/Bornot_Proteins_2009_preprint_version.pdf
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00348740/file/inserm-00348740_edited.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
Retreatment with pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) results in poor sustained virological response (SVR) rates in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients. There are limited data regarding the use of telaprevir plus peg-IFN/RBV in this population. HIV type 1-infected patients who previously failed ≥12 weeks of peg-IFN/RBV for HCV genotype 1 coinfection were enrolled in a single-arm, phase 2 trial. Patients with cirrhosis and previous null response were excluded. Authorized antiretrovirals were tenofovir, emtricitabine, efavirenz, atazanavir, and raltegravir. All patients received peg-IFN alfa-2a (180 µg/week) plus RBV (1000-1200 mg/day) for 4 weeks, followed by telaprevir (750 mg or 1125 mg every 8 hours with efavirenz) plus peg-IFN/RBV for 12 weeks and peg-IFN/RBV for 32-56 weeks according to virological response at week 8. The primary endpoint was the SVR rate at 24 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR24). Sixty-nine patients started treatment; SVR24 was achieved in 55 (80% [95% confidence interval, 68%-88%). SVR24 was not influenced by baseline fibrosis stage, IL28B genotype, antiretroviral regimen, HCV subtype, CD4 cell count, previous response to HCV treatment, HCV RNA level, or HCV RNA decline at week 4. HCV treatment was discontinued for adverse events (AEs) in 20% of patients, including cutaneous (4%), psychiatric (4%), hematological (6%), and other AEs (6%). Peg-IFN or RBV dose reduction was required in 23% and 43% of patients, respectively. Seventy percent of patients required erythropoietin, blood transfusions, or RBV dose reduction for anemia. Two patients died during the study. No HIV breakthrough was observed. Despite a high discontinuation rate related to toxicity, a substantial proportion of treatment-experienced HIV-coinfected patients achieved SVR24 with a telaprevir-based regimen. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT01332955.
ISSN: 1058-4838

hal-01118447
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01118447
PUBMED : 25139963
DOI : 10.1093/cid/ciu659

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
OBJECTIVES:Blood rheology plays a key role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell anaemia (SS) and sickle cell haemoglobin C disease (SC), but its evolution over the lifespan is unknown.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Blood viscosity, red blood cell (RBC) deformability and aggregation, foetal haemoglobin (HbF) and haematocrit were measured in 114 healthy individuals (AA), 267 SS (161 children + 106 adults) and 138 SC (74 children + 64 adults) patients.RESULTS:Our results showed that 1) RBC deformability is at its maximal value during the early years of life in SS and SC populations, mainly because HbF level is also at its peak, 2) during childhood and adulthood, hydroxycarbamide treatment, HbF level and gender modulated RBC deformability in SS patients, independently of age, 3) blood viscosity is higher in older SS and SC patients compared to younger ones and 4) haematocrit decreases as SS patients age.CONCLUSION:The hemorheological changes detected in older patients could play a role in the progressive development of several chronic disorders in sickle cell disease, whose prevalence increases with age. Retarding these age-related haemorheological impairments, by using suitable drugs, may minimize the risks of vaso-occlusive events and chronic disorders.
ISSN: 1932-6203

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01669747
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-01669747
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0158182
PUBMED : 27355589
PUBMEDCENTRAL : PMC4927160

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
The Duffy Antigen/Receptor for Chemokine (DARC) is a seven segment transmembrane protein. It was firstly discovered as a blood group antigen and was the first specific gene locus assigned to a specific autosome in man. It became more famous as an erythrocyte receptor for malaria parasites (Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi), and finally for chemokines. DARC is an unorthodox chemokine receptor as (i) it binds chemokines of both CC and CXC classes and (ii) it lacks the Asp-Arg-Tyr consensus motif in its second cytoplasmic loop hence cannot couple to G proteins and activate their signaling pathways. DARC had also been associated to cancer progression, numerous inflammatory diseases, and possibly to AIDS. In this review, we will summarize important biological data on DARC. Then we shall focus on recent development of the elaboration and analyzes of structural models of DARC. We underline the difficulty to propose pertinent structural models of transmembrane protein using comparative modeling process, and other dedicated approaches as the Protein Blocks. The chosen structural models encompass most of the biochemical data known to date. Finally, we present recent development of protein - protein docking between DARC structural models and CXCL-8 structures. We propose a hierarchal search based on separated rigid and flexible docking.
Infectious disorders drug targets

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
inserm-00366309
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00366309
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00366309/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00366309/file/de_Brevern_Autin_Bertrand_Colin_Etchebest.pdf
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00366309/file/inserm-00366309_edited.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The present study investigated cerebral and muscle hemoglobin oxygen saturation (tissue oxygen index, TOI) in children with sickle cell anemia (SS), sickle cell hemoglobin C disease (SC) and healthy children (AA). TOI was measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and spectral analysis of the TOI variability was used to assess flowmotion and vasomotion. Arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2), hemorheological and hematological parameters were also measured in SS and SC children. Both TOI were lower in SS compared to both AA and SC children, with SC exhibiting lower values than AA children. Cerebral vasomotion expressed in absolute values was enhanced in SS compared to AA and SC children. Muscle vasomotion did not differ between the three groups. Hematocrit, SpO2 and red blood cell deformability were positively associated with cerebral TOI in SS children. We demonstrated that 1) cerebral and muscle TOI were markedly decreased in SS children while the decrease of TOI was milder in SC children, 2) cerebral TOI level was associated with several biological markers in SS children only and 3) cerebral vasomotion was enhanced in SS, possibly to counterbalance the effects of chronic cerebral hypoxia.
ISSN: 1079-9796

hal-01668321
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-01668321
DOI : 10.1016/j.bcmd.2017.03.015

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
Sickle cell anemia (SS) is characterized by a reduced cerebral microvascular oxygen saturation (cerebral TOI), which is not associated with hemoglobin concentration. Cerebral TOI has never been studied in sickle cell-hemoglobin C disease (SC). We focused on the relationships between hemorheological alterations and cerebral TOI in sickle cell patients with no cerebral vasculopathy and on the usefulness of TOI variability to assess the cerebral vasomotion activity. The blood rheological profile, the level of cerebral TOI (spatial resolved spectroscopy) and the cerebral TOI variability, which reflects vasomotion activity, were compared between 20 healthy subjects (AA), 21 SC patients, and 21 SS patients. Cerebral TOI exhibited the following order: AA > SC > SS. The low cerebral TOI in SS patients was related to red blood cell aggregation and deformability properties. The cerebral TOI variability of SS and SC patients was increased above healthy values and vasomotion activity was negatively associated with the reduced cerebral TOI in SS patients. We demonstrated that (1) blood rheology could be involved in the reduced cerebral TOI in SS patients but not in SC patients; (2) vasomotion activity is increased in SS and SC patients to compensate for the reduced cerebral TOI.
ISSN: 0361-8609

inserm-00838966
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00838966
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00838966/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00838966/file/2013_Waltz_American_Journalsur Hematology.pdf
DOI : 10.1002/ajh.23318

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND: Estrogens are thought to play a critical role in prostate carcinogenesis. It has been suggested that polymorphisms of genes encoding enzymes involved in estrogen metabolism are risk factors for prostate cancer. However, few studies have been performed on populations of African ancestry, which are known to have a high risk of prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether functional polymorphisms of CYP17, CYP19, CYP1B1, COMT and UGT1A1 affected the risk of prostate cancer in two different populations of African ancestry. METHODS: In Guadeloupe (French West Indies), we compared 498 prostate cancer patients and 565 control subjects. In Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), 162 prostate cancer patients were compared with 144 controls. Gene polymorphisms were determined by the SNaPshot technique or short tandem repeat PCR analysis. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The AA genotype and the A allele of rs4680 (COMT) appeared to be inversely associated with the risk of prostate cancer in adjusted models for both Afro-Caribbean and native African men. For the A allele, a significant inverse association was observed among cases with low-grade Gleason scores and localized clinical stage, in both populations. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results support the hypothesis that polymorphisms of genes encoding enzymes involved in estrogen metabolism may modulate the risk of prostate cancer in populations of African ancestry
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01305477
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01305477
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0153609
PUBMED : 27074016

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The impact of basal core promoter (BCP) and precore (PC) mutants of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) on liver disease severity remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to screen BCP and PC mutations in 252 HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positive carriers in France and to assess relationships between these mutations and severe fibrosis. METHODS: Direct sequencing of the precore/core gene was used to detect A1762T/G1764A and G1757A mutations in the BCP and G1896A and G1899A mutations in the PC region. RESULTS: The prevalences of A1762T/G1764A, G1757A, G1896A, and G1899A mutations were 34.1%, 38.7%, 54.9%, and 29.3% (P < 0.001), respectively. The independent predictors of severe fibrosis (>/=F3 Metavir) were older age (P < 0.001), male gender (P = 0.012), elevated alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.001), and the double A1762T/G1764A mutant with no other mutations (P = 0.011). Interestingly, the association of the G1899A mutation with the double A1762T/G1764A mutant significantly counteracted the deleterious effect of the sole double A1762T/G1764A mutant (odds ratio [OR] = 0.28 vs. OR = 3.55, respectively, P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with the A1762T/G1764A mutation have a higher risk of severe fibrosis. The G1899A mutation is a protective factor against severe fibrosis that counteracted the deleterious effect of the A1762T/G1764A mutation. Finally, host phenotypic and HBV genotypic markers independently predict fibrosis severity.
Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology

hal-01477209
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01477209
DOI : 10.1111/jgh.13338
PUBMED : 26992056

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Travaux Pratiques de Biochimie, IUT 2e année. Mise en place d'un réacteur enzymatique. Beta galactosidase. Transformation de l'oNPG en orthonitrophénol et galactose.
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459251
Terre Sainte, France

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/
medihal-00459251
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459251
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459251/image
https://medihal.archives-ouvertes.fr/medihal-00459251/file/tp_biochimie_iut17.jpg

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Leg ulcer is a disabling complication in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) but the exact pathophysiological mechanisms are unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the hematological and hemorheological alterations associated with recurrent leg ulcers. Sixty-two SCA patients who never experienced leg ulcers (ULC-) and 13 SCA patients with a positive history of recurrent leg ulcers (ULC+) - but with no leg ulcers at the time of the study - were recruited. All patients were in steady state condition. Blood was sampled to perform hematological, biochemical (hemolytic markers) and hemorheological analyses (blood viscosity, red blood cell deformability and aggregation properties). The hematocrit-to-viscosity ratio (HVR), which reflects the red blood cell oxygen transport efficiency, was calculated for each subject. Patients from the ULC+ group were older than patients from the ULC- group. Anemia (red blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin levels) was more pronounced in the ULC+ group. Lactate dehydrogenase level was higher in the ULC+ group than in the ULC- group. Neither blood viscosity, nor RBC aggregation properties differed between the two groups. HVR was lower and RBC deformability tended to be reduced in the ULC+ group. Our study confirmed increased hemolytic rate and anemia in SCA patients with leg ulcers recurrence. Furthermore, our data suggest that although systemic blood viscosity is not a major factor involved in the pathophysiology of this complication, decreased red blood cell oxygen transport efficiency (i.e., low hematocrit/viscosity ratio) may play a role.
ISSN: 1932-6203

inserm-00922105
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00922105
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00922105/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00922105/file/2013_Connes_-_Decreased_Hematocrit.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0079680

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
The six-minute walk test is a well-established submaximal exercise reflecting the functional status and the clinical severity of sickle cell patients. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the biological determinants of the six-minute walk test performance in children with sickle cell anemia. Hematological and hemorheological parameters, pulmonary function and the six-minute walk test performance were determined in 42 children with sickle cell anemia at steady state. The performance during the six-minute walk test was normalized for age, sex and height and expressed as percentage of the predicted six-minute walk distance. We showed that a high level of anemia, a low fetal hemoglobin expression and low red blood cell deformability were independent predictors of a low six-minute walk test performance. This study describes for the first time the impact of blood rheology in the six-minute walk test performance in children with sickle cell anemia.
ISSN: 1932-6203

inserm-00922110
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00922110
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00922110/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00922110/file/2013_Waltz_-_Hematological_and_hemorheological_determinants_6_minutes.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0077830

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Background: The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomic variability on the measurement of HBsAg level has been poorly evaluated. Objective: This study was designed to compare the performance of all the available assays measuring HBsAg level in this setting. Study design: A large selection of wild type HBV genotypes (n = 184) and HBsAg strains harboring mutations in the S gene (n = 81) from clinical samples was studied with three HBsAg quantification assays: Architect HBsAg (Abbott), LiaisonXL Murex HBsAg Quant (DiaSorin) and the Elecsys HBsAgII (Roche). Results: The overall percentage of positive results was 99.2% for Abbott, 98.9% for DiaSorin and 98.1% for Roche. Abbott and Roche assays provided an excellent concordance in HBsAg quantification (global mean bias of -0.006 logIU/mL). By contrast, DiaSorin underestimated HBsAg level with values 0.112 logIU/ml and 0.103 logIU/ml lower than Abbott and Roche, respectively. By contrast, DiaSorin slightly over quantified gtC(2.5% over the expected value) while Abbott provided values 6.2% lower than expected and 16.2% lower than what observed for the other genotypes. HBsAg quantitative assays were influenced by HBs protein substitutions irrespective to the genotype but no specific protein pattern that would particularly impair the quantification by one technique has been identified. However, Roche seemed to be particularly impacted by substitutions at 145 residue: 75% of under quantified samples carried a substituted 145 residue. Conclusion: This head-to-head comparison indicates a good correlation between all current systems used to quantify HBsAg but clearly shows an influence of both the genotype and the presence of "a" determinant variants in the absolute quantification of HBsAg. While these discrepancies may not translate into major clinical consequence, they may explain an absence of detection of weak concentration of HBsAg on some systems. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
ISSN: 1386-6532

hal-01588395
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01588395
DOI : 10.1016/j.jcv.2017.02.001
PUBMED : 28189936

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
ISSN: 0166-8595

hal-00677532
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00677532

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD IOS Press
Résumé : International audience
Because of the metabolic changes induced by a physical activity, the hemorheological properties of patients with sickle cell anemia could be further impaired and increase the risks for vaso-occlusive complications. However, few studies suggest that moderate physical activity could be beneficial rather than harmful in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). However, the definition of what can be considered as a moderate physical activity in SCA patients is imprecise. The present study tested the effects of a short incremental cycling exercise test conducted until the first ventilatory threshold on different biomarkers. Hematological and hemorheological parameters were compared between 8 patients with SCA and 13 healthy subjects (CONT) before, immediately after the end of the exercise and at 12, 36 and 60 hours after the exercise. We observed no significant hematological or hemorheological alteration induced by the exercise in the two groups. However, the exercise resulted in a delayed improvement of the red blood cell disaggregation threshold at 36 and 60 hrs after exercise in the SCA group which was paralleled to the decrease in the platelet count in this group. The present study suggests that such an exercise might be beneficial for microcirculatory blood flow.
ISSN: 1386-0291

hal-01137567
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-01137567

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Society of Hematology
Résumé : International audience
Sickle cell disease is characterized by painful vaso-occlusive crises during which abnormal interactions between erythroid adhesion molecules and vessel-wall proteins are thought to play a critical role. Hydroxyurea, the only drug with proven benefit in sickle cell disease, diminishes these interactions, but its mechanism of action is not fully understood. We report that, under hydroxyurea, expression of the unique erythroid laminin receptor Lu/BCAM was increased, but red blood cell adhesion to laminin decreased. Because Lu/BCAM phosphorylation is known to activate cell adhesion to laminin, it was evaluated and found to be dramatically lower in hydroxyurea-treated patients. Analysis of the protein kinase A pathway showed decreased intracellular levels of the upstream effector cyclic adenosine monophosphate during hydroxyurea treatment. Using a cellular model expressing recombinant Lu/BCAM, we showed that hydroxyurea led to decreased intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and diminished Lu/BCAM phosphorylation and cell adhesion. We provide evidence that hydroxyurea could reduce abnormal sickle red blood cell adhesion to the vascular wall by regulating the activation state of adhesion molecules independently of their expression level.
ISSN: 0006-4971

inserm-00821117
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00821117
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00821117/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00821117/file/Bartolucci_Blood_2010.pdf
DOI : 10.1182/blood-2009-12-257444

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Rh (Rhesus) is a major blood group system in man, which is clinically significant in transfusion medicine. Rh antigens are carried by an oligomer of two major erythroid specific polypeptides, the Rh (D and CcEe) proteins and the RhAG glycoprotein, that shared a common predicted structure with 12 transmembrane a-helices (M0 to M11). Non erythroid homologues of these proteins have been identified (RhBG and RhCG), notably in diverse organs specialized in ammonia production and excretion, such as kidney, liver and intestine. Phylogenetic studies and experimental evidence have shown that these proteins belong to the Amt/Mep/Rh protein superfamily of ammonium/methylammonium permease, but another view suggests that Rh proteins might function as CO2 gas channels. Until recently no information on the structure of these proteins were available. However, in the last two years, new insight has been gained into the structural features of Rh proteins (through the determination of the crystal structures of bacterial AmtB and archeaebacterial Amt-1. Here, models of the subunit and oligomeric architecture of human Rh proteins are proposed, based on a refined alignment with and crystal structure of the bacterial ammonia transporter AmtB, a member of the Amt/ Mep/Rh superfamily. This alignment was performed considering invariant structural features, which were revealed through Hydrophobic Cluster Analysis, and led to propose alternative predictions for the less conserved regions, particularly in the N-terminal sequences. The Rh models, on which an additional Rh-specific, N-terminal helix M0 was tentatively positioned, were further assessed through the consideration of biochemical and immunochemical data, as well as of stereochemical and topological constraints. These models highlighted some Rh specific features that have not yet been reported. Among these, are the prediction of some critical residues, which may play a role in the channel function, but also in the stability of the subunit structure and oligomeric assembly. These results provide a basis to further understand the structure/function relationships of Rh proteins, and the alterations occurring in variant phenotypes.
ISSN: 1246-7820

hal-00068842
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00068842