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BBB webinar: Piotr Mateusz Mydel

Carbamylation as a modulator of the immune response

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Piotr Mateusz Mydel
Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen

Post-translational modifications are pivotal steps in protein maturation that increase the functional diversity of the proteome and play a key role in multiple cellular processes, including protein-protein interactions, cell signalling, differentiation, and regulation of gene expression. Non-enzymatic conversion of lysine residues and N-termini amino groups to homocitrulline (carbamylation) is a common post-translational modification of proteins and peptides, which occurs in inflammatory foci and in the highly uremic environment during end-stage renal disease. In this talk I will discuss the effects of carbamylation on immunomodulatory functions of peptides/proteins with a special focus on cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) represented by the cathelicidin-derived LL-37, an essential components of human innate immunity. Further, patterns of IgG1 carbamylation under inflammatory conditions and the effects that this modification has on the ability of antibodies to trigger complement activation via the classical pathway will be presented. Additionally, the effects of fibrinogen carbamylation on clot formation and carbamylation-triggered structural alterations of major platelet membrane protein (GpIIb/IIIa) associated with a fibrinogen-binding in the uremic environment and impaired aggregation of uremic platelets will be discussed in the context of renal insufficiency.


Chairperson: Silke Appel, Department of Clinical Science