bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nucleolar protein p120 contains an arginine-rich domain that binds to ribosomal RNA
Authors: GUSTAFSON W. Clay , TAYLOR Charles W. , VALDEZ Benigno C. , HENNING Dale , PHIPPARD Alba , REN Young , BUSCH Harris , DURBAN Egon
Published: August 2015

Human proliferation-associated protein p120 has previously been shown to localize to the nucleolus, and several functional domains of p120 have been elucidated. By using a nitrocellulose filter binding assay and a Northwestern blotting procedure this study shows that recombinant p120 binds to an rRNA fragment in vitro with a dissociation constant of 4 nM. The specific RNA-binding region of p120 (residues 1–57) was identified with glutathione S-transferase-fused p120 deletion constructs and Northwestern blotting procedures. This RNA-binding region of p120, which includes the nucleolar localization signal of p120, is similar to the arginine-rich RNA-binding regions found in other RNA-binding proteins such as HIV Rev and Tat. Experiments in vivo with HeLa cell nucleolar extracts showed that p120 was associated with the 60–80 S pre-ribosomal particles. This association is disrupted by treatment with either RNase A or buffer of high ionic strength. These results suggest that p120 might be involved in rRNA/ribosome maturation, consistent with the role of the yeast homologue Nop2p in rRNA biogenesis.
Hydroxylated naphthoquinones as substrates for Escherichia coli anaerobic reductases
Authors: ROTHERY Richard A. , CHATTERJEE Indraneal , KIEMA Gregory , McDERMOTT Mark T. , WEINER Joel H.
Published: August 2015

We have used two hydroxylated naphthoquinol menaquinol analogues, reduced plumbagin (PBH2, 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinol) and reduced lapachol [LPCH2, 2-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1,4-naphthoquinol], as substrates for Escherichia colianaerobic reductases. These compounds have optical, solubility and redox properties that make them suitable for use in studies of the enzymology of menaquinol oxidation. Oxidized plumbagin and oxidized lapachol have well resolved absorbances at 419 nm (ε = 3.95 mM-1·cm-1) and 481 nm (ε = 2.66 mM-1·cm-1) respectively (in Mops/KOH buffer, pH 7.0). PBH2 is a good substrate for nitrate reductase A (Km = 282±28 µM, kcat = 120±6 s-1) and fumarate reductase (Km = 155±24 µM, kcat = 30±2 s-1), but not for DMSO reductase. LPCH2 is a good substrate for nitrate reductase A (Km = 57±35 µM, kcat = 68±13 s-1), fumarate reductase (Km = 85±27 µM, kcat = 74±6 s-1) and DMSO reductase (Km = 238±30 µM, kcat = 191±21 s-1). The sensitivity of enzymic LPCH2 and PBH2 oxidation to 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide inhibition is consistent with their oxidation occurring at sites of physiological quinol binding.
Mutational analysis of the domain structure of mouse protein phosphatase 2Cβ
Authors: KUSUDA Kazuyuki , KOBAYASHI Takayasu , IKEDA Shoko , OHNISHI Motoko , CHIDA Naoki , YANAGAWA Yuchio , SHINEHA Ryuzaburo , NISHIHIRA Tetsuro , SATOMI Susumu , HIRAGA Akira , TAMURA Shinri
Published: August 2015

The structures of five distinct isoforms of mammalian protein phosphatase 2Cβ (PP2Cβ-1, -2, -3, -4 and -5) have previously been found to differ only at their C-terminal regions. In the present study, we performed mutational analysis of recombinant mouse PP2Cβ-1 to determine the functional domains of the molecule and elucidate the biochemical significance of the structural differences in the isoforms. Differences in affinity for [32P]phosphohistone but not for [32P]phosphocasein were observed among the five PP2Cβ isoforms. Deletion of 12 amino acids from the C-terminal end, which form a unique sequence for PP2Cβ-1, caused a 35% loss of activity against [32P]phosphohistone but no loss of activity against [32P]phosphocasein. Deletion of up to 78 amino acids from this end did not cause any further alteration in activity, whereas deletion of 100 amino acids totally eliminated the activity against both [32P]phosphohistone and [32P]phosphocasein. On the other hand, deletion of 11 amino acids from the N-terminal end caused a 97% loss of enzyme activity, and further deletions caused a total loss of activity. Substitution of any of the six specific amino acids among 16 tested in this study, which were located among the 250 N-terminal residues, caused 98–100% loss of enzyme activity. Among these amino acids, three (Glu-38, -60 and -243) have recently been reported to be essential for the binding of metal ions in the catalytic site of the PP2C molecule [Das, Helps, Cohen and Barford (1996) EMBO J. 15, 6798–6809]. These observations indicate that PP2Cβ is composed of at least two distinct functional domains, an N-terminal catalytic domain of about 310 amino acids and the remaining C-terminal domain, which is involved in determination of substrate specificity.
Overexpression of myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate enhances activation of phospholipase D by protein kinase C in SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells
Authors: MORASH Sherry C. , ROSÉ Sergio D. , BYERS David M. , RIDGWAY Neale D. , COOK Harold W.
Published: August 2015

Signal transduction can involve the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and the subsequent phosphorylation of protein substrates, including myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS). Previously we showed that stimulation of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) synthesis by PMA in SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells required overexpression of MARCKS, whereas PKCα alone was insufficient. We have now investigated the role of MARCKS in PMA-stimulated PtdCho hydrolysis by phospholipase D (PLD). Overexpression of MARCKS enhanced PLD activity 1.3–2.5-fold compared with vector controls in unstimulated cells, and 3–4-fold in cells stimulated with 100 nM PMA. PMA-stimulated PLD activity was blocked by the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide. Activation of PLD by PMA was linear with time to 60 min, whereas stimulation of PtdCho synthesis by PMA in clones overexpressing MARCKS was observed after a 15 min time lag, suggesting that the hydrolysis of PtdCho by PLD preceded synthesis. The formation of phosphatidylbutanol by PLD was greatest when PtdCho was the predominantly labelled phospholipid, indicating that PtdCho was the preferred, but not the only, phospholipid substrate for PLD. Cells overexpressing MARCKS had 2-fold higher levels of PKCα than in vector control cells analysed by Western blot analysis; levels of PKCβ and PLD were similar in all clones. The loss of both MARCKS and PKCα expression at higher subcultures of the clones was paralleled by the loss of stimulation of PLD activity and PtdCho synthesis by PMA. Our results show that MARCKS is an essential link in the PKC-mediated activation of PtdCho-specific PLD in these cells and that the stimulation of PtdCho synthesis by PMA is a secondary response.
Human α-galactosidase A: glycosylation site 3 is essential for enzyme solubility
Authors: IOANNOU Yiannis A. , ZEIDNER Ken M. , GRACE Marie E. , DESNICK Robert J.
Published: August 2015

Human α-galactosidase A (EC 3.2.1.22; α-Gal A) is the homodimeric glycoprotein that hydrolyses the terminal α-galactosyl moieties from glycolipids and glycoproteins. The type, site occupancy and function of the N-linked oligosaccharide chains on this lysosomal hydrolase were determined. Endoglycosidase treatment of the purified recombinant enzyme and mutagenesis studies indicated that three (Asn-139, Asn-192 and Asn-215) of the four potential N-glycosylation consensus sequences were occupied by complex, high-mannose and hybrid-type oligosaccharides respectively. When expressed in COS-1 cells, glycoforms with glycosylation site 1 or 2 obliterated had more than 70% of wild-type activity, and both glycoforms were secreted. In contrast, the glycoform with only site 3 eliminated had decreased activity (less than 40%); little, if any, was secreted. Expressed mutant glycoforms in which site 3 and site 1 or 2 were obliterated had little, if any, intracellular or secreted enzymic activity, and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the expressed mutant glycoforms were retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, presumably where they were degraded. Thus glycosylation at site 3 was crucial to the formation of soluble, active enzyme, as well as transport to the lysosome. Absence of the site 3 hybrid-type oligosaccharide exposed an adjacent, normally protected, hydrophobic region, resulting in aggregation of the enzyme polypeptide in the endoplasmic reticulum. In support of this concept, endoglycosidase H-treated enzyme or mannose-terminated enzyme expressed in Autographa californica cells also aggregated when concentrated, emphasizing that site 3 occupancy by a hybrid-type oligosaccharide was required for enzyme solubility.
Identification and purification of the reconstitutively active glutamine carrier from rat kidney mitochondria
Authors: INDIVERI Cesare , ABRUZZO Giuseppe , STIPANI Italo , PALMIERI Ferdinando
Published: August 2015

The glutamine carrier from rat kidney mitochondria, solubilized in dodecyl octaoxyethylene ether (C12E8) and partly purified on hydroxyapatite, was identified and completely purified by Celite chromatography. On SDS/PAGE, the purified glutamine carrier consisted of a single protein band with an apparent molecular mass of 41.5 kDa. When reconstituted into liposomes, the glutamine carrier catalysed both the unidirectional flux of glutamine and the glutamine/glutamine countertransport, which were completely inhibitable by a mixture of pyridoxal 5´-phosphate and N-ethylmaleimide. The carrier protein was purified 474-fold with a recovery of 58% and a protein yield of 0.12% with respect to the mitochondrial extract. The glutamine carrier-mediated transport is quite specific for l-glutamine. l-Asparagine is the only other amino acid that is efficiently transported by the reconstituted carrier protein. d-Glutamine, l-glutamate and l-aspartate are very poor substrates. The transport activity was inhibited by several thiol-group and amino-group reagents.
Cloning of the gene and cDNA for hamster chymase 2, and expression of chymase 1, chymase 2 and angiotensin-converting enzyme in the terminal stage of cardiomyopathic hearts
Authors: SHIOTA Naotaka , FUKAMIZU Akiyoshi , OKUNISHI Hideki , TAKAI Shinji , MURAKAMI Kazuo , MIYAZAKI Mizuo
Published: August 2015

Chymase is responsible for the formation of angiotensin II, which plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study we determined the gene organization of a novel hamster chymase (hamster chymase 2) and analysed the expression of chymase 1, chymase 2 and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in hamster hearts at the terminal stage of cardiomyopathy. The gene encoding hamster chymase 2 is 3.2 kb in length and has five exons and four intervening sequences. The overall organization of this gene is similar to that of several other serine proteases. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed the existence of a preproenzyme composed of a signal peptide with 19 amino acids, a propeptide with two amino acids and a catalytic domain with 226 amino acids. The predicted full sequence of the catalytic domain was revealed to be very similar to the sequences of mouse mast-cell protease 5 (86%), rat mast-cell protease III (85%) and human chymase (70%) and less similar to hamster chymase 1 (56%). The expression of chymase 1 in heart was higher than that of chymase 2. The cardiac chymase-like activity, as well as the mRNA levels of chymase 1 and 2 of BIO 14.6 cardiomyopathic hamsters at the age of 60 weeks were increased 3.4-, 2.8- and 5.1-fold respectively compared with age-matched BIO F1B control hamsters. The cardiac ACE activity and the ACE mRNA level of cardiomyopathic hamsters were also increased 4.1- and 2.4-fold compared with those of age-matched controls. These results suggest that up-regulation of both ACE and chymases participates in the pathophysiology of the terminal stage of cardiomyopathy.

The nucleotide sequence data reported will appear in the DDBJ, EMBL and GenBank Nucleotide Sequence Databases under the accession number AB007622.
Biosynthesis of mucins in bovine trachea: identification of the major radiolabelled species
Authors: SVITACHEVA Naila , HOVENBERG Hans W. , DAVIES Julia R.
Published: August 2015

Bovine trachea in organ culture secretes mucus containing a ‘high-density ’ (1.46 g/ml) and a ‘low-density ’ (1.37 g/ml) mucin similar to those identified previously in bovine respiratory secretions [Hovenberg, Carlstedt and Davies (1997) Biochem. J. 321, 117–123]. After pulse-labelling, autoradiography showed uptake of [35S]sulphate by both epithelial goblet cells and submucosal glands, while [3H]proline was mainly incorporated into the ciliated surface epithelial cells. After 24 h of radiolabelling, neither the high- nor the low-density mucin in the secreted mucus gel was heavily radiolabelled with the precursors. In contrast, a population of molecules banding at 1.50 g/ml was heavily radiolabelled with [35S]sulphate. This component was smaller than the high-density mucin from the mucus gel and was insensitive to reduction or digestion with chondroitin ABC lyase or heparan sulphate lyase. The molecules yielded two populations of high-Mr glycopeptides upon trypsin digestion, were sensitive to keratanase and endo-β-galactosidase digestion and contained O-linked glycans. Extracts of the surface epithelium and submucosal tissue after radiolabelling showed that the high- and low-density mucins in the tissue were also poorly radiolabelled. Thus, under these conditions, the radiolabelled precursors were not effectively incorporated into the large oligomeric mucins but into a high-Mr monomeric species. This study suggests that data obtained in investigations where mucins are radiolabelled and studied without further separation into distinct components may rather reflect the turnover of this ‘novel ’ monomeric species than the large oligomeric mucins.
Evidence for roles of radicals in protein oxidation in advanced human atherosclerotic plaque
Authors: FU Shanlin , DAVIES Michael J. , STOCKER Roland , DEAN Roger T.
Published: August 2015

Oxidative damage might be important in atherogenesis. Oxidized lipids are present at significant concentrations in advanced human plaque, although tissue antioxidants are mostly present at normal concentrations. Indirect evidence of protein modification (notably derivatization of lysine) or oxidation has been obtained by immunochemical methods; the specificities of these antibodies are unclear. Here we present chemical determinations of six protein-bound oxidation products: dopa, o-tyrosine, m-tyrosine, dityrosine, hydroxyleucine and hydroxyvaline, some of which reflect particularly oxy-radical-mediated reaction pathways, which seem to involve mainly the participation of transition- metal ions. We compared the relative abundance of these oxidation products in normal intima, and in human carotid plaque samples with that observed after radiolytically generated hydroxyl radical attack on BSA in vitro. The close similarities in relative abundances in the latter two circumstances indicate that hydroxyl radical damage might occur in plaque. The relatively higher level of dityrosine in plaque than that observed after radiolysis suggests the additional involvement of HOCl-mediated reactions in advanced plaque.
Evaluation of the stoichiometry and energetics of carbohydrate binding to Ricinus communis agglutinin: a calorimetric study
Authors: SHARMA Shalini , BHARADWAJ Satish , SUROLIA Avadhesha , PODDER Sunil Kumar
Published: August 2015

High-sensitivity isothermal titration calorimetry has been used to investigate the thermodynamics of binding of Ricinus communis agglutinin to galactose, lactose and their derivatives in the temperature range 280.5–298 K. The present study unequivocally establishes the carbohydrate-binding stoichiometry of the tetrameric agglutinin from castor bean as two, i.e. the (As–sB)2-type tetramer of the agglutinin has two equivalent sites that are non-interacting and independent. The site binding constants range from 2.2×103 M-1 at 282 K for galactose to 4.84×104 M-1 at 281 K for N-acetyl-lactosamine. The binding enthalpies range from -21.9 kJ·mol-1 at 293 K for 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-galactoside to -50.2 kJ·mol-1 at 292.9 K for thiodigalactoside. The observation of limited entropy–enthalpy compensation for binding of the sugars to the lectin indicates that reorganization of water molecules plays an important role in binding. As the slope of the compensation plot is greater than unity, the reactions are largely enthalpically driven. These studies show that the stronger binding of N-acetyl-lactosamine than lactose is due to a favourable interaction between the acetamido group of the reducing-end N-acetylglucosamine of the former and the corresponding loci in the agglutinin molecule. Preferential binding of methyl-β-galactoside over methyl-α-galactoside also indicates the apolar nature of the interaction with the methyl group of the former sugar.
Expression and phosphorylation of fibroblast-growth-factor-inducible kinase (Fnk) during cell-cycle progression
Authors: CHASE Dan , FENG Yang , HANSHEW Brian , WINKLES Jeffrey A. , LONGO Dan L. , FERRIS Douglas K.
Published: August 2015

Fnk is a member of the polo family of cell-cycle-regulated serine/threonine kinases. We report here that it is present in serum-starved quiescent cells and that mitogenic stimulation of quiescent cells with calf serum results in the modification of a significant fraction of the Fnk pool. This modification results in a slower migrating form when analysed by SDS/PAGE. The modification is transient and by 9 h after stimulation all of the Fnk is again present as the faster migrating form. We also show that the Fnk protein increases in abundance as cells progress from G1 to mitosis and is post-translationally modified as cells enter and exit mitosis. The Fnk modification is again manifested as a slower migrating species by SDS/PAGE and is due to phosphorylation of the protein. The mitotic-specific phosphorylation of Fnk correlates with an increase in its kinase activity, and this activity is dramatically reduced by phosphatase treatment of mitotic Fnk immunoprecipitates. During the later stages of mitosis, Fnk is dephosphorylated such that, by the time the cells enter G1, it is all present as the dephosphorylated form. These results suggest that Fnk has two functions, one during the entry of cells into the cell cycle and a second during mitosis of cycling cells.
Amino acid sequence of glutathione S-transferase rGSTM5* from rat testis
Authors: TAM Ming F. , HSIEH Cheng-Hsilin , TSAI Shu-Ping , TAM Tsuey-Chyi S.
Published: August 2015

Glutathione S-transferase rGSTM5* was isolated from rat testis with a combination of glutathione affinity column and reverse-phase column chromatography. The protein was digested with Achromobacter protease I or endoproteinase Arg-C. The peptide fragments were isolated for electrospray MS and N-terminal peptide sequencing analyses. The primary amino acid sequence of rGSTM5* comprises 217 residues and has a calculated average molecular mass of 25495.3 Da. The result is identical to that obtained for rGSTM5* with liquid chromatography–MS from a mixture of rat testicular GSTs. Therefore, rGSTM5* has not been post-translationally modified.
Role for protein phosphatases in the cell-cycle-regulated phosphorylation of stathmin
Authors: MISTRY Sucharita J. , LI Heng-Chun , ATWEH George F.
Published: August 2015

Stathmin is a major cytosolic phosphoprotein that regulates microtubule dynamics during the assembly of the mitotic spindle. The activity of stathmin itself is regulated by changes in its state of phosphorylation during the transition from interphase to metaphase. For a better understanding of the regulation of stathmin activity during the cell cycle, we explored the mechanism(s) responsible for the decrease in the level of phosphorylation of stathmin as cells complete mitosis and enter a new G1 phase. We show that stathmin mRNA and protein are expressed constitutively throughout the different phases of the cell cycle. This suggests that the non-phosphorylated stathmin that predominates during G1 is not generated by degradation of phosphorylated stathmin in mitosis and synthesis of new unphosphorylated stathmin as cells enter a new G1 phase. This suggested that protein phosphatases might be responsible for dephosphorylating stathmin as cells enter a new cell cycle. Okadaic acid-mediated inhibition of protein phosphatases in vivoshowed a major increase in the level of phosphorylation of stathmin. Dephosphorylation studies in vitro showed differential patterns of site-specific dephosphorylaton of stathmin to protein phosphatase type 1, protein phosphatase type 2A and protein phosphatase type 2B. Thus stathmin might be a target for okadaic acid-sensitive protein phosphatase(s), and its activity in eukaryotic cells might be modulated by the sequential activity of specific protein kinases and phosphatases.
Precise determination of RNA–protein contact sites in the 50 S ribosomal subunit of Escherichia coli
Authors: THIEDE Bernd , URLAUB Henning , NEUBAUER Helga , GRELLE Gerlinde , WITTMANN-LIEBOLD Brigitte
Published: August 2015

RNA–protein cross-linked complexes were isolated and purified to obtain precise data about RNA–protein contact sites in the 50 S ribosomal subunit of Escherichia coli. N-terminal microsequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization MS were used to identify the cross-linking sites at the amino acid and nucleotide levels. In this manner the following contact sites of five ribosomal proteins with the 23 S rRNA were established: Lys-67 of L2 to U-1963, Tyr-35 of L4 to U-615, Lys-97 of L21 to U-546, Lys-49 of L23 to U-139 or C-140 and Lys-71 and Lys-74 of L27 to U-2334.
Microsomal epoxide hydrolase of rat liver is a subunit of theanti-oestrogen-binding site
Authors: MÉSANGE Fabienne , SEBBAR Mohamed , KEDJOUAR Blandine , CAPDEVIELLE Joël , GUILLEMOT Jean-Claude , FERRARA Pascual , BAYARD Francis , DELARUE Frédéric , FAYE Jean-Charles , POIROT Marc
Published: August 2015

A tritiated photoaffinity labelling analogue of tamoxifen, [(2-azido-4-benzyl)-phenoxy]-N-ethylmorpholine (azido-MBPE), was used to identify the anti-oestrogen-binding site (AEBS) in rat liver tissue [Poirot, Chailleux, Fargin, Bayard and Faye (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 17039–17043]. UV irradiation of rat liver microsomal proteins incubated with tritiated azido-MBPE led to the characterization of two photolabelled proteins of molecular masses 40 and 50 kDa. The amino acid sequences of proteolytic products from the 50 kDa protein were identical with those from rat microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH). Treatment of hepatocytes with anti-sense mRNA directed against mEH abolished AEBS in these cells. In addition we found that tamoxifen and N-morpholino-2-[4-(phenylmethyl)phenoxy]ethanamine, a selective ligand of AEBS, were potent inhibitors of the catalytic hydration of styrene oxide by mEH. However, functional overexpression of the human mEH did not significantly modify the binding capacity of [3H]tamoxifen. Taken together, these results suggest that the 50 kDa protein, mEH, is necessary but not sufficient to reconstitute AEBS.
Luminal Ca2+ regulates passive Ca2+ efflux from the intracellular stores of hepatocytes
Authors: BEECROFT Mike D. , TAYLOR Colin W.
Published: August 2015

Ca2+ uptake into the intracellular stores of permeabilized hepatocytes was entirely dependent on ATP and substantially inhibited by either ionomycin or thapsigargin, although both were required for complete inhibition. Unidirectional efflux of 45Ca2+ after removal of ATP from cells loaded to steady state (1.60±0.12 nmol/106 cells) was monoexponential and occurred with a half-time of 103±10 s. However, the 45Ca2+ content of the stores did not return to their pre-ATP level, but reached a plateau at 0.12±0.04 nmol/106 cells. A similar amount of Ca2+ was trapped within the stores when Ca2+ uptake was prevented by thapsigargin and chelation of Ca2+; at all temperatures between 2 °C and 37 °C; and after stores had first been loaded with unlabelled Ca2+. Simultaneous addition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and inhibition of Ca2+ uptake reduced the amount of trapped Ca2+ to a level consistent with InsP3 rapidly and more completely emptying a fraction of the stores that could be only partially emptied by the passive leak. After dilution of the specific activity of the 45Ca2+ under conditions that maintained the steady-state activities of the pumps and leaks, the stores rapidly lost their entire 45Ca2+ content. We conclude that the channel responsible for mediating the leak of Ca2+ abruptly closes when the luminal [Ca2+] of the intracellular stores falls below a critical threshold corresponding to about 7% of their steady-state loading. Whereas InsP3 is capable of completely emptying a fraction of the stores, regulation of the passive leak by luminal [Ca2+] is likely to prevent it from completely emptying them; such regulation may ensure that the many other functions of Ca2+ within the endoplasmic reticulum are not compromised.
Kinetics of elementary Ca2+ puffs evoked in Xenopus oocytes by different Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor agonists
Authors: MARCHANT Jonathan S. , PARKER Ian
Published: August 2015

Elementary Ca2+ puffs form the basic building blocks of global Ins(1,4,5)P3-evoked Ca2+ signals. In Xenopus oocytes, Ca2+ puffs evoked by the high-affinity agonist adenophostin were shorter and smaller than puffs evoked by Ins(1,4,5)P3 and the lower affinity analogue Ins(2,4,5)P3. Agonist-specific mechanisms, therefore, play a role in shaping local Ca2+ release events, but termination of Ca2+ flux is not delimited simply by agonist dissociation.
A novel family of ubiquitin-specific proteases in chick skeletal muscle with distinct N- and C-terminal extensions
Authors: BAEK Sung Hee , PARK Kyung Chan , LEE Jae , KIM Keun , YOO Yung Joon , TANAKA Keiji , BAKER Rohan T. , CHUNG Chin Ha
Published: August 2015

We have recently identified a cDNA for a ubiquitin-specific protease (UBP), UBP41, that encodes the smallest functional UBP identified to date, using an Escherichia coli-based in vivo screening method. In the present study we isolated highly related cDNAs encoding a new family of UBP enzymes, named UBP46, UBP52 and UBP66. These UBPs have virtually identical catalytic domains spanning the sequence of UBP41 between the active-site Cys and the His box (95% identity). However, they possess distinct N- and/or C-terminal extensions. Moreover, they are more closely related to each other than to any other members of the UBP family. Thus these chick UBPs must define a novel family of de-ubiquitinating enzymes and should represent the first example among the UBP family enzymes, whose multiplicity is achieved by variation in their N- and C-terminal extensions. The chick UBPs were expressed in E. coli, and purified from the cells to apparent homogeneity using 125I-labelled ubiquitin-αNH-MHISPPEPESEEEEEHYC as a substrate. Each of the purified UBP46, UBP52 and UBP66 enzymes behaved as proteins of similar sizes under both denaturing and non-denaturing conditions, suggesting that all of them consist of a single polypeptide chain. The UBP enzymes cleaved the C-terminus of the ubiquitin moiety in natural and engineered fusions irrespective of their sizes and thus are active against ubiquitin–β-galactosidase as well as a ubiquitin C-terminal extension protein of 80 amino acids. All UBPs except UBP66 released free ubiquitin from poly-His-tagged di-ubiquitin. However, the isopeptidase activity for hydrolysing polyubiquitinated lysozyme conjugates was not detected from these UBPs, which makes these UBPs distinct from UBP41. These results suggest that the chick UBPs may play an important role in production of free ubiquitin from linear polyubiquitin chains and of certain ribosomal proteins from ubiquitin fusion proteins.
Synthesis in Escherichia coli of two smaller enzymically active analogues of Coxiella burnetii macrophage infectivity potentiator (CbMip) protein utilizing a single open reading frame from the cbmip gene
Authors: MO Yin-yuan , SESHU J. , WANG Dong , MALLAVIA Louis P.
Published: August 2015

FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) have been identified in a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Macrophage infectivity potentiator (CbMip, 23.5 kDa) protein of the obligate intracellular bacterium, Coxiella burnetii, was shown previously to belong to the family of FKBPs based on sequence homology and peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) activity. Further characterization of the cbmip gene has identified two additional proteins with molecular masses of 15.5 and 15.0 kDa that are synthesized, in addition to the 23.5 kDa CbMip, when expressed in Escherichia coli. Amino acid sequencing at the N-terminus combined with transcription and translation fusion expression revealed that the two proteins were synthesized from the same open reading frame of the cbmip gene, but starting at different internal translation start codons, probably by translational reinitiation. When the internal methionines serving as start sites were replaced with lysine by site-directed mutagenesis, the synthesis of 15.5 and 15.0 kDa proteins was abolished even though the synthesis of 23.5 kDa CbMip was intact. This confirmed that the 15.5 and 15.0 kDa proteins are indeed generated by translational reinitiation and are not degradation products of the 23.5 kDa protein. Like other FKBPs, both 15.5 and 15.0 kDa proteins exhibit PPIase activity. Because they share significant sequence homology with FKBPs and have a similar PPIase activity, 15.5 and 15.0 kDa proteins are designated as C. burnetiiFKBP (Cb-FKBP) analogues I and II, respectively. TnphoA mutagenesis demonstrated that whereas the large protein (CbMip) is secreted, Cb-FKBP analogues I and II are cytoplasmic, indicating that structural variations could allow for different subcellular compartmentalization of similar proteins. Western-blot analysis of lysates of purified C. burnetii using a CbMip-specific monoclonal antibody revealed the presence of a protein migrating at ≈ 15 kDa, indicating the presence of smaller Cb-FKBP analogue(s) in C. burnetii, although at much lower levels compared with 23.5 kDa CbMip. This unique gene organization seen with cbmip may provide the organism with a mechanism of efficient use of its limited genetic information to synthesize proteins that are structurally different yet functionally similar.
Cobalamin (vitamin B12) biosynthesis: identification and characterization of a Bacillus megaterium cobI operon
Authors: RAUX Evelyne , LANOIS Anne , WARREN Martin J. , RAMBACH Alain , THERMES Claude
Published: August 2015

A 16 kb DNA fragment has been isolated from a Bacillus megaterium genomic library and fully sequenced. The fragment contains 15 open reading frames, 14 of which are thought to constitute a B. megaterium cobalamin biosynthetic (cob) operon. Within the operon, 11 genes display similarity to previously identified Salmonella typhimurium cobalamin biosynthetic genes (cbiH60, -J, -C, -D, -ET, -L, -F, -G, -A, cysGA and btuR), whereas three do not (cbiW, -X and -Y). The genes of the B. megaterium cob operon were compared with the cobalamin biosynthetic genes of Pseudomonas denitrificans, Methanococcus jannaschii and Synechocystis sp. Taking into account the presence of cbiD and cbiG, the absence of a cobF, cobG and cobN, -S and -T, it was concluded that B. megaterium, M. jannaschii and Synechocystis sp., like S. typhimurium, synthesize cobalamin by an anaerobic pathway, in which cobalt is added at an early stage and molecular oxygen is not required.
Effect of nutritional state on the formation of a complex involving insulin receptor IRS-1, the 52 kDa Src homology/collagen protein (Shc) isoform and phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase activity
Authors: DUPONT Joëlle , DEROUET Michel , SIMON Jean , TAOUIS Mohammed
Published: August 2015

The Src homology and collagen protein (Shc) is tyrosine phosphorylated in response to insulin; however, evidence for its interaction with insulin receptor (IR) in normal tissues is missing. Interactions between IR, Shc and regulatory subunits of the phosphatidylinositol 3´-kinase (PI 3´-kinase) were characterized in the present study in liver and muscles of chickens submitted to various nutritional states. A chicken liver Shc cDNA fragment encoding a 198 amino acid long fragment, including the phosphotyrosine binding domain was sequenced. It shows 89% homology with the corresponding human homologue. The amounts of the three Shc isoforms (66, 52 and 46 kDa) and Shc messenger were not altered by the nutritional state. Shc tyrosine phosphorylation was decreased by fasting in both liver and muscle. Importantly, Shc was immunoprecipitated by IR antibody (mostly the 52 kDa isoform) or by αIRS-1(mostly the 46 kDa isoform). IR–Shc association was decreased by fasting and restored by refeeding. In liver, αShc immunoprecipitated the three forms of regulatory subunits of PI 3´-kinase and a PI 3´-kinase activity which was decreased by fasting. In muscle, αShc immunoprecipitated only the p85 isoform; the associated PI 3´-kinase activity was not altered by the nutritional state. Conversely, in both tissues anti-p85 antibody precipitated only the 52 kDa Shc isoform. In liver, antibodies to insulin receptor substrate-1 (αIRS-1), Shc or IR immunoprecipitated the three regulatory subunits of PI 3´-kinase and an equal PI 3´-kinase activity, without any residual activity left in the supernatants, suggesting the presence of a large complex involving IR, IRS-1, Shc (mainly the 52 kDa isoform) and PI 3´-kinase activity. The presence of another complex containing IRS-1 and the 46 kDa Shc isoform, but no PI 3´-kinase activity, is suggested.
Evidence for a major structural change in Escherichia coli chorismate synthase induced by flavin and substrate binding
Authors: MACHEROUX Peter , SCHÖNBRUNN Ernst , SVERGUN Dmitri I. , VOLKOV Vladimir V. , KOCH Michel H. J. , BORNEMANN Stephen , THORNELEY Roger N. F.
Published: August 2015

Chorismate synthase (EC 4.6.1.4) catalyses the conversion of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) into chorismate, and requires reduced FMN as a cofactor. The enzyme can bind first oxidized FMN and then EPSP to form a stable ternary complex which does not undergo turnover. This complex can be considered to be a model of the ternary complex between enzyme, EPSP and reduced FMN immediately before catalysis commences. It is shown that the binding of oxidized FMN and EPSP to chorismate synthase affects the properties and structure of the protein. Changes in small-angle X-ray scattering data, decreased susceptibility to tryptic digestion and altered Fourier-transform (FT)-IR spectra provide the first strong evidence for major structural changes in the protein. The tetrameric enzyme undergoes correlated screw movements leading to a more overall compact shape, with no change in oligomerization state. The changes in the FT-IR spectrum appear to reflect changes in the environment of the secondary-structural elements rather than alterations in their distribution, because the far-UV CD spectrum changes very little. Changes in the mobility of the protein during non-denaturing PAGE indicate that the ternary complex may exhibit less conformational flexibility than the apoprotein. Increased enzyme solubility and decreased tryptophan fluorescence are discussed in the light of the observed structural changes. The secondary structure of the enzyme was investigated using far-UV CD spectroscopy, and the tertiary structure was predicted to be an α–β-barrel using discrete state-space modelling.
The effects of a Ca2+ chelator and heavy-metal-ion chelators upon Ca2+ oscillations and activation at fertilization in mouse eggs suggest a role for repetitive Ca2+ increases
Authors: LAWRENCE Yvonne , OZIL Jean Pierre , SWANN Karl
Published: August 2015

During fertilization in mouse eggs, the sperm triggers a series of intracellular Ca2+ oscillations that lead to egg activation, as indicated by pronuclear formation. We show that Ca2+ oscillations in fertilized mouse eggs can be inhibited by addition of either the Ca2+ chelator 1,2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N´,N´-tetra-acetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM) or the heavy-metal-ion chelator N,N,N´,N´-tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) plus dithiothreitol (DTT). Both treatments inhibited Ca2+ oscillations, but they had different effects upon egg activation. Blocking Ca2+ oscillations with BAPTA-AM after the occurrence of just two Ca2+ spikes resulted in most eggs forming pronuclei. However, we found that BAPTA-AM-treated fertilizing eggs showed a decreased rate of protein synthesis, which by itself can promote egg activation. In contrast, blocking Ca2+ oscillations with TPEN plus DTT was accompanied by the inhibition of egg activation with no significant effect on protein synthesis. In eggs that were fertilized and then treated with TPEN plus DTT, there was a correlation between the number of Ca2+ spikes and the proportion of eggs that formed pronuclei, as well as between the number of Ca2+ spikes and the time taken for pronuclear formation and the first mitosis to occur. The addition of TPEN plus DTT did not block the generation of Ca2+ spikes or pronuclear formation when eggs were artificially stimulated by electroporation pulses. These data suggest that TPEN plus DTT inhibits pronuclear formation in fertilizing eggs via the inhibition of Ca2+ oscillations and that the number of Ca2+ spikes may regulate egg activation.
Determinants in the cytoplasmic domain of P-selectin required for sorting to secretory granules
Authors: MODDERMAN Piet W. , BEULING Esther A. , GOVERS Loeki A. T. , CALAFAT Jero , JANSSEN Hans , BORNE Albert E. G. Kr. VON DEM , SONNENBERG Arnoud
Published: August 2015

P-selectin is a granule membrane protein of platelets and endothelial cells that is expressed at the plasma membrane after cell activation. To determine which residues in its cytoplasmic tail are important for sorting to storage granules during biosynthesis, we expressed P-selectin mutants in AtT-20, a murine cell line with secretory granules that contain the hormone corticotropin (‘ACTH’). Immunofluorescence microscopy of permeabilized cells revealed that wild-type P-selectin and mutants with alanine substitutions at 14 different positions in the cytoplasmic tail were concentrated in the tips of the cellular processes, which contain the majority of corticotropin granules. However, targeting to the cell tips was greatly decreased for Tyr777 → Ala, Tyr777 → Phe, Gly778 → Ala, Phe780 → Ala and Leu768/Asn769 → Ala/Ala mutants. The reduced presence of these mutants in corticotropin granules was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. Stimulation of AtT-20 transfectants with 8-Br-cAMP resulted in a significant increase in membrane expression of wild-type P-selectin, but in only a marginal increase in the surface expression of the five mutants. Antibody binding studies with intact and permeabilized cells demonstrated that the percentage of P-selectin that is expressed on the surface of the cells was considerably higher for these mutants than for wild-type P-selectin (6%), ranging from ∼ 20% for the Gly778 and Phe780 mutants to 63% for the Leu768/Asn769 mutant. Taken together, these results indicate that Tyr777, Gly778 and Phe780 form part of an atypical tyrosine-based motif, which also requires the presence Leu768 and/or Asn769 to mediate sorting of P-selectin to secretory granules.
Insulin-mimetic signalling of synthetic phosphoinositolglycans in isolated rat adipocytes
Authors: FRICK Wendelin , BAUER Andrea , BAUER Jochen , WIED Susanne , MÜLLER Günter
Published: August 2015

A set of synthetic phosphoinositolglycan (PIG) compounds has been demonstrated to exert insulin-mimetic activity on glucose and lipid metabolism in rat adipocytes differing considerably in potency [compound 41 > 37 > 45 ≫ 7 > 1; W. Frick, A. Bauer, J. Bauer, S. Wied and G. Müller, G. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 13421–13436]. In the present study we examine whether these differences are based on the capability of the PIG compounds to stimulate signalling components which are thought to mediate metabolic insulin action. Studies using a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and introduction into adipocytes of anti-phosphotyrosine or inhibitory anti-insulin receptor β-subunit antibodies demonstrated dependence on tyrosine phosphorylation but independence of insulin receptor kinase activation of the insulin-mimetic signalling and metabolic activity of the PIG compounds. The five compounds elicited in rat adipocytes a significant increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of both insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and IRS-3 and, to a minor degree, IRS-2, in IRS-1/3-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) protein as well as activity, and in protein kinase B (PKB) activity as well as phosphorylation. This was most pronounced for compound 41, approaching 65–95% of the maximal insulin response (MIR) at 20 µM, and declined in the order of compounds 37, 45, 7 and 1. The same ranking was true for the maximal inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 activity (GSK-3) (41, 75% of MIR; compound 37, 65%; compound 7, 25%; compound 1, 10%) and GSK-3 autophosphorylation. The half-maximal concentrations effective for signalling (compound 41, 2–5 µM; compound 37, 10–20 µM) corresponded well to those stimulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Interestingly, compounds 37 and 41 stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein synthesis in rat adipocytes to only about 20–30% (at 50 µM) of MIR. We conclude that in rat adipocytes: (i) the potency of PIG compounds to regulate glucose/lipid metabolism depends on the activation of PI 3-K and PKB and inhibition of GSK-3; (ii) initiation of tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1/3 is sufficient and activation of the PI 3-K cascade is required for insulin-mimetic metabolic signalling; and (iii) PIG compounds are quite selective for the PI 3-K compared to the MAPK cascade, (iv) PIG compounds seem to use the same signalling components downstream of PI 3-K (including Rab4) for stimulation of glucose transport as does insulin. Thus the early signalling step(s) used by PIG, but not by insulin, may represent a target for the treatment of insulin-resistant states.
Oxidation of guaiacol by myeloperoxidase: a two-electron-oxidized guaiacol transient species as a mediator of NADPH oxidation
Authors: CAPEILLÈRE-BLANDIN Chantal
Published: August 2015

The present study was first aimed at a complete steady-state kinetic analysis of the reaction between guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol) and the myeloperoxidase (MPO)/H2O2 system, including a description of the isolation and purification of MPO from human polymorphonuclear neutrophil cells. Secondly, the overall reaction of the oxidation of NADPH, mediated by the reactive intermediates formed from the oxidation of guaiacol in the MPO/H2O2 system, was analysed kinetically. The presence of guaiacol stimulates the oxidation of NADPH by the MPO/H2O2 system in a concentration-dependent manner. Concomitantly, the accumulation of biphenoquinone (BQ), the final steady-state product of guaiacol oxidation, is lowered, and even inhibited completely, at high concentrations of NADPH. Under these conditions, the stoichiometry of NADPH:H2O2 is 1, and the oxidation rate of NADPH approximates to that of the rate of guaiacol oxidation by MPO. The effects of the presence of superoxide dismutase, catalase and of anaerobic conditions on the overall oxidation of NADPH have also been examined, and the data indicated that superoxide formation did not occur. The final product of NADPH oxidation was shown to be enzymically active NADP+, while guaiacol was generated continuously from the reaction between NADPH and oxidized guaiacol product. In contrast, similar experiments performed on the indirect, tyrosine-mediated oxidation of NADPH by MPO showed that a propagation of the free radical chain was occurring, with generation of both O2-• and H2O2. BQ, in itself, was able to spontaneously oxidize NADPH, but neither the rate nor the stoichiometry of the reaction could account for the NADPH-oxidation process involved in the steady-state peroxidation cycle. These results provide evidence that the oxidation of NADPH does not involve a free nucleotide radical intermediate, but that this is probably due to a direct electron-transfer reaction between NADPH and a two-electron-oxidized guaiacol intermediate.
Mitochondrial permeability transition during hypothermic to normothermic reperfusion in rat liver demonstrated by the protective effect of cyclosporin A
Authors: LEDUCQ Nathalie , DELMAS-BEAUVIEUX Marie-Christine , BOURDEL-MARCHASSON Isabelle , DUFOUR Sylvie , GALLIS Jean-Louis , CANIONI Paul , DIOLEZ Philippe
Published: August 2015

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mitochondrial permeability transition might be implicated in mitochondrial and intact organ dysfunctions associated with damage induced by reperfusion after cold ischaemia. Energetic metabolism was assessed continuously by 31P-NMR on a model system of isolated perfused rat liver; mitochondria were extracted from the livers and studied by using top-down control analysis. During the temperature transition from hypothermic to normothermic perfusion (from 4 to 37 °C) the ATP content of the perfused organ fell rapidly, and top-down metabolic control analysis of damaged mitochondria revealed a specific control pattern characterized by a dysfunction of the phosphorylation subsystem leading to a decreased response to cellular ATP demand. Both dysfunctions were fully prevented by cyclosporin A, a specific inhibitor of the mitochondrial transition pore (MTP). These results strongly suggest the involvement of the opening of MTP in vivo during the transition to normothermia on rat liver mitochondrial function and organ energetics.
Genetic defect in N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I gene of a ricin-resistant baby hamster kidney mutant
Authors: OPAT Andrew S. , PUTHALAKATH Hamsa , BURKE Jo , GLEESON Paul A.
Published: August 2015

The analysis of mutations associated with glycosylation-defective cell lines has the potential for identifying critical residues associated with the activities of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of glycoconjugates. A ricin-resistant (RicR) baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell mutant, clone RicR14, has a deficiency in N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GlcNAc-TI) activity and as a consequence is unable to synthesize complex and hybrid N-glycans. Here we show that RicR14 cells transfected with wild-type GlcNAc-TI regained the ability to synthesize complex N-glycans, demonstrating that the glycosylation defect of RicR14 cells is due solely to the lack of GlcNAc-TI activity. With the use of specific antibodies to GlcNAc-TI, RicR14 cells were shown to synthesize an inactive GlcNAc-TI protein that is correctly localized to the Golgi apparatus. We have cloned and sequenced the open reading frame of GlcNAc-TI from parental BHK and RicR14 cells. A comparison of several RicR14 cDNA clones with the parental BHK GlcNAc-TI sequence indicated the presence of two different RicR14 cDNA species. One contained a premature stop codon at position +81, whereas the second contained a point mutation in the catalytic domain of GlcNAc-TI resulting in the amino acid substitution Gly320 → Asp. The introduction of a Gly320 → Asp mutation into wild-type rabbit GlcNAc-TI resulted in a complete loss of activity; the GlcNAc-TI mutant was correctly localized to the Golgi, indicating that the inactive GlcNAc-TI protein was transport-competent. Gly320 is conserved in GlcNAc-TI from all species so far examined. Overall these results demonstrate that Gly320 is a critical residue for GlcNAc-TI activity.

The nucleotide sequence data reported will appear in DDBJ, EMBL and GenBank Nucleotide Sequence Databases under the accession numbers AF087456 and AF087457.