bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calmidazolium leads to an increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in Dictyostelium discoideum by induction of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and influx of extracellular Ca2+
Authors: SCHLATTERER Christina , SCHALOSKE Ralph
Published: August 2015

The Ca2+ stores of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae take part in control of homoeostasis of the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and the cyclic-AMP-induced [Ca2+]i-signalling cascade. In order to characterize regulatory mechanisms of these stores, we incubated cells with the calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium. Measurement of permeabilized and intact cells in suspension with a Ca2+-sensitive electrode revealed that calmidazolium induced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, influx of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane and subsequent efflux. In single fura-2-loaded cells calmidazolium evoked rapid and global transient elevations of [Ca2+]i. Other calmodulin antagonists (trifluoperazine, chlorpromazine, fendiline and W7) also induced transient elevations of [Ca2+]i, which were, however, slower and observed in fewer cells. The calmidazolium-induced influx of extracellular Ca2+ was inhibited by preincubation with 2,5-di-(t-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (BHQ) and 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl), both known to interact with pumps of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive store, and by the V-type H+-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1, which affects the acidosomal Ca2+ store. Incubation with pump inhibitors did not itself induce changes in [Ca2+]i. We conclude that the effects of calmidazolium are, at least in part, mediated by its calmodulin-antagonizing properties, that it acts by inducing Ca2+ release from filled storage compartments, and that its target of action is both the IP3-sensitive store and the acidosome; emptying of these stores leads to influx of extracellular Ca2+.
Cellular activation of mesangial gelatinase A by cytochalasin D is accompanied by enhanced mRNA expression of both gelatinase A and its membrane-associated gelatinase A activator (MT-MMP)
Authors: AILENBERG Menachem , SILVERMAN Mel
Published: August 2015

Activation of gelatinase A represents a crucial regulatory step in the control of its enzymic activity. Rat kidney mesangial cells secrete predominantly latent gelatinase A that can be activated following treatment with cytochalasin D. In the present paper we provide new evidence, using reverse transcription-PCR, that treatment of rat mesangial cells with cytochalasin D enhances the steady-state level of mRNA of the membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase (MT-MMP), as well as of gelatinase A, with no change in the level of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) mRNA. Since the TIMP-2 protein level is reduced in conditioned medium from cytochalasin D-treated cells, the results of the present study are consistent with a model in which the action of cytochalasin D is to cause extracellular gelatinase A and TIMP-2 to be sequestered at the plasma membrane, forming a heterotrimeric complex with MT-MMP. In this manner, TIMP-2 may assume a bifunctional role causing: (i) inhibition of gelatinase A in the extracellular compartment; and (ii) guiding gelatinase A to activation through a membrane association with MT-MMP.
Integrin α4 cysteines 278 and 717 modulate VLA-4 ligand binding and also contribute to α4/180 formation
Authors: PUJADES Cristina , TEIXIDÓ Joaquin , BAZZONI Gianfranco , HEMLER Martin E.
Published: August 2015

Here we describe experiments in which we mutated four of the six integrin α4 subunit cysteine residues that are not present in most other integrin α subunits that lack an I domain. In four different types of ligand binding assay we found that optimal integrin α4β1 (VLA-4) binding to vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and/or to CS1 peptide required the presence of both α4 Cys278 and Cys717. In addition, optimal ligand binding required divalent cations and reduced cysteines, as evidenced by EDTA and N-ethylmaleimide inhibition results. In a control experiment, an α4 mutation that completely eliminated the α4 80/70 proteolytic cleavage site had no effect on ligand binding. Notably, although Cys278 and Cys717 mutations markedly altered ligand binding, they had no adverse effect on cell adhesion. Thus, compared with cell adhesion, ligand binding is a distinct and apparently more stringent test of VLA-4 integrin–ligand interactions. In addition, we have established that the formation of the previously described α4/180 [Parker, Pujades, Brenner and Hemler (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 7028–7035] also requires Cys278 and Cys717, divalent cations and reduced cysteines. Thus α4/180 appears to be more functionally relevant than α4/150.
Protein biotinylation in higher plants: characterization of biotin holocarboxylase synthetase activity from pea (Pisum sativum) leaves
Authors: TISSOT Ghislaine , JOB Dominique , DOUCE Roland , ALBAN Claude
Published: August 2015

Biotin holocarboxylase synthetase was partially purified from pea leaves by a sequence of ammonium sulphate fractionation and DEAE 52-cellulose chromatography. Enzyme activity was assayed using apo-(biotin carboxyl carrier protein) from an Escherichia coli bir A mutant affected in biotin holocarboxylase synthetase activity. Conditions for optimal catalytic activity and biochemical parameters of the plant enzyme were determined. This is the first direct evidence of the existence of biotin holocarboxylase synthetase activity in plants.
Functional expression of a human thrombin receptor in Sf9 insect cells: evidence for an active tethered ligand
Authors: CHEN Xilin , EARLEY Karen , LUO Weiping , LIN Sue-Hwa , SCHILLING William P.
Published: August 2015

Desensitization of recombinant human thrombin receptors expressed in Sf9 insect cells was compared with native thrombin receptors in megakaryoblast erythroleukaemia (HEL) cells. Addition of thrombin (2 units/ml) or agonist peptide SFLLRN (10 μM) to HEL cells, or to Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus containing the thrombin receptor cDNA, produced an increase in the free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) as measured by fura-2. The response in HEL cells was transient, reflecting a rapid homologous desensitization. In contrast, [Ca2+]i in Sf9 cells expressing the thrombin receptor increased rapidly to a peak value that slowly declined, but remained elevated for at least 12 min following stimulation by thrombin. The sustained [Ca2+]i response to thrombin was not reversed by washout of thrombin or by subsequent addition of hirudin. Pretreatment of Sf9 cells with either thrombin (2 units/ml) or SFLLRN (10 or 50 μM) for 5 min produced a shift in the ED50 for SFLLRN (added 10 min after washout) from 0.4 μM to 20 and 7 μM, respectively. Thus, desensitization of thrombin receptors expressed in Sf9 cells occurs slowly and reflects a decrease in receptor affinity. The sustained [Ca2+]i response in Sf9 cells stimulated by thrombin may reflect continuous activation by the tethered ligand. To test this hypothesis, the effect of protease treatment during the sustained phase of the response was examined. Addition of either aminopeptidase M or thermolysin reversed the sustained response to SFLLRN, but only thermolysin reversed the sustained response to thrombin. Thermolysin had no effect on the change in [Ca2+]i observed following carbachol stimulation of Sf9 cells expressing the M5 muscarinic receptor. Furthermore, following thermolysin treatment, the cells remained responsive to a subsequent application of SFLLRN. These results demonstrate that the tethered ligand remains active for extended periods of time after thrombin stimulation and suggests that further hydrolysis by extracellular proteases may represent an important mechanism of rapid receptor deactivation.
The effect of different amino acid side chains on the stereospecificity and catalytic efficiency of the tryptophan synthase-catalysed exchange of the α-protons of amino acids
Authors: MILNE John J. , MALTHOUSE J. Paul G.
Published: August 2015

1H-NMR has been used to follow the tryptophan synthase (EC 4.2.1.20) catalysed hydrogen–deuterium exchange of the α-protons of L- and D-alanine and -tryptophan. The first-order and second-order rate constants for exchange have been determined at pH 7.8 in the presence and absence of the allosteric effector, DL-α-glycerol 3-phosphate. In the presence of DL-α-glycerol 3-phosphate the stereospecificity of the tryptophan synthase-catalysed first-order exchange rates was in the order tryptophan > alanine > glycine. This increase in stereospecificity was largely due to the decrease in the magnitude of the first-order exchange rate of the slowly exchanged α-proton. A similar increase in the stereospecificity of the second-order exchange rates for alanine was also largely due to the decrease in the magnitude of the first-order exchange rate of the slowly exchanged α-proton of D-alanine. Adding DL-α-glycerol 3-phosphate produced an increase in the stereospecificity of the second-order exchange rate observed with alanine but no significant change in the stereospecificity of the first-order exchange rate with tryptophan. The α-subunits are shown to increase the exchange rates of the α-protons of L-alanine and L-tryptophan. We conclude that the contribution of the R-group of an amino acid to the stereospecificity of the exchange reactions of its α-proton can be similar to or larger than that of its α-carboxylate group. Possible mechanisms that could explain the stereospecificity of these exchange reactions are discussed.
Phosphorylation of human pleckstrin on Ser-113 and Ser-117 by protein kinase C
Authors: CRAIG Karen L. , HARLEY Calvin B.
Published: August 2015

During platelet activation, receptor-coupled phospholipid hydrolysis stimulates protein kinase C (PKC) and results in the phosphorylation of several proteins, the most prominent being pleckstrin. Pleckstrin is composed of two repeated domains, now called pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, separated by a spacer region that contains several consensus PKC phosphorylation sites. To determine the role of PKC-dependent phosphorylation in pleckstrin function, we mapped the phosphorylation sites in vivo of wild-type and site-directed mutants of pleckstrin expressed in COS cells. Phosphorylation was found to occur almost exclusively on Ser-113 and Ser-117 within the sequence 108-KFARKS*TRRS*IRL-120. Phosphorylation of these sites was confirmed by phosphorylation of the corresponding wild-type and mutant synthetic peptides in vitro.
Intracellular degradation in the regulation of secretion of apolipoprotein B-100 by rabbit hepatocytes
Authors: CARTWRIGHT Ian J. , HIGGINS Joan A.
Published: August 2015

Isolated rabbit hepatocytes were incubated with [35S]methionine to label intracellular pools of apolipoprotein B (apo-B). The cells were then reincubated with an excess of unlabelled methionine in the presence of oleate or protease inhibitors and the intracellular sites of accumulation of radiolabelled apo-B and the mass of apo-B were determined by isolation and analysis of subcellular fractions. Oleate or inhibitors of metalloproteases (o-phenanthroline), serine proteases (aprotinin), serine/cysteine proteases (leupeptin) or cysteine proteases (calpain inhibitor I; ALLN) but not aspartate proteases (pepstatin) resulted in inhibition of the cellular degradation of apo-B. The effect of o-phenanthroline was reversed by the addition of zinc ions. Oleate, o-phenanthroline and leupeptin also stimulated secretion of radiolabelled apo-B; the effects of the inhibitors and oleate were additive, suggesting that they could act via different mechanisms. o-Phenanthroline caused accumulation of apo-B in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) membranes; leupeptin caused accumulation of apo-B in the SER and cis-Golgi membranes, and ALLN and aprotinin caused accumulation of apo-B in the trans-Golgi membranes. These results suggest that intracellular degradation of apo-B occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum and in the trans-Golgi membranes and involves different proteases. Apo-B that accumulates in the ER membrane can be diverted into the lumen for secretion; however, apo-B that accumulates in the trans-Golgi membrane is irretrievably diverted from secretion.
Natural-product inhibitors of human DNA ligase I
Authors: TAN Ghee T. , LEE Sangkook , LEE Ik-Soo , CHEN Jingwen , LEITNER Pete , BESTERMAN Jeffrey M. , KINGHORN Douglas A. , PEZZUTO John M.
Published: August 2015

Enzymic activity mediated by recombinant human DNA ligase I (hLI), in conjunction with tannin removal procedures, has been applied to a natural-product screen involving ~1000 plant extracts and various pure compounds. The primary hLI activity assay involved the measurement of the amount of radiolabelled phosphate in a synthetic nucleic acid hybrid that becomes resistant to alkaline phosphatase as a result of ligation. A bioactivity-guided fractionation scheme resulted in the isolation of ursolic [IC50 = 100 μg/ml (216 μM)] and oleanolic [IC50 = 100 μg/ml (216 μM)] acids from Tricalysia niamniamensis Hiern (Rubiaceae), which demonstrated similar DNA ligase inhibition profiles to other triterpenes such as aleuritolic acid. Protolichesterinic acid [IC50 = 6 μg/ml (20 μM)], swertifrancheside [IC50 = 8 μg/ml (11 μM)] and fulvoplumierin [IC50 = 87 μg/ml (357 μM)] represent three additional natural-product structural classes that inhibit hLI. Fagaronine chloride [IC50 = 10 μg/ml (27 μM)] and certain flavonoids are also among the pure natural products that were found to disrupt the activity of the enzyme, consistent with their nucleic acid intercalative properties. Further analyses revealed that some of the hLI-inhibitory compounds interfered with the initial adenylation step of the ligation reaction, indicating a direct interaction with the enzyme protein. However, in all cases, this enzyme–inhibitor interaction did not disrupt the DNA relaxation activity mediated by hLI. These results indicate that, although the same enzyme active site may be involved in both enzyme adenylation and DNA relaxation, inhibitors may exert allosteric effects by inducing conformational changes that disrupt only one of these activities. Studies with inhibitors are important for the assignment of specific cellular functions to these enzymes, as well as for their development into clinically useful antitumour agents.
Purification of the synaptosomal plasma membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from pig brain
Authors: SALVADOR Jesús M. , MATA Ana M.
Published: August 2015

The Ca2+-ATPase from the synaptosomal plasma membrane has been purified nearly to homogeneity from pig brain by a new procedure involving the calmodulin-affinity-chromatography technique. This is a convenient alternative to the standard methods for the purification of the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase from different sources that were unsuitable to purify the enzyme from pig brain. The main feature of this procedure is the use of 15% (v/v) glycerol as stabilizing agent, instead of acidic phospholipid. By using this protocol the enzyme was purified 36-fold with respect to the plasma membrane vesicle fraction, showing a specific activity of 2.3 i.u. in the presence of acidic phospholipid. In SDS/PAGE, it appears as a single protein band around Mr 140000 that can be phosphorylated by [γ-32P]ATP in the presence of La3+ and recognized by specific antibodies against the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase from pig antral smooth muscle. Calmodulin activates the enzyme 1.5–1.8-fold in the presence of phosphatidylcholine but not in the presence of phosphatidylserine.
Characterization, cell-surface expression and ligand-binding properties of different truncated N-terminal extracellular domains of the ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit GluR1
Authors: Jeffrey McILHINNEY R. A. , MOLNÁR Elek
Published: August 2015

To identify the location of the first transmembrane segment of the GluR1 glutamate receptor subunit artificial stop codons have been introduced into the N-terminal domain at amino acid positions 442, 510 and 563, namely just before and spanning the proposed first two transmembrane regions. The resultant truncated N-terminal fragments of GluR1, termed NT1, NT2 and NT3 respectively were expressed in Cos-7 cells and their cellular distribution and cell-surface expression analysed using an N-terminal antibody to GluR1. All the fragments were fully glycosylated and were found to be associated with cell membranes but none was secreted. Differential extraction of the cell membranes indicated that both NT1 and NT2 behave as peripheral membrane proteins. In contrast NT3, like the full subunit, has integral membrane protein properties. Furthermore only NT3 is expressed at the cell surface as determined by immunofluorescence and cell-surface biotinylation. Protease protection assays indicated that only NT3 had a cytoplasmic tail. Binding studies using the selective ligand [3H]α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate ([3H]AMPA) demonstrated that NT3 does not bind ligand. Together these results indicate that the first transmembrane domain of the GluR1 subunit lies between residues 509 and 562, that the N-terminal domain alone cannot form a functional ligand-binding site and that this domain can be targeted to the cell surface provided that it has a transmembrane-spanning region.
Cloning and expression in vitro of human xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase
Authors: SAKSELA Mika , RAIVIO Kari O.
Published: August 2015

To study the expression of human xanthine dehydrogenase/ oxidase (hXDH/XO), we cloned the cDNA covering its complete coding sequence and characterized it by translation in vitro in rabbit reticulocyte lysates and by transient expression in COS-1 cells. Two specific protein products with approximate molecular masses of 150 and 130 kDa were detected in both expression systems. These products are compatible with the molecular sizes of XDH/XO, and these peptides also showed immunoreactivity with polyclonal anti-hXDH antibodies. Significant XDH/XO enzyme activity (277±54 pmol/min per mg of protein) was measured in lysates of transfected COS cells, whereas in control transfections the activities were below the detection limit of our assay (0.2 pmol/min per mg of protein). The COS cells expressed the enzyme predominantly (89.8±0.3%) in the dehydrogenase form.
Protein sorting in Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells permeabilized with the pore-forming protein streptolysin O
Authors: ANSORGE Iris , BENTING Jürgen , BHAKDI Sucharit , LINGELBACH Klaus
Published: August 2015

Plasmodium falciparum is an intracellular parasite of human red blood cells (RBCs). Like many other intracellular parasites, P. falciparum resides and develops within a parasitophorous vacuole which is bound by a membrane that separates the host cell cytoplasm from the parasite surface. Some parasite proteins are secreted into the vacuolar space and others are secreted, by an as yet poorly defined pathway, into the RBC cytosol. The transport of proteins from the parasite has been followed mainly using morphological methods. In search of an experimental system that would allow (i) dissection of the individual steps involved in transport from the parasite surface into the RBC cytosol, and (ii) an assessment of the molecular requirements for this process at the erythrocytic side of the vacuolar membrane, we have permeabilized infected RBCs with the pore-forming protein streptolysin O using conditions which left the vacuole intact. The distribution of two parasite proteins which served as markers for the vacuolar space and the RBC cytosol respectively was analysed morphologically and biochemically. In permeabilized RBCs the two marker proteins were sorted to the same compartments as in intact RBCs. The protein which was destined for the RBC cytosol traversed the vacuolar space before it was translocated across the vacuolar membrane. Protein transport could be arrested in the vacuole by removing the RBC cytosol. Translocation across the vacuolar membrane required ATP and a protein source at the erythrocytic face of the membrane, but it was independent of the intracellular ionic milieu of the RBC.
Structure of photosystem II in spinach thylakoid membranes: comparison of detergent-solubilized and native complexes by electron microscopy
Authors: NICHOLSON William V. , SHEPHERD Fiona H. , ROSENBERG Mark F. , FORD Robert C. , HOLZENBURG Andreas
Published: August 2015

1. Electron microscopy of solubilized photosystem II (PSII) complexes and PSII in spinach thylakoid membranes has been carried out and the results have been compared with data obtained from ordered two-dimensional arrays of PSII. Membrane-bound PSII is roughly rectangular (17.6 nm× 14.1 nm) with a central stain cavity surrounded by four major lumenal domains. A comparison between the averaged projections of single (non-ordered) particles at 3.8 nm resolution and the Fourier projection maps obtained from ordered arrays (at 2–3 nm resolution) reveals close similarity and excludes the possibility that PSII observed in two-dimensional ordered arrays represents an unusual subpopulation. 2. After detergent solubilization, PSII adopts various aggregation states which were analysed by electron microscopy in conjunction with single-particle averaging. Two different types of projection of roughly rectangular shape and of dimensions 30 nm×17 nm manifesting themselves as tetrameric sandwich structures have been revealed. This conclusion is supported by the presence of at least two axes of 2-fold rotational symmetry running perpendicular to each other and intersecting at the centre of the oligomer. Comparisons of the structures of detergent-solubilized and native PSII show that the oligomerization of PSII can be artificially induced by the process of membrane solubilization.
Effect of glucose deprivation on rat glutamine synthetase in cultured astrocytes
Authors: ROSIER Françoise , LAMBERT Dominique , MERTENS-STRIJTHAGEN Jeannine
Published: August 2015

Glutamine synthetase was purified from the cerebral cortex of adult rats and characterized. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies were raised against the enzyme, purified and their specific anti-(glutamine synthetase) activity determined. A primary astroglial culture was prepared from newborn Sprague–Dawley rats. Astrocytes at different ages of development were incubated in the presence and absence of glucose. In glucose-deprived conditions the specific activity of glutamine synthetase decreased. This decrease was more pronounced in 8-day-old than in 21-day-old cultures. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that the reduction in activity was mainly related to a decrease in Vmax. By immunoprecipitation, it was shown that the number of enzyme molecules in astrocytes was decreased in glucose-deprived conditions. On addition of glucose, a total recovery of glutamine synthetase was obtained after 36 h in 8-day-old culture. Rates of degradation and synthesis were investigated. When compared with an incubation in the presence of glucose, glucose deprivation increased enzyme turnover, as estimated from the first-order disappearance of radioactivity from glutamine synthetase. Synthesis rate was estimated from the incorporation of [35S]methionine during a 2 h incubation period and was decreased in glucose-deprived conditions. Trichloroacetate-precipitable proteins changed only slightly in the experimental conditions, and total protein did not vary significantly during the experimental period. A mathematical model is presented which attempts to integrate degradation and synthesis in our experimental model.
Cells retrovirally transfected with fibroblast growth factor-2 isoforms exhibit altered adenylate cyclase activity and G-protein functionality
Authors: ESTIVAL Agnes , ROBBERECHT Patrick , FANJUL Marjorie , ROUOT Bruno , HOLLANDE Etienne , VAYSSE Nicole , CLEMENTE François
Published: August 2015

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is synthesized as different molecular mass isoforms all lacking the signal-peptide sequence. The high molecular-mass isoforms (21–24 kDa) possess a signal sequence directing their nuclear translocation. The role of each isoform is still poorly understood, however, modifications in intracellular signalling pathways could explain some effects of these peptides. In order to evaluate the role of FGF-2 isoforms on the adenylate cyclase (AC) signalling pathway, we retrovirally infected a rat pancreatic cell line (AR4-2J) with point-mutated FGF-2 cDNAs, allowing the expression of the 18 (A5 cells) or 22.5 kDa isoform (A3 cells) at a low level. In membrane preparations of A3 cells, unscheduled expression of the 22.5 kDa FGF-2 isoform induced a 2-fold decrease in both basal and forskolin-stimulated AC activity. Studies carried out on intact cells also showed decreased accumulation of cAMP in A3 cells in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Both FGF-2 peptides also induced functional modifications of G-proteins without affecting their levels. The 22.5 kDa peptide led to enhanced ADP-ribosylation of both αs-subunits in vitro, whereas the expression of the low molecular-mass 18 kDa peptide resulted in a 2-fold increase in αi2 and α0 ADP-ribosylations. Furthermore, control CAT cells (AR4-2J cells transfected with the retrovirus containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene) and A5 cells were growth-inhibited by 8-Br-cAMP, in contrast to A3 cells. These data provide evidence that the expression of FGF-2 peptides could play a role in cell functions by modifying the AC signalling pathway. FGF-2 peptides are able to modulate both AC activity and the regulatory G-proteins. Finally FGF-2 expression may interfere with cAMP-regulated cell proliferation.
Nicotinic acid-adenine dinucleotide phosphate mobilizes Ca2+ from a thapsigargin-insensitive pool
Authors: GENAZZANI Armando A. , GALIONE Antony
Published: August 2015

Nicotinic acid–adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a novel intracellular Ca2+ releasing agent recently described in sea-urchin eggs and egg homogenates. Ca2+ release by NAADP is independent of that induced by either inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) or cyclic adenosine dinucleotide phosphate (cADPR). We now report that in sea urchin egg homogenates, NAADP releases Ca2+ from a Ca2+ pool that is distinct from those that are sensitive to InsP3 and cADPR. This organelle has distinct Ca2+ uptake characteristics: it is insensitive to thapsigargin and cyclopiazoic acid, but maintenance of the pool shows some requirement for ATP. Although the different Ca2+ pools have different characteristics, there appears to be some degree of overlap or cross-talk between the NAADP- and cADPR/InsP3-sensitive Ca2+ pools. Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release is unlikely to account for the apparent overlap between stores, since NAADP-induced Ca2+ release, in contrast with that stimulated by cADPR, is not potentiated by bivalent cations.
Regulation of gene expression for translation initiation factor eIF-2α: importance of the 3′ untranslated region
Authors: MIYAMOTO Suzanne , CHIORINI John A. , URCELAY Elena , SAFER Brian
Published: August 2015

Gene expression of the α-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2α), involves transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. eIF-2α is a single-copy gene expressing two mRNAs, 1.6 and 4.2 kb in size. Cloning and sequencing of the cDNA for the 4.2 kb mRNA revealed that it is the result of alternative polyadenylation site selection. Four polyadenylation sites were identified within the 3´ untranslated region (UTR) of eIF-2α, only two of which are normally utilized in human and mouse tissues. A functional role for the extended 3´ UTR was assessed by comparing the translatability and stability of the 1.6 and 4.2 kb mRNAs. Both the 1.6 and 4.2 kb transcripts could be translated in vitro and were identified in vivo as being distributed on large polyribosomes. This indicates that both mRNAs are efficiently translated. Stability studies showed that in activated T-cells the 4.2 kb mRNA was more stable than the 1.6 kb mRNA. Polyadenylation site selection and mRNA stability differ for the two mRNAs of eIF-2α. These activities might be modulated by sequence elements contained within the untranslated regions of the eIF-2α gene.
Expression, purification and properties of lycopene cyclase from Erwinia uredovora
Authors: SCHNURR Georg , MISAWA Norihiko , SANDMANN SANDMANN
Published: August 2015

Lycopene cyclase, an enzyme responsible for the formation of cyclic carotenoids from acyclic precursors has been purified to homogeneity in an active state. The Erwinia uredovora lycopene cyclase gene (crtY) was over-expressed in Escherichia coli. From this recombinant strain the enzyme was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography and its cyclization activity characterized as a two-step reaction in which both sides of the lycopene molecule are cyclized to β-ionone rings with the monocyclic γ-carotene as an intermediate. Furthermore, neurosporene as well as 1-hydroxylycopene were cyclized to β-zeacarotene and hydroxy-γ-carotene respectively. In contrast, neither 1,1´-dihydroxylycopene nor the tetra-cis-prolycopene were accepted as substrates. The cofactors involved in the reaction were either NADH or NADPH. Km values were determined for lycopene and NADPH to be 1.8 μM and 2.5 mM respectively.
Coordinate activation of lysosomal, Ca2+-activated and ATP-ubiquitin-dependent proteinases in the unweighted rat soleus muscle
Authors: TAILLANDIER Daniel , AUROUSSEAU Eveline , MEYNIAL-DENIS Dominique , BECHET Daniel , FERRARA Marc , COTTIN Patrick , DUCASTAING André , BIGARD Xavier , GUEZENNEC Charles-Yannick , SCHMID Hans-Peter , ATTAIX Didier
Published: August 2015

Nine days of hindlimb suspension resulted in atrophy (55%) and loss of protein (53%) in rat soleus muscle due to a marked elevation in protein breakdown (66%, P < 0.005). To define which proteolytic system(s) contributed to this increase, soleus muscles from unweighted rats were incubated in the presence of proteolytic inhibitors. An increase in lysosomal and Ca2+-activated proteolysis (254%, P < 0.05) occurred in the atrophying incubated muscles. In agreement with the measurements in vitro, cathepsin B, cathepsins B+L and m-calpain enzyme activities increased by 111%, 92% and 180% (P < 0.005) respectively in the atrophying muscles. Enhanced mRNA levels for these proteinases (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) paralleled the increased enzyme activities, suggesting a transcriptional regulation of these enzymes. However, the lysosomal and Ca2+-dependent proteolytic pathways accounted for a minor part of total proteolysis in both control (9%) and unweighted rats (18%). Furthermore the inhibition of these pathways failed to suppress increased protein breakdown in unweighted muscle. Thus a non-lysosomal Ca2+-independent proteolytic process essentially accounted for the increased proteolysis and subsequent muscle wasting. Increased mRNA levels for ubiquitin, the 14 kDa ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 (involved in the ubiquitylation of protein substrates) and the C2 and C9 subunits of the 20 S proteasome (i.e. the proteolytic core of the 26 S proteasome that degrades ubiquitin conjugates) were observed in the atrophying muscles (P < 0.02 to P < 0.001). Analysis of C9 mRNA in polyribosomes showed equal distribution into both translationally active and inactive mRNA pools, in either unweighted or control rats. These results suggest that increased ATP-ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis is most probably responsible for muscle wasting in the unweighted soleus muscle.
Expression of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase in heterocysts from Anabaena sp
Authors: RAZQUIN Pedro , FILLAT Maria F. , SCHMITZ Stefan , STRICKER Olaf , BÖHME Herbert , GÓMEZ-MORENO Carlos , PELEATO M. Luisa
Published: August 2015

The expression of ferredoxin–NADP+ reductase (FNR) from Anabaena sp. PCC 7119 in heterocysts and vegetative cells has been quantified. Specific reductase activity in heterocysts was approximately 10 times higher than in vegetative cells, corresponding to the increased FNR protein content. This was confirmed by immunoquantification of the FNR protein from whole filaments of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 grown in media with and without combined nitrogen. Transcription of the petH gene was markedly enhanced in the absence of combined nitrogen. This suggests that the increased RNA level is mainly responsible for the up-regulation of FNR in heterocysts. As has been observed for nif genes, iron deficiency also increased transcription of petH. Characterization of the FNR purified from isolated heterocysts showed no detectable differences from the enzyme from vegetative cells. Although nitrogen stress was a key regulatory factor, localization of the petH gene in the genomic map of Anabaena PCC 7120 showed that this gene is not physically associated with the nif cluster.
Leukotriene D4-induced mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ in epithelial cells is critically dependent on activation of the small GTP-binding protein Rho
Authors: GRÖNROOS Eva , ANDERSSON Tommy , SCHIPPERT Åsa , ZHENG Limin , SJÖLANDER Anita
Published: August 2015

We have previously shown that the leukotriene D4 (LTD4)-induced mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ in epithelial cells is mediated by a G-protein that is distinctly different from the pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein that regulates the subsequent influx of Ca2+. In the present study, we attempted to gain further knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the LTD4-induced mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ in epithelial cells by investigating the effects of compactin, an inhibitor of the isoprenylation pathway, on this signalling event. In cells preincubated with 10 μM compactin for 48 h, the LTD4-induced mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ was reduced by 75% in comparison with control cells. This reduction was reversed by co-administration of mevalonate (1 mM). The effect of compactin occurred regardless of whether or not Ca2+ was present in the extracellular medium, suggesting that isoprenylation must occur before Ca2+ is released from intracellular stores. In accordance with this, we also found that both the LTD4-induced formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and the LTD4-induced phosphorylation of phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) on tyrosine residues were significantly reduced in compactin-pretreated cells. These results open up the possibility that the activation of PLCγ1 is related to a molecule that is sensitive to impaired activity of the isoprenylation pathway, such as a small monomeric G-protein. This idea was supported by the observation that Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme-induced inhibition of Rho proteins abolished the LTD4-induced intracellular mobilization of Ca2+. A regulatory role of Rho proteins in the LTD4-induced activation of PLCγ1 is unlikely to be indirectly mediated via an effect on the cytoskeleton, since cytochalasin D had no major effect on the LTD4-induced mobilization of Ca2+. Although the mechanism of interaction remains to be elucidated, the present findings indicate an important role of an isoprenylated protein such as Rho in the LTD4-induced Ca2+ signal.
S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene expression in rat hepatoma cells: regulation by insulin and by inhibition of protein synthesis
Authors: SOININEN Tiina , LIISANANTTI Marja K. , PAJUNEN Antti E. I.
Published: August 2015

We have investigated expression of the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) gene in H4-II-E rat hepatoma cells treated with growth factors (epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor β1) and inducers (cAMP and insulin). Treatment with insulin caused a marked increase in both RNA level and enzyme activity. The stability of AdoMetDC mRNA was not altered by insulin treatment: the accumulation of mRNA in hepatoma cells therefore seems to be due to an increase in the transcription rate. Cycloheximide was found to be a strong inducer of AdoMetDC mRNA transcription and the effects of insulin and cycloheximide were additive, suggesting that they increase expression by separate mechanisms. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assays in rat hepatoma cells using 5´ flanking regions of different lengths revealed that the promoter region extending 337 bp upstream from the transcription start site contains elements involved in insulin response.
ERp60 does not substitute for protein disulphide isomerase as the β-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase
Authors: KOIVUNEN Peppi , HELAAKOSKI Tarja , ANNUNEN Pia , VEIJOLA Johanna , RÄISÄNEN Seija , PIHLAJANIEMI Taina , KIVIRIKKO Kari I.
Published: August 2015

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.2) catalyses the formation of 4-hydroxyproline in collagens. The vertebrate enzymes are α2β2 tetramers while the Caenorhabditis elegans enzyme is an αβ dimer. The β-subunit is identical to protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), a multifunctional endoplasmic reticulum luminal polypeptide. ERp60 is a PDI isoform that was initially misidentified as a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. We report here on the cloning and expression of the human and Drosophila ERp60 polypeptides. The overall amino acid sequence identity and similarity between the processed human ERp60 and PDI polypeptides are 29% and 56% respectively, and those between the Drosophila ERp60 and human PDI polypeptides 29% and 55%. The two ERp60 polypeptides were found to be similar to human PDI within almost all their domains, the only exception being the extreme C-terminal region. Nevertheless, when the human or Drosophila ERp60 was expressed in insect cells together with an α-subunit of human prolyl 4-hydroxylase, no tetramer was formed and no prolyl 4-hydroxylase activity was generated in the cells. Additional experiments with hybrid polypeptides in which the C-terminal regions had been exchanged between the human ERp60 and PDI polypeptides demonstrated that the differences in the C-terminal region are not the only reason for the lack of prolyl 4-hydroxylase tetramer formation by ERp60.
Metabolic fate of oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid in cultured hamster hepatocytes
Authors: BRUCE Jennifer S. , SALTER Andrew M.
Published: August 2015

Unlike other saturated fatty acids, dietary stearic acid does not appear to raise plasma cholesterol. The reason for this remains to be established, although it appears that it must be related to inherent differences in the metabolism of the fatty acid. In the present study, we have looked at the metabolism of palmitic acid and stearic acid, in comparison with oleic acid, by cultured hamster hepatocytes. Stearic acid was taken up more slowly and was poorly incorporated into both cellular and secreted triacylglycerol. Despite this, stearic acid stimulated the synthesis and secretion of triacylglycerol to the same extent as the other fatty acids. Incorporation into cellular phospholipid was lower for oleic acid than for palmitic acid and stearic acid. Desaturation of stearic acid, to monounsaturated fatty acid, was found to be greater than that of palmitic acid. Oleic acid produced from stearic acid was incorporated into both triacylglycerol and phospholipid, representing 13% and 6% respectively of the total after a 4 h incubation. Significant proportions of all of the fatty acids were oxidized, primarily to form ketone bodies, but by 8 h more oleic acid had been oxidized compared with palmitic acid and stearic acid.
Intestinal HT-29 cells with dysfunction of E-cadherin show increased pp60src activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of p120-catenin
Authors: SKOUDY Anouchka , LLOSAS Maria del Mont , GARCÍA de HERREROS Antonio
Published: August 2015

1. HT-29 M6 cells are a subpopulation of HT-29 cells that, contrarily to the parental cells, establish tight cell contacts and differentiate. Cell-to-cell contacts in HT-29 M6 cells are also regulated by protein kinase C; addition of the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreases the homotypic contacts of these cells. We show here that HT-29 cells or HT-29 M6 cells treated with PMA contain lower levels of functional E-cadherin, determined by analysing the association of this protein with the cytoskeleton. No significant differences in the localization of α-, β-, or p120-catenins were detected under the three different conditions. 2. Dysfunction of E-cadherin can be reversed by incubation of HT-29 cells with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A. On the other hand an augmentation of c-src activity in HT-29 cells or HT-29 M6 cells treated with PMA was observed with respect to control HT-29 M6 cells. The phosphorylation status of catenins was also investigated; in HT-29 or in HT-29 M6 cells treated with PMA, dysfunction of E-cadherin was accompanied by an increased phosphorylation of p120-catenin and by an elevated association of this protein to E-cadherin. These results suggest a role for pp60src and the pp60src substrate p120-catenin in the control of E-cadherin function in HT-29 cells.
Affinity for the nuclear compartment and expression during cell differentiation implicate phosphorylated Groucho/TLE1 forms of higher molecular mass in nuclear functions
Authors: HUSAIN Junaid , LO Rita , GRBAVEC Diane , STIFANI Stefano
Published: August 2015

The Drosophila protein Groucho is involved in embryonic segmentation and neural development, and is implicated in the Notch signal transduction pathway. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of Groucho and of its mammalian homologues, the TLE (‘transducin-like Enhancer of split’) proteins. We show that Groucho/TLE1 proteins are phosphorylated. We also show that two populations of phosphorylated Groucho proteins can be identified based on their interaction with the nuclear compartment. More slowly migrating proteins with an apparent molecular mass of roughly 110 kDa interact strongly with the nuclei, while faster migrating proteins displaying molecular masses of roughly 84–85 kDa show lower affinity for the nuclear compartment. Similarly, TLE1 proteins with an apparent molecular mass of roughly 118 kDa exhibit higher affinity for the nuclear compartment than do faster migrating forms with apparent molecular masses of 90–93 kDa. Moreover, we show that the nuclear, more slowly migrating, TLE1 proteins are induced during neural determination of P19 embryonic carcinoma cells. These results implicate phosphorylation in the activity of Groucho/TLE1 proteins and suggest that phosphorylated forms of higher molecular mass are involved in nuclear functions. Finally, we show that different TLE proteins respond in different ways to the neural commitment of P19 cells, suggesting that individual members of this protein family may have non-redundant functions.
Secondary structure of NADPH: protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase examined by circular dichroism and prediction methods
Authors: BIRVE Simon J. , SELSTAM Eva , JOHANSSON Lennart B.-Å.
Published: August 2015

To study the secondary structure of the enzyme NADPH: protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (PCOR), a novel method of enzyme isolation was developed. The detergent isotridecyl poly(ethylene glycol) ether (Genapol X-080) selectively solubilizes the enzyme from a prolamellar-body fraction isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivumL.). The solubilized fraction was further purified by ion-exchange chromatography. The isolated enzyme was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy at 77 K, and by CD spectroscopy. The fluorescence-emission spectra revealed that the binding properties of the substrate and co-substrate were preserved and that photo-reduction occurred. The CD spectra of PCOR were analysed for the relative amounts of the secondary structures, α-helix, β-sheet, turn and random coil. The secondary-structure composition was estimated to be 33% α-helix, 19% β-sheet, 20% turn and 28% random coil. These values are in agreement with those predicted by the Predict Heidelberg Deutschland and self-optimized prediction method from alignments methods. The enzyme has some amino acid identity with other NADPH-binding enzymes containing the Rossmann fold. The Rossmann-fold fingerprint motif is localized in the N-terminal region and at the expected positions in the predicted secondary structure. It is suggested that PCOR is anchored to the interfacial region of the membrane by either a β-sheet or an α-helical region containing tryptophan residues. A hydrophobic loop-region could also be involved in membrane anchoring.
Heat shock selectively inhibits ribosomal RNA gene transcription and down-regulates E1BF/Ku in mouse lymphosarcoma cells
Authors: GHOSHAL Kalpana , JACOB Samson T.
Published: August 2015

The effect of heat shock on RNA polymerase I (pol I)-directed transcription of the rRNA gene was studied in S-100 extract derived from mouse lymphosarcoma cells, and by in vivo labelling of rRNA. Exposure of cells to 42 °C for 2 h resulted in complete inhibition of rRNA synthesis in vivo. Pol I transcription was inhibited by 50% within 2 h of heat shock and was abolished after 3 h exposure at 42 °C. Under this condition, the core-promoter-binding activity of the factor (CPBF) that modulates pol I transcription was unaffected. In contrast, the promoter-binding activity of enhancer-1-binding factor, a protein related to the Ku autoantigen, which is involved in pol I transcription initiation, was reduced by 50 and 90% after 2 and 3 h of heat shock respectively. Western-blot analysis with antibodies specific for the two subunits of Ku protein showed the absence of p72 subunit after 3 h of heat shock. Under this condition, pol II transcription from the adenovirus major late promoter and pol III transcription of 5 S RNA gene remained unaffected. Mixing experiments ruled out the possibility that the inhibition of transcription was due to activation of nucleases or other inhibitors. This is the first report to show selective down-regulation of pol I transcription in vitro by heat shock and of the potential involvement of a pol I transcription factor in this process.
Identification of distal silencing elements in the murine interferon-A11 gene promoter
Authors: ROFFET Pascal , LOPEZ Sébastien , NAVARRO Sébastien , BANDU Marie-Thérèse , COULOMBEL Colette , VIGNAL Madeleine , DOLY Janine , VODJDANI Guilane
Published: August 2015

The murine interferon-A11 (Mu IFN-A11) gene is a member of the IFN-A multigenic family. In mouse L929 cells, the weak response of the gene's promoter to viral induction is due to a combination of both a point mutation in the virus responsive element (VRE) and the presence of negatively regulating sequences surrounding the VRE. In the distal part of the promoter, the negatively acting E1E2 sequence was delimited. This sequence displays an inhibitory effect in either orientation or position on the inducibility of a virus-responsive heterologous promoter. It selectively represses VRE-dependent transcription but is not able to reduce the transcriptional activity of a VRE-lacking promoter. In a transient transfection assay, an E1E2-containing DNA competitor was able to derepress the native Mu IFN-A11 promoter. Specific nuclear factors bind to this sequence; thus the binding of trans-regulators participates in the repression of the Mu IFN-A11 gene. The E1E2 sequence contains an IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-binding site. Recombinant IRF2 binds this sequence and anti-IRF2 antibodies supershift a major complex formed with nuclear extracts. The protein composing the complex is 50 kDa in size, indicating the presence of IRF2 or antigenically related proteins in the complex. The Mu IFN-A11 gene is the first example within the murine IFN-A family, in which a distal promoter element has been identified that can negatively modulate the transcriptional response to viral induction.