bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The T-tubule is a cell-surface target for insulin-regulated recycling of membrane proteins in skeletal muscle
Authors: Muñoz P , Rosemblatt M , Testar X , Palacín M , Thoidis G , Pilch P F , Zorzano A
Published: August 2015

(1) In this study we have determined the distribution of various membrane proteins involved in insulin-activated glucose transport in T-tubules and in sarcolemma from rat skeletal muscle. Two independent experimental approaches were used to determine the presence of membrane proteins in T-tubules: (i) the purification of T-tubules free from sarcolemmal membranes by lectin agglutination, and (ii) T-tubule vesicle immunoadsorption. These methods confirmed that T-tubules from rat skeletal muscle were enriched with dihydropyridine receptors and tt28 protein and did not contain the sarcolemmal markers dystrophin or beta 1-integrin. Both types of experiments revealed an abundant content of GLUT4 glucose carriers, insulin receptors and SCAMPs (secretory carrier membrane proteins) in T-tubule membranes. (2) Acute administration in vivo of insulin caused an increased abundance of GLUT4 in T-tubules and sarcolemma. On the contrary, insulin led to a 50% reduction in insulin receptors present in T-tubules and in sarcolemma, demonstrating that insulin-induced insulin receptor internalization affects T-tubules in the muscle fibre. The alteration in the content of GLUT4 and insulin receptors in T-tubules was a consequence of insulin-induced redistribution of these proteins. SCAMPs also redistributed in muscle membranes in response to insulin. They were recruited by insulin from intracellular high-density fractions to intracellular lighter-density fractions and to the cell surface, showing a pattern of insulin-induced cellular redistribution distinct from those of GLUT4 and the insulin receptor. (3) In conclusion, the T-tubule is a cell-surface target for membrane proteins involved in recycling such as SCAMPs or for membrane proteins that acutely redistribute in response to insulin such as GLUT4 or insulin receptors.
Two different isoschizomers of the type-II restriction endonuclease Taq I (T/CGA) within the same Thermus isolate: Tsp32 I, an enzyme with similar heat stability properties to the prototype enzyme Taq I, and Tsp32 II, a hyperthermostable isoschizomer of Taq I
Authors: Welch S G , Williams R A D
Published: August 2015

We have recently screened 112 separate isolates of the genus Thermus, collected from neutral and alkaline hot water springs on four continents, for the presence of the Type-II restriction endonuclease Taq I (T/CGA). One particular isolate from the Azores (strain 32) was found to contain high levels of a restriction endonuclease with the same recognition and cleavage site as Taq I. Initial studies revealed that the partially purified enzyme from strain 32 was considerably more resistant to heat inactivation than the prototype enzyme Taq I, being able to withstand temperatures at least 10 degrees C higher than Taq I, before showing evidence of heat inactivation. Subsequently it became clear that the partially purified extract from strain 32 contains two separate enzymes, both of which are isoschizomers of Taq I. One of the enzymes, Tsp32 I, has similar thermal stability characteristics to Taq I, whereas the second Taq I isoschizomer, Tsp32 II, found in the same Thermus isolate as Tsp32 I, is considerably more thermostable than Taq I, retaining full enzyme activity up to a temperature of 85 degrees C. Tsp32 I and Tsp32 II were further distinguished by virtue of their different requirements for magnesium ions.
Catalytic consequences of experimental evolution: catalysis by a ‘third-generation’ evolvant of the second beta-galactosidase of Escherichia coli, ebg
abcde, and by ebg
abcd, a ‘second-generation’ evolvant containing two supposedly ‘kinetically silent’ mutations
Authors: Krishnan S , Hall B G , Sinnott M L
Published: August 2015

The kinetics of hydrolysis of a series of synthetic substrates by two experimentally evolved forms (‘evolvants’), ebgabcd and ebgabcde, of the second beta-galactosidase of Escherichia coli have been measured. The ebgabcd enzyme differs from the wild-type (ebgo) enzyme by Asp92-->Asn (a) and Trp977-->Cys (b) changes in the large subunit, as well as two changes hitherto considered to have no kinetic effect, Ser979-->Gly in the large subunit (c) and Glu122-->Gly in the small subunit (d). The enzyme ebgabcde contains in addition a Glu93-->Lys change in the large subunit (e). Comparison of ebgabcd with ebgab [Elliott, K, Sinnott, Smith, Bommuswamy, Guo, Hall and Zhang (1992) Biochem. J. 282, 155-164] indicates that the c and d changes in fact accelerate the hydrolysis of the glycosyl-enzyme intermediate by a factor of 2.5, and also decrease the charge on the aglycone oxygen atom at the first transition state; the charge on the glycone, however, is unaltered [see K, Konstantinidis, Sinnott and Hall (1993) Biochem. J. 291, 15-17]. The e mutation causes a fall in the degalactosylation rate of about a factor of 3, and its occurrence only together with c and d mutations [Hall, Betts and Wootton (1989) Genetics 123, 635-648] suggests that degalactosylation of a hypothetical ebgabe enzyme would be so slow that the enzyme would have no biological advantage over the ancestral ebgab. The transfer products from galactosyl-ebgabcd and galactosyl-ebgabcde to high concentrations to glucose have been measured; the predominant product is allolactose, but significant quantities of lactose are also formed; however, at apparent kinetic saturation of the galactosyl-enzyme, hydrolysis rather than transfer is the preponderant pathway. A knowledge of the rates of enzyme-catalysed exchange of 18O from [1-18O]galactose to water permits the construction of the free-energy profiles for hydrolysis of lactose by begabcd and ebgabcde. As with the other evolvants, changes in the profile away from the rate-determining transition state are essentially random, and there is no correlation between the changes in the free energies of intermediates and of their flanking transition states. We consider the aggregate of our kinetic data on the ebg system to be telling experimental support for the theoretical objections of Pettersson [Pettersson (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 206, 289-295 and previous papers] to the Albery-Knowles theory of the evolution of enzyme kinetic activity.
The mechanism of human plasma phospholipid transfer protein-induced enlargement of high-density lipoprotein particles: evidence for particle fusion
Authors: LUSA Sari , JAUHIAINEN Matti , METSO Jari , SOMERHARJU Pentti , EHNHOLM Christian
Published: August 2015

1. Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) mediates conversion of high-density lipoprotein (HDL3) to large particles, with concomitant release of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I). To study the mechanisms involved in this conversion, reconstituted HDL (rHDL) particles containing either fluorescent pyrenylacyl cholesterol ester (PyrCE) in their core (PyrCE-rHDL) or pyrenylacyl phosphatidylcholine (PyrPC) in their surface lipid layer (PyrPC-rHDL) were prepared. Upon incubation with PLTP they behaved as native HDL3, in that their size increased considerably. 2. When PyrPC-rHDL was incubated with HDL3 in the presence of PLTP, a rapid decline of the pyrene excimer/monomer fluorescence ratio (E/M) occurred, demonstrating that PLTP induced mixing of the surface lipids of PyrPC-rHDL and HDL3. As this mixing was almost complete before any significant increase in HDL particle size was observed, it represents PLTP-mediated phospholipid transfer or exchange that is not directly coupled to the formation of large HDL particles. 3. When core-labelled PyrCE-rHDL was incubated in the presence of PLTP, a much slower, time-dependent decrease of E/M was observed, demonstrating that PLTP also promotes mixing of the core lipids. The rate and extent of mixing of core lipids correlated with the amount of PLTP added and with the increase in particle size. The enlarged particles formed could be visualized as discrete, non-aggregated particles by electron microscopy. Concomitantly with the appearance of enlarged particles, lipid-poor apoA-I molecules were released. These data, together with the fact that PLTP has been shown not to mediate transfer of cholesterol esters, strongly suggest that particle fusion rather than (net) lipid transfer or particle aggregation is responsible for the enlargement of HDL particles observed upon incubation with PLTP. 4. ApoA-I rHDL, but not apoA-II rHDL, were converted into large particles, suggesting that the presence of apoA-I is required for PLTP-mediated HDL fusion. A model for PLTP-mediated enlargement of HDL particles is presented.
Amyloid β 1-42 deposits do not lead to Alzheimer's neuritic plaques in aged dogs
Authors: WISNIEWSKI Thomas , LALOWSKI Maciej , BOBIK Marketta , RUSSELL Michael , STROSZNAJDER Joanna , FRANGIONE Blas
Published: August 2015

In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid β (Aβ) is deposited in senile plaques and amyloid angiopathy. Longer Aβ peptides, which extend to residue 42 (Aβ42), have been suggested to be critical for the seeding of amyloid. Aged dogs develop cerebral vessel amyloid and parenchymal preamyloid lesions. Preamyloid in humans is related to senile plaques, whereas in dogs such progression is rare. We evaluated the composition of aged canine vessel amyloid and preamyloid both biochemically and immunohistochemically. The vessel amyloid extended mainly to residue 40 (Aβ40), while preamyloid contained a mixture of Aβ17-42 and Aβ42, with minimal Aβ40. Our results suggest other factors besides Aβ42 are important for neuritic plaque formation.
Biosynthesis of dermatan sulphate. Defructosylated Escherichia coli K4 capsular polysaccharide as a substrate for the d-glucuronyl C-5 epimerase, and an indication of a two-base reaction mechanism
Authors: HANNESSON Helgi H. , HAGNER-McWHIRTER Åsa , TIEDEMANN Kerstin , LINDAHL Ulf , MALMSTRÖM Anders
Published: August 2015

The capsular polysaccharide from Escherichia coli K4 consists of a chondroitin {[GlcA(β1→3)GalNAc(β1→4)]n} backbone, to which β-fructofuranose units are linked to C-3 of D-glucuronic acid (GlcA) residues. Removal of the fructose units by mild acid hydrolysis provided a substrate for the GlcA C-5 epimerase, which is involved in the generation of L-iduronic acid (IdoA) units during dermatan sulphate biosynthesis. Incubation of this substrate with solubilized fibroblast microsomal enzyme in the presence of 3H2O resulted in the incorporation of tritium at C-5 of hexuronyl units. A Km of 67×10-6 M hexuronic acid (equivalent to disaccharide units) was determined, which is similar to that (80×10-6 M) obtained for dermatan (desulphated dermatan sulphate). Vmax. was about 4 times higher with dermatan than with the K4 substrate. A defructosylated K4 polysaccharide isolated after incubation of bacteria with D-[5-3H]glucose released 3H2O on reaction with the epimerase, and thus could be used to assay the enzyme. Incubation of a K4 substrate with solubilized microsomal epimerase for 6 h in the presence of 3H2O resulted in the formation of about 5% IdoA and approximately equal amounts of 3H in GlcA and IdoA. A corresponding incubation of dermatan yielded approx. 22% GlcA, which contained virtually all the 3H label. These results are tentatively explained in terms of a two-base reaction mechanism, involving a monoprotic L-ido-specific base and a polyprotic D-gluco-specific base. Most of the IdoA residues generated by the enzyme occurred singly, although some formation of two or three consecutive IdoA-containing disaccharide units was observed.
Occurrence of a cytosolic neutral chitobiase activity involved in oligomannoside degradation: a study with Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells
Authors: CACAN René , DENGREMONT Catherine , LABIAU Odette , KMIÉCIK Daniel , MIR Anne-Marie , VERBERT André
Published: August 2015

Neutral oligomannosides possessing one GlcNAc (OS-Gn1) and two GlcNAc (Os-Gn2) at the reducing end have been reported to be released during the N-glycosylation process in various biological models. To investigate which enzyme is responsible for OS-Gn1 formation, we used the Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell line which exhibits neither lysosomal chitobiase nor endoglucosaminidase activities. However, these cells produced OS-Gn1 and we showed that a neutral chitobiase is responsible for the transformation of OS-Gn2 into OS-Gn1. Using streptolysin O-permeabilized MDBK cells, we demonstrated that this neutral chitobiase activity is located in the cytosolic compartment and is active on oligomannoside species released during the N-glycosylation process.
Effect of cyclic AMP and prostaglandin E2 on the induction of nitric oxide- and prostanoid-forming pathways in cultured rat mesangial cells
Authors: NÜSING Rolf M. , KLEIN Thomas , PFEILSCHIFTER Josef , ULLRICH Volker
Published: August 2015

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) represents an important cellular signalling molecule. We analysed the effect of dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP), a cell-permeable and stable derivative of cAMP, on the regulation and expression of cyclo-oxygenase 2, inducible NO synthase and argininosuccinate synthetase. We observed different transcriptional regulation of these enzymes depending on the db-cAMP concentration used. Low concentrations of db-cAMP in the range 10-50 μM elevated levels of cyclo-oxygenase 2 mRNA, protein and activity, but not the respective mRNA and protein concentrations of the inducible NO synthase or argininosuccinate synthetase. At higher concentrations a massive induction of the latter two enzymes was also apparent. Expression of prostacyclin synthase and argininosuccinate lyase, secondary enzymes of NO-and prostanoid-forming pathways, was not stimulated by db-cAMP. Prostaglandin E2, known to be an intracellular physiological trigger of cAMP formation, stimulated only cyclo-oxygenase 2 expression and activity at a concentration of 10 μM, and not inducible NO synthase. The induction of the mRNA for the transcription factors JunB and p65, a component of the NFĸB complex, by prostaglandin treatment of the cells might be a possible mechanistic explanation for this observation.
Sequence and biochemical similarities between the luciferases of the glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca and the firefly Photinus pyralis
Authors: SALA-NEWBY Graciela B. , THOMSON Catherine M. , CAMPBELL Anthony K.
Published: August 2015

A full-length clone encoding Lampyris noctiluca (British glow-worm) luciferase was isolated from a complementary DNA (cDNA) expression library constructed with mRNA extracted from light organs. The luciferase was a 547-residue protein, as deduced from the nucleotide sequence. The protein was closely related to those of other lampyrid beetles, the similarity to Photinus pyralis luciferase being 84% and to Luciola 67%. In contrast, Lampyris luciferase had less sequence similarity to the luciferases of the click beetle Pyrophorus, at 48%. Engineering Lampyris luciferase in vitro showed that the C-terminal peptide containing 12 amino acids in Photinus and 9 amino acids in Lampyris was essential for bioluminescence. The pH optimum and the Km values for ATP and luciferin were similar for both Photinus and Lampyris luciferases, although the light emitted by the latter shifted towards the blue and was less stable at 37 °C. It was concluded that the molecular and biochemical properties were not sufficient to explain the glowing or flashing of the two beetles Lampyris and Photinus.
Interaction of mutants of tissue-type plasminogen activator with liver cells: effect of domain deletions
Authors: KUIPER Johan , VAN'T HOF Anita , OTTER Marlies , BIESSEN Erik A. L. , RIJKEN Dingeman C. , van BERKEL Theo J. C.
Published: August 2015

The fibrin-specific thrombolyticum tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) has proven to be a potent drug in several clinical trials, but its clinical application is complicated by the rapid clearance of t-PA from the circulation. The rapid plasma clearance of t-PA results from the uptake of t-PA in the liver. t-PA consists of several domains which may be involved in the interaction with the liver. Three domain-deletion mutants, which were produced by the use of a cassette gene system, were studied in vivo and in vitro for their capacity to bind to the various types of rat liver cells. The three mutants lacked, in comparison to control t-PA, the epidermal growth factor (G) domain, the finger (F) domain or the G domain plus the first kringle (K1). The plasma clearance of the three mutants was slower than that of control t-PA. The slower plasma clearance resulted from a decreased liver uptake: 50 and 80% for t-PA mutants and control t-PA respectively. It was found that the K1 domain was of major importance for the uptake of t-PA by liver endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro. The high-affinity binding of t-PA (and t-PA mutants) to parenchymal liver cells depended largely on the presence of the G domain. Other domain(s), like the F, K2 or protease domain, may be responsible for low-affinity, t-PA-specific binding to rat parenchymal liver cells.
Structural studies on a lipoarabinogalactan of Crithidia fasciculata
Authors: SCHNEIDER Pascal , TREUMANN Achim , MILNE Kenneth G. , McCONVILLE Malcolm J. , ZITZMANN Nicole , FERGUSON Michael A. J.
Published: August 2015

The monosaccharide D-arabinopyranose has only been found in glycoconjugates of the trypanosomatid parasites Leishmania major, Endotrypanum schaudinni and Crithidia fasciculata. The donor molecule for the relevant arabinosyltransferases is known to be GDP-α-D-Arap in L. major and C. fasciculata, and the latter organism is being used to study the biosynthesis of GDP-α-D-Arap. In this study, we describe the structure of the terminal product of arabinose metabolism in C. fasciculata, namely lipoarabinogalactan. This molecule was purified by hydrophobic-interaction chromatography and studied by a variety of techniques, including gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, electrospray mass spectrometry and chemical and enzymic digestions. These data show that lipoarabinogalactan contains a previously described D-arabino-D-galactan polysaccharide component covalently attached to a glycosylphosphatidylinositol type of membrane anchor that is similar to, but not identical with, that found in the lipophosphoglycans of the Leishmania.
The role of Stat and C/EBP transcription factors in the synergistic activation of rat serine protease inhibitor-3 gene by interleukin-6 and dexamethasone
Authors: KORDULA Tomasz , TRAVIS james
Published: August 2015

The rat serine proteinase inhibitor 3 gene is activated by interleukin 6 (IL-6) and glucocorticoids in hepatic cells. We report here that a 147 bp promoter is sufficient for both IL-6 stimulation and glucocorticoid enhancement of IL-6 induced transcription. Within this region we identified two functional elements binding transcription factors from the C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins) and Stat (signal transducers and activators of transcription) families. Mutations introduced into the Stat binding site resulted in a loss of responsiveness, showing that this element is indispensable for activation. In contrast, the promoter containing the mutated C/EBP binding site was still responsive to IL-6 and glucocorticoids; however, the magnitude of the induction was decreased by 50%. The Stat binding element is an enhancer capable of conferring both responsiveness to IL-6 and partial enhancement of glucocorticoids on to a heterologous promoter. In response to IL-6 this element rapidly binds acute-phase response factor (APRF/ Stat3) and, later, the protein(s) that require ongoing protein synthesis and is recognized by anti-Stat3 antibodies. In addition, long-term treatment with IL-6 results in sustained phosphorylation of APRF/Stat3.
Aplysia limacina myoglobin cDNA cloning: an alternative mechanism of oxygen stabilization as studied by active-site mutagenesis
Authors: CUTRUZZOLÀ Francesca , ALLOCATELLI Carlo TRAVAGLINI , BRANCACCIO Andrea , BRUNORI Maurizio
Published: August 2015

The isolation and cloning of the cDNA coding for myoglobin (Mb) from the mollusc Aplysia limacina is reported here. Five amino acid differences from the previously published protein sequence have been found in positions 22, 26, 27, 77 and 80 by back translating the cDNA; some of these may be relevant for overall structure stabilization in this Mb. High-level expression of the holoprotein in Escherichia coli has been achieved in the presence of the haem precursor δ-aminolevulinic acid, underlying the importance of tuning haem and apoprotein biosynthesis to achieve high-level expression of haemproteins in bacteria. The recombinant protein is identical to the protein purified from the mollusc buccal muscle. Native A. limacina Mb has an oxygen dissociation rate constant of 70 s-1 [as compared with the value of 15 s-1 for sperm whale Mb, which displays His(E7) and Thr(E10)] (amino acid positions are referred to within the eight helices A–H of the globin fold). In order to understand the mechanism of oxygen stabilization in A. limacina Mb, we have prepared and investigated three active-site mutants: two single mutants in which Val(E7) and Arg(E10) have been replaced by His and Thr, respectively, and a double mutant carrrying both mutations. When Arg(E10) is substituted with Thr, the oxygen dissociation rate constant is increased from 70 s-1 to more than 700 s-1, in complete agreement with the previously proposed role of the former residue in ligand stabilization. In the His(E7)-containing single and double mutants, both displaying high oxygen dissociation rates, the stabilization of bound oxygen by the distal His is insufficient to slow down the ligand dissociation rate constant to the value of sperm whale Mb. These results essentially prove the hypothesis that in A. limacina Mb a mechanism of oxygen stabilization involving Arg(E10), and thus different from that mediated by His(E7), has evolved.
Chronic exogenous hyperinsulinaemia does not modify the acute inhibitory effect of insulin on the secretion of very-low-density lipoprotein triacylglycerol and apolipoprotein B in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes
Authors: BOURGEOIS Catherine S. , WIGGINS David , GIBBONS Geoffrey F.
Published: August 2015

Male Wistar rats were fitted with subcutaneous osmotic minipumps that delivered insulin at a constant rate of 0.20 i.u./h for 7 days. This treatment raised the plasma insulin concentration from 31±4 to 201±64 μ-i.u./ml. Hepatocytes prepared from the hyperinsulinaemic animals secreted very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triacylglycerol (TAG) at a higher rate (172±21 μg per 24 h per mg cell protein) than did those from sham-operated controls (109±12 μg per 24 h per mg) (P < 0.05). However, chronic exogenous hyperinsulinaemia had no stimulatory effect on the secretion of VLDL apolipoprotein B (apoB) in derived hepatocytes compared with those from the sham-operated controls (2.32±0.38 compared with 3.09±0.40 μg per 24 h per mg). Hepatocytes from the hyperinsulinaemic rats thus secreted larger VLDL particles as evidenced by the increased TAG:apoB ratio (78.4±13.1 compared with 38.4±7.6; P < 0.05). In hepatocytes from the hyperinsulinaemic rats a larger proportion of the newly synthesized TAG was secreted as VLDL. Hepatocytes from the hyperinsulinaemic and the sham-operated control animals were equally sensitive to the inhibitory effect of insulin added in vitro on the secretion of VLDL TAG. Insulin added in vitro to the culture medium of hepatocytes from hyperinsulinaemic animals significantly decreased the TAG:apoB ratio of the secreted VLDL. This change did not occur in hepatocytes from sham-operated rats. These results suggest that, in vivo, chronic hyperinsulinaemia is not in itself sufficient to desensitize the liver to the acute inhibitory effect of insulin on the secretion of VLDL.
The ability of POU family transcription factors to activate or repress gene expression is dependent on the spacing and context of their specific response elements
Authors: DAWSON Sally J. , LIU Yu-Zhen , RODEL Bernd , MÖRÖY Tarik , LATCHMAN David S.
Published: August 2015

The different forms of the Oct-2 and Brn-3 POU family transcription factors can have distinct effects on their target promoters involving both the activation and repression of gene expression. To investigate the requirements for these effects we have altered both the context and spacing of the two TAATGARAT binding sites for these factors within the herpes simplex virus immediate-early 3 gene promoter. We show that the activation of this promoter by Brn-3a and its repression by Brn-3b is dependent on the correct spacing of these binding sites. In contrast, repression of the promoter by Oct-2.4 and Oct-2.5 is dependent on both the spacing and context of these sites with the requirements for repression by Oct-2.4 or Oct-2.5 being different. These effects are discussed in the context of the mechanisms by which POU factors activate or repress their target genes.
PC8 [corrected], a new member of the convertase family
Authors: BRUZZANITI Angela , GOODGE Katrina , JAY Philippe , TAVIAUX Sylvie A. , Lam Mark H. C. , BERTA Philippe , MARTIN John T. , MOSELEY Jane M. , GILLESPIE Matthew T.
Published: August 2015

A novel subtilisin-like protein, PC8, was identified by PCR using degenerate primers to conserved amino acid residues in the catalytic region of members of the prohormone convertase family. PC8 was predicted to be 785 residues long and was structurally related to the mammalian convertases furin, PACE4, PC1 and PC2, sharing more than 50% amino acid identity over the catalytic region with these family members. PC8 possessed the catalytically important Asp, His, Asn and Ser amino acids, the homo B domain of this family of enzymes and a C-terminal hydrophobic sequence indicative of a transmembrane domain. Structurally, PC8 is more related to furin and PACE4 than to PC1 or PC2. Like furin and PACE4, PC8 mRNA was found to be widely expressed; this is in contrast with PC1 and PC2, which have a restricted distribution. Two transcripts, of 4.5 and 3.5 kb, were detected in both human cell lines and rat tissues. Unlike furin and PACE4, both of which map to chromosome 15, PC8 maps to chromosome 11q23–11q24, suggesting that this gene may have resulted from an ancient gene duplication event from either furin or PACE4, or conversely that these genes arose from PC8.
Trace metal, acute phase and metabolic response to endotoxin in metallothionein-null mice
Authors: ROFE Allan M. , PHILCOX Jeffrey C. , COYLE Peter
Published: August 2015

Accumulation of hepatic zinc via metallothionein (MT) induction during infection/inflammation is postulated to benefit a range of metabolic processes. The metabolic consequences of two doses of endotoxin (LPS) (1 and 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) were examined in normal (MT+/+) and MT-null (MT-/-) mice (all results means±S.E.M., n = 6). At 16 h after 1 mg/kg LPS, hypozincaemia was pronounced in the MT+/+ mice (4.4±0.2 μM), concomitant with a 36% increase in hepatic Zn and a > 10-fold increase in hepatic MT. Plasma Zn (16.6±0.7 μM) and total hepatic Zn were unchanged in MT-/- mice, confirming the importance of MT in altering plasma and hepatic Zn during inflammation. Plasma iron was lower in LPS-treated MT-/- mice, whereas plasma copper increased to a similar extent in both groups of mice. Plasma fibrinogen more than doubled, and was similar in both groups of mice, which questions the importance of MT in acute-phase protein synthesis. Blood and liver glucose concentrations were not significantly different between groups before or after LPS, whereas blood and liver lactate concentrations were significantly lower (31% and 24% respectively) in MT-/- mice after LPS. At 16 h after 5 mg/kg LPS, plasma Zn was decreased even further in MT+/+ mice (2.6±0.3 μM), but remained unchanged in MT-/- mice at concentrations significantly above those in 16 h-fasted MT-/- mice (15.8±0.5 versus 11.3±0.3 μM). Total liver Zn was 17% lower than fasting values in MT-/- mice, in contrast with 32% higher in MT+/+ mice. Synthesis of MT (in MT+/+ mice) and fibrinogen in all mice was not further enhanced by the higher LPS dose. Blood glucose was significantly decreased by 18% in MT+/+ mice and by 38% in MT-/- mice after 5 mg/kg LPS. There was a marked 44% decrease in liver glucose in MT-/- mice; that in MT+/+ mice was unchanged from fasting levels, implying a deficit in hepatic gluconeogenesis in LPS-treated MT-/- mice. In the absence of any indication of major hepatotoxicity, the results of this study indicate that energy production, and not acute-phase protein synthesis, may be most influenced by Zn supply during endotoxaemia, suggesting that MT has a role in maintaining hepatic and blood glucose in this metabolic setting.
Tyrosine phosphorylation of inducible nitric oxide synthase: implications for potential post-translational regulation
Authors: PAN Jinmei , BURGHER Kendra L. , SZCZEPANIK Ann Marie , RINGHEIM Garth E.
Published: August 2015

The activation of cultured Raw 264.7 murine macrophages with interferon γ and lipopolysaccharide results in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS) and the subsequent production of nitric oxide. In the present study, the i-NOS expressed in these activated cells was characterized for possible post-translational protein modification by endogenous tyrosine protein kinases. Western-blot analysis using phosphotyrosine antibodies revealed that i-NOS was phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and that this was an early event coinciding with the appearance of newly synthesized i-NOS. A brief exposure of activated cells to vanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, significantly increased the level of i-NOS tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting that tyrosine phosphatases are dynamically involved in the regulation of this process. Vanadate treatment of activated cells also resulted in a rapid increase in enzyme activity, occurring within 5 min of exposure. Taken together, these results demonstrate that tyrosine kinases and phosphatases are involved in the post-translational modification of i-NOS and may potentially play a role in modulating the functional activity of the enzyme in macrophages.
Requirement of glucose metabolism for regulation of glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2) gene expression in liver
Authors: RENCUREL Franck , WAEBER Gérard , ANTOINE Bénédicte , ROCCHICCIOLI Francis , MAULARD Paulette , GIRARD Jean , LETURQUE Armelle
Published: August 2015

Previous studies have shown that glucose increases the glucose transporter (GLUT2) mRNA expression in the liver in vivo and in vitro. Here we report an analysis of the effects of glucose metabolism on GLUT2 gene expression. GLUT2 mRNA accumulation by glucose was not due to stabilization of its transcript but rather was a direct effect on gene transcription. A proximal fragment of the 5´ regulatory region of the mouse GLUT2 gene linked to a reporter gene was transiently transfected into liver GLUT2-expressing cells. Glucose stimulated reporter gene expression in these cells, suggesting that glucose-responsive elements were included within the proximal region of the promoter. A dose-dependent effect of glucose on GLUT2 expression was observed over 10 mM glucose irrespective of the hexokinase isozyme (glucokinase Km 16 mM; hexokinase I Km 0.01 mM) present in the cell type used. This suggests that the correlation between extracellular glucose and GLUT2 mRNA concentrations is simply a reflection of an activation of glucose metabolism. The mediators and the mechanism responsible for this response remain to be determined. In conclusion, glucose metabolism is required for the proper induction of the GLUT2 gene in the liver and this effect is transcriptionally regulated.
Molecular cloning and functional expression of human deoxyhypusine synthase cDNA based on expressed sequence tag information
Authors: YAN Yong Ping , TAO Yong , CHEN Kuang Yu
Published: August 2015

Deoxyhypusine synthase is an NAD+-dependent enzyme that catalyses the formation of a deoxyhypusine residue on the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) precursor by transferring an aminobutyl moiety from spermidine to the ε-amino group of a unique lysine residue. We have recently cloned and characterized the Neurospora crassa deoxyhypusine synthase cDNA using a reverse genetics approach. A GenBank search showed that a stretch of the deduced amino acid sequence (96 amino acids) of Neurospora deoxyhypusine synthase matches a short human expressed sequence tag (EST), Z25337, with greater than 70% amino acid identity. Gene-specific primers based on this EST were used together with universal primers to obtain 1219 bp and 1078 bp cDNAs from a human cDNA library. The 1219 bp and 1078 bp sequences, each containing an open reading frame, encode polypeptides of respectively 368 and 321 amino acids. The short sequence is identical to the long one except that it is missing a stretch of 47 amino acids spanning residues 261–307. The 368-amino-acid sequence of human deoxyhypusine synthase shares a high degree of identity (> 50%) and similarity (> 60%) with that of the Neurospora and yeast deoxyhypusine synthases. After cloning into an expression vector, the 368-amino-acid recombinant protein exhibits high deoxyhypusine synthase activity. In contrast, the 321-amino-acid recombinant protein shows no detectable activity.
The role of protein disulphide isomerase in the microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein does not reside in its isomerase activity
Authors: LAMBERG Arja , JAUHIAINEN Matti , METSO Jari , EHNHOLM Christian , SHOULDERS Carol , SCOTT James , PIHLAJANIEMI Taina , KIVIRIKKO Kari I.
Published: August 2015

The microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein (MTP), an αβ dimer, is obligatory for the assembly of apoB-containing lipoproteins in liver and intestinal cells. The β subunit is identical with protein disulphide isomerase, a 58 kDa endoplasmic reticulum luminal protein involved in ensuring correct disulphide bond formation of newly synthesized proteins. We report here the expression of the human MTP subunits in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. When the α subunit was expressed alone, the polypeptide formed insoluble aggregates that were devoid of triacylglycerol transfer activity. In contrast, when the α and β subunits were co-expressed, soluble αβ dimers were formed with significant triacylglycerol transfer activity. Expression of the α subunit with a mutant protein disulphide isomerase polypeptide in which both -CGHC- catalytic sites had been inactivated also yielded αβ dimers that had comparable levels of lipid transfer activity relative to wild-type dimers. The results indicate that the role of the β subunit in MTP seems to be to keep the α subunit in a catalytically active, non-aggregated conformation and that disulphide isomerase activity of the β subunit is not required for this function.
Molecular modelling for the design of chimaeric biomimetic dye—ligands and their interaction with bovine heart mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase
Authors: LABROU Nikolaos E. , ELIOPOULOS Elias , CLONIS Yannis D.
Published: August 2015

Molecular modelling and kinetic inhibition studies, as well as KD determinations by both difference-spectra and enzyme-inactivation studies, were employed to assess the ability of purpose-designed chimaeric biomimetic dyes (BM dyes) to act as affinity ligands for bovine heart L-malate dehydrogenase (MDH). Each BM dye was composed of two enzyme-recognition moieties. The terminal biomimetic moiety bore a carboxyl or a keto acid structure linked to the triazine ring, thus mimicking the substrate of MDH. The chromophore anthraquinone moiety remained unchanged and the same as that of the parent dye Vilmafix Blue A-R (VBAR), recognizing the nucleotide-binding site of MDH. The monochlorotriazine BM dyes did not inactivate MDH but competitively inhibited inactivation by the parent dichlorotriazine dye VBAR. Dye binding to MDH was accompanied by a characteristic spectral change in the range 500–850 nm. This phenomenon was reversed after titration with increasing amounts of NADH. When compared with VBAR, Cibacron Blue 3GA and two control non-biomimetic anthraquinone dyes, all BM dyes exhibited lower KD values and therefore higher affinity for MDH. The enzyme bound preferably to BM ligands substituted with a biomimetic aromatic moiety bearing an α-keto acid group and an amide linkage, rather than a monocarboxyl group. Thus the biomimetic dye bearing p-aminobenzyloxanilic acid as its terminal biomimetic moiety (BM5) exhibited the highest affinity (KD 1.3 μM, which corresponded to a 219-fold decrease over the KD of a control dye). BM5 displayed competitive inhibition with respect to both NADH (Ki 2.7 μM) and oxaloacetate (Ki 9.6 μM). A combination of molecular modelling and experimental studies has led to certain conclusions. The positioning of the dye in the enzyme is primarily achieved by the recognition and positioning of the nucleotide-pseudomimetic anthraquinone moiety. The hydrophobic groups of the dye provide the driving force for positioning of the ketocarboxyl biomimetic moiety. A match between the alternating polar and hydrophobic regions of the enzyme binding site with those of the biomimetic moiety is desirable. The length of the biomimetic moiety should be conserved in order for the keto acid to approach the enzyme active site and form charge–charge interactions.
Muscarinic m1 receptor-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in Chinese hamster ovary cells is mediated by Gsα and is not a consequence of phosphoinositidase C activation
Authors: BURFORD Neil T. , NAHORSKI Stefan R.
Published: August 2015

The mechanism underlying muscarinic m1 receptor-mediated increases in adenosine 3´,5´-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) was investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing human recombinant m1 muscarinic receptors (CHO-m1 cells). Stimulation of CHO-m1 cells with carbachol resulted in marked accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and cAMP, in an atropine-sensitive manner, with EC50 values (log M) of -5.16±0.06 and -3.93±0.07 respectively. Basal and agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation were unaffected by a 5 min pretreatment with 1 μM phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and were not attenuated by pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml, 20 h). Agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation was also observed in CHO-m1 cell membranes incubated in a buffer containing 100 nM free Ca2+. Guanosine 5´-[γ-thio]triphosphate (10 μM) potentiated agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation in CHO-m1 cell membranes, implicating a G-protein involvement in this response. Co-incubation of carbachol with forskolin (10 μM) produced a greater than additive accumulation of cAMP in CHO-m1 cells. Furthermore, a C-terminal-directed anti-Gsα serum attenuated both carbachol-stimulated (in CHO-m1 cell membranes) and isoprenaline-stimulated (in CHO-β2 cell membranes) cAMP accumulation with a similar dose-dependency. These results suggest that muscarinic agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation in CHO-m1 cells occurs via activation of Gsα and not as a consequence of phosphoinositidase C activation.
Characterization of structural determinants and molecular mechanisms involved in pro-stromelysin-3 activation by 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate and furin-type convertases
Authors: SANTAVICCA Maria , NOEL Agnès , ANGLIKER Herbert , STOLL Isabelle , SEGAIN Jean-Pierre , ANGLARD Patrick , CHRETIEN Michel , SEIDAH Nabil , BASSET Paul
Published: August 2015

Stromelysin-3 (ST3) is a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) which has been implicated in cancer progression and in a number of conditions involving tissue remodelling. In contrast to other MMPs which are secreted as zymogens requiring extracellular activation, ST3 is found in the extracellular space as a potentially active mature form, suggesting that the activation of the ST3 proform differs from that of other MMPs. We show in the present study that the ST3 proform is not autocatalytically processed in the presence of 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA). By using ST3/ST2 chimeras, we demonstrate that resistance to APMA is due to properties associated with both the ST3 pro- and catalytic domains. In agreement with the observation made by Pei and Weiss [Pei and Weiss (1995) Nature (London) 375, 244–247], we find that the requirement for activation of the ST3 proform by the furin convertase is entirely contained within a stretch of 10 amino acids located at the junction between the ST3 pro- and catalytic domains. Furin cleaves human and mouse ST3 equally well. However, PACE-4, a furin-like convertase, is much more efficient on the mouse enzyme, suggesting that ST3 protein determinants other than the conserved Ala-Arg-Asn-Arg-Gln-Lys-Arg sequence preceding the furin cleavage site are implicated in PACE-4 action. Finally, we show that processing of the ST3 proform is inhibited by a furin inhibitor in human MCF7 breast cancer cells stably transfected to constitutively express a full-length human ST3 cDNA. Using brefeldin A, we demonstrate that, in these MCF7 cells, the 56 kDa precursor form of ST3 is post-translationally modified in the cis- or media-Golgi into a 62 kDa proform. Thereafter, its processing into the 47 kDa mature form occurs in the trans-Golgi network and is followed by secretion into the extracellular space.
Chronic growth hormone treatment in normal rats reduces post-prandial skeletal muscle plasma membrane GLUT1 content, but not glucose transport or GLUT4 expression and localization
Authors: NAPOLI Raffaele , CITTADINI Antonio , CHOW Jesse C. , HIRSHMAN Michael F. , SMITH Robert J. , DOUGLAS Pamela S. , HORTON Edward S.
Published: August 2015

Whether skeletal muscle glucose transport system is impaired in the basal, post-prandial state during chronic growth hormone treatment is unknown. The current study was designed to determine whether 4 weeks of human growth hormone (hGH) treatment (3.5 mg/kg per day) would impair glucose transport and/or the number of glucose transporters in plasma membrane vesicles isolated from hindlimb skeletal muscle of Sprague–Dawley rats under basal, post-prandial conditions. hGH treatment was shown to have no effect on glucose influx (Vmax or Km) determined under equilibrium exchange conditions in isolated plasma membrane vesicles. Plasma membrane glucose transporter number (Ro) measured by cytochalasin B binding was also unchanged by hGH treatment. Consequently, glucose transporter turnover number (Vmax/Ro), a measure of average glucose transporter intrinsic activity, was similar in hGH-treated and control rats. hGH did not change GLUT4 protein content in whole muscle or in the plasma membrane, and muscle content of GLUT4 mRNA also was unchanged. In contrast, GLUT1 protein content in the plasma membrane fraction was significantly reduced by hGH treatment. This was associated with a modest, although not significant, decrease in muscle content of GLUT1 mRNA. In conclusion, high-dose hGH treatment for 4 weeks did not alter post-prandial skeletal muscle glucose transport activity. Neither the muscle level nor the intracellular localization of GLUT4 was changed by the hormone treatment. On the contrary, the basal post-prandial level of GLUT1 in the plasma membrane was reduced by hGH. The mRNA data suggest that this reduction might result from a decrease in the synthesis of GLUT1.
Tight connection between choline transport and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in MDCK cells
Authors: ZLATKINE Philippe , LEROY Christine , MOLL Gert , GRIMELLEC Christian LE
Published: August 2015

In MDCK cells, choline uptake, the first step in the CDP-choline pathway for the biosynthesis of choline-containing phospholipids and osmolytes, occurs via both a transport system highly specific for choline and a non-specific pathway. The specific choline carrier is present at the apical domain of cells grown on dishes and is sodium-independent. Growing the cells on a permeant support results in the preferential localization of the specific choline carrier at the basolateral domain. To characterize the relationships between the choline uptake sites and the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, MDCK cells were incubated with [Me-3H]choline and/or [Me-14C]choline for various times (up to 36 h) and the incorporation of label into phospholipids and water-soluble molecules was determined. For cells grown on dishes, addition of [Me-3H]choline at the apical side was followed by rapid incorporation of the label into the successive intermediates of the CDP-choline pathway. A comparable situation was found when growing the cells on a permeant support and adding the labelled choline at the basolateral side of the culture. On the other hand, radioactive choline added to the apical bath entered the CDP pathway to only a very low extent. Efflux experiments on cells loaded with choline from either the apical or the basolateral side demonstrate the existence of intracellular pools of choline. Addition of hemicholinium-3, an inhibitor of the specific choline carrier, markedly reduced the metabolism of choline taken up by the cells on the basolateral side but had no effect on that transported at the apical side. These results strongly suggest the existence of a tight connection between the entry of choline through the specific choline carrier and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in MDCK cells.
Subpopulations of proteasomes in rat liver nuclei, microsomes and cytosol
Authors: PALMER Amparo , RIVETT A. Jennifer , THOMSON Stuart , HENDIL Klavs B. , BUTCHER Geoffrey W. , FUERTES Graciela , KNECHT Erwin
Published: August 2015

Mammalian proteasomes are composed of 14–17 different types of subunits, some of which, including major-histocompatibility-complex-encoded subunits LMP2 and LMP7, are non-essential and present in variable amounts. We have investigated the distribution of total proteasomes and some individual subunits in rat liver by quantitative immunoblot analysis of purified subcellular fractions (nuclei, mitochondria, microsomes and cytosol). Proteasomes were mainly found in the cytosol but were also present in the purified nuclear and microsomal fractions. In the nuclei, proteasomes were soluble or loosely attached to the chromatin, since they could be easily extracted by treatment with nucleases or high concentrations of salt. In the microsomes, proteasomes were on the outside of the membranes. Further subfractionation of the microsomes showed that the proteasomes in this fraction were associated with the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and with the cis-Golgi but were practically absent from the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Using monospecific antibodies for some proteasomal subunits (C8, C9, LMP2 and Z), the composition of proteasomes in nuclei, microsomes and cytosol was investigated. Although there appear not to be differences in proteasome composition in the α subunits (C8 and C9) in the different locations, the relative amounts of some β subunits varied. Subunit Z was enriched in nuclear proteasomes but low in microsome-asssociated proteasomes, whereas LMP2, which was relatively low in nuclei, showed a small enrichment in the microsomes. These differences in subunit composition of proteasomes probably reflect differences in the function of proteasomes in distinct cell compartments.