bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation of protein kinase B β and γ isoforms by insulin in vivo and by 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 in vitro: comparison with protein kinase B α
Authors: WALKER Kay S. , DEAK Maria , PATERSON Andrew , HUDSON Kevin , COHEN Philip , ALESSI Dario R.
Published: August 2015

The regulatory and catalytic properties of the three mammalian isoforms of protein kinase B (PKB) have been compared. All three isoforms (PKBα, PKBβ and PKBγ) were phosphorylated at similar rates and activated to similar extents by 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1). Phosphorylation and activation of each enzyme required the presence of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 or PtdIns(3,4)P2, as well as PDK1. The activation of PKBβ and PKBγ by PDK1 was accompanied by the phosphorylation of the residues equivalent to Thr308 in PKBα, namely Thr309 (PKBβ) and Thr305 (PKBγ). PKBγ which had been activated by PDK1 possessed a substrate specificity identical with that of PKBα and PKBβ towards a range of peptides. The activation of PKBγ and its phosphorylation at Thr305 was triggered by insulin-like growth factor-1 in 293 cells. Stimulation of rat adipocytes or rat hepatocytes with insulin induced the activation of PKBα and PKBβ with similar kinetics. After stimulation of adipocytes, the activity of PKBβ was twice that of PKBα, but in hepatocytes PKBα activity was four-fold higher than PKBβ. Insulin induced the activation of PKBα in rat skeletal muscle in vivo, with little activation of PKBβ. Insulin did not induce PKBγ activity in adipocytes, hepatocytes or skeletal muscle, but PKBγ was the major isoform activated by insulin in rat L6 myotubes (a skeletal-muscle cell line).
pH-dependent inhibition by azide and fluoride of the iron superoxide dismutase from Propionibacterium shermanii
Authors: MEIER Beate , SCHERK Christoph , SCHMIDT Marius , PARAK Fritz
Published: August 2015

The iron-containing superoxide dismutase from Propionibacterium shermanii shows, in contrast with other iron superoxide dismutases, only a minor inhibition by azide or fluoride (10–100 mM) of up to 23% at pH 7.8. The activity of the protein with Mn bound to the active site was not diminished under the same conditions. The binding constant between azide and the Fe3+ ion was determined as approx. 2 mM and for fluoride approx. 2.3 mM; they are so far comparable to those known for other iron superoxide dismutases. This seems to be a discrepancy because all other iron superoxide dismutases so far known are described as being inhibited by 50–70% by 10 mM azide. However, towards lower pH there was a drastically increased inhibition by both anions. At pH 6.8 about 80% inhibition was exhibited by azide or fluoride at a concentration of 10 mM or higher. In contrast, on increasing the pH, azide or fluoride still bound to the Fe3+ at the active site but their inhibition capacity decreased. This observation implies that both anions bind to the metal at a position that is empty at low pH, whereas at higher pH water or a negatively charged hydroxyl anion is bound. It is likely that the superoxide anion binds to the same position and has to replace the sixth ligand, leading to a diminished catalytic activity of the superoxide dismutase owing to steric and/or electrostatic inhibition of the ligand.
Involvement of the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signalling pathway in the regulation of ERCC-1 mRNA levels by insulin
Authors: LEE-KWON Whaseon , PARK Deokbae , BERNIER Michel
Published: August 2015

Expression of DNA repair enzymes, which includes ERCC-1, might be under the control of hormonal and growth factor stimulation. In the present study it was observed that insulin increased ERCC-1 mRNA levels both in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing human insulin receptors (HIRc cells) and in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the increase in ERCC-1 gene expression in HIRc cells, we used a variety of pharmacological tools known to inhibit distinct signalling pathways. None of these inhibitors affected the amount of ERCC-1 mRNA in unstimulated cells. The pretreatment of cells with two chemically unrelated phosphatidylinositol 3´-kinase inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, failed to block the doubling of ERCC-1 mRNA content by insulin. Similarly, inhibition of pp70 S6 kinase by rapamycin had no apparent effects on this insulin response. In contrast, altering the p21ras-dependent pathway with either manumycin, an inhibitor of Ras farnesylation, or PD98059, an inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) kinase, suppressed the induction of ERCC-1 mRNA by insulin (P< 0.001). Furthermore inhibition of RNA and protein synthesis negatively regulated the expression of this insulin-regulated gene (P< 0.005). These results suggest that insulin enhances ERCC-1 mRNA levels by the activation of the Ras–ERK-dependent pathway without the involvement of the phosphatidylinositol 3´-kinase/pp70 S6 kinase.
Histones and basic polypeptides activate Ca2+/cation influx in various cell types
Authors: GAMBERUCCI Alessandra , FULCERI Rosella , MARCOLONGO Paola , PRALONG William F. , BENEDETTI Angelo
Published: August 2015

Histone H2A (1–10 µg/ml) added to Ehrlich ascite cell suspensions promoted: (i) Ca2+ influx, but no apparent intracellular Ca2+ mobilization; (ii) plasma-membrane depolarization and Na+ influx in Ca2+-free medium, which were recovered by Ca2+ readmission; (iii) influx of other cations such as Ba2+, Mn2+, choline+ and N-methyl-d-glucamine+, but not of propidium+, ethidium bromide and Trypan Blue. H2A-induced Ca2+ influx and cell depolarization were: (i) blocked by La3+ and Gd3+, but not by various inhibitors of receptor-activated Ca2+-influx pathways/channels; (ii) mimicked by various basic polypeptides, with Mr > 4000; (iii) prevented or reversed by polyanions such as polyglutamate or heparin; (iv) present in other cell types, such as Jurkat, PC12 and Friend erythroleukaemia cells, but virtually absent from rat hepatocytes and thymocytes. We conclude that cationic proteins/polypeptides, by interacting in a cell-specific manner with the cell surface, can activate in those cells putative non-selective Ca2+ channels and membrane depolarization.
Purification of catalytic domain of rat spleen p72syk kinase and its phosphorylation and activation by protein kinase C
Authors: BOROWSKI Peter , HEILAND Max , KORNETZKY Lutz , MEDEM Sven , LAUFS Rainer
Published: August 2015

The catalytic domain of p72syk kinase (CDp72syk) was purified from a 30000 g particulate fraction of rat spleen. The purification procedure employed sequential chromatography on columns of DEAE-Sephacel and Superdex-200, and elution from HA-Ultrogel by chloride. The analysis of the final CDp72syk preparation by SDS/PAGE revealed a major silver-stained 40 kDa protein. The kinase was identified by covalent modification of its ATP-binding site with [14C]5´-fluorosulphonylbenzoyladenosine and by immunoblotting with a polyclonal antibody against the ‘linker ’ region of p72syk. By using poly(Glu4, Tyr1) as a substrate, the specific activity of the enzyme was determined as 18.5 nmol Pi/min per mg. Casein, histones H1 and H2B and myelin basic protein were efficiently phosphorylated by CDp72syk. The kinase exhibited a limited ability to phosphorylate random polymers containing tyrosine residues. CDp72syk autophosphorylation activity was associated with an activation of the kinase towards exogenous substrates. The extent of activation was dependent on the substrates added. CDp72syk was phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) on serine and threonine residues. With a newly developed assay method, we demonstrated that the PKC-mediated phosphorylation had a strong activating effect on the tyrosine kinase activity of CDp72syk. Studies extended to conventional PKC isoforms revealed an isoform-dependent manner (α > βI = βII > γ) of CDp72syk phosphorylation. The different phosphorylation efficiencies of the PKC isoforms closely correlated with the ability to enhance the tyrosine kinase activity.
Differential regulation of nicotinic acid–adenine dinucleotide phosphate and cADP-ribose production by cAMP and cGMP
Authors: WILSON Heather L. , GALIONE Antony
Published: August 2015

The sea urchin egg has been used as a system to study calcium-release mechanisms induced by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), cADP-ribose (cADPR), and more recently, nicotinic acid–adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP). In order that cADPR and NAADP may be established as endogenous messengers for calcium release, the existence of intracellular enzymes capable of metabolizing these molecules must be demonstrated. In addition, intracellular levels of cADPR and NAADP should be under the control of extracellular stimuli. It has been shown that cGMP stimulates the synthesis of cADPR in the sea urchin egg. The present study shows that the sea urchin egg is capable of synthesizing and degrading NAADP. cADPR and NAADP synthetic activities appear to be separate, with different cellular localizations, pH and temperature optima. We suggest that in the sea urchin egg, cADPR and NAADP production may be differentially regulated by receptor-coupled second messengers, with cADPR production being regulated by cGMP and NAADP production modulated by cAMP.
Interaction of macrophage-migration-inhibitory factor with haematin
Authors: PENNOCK Joanne L. , WIPASA Jiraprapa , GORDGE Michael P. , MEYER David J.
Published: August 2015

Macrophage-migration-inhibitory factor (MIF) is retained by S-hexylglutathione–agarose but is not specifically eluted in high yield. Human liver MIF was purified in high yield using retention by phenyl-agarose at low ionic strength and cation-exchange FPLC as described for bovine lens MIF [Rosengren, Bucala, Åman, Jacobsson, Odh, Metz and Rorsman (1996) Mol. Med. 2, 143–149]. The l-dopachrome methyl ester tautomerase activity of human liver MIF was not inhibited by a variety of glutathione S-conjugates, eicosanoids or glucocorticoids but was very sensitive to inhibition by haematin (IC50 100–200 nM). The inhibition was non-competitive and showed positive co-operativity (h = 5.8). Similar sensitivity to haematin was obtained with purified recombinant human MIF. The sensitivity of MIF to haematin is approx. 1000-fold greater than for any previously described ligands, and is within its physiological range. Therefore the interaction is likely to be important in modulating the function of MIF in the initiation of immune responses.
Characterization and sequence of the Chryseobacterium (Flavobacterium) meningosepticum carbapenemase: a new molecular class B β-lactamase showing a broad substrate profile
Authors: ROSSOLINI Gian Maria , FRANCESCHINI Nicola , RICCIO Maria Letizia , MERCURI Paola Sandra , PERILLI Mariagrazia , GALLENI Moreno , FRERE Jean-Marie , AMICOSANTE Gianfranco
Published: August 2015

The metallo-β-lactamase produced by Chryseobacterium(formerly Flavobacterium) meningosepticum,which is the flavobacterial species of greatest clinical relevance, was purified and characterized. The enzyme, named BlaB, contains a polypeptide with an apparent Mr of 26000, and has a pI of 8.5. It hydrolyses penicillins, cephalosporins (including cefoxitin), carbapenems and 6-β-iodopenicillanate, a mechanism-based inactivator of active-site serine β-lactamases. The enzyme was inhibited by EDTA, 1-10 phenanthroline and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, with different inactivation parameters for each chelating agent. The C. meningosepticum blaBgene was cloned and sequenced. According to the G+C content and codon usage, the blaBgene appeared to be endogenous to the species. The BlaB enzyme showed significant sequence similarity to other class B β-lactamases, being overall more similar to members of subclass B1, which includes the metallo-enzymes of Bacillus cereus(Bc-II) and Bacteroides fragilis(CcrA) and the IMP-1 enzyme found in various microbial species, and more distantly related to the metallo-β-lactamases of Aeromonasspp. (CphA, CphA2 and ImiS) and of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia(L1).
Saccharomyces cerevisiae GPI10, the functional homologue of human PIG-B, is required for glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor synthesis
Authors: SÜTTERLIN Christine , ESCRIBANO M. Victoria , GEROLD Peter , MAEDA Yusuke , MAZON Maria J. , KINOSHITA Taroh , SCHWARZ Ralph T. , RIEZMAN Howard
Published: August 2015

An increasing number of plasma membrane proteins have been shown to be attached to the membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moiety. All eukaryotes share a highly conserved GPI-core structure EthN-P-Man3-GlcN-PI, where EthN is ethanolamine. We have identified a protein encoded by the yeast open reading frame YGL142C that shares 33% identity with the human Pig-B protein. Deletion of this essential gene leads to a block in GPI anchor biosynthesis. We therefore named the gene GPI10. Gpi10p and Pig-B are functional homologues and the lethal deletion of GPI10 can be rescued by expression of the PIG-BcDNA. As found for PIG-B mutant cells, gpi10 deletant cells cannot attach the third mannose in an α-1,2 linkage to the GPI core-structure intermediate. Overexpression of GPI10 gives partial resistance to the GPI-synthesis inhibitor YW3548, suggesting that this gene product may affect the target of the inhibitor.
Characterization of the stress-inducing effects of homocysteine
Authors: OUTINEN P. Andrew , SOOD Sudesh K. , LIAW Patricia C. Y. , SARGE Kevin D. , MAEDA Nobuyo , HIRSH Jack , RIBAU José , PODOR Thomas J. , WEITZ Jeffrey I. , AUSTIN Richard C.
Published: August 2015

The mechanism by which homocysteine causes endothelial cell (EC) injury and/or dysfunction is not fully understood. To examine the stress-inducing effects of homocysteine on ECs, mRNA differential display and cDNA microarrays were used to evaluate changes in gene expression in cultured human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to homocysteine. Here we show that homocysteine increases the expression of GRP78 and GADD153, stress-response genes induced by agents or conditions that adversely affect the function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Induction of GRP78 was specific for homocysteine because other thiol-containing amino acids, heat shock or H2O2 did not appreciably increase GRP78 mRNA levels. Homocysteine failed to elicit an oxidative stress response in HUVEC because it had no effect on the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) including HSP70, nor did it activate heat shock transcription factor 1. Furthermore homocysteine blocked the H2O2-induced expression of HSP70. In support of our findings in vitro, steady-state mRNA levels of GRP78, but not HSP70, were elevated in the livers of cystathionine β-synthase-deficient mice with hyperhomocysteinaemia. These studies indicate that the activation of stress response genes by homocysteine involves reductive stress leading to altered ER function and is in contrast with that of most other EC perturbants. The observation that homocysteine also decreases the expression of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and natural killer-enhancing factor B suggests that homocysteine could potentially enhance the cytotoxic effect of agents or conditions known to cause oxidative stress.
Control of androgen biosynthesis in the human through the interaction of Arg347 and Arg358 of CYP17 with cytochrome b5
Authors: LEE-ROBICHAUD Peter , AKHTAR Monika E. , AKHTAR Muhammad
Published: August 2015

The lyase activity of human CYP17 (17α-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase also P-450c17 or P-45017α) is greatly dependent on the presence of cytochrome b5, and this effect has been ascribed an important regulatory role [Lee-Robichaud, Wright, Akhtar and Akhtar (1995) Biochem. J. 308, 901–908]. This facet was further investigated by site-directed mutagenesis of selected basic residues of human CYP17. The purified mutant proteins were subjected to detailed kinetic analysis. It was found that the mutation of Lys83, Arg347 and Arg358 produced proteins that were deficient in their responsiveness to cytochrome b5, and the effect was most pronounced for the two arginine mutants (Arg347 → His and Arg358 → Gln) which have been found in male patients suffering from genital ambiguity. These residues are invoked to mediate protein–protein interaction between cytochrome b5 and CYP17, which ‘awakens ’ the lyase activity of the enzyme required for androgen formation.
Proteasome activities decrease during dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of thymocytes
Authors: BEYETTE Jill , MASON Grant G. F. , MURRAY Rachael Z. , COHEN Gerald M. , RIVETT A. Jennifer
Published: August 2015

The induction of apoptosis in thymocytes by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone was used as a model system to investigate whether there are changes in 20 S and 26 S proteasome activities during apoptosis. We observed that thymocytes contain high concentrations of proteasomes and that following treatment with dexamethasone, cell extracts showed a decrease in proteasome chymotrypsin-like activity which correlated with the degree of apoptosis observed. The decrease in chymotrypsin-like activity of 20 S and 26S proteasomes was still apparent after these complexes had been partially purified from apoptotic thymocyte extracts and was therefore not due to competition resulting from a general increase in protein turnover. The trypsin-like and peptidylglutamylpeptide hydrolase activities of proteasome complexes were also observed to decrease during apoptosis, but these decreases were reversed by the inhibition of apoptosis by the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone. However, the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasomes decreased further in the presence of the apoptosis inhibitor. Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone was found to inhibit the chymotrypsin- and trypsin-like activity of 26 S proteasomes in vitro. The decrease in proteasome activities in apoptosis did not appear to be due to a decrease in the concentration of total cellular proteasomes. Thus, the early decreases in 20 S and 26 S proteasome activities during apoptosis appear to be due to a down-regulation of their proteolytic activities and not to a decrease in their protein concentration. These data suggest that proteasomes may be responsible, in thymocytes, for the turnover of a protein that functions as a positive regulator of apoptosis.
Nε,Nε-Dimethyl-lysine cytochrome c as an NMR probe for lysine involvement in protein–protein complex formation
Authors: MOORE Geoffrey R. , COX Mark C. , CROWE David , OSBORNE Michael J. , ROSELL Federico I. , BUJONS Jordi , BARKER Paul D. , MAUK Marcia R. , MAUK A. Grant
Published: August 2015

The reductively dimethylated derivatives of horse and yeast iso-1-ferricytochromes c have been prepared and characterized for use as NMR probes of the complexes formed by cytochrome c with bovine liver cytochrome b5 and yeast cytochrome c peroxidase. The electrostatic properties and structures of the derivatized cytochromes are not significantly perturbed by the modifications; neither are the electrostatics of protein–protein complex formation or rates of interprotein electron transfer. Two-dimensional 1H–13C NMR spectroscopy of the complexes formed by the derivatized cytochromes with cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c peroxidase has been used to investigate the number and identity of lysine residues of cytochrome c that are involved in interprotein interactions of cytochrome c. The NMR data are incompatible with simple static models proposed previously for the complexes formed by these proteins, but are consistent with the presence of multiple, interconverting complexes of comparable stability, consistent with studies employing Brownian dynamics to model the complexes. The NMR characteristics of the Nε,Nε-dimethyl-lysine groups, their chemical shift dispersion, oxidation state and temperature dependences and the possibility of chemical exchange phenomena are discussed with relevance to the utility of Nε,Nε-dimethyl-lysine's being a generally useful derivative for characterizing protein–protein complexes.
Translated anti-sense product of the Na/phosphate co-transporter (NaPi-II)
Authors: HUELSEWEH Birgit , KOHL Beate , HENTSCHEL Hartmut , KINNE Rolf K. H. , WERNER Andreas
Published: August 2015

The homeostasis of Pi in marine teleosts is maintained by renal Pi secretion as well as by Pi reabsorption. A Na/Pi co-transport system belonging to the NaPi-II protein family is instrumental in tightly controlled renal Pi handling in mammals and fish. We have isolated an NaPi-II related cDNA from winter flounder. It was cloned from a female gonad cDNA library and is 624 bp long. The transcript is expressed in female and male flounder gonads as well as in kidney and intestine, although at very low levels. RNase H digestion experiments revealed an opposite orientation of the transcript with regard to NaPi-II-related mRNA. The anti-sense orientation was confirmed by genomic sequence analysis and Southern blotting. Alluding to the sense transcript, the anti-sense transcript was denoted IPAN. The open reading frame of IPAN encodes a basic protein of 68 amino acid residues. Immunohistochemistry confined the anti-sense related protein, Ipan, to a submembranous compartment of immature oocytes, suggesting a role in oocyte development. In kidney and intestine Ipan is partly co-localized with the Na/Pi co-transporter, implying a regulatory function for the anti-sense protein. However, direct protein–protein interaction could not be established. The existence of a putative open reading frame in other species extends the biological significance of the novel protein.
Hormonal regulation of focal adhesions in bovine adrenocortical cells: induction of paxillin dephosphorylation by adrenocorticotropic hormone
Authors: VILGRAIN Isabelle , CHINN Anna , GAILLARD Isabelle , CHAMBAZ Edmond M. , FEIGE Jean-Jacques
Published: August 2015

A study of bovine adrenocortical cell shape on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge showed that the cells round up and develop arborized processes. This effect was found to be (1) specific for ACTH because angiotensin II and basic fibroblast growth factor have no effect; (2) mediated by a cAMP-dependent pathway because forskolin reproduces the effect of the hormone; (3) inhibited by sodium orthovanadate, a phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, but unchanged by okadaic acid, a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor; and (4) correlated with a complete loss of focal adhesions. Biochemical studies of the focal-adhesion-associated proteins showed that pp125fak, vinculin (110 kDa) and paxillin (70 kDa) were detected in the Triton X-100-insoluble fraction from adrenocortical cells. During cell adhesion on fibronectin as substratum, two major phosphotyrosine-containing proteins of molecular masses 125 and 68 kDa were immunodetected in the same fraction. A dramatic decrease in the extent of tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins was observed within 60 min after treatment with ACTH. No change in pp125fak tyrosine phosphorylation nor in Src activity was detected. In contrast, paxillin was found to be tyrosine-dephosphorylated in a time-dependent manner in ACTH-treated cells. Sodium orthovanadate completely prevented the effect of ACTH. These observations suggest a possible role for phosphotyrosine phosphatases in hormone-dependent cellular regulatory processes.
Two oligopeptide transporters from Caenorhabditis elegans:molecular cloning and functional expression
Authors: FEI You-Jun , FUJITA Takuya , LAPP David F. , GANAPATHY Vadivel , LEIBACH Frederick H.
Published: August 2015

Two novel oligopeptide transporter cDNA clones, CPTA and CPTB, were identified by screening a Caenorhabditis elegans cDNA library using homology hybridization. The transporter proteins deduced from the cDNAs possess multiple transmembrane domains and reveal a moderate similarity to their mammalian counterparts in amino acid sequences. CPTA and CPTB, when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and studied by both radiotracer flux and microelectrode voltage-clamp protocol, displayed a saturable electrogenic transport activity driven by a proton gradient with an overlapping broad spectrum of substrate specificity. Both transporters recognize di-, tri- and tetra-peptides including phenylalanylmethionylarginylphenylalaninamide (FMRFamide) and N-acetylaspartylglutamate, members of a large neuropeptide family commonly found throughout the animal kingdom. Kinetic analysis, however, revealed that CPTA and CPTB differed in their affinity for the peptide substrates, the former being a high-affinity type and the latter a low-affinity type. CPTA and CPTB are encoded by two distinct genes localized on separate chromosomes and are expressed during the whole life span of the organism.
Sorting and storage during secretory granule biogenesis: looking backward and looking forward
Authors: ARVAN Peter , CASTLE David
Published: August 2015

Secretory granules are specialized intracellular organelles that serve as a storage pool for selected secretory products. The exocytosis of secretory granules is markedly amplified under physiologically stimulated conditions. While granules have been recognized as post-Golgi carriers for almost 40 years, the molecular mechanisms involved in their formation from the trans-Golgi network are only beginning to be defined. This review summarizes and evaluates current information about how secretory proteins are thought to be sorted for the regulated secretory pathway and how these activities are positioned with respect to other post-Golgi sorting events that must occur in parallel. In the first half of the review, the emerging role of immature secretory granules in protein sorting is highlighted. The second half of the review summarizes what is known about the composition of granule membranes. The numerous similarities and relatively limited differences identified between granule membranes and other vesicular carriers that convey products to and from the plasmalemma, serve as a basis for examining how granule membrane composition might be established and how its unique functions interface with general post-Golgi membrane traffic. Studies of granule formation in vitro offer additional new insights, but also important challenges for future efforts to understand how regulated secretory pathways are constructed and maintained.
Hypochlorite-induced damage to proteins: formation of nitrogen-centred radicals from lysine residues and their role in protein fragmentation
Authors: HAWKINS Clare L. , DAVIES Michael J.
Published: August 2015

Stimulated monocytes and neutrophils generate hypochlorite (HOCl) via the release of the enzyme myeloperoxidase and hydrogen peroxide. HOCl damages proteins by reaction with amino acid side-chains or backbone cleavage. Little information is available about the mechanisms and intermediates involved in these reactions. EPR spin trapping has been employed to identify radicals on proteins, peptides and amino acids after treatment with HOCl. Reaction with HOCl gives both high- and low-molecular-mass nitrogen-centred, protein-derived radicals; the yield of the latter increases with both higher HOCl:protein ratios and enzymic digestion. These radicals, which arise from lysine side-chain amino groups, react with ascorbate, glutathione and Trolox. Reaction of HOCl-treated proteins with excess methionine eliminates radical formation, which is consistent with lysine-derived chloramines (via homolysis of N–Cl bonds) being the radical source. Incubation of HOCl-treated proteins, after removal of excess oxidant, gives rise to both nitrogen-centred radicals, over a period of hours, and time-dependent fragmentation of the protein. Treatment with excess methionine or antioxidants (Trolox, ascorbate, glutathione) protects against fragmentation; urate and bilirubin do not. Chloramine formation and nitrogen-centred radicals are therefore key species in HOCl-induced protein fragmentation.
Elucidation of a promoter activity that directs the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase α with an alternative N-terminus in a tissue-restricted fashion
Authors: BARBER Michael C. , TRAVERS Maureen T.
Published: August 2015

Previous studies in rats and humans have demonstrated that acetyl-CoA carboxylase α (ACC-α), the principal ACC isoenzyme in lipogenic tissues, is transcribed from two promoters, PI and PII, that operate in a tissue-specific fashion. Each promoter gives rise to ACC-α mRNA isoforms that differ in their 5´ untranslated regions but essentially encode the same protein product. In the present study we demonstrate that such a pattern of promoter usage is evident in sheep tissues but in addition we have detected the expression of a novel ACC-α mRNA isoform that is expressed in a variety of tissues including kidney, lung, liver and mammary gland, where it is markedly induced during lactation. This novel transcript differs from the previously described ACC-α mRNA in that exon 5, the primary coding exon in both PI and PII transcripts, is replaced by a 424-nt sequence that seems to represent the 5´ terminus of the mRNA. The 424-nt sequence encodes a 17-residue N-terminal region as the N-terminal residue in the deduced sequence is a methionine flanked by several in-frame stop codons. The 5´ terminal 424 nt are present as a single exon, which we have termed exon 5A, in the sheep ACC-α gene and this is located approx. 15 kb downstream of exon 5 and 5 kb upstream of exon 6. A 1.5 kb HindIII–BglII fragment encompassing the 5´ terminus and sequence immediately upstream of exon 5A demonstrates promoter activity when transiently transfected into HepG2 cells and HC11 mouse mammary cells and this is markedly enhanced when insulin is present in the culture medium. Promoter activity is also evident in primary sheep mammary epithelial cells. These results demonstrate the presence of a third promoter, PIII, in the ACC-α gene that results in the tissue-restricted expression of an ACC isoenzyme.
l-Mandelate dehydrogenase from Rhodotorula graminis: cloning, sequencing and kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme and its independently expressed flavin domain
Authors: ILLIAS Rosli Md. , SINCLAIR Rhona , ROBERTSON Douglas , NEU Achim , CHAPMAN Stephen K. , REID Graeme A.
Published: August 2015

The l-mandelate dehydrogenase (l-MDH) from the yeast Rhodotorula graminisis a mitochondrial flavocytochrome b2 which catalyses the oxidation of mandelate to phenylglyoxylate coupled with the reduction of cytochrome c. We have used the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme to isolate the gene encoding this enzyme using the PCR. Comparison of the genomic sequence with the sequence of cDNA prepared by reverse transcription PCR revealed the presence of 11 introns in the coding region. The predicted amino acid sequence indicates a close relationship with the flavocytochromes b2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hansenula anomala, with about 40% identity to each. The sequence shows that a key residue for substrate specificity in S. cerevisiae flavocytochrome b2, Leu-230, is replaced by Gly in l-MDH. This substitution is likely to play an important part in determining the different substrate specificities of the two enzymes. We have developed an expression system and purification protocol for recombinant l-MDH. In addition, we have expressed and purified the flavin-containing domain of l-MDH independently of its cytochrome domain. Detailed steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetic investigations of both l-MDH and its independently expressed flavin domain have been carried out. These indicate that l-MDH is efficient with both physiological (cytochrome c, kcat = 225 s-1 at 25 °C) and artificial (ferricyanide, kcat = 550 s-1 at 25 °C) electron acceptors. Kinetic isotope effects with [2-2H]mandelate indicate that H–C-2 bond cleavage contributes somewhat to rate-limitation. However, the value of the isotope effect erodes significantly as the catalytic cycle proceeds. Reduction potentials at 25 °C were measured as -120 mV for the 2-electron reduction of the flavin and -10 mV for the 1-electron reduction of the haem. The general trends seen in the kinetic studies show marked similarities to those observed previously with the flavocytochrome b2 (l-lactate dehydrogenase) from S. cerevisiae.
Re-design of Saccharomyces cerevisiae flavocytochrome b2: introduction of l-mandelate dehydrogenase activity
Authors: SINCLAIR Rhona , REID Graeme A. , CHAPMAN Stephen K.
Published: August 2015

Flavocytochrome b2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiaeis an l-lactate dehydrogenase which exhibits only barely detectable activity levels towards another 2-hydroxyacid, l-mandelate. Using protein engineering methods we have altered the active site of flavocytochrome b2 and successfully introduced substantial mandelate dehydrogenase activity into the enzyme. Changes to Ala-198 and Leu-230 have significant effects on the ability of the enzyme to utilize l-mandelate as a substrate. The double mutation of Ala-198 → Gly and Leu-230 → Ala results in an enzyme with a kcat value (25 °C) with l-mandelate of 8.5 s-1, which represents an increase of greater than 400-fold over the wild-type enzyme. Perhaps more significantly, the mutant enzyme has a catalytic efficiency (as judged by kcat/Km values) that is 6-fold higher with l-mandelate than it is with l-lactate. Closer examination of the X-ray structure of S. cerevisiae flavocytochrome b2 led us to conclude that one of the haem propionate groups might interfere with the binding of l-mandelate at the active site of the enzyme. To test this idea, the activity with l-mandelate of the independently expressed flavodehydrogenase domain (FDH), was examined and found to be higher than that seen with the wild-type enzyme. In addition, the double mutation of Ala-198 → Gly and Leu-230 → Ala introduced into FDH produced the greatest mandelate dehydrogenase activity increase, with a kcat value more than 700-fold greater than that seen with the wild-type holoenzyme. In addition, the enzyme efficiency (kcat/Km) of this mutant enzyme was more than 20-fold greater with l-mandelate than with l-lactate. We have therefore succeeded in constructing an enzyme which is now a better mandelate dehydrogenase than a lactate dehydrogenase.
Characterization of the monocarboxylate transporter 1 expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes by changes in cytosolic pH
Authors: BRÖER Stefan , SCHNEIDER Hans-Peter , BRÖER Angelika , RAHMAN Basim , HAMPRECHT Bernd , DEITMER Joachim W.
Published: August 2015

Several laboratories have investigated monocarboxylate transport in a variety of cell types. The characterization of the cloned transporter isoforms in a suitable expression system is nevertheless still lacking. H+/monocarboxylate co-transport was therefore investigated in monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1)-expressing Xenopus laevis oocytes by using pH-sensitive microelectrodes and [14C]lactate. Superfusion with lactate resulted in intracellular acidification of MCT1-expressing oocytes, but not in non-injected control oocytes. The basic kinetic properties of lactate transport in MCT1-expressing oocytes were determined by analysing the rates of intracellular pH changes under different conditions. The results were in agreement with the known properties of the transporter, with respect to both the dependence on the lactate concentration and the external pH value. Besides lactate, MCT1 mediated the reversible transport of a wide variety of monocarboxylic acids including pyruvate, d,l-3-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, α-oxoisohexanoate and α-oxoisovalerate, but not of dicarboxylic and tricarboxylic acids. The inhibitor α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate bound strongly to the transporter without being translocated, but could be displaced by the addition of lactate. In addition to changes in the intracellular pH, lactate transport also induced deviations from the resting membrane potential.
Effects of dietary Pi on the renal Na+-dependent Pi transporter NaPi-2 in thyroparathyroidectomized rats
Authors: TAKAHASHI Fumie , MORITA Kyoko , KATAI Kanako , SEGAWA Hiroko , FUJIOKA Ai , KOUDA Tomoko , TATSUMI Sawako , NII Tomoko , TAKETANI Yutaka , HAGA Hiromi , HISANO Setsuji , FUKUI Yoshihiro , MIYAMOTO Ken-ichi , TAKEDA Eiji
Published: August 2015

Dietary Pi and parathyroid hormone (PTH) are two most important physiological and pathophysiological regulators of Pi re-absorption in the renal proximal tubule. Effects of dietary Pi on Na+/Pi co-transporter NaPi-2 were investigated in thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats. NaPi-2 protein and mRNA in the kidney cortex of TPTX rats were increased ≈ 3.8- and 2.4-fold in amount respectively compared with those in the sham-operated animals. Administration of PTH to the TPTX rats resulted in a decrease in the amount of NaPi-2 protein, but not in the abundance of NaPi-2 mRNA. Deprivation of dietary Pi in the TPTX rats did not affect the amount of NaPi-2 mRNA and protein. In the Pi-deprived TPTX rats, feeding of a high-Pi diet resulted in marked decreases in Pi transport activity and the amount of NaPi-2 protein in the superficial nephrons. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that administration of PTH to TPTX rats resulted in a decrease in NaPi-2 immunoreactivity from both superficial and juxtamedullary nephrons within 4 h. Switching TPTX animals from a low-Pi diet to the high-Pi diet decreased NaPi-2 immunoreactivity from superficial nephrons, but not from juxtamedullary nephrons, within 4 h. These results suggest that dietary Pi could regulate the amount of NaPi-2 protein in the superficial nephrons in a PTH-independent manner.
Secretory-granule dynamics visualized in vivo with a phogrin–green fluorescent protein chimaera
Authors: POULI Aristea E. , EMMANOUILIDOU Evaggelia , ZHAO Chao , WASMEIER Christina , HUTTON John C. , RUTTER Guy A.
Published: August 2015

To image the behaviour in real time of single secretory granules in neuroendocrine cells we have expressed cDNA encoding a fusion construct between the dense-core secretory-granule-membrane glycoprotein, phogrin (phosphatase on the granule of insulinoma cells), and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Expressed in INS-1 β-cells and pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, the chimaera was localized efficiently (up to 95%) to dense-core secretory granules (diameter 200–1000 nm), identified by co-immunolocalization with anti-(pro-)insulin antibodies in INS-1 cells and dopamine β-hydroxylase in PC12 cells. Using laser-scanning confocal microscopy and digital image analysis, we have used this chimaera to monitor the effects of secretagogues on the dynamics of secretory granules in single living cells. In unstimulated INS-1 β-cells, granule movement was confined to oscillatory movement (dithering) with period of oscillation 5–10 s and mean displacement < 1 µm. Both elevated glucose concentrations (30 mM), and depolarization of the plasma membrane with K+, provoked large (5–10 µm) saltatory excursions of granules across the cell, which were never observed in cells maintained at low glucose concentration. By contrast, long excursions of granules occurred in PC12 cells without stimulation, and occurred predominantly from the cell body towards the cell periphery and neurite extensions. Purinergic-receptor activation with ATP provoked granule movement towards the membrane of PC12 cells, resulting in the transfer of fluorescence to the plasma membrane consistent with fusion of the granule and diffusion of the chimaera in the plasma membrane. These results illustrate the potential use of phogrin–EGFP chimeras in the study of secretory-granule dynamics, the regulation of granule–cytoskeletal interactions and the trafficking of a granule-specific transmembrane protein during the cycle of exocytosis and endocytosis.
Identification of skatolyl hydroperoxide and its role in the peroxidase-catalysed oxidation of indol-3-yl acetic acid
Authors: GAZARIAN Irina G. , LAGRIMINI L. Mark , MELLON Fred A. , NALDRETT Michael J. , ASHBY Gillian A. , THORNELEY Roger N. F.
Published: August 2015

Indol-3-yl acetic acid (IAA, auxin) is a plant hormone whose degradation is a key determinant of plant growth and development. The first evidence for skatolyl hydroperoxide formation during the plant peroxidase-catalysed degradation of IAA has been obtained by electrospray MS. Skatolyl hydroperoxide degrades predominantly non-enzymically to oxindol-3-yl carbinol but in part enzymically into indol-3-yl methanol via a peroxidase cycle in which IAA acts as an electron donor. Skatolyl hydroperoxide is degradable by catalase. Horseradish peroxidase isoenzyme C (HRP-C) and anionic tobacco peroxidase (TOP) exhibit differences in their mechanisms of reaction. The insensitivity of the HRP-C-catalysed reaction to catalase is ascribed to the formation of HRP-C Compound III at the initiation step and its subsequent role in radical propagation. This is in contrast with the TOP-catalysed process in which skatolyl hydroperoxide has a key role. Indol-3-yl aldehyde is produced not via the peroxidase cycle but by catalysis involving ferrous peroxidase. Because indol-3-yl aldehyde is one of the main IAA-derived products identified in planta, we conclude that ferrous peroxidases participate in IAA catalytic transformations in vivo. A general scheme for peroxidase-catalysed IAA oxidation is presented.
The cellular response to oxidative stress: influences of mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways on cell survival
Authors: WANG Xiantao , MARTINDALE Jennifer L. , LIU Yusen , HOLBROOK Nikki J.
Published: August 2015

The mammalian response to stress is complex, often involving multiple signalling pathways that act in concert to influence cell fate. To examine potential interactions between the signalling cascades, we have focused on the effects of a model oxidant stress in a single cell type through an examination of the relative influences of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as well as two proposed apoptosis regulators, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and Bcl-2, in determining cell survival. Treatment of HeLa cells with H2O2 resulted in a time- and dose-dependent induction of apoptosis accompanied by sustained activation of all three MAPK subfamilies: extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38. This H2O2-induced apoptosis was markedly enhanced when ERK2 activation was selectively inhibited by PD098059. Apoptosis decreased when JNK/SAPK activation was inhibited by expression of a dominant negative mutant form of SAPK/ERK kinase 1. Inhibition of the p38 kinase activity with p38-specific inhibitors SB202190 and SB203580 had no effect on cell survival. Because NF-κB activation by H2O2 is potentially related to both the ERK and JNK/SAPK signalling pathways, we examined the effects of inhibiting the activation of NF-κB; this interference had no effect on the cellular response to H2O2. Overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 significantly decreased the apoptosis seen after treatment with H2O2 without altering ERK or JNK/SAPK activities. Our results suggest that ERK and JNK/SAPK act in opposition to influence cell survival in response to oxidative stress, whereas neither p38 nor NF-κB affects the outcome. Bcl-2 acts independently and downstream of ERK and JNK/SAPK to enhance the survival of H2O2-treated cells.
Human mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 gene
Authors: MODARESSI Said , BRECHTEL Katja , CHRIST Bruno , JUNGERMANN Kurt , localization chromosomal
Published: August 2015

The mitochodrial (mt) phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2) gene was isolated by screening a human genomic library with a rat cytosolic (cy) PCK1 cDNA probe comprising sequences from exons 2–9 and by PCR amplification of human genomic DNA spanning consecutive exons with known primer pairs from mtPCK2 cDNA containing sequences from two putative neighbouring exons. The mtPCK2 gene spans approx. 10 kb and consists of ten exons and nine introns. All exon–intron junction sequences match the classical GT/AG rule. Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ and total RNA from various tissues revealed one mRNA species of approx. 2.4 kb. The gene is expressed in a variety of human tissues, mainly in liver, kidney, pancreas, intestine and fibroblasts. In contrast with the cytosolic isoenzyme, the mitochondrial form might not have a purely gluconeogenic function. The mtPCK2 gene maps to chromosome 14q11.2–q12, in contrast with the cyPCK1 gene located on 20q13.2–q13.31.
Refolding of urea-denatured adenylate kinase
Authors: ZHANG Hong-jie , SHENG Xiang-rong , PAN Xian-ming , ZHOU Jun-mei
Published: August 2015

The refolding of urea-denatured adenylate kinase (EC 2.7.4.3) has been followed by formation of the secondary structure, change of surface hydrophobicity and recovery of catalytic activity. During refolding of adenylate kinase with a 20–80-fold dilution of 4 M urea-denatured enzyme at 10 °C, the formation of the secondary structure is a fast process with a rate constant of > 0.16 s-1. Transient enhancement of the 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulphonate (ANS) fluorescence intensity is followed by a fluorescence decrease to the level equal to the value characteristic of native enzyme. The desorption of ANS binding fluorescence is relatively slow and can be fitted to a first order reaction with a rate constant of 0.004 s-1 when the ANS is present in the dilution buffer. The desorption of ANS-binding fluorescence is accelerated in the presence of nucleotide substrates. The rate constants are increased to 0.049, 0.029, 0.028 and 0.029 s-1 in the presence of 1 mM AMP, MgATP, ATP and ADP respectively. The refolding rate constant calculated from the initial fluorescence intensity after mixing ANS with protein at different refolding intervals is 0.016 s-1, which is faster than those obtained when ANS is present throughout the refolding process, indicating that the binding of ANS with a partially folded intermediate retards its further refolding to its native structure. The reactivation rate is even faster than the rates of refolding monitored in the absence of substrates, showing that the refolding is accelerated in the presence of the substrates. A possible refolding pathway and the accelerating effect of substrates are discussed.
Cloning and thermostability of TaqI endonuclease isoschizomers from Thermus species SM32 and Thermus filiformis Tok6A1
Authors: CAO Weiguo , LU Jing , WELCH Simon G. , WILLIAMS Ralph A. D. , BARANY Francis
Published: August 2015

Two TaqI endonuclease (hereafter referred to as TaqI) isoschizomer genes, tsp32IR from Thermus species SM32 of Azores and tfiTok6A1I from T. filiformis Tok6A1 of New Zealand, were cloned in Escherichia coli. The overexpressed enzymes were partly purified and their thermostability was determined. In the medium-salt buffer, Tsp32IR, TfiTok6A1I and one previously cloned TaqI isoschizomer (TthHB8I) were more thermostable than TaqI. Tsp32IR remained partly active up to 90 °C in the low-salt buffer. Six amino acid residues that are identical in the three high thermostability isoschizomers (Tsp32IR, TfiTok6A1I and TthHB8I) but differ in TaqI might provide added rigidity for thermostabilization. These include four proline residues located in or near loop regions, and one alanine and one arginine located at helix regions in the predicted TaqI endonuclease secondary structure. The possible role of these residues in thermostabilization was evaluated by mutagenizing the TaqI enzyme. Mutants generated at these six positions were less thermostable than wild-type TaqI. The results suggest that the surrounding sequence or structural context might be as important as the mutation itself.

The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper for TfiTok6A1I and Tsp32IR appear in the GenBank Database under the accession numbers U86869 and U86870 respectively.