bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-ordinate variations in methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and methionine synthase, and the cobalamin cofactors in human glioma cells during nitrous oxide exposure and the subsequent recovery phase
Authors: RIEDEL Bettina , FISKERSTRAND Torunn , REFSUM Helga , UELAND Per M.
Published: August 2015

We investigated the co-ordinate variations of the two cobalamin (Cbl)-dependent enzymes, methionine synthase (MS) and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MCM), and measured the levels of their respective cofactors, methylcobalamin (CH3Cbl) and adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl) in cultured human glioma cells during nitrous oxide exposure and during a subsequent recovery period of culture in a nitrous oxide-free atmosphere (air). In agreement with published data, MS as the primary target of nitrous oxide was inactivated rapidly (initial rate of 0.06 h-1), followed by reduction of CH3Cbl (to < 20%). Both enzyme activity and cofactor levels recovered rapidly when the cells were subsequently cultured in air, but the recovery was completely blocked by the protein-synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. During MS inactivation, there was a reduction of cellular AdoCbl and holo-MCM activity (measured in the absence of exogenous AdoCbl) to about 50% of pre-treatment levels. When the cells were transferred to air, both AdoCbl and holo-MCM activity recovered, albeit more slowly than the MS system. Notably, the regain of the holo-MCM and AdoCbl was enhanced rather than inhibited by cycloheximide. These findings confirm irreversible damage of MS by nitrous oxide; hence, synthesis of the enzyme is required to restore its activity. In contrast, restoration of holo-MCM activity is only dependent on repletion of the AdoCbl cofactor. We also observed a synchronous fluctuation in AdoCbl and the much larger hydroxycobalamin pool during the inactivation and recovery phase, suggesting that the loss and repletion of AdoCbl reflect changes in intracellular Cbl homoeostasis. Our data demonstrate that the nitrous oxide-induced changes in MS and CH3Cbl are associated with reversible changes in both MCM holoactivity and the AdoCbl level, suggesting co-ordinate distribution of Cbl cofactors during depletion and repletion.
Purification, characterization and cDNA cloning of a phospholipase A2 inhibitor from the serum of the non-venomous snake Elaphe quadrivirgata
Authors: OKUMURA Kohji , MASUI Kuniharu , INOUE Seiji , IKEDA Kiyoshi , HAYASHI Kyozo
Published: August 2015

The serum of a non-venomous striated snake, Elaphequadrivirgata, was found to contain phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitory proteins (PLIs). One of these inhibitors was purified by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, Q-Sepharose FF ion-exchange chromatography and Butyl Sepharose 4FF hydrophobic chromatography. The purified PLI inhibited the enzymic activities of all PLA2 groups, including Elapidae venom (group-I), Viperidae venom (group-II) and honeybee PLA2s (group-III). The inhibitor was a 130 kDa glycoprotein consisting of two distinct subunits, A and B, of 30 and 29 kDa respectively; each of which was glycosylated with N-linked oligosaccharide chains. The cDNAs encoding the respective inhibitor subunits were isolated from a liver cDNA library by the use of probes, prepared by PCR, based on the partially determined amino-acid sequences of the corresponding subunits. The respective nucleotide sequences encoded 19-amino-acid-residue signal sequences, followed by 183- and 181-residue protein sequences for the A and B subunits respectively. The amino-acid sequences revealed that the E.quadrivirgata inhibitor corresponded to PLIγ, one of three kinds of inhibitors purified from venomous snakes. The existence of PLIγ in the serum of this non-venomous snake suggested that, besides having a protective role against the venom PLA2s of other venomous snakes, PLIγ has other important physiological functions in regulating local PLA2 activities; and thus it raises the possibility that PLIγ occurs in other animals, including mammals.
Processing of normal lysosomal and mutant N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulphatase: BiP (immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein) may interact with critical protein contact sites
Authors: BRADFORD Tessa M. , GETHING Mary-Jane , DAVEY Richard , HOPWOOD John J. , BROOKS Doug A.
Published: August 2015

The lysosomal hydrolase N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase (4-sulphatase) is essential for the sequential degradation of the glycosaminoglycans, dermatan and chondroitin sulphate and, when deficient, causes the lysosomal storage disorder mucopolysaccharidosis type VI. The cysteine at codon 91 of human 4-sulphatase was identified previously as a key residue in the active site of the enzyme and was mutated by site-directed mutagenesis to produce a 4-sulphatase in which cysteine-91 was replaced by a threonine residue (C91T). The C91T mutation caused a loss of 4-sulphatase activity, a detectable protein conformational change and a lower level of intracellular 4-sulphatase protein [Brooks, Robertson, Bindloss, Litjens, Anson, Peters, Morris and Hopwood (1995) Biochem. J. 307, 457-463]. In the present study, we report that C91T is synthesized normally in the endoplasmic reticulum as a 66 kDa glycosylated protein, which is very similar in size to wild-type 4-sulphatase. However, C91T neither underwent normal Golgi processing, shown by lack of modification to form mannose 6-phosphate residues on its oligosaccharide side chains, nor did it traffic to the lysosome to undergo normal endosomal-lysosomal proteolytic processing. Instead, C91T remained in an early biosynthetic compartment and was degraded. The molecular chaperone, immunoglobulin binding protein (BiP), was associated with newly-synthesized wild-type and mutant 4-sulphatase proteins for extended periods, but no direct evidence was found for involvement of BiP in the retention or degradation of the C91T protein. This suggested that prolonged association of mutant protein with BiP does not necessarily infer involvement of BiP in the quality control process, as previously implied in the literature. The predicted BiP binding sites on 4-sulphatase map to β-strands and α-helices, which are co-ordinated together in the folded molecule, indicating that BiP interacts with critical protein folding or contact sites on 4-sulphatase.
The mechanism of activation of NADPH oxidase in the cell-free system: the activation process is primarily catalytic and not through the formation of a stoichiometric complex
Authors: CROSS Andrew R. , ERICKSON Richard W. , CURNUTTE John T.
Published: August 2015

It is commonly assumed that activation of the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase requires the formation of a stable complex between flavocytochrome b-245 (the gp91phox/p22phox heterodimer) and the cytosolic cofactors p47phox, p67phox and Rac2. This association is thought to convert flavocytochrome b-245, which contains the NADPH-binding site, flavin and haem centres, from an inactive into an active state. Here we provide evidence that, in the cell-free system, this activation process does not necessarily require the formation of a stable stoichiometric complex between the phox proteins. To explain this data we propose the hypothesis that p67phox (and possibly Rac2), are capable of activating flavocytochrome b-245 in a catalytic fashion, where a single molecule of p67phox (or Rac2) is capable of activating multiple flavocytochrome b-245 molecules.
Talin contains three similar vinculin-binding sites predicted to form an amphipathic helix
Authors: BASS Mark D. , SMITH Beverley J. , PRIGENT Sally A. , CRITCHLEY David R.
Published: August 2015

Using recombinant talin polypeptides and an SDS/PAGE-blot overlay assay, we have previously identified three regions of talin that are involved in binding to vinculin [Gilmore, Wood, Ohanian, Jackson, Patel, Rees, Hynes and Critchley (1993) J. Cell Biol. 122, 337-347]. We have confirmed these observations by using a yeast two-hybrid assay and shown that talin residues 498-656, 852-950 and 1929-2029 are each capable of binding to vinculin residues 1-258. We have further defined the three vinculin-binding sites in talin to residues 607-636, 852-876 and 1944-1969; alignment of these sequences shows 59% similarity, although there are only two identical residues. Predictions of secondary structure indicate that this vinculin-binding motif forms an amphipathic α-helix. The hydrophobic face of helix 607-636 contains three aligned leucines (residues 608, 615 and 622), which show conservative substitutions in the other two sites. To test the possibility that this might constitute a leucine zipper involved in vinculin binding, we mutated each leucine residue to an alanine. The results showed that this leucine repeat is not essential to the interaction between talin and vinculin. We also used the yeast two-hybrid system to define further the talin-binding site within vinculin residues 1-258. C-terminal deletions made in accordance with exon boundaries showed that vinculin residues 1-167 are capable of interacting with each of the three vinculin-binding sites in talin. However, all N-terminal deletions abolished binding. The results suggest that the talin-binding site in vinculin has a relatively complex fold, whereas the vinculin-binding motif in talin is contained within a short linear peptide sequence that is repeated three times in the talin rod domain.
Expression of I2PP2A, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A, induces c-Jun and AP-1 activity
Authors: AL-MURRANI S W.K. , WOODGETT James R. , DAMUNI Zahi
Published: August 2015

Transient expression of I2PP2A, a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), in HEK-293 cells increased the concentration and DNA binding of the proto-oncogene c-Jun. In contrast, expression of the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2AC) markedly decreased the concentration and DNA binding of c-Jun. Expression of I2PP2A also increased the transcriptional activity of activator protein-1, and this effect was diminished in a dose-dependent manner by expression of PP2AC. Densitometric analysis following Western blotting of extracts with antibodies specific for phospho-Ser63 and Ser73 suggests that the effects of I2PP2A and PP2AC expression might be mediated, in part, by changes in the phosphorylation of c-Jun at Ser63. The results indicate that I2PP2A elicits effects that are consistent with it acting as an inhibitor of PP2A in intact cells, and suggest that PP2A might exhibit site selectivity with respect to c-Jun phosphorylation.
Reductive half-reaction of the H172Q mutant of trimethylamine dehydrogenase: evidence against a carbanion mechanism and assignment of kinetically influential ionizations in the enzyme–substrate complex
Authors: BASRAN Jaswir , SUTCLIFFE Michael J. , HILLE Russ , SCRUTTON Nigel S.
Published: August 2015

The reactions of wild-type trimethylamine dehydrogenase (TMADH) and of a His-172 Gln (H172Q) mutant were studied by rapid-mixing stopped-flow spectroscopy over the pH range 6.0-10.5, to address the potential role of His-172 in abstracting a proton from the substrate in a ‘carbanion’ mechanism for C-H bond cleavage. The pH-dependence of the limiting rate for flavin reduction (klim) was studied as a function of pH for the wild-type enzyme with perdeuterated trimethylamine as substrate. The use of perdeuterated trimethylamine facilitated the unequivocal identification of two kinetically influential ionizations in the enzyme-substrate complex, with macroscopic pKa values of 6.5±0.2 and 8.4±0.1. A plot of klim/Kd revealed a bell-shaped curve and two kinetically influential ionizations with macroscopic pKa values of 9.4±0.1 and 10.5±0.1. Mutagenesis of His-172, a potential active-site base and a component of a novel Tyr-His-Asp triad in the active site of TMADH, revealed that the pKa of 8.4±0.1 for the wild-type enzyme-substrate complex represents ionization of the imidazolium side-chain of His-172. H172Q TMADH retains catalytic competence throughout the pH range investigated. At pH 10.5, and in contrast with the wild-type enzyme, flavin reduction in H172Q TMADH is biphasic. The fast phase is dependent on the trimethylamine concentration and exhibits a kinetic isotope effect of about 3; C-H bond cleavage is thus partially rate-limiting. In contrast, the slow phase does not show hyperbolic dependence on substrate concentration, and the observed rate shows no dependence on isotope, revealing that C-H bond cleavage is not rate-limiting. The analysis of H172Q TMADH, together with data recently acquired for the Y169F mutant of TMADH, reveals that C-H bond breakage is not initiated via abstraction of a proton from the substrate by an active-site base. The transfer of reducing equivalents to flavin via a carbanion mechanism is therefore unlikely.
Upstream stimulatory factor regulates Pdx-1 gene expression in differentiated pancreatic β-cells
Authors: QIAN Jin , KAYTOR Elizabeth N. , TOWLE Howard C. , Karl OLSON L.
Published: August 2015

The homeobox gene Pdx-1 plays a key role in the development of the pancreas. In the adult, however, expression of the Pdx-1 gene is restricted to pancreatic β-cells and endocrine cells of duodenal epithelium. Recently, the transcription factor, upstream stimulatory factor (USF), has been shown to bind invitro to a mutationally sensitive E-box motif within the 5′-flanking region of the Pdx-1 gene [Sharma, Leonard, Lee, Chapman, Leiter and Montminy (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 2294-2299]. In the present study, we show that USF not only binds to the Pdx-1 gene promoter but also functionally regulates the expression of the Pdx-1 gene in differentiated pancreatic β-cells. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of a dominant negative form of USF2 decreased binding of endogenous USF to the E-box element by ~ 90%. This reduction in endogenous USF binding led to a greater than 50% decrease in Pdx-1 gene promoter activity, which, in turn, resulted in marked reductions in Pdx-1 mRNA and protein levels. Importantly, the lower Pdx-1 protein levels led to a greater than 50% reduction in Pdx-1 binding activity to the A3 element on the insulin gene promoter, and a significant reduction in insulin mRNA levels. Overall, our results show that USF functionally regulates Pdx-1 gene expression in differentiated pancreatic β-cells and provide the first functional data for a role of USF in the regulation of a normal cellular gene.
Lipoprotein cholesterol uptake mediates up-regulation of bile-acid synthesis by increasing cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase but not sterol 27-hydroxylase gene expression in cultured rat hepatocytes
Authors: POST Sabine M. , TWISK Jaap , FITS L V D , WIT Elly C. M. DE , HOEKMAN Marco F. M. , MAGER Willem H. , PRINCEN Hans M. G.
Published: August 2015

Lipoproteins may supply substrate for the formation of bile acids, and the amount of hepatic cholesterol can regulate bile-acid synthesis and increase cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase expression. However, the effect of lipoprotein cholesterol on sterol 27-hydroxylase expression and the role of different lipoproteins in regulating both enzymes are not well established. We studied the effect of different rabbit lipoproteins on cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and sterol 27-hydroxylase in cultured rat hepatocytes. β-Migrating very-low-density lipoprotein (βVLDL) and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) caused a significant increase in the intracellular cholesteryl ester content of cells (2.3- and 2-fold, respectively) at a concentration of 200 μg of cholesterol/ml, whereas high-density lipoprotein (HDL, 50% v/v), containing no apolipoprotein E (apo E), showed no effect after a 24-h incubation. βVLDL and IDL increased bile-acid synthesis (1.9- and 1.6-fold, respectively) by up-regulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity (1.7- and 1.5-fold, respectively). Dose- and time-dependent changes in cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA levels and gene expression underlie the increase in enzyme activity. Incubation of cells with HDL showed no effect. Sterol 27-hydroxylase gene expression was not affected by any of the lipoproteins added. Transient-expression experiments in hepatocytes, transfected with a promoter-reporter construct containing the proximal 348 nucleotides of the rat cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase promoter, showed an enhanced gene transcription (2-fold) with βVLDL, indicating that a sequence important for a cholesterol-induced transcriptional response is located in this part of the cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene. The extent of stimulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase is associated with the apo E content of the lipoprotein particle, which is important in the uptake of lipoprotein cholesterol. We conclude that physiological concentrations of cholesterol in apo E-containing lipoproteins increase bile-acid synthesis by stimulating cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene transcription, whereas HDL has no effect and sterol 27-hydroxylase is not affected.
Peptidase activity of β-lactamases
Authors: RHAZI Noureddine , GALLENI Moreno , PAGE Michael I. , FRÈRE Jean-Marie
Published: August 2015

Although β-lactamases have generally been considered as being devoid of peptidase activity, a low but significant hydrolysis of various N-acylated dipeptides was observed with representatives of each class of β-lactamases. The kcat/Km values were below 0.1 M-1˙s-1, but the enzyme rate enhancement factors were in the range 5000-20000 for the best substrates. Not unexpectedly, the best ‘peptidase’ was the class C β-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99, but, more surprisingly, the activity was always higher with the phenylacetyl- and benzoyl-D-Ala-D-Ala dipeptides than with the diacetyl- and α-acetyl-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala tripeptides, which are the preferred substrates of the low-molecular-mass, soluble DD-peptidases. A comparison between the β-lactamases and DD-peptidases showed that it might be as difficult for a DD-peptidase to open the β-lactam ring as it is for the β-lactamases to hydrolyse the peptides, an observation which can be explained by geometric and stereoelectronic considerations.
Rapid internalization and surface expression of a functional, fluorescently tagged G-protein-coupled glutamate receptor
Authors: DOHERTY Andrew J. , COUTINHO Victoria , COLLINGRIDGE Graham L. , HENLEY Jeremy M.
Published: August 2015

L-Glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate central nervous system, where it mediates many of its actions via G-protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors. Since little is known about the dynamics of mGlu receptors at the plasma membrane, we have constructed a fusion protein comprising the mGlu receptor subtype 1α (mGlu1α) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Using imaging of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores as a functional assay, the agonist pharmacology of this fluorescently tagged receptor was found to be similar to that of the wild-type receptor when expressed in HEK-293 cells. Receptor movement and function were measured simultaneously by combined imaging of Ca2+, using fura-red, and GFP fluorescence in single cells. Exposure to agonist induced a rapid loss of up to 30% of membrane-associated fluorescence, with a corresponding decrease in the functional response. Following removal of the agonist there was recovery of both the membrane fluorescence and the functional response. These data suggest that the surface expression of G-protein-coupled glutamate receptors might be rapidly regulated in response to agonist activation.
Endocytic delivery of intramolecularly quenched substrates and inhibitors to the intracellular yeast Kex2 protease1
Authors: HENKEL M. Kerstin , POTT Gregory , HENKEL Andreas W. , JULIANO Luiz , KAM Chih-Min , POWERS James C. , FRANZUSOFF Alex
Published: August 2015

Kex2 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a transmembrane, Ca2+-dependent serine protease of the subtilisin-like pro-protein convertase (SPC) family with specificity for cleavage after paired basic amino acids. At steady state, Kex2 is predominantly localized in late Golgi compartments and initiates the proteolytic maturation of pro-protein precursors that transit the distal secretory pathway. However, Kex2 localization is not static, and its itinerary apparently involves transiting out of the late Golgi and cycling back from post-Golgi endosomal compartments during its lifetime. We tested whether the endocytic pathway could deliver small molecules to Kex2 from the extracellular medium. Here we report that intramolecularly quenched fluorogenic substrates taken up into intact yeast revealed fluorescence due to specific cleavage by Kex2 protease in endosomal compartments. Furthermore, the endocytic delivery of protease inhibitors interfered with Kex2 activity for precursor protein processing. These observations reveal that the endocytic pathway does intersect with the cycling itinerary of active Kex2 protease. This strategy of endocytic drug delivery has implications for modulating SPC protease activity needed for hormone, toxin and viral glycoprotein precursor processing in human cells.
Differential DNA binding by the androgen and glucocorticoid receptors involves the second Zn-finger and a C-terminal extension of the DNA-binding domains
Authors: SCHOENMAKERS Erik , ALEN Philippe , VERRIJDT Guy , PEETERS Ben , VERHOEVEN Guido , ROMBAUTS Wilfried , CLAESSENS Frank
Published: August 2015

The androgen and glucocorticoid hormones evoke specific in vivo responses by activating different sets of responsive genes. Although the consensus sequences of the glucocorticoid and androgen response elements are very similar, this in vivo specificity can in some cases be explained by differences in DNA recognition between both receptors. This has clearly been demonstrated for the androgen response element PB-ARE-2 described in the promoter of the rat probasin gene. Swapping of different fragments between the androgen- and glucocorticoid-receptor DNA-binding domains demonstrates that (i) the first Zn-finger module is not involved in this sequence selectivity and (ii) that residues in the second Zn-finger as well as a C-terminal extension of the DNA-binding domain from the androgen receptor are required. For specific and high-affinity binding to response elements, the DNA-binding domains of the androgen and glucocorticoid receptors need a different C-terminal extension. The glucocorticoid receptor requires 12 C-terminal amino acids for high affinity DNA binding, while the androgen receptor only involves four residues. However, for specific recognition of the PB-ARE-2, the androgen receptor also requires 12 C-terminal residues. Our data demonstrate that the mechanism by which the androgen receptor binds selectively to the PB-ARE-2 is different from that used by the glucocorticoid receptor to bind a consensus response element. We would like to suggest that the androgen receptor recognizes response elements as a direct repeat rather than the classical inverted repeat.
Secretagogue-dependent phosphorylation of phogrin, an insulin granule membrane protein tyrosine phosphatase homologue
Authors: WASMEIER Christina , HUTTON John C.
Published: August 2015

Phogrin, a 60/64 kDa integral membrane protein localized to dense-core secretory granules of neuroendocrine cells, was found to be reversibly phosphorylated in intact pancreatic β-cells. Phosphorylation occurred in response to a variety of secretory stimuli, including glucose and depolarizing concentrations of K+. In MIN6 cells, the glucose dose-response and time course of phogrin phosphorylation paralleled that of insulin secretion. Like secretion, glucose- or K+-stimulated phosphorylation required the presence of Ca2+. The calmodulin antagonist W-7 and the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II inhibitor KN-93 dose-dependently inhibited both phosphorylation and secretion, while the ‘inactive’ analogue KN-92 was effective only at significantly higher concentrations. Phosphorylation of phogrin was also stimulated in cells exposed to forskolin, an effect presumably mediated by protein kinase A (cAMP-dependent protein kinase). Under these conditions, phogrin phosphorylation could be dissociated from the secretory response. In MIN6 cells, as in pancreatic islets, cAMP potentiates rather than initiates insulin release. Thus our observations are consistent with a role for phogrin phosphorylation in the signal-transduction pathway at a site proximal to the exocytic event itself, possibly regulating secretory-granule mobilization and recruitment to the exocytic site.
Role of lipid packing in the activity of phospholipase C-δ1 as determined by hydrostatic pressure measurements
Authors: REBECCHI Mario , BONHOMME Marjorie , SCARLATA Suzanne
Published: August 2015

Previous studies with phospholipid monolayers revealed a large decrease in the activity of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C-δ1 (PLC-δ1) which catalyses the hydrolysis of PtdIns(4,5)P2 as lateral pressure is applied to the membrane. If stress on the membrane is the sole inhibitor of PLC-δ1 activity, the enzyme must penetrate the membrane surface to engage its substrate. To test the effect on PLC-δ1 activity of lipid packing in the absence of a directional stress, we examined the effects of increasing hydrostatic pressure on enzymic activity. We find that, in contrast with monolayer studies, increasing lipid packing by hydrostatic pressure does not affect membrane binding and increases enzymic activity by 90% in going from atmospheric pressure to 108 Pa (approx. 1000 atm). The increase in activity could be accounted for mainly by electrostriction of water around the multiply-charged product. Our results show that when there is no net stress on the monolayer, lipid packing does not alter PLC-δ1 activity, possibly because penetration of the enzyme into the membrane surface is shallow. We suggest that, in biological membranes, the activity of this and possibly other interfacial proteins is independent of headgroup packing.
Stimulation of glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis in mammaliancell-free systems by GTP hydrolysis: evidence for the involvement of membrane fusion
Authors: STEVENS Victoria L. , ZHANG Hui , KRISTYANNE Eva Szucs
Published: August 2015

The second step in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis, the deacetylation of GlcNAc-phosphatidylinositol (GlcNAc-PI), has been shown to be stimulated by GTP hydrolysis [Stevens (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 9718-9724]. We have now developed a system to study this regulation that uses microsomes from cells defective in the first step in GPI biosynthesis (class A, C and H lymphoma mutants) and the second reaction in the pathway (G9PLAP.85). With this mixed-microsome system, the deacetylation of GlcNAc-PI was almost completely dependent on GTP hydrolysis. Because GlcNAc-PI synthesized by the G9PLAP.85 microsomes cannot readily move to the first-step-mutant microsomes to be deacetylated, this result indicated that the role of GTP was to facilitate the ‘apparent’ transfer of this substrate between membrane vesicles. The microsomes could be stably preactivated by pretreatment with GTP before GPI biosynthesis was initiated, indicating that fusion was the most likely mechanism for this regulation. GlcNAc-PI deacetylation could also be stably preactivated in EL4 microsomes, suggesting that fusion also occurred in wild-type membranes. Some differential localization of the GlcNAc-PI synthetic and deacetylation activities with the endoplasmic reticulum was found. Therefore fusion seems to stimulate GPI biosynthesis in mammalian microsomes by bringing together the first two enzymes in the pathway in the same membrane vesicle.
Comparative inhibition by hard and soft metal ions of steroid-binding capacity of renal mineralocorticoid receptor cross-linked to the 90-kDa heat-shock protein heterocomplex
Authors: GALIGNIANA Mario D. , PIWIEN-PILIPUK Graciela
Published: August 2015

We analysed the inhibitory effectsin vitro and in vivo of several metal ions on aldosterone binding to the rat kidney mineralocorticoid receptor with the purpose of assessing possible toxic effects of those ions on sodium retention, as well as to obtain information on receptor structural requirements for ligand binding. For the assaysin vitro, the inhibitory effects of 20 metal ions were analysed on steroid-binding capacity for renal receptor cross-linked to 90-kDa heat-shock protein (hsp90) by pretreatment with dimethyl pimelimidate. Cross-linking prevented the artifactual dissociation of hsp90 (and, consequently, the loss of steroid binding) from the mineralocorticoid receptor due to the presence of high concentrations of salt in the incubation medium. Cross-linked heterocomplex showed no difference in ligand specificity and affinity with respect to native receptor, but increased stability upon thermal- or ionic-strength-induced destabilization was observed. Treatments in vitro with metal ions in the range 10-8-10-1 M resulted in a differential inhibitory effect for each particular ion on aldosterone binding. Using the negative logarithm of metal concentration for 50% inhibition, the ions could be correlated with their Klopman hardness constants. The analysis of this relationship led us to postulate three types of reaction: with thiol, imidazole and carboxyl groups. The essential role played by these residues in steroid binding was confirmed by chemical modification of cysteines with dithionitrobenzoic acid, histidines with diethyl pyrocarbonate and acidic amino acids with Woodward's reagent (N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium-3′-sulphonate). Importantly, the toxic effects of some metal ions were also observed by treatments in vivo of adrenalectomized rats on both steroid-binding capacity and aldosterone-dependent sodium-retaining properties. We suggest that those amino acid residues are involved in the activation process of the mineralocorticoid receptor upon steroid binding. Thus toxic effects observed with these metal ions may be a consequence of modifications of those essential groups. Our results support the notion that toxicity of metals on renal mineralocorticoid function may be predicted according to their chemical hardness.
Roles of calreticulin and calnexin during mucin synthesis in LS180 and HT29/A1 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: MCCOOL Dorothy J. , OKADA Yoshio , FORSTNER Janet F. , FORSTNER Gordon G.
Published: August 2015

Molecular chaperones are presumed to associate with large secretory mucin glycoproteins during their synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but have not been identified to date. We decided to look for possible involvement of the chaperones calreticulin (CRT) and calnexin (CLN) during synthesis of two similar gastrointestinal mucins, MUC2 and MUC5AC. Pulse-chase labelling of MUC2 and MUC5AC with [35S]methionine/cysteine ([35S]Promix) was performed using LS180 and HT29/A1 colonic carcinoma cell lines and was followed by immunoprecipitation with anti-mucin and anti-chaperone antibodies. The precipitated labelled mucin precursors were analysed by SDS/PAGE and autoradiography. Using antibodies specific for each mucin, newly synthesized monomeric precursors of both MUC2 and MUC5AC were detected after a 15 min pulse and then disappeared as oligomers were formed during a 2 h chase period. Only homo-oligomers of MUC2 and MUC5AC were present in the cells. Using anti-CRT, the MUC2 monomeric precursor and oligomer were co-precipitated from both cell lines after a 15 min pulse and the oligomer less strongly after a 0.5 h chase, but there was little co-precipitation after a 2 h chase. At this time, MUC2 immunoprecipitated by anti-MUC2 was completely oligomerized and was endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase-resistant, indicating that the mucin had reached the Golgi region. MUC2 co-precipitated with CRT at zero time and 0.5 h was endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase-sensitive; therefore CRT must have associated with MUC2 in the ER. Treatment with tunicamycin (TUN) diminished the binding of MUC2 to CRT, suggesting a requirement for initial N-glycan addition during this process. Using anti-CLN, only a weak co-precipitation of MUC2, compared with that seen with anti-CRT, was detected in LS180 cells. In contrast with the findings for MUC2, there was no co-precipitation of MUC5AC with CRT or CLN from either cell line at the various time points. In conclusion, CRT and CLN appear to be involved in MUC2 synthesis at the stage of folding and oligomerization in the ER. Since no interaction of the chaperones with MUC5AC was detected at a similar stage of synthesis, these two structurally similar secretory mucins seem to have different chaperone requirements in the ER.
Oligomeric self-association of basic fibroblast growth factor in the absence of heparin-like glycosaminoglycans
Authors: DAVIS Joseph C. , VENKATARAMAN Ganesh , SHRIVER Zachary , RAJ P. Antony , SASISEKHARAN Ram
Published: August 2015

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) represents a class of heparin-binding growth factors that are stored in the extracellular matrix attached to heparin-like glycosaminoglycans (HLGAGs). It has been proposed that cell surface HLGAGs have a central role in the biological activity of FGF-2, presumably by inducing dimers or oligomers of FGF-2 and leading to the dimerization or oligomerization of FGF receptor and hence signal transduction. We have previously proposed that FGF-2 possesses a natural tendency to self-associate to form FGF-2 dimers and oligomers; HLGAGs would enhance FGF-2 self-association. Here, through a combination of spectroscopic, chemical cross-linking and spectrometric techniques, we provide direct evidence for the self-association of FGF-2 in the absence of HLGAGs, defying the notion that HLGAGs induce FGF-2 oligomerization. Further, the addition of HLGAGs seems to enhance significantly the FGF-2 oligomerization process without affecting the relative percentages of FGF-2 dimers, trimers or oligomers. FGF-2 self-association is consistent with FGF-2's possessing biological activity both in the presence and in the absence of HLGAGs; this leads us to propose that FGF-2 self-association enables FGF-2 to signal both in the presence and in the absence of HLGAGs.
Identification and characterization of an intracellular protein complex that binds fibroblast growth factor-2 in bovine brain
Authors: CHEVET Eric , LEMAÎTRE Gilles , CAILLERET Karine , DAHAN Sophie , BERGERON John J. M. , KATINKA Michaël D.
Published: August 2015

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family is composed of polypeptides with sequence identity which signal through transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors. We report here the purification from bovine brain microsomes of an FGF-2-binding complex composed of three proteins of apparent molecular masses 150 kDa, 79 kDa and 46 kDa. Only the 150 kDa and 79 kDa proteins bound FGF-2 in cross-linking and ligand-blotting experiments. Binding of FGF-2 to p79 is enhanced in the presence of calcium. Peptide sequences allowed the identification of p150 and the cloning of the cDNAs encoding p79 and p46. The deduced amino acid sequence of p79 reveals high similarity to those of gastrin-binding protein and mitochondrial enoyl-CoA hydratase/hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase. p46 is similar to mitochondrial ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. Stable transfection of FR3T3 rat fibroblast cells with p79 cDNA analysed by electron microscopy following immunolabelling of ultra-thin cryosections revealed a localization of p79 in the secretory pathway, mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi region, where it is specifically associated with the molecular chaperone calnexin. In vivo a protein similar to the Golgi protein MG-160 forms a complex with FGF-2 and p79.
An unusual case of ‘uncompetitive activation’ by ascorbic acid: purification and kinetic properties of a myrosinase from Raphanus sativus seedlings
Authors: SHIKITA Mikio , FAHEY Jed W. , GOLDEN Tamara R. , David HOLTZCLAW W. , TALALAY Paul
Published: August 2015

Myrosinase (thioglucoside glucohydrolase; EC 3.2.3.1) is a plant enzyme that hydrolyses glucosinolates, principally to isothiocyanates. Myrosinase was purified to homogeneity in good yield from 8-day-old seedlings of Raphanus sativus (daikon) using a four-step procedure involving chromatographies on anion exchange, hydrophobic Phenyl-Sepharose, gel filtration and concanavalin A-Sepharose. In order to stabilize the enzyme and to avoid excessive peak broadening during chromatography, 30% (v/v) glycerol was added to dialysis and chromatography buffers. The purified enzyme was eluted as a single peak from a gel-filtration sizing column with an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa. The enzyme was resolved into two subunits with molecular masses of 61 and 62 kDa by SDS/PAGE. Ascorbic acid activated the purified enzyme more than 100-fold. The Vmax and Km values for the hydrolysis of allyl glucosinolate (sinigrin) were 2.06 μmol/min per mg of protein and 23 μM in the absence of ascorbate and 280 μmol/min per mg of protein and 250 μM in the presence of 500 μM ascorbate, respectively. As the ascorbate concentration was increased from 50 to 500 μM, the Vmax and Km values increased in parallel, and thus the Vmax/Km ratio remained constant. Similarly, raising the concentrations of sinigrin increased the concentration of ascorbic acid required for half-maximal activation (Ka). At a sinigrin concentration of 250 μM, the Ka for ascorbic acid was 55 μM. Sulphate, a reaction product, was a competitive inhibitor of activity, having a Ki of 60 mM with respect to sinigrin and of 27 mM with respect to ascorbate. Thus activation of myrosinase from R.sativus by ascorbic acid exemplifies an unusual and possibly unique example of linear ‘uncompetitive activation’ (i.e. a proportionate increase in Vmax and Km) of an enzyme. The enzyme also had β-glucosidase activity and hydrolysed p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside.
Measurement of perimitochondrial Ca2+ concentration in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells with aequorin targeted to the outer mitochondrial membrane
Authors: BRANDENBURGER Yves , ARRIGHI Jean-François , ROSSIER Michel F. , MATURANA Andrès , VALLOTTON Michel B. , CAPPONI Alessandro M.
Published: August 2015

Microdomains of high cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration in the proximity of mitochondria might have an important role in the stimulation of steroidogenesis in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. In the present study we have investigated local changes of free Ca2+ concentration near the outer mitochondrial membrane ([Ca2+]om) under stimulation with angiotensin II (Ang II) and K+. Glomerulosa cells in primary culture were transfected with a recombinant cDNA encoding the N-terminal region of the human translocase protein 20 of the outer mitochondrial membrane, in frame with the Ca2+-sensitive photoprotein aequorin. This chimaeric aequorin (TomAeq) was associated with mitochondria-enriched subcellular fractions of transfected COS-7 cells and was susceptible to proteinase K, showing that it was targeted to the outer mitochondrial membrane, facing the cytosolic space. In bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells transfected with TomAeq cDNA, Ang II induced a transient [Ca2+]om peak reaching 1.42±0.28 μM, which decreased immediately to the basal resting value. The peak response to Ang II was strikingly lower than the peak response of mitochondrial free Ca2+ concentration, which increased to 5.4±1.2 μM. The smaller response of [Ca2+]om to Ang II compared with the elevated matrix response did not result from buffering effects of the organelle, from altered mechanisms of intramitochondrial Ca2+ transport or from differences in the affinity of the chimaeric aequorins for Ca2+. This approach has allowed us to follow perimitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in bovine glomerulosa cells under stimulation with Ca2+-mobilizing agonists and to reveal a strong gradient of Ca2+ concentration between the mitochondrial matrix and the immediate environment of the organelle.
Autocrine regulation of growth stimulation in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma by serine-proteinase-catalysed release of the urinary-type-plasminogen-activator N-terminal fragment
Authors: FISHMAN David A. , KEARNS Alicia , LARSH Susan , ENGHILD Jan J. , STACK M. Sharon
Published: August 2015

Ovarian carcinomas secrete single-chain urinary-type plasminogen activator (scuPA) and expression of uPA is up-regulated relative to normal ovarian epithelium, leading to an enhanced proteolytic capacity which may facilitate invasion. Furthermore, the uPA receptor (uPAR) is present on ovarian carcinoma cells and is occupied in tumour tissues. In the present study, incubation of scuPA with serum-free conditioned medium from ovarian carcinoma cells resulted in release of a 14 kDa polypeptide. N-terminal sequence analysis identified this fragment as the uPA N-terminal fragment (NTF), which contains a growth-factor and a kringle domain. NTF generation was abolished by serine-proteinase inhibitors, but not inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases, and was not enhanced by the addition of plasminogen or plasmin. To determine whether ovarian carcinoma-cell growth is altered by uPA, the effect of exogenous scuPA or NTF on proliferation was analysed. Both NTF and scuPA induced a dose-dependent increase in proliferation, with maximal stimulation obtained at 10-20 nM. Furthermore, blocking the interaction of endogenous uPA with uPAR using anti-NTF antibodies significantly inhibited proliferation. Together these data indicate that, in addition to enhancing the invasive activity of ovarian carcinoma cells via increased pericellular proteolysis, uPA also acts as a mitogen for ovarian carcinoma cells, suggesting a biochemical mechanism whereby uPA may contribute to ovarian carcinoma progression by modulating both cell invasion and proliferation.
Solution structure of a defensin-like peptide from platypus venom
Authors: TORRES Allan M. , WANG Xiuhong , FLETCHER Jamie I. , ALEWOOD Dianne , ALEWOOD Paul F. , SMITH Ross , SIMPSON Richard J. , NICHOLSON Graham M. , SUTHERLAND Struan K. , GALLAGHER Cliff H. , KING Glenn F. , KUCHEL Philip W.
Published: August 2015

Three defensin-like peptides (DLPs) were isolated from platypus venom and sequenced. One of these peptides, DLP-1, was synthesized chemically and its three-dimensional structure was determined using NMR spectroscopy. The main structural elements of this 42-residue peptide were an anti-parallel β-sheet comprising residues 15-18 and 37-40 and a small 310 helix spanning residues 10-12. The overall three-dimensional fold is similar to that of β-defensin-12, and similar to the sodium-channel neurotoxin ShI (Stichodactyla helianthusneurotoxin I). However, the side chains known to be functionally important in β-defensin-12 and ShI are not conserved in DLP-1, suggesting that it has a different biological function. Consistent with this contention, we showed that DLP-1 possesses no anti-microbial properties and has no observable activity on rat dorsal-root-ganglion sodium-channel currents.
Aldolase A Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding domains as determined by site-directed mutagenesis
Authors: BARON Carl B. , TOLAN Dean R. , CHOI Kyung H. , COBURN Ronald F.
Published: August 2015

We substituted neutral amino acids for some positively charged residues (R42, K107, K146, R148 and K229) that line the active site of aldolase A in an effort to determine binding sites for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. In addition, D33 (involved in carbon-carbon bond cleavage) was mutated. K229A and D33S aldolases showed almost no catalytic activity, but Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding was similar to that determined with the use of wild-type aldolase A. R42A, K107A, K146R and R148A had markedly decreased affinities for Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding, increased EC50 values for Fru(1,6)P2-evoked release of bound Ins(1,4,5)P3 and increased Ki values for Ins(1,4,5)P3-evoked inhibition of aldolase activity. K146Q (positive charge removal) had essentially no catalytic activity and could not bind Ins(1,4,5)P3. Computer-simulated docking of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in the aldolase A structure was consistent with electrostatic binding of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to K107, K146, R148, R42, R303 and backbone nitrogens, as has been reported for Fru(1,6)P2 binding. Results indicate that Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding occurs at the active site and is not dependent on having a catalytically active enzyme; they also suggest that there is competition between Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Fru(1,6)P2 for binding. Although Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to aldolase involved electrostatic interactions, the aldolase A Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding domain did not show other similarities to pleckstrin homology domains or phosphotyrosine-binding domains known to bind Ins(1,4,5)P3 in other proteins.
Molecular and functional analysis of mouse decay accelerating factor (CD55)
Authors: HARRIS Claire L. , RUSHMERE Neil K. , Paul MORGAN B.
Published: August 2015

Molecular cloning of mouse decay accelerating factor (DAF; CD55) predicted two forms of the molecule, one transmembrane (TM) and the other glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored; these are encoded by separate genes termed Daf-GPI and Daf-TM. In the present study several additional isoforms of mouse DAF, generated by alternative splicing from these genes, are described. Northern-blot analysis of RNA and reverse transcriptase-PCR from various tissues indicated that spleen and testis expressed high levels of DAF, which comprised several species. These species were cloned and sequence analysis revealed various novel forms in addition to those previously reported. Two novel forms were derived from the Daf-TM gene but the transmembrane sequence defined previously was replaced by a unique GPI-anchor addition sequence; one clone also had part of the serine/threonine/proline (STP) region deleted. A third clone, encoding a transmembrane protein, was also derived from this gene but the entire STP region was deleted. A fourth clone, derived from the Daf-GPI gene, contained a novel C-terminal sequence, suggestive of a secreted form of the protein. Two DAF cDNAs (TM and GPI-anchored) were stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. When these cells were attacked with mouse or rat complement and analysed for C3b deposition, DAF-transfected cells had greatly reduced C3b deposition compared with controls. Transfection with DAF also conferred protection from complement in a cell-lysis assay, and a soluble, recombinant form of mouse DAF inhibited complement in a haemolytic assay.
Phosphorylation and activation of phosphodiesterase type 3B (PDE3B) in adipocytes in response to serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitors: deactivation of PDE3B in vitro by protein phosphatase type 2A
Authors: RESJÖ Svante , OKNIANSKA Alina , ZOLNIEROWICZ Stanislaw , MANGANIELLO Vincent , DEGERMAN Eva
Published: August 2015

Phosphodiesterase type 3B (PDE3B) has been shown to be activated and phosphorylated in response to insulin and hormones that increase cAMP. In order to study serine/threonine protein phosphatases involved in the regulation of rat adipocyte PDE3B, we investigated the phosphorylation and activation of PDE3B in vivoin response to phosphatase inhibitors and the dephosphorylation and deactivation of PDE3B in vitroby phosphatases purified from rat adipocyte homogenates. Okadaic acid and calyculin A induced dose- and time-dependent activation of PDE3B. Maximal effects were obtained after 30 min using 1 μM okadaic acid (1.8-fold activation) and 300 nM calyculin A (4-fold activation), respectively. Tautomycin and cyclosporin A did not induce activation of PDE3B. Incubation of adipocytes with 300 nM calyculin A inhibited protein phosphatase (PP) 1 and PP2A completely. Okadaic acid (1 μM) reduced PP2A activity by approx. 50% but did not affect PP1 activity, and 1 μM tautomycin reduced PP1 activity by approx. 60% but PP2A activity by only 11%. This indicates an important role for PP2A in the regulation of PDE3B. Furthermore, rat adipocyte PDE3B phosphatase activity co-purified with PP2A but not with PP1 during MonoQ chromatography. As compared with insulin, okadaic acid and calyculin A induced phosphorylation of PDE3B by 2.8- and 14-fold respectively, whereas tautomycin and cyclosporin A had no effect. Both calyculin A and okadaic acid induced phosphorylation on serine 302, the site known to be phosphorylated on PDE3B in response to insulin and isoproterenol (isoprenaline), as well as on sites not identified previously. In summary, PP2A seems to be involved in the regulation of PDE3B in vivoand can act as a PDE3B phosphatase in vitro. In comparison with insulin, calyculin A induced a dramatic activation of PDE3B and both calyculin A and okadaic acid induced phosphorylation on additional sites, which could have a role in signalling pathways not yet identified.