bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ligation of the α2-macroglobulin signalling receptor on macrophages induces protein phosphorylation and an increase in cytosolic pH
Authors: Misra U K , Gawdi G , Pizzo S V
Published: August 2015

We have recently described an alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) signalling receptor which is distinct from the low-density lipoprotein-related protein/alpha 2M receptor (LRP/alpha 2MR). Ligation of the macrophage signalling receptor by alpha 2M-methylamine stimulates production of several second messengers and involves a pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein. We now report that binding of alpha 2M-methylamine, or the cloned M(r) = 20,000 receptor-binding fragment from rat alpha 1M, to macrophage alpha 2M signalling receptors induces protein phosphorylation. By use of a monoclonal antibody to phospholipase C gamma l (PLC gamma l) we were able to identify it as one target for protein phosphorylation. Phosphorylation was time and concentration dependent, being optimal at about 60 s of incubation and a 100-200 nM ligand concentration. By use of a second monoclonal antibody directed against phosphotyrosine, we were able to demonstrate that at least a portion of the label was incorporated into one or more tyrosine residues. PLC gamma l phosphorylation was then studied in membrane preparations at 4 degrees C in order to minimize serine or threonine modification. Preincubation of macrophage membranes with genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, drastically reduced phosphorylation of PLC gamma l. Receptor-associated protein, which blocks alpha 2M binding to LRP/alpha 2MR but not to the alpha 2M signalling receptor, had no effect on alpha 2M-methylamine-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma l. Binding of lactoferrin to LRP/alpha 2MR failed to induce phosphorylation of PLC gamma l, further supporting the hypothesis that the alpha 2M signalling receptor and LRP/alpha 2MR are distinct entities. Growth factors which induce tyrosine phosphorylation typically cause a rise in cytosolic pH. Binding of a2M-methylamine to macrophages also gradually increased the intracellular pH in a concentration-dependent manner, being optimal at a 200 nM ligand concentration. The increase in pH was amiloride sensitive. We propose that receptor-recognized forms of a2M may function like growth factors with regard to macrophage regulation.
Glutamic acid 327 in the sheep α 1 isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase is a pivotal residue for cation-induced conformational changes
Authors: Johnson C L , Kuntzweiler T A , Lingrel J B , Johnson C G , Wallick E T
Published: August 2015

The cation binding characteristics of the mutant E327A formed in the sheep alpha 1 isoform of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase were examined using [3H]ouabain binding as a function of monovalent cation concentrations. Equilibrium competition binding assays in the presence of Mg2+, inorganic phosphate and various amounts of unlabelled ouabain indicated that both wild-type sheep alpha 1 protein and the E327A mutant expressed in 3T3 cells had similar affinities for ouabain (KD = 1.53 and 1.31 nM respectively). Sodium inhibition of ouabain binding appeared competitive in both enzymes. However, binding of three Na+ ions was required to explain the steep character of the Na+ inhibition curve for the wild-type Na+,K(+)-ATPase (Ki = 12.8 +/- 1.6 mM), whereas the binding of two Na+ ions was detected for the mutant E327A (Ki = 19.2 +/- 2.5 mM). Potassium binding of [3H]ouabain binding displayed a partially competitive nature with Hill coefficients of 2 for both wild-type sheep alpha 1 (Ki = 0.743 +/- 0.044 mM) and E327A (Ki = 0.875 +/- 0.067 mM). At concentrations of K+ above 10 mM, the sheep alpha 1 competition curve levelled off whereas the inhibition curve for E327A displayed a stimulation in ouabain binding. This stimulation in [3H]ouabain binding also occurred with Rb+, Cs+ and Li+, but was never observed with choline or Na+, suggesting that this effect was not due to ionic strength. From these [3H]ouabain-binding studies, it is obvious that the mutant enzyme E327A in the presence of Mg2+, Pi and ouabain, interacts with monovalent cations in a unique fashion. One interpretation of these data is that the glutamic acid residue at position 327 is involved in a conformational transition induced by the binding of monovalent cations to the Na+,K+-ATPase and that this transition is inhibited by the mutation of E327A.
Differential coupling of the formyl peptide receptor to adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C by the pertussis toxin-insensitive Gz protein
Authors: Tsu R C , Lai H W L , Allen R A , Wong Y H
Published: August 2015

In neutrophils, activation of receptors for the chemotactic peptide N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) leads to changes in intracellular events such as phosphoinositide turnover and Ca2+ mobilization. Studies have shown that activation of the cloned fMLP receptor can also lead to inhibition of cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation [Lang, Boulay, Li and Wollheim (1993) EMBO J. 12, 2671-2679; Uhing, Gettys, Tomhave, Snyderman and Didsbury (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 183, 1033-1039]. These responses are apparently mediated through pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi proteins. Since other chemotactic factor receptors can couple to multiple G proteins, we examined the ability of the fMLP receptor to utilize a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein, Gz, in its signal transduction pathways. The human fMLP receptor was transiently expressed in 293 and Ltk- cells, and subsequently assayed for receptor-mediated inhibition of cAMP accumulation and stimulation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. In transfected 293 cells, fMLP inhibited choriogonadotropin-stimulated cAMP accumulation by 50% and the response could be abolished by pertussis toxin. Co-expression of the fMLP receptor with the alpha subunit of Gz rendered the fMLP response pertussis toxin-insensitive, indicating that the endogenous Gi proteins can be substituted efficiently by Gz. In contrast, Ltk- cells expressing the fMLP receptor were able to respond to fMLP with an increase in the production of inositol phosphates, but this response was completely abolished by pertussis toxin even in cells co-expressing the alpha subunit of Gz. Thus, although both signalling pathways appeared to utilize Gi-like proteins, Gz can only replace Gi in mediating inhibition of cAMP accumulation, and not in the stimulation of phospholipase C. Differential interaction with Gz might represent a novel mechanism by which fMLP receptors regulate intracellular events.
Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade by pertussis toxin-sensitive and -insensitive pathways in cultured ventricular cardiomyocytes
Authors: Bogoyevitch M A , Clerk A , Sugden P H
Published: August 2015

The involvement of pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive and -insensitive pathways in the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade was examined in ventricular cardiomyocytes cultured from neonatal rats. A number of agonists that activate heterotrimeric G-protein-coupled receptors stimulated MAPK activity after exposure for 5 min. These included foetal calf serum (FCS), endothelin-1 (these two being the most effective of the agonists examined), phenylephrine, endothelin-3, lysophosphatidic acid, carbachol, isoprenaline and angiotensin II. Activation of MAPK and MAPK kinase (MEK) by carbachol returned to control levels within 30-60 min, whereas activation by FCS was more sustained. FPLC on Mono Q showed that carbachol and FCS activated two peaks of MEK and two peaks of MAPK (p42MAPK and p44MAPK). Pretreatment of cells with PTX for 24 h inhibited the activation of MAPK by carbachol, FCS and lysophosphatidic acid, but not that by endothelin-1, phenylephrine or isoprenaline. Involvement of G-proteins in the activation of the cardiac MAPK cascade was demonstrated by the sustained (PTX-insensitive) activation of MAPK (and MEK) after exposure of cells to AlF4-. AlF4- activated PtdIns hydrolysis, as did endothelin-1, endothelin-3, phenylephrine and FCS. In contrast, the effect of lysophosphatidic acid on PtdIns hydrolysis was small and carbachol was without significant effect even after prolonged exposure. We conclude that PTX-sensitive (i.e. Gi/G(o)-linked) and PTX-insensitive (i.e. Gq/Gs-linked) pathways of MAPK activation exist in neonatal ventricular myocytes. FCS may stimulate the MAPK cascade through both pathways.
β 1 integrins mediate adherent phenotype of human erythroblastic cell lines after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induction
Authors: Molla A , Berthier R , Chapel A , Schweitzer A , Andrieux A
Published: August 2015

We investigated the effects of phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; PMA) treatment on the adhesive behaviour of three erythroleukaemia cell lines: HEL, LAMA-84 and AP217. In the three cell lines PMA induced an increase in expression of a megakaryocytic marker: alpha IIb beta 3 integrin, but did not promote activation of this receptor. Indeed, an antibody specific for the activated form of alpha IIb beta 3 failed to react with the three cell lines. PMA induction led to different adhesive phenotypes depending on the cell line; in fact LAMA-84 and HEL cells became adherent while AP217 cells remained non-adherent. By studying cell surface receptors we found that the major difference between the adherent and the non-adherent cells was the expression of beta 1 integrins. After PMA induction, beta 1 integrin expression was totally abolished in AP217 cells and the amount of beta 1 mRNA was reduced preventing new synthesis of the subunit. In HEL and LAMA-84 cells, PMA treatment did not alter the overall level of beta 1 integrin but induced a new pattern of alpha-subunit expression: up-regulation of alpha 2 and alpha v subunits and down-regulation of alpha 4 and alpha 5 subunits. Function-perturbing antibodies against beta 1, alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha v and alpha 2 reduced adhesion of HEL cells to fibronectin or collagen, whereas antibodies against beta 3 or alpha v beta 3 did not. Our results favour the involvement of beta 1 integrins in PMA-induced adhesion of erythroleukaemia cells.
Functional properties of a sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase with an altered Ca2+-binding mechanism
Authors: Martinez-Azorin F , Soler F , Gomez-Fernandez J C , Fernandez-Belda F
Published: August 2015

Treatment of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles with diethylpyrocarbonate in the presence of a large excess of reagent, at pH 6.2 and at room temperature, reveals both a fast- and a slow-reacting population of protein residues. The loss of the Ca(2+)-ATPase activity is mainly associated with the fast-reacting population being partially sensitive to hydroxylamine. There is also an effect on the Ca(2+)-binding mechanism. Shorter derivatization times (5 min) produce a loss of the positive cooperativity of Ca2+ binding. When the treatment was prolonged for 30 min there was an additional decrease in the overall Ca2+ affinity. Curve-fitting procedures applied to the non-cooperative binding isotherms provide the equilibrium constants for the two Ca2+ sites, although they cannot discriminate between interacting and independent site mechanisms. Prestationary kinetics assays show 2 Ca2+:1 ATP ratios, at any extent of Ca2+ saturation, indicating that the Ca2+ sites are not independent. The Ca2+ dissociation profile after derivatization shows a decrease in the dissociation constant for the release of the second Ca2+, which is consistent with interacting sites. Isotopic exchange experiments show fast and slow components of equal amplitude even at subsaturating Ca2+ concentrations, which is incompatible with independent binding sites. The experimental data suggest a modification of the equilibrium binding constants making them more similar, but keeping the interacting character. The structural position of the external (cytoplasmic) and the internal (lumenal) Ca2+ sites remains unaltered in the absence of positive cooperativity.
Primaquine, an inhibitor of vesicular transport, blocks the calcium-release-activated current in rat megakaryocytes
Authors: Somasundaram B , Norman J C , Mahaut-Smith M P
Published: August 2015

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to study the effect of primaquine, an inhibitor of vesicular transport, on the calcium-release-activated current (Icrac) in rat megakaryocytes. Addition of primaquine, before emptying of internal Ca2+ stores by ionomycin, prevented the development of Icrac, with a half-maximal concentration of near 100 microM. Maximal inhibition (> or = 83%) was observed at 0.6-1 mM primaquine. At 1 mM, chloroquine, a related compound which is less effective at blocking vesicular secretion, had no effect on Icrac. Primaquine (0.8 mM) added after sustained activation of Icrac caused a gradual block of current, with maximal inhibition of 50% observed after 2-3 min. At 1 mM, internal guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate reduced Icrac by 65 +/- 13%. Neither 1 mM GTP nor 2 mM guanosine 5′-[beta-thio]diphosphate had any significant effect on Icrac. The recognized role of GTPases in the regulation of vesicular trafficking, together with block of Icrac activation by primaquine, provide evidence that the channels carrying Icrac may be stored in a vesicular membrane compartment and transferred to the plasma membrane following store depletion.
The non-catalytic cellulose-binding domain of a novel cellulase from Pseudomonas fluorescens subsp. cellulosa is important for the efficient hydrolysis of Avicel
Authors: Hall J , Black G W , Ferreira L M A , Millward-Sadler S J , Ali B R S , Hazlewood G P , Gilbert H J
Published: August 2015

A genomic library of Pseudomonas fluorescens subsp. cellulosa DNA, constructed in lambda ZAPII, was screened for carboxymethyl-cellulase activity. The pseudomonad insert from a recombinant phage which displayed elevated cellulase activity in comparison with other cellulase-positive clones present in the library, was excised into pBluescript SK- to generate the plasmid pC48. The nucleotide sequence of the cellulase gene, designated celE, revealed a single open reading frame of 1710 bp that encoded a polypeptide, defined as endoglucanase E (CelE), of M(r) 59663. The deduced primary structure of CelE revealed an N-terminal signal peptide followed by a 300-amino-acid sequence that exhibited significant identity with the catalytic domains of cellulases belonging to glycosyl hydrolase Family 5. Adjacent to the catalytic domain was a 40-residue region that exhibited strong sequence identity to non-catalytic domains located in two other endoglucanases and a xylanase from P. fluorescens. The C-terminal 100 residues of CelE were similar to Type-I cellulose-binding domains (CBDs). The three domains of the cellulase were joined by linker sequences rich in serine residues. Analysis of the biochemical properties of full-length and truncated derivatives of CelE confirmed that the enzyme comprised an N-terminal catalytic domain and a C-terminal CBD. Analysis of purified CelE revealed that the enzyme had an M(r) of 56000 and an experimentally determined N-terminal sequence identical to residues 40-54 of the deduced primary structure of full-length CelE. The enzyme exhibited an endo mode of action in hydrolysing a range of cellulosic substrates including Avicel and acid-swollen cellulose, but did not attack xylan or any other hemicelluloses. A truncated form of the enzyme, which lacked the C-terminal CBD, displayed the same activity as full-length CelE against soluble cellulose and acid-swollen cellulose, but exhibited substantially lower activity than the full-length cellulase against Avicel. The significance of these data in relation to the role of the CBD is discussed.
Post-transcriptional mechanisms are responsible for the reduction in lipoprotein lipase activity in cardiomyocytes from diabetic rat hearts
Authors: Carroll R , Liu L , Severson D L
Published: August 2015

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity is reduced in cardiomyocytes from rat hearts following the acute (4-5 day) induction of diabetes with 100 mg/kg streptozotocin. The molecular basis for this inhibitory effect of diabetes on LPL activity was investigated by measuring steady-state LPL mRNA content and the synthesis and turnover of LPL protein ([35S]methionine incorporation into immunoprecipitable LPL protein in pulse and pulse-chase experiments) in control and diabetic cardiomyocytes. LPL activity was reduced to approx. 50% of control in diabetic cardiomyocytes, but LPL mRNA levels and turnover (degradation) of newly synthesized LPL were unchanged. Synthesis of total protein and LPL were reduced to 72% and 71% of control respectively; therefore, relative rates of LPL synthesis were the same in control and diabetic cardiomyocytes. The diabetes-induced reduction in LPL synthesis was accompanied by a decrease in LPL mass to 78% of control, and a decrease in enzyme specific activity (0.48 to 0.33 m-unit/ng of LPL protein) since the decline in catalytic activity was greater than the decrease in LPL synthesis and mass. Thus, post-transcriptional mechanisms involving a reduction in LPL synthesis as part of a generalized decrease in total protein synthesis, together with a post-translational mechanism(s) that result in accumulation of inactive LPL protein, are responsible for the decreased LPL activity in cardiomyocytes from diabetic rat hearts.
Involvement of oxidants and oxidant-generating enzyme(s) in tumour-necrosis-factor-α-mediated apoptosis: role for lipoxygenase pathway but not mitochondrial respiratory chain
Authors: O'Donnell V B , Spycher S , Azzi A
Published: August 2015

Cellular signalling by the inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) has been suggested to involve generation of low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Certain antioxidants and metal chelators can inhibit cytotoxicity and gene expression in response to TNF alpha in numerous cell types. However, neither the source nor function of TNF alpha-induced oxidant generation is known. Using specific inhibitors, we ruled out involvement of several oxidant-generating enzymes [cyclo-oxygenase (indomethacin), cytochrome P-450 (metyrapone), nitric oxide synthase (NG-methyl-L-arginine), NADPH oxidase (iodonium diphenyl), xanthine oxidase (allopurinol), ribonucleotide reductase (hydroxyurea)] in TNF alpha-mediated apoptosis of the murine fibrosarcoma line, L929. We also demonstrated no role for mitochondrial-derived radicals/respiratory chain in the lytic pathway using specific inhibitors/uncouplers (rotenone, KCN, carboxin, fluoroacetate, antimycin, malonate, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone) and chloramphenicol-derived respiration-deficient cells. Significant ROS (H2O2, O2-.) generation was not observed in response to TNF alpha in L929 cells using four separate assays. Also, prevention of intracellular H2O2 removal by inhibition of catalase did not potentiate TNF alpha-mediated cell death. These data suggest that neither H2O2 nor O2-. plays a direct role in TNF alpha cytotoxicity. Finally, we suggest a central role for lipoxygenase in TNF alpha-mediated lysis. Three inhibitors of this radical-generating signalling pathway, including an arachidonate analogue (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid), could protect cells against TNF alpha. The inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid is also a radical scavenger, but it could not protect cells from ROS toxicity at concentrations that effectively prevented TNF alpha killing. Therefore protection by nordihydroguaiaretic acid cannot be due to scavenging of cytotoxic H2O or O2-.. The lipoxygenase product, (12S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, was also significantly protective. As this analogue can act as a substrate for certain lipoxygenases, this effect may be due to prevention of generation of physiological products.
The stimulation of insulin secretion by d-glyceraldehyde correlates with its rate of oxidation in islet cells
Authors: Alcázar O , Giné E , Qiu-Yue Z , Tamarit-Rodríguez J
Published: August 2015

D-Glyceraldehyde's capacity to mimic the effect of D-glucose on insulin secretion has not yet been sufficiently substantiated. It has been recently proposed, however, that they might act through different mechanisms in insulin-secreting tumoral cells. Therefore, we have performed a dose-related study of both the secretory and metabolic effects of D-glyceraldehyde on islets, which have been compared with those produced by D-glucose. D-Glyceraldehyde's capacity to stimulate secretion was paralleled in a dose-dependent manner by its rate of oxidation to 14CO2. Partial inhibition of D-glyceraldehyde oxidation by beta-iodoacetamide resulted in a proportional decrease in the secretory response. L-Glyceraldehyde, which was apparently very poorly oxidized by islets, did not stimulate secretion. The ratio of the maximum insulin responses D-glyceraldehyde and D-glucose (57%) correlated with the ratio of their respective maximum rates of oxidation (68%). At sub-maximal concentrations there was a potentiation of the secretagogue effects of the hexose by the triose, which was not apparent at a maximum effective dose of glucose. It is concluded that D-glyceraldehyde mimics the secretory effect of glucose because, similarly to the hexose, it is metabolized through islet aerobic glycolysis. The lower potency of D-glyceraldehyde as an insulin secretagogue than D-glucose is determined by the lower capacity of islets to oxidize the triose compared with the hexose. D-Glyceraldehyde, unlike D-glucose, is metabolized in islets to D-lactate. Alternative routes for the metabolism of D-glyceraldehyde might explain some of the secretagogue differences between the triose and the hexose.
Brefeldin A inhibits the endocytosis of plasma-membrane-associated heparan sulphate proteoglycans of cultured rat ovarian granulosa cells
Authors: Uhlin-Hansen L , Yanagishita M
Published: August 2015

Rat ovarian granulosa cells were labelled with [35S]sulphate for 0.5-20 h and chased in the presence or absence of 1-2 micrograms/ml of brefeldin A (BFA) for up to 21 h. Heparan [35S]sulphate (HS) proteoglycans from the culture medium, plasma membrane and intracellular fractions were then analysed by gel chromatography. In the absence of BFA, about 85% of the plasma membrane-associated HS proteoglycans were endocytosed and subsequently degraded intracellularly. Recirculation of the HS proteoglycans between the intracellular pool and the cell surface was not observed. Exposing the cells to BFA for less than 1 h did not influence the turnover of the HS proteoglycans, whereas the effect of the drug on the Golgi functions reached a maximum in approx. 10 min. When the cells were treated with BFA for more than 1-2 h, the rate of endocytosis of HS proteoglycans was reduced to about 50% of the control. The delivery of endocytosed HS proteoglycans to lysosomes were not affected by the drug. Cycloheximide also reduced the endocytosis of HS proteoglycans, but not as much as BFA, indicating that the inhibitory effect of BFA can be only partly accounted for by a block of protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane. In contrast with the endocytosis of HS proteoglycans, neither that of 125I-transferrin, known to be mediated by clathrin-coated vesicles, nor that of 125I-ricin, a marker molecule for bulk endocytosis, was affected by BFA. The half-life of 125I-transferrin and 125I-ricin in the plasma membrane was about 10 and 25 min respectively compared with about 5 h for the HS proteoglycans. Altogether, these results indicate that the endocytosis of plasma-membrane-associated HS proteoglycans is mediated by different mechanisms than the endocytosis of most other cell-surface proteins. Further, the mechanisms involved in the endocytosis of HS proteoglycans are sensitive to BFA.
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of the receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator by cytokines and tumour promoters in the human lung carcinoma cell line A549
Authors: Lund L R , Ellis V , Rønne E , Pyke C , Danø K
Published: August 2015

The receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPAR) is an integral membrane protein that specifically binds urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plays a crucial role in cell surface plasmin generation. We have previously found that transforming growth factor-beta, type 1 (TGF-beta 1), increases uPAR gene transcription in the human lung carcinoma cell line A549 and now report that also epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the tumour promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) cause increased uPAR transcription and that PMA and TGF-beta 1 in addition increase the stability of uPAR mRNA, while EGF has no effect on this parameter. All three compounds also increase the uPAR protein level, as measured by cell-binding experiments with radiolabelled ligand. The increase in uPAR protein level was however considerably lower with all three compounds than the increase in mRNA level, suggesting that they also exert a translational or post-translational control. Accompanying the increase in the number of uPAR molecules there was a proportional decrease in their ligand-binding affinity, the mechanism of which is unknown. Platelet-derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and cyclic AMP analogues did not induce any change in the uPAR mRNA level in A549 cells. Previous studies have shown that expression of uPA and its type-1 inhibitor is regulated by a variety of cytokines in a cell-specific manner. The present study indicates that cytokines in addition influence cell surface plasminogen activation by regulating uPAR expression.
NMN adenylyltransferase from bull testis: purification and properties
Authors: Balducci E , Orsomando G , Polzonetti V , Vita A , Emanuelli M , Raffaelli N , Ruggieri S , Magni G , Natalini P
Published: August 2015

The purification procedure of NMN adenylyltransferase from bull testis presented here consists of a heat step and an acidic precipitation followed by four chromatographic steps, including dye ligand, adsorption and hydrophobic chromatography. The final enzyme preparation subjected to non-denaturing and denaturating PAGE with silver nitrate staining exhibited a single band. At this step the enzyme appeared to be homogeneous. The M(r) value of the native enzyme calculated by gel filtration was about 133,000. The protein appeared to possess a quaternary structure with four subunits of apparent M(r) 33,000 without disulphide interchain bonds. Isoelectric experiments gave a pI of 6.2, and pH studies showed the possible presence of an acidic group in the active site having a pKa of 4.9. Analysis of the amino acid composition showed the presence of more acidic residues than basic ones, according to the pI value calculated by Mono P FPLC. The Ea calculated by Arrhenius plot gave an apparent value of 55.7 kJ/mol. The Km values for NMN, ATP, NAD+ and PPi were 0.11, 0.023, 0.37 and 0.16 nM respectively. The polyclonal antiserum produced against the NMN adenylyltransferase reacted with the purified enzyme at different dilutions and recognized the enzyme in the homogenate as well.
Two classes of agonist-sensitive Ca2+ stores in platelets, as identified by their differential sensitivity to 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone and thapsigargin
Authors: Cavallini L , Coassin M , Alexandre A
Published: August 2015

In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, extensive Ca2+ release from the platelet intracellular stores [monitored as an increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i)] is produced by the combined action of the endomembrane Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin and 2 nM ionomycin. The titration of Ca2+ unloading with thapsigargin (plus ionomycin) shows that a substantial fraction of the store-associated Ca2+ is released by 8-10 nM thapsigargin, but that 100-200 nM thapsigargin is required for the complete release. The store depletion obtained in similar conditions with a different endomembrane Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone (TBHQ), is always incomplete. It is completed by thrombin or by 10 nM thapsigargin. We conclude that two different types of Ca2+ pumps exist in platelets, one sensitive to TBHQ and to high thapsigargin, the other insensitive to TBHQ and sensitive to low thapsigargin. They are distributed separately in discrete subpopulations of the agonist-sensitive stores. The influx of external Ca2+ is maximal when both types of stores are Ca(2+)-depleted, either by high thapsigargin or by the combined action of low thapsigargin and TBHQ.
Retinoid receptors cause distortion of the retinoic acid response element in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene promoter
Authors: Scott D K , Hall R K , Granner D K
Published: August 2015

Functional retinoic acid response elements (RAREs) have been described wherein the direct repeats are separated by 1, 2 or 5 bp (termed DR1, DR2 and DR5 respectively). We have previously shown that retinoic acid receptor/retinoid X receptor (RAR/RXR) binds a DR1 RARE within the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene promoter and is the trans-acting complex that mediates the retinoic acid (RA) response. However, the mechanism of trans-activation is unknown. The consequences of RAR/RXR binding to the PEPCK RARE were examined using a circular permutation analysis as a first step to explore the possible role of DNA conformational changes in the RA response. The RAR/RXR heterodimer produced a distortion angle of 78 degrees. The DNA distortion was shown to be at the centre of the PEPCK RARE; RA did not affect the severity of the distortion angle or the location of the distortion centre. Monomers and homodimers of RAR also distorted the DNA, but to a lesser extent than did RAR/RXR. The results of a phasing analysis demonstrated that RAR/RXR heterodimers did not induce a static DNA bend, in either the presence or the absence of RA. A cyclization kinetics assay was employed to show that RAR/RXR binding affected DNA ring closure in a phase-sensitive, RA-insensitive, manner. Taken together, these observations support the idea that RAR/RXR heterodimers distort the structure of the PEPCK RARE, at least in part, by altering DNA flexibility. The conformational change in the PEPCK RARE upon RAR/RXR binding has implications for how RAR/RXR heterodimers recognize various RARE structures.
Binding of blood coagulation factor VIII and its light chain to phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine bilayers as measured by ellipsometry
Authors: Spaargaren J , Giesen P L A , Janssen M P , Voorberg J , Willems G M , van Mourik J A
Published: August 2015

Factor VIII is a plasma protein which plays an essential role in the coagulation system. When assembled with the enzyme Factor IXa on a phospholipid membrane, it functions as a cofactor in the enzyme complex that cleaves the zymogen Factor X to Factor Xa. We studied the binding of both Factor VIII and the Factor VIII light chain to planar phospholipid bilayers consisting of 25% dioleoylphosphatidylserine and 75% dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (PSPC) by ellipsometry. Equilibrium-binding studies revealed that both Factor VIII and its light chain bind with high affinity to PSPC bilayers. The binding affinity of Factor VIII, with a dissociation constant Kd of 0.24 nM, was comparable with that of the Factor VIII light chain (Kd 0.49 nM). Maximal binding was 2.3 mmol of protein per mol of PSPC for Factor VIII and 7.1 mmol of protein per mol of PSPC for the Factor VIII light chain. Adsorption kinetics of both Factor VIII and its light chain conformed to the classical Langmuir adsorption model yielding dissociation constants calculated from the rates of adsorption that were similar to those obtained by equilibrium-binding studies. In contrast, measurements of rates of desorption revealed a deviation from those expected for a single class of binding sites. The desorption rate of Factor VIII increased with increasing residence time on the lipid membrane. This indicates transition of Factor VIII to a configuration with a lower binding affinity. As this time-dependent change in affinity could affect the validity of the measurement of binding parameters, in particular equilibrium-binding determinations carried out on a long timescale, binding affinity was also estimated from adsorption kinetics at half-maximal surface coverage, a relatively rapid procedure for the determination of the affinity. A Kd of 0.087 nM was obtained under these conditions. Measurement of equilibrium binding to small PSPC vesicles, a system in which equilibrium is rapidly attained, resulted in similar binding parameters (Kd = 0.13 nM and a maximal binding of 2.8 mmol of protein per mol of PSPC). These data confirm the results of equilibrium binding to planar bilayers. Taken together, our results indicate that Factor VIII, by means of its 80 kDa light chain, binds to PSPC bilayers with a dissociation constant below the concentration of Factor VIII in plasma and therefore may readily bind to exposed phospholipid membranes under physiological conditions.
Distribution of the integral plasma membrane glycoprotein CE9 (MRC OX-47) among rat tissues and its induction by diverse stimuli of metabolic activation
Authors: Nehme C L , Fayos B E , Bartles J R
Published: August 2015

We have compared the levels of the integral plasma membrane glycoprotein CE9 (MRC OX-47) in different tissues of the rat and have ascertained that the levels of CE9 protein and mRNA in selected tissues and cells exhibit moderate increases in response to diverse stimuli of metabolic activation. When normalized on the basis of total protein, the level of CE9 detected in the different tissues was found to vary over a 50-fold range. In addition, the apparent molecular mass of CE9 was observed to vary from 40 kDa to 68 kDa as a consequence of tissue-specific glycosylation. The highest level of CE9 was detected in brown adipose tissue, where the protein was found to be localized to the plasma membranes of the adipocytes. The metabolic activation of brown adipose tissue that occurs upon exposure of rats to the cold was found to be accompanied by 3.0 +/- 0.4-fold and 1.7 +/- 0.2-fold increases in the levels of CE9 mRNA and protein respectively. An intermediate level of CE9 was detected in the liver, where the protein is known to be expressed within the basolateral domain of the hepatocyte plasma membrane. The metabolic activation of hepatocytes that occurs upon administration of thyroid hormone to euthyroid rats was found to be accompanied by 2.2 +/- 0.3-fold and 1.9 +/- 0.3-fold increases in the levels of CE9 mRNA and protein respectively. A low level of CE9 was detected in the lymphoid organs, such as thymus and spleen. The metabolic activation of isolated rat splenocytes that occurs upon concanavalin A-mediated blast transformation in culture was found to be accompanied by 2.1 +/- 0.2-fold and 1.6 +/- 0.2-fold increases in the levels of CE9 mRNA and protein respectively. On the basis of these and other observations, we suggest that the level, and possibly also the localization, of the integral plasma membrane glycoprotein CE9 may be correlated in a positive fashion with metabolic activity in a diverse array of cell types.
Pro-oxidant effects of cross-linked haemoglobins explored using liposome and cytochrome c oxidase vesicle model membranes
Authors: Rogers M S , Patel R P , Reeder B J , Sarti P , Wilson M T , Alayash A I
Published: August 2015

The therapeutic use of cell-free haemoglobin as a blood substitute has been hampered by toxicological effects. A model asolectin (phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine) liposome system was utilized to study the pro-oxidant efficiency of several chemically modified haemoglobins on biological membranes. Lipid peroxidation, resulting from the interactions between haemoglobin and liposomes, was measured by conjugated diene formation and the maximal rates of oxygen uptake. Spectral changes gave insight into the occurrence of the ferryl iron species. The residual reactivity of oxidatively damaged haemoglobins with ligands during incubation with liposomes was assessed from rapid kinetic carbon monoxide-binding experiments. Liposomes in which cytochrome c oxidase was embedded show both haemoglobin and the enzyme to be oxidatively damaged during incubation. The functional state of cytochrome c oxidase was monitored in the presence and absence of a free radical scavenger. Once in contact, both unmodified and modified haemoglobins triggered and maintained severe radical-mediated membrane damage. Differences in the pro-oxidant activities among haemoglobins may be explained by either the differential population of their ferryl intermediates or disparate dimerization and transfer of haem into the membrane with subsequent haem degradation. This study may contribute to a better understanding of the molecular determinants of haemoglobin interactions with a variety of biological membranes.
Intracellular events in the assembly of very-low-density-lipoprotein lipids with apolipoprotein B in isolated rabbit hepatocytes
Authors: Cartwright I J , Higgins J A
Published: August 2015

Isolated rabbit hepatocytes incorporated [35S]methionine into cellular and secreted apolipoprotein B (apo-B), and [3H]glycerol into cellular and secreted triacylglycerol and phospholipids. Newly synthesized apo-B was incorporated into rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), cis-Golgi and trans-Golgi membranes and was preferentially transferred into the lumen of the RER with specific radioactivities ten times those in the membrane. Radiolabelled apo-B did not equilibrate with pre-existing unlabelled apo-B, and pools of different specific radioactivities were established in different subcellular fractions. Only a small fraction of the newly synthesized apo-B was transferred to the Golgi lumen. In pulse-chase experiments, most of the newly synthesized apo-B in the RER membrane and the RER lumen was degraded. [3H]Glycerol was incorporated into triacylglycerol and phospholipids in the lumen of the RER, SER, cis-Golgi and trans-Golgi. However, in contrast with apo-B, all of the radiolabelled lipids in the lumen of the RER, SER and cis-Golgi were transferred to the trans-Golgi lumen or secreted. Analysis of the lipid composition of the lumenal content fractions suggests that, although very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) lipids are present in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen, a large fraction of these is not associated with apo-B. Collectively these observations suggest that assembly of apo-B into complete VLDL is not cotranslational, that most lipids become associated with apo-B late in the endoplasmic reticulum compartment and that the lipids are further modified in the Golgi lumen.
A novel phospholipase A2 from human placenta
Authors: Buhl W J , Eisenlohr L M , Preuss I , Gehring U
Published: August 2015

A major soluble phospholipase A2 of human term placenta was characterized and purified about 15,000-fold to homogeneity. The apparent molecular mass as determined in SDS/polyacrylamide gels is 42 kDa. The enzyme is inhibited by dithiothreitol indicating the presence of disulphide bridges which are essential for activity. Studies with known phospholipase A2 inhibitors revealed no immediate relationship to either secretory or cytosolic phospholipases A2. The placental enzyme prefers liposomes of phosphatidylcholine and has a distinct preference for arachidonic acid in the sn-2 position. It tolerates various detergents. Roughly 10 microM Ca2+ is required for activity, but it cannot be replaced by Mg2+ or Mn2+; Zn2+, Cu2+ and Fe3+ are inhibitory. In immunoblots, the placental enzyme was not detected by two separate antisera specific for type-II phospholipases A2 but reacted very weakly with antisera directed against cytosolic phospholipase A2. From these data we suggest that this enzyme is a novel form of phospholipase A2 which may be involved in arachidonic acid mobilization both during the course of pregnancy and at parturition.
Reduced expression of kan-1 (encoding putative bile acid-CoA-amino acid N-acyltransferase) mRNA in livers of rats after partial hepatectomy and during sepsis
Authors: Furutani M , Arii S , Higashitsuji H , Mise M , Fukumoto M , Takano S , Nakayama H , Imamura M , Fujita J
Published: August 2015

We isolated a cDNA clone, kan-1, from a rat liver cDNA library using a reverse transcriptase PCR cloning method. The kan-1 cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 420 amino acids, and was 70 and 69% identical in nucleotide and amino acid sequences respectively with human liver bile acid-CoA-amino acid N-acyltransferase (BAT). Thus Kan-1 is probably a rat homologue of human BAT (rBAT). Kan-1/rBAT mRNA was mainly expressed in the livers of adult rats and rats immediately after, but not before, birth. It was expressed in the hepatocytes, the sinusoidal endothelial cells and the Kupffer cells of the liver. An anti-Kan-1/rBAT polyclonal antibody detected a protein of molecular mass 46 kDa in the liver. After partial hepatectomy, the levels of Kan-1/rBAT mRNA decreased at 6 and 12 h in the regenerating liver. In a sepsis model, hepatic expression of Kan-1/rBAT mRNA decreased at 6 and 12 h after caecal ligation and puncture. The kinetics of Kan-1/rBAT mRNA expression suggests that it may play a role in acute-phase reactions.
Selective loss of the uncoupling protein from light versus heavy mitochondria of brown adipocytes after a decrease in noradrenergic stimulation in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Bonet M L , Serra F , Matamala J C , García-Palmer F J , Palou A
Published: August 2015

The relative stability against a decrease in adrenergic stimulation of the uncoupling protein (UCP) incorporated into different mitochondrial fractions was investigated in brown-fat-cell cultures. Cultures were initiated with undifferentiated cells from young mice and were acutely stimulated with noradrenaline at confluence (day 7). Cells were harvested just after the finish of the 24 h stimulation treatment or 24 h later, and three mitochondrial fractions were isolated by differential centrifugation: the M1 fraction (1000 g), the M3 fraction (3000 g) and the M15 fraction (15,000 g). The results obtained in vitro indicate that removal of adrenergic stimulation determines a selective loss of UCP from the lightest mitochondrial fractions (M3 and M15). Similar results were obtained in a situation in vivo (24 h starvation in mice) which is known to lead to a decreased noradrenaline input to brown adipose tissue, with decreased UCP levels. Thus brown adipocytes possess different mitochondrial subpopulations, which exhibit characteristic changes in their UCP turnover in response to thermogenic signals.
A negative regulatory element in the promoter region of the rat α2A-adrenergic receptor gene overlaps an SP1 consensus binding site
Authors: Handy D E , Zanella M T , Kanemaru A , Tavares A , Flordellis C , Gavras H
Published: August 2015

Three subtypes of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors (alpha 2A, alpha 2B and alpha 2C) have been described that differ in their primary sequence and tissue-specific expression and are encoded by three distinct genes. Previous work has shown that the human alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor gene promoter consists of a TATA-box (TATAAA), palindromic sequence (CCCACGTGGG) and GC-box (GGGGCGG) motif. Sequence analysis of the putative promoter region of the rat alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor gene showed that these promoter regions are conserved in their sequence and relative location. We analysed the transcriptional activity of these regions using RINm5F, a rat insulinoma cell line that expresses the endogenous alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor gene. These results showed that the region from -484 to -92 has a negative effect on transcription, as deletion of this region in alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor gene-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter constructs increased reporter gene activity. This region included the GC-box sequence which is a consensus binding site for the nuclear factor SP1, which is a positive activator of transcription. Gel-mobility-shift assays and supershift assays with an antibody that recognizes SP1 showed binding of the SP1 nuclear factor as well as other nuclear factors to this GC-box region. Additional nuclear factors bind to the downstream palindromic region. We suggest that positive- and negative-acting nuclear factors contribute to the activity of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor promoter.
Cloning of the cDNA encoding a novel rat mast-cell proteinase, rMCP-3, and its expression in comparison with other rat mast-cell proteinases
Authors: Ide H , Itoh H , Tomita M , Murakumo Y , Kobayashi T , Maruyama H , Osada Y , Nawa Y
Published: August 2015

A cDNA encoding a novel rat mast-cell proteinase (MCP) named rMCP-3 was successfully cloned and sequenced from the peritoneal cells of Lewis rats infected with the intestinal nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis by using the combination of reverse transcription-PCR and rapid-amplification-of-cDNA-ends (‘RACE’) methods. The cDNA was 979 bp long and included a 741 bp open reading frame. When the deduced amino acid sequence was compared with those of other known mast-cell proteinases, rMCP-3 was considered to be translated as a preproenzyme with a 19-amino-acid signal peptide, a two-amino-acid activation peptide and a 226-amino-acid mature enzyme. The amino acid identity in the mature enzyme was 52.9% and 55.1% with rMCP-1 and rMCP-2 respectively. The rMCP-3 mRNA was not detected in the peritoneal cells of mast-cell-deficient Ws/Ws rats, though it was strongly detected in those of littermate +/+ and Lewis rats, indicating the mast-cell origin of rMCP-3 In addition to being present in peritoneal mast cells, the rMCP-3 mRNA was strongly detected in the skin, tongue, and RBL2H3 rat basophilic leukaemia cells and weakly in the jejunum of N. brasiliensis-infected rats by RNA blot analysis using a rMCP-3 gene-specific probe. By reverse transcription-PCR, the rMCP-3 mRNA was also detected in the lung. While the expression of rMCP-1 and rMCP-2 are clearly restricted in connective-tissue mast cells and mucosal mast cells respectively, rMCP-3 was widely expressed in both types of mast cells with a predominance in connective-tissue mast cells.
Expression cloning of a zinc-finger cyclic AMP-response-element-binding protein
Authors: O'Brien R M , Halmi N , Stromstedt P E , Printz R L , Granner D K
Published: August 2015

In response to specific extracellular signals, intracellular cyclic AMP levels increase, leading to a variety of responses including the alteration of transcription of many eukaryotic genes. This transcriptional effect is frequently mediated through the cyclic AMP-response element (CRE) motif T(T/G)ACGTCA. Using an expression screening approach we have cloned a yeast gene, MSN2, that encodes a 78 kDa protein that recognizes this consensus CRE motif. Phosphorylation of the MSN2 protein by the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A stimulates DNA binding in vitro. Two putative Cys2His2-type zinc fingers present in the C-terminal 79 amino acids of the MSN2 protein are sufficient to confer CRE-binding specificity. Therefore, MSN2 represents a novel CRE-binding protein distinct from the multiple previously characterized basic region-leucine zipper repeat CRE-binding proteins.
Changes in the components of a nuclear inositide cycle during differentiation in murine erythroleukaemia cells
Authors: Divecha N , Letcher A J , Banfic H H , Rhee S G , Irvine R F
Published: August 2015

Differentiation of murine erythroleukaemia cells with the chemical agent DMSO leads to a cessation of proliferation and the production of a number of erythrocyte markers such as haemoglobin. We have previously demonstrated that activation of proliferation leads to an increase in the production of nuclear diacylglycerol (DAG). Here we demonstrate that differentiation leads to a decrease in the levels of nuclear DAG and the activity of the nuclear-associated phosphoinositidase C (PIC). The change in activity appears to be due to a decrease in the mass levels of the beta 1 isoform, as demonstrated by the use of isoform-specific antibodies. Moreover, the changes correlate with the cessation of proliferation and an increase in the number of cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle, rather than with the number of cells which have differentiated. Indeed, although treatment of the cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) inhibits the differentiation programme as assessed by haemoglobin staining, it does not inhibit the number of cells blocking in G1 of the cell cycle or the changes in nuclear DAG or PIC activity. The possible involvement of this nuclear inositide cycle during progression through the cell cycle is discussed.