bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural characterization of the products of hydroxyl-radical damage to leucine and their detection on proteins
Authors: FU Shan-Lin , DEAN Roger T.
Published: August 2015

We have previously reported the formation of valine hydroperoxides and aldehydes from hydroxyl-radical attack on free valine and protein molecules. We have also demonstrated that the major degradation products of valine hydroperoxides by several biochemical and cellular systems are the corresponding hydroxides, and therefore proposed that hydroxyvalines may serve as useful in vivo markers for studying protein oxidation. Here we have undertaken the structural elucidation of the oxidation products of leucine, another amino acid which is very susceptible to peroxidation. Hydroxyl-radical (HO•) attack on l-leucine in the presence of oxygen, followed by NaBH4 reduction, gave rise to five major oxidation products which have been isolated and identified. On the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence, the five products have been identified as (2S)-γ-hydroxyleucine, (2S,4S)-δ-hydroxyleucine, (2S,4R)-δ-hydroxyleucine, (2S,4R)-4-methylproline (trans-4-methyl-l-proline) and (2S,4S)-4-methylproline (cis-4-methyl-l-proline). The three hydroxyleucines have been confirmed to be the reduction products of the corresponding hydroperoxyleucines, while the two proline analogues are from reduction of their corresponding cyclic Schiff bases. By HPLC analysis using post-column o-phthaldialdehyde derivatization, we have detected hydroxyleucines in the hydrolysates of tripeptides and proteins which had been γ-radiolysed and treated with NaBH4. Furthermore, we demonstrate the occurrence of the hydroxyleucines on proteins in physiological and pathological samples. Hydroxyleucines, like hydroxyvalines, may provide usefulin vivo markers for studying protein oxidation. In the present study we also investigated the competition between leucine, valine and phenylalanine for HO•, and proposed a possible radical-transfer process in such free-radical reactions.
Identification of the cleavage sites in the α6A integrin subunit: structural requirements for cleavage and functional analysis of the uncleaved α6Aβ1 integrin
Authors: DELWEL Gepke O. , KUIKMAN Ingrid , van der SCHORS Roel C. , de MELKER Annemieke A. , SONNENBERG Arnoud
Published: August 2015

The α6A and α6B integrin subunits are proteolytically cleaved during biosynthesis into a heavy chain (120 kDa) that is disulphide-linked to one of two light chains (31 or 30 kDa). Analysis of the structure of the α6A subunit on the carcinoma cell line T24 and human platelets demonstrated that the two light chains of α6 are not differentially glycosylated products of one polypeptide. Rather they possess different polypeptide backbones, which presumably result from proteolytic cleavage at distinct sites in the α6 precursor. Mutations were introduced in the codons for the R876KKR879, E883K884, R890K891 and R898K899 sequences, the potential proteolytic cleavage sites, and wild-type and mutant α6A cDNAs were transfected into K562 cells. The mutant α6A integrin subunits were expressed in association with endogenous β1 at levels comparable to that of wild-type α6Aβ1. A single α6 polypeptide chain (150 kDa) was precipitated from transfectants expressing α6A with mutations or deletions in the RKKR sequence. Mutations in the EK sequence yielded α6A subunits that were cleaved once into a heavy and a light chain, whereas α6A subunits with mutations in one of the two RK sequences were, like wild-type α6A, cleaved into one heavy and two light chains. Thus a change in the RKKR sequence prevents the cleavage of α6. The EK site is the secondary cleavage site, which is used only when the primary site (RKKR) is intact. Microsequencing of the N-termini of the two α6A light chains from platelets demonstrated that cleavage occurs after Arg879 and Lys884. Because α6RKKG, α6GKKR and α6RGGR subunits were not cleaved it seems that both the arginine residues and the lysine residues are essential for cleavage of RKKR. α6A mutants with the RKKR sequence shifted to the EK site, in such a way that the position of the arginine residue after which cleavage occurs corresponds exactly to Lys884, were partly cleaved, whereas α6A mutants with the RKKR sequence shifted to other positions in the α6A subunit, including one in which it was shifted two residues farther than the EK cleavage site, were not cleaved. In addition, α6A mutants with an α5-like cleavage site, i.e. arginine, lysine and histidine residues at positions -1, -2 and -6, were not cleaved. Thus both an intact RKKR sequence and its proper position are essential. After activation by the anti-β1 stimulatory monoclonal antibody TS2/16, both cleaved and uncleaved α6Aβ1 integrins bound to laminin-1. The phorbol ester PMA, which activates cleaved wild-type and mutant α6Aβ1, did not activate uncleaved α6Aβ1. Thus uncleaved α6Aβ1 is capable of ligand binding, but not of inside-out signalling. Our results suggest that cleavage of α6 is required to generate a proper conformation that enables the affinity modulation of the α6Aβ1 receptor by PMA.
Tissue-specific regulation of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene by thyroid hormones in the developing rat
Authors: DJOUADI Fatima , RIVEAU Béatrice , MERLET-BENICHOU Claudie , BASTIN Jean
Published: August 2015

During development, gene expression of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD), a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial enzyme that catalyses the first step of medium-chain fatty acid β-oxidation, is highly regulated in tissues in accordance with fatty acid utilization, but the factors involved in this regulation are largely unknown. To investigate a possible role of thyroid hormones, rat pups were made hypothyroid by the administration of propylthiouracyl to the mother from day 12 of gestation, and their kidneys, heart and liver were removed on postnatal day 16 to determine MCAD mRNA abundance, protein level and enzyme activity. Similar experiments were run in 3,3′,5-tri-iodothyronine (T3)-replaced hypothyroid (1 μg of T3/100 g body weight from postnatal day 5 to 15) and euthyroid pups. Hypothyroidism led to an increase in MCAD mRNA abundance in kidney and a decrease in abundance in heart, but had no effect in liver. The protein levels and enzyme activity were lowered in hypothyroid heart and kidney, suggesting that hypothyroidism affects post-transcriptional steps of gene expression in the kidney. All the effects of hypothyroidism were completely reversed in both heart and kidney by T3 replacement. Injection of a single T3 dose into 16-day-old euthyroid rats also led to tissue-specific changes in mRNA abundance. Nuclear run-on assays performed from hypothyroid and hypothyroid plus T3 rats showed that T3 stimulates MCAD gene transcription in heart and represses it in the kidney. These results indicate that the postnatal rise in circulating T3 is essential to the developmental regulation of the MCAD gene in vivo.
Phospholipid metabolism of serine in Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes involves phosphatidylserine and direct serine decarboxylation
Authors: ELABBADI Noureddine , ANCELIN Marie L. , VIAL Henri J.
Published: August 2015

Erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparumor Plasmodium knowlesiefficiently incorporated radioactive serine into phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn) and phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho). Serine was also metabolized into ethanolamine (Etn) and phosphorylethanolamine (P-Etn) via direct serine decarboxylation; this is a major phenomenon since together these metabolites represent 60% of total radioactive water-soluble metabolites. They were identified by reverse-phase HPLC and two TLC-type analyses and confirmed by alkaline phosphatase treatment, which depleted the radioactive P-Etn peak completely with a concomitant increase in that of Etn. In the presence of 5 μM labelled serine, radioactivity appeared in Etn and P-Etn after a 25 min lag period, and isotopic equilibrium was reached at 40 and 95 min respectively. There was a similar lag period for PtdEtn formation, which accumulated steadily for at least 180 min. Incorporation of serine into phospholipids and water-soluble metabolites increased in the presence of up to 500 μM external serine. An apparent plateau was then reached for all metabolites except intracellular serine and Etn. Exogenous Etn (at 20 μM) induced a concomitant dramatic decrease in serine incorporation into P-Etn and all phospholipids, but not into Etn. Increasing exogenous serine to 100 μM decreased the incorporation of radioactive Etn into PtdEtn by only 30%, and the PtdCho level was not affected. 2-Hydroxyethylhydrazine significantly decreased serine incorporation into P-Etn and PtdEtn, whereas Etn was accumulated. No concomitant inhibition of PtdSer or PtdCho labelling from serine occurred, even when PtdEtn formation was decreased by 95%. This indicates that the PtdEtn pool derived from direct serine decarboxylation differed from that derived from PtdSer decarboxylation, and the latter appeared to be preferentially used for PtdCho biosynthesis. Hydroxylamine also inhibited phosphorylation of serine-derived Etn but not that of exogenous Etn. The rate of PtdSer synthesis from 10 μM l-serine was 3.1±0.5 and 2.95±1.3 nmol/5 h per 1010 infected cells, whereas l-serine decarboxylation accounted for 7.1±1.5 and 9.9±3 nmol/5 h per 1010 infected cells for P. falciparumand P. knowlesirespectively (means±S.E.M.). The serine decarboxylating reaction was not detected in other higher eukaryotic cells such as mouse fibroblasts and human lymphocytes. Finally, these results also indicate compartmentalization of phospholipid metabolism in Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes.
Nitric oxide degradation of heparin and heparan sulphate
Authors: VILAR Rolando E. , GHAEL Dineshchandra , LI Min , BHAGAT Devan D. , ARRIGO Lisa M. , COWMAN Mary K. , DWECK Harry S. , ROSENFELD Louis
Published: August 2015

NO is a bioactive free radical produced by NO synthase in various tissues including vascular endothelium. One of the degradation products of NO is HNO2, an agent known to degrade heparin and heparan sulphate. This report documents degradation of heparin by cultured endothelial-cell-derived as well as exogenous NO. An exogenous narrow molecular-mass preparation of heparin was recovered from the medium of cultured endothelial cells using strong-anion exchange. In addition, another narrow molecular-mass preparation of heparin was gassed with exogenous NO under argon. Degradation was evaluated by gel-filtration chromatography. Since HNO2 degrades heparin under acidic conditions, the reaction with NO gas was studied under various pH conditions. The results show that the degradation of exogenous heparin by endothelial cells is inhibited by NO synthase inhibitors. Exogenous NO gas at concentrations as low as 400 p.p.m. degrades heparin and heparan sulphate. Exogenous NO degrades heparin at neutral as well as acidic pH. Endothelial-cell-derived NO, as well as exogenous NO gas, did not degrade hyaluronan, an unrelated glycosaminoglycan that resists HNO2 degradation. Peroxynitrite, a metabolic product of the reaction of NO with superoxide, is an agent that degrades hyaluronan; however, peroxynitrite did not degrade heparin. Thus endothelial-cell-derived NO is capable of degrading heparin and heparan sulphate via HNO2 rather than peroxynitrite. These observations may be relevant to various pathophysiological processes in which extracellular matrix is degraded, such as bone development, apoptosis, tissue damage from inflammatory responses and possible release of growth factors and cytokines.
Structural features that make oligopeptides susceptible substrates for hydrolysis by recombinant thimet oligopeptidase
Authors: CAMARGO Antonio. C. M , GOMES Marcelo. D , REICHL Antonia. P , FERRO Emer. S , JACCHIERI Saul , HIRATA Isaura. Y , JULIANO Luiz
Published: August 2015

A systematic analysis of the peptide sequences and lengths of several homologues of bioactive peptides and of a number of quenched-fluorescence (qf) opioid- and bradykinin-related peptides was performed to determine the main features leading the oligopeptides to hydrolysis by the recombinant rat testis thimet oligopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.15). The results indicate that a minimum substrate length of six amino acids is required and that among the oligopeptides six to thirteen amino acid residues long, their susceptibility as substrates is highly variable. Thimet oligopeptidase was able to hydrolyse, with similar catalytic efficiency, peptide bonds having hydrophobic or hydrophilic amino acids as well as proline in the P1 position of peptides, ranging from a minimum of six to a maximum of approximately thirteen amino acid residues. An intriguing observation was the shift of the cleavage site, at a Leu-Arg bond in qf dynorphin-(2–8) [qf-Dyn2–8; Abz-GGFLRRV-EDDnp, where Abz stands for o-aminobenzoyl and EDDnp for N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) ethylenediamine], to Arg-Arg in qf-Dyn2–8Q, in which Gln was substituted for Val at its C-terminus. Similarly, a cleavage site displacement was also observed with the hydrolysis of the internally quenched-fluorescence bradykinin analogues containing Gln at the C-terminal position, namely Abz-RPPGFSPFR-EDDnp and Abz-GFSPFR-EDDnp are cleaved at the Phe-Ser bond, but Abz-RPPGFSPFRQ-EDDnp and Abz-GFSPFRQ-EDDnp are cleaved at the Pro-Phe bond.
Influence of the conserved disulphide bond, exposed to the putative binding pocket, on the structure and function of the immunoglobulin-like molecular chaperone Caf1M of Yersinia pestis
Authors: ZAV'YALOV Vladimir P. , CHERNOVSKAYA Tatiana. V , CHAPMAN David A. G. , KARLYSHEV Andrey V. , MacINTYRE Sheila , ZAVIALOV Anton V. , VASILIEV Anatoly M. , DENESYUK Alexander I. , ZAV'YALOVA Galina A. , DUDICH Igor. V , KORPELA Timo , ABRAMOV Vyacheslav M.
Published: August 2015

The Yersinia pestis protein Caf1M is a typical representative of a subfamily of periplasmic molecular chaperones with characteristic structural and functional features, one of which is the location of two conserved cysteine residues close to the putative binding pocket. We show that these residues form a disulphide bond, the reduction and alkylation of which significantly increases the dissociation constant of the Caf1M–Caf1 (where Caf 1 is a polypeptide subunit of the capsule) complex [from a Kd of (4.77±0.50)×10-9 M for the intact protein to one of (3.68±0.68)×10-8 M for the modified protein]. The importance of the disulphide bond for the formation of functional Caf1M in vivo was demonstrated using an Escherichia coli dsbA mutant carrying the Y. pestisf1 operon. In accordance with the CD and fluorescence measurements, the disulphide bond is not important for maintenance of the overall structure of the Caf1M molecule, but would appear to affect the fine structural properties of the subunit binding site. A three-dimensional model of the Caf1M–Caf1 complex was designed based on the published crystal structure of PapD (a chaperone required for Pap pili assembly) complexed with a peptide corresponding to the C-terminus of the papG subunit. In the model the disulphide bond is in close proximity to the invariant Caf1M Arg-23 and Lys-142 residues that are assumed to anchor the C-terminal group of the subunit. The importance of this characteristic disulphide bond for the orchestration of the binding site and subunit binding, as well as for the folding of the protein in vivo, is likely to be a common feature of this subfamily of Caf1M-like chaperones. A possible model for the role of the disulphide bond in Caf1 assembly is discussed.
Cross-linking analysis of the ryanodine receptor and α1-dihydropyridine receptor in rabbit skeletal muscle triads
Authors: MURRAY Brendan E. , OHLENDIECK Kay
Published: August 2015

In mature skeletal muscle, excitation–contraction (EC) coupling is thought to be mediated by direct physical interactions between the transverse tubular, voltage-sensing dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and the ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca2+ release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Although previous attempts at demonstrating interactions between purified RyR and α1-DHPR have failed, the cross-linking analysis shown here indicates low-level complex formation between the SR RyR and the junctional α1-DHPR. After cross-linking of membranes highly enriched in triads with dithiobis-succinimidyl propionate, distinct complexes of more than 3000 kDa were detected. This agrees with numerous physiological and electron-microscopic findings, as well as co-immunoprecipitation experiments with triad receptors and receptor domain-binding studies. However, a distinct overlap of immunoreactivity between receptors was not observed in crude microsomal preparations, indicating that the triad complex is probably of low abundance. Disulphide-bonded, high-molecular-mass clusters of triadin, the junctional protein proposed to mediate interactions in triads, were confirmed to be linked to the RyR. Calsequestrin and the SR Ca2+-ATPase were not found in cross-linked complexes of the RyR and α1-DHPR. Thus, whereas recent studies indicate that the two receptors exhibit temporal differences in their developmental inductions and that receptor interactions are not essential for the formation and maintenance of triads, this study supports the signal transduction hypothesis of direct physical interactions between triad receptors in adult skeletal muscle.
Age-related changes in effects of insulin-like growth factor I on human osteoblast-like cells
Authors: d'AVIS Patricia Y. , FRAZIER Chester R. , SHAPIRO Jay R. , FEDARKO Neal S.
Published: August 2015

The role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in extracellular matrix metabolism was studied in both proliferating and confluent human osteoblast-like cultures derived from donors of different ages. In proliferating cultures, recombinant human (rh)IGF-I was found to increase the incorporation of [3H]thymidine in a dose- and age-dependent manner. To study cell proliferation dynamically, continuous growth curves with and without rhIGF-I were modelled by a modified logistic function. Increasing doses of rhIGF-I decreased the lag time and maximal growth rates, whereas plateau values decreased only at the highest dose (100 ng/ml). In post-proliferative cell strains, rhIGF-I (0.1–100 ng/ml) increased levels of type I collagen, biglycan and decorin, and to a smaller extent fibronectin and thrombospondin, whereas it decreased the levels of hyaluronan and a versican-like proteoglycan when protein and proteoglycan metabolism were followed by steady-state radiolabelling with [3H]proline, [3H]glucosamine or [35S]sulphate. These responses to rhIGF-I were found to be age-dependent, with osteoblast-like cells derived from younger patients being more responsive to rhIGF-I. When extracellular matrix turnover was analysed by pulse–chase experiments, rhIGF-I had no effect. The steady-state levels of collagen, decorin, hyaluronan and a versican-like proteoglycan for bone cells treated with rhIGF-I on day 7 in culture were equivalent to levels of these matrix components in untreated osteoblasts grown for 14 days. These results are consistent with rhIGF-I's altering cellular proliferative capacity and matrix synthesis, causing a change in the osteoblast differentiated state.
Modulation of cathepsin D activity in retinal pigment epithelial cells
Authors: RAKOCZY Piroska E. , LAI C. May , BAINES Michael , GRANDI Salvatore DI , FITTON J. Helen , CONSTABLE Ian J.
Published: August 2015

This project used retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to investigate the effects of up- and down-regulation of cathepsin D expression on the processing of cathepsin D and on the normal phagocytic and digestive function of these cells. RPE cells were transfected with a pHβApr-1-neo vector construct carrying the full-length sequence of the translated region of human cathepsin D in sense and antisense directions. Transfected cells were characterized for the presence and expression of the transgene by PCR amplification using transgene-specific primers. Total aspartic proteinase activity present in transformed RPE cells was measured by an enzyme assay using haemoglobin as substrate. Flow cytometry was used to quantify phagocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled rod outer segments (ROS), and lysosomal digestion of ROS was monitored by immunofluorescence. A 435 bp fragment was present in RPE cells carrying the cathepsin D transgene in sense and antisense orientations after PCR amplification. Expression of both 52 kDa procathepsin D and 34 kDa active cathepsin D was significantly up-regulated in sense cathepsin D-transfected RPE cells and down-regulated in RPE cells transfected with antisense cathepsin D. No other forms of cathepsin D were detected in the transfected cells, suggesting that, if pseudo-cathepsin D exists in RPE cells in vivo, it requires the presence of unknown specific regulatory elements. The up- and down-regulation of cathepsin D expression was further confirmed by enzyme assay. Transfected cells retained their phagocytosing ability after ROS challenge and maintained their ability to process ROS. The processing of ROS was significantly slower in RPE cells transfected with antisense than control vector or in sense-cathepsin D-transfected cells. These results demonstrate that cathepsin D is a major proteolytic enzyme participating in the lysosomal digestion of photoreceptor outer segments.
Expression of stable human O-glycan core 2 β-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase in Sf9 insect cells
Authors: TOKI Dale , SARKAR Mohan , YIP Betty , RECK Folkert , JOZIASSE David , FUKUDA Minoru , SCHACHTER Harry , BROCKHAUSEN Inka
Published: August 2015

UDP-GlcNAc:Galβ1-3GalNAc-R (GlcNAc to GalNAc) β-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2GnT) catalyses the formation of O-glycan core 2. Purification and characterization of C2GnT from natural sources has been hampered by the instability of this enzyme. We have been able to prepare a stable partly purified recombinant human C2GnT by expression of a truncated form of the enzyme in the baculovirus/Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (Sf9) insect cell system. C2GnT activity was secreted into the Sf9 culture medium (15 pmol/min per μl; approx. 0.2 mg/l) and was stable at 4 °C either in solution or after lyophilization. Endoglycosidase H and N-glycanase F treatment of the radiolabelled C2GnT indicated the presence of N-glycans at both potential N-glycosylation sites. The elimination of one or both of the two potential N-glycosylation sites or treatment of the virus-infected insect cells with tunicamycin resulted in loss of enzyme activity due in part to protein degradation.
Control of vascular smooth-muscle cell growth by macrophage-colony-stimulating factor
Authors: HEREMBERT Thierry , GOGUSEV Jean , ZHU Ding Liang , DRUEKE Tilman B. , MARCHE Pierre
Published: August 2015

Since in several vascular diseases abnormal vascular smooth-muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is often associated with the presence of macrophages, we examined whether macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) might play a role in the control of VSMC growth. VSMCs were isolated from rat aorta and maintained in culture. Using a bioassay, a macrophage-colony-stimulating activity was detected in the serum-free supernatant of VSMCs, which could be inhibited by the addition of specific anti-M-CSF antibodies. The presence of M-CSF receptor protein and of M-CSF and M-CSF receptor gene transcripts was demonstrated by immunocytochemistry, using a specific anti-c-Fms antibody and Northern blot analysis respectively. [3H]Thymidine incorporation was measured following the addition to quiescent VSMCs of various dilutions of L929 cell supernatant (as a source of M-CSF) or of recombinant M-CSF. Both exogenous M-CSF and serum-free VSMC conditioned medium promoted DNA synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner, and this effect could be abrogated by the presence of a specific anti-M-CSF antibody. Under similar experimental conditions, L929 cell supernatant modulated proto-oncogene expression, as assessed by Northern blot analysis of c-fos, c-myc, egr-1 and junB. It was further demonstrated that M-CSF could act in synergy with thrombin, platelet-derived growth factor or basic fibroblast growth factor in promoting VSMC DNA synthesis. These results support the hypothesis that M-CSF affects the growth of cultured rat VSMCs through paracrine/autocrine mechanisms. Its effects at both the macrophage and the VSMC level confer to M-CSF a central role in the development of vascular lesions that occurs during atherosclerotic progression.
Involvement of a region near valine-69 of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 in the interaction with matrix metalloproteinase 3 (stromelysin 1)
Authors: NAGASE Hideaki , SUZUKI Ko , CAWSTON Tim E. , BREW K.
Published: August 2015

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) inhibit matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by forming a 1:1 stoichiometric complex, but the inhibition mechanism of these inhibitors is not known. Here we have investigated the reactive site of TIMP-1 by its proteinase susceptibility before and after forming a complex with MMP-3 (stromelysin 1). When TIMP-1 was allowed to react with human neutrophil elastase, its inhibitory activity was destroyed. This resulted from cleavage of the Val69–Cys70 bond. However, cleavage of this bond by neutrophil elastase was prevented when TIMP-1 formed a complex with the catalytic domain of MMP-3, and full TIMP-1 activity was restored after dissociation of the complex at pH 3.0 in the presence of EDTA. These results indicate that the region around Val69 closely associates with an active MMP. The three-dimensional structure of the N-terminal domain of TIMP-2 elucidated by NMR studies [Williamson, Martorell, Carr, Murphy, Docherty, Freedman and Feeney (1994) Biochemistry 33, 11745–11759] reveals that Val69 and Cys70 form part of an extended ridge that also includes the N-terminal section of the inhibitor. This region is probably involved in the interaction with the catalytic domains of MMPs.
Cytokines modulate glucose transport in skeletal muscle by inducing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase
Authors: BÉDARD Sylvain , MARCOTTE Bruno , MARETTE André
Published: August 2015

The principal goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that cytokines modulate glucose transport in skeletal muscle by increasing nitric oxide production. Cultured L6 skeletal muscle cells were incubated in the presence of tumour necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or in combination for 24 h. Neither cytokines nor LPS alone induced NO production, as measured by nitrite concentrations in the medium. However, when used in combination, the two cytokines significantly stimulated NO production, and this effect was synergistically enhanced by the presence of LPS. Reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that NO release was associated with the induction of inducible (macrophage-type) NO synthase (iNOS). The increase in iNOS expression was confirmed at the protein level by Western-blot analysis and NADPH/diaphorase histochemical staining. Cytokines and LPS markedly increased basal glucose transport in L6 myocytes. Insulin also stimulated basal glucose transport, but significantly less in cells chronically exposed to cytokines/LPS. The sensitivity of L6 muscle cells to insulin-stimulated glucose transport was also significantly decreased by cytokines/LPS treatment. The NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) inhibited nitrite production in cytokine/LPS-treated cells, and this prevented the increase in basal glucose transport and restored muscle cell responsiveness to insulin. Cytokines/LPS exposure significantly increased GLUT1 transporter protein levels but decreased GLUT4 expression in L6 cells. L-NAME treatment prevented the increase in GLUT1 protein content but failed to restore GLUT4 transporter levels. These results demonstrate that cytokines and LPS affect glucose transport and insulin action by inducing iNOS expression and NO production in skeletal muscle cells. The data further indicate that cytokines and LPS increase the expression of the GLUT1 transporter protein by an NO-dependent mechanism.
Two Rab proteins, vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP-2) and secretory carrier membrane proteins (SCAMPs), are present on immunoisolated parietal cell tubulovesicles
Authors: CALHOUN Benjamin C. , GOLDENRING James R.
Published: August 2015

The tubulovesicles of gastric parietal cells sequester H+/K+-ATPase molecules within resting parietal cells. Stimulation of parietal cell secretion elicits delivery of intracellular H+/K+-ATPase to the apically oriented secretory canaliculus. Previous investigations have suggested that this process requires the regulated fusion of intracellular tubulovesicles with the canalicular target membrane. We have sought to investigate the presence of critical putative regulators of vesicle fusion on immunoisolated gastric parietal cell tubulovesicles. Highly purified tubulovesicles were prepared by gradient fractionation and immunoisolation on magnetic beads coated with monoclonal antibodies against the α subunit of H+/K+-ATPase. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of Rab11, Rab25, vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP-2) and secretory carrier membrane proteins (SCAMPs) on immunoisolated vesicles. The same cohort of proteins was recovered on vesicles immunoisolated with monoclonal antibodies against SCAMPs and VAMP-2. In contrast, whereas immunoreactivities for syntaxin 1A/1B and synaptosome-associated protein (SNAP-25) were present in gradient-isolated vesicles, none of the immunoreactivity was associated with immunoisolated vesicles. The observation of VAMP-2 and two Rab proteins on immunoisolated H+/K+-ATPase-containing tubulovesicles supports the role for tubulovesicles in a regulated vesicle fusion process. In addition, the presence of SCAMPs along with Rab11 and Rab25 implicates the tubulovesicles as a critical apical recycling vesicle population.
Accumulation of pro-apolipoprotein A-II in mouse senile amyloid fibrils
Authors: HIGUCHI Keiichi , KOGISHI Kumiko , WANG Jing , XIA Chen , CHIBA Takuya , MATSUSHITA Takatoshi , HOSOKAWA Masanori
Published: August 2015

Apolipoprotein A-II (apoA-II), the major apoprotein of serum high-density lipoprotein, is deposited as amyloid fibrils (AApoAII) in murine senile amyloidosis. We have identified and purified a more basic amyloid protein from old-mouse liver. N-terminal sequencing of the protein revealed that the pro-segment of five amino acid residues (Ala-Leu-Val-Lys-Arg) extended from the N-terminal glutamine residue of mature apoA-II protein. MS analysis revealed the deposit of intact pro-apoA-II protein (molecular mass 9319 Da). Antiserum was prepared for staining of the AApoAII amyloid deposition. The relative abundance of pro-apoA-II to mature apoA-II in the amyloid-fibril fraction isolated from livers of mice with severe amyloidosis was 14.1%. The similar abundance of pro-apoA-II in the amyloid fibril fraction from the spleen (16.3%) suggested that deposited pro-apoA-II originated from the blood. The concentration of pro-apoA-II was much lower in the serum (1.5% of mature apoA-II) than in the amyloid-fibril fraction. There was no difference in the content of pro-apoA-II between the amyloidogenetic R1.P1-Apoa2c and amyloid-resistant SAMR1 strains at the age of 3 months. The abundance of pro-apoA-II in the amyloid-fibril fraction compared with the serum suggested that it plays a key role in the initialization of mouse senile amyloidosis.
Calcium-binding properties of human erythrocyte calpain
Authors: MICHETTI Mauro , SALAMINO Franca , MINAFRA Roberto , MELLONI Edon , PONTREMOLI Sandro
Published: August 2015

The results presented provide more information on the sequential mechanism that promotes the Ca2+-induced activation of human erythrocyte μ-calpain under physiological conditions. The primary event in this process corresponds to the binding of Ca2+ to eight interacting sites, of which there are four in each of the two calpain subunits. Progressive binding of this metal ion is linearly correlated with the dissociation of the proteinase, which reaches completion when all eight binding sites are occupied. The affinity for Ca2+ in the native heterodimeric calpain is increased 2-fold in the isolated 80 kDa catalytic subunit, but it reaches a Kd consistent with the physiological concentration of Ca2+ only in the active autoproteolytically derived 75 kDa form. Binding of Ca2+ in physiological conditions, and thus the formation of the 75 kDa subunit, can occur only in the presence of positive modulators. These are represented by the natural activator protein, found to be a Ca2+-binding protein, and by highly digestible substrates. The former produces a very large increase in the affinity of calpain for Ca2+, and the latter a smaller but still consistent decrease in the Kd of the proteinase for the metal ion. As a result, both dissociation into the constituent subunits and the autoproteolytic conversion of the native 80 kDa subunit into the active 75 kDa form can occur within the physiological fluctuations in Ca2+ concentration. The delay in the expression of the proteolytic activity with respect to Ca2+ binding to native calpain, no longer detectable in the 75 kDa form, can be attributed to a Ca2+-induced functional conformational change, which is correlated with the accessibility of the active site of the enzyme.
Molecular characterization of gp40, a mucin-type glycoprotein from the apical plasma membrane of Madin–Darby canine kidney cells (type I)
Authors: ZIMMER Gert , LOTTSPEICH Friedrich , MAISNER Andrea , KLENK Hans-Dieter , HERRLER Georg
Published: August 2015

gp40 has been recently identified as a major apical cell-surface sialoglycoprotein of type-I Madin–Darby canine kidney cells, a cell line widely used for the study of polarized transport. The determination of two internal amino acid sequences of the purified glycoprotein by Edman degradation enabled us to isolate the cDNA encoding the 18.6 kDa protein backbone of gp40. Sequence analysis revealed that gp40 is a type-I membrane protein which has several characteristics in common with glycophorin A and other mucin-type glycoproteins. At least 14 serine/threonine residues were found to be used for O-glycosylation. No potential sites for N-glycosylation were detected. gp40 turned out to represent the canine homologue of a cell-surface antigen expressed by various epithelial and non-epithelial cells in rat and mouse. Potential O-glycosylation sites, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains were found to be highly conserved in the three species. gp40 was detected in canine lung, intestine, kidney, brain and heart but not in liver and spleen. The subline II of Madin–Darby canine kidney cells was found not to express gp40. Stable expression of gp40 in transfected type-II cells revealed that gp40 is predominantly delivered to the apical plasma membrane. N-Glycans and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, both proposed apical targeting signals, are absent from gp40, indicating that other determinants are responsible for its polarized transport.
The human complement regulatory factor-H-like protein 1, which represents a truncated form of factor H, displays cell-attachment activity
Authors: HELLWAGE Jens , KÜHN Sabine , ZIPFEL Peter F.
Published: August 2015

Complement factor H (FH) and factor-H-like protein 1 (FHL-1) are human plasma proteins with regulatory functions in the alternative pathway of complement activation. FH and FHL-1 are organized in repetitive elements termed short consensus repeats (SCRs) and the seven SCRs of FHL-1 are identical with the N-terminal domain of the 20 SCRs of FH. The fourth SCR of both proteins (SCR 4) includes the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), a motif that is responsible for the major adhesive activity of matrix proteins like fibronectin. A synthetic hexapeptide with the sequence ERGDAV derived from the RGD domain of FH/FHL-1 interferes with cell attachment to a fibronectin matrix. Although the identical motif is present in both FH and FHL-1, only FHL-1 acts as a matrix for cell spreading and attachment, thus the two proteins differ in function. The adhesive activity of FHL-1 is localized to the RGD-containing SCR 4 by the use of recombinant fragments. All three analysed anchorage-dependent cell lines (CCl64, C32 and MRC-5) adhere to an FHL-1 matrix. The use of synthetic peptides in competition assays, on either FHL-1-derived or fibronectin matrices, shows that the cellular receptors binding to the FH/FHL-1-derived RGD motif are related to or identical with integrin receptors which interact with fibronectin. The identification of a functional adhesive domain in the FH/FHL-1 sequence demonstrates, at least for FHL-1, a role in cell attachment and adhesion.
Nuclear signalling by Rac GTPase: essential role of phospholipase A2
Authors: KIM Byung-Chul , KIM Jae-Hong
Published: August 2015

Rac, one member of Rho family GTPases, stimulates c-fos serum response element (SRE)–luciferase reporter gene in Rat-2 fibroblast cells. By transient transfection analysis, we demonstrated that the activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and the subsequent production of arachidonic acid (AA) are essential for Rac-induced c-fos SRE activation, implying a critical role for PLA2 in the Rac-signalling pathway to the nucleus. Either pretreatment with mepacrine, a specific inhibitor of PLA2, or co-transfection with the expression plasmid of lipocortin-1, a proposed inhibitory protein of PLA2, selectively abolished RacV12-induced SRE activation. Further, we demonstrated that subsequent metabolism of AA, a major product of Rac-activated PLA2, by lipoxygenase (LO) is essential for Rac-induced c-fos SRE activation. In agreement with the role of the PLA2–AA–LO cascade as a potential mediator of Rac signalling to the nucleus, the addition of exogenous AA stimulated c-fos SRE-luciferase activity in an LO-dependent manner. Together, our results demonstrate that ‘Rac-activated PLA2 and subsequent AA metabolism by LO’ constitute a novel and specific pathway in Rac GTPase-induced c-fos SRE activation.
Tissue-specific promoters of the α human folate receptor gene yield transcripts with divergent 5′ leader sequences and different translational efficiencies
Authors: ROBERTS Susan J. , CHUNG Koong-Nah , NACHMANOFF Kirsten , ELWOOD Patrick C.
Published: August 2015

The α human folate receptor (αhFR), or KB cell folate receptor, gene contains two major promoters that produce transcripts, KB1 and KB4, varying only in the length and sequence of their 5′ untranslated regions (UTRs). Using RNase protection assays specific for each isoform, we show that the level of expression of these two transcripts is tissue-specific, indicating that promoter usage is regulated, not constitutive. RNA stabilities and translational efficiencies of the KB1 and KB4 transcripts were compared to determine the functional significance of the different 5′ UTRs. Analyses of RNA turnover in vivo with actinomycin D to block new transcription and in vitro with a cytoplasmic extract indicate no discernible differences in the stabilities of the two transcripts. However, the KB4 transcript is 2–3-fold more efficiently translated in wheat germ extracts in vitro and transfected CHO cells in vivo. Also, high ionic strength, which favours the formation of RNA secondary structure, differentially affects the translational efficiencies of the two transcripts. Translation of the longer KB1 mRNA is 2–5-fold more inhibited by hypertonic conditions than translation of the KB4 mRNA. Because the 5′ UTR of KB1 is approximately four times longer than the 5′ UTR of KB4, 149 bp (75%) of the KB1 5′ UTR were deleted to determine whether the long leader sequence inhibited translation. The resulting derivative, dKB1, has a 5′ UTR similar in length, but not sequence, to the 5′ UTR of KB4. dKB1 is translated at a level approaching that of KB4 in wheat germ extracts, indicating that the upstream portion of the 5′ leader sequence contributes to the relative translational inefficiency of KB1. Hence, one consequence of tissue-specific promoter usage is the production of αhFR transcripts with different 5′ non-coding regions that affect translational efficiency.
Scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1) substrates inhibit the selective uptake of high-density-lipoprotein cholesteryl esters by rat parenchymal liver cells
Authors: FLUITER Kees , van BERKEL Theo J. C.
Published: August 2015

High-density lipoprotein cholesteryl esters (HDL-CE) are selectively taken up by liver parenchymal cells without parallel apolipoprotein uptake, and this selective uptake route forms an important step in reverse cholesterol transport. Recent data from Acton, Rigotti, Landschulz, Xu, Hobbs and Krieger [(1996) Science 271, 518–520] provide evidence that scavenger receptor B (SR-B1) can mediate selective uptake of HDL-CE. In order to identify if selective uptake of HDL-CE by rat liver parenchymal cells can be mediated by a protein with scavenger receptor properties we performed competition experiments in vivo with substrates for scavenger receptors. Addition of either low-density lipoprotein (LDL), acetylated LDL (AcLDL) or oxidized LDL (OxLDL) only marginally (< 10%) decreased the association of HDL particles to parenchymal cells as measured by 125I-labelled HDL. HDL-CE association was inhibited by AcLDL by 35%, while addition of OxLDL did inhibit HDL-CE association by 80%, thereby completely blocking the selective uptake of HDL-CE. Studies with HDL labelled with a fluorescent cholesteryl-ester analogue confirmed that OxLDL mediated complete inhibition of HDL-CE selective uptake by rat liver parenchymal cells. The inhibition of HDL-CE selective uptake by OxLDL was insensitive to the additional presence of polyinosinic acid (poly I), indicating that the inhibitory effect did not involve a poly I-sensitive site. Anionic phospholipid liposomes inhibited HDL-CE association by 40%, while neutral liposomes were ineffective. The inhibition of the selective uptake of HDL-CE in liver parenchymal cells by modified LDL, in particular OxLDL and anionic phospholipids suggests that, in liver, the SR-B1 is responsible for the efficient uptake of HDL-CE.
Interactions between human complement components factor H, factor I and C3b
Authors: SOAMES Candida J. , SIM Robert B.
Published: August 2015

Using a microtitre plate assay, direct binding between complement factors I and H was demonstrated, and ligand blotting indicated that factor H interacts with the heavy chain of factor I. Similarly, direct C3(NH3)–factor I and C3(NH3)–factor H binding was characterized [where C3(NH3) is a form of C3 that is cleaved by factor I in the presence of factor H]. Both factor H and factor I interacted with both chains of C3(NH3) in ligand blotting. Binding reactions between all three pairs of components were highly dependent on ionic strength, and showed similar pH optima. Binding assays with all three components present led to the following conclusions. (a) Binding sites for C3(NH3) and factor I on factor H do not overlap, and binding of factor I and C3(NH3) to soluble factor H promotes the weak factor I–C3(NH3) interaction. (b) Anomalies arise with immobilized factor H, which may be artefactual or may reflect the physiological situation. (c) Similarly, binding sites on factor I for C3(NH3) and for factor H do not overlap, and binding of factor H and C3(NH3) to factor I promotes direct factor H–C3(NH3) interactions. Based on these results, a model of the interactions between factor H, factor I and C3(NH3) leading to the processing of C3(NH3) is proposed.
A novel type of glutathione peroxidase: expression and regulation during wound repair
Authors: MUNZ Barbara , FRANK Stefan , HÜBNER Griseldis , OLSEN Eydfinnur , WERNER Sabine
Published: August 2015

We have previously identified and cloned a novel keratinocyte growth factor (KGF)-regulated gene in human keratinocytes that encodes the human homologue of a bovine non-selenium glutathione peroxidase (GPx). To gain insight into the regulation of this gene in vivo, we isolated the murine homologue from a mouse skin cDNA library. In vitro transcription/translation demonstrated that the cDNA encodes a 27 kDa protein. Furthermore, we amplified by PCR a partial cDNA that most likely corresponds to a related gene. RNase protection analysis revealed tissue-specific expression of both genes and the occurrence of alternative splicing or RNA editing of at least one of the primary transcripts. Similar to that of KGF, expression of GPx was strongly induced after cutaneous injury, and each isoform displayed unique kinetics of expression during the repair process. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated high levels of GPx mRNA in keratinocytes of the hyperproliferative epithelium at the wound edge. Since these cells express functional KGF receptors, induction of GPx expression by KGF might also occur in vivo. These data suggest a role for GPx in the protection of epithelial cells against oxidative stress, particularly during the inflammatory phase of wound repair.
Purification and properties of DNase γ from apoptotic rat thymocytes
Authors: SHIOKAWA Daisuke , OHYAMA Harumi , YAMADA Takeshi , TANUMA Sei-ichi
Published: August 2015

We previously identified three distinct DNA endonucleases, DNases α, β and γ, present in rat thymocyte nuclei. On the basis of their enzymic and biochemical properties, γ-type DNase was regarded as a candidate for the apoptotic endonuclease. Here we purified DNase γ to apparent homogeneity from apoptotic rat thymocyte nuclei induced by X-irradiation and characterized its properties in detail. The purified DNase γ exhibited one predominant protein band on SDS/PAGE and an endonuclease activity in a zymography with an estimated molecular mass of 33 kDa. The molecular mass of the native form determined by G2000SW gel-filtration HPLC was 30 kDa. Amino acid analysis showed that the amino acid composition of DNase γ was similar to that of rat DNase I (molecular mass 32 kDa) but different with regard to alanine and lysine residues. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of DNase γ was revealed to be not identical with that of rat DNase I. In accordance with previous studies, homogeneously purified DNase γ requires both Ca2+ and Mg2+ for activity. This requirement could be partially supplied by Mn2+. Of the bivalent metal ions tested, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ inhibited DNase γ activity. These bivalent cations also suppressed apoptotic DNA fragmentation in rat thymocytes irradiated by X-rays. The same order of inhibitory ability was observed for these bivalent metal ions in vivo(in intact cells) and in vitro, suggesting that the suppression of apoptotic DNA fragmentation at the cellular level is due to the inhibition of DNase γ. DNase γ activity was found to exist at high levels in spleen, lymph node, thymus, liver and kidney, but little was present in brain, heart or pancreas. On the basis of these findings, together with previous data, we conclude that DNase γ is a novel DNase I-like endonuclease responsible for internucleosomal cleavage of chromatin during thymic apoptosis.