bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of activation-induced apoptosis of thymocytes by all-trans- and 9-cis-retinoic acid is mediated via retinoic acid receptor α
Authors: SZONDY Zsuzsa , REICHERT Uwe , BERNARDON Jean-Michel , MICHEL Serge , TÓTH Réka , KARÁSZI Éva , FÉSÜS László
Published: August 2015

Thymocytes can be induced to undergo apoptotic cell death by activation through the T-cell receptor (TCR). This process requires macromolecular synthesis and has been shown to be inhibited by retinoic acids (RAs). Two groups of nuclear receptors for RAs have been identified: retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). All-trans-RA is the high-affinity ligand for RARs, and 9-cis-RA additionally binds to RXRs with high affinity. Because 9-cis-RA is much more potent in inhibiting TCR-mediated death than all-trans-RA, it was suggested that RXRs participate in the process. In the present study various synthetic retinoid analogues were used to address this question further. The results presented suggest that the inhibitory effect of RAs on activation-induced death of thymocytes is mediated via RARα, because (1) it can be reproduced by various RARα analogues both in vitro and in vivo, (2) the effect of RAs can be inhibited by the addition of an RARα antagonist, (3) CD4+CD8+thymocytes, which die on TCR stimulation, express RARα. Stimulation of RARγ, in contrast, enhances the activation-induced death of thymocytes and inhibits its prevention by RARα stimulation. RXR co-stimulation suspends this inhibitory effect of RARγ and permits the preventive function of RARα on activation-induced death. Our results suggest a complex interaction between the various isoforms of retinoid receptors and demonstrate that low (physiological) concentrations of all-trans-RA do not affect the activation-induced death of thymocytes because the RARα-mediated inhibitory and the RARγ-mediated enhancing pathways are in balance, whereas if 9-cis-RA is formed, additional stimulation of RXRs permits the inhibitory action of RARα.
Periplasmic nitrate-reducing system of the phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides DSM 158: transcriptional and mutational analysis of the napKEFDABC gene cluster
Authors: REYES Francisca , GAVIRA Mónica , CASTILLO Francisco , MORENO-VIVIÁN Conrado
Published: August 2015

The phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroidesDSM 158 is able to reduce nitrate to nitrite by means of a periplasmic nitrate reductase which is induced by nitrate and is not repressed by ammonium or oxygen. Recently, a 6.8 kb PstI DNA fragment carrying the napABCgenes coding for this periplasmic nitrate-reducing system was cloned [Reyes, Roldán, Klipp, Castillo and Moreno-Vivián (1996) Mol. Microbiol. 19, 1307–1318]. Further sequence and genetic analyses of the DNA region upstream from the napABCgenes reveal the presence of four additional napgenes. All these R. sphaeroidesgenes seem to be organized into a napKEFDABCtranscriptional unit. In addition, a partial open reading frame similar to the Azorhizobium caulinodans yntCgene and the Escherichia coli yjcCand yhjKgenes is present upstream from this napgene cluster. The R. sphaeroides napKgene codes for a putative 6.3 kDa transmembrane protein which is not similar to known proteins and the napEgene codes for a 6.7 kDa transmembrane protein similar to the Thiosphaera pantotrophaNapE. The R. sphaeroides napFgene product is a 16.4 kDa protein with four cysteine clusters that probably bind four [4Fe-4S] centres. This iron–sulphur protein shows similarity to the NapF and NapG proteins of E. coliand Haemophilus influenzae.Finally, the napDgene product is a 9.4 kDa soluble protein which is also found in E. coliand T. pantotropha. The 5´ end of the naptranscript has been determined by primer extension, and a δ70-like promoter has been identified upstream from the napKgene. The same transcriptional start site is found for cells growing aerobically or anaerobically with nitrate. Different mutant strains carrying defined polar and non-polar insertions in each napgene were constructed. Characterization of these mutant strains demonstrates the participation of the napgene products in the periplasmic nitrate reduction in R. sphaeroides.
Actin filaments participate in the relocalization of phosphatidylinositol3-kinase to glucose transporter-containing compartments and in the stimulation of glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes
Authors: WANG Qinghua , BILAN Philip J. , TSAKIRIDIS Theodoros , HINEK Aleksander , KLIP Amira
Published: August 2015

Insulin stimulates the rate of glucose uptake into muscle and adipose cells by translocation of glucose transporters from an intracellular storage pool to the plasma membrane. This event requires the prior activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). Here we report that insulin causes an increase in wortmannin-sensitive PI 3-kinase activity and a gain in the enzyme's regulatory and catalytic subunits p85α and p110β (but not p110α) in the intracellular compartments containing glucose transporters. The hormone also caused a marked reorganization of actin filaments, which was prevented by cytochalasin D. Cytochalasin D also decreased significantly the insulin-dependent association of PI 3-kinase activity and the levels of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, p85α and p110β with immunopurified GLUT4-containing compartments. In contrast, the drug did not alter the insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, the association of PI 3-kinase with IRS-1, or the stimulation of PI 3-kinase by insulin in anti-(IRS-1) or anti-p85 immunoprecipitates from whole cell lysates. Cytochalasin D, and the chemically unrelated latrunculin B, which also inhibits actin filament reassembly, prevented the insulin stimulation of glucose transport by approx. 50%. Cytochalasin D decreased by about one-half the insulin-dependent translocation to the plasma membrane of the GLUT1 and GLUT4 glucose transporters. The results suggest that the existence of intact actin filament is correlated with the full recruitment of glucose transporters by insulin. The underlying function of the actin filaments might be to facilitate the insulin-mediated association of the p85–p110 PI 3-kinase with glucose-transporter-containing compartments.
Neuropathy target esterase and a homologous Drosophila neurodegeneration-associated mutant protein contain a novel domain conserved from bacteria to man
Authors: LUSH Michael J. , LI Yong , READ David J. , WILLIS Anthony C. , GLYNN Paul
Published: August 2015

The N-terminal amino acid sequences of proteolytic fragments of neuropathy target esterase (NTE), covalently labelled on its active-site serine by a biotinylated organophosphorus ester, were determined and used to deduce the location of this serine residue and to initiate cloning of its cDNA. A putative NTE clone, isolated from a human foetal brain cDNA library, encoded a 1327 residue polypeptide with no homology to any known serine esterases or proteases. The active-site serine of NTE (Ser-966) lay in the centre of a predicted hydrophobic helix within a 200-amino-acid C-terminal domain with marked similarity to conceptual proteins in bacteria, yeast and nematodes; these proteins may comprise a novel family of potential serine hydrolases. The Swiss Cheese protein which, when mutated, leads to widespread cell death in Drosophilabrain [Kretzschmar, Hasan, Sharma, Heisenberg and Benzer (1997) J. Neurosci. 17, 7425–7432], was strikingly homologous to NTE, suggesting that genetically altered NTE may be involved in human neurodegenerative disease.
Molecular cloning, expression and catalytic activity of a human AKR7 member of the aldo–keto reductase superfamily: evidence that the major 2-carboxybenzaldehyde reductase from human liver is a homologue of rat aflatoxin B1-aldehyde reductase
Authors: IRELAND Linda S. , HARRISON David J. , NEAL Gordon E. , HAYES John D.
Published: August 2015

The masking of charged amino or carboxy groups by N-phthalidylation and O-phthalidylation has been used to improve the absorption of many drugs, including ampicillin and 5-fluorouracil. Following absorption of such prodrugs, the phthalidyl group is hydrolysed to release 2-carboxybenzaldehyde (2-CBA) and the pharmaceutically active compound; in humans, 2-CBA is further metabolized to 2-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid by reduction of the aldehyde group. In the present work, the enzyme responsible for the reduction of 2-CBA in humans is identified as a homologue of rat aflatoxin B1-aldehyde reductase (rAFAR). This novel human aldo–keto reductase (AKR) has been cloned from a liver cDNA library, and together with the rat protein, establishes the AKR7 family of the AKR superfamily. Unlike its rat homologue, human AFAR (hAFAR) appears to be constitutively expressed in human liver, and is widely expressed in extrahepatic tissues. The deduced human and rat protein sequences share 78% identity and 87% similarity. Although the two AKR7 proteins are predicted to possess distinct secondary structural features which distinguish them from the prototypic AKR1 family of AKRs, the catalytic- and NADPH-binding residues appear to be conserved in both families. Certain of the predicted structural features of the AKR7 family members are shared with the AKR6 β-subunits of voltage-gated K+-channels. In addition to reducing the dialdehydic form of aflatoxin B1-8,9-dihydrodiol, hAFAR shows high affinity for the γ-aminobutyric acid metabolite succinic semialdehyde (SSA) which is structurally related to 2-CBA, suggesting that hAFAR could function as both a SSA reductase and a 2-CBA reductase in vivo. This hypothesis is supported in part by the finding that the major peak of 2-CBA reductase activity in human liver co-purifies with hAFAR protein.

The cDNA sequence for human AFAR has been assigned by GenBank the accession number AF026947.
Structural/functional properties of a mammalian multi-component structure containing all major spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles
Authors: MORAITOU Marina , PATRINOU-GEORGOULA Meropi , GUIALIS Apostolia
Published: August 2015

An approx. 40 S multi-component structure, consisting of all major spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNP) (U1, U2, U4/U6 and U5) in stable association with a large number of polypeptides, mainly in the range 50–210 kDa, has been reported to exist within rat liver nuclear extracts [Guialis, Moraitou, Patrinou-Georgoula and Dangli (1991) Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 287–296]. Using a new polyclonal antibody recognizing a 63 kDa protein component of the complex, this multi-snRNP assembly was detected within rat liver nuclear extracts as efficiently as with the antibody for the U2 snRNP-specific B´ polypeptide. The 63 kDa protein was found to correspond to the 66 kDa subunit of the splicing factor SF3a, a known integral component of the HeLa 17 S U2 snRNP. Anti-2,2,7-trimethylguanosine affinity chromatography was an easy and efficient way of purifying the multi-snRNP complex from rat liver 40 S heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (hnRNP)-containing sucrose gradient fractions. By subsequent glycerol-gradient sedimentation, all known snRNP forms active in RNA splicing were identified among its constituents. A complex structurally similar to the rat multi-snRNP was also identified in HeLa nuclear extracts. Preservation of hnRNP–snRNP interactions was observed within HeLa 40 S fractions. Moreover, these fractions were capable of restoring splicing activity when applied in reconstitution studies to supplement a micrococcal nuclease-treated splicing extract.
Overexpression and properties of a new thermophilic and thermostable esterase from Bacillus acidocaldarius with sequence similarity to hormone-sensitive lipase subfamily
Authors: MANCO Giuseppe , ADINOLFI Elena , PISANI Francesca M. , OTTOLINA Gianluca , CARREA Giacomo , ROSSI Mosè
Published: August 2015

We previously purified a new esterase from the thermoacidophilic eubacterium Bacillus acidocaldarius whose N-terminal sequence corresponds to an open reading frame (ORF3) reported to show homology with the mammalian hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL)-like group of the esterase/lipase family. To compare the biochemical properties of this thermophilic enzyme with those of the homologous mesophilic and psychrophilic members of the HSL group, an overexpression system in Escherichia coli was established. The protein, expressed in soluble and active form at 10 mg/l E. coli culture, was purified to homogeneity and characterized biochemically. The enzyme, a 34 kDa monomeric protein, was demonstrated to be a B´-type carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.1) on the basis of substrate specificity and the action of inhibitors. Among the p-nitrophenyl (PNP) esters tested the best substrate was PNP-exanoate with Km and kcat values of 11±2 µM (mean±S.D., n = 3) and 6610±880 s-1 (mean±S.D., n = 3) respectively at 70 °C and pH 7.1. In spite of relatively high sequence identity with the mammalian HSLs, the psychrophilic MoraxellaTA144lipase 2 and the human liver arylacetamide deacetylase, no lipase or amidase activity was detected. A series of substrates were tested for enantioselectivity. Substantial enantioselectivity was observed only in the resolution of (±)-3-bromo-5-(hydroxymethyl)-Δ2-isoxazoline, where the (R)-product was obtained with an 84% enantiomeric excess at 36% conversion. The enzyme was also able to synthesize acetyl esters when tested in vinyl acetate and toluene. Inactivation by diethylpyrocarbonate, diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate, di-isopropylphosphofluoridate (DFP) and physostigmine, as well as labelling with [3H]DFP, supported our previous suggestion of a catalytic triad made up of Ser-His-Asp. The activity–stability–temperature relationship is discussed in relation to those of the homologous members of the HSL group.
Fatty acids induce release of Ca2+ from acidosomal stores and activate capacitative Ca2+ entry in Dictyostelium discoideum
Authors: SCHALOSKE Ralph , SONNEMANN Jürgen , MALCHOW Dieter , SCHLATTERER Christina
Published: August 2015

cAMP-induced Ca2+ fluxes in Dictyostelium discoideum largely depend on phospholipase A2 activity generating non-esterified fatty acids [Schaloske and Malchow (1997) Biochem. J. 327, 233–238]. In the present study the effect of fatty acids on Ca2+ homoeostasis in D. discoideum was investigated. Cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was analysed by digital imaging of single fura 2–dextran-loaded cells. Arachidonic acid and linoleic acid induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i. The concentration of arachidonic acid determined the percentage of responding cells, with the mean height of the increase being dose-independent. In nominally Ca2+-free medium or in the presence of bis-(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N´,N´-tetra-acetic acid (BAPTA), no [Ca2+]i transient was detectable. In spite of this, we found that (1) arachidonic acid induced Ca2+ release from permeabilized cells and from vesicular fractions at concentrations that elicited Ca2+ influx in intact cells and (2) Ca2+ entry was inhibited by inhibitors of Ca2+-transport ATPases and V-type H+-ATPase, indicating that intracellular Ca2+ release precedes Ca2+ entry. Inhibition studies and mutant analysis point to the acidosomal Ca2+ stores as a target of fatty acids. Although fatty acids can substitute fully for cAMP with respect to Ca2+ influx in wild-type cells, experiments with a mutant strain revealed that cAMP also sensitizes the Ca2+-entry mechanism: cAMP-induced Ca2+ influx was normal in a phospholipase C knockout mutant but influx was fairly insensitive to arachidonic acid in this strain. This defect could be overcome by higher doses of arachidonic acid which cause sufficient Ca2+ to be released from the stores to trigger extracellular Ca2+ entry.
Prothymosin α is a chromatin-remodelling protein in mammalian cells
Authors: GÓMEZ-MÁRQUEZ Jaime , RODRÍGUEZ Pilar
Published: August 2015

Prothymosin α (ProTα) is an abundant mammalian acidic nuclear protein whose expression is related to cell proliferation. Here we report that in HL-60 cells overexpressing ProTα, the accessibility of micrococcal nuclease to chromatin is strongly increased. In the DNA ladder generated by the nuclease activity, the sizes of the mononucleosome (146 bp, the DNA fragment that is bound to the histone octamer) and its multimers correspond to nucleosomes lacking histone H1. The percentage of histone-H1-depleted chromatin (active chromatin) is also higher in the cells overexpressing ProTα. On the basis of these and previous findings, we propose a biological role for ProTα in the remodelling of chromatin fibres through its interaction with histone H1.
Changing nucleosome positions in vivo through modification of the DNA rotational information
Authors: DI MARCOTULLIO Lucia , BUTTINELLI Memmo , COSTANZO Giovanna , DI MAURO Ernesto , NEGRI Rodolfo
Published: August 2015

The effects of the rotational information of DNA in determining the in vivolocalization of nucleosomal core particles (ncps) have been studied in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae5 S rRNA repeat gene. The distribution of the phased series of flexibility signals present in this DNA has been altered by inserting in its centre a 25 bp tract. The effects of such alteration on the in vivodistribution of the helically phased, alternatively located ncps have been determined relative to a reference 21 bp insertion mutant. The results show that the answers provided in vitroand in vivoby the yeast 5 S rRNA gene sequence to specific modifications of the DNA rotational frame are similar, thus pointing to the relevance of DNA rotational information in vivo.
Evidence that the conformation of unliganded human plasminogen is maintained via an intramolecular interaction between the lysine-binding site of kringle 5 and the N-terminal peptide
Authors: COCKELL Charles S. , MARSHALL Julian M. , DAWSON Keith M. , CEDERHOLM-WILLIAMS Stewart A. , PONTING Chris P.
Published: August 2015

Human Glu-plasminogen adopts at least three conformations that provide a means for regulating the specificity of its activation in vivo. It has been proposed previously that the closed (α) conformation of human Glu-plasminogen is maintained through physical interaction of the kringle 5 domain and a lysine residue within the N-terminal peptide (NTP). To examine this hypothesis, site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate variant proteins containing substitutions either for aspartic acid residues within the anionic centre of the kringle 5 domain or for conserved lysine residues within the NTP. Size-exclusion HPLC and rates of plasminogen activation by urokinase-type plasminogen activator were used to determine the conformational states of these variants. Variants with substitutions within the kringle 5 lysine-binding site demonstrated extended conformations, as did variants with alanine substitutions for Lys50 and Lys62. In contrast, molecules in which NTP residues Lys20 or Lys33 were replaced were shown to adopt closed conformations. We conclude that the lysine-binding site of kringle 5 is involved in maintaining the closed conformation of human Glu-plasminogen via an interaction with the NTP, probably through Lys50 and/or Lys62. These conclusions advance the current model for the initial stages of fibrinolysis during which fibrin is thought to compete with the NTP for the kringle 5 lysine-binding site.
Thrombin stimulates fibroblast procollagen production via proteolytic activation of protease-activated receptor 1
Authors: CHAMBERS Rachel C. , DABBAGH Karim , McANULTY Robin J. , GRAY Andy J. , BLANC-BRUDE Olivier P. , LAURENT Geoffrey J.
Published: August 2015

Thrombin is a multifunctional serine protease that has a crucial role in blood coagulation. It is also a potent mesenchymal cell mitogen and chemoattractant and might therefore have an important role in the recruitment and local proliferation of mesenchymal cells at sites of tissue injury. We hypothesized that thrombin might also affect the deposition of connective tissue proteins at these sites by directly stimulating fibroblast procollagen production. To address this hypothesis, the effect of thrombin on procollagen production and gene expression by human foetal lung fibroblasts was assessed over 48 h. Thrombin stimulated procollagen production at concentrations of 1 nM and above, with maximal increases of between 60% and 117% at 10 nM thrombin. These effects of thrombin were, at least in part, due to increased steady-state levels of α1(I) procollagen mRNA. They could furthermore be reproduced with thrombin receptor-activating peptides for the protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) and were completely abolished when thrombin was rendered proteolytically inactive with the specific inhibitors d-Phe-Pro-ArgCH2Cl and hirudin, indicating that thrombin is mediating these effects via the proteolytic activation of PAR-1. These results suggest that thrombin might influence the deposition of connective tissue proteins during normal wound healing and the development of tissue fibrosis by stimulating fibroblast procollagen production.
Targeting and assembly of the oxoglutarate carrier: general principles for biogenesis of carrier proteins of the mitochondrial inner membrane
Authors: PALMISANO Annamaria , ZARA Vincenzo , HÖNLINGER Angelika , VOZZA Angelo , DEKKER Peter J. T. , PFANNER Nikolaus , PALMIERI Ferdinando
Published: August 2015

We have studied the targeting and assembly of the 2-oxoglutarate carrier (OGC), an integral inner-membrane protein of mitochondria. The precursor of OGC, synthesized without a cleavable presequence, is transported into mitochondria in an ATP- and membrane potential-dependent manner. Import of the mammalian OGC occurs efficiently into both mammalian and yeast mitochondria. Targeting of OGC reveals a clear dependence on the mitochondrial surface receptor Tom70 (the 70 kDa subunit of the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane), whereas a cleavable preprotein depends on Tom20 (the 20 kDa subunit), supporting a model of specificity differences of the receptors and the existence of distinct targeting pathways to mitochondria. The assembly of minute amounts of OGC imported in vitro to the dimeric form can be monitored by blue native electrophoresis of digitonin-lysed mitochondria. The assembly of mammalian OGC and fungal ADP/ATP carrier occurs with high efficiency in both mammalian and yeast mitochondria. These findings indicate a dynamic behaviour of the carrier dimers in the mitochondrial inner membrane and suggest a high conservation of the assembly reactions from mammals to fungi.
Developmental effect of polyamine depletion in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: MACRAE Madhu , KRAMER Debora L. , COFFINO Philip
Published: August 2015

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) catalyses the conversion of ornithine to putrescine, an obligate precursor to the polyamines spermidine and spermine. We reported previously that homozygous odc-1 (pc13) worms have no detectable ODC activity. Despite their inability to make polyamines, these mutant worms appear normal, but with a slight reduction in total brood size, when grown in complex medium that presumably contains polyamines. We now show that when ODC-deficient worms are transferred to polyamine-free medium, they show a strong phenotype. odc-1 worms have two different fates, depending upon the developmental stage at which polyamines are removed. If the polyamines are removed at the L1 larval stage, the mutant animals develop into adult hermaphrodites that produce very few or no eggs. In contrast, if mutant larvae at the later L4 stage of development are transferred to polyamine-deficient medium, they develop and lay eggs normally. However, approx. 90% of the eggs yield embryos that, although well differentiated, arrest at early stage 3. Either maternal or zygotic expression of ODC provides partial rescue of embryonic lethality. Supplementing deficient medium with the polyamine spermidine allows ODC-deficient worms to develop as on complex medium. Together, these findings suggest that ODC activity is most critically required during oogenesis and embryogenesis and, furthermore, that exogenous polyamines can override the requirement for ODC activity.
Chemical mechanism of the endogenous argininosuccinate lyase activity of duck lens δ2-crystallin
Authors: WU Chi-Yue , LEE Hwei-Jen , WU Shih-Hsiung , CHEN Shui-Tein , CHIOU Shyh-Horng , CHANG Gu-Gang
Published: August 2015

The endogenous argininosuccinate lyase activity of duck δ2-crystallin was specifically inactivated by the histidine-specific reagent, diethyl pyrocarbonate. The protein was protected by l-citrulline or l-arginine from the diethyl pyrocarbonate inactivation. To characterize further the chemical mechanism of the δ2-crystallin-catalysed reaction, deuterium-labelled argininosuccinate was enzymically synthesized from fumarate and l-arginine with δ2-crystallin in 2H2O. The argininosuccinate synthesized contained about 19% of the anhydride form; however, the deuterium was clearly demonstrated to be incorporated enantioselectively. Only the pro-HR atom at C-9 of the succinate moiety was labelled in the [2H]argininosuccinate-9-d synthesized, which indicates an anti-elimination mechanism for the endogenous argininosuccinate lyase activity of δ2-crystallin. The enzymic activity of duck lens δ2-crystallin in the pH range 5.5–8.5 was investigated using both protium- and deuterium-labelled argininosuccinate as the substrate. From the log kcat versus pH plot, two molecular pKa values of 6.18±0.02 and 8.75±0.03 were detected in the δ2-crystallin–argininosuccinate binary complex. The former must be dehydronated and the latter hydronated to achieve an optimum reaction rate. The log kcat/Km versus pH plot suggested two molecular pKa values of 5.96±0.09 and 8.29±0.10 for the free δ2-crystallin to be involved in the substrate binding. Small kinetic isotope effects of 1.17±0.02 and 1.05±0.09 were found for kcat and kcat/Km respectively. Combining results from labelling and kinetic analysis indicates that the endogenous argininosuccinate lyase activity of duck δ2-crystallin is compatible with a stepwise E1cB mechanism, the rate-limiting step probably at the C–N bond-cleavage step.
Protection from oxidative inactivation of the 20S proteasome byheat-shock protein 90
Authors: CONCONI Mariangela , PETROPOULOS Isabelle , EMOD Istvan , TURLIN Evelyne , BIVILLE Francis , FRIGUET Bertrand
Published: August 2015

Heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp 90) has been implicated in both protection against oxidative inactivation and inhibition of the multicatalytic proteinase (MCP, also known as 20 S proteasome). We report here that the protective and inhibitory effects of Hsp 90 depend on the activation state of the proteasome. Hsp 90 (and also α-crystallin) inhibits the N-Cbz-Leu-Leu-Leu-MCA-hydrolysing activity (Cbz = benzyloxycarbonyl; MCA = 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin) when the rat liver MCP is in its latent form, but no inhibitory effects are observed when the MCP is in its active form. Metal-catalysed oxidation of the active MCP inactivates the Ala-Ala-Phe-MCA-hydrolysing (chymotrypsin-like), N-Boc-Leu-Ser-Thr-Arg-MCA-hydrolysing (trypsin-like; Boc = t-butyloxycarbonyl), N-Cbz-Leu-Leu-Glu-β-naphthylamine-hydrolysing (peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase) and N-Cbz-Leu-Leu-Leu-MCA-hydrolysing activities, whereas these activities are actually increased when the MCP is in its latent form. Hsp 90 protects against oxidative inactivation of the trypsin-like and N-Cbz-Leu-Leu-Leu-MCA-hydrolysing activities of the MCP active form, and α-crystallin protects the trypsin-like activity. The specificity of the Hsp 90-mediated protection was assessed by a quantitative analysis of the two-dimensional electrophoretic pattern of MCP subunits before and after oxidation of the MCP, in the presence or absence of Hsp 90. Treatment of the FAO hepatoma cell line with iron and ascorbate was found to inactivate the MCP. Hsp 90 overexpression obtained by challenging the cells with iron was associated with a decreased susceptibility to oxidative inactivation of the MCP trypsin-like activity. Depletion of Hsp 90 by using antisense oligonucleotides resulted in an increased susceptibility to oxidative inactivation of the MCP trypsin-like activity, providing evidence for the physiological relevance of Hsp 90-mediated protection of the MCP.
Identification of the lectin-like receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein in human macrophages and its potential role as a scavenger receptor
Authors: YOSHIDA Hiroshi , KONDRATENKO Nonna , GREEN Simone , STEINBERG Daniel , QUEHENBERGER Oswald
Published: August 2015

A new receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1), has recently been cloned from bovine endothelial cells and human lung. A limited tissue-distribution study suggested that the protein was mainly produced by the vascular endothelium. In the present study we demonstrate that LOX-1 is also expressed in macrophages, where it may function as a scavenger receptor. LOX-1 was not detected in undifferentiated THP-1 cells or in freshly isolated human blood monocytes. However, mature human monocyte-derived macrophages and differentiated THP-1 cells showed high levels of LOX-1 transcripts. Consistent with these results, immunofluorescence staining and FACS analysis demonstrated that LOX-1 protein is expressed on the plasma membrane of macrophages. Western-blot analysis of membranes from macrophages (but not those from monocytes) identified a single band, with an apparent molecular mass of about 40 kDa, that displayed oxidized LDL-binding activity. These results suggest that differentiation induces the expression of LOX-1 in macrophages, where it may play a role as a scavenger receptor and/or a receptor for oxidized LDL.
Metalloproteinase-like, disintegrin-like, cysteine-rich proteins MDC2 and MDC3: novel human cellular disintegrins highly expressed in the brain
Authors: SAGANE Koji , OHYA Yukio , HASEGAWA Yoshikazu , TANAKA Isao
Published: August 2015

Cellular disintegrins are a family of membrane-anchored proteins structurally related to snake venom disintegrins, and are potential regulators of cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. The members of this protein family are also called ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) or MDC proteins (metalloproteinase-like disintegrin-like cysteine-rich), because they all contain disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase-like domains. In this paper, we report the cloning and sequence analysis of two novel additional members of this family, which we have termed MDC2 and MDC3. The deduced amino acid sequences reveal that the two proteins possess typical cellular disintegrin structures [that is, pro-, metalloproteinase-like, disintegrin-like, cysteine-rich, epidermal growth factor-like, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains] and exhibit high sequence similarity with human MDC/ADAM11 protein [Katagiri, Harada, Emi and Nakamura (1995) Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 68, 39–44]. A zinc-binding motif, which is critical for proteinase activity, is disrupted in the metalloproteinase-like domain of MDC2 and MDC3, as well as MDC/ADAM11. In the disintegrin-like domain of snake venom short disintegrins, the RDG-containing loops are critical for integrin binding. These three MDCs do not contain the RDG sequences, but the corresponding loops in these proteins are similar to each other. Northern blot analysis revealed that the mRNAs of MDC2, MDC3 and MDC/ADAM11 are highly expressed in the brain. These findings suggest that these proteins may function as integrin ligands in the brain.
α-Tocopherol specifically inactivates cellular protein kinase C α by changing its phosphorylation state
Authors: RICCIARELLI Roberta , TASINATO Andrea , CLÉMENT Sophie , ÖZER Nesrin K. , BOSCOBOINIK Daniel , AZZI Angelo
Published: August 2015

The mechanism of protein kinase C (PKC) regulation by α-tocopherol has been investigated in smooth-muscle cells. Treatment of rat aortic A7r5 smooth-muscle cells with α-tocopherol resulted in a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of PKC. The inhibition was not related to a direct interaction of α-tocopherol with the enzyme nor with a diminution of its expression. Western analysis demonstrated the presence of PKCα, β, δ, ε, ζ and µ isoforms in these cells. Autophosphorylation and kinase activities of the different isoforms have shown that only PKCα was inhibited by α-tocopherol. The inhibitory effects were not mimicked by β-tocopherol, an analogue of α-tocopherol with similar antioxidant properties. The inhibition of PKCα by α-tocopherol has been found to be associated with its dephosphorylation. Moreover the finding of an activation of protein phosphatase type 2A in vitro by α-tocopherol suggests that this enzyme might be responsible for the observed dephosphorylation and subsequent deactivation of PKCα. It is therefore proposed that PKCα inhibition by α-tocopherol is linked to the activation of a protein phosphatase, which in turn dephosphorylates PKCα and inhibits its activity.
Bovine acetylcholinesterase: cloning, expression and characterization
Authors: MENDELSON Itai , KRONMAN Chanoch , ARIEL Naomi , SHAFFERMAN Avigdor , VELAN Baruch
Published: August 2015

The bovine acetylcholinesterase (BoAChE) gene was cloned from genomic DNA and its structure was determined. Five exons coding for the AChE T-subunit and the alternative H-subunit were identified and their organization suggests high conservation of structure in mammalian AChE genes. The deduced amino acid sequence of the bovine T-subunit is highly similar to the human sequence, showing differences at 34 positions only. However, the cloned BoAChE sequence differs from the published amino acid sequence of AChE isolated from fetal bovine serum (FBS) by: (1) 13 amino acids, 12 of which are conserved between BoAChE and human AChE, and (2) the presence of four rather than five potential N-glycosylation sites. The full coding sequence of the mature BoAChE T-subunit was expressed in human embryonal kidney 293 cells (HEK-293). The catalytic properties of recombinant BoAChE and its reactivity towards various inhibitors were similar to those of the native bovine enzyme. Soluble recombinant BoAChE is composed of monomers, dimers and tetramers, yet in contrast to FBS-AChE, tetramer formation is not efficient. Comparative SDS/PAGE analysis reveals that all four potential N-glycosylation sites identified by DNA sequencing appear to be utilized, and that recombinant BoAChE comigrates with FBS-AChE. A major difference between the recombinant enzyme and the native enzyme was observed when clearance from circulation was examined. The HEK-293-derived enzyme was cleared from the circulation at a much faster rate than FBS-AChE. This difference in behaviour, together with previous studies on the effect of post-translation modification on human AChE clearance [Kronman, Velan, Marcus, Ordentlich, Reuveny and Shafferman (1995) Biochem. J. 311, 959–967] suggests that cell-dependent glycosylation plays a key role in AChE circulatory residence.
Permanent exposure of mucin-secreting HT-29 cells to benzyl-N-acetyl-α-D-galactosaminide induces abnormal O-glycosylation of mucins and inhibits constitutive and stimulated MUC5AC secretion
Authors: HENNEBICQ-REIG Sylviane , LESUFFLEUR Thécla , CAPON Calliope , BOLOS Carmen de , KIM Isabelle , MOREAU Odile , RICHET Colette , HÉMON Brigitte , RECCHI Marie-Ange , MAËS Emmanuel , AUBERT Jean-Pierre , REAL Francisco X. , ZWEIBAUM Alain , DELANNOY Philippe , DEGAND Pierre , HUET Guillemette
Published: August 2015

Previous work has shown that treatment of HT-29 methotrexate (MTX) cells with benzyl-N-acetyl-α-d-galactosaminide results in profound changes in mucin oligosaccharide chains. To analyse in depth the effect of this drug, we first determined the structure of mucin oligosaccharide chains synthesized by HT-29 MTX cells and the changes induced by permanent drug exposure. Mucins from untreated cells contained nine monosialylated structures (core types 1, 2, 3 and 4) and four disialylated structures (types 1, 2 and 4). Core 1 structures predominated, in particular NeuAcα2–3Galβ1–3GalNAc-ol. Exposure of HT-29 MTX cells to benzyl-N-acetyl-α-d-galactosaminide from days 2–21 resulted in a decrease in intracellular mucins and both their sialic acid and galactose content, and an increased T (Galβ1–3GalNAcα-O-Ser/Thr) and Tn (GalNAcα-O-Ser/Thr) antigenicity. A 3-fold increase in both Galβ1–3GalNAc α2,3-sialyltransferase activity and mRNA expression was detected. At the ultrastructural level, T-antigen was not detectable in mucin droplets in control cells, but was strongly expressed in intracytoplasmic vesicles in treated cells. In these cells, MUC1 and MUC3 transcripts were up-regulated, whereas MUC2, MUC5B and MUC5AC were down-regulated. Furthermore, constitutive and secretagogue-induced MUC5AC secretion was reduced and no mucus layer was detected. In conclusion, benzyl-N-acetyl-α-d-galactosaminide induces abnormal O-glycosylation and altered regulation of MUC5AC secretion.
Interleukin-6-type cytokine signalling through the gp130/Jak/STAT pathway
Authors: HEINRICH Peter C. , BEHRMANN Iris , MÜLLER-NEWEN Gerhard , SCHAPER Fred , GRAEVE Lutz
Published: August 2015

The family of cytokines signalling through the common receptor subunit gp130 comprises interleukin (IL)-6, IL-11, leukaemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, ciliary neurotrophic factor and cardiotrophin-1. These so-called IL-6-type cytokines play an important role in the regulation of complex cellular processes such as gene activation, proliferation and differentiation. The current knowledge on the signal-transduction mechanisms of these cytokines from the plasma membrane to the nucleus is reviewed. In particular, we focus on the assembly of receptor complexes after ligand binding, the activation of receptor-associated kinases of the Janus family, and the recruitment and phosphorylation of transcription factors of the STAT family, which dimerize, translocate to the nucleus, and bind to enhancer elements of respective target genes leading to transcriptional activation. The important players in the signalling pathway, namely the cytokines and the receptor components, the Janus kinases Jak1, Jak2 and Tyk2, the signal transducers and activators of transcription STAT1 and STAT3 and the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 [SH2 (Src homology 2) domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase] are introduced and their structural/functional properties are discussed. Furthermore, we review various mechanisms involved in the termination of the IL-6-type cytokine signalling, namely the action of tyrosine phosphatases, proteasome, Jak kinase inhibitors SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signalling), protein inhibitors of activated STATs (PIAS), and internalization of the cytokine receptors via gp130. Although all IL-6-type cytokines signal through the gp130/Jak/STAT pathway, the comparison of their physiological properties shows that they elicit not only similar, but also distinct, biological responses. This is reflected in the different phenotypes of IL-6-type-cytokine knock-out animals.
Determinants of catalytic activity with the use of purified I, D and H subunits of the magnesium protoporphyrin IX chelatase from Synechocystis PCC6803
Authors: JENSEN Poul E. , GIBSON Lucien C. D. , HUNTER C. Neil
Published: August 2015

The I, D and H subunits (ChlI, ChlD and ChlH respectively) of the magnesium protoporphyrin IX chelatase from Synechocystis have been purified to homogeneity as a result of the overexpression of the encoding genes in Escherichia coli and the production of large quantities of histidine-tagged proteins. These subunits have been used in an initial investigation of the biochemical and kinetic properties of the enzyme. The availability of pure ChlI, ChlD and ChlH has allowed us to estimate the relative concentrations of the three protein components required for optimal activity, and to investigate the dependence of chelatase activity on the concentrations of MgCl2, ATP and protoporphyrin IX. It was found that, whereas ChlD and ChlH are likely to be monomeric, ChlI can aggregate in an ATP-dependent manner, changing from a dimeric to an octameric structure. Subunit titration assays suggest an optimal ratio of ChlI, ChlD and ChlH of 2:1:4 respectively. However, the dependence of chelatase activity on increasing concentrations of ChlI and ChlH with respect to ChlD suggests that these two subunits, at least in vitro, behave as substrates in their interaction with ChlD. Mg chelation could not be detected unless the Mg2+ concentration exceeded the ATP concentration, suggesting at least two requirements for Mg2+, one as a component of MgATP2-, the other as the chelated metal. The steady-state kinetic parameters were determined from continuous assays; the Km values for protoporphyrin, MgCl2 and ATP were 1.25 µM, 4.9 mM and 0.49 mM respectively. The rate dependence of Mg2+ was clearly sigmoidal with a Hill coefficient of 3, suggesting positive co-operativity. Initiating the reaction by the addition of one of the substrates in these continuous assays resulted in a significant lag period of at least 10 min before the linear production of Mg protoporphyrin. This lag was significantly decreased by preincubating ChlI and ChlD with ATP and MgCl2, and by mixing it with ChlH that had been preincubated with protoporphyrin IX, ATP and MgCl2. This suggests not only a close MgATP2--dependent interaction between ChlI and ChlD but also an interaction between ChlH and the protoporphyrin substrate that also is stimulated by ATP and MgCl2.
Inactivation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2B in vitro by heat shock
Authors: SCHEPER Gert C. , THOMAS Adri A. M. , WIJK van Roel
Published: August 2015

Protein synthesis in rat H35 Reuber hepatoma cells is rapidly inhibited on heat shock. At mild heat-shock temperatures the main cause for inhibition is the inactivation of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2B); under more severe heat-shock conditions the activity of several initiation factors is compromised. eIF2B is required for GDP/GTP exchange on eIF2, which delivers methionyl-tRNA to the 40 S ribosomal subunit. We have tried to elucidate the mechanism underlying the inactivation of eIF2B by assays in vitro. Incubation of cell extracts at 41 °C or higher led to the inactivation of eIF2B. In agreement with observations in cells exposed to mild heat shocks, the thermal inactivation of eIF2B could be ascribed to neither eIF2α phosphorylation nor the induction of another inhibitor. With the use of glycerol gradients we show that eIF2B forms aggregates in heat-treated extracts. Furthermore eIF2B activity is protected against heat shock in thermotolerant cells. Taken together, these results suggest a role for chaperones in the control of eIF2B activity.
Neuropeptide regulation of biosynthesis of the juvenoid, methyl farnesoate, in the edible crab, Cancer pagurus
Authors: WAINWRIGHT Geoffrey , WEBSTER Simon G. , REES Huw H.
Published: August 2015

The neuropeptide mandibular organ (MO)-inhibiting hormone (MO-IH), synthesized and secreted from the X-organ-sinus-gland complex of the eyestalk, regulates the biosynthesis of the putative crustacean juvenile hormone, methyl farnesoate (MF). Using radiolabelled acetate as a precursor for isoprenoid biosynthesis, farnesoic acid (FA), farnesol, farnesal, MF and geranyl geraniol were detected in MOs cultured for 24 h. Treatment of MOs with extract of sinus gland inhibited the final step of biosynthesis of MF, catalysed by FA O-methyltransferase. Additionally, treatment of MOs with purified MO-IH exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of this final step of MF synthesis. The extent of this inhibition was dependent on the ovary stage of the MO-donor animal, being maximal in MOs from animals in the early stages of ovarian development. Assay of FA O-methyltransferase activity, using [3H]FA in the presence of S-adenosyl-l-methionine, demonstrated that the enzyme was located in the cytosolic fraction of MOs and was inhibited by incubation of MOs with MO-IH prior to preparation of subcellular fractions. For cytosolic preparations taken from vitellogenic animals, both Vmax and Km were appreciably lower than for those taken from non-vitellogenic animals. Conversely, eyestalk ablation of early-vitellogenic animals, which removes the source of MO-IH in vivo, resulted in enhancement of the cytosolic FA O-methyltransferase activity. Although both Vmax and Km show an appreciable increase upon eyestalk ablation, the increased enzyme activity is probably reflected by the fact that Vmax/Km (an approximate indication of kcat) has increased 5-fold. The combined evidence demonstrates that MO-IH inhibits FA O-methyltransferase, the enzyme which catalyses the final step of MF biosynthesis in MOs.
Insulin-stimulated expression of c-fos, fra1 and c-jun accompanies the activation of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional complex
Authors: GRIFFITHS Matthew R. , BLACK Elizabeth J. , CULBERT Ainsley A. , DICKENS Martin , SHAW Peter E. , GILLESPIE David A. F. , TAVARÉ Jeremy M.
Published: August 2015

The activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional complex is made up of members of the Fos (c-Fos, FosB, Fra1, Fra2) and Jun (c-Jun, JunB, JunD) families and is stimulated by insulin in several cell types. The mechanism by which insulin activates this complex is not well understood but it is dependent on the activation of the Erk1 and Erk2 isoforms of mitogen-activated protein kinases. In the current study we show that the AP-1 complex isolated from insulin-stimulated cells contained c-Fos, Fra1, c-Jun and JunB. The activation of the AP-1 complex by insulin was accompanied by (i) a transient increase in c-fos expression, and the transactivation of the ternary complex factors Elk1 and Sap1a, in an Erk1/Erk2-dependent fashion; (ii) a substantial increase in the expression of Fra1 protein and mRNA, which was preceded by a transient decrease in its electrophoretic mobility upon SDS/PAGE, indicative of phosphorylation; and (iii) a sustained increase in c-jun expression without increasing c-Jun phosphorylation on serines 63 and 73 or activation of the stress-activated kinase JNK/SAPK. In conclusion, insulin appears to stimulate the activity of the AP-1 complex primarily through a change in the abundance of the components of this complex, although there may be an additional role for Fra1 phosphorylation.
Functional properties of a naturally occurring isoform of soluble guanylyl cyclase
Authors: RUSSWURM Michael , BEHRENDS Soenke , HARTENECK Christian , KOESLING Doris
Published: August 2015

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the target enzyme of the signalling molecule NO, contains one prosthetic haem group and consists of an α and a β subunit. So far, only the α1β1 heterodimer has been shown to exist in different cells and tissues, and most biochemical studies of sGC have been performed with the α1β1 heterodimer. Here we demonstrate for the first time the natural occurrence of the α2 subunit on the protein level. The α2 subunit co-precipitated with the β1 subunit from human placenta, showing the existence of the α2β1 isoform in vivo. The new enzyme was expressed in and purified from cells from the Spodoptera frugiperda ovary cell line Sf 9. Spectral analysis showed that the α2β1 heterodimer contains a prosthetic haem group revealing the same characteristics as the haem in the α1β1 form. The kinetic properties of both isoforms and sensitivity towards NO were indistinguishable. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a selective inhibitor of sGC, abolished NO-stimulated activity of both heterodimers. The new NO-independent activator, 3-(5´-hydroxymethyl-2´-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1), increased the maximal NO-stimulated activity of the new isoform, caused a leftward-shift in the NO concentration–response curve and turned CO into an effective activator, as it did for the α1β1 heterodimer (200-fold activation). In summary, the differences in primary structure of both α subunits are contrasted by their functional similarity. Further studies will be needed to elucidate the physiological purpose of the new isoform.