bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The gene structure and organization of mouse PG-Lb, a small chondroitin/dermatan sulphate proteoglycan
Authors: IWATA Yukiko , SHINOMURA Tamayuki , KURITA Kazuhiro , ZAKO Masahiro , KIMATA Koji
Published: August 2015

PG-Lb was originally characterized as a small chondroitin/dermatan sulphate proteoglycan expressed preferentially in the zones of flattened chondrocytes in developing chick limb cartilage. The occurrence of this proteoglycan in mammalian cartilage has been shown by the isolation of a cDNA clone from mouse cartilage cDNA library [Kurita, Shinomura,Ujita, Zako, Kida, Iwata and Kimata (1996) Biochem. J. 318, 909–914]. To understand the regulation mechanisms for such a unique expression, we have investigated a genomic DNA structure of the PG-Lb gene. The gene is composed of seven exons and six introns spanning more than 50 kb. The leucine-rich repeats are encoded from exon V to exon VII. The transcription initiation site has been determined by rapid amplification of the cDNA ends (‘5´-RACE’). The possible TATA box was detected about 90 bp upstream of the adenosine residue that was numbered as position +1. Further analyses of 1.5 kb of the 5´ flanking region and 2.2 kb of the first intron have revealed several potential binding motifs for transcription factors such as Sox 5 and 9. The presence of those sequences in the PG-Lb gene was discussed in relation to the unique expression of this proteoglycan. The chromosomal localization of the murine PG-Lb gene was determined to be on the mouse chromosome 10 by the fluorescence-in-situ-hybridization (‘FISH’) method.
Structural and spectroscopic studies of azide complexes of horse heart myoglobin and the His-64→Thr variant
Authors: MAURUS Robert , BOGUMIL Ralf , NGUYEN Nham T. , MAUK A. Grant , BRAYER Gary
Published: August 2015

The high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structures of horse heart azidometmyoglobin complexes of the wild-type protein and the His-64 → Thr variant have been determined to 2.0 and 1.8 Å respectively. Azide binds to wild-type metmyoglobin in a bent configuration with an Fe–N-1–N-3 angle of 119° and is oriented into the distal crevice in the direction of Ile-107. The proximity of the His-64 NE2 atom to the N-1 atom of the bound azide indicates stabilization of the ligand by the His-64 side chain through hydrogen bonding. In addition, structural characterization of wild-type horse heart azidometmyoglobin establishes that the only structural change induced by ligand binding is a small movement of the Leu-29 side chain away from the azide ligand. EPR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the myoglobin azide complexes further. EPR spectroscopy revealed that, in contrast with wild-type azidometmyoglobin, two slightly different low-spin species are formed by azide bound to the His-64 → Thr variant both in solution and in a polycrystalline sample. One of these low-spin species has a greater relative intensity, with gvalues very similar to those of the azide complex of the wild-type protein. These EPR results together with structural information on this variant indicate the presence of two distinct conformations of bound azide, with one form predominating. The major conformation is comparable to that formed by wild-type myoglobin in which azide is oriented into the distal crevice. In the minor conformation the azide is oriented towards the exterior of the protein.
Haem insertion, dimerization and reactivation of haem-free rat neuronal nitric oxide synthase
Authors: HEMMENS Benjamin , GORREN Antonius C. F. , SCHMIDT Kurt , WERNER Ernst R. , MAYER Bernd
Published: August 2015

The nitric oxide synthases are dimeric enzymes in which the intersubunit contacts are formed by the P-450-haem-containing, tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent oxygenase domain. The dimerization of the neuronal isoenzyme was shown previously to be triggered by Fe-protoporphyrin IX (haemin). We report for the first time the reactivation of the haem-deficient neuronal isoenzyme (from rat, expressed in a baculovirus/insect cell system) after haem reconstitution. We further examined the reconstitution of the enzyme with protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and its Mn and Co complexes. All of these porphyrins inserted into the haem pocket, as assessed by quenching of intrinsic protein fluorescence. In addition to haemin, MnPPIX stimulated dimerization, as measured by gel filtration and by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. In contrast, neither CoPPIX nor PPIX stimulated dimerization. The absorbance spectra of the reconstituted enzymes were measured and compared with published results on P-450 enzymes reconstituted with the same metals. The results suggest that those metalloporphyrins which caused dimerization were able to acquire a thiolate ligand from the protein, and we propose that this ligation is the trigger for dimerization. Substrate and tetrahydrobiopterin binding sites only emerged with the metalloporphyrins that caused dimerization.
Identification of glycinin in vivo as a polyamine-conjugated protein via a γ-glutamyl linkage
Authors: KANG Hyeog , LEE Seung Gwan , CHO Young Dong
Published: August 2015

To identify a polyamine-conjugated protein by the action of transglutaminase in the absence of radiolabelled polyamine, extracts prepared from the leaves and developing soybean seeds were investigated for the specific activity of transglutaminase and the content of free polyamines. We identified the major storage protein, glycinin, as a polyamine-conjugated protein. This was established by the following procedures: (1) immunolocalization with antibody against putrescine prepared in rabbit against putrescine–BSA conjugate; (2) immunocross-reactivity on nitrocellulose transblot of the purified glycinin subunits by using antibody against putrescine; (3) identification of polyamines in acid hydrolysates of purified glycinin; (4) release of polyamines in proteolytic digests through the catalytic action of γ-glutamylamine cyclotransferase, an enzyme specific for the disassembly of γ-glutamylamines. The activity of γ-glutamylamine cyclotransferase was also identified in soybean seeds.
Purification and characterization of a 100 kDa DNA polymerase from cauliflower inflorescence
Authors: SETO Hirokazu , HATANAKA Masami , KIMURA Seisuke , OSHIGE Masahiko , TSUYA Yuri , MIZUSHINA Yoshiyuki , SAWADO Tomoyuki , AOYAGI Norikazu , MATSUMOTO Takashi , HASHIMOTO Junji , SAKAGUCHI Kengo
Published: August 2015

A DNA polymerase from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) inflorescence has been purified to near homogeneity through five successive column chromatographies, and temporally designated cauliflower polymerase 1. Cauliflower polymerase 1 is a monopolypeptide with a molecular mass of 100 kDa. The enzyme efficiently uses synthetic DNA homopolymers and moderately activated DNA and a synthetic RNA homopolymer as template-primers. The enzyme is strongly sensitive to dideoxythymidine triphosphate and N-ethylmaleimide, but it is insensitive to aphidicolin. It was stimulated with 250 mM KCl. Its mode of DNA synthesis is high-processive with or without proliferating-cell nuclear antigen. A 3´ → 5´ exonuclease activity is associated with cauliflower polymerase 1. The enzyme is clearly different from cauliflower mitochondrial polymerase and does not resemble the four different types of wheat DNA polymerase, designated wheat DNA polymerases A, B, CI and CII. In the present paper the role of the enzyme in plant DNA synthesis is discussed.
Unmediated heterogeneous electron transfer reaction of ascorbate oxidase and laccase at a gold electrode
Authors: SANTUCCI Roberto , FERRI Tommaso , MORPURGO Laura , SAVINI Isabella , AVIGLIANO Luciana
Published: August 2015

The unmediated electrochemistry of two large Cu-containing proteins, ascorbate oxidase and laccase, was investigated by direct-current cyclic voltammetry. Rapid heterogeneous electron transfer was achieved in the absence of promoters or mediators by trapping a small amount of protein within a solid, electrochemically inert, tributylmethyl phosphonium chloride membrane coating a gold electrode. The problems typical of proteins in solution, such as adsorption on the electrode surface, were avoided by this procedure. In anaerobic conditions, the cyclic voltammograms, run at a scan rate of up to 200 mV/s, showed the electron transfer process to be quasi-reversible and diffusion-controlled. The pH-dependent redox potentials (+360 mV and +400 mV against a normal hydrogen electrode at pH 7.0 for ascorbate oxidase and laccase respectively and +390 mV and +410 mV at pH 5.5) were similar to those of the free proteins. The same electrochemical behaviour was recorded for the type 2 Cu-depleted derivatives, which contain reduced type 3 Cu, whereas the apoproteins were electrochemically inactive. Under aerobic conditions the catalytic current intensity of holoprotein voltammograms increased up to approx. 2-fold at a low scanning rate, with unchanged redox potentials. The voltammograms of type 2 Cu-depleted proteins and of apoproteins were unaffected by the presence of oxygen. This suggests that electron uptake at the electrode surface involves type 1 Cu and that only in the presence of oxygen is the intramolecular electron transfer to other protein sites rapid enough to be observed. The analogy with available kinetic results is discussed.
The relationship of oxygen delivery to absolute haemoglobin oxygenation and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase redox state in the adult brain: a near-infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: COOPER Chris E. , DELPY David T. , NEMOTO Edwin M.
Published: August 2015

Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the effect of changes in the rate of oxygen delivery to the adult rat brain on the absolute concentrations of oxyhaemoglobin, deoxyhaemoglobin and the redox state of the CuA centre in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase. The cytochrome oxidase detection algorithm was determined to be robust to large changes in haemoglobin oxygenation and concentration. By assuming complete haemoglobin deoxygenation and CuA reduction following mechanical ventilation on 100% N2O, the absolute concentration of oxyhaemoglobin (35 µM), deoxyhaemoglobin (27 µM) and the redox state of CuA (82% oxidized) were calculated in the normal adult brain. The mean arterial blood pressure was decreased by exsanguination. When the pressure reached 100 mmHg, haemoglobin oxygenation started to fall, but the total haemoglobin concentration and oxidized CuA levels only fell when cerebral blood volume autoregulation mechanisms failed at 50 mmHg. Haemoglobin oxygenation fell linearly with decreases in the rate of oxygen delivery to the brain, but the oxidized CuA concentration did not start to fall until this rate was 50% of normal. The results suggest that the brain maintains more than adequate oxygen delivery to mitochondria and that near-infrared spectroscopy may be a good measure of oxygen insufficiency in vivo.
Re-examination of the roles of PEP and Mg2+ in the reaction catalysed by the phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from leaves of Zea mays
Authors: TOVAR-MÉNDEZ Alejandro , RODRÍGUEZ-SOTRES Rogelio , LÓPEZ-VALENTÍN Dulce M. , MUÑOZ-CLARES Rosario A.
Published: August 2015

To study the effects of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and Mg2+ on the activity of the non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated forms of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from Zea maysleaves, steady-state measurements have been carried out with the free forms of PEP (fPEP) and Mg2+ (fMg2+), both in a near-physiological concentration range. At pH 7.3, in the absence of activators, the initial velocity data obtained with both forms of the enzyme are consistent with the exclusive binding of MgPEP to the active site and of fPEP to an activating allosteric site. At pH 8.3, and in the presence of saturating concentrations of glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P) or Gly, the free species also combined with the active site in the free enzyme, but with dissociation constants at least 35-fold that estimated for MgPEP. The latter dissociation constant was lowered to the same extent by saturating Glc6P and Gly, to approx. one-tenth and one-sixteenth in the non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated enzymes respectively. When Glc6P is present, fPEP binds to the active site in the free enzyme better than fMg2+, whereas the metal ion binds better in the presence of Gly. Saturation of the enzyme with Glc6P abolished the activation by fPEP, consistent with a common binding site, whereas saturation with Gly increased the affinity of the allosteric site for fPEP. Under all the conditions tested, our results suggest that fPEP is not able to combine with the allosteric site in the free enzyme, i.e. it cannot combine until after MgPEP, fPEP or fMg2+ are bound at the active site. The physiological role of Mg2+ in the regulation of the enzyme is only that of a substrate, mainly as part of the MgPEP complex. The kinetic properties of maize leaf PEPC reported here are consistent with the enzyme being well below saturation under the physiological concentrations of fMg2+ and PEP, particularly during the dark period; it is therefore suggested that the basal PEPC activity in vivois very low, but highly responsive to even small changes in the intracellular concentration of its substrate and effectors.
Functional implications of nitric oxide produced by mitochondria in mitochondrial metabolism
Authors: GIULIVI Cecilia
Published: August 2015

The effects of endogenous production of NO•, catalysed by the mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase (NOS), on mitochondrial metabolism were studied. The respiratory rates of intact mitochondria in State 4 were decreased by 40% and 28% with succinate and malate–glutamate, respectively, in the presence of l-arginine (l-Arg); conversely, the O2 uptake with NG-methyl-l-arginine (NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of NOS, was increased. The production of NO• and the inhibition of the respiratory rates were dependent on the metabolic state in which mitochondria were maintained: NO• production was probably supported by mitochondrial NADPH, the latter maintained by the energy-dependent transhydrogenase. In addition to the decline in the respiratory rate, an inhibition of ATP synthesis was also observed (40–50%) following supplementation with l-Arg. The dependence of the respiratory rates of mitochondria in State 3 and cytochrome oxidase activities on O2 concentrations with either l-Arg or NMMA indicated that both processes were competitively inhibited by NO• at the cytochrome oxidase level. This inhibition can be explained by the interaction of NO• with cytochrome oxidase at the binuclear centre. The role of NO• as a physiological modulator of cytochrome oxidase is discussed in terms of cellular metabolism.
Simultaneous binding of PA28 and PA700 activators to 20 S proteasomes
Authors: HENDIL Klavs B. , KHAN Selina , TANAKA Keiji
Published: August 2015

Two activators, named PA700 and PA28, are known to bind to 20 S proteasomes, forming two different complexes. The PA700–proteasome complex, also known as the 26 S proteasome, can degrade intact proteins, whereas complexes with PA28 can degrade only peptides. Monoclonal antibodies to 20 S proteasomes or the p45 ATPase subunit (Trip1, Sug1) of PA700 precipitated the same set of proteins from HeLa extracts, including six different ATPase subunits of PA700. This shows that p45 is not present in other protein complexes and suggests that all 26 S proteasome particles contain the same set of ATPase subunits. Interferons α and γ had no effect on the composition of the 26 S proteasome, except for the replacement of subunits delta, MB1 and Z with Lmp2, Lmp7 and MECL1 respectively. Surprisingly, antibodies to PA28 precipitated p42, a component of PA700. Conversely, anti-p45 antibodies precipitated not only 26 S proteasomes but also PA28 α, β and γ, indicating that 20 S proteasomes can simultaneously bind both PA700 and PA28. PA28 αβ is known to be involved in antigen presentation. Conceivably, intact substrate proteins are recognized by PA700 and fed into proteasomes whose cleavage specificity is optimized for antigen presentation on MHC class I by PA28 and three interferon inducible proteasome subunits.
G-Protein binding domains of the angiotensin II AT1A receptors mapped with synthetic peptides selected from the receptor sequence
Authors: KAI Hisashi , ALEXANDER R. Wayne , USHIO-FUKAI Masuko , LYONS P. Reid , AKERS Marjorie , GRIENDLING Kathy K.
Published: August 2015

The vascular angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1AR) is a member of the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily. We mapped the G-protein binding domains of the AT1AR using synthetic peptides selected from the receptor sequence, which interfere with AT1AR–G-protein coupling. Membrane GTPase activity was used as a measure of the functional coupling in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Peptides corresponding to the N-terminal region of the second intracellular loop (residues 125–137), the N-terminal region of the third intracellular loop (217–227) and the juxtamembranous region of the C-terminal tail (304–316) inhibited angiotensin II-induced GTPase activation by 30%, 30%, and 70%, respectively. The latter two domains (217–227 and 304–316) are predicted to form amphiphilic α-helices. Only the peptide representing residues 217–227 stimulated basal activity (45%). No synthetic peptide had a significant effect on either the number or the affinity of the AT1AR binding. These observations indicate that domains of the second and third regions and the cytoplasmic tail of the AT1AR interact with G-proteins, and that multiple contacts with these receptor domains may be important for binding and activation of the G-proteins.
Ca2+ modulation of cis-unsaturated fatty acid-induced mutant protein kinase C activity: indication of inhibitory Ca2+-binding site in protein kinase C-α
Authors: ESHETE Feleke , CHUNG Hyun , GANNON-MURAKAMI Laura , MURAKAMI Kentaro
Published: August 2015

The C2 domain in protein kinase C (PKC) is homologous to equivalent domains in a number of important cytoplasmic proteins. Except for its implied function in Ca2+ and phospholipid binding, the precise role of this domain is not well understood. We examined the role of the C2 domain of PKC-α using a mutant enzyme in which 80% of this domain has been deleted. This mutant can be activated by phospholipid and diacylglycerol, but is independent of Ca2+. In this regard, its characteristics are similar to those of the novel PKCs (nPKCs), consistent with the notion that the C2 domain of PKC confers its Ca2+ responsiveness. However, when the C2 deletion mutant is activated by cis-unsaturated fatty acid, the activity is strongly inhibited by Ca2+ at micromolar concentrations. The Ca2+ inhibition is dose-dependent and is specific to cis-unsaturated fatty acids. The deletion mutant can also be activated synergistically by diacylglycerol and cis-fatty acid, but again activation is inhibited by Ca2+. Our results indicate that a PKC lacking the C2 domain is Ca2+-responsive and there exists an additional site for Ca2+ that modulates the sensitivity of the enzyme to cis-unsaturated fatty acid but not to diacylglycerol. This modulatory Ca2+-binding site appears to be suppressed by the C2 domain because the presence of the domain reverses the direction of PKC activity induced by cis-unsaturated fatty acid. These results suggest that the modulatory Ca2+-binding site could act as a molecular switch selective for fatty acid activation by sensing the changes in the Ca2+ levels in a cell, serving a possible mechanism of differential activation of cPKC with a C2 domain and nPKC lacking this domain.
Kinetic analysis of an inhibitor-resistant variant of the OHIO-1 β-lactamase, an SHV-family class A enzyme
Authors: LIN Shan , THOMAS Mary , SHLAES David M. , RUDIN Susan D. , KNOX James R. , ANDERSON Vernon , BONOMO Robert A.
Published: August 2015

The Met69 → Ile mutant of the OHIO-1 β-lactamase, an SHV-family enzyme, is resistant to inactivation by β-lactamase inhibitors. Analysis of purified Met69 → Ile enzyme reveals that its isoelectric point (pI 7.0) and CD spectrum are identical with those of the OHIO-1 enzyme. Levels of β-lactamase expression in Escherichia coli as determined by immunoblotting are similar for OHIO-1 and Met69 → Ile β-lactamase. The kinetic constants of the Met69 → Ile enzyme compared with OHIO-1 are smaller for benzylpenicillin (Km = 6 µM compared with 17 µM; kcat = 234 s-1 compared with 345 s-1 respectively) and carbenicillin (Km = 3 µM compared with 17 µM; kcat = 131 s-1 compared with 320 s-1 respectively). For the cephalosporins cephaloridine and 7 - (thienyl - 2 - acetamido) - 3 - [2 - (4 - N,N - dimethylaminophenylazo)pyridinium-methyl]-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (PADAC), a similar pattern is also seen (Km = 38 µM compared with 96 µM and 6 µM compared with 75 µM respectively; kcat = 235 s-1 compared with 1023 s-1 and 9 s-1 compared with 50 s-1 respectively). Consistent with minimum inhibitory concentrations that show resistance to β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitors, the apparent Ki values, turnover numbers and partition ratios (kcat/kinact) for the mechanism-based inactivators clavulanate, sulbactam and tazobactam are increased. The inactivation rate constants (kinact) are decreased. The difference in activation energy, a measurement of altered affinity for the wild-type and mutant enzymes leading to acylation of the active site, reveals small energy differences of less than 8.4 kJ/mol. In total, these results suggest that the Met → Ile substitution at position 69 in the OHIO-1 β-lactamase alters the active site, primarily affecting the interactions with β-lactamase inhibitors.
Characterization of human and rat brain myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase: evidence for an alternative splice variant of the enzyme
Authors: McILHINNEY R. A. Jeffrey , YOUNG Kate , EGERTON Mark , CAMBLE Roger , WHITE Ann , SOLOVIEV Mikhail
Published: August 2015

Using 5´-rapid amplification of cDNA ends, we have identified an extended 5´-end of mRNA coding for human myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase (NMT). PCR using primers based on this new 5´-sequence and reverse primers within the currently accepted coding sequence of the enzyme resulted in the identification of a novel splice variant of NMT. In vitro translation of these cDNAs resulted in the production of proteins with apparent molecular masses of 63 kDa and 48 kDa. Immunoprecipitation of NMT from human cell lines and immunoblotting of a range of rat tissues has identified proteins with molecular masses corresponding to those derived from these cDNAs, and provided evidence that their relative abundance differs among tissues. Our results provide evidence that this enzyme exists in different forms resulting from alternative splicing of the mRNA.
Trypanosoma cruzi has not lost its S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase: characterization of the gene and the encoded enzyme
Authors: PERSSON Kent , ÅSLUND Lena , GRAHN Birgitta , HANKE Jens , HEBY Olle
Published: August 2015

All attempts to identify ornithine decarboxylase in the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi have failed. The parasites have instead been assumed to depend on putrescine uptake and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) for their synthesis of the polyamines spermidine and spermine. We have now identified the gene encoding AdoMetDC in T. cruzi by PCR cloning, with degenerate primers corresponding to conserved amino acid sequences in AdoMetDC proteins of other trypanosomatids. The amplified DNA fragment was used as a probe to isolate the complete AdoMetDC gene from a T. cruzi genomic library. The AdoMetDC gene was located on chromosomes with a size of approx. 1.4 Mbp, and contained a coding region of 1110 bp, specifying a sequence of 370 amino acid residues. The protein showed a sequence identity of only 25% with human AdoMetDC, the major differences being additional amino acids present in the terminal regions of the T. cruzi enzyme. As expected, a higher sequence identity (68–72%) was found in comparison with trypanosomatid AdoMetDCs. When the coding region was expressed in Escherichia coli, the recombinant protein underwent autocatalytic cleavage, generating a 33–34 kDa α subunit and a 9 kDa β subunit. The encoded protein catalysed the decarboxylation of AdoMet (Km 0.21 mM) and was stimulated by putrescine but inhibited by the polyamines, weakly by spermidine and strongly by spermine. Methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), a potent inhibitor of human AdoMetDC, was a poor inhibitor of the T. cruzi enzyme. This differential sensitivity to MGBG suggests that the two enzymes are sufficiently different to warrant the search for compounds that might interfere with the progression of Chagas' disease by selectively inhibiting T. cruzi AdoMetDC.

The nucleotide sequence data reported will appear in DDBJ, EMBL and GenBank Nucleotide Sequence Databases under the accession number (BankIt151525) AF032907.
Effects of phosphorylation on function of the Rad GTPase
Authors: MOYERS Julie S. , ZHU Jianhua , KAHN C. Ronald
Published: August 2015

Rad, Gem and Kir possess unique structural features in comparison with other Ras-like GTPases, including a C-terminal 31-residue extension that lacks typical prenylation motifs. We have recently shown that Rad and Gem bind calmodulin in a Ca2+-dependent manner via this C-terminal extension, involving residues 278–297 in human Rad. This domain also contains several consensus sites for serine phosphorylation, and Rad is complexed with calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in C2C12 cells. Here we show that Rad serves as a substrate for phosphorylation by CaMKII, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC) and casein kinase II (CKII) with stoichiometries in vitro of 0.2–1.3 mol of phosphate/mol of Rad. By deletion and point mutation analysis we show that phosphorylation by CaMKII and PKA occurs on a single serine residue at position 273, whereas PKC and CKII phosphorylate multiple C-terminal serine residues, including Ser214, Ser257, Ser273, Ser290 and Ser299. Incubation of Rad with PKA decreases GTP binding by 60–70%, but this effect seems to be independent of phosphorylation, as it is observed with the Ser273 → Ala mutant of Rad containing a mutation at the site of PKA phosphorylation. The remainder of the serine kinases have no effect on Rad GTP binding, intrinsic GTP hydrolysis or GTP hydrolysis stimulated by the putative tumour metastasis suppressor nm23. However, phosphorylation of Rad by PKC and CKII abolishes the interaction of Rad with calmodulin. These findings suggest that the binding of Rad to calmodulin, as well as its ability to bind GTP, might be regulated by the activation of several serine kinases.
Ceramide transport from endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi apparatus is not vesicle-mediated
Authors: KOK Jan Willem , BABIA Teresa , KLAPPE Karin , EGEA Gustavo , HOEKSTRA Dick
Published: August 2015

Ceramide (Cer) transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus was measured under conditions that block vesicle-mediated protein transfer. This was done either in intact cells by reducing the incubation temperature to 15 °C, or in streptolysin O-permeabilized cells by manipulating the intracellular environment. In both cases, Cer transfer was not inhibited, as demonstrated by the biosynthesis of ceramide monohexosides and sphingomyelin (SM) de novo from metabolically (with [14C]serine) labelled Cer. This assay is based on the knowledge that Cer is synthesized, starting from serine and palmitoyl-CoA, at the ER, whereas glycosphingolipids and SM are synthesized in the (early) Golgi apparatus. Formation of [14C]glycosphingolipids and [14C]SM was observed under conditions that block vesicle-mediated vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein transport. These results indicate that [14C]Cer is transferred from ER to Golgi by a non-vesicular mechanism.
Age-related changes in human oestrogen receptor α function and levels in osteoblasts
Authors: ANKROM Michael A. , PATTERSON Julie A. , d'AVIS Patricia Y. , VETTER Ulrich K. , BLACKMAN Marc R. , SPONSELLER Paul D. , TAYBACK Matthew , ROBEY Pamela Gehron , SHAPIRO Jay R. , FEDARKO Neal S.
Published: August 2015

Oestrogen receptors (ERs) are present in human osteoblasts and mediate anti-resorptive effects on bone. Human osteoblast-like cells derived from different aged healthy female donors not on hormone replacement therapy were utilized under well-defined conditions in vitro to investigate ER function and levels. Treatment with 0.1 nM oestradiol-17β of cell strains derived from eight young women (less than 50 years of age) increased hydroxyproline levels significantly [an average (2.2±0.1 S.E.M.)-fold increase], whereas cells derived from nine older women (more than 50 years of age) were not significantly affected. Similarly, cell strains, derived from younger women, transfected with a consensus oestrogen-responsive element linked to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase exhibited a greater response to oestrogen than strains derived from older women. When basal ERα levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay and normalized on a per cell basis, osteoblast-like strains derived from younger women (n = 24) had a mean value of 2.54±0.16 fmol of ERα per 106 cells. In contrast, strains derived from older women (n = 20) had a mean value of 5.44±0.48 fmol of ERα per 106 cells. An age-related increase in ERα number was also observed in human skin-derived fibroblasts and directly in dermal biopsies from women not on hormone replacement therapy. The results demonstrate ligand concentration-dependent ERα induction and indicate a loss of receptor regulation and diminution of ligand–receptor signal transduction with increasing donor age.
Cloning of a rat brain succinic semialdehyde reductase involved in the synthesis of the neuromodulator γ-hydroxybutyrate
Authors: ANDRIAMAMPANDRY Christian , SIFFERT Jean-Claude , SCHMITT Michèle , GARNIER Jean-Marie , STAUB Adrien , MULLER Claude , GOBAILLE Serge , MARK Jean , MAITRE Michel
Published: August 2015

The γ-hydroxybutyrate biosynthetic enzyme succinic semialdehyde reductase (SSR) was purified to homogeneity from rat brain. Peptides were generated by tryptic cleavage and sequenced. PCR primers were designed from the amino acid sequences of two of the peptides showing a similarity (75–85%) to a mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase. A PCR-amplified DNA fragment was generated from recombinant plasmids prepared by a mass excision procedure from a rat hippocampal cDNA library and used as a probe to screen this cDNA library. One cDNA of 1341 bp had an open reading frame encoding a protein of 447 residues with a deduced molecular mass of 47967 Da. The enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli. Immunoblotting analysis revealed the existence of a protein with the same electrophoretic mobility as the SSR purified from rat brain and with an estimated molecular mass of 45 kDa. Northern blot experiments showed that this enzyme was not expressed in the kidney or in the liver. In the brain tissue, a single but rather broad band was labelled under high stringency conditions, suggesting the presence of more than one messenger species coding for SSR. Hybridization in situ performed on brain tissue slices showed specific labelling of the hippocampus, the upper cortex layer, the thalamus, the substantia nigra, the cerebellum, the pons medulla and the olfactory tract. The recombinant enzyme showed catalytic properties similar to those of the SSR purified from rat brain, particularly in regard to its substrate affinities and Ki for inhibition by phthalaldehydic acid. Valproic acid did not inhibit the cloned SSR. This enzyme had 20–35% identity in highly conserved regions involved in NADPH binding with four other proteins belonging to the aldo–oxo reductase family.
The role of ATP citrate-lyase in the metabolic regulation of plasma lipids
Authors: PEARCE Nigel J. , YATES John W. , BERKHOUT Theo A. , JACKSON Brian , TEW David , BOYD Helen , CAMILLERI Patrick , SWEENEY Patricia , GRIBBLE Andrew D. , SHAW Anthony , GROOT Pieter H. E.
Published: August 2015

ATP citrate (pro-S)-lyase (EC 4.1.3.8), a cytosolic enzyme that generates acetyl-CoA for cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis de novo, is a potential target for hypolipidaemic intervention. Here we describe the biological effects of the inhibition of ATP citrate-lyase on lipid metabolism in Hep G2 cells, and plasma lipids in rats and dogs, by using SB-204990, the cell-penetrant γ-lactone prodrug of the potent ATP citrate-lyase inhibitor SB-201076 (Ki = 1 µM). Consistent with an important role of ATP citrate-lyase in the supply of acetyl-CoA units for lipid synthesis de novo, SB-204990 inhibited cholesterol synthesis and fatty acid synthesis in Hep G2 cells (dose-related inhibition of up to 91% and 82% respectively) and rats (76% and 39% respectively). SB-204990, when administered orally to rats, was absorbed into the systemic circulation; pharmacologically relevant concentrations of SB-201076 were recovered in the liver. When administered in the diet (0.05–0.25%, w/w) for 1 week, SB-204990 caused a dose-related decrease in plasma cholesterol (by up to 46%) and triglyceride levels (by up to 80%) in rats. This hypolipidaemic effect could be explained, at least in part, by a decrease (up to 48%) in hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) production as measured by the accumulation of VLDL in plasma after injection of Triton WR-1339. SB-204990 (25 mg/kg per day) also decreased plasma cholesterol levels (by up to 23%) and triglyceride levels (by up to 38%) in the dog, preferentially decreasing low-density lipoprotein compared with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Overall these results are consistent with the concept that ATP citrate-lyase is an important enzyme in controlling substrate supply for lipid synthesis de novo and a potential enzyme target for hypolipidaemic intervention.
Physiological concentration of amino acids regulates insulin-like-growth-factor-binding protein 1 expression
Authors: JOUSSE Céline , BRUHAT Alain , FERRARA Marc , FAFOURNOUX Pierre
Published: August 2015

Protein undernutrition is characterized by growth failure in young growing animals. Current evidence suggests that biosynthesis of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) are key control points for nutritional regulation of growth. Here we examined the role of amino acid limitation in regulating the IGFBP-1 expression in the hepatic cell line. Our data show that leucine limitation strongly induces IGFBP-1 without affecting IGF-I and IGF-II expression in human HepG2 cells and in isolated rat hepatocytes. Depletion of arginine, cystine and all essential amino acids leads to induction of IGFBP-1 mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. IGFBP-1 expression is significantly induced by leucine concentration in the range of that observed in the blood of rats fed a low-protein diet or in humans affected by kwashiorkor. Moreover, treatment of HepG2 cells with amino acids at a concentration reproducing the amino acid concentration found in portal blood of rats fed a low-protein diet leads to a significantly higher expression of IGFBP-1. These data represent the first demonstration that an amino acid limitation, as occurs during dietary protein deficiency, induces IGFBP-1 expression in hepatic cells. Therefore, amino acids by themselves can play, in concert with hormones, an important role in the control of gene expression.
Molecular cloning and cell-cycle-dependent expression of a novel NIMA (never-in-mitosis in Aspergillus nidulans)-related protein kinase (TpNrk) in Tetrahymena cells
Authors: WANG Shulin , NAKASHIMA Shigeru , SAKAI Hideki , NUMATA Osamu , FUJIU Kenta , NOZAWA Yoshinori
Published: August 2015

With the intention of investigating the signal-transduction pathway that mediates the cold-stress response in Tetrahymena, we isolated a gene that encodes a novel protein kinase of 561 amino acids, termed Tetrahymena pyriformis NIMA (never-in-mitosis in Aspergillus nidulans)-related protein kinase (TpNrk), by differential display from Tetrahymena cells exposed to temperature shift-down. TpNrk possesses an N-terminal protein kinase domain that is highly homologous with other NIMA-related protein kinases (Neks) involved in the control of the cell cycle. The TpNrk protein is 42% identical in its catalytic domain with human Nek2, 41% identical with mouse Nek1 and 37% with A. nidulans NIMA. In addition, TpNrk and these NIMA-related kinases have long, basic C-terminal extensions and are therefore similar in overall structure. In order to further explore the function of the TpNrk gene and the association of the cold stress with the cell cycle of Tetrahymena,changes of TpNrk mRNA were determined during the course of the synchronous cell division induced by the intermittent heat treatment. The level of TpNrk transcription increased immediately after the end of the heat treatment, with a peak at 30 min, and declined thereafter reaching the minimum level when nearly 80% of the cells synchronously entered cell division (75 min after the end of heat treatment). The accumulation of TpNrk mRNA starting from 0 min to 30 min after the end of the heat treatment was assumed to be a prerequisite for the start of synchronous cell division. These results suggest that TpNrk may have a role in the cell cycle of Tetrahymena, and that mRNA expression, at least, is under tight cell-cycle control.
Transcriptional control and essential roles of the Escherichia coli ccm gene products in formate-dependent nitrite reduction and cytochrome c synthesis
Authors: TANAPONGPIPAT Sutipa , REID Eleanor , COLE Jeffrey A. , CROOKE Helen
Published: August 2015

The eight ccm genes located at minute 47 on the Escherichia coli chromosome, in the order ccmABCDEFGH, encode homologues of proteins which are essential for cytochrome c assembly in other bacteria. The ccm genes are immediately downstream from the napFDAGHBC genes encoding a periplasmic nitrate reductase. CcmH was previously shown to be essential for cytochrome c assembly. Deletion analysis and a two-plasmid strategy have now been used to demonstrate that CcmA, B, D, E, F and G are also essential for cytochrome c assembly, and hence for cytochrome-c-dependent nitrite reduction. The ccm genes are transcribed from a ccmA promoter located within the adjacent gene, napC, which is the structural gene for a 24 kDa membrane-bound c-type cytochrome, NapC. Transcription from this ccmA promoter is induced approximately 5-fold during anaerobic growth, independently of a functional Fnr protein: it is also not regulated by the ArcB–ArcA two-component regulatory system. The ccmA promoter is an example of the ‘extended -10 sequence ’ group of promoters with a TGX motif immediately upstream of the -10 sequence. Mutagenesis of the TG motif to TC, CT or CC resulted in loss of about 50% of the promoter activity. A weak second promoter is suggested to permit transcription of the downstream ccmEFGH genes in the absence of transcription readthrough from the upstream napF and ccmA promoters. The results are consistent with, but do not prove, the current view that CcmA, B, C and D are part of an essential haem transport mechanism, that CcmE, F and H are required for covalent haem attachment to cysteine-histidine motifs in cytochrome c apoproteins in the periplasm, and that CcmG is required for the reduction of cysteine residues on apocytochromes c in preparation for haem ligation.
Differences in the autocatalytic cleavage of pro-PC2 and pro-PC3 can be attributed to sequences within the propeptide and Asp310 of pro-PC2
Authors: SCOUGALL Kathleen , TAYLOR Neil A. , JERMANY Joanne L. , DOCHERTY Kevin , SHENNAN Kathleen I. J.
Published: August 2015

PC2 and PC3 are subtilisin-like proteases involved in the maturation of prohormones and proneuropeptides within neuroendocrine cells. They are synthesized as zymogens that undergo autocatalytic maturation within the secretory pathway. Maturation of pro-PC2 is slow (t½ > 8 h), exhibits a pH optimum of 5.5 and is dependent on calcium (K0.5 2 mM), while pro-PC3 maturation is relatively rapid (t½ 15 min), exhibits a neutral pH optimum and is not calcium dependent. These differences in the rates and optimal conditions for activation of the proteases may contribute to the diversity of products generated by these proteases in different cell types. Although highly similar, there are two major differences between pro-PC2 and pro-PC3: the presence of an aspartate at position 310 in pro-PC2 compared with asparagine at the equivalent position in pro-PC3 (and all other members of the subtilisin family), and the N-terminal propeptides, which exhibit low sequence identity (30%). With a view to establishing the structural features that might be responsible for these differences in the maturation of pro-PC2 and pro-PC3, Asp310 in pro-PC2 was mutated to Asn, and Asn309 in pro-PC3 was mutated to Asp. Chimaeric proteins were also made consisting of the pro-region of PC2 fused to the mature portion of PC3 and the pro-region of PC3 fused to the mature region of PC2. The wild-type and mutant DNA constructs were then transcribed and translated in an in vitro system capable of supporting maturation of pro-PC2 and pro-PC3. The results demonstrated that Asp310 of pro-PC2 is responsible for the acidic pH optimum for maturation. Thus changing Asp310 to Asn shifted the pH optimum for maturation to pH 7.0. However, changing Asn309 of pro-PC3 to Asp had no effect on the optimum pH for maturation of pro-PC3. A chimaeric construct containing the propeptide of pro-PC2 attached to PC3 shifted the pH optimum for maturation from pH 7.0 to 6.0 and slowed down the rate of maturation (t½ > 8 h). When attached to PC2, the pro-region of pro-PC3 had no effect on the optimum pH for maturation (pH 5.5–6.0), but it did accelerate the rate of maturation (t½ 2 h). These results demonstrate that Asp310 and the pro-region of pro-PC2 contribute to the acidic pH optimum and low rate of maturation of this zymogen relative to its closely related homologue PC3.
Insulin stimulates the tyrosine dephosphorylation of docking protein p130cas (Crk-associated substrate), promoting the switch of the adaptor protein Crk from p130cas to newly phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1
Authors: SOROKIN Andrey , REED Eleanor
Published: August 2015

The docking protein p130cas (Crk-associated substrate) forms a stable complex with the adaptor protein CrkII in a tyrosine-phosphorylation-dependent manner. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates results in the redistribution of CrkII between p130cas and insulin receptor substrate-1. A decrease in the association between CrkII and p130cas in response to insulin stimulation was detected in CHO cells stably expressing insulin receptor or insulin receptor substrate-1, and in L6 rat myoblasts. Along with the decrease in the association of CrkII with p130cas, the amount of tyrosine-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 co-precipitated with CrkII increased in all cell types studied. The insulin-induced decrease in the CrkII–p130cas association was further confirmed by Far Western Blot analysis with the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of CrkII. Insulin regulates the association of CrkII with p130cas by tyrosine dephosphorylation of p130cas and co-ordinated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1. Tyrosine-phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 serves as a docking protein for multiple adaptor proteins and competes with p130cas for CrkII.
Signalling through the leukotriene B4 receptor involves both αi and α16, but not αq or α11 G-protein subunits
Authors: GAUDREAU Rémi , GOUILL Christian Le , MÉTAOUI Salim , LEMIRE Stéphane , STANKOVÀ Jana , ROLA-PLESZCZYNSKI Marek
Published: August 2015

COS-7 cells transfected with the leukotriene (LT) B4 receptor (BLTR) cDNA were unable to produce LTB4-induced inositol phosphates (IPs) in spite of the presence of endogenous Gαi, Gαq and Gα11 proteins. Co-transfection of BLTR with Gα16, however, resulted in high levels of IP production, which were 17-, 10- and 6-fold higher than with co-transfected Gα11, Gαq and Gα14, respectively. Co-transfection of BLTR with phospholipase C (PLC) β2, on the other hand, resulted in efficient IP production and co-transfection of BLTR with both Gα16 and PLCβ2 resulted in a greater than additive response.
Localization of a cyclopentenone prostaglandin to the endoplasmic reticulum and induction of BiP mRNA
Authors: TAKAHASHI Senye , ODANI Noriko , TOMOKIYO Keiichiro , FURUTA Kyoji , SUZUKI Masaaki , ICHIKAWA Atsushi , NEGISHI Manabu
Published: August 2015

Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (PGs) are transported into cells and stimulate the expression of various stress genes, such as that coding for BiP (an ER luminal protein). To reveal the site of action of the PGs for the induction of stress-gene expression, we introduced a fluorescent probe, pyrene, into two types of PG analogue, GIF0010 (a cyclopentenone type) and GIF0037 (a cyclopentanone type) and examined their intracellular localization in normal rat kidney cells and their ability to induce the BiP gene expression. GIF0010 accumulated around the nuclei and coincided with BiP, a resident protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and markedly induced BiP gene expression. By contrast, GIF0037 and pyrene neither accumulated in the cell nor induced BiP gene expression. Thus the ER localization of GIF0010 and the induction of gene expression by GIF0010 are ascribed to the cyclopentenone structure. Treatment with cycloheximide inhibited both the accumulation of GIF0010 and the induction of the BiP mRNA, suggesting that the ER localization of the PG and subsequent gene expression require the nascent protein synthesis. These results demonstrate that the cyclopentenone PG is specifically accumulated in the ER, transducing a signal for BiP gene expression in the nuclei.
Functional domains of interferon regulatory factor I (IRF-1)
Authors: SCHAPER Fred , KIRCHHOFF Sabine , POSERN Guido , KÖSTER Mario , OUMARD André , SHARF Rakefet , LEVI Ben-Zion , HAUSER Hansjörg
Published: August 2015

Interferon (IFN) regulatory factors (IRFs) are a family of transcription factors among which are IRF-1, IRF-2, and IFN consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP). These factors share sequence homology in the N-terminal DNA-binding domain. IRF-1 and IRF-2 are further related and have additional homologous sequences within their C-termini. Whereas IRF-2 and ICSBP are identified as transcriptional repressors, IRF-1 is an activator. In the present work, the identification of functional domains in murine IRF-1 with regard to DNA-binding, nuclear translocation, heterodimerization with ICSBP and transcriptional activation are demonstrated. The minimal DNA-binding domain requires the N-terminal 124 amino acids plus an arbitrary C-terminal extension. By using mutants of IRF-1 fusion proteins with green fluorescent protein and monitoring their distribution in living cells, a nuclear location signal (NLS) was identified and found to be sufficient for nuclear translocation. Heterodimerization was confirmed by a two-hybrid system adapted to mammalian cells. The heterodimerization domain in IRF-1 was defined by studies in vitroand was shown to be homologous with a sequence in IRF-2, suggesting that IRF-2 also heterodimerizes with ICSBP through this sequence. An acidic domain in IRF-1 was found to be required and to be sufficient for transactivation. Epitope mapping of IRF-1 showed that regions within the NLS, the heterodimerization domain and the transcriptional activation domain are exposed for possible contacts with interacting proteins.