bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB induction by cAMP antagonizes interleukin-1-induced human macrophage-colony-stimulating-factor expression
Authors: KAMTHONG Pisate J. , WU Ming-chi
Published: August 2015

We have recently reported that interleukin-1α (IL-1α) can induce human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) expression through nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation, and treatment of human pancreatic MIA PaCa-2 cancer cells with forskolin or cAMP attenuated the NF-κB activation as well as M-CSF expression. In this study, we have further investigated the mechanism of cAMP attenuation. MIA PaCa-2 cells were incubated with forskolin or dibutyryl-cAMP and then stimulated with IL-1 for 1h. Cell lysates were immunoprecipitated by anti-inhibitory κB (IκB) kinase-β (IKKβ) antibody and the immune complex assayed for kinase activity using recombinant inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBα) as substrate. The levels of IKKβ in the respective cellular proteins were measured by subsequent Western blot. The results show that the level of IKK protein remains constant in the presence of cAMP, forskolin and/or IL-1, whereas IKK activity was robustly stimulated by IL-1. Nonetheless, dibutyryl-cAMP or forskolin did not affect the IKK activation induced by IL-1. This experiment suggests that elevated cAMP has no effect on IKK activity. IκBα protein level decreased markedly in IL-1-treated cells compared with the untreated. By contrast, cells treated with cAMP or forskolin possessed discernibly higher IκBα levels. In addition, we observed that forskolin potentiated and prolonged the IL-1-induced IκBα mRNA levels, whereas it did not stabilize the IκBα mRNA message. Wholly, these studies indicate that elevated cAMP antagonizes IL-1-induced M-CSF transcription by up-regulating IκBα gene induction and its consequent attenuation of NF-κB activation.
The NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor can be efficiently expressed alone in the cell surface of mammalian cells and is required for the transport of the NR2A subunit
Authors: GARCÍA-GALLO Mónica , RENART Jaime , DÍAZ-GUERRA Margarita
Published: August 2015

We have used a heterologous system of expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors based on the use of vaccinia virus to analyse the maturation, transport, assembly and differential expression of the NR1 and NR2A subunits of the receptors. We have demonstrated that the NR1 subunit is efficiently transported to the plasma membrane in cells expressing NR1 alone, similarly to cells producing NR1 and NR2A together. In contrast, NR2A requires NR1 expression to be located at the cell surface. The stability of both receptor subunits expressed alone is similar to that obtained in cells producing NR1 and NR2A. In pulse–chase experiments, the NR1 subunit displays a biphasic decay, with a fraction of the protein having a half-life of only 1h and the remaining presenting a turnover longer than 24h, similar to values obtained for the NR2A subunit. Our results also show a maturation process affecting the carbohydrate moiety in the NR1 subunit, such that immature NR1has a much shorter half-life than the mature form or the NR2A subunit. Finally, we show that only a fraction of mature NR1 interacts with NR2A to form multimeric functional complexes.
Apoptosis induced by exposure to a low steady-state concentration of H2O2 is a consequence of lysosomal rupture
Authors: ANTUNES Fernando , CADENAS Enrique , BRUNK Ulf T.
Published: August 2015

We have re-examined the lysosomal hypothesis of oxidative-stress-induced apoptosis using a new technique for exposing cells in culture to a low steady-state concentration of H2O2. This steady-state technique mimics the situation in vivo better than the bolus-administration method. A key aspect of H2O2-induced apoptosis is that the apoptosis is evident only after several hours, although cells may become committed within a few minutes of exposure to this particular reactive oxygen species. In the present work, we were able to show, for the first time, several correlative links between the triggering effect of H2O2 and the later onset of apoptosis: (i) a short (15min) exposure to H2O2 caused almost immediate, albeit limited, lysosomal rupture; (ii) early lysosomal damage, and later apoptosis, showed a similar dose-related response to H2O2; (iii) both events were inhibited by pre-treatment with iron chelators, including desferrioxamine. This compound is known to be taken up by endocytosis only and thus to become localized in the lysosomal compartment. After exposure to oxidative stress, when cells were again in standard culture conditions, a time-dependent continuous increase in lysosomal rupture was observed, resulting in a considerably lowered number of intact lysosomes in apoptotic cells, whereas non-apoptotic cells from the same batch of oxidative-stress-exposed cells showed mainly intact lysosomes. Taken together, our results reinforce earlier findings and strongly suggest that lysosomal rupture is an early upstream initiating event, and a consequence of intralysosomal iron-catalysed oxidative processes, when apoptosis is induced by oxidative stress.
Proline residues in two tightly coupled helices of the sulphate transporter, SHST1, are important for sulphate transport
Authors: SHELDEN Megan C. , LOUGHLIN Patrick , TIERNEY M. Louise , HOWITT Susan M.
Published: August 2015

The sulphate transporter SHST1, from Stylosanthes hamata, features three tightly coupled transmembrane helices which include proline residues that are conserved in most related transporters. We used site-directed mutagenesis and expression of the mutant transporters in yeast to test whether these proline residues are important for function. Four proline residues were replaced by both alanine and leucine. Only one of these proline residues, Pro-144, was essential for sulphate transport. However, mutation of either Pro-133 or Pro-160 resulted in a severe decrease in sulphate transport activity; this was due more to a decrease in transport activity than to a decrease in the amount of mutant SHST1 in the plasma membrane. These results suggest that all three proline residues are important for transport, and that the conformation of the three tightly coupled helices may play a critical role in sulphate transport. We also show that SHST1 undergoes a post-translational modification that is required for trafficking to the plasma membrane.
Tributyltin interacts with mitochondria and induces cytochrome c release
Authors: NISHIKIMI Akihiko , KIRA Yukimi , KASAHARA Emiko , SATO Eisuke F. , KANNO Tomoko , UTSUMI Kozo , INOUE Masayasu
Published: August 2015

Although triorganotins are potent inducers of apoptosis in various cell types, the critical targets of these compounds and the mechanisms by which they lead to cell death remain to be elucidated. There are two major pathways by which apoptotic cell death occurs: one is triggered by a cytokine mediator and the other is by a mitochondrion-dependent mechanism. To elucidate the mechanism of triorganotin-induced apoptosis, we studied the effect of tributyltin on mitochondrial function. We found that moderately low doses of tributyltin decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and induce cytochrome c release by a mechanism inhibited by cyclosporine A and bongkrekic acid. Tributyltin-induced cytochrome c release is also prevented by dithiols such as dithiothreitol and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol but not by monothiols such as GSH, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, l-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol. Further studies with phenylarsine oxide agarose revealed that tributyltin interacts with the adenine nucleotide translocator, a functional constituent of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which is selectively inhibited by dithiothreitol. These results suggest that, at low doses, tributyltin interacts selectively with critical thiol residues in the adenine nucleotide translocator and opens the permeability transition pore, thereby decreasing membrane potential and releasing cytochrome c from mitochondria, a series of events consistent with established mechanistic models of apoptosis.
The activation function-1 of hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 is an acidic activator that mediates interactions through bulky hydrophobic residues
Authors: KISTANOVA Elena , DELL Helen , TSANTILI Panayota , FALVEY Eileen , CLADARAS Christos , HADZOPOULOU-CLADARAS Margarita
Published: August 2015

The hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4) contains two transcription activation domains. One domain, activation function-1 (AF-1), consists of the extreme N-terminal 24 amino acids and functions as a constitutive autonomous activator of transcription. This short transactivator belongs to the class of acidic activators, and it is predicted to adopt an amphipathic α-helical structure. Transcriptional analysis of sequential point mutations of the negatively charged residues (Asp and Glu) revealed a stepwise decrease in activity, while mutation of all acidic residues resulted in complete loss of transcriptional activity. Mutations of aromatic and hydrophobic amino acids surrounding the negatively charged residues had a much more profound effect than mutations of acidic amino acids, since even a single mutation of these residues resulted in a dramatic decrease in transactivation, thus demonstrating the importance of hydrophobic residues in AF-1 activity. Like other acidic activators, the AF-1 of HNF-4 binds the transcription factor IIB and the TATA-binding protein directly in vitro. In addition, the cAMP-response-element-binding-protein, a transcriptional adapter involved in the transactivation of a plethora of transcription factors, interacts with the AF-1 of HNF-4 and co-operates in the process of transactivation by HNF-4. The different protein targets of AF-1 suggest that the AF-1 of HNF-4 may be involved in recruiting both general transcription factors and chromatin remodelling proteins during activation of gene expression.
Role of ergothioneine on S-nitrosoglutathione catabolism
Authors: MISITI Francesco , CASTAGNOLA Massimo , ZUPPI Cecilia , GIARDINA Bruno , MESSANA Irene
Published: August 2015

Ergothioneine (ESH) is a low-molecular-mass thiol present in millimolar concentrations in a limited number of tissues, including erythrocytes, kidney, seminal fluid and liver; however, its biological function is still unclear. In the present study we investigated the role of ESH in the catabolism of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). The results show that: (1) GSNO decomposition is strongly influenced by ESH (k′′ = 0.178±0.032M−1·s−1); (2) ammonia is the main nitrogen-containing compound generated by the reaction; and (3) nitrite is practically absent under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. These findings are markedly different from those reported for the GSH-induced decomposition of GSNO, in which the nitrogen-containing end products are nitrite, ammonia and nitrous oxide (N2O) under aerobic conditions but nitrite, ammonia, nitric oxide (NO) and small quantities of hydroxylamine under anaerobic conditions. Considering the high concentration of ESH in specific cells, the reaction with GSNO should be considered as an important molecular event occurring in the cell.
Response of neurons to an irreversible inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase: relationship between global protein synthesis and expression and translation of individual genes
Authors: MENGESDORF Torsten , ALTHAUSEN Sonja , OBERNDORFER Iris , PASCHEN Wulf
Published: August 2015

In the physiological state, there appears to be a regulatory link between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ homoeostasis and the initiation of neuronal protein synthesis. Exposing neuronal cell cultures to thapsigargin (Tg), an irreversible inhibitor of sarcoplasmic/ER Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), induced an almost complete suppression of protein synthesis, which recovered to approx. 60% of control 24h after Tg exposure. This is an experimental model where the regulatory link between the initiation of protein synthesis and ER Ca2+ homoeostasis recovers, despite an irreversible suppression of SERCA activity [Doutheil, Treiman, Oschlies and Paschen (1999) Cell Calcium 25, 419–428]. The model was used to investigate the relationship between transcription and translation of various stress genes that respond to conditions causing graded suppression of protein synthesis. Expression patterns revealed three groups of genes. The mRNA levels of genes responding to conditions of ER stress (grp78, grp94, gadd34 and gadd153) were increased up to 200-fold after Tg exposure, whereas those coding for ER-resident proteins (SERCA 2b and Bcl-2) were increased up to 6-fold in treated cultures, and those coding for cytoplasmic proteins (heat-shock protein 70 and p67) were increased only 2–4-fold. Analysis of translation of these mRNAs suggests an imbalance in the synthesis of apoptosis-inducing (GADD153) and tolerance-activating (GRP78 and Bcl-2) proteins after blocking of the ER Ca2+ pump. The observation that the relationship between Tg-induced changes in mRNA and protein levels varied considerably for the various genes studied implies that translation of the respective transcripts is differently regulated under conditions causing graded suppression of global protein synthesis. Detailed analysis of the response of neuronal cells to transient disturbance of ER Ca2+ homoeostasis may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying neuronal cell injury in those neurological disorders in which an impairment of ER function is thought to contribute to the pathological process of deterioration.
Superior role of apolipoprotein B48 over apolipoprotein B100 in chylomicron assembly and fat absorption: an investigation of apobec-1 knock-out and wild-type mice
Authors: KENDRICK John. S. , CHAN Lawrence , HIGGINS Joan A.
Published: August 2015

Editing of apolipoprotein (apo)-B100 mRNA to yield apo-B48 is a specific and developmentally regulated step in enterocytes of mammals. However, the functional significance of this step is not known. Since mice containing only apo-B100have not been documented to exhibit any difference in intestinal fat absorption from wild-type mice, the evolutionary advantage of apoB mRNA editing has been questioned. In the present study, we have compared fat absorption and chylomicron assembly in apobec-1 knock-out (KO) or wild-type (WT) mice subjected to different dietary manipulations: low-fat chow, a fat-enriched ‘Western’ diet and overnight fasting. Experiments in vivo and in vitro revealed differences in the ability of KO and WT enterocytes to assemble and secrete chylomicrons under different dietary conditions. After overnight fasting, chylomicron secretion is reduced considerably in KO compared with WT enterocytes. This is not due to reduced synthesis of apo-B or triacylglycerol (TAG), but appears to be a result of impaired assembly of chylomicrons, so that triacylglycerol accumulates in the enterocytes. After feeding with fat, secretion of chylomicrons enriched in pre-existing TAG is stimulated in KO compared with WT mice. In the present study, we have documented for the first time that apo-B100 is considerably less efficient than apo-B48 in exerting its role in the early stage of chylomicron assembly, which is rate-limiting under conditions of low dietary fat. However, this impairment is overcome by increased TAG stores that stimulate later stages in assembly, which are rate-limiting in the fat-fed state. apo-B mRNA editing may result in more efficient fat absorption, specifically under conditions of food shortage or low-fat content, and thus provide an evolutionary advantage.
Identification of the glycosylation sites utilized on the V1a vasopressin receptor and assessment of their role in receptor signalling and expression
Authors: HAWTIN Stuart R. , DAVIES Andrew R. L. , MATTHEWS Glenn , WHEATLEY Mark
Published: August 2015

Most of the large family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) possess putative N-glycosylation sites within their N-termini. However, for the vast majority of GPCRs, it has not been determined which, if any, of the consensus glycosylation sites are actually utilized or what the functional ramifications are of modification by oligosaccharide. The occurrence and function of glycosylation of the V1a vasopressin receptor (V1aR) has been investigated in this study. Using a combination of translation systems that are either glycosylation-competent or do not support glycosylation, we established that of the four putative N-glycosylation sites at Asn14, Asn27, Asn198 and Asn333 only the first three sites are actually modified by carbohydrate. This was confirmed by disruption of consensus sites by site-directed mutagenesis, individually and in combination. The V1aR is not O-glycosylated. The functionality of a series of glycosylation-defective V1aR constructs was characterized after expression in HEK 293T cells. It was found that carbohydrate moieties are not required for the receptor to bind any of the four classes of ligand available, or for intracellular signalling. The glycosylation status of the V1aR did, however, regulate the level of total receptor expression and also the abundance of receptor at the cell surface. Furthermore, the nature of this regulation (increased or decreased expression) was dictated by the locus of the oligosaccharide modification. Modification of any one of the consensus sites alone, however, was sufficient for wild-type expression, indicating a redundancy within the glycosylation sites. A role for the carbohydrate in the correct folding or stabilization of the V1aR is indicated. Glycosylation is not required, however, for efficient trafficking of the receptor to the cell surface. This study establishes the functional importance of N-glycosylation of the V1aR.
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans synthesizes unusual O-linked glycans: identification of glucose-substituted mucin-type O-glycans and short chondroitin-like oligosaccharides
Authors: GUÉRARDEL Yann , BALANZINO Luis , MAES Emmanuel , LEROY Yves , CODDEVILLE Bernadette , ORIOL Rafael , STRECKER Gérard
Published: August 2015

The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a relevant model for studies on the role of glycoconjugates during development of multicellular organisms. Several genes coding for glycosyltransferases involved in the synthesis of N- and O-linked glycans have already been isolated, but, apart from repetitive dimers of glycosaminoglycans, no detailed structure of either type of component has been published so far. This study aimed to establish the structures of the major O-glycans synthesized by C. elegans to give an insight into the endogenous glycosyltransferase activities expressed in this organism. By the use of NMR and MS, we have resolved the sequence of seven of these components that present very unusual features. Most of them were characterized by the type-1 core substituted on Gal and/or GalNAc by (β1–4)Glc and (β1–6)Glc residues. Another compound exhibited the GalNAc(β1–4)N-acetylglucosaminitol sequence in the terminal position, to which was attached a tetramer of β-Gal substituted by both Fuc and 2-O-methyl-fucose residues. Our experimental procedure led also to the isolation of glycosaminoglycan-like components and oligomannosyl-type N-glycans. In particular, the data confirmed that C. elegans synthesizes the ubiquitous linker sequence GlcA(β1–3)Gal(β1–3)Gal(β1–4)Xyl.
Structure–function analysis of purified Enterococcus hirae CopB copper ATPase: effect of Menkes/Wilson disease mutation homologues
Authors: BISSIG Karl-Dimiter , WUNDERLI-YE Haibo , DUDA Petra W. , SOLIOZ Marc
Published: August 2015

The Enterococcus hirae CopB ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) confers copper resistance to the organism by expelling excess copper. Two related human ATPase genes, ATP7A (EC 3.6.1.36) and ATP7B (EC 3.6.1.36), have been cloned as the loci of mutations causing Menkes and Wilson diseases, diseases of copper metabolism. Many mutations in these genes have been identified in patients. Since it has not yet been possible to purify the human copper ATPases, it has proved difficult to test the impact of mutations on ATPase function. Some mutations occur in highly conserved sequence motifs, suggesting that their effect on function can be tested with a homologous enzyme. Here, we used the E. hirae CopB ATPase to investigate the impact of such mutations on enzyme function in vivo and in vitro. The Menkes disease mutation of Cys-1000 → Arg, changing the conserved Cys-Pro-Cys (‘CPC’) motif, was mimicked in CopB. The corresponding Cys-396 → Ser CopB ATPase was unable to restore copper resistance in a CopB knock-out mutant in vivo. The purified mutant ATPase still formed an acylphosphate intermediate, but possessed no detectable ATP hydrolytic activity. The most frequent Wilson disease mutation, His-1069 → Gln, was introduced into CopB as His-480 → Gln (H480Q). This mutant CopB also failed to confer copper resistance to a CopB knock-out strain. Purified H480Q CopB formed an acylphosphate intermediate and retained a small, but significant, ATPase activity. Our results reveal that Cys-396 and His-480 of CopB are key residues for ATPase function, and similar roles are suggested for Cys-1000 and His-1069 of Menkes and Wilson ATPases respectively.
Transforming growth factor β-1 enhances Smad transcriptional activity through activation of p8 gene expression
Authors: GARCÍA-MONTERO Andrés C. , VASSEUR Sophie , GIONO Luciana E. , CANEPA Eduardo , MORENO Silvia , DAGORN Jean Charles , IOVANNA Juan Lucio
Published: August 2015

We report that exposure of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1) (5ng/ml) results in a strong activation of p8 mRNA expression that precedes the induction of cell growth. Involvement of the p8 promoter in the regulation was demonstrated by using a p8–chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct. We therefore speculated that p8 might be a mediator of TGFβ-1 in these cells. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine on treatment with TGFβ-1 was indeed significantly higher in p8+/+ fibroblasts than in p8−/− fibroblasts. Smad transcriptional activity was used as marker of the TGFβ-1 signalling pathway, to probe the lower p8−/− response to TGFβ-1. Two Smad-binding elements (SBEs)–luciferase constructs were transfected into p8−/− and p8+/+ embryonic fibroblasts before treatment with TGFβ-1. A lower level of Smad transactivation was observed in p8−/− embryonic fibroblasts, under basal conditions and after stimulation with TGFβ-1. To test whether Smad underexpression in p8−/− cells was actually due to p8 depletion, p8−/− embryonic fibroblasts were transfected with a human p8 expression plasmid together with an SBE–luciferase construct. The expression of p8 restored Smad transactivation in unstimulated and TGFβ-1-treated cells to the level found in p8+/+ cells. We concluded that TGFβ-1 activates p8 expression, which in turn enhances the Smad-transactivating function responsible for TGFβ-1 activity.
Analysis of a two-domain binding site for the urokinase-type plasminogen activator–plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex in low-density-lipoprotein-receptor-related protein
Authors: ANDERSEN Olav M. , PETERSEN Helle H. , JACOBSEN Christian , MOESTRUP S⊘ren K. , ETZERODT Michael , ANDREASEN Peter A. , THØGERSEN Hans C.
Published: August 2015

The low-density-lipoprotein-receptor (LDLR)-related protein (LRP) is composed of several classes of domains, including complement-type repeats (CR), which occur in clusters that contain binding sites for a multitude of different ligands. Each ≈ 40-residue CR domain contains three conserved disulphide linkages and an octahedral Ca2+ cage. LRP is a scavenging receptor for ligands from extracellular fluids, e.g. α2-macroglobulin (α2M)–proteinase complexes, lipoprotein-containing particles and serine proteinase–inhibitor complexes, like the complex between urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). In the present study we analysed the interaction of the uPA–PAI-1 complex with an ensemble of fragments representing a complete overlapping set of two-domain fragments accounting for the ligand-binding cluster II (CR3–CR10) of LRP. By ligand blotting, solid-state competition analysis and surface-plasmon-resonance analysis, we demonstrate binding to multiple CR domains, but show a preferential interaction between the uPA–PAI-1 complex and a two-domain fragment comprising CR domains 5 and 6 of LRP. We demonstrate that surface-exposed aspartic acid and tryptophan residues at identical positions in the two homologous domains, CR5 and CR6 (Asp958,CR5, Asp999,CR6, Trp953,CR5 and Trp994,CR6), are critical for the binding of the complex as well as for the binding of the receptor-associated protein (RAP)–the folding chaperone/escort protein required for transport of LRP to the cell surface. Accordingly, the present work provides (1) an identification of a preferred binding site within LRP CR cluster II; (2) evidence that the uPA–PAI-1 binding site involves residues from two adjacent protein domains; and (3) direct evidence identifying specific residues as important for the binding of uPA–PAI-1 as well as for the binding of RAP.
Glycopeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase specificities for O-glycosylated sites on MUC5AC mucin motif peptides
Authors: TETAERT Daniel , TEN HAGEN Kelly G. , RICHET Colette , BOERSMA Arnold , GAGNON Jean , DEGAND Pierre
Published: August 2015

The recombinant proteins of the two novel UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) glycopeptide:N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (designated gpGaNTase-T7 and gpGaNTase-T9) were assayed with O-glycosylated products obtained from the prior action of the ubiquitous transferases (GaNTase-T1 and GaNTase-T2) towards MUC5AC mucin motif peptides (GTTPSPVPTTSTTSAP and peptides with single amino acid substitutions, GTTPSAVPTTSTTSVP and GTTPSPVPTTSITSVP, that are a reflection of mucin molecule polymorphism). gpGaNTase-T9 is known to be expressed differentially and more abundantly than gpGaNTase-T7 in some tissues; the results of in vitro glycosylation also indicates a difference in acceptor substrate specificities between the gpGaNTase isoforms. With the use of capillary electrophoresis, MS and Edman degradation, our study suggests that, in the O-glycosylation of mucin-type proteins, approach and recognition signalling by gpGaNTase-T7 and gpGaNTase-T9 depend largely on the peptide's primary structure (for example the presence of multiple clusters of hydroxy amino acids and the number of GalNAc residues attached to the peptide backbone). O-glycosylation in terms of sites of attachment seems to be less random than previously described and, if sequential reactions are ordered throughout the Golgi stack, the complete O-glycosylation of the mucin molecules seems to be finely tuned to respond to specific damage to, or attack on, epithelia.
Targeting mutants of PTEN reveal distinct subsets of tumour suppressor functions
Authors: LESLIE Nick R. , BENNETT Deborah , GRAY Alex , PASS Ian , HOANG-XUAN Khe , DOWNES C. Peter
Published: August 2015

The tumour suppressor protein PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) is a lipid phosphatase which can antagonize the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) signalling pathway, promoting apoptosis and inhibiting cell-cycle progression and cell motility. We show that very little cellular PTEN is associated with the plasma membrane, but that artificial membrane-targeting of PTEN enhances its inhibition of signalling to protein kinase B (PKB). Evidence for potential targeting of PTEN to the membrane through PDZ domain-mediated protein–protein interactions led us to use a PTEN enzyme with a deletion of the C-terminal PDZ-binding sequence, that retains full phosphatase activity against soluble substrates, and to analyse the efficiency of this mutant in different cellular assays. The extreme C-terminal PDZ-binding sequence was dispensable for the efficient down-regulation of cellular PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 levels and a number of PI 3-kinase-dependent signalling activities, including PKB and p70S6K. However, the PDZ-binding sequence was required for the efficient inhibition of cell spreading. The data show that a PTEN mutation, similar to those found in some tumours, affects some functions of the protein but not others, and implicate the deregulation of PTEN-dependent processes other than PKB activation in the development of some tumours. Significantly, this hypothesis is supported by data showing low levels of PKB phosphorylation in a glioblastoma sample carrying a mutation in the extreme C-terminus of PTEN compared with tumours carrying phosphatase-inactivating mutations of the enzyme. Our data show that deregulation of PKB is not a universal feature of tumours carrying PTEN mutations and implicate other processes that may be deregulated in these tumours.
Sulphoacetaldehyde sulpho-lyase (EC 4.4.1.12) from Desulfonispora thiosulfatigenes: purification, properties and primary sequence
Authors: DENGER Karin , RUFF Jürgen , REIN Ulrike , COOK Alasdair M.
Published: August 2015

The strictly anaerobic bacterium Desulfonispora thiosulfatigenes ferments taurine via sulphoacetaldehyde, which is hydrolysed to acetate and sulphite by sulphoacetaldehyde sulpho-lyase (EC 4.4.1.12). The lyase was expressed at high levels and a two-step, 4.5-fold purification yielded an apparently homogeneous soluble protein, which was presumably a homodimer in its native form; the molecular mass of the subunit was about 61kDa (by SDS/PAGE). The mass was determined to be 63.8kDa by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization–time-of-flight (MALDI–TOF) MS. The purified enzyme converted 1mol of sulphoacetaldehyde to 1mol each of sulphite and acetate, but no requirement for thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) was detected. The N-terminal and two internal amino acid sequences were determined, which allowed us to generate PCR primers. The gene was amplified and sequenced. The DNA sequence had no significant homologue in the databases searched, whereas the derived amino acid sequence indicated an oxo-acid lyase, revealed a TPP-binding site and gave a derived molecular mass of 63.8kDa.
Phosphorylation is a regulatory mechanism in apolipoprotein B mRNA editing
Authors: CHEN Zhigang , EGGERMAN Thomas L. , PATTERSON Amy P.
Published: August 2015

The editing of apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA is under tissue-specific, developmental and metabolic regulation. We found that multiple protein kinase inhibitors or activators increased apoB mRNA editing up to 2.5-fold in Caco-2 cells and 3–8-fold in McA7777 and FAO rat cells respectively. The phosphorylation-agent-induced modulation is independent of the apolipoprotein B editing catalytic subunit 1 (APOBEC-1) and of apoB mRNA expression levels, indicating the involvement of a protein modification, such as phosphorylation, regulating the cellular editing of apoB mRNA. Transient expression of protein kinase C-θ more than doubled apoB mRNA editing in FAO cells. Chronic exposure to ethanol, a treatment known to increase the expression of protein kinases and to change protein phosphorylation status, increased apoB mRNA editing in FAO cells up to 2.5-fold without increasing the mRNA abundance of APOBEC-1. The elimination of potential phosphorylation sites 47 and 72 of human APOBEC-1 decreased its activity to approx. one-eighth of control levels by a Ser47 → Ala mutation, but more than doubled the activity by a Ser72 → Ala mutation. The activity modulation was reversed by a Ser → Asp mutation at sites 47 and 72, which introduced a phosphorylation-like carbonic acid group. Both human APOBEC-1 dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphase and the Ser47,72-to-alanine double mutant protein demonstrated a shifted isoelectric focusing pattern compared with the wild type, indicating phosphorylation at these sites. Taken together, these results suggest that phosphorylation might be an important mechanism in the regulation of apoB mRNA editing.
A three-step kinetic mechanism for selective inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 by diarylheterocyclic inhibitors
Authors: WALKER Mark C. , KURUMBAIL Ravi G. , KIEFER James R. , MORELAND Kirby T. , KOBOLDT Carol M. , ISAKSON Peter C. , SEIBERT Karen , GIERSE James K.
Published: August 2015

Cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes are the targets for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs demonstrate a variety of inhibitory mechanisms, which include simple competitive, as well as slow binding and irreversible inhibition. In general, most NSAIDs inhibit COX-1 and −2 by similar mechanisms. A unique class of diarylheterocyclic inhibitors has been developed that is highly selective for COX-2 by virtue of distinct inhibitory mechanisms for each isoenzyme. Several of these inhibitors, with varying selectivity, have been utilized to probe the mechanisms of COX inhibition. Results from analysis of both steady-state and time-dependent inhibition were compared. A generalized mechanism for inhibition, consisting of three sequential reversible steps, can account for the various types of kinetic behaviour observed with these inhibitors.
Inositol lipids are regulated during cell cycle progression in the nuclei of murine erythroleukaemia cells
Authors: CLARKE Jonathan H. , LETCHER Andrew J. , D'SANTOS Clive S. , HALSTEAD Jonathan R. , IRVINE Robin F. , DIVECHA Nullin
Published: August 2015

Previous data suggest the existence of discrete pools of inositol lipids, which are components of a nuclear phosphoinositide (PI) cycle. However, it is not known whether the contents of these pools are regulated during cell proliferation. In the present study we demonstrate that the mass levels of three important constituents of the nuclear PI cycle are regulated during the cell cycle. Radioactive label incorporation into PtdIns(4,5)P2 was seen to increase dramatically as synchronized cells entered S-phase. This did not coincide with any significant changes in the nuclear mass levels of this lipid, suggesting that the rate of turnover of this molecule was increased. Levels of PtdIns4P, the major substrate for PtdIns(4,5)P2 production by Type I PtdInsP kinases (PIPkins), were regulated during the cell cycle and indicated a complex relationship between these two lipids. An alternative substrate for PtdIns(4,5)P2, PtdIns5P, phosphorylated by Type II PIPkins, was present in nuclei at much smaller amounts than the PtdIns4P, and thus is unlikely to contribute significantly to PtdIns(4,5)P2 turnover. However, a large increase in nuclear PtdIns5P mass was observed when murine erythroleukaemia cells are in G1, and this could represent a potential pool of nuclear inositol lipid that has a specific signalling role. Analysis of extracted lipid fractions indicated the absence of any PtdIns3P in these nuclei.
Polyamine analogues inhibit the ubiquitination of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase and prevent its targeting to the proteasome for degradation
Authors: COLEMAN Catherine S. , PEGG Anthony E.
Published: August 2015

Spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT), a key enzyme in mammalian polyamine catabolism, undergoes rapid turnover (half-life approx. 30min) and is highly inducible in response to polyamine analogues such as bis(ethyl)spermine (BE-3-4-3), which greatly stabilize the enzyme. Rapid degradation of SSAT in reticulocyte lysates was preceded by formation of a ladder of ubiquitinated forms, and required the production of high-molecular-mass complexes with ubiquitin (HMM-SSAT–Ubs). Mutation of all 11 lysines in SSAT separately to arginine demonstrated that no single lysine residue is critical for its degradation in vitro, but mutant K87R had a significantly longer half-life, suggesting that lysine-87 may be the preferred site for ubiquitination. Mutations at the C-terminus of SSAT, such as E171Q, resulted in marked stabilization of the protein, due to the lack of formation of the HMM-SSAT–Ubs. Addition of BE-3-4-3 prevented the accumulation of ubiquitin conjugates and the proteasomal degradation of wild-type SSAT. These results indicate that conformational changes brought about by the binding of polyamine analogues prevent the efficient polyubiquitination of SSAT, leading to a major increase in the amount of SSAT protein, and that alteration of the C-terminal end of the protein has a similar effect in preventing the productive interaction with an E2 or E3 component of the ubiquitin pathway.
Roles of the juxtamembrane and extracellular domains of angiotensin-converting enzyme in ectodomain shedding
Authors: PANG Susan , CHUBB Anthony J. , SCHWAGER Sylva L. U. , EHLERS Mario R. W. , STURROCK Edward D. , HOOPER Nigel M.
Published: August 2015

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is one of a growing number of integral membrane proteins that is shed from the cell surface through proteolytic cleavage by a secretase. To investigate the requirements for ectodomain shedding, we replaced the glycosylphosphatidylinositol addition sequence in membrane dipeptidase (MDP) - a membrane protein that is not shed - with the juxtamembrane stalk, transmembrane (TM) and cytosolic domains of ACE. The resulting construct, MDP–STMACE, was targeted to the cell surface in a glycosylated and enzymically active form, and was shed into the medium. The site of cleavage in MDP–STMACE was identified by MS as the Arg374-Ser375 bond, corresponding to the Arg1203-Ser1204 secretase cleavage site in somatic ACE. The release of MDP–STMACE and ACE from the cells was inhibited in an identical manner by batimastat and two other hydroxamic acid-based zinc metallosecretase inhibitors. In contrast, a construct lacking the juxtamembrane stalk, MDP–TMACE, although expressed at the cell surface in an enzymically active form, was not shed, implying that the juxtamembrane stalk is the critical determinant of shedding. However, an additional construct, ACEΔC, in which the N-terminal domain of somatic ACE was fused to the stalk, TM and cytosolic domains, was also not shed, despite the presence of a cleavable stalk, implying that in contrast with the C-terminal domain, the N-terminal domain lacks a signal required for shedding. These data are discussed in the context of two classes of secretases that differ in their requirements for recognition of substrate proteins.
Differential effects of glycosphingolipids on the detergent-insolubility of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane dipeptidase
Authors: PARKIN Edward T. , TURNER Anthony J. , HOOPER Nigel M.
Published: August 2015

The insolubility of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins in certain detergents appears to be an intrinsic property of their association with sphingolipids and cholesterol in lipid rafts. We show that the GPI-anchored protein membrane dipeptidase is localized in detergent-insoluble lipid rafts isolated from porcine kidney microvillar membranes, and that these rafts, which lack caveolin, are enriched not only in sphingomyelin and cholesterol, but also in the glycosphingolipid lactosylceramide (LacCer). Dipeptidase purified from porcine kidney was reconstituted into artificial liposomes in order to investigate the relationship between glycosphingolipids and GPI-anchored protein detergent-insolubility. Dipeptidase was insoluble in liposomes containing extremely low concentrations of LacCer. In contrast, identical concentrations of glucosylceramide or galactosylceramide failed to promote significant detergent-insolubility. Cholesterol was shown to enhance the detergent-insoluble effect of LacCer. GC–MS analysis revealed dramatic differences between the fatty acyl compositions of LacCer and those of the other glycosphingolipids. However, despite these differences, we show that the unusually marked effect of LacCer to promote the detergent-insolubility of dipeptidase cannot be singularly attributed to the fatty acyl composition of this glycosphingolipid molecule. Instead, we suggest that the ability of LacCer to confer detergent-insolubility on this GPI-anchored protein is dependent on the structure of the lipid molecule in its entirety, and that this glycosphingolipid may have an important role to play in the stabilization of lipid rafts, particularly the caveolin-free glycosphingolipid signalling domains.
Substrates and products of eosinophil peroxidase
Authors: van DALEN Christine J. , KETTLE Anthony J.
Published: August 2015

Eosinophil peroxidase has been implicated in promoting oxidative tissue damage in a variety of inflammatory conditions, including asthma. It uses H2O2 to oxidize chloride, bromide and thiocyanate to their respective hypohalous acids. The aim of this study was to establish which oxidants eosinophil peroxidase produces under physiological conditions. By measuring rates of H2O2 utilization by the enzyme at neutral pH, we determined the catalytic rate constants for bromide and thiocyanate as 248 and 223s−1 and the Michaelis constants as 0.5 and 0.15mM respectively. On the basis of these values thiocyanate is preferred 2.8-fold over bromide as a substrate for eosinophil peroxidase. Eosinophil peroxidase catalysed substantive oxidation of chloride only below pH6.5. We found that when eosinophil peroxidase or myeloperoxidase oxidized thiocyanate, another product besides hypothiocyanite was formed; it also converted methionine into methionine sulphoxide. During the oxidation of thiocyanate, the peroxidases were present as their compound II forms. Compound II did not form when GSH was included to scavenge hypothiocyanite. We propose that the unidentified oxidant was derived from a radical species produced by the one-electron oxidation of hypothiocyanite. We conclude that at plasma concentrations of bromide (20–120μM) and thiocyanate (20–100μM), hypobromous acid and oxidation products of thiocyanate are produced by eosinophil peroxidase. Hypochlorous acid is likely to be produced only when substrates preferred over chloride are depleted. Thiocyanate should be considered to augment peroxidase-mediated toxicity because these enzymes can convert relatively benign hypothiocyanite into a stronger oxidant.
Second generation antitumour human RNase: significance of its structural and functional features for the mechanism of antitumour action
Authors: Di GAETANO Sonia , D'ALESSIO Giuseppe , PICCOLI Renata
Published: August 2015

A second generation mutant of dimeric human pancreas RNase (HHP2-RNase), was obtained by a single residue mutation (Glu111 → Gly) of the previously described dimeric human pancreas RNase variant (HHP-RNase). HHP2-RNase was found to be a highly specific antitumour agent, with an enhanced cytotoxic activity compared with HHP-RNase. The structural and functional requisites of the antitumour action of HHP2-RNase were investigated and compared with those of other dimeric antitumour RNases. The stability of the dimeric structure, i.e. the resistance of human dimeric RNase variants to reductive cleavage of the two intersubunit disulphide bonds that bridge the subunits, was determined to be an essential feature of antitumour dimeric RNases. The stability of the dimeric structure is in turn responsible for the resistance to inhibition by the cytosolic RNase inhibitor (cRI). Both the stability of the dimeric structure and the resistance to cRI inhibition appeared to be highly enhanced by an RNase substrate. This suggests a possible role for RNA in the amplification of the antitumour potential of dimeric RNases.
In vivo perimenstrual activation of progelatinase B (proMMP-9) in the human endometrium and its dependence on stromelysin 1 (MMP-3) ex vivo
Authors: RIGOT Véronique , MARBAIX Etienne , LEMOINE Pascale , COURTOY Pierre J. , EECKHOUT Yves
Published: August 2015

Most matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are secreted as inactive proenzymes. Their expression is well documented in several human tissues, but their activators in vivo are still unknown. To address this question, the activation of progelatinase B (proMMP-9) in the human endometrium was selected as a model system. ProMMP-9 was detected by gelatin zymography in homogenates of fresh endometrial tissue sampled during all phases of the menstrual cycle, whereas its active form was observed only during the late secretory and menstrual phases. Furthermore, proMMP-9 was expressed and activated in endometrial explants sampled outside the perimenstrual phase and cultured in the absence of both progesterone and oestradiol, mimicking the menstrual condition in vivo. Analysis of such tissue cultures by gelatin zymography and Western blotting showed that activation of proMMP-9 depended on a secreted factor and was selectively inhibited by either a synthetic inhibitor of stromelysin 1 (MMP-3) or a monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks MMP-3, thus providing strong evidence for the activation of proMMP-9 in vivo by MMP-3. The activation of proMMP-3 was itself inhibited by a broad-range MMP inhibitor in most cultures, but seemed to involve multiple pathways, implying both serine proteinases and metalloproteinases, which could operate in parallel or sequentially.
Functional interactions between arginine-133 and aspartate-88 in the human reduced folate carrier: evidence for a charge-pair association
Authors: LIU Xiang Y. , MATHERLY Larry H.
Published: August 2015

The human reduced folate carrier (hRFC) is an integral membrane protein that mediates cellular uptake of reduced folates and antifolates. hRFC contains several highly conserved charged residues predicted to lie in the transmembrane domains (TMDs). To explore the possible roles of the conserved arginine-133, located in TMD 4, in hRFC structure and function, this residue was systematically mutagenized to histidine, leucine, lysine and glutamate. When transfected into transport-impaired K562 cells, the mutant hRFC constructs were expressed at high levels; however, only lysine-133hRFC was able to transport methotrexate and (6S)-5-formyl tetrahydrofolate. Substitution of aspartate-453 (in hRFC TMD 12) by valine largely preserved transport activity for both substrates. Although mutagenesis of aspartate-88 (in TMD 2) to leucine completely abolished transport activity in transfected cells, substitution with a glutamate preserved low levels (≈ 12%) of transport. To assess the possibility that arginine-133 and aspartate-88 may form a charge-pair to stabilize hRFC tertiary structure, both charges were neutralized (by substituting leucine and valine, respectively) in the same construct. In contrast to the singly mutated hRFCs, the double mutant exhibited high levels of transport with both methotrexate and 5-formyl tetrahydrofolate. These results strongly suggest that arginine-133 and aspartate-88 form a charge-pair and that TMD 4 lies next to TMD 2 in the hRFC tertiary structure.
Molecular events involved in up-regulating human Na+-independent neutral amino acid transporter LAT1 during T-cell activation
Authors: NII Tomoko , SEGAWA Hiroko , TAKETANI Yutaka , TANI Yoshiko , OHKIDO Makiko , KISHIDA Sachie , ITO Mikiko , ENDOU Hitoshi , KANAI Yoshikatsu , TAKEDA Eiji , MIYAMOTO Ken-ichi
Published: August 2015

We investigated the regulation of system-L amino acid transporter (LAT1) during T-cell activation. In quiescent T-cells, l-leucine transport is mediated mainly by the system-L amino acid transport system and is increased significantly during T-cell activation by PMA and ionomycin. In quiescent T-cells, the LAT1 protein was heterocomplexed with 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) in the plasma membrane. During T-cell activation, the amounts of 4F2hc and LAT1 heterocomplex were significantly elevated compared with those in quiescent T-cells. In addition, by Northern-blot analysis, these increments were found to be due to elevated levels of LAT1 and 4F2hc mRNA. Transient expression of constructs comprising various LAT1 gene promoter fragments, which contained all three of the GC boxes, was sufficient for promoting luciferase expression in Jurkat T-cells, but the promoter of the LAT1 gene did not respond to PMA and ionomycin. Similar observations were observed in the human 4F2hc gene promoter. In nuclear run-on assay, the LAT1 and 4F2hc genes were actively transcribed even in quiescent T-cells, but the low levels of both transcripts were shown to be the result of a block to transcription elongation within the exon 1 intron 1 regions. These findings indicated that a removal of the block to mRNA elongation stimulates the induction of system-L amino acid transporter gene transcripts (LAT1 and 4F2hc) in activated T-cells.