bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gene organization and alternative splicing of human prohormone convertase PC8
Authors: GOODGE Katrina A. , THOMAS Rachel J. , MARTIN T. John , GILLESPIE Matthew T. 
Published: August 2015

The mammalian Ca2+-dependent serine protease prohormone convertase PC8 is expressed ubiquitously, being transcribed as 3.5, 4.3 and 6.0 kb mRNA isoforms in various tissues. To determine the origin of these various mRNA isoforms we report the characterization of the human PC8 gene, which has been previously localized to chromosome 11q23–24. Consisting of 16 exons, the human PC8 gene spans approx. 27 kb. A comparison of the position of intron–exon junctions of the human PC8 gene with the gene structures of previously reported prohormone convertase genes demonstrated a divergence of the human PC8 from the highly conserved nature of the gene organization of this enzyme family. The nucleotide sequence of the 5´-flanking region of the human PC8 is reported and possesses putative promoter elements characteristic of a GC-rich promoter. Further supporting the potential role of a GC-rich promoter element, multiple transcriptional initiation sites within a 200 bp region were demonstrated. We propose that the various mRNA isoforms of PC8 result from the inclusion of intronic sequences within transcripts.
Identification of a signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) binding site in the mouse metallothionein-I promoter involved in interleukin-6-induced gene expression
Authors: LEE Dae Kee , CARRASCO Javier , HIDALGO Juan , ANDREWS Glen K. 
Published: August 2015

Mechanisms of regulation of mouse metallothionein (MT)-I gene expression in response to bacterial endotoxin-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were examined. Northern blot analysis of hepatic MT-I mRNA in interleukin (IL)-6 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor type I knock-out mice demonstrated that IL-6, not TNF-α, is of central importance in mediating hepatic MT-I gene expression in vivo after LPS injection. In vivo genomic footprinting of the MT-I promoter demonstrated a rapid increase, after LPS injection, in the protection of several guanine residues in the -250 to -300 bp region of the MT-I promoter. The protected bases were within sequences which resemble binding sites for the signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) transcription factor family. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays using oligonucleotides from footprinted MT-I promoter regions showed that injection of LPS resulted in a rapid increase in the specific, high-affinity, in vitro binding of STAT1 and STAT3 to a binding site at -297 bp (TTCTCGTAA). Western blotting of hepatic nuclear proteins showed that the time-course for changes of total nuclear STAT1 and STAT3 after LPS injection paralleled the increased complex formation in vitro using this oligonucleotide, and binding was specifically competed for by a functional STAT-binding site from the rat α2-macroglobulin promoter. Furthermore, the MT-I promoter -297 bp STAT-binding site conferred IL-6 responsiveness in the context of a minimal promoter in transient transfection assays using HepG2 cells. This study suggests that the effects of LPS on hepatic MT-I gene expression are mediated by IL-6 and involve the activation of STAT-binding to the proximal promoter.
The novel sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor AGR16 is coupled via pertussis toxin-sensitive and -insensitive G-proteins to multiple signalling pathways
Authors: GONDA Koichi , OKAMOTO Hiroyuki , TAKUWA Noriko , YATOMI Yutaka , OKAZAKI Hiroshi , SAKURAI Takeshi , KIMURA Sadao , SILLARD Rannar , HARII Kiyonori , TAKUWA Yoh 
Published: August 2015

In the present study, we determined the agonist specificity and the signalling mechanisms of a putative sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor, AGR16. In CHO cells transiently transfected with an AGR16 expression vector, but not in cells transfected with an empty vector, the addition of a low concentration of S1P (1 nM) caused an increase in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by mobilization of Ca2+ from both intra- and extra-cellular pools. To determine the spectrum of agonists for AGR16, we employed K562 cells, which in the naive state do not respond at all to either S1P or structurally related lipids with an increase in [Ca2+]i. In K562 cells stably expressing AGR16, S1P and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) dose-dependently increased [Ca2+]i with half-maximal values of 3 nM and 100 nM respectively. In CHO cells stably expressing AGR16 (CHO-AGR16), but not in parental CHO cells, we observed specific binding of [32P]S1P, which was displaced by unlabelled S1P and SPC. In CHO-AGR16 cells, but not in parental CHO cells, S1P stimulated the production of inositol phosphates and Ca2+ mobilization which was only 30% inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX), different from the case of the recently identified S1P receptor EDG1. Also in CHO-AGR16 cells, but not in CHO cells, S1P at higher concentrations activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in a PTX-sensitive and Ras-dependent manner. S1P also induced the activation of two stress-activated MAPKs, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38, in a manner that was totally insensitive to PTX. In CHO-AGR16 cells, S1P induced stress-fibre formation, with an increase in myosin light chain phosphorylation, in a PTX-insensitive and Rho-dependent manner. S1P also induced an increase in the cellular cAMP content in CHO-AGR16 cells, which contrasts sharply with the case of EDG1. These results establish that the S1P receptor AGR16 is coupled via both PTX-sensitive and -insensitive G-proteins to multiple effector pathways.
Transcriptional activation of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 in the pre-B cell line Ea3.123
Authors: WATSON Fiona , DEAVALL Damian G. , MACRO Janet A. , KIERNAN Rachel , DIMALINE Rod 
Published: August 2015

Uptake and storage of monoamines in secretory granules is accomplished by vesicular monoamine transporters, and it is likely that vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) is important for histamine transport in vivo. In the present study we have used the pre-B-cell line Ea3.123 to investigate the mechanisms involved in the transcriptional activation of the VMAT2 gene. In Ea3.123 cells, VMAT2 mRNA abundance was increased following mobilization of intracellular calcium, and this increased mRNA expression was paralleled by changes in l-histidine decarboxylase mRNA, suggesting that VMAT2 may be responsible for sequestration of histamine into secretory vesicles in this cell line. We cloned the 5´-flanking region of the VMAT2 gene and determined its transcriptional start site by primer extension of rat VMAT2 mRNA. There was no TATA or TATA-like sequence upstream of this region; instead there were GC-rich elements, Ca2+/cAMP-response-element- and SP1-binding motifs. Approx. 900 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site was a purine–pyrimidine repeat sequence that may form a Z-DNA structure. A series of 5´-deletional VMAT2-promoter segments cloned upstream of a luciferase reporter were capable of driving transcription and indicated the presence of multiple regulatory elements, while stimulation with ionomycin or PMA resulted in an increased level of the transcriptional activity of the 5´-promoter segments studied.
Simultaneous visualization of the translocation of protein kinase Cα–green fluorescent protein hybrids and intracellular calcium concentrations
Authors: ALMHOLT Kasper , ARKHAMMAR Per O. G. , THASTRUP Ole , TULLIN S⊘ren 
Published: August 2015

The α isoform of protein kinase C (PKCα) is a ubiquitous protein kinase, which, upon activation, translocates rapidly from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane. To follow this translocation, PKCα was tagged with a highly fluorescent derivative of green fluorescent protein and stably expressed in baby hamster kidney cells overexpressing the muscarinic type 1 receptor. Addition of the agonist carbamylcholine triggered the onset of translocation within 1 s. Half-maximal and maximal translocation occurred after about 3 and 15 s respectively. Plasma membrane association of the fusion protein was transient and the protein returned to the cytoplasm within about 45 s. A high-resolution study showed an almost homogeneous cytoplasmic distribution of tagged PKCα in unstimulated cells and virtually complete translocation to the plasma membrane in response to the phorbol ester, PMA. Simultaneous visualization of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and PKCα translocation in single cells showed a good correlation between these parameters at intermediate and high concentrations of agonist. At low agonist concentration, a small increase in [Ca2+]i was observed, without detectable translocation of PKCα. In contrast, PMA induced translocation of PKCα without any increase in [Ca2+]i. Neither cytochalasin D nor colcemid influenced the distribution or calcium-dependent translocation of tagged PKCα, indicating that PKCα translocation may be independent of both actin filaments and microtubules. The time course of PKCα translocation is compatible with diffusion of the protein from its cytoplasmic localization to the plasma membrane.
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I up-regulate GLUT4 gene expression in fetal brown adipocytes, in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent manner
Authors: VALVERDE Angela M. , NAVARRO Paloma , TERUEL Teresa , CONEJO Ruben , BENITO Manuel , LORENZO Margarita 
Published: August 2015

Fetal brown adipocytes cultured in a serum-free medium, containing 5 mM glucose, expressed both GLUT4 and GLUT1 glucose transporters at the mRNA and protein level. Treatment with either insulin or insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I at physiological concentrations up-regulates the expression of the GLUT4 gene, producing a time-dependent mRNA accumulation (7-fold increase at 24 h) and a 2.5-fold increase in the amount of protein in the total membrane fraction. However, insulin treatment down-regulates GLUT1 mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, either insulin or IGF-I transactivates a full-promoter GLUT4-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (CAT) construct transiently transfected to the cells, without affecting GLUT1-CAT activity. In consequence, insulin treatment for 24 h increased by 3-fold the basal glucose uptake. Inhibition of phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase activity with chemical agents such as wortmannin or LY294002 partially blocked insulin-induced GLUT4 mRNA accumulation, insulin-induced GLUT4 protein content, GLUT4-CAT transactivation and glucose uptake. Furthermore, co-transfection of brown adipocytes with a dominant-negative form of PI 3-kinase precluded the transactivation of the GLUT4 promoter by insulin. However, inhibition of p70S6 kinase (p70s6k) with rapamycin or of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) with PD098059 does not preclude insulin effects on GLUT4 gene expression or glucose uptake. Our results show for the first time a positive effect of insulin on GLUT4 gene expression in fetal brown adipocytes, suggesting the existence of insulin response element(s) in its promoter. Moreover, PI 3-kinase, but not p70s6k or MAPK, is an essential requirement for insulin regulation of GLUT4 gene expression.
Glutamine synthesis is heterogeneous and differentially regulated along the rabbit renal proximal tubule
Authors: FERRIER Bernard , CONJARD Agnès , MARTIN Mireille , BAVEREL Gabriel 
Published: August 2015

Glutamine synthesis, a major process for ammonia detoxification and the control of acid–base balance, occurs from various precursors in suspensions of rabbit proximal tubules. However, no data are currently available on the distribution of glutamine synthesis along the rabbit proximal tubule, and its modulation by changes of substrate concentration. Therefore we have microdissected and incubated the three parts (S1, S2 and S3) of rabbit proximal tubules and measured glutamine synthesis from alanine and aspartate. With a physiological concentration of alanine (0.25 mM) or aspartate (0.05 mM), glutamine synthesis in the S1 segment was about half of that in the S2 and S3 segments, and was greater from alanine than from aspartate along the entire proximal tubule. Elevation of alanine and aspartate concentrations to 5 mM increased glutamine synthesis in both a substrate- and segment-dependent manner. It is concluded that glutamine synthesis occurs from alanine and aspartate along the entire rabbit proximal tubule; however, contrary to what might have been expected on the basis of measurement of glutamine synthetase activity, the basal rate of glutamine synthesis and its adaptation to increased substrate availability are heterogeneous along this nephron segment.
Role of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate in regulating the activity and localization of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1
Authors: CURRIE Richard A. , WALKER Kay S. , GRAY Alex , DEAK Maria , CASAMAYOR Antonio , DOWNES C. Peter , COHEN Philip , ALESSI Dario R. , LUCOCQ John 
Published: August 2015

3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) interacts stereoselectively with the d-enantiomer of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 (KD 1.6 nM) and PtdIns(3,4)P2 (KD 5.2 nM), but binds with lower affinity to PtdIns3P or PtdIns(4,5)P2. The binding of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 to PDK1 was greatly decreased by making specific mutations in the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of PDK1 or by deleting it. The same mutations also greatly decreased the rate at which PDK1 activated protein kinase Bα (PKBα) in vitro in the presence of lipid vesicles containing PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, but did not affect the rate at which PDK1 activated a PKBα mutant lacking the PH domain in the absence of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3. When overexpressed in 293 or PAE cells, PDK1 was located at the plasma membrane and in the cytosol, but was excluded from the nucleus. Mutations that disrupted the interaction of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 or PtdIns(4,5)P2 with PDK1 abolished the association of PDK1 with the plasma membrane. Growth-factor stimulation promoted the translocation of transfected PKBα to the plasma membrane, but had no effect on the subcellular distribution of PDK1 as judged by immunoelectron microscopy of fixed cells. This conclusion was also supported by confocal microscopy of green fluorescent protein–PDK1 in live cells. These results, together with previous observations, indicate that PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 plays several roles in the PDK1-induced activation of PKBα. First, it binds to the PH domain of PKB, altering its conformation so that it can be activated by PDK1. Secondly, interaction with PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 recruits PKB to the plasma membrane with which PDK1 is localized constitutively by virtue of its much stronger interaction with PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 or PtdIns(4,5)P2. Thirdly, the interaction of PDK1 with PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 facilitates the rate at which it can activate PKB.
Purification of intracellular compartments involved in antigen processing: a new method based on magnetic sorting
Authors: PERRIN-COCON Laure A. , MARCHE Patrice N. , VILLIERS Christian L. 
Published: August 2015

In the present study, we describe a method to specifically isolate intracellular compartments containing endocytosed antigen. We have demonstrated that isolated compartments represent a small proportion of the intracellular material, highly enriched in antigen. Antigen-containing vesicles are specifically sorted from other intracellular compartments, such as endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus, and from the plasma membrane. They remain functional in vitro since they can be acidified, and the antigen inside has been found to be partially proteolysed. In macrophages, kinetic analysis has revealed that the antigen is first found in compartments of endosomal density, carrying Rab 5 and Rab 7, then in late compartments of lysosomal density, which are rich in proteases. The global protein content of the compartments was mapped by two-dimensional electrophoresis. In B lymphocytes, this method has allowed the isolation of endocytic compartments emerging from receptor-mediated endocytosis of the antigen. After 2 h of chase, the antigen reached vesicles containing large amounts of MHC-class II molecules, invariant chain and human leucocyte antigen-DM, where peptide loading can occur.
Characterization of the 70 kDa polypeptide of the Na/Ca exchanger
Authors: SABA Rami I. , BOLLEN Alex , HERCHUELZ André 
Published: August 2015

The Na/Ca exchanger is associated with 160, 120 and 70 kDa polypeptides whose nature is poorly understood. We have purified and characterized the Na/Ca exchanger from bovine cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles (SLVs) by using ion-exchange and affinity chromatographies. The Na/Ca exchanger-enriched fraction was reconstituted into asolectin liposomes [lipid to protein ratio 10:1 (w/w)] that showed Na/Ca exchange activity. Under non-reducing conditions, SDS/PAGE showed a single 70 kDa polypeptide, which was further characterized by immunoblots with different antibodies: SWant, raised against the purified exchanger protein; NH2-terminus, residues 1–21; NCX1, residues 393–406; and Exon F, residues 622–644. Immunoblots under reducing conditions with SWant, NH2-terminus and NCX1 showed three bands migrating at 160, 120 and 70 kDa for SLV preparations, whereas Exon F reacted only with the 160 and 120 kDa bands. Under non-reducing conditions, immunoblots with purified reconstituted Na/Ca exchanger showed a single band at 70 kDa reacting with SWant, NH2-terminus and NCX1 but not with Exon F. We conclude that the 70 kDa protein is associated with Na/Ca exchange activity, has the same N-terminal sequence as the cloned bovine cardiac exchanger, and has its length decreased by at least 35% from its C-terminal portion as compared with that of the wild-type exchanger.
Purification, characterization and molecular cloning of trichoanguin, a novel type I ribosome-inactivating protein from the seeds of Trichosanthes anguina
Authors: CHOW Lu-Ping , CHOU Ming-Huei , HO Cheng-Ying , CHUANG Chyh-Chong , PAN Fu-Ming , WU Shih-Hsiung , LIN Jung-Yaw 
Published: August 2015

The seeds of the plant Trichosanthes anguina contain a type I ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), designated trichoanguin, which was purified to apparent homogeneity by the combined use of ion-exchange chromatographies, i.e. first with DE-52 cellulose and then with CM-52 cellulose. The protein was found to be a glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 35 kDa and a pI of 9.1. It strongly inhibits the protein synthesis of rabbit reticulocyte lysate, with an IC50 of 0.08 nM, but only weakly that of HeLa cells, with an IC50 of 6 µM. Trichoanguin cleaves at the A4324 site of rat 28 S rRNA by its N-glycosidase activity. The cDNA of trichoanguin consists of 1039 nt and encodes an open reading frame coding for a polypeptide of 294 amino acid residues. The first 19 residues of this polypeptide encode a signal peptide sequence and the last 30 residues comprise an extension at its C-terminus. There are four potential glycosylation sites, located at Asn-51, Asn-65, Asn-201 and Asn-226. A comparison of the amino acid sequence of trichoanguin with those of RIPs such as trichosanthin, α-momorcharin, ricin A-chain and abrin A-chain reveals 55%, 48%, 36% and 34% identity respectively. Molecular homology modelling of trichoanguin indicates that its tertiary structure closely resembles those of trichosanthin and α-momorcharin. The large structural similarities might account for their common biological effects such as an abortifacient, an anti-tumour agent and anti-HIV-1 activities. Trichoanguin contains two cysteine residues, Cys-32 and Cys-155, with the former being likely to be located on the protein surface, which is directly amenable for conjugation with antibodies to form immunoconjugates. It is therefore conceivable that trichoanguin might be a better type I RIP than any other so far examined for the preparation of immunotoxins, with a great potential for application as an effective chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer.
Spontaneous activation of NADPH oxidase in a cell-free system: unexpected multiple effects of magnesium ion concentrations
Authors: CROSS Andrew R. , ERICKSON Richard W. , ELLIS Beverly A. , CURNUTTE John T. 
Published: August 2015

The role of magnesium ions in the activation of NADPH oxidase has been investigated using flavocytochrome b-245 and either neutrophil cytosol or mixtures of recombinant p40phox, p47phox, p67phox and Rac2. Purified flavocytochrome b-245 is highly active (turnover number 120–150 mol of O2-/s per mol of cytochrome haem) in the absence of Mg2+, in marked contrast to neutrophil membranes or detergent-solubilized membranes, which have an absolute requirement for Mg2+ for NADPH oxidase activity. It was also found that Mg2+ affected the anionic amphiphile requirement for oxidase activation, and this was dependent on whether neutrophil cytosol or mixtures of recombinant cytosolic proteins were used in the assay. Unexpectedly we found that, using purified flavocytochrome b-245 and recombinant cytosolic proteins, NADPH oxidase undergoes spontaneous activation in the absence of anionic amphiphiles under Mg2+-free conditions. The results suggest that Mg2+ ions play an important role in NADPH oxidase function, perhaps stabilizing the 260 kDa complex of cytosolic phox proteins or the regulation of a guanine nucleotide-binding protein. We provide evidence that if the latter explanation is correct, the identity of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein is unlikely to be Rap1a.
The kinetics of acylation and deacylation of penicillin acylase from Escherichia coli ATCC 11105: evidence for lowered pKa values of groups near the catalytic centre
Authors: MORILLAS Manuel , GOBLE Martin L. , VIRDEN Richard 
Published: August 2015

Penicillin G acylase catalysed the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate with a kcat of 0.8 s-1 and a Km of 10 µM at pH 7.5 and 20 °C. Results from stopped-flow experiments fitted a dissociation constant of 0.16 mM for the Michaelis complex, formation of an acetyl enzyme with a rate constant of 32 s-1 and a subsequent deacylation step with a rate constant of 0.81 s-1. Non-linear Van't Hoff and Arrhenius plots for these parameters, measured at pH 7.5, may be partly explained by a conformational transition affecting catalytic groups, but a linear Arrhenius plot for the ratio of the rate constant for acylation relative to KS was consistent with energy-compensation between the binding of the substrate and catalysis of the formation of the transition state. At 20 °C, the pH-dependence of kcat was similar to that of kcat/Km, indicating that formation of the acyl-enzyme did not affect the pKa values (6.5 and 9.0) of an acidic and basic group in the active enzyme. The heats of ionization deduced from values of pKa for kcat, which measures the rate of deacylation, are consistent with α-amino and guanidinium groups whose pKa values are decreased in a non-polar environment. It is proposed that, for catalytic activity, the α-amino group of the catalytic SerB1 and the guanidinium group of ArgB263 are required in neutral and protonated states respectively.