Combined heat shock protein 90 and ribosomal RNA sequence phylogeny supports multiple replacements of dinoflagellate plastids

Dinoflagellates harbour diverse plastids obtained from several algal groups, including haptophytes, diatoms, cryptophytes, and prasinophytes. Their major plastid type with the accessory pigment peridinin is found in the vast majority of photosynthetic species. Some species of dinoflagellates have other aberrantly pigmented plastids. We sequenced the nuclear small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene of the "green" dinoflagellate Gymnodinium chlorophorum and show that it is sister to Lepidodinium viride, indicating that their common ancestor obtained the prasinophyte (or other green alga) plastid in one event. As the placement of dinoflagellate species that acquired green algal or haptophyte plastids is unclear from small and large subunit (LSU) rRNA trees, we tested the usefulness of the heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 gene for dinoflagellate phylogeny by sequencing it from four species with aberrant plastids (G. chlorophorum, Karlodinium micrum, Karenia brevis, and Karenia mikimotoi) plus Alexandrium tamarense, and constructing phylogenetic trees for Hsp90 and rRNAs, separately and together. Analyses of the Hsp90 and concatenated data suggest an ancestral origin of the peridinin-containing plastid, and two independent replacements of the peridinin plastid soon after the early radiation of the dinoflagellates. Thus, the Hsp90 gene seems to be a promising phylogenetic marker for dinoflagellate phylogeny.     

A novel binding of GTP stabilizes the structure and modulates the activities of human phosphoglucose isomerase/autocrine motility factor

Phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) catalyzes the interconversion between glucose 6-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate in the glycolysis pathway. In mammals, the enzyme is also identical to the extracellular proteins neuroleukin, tumor-secreted autocrine motility factor (AMF) and differentiation and maturation mediator for myeloid leukemia. Hereditary deficiency of the enzyme causes non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia in human. In the present study, a novel interaction between GTP and human PGI was corroborated by UV-induced crosslinking, affinity purification and kinetic study. GTP not only inhibits the isomerization activity but also compromises the AMF function of the enzyme. Kinetic studies, including the Yonetani-Theorell method, suggest that GTP is a competitive inhibitor with a K_i value of 63 μM and the GTP-binding site partially overlaps with the catalytic site. In addition, GTP stabilizes the structure of human PGI against heat- and detergent-induced denaturation. Molecular modelling and dynamic simulation suggest that GTP is bound in a syn-conformation with the γ-phosphate group located near the phosphate-binding loop and the ribose moiety positioned away from the active-site residues.     

Design,synthesis and inhibitory activities of naringenin derivatives on human colon cancer cells

Based on the previous result, several naringenin derivatives modified at position 7 with bulky substituents were designed and synthesized, and their inhibitory effects on HCT116 human colon cancer cells were tested using a clonogenic assay. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of five naringenin derivatives ranged between 1.20 μM and 20.01 μM which are much better than naringenin used as a control. In addition, new structural modification at C-4 of flavanone results in improving both the anti-cancer effect and anti-oxidative effect. In vitro cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) binding assay was carried out based on the previous results. To elucidate the possible interaction between naringenin derivatives and CDK2, in silico docking study was performed. This result demonstrates the rationale for the different inhibitory activities of the naringenin derivatives. These findings could be used for designing cancer therapeutic or preventive flavanone-derived agents.     

Requirement of the enzymatic and signaling activities of plasmin for phorbol-ester-induced scattering of colon cancer cells

Colon cancer progression is associated with the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), the downregulation of functional E-cadherin and an increased expression of the serine protease urokinase (u-PA) and its receptor (u-PAR). HT29-M6 intestinal epithelial cells represent an in vitro model to study colon cancer progression. These cells are induced to scatter and to invade by phorbol esters. Using proteolytic and cell signaling inhibitors, we show that HT29-M6 cells require plasminogen for the acquisition of the scattering response to PMA. Our results indicate that, prior to inducing a state of competency for plasminogen-dependent scattering, PMA triggers an ordered succession of events where upregulation of the activity of u-PA precedes proteolysis of u-PAR and active degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). These events poise HT29-M6 cells to a scatter-competent state that allows the subsequent localized proteolytic activation of plasminogen to plasmin, required for the execution of scattering. Finally, we show that, in addition to its enzymatic activity directed at the degradation of ECM, plasmin generates an intracellular signal resulting in the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2. For a full motogenic activity, plasmin requires this signal since the use of a MEK inhibitor (PD98059) specifically blocks the plasmin-dependent phase of cell scattering. Our observations suggest that plasmin exerts a dual role in PMA-induced scattering of HT29-M6 cells, one directed extracellularly to promote proteolysis of the ECM and one directed to generate intracellular signaling.     

Nucleolar localization of human methionyl-tRNA synthetase and its role in ribosomal RNA synthesis

Human aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are normally located in cytoplasm and are involved in protein synthesis. In the present work, we found that human methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MRS) was translocated to nucleolus in proliferative cells, but disappeared in quiescent cells. The nucleolar localization of MRS was triggered by various growth factors such as insulin, PDGF, and EGF. The presence of MRS in nucleoli depended on the integrity of RNA and the activity of RNA polymerase I in the nucleolus. The ribosomal RNA synthesis was specifically decreased by the treatment of anti-MRS antibody as determined by nuclear run-on assay and immunostaining with anti-Br antibody after incorporating Br-UTP into nascent RNA. Thus, human MRS plays a role in the biogenesis of rRNA in nucleoli, while it is catalytically involved in protein synthesis in cytoplasm.     

Activation of ribosomal and messenger RNA synthesis in excised Jerusalem artichoke tuber slices

RNA synthesis was studied in Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tuber slices immediately following excision and during the early period of aging in water. Incorporation of [³H]adenosine into RNA was detected as early as 20 min after excision. Measurement of the specific activities of RNA (cpm/g) and of ATP showed that RNA synthesis proceeded at a constant rate for the first several hours of aging and then increased moderately. [³H]adenosine was incorporated into polysomes throughout the aging period examined. Sucrose gradient fractionation of EDTA-dissociated polysomes showed that during the first 2 h of aging most of this incorporation was not into ribosome subunits but into presumed mRNA. Autoradiographic analysis of [³H]adenosine labelled nuclei showed that this was caused, at least in part, by a delay in the onset of rRNA synthesis synthesized during this time chromatographed as poly(A)-RNA on oligo(dT)-cellulose, indicating that a large part of the mRNA was not polyadenylated.     

The hinge region of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein L7/L12 is required for factor binding and GTP hydrolysis

A variant form of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein L7/L12 that lacked residues 42 to 52 (L7/L12 Δ42–52) in the hinge region was shown previously to be completely inactive in supporting polyphenylalanine synthesis although it bound to L7/L12 deficient core particles with the normal stoichiometry of four copies per particle (Oleinikov AV, Perroud B, Wang B, Traut RR (1993) J Biol Chem, 268, 917–922). The result suggested that the hinge confers flexibility that is required for activity because the resulting bent conformation allows the distal C-terminal domain to occupy a location on the body of the large ribosomal subunit proximal to the base of the L7/L12 stalk where elongation factors bind. Factor binding to the hinge-truncated variant was tested. As an alternative strategy to deleting residues from the hinge, seven amino acid residues within the putative hinge region were replaced by seven consecutive proline residues in an attempt to confer increased rigidity that might reduce or eliminate the bending of the molecule inferred to be functionally important. This variant, L7/L12: (Pro)₇, remained fully active in protein synthesis. Whereas the binding of both factors in ribosomes containing L7/L12:Δ42–52 was decreased by about 50%, there was no loss of factor binding in ribosomes containing L7/L12:(Pro)₇, as predicted from the retention of protein synthesis activity. The factor:ribosome complexes that contained L7/L12:Δ42–52 had the same low level of GTP hydrolysis as the core particles completely lacking L7/L12 and EF-G did not support translocation measured by the reaction of phe-tRNA bounds in hr Asite with puromycin. It is concluded that the hinge region is required for the functionally productive binding of elongation factors, and the defect in protein synthesis reported previously is due to this defect. The variant produced by the introduction of the putative rigid Pro₇ sequence retains sufficient flexibility for full activity.     

Initial synthesis and characterization of an immobilized heat shock protein 90 column for online determination of binding affinities

Heat shock protein 90α (Hsp90α) was immobilized on aminopropyl silica via the N terminus to create the Hsp90α(NT) column or via the C terminus to create the Hsp90α(CT) column. Binding to the exposed C terminus on the Hsp90α(NT) column was characterized using frontal chromatography and the C-terminus ligands coumermycin A₁ (CA1) and novobiocin (NOVO). The calculated K_d values were 220 ± 110 nM (CA1) and 100 ± 20 nM (NOVO). Nonlinear chromatography was used to determine the association and dissociation rate constants associated with the NOVO-Hsp90α complex: 22.2 ± 8.8 μM⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 2.7 ± 0.6 s⁻¹, respectively. Binding to the exposed N terminus on the Hsp90α(CT) column was characterized using frontal chromatography. The K_d values of the N-terminus ligands geldanamycin (GM, 90 ± 50 nM), 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG, 210 ± 50 nM), and radicicol (RAD, 20 ± 9 nM) were consistent with previously reported values. The effect of the immobilization on ATPase activity was investigated through the determination of IC₅₀ values for inhibition of ATPase activity on the Hsp90α(CT) column. The IC₅₀ for GM was 2.80 ± 0.18 μM, and the relative IC₅₀ values were 17-AAG > GM > RAD, in agreement with previously reported values and indicating that immobilization had not affected ATPase activity or sensitivity to inhibition.     

CD90 and CD110 correlate with cancer stem cell potentials in human T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Although cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been recently identified in myeloid leukemia, published data on lymphoid malignancy have been sparse. T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is characterized by the abnormal proliferation of T-cell precursors and is generally aggressive. As CD34 is the only positive-selection marker for CSCs in T-ALL, we performed extensive analysis of CD markers in T-ALL cell lines. We found that some of the tested lines consisted of heterogeneous populations of cells with various levels of surface marker expression. In particular, a small subpopulation of CD90 (Thy-1) and CD110 (c-Mpl) were shown to correlate with stem cell properties both in vitro and in transplantation experiments. As these markers are expressed on hematopoietic stem cells, our results suggest that stem cell-like population are enriched in CD90+/CD110+ fraction and they are useful positive-selection markers for the isolation of CSCs in some cases of T-ALL.     

Reconstitution of 50 S ribosomal subunits from Bacillus stearothermophilus with 5 S RNA from spinach chloroplasts and low-Mr RNA from mitochondria of Locusta migratoria and bovine liver

Reconstitution experiments with 50 S ribosomal subunits from Bacillus stearothermophilus demonstrate that spinach chloroplast 5 S rRNA can be incorporated into the bacterial ribosome and yield biologically active particles, thereby establishing the eubacterial nature of chloroplast 5 S rRNA. In contrast, mitochondria from Locusta migratoria or bovine liver do not appear to contain discrete, low-Mr RNAs, which can replace 5 S rRNA in the functional reconstitution of B. stearothermophilus ribosomes.     

Comparison of in vivo and in vitro ribosomal RNA synthesis in nucleolar mutants ofXenopus laevis

Summary Cells of embryos carrying a lethal nucleolar mutation have been maintained in vitro for extended periods of time. Normally these mutants live only 9 to 12 days after fertilization but their cells in culture will survive for more than 3 months. The extent of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis was determined in primary cultures prepared from normal embryos and nucleolar mutants having different numbers of ribosomal RNA genes. We found that the accumulation of radioactivity into rRNA for normal and mutant embryos was similar in vivo and in vitro. In primary cultures of normal embryos which have two nucleoli per cell and mutant embryos which have only one nucleolus per cell, the incorporation of radio-activity into rRNA was similar even though the normal cells have twice as many rRNA genes. Thus the mechanism which regulates dosage compensation of the rRNA genes operates both in vivo and in vitro. This work was supported by Grant GB38651 from the National Science Foundation.     

MAPK and PI3K activities are required for leptin stimulation of protein synthesis in human trophoblastic cells

Leptin, the LEP gene product, is produced in placenta where it has been found to be an important autocrine signal for trophoblastic growth during pregnancy. Thus, we have recently described the antiapoptotic and trophic effect of leptin on choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3, stimulating DNA and protein synthesis. We have also demonstrated the presence of leptin receptor and leptin signaling in normal human trophoblastic cells, activating JAK-STAT, PI3K and MAPK pathways. In the present work we have employed dominant negative forms of MAPK and PKB constructs to find out the signaling pathways that specifically mediates the effect of leptin on protein synthesis. As previously shown, leptin stimulates protein synthesis as assessed by ³H-leucine incorporation. However, both dominant negative forms of MAPK and PKB inhibited protein synthesis in JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells. The inhibition of PKB and MAPK activity by transfection with the dominant negative kinases prevented the leptin stimulation of p70 S6K, which is known to be an important kinase in the regulation of protein synthesis. Moreover, leptin stimulation of phosphorylation of EIF4EBP1 and EIF4E, which allows the initiation of translation was also prevented by MAPK and PI3K dominant negative constructs. Therefore, these results demonstrate that both PI3K and MAPK are necessary to observe the effect of leptin signaling that mediates protein synthesis in choriocarcinoma cells JEG-3.     

Long noncoding RNA ENST00000455974 plays an oncogenic role through up-regulating JAG2 in human DNA mismatch repair-proficient colon cancer

DNA mismatch repair-proficient colon cancer is the most common type of colon cancer, but its initiation and progression are still unknown. Our previous study has revealed that a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) ENST00000455974 was significantly associated with TNM stage and distant metastasis in patients with DNA mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) colon cancer (CC). Here, firstly, we observed that ENST00000455974 was gradual increased across colon normal-adenoma-carcinoma-metastasis sequence by quantitative real-time PCR. Secondly, ENST00000455974 showed a better sensitivity and specificity than CEA and CA19-9 in the diagnosis of pMMR CC by drawing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Thirdly, a higher level of ENST00000455974 was associated with a poorer patient survival. Furthermore, Knockdown of ENST00000455974 led to reduced proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells. Mechanistically, ENST00000455974 was mainly located in the nucleus of colon cancer cells and it promoted the growth and metastasis of pMMR CC cells through up-regulating JAG2.