Rapid changes in the expression of inhibin alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunits in ovarian cell types during the rat estrous cycle

Distributions of inhibin alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunits in different ovarian compartments were studied in cycling female rats by in situ hybridization with complementary RNA probes and using immunohistochemical localization with antibodies selective for each inhibin subunit. Consistent with earlier studies showing inhibin production by granulosa cells of maturing follicles, we also detected mRNAs for inhibin alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunits in granulosa cells of these follicles. However, based on immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we found that inhibin alpha- is not only expressed in granulosa cells of mature follicles but in follicles at all stages of maturation, including primary to tertiary follicles. A number of primordial follicles also contained alpha mRNA and immunodetectable alpha-subunit. Interestingly, theca interna and interstitial gland cells contained inhibin alpha mRNA and alpha-subunit. Low levels of inhibin alpha immunoreactivity as well as specific hybridization to the complementary inhibin alpha mRNA probe were observed in newly formed luteal tissue. beta-Subunits, on the other hand, were detected exclusively in granulosa cells of healthy tertiary follicles. The changes in expression of inhibin alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunits were more pronounced during the follicular phase of the cycle: inhibin alpha reached its highest level in granulosa cells, theca interna, and interstitial gland cells a few hours after the LH/FSH surge, while at the same time the beta-subunits decreased dramatically in granulosa cells of mature follicles. Immediately before ovulation (estrus 0200 h), the alpha-subunit sharply declined in preovulatory follicles and was present mainly in granulosa cells from nonovulatory follicles at various stages of maturation. At that time, the beta A- and beta B-subunits could not be detected in preovulatory follicles but were localized mainly in small tertiary follicles (less than 300 microns). Unlike for the alpha- and beta B-subunits, beta A mRNA and immunoreactivity was present in large tertiary follicles (approximately 600 microns) immediately before ovulation. The present findings support the hypothesis that a decrease in inhibin production could be responsible for the secondary FSH surge observed early on estrus. This could be initiated by a change in the ratios of activin-inhibin production by decreasing first, the levels of beta-subunits, second, the levels of alpha-subunit, and third, by a resurgence of activin A produced mainly by granulosa cells from large tertiary follicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Affinity-labelling of the thyrotropin receptor. Characterization of the photoactive ligand.

Thyrotropin (TSH) has been coupled to the photoactive heterobifunctional reagent N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 4-azidobenzoate (HSAB) and the properties of the product (HSAB-TSH) investigated. Preparations of HSAB-TSH containing two molecules of HSAB per molecule of TSH were used in most experiments and these preparations retained about 40% of the original receptor-binding activity of the TSH. HSAB-TSH could be labelled with 125I and cross-linked to porcine and human TSH receptors. Analysis of the cross-linked complexes indicated that the receptors consisted of two subunits (designated A and B) linked by a disulphide bridge. In the case of the human TSH receptor, the A- and B-subunits had approximate Mr values of 50 000 and 30 000 respectively, whereas the Mr values for porcine TSH-receptor A- and B-subunits were approx. 45 000 and 25 000 respectively. Only the A subunit was cross-linked to TSH. Comparison of the effects of trypsin and mercaptoethanol on the TSH-TSH-receptor complexes suggested that the trypsin cleavage point on the A-subunit was at a point close to the disulphide bridge.     

Primary structures of two hemagglutinins from the marine red alga, Hypnea japonica

As the first examples among marine algal hemagglutinins, the primary structures of two hemagglutinins, named hypnin A-1 and A-2, from the red alga Hypnea japonica, were determined by Edman degradation. Both hemagglutinins were single-chain polypeptides composed of 90 amino acid residues including four half-cystines, all of which were involved in two intrachain disulfide bonds, Cys(5)-Cys(62) and Cys(12)-Cys(89). Hypnin A-1 and A-2 had calculated molecular masses of 9146.7 and 9109.7 Da which coincided with determined values, 9148 and 9109 Da, by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, respectively. Both hemagglutinins only differed from each other at three positions; Pro(19), Arg(31) and Phe(52) of hypnin A-1 as compared with Leu(19), Ser(31), and Tyr(52) of hypnin A-2. Approximately 43% of total residual numbers consisted of three kinds of amino acids: serine, glycine and proline. The hemagglutination activities were lost by reduction and alkylation of the disulfide bonds. The nature of the small-sized polypeptides, including disulfide bonds, may contribute to the extreme thermostability of the hemagglutinins. Sequence having overall similarity to hypnin A-1 or A-2 was not detected in databases. Unexpectedly, however, hypnins contained a motif similar to the alignment of the C-terminal conserved amino acids within carbohydrate-recognition domains of C-type animal lectins. Furthermore, interestingly, the hemagglutination activities were inhibited by a protein, phospholipase A-2 besides some glycoproteins, suggesting that hypnins may possess both a protein-recognition site(s) and a carbohydrate-recognition site(s).     

Isolation and characterization of two cDNAs encoding translation initiation factor 1A from rice(Oryza sativa L.).

The eukaryotic initiation factor 1A(eIF1A) is essential for transferring of the initiator Met-tRNA to 40S ribosomal subunits to form the 40S pre-initiation complex. In present study, we describe the cloning and characterization of two eIF1A genes from rice, which were designated as Oryza sativa eukaryotic initiation factor 1A genes OseIF1A-1, OseIF1A-2, respectively. Both rice elF1As shared high identities in amino acids with eIF1A proteins from other eukaryotes. The mRNA expression analysis revealed that OseIF1A-2 mRNA was much more accumulated than OseIF1A-1 in all tissues but each gene is expressed in root, stem, leaf and flowering spike in high and nearly equal level, and in immature spike in lower level. These results, together with their different location in unrooted phylogenetic tree inferred from amino acid sequences of all known eIF1As, suggested that there are two types of eIF1A genes with different function or different regulation in rice.     

Primary structure of Beijing duck apolipoprotein A-1

The primary structure of Beijing duck apolipoprotein A-1 was determined by sequencing peptide fragments derived from tryptic and endoproteinase Asp-N digestion of the protein, and alignment with homologous chicken apo A-1. All of the peptide fragments were isolated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a Vydac C18 column using a trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) buffer system. The N-terminus of the protein was determined to be aspartic acid by directly sequencing 52 residues of the intact protein. The C-terminus was alanine. The protein contains 240 amino acid residues. By analysis of the whole protein and its tryptic peptides, a six amino acid (Arg-Tyr-Phe-Trp-Gln-His) prosegment was determined. No cross-reactivity between duck and human apo A-1 with a goat antiserum against human apo A-1 was found. Sequence analysis of apo A-1 of other species indicates that amino acid substitutions in rat are more extensive than in other mammals. Isoleucine residues in apo A-1 are inversely correlated to the homology of human to other species, except dog.     

Regulation of photosynthetic GAPDH dissected by mutants

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) of higher plants catalyzes an NADPH-consuming reaction, which is part of the Calvin cycle. This reaction is regulated by light via thioredoxins and metabolites, while a minor NADH-dependent activity is constant and constitutive. The major native isozyme is formed by A- and B-subunits in stoichiometric ratio (A2B2, A8B8), but tetramers of recombinant B-subunits (GapB) display similar regulatory features to A2B2-GAPDH. The C-terminal extension (CTE) of B-subunits is essential for thioredoxin-mediated regulation and NAD-induced aggregation to partially inactive oligomers (A8B8, B8). Deletion mutant B(minCTE) is redox insensitive and invariably tetrameric, and chimeric mutant A(plusCTE) acquired redox sensitivity and capacity to aggregate to very large oligomers in presence of NAD. Redox regulation principally affects the turnover number, without significantly changing the affinity for either 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate or NADPH. Mutant R77A of GapB, B(R77A), is down-regulated and mimics the behavior of oxidized GapB under any redox condition, whereas mutant B(E362Q) is constantly up-regulated, resembling reduced GapB. Despite their redox insensitivity, both B(R77A) and B(E362Q) mutants are notably prone to aggregate in presence of NAD. Based on structural data and current functional analysis, a model of GAPDH redox regulation is presented. Formation of a disulfide in the CTE induces a conformational change of the GAPDH with repositioning of the terminal amino acid Glu-362 in the proximity of Arg-77. The latter residue is thus distracted from binding the 2'-phosphate of NADP, with the final effect that the enzyme relaxes to a conformation leading to a slower NADPH-dependent catalytic activity.     

Structural basis for differential receptor binding of cholera and Escherichia coli heat-labile toxins: influence of heterologous amino acid substitutions in the cholera B-subunit

The closely related B-subunits of cholera toxin (CTB) and Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) both bind strongly to GM1 ganglioside receptors but LTB can also bind to additional glycolipids and glycoproteins. A number of mutant CT B-subunits were generated by substituting CTB amino acids with those at the corresponding positions in LTB. These were used to investigate the influence of specific residues on receptor-binding specificity. A mutated CTB protein containing the first 25 residues of LTB in combination with LTB residues at positions 94 and 95, bound to the same extent as native LTB to both delipidized rabbit intestinal cell membranes, complex glycosphingolipids (polyglycosylceramides) and neolactotetraosylceramide, but not to non-GM1 intestinal glycosphingolipids. In contrast, when LTB amino acid substitutions in the 1–25 region were combined with those in the 75–83 region, a binding as strong as that of LTB to intestinal glycosphingolipids was observed. In addition, a mutant LTB with a single Gly-33→Asp substitution that completely lacked affinity for both GM1 and non-GM1 glycosphingolipids could still bind to receptors in the intestinal cell membranes and to polyglycosylceramides. We conclude that the extra, non-GM1 receptors for LTB consist of both sialylated and non-sialylated glycoconjugates, and that the binding to either class of receptors is influenced by different amino acid residues within the protein.     

Polymorphisms of the ATP1A1 gene associated with mastitis in dairy cattle

Mastitis affects the concentrations of potassium and sodium in milk. Since sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na(+), K(+)-ATPase) is critical for maintaining the homeostasis of these two ions, and is involved in cell apoptosis and pathogenesis, we presumed that polymorphism of the ATP1A1 gene, which encodes the bovine Na(+), K(+)-ATPase α1 subunit could be associated with mastitis. The ATP1A1 gene was analyzed in 320 Holstein cows using PCR low ionic strength single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-LIS-SSCP) and DNA sequencing methods. A C/A SNP was identified at nucleotide position -15,739 in exon 17 of the ATP1A1 gene, but it did not induce any change in amino acids. We examined a possible association of polymorphism of the ATP1A1 gene with somatic cell score and 305-day milk yields. Individuals with genotype CC in ATP1A1 had significantly lower somatic cell scores and 305-day milk yields than those with genotype CA. We also examined changes in Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity of red cell membranes. The Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity was significantly higher in dairy cows with genotype CC compared to the other two genotypes, and the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity of the resistant group was significantly higher than that of the susceptible group in dairy cows. We conclude that this polymorphism has potential as a marker for mastitis resistance in dairy cattle.     

The V-ATPase from etiolated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) shoots is activated by blue light and interacts with 14-3-3 proteins

The vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a key enzyme that controls the electrochemical proton potential across endomembranes. Although evidence suggests that V-ATPase is important for photo-morphogenesis, little is known about short-term regulation of V-ATPase upon initiation of the photo-morphogenetic programme by exposure of dark-grown plants to light. In this study, etiolated coleoptiles were given a short blue light treatment and V-ATPase characteristics were determined. The effectiveness of the light treatment was assessed by means of fusicoccin binding to the plasma membrane; this increased 5-fold. The short light treatment also induced a 2-fold to 3-fold increase in the hydrolytic activity of V-ATPase. Members of the 14-3-3 protein family are involved in both blue light perception and the subsequent activation of the P-type ATPase. We provide evidence that 14-3-3 proteins specifically interact with the catalytic A-subunit of the V-ATPase. First, the isolated V1-part of the V-ATPase co-purifies with 14-3-3 on a gel filtration column. Secondly, in an overlay experiment, 14-3-3 interacts with a 68 kDa band that was identified as the V1 A-subunit by mass spectrometry. Thirdly, in 14-3-3 affinity chromatography, both A- and B-subunits of the catalytic moiety of the V-ATPase were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF/TOF MS) as 14-3-3-interacting proteins. It was shown that the A-subunit can be phosphorylated in vitro by a tonoplast-bound kinase, whose properties are affected by blue light. Taken together, the data show that besides the P- and F-type H(+)-ATPases, the V-type H(+)-ATPase also interacts with 14-3-3 proteins.     

Definition of Amino Acid Residues on the Epitope Responsible for Recognition by Influenza A Virus H1-Specific, H2-Specific, and H1- and H2-Cross-Reactive Murine Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Clones

We defined the epitopes recognized by three influenza A virus-specific, H-2K^d-restricted CD8⁺ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clones: H1-specific clone A-12, H2-specific clone F-4, and H1- and H2-cross-reactive clone B7-B7. The A-12 and B7-B7 clones recognized the same peptide, which comprises amino acids 533 to 541 (IYSTVASSL) of A/PR/8 hemagglutinin (HA). The F-4 and B7-B7 clones both recognized the peptide which comprise amino acids 529 to 537 (IYATVAGSL) of A/Jap HA. Amino acids 533 to 541 of A/PR/8 HA are compatible with amino acids 529 to 537 of A/Jap HA. Amino acid S at positions 3 and 7 was responsible for recognition by H1-specific clone A-12, while amino acid G at position 7 was responsible for recognition by H2-specific clone F-4. Two conserved amino acids, T at position 4 and A at position 6, were responsible for recognition by H1-, and H2-cross-reactive clone B7-B7. These results indicate that a single nine-amino-acid region is recognized by HA-specific CTL clones of three different subtype specificities and that the amino acids responsible for the recognition by the CTL clones are different.     

Characterization of the 3' exonuclease subunit DP1 of Methanococcus jannaschii replicative DNA polymerase D

The B-subunits associated with the replicative DNA polymerases are conserved from Archaea to humans, whereas the corresponding catalytic subunits are not related. The latter belong to the B and D DNA polymerase families in eukaryotes and archaea, respectively. Sequence analysis places the B-subunits within the calcineurin-like phosphoesterase superfamily. Since residues implicated in metal binding and catalysis are well conserved in archaeal family D DNA polymerases, it has been hypothesized that the B-subunit could be responsible for the 3′-5′ proofreading exonuclease activity of these enzymes. To test this hypothesis we expressed Methanococcus jannaschii DP1 (MjaDP1), the B-subunit of DNA polymerase D, in Escherichia coli, and demonstrate that MjaDP1 functions alone as a moderately active, thermostable, Mn²⁺-dependent 3′-5′ exonuclease. The putative polymerase subunit DP2 is not required. The nuclease activity is strongly reduced by single amino acid mutations in the phosphoesterase domain indicating the requirement of this domain for the activity. MjaDP1 acts as a unidirectional, non-processive exonuclease preferring mispaired nucleotides and single-stranded DNA, suggesting that MjaDP1 functions as the proofreading exonuclease of archaeal family D DNA polymerase.     

Periovulatory changes in the expression of inhibin alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunits in hormonally induced immature female rats

Immature female rats were treated with PMSG and human CG to induce ovulation. Sequential treatment with these hormones allowed us to investigate variations in the production of inhibin subunits shortly before ovulation and during the induced luteal phase. Using this model, we found that expression patterns for the alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunits were similar to those observed in mature cycling animals: administration of PMSG (to mimic the gonadotropin surge) led to a sharp increase in the expression of all three subunits in large preovulatory follicles whereas injection with human CG (to induce ovulation) caused a decrease in the levels of the respective mRNAs. In contrast to mature females, shortly before ovulation, levels of inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA were low in small antral follicles (approximately 350 microns). In addition, at that time, inhibin beta A- and beta B-subunits mRNAs were present in several large follicles (greater than 500 microns). More than 2 days after ovulation, inhibin beta A- and beta B-subunit mRNAs could not be detected in small antral size follicles (approximately 350 microns) of hormonally induced females. On the other hand, hybridization signals for the inhibin alpha-subunit were observed in some small antral and preantral size follicles, while signals were very low or undetectable in a large number of atretic follicles. Using this synchronized ovulation model, hybridization patterns for inhibin beta A-subunit mRNA was observed in interstitial cells, 8-10 h after ovulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differential expression of eIF5A-1 and eIF5A-2 in human cancer cells

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is the only cellular protein that contains the unusual amino acid hypusine [N(epsilon)-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)lysine]. Vertebrates carry two genes that encode two eIF5A isoforms, eIF5A-1 and eIF5A-2, which, in humans, are 84% identical. eIF5A-1 mRNA (1.3 kb) and protein (18 kDa) are constitutively expressed in human cells. In contrast, expression of eIF5A-2 mRNA (0.7-5.6 kb) and eIF5A-2 protein (20 kDa) varies widely. Whereas eIF5A-2 mRNA was demonstrable in most cells, eIF5A-2 protein was detectable only in the colorectal and ovarian cancer-derived cell lines SW-480 and UACC-1598, which showed high overexpression of eIF5A-2 mRNA. Multiple forms of eIF5A-2 mRNA (5.6, 3.8, 1.6 and 0.7 kb) were identified as the products of one gene with various lengths of 3'-UTR, resulting from the use of different polyadenylation (AAUAAA) signals. The eIF5A-1 and eIF5A-2 precursor proteins were modified comparably in UACC-1598 cells and both were similarly stable. When eIF5A-1 and eIF5A-2 coding sequences were expressed from mammalian vectors in 293T cells, eIF5A-2 precursor was synthesized at a level comparable to that of eIF5A-1 precursor, indicating that the elements causing inefficient translation of eIF5A-2 mRNA reside outside of the open reading frame. On sucrose gradient separation of cytoplasmic RNA, only a small portion of total eIF5A-2 mRNA was associated with the polysomal fraction, compared with a much larger portion of eIF5A-1 mRNA in the polysomes. These findings suggest that the failure to detect eIF5A-2 protein even in eIF5A-2 mRNA positive cells is, at least in part, due to inefficient translation.     

A DNA fragment homologous to F1-ATPase beta subunit was amplified from genomic DNA of Methanosarcina barkeri. Indication of an archaebacterial F-type ATPase.

A 490 bp DNA fragment was amplified from Methanosarcina barkeri genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using oligonucleotide primers designed based on conserved amino acid sequences of the F1-ATPase beta subunits. The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA sequence of this fragment was highly homologous to a portion of the F1-ATPase beta subunit. This indicates that this archaebacterium has a gene of F-type ATPase in addition to a gene of V-type ATPase.     

Interactions of subunits of DNA gyrase

Interaction of DNA gyrase A- and B-subunits during the process of DNA supercoiling was studied. For this purpose a E. coli Cour-1 mutant resistant to coumermycin and containing a mutation in the B-subunit of DNA gyrase was isolated and the influence of the DNA gyrase A-subunit specific inhibitor-nalidixic acid-on DNA supercoiling by wild-type and mutant enzymes was investigated. It turned out that the enzyme from the Cour-1 mutant strain was more sensitive to nalidixic acid than the DNA gyrase from the wild-type strain. Hence, the mutation affecting the B-subunit is capable to change A-subunit properties. That makes it possible to draw the conclusion about a close structural interaction of DNA gyrase subunits during DNA supercoiling.     

Cloning and sequencing of ftsZ homolog from extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1.

The gene encoding FtZ was cloned from triangular disc-shaped extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula japonica strain TR-1. Nucleotide sequencing analysis of the possible ftsZ gene revealed that the structural gene consisted of an open reading frame of 1,182 nucleotides encoding 394 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Ha. japonica FtsZ showed high identities with those Halobacterium salinarom, Haloferax volcanii and Haloferax mediterranei FtsZs.     

No direct binding of the heat-labile enterotoxin of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> to <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> lipopolysaccharides

A novel carbohydrate binding site recognizing blood group A and B determinants in a hybrid of cholera toxin and Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B-subunits (termed LCTBK) has previously been described, and also the native heat-labile enterotoxin bind to some extent to blood group A/B terminated glycoconjugates. The blood group antigen binding site is located at the interface of the B-subunits. Interestingly, the same area of the B-subunits has been proposed to be involved in binding of the heat-labile enterotoxin to lipopolysaccharides on the bacterial cell surface. Binding of the toxin to lipopolysaccharides does not affect the GM1 binding capacity. The present study aimed at characterizing the relationship between the blood group A/B antigen binding site and the lipopolysaccharide binding site. However, no binding of the B-subunits to E. coli lipopolysaccharides in microtiter wells or on thin-layer chromatograms was obtained. Incubation with lipopolysaccharides did not affect the binding of the B-subunits of heat-labile enterotoxin of human isolates to blood group A-carrying glycosphingolipids, indicating that the blood group antigen site is not involved in LPS binding. However, the saccharide competition experiments showed that GM1 binding reduced the affinity for blood group A determinants and vice versa, suggesting that a concurrent occupancy of the two binding sites does not occur. The latter finding is related to a connection between the blood group antigen binding site and the GM1 binding site through residues interacting with both ligands.