Characterization of an acetyltransferase that detoxifies aromatic chemicals in Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is an opportunistic pathogen and the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease. Despite being exposed to many chemical compounds in its natural and man-made habitats (natural aquatic biotopes and man-made water systems), L. pneumophila is able to adapt and survive in these environments. The molecular mechanisms by which this bacterium detoxifies these chemicals remain poorly understood. In particular, the expression and functions of XMEs (xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes) that could contribute to chemical detoxification in L. pneumophila have been poorly documented at the molecular and functional levels. In the present paper we report the identification and biochemical and functional characterization of a unique acetyltransferase that metabolizes aromatic amine chemicals in three characterized clinical strains of L. pneumophila (Paris, Lens and Philadelphia). Strain-specific sequence variations in this enzyme, an atypical member of the arylamine N-acetyltransferase family (EC 2.3.1.5), produce enzymatic variants with different structural and catalytic properties. Functional inactivation and complementation experiments showed that this acetyltransferase allows L. pneumophila to detoxify aromatic amine chemicals and grow in their presence. The present study provides a new enzymatic mechanism by which the opportunistic pathogen L. pneumophila biotransforms and detoxifies toxic aromatic chemicals. These data also emphasize the role of XMEs in the environmental adaptation of certain prokaryotes.     

Proteome and phosphoproteome analysis of starch granule-associated proteins from normal maize and mutants affected in starch biosynthesis

In addition to the exclusively granule-bound starch synthase GBSSI, starch granules also bind significant proportions of other starch biosynthetic enzymes, particularly starch synthases (SS) SSI and SSIIa, and starch branching enzyme (BE) BEIIb. Whether this association is a functional aspect of starch biosynthesis, or results from non-specific entrapment during amylopectin crystallization, is not known. This study utilized genetic, immunological, and proteomic approaches to investigate comprehensively the proteome and phosphoproteome of Zea mays endosperm starch granules. SSIII, BEI, BEIIa, and starch phosphorylase were identified as internal granule-associated proteins in maize endosperm, along with the previously identified proteins GBSS, SSI, SSIIa, and BEIIb. Genetic analyses revealed three instances in which granule association of one protein is affected by the absence of another biosynthetic enzyme. First, eliminating SSIIa caused reduced granule association of SSI and BEIIb, without affecting GBSS abundance. Second, eliminating SSIII caused the appearance of two distinct electrophoretic mobility forms of BEIIb, whereas only a single migration form of BEIIb was observed in wild type or any other mutant granules examined. Third, eliminating BEIIb caused significant increases in the abundance of BEI, BEIIa, SSIII, and starch phosphorylase in the granule, without affecting SSI or SSIIa. Analysis of the granule phosphoproteome with a phosphorylation-specific dye indicated that GBSS, BEIIb, and starch phosphorylase are all phosphorylated as they occur in the granule. These results suggest the possibility that starch metabolic enzymes located in granules are regulated by post-translational modification and/or protein-protein interactions.     

ICOS ligation recruits the p50alpha PI3K regulatory subunit to the immunological synapse

ICOS ligation in concert with TCR stimulation results in strong PI3K activation in T lymphocytes. The ICOS cytoplasmic tail contains an YMFM motif that binds the p85alpha subunit of class IA PI3K, similar to the YMNM motif of CD28, suggesting a redundant function of the two receptors in PI3K signaling. However, ICOS costimulation shows greater PI3K activity than CD28 in T cells. We show in this report that ICOS expression in activated T cells triggers the participation of p50alpha, one of the regulatory subunits of class IA PI3Ks. Using different T-APC cell conjugate systems, we report that p50alpha accumulates at the immunological synapse in activated but not in resting T cells. Our results demonstrate that ICOS membrane expression is involved in this process and that p50alpha plasma membrane accumulation requires a functional YMFM Src homology 2 domain-binding motif in ICOS. We also show that ICOS triggering with its ligand, ICOSL, induces the recruitment of p50alpha at the synapse of T cell/APC conjugates. In association with the p110 catalytic subunit, p50alpha is known to carry a stronger lipid kinase activity compared with p85alpha. Accordingly, we observed that ICOS engagement results in a stronger activation of PI3K. Together, these findings provide evidence that p50alpha is likely a determining factor in ICOS-mediated PI3K activity in T cells. These results also suggest that a differential recruitment and activity of class IA PI3K subunits represents a novel mechanism in the control of PI3K signaling by costimulatory molecules.     

Expanding the chemical diversity of CK2 inhibitors

None of the already described CK2 inhibitors did fulfill the requirements for successful clinical settings. In order to find innovative CK2 inhibitors based on new scaffolds, we have performed a high-throughput screening of diverse chemical libraries. We report here the identification and characterization of several classes of new inhibitors. Whereas some share characteristics of previously known CK2 inhibitors, others are chemically unrelated and may represent new opportunities for the development of better CK2 inhibitors. By combining structure-activity relationships with a docking procedure, we were able to determine the binding mode of these inhibitors. Interestingly, beside the identification of several nanomolar ATP-competitive inhibitors, one class of chemical inhibitors displays a non-ATP competitive mode of inhibition, a feature that suggests that CK2 possess distinct druggable binding sites. For the most promising inhibitors, selectivity profiling was performed. We also provide evidence that some chemical compounds are inhibiting CK2 in living cells. Finally, the collected data allowed us to draw the rules about the chemical requirements for CK2 inhibition both in vitro and in a cellular context.     

Interplay between glutathione,Atx1 and copper. 1. Copper(I) glutathionate induced dimerization of Atx1

Copper is both an essential element as a catalytic cofactor and a toxic element because of its redox properties. Once in the cell, Cu(I) binds to glutathione (GSH) and various thiol-rich proteins that sequester and/or exchange copper with other intracellular components. Among them, the Cu(I) chaperone Atx1 is known to deliver Cu(I) to Ccc2, the Golgi Cu–ATPase, in yeast. However, the mechanism for Cu(I) incorporation into Atx1 has not yet been unraveled. We investigated here a possible role of GSH in Cu(I) binding to Atx1. Yeast Atx1 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to study its ability to bind Cu(I). We found that with an excess of GSH [at least two GSH/Cu(I)], Atx1 formed a Cu(I)-bridged dimer of high affinity for Cu(I), containing two Cu(I) and two GSH, whereas no dimer was observed in the absence of GSH. The stability constants (log β) of the Cu(I) complexes measured at pH 6 were 15–16 and 49–50 for CuAtx1 and Cu₂^I(GS⁻)₂(Atx1)₂, respectively. Hence, these results suggest that in vivo the high GSH concentration favors Atx1 dimerization and that Cu₂^I(GS⁻)₂(Atx1)₂ is the major conformation of Atx1 in the cytosol.     

Evaluation of regioselectivity of lipases based on synthesis reaction conducted with propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol

Preliminary investigations on the regioselectiviy of various lipases were performed. Ten commercial lipases from different origins, including three immobilized lipases, were tested by esterification reaction between caprylic acid and propyl or isopropyl alcohol in n-hexane. Reaction products were analyzed with a gas chromatograph. Best yields were obtained with immobilized lipase IM60 from Rhizomucor miehei. Therefore, this enzyme was chosen as biocatalyst for a second step of regioselectiviy study with propylene glycol which bears primary and secondary alcohol groups. It was shown, by using several solvents, that polarity could influence the product profile in situations in which multiple products of various polarities can be formed. Furthermore, the major role of silica gel in reaction mixture was established.