A hyperthermostable novel protein-disulfide oxidoreductase is reduced by thioredoxin reductase from hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii

A redox protein gene (PH0178) with high sequence homology to a glutaredoxin from Pyrococcus furiosus and a thioredoxin reductase homologue gene (PH1426) were found in the genome sequence of Pyrococcus horikoshii. These two genes were cloned and the corresponding expressed proteins were characterized. The redox protein from PH0178 had strong thioredoxin-like activity, but no glutaredoxin activity. The protein from PH1426 had some reductase activity against thioredoxin from Escherichia coli as well as the redox protein (PH0178). The protein from PH1426 was a typical, homodimeric flavoprotein. These results indicate that the redox protein (PH0178) is not a glutaredoxin but, rather, a new protein-disulfide oxidoreductase that is involved in a thioredoxin-like system with thioredoxin reductase (PH1426) in P. horikoshii. The redox protein and thioredoxin reductase retained their full activities for over 1h at 100 degrees C. The redox potential of the redox protein was similar to that of thioredoxin from E. coli and lower than that of glutathione. Site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that the active site of the redox protein corresponds to a CPYC sequence, located in the middle of the sequence.     

Motor dysfunction in type 5 adenylyl cyclase-null mice

Various neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, stimulate adenylyl cyclase to produce cAMP, which regulates neuronal functions. Genetic disruption of the type 5 adenylyl cyclase isoform led to a major loss of adenylyl cyclase activity in a striatum-specific manner with a small increase in the expression of a few other adenylyl cyclase isoforms. D1 dopaminergic agonist-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was attenuated, and this was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of the D1 dopaminergic receptor and G(s)alpha. D2 dopaminergic agonist-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity was also blunted. Type 5 adenylyl cyclase-null mice exhibited Parkinsonian-like motor dysfunction, i.e. abnormal coordination and bradykinesia detected by Rotarod and pole test, respectively, and to a lesser extent locomotor impairment was detected by open field tests. Selective D1 or D2 dopaminergic stimulation improved some of these disorders in this mouse model, suggesting the partial compensation of each dopaminergic receptor signal through the stimulation of remnant adenylyl cyclase isoforms. These findings extend our knowledge of the role of an effector enzyme isoform in regulating receptor signaling and neuronal functions and imply that this isoform provides a site of convergence of both D1 and D2 dopaminergic signals and balances various motor functions.     

Regulation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase gene expression by Hes-1 through E-box and interleukin-1 beta via two NF-kappa B elements in rat leptomeningeal cells

The promoter function of the rat lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) gene was characterized in primary cultures of leptomeningeal cells prepared from the neonatal rat brain. Luciferase reporter assays with deletion and site-directed mutation of the promoter region (-1250 to +77) showed that an AP-2 element at -109 was required for activation and an E-box at +57, for repression. Binding of nuclear factors to each of these cis-elements was demonstrated by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Several components of the Notch-Hes signaling pathway, Jagged, Notch1, Notch3, and Hes-1, were expressed in the leptomeningeal cells. Human Hes-1 co-expressed in the leptomeningeal cells bound to the E-box of the rat L-PGDS gene, and repressed the promoter activity of the rat L-PGDS gene in a dose-dependent manner. The L-PGDS gene expression was up-regulated slowly by interleukin-1 beta to the maximum level at 24 h. The reporter assay with deletion and mutation revealed that two NF-kappa B elements at -1106 and -291 were essential for this up-regulation. Binding of two NF-kappa B subunits, p65 and c-Rel, to these two NF-kappa B elements occurred after the interleukin-1 beta treatment. Therefore, the L-PGDS gene is the first gene identified as the target for the Notch-Hes signal through the E-box among a variety of genes involved in the prostanoid biosynthesis, classified to the lipocalin family, and expressed in the leptomeninges. Moreover, the L-PGDS gene is a unique gene that is activated slowly by the NF-kappa B system.     

A single amino acid difference between alpha and beta Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase dictates sensitivity to the specific inhibitor,STO-609

We recently developed STO-609, a selective inhibitor of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaM-KK), and we demonstrated that CaM-KK beta is more sensitive to STO-609 than the CaM-KK alpha isoform (Tokumitsu H., Inuzuka H., Ishikawa Y., Ikeda M., Saji I., and Kobayashi R. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 15813-15818). By using catalytic chimera and point mutants of both isoforms, we demonstrated that Val(269) in CaM-KK beta/Leu(233) in CaM-KK alpha confers a distinct sensitivity ( approximately 10-fold) to STO-609 on CaM-KK isoforms. Various mutations of Val(269) in CaM-KK beta indicate that substitution by hydrophobic residues with bulky side chains significantly decreases drug sensitivity and that the V269F mutant is the most effective drug-resistant enzyme ( approximately 80-fold higher IC(50) value). These findings are consistent with a result obtained with a full-length mutant expressed in COS-7 cells. Furthermore, suppression of CaM-KK-mediated CaM-KIV activation in transfected HeLa cells by STO-609 treatment was completely abolished by the co-expression of the CaM-KK beta V269F mutant. Based on the results that the distinct sensitivity of CaM-KK isoforms to STO-609 is because of a single amino acid substitution (Val/Leu) in the ATP-binding pocket, we have generated an STO-609-resistant CaM-KK mutant, which might be useful for validating the pharmacological effects and specificity of STO-609 in vivo.     

Systemic rather than local heme oxygenase-1 overexpression improves cardiac allograft outcomes in a new transgenic mouse

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism, exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We developed HO-1 transgenic (Tg) mice using a rat HO-1 genomic transgene under the control of the endogenous promoter. Transgene expression was demonstrated by RT-PCR in all studied tissues, and a modest HO-1 overexpression was documented by Western, ELISA, and enzyme activity assays. To assess the effect of local vs systemic HO-1 in the acute rejection response, we used Tg mice as organ donors or recipients of MHC-incompatible heart grafts. In the local HO-1 overexpression model, Tg allografts survived 10.5 +/- 0.7 days (n = 10), compared with 6.5 +/- 0.4 days (n = 6) for wild-type donor controls (p = 0.0001). In the systemic HO-1 overexpression model, Tg recipients maintained allografts for 26.8 +/- 3.4 days (n = 10), compared with 6.3 +/- 0.1 days (n = 12) in wild-type controls (p = 0.00009). Inhibition of HO activity by treatment with tin protoporphyrin blunted survival advantage in Tg mice and resulted in acute graft rejection (n = 3). Increased carboxyhemoglobin levels were consistently noted in Tg mice. Comparisons of grafts at day 4 indicated that HO-1 overexpression was inversely associated with vasculitis/inflammatory cell infiltrate in both models. Hearts transplanted into Tg recipients showed decreased CD4(+) lymphocyte infiltration and diminished immune activation, as judged by CD25 expression. Thus, although local and systemic HO-1 overexpression improved allograft outcomes, systemic HO-1 led to a more robust protection and resulted in a significant blunting of host immune activation. This Tg mouse provides a valuable tool to study mechanisms by which HO-1 exerts beneficial effects in organ transplantation.     

E-Cell 2: multi-platform E-Cell simulation system

A new version of the E-Cell simulation system,which runs on Windows as well as Linux, has been released as free software under the terms of the GNU General Public License.     

Transmission of symbiotic bacteria Buchnera to parthenogenetic embryos in the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea)

All phloem-feeding aphids have an absolute requirement for their primary bacterial symbionts Buchnera sp. The bacteria are transmitted vertically to either embryos in the viviparous morph or to eggs in the oviparous morph, with the implication that the symbiont population regularly passes through a genetic 'bottleneck', i.e. only a small proportion of the maternal symbiont population is transmitted to offspring. In this paper, we visualise this process in viviparous aphids using a specific immunolabelling technique for Buchnera. The images show a stream of bacteria originating from a single mycetocyte and entering the embryo, possibly via a membranous conduit, and individual bacterial cells free in the haemocoel of the aphid. Staining within the embryo blastoderm suggests over expression of antigen, perhaps indicative of rapid bacterial division immediately following infection.     

TAK-599, a novel N-phosphono type prodrug of anti-MRSA cephalosporin T-91825: synthesis,physicochemical and pharmacological properties

Crystalline 1 (TAK-599) is a novel N-phosphono prodrug of anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cephalosporin 2a (T-91825) that has high affinity for penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2' (IC(50); 0.90 microg/mL) and shows potent in vitro anti-MRSA activity (MIC against MRSA N133; 1.56 microg/mL), comparable to that of vancomycin (1.56 microg/mL). Although 2a had insufficient water solubility (2.3 mg/mL) for parenteral administration, 1 showed excellent water solubility (>100 mg/mL, pH 7) as well as good chemical stability in the solid state and solution. In pharmacokinetic studies, when 1 was administered intravenously to rats and monkeys, it was rapidly converted into 2a in the blood. These results show that 1 (TAK-599) is a highly promising parenteral cephalosporin targeted for MRSA infection.     

Rapostlin is a novel effector of Rnd2 GTPase inducing neurite branching

Rho family GTPases are central regulators of neuronal morphology. Recently, Rnd proteins, Rnd1, Rnd2, and Rnd3/RhoE, have been identified as new members of Rho family GTPases. Of these, Rnd2 is specifically expressed in neurons in brain; however, the signaling pathways of Rnd2 are not known. Here we have performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using Rnd2 as a bait and identified a novel Rnd2-effector protein, expressed predominantly in brain. We named it Rapostlin (apostle of Rnd2). Rapostlin has two functional domains, Fer-CIP4 homology (FCH) domain at the amino terminus and SH3 (Src homology 3) domain at the carboxyl terminus. In in vitro binding assays, Rapostlin specifically binds to Rnd2 among the Rho family GTPases in a GTP-dependent manner, and the Rnd2-binding domain of Rapostlin is localized between FCH and SH3 domains. Rapostlin directly binds to microtubules, and the amino-terminal region containing the FCH domain of Rapostlin is essential for this interaction. In PC12 cells, Rapostlin induces neurite branching in response to Rnd2, and at least the amino-terminal region of Rapostlin is necessary for this activity. Therefore, Rapostlin is the first effector of Rnd2, regulating neurite branch formation.