A Raf-1 mutant that dissociates MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation from malignant transformation and differentiation but not proliferation

It is widely thought that the biological outcomes of Raf-1 activation are solely attributable to the activation of the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. However, an increasing number of reports suggest that some Raf-1 functions are independent of this pathway. In this report we show that mutation of the amino-terminal 14-3-3 binding site of Raf-1 uncouples its ability to activate the MEK/ERK pathway from the induction of cell transformation and differentiation. In NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and COS-1 cells, mutation of serine 259 resulted in Raf-1 proteins which activated the MEK/ERK pathway as efficiently as v-Raf. However, in contrast to v-Raf, RafS259 mutants failed to transform. They induced morphological alterations and slightly accelerated proliferation in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts but were not tumorigenic in mice and behaved like wild-type Raf-1 in transformation assays measuring loss of contact inhibition or anchorage-independent growth. Curiously, the RafS259 mutants inhibited focus induction by an activated MEK allele, suggesting that they can hyperactivate negative-feedback pathways. In primary cultures of postmitotic chicken neuroretina cells, RafS259A was able to sustain proliferation to a level comparable to that sustained by the membrane-targeted transforming Raf-1 protein, RafCAAX. In contrast, RafS259A was only a poor inducer of neurite formation in PC12 cells in comparison to RafCAAX. Thus, RafS259 mutants genetically separate MEK/ERK activation from the ability of Raf-1 to induce transformation and differentiation. The results further suggest that RafS259 mutants inhibit signaling pathways required to promote these biological processes.     

Triple resonance experiments for the simultaneous correlation of H6/H5 and exchangeable protons of pyrimidine nucleotides in 13C,15N-labeled RNA applicable to larger RNA molecules

Triple-resonance two-dimensional H6/H5(C4N)H and C6/C5(C4N)H experiments are described that provide through-bond H6/H5 or C6/C5 to imino/amino correlations in pyrimidine bases in ¹³C,¹⁵N-labeled RNA. The experiments simultaneously transfer H6/H5 magnetization by an INEPT step to the C6/C5 nuclei and by homonuclear CC- and heteronuclear CN-TOCSY steps via the intervening C4 nucleus to the N3/N4 nuclei and then by a reverse INEPT step to the imino/amino hydrogens. The sensitivity of these experiments is high as demonstrated using a 30-nucleotide pyrimidine rich RNA at a concentration of 0.9 mM at temperatures of 10°C and 25°C. This indicates the general applicability of the experiments and the possibility to obtain correlations for imino resonances in non-canonical regions of the target RNA.     

Echinoid mutants exhibit neurogenic phenotypes and show synergistic interactions with the Notch signaling pathway

During neurogenesis in Drosophila, groups of ectodermal cells are endowed with the capacity to become neuronal precursors. The Notch signaling pathway is required to limit the neuronal potential to a single cell within each group. Loss of genes of the Notch signaling pathway results in a neurogenic phenotype: hyperplasia of the nervous system accompanied by a parallel loss of epidermis. Echinoid (Ed), a cell membrane associated Immunoglobulin C2-type protein, has previously been shown to be a negative regulator of the EGFR pathway during eye and wing vein development. Using in situ hybridization and antibody staining of whole-mount embryos, we show that Ed has a dynamic expression pattern during embryogenesis. Embryonic lethal alleles of ed reveal a role of Ed in restricting neurogenic potential during embryonic neurogenesis, and result in a phenotype similar to that of loss-of-function mutations of Notch signaling pathway genes. In this process Ed interacts closely with the Notch signaling pathway. Loss of ed suppresses the loss of neuronal elements caused by ectopic activation of the Notch signaling pathway. Using a temperature-sensitive allele of ed we show, furthermore, that Ed is required to suppress sensory bristles and for proper wing vein specification during adult development. In these processes also, ed acts in close concert with genes of the Notch signaling pathway. Thus the extra wing vein phenotype of ed is enhanced upon reduction of Delta (Dl) or Enhancer of split [E(spl)] proteins. Overexpression of the membrane-tethered extracellular region of Ed results in a dominant-negative phenotype. This phenotype is suppressed by overexpression of E(spl)m7 and enhanced by overexpression of Dl. Our work establishes a role of Ed during embryonic nervous system development, as well as adult sensory bristle specification and shows that Ed interacts synergistically with the Notch signaling pathway.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: SAR and X-ray crystallographic study for the interaction of sugar sulfamates/sulfamides with isozymes I,II and IV

A series of sugar sulfamate/sulfamide derivatives were prepared and assayed as inhibitors of three carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes, hCA I, hCA II and bCA IV. Best inhibitory properties were observed for the clinically used antiepileptic drug topiramate, which is a low nanomolar CA II inhibitor, and possesses good inhibitory properties against the other two isozymes investigated here, similarly with acetazolamide, methazolamide or dichlorophenamide. The X-ray structure of the complex of topiramate with hCA II has been solved and it revealed a very tight association of the inhibitor, with a network of seven strong hydrogen bonds fixing topiramate within the active site, in addition to the Zn(II) coordination through the ionized sulfamate moiety. Structural changes in this series of sugar derivatives led to compounds with diminished CA inhibitory properties as compared to topiramate.     

Aberrant neuronal and mitochondrial proteins in hippocampus of transgenic mice overexpressing human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1

Mutations of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), a metalloenzyme catalyzing the conversion of superoxide anion to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), are linked to motor neuron degeneration. Transgenic mouse strains overexpressing wild-type human SOD1 (Tg-SOD1) were shown to have mitochondrial swelling, vacuolization, or learning and memory deficits and are widely used for biochemical, genetic, and cognitive studies; this, along with the advent of advanced proteomic methods, made us investigate protein expression in hippocampus. Hippocampal tissues of wild-type, hemizygous, and homozygous Tg-SOD1 mice were isolated and used for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight identification. We identified several synaptosomal, neuronal, antioxidant, and mitochondrial proteins in hippocampus, and expression levels of syntaxin-binding protein 1, N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor, synaptosomal-associated protein 25, dynamin-1, neurofilament triplet L protein, neurofilament triplet M protein, neuronal tropomodulin, and neuronal protein 25 were significantly decreased in Tg-SOD1. None of the antioxidant proteins were altered except mouse SOD1. Mitochondrial ATP synthase alpha/beta chain and elongation factor Tu were aberrant in Tg-SOD1. We conclude that derangement of neuronal and mitochondrial proteins may indicate synaptosomal and neuronal loss in Tg-SOD1 hippocampus, already reported in morphological terms. This observation is of relevance to understanding brain deficits in Down syndrome, as SOD1 is encoded on chromosome 21.     

Structural mechanism for lipid activation of the Rac-specific GAP, beta2-chimaerin

The lipid second messenger diacylglycerol acts by binding to the C1 domains of target proteins, which translocate to cell membranes and are allosterically activated. Here we report the crystal structure at 3.2 A resolution of one such protein, beta2-chimaerin, a GTPase-activating protein for the small GTPase Rac, in its inactive conformation. The structure shows that in the inactive state, the N terminus of beta2-chimaerin protrudes into the active site of the RacGAP domain, sterically blocking Rac binding. The diacylglycerol and phospholipid membrane binding site on the C1 domain is buried by contacts with the four different regions of beta2-chimaerin: the N terminus, SH2 domain, RacGAP domain, and the linker between the SH2 and C1 domains. Phospholipid binding to the C1 domain triggers the cooperative dissociation of these interactions, allowing the N terminus to move out of the active site and thereby activating the enzyme.     

Lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation is not accompanied by a release of anandamide into the lavage fluid or a down-regulation of the activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase

The effect of lipopolysaccharide inhalation upon lung anandamide levels, anandamide synthetic enzymes and fatty acid amide hydrolase has been investigated. Lipopolysaccharide exposure produced a dramatic extravasation of neutrophils and release of tumour necrosis factor alpha into the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, which was not accompanied by epithelial cell injury. The treatment, however, did not change significantly the levels of anandamide and the related compound palmitoylethanolamide in the cell-free fraction of the BAL fluid. The activities of the anandamide synthetic enzymes N-acyltransferase and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D and the activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase in lung membrane fractions did not change significantly following the exposure to lipopolysaccharide. The non-selective fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride was a less potent inhibitor of lung fatty acid amide hydrolase than expected from the literature, and a dose of 30 mg/kg i.p. of this compound, which produced a complete inhibition of brain anandamide metabolism, only partially inhibited the lung metabolic activity.     

Molecular imaging of the transcription factor NF-kappaB, a primary regulator of stress response

A wide range of environmental stress and human disorders involves inappropriate regulation of NF-kappaB, including cancers and numerous inflammatory conditions. We have developed transgenic mice that express luciferase under the control of NF-kappaB, enabling real-time non-invasive imaging of NF-kappaB activity in intact animals. We show that, in the absence of stimulation, strong, intrinsic luminescence is evident in lymph nodes in the neck region, thymus, and Peyer's patches. Treating mice with stressors, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases the luminescence in a tissue-specific manner, with the strongest activity observable in the skin, lungs, spleen, Peyer's patches, and the wall of the small intestine. Liver, kidney, heart, muscle, and adipose tissue exhibit less intense activities. Exposure of the skin to a low dose of UV-B radiation increases luminescence in the exposed areas. In ocular experiments, LPS- and TNF-alpha injected NF-kappaB-luciferase transgenic mice exhibit a 20-40-fold increase in lens NF-kappaB activity, similar to other LPS- and TNF-alpha-responsive organs. Peak NF-kappaB activity occurs 6h after injection of TNF-alpha and 12h after injection of LPS. Peak activities occur, respectively, 3 and 6h later than that in other tissues. Mice exposed to 360J/m(2) of UV-B exhibit a 16-fold increase in NF-kappaB activity 6h after exposure, characteristically similar to TNF-alpha-exposed mice. Thus, in NF-kappaB-luciferase transgenic mice, NF-kappaB activity also occurs in lens epithelial tissue and is activated when the intact mouse is exposed to classical stressors. Furthermore, as revealed by real-time non-invasive imaging, induction of chronic inflammation resembling rheumatoid arthritis produces strong NF-kappaB activity in the affected joints. Finally, we have used the model to demonstrate NF-kappaB regulation by manipulating the Vitamin A status in mice. NF-kappaB activity is elevated in mice fed a Vitamin A deficient (VAD) diet, and suppressed by surplus doses of retinoic acid (RA). We thus demonstrate the development and use of a versatile model for monitoring NF-kappaB activation both in tissue homogenates and in intact animals after the use of classical activators, during disease progression and after dietary intervention.     

Recombinant water-soluble chlorophyll protein from Brassica oleracea var. Botrys binds various chlorophyll derivatives

A gene coding for water-soluble chlorophyll-binding protein (WSCP) from Brassica oleracea var. Botrys has been used to express the protein, extended by a hexahistidyl tag, in Escherichia coli. The protein has been refolded in vitro to study its pigment binding behavior. Recombinant WSCP was found to bind two chlorophylls (Chls) per tetrameric protein complex but no carotenoids in accordance with previous observations with the native protein [Satoh, H., Nakayama, K., Okada, M. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 30568-30575]. WSCP binds Chl a, Chl b, bacteriochlorophyll a, and the Zn derivative of Chl a but not pheophytin a, indicating that the central metal ion in Chl is essential for binding. WSCP also binds chlorophyllides a and b and even the more distant Chl precursor Mg-protoporphyrin IX; however, these pigments fail to induce oligomerization of the protein. We conclude that the phytol group in bound Chl plays a role in the formation of tetrameric WSCP complexes. If WSCP in fact binds Chl or its derivative(s) in vivo, the lack of carotenoids in pigmented WSCP raises the question of how photooxidation, mediated by triplet-excited Chl and singlet oxygen, is prohibited. We show by spin-trap electron-paramagnetic resonance that the light-induced singlet-oxygen formation of WSCP-bound Chl is lower by a factor of about 4 than that of unbound Chl. This as-yet-unknown mechanism of WSCP to protect its bound Chl against photooxidation supports the notion that WSCP may function as a transient carrier of Chl or its derivatives.