Activated liver X receptors stimulate adipocyte differentiation through induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma expression

Liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear hormone receptors that regulate cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism in liver tissue and in macrophages. Although LXR activation enhances lipogenesis, it is not well understood whether LXRs are involved in adipocyte differentiation. Here, we show that LXR activation stimulated the execution of adipogenesis, as determined by lipid droplet accumulation and adipocyte-specific gene expression in vivo and in vitro. In adipocytes, LXR activation with T0901317 primarily enhanced the expression of lipogenic genes such as the ADD1/SREBP1c and FAS genes and substantially increased the expression of the adipocyte-specific genes encoding PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ) and aP2. Administration of the LXR agonist T0901317 to lean mice promoted the expression of most lipogenic and adipogenic genes in fat and liver tissues. It is of interest that the PPARγ gene is a novel target gene of LXR, since the PPARγ promoter contains the conserved binding site of LXR and was transactivated by the expression of LXRα. Moreover, activated LXRα exhibited an increase of DNA binding to its target gene promoters, such as ADD1/SREBP1c and PPARγ, which appeared to be closely associated with hyperacetylation of histone H3 in the promoter regions of those genes. Furthermore, the suppression of LXRα by small interfering RNA attenuated adipocyte differentiation. Taken together, these results suggest that LXR plays a role in the execution of adipocyte differentiation by regulation of lipogenesis and adipocyte-specific gene expression.     

Substrate specificities and electron paramagnetic resonance properties of benzylsuccinate synthases in anaerobic toluene and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> m</Emphasis>-xylene metabolism

The anaerobic degradation pathways of toluene and m-xylene are initiated by addition of a fumarate cosubstrate to the methyl group of the hydrocarbon, yielding (R)-benzylsuccinate and (3-methylbenzyl)succinate, respectively, as first intermediates. These reactions are catalyzed by a novel glycyl-radical enzyme, (R)-benzylsuccinate synthase. Substrate specificities of benzylsuccinate synthases were analyzed in Azoarcus sp. strain T and Thauera aromatica strain K172. The enzyme of Azoarcus sp. strain T converts toluene, but also all xylene and cresol isomers, to the corresponding succinate adducts, whereas the enzyme of T. aromatica is active with toluene and all cresols, but not with any xylene isomer. This corresponds to the capabilities of Azoarcus sp. strain T to grow on either toluene or m-xylene, and of T. aromatica to grow on toluene as sole hydrocarbon substrate. Thus, differences in the substrate spectra of the respective benzylsuccinate synthases of the two strains contribute to utilization of different aromatic hydrocarbons, although growth on different substrates also depends on additional determinants. We also provide direct evidence by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy that glycyl radical enzymes corresponding to substrate-induced benzylsuccinate synthases are specifically detectable in anoxically prepared extracts of toluene- or m-xylene-grown cells. The presence of the EPR signals and the determined amount of the radical are consistent with the respective benzylsuccinate synthase activities. The properties of the EPR signals are highly similar to those of the prototype glycyl radical enzyme pyruvate formate lyase, but differ slightly from previously reported parameters for partially purified benzylsuccinate synthase.     

Neurotrophin action on a rapid timescale

Mechanisms underlying the fast action of neurotrophins include intracellular Ca(2+) signaling, neuronal excitation, augmentation of synaptic excitation by modulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activity and control of synaptic inhibition through the regulation of the K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter KCC2. The fastest action of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-4/5 occurs within milliseconds, and involves activation of TrkB and the opening of the Na(+) channel Na(v)1.9. Through these rapid actions, neurotrophins shape neuronal activity, modulate synaptic transmission and produce instructive signals for the induction of long-term changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission.     

Highly phosphorylated bacterial proteins

We show in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria the appearance of highly acidic proteins, which are highly phosphorylated. This group of proteins includes many cellular proteins, such as chaperones, biosynthetic, and metabolic enzymes. These proteins accumulate under stress conditions or under conditions, which overload the proteolytic system. Pulse chase experiments using radioactive phosphate indicate that the phosphorylated proteins have a short half-life, suggesting that they could be degradation intermediates. Moreover, results from in vitro experiments in Escherichia coli indicated that ribosomal proteins become susceptible to proteolysis after polyphosphorylation. Therefore, it is possible that the highly phosphorylated proteins represent a group of proteins tagged for degradation by phosphorylation. Such a tagging process may be involved in a general bacterial degradation pathway.     

Structural and stability effects of phosphorylation: Localized structural changes in phenylalanine hydroxylase

Phosphorylation of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) at Ser16 by cAMP-dependent protein kinase increases the basal activity of the enzyme and its resistance to tryptic proteolysis. The modeled structures of the full-length phosphorylated and unphosphorylated enzyme were subjected to molecular dynamics simulations, and we analyzed the energy of charge-charge interactions for individual ionizable residues in the final structures. These calculations showed that the conformational changes induced by incorporation of phosphate were localized and limited mostly to the region around the phosphoserine (Arg13-Asp17) and a region around the active site in the catalytic domain that includes residues involved in the binding of the iron and the substrate L-Phe (Arg270 and His285). The absence of a generalized conformational change was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, thermal-dependent circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and limited chymotryptic proteolysis of the phosphorylated and unphosphorylated PAH. Our results explain the effect of phosphorylation of PAH on both the resistance to proteolysis specifically by trypsin-like enzymes and on the increase in catalytic efficiency.     

Isolation of interstitial fluid from rat mammary tumors by a centrifugation method

Access to interstitial fluid is of fundamental importance to understand tumor transcapillary fluid balance, including the distribution of probes and therapeutic agents. Tumors were induced by gavage of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene to rats, and fluid was isolated after anesthesia by exposing tissue to consecutive centrifugations from 27 to 6,800 g. The observed (51)Cr-EDTA (extracellular tracer) tissue fluid-to-plasma ratio obtained from whole tumor or from superficial tumor tissue by centrifugation at 27-424 g was not significantly different from 1.0 (0.92-0.99), suggesting an extracellular origin only. However, fluid collected from excised central tumor parts had a significantly lower ratio (0.66-0.77) for all imposed G forces, suggesting dilution by fluid deriving from a space unavailable for (51)Cr-EDTA. The colloid osmotic pressure in tumor fluid was generally higher than in fluid isolated from the subcutis, attributable to less selective capillaries and impaired lymphatic drainage in tumors. HPLC analysis of tumor fluid showed that low-molecular-weight macromolecules not present in arterial plasma were present in tumor fluid obtained by centrifugation and in venous blood draining the tumor, most likely representing proteins derived from tumor cells. We conclude that low-speed centrifugation may be a simple and reliable method to isolate interstitial fluid from tumors.     

Integrin-mediated invasion of Staphylococcus aureus into human cells requires Src family protein-tyrosine kinases

Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of nosocomial infections, is able to invade eukaryotic cells by indirectly engaging beta1 integrin-containing host receptors, whereas non-pathogenic Staphylococcus carnosus is not invasive. Here, we identify intracellular signals involved in integrin-initiated internalization of S. aureus. In particular, the host cell actin cytoskeleton and Src family protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are essential to mediate S. aureus invasion. Src PTKs are activated in response to pathogenic S. aureus, but not S. carnosus. In addition, pharmacological and genetic interference with Src PTK function reduces bacterial internalization. Importantly, Src PTK-deficient cells are resistant to S. aureus invasion, demonstrating the essentiality of host Src PTKs in integrin-mediated uptake of this pathogen.