Potentiation of cell killing by inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in four rodent cell lines exposed to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea or UV light

The sensitivities (Do-values) of the cytotoxic effect of MNU on four rodent cell lines were: mouse L1210, 0.07 mM; rat Yoshida sarcoma, 0.52 mM; Chinese hamster V79A, 0.70 mM and the UV sensitive, X-ray sensitive V79/79, 0.35 mM. The abilities of maximum non-toxic doses of the poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, 5-methyl nicotinamide (5MeN), 3-methoxybenzamide (3MBA) and caffeine to potentiate this cytotoxicity and that of UV light in V79A and V79/79 was measured. The degree of potentiation (ratio Do without inhibitor/Do with inhibitor) was both agent and cell line dependent. In general the lymphoid cell lines L1210 and YS showed greater potentiation, up to 4-fold, than did the fibroblast lines V79A and V79/79. The use of inhibitors in pairs suggested that 5MeN and 3MBA affect one process whereas caffeine affects additional processes. The data provide further support for a role for poly(ADP-ribose) in DNA repair, but indicate that metabolic factors may modify the effectiveness of individual inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in different cell lines.     

Recruitment and the Role of Nuclear Localization in Polyglutamine-mediated Aggregation

The inherited neurodegenerative diseases caused by an expanded glutamine repeat share the pathologic feature of intranuclear aggregates or inclusions (NI). Here in cell-based studies of the spinocerebellar ataxia type-3 disease protein, ataxin-3, we address two issues central to aggregation: the role of polyglutamine in recruiting proteins into NI and the role of nuclear localization in promoting aggregation. We demonstrate that full-length ataxin-3 is readily recruited from the cytoplasm into NI seeded either by a pathologic ataxin-3 fragment or by a second unrelated glutamine-repeat disease protein, ataxin-1. Experiments with green fluorescence protein/polyglutamine fusion proteins show that a glutamine repeat is sufficient to recruit an otherwise irrelevant protein into NI, and studies of human disease tissue and a Drosophila transgenic model provide evidence that specific glutamine-repeat–containing proteins, including TATA-binding protein and Eyes Absent protein, are recruited into NI in vivo. Finally, we show that nuclear localization promotes aggregation: an ataxin-3 fragment containing a nonpathologic repeat of 27 glutamines forms inclusions only when targeted to the nucleus. Our findings establish the importance of the polyglutamine domain in mediating recruitment and suggest that pathogenesis may be linked in part to the sequestering of glutamine-containing cellular proteins. In addition, we demonstrate that the nuclear environment may be critical for seeding polyglutamine aggregates.     

Unrepaired DNA strand breaks in irradiated ataxia telangiectasia lymphocytes suggested from cytogenetic observations

It is suggested here that the unusually high level of radiation-induced chromosome and chromatid-type aberrations in cells from patients with ataxia telangiectasia, compared with normals, is due to a significantly increased fraction of unrepaired double and single strand breaks. A hypothesis is proposed to explain how unrepaired and misrepaired DNA single or double strand breaks might be the basic lesion leading to the typical chromosome aberrations seen following X-irradiation of both normal or AT cells.     

The smallest of the small

Microcephalic Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism (MOPD) II has recently been defined as a PCNT gene defect. Historically, it has been a disorder of interest because of the severe intrauterine growth restriction and postnatal short stature. The very shortest/smallest mature human being undoubtedly had this disorder. Maria Zarate lived between 1864 and 1890 and traveled in sideshows to England and all over North America. Her exceeding short stature was well documented in photographs and by a group of physicians in England. She was Mexican and also had an affected brother. A museum, Museo Casa Grande, about her still exists in Cempoala, Mexico.     

Down-regulation of endogenous KLHL1 decreases voltage-gated calcium current density

The actin-binding protein Kelch-like 1 (KLHL1) can modulate voltage-gated calcium channels in vitro. KLHL1 interacts with actin and with the pore-forming subunits of Cav2.1 and CaV3.2 calcium channels, resulting in up-regulation of P/Q and T-type current density. Here we tested whether endogenous KLHL1 modulates voltage gated calcium currents in cultured hippocampal neurons by down-regulating the expression of KLHL1 via adenoviral delivery of shRNA targeted against KLHL1 (shKLHL1). Control adenoviruses did not affect any of the neuronal properties measured, yet down-regulation of KLHL1 resulted in HVA current densities ∼68% smaller and LVA current densities 44% smaller than uninfected controls, with a concomitant reduction in α_1A and α_1H protein levels. Biophysical analysis and western blot experiments suggest Ca_V3.1 and 3.3 currents are also present in shKLHL1-infected neurons. Synapsin I levels, miniature postsynaptic current frequency, and excitatory and inhibitory synapse number were reduced in KLHL1 knockdown. This study corroborates the physiological role of KLHL1 as a calcium channel modulator and demonstrates a novel, presynaptic role.     

Chromosomal damage induced by furocoumarins and UVA in hamster and human cells including cells from patients with ataxia telangiectasia and xeroderma pigmentosum

The comparative photosensitizing effects to near-UV irradiation (UVA) of several naturally occurring furocoumarins, 5-methoxypsoralen (5MOP), psoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen (8MOP) and angelicin in producing chromosome damage in vitro in cells derived from hamster, normal human, ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients were studied. In Chinese hamster cells, lethality was greatest with psoralen and least with angelicin; 8MOP and 5MOP were intermediate. 8MOP and 5MOP produced sister-chromatid exchanges with almost equal efficiency and to a larger extent by far than angelicin. In all human cell lines studied 8MOP and 5MOP were similarly effective in the production of sister-chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberrations. AT and XP cells responded with higher frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges as well as chromosomal aberrations than normal human cells to 5MOP, 8MOP and angelicin. Evidence is presented which suggests that cell death in Chinese hamster cells following angelicin photosensitization is not clearly related to the production of sister-chromatid exchanges. AT cells were unexpectedly more sensitive to angelicin than normal cells. The presence of 5MOP in some sun-tan preparations is not acceptable in view of the present evidence of its biological activity.     

Response of fanconi anemia fibroblasts to adenine and purine analogues

Fanconi anemia (FA) fibroblasts are known to be exceptionally sensitive to the cytotoxic action of mitomycin C (MMC). The survival of FA cells was enhanced significantly when 0.5 mM caffeine or 0.5 mM adenine was added for 72 h after the cells were exposed to MMC. In other experiments in which MMC was not used, FA fibroblasts were shown to be significantly more sensitive than control cells to 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), 6-thioguanine (6-TG), and 6-azauridine (6-AU). These observations offer a new approach to defining the basic biochemical defect in FA.     

The H-ATP synthase: A gate to ROS-mediated cell death or cell survival

Cellular oxidative stress results from the increased generation of reactive oxygen species and/or the dysfunction of the antioxidant systems. Most intracellular reactive oxygen species derive from superoxide radical although the majority of the biological effects of reactive oxygen species are mediated by hydrogen peroxide. In this contribution we overview the major cellular sites of reactive oxygen species production, with special emphasis in the mitochondrial pathways. Reactive oxygen species regulate signaling pathways involved in promoting survival and cell death, proliferation, metabolic regulation, the activation of the antioxidant response, the control of iron metabolism and Ca^2 + signaling. The reversible oxidation of cysteines in transducers of reactive oxygen species is the primary mechanism of regulation of the activity of these proteins. Next, we present the mitochondrial H⁺-ATP synthase as a core hub in energy and cell death regulation, defining both the rate of energy metabolism and the reactive oxygen species-mediated cell death in response to chemotherapy. Two main mechanisms that affect the expression and activity of the H⁺-ATP synthase down-regulate oxidative phosphorylation in prevalent human carcinomas. In this context, we emphasize the prominent role played by the ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 in human carcinogenesis as an inhibitor of the H⁺-ATP synthase activity and a mediator of cell survival. The ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 promotes metabolic rewiring to an enhanced aerobic glycolysis and the subsequent production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. The generated reactive oxygen species are able to reprogram the nucleus to support tumor development by arresting cell death. Overall, we discuss the cross-talk between reactive oxygen species signaling and mitochondrial function that is crucial in determining the cellular fate. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 18th European Bioenergetic Conference.     

ATX-3, CDC-48 and UBXN-5: A new trimolecular complex in Caenorhabditis elegans

Ataxin-3 is the protein involved in Machado-Joseph disease, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine expansion. Ataxin-3 binds ubiquitylated proteins and acts as a deubiquitylating enzyme in vitro. It was previously proposed that ataxin-3, along with the VCP/p97 protein, escorts ubiquitylated substrates for proteasomal degradation, although other players of this escort complex were not identified yet.In this work, we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans ataxin-3 protein (ATX-3) interacts with both VCP/p97 worm homologs, CDC-48.1 and CDC-48.2 and we map the interaction domains. We describe a motility defect in both ATX-3 and CDC-48.1 mutants and, in addition, we identify a new protein interactor, UBXN-5, potentially an adaptor of the CDC-48-ATX-3 escort complex. CDC-48 binds to both ATX-3 and UBXN-5 in a non-competitive manner, suggesting the formation of a trimolecular complex. Both CDC-48 and ATX-3, but not UBXN-5, were able to bind K-48 polyubiquitin chains, the standard signal for proteasomal degradation. Additionally, we describe several common interactors of ATX-3 and UBXN-5, some of which can be in vivo targets of this complex.