Nuclear envelope phosphatase 1-regulatory subunit 1 (formerly TMEM188) is the metazoan Spo7p ortholog and functions in the lipin activation pathway

Lipin-1 catalyzes the formation of diacylglycerol from phosphatidic acid. Lipin-1 mutations cause lipodystrophy in mice and acute myopathy in humans. It is heavily phosphorylated, and the yeast ortholog Pah1p becomes membrane-associated and active upon dephosphorylation by the Nem1p-Spo7p membrane complex. A mammalian ortholog of Nem1p is the C-terminal domain nuclear envelope phosphatase 1 (CTDNEP1, formerly "dullard"), but its Spo7p-like partner is unknown, and the need for its existence is debated. Here, we identify the metazoan ortholog of Spo7p, TMEM188, renamed nuclear envelope phosphatase 1-regulatory subunit 1 (NEP1-R1). CTDNEP1 and NEP1-R1 together complement a nem1Δspo7Δ strain to block endoplasmic reticulum proliferation and restore triacylglycerol levels and lipid droplet number. The two human orthologs are in a complex in cells, and the amount of CTDNEP1 is increased in the presence of NEP1-R1. In the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo, expression of nematode CTDNEP1 and NEP1-R1, as well as lipin-1, is required for normal nuclear membrane breakdown after zygote formation. The expression pattern of NEP1-R1 and CTDNEP1 in human and mouse tissues closely mirrors that of lipin-1. CTDNEP1 can dephosphorylate lipins-1a, -1b, and -2 in human cells only in the presence of NEP1-R1. The nuclear fraction of lipin-1b is increased when CTDNEP1 and NEP1-R1 are co-expressed. Therefore, NEP1-R1 is functionally conserved from yeast to humans and functions in the lipin activation pathway.     

G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 phosphorylates nucleophosmin and regulates cell sensitivity to polo-like kinase 1 inhibition

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) phosphorylate activated G protein-coupled receptors, leading to their desensitization and endocytosis. GRKs have also been implicated in phosphorylating other classes of proteins and can localize in a variety of cellular compartments, including the nucleus. Here, we attempted to identify potential nuclear substrates for GRK5. Our studies reveal that GRK5 is able to interact with and phosphorylate nucleophosmin (NPM1) both in vitro and in intact cells. NPM1 is a nuclear protein that regulates a variety of cell functions including centrosomal duplication, cell cycle control, and apoptosis. GRK5 interaction with NPM1 is mediated by the N-terminal domain of each protein, and GRK5 primarily phosphorylates NPM1 at Ser-4, a site shared with polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). NPM1 phosphorylation by GRK5 and PLK1 correlates with the sensitivity of cells to undergo apoptosis with cells having higher GRK5 levels being less sensitive and cells with lower GRK5 being more sensitive to PLK1 inhibitor-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results demonstrate that GRK5 phosphorylates Ser-4 in nucleophosmin and regulates the sensitivity of cells to PLK1 inhibition.     

Regulation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1-dependent gene expression through promoter-directed recruitment of a nuclear NAD+ synthase

NMNAT-1 and PARP-1, two key enzymes in the NAD(+) metabolic pathway, localize to the nucleus where integration of their enzymatic activities has the potential to control a variety of nuclear processes. Using a variety of biochemical, molecular, cell-based, and genomic assays, we show that NMNAT-1 and PARP-1 physically and functionally interact at target gene promoters in MCF-7 cells. Specifically, we show that PARP-1 recruits NMNAT-1 to promoters where it produces NAD(+) to support PARP-1 catalytic activity, but also enhances the enzymatic activity of PARP-1 independently of NAD(+) production. Furthermore, using two-photon excitation microscopy, we show that NMNAT-1 catalyzes the production of NAD(+) in a nuclear pool that may be distinct from other cellular compartments. In expression microarray experiments, depletion of NMNAT-1 or PARP-1 alters the expression of about 200 protein-coding genes each, with about 10% overlap between the two gene sets. NMNAT-1 enzymatic activity is required for PARP-1-dependent poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation at the promoters of commonly regulated target genes, as well as the expression of those target genes. Collectively, our studies link the enzymatic activities of NMNAT-1 and PARP-1 to the regulation of a set of common target genes through functional interactions at target gene promoters.     

Prolyl Hydroxylase 3 (PHD3) Modulates Catabolic Effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) on Cells of the Nucleus Pulposus through Co-activation of Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB)/p65 Signaling

Recent studies suggest a differential role of prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) isoforms in controlling hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-α degradation and activity in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. However, the regulation and function of PHDs under inflammatory conditions that characterize disc disease are not yet known. Here, we show that in NP cells, TNF-α and IL-1β induce PHD3 expression through NF-κB. Lentiviral delivery of Sh-p65 and Sh-IKKβ confirms that cytokine-mediated PHD3 expression is NF-κB-dependent. It is noteworthy that although both cytokines induce HIF activity, mechanistic studies using Sh-HIF-1α and PHD3 promoter/enhancer constructs harboring well characterized hypoxia response element (HRE) show lack of HIF involvement in cytokine-mediated PHD3 expression. Loss-of-function studies clearly indicate that PHD3 serves as a co-activator of NF-κB signaling activity in NP cells; PHD3 interacts with, and co-localizes with, p65. We observed that when PHD3 is silenced, there is a significant decrease in TNF-α-induced expression of catabolic markers that include ADAMTS5, syndecan4, MMP13, and COX2, and at the same time, there is restoration of aggrecan and collagen type II expression. It is noteworthy that hydroxylase function of PHDs is not required for mediating cytokine-dependent gene expression. These findings show that by enhancing the activity of inflammatory cytokines, PHD3 may serve a critical role in degenerative disc disease.     

Repeated treatment with the kappa opioid receptor agonist U69593 reverses enhanced K+ induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, but not the expression of locomotor sensitization in amphetamine-sensitized rats

The effects after the acute activation of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) can be distinguished from the effect after repeated administration of KOR agonist. Here, we report the effect of repeated administration of U69593 during abstinence after amphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization. Rats were injected once daily with amphetamine for five consecutive days. From day 6 to 9, rats that developed locomotor sensitization, received once daily injection of U69593 or vehicle. On day 10, all rats were injected with a challenging dose of amphetamine and locomotor activity was measured to assess the expression of sensitization. Microdialysis studies were carried out to assess dopamine extracellular levels in NAc. Rats that develop and express horizontal locomotor sensitization to amphetamine show increased dopamine release in the NAc induced by high K(+). The repeated treatment with U69593 reverses the sensitized depolarization-stimulated dopamine release in the NAc, but not the expression of locomotor sensitization induced by amphetamine. Thus, repeated activation of KORs during early amphetamine withdrawal dissociates the behavioral responses and the neurochemical responses that accompany the expression of sensitization to amphetamine.     

Proteomic analysis of the nucleus accumbens in rhesus monkeys of morphine dependence and withdrawal intervention

It has been known that the reinforcing effects and long-term consequences of morphine are closely associated with nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the brain, a key region of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway. However, the proteins involved in neuroadaptive processes and withdrawal symptom in primates of morphine dependence have not been well explored. In the present study, we performed proteomes in the NAc of rhesus monkeys of morphine dependence and withdrawal intervention with clonidine or methadone. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to compare changes in cytosolic protein abundance in the NAc. We found a total of 46 proteins differentially expressed, which were further identified by mass spectrometry analysis. The identified proteins can be classified into 6 classes: metabolism and mitochondrial function, synaptic transmission, cytoskeletal proteins, oxidative stress, signal transduction and protein synthesis and degradation. Importantly, we discovered 14 proteins were significantly but similarly altered after withdrawal therapy with clonidine or methadone, revealing potential pharmacological strategies or targets for the treatment of morphine addiction. Our study provides a comprehensive understanding of the neuropathophysiology associated with morphine addiction and withdrawal therapy in primate, which is helpful for the development of opiate withdrawal pharmacotherapies.     

大鼠髓核细胞原代培养及表型鉴定

目的:探讨Ⅱ型胶原酶联合透明质酸酶消化分离培养髓核细胞及免疫细胞化学表型鉴定的可行性。方法:无菌条件下分离SD大鼠凝胶状髓核,采用Ⅱ型胶原酶联合透明质酸酶消化分离髓核细胞并连续培养,倒置相差显微镜下观察,随后进行免疫细胞化学染色检测不同代次髓核细胞HIF-1、Ⅰ、Ⅱ型胶原、MMP2及蛋白聚糖的表达情况,并给予MTT法测定髓核细胞生长曲线。结果:Ⅱ型胶原酶联合透明质酸酶分离培养原代髓核细胞需要12 d左右贴壁,达95%融合需要34 d,而传代髓核细胞贴壁速率明显增快至10 h,且其倍增时间约为2.5 d;免疫细胞化学显示髓核细胞均表达HIF-1、Ⅰ、Ⅱ型胶原、MMP2和蛋白聚糖,且随着髓核细胞传代其HIF-1α、HIF-1β、Ⅰ型胶原及MMP2表达均增加,但Ⅱ型胶原表达降低,而蛋白聚糖表达无明显差异;MTT法显示随着髓核细胞传代其增殖有所减缓。结论:Ⅱ型胶原酶联合透明质酸酶可成功分离髓核细胞,提高培养效率,且HIF-1α、HIF-1β、Ⅰ、Ⅱ型胶原及MMP2可作为髓核细胞表型分子用于髓核细胞的鉴定。     

Huperzine A Reverses Cholinergic and Monoaminergic Dysfunction Induced by Bilateral Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis Injection of β-Amyloid Peptide (1–40) in Rats

(1) Huperzine A, a promising therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), was tested for its effects on cholinergic and monoaminergic dysfunction induced by injecting β-amyloid peptide-(1–40) into nucleus basalis magnocellularis of the rat. (2) Bilateral injection of 10 μg β-amyloid peptide-(1–40) into nucleus basalis magnocellularis produced local deposits of amyloid plaque and functional abnormalities detected by microdialysis. In medial prefrontal cortex, reductions in the basal levels and stimulated release of acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine were observed. However, oral huperzine A (0.18 mg/kg, once daily for 21 consecutive days) markedly reduced morphologic abnormalities at the injection site in rats infused with β-amyloid peptide-(1–40). Likewise, this treatment ameliorated the β-amyloid peptide-(1–40)-induced deficits in extracellular acetylcholine, dopamine, and norepinephrine (though not 5-hydroxytryptamine) in medial prefrontal cortex, and lessened the reduction in nicotine or methoctramine-stimulated release of acetylcholine and K⁺-evoked releases of acetylcholine and dopamine. (3) The present results provide the first direct evidence that huperzine A acts to oppose neurotoxic effects of β-amyloid peptide on cholinergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic systems of the rat forebrain.     

Genome size, cell size, and the evolution of enucleated erythrocytes in attenuate salamanders

Within the salamander family Plethodontidae, five different clades have evolved high levels of enucleated red blood cells, which are extremely unusual among non-mammalian vertebrates. In each of these five clades, the salamanders have large genomes and miniaturized or attenuated body forms. Such a correlation suggests that the loss of nuclei in red blood cells may be related, in part, to the interaction between large genome size and small body size, which has been shown to have profound morphological consequences for the nervous and visual systems in plethodontids. Previous work has demonstrated that variation in both the level of enucleated cells and the size of the nuclear genome exists among species of the monophyletic plethodontid genus Batrachoseps. Here, we report extensive intraspecific variation in levels of enucleated red blood cells in 15 species and provide measurements of red blood cell size, nucleus size, and genome size for 13 species of Batrachoseps. We present a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus based on 6150 bp of mitochondrial DNA sequence data from nine exemplar taxa and use it to examine the relationship between genome size and enucleated red blood cell morphology in a phylogenetic framework. Our analyses demonstrate positive direct correlations between genome size, nucleus size, and both nucleated and enucleated cell sizes within Batrachoseps, although only the relationship between genome size and nucleus size is significant when phylogenetically independent contrasts are used. In light of our results and broader studies of comparative hematology, we propose that high levels of enucleated, variably sized red blood cells in Batrachoseps may have evolved in response to rheological problems associated with the circulation of large red blood cells containing large, bulky nuclei in an attenuate organism.