Aerobic Growth of Escherichia coli Is Reduced,and ATP Synthesis Is Selectively Inhibited when Five C-terminal Residues Are Deleted from the ? Subunit of ATP Synthase

F-type ATP synthases are rotary nanomotor enzymes involved in cellular energy metabolism in eukaryotes and eubacteria. The ATP synthase from Gram-positive and -negative model bacteria can be autoinhibited by the C-terminal domain of its ϵ subunit (ϵCTD), but the importance of ϵ inhibition in vivo is unclear. Functional rotation is thought to be blocked by insertion of the latter half of the ϵCTD into the central cavity of the catalytic complex (F₁). In the inhibited state of the Escherichia coli enzyme, the final segment of ϵCTD is deeply buried but has few specific interactions with other subunits. This region of the ϵCTD is variable or absent in other bacteria that exhibit strong ϵ-inhibition in vitro. Here, genetically deleting the last five residues of the ϵCTD (ϵΔ5) caused a greater defect in respiratory growth than did the complete absence of the ϵCTD. Isolated membranes with ϵΔ5 generated proton-motive force by respiration as effectively as with wild-type ϵ but showed a nearly 3-fold decrease in ATP synthesis rate. In contrast, the ϵΔ5 truncation did not change the intrinsic rate of ATP hydrolysis with membranes. Further, the ϵΔ5 subunit retained high affinity for isolated F₁ but reduced the maximal inhibition of F₁-ATPase by ϵ from >90% to ∼20%. The results suggest that the ϵCTD has distinct regulatory interactions with F₁ when rotary catalysis operates in opposite directions for the hydrolysis or synthesis of ATP.     

Regulation of Hyaluronan (HA) Metabolism Mediated by HYBID (Hyaluronan-binding Protein Involved in HA Depolymerization,KIAA1199) and HA Synthases in Growth Factor-stimulated Fibroblasts

Regulation of hyaluronan (HA) synthesis and degradation is essential to maintenance of extracellular matrix homeostasis. We recently reported that HYBID (HYaluronan-Binding protein Involved in hyaluronan Depolymerization), also called KIAA1199, plays a key role in HA depolymerization in skin and arthritic synovial fibroblasts. However, regulation of HA metabolism mediated by HYBID and HA synthases (HASs) under stimulation with growth factors remains obscure. Here we report that TGF-β1, basic FGF, EGF, and PDGF-BB commonly enhance total amount of HA in skin fibroblasts through up-regulation of HAS expression, but molecular size of newly produced HA is dependent on HYBID expression levels. Stimulation of HAS1/2 expression and suppression of HYBID expression by TGF-β1 were abrogated by blockade of the MAPK and/or Smad signaling and the PI3K-Akt signaling, respectively. In normal human skin, expression of the TGF-β1 receptors correlated positively with HAS2 expression and inversely with HYBID expression. On the other hand, TGF-β1 up-regulated HAS1/2 expression but exerted only a slight suppressive effect on HYBID expression in synovial fibroblasts from the patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, resulting in the production of lower molecular weight HA compared with normal skin and synovial fibroblasts. These data demonstrate that although TGF-β1, basic FGF, EGF, and PDGF-BB enhance HA production in skin fibroblasts, TGF-β1 most efficiently contributes to production of high molecular weight HA by HAS up-regulation and HYBID down-regulation and suggests that inefficient down-regulation of HYBID by TGF-β1 in arthritic synovial fibroblasts may be linked to accumulation of depolymerized HA in synovial fluids in arthritis patients.     

Xanthine-based KMUP-1 improves HDL via PPARγ/SR-B1, LDL via LDLRs,and HSL via PKA/PKG for hepatic fat loss

The phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDEI)/eNOS enhancer KMUP-1, targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), improves dyslipidemia. We compared its lipid-lowering effects with simvastatin and explored hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) translocation in hepatic fat loss. KMUP-1 HCl (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/kg/day) and simvastatin (5 mg/kg/day) were administered in C57BL/6J male mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) by gavage for 8 weeks. KMUP-1 inhibited HFD-induced plasma/liver TG, total cholesterol, and LDL; increased HDL/3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR)/Rho kinase II (ROCK II)/PPARγ/ABCA1; and decreased liver and body weight. KMUP-1 HCl in drinking water (2.5 mg/200 ml tap water) for 1–14 or 8–14 weeks decreased HFD-induced liver and body weight and scavenger receptor class B type I expression and increased protein kinase A (PKA)/PKG/LDLRs/HSL expression and immunoreactivity. In HepG2 cells incubated with serum or exogenous mevalonate, KMUP-1 (10⁻⁷∼10⁻⁵ M) reversed HMGR expression by feedback regulation, colocalized expression of ABCA1/apolipoprotein A-I/LXRα/PPARγ, and reduced exogenous geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate/farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP)-induced RhoA/ROCK II expression. A guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) antagonist reversed KMUP-1-induced ROCK II reduction, indicating cGMP/eNOS involvement. KMUP-1 inceased PKG and LDLRs surrounded by LDL and restored oxidized LDL-induced PKA expresion. Unlike simvastatin, KMUP-1 could not inhibit ¹⁴C mevalonate formation. KMUP-1 could, but simvastatin could not, decrease ROCK II expression by exogenous FPP/CGPP. KMUP-1 improves HDL via PPARγ/LXRα/ABCA1/Apo-I expression and increases LDLRs/PKA/PKG/HSL expression and immunoreactivity, leading to TG hydrolysis to lower hepatic fat and body weight.     

All members in the sphingomyelin synthase gene family have ceramide phosphoethanolamine synthase activity

Sphingomyelin synthase-related protein (SMSr) synthesizes the sphingomyelin analog ceramide phosphoethanolamine (CPE) in cells. Previous cell studies indicated that SMSr is involved in ceramide homeostasis and is crucial for cell function. To further examine SMSr function in vivo, we generated Smsr KO mice that were fertile and had no obvious phenotypic alterations. Quantitative MS analyses of plasma, liver, and macrophages from the KO mice revealed only marginal changes in CPE and ceramide as well as other sphingolipid levels. Because SMS2 also has CPE synthase activity, we prepared Smsr/Sms2 double KO mice. We found that CPE levels were not significantly changed in macrophages, suggesting that CPE levels are not exclusively dependent on SMSr and SMS2 activities. We then measured CPE levels in Sms1 KO mice and found that Sms1 deficiency also reduced plasma CPE levels. Importantly, we found that expression of Sms1 or Sms2 in SF9 insect cells significantly increased not only SM but also CPE formation, indicating that SMS1 also has CPE synthase activity. Moreover, we measured CPE synthase K_m and V_max for SMS1, SMS2, and SMSr using different NBD ceramides. Our study reveals that all mouse SMS family members (SMSr, SMS1, and SMS2) have CPE synthase activity. However, neither CPE nor SMSr appears to be a critical regulator of ceramide levels in vivo.     

Modification of platelet proteins by malondialdehyde: prevention by dicarbonyl scavengers

The thromboxane synthase converts prostaglandin H₂ to thromboxane A₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA) in approximately equimolar amounts. A reactive dicarbonyl, MDA forms covalent adducts of amino groups, including the ε-amine of lysine, but the importance of this reaction in platelets was unknown. Utilizing a novel LC/MS/MS method for analysis of one of the MDA adducts, the dilysyl-MDA cross-link, we demonstrated that dilysyl-MDA cross-links in human platelets are formed following platelet activation via the cyclooxygenase (COX)-1/thromboxane synthase pathway. Salicylamine and analogs of salicylamine were shown to react with MDA preferentially, thereby preventing formation of lysine adducts. Dilysyl-MDA cross-links were measured in two diseases known to be associated with increased platelet activation. Levels of platelet dilysyl-MDA cross-links were increased by 2-fold in metabolic syndrome relative to healthy subjects, and by 1.9-fold in sickle cell disease (SCD). In patients with SCD, the reduction of platelet dilysyl-MDA cross-links following administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug provided evidence that MDA modifications of platelet proteins in this disease are derived from the COX pathway. In summary, MDA adducts of platelet proteins that cross-link lysines are formed on platelet activation and are increased in diseases associated with platelet activation. These protein modifications can be prevented by salicylamine-related scavengers.