Akt Activation Emulates Chk1 Inhibition and Bcl2 Overexpression and Abrogates G2 Cell Cycle Checkpoint by Inhibiting BRCA1 Foci

Akt is perhaps the most frequently activated oncoprotein in human cancers. Overriding cell cycle checkpoint in combination with the inhibition of apoptosis are two principal requirements for predisposition to cancer. Here we show that the activation of Akt is sufficient to promote these two principal processes, by inhibiting Chk1 activation with concomitant inhibition of apoptosis. These activities of Akt cannot be recapitulated by the knockdown of Chk1 alone or by overexpression of Bcl2. Rather the combination of Chk1 knockdown and Bcl2 overexpression is required to recapitulate Akt activities. Akt was shown to directly phosphorylate Chk1. However, we found that Chk1 mutants in the Akt phosphorylation sites behave like wild-type Chk1 in mediating G2 arrest, suggesting that the phosphorylation of Chk1 by Akt is either dispensable for Chk1 activity or insufficient by itself to exert an effect on Chk1 activity. Here we report a new mechanism by which Akt affects G2 cell cycle arrest. We show that Akt inhibits BRCA1 function that induces G2 cell cycle arrest. Akt prevents the translocation of BRCA1 to DNA damage foci and, thereby, inhibiting the activation of Chk1 following DNA damage.     

Measurement of sulfobromophthalein uptake in isolated rat hepatocytes by a direct spectrophotometric method

A spectrophotometric technique is described for the continuous recording of sulfobromophthalein uptake by isolated hepatocytes. The technique is based on the principle that sulfobromophthalein behaves as a pH-indicator and may be followed photometrically when moving from the medium at pH 7.8 into the interior of the cell. Data show that upon addition of cells to a sulfobromophthalein solution, an absorbance change can be recorded. The kinetics of the process is biphasic and the initial rate is linearly related to the amount of cells added. By this technique it was confirmed that the substrate dependence of the initial velocity of transport is a compound function including a saturable portion with an apparent Km in the mu molar region. Experiments carried out either in the presence of valinomycin or of high concentrations of potassium chloride indicate that the presence of a membrane potential opposes the entry of sulfobromophthalein into isolated hepatocytes. This finding is in agreement with previous observations in isolated plasma membrane vesicles and in liposomes reconstituted with purified bilitranslocase which indicate a rheogenic type of transport for the dye. Low concentrations of nicotinate (1.6 microM) efficiently inhibit the saturable transport. It is suggested, in addition, that the sensitivity of the transport to valinomycin could be used as an early indication of the functional integrity of cell preparations.     

Molecular studies of marsupial X chromosomes reveal limited sequence homology of mammalian X-linked genes

To explore the extent to which the X chromosome has been conserved during mammalian evolution, we compared six loci that are X-linked in the human genome with the corresponding genes of the North American marsupial, the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Our analysis shows that in the opossum genome there are sequences highly homologous to those of human cDNAs for housekeeping genes, glucose-6-phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), phosphoglycerate kinase A (PGK1), and alpha-galactosidase A (GLA). However, ornithine transcarbamylase and blood clotting Factor IX--tissue-specific genes that are X-linked in eutherians mammals--have no highly conserved homologs in the marsupial genome. By cloning opossum G6PD and HPRT, we found that these genes are X-linked in the opossum and that homologous sequences are limited to coding regions. As all genomic fragments hybridizing with the human GLA probe show dosage effects, it is likely that the opossum counterpart is X-linked. Finally, the pattern of hybridization suggests that the autosomal pseudogenes of HPRT and PGK1 in the opossum have remained highly homologous to the human X-linked genes.     

Assignment of the prealbumin (PALB) gene (familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy) to human chromosome region 18q11.2–q12.1

Summary The assignment of the human prealbumin (PALB) gene to chromosome region 18q11–q12.1 has been achieved using a human genomic probe in the study of human-mouse somatic cell hybrids and by in situ hybridization. Because familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy was reported previously to be due to a mutation in prealbumin, it can be inferred that the gene for this disorder also maps to 18q11.2–q12.1.     

Regulation of branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis in Streptomyces fradiae,a producer of tylosin

Synthesis of threonine dehydratase in Streptomyces fradiae was positively influenced by valine and negatively by isoleucine. However, these two amino acids had no effect on the activity of this enzyme. Synthesis of threonine dehydratase in -aminobutyrate resistant mutants of S. fradiae was pronouncedly less sensitive to the positive effect of valine and this change in regulation led to valine overproduction. Synthesis of acetohydroxy acid synthase is regulated in a similar manner to that of threonine dehydratase, however a lower level of expression was detected in -aminobutyrate resistant mutants. And again, no effect of branched-chain amino acids on acetohydroxy acid synthase activity was observed. It follows that in S. fradiae synthesis of threonine dehydratase is the main regulatory mechanism governing production and the mutual ratio of synthesized valine and isoleucine.Abbreviations -AB -aminobutyrate - AHAS acetohydroxy acid synthase - -KB -ketobutyrate - MNNG N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine - TD threonine dehydratase - Trans. B. transaminase of branched-chain amino acids - VDH valine dehydrogenase     

Human dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) maps to chromosome 5p15.3 and displays a VNTR.

The human dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene is localized to chromosome 5p15.3 by in situ hybridization and PCR amplification of rodent somatic cell hybrid DNA. Analysis of a 40-bp repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the message revealed variable numbers of the repeat ranging from 3 to 11 copies. These results will aid in the investigation of a role for this gene in genetic disorders of the dopaminergic system in humans.     

Assignment of the αB-crystallin gene to human chromosome 11

Using a human αB-crystallin genomic probe and human-mouse somatic cell hybrids, the human αB-gene was assigned to chromosome 11 and further corroborated by in situ hybridization to normal metaphase chromosomes. This assignment confirmed and regionally mapped the locus to q22.3–23.1.