Contribution of Val/Ile87 residue in the extracellular domain in agonist-induced current responses of the human and rat P2X7 receptors

Purinergic Signalling - The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ATP-gated cation channel with a critical role in many physiological and pathological processes, and shows prominent functional differences...     

Truncation mutations in ABCA1 suppress normal upregulation of full-length ABCA1 by 9-cis-retinoic acid and 22-R-hydroxycholesterol

Mutations in ABCA1 uniformly decrease plasma HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and reduce cholesterol efflux, yet different mutations in ABCA1 result in different phenotypic effects in heterozygotes. For example, truncation mutations result in significantly lower HDL-C and apoliprotein A-I (apoA-I) levels in heterozygotes compared with nontruncation mutations, suggesting that truncation mutations may negatively affect the wild-type allele. To specifically test this hypothesis, we examined ABCA1 protein expression in response to 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) and 22-R-hydroxycholesterol (22-R-OH-Chol) in a collection of human fibroblasts representing eight different mutations and observed that truncation mutations blunted the response to oxysterol stimulation and dominantly suppressed induction of the remaining full-length allele to 5-10% of wild-type levels. mRNA levels between truncation and nontruncation mutations were comparable, suggesting that ABCA1 expression was suppressed at the protein level. Dominant negative activity of truncated ABCA1 was recapitulated in an in vitro model using transfected Cos-7 cells. Our results suggest that the severe reduction of HDL-C in patients with truncation mutations may be at least partly explained by dominant negative suppression of expression and activity of the remaining full-length ABCA1 allele. These data suggest that ABCA1 requires a physical association with itself or other molecules for normal function and has important pharmacogenetic implications for individuals with truncation mutations.     

Identification and functional analysis of a naturally occurring E89K mutation in the ABCA1 gene of the WHAM chicken

The Wisconsin hypoalpha mutant (WHAM) chicken has a >90% reduction in plasma HDL due to hypercatabolism by the kidney of lipid-poor apoA-I. The WHAM chickens have a recessive white skin phenotype caused by a single-gene mutation that maps to the chicken Z-chromosome. This corresponds to human 9q31.1, a chromosomal segment that contains the ATP-binding cassette protein-1 (ABCA1) gene, which is mutated in Tangier Disease and familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia. Complete sequencing of the WHAM ABCA1 cDNA identified a missense mutation near the N-terminus of the protein (E89K). The substitution of this evolutionary conserved glutamate residue for lysine in the mouse ABCA1 transporter leads to complete loss of function, resulting principally from defective intracellular trafficking and very little ABCA1 reaching the plasma membrane. The WHAM chicken is a naturally occurring animal model for Tangier Disease.     

Mitochondrial Carbonic Anhydrase VA Deficiency Resulting from CA5A Alterations Presents with Hyperammonemia in Early Childhood

Four children in three unrelated families (one consanguineous) presented with lethargy, hyperlactatemia, and hyperammonemia of unexplained origin during the neonatal period and early childhood. We identified and validated three different CA5A alterations, including a homozygous missense mutation (c.697T>C) in two siblings, a homozygous splice site mutation (c.555G>A) leading to skipping of exon 4, and a homozygous 4 kb deletion of exon 6. The deleterious nature of the homozygous mutation c.697T>C (p.Ser233Pro) was demonstrated by reduced enzymatic activity and increased temperature sensitivity. Carbonic anhydrase VA (CA-VA) was absent in liver in the child with the homozygous exon 6 deletion. The metabolite profiles in the affected individuals fit CA-VA deficiency, showing evidence of impaired provision of bicarbonate to the four enzymes that participate in key pathways in intermediary metabolism: carbamoylphosphate synthetase 1 (urea cycle), pyruvate carboxylase (anaplerosis, gluconeogenesis), propionyl-CoA carboxylase, and 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (branched chain amino acids catabolism). In the three children who were administered carglumic acid, hyperammonemia resolved. CA-VA deficiency should therefore be added to urea cycle defects, organic acidurias, and pyruvate carboxylase deficiency as a treatable condition in the differential diagnosis of hyperammonemia in the neonate and young child.     

Identification of a trafficking motif involved in the stabilization and polarization of P2X receptors

Extracellular ATP-gated channels (P2X receptors) define the third major family of ionotropic receptors, and they are expressed widely in nerve cells, muscles, and endocrine and exocrine glands. P2X subunits have two membrane-spanning domains, and a receptor is thought to be formed by oligomerization of three subunits. We have identified a conserved motif in the cytoplasmic C termini of P2X subunits that is necessary for their surface expression; mutations in this motif result in a marked reduction of the receptors at the plasma membrane because of a rapid internalization. Transfer of the motif to a reporter protein (CD(4)) enhances the surface expression of the chimera, indicating that this motif is likely involved in the stabilization of P2X receptor at the cell surface. In neurons, mutated P2X(2) subunits showed reduced membrane expression and an altered axodendritic distribution. This motif is also present in intracellular regions of other membrane proteins, such as in the third intracellular loop of some G protein-coupled receptors, suggesting that it might be involve in their cellular stabilization and polarization.     

Erythropoietin protects retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative damage

Oxidative damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in many diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, in which the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is considered a primary target. The aim of this study was to determine whether erythropoietin (EPO) protects cultured human RPE cells against oxidative damage and to identify the pathways that may mediate protection. EPO (1 IU/ml) significantly increased the viability of oxidant-treated RPE cells, decreased the release of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β, recovered the RPE cells' barrier integrity disrupted by oxidative stress, prevented oxidant-induced cell DNA fragmentation and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure, and also reduced the levels of oxidant-induced intracellular ROS and restored cellular antioxidant potential, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase and decreased malondialdehyde, the end product of lipid peroxidation. EPO inhibited caspase-3-like activity. Protection by EPO was partly dependent on the activation of Akt1 and the maintenance of the mitochondrial membrane potential. No enhanced or synergistic protection was observed during application of Z-DEVD-FMK (caspase-3 inhibitor) combined with EPO compared with cultures exposed to EPO and H₂O₂ alone. Together, these results suggest that EPO could protect against oxidative injury-induced cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction in RPE cells through modulation of Akt1 phosphorylation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cysteine protease activity.     

一株棕尾别麻蝇胚胎细胞系的建立及其特性分析

双翅目昆虫细胞系广泛应用于遗传学、发育生物学、分子生物学、人和动物体病原学以及昆虫抗微生物肽的研究。本研究建立了一株新的棕尾别麻蝇Sarcophaga peregrina胚胎细胞系。该细胞系的原代培养始于2008年11月17日, 取材于棕尾别麻蝇晚期胚胎组织, 在Shields & Sang M3昆虫培养基中于28℃恒温培养, 在第26天进行第1次传代, 至今已历时21个月, 传代72次, 生长状态稳定, 被命名为Sp-E-HNU11。该细胞系的细胞形态主要呈梭形和近圆形, 杂以少量巨型细胞, 紧密贴壁生长。细胞群体倍增时间为42 h。染色体数目一般为10条或12条, 为二倍体或亚二倍体细胞系; 除一对颗粒状微型染色体外, 其他染色体呈短杆状。细胞系的β-萘酯酶和谷草转氨酶同工酶谱上分别显示出1条和3条酶带。随机引物扩增多态性 (random amplified polymorphic DNA, RAPD) 分析结果显示, 该细胞系与小菜蛾细胞系Px-E-HNU12、草地贪夜蛾细胞系IPLB-Sf-9和家蚕细胞系Bm-21E-HNU5呈现明显不同的带型特征。 Sp-E-HNU11细胞系的建立为昆虫抗微生物肽及其他相关的研究工作增添了新的研究工具和生产载体。     

两种微量RNA扩增方法的比较研究

本研究通过比较体外转录和单引物扩增这两种扩增微量RNA的不同方法,以寻找一种高效的扩增方法。我们用两种不同方法分别扩增小鼠大脑全皮层及第五皮层细胞的RNA,扩增的RNA合成cDNA后进行荧光定量PCR实验,根据PCR结果比较两种不同扩增方法的效率。WT-ovation扩增RNA的效率约为IVT效率的2.8倍;IVT方法扩增后,基因D-C值与引物距离mRNA 3'端的长度及mRNA的长度均存在正线性相关(P<0.05),即引物距离mRNA的3'端越近、mRNA越短,基因D-Ct值越低。而WT-ovation方法扩增后,基因D-Ct值与引物距离mRNA 3'端的长度及mRNA的长度均不存在统计学相关性。与IVT方法相比,WT-ovation方法效率更高,扩增时受影响因素较少、更稳定。     

A critical role of the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 channel in a positive feedback mechanism for reactive oxygen species-induced delayed cell death

Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channel activation by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a critical role in delayed neuronal cell death, responsible for postischemia brain damage via altering intracellular Zn²⁺ homeostasis, but a mechanistic understanding is still lacking. Here, we showed that H₂O₂ induced neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell death with a significant delay, dependently of the TRPM2 channel and increased [Zn²⁺]_i, and therefore used this cell model to investigate the mechanisms underlying ROS-induced TRPM2-mediated delayed cell death. H₂O₂ increased concentration-dependently the [Zn²⁺]_i and caused lysosomal dysfunction and Zn²⁺ loss and, furthermore, mitochondrial Zn²⁺ accumulation, fragmentation, and ROS generation. Such effects were suppressed by preventing poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose, ADPR) polymerase-1-dependent TRPM2 channel activation with PJ34 and 3,3′,5,5′-tetra-tert-butyldiphenoquinone, inhibiting the TRPM2 channel with 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) and N-(p-amylcinnamoyl)anthranilic acid, or chelating Zn²⁺ with N,N,N,N-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-ethylenediamine (TPEN). Bafilomycin-induced lysosomal dysfunction also resulted in mitochondrial Zn²⁺ accumulation, fragmentation, and ROS generation that were inhibited by PJ34 or 2-APB, suggesting that these mitochondrial events are TRPM2 dependent and sequela of lysosomal dysfunction. Mitochondrial TRPM2 expression was detected and exposure to ADPR-induced Zn²⁺ uptake in isolated mitochondria, which was prevented by TPEN. H₂O₂-induced delayed cell death was inhibited by apocynin and diphenyleneiodonium, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) inhibitors, GKT137831, an NOX1/4-specific inhibitor, or Gö6983, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Moreover, inhibition of PKC/NOX prevented H₂O₂-induced ROS generation, lysosomal dysfunction and Zn²⁺ release, and mitochondrial Zn²⁺ accumulation, fragmentation and ROS generation. Collectively, these results support a critical role for the TRPM2 channel in coupling PKC/NOX-mediated ROS generation, lysosomal Zn²⁺ release, and mitochondrial Zn²⁺ accumulation, and ROS generation to form a vicious positive feedback signaling mechanism for ROS-induced delayed cell death.     

Intracellular coiled-coil domain engaged in subunit interaction and assembly of melastatin-related transient receptor potential channel 2

TRPM2 channels, activated by adenosine diphosphoribose and related molecules, are assembled as oligomers and most likely tetramers. However, the molecular determinants driving the subunit interaction and assembly of the TRPM2 channels are not well defined. Here we examined, using site-directed mutagenesis in conjunction with co-immunoprecipitation and patch clamp recording, the role of a coiled-coil domain in the intracellular C terminus of TRPM2 subunit in subunit interaction and channel assembly. Deletion of the coiled-coil domain resulted in severe disruption of the subunit interaction and substantial loss of the adenosine diphosphoribose-evoked channel currents. Individual or combined mutations to glutamine of the hydrophobic residues at positions a and d of the abcdef heptad repeat, key residues for protein-protein interaction, significantly reduced the subunit interaction and channel currents; the mutational effects on the subunit interaction and channel currents were clearly correlated. Furthermore, deletion of the coiled-coil domain in a pore mutant subunit abolished its dominant negative phenotypic functional suppression. These results provide strong evidence that the coiled-coil domain is critically engaged in the TRPM2 subunit interaction and such interaction is required for assembly of functional TRPM2 channel. The coiled-coil domain, which is highly conserved within the TRPM subfamily, may serve as a general structural element governing the assembly of TRPM channels.