A RecA Protein Surface Required for Activation of DNA Polymerase V

DNA polymerase V (pol V) of Escherichia coli is a translesion DNA polymerase responsible for most of the mutagenesis observed during the SOS response. Pol V is activated by transfer of a RecA subunit from the 3''-proximal end of a RecA nucleoprotein filament to form a functional complex called DNA polymerase V Mutasome (pol V Mut). We identify a RecA surface, defined by residues 112-117, that either directly interacts with or is in very close proximity to amino acid residues on two distinct surfaces of the UmuC subunit of pol V. One of these surfaces is uniquely prominent in the active pol V Mut. Several conformational states are populated in the inactive and active complexes of RecA with pol V. The RecA D112R and RecA D112R N113R double mutant proteins exhibit successively reduced capacity for pol V activation. The double mutant RecA is specifically defective in the ATP binding step of the activation pathway. Unlike the classic non-mutable RecA S117F (recA1730), the RecA D112R N113R variant exhibits no defect in filament formation on DNA and promotes all other RecA activities efficiently. An important pol V activation surface of RecA protein is thus centered in a region encompassing amino acid residues 112, 113, and 117, a surface exposed at the 3''-proximal end of a RecA filament. The same RecA surface is not utilized in the RecA activation of the homologous and highly mutagenic RumA''₂B polymerase encoded by the integrating-conjugative element (ICE) R391, indicating a lack of structural conservation between the two systems. The RecA D112R N113R protein represents a new separation of function mutant, proficient in all RecA functions except SOS mutagenesis.     

New approaches to study the development of morphine tolerance and dependence

Morphine is now believed not to cause tolerance and dependence when it is appropriately used in clinic. However, in terminal cancer pain, patients' analgesic tolerance to morphine is developed due to the use of high doses of morphine for complete blockade of pain. At higher doses, morphine has more opportunity to show serious side effects, which worsens quality of life (QOL), and leads to the use of potent analgesic adjuvants to reduce the morphine dosage. Here we attempt to summarize recent studies of the molecular basis of morphine tolerance and dependence, and to discuss whether these mechanisms could provide new molecular targets as analgesic adjuvants. They include protein kinase C inhibitor, opioid agonist with low RAVE value, and antagonists of antiopioid receptors (GluRepsilon1 or nociceptin/OFQ receptor). In addition, we demonstrate new approaches to find further candidates of such molecular targets. These approaches include the visualization of neuronal networks in the downstream of opioid neurons by use of the WGA transgene technique and the single cell dissection technique to get new genes involved in plasticity during morphine tolerance and dependence.     

Electrostatic role of aromatic ring stacking in the pH-sensitive modulation of a chymotrypsin-type serine protease, Achromobacter protease I.

Achromobacter protease I (API) has a unique region of aromatic ring stacking with Trp169-His210 in close proximity to the catalytic triad. This paper reveals the electrostatic role of aromatic stacking in the shift in optimum pH to the alkaline region, which is the highest pH range (8.5-10) among chymotrypsin-type serine proteases. The pH-activity profile of API showed a sigmoidal distribution that appears at pH 8-10, with a shoulder at pH 6-8. Variants with smaller amino acid residues substituted for Trp169 had lower pH optima on the acidic side by 0-0.9 units. On the other hand, replacement of His210 by Ala or Ser lowered the acidic rim by 1.9 pH units, which is essentially identical to that of chymotrypsin and trypsin. Energy minimization for the mutant structures suggested that the side-chain of Trp169 stacked with His210 was responsible for isolation of the electrostatic interaction between His210 and the catalytic Asp113 from solvent. The aromatic stacking regulates the low activity at neutral pH and the high activity at alkaline pH due to the interference of the hydrogen bonded network in the catalytic triad residues.     

Spectrometric analysis of degradation of a physiological substrate sigma32 by Escherichia coli AAA protease FtsH

We have established a fluorescence polarization assay system by which degradation of sigma32, a physiological substrate, by FtsH can be monitored spectrometrically. Using the system, it was found that an FtsH hexamer degrades approximately 0.5 molecules of Cy3-sigma32 per min at 42 degrees C and hydrolyzes approximately 140 ATP molecules during the degradation of a single molecule of Cy3-sigma32. Evidence also suggests that degradation of sigma32 proceeds from the N-terminus to the C-terminus. Although FtsH does not have a robust enough unfoldase activity to unfold a tightly folded proteins such as green fluorescent protein, it can unfold proteins with lower [Formula: see text] s such as glutathione S-transferase (Tm = 52 degrees C).     

BDNF and trkB mRNA Expression in Neurons of the Neonatal Mouse Barrel Field Cortex: Normal Development and Plasticity after Cauterizing Facial Vibrissae

Development of the central somatosensory system is profoundly modulated by the sensory periphery. Cauterization of facial whiskers alters the segregation pattern of barrels in rodents only during a few days just after birth (critical period). Although a molecular basis of the segregation of barrel neurons and the critical period for the anatomical plasticity observed in layer IV barrel neuron is not clear yet, the accumulating evidence suggests that neurotrophins modulate synaptic connections including central nervous system. In this study, we showed by in situ hybridization that mouse barrel side neurons express brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and both catalytic and non-catalytic forms of trkB mRNA. Cautery of row C vibrissae on the right side of the face within 24 h after birth (post natal day 0, PND0) reduced the expression of BDNF and trkB mRNA from the division region between the contralateral row C barrels at PND7. The vibrissae in row A, C, and E were cauterized at PND0 followed by quantitative RT-PCR for BDNF and trkB mRNA with total RNA isolated from the barrel region at PND7. The result showed that BDNF, but not trkB, mRNA was increased several-fold in the contralateral barrel region. These data suggest that the expression of BDNF mRNA is differentially regulated between injured barrels and actively innervated barrels. The differential expression of the mRNA encoding neurotrophins and their receptors may be important in regulating the injury-dependent re-segregation of barrels.     

A possible clinical application of multicytokine-producing cytotoxic mononuclear cell (MCCM) therapy

When peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were incubated with a streptococcal preparation, OK-432, for 24 h, PBMC acquired cytolytic activity against cultured and fresh human tumor cells. Such PBMC were called OK-432-activated mononuclear cells (OK-MC). OK-MC produce several kinds of cytokines such as interferon (IFN), IFN, and tumor growth inhibitory factor (TGIF) bothin vitro andin vivo. OK-MC-produced cytokines also inhibited the growth of cultured and fresh human tumor cells. The growth inhibition was examined by human tumor clonogenic assay using a double-layer agar technique. The results indicate that two pathways of anti-tumor activity are induced in OK-MC, i.e., cell-mediated and cytokine-mediated.     

Genetic Control of Immune Responses to a Synthetic Fimbrial Antigen of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

The incidence of infection by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, one of the important pathogens in human periodontal diseases, has been reported to be associated with racial background and genetic factors. We attempted to determine the genetic regulation of immune responses to A. actinomycetemcomitans fimbriae, an attachment factor, using various inbred strains of mice. For this purpose, we synthesized an oligopeptide antigen using the amino acid sequence of the fimbriae and conjugated this antigen to branched lysine polymer resin beads. After immunization with the synthetic A. actinomycetemcomitans fimbrial antigen, serum antibody levels and the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to the antigen were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and footpad swelling responses, respectively. The strains of mice found to be high-IgG responders to the antigen were B10.HTT, B10.RIII, B10A (5R) and B10.S (9R). These results indicate that mice with E_β^s: E_α^k, E_β^r: E_α^r and E_β^b: E_α^k respond strongly to the synthetic peptide. All of the high-IgG responders showed a high DTH response. A cell transfer experiment confirmed that CD4 T cells mediated with a DTH response to the synthetic peptide. Thus, the results of this study demonstrate that the immune responses to A. actinomycetemcomitans fimbriae are genetically controlled.     

Neutrophil Mobilization by Surface-Glycan Altered Th17-Skewing Bacteria Mitigates Periodontal Pathogen Persistence and Associated Alveolar Bone Loss

Alveolar bone (tooth-supporting bone) erosion is a hallmark of periodontitis, an inflammatory disease that often leads to tooth loss. Periodontitis is caused by a select group of pathogens that form biofilms in subgingival crevices between the gums and teeth. It is well-recognized that the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis in these biofilms is responsible for modeling a microbial dysbiotic state, which then initiates an inflammatory response destructive to the periodontal tissues and bone. Eradication of this pathogen is thus critical for the treatment of periodontitis. Previous studies have shown that oral inoculation in mice with an attenuated strain of the periodontal pathogen Tannerella forsythia altered in O-glycan surface composition induces a Th17-linked mobilization of neutrophils to the gingival tissues. In this study, we sought to determine if immune priming with such a Th17-biasing strain would elicit a productive neutrophil response against P. gingivalis. Our data show that inoculation with a Th17-biasing T. forsythia strain is effective in blocking P. gingivalis-persistence and associated alveolar bone loss in mice. This work demonstrates the potential of O-glycan modified Tannerella strains or their O-glycan components for harnessing Th17-mediated immunity against periodontal and other mucosal pathogens.