Control of the pericentrosomal H2O2 level by peroxiredoxin I is critical for mitotic progression

Proteins associated with the centrosome play key roles in mitotic progression in mammalian cells. The activity of Cdk1-opposing phosphatases at the centrosome must be inhibited during early mitosis to prevent premature dephosphorylation of Cdh1—an activator of the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome—and the consequent premature degradation of mitotic activators. In this paper, we show that reversible oxidative inactivation of centrosome-bound protein phosphatases such as Cdc14B by H₂O₂ is likely responsible for this inhibition. The intracellular concentration of H₂O₂ increases as the cell cycle progresses. Whereas the centrosome is shielded from H₂O₂ through its association with the H₂O₂-eliminating enzyme peroxiredoxin I (PrxI) during interphase, the centrosome-associated PrxI is selectively inactivated through phosphorylation by Cdk1 during early mitosis, thereby exposing the centrosome to H₂O₂ and facilitating inactivation of centrosome-bound phosphatases. Dephosphorylation of PrxI by okadaic acid–sensitive phosphatases during late mitosis again shields the centrosome from H₂O₂ and thereby allows the reactivation of Cdk1-opposing phosphatases at the organelle.     

Expression of mosquitocidal crystal protein genes in non-insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis

Bacillus thuringiensis NTB-1 isolated from soil samples in Korea produces ovoidal parasporal inclusions with proteins of approximately 24–40 kDa in size. Although serological study indicated that the isolate has a flagella (H) antigen identical with subsp. israelensis , it seemed to be non-insecticidal against Lepidoptera and Coleoptera as well as Diptera. To investigate the activity of non-insecticidal B. thuringiensis transformed with insecticidal crystal protein genes, cryIVD and cytA genes of B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni PG-14, highly toxic to mosquito larvae, were introduced into the isolate NTB-1. The expression of mosquitocidal crystal protein genes in NTB-1 was characterized by SDS–PAGE analysis and electron microscopy. The results showed that crystalline inclusions of host, CryIVD and CytA were stably expressed in the transformant. However, the mosquitocidal activity of transformant was similar to that of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Cry⁻ B harbouring cryIVD and cytA genes, demonstrating that a synergistic effect by an interaction of both introduced insecticidal and resident non-insecticidal crystal proteins was not observed.     

Novel Interaction of the Z-DNA Binding Domain of Human ADAR1 with the Oncogenic c-Myc Promoter G-Quadruplex

Both G-quadruplex and Z-DNA can be formed in G-rich and repetitive sequences on genome, and their formation and biological functions are controlled by specific proteins. Z-DNA binding proteins, such as human ADAR1, have a highly conserved Z-DNA binding domain having selective affinity to Z-DNA. Here, our study identifies the Z-DNA binding domain of human ADAR1 (hZα_ADAR1) as a novel G-quadruplex binding protein that recognizes c-myc promoter G-quadruplex formed in NHEIII₁ region and represses the gene expression. An electrophoretic migration shift assay shows the binding of hZα_ADAR1 to the intramolecular c-myc promoter G-quadruplex-forming DNA oligomer. To corroborate the binding of hZα_ADAR1 to the G-quadruplex, we conducted CD and NMR chemical shift perturbation analyses. CD results indicate that hZα_ADAR1 stabilizes the parallel-stranded conformation of the c-myc G-quadruplex. The NMR chemical shift perturbation data reveal that the G-quadruplex binding region in hZα_ADAR1 was almost identical with the Z-DNA binding region. Finally, promoter assay and Western blot analysis show that hZα_ADAR1 suppresses the c-myc expression promoted by NHEIII₁ region containing the G-quadruplex-forming sequence. This finding suggests a novel function of Z-DNA binding protein as a regulator of G-quadruplex-mediated gene expression.     

Pulmonary Toxocariasis Mimicking Invasive Aspergillosis in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

A 45-year-old-male who had underlying ulcerative colitis and presented with fever and dry cough. Initially, the patient was considered to have invasive aspergillosis due to a positive galactomannan assay. He was treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated clinically and radiographically. The lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic pneumonia, and ELISA for Toxocara antigen was positive, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary toxocariasis. After a 10-day treatment course with albendazole and adjunctive steroids, the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. Pulmonary toxocariasis may be considered in patients with subacute or chronic pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotic agents, particularly in cases with eosinophilia.