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.     

Faunal changes and geographic crypticism indicate the occurrence of a biogeographic transition zone along the southern East Pacific Rise

Aim Deep‐sea hydrothermal vents have now been reported along all active mid‐ocean ridges and back‐arc basins, but the boundaries of biogeographic entities remain questionable owing to methodological issues. Here we examine biogeographic patterns of the vent fauna along the East Pacific Rise (EPR) and determine the relative roles of regional and local factors on the distribution of biodiversity associated with mussel beds along a poorly explored zone, the southern EPR (SEPR). Location East Pacific Rise. Methods A species list of macrobenthic invertebrates along the EPR was compiled from the literature and supplemented with data recovered during the French research cruise BIOSPEEDO carried out in 2004 along the SEPR. Biogeographic patterns were assessed by combining the identification of morphological species with a molecular barcoding approach. A multivariate regression tree (MRT) analysis was performed to identify any geographic breaks, and an empirical distribution of species richness was compared with predictions provided by a mid‐domain effect model. Macrofaunal community structure associated with mussel beds along the SEPR was analysed in relation to environmental factors using cluster and canonical redundancy analyses. Results Sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene revealed the occurrence of several cryptic species complexes along the EPR, with the equator separating the southern and northern clades. Furthermore, during the BIOSPEEDO cruise at least 10 still unnamed species were collected between 7°25′ S and 21°33′ S. The shift in community structure identified by MRT analysis was located south of 17°34′ S or south of 13°59′ S, depending on the data used, suggesting that the southern part of the SEPR (17°25′–21°33′ S) constitutes a biogeographic transition zone in the vent fauna along the EPR. At a regional scale, latitude combined with the type of venting was significantly correlated with the community structure associated with mussel beds. Main conclusions Together, the molecular data, in situ observations, and the distribution of species suggest that the high diversity of vent fauna species presently observed between 17°25′ S and 21°33′ S is probably a result of the overlap of several distinct biogeographic provinces. We argue that this area thus constitutes a biogeographic vent fauna transition zone along the EPR.     

Enzymatic degradation of polar lipids in Vigna unguiculata leaves and influence of drought stress

¹⁴C-labelled polar lipids (monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol [MGDG], digalactosyl-diacylglycerol [DGDG], phosphatidylcholine [PC] and phosphatidylglycerol [PG]), purified from Vigna unguiculata leaves, were used as substrates to study the lipolytic activities of Vigna unguiculata leaf extracts. Analysis of the radioactive degradation products revealed the presence of at least three enzyme activities contributing to the hydrolysis of the four main leaf membrane lipids: Lipolytic acyl hydrolase (LAH) activities responsible for the deacylation of galactolipids and phospholipids, phospholipase D (PLD, EC 3.1.4.4) activity which gives rise to phosphatidic acid, and as suggested by the presence of diacylglycerols in minor quantities after phospholipid hydrolysis, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP, EC 3.1.3.4) and/or phospholipase C (PLC, EC 3.1.4.3.) activity. Under the conditions described in the present paper, the presence of phospholipase A (PLA₁, EC 3.1.1.3 and PLA₂, EC 3.1.1.4) activities remains hypothetical, due to the absence of lysophospholipids. LAH and PLD were partially soluble and partially associated with the membranes. When Vigna unguiculata plants were submitted to drought, the enzymatic degradation of galactolipids and phospholipids increased. The stimulation of lipolytic activities was greater in the drought-sensitive cultivar of Vigna unguiculata (cv. 1183) than in the drought-tolerant (cv. EPACE-1) one. In cv. 1183, MGDG- and DGDG-LAH activities in the membrane fractions were dramatically stimulated at a rather moderate water deficit (?0.75 MPa). A sharp increase in membrane phospholipolytic activities was also observed at mild drought stress (?1.2 MPa). In contrast, in cv. EPACE-1, the stimulation of lipolytic activities was less drastic and occurred at lower leaf water potentials (below ?1.2 MPa for galactolipases, and below ?1.4 MPa for phospholipases). Our results confirm the presence in leaves of higher plants of a very active LAH acting on galactolipids, whereas PLD is the main enzyme responsible for the degradation of phospholipids, particularly when plants are submitted to drought stress. The differences in stimulation of lipolytic activities between the two Vigna cultivars was in accordance with the different levels of membrane lipid degradation shown previously and could explain their different capacity to sustain drought.     

Regulation of proteoglycan and hyaluronan synthesis by elevated level of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate in peritubular cells from immature rat testis

The effects of an increase in intracellular cAMP concentration on proteoglycan (PG) synthesis by peritubular (PT) cells from immature rat testis were investigated. In the presence of dBcAMP for 72 h, the [³H]-hexosamine incorporation in secreted PG and in cellassociated PG was reduced, whereas [³⁵S]-sulfate radioactivity was enhanced in secreted PG and not affected in cell-associated PG. Cholera toxin and IBMX, known to generate high intracellular cAMP levels, induced similar changes. Cyclic AMP did not alter PG protein moiety synthesis but enhanced PG turnover. Cholera toxin and dBcAMP profoundly modified PG characteristics: (1) Apparent molecular weight of PG was increased. (2) This was due to an increase in glycosaminoglycans (heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS)) length. (3) The number of glycosaminoglycan chains was presumably reduced. (4) Heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains of medium and cell layer-associated PG appeared oversulfated. (5) The pattern of cell layer associated PG was modified with a decrease in HSPG and a correlative increase in CSPG. Cholera toxin and dBcAMP also dramatically stimulated hyaluronan synthesis by possible phosphorylation induced activation of hyaluronan synthase(s).     

Conscious Brain-to-Brain Communication in Humans Using Non-Invasive Technologies

Human sensory and motor systems provide the natural means for the exchange of information between individuals, and, hence, the basis for human civilization. The recent development of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) has provided an important element for the creation of brain-to-brain communication systems, and precise brain stimulation techniques are now available for the realization of non-invasive computer-brain interfaces (CBI). These technologies, BCI and CBI, can be combined to realize the vision of non-invasive, computer-mediated brain-to-brain (B2B) communication between subjects (hyperinteraction). Here we demonstrate the conscious transmission of information between human brains through the intact scalp and without intervention of motor or peripheral sensory systems. Pseudo-random binary streams encoding words were transmitted between the minds of emitter and receiver subjects separated by great distances, representing the realization of the first human brain-to-brain interface. In a series of experiments, we established internet-mediated B2B communication by combining a BCI based on voluntary motor imagery-controlled electroencephalographic (EEG) changes with a CBI inducing the conscious perception of phosphenes (light flashes) through neuronavigated, robotized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), with special care taken to block sensory (tactile, visual or auditory) cues. Our results provide a critical proof-of-principle demonstration for the development of conscious B2B communication technologies. More fully developed, related implementations will open new research venues in cognitive, social and clinical neuroscience and the scientific study of consciousness. We envision that hyperinteraction technologies will eventually have a profound impact on the social structure of our civilization and raise important ethical issues.     

Comparative Functional Analysis of ZFP36 Genes during Xenopus Development

ZFP36 constitutes a small family of RNA binding proteins (formerly known as the TIS11 family) that target mRNA and promote their degradation. In mammals, ZFP36 proteins are encoded by four genes and, although they show similar activities in a cellular RNA destabilization assay, there is still a limited knowledge of their mRNA targets and it is not known whether or not they have redundant functions. In the present work, we have used the Xenopus embryo, a model system allowing gain- and loss-of-function studies, to investigate, whether individual ZFP36 proteins had distinct or redundant functions. We show that overexpression of individual amphibian zfp36 proteins leads to embryos having the same defects, with alteration in somites segmentation and pronephros formation. In these embryos, members of the Notch signalling pathway such as hairy2a or esr5 mRNA are down-regulated, suggesting common targets for the different proteins. We also show that mouse Zfp36 protein overexpression gives the same phenotype, indicating an evolutionary conserved property among ZFP36 vertebrate proteins. Morpholino oligonucleotide-induced loss-of-function leads to defects in pronephros formation, reduction in tubule size and duct coiling alterations for both zfp36 and zfp36l1, indicating no functional redundancy between these two genes. Given the conservation in gene structure and function between the amphibian and mammalian proteins and the conserved mechanisms for pronephros development, our study highlights a potential and hitherto unreported role of ZFP36 gene in kidney morphogenesis.     

The Transmembrane Protein of the Human Endogenous Retrovirus - K (HERV-K) Modulates Cytokine Release and Gene Expression

Numerous copies of endogenous retroviruses are present in the genome of mammals including man. Although most of them are defective, some, e.g., the human endogenous retroviruses HERV-K, were found to be expressed under certain physiological conditions. For instance, HERV-K is expressed in germ cell tumours and melanomas as well as in the placenta. Most exogenous retroviruses including the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 induce severe immunodeficiencies and there is increasing evidence that the transmembrane envelope (TM) proteins of these retroviruses may be involved. We show here that HERV-K particles released from a human teratocarcinoma cell line, a recombinant TM protein and a peptide corresponding to a highly conserved so-called immunosuppressive domain in the TM protein of HERV-K inhibit the proliferation of human immune cells, induce modulation of the expression of numerous cytokines, and modulate the expression of cellular genes as detected by a microarray analysis. The changes in cytokine release and gene expression induced by the TM protein of HERV-K are similar to those found previously induced by the TM protein of HIV-1. These data suggest that the mechanism of immunosuppression may be similar for different retroviruses and that the expression of the TM protein in tumours and in the placenta may suppress immune responses and thus prevent rejection of the tumour and the embryo.