Mutational analysis of slyD, an Escherichia coli gene encoding a protein of the FKBP immunophilin family

slyD encodes a 196 amino acid polypeptide that is a member of the FKBP family of cis–trans peptidyl–prolyl isomerases (PPIases). slyD mutations affect plaque formation by the phage φX174 by blocking the action of the phage lysis protein E. Here we describe the selection of a set of spontaneous slyD mutations conferring resistance to the expression of gene E from a plasmid. These mutations occur disproportionately in residues of SlyD that, based on the structure of the prototype mammalian FKBP12, make ligand contacts with immunosuppressing drug molecules or are conserved in other FKBP proteins. A wide variation in the plating efficiency of φX174 on these E  ^R strains is observed, relative to the parental, indicating that these alleles differ widely in residual SlyD activity. Moreover, it is found that slyD mutations cause significant growth rate defects in Escherichia coli B and C backgrounds. Finally, overexpression of slyD causes filamentation of the host. Thus, among the FKBP genes found in organisms across the evolutionary spectrum, slyD is unique in having three distinct drug-independent phenotypes.     

Modulation of Intracellular Calcium Levels by Calcium Lactate Affects Colon Cancer Cell Motility through Calcium-Dependent Calpain

Cancer cell motility is a key phenomenon regulating invasion and metastasis. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a major role in cellular adhesion and metastasis of various cancers. The relationship between dietary supplementation of calcium and colon cancer has been extensively investigated. However, the effect of calcium (Ca²⁺) supplementation on calpain-FAK-motility is not clearly understood. We sought to identify the mechanism of FAK cleavage through Ca²⁺ bound lactate (CaLa), its downstream signaling and role in the motility of human colon cancer cells. We found that treating HCT116 and HT-29 cells with CaLa immediately increased the intracellular Ca²⁺ (iCa²⁺) levels for a prolonged period of time. Ca²⁺ influx induced cleavage of FAK into an N-terminal FAK (FERM domain) in a dose-dependent manner. Phosphorylated FAK (p-FAK) was also cleaved in to its p-N-terminal FAK. CaLa increased colon cancer cells motility. Calpeptin, a calpain inhibitor, reversed the effects of CaLa on FAK and pFAK cleavage in both cancer cell lines. The cleaved FAK translocates into the nucleus and modulates p53 stability through MDM2-associated ubiquitination. CaLa-induced Ca²⁺ influx increased the motility of colon cancer cells was mediated by calpain activity through FAK and pFAK protein destabilization. In conclusion, these results suggest that careful consideration may be given in deciding dietary Ca²⁺ supplementation to patient undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer.     

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.     

Effect of estradiol and progesterone on long chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A levels in the rat uterus

Fatty acyl-CoAs are potential in vivo inactivators of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). Ovariectomized mature rats (n = 74) were given 5 micrograms of estradiol intravenously, then killed 0, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h later. Control levels of myristoyl-, palmitoyl-, stearoyl-, arachidonoyl-, oleoyl- and linoleoyl-CoA were 0.6, 3.2, 4.7, 3.4, 2.4 and 3.0 micrograms/uterus and were increased 39, 110, 146, 100, 84 and 69% at 36-48 h, respectively. Levels of fatty acyl-CoAs in the rat uterus become elevated 36 h after estradiol treatment. At the same time G6PD changes from a stable enzyme to one that is irreversibly inactivated, possibly due to being rapidly degraded. Progesterone (2 mg subcutaneously every 12 h, n = 30), administered beginning at either 24 or 36 h after estradiol treatment, had no effect on estradiol-induced changes in myristoyl-, palmitoyl-, or stearoyl-CoA. Compared to the groups of rats treated with estradiol alone, animals treated with combinations of estradiol and progesterone exhibited higher levels of arachidonoyl-CoA after 48 h, and oleoyl-CoA and linoleoyl-CoA were greater after 72 h. Progesterone increased the estradiol-induced levels of unsaturated fatty acyl-CoAs suggesting that progesterone may induce uterine fatty acid desaturase activity and/or uptake of dietary fatty acids. Addition of fatty acyl-CoAs, at concentrations seen in vivo at 36-48 h after estradiol, to purified G6PD, causes irreversible G6PD inactivation.     

Rehabilitation and older people.

Rehabilitation is concerned with lessening the impact of disabling conditions. These are particularly common in older people and considerable health gain can be achieved by successful rehabilitation. Hospital doctors and general practitioners should be aware of the core principles of rehabilitation, be able to recognise rehabilitation need in their patients, and have sufficient knowledge of their local rehabilitation services to trigger the referral process.     

2-(Trimethylammonium) Ethyl (R)-3-Methoxy-3-oxo-2-Stearamidopropyl Phosphate Suppresses Osteoclast Maturation and Bone Resorption by Targeting Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor Signaling

2-(Trimethylammonium) ethyl (R)-3-methoxy-3-oxo-2-stearamidopropyl phosphate [(R)-TEMOSPho], a derivative of an organic chemical identified from a natural product library, promotes highly efficient megakaryopoiesis. Here, we show that (R)-TEMOSPho blocks osteoclast maturation from progenitor cells of hematopoietic origin, as well as blocking the resorptive function of mature osteoclasts. The inhibitory effect of (R)-TEMOSPho on osteoclasts was due to a disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, resulting from impaired downstream signaling of c-Fms, a receptor for macrophage-colony stimulating factor linked to c-Cbl, phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), Vav3, and Rac1. In addition, (R)-TEMOSPho blocked inflammation-induced bone destruction by reducing the numbers of osteoclasts produced in mice. Thus, (R)-TEMOSPho may represent a promising new class of antiresorptive drugs for the treatment of bone loss associated with increased osteoclast maturation and activity.     

Measurement of Shoulder Range of Motion in Patients with Adhesive Capsulitis Using a Kinect

Range of motion (ROM) measurements are essential for the evaluation for and diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (AC). However, taking these measurements using a goniometer is inconvenient and sometimes unreliable. The Kinect (Microsoft, Seattle, WA, USA) is gaining attention as a new motion detecting device that is nonintrusive and easy to implement. This study aimed to apply Kinect to measure shoulder ROM in AC; we evaluated its validity by calculating the agreement of the measurements obtained using Kinect with those obtained using goniometer and assessed its utility for the diagnosis of AC. Both shoulders of 15 healthy volunteers and affected shoulders of 12 patients with AC were included in the study. The passive and active ROM of each were measured with a goniometer for flexion, abduction, and external rotation. Their active shoulder motions for each direction were again captured using Kinect and the ROM values were calculated. The agreement between the two measurements was tested with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Diagnostic performance using the Kinect ROM was evaluated with Cohen’s kappa value. The cutoff values of the limited ROM were determined in the following ways: the same as passive ROM values, reflecting the mean difference, and based on receiver operating characteristic curves. The ICC for flexion/abduction/external rotation between goniometric passive ROM and the Kinect ROM were 0.906/0.942/0.911, while those between active ROMs and the Kinect ROMs were 0.864/0.932/0.925. Cohen’s kappa values were 0.88, 0.88, and 1.0 with the cutoff values in the order above. Measurements of the shoulder ROM using Kinect show excellent agreement with those taken using a goniometer. These results indicate that the Kinect can be used to measure shoulder ROM and to diagnose AC as an alternative to goniometer.     

Kinetics of the interaction of a 41-kilodalton macrophage capping protein with actin: promotion of nucleation during prolongation of the lag period

A 41-kilodalton macrophage capping protein (MCP) has been isolated which is capable of forming complexes with actin monomers in addition to capping the barbed ends of actin filaments (Southwick & DiNubile, 1986). The protein is calcium activated in a fully reversible manner. Using kinetic assays, we determined a capping constant, defined here as a modified Kd, of 1 nM and a Kd of 3-4 microM for MCP-actin monomer complex formation. MCP weakly nucleates actin polymerization: more than 0.5 microM MCP is necessary to shorten the lag period, and 1 microM MCP at an actin/MCP ratio of 10 reduces the average length of actin filaments to about 200 molecules per filament. We determined that the actin nucleus that survives MCP inactivation contains a minimum number of five actin molecules. These experiments also make a point with respect to the interpretation of the prolongation of the lag period. We directly demonstrate that in the presence of an actin binding protein a prolongation of the lag period can be associated with increased nucleation, contrary to the usual interpretation in the literature that it indicates no or decreased nucleation by the actin binding protein.