N-terminal Acetylation Stabilizes N-terminal Helicity in Lipid- and Micelle-bound α-Synuclein and Increases Its Affinity for Physiological Membranes

The Parkinson disease protein α-synuclein is N-terminally acetylated, but most in vitro studies have been performed using unacetylated α-synuclein. Binding to lipid membranes is considered key to the still poorly understood function of α-synuclein. We report the effects of N-terminal acetylation on α-synuclein binding to lipid vesicles of different composition and curvature and to micelles composed of the detergents β-octyl-glucoside (BOG) and SDS. In the presence of SDS, N-terminal acetylation results in a slightly increased helicity for the N-terminal ∼10 residues of the protein, likely due to the stabilization of N-terminal fraying through the formation of a helix cap motif. In the presence of BOG, a detergent used in previous isolations of helical oligomeric forms of α-synuclein, the N-terminally acetylated protein adopts a novel conformation in which the N-terminal ∼30 residues bind the detergent micelle in a partly helical conformation, whereas the remainder of the protein remains unbound and disordered. Binding of α-synuclein to lipid vesicles with high negative charge content is essentially unaffected by N-terminal acetylation irrespective of curvature, but binding to vesicles of lower negative charge content is increased, with stronger binding observed for vesicles with higher curvature. Thus, the naturally occurring N-terminally acetylated form of α-synuclein exhibits stabilized helicity at its N terminus and increased affinity for lipid vesicles similar to synaptic vesicles, a binding target of the protein in vivo. Furthermore, the novel BOG-bound state of N-terminally acetylated α-synuclein may serve as a model of partly helical membrane-bound intermediates with a role in α-synuclein function and dysfunction.     

Heterologous expression and characterization of a recombinant thermostable alkylsulfatase (<Emphasis Type="Italic">sdsAP</Emphasis>)

A novel alkylsulfatase gene, sdsAP, was cloned from a newly isolated bacterium Pseudomonas sp. S9. It encoded a protein of 675 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 74.9 kDa. The protein contained a typical N-terminal signal peptide of 41 amino acid residues, followed by a metallo-β-lactamase like domain at the N-terminus and a SCP-2-like domain at the C-terminus. This domain organization mode suggested that it belonged to the type III sulfatase. The mature alkylsulfatase was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The optimal temperature and pH of the recombinant SdsAP were 70°C and 9.0, respectively. Notably, at optimal conditions, the purified recombinant SdsAP had a high specific activity of 23.25 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹, a K _{m (app)} of 264.3 μmol, and a V _{max (app)} of 33.8 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ for SDS. Additionally, it still retained more than 90% activity after incubation at 65°C for 1 h, which was much different from other alkylsulfatases reported. The recombinant enzyme hydrolyzed the primary alkyl sulfate such as sodium octyl sulfate and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). It was a Zn²⁺-containing and Ca²⁺ activated alkylsulfatase. This is the first report to explore the various characteristics of the heterologous recombinant alkylsulfatase in details. These favorable properties could make SdsAP attractive to be useful in the degradation of SDS-containing waste.     

Novel Alkylsulfatases Required for Biodegradation of the Branched Primary Alkyl Sulfate Surfactant 2-Butyloctyl Sulfate

Recent reports show that contrary to common perception, branched alkyl sulfate surfactants are readily biodegradable in standard biodegradability tests. We report here the isolation of bacteria capable of biodegrading 2-butyloctyl sulfate and the identification of novel enzymes that initiate the process. Enrichment culturing from activated sewage sludge yielded several strains capable of growth on 2-butyloctyl sulfate. Of these, two were selected for further study and identified as members of the genus Pseudomonas. Strain AE-A was able to utilize either sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or 2-butyloctyl sulfate as a carbon and energy source for growth, but strain AE-D utilized only the latter. Depending on growth conditions, strain AE-A produced up to three alkylsulfatases, as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis zymography. Growth on either SDS or 2-butyloctyl sulfate or in nutrient broth produced an apparently constitutive, nonspecific primary alkylsulfatase, AP1, weakly active on SDS and on 2-butyloctyl sulfate. Growth on 2-butyloctyl sulfate produced a second enzyme, AP2, active on 2-butyloctyl sulfate but not on SDS, and growth on SDS produced a third enzyme, AP3, active on SDS but not on 2-butyloctyl sulfate. In contrast, strain AE-D, when grown on 2-butyloctyl sulfate (no growth on SDS), produced a single enzyme, DP1, active on 2-butyloctyl sulfate but not on SDS. DP1 was not produced in broth cultures. DP1 was induced when residual 2-butyloctyl sulfate was present in the growth medium, but the enzyme disappeared when the substrate was exhausted. Gas chromatographic analysis of products of incubating 2-butyloctyl sulfate with DP1 in gels revealed the formation of 2-butyloctanol, showing the enzyme to be a true sulfatase. In contrast, Pseudomonas sp. strain C12B, well known for its ability to degrade linear SDS, was unable to grow on 2-butyloctyl sulfate, and its alkylsulfatases responsible for initiating the degradation of SDS by releasing the parent alcohol exhibited no hydrolytic activity on 2-butyloctyl sulfate. DP1 and the analogous AP2 are thus new alkylsulfatase enzymes with novel specificity toward 2-butyloctyl sulfate.     

UCHL1 deficiency exacerbates human islet amyloid polypeptide toxicity in β-cells: Evidence of interplay between the ubiquitin/proteasome system and autophagy

The islet in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by a deficit in β-cells and increased β-cell apoptosis attributable at least in part to intracellular toxic oligomers of IAPP (islet amyloid polypeptide). β-cells of individuals with T2DM are also characterized by accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and deficiency in the deubiquitinating enzyme UCHL1 (ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase L1 [ubiquitin thiolesterase]), accounting for a dysfunctional ubiquitin/proteasome system. In the present study, we used mouse genetics to elucidate in vivo whether a partial deficit in UCHL1 enhances the vulnerability of β-cells to human-IAPP (hIAPP) toxicity, and thus accelerates diabetes onset. We further investigated whether a genetically induced deficit in UCHL1 function in β-cells exacerbates hIAPP-induced alteration of the autophagy pathway in vivo. We report that a deficit in UCHL1 accelerated the onset of diabetes in hIAPP transgenic mice, due to a decrease in β-cell mass caused by increased β-cell apoptosis. We report that UCHL1 dysfunction aggravated the hIAPP-induced defect in the autophagy/lysosomal pathway, illustrated by the marked accumulation of autophagosomes and cytoplasmic inclusions positive for SQSTM1/p62 and polyubiquitinated proteins with lysine 63-specific ubiquitin chains. Collectively, this study shows that defective UCHL1 function may be an early contributor to vulnerability of pancreatic β-cells for protein misfolding and proteotoxicity, hallmark defects in islets of T2DM. Also, given that deficiency in UCHL1 exacerbated the defective autophagy/lysosomal degradation characteristic of hIAPP proteotoxicity, we demonstrate a previously unrecognized role of UCHL1 in the function of the autophagy/lysosomal pathway in β-cells.     

A novel role for the apoptosis inhibitor ARC in suppressing TNFα-induced regulated necrosis

TNFα signaling can promote apoptosis or a regulated form of necrosis. ARC (apoptosis repressor with CARD (caspase recruitment domain)) is an endogenous inhibitor of apoptosis that antagonizes both the extrinsic (death receptor) and intrinsic (mitochondrial/ER) apoptosis pathways. We discovered that ARC blocks not only apoptosis but also necrosis. TNFα-induced necrosis was abrogated by overexpression of wild-type ARC but not by a CARD mutant that is also defective for inhibition of apoptosis. Conversely, knockdown of ARC exacerbated TNFα-induced necrosis, an effect that was rescued by reconstitution with wild-type, but not CARD-defective, ARC. Similarly, depletion of ARC in vivo exacerbated necrosis caused by infection with vaccinia virus, which elicits severe tissue damage through this pathway, and sensitized mice to TNFα-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The mechanism underlying these effects is an interaction of ARC with TNF receptor 1 that interferes with recruitment of RIP1, a critical mediator of TNFα-induced regulated necrosis. These findings extend the role of ARC from an apoptosis inhibitor to a regulator of the TNFα pathway and an inhibitor of TNFα-mediated regulated necrosis.     

β-Glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae alleviates oxidative stress in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells via Dectin-1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

β-Glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been described to be effective antioxidants, but the specific antioxidation mechanism of β-glucan is unclear. The objectives of this research were to determine whether the β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae could regulate oxidative stress through the Dectin-1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In this study, we examined the effects of β-glucan on the enzyme activity or production of oxidative stress indicators in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells by biochemical analysis and the protein expression of key factors of Dectin-1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by immunofluorescence and western blot. The biochemical analysis results showed that β-glucan increased the LPS-induced downregulation of enzyme activity of intracellular heme oxygenase (HO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) while decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, immunofluorescence results showed that β-glucan can activate the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The antioxidant mechanism study indicated that β-glucan activated dendritic-cell-associated C-type lectin 1 (Dectin-1) receptors mediated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, thereby downregulating the production of ROS and thus produced the antioxidant effects in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that β-glucan potently alleviated oxidative stress via Dectin-1/Nrf2/HO-1 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.     

4‐octyl Itaconate inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced osteoarthritis via activating Nrf2 signalling pathway

Small molecule drug intervention for chondrocytes is a valuable method for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). The 4‐octyl itaconate (OI) is a cellular derivative of itaconate with sound cell permeability and transformation rate. We attempted to confirm the protective role of OI in chondrocytes and its regulatory mechanism. We used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce chondrocyte inflammation injury. After the OI treatment, the secretion and mRNA expression of Il‐6, Il‐10, Mcp‐1 and Tnf‐α were detected by ELISA and qPCR. The protective effect of OI on articular cartilage was further verified in surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus model of OA. Cell death and apoptosis were evaluated based on CCK8, LDH, Typan blue staining, Annexin V and TUNEL analyses. The small interfering RNAs were used to knockout the Nrf2 gene of chondrocytes to verify the OI‐mediated Nrf2 signalling pathway. The results revealed that OI protects cells from LPS‐induced inflammatory injury and attenuates cell death and apoptosis induced by LPS. Similar protective effects were also observed on articular cartilage in mice. The OI activated Nrf2 signalling pathway and promoted the stable expression and translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus. When the Nrf2 signalling pathway was blocked, the protective effect of OI was significantly counteracted in chondrocytes and a mouse arthritis model. Both itaconate and its derivative (i.e., OI) showed important medical effects in the treatment of OA.     

Gradual centriole maturation associates with the mitotic surveillance pathway in mouse development

Centrosomes, composed of two centrioles and pericentriolar material, organize mitotic spindles during cell division and template cilia during interphase. The first few divisions during mouse development occur without centrioles, which form around embryonic day (E) 3. However, disruption of centriole biogenesis in Sas‐4 null mice leads to embryonic arrest around E9. Centriole loss in Sas‐4 ^−/− embryos causes prolonged mitosis and p53‐dependent cell death. Studies in vitro discovered a similar USP28‐, 53BP1‐, and p53‐dependent mitotic surveillance pathway that leads to cell cycle arrest. In this study, we show that an analogous pathway is conserved in vivo where 53BP1 and USP28 are upstream of p53 in Sas‐4 ^−/− embryos. The data indicate that the pathway is established around E7 of development, four days after the centrioles appear. Our data suggest that the newly formed centrioles gradually mature to participate in mitosis and cilia formation around the beginning of gastrulation, coinciding with the activation of mitotic surveillance pathway upon centriole loss.     

DEC1 promotes progression of Helicobacter pylori‐positive gastric cancer by regulating Akt/NF‐κB pathway

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of gastric cancer (GC). Differentiated embryo‐chondrocyte expressed gene 1 (DEC1) is dysregulated in some cancers and may regulate cell proliferation in specific contexts. Of note, DEC1 is emerging as one of the important factors regulating cellular responses in microenvironment. However, the triggers and precise regulation mechanism for DEC1 during inflammatory carcinoma transformation of GC are unclear. In this study, we identified DEC1 was upregulated in both H. pylori‐infected gastric tissues and GC cells. DEC1 expression was positively associated with H. pylori infection status and GC progression. DEC1‐positive expression indicated a poorer prognosis in H. pylori‐positive GC. DEC1 was required for H. pylori‐induced GC cells proliferation. Mechanistically, H. pylori infection significantly activated Akt/NF‐κB signal pathway and this induction depend on DEC1 expression level in GC cells. Importantly, their interaction pathway was further verified by H. pylori‐positive gastritis mice model. Taken together, our findings identified a novel function of DEC1 in GC. H. pylori infection induce DEC1 expression, and which leading to the progression of GC through activating Akt/ NF‐κB signalling pathway. Blocking DEC1/Akt/NF‐κB, therefore, presents a promising novel therapeutic strategy for H. pylori‐positive GC.     

β-Lapachone induces programmed necrosis through the RIP1-PARP-AIF-dependent pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma SK-Hep1 cells

β-Lapachone activates multiple cell death mechanisms including apoptosis, autophagy and necrotic cell death in cancer cells. In this study, we investigated β-lapachone-induced cell death and the underlying mechanisms in human hepatocellular carcinoma SK-Hep1 cells. β-Lapachone markedly induced cell death without caspase activation. β-Lapachone increased PI uptake and HMGB-1 release to extracellular space, which are markers of necrotic cell death. Necrostatin-1 (a RIP1 kinase inhibitor) markedly inhibited β-lapachone-induced cell death and HMGB-1 release. In addition, β-lapachone activated poly (ADP-ribosyl) polymerase-1(PARP-1) and promoted AIF release, and DPQ (a PARP-1 specific inhibitor) or AIF siRNA blocked β-lapachone-induced cell death. Furthermore, necrostatin-1 blocked PARP-1 activation and cytosolic AIF translocation. We also found that β-lapachone-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has an important role in the activation of the RIP1-PARP1-AIF pathway. Finally, β-lapachone-induced cell death was inhibited by dicoumarol (a NQO-1 inhibitor), and NQO1 expression was correlated with sensitivity to β-lapachone. Taken together, our results demonstrate that β-lapachone induces programmed necrosis through the NQO1-dependent ROS-mediated RIP1-PARP1-AIF pathway.     

Caveolin‐1 negatively regulates inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis

Inhalation of crystalline silica causes silicosis, the most common and serious occupational disease, which is characterized by progressive lung inflammation and fibrosis. Recent studies revealed the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrosis role of Caveolin‐1 (Cav‐1) in lung, but this role in silicosis has not been investigated. Thus, this study evaluated Cav‐1 regulatory effects in silicosis. It was found that Cav‐1 levels were significantly reduced in the lung from silicosis patients and silicotic mice. The silicosis models were established in C57BL/6 (wild‐type) and Cav‐1 deficiency (Cav‐1 ^−/−) mice, and Cav‐1 ^−/− mice displayed wider alveolar septa, increased collagen deposition and more silicotic nodules. The mice peritoneal‐derived macrophages were used to explore the role of Cav‐1 in silica‐induced inflammation, which plays a central role in mechanism of silicosis. Cav‐1 inhibited silica‐induced infiltration of inflammatory cells and secretion of inflammatory factors in vitro and in vivo, partly by downregulating NF‐κB pathway. Additionally, silica uptake and expression of 4‐hydroxynonenal in silicotic mice were observed, and it was found that Cav‐1 absence triggered excessive silica deposition, causing a stronger oxidative stress response. These findings demonstrate the protective effects of Cav‐1 in silica‐induced lung injury, suggesting its potential therapeutic value in silicosis.     

Characterization of a novel β-alanine biosynthetic pathway consisting of promiscuous metabolic enzymes

Bacteria adapt to utilize the nutrients available in their environment through a sophisticated metabolic system composed of highly specialized enzymes. Although these enzymes can metabolize molecules other than those for which they evolved, their efficiency toward promiscuous substrates is considered too low to be of physiological relevance. Herein, we investigated the possibility that these promiscuous enzymes are actually efficient enough at metabolizing secondary substrates to modify the phenotype of the cell. For example, in the bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 (ADP1), panD (coding for l-aspartate decarboxylase) encodes the only protein known to catalyze the synthesis of β-alanine, an obligate intermediate in CoA synthesis. However, we show that the ADP1 ΔpanD mutant could also form this molecule through an unknown metabolic pathway arising from promiscuous enzymes and grow as efficiently as the wildtype strain. Using metabolomic analyses, we identified 1,3-diaminopropane and 3-aminopropanal as intermediates in this novel pathway. We also conducted activity screening and enzyme kinetics to elucidate candidate enzymes involved in this pathway, including 2,4-diaminobutyrate aminotransferase (Dat) and 2,4-diaminobutyrate decarboxylase (Ddc) and validated this pathway in vivo by analyzing the phenotype of mutant bacterial strains. Finally, we experimentally demonstrate that this novel metabolic route is not restricted to ADP1. We propose that the occurrence of conserved genes in hundreds of genomes across many phyla suggests that this previously undescribed pathway is widespread in prokaryotes.     

The nuclear factor κB inhibitor (E)-2-fluoro-4′-methoxystilbene inhibits firefly luciferase

Photinus pyralis (firefly) luciferase is widely used as a reporter system to monitor alterations in gene promoter and/or signalling pathway activities in vitro. The enzyme catalyses the formation of oxyluciferin from D-luciferin in an ATP-consuming reaction involving photon emission. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the luciferase-inhibiting potential of (E)-2-fluoro-4′-methoxystilbene, which is known as a potent inhibitor of the NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) signalling pathway that is used to modulate the NF-κB signalling pathway in vitro. Results show that (E)-2-fluoro-4′-methoxystilbene effectively inhibits firefly luciferase activity in cell lysates and living cells in a non-competitive manner with respect to the luciferase substrates D-luciferin and ATP. By contrast, the compound has no effect on Renilla and Gaussia luciferases. The mechanism of firefly luciferase inhibition by (E)-2-fluoro-4′-methoxystilbene, as well as its potency is comparable to its structure analogue resveratrol. The in vitro use of trans-stilbenes such as (E)-2-fluoro-4′-methoxystilbene or resveratrol compromises firefly luciferase reporter assays as well as ATP/luciferase-based cell viability assays.     

Bone morphogenetic protein 6–mediated crosstalk between endothelial cells and hepatocytes recapitulates the iron-sensing pathway in vitro

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cell–derived bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) and the BMP6–small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (SMAD) signaling pathway are essential for the expression of hepcidin, the secretion of which is considered the systemic master switch of iron homeostasis. However, there are continued controversies related to the strong and direct suppressive effect of iron on hepatocellular hepcidin in vitro in contrast to in vivo conditions. Here, we directly studied the crosstalk between endothelial cells (ECs) and hepatocytes using in vitro coculture models that mimic hepcidin signaling in vivo. Huh7 cells were directly cocultured with ECs, and EC conditioned media (CM) were also used to culture Huh7 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes. To explore the reactions of ECs to surrounding iron, they were grown in the presence of ferric ammonium citrate and heme, two iron-containing molecules. We found that both direct coculture with ECs and EC-CM significantly increased hepcidin expression in Huh7 cells. The upstream SMAD pathway, including phosphorylated SMAD1/5/8, SMAD1, and inhibitor of DNA binding 1, was induced by EC-CM, promoting hepcidin expression. Efficient blockage of this EC-mediated hepcidin upregulation by an inhibitor of the BMP6 receptor ALK receptor tyrosine kinase 2/3 or BMP6 siRNA identified BMP6 as a major hepcidin regulator in this coculture system, which highly fits the model of hepcidin regulation by iron in vivo. In addition, EC-derived BMP6 and hepcidin were highly sensitive to levels of not only ferric iron but also heme as low as 500 nM. We here establish a hepatocyte–endothelial coculture system to fully recapitulate iron regulation by hepcidin using EC-derived BMP6.     

IKKalpha, a critical regulator of epidermal differentiation and a suppressor of skin cancer

IκB kinase α (IKKα), one of the two catalytic subunits of the IKK complex involved in nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation, also functions as a molecular switch that controls epidermal differentiation. This unexpected function requires IKKα nuclear translocation but does not depend on its kinase activity, and is independent of NF-κB signalling. Ikkα^–/– mice present with a hyperproliferative and undifferentiated epidermis characterized by complete absence of a granular layer and stratum corneum. Ikkα-deficient keratinocytes do not express terminal differentiation markers and continue to proliferate even when subjected to differentiation-inducing stimuli. This antiproliferative function of IKKα is also important for the suppression of squamous cell carcinogenesis. The exact mechanisms by which nuclear IKKα controls keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation remained mysterious for some time. Recent studies, however, have revealed that IKKα is a major cofactor in a TGFβ–Smad2/3 signalling pathway that is Smad4 independent. This pathway controls cell cycle withdrawal during keratinocyte terminal differentiation. Although these are not the only functions of nuclear IKKα, this multifunctional protein is a key regulator of keratinocyte and epidermal differentiation and a critical suppressor of skin cancer.