Neverland is an evolutionally conserved Rieske-domain protein that is essential for ecdysone synthesis and insect growth

Steroid hormones mediate a wide variety of developmental and physiological events in multicellular organisms. During larval and pupal stages of insects, the principal steroid hormone is ecdysone, which is synthesized in the prothoracic gland (PG) and plays a central role in the control of development. Although many studies have revealed the biochemical features of ecdysone synthesis in the PG, many aspects of this pathway have remained unclear at the molecular level. We describe the neverland (nvd) gene, which encodes an oxygenase-like protein with a Rieske electron carrier domain, from the silkworm Bombyx mori and the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. nvd is expressed specifically in tissues that synthesize ecdysone, such as the PG. We also show that loss of nvd function in the PG causes arrest of both molting and growth during Drosophila development. Furthermore, the phenotype is rescued by application of 20-hydroxyecdysone or the precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol. Given that the nvd family is evolutionally conserved, these results suggest that Nvd is an essential regulator of cholesterol metabolism or trafficking in steroid synthesis across animal phyla.     

Evolutionarily conserved E(y)2/Sus1 protein is essential for the barrier activity of Su(Hw)-dependent insulators in Drosophila

Chromatin insulators affect interactions between promoters and enhancers/silencers and function as barriers for spreading of repressive chromatin. The Su(Hw) protein is responsible for activity of the best-studied Drosophila insulators. Here we demonstrate that an evolutionarily conserved protein, E(y)2/Sus1, is recruited to the Su(Hw) insulators via binding to the zinc-finger domain of Su(Hw). Partial inactivation of E(y)2 in a weak mutation, e(y)2(u1), impairs only the barrier, but not the enhancer-blocking, activity of the Su(Hw) insulators. Whereas neither su(Hw)(-) nor e(y)2(u1) affects fly viability, their combination proves lethal, testifying to functional interaction between Su(Hw) and E(y)2 in vivo. Apparently, different domains of Su(Hw) recruit proteins responsible for enhancer-blocking and for the barrier activity.     

WhiA, a protein of unknown function conserved among gram-positive bacteria, is essential for sporulation in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

The whiA sporulation gene of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), which plays a key role in switching aerial hyphae away from continued extension growth and toward sporulation septation, was cloned by complementation of whiA mutants. DNA sequencing of the wild-type allele and five whiA mutations verified that whiA is a gene encoding a protein with homologues in all gram-positive bacteria whose genome sequence is known, whether of high or low G+C content. No function has been attributed to any of these WhiA-like proteins. In most cases, as in S. coelicolor, the whiA-like gene is downstream of other conserved genes in an operon-like cluster. Phenotypic analysis of a constructed disruption mutant confirmed that whiA is essential for sporulation. whiA is transcribed from at least two promoters, the most downstream of which is located within the preceding gene and is strongly up-regulated when colonies are undergoing sporulation. The up-regulation depends on a functional whiA gene, suggesting positive autoregulation, although it is not known whether this is direct or indirect. Unlike the promoters of some other sporulation-regulatory genes, the whiA promoter does not depend on the sporulation-specific sigma factor encoded by whiG.     

The pavA gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae encodes a fibronectin-binding protein that is essential for virulence

Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the nasopharynx in up to 40% of healthy subjects, and is a leading cause of middle ear infections (otitis media), meningitis and pneumonia. Pneumococci adhere to glycosidic receptors on epithelial cells and to immobilized fibronectin, but the bacterial adhesins mediating these reactions are largely uncharacterized. In this report we describe a novel pneumococcal protein PavA, which binds fibronectin and is associated with pneumococcal adhesion and virulence. The pavA gene, present in 64 independent isolates of S. pneumoniae tested, encodes a 551 amino acid residue polypeptide with 67% identical amino acid sequence to Fbp54 protein in Streptococcus pyogenes. PavA localized to the pneumococcal cell outer surface, as demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy, despite lack of conventional secretory or cell-surface anchorage signals within the primary sequence. Full-length recombinant PavA polypeptide bound to immobilized human fibronectin in preference to fluid-phase fibronectin, in a heparin-sensitive interaction, and blocked binding of wild-type pneumococcal cells to fibronectin. However, a C-terminally truncated PavA' polypeptide (362 aa residues) failed to bind fibronectin or block pneumococcal cell adhesion. Expression of pavA in Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 conferred > sixfold increased cell adhesion levels to fibronectin over control JH2-2 cells. Isogenic mutants of S. pneumoniae, either abrogated in PavA expression or producing a 42 kDa C-terminally truncated protein, showed up to 50% reduced binding to immobilized fibronectin. Inactivation of pavA had no effects on growth rate, cell morphology, cell-surface physico-chemical properties, production of pneumolysin, autolysin, or surface proteins PspA and PsaA. Isogenic pavA mutants of encapsulated S. pneumoniae D39 were approximately 104-fold attenuated in virulence in the mouse sepsis model. These results provide evidence that PavA fibronectin-binding protein plays a direct role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infections.     

Prothymosin alpha is an evolutionary conserved protein covalently linked to a small RNA

A 13 kDa protein, covalently linked to a small RNA from the cytoplasm of mouse cells, was studied. Sequence analysis of its tryptic peptides revealed that the RNA-linked protein is identical to prothymosin alpha. Very similar RNA-protein complexes were identified in human, bovine and yeast cells. Tryptic peptide maps of 125I-labelled RNA-linked proteins of diverse origin demonstrated their marked similarity, thus indicating high evolutionary conservation of prothymosin alpha from yeast to man.     

The Escherichia coli trmE (mnmE) gene, involved in tRNA modification, codes for an evolutionarily conserved GTPase with unusual biochemical properties

The evolutionarily conserved 50K protein of Escherichia coli, encoded by o454, contains a consensus GTP-binding motif. Here we show that 50K is a GTPase that differs extensively from regulatory GTPases such as p21. Thus, 50K exhibits a very high intrinsic GTPase hydrolysis rate, rather low affinity for GTP, and extremely low affinity for GDP. Moreover, it can form self-assemblies. Strikingly, the 17 kDa GTPase domain of 50K conserves the guanine nucleotide-binding and GTPase activities of the intact 50K molecule. Therefore, the structural requirements for GTP binding and GTP hydrolysis by 50K are without precedent and justify a separate classification in the GTPase superfamily. Immunoelectron microscopy reveals that 50K is a cytoplasmic protein partially associated with the inner membrane. We prove that o454 is allelic with trmE, a gene involved in the biosynthesis of the hypermodified nucleoside 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, which is found in the wobble position of some tRNAs. Our results demonstrate that 50K is essential for viability depending on the genetic background. We propose that combination of mutations affecting the decoding process, which separately do not reveal an obvious defect in growth, can give rise to lethal phenotypes, most likely due to synergism.     

Evidence that sabinene is an essential precursor of C(3)-oxygenated thujane monoterpenes

The volatile oil of immature Artemisia absinthium L. leaves contains sabinyl acetate (42%), 3-thujone (32%), sabinene (12%), and α-thujene (3%) as major constitutents, and label from the acyclic precursor [1-³H]geraniol was incorporated, under aerobic conditions, into these thujane-type monoterpenes in proportion to their natural abundance in this tissue. Light had little effect on the synthesis of these monoterpenes from exogenous geraniol; however, at reduced oxygen levels, label from geraniol accumulated in the olefin sabinene while much less sabinyl acetate and 3-thujone were formed, suggesting a route to the ester and ketone by the allylic, nonphotochemical, oxygenation of sabinene. Supporting evidence for the intermediary role of the olefin was provided by isotopic dilution studies in which sabinene, but not α-thujene, blocked formation of the oxygenated derivatives from the labeled precursor. [10-³H]Sabinene was incorporated directly as a substrate in A. absinthium leaves into both [10-³H]sabinyl acetate and 3-[10-³H]thujone. Furthermore, [³H]sabinene was specifically incorporated into 3-thujone in Tanacetum vulgare and into the diastereomeric ketone 3-isothujone in Salvia officinalis, confirming the role of this bicyclic olefin as the essential precursor of C(3)-oxygenated thujane monoterpenes.     

Nephroblastoma overexpressed gene (NOV) codes for a growth factor that induces protein tyrosine phosphorylation

NOV (nephroblastoma overexpressed gene) is a member of the CCN (connective tissue growth factor [CTGF], Cyr61/Cef10, NOV) family of proteins. These proteins are cysteine-rich and are noted for having growth-regulatory functions. We have isolated the rat NOV gene, and the DNA sequence shares 90% identity with the mouse and 80% identity with the human sequences. The rat NOV gene was expressed in all rat tissues examined, including brain, lung, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, thymus and skeletal muscle. Higher levels of rat NOV mRNA were seen in the brain, lung and skeletal muscle compared to the other tissues. Examination of NOV expression in various human cell lines revealed that NOV was expressed in U87, 293, T98G, SK-N-MC and Hs683 but not in HepG2, HL60, THP1 and Jurkat. The human NOV gene was transfected into 293 cells and the expressed protein purified. When 3T3 fibroblasts were treated with this recombinant NOV protein, a dose-dependent increase in proliferation was observed. Analysis of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins revealed that when 3T3 cells were treated with NOV, a 221 kDa protein was phosphorylated. These data suggest that NOV can act as a growth factor for some cells and binds to a specific receptor that leads to the phosphorylation of a 221 kDa protein.     

The yeast SSS1 gene is essential for secretory protein translocation and encodes a conserved protein of the endoplasmic reticulum.

The SEC61, SEC62 and SEC63 yeast gene products are membrane components of the apparatus that catalyses protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In the hope of uncovering additional components of the translocation apparatus, we sought yeast genes whose overexpression would restore partial thermoresistance in a sec61 translocation-deficient mutant. The first extragenic Sec sixty-one suppressor, SSS1, is an essential single copy gene whose overexpression restores translocation in the sec61 mutant. Another extragenic suppressor was identified as TDH3, which encodes the major isozyme of the most abundant yeast protein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. TDH3 overexpression could exert an indirect effect by competitively inhibiting protein synthesis, thereby allowing the impaired translocation apparatus to cope with a reduced flow of newly synthesized secretory proteins. Depletion of the Sss1 protein rapidly results in accumulation of multiple secretory or membrane proteins devoid of post-translational modifications; the normally secreted alpha-factor accumulates on the cytosolic side of ER membranes. Thus, the SSS1 gene is required for continued translocation of secretory preproteins beyond their early association to ER membranes. Consistent with its essential role in protein translocation, the Sss1 protein localizes to the ER and homologues were detected in higher eukaryotes.     

The calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase catalytic subunit (calcineurin A) is an essential gene in Aspergillus nidulans.

The gene encoding the homologue of the catalytic subunit of the Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin A) has been isolated from Aspergillus nidulans. This gene, cnaA+, is essential in this fungal system. Analysis of growth-arrested cells following gene disruption by homologous recombination reveals that they are blocked early in the cell cycle. The cnaA+ gene encodes a 2.5 kb mRNA and the deduced protein sequence is highly homologous to the calcineurin A subunit of other species. The mRNA varies in a cell cycle-dependent manner with maximal levels found early in G1 and considerably before the G1/S boundary. As calmodulin is also essential for A.nidulans cell cycle progression and levels rise before the G1/S boundary, our data suggest that calcineurin may represent a primary target for calmodulin at this cell cycle transition point.     

The calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase catalytic subunit (calcineurin A) is an essential gene in Aspergillus nidulans.

The gene encoding the homologue of the catalytic subunit of the Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin A) has been isolated from Aspergillus nidulans. This gene, cnaA+, is essential in this fungal system. Analysis of growth-arrested cells following gene disruption by homologous recombination reveals that they are blocked early in the cell cycle. The cnaA+ gene encodes a 2.5 kb mRNA and the deduced protein sequence is highly homologous to the calcineurin A subunit of other species. The mRNA varies in a cell cycle-dependent manner with maximal levels found early in G1 and considerably before the G1/S boundary. As calmodulin is also essential for A. nidulans cell cycle progression and levels rise before the G1/S boundary, our data suggest that calcineurin may represent a primary target for calmodulin at this cell cycle transition point.     

neurotic,a novel maternal neurogenic gene,encodes an O-fucosyltransferase that is essential for Notch-Delta interactions

Notch signalling, which is highly conserved from nematodes to mammals, plays crucial roles in many developmental processes. In the Drosophila embryo, deficiency in Notch signalling results in neural hyperplasia, commonly referred to as the neurogenic phenotype. We identify a novel maternal neurogenic gene, neurotic, and show that it is essential for Notch signalling. neurotic encodes a Drosophila homolog of mammalian GDP-fucose protein O-fucosyltransferase, which adds fucose sugar to epidermal growth factor-like repeats and is known to play a crucial role in Notch signalling. neurotic functions in a cell-autonomous manner, and genetic epistasis tests reveal that Neurotic is required for the activity of the full-length but not an activated form of Notch. Further, we show that neurotic is required for Fringe activity, which encodes a fucose-specific beta1, 3 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, previously shown to modulate Notch receptor activity. Finally, Neurotic is essential for the physical interaction of Notch with its ligand Delta, and for the ability of Fringe to modulate this interaction in Drosophila cultured cells. We present an unprecedented example of an absolute requirement of a protein glycosylation event for a ligand-receptor interaction. Our results suggest that O-fucosylation catalysed by Neurotic is also involved in the Fringe-independent activities of Notch and may provide a novel on-off mechanism that regulates ligand-receptor interactions.     

The HtrA (DegP) protein, essential for Escherichia coli survival at high temperatures, is an endopeptidase.

As a preliminary step in the understanding of the function of the Escherichia coli HtrA (DegP) protein, which is indispensable for bacterial survival only at elevated temperatures, the protein was purified and partially characterized. The HtrA protein was purified from cells carrying the htrA gene cloned into a multicopy plasmid, resulting in its overproduction. The sequence of the 13 N-terminal amino acids of the purified HtrA protein was determined and was identical to the one predicted for the mature HtrA protein by the DNA sequence of the cloned gene. Moreover, the N-terminal sequence showed that the 48-kilodalton HtrA protein is derived by cleavage of the first 26 amino acids of the pre-HtrA precursor polypeptide and that the point of cleavage follows a typical target sequence recognized by the leader peptidase enzyme. The HtrA protein was shown to be a specific endopeptidase which was inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate, suggesting that HtrA is a serine protease.