The Tyrosine Kinase c-Abl Promotes Homeodomain-interacting Protein Kinase 2 (HIPK2) Accumulation and Activation in Response to DNA Damage

The non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl is activated in response to DNA damage and induces p73-dependent apoptosis. Here, we investigated c-Abl regulation of the homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), an important regulator of p53-dependent apoptosis. c-Abl phosphorylated HIPK2 at several sites, and phosphorylation by c-Abl protected HIPK2 from degradation mediated by the ubiquitin E3 ligase Siah-1. c-Abl and HIPK2 synergized in activating p53 on apoptotic promoters in a reporter assay, and c-Abl was required for endogenous HIPK2 accumulation and phosphorylation of p53 at Ser⁴⁶ in response to DNA damage by γ- and UV radiation. Accumulation of HIPK2 in nuclear speckles and association with promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) in response to DNA damage were also dependent on c-Abl activity. At high cell density, the Hippo pathway inhibits DNA damage-induced c-Abl activation. Under this condition, DNA damage-induced HIPK2 accumulation, phosphorylation of p53 at Ser⁴⁶, and apoptosis were attenuated. These data demonstrate a new mechanism for the induction of DNA damage-induced apoptosis by c-Abl and illustrate network interactions between serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases that dictate cell fate.     

拟南芥H_2O_2突变体的筛选及特性分析

通过化学诱变剂甲基磺酸乙酯(EMS)诱变模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)获得突变体筛选群体.在5 mmol/L H2O2胁迫下,以叶片温度差异为筛选指标,利用远红外成像技术进行突变体的筛选,获得了对H2O2不敏感突变体hpi1(hydrogen peroxide-insensitive1)和敏感突变体hps1(hydrogen peroxide-sensitive1).进一步研究发现,两种突变均为单基因隐性突变,气孔密度同野生型一样,而叶片温度、气孔开度和叶片失水率则有明显的差异.种子萌发实验表明,hpi1对甘露醇(Man)和NaCl不敏感而对ABA敏感,hps1则对3种胁迫都表现出敏感特性.     

Loss of Prohibitin Membrane Scaffolds Impairs Mitochondrial Architecture and Leads to Tau Hyperphosphorylation and Neurodegeneration

Fusion and fission of mitochondria maintain the functional integrity of mitochondria and protect against neurodegeneration, but how mitochondrial dysfunctions trigger neuronal loss remains ill-defined. Prohibitins form large ring complexes in the inner membrane that are composed of PHB1 and PHB2 subunits and are thought to function as membrane scaffolds. In Caenorhabditis elegans, prohibitin genes affect aging by moderating fat metabolism and energy production. Knockdown experiments in mammalian cells link the function of prohibitins to membrane fusion, as they were found to stabilize the dynamin-like GTPase OPA1 (optic atrophy 1), which mediates mitochondrial inner membrane fusion and cristae morphogenesis. Mutations in OPA1 are associated with dominant optic atrophy characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells, highlighting the importance of OPA1 function in neurons. Here, we show that neuron-specific inactivation of Phb2 in the mouse forebrain causes extensive neurodegeneration associated with behavioral impairments and cognitive deficiencies. We observe early onset tau hyperphosphorylation and filament formation in the hippocampus, demonstrating a direct link between mitochondrial defects and tau pathology. Loss of PHB2 impairs the stability of OPA1, affects mitochondrial ultrastructure, and induces the perinuclear clustering of mitochondria in hippocampal neurons. A destabilization of the mitochondrial genome and respiratory deficiencies manifest in aged neurons only, while the appearance of mitochondrial morphology defects correlates with tau hyperphosphorylation in the absence of PHB2. These results establish an essential role of prohibitin complexes for neuronal survival in vivo and demonstrate that OPA1 stability, mitochondrial fusion, and the maintenance of the mitochondrial genome in neurons depend on these scaffolding proteins. Moreover, our findings establish prohibitin-deficient mice as a novel genetic model for tau pathologies caused by a dysfunction of mitochondria and raise the possibility that tau pathologies are associated with other neurodegenerative disorders caused by deficiencies in mitochondrial dynamics.     

Mitochondrial Ceramide and the Induction of Apoptosis

In most cell types, a key event in apoptosis is the release of proapoptotic intermembrane space proteins from mitochondria to the cytoplasm. In general, it is the release of these intermembrane space proteins that is responsible for the activation of caspases and DNases that are responsible for the execution of apoptosis. The mechanism for the increased permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane during the induction phase of apoptosis is currently unknown and highly debated. This review will focus on one such proposed mechanism, namely, the formation of ceramide channels in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Ceramides are known to play a major regulatory role in apoptosis by inducing the release of proapoptotic proteins from the mitochondria. As mitochondria are known to contain the enzymes responsible for the synthesis and hydrolysis of ceramide, there exists a mechanism for regulating the level of ceramide in mitochondria. In addition, mitochondrial ceramide levels have been shown to be elevated prior to the induction phase of apoptosis. Ceramide has been shown to form large protein permeable channels in planar phospholipid and mitochondrial outer membranes. Thus, ceramide channels are good candidates for the pathway with which proapoptotic proteins are released from mitochondria during the induction phase of apoptosis.     

Mitochondrial O2*- and H2O2 mediate glucose deprivation-induced stress in human cancer cells

The hypothesis that glucose deprivation-induced cytotoxicity in transformed human cells is mediated by mitochondrial O2*- and H2O2 was first tested by exposing glucose-deprived SV40-transformed human fibroblasts (GM00637G) to electron transport chain blockers (ETCBs) known to increase mitochondrial O2*- and H2O2 production (antimycin A (AntA), myxothiazol (Myx), or rotenone (Rot)). Glucose deprivation (2-8 h) in the presence of ETCBs enhanced parameters indicative of oxidative stress (i.e. GSSG and steady-state levels of oxygen-centered radicals) as well as cytotoxicity. Glucose deprivation in the presence of AntA also significantly enhanced cytotoxicity and parameters indicative of oxidative stress in several different human cancer cell lines (PC-3, DU145, MDA-MB231, and HT-29). In addition, human osteosarcoma cells lacking functional mitochondrial electron transport chains (rho0) were resistant to glucose deprivation-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in the presence of AntA. In the absence of ETCBs, aminotriazole-mediated inactivation of catalase in PC-3 cells demonstrated increases in intracellular steady-state levels of H2O2 during glucose deprivation. Finally, in the absence of ETCBs, overexpression of manganese containing superoxide dismutase and/or mitochondrial targeted catalase using adenoviral vectors significantly protected PC-3 cells from toxicity and oxidative stress induced by glucose deprivation with expression of both enzymes providing greater protection than was seen with either alone. Overall, these findings strongly support the hypothesis that mitochondrial O2*- and H2O2 significantly contribute to glucose deprivation-induced cytotoxicity and metabolic oxidative stress in human cancer cells.     

Loss of Catalytically Inactive Lipid Phosphatase Myotubularin-related Protein 12 Impairs Myotubularin Stability and Promotes Centronuclear Myopathy in Zebrafish

X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) is a congenital disorder caused by mutations of the myotubularin gene, MTM1. Myotubularin belongs to a large family of conserved lipid phosphatases that include both catalytically active and inactive myotubularin-related proteins (i.e., “MTMRs”). Biochemically, catalytically inactive MTMRs have been shown to form heteroligomers with active members within the myotubularin family through protein-protein interactions. However, the pathophysiological significance of catalytically inactive MTMRs remains unknown in muscle. By in vitro as well as in vivo studies, we have identified that catalytically inactive myotubularin-related protein 12 (MTMR12) binds to myotubularin in skeletal muscle. Knockdown of the mtmr12 gene in zebrafish resulted in skeletal muscle defects and impaired motor function. Analysis of mtmr12 morphant fish showed pathological changes with central nucleation, disorganized Triads, myofiber hypotrophy and whorled membrane structures similar to those seen in X-linked myotubular myopathy. Biochemical studies showed that deficiency of MTMR12 results in reduced levels of myotubularin protein in zebrafish and mammalian C2C12 cells. Loss of myotubularin also resulted in reduction of MTMR12 protein in C2C12 cells, mice and humans. Moreover, XLMTM mutations within the myotubularin interaction domain disrupted binding to MTMR12 in cell culture. Analysis of human XLMTM patient myotubes showed that mutations that disrupt the interaction between myotubularin and MTMR12 proteins result in reduction of both myotubularin and MTMR12. These studies strongly support the concept that interactions between myotubularin and MTMR12 are required for the stability of their functional protein complex in normal skeletal muscles. This work highlights an important physiological function of catalytically inactive phosphatases in the pathophysiology of myotubular myopathy and suggests a novel therapeutic approach through identification of drugs that could stabilize the myotubularin-MTMR12 complex and hence ameliorate this disorder.     

H2O2介导的H2S产生参与干旱诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭

以野生型拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)及其突变体(atrbohD、atrbohF、atrbohD/F、atl-cdes、atd-cdes)和过表达株系(OEL-CDes、OED-CDes)为材料,利用药理学实验,结合分光光度法和激光共聚焦显微技术,探讨硫化氢(hydrogen sulfide,H2S)在干旱诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭中的作用及其与过氧化氢(hydrogen peroxide,H2O2)的关系.结果表明,H2S清除剂次牛磺酸(hypotaurine,HT)及合成抑制剂氨氧基乙酸(aminooxy acetic acid,AOA)、羟胺(hydroxylamine,NH2OH)和丙酮酸钾(potasium pyruvate,C3H3KO3)+氨水(ammonia,NH3)均可不同程度抑制干旱诱导的气孔关闭;干旱对OEL-CDes和OED-CDes植株气孔关闭的诱导作用明显,而atl-cdes和atd-cdes叶片气孔对干旱胁迫反应的敏感性下降;干旱胁迫能明显增加拟南芥保卫细胞中H2O2水平及叶片中H2S含量,提高D-/L-半胱氨酸脱巯基酶活性及基因表达量,而对突变体atrbohD、atrbohF和atrbohD/F没有显著影响.清除H2O2可减弱干旱胁迫对H2S含量和D-/L-半胱氨酸脱巯基酶活性的诱导效应.研究结果表明H2S位于H2O2下游参与干旱诱导拟南芥气孔关闭的信号转导过程.     

Ischemia/Reperfusion Impairs Mitochondrial Energy Conservation and Triggers O2− Release as a Byproduct of Respiration

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of mitochondria in the development of heart failure following ischemia/reperfusion. Although mitochondria were increasingly assumed to be responsible for the establishment of an oxidative stress situation the lack of suitable methods to prove it required new concepts for an evaluation of the validity of this hypothesis. The principal idea was to expose isolated mitochondria to metabolic conditions which are developed during ischemia/reperfusion in the cell (anoxia, lactogenesis) and study how they respond. Heart mitochondria treated in that way responded with an incomplete collaps of the transmembraneous proton gradient, thereby impairing respiration-linked ATP generation. The membrane effect affected also the proper control of e^? transfer through redox-cycling ubisemiquinone. Electrons were found to leak at this site from its normal pathway to O₂^? suggesting that ubisemiquinone becomes an active O₂^? generator. It was concluded from these observations that mitochondria are likely to play a pathogenetic role in the reperfusion injury of the heart both, by an impairment of energy conservation and their transition to a potent O₂^?-radical generator. Furthermore, there is considerable evidence that the exogenous NADH-dehydrogenase of heart mitochondria is mainly responsible for functional changes of these organelles during ischemia/reperfusion.     

Ischemia/Reperfusion Impairs Mitochondrial Energy Conservation and Triggers O2- Release as a Byproduct of Respiration

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of mitochondria in the development of heart failure following ischemia/reperfusion. Although mitochondria were increasingly assumed to be responsible for the establishment of an oxidative stress situation the lack of suitable methods to prove it required new concepts for an evaluation of the validity of this hypothesis. The principal idea was to expose isolated mitochondria to metabolic conditions which are developed during ischemia/reperfusion in the cell (anoxia, lactogenesis) and study how they respond. Heart mitochondria treated in that way responded with an incomplete collaps of the transmembraneous proton gradient, thereby impairing respiration-linked ATP generation. The membrane effect affected also the proper control of e^- transfer through redox-cycling ubisemiquinone. Electrons were found to leak at this site from its normal pathway to O₂^- suggesting that ubisemiquinone becomes an active O₂^- generator. It was concluded from these observations that mitochondria are likely to play a pathogenetic role in the reperfusion injury of the heart both, by an impairment of energy conservation and their transition to a potent O₂^--radical generator. Furthermore, there is considerable evidence that the exogenous NADH-dehydrogenase of heart mitochondria is mainly responsible for functional changes of these organelles during ischemia/reperfusion.     

ABA诱导玉米叶质外体H2O2积累的机制

通过组织化学染色和电镜观察并结合酶活性分析表明,ABA可通过诱导玉米（Zea mays L、）叶片质膜NADPH氧化酶、细胞壁POD及质外体PAO活性的升高,使其质外体产生H2O2;其中质膜NADPH氧化酶起主要作用。     

Sulfenylation of ENOLASE2 facilitates H2O2-conferred freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis

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Salicylic Acid and H2O2 Induce PPO Derived GUS Expression in Arabidopsis

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) are ubiquitous enzymes of plant defense which transform polyphenols into quinones that response to biotic and abiotic stresses....     

Mitochondrial H2O2 regulates the angiogenic phenotype via PTEN oxidation

Recent studies have demonstrated that the tumor suppressor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10), the antagonist of the phosphosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling cascade, is susceptible to H2O2-dependent oxidative inactivation. This study describes the use of redox-engineered cell lines to identify PTEN as sensitive to oxidative inactivation by mitochondrial H2O2. Increases in the steady state production of mitochondrial derived H2O2, as a result of manganese superoxide dismutase (Sod2) overexpression, led to PTEN oxidation that was reversed by the coexpression of the H2O2-detoxifying enzyme catalase. The accumulation of an oxidized inactive fraction of PTEN favored the formation of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate at the plasma membrane, resulting in increased activation of Akt and modulation of its downstream targets. PTEN oxidation in response to mitochondrial H2O2 enhanced PI3K signaling, leading to increased expression of the key regulator of angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor. Overexpression of PTEN prevented the H2O2-dependent increase in vascular endothelial growth factor promoter activity and immunoreactive protein, whereas a mutant PTEN (G129R), lacking phosphatase activity, did not. Furthermore, mitochondrial generation of H2O2 by Sod2 promoted endothelial cell sprouting in a three-dimensional in vitro angiogenesis assay that was attenuated by catalase coexpression or the PI3K inhibitor LY2949002. Moreover, Sod2 overexpression resulted in increased in vivo blood vessel formation that was H2O2-dependent as assessed by the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay. Our findings provide the first evidence for the involvement of mitochondrial H2O2 in regulating PTEN function and the angiogenic switch, indicating that Sod2 can serve as an alternative physiological source of the potent signaling molecule, H2O2.     

Regulation of Ceramide Synthase by Casein Kinase 2-dependent Phosphorylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Complex sphingolipids are important components of eukaryotic cell membranes and, together with their biosynthetic precursors, including sphingoid long chain bases and ceramides, have important signaling functions crucial for cell growth and survival. Ceramides are produced at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane by a multicomponent enzyme complex termed ceramide synthase (CerS). In budding yeast, this complex is composed of two catalytic subunits, Lac1 and Lag1, as well as an essential regulatory subunit, Lip1. Proper formation of ceramides by CerS has been shown previously to require the Cka2 subunit of casein kinase 2 (CK2), a ubiquitous enzyme with multiple cellular functions, but the precise mechanism involved has remained unidentified. Here we present evidence that Lac1 and Lag1 are direct targets for CK2 and that phosphorylation at conserved positions within the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of each protein is required for optimal CerS activity. Our data suggest that phosphorylation of Lac1 and Lag1 is important for proper localization and distribution of CerS within the ER membrane and that phosphorylation of these sites is functionally linked to the COP I-dependent C-terminal dilysine ER retrieval pathway. Together, our data identify CK2 as an important regulator of sphingolipid metabolism, and additionally, because both ceramides and CK2 have been implicated in the regulation of cancer, our findings may lead to an enhanced understanding of their relationship in health and disease.     

线粒体神经酰胺对细胞凋亡的诱导作用

凋亡诱导期,线粒体内神经酰胺水平升高,当每纳摩尔线粒体膜磷脂内含4～6皮摩尔神经酰胺时,神经酰胺即在线粒体外膜形成稳定的跨膜通道,从而使外膜通透性增加,线粒体膜间蛋白释放,启动细胞凋亡.神经酰胺通道只能在线粒体外膜形成,它是由神经酰胺柱组成的桶装结构,神经酰胺的反式双键具有增加通道的稳定性的作用.     

Ca2+位于H2O2上游参与H2S诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭过程

以拟南芥为材料,利用药理学实验,结合分光光度法和激光共聚焦显微技术,研究了Ca2+在硫化氢(H2S)诱导拟南芥气孔关闭过程中的作用及其与过氧化氢(H2O2)的关系。结果表明： H2S诱导气孔关闭, Ca2+螯合剂EGTA和质膜Ca2+通道阻断剂硝苯地平(Nif)能不同程度抑制H2S诱导的气孔关闭,而内质网钙泵阻断剂毒胡萝卜素(Thaps)对H2S的作用无显著影响。由此推测, Ca2+参与调节H2S诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭过程,且胞质中Ca2+来源于胞外Ca2+的内流。另外, H2S诱导拟南芥叶片NADPH氧化酶基因AtRBOHD和AtRBOHF以及细胞壁过氧化物酶基因AtPRX34表达增强,促进叶片和保卫细胞中H2O2积累, EGTA对此起抑制作用,而外源CaCl2处理上调AtRBOHD、AtRBOHF和AtPRX34的表达。表明Ca2+可能位于H2O2上游参与H2S诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭过程。