Mitochondrial Ubiquitin Ligase MITOL Ubiquitinates Mutant SOD1 and Attenuates Mutant SOD1-induced Reactive Oxygen Species Generation

We have previously identified a novel mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase, MITOL, which is localized in the mitochondrial outer membrane and is involved in the control of mitochondrial dynamics. In this study, we examined whether MITOL eliminates misfolded proteins localized to mitochondria. Mutant superoxide dismutase1 (mSOD1), one of misfolded proteins, has been shown to localize in mitochondria and induce mitochondrial dysfunction, possibly involving in the onset and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We found that in the mitochondria, MITOL interacted with and ubiquitinated mSOD1 but not wild-type SOD1. In vitro ubiquitination assay revealed that MITOL directly ubiquitinates mSOD1. Cycloheximide-chase assay in the Neuro2a cells indicated that MITOL overexpression promoted mSOD1 degradation and suppressed both the mitochondrial accumulation of mSOD1 and mSOD1-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Conversely, the overexpression of MITOL CS mutant and MITOL knockdown by specific siRNAs resulted in increased accumulation of mSOD1 in mitochondria, which enhanced mSOD1-induced ROS generation and cell death. Thus, our findings indicate that MITOL plays a protective role against mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the mitochondrial accumulation of mSOD1 via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway.     

Cytochemical Analysis of Pollen Development in Wild-Type Arabidopsis and a Male-Sterile Mutant

Microsporogenesis has been examined in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana and the nuclear male-sterile mutant BM3 by cytochemical staining. The mutant lacks adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, an enzyme of the purine salvage pathway that converts adenine to AMP. Pollen development in the mutant began to diverge from wild type just after meiosis, as the tetrads of microspores were released from their callose walls. The first indication of abnormal pollen development in the mutant was a darker staining of the microspore wall due to an incomplete synthesis of the intine. Vacuole formation was delayed and irregular in the mutant, and the majority of the mutant microspores failed to undergo mitotic divisions. Enzyme activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and esterases decreased in the mutant soon after meiosis and were undetectable in mature pollen grains of the mutant. RNA accumulation was also diminished. These results are discussed in relation to the possible role(s) of adenine salvage in pollen development.     

Aldolase Levels in Wild-Type and Mutant Euglena gracilis

SYNOPSIS. Wild-type Euglena gracilis var. baciliaris , strains B and Z, synthesize 2 distinct fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolases. Amounts of the 2 activities depend upon conditions of growth. The class I enzyme, with activity similar to that found in various photosynthetic tissues, is formed during regreening of dark-grown cultures incubated in the light. Very low activity of the class I enzyme is also found in mutant strains W₃BUL and W₈BHL, both of which apparently lack plastid DNA. The significance of these findings is discussed.     

Processing of Wild-Type and Mutant Familial Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Presenilin-1 in Cultured Neurons

Mutations of presenilin (PS)-1, an endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi transmembrane protein, have been associated with early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). In mammalian brain, PS1 exists primarily as its processed fragments; however, the role of this cleavage event in PS1 function remains unclear. Although some investigators have shown that mutant PS1 processing is unaltered (with the exception of PS1-deltaE9, which lacks the cleavage site) in stably transfected cells and PS1-FAD transgenic mice, other investigators have reported altered FAD mutant PS1 and PS2 protein processing in transiently transfected cells and human FAD patients. The present study uses recombinant replication-defective adenoviral vectors to transiently express wild-type (WT) or mutant PS1 in various cells, including primary cultured hippocampal neurons. We show that in contrast to PS1-WT, overexpression of mutant PS1 results in an increased ratio of mutant holoprotein to endoproteolytic products that is dependent on cell type and differentiation state. In addition, mutant PS1 overexpression leads to an increase in caspase-type protease derived fragments above that seen with PS1-WT overexpression. Furthermore, overexpression of at least one mutant significantly alters the processing of coexpressed PS1-WT, suggesting that mutant PS1 may affect PS1-WT function. These findings suggest that a defect in PS1 holoprotein stability may be a general defect seen in cells expressing mutant PS1, especially neuronal cells, and may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of FAD.     

Cholesterol-Streptolysin O Interaction: An EM Study of Wild-Type and Mutant Streptolysin O

We present transmission electron microscopical data from negatively stained specimens of cholesterol following interaction with the thiol-activated bacterial toxin streptolysin O (SLO) (wild-type and a number of cysteine substitution mutants), with and without chemical modification of the cysteine residues. Two experimental systems were used, one with an aqueous suspension of cholesterol microcrystals and the other with immobilized thin planar cholesterol crystals attached to a carbon film. In both systems the wild-type SLO and two cytolytically active mutants, Cys 530 → Ala (C530A) and Ser 101 → Cys (S101C), readily generated the characteristic SLO arc- and ring-like oligomers on the surface of cholesterol microcrystals and immobilized planar cholesterol crystals. An underlying array of bound toxin can sometimes be detected. In the presence of high concentrations of SLO monomer, extensive sheet-like networks of linked oligomers extend from the microcrystals. The SLO mutant Thr250 → Cys (T250C), which also possesses a relatively high cytolytic activity, has been found to create ring-like toxin oligomers somewhat more slowly than wild-type SLO, but the linear monomolecular layer array of cholesterol-bound toxin is more readily detected. With mutant Asn402 → Cys (N402C), which has ≈10% cytolytic activity compared to wild-type SLO, the formation of ring-like oligomers is markedly reduced, with incomplete arcs and the parallel arrays predominating. Chemical modification of the functional cysteine groups of SLO mutants T250C and N402C completely inhibits the formation of toxin oligomers, but does not prevent the ability of these mutants to bind to cholesterol as a linear array. Such chemical modification is also known to abolish hemolysis/cytolysis. For both mutant T250C and N402C the parallel array of bound SLO adopts an orientation that appears to be determined by the underlying lattice of the crystalline cholesterol. The cholesterol-binding of biotinylated SLO mutant N402C was confirmed by labeling in suspension with 5-nm streptavidin-conjugated colloidal gold particles. Removal of the maltose-binding protein from the SLO fusion products increases the order of the monolayer array of biotinylated SLO bound to cholesterol crystals. Overall, our data support the concept that there is sterospecific binding of the SLO monomer to crystalline cholesterol bilayers, prior to oligomer formation. With the mutants tested, cysteine modification does not prevent binding to cholesterol, but subsequent release and oligomer formation are blocked.     

Mutant SOD1 detoxification mechanisms in intact single cells

Mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (mtSOD1) causes dominantly inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The mechanism for mtSOD1 toxicity remains unknown. Two main hypotheses are the impairment of proteasomal function and chaperone depletion by misfolded mtSOD1. Here, we employed FRET/FLIM and biosensor imaging to quantitatively localize ubiquitination, as well as chaperone binding of mtSOD1, and to assess their effect on proteasomal and protein folding activities. We found large differences in ubiquitination and chaperone interaction levels for wild-type (wt) SOD1 versus mtSOD1 in intact single cells. Moreover, SOD1 ubiquitination levels differ between proteasomal structures and cytoplasmic material. Hsp70 binding and ubiquitination of wt and mtSOD1 species are highly correlated, demonstrating the coupled upregulation of both cellular detoxification mechanisms upon mtSOD1 expression. Biosensor imaging in single cells revealed that mtSOD1 expression alters cellular protein folding activity but not proteasomal function in the neuronal cell line examined. Our results provide the first cell-by-cell-analysis of SOD1 ubiquitination and chaperone interaction. Moreover, our study opens new methodological avenues for cell biological research on ALS.     

Auxin-Cytokinin Interactions in Wild-Type and Transgenic Tobacco

Cytokinins and auxins are important regulators of plant growthand development, but there is incomplete and conflicting evidencethat auxins affect cytokinin metabolism and vice versa. We haveinvestigated these interactions in Nicotiana tabacum L. by separatein planta manipulation of levels of the hormones followed byanalysis of the induced changes in the metabolism of the otherhormone. Cytokinin-overproducing plants (expressing the Agrobacte-riumtumefaciens ipt gene) had lower than wild-type levels of freeIAA, and reduced rates of IAA synthesis and turnover, but therewere no differences in the profiles of metabolites they producedfrom fed IAA. Similarly, auxin-overproducing plants (expressingthe A.tumefaciens iaaM and iaaH genes), had lower levels ofthe major cytokinins than wild-type plants and lower cytokininoxidase activity, but there were no differences in the profilesof metabolites they produced from fed cytokinins. The data demonstratethat cytokinin or auxin overproduction decreases the contentof the other hormone, apparently by decreasing its rate of synthesisand/or transport, rather than by increasing rates of turnoveror conjugation. Implications for the importance of cytokinin: auxin ratios in plant development are considered. (Received September 24, 1996; Accepted December 4, 1996)     

An Electron Spin Resonance Study of Manganese in Wild-Type and Mutant Strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardi

Changes in the intensity of the electron spin resonance signal of divalent manganese were found to occur in suspensions of wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardi. The observed manganese signal decreased in the light and increased in the dark. Through the use of a continuous-flow system it was possible to determine that the manganous ions responsible for the observed signal were localized solely in the medium. Changes in the signal intensity associated with wild-type cells were independent of the ability of fragments prepared from these cells to perform the Hill reaction with 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DPIP) as the oxidant.

The manganese signal changes were still evident, though smaller, in cell suspensions of wild-type cells treated with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea, and in mutant strains unable to carry out the Hill reaction, ac-115 and ac-141.

From these data it is concluded that the changes in intensity of the manganese resonance are not related to the function of manganese in photosynthesis but may reflect the capacity of cells for ion uptake in the light.

     

Comparison between NO(x) Evolution Mechanisms of Wild-Type and nr(1) Mutant Soybean Leaves

The nr₁ soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) mutant does not contain the two constitutive nitrate reductases, one of which is responsible for enzymic conversion of nitrite to NO_x (NO + NO₂). It was tested for possible nonenzymic NO_x formation and evolution because of known chemical reactions between NO₂⁻ and plant metabolites and the instability of nitrous acid. It did not evolve NO_x during the in vivo NR assay, but intact leaves did evolve small amounts of NO_x under dark, anaerobic conditions. Experiments were conducted to compare NO₃⁻ reduction, NO₂⁻ accumulation, and the NO_x evolution processes of the wild type (cv Williams) and the nr₁ mutant. In vivo NR assays showed that wild-type leaves had three times more NO₃⁻ reducing capacity than the nr₁ mutant. NO_x evolution from intact, anerobic nr₁ leaves was approximately 10 to 20% that from wild-type leaves. Nitrite content of the nr₁ mutant leaves was usually higher than wild type due to low NO_x evolution. Lag times and threshold NO₂⁻ concentrations for NO_x evolution were similar for the two genotypes. While only 1 to 2% of NO_x from wild type is NO₂, the nr₁ mutant evolved 15 to 30% NO₂. The kinetic patterns of NO_x evolution with time weré completely different for the mutant and wild type. Comparisons of light and heat treatments also gave very different results. It is generally accepted that the NO_x evolution by wild type is primarily an enzymic conversion of NO₂⁻ to NO. However, this report concludes that NO_x evolution by the nr₁ mutant was due to nonenzymic, chemical reactions between plant metabolites and accumulated NO₂⁻ and/or decomposition of nitrous acid. Nonenzymic NO_x evolution probably also occurs in wild type to a degree but could be easily masked by high rates of the enzymic process.     

Purification and Characterization of Wild-Type and Mutant Tk1 Type Kinases From Caenorhabditis Elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans has a single deoxynucleoside kinase-like gene. The sequence is similar to that of human TK1, but besides accepting thymidine as a substrate, the C. elegans TK1 (CeTK1) also phosphorylates deoxyguanosine. In contrast to human TK1, the CeTK1 exclusively exists as a dimer with a molecular mass of ～60 kDa, even if incubated with ATP. Incubation with ATP induces a transition into a more active enzyme with a higher k_cat but unchanged K_m. This activation only occurs at an enzyme concentration in the incubation buffer of 0.5 μg/ml (8.42 nM) or higher. C-terminal deletion of the enzyme results in lower catalytic efficiency and stability.     

酵母SOD1基因缺失突变体应答刚果红胁迫的转录组学分析

SOD1基因编码的铜锌超氧化物歧化酶是酵母细胞中最重要的抗氧化酶. 前期研究发现,SOD1基因缺失(sod1Δ)导致酵母细胞对真菌细胞壁抑制剂刚果红(Congo red, CR)的敏感性增加,提示细胞抗氧化能力与细胞壁稳定性相关. 本研究采用酵母全基因组表达谱芯片,比较了CR胁迫条件下,野生型酵母细胞和sod1Δ酵母细胞的转录表达谱. 结果表明,与野生型酵母细胞相比,sod1Δ酵母细胞中260个基因发生了显著差异表达(140个基因表达上调、120个基因表达下调). 随机选取12个差异表达基因采用定量PCR验证,结果与芯片分析结果一致. 差异表达基因功能主要涉及细胞壁(几丁质合成)、细胞代谢、细胞防御(抗氧化和热冲击蛋白)、蛋白质合成以及大量功能未知基因. 进一步研究发现,CR处理后,细胞壁几丁质含量和细胞内氧化应激指标丙二醛(MDA)含量在sod1Δ酵母细胞中显著升高,而在野生型酵母细胞中无明显变化,与芯片筛选差异表达基因的生物学功能分析结果一致. 本研究提供了在全基因组水平上对SOD1基因与细胞壁应激反应之间关联的新认识.     

Novel Antibodies Reveal Inclusions Containing Non-Native SOD1 in Sporadic ALS Patients

Mutations in CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and are found in 6% of ALS patients. Non-native and aggregation-prone forms of mutant SOD1s are thought to trigger the disease. Two sets of novel antibodies, raised in rabbits and chicken, against peptides spaced along the human SOD1 sequence, were by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an immunocapture method shown to be specific for denatured SOD1. These were used to examine SOD1 in spinal cords of ALS patients lacking mutations in the enzyme. Small granular SOD1-immunoreactive inclusions were found in spinal motoneurons of all 37 sporadic and familial ALS patients studied, but only sparsely in 3 of 28 neurodegenerative and 2 of 19 non-neurological control patients. The granular inclusions were by confocal microscopy found to partly colocalize with markers for lysosomes but not with inclusions containing TAR DNA binding protein-43, ubiquitin or markers for endoplasmic reticulum, autophagosomes or mitochondria. Granular inclusions were also found in carriers of SOD1 mutations and in spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) patients and they were the major type of inclusion detected in ALS patients homozygous for the wild type-like D90A mutation. The findings suggest that SOD1 may be involved in ALS pathogenesis in patients lacking mutations in the enzyme.     

Voltage-dependent Gating of Single Wild-Type and S4 Mutant KAT1 Inward Rectifier Potassium Channels

The voltage-dependent gating mechanism of KAT1 inward rectifier potassium channels was studied using single channel current recordings from Xenopus oocytes injected with KAT1 mRNA. The inward rectification properties of KAT1 result from an intrinsic gating mechanism in the KAT1 channel protein, not from pore block by an extrinsic cation species. KAT1 channels activate with hyperpolarizing potentials from −110 through −190 mV with a slow voltage-dependent time course. Transitions before first opening are voltage dependent and account for much of the voltage dependence of activation, while transitions after first opening are only slightly voltage dependent. Using burst analysis, transitions near the open state were analyzed in detail. A kinetic model with multiple closed states before first opening, a single open state, a single closed state after first opening, and a closed-state inactivation pathway accurately describes the single channel and macroscopic data. Two mutations neutralizing charged residues in the S4 region (R177Q and R176L) were introduced, and their effects on single channel gating properties were examined. Both mutations resulted in depolarizing shifts in the steady state conductance–voltage relationship, shortened first latencies to opening, decreased probability of terminating bursts, and increased burst durations. These effects on gating were well described by changes in the rate constants in the kinetic model describing KAT1 channel gating. All transitions before the open state were affected by the mutations, while the transitions after the open state were unaffected, implying that the S4 region contributes to the early steps in gating for KAT1 channels.     

Intracellular and Extracellular Cyclic Nucleotides in Wild-Type and White Collar Mutant Strains of Neurospora crassa: Temperature Dependent Efflux of Cyclic AMP from Mycelia

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were released into the growth medium of mycelia of Neurospora crassa wild-type strains St.L.74A and Em5297a and by white collar-1 and white collar-2 mutant strains. After growth for 6 days at 18°C, there were 2.19 (St.L.74A), 5.83 (Em5297a), 1.38 (white collar-1), and 1.10 (white collar-2) nanomoles of cyclic AMP per gram dry weight of mycelia in the growth medium. These values corresponded to concentrations of cyclic AMP of between approximately 10 and 50 nanomolar. The corresponding values for extracellular cyclic GMP were typically less than 6% of the values for cyclic AMP. Following transfer to fresh medium, cyclic AMP efflux was demonstrated for each of the strains, and the amount of cyclic AMP exported into the fresh medium was greater at 25°C than 6°C. Intracellular cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were also measured in each of the strains. The values for cyclic AMP were in the same range as those in the literature (approximately 0.5 to 1.5 nanomoles per gram dry weight of mycelia). However, the corresponding intracellular cyclic GMP values were less than 1% of the cyclic AMP values, i.e. more than 50 times lower than the value previously reported for the St.L.74A wild-type. Transfer of mycelia after 6 days at 18°C to fresh media and incubation for 2 hours at 25°C or 6°C did not consistently affect the intracellular level of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP in the strains examined. We could detect no change in intracellular cyclic AMP when mycelia of the St.L.74A wild-type strain were irradiated with blue light for periods of up to 3.0 hours at 18°C, or in cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP for irradiation times of up to 1 minute at 6°C. We propose that the plasma membrane of Neurospora crassa is permeable to cyclic nucleotides, and the export of cyclic nucleotides into the growth medium may be a means of regulating intracellular levels. We conclude that three factors that affect carotenogenesis in Neurospora crassa (blue light, temperature, and the white collar mutations) have no appreciable effect on the total measurable intracellular cyclic nucleotides in this organism. There was no extracellular or intracellular cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP in the crisp-1 mutant strain, which suggested either that adenylate cyclase (which is absent in crisp-1) catalyzes the synthesis of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP or that the crisp-1 mutation somehow results in a deficiency of two enzymes (adenylate and guanylate cyclase).     

Intracellular conformational alterations of mutant SOD1 and the implications for fALS-associated SOD1 mutant induced motor neuron cell death

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective death of motor neurons. Approximately 10% of ALS cases are familial (fALS) and about 25% of fALS patients inherit autosomal dominant mutations in the gene encoding copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Over 90 different SOD1 mutations have been identified in fALS patients. It has been established that the ALS-linked SOD1 mutations provoke a new toxic function, the nature of which remains unclear. In vitro studies using various biophysical techniques have demonstrated that the SOD1 mutants share a reduced conformational stability. However, conformational alterations of the ALS mutants have not been directly demonstrated in vivo. We employed an SOD1-GFP fusion protein system in this study to monitor the intracellular protein conformation. We demonstrate that the ALS-linked SOD1 mutants adopt different conformations from the wild-type (WT) protein in living cells. Moreover, the conformational alterations of mutant SOD1 render the mutants susceptible to the formation of high-molecular-weight complexes prior to the appearance of detergent-resistant aggregates. Finally, we show that the motor neuron-like cells expressing mutant SOD1 are more susceptible to H2O2 induced cell death compared to the cells expressing WT SOD1. This study provides direct evidence of in vivo conformational differences between WT and mutant SOD1. In addition, the SOD1-GFP system can be exploited in future studies to investigate how conformational alterations of mutant SOD1 lead to protein aggregation and to study the potential toxicity of such aggregates in familial ALS.     

Purification and Properties of Mutant and Wild-Type Diaphorases from Diplococcus pneumoniae

Optochin-resistant mutant and wild-type diaphorases were purified approximately 300-fold by a combination of batch adsorption and column chromatography with diethylaminoethyl cellulose, and were characterized with regard to their pH optima, sensitivity to optochin inhibition and heat inactivation, Michaelis constants with flavine mononucleotide (FMN) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and inhibition constants with optochin hydrochloride. The pH optima of the purified diaphorases were similar, but the purified diaphorases from the optochin-resistant strains were approximately four to five times more resistant to heat inactivation at 45 C than was the wild-type diaphorase. Purified diaphorase preparations from the optochin-resistant pneumococci had greater activities per milligram of protein and were more resistant to optochin inhibition than the preparation from the optochin-sensitive pneumococcus. Michaelis constants for FMN and NADH were similar; however, the inhibition constants of the optochin-resistant diaphorases were four to eight times greater than that of the optochin-sensitive diaphorase. Optochin hydrochloride produced a noncompetitive type of inhibition with FMN as substrate but a competitive type of inhibition with NADH as substrate. Optochin hydrochloride produced an approximately 10-fold increase in the Michaelis constant for NADH. The concentration of drug required to produce this effect was, however, greater with the mutant diaphorases than with the wild-type diaphorase. Optochin hydrochloride quenched the fluorescence of riboflavine. This phenomenon did not appear to be related to the diaphorase-inhibitory activity of the drug, however, since the pH requirements of the two reactions were different. Quenching of riboflavine fluorescence by optochin hydrochloride increased with a rise in pH, whereas inhibition of diaphorase activity by optochin hydrochloride was greater at pH 6.8 than at pH 7.6.     

Synthesis of Extracellular Chitinase by Wild-Type B-10 and Mutant M-1 Strains of Serratia marcescens

Molecular weights of extracellular chitinases from wild-type B-10 (62, 54, 43, 38, and 21 kDa) and mutant M-1 strains of Serratia marcescens (62, 52, 43, 38, and 21 kDa) were estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the absence of chitin inductors, chitinolytic enzymes were not found in the culture liquid of B-10, whereas M-1 cells produced the chitinase complex (to 470 pU/cell). Crystalline chitin insignificantly stimulated the synthesis of chitinases with molecular weights of 62, 54, and 21 kDa by B-10 (up to 20 pU/cell), but caused oversynthesis of all chitinases by the mutant strain (up to 2600 pU/cell). Colloidal chitin induced the production of chitinases by cells of both strains. Two peaks of chitinolytic activity were observed during cultivation of strains B-10 (350 and 450 pU/cell) and M-1 (2200 and 2400 pU/cell). The first peak of cell productivity was associated with biosynthesis of the chitinase complex. The second peak was related to the synthesis of enzymes with molecular weights of 54, 43, 38, and 21 kDa (B-10) or 43, 38, and 21 kDa (M-1).