Pleiotropic effects of a cold shock protein homolog PprM on the proteome of Deinococcus radiodurans

An extremophile D. radiodurans encodes a non-cold shock inducible cold shock protein homolog DR_0907 (also known as PprM). The DR_0907 ORF was deleted by knockout mutagenesis and the resultant deletion mutant (ΔpprM D. radiodurans) displayed growth defect as well as gamma-radiation sensitivity (D₁₀ values = ΔpprM D. radiodurans: 12.1 kGy versus wild type (WT) D. radiodurans: 14 kGy). 2D gel based comparative proteomics revealed a comparable induction of DNA repair proteins in ΔpprM D. radiodurans and WT D. radiodurans recovering from 5 kGy gamma irradiation (⁶⁰Co gamma source, dose rate: 2 kGy/h), suggesting that pprM does not cause radiation sensitivity through modulation of DdrO-regulated DNA repair genes. However, deletion of pprM did result in repression of several proteins that belonged to vital housekeeping pathways such as metabolism and protein homeostasis that might contribute to slow growth phenotype. These deficiencies intrinsic to ΔpprM D. radiodurans might also contribute to its radiation sensitivity.     

Heat shock protein expression in fish

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are a family of proteins expressed in response to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stressors. They are thus also referred to as stress proteins. Their extraordinarily high degree of identity at the amino acid sequence level and the fact that this cellular stress response has been described in nearly all organisms studied, make this group of proteins unique. We provide a brief historical overview of HSP research, as a background to summarizing what is known about HSP expression in fish. The expression of HSPs in fish has been described in cell lines, primary cultures of various cells, and in the tissues of whole organisms. Collectively, the data show that the expression of HSPs are affected in a wide variety of fish cells and tissues, in response both to biological stressors such as infectious pathogens, as well as to abiotic stressors such as heat and cold shock, and environmental contaminants. HSP research in fish is in its early stages and many studies are describing the expression of proteins in response to various stressors. Several studies have contributed to our understanding of the molecular nature and the molecular biology of HSPs in fish. Recent studies have shown a relationship between HSP expression and the generalized stress response in fish, but further research is needed to clarify the complex relationships between stress hormones and the cellular HSP response. In general, the HSP response seems to be related to the sensing of the stressor and the subsequent cellular effects which may adapt the cells to cope with the stressors. Consequently, such data may be of central importance in understanding the significance of HSP expression to the whole organism. We conclude with sections on laboratory methods used in HSP research and on potential applications of this knowledge in biomonitoring.     

Heat shock response in psychrophilic and psychrotrophic yeast from Antarctica

The response to heat stress in six yeast species isolated from Antarctica was examined. The yeast were classified into two groups: one psychrophilic, with a maximum growth temperature of 20°C, and the other psychrotrophic, capable of growth at temperatures above 20°C. In addition to species-specific heat shock protein (hsp) profiles, a heat shock (15°C–25°C for 3 h) induced the synthesis of a 110-kDa protein common to the psychrophiles, Mrakia stokesii, M. frigida, and M. gelida, but not evident in Leucosporidium antarcticum. Immunoblot analyses revealed heat shock inducible proteins (hsps) corresponding to hsps 70 and 90. Interestingly, no proteins corresponding to hsps 60 and 104 were observed in any of the psychrophilic species examined. In the psychrotrophic yeast, Leucosporidium fellii and L. scottii, in addition to the presence of hsps 70 and 90, a protein corresponding to hsp 104 was observed. In psychrotrophic yeast, as observed in psychrophilic yeast, the absence of a protein corresponding to hsp 60 was noted. Relatively high endogenous levels of trehalose which were elevated upon a heat shock were exhibited by all species. A 10 Celsius degree increase in temperature above the growth temperature (15°C) of psychrophiles and psychrotrophs was optimal for heat shock induced thermotolerance. On the other hand, in psychrotrophic yeast grown at 25°C, only a 5 Celsius degree increase in temperature was necessary for heat shock induced thermotolerance. Induced thermotolerance in all yeast species was coincident with hsp synthesis and trehalose accumulation. It was concluded that psychrophilic and psychrotrophic yeast, although exhibiting a stress response similar to mesophilic Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nevertheless had distinctive stress protein profiles. Received: August 7, 1997 / Accepted: October 22, 1997     

Heat induced changes in protein expression profiles of Norway spruce (Picea abies) ecotypes from different elevations

Although tree species typically exhibit low genetic differentiation between populations, ecotypes adapted to different environmental conditions can vary in their capacity to withstand and recover from environmental stresses like heat stress. Two month old seedlings of a Picea abies ecotype adapted to high elevation showed lower level of thermotolerance and higher level of tolerance to oxidative stress relative to a low elevation ecotype. Protein expression patterns following exposure to severe heat stress of the two ecotypes were compared by means of 2-DE. Several proteins exhibiting ecotype and tissue specific expression were identified by MS/MS. Among them, small heat shock proteins of the HSP 20 family and proteins involved in protection from oxidative stress displayed qualitative and quantitative differences in expression between the ecotypes correlated with the observed phenotypic differences. On the basis of these results, it can be speculated that the observed interpopulation polymorphism of protein regulation in response to heat stress could underlie their different capacities to withstand and recover from heat stress. These local adaptations are potentially relevant for the species adaptation to the conditions predicted by the current models for climate change.     

The role of the heat shock proteins (HSP70 and sHSP) in the thermotolerance of freshwater amphipods from contrasting habitats

The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of HSP70 and sHSP for thermotolerance in freshwater amphipods. We compared four amphipod species from different freshwater habitats and biogeographical regions (Central Europe vs. Lake Baikal). Test individuals were exposed to thermal stress generated by a water temperature of 25 °C. The thermotolerance of the species, determined by median lethal time (LT50), followed in decreasing order by Gmelinoides fasciatus, Echinogammarus berilloni, Gammarus pulex, Eulimnogammarus verrucosus. HSP70 and sHSP base level concentrations for the species were determined at control (i.e. non-stress) conditions. For HSP70, the base levels were positively correlated to the species' thermotolerances. For sHSP, however, only thermotolerant G. fasciatus showed a high level. Thermal stress at 25 °C water temperature caused a deferred onset of HSP70 and sHSP expression followed by a subsequent offset, delineating a unimodal response curve. The time lag to the expression onset of HSP70 was shorter in the thermosensitive species, compared to thermotolerant ones. Conversely, the time span until the maximum level of HSP70 was variable, not showing a dependence on the thermotolerance properties of the species. The peak concentration in G. pulex was distinctly higher than in the other species, whereas E. verrucosus did not develop a well-defined response maximum at all. In sHSP, the temporal pattern of expression was even more variable than in HSP70. However, the thermosensitive species E. verrucosus showed a time lag of expression onset significantly shorter than the other species and thermotolerant G. fasciatus developed the most pronounced response maximum. Basing on these results, the cellular response to thermal stress in amphipods is more consistently reflected by HSP70, compared to sHSP.     

Heat shock proteins and resistance to desiccation in congeneric land snails

Land snails are subject to daily and seasonal variations in temperature and in water availability and depend on a range of behavioral and physiological adaptations for coping with problems of maintaining water, ionic, and thermal balance. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a multigene family of proteins whose expression is induced by a variety of stress agents. We used experimental desiccation to test whether adaptation to different habitats affects HSP expression in two closely related Sphincterochila snail species, a desiccation-resistant, desert species Sphincterochila zonata, and a Mediterranean-type, desiccation-sensitive species Sphincterochila cariosa. We examined the HSP response in the foot, hepatopancreas, and kidney tissues of snails exposed to normothermic desiccation. Our findings show variations in the HSP response in both timing and magnitude between the two species. The levels of endogenous Hsp72 in S. cariosa were higher in all the examined tissues, and the induction of Hsp72, Hsp74, and Hsp90 developed earlier than in S. zonata. In contrary, the induction of sHSPs (Hsp25 and Hsp30) was more pronounced in S. zonata compared to S. cariosa. Our results suggest that land snails use HSPs as part of their survival strategy during desiccation and as important components of the aestivation mechanism in the transition from activity to dormancy. Our study underscores the distinct strategy of HSP expression in response to desiccation, namely the delayed induction of Hsp70 and Hsp90 together with enhanced induction of sHSPs in the desert-dwelling species, and suggests that evolution in harsh environments will result in selection for reduced Hsp70 expression.     

昆虫热休克蛋白的研究概况

所有生物体相应于高温和其它胁迫环境都会产生一特定的被称为热休克蛋白的应急蛋白。该文对国内外有关昆虫热休克蛋白的研究做了简要综述。尽管热休克蛋白是在高温胁迫研究中发现的 ,但是后来发现在低温、氨基酸类似物、低氧、ABA、2 ,4-二氯苯氧乙酸等环境下 ,同样会有热休克蛋白的生成。这一发现暗示着热休克蛋白的功能可能会很多。已经报道的有分子伴侣 ,耐热性 ,耐冷性以及在昆虫发育过程和细胞代谢中生化作用的特殊功能等。     

Heat shock factor 1 is a key regulator of the stress response in Chlamydomonas

We report here on the characterization of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), encoded by one of two HSF genes identified in the genome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Chlamydomonas HSF1 shares features characteristic of class A HSFs of higher plants. HSF1 is weakly expressed under non-stress conditions and rapidly induced by heat shock. Heat shock also resulted in hyperphosphorylation of HSF1, and the extent of phosphorylation correlated with the degree of induction of heat shock genes, suggesting a role for phosphorylation in HSF1 activation. HSF1, like HSFs in yeasts, forms high-molecular-weight complexes, presumably trimers, under non-stress, stress and recovery conditions. Immunoprecipitation of HSF1 under these conditions led to the identification of cytosolic HSP70A as a protein constitutively interacting with HSF1. Strains in which HSF1 was strongly under-expressed by RNAi were highly sensitive to heat stress. 14C-labelling of nuclear-encoded proteins under heat stress revealed that synthesis of members of the HSP100, HSP90, HSP70, HSP60 and small HSP families in the HSF1-RNAi strains was dramatically reduced or completely abolished. This correlated with a complete loss of HSP gene induction at the RNA level. These data suggest that HSF1 is a key regulator of the stress response in Chlamydomonas.     

Structural and functional studies of MutS2 from Deinococcus radiodurans

The MutS2 homologues have been found widespread in most prokaryotes, which are involved in DNA repair and reactive oxygen species detoxification. The C-terminal small mutS-related (Smr) domain is critical for its endonucleolytic activity. However, the detailed catalytic mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we first investigated the in vivo role of drMutS2 in Deinococcus radiodurans, the most radiation-resistant organism exhibits the remarkable DNA repair capacity. mutS2 and recA mutS2 double knockout mutants were constructed because the phenotype was strongly masked by the predominant homologous recombination DNA repair pathway in this bacterium. Compared with the recA mutant, cells devoid of both genes showed increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation and oxidative agents, suggesting that drMutS2 is involved in RecA-independent mechanisms that enhance cellular resistance to oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. Moreover, the basal level of reductase activity and thiamine biosynthesis was induced in the absence of mutS2. To characterize its catalytic residues, the Smr domain was crystallized and soaked in buffer containing manganese ions. In contrast to native crystals, the space group of manganese-derivative crystals transformed from monoclinic to orthorhombic unexpectedly. This type of crystals showed improved diffraction resolution to 1.2 Å, which has the highest resolution of currently known Smr structures. Structural comparison revealed that three acidic amino-acid residues, which are all located in the α1 helix, changed the rotamer states after metal soaking. Mutational analysis of conserved residue glutamic acid 710 to alanine yielded a drMutS2 variant with impaired nuclease activity, and could only partially rescue the radiosensitive phenotype of the mutS2 null strain, indicating that glutamic acid 710 is the catalytic residue.     

Heat shock response in olive (Olea europaea L.) twigs: Identification and analysis of a cDNA coding a class I small heat shock protein

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate at the molecular level the heat shock response in olive by identifying sequences coding for heat shock proteins (HSPs). Young twigs of Olea europaea trees (cv Cellina di Nardò) were subjected to different temperature treatments in order to induce the expression of heat shock genes. In order to identify genes induced by heat treatment, we used a PCR-based approach to amplify specific HS cDNAs. Search for low molecular weight HSP sequences was performed in public domain databases in order to design specific primers based upon multisequence alignments. By this approach, we isolated the first full length cDNA encoding a low-molecular weight HSP from O. europaea. This is a class I low molecular weight HSP of 18.3 kDa, which is highly expressed in young twigs subjected to heat stress.     

非生物胁迫下耐辐射异常球菌drB0118基因功能分析

【目的】鉴定和确定被预测为编码干燥相关蛋白的耐辐射异常球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans) drB0118基因功能,探讨该基因对盐、渗透和氧化胁迫抗性的作用。【方法】构建drB0118基因缺失突变株(ΔB0118),通过氯化钠、D-山梨糖醇和过氧化氢等胁迫冲击实验及氧化胁迫条件下qRT-PCR分析,研究drB0118突变对非生物胁迫反应及氧化胁迫相关基因表达的影响。【结果】drB0118突变导致菌株对NaCl和D-sorbitol胁迫的抗性降低;对氧化胁迫(H2O2)敏感;qRT-PCR分析显示,drB0118突变引起氧化胁迫抗性基因pod和oxyR分别下调4倍和10倍。【结论】D. radiodurans中drB0118参与了盐、渗透和氧化等多种非生物胁迫反应。     

耐辐射球菌研究进展及其应用前景

耐辐射球菌因其对辐射、紫外线、诱变剂等的极高抗性引起了人们的注意。研究发现,其辐射抗性和干燥抗性主要归因于其在逆境条件下保护蛋白质、减少蛋白质被氧化的程度。耐辐射球菌基础理论的研究成果在环境修复、农作物抗旱育种、动植物抗病育种,以及肿瘤治疗等领域都有广阔的应用前景。其中,最有可能运用在对放射性污染的环境修复中。相对于高昂的填埋处置放射性废料的方法,运用耐辐射球菌构建工程菌进行生物修复是一种廉价的方法。耐辐射球菌对干燥的强忍耐性说明其基因组中含有抗干旱基因。寻找耐辐射球菌抗干旱基因,对于转化耐辐射球菌抗干旱基因,创造抗干旱农作物具有潜在的应用价值。     

Function and biochemical characterization of RecJ in Deinococcus radiodurans

The single-stranded DNA-specific nuclease RecJ is found in most bacteria where it is involved in the RecFOR double-stranded break (DSBs) repair pathway. DSBs repair mainly occurs via the RecFOR pathway in Deinococcus radiodurans, a well-known radiation-resistant bacterium. A recJ null mutant was constructed to investigate the role of recJ in D. radiodurans. recJ inactivation caused growth defects and sensitivity to high temperatures. However, the radiation resistance of the recJ mutant was only moderately decreased. The full-length D. radiodurans RecJ (DrRecJ) protein was expressed and purified to further characterize its biochemical properties. DrRecJ possessed a Mn(2+) concentration-dependent nuclease activity where the optimal Mn(2+) concentration was 0.1mM. DrRecJ had a similar activity profile after adding 10mM Mg(2+) to reactions with different Mn(2+) concentrations, indicating that Mn(2+) is a RecJ regulator. Escherichia coli RecJ has no activity on 5' ssDNA tails shorter than 6-nt, but DrRecJ could effectively degrade DNA with a 4-nt 5' ssDNA tail, suggesting that DrRecJ may have a wider range of DNA substrates. Moreover, SSB in D. radiodurans stimulated the DrRecJ exonuclease activity, whereas DdrB inhibited it and provided protection to ssDNA. Overall, our results indicate that recJ is a nonessential gene in D. radiodurans and that the activity of DrRecJ is regulated by Mn(2+) and SSB-DdrB.     

Radiation resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans R1 with respect to growth phase

Deinococcus species exhibit an extraordinary ability to withstand ionizing radiation (IR). Most of the studies on radiation resistance have been carried out with exponential phase cells. The studies on radiation resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans R1 with respect to different phases of growth showed that late stationary phase cells of D. radiodurans R1 were fourfold more sensitive to IR and heat as compared with exponential or early stationary phase cells. The increased sensitivity of D. radiodurans R1 to IR in the late stationary phase was not due to a decrease in the intracellular Mn/Fe ratio or an increase in the level of oxidative protein damage. The resistance to IR was restored when late stationary phase cells were incubated for 15 min in fresh medium before irradiation, indicating that replenishment of exhausted nutrients restored the metabolic capability of the cells to repair DNA damage. These observations suggest that stress tolerance mechanisms in D. radiodurans R1 differ from established paradigms.     

Heat shock proteins and the antitumor T cell response

Heat shock proteins (HSP) have been shown to participate in the antitumor T cell response. First, HSP play a crucial role in the intracellular pathway for antigen processing where HSP can make complexes with a broad spectrum of cellular proteins and peptides through their chaperone functions. In this pathway, macrophages are required for processing the chaperoned peptides to make stable molecules with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, even when HSP-peptide complexes are exogenously administered. Through this pathway, vaccination with HSP-peptide complexes is thus able to elicit the response of CD8⁺ T cells specific for the chaperoned peptides. These findings suggest an essential role of HSP in ‘cross-priming’ and their usefulness for antitumor vaccination with tumor peptides. Second, HSP have been suggested to be expressed on the cell surface by transformation and, in addition, to function as antigen-presenting molecules for double negative T cells. Third, HSP derived from tumor cells have reportedly been recognized by T cells with either T cell receptor (TCR)-αβ or TCR-γδ. These lines of evidence therefore indicate that HSP may be potentially promising target molecules for antitumor T cell immunotherapy.     

Heat shock proteins of chicken lens

The presence of heat shock proteins HSP-40, HSP-70, and HSc-70 in adult and embryonic chicken lenses were determined. The epithelium, cortex, and nucleus of adult chicken lens were separated and tested for the presence of heat shock proteins (hsps) by western blot, using specific antibodies for HSP-40, HSP-70, and HSc-70. Water soluble (WSF) and water insoluble fractions (WIF) of embryonic chicken lenses were isolated and tested for the presence of HSP-40, HSP-70, and HSc-70 by immunoblot. Embryonic chicken lens sections were also analyzed for the presence of heat shock proteins by immunofluorescence technique. Data obtained from these experiments revealed that HSP-40, HSP-70, and HSc-70 are present in all areas of both adult and embryonic chicken lens. Presence of hsps protein in the deep cortex and nucleus is intriguing as no detectable metabolic activities are reported in this area. However it can be proposed that hsps HSP-40, HSP-70, and HSc-70 can interact with protein of these areas and protect them from stress induced denaturation.     

耐辐射异常球菌抗辐射机理的研究新进展

报道了自1956年Anderson发现耐辐射异常球菌(Deinococcusradiodurans)以来,国外在其生理生化和遗传学特性、特殊的细胞膜结构、各种诱变因素所致的DNA损伤与其高效的修复机制和生物化学、分子生物学应用于该菌的研究新进展。对该菌的研究在辐射生物学与医学上具有特殊的意义,因此,我国的辐射生物学、微生物学和医学研究人员应尽快开展这方面的研究。     

Heat shock protein 27 stimulates recovery of RNA and protein synthesis following a heat shock

Constitutive expression of human hsp27 resulted in a 100-fold increase in survival to a single lethal heat shock in CHO cells without effecting the development of thermotolerance. A possible mechanism for the thermoprotective function of hsp27 may be increased recovery of protein synthesis and RNA synthesis following a heat shock. A lethal heat shock (44°C, 30 min) results in a 90% reduction in the rate of protein synthesis in non-tolerant cells. Control transfected cells recovered protein synthesis to a pre-heat shock rate 10 h after the heat shock; while cell lines that constitutively express human hsp27 recovered 6 h after the heat shock. Thermotolerant cells had a 50% reduction in protein synthesis, which recovered within 7 h following the heat shock. The same lethal heat shock (44°C, 30 min) reduced RNA synthesis by 60% in the transfected cell lines, with the controls recovering in 7 h; while the hsp27 expressing cell lines recovered within 5 h. Thermotolerant cells had a 40% reduction in RNA synthesis and were able to recover within 4 h. The enhanced ability of hsp27 to facilitate recovery of protein synthesis and RNA synthesis following a heat shock may provide the cell with a survival advantage. J. Cell. Biochem. 66:153–164, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.