GABA shunt deficiencies and accumulation of reactive oxygen intermediates: insight from Arabidopsis mutants

In plants, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH)-deficiency results in the accumulation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI), necrotic lesions, dwarfism, and hypersensitivity to environmental stresses. We report that Arabidopsis ssadh knockout mutants contain five times the normal level of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), which in SSADH-deficient mammals accounts for phenotypic abnormalities. Moreover, the level of GHB in Arabidopsis is light dependent. Treatment with gamma-vinyl-gamma-aminobutyrate, a specific gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA)-transaminase inhibitor, prevents the accumulation of ROI and GHB in ssadh mutants, inhibits cell death, and improves growth. These results provide novel evidence for the relationship between the GABA shunt and ROI, which may, in part, explain the phenotype of SSADH-deficient plants and animals.     

Na+-Coupled Alanine Transport in LLC-PK1 Cells: The Relationship Between the K m for Na+ at Low [Alanine] and Potential Dependence for the System

Analysis of the mechanistic basis by which sodium-coupled transport systems respond to changes in membrane potential is inherently complex. Algebraic expressions for the primary kinetic parameters (K _m and V _max ) consist of multiple terms that encompass most rate constants in the transport cycle. Even for a relatively simple cotransport system such as the Na⁺/alanine cotransporter in LLC-PK₁ cells (1:1 Na⁺ to substrate coupling, and an ordered binding sequence), the algebraic expressions for K _m for either substrate includes ten of the twelve rate constants necessary for modeling the full transport cycle. We show here that the expression of K _m of the first-bound substrate (Na⁺) simplifies markedly if the second-bound substrate (alanine) is held at a low concentration so that its' binding becomes the rate limiting step. Under these conditions, the expression for the K ^Na _m includes rate constants for only two steps in the full cycle: (i) binding/dissociation of Na⁺, and (ii) conformational `translocation' of the substrate-free protein. The influence of imposed changes in membrane potential on the apparent K ^Na _m for the LLC-PK₁ alanine cotransporter at low alanine thus provides insight to potential dependence at these sites. The data show no potential dependence for K ^Na _m at 5 μm alanine, despite marked potential dependence at 2 mm alanine when the full algebraic expression applies. The results suggest that neither translocation of the substrate-free form of the transporter nor binding/dissociation of extracellular sodium are potential dependent events for this transport system. Received: 10 April 1998/Revised: 6 July 1998     

Effects of Chlorotrifluoroethylene Oligomer Fatty Acids on Recombinant GABA Receptors Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes

GABA-activated Cl⁻ current was expressed in Xenopus oocytes after injecting cRNA that had been transcribed in vitro from complementary DNA (cDNA) coding for a single GABA ρ_i-subunit cloned from human retina. The expressed current was insensitive to 100 μm bicuculline, but was activated by the GABA analogue trans-4-aminocrontonic acid (TACA). Anion-selective permeability of the expressed ρ₁-subunit was determined by isotonically replacing the extracellular Cl⁻ with different anions. The anion permeability was very similar to the native GABA_A receptor/channel following a sequence of SCN⁻ > I⁻ > NO₃ ⁻ > Br⁻≥ Cl⁻. Halogenated fatty acids, such as chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and perfluorinated oligomer acids inhibited the GABA-induced current in oocytes expressing the human retinal GABA ρ₁-subunit or rat brain GABA_A receptor α₁,β₂,γ₂ subunits. The inhibitory effect of halogenated fatty acids demonstrated a carbon chain length-dependent manner of: C₁₀ > C₈ > C₆ > C₄. Perfluorinated C₈-oligomer acid (PFOA) was less effective at blocking this channel than the C₈-CTFE oligomer acid. Radiolabeled GABA binding assay indicated that CTFE oligomer acids do not interfere at the GABA binding site of the receptor. Furthermore, the C₈-CTFE oligomer fatty acid did not compete with picrotoxin for binding sites within the pore of the channel. These studies demonstrated that the heterologous expression system is useful for studying the molecular interaction between potential neurotoxic agents and neuroreceptors. Our results provide detailed information that should contribute to our understanding of the structure and function of retinal GABA receptors. Received: 12 June 1995/Revised: 21 September 1995     

外源γ-氨基丁酸（GABA）对低氧胁迫下甜瓜幼苗根系GABA代谢及氨基酸含量的影响

采用水培法,通过准确控制营养液溶氧浓度,研究了外源γ-氨基丁酸（GABA）对低氧胁迫0~8 d ‘西域一号’甜瓜幼苗根系GABA代谢及氨基酸含量的影响.结果表明：与通气对照相比,低氧处理的甜瓜幼苗正常生长受到严重抑制,其根系谷氨酸脱羧酶（GAD）、谷氨酸脱氢酶（GDH）、谷氨酸合成酶（GOGAT）、谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）活性以及GABA、丙酮酸、丙氨酸、天冬氨酸含量均显著提高,而谷氨酸和α 酮戊二酸含量在处理4~8 d均显著降低.与低氧处理相比,外源GABA处理有效缓解了低氧胁迫对幼苗根系生长的抑制作用,同时甜瓜根系内源GABA、谷氨酸、α-酮戊二酸、天冬氨酸含量显著提高,但GAD、GDH、GOGAT、GS、ALT、AST活性在整个处理过程中均显著降低,丙酮酸和丙氨酸含量也显著降低.低氧同时添加GABA和γ-乙烯基 γ-氨基丁酸（VGB）处理显著降低了低氧胁迫下GABA的缓解效应.低氧胁迫下外源GABA被植物根系吸收后,通过反馈抑制GAD活性维持较高的Glu含量,保持植物体内碳、氮代谢平衡,维持正常生理代谢,从而缓解低氧胁迫对甜瓜幼苗的伤害.     

Coordinated Amino Acid Changes in the Evolution of Mammalian Defensins

The mammalian defensin molecule is a short, highly cationic peptide cytotoxic to both microbial and mammalian cells which is cleaved from a precursor including a signal peptide and a highly anionic propiece. A phylogenetic analysis of 28 complete sequences from five mammalian species (mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and human) showed species-specific clusters of sequences, indicating that the genes duplicated after divergence of these species. Comparison of rates of synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution suggested that gene duplication has often been followed by a period in which diversification of the mature defensins at the amino acid level has been selectively favored. In some comparisons, it appeared that amino acid differences in this region have appeared in a nonrandom fashion so as to change the pattern of residue charges. Because it has been hypothesized that the negative charge in the propiece serves to balance the positive charge in the mature defensin and thus to prevent cytotoxicity prior to cleavage, we used a maximum likelihood method of reconstructing ancestral states in order to test whether this balance has been maintained over evolutionary time in spite of rapid diversification of the mature defensin at the amino acid level. Reconstructed ancestral sequences always maintained a charge balance between mature defensin and propiece, and changes in the net positive charge of the mature defensin were balanced by corresponding changes in the propiece. The results support the hypothesis that, in the evolution of these proteins, amino acid changes have occurred in a coordinated fashion so as to preserve an adaptive phenotype. Received: 23 October 1996 / Accepted: 7 January 1997     

Isozymic nature of spore coat-associated alanine racemase of Bacillus subtilis

Summary. Spore coat-associated alanine racemase of Bacillus subtilis, which converts L-alanine to D-alanine, that is, the germinant to the competitive inhibitor, to regulate spore germination for survival of the organism under unfavorable growth conditions, was examined. The dormant spores, L-alanine-initiated germination of which is inhibited by diphenylamine, were used to characterize the enzyme in the native form because of its unextractablility from dormant spores. The presence of isozymes, Enz-I and Enz-II with Km for L-alanine of about 20 mM and 50 mM and optimum activity at around 40°C and 65°C, respectively, was proposed. The enzymes were selectively used depending on the L-alanine concentration and the temperature. The pH profiles of the activity (optimun at pH 9.0) and the stability (stable between pH 6–11 at 60°C) were similar, but Enz-II was more heat-stable than Enz-I and the denaturation curve demonstrated a two-domain structure for Enz-II. Sensitivity to D-penicillamine, hydroxylamine and HgCl₂ was similar between Enz-I and Enz-II, while that to D-cycloserine, L- and D-aminoethylphosphonic acid, monoiodoacetate and N-ethylmaleimide was different; HgCl₂ was the most effective inhibitor among these compounds. Received December 13, 1999, Accepted January 11, 2000     

Contribution of gibberellin deactivation by AtGA2ox2 to the suppression of germination of dark-imbibed Arabidopsis thaliana seeds

Gibberellin levels in imbibed Arabidopsis thaliana seeds are regulated by light via phytochrome, presumably through regulation of gibberellin biosynthesis genes, AtGA3ox1 and AtGA3ox2, and a deactivation gene, AtGA2ox2. Here, we show that a loss-of-function ga2ox2 mutation causes an increase in GA(4) levels and partly suppresses the germination inability during dark imbibition after inactivation of phytochrome. Experiments using 2,2-dimethylGA(4), a GA(4) analog resistant to gibberellin 2-oxidase, in combination with ga2ox2 mutant seeds suggest that the efficiency of deactivation of exogenous GA(4) by AtGA2ox2 is dependent on light conditions, which partly explains phytochrome-mediated changes in gibberellin effectiveness (sensitivity) found in previous studies.     

GABA Concentration Sets the Conductance of Delayed GABAA Channels in Outside-out Patches from Rat Hippocampal Neurons

GABA_A channels were activated by GABA in outside-out patches from rat cultured hippocampal neurons. They were blocked by bicuculline and potentiated by diazepam. In 109 of 190 outside-out patches, no channels were active before exposure to GABA (silent patches). The other 81 patches showed spontaneous channel activity. In patches containing spontaneous channel activity, rapid application of GABA rapidly activated channels. In 93 of the silent patches, channels could be activated by GABA but only after a delay that was sometimes as long as 10 minutes. The maximum channel conductance of the channels activated after a delay increased with GABA concentration from less than 10 pS (0.5 μm GABA) to more than 100 pS (10 mm GABA). Fitting the data with a Hill-type equation gave an EC ₅₀ value of 33 μm and a Hill coefficient of 0.6. The channels showed outward rectification and were chloride selective. In the presence of 1 μm diazepam, the GABA EC ₅₀ decreased to 0.2 μm but the maximum conductance was unchanged. Diazepam decreased the average latency for channel opening. Bicuculline, a GABA antagonist, caused a concentration-dependent decrease in channel conductance. In channels activated with 100 μm GABA the bicuculline IC ₅₀ was 19 μm. The effect of GABA on channel conductance shows that the role of the ligand in GABA_A receptor channel function is more complex than previously thought. Received: 23 October 2000/Revised: 27 February 2001     

The targeting and accumulation of ectopically expressed oleosin in non-seed tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana

 Full-length and N-terminal deletions of a sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) oleosin protein were expressed ectopically in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Immunological detection of the sunflower protein revealed that it accumulated in a range of non-oil-storing tissues, including leaves, roots and petals. This accumulation was shown to result from deposition in the microsomal membrane fraction. Expression in oil-storing tissues (such as seeds) of oleosin N-terminal deletions revealed impaired transfer from the endoplasmic reticulum to the oil body. In non-oil-storing tissues, accumulation in the microsomal membrane fraction was progressively reduced by N-terminal deletion. These data confirm the role of the endomembrane system in the targeting of the oleosin and its intimate relationship with oil-body biogenesis. Received: 26 August 1999 / Accepted: 4 October 1999     

A Sequential Scenario for the Origin of Biological Chirality

A sequential model is proposed regarding the origin of biological chirality. Three major stages are presumed: a symmetry breaking (prebiotic chiral disruption in enantiomeric mixtures of monomers), a chiral amplification (prebiotic increase of the chiral character of the monomers affected first by the symmetry breaking), and a chiral expansion (proto biological increase of the chiral character and spread of the chirality to molecules which were less affected by prebiotic chiralizations). As a symmetry-breaking mechanism, the model proposed by Deutsch (1991) is used, which involves a dissymmetric exposure of amino acids (AA) to ultraviolet circularly polarized light (UV-CPL) on evaporative seashores. It is presumed that the chiral amplification, up to a protobiologic significance, was influenced by a periodic overlapping of two abiotic events, a synchronization between tidal-based hydrous–anhydrous cycles, and littoral asymmetric photolysis cycles. This long-term astronomic asymmetry acted around 3.8–4.2 billion years ago and was unique to the Earth in our solar system. It is also presumed that the abiotic symmetry breaking is heterogenous, that only a few l-AAs were used in the beginning, and that the chirality expanded later to all 20 AAs based on a coevolutionary strategy of the genetic code and on a physiological relationship between AAs. In this scenario the d-chirality of pentoses in polynucleotides was attributed to both d-pentose/l-AA relationships and to a structural evolution. Received: 10 May 1996 / Accepted: 13 August 1996     

Blood amino acids concentration during insulin induced hypoglycemia in rats: the role of alanine and glutamine in glucose recovery

Summary. Our purpose was to determine the blood amino acid concentration during insulin induced hypoglycemia (IIH) and examine if the administration of alanine or glutamine could help glycemia recovery in fasted rats. IIH was obtained by an intraperitoneal injection of regular insulin (1.0 U/kg). The blood levels of the majority of amino acids, including alanine and glutamine were decreased (P < 0.05) during IIH and this change correlates well with the duration than the intensity of hypoglycemia. On the other hand, the oral and intraperitoneal administration of alanine (100 mg/kg) or glutamine (100 mg/kg) accelerates glucose recovery. This effect was partly at least consequence of the increased capacity of the livers from IIH group to produce glucose from alanine and glutamine. It was concluded that the blood amino acids availability during IIH, particularly alanine and glutamine, play a pivotal role in recovery from hypoglycemia.     

On the Informational Content of Overlapping Genes in Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Viruses

In genetic language a peculiar arrangement of biological information is provided by overlapping genes in which the same region of DNA can code for functionally unrelated messages. In this work, the informational content of overlapping genes belonging to prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses was analyzed. Using information theory indices, we identified in the regions of overlap a first pattern, exhibiting a more uniform base composition and more severe constraints in base ordering with respect to the nonoverlapping regions. This pattern was found to be peculiar to coliphage, avian hepatitis B virus, human lentivirus, and plant luteovirus families. A second pattern, characterized by the occurrence of similar compositional constraints in both types of coding regions, was found to be limited to plant tymoviruses. At the level of codon usage, a low degree of correlation between overlapping and nonoverlapping coding regions characterized the first pattern, whereas a close link was found in tymoviruses, indicating a fine adaptation of the overlapping frame to the original codon choice of the virus. As a result of codon usage correlation analysis, deductions concerning the origin and evolution of several overlapping frames were also proposed. Comparison of amino acid composition revealed an increased frequency of amino acid residues with a high level of degeneracy (arginine, leucine, and serine) in the proteins encoded by overlapping genes; this peculiar feature of overlapping genes can be viewed as a way with which they may expand their coding ability and gain new, specialized functions. Received: 28 October 1996 / Accepted: 29 January 1997     

On the Evolution of Redundancy in Genetic Codes

We simulate a deterministic population genetic model for the coevolution of genetic codes and protein-coding genes. We use very simple assumptions about translation, mutation, and protein fitness to calculate mutation-selection equilibria of codon frequencies and fitness in a large asexual population with a given genetic code. We then compute the fitnesses of altered genetic codes that compete to invade the population by translating its genes with higher fitness. Codes and genes coevolve in a succession of stages, alternating between genetic equilibration and code invasion, from an initial wholly ambiguous coding state to a diversified frozen coding state. Our simulations almost always resulted in partially redundant frozen genetic codes. Also, the range of simulated physicochemical properties among encoded amino acids in frozen codes was always less than maximal. These results did not require the assumption of historical constraints on the number and type of amino acids available to codes nor on the complexity of proteins, stereochemical constraints on the translational apparatus, nor mechanistic constraints on genetic code change. Both the extent and timing of amino-acid diversification in genetic codes were strongly affected by the message mutation rate and strength of missense selection. Our results suggest that various omnipresent phenomena that distribute codons over sites with different selective requirements—such as the persistence of nonsynonymous mutations at equilibrium, the positive selection of the same codon in different types of sites, and translational ambiguity—predispose the evolution of redundancy and of reduced amino acid diversity in genetic codes. Received: 21 December 2000 / Accepted: 12 March 2001     

Increased Resistance to Extracellular Cation Block by Mutation of the Pore Domain of the Arabidopsis Inward-rectifying K+ Channel KAT1

Inward-rectifying potassium channels in plant cells provide important mechanisms for low-affinity K⁺ uptake and membrane potential control in specific cell types, including guard cells, pulvinus cells, aleurone cells and root hair cells. K⁺ channel blockers are potent tools for studying the physiological functions and structural properties of K⁺ channels. In the present study the structural and biophysical mechanisms of Cs⁺ and TEA⁺ block of a cloned Arabidopsis inward-rectifying K⁺ channel (KAT1) were analyzed. Effects of the channel blockers Cs⁺ and TEA⁺ were characterized both extracellularly and intracellularly. Both external Cs⁺ and TEA⁺ block KAT1 currents. A mutant of KAT1 (``m2KAT1'; H267T, E269V) was produced by site-directed mutagenesis of two amino acid residues in the C-terminal portion of the putative pore (P) domain. This mutant channel was blocked less by external Cs⁺ and TEA⁺ than the wild-type K⁺ channel. Internal TEA⁺ and Cs⁺ did not significantly block either m2KAT1 or KAT1 channels. Other properties, such as cation selectivity, voltage-dependence and proton activation did not show large changes between m2KAT1 and KAT1, demonstrating the specificity of the introduced mutations. These data suggest that the amino acid positions mutated in the inward-rectifying K⁺ channel, KAT1, are accessible to external blockers and may be located on the external side of the membrane, as has been suggested for outward-rectifying K⁺ channels. Received: 31 July 1995/Revised: 5 January 1996     

Substrate Selectivity and pH Dependence of KAAT1 Expressed in Xenopus laevis Oocytes

When expressed in Xenopus oocytes KAAT1 increases tenfold the transport of l-leucine. Substitution of NaCl with 100 mm LiCl, RbCl or KCl allows a reduced but significant activation of l-leucine uptakes. Chloride-dependence is not strict since other pseudohalide anions such as thyocyanate are accepted. KAAT1 is highly sensitive to pH. It can transport l-leucine at pH 5.5 and 8, but the maximum uptake has been observed at pH 10, near to the physiological pH value, when amino and carboxylic groups are both deprotonated. The pH value mainly influences the V _max in Na⁺ activation curves and l-leucine kinetics. The kinetic parameters are K _mNa = 4.6 ± 2 mm, V _maxNa = 14.8 ± 1.7 pmol/oocyte/5 min for pH 8.0 and K _mNa = 2.8 ± 0.7 mm, V _maxNa = 31.3 ± 1.9 pmol/oocyte/5 min for pH 10.0. The kinetic parameters of l-leucine uptake are: K _m = 120.4 ± 24.2 μm, V _max = 23.2 ± 1.4 pmol/oocyte/5 min at pH 8.0 and K _m = 81.3 ± 24.2 μm, V _max = 65.6 ± 3.9 pmol/oocyte/5 min at pH 10.0. On the basis of inhibition experiments, the structural features required for KAAT1 substrates are: (i) a carboxylic group, (ii) an unsubstituted α-amino group, (iii) the side chain is unnecessary, if present it should be uncharged regardless of length and ramification. Received: 27 April 1999/Revised: 10 January 2000