Proteomic analysis of UVB-induced protein expression- and redox-dependent changes in skin fibroblasts using lysine- and cysteine-labeling two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis

UVB is the most energetic and DNA-damaging to humans in ultraviolet radiation. Previous research has suggested that exposure to UVB causes skin pathologies because of direct DNA damage and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the detailed molecular mechanisms by which UVB leads to skin cancer have yet to be clarified. In the current study, normal skin fibroblast cells (CCD-966SK) were exposed to various doses of UVB, and the changes in protein expression and thiol reactivity were monitored with lysine- and cysteine-labeling 2D-DIGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Our proteomic analysis revealed that 89 identified proteins showed significant changes in protein expression, and 37 in thiol reactivity. Many proteins that are known to be involved in protein folding, redox regulation and nucleotide biosynthesis were up-regulated under UVB irradiation. In contrast, proteins responsible for biosynthesis and protein degradation were down-regulated. In addition, the thiol-reactivity of proteins involving cytoskeleton, metabolism, and signal transduction were altered by UVB. In summary, these UVB-modulated cellular proteins and redox-regulated proteins might play important roles in the early stages of skin cancer formation and photoaging induced by UVB-irradiation. Such proteins might provide a potential target for the rational design of drugs to prevent UVB-induced diseases.     

Proteomics of Arabidopsis redox proteins in response to methyl jasmonate

Protein redox regulation is increasingly recognized as an important switch of protein activity in yeast, bacteria, mammals and plants. In this study, we identified proteins with potential thiol switches involved in jasmonate signaling, which is essential for plant defense. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment led to enhanced production of hydrogen peroxide in Arabidopsis leaves and roots, indicating in vivo oxidative stress. With monobromobimane (mBBr) labeling to capture oxidized sulfhydryl groups and 2D gel separation, a total of 35 protein spots that displayed significant redox and/or total protein expression changes were isolated. Using LC–MS/MS, the proteins in 33 spots were identified in both control and MeJA-treated samples. By comparative analysis of mBBr and SyproRuby gel images, we were able to determine many proteins that were redox responsive and proteins that displayed abundance changes in response to MeJA. Interestingly, stress and defense proteins constitute a large group that responded to MeJA. In addition, many cysteine residues involved in the disulfide dynamics were mapped based on tandem MS data. Identification of redox proteins and their cysteine residues involved in the redox regulation allows for a deeper understanding of the jasmonate signaling networks.     

Proteomics of Arabidopsis redox proteins in response to methyl jasmonate

Protein redox regulation is increasingly recognized as an important switch of protein activity in yeast, bacteria, mammals and plants. In this study, we identified proteins with potential thiol switches involved in jasmonate signaling, which is essential for plant defense. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment led to enhanced production of hydrogen peroxide in Arabidopsis leaves and roots, indicating in vivo oxidative stress. With monobromobimane (mBBr) labeling to capture oxidized sulfhydryl groups and 2D gel separation, a total of 35 protein spots that displayed significant redox and/or total protein expression changes were isolated. Using LC–MS/MS, the proteins in 33 spots were identified in both control and MeJA-treated samples. By comparative analysis of mBBr and SyproRuby gel images, we were able to determine many proteins that were redox responsive and proteins that displayed abundance changes in response to MeJA. Interestingly, stress and defense proteins constitute a large group that responded to MeJA. In addition, many cysteine residues involved in the disulfide dynamics were mapped based on tandem MS data. Identification of redox proteins and their cysteine residues involved in the redox regulation allows for a deeper understanding of the jasmonate signaling networks.     

Hemopexin is up-regulated in plasma from type 1 diabetes mellitus patients: Role of glucose-induced ROS

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an insulin-dependent metabolic disease in the world and often occurs in children and adolescents. Recent advances in quantitative proteomics offer potential for the discovery of plasma proteins as biomarkers for tracking disease progression and for understanding the molecular mechanisms of diabetes. Comparative proteomic analysis of the plasma proteomes from T1DM cases and healthy donors with lysine- and cysteine-labeling 2D-DIGE combining MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry revealed that 39 identified T1DM-associated plasma proteins showed significant changes in protein expression including hemopexin, and 41 in thiol reactivity. Further study showed that hemopexin can be induced in numerous cell lines by increasing the glucose concentration in the medium. Interestingly, glucose-induced hemopexin expression can be reduced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers such as glutathione, implying that hemopexin expression is linked to glucose-induced oxidative stress. In conclusion, the current work has identified potential T1DM biomarkers and one of these, hemopexin, can be modulated by glucose through a ROS-dependent mechanism.     

不同浓度葡萄糖对β-TC3 细胞Gα表达的影响

目的:研究不同浓度葡萄糖对β-TC3(小鼠胰岛β细胞瘤细胞)细胞Gα(G蛋白α亚基)表达的影响。方法:β-TC3细胞在正常葡萄糖浓度下(11.1 mM)适应性生长两天后,将细胞暴露于不同葡萄糖浓度(25、50 mM),分别于24、48、96h收集细胞,并行蛋白质印迹检测Gα的表达。结果:加入葡萄糖后24、48、96h,Gα的表达明显下降(相对对照组)。结论:持续高糖刺激,可导致β-TC3细胞Gα表达的下调,从而影响细胞信号转导,致使胰岛素抵抗的发生。     

Proteomic analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae under high gravity fermentation conditions

Saccharomyces cerevisiae KAY446 was utilized for ethanol production, with glucose concentrations ranging from 120 g/L (normal) to 300 g/L (high). Although grown in a high glucose environment, S. cerevisiae still retained the ability to produce ethanol with a high degree of glucose utilization. iTRAQ-mediated shotgun proteomics was applied to identify relative expression change of proteins under the different glucose conditions. A total of 413 proteins were identified from three replicate, independent LC-MS/MS runs. Unsurprisingly, many proteins in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway showed significant changes in expression level. Twenty five proteins involved in amino acid metabolism decreased their expression, while the expressions of 12 heat-shock related proteins were also identified. Under high glucose conditions, ethanol was produced as a major product. However, the assimilation of glucose as well as a number of byproducts was also enhanced. Therefore, to optimize the ethanol production under very high gravity conditions, a number of pathways will need to be deactivated, while still maintaining the correct cellular redox or osmotic state. Proteomics is demonstrated here as a tool to aid in this forward metabolic engineering.     

Alterations of the podocyte proteome in response to high glucose concentrations

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of end‐stage renal disease. A reduction in podocyte number has been documented in the kidneys of these patients. To identify the molecular changes in podocytes that are primarily caused by high glucose (HG) concentrations and not by secondary alterations (e.g. glomerular hypertension), we investigated the protein expression profiles in a podocyte cell line under long‐term HG exposure (30 versus 10 mM for 2 wk). Proteins were separated by 2‐DE, and we identified 39 different proteins in 48 spots that were differentially regulated by more than twofold in response to HG concentrations using MALDI‐TOF MS and MASCOT software. These proteins belong to several protein classes, including cytoskeletal proteins and specific annexins (annexins III and VI). Downregulation of annexins III and VI by HG concentrations was confirmed by qRT‐PCR, Western blot, and immunostaining, and was also observed in glomeruli of kidney biopsies from patients with diabetic nephropathy. Our data demonstrate that HG concentrations per se are sufficient to strongly modify the protein expression profile of podocytes, the analysis of which contributes to the identification of novel targets involved in diabetic nephropathy.     

Identification and <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Silico</Emphasis> Analysis of Major Redox Modulated Proteins from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> Seedlings Using 2D Redox SDS PAGE (2-Dimensional Diagonal Redox Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis)

The thiol–disulphide exchange regulates the activity of proteins by redox modulation. Many studies to analyze reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) induced changes in the gene expression have been reported, but efforts to detect H₂O₂ modified proteins are comparatively few. Two-dimensional diagonal redox sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) was used to detect polypeptides which undergo thiol–disulphide exchange in Brassica juncea seedlings following H₂O₂ (10 mM) treatment for 30 min. Eleven redox responsive polypeptides were identified which included cruciferin, NLI [Nuclear LIM (Lin11, Isl-1 & Mec-3 domains)] interacting protein phosphatase, RuBisCO (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) large subunit, and myrosinase. Redox modulation of RuBisCO large subunit was further confirmed by western blotting. However, the small subunit of RuBisCO was not affected by these redox changes. All redox modulated targets except NLI interacting protein (although it contains two cysteines) showed oxidation sensitive cysteines by in silico analysis. Interestingly, interactome of cruciferin and myrosinase indicated that they may have additional function(s) beside their well-known roles in the seedling development and abiotic stress respectively. Cruciferin showed interactions with stress associated proteins like defensing-like protein 192 and 2-cys peroxiredoxin. Similarly, myrosinase showed interactions with nitrilase and cytochrome p450 which are involved in nitrogen metabolism and/or hormone biosynthesis. This simple procedure can be used to detect major stress mediated redox changes in other plants.     

Cardiac malformations are associated with altered expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase genes in embryos of diabetic mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO), and the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes in developing hearts at embryonic day 13.5 of embryos from diabetic mice. The protein and mRNA expression levels of eNOS and VEGF were significantly altered in the developing hearts of embryos from diabetic mice. The NO level was significantly decreased, whereas the VEGF concentration was significantly increased in the developing hearts of the embryos from diabetic mice. In vitro study showed a significant reduction in eNOS expression and cell proliferation in cardiac myoblast cells exposed to high glucose concentrations. Further, high glucose induced apoptosis in myoblast cells. Ultrastructural changes characteristics of apoptosis, including cell blebbing, aggregation of ribosomes and vacuoles in the cytoplasm were also evident in myoblast cells exposed to high glucose. It is suggested that hyperglycemia alters the expression of eNOS and VEGF genes that are involved in the regulation of cell growth and vasculogenesis, thereby contributing to the cardiac malformations seen in embryos from diabetic mice.     

Metabolomic and proteomic analysis of a clonal insulin-producing beta-cell line (INS-1 832/13)

Metabolites generated from fuel metabolism in pancreatic beta-cells control exocytosis of insulin, a process which fails in type 2 diabetes. To identify and quantify these metabolites, global and unbiased analysis of cellular metabolism is required. To this end, polar metabolites, extracted from the clonal 832/13 beta-cell line cultured at 2.8 and 16.7 mM glucose for 48 h, were derivatized followed by identification and quantification, using gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). After culture at 16.7 mM glucose for 48 h, 832/13 beta-cells exhibited a phenotype reminiscent of glucotoxicity with decreased content and secretion of insulin. The metabolomic analysis revealed alterations in the levels of 7 metabolites derived from glycolysis, the TCA cycle and pentose phosphate shunt, and 4 amino acids. Principal component analysis of the metabolite data showed two clusters, corresponding to the cells cultured at 2.8 and 16.7 mM glucose, respectively. Concurrent changes in protein expression were analyzed by 2-D gel electrophoresis followed by LC-MS/MS. The identities of 86 spots corresponding to 75 unique proteins that were significantly different in 832/13 beta-cells cultured at 16.7 mM glucose were established. Only 5 of these were found to be metabolic enzymes that could be involved in the metabolomic alterations observed. Anticipated changes in metabolite levels in cells exposed to increased glucose were observed, while changes in enzyme levels were much less profound. This suggests that substrate availability, allosteric regulation, and/or post-translational modifications are more important determinants of metabolite levels than enzyme expression at the protein level.     

Type 1 diabetes affects topoisomerase I activity and GlcNAcylation in rat organs: kidney, liver and pancreas

Chronic hyperglycemia leads to the development of diabetes-induced organ complications, through changes in gene expression and protein function. We previously showed that in cell lines, topoisomerase I (topo I) is modified by O-GlcNAcylation, which affects its DNA relaxation activity. Since topo I participates in gene expression processes, we assumed that high glucose levels will affect its regulation and activity. Here we examined the effect of hyperglycemia on the regulation, GlcNAcylation and activity of topo I, in various internal rat organs that were subjected to diabetes-induced complications. Type 1 diabetes was induced in female rats by Streptozotocin injection. Topo I activity in nuclear protein extracts derived from diabetic and nondiabetic rat organs and topo I mRNA level were examined. Topo I and O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase proteins and their O-GlcNAcylation were determined by western blot and immunoprecipitation assays. We show that topo I activity and enzyme protein level decreased in various tissues derived from the diabetic animals, whereas the enzyme mRNA level was not altered. Topo I protein was modified in vivo by O-GlcNAc, and O-GlcNAc transferase was coprecipitated with topo I protein, suggesting a possible interaction between both enzymes. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that topo I activity is regulated by high glucose levels, as a result of the diabetic state and is modified in vivo by O-GlcNAcylation, suggesting that topo I, an essential enzyme for gene expression, is involved in cellular processes which may lead to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.     

Gender-dimorphic regulation of liver proteins in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

To address the issue of gender importance in development of diabetes, in the present study, we performed two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE)-based proteomic study in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats by investigating gender-dimorphic differential regulation patterns of liver proteins. Animal experiments revealed that females have greater susceptibility towards developing diabetes due to lower insulin secretion, greater severity of liver damage, more impaired regulation of sex hormones as well as lower glucose tolerance and higher blood glucose levels as compared to male diabetic rats when exposed to STZ. Proteomic analysis detected about 730 hepatic protein spots, ranging from 6 to 240 kDa mass between pH 3 ～ 10, of which 45 identified proteins showed gender-dimorphic regulation. Most interesting is that our gender-specific proteome comparison showed that male and female rats displayed different regulations of hepatic proteins involved in lipid metabolism, methionine and citric acid cycles, as well as antioxidative and stress defense system. We for the first time identified chaperonin 10 and D-dopachrome tautomerase showing gender-dependent differential regulation between healthy control and diabetic rats, which have not been reported to date with respect to diabetes pathophysiology. In conclusion, current proteomic study revealed that more severely impaired hepatic protein regulation in female diabetic rats was influential on greater susceptibility of females to STZ-induced diabetes. We expect that the present proteomic data can provide valuable information for evidence-based gender-specific treatment of diabetes.     

Reduction of the endoplasmic reticulum accompanies the oxidative damage of diabetes mellitus

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), similary to other subcompartments of the eukaryotic cell possesses a relatively oxidizing environment. The special milieu of ER lumen is important for many ER-specific processes (redox protein folding, glycoprotein synthesis, quality control of secreted proteins, antigen presentation, etc.). Despite of the vital importance of redox regulation in the ER, we have a surprisingly fragmented knowledge about the mechanisms responsible for the ER redox balance. Moreover, new observations on disulfide bridge synthesis and on glutathione functions urge us to revise our recent theories based on many indirect and in vitro results. We have also very little information about the effects of different pathological conditions on the thiol metabolism and redox folding in the ER. Examining the role of molecular chaperones in the cellular pathology of diabetes mellitus we found that the ER redox environment shifted to a more reducing state, which was followed by changes of the thiol metabolism and structural-functional changes of the protein machinery involved in the redox folding process in diabetes. The possible consequences of these unexpected changes are also discussed.     

Thiol redox biochemistry: insights from computer simulations

Thiol redox chemical reactions play a key role in a variety of physiological processes, mainly due to the presence of low-molecular-weight thiols and cysteine residues in proteins involved in catalysis and regulation. Specifically, the subtle sensitivity of thiol reactivity to the environment makes the use of simulation techniques extremely valuable for obtaining microscopic insights. In this work we review the application of classical and quantum–mechanical atomistic simulation tools to the investigation of selected relevant issues in thiol redox biochemistry, such as investigations on (1) the protonation state of cysteine in protein, (2) two-electron oxidation of thiols by hydroperoxides, chloramines, and hypochlorous acid, (3) mechanistic and kinetics aspects of the de novo formation of disulfide bonds and thiol−disulfide exchange, (4) formation of sulfenamides, (5) formation of nitrosothiols and transnitrosation reactions, and (6) one-electron oxidation pathways.     

Effects of antioxidant stobadine on protein carbonylation, advanced oxidation protein products and reductive capacity of liver in streptozotocin-diabetic rats: role of oxidative/nitrosative stress

BACKGROUND: Increased oxidative/nitrosative stress is important in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, and the protective effects of antioxidants are a topic of intense research. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a pyridoindole antioxidant stobadine (STB) have a protective effect on tissue oxidative protein damage represented by the parameters such as protein carbonylation (PC), protein thiol (P-SH), total thiol (T-SH) and non-protein thiol (Np-SH), nitrotyrosine (3-NT), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitonal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Some of the non-diabetic (control) and diabetic rats treated with STB (24.7 mg/kg/day) during 16 weeks, and the effects on blood glucose, PC, AOPP, 3-NT, P-SH, T-SH and Np-SH were studied. Biomarkers were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or by colorimetric methods. RESULTS: Administration of stobadine to diabetic animals lowered elevated blood glucose levels by approximately 16% relative to untreated diabetic rats. Although stobadine decreased blood glucose, poor glycemic control was maintained in stobadine treated diabetic rats during the treatment period. Biochemical analyses of liver proteins showed significant diminution of sulfhydryl groups, P-SH, T-SH, Np-SH, and elevation of carbonyl groups in diabetic animals in comparison to healthy controls. As a biomarker of nitrosative stress, 3-NT levels did not significantly change by diabetes induction or by stobadine treatment when compared to control animals. However, the treatment with stobadine resulted in a significant decrease in PC, AOPP levels and normalized P-SH, T-SH, Np-SH groups in liver of diabetic animals. CONCLUSIONS: The results are in accordance with the pro-oxidant role of chronic hyperglycemia, and the ability of stobadine to attenuate protein oxidation and improving tissue reductive capacity may account, at least partly for its observed beneficial effects on tissue function in diabetes.