Peptide inhibition of constitutively activated epithelial Na(+) channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes

The hypothesis that 30-amino acid peptides corresponding to the C-terminal portion of the beta- and/or gamma-rat epithelial sodium channel (rENaC) subunits block constitutively activated ENaC was tested by examining the effects of these peptides on wild-type (wt) rENaC (alphabetagamma-rENaC), truncated Liddle's mutants (alphabeta(T)gamma-, alphabetagamma(T)-, and alphabeta(T)gamma(T)-rENaC), and point mutants (alphabeta(Y)gamma-, alphabetagamma(Y)-rENaC) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The chord conductances of alphabeta(T)gamma-, alphabetagamma(T)-, and alphabeta(T)gamma(T)-rENaC were 2- or 3-fold greater than for wt alphabetagamma-rENaC. Introduction of peptides into oocytes expressing alphabeta(T)gamma-, alphabetagamma(T)-, and alphabeta(T)gamma(T)-rENaC produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) conductances, with apparent dissociation constants (K(d)) ranging from 1700 to 160 microM, depending upon whether individual peptides or their combination was used. Injection of peptides alone or in combination into oocytes expressing wt alphabetagamma-rENaC or single-point mutants did not affect the amiloride-sensitive whole-cell currents. The single channel conductances of all the mutant ENaCs were the same as that of wild type (alphabetagamma-). The single channel activities (N.P(o)) of the mutants were approximately 2.2-2.6-fold greater than wt alphabetagamma-rENaC (1.08 +/- 0.24, n = 7) and were reduced to 1.09 +/- 0.17 by 100 microM peptide mixture (n = 9). The peptides were without effect on the single channel properties of either wt or single-point mutants of rENaC. Our data demonstrate that the C-terminal peptides blocked the Liddle's truncation mutant (alphabeta(T)gamma(T)) expressed in Xenopus oocytes but not the single-point mutants (alphabeta(Y)gamma or alphabetagamma(Y)). Moreover, the blocking effect of both peptides in combination on alphabeta(T)gamma(T)-rENaC was synergistic.     

Two divergent cellular src genes are expressed in Xenopus laevis.

Genomic and cDNA clones of the X. laevis src gene have been isolated and characterized by hybridization and DNA sequence analyses. The haploid genome of X. laevis contains two src genes, which can be distinguished from one another by virtue of sequence divergence in the 3' untranslated regions. Both of the genes are functional as indicated by the fact that oocytes contain RNAs transcribed from each of the genes. The two genes each encode an RNA which is 3.3 kb in length, or twice the length required to encode the 60,000 dalton src protein (pp60). Sequence analysis of the cDNA clones revealed that nearly all of the non-coding sequence is located at the 3' end. The availability of sequence data from cDNA clones has also made it possible for the first time to identify with certainty the carboxyl terminal sequence of a cellular pp60 molecule.     

Membrane-bound mRNAs are recruited from preinitiated ribonucleoprotein particles in injected Xenopus oocytes

Messenger RNA injected Xenopus oocytes exhibit a differential capacity for translation. mRNAs translated in the free cytoplasm are translated efficiently whereas mRNAs translated on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) membrane are translated inefficiently. If mRNA injected oocytes are injected additionally with proteins isolated from the RER, enhanced translation of RER-bound mRNAs is observed. When examined by sucrose gradient centrifugation and RNA dot blots, most of the injected RER-bound mRNA sediments less than or equal to the 80 S monosome. The RER proteins recruit these preinitiated mRNAs onto polysomes as evidenced by a shift in sedimentation to the polysome region of a sucrose gradient. When examined by immunoblotting, the RER proteins are shown to contain a protein which reacts specifically with an antibody directed against docking protein (SRP-receptor protein). However, this putative docking protein does not appear to be the protein which actually recruits the preinitiated mRNAs onto polysomes.     

Gating of IsK expressed in Xenopus oocytes depends on the amount of mRNA injected

IsK is a K+ channel of the delayed rectifier type widely distributed throughout both excitable and nonexcitable cells. Its structure is different from other cloned K+ channels and molecular details of its gating remain obscure. Here we show that the activation kinetics of IsK expressed in Xenopus oocytes depend upon the amount of its mRNA injected, with larger amounts resulting in slower activation kinetics with a longer initial delay during activation. Similar changes in activation kinetics occur with time after a single injection of IsK mRNA. We present two kinetic schemes which illustrate how our experimental results could arise. Both imply an interaction among individual channel proteins during IsK activation. The dependence of channel gating on mRNA concentration provides a novel mechanism for long term regulation of ion current kinetics.     

Individual Xenopus histone genes are replication-independent in oocytes and replication-dependent in Xenopus or mouse somatic cells.

We have assessed the response of many histone H3 mRNAs and an H1C mRNA in Xenopus tissue culture cells after treatment with the DNA synthesis inhibitor hydroxyurea. The amount of the histone mRNAs falls rapidly in response to the inhibitor. This response is prevented by cycloheximide. Cloned Xenopus histone genes were transfected into mouse cells and a cell line was obtained in which the Xenopus genes were actively expressed giving rise to mRNA with correct 5'-termini. The Xenopus genes were correctly regulated at the level of mRNA amounts in the mouse cell line. Nuclear microinjection experiments with Xenopus oocytes and S1 nuclease analysis of normal ovary RNA showed that the H1C gene, and probably also two H3 genes, which are replication-dependent in somatic cells are expressed in oocytes and are therefore replication-independent in this cell type. The same promoters are used in both replication-dependent and independent expression.     

Interaction between constitutively expressed heat shock protein, Hsc 70, and cysteine string protein is important for cortical granule exocytosis in Xenopus oocytes

In many species, binding of sperm to the egg initiates cortical granule exocytosis, an event that contributes to a sustained block of polyspermy. Interestingly, cortical granule exocytosis can be elicited in immature Xenopus oocytes by the protein kinase C activator, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. In this study, we investigated the role of cysteine string protein (csp) in phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-evoked cortical granule exocytosis. Prior work indicated that csp is associated with cortical granules of Xenopus oocytes. In oocytes exhibiting >20-fold overexpression of full-length Xenopus csp, cortical granule exocytosis was reduced by approximately 80%. However, csp overexpression did not affect constitutive exocytosis. Subcellular fractionation and confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed that little or none of the overexpressed csp was associated with cortical granules. This accumulation of csp at sites other than cortical granules suggested that mislocalized csp might sequester a protein that is important for regulated exocytosis. Because the NH2-terminal region of csp includes a J-domain, which interacts with constitutively expressed 70-kDa heat shock proteins (Hsc 70), we evaluated the effect of overexpressing the J-domain of csp. Although the native J-domain of csp inhibited cortical granule exocytosis, point mutations that interfere with J-domain binding to Hsc 70 eliminated this inhibition. These data indicate that csp interaction with Hsc 70 molecular chaperones is vital for regulated secretion in Xenopus oocytes.     

Expression of microinjected hsp 70/CAT and hsp 30/CAT chimeric genes in developing Xenopus laevis embryos

The expression of microinjected chimeric genes containing Drosophila hsp 70 and Xenopus hsp 70 and hsp 30 promoters linked to the reporter gene coding for bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) was examined during early development of Xenopus laevis. Heat-inducible expression of fusion genes containing either the Drosophila hsp 70 promoter (1100 bp) or the Xenopus hsp 70 promoter (750 bp) was first detectable after the midblastula stage of development. This coincides with the embryonic stage at which the endogenous hsp 70 gene is first heat-inducible. A Xenopus hsp 30/CAT fusion gene containing 350 bp of promoter sequences was also heat-inducible after the midblastula stage unlike the endogenous hsp 30 genes which were not heat-inducible until the early tailbud stage (stage 23-24). Sequences that are present within either the coding or 3' region of the hsp 30 clone do not cause the microinjected hsp 30 gene to be developmentally regulated in a normal manner. Additionally, microinjected hsp 30 gene sequences have no effect on the developmental regulation of endogenous hsp 30 genes which continue to be activated at the tailbud stage of development. Our data suggest, that an inhibitory system, which may control the expression of the endogenous hsp 30 gene during development, does not regulate the expression of the injected hsp 30 gene.     

Zn2+对爪蟾卵母细胞表达鲫鱼脑GABA受体的调制作用

爪蟾卵母细胞注射鲫鱼脑ｍＲＮＡ后表达的ＧＡＢＡ受体中约８５％为ＧＡＢＡＡ受体。约１５％的成分为ＧＡＮＡＣ受体。本文利用双电极电压箝方法结合药物灌流研究了Ｚｎ６２＋对这两型受体的作用。我们观察到了Ｚｎ＾２＋对它们的调制都是可抑制性的,可逆的。