Attraction and the single cell

Selective expression of the eotaxin receptor CCR3 by human T helper 2 cellsSallusto, F. et al. (1997)Science 277, 2005–2007Functional expression of the eotaxin receptor CCR3 in T lymphocytes co-localising with eosinophilsGerber, B.O. et al. (1997)Curr. Biol. 7, 836–843Differential expression of chemokine receptors and chemotactic responsiveness of type 1 T helper cells (Th1s) and Th2sBonecchi, R. et al. (1998)J. Exp. Med. 187, 129–134CCR5 is characteristic of Th1 lymphocytesLoetscher, M. et al. (1998)Nature 391, 344–345     

New evidence for neuroprotection by estrogen

Estrogen reduces neuronal generation of Alzheimer β-amyloid peptidesXu, H. et al. (1998)Nat. Med. 4, 447–451Nuclear estrogen receptor-independent neuroprotection by estratrienes: a novel interaction with glutathioneGreen, P.S. et al. (1998)Neuroscience 84, 7–10     

Stretching the boundaries of elastin function

Elastin is an essential determinant of arterial morphogenesisLi, D.Y. et al. (1998)Nature 393, 276–280An elastin gene mutation producing abnormal tropoelastin and abnormal elastic fibres in a patient with autosomal dominant cutis laxaTassabehji, M. et al. (1998)Hum. Mol. Genet. 7, 1021–1028     

Winning the war against antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic sensitization using biphenyl tetrazoles as potent inhibitors of Bacteroides fragilis metallo-β-lactamaseToney, J.H. et al. (1998)Chem. Biol. 5, 185–196Autoinducer of virulence as a target for vaccine and therapy against Staphylococcus aureusBalaban, N. et al. (1998)Science 280, 438–440     

Close encounters of the type III secretion kind

Protein translocation into host epithelial cells by infecting enteropathogenic Escherichia coliWolff, C. et al. (1998)Mol. Microbiol. 28, 143–155The complete sequence of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli E2348/69Elliott, S.J. et al. (1998)Mol. Microbiol. 28, 1–4     

Two newly identified sites in the N-terminal regulatory domain of Aurora-A are essential for auto-inhibition

Aurora-A, a centrosome-localized serine/threonine kinase, is over-expressed in multiple human cancers. We previously reported Zhang et al. (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007, 357:347–352) intramolecular inhibitory regulation of Aurora-A between its N-terminal (Nt) regulatory domain (amino acids 1–128, Nt) and C-terminal catalytic domain (aa 129–403, Cd). Here, we identified two essential sites located on the Nt of Aurora-A (Lys 99 and Lys 119) and demonstrate that mutation of either residue to Gly could cause the Nt and C-terminal lobes of the catalytic domain in Aurora-A to form a closed conformation, resulting in a loss of kinase activity. This inactive conformation was reversed by adding C26 peptide (274–299) or Ajuba, which is a required activator of Aurora-A. Over-expression of either mutant induced G2/M arrest. These results provide a basis for future anti-cancer studies targeting Aurora-A.     

Toxic triplets provide clues to neurodegeneration

Cleavage, aggregation and toxicity of the expanded androgen receptor in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophyMerry, D.E. et al. (1998)Hum. Mol. Genet. 7, 693–701Truncated N-terminal fragments of huntingtin with expanded glutamine repeats form nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates in cell cultureCooper, J.K. et al. (1998)Hum. Mol. Genet. 7, 783–790Aggregation of N-terminal huntingtin is dependent on the length of its glutamine repeatsLi, S.H. and Li, X.J. (1998)Hum. Mol. Genet. 7, 777–782     

Mending mutations by in vivo site-directed mutagenesis

In vivo site-directed mutagenesis of the factor IX gene by chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotidesKren, B.T. et al. (1998)Nat. Med. 4, 285–290Targeted nucleotide exchange in the alkaline phosphatase gene of HuH-7 cells mediated by a chimeric RNA/DNA oligonucleotideKren, B.T. et al. (1997)Hepatology 25, 1462–1468     

A secretory clue to combined haemophilia

Mutations in the ER–Golgi intermediate compartment protein ERGIC-53 cause combined deficiency of coagulation factors V and VIIINichols, W.C. et al. (1998)Cell 93, 61–70     

The primary identification of a calcineurin A subunit-like protein in plants

Many types of serine/threonine protein phosphatase have been cloned and characterized in plants, such as Type-1 serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP1), Type-2A serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP2A), Type-2C serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP2C). However no Type-2B serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP2B, calcineurin), or calcineurin A subunit-like protein (CaNAL), has been identified. We detected protein phosphatase activity in mixtures of CaM-binding proteins from three plants (Nicotiana tabacum, Brassica oleracea and Arabidopsis thaliana). Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-D) and Western blot analysis with an anti-rat CNA antibody revealed a small protein of 60 kDa that we believe is a CaNAL. The isoelectric point (pI) of this protein in N. tabacum was approximately 5.69. The protein phosphatase activity in the mixture of CaM-binding proteins from N. tabacum was regulated by Ca²⁺ and Calmodulin (CaM) with either RII peptides or pNPP as substrate. The immunosuppressive drugs, CsA and FK506, also inhibited the protein phosphatase activity significantly.     

Three New Species of Predatory Nematodes (Dorylaimida: Actinolaimoidea) from Korea

Three new species of predatory nematodes belonging to family Actinolaimidae, superfamily Actinolaimoidea, order Dorylaimida are described and illustrated. Westindicus sanaensis sp. n. has a body 1.9–2.4mm long; b = 3.7–4.3; c = 8.1–8.5; odontostyle 26.5–28.0μm long; spicules 71–74μm long; ventromedian supplements 15 and comes close to Westindicus cheongsongensis Choi et al, 1998 and Westindicus keralaensis Khan et al., 1994. Egtitus koriensis sp. n. is 1.8–2.0 mm long; b = 3.4–4.1; c = 14–18; odontostyle 20–21 μm, and comes close to Egtitus elaboratus (Cobb, 1906) Thorne, 1967; Egtitus itanagrus Khan et al., 1994 and Egtitus adhricus Khan & Jairajpuri, 1994. Stopractinca glandulus sp. n. is 2.3–2.4 mm long; b = 4.0–4.1; c = 11–12; odontostyle 26–28μm and differs from other two known species viz., Stopractincta orientalis Khan et al., 1994 and Stopractincta malnadensis Dhanam et al., 1994 in having very thick body cuticle and longer cardia, and in the presence of a gland at the base of oesophagus.     

Adenoviral gene transfer to committed hematopoietic progenitors

High-efficiency gene transfer into ex vivo expanded human hematopoietic progenitors and precursor cells by adenovirus vectorsFrey, B.M. et al. (1998)Blood 91, 2781–2792     

Pest sequences in nuclear proteins

• 1.1. Most of proteins which are rapidly degraded inside eukaryotic cells have been found to contain amino acid sequences (PEST sequences) enriched in proline, acidic residues (glutamic acid and/or aspartic acid) and hydrophilic residues (serine and threonine) (Rogers et al. (1986) Science234, 364–368).
• 2.2. This correlation was tested on nuclear proteins and a close relationship was found between nuclear protein stability and the presence of PEST regions.
• 3.3. Nuclear proteins with structural functions which can be considered as stable components of cell nuclei generally lack PEST sequences.
• 4.4. In contrast, regulatory nuclear factors which have specific and transient functions generally possess at least one PEST sequence.

     

Therapy for CAG-repeat diseases?

Suppression of aggregate formation and apoptosis by transglutaminase inhibitors in cells expressing truncated DRPLA protein with an expanded polyglutamine stretchIgarashi, S. et al. (1998)Nat. Genet. 18, 111–117     

Distinguishing ulcerative colitis from autoimmunity

Lymphoid hyperplasia, autoimmunity, and compromised intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte development in colitis-free gnotobiotic IL-2-deficient miceContractor, N.V. et al. (1998)J. Immunol. 160, 385–394     

Vaccine evasion by pneumococci: as easy as changing a cassette

Recombinational exchanges at the capsular polysaccharide biosynthetic locus lead to frequent serotype changes among natural isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniaeCoffey, T.J. et al. (1998)Mol. Microbiol. 27, 73–83     

Nanodroplet detection of novel cell-permeable ligands

Small molecule-dependent genetic selection in stochastic nanodroplets as a means of detecting protein–ligand interactions on a large scaleBorchardt, A. et al. (1997)Chem. Biol. 4, 961–968A miniaturized arrayed assay format for detecting small molecule–protein interactions in cellsYou, A.J. et al. (1997)Chem. Biol. 4, 969–975     

An SH2 domain stands between infectious mononucleosis and a fatal lymphoproliferative disease

Host response to EBV infection in X-linked lymphoproliferative disease results from mutations in an SH2-domain encoding geneCoffey, A.J. et al. (1998)Nat. Genet. 20, 129–135The X-linked lymphoproliferative-disease gene product SAP regulates signals induced through the co-receptor SLAMSayos, J. et al. (1998)Nature 395, 462–469     

A candidate gene for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Isolation of a novel potassium channel gene hSKCa3 containing a polymorphic CAG repeat: a candidate for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?Chandy, K.G. et al. (1998)Mol. Psychiatr. 3, 32–37     

Molecular analysis of the gene encoding α-lytic protease: evidence for a preproenzyme

A 1.7-kb EcoRI fragment containing the structural gene for α-lytic protease has been cloned from Lysobacter enzymogenes 495 chromosomal DNA: the first example of a gene cloned from this organism. The protein sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence encoding this serine protease matches the published amino acid sequence [Olson et al., Nature 228 (1970) 438–442] precisely. Sequence analysis and S 1 mapping indicate that, like subtilisin [e.g. Wells et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 11 (1983) 7911–7925] α-lytic protease is synthesized as a pre-pro protein (41 kDa) that is subsequently processed to its mature extracellular form (20 kDa). This first finding of a large N-terminal protease precursor in a Gram-negative bacterial protease strengthens the hypothesis that large precursors may be a general property of extracellular bacterial proteases, and suggests that the N- or C-terminal location of the precursor segment may be significant.