In vitro biosynthesis of diphthamide, studied with mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells resistant to diphtheria toxin.

Diphthamide, a unique amino acid, is a post-translational derivative of histidine that exists in protein synthesis elongation factor 2 at the site of diphtheria toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2. We investigated steps in the biosynthesis of diphthamide with mutants of Chinese hamster ovary cells that were altered in different steps of this complex post-translational modification. Biochemical evidence indicates that this modification requires a minimum of three steps, two of which we accomplished in vitro. We identified a methyltransferase activity that transfers methyl groups from S-adenosyl methionine to an unmethylated form of diphthine (the deamidated form of diphthamide), and we tentatively identified an ATP-dependent synthetase activity involved in the biosynthesis of diphthamide from diphthine. Our results are in accord with the proposed structure of diphthamide (B. G. VanNess, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 255:10710-10716, 1980).     

The biosynthesis and biological function of diphthamide

Abstract

Eukaryotic and archaeal elongation factor 2 contains a unique post-translationally modified histidine residue, named diphthamide. Genetic and biochemical studies have revealed that diphthamide biosynthesis involves a multi-step pathway that is evolutionally conserved among lower and higher eukaryotes. During certain bacterial infections, diphthamide is specifically recognized by bacterial toxins, including diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A and cholix toxin. Although the pathological relevance is well studied, the physiological function of diphthamide is still poorly understood. Recently, many new interesting developments in understanding the biosynthesis have been reported. Here, we review the current understanding of the biosynthesis and biological function of diphthamide.     

Occurrence of diphthamide in archaebacteria

We examined the nature of the diphtheria toxin fragment A recognition site in the protein synthesis translocating factor present in cell-free preparations from the archaebacteria Thermoplasma acidophilum and Halobacterium halobium. In agreement with earlier work (M. Kessel and F. Klink, Nature (London) 287:250-251, 1980), we found that extracts from these organisms contain a protein factor which is a substrate for the ADP-ribosylation reaction catalyzed by diphtheria toxin fragment A. However, the rate of the reaction was approximately 1,000 times slower than that typically observed with eucaryotic elongation factor 2. We also demonstrated the presence of diphthine (the deamidated form of diphthamide, i.e., 2-[3-carboxyamide-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl]histidine) in acid hydrolysates of H. halobium protein in amounts comparable to those found in hydrolysates of similar preparations from eucaryotic cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and HeLa). Diphthine could not be detected in hydrolysates of protein from the eubacterium Escherichia coli. Whereas both archaebacterial and eucaryotic elongation factors contain diphthamide, they differ importantly in other respects.     

The diphthamide modification pathway from Saccharomyces cerevisiae – revisited

Diphthamide is a conserved modification in archaeal and eukaryal translation elongation factor 2 (EF2). Its name refers to the target function for diphtheria toxin, the disease‐causing agent that, through ADP ribosylation of diphthamide, causes irreversible inactivation of EF2 and cell death. Although this clearly emphasizes a pathobiological role for diphthamide, its physiological function is unclear, and precisely why cells need EF2 to contain diphthamide is hardly understood. Nonetheless, the conservation of diphthamide biosynthesis together with syndromes (i.e. ribosomal frame‐shifting, embryonic lethality, neurodegeneration and cancer) typical of mutant cells that cannot make it strongly suggests that diphthamide‐modified EF2 occupies an important and translation‐related role in cell proliferation and development. Whether this is structural and/or regulatory remains to be seen. However, recent progress in dissecting the diphthamide gene network (DPH1–DPH7) from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has significantly advanced our understanding of the mechanisms required to initiate and complete diphthamide synthesis on EF2. Here, we review recent developments in the field that not only have provided novel, previously overlooked and unexpected insights into the pathway and the biochemical players required for diphthamide synthesis but also are likely to foster innovative studies into the potential regulation of diphthamide, and importantly, its ill‐defined biological role.     

Secretion in yeast: structural features influencing the post-translational translocation of prepro-alpha-factor in vitro.

In vitro, efficient translocation and glycosylation of the precursor of yeast alpha-factor can take place post-translationally. This property of prepro-alpha-factor appears to be unique as it could not be extended to other yeast protein precursors such as preinvertase or preprocarboxypeptidase Y. In order to determine if specific domains of prepro-alpha-factor were involved in post-translational translocation, we carried out a series of experiments in which major domains were either deleted or fused onto reporter proteins. Fusion of various domains of prepro-alpha-factor onto the reporter protein alpha-globin did not allow post-translational translocation to occur in the yeast in vitro system. Prepro-alpha-factor retained its ability to be post-translationally translocated when parts or all of the pro region were deleted. Removal of the C-terminal repeats containing mature alpha-factor had the most profound influence as post-translational translocation decreased in proportion to the number of repeats deleted. Taken together, these results suggest that efficient post-translational translocation requires a signal sequence and the four C-terminal repeats. There does not however, appear to be specific information contained within the C-terminus, as their presence in fusion did not enable the post-translational translocation of reporter proteins. Lastly, the ability to post-translationally translocate radiochemically pure prepro-alpha-factor that had been isolated by immuno-affinity chromatography required the addition of a yeast lysate fraction. Moreover, post-translational translocation is a function of the microsomal membrane of yeast microsomes and not of a factor peculiar to the yeast lysate, as reticulocyte lysate supported this as well.     

The diphthamide modification on elongation factor-2 renders mammalian cells resistant to ricin

Diphthamide is a post-translational derivative of histidine in protein synthesis elongation factor-2 (eEF-2) that is present in all eukaryotes with no known normal physiological role. Five proteins Dph1–Dph5 are required for the biosynthesis of diphthamide. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells mutated in the biosynthetic genes lack diphthamide and are resistant to bacterial toxins such as diphtheria toxin. We found that diphthamide-deficient cultured cells were threefold more sensitive than their parental cells towards ricin, a r ibosome- i nactivating p rotein (RIP). RIPs bind to ribosomes at the same site as eEF-2 and cleave the large ribosomal RNA, inhibiting translation and causing cell death. We hypothesized that one role of diphthamide may be to protect ribosomes, and therefore all eukaryotic life forms, from RIPs, which are widely distributed in nature. A protective role of diphthamide against ricin was further demonstrated by complementation where dph mutant CHO cells transfected with the corresponding DPH gene acquired increased resistance to ricin in comparison with the control-transfected cells, and resembled the parental CHO cells in their response to the toxin. These data show that the presence of diphthamide in eEF-2 provides protection against ricin and suggest the hypothesis that diphthamide may have evolved to provide protection against RIPs.     

The regulation of necroptosis by post-translational modifications

Necroptosis is a caspase-independent, lytic form of programmed cell death whose errant activation has been widely implicated in many pathologies. The pathway relies on the assembly of the apical protein kinases, RIPK1 and RIPK3, into a high molecular weight cytoplasmic complex, termed the necrosome, downstream of death receptor or pathogen detector ligation. The necrosome serves as a platform for RIPK3-mediated phosphorylation of the terminal effector, the MLKL pseudokinase, which induces its oligomerization, translocation to, and perturbation of, the plasma membrane to cause cell death. Over the past 10 years, knowledge of the post-translational modifications that govern RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL conformation, activity, interactions, stability and localization has rapidly expanded. Here, we review current knowledge of the functions of phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, GlcNAcylation, proteolytic cleavage, and disulfide bonding in regulating necroptotic signaling. Post-translational modifications serve a broad array of functions in modulating RIPK1 engagement in, or exclusion from, cell death signaling, whereas the bulk of identified RIPK3 and MLKL modifications promote their necroptotic functions. An enhanced understanding of the modifying enzymes that tune RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL necroptotic functions will prove valuable in efforts to therapeutically modulate necroptosis.Subject terms: Kinases, Proteomics, Cell biology     

Cell lineage specific distribution of H3K27 trimethylation accumulation in an in vitro model for human implantation

Female mammals inactivate one of their two X-chromosomes to compensate for the difference in gene-dosage with males that have just one X-chromosome. X-chromosome inactivation is initiated by the expression of the non-coding RNA Xist, which coats the X-chromosome in cis and triggers gene silencing. In early mouse development the paternal X-chromosome is initially inactivated in all cells of cleavage stage embryos (imprinted X-inactivation) followed by reactivation of the inactivated paternal X-chromosome exclusively in the epiblast precursors of blastocysts, resulting temporarily in the presence of two active X-chromosomes in this specific lineage. Shortly thereafter, epiblast cells randomly inactivate either the maternal or the paternal X-chromosome. XCI is accompanied by the accumulation of histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) marks on the condensed X-chromosome. It is still poorly understood how XCI is regulated during early human development. Here we have investigated lineage development and the distribution of H3K27me3 foci in human embryos derived from an in-vitro model for human implantation. In this system, embryos are co-cultured on decidualized endometrial stromal cells up to day 8, which allows the culture period to be extended for an additional two days. We demonstrate that after the co-culture period, the inner cell masses have relatively high cell numbers and that the GATA4-positive hypoblast lineage and OCT4-positive epiblast cell lineage in these embryos have segregated. H3K27me3 foci were observed in ～25% of the trophectoderm cells and in ～7.5% of the hypoblast cells, but not in epiblast cells. In contrast with day 8 embryos derived from the co-cultures, foci of H3K27me3 were not observed in embryos at day 5 of development derived from regular IVF-cultures. These findings indicate that the dynamics of H3K27me3 accumulation on the X-chromosome in human development is regulated in a lineage specific fashion.     

The impact of histone post-translational modifications in neurodegenerative diseases

Every year, neurodegenerative disorders take more than 5000 lives in the US alone. Cures have not yet been found for many of the multitude of neuropathies. The majority of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) cases have no known genetic basis. Thus, it is evident that contemporary genetic approaches have failed to explain the etiology or etiologies of ALS/FTD and PD. Recent investigations have explored the potential role of epigenetic mechanisms in disease development. Epigenetics comprises heritable changes in gene utilization that are not derived from changes in the genome. A main epigenetic mechanism involves the post-translational modification of histones. Increased knowledge of the epigenomic landscape of neurodegenerative diseases would not only further our understanding of the disease pathologies, but also lead to the development of treatments able to halt their progress. Here, we review recent advances on the association of histone post-translational modifications with ALS, FTD, PD and several ataxias.     

组蛋白翻译后修饰技术研究进展

翻译后修饰调控着真核生物大部分蛋白质的活性,这些修饰的解读对研究生物功能是必不可少的。组蛋白翻译后修饰是蛋白质翻译后修饰中研究的较好一类小分子碱性蛋白,易被各种生物大分子修饰,尤其易发生在N-末端的尾部。不同组合式修饰构成了"组蛋白密码",在细胞的发育、生长、分化和动态平衡中,组蛋白密码影响着染色体的结构状态,进而调控基因的表达状态。组蛋白翻译后修饰的研究可作为一种模式来解析蛋白质复杂的修饰状态及研究其分子功能。翻译后修饰分析技术的发展对组蛋白密码的解析是至关重要的。重点讨论组蛋白修饰分析技术的发展和应用。     

The antagonistic activity of bifidobacteria in vitro and in vivo studied by using gnotobiological technology

The antagonistic activity of 4 strains of bifidobacteria (B. adolescentis 2 F1, B. longum Z4, B. breve R2 and B. bifidum G1), isolated from the vagina of healthy females of the reproductive age, with respect to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella ozaenae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gardnerella vaginalis were studied in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro experiments revealed that all above-mentioned bifidobacteria were capable of inhibiting the growth of all indicator bacterial strains. Still of all the bifidobacteria under study had different levels of activity. B. adolescentis strain 2 F1 exhibited the highest inhibiting activity in vitro. In contrast to in vitro experiments, in vivo experiments with B. breve R2 demonstrated its high antagonistic activity with respect to E. coli. The data thus obtained indicate that in the study of antagonistic activity the use of the in vivo model as also expedient, for it is mainly in vivo that probiotic preparations show their activity.     

Demonstration of post-translational secretion of human placental lactogen by a mammalian in vitro translation system

This study demonstrates the post-translational translocation across the rough endoplasmic reticular membrane of a mammalian secretory protein, human preplacental lactogen. In the rabbit reticulocyte lysate, human preplacental lactogen biosynthesis is arrested by addition of cycloheximide prior to supplementation with dog pancreatic microsomal membranes, which have previously been shown to translocate and process nascent secretory proteins in a cotranslational manner. Twenty-five percent of the precursor protein is consistently converted to its mature form under these post-translational conditions. The resulting mature hormone is resistant to proteolytic degradation by added proteases, thus indicating that it is translocated across the microsomal membrane and sequestered within the lumenal space of the microsomal vesicles. Approximately one-half of the precursor protein synthesized is associated with the ribosomes. Only the ribosome-associated fraction is secreted in this in vitro system, suggesting that the process of post-translational secretion requires ribosomes for protein interaction with the elements of a subcellular secretory apparatus.     

Mechanisms of endothelial cell swelling from lactacidosis studied in vitro

One of the early sequelae of ischemia is an increase of circulating lactic acid that occurs in response to anaerobic metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether lactic acidosis can induce endothelial swelling in vitro under closely controlled extracellular conditions. Cell volume of suspended cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells was measured by use of an advanced Coulter technique employing the "pulse area analysis" signal-processing technique (CASY1). The isosmotic reduction of pH from 7.4 to 6.8 had no effect on cell volume. Lowering of pH to 6.6, 6.4, or 6.0, however, led to significant, pH-dependent increases of cell volume. Swelling was more pronounced in bicarbonate-buffered media than in HEPES buffer. Specific inhibition of Na(+)/H(+) exchange by ethylisopropylamiloride completely prevented swelling in HEPES-buffered media. Pretreatment with ouabain to partially depolarize the cells did not affect the degree of acidosis-induced swelling. In bicarbonate-buffered media, the inhibition of transmembrane HCO(3)(-) transport by DIDS reduced swelling to a level comparable with that seen in the absence of bicarbonate ions. Lactacidosis-induced endothelial swelling, therefore, is a result of intracellular pH regulatory mechanisms, namely, Na(+)/H(+) exchange and bicarbonate-transporting carriers.     

Influence of histone phosphorylation upon histone-histone interactions studied in vitro

Histones H2b and H3, phosphorylated in vitro with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase I from rabbit skeletal muscle, were used to estimate the influence of histone phosphorylation upon histone-histone complex formation. Stoichiometry and interaction affinity of the complexes H2a-H2b, H4-H2b, and H4-H3 were determined by using the continuous variation method based on circular dichorism or fluorescence intensity. All complexes exhibit a 1:1 stoichiometry in sodium phosphate or sodium chloride solution of pH 7.0. The association constants of the complexes containing phosphorylated H2b were only slightly reduced, whereas that with phosphorylated H3 was strongly reduced relative to those of the nonphosphorylated species.