Lysosomal trafficking functions of mucolipin-1 in murine macrophages

Background  

Mucolipidosis Type IV is currently characterized as a lysosomal storage disorder with defects that include corneal clouding, achlorhydria and psychomotor retardation. MCOLN1, the gene responsible for this disease, encodes the protein mucolipin-1 that belongs to the "Transient Receptor Potential" family of proteins and has been shown to function as a non-selective cation channel whose activity is modulated by pH. Two cell biological defects that have been described in MLIV fibroblasts are a hyperacidification of lysosomes and a delay in the exit of lipids from lysosomes.     

Oxygen limitation modulates pH regulation of catabolism and hydrogenases, multidrug transporters, and envelope composition inEscherichia coli K-12

Background  

InEscherichia coli, pH regulates genes for amino-acid and sugar catabolism, electron transport, oxidative stress, periplasmic and envelope proteins. Many pH-dependent genes are co-regulated by anaerobiosis, but the overall intersection of pH stress and oxygen limitation has not been investigated.     

Reactive oxygen species and transcript analysis upon excess light treatment in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana vs a photosensitive mutant lacking zeaxanthin and lutein

Background  

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are unavoidable by-products of oxygenic photosynthesis, causing progressive oxidative damage and ultimately cell death. Despite their destructive activity they are also signalling molecules, priming the acclimatory response to stress stimuli.     

Prediction and analysis of the modular structure of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases

Background  

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) form a vast and diverse family of highly variable sequences. They catalyze a wide variety of oxidative reactions and are therefore of great relevance in drug development and biotechnological applications. Despite their differences in sequence and substrate specificity, the structures of CYPs are highly similar. Although being in research focus for years, factors mediating selectivity and activity remain vague.     

Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Exhibit Increased Levels of Lysosomal Proteolysis as Compared to Other Human Dendritic Cell Populations

Background

Fine control of lysosomal degradation for limited processing of internalized antigens is a hallmark of professional antigen presenting cells. Previous work in mice has shown that dendritic cells (DCs) contain lysosomes with remarkably low protease content. Combined with the ability to modulate lysosomal pH during phagocytosis and maturation, murine DCs enhance their production of class II MHC-peptide complexes for presentation to T cells.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study we extend these findings to human DCs and distinguish between different subsets of DCs based on their ability to preserve internalized antigen. Whereas DCs derived in vitro from CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells or isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors are protease poor, DCs derived in vitro from monocytes (MDDCs) are more similar to macrophages (MΦs) in protease content. Unlike other DCs, MDDCs also fail to reduce their intralysosomal pH in response to maturation stimuli. Indeed, functional characterization of lysosomal proteolysis indicates that MDDCs are comparable to MΦs in the rapid degradation of antigen while other human DC subtypes are attenuated in this capacity.

Conclusions/Significance

Human DCs are comparable to murine DCs in exhibiting a markedly reduced level of lysosomal proteolysis. However, as an important exception to this, human MDDCs stand apart from all other DCs by a heightened capacity for proteolysis that resembles that of MΦs. Thus, caution should be exercised when using human MDDCs as a model for DC function and cell biology.     

Histopathological changes and oxidative damage in type I and type II muscle fibers in rats undergoing paradoxical sleep deprivation

Backgroundprevious studies have shown that muscle atrophy is observed after sleep deprivation (SD) protocols; however, the mechanisms responsible are not fully understood. Muscle trophism can be modulated by several factors, including energy balance (positive or negative), nutritional status, oxidative stress, the level of physical activity, and disuse. The metabolic differences that exist in different types of muscle fiber may also be the result of different adaptive responses. To better understand these mechanisms, we evaluated markers of oxidative damage and histopathological changes in different types of muscle fibers in sleep-deprived rats.MethodsTwenty male Wistar EPM-1 rats were randomly allocated in two groups: a control group (CTL group; n = 10) and a sleep deprived group (SD group; n = 10). The SD group was submitted to continuous paradoxical SD for 96  h; the soleus (type I fibers) and plantar (type II fiber) muscles were analyzed for histopathological changes, trophism, lysosomal activity, and oxidative damage. Oxidative damage was assessed by lipid peroxidation and nuclear labeling of 8-OHdG.ResultsThe data demonstrated that SD increased the nuclear labeling of 8-OHdG and induced histopathological changes in both muscles, being more evident in the soleus muscle. In the type I fibers there was signs of tissue degeneration, inflammatory infiltrate and tissue edema. Muscle atrophy was observed in both muscles. The concentration of malondialdehyde, and cathepsin L activity only increased in type I fibers after SD.ConclusionThese data indicate that the histopathological changes observed after 96 h of SD in the skeletal muscle occur by different processes, according to the type of muscle fiber, with muscles predominantly composed of type I fibers undergoing greater oxidative damage and catabolic activity, as evidenced by a larger increase in 8-OHdG labeling, lipid peroxidation, and lysosomal activity.     

Biochanin A improves fibre fermentation by cellulolytic bacteria

Aims

The objective was to determine the effect of the isoflavone biochanin A (BCA) on rumen cellulolytic bacteria and consequent fermentative activity.

Methods and Results

When bovine microbial rumen cell suspensions (n = 3) were incubated (24 h, 39°C) with ground hay, cellulolytic bacteria proliferated, short‐chain fatty acids were produced and pH declined. BCA (30 μg ml^?1) had no effect on the number of cellulolytic bacteria or pH, but increased acetate, propionate and total SCFA production. Addition of BCA improved total digestibility when cell suspensions (n = 3) were incubated (48 h, 39°C) with ground hay, Avicel, or filter paper. Fibrobacter succinogenes S85, Ruminococcus flavefaciens 8 and Ruminococcus albus 8 were directly inhibited by BCA. Synergistic antimicrobial activity was observed with BCA and heat killed cultures of cellulolytic bacteria, but the effects were species dependent.

Conclusions

These results indicate that BCA improves fibre degradation by influencing cellulolytic bacteria competition and guild composition.

Significance and Impact of the Study

BCA could serve as a feed additive to improve cellulosis when cattle are consuming high‐fibre diets. Future research is needed to evaluate the effect of BCA on fibre degradation and utilization in vivo.     

Enzyme replacement reverses abnormal cerebrovascular responses in Fabry disease

Background  

Fabry disease is a lysosomal X-linked enzyme deficiency of α-galactosidase A associated with an increased mortality and morbidity due to renal failure, cardiac disease and early onset stroke.     

Purification and partial characterization of bacillocin 490, a novel bacteriocin produced by a thermophilic strain of Bacillus licheniformis

Background  

Applications of bacteriocins as food preservatives have been so far limited, principally because of their low antimicrobial activity in foods. Nisin is the only bacteriocin of significant use, but applications are restricted principally because of its very low activity at neutral or alkaline pH. Thus the isolation of new bacteriocins active in foods is desirable.     

Dissociation of DNA damage and mitochondrial injury caused by hydrogen peroxide in SV-40 transformed lung epithelial cells

Background  

Since lung epithelial cells are constantly being exposed to reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs), the alveolar surface is a major site of oxidative stress, and each cell type may respond differently to oxidative stress. We compared the extent of oxidative DNA damage with that of mitochondrial injury in lung epithelial cells at the single cell level.     

Characterization of gana-1, a Caenorhabditis elegans gene encoding a single ortholog of vertebrate α-galactosidase and α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase

Background  

Human α-galactosidase A (α-GAL) and α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (α-NAGA) are presumed to share a common ancestor. Deficiencies of these enzymes cause two well-characterized human lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) – Fabry (α-GAL deficiency) and Schindler (α-NAGA deficiency) diseases. Caenorhabditis elegans was previously shown to be a relevant model organism for several late endosomal/lysosomal membrane proteins associated with LSDs. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize C. elegans orthologs to both human lysosomal luminal proteins α-GAL and α-NAGA.     

The measurement of reactive oxygen species in human neat semen and in suspended spermatozoa: a comparison

Background  

It is generally accepted that oxidative stress is an important factor in male infertility because it may impair the physiological function of spermatozoa at the molecular level. Nevertheless, although several approaches have been reported, the imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activity of the antioxidant defense system in semen is difficult to investigate and remains poorly understood.     

msbB deletion confers acute sensitivity to CO2 in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium that can be suppressed by a loss-of-function mutation in zwf

Background  

Pathogens tolerate stress conditions that include low pH, oxidative stress, high salt and high temperature in order to survive inside and outside their hosts. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which forms the outer-leaflet of the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria, acts as a permeability barrier. The lipid A moiety of LPS anchors it to the outer membrane bilayer. The MsbB enzyme myristoylates the lipid A precursor and loss of this enzyme, in Salmonella, is correlated with reduced virulence and severe growth defects that can both be compensated with extragenic suppressor mutations.     

Initial insight into the function of the lysosomal 66.3 kDa protein from mouse by means of X-ray crystallography

Background  

The lysosomal 66.3 kDa protein from mouse is a soluble, mannose 6-phosphate containing protein of so far unknown function. It is synthesized as a glycosylated 75 kDa precursor that undergoes limited proteolysis leading to a 28 kDa N- and a 40 kDa C-terminal fragment.     

Identification and Characterisation of the Murine Homologue of the Gene Responsible for Cystinosis, Ctns

Background  

Cystinosis is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by an intralysosomal accumulation of cystine, and affected individuals progress to end-stage renal failure before the age of ten. The causative gene, CTNS, was cloned in 1998 and the encoded protein, cystinosin, was predicted to be a lysosomal membrane protein.     

Arterial Wall Properties and Womersley Flow in Fabry Disease

Background  

Fabry disease is an X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disease resulting in the cellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide particularly globotriaosylceramide. The disease is characterized by a dilated vasculopathy with arterial ectasia in muscular arteries and arterioles. Previous venous plethysomographic studies suggest enhanced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in Fabry disease indicating a functional abnormality of resistance vessels.     

Isolation and properties of lysosomes from dark-grown potato shoots

Summary A method is described for the isolation of lysosomal fractions from dark-grown potato shoots using a single stage separation on a Ficoll gradient. Peaks of acid hydrolase activity consisting of acid phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, ribonuclease, carboxylic esterase and -glycerophosphatase were well separated from peaks of mitochondrial and glyoxysomal enzymes. A heavy lysosomal fraction with particle diameters from 0.1 to 1.6 and density of 1.10 g cm^-3 containing relatively low hydrolase activity was distinguishable from a light fraction with diameters 0.025 to 0.6 and density of 1.07 g cm^-3 with a higher level of hydrolase activity. Both fractions appeared heterogeneous by electron microscopy, but the fine structure of the membranes of both heavy and light lysosomes was similar. The heavy lysosomal fraction was rich in autophagic vacuoles (secondary lysosomes) containing organelles and amorphous cytoplasmic material. Both fractions were rich in ribonucleic acid.Freezing and thawing, high speed blending and ultrasonication either singly or in combination solubilised a maximum of ca. 30% of the acid phosphatase from crude lysosomal fractions derived from dark-grown potato shoots. Treatment with Triton X-100 and deoxycholate released appreciably more enzyme activity but acetone and carbon tetrachloride failed to solubilise any acid phosphatase. Only detergent treatments gave marked overrecovery of enzyme and indicated structure-linked latency. Liberation of enzyme from lysosomes varied with pH and was almost complete at both extremes of pH. Crude snake venom was rapid and effective in solubilising acid phosphatase from lysosomal preparations, purified phospholipase A was less effective and phospholipases C and D had negligible effects. Phospholipase and venom mediated release of acid phosphatase was accompanied by the coincident release of an acid end-product. Gel filtration of acid phosphatase liberated from heavy and light lysosomal fractions by snake venom digestion revealed that each of these fractions was characterised by the presence of distinct molecular forms of the enzyme. The nature of the association of acid phosphatase with potato shoot lysosomes is discussed.     

Transcriptomic biomarkers of the response of hospitalized geriatric patients with infectious diseases

Background  

Infectious diseases are significant causes of morbidity and mortality among elderly populations. However, the relationship between oxidative stress, immune function and inflammatory response in acute phase of the infectious disease is poorly understood.