Mitochondrial Interaction with Helminthosporium maydis Race T Toxin: Blocking by Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

Treatment of mitochondria isolated from Texas male sterile cytoplasmcorn (T mitochondria) with high concentrations of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCCD) (140 nmol DCCD mg^–1 mitochondrial protein) completelyand immediately inhibited T mitochondrial swelling by Helminthosporiummaydis Race T toxin (HmT toxin). In order to obtain a specificinteraction between DCCD and the ATPase complex T mitochondriawere incubated with lower DCCD concentrations (1–5 nmolDCCD mg^–1 mitochondrial protein) for up to 8 h at 4 °C.After 8 h incubation in the presence of 3.75 nmol DCCD mg^–1mitochondrial protein, toxin-induced swelling was decreasedby 69%. Specificity of DCCD action upon the ATPase complex wasconfirmed by (1) SDS gel electrophoresis and fluorographic analysesof proteins from [¹⁴C]-DCCD-treated T mitochondria and immunoprecipitatesand (2) physiological experiments showing that DCCD exertednone of its other documented effects. These data suggest thatHmT toxin interacts with the ATPase complex of T mitochondriaeither at or near the DCCD-binding protein within the membranesector of the complex. Key words: Zea mays L., Helminthosporium maydis, Mitochondria     

Curcumin induces apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma AGS cells and colon carcinoma HT-29 cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress

In the present study, we investigate the effect of curcumin, a major active component isolated from rhizomes of Curcuma longa, on the cytotoxicity of three human carcinoma cell lines (AGS, HT-29 and MGC803) in gastrointestinal tract and a normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-1, and the mechanism of curcumin-induced apoptosis. The results indicated that curcumin inhibited the gastrointestinal carcinoma cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and cytotoxicity was more towards the gastric carcinoma cell AGS and colon carcinoma cell HT-29 compared to normal gastric cell GES-1, and increased externalization of phosphatidylserine residue was observed by Annexin V/PI staining in the two cell lines. Treatment of AGS and HT-29 cells with curcumin enhanced the cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, -8 and -9. Meanwhile, curcumin induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial dysfunction as evidenced by up-regulation of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), phosphorylation of JNK and down-regulation of SERCA2ATPase, release of cytochrome c, decrease of Bcl-2 and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential in both AGS and HT-29 cells. Overexpression of bax, total JNK, phospho-FADD and total FADD were also observed in curcumin-treated HT-29 cells. Moreover, curcumin decreased cytosolic and ER Ca²⁺, but increased mitochondrial Ca²⁺ in the two cell lines. 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, an antagonist of inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor, partly blocked curcumin-induced cytosolic Ca²⁺ decrease in AGS and HT-29 cells. Additionally, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake, reversed curcumin-triggered AGS and HT-29 cells growth inhibition. siRNA to CHOP markedly reduced curcumin-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that curcumin can impact on ER stress and mitochondria functional pathways in AGS and HT-29 cells, death receptor pathway was also involved in curcumin-treated HT-29 cells, thus identifying specific well-defined molecular mechanisms that may be targeted by therapeutic strategies.     

Endothelial response to stress from exogenous Zn2+ resembles that of NO-mediated nitrosative stress, and is protected by MT-1 overexpression

While nitric oxide (NO)-mediated biological interactions have been intensively studied, the underlying mechanisms of nitrosative stress with resulting pathology remain unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that NO exposure increases free zinc ions (Zn²⁺) within cells. However, the resulting effects on endothelial cell survival have not been adequately resolved. Thus the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of altered zinc homeostasis on endothelial cell survival. Initially, we confirmed the previously observed significant increase in free Zn²⁺ with a subsequent induction of apoptosis in our pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) exposed to the NO donor N-[2-aminoethyl]-N-[2-hydroxy-2-nitrosohydrazino]-1,2-ethylenediamine. However, NO has many effects upon cell function and we wanted to specifically evaluate the effects mediated by zinc. To accomplish this we utilized the direct addition of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) to PAEC. We observed that Zn²⁺-exposed PAECs exhibited a dose-dependent increase in superoxide (O₂^–·) generation that was localized to the mitochondria. Furthermore, we found Zn²⁺-exposed PAECs exhibited a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, loss of cardiolipin from the inner leaflet, caspase activation, and significant increases in TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells. Furthermore, using an adenoviral construct for the overexpression of the Zn²⁺-binding protein, metallothionein-1 (MT-1), we found either MT-1 overexpression or coincubation with a Zn²⁺-selective chelator, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylene-diamide, in PAECs significantly protected the mitochondria from both NO and Zn²⁺-mediated disruption and induction of apoptosis and cell death. In summary, our results indicate that a loss of Zn²⁺ homeostasis produces mitochondrial dysfunction, increased oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death. We propose that regulation of Zn²⁺ levels may represent a potential therapeutic target for disease associated with both nitrosative and oxidative stress. reactive nitrogen species; apoptosis mitochondrial dysfunction     

Mitochondrial proteomics analysis of tumorigenic and metastatic breast cancer markers

Mitochondria are key organelles in mammary cells responsible for several cellular functions including growth, division, and energy metabolism. In this study, mitochondrial proteins were enriched for proteomics analysis with the state-of-the-art two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis and matrix-assistant laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry strategy to compare and identify the mitochondrial protein profiling changes between three breast cell lines with different tumorigenicity and metastasis. The proteomics results demonstrate more than 1,500 protein features were resolved from the equal amount pooled from three purified mitochondrial proteins, and 125 differentially expressed spots were identified by their peptide finger print, in which, 33 identified proteins belonged to mitochondrial proteins. Eighteen out of these 33 identified mitochondrial proteins such as SCaMC-1 have not been reported in breast cancer research to our knowledge. Additionally, mitochondrial protein prohibitin has shown to be differentially distributed in mitochondria and in nucleus for normal breast cells and breast cancer cell lines, respectively. To sum up, our approach to identify the mitochondrial proteins in various stages of breast cancer progression and the identified proteins may be further evaluated as potential breast cancer markers in prognosis and therapy.     

Different mitochondrial response to cisplatin and hyperthermia treatment in human AGS,Caco-2 and T3M4 cancer cell lines

Gastrointestinal cancers (gastric, pancreatic and colorectal) are life-threatening diseases, which easily spread to peritoneal cavity (Juhl et al. in Int J Cancer 57:330–335, 1994; Schneider et al. in Gastroenterology 128:1606–1625, 2005; Geer and Brennan in Am J Surg 165:68–72 1993). Application of hyperthermal intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is one of the choices treating these malignancies and prolonging patient survival time. Despite numbers of clinical trials showing positive effects of HIPEC against various types of cancer, the question whether hyperthermia significantly potentiate the cytotoxicity of cisplatin remains unanswered. Little information is available on the HIPEC effect at the level of mitochondria. To define the effect of hyperthermia (40 °C and 43 °C) to cisplatin treated human gastric AGS, pancreatic T3M4 and colorectal Caco-2 cancer cells, we established an in vitro experiment, which mimics clinical HIPEC conditions. Giving the importance of mitochondrial energy metabolism in cancer, we investigated the effect of cisplatin and hyperthermia on mitochondrial Complex-I (glutamate/malate) and complex-II (succinate) dependent respiratory rates, the coupling of oxidative phosphorylation, the proton permeability of mitochondrial inner membrane and on the integrity of mitochondrial outer membrane in Caco-2, AGS and T3M4 cancer cell lines. Our main findings are: 1) treatment of cells with cisplatin causes the impairment of mitochondrial functions – the increase in the proton permeability of mitochondrial inner membrane and decrease in the oxidative phosphorylation efficiency in Caco-2, AGS and T3M4 cancer cells; 2) hyperthermia (40 °C and 43 °C) increased state 2 respiration rate only in AGS cells without any effects on Caco-2 and T3M4 cells; 3) hyperthermia in combination with cisplatin doesn’t enhance cisplatin effect neither in Caco-2 and T3M4 nor in AGS cells. Thus, our results show the different mitochondrial response of gastric AGS, pancreatic T3M4 and colorectal Caco-2 cancer cells to cisplatin or/and hyperthermia – treatment. Further studies are needed to find the mechanisms of cell line - specific mitochondrial response to cisplatin and hyperthermia.     

Mitochondrial calcium uptake stimulates nitric oxide production in mitochondria of bovine vascular endothelial cells

Although nitric oxide (NO) is a known modulator of cell respiration in vascular endothelium, the presence of a mitochondria-specific nitric oxide synthase (mtNOS) in these cells is still a controversial issue. We have used laser scanning confocal microscopy in combination with the NO-sensitive fluorescent dye DAF-2 to monitor changes in NO production by mitochondria of calf vascular endothelial (CPAE) cells. Cells were loaded with the membrane-permeant NO-sensitive dye 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) diacetate and subsequently permeabilized with digitonin to remove cytosolic DAF-2 to allow measurements of NO production in mitochondria ([NO]_mt). Stimulation of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake by exposure to different cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentrations (1, 2, and 5 µM) resulted in a dose-dependent increase of NO production by mitochondria. This increase of [NO]_mt was sensitive to the NOS antagonist L-N⁵-(1-iminoethyl)ornithine and the calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium (R-24571), demonstrating the endogenous origin of NO synthesis and its calmodulin dependence. Collapsing the mitochondrial membrane potential with the protonophore FCCP or blocking the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter with ruthenium red, as well as blocking the respiratory chain with antimycin A in combination with oligomycin, inhibited mitochondrial NO production. Addition of the NO donor spermine NONOate caused a profound increase in DAF-2 fluorescence that was not affected by either of these treatments. The mitochondrial origin of the DAF-2 signals was confirmed by colocalization with the mitochondrial marker MitoTracker Red and by the observation that disruption of caveolae (where cytoplasmic NOS is localized) formation with methyl--cyclodextrin did not prevent the increase of DAF-2 fluorescence. The activation of mitochondrial calcium uptake stimulates mtNOS phosphorylation (at Ser-1177) which was prevented by FCCP. The data demonstrate that stimulation of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake activates NO production in mitochondria of CPAE cells. This indicates the presence of a mitochondria-specific NOS that can provide a fast local modulatory effect of NO on cell respiration, membrane potential, and apoptosis. nitric oxide; nitric oxide synthase; calcium; endothelium; mitochondria     

Dual effect of thapsigargin on cell death in porcine aortic smooth muscle cells

A sustained increase in the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) can cause cell death. In this study, we found that, in cultured porcine aortic smooth muscle cells, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, triggered by depletion of Ca²⁺ stores by thapsigargin (TG), induced an increase in the [Ca²⁺]_i and cell death. However, the TG-induced death was not related to the [Ca²⁺]_i increase but was mediated by targeting of activated Bax to mitochondria and the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores (PTPs). Once the mitochondrial PTPs had opened, several events, including collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation, occurred and the cells died. TG-induced cell death was completely inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk and was enhanced by the Ca²⁺ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA), suggesting the existence of a Ca²⁺-dependent anti-apoptotic mechanism. After TG treatment, Ca²⁺-sensitive mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation was induced and acted as a downstream effector of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). The protective effect of Z-VAD-fmk on TG-induced cell death was reversed by BAPTA, PD-098059 (an MAPK kinase inhibitor), or LY-294002 (a PI 3-kinase inhibitor). Taken together, our data indicate that ER stress simultaneously activate two pathways, the mitochondrial caspase-dependent death cascade and the Ca²⁺-dependent PI 3-kinase/MAPK anti-apoptotic machinery. The Bax activation and translocation, but not the [Ca²⁺]_i increase, may activate mitochondrial PTPs, which, in turn, causes activation of caspases and cell death, whereas Ca²⁺-dependent MAPK activation counteracts death signaling; removal of Ca²⁺ activated a second caspase-independent death pathway. sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium ion adenosine triphosphatase; cytosolic calcium ion concentration; mitogen-activated protein kinase     

Monocytic cell necrosis is mediated by potassium depletion and caspase-like proteases

Apoptosis is aphysiological cell death that culminates in mitochondrial permeabilitytransition and the activation of caspases, a family of cysteineproteases. Necrosis, in contrast, is a pathological cell deathcharacterized by swelling of the cytoplasm and mitochondria and rapidplasma membrane disruption. Necrotic cell death has long been opposedto apoptosis, but it now appears that both pathways involvemitochondrial permeability transition, raising the question of whatmediates necrotic cell death. In this study, we investigated mechanismsthat promote necrosis induced by various stimuli(Clostridium difficile toxins,Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxin,ouabain, nigericin) in THP-1 cells, a human monocytic cell line, and in monocytes. All stimuli induced typical features of necrosis and triggered protease-mediated release of interleukin-1 (IL-1) andCD14 in both cell types. K⁺depletion was actively implicated in necrosis because substituting K⁺ forNa⁺ in the extracellular mediumprevented morphological features of necrosis and IL-1 release.N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone, a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, prevented morphological features of necrosis, plasma membrane destruction, loss ofmitochondrial membrane potential, IL-1 release, and CD14 sheddinginduced by all stimuli. Thus, in monocytic cells, necrosis is a celldeath pathway mediated by passiveK⁺ efflux and activation ofcaspase-like proteases.     

p27(kip1) upregulated by hnRNPC1/2 antagonizes CagA (a virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori)-mediated pathogenesis

Background and Aims: Infection by Helicobacter pylori is one of the major contributing factors of chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcer and is closely associated with the occurrence and progression of gastric cancer. CagA protein is a major virulence factor of H. pylori that interacts with SHP‐2, a true oncogene, to interfere with cellular signaling pathways; CagA also plays a crucial role in promoting the carcinogenesis of gastric epithelial cells. However, currently, the molecular mechanisms of gastric epithelial cells that antagonize CagA pathogenesis remain inconclusive. Methods: We showed that AGS gastric cancer cells transfected with CagA exhibited the inhibition of proliferation and increased activity of caspase 3/7 using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and secondary mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Results: It was found that the AGS gastric cancer cells stably expressing CagA displayed significantly increased the expression of 16 proteins, including hnRNPC1/2. Further analysis revealed that hnRNPC1/2 significantly boosted the expression of the p27^kip1 protein. Conclusion: Our data suggested that hnRNPC1/2 upregulates p27^kip1 expression and the subsequent suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, thereby providing an important mechanism whereby gastric epithelial cells antagonize CagA‐mediated pathogenesis.     

Caco-2 intestinal cell differentiation is associated with G1 arrest and suppression of CDK2 and CDK4

The cellular mechanisms regulating intestinal proliferation anddifferentiation remain largely undefined. Previously, we showed anearly induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21^Waf1/Cip1 in Caco-2 cells, ahuman colon cancer line that spontaneously differentiates into a smallbowel phenotype. The purpose of our present study was to assess thetiming of cell cycle arrest in relation to differentiation in Caco-2cells and to examine the mechanisms responsible for CDK inactivation.Caco-2 cells undergo a relativeG₁/S block and cease toproliferate at day3 postconfluency; an increase in theactivity of terminally differentiated brush-border enzymes (sucrase andalkaline phosphatase) was noted at day6 postconfluency. Cell cycle block wasassociated with suppression of both CDK2 and CDK4 activities, which areimportant for G₁/S progression.Treatment of the CDK immune complexes with the detergent deoxycholate(DOC) resulted in restoration of CDK2, but not CDK4, activity atday 3 postconfluency, suggesting the presence of inhibitory protein(s)binding to the cyclin/CDK2 complex at this time point. An increasedbinding of p21^Waf1/Cip1 to CDK2complexes at day3 postconfluency was noted, suggesting a potential role for p21^Waf1/Cip1in CDK2 inactivation; however, immunodepletion ofp21^Waf1/Cip1 from Caco-2 proteinextracts demonstrated thatp21^Waf1/Cip1 is only partiallyresponsible for CDK2 suppression atday 3 postconfluency. A decrease in the cyclin E/CDK2 complex appears tocontribute to the CDK2 inactivation noted atdays6 and12 postconfluency. Taken together, ourresults suggest that multiple mechanisms contribute to CDK suppressionduring Caco-2 cell differentiation. Inhibition of CDK2 and CDK4 leadsto G₁ arrest and inhibition ofproliferation that precede Caco-2 cell differentiation.

     

Connexin32 inhibits gastric carcinogenesis through cell cycle arrest and altered expression of p21Cip1 and p27Kip1

Gap junctions and their structural proteins, connexins (Cxs), have been implicated in carcinogenesis. To explore the involvement of Cx32 in gastric carcinogenesis, immunochemical analysis of Cx32 and proliferation marker Ki67 using tissue-microarrayed human gastric cancer and normal tissues was performed. In addition, after Cx32 overexpression in the human gastric cancer cell line AGS, cell proliferation, cell cycle analyses, and p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 expression levels were examined by bromodeoxyuridine assay, flow cytometry, real-time RT-PCR, and western blotting. Immunohistochemical study noted a strong inverse correlation between Cx32 and Ki67 expression pattern as well as their location. In vitro, overexpression of Cx32 in AGS cells inhibited cell proliferation significantly. G₁ arrest, up-regulation of cell cycle-regulatory proteins p21^Cip1 and p27^Kip1 was also found at both mRNA and protein levels. Taken together, Cx32 plays some roles in gastric cancer development by inhibiting gastric cancer cell proliferation through cell cycle arrest and cell cycle regulatory proteins. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(1): 25-30]     

Proteome-wide study of endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by thapsigargin in N2a neuroblastoma cells

Disturbances in intraluminal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺ concentration leads to the accumulation of unfolded proteins and perturbation of intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis, which has a huge impact on mitochondrial functioning under normal and stress conditions and can trigger cell death. Thapsigargin (TG) is widely used to model cellular ER stress as it is a selective and powerful inhibitor of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPases. Here we provide a representative proteome-wide picture of ER stress induced by TG in N2a neuroblastoma cells. Our proteomics study revealed numerous significant protein expression changes in TG-treated N2a cell lysates analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometric protein identification. The proteomic signature supports the evidence of increased bioenergetic activity of mitochondria as several mitochondrial enzymes with roles in ATP-production, tricarboxylic acid cycle and other mitochondrial metabolic processes were upregulated. In addition, the upregulation of the main ER resident proteins confirmed the onset of ER stress during TG treatment. It has become widely accepted that metabolic activity of mitochondria is induced in the early phases in ER stress, which can trigger mitochondrial collapse and subsequent cell death. Further investigations of this cellular stress response in different neuronal model systems like N2a cells could help to elucidate several neurodegenerative disorders in which ER stress is implicated.     

Differential susceptibility of subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria to apoptotic stimuli

Apoptosis can be evoked by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced mitochondrial release of the proapoptotic factors cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Because skeletal muscle is composed of two mitochondrial subfractions that reside in distinct subcellular regions, we investigated the apoptotic susceptibility of subsarcolemmal (SS) and intermyofibrillar (IMF) mitochondria. SS and IMF mitochondria exhibited a dose-dependent release of protein in response to H₂O₂ (0, 25, 50, and 100 µM). However, IMF mitochondria were more sensitive to H₂O₂ and released a 2.5-fold and 10-fold greater amount of cytochrome c and AIF, respectively, compared with SS mitochondria. This finding coincided with a 44% (P < 0.05) greater rate of opening (maximum rate of absorbance decrease, V_max) of the protein release channel, the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mtPTP), in IMF mitochondria. IMF mitochondria also exhibited a 47% (P < 0.05) and 60% (0.05 < P < 0.1) greater expression of the key mtPTP component voltage-dependent anion channel and cyclophilin D, respectively, along with a threefold greater cytochrome c content, but similar levels of AIF compared with SS mitochondria. Despite a lower susceptibility to H₂O₂-induced release, SS mitochondria possessed a 10-fold greater Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio (P < 0.05), a 2.7-fold greater rate of ROS production, and an approximately twofold greater membrane potential compared with IMF mitochondria. The expression of the antioxidant enzyme Mn²⁺-superoxide dismutase was similar between subfractions. Thus the divergent protein composition and function of the mtPTP between SS and IMF mitochondria contributes to a differential release of cytochrome c and AIF in response to ROS. Given the relatively high proportion of IMF mitochondria within a muscle fiber, this subfraction is likely most important in inducing apoptosis when presented with apoptotic stimuli, ultimately leading to myonuclear decay and muscle fiber atrophy. reactive oxygen species; skeletal muscle; mitochondrial permeability transition pore; cytochrome c; apoptosis     

The Oxidative Phosphorylation and ATPase Activity of Arum spadix Mitochondria in Relation to Heat Generation

The respiration of Arum spadix mitochondria is coupled to asub-maximal stoichiometry of ATP synthesis. The P/O ratios associatedwith the oxidation of succinate or malate are decreased by antimycinand increased by m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid, an inhibitor ofthe alternative oxidase. The mitochondrial ATPase activity of20–40 nmol (mg protein)^–1 min^–1 is independentof the maturity of the spadix and is unlikely to provide themechanism for heat production during the odoriferous stage,which probably results from an increase in the rate of electrontransport via the non-phosphorylating, cyanide-insensitive oxidase.     

The role of intracellular pH in cell growth arrest induced by ATP

In this study, we investigated ionic mechanisms involved in growth arrest induced by extracellular ATP in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Extracellular ATP reversibly induced a rapid and sustained intracellular pH (pH_i) decrease from 7.41 to 7.11. Inhibition of Ca²⁺ influx, lowering extracellular Ca²⁺, and buffering cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ inhibited ATP-induced acidification, thereby demonstrating that acidification is a consequence of Ca²⁺ entry. We show that ATP induced reuptake of Ca²⁺ by the mitochondria and a transient depolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane. ATP-induced acidification was reduced after the dissipation of the mitochondrial proton gradient by rotenone and carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, after inhibition of Ca²⁺ uptake into the mitochondria by ruthenium red, and after inhibition of the F₀F₁-ATPase with oligomycin. ATP-induced acidification was not induced by either stimulation of the Cl^–/HCO₃^– exchanger or inhibition of the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger. In addition, intracellular acidification, induced by an ammonium prepulse method, reduced the amount of releasable Ca²⁺ from the endoplasmic reticulum, assessed by measuring change in cytosolic Ca²⁺ induced by thapsigargin or ATP in a Ca²⁺-free medium. This latter finding reveals cross talk between pH_i and Ca²⁺ homeostasis in which the Ca²⁺-induced intracellular acidification can in turn regulate the amount of Ca²⁺ that can be released from the endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, pH_i decrease was capable of reducing cell growth. Taken together, our results suggest that ATP-induced acidification in DU-145 cells results from specific effect of mitochondrial function and is one of the major mechanisms leading to growth arrest induced by ATP. prostate; cancer; acidification     

Inducible expression of erythrocyte band 3protein

A permanent cell line with inducible expression of the humananion exchanger protein 1 (hAE1) was constructed in a derivative ofhuman embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). In the absence of the inducer,muristerone A, the new cell line had no detectable hAE1 protein byWestern analysis or additional³⁶Cl flux. Increasing dose andincubation time with muristerone A increased the amount of protein(both unglycosylated and glycosylated). The4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate(DNDS)-inhibitable rapid Cl exchange flux was increased up to40-fold in induced cells compared with noninduced cells. There was noDNDS-inhibitable rapid flux component in noninduced cells. This resultdemonstrates inducible expression of a new rapid Cl transport pathwaythat is DNDS sensitive. The additional transport of³⁶Cl and³⁵SO₄had the characteristics of hAE1-mediated transport in erythrocytes: 1) inhibition by 250 µM DNDS,2) activation of³⁶Cl efflux by external Cl with aconcentration producing half-maximal effect of 4.8 mM,3) activation of³⁶Cl efflux by external anionsthat was selective in the orderNO₃ = Cl > Br > I, and4) activation of³⁵SO₄influx by external protons. Under the assumption that the turnovernumbers of hAE1 were the same as in erythrocytes, there was good agreement (±3-fold) between the number of copies ofglycosylated hAE1 and the induced tracer fluxes. This is the firstexpression of hAE1 in a mammalian system to track the kineticcharacteristics of the native protein.

     

Glycosylation pattern and processing of envelope gene products encoded by glycosylation mutants of Friend spleen focus-forming virus

The protein encoded by the envelope gene of Friend spleen focus-formingvirus is responsible for the acute leukaemogenicity of thisvirus. In order to correlate glycosylation and intracellularprocessing of this protein with viral pathogenicity, envelopegene products of pathogenic and apathogenic glycosylation mutantswere expressed in Rat-1 cells and metabolically labelled with[6-³H] glucosamine. Following immunoprecipitation, primary andsecondary gene products (gp55, gp65) were separated by preparativepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Oligosaccharides were releasedfrom tryptic glycopeptides by treatment with endo-ß-N-acetylglucosaminidaseH (gp55), peptide-N⁴-(N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminyl)asparagineamidase F (gp65) or by reductive ß-elimination. Resultingglycans were characterized by cochromatography with authenticoligosaccharide standards using different HPLC systems and digestionwith exoglycosidases. The results revealed that the primaryenvelope gene products of pathogenic glycosylation mutants were,in part, further processed in Rat-1 cells similar to wild-typeglycoprotein, resulting in polypeptides carrying complex-typeN-glycans as well as partially sialylated O-linked oligosaccharides.In contrast, corresponding glycoproteins encoded by apathogenicmutants were found to remain at the level of the primary translationproduct exclusively comprising high-mannose-type N-glycans.Hence, intracellular maturation of the envelope gene productsin this model cell line seems to correlate with the in vivopathogenicityof the glycosylation mutants studied. carbohydrate structure glycoprotein murine leukaemia virus oligosaccharide processing SFFV     

Subcellular location of serum- and glucocorticoid-induced kinase-1 in renal and mammary epithelial cells

Serum- and glucocorticoid-induced kinase-1 (SGK1) is involved in aldosterone-induced Na⁺ reabsorption by increasing epithelial Na⁺ channel (ENaC) activity in cortical collecting duct (CCD) cells, but its exact mechanisms of action are unknown. Although several potential targets such as Nedd4-2 have been described in expression systems, endogenous substrates mediating SGK1's physiological effects remain to be identified. In addition, subcellular localization studies of SGK1 have provided controversial results. We determined the subcellular location of SGK1 using SGK1-autofluorescent protein (AFP) fusion proteins. Rabbit CCD (RCCT-28A) cells were transiently transfected with a construct encoding for SGK1-AFP and were stained or cotransfected with markers for various subcellular compartments. In live cells, transiently expressed SGK1-AFP clearly colocalized with the mitochondrial marker rhodamine 123. Similarly, SGK1-AFP colocalized with the mitochondrial marker MitoTracker when stably expressed using a retroviral system in either RCCT-28A cells or the mammary epithelial cell line MCF10A. To determine which region of SGK1 is responsible for this subcellular localization, we generated RCCT-28A cell lines stably expressing SGK1 mutants. The results indicate that the NH₂-terminal 60-amino acid region of SGK1 is necessary and sufficient for its subcellular localization. Localization of SGK1 to the mitochondria raises the possibility that SGK1 may play a role in regulating energy metabolism. mitochondria; localization     

VCP Phosphorylation-Dependent Interaction Partners Prevent Apoptosis in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Gastric Epithelial Cells

Previous studies have demonstrated that valosin-containing protein (VCP) is associated with H. pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis. By identifying the interactome of VCP overexpressed in AGS cells using a subtractive proteomics approach, we aimed to characterize the cellular responses mediated by VCP and its functional roles in H. pylori-associated gastric cancer. VCP immunoprecipitations followed by proteomic analysis identified 288 putative interacting proteins, 18 VCP-binding proteins belonged to the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. H. pylori infection increased the interaction between Akt and VCP, Akt-dependent phosphorylation of VCP, levels of ubiquitinated proteins, and aggresome formation in AGS cells. Furthermore, phosphorylated VCP co-localized with the aggresome, bound ubiquitinated proteins, and increased the degradation of cellular regulators to protect H. pylori-infected AGS cells from apoptosis. Our study demonstrates that VCP phosphorylation following H. pylori infection promotes both gastric epithelial cell survival, mediated by the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the degradation of cellular regulators. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of H. pylori infection induced gastric carcinogenesis.     

Histidine-rich protein Hpn from Helicobacter pylori forms amyloid-like fibrils in vitro and inhibits the proliferation of gastric epithelial AGS cells

Helicobacter pylori causes various gastric diseases, such as gastritis, peptic ulcerations, gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Hpn is a histidine-rich protein abundant in this bacterium and forms oligomers in physiologically relevant conditions. In this present study, Hpn oligomers were found to develop amyloid-like fibrils as confirmed by negative stain transition electron microscopy, thioflavin T and Congo red binding assays. The amyloid-like fibrils of Hpn inhibit the proliferation of gastric epithelial AGS cells through cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, which may be closely related to the disruption of mitochondrial bioenergetics as reflected by the significant depletion of intracellular ATP levels and the mitochondrial membrane potential. The collective data presented here shed some light on the pathologic mechanisms of H. pylori infections.