Effects of palmitoyl CoA and palmitoyl carnitine on the membrane potential and Mg2+ content of rat heart mitochondria

Palmitoyl CoA and palmitoyl carnitine added to rat heart mitochondria in amounts above 20 and 50 nmoles/mg protein, respectively, induced a fall in transmembrane potential and loss of endogenous Mg²⁺. The dissipation of membrane potential by low concentrations of palmitoyl CoA in the presence of C²⁺, but not that of high concentrations of palmitoyl CoA alone, was prevented by either ruthenium red, Cyclosporin A or Mg²⁺, but reversed only by Mg²⁺. The fall of membrane potential induced by palmitoyl carnitine was not prevented by any of these factors. It is suggested that the action of both palmitoyl CoA and palmitoyl carnitine at high concentrations is due to a non specific disruption of membrane architecture, while that of low concentrations of palmitoyl CoA in the presence of Ca²⁺ is associated specifically with energy dissipation due to Ca²⁺ cycling.Abbreviations LCACoA Long-Chain Acyl CoAs - LCAcar Long-Chain Acyl carnitines - Pcar Palmitoyl carnitine - PCoA Palmitoyl CoA - Transmembrane Potential     

Reversible activation/inactivation of the deacylation/acylation cycle in rat liver microsomes

Rat liver microsomes incorporate [¹⁴C]palmitoyl CoA into membrane phospholipids via the deacylation/acylation cycle. This activity is reversibly inactivated/activated by treatment of the microsomes with ATP, MgCl₂, and 105,000g supernatant or with 105,000g supernatant alone. These observations suggest that the acylation cycle is controlled by a mechanism involving phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. As the pool of lysolecithin in the membranes is not altered by conditions increasing incorporation of palmitoyl CoA into phospholipid, it is probable that the site of regulation of deacylation/acylation is at the acyltransferase rather than the phospholipase.     

Regulation of Acetyl CoA Carboxylase and Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase‐1 in Rat Adipocytes

Objective: Acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) is a key enzyme in energy balance. It controls the synthesis of malonyl‐CoA, an allosteric inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1 (CPT‐I). CPT‐I is the gatekeeper of free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation. To test the hypothesis that both enzymes play critical roles in regulation of FFA partitioning in adipocytes, we compared enzyme mRNA expression and specific activity from fed, fasted, and diabetic rats. Research Methods and Procedures: Direct effects of nutritional state, insulin, and FFAs on CPT‐I and ACC mRNA expression were assessed in adipocytes, liver, and cultured adipose tissue explants. We also determined FFA partitioning in adipocytes from donors exposed to different nutritional conditions. Results: CPT‐I mRNA and activity decreased in adipocytes but increased in liver in response to fasting. ACC mRNA and activity decreased in both adipocytes and liver during fasting. These changes were not caused directly by fasting‐associated changes in plasma insulin and FFA concentrations because insulin suppressed CPT‐I mRNA and did not affect ACC mRNA in vitro, whereas exogenous oleate had no effect on either. Despite the decrease in adipocyte CPT‐I mRNA and specific activity, CO₂ production from endogenous FFAs increased, suggesting increased FFA transport through CPT‐I for β‐oxidation. Discussion: Stimulation of FFA transport through CPT‐I occurs in both tissues, but CPT‐I mRNA and specific activity correlate with FFA transport in liver and not in adipocytes. We conclude that the mechanism responsible for increasing FFA oxidation in adipose tissue during fasting involves mainly allosteric regulation, whereas altered gene expression may play a central role in the liver.     

Thermal transitions in the structure of tubulin

The environment of aromatic aminoacids in the thermal transition of brain tubulin has been studied by several spectroscopic techniques (Fourth Derivative, Difference Absorption, Fluorescence and Circular Ditchroism), in order to study its denaturation. An irreversible, temperature-induced, structural transition was found at around 48°C. In order to establish the relative degree of hydrophobicity of tubulin aromatic residues, before and after the thermal transition, difference and fourth derivative absorption spectra at different temperatures were compared with spectra of tyrosine and tryptophan model compounds in different media. It was found that at high temperatures, tubulin acquires a partially denatured stable state, with a significant amount of residual structure still preserved. This state is characterized by a general increase of the exposure of tyrosine residues to the medium, while the environment of tryptophans becomes more hydrophobic. Offprint requests to: A. Mozo-Villarías     

Assembly and disassembly of brain tubulin is affected by high ammonia levels

Rats were fed a diet containing ammonium for up to 6 months. High ammonia levels were attained in brain. The amount of polymerized tubulin in microtubules increased, while the amount of free tubulin remained unchanged. Polymerization of tubulin from brain of ammonium fed rats (30 min, 37°C) was approximately 60% of control. Depolymerization of the microtubules was also affected and took approximately 3 times longer than in controls. These results indicate that both assembly and disassembly of tubulin in brain are impaired by high ammonia levels. Interestingly, the amount of microtubule-associated proteins was not affected.     

Mechanistic Basis of Plasmid-Specific DNA Binding of the F Plasmid Regulatory Protein,TraM

The conjugative transfer of bacterial F plasmids relies on TraM, a plasmid-encoded protein that recognizes multiple DNA sites to recruit the plasmid to the conjugative pore. In spite of the high degree of amino acid sequence conservation between TraM proteins, many of these proteins have markedly different DNA binding specificities that ensure the selective recruitment of a plasmid to its cognate pore. Here we present the structure of F TraM RHH (ribbon–helix–helix) domain bound to its sbmA site. The structure indicates that a pair of TraM tetramers cooperatively binds an underwound sbmA site containing 12 base pairs per turn. The sbmA is composed of 4 copies of a 5-base-pair motif, each of which is recognized by an RHH domain. The structure reveals that a single conservative amino acid difference in the RHH β-ribbon between F and pED208 TraM changes its specificity for its cognate 5-base-pair sequence motif. Specificity is also dictated by the positioning of 2-base-pair spacer elements within sbmA; in F sbmA, the spacers are positioned between motifs 1 and 2 and between motifs 3 and 4, whereas in pED208 sbmA, there is a single spacer between motifs 2 and 3. We also demonstrate that a pair of F TraM tetramers can cooperatively bind its sbmC site with an affinity similar to that of sbmA in spite of a lack of sequence similarity between these DNA elements. These results provide a basis for the prediction of the DNA binding properties of the family of TraM proteins.     

'Molten-globule state': a compact form of globular proteins with mobile side-chains

In rat lacrimal glands, Forskolin induces a dose-dependent [³H]protein release. This effect can be potentiated by papaverine. As for the other inducers whose effects on protein secretion are assumed to be cAMP-mediated, Forskolin secretion time course shows a latency. Isoproterenol decreases the Forskolin EC_5- at least 60--times. On the other hand, Forskolin enhances the efficacy of isoproterenol without affecting its potency. As a whole, the data collected show that isoproterenol-induced [³H]protein secretion in rat lacrimal glands involved adenylate cyclase activation by coupling with β-adrenergic receptors.     

Anti-cancer activity of m-carborane-containing trimethoxyphenyl derivatives through tubulin polymerization inhibition

m-Carborane-containing compound 1a was identified as a cell growth inhibitor from a random screening of a boron compound library. As 1a is a mixture of diastereomers due to the presence of two chiral carbons, we designed achiral derivatives 2–4 and studied the structure-activity relationships of the methoxy groups on the benzene ring. 3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzyl derivative 2a and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl derivative 3a showed more potent anti-cancer activity against the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-453 than lead compound 1a. Compound 3a inhibited tubulin polymerization in a dose-dependent manner.     

Chaperone-mediated inhibition of tubulin self-assembly

Molecular chaperones are known to play an important role in facilitating the proper folding of many newly synthesized proteins. Here, we have shown that chaperone proteins exhibit another unique property to inhibit tubulin self-assembly efficiently. Chaperones tested include alpha-crystallin from bovine eye lenses, HSP16.3, HSP70 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and alpha (s)-casein from milk. All of them inhibit polymerization in a dose-dependent manner independent of assembly inducers used. The critical concentration of MTP polymerization increases with increasing concentration of HSP16.3. Increase in chaperone concentration lowers the extent of polymerization and increases the lag time of self-assembly reaction. Although the addition of a chaperone at the early stage of elongation phase shows no effect on polymerization, the same concentration of chaperone inhibits polymerization completely when added before the initiation of polymerization. Bindings of HSP16.3 and alpha (s)-casein to tubulin have been confirmed using isothermal titration calorimetry. Affinity constants of tubulin are 5.3 xx 10(4) and 9.8 xx 10(5) M(-1) for HSP16.3 and alpha (s)-casein, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters indicate favourable entropy and enthalpy changes for both chaperones-tubulin interactions. Positive entropy change suggests that the interaction is hydrophobic in nature and desolvation occurring during formation of tubulin-chaperone complex. On the basis of thermodynamic data and observations made upon addition of chaperone at early elongation phase or before the initiation of polymerization, we hypothesize that chaperones bind tubulin at the protein-protein interaction site involved in the nucleation phase of self-assembly.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of podophyllotoxin congeners as tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A series of new podophyllotoxin derivatives containing structural modifications at C-7, C-8, and C-9 were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines. All the synthesized compounds showed significant growth inhibition with GI₅₀ values in micromolar levels while some of the compounds were several times more potent against MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines than MIAPACA cell line. Three compounds (12a, 12d and 12e) emerged as potent compounds with broad spectrum of cytotoxic activity against all the tested cell lines with GI₅₀ values in the range of 0.01–2.1 μM. These compounds induce microtubule depolymerization and arrests cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Moreover, compounds 12d and 12e disrupted microtubule network and accumulated tubulin in the soluble fraction in a similar manner to their parent podophyllotoxin scaffold. In addition, structure activity relationship studies within the series were also discussed. Molecular docking studies of these compounds into the colchicine-binding site of tubulin, revealed possible mode of inhibition by these compounds.     

Anti-tumor activity evaluation of novel tubulin and HDAC dual-targeting inhibitors

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) have proven to be promising targets for the development of anti-cancer drugs. In this study, we reported a series of novel chalcone based tubulin and HDAC dual-targeting inhibitors. Three compounds inhibited the activities of HDAC and tubulin polymerization simultaneously and displayed anti-proliferative activities toward eleven human tumor cell lines. Compound 8a remarkably induced growth inhibition, apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest of A549 tumor cells. Finally, the inhibitory activities of 8a against HDAC6 and tubulin were rationalized by molecular docking studies.     

康氏木霉中调控纤维素酶形成的两个调控因子的克隆及功能性分析

锌指蛋白ACEI和Xyrl是里氏木霉中调控纤维素酶和木聚糖酶形成的两个调控因子,它们能竞争性结合木聚糖酶基因xynl的启动子.为进一步研究ACEI和Xyr1调控纤维素酶基因表达的机制,本研究利用PCR技术扩增康氏木霉ACEI和Xyr1 DNA结合区的基因序列,并使其在大肠杆菌中得到表达.凝胶迁移率移动试验表明ACEI和Xyrl的DNA结合区均可与纤维素酶基因cbh1启动子的287 bp序列特异性结合.提示ACEI与Xyr1不仅能竞争性结合xynl启动子,也能竞争性结合cbhl启动子.     

Discovery and optimization of 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl substituted triazolylthioacetamides as potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors

Based on our previous research, three series of new triazolylthioacetamides possessing 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl moiety were synthesized, and evaluated for antiproliferative activities and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. The most promising compounds 8b and 8j demonstrated more significant antiproliferative activities against MCF-7, HeLa, and HT-29 cell lines than our lead compound 6. Moreover, analogues 8f, 8j, and 8o manifested more potent antiproliferative activities against HeLa cell line with IC₅₀ values of 0.04, 0.05 and 0.16?μM, respectively, representing 100-, 82-, and 25-fold improvements of the activity compared to compound 6. Furthermore, the representative compound, 8j, was found to induce significant cell cycle arrest at the G₂/M phase in HeLa cell lines via a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, compound 8b exhibited the most potent tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 5.9?μM, which was almost as active as that of CA-4 (IC₅₀?=?4.2?μM). Additionally, molecular docking analysis suggested that 8b formed stable interactions in the colchicine-binding site of tubulin.     

Zif268的锌指DNA结合区在大肠杆菌中的功能性表达

锌指蛋白是最大的蛋白家族,是识别核酸最常见的、最有效的结构元件。通过选择合适的表达载体及诱导表达条件,实现了小鼠转录因子Zif268的锌指DNA结合区在大肠杆菌中的部分可溶性表达。凝胶迁移率移动试验证实纯化的可溶部分锌指DNA结合区可以特异性识别、结合其天然靶序列,提示锌指DNA结合区在大肠杆菌中得到了功能性表达。锌指DNA结合区在大肠杆菌中的功能性表达成功为锌指蛋白DNA相互作用的胞内遗传筛选模型的建立奠定了基础。     

Evaluation of 4-phenylamino-substituted naphthalene-1,2-diones as tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A series of 4-phenylamino-substituted naphthalene-1,2-dione derivatives were prepared and evaluated as effective antiproliferative agents. MTT assays showed that the compounds with a methyl group on the nitrogen linker exhibited potent antiproliferative activities against human cancer cells. The mechanistic study revealed that these compounds could induce mitochondrial depolarization, which resulted in intracellular ROS production, and they also acted as tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Moreover, the typical compound could arrest A549 cells in the G2/M phase, resulting in cellular apoptosis and induced mitotic arrest in A549 cells through disrupting microtubule dynamics.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-aza-2,3-dihydropyridophenanthrolines as tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A series of novel 4-aza-2,3-dihydropyridophenanthrolines 12(a–t) were synthesized by a one-step three component condensation of 1,10-phenanthroline amine, tetronic acid and various aromatic aldehydes. These were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three human cancer cell lines (MIAPACA, MCF-7 and HeLa) using SRB assay. Majority of the tested compounds exhibited significant anticancer activity on these cell lines and interestingly compounds 12h and 12i were more potent than etoposide and podophyllotoxin against all three tested cancer cell lines with GI₅₀ values in the range of 0.01–0.5 μM. Furthermore, these compounds showed significant inhibition of tubulin polymerization which is comparable to that of podophyllotoxin and disrupted microtubule network by accumulating tubulin in the soluble fraction. The flow cytometry analysis confirmed that the synthesized compounds led to cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Moreover, the structure activity relationship studies in this series are also discussed.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of novel indole-based oxalamide and aminoacetamide derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A series of novel indole-based oxalamide and aminoacetamide derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for antiproliferative activities. Preliminary results revealed that compound 8g exhibited significant antiproliferative effect against PC-3, HeLa and HCT-116 cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle demonstrated the compound 8g induced the cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in HeLa cell lines. Immunocytochemistry revealed loss of intact microtubule structure in cells treated with 8g and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. Additionally, molecular docking analysis suggested that 8g formed stable interactions in the colchicine-binding site of tubulin. These preliminary results demonstrated that a new class of novel indole-based oxalamide and aminoacetamide derivatives described in the investigation could be developed as potential scaffolds to new anticancer agents.     

Studies of helix fraying and solvation using 13C' isotopomers

Both NMR and IR studies of carbonyl (13C') isotopomers of designed helices can provide residue-level details regarding the fractional occurrence and melting behavior of helical phi/psi angles along the sequence of helical peptides, details that cannot be obtained from CD or 1H-NMR studies. We have studied a classic series of helical models, Ac-YGG-(KAXAA)3K-NH2 (X=A,V), in both aqueous and helix-favoring media containing fluoroalcohol cosolvents, including a solvent system allowing the observation of cold denaturation. These studies confirmed the strong N-capping associated with this sequence and revealed more extensive C-terminal fraying than that calculated using current helicity prediction algorithms. In the X=A series, the central residues are somewhat resistant to thermal melting; it instead occurs predominantly at the frayable C terminus. For the X=V series under cold-denaturing conditions, the temperature of maximal helicity is not uniform along the sequence and both solvated and nonsolvated helical alanine sites (13C=O stretches at 1592 cm(-1) and 1615 cm(-1), respectively) are apparent. Correlation between the two spectroscopies employed yielded the intriguing observation that the valine side chain is able to desolvate the i - 4 amide in short monomeric helices. In addition, we report further measurements of the temperature dependence of alanine statistical coil chemical shifts, the temperature dependence of the 13C chemical shift of urea (employed as chemical shift reference), and a useful formula for converting 13C' shifts into fractional helicities.     

Assessment of small ligand-protein interactions by electrophoretic mobility shift assay using DNA-modified ligand as a sensing probe

The interaction between a small ligand and a protein were assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. A sensing probe was created by modifying the model ligand, biotin, with DNA. The complex of DNA-modified ligand and anti-biotin antibody or streptavidin as a target protein was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The band corresponding to the DNA-modified ligand was shifted in the presence of the target protein, and the intensities of the shifted bands were decreased by adding increasing concentrations of free ligand ranging from 0.1 μM to 100 μM. From this calibration the concentration of ligand in the samples could be determined, allowing for evaluation of the interaction between a small ligand and its target.