Chaperone-assisted Post-translational Transport of Plastidic Type I Signal Peptidase 1

Type I signal peptidase (SPase I) is an integral membrane Ser/Lys protease with one or two transmembrane domains (TMDs), cleaving transport signals off translocated precursor proteins. The catalytic domain of SPase I folds to form a hydrophobic surface and inserts into the lipid bilayers at the trans-side of the membrane. In bacteria, SPase I is targeted co-translationally, and the catalytic domain remains unfolded until it reaches the periplasm. By contrast, SPases I in eukaryotes are targeted post-translationally, requiring an alternative strategy to prevent premature folding. Here we demonstrate that two distinct stromal components are involved in post-translational transport of plastidic SPase I 1 (Plsp1) from Arabidopsis thaliana, which contains a single TMD. During import into isolated chloroplasts, Plsp1 was targeted to the membrane via a soluble intermediate in an ATP hydrolysis-dependent manner. Insertion of Plsp1 into isolated chloroplast membranes, by contrast, was found to occur by two distinct mechanisms. The first mechanism requires ATP hydrolysis and the protein conducting channel cpSecY1 and was strongly enhanced by exogenously added cpSecA1. The second mechanism was independent of nucleoside triphosphates and proteinaceous components but with a high frequency of mis-orientation. This unassisted insertion was inhibited by urea and stroma extract. During import-chase assays using intact chloroplasts, Plsp1 was incorporated into a soluble 700-kDa complex that co-migrated with the Cpn60 complex before inserting into the membrane. The TMD within Plsp1 was required for the cpSecA1-dependent insertion but was dispensable for association with the 700-kDa complex and also for unassisted membrane insertion. These results indicate cooperation of Cpn60 and cpSecA1 for proper membrane insertion of Plsp1 by cpSecY1.     

Type I Interferon Controls Propagation of Long Interspersed Element-1

Type I interferons (IFN) including IFNα and IFNβ are critical for the cellular defense against viruses. Here we report that increased levels of IFNβ were found in testes from mice deficient in MOV10L1, a germ cell-specific RNA helicase that plays a key role in limiting the propagation of retrotransposons including Long Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1). Additional experiments revealed that activation of LINE-1 retrotransposons increases the expression of IFNβ and of IFN-stimulated genes. Conversely, pretreatment of cells with IFN suppressed the replication of LINE-1. Furthermore, the efficacy of LINE-1 replication was increased in isogenic cell lines harboring inactivating mutations in diverse elements of the IFN signaling pathway. Knockdown of the IFN receptor chain IFNAR1 also stimulated LINE-1 propagation in vitro. Finally, a greater accumulation of LINE-1 was found in mice that lack IFNAR1 compared with wild type mice. We propose that LINE-1-induced IFN plays an important role in restricting LINE-1 propagation and discuss the putative role of IFN in preserving the genome stability.     

Type I IL-1 receptor blockade exacerbates murine listeriosis.

It was found that IL-1 is produced in livers and spleens of mice shortly after the i.v. injection of a sublethal or lethal Listeria monocytogenes inoculum. In sublethally infected mice, IL-1 was present in infected livers and spleens by the end of the first day of infection. Thereafter, the amounts of IL-1 in these organs increased and decreased in concordance with bacterial numbers. IL-1 was not present in the peripheral circulation of mice during sublethal listeriosis, but was present in the blood late in lethal infection. Evidence showing that IL-1 plays a role in antibacterial resistance early in listeriosis was obtained through the use of 35F5 mAb that binds to the murine type I IL-1R and functions to block IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta actions. Blockade of the type I IL-1R by the 35F5 mAb results in greatly enhanced bacterial growth in the livers and spleens of mice that had received a sublethal Listeria inoculum. Consistent with the exacerbation of listeriosis caused by 35F5 mAb, but in contrast to the effect of 35F5 mAb in other murine models, 35F5 mAb-treated mice exhibit markedly elevated levels of IL-6 in their circulation and infected organs.     

Immunohistochemical Video-microdensitometry of Myocardial Collagen Type I and Type III

Collagen is an essential part of the cardiac interstitium. Collagen subtypes, their location, total amount and the architecture of the fibrillar network are of functional importance. Architecture in terms of density of the fibrillar network is assumed to be reflected by the intensity of immunohistochemical staining of collagen. The aim of this study was to evaluate a video-based microdensitometric method for quantifying density expressed as absorbance of collagen subtypes I and III stained with an indirect immunoperoxidase method in myectomy specimens of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Various factors influencing the immunohistochemical staining product and the technical properties of the image analysis system were investigated. Linearity between collagen concentration and the absorbance of the immunohistochemical staining product was demonstrated for collagen I using a dot-blot technique. Immunohistochemical collagen staining and density measure ment were easily reproducible. The cardiac disability of the patients was assessed according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria. There was a significant increase in collagen type I density with higher NYHA class, whereas no significant association was found for total collagen area fraction. Thus, video-based microdensitometry gives further insight into the structural remodelling of myocardial collagens and reveals their significance in the process of heart failure in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.     

一个I型神经纤维瘤病家系的基因突变分析

目的：I型神经纤维瘤病是一种常见的常染色体显性遗传病,主要累及皮肤和神经系统。其临床表现多样,主要以”咖啡牛奶斑”、皮肤神经纤维瘤、虹膜Lisch结节、腋窝和腹股沟斑点为特征,I型神经纤维瘤病由NF1基因突变所致,神经纤维瘤蛋白是NFI基因编码蛋白,是一种肿瘤抑制蛋白,可抑制细胞的过度生长。NF1基因突变不仅可导致细胞过度生长,还可增加良性及恶性肿瘤的发生风险。本研究中,我们通过基因突变分析,确定中国东北地区一个伴有先天性白内障的I型神经纤维瘤家系NF1基因的突变位点。方法：通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）和NF1基因直接测序分析对家系中的3名患者及2名健康成员进行基因突变检测,以确定其突变位点。结果：此家系呈常染色体显性遗传。通过基因序列分析发现NF1基因第1140密码子第二个碱基呈杂合子点突变C—G,导致一个无义突变S1140X,家系中健康成员和正常对照未检测到此突变存在。结论：通过NF1基因测序分析,我们发现NF1基因的S1140X突变是引起该家系NF1疾病的致病原因,该突变导致NF1基因终止密码提前,神经纤维瘤素蛋白截短。本研究丰富了我国关于I型神经纤维瘤病在眼科的临床表现。     

Comparison of Coding Capabilities of Type I and Type II Neurons

We consider the dependence of information transfer by neurons on the Type I vs. Type II classification of their dynamics. Our computational study is based on Type I and II implementations of the Morris-Lecar model. It mainly concerns neurons, such as those in the auditory or electrosensory system, which encode band-limited amplitude modulations of a periodic carrier signal, and which fire at random cycles yet preferred phases of this carrier. We first show that the Morris-Lecar model with additive broadband noise ("synaptic noise") can exhibit such firing patterns with either Type I or II dynamics, with or without amplitude modulations of the carrier. We then compare the encoding of band-limited random amplitude modulations for both dynamical types. The comparison relies on a parameter calibration that closely matches firing rates for both models across a range of parameters. In the absence of synaptic noise, Type I performs slightly better than Type II, and its performance is optimal for perithreshold signals. However, Type II performs well over a slightly larger range of inputs, and this range lies mostly in the subthreshold region. Further, Type II performs marginally better than Type I when synaptic noise, which yields more realistic baseline firing patterns, is present in both models. These results are discussed in terms of the tuning and phase locking properties of the models with deterministic and stochastic inputs.     

Toll-like receptors and Type I interferons

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key molecules of the innate immune systems, which detect conserved structures found in a broad range of pathogens and trigger innate immune responses. A subset of TLRs recognizes viral components and induces antiviral responses. Whereas TLR4 recognizes viral components at the cell surface, TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 recognize viral nucleic acids on endosomal membrane. After ligand recognition, these members activate their intrinsic signaling pathways and induce type I interferon. In this review, we discuss the recent findings of the viral recognition by TLRs and their signaling pathways.     

Type I burst excitability

We introduce the concept of type I burst excitability, which is a generalization of the normal excitability that is well-known in cardiac and neural systems. We demonstrate this type of burst excitability in a specific model system, a pyramidal cell from the electrosensory lateral line lobe of the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus. As depolarizing current is increased, a saddle-node bifurcation of periodic orbits occurs, which separates tonic and burst activity. This bifurcation is responsible for the excitable nature of the system, and is the basis for the type I designation. We verify the existence of this transition from in vitro recordings of a number of actual pyramidal cells. A scaling relationship between the magnitude and duration of a current pulse required to induce a burst is derived. We also observe this type of burst excitability and the scaling relationships in a multicompartmental model that is driven by realistic stochastic synaptic inputs mimicking sensory input. We conclude by discussing the relevance of burst excitability to communication between weakly electric fish.     

鼠Ⅰ型可溶性白细胞介素1受体基因在昆虫细胞的克隆和表达

白细胞介素１（ＩＬ－１）是一种重要的细胞因子,具有广泛的生物学活性。它通过与细胞表面的白细胞介素 １受体（ＩＬ－１Ｒ）结合而起作用。以杆状病毒为载体在昆虫细胞中克隆表达了小鼠Ｉ型可溶性白细胞介素１受体（ｓＩＬ－１　ＲＩ）基因。以ＮＩＨ／３Ｔ３细胞ＲＮＡ为模板,采用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法扩增得到小鼠ｓＩＬ－ＩＲＩ的ｃＤＮＡ,克隆至杆状病毒转移载体ｐＡｃＧＰ６７Ｂ,将转移重组质粒与野生病毒ＡＣＮＰＶ ＤＮＡ共转染昆虫细胞Ｓｆ９,经同源重组得到重组杆状病毒ｒＡＣＮＰＶ。应用经纯化的ｒＡｃＮＰＶ感染昆虫细胞Ｓｆ９,表达获得重组的ｓＩＬ－１ＲＩ。经对亲和层析样品的ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分析和对ＩＬ－１β生物活性阻断作用实验证实,表达产物能够与其配基结合,并且能够分泌至细胞培养上清中。     

SRSF1 Facilitates Cytosolic DNA-Induced Production of Type I Interferons Recognized by RIG-I

BackgroundEvidence has shown that psoriasis is closely associated with infection; however, the mechanism of this association remains unclear. In mammalian cells, viral or bacterial infection is accompanied by the release of cytosolic DNA, which in turn triggers the production of type-I interferons (IFNs). Type I IFNs and their associated genes are significantly upregulated in psoriatic lesions. RIG-I is also highly upregulated in psoriatic lesions and is responsible for IFN production. However, RIG-I mediated regulatory signaling in psoriasis is poorly understood.MethodsWe screened a cDNA library and identified potential RIG-I interacting partners that may play a role in psoriasis.ResultsWe found that serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) could specifically interact with RIG-I to facilitate RIG-I mediated production of type-I IFN that is triggered by cytosolic DNA. We found SRSF1 associates with RNA polymerase III and RIG-I in a DNA-dependent manner. In addition, treatment with a TNFα inhibitor downregulated SRSF1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from psoriasis vulgaris patients.DiscussionBased on the abundance of pathogenic cytosolic DNA that is detected in psoriatic lesions, our finding that RIG-I interacts with SRSF1 to regulate type-I IFN production reveals a critical link regarding how cytosolic DNA specifically activates aberrant IFN expression. These data may provide new therapeutic targets for the treatment of psoriasis.     

Constitutively Active MAVS Inhibits HIV-1 Replication via Type I Interferon Secretion and Induction of HIV-1 Restriction Factors

Type I interferon is known to inhibit HIV-1 replication through the induction of interferon stimulated genes (ISG), including a number of HIV-1 restriction factors. To better understand interferon-mediated HIV-1 restriction, we constructed a constitutively active form of the RIG-I adapter protein MAVS. Constitutive MAVS was generated by fusion of full length MAVS to a truncated form of the Epstein Barr virus protein LMP1 (ΔLMP1). Supernatant from ΔLMP1-MAVS-transfected 293T cells contained high levels of type I interferons and inhibited HIV replication in both TZM-bl and primary human CD4+ T cells. Supernatant from ΔLMP1-MAVS-transfected 293T cells also inhibited replication of VSV-G pseudotyped single cycle SIV in TZM-bl cells, suggesting restriction was post-entry and common to both HIV and SIV. Gene array analysis of ΔLMP1-MAVS-transfected 293T cells and trans-activated CD4+ T cells showed significant upregulation of ISG, including previously characterized HIV restriction factors Viperin, Tetherin, MxB, and ISG56. Interferon blockade studies implicated interferon-beta in this response. In addition to direct viral inhibition, ΔLMP1-MAVS markedly enhanced secretion of IFN-β and IL-12p70 by dendritic cells and the activation and maturation of dendritic cells. Based on this immunostimulatory activity, an adenoviral vector (Ad5) expressing ΔLMP1-MAVS was tested as a molecular adjuvant in an HIV vaccine mouse model. Ad5-Gag antigen combined with Ad5-ΔLMP1-MAVS enhanced control of vaccinia-gag replication in a mouse challenge model, with 4/5 animals showing undetectable virus following challenge. Overall, ΔLMP1-MAVS is a promising reagent to inhibit HIV-1 replication in infected tissues and enhance vaccine-mediated immune responses, while avoiding toxicity associated with systemic type I interferon administration.     

Posttranslational Modifications in Type I Collagen from Different Tissues Extracted from Wild Type and Prolyl 3-Hydroxylase 1 Null Mice

Type I collagen extracted from tendon, skin, and bone of wild type and prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1 (P3H1) null mice shows distinct patterns of 3-hydroxylation and glycosylation of hydroxylysine residues. The A1 site (Pro-986) in the α1-chain of type I collagen is almost completely 3-hydroxylated in every tissue of the wild type mice. In contrast, no 3-hydroxylation of this proline residue was found in P3H1 null mice. Partial 3-hydroxylation of the A3 site (Pro-707) was present in tendon and bone, but absent in skin in both α-chains of the wild type animals. Type I collagen extracted from bone of P3H1 null mice shows a large reduction in 3-hydroxylation of the A3 site in both α-chains, whereas type I collagen extracted from tendon of P3H1 null mice shows little difference as compared with wild type. These results demonstrate that the A1 site in type I collagen is exclusively 3-hydroxylated by P3H1, and presumably, this enzyme is required for the 3-hydroxylation of the A3 site of both α-chains in bone but not in tendon. The increase in glycosylation of hydroxylysine in P3H1 null mice in bone was found to be due to an increased occupancy of normally glycosylated sites. Despite the severe disorganization of collagen fibrils in adult tissues, the D-period of the fibrils is unchanged. Tendon fibrils of newborn P3H1 null mice are well organized with only a slight increase in diameter. The absence of 3-hydroxyproline and/or the increased glycosylation of hydroxylysine in type I collagen disturbs the lateral growth of the fibrils.