Interactions between the NO-Citrulline Cycle and Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells

The diffusible messenger NO plays multiple roles in neuroprotection, neurodegeneration, and brain plasticity. Argininosuccinate synthase (AS) is a ubiquitous enzyme in mammals and the key enzyme of the NO-citrulline cycle, because it provides the substrate l-arginine for subsequent NO synthesis by inducible, endothelial, and neuronal NO synthase (NOS). Here, we provide evidence for the participation of AS and of the NO-citrulline cycle in the progress of differentiation of neural stem cells (NSC) into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. AS expression and activity and neuronal NOS expression, as well as l-arginine and NO(x) production, increased along neural differentiation, whereas endothelial NOS expression was augmented in conditions of chronic NOS inhibition during differentiation, indicating that this NOS isoform is amenable to modulation by extracellular cues. AS and NOS inhibition caused a delay in the progress of neural differentiation, as suggested by the decreased percentage of terminally differentiated cells. On the other hand, BDNF reversed the delay of neural differentiation of NSC caused by inhibition of NO(x) production. A likely cause is the lack of NO, which up-regulated p75 neurotrophin receptor expression, a receptor required for BDNF-induced differentiation of NSC. We conclude that the NO-citrulline cycle acts together with BDNF for maintaining the progress of neural differentiation.     

点突变对高加索乳杆菌醇脱氢酶酶活的影响

从高加索乳杆菌基因组中克隆醇脱氢酶基因,构建重组表达菌后发现不同转化子具有不同的活性,测序结果表明在部分位点发生了点突变.结合生物信息学知识通过对醇脱氢酶结构与作用机理分析,认为在酶关键位点的变变对酶的活性影响较大,而非关键位点的突变对酶活的影响虽明显降低,但其突变的数目可能对酶活的影响呈现一定的累加效应.其中活性最高的重组菌表达了一个可将苯乙酮高选择对映还原成(S)-笨乙醇的醇脱氢酶,该研究结果为酶的定向进化研究提供了理论依据.     

Naive-like Conversion Overcomes the Limited Differentiation Capacity of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Although induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are indistinguishable from ES cells in their expression of pluripotent markers, their differentiation into targeted cells is often limited. Here, we examined whether the limited capacity of iPS cells to differentiate into neural lineage cells could be mitigated by improving their base-line level of pluripotency, i.e. by converting them into the so-called “naive” state. In this study, we used rabbit iPS and ES cells because of the easy availability of both cell types and their typical primed state characters. Repeated passages of the iPS cells permitted their differentiation into early neural cell types (neural stem cells, neurons, and glial astrocytes) with efficiencies similar to ES cells. However, unlike ES cells, their ability to differentiate later into neural cells (oligodendrocytes) was severely compromised. In contrast, after these iPS cells had been converted to a naive-like state, they readily differentiated into mature oligodendrocytes developing characteristic ramified branches, which could not be attained even with ES cells. These results suggest that the naive-like conversion of iPS cells might endow them with a higher differentiation capacity.     

Efficient Repeated Use of Alcohol Dehydrogenase with NAD + Regeneration in an Aqueous-organic Two-phase System

Bioconversion of cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde was carried out in an aqueous-organic two-phase reaction system by the repeated use of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH) and NAD + with coenzyme regeneration. Both HLADH and the coenzyme were efficiently entrapped in the aqueous phase, while the substrate was supplied successively from the organic phase and the product was accumulated in the organic phase. Optimum conditions for cinnamaldehyde production in the aqueous-organic two-phase system were also examined, including substrate concentration, pH, and organic solvent type. Under suitable conditions, both HLADH and NAD + in the aqueous-organic two-phase system could be reused, and NAD + cycling numbers of 3040 were obtained after repeated operation for 40 λh.     

Efficient Repeated Use of Alcohol Dehydrogenase with NAD + Regeneration in an Aqueous-organic Two-phase System

Bioconversion of cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde was carried out in an aqueous-organic two-phase reaction system by the repeated use of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH) and NAD + with coenzyme regeneration. Both HLADH and the coenzyme were efficiently entrapped in the aqueous phase, while the substrate was supplied successively from the organic phase and the product was accumulated in the organic phase. Optimum conditions for cinnamaldehyde production in the aqueous-organic two-phase system were also examined, including substrate concentration, pH, and organic solvent type. Under suitable conditions, both HLADH and NAD + in the aqueous-organic two-phase system could be reused, and NAD + cycling numbers of 3040 were obtained after repeated operation for 40 &#117 h.     

Resveratrol Inhibits the Proliferation of Neural Progenitor Cells and Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin and natural phenol that is present at relatively high concentrations in peanuts and red grapes and wine. Based upon studies of yeast and invertebrate models, it has been proposed that ingestion of resveratrol may also have anti-aging actions in mammals including humans. It has been suggested that resveratrol exerts its beneficial effects on health by activating the same cellular signaling pathways that are activated by dietary energy restriction (DR). Some studies have reported therapeutic actions of resveratrol in animal models of metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the effects of resveratrol on cell, tissue and organ function in healthy subjects are largely unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the potential effects of resveratrol on the proliferation and survival of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in culture, and in the hippocampus of healthy young adult mice. Resveratrol reduced the proliferation of cultured mouse multi-potent NPCs, and activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), in a concentration-dependent manner. Administration of resveratrol to mice (1–10 mg/kg) resulted in activation of AMPK, and reduced the proliferation and survival of NPCs in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Resveratrol down-regulated the levels of the phosphorylated form of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. Finally, resveratrol-treated mice exhibited deficits in hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory. Our findings suggest that resveratrol, unlike DR, adversely affects hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function by a mechanism involving activation of AMPK and suppression of CREB and BDNF signaling.     

Integration and Long Distance Axonal Regeneration in the Central Nervous System from Transplanted Primitive Neural Stem Cells

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in devastating motor and sensory deficits secondary to disrupted neuronal circuits and poor regenerative potential. Efforts to promote regeneration through cell extrinsic and intrinsic manipulations have met with limited success. Stem cells represent an as yet unrealized therapy in SCI. Recently, we identified novel culture methods to induce and maintain primitive neural stem cells (pNSCs) from human embryonic stem cells. We tested whether transplanted human pNSCs can integrate into the CNS of the developing chick neural tube and injured adult rat spinal cord. Following injection of pNSCs into the developing chick CNS, pNSCs integrated into the dorsal aspects of the neural tube, forming cell clusters that spontaneously differentiated into neurons. Furthermore, following transplantation of pNSCs into the lesioned rat spinal cord, grafted pNSCs survived, differentiated into neurons, and extended long distance axons through the scar tissue at the graft-host interface and into the host spinal cord to form terminal-like structures near host spinal neurons. Together, these findings suggest that pNSCs derived from human embryonic stem cells differentiate into neuronal cell types with the potential to extend axons that associate with circuits of the CNS and, more importantly, provide new insights into CNS integration and axonal regeneration, offering hope for repair in SCI.     

His-tagged Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase: Immobilization and application in the bio-based enantioselective synthesis of (S)-arylpropanols

The novel histidine-tagged Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase (His-HLADH-EE) was successfully purified and covalently immobilized onto a solid support in a one-step procedure through a metal-directed technique. A full characterization of the immobilized enzyme was carried out. Effects of pH, temperature and organic co-solvents were deeply investigated and they showed a shift in the optimum pH with respect to the free form as well as increased stability to temperature and solvents. The immobilized His-HLADH-EE proved to be effective as catalyst in the reduction of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. Application of the free and immobilized His-HLADH-EE to the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of (S)-Profenols demonstrated enhanced enantioselectivity and high reusability of the immobilized form. The achievement of a robust and effective immobilization of an alcohol dehydrogenase substantiated the use of biocatalytic reduction in the synthesis of primary alcohols and valuable chiral intermediates especially for pharmaceutical industries.     

Tyr-301 Phosphorylation Inhibits Pyruvate Dehydrogenase by Blocking Substrate Binding and Promotes the Warburg Effect

The mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) plays a crucial role in regulation of glucose homoeostasis in mammalian cells. PDC flux depends on catalytic activity of the most important enzyme component pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). PDH kinase inactivates PDC by phosphorylating PDH at specific serine residues, including Ser-293, whereas dephosphorylation of PDH by PDH phosphatase restores PDC activity. The current understanding suggests that Ser-293 phosphorylation of PDH impedes active site accessibility to its substrate pyruvate. Here, we report that phosphorylation of a tyrosine residue Tyr-301 also inhibits PDH α 1 (PDHA1) by blocking pyruvate binding through a novel mechanism in addition to Ser-293 phosphorylation. In addition, we found that multiple oncogenic tyrosine kinases directly phosphorylate PDHA1 at Tyr-301, and Tyr-301 phosphorylation of PDHA1 is common in EGF-stimulated cells as well as diverse human cancer cells and primary leukemia cells from human patients. Moreover, expression of a phosphorylation-deficient PDHA1 Y301F mutant in cancer cells resulted in increased oxidative phosphorylation, decreased cell proliferation under hypoxia, and reduced tumor growth in mice. Together, our findings suggest that phosphorylation at distinct serine and tyrosine residues inhibits PDHA1 through distinct mechanisms to impact active site accessibility, which act in concert to regulate PDC activity and promote the Warburg effect.     

Factors from Human Embryonic Stem Cell-derived Fibroblast-like Cells Promote Topology-dependent Hepatic Differentiation in Primate Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The future clinical use of embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based hepatocyte replacement therapy depends on the development of an efficient procedure for differentiation of hepatocytes from ESCs. Here we report that a high density of human ESC-derived fibroblast-like cells (hESdFs) supported the efficient generation of hepatocyte-like cells with functional and mature hepatic phenotypes from primate ESCs and human induced pluripotent stem cells. Molecular and immunocytochemistry analyses revealed that hESdFs caused a rapid loss of pluripotency and induced a sequential endoderm-to-hepatocyte differentiation in the central area of ESC colonies. Knockdown experiments demonstrated that pluripotent stem cells were directed toward endodermal and hepatic lineages by FGF2 and activin A secreted from hESdFs. Furthermore, we found that the central region of ESC colonies was essential for the hepatic endoderm-specific differentiation, because its removal caused a complete disruption of endodermal differentiation. In conclusion, we describe a novel in vitro differentiation model and show that hESdF-secreted factors act in concert with regional features of ESC colonies to induce robust hepatic endoderm differentiation in primate pluripotent stem cells.     

DEPTOR Is a Stemness Factor That Regulates Pluripotency of Embryonic Stem Cells

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates stem cell regeneration and differentiation in response to growth factors, nutrients, cellular energetics, and various extrinsic stressors. Inhibition of mTOR activity has been shown to enhance the regenerative potential of pluripotent stem cells. DEPTOR is the only known endogenous inhibitor of all known cellular mTOR functions. We show that DEPTOR plays a key role in maintaining stem cell pluripotency by limiting mTOR activity in undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ESCs). DEPTOR levels dramatically decrease with differentiation of mouse ESCs, and knockdown of DEPTOR is sufficient to promote ESC differentiation. A strong decrease in DEPTOR expression is also observed during human ESCs differentiation. Furthermore, reduction in DEPTOR level during differentiation is accompanied by a corresponding increase in mTOR complex 1 activity in mouse ESCs. Our data provide evidence that DEPTOR is a novel stemness factor that promotes pluripotency and self-renewal in ESCs by inhibiting mTOR signaling.     

低温胁迫对螺旋藻脱氢酶活性的影响

低温胁迫试验结果表明,处理的温度越低、天数越长,鄂尔多斯高原碱湖的钝顶螺旋藻S1、引进的钝顶螺旋藻S2和极大螺旋藻S3细胞内脱氢酶活性越低。在每一种处理下,脱氧酶活性高低的排列顺序均为S1〉S2〉S3。脱氢酶活性的Q10值变化范围排列为S1〈S2〈S3。S1的生理活动临界低温为5℃,S2和S3的为15℃。S1对低温有较强的适应性,为耐寒植物;S2和S3为冷敏感植物。     

Role of Cystatin C in Amyloid Precursor Protein-induced Proliferation of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is well studied for its role in Alzheimer disease. However, little is known about its normal function. In this study, we examined the role of APP in neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) proliferation. NSPCs derived from APP-overexpressing Tg2576 transgenic mice proliferated more rapidly than NSPCs from the corresponding background strain (C57Bl/6xSJL) wild-type mice. In contrast, NSPCs from APP knock-out (APP-KO) mice had reduced proliferation rates when compared with NSPCs from the corresponding background strain (C57Bl/6). A secreted factor, identified as cystatin C, was found to be responsible for this effect. Levels of cystatin C were higher in the Tg2576 conditioned medium and lower in the APP-KO conditioned medium. Furthermore, immunodepletion of cystatin C from the conditioned medium completely removed the ability of the conditioned medium to increase NSPC proliferation. The results demonstrate that APP expression stimulates NSPC proliferation and that this effect is mediated via an increase in cystatin C secretion.