Stabilization of pyruvate, pi dikinase regulatory protein in maize leaf extracts

The objective of this study was to determine the biochemical basis for genetic variability in pyruvate,Pi dikinase (PPDK) activity among inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.). Although in vitro PPDK activity varied more than 5-fold among eight maize inbreds, immunochemical determinations of the proportion of leaf soluble protein as PPDK revealed no significant differences among the inbreds. Genetic differences in the stability of PPDK activity in crude homogenates over 5 hours were not evident, but PPDK from some inbreds could not be activated in vitro. In vitro PPDK activation in crude homogenates could be restored by addition of casein (1% w/v) to homogenization media, and to a lesser extent, by gentle homogenization in a mortar. The major effect of casein appeared to be on processes other than proteolysis, as casein exerted its effects during tissue homogenization, rather than later. During homogenization, PPDK did not lose its ability to undergo in vitro activation; instead, it was instability of the regulatory protein responsible for PPDK activation that was the cause of the lack of PPDK activation in homogenates prepared without casein.     

Synthesis and uptake of cytoplasmically synthesized pyruvate, pi dikinase polypeptide by chloroplasts

Polyadenylated RNA was isolated from maize leaves and translated in vitro. In agreement with a previous report by others, we found among the translation products a 110-kilodalton pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) precursor that is about 16 kilodaltons larger than the polypeptide isolated from cells. This maize PPDK precursor polypeptide was taken up from the translation product mixture by intact spinach chloroplasts and yielded a mature PPDK polypeptide (94 kilodaltons). The uptake and processing support the proposal that the extra 16-kilodalton size of the polypeptide from in vitro translation of maize leaf mRNA represents a transit sequence which is cleaved after its entry into chloroplasts. Moreover, these results provide additional evidence that in vivo in maize leaf cells PPDK polypeptide is synthesized in the cytoplasm and is transported into the chloroplasts.

Location of PPDK in C₃ plant leaves was investigated by immunochemical analysis. Intact chloroplasts were isolated from leaves of spinach, wheat, and maize. A protein blot of stromal protein in each case gave rise to bands corresponding to authentic PPDK polypeptide. This result indicates that PPDK is present in chloroplasts of C₃ plant leaves as it is in the case of C₄ plants.

     

Cell-specific detection of microRNA expression during cardiomyogenesis by combined in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression by mediating translational repression or mRNA degradation of their targets, and several miRNAs control developmental decisions through embryogenesis. In the developing heart, miRNA targets comprise key players mediating cardiac lineage determination. However, although several miRNAs have been identified as differentially regulated during cardiac development and disease, their distinct cell-specific localization remains largely undetermined, likely owing to a lack of adequate methods. We therefore report the development of a markedly improved approach combining fluorescence-based miRNA-in situ hybridization (miRNA-ISH) with immunohistochemistry (IHC). We have applied this protocol to differentiating embryoid bodies (EBs) as well as embryonic and adult mouse hearts, to detect miRNAs that were upregulated during EB cardiomyogenesis, as determined by array-based miRNA expression profiling. In this manner, we found specific co-localization of miR-1 to myosin positive cells (cardiomyocytes) of EBs, developing and mature hearts. In contrast, miR-125b and -199a did not localize to cardiomyocytes, as previously suggested for miR-199a, but were rather expressed in connective tissue cells of the heart. More specifically, by co-staining with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen-I, we found that miR-125b and -199a localize to perivascular α-SMA⁻ stromal cells. Our approach thus proved valid for determining cell-specific localization of miRNAs, and the findings we present highlight the importance of determining exact cell-specific localization of miRNAs by sequential miRNA-ISH and IHC in studies aiming at understanding the role of miRNAs and their targets. This approach will hopefully aid in identifying relevant miRNA targets of both the heart and other organs.     

Partial characterization of the in vitro activation of inactive pyruvate, pi dikinase from darkened maize leaves

In vitro activation of dark-inactivated pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase extracted from maize (Zea mays L. cv. Golden Cross Bantam T51) leaves was examined. The inactive form of the enzyme and orthophosphate behaved kinetically as substrates for the reaction, which was catalyzed by an activating factor. This factor was bound by Blue Dextran Sepharose 4B and could be eluted by KCl at a concentration of 0.5m. The molecular weight of the maize leaf activating factor was about 88,000. Cibacron Blue 3G-A, a reactive moiety of Blue Dextran, inhibited the factor competitively with respect to the concentration of the inactive dikinase with a K(i) of 4.6 micromolar. Adenosine diphosphate and pyrophosphate were also found to be competitive inhibitors of activation, with respect to the inactive dikinase, giving K(i) values of 90 and 140 micromolar, respectively. Adenosine, other nucleotide diphosphates, and dinucleotides gave little or no inhibition of activation. These results suggest the association of a nucleotide, presumably nucleotide diphosphate, with the inactive form of pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase.     

Double labeling with non-isotopic in situ hybridization and BrdU immunohistochemistry: calmodulin (CaM) mRNA expression in post-mitotic neurons of the olfactory system.

We describe a novel histochemical procedure for simultaneous detection of mRNA expression by in situ hybridization (ISH) and DNA synthesis on cells that are pulse-labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) by immunohistochemistry (ICC). Pregnant rats were injected with BrdU at embryonic Day 20 and the olfactory bulbs of their pups were collected daily. The expression of calmodulin (CaM) mRNA was analyzed by ISH with an anti-sense digoxigenin-labeled riboprobe and BrdU incorporation by indirect ICC. Starting 5 days after BrdU injection, a few tufted and granular neurons of the olfactory bulb were observed to be double labeled for CaM mRNA and BrdU. To study the olfactory neuroepithelium, adult animals were injected with BrdU, sacrificed after 30 days, and the nasal mucosa dissected and decalcified. The co-expression of CaM mRNA and BrdU incorporation was then analyzed in the olfactory neuroepithelium: BrdU-positive primary olfactory neurons were also CaM mRNA positive. The combination of ISH and ICC on the same section resulted in improved BrdU staining with respect to both increased intensity and reduced background levels. The procedure described here can be applied to a variety of problems in developmental biology and is of potential value for correlating the timing of specific mRNA expression with the birth date of a cell type of interest.     

Molecular mechanisms underlying the differential expression of maize pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase genes.

I describe here the organization of maize C4 chloroplast and non-C4 cytosolic pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) genes and the molecular mechanisms underlying their differential expression. The maize C4 chloroplast PPDK gene (C4ppdkZm1) appears to have been created by the addition of an exon encoding the chloroplast transit peptide at a site upstream of a cytosolic PPDK gene (cyppdkZm1). A splice acceptor sequence located in the first exon of cyppdkZm1 allows the fusion of the transit peptide to the cyppdkZm1 sequences. A second cyPPDK gene (cyppdkZm2) shares extensive homology with cyppdkZm1 in the coding region and in the 5' flanking region up to the TATA box. By a novel protoplast transient expression method, I show that the light-inducible expression of C4ppdkZm1 is controlled by two expression programs mediated through separate upstream regulatory elements that are active in leaf, but inactive in root and stem. Light-mediated C4ppdkZm1 expression in maize is apparently uncoupled from leaf development and partially associated with chloroplast development. For cyppdkZm1 expression, distinct upstream elements and a specific TATA promoter element, located in the first intron of C4ppdkZm1, are required. The low expression of cyppdkZm2 can be attributed to an absence of upstream positive elements and weak activity of the TATA promoter element.     

Differential expression of c-fos mRNA in the rat neocortex by in situ hybridization

The c-fos mRNA expression pattern in rat neocortex, was determined in the rat kept in a 12:12 light/dark cycle, in constant dark, or in constant light by in situ hybridization. At the beginning of the light period, c-fos mRNA was induced both in the neocortex and suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Transiently increased c-fos mRNA expression was detected from 0830 to 0900 and soon declined to basal levels. Immediately prior to the beginning of the dark period, c-fos mRNA expression also increased and remained elevated in the neocortex following the dark period. In the constant dark group, c-fos mRNA expression showed no transient elevation at the beginning of the light period. On the other hand, c-fos mRNA expression in the constant light group increased during their subjective dark period as well as normal light/dark cycle. These results demonstrate a circadian pattern of c-fos mRNA expression in the neocortex which is similar to that observed previously in the inner and outer nuclear layers of the retina.     

Cell-specific expression of epithelial sodium channel alpha, beta, and gamma subunits in aldosterone-responsive epithelia from the rat: localization by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry

A highly selective, amiloride-sensitive, epithelial sodium channel from rat colon (rENaC), composed of three homologous subunits termed alpha, beta, and gamma rENaC, has been cloned by functional expression and was proposed to mediate electrogenic sodium reabsorption in aldosterone- responsive epithelia. To determine whether rENaC could account for sodium absorption in vivo, we studied the cellular localization of the sodium channel messenger RNA subunits by in situ hybridization and their cellular and subcellular distribution by immunocytochemistry in the kidney, colon, salivary, and sweat glands of the rat. In the kidney, we show that the three subunit mRNAs are specifically co- expressed in the renal distal convoluted tubules (DCT), connecting tubules (CNT), cortical collecting ducts (CCD), and outer medullary collecting ducts (OMCD), but not in the inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCD). We demonstrate co-localization of alpha, beta, and gamma subunit proteins in the apical membrane of a majority of cells of CCD and OMCD. Our data indicate that alpha, beta, and gamma subunit mRNAs and proteins are co-expressed in the distal nephron (excepting IMCD), a localization that correlates with the previously described physiological expression of amiloride-sensitive electrogenic sodium transport. Our data, however, suggest that another sodium transport protein mediates electrogenic amiloride-sensitive sodium reabsorption in IMCD. We also localized rENaC to the surface epithelial cells of the distal colon and to the secretory ducts of the salivary gland and sweat gland, providing further evidence consistent with the hypothesis that the highly selective, amiloride-sensitive sodium channel is physiologically expressed in aldosterone-responsive cells.     

The pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase regulatory proteins of Arabidopsis are both bifunctional and interact with the catalytic and nucleotide-binding domains of pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase

Pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) is a key enzyme in C(4) photosynthesis and is also found in C(3) plants. It is post-translationally modified by the PPDK regulatory protein (RP) that possesses both kinase and phosphotransferase activities. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of PPDK lead to inactivation and activation respectively. Arabidopsis thaliana contains two genes that encode chloroplastic (RP1) and cytosolic (RP2) isoforms of RP, and although RP1 has both kinase and phosphotransferase activities, to date RP2 has only been shown to act as a kinase. Here we demonstrate that RP2 is able to catalyse the dephosphorylation of PPDK, although at a slower rate than RP1 under the conditions of our assay. From yeast two-hybrid analysis we propose that RP1 binds to the central catalytic domain of PPDK, and that additional regions towards the carboxy and amino termini are required for a stable interaction between RP2 and PPDK. For 21 highly conserved amino acids in RP1, mutation of 15 of these reduced kinase and phosphotransferase activity, while mutation of six residues had no impact on either activity. We found no mutant in which only one activity was abolished. However, in some chimaeric fusions that comprised the amino and carboxy termini of RP1 and RP2 respectively, the kinase reaction was severely compromised but phosphotransferase activity remained unaffected. These findings are consistent with the findings that both RP1 and RP2 modulate reversibly the activity of PPDK, and possess one bifunctional active site or two separate sites in close proximity.     

Analysis of prion protein mRNA by in situ hybridization in brain and placenta of sheep

In this study, prion protein (PrP) mRNA was focally detected in brain and placenta of pregnant sheep by Northern blot analysis. In addition, host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) was observed in brain and placenta of the ruminant by Western blot analysis as well. Localization of PrP mRNA in pregnant sheep tissues was rendered possible with in situ hybridization. In sheep brain, PrP mRNA was predominantly localized within large neocortical neurons in the cerebrum, Purkinje cells and neurons of the molecular and granule cell layers in the cerebellum. In the placenta, signals were observed in the myometrium, including stratum longitudinale tunicae muscles and circular layers of muscular tunics. In the caruncle and placentome, signals were stronger by in situ hybridization. Since accumulation of the scrapie isoform PrP (PrP(Sc)) is required to PrP(C), these results suggest that brain and placenta of sheep may be important organs and sites for the conversion of PrP(C) to PrP(Sc).     

Localization of repetitive DNA in cereals byin situ hybridization: Cross hybridization among wheat,rye, barley,and oat

³H-RNA, complementary to repetitive DNA of wheat, rye, barley, and oat, was hybridizedin situ to root tip or pollen mother cells of the species mentioned. The cRNAs hybridized best with the DNA in cell nuclei of the species from which they were prepared. Cross hybridization with cells of the other related species resulted in a significant but diminished labelling. Wheat, rye, and barley hybridized better to each other than to oat, andvice versa, in agreement with the usual taxonomical classification. Over the interphase nuclei the label was distributed unevenly; not all regions of dense chromatin were labelled, and little label was found over the nucleoli. On chromosomes, the repetitive DNA was located somewhere along the chromosome arms or near the centromers in wheat, barley, and oat. Only in rye, most of the label was located near the telomers, probably over the large heterochromatin areas.     

Gene expression during CAM induction under salt stress in Mesembryanthemum: cDNA library and increased levels of mRNA for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate orthosphosphate dikinase

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum responds to high salinity in the soil by shifting the mode of carbon assimilation from the C3 mode to Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Several enzymes of carbon metabolism have increased apparent activities in the CAM mode, including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPcase) and pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK). We have identified cDNA clones for PEPcase and PPDK by immunological screening of a cDNA library constructed in the protein expression vector lambda gt11. The clones were characterized by immunoblotting and RNA blotting techniques. RNA blotting showed that during CAM induction the steady-state level of mRNAs for both PEP case and PPDK increased.Abbreviations IPTG isopropyl thiogalactoside - PEP phosphoenolpyruvate - PEPcase phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase - PPDK pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase - Xgal-5 bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside     

Cytosolic pyruvate,orthophosphate dikinase functions in nitrogen remobilization during leaf senescence and limits individual seed growth and nitrogen content

The protein content of seeds determines their nutritive value, downstream processing properties and market value. Up to 95% of seed protein is derived from amino acids that are exported to the seed after degradation of existing protein in leaves, but the pathways responsible for this nitrogen metabolism are poorly defined. The enzyme pyruvate,orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) interconverts pyruvate and phosphoenolpyruvate, and is found in both plastids and the cytosol in plants. PPDK plays a cardinal role in C₄ photosynthesis, but its role in the leaves of C₃ species has remained unclear. We demonstrate that both the cytosolic and chloroplastic isoforms of PPDK are up‐regulated in naturally senescing leaves. Cytosolic PPDK accumulates preferentially in the veins, while chloroplastic PPDK also accumulates in mesophyll cells. Analysis of microarrays and labelling patterns after feeding ¹³C‐labelled pyruvate indicated that PPDK functions in a pathway that generates the transport amino acid glutamine, which is then loaded into the phloem. In Arabidopsis thaliana, over‐expression of PPDK during senescence can significantly accelerate nitrogen remobilization from leaves, and thereby increase rosette growth rate and the weight and nitrogen content of seeds. This indicates an important role for cytosolic PPDK in the leaves of C₃ plants, and allows us to propose a metabolic pathway that is responsible for production of transport amino acids during natural leaf senescence. Given that increased seed size and nitrogen content are desirable agronomic traits, and that efficient remobilization of nitrogen within the plant reduces the demand for fertiliser applications, PPDK and the pathway in which it operates are targets for crop improvement.     

Cold lability of pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase in the maize leaf

Cold lability of pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase was investigated using a homogeneous, purified enzyme preparation from maize (Zea mays L. var. Golden Cross Bantam T51) leaves. Its stability was markedly reduced below about 10 C and the rate of cold inactivation followed first order kinetics at a concentration lower than about 0.1 milligram of enzyme per milliliter. Cold inactivation was little affected by pH in the range which gives good stability for the enzyme at warm temperatures and the enzyme activity was protected strongly by inclusion of substrates (pyruvate and phosphoenolpyruvate) and polyols such as sucrose, sorbitol, and glycerol. Loss of catalytic activity was accompanied by an apparent dissociation of a tetrameric form of the enzyme (9S form) into a new, more slowly sedimenting (5.1S) component. Inclusion of pyruvate at 4 mM in the cold-treated enzyme had no effect on the sedimentation value. A sharp change in activation energy of the dikinase-catalyzed reaction was observed near 12 C and its break point appears to be close to the generally accepted critical low temperature limit for the growth of maize plants.     

Differential expression of alpha-tubulin mRNA in rat cerebellum as revealed by in situ hybridization

Nucleotide sequence analysis of two rat alpha-tubulin cDNA clones showed a marked divergence in their 3'-untranslated regions. However, each of the alpha-tubulin isotypes shows a high interspecies homology in this region, when compared with an isotubulin sequence from human and Chinese hamster. In situ hybridization of rat cerebellum with alpha-tubulin cDNA revealed differential expression in various cell layers. The mitotically active cells in the external granular layer show the highest level of alpha-tubulin mRNA, while lower levels are observed in the migrating cells in the molecular layer and in the differentiating cells in the internal granular layer. Very low levels of the mRNA are observed in the prenatally differentiated Purkinje cells.