Altered secretion of kidney lysosomal enzymes in the mouse pigment mutants ruby-eye,ruby-eye-2-J,and maroon

Melanosomes and lysosomes share structural and biosynthetic properties. Three mouse pigment mutants, ruby-eye, ruby-eye-2-J, and maroon, have abnormally high concentrations of kidney lysosomal enzymes. Concentrations of kidney nonlysosomal enzymes and of liver and serum lysosomal enzymes are normal. By light microscopy the mutants have normal kidney lysosome morphology. It does not appear that the mutant genes cause an increased rate of production of lysosomes since the increased kidney -glucuronidase concentration is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in rate of synthesis. The common defect in all mutants is a decreased rate of secretion of lysosomal enzymes from kidney into urine. Eight mouse pigment mutants are now known which affect both melanosome and lysosome function. They should serve as useful models for the study of the biogenesis, structure, and processing of these and other subcellular organelles.This work was supported in part by United States Public Health Service Research Grant GM-19521 and by National Science Foundation Grant PCM77-24804. E. K. N. was supported in part by United States Public Health Service Grant GM07093-03. F. W. was a high school student in the summer program supported by National Science Foundation Grant SP177-26980.     

Analysis of cytosolic and plastidic serine acetyltransferase mutants and subcellular metabolite distributions suggests interplay of the cellular compartments for cysteine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

In plants, the enzymes for cysteine synthesis serine acetyltransferase (SAT) and O-acetylserine-(thiol)-lyase (OASTL) are present in the cytosol, plastids and mitochondria. However, it is still not clearly resolved to what extent the different compartments are involved in cysteine biosynthesis and how compartmentation influences the regulation of this biosynthetic pathway. To address these questions, we analysed Arabidopsis thaliana T-DNA insertion mutants for cytosolic and plastidic SAT isoforms. In addition, the subcellular distribution of enzyme activities and metabolite concentrations implicated in cysteine and glutathione biosynthesis were revealed by non-aqueous fractionation (NAF). We demonstrate that cytosolic SERAT1.1 and plastidic SERAT2.1 do not contribute to cysteine biosynthesis to a major extent, but may function to overcome transport limitations of O-acetylserine (OAS) from mitochondria. Substantiated by predominantly cytosolic cysteine pools, considerable amounts of sulphide and presence of OAS in the cytosol, our results suggest that the cytosol is the principal site for cysteine biosynthesis. Subcellular metabolite analysis further indicated efficient transport of cysteine, γ -glutamylcysteine and glutathione between the compartments. With respect to regulation of cysteine biosynthesis, estimation of subcellular OAS and sulphide concentrations established that OAS is limiting for cysteine biosynthesis and that SAT is mainly present bound in the cysteine–synthase complex.     

异胡豆苷合成酶在烟草亚细胞区室的表达

异胡豆苷合成酶(strictosidine synthase,STR)是吲哚生物碱生物合成的一种关键酶,将色胺(tryptamine)和裂环马钱子(secologanin)耦合成为吲哚生物碱的前体化合物异胡豆苷.将异胡豆苷合成酶标定在烟草植物不同的亚细胞区室--叶绿体、液泡和内质网中表达,通过蛋白免疫印迹分析和STR酶活性的测定,表明STR在叶绿体、液泡和内质网中有效表达.STR体外酶活性分析采用间接荧光法检测色胺在反应体系的消耗.STR的酶活性分析表明了STR在烟草中不同的亚细胞区室得以活性表达.分离纯化转基因烟草的叶绿体,通过对其分离的不同部分的蛋白免疫印迹分析,确定了将STR正确标定在烟草的叶绿体中表达.     

异胡豆苷合成酶在烟草亚细胞区室的表达(英)

异胡豆苷合成酶 (strictosidinesynthase,STR)是吲哚生物碱生物合成的一种关键酶 ,将色胺 (tryptamine)和裂环马钱子 (secologanin)耦合成为吲哚生物碱的前体化合物异胡豆苷。将异胡豆苷合成酶标定在烟草植物不同的亚细胞区室———叶绿体、液泡和内质网中表达 ,通过蛋白免疫印迹分析和STR酶活性的测定 ,表明STR在叶绿体、液泡和内质网中有效表达。STR体外酶活性分析采用间接荧光法检测色胺在反应体系的消耗。STR的酶活性分析表明了STR在烟草中不同的亚细胞区室得以活性表达。分离纯化转基因烟草的叶绿体 ,通过对其分离的不同部分的蛋白免疫印迹分析 ,确定了将STR正确标定在烟草的叶绿体中表达。     

重组色氨酸脱羧酶在烟草不同亚细胞区室的表达

将萜烯类吲哚生物碱代谢关键酶———色氨酸脱羧酶 (TDC)的编码基因转到烟草 (NicotianatabacumL .)植物体内 ,标定在不同的亚细胞区室表达。通过蛋白免疫印迹法和色胺在植物体内的累积量测定分析 ,对转基因植物进行筛选。结果表明 ,TDC在叶绿体和胞液中高效表达 ,TDC在叶绿体中的表达水平最高 ,高于在胞液中的表达 ,在内质网和液泡中表达水平很低 ,用蛋白免疫印迹法未检出。     

重组色氨酸脱羧酶在烟草不同亚细胞区室的表达

将萜烯类吲哚生物碱代谢关键酶--色氨酸脱羧酶（TDC）的编码基因转到烟草（Nicotiana tabacum L.)植物体内，标定在不同的亚细胞区室表达。通过蛋白免疫印迹法和色胺在植物体内的累积量测定分析，对转基因植物进行筛选。结果表明，TDC在叶绿体和胞液中高效表达，TDC在叶绿体中的表达水平最高，高于在胞液中的表达，在内质网和液泡中表达水平很低，用蛋白免疫印迹法未检出。     

In the Beginning,There Was Protein Phosphorylation

The importance of reversible protein phosphorylation to cellular regulation cannot be overstated. In eukaryotic cells, protein kinase/phosphatase signaling pathways regulate a staggering number of cellular processes, including cell proliferation, cell death (apoptosis, necroptosis, necrosis), metabolism (at both the cellular and organismal levels), behavior and neurological function, development, and pathogen resistance. Although protein phosphorylation as a mode of eukaryotic cell regulation is familiar to most biochemists, many are less familiar with protein kinase/phosphatase signaling networks that function in prokaryotes. In this thematic minireview series, we present four minireviews that cover the important field of prokaryotic protein phosphorylation.     

Proteomics of total membranes and subcellular membranes

Membrane proteins are key molecules in the cell and are important targets for drug development. Much effort has, therefore, been directed towards research of this group of proteins, but their hydrophobic nature can make working with them challenging. Here we discuss methodologies used in the study of the membrane proteome, specifically discussing approaches that circumvent technical issues specific to the membrane. In addition, we review several techniques used for visualization, qualification, quantitation and localization of membrane proteins. The combination of the techniques we describe holds great promise to allow full characterization of the membrane proteome and to map the dynamic changes within it essential for cellular function.     

Prediction of subcellular protein localization based on functional domain composition

Assigning subcellular localization (SL) to proteins is one of the major tasks of functional proteomics. Despite the impressive technical advances of the past decades, it is still time-consuming and laborious to experimentally determine SL on a high throughput scale. Thus, computational predictions are the preferred method for large-scale assignment of protein SL, and if appropriate, followed up by experimental studies. In this report, using a machine learning approach, the Nearest Neighbor Algorithm (NNA), we developed a prediction system for protein SL in which we incorporated a protein functional domain profile. The overall accuracy achieved by this system is 93.96%. Furthermore, comparisons with other methods have been conducted to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of our prediction system. We also provide an implementation of our Subcellular Location Prediction System (SLPS), which is available at http://pcal.biosino.org.