Thiol reactivity of histone H3 in soluble and DNA-associated histone complexes: evidence for allosteric and torsional regulation

The reactivity of chick erythrocyte and calf thymus histone H3 thiol groups toward 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) has been investigated both in the soluble, DNA-free state and in various nucleohistone complexes. We have found that the thiol reactivity of both tetramers and octamers decreases continuously as the ionic strength of the assay is increased, up to and beyond 2.0 M NaCl. Upon association of dimers with tetramers, there is loss of labeling by DTNB at one site, suggesting the existence of allosteric regulation [see also Godfrey, J. E., Eickbush, T. H., & Moudrianakis, E. N. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 1339-1346] of dimer-tetramer interfaces emanating from within the tetramer complex. Comparison of the thiol reactivities of chick and calf tetramers indicates that the thiol groups at amino acid positions 96 and 110 are not chemically equivalent. When the histones are associated with DNA, in either reconstituted complexes, core particles, or long soluble chromatin, the thiol reactivity is greatly diminished, and this "DNA effect" overwhelms any influence of dimers. However, if single-strand nicks are introduced into the DNA backbone of core particles and other chromatin-like complexes by the action of DNase I, the influence of the DNA double helix upon thiol reactivity is reduced, and the effect of dimers can be detected once again. We can therefore conclude that the DNA effect derives from intranucleosomal torsional strain of the continuum of the double helix in equilibrium with coupled protein conformational changes. These observations support the concept that the octamer complex is a dynamic tripartite structure whose properties can be modulated through its interactions with DNA and by changes occurring in the dimer-tetramer interfaces.     

Molecular polymorphism and mechanisms of activation and deactivation of the hydrolytic function of the coupling factor of oxidative phosphorylation.

The 13S coupling factor of oxidative phosphorylation from Alcaligenes faecalis has a latent adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) function that can be activated by heating at 55 degrees C for 10 min at pH 8.5 in 50% glycerol. The specific activity increases from 0.1 to 20--30 mumol min-1 mg-1. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is not required for stabilization at 55 degreesC when glycerol is present. Activation involves displacement of the endogenous ATPase inhibitor subunit (epsilon subunit), and readdition of this subunit results in deactivation. In the deactivation process the ATPase inhibitor subunit can be replaced by other cationic proteins such as protamine, histones, or poly(lysine). Mg2+ and H+ also are effective deactivators. The fact that every positively charged substance tested deactivated the enzyme suggests that the inhibitor subunit is complexed with the enzyme at a site containing a surplus of negative charges. The activated enzyme is not labile, but it is salt labile, having a half-life of 2-3 min in 0.1 M KI at either 25 or 0 degrees C. The activated ATPase is also inhibited by aurovertin, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD), and by the cross-linking agent dimethyl suberimidate. Evidence for polymorphism comes from finding that the properties of the unactivated enzyme (intrinsic ATPase) are different in many ways from the properties of activated ATPase. With respect to the coupling factor's ability to hydrolyze ATP, the data in this study suggest that there are at least four distinct functional allomorphs of this enzyme: (1) the latent enzyme, which has no kinetically measurable ATPase activity, (2) intrinsic ATPase, which is catalyzed by a small percentage of the molecular population that has been activated by some natural mechanism, (3) activated ATPase, which has properties different from those of intrinsic ATPase, and (4) aged activated ATPase, in which some of the properties (Km for substrate, sensitivity to deactivation by Mg2+ and H+) spontaneously change within 30 min.     

The amino acid sequences of two alpha chains of hemoglobins from Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis and phylogenetic relationships of amniotes

To elucidate phylogenetic relationships among amniotes and the evolution of alpha globins, hemoglobins were analyzed from the Komodo dragon (Komodo monitor lizard) Varanus komodoensis, the world's largest extant lizard, inhabiting Komodo Islands, Indonesia. Four unique globin chains (alpha A, alpha D, beta B, and beta C) were isolated in an equal molar ratio by high performance liquid chromatography from the hemolysate. The amino acid sequences of two alpha chains were determined. The alpha D chain has a glutamine at E7 as does an alpha chain of a snake, Liophis miliaris, but the alpha A chain has a histidine at E7 like the majority of hemoglobins. Phylogenetic analyses of 19 globins including two alpha chains of Komodo dragon and ones from representative amniotes showed the following results: (1) The a chains of squamates (snakes and lizards), which have a glutamine at E7, are clustered with the embryonic alpha globin family, which typically includes the alpha D chain from birds; (2) birds form a sister group with other reptiles but not with mammals; (3) the genes for embryonic and adult types of alpha globins were possibly produced by duplication of the ancestral alpha gene before ancestral amniotes diverged, indicating that each of the present amniotes might carry descendants of the two types of alpha globin genes; (4) squamates first split off from the ancestor of other reptiles and birds.      

Functional characterization of a three-component regulatory system involved in quorum sensing-based regulation of peptide antibiotic production in Carnobacterium maltaromaticum

Background  

Quorum sensing is a form of cell-to-cell communication that allows bacteria to control a wide range of physiological processes in a population density-dependent manner. Production of peptide antibiotics is one of the processes regulated by quorum sensing in several species of Gram-positive bacteria, including strains of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum. This bacterium and its peptide antibiotics are of interest due to their potential applications in food preservation. The molecular bases of the quorum sensing phenomenon controlling peptide antibiotic production in C. maltaromaticum remain poorly understood. The present study was aimed at gaining a deeper insight into the molecular mechanism involved in quorum sensing-mediated regulation of peptide antibiotic (bacteriocin) production by C. maltaromaticum. We report the functional analyses of the CS (autoinducer)-CbnK (histidine protein kinase)-CbnR (response regulator) three-component regulatory system and the three regulated promoters involved in peptide antibiotic production in C. maltaromaticum LV17B.     

Expression of serglycin in human disc is increased in degenerated discs and up-regulated in vitro by exposure to IL-1ß or TNF-α

We investigated whether the multifunctional intercellular proteoglycan, serglycin, is expressed in human intervertebral disc cells and assessed its localization. We also investigated expression levels of serglycin in human annulus fibrosus (annulus) cells exposed to IL-1ß and TNF-α, which are two proinflammatory cytokines that are expressed during disc degeneration. Immunolocalization of serglycin was common in many cells of the human annulus, but less common in the nucleus pulposus (nucleus). Both intracellular and cell membrane localization were observed. Annulus cells from Thompson grades III, IV and V degenerated discs exhibited a 4.69 fold up-regulation in serglycin expression vs. cells from healthier grades I and II discs. In monolayer annulus cell culture, cells from more degenerated discs exhibited a 9.4 fold up-regulation of serglycin expression compared to cells from healthier discs. Exposure of cultured cells to IL-1ß or TNF-α caused significant up-regulation of serglycin expression. We found that serglycin expression increased with increasing disc degeneration both in vivo and in vitro, and also increased with exposure in vitro to IL-1ß and TNF-α.     

Floral synorganization and its influence on mechanical isolation and autogamy in Marantaceae

The flowers of Marantaceae (～ 550 species) exhibit a highly derived pollination mechanism within Zingiberales, with a rapid and irreversible style movement based on a close synorganization of different floral parts. Given the complexity of the structure, we assume that little variation is possible if functionality is to be maintained. To test this, we investigated how much floral diversity exists in the clade and whether this diversity potentially influences the breeding system and placement of pollen on the pollinator. Flowers of 66 species covering the five major phylogenetic clades of the family were analysed. All species are similar in their basic flower construction: the fleshy staminode forms the tunnel‐shaped roof of the flower and narrows the tube with stiff swellings, and the hooded staminode holds the style under tension and narrows the flower entrance with its trigger appendage. Despite morphological diversity of the pollination apparatus, functionality is maintained by coordinated variation of the fleshy and hooded staminodes. Autogamy is usually avoided by herkogamy. However, in a few exceptions, subtle morphological changes alter the breeding system from allogamy to autogamy. Variable floral proportions allow for differential pollen deposition potentially causing mechanical isolation between sister taxa. This study clearly illustrates that structural variation is not only present in the highly synorganized flowers of Marantaceae, but that it also creates potentially new options for evolutionary diversification. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 168 , 300–322.     

Immunolocalization of MMP-19 in the human intervertebral disc: implications for disc aging and degeneration

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade components of the extracellular matrix of the disc, but the presence of MMP-19 has not been explored. In other tissues, MMP-19 is known to act in proteolysis of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-3, thereby exposing this protein to make it available to influence cell behavior. MMP-19 also has been shown to inhibit capillary-like formation and thus play a role in the avascular nature of the disc. Using immunohistochemistry, normal discs from six subjects aged newborn through 10 years and 20 disc specimens from control donors or surgical patients aged 15-76 (mean age 40.2 years) were examined for immunolocalization of MMP-19; six Thompson grade I discs, five Thompson grade II, eight Thompson grade III, five Thompson grade IV, and one Thompson grade V discs were analyzed. The results indicate that in discs from young subjects, MMP-19 was uniformly localized in the outer annulus. In discs from adult donors and surgical patients, outer and inner annulus cells only occasionally showed MMP-19 localization. The greatest expression of MMP-19 was observed in young discs, and little expression was seen in older or degenerating discs. Because MMP-19 has been shown to regulate IGF-mediated proliferation in other tissues, its decline in the aging/degenerating disc may contribute to the age-related decrease in disc cell numbers.     

ANTIPYRETIC ACTION OF DEXAMETHASONE ON EGTAZIC ACIDINDUCED FEVER IN RABBITS

本文用脑室灌注和Ｆｕｒａ２测定细胞内游离钙技术观察了地塞米松（ｄｅｘａｍｅｔｈａｓｏｎｅ,ＤＥＸ）对家兔乙二醇双（２氨基乙醚）四乙酸性发热效应和下丘脑细胞内游离钙浓度（［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ）的影响,借此深入探讨地塞米松解热作用的中枢机制。结果发现：脑室灌注乙二醇双（２氨基乙醚）四乙酸（０６ｎｍｏｌ）引起家兔结肠温度明显升高,静脉注射地塞米松（５ｍｇ／ｋｇ）显著抑制家兔乙二醇双（２氨基乙醚）四乙酸性发热,地塞米松（６０～１２０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）并不影响下丘脑细胞内［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ,而事先脑室灌注抑制基因转录的放线菌素Ｄ（３ｎｍｏｌ）则完全取消了地塞米松对乙二醇双（２氨基乙醚）四乙酸性发热的解热作用。这些结果提示：地塞米松显著抑制家兔乙二醇双（２氨基乙醚）四乙酸性发热,其机制与地塞米松激活脑内某些基因的表达有关,而与下丘脑神经细胞跨膜钙离子流无关。     

Interaction of Nickel(II) with histones: in vitro binding of nickel(II) to the core histone tetramer

The absorption spectra of Ni(II) bound to the core histone tetramer, (H3-H4)2, of chicken erythrocytes in 500 mM NaCl + 100 mM phosphate (pH 7.4) were recorded. A charge transfer band was seen at 317 nm, characteristic of a bond between Ni(II) and the sulfur atom of Cys-110 of histone H3. The conditional affinity constants for Ni(II) binding at pH 7.4 for low and high Ni(II) saturation (log Kc = 4.26 +/- 0.02 and 5.26 +/- 0.11 M-1, respectively) were calculated from spectrophotometric titrations with the use of this band. The binding of Ni(II) to (H3-H4)2 is proposed to involve the Cys-110 and His-113 of different H3 molecules within the tetramer. The competition between histones and low-molecular-weight chelators for Ni(II) in the cell nucleus, histidine and glutathione, is discussed on the basis of the above results, indicating that histone H3 is very likely to bind Ni(II) dissolved intracellularly from phagocytosed particulate nickel compounds.