Lysine Methylation of the Valosin-Containing Protein (VCP) Is Dispensable for Development and Survival of Mice

Valosin-containing protein (VCP) is a homohexameric ATPase involved in a multitude cellular processes and it was recently shown that VCP is trimethylated at lysine 315 by the VCP lysine methyltransferase (VCPKMT). Here, we generated and validated a constitutive knockout mouse by targeting exon 1–4 of the Vcpkmt gene. We show that Vcpkmt is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues examined and confirm the sub-cellular localization to the cytoplasm. We show by (I) mass spectrometric analysis, (II) VCPKMT-mediated in vitro methylation of VCP in cell extracts and (III) immunostaining with a methylation specific antibody, that in Vcpkmt ^-/- mice the methylation of lysine 315 in VCP is completely abolished. In contrast, VCP is almost exclusively trimethylated in wild-type mice. Furthermore, we investigated the specificity of VCPKMT with in vitro methylation assays using as source of substrate protein extracts from Vcpkmt ^-/- mouse organs or three human Vcpkmt ^-/- cell lines. The results show that VCPKMT is a highly specific enzyme, and suggest that VCP is its sole substrate. The Vcpkmt ^-/- mice were viable, fertile and had no obvious pathological phenotype. Their body weight, life span and acute endurance capacity were comparable to wild-type controls. Overall the results show that VCPKMT is an enzyme required for methylation of K315 of VCP in vivo, but VCPKMT is not essential for development or survival under unstressed conditions.     

Histomorphometric evaluation of intestinal cellular immune responses in pigs immunized with live oral F4ac+ non-enterotoxigenic E. coli vaccine against postweaning colibacillosis

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is the most common type of porcine postweaning colibacillosis (PWC). Among fimbriae of porcine ETEC strains the best studied family of fimbriae are the members of F4 adhesins, existing in at least three variants: ab, ac, ad. Active immunization against porcine PWC is difficult due to: i) ETEC strains are only one of the essential predisposing factors, ii) the success of vaccinal antigen uptake depends on the presence of enterocyte receptors for F4 adhesins, iii) the intestinal immune system may react with tolerance or hypersensitivity to the same antigens depending on the dose and form of the vaccinal immunogen, and iv) kinetics of the specific immune responses may be different in the case of F4 (earlier) and the other ETEC adhesins, particularly F18 (later). The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a live attenuated F4ac⁺ non-ETEC vaccine against porcine PWC by analyzing quantitative differences in the small intestinal lymphoid and myeloid cell subsets of immunized (with or without levamisole given as an adjuvant) vs control non-immunized pigs. Four week-old pigs were intragastrically immunized with a vaccine candidate F4ac ⁺ non-ETEC strain 2407 at day 0, challenged 7 days later with a virulent F4ac⁺ strain ETEC 11-800/1/94, euthanatized at day 13 and sampled for immunohistology. Non-immunized pigs received saline at day 0 and were processed as the principals. Immunophenotypes of lymphoid and myeloid cell subsets were demonstrated within jejunal and ileal mucosa by immunohistochemical avidinbiotin complex method and corresponding morphometric data were analyzed using software program Lucia G for digital image analyses. Monoclonal antibodies reactive with surface molecules on porcine immune cells such as CD3, CD45RA, CD45RC, CD21 and SWC3 enabled clear insight into distribution patterns and amount of these cells within the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) examined. The numbers of jejunal and ileal cell subsets tested were significantly increased (at P<0.5 or lower) in both principal groups (vaccinated or levamisole primed-vaccinated) of pigs, compared to those recorded in the control non-vaccinated pigs. Based on the histomorphometric quantification of porcine intestinal immune cells from the GALT compartments tested, it is possible to differentiate the responses of pigs immunized by an experimental mucosal vaccine from those of non-immunized pigs.Key words: adjuvanted/nonadjuvanted E. coli vaccine, intestinal immune cells, pigs.     

Oxidative stress in mice

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of high dietary Fe on liver antioxidant status in mice fed a corn-oil-enriched diet. Male Balb/c mice were fed for 3 wk with a standard diet enriched with 5% by weight of corn oil with adequate Fe (FCO diet) or supplemented with 1% carbonyl Fe (FCOFe diet). The control group was fed a standard diet. The high-Fe diet induced a twofold increase of hepatic Fe level. However, an increase of thymic Fe level has been induced solely by dietary fat. The hepatic copper (Cu) level slightly decreased in the FCO diet. In the spleen, the high-Fe diet-induced increase of Fe level was negatively correlated with the Cu level. The antioxidant status was influenced by both dietary fat and Fe. Mice fed corn-oil-enriched diets had a higher concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), with a greater increase in the FCOFe diet. Fatty acid analysis showed decreased n−3 and n−6/n−3 ratio, particularly in the FCOFe diet. Hepatic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) activity was decreased in FCO diet, and Fe supplementation caused a further decrease in the enzyme activity. These results suggest that feeding with corn oil-enriched diet increases oxidative damage by decreasing antioxidant enzyme defense. The high-Fe diet additionally affects the antioxidant defense system, further increasing the tissue's susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. Additionally, both corn-oil- and Fe-enriched diets have increased the Cu requirement in mice.     

Cardiac expression and distribution of nitric oxide synthases in the ventricle of the cold-adapted Antarctic teleosts, the hemoglobinless Chionodraco hamatus and the red-blooded Trematomus bernacchii.

The presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was investigated in the ventricle of two Antarctic teleosts, the hemoglobinless icefish Chionodraco hamatus and its red-blooded counterpart, Trematomus bernacchii. Under unstimulated conditions, in both teleosts, NADPH-diaphorase localised NOS activity in the endocardial-endothelial cells (EEc) and in the myocardiocytes. Application of anti-mammalian endothelial and inducible NOS (eNOS and iNOS, respectively) primary antibodies for immunofluorescence revealed a comparable tissue-specific basal expression of the two isoforms in the two species. eNOS strongly localised at the level of the EEc and, in T. bernacchii, of the vascular endothelium (VE). The enzyme is also localised, albeit to less extent, within the myocardiocytes, and in the epicardium. In contrast, iNOS immunostaining only labels the cytoplasm of the ventricular myocytes. Western blotting analysis identified two peptides with molecular masses of about 135 and 130kDa, similar to those of the mammalian eNOS and iNOS. To verify whether this NOS system is susceptible to septic stimulation, C. hamatus and T. bernacchii were exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The treatment did not modify the distribution pattern of the two isoenzymes while it increased the amount of NADPH-diaphorase-dependent reaction product and the expression of both eNOS and iNOS. These results indicate a high phylogenetic conservation of the intracardiac NOS system, emphasizing its importance in the control of the vertebrate heart and its relevance as a general mechanism of defense against pathogens.     

Direct observation (NMR) of the efficacy of glucagon receptor antagonists in murine liver expressing the human glucagon receptor

The demonstration of pharmacodynamic efficacy of novel chemical entities represents a formidable challenge in the early exploration of synthetic lead classes. Here, we demonstrate a technique to validate the biological efficacy of novel antagonists of the human glucagon receptor (hGCGR) in the surgically removed perfused liver prior to the optimization of the pharmacokinetic properties of the compounds. The technique involves the direct observation by (13)C NMR of the biosynthesis of [(13)C]glycogen from [(13)C]pyruvate via the gluconeogenic pathway. The rapid breakdown of [(13)C]glycogen (glycogenolysis) following the addition of 50 pM exogenous glucagon is then monitored in real time in the perfused liver by (13)C NMR. The concentration-dependent inhibition of glucagon-mediated glycogenolysis is demonstrated for both the peptidyl glucagon receptor antagonist 1 and structurally diverse synthetic antagonists 2-7. Perfused livers were obtained from a transgenic mouse strain that exclusively expresses the functional human glucagon receptor, conferring human relevance to the activity observed with glucagon receptor antagonists. This technique does not provide adequate quantitative precision for the comparative ranking of active compounds, but does afford physiological evidence of efficacy in the early development of a chemical series of antagonists.     

Nitric oxide modulates the frog heart ventricle morphodynamics

The aim of this work was to investigate in the avascular heart of the frog Rana esculenta the influence of nitric oxide (NO) on ventricular systolic and diastolic functions by using a novel image analysis technique. The external volume variations of the whole ventricle were monitored during the heart cycle by video acquisition(visible light) and analysed by an appropriately developed software with a specific formula for irregular convex solids. The system, which measures the rate of volume changes and the ejection fraction, directly determined the volumetric behaviour of the working frog heart after stimulation or inhibition of NOS-NOcGMP pathway. End-diastolic volume (EDVext), end-systolic volume (ESVext), contraction and relaxation velocities (dV/dtsys and dV/dtdia, respectively), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF), were measured before and after perfusion with NOS substrate (L-arginine), NO donor (SIN-1), cGMP analogue (8-Br-cGMP),NOS inhibitors (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, L-NMMA; L-N(5)-(1-iminoethyl)-ornithine, L-NIO; 7-Nitroindazole,7-NI) and guanylyl cyclase inhibitor (ODQ). The results showed that NO reduces ventricular systolicfunction improving diastolic filling, while NOS inhibition increases contractility impairing ventricular filling capacity. The presence of activated eNOS (p-eNOS) was morphologically documented, further supporting that the mechanical activity of the ventricular pump in frog is influenced by a tonic release of NOS-generated NO.     

Phosphorylation of the porcine atrial muscarinic acetylcholine receptor by cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase

cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, cGMP-dependent protein kinase, smooth muscle myosin light-chain kinase, and phosphorylase kinase were examined with respect to their ability to phosphorylate porcine atrial muscarinic receptors (mAcChRs). Experiments were performed both in detergent solution and in a reconstituted system containing the mAcChR alone or in the presence of the purified porcine atrial inhibitor guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gi). Only cAMP-dependent protein kinase was capable of phosphorylating the receptor under any of the experimental conditions examined. Phosphorylation of the mAcChR in the detergent-solubilized state resulted in a loss of ligand binding sites that was reversible upon treatment with calcineurin in the presence of calcium and calmodulin. Upon reconstitution, the apparent stoichiometry of phosphorylation was increased by about 15-fold. Carbachol-stimulated covalent incorporation of phosphate was found only in the reconstituted system in the presence of Gi, suggesting that the large agonist-stimulated increase in phosphorylation observed in vivo [Kwatra, M. M., & Hosey, M. M. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 12429-12432] may in part result from a unique receptor conformation that occurs upon association with this protein. Ligand binding studies indicated that phosphorylation of the mAcChR in the detergent-solubilized or reconstituted state did not affect its interaction with carbachol or L-quinuclidinyl benzilate in vitro. Carbachol-induced stimulation of the GTPase activity of Gi in the reconstituted system was also unaffected by phosphorylation.     

Non-canonical interactions of porphyrins in porphyrin-containing proteins

In this study we have described the non-canonical interactions between the porphyrin ring and the protein part of porphyrin-containing proteins to better understand their stabilizing role. The analysis reported in this study shows that the predominant type of non-canonical interactions at porphyrins are CH···O and CH···N interactions, with a small percentage of CH···π and non-canonical interactions involving sulfur atoms. The majority of non-canonical interactions are formed from side-chains of charged and polar amino acids, whereas backbone groups are not frequently involved. The main-chain non-canonical interactions might be slightly more linear than the side-chain interactions, and they have somewhat shorter median distances. The analysis, performed in this study, shows that about 44% of the total interactions in the dataset are involved in the formation of multiple (furcated) non-canonical interactions. The high number of porphyrin–water interactions show importance of the inclusion of solvent in protein–ligand interaction studies. Furthermore, in the present study we have observed that stabilization centers are composed predominantly from nonpolar amino acid residues. Amino acids deployed in the environment of porphyrin rings are deposited in helices and coils. The results from this study might be used for structure-based porphyrin protein prediction and as scaffolds for future porphyrin-containing protein design.