Modulating action of the new polymorphism L436F detected in the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> GLB1</Emphasis> gene of a type-II GM1 gangliosidosis patient

Mutations in the GJB2 gene encoding connexin 26 (Cx26) are a major cause of autosomal recessive and sporadic cases of congenital deafness in most populations. The 235delC mutation of GJB2 is the most frequent known mutation in some east Asian populations, with a carrier frequency of approximately 1%. In order to study the origin of 235delC among east Asians, we analyzed single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the coding region of GJB2 and flanking the 235delC mutation. We observed significant linkage disequilibrium between 235delC and five linked polymorphic markers, suggesting that 235delC arose from a common founder. The detection of 235delC only in east Asians, but not in Caucasians, and the small chromosomal interval of the shared haplotype suggest that 235delC is an ancient mutation that arose after the divergence of Mongoloids and Caucasians. Similarly, the finding that this mutation appears on a single haplotype provides no support for the possibility that recurrent mutation is the explanation for the high frequency of the allele.D. Yan, H.-J. Park and X.M. Ouyang contributed equally to this work     

Characterization of Cr(VI)-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Chromium-Contaminated Soil by Tannery Activity

Bacterial strains, previously isolated from a chromium-polluted soil, were identified on the basis of Gram reaction and biochemical characteristics (Biolog system). Moreover, chromate MICs, chromate reduction capability, multiple heavy metal tolerance, and antibiotic susceptibility were tested for each isolate. All strains but one were Gram-positive and resistant to high concentrations of chromate. The most Cr(VI)-resistant isolate (22mM) was identified as Corynebacterium hoagii. All Cr(VI)-resistant strains except the isolate ChrC20 were capable of catalyzing the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), a less toxic and less water-soluble form of chromium. The only isolate Cr(VI)-sensitive, attributed to the Pseudomonas genus, also exhibited Cr(VI)-reduction. Isolates were also screened for the presence of plasmid DNA. The strains ChrC20 and ChrB20 harbored one and two plasmids of high molecular mass, respectively. This approach permitted selection of some bacterial strains, which could be used for bioremediation of Cr(VI)-polluted environments. Received: 21 February 2002 / Accepted: 27 March 2002     

Proteomic identification of nitrated proteins in Alzheimer's disease brain

Nitration of tyrosine in biological conditions represents a pathological event that is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increased levels of nitrated proteins have been reported in AD brain and CSF, demonstrating the potential involvement of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in neurodegeneration associated with this disease. Reaction of NO with O2- leads to formation of peroxynitrite ONOO-, which following protonation, generates cytotoxic species that oxidize and nitrate proteins. Several findings suggest an important role of protein nitration in modulating the activity of key enzymes in neurodegenerative disorders, although extensive studies on specific targets of protein nitration in disease are still missing. The present investigation represents a further step in understanding the relationship between oxidative modification of protein and neuronal death in AD. We previously applied a proteomics approach to determine specific targets of protein oxidation in AD brain, by successfully coupling immunochemical detection of protein carbonyls with two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis. In the present study, we extend our investigation of protein oxidative modification in AD brain to targets of protein nitration. The identification of six targets of protein nitration in AD brain provides evidence to the importance of oxidative stress in the progression of this dementing disease and potentially establishes a link between RNS-related protein modification and neurodegeneration.     

Different heparan sulfate proteoglycans serve as cellular receptors for human papillomaviruses

Papillomaviruses replicate in stratified epithelia of skin and mucosa. Infection with certain human papillomavirus (HPV) types is the main cause of anogenital neoplasia, in particular cervical cancer. Early events of papillomavirus infectivity are poorly understood. While heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) mediate initial binding to the cell surface, the class of proteins carrying heparan sulfates has not been defined. Here we examined two processes of papillomavirus infection, attachment of virus-like particles (VLP) to cells and infection with authentic HPV type 11 (HPV11) virions. Of the HSPGs, syndecan-1 is the major epithelial form and is strongly upregulated in wound edge keratinocytes. We employed K562 cells, which lack HSPGs except minor amounts of endogenous betaglycan, and stable clones that express cDNAs of syndecan-1, syndecan-4, or glypican-1. Binding of VLP correlated with levels of heparan sulfate on the cell surface. Parental K562 bound HPV16 VLP weakly, whereas all three K562 transfectants demonstrated enhanced binding, with the highest binding capacity observed for syndecan-1-transfected cells, which also expressed the most HSPG. For HPV11 infectivity assays, a high virion inoculum was required to infect K562 cells, whereas ectopic expression of syndecan-1 increased permissiveness eightfold and expression of syndecan-4 or glypican-1 fourfold. Infection of keratinocytes was eliminated by treatment with heparitinase, but not phospholipase C, further implicating the syndecan family of integral membrane proteins as receptor proteins. Human keratinocytes with a homozygous deletion of alpha6 integrin are permissive for HPV11 infection. These results indicate that several HSPGs can serve as HPV receptors and support a putative role for syndecan-1, rather than alpha6 integrin, as a primary receptor protein in natural HPV infection of keratinocytes.     

Influence of the Ca/Mg ratio on Cu resistance in three Silene armeria ecotypes adapted to calcareous soil or to different, Ni- or Cu-enriched, serpentine sites

This hydroponic study addresses the influence of low (0.3) and high (4.0) Ca/Mg molar ratios on Cu resistance of Silene armeria ecotypes from different habitats: a calcareous soil (ecotype Cadriano), a Ni-rich serpentine site (ecotype Prinzera), and an acid Cu-mine spoil soil containing serpentinite (ecotype Vigonzano). Under control conditions, without excess Cu, only Cadriano was negatively affected by the low Ca/Mg ratio. Under both low and high Ca/Mg ratios Cu resistance followed the order Vigonzano > Prinzera > Cadriano. More efficient Cu exclusion accounted for enhanced Cu resistance in Prinzera. The low Ca/Mg ratio increased Cu uptake in Prinzera but did not worsen toxicity effects; i.e. the plants had higher internal Cu effect concentrations. In Vigonzano Cu resistance was enhanced by the low Ca/Mg ratio. This was due only in part to better Cu exclusion. Magnesium-induced tolerance to higher Cu tissue concentrations appears to be in ecotypes from serpentine and acid mine spoils, but not in plants from calcareous soil, the exposure to low Ca/Mg ratio favours internal detoxification of Cu by means of more efficient chelation and compartmentation.     

Modelling intracellular H(+) ion diffusion

Intracellular pH, an important modulator of cell function, is regulated by plasmalemmal proteins that transport H(+), or its equivalent, into or out of the cell. The pH(i) is also stabilised by high-capacity, intrinsic buffering on cytoplasmic proteins, oligopeptides and other solutes, and by the extrinsic CO(2)/HCO(3)(-) (carbonic) buffer. As mobility of these buffers is lower than for the H(+) ion, they restrict proton diffusion. In this paper we use computational approaches, based on the finite difference and finite element methods (FDM and FEM, respectively), for analysing the spatio-temporal behaviour of [H(+)] when it is locally perturbed. We analyse experimental data obtained for various cell-types (cardiac myocytes, duodenal enterocytes, molluscan neurons) where pH(i) has been imaged confocally using intracellular pH-sensitive dyes. We design mathematical algorithms to generate solutions for two-dimensional diffusion that fit data in terms of an apparent intracellular H(+) diffusion coefficient, D(H)(app). The models are used to explore how the spatial distribution of [H(+)](i) is affected by membrane H(+)-equivalent transport and by cell geometry. We then develop a mechanistic model, describing spatio-temporal changes of [H(+)](i) in a cardiac ventricular myocyte in terms of H(+)-shuttling on mobile buffers and H(+)-anchoring on fixed buffers. We also discuss how modelling may include the effects of extrinsic carbonic-buffering. Overall, our computational approach provides a framework for future analyses of the physiological consequences of pH(i) non-uniformity.     

Purification of a polyphenol oxidase isoform from potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers

A different expression pattern of polyphenol oxidases has been observed during storage in cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) featuring different length of dormancy: a short-dormant cultivar showed, at the end of the dormancy, both the highest polyphenol oxidase activity and the largest number of enzyme isoforms. An isoform of polyphenol oxidase isolated at the end of the physiological dormancy from a short-dormant cultivar has been purified to homogeneity by means of column chromatography on phenyl Sepharose and on Superdex 200. The purification factor has been determined equal to 88, and the molecular mass of the purified isoform has been estimated to be 69 and 340 kDa by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration on Superdex 200, respectively, indicating this PPO isoform as a multimer. The corresponding zymogram features a diffused single band at the cathodic region of the gel and the pI of this polyphenol oxidase has been calculated equal to 6.5.     

Cathepsin A regulates chaperone-mediated autophagy through cleavage of the lysosomal receptor

Protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA) has a serine carboxypeptidase activity of unknown physiological function. We now demonstrate that this protease activity triggers the degradation of the lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2a (lamp2a), a receptor for chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). Degradation of lamp2a is important because its level in the lysosomal membrane is a rate-limiting step of CMA. Cells defective in PPCA show reduced rates of lamp2a degradation, higher levels of lamp2a and higher rates of CMA. Restoration of PPCA protease activity increases rates of lamp2a degradation, reduces levels of lysosomal lamp2a and reduces rates of CMA. PPCA associates with lamp2a on the lysosomal membrane and cleaves lamp2a near the boundary between the luminal and transmembrane domains. In addition to the well-studied role of PPCA in targeting and protecting two lysosomal glycosidases, we have defined a role for the proteolytic activity of this multifunctional protein.