Specific subcellular targeting of PKCα and PKCε in normal and tumoral lactotroph cells by PMA-mitogenic stimulus

The variations of the intracellular localization of the individual protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are related with their different biological functions. In this study, we have investigated the precise intracellular translocation of endogenous PKCα and PKCε in PMA-stimulated normal and tumoral lactotroph cells by using confocal and immunogold electron microscopy, which was correlated with the rate of cell proliferation of both pituitary cell phenotypes. The present results showed that the short phorbol ester incubation stimulated the proliferation of normal and tumoral lactotroph cells, as determined by the measurement of the BrdU-labelling index. The translocation of PKCα to plasma and nuclear membranes induced by PMA was more marked than that observed for PKCε in normal and tumoral lactotroph cells. Our results showed that PKCs translocation to the plasma and nuclear membranes varied from isozyme to isozyme emphasizing that PKCα could be related with the mitogenic stimulus exerted by phorbol ester. These data support the notion that specific PKC isozymes may exert spatially defined effects by virtue of their directed translocation to distinct intracellular sites.     

Commonly used caspase inhibitors designed based on substrate specificity profiles lack selectivity

Caspase regulation and activation have been extensively studied since the discovery of this class of proteases almost two decades ago, yet surprisingly few tools are available that can be used to monitor individual caspase activities [ 1 ]. The most commonly used tools include caspase-specific anti-sera as well as fluorogenic substrates and inhibitors. Unfortunately, antibody reagents often do not provide an accurate measure of caspase activity since several caspase family members （caspases 8/10 and 9） do not require proteolytic processing for activation [2, 3]. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that caspase-7 （an executioner caspase） activation occurs via a catalytically active full-length intermediate that cannot be differentiated from the non-cleaved inactive zymogen using antibodies [4, 5].     

Effects of hydroxyurea on monoclonal antibody production induced by anti-mIgG and LPS stimulation on murine B cell hybridomas

Chemical treatment with hydroxyurea (HU) has been selected as a simple and low cost strategy to generate a cell population enriched for the G1 phase. After the chemical treatment with HU, cells were stimulated with anti-mIgG to test if the positive effects of anti-mIgG on CD40 expression and specific IgG2a production rate were improved upon a cell population with a higher percentage of cells in G1 phase at the beginning of the cell culture. In addition, other treatments assayed in this work were the cell stimulation with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) both before and after the HU treatment. It has been observed that the use of HU under conditions able to maintain the cells in viable state (0.1 mM for 20 h), has a negative effect on CD40 expression and specific IgG2a production rate induced by anti-mIgG. The positive effect of LPS on cell stimulation induced by anti-mIgG is reduced on cells treated with HU.     

CGDEase, a Pseudomonas fluorescens protein of the PLC/APase superfamily with CDP-ethanolamine and (dihexanoyl)glycerophosphoethanolamine hydrolase activity induced by osmoprotectants under phosphate-deficient conditions

A novel enzyme, induced by choline, ethanolamine, glycine betaine or dimethylglycine, was released at low temperature and phosphate from Pseudomonas fluorescens (CECT 7229) suspensions at low cell densities. It is a CDP-ethanolamine pyrophosphatase/(dihexanoyl)glycerophosphoethanolamine phosphodiesterase (CGDEase) less active on choline derivatives, and inactive on long-chain phospholipids, CDP-glycerol and other NDP-X compounds. The reaction pattern was typical of phospholipase C (PLC), as either phosphoethanolamine or phosphocholine was produced. Peptide-mass analyses, gene cloning and expression provided a molecular identity for CGDEase. Bioinformatic studies assigned it to the PLC branch of the phospholipase C/acid phosphatase (PLC/APase) superfamily, revealed an irregular phylogenetic distribution of close CGDEase relatives, and suggested their genes are not in operons or conserved contexts. A theoretical CGDEase structure was supported by mutagenesis of two predicted active-site residues, which yielded essentially inactive mutants. Biological relevance is supported by comparisons with CGDEase relatives, induction by osmoprotectants (not by osmotic stress itself) and repression by micromolar phosphate. The low bacterial density requirement was related to phosphate liberation from lysed bacteria in denser populations, rather than to a classical quorum-sensing effect. The results fit better a CGDEase role in phosphate scavenging than in osmoprotection.     

Identification of HAVCR1 gene haplotypes associated with mRNA expression levels and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases

Human HAVCR1 gene maps on 5q33.2, a region linked with susceptibility to allergic and autoimmune diseases. The aims of the present study were to define the haplotypes of HAVCR1 gene taking into account both HapMap Project SNP haplotypes and exon 4 variants, to investigate a possible relationship between these haplotypes and mRNA expression levels, and to assess whether HAVCR1 gene is involved in susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Genotyping of three ins/del variants in the exon 4 was performed by fragment length analysis. Five tag SNPs genotypes and mRNA levels were determined using TaqMan assays. We defined four major haplotypes in our population: the two major haplotypes (named haplotypes A and B) bear both the 5383_5397del variant and the two most common SNP sets found in the CEU population. Quantification analysis revealed that genotype B/B had the highest median of mRNA expression levels (vs. BX + XX, p < 0.0001). Additionally, frequency of the genotype BB was significantly higher in RA patients than in controls (12.3 vs. 5.9% in controls, p = 0.0046, p _c = 0.014, OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.23–4.10). Our results support a relationship between HAVCR1 haplotypes and mRNA expression levels, and suggest an association of this gene with autoimmune diseases.     

Transbilayer (flip-flop) lipid motion and lipid scrambling in membranes

This paper reviews the current knowledge on the various mechanisms for transbilayer, or flip-flop, lipid motion in model and cell membranes, enzyme-assisted lipid transfer by flippases, floppases and scramblases is briefly discussed, while non-catalyzed lipid flip-flop is reviewed in more detail. Transbilayer lipid motion may occur as a result of the insertion of foreign molecules (detergents, lipids, or even proteins) in one of the membrane leaflets. It may also be the result of the enzymatic generation of lipids, e.g. diacylglycerol or ceramide, at one side of the membrane. Transbilayer motion rates decrease in the order diacylglycerol ? ceramide ? phospholipids. Ceramide, but not diacylglycerol, can induce transbilayer motion of other lipids, and bilayer scrambling. Transbilayer lipid diffusion and bilayer scrambling are defined as two conceptually and mechanistically different processes. The mechanism of scrambling appears to be related to local instabilities caused by the non-lamellar ceramide molecule, or by other molecules that exhibit a relatively slow flip-flop rate, when asymmetrically inserted or generated in one of the monolayers in a cell or model membrane.     

CELL‐WALL POLYMER MAPPING IN THE COENOCYTIC MACROALGA CODIUM VERMILARA (BRYOPSIDALES,CHLOROPHYTA)1

Cell walls in the coenocytic green seaweed Codium vermilara (Olivi) Chiaje (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) are composed of ～32% (w/w) β‐(1→4)‐d‐mannans, ～12% sulfated polysaccharides (SPs), and small amounts of hydroxyproline‐rich glycoprotein‐like (HRGP‐L) compounds of the arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and arabinosides (extensins). Similar quantities of mannans and SPs were reported previously in the related seaweed C. fragile (Suringar) Hariot. Overall, both seaweed cell walls comprise ～40%–44% of their dry weights. Within the SP group, a variety of polysaccharide structures from pyruvylated arabinogalactan sulfate and pyruvylated galactan sulfate to pyranosic arabinan sulfate are present in Codium cell walls. In this paper, the in situ distribution of the main cell‐wall polymers in the green seaweed C. vermilara was studied, comparing their arrangements with those observed in cell walls from C. fragile. The utricle cell wall in C. vermilara showed by TEM a sandwich structure of two fibrillar‐like layers of similar width delimiting a middle amorphous‐like zone. By immuno‐ and chemical imaging, the in situ distribution of β‐(1→4)‐d‐mannans and HRGP‐like epitopes was shown to consist of two distinct cell‐wall layers, whereas SPs are distributed in the middle area of the wall. The overall cell‐wall polymer arrangement of the SPs, HRGP‐like epitopes, and mannans in the utricles of C. vermilara is different from the ubiquitous green algae C. fragile, in spite of both being phylogenetically very close. In addition, a preliminary cell‐wall model of the utricle moiety is proposed for both seaweeds, C. fragile and C. vermilara.