Structure of the stress response protein DR1199 from Deinococcus radiodurans: a member of the DJ-1 superfamily

The expression level of protein DR1199 is observed to increase considerably in the radio-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans following irradiation. This protein belongs to the DJ-1 superfamily, which includes proteins with diverse functions, such as the archaeal proteases PhpI and PfpI, the bacterial chaperone Hsp31 and hyperosmotic stress protein YhbO, and the human Parkinson's disease-related protein DJ-1. All members of the superfamily are oligomeric, and the oligomerization interface varies from protein to protein. Although for many of these proteins, their function remains obscure, most of them are involved in cellular protection against environmental stresses. We have determined the structure of DR1199 to a resolution of 2.15 A, and we have tested its function and studied its role in the response to irradiation and more generally to oxidative stress in D. radiodurans. The protein is a dimer displaying an oligomerization interface similar to that observed for the YhbO and PhpI proteins. The cysteine in the catalytic triad (Cys 115) is oxidized in our structure, similar to modifications seen in the corresponding cysteine of the DJ-1 protein. The oxidation occurs spontaneously in DR1199 crystals. In solution, no proteolytic or chaperone activity was detected. On the basis of our results, we suggest that DR1199 might work as a general stress protein involved in the detoxification of the cell from oxygen reactive species, rather than as a peptidase in D. radiodurans.     

Monophenolase activity of latent Terfezia claveryi tyrosinase: Characterization and histochemical localization

The monophenolase activity of Terfezia claveryi tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) is described for the first time. This enzyme is fully latent and can only be detected if SDS is present in the reaction medium. Monophenolase activity was localized within the ascocarp using histochemical techniques. A detailed kinetic study of the parameters affecting this activity has been carried out. Both the characteristic lag period and the steady-state rate are affected by pH and the enzyme and substrate concentrations. The presence of catalytic concentrations of o -diphenols affected the lag period but not the steady-state rate. By increasing the concentration of o- diphenols, it was possible to evaluate the enzyme activation constant, K_act, which showed a value of 7.2 μ M . The experimental results are compatible with the mechanism previously described for tyrosinases from other sources.     

Mitochondria, oxidative stress and aging

In the eighties, Miquel and Fleming suggested that mitochondria play a key role in cellular aging. Mitochondria, and specially mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), are major targets of free radical attack. At present, it is well established that mitochondrial deficits accumulate upon aging due to oxidative damage. Thus, oxidative lesions to mtDNA accumulate with age in human and rodent tissues. Furthermore, levels of oxidative damage to mtDNA are several times higher than those of nuclear DNA. Mitochondrial size increases whereas mitochondrial membrane potential decreases with age in brain and liver.

Recently, we have shown that treatment with certain antioxidants, such as sulphur-containing antioxidants, vitamins C and E or the Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761, protects against the age-associated oxidative damage to mtDNA and oxidation of mitochondrial glutathione. Moreover, the extract EGb 761 also prevents changes in mitochondrial morphology and function associated with aging of the brain and liver. Thus, mitochondrial aging may be prevented by antioxidants. Furthermore, late onset administration of certain antioxidants is also able to prevent the impairment in physiological performance, particularly motor co-ordination, that occurs upon aging.     

Acid microenvironments in microbial biofilms of antarctic endolithic microecosystems

Antarctic endolithic microecosystems harbour distinct biofilms. The lithic substrate and the microorganisms comprising these films are intimately linked, leading to complex mineral-microbe interactions. Hence, the microhabitats and microenvironments of these microecosystems are not only determined by the physicochemical features of the lithic substrate, but are also conditioned by the biological components of these biofilms. The Antarctic biofilms analysed in this study are characterized by the presence of extracellular polymer substances and acid microenvironments in the proximity of the cells; cyanobacteria appearing as key components. On ultrastructural analysis, these endolithic cyanobacteria showed differences in sheath organization, probably related to their spatial position in the lithic substrate. It is proposed that in this type of ecosystem, biofilm structure could favour the formation of microsites with specific physicochemical conditions appropriate for the survival of microbial communities in this extreme environment.     

Nucleotide Sequence and Chromosomal Location of L-Lactate Dehydrogenase Gene from Streptococcus pneumoniae

We report here the 1244-bp sequence of a Streptococcus pneumoniae chromosomal fragment that contains the putative promoter and protein-coding region of the lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldh). The nucleotide sequence predicts a protein of 327 aa with a molecular weight of 35,202 daltons, after removal of the N-terminal methionine residue. The ldh gene is located on the ApaI fragment 1 and SmaI fragment 2 of the previously reported physical map of S. pneumoniae chromosome. Received: 3 December 1997 / Accepted: 20 January 1998     

HLA-DRB1 * 03, but not the TNFA -308 promoter gene polymorphism, confers protection against fistulising Crohn’s disease

 Crohn’s disease (CD) appears in forms so diverse that it has been hypothesized CD might be a syndrome, with different pathogenic mechanisms leading to the various clinical phenotypes. This may plausibly explain the conflicting and inconclusive results with regard to HLA associations in unselected groups of patients. The power of these association studies may increase when disease heterogeneity is taken into account. As fistulising CD has been proposed as a separate subgroup of patients with CD, we studied the carrier frequencies (CF) of the DRB1 alleles in 35 unrelated Caucasian Dutch CD patients with proven peri-anal fistulas. A striking decrease in the frequency of the DRB1 ^* 03 allele was found in those patients with peri-anal fistulas when compared with a panel of 2400 healthy controls (HC) (3% vs 25%; P = 0.005; Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.09). The DRB1 ^* 03 allele is in strong linkage disequilibrium with a polymorphism at position –308 in the promoter region of the gene encoding TNFα (TNFA-308 ^* 2). We investigated whether this allele frequency was decreased as well. Surprisingly, the CF of TNFA-308 ^* 2 was 29%, not different from the CF of 98 HC (34%; P = 0.7; OR = 0.8). This study is the first showing a significant negative association between DRB1 ^* 03 and a particular subgroup of CD patients. Thus, patient selection may largely determine the outcome of genetic association studies in CD, as we previously observed no association with this allele in an unselected population of CD patients. As DRB1 ^* 03 frequency, but not the closely linked TNFA-308 ^* 2, was decreased, this suggests recombination between the DRB1 and TNFA loci in this group of patients, and may help to define the biological basis of fistula formation. Received: 29 September 1997 / Revised: 3 December 1997     

Thyroid hormone regulates stromelysin expression, protease secretion and the morphogenetic potential of normal polarized mammary epithelial cells.

Stromelysins are a group of proteases which degrade the extracellular matrix and activate other secreted proteases. Stromelysin (ST)-1 and ST-2 genes are induced by tumor promoters, oncogenes and growth factors, and have been involved in acquisition of the malignant phenotype. We show here that the thyroid hormone (T3) increases ST-1 and ST-2 expression in a non-transformed mouse mammary epithelial cell line (EpH4) in a way that is dependent on the level of thyroid receptor/c-erbA (TR alpha-1) expression. In agreement with this, T3 increases the secreted stromelysin activity and enhances the gelatinolytic activity of type IV collagenase. We have also demonstrated that T3 affects the epithelial polarity of EpH4 cells, diminishing the transepithelial electrical resistance of monolayers cultured on permeable filters, causing an abnormal distribution of polarization markers and the disruption of the organized 3-D structures formed by these cells in type I collagen gels. These results indicate that the ligand-activated TR alpha-1 plays an important role in regulating the morphogenetic and invasive capacities of mammary epithelial cells. Because the c-erbA locus is altered in several types of carcinoma, an altered or deregulated TR alpha-1 expression may also be important for breast cancer development and metastasis.