Diacylglycerols interact with the L2 lipidation site in TRPC3 to induce a sensitized channel state

Coordination of lipids within transient receptor potential canonical channels (TRPCs) is essential for their Ca²⁺ signaling function. Single particle cryo‐EM studies identified two lipid interaction sites, designated L1 and L2, which are proposed to accommodate diacylglycerols (DAGs). To explore the role of L1 and L2 in TRPC3 function, we combined structure‐guided mutagenesis and electrophysiological recording with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD simulations indicate rapid DAG accumulation within both L1 and L2 upon its availability within the plasma membrane. Electrophysiological experiments using a photoswitchable DAG‐probe reveal potentiation of TRPC3 currents during repetitive activation by DAG. Importantly, initial DAG exposure generates a subsequently sensitized channel state that is associated with significantly faster activation kinetics. TRPC3 sensitization is specifically promoted by mutations within L2, with G652A exhibiting sensitization at very low levels of active DAG. We demonstrate the ability of TRPC3 to adopt a closed state conformation that features partial lipidation of L2 sites by DAG and enables fast activation of the channel by the phospholipase C‐DAG pathway.     

Identification of novel Y chromosome encoded transcripts by testis transcriptome analysis of mice with deletions of the Y chromosome long arm

Background  

The male-specific region of the mouse Y chromosome long arm (MSYq) is comprised largely of repeated DNA, including multiple copies of the spermatid-expressed Ssty gene family. Large deletions of MSYq are associated with sperm head defects for which Ssty deficiency has been presumed to be responsible.     

Mechanism of action of cyclosporin A in vivo. I. Cyclosporin A fails to inhibit T lymphocyte activation in response to alloantigens

Although cyclosporin A (Cy A) has been widely used clinically as a potent suppressor of organ allograft rejection and has been shown to block T lymphocyte activation in vitro by inhibiting the generation of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and other lymphokines, little direct evidence is available to support the view that the immunosuppressive effects of Cy A in vivo are mediated by a similar inhibition of the autocrine lymphokine cascade. We have used a quantitative assay for the assessment of the role of the IL-2/IL-2 receptor system in the activation of the draining popliteal lymph node population after the injection of allogeneic cells in the footpad to define the effects of Cy A on the early events of lymphocyte activation in vivo and to compare them with the effects of Cy A on lymphocyte activation in vitro. The administration of Cy A in vivo had no effect on alloantigen-induced increases in cell size, percentage of cells expressing the IL-2 receptor, the spontaneous or IL-2-driven proliferation of freshly explanted cells, or the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. These findings raise major questions about the mechanism of action of Cy A in vivo and suggest that more experimentation is required to probe the mechanisms of Cy A-induced suppression of the response to allografts.     

A novel T cell-activating molecule (THAM) highly expressed on CD4-CD8- murine thymocytes

Recent studies have focused on the potential role of accessory molecules such as CD2, CD28, Thy-1, or TAP in the delivery of activating signals to thymocytes through antigen-independent pathways. To better understand the molecular interactions involved in the expansion of early thymic immigrants, rat mAb were raised against murine thymocyte-surface molecules and screened for their capacity to trigger thymocyte proliferation. One of these mAb (H194-112, IgG2a) was found to recognize a novel heterodimeric thymocyte-activating molecule (THAM) of Mr = 110,000 to 128,000. Flow cytometric analyses and staining patterns on frozen thymus sections subdivided adult thymocytes in three subsets expressing THAM at either low (10%), moderate (80%), or high (5 to 8%) cell-surface density; these cell groups were found to correspond, respectively, to the medullary, the cortical, and the immature CD4-CD8-, J11d+ thymocytes, in which the T cell precursor pool is included. Moreover, most (90%) day 16 fetal thymocytes were also found to upregulate THAM cell-surface expression. The THAMhigh cells were localized in the subcapsular area of the neonatal thymus and scattered throughout the adult organ. Cross-linked mAb H194-112 induced the proliferation of both immature and mature thymocytes in the presence of either PMA or IL-1 and IL-2. The observation that early thymocytes up-regulate THAM along with the IL-2R suggests that this molecule might be involved in an important activation pathway during thymocyte differentiation.     

Transition of myosin isozymes during development of human masseter muscle. Persistence of developmental isoforms during postnatal stage

Previous results have shown that the adult human masseter muscle contains myosin isoforms that are specific to early stages of development in trunk and limb muscles, i.e. embryonic and fetal (neonatal) myosin heavy chains (MHC) and embryonic myosin light chain (MLC1emb). We wanted to know if this specific pattern is the result of a late maturation or of a distinct evolution during development. We show here that the embryonic and the fetal MHC and the MLC1emb are expressed throughout perinatal and postnatal masseter development. Our results also demonstrate that MLC1emb accumulation increases considerably during the postnatal period. In addition, both the slow MLCs and the slow isoform of tropomyosin are expressed later in the masseter than quadriceps and the fast skeletal muscle isoform MLC3 is not detected during fetal and early postnatal development in the masseter whereas it is expressed throughout fetal development in the quadriceps. Our results thus confirm previous histochemical data and demonstrate that the masseter muscle displays a pattern of myosin and tropomyosin isoform transitions different to that previously described in trunk and limb muscles. This suggests that control of masseter muscle development involves mechanisms distinct from other body muscles, possibly as a result of either its craniofacial innervation or of a possibly different embryonic origin.     

Induction of IL-2 receptor expression in vivo: response to concanavalin A

The requirements for the induction of IL-2 receptor expression following lymphocyte stimulation in vitro are well understood but little is known about the role of IL-2 and the IL-2 receptor in lymphocyte activation in vivo. Following the subcutaneous injection of concanavalin A, cells from popliteal and lumbar lymph nodes draining the footpad became enlarged and expressed the IL-2 receptor. At the peak of the response, 9-15 hr after injection, more than 70% of all cells were IL-2 receptor positive; the majority were T cells of both Lyt-2+ and L3T4+ subsets. IL-2 receptor expression was closely associated with both spontaneous and IL-2-driven proliferation. Analysis of the biodistribution of 125I-labeled concanavalin A revealed that much of the injectate remains in the footpad injection site but the mitogen also accumulates in the draining lymph nodes and eventually in the major organs. This model of lymphocyte activation was used to demonstrate that in vivo cyclosporin A inhibits both IL-2 receptor expression and the induction of spontaneous proliferation.     

Disappearance of energy-transfer as a tool for fluorimetric study of the degradation of enkephalins by aminopeptidase activity from mouse brain.

The breakdown of the Tyr-Gly bond of enkephalins by aminopeptidases from mouse striatum can be studied by following the disappearance of energy transfer between the tyrosine residue and the dimethylaminonaphtalene sulfonyl group (DNS) in the biologicaly active fluorescent enkephalin, Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-NH-(CH₂)₂-NH-DNS (Met-E-C₂-DNS). Such a process can be followed in a continuous mode yielding a simple method for the study of the effects of pH, temperature, etc… Furthermore, the enzymatic degradation of unsubstituted Met-E leads to several products, whereas Met-E-C₂-DNS gives only Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-NH-(CH₂)₂-DNS as the degradation product and behaves thus as a selective substrate in the study of aminopeptidases. This fluorimetric method should prove useful for studying the degradation of other neuropeptides or hormones containing one tyrosine or tryptophane residue in their sequence.     

Perceived wellbeing of patients one year post stroke in general practice - <Emphasis Type=Italic>recommendations for quality aftercare</Emphasis>

Background  

Annually, 41,000 people in the Netherlands have strokes. This has multiple physical and psychosocial consequences. Most patients return home after discharge from hospital. Quality aftercare by general practitioners is important to support patients at home. The purpose of this study is to examine the wellbeing of patients who returned home immediately after discharge from hospital, one year post stroke, in comparison with the general Dutch population of the same age and to determine factors that could influence wellbeing.     

Functional and structural insight into properdin control of complement alternative pathway amplification

Properdin (FP) is an essential positive regulator of the complement alternative pathway (AP) providing stabilization of the C3 and C5 convertases, but its oligomeric nature challenges structural analysis. We describe here a novel FP deficiency (E244K) caused by a single point mutation which results in a very low level of AP activity. Recombinant FP E244K is monomeric, fails to support bacteriolysis, and binds weakly to C3 products. We compare this to a monomeric unit excised from oligomeric FP, which is also dysfunctional in bacteriolysis but binds the AP proconvertase, C3 convertase, C3 products and partially stabilizes the convertase. The crystal structure of such a FP-convertase complex suggests that the major contact between FP and the AP convertase is mediated by a single FP thrombospondin repeat and a small region in C3b. Small angle X-ray scattering indicates that FP E244K is trapped in a compact conformation preventing its oligomerization. Our studies demonstrate an essential role of FP oligomerization in vivo while our monomers enable detailed structural insight paving the way for novel modulators of complement.