Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 regulates the expression of caspase-11

Caspase-11 is an inducible caspase involved in the regulation of cell death and inflammation. In the present study, we examined whether apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (Ask1)-mediated signaling pathway is involved in the expression of caspase-11 induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We found that the induction of caspase-11 was suppressed by the inhibitors of NADPH oxidase (Nox) or knockdown of Nox4 that acts downstream of toll-like receptor 4 and generates Ask1-activating reactive oxygen species. Overexpression of dominant negative tumor necrosis factor receptor associate factor 6 also suppressed the induction of caspase-11. Importantly, knockdown or dominant negative form of Ask1 suppressed the induction of caspase-11 following LPS stimulation. Taken together, our results show that Ask1 regulates the expression of caspase-11 following LPS stimulation.     

An ABCG/WBC-type ABC transporter is essential for transport of sporopollenin precursors for exine formation in developing pollen

The exine of the pollen wall shows an intricate pattern, primarily comprising sporopollenin, a polymer of fatty acids and phenolic compounds. A series of enzymes synthesize sporopollenin precursors in tapetal cells, and the precursors are transported from the tapetum to the pollen surface. However, the mechanisms underlying the transport of sporopollenin precursors remain elusive. Here, we provide evidence that strongly suggests that the Arabidopsis ABC transporter ABCG26/WBC27 is involved in the transport of sporopollenin precursors. Two independent mutations at ABCG26 coding region caused drastic decrease in seed production. This defect was complemented by expression of ABCG26 driven by its native promoter. The severely reduced fertility of the abcg26 mutants was caused by a failure to produce mature pollen, observed initially as a defect in pollen-wall development. The reticulate pattern of the exine of wild-type microspores was absent in abcg26 microspores at the vacuolate stage, and the vast majority of the mutant pollen degenerated thereafter. ABCG26 was expressed specifically in tapetal cells at the early vacuolate stage of pollen development. It showed high co-expression with genes encoding enzymes required for sporopollenin precursor synthesis, i.e. CYP704B1, ACOS5, MS2 and CYP703A2. Similar to two other mutants with defects in pollen-wall deposition, abcg26 tapetal cells accumulated numerous vesicles and granules. Taken together, these results suggest that ABCG26 plays a crucial role in the transfer of sporopollenin lipid precursors from tapetal cells to anther locules, facilitating exine formation on the pollen surface.     

Total fatty acid content of the plasma membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is more responsible for ethanol tolerance than the degree of unsaturation

The effect of change in unsaturated fatty acid composition on ethanol tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae overexpressing ScOLE1 (?9 fatty acid desaturase gene of S. cerevisiae), CaFAD2 (?12 fatty acid desaturase gene of Candida albicans), or CaFAD3 (ω3 fatty acid desaturase gene of C. albicans) was examined. ScOLE1 over-expression increased the total unsaturated fatty acid content and enhanced ethanol tolerance, compared with a control strain. In contrast, overexpression of CaFAD2 and CaFAD3, which led to production of linoleic acid (18:2) and α-linolenic acid (18:3), respectively, neither changed total unsaturated fatty acids nor enhanced ethanol tolerance. The total unsaturated fatty acid content rather than the degree of unsaturation is thus an important factor for ethanol tolerance.     

The MHC class I-like IgG receptor controls perinatal IgG transport,IgG homeostasis,and fate of IgG-Fc-coupled drugs

Abs of the IgG isotype are efficiently transported from mother to neonate and have an extended serum t(1/2) compared with Abs of other isotypes. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the MHC class I-related protein, the neonatal FcR (FcRn), is the FcR responsible for both in vivo functions. To understand the phenotypes imposed by FcRn, we produced and analyzed mice with a defective FcRn gene. The results provide direct evidence that perinatal IgG transport and protection of IgG from catabolism are mediated by FcRn, and that the latter function is key to IgG homeostasis, essential for generating a potent IgG response to foreign Ags, and the basis of enhanced efficacy of Fc-IgG-based therapeutics. FcRn is therefore a promising therapeutic target for enhancing protective humoral immunity, treating autoimmune disease, and improving drug efficacy.     

Interaction of Par-6 and Crumbs complexes is essential for photoreceptor morphogenesis in Drosophila

Apicobasal cell polarity is crucial for morphogenesis of photoreceptor rhabdomeres and adherens junctions (AJs) in the Drosophila eye. Crumbs (Crb) is specifically localized to the apical membrane of photoreceptors, providing a positional cue for the organization of rhabdomeres and AJs. We show that the Crb complex consisting of Crb, Stardust (Sdt) and Discs-lost (Dlt) colocalizes with another protein complex containing Par-6 and atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) in the rhabdomere stalk of photoreceptors. Loss of each component of the Crb complex causes age-dependent mislocalization of Par-6 complex proteins, and ectopic expression of Crb intracellular domain is sufficient to recruit the Par-6 complex. We also show that the absence of Par-6 complex proteins results in severe mislocalization and loss of Crb complex. We further demonstrate that Dlt directly binds to Par-6, providing a molecular basis for the mutual dependence of the two complexes. These results suggest that the interaction of Crb and Par-6 complexes is required for the organization and maintenance of apical membranes and AJs of photoreceptors.     

Testing of divergent patterns of butterfly niche breadth in a peninsula

The butterfly fauna on the Korean peninsula are comprised of both the Palearctic and Oriental species. We hypothesized that the Oriental species (immigrated across the sea) tend to have a wider niche breadth compared with the Palearctic species (immigrated from the continent) since the former migrates long distances across the sea and has to adapt to new environments. We tested this hypothesis using Korean butterfly data on distribution, habitat, food and life history traits. The distribution and ecological traits such as habitat breadth, overwintering stage, and voltinism of the Oriental species were found to be significantly different from the Palearctic species. However, the diet breadth and food plant type were not different. These results partly confirm the peninsula niche breadth hypothesis, which predicted that Oriental species have a broader niche breadth than Palearctic species.     

Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate 5-Kinase Iγi2 in Association with Src Controls Anchorage-independent Growth of Tumor Cells

A fundamental property of tumor cells is to defy anoikis, cell death caused by a lack of cell-matrix interaction, and grow in an anchorage-independent manner. How tumor cells organize signaling molecules at the plasma membrane to sustain oncogenic signals in the absence of cell-matrix interactions remains poorly understood. Here, we describe a role for phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIPK) Iγi2 in controlling anchorage-independent growth of tumor cells in coordination with the proto-oncogene Src. PIPKIγi2 regulated Src activation downstream of growth factor receptors and integrins. PIPKIγi2 directly interacted with the C-terminal tail of Src and regulated its subcellular localization in concert with talin, a cytoskeletal protein targeted to focal adhesions. Co-expression of PIPKIγi2 and Src synergistically induced the anchorage-independent growth of nonmalignant cells. This study uncovers a novel mechanism where a phosphoinositide-synthesizing enzyme, PIPKIγi2, functions with the proto-oncogene Src, to regulate oncogenic signaling.