Loss of kindlin-1, a human homolog of the Caenorhabditis elegans actin-extracellular-matrix linker protein UNC-112, causes Kindler syndrome

Kindler syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by neonatal blistering, sun sensitivity, atrophy, abnormal pigmentation, and fragility of the skin. Linkage and homozygosity analysis in an isolated Panamanian cohort and in additional inbred families mapped the gene to 20p12.3. Loss-of-function mutations were identified in the FLJ20116 gene (renamed “KIND1” [encoding kindlin-1]). Kindlin-1 is a human homolog of the Caenorhabditis elegans protein UNC-112, a membrane-associated structural/signaling protein that has been implicated in linking the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Thus, Kindler syndrome is, to our knowledge, the first skin fragility disorder caused by a defect in actin-ECM linkage, rather than keratin-ECM linkage.     

Conserved signature proposed for folding in the lipocalin superfamily

We systematically identify a group of evolutionarily conserved residues proposed for folding in a model beta-barrel superfamily, the lipocalins. The nature of conservation at the structural level is defined and we show that the conserved residues are involved in a network of interactions that form the core of the fold. Exploratory kinetic studies are conducted with a model superfamily member, human serum retinol-binding protein, to examine their role. The present results, coupled with key experimental studies conducted with another lipocalin beta-lactoglobulin, suggest that the evolutionarily conserved regions fold on a faster folding time-scale than the non-conserved regions.     

Identification of collagen as a new fish allergen

This study was intended to identify a high molecular weight allergen that had been detected in fish. Analyses by ELISA of five protein fractions prepared from bigeye tuna muscle showed that the high molecular weight allergen was contained in the myostromal protein fraction. Based on the results of SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting and amino acid analysis of the myostromal protein fraction, the high molecular weight allergen was judged to be collagen. Five of the eight patient sera used were found to react to the bigeye tuna collagen. In competitive ELISA inhibition experiments, the bigeye tuna collagen almost completely inhibited the IgE reactivity to the heated extracts from five species of fish, suggesting that collagen is commonly allergic regardless of fish species. However, no antigenic cross-reactivity was observed between collagens from fish and other animals.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of activity of myristoyl-coenzyme A:protein N-myristoyltransferase

Myristoyl-coenzyme A (CoA):protein N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) catalyzes the covalent attachment of myristate to the N-terminal glycine residue of various proteins. To develop a high-throughput assay for NMT, the principle of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used, in which anti-N-myristoylglycine (anti-N-Myr-Gly) monoclonal antibody is utilized for the detection of the N-myristoylglycine moiety of the product of NMT catalysis. Enzyme-catalyzed reaction was performed using recombinant NMT expressed in Escherichia coli, myristoyl-CoA, and an octapeptide substrate that is biotinylated at its C terminus. The mixture of the products of the reaction was added to immunoplate wells precoated with anti-N-Myr-Gly monoclonal antibody. Then, the N-myristoyl-biotinylated octapeptide product was specifically captured by the antibody and stained with streptavidin-biotinylated peroxidase and tetramethylbenzidine substrate. This was followed by absorbance measurement (lambda(450)-lambda(630)). In this ELISA, the calibration curve showed a strong correlation between the concentration of the synthetic N-myristoyl-biotinylated octapeptide and the absorbance, indicating that this system may be useful for enzyme kinetics studies. Using this ELISA system, we assayed for serinal derivatives to determine their NMT inhibitory activity and found that serinal bisulfite inhibits yeast NMT activity. This is the first report of the measurement of NMT activity by the ELISA system.     

Two-state conformational changes in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor regulated by calcium

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) is a highly controlled calcium (Ca2+) channel gated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). Multiple regulators modulate IP3-triggered pore opening by binding to discrete allosteric sites within IP3R. Accordingly we have postulated that these regulators structurally control ligand gating behavior; however, no structural evidence has been available. Here we show that Ca2+, the most pivotal regulator, induced marked structural changes in the tetrameric IP3R purified from mouse cerebella. Electron microscopy of the IP3R particles revealed two distinct structures with 4-fold symmetry: a windmill structure and a square structure. Ca2+ reversibly promoted a transition from the square to the windmill with relocations of four peripheral IP3-binding domains, assigned by binding to heparin-gold. Ca2+-dependent susceptibilities to limited digestion strongly support the notion that these alterations exist. Thus, Ca2+ appeared to regulate IP3 gating activity through the rearrangement of functional domains.     

Effect of epidermal growth factor on intestinal adaptation after allogeneic small bowel transplantation in rats

We reported that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated graft adaptation in a rat model of syngeneic small bowel transplantation. However, graft rejection is a severe problem with clinical small bowel transplantation, because small intestinal wall contains large amounts of lymphoid tissue. Studies were performed to investigate the effect of EGF on allogeneic graft adaptation after small bowel transplantation in rats treated with an immunosuppressant FK506. The transplanted animals received intraperitoneally EGF or saline (untreated) after surgery and were examined for analysis one week later. EGF-treated group markedly enhanced the water absorption and induction of sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLTI) as compared with EGF-untreated group. EGF-treated group also increased the mucosal crypt depth and its cell proliferating rate, although there was no significant difference in the mucosal villus height between the two groups. These results indicate that EGF accelerates intestinal allograft adaptation in part by the recovery of mucosal structure and function after small bowel transplantation in rats. EGF may have relevance to promote graft function in clinical small intestinal transplantation.     

A role of methionine 100 in facilitating PYP(M)-decay process in the photocycle of photoactive yellow protein

PYP (photoactive yellow protein) is a photoreceptor protein, which is activated upon photo-isomerization of the p-coumaric acid chromophore and is inactivated as the chromophore is thermally back-isomerized within a second (in PYP(M)-to-PYP(dark) conversion). Here we have examined the mechanism of the rapid thermal isomerization by analyzing mutant PYPs of Met100, which was previously shown to play a major role in facilitating the reaction [Devanathan, S. et al. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 11563-11568]. The mutation to Lys, Leu, Ala, or Glu decelerated the dark state recovery by one to three orders of magnitude. By evaluating temperature-dependence of the kinetics, it was found that the retardation resulted unequivocally from elevations of activation enthalpy (DeltaH( double dagger )) but not the other parameters such as activation entropy or heat capacity changes. Another effect exerted by the mutations was an up-shift of the apparent pK(a) of the chromophore [the pK(a) of a titratable group (X) that controls the pK(a) of the chromophore] in the PYP(M)-decay process. The pK(a) up-shift and the DeltaH( double dagger ) elevation show an approximately linear correlation. We, therefore, postulate that the role of Met100 is to reduce the energy barrier of the PYP(M)-decay process by an indirect interaction through X and that the process is thereby facilitated.     

The chaperone activity of protein disulfide isomerase is affected by cyclophilin B and cyclosporin A in vitro

To elucidate the function of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), we screened for PDI-binding proteins in a bovine liver extract using affinity column chromatography. One of the binding proteins was identified by SDS-PAGE and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis to be cyclophilin B (Cyp B). Use of the BIACORE system revealed that purified bovine Cyp B bound specifically to bovine PDI with a K(D) value of 1.19 x 10(-5) M. Interestingly, the binding affinity between PDI and Cyp B was strengthened by preincubation of the Cyp B with cyclosporin A (CsA), yielding a K(D) value of 3.67 x 10(-6) M. Although the interaction between PDI and Cyp B affected neither the isomerase activity of PDI nor the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity of Cyp B, Cyp B increased the chaperone activity of PDI. However, the complex of Cyp B and CsA completely inhibited the chaperone activity of PDI. Thus, PDI and Cyp B appear to cooperate with each other to regulate the functional expression of proteins in vivo.     

Light-induced unfolding of photoactive yellow protein mutant M100L

Light-activation of the PAS domain protein photoactive yellow protein (PYP) is believed to trigger a negative phototactic response in the phototropic bacterium Halorhodospira halophila. To investigate transient conformational changes of the PYP photocycle, we utilized the PYP mutant M100L that displays an increased lifetime of the putative signaling-state photointermediate PYP(M) by 3 orders of magnitude, as previously reported for the M100A mutant [Devanathan, S., Genick, U. K., Canestrelli, I. L., Meyer, T. E., Cusanovich, M. A., Getzoff, E. D., and Tollin, G. Biochemistry (1998) 37, 11563-11568]. The FTIR difference spectrum of PYP(M) and the ground state of M100L demonstrated extensive peptide-backbone structural changes as observed in the FTIR difference spectrum of the wild-type protein and PYP(M). The conformational change investigated by CD spectroscopy in the far-UV region showed reduction of the alpha-helical content by approximately 40%, indicating a considerable amount of changes in the secondary structure. The optical activity of the p-coumaric acid chromophore completely vanished upon PYP(M) in contrast to the dark state, indicating deformation of the binding pocket structure in PYP(M). The tertiary structural changes were further monitored by small-angle X-ray scattering measurements, which demonstrated a significant increase of the radius of gyration of the molecule by approximately 5% in PYP(M). These structural changes were reversed concomitantly with the chromophore anionization upon the dark state recovery. The observed changes of the quantities provided a more vivid view of the structural changes of the mutant PYP in going from PYP(M) to PYP(dark), which can be regarded as a process of folding of the secondary and the tertiary structures of the "PAS" domain structure, coupled with the p-coumaric acid chromophore deprotonation and isomerization.