Cloning, heterologous expression, and functional characterization of 5-epi-aristolochene-1,3-dihydroxylase from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)

Capsidiol is a bicyclic, dihydroxylated sesquiterpene produced by several solanaceous species in response to a variety of environmental stimuli. It is the primary antimicrobial compound produced by Nicotiana tabacum in response to fungal elicitation, and it is formed via the isoprenoid pathway from 5-epi-aristolochene. Much of the biosynthetic pathway for the formation of this compound has been elucidated, except for the enzyme(s) responsible for the conversion of 5-epi-aristolochene to its dihydroxylated form, capsidiol. Biochemical evidence from previous studies with N. tabacum (Whitehead, I. M., Threlfall, D. R., and Ewing, D. F., 1989, Phytochemistry 28, 775-779) and Capsicum annuum Hoshino, T., Yamaura, T., Imaishi, H., Chida, M., Yoshizawa, Y., Higashi, K., Ohkawa, H., Mizutani, J., 1995, Phytochemistry 38, 609-613. suggested that the oxidation of 5-epi-aristolochene to capsidiol was mediated by at least one elicitor-inducible cytochrome P450 hydroxylase. In extending these observations, we developed an in vivo assay for 5-epi-aristolochene hydroxylase activity and used it to demonstrate a dose-dependent inhibition of activity by ancymidol and ketoconazole, two well characterized inhibitors of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed to the well conserved domains found within most P450 enzymes, including the heme binding domain, cDNA fragments representing four distinct P450 families (CYP71, CYP73, CYP82, and CYP92) were amplified from a cDNA library prepared against mRNA from elicitor-treated cells using PCR. The PCR fragments were subsequently used to isolate full-length cDNAs (CYP71D20 and D21, CYP73A27 and A28, CYP82E1 and CYP92A5), and these in turn were used to demonstrate that the corresponding mRNAs were all induced in elicitor-treated cells, albeit with different induction patterns. Representative, full-length cDNAs for each of the P450s were engineered into a yeast expression system, and the recombinant yeast assessed for functional expression of P450 protein by measuring the CO difference spectra of the yeast microsomes. Only microsomal preparations from yeast expressing the CYP71D20 and CYP92A5 cDNAs exhibited significant CO difference absorbance spectra at 450 nm and were thus tested for their ability to hydroxylate 5-epi-aristolochene and 1-deoxycapsidiol, a putative mono-hydroxylated intermediate in capsidiol biosynthesis. Interestingly, the CYP71D20-encoded enzyme activity was capable of converting both 5-epi-aristolochene and 1-deoxycapsidiol to capsidiol in vitro, consistent with the notion that this P450 enzyme catalyzes both hydroxylations of its hydrocarbon substrate.     

Differential tolerance of body fluid dilution in two species of tropical hermit crabs: not due to osmotic/ionic regulation

The tropical intertidal hermit crabs Clibanarius taeniatus and Clibanarius virescens were examined for differences in survival and physiological responses in low salinity. We found that C. taeniatus survived better in dilute seawater than C. virescens and that these species did not differ in their abilities to regulate haemolymph osmolarity, ionic concentration of the haemolymph or body fluid volume. We also found no difference in oxygen consumption between the species when acutely exposed to a range of temperature and salinity combinations. It is concluded that the greater survival in dilute seawater by C. taeniatus compared to C. virescens is due to a greater tolerance of dilution of body fluids by C. taeniatus. Differences in tolerance to dilute seawater may influence the habitat preferences of these species within the same geographical area.     

Atomic resolution analysis of the catalytic site of an aspartic proteinase and an unexpected mode of binding by short peptides

The X-ray structures of native endothiapepsin and a complex with a hydroxyethylene transition state analog inhibitor (H261) have been determined at atomic resolution. Unrestrained refinement of the carboxyl groups of the enzyme by using the atomic resolution data indicates that both catalytic aspartates in the native enzyme share a single negative charge equally; that is, in the crystal, one half of the active sites have Asp 32 ionized and the other half have Asp 215 ionized. The electron density map of the native enzyme refined at 0.9 A resolution demonstrates that there is a short peptide (probably Ser-Thr) bound noncovalently in the active site cleft. The N-terminal nitrogen of the dipeptide interacts with the aspartate diad of the enzyme by hydrogen bonds involving the carboxyl of Asp 215 and the catalytic water molecule. This is consistent with classical findings that the aspartic proteinases can be inhibited weakly by short peptides and that these enzymes can catalyze transpeptidation reactions. The dipeptide may originate from autolysis of the N-terminal Ser-Thr sequence of the enzyme during crystallization.     

Evolutionary patterns and genetic structure in localized and widespread species in the Stylidium caricifolium complex (Stylidiaceae)

The Stylidium caricifolium (Stylidiaceae) complex consists of seven currently recognized species and a taxon of putative hybrid origin endemic to southwest Western Australia. These taxa vary in geographical distribution from widespread, extending over a range of 500 km, to extremely localized, covering a range of only 0.5 km. Patterns of allozyme variation were investigated in 61 populations covering all taxa and two closely related species. Measures of genetic diversity were consistently lower and in some cases significantly lower in four rare and geographically restricted taxa compared with their widespread relatives. In contrast, genetic diversity in two other localized taxa was comparable or higher than in the widespread taxa. The level of divergence among populations was moderate to high, with a significant trend of higher F(ST) values for the widespread species to lower values for the geographically restricted and rare taxa. Phylogenetic relationships and levels of divergence indicate that most taxa are probably relictual rather than recently evolved. Geographical localization and rarity in this complex can be attributed to a range of factors associated with habitat specificity, historical and ecological processes that characterize the southwest region, and mode of origin.     

Five atomic resolution structures of endothiapepsin inhibitor complexes: implications for the aspartic proteinase mechanism

Endothiapepsin is derived from the fungus Endothia parasitica and is a member of the aspartic proteinase class of enzymes. This class of enzyme is comprised of two structurally similar lobes, each lobe contributing an aspartic acid residue to form a catalytic dyad that acts to cleave the substrate peptide bond. The three-dimensional structures of endothiapepsin bound to five transition state analogue inhibitors (H189, H256, CP-80,794, PD-129,541 and PD-130,328) have been solved at atomic resolution allowing full anisotropic modelling of each complex. The active sites of the five structures have been studied with a view to studying the catalytic mechanism of the aspartic proteinases by locating the active site protons by carboxyl bond length differences and electron density analysis. In the CP-80,794 structure there is excellent electron density for the hydrogen on the inhibitory statine hydroxyl group which forms a hydrogen bond with the inner oxygen of Asp32. The location of this proton has implications for the catalytic mechanism of the aspartic proteinases as it is consistent with the proposed mechanism in which Asp32 is the negatively charged aspartate. A number of short hydrogen bonds (approximately 2.6 A) with ESD values of around 0.01 A that may have a role in catalysis have been identified within the active site of each structure; the lengths of these bonds have been confirmed using NMR techniques. The possibility and implications of low barrier hydrogen bonds in the active site are considered.     

Manipulation of dendritic cells as an approach to improved outcomes in transplantation

At the time of organ transplantation, a variety of non-parenchymal cells are transplanted simultaneously with the allograft. Recognition of the importance of these cells as potential immunostimulatory cells lead to the concept of 'passenger leukocytes' as the principal instigators of rejection. Passenger leukocytes include interstitial dendritic cells (DCs) and blood-derived monocytes/macrophages. As investigators have discovered the significance of DCs in influencing graft outcome, so have they begun to determine the best ways to influence DCs themselves. This review discusses the role of DCs in transplantation and then focuses on three different approaches for manipulating DCs to improve allograft survival: (1) targeting of chemokines involved in DC migration, (2) pharmacological arrest of DC maturation, and (3) genetic engineering of DCs.     

Inhibition of DNA replication by berenil in plasmids containing Poly(dA)poly(dT) sequences

The effect of berenil on plasmid DNA replication was studied on pBR322-derived plasmids containing poly(dA)poly(dT) sequences. In comparison to the parental plasmid pBR322, plasmid pKH47 harboring 100 bp of poly(dA)poly(dT) at the PvuII site showed a decrease in plasmid yield in the presence of berenil. This effect was also observed in pVL26, a related plasmid in which the location of the poly(dA)poly(dT) region had been shifted to the EcoRV site in pBR322. [(3)H]Thymidine incorporation experiments indicated that DNA synthesis may be affected in these plasmids in the presence of the drug. Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation experiments coupled to Cs(2)SO(4) equilibrium density gradient centrifugation indicated that the lower plasmid yield was due to an inhibition of DNA replication by berenil. We have also found that berenil induces DNA degradation in plasmids containing the homopolymer. Our studies strongly suggest that the effect of berenil on plasmid replication and DNA stability results from its binding to the poly(dA)poly(dT) region present in these plasmids. Moreover, we have found a correlation between the position of the poly(dA)poly(dT) region and this inhibitory effect. Thus, plasmid pKH47, containing the poly(dA)poly(dT) region most proximal to the origin of pBR322 replication, was most severely affected.     

Glitazones regulate glutamine metabolism by inducing a cellular acidosis in MDCK cells

We studied the effect of the antihyperglycemic glitazones, ciglitazone, troglitazone, and rosiglitazone, on glutamine metabolism in renal tubule-derived Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Troglitazone (25 microM) enhanced glucose uptake and lactate production by 108 and 92% (both P < 0.001). Glutamine utilization was not inhibited, but alanine formation decreased and ammonium formation increased (both P < 0.005). The decrease in net alanine formation occurred with a change in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) reactants, from close to equilibrium to away from equilibrium, consistent with inhibition of ALT activity. A shift of glutamine's amino nitrogen from alanine into ammonium was confirmed by using L-[2-(15)N]glutamine and measuring the [(15)N]alanine and [(15)N]ammonium production. The glitazone-induced shift from alanine to ammonium in glutamate metabolism was dose dependent, with troglitazone being twofold more potent than rosiglitazone and ciglitazone. All three glitazones induced a spontaneous cellular acidosis, reflecting impaired acid extrusion in responding to both an exogenous (NH) and an endogenous (lactic acid) load. Our findings are consistent with glitazones inducing a spontaneous cellular acidosis associated with a shift in glutamine amino nitrogen metabolism from predominantly anabolic into a catabolic pathway.     

The neprilysin (NEP) family of zinc metalloendopeptidases: genomics and function

Neprilysin (NEP), a thermolysin-like zinc metalloendopeptidase, plays an important role in turning off peptide signalling events at the cell surface. It is involved in the metabolism of a number of regulatory peptides of the mammalian nervous, cardiovascular, inflammatory and immune systems. Examples include enkephalins, tachykinins, natriuretic and chemotactic peptides. NEP is an integral plasma membrane ectopeptidase of the M13 family of zinc peptidases. Other related mammalian NEP-like enzymes include the endothelin-converting enzymes (ECE-1 and ECE-2), KELL and PEX. A number of novel mammalian homologues of NEP have also recently been described. NEP family members are potential therapeutic targets, for example in cardiovascular and inflammatory disorders, and potent and selective inhibitors such as phosphoramidon have contributed to understanding enzyme function. Inhibitor design should be facilitated by the recent three-dimensional structural solution of the NEP-phosphoramidon complex. For several of the family members, however, a well-defined physiological function or substrate is lacking. Knowledge of the complete genomes of Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster allows the full complement of NEP-like activities to be analysed in a single organism. These model organisms also provide convenient systems for examining cell-specific expression, developmental and functional roles of this peptidase family, and reveal the power of functional genomics.