Dictyostelium calcium-binding protein 4a interacts with nucleomorphin, a BRCT-domain protein that regulates nuclear number

Nucleomorphin from Dictyostelium discoideum is a nuclear calmodulin-binding protein that is a member of the BRCT-domain containing cell cycle checkpoint proteins. Two differentially expressed isoforms, NumA and NumB, share an extensive acidic domain (DEED) that when deleted produces highly multinucleated cells. We performed a yeast two-hybrid screen of a Dictyostelium cDNA library using NumA as bait. Here we show that nucleomorphin interacts with calcium-binding protein 4a (CBP4a) in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Further deletion analysis suggests this interaction requires residues found within the DEED domain. NumA and CBP4a mRNAs are expressed at the same stages of development. CBP4a belongs to a large family of Dictyostelium CBPs, for which no cellular or developmental functions had previously been determined. Since the interaction of CBP4a with nucleomorphin requires the DEED domain, this suggests that CBP4a may respond to Ca(2+)-signalling through modulating factors that might function in concert to regulate nuclear number.     

Nucleocytoplasmic transfer of cyclin dependent kinase 5 and its binding to puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyostelium discoideum</Emphasis>

The Dictyostelium discoideum homolog of mammalian cyclin dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) has previously been shown to be required for optimal growth and differentiation in this model organism, however, the subcellular localization of the protein has not previously been studied. In this study, immunolocalizations and a GFP fusion construct localized Cdk5 predominantly to the nucleus of vegetative cells. Western blots showed that Cdk5 was present in both nuclear and non-nuclear fractions, suggesting a functional role in both cellular locales. During the early stages of mitosis, Cdk5 gradually moved from a punctate nucleoplasmic distribution to localize adjacent to the inner nuclear envelope. During anaphase and telophase, Cdk5 localized to the cytoplasm and was not detected in the nucleoplasm. Cdk5 returned to the nucleus during cytokinesis. Proteolytic activity has been shown to be a critical regulator of the cell cycle. Immunoprecipitations coupled with immunolocalizations identified puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase A (PsaA) as a potential Cdk5 binding partner in Dictyostelium. Immunoprecipitations also identified two phosphotyrosine proteins (35 and 18 kDa) that may interact with Cdk5 in vivo. Together, this work provides new insight into the localization of Cdk5, its function during cell division, and its binding to a proteolytic enzyme in Dictyostelium.     

Impaired platelet aggregation and sustained bleeding in mice lacking the fibrinogen motif bound by integrin alpha IIb beta 3.

Blood loss at sites of vascular rupture is controlled by the adhesion and aggregation of platelets and the formation of an insoluble fibrin matrix. Fibrinogen is considered to be critical in these processes by both providing an abundant dimeric ligand for alpha IIb beta 3-mediated platelet aggregation, and serving as the fundamental building block of the fibrin polymer. To establish an in vivo model system to examine in detail the importance of alpha IIb beta 3-fibrinogen interactions in platelet function, hemostasis, response to injury and vasoocclusive disease, and to test the prevailing hypothesis that the C-terminal segment of the fibrinogen gamma chain is essential for alpha IIb beta 3 binding, we have used gene-targeting technology in mice to eliminate the last five residues (QAGDV) from the gamma chain. Mice homozygous for the modified gamma chain gene (gamma delta 5/gamma delta 5) displayed a generally normal hematological profile, including normal platelet count, plasma fibrinogen level, clotting time and fibrin crosslinking. However, both gamma delta 5-fibrinogen binding to alpha IIb beta 3 and platelet aggregation were highly defective. Remarkably, another alpha IIb beta 3-dependent process, clot retraction, was unaffected by the gamma delta 5 mutation. Despite the preservation of clotting function, gamma delta 5/gamma delta 5 mice were unable to control blood loss following a surgical challenge and occasionally developed fatal neonatal bleeding events.     

The developmental patterns of lysosomal enzyme activities during Ca++-induced sporangium formation in Achlya bisexualis

The present paper describes intracellular changes in α-mannosidase specific activity during Ca⁺⁺-induced sporangium formation in the water mold Achlya bisexualis. The enzyme, which is concentrated in a cellular fraction with lysosome-like characteristics, undergoes a four-fold increase during sporangium differentiation. Addition of cycloheximide (100 μg/ml) or actinomycin D (10 μg/ml) at any time during the developmental sequence prevents further increase in the enzyme activity. These data suggest that coincident RNA and protein synthesis are essential for the accumulation of enzyme activity. Mixing of cell extracts from different developmental stages provides evidence that activators or inhibitors of the enzyme activity are not responsible for the enzyme activity evident at the different stages.     

Regulation of glutamine synthetase in the blue-green alga Anabaena flos-aquae

Glutamine synthetase (GS) was isolated from log phase cells and purified to a single protein as evidenced by gel electrophoresis. Protamine and ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Bio-Gel resulted in 380-fold purification. The enzyme was most sensitive to alanine (85% inhibition at 0.1 mM) but was also inhibited by glycine, arginine and serine. Combinations of inhibitory amino acids or nucleotides (AMP, ADP, ATP) exhibited cumulative inhibition. Cooperative inhibition was noted with CTP and any single nucleotide. Inhibition by CTP alone was uncompetitive with respect to glutamine. The enzyme was also regulated by the energy charge of the cell.     

Mesenchymal stem cell-based HSP70 promoter-driven VEGFA induction by resveratrol promotes angiogenesis in a mouse model

Several studies of stem cell-based gene therapy have indicated that long-lasting regeneration following vessel ischemia may be stimulated through VEGFA gene therapy and/or MSC transplantation for reduction of ischemic injury in limb ischemia and heart failure. The therapeutic potential of MSC transplantation can be further improved by genetically modifying MSCs with genes which enhance angiogenesis following ischemic injury. In the present study, we aimed to develop an approach in MSC-based therapy for repair and mitigation of ischemic injury and regeneration of damaged tissues in ischemic disease. HSP70 promoter-driven VEGFA expression was induced by resveratrol (RSV) in MSCs, and in combination with known RSV biological functions, the protective effects of our approach were investigated by using ex vivo aortic ring coculture system and a 3D scaffolds in vivo model. Results of this investigation demonstrated that HSP promoter-driven VEGFA expression in MSC increased approximately 2-fold over the background VEGFA levels upon HSP70 promoter induction by RSV. Exposure of HUVEC cells to medium containing MSC in which VEGFA had been induced by cis-RSV enhanced tube formation in the treated HUVEC cells. RSV-treated MSC cells differentiated into endothelial-like phenotypes, exhibiting markedly elevated expression of endothelial cell markers. These MSCs also induced aortic ring sprouting, characteristic of neovascular formation from pre-existing vessels, and additionally promoted neovascularization at the MSC transplantation site in a mouse model. These observations support a hypothesis that VEGFA expression induced by cis-RSV acting on the HSP70 promoter in transplanted MSC augments the angiogenic effects of stem cell gene therapy. The use of an inducible system also vastly reduces possible clinical risks associated with constitutive VEGFA expression.     

Differentiation inducing factor-1 (DIF-1) induces gene and protein expression of the Dictyostelium nuclear calmodulin-binding protein nucleomorphin

The nucleomorphin gene numA1 from Dictyostelium codes for a multi-domain, calmodulin binding protein that regulates nuclear number. To gain insight into the regulation of numA, we assessed the effects of the stalk cell differentiation inducing factor-1 (DIF-1), an extracellular signalling molecule, on the expression of numA1 RNA and protein. For comparison, the extracellular signalling molecules cAMP (mediates chemotaxis, prestalk and prespore differentiation) and ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺; antagonizes DIF) were also studied. Starvation, which is a signal for multicellular development, results in a greater than 80% decrease in numA1 mRNA expression within 4 h. Treatment with ammonium chloride led to a greater than 90% inhibition of numA1 RNA expression within 2 h. In contrast, the addition of DIF-1 completely blocked the decrease in numA1 gene expression caused by starvation. Treatment of vegetative cells with cAMP led to decreases in numA1 RNA expression that were equivalent to those seen with starvation. Western blotting after various morphogen treatments showed that the maintenance of vegetative levels of numA1 RNA by DIF-1 in starved cells was reflected in significantly increased numA1 protein levels. Treatment with cAMP and/or ammonia led to decreased protein expression and each of these morphogens suppressed the stimulatory effects of DIF-1. Protein expression levels of CBP4a, a calcium-dependent binding partner of numA1, were regulated in the same manner as numA1 suggesting this potential co-regulation may be related to their functional relationship. NumA1 is the first calmodulin binding protein shown to be regulated by developmental morphogens in Dictyostelium being upregulated by DIF-1 and down-regulated by cAMP and ammonia.     

The antiestrogen ICI 182,780 decreases the expression of estrogen receptor-alpha but has no effect on estrogen receptor-beta and androgen receptor in rat efferent ductules

Background  

The antiestrogen ICI 182,780 has been used successfully as an alternative experimental model for the study of estrogen action in the rodent adult male reproductive tract. Although ICI 182,780 causes severe alterations in testicular and efferent ductule morphology and function, the effects on the expression of estrogen and androgen receptors in the male have not been shown.     

Nucleomorphin. A novel, acidic, nuclear calmodulin-binding protein from dictyostelium that regulates nuclear number

Probing of Dictyostelium discoideum cell extracts after SDS-PAGE using (35)S-recombinant calmodulin (CaM) as a probe has revealed approximately three-dozen Ca(2+)-dependent calmodulin binding proteins. Here, we report the molecular cloning, expression, and subcellular localization of a gene encoding a novel calmodulin-binding protein (CaMBP); we have called nucleomorphin, from D. discoideum. A lambdaZAP cDNA expression library of cells from multicellular development was screened using a recombinant calmodulin probe ((35)S-VU1-CaM). The open reading frame of 1119 nucleotides encodes a polypeptide of 340 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 38.7 kDa and is constitutively expressed throughout the Dictyostelium life cycle. Nucleomorphin contains a highly acidic glutamic/aspartic acid inverted repeat (DEED) with significant similarity to the conserved nucleoplasmin domain and a putative transmembrane domain in the carboxyl-terminal region. Southern blotting reveals that nucleomorphin exists as a single copy gene. Using gel overlay assays and CaM-agarose we show that bacterially expressed nucleomorphin binds to bovine CaM in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Amino-terminal fusion to the green fluorescence protein (GFP) showed that GFP-NumA localized to the nucleus as distinct arc-like patterns similar to heterochromatin regions. GFP-NumA lacking the acidic DEED repeat still showed arc-like accumulations at the nuclear periphery, but the number of nuclei in these cells was increased markedly compared with control cells. Cells expressing GFP-NumA lacking the transmembrane domain localized to the nuclear periphery but did not affect nuclear number or gross morphology. Nucleomorphin is the first nuclear CaMBP to be identified in Dictyostelium. Furthermore, these data present the first identification of a member of the nucleoplasmin family as a calmodulin-binding protein and suggest nucleomorphin has a role in nuclear structure in Dictyostelium.     

Intracellular and extracellular CM-cellulase and β-glucosidase activity during germination of Polysphondylium pallidum microcysts

Germinating microcysts of Polysphondylium pallidum possess the ability to digest carboxymethyl cellulose to its glucose subunits. This CM-cellulase activity, which is cycloheximide-sensitive, increases several-fold intracellularly during germination and is excreted into the extracellular medium. Augmentation of the extracellular level of cellulase enhances emergence of amoebae from microcysts, suggesting that this activity is critical for germination. The inhibition of -glucosidase activity with d-gluconic acid lactone also inhibits emergence, implicating this enzyme in germination as well.