Impaired nuclear translocation of CAR in hepatic preneoplastic lesions: association with an attenuated CYP2B induction by phenobarbital

Phenobarbital (PB) induction of CYP2B, a representative target gene of constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), has been observed to be attenuated in preneoplastic lesions of rat liver; however, molecular basis for this attenuation is poorly understood. In this report, we provide evidence indicating that the CAR expressed in the hepatic preneoplastic lesions of rats and mice was resistant to nuclear translocation and transactivation of the PB-responsive enhancer module upon PB treatment. These observations suggest that the attenuation of the induction of CYP2B by PB in hepatic preneoplastic lesions is evidently a consequence of impaired nuclear translocation of CAR.     

Client binding of Cdc37 is regulated intramolecularly and intermolecularly

Recently we showed that the glycine-rich loop in the N-terminal portion of protein kinases and the client-binding site of Cdc37 are both necessary for interaction between Cdc37 and protein kinases. We demonstrate here that the N-terminal portion of Cdc37, distinct from its client-binding site, interacts with the C-terminal portion of Raf-1. This interaction might expose the client-binding site of Cdc37. In addition, we provide evidence indicating that Cdc37 is monomeric in its physiological state, and that it becomes a dimer only when it is complexed with both Hsp90 and protein kinases.     

Anti-microtubule ‘plinabulin’ chemical probe KPU-244-B3 labeled both α- and β-tubulin

Plinabulin (1, NPI-2358), a potent microtubule-targeting agent derived from the natural diketopiperazine ‘phenylahistin’ with a colchicine-like tubulin depolymerization activity, is an anticancer agent undergoing Phase II clinical trials in four countries including the United States. In order to understand the precise binding mode of plinabulin with tubulin, a new bioactive biotin-tagged photoaffinity probe 4 (KPU-244-B3) was designed and synthesized. Probe 4 showed significant binding affinity to tubulin in a binding assay, and selectively bound to tubulin in an HT-1080 cell lysate without photo-irradiation. In a tubulin photoaffinity labeling study, probe 4 labeled both α- and β-tubulin subunits and these interactions were competitively inhibited by plinabulin during photo-irradiation. These results suggest that plinabulin binds in the boundary region between α- and β-tubulin near the colchicine binding site, and not inside the colchicine binding cavity.     

Fine‐tuned regulation of the K+/H+ antiporter KEA3 is required to optimize photosynthesis during induction

KEA3 is a thylakoid membrane localized K⁺/H⁺ antiporter that regulates photosynthesis by modulating two components of proton motive force (pmf), the proton gradient (?pH) and the electric potential (?ψ). We identified a mutant allele of KEA3, disturbed proton gradient regulation (dpgr) based on its reduced non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ) in artificial (CO₂‐free with low O₂) air. This phenotype was enhanced in the mutant backgrounds of PSI cyclic electron transport (pgr5 and crr2‐1). In ambient air, reduced NPQ was observed during induction of photosynthesis in dpgr, the phenotype that was enhanced after overnight dark adaptation. In contrast, the knockout allele of kea3‐1 exhibited a high‐NPQ phenotype during steady state in ambient air. Consistent with this kea3‐1 phenotype in ambient air, the membrane topology of KEA3 indicated a proton efflux from the thylakoid lumen to the stroma. The dpgr heterozygotes showed a semidominant and dominant phenotype in artificial and ambient air, respectively. In dpgr, the protein level of KEA3 was unaffected but the downregulation of its activity was probably disturbed. Our findings suggest that fine regulation of KEA3 activity is necessary for optimizing photosynthesis.     

Study of the structure-activity relationship of polymyxin analogues

A structure-activity relationship study on three classes of polymyxin analogues focusing on hydrophobicity was conducted.     

DNA topoisomerase II interacts with Lim15/Dmc1 in meiosis

Lim15/Dmc1 is a meiosis specific RecA-like protein. Here we propose its participation in meiotic chromosome pairing-related events along with DNA topoisomerase II. Analysis of protein–protein interactions using in vitro binding assays provided evidence that Coprinus cinereus DNA topoisomerase II (CcTopII) specifically interacts with C.cinereus Lim15/Dmc1 (CcLim15). Co-immunoprecipitation experiments also indicated that the CcLim15 protein interacts with CcTopII in vivo. Furthermore, a significant proportion of CcLim15 and CcTopII could be shown to co-localize on chromosomes from the leptotene to the zygotene stage. Interestingly, CcLim15 can potently activate the relaxation/catenation activity of CcTopII in vitro, and CcTopII suppresses CcLim15-dependent strand transfer activity. On the other hand, while enhancement of CcLim15's DNA-dependent ATPase activity by CcTopII was found in vitro, the same enzyme activity of CcTopII was inhibited by adding CcLim15. The interaction of CcLim15 and CcTopII may facilitate pairing of homologous chromosomes.     

Characterization of two β-decarboxylating dehydrogenases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sulfolobus acidocaldarius</Emphasis>

Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, a hyperthermoacidophilic archaeon, possesses two β-decarboxylating dehydrogenase genes, saci_0600 and saci_2375, in its genome, which suggests that it uses these enzymes for three similar reactions in lysine biosynthesis through 2-aminoadipate, leucine biosynthesis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. To elucidate their roles, these two genes were expressed in Escherichia coli in the present study and their gene products were characterized. Saci_0600 recognized 3-isopropylmalate as a substrate, but exhibited slight and no activity for homoisocitrate and isocitrate, respectively. Saci_2375 exhibited distinct and similar activities for isocitrate and homoisocitrate, but no detectable activity for 3-isopropylmalate. These results suggest that Saci_0600 is a 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase for leucine biosynthesis and Saci_2375 is a dual function enzyme serving as isocitrate-homoisocitrate dehydrogenase. The crystal structure of Saci_0600 was determined as a closed-form complex that binds 3-isopropylmalate and Mg²⁺, thereby revealing the structural basis for the extreme thermostability and novel-type recognition of the 3-isopropyl moiety of the substrate.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) interacts with a meiosis-specific RecA homologues, Lim15/Dmc1, but does not stimulate its strand transfer activity

PCNA is a multi-functional protein that is involved in various nuclear events. Here we show that PCNA participates in events occurring during early meiotic prophase. Analysis of protein-protein interactions using surface plasmon resonance indicates that Coprinus cinereus PCNA (CoPCNA) specifically interacts with a meiotic specific RecA-like factor, C. cinereus Lim15/Dmc1 (CoLim15) in vitro. The binding efficiency increases with addition of Mg(2+) ions, while ATP inhibits the interaction. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that the CoLim15 protein interacts with the CoPCNA protein in vitro and in the cell extracts. Despite the interaction between these two factors, no enhancement of CoLim15-dependent strand transfer activity by CoPCNA was found in vitro. We propose that the interaction between Lim15/Dmc1 and PCNA mediates the recombination-associated DNA synthesis during meiosis.     

Heterologous expression of tomato glycoside hydrolase family 3 α‐L‐arabinofuranosidase/β‐xylosidases in tobacco suspension cultured cells and synergic action of a family 51 isozyme under antisense suppression of the enzyme

Four cDNA clones (SlArf/Xyl1‐4) encoding α‐l ‐arabinofuranosidase/β‐xylosidase belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 3 were obtained from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit. SlArf/Xyl1 was expressed in various organs. Its level was particularly high in flower and leaves but low in fruit. SlArf/Xyl3 was highly expressed in flower. On the contrary, SlArf/Xyl2 and 4 were expressed in early developmental stage in various organs. Comparison with SlArf/Xyl4, SlArf/Xyl2 expression was observed in earlier stages. The active recombinant proteins were obtained by using BY‐2 tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) suspension cultured cells. The SlArf/Xyl1 and 2 recombinant proteins showed a bi‐functional activity of α‐l ‐arabinofuranosidase/β‐xylosidase while the SlArf/Xyl4 protein possessed a β‐xylosidase activity predominantly. Neither enzyme activities were detected for the SlArf/Xyl3 protein under the same conditions. Although SlArf/Xyl2 possessed a bi‐functional activity, it preferentially hydrolyzed arabinosyl residues from tomato hemicellulosic polysaccharides. Antisense suppression of SlArf/Xyl2 resulted in no apparent changes in the enzyme activities, monosaccharide composition or fruit phenotype. Increment of a family 51 α‐l ‐arabinofuranosidase expression rather than that of family 3 resulted in a restoring the activity in SlArf/Xyl2‐suppressed fruit. The ability of recombinant SlArf/Xyl2 to hydrolyze both arabinan and arabinoxylan is nearly identical to that of α‐l ‐arabinofuranosidases belonging to family 51. Our results suggested that BY‐2 cells are a useful expression system for obtaining active cell wall hydrolyzing enzymes. In addition, an α‐l ‐arabinofuranosidase activity derived from SlArf/Xyl2 would be essential in young organ development and the action of the enzyme could be restored by the other enzyme belonging to a different family under a defective condition.