A steady-state kinetic analysis of the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-activated pyruvate kinase from Carcinus maenas hepatopancreas.

1. An investigation of the reaction mechanism of the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-activated pyruvate kinase isolated from the hepatopancreas of the crab Carcinus maenas was conducted. The enzyme was assayed in the presence of 500 microns-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, 75 mM-KCl and 8 mM-Mg2+free at 25 degrees C. The results are consistent with a rapid-equilibrium random mechanism. 2. Evidence is presented that suggests the formation of two mixed-substrate-product dead-end complexes, enzyme-ADP-pyruvate and enzyme-ADP-ATP. 3. Competitive substrate inhibition was observed for both substrates, ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate, suggesting the formation of the complexes enzyme-ADP-ADP and enzyme-phosphoenolpyruvate-phosphoenolpyruvate in the suggested mechanism. 4. Data from the ATP product-inhibition studies indicate the formation of the complex enzyme-ATP-ATP. This suggests that in the reverse reaction ATP also will show substrate inhibition. 5. The presence of a saturating concentration of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate does not cause full activation of the purified preparations of the enzyme. 6. Pyruvate kinase activity in the supernatant of a hepatopancreas homogenate was completely activated by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, suggesting that the binding of this ligand to the purified pyruvate kinase was impaired.     

Primary structural variation among serologically indistinguishable DS antigens: the MB3-bearing molecule in DR4 cells differs from the MB3-bearing molecule in DR5 cells

HLA-DS molecules bearing the MB3 supertypic specificity have been isolated from two DR4 and two DR5 homozygous cell lines by using the monoclonal antibody IVD12 . Limited amino-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of these molecules demonstrates polymorphism of the HLA-DS subregion. Although the distribution of amino-terminal tyrosine residues in the alpha-chains of all IVD12 -reactive molecules was identical, amino-terminal amino acid sequence differences existed between DS beta-chains isolated from these two groups of cell lines bearing different DR specificities. These studies indicate that two DS molecules bearing the same serologic determinant ( MB3 ), although similar to one another, may be structurally distinct.     

The kinetics of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase. Initial-velocity, substrate- and product-inhibition and isotopic-exchange studies of the reverse reaction.

1. An assay, based on the transfer of label from [gamma-32P]ATP to [32P]phosphoenolpyruvate, suitable for a steady-state kinetic analysis of pyruvate kinase in the reverse direction (i.e. phosphoenolpyruvate synthesis), is described. 2. This assay was used in a kinetic investigation of the rabbit muscle enzyme including initial-rate and product-inhibition experiments, at a pH of 7.4 and constant concentrations of total K+ and free Mg2+. 3. These studies indicate that there is a random release of ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate from the enzyme and that there is a competitive substrate inhibition by ATP. Some of the results were suggestive that the rapid-equilibrium assumption, generally used for this enzyme was not valid. 4. Techniques were developed to measure the rate of isotopic exchange between all the substrate-product pairs. 5. By using these techniques the rates of isotopic exchange at chemical equilibrium were measured. The results indicate that this enzyme does not catalyse a truly rapid-equilibrium random mechanism, although in the forward reaction all initial-rate data obtained to date are consistent with this assumption.     

Evidence that cortical granule formation is a periovulatory event in marsupials.

Formation of cortical granules was examined in superovulated oocytes from three marsupial species, brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) tammar wallabies (Macropus eugeniii) and grey short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica) and in oocytes obtained during natural cycles in Macropus eugenii. Superovulation was induced by pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin/gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (PMSG/GnRH) protocols and natural ovulation by removal of pouch young. Oocytes were collected after ovariectomy or by laparoscopically guided follicle aspiration into Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS) supplemented with either 2.5% fetal calf serum (FCS) or 2.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA). Ovulated oocytes were collected by removing and flushing the oviducts with HBSS and fixed immediately for electron microscopy. There were no differences in the morphology or timing of formation of cortical granules between superovulated and naturally cycling animals. Cortical granules were absent from germinal vesicle (GV) stage follicular oocytes before the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in all species. Dark cortical granules, similar in appearance to those seen in the oocytes of eutherian mammals, were found just beneath the plasma membrane (9 per 100 microns of plasma membrane) of preovulatory oocytes at germinal vesicle, metaphase 1 or anaphase 1 stages. In addition, they contained a number of less electron-dense cortical granules (12 per 100 microns plasma membrane). The cortical cytoplasm of preovulatory oocytes was rich in Golgi complexes actively involved in vesicle formation. Large numbers of dark cortical granules (90 per 100 microns plasma membrane) were found only in ovulated oocytes. A small number of cortical granules of lighter electron density were also present in ovulated oocytes. This suggests that the marsupial oocyte is following a very different timetable for cortical granule formation and accumulation from eutherian mammals and that oocytes of marsupials may not achieve cytoplasmic maturity until after ovulation. The significance of these events for fertilization and development remains to be established.     

Multiple effects of the cellular prion protein on tooth development

The role of the prion protein (PrP) in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies has been the focus of intense investigation. However, less is known about the physiological function of normal cellular PrP (PrP(C)). In adult human teeth, PrP(C) has been identified in odontoblasts, cementoblasts and epithelial remnants of Malassez. In this study, we have localized PrP(C) in developing human and mouse teeth, and investigated the function of PrP using a PrP-knockout (Prnp(0/0) ) mouse model. PrP(C) was detected in developing human and mouse ameloblasts and odontoblasts. In vitro, undifferentiated dental mesenchymal cells from embryonic day 18 (E18) Prnp(0/0) mouse molars proliferated much more rapidly compared to age-matched, wild-type (wt) mouse molar dental mesenchymal cells. Histochemistry and immunohistochemical analyses showed a subtle but measurable phenotype, with the absence of PrP resulting in earlier initiation of both dentin and enamel formation. Consistent with this finding, laser microdissected odontoblasts from newborn Prnp(0/0) mouse incisors had a reduced proliferation rate, as measured by the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and increased type 1 collagen mRNA expression. Dentin microhardness of the fully erupted molars was reduced and incisal enamel mineralization was delayed in Prnp(0/0) compared to age-matched wt mouse teeth. Taken together, these results suggest that PrP(C) affects multiple processes involved in tooth formation, through regulating the differentiation of ameloblasts and odontoblasts.     

Continuous Quinacrine Treatment Results in the Formation of Drug-Resistant Prions

Quinacrine is a potent antiprion compound in cell culture models of prion disease but has failed to show efficacy in animal bioassays and human clinical trials. Previous studies demonstrated that quinacrine inefficiently penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which could contribute to its lack of efficacy in vivo. As quinacrine is known to be a substrate for P-glycoprotein multi-drug resistance (MDR) transporters, we circumvented its poor BBB permeability by utilizing MDR^0/0 mice that are deficient in mdr1a and mdr1b genes. Mice treated with 40 mg/kg/day of quinacrine accumulated up to 100 µM of quinacrine in their brains without acute toxicity. PrP^Sc levels in the brains of prion-inoculated MDR^0/0 mice diminished upon the initiation of quinacrine treatment. However, this reduction was transient and PrP^Sc levels recovered despite the continuous administration of quinacrine. Treatment with quinacrine did not prolong the survival times of prion-inoculated, wild-type or MDR^0/0 mice compared to untreated mice. A similar phenomenon was observed in cultured differentiated prion-infected neuroblastoma cells: PrP^Sc levels initially decreased after quinacrine treatment then rapidly recovered after 3 d of continuous treatment. Biochemical characterization of PrP^Sc that persisted in the brains of quinacrine-treated mice had a lower conformational stability and different immunoaffinities compared to that found in the brains of untreated controls. These physical properties were not maintained upon passage in MDR^0/0 mice. From these data, we propose that quinacrine eliminates a specific subset of PrP^Sc conformers, resulting in the survival of drug-resistant prion conformations. Transient accumulation of this drug-resistant prion population provides a possible explanation for the lack of in vivo efficacy of quinacrine and other antiprion drugs.     

The Association between EGFR and cMET Expression and Phosphorylation and Its Prognostic Implication in Patients with Breast Cancer

EGFR and cMET cross-talk is involved in breast cancer (BC) progression and resistance to different targeted therapies, however little is known about the co-expression patterns of EGFR and cMET or its prognostic significance in BC. Protein levels of EGFR, cMET and their phosphorylated proteins were measured in 825 BC samples using reverse phase protein array (RPPA). Given unimodal distribution of proteins, the median was selected as a cut-off after sensitivity analyses. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Cox-proportional hazards models were utilized to determine associations between EGFR and cMET with outcomes. Mean age was 58 years with 457 (55%) hormone receptor (HR) positive, 211 (26%) triple-negative (TN) and 148 (18%) HER2 positive tumors (HER2+). HER2+ was associated with higher EGFR expression and phosphorylation, compared to HR and TN (p<0.05). High EGFR expression was associated with higher phosphorylated-cMET (p-cMET) but not cMET (ANOVA p-cMET p < 0.001; cMET p = 0.34). The same association was found with high phosphorylated-EGFR (p-EGFR) group at Tyr992 and Tyr1068 (both p < 0.001). High expressions in either of two p-EGFRs were linked with higher cMET as well (all p<0.001). For the TN subtype, high expression in EGFR and p-EGFR at Tyr992 but not at Tyr1068 was associated with higher p-cMET (p<0.00, p = 0.012, p = 0.4 respectively). Only high expression in p-EGFR at Tyr992 was linked with higher expression of cMET (p = 0.02). In contrast, among HER2 subtype, high expression in p-EGFR at Tyr1068 but not at Tyr992 was associated with higher cMET and p-cMET (cMET p = 0.023;p-cMET p<0.001). Four subgroups of patients defined by dichotomized EGFR/p-EGFR and cMET/p-cMET level demonstrated no significant differences in survival. In multivariate analyses, neither cMET nor EGFR expression/activation was found to be an independent prognostic factor in survival outcome.     

Amazonia trees have limited capacity to acclimate plant hydraulic properties in response to long‐term drought

The fate of tropical forests under future climate change is dependent on the capacity of their trees to adjust to drier conditions. The capacity of trees to withstand drought is likely to be determined by traits associated with their hydraulic systems. However, data on whether tropical trees can adjust hydraulic traits when experiencing drought remain rare. We measured plant hydraulic traits (e.g. hydraulic conductivity and embolism resistance) and plant hydraulic system status (e.g. leaf water potential, native embolism and safety margin) on >150 trees from 12 genera (36 species) and spanning a stem size range from 14 to 68 cm diameter at breast height at the world's only long‐running tropical forest drought experiment. Hydraulic traits showed no adjustment following 15 years of experimentally imposed moisture deficit. This failure to adjust resulted in these drought‐stressed trees experiencing significantly lower leaf water potentials, and higher, but variable, levels of native embolism in the branches. This result suggests that hydraulic damage caused by elevated levels of embolism is likely to be one of the key drivers of drought‐induced mortality following long‐term soil moisture deficit. We demonstrate that some hydraulic traits changed with tree size, however, the direction and magnitude of the change was controlled by taxonomic identity. Our results suggest that Amazonian trees, both small and large, have limited capacity to acclimate their hydraulic systems to future droughts, potentially making them more at risk of drought‐induced mortality.