Identification of the catalytic nucleophile of the family 29 alpha-L-fucosidase from Sulfolobus solfataricus via chemical rescue of an inactive mutant

We have recently reported that a functional alpha-L-fucosidase could be expressed by a single insertional mutation in the region of overlap between the ORFs SSO11867 and SSO3060 of the hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus [Cobucci-Ponzano et al. J. Biol. Chem. (2003) 278, 14622-14631]. This enzyme, belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 29 (GH29), showed micromolar specificity for p-nitrophenyl-alpha-L-fucoside (pNp-Fuc) and promoted transfucosylation reactions by following a reaction mechanism in which the products retained the anomeric configuration of the substrate. The active site residues in GH29 enzymes are still unknown. We describe here the identification of the catalytic nucleophile of the reaction in the alpha-L-fucosidase from S. solfataricus by reactivation with sodium azide of the mutant Asp242Gly that shows a 10(3)-fold activity reduction on pNp-Fuc. The detailed stereochemical analysis of the fucosyl-azide produced by the mutant reactivated on pNp-Fuc revealed its inverted (beta-fucosyl azide) configuration compared with the substrate. This allows for the first time the unambiguous assignment of Asp242, and its homologous residues, as the nucleophilic catalytic residues of GH29 alpha-L-fucosidases. This is the first time that this approach is used for alpha-L-glycosidases, widening the applicability of this method.     

Large and dissimilar repertoire of Melan-A/MART-1-specific CTL in metastatic lesions and blood of a melanoma patient

It is widely accepted that the repertoire of Melan-A-specific T cells naturally selected in melanoma patients is diverse and mostly nonoverlapping among different individuals. To date, however, no studies have addressed the TCR profile in different tumor sites and the peripheral blood from the same patient. We compared the TCR usage of Melan-A-specific T cells from different compartments of a single melanoma patient to evaluate possible clonotype expansion or preferential homing over a 4-mo follow-up period. Using HLA-A2 peptide tetramers, CD8(+) T cells recognizing the modified Melan-A immunodominant ELAGIGILTV peptide were isolated from four metastatic lesions resected from a single melanoma patient, and their TCR repertoire was studied. A panel of T cell clones was generated by cell cloning of tetramer-positive cells. Analysis of the TCR beta-chain V segment and the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) length and sequence revealed a large diversity in the TCR repertoire, with only some of the clones showing a partial conservation in the CDR3. A similar degree of diversity was found by analyzing a number of T cell clones obtained after sorting a Melan-A-specific population derived from PBLs of the same patient after in vitro culture with the immunodominant epitope. Moreover, clonotypes found at one site were not present in another, suggesting the lack of expansion and circulation of one or more clonotypes. Taken together, these results buttress the notion that the CTLs recognizing the immunodominant Ag of Melan-A comprise a high number of different clonotypic TCR, of which only some exhibit common features in the CDR3.     

The protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 regulates the phosphorylation of alpha-actinin

Platelet activation triggers integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3)-dependent signals and the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoskeletal protein alpha-actinin. We have previously reported that alpha-actinin is phosphorylated by the focal adhesion kinase (FAK). In this study, a phosphatase of 68 kDa that dephosphorylated alpha-actinin in vitro was isolated from platelet lysates by three sequential chromatography steps. The phosphatase was identified as SHP-1 by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. alpha-Actinin was dephosphorylated in vitro by recombinant SHP-1 and by SHP-1 immunoprecipitated from unstimulated or thrombin-stimulated platelet lysates. SHP-1 immunoprecipitated from lysates of platelets adherent to fibrinogen, however, failed to dephosphorylate alpha-actinin. In contrast, the activity of SHP-1 against a synthetic substrate was not affected by the mode of platelet activation. The robust and sustained phosphorylation of alpha-actinin detected in platelets adherent to fibrinogen thus correlates with a decrease in the activity of SHP-1 toward it. Tyrosine phosphorylation of alpha-actinin is seen in vanadate-treated COS-7 cells that are co-transfected with alpha-actinin and wild type FAK. Triple transfection of the cells with cDNAs encoding for alpha-actinin, FAK, and wild type SHP-1 abolished the phosphorylation of alpha-actinin. The phosphorylation of FAK, however, was barely affected by the expression of wild type SHP-1. Both alpha-actinin and FAK were phosphorylated in cells co-expressing alpha-actinin, FAK, and a catalytic domain mutant (C453S) of SHP-1. These findings establish that SHP-1 can dephosphorylate alpha-actinin in vitro and in vivo and suggest that SHP-1 may regulate the tethering of receptors to the cytoskeleton and/or the extent of cross-linking of actin filaments in cells such as platelets.     

Water quality and phytoplankton community structure in mangrove streams under different logging regimes in Cameroon

Mangrove logging is rampant, and its effects on phytoplankton dynamics have not been investigated. Phytoplankton are valuable in biomonitoring pollution in mangrove ecosystems. This study assessed the relationship between physico‐chemical characteristics of the water and observed phytoplankton community structure, in relation to anthropogenic activities. Water samples were collected from seven sites within the mangrove ecosystem that differed in wood harvesting age and proximity to human settlements. Characterization of samples followed standard methods. pH of all water samples indicated acidity. Phytoplankton species richness and soluble P were positively correlated (r = 0.822, P ≤ 0.023), but no correlations existed with logging age (r = ?0.273, P = 0553). The site with highest soluble phosphorus concentration (Site 4) had highest phytoplankton abundance, diversity and richness. A total of 127 species were identified in 58 families. Euglenaceae was the most abundant family (13 species) and Anacystis sp. the most frequent species (100%). The most common genera were Microcystis and Anacystis, bioindicators of pollution. The site at which harvesting was most recently performed had more eutrophic species, while site harvested earliest (Site 5) had the least. These results are discussed with respect to how anthropogenic activities influence water quality, phytoplankton community structure, mangrove conservation and management.     

Modulation of Protease Activated Receptor 1 Influences Human Metapneumovirus Disease Severity in a Mouse Model

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection causes acute respiratory tract infections (RTI) which can result in hospitalization of both children and adults. To date, no antiviral or vaccine is available for this common viral infection. Immunomodulators could represent an interesting strategy for the treatment of severe viral infection. Recently, the role of protease-activated receptors (PAR) in inflammation, coagulation and infection processes has been of growing interest. Herein, the effects of a PAR1 agonist and a PAR1 antagonist on hMPV infection were investigated in BALB/c mice. Intranasal administration of the PAR1 agonist resulted in increased weight loss and mortality of infected mice. Conversely, the PAR1 antagonist was beneficial to hMPV infection by decreasing weight loss and clinical signs and by significantly reducing pulmonary inflammation, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (including IL-6, KC and MCP-1) and recruitment of immune cells to the lungs. In addition, a significant reduction in pulmonary viral titers was also observed in the lungs of PAR1 antagonist-treated mice. Despite no apparent direct effect on virus replication during in vitro experiments, an important role for PAR1 in the regulation of furin expression in the lungs was shown for the first time. Further experiments indicated that the hMPV fusion protein can be cleaved by furin thus suggesting that PAR1 could have an effect on viral infectivity in addition to its immunomodulatory properties. Thus, inhibition of PAR1 by selected antagonists could represent an interesting strategy for decreasing the severity of paramyxovirus infections.     

Dynamics of Vaginal Bacterial Communities in Women Developing Bacterial Vaginosis, Candidiasis, or No Infection, Analyzed by PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis and Real-Time PCR

The microbial flora of the vagina plays a major role in preventing genital infections, including bacterial vaginosis (BV) and candidiasis (CA). An integrated approach based on PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and real-time PCR was used to study the structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in vaginal fluids of healthy women and patients developing BV and CA. Universal eubacterial primers and Lactobacillus genus-specific primers, both targeted at 16S rRNA genes, were used in DGGE and real-time PCR analysis, respectively. The DGGE profiles revealed that the vaginal flora was dominated by Lactobacillus species under healthy conditions, whereas several potentially pathogenic bacteria were present in the flora of women with BV. Lactobacilli were the predominant bacterial population in the vagina for patients affected by CA, but changes in the composition of Lactobacillus species were observed. Real-time PCR analysis allowed the quantitative estimation of variations in lactobacilli associated with BV and CA diseases. A statistically significant decrease in the relative abundance of lactobacilli was found in vaginal fluids of patients with BV compared to the relative abundance of lactobacilli in the vaginal fluids of healthy women and patients with CA.     

Interacting Effects of Discharge and Channel Morphology on Transport of Semibuoyant Fish Eggs in Large,Altered River Systems

Habitat fragmentation and flow regulation are significant factors related to the decline and extinction of freshwater biota. Pelagic-broadcast spawning cyprinids require moving water and some length of unfragmented stream to complete their life cycle. However, it is unknown how discharge and habitat features interact at multiple spatial scales to alter the transport of semi-buoyant fish eggs. Our objective was to assess the relationship between downstream drift of semi-buoyant egg surrogates (gellan beads) and discharge and habitat complexity. We quantified transport time of a known quantity of beads using 2–3 sampling devices at each of seven locations on the North Canadian and Canadian rivers. Transport time was assessed based on median capture time (time at which 50% of beads were captured) and sampling period (time period when 2.5% and 97.5% of beads were captured). Habitat complexity was assessed by calculating width∶depth ratios at each site, and several habitat metrics determined using analyses of aerial photographs. Median time of egg capture was negatively correlated to site discharge. The temporal extent of the sampling period at each site was negatively correlated to both site discharge and habitat-patch dispersion. Our results highlight the role of discharge in driving transport times, but also indicate that higher dispersion of habitat patches relates to increased retention of beads within the river. These results could be used to target restoration activities or prioritize water use to create and maintain habitat complexity within large, fragmented river systems.