Functional domains in introns: trans-acting and cis-acting regions of intron 4 of the cob gene

We have sequenced the mutational changes in eight mutants in the open reading frame of intron 4 of the cob gene on yeast mitochondrial DNA. Three have a cis-acting splicing defect, while the other inactivate a trans-recessive intron domain that specifies a trans-acting splicing factor. From phenotypic evidence, including analyses of the allele-specific extra proteins, we have identified a protein (P27) encoded wholly within the intron that appears to be the intron 4 splicing factor (maturase). The evidence suggests that P27 is a secondary translation product resulting from the proteolytic cleavage of a larger precursor encoded by exon and intron sequences, but an alternative model, in which P27 is a primary translation product, has not been ruled out.     

Novel interactions of ESCRT-III with LIP5 and VPS4 and their implications for ESCRT-III disassembly

The AAA+ ATPase VPS4 plays an essential role in multivesicular body biogenesis and is thought to act by disassembling ESCRT-III complexes. VPS4 oligomerization and ATPase activity are promoted by binding to LIP5. LIP5 also binds to the ESCRT-III like protein CHMP5/hVps60, but how this affects its function remains unclear. Here we confirm that LIP5 binds tightly to CHMP5, but also find that it binds well to additional ESCRT-III proteins including CHMP1B, CHMP2A/hVps2-1, and CHMP3/hVps24 but not CHMP4A/hSnf7-1 or CHMP6/hVps20. LIP5 binds to a different region within CHMP5 than within the other ESCRT-III proteins. In CHMP1B and CHMP2A, its binding site encompasses sequences at the proteins' extreme C-termini that overlap with "MIT interacting motifs" (MIMs) known to bind to VPS4. We find unexpected evidence of a second conserved binding site for VPS4 in CHMP2A and CHMP1B, suggesting that LIP5 and VPS4 may bind simultaneously to these proteins despite the overlap in their primary binding sites. Finally, LIP5 binds preferentially to soluble CHMP5 but instead to polymerized CHMP2A, suggesting that the newly defined interactions between LIP5 and ESCRT-III proteins may be regulated by ESCRT-III conformation. These studies point to a role for direct binding between LIP5 and ESCRT-III proteins that is likely to complement LIP5's previously described ability to regulate VPS4 activity.     

Activation of Human VPS4A by ESCRT-III Proteins Reveals Ability of Substrates to Relieve Enzyme Autoinhibition

VPS4 proteins are AAA⁺ ATPases required to form multivesicular bodies, release viral particles, and complete cytokinesis. They act by disassembling ESCRT-III heteropolymers during or after their proposed function in membrane scission. Here we show that purified human VPS4A is essentially inactive but can be stimulated to hydrolyze ATP by ESCRT-III proteins in a reaction that requires both their previously defined MIT interacting motifs and ∼50 amino acids of the adjacent sequence. Importantly, C-terminal fragments of all ESCRT-III proteins tested, including CHMP2A, CHMP1B, CHMP3, CHMP4A, CHMP6, and CHMP5, activated VPS4A suggesting that it disassembles ESCRT-III heteropolymers by affecting each component protein. VPS4A is thought to act as a ring-shaped cylindrical oligomer like other AAA⁺ ATPases, but this has been difficult to directly demonstrate. We found that concentrating His₆-VPS4A on liposomes containing Ni²⁺-nitrilotriacetic acid-tagged lipid increased ATP hydrolysis, confirming the importance of inter-subunit interactions for activity. We also found that mutating pore loops expected to line the center of a cylindrical oligomer changed the response of VPS4A to ESCRT-III proteins. Based on these data, we propose that ESCRT-III proteins facilitate assembly of functional but transient VPS4A oligomers and interact with sequences inside the pore of the assembled enzyme. Deleting the N-terminal MIT domain and adjacent linker from VPS4A increased both basal and liposome-enhanced ATPase activity, indicating that these elements play a role in autoinhibiting VPS4A until it encounters ESCRT-III proteins. These findings reveal new ways in which VPS4 activity is regulated and specifically directed to ESCRT-III polymers.     

CD4-CD8- T cells from mice with collagen arthritis display aberrant expression of type l K+ channels

Expression of voltage-gated K+ channels in mAb-defined T cell subsets from normal mice and mice with experimental autoimmune arthritis was studied with the patch-clamp whole-cell recording technique in combination with fluorescence microscopy. CD4+CD8- Th cells from DBA/1 LacJ mice with type II collagen arthritis expressed low levels of type n K+ channels, and CD4-CD8+ T cells (cytotoxic) showed small numbers of type l or n' K+ channels, like their phenotypic counterparts in normal mice. CD4-CD8-Thy-1.2+ (double negative or DN) T cells from the diseased mice, however, displayed an abundance of type l K+ channels compared to DN T cells in normal mice, or mice immunized with CFA. Furthermore, the aberrant expression of type l K+ channels correlated with the presence of active disease. DN T cells from mice with SLE, type-1 diabetes mellitus, and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, also exhibited a high number of type l K+ channels. These results suggest that expression of numerous type l K+ channels may be a useful marker for DN T cells associated with these autoimmune disorders.     

Quantification of 6-deoxy-6-demethyl-4-dedimethylaminotetracycline (COL-3) in human plasma using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

An accurate and reliable liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS-MS) method has been developed and validated for the determination of 6-deoxy-6-demethyl-4-dedimethylaminotetracycline (COL-3) in human plasma. The assay used chrysin as an internal standard (I.S.). The analyte and the I.S. were extracted from acidified plasma by methyl-t-butyl ether. Separation was achieved on a YMCbasic column using acetonitrile-water-formic acid mobile phase. The MS-MS detection was by monitoring fragmentation 372.1-->326.2 (m/z) for COL-3 and 255.1-->153.1 (m/z) for the I.S. on a Sciex API 365 using a Turbo Ionspray in positive ion mode. The retention times were approximately 1.7 min for COL-3 and 1.8 min for the I.S. The validated dynamic range was 0.03-10.0 microg/ml using 0.25-ml plasma with correlation coefficients of >or=0.9985. The precision and accuracy for the calibration standards (n=3) were RSD相似文献   

Effective Treatment of Established GL261 Murine Gliomas through Picornavirus Vaccination-Enhanced Tumor Antigen-Specific CD8+ T Cell Responses

Glioblastoma (GBM) is among the most invasive and lethal of cancers, frequently infiltrating surrounding healthy tissue and giving rise to rapid recurrence. It is therefore critical to establish experimental model systems and develop therapeutic approaches that enhance anti-tumor immunity. In the current study, we have employed a newly developed murine glioma model to assess the efficacy of a novel picornavirus vaccination approach for the treatment of established tumors. The GL261-Quad system is a variation of the GL261 syngeneic glioma that has been engineered to expresses model T cell epitopes including OVA_257–264. MRI revealed that both GL261 and GL261-Quad tumors display characteristic features of human gliomas such as heterogeneous gadolinium leakage and larger T2 weighted volumes. Analysis of brain-infiltrating immune cells demonstrated that GL261-Quad gliomas generate detectable CD8+ T cell responses toward the tumor-specific K^b:OVA_257–264 antigen. Enhancing this response via a single intracranial or peripheral vaccination with picornavirus expressing the OVA_257–264 antigen increased anti-tumor CD8+ T cells infiltrating the brain, attenuated progression of established tumors, and extended survival of treated mice. Importantly, the efficacy of the picornavirus vaccination is dependent on functional cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells, as the beneficial response was completely abrogated in mice lacking perforin expression. Therefore, we have developed a novel system for evaluating mechanisms of anti-tumor immunity in vivo, incorporating the GL261-Quad model, 3D volumetric MRI, and picornavirus vaccination to enhance tumor-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses and track their effectiveness at eradicating established gliomas in vivo.     

Impact of restricted marital practices on genetic variation in an endogamous Gujarati group

Recent studies have examined the influence on patterns of human genetic variation of a variety of cultural practices. In India, centuries‐old marriage customs have introduced extensive social structuring into the contemporary population, potentially with significant consequences for genetic variation. Social stratification in India is evident as social classes that are defined by endogamous groups known as castes. Within a caste, there exist endogamous groups known as gols (marriage circles), each of which comprises a small number of exogamous gotra (lineages). Thus, while consanguinity is strictly avoided and some randomness in mate selection occurs within the gol, gene flow is limited with groups outside the gol. Gujarati Patels practice this form of “exogamic endogamy.” We have analyzed genetic variation in one such group of Gujarati Patels, the Chha Gaam Patels (CGP), who comprise individuals from six villages. Population structure analysis of 1,200 autosomal loci offers support for the existence of distinctive multilocus genotypes in the CGP with respect to both non‐Gujaratis and other Gujaratis, and indicates that CGP individuals are genetically very similar. Analysis of Y‐chromosomal and mitochondrial haplotypes provides support for both patrilocal and patrilineal practices within the gol, and a low‐level of female gene flow into the gol. Our study illustrates how the practice of gol endogamy has introduced fine‐scale genetic structure into the population of India, and contributes more generally to an understanding of the way in which marriage practices affect patterns of genetic variation. Am J PhyAnthropol 2012. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Proline Accumulation in Water-stressed Barley Leaves in Relation to Translocation and the Nitrogen Budget

Mobilization of N from leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) during water stress, and the role of proline as a mobilized species, were examined in plants at the three-leaf stage. The plants responded to water stress by withdrawing about 25% of the total reduced N from the leaf blades via phloem translocation. Most of this N loss was during the first 2 days while translocation of ¹⁴C-photosynthate out of the stressed blade still remained active. Free proline accumulation in the blade was initially slow, and became more rapid during the 2nd day of stress. Although a major free amino acid, proline accounted for only about 5% of the total N (soluble + insoluble) retained in severely stressed blades. When the translocation pathway in water-stressed leaves was interrupted just below the blade by a heat girdle, a cold jacket, or by blade excision, N loss from the blade was prevented and proline began to accumulate rapidly on 1st day of stress. Little free proline accumulated in the blades until after the ability to translocate was lost. Proline was, however, probably not a major species of N translocated during stress, because proline N accumulation in heat-girdled stressed leaves was five times slower than the rate of total N export from intact blades.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulates focal adhesion kinase activity required for mitogen-activated kinase-associated interleukin 6 expression

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase that promotes cell migration, survival, and gene expression. Here we show that FAK signaling is important for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-induced interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA and protein expression in breast (4T1), lung (A549), prostate (PC-3), and neural (NB-8) tumor cells by FAK short hairpin RNA knockdown and by comparisons of FAK-null (FAK(-/-)) and FAK(+/+) mouse embryo fibroblasts. FAK promoted TNFalpha-stimulated MAPK activation needed for maximal IL-6 production. FAK was not required for TNFalpha-mediated nuclear factor-kappaB or c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation. TNFalpha-stimulated FAK catalytic activation and IL-6 production were inhibited by FAK N-terminal but not FAK C-terminal domain overexpression. Analysis of FAK(-/-) fibroblasts stably reconstituted with wild type or various FAK point mutants showed that FAK catalytic activity, Tyr-397 phosphorylation, and the Pro-712/713 proline-rich region of FAK were required for TNFalpha-stimulated MAPK activation and IL-6 production. Constitutively activated MAPK kinase-1 (MEK1) expression in FAK(-/-) and A549 FAK short hairpin RNA-expressing cells rescued TNFalpha-stimulated IL-6 production. Inhibition of Src protein-tyrosine kinase activity or mutation of Src phosphorylation sites on FAK (Tyr-861 or Tyr-925) did not affect TNFalpha-stimulated IL-6 expression. Moreover, analyses of Src(-/-), Yes(-/-), and Fyn(-/-) fibroblasts showed that Src expression was inhibitory to TNFalpha-stimulated IL-6 production. These studies provide evidence for a novel Src-independent FAK to MAPK signaling pathway regulating IL-6 expression with potential importance to inflammation and tumor progression.