Comparison of Amphibian and Human ClC-5: Similarity of Functional Properties and Inhibition by External pH

Loss of function mutations of the renal chloride channel, ClC-5, have been implicated in Dent's disease, a genetic disorder characterized by low weight proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrolithasis and, in some cases, eventual renal failure. Recently, our laboratory used an RT-PCR/RACE cloning strategy to isolate an amphibian cDNA from the renal epithelial cell line A6 that had high homology to human ClC-5. We now report a full-length native ClC-5 clone (xClC-5, containing 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions) isolated by screening a cDNA library from A6 cells that was successfully expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In addition, we compared the properties of xClC-5 and hClC-5 using isogenic constructs of xClC-5 and hClC-5 consisting of the open reading frame subcloned into an optimized Xenopus expression vector. Expression of the full-length ``native' xClC-5 clone resulted in large, strongly rectifying, outward currents that were not significantly affected by the chloride channel blockers DIDS, DPC, and 9AC. The anion conductivity sequence was NO⁻ ₃ > Cl⁻= I⁻ > HCO⁻ ₃ >> glutamate for xClC-5 and NO⁻ ₃ > Cl⁻ > HCO⁻ ₃ > I⁻ >> glutamate for hClC-5. Reduction of the extracellular pH (pH _o ) from 7.5 to 5.7 inhibited outward ClC-5 currents by 27 ± 9% for xClC-5 and 39 ± 7% for hClC-5. The results indicate that amphibian and mammalian ClC-5 have highly similar functional properties. Unlike hClC-5 and most other ClC channels, expression of xClC-5 in oocytes does not require the removal of its untranslated 5′ and 3′ regions. Acidic solutions inhibited both amphibian and human ClC-5 currents, opposite to the stimulatory effects of low external pH on other ClC channels, suggesting a possibly distinct regulatory mechanism for ClC-5 channels. Received: 28 August 1998/Revised: 13 January 1999     

Single cell analytics for nanobiology

Single cell analytics allows quantitative investigation of single biological cells from a structural, functional and proteomics point of view and opens possibilities to a novel unamplified cell analysis inherently insensitive to ensemble-averaging, cell-cycle or cell-population effects. We report on three different experimental methods and their application to cellular systems with single molecule sensitivity at the single cell level. Firstly, atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used to elucidate the surface structure of living bacteria down to the nanometer scale where identification of irregular surface areas and 2D-arrays of regular protein s-layers is possible. Secondly, single cell manipulation and probing experiments with optical tweezers (OT) force spectroscopy allows quantitative identification of individual recognition events of membrane bound receptors. And thirdly, a novel, single cell analysis for protein fingerprinting in structured microfluidic device format will allow a future (label-free) on-chip electrophoretical protein separation of single cells without preamplification.     

Proteolytic Processing Regulates Placental Growth Factor Activities

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a critical mediator of blood vessel formation, yet mechanisms of its action and regulation are incompletely understood. Here we demonstrate that proteolytic processing regulates the biological activity of PlGF. Specifically, we show that plasmin processing of PlGF-2 yields a protease-resistant core fragment comprising the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 binding site but lacking the carboxyl-terminal domain encoding the heparin-binding domain and an 8-amino acid peptide encoded by exon 7. We have identified plasmin cleavage sites, generated a truncated PlGF118 isoform mimicking plasmin-processed PlGF, and explored its biological function in comparison with that of PlGF-1 and -2. The angiogenic responses induced by the diverse PlGF forms were distinct. Whereas PlGF-2 increased endothelial cell chemotaxis, vascular sprouting, and granulation tissue formation upon skin injury, these activities were abrogated following plasmin digestion. Investigation of PlGF/Neuropilin-1 binding and function suggests a critical role for heparin-binding domain/Neuropilin-1 interaction and its regulation by plasmin processing. Collectively, here we provide new mechanistic insights into the regulation of PlGF-2/Neuropilin-1-mediated tissue vascularization and growth.     

Pathway-Focused PCR Array Profiling of Enriched Populations of Laser Capture Microdissected Hippocampal Cells after Traumatic Brain Injury

Cognitive deficits in survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are associated with irreversible neurodegeneration in brain regions such as the hippocampus. Comparative gene expression analysis of dying and surviving neurons could provide insight into potential therapeutic targets. We used two pathway-specific PCR arrays (RT2 Profiler Apoptosis and Neurotrophins & Receptors PCR arrays) to identify and validate TBI-induced gene expression in dying (Fluoro-Jade-positive) or surviving (Fluoro-Jade- negative) pyramidal neurons obtained by laser capture microdissection (LCM). In the Apoptosis PCR array, dying neurons showed significant increases in expression of genes associated with cell death, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress compared with adjacent, surviving neurons. Pro-survival genes with pleiotropic functions were also significantly increased in dying neurons compared to surviving neurons, suggesting that even irreversibly injured neurons are able to mount a protective response. In the Neurotrophins & Receptors PCR array, which consists of genes that are normally expected to be expressed in both groups of hippocampal neurons, only a few genes were expressed at significantly different levels between dying and surviving neurons. Immunohistochemical analysis of selected, differentially expressed proteins supported the gene expression data. This is the first demonstration of pathway-focused PCR array profiling of identified populations of dying and surviving neurons in the brain after TBI. Combining precise laser microdissection of identifiable cells with pathway-focused PCR array analysis is a practical, low-cost alternative to microarrays that provided insight into neuroprotective signals that could be therapeutically targeted to ameliorate TBI-induced neurodegeneration.     

Zur „Genauigkeit”︁ bei J. G. Mendel

When taking into account J. G. MENDEL's observed frequencies and comparing them with those noted down by BATESON, CORRENS and DARBISHIRE no ?striking”? preciseness in accordance with the statement made by F. WELLING is to be noticed statistically. By means of the four-field table measure K speculations as to a ?too precise”? indication of frequencies are to be refuted in an easy way.     

Multiubiquitination of TRPV4 reduces channel activity independent of surface localization

Ubiquitin (Ub)-mediated regulation of plasmalemmal ion channel activity canonically occurs via stimulation of endocytosis. Whether ubiquitination can modulate channel activity by alternative mechanisms remains unknown. Here, we show that the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) cation channel is multiubiquitinated within its cytosolic N-terminal and C-terminal intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Mutagenizing select lysine residues to block ubiquitination of the N-terminal but not C-terminal IDR resulted in a marked elevation of TRPV4-mediated intracellular calcium influx, without increasing cell surface expression levels. Conversely, enhancing TRPV4 ubiquitination via expression of an E3 Ub ligase reduced TRPV4 channel activity but did not decrease plasma membrane abundance. These results demonstrate Ub-dependent regulation of TRPV4 channel function independent of effects on plasma membrane localization. Consistent with ubiquitination playing a key negative modulatory role of the channel, gain-of-function neuropathy-causing mutations in the TRPV4 gene led to reduced channel ubiquitination in both cellular and Drosophila models of TRPV4 neuropathy, whereas increasing mutant TRPV4 ubiquitination partially suppressed channel overactivity. Together, these data reveal a novel mechanism via which ubiquitination of an intracellular flexible IDR domain modulates ion channel function independently of endocytic trafficking and identify a contributory role for this pathway in the dysregulation of TRPV4 channel activity by neuropathy-causing mutations.     

Recommendations for the design of laboratory studies on non-target arthropods for risk assessment of genetically engineered plants

This paper provides recommendations on experimental design for early-tier laboratory studies used in risk assessments to evaluate potential adverse impacts of arthropod-resistant genetically engineered (GE) plants on non-target arthropods (NTAs). While we rely heavily on the currently used proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in this discussion, the concepts apply to other arthropod-active proteins. A risk may exist if the newly acquired trait of the GE plant has adverse effects on NTAs when they are exposed to the arthropod-active protein. Typically, the risk assessment follows a tiered approach that starts with laboratory studies under worst-case exposure conditions; such studies have a high ability to detect adverse effects on non-target species. Clear guidance on how such data are produced in laboratory studies assists the product developers and risk assessors. The studies should be reproducible and test clearly defined risk hypotheses. These properties contribute to the robustness of, and confidence in, environmental risk assessments for GE plants. Data from NTA studies, collected during the analysis phase of an environmental risk assessment, are critical to the outcome of the assessment and ultimately the decision taken by regulatory authorities on the release of a GE plant. Confidence in the results of early-tier laboratory studies is a precondition for the acceptance of data across regulatory jurisdictions and should encourage agencies to share useful information and thus avoid redundant testing.