Directionality of DNA replication fork movement strongly affects the generation of spontaneous mutations in Escherichia coli

Using a pair of plasmids carrying the rpsL target sequence in different orientations to the replication origin, we analyzed a large number of forward mutations generated in wild-type and mismatch-repair deficient (MMR(-)) Escherichia coli cells to assess the effects of directionality of replication-fork movement on spontaneous mutagenesis and the generation of replication error. All classes of the mutations found in wild-type cells but not MMR(-) cells were strongly affected by the directionality of replication fork movement. It also appeared that the directionality of replication-fork movement governs the directionality of sequence substitution mutagenesis, which occurred in wild-type cells at a frequency comparable to base substitutions and single-base frameshift mutations. A very strong orientation-dependent hot-spot site for single-base frameshift mutations was discovered and demonstrated to be caused by the same process involved in sequence substitution mutagenesis. It is surprising that dnaE173, a potent mutator mutation specific for sequence substitution as well as single-base frameshift, did not enhance the frequency of the hot-spot frameshift mutation. Furthermore, the frequency of the hot-spot frameshift mutation was unchanged in the MMR(-) strain, whereas the mutHLS-dependent mismatch repair system efficiently suppressed the generation of single-base frameshift mutations. These results suggested that the hot-spot frameshift mutagenesis might be initiated at a particular location containing a DNA lesion, and thereby produce a premutagenic replication intermediate resistant to MMR. Significant numbers of spontaneous single-base frameshift mutations are probably caused by similar mechanisms.     

Suppression of FRP-1/CD98-mediated multinucleated giant cell and osteoclast formation by an anti-FRP-1/CD98 mAb, HBJ 127, that inhibits c-src expression

When anti-CD98 mAb 6-1-13, 4-5-1, or 38-2-2 was added to the culture fluids of monocytes, extensive cell aggregation and polykaryocyte formation were induced. These multinucleated giant cells were tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive. On the other hand, when monocytes were incubated with another anti-CD98 mAb, HBJ 127, polykaryocyte formation was not detected, although extensive cell aggregation was induced. When HBJ 127 and 6-1-13 were simultaneously added to the culture fluids, anti-CD98 mAb-induced cell fusion was inhibited almost completely. HBJ 127 suppressed formation of 6-1-13-induced cell fusion in a dose-dependent manner. If, however, HBJ 127 was added after incubation of monocytes with mAb 6-1-13 for 6 h, an appreciable degree of TRAP-positive polykaryocyte formation was found. The bindings of 6-1-13 and HBJ 127 were not mutually competed. When monocytes were incubated with 6-1-13 or HBJ 127, 6-1-13 induced c-src mRNA, while HBJ 127 did not. Furthermore, when monocytes were incubated with both 6-1-13 and HBJ 127, c-src mRNA could not be detected, showing that HBJ 127 suppresses c-src expression. Therefore, CD98-mediated osteoclast formation can be regulated by modification of CD98 system.     

Human chronic chagasic cardiopathy: participation of parasite antigens, subsets of lymphocytes, cytokines and microvascular abnormalities

This article tries to demonstrate by new pathological findings (with the use of immunohistochemical technique and confocal laser microscopy) that chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy is a result of multiple factors involving myocarditis, immunodepression, severe fibrosis and microvessels dilatation and that all of these alterations are probably directly related with the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in the host associated with inadequate immunological response of the host.     

p38alpha mitogen-activated protein kinase plays a critical role in cardiomyocyte survival but not in cardiac hypertrophic growth in response to pressure overload

The molecular mechanism for the transition from cardiac hypertrophy, an adaptive response to biomechanical stress, to heart failure is poorly understood. The mitogen-activated protein kinase p38alpha is a key component of stress response pathways in various types of cells. In this study, we attempted to explore the in vivo physiological functions of p38alpha in hearts. First, we generated mice with floxed p38alpha alleles and crossbred them with mice expressing the Cre recombinase under the control of the alpha-myosin heavy-chain promoter to obtain cardiac-specific p38alpha knockout mice. These cardiac-specific p38alpha knockout mice were born normally, developed to adulthood, were fertile, exhibited a normal life span, and displayed normal global cardiac structure and function. In response to pressure overload to the left ventricle, they developed significant levels of cardiac hypertrophy, as seen in controls, but also developed cardiac dysfunction and heart dilatation. This abnormal response to pressure overload was accompanied by massive cardiac fibrosis and the appearance of apoptotic cardiomyocytes. These results demonstrate that p38alpha plays a critical role in the cardiomyocyte survival pathway in response to pressure overload, while cardiac hypertrophic growth is unaffected despite its dramatic down-regulation.     

Decreased apoptosis of beta 2- integrin-deficient bovine neutrophils

Stimulant-induced viability of neutrophils, nuclear-fragmentation, increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), expression of annexin V on neutrophils and proteolysis of a fluorogenic peptide substrate Ac-DEVD-MCA (acetyl Asp-Glu-Val-Asp alpha-[4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amide]) by neutrophil lysates from five normal calves and three calves with leucocyte adhesion deficiency were determined to evaluate the apoptosis of normal and CD18-deficient neutrophils. Viability was markedly decreased in control neutrophils stimulated with opsonized zymosan (OPZ), compared to CD18-deficient neutrophils at 37 degrees C after incubation periods of 6 and 24 hours. The rate of apoptosis of control neutrophils stimulated with OPZ increased significantly depending on the incubation time, whereas no apparent increase in apoptosis was found in CD18-deficient neutrophils under the same conditions. Aggregated bovine (Agg) IgG-induced apoptosis of control neutrophils was not significantly different from that of CD18-deficient neutrophils. The expression of annexin V on OPZ-stimulated control neutrophils was greater than that of unstimulated ones 6 h after stimulation. No apparent increase in annexin V expression on CD18-deficient neutrophils was found with OPZ stimulation. A delay in apoptosis was demonstrated in CD18-deficient bovine neutrophils and this appeared to be closely associated with lowered signalling via [Ca2+]i, diminished annexin V expression on the cell surface, and decreased caspase 3 activity in lysates.     

Crystallization and MAD data collection of high-molecular weight cytochrome c from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F

Hexadecaheme high molecular weight cytochrome c from a sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F has been successfully purified and crystallized. X-ray diffraction data have been collected by the multiple wavelength anomalous dispersion method. The crystal belongs to the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit-cell parameters a=60.42, b=84.29 and c=144.16 A and contains one molecule per asymmetric unit.     

Regional rheological differences in locomoting neutrophils

Intracellular rheology is a useful probe of the mechanisms underlying spontaneous or chemotactic locomotion and transcellular migration of leukocytes. We characterized regional rheological differences between the leading, body, and trailing regions of isolated, adherent, and spontaneously locomoting human neutrophils. We optically trapped intracellular granules and measured their displacement for 500 ms after a 100-nm step change in the trap position. Results were analyzed in terms of simple viscoelasticity and with the use of structural damping (stress relaxation follows a power law in time). Structural damping fit the data better than did viscoelasticity. Regional viscoelastic stiffness and viscosity or structural damping storage and loss moduli were all significantly lower in leading regions than in pooled body and/or trailing regions (the latter were not significantly different). Structural damping showed similar levels of elastic and dissipative stresses in body and/or trailing regions; leading regions were significantly more fluidlike (increased power law exponent). Cytoskeletal disruption with cytochalasin D or nocodazole made body and/or trailing regions 50% less elastic and less viscous. Cytochalasin D completely suppressed pseudopodial formation and locomotion; nocodazole had no effect on leading regions. Neither drug changed the dissipation-storage energy ratio. These results differ from those of studies of neutrophils and other cell types probed at the cell membrane via ₂-integrin receptors, which suggests a distinct role for the cell cortex or focal adhesion complexes. We conclude that 1) structural damping well describes intracellular rheology, and 2) while not conclusive, the significantly more fluidlike behavior of the leading edge supports the idea that intracellular pressure may be the origin of motive force in neutrophil locomotion. structural damping; power law; viscoelasticity; optical trap     

Identification of major proteins in maize egg cells

In most flowering plants, the female gametophyte develops in an ovule deeply embedded in the ovary. Through double fertilization, the egg cell fuses with the sperm cell, resulting in a zygote, which develops into the embryo. In the present study, we analyzed egg cell lysates by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology, and identified major protein components expressed in the egg cell. The identified proteins included three cytosolic enzymes of the glycolytic pathway, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and triosephosphate isomerase, two mitochondrial proteins, the ATP synthase beta-subunit and an adenine nucleotide transporter, and annexin p35. In addition, expression levels of these proteins in the egg cell were compared with those in the early embryo, the central cell and the suspension cell. Annexin p35 was highly expressed only in the egg cell, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and the adenine nucleotide transporter were expressed at higher levels in egg cells than in central and cultured cells. These results indicate that annexin p35 in the egg cell and zygote is involved in the exocytosis of cell wall materials, which is induced by a fertilization-triggered increase in cytosolic Ca2+ levels, and that the egg cell is rich in an enzyme subset for the energy metabolism.     

Occurrence of the primary cell wall polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan II in pteridophytes, lycophytes, and bryophytes. Implications for the evolution of vascular plants

Borate ester cross-linking of the cell wall pectic polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II) is required for the growth and development of angiosperms and gymnosperms. Here, we report that the amounts of borate cross-linked RG-II present in the sporophyte primary walls of members of the most primitive extant vascular plant groups (Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Equisetopsida, and Psilopsida) are comparable with the amounts of RG-II in the primary walls of angiosperms. By contrast, the gametophyte generation of members of the avascular bryophytes (Bryopsida, Hepaticopsida, and Anthocerotopsida) have primary walls that contain small amounts (approximately 1% of the amounts of RG-II present in angiosperm walls) of an RG-II-like polysaccharide. The glycosyl sequence of RG-II is conserved in vascular plants, but these RG-IIs are not identical because the non-reducing L-rhamnosyl residue present on the aceric acid-containing side chain of RG-II of all previously studied plants is replaced by a 3-O-methyl rhamnosyl residue in the RG-IIs isolated from Lycopodium tristachyum, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Platycerium bifurcatum, and Psilotum nudum. Our data indicate that the amount of RG-II incorporated into the walls of plants increased during the evolution of vascular plants from their bryophyte-like ancestors. Thus, the acquisition of a boron-dependent growth habit may be correlated with the ability of vascular plants to maintain upright growth and to form lignified secondary walls. The conserved structures of pteridophyte, lycophyte, and angiosperm RG-IIs suggests that the genes and proteins responsible for the biosynthesis of this polysaccharide appeared early in land plant evolution and that RG-II has a fundamental role in wall structure.     

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 regulates leukocyte recruitment during gastric ulcer recurrence induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha

TNF-alpha has numerous biological activities, including the induction of chemokine expression, and is involved in many gastric injuries. C-C chemokines [monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha] and C-X-C chemokines [MIP-2 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-2alpha] mediate chemotaxis of monocytes and neutrophils, respectively. We examined the roles of TNF-alpha and dynamics of chemokine expression in gastric ulceration including ulcer recurrence and indomethacin-induced injury. Rats with healed chronic gastric ulcers received intraperitoneal TNF-alpha to induce ulcer recurrence. Some rats were given neutralizing antibodies against neutrophils or MCP-1 together with TNF-alpha. In a separate experiment, rats were orally administered 20 mg/kg indomethacin with or without pretreatment with pentoxifylline (an inhibitor of TNF-alpha synthesis) or anti-MCP-1 antibody. TNF-alpha (1 microg/kg) induced gastric ulcer recurrence after 48 h, which was completely prevented by anti-neutrophil antibody. TNF-alpha increased the number of macrophages and MCP-1 mRNA expression in scarred mucosa from 4 h, whereas it increased MPO activities (marker of neutrophil infiltration) and mRNA expression of MIP-2 and CINC-2alpha from 24 h. Anti-MCP-1 antibody inhibited leukocyte infiltration with reduction of the levels of C-X-C chemokines and prevented ulcer recurrence. Indomethacin treatment increased TNF-alpha/chemokine mRNA expression from 30 min and induced macroscopic erosions after 4 h. Pentoxifylline inhibited the indomethacin-induced gastric injury with reduction of neutrophil infiltration and expression of chemokine (MCP-1, MIP-2, and CINC-2alpha). Anti-MCP-1 antibody also inhibited the injury and these inflammatory responses but did not affect TNF-alpha mRNA expression. In conclusion, increased MCP-1 triggered by TNF-alpha may play a key role in gastric ulceration by regulating leukocyte recruitment and chemokine expression.