Quercetin as an inhibitor of snake venom secretory phospholipase A2

As polyphenolic compounds isolated from plants extracts, flavonoids have been applied to various pharmaceutical uses in recent decades due to their anti-inflammatory, cancer preventive, and cardiovascular protective activities. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the flavonoid quercetin on Crotalus durissus terrificus secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), an important protein involved in the release of arachidonic acid from phospholipid membranes. The protein was chemically modified by treatment with quercetin, which resulted in modifications in the secondary structure as evidenced through circular dichroism. In addition, quercetin was able to inhibit the enzymatic activity and some pharmacological activities of sPLA2, including its antibacterial activity, its ability to induce platelet aggregation, and its myotoxicity by approximately 40%, but was not able to reduce the inflammatory and neurotoxic activities of sPLA2. These results suggest the existence of two pharmacological sites in the protein, one that is correlated with the enzymatic site and another that is distinct from it. We also performed molecular docking to better understand the possible interactions between quercetin and sPLA2. Our docking data showed the existence of hydrogen-bonded, polar interactions and hydrophobic interactions, suggesting that other flavonoids with similar structures could bind to sPLA2. Further research is warranted to investigate the potential use of flavonoids as sPLA2 inhibitors.     

Tags for labeling protein N-termini with subtiligase for proteomics

The peptide ligase subtiligase, derived from subtilisin, has been employed in the identification of protein N-termini in complex mixtures. Here, the peptide ester substrates for the ligation reaction were optimized with respect to solubility, resulting in greater incorporation of the N-terminal tags. Additionally, the quantitation of the incorporated tags was explored, and a 'click' chemistry-based derivatization provided the ability to quantitate the tag to low nanomolar concentrations by sandwich ELISA. These new tags should expand the utility of subtiligase for the proteomic study of N-termini.     

Design of thyroid hormone receptor antagonists from first principles

It is desirable to obtain TR antagonists for treatment of hyperthyroidism and other conditions. We have designed TR antagonists from first principles based on TR crystal structures. Since agonist ligands are buried in the fold of the TR ligand binding domain (LBD), we reasoned that ligands that resemble agonists with large extensions should bind the LBD, but would prevent its folding into an active conformation. In particular, we predicted that extensions at the 5′ aryl position of ligand should reposition helix (H) 12, which forms part of the co-activator binding surface, and thereby inhibit TR activity. We have found that some synthetic ligands with 5′ aryl ring extensions behave as antagonists (DIBRT, NH-3), or partial antagonists (GC-14, NH-4). Moreover, one compound (NH-3) represents the first potent TR antagonist with nanomolar affinity that also inhibits TR action in an animal model. However, the properties of the ligands also reveal unexpected aspects of TR behavior. While nuclear receptor antagonists generally promote binding of co-repressors, NH-3 blocks co-activator binding and also prevents co-repressor binding. More surprisingly, many compounds with extensions behave as full or partial agonists. We present hypotheses to explain both behaviors in terms of dynamic equilibrium of H12 position.     

Insulin-like growth factors, insulin, and epidermal growth factor cause rapid cytoskeletal reorganization in KB cells. Clarification of the roles of type I insulin-like growth factor receptors and insulin receptors

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I (greater than or equal to 10(-10)M, insulin-like growth factor II (greater than or equal to 10(-9) M), insulin (greater than or equal to 10(-9) M, and epidermal growth factor (EGF, greater than or equal to 10(-11) M) caused rapid membrane ruffling in KB cells. The morphological change was observed within 1 min after the addition of these growth factors and was accompanied by microfilament reorganization, but not by microtubule reorganization. IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin induced morphologically very similar or identical membrane ruffles with the order of potency IGF-I greater than IGF-II greater than insulin, whereas EGF-induced membrane ruffles were morphologically different. KB cells possessed EGF receptors, type I IGF receptors, and insulin receptors, but few or no type II IGF receptors. Monoclonal antibody against type I IGF receptors, which completely inhibited the binding of 125I-IGF-I to the cells but did not inhibit the binding of 125I-insulin, caused marked inhibition of IGF-I (10(-8) M)-stimulated membrane ruffling. IGF-II (10(-8) M)-stimulated membrane ruffling was partially inhibited in the presence of this antibody, but insulin (10(-7) M)-stimulated membrane ruffling was only slightly inhibited. In contrast, monoclonal antibody against insulin receptors blocked insulin (10(-7) M) stimulation, but not IGF-I (10(-8) M) stimulation, of membrane ruffling. Thus, this study provides evidence that IGF-I and insulin act mostly through their own (homologous) receptors and that IGF-II acts by cross-reacting with both type I IGF and insulin (heterologous) receptors in causing rapid alterations in cytoskeletal structure.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of common and specific sets of cellular proteins rapidly induced by insulin, insulin-like growth factor I, and epidermal growth factor in an intact cell

KB cells respond to insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in a closely similar way (induction of membrane ruffling, stimulation of pinocytosis, and amino acid transport) but respond to epidermal growth factors (EGF) in a similar but distinct way. In the KB cells, using phosphotyrosine-specific antibody we have found that: the receptors for insulin (beta subunit), IGF-I (beta subunit), and EGF undergo tyrosine phosphorylation as early as 10 s after addition of their respective ligands; a 185-kDa protein is rapidly (less than 10 s) tyrosine phosphorylated by insulin and IGF-I through their respective receptor kinases but not EGF; tyrosine phosphorylation of a 190-kDa glycoprotein is rapidly (less than 10 s) induced by EGF through EGF receptor kinase; and tyrosine phosphorylation of a 240-kDa protein is stimulated within 30 s by all three growth factors. These patterns of tyrosine phosphorylation could be causally related to biological responses induced by the three growth factors.     

Serine 62 is a phosphorylation site in folliculin, the Birt-Hogg-Dubé gene product

Recently, it was reported that the product of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome gene (folliculin, FLCN) is directly phosphorylated by 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In this study, we identified serine 62 (Ser62) as a phosphorylation site in FLCN and generated an anti-phospho-Ser62-FLCN antibody. Our analysis suggests that Ser62 phosphorylation is indirectly up-regulated by AMPK and that another residue is directly phosphorylated by AMPK. By binding with FLCN-interacting proteins (FNIP1 and FNIP2/FNIPL), Ser62 phosphorylation is increased. A phospho-mimic mutation at Ser62 enhanced the formation of the FLCN-AMPK complex. These results suggest that function(s) of FLCN-AMPK-FNIP complex is regulated by Ser62 phosphorylation.

Structured summary

MINT-7298145, MINT-7298166: Flcn (uniprotkb:Q76JQ2) physically interacts (MI:0915) with AMPK alpha 1 (uniprotkb:P54645) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)MINT-7298267: AMPK alpha 1 (uniprotkb:Q13131) phosphorylates (MI:0217) tsc2 (uniprotkb:P49816) by protein kinase assay (MI:0424)MINT-7298182: FNIP1 (uniprotkb:Q8TF40) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Flcn (uniprotkb:Q76JQ2) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)MINT-7298132: AMPK alpha 1 (uniprotkb:Q13131) phosphorylates (MI:0217) Flcn (uniprotkb:Q76JQ2) by protein kinase assay (MI:0424)MINT-7298229: FNIPL (uniprotkb:Q9P278) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Flcn (uniprotkb:Q76JQ2) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)     

Differential activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and p38 pathways during FTY720-induced apoptosis of T lymphocytes that is suppressed by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway

FTY720 is a novel immunosuppressive drug derived from a metabolite from Isaria sinclairii that is known to induce apoptosis of rat splenic T cells. In this study, we examined the intracellular signaling pathway triggered by FTY720. Treatment of human Jurkat T lymphocytes with FTY720-induced apoptosis characterized by DNA fragmentation. The same treatment induced activation of protein kinases such as c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), p38/CSBP (CSAID-binding protein), and a novel 36-kDa myelin basic protein (MBP) kinase, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Pretreatment of Jurkat cells with DEVD-CHO blocked FTY720-induced DNA fragmentation as well as the activation of p38/CSBP. However, DEVD-CHO treatment failed to inhibit FTY720-induced activation of JNK and the 36-kDa MBP kinase. We have also demonstrated that activation of the ERK signaling pathway completely suppressed the FTY720-induced apoptotic process including activation of caspase 3 and activation of JNK and the 36-kDa MBP kinase. Furthermore, transient expression of constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) protected the cells from FTY720-induced cell death. The effect of MEK was canceled by coexpression of a mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase, CL100. These results indicate that JNK and p38 pathways are differentially regulated during FTY720-induced apoptosis and that activation of ERK pathway alone is sufficient to cancel the FTY720-induced death signal.     

Inhibition of neutrophil elastase attenuates airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a mouse model of secondary allergen challenge: neutrophil elastase inhibition attenuates allergic airway responses

Background

Chronic asthma is often associated with neutrophilic infiltration in the airways. Neutrophils contain elastase, a potent secretagogue in the airways, nonetheless the role for neutrophil elastase as well as neutrophilic inflammation in allergen-induced airway responses is not well defined. In this study, we have investigated the impact of neutrophil elastase inhibition on the development of allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in previously sensitized and challenged mice.

Methods

BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged (primary) with ovalbumin (OVA). Six weeks later, a single OVA aerosol (secondary challenge) was delivered and airway inflammation and airway responses were monitored 6 and 48 hrs later. An inhibitor of neutrophil elastase was administered prior to secondary challenge.

Results

Mice developed a two-phase airway inflammatory response after secondary allergen challenge, one neutrophilic at 6 hr and the other eosinophilic, at 48 hr. PAR-2 expression in the lung tissues was enhanced following secondary challenge, and that PAR-2 intracellular expression on peribronchial lymph node (PBLN) T cells was also increased following allergen challenge of sensitized mice. Inhibition of neutrophil elastase significantly attenuated AHR, goblet cell metaplasia, and inflammatory cell accumulation in the airways following secondary OVA challenge. Levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, and eotaxin in BAL fluid 6 hr after secondary allergen challenge were significantly suppressed by the treatment. At 48 hr, treatment with the neutrophil elastase inhibitor significantly reduced the levels of IL-13 and TGF-β1 in the BAL fluid. In parallel, in vitro IL-13 production was significantly inhibited in spleen cells from sensitized mice.

Conclusion

These data indicate that neutrophil elastase plays an important role in the development of allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, and would suggest that the neutrophil elastase inhibitor reduced AHR to inhaled methacholine indicating the potential for its use as a modulator of the immune/inflammatory response in both the neutrophil- and eosinophil-dominant phases of the response to secondary allergen challenge.     

Minimal protein-only RNase P structure reveals insights into tRNA precursor recognition and catalysis

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is an endoribonuclease that catalyzes the processing of the 5′ leader sequence of precursor tRNA (pre-tRNA). Ribonucleoprotein RNase P and protein-only RNase P (PRORP) in eukaryotes have been extensively studied, but the mechanism by which a prokaryotic nuclease recognizes and cleaves pre-tRNA is unclear. To gain insights into this mechanism, we studied homologs of Aquifex RNase P (HARPs), thought to be enzymes of approximately 23 kDa comprising only this nuclease domain. We determined the cryo-EM structure of Aq880, the first identified HARP enzyme. The structure unexpectedly revealed that Aq880 consists of both the nuclease and protruding helical (PrH) domains. Aq880 monomers assemble into a dimer via the PrH domain. Six dimers form a dodecamer with a left-handed one-turn superhelical structure. The structure also revealed that the active site of Aq880 is analogous to that of eukaryotic PRORPs. The pre-tRNA docking model demonstrated that 5′ processing of pre-tRNAs is achieved by two adjacent dimers within the dodecamer. One dimer is responsible for catalysis, and the PrH domains of the other dimer are responsible for pre-tRNA elbow recognition. Our study suggests that HARPs measure an invariant distance from the pre-tRNA elbow to cleave the 5′ leader sequence, which is analogous to the mechanism of eukaryotic PRORPs and the ribonucleoprotein RNase P. Collectively, these findings shed light on how different types of RNase P enzymes utilize the same pre-tRNA processing.     

Beta-adrenergic stimulation does not activate Na+/Ca2+ exchange current in guinea pig, mouse, and rat ventricular myocytes

The effect of -adrenergic stimulation on cardiac Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange has been controversial. To clarify the effect, we measured Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange current (I_NCX) in voltage-clamped guinea pig, mouse, and rat ventricular cells. When I_NCX was defined as a 5 mM Ni²⁺-sensitive current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes, 1 µM isoproterenol apparently augmented I_NCX by 32%. However, this increase was probably due to contamination of the cAMP-dependent Cl^– current (CFTR-Cl^– current, I_CFTR-Cl), because Ni²⁺ inhibited the activation of I_CFTR-Cl by 1 µM isoproterenol with a half-maximum concentration of 0.5 mM under conditions where I_NCX was suppressed. Five or ten millimolar Ni²⁺ did not inhibit I_CFTR-Cl activated by 10 µM forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, suggesting that Ni²⁺ acted upstream of adenylate cyclase in the -adrenergic signaling pathway. Furthermore, in a low-extracellular Cl^– bath solution, 1 µM isoproterenol did not significantly alter the amplitude of Ni²⁺-sensitive I_NCX at +50 mV, which is close to the reversal potential of I_CFTR-Cl. No change in I_NCX amplitude was induced by 10 µM forskolin. When I_NCX was activated by extracellular Ca²⁺, it was not significantly affected by 1 µM isoproterenol in guinea pig, mouse, or rat ventricular cells. We concluded that -adrenergic stimulation does not have significant effects on I_NCX in guinea pig, mouse, or rat ventricular myocytes. cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator; nickel ion