Importance of N-linked sugar residues in the development of Auerbach's plexus in the rat colon: a lectin histochemical study

The lectin-binding patterns in Auerbach's plexus in the distal portions of the rat colon from 15- to 21-day-old foetuses, newborns, and adults were examined by light and electron microscopy using 16 different lectins (ConA, RCA-1, WGA, PNA, SBA, UEA-1, DBA, LCA, PHA-L, DSA, GS-1, VVA, MPA, BPA, MAA, and PSA). The binding of ConA was shown to increase after day 19 of gestation in parallel with differentiation of Auerbach's plexus, whereas the staining intensity for DSA and RCA-1 increased after day 17 of gestation in accordance with the appearance of the plexus. At the electron microscopical level, DSA binding sites were observed to be localized mainly in the plasma membrane, Golgi apparatus, and nuclear membrane of nerve cells. Positive sites were also observed in the axolemma and in the plasma membrane of nerve cell processes, Schwann cells, and the surrounding smooth muscle cells. PSA, PHA-L, LCA, and WGA showed constant staining during the development after day 15 of gestation. Other lectins, most of which are specific for O-glycosidic mucin-type sugar residues, were essentially negative throughout the developmental stages. Moreover, N-glycanase digestion significantly diminished the positive reactions. N-linked oligosaccharides may thus play important roles in the development and maturation of the Auerbach's plexus, and may be involved in the developmental defect of the plexus, e.g. as occurs in Hirschsprung's disease.     

Delta/notch-like epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related receptor, a novel EGF-like repeat-containing protein targeted to dendrites of developing and adult central nervous system neurons

We have identified a novel epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeat-containing single-pass transmembrane protein that is specifically expressed in the developing and mature central nervous system. Sequence analysis revealed that the 10 EGF-like repeats in the extracellular domain are closely related to those of the developmentally important receptor Notch and its ligand Delta. We thus named the molecule Delta/Notch-like EGF-related receptor (DNER). DNER protein is strongly expressed in several types of post-mitotic neurons, including cortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons, cerebellar granule cells, and Purkinje cells. DNER protein is localized to the dendritic plasma membrane and endosomes and is excluded from the axons, even when overexpressed. The tyrosine-based sorting motif in the cytoplasmic domain is required for dendritic targeting of DNER. Direct in vivo binding of DNER to the coat-associated protein complex AP-1 strongly suggests that DNER undergoes AP-1-dependent sorting to the somatodendritic compartments from the trans-Golgi network and subsequent passage through the endosomal system.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor evokes a rapid glutamate release through activation of the MAPK pathway in cultured cortical neurons

We examined the possibility that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is involved in synaptic transmissions. We found that bFGF rapidly induced the release of glutamate and an increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in cultured cerebral cortical neurons. bFGF also evoked a significant influx of Na+. Tetanustoxin inhibited the bFGF-induced glutamate release, revealing that bFGF triggered exocytosis. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was required for these acute effects of bFGF. We also found that pretreatment with bFGF significantly enhanced high K+-elicited glutamate release also in a MAPK activation-dependent manner. Therefore, we propose that bFGF exerts promoting effects on excitatory neuronal transmission via activation of the MAPK pathway.     

The meiotic recombination checkpoint is regulated by checkpoint rad+ genes in fission yeast

During the course of meiotic prophase, intrinsic double-strand breaks (DSBs) must be repaired before the cell can engage in meiotic nuclear division. Here we investigate the mechanism that controls the meiotic progression in Schizosaccharomyces pombe that have accumulated excess meiotic DSBs. A meiotic recombination-defective mutant, meu13Delta, shows a delay in meiotic progression. This delay is dependent on rec12+, namely on DSB formation. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that meiotic DSB repair in meu13Delta was retarded. We also found that the delay in entering nuclear division was dependent on the checkpoint rad+, cds1+ and mek1+ (the meiotic paralog of Cds1/Chk2). This implies that these genes are involved in a checkpoint that provides time to repair DSBs. Consistently, the induction of an excess of extrinsic DSBs by ionizing radiation delayed meiotic progression in a rad17(+)-dependent manner. dmc1Delta also shows meiotic delay, however, this delay is independent of rec12+ and checkpoint rad+. We propose that checkpoint monitoring of the status of meiotic DSB repair exists in fission yeast and that defects other than DSB accumulation can cause delays in meiotic progression.     

Novel nuclear and mitochondrial glycosylases revealed by disruption of the mouse Nth1 gene encoding an endonuclease III homolog for repair of thymine glycols

Endonuclease III, encoded by nth in Escherichia coli, removes thymine glycols (Tg), a toxic oxidative DNA lesion. To determine the biological significance of this repair in mammals, we established a mouse model with mutated mNth1, a homolog of nth, by gene targeting. The homozygous mNth1 mutant mice showed no detectable phenotypical abnormality. Embryonic cells with or without wild-type mNth1 showed no difference in sensitivity to menadione or hydrogen peroxide. Tg produced in the mutant mouse liver DNA by X-ray irradiation disappeared with time, though more slowly than in the wild-type mouse. In extracts from mutant mouse liver, we found, instead of mNTH1 activity, at least two novel DNA glycosylase activities against Tg. One activity is significantly higher in the mutant than in wild-type mouse in mitochondria, while the other is another nuclear glycosylase for Tg. These results underscore the importance of base excision repair of Tg both in the nuclei and mitochondria in mammals.     

Four cysteines of the membrane protein DsbB act in concert to oxidize its substrate DsbA

Protein disulfide bond formation in Escherichia coli is catalyzed by the periplasmic protein DsbA. A cytoplasmic membrane protein DsbB maintains DsbA in the oxidized state by transferring electrons from DsbA to quinones in the respiratory chain. Here we show that DsbB activity can be reconstituted by co-expression of N- and C-terminal fragments of the protein, each containing one of its redox-active disulfide bonds. This system has allowed us (i) to demonstrate that the two DsbB redox centers interact directly through a disulfide bond formed between the two DsbB domains and (ii) to identify the specific cysteine residues involved in this covalent interaction. Moreover, we are able to capture an intermediate in the process of electron transfer from one redox center to the other. These results lead us to propose a model that describes how the cysteines cooperate in the early stages of oxidation of DsbA. DsbB appears to adopt a novel mechanism to oxidize DsbA, using its two pairs of cysteines in a coordinated reaction to accept electrons from the active cysteines in DsbA.