Searching for aging-related proteins in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells treated with anti-aging agents

Endothelial cells constitute an interface between blood and tissue and act as a medium for active interaction between plasma and the intracellular environment for homeostasis. Aging of endothelial cells plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of age-related vascular diseases; however, precise mechanisms for senescence have not been elucidated. Proteomics allows identification of protein structures, functions, and characteristics, and can be applied to the study of aging processes. Using cultured human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and two-dimensional proteomic mapping, we studied the effects of kinetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, all-trans-retinoic acid, and selenium on their senescence and searched for the aging-related proteins. The treatments resulted in 68 qualitative changes and 172 quantitative changes, and we were able to identify 46 spots among them. All of the agents indicated above induced changes in the expression of moesin, rho guanosine-5'-diphosphate-dissociation inhibitor, and actin, confirmed by immunoblotting and confocal laser microscopy. As these proteins were associated with cell cycle and cytoskeleton, immunoblotting of the proteins related to cell cycle was performed. Although practical significance remains to be confirmed by in vivo research, this fundamental discovery may provide a basis for understanding the mechanism of aging and age-related diseases.     

The growth and EPA synthesis ofShewanella oneidensis MR-1 and expectation of EPA biosynthetic pathway

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 has the ability to inhale certain metals and chemical compounds and exhale these materials in an altered state; as a result, this microorganism has been widely applied in bioremediation protocols. However, the relevant characteristics of cell growth and biosynthesis of PuFAs have yet to be thoroughly investigated. Therefore, in this study, we have attempted to characterize the growth and fatty acid profiles ofS. oneidensis MR-1 under a variety of temperature conditions. The fastest growth ofS. oneidensis MR-1 was observed at 30°C, with a specific growth rate and doubling time of 0.6885 h⁻¹ and 1.007 h. The maximum cell mass of this microorganism was elicited at a temperature of 4°C. The eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) synthesis ofS. oneidensis MR-1 was evaluated under these different culture temperatures.S. oneidensis MR-1 was found not to synthesize EPA at temperatures in excess of 30°C, but was shown to synthesize EPA at temperatures below 30°C. The EPA content was found to increase with decreases in temperature. We then evaluated the EPA biosynthetic pathway, using a phylogenetic tree predicted on 16s rRNA sequences, and the homology of ORFs betweenS. oneidensis MR-1 andShewanella putrefaciens SCRC-2738, which is known to harbor a polyketide synthase (PKS)-like module. The phylogenetic tree revealed that MR-1 was very closely related to bothMoritella sp., which is known to synthesize DHA via a PKS-like pathway, andS. putrefaciens, which has been reported to synthesize EPA via an identical pathway. The homology between the PKS-like module ofS. putrefaciens SCRC-2738 and the entire genome ofS. oneidensis MR-1 was also analyzed, in order to mine the genes associated with the PKS-like pathway inS. oneidensis MR-1. A putative PKS-like module for EPA biosynthesis was verified by this analysis, and was also corroborated by the experimental finding thatS. oneidensis MR-1 was able to synthesize EPA without the expression of dihomo-γ-linoleic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (AA) formed during EPA synthesis via the FAS pathway.     

Identification of the genes encoding enzymes involved in the early biosynthetic pathway of pteridines in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

The biosynthetic pathway for the pteridine moiety of cyanopterine, as well as tetrahydrobiopterine, has been investigated in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Open reading frames slr0426, slr1626, slr0078 and sll0330 of the organism putatively encoding GTP cyclohydrolase I, dihydroneopterine aldolase, 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterine synthase and sepiapterine reductase, respectively, have been cloned into T7-based vectors for expression in Escherichia coli. The recombinant proteins have been purified to homogeneity and demonstrated to possess expected genuine activities except that of sll0330. Our result is the first direct evidence for the functional assignment of the open reading frames in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Furthermore, the 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterine synthase gene is demonstrated for the first time in prokaryotes. Based on the result, biosynthesis of cyanopterine is discussed.     

Identification and characterization of a pantothenate kinase (PanK-sp) from streptomyces peucetius ATCC 27952

Pantothenate kinase (PanK) catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of the essential and ubiquitous cofactor coenzyme A (CoA) in all organisms. Here, we report the identification, cloning, and characterization of panK-sp from Streptomyces peucetius ATCC 27952. The gene encoded a protein of 332 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 36.8 kDa and high homology with PanK from S. avermitilis and S. coelicolor A3(2). To elucidate the putative function of PanK-sp, it was cloned into pET32a(+) to construct pPKSP32, and the PanK-sp was then expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) as a His-tag fusion protein and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The enzyme assay of PanK-sp was carried out as a coupling assay. The gradual decrease in NADH concentration with time clearly indicated the phosphorylating activity of PanK-sp. Furthermore, the ca. 1.4-fold increase of DXR and the ca. 1.5-fold increase of actinorhodin by in vivo overexpression of panK-sp, constructed in pIBR25 under the control of a strong ermE* promoter, established its positive role in secondary metabolite production from S. peucetius and S. coelicolor, respectively.     

Synthesis, in vitro assay, and molecular modeling of new piperidine derivatives having dual inhibitory potency against acetylcholinesterase and Abeta1-42 aggregation for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics

With the goal of developing Alzheimer's disease therapeutics, we have designed and synthesized new piperidine derivatives having dual action of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) aggregation inhibition. For binding with the catalytic site of AChE, an ester with aromatic group was designed, and for the peripheral site, another aromatic group was considered. And for intercalating amyloid-beta oligomerization, long and linear conformation with a lipophilic group was considered. The synthetic methods employed for the structure with dual action depended on alcohols with an aromatic ring and the substituted benzoic acids, which are esterificated in the last step of the synthetic pathway. We screened these new derivatives through inhibition tests of acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and Abeta(1-42) peptide aggregation, AChE-induced Abeta(1-42) aggregation. Our results displayed that compound 12 showed the best inhibitory potency and selectivity of AChE, and 29 showed the highest selectivity of BChE inhibition. Compounds 15 and 12 had inhibitory activities against Abeta(1-42) aggregation and AChE-induced Abeta aggregation. In the docking model, we confirmed that 4-chlorobenzene of 12 plays the parallel pi-pi stacking against the indole ring of Trp84 in the bottom gorge of AChE. Because the benzyhydryl moiety of 12 covered the peripheral site of AChE in a funnel-like shape, 12 showed good inhibitory potency against AChE and could inhibit AChE-induced Abeta(1-42) peptide aggregation.     

mTOR Signaling Fades POMC Neurons during Aging

Hypothalamic POMC neurons contribute to the regulation of energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. In this issue of Neuron, Yang et?al. (2012) show that the mTOR pathway has a pivotal role in deterioration of POMC neurons during age-dependent obesity.     

Oxadiazole-diarylpyrazole 4-carboxamides as cannabinoid CB1 receptor ligands

Cannabinoid CB-1 receptors have been the focus of extensive studies since the first clinical results of rimonabant (SR141716) for the treatment of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders were reported in 2001. To further evaluate the properties of CB receptors, we have designed and efficiently prepared a series of oxadiazole-diarylpyrazole 4-carboxamides. Six of the new compounds which displayed high in vitro CB1 binding affinities were assayed for binding to CB2 receptor. Noticeably, 5-(4-bromophenyl)-3-(5-tert-butyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide (12q) and 5-(4-bromophenyl)-3-(5-tert-butyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide (12r) demonstrated good binding affinity and decent selectivity for CB1 receptor (IC₅₀ = 1.35 nM, CB2/CB1 = 286 for 12q; IC₅₀ = 1.46 nM, CB2/CB1 = 256 for 12r).