Disulfide bond mediates aggregation, toxicity, and ubiquitylation of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked mutant SOD1

Mutations in the Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through the gain of a toxic function; however, the nature of this toxic function remains largely unknown. Ubiquitylated aggregates of mutant SOD1 proteins in affected brain lesions are pathological hallmarks of the disease and are suggested to be involved in several proposed mechanisms of motor neuron death. Recent studies suggest that mutant SOD1 readily forms an incorrect disulfide bond upon mild oxidative stress in vitro, and the insoluble SOD1 aggregates in spinal cord of ALS model mice contain multimers cross-linked via intermolecular disulfide bonds. Here we show that a non-physiological intermolecular disulfide bond between cysteines at positions 6 and 111 of mutant SOD1 is important for high molecular weight aggregate formation, ubiquitylation, and neurotoxicity, all of which were dramatically reduced when the pertinent cysteines were replaced in mutant SOD1 expressed in Neuro-2a cells. Dorfin is a ubiquityl ligase that specifically binds familial ALS-linked mutant SOD1 and ubiquitylates it, thereby promoting its degradation. We found that Dorfin ubiquitylated mutant SOD1 by recognizing the Cys(6)- and Cys(111)-disulfide cross-linked form and targeted it for proteasomal degradation.     

On-chip identification and interaction analysis of gel-resolved proteins using a diamond-like carbon-coated plate

We developed a novel protein chip made of a diamond-like, carbon-coated stainless steel plate (DLC plate), the surface of which is chemically modified with N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. To produce a high-density protein chip using the DLC plate, proteins separated by SDS gel electrophoresis or two-dimensional electrophoresis were electroblotted onto the DLC plate and immobilized covalently. A high blotting efficiency (25-70%) for transferring proteins from the gels onto the DLC plates was achieved by improvement of the electrophoresis device and electroblotting techniques. With the use of the DLC plate, we developed novel techniques to identify proteins immobilized on the chip and to detect protein-protein interactions on the chip by mass spectrometric analysis. We also developed a technique to identify post-translationally modified proteins, such as glycoproteins, on the protein chip.     

A Microliter-Scale High-throughput Screening System with Quantum-Dot Nanoprobes for Amyloid-β Aggregation Inhibitors

The aggregation of amyloid β protein (Aβ) is a key step in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and therefore inhibitory substances for Aβ aggregation may have preventive and/or therapeutic potential for AD. Here we report a novel microliter-scale high-throughput screening system for Aβ aggregation inhibitors based on fluorescence microscopy-imaging technology with quantum-dot Nanoprobes. This screening system could be analyzed with a 5-µl sample volume when a 1536-well plate was used, and the inhibitory activity could be estimated as half-maximal effective concentrations (EC₅₀). We attempted to comprehensively screen Aβ aggregation inhibitors from 52 spices using this system to assess whether this novel screening system is actually useful for screening inhibitors. Screening results indicate that approximately 90% of the ethanolic extracts from the spices showed inhibitory activity for Aβ aggregation. Interestingly, spices belonging to the Lamiaceae, the mint family, showed significantly higher activity than the average of tested spices. Furthermore, we tried to isolate the main inhibitory compound from Saturejahortensis, summer savory, a member of the Lamiaceae, using this system, and revealed that the main active compound was rosmarinic acid. These results demonstrate that this novel microliter-scale high-throughput screening system could be applied to the actual screening of Aβ aggregation inhibitors. Since this system can analyze at a microscopic scale, it is likely that further minimization of the system would easily be possible such as protein microarray technology.     

Heme synthase (ferrochelatase) catalyzes the removal of iron from heme and demetalation of metalloporphyrins

The red pigments in meat products, including cooked cured ham, arise from the reaction of myoglobin with nitric oxide generated from exogenous nitrite. Since carcinogenic nitrosoamines may be generated by the treatment of meats with nitrite, the production of nitrite-free meat products is an attractive alternative. Raw dry-cured (Parma) hams are produced by the treatment of meats with salts other than nitrite. Analysis of pigments in raw dry-cured hams reveals that the main pigment is zinc protoporphyrin, suggesting that the conversion of heme to zinc protoporphyrin occurs via an iron-removal reaction from myoglobin heme during the processing of raw hams. Purification of the iron-removal enzyme showed that it was identical to ferrochelatase. Recombinant ferrochelatase in combination with NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase catalyzed NADH-dependent iron-removal reaction from hemin and hemoproteins. Metal ions such as zinc and cobalt were also removed from the corresponding metalloporphyrins. The addition of zinc ions led to the formation of zinc protoporphyrin. In cultured cells, the conversion of zinc mesoporphyrin to mesoheme was observed to be dependent on ferrochelatase and could be markedly induced during erythroid differentiation. This is the first demonstration of a new enzyme reaction, the reverse reaction of ferrochelatase, which may contribute to a new route of the recycling of protoporphyrin and heme in cells.     

H(2)O(2) inhibits alveolar epithelial wound repair in vitro by induction of apoptosis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released into the alveolar space and contribute to alveolar epithelial damage in patients with acute lung injury. However, the role of ROS in alveolar repair is not known. We studied the effect of ROS in our in vitro wound healing model using either human A549 alveolar epithelial cells or primary distal lung epithelial cells. We found that H(2)O(2) inhibited alveolar epithelial repair in a concentration-dependent manner. At similar concentrations, H(2)O(2) also induced apoptosis, an effect seen particularly at the edge of the wound, leading us to hypothesize that apoptosis contributes to H(2)O(2)-induced inhibition of wound repair. To learn the role of apoptosis, we blocked caspases with the pan-caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (zVAD). In the presence of H(2)O(2), zVAD inhibited apoptosis, particularly at the wound edge and, most importantly, maintained alveolar epithelial wound repair. In H(2)O(2)-exposed cells, zVAD also maintained cell viability as judged by improved cell spreading and/or migration at the wound edge and by a more normal mitochondrial potential difference compared with cells not treated with zVAD. In conclusion, H(2)O(2) inhibits alveolar epithelial wound repair in large part by induction of apoptosis. Inhibition of apoptosis can maintain wound repair and cell viability in the face of ROS. Inhibiting apoptosis may be a promising new approach to improve repair of the alveolar epithelium in patients with acute lung injury.     

Phosphorylation status of human RNA-binding protein 8A in cells and its inhibitory regulation by Magoh

The RNA-binding protein 8A (RBM8A)–mago-nashi homolog, proliferation-associated (Magoh) complex is a component of the exon junction complex (EJC) required for mRNA metabolism involving nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). RBM8A is a phosphorylated protein that plays some roles in NMD. However, the detailed status and mechanism of the phosphorylation of RBM8A is not completely understood. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed in detail RBM8A phosphorylation in human cells. Accordingly, analysis of the phosphorylation status of RBM8A protein in whole-cell lysates by using Phos-tag gels revealed that the majority of endogenous RBM8A was phosphorylated throughout the cell-cycle progression. Nuclear and cytoplasmic RBM8A and RBM8A in the EJC were also found to be mostly phosphorylated. We also screened the phosphorylated serine by mutational analysis using Phos-tag gels to reveal modifications of serine residues 166 and 168. A single substitution at position 168 that concomitantly abolished the phosphorylation of serine 166 suggested the priority of kinase reaction between these sites. Furthermore, analysis of the role of the binding protein Magoh in RBM8A phosphorylation revealed its inhibitory effect in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we conclude that almost all synthesized RBM8A proteins are rapidly phosphorylated in cells and that phosphorylation occurs before the complex formation with Magoh.     

Change of pupil size as a function of exercise.

Exercise was found to dilate the pupil area while the exercise took place, while the area showed constriction following the exercise period. Exercise-induced change in the size of the pupil was minimal. Pupillary dilation was greatest under conditions of maximal exercise. In exercise under a consistent load, pupillary dilation increased as the exercise time was prolonged. With lower lighting, there was virtually no dilation with exercise.     

Structure and luminescence of sodium and lanthanide(III) coordination polymers with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid

A series of coordination polymers constructed by sodium, lanthanide(III), and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (dipic),NaLn(dipic)₂ · 7H₂O (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb), have been prepared under a hydrothermal condition. The crystal structures of the three compounds which are isostructual were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The two-dimensional layers found in the compounds are built up from six-folded {NaO₆} polyhedra and nine-folded {LnN₂O₇} polyhedra, these being edge-shared each other along the c axis and bridged by carboxylate groups of dipic along the b axis, respectively. This two-dimensional framework provides cavities inside the layer and interlayer spaces outside the layer for accommodation of the two dipic molecules coordinated to a lanthanide(III) ions. The dehydrated materials obtained by heating the as-synthesized crystals at 200 °C held their crystal structure, and absorbed the same amounts of water molecules as those of the as-synthesized crystals upon the exposure of 100% relative humidity at room temperature. The Eu and Tb compounds showed strong red and green emissions, respectively, due to an energy transfer from dipic molecules to trivalent emission ions.     

Grazing Behavior of Heterotrophic NanoFlagellates Observed with a High Speed VTR System

The grazing patterns of heterotrophic nanoflagellates ( Cafeteria roenbergensis and Actinomonas mirabilis ) were recorded by high speed video micrography. Experiments were carried out at 10, 15 and 25° C at a salinity of 36 psu and at 20° C when the salinity was either 20 or 36 psu. Bacteria entrained in a stream of water generated by flagellar beating were propelled toward the cell body (phase 1). Each bacterium destined for ingestion made contact with the anterior end of the flagellum of Cafeteria or was captured with an actinopod of Actinomonas (phase 2). The captured bacterium was drawn close to the cell body (phase 3) and ingested (phase 4). Cafeteria was observed during 38 grazing events and appeared to have two different patterns of ingestion, "enclosing" and "pocket phagocytosis." The mean time for food capture was 0.10 s and the subsequent ingestion was complete on average in 1.59 s. No further bacteria were captured until ingestion was complete. Actinomonas was observed during 27 grazing events in which capture of panicles on an actinopod was followed by transport to the cell body and subsequent "enclosing phagocytosis." The mean time to complete grazing was 39.16 s, which is about 25 times longer than for Cafeteria ; the phase of transport to the cell body occupied most of this time. During the grazing cycle, Actinomonas captured other bacteria on the actinopodia, but sometimes released them. Grazing time in Cafeteria was positively correlated with temperature but not correlated with salinity. Grazing behavior in Actinomonas was correlated with neither temperature nor salinity.