Different endocytosis pathways of the C5a receptor and the N-formyl peptide receptor

Two chemoattractant receptors, C5aR (the complement fragment C5a receptor) and FPR (the N-formyl peptide receptor), are involved in neutrophil activation at sites of inflammation. In this study, we found major differences in the intracellular trafficking of the receptors in transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Western blot analysis showed that FPR was stable during a 3 h stimulation with ligand, but C5aR was reduced in quantity by 50%. Not all C5aR was targeted directly for degradation however; a small, but visible fraction of the receptor became re-phosphorylated upon subsequent addition of ligand, suggesting that some of the receptor had cycled to the cell surface. Light membrane fractions isolated from activated cells showed C5aR distribution at the bottom of a glycerol gradient, colocalizing with the main distribution of the late endosomal/lysosomal marker LAMP2, whereas FPR was found at the bottom of the gradient as well as in the middle of the gradient, where it cofractionated with the early/sorting endosomal marker Rab5. Using fluorescence microscopy, we observed ligand-dependent redistribution of C5aR-EGFP from the plasma membrane to LAMP2-positive compartments, whereas FPR-EGFP showed significant colocalization with the early/sorting endosomes. Analysis of endogenous C5aR and FPR in neutrophils revealed a pattern similar to the CHO transfectants: C5aR underwent degradation after prolonged ligand stimulation, while FPR did not. Finally, we confirmed the down-regulation of C5aR in a functional assay by showing reduced chemotaxis toward C5a in both CHO transfectants and neutrophils after preincubation with C5a. A similar decrease in FPR-mediated chemotaxis was not observed.     

Recoverin improves rod-mediated vision by enhancing signal transmission in the mouse retina

Vision in dim light requires that photons absorbed by rod photoreceptors evoke signals that reliably propagate through the retina. We investigated how a perturbation in rod physiology affects propagation of those signals in the retina and ultimately visual sensitivity. Recoverin is a protein in rods that prolongs phototransduction and enhances visual sensitivity. It is not present in neurons postsynaptic to rods, yet we found that light-evoked responses of rod bipolar and ganglion cells were shortened when measured in recoverin-deficient retinas. Unexpectedly, the effect of recoverin on postsynaptic signals could not be explained by its effect on phototransduction. Instead, it is an effect of recoverin downstream of phototransduction in rods that prolongs signal transmission and enhances visual sensitivity. An important implication of our findings is that the recovery phase of the rod photoresponse does not contribute significantly to visual sensitivity near absolute threshold.     

In vitro antibacterial activity of glass-ionomer cements

The in vitro antibacterial activity of the glass-ionomer restorative cements Ketac-Cem, Ketac-Bond, Ketac-Silver and Vitrebond was studied in conjunction with 32 strains of five bacteria involved in the development of caries: Streptococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Actinomyces spp., Porphyromonas spp. and Clostridium spp. The agar plate diffusion method was used for the cultures, which included a chlorhexidine positive control. All the glass-ionomer cements tested inhibited bacterial growth, but with considerable differences in the scope of their action. Of the four cements, Vitrebond, a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement, was determined to be the most effective bacterial inhibitor.     

Using size distributions to detect nutrient and sediment effects within and between habitats

We studied the use of size distributions as a response variable in limnological experiments. Previous quantifications of size distributions were incomplete or difficult to use in experimental settings, and we developed a multivariate approach that more fully describes the shape and biomass of planktonic and benthic size distributions. We re-evaluate the hypothesis that fish affect the shape and nutrients affect the biomass of size distributions, and show that the multivariate approach is more responsive to detecting treatment effects. In a mesocosm experiment, we use this new quantification and analysis of size distributions to detect the main and interactive effects of nutrient addition and sediment type on both benthic and pelagic size distributions. Size distributions in both habitats responded to the nutrient and sediment treatments, indicating linkage since a treatment applied in one habitat affected the size distribution in the opposite habitat. Since size distributions reduce each habitat into a common currency, we were able to examine the nature of the linkage. The relative response of each habitat to the nutrient treatment was different with regard to the shape of the distributions, while the relative response to the sediment treatment was different with regard to the biomass in the distributions.     

Common mechanisms of DNA translocation motors in bacteria and viruses using one-way revolution mechanism without rotation

Biomotors were once described into two categories: linear motor and rotation motor. Recently, a third type of biomotor with revolution mechanism without rotation has been discovered. By analogy, rotation resembles the Earth rotating on its axis in a complete cycle every 24 h, while revolution resembles the Earth revolving around the Sun one circle per 365 days (see animations http://nanobio.uky.edu/movie.html). The action of revolution that enables a motor free of coiling and torque has solved many puzzles and debates that have occurred throughout the history of viral DNA packaging motor studies. It also settles the discrepancies concerning the structure, stoichiometry, and functioning of DNA translocation motors. This review uses bacteriophages Phi29, HK97, SPP1, P22, T4, and T7 as well as bacterial DNA translocase FtsK and SpoIIIE or the large eukaryotic dsDNA viruses such as mimivirus and vaccinia virus as examples to elucidate the puzzles. These motors use ATPase, some of which have been confirmed to be a hexamer, to revolve around the dsDNA sequentially. ATP binding induces conformational change and possibly an entropy alteration in ATPase to a high affinity toward dsDNA; but ATP hydrolysis triggers another entropic and conformational change in ATPase to a low affinity for DNA, by which dsDNA is pushed toward an adjacent ATPase subunit. The rotation and revolution mechanisms can be distinguished by the size of channel: the channels of rotation motors are equal to or smaller than 2 nm, that is the size of dsDNA, whereas channels of revolution motors are larger than 3 nm. Rotation motors use parallel threads to operate with a right-handed channel, while revolution motors use a left-handed channel to drive the right-handed DNA in an anti-chiral arrangement. Coordination of several vector factors in the same direction makes viral DNA-packaging motors unusually powerful and effective. Revolution mechanism that avoids DNA coiling in translocating the lengthy genomic dsDNA helix could be advantageous for cell replication such as bacterial binary fission and cell mitosis without the need for topoisomerase or helicase to consume additional energy.     

An Age-Structured Model for the Potential Impact of Generalized Access to Antiretrovirals on the South African HIV Epidemic

A simple mathematical model (Granich et al., Lancet 373:48–57, 2009) suggested recently that annual HIV testing of the population, with all detected HIV₊ individuals immediately treated with antiretrovirals, could lead to the long-term decline of HIV in South Africa and could save millions of lives in the next few years. However, the model suggested that the long-term decline of HIV could not be achieved with less frequent HIV testing. Many observers argued that an annual testing rate was very difficult in practice. Small scale trials are nevertheless in preparation. In this paper, we use a more realistic age-structured model, which suggests that the recent high levels of reported condom use could already lead to a long-term decline of HIV in South Africa. The model therefore suggests that trials with for example 20% of the population tested each year would also be interesting. They would have similar (though smaller) advantages in terms of reduction of mortality and incidence, would be much easier to generalize to larger populations, and would not lead to long term persistence of HIV. Our model simulations also suggest that the age distribution of incidence has changed considerably over the past 20 years in South Africa. This raises some concern about an assumption presently used in EPP/Spectrum, the software used by UNAIDS for its estimates.     

X-chromosome epigenetic reprogramming in pluripotent stem cells via noncoding genes

Acquisition of the pluripotent state coincides with epigenetic reprogramming of the X-chromosome. Female embryonic stem cells are characterized by the presence of two active X-chromosomes, cell differentiation by inactivation of one of the two Xs, and induced pluripotent stem cells by reactivation of the inactivated X-chromosome in the originating somatic cell. The tight linkage between X- and stem cell reprogramming occurs through pluripotency factors acting on noncoding genes of the X-inactivation center. This review article will discuss the latest advances in our understanding at the molecular level. Mouse embryonic stem cells provide a standard for defining the pluripotent ground state, which is characterized by low levels of the noncoding Xist RNA and the absence of heterochromatin marks on the X-chromosome. Human pluripotent stem cells, however, exhibit X-chromosome epigenetic instability that may have implications for their use in regenerative medicine. XIST RNA and heterochromatin marks on the X-chromosome indicate whether human pluripotent stem cells are developmentally ‘naïve’, with characteristics of the pluripotent ground state. X-chromosome status and determination thereof via noncoding RNA expression thus provide valuable benchmarks of the epigenetic quality of pluripotent stem cells, an important consideration given their enormous potential for stem cell therapy.     

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) for enzyme immobilization: impact on activity and stability of horseradish peroxidase

On the basis of their versatile structure and chemistry as well as tunable mechanical properties, polymer brushes are well-suited as supports for enzyme immobilization. However, a robust surface design is hindered by an inadequate understanding of the impact on activity from the coupling motif and enzyme distribution within the brush. Herein, horseradish peroxidase C (HRP C, 44 kDa), chosen as a model enzyme, was immobilized covalently through its lysine residues on a N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbonate-activated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) brush grafted chemically onto a flat impenetrable surface. Up to a monolayer coverage of HRP C is achieved, where most of the HRP C resides at or near the brush-air interface. Molecular modeling shows that lysines 232 and 241 are the most probable binding sites, leading to an orientation of the immobilized HRP C that does not block the active pocket of the enzyme. Michaelis-Menten kinetics of the immobilized HRP C indicated little change in the K(m) (Michaelis constant) but a large decrease in the V(max) (maximum substrate conversion rate) and a correspondingly large decrease in the k(cat) (overall catalytic rate). This indicates a loss in the percentage of active enzymes. Given the relatively ideal geometry of the HRPC-PHEMA brush, the loss of activity is most likely due to structural changes in the enzyme arising from either secondary constraints imposed by the connectivity of the N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbonate linking moiety or nonspecific interactions between HRP C and DSC-PHEMA. Therefore, a general enzyme-brush coupling motif must optimize reactive group density to balance binding with neutrality of surroundings.     

Progressive reduction of its expression in rods reveals two pools of arrestin-1 in the outer segment with different roles in photoresponse recovery

Light-induced rhodopsin signaling is turned off with sub-second kinetics by rhodopsin phosphorylation followed by arrestin-1 binding. To test the availability of the arrestin-1 pool in dark-adapted outer segment (OS) for rhodopsin shutoff, we measured photoresponse recovery rates of mice with arrestin-1 content in the OS of 2.5%, 5%, 60%, and 100% of wild type (WT) level by two-flash ERG with the first (desensitizing) flash at 160, 400, 1000, and 2500 photons/rod. The time of half recovery (t(half)) in WT retinas increases with the intensity of the initial flash, becoming ～2.5-fold longer upon activation of 2500 than after 160 rhodopsins/rod. Mice with 60% and even 5% of WT arrestin-1 level recovered at WT rates. In contrast, the mice with 2.5% of WT arrestin-1 had a dramatically slower recovery than the other three lines, with the t(half) increasing ～28 fold between 160 and 2500 rhodopsins/rod. Even after the dimmest flash, the rate of recovery of rods with 2.5% of normal arrestin-1 was two times slower than in other lines, indicating that arrestin-1 level in the OS between 100% and 5% of WT is sufficient for rapid recovery, whereas with lower arrestin-1 the rate of recovery dramatically decreases with increased light intensity. Thus, the OS has two distinct pools of arrestin-1: cytoplasmic and a separate pool comprising ～2.5% that is not immediately available for rhodopsin quenching. The observed delay suggests that this pool is localized at the periphery, so that its diffusion across the OS rate-limits the recovery. The line with very low arrestin-1 expression is the first where rhodopsin inactivation was made rate-limiting by arrestin manipulation.