Role of the p68 subunit of human DNA polymerase alpha-primase in simian virus 40 DNA replication

DNA polymerase alpha-primase (pol-prim) is a heterotetramer with DNA polymerase and primase activities. The polymerase (p180) and primase (p48 and p58) subunits synthesize primers and extend them, but the function of the remaining subunit (p68) is poorly understood. Genetic studies in yeast suggested an essential role for the p68 ortholog in early S phase prior to the hydroxyurea-sensitive step, possibly a regulatory role in initiation of DNA replication, but found no evidence for an essential function of p68 later in S phase. To investigate whether the human p68 subunit has an essential role in DNA replication, we examined the ability of a purified trimeric human pol-prim lacking p68 to initiate simian virus 40 DNA replication in vitro and to synthesize and elongate primers on single-stranded DNA in the presence of T antigen and replication protein A (RPA). Both activities of trimeric pol-prim were defective, but activity was recovered upon addition of separately purified p68. Phosphorylation of p68 by cyclin A-dependent protein kinase also inhibited both activities of pol-prim. The data strongly suggest that the p68 subunit is required for priming activity of pol-prim in the presence of RPA and T antigen, both during initiation at the origin and during lagging strand replication.     

Rac-PAK signaling stimulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation by regulating formation of MEK1-ERK complexes

Utilizing mutants of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) that are defective for intrinsic mitogen-activated protein kinase or ERK kinase (MEK) binding, we have identified a convergent signaling pathway that facilitates regulated MEK-ERK association and ERK activation. ERK2-delta19-25 mutants defective in MEK binding could be phosphorylated in response to mitogens; however, signaling from the Raf-MEK pathway alone was insufficient to stimulate their phosphorylation in COS-1 cells. Phosphorylation of ERK2-delta19-25 but not of wild-type ERK2 in response to Ras V12 was greatly inhibited by dominant-negative Rac. Activated forms of Rac and Cdc42 could enhance the association of wild-type ERK2 with MEK1 but not with MEK2 in serum-starved adherent cells. This effect was p21-activated kinase (PAK) dependent and required the putative PAK phosphorylation sites T292 and S298 of MEK1. In detached cells placed in suspension, ERK2 was complexed with MEK2 but not with MEK1. However, upon replating of cells onto a fibronectin matrix, there was a substantial induction of MEK1-ERK2 association and ERK activation, both of which could be inhibited by dominant-negative PAK1. These data show that Rac facilitates the assembly of a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling complex required for ERK activation and that this facilitative signaling pathway is active during adhesion to the extracellular matrix. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which adhesion and growth factor signals are integrated during ERK activation.     

Study of 30 patients with unexplained developmental delay and dysmorphic features or congenital abnormalities using conventional cytogenetics and multiplex FISH telomere (M-TEL) integrity assay

Cryptic subtelomeric chromosome rearrangements are a major cause of mild to severe mental retardation pointing out the necessity of sensitive screening techniques to detect such aberrations among affected patients. In this prospective study a group of 30 patients with unexplained developmental retardation and dysmorphic features or congenital abnormalities were analysed using the recently published multiplex FISH telomere (M-TEL) integrity assay in combination with conventional G-banding analysis. The patients were selected by one or more of the following criteria defined by de Vries et al.: (a) family history with two or more affected individuals, (b) prenatal onset growth retardation, (c) postnatal growth abnormalities, (d) facial dysmorphic features, (e) non-facial dysmorphism and congenital abnormalities. In addition, we included two patients who met these criteria and revealed questionable chromosome regions requiring further clarification. In four patients (13.3%) cryptic chromosome aberrations were successfully determined by the M-TEL integrity assay and in two patients with abnormal chromosome regions intrachromosomal aberrations were characterized by targetted FISH experiments. Our results accentuate the requirement of strict selection criteria prior to patient testing with the M-TEL integrity assay. Another essential precondition is high-quality banding analysis to identify structural abnormal chromosomes. The detection of familial balanced translocation carriers in 50% of the cases emphasizes the significance of such an integrated approach for genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis.     

Molecular and biochemical characterization of two plant inositol polyphosphate 6-/3-/5-kinases

Despite the high deposition of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP(6)), also known as phytate or phytin, in certain plant tissues little is known at the molecular level about the pathway(s) involved in its production. In budding yeast, IP(6) synthesis occurs through the sequential phosphorylation of I(1,4,5)P(3) by two gene products, Ipk2 and Ipk1, a IP(3)/IP(4) dual-specificity 6-/3-kinase and an inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase, respectively. Here we report the identification and characterization of two inositol polyphosphate kinases from Arabidopsis thaliana, designated AtIpk2alpha and AtIpk2beta that are encoded by distinct genes on chromosome 5 and that are ubiquitously expressed in mature tissue. The primary structures of AtIpk2alpha and AtIpk2beta are 70% identical to each other and 12-18% identical to Ipk2s from yeast and mammals. Similar to yeast Ipk2, purified recombinant AtIpk2alpha and AtIpk2beta have 6-/3-kinase activities that sequentially phosphorylate I(1,4,5)P(3) to generate I(1,3,4,5,6)P(5) predominantly via an I(1,4,5,6)P(4) intermediate. While I(1,3,4,5)P(4) is a substrate for the plant Ipk2s, it does not appear to be a detectable product of the IP(3) reaction. Additionally, we report that the plant and yeast Ipk2 have a novel 5-kinase activity toward I(1,3,4,6)P(4) and I(1,2,3,4,6)P(5), which would allow these proteins to participate in at least two proposed pathways in the synthesis of IP(6). Heterologous expression of either plant isoform in an ipk2 mutant yeast strain restores IP(4) and IP(5) production in vivo and rescues its temperature-sensitive growth defects. Collectively our results provide a molecular basis for the synthesis of higher inositol polyphosphates in plants through multiple routes and indicate that the 6-/3-/5-kinase activities found in plant extracts may be encoded by the IPK2 gene class.     

The N termini of focal adhesion kinase family members regulate substrate phosphorylation,localization, and cell morphology

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and cell adhesion kinase beta (CAKbeta, PYK2, CADTK, RAFTK) are highly homologous FAK family members, yet clearly have unique roles in the cell. Comparative analyses of FAK and CAKbeta have revealed intriguing differences in their activities. These differences were investigated further through the characterization of a set of FAK/CAKbeta chimeric kinases. CAKbeta exhibited greater catalytic activity than FAK in vitro, providing a molecular basis for differential substrate phosphorylation by FAK and CAKbeta in vivo. Furthermore, the N terminus may regulate catalytic activity since chimeras containing the FAK N terminus and CAKbeta catalytic domain exhibited a striking high level of catalytic activity and substrate phosphorylation. Unexpectedly, a modulatory role for the N termini in subcellular localization was also revealed. Chimeras containing the FAK N terminus and CAKbeta C terminus localized to focal adhesions, whereas chimeras containing the N and C termini of CAKbeta did not. Finally, prominent changes in cell morphology were induced upon expression of chimeras containing the CAKbeta N terminus, which were not associated with apoptotic cell death, cell cycle progression delay, or changes in Rho activity. These results demonstrate novel regulatory roles for the N terminus of FAK family kinases.     

The role of unstructured highly charged regions on the stability and specificity of dimerization of two-stranded alpha-helical coiled-coils: analysis of the neck-hinge region of the kinesin-like motor protein Kif3A

We investigated the folding, stability, and specificity of dimerization of the neck-hinge region (residues 356-416) of the kinesin-like protein Kif3A. We showed that the predicted coiled-coil on its own (residues 356-377) will fold autonomously in solution. We then explored the ability of oppositely charged regions to specify heterodimer formation in coiled-coils by synthesizing analogs of the neck coiled-coil region with and without various negatively and positively charged extensions to the C-terminus of the neck coiled-coil and characterizing these analogs by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The charged region alone (residues 378-416) adopted a random-coil structure and this region remained unfolded in the presence of the coiled-coil. Redox experiments demonstrated that oppositely charged regions specified the formation of a hetero-two-stranded coiled-coil. Denaturation studies with urea demonstrated a decrease in coiled-coil stability with the addition of negatively charged residues in the homostranded coiled-coil; conversely, the addition of the positively charged region (residues 403-416) of Kif3A C-terminally to the neck coiled-coil did not affect coiled-coil stability. Overall, our results suggest that electrostatic attractions drive the specificity of heterodimerization of the coiled-coil, not the removal of positive or negative charge-charge repulsions, while maintaining the stability of the heterodimer compared to that of the stablest homodimer.     

The effects of a 10-kilometer run on muscle strength and power

Recovery of maximal force and power following a 10-km race has not been widely studied in the scientific literature. Ten healthy men who were experienced distance runners participated in this investigation. Data were collected prerace, immediate postrace, and 48 hours postrace to examine the effect of a 10-km race on muscle force production in the lower body. Maximal peak torque was measured via an isokinetic dynamometer at 30 degrees, 180 degrees, and 300 degrees.s-1. A significant (p 相似文献   

Effect of treatment of diabetic rats with dehydroepiandrosterone on vascular and neural function

Nutritional supplementation with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may be a candidate for treating diabetes-induced vascular and neural dysfunction. DHEA is a naturally occurring adrenal androgen that has antioxidant properties and is reportedly reduced in diabetes. Using a prevention protocol, we found that dietary supplementation of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with 0.1, 0.25, or 0.5% DHEA caused a concentration-dependent prevention in the development of motor nerve conduction velocity and endoneurial blood flow impairment, which are decreased in diabetes. At 0.25%, DHEA significantly prevented the diabetes-induced increase in serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and sciatic nerve conjugated diene levels. This treatment also reduced the production of superoxide by epineurial arterioles of the sciatic nerve. DHEA treatment (0.25%) significantly improved vascular relaxation mediated by acetylcholine in epineurial vessels of diabetic rats. Sciatic nerve Na+-K+-ATPase activity and myoinositol content was also improved by DHEA treatment, whereas sorbitol and fructose content remained elevated. These studies suggest that DHEA, by preventing oxidative stress and perhaps improving sciatic nerve Na+-K+-ATPase activity, may improve vascular and neural dysfunction in diabetes.     

Myelin-associated glycoprotein and myelin galactolipids stabilize developing axo-glial interactions

We have analyzed mice that lack both the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and the myelin galactolipids, two glial components implicated in mediating axo-glial interactions during the myelination process. The single-mutant mice produce abnormal myelin containing similar ultrastructural abnormalities, suggesting that these molecules may play an overlapping role in myelin formation. Furthermore, the absence of the galactolipids results in a disruption in paranodal axo-glial interactions, and we show here that similar, albeit less severe, abnormalities exist in the developing MAG mutant. In the double-mutant mice, maintenance of axo-glial adhesion is significantly more affected than in the single mutants, supporting the overlapping function hypothesis. We also show that independently of MAG, galactolipids, and paranodal junctional components, immature nodes of Ranvier form normally, but rapidly destabilize in their absence. These data indicate that distinct molecular mechanisms are responsible for the formation and maintenance of axo-glial interactions.