Structures of the alpha L I domain and its complex with ICAM-1 reveal a shape-shifting pathway for integrin regulation

The structure of the I domain of integrin alpha L beta 2 bound to the Ig superfamily ligand ICAM-1 reveals the open ligand binding conformation and the first example of an integrin-IgSF interface. The I domain Mg2+ directly coordinates Glu-34 of ICAM-1, and a dramatic swing of I domain residue Glu-241 enables a critical salt bridge. Liganded and unliganded structures for both high- and intermediate-affinity mutant I domains reveal that ligand binding can induce conformational change in the alpha L I domain and that allosteric signals can convert the closed conformation to intermediate or open conformations without ligand binding. Pulling down on the C-terminal alpha 7 helix with introduced disulfide bonds ratchets the beta 6-alpha 7 loop into three different positions in the closed, intermediate, and open conformations, with a progressive increase in affinity.     

Structure of integrin alpha5beta1 in complex with fibronectin

The membrane-distal headpiece of integrins has evolved to specifically bind large extracellular protein ligands, but the molecular architecture of the resulting complexes has not been determined. We used molecular electron microscopy to determine the three-dimensional structure of the ligand-binding headpiece of integrin alpha5beta1 complexed with fragments of its physiological ligand fibronectin. The density map for the unliganded alpha5beta1 headpiece shows a 'closed' conformation similar to that seen in the alphaVbeta3 crystal structure. By contrast, binding to fibronectin induces an 'open' conformation with a dramatic, approximately 80 degrees change in the angle of the hybrid domain of the beta subunit relative to its I-like domain. The fibronectin fragment binds to the interface between the beta-propeller and I-like domains in the integrin headpiece through the RGD-containing module 10, but direct contact of the synergy-region-containing module 9 to integrin is not evident. This finding is corroborated by kinetic analysis of real-time binding data, which shows that the synergy site greatly enhances k(on) but has little effect on the stability or k(off) of the complex.     

Molecular analysis of X-linked ichthyosis in Japan

BACKGROUND: X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) is an inherited skin disorder caused by a deficiency of steroid sulfatase (STS). The gene and protein of STS were examined in 19 Japanese patients with XLI. RESULTS: In Western blotting analysis, no cross-reacting peptide was detected in the patients' placenta, although a single band (63 kD) corresponding to STS in a normal subject was observed. Southern blotting was performed using EcoRI digests of cellular DNA from 13 XLI patients and full-length human STS cDNA as a probe. Normal males had bands of 20, 15, 10, 9.0, 6.1, 4.2, 2.6, and 1.5 kb. Twelve of the 19 patients had only 20- and 1.5-kb bands. Only one patient had the same band pattern as that of normal males. The STS gene was analyzed by PCR in 6 of the 19 patients. PCR amplification products were sequenced to analyze the STS gene. Two cases with one-base change in the STS gene and variation in amino acids H444R and E560P were found. Mutant STS cDNA was transfected into COS-1 cells and the STS enzyme activity was assayed. The enzyme activities were less than the minimum detection value of the detection system. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that XLI is mainly caused by an extensive deletion of the STS gene and that the PCR method is useful for detection of STS point mutations.     

Evaluation of agonist selectivity for the NMDA receptor ion channel in bilayer lipid membranes based on integrated single-channel currents

A new method for evaluating chemical selectivity of agonists to activate the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor was presented by using typical agonists NMDA, L-glutamate and (2S, 3R, 4S)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (L-CCG-IV) and the mouse epsilon1/zeta1 NMDA receptor incorporated in bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) as an illustrative example. The method was based on the magnitude of an agonist-induced integrated single-channel current corresponding to the number of total ions passed through the open channel. The very magnitudes of the integrated single-channel currents were compared with the different BLMs as a new measure of agonist selectivity. The epsilon1/zeta1 NMDA receptor was partially purified from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing the epsilon1/zeta1 NMDA receptor and incorporated in BLMs formed by the tip-dip method. The agonist-induced integrated single-channel currents were obtained at 50 microM agonist concentration, where the integrated current for NMDA was shown to reach its saturated value. The obtained integrated currents were found to be (4.5 +/- 0.55) x 10(-13) C/s for NMDA, (5.8 +/- 0.72) x 10(-13) C/s for L-glutamate and (6.6 +/- 0.61) x 10(-13) C/s for L-CCG-IV, respectively. These results suggest that the agonist selectivity in terms of the total ion flux through the single epsilon1/zeta1 NMDA receptor is in the order of L-CCG-IV approximately = L-glutamate > NMDA.     

Cleavage of CD14 on human gingival fibroblasts cocultured with activated neutrophils is mediated by human leukocyte elastase resulting in down-regulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-8 production

Activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) release various types of proteases and express them on the cell surface. The proteases play important roles in PMN-mediated events. In the present study, flow cytometric analysis revealed that CD14 expression on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) was markedly reduced by PMA-activated PMNs in a coculture system. We found that this reduction was caused by both secreted and cell surface proteases produced by activated PMNs. A protease responsible for the reduction was found to be human leukocyte elastase (HLE) secreted from the activated PMNs by use of various protease inhibitors, although HLE was only partially involved in CD14 reduction caused by cell-bound molecule(s) on fixed PMNs. Analysis with purified HLE revealed a time- and dose-dependent reduction of CD14 on HGF, and complete reduction was observed by 20 microg/ml HLE treatment for 30-60 min, but the other molecules such as CD26, CD59, CD157, and MHC class I on HGF were only slightly reduced. This reduction of CD14 resulted from direct proteolysis by HLE on the cell surface, because HLE reduced CD14 on fixed HGF and also on purified cell membranes. As a result of CD14 proteolysis, IL-8 production by HGF was suppressed when triggered by 10 ng/ml LPS, but not by IL-1alpha, indicating that HLE inhibited a CD14-dependent cell activation. These findings suggested that activated PMNs have a potential negative feedback mechanism for HGF function at the inflammatory site, particularly in periodontal tissues.     

Cloning and functional expression of ATA1, a subtype of amino acid transporter A, from human placenta

This report describes the primary structure and functional characteristics of human ATA1, a subtype of the amino acid transport system A. The human ATA1 cDNA was isolated from a placental cDNA library. The cDNA codes for a protein of 487 amino acids with 11 putative transmembrane domains. The transporter mRNA ( approximately 9.0 kb) is expressed most prominently in the placenta and heart, but detectable level of expression is evident in other tissues including the brain. When expressed heterologously in mammalian cells, the cloned transporter mediates Na(+)-coupled transport of the system A-specific model substrate alpha-(methylamino)isobutyric acid. The transport process is saturable with a Michaelis-Menten constant of 0. 89 +/- 0.12 mM. The Na(+):amino acid stoichiometry is 1:1 as deduced from the Na(+)-activation kinetics. The transporter is specific for small short-chain neutral amino acids. The gene for the transporter is located on human chromosome 12.     

Multiple forms of α2-macroglobulin from a bony fish, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio): striking sequence diversity in functional sites

Unlike mammals, bony fish possess multiple genes encoding the complement component C3, a member of the alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M) protein family, presumably expanding the diversity of immune recognition. To examine whether the alpha2M gene has also duplicated and diverged in the bony fish lineage, cDNA cloning of alpha2M from a pseudotetraploid teleost, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), was conducted and resulted in the isolation of three distinct alpha2M sequences from a single individual, indicating the presence of multiple alpha2M genes in this species. The deduced amino acid sequences contained a post-translational cleavage signal, predicting a C3-like two-chain structure, as in lamprey alpha2M. Two distinct alpha2M proteins were purified from carp serum; both proved to be Mr 380,000 dimers, the subunits of which are composed of disulfide-linked alpha chains (Mr 93,000) and beta chains (Mr 85,000), as reported for the alpha2M from plaice, another teleost species. The presence of an internal thioester in the alpha chain was demonstrated by its autolytic fragmentation and direct incorporation of [14C]methylamine. Interestingly, the three forms of carp alpha2M exhibited outstanding sequence diversity in the bait region which displays target sequences for various proteases, and in the C-terminal region of the alpha chain assigned as the receptor-binding domain, while an Asn residue at the position corresponding to the catalytic His in C3 was completely conserved in the carp alpha2Ms, as in most alpha2Ms of other animals. The possible functional significance of the sequence diversity is discussed.     

Nucleation of Astral-shaped Microtubules from Latex Beads Conjugated with MTOG Proteins

A model system for the formation of astral-shaped microtubules (Mts) consisting of Latex beads (diameter of 0.2 mum), a protein fraction (p51) comprised of MTOGs (microtubule-organizing granules) and tubulin was established. The Latex beads were first incubated with p51 in the presence of GTP at 0 degrees C, then the purified tubulin dimer fraction was added, resulting in the formation of an aster-like structure observed by dark-field microscopy. On preincubation of the Latex beads with GDP instead of GTP, the asters did not form. Unhydrolyzable GTP analogues such as GTP-gammaS and GMP-PNP promoted aster formation as did GTP as observed by dark-field microscopy. Polylysine, as representative of basic polymers capable of binding to the surface of the Latex beads, promoted spontaneous Mt assembly, and eventually an aster-like structure without Latex beads in the center formed. Further analyses made by measuring the optical density of the aster-forming system produced the following results. 1) preincubation of the Latex beads with GTP or GMP-PNP supported Mt assembly from the beads showing profiles typical for a sitedirected assembly without the lag phase. 2) GTP-gammaS and GDP inhibited the turbidity increase of the system, causing a decrease in both the initial velocity and the level of steady state of Mt assembly. 3) Anti-p51 monoclonal antibody (HP1) substantially inhibited the aster formation, while anti-gamma-tubulin antibody only slightly inhibited assembly.     

Epolactaene, a novel neuritogenic compound in human neuroblastoma cells, selectively inhibits the activities of mammalian DNA polymerases and human DNA topoisomerase II

We chemically synthesized epolactaene, a neuritogenic compound in human neuroblastoma cells, and investigated its biochemical action in vitro. Epolactaene and its derivatives selectively inhibited the activities of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha and beta and human DNA topoisomerase II, with IC(50) values of 25, 94, and 10 microM, respectively. By comparison with its structural derivatives, the long alkyl side chain in epolactaene seemed to have an important role in this inhibitory effect. The compound did not influence the activities of plant or prokaryotic DNA polymerases or of other DNA metabolic enzymes such as telomerase, RNA polymerase, and deoxyribonuclease I. Epolactaene did not intercalate into DNA. These results suggested that the neuritogenic compound epolactaene influences both DNA polymerases and topoisomerase II despite the dissimilarity in both structure and properties of these two enzymes and that inhibition of these enzymes could be related to the neuritogenic effect in human neuroblastoma cells. The relationship between the neuritogenic mechanism and cell cycle regulation by epolactaene was also discussed.