The human solute carrier gene SLC35B4 encodes a bifunctional nucleotide sugar transporter with specificity for UDP-xylose and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine

The transport of nucleotide sugars from the cytoplasm into the Golgi apparatus is mediated by specialized type III proteins, the nucleotide sugar transporters (NSTs). Transport assays carried out in vitro with Golgi vesicles from mammalian cells showed specific uptake for a total of eight nucleotide sugars. When this study was started, NSTs with transport activities for all but two nucleotide sugars (UDP-Xyl and UDP-Glc) had been cloned. Aiming at identifying these elusive NSTs, bioinformatic methods were used to display putative NST sequences in the human genome. Ten open reading frames were identified, cloned, and heterologously expressed in yeast. Transport capabilities for UDP-Glc and UDP-Xyl were determined with Golgi vesicles isolated from transformed cells. Although a potential UDP-Glc transporter could not be identified due to the high endogenous transport background, the measurement of UDP-Xyl transport was possible on a zero background. Vesicles from yeast cells expressing the human gene SLC35B4 showed specific uptake of UDP-Xyl, and subsequent testing of other nucleotide sugars revealed a second activity for UDP-GlcNAc. Expression of the epitope-tagged SLC35B4 in mammalian cells demonstrated strict Golgi localization. Because decarboxylation of UDP-GlcA is known to produce UDP-Xyl directly in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi lumen, our data demonstrate that two ways exist to deliver UDP-Xyl to the Golgi apparatus.     

Mature embryo axis-based high frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from multiple cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

A highly reproducible regeneration system through somatic embryogenesis from the excised mature embryos (MEs) of dry seeds of a range of European barley cultivars was developed. By minimizing the germination of plated MEs, primary callus could be obtained with high frequency which permitted efficient embryogenesis and regeneration of a large number of green plants. Different approaches were tested to reduce or prevent normal germination: (i) the use of a well defined balance of maltose and 2,4-D in the induction medium, (ii) soaking of seeds in water containing 2,4-D solution, (iii) direct culture of excised embryonic axes, (iv) longitudinally bisected MEs giving two halves, and (v) complete removal of the elongated main shoot including any roots within a week of culture initiation. Culturing of bisected MEs and whole embryonic axes gave the best responses with respect to large amounts of callus combined with minimal germination. The incorporation of BAP at low levels in the medium was found to be most effective for embryogenesis and the maintenance of long-term morphogenic capacity (more than 11 months up to now). This procedure allows the complete regeneration of plants in 16-20 weeks, from the initial isolation of MEs through all the steps to the development of plants ready to be transferred to the soil. The protocol was first developed for cv. Golden Promise and successfully applied to commercial cultivars. All cultivars tested formed embryogenic callus, with overall rates ranging from 22-55% and an average number of green plants per embryogenic callus from 1.5 to 7.5 across the genotypes.     

Substrate binding analysis of the 23S rRNA methyltransferase RrmJ

The 23S rRNA methyltransferase RrmJ (FtsJ) is responsible for the 2'-O methylation of the universally conserved U2552 in the A loop of 23S rRNA. This 23S rRNA modification appears to be critical for ribosome stability, because the absence of functional RrmJ causes the cellular accumulation of the individual ribosomal subunits at the expense of the functional 70S ribosomes. To gain insight into the mechanism of substrate recognition for RrmJ, we performed extensive site-directed mutagenesis of the residues conserved in RrmJ and characterized the mutant proteins both in vivo and in vitro. We identified a positively charged, highly conserved ridge in RrmJ that appears to play a significant role in 23S rRNA binding and methylation. We provide a structural model of how the A loop of the 23S rRNA binds to RrmJ. Based on these modeling studies and the structure of the 50S ribosome, we propose a two-step model where the A loop undocks from the tightly packed 50S ribosomal subunit, allowing RrmJ to gain access to the substrate nucleotide U2552, and where U2552 undergoes base flipping, allowing the enzyme to methylate the 2'-O position of the ribose.     

The multi-protein family of Arabidopsis sulphotransferases and their relatives in other plant species

All members of the sulphotransferase (SOT, EC 2.8.2.-) protein family use 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulphate (PAPS) as the sulphuryl donor and transfer the sulphonate group to an appropriate hydroxyl group of several classes of substrates. These enzymes have highly conserved domains and can be found in eubacteria and eukaryotes. In mammals, sulphate conjugation catalysed by SOTs constitutes an important reaction in the transformation of xenobiotics, and in the modulation of the biological activity of steroid hormones and neurotransmitters. In plants, sulphate-conjugation reactions seem to play an important role in plant growth, development, and adaptation to stress. To date only a few plant SOTs have been characterized in detail. The flavonol 3- and 4'-SOTs from Flaveria species (Asteraceae), which catalyse the sulphonation of flavonol aglycones and flavonol 3-sulphates, respectively, were the first plant SOTs for which cDNA clones were isolated. The plasma membrane associated gallic acid SOT of Mimosa pudica L. pulvini cells may be intrinsic to signalling events that modify the seismonastic response. In Brassica napus L. a SOT catalyses the O-sulphonation of brassinosteroids and thereby abolishes specifically the biological activity of 24-epibrassinolide. The fully sequenced genome of Arabidopsis thaliana Heynh. contains in total 18 genes that are likely to encode SOT proteins based on sequence similarities of the translated products with an average identity of 51.1%. So far only one SOT from A. thaliana (At5g07000) was functionally characterized: the protein was shown to catalyse the sulphonation of 12-hydroxyjasmonate and thereby inactivate excess jasmonic acid in plants. The substrates and, therefore, the physiological roles of SOTs are very diverse. By using the numerous informative databases and methods available for the model plant A. thaliana, the elucidation of the functional role of the SOT protein family will be accelerated.     

The use of mini-organ cultures of human upper aerodigestive tract epithelia in ecogenotoxicology

The carcinogenic potential of xenobiotics and possible confounders are often difficult to differentiate in in vivo studies. In contrast, in vitro studies allow investigation of the impact of carcinogens on human target cells under standardized conditions. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate whether three-dimensional mini organ-cultures (MOCs) of human inferior nasal turbinate epithelia may represent a useful model to study genotoxic effects of xenobiotics in vitro. Culture of mini organs was performed by cutting 1mm3 pieces from fresh specimens of inferior nasal turbinates. After a period of 5-6 days the specimens were fully covered with epithelium. On days 7, 9, and 11 of culture, intact MOCs from 25 tissue donors were incubated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a negative control, or with mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). On days 7 and 11, MOCs were analyzed by the alkaline Comet assay to detect DNA-single-strand breaks, alkali-labile sites and incomplete excision-repair sites. DNA migration after single exposure of non-cultivated fresh specimens was also analyzed. In order to detect regimen-specific effects, DNA fragmentation after single exposure of intact MOCs was compared with that of cells after separation of MOCs on day 7 of culture and consecutive exposure of individual cells. Significant DNA migration as a measure of DNA single-strand breaks, alkali-labile sites and incomplete excision repair sites, was found after electrophoresis due to single and triple exposure of MOCs to MEHP, BPDE and MNNG. Triple exposure of MOCs compared to single exposure revealed no difference after exposure to DMSO or MEHP, and an increased migration after exposure to BPDE and MNNG. When single exposure of isolated cells from fresh specimens was compared with that of intact MOCs, DMSO and MNNG had no significantly different effect, whereas exposure to MEHP or BPDE caused a reduced migration in cells from MOCs. When exposure of isolated cells harvested from MOCs was compared with exposure of intact MOCs, MEHP and BPDE caused a significantly lower DNA migration in intact MOCs. MOCs provide an in vitro model suitable for the assessment of genotoxic effects of environmental pollutants both after single or repetitive exposure. Due to the intact structure of the exposed mucosa this model may be a helpful tool in mimicking the in vivo situation in ecogenotoxicology studies.     

Strong genetic evidence of DCDC2 as a susceptibility gene for dyslexia

We searched for linkage disequilibrium (LD) in 137 triads with dyslexia, using markers that span the most-replicated dyslexia susceptibility region on 6p21-p22, and found association between the disease and markers within the VMP/DCDC2/KAAG1 locus. Detailed refinement of the LD region, involving sequencing and genotyping of additional markers, showed significant association within DCDC2 in single-marker and haplotype analyses. The association appeared to be strongest in severely affected patients. In a second step, the study was extended to include an independent sample of 239 triads with dyslexia, in which the association--in particular, with the severe phenotype of dyslexia--was confirmed. Our expression data showed that DCDC2, which contains a doublecortin homology domain that is possibly involved in cortical neuron migration, is expressed in the fetal and adult CNS, which--together with the hypothesized protein function--is in accordance with findings in dyslexic patients with abnormal neuronal migration and maturation.     

Cloning, expression and characterization of the murine orthologue of SBF2, the gene mutated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4B2

Autosomal recessive hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder of the peripheral nervous system. The clinical picture includes progressive distal weakness and atrophy, foot deformities, and distal sensory loss. For autosomal recessive CMT type 4B2 one locus was mapped to chromosome 11p15. Recently, mutations in SET binding factor 2 (SBF2), were identified as cause of CMT4B2. SBF2 is a member of the pseudo-phosphatase branch of myotubularins and all disease-associated mutations known to date lead to shortened or truncated proteins, also implicating loss-of-function. Here, we describe the molecular cloning and the expression pattern of Sbf2. The mRNA spans around 8 kb, and the protein shares high amino acid identity compared to the human protein suggesting a conserved function. Sbf2 is encoded by 40 exons on murine chromosome 7. In situ hybridization, Northern blots and RT-analysis revealed a very broad pattern of Sbf2 expression. Overexpressed epitope tagged Sbf2 showed cytoplasmic distribution. Taken together, this study provides information about the mRNA expression and subcellular localization of Sbf2 and as such helps in further understanding its function in development and disease.     

The mechanism of action of ramoplanin and enduracidin

The lipoglycodepsipeptide antibiotic ramoplanin is proposed to inhibit bacterial cell wall biosynthesis by binding to intermediates along the pathway to mature peptidoglycan, which interferes with further enzymatic processing. Two sequential enzymatic steps can be blocked by ramoplanin, but there is no definitive information about whether one step is inhibited preferentially. Here we use inhibition kinetics and binding assays to assess whether ramoplanin and the related compound enduracidin have an intrinsic preference for one step over the other. Both ramoplanin and enduracidin preferentially inhibit the transglycosylation step of peptidoglycan biosynthesis compared with the MurG step. The basis for stronger inhibition is a greater affinity for the transglycosylase substrate Lipid II over the MurG substrate Lipid I. These results provide compelling evidence that ramoplanin's and enduracidin's primary cellular target is the transglycosylation step of peptidoglycan biosynthesis.     

Small within-day increases in temperature affects boldness and alters personality in coral reef fish

Consistent individual differences in behaviour, termed personality, are common in animal populations and can constrain their responses to ecological and environmental variation, such as temperature. Here, we show for the first time that normal within-daytime fluctuations in temperature of less than 3°C have large effects on personality for two species of juvenile coral reef fish in both observational and manipulative experiments. On average, individual scores on three personality traits (PTs), activity, boldness and aggressiveness, increased from 2.5- to sixfold as a function of temperature. However, whereas most individuals became more active, aggressive and bold across temperature contexts (were plastic), others did not; this changed the individual rank order across temperatures and thus altered personality. In addition, correlations between PTs were consistent across temperature contexts, e.g. fish that were active at a given temperature also tended to be both bold and aggressive. These results (i) highlight the importance of very carefully controlling for temperature when studying behavioural variation among and within individuals and (ii) suggest that individual differences in energy metabolism may contribute to animal personality, given that temperature has large direct effects on metabolic rates in ectotherms.