JNK phosphorylation of 14-3-3 proteins regulates nuclear targeting of c-Abl in the apoptotic response to DNA damage

The ubiquitously expressed c-Abl tyrosine kinase localizes to the cytoplasm and nucleus. Nuclear c-Abl is activated by diverse genotoxic agents and induces apoptosis; however, the mechanisms that are responsible for nuclear targeting of c-Abl remain unclear. Here, we show that cytoplasmic c-Abl is targeted to the nucleus in the DNA damage response. The results show that c-Abl is sequestered into the cytoplasm by binding to 14-3-3 proteins. Phosphorylation of c-Abl on Thr 735 functions as a site for direct binding to 14-3-3 proteins. We also show that, in response to DNA damage, activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (Jnk) induces phosphorylation of 14-3-3 proteins and their release from c-Abl. Together with these results, expression of an unphosphorylated 14-3-3 mutant attenuates DNA-damage-induced nuclear import of c-Abl and apoptosis. These findings indicate that 14-3-3 proteins are pivotal regulators of intracellular c-Abl localization and of the apoptotic response to genotoxic stress.     

WNK1 regulates phosphorylation of cation-chloride-coupled cotransporters via the STE20-related kinases, SPAK and OSR1

The WNK1 and WNK4 genes have been found to be mutated in some patients with hyperkalemia and hypertension caused by pseudohypoaldosteronism type II. The clue to the pathophysiology of pseudohypoaldosteronism type II was its striking therapeutic response to thiazide diuretics, which are known to block the sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC). Although this suggests a role for WNK1 in hypertension, the precise molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we have shown that WNK1 phosphorylates and regulates the STE20-related kinases, Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and oxidative stress response 1 (OSR1). WNK1 was observed to phosphorylate the evolutionary conserved serine residue located outside the kinase domains of SPAK and OSR1, and mutation of the OSR1 serine residue caused enhanced OSR1 kinase activity. In addition, hypotonic stress was shown to activate SPAK and OSR1 and induce phosphorylation of the conserved OSR1 serine residue, suggesting that WNK1 may be an activator of the SPAK and OSR1 kinases. Moreover, SPAK and OSR1 were found to directly phosphorylate the N-terminal regulatory regions of cation-chloride-coupled cotransporters including NKCC1, NKCC2, and NCC. Phosphorylation of NCC was induced by hypotonic stress in cells. These results suggested that WNK1 and SPAK/OSR1 mediate the hypotonic stress signaling pathway to the transporters and may provide insights into the mechanisms by which WNK1 regulates ion balance.     

Rapid analysis of protein interactions: On-chip micropurification of recombinant protein expressed in Esherichia coli

We describe a rapid analysis of interactions between antibodies and a recombinant protein present in total cell lysates. Using a surface plasmon resonance biosensor, a low concentration of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fused protein expressed in small scale Esherichia coli culture was purified on an anti-GST antibody immobilized sensor chip. The 'on-chip purification' was verified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry by measuring the molecular masses of recombinant proteins purified on the sensor chip. The specific binding of monoclonal antibodies for the on-chip micropurified recombinant proteins can then be monitored, thus enabling kinetic analysis and epitope mapping of the bound antibodies. This approach reduced time, resources and sample consumption by avoiding conventional steps related to concentration and purification.     

Absorption and urinary excretion of procyanidin B2 [epicatechin-(4beta-8)-epicatechin] in rats

We evaluated the bioavailability and plasma antioxidative activity after administration of procyanidin B2 [epicatechin-(4beta-8)-epicatechin] in rats. After procyanidin B2 administration, procyanidin B2 is absorbed and excreted in urine, and a portion of the PB2 is degraded to (-)-epicatechin and to the metabolized conjugated and/or methylated (-)-epicatechin internally in the rat. Moreover, PB2 reduces the accumulation of lipid peroxide in plasma oxidized by copper ions.     

Cutaneous vasodilatation responses synchronize with sweat expulsions

To examine whether cutaneous active vasodilatation is mediated by sudomotor nerve fibres we recorded cutaneous blood flow and sweat rates continuously with laser-Doppler flowmetry and capacitance hygrometry, respectively, from the dorsal and plantar aspects of the foot in 11 male subjects at varying ambient temperatures (T _a) between 22 and 40°C (relative humidity 40%). In a warmer environment (T _a 29–40°C), predominant responses of the blood flow curve from the sole of the foot were transient depressions (negative blood flow responses, NBR), whereas those from the dorsal foot were transient increases (positive blood flow responses, PBR). The PBR on the dorsal foot occurred spontaneously or in response to mental or sensory stimuli, and when PBR did not fuse with each other the rate of PBR was linearly related to tympanic temperature. When dorsal foot sweating was continuous, PBR on the dorsal foot almost entirely synchronized with sweat expulsion. When dorsal foot sweating was intermittent PBR sometimes occurred on the dorsal foot without corresponding sweat expulsions, but these PBR showed a complete correspondence with subthreshold sweat expulsion seen on a methacholine-treated area. The amplitude and the duration of PBR showed a significant linear relationship with the amplitude and the duration of the corresponding sweat expulsion. In a thermoneutral or cooler environment (T _a 22–29°C), PBR occurred on the sole of the foot when mental or sensory stimuli elicited sweating in that area. Thus, PBR occurred when and where sweating appeared. Atropine failed to abolish PBR on the dorsal foot. Blockade of the peroneal nerve eliminated both PBR and NBR on the dorsal foot. The results indicate that an active vasodilatation mechanism is present on the sole of the foot as well as on the dorsal foot, and thus suggest that active vasodilatation is closely related to sudomotor nerve activation.     

Isolation of temperature-sensitive mutants for mRNA capping enzyme in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The guanylyltransferase activity of mRNA capping enzyme catalyzes the transfer of GMP from GTP to the 5 terminus of mRNA. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the activity is carried on the subunit of capping enzyme, the product of the CEG1 gene. We have isolated 10 recessive, temperature-sensitive mutations of CEG1; nine (cegl-1 to cegl-9) were isolated on a single-copy plasmid and the remaining one (cegl-10) on a multicopy plasmid. The presence of cegl-10 in multiple copies is essential for the viability of cells carrying the mutation, and a shift to the restrictive temperature resulted in rapid growth arrest of cegl-10 cells, while growth rates of other mutants decreased gradually upon temperature upshift. Intragenic complementation was not observed for pairwise combinations of the mutations. Although the majority of the mutations occurred at the amino acid residues conserved between Cegl and the Schizosaccharomyces pombe homologue, none were located in the regions that are also conserved among viral capping enzymes and polynucleotide ligases. Guanylyltransferase activity of the mutant proteins as measured by covalent Ceg1-GMP complex formation was heat-labile. The availability of these mutants should facilitate studies of the structure-function relationships of capping enzyme, as well as the roles and regulation of mRNA capping.     

Properties of the deglycosylatedβ-fructofuranosidaseP-2 fromAureobasidium sp. ATCC 20524

Summary The carbohydrate moiety of -fructofuranosidaseP-2 fromAureobasidium sp. ATCC 20524 was largely removed by exposure of the enzyme to endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase F; the total carbohydrate content of the enzyme was decreased from 53% (w/w) to 15% (w/w). The stability of the deglycosylated enzyme at pH 4 to 7 and 40 to 50°C was decreased and theK _m value for sucrose was increased from 0.65 to 1.43 M. The deglycosylated enzyme was more sensitive to proteases such as pronase E and subtilisin than the native enzyme. It is concluded that the carbohydrate moiety of -fructofuranosidaseP-2 contributes to the stability of the enzyme as well as its affinity for sucrose.     

Purification and properties of glucosyltransferase fromAureobasidium

Summary Purification and properties of glucosyltransferase, which produces panose (Glc16Glc14Glc) and isomaltose (Glc16Glc) from maltose (Glc14Glc), are reported. The enzyme, fromAureobasidium, was purified to homogeneity by fractionations involving ammonium sulfate and DEAE-Cellulofine, S-Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephadex G-200 chromatography. Molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 395 kDa by gel filtration. The enzyme was identified as a glycoprotein which contains 32% (w/w) carbohydrate. The optimum pH for the enzymatic reaction was 4.5–5.5 and the enzyme was stable over a pH range of 4–6. The optimum reaction temperature for the enzyme was 65°C and the enzyme retained more than 96% activity at 60°C after 15 min. The enzyme produced panose from maltose by means of a high efficiency (45.5%) glucosyl-transfer reaction. The enzyme was inhibited by metal ions, such as those of mercury, silver and aluminum, and also by organic inhibitors, especially nitrilotriacetic acid.     

Homeostatic levels of p62 control cytoplasmic inclusion body formation in autophagy-deficient mice

Inactivation of constitutive autophagy results in formation of cytoplasmic protein inclusions and leads to liver injury and neurodegeneration, but the details of abnormalities related to impaired autophagy are largely unknown. Here we used mouse genetic analyses to define the roles of autophagy in the aforementioned events. We report that the ubiquitin- and LC3-binding protein "p62" regulates the formation of protein aggregates and is removed by autophagy. Thus, genetic ablation of p62 suppressed the appearance of ubiquitin-positive protein aggregates in hepatocytes and neurons, indicating that p62 plays an important role in inclusion body formation. Moreover, loss of p62 markedly attenuated liver injury caused by autophagy deficiency, whereas it had little effect on neuronal degeneration. Our findings highlight the unexpected role of homeostatic level of p62, which is regulated by autophagy, in controlling intracellular inclusion body formation, and indicate that the pathologic process associated with autophagic deficiency is cell-type specific.