Oligomerization of the alpha and beta isoforms of the thromboxane A2 receptor: relevance to receptor signaling and endocytosis

Thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) is a potent mediator of inflammation, vasoconstriction and oxidative stress. The TXA(2) receptor (TP) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is expressed as two alternatively spliced isoforms, alpha (343 residues) and beta (407 residues) that share the first 328 residues. For many years GPCRs were assumed to exist and function as monomeric species, but increasing evidence suggests that a dimer is the minimal functional unit of GPCRs. In the present report, using co-immunoprecipitation of differentially tagged TP expressed in HEK293 cells, we demonstrate that TPalpha and TPbeta form homo- and hetero-oligomers. Immunoblotting of lysates from human platelets with an anti-TP specific antibody revealed the presence of endogenously expressed TP oligomers. We show that TP oligomerization is an agonist-independent process highly affected by the reducing agent dithiothreitol suggesting the involvement of disulfide bonds in TP oligomerization. Over-expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinases and arrestins did not modulate the extent of receptor dimerization/oligomerization. Co-expression of two TP signaling-deficient mutants, R60L and E2402R, resulted in rescuing of receptor signal transduction suggesting that dimers/oligomers constitute the functional units of this receptor. Interestingly, TPalpha which does not undergo constitutive or agonist-induced endocytosis on its own was subjected to both types of endocytosis when co-expressed with TPbeta, indicating that TPalpha can display intracellular trafficking when complexed through hetero-oligomerization with TPbeta.     

Isolation of male germ-line stem cells; influence of GDNF

The identification and physical isolation of testis stem cells, a subset of type A spermatogonia, is critical to our understanding of their growth regulation during the first steps of spermatogenesis. These stem cells remain poorly characterized because of the paucity of specific molecular markers that permit us to distinguish them from other germ cells. Thus, the molecular mechanisms driving the first steps of spermatogenesis are still unknown. We show in the present study that GFR alpha-1, the receptor for GDNF (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor), is strongly expressed by a subset of type A spermatogonia in the basal part of the seminiferous epithelium. Using this characteristic, we devised a method to specifically isolate these GFR alpha-1-positive cells from immature mouse testes. The isolated cells express Ret, a tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptor that mediates the intracellular response to GDNF via GFR alpha-1. After stimulation with rGDNF, the isolated cells proliferated in culture and underwent the first steps of germ cell differentiation. Microarray analysis revealed that GDNF induces the differential expression of a total of 1124 genes. Among the genes upregulated by GDNF were many genes involved in early mammalian development, differentiation, and the cell cycle. This report describes the first isolation of a pure population of GFR alpha-1-positive cells in the testis and identifies signaling pathways that may play a crucial role in maintaining germ-line stem cell proliferation and/or renewal.     

Modeling the effect of a genetic factor for a complex trait in a simulated population

Genetic Analysis Workshop 14 simulated data have been analyzed with MASC(marker association segregation chi-squares) in which we implemented a bootstrap procedure to provide the variation intervals of parameter estimates. We model here the effect of a genetic factor, S, for Kofendrerd Personality Disorder in the region of the marker C03R0281 for the Aipotu population. The goodness of fit of several genetic models with two alleles for one locus has been tested. The data are not compatible with a direct effect of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (SNP 16, 17, 18, 19 of pack 153) in the region. Therefore, we can conclude that the functional polymorphism has not been typed and is in linkage disequilibrium with the four studied SNPs. We obtained very large variation intervals both of the disease allele frequency and the degree of dominance. The uncertainty of the model parameters can be explained first, by the method used, which models marginal effects when the disease is due to complex interactions, second, by the presence of different sub-criteria used for the diagnosis that are not determined by S in the same way, and third, by the fact that the segregation of the disease in the families was not taken into account. However, we could not find any model that could explain the familial segregation of the trait, namely the higher proportion of affected parents than affected sibs.     

Physical gelation of chitosan in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate: the effect of temperature

When adding beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP), a weak base, to chitosan aqueous solutions, the polymer remains in solution at neutral pH and room temperature, while homogeneous gelation of this system can be triggered upon heating. It is therefore one of the rare true physical chitosan hydrogels. In this study, physicochemical and rheological properties of chitosan solutions in the presence of acetic acid and beta-GP were investigated as a function of temperature in order to gain a better understanding of the gelation mechanisms. The gel structure formed at high temperature was only partially thermoreversible upon cooling to 5 degrees C because of the existence of remaining associations, confirmed by the spontaneous recovery of the gel after breakup at low temperature. Increasing temperature had no effect on the pH values of this system, while conductivity (and calculated ionic strength) increased. Values from the pH measurements were used to estimate the degree of protonation of each species as a function of temperature. The decreasing ratio of -NH3+ in chitosan and -OPO(O-)2 in beta-GP suggested reduced chitosan solubility along with a diminution of ionic interactions such as ionic bridging with increasing temperature. On the other hand, the increased ionic strength as a function of temperature, in the presence of beta-GP, enhanced screening of electrostatic repulsion and increased hydrophobic effect, resulting in favorable conditions for gel formation. Therefore, our study suggests that hydrophobic interactions and reduced solubility are the main driving force for chitosan gelation at high temperature in the presence of beta-GP.     

Characterization of a eukaryotic type serine/threonine protein kinase and protein phosphatase of Streptococcus pneumoniae and identification of kinase substrates

Searching the genome sequence of Streptococcus pneumoniae revealed the presence of a single Ser/Thr protein kinase gene stkP linked to protein phosphatase phpP. Biochemical studies performed with recombinant StkP suggest that this protein is a functional eukaryotic-type Ser/Thr protein kinase. In vitro kinase assays and Western blots of S. pneumoniae subcellular fractions revealed that StkP is a membrane protein. PhpP is a soluble protein with manganese-dependent phosphatase activity in vitro against a synthetic substrate RRA(pT)VA. Mutations in the invariant aspartate residues implicated in the metal binding completely abolished PhpP activity. Autophosphorylated form of StkP was shown to be a substrate for PhpP. These results suggest that StkP and PhpP could operate as a functional pair in vivo. Analysis of phosphoproteome maps of both wild-type and stkP null mutant strains labeled in vivo and subsequent phosphoprotein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting revealed two possible substrates for StkP. The evidence is presented that StkP can phosphorylate in vitro phosphoglucosamine mutase GlmM which catalyzes the first step in the biosynthetic pathway leading to the formation of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, an essential common precursor to cell envelope components.     

Uridine kinase molecular species and uridine uptake in some variants of rat hepatomas

In a family of clonal lines derived from the Reuber H 35 rat hepatoma, four electrophoretically distinct molecular forms of uridine kinase (UK I, II, III, and IV) have been characterized. They are the same as those found in foetal rat liver. Different UK profiles occur in these cell lines, and no strict correlation could be established between the state of differentiation of the cells and the form of UK expressed. A clone of somatic hybrid cells between line p4 (form 1 only) and Fu5-5 (forms II, III, and IV) that does not express form I indicates that p4 cells may lack a factor controlling the polymerization of form I. This variety of clonal cell lines was used to study the uptake and phosphorylation of labeled uridine. The results suggest a relationship between the UK form present and the rate uridine phosphorylation by the intact cells.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril prevents volume overload cardiomyopathy in experimental chronic aortic valve regurgitation

The efficacy of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in the treatment of chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) is not well established and remains controversial. The mechanisms by which ACEIs may protect against left-ventricular (LV) volume overload are not well understood, and clinical trials performed until now have yielded conflicting results. This study was therefore performed to assess the effectiveness of two different doses of the ACEI captopril in a rat model of chronic AR. We compared the effects of a 6-month low-dose (LD) (25 mg/kg) or higher dose (HD) (75 mg/kg) treatment with captopril on LV function and hypertrophy in Wistar rats with severe AR. Untreated animals developed LV eccentric hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction. LD treatment did not prevent hypertrophy and provided modest protection against systolic dysfunction. HD treatment preserved LV systolic function and dimensions and tended to slow hypertrophy. The cardiac index remained high and similar among all AR groups, treated or not. Tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) analysis revealed that ACE activity was increased in the LVs of AR animals and that only HD treatment significantly decreased angiotensin II receptor mRNA levels. Fibronectin expression was increased in the LV or AR animals, but HD treatment almost completely reversed this increase. The ACE inhibitor captopril was effective at high doses in this model of severe AR. These effects might be related to the modulation of tissue RAS and the control of fibrosis.     

Lassa virus infection of human dendritic cells and macrophages is productive but fails to activate cells

Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus (LV), an old-world Arenavirus. Little is known about the immune responses that occur during the disease, but protection seems to be linked to the induction of cellular responses specific for viral glycoproteins. Conversely, severe Lassa fever may be associated with immunosuppression. We studied the infection of human dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages (MP) by LV. Both these cell types are susceptible to LV infection. Viral nucleoprotein was detected in DC and MP, and high and moderate viral titers were obtained with culture supernatants of DC and MP, respectively. LV did not induce apoptosis in DC and MP. These cells were not activated by LV infection. No change was observed in the expression of surface molecules involved in activation, costimulation, adhesion, and Ag presentation following LV infection, or in the functional properties of DC. Inflammatory cytokine production was not detected at the mRNA or protein level after LV infection of DC and MP. Thus, MP, and particularly DC, are crucial targets for LV and are probably involved in the early replication of LV from the initial site of infection. The lack of activation and maturation of cells following infection may be associated with the immunosuppression observed in severe LV infection.