Functional analysis of the conserved domains of a rice KNOX homeodomain protein, OSH15

The rice KNOX protein OSH15 consists of four conserved domains: the MEINOX domain, which can be divided into two subdomains (KNOX1 and KNOX2); the GSE domain; the ELK domain; and the homeodomain (HD). To investigate the function of each domain, we generated 10 truncated proteins with deletions in the conserved domains and four proteins with mutations in the conserved amino acids in the HD. Transgenic analysis suggested that KNOX2 and HD are essential for inducing the abnormal phenotype and that the KNOX1 and ELK domains affect phenotype severity. We also found that both KNOX2 and HD are necessary for homodimerization and that only HD is needed for binding of OSH15 to its target sequence. Transactivation studies suggested that both the KNOX1 and ELK domains play a role in suppressing target gene expression. On the basis of these findings, we propose that overproduced OSH15 probably acts as a dimer and may ectopically suppress the expression of target genes that induce abnormal morphology in transgenic plants.     

Measurement of glucose uptake and intracellular calcium concentration in single, living pancreatic beta-cells

There has been no method previously to measure both glucose transport and its effect on the various intracellular functions in single, living mammalian cells. A fluorescent derivative of d-glucose, 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG), that we have developed has made such measurements possible. COS-1 cells that overexpress the human glucose transporter GLUT2 show significantly greater 2-NBDG uptake than mock transfected cells. Using GLUT2-abundant mouse insulin-secreting clonal MIN6 cells, we found that 2-NBDG was incorporated into the cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The 2-NBDG uptake was inhibited by high concentrations of d-glucose in a dose-dependent manner and also was almost completely inhibited by 10 micrometer cytochalasin B. We then measured both glucose uptake and the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in single, living pancreatic islet cells. 2-NBDG and fura-2 were used as the tracer of glucose and indicator of intracellular calcium, respectively. All of the cells that showed an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in response to a high concentration of glucose (16.8 mm) rapidly incorporated significant 2-NBDG. Immunocytochemical examination confirmed these cells to be insulin-positive beta-cells. All of the cells that showed no significant, rapid 2-NBDG uptake lacked such glucose responsiveness of [Ca(2+)](i), indicating that these cells were non-beta-cells such as glucagon-positive alpha-cells. These results show the uptake of glucose causing a concomitant increase of [Ca(2+)](i) in beta-cells. Because 2-NBDG is incorporated into mammalian cells through glucose transporters, it should be useful for the measurement of glucose uptake together with concomitant intracellular activities in many types of single, living mammalian cells.     

The possible involvement of CXCR4 in the inhibition of HIV-1 infection mediated by DP178/gp41

The N- (N36/DP107) and C-terminal peptides (C34/DP178) from two alpha-helical domains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 inhibited HIV infection. A single-round infection using pseudotyped virus clarified that a greater amount of gp41-derived peptides was necessary for the inhibition of R5 virus (ADA) infection than for that of X4 virus (LAI) infection. Furthermore, R5X4 virus (89.6) infection via CCR5 needs more peptides for inhibition than its infection via CXCR4 does. A high sensitivity of X4 virus was partially ascribed to the inhibition of the 12G5 binding to CXCR4 by DP178LAI.     

Direct immunization of malaria DNA vaccine into the liver by gene gun protects against lethal challenge of Plasmodium berghei sporozoite

The liver is the first target organ for malaria parasites immediately after the bite of an infected mosquito. We studied local immunization of malaria DNA vaccines at the site of the liver using a gene gun as a useful tool for in vivo transfection of foreign genes. A malaria DNA vaccine consisting of the Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein (PbCSP) gene plus the mouse IL-12 gene was bombarded directly by a gene gun into mouse liver once or into the skin twice. A marked protective effect was induced by gene bombardment into the liver (more than 71%) compared with that into the skin (less than 33%). A Th1-type immune response and high production of iNOS were observed in the hepatic lymphocytes from mice bombarded into the liver, resulting in more effective protection compared with those bombarded into the skin. These results provide an important implication on the development of efficient malaria vaccine strategies.     

The 2-phenylbenzotriazole-type water pollutant PBTA-2 has cytochalasin B-mimetic activity

The 2-phenylbenzotriazole (PBTA)-type water pollutant, 2-[2-(acetylamino)-4-[N-(2-cyanoethyl)ethylamino]-5-methoxyphenyl]-5- amino-7-bromo-4-chloro-2H-benzotriazole (PBTA-2), has been recently identified in samples from the Nishitakase River in Kyoto, Japan, and shows potent mutagenic activities in Salmonella typhimurium in the presence of a microsomal metabolizing system (S9 mix). In the present study, we conducted the in vitro micronucleus (MN) test on PBTA-2 in the absence and presence of S9 mix in two Chinese hamster cell lines, CHL and V79-MZ. In the MN test, PBTA-2 was weakly positive in CHL cells and strongly positive in V79-MZ cells. Because the positive results were accompanied by a statistically significant increase in the number of polynuclear (PN) and/or mitotic (M) cells, we examined treated cells in metaphase to see if numerical chromosome aberrations were being induced. We found that PBTA-2 induces polyploidy in both CHL and V79-MZ cells. A detailed analysis of MN preparations showed that in CHL cells, PBTA-2 predominantly induces equal-sized binucleated cells. Rhodamine phalloidin staining revealed that PBTA-2 causes actin filament abnormalities in both cell lines similar to those caused by cytochalasin B. Cytochalasin B induced PN cells predominantly and dose dependently, and almost all the cells were equal-sized and binucleate. The results suggest that PBTA-2 has cytochalasin B-mimetic activity, although agents affecting actin filaments, such as cytochalasins, phallotoxins and chloropeptide, have been derived only from molds so far. This study also suggests that our MN test protocol may be used to identify chemicals that have cytochalasin B-mimetic activity as well as those that induce numerical aberrations.     

Over-expression of tobacco knotted1-type class1 homeobox genes alters various leaf morphology

We compared the phenotypes of transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing various knotted1-type class1 homeobox genes. All transformants showed abnormal leaf morphology, with the degree of abnormality depending upon the Nicotiana tabacum homeobox (NTH) gene that was over-expressed. Tobacco plants over-expressing NTH1 or NTH9 showed a relatively weak phenotype, while NTH15 and NTH20 over-expressing plants exhibited severe alterations, with occasional ectopic shoot formation on the leaves. Plants over-expressing NTH22 had a relatively severe phenotype, but did not form any ectopic shoots. These results indicate that all of the NTH genes can influence leaf development from the shoot apical meristem, but that the effect varies with the gene. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the NTH genes and comparison of the phenotypes of plants over-expressing them, we suggest that the kn1-type class1 family can be divided into two subgroups, and that the differences in their ability to induce the abnormal phenotype corresponds to the structures of their conserved domains.     

Correlation of sister chromatid exchange formation through homologous recombination with ribonucleotide reductase inhibition

We conducted the recombination and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assays with five chemicals (hydroxyurea (HU), resveratrol, 4-hydroxy-trans-stilbene, 3-hydroxy-trans-stilbene, and mitomycin C) in Chinese hamster cell line SPD8/V79 to confirm directly that SCE is a result of homologous recombination (HR). SPD8 has a partial duplication in exon 7 of the endogenous hprt gene and can revert to wild type by homologous recombination. All chemicals were positive in both assays except for 3-hydroxy-trans-stilbene, which was negative in both. HU, resveratrol, and 4-hydroxy-trans-stilbene were scavengers of the tyrosyl free radical of the R2 subunit of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase. Tyrosyl free radical scavengers disturb normal DNA replication, causing replication fork arrest. Mitomycin C is a DNA cross-linking agent that also causes replication fork arrest. The present study suggests that replication fork arrest, which is similar to the early phases of HR, leads to a high frequency of recombination, resulting in SCEs. The findings show that SCE may be mediated by HR.     

Mechanism of Csk-mediated down-regulation of Src family tyrosine kinases in epidermal growth factor signaling

The Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) play pivotal roles as molecular switches that link a variety of extracellular cues to intracellular signaling pathway. The function of SFK is regulated by phosphorylation at the C-terminal regulatory site mediated by Csk. Recently a novel SFK target Cbp (or PAG) was identified as a membrane-anchored scaffold protein for Csk. To establish the mechanism of Csk/Cbp-mediated regulation of SFK in vivo, we observed dynamic changes in the interaction of Csk with Cbp by utilizing fusion proteins with modified green fluorescent proteins: cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) or yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). Upon SFK activation induced by epidermal growth factor stimulation, fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) response was detected transiently at membrane ruffles in COS1 cells co-expressing CFP-Csk and Cbp-YFP and in cells expressing a single-molecule FRET indicator consisting of CskSH2 and Cbp. Suppression of SFK by PP2 or use of a mutant Cbp that lacks the Csk binding site abolished the FRET response, although a dominant-negative form of Csk enhanced and sustained the FRET response, demonstrating that the FRET response is dependent upon the SFK activity. These observations show that Csk/Cbp-mediated down-regulation of SFK takes place at membrane ruffles in an early stage of epidermal growth factor signaling and suggest that the Csk/Cbp-based FRET indicators are useful for monitoring the status of SFK in living cells.