Exchange between inorganic phosphate and adenosine triphosphate in (Na+,K+)-ATPase

(Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase is able to catalyze a continuous ATP?P_i exchange in the presence of Na⁺ and in the absence of a transmembrane ionic gradient. At pH 7.6 the Na⁺ concentration required for half-maximal activity is 85 mM and at pH 5.1 it is 340 mM. In the presence of optimal Na⁺ concentration, the rate of exchange is maximal at pH 6.0 and varies with ADP and P_i concentration in the assay medium. ATP?P_i exchange is inhibited by K⁺ and by ouabain.     

Heat of PPi hydrolysis varies depending on the enzyme used. Yeast and corn vacuolar pyrophosphatase

With yeast-soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase, the heat released during PP(i) hydrolysis was -6.3 kcal/mol regardless of the KCl concentration in the medium. With the membrane-bound pyrophosphatase of corn vacuoles, the heat released varies between -23.5 and -7.5 kcal/mol depending on the KCl concentration in the medium and whether or not a H(+) gradient is formed across the vacuole membranes. The data support the proposal that enzymes are able to handle the energy derived from phosphate compound hydrolysis in such a way as to determine the parcel that is used for work and the fraction that is converted into heat.     

Thyroid hormones differentially regulate the distribution of rabbit skeletal muscle Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) isoforms in light and heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is composed of two fractions, the heavy fraction that contains proteins involved in Ca2+ release, and the light fraction enriched in Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA), an enzyme responsible for Ca2+ transport from the cytosol to the lumen of SR. It is known that in red muscle thyroid hormones regulate the expression of SERCA 1 and SERCA 2 isoforms. Here we show the effects of thyroid hormone on SERCA expression and distribution in light and heavy SR fractions from rabbit white and red muscles. In hyperthyroid red muscle there is an increase of SERCA 1 and a decrease of SERCA 2 expression. This is far more pronounced in the heavy than in the light SR fraction. As a result, the rates of Ca(2+)- ATPase activity and Ca(2+)-uptake by the heavy vesicles are increased. In hypothyroidism we observed a decrease in SERCA 1 and no changes in the amount of SERCA 2 expressed. This promoted a decrease of both Ca(2+)-uptake and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. While the major differences in hyperthyroidism were found in the heavy SR fraction, the effects of hypothyroidism were restricted to light SR fraction. In white muscle we did not observe any significant changes in either hypo- or hyperthyroidism in both SR fractions. Thus, the regulation of SERCA isoforms by thyroid hormones is not only muscle specific but also varies depending on the subcellular compartment analyzed. These changes might correspond to the molecular basis of the altered contraction and relaxation rates detected in thyroid dysfunction.     

Pi in equilibrium ATP exchange in the absence of proton gradient by the H+-ATPase from yeast plasma membranes

Purified soluble H+-ATPase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe catalyzes a Pi in equilibrium ATP exchange in the absence of a H+ gradient. When the pH of the assay medium is raised from 5.5 to 8.0 there is a decrease of the ATPase activity and an increase of the rate of Pi in equilibrium ATP exchange. At pH 7.0 the addition of the organic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (20%, v/v) promotes a decrease of ATPase activity and an increase of the Pi in equilibrium ATP exchange reaction. The effect of the organic solvent on the Pi in equilibrium ATP exchange is related to a decrease of the apparent Km for Pi.     

Enzyme phosphorylation with inorganic phosphate causes Ca2+ dissociation from sarcoplasmic reticulum adenosinetriphosphatase

Sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase is phosphorylated by ATP in the presence of calcium, with a consequent reduction of the affinity of the binding sites for calcium and dissociation of the divalent cation from the enzyme. ATPase phosphorylation with Pi, on the other hand, requires prior removal of calcium from the enzyme, indicating that the energy requirement for phosphorylation of the enzyme-calcium complex can be met by ATP but not by Pi. We find that when the energy yield of the Pi reaction with the enzyme is increased by the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide to the medium, ATPase phosphorylation with Pi occurs even in the presence of calcium, and the binding sites undergo a reduction in affinity with consequent dissociation of Ca2+ from the enzyme, in analogy to the effect of ATP. It is thereby demonstrated experimentally that an essential step in the coupling of catalytic and transport activities is an interdependence and mutual ligand exclusion of the phosphorylation and calcium sites, in which ATP does not play a direct role. An important difference between the effects of ATP and Pi is that the former produces dissociation of Ca2+ inside the vesicles as the result of advancement of the catalytic cycle in the forward direction, while Pi produces dissociation of calcium into the outer medium as a consequence of equilibration of enzyme states producing a shift in the reverse direction of the enzyme cycle. These observations demonstrate how equilibration of intermediate enzyme states determines extent and direction of overall reaction flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Trypanosoma cruzi Infection through the Oral Route Promotes a Severe Infection in Mice: New Disease Form from an Old Infection?

Oral transmission of Chagas disease has been documented in Latin American countries. Nevertheless, significant studies on the pathophysiology of this form of infection are largely lacking. The few studies investigating oral route infection disregard that inoculation in the oral cavity (Oral infection, OI) or by gavage (Gastrointestinal infection, GI) represent different infection routes, yet both show clear-cut parasitemia and heart parasitism during the acute infection. Herein, BALB/c mice were subjected to acute OI or GI infection using 5x10⁴ culture-derived Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. OI mice displayed higher parasitemia and mortality rates than their GI counterparts. Heart histopathology showed larger areas of infiltration in the GI mice, whereas liver lesions were more severe in the OI animals, accompanied by higher Alanine Transaminase and Aspartate Transaminase serum contents. A differential cytokine pattern was also observed because OI mice presented higher pro-inflammatory cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF) serum levels than GI animals. Real-time PCR confirmed a higher TNF, IFN-γ, as well as IL-10 expression in the cardiac tissue from the OI group compared with GI. Conversely, TGF-β and IL-17 serum levels were greater in the GI animals. Immunolabeling revealed macrophages as the main tissue source of TNF in infected mice. The high mortality rate observed in the OI mice paralleled the TNF serum rise, with its inhibition by an anti-TNF treatment. Moreover, differences in susceptibility between GI versus OI mice were more clearly related to the host response than to the effect of gastric pH on parasites, since infection in magnesium hydroxide-treated mice showed similar results. Overall, the present study provides conclusive evidence that the initial site of parasite entrance critically affects host immune response and disease outcome. In light of the occurrence of oral Chagas disease outbreaks, our results raise important implications in terms of the current view of the natural disease course and host-parasite relationship.     

Taxonomy of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale Species Complex Harboring the Highly Virulent,Multiresistant Genotype T. indotineae

Mycopathologia - A severe outbreak of highly virulent and multi-resistant dermatophytosis by species in the Trichophyton mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale complex is ongoing in India. The correct...     

MAGT1 messenger RNA-corrected autologous T and natural killer cells for potential cell therapy in X-linked immunodeficiency with magnesium defect,Epstein-Barr virus infection and neoplasia disease

Background aimX-linked MAGT1 deficiency with increased susceptibility to EBV-infection and N-linked glycosylation defect' (XMEN) disease is caused by mutations in the magnesium transporter 1 (MAGT1) gene. Loss of MAGT1 function results in a glycosylation defect that abrogates expression of key immune proteins such as the NKG2D receptor on CD8⁺ T and NK cells, which is critical for the recognition and killing of virus-infected and transformed cells, a biomarker for MAGT1 function. Patients with XMEN disease frequently have increased susceptibility to EBV infections and EBV-associated B cell malignancies, for which no specific treatment options are currently available. Experimental transfer of donor EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells may be beneficial but carries the risks of eliciting alloimmune responses. An approach for cell therapy to address viral infections and associated complications that avoids the risks of alloimmunity is needed.MethodsHere the authors assess the feasibility and efficiency of correcting autologous lymphocytes from XMEN patients by MAGT1 mRNA electroporation (EP) that avoids genomic integration and can be scaled for clinical application.Results and conclusionsRestoration of NKG2D expression was demonstrated in XMEN patient lymphocytes after MAGT1 mRNA electroporation that reach healthy donor levels in CD8⁺ T and NK cells at 1-2 days after EP. NKG2D expression persisted at ～50% for 2 weeks after EP. Functionally, mRNA-correction of XMEN NK cells rescued cytotoxic activity also to healthy donor NK cell level. The restored NKG2D receptor expression and function were unaffected by cryopreservation, which will make feasible repeat infusions of MAGT1 mRNA-corrected autologous XMEN CD8⁺ T and NK cells for potential short term therapy for XMEN patients without the risks of alloimmunization.     

Chagasic thymic atrophy does not affect negative selection but results in the export of activated CD4+CD8+ T cells in severe forms of human disease

Extrathymic CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) T cells are increased in some pathophysiological conditions, including infectious diseases. In the murine model of Chagas disease, it has been shown that the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is able to target the thymus and induce alterations of the thymic microenvironment and the lymphoid compartment. In the acute phase, this results in a severe atrophy of the organ and early release of DP cells into the periphery. To date, the effect of the changes promoted by the parasite infection on thymic central tolerance has remained elusive. Herein we show that the intrathymic key elements that are necessary to promote the negative selection of thymocytes undergoing maturation during the thymopoiesis remains functional during the acute chagasic thymic atrophy. Intrathymic expression of the autoimmune regulator factor (Aire) and tissue-restricted antigen (TRA) genes is normal. In addition, the expression of the proapoptotic Bim protein in thymocytes was not changed, revealing that the parasite infection-induced thymus atrophy has no effect on these marker genes necessary to promote clonal deletion of T cells. In a chicken egg ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic system, the administration of OVA peptide into infected mice with thymic atrophy promoted OVA-specific thymocyte apoptosis, further indicating normal negative selection process during the infection. Yet, although the intrathymic checkpoints necessary for thymic negative selection are present in the acute phase of Chagas disease, we found that the DP cells released into the periphery acquire an activated phenotype similar to what is described for activated effector or memory single-positive T cells. Most interestingly, we also demonstrate that increased percentages of peripheral blood subset of DP cells exhibiting an activated HLA-DR+ phenotype are associated with severe cardiac forms of human chronic Chagas disease. These cells may contribute to the immunopathological events seen in the Chagas disease.