Differential effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced autophagy on cell survival

Autophagy is a cellular response to adverse environment and stress, but its significance in cell survival is not always clear. Here we show that autophagy could be induced in the mammalian cells by chemicals, such as A23187, tunicamycin, thapsigargin, and brefeldin A, that cause endoplasmic reticulum stress. Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced autophagy is important for clearing polyubiquitinated protein aggregates and for reducing cellular vacuolization in HCT116 colon cancer cells and DU145 prostate cancer cells, thus mitigating endoplasmic reticulum stress and protecting against cell death. In contrast, autophagy induced by the same chemicals does not confer protection in a normal human colon cell line and in the non-transformed murine embryonic fibroblasts but rather contributes to cell death. Thus the impact of autophagy on cell survival during endoplasmic reticulum stress is likely contingent on the status of cells, which could be explored for tumor-specific therapy.     

Empty class II major histocompatibility complex created by peptide photolysis establishes the role of DM in peptide association

DM catalyzes the exchange of peptides bound to Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Because the dissociation and association components of the overall reaction are difficult to separate, a detailed mechanism of DM catalysis has long resisted elucidation. UV irradiation of DR molecules loaded with a photocleavable peptide (caged Class II MHC molecules) enabled synchronous and verifiable evacuation of the peptide-binding groove and tracking of early binding events in real time by fluorescence polarization. Empty DR molecules generated by photocleavage rapidly bound peptide but quickly resolved into species with substantially slower binding kinetics. DM formed a complex with empty DR molecules that bound peptide with even faster kinetics than empty DR molecules just having lost their peptide cargo. Mathematical models demonstrate that the peptide association rate of DR molecules is substantially higher in the presence of DM. We therefore unequivocally establish that DM contributes directly to peptide association through formation of a peptide-loading complex between DM and empty Class II MHC. This complex rapidly acquires a peptide analogous to the MHC class I peptide-loading complex.     

Regulation of the sodium/sulfate co-transporter by farnesoid X receptor alpha

Fxralpha is known to regulate a variety of metabolic processes, including bile acid, cholesterol, and carbohydrate metabolism. In this study, we show direct evidence that Fxralpha is a key player in maintaining sulfate homeostasis. We identified and characterized the sodium/sulfate co-transporter (NaS-1; Slc13a1) as an Fxralpha target gene expressed in the kidney and intestine. Electromobility shift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and promoter reporter studies identified a single functional Fxralpha response element in the second intron of the mouse Slc13a1 gene. Treatment of wild-type mice with GW4064, a synthetic Fxralpha agonist, induced Slc13a1 mRNA in the intestine and kidney. Slc13a1 mRNA was also induced in the kidney and intestine of wild-type, but not Fxralpha-/- mice, after treatment with the hepatotoxin alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate, which is known to result in elevated blood bile acid levels. Finally, we observed a decrease in Slc13a1 mRNA in the kidney and intestine of Fxralpha-/- mice and a corresponding increase in urinary excretion of free sulfates as compared with wild-type mice. These results demonstrate that mouse Slc13a1 is a novel Fxralpha target gene expressed in the kidney and intestine and that in the absence of Fxralpha, mice waste sulfate into the urine. Thus, Fxralpha is necessary for normal sulfate homeostasis in vivo.     

Integration of biological networks and gene expression data using Cytoscape

Cytoscape is a free software package for visualizing, modeling and analyzing molecular and genetic interaction networks. This protocol explains how to use Cytoscape to analyze the results of mRNA expression profiling, and other functional genomics and proteomics experiments, in the context of an interaction network obtained for genes of interest. Five major steps are described: (i) obtaining a gene or protein network, (ii) displaying the network using layout algorithms, (iii) integrating with gene expression and other functional attributes, (iv) identifying putative complexes and functional modules and (v) identifying enriched Gene Ontology annotations in the network. These steps provide a broad sample of the types of analyses performed by Cytoscape.     

Weight gain prevention among women

Objective: Women 25 to 45 years old are at risk for weight gain and future obesity. This trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of two interventions relative to a control group in preventing weight gain among normal or overweight women and to identify demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors related to weight gain prevention. Research Methods and Procedures: Healthy women (N = 284), ages 25 to 44, with BMI < 30 were randomized to one of three intervention conditions: a clinic‐based group, a correspondence course, or an information‐only control. Intervention was provided over 2 years, with a follow‐up at Year 3. BMI and factors related to eating and weight were assessed yearly. Results: Over the 3‐year study period, 40% (n = 114) of the women remained at or below baseline body weight (±2 lbs), and 60% gained weight (>2 lbs). Intervention had no effect on weight over time. Independently of intervention, women who were older, not actively dieting to lose weight, and who reported less perceived hunger at baseline were more likely to be successful at weight maintenance. Weight maintenance also was associated with increasing dietary restraint (conscious thoughts and purposeful behaviors to control calorie intake) and decreasing dietary disinhibition (the tendency to lose control over eating) over time. Discussion: This study raises concern about the feasibility and efficacy of weight gain prevention interventions because most women were interested in weight loss, rather than weight gain prevention, and the interventions had no effect on weight stability. Novel approaches to the prevention of weight gain are needed.     

A plasmid-based reverse genetics system for animal double-stranded RNA viruses

Mammalian orthoreoviruses (reoviruses) are highly tractable experimental models for studies of double-stranded (ds) RNA virus replication and pathogenesis. Reoviruses infect respiratory and intestinal epithelium and disseminate systemically in newborn animals. Until now, a strategy to rescue infectious virus from cloned cDNA has not been available for any member of the Reoviridae family of dsRNA viruses. We report the generation of viable reovirus following plasmid transfection of murine L929 (L) cells using a strategy free of helper virus and independent of selection. We used the reovirus reverse genetics system to introduce mutations into viral capsid proteins sigma1 and sigma3 and to rescue a virus that expresses a green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene, thus demonstrating the tractability of this technology. The plasmid-based reverse genetics approach described here can be exploited for studies of reovirus replication and pathogenesis and used to develop reovirus as a vaccine vector.     

The F box protein S phase kinase-associated protein 2 regulates adipose mass and adipocyte number in vivo

Objective: The etiology of some obesity may involve adipocyte hyperplasia. However, the role of adipocyte number in establishing adipose mass is unclear. Cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p27 regulates activity of cyclin/cyclin‐dependent kinase complexes responsible for cell cycle progression. This protein is critical for establishing adult adipocyte number, and p27 knockout increases adult adipocyte number. The SCF (for Skp1‐Cullin‐F‐box protein) complex targets proteins such as p27 for ubiquitin‐proteosome degradation; the F box protein S phase kinase‐associated protein 2 (Skp2), a component of the SCF complex, specifically recognizes p27 for degradation. We used Skp2 knockout (Skp2^?/?) mice to test whether Skp2 loss decreased adipose mass and adipocyte number. Research Methods and Procedures: We measured body weight, adipose mass, adipocyte diameter and number, and glucose tolerance in wild‐type (WT), Skp2^?/?, and p27^?/?Skp2^?/? mice. Mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) from WT and Skp2^?/? fetuses were differentiated to determine whether Skp2 directly affected adipogenesis. Results: Skp2^?/? mice had a 50% decrease in both subcutaneous and visceral fat pad mass and adipocyte number; these decreases exceeded those in body weight, kidney, or muscle. To test the hypothesis that Skp2 effects on adipocyte number involved p27 accumulation, we used p27^?/?Skp2^?/? double knockout mice. The Skp2^?/? decrements in adipocyte number and fat pad mass were totally reversed in p27^?/?Skp2^?/? mice. Adipogenesis was inhibited in MEFs from Skp2^?/? vs. WT mice, and this inhibition was absent in MEFs from p27^?/?Skp2^?/? mice. Discussion: Our results indicate that Skp2 regulates adipogenesis and ultimate adipocyte number in vivo; thus, Skp2 may contribute to obesity involving adipocyte hyperplasia.     

Aplysia temptin - the 'glue' in the water-borne attractin pheromone complex

Temptin, a component of the complex of water-borne protein pheromones that stimulate attraction and mating behavior in the marine mollusk Aplysia, has sequence homology to the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains of higher organisms that mediate protein-cell surface contact during fertilization and blood coagulation. In this work, recombinant temptin for structural and functional studies was produced in Escherichia coli using a cold shock promoter and purified by RP-HPLC. CD spectra confirmed a predominantly beta-sheet structure. Two disulfide bonds were determined via limited proteolysis and MS. One internal disulfide (Cys57-Cys77) was predicted from initial alignments with class I EGF-like domains; the second, between Cys18 and Cys103, could protect temptin against proteolysis in seawater and stabilize its interacting surface. A three-dimensional model of temptin was prepared with our MPACK suite, based on the Ca(2+)-binding, EGF-like domain of the extracellular matrix protein fibrillin. Two temptin residues, Trp52 and Trp79, which align with cysteine residues conserved in fibrillins, lie adjacent to and could stabilize the disulfide bonds and a proposed metal-binding loop. The water-borne pheromone attractin in egg cordon eluates is complexed with other proteins. Docking results with our model and the NMR structure of attractin suggest that one face of temptin interacts with the pheromone, perhaps controlling its access to the cellular receptors. Gel shifts confirmed that temptin complexes with wild-type attractin. These results indicate that temptin, analogous to the role of fibrillin in controlling transforming growth factor-beta concentration, modulates pheromone signaling by direct binding to attractin.