OsBADH1 is possibly involved in acetaldehyde oxidation in rice plant peroxisomes

Although rice (Oryza sativa L.) produces little glycine betaine (GB), it has two betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH; EC 1.2.1.8) gene homologs (OsBADH1 and OsBADH2). We found that OsBADH1 catalyzes the oxidation of acetaldehyde efficiently, while the activity of OsBADH2 is extremely low. The accumulation of OsBADH1 mRNA decreases following submergence treatment, but quickly recovers after re-aeration. We confirmed that OsBADH1 localizes in peroxisomes. In this paper, a possible physiological function of OsBADH1 in the oxidation of acetaldehyde produced by catalase in rice plant peroxisomes is discussed.     

MARCKS regulates lamellipodia formation induced by IGF‐I via association with PIP2 and β‐actin at membrane microdomains

Myristoylated alanine‐rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) is considered to participate in formation of F‐actin‐based lamellipodia, which represents the first stage of neurite formation. However, the mechanism of how MARCKS is involved in lamellipodia formation is not precisely unknown. Using SH‐SY5Y cells, we demonstrated here that MARCKS was translocated from cytosol to detergent‐resistant membrane microdomains, known as lipid rafts, within 30 min after insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) stimulation, which was accompanied by MARCKS dephosphorylation, β‐actin accumulation in lipid rafts, and lamellipodia formation. The protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro‐31‐8220, and Rho‐kinase inhibitors, HA1077 and Y27632, themselves decreased basal phosphorylation levels of MARCKS and coincidently elicited translocation of MARCKS to lipid rafts. On the other hand, the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase inhibitor, LY294002, abolished IGF‐I‐induced dephosphorylation, translocation of MARCKS to lipid rafts, and lamellipodia formation. Treatment of cells with neomycin, a PIP₂‐masking reagent, attenuated the translocation of MARCKS to lipid rafts and the lamellipodia formation induced by IGF‐I, although dephosphorylation of MARCKS was not affected. Immunocytochemical and immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that IGF‐I stimulation induced the translocation of MARCKS to lipid rafts in the edge of lamellipodia and formation of the complex with PIP₂. Moreover, we demonstrated that knockdown of endogenous MARCKS resulted in significant attenuation of IGF‐I‐induced β‐actin accumulation in the lipid rafts and lamellipodia formation. These results suggest a novel role for MARCKS in lamellipodia formation induced by IGF‐I via the translocation of MARCKS, association with PIP₂, and accumulation of β‐actin in the membrane microdomains. J. Cell. Physiol. 220: 748–755, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Tryptophanyl phosphoramidates as prodrugs of synadenol and its E-isomer: synthesis and biological activity

Phosphorotryptophanates 2c and 3c were synthesized and investigated as prodrugs of synadenol (2a) and its E-isomer 3a. The antiviral activity of 2c corresponds to parent analogue 2a but it is lower than that of phenylphosphoralaninate 2b. This may indicate an enzymatic cleavage of phosphorotryptophanate 2c to 2a before or after entering the host cells. The E-isomer 3c was effective only against EBV with parameters suggesting intracellular delivery of the respective phosphate. Compound 2c has a moderate but selective activity against solid tumors.     

Angiopoietin-like protein 3, a hepatic secretory factor,activates lipolysis in adipocytes

Our previous work identified a genetic mutation in the gene encoding angiopoietin-like protein 3 (Angptl3) in KK/Snk mice (previously KK/San), a mutant strain of KK obese mice. KK/Snk had significantly lower plasma triglyceride and free fatty acid (FFA) than KK mice. Human ANGPTL3 treatment increased both plasma triglyceride and FFA. ANGPTL3 inhibited the activity of lipoprotein lipase, which accounted for the increase of plasma triglyceride. The mechanism how ANGPTL3 affects plasma FFA has not been known. The current study reveals that ANGPTL3 targets on adipose cells and induces lipolysis. Both plasma FFA and glycerol decreased in KK/Snk and increased by the treatment of human ANGPTL3. Specific bindings of ANGPTL3 to adipose cells were shown using fluorescence-labeled protein visually and 125I-labeled protein by the binding analysis. Furthermore, ANGPTL3 activated the lipolysis to stimulate the release of FFA and glycerol from adipocytes. We conclude that ANGPTL3 is a liver-derived lipolytic factor targeting on adipocyte.     

Log-normal distribution of the trace element data results from a mixture of stocahstic input and deterministic internal dynamics

In previous article, we showed a log-normal distribution of boron and lithium in human urine. This type of distribution is common in both biological and nonbiological applications. It can be observed when the effects of many independent variables are combined, each of which having any underlying distribution. Although elemental excretion depends on many variables, the one-compartment open model following a first-order process can be used to explain the elimination of elements. The rate of excretion is proportional to the amount present of any given element; that is, the same percentage of an existing element is eliminated per unit time, and the element concentration is represented by a deterministic negative power function of time in the elimination time-course. Sampling is of a stochastic nature, so the dataset of time variables in the elimination phase when the sample was obtained is expected to show Normal distribution. The time variable appears as an exponent of the power function, so a concentration histogram is that of an exponential transformation of Normally distributed time. This is the reason why the element concentration shows a log-normal distribution. The distribution is determined not by the element concentration itself, but by the time variable that defines the pharmacokinetic equation.     

Epigenetic asymmetry in the mammalian zygote and early embryo: relationship to lineage commitment?

Epigenetic asymmetry between parental genomes and embryonic lineages exists at the earliest stages of mammalian development. The maternal genome in the zygote is highly methylated in both its DNA and its histones and most imprinted genes have maternal germline methylation imprints. The paternal genome is rapidly remodelled with protamine removal, addition of acetylated histones, and rapid demethylation of DNA before replication. A minority of imprinted genes have paternal germline methylation imprints. Methylation and chromatin reprogramming continues during cleavage divisions, but at the blastocyst stage lineage commitment to inner cell mass (ICM) or trophectoderm (TE) fate is accompanied by a dramatic increase in DNA and histone methylation, predominantly in the ICM. This may set up major epigenetic differences between embryonic and extraembryonic tissues, including in X-chromosome inactivation and perhaps imprinting. Maintaining epigenetic asymmetry appears important for development as asymmetry is lost in cloned embryos, most of which have developmental defects, and in particular an imbalance between extraembryonic and embryonic tissue development.     

Epigenetic heterogeneity at imprinted loci in normal populations

Genomic imprinting is the phenomenon by which the two alleles of certain genes are differentially expressed according to their parental origin. Extensive analysis of allelic expression at multiple imprinted loci in a normal population has not performed so far. In the present study, we examined the allelic expression pattern of three imprinted genes in a panel of 262 Japanese normal individuals. We observed differences in the extent of maintenance of allele-specific expression of the three genes. The allelic expression of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein N (SNRPN) was stringently regulated while that of multimembrane-spanning polyspecific transporter-like gene 1 (IMPT1) showed a large degree of variation. Significant biallelic expression of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) was observed in about 10% of normal individuals. Our findings add to the accumulating evidence for variable allelic expression at multiple loci in a normal human population. This epigenetic heterogeneity can be a stable trait and potentially influence individual phenotypes.     

Synthesis of the L-enantiomer of 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxycytidine

The L-enantiomer of 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxycytidine (2) was synthesized, but did not show any activity against HIV-1 up to 100 microM.