Acentriolar microtubule organization centers and Ran‐mediated microtubule formation pathways are both required in porcine oocytes

Mammalian oocytes lack centrioles but can generate bipolar spindles using several different mechanisms. For example, mouse oocytes have acentriolar microtubule organization centers (MTOCs) that contain many components of the centrosome, and which initiate microtubule polymerization. On the contrary, human oocytes lack MTOCs and the Ran‐mediated mechanisms may be responsible for spindle assembly. Complete knowledge of the different mechanisms of spindle assembly is lacking in various mammalian oocytes. In this study, we demonstrate that both MTOC‐ and Ran‐mediated microtubule nucleation are required for functional meiotic metaphase I spindle generation in porcine oocytes. Acentriolar MTOC components, including Cep192 and pericentrin, were absent in the germinal vesicle and germinal vesicle breakdown stages. However, they start to colocalize to the spindle microtubules, but are absent in the meiotic spindle poles. Knockdown of Cep192 or inhibition of Polo‐like kinase 1 activity impaired the recruitment of Cep192 and pericentrin to the spindles, impaired microtubule assembly, and decreased the polar body extrusion rate. When the Ran^GTP gradient was perturbed by the expression of dominant negative or constitutively active Ran mutants, severe defects in microtubule nucleation and cytokinesis were observed, and the localization of MTOC materials in the spindles was abolished. These results demonstrate that the stepwise involvement of MTOC‐ and Ran‐mediated microtubule assembly is crucial for the formation of meiotic spindles in porcine oocytes, indicating the diversity of spindle formation mechanisms among mammalian oocytes.     

TLR4-dependent effects of ISAg treatment on conventional T cell polarization in vivo

We recently demonstrated that the polysaccharide component of the Korean medicinal herb Angelica gigas (immuno-stimulatory fraction of A. gigas; ISAg) induces anticancer effects in mice by activating natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells. However, it is unclear whether the use of ISAg in vivo can affect the differentiation of conventional T cells. Here, we investigated the effects of ISAg on the activation of conventional CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. We found that the administration of ISAg induced the polarization of CD4⁺ T cells toward the acquisition of the Th1 phenotype in vivo. Additionally, in mice treated with ISAg, CD8⁺ T cells produced more IFNγ than in control mice treated with PBS. Moreover, treatment with ISAg activated CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells as well as NK and NKT cells, resulting in the secretion of Th1-type cytokines in a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent manner, implying that TLR4 is critical for an optimal Th1 response. Interestingly, ISAg treatment increased the number of Foxp3⁺ Treg cells, but not of Th2 cells, compared to control mice treated with PBS, indicating that ISAg possesses an immunomodulatory capacity that can control adaptive immune responses. Taken together, our results indicate that ISAg possesses a Th1-enhancing activity that could be used to treat Th2-mediated allergic immune diseases such as atopic dermatitis.     

Enzymatic synthesis of dTDP-4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose using GerB (dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose aminotransferase)

Over-expressed GerB (dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose aminotransferase) of Streptomyces sp. GERI-155 was used in the enzymatic synthesis of dTDP-4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (2) from dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose (1). [Carbohydrate structure: see text]. Five enzymes including dTMP kinase (TMK), acetate kinase (ACK), dTDP-glucose synthase (TGS), dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (DH), and dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-glucose aminotransferase (GerB) were used to synthesize 2 on a large scale from glucose-1-phosphate and TMP. A conversion yield of up to 57% was obtained by HPLC peak integration given a reaction time of 270min. After purification by two successive preparative HPLC systems, the final product was identified by HPLC and then analyzed by (1)H, (13)C, (1)H-(1)H COSY NMR spectrometry.     

Egr-1, a new downstream molecule of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1

To investigate the effect of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) on human cancer cells, we sought to identify and analyze potential target genes that were differentially expressed in the presence and absence of LMP1. Our cDNA microarray analysis revealed that expression of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) was increased by LMP1 expression in MCF7 and Jurkat cells. An NFkappaB inhibitor (SN50) antagonized LMP1-induced enhancement of Egr-1 expression, indicating that LMP1 induced Egr-1 via NFkappaB. Furthermore, three lines of evidence indicated that Egr-1 was required for LMP1-induced cancer cell survival. First, Egr-1 expression enhanced the survival of doxorubicin-treated MCF7 cells. Second, inhibition of Egr-1 expression by siRNA (siEgr-1) effectively suppressed LMP-1-induced survival of MCF7 cells. Third, Egr-1 knockdown decreased LMP1-induced expression of Bfl-1. Similar relationships among EBV infection, Egr-1 and drug resistance were also observed in tissues of peripheral T-cell lymphoma-unspecified (PTCL-u) patients.     

Inhibitory role of RhoA on senescence-like growth arrest by a mechanism involving modulation of phosphatase activity

Recently, negative effects of phosphatase in tumorigenesis and metastasis have been suggested in various tumor types. In this study, we showed that RhoA activation modulated phosphatase during senescence-like arrest in human prostate cancer cells. Under senescence-inducing condition, decreased Erk phosphorylation was detected in caRhoA-transfected cells and inactivation of Erk, but not p38, prevented doxorubicin-induced cell senescence. Cells were induced to senescence by inhibition of phosphatase activity (VHR, MKP3, or PP2A) without additional cellular stress. Of interest, caRhoA prevented doxorubicin-induced decrease of phosphatase. Thus, we postulate that RhoA signaling may protect cells against cellular senescence by maintaining phosphatase activity and Erk dephosphorylation.     

Crystal structure of the serine protease domain of prophenoloxidase activating factor-I

A family of serine proteases (SPs) mediates the proteolytic cascades of embryonic development and immune response in invertebrates. These proteases, called easter-type SPs, consist of clip and chymotrypsin-like SP domains. The SP domain of easter-type proteases differs from those of typical SPs in its primary structure. Herein, we report the first crystal structure of the SP domain of easter-type proteases, presented as that of prophenoloxidase activating factor (PPAF)-I in zymogen form. This structure reveals several important structural features including a bound calcium ion, an additional loop with a unique disulfide linkage, a canyon-like deep active site, and an exposed activation loop. We subsequently show the role of the bound calcium and the proteolytic susceptibility of the activation loop, which occurs in a clip domain-independent manner. Based on biochemical study in the presence of heparin, we suggest that PPAF-III, highly homologous to PPAF-I, contains a surface patch that is responsible for enhancing the catalytic activity through interaction with a nonsubstrate region of a target protein. These results provide insights into an activation mechanism of easter-type proteases in proteolytic cascades, in comparison with the well studied blood coagulation enzymes in mammals.     

Phenotypic diversity and altered environmental plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana with reduced Hsp90 levels

The molecular chaperone HSP90 aids the maturation of a diverse but select set of metastable protein clients, many of which are key to a variety of signal transduction pathways. HSP90 function has been best investigated in animal and fungal systems, where inhibition of the chaperone has exceptionally diverse effects, ranging from reversing oncogenic transformation to preventing the acquisition of drug resistance. Inhibition of HSP90 in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana uncovers novel morphologies dependent on normally cryptic genetic variation and increases stochastic variation inherent to developmental processes. The biochemical activity of HSP90 is strictly conserved between animals and plants. However, the substrates and pathways dependent on HSP90 in plants are poorly understood. Progress has been impeded by the necessity of reliance on light-sensitive HSP90 inhibitors due to redundancy in the A. thaliana HSP90 gene family. Here we present phenotypic and genome-wide expression analyses of A. thaliana with constitutively reduced HSP90 levels achieved by RNAi targeting. HSP90 reduction affects a variety of quantitative life-history traits, including flowering time and total seed set, increases morphological diversity, and decreases the developmental stability of repeated characters. Several morphologies are synergistically affected by HSP90 and growth temperature. Genome-wide expression analyses also suggest a central role for HSP90 in the genesis and maintenance of plastic responses. The expression results are substantiated by examination of the response of HSP90-reduced plants to attack by caterpillars of the generalist herbivore Trichoplusia ni. HSP90 reduction potentiates a more robust herbivore defense response. In sum, we propose that HSP90 exerts global effects on the environmental responsiveness of plants to many different stimuli. The comprehensive set of HSP90-reduced lines described here is a vital instrument to further examine the role of HSP90 as a central interface between organism, development, and environment.     

Improved insulin sensitivity and adiponectin level after exercise training in obese Korean youth

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association among adiposity, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers [high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), interleukin (IL)‐6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α] and adiponectin and to study the effects of exercise training on adiposity, insulin resistance, and inflammatory markers among obese male Korean adolescents. Research Methods and Procedures: Twenty‐six obese and 14 lean age‐matched male adolescents were studied. We divided the obese subjects into two groups: obese exercise group (N = 14) and obese control group (N = 12). The obese exercise group underwent 6 weeks of jump rope exercise training (40 min/d, 5 d/wk). Adiposity, insulin resistance, lipid profile, hs‐CRP, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and adiponectin were measured before and after the completion of exercise training. Results: The current study demonstrated higher insulin resistance, total cholesterol, LDL‐C levels, triglyceride, and inflammatory markers and lower adiponectin and HDL‐C in obese Korean male adolescents. Six weeks of increased physical activity improved body composition, insulin sensitivity, and adiponectin levels in obese Korean male adolescents without changes in TNF‐α, IL‐6, and hs‐CRP. Discussion: Obese Korean male adolescents showed reduced adiponectin levels and increased inflammatory cytokines. Six weeks of jump rope exercise improved triglyceride and insulin sensitivity and increased adiponectin levels.