A Mammalian Mitophagy Receptor,Bcl2-L-13, Recruits the ULK1 Complex to Induce Mitophagy

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The roles of the two highly unstable components F and P involved in the bioluminescence of euphausiid shrimps

Bioluminescence of euphausiids takes place when a fluorescent tetrapyrrole F and a highly unstable protein P react in the presence of oxygen. A previous study on the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes norvegica indicated that F acts as a catalyst and P is consumed in the luminescence reaction, differing from the luminescence system of dinoflagellates in which a tetrapyrrole luciferin, nearly identical to F, is enzymatically oxidized in the presence of dinoflagellate luciferase. In the present study, P was extracted from Euphausia pacifica as well as from M. norvegica, then purified separately by affinity chromatography on a column of biliverdin–Sepharose 4B, completing the whole process in less than 5h. The samples of P obtained from both species had a molecular weight of 600,000, a purity of about 80%, and a specific activity 50–100 times greater than that previously found. The activity of P rapidly decreased in solutions, even at 0°C, and the inactivation of P derived from M. norvegica was more than four times faster than that derived from E. pacifica. The kinetics of the luminescence reaction was investigated with F and P whose concentrations were systematically varied. The reaction was characteristically slow and involved two different reaction rates; the turnover number at 0°C was 30/h for the initial 20 min and 20/h after the initial 1 h. The total light emitted in a 50-h period indicated that the bioluminescence quantum yield of F was about 0.6 at 0°C, and P recycled many times in the luminescence reaction. Thus, the present results conclusively show that F is a luciferin and P is a luciferase of an unusually slow-working type, contrary to early report.     

Leaf ultrastructure of C4 species possessing different Kranz anatomical types in the cyperaceae

The leaf ultrastructure of NADP-malic enzyme type C₄ species possessing different anatomical features in the Cyperaceae was examined: types were the Rhynchosporoid type, a normal Kranz type in which mesophyll cells are adjacent to Kranz cells, and Fimbristyloid and Chlorocyperoid types, unusual Kranz types in which nonchlorophyllous mestome sheath intervenes between the two types of green cells. They show structural characteristics basically similar to the NADP-malic enzyme group of C₄ grasses, that is, centrifugally located chloroplasts with reduced grana and no increase of mitochondrial frequency in the Kranz cells. However, the Kranz cell chloroplasts of the Fimbristyloid and Chlorocyperoid types exhibit convoluted thylakoid systems and a trend of extensive development of peripheral reticulum, although those of the Rhynchosporoid type do not possess such particular membrane systems. The suberized lamella, probably a barrier for CO₂ diffusion, is present in the Kranz cell walls of the Rhynchosporoid type and in the mestome sheath cell walls of the other two types, and tightly surrounds the Kranz cells (sheaths) that are the sites of the decarboxylation of C₄ acids. These ultrastructural features are discussed in relation to C₄ photosynthetic function.     

Structural insight into receptor-selectivity for lurasidone

Lurasidone is a novel antipsychotic agent with high affinity for dopamine D₂, 5-hydroxyltryptamine 5-HT_2A, and 5-HT₇ receptors. Lurasidone has negligible affinity for histamine H₁ and muscarinic M₁ receptors, which are thought to contribute to side effects such as weight gain, sedation, and worsening of cognitive deficits. Our interests focus on why lurasidone has such high selectivity for only a part of these aminergic G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and the different binding profile from ziprasidone, which has the same benzisothiazolylpiperazine moiety as lurasidone. In order to address these issues, we constructed structural models of lurasidone–GPCR complexes by homology modeling of receptors, exhaustive docking of ligand, and molecular dynamics simulation-based refinement of complexes. This computational study gave reliable structural models for D₂, 5-HT_2A, and 5-HT₇, which had overall structural complementarities with a salt bridge anchor at the center of the lurasidone molecule, but not for H₁ and M₁ owing to steric hindrance between the norbornane-2,3-dicarboximide and/or cyclohexane part of lurasidone and both receptors. By comparison with the structural models of olanzapine–GPCRs and ziprasidone–GPCRs constructed using the same computational protocols, it was suggested that the bulkiness of the norbornane-2,3-dicarboximide part and the rigidity and the bulkiness of the cyclohexyl linker gave lurasidone high selectivity for the desired aminergic GPCRs. Finally, this structural insight was validated by a binding experiment of the novel benzisothiazolylpiperazine derivatives. This knowledge on the structural mechanism behind the receptor selectivity should help to design new antipsychotic agents with preferable binding profiles, and the established computational protocols realize virtual screening and structure-based drug design for other central nervous system drugs with desired selectivity for multiple targets.     

SDF-1 synergistically enhances IL-3-induced activation of the Raf-1/MEK/Erk signaling pathway through activation of Rac and its effector Pak kinases to promote hematopoiesis and chemotaxis

Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) cooperates with cytokines to promote hematopoiesis. Here we demonstrate that SDF-1 activates Erk synergistically with interleukin-3 (IL-3) in hematopoietic cells. Small GTPases Ras and Rac were prominently activated by IL-3 and SDF-1, respectively. In accordance with this, Raf-1 was significantly activated by IL-3 but not by SDF-1. SDF-1 strongly induced phosphorylation of Raf-1 on S338, the target site for the Rac effector Paks, and enhanced the IL-3-induced activation of Raf-1 and MEK. Furthermore, the synergistic activation of Erk was inhibited by expression of a dominant-negative mutant of Pak1 or that of Rac and was enhanced by an activated mutant of Pak1. SDF-1 and IL-3 also showed synergistic effects on expansion of hematopoietic cells and on induction of chemotaxis, which were both inhibited by the MEK inhibitor PD98059. These results suggest that SDF-1 synergistically enhances IL-3-induced Erk activation by up-regulating Raf-1 activity through the Rac effector Pak kinases to promote hematopoiesis.     

Cellular localization of thiol-proteinase inhibitor in the epidermis of the newborn rat

Summary In cichlid, poecilid and centrarchid fishes luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH)-immunoreactive neurons are found in a cell group (nucleus olfactoretinalis) located at the transition between the ventral telencephalon and olfactory bulb. Processes of these neurons project to the contralateral retina, traveling along the border between the internal plexiform and internal nuclear layer, and probably terminating on amacrine or bipolar cells. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injected into the eye or optic nerve is transported retrogradely in the optic nerve to the contralateral nucleus olfactoretinalis where neuronal perikarya are labeled. Labeled processes leave this nucleus in a rostral direction and terminate in the olfactory bulb. The nucleus olfactoretinalis is present only in fishes, such as cichlids, poecilids and centrarchids, in which the olfactory bulbs border directly the telencephalic hemispheres. In cyprinid, silurid and notopterid fishes, in which the olfactory bulbs lie beneath the olfactory epithelium and are connected to the telencephalon via olfactory stalks, the nucleus olfactoretinalis or a comparable arrangement of LHRH-immunoreactive neurons is lacking. After retrograde transport of HRP in the optic nerve of these fishes no labeling of neurons in the telencephalon occurred. It is proposed that the nucleus olfactoretinalis anatomically and functionally interconnects and integrates parts of the olfactory and optic systems.     

Absorption of Copper by Lemna as Influenced by Some Factors Which Nullify the Copper Effect on Flowering and Growth

The effect of copper on flowering and growth of Lemna paucicostata6746 and Lemna gibba G3 in a copper-containing medium is nullifiedby the addition of EDTA, ammonium ions or salicylic acid tothe medium or a decrease in its nitrate concentration. Thesefactors were examined for their effects on the absorption ofcopper by the plants. The addition of EDTA to the medium completelyinhibited the absorption of copper in both species, thus eliminatingthe copper effect. Ammonium ions also inhibited copper absorption,their effectiveness rising with their concentration. Loweringthe nitrate concentration in the medium nullified the coppereffect on flowering in L. paucicostata 6746, and the additionof salicylic acid to the medium also nullified the copper effectin L. gibba G3, both without affecting the absorption of copper. (Received June 7, 1982; Accepted August 27, 1982)     

The electronic structure of Fe2+ in reaction centers from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. II. Extended x-ray fine structure studies.

Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) studies were performed on reaction centers (RC) of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides R-26. RC containing two, one, and no quinones (2Q, 1Q, 0Q) samples were studied. The average ligand distance of the first coordination shell was determined to be 2.10 +/- 0.02 A with a more distant shell at 4.14 +/- 0.05 A. The Fe2+ site in RC was found to have a very large structural disorder parameter, from which a spread in ligand distance per iron site of approximately +/- 0.1 A was deduced. The most likely coordination number of the first shell is six, with a mixture of oxygens and nitrogens as ligands. The edge absorption results are consistent with the Fe2+ being in distorted octahedral environment. The EXAFS spectra of the 2Q and 1Q samples with and without O-phenanthroline were found to be the same. This indicates that either the secondary quinone and o-phenanthroline do not bind to Fe2+ or that they replace an equivalent ligand. The 0Q sample showed a 12% decrease in the EXAFS amplitude, which was restored upon addition of o-phenanthroline. These results can be explained by either a loss of a ligand or a severe conformational change when the primary quinone was removed.     

RBMX is a novel hepatic transcriptional regulator of SREBP-1c gene response to high-fructose diet

In rodents a high-fructose diet induces metabolic derangements similar to those in metabolic syndrome. Previously we suggested that in mouse liver an unidentified nuclear protein binding to the sterol regulatory element (SRE)-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) promoter region plays a key role for the response to high-fructose diet. Here, using MALDI-TOF MASS technique, we identified an X-chromosome-linked RNA binding motif protein (RBMX) as a new candidate molecule. In electrophoretic mobility shift assay, anti-RBMX antibody displaced the bands induced by fructose-feeding. Overexpression or suppression of RBMX on rat hepatoma cells regulated the SREBP-1c promoter activity. RBMX may control SREBP-1c expression in mouse liver in response to high-fructose diet.     

Modulation of immune responses by Plasmodium falciparum infection in asymptomatic children living in the endemic region of Mbita,western Kenya

Individuals living in malaria endemic areas become clinically immune after multiple re-infections over time and remain infected without apparent symptoms. However, it is unclear why a long period is required to gain clinical immunity to malaria, and how such immunity is maintained. Although malaria infection is reported to induce inhibition of immune responses, studies on asymptomatic individuals living in endemic regions of malaria are relatively scarce. We conducted a cross-sectional study of immune responses in asymptomatic school children aged 4–16 years living in an area where Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma mansoni infections are co-endemic in Kenya. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were subjected to flow cytometric analysis and cultured to determine proliferative responses and cytokine production. The proportions of cellular subsets in children positive for P. falciparum infection at the level of microscopy were comparable to the negative children, except for a reduction in central memory-phenotype CD8⁺ T cells and natural killer cells. In functional studies, the production of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to P. falciparum crude antigens exhibited strong heterogeneity among children. In addition, production of IL-2 in response to anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies was significantly reduced in P. falciparum-positive children as compared to -negative children, suggesting a state of unresponsiveness. These data suggest that the quality of T cell immune responses is heterogeneous among asymptomatic children living in the endemic region of P. falciparum, and that the responses are generally suppressed by active infection with Plasmodium parasites.