Orientations and Proximities of the Extracellular Ends of Transmembrane Helices S0 and S4 in Open and Closed BK Potassium Channels

The large-conductance potassium channel (BK) α subunit contains a transmembrane (TM) helix S0 preceding the canonical TM helices S1 through S6. S0 lies between S4 and the TM2 helix of the regulatory β1 subunit. Pairs of Cys were substituted in the first helical turns in the membrane of BK α S0 and S4 and in β1 TM2. One such pair, W22C in S0 and W203C in S4, was 95% crosslinked endogenously. Under voltage-clamp conditions in outside-out patches, this crosslink was reduced by DTT and reoxidized by a membrane-impermeant bis-quaternary ammonium derivative of diamide. The rate constants for this reoxidation were not significantly different in the open and closed states of the channel. Thus, these two residues are approximately equally close in the two states. In addition, 90% crosslinking of a second pair, R20C in S0 and W203C in S4, had no effect on the V₅₀ for opening. Taken together, these findings indicate that separation between residues at the extracellular ends of S0 and S4 is not required for voltage-sensor activation. On the contrary, even though W22C and W203C were equally likely to form a disulfide in the activated and deactivated states, relative immobilization by crosslinking of these two residues favored the activated state. Furthermore, the efficiency of recrosslinking of W22C and W203C on the cell surface was greater in the presence of the β1 subunit than in its absence, consistent with β1 acting through S0 to stabilize its immobilization relative to α S4.     

Neutrophil dysfunction in guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase I-deficient mice

The regulation of neutrophil functions by Type I cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGKI) was investigated in wild-type (WT) and cGKI-deficient (cGKI-/-) mice. We demonstrate that murine neutrophils expressed cGKIalpha. Similar to the regulation of Ca2+ by cGKI in other cells, there was a cGMP-dependent decrease in Ca2+ transients in response to C5a in WT, but not cGKI-/- bone marrow neutrophils. In vitro chemotaxis of bone marrow neutrophils to C5a or IL-8 was significantly greater in cGKI-/- than in WT. Enhanced chemotaxis was also observed with cGKI-/- peritoneal exudate neutrophils (PE-N). In vivo chemotaxis with an arachidonic acid-induced inflammatory ear model revealed an increase in both ear weight and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in ear punches of cGKI-/- vs WT mice. These changes were attributable to enhanced vascular permeability and increased neutrophil infiltration. The total extractable content of MPO, but not lysozyme, was significantly greater in cGKI-/- than in WT PE-N. Furthermore, the percentage of MPO released in response to fMLP from cGKI-/- (69%) was greater than that from WT PE-N (36%). PMA failed to induce MPO release from PE-N of either genotype. In contrast, fMLP and PMA released equivalent amounts of lysozyme from PE-N. However, the percentage released was less in cGKI-/- (approximately 60%) than in WT (approximately 90%) PE-N. Superoxide release (maximum velocity) revealed no genotype differences in responses to PMA or fMLP stimulation. In summary, these results show that cGKIalpha down-regulates Ca2+ transients and chemotaxis in murine neutrophils. The regulatory influences of cGKIalpha on the secretagogue responses are complex, depending on the granule subtype.     

Identification of Regions Important for Resistance and Signalling within the Antimicrobial Peptide Transporter BceAB of Bacillus subtilis

In the low-G+C-content Gram-positive bacteria, resistance to antimicrobial peptides is often mediated by so-called resistance modules. These consist of a two-component system and an ATP-binding cassette transporter and are characterized by an unusual mode of signal transduction where the transporter acts as a sensor of antimicrobial peptides, because the histidine kinase alone cannot detect the substrates directly. Thus, the transporters fulfill a dual function as sensors and detoxification systems to confer resistance, but the mechanistic details of these processes are unknown. The paradigm and best-understood example for this is the BceRS-BceAB module of Bacillus subtilis, which mediates resistance to bacitracin, mersacidin, and actagardine. Using a random mutagenesis approach, we here show that mutations that affect specific functions of the transporter BceAB are primarily found in the C-terminal region of the permease, BceB, particularly in the eighth transmembrane helix. Further, we show that while signaling and resistance are functionally interconnected, several mutations could be identified that strongly affected one activity of the transporter but had only minor effects on the other. Thus, a partial genetic separation of the two properties could be achieved by single amino acid replacements, providing first insights into the signaling mechanism of these unusual modules.     

Role of Calcineurin in Ca2+-Induced Release of Catecholamines and Neuropeptides

Abstract: Neurotransmission requires rapid docking, fusion, and recycling of neurotransmitter vesicles. Several of the proteins involved in this complex Ca²⁺-regulated mechanism have been identified as substrates for protein kinases and phosphatases, e.g., the synapsins, synaptotagmin, rabphilin3A, synaptobrevin, munc18, MARCKS, dynamin I, and B-50/GAP-43. So far most attention has focused on the role of kinases in the release processes, but recent evidence indicates that phosphatases may be as important. Therefore, we investigated the role of the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin in exocytosis and subsequent vesicle recycling. Calcineurin-neutralizing antibodies, which blocked dynamin I dephosphorylation by endogenous synaptosomal calcineurin activity, but had no effect on the activity of protein phosphatases 1 or 2A, were introduced into rat permeabilized nerve terminals and inhibited Ca²⁺-induced release of [³H]noradrenaline and neuropeptide cholecystokinin-8 in a specific and concentration-dependent manner. Our data show that the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin plays an essential role in exocytosis and/or vesicle recycling of noradrenaline and cholecystokinin-8, transmitters stored in large dense-cored vesicles.     

Economic trade-offs between carbon sequestration,timber production,and crop pollination in tropical forested landscapes

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment distinguishes between supporting, regulating, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services. We focus on three services, namely the provision of timber, the regulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and the supporting service of bee pollination for coffee production. Possible trade-offs between the different ecosystem services might result in a reduced attractiveness of afforestation projects when taking pollination services into account. We found that economic losses due to a limited reduction of tree density of a Cordia alliodora plantation can be overcompensated by generating pollination services to adjacent coffee agroforestry systems. Thus, for moderate silvicultural interventions such trade-offs do not necessarily occur. Including additional ecosystem services such as biological pest control or seed dispersal, which are also associated with the enhanced functional biodiversity in less dense tree plantations, might further emphasize the hump-shaped relationship between tree density and forest revenues.     

Influence of Hydrological Pulse on Bacterial Growth and DOC Uptake in a Clear-Water Amazonian Lake

This study was conducted to evaluate: (1) the bacterial growth and the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) uptake in an Amazonian lake (Lake Batata) at high-water and low-water periods of the flood pulse; (2) the influence of nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) additions on bacterial growth and DOC uptake in Lake Batata at two flood pulse periods; and (3) the bioavailability of the main DOC sources in Lake Batata. Lake Batata is a typical clear-water Amazonian lake, located in the watershed of Trombetas River, Central Amazon, Brazil. Bacterial batch cultures were set up with 90% 0.2-μm filtered water and 10% inoculum from Lake Batata. N-NH₄NO₃ and P-KH₂PO₄, with final concentrations of 50 and 5 μM, respectively, were added to the cultures, except for controls. Extra sources of DOC (e.g., algal lysate, plant leachates) were added to constitute six distinct treatments. Bacterial response was measured by maximum bacterial abundance and rates of bacterial production, respiration, DOC uptake, and bacterial growth efficiency (BGE). Bacterial growth and DOC uptake were higher in NP treatments than in controls, indicating a consistent nutrient limitation in Lake Batata. The composition of DOC also seems to be an important regulating factor of bacterial growth in Lake Batata. Seasonally, bacterial growth and DOC bioavailability were higher at low-water period, when the phytoplankton is a significant extra source of DOC, than at high-water period, when the forest is the main source of DOC. DOC bioavailability was better estimated based on the diversity and the diagenetic stage of carbon compounds than on single classes of labile compounds. Changes in BGE were better related to CNP stoichiometry in the water, and the “excess” of organic substrates was oxidized in catabolism, despite the quality of these compounds for bacterial growth. Finally, we conclude that bacterial growth and DOC uptake vary throughout the flood pulse in clear-water Amazonian ecosystems as a result of changes in nutrient concentration and in DOC composition.     

Thermoregulated Expression and Characterization of an NAD(P)H-Dependent 2-Cyclohexen-1-one Reductase in the Plant Pathogenic Bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea

The phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea PG4180.N9 causes bacterial blight of soybeans and preferably infects its host plant during periods of cold, humid weather conditions. To identify proteins differentially expressed at low temperatures, total cellular protein fractions derived from PG4180.N9 grown at 18 and 28°C were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Of several proteins which appeared to be preferentially present at 18°C, a 40-kDa protein with an isoelectric point of approximately 5 revealed significant N-terminal sequence homology to morphinone reductase (MR) of Pseudomonas putida M10. The respective P. syringae gene was isolated from a genomic cosmid library of PG4180, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. It was designated ncr for NAD(P)H-dependent 2-cyclohexen-1-one reductase. Comparison of the 1,083-bp open reading frame with database entries revealed 48% identity and 52% similarity to the MR-encoding morB gene of P. putida M10. The ncr gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and its gene product was used to generate polyclonal antisera. Purified recombinant Ncr protein was enzymatically characterized with NAD(P)H and various morphinone analogs as substrates. So far, only 2-cyclohexen-1-one and 3-penten-2-one were found to be substrates for Ncr. By high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis, flavin mononucleotide could be identified as the noncovalently bound prosthetic group of this enzyme. The distribution of the ncr gene in different Pseudomonas species and various strains of P. syringae was analyzed by PCR and Southern blot hybridization. The results indicated that the ncr gene is widespread among P. syringae pv. glycinea strains but not in other pathovars of P. syringae or in any of the other Pseudomonas strains tested.