Damaged DNA binding protein 1 in Drosophila defense reactions

We have focused attention on functions of Drosophila damaged DNA binding protein 1 (D-DDB1) in Drosophila hematopoiesis and previously reported that its whole body dsRNA over-expression using a GAL4-UAS targeted expression system results in melanotic tumors and complete lethality. Since the lesions appear to arise as a normal and heritable response to abnormal development, forming groups of cells that are recognized by the immune system and encapsulated in melanized cuticle, D-DDB1 appears to be an essential development-associated factor in Drosophila. To probe the possibility that it contributes to hemocyte development, we used a collagen promoter-GAL4 strain to over-express dsRNA of D-DDB1 in Drosophila hemocytes. The D-DDB1 gene silencing caused melanotic tumors and mortality at the end of larval development. Similarly, it interfered with melanization and synthesis of antimicrobial peptides. Transgenic flies with D-DDB1 gene silencing were found to accumulate abnormal large blood cells, reminiscent of human leukemia, suggesting that D-DDB1 has functions in hemocyte development.     

A novel smoothelin-like, actin-binding protein required for choroidal fissure closure in zebrafish

A gene expressed in the choroidal fissure of the zebrafish eye was isolated. This gene, designated #61, contained significant homology with the previously reported actin-binding protein smoothelin. During zebrafish embryogenesis, #61 expression was first detected in the lateral mesoderm of the mid-trunk region, and then strong expression was observed in the choroid fissure of the eye and in a part of the brain at 30 hpf. Abrogation of #61 activity by an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide resulted in the failure of closure of the choroid fissure at 30 hpf. In addition, hemorrhage was observed at the caudal side of the eye. Detailed analysis indicated that leakage of blood may have arisen from the hyaloid vessels and the primordial midbrain channels. On the other hand, retinal differentiation and optic nerve formation seemed normal. Taken together, our data suggest that gene #61 may play a role in the formation of hyaloid vessels and subsequent choroid fissure closure.     

Astrocytes express type VIII collagen during the repair process of brain cold injury

We recognized for the first time upregulation of type VIII collagen gene expression during the repair process in the mouse brain cold injury model. Immunohistochemical staining showed that type VIII collagen expression was around the necrotic region, where reactive astrocytes are frequently observed. Cultured astrocytes demonstrated a high expression of type VIII collagen genes. TGF-beta1 enhanced the expression of both alpha1(VIII) and alpha2(VIII) genes by astrocytes in culture. Further, we tested selected biological activities of type VIII collagen, compared with those of type I, IV, and V collagens and fibronectin. Astrocytes adhered to type VIII collagen via receptors requiring metal ions. Astrocyte migration on type VIII collagen was more stimulated than that observed on the other ECM molecules. These data indicate that type VIII collagen plays an important role in glial scar formation during the repair process by astrocytes.     

N-Formylated humanin activates both formyl peptide receptor-like 1 and 2

We have discovered that humanin (HN) acts as a ligand for formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1) and 2 (FPRL2). This discovery was based on our finding that HN suppressed forskolin-induced cAMP production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing human FPRL1 (CHO-hFPRL1) or human FPRL2 (CHO-hFPRL2). In addition, we found that N-formylated HN (fHN) performed more potently as a ligand for FPRL1 than HN: in CHO-hFPRL1 cells, the effective concentration for the half-maximal response (EC(50)) value of HN was 3.5nM, while that of fHN was 0.012nM. We demonstrated by binding experiments using [(125)I]-W peptide that HN and fHN directly interacted with hFPRL1 on the membrane. In addition, we found that HN and fHN showed strong chemotactic activity for CHO-hFPRL1 and CHO-hFPRL2 cells. HN is known to have a protective effect against neuronal cell death. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanism behind HN's function.     

mTOR integrates amino acid- and energy-sensing pathways

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) exists as a heterotrimetric complex comprising a catalytic alpha subunit and non-catalytic beta and gamma subunits. Under conditions of hypoxia, exercise, ischemia, heat shock, and low glucose, AMPK is activated allosterically by rising cellular AMP and by phosphorylation of the catalytic alpha subunit. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) controls cellular functions in response to amino acids and growth factors. Recent reports including our study have demonstrated the possible interplay between mTOR and AMPK signaling pathways, supporting a model in which mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the mitochondrial inhibitors or ATP depletion inhibits activation of p70 S6 kinase alpha (p70alpha), a downstream effector of mTOR, by activating AMPK. Leucine may stimulate p70alpha phosphorylation via mTOR pathway, in part, by serving both as a mitochondrial fuel through oxidative carboxylation and an allosteric activation of glutamate dehydrogenase. This hypothesis may support an idea in which leucine modulates mTOR function, in part by regulating mitochondrial function and AMPK. Further understanding of the role of mTOR in coordinating amino acid- and energy-sensing pathways would provide new insights into relationship between nutrients and cellular functions.     

DNA display of biologically active proteins for in vitro protein selection

In vitro display technologies are powerful tools for screening peptides with desired functions. We previously proposed a DNA display system in which streptavidin-fused peptides are linked with their encoding DNAs via biotin labels in emulsion compartments and successfully applied it to the screening of random peptide libraries. Here we describe its application to functional and folded proteins. By introducing peptide linkers between streptavidin and fused proteins, we achieved highly efficient (>95%) formation of DNA-protein conjugates. Furthermore, we successfully enriched a glutathione-S-transferase gene by a factor of 20-30-fold per round on glutathione-coupled beads. Thus, DNA display should be useful for rapidly screening or evolving proteins based on affinity selection.     

Activation mechanism of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase in the course of neural differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma cells

P19 embryonic carcinoma cells, a model system for studying early development and differentiation, can differentiate into neurons and primitive endoderm-like cells depending on the culture conditions. We have previously reported that the activation of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) is required for the retinoic acid-induced neural differentiation of P19 cells. However, the signaling pathway(s) responsible for the activation of JNK has not been known. In this study, we demonstrated that activities of MAPK kinase 4 (MKK4) and TAK1, one of the upstream kinases of MKK4, were enhanced in the neurally differentiating cells. Inhibition of the neural differentiation by an overexpression of protein phosphatase 2Cepsilon, an inactivator of TAK1, suggested a critical role of the TAK1 signaling pathway during the differentiation. Confocal microscopic analysis indicated that TAK1, phospho-MKK4, and phospho-JNK were colocalized with tubulin in the neurites and localized also in the nuclei of the differentiating cells. In contrast, two TAK1-binding proteins, TAB1 and TAB2, which are involved in the activation of TAK1, were localized in the neurites and the nuclei of the differentiating cells, respectively. These results suggest that two distinct TAK1-MKK4-JNK signaling pathways are independently activated at the different intracellular locations and may participate in the regulation of the neural differentiation of P19 cells.     

73-kDa molecular chaperone HSP73 is a direct target of antibiotic gentamicin

Although gentamicin (GM) has been used widely as an antibiotic, the specific binding protein of the drug has not yet been understood sufficiently. Here we show that GM specifically associates with the 73-kDa molecular chaperone HSP73 and reduces its chaperone activity in vitro. In the present study, we investigated GM-specific binding proteins using a GM-affinity column and porcine kidney cytosol. After washing the column, only the 73-kDa protein was eluted from the column by the addition of 10 mm GM. None of the other proteins were found in the eluant. Upon immunoblotting, the protein was identical to HSP73. Upon CD spectrum analysis, the binding of GM to HSP73 resulted in a conformational change in the protein. Although HSP73 prevents aggregation of unfolded rhodanese in vitro, the chaperone activity of HSP73 was suppressed in the presence of GM. Using limited proteolysis of HSP73 by TPCK-trypsin, the GM binding site is a COOH-terminal for one third of the protein known to be a peptide-binding domain. During immunohistochemistry, HSP73 and GM were co-localized in enlarged lysosomes of rat kidneys with GM-induced acute tubular injury in vivo. Our results suggest that the specific association between HSP73 and GM may reduce the chaperone activity of HSP73 in vitro and/or in vivo, and this may have an interaction with GM toxicity in kidneys with GM-induced acute tubular injury.     

A pitfall in diagnosis of human prion diseases using detection of protease-resistant prion protein in urine. Contamination with bacterial outer membrane proteins

Because a definite diagnosis of prion diseases relies on the detection of the abnormal isoform of prion protein (PrPSc), it has been urgently necessary to establish a non-invasive diagnostic test to detect PrPSc in human prion diseases. To evaluate diagnostic usefulness and reliability of the detection of protease-resistant prion protein in urine, we extensively analyzed proteinase K (PK)-resistant proteins in patients affected with prion diseases and control subjects by Western blot, a coupled liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis, and N-terminal sequence analysis. The PK-resistant signal migrating around 32 kDa previously reported by Shaked et al. (Shaked, G. M., Shaked, Y., Kariv-Inbal, Z., Halimi, M., Avraham, I., and Gabizon, R. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 31479-31482) was not observed in this study. Instead, discrete protein bands with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 37 kDa were detected in the urine of many patients affected with prion diseases and two diseased controls. Although these proteins also gave strong signals in the Western blot using a variety of anti-PrP antibodies as a primary antibody, we found that the signals were still detectable by incubation of secondary antibodies alone, i.e. in the absence of the primary anti-PrP antibodies. Mass spectrometry and N-terminal protein sequencing analysis revealed that the majority of the PK-resistant 37-kDa proteins in the urine of patients were outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of the Enterobacterial species. OMPs isolated from these bacteria were resistant to PK and the PK-resistant OMPs from the Enterobacterial species migrated around 37 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, nonspecific binding of OMPs to antibodies could be mistaken for PrPSc. These findings caution that bacterial contamination can affect the immunological detection of prion protein. Therefore, the presence of Enterobacterial species should be excluded in the immunological tests for PrPSc in clinical samples, in particular, urine.