Actin directly interacts with phospholipase D, inhibiting its activity

Mammalian phospholipase D (PLD) plays a key role in several signal transduction pathways and is involved in many diverse functions. To elucidate the complex molecular regulation of PLD, we investigated PLD-binding proteins obtained from rat brain extract. Here we report that a 43-kDa protein in the rat brain, beta-actin, acts as a major PLD2 direct-binding protein as revealed by peptide mass fingerprinting in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We also determined that the region between amino acids 613 and 723 of PLD2 is required for the direct binding of beta-actin, using bacterially expressed glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of PLD2 fragments. Intriguingly, purified beta-actin potently inhibited both phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate- and oleate-dependent PLD2 activities in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 5 nm). In a previous paper, we reported that alpha-actinin inhibited PLD2 activity in an interaction-dependent and an ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1)-reversible manner (Park, J. B., Kim, J. H., Kim, Y., Ha, S. H., Kim, J. H., Yoo, J.-S., Du, G., Frohman, M. A., Suh, P.-G., and Ryu, S. H. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 21295-21301). In vitro binding analyses showed that beta-actin could displace alpha-actinin binding to PLD2, demonstrating independent interaction between cytoskeletal proteins and PLD2. Furthermore, ARF1 could steer the PLD2 activity in a positive direction regardless of the inhibitory effect of beta-actin on PLD2. We also observed that beta-actin regulates PLD1 and PLD2 with similar binding and inhibitory potencies. Immunocytochemical and co-immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated the in vivo interaction between the two PLD isozymes and actin in cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the regulation of PLD by cytoskeletal proteins, beta-actin and alpha-actinin, and ARF1 may play an important role in cytoskeleton-related PLD functions.     

A dual signaling cascade that regulates the ectodomain shedding of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor

Ectodomain shedding is an important mechanism to regulate the biological activities of membrane proteins. We focus here on the signaling mechanism of the ectodomain shedding of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (pro HB-EGF). Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a ligand for seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors, stimulates the shedding of pro HB-EGF, which constitutes a G protein-coupled receptor-mediated transactivation of the EGF receptor. Experiments using a series of inhibitors and overexpression of mutant forms of signaling molecules revealed that the Ras-Raf-MEK signal is essential for the LPA-induced shedding. In addition, the small GTPase Rac is involved in the LPA-induced shedding, possibly to promote MEK activation. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate is another potent inducer of pro HB-EGF shedding. We also demonstrate that the LPA-induced pathway is distinct from the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced pathway and that these pathways constitute a dual signaling cascade that regulates the shedding of pro HB-EGF.     

Faecalicatena faecalis sp. nov., a moderately alkaliphilic bacterial strain isolated from swine faeces

An obligately anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped strain AGMB00832^T was isolated from swine faeces. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene, together with the housekeeping genes, gyrB and rpoD, revealed that strain AGMB00832^T belonged to the genus Faecalicatena and was most closely related to Faecalicatena orotica KCTC 15331^T. In biochemical analysis, strain AGMB00832^T was shown to be negative for catalase, oxidase and urease. Furthermore, the isolate was positive for β-glucosidase, β-glucuronidase, glutamic acid decarboxylase, proline arylamidase, acid phosphatase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase. The major cellular fatty acids (>?10%) of the isolate were C_14:0, C_16:0 and C_18:1ω11t DMA. Based on the whole genome sequence analysis, the DNA G?+?C content of strain AGMB00832^T was 44.2 mol%, and the genome size and numbers of rRNA and tRNA genes were 5,175,159 bp, 11 and 53, respectively. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain AGMB00832^T and related strains were ≤?77.4 and 22.5%, respectively. Furthermore, the genome analysis revealed the presence of genes for alkaline shock protein 23 and cation/proton antiporters, which may facilitate growth of strain AGMB00832^T in alkaline culture condition. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic approach, strain AGMB00832^T represents a novel species within the genus Faecalicatena, for which the name Faecalicatena faecalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AGMB00832^T (=?KCTC 15946^T?=?NBRC 114613^T).

     

Molecular evidence for the taxonomic status of three species of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphyraena obtusata</Emphasis> group (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae) from East Asia

Genetic differences among the three species of Sphyraena with two gill rakers from East Asia (S. iburiensis, S. obtusata, and S. pinguis, defined recently as the S. obtusata group), were investigated using 799-bp sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Pairwise sequence differences within each of the three species were 0.0–0.4% (S. iburiensis), 0.0–0.4% (S. obtusata), and 0.0–0.6% (S. pinguis), respectively, pairwise sequence differences among the three species being 18.3–18.6% (S. iburiensis vs. S. obtusata), 14.9–15.4% (S. iburiensis vs. S. pinguis), and 17.6–18.3% (S. obtusata vs. S. pinguis), respectively. The extent of the latter were comparable to those among four other congeneric species, S. africana, S. forsteri, S. helleri, and S. japonica (16.0–24.5%). Phylogenetic analysis using the maximum-likelihood method indicated reciprocal monophyly of the three species, each clade being supported by a bootstrap value of 100%. These findings fully supported the taxonomic status of these species, recently elucidated by detailed morphological comparisons. In addition, the S. obtusata group formed a strongly supported clade against the four other congeneric species.     

Thiourea compound AW00178 sensitizes human H1299 lung carcinoma cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis

The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) triggers apoptosis in a wide variety of cancer cells. Recently, cancer cell resistance to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis has become a challenging issue in the development of TRAIL-based anti-cancer therapies. In this study, we found that 1-(5-chloro-2-methyl-phenyl)-3-[4-(5-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-phenyl]-thiourea (AW00178) was able to sensitize TRAIL-resistant human lung cancer H1299 cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Treatment with AW00178, either alone or in combination with TRAIL, induced the expression of CHOP, a protein related to TRAIL sensitivity, and reduced the expression of survivin, an anti-apoptotic protein involved in TRAIL resistance. Additionally, AW00178, alone or in combination with TRAIL, induced the activation of c-Jun and inactivation of Akt. A pharmacologic inhibition study revealed that c-Jun activation and Akt inactivation were strongly related to CHOP induction and survivin down-regulation, respectively. In summary, these results suggested that AW00178 mediated sensitization to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in H1299 cells by increasing sensitivity and decreasing resistance to TRAIL via the induction of c-Jun-dependent CHOP expression and the reduction of Akt-dependent survivin expression, respectively.     

Evaluation of Near-Infrared Pasteurization in Controlling Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-To-Eat Sliced Ham

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of near-infrared (NIR) heating to reduce Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced ham compared to conventional convective heating, and the effect of NIR heating on quality was determined by measuring the color and texture change. A cocktail of three pathogens was inoculated on the exposed or protected surfaces of ham slices, followed by NIR or conventional heating at 1.8 kW. NIR heating for 50 s achieved 4.1-, 4.19-, and 3.38-log reductions in surface-inoculated S. Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes, respectively, whereas convective heating needed 180 s to attain comparable reductions for each pathogen. There were no statistically significant (P > 0.05) differences in reduction between surface- and internally inoculated pathogens at the end of NIR treatment (50 s). However, when treated with conventional convective heating, significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed at the final stages of the treatment (150 and 180 s). Color values and texture parameters of NIR-treated (50-s treatment) ham slices were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from those of nontreated samples. These results suggest that NIR heating can be applied to control internalized pathogens as well as surface-adhering pathogens in RTE sliced meats without affecting product quality.     

Effects of chaperones on mRNA stability and gene expression in Escherichia coli

Effects of chaperones on mRNA stability and gene expression were studied in order to develop an efficient Escherichia coli expression system that can maximize gene expression. The stability of mRNA was modulated by introducing various secondary structures at the 5'-end of mRNA. Four vector systems providing different 5'-end structures were constructed, and genes encoding GFPuv and endoxylanase were cloned into the four vector systems. Primer extension assay revealed different mRNA half-lives depending on the 5'-end secondary structures of mRNA. In addition to the stem-loop structure at the 5'-end of mRNA, coexpression of dnaK-dnaJ-grpE or groEL-groES, representative heat-shock genes in E. coli, increased the mRNA stability and the level of gene expression further, even though the degree of stabilization was varied. Our work suggests that some of the heat-shock proteins can function as mRNA stabilizers as well as protein chaperones.     

Multiple roles of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C isozymes

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C is an effector molecule in the signal transduction process. It generates two second messengers, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Currently, thirteen mammal PLC isozymes have been identified, and they are divided into six groups: PLC-beta, -gamma, -delta, -epsilon, -zeta and -eta. Sequence analysis studies demonstrated that each isozyme has more than one alternative splicing variant. PLC isozymes contain the X and Y domains that are responsible for catalytic activity. Several other domains including the PH domain, the C2 domain and EF hand motifs are involved in various biological functions of PLC isozymes as signaling proteins. The distribution of PLC isozymes is tissue and organ specific. Recent studies on isolated cells and knockout mice depleted of PLC isozymes have revealed their distinct phenotypes. Given the specificity in distribution and cellular localization, it is clear that each PLC isozyme bears a unique function in the modulation of physiological responses. In this review, we discuss the structural organization, enzymatic properties and molecular diversity of PLC splicing variants and study functional and physiological roles of each isozyme.     

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine generates reactive oxygen species through calcium-, protein kinase Cdelta- and phospholipase D-dependent pathways

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is a bioactive lipid molecule involved in numerous biological processes. Treatment of MS1 pancreatic islet endothelial cells with SPC increased phospholipase D (PLD) activity in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, treatment of the MS1 cells with 10 microM SPC induced stimulation of phospholipase C (PLC) activity and transient elevation of intracellular Ca2+. The SPC-induced PLD activation was prevented by pretreatment of the MS1 cells with a PLC inhibitor, U73122, and an intracellular Ca2+-chelating agent, BAPTA-AM. This suggests that PLC-dependent elevation of intracellular Ca2+ is involved in the SPC-induced activation of PLD. The SPC-dependent PLD activity was also almost completely prevented by pretreatment with pan-specific PKC inhibitors, GF109203X and RO-31-8220, and with a PKCdelta-specific inhibitor, rottlerin, but not by pretreatment with GO6976, a conventional PKC isozymes-specific inhibitor. Adenoviral overexpression of a kinase-deficient mutant of PKCdelta attenuated the SPC-induced PLD activity. These results suggest that PKCdelta plays a crucial role for the SPC-induced PLD activation. The SPC-induced PLD activation was preferentially potentiated in COS-7 cells transfected with PLD2 but not with PLD1, suggesting a specific implication of PLD2 in the SPC-induced PLD activation. SPC treatment induced phosphorylation of PLD2 in COS-7 cells, and overexpression of the kinase-deficient mutant of PKCdelta prevented the SPC-induced phosphorylation of PLD2. Furthermore, SPC treatment generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MS1 cells and the SPC induced production of ROS was inhibited by pretreatment with U73122, BAPTA-AM, and rottlerin. In addition, pretreatment with a PLD inhibitor 1-butanol and overexpression of a lipase-inactive mutant of PLD2 but not PLD1 attenuated the SPC-induced generation of ROS. These results suggest that PLC-, Ca2+-, PKCdelta-, and PLD2-dependent pathways are essentially required for the SPC induced ROS generation.