Reduced Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity and expression in LV myocardium of dogs with heart failure

Studies on the status of multifunctional Ca(2+)-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII) in failing hearts are limited and controversial. The study was performed in the left ventricular (LV) myocardium of six dogs with heart failure (HF) (LV ejection fraction, 23 +/- 2%) and six normal (NL) dogs. In the LV homogenate, CaMKII activity and its protein level were determined by using the CaMKII peptide and antibody, respectively. Furthermore, the protein level of CaM and phosphorylated phospholamban (PLB) at threonine-17 (PLB-Thr(17)) and serine-16 (PLB-Ser(16)) were also determined in the LV homogenate using a specific antibody. In addition, the level of zinc, which inhibits protein kinase A activity, was determined in the LV tissue by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. CaMKII activity and phosphorylated PLB-Thr(17) and PLB-Ser(16) levels, but not CaM and Zn levels, were significantly reduced in the LV homogenate of dogs with HF compared with NL dogs. These results suggest that CaMKII activity is reduced in the failing LV myocardium, and this abnormality is associated with reduced protein expression level of the enzyme but not due to changes in CaM and zinc levels. In conclusion, reduced CaMKII activity and phosphorylated PLB level may be partly responsible for impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum function in HF.     

Hypoxia-induced caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation in cortical neurons of newborn piglets: role of nitric oxide

Hypoxia results in generation of nitric oxide (NO) free radicals, activation of caspase-3, and genomic DNA fragmentation. The present study tests the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation are nitric oxide mediated. Studies were conducted in newborn piglets, divided into normoxic (n = 5), hypoxic (n = 5), and hypoxic-7-NINA (n = 6). Hypoxic-7-NINA group received the neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 7-Nitroindazole (7-NINA). Caspase-3 activity was determined spectrofluorometrically using enzyme-specific substrates. Sections from the neocortex were stained with an antiserum recognizing active caspase-3. Purified DNA was separated by gel electrophoresis. Administration of 7-NINA resulted in decreased immunoreactivity of caspase-3 (mean LI: 20.2%) as compared to the untreated hypoxia group (mean LI: 57.5%) (P < 0.05). 7-NINA attenuated caspase-3 enzymatic activity as well in comparison to the untreated hypoxia group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, multiple low molecular weight bands corresponding to DNA fragments were present in the hypoxic but not in the normoxic or hypoxic-7-NINA groups. Inhibition of nNOS abates the hypoxia-induced increase in active caspase-3 immunoreactivity, as well as enzymatic activity in cortical neurons, and DNA fragmentation in brain homogenates. We conclude that the coordinate increase of capase-3 activity and fragmentation of nuclear DNA in the hypoxic newborn piglet brain are NO mediated.     

Probing the role of a mobile loop in substrate binding and enzyme activity of human salivary amylase

Mammalian amylases harbor a flexible, glycine-rich loop 304GHGAGGA(310), which becomes ordered upon oligosaccharide binding and moves in toward the substrate. In order to probe the role of this loop in catalysis, a deletion mutant lacking residues 306-310 (Delta306) was generated. Kinetic studies showed that Delta306 exhibited: (1) a reduction (>200-fold) in the specific activity using starch as a substrate; (2) a reduction in k(cat) for maltopentaose and maltoheptaose as substrates; and (3) a twofold increase in K(m) (maltopentaose as substrate) compared to the wild-type (rHSAmy). More cleavage sites were observed for the mutant than for rHSAmy, suggesting that the mutant exhibits additional productive binding modes. Further insight into its role is obtained from the crystal structures of the two enzymes soaked with acarbose, a transition-state analog. Both enzymes modify acarbose upon binding through hydrolysis, condensation or transglycosylation reactions. Electron density corresponding to six and seven fully occupied subsites in the active site of rHSAmy and Delta306, respectively, were observed. Comparison of the crystal structures showed that: (1) the hydrophobic cover provided by the mobile loop for the subsites at the reducing end of the rHSAmy complex is notably absent in the mutant; (2) minimal changes in the protein-ligand interactions around subsites S1 and S1', where the cleavage would occur; (3) a well-positioned water molecule in the mutant provides a hydrogen bond interaction similar to that provided by the His305 in rHSAmy complex; (4) the active site-bound oligosaccharides exhibit minimal conformational differences between the two enzymes. Collectively, while the kinetic data suggest that the mobile loop may be involved in assisting the catalysis during the transition state, crystallographic data suggest that the loop may play a role in the release of the product(s) from the active site.     

B cells activated by lipopolysaccharide,but not by anti-Ig and anti-CD40 antibody,induce anergy in CD8+ T cells: role of TGF-beta 1

B cells recognize Ag through their surface IgRs and present it in the context of MHC class II molecules to CD4(+) T cells. Recent evidence indicates that B cells also present exogenous Ags in the context of MHC class I to CD8(+) T cells and thus may play an important role in the modulation of CTL responses. However, in this regard, conflicting reports are available. One group of studies suggests that the interaction between B cells and CD8(+) T cells leads to the activation of the T cells, whereas other studies propose that it induces T cell tolerance. For discerning this dichotomy, we used B cells that were activated with either LPS or anti-Ig plus anti-CD40 Ab, which mimic the T-independent and T-dependent modes of B cell activation, respectively, to provide accessory signals to resting CD8(+) T cells. Our results show that, in comparison with anti-Ig plus anti-CD40 Ab-activated B cells, the LPS-activated B cells (LPS-B) failed to induce significant levels of proliferation, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxic ability of CD8(+) T cells. This hyporesponsiveness of CD8(+) T cells activated with LPS-B was significantly rescued by anti-TGF-beta1 Ab. Moreover, it was found that such hyporesponsive CD8(+) T cells activated with LPS-B had entered a state of anergy. Furthermore, LPS-B expresses a significantly higher level of TGF-beta1 on the surface, which caused the observed hyporesponsiveness of CD8(+) T cells. Therefore, this study, for the first time, provides a novel mechanism of B cell surface TGF-beta1-mediated hyporesponsiveness leading to anergy of CD8(+) T cells.     

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activities of N4,N5-disubstituted-3-methyl- H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridazines

The synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of 4,5-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridazine (4), 4,5-dichloro-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridazine (5), 4,-benzoyloxy-3-methyl-1-benzoyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridazin-5yl benzoate (6), 3-methyl-N4,N5-bis(4-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridazine-4,5-diamine (7), 4[[5-(4-carboxyanilino)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridazin-4yl]amino]benzoic acid (8), N-[5-(benzoylamino)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridazin-4-yl]benzamide (9) and 3-methyl-N4,N5-bis[4-(1H-benzimidazol-2yl)phenyl]-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridazine-4,5-diamine (10) are being reported.     

Heregulin promotes expression and subcellular redistribution of ADP-ribosylation factor 3

To identify genes whose expression is modulated by heregulin-beta1 (HRG), a regulatory polypeptide for mammary epithelial cells, we performed differential display screening of MCF-7 cell mRNA. One cDNA clone upregulated by HRG was identical to human ADP-ribosylation factor 3 (ARF3), a guanine nucleotide-binding protein functioning in vesicular trafficking, phospholipase D activation and intracellular transport. HRG treatment increased expression of ARF3 mRNA and protein. Also, HRG triggered a rapid redistribution of ARF3, first to cell membranes and then to the nuclear compartment, where ARF3 colocalized with acetylated histone H3 in discrete regions. In addition, the ARF3 protein was developmentally regulated in the mammary gland with the highest levels in virgin and post-weaning glands. Together, these findings suggest for the first time that stimulation of ARF3 expression, subcellular redistribution and interaction with acetylated histone H3 may play a role in the action of HRG in mammary epithelial cells.     

Cell surface accumulation of a truncated transmembrane prion protein in Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease P102L

A familial prion disorder with a proline to leucine substitution at residue 102 of the prion protein (PrP(102L)) is typically associated with protease-resistant PrP fragments (PrP(Sc)) in the brain parenchyma that are infectious to recipient animals. When modeled in transgenic mice, a fatal neurodegenerative disease develops, but, unlike the human counterpart, PrP(Sc) is lacking and transmission to recipient animals is questionable. Alternate mice expressing a single copy of PrP(102L) (mouse PrP(101L)) do not develop spontaneous disease, but show dramatic susceptibility to PrP(Sc) isolates from different species. To understand these discrepant results, we studied the biogenesis of human PrP(102L) in a cell model. Here, we report that cells expressing PrP(102L) show decreased expression of the normal 18-kDa fragment on the plasma membrane. Instead, a 20-kDa fragment, probably derived from transmembrane PrP ((Ctm)PrP), accumulates on the cell surface. Because the 20-kDa fragment includes an amyloidogenic region of PrP that is disrupted in the 18-kDa form, increased surface expression of 20-kDa fragment may enhance the susceptibility of these cells to PrP(Sc) infection by providing an optimal substrate, or by amplifying the neurotoxic signal of PrP(Sc). Thus, altered susceptibility of PrP(101L) mice to exogenous PrP(Sc) may be mediated by the 20-kDa (Ctm)PrP fragment, rather than PrP(102L) per se.     

Cloning and sequencing of complete tau-crystallin cDNA from embryonic lens of Crocodylus palustris

τ-Crystallin is a taxon-specific structural protein found in eye lenses. We present here the cloning and sequencing of complete τ-crystallin cDNA from the embryonic lens ofCrocodylus palustris and establish it to be identical to the α-enolase gene from non-lenticular tissues. Quantitatively, the τ-crystallin was found to be the least abundant crystallin of the crocodilian embryonic lenses. Crocodile τ-crystallin cDNA was isolated by RT-PCR using primers designed from the only other reported sequence from duck and completed by 5′- and 3′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) using crocodile gene specific primers designed in the study. The complete τ-crystallin cDNA of crocodile comprises 1305 bp long ORF and 92 and 409 bp long untranslated 5′- and 3′-ends respectively. Further, it was found to be identical to its putative counterpart enzyme α-enolase, from brain, heart and gonad, suggesting both to be the product of the same gene. The study thus provides the first report on cDNA sequence of τ-crystallin from a reptilian species and also re-confirms it to be an example of the phenomenon of gene sharing as was demonstrated earlier in the case of peking duck. Moreover, the gene lineage reconstruction analysis helps our understanding of the evolution of crocodilians and avian species.