Prostaglandin E2-activated Epac promotes neointimal formation of the rat ductus arteriosus by a process distinct from that of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A

We have demonstrated that chronic stimulation of the prostaglandin E2-cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signal pathway plays a critical role in intimal cushion formation in perinatal ductus arteriosus (DA) through promoting synthesis of hyaluronan. We hypothesized that Epac, a newly identified effector of cAMP, may play a role in intimal cushion formation (ICF) in the DA distinct from that of PKA. In the present study, we found that the levels of Epac1 and Epac2 mRNAs were significantly up-regulated in the rat DA during the perinatal period. A specific EP4 agonist, ONO-AE1-329, increased Rap1 activity in the presence of a PKA inhibitor, PKI-(14-22)-amide, in DA smooth muscle cells. 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP (O-Me-cAMP), a cAMP analog selective to Epac activator, promoted migration of DA smooth muscle cells (SMC) in a dose-dependent manner. Adenovirus-mediated Epac1 or Epac2 gene transfer further enhanced O-Me-cAMP-induced cell migration, although the effect of Epac1 overexpression on cell migration was stronger than that of Epac2. In addition, transfection of small interfering RNAs for Epac1, but not Epac2, significantly inhibited serum-mediated migration of DA SMCs. In the presence of O-Me-cAMP, actin stress fibers were well organized with enhanced focal adhesion, and cell shape was widely expanded. Adenovirus-mediated Epac1, but not Epac2 gene transfer, induced prominent ICF in the rat DA explants when compared with those with green fluorescent protein gene transfer. The thickness of intimal cushion became significantly greater (1.98-fold) in Epac1-overexpressed DA. O-Me-cAMP did not change hyaluronan production, although it decreased proliferation of DA SMCs. The present study demonstrated that Epac, especially Epac1, plays an important role in promoting SMC migration and thereby ICF in the rat DA.     

Modulation of redox potential and alteration in reactivity via the peroxide shunt pathway by mutation of cytochrome P450 around the proximal heme ligand

In the thermophilic cytochrome P450 from the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus tokodaii strain 7 (P450st), a phenylalanine residue at position 310 and an alanine residue at position 320 are located close to the heme thiolate ligand, Cys317. Single site-directed mutants F310A and A320Q and double mutant F310A/A320Q have been constructed. All mutant enzymes as well as wild-type (WT) P450st were expressed at high levels. The substitution of F310 with Ala and of A320 with Gln induced shifts in redox potential and blue shifts in Soret absorption of ferrous-CO forms, while spectral characterization showed that in the resting state, the mutants almost retained the structural integrity of the active site. The redox potential of the heme varied as follows: -481 mV (WT), -477 mV (A320Q), -453 mV (F310A), and -450 mV (F310A/A320Q). The trend in the Soret band of the ferrous-CO form was as follows: 450 nm (WT) < 449 nm (A320Q) < 446 nm (F310A) < 444 nm (F310A/A320Q). These results established that the reduction potential and electron density on the heme iron are modulated by the Phe310 and Ala320 residues in P450st. The electron density on the heme decreases in the following order: WT > A320Q > F310A > F310A/A320Q. The electron density on the heme iron infers an essential role in P450 activity. The decrease in electron density interferes with the formation of a high-valent oxo-ferryl species called Compound I. However, steady-state turnover rates of styrene epoxidation with H2O2 show the following trend: WT approximately equal to A320Q < F310A approximately equal to F310A/A320Q. The shunt pathway which can provide the two electrons and oxygen required for a P450 reaction instead of NAD(P)H and dioxygen can rule out the first and second heme reduction in the catalytic process. Because the electron density on the heme iron might be deeply involved in the k cat values in this system, the intermediate Compound 0 which is the precursor species of Compound I mainly appears to participate dominantly in epoxidation with H2O2.     

Spermosin, a trypsin-like protease from ascidian sperm: cDNA cloning, protein structures and functional analysis.

We have previously reported that two trypsin-like enzymes, acrosin and spermosin, play key roles in sperm penetration through the vitelline coat of the ascidian (Urochordata) Halocynthia roretzi [Sawada et al. (1984), J. Biol. Chem. 259, 2900-2904; Sawada et al. (1984), Dev. Biol. 105, 246-249]. Here, we show the amino-acid sequence of the ascidian preprospermosin, which is deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the isolated cDNA clone. The isolated ascidian preprospermosin cDNA consisted of 1740 nucleotides, and an open reading frame encoding 388 amino acids, which corresponds to a molecular mass of 41 896 Da. By sequence alignment, it was suggested that His178, Asp230 and Ser324 make up a catalytic triad and that ascidian spermosin be classified as a novel trypsin family member. The mRNA of preprospermosin is specifically expressed in ascidian gonads but not in other tissues. Purified spermosin consists of 33- and 40-kDa bands as determined by SDS/PAGE under nonreducing conditions. The 40-kDa spermosin consists of a heavy chain (residues 130-388) and a long light chain designated L1 (residues 23-129), whereas the 33-kDa spermosin includes the same heavy chain and a shorter light chain designated L2 (residues 97-129). The L1 chain contains a proline-rich region, designated L1(DeltaL2) which is lacking in L2. Investigation with the glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-spermosin-light-chain fusion proteins, including GST-L1, GST-L2, and GST-L1(DeltaL2), revealed that the proline-rich region in the L1 chain binds to the vitelline coat of ascidian eggs. Thus, we propose that sperm spermosin is a novel trypsin-like protease that binds to the vitelline coat and also plays a part in penetration of sperm through the vitelline coat during ascidian fertilization.     

Mate Choice and Mating Pattern in a Stream Goby of the Genus Rhinogobius

The mate choice and mating pattern of a benthic goby Rhinogobius sp. CB (cross band type) were investigated in the Kamo River, Shikoku, Japan. During the breeding season, gravid females assumed a nuptial color and either males or females initiated a courtship display. Males preferentially courted a female of similar size to lead her to his nest, whereas females courted more frequently when they encountered a large male. Eggs in any one nest were always at the same developmental stage. Sampling data of nesting males and females indicated that, in more than half the nests, males gathered more than one female before spawning. In some nests with eggs, two or three females had spent ovaries, indicating that the eggs were laid by multiple females within a short span of time. However, a comparison between the total number of eggs which females would spawn in one nest and the number of eggs actually deposited suggested that eggs were contributed by one female in most nests. This low level of polygyny in spite of multiple female availability is attributed to a limited available spawning area of the nest.     

Multiple antiviral activities of the antimalarial and anti-hepatitis C drug candidates N-89 and N-251

The chemically synthesized endoperoxide compound N-89 and its derivative N-251 were shown to have potent antimalarial activity. We previously demonstrated that N-89 and N-251 potently inhibited the RNA replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV), which belongs to the Flaviviridae family. Since antimalarial and anti-HCV mechanisms have not been clarified, we were interested whether N-89 and N-251 possessed the activity against viruses other than HCV. In this study, we examined the effects of N-89 and N-251 on other flaviviruses (dengue virus and Japanese encephalitis virus) and hepatitis viruses (hepatitis B virus and hepatitis E virus). Our findings revealed that N-89 and N-251 moderately inhibited the RNA replication of Japanese encephalitis virus and hepatitis E virus, although we could not detect those anti-dengue virus activities. We also observed that N-89 and N-251 moderately inhibited the replication of hepatitis B virus at the step after viral translation. These results suggest the possibility that N-89 and N-251 act on some common host factor(s) that are necessary for viral replications, rather than the possibility that N-89 and N-251 directly act on the viral proteins except for HCV. We describe a new type of antiviral reagents, N-89 and N-251, which are applicable to multiple different viruses.     

A Sialylated Voltage-Dependent Ca2+ Channel Binds Hemagglutinin and Mediates Influenza A Virus Entry into Mammalian Cells

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A Single Amino Acid Substitution Converts γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase to a Class IV Cephalosporin Acylase (Glutaryl-7-Aminocephalosporanic Acid Acylase)

The aspartyl residue at position 433 of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase of Escherichia coli K-12 was replaced by an asparaginyl residue. This substitution enabled γ-glutamyltranspeptidase to deacylate glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporanic acid, producing 7-aminocephalosporanic acid, which is a starting material for the synthesis of semisynthetic cephalosporins.