Signal peptide analogs derived from two chloroplast precursors interact with the signal recognition system of the chloroplast envelope

We have used synthetic peptides representing segments of the signal sequences of preferredoxin (pFd) and the precursor of the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (pS) to study interactions with the signal sequence recognition system at the chloroplast surface. Peptides representing the COOH-terminal 30 amino acids of the pFd and pS signal peptides were able to completely and reversibly inhibit the import of their homologous precursors into isolated chloroplasts at a 2.5 microM concentration. Import was blocked at the level of precursor binding to the chloroplast. This inhibition of precursor binding and import was not due to disruption of chloroplast integrity as incubation of isolated chloroplasts with the peptides did not cause measurable perturbation of the envelope membranes. The peptides also were able to block the import of the heterologous precursor protein, suggesting that pS and pFd share a common signal sequence recognition system. Visualization of the bound peptides at the chloroplast surface by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy using antipeptide antibodies gave a marked punctate staining pattern. This pattern is consistent with the localization of chloroplast import receptor(s) at contact zones between the inner and outer envelope membranes.     

The Function of Yeast Epsin and Ede1 Ubiquitin-Binding Domains During Receptor Internalization

The formation of a primary endocytic vesicle is a dynamic process involving the transient organization of adaptor and scaffold proteins at the plasma membrane. Epsins and Eps15-like proteins are ubiquitin-binding proteins that act early in this process. The yeast epsins, Ent1 and Ent2, carry functional ubiquitin-interacting motifs (UIMs), whereas the yeast Eps15-like protein, Ede1, has a C-terminal ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain. Analysis of mutants lacking early endocytic adaptors reveals that the ubiquitin-binding domains (UBDs) of Ent2 and Ede1 are likely to function primarily to mediate protein–protein interactions between components of the early endocytic machinery. Cells that lack epsin and Ede1 UBDs are able to internalize activated, ubiquitinated receptors. Furthermore, under conditions in which epsin UIMs are important for receptor internalization, receptors internalized via both ubiquitin-dependent and ubiquitin-independent signals require the UIMs, indicating that UIM function is not restricted to ubiquitinated receptors. Epsin UIMs share function with non-UBD protein–protein interaction motifs in Ent2 and Ede1, and the Ede1 UBA domain appears to negatively regulate interactions between endocytic proteins. Together, our results suggest that the ubiquitin-binding domains within the yeast epsin Ent2 and Ede1 are involved in the formation and regulation of the endocytic network.     

Compartmentalization and Clonal Amplification of HIV-1 Variants in the Cerebrospinal Fluid during Primary Infection

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-associated dementia (HAD) is a severe neurological disease that affects a subset of HIV-1-infected individuals. Increased compartmentalization has been reported between blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HIV-1 populations in subjects with HAD, but it is still not known when compartmentalization arises during the course of infection. To assess HIV-1 genetic compartmentalization early during infection, we compared HIV-1 populations in the peripheral blood and CSF in 11 primary infection subjects, with analysis of longitudinal samples over the first 18 months for a subset of subjects. We used heteroduplex tracking assays targeting the variable regions of env and single-genome amplification and sequence analysis of the full-length env gene to identify CSF-compartmentalized variants and to examine viral genotypes within the compartmentalized populations. For most subjects, HIV-1 populations were equilibrated between the blood and CSF compartments. However, compartmentalized HIV-1 populations were detected in the CSF of three primary infection subjects, and longitudinal analysis of one subject revealed that compartmentalization during primary HIV-1 infection was resolved. Clonal amplification of specific HIV-1 variants was identified in the CSF population of one primary infection subject. Our data show that compartmentalization can occur in the central nervous system (CNS) of subjects in primary HIV-1 infection in part through persistence of the putative transmitted parental variant or via viral genetic adaptation to the CNS environment. The presence of distinct HIV-1 populations in the CSF indicates that independent HIV-1 replication can occur in the CNS, even early after HIV-1 transmission.Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of the central nervous system (CNS) can lead to neurological disease in a subset of HIV-infected individuals and may include the development of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) (2, 18). HAD is characterized by severe neurological dysfunction, and affected individuals generally have impaired cognitive and motor functions. HIV-1 enters the CNS during primary infection, most likely via the migration of infected monocytes and lymphocytes across the blood-brain barrier (33, 37, 42). The main cell types in the CNS that HIV-1 can productively infect are the perivascular macrophages and microglial cells, which express low receptor densities of CD4, CCR5, and CXCR4 (7, 18, 60, 63). Previous studies have also reported that neurotropic HIV-1 variants are generally macrophage tropic (19, 20, 32, 45, 52, 61). Although cells in the CNS may be infected with HIV-1 during the course of disease, it is still unclear whether productive HIV-1 replication occurs in the CNS early during infection.Genetically compartmentalized HIV-1 variants have been detected in the brains of HAD subjects at autopsy (13, 14, 43, 48, 52) and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of HAD subjects sampled over the course of infection (26, 46, 51, 59). Extensive compartmentalization between the periphery and the CNS has been reported in subjects with HAD; however, it is not yet known when compartmentalization occurs during the course of HIV-1 infection. Primary HIV-1 infection refers to the acute and early phases of infection, during which peak plasma viremia often occurs and a viral “set point” may be reached (8, 34), within the first year after HIV exposure (64). Studies examining compartmentalization between the blood plasma and CSF during primary infection have been limited, and extensive compartmentalization has not been detected in primary infection subjects (26, 50).In this study, we examined HIV-1 genetic compartmentalization between the peripheral blood and CSF during primary HIV-1 infection. Cross-sectional and longitudinal blood plasma and CSF samples were analyzed for viral compartmentalization using the heteroduplex tracking assay (HTA) and single genome amplification (SGA). We used the HTA to differentiate between HIV-1 variants in the CSF that were either compartmentalized to the CSF or equilibrated with the peripheral blood. Previous studies have used the HTA to separate HIV-1 genetic variants in different anatomical compartments (10, 24, 27, 51) and to follow HIV-1 evolutionary variants over the course of infection (9, 25, 31, 41, 49, 50). We also conducted SGA on a subset of subjects to further examine viral genetic compartmentalization during primary infection. Here we report the detection of compartmentalized and clonally amplified HIV-1 variants in the CSF of subjects in the primary stage of HIV-1 infection. Our results suggest that minor to extensive HIV-1 genetic compartmentalization can occur between the periphery and the CNS during primary HIV-1 infection and that viral compartmentalization, as measured in the CSF, is transient in some subjects.     

Evaluating adsorbed-phase activity coefficient models using a 2D-lattice model

Despite the wide use of the real adsorbed solution theory to predict multicomponent adsorption equilibrium, the models used for the adsorbed phase activity coefficients are usually borrowed from the gas–liquid phase equilibria. In this work, the accuracy of the Wilson and NRTL models for evaluating adsorbed phase activity coefficients is tested using a 2D-lattice model. An accurate model for adsorbed-phase activity coefficients should have no problem in fitting adsorption data obtained using this simple lattice model. The results, however, show that the commonly used Wilson and NRTL models cannot describe the adsorbed phase activity coefficients for slightly non-ideal to strong non-ideal mixtures. Therefore, until new models for adsorbed phase activity coefficients are developed, we should use existing models for liquids with care. In the second part of this work, the use of Monte Carlo simulations on a segregated 2D-lattice model, for predicting adsorption of mixtures is investigated. The segregated model assumes that the competition for adsorption occurs at isolated adsorption sites, and that the molecules from each adsorption site interact with the bulk phase independently. Two binary mixtures in two adsorbent materials were used as case studies for testing the predictions of the segregated 2D-lattice model: the binary system CO₂–N₂ in the hypothetical pure silica zeolite PCOD8200029, with isolated adsorption sites and normal preference for adsorption, and the binary system CO₂–C₃H₈ in pure silica mordenite (MOR), with isolated adsorption sites and inverse site preference. The segregated 2D-lattice model provides accurate predictions for the system CO₂–N₂ in PCOD8200029 but fails in predicting the adsorption behaviour of CO₂–C₃H₈ in pure silica MOR. The predictions of the segregated ideal adsorbed solution theory model are superior to those of the 2D-lattice model.     

Increased apoptotic sensitivity of glioblastoma enables therapeutic targeting by BH3-mimetics

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent malignant primary brain tumour in adults. GBM typically has a poor prognosis, mainly due to a lack of effective treatment options leading to tumour persistence or recurrence. We investigated the therapeutic potential of targeting anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins in GBM. Levels of anti-apoptotic BCL-xL and MCL-1 were consistently increased in GBM compared with non-malignant cells and tissue. Moreover, we found that relative to their differentiated counterparts, patient-derived GBM stem-like cells also displayed higher expression of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members. High anti-apoptotic BCL-xL and MCL-1 expression correlated with heightened susceptibility of GBM to BCL-2 family protein-targeting BH3-mimetics. This is indicative of increased apoptotic priming. Indeed, GBM displayed an obligate requirement for MCL-1 expression in both tumour development and maintenance. Investigating this apoptotic sensitivity, we found that sequential inhibition of BCL-xL and MCL-1 led to robust anti-tumour responses in vivo, in the absence of overt toxicity. These data demonstrate that BCL-xL and MCL-1 pro-survival function is a fundamental prerequisite for GBM survival that can be therapeutically exploited by BH3-mimetics.Subject terms: Cancer genetics, Cell biology     

Identification and characterization of receptors for protein import into chloroplasts and mitochondria

An anti-idiotypic antibody approach was used to identify chloroplast and mitochondrial protein component(s) which interact with the corresponding signal sequence. The proteins thus identified can be operationally defined as receptor(s) for import of proteins into chloroplasts and mitochondria. The import receptor(s) was found in "contact sites" between the outer and inner membrane of chloroplast envelope or of mitochondria.