New insights into the evolution of metazoan tyrosinase gene family

Tyrosinases, widely distributed among animals, plants and fungi, are involved in the biosynthesis of melanin, a pigment that has been exploited, in the course of evolution, to serve different functions. We conducted a deep evolutionary analysis of tyrosinase family amongst metazoa, thanks to the availability of new sequenced genomes, assessing that tyrosinases (tyr) represent a distinctive feature of all the organisms included in our study and, interestingly, they show an independent expansion in most of the analyzed phyla. Tyrosinase-related proteins (tyrp), which derive from tyr but show distinct key residues in the catalytic domain, constitute an invention of chordate lineage. In addition we here reported a detailed study of the expression territories of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis tyr and tyrps. Furthermore, we put efforts in the identification of the regulatory sequences responsible for their expression in pigment cell lineage. Collectively, the results reported here enlarge our knowledge about the tyrosinase gene family as valuable resource for understanding the genetic components involved in pigment cells evolution and development.     

Molecular modeling study on potent and selective adenosine A(3) receptor agonists

Adenosine A(3) receptor (A(3)AR) is involved in a variety of key physio-pathological processes and its agonists are potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, dry eye disorders, asthma, as anti-inflammatory agents, and in cancer therapy. Recently reported MECA (5'-N-methylcarboxamidoadenosine) derivatives bearing a methyl group in N(6)-position and an arylethynyl substituent in 2-position demonstrated to possess sub-nanomolar affinity and remarkable selectivity for the human A(3)AR, behaving as full agonists of this receptor. In this study, we made an attempt to get a rationalization of the high affinities and selectivities of these molecules for the human A(3)AR, by using adenosine receptor (AR) structural models based on the A(2A)AR crystal structure and molecular docking analysis. Post-docking analysis allowed to evaluate the ability of modeling tools in predicting AA(3)R affinity and in providing interpretation of compound substituents effect on the A(3)AR affinity and selectivity.     

Protocatechuic acid induces antioxidant/detoxifying enzyme expression through JNK-mediated Nrf2 activation in murine macrophages

Protocatechuic acid (PCA) is a main metabolite of anthocyanins, whose daily intake is much higher than that of other polyphenols. PCA has biological effects, e.g., it induces the antioxidant/detoxifying enzyme gene expression. This study was aimed at defining the molecular mechanism responsible for PCA-induced over-expression of glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (GPx) and GSH reductase (GR) in J774 A.1 macrophages. New evidence is provided that PCA increases GPx and GR expression by inducing C-JUN NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated phosphorylation of Nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2). RNA and proteins were extracted from cells treated with PCA (25 μM) for different time points. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting analyses showed a rapid increase in mRNA (>60%) and protein (>50%) for both the enzymes. This was preceded by the up-regulation of Nrf2, in terms of mRNA and protein, and by its significant activation as assessed by increased Nrf2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation (+60%). By using specific kinase inhibitors and detecting the activated form, we showed that JNK was the main upstream kinase responsible for Nrf2 activation. Convincing evidence is provided of a causal link between PCA-induced Nrf2 activation and increased enzyme expression. By silencing Nrf2 and using a JNK inhibitor, enzyme enhancement was counteracted. Finally, with the ChIP assay, we demonstrated that PCA-activated Nrf2 specifically bound ARE sequences in enzyme gene promoters. Our study demonstrates for the first time that PCA improves the macrophage endogenous antioxidant potential by a mechanism in which JNK-mediated Nrf2 activation plays an essential role. This knowledge could contribute to novel diet-based approaches aimed at counteracting oxidative injury by reinforcing endogenous defences.     

Role of the EGFR ligand/receptor system in the secretion of angiogenic factors in mesenchymal stem cells

Increasing evidence suggests that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recruited into the stroma of developing tumors where they contribute to cancer progression. MSCs produce different growth factors that sustain tumor-associated neo-angiogenesis. Since the majority of carcinomas secrete ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), we assessed the role of EGFR signaling in regulating the release of angiogenic factors in MSCs. Treatment of human primary MSCs and of the human osteoblastic cell line hFOB with transforming growth factor α (TGF-α), one of the main ligands of the EGFR, significantly induced activation of this receptor and of different intracellular signaling proteins, including the PI3K/AKT and the MEK/MAPK pathways. TGF-α induced a significant increase in the levels of secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor in both MSCs and hFOB. Conditioned medium from TGF-α treated MSCs showed an higher in vivo angiogenic effect as compared with medium from untreated cells. Treatment of MSCs with TGF-α also produced a significant increase in the secretion of other angiogenic growth factors such as angiopoietin-2, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB. Using selective MEK and PI3K inhibitors, we found that both MEK/MAPK and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways mediate the ability of TGF-α to induce secretion of angiogenic factors in MSCs. Finally, stimulation with TGF-α increased the ability of MSCs to induce migration of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These data suggest that EGFR signaling regulates the ability of MSCs to sustain cancer progression through the release of growth factors that promote neo-angiogenesis and tumor cell migration.     

Circulating miRNAs expression as potential biomarkers of mild traumatic brain injury

Molecular Biology Reports - TBI is the main cause of death and disability in individuals aged 1–45 in Western countries. One of the main challenges of TBI at present is the lack of specific...     

Extensive female-mediated gene flow from sub-Saharan Africa into near eastern Arab populations

We have analyzed and compared mitochondrial DNA variation of populations from the Near East and Africa and found a very high frequency of African lineages present in the Yemen Hadramawt: more than a third were of clear sub-Saharan origin. Other Arab populations carried approximately 10% lineages of sub-Saharan origin, whereas non-Arab Near Eastern populations, by contrast, carried few or no such lineages, suggesting that gene flow has been preferentially into Arab populations. Several lines of evidence suggest that most of this gene flow probably occurred within the past approximately 2,500 years. In contrast, there is little evidence for male-mediated gene flow from sub-Saharan Africa in Y-chromosome haplotypes in Arab populations, including the Hadramawt. Taken together, these results are consistent with substantial migration from eastern Africa into Arabia, at least in part as a result of the Arab slave trade, and mainly female assimilation into the Arabian population as a result of miscegenation and manumission.     

Extracellular release of newly synthesized sphingosine-1-phosphate by cerebellar granule cells and astrocytes

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a potent biomediator that can act as either an intracellular or an intercellular messenger. In the nervous system it exerts a wide range of actions, and specific membrane receptors for it have been identified in various regions. However, the physiological origin of extracellular S1P in the nervous system is largely unknown. We investigated cerebellar granule cells at different stages of differentiation and astrocytes in primary cultures as possible origins of extracellular S1P. Although these cells show marked differences in S1P metabolism, we found that they can all release S1P and express mRNAs for S1P specific receptors. Extracellular S1P derives from the export of newly synthesized intracellular S1P, and not from the action of a released sphingosine kinase. S1P release is rapid, efficient, and can be regulated by exogenous stimuli. Phorbol ester treatment resulted in an increase in sphingosine kinase 1 activity in the membranes, accompanied by a significant increase in extracellular S1P. S1P release in cells from the cerebellum emerges as a regulated mechanism, possibly related to a specific pool of newly synthesized S1P. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of the extracellular release of S1P by primary cells from the CNS, which supports a role of S1P as autocrine/paracrine physiological messenger in the cerebellum.     

Novel potent and highly selective human A(3) adenosine receptor antagonists belonging to the 4-amido-2-arylpyrazolo[3,4-c]quinoline series: molecular docking analysis and pharmacological studies

The study of novel 2-arylpyrazolo[3,4-c]quinolin-4-(hetero)arylamides, designed as human (h) A(3) adenosine receptor antagonists, is reported. The new derivatives are endowed with nanomolar hA(3) receptor affinity and high selectivity versus hA(1), hA(2A) and hA(2B) receptors. Among the (hetero)aroyl residues introduced on the 4-amino group, the 2-furyl and 4-pyridyl rings turned out to be the most beneficial for hA(3) affinity (K(i)=3.4 and 5.0nM, respectively). An intensive molecular docking study to a rhodopsin-based homology model of the hA(3) receptor was carried out to obtain a 'structure-based pharmacophore model' that proved to be helpful for the interpretation of the observed affinities of the new hA(3) pyrazoloquinoline antagonists.