Human DNA ligases I and III, but not ligase IV, are required for microhomology-mediated end joining of DNA double-strand breaks

DNA nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination are two distinct pathways of DNA double-strand break repair in mammalian cells. Biochemical and genetic studies showed that DNA ends can also be joined via microhomology-mediated end joining (MHEJ), especially when proteins responsible for NHEJ, such as Ku, are reduced or absent. While it has been known that Ku-dependent NHEJ requires DNA ligase IV, it is unclear which DNA ligase(s) is required for Ku-independent MHEJ. In this study, we used a cell-free assay to determine the roles of DNA ligases I, III and IV in MHEJ and NHEJ. We found that siRNA mediated down-regulation of DNA ligase I or ligase III in human HTD114 cells led to impaired end joining that was mediated by 2-, 3- or 10-bp microhomology. In addition, nuclear extract from human fibroblasts harboring a mutation in DNA ligase I displayed reduced MHEJ activity. Furthermore, treatment of HTD114 nuclear extracts with an antibody against DNA ligase I or III also significantly reduced MHEJ. These data indicate that DNA ligases I and III are required in MHEJ. DNA ligase IV, on the contrary, is not required in MHEJ but facilitates Ku-dependent NHEJ. Therefore, MHEJ and NHEJ require different DNA ligases.     

Small scale genetic alterations contribute to increased mutability at the X-linked Hprt locus in vivo in Blm hypomorphic mice

BLM, the gene mutated in Bloom syndrome (BS), encodes an ATP-dependent RecQ DNA helicase that is involved in the resolution of Holliday junctions, in the suppression of crossovers and in the management of damaged replication forks. Cells from BS patients have a characteristically high level of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), and increased chromosomal aberrations. Fibroblasts and lymphocytes of BS patients also exhibit increased mutation frequency at the X-linked reporter gene HPRT, suggesting that BLM also plays a role in preventing small scale genomic rearrangements. However, the nature of such small scale alterations has not been well characterized. Here we report the characterization of Hprt mutations in vivo in Blm hypomorphic mice, Blm^tm1Ches/Blm^tm3Brd. We found that the frequency of Hprt mutants was increased about 6-fold in the Blm^tm1Ches/Blm^tm3Brd mice when compared to Blm^tm3Brd heterozygous mice or wildtype mice. Molecular characterization of Hprt gene in the mutant clones indicates that many of the mutations were caused by deletions that range from several base pairs to several thousand base pairs. While deletions in BLM-proficient somatic cells are often shown to be mediated by direct repeats, all three deletion junctions in Hprt of Blm^tm1Ches/Blm^tm3Brd mice were flanked by inverted repeats, suggesting that secondary structures formed during DNA replication, when resolved improperly, may lead to deletions. In addition, single base pair substitution and insertion/deletion were also detected in the mutant clones. Taken together, our results indicated that BLM function is important in preventing small scale genetic alterations. Thus, both large scale and small scale genetic alterations are elevated when BLM is reduced, which may contribute to loss of function of tumor suppressor genes and subsequent tumorigenesis.     

Biochemistry and cell signaling taught by bacterial effectors

Bacterial virulence often relies on secreted effectors that modulate eukaryotic signal transduction. Recent studies provide a collection of examples in which bacterial effectors carry out unprecedented posttranslational modifications of key signaling molecules or organize a new signaling network. OspF and YopJ families of effectors use novel modification activities to block kinase phosphoactivation. Targeting of the ubiquitin system by IpaH and Cif/CHBP families provides insights into host ubiquitin signaling. Manipulation of small GTPases by VopS/IbpA and SidM suggests previously underappreciated regulation of signaling. Several other effectors, including SifA and EspG, organize newly discovered signaling networks in membrane trafficking. Studies of these effectors can generate new knowledge in enzyme catalysis and provide new angles for furthering our understanding of biochemical regulation of important signaling pathways.     

LMNA E82K mutation activates FAS and mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis in heart tissue specific transgenic mice

The lamin A/C (LMNA), nuclear intermediate filament proteins, is a basic component of the nuclear lamina. Mutations in LMNA are associated with a broad range of laminopathies, congenital diseases affecting tissue regeneration and homeostasis. Heart tissue specific transgenic mice of human LMNA E82K, a mutation causing dilated cardiomyopathy, were generated. Lmna(E82K) transgenic mouse lines exhibited thin-walled, dilated left and right ventricles, a progressive decrease of contractile function assessed by echocardiography. Abnormalities of the conduction system, myocytes disarray, collagen accumulation and increased levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), procollagen type III α1 (Col3α1) and skeletal muscle actin α1 (Actα1) were detected in the hearts of Lmna(E82K) transgenic mice. The LMNA E82K mutation caused mislocation of LMNA in the nucleus and swollen mitochondria with loss of critae, together with the loss of nuclear envelope integrity. Most interestingly, we found that the level of apoptosis was 8.5-fold higher in the Lmna(E82K) transgenic mice than that of non-transgenic (NTG) mice. In the presence of the LMNA E82K, both of FAS and mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis were activated consistent with the increase of FAS expression, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol and activation of caspase-8, -9 and -3. Our results suggested that the apoptosis, at least for the LMNA E82K or the mutations in the rod region of Lamin A/C, might be an important mechanism causing continuous loss of myocytes and lead to myocardial dysfunction. It could be a potential therapeutic means to suppress and/or prevent inappropriate cardiac cell death in patients carrying LMNA mutation.     

The dominant <Emphasis Type=Italic>Ulva</Emphasis> strain of the 2008 green algal bloom in the Yellow Sea was not detected in the coastal waters of Qingdao in the following winter

The region of Qingdao, China, experienced the world's largest green tide from May to July 2008. More than one million tons of fresh algal biomass of the green alga Ulva prolifera was harvested, while more was suspected to have sunk to the bottom. The original source of this seaweed was suspected to be from the south as revealed by satellite images. The floating biomass drifted with the water current northward and flourished in nearshore waters around Qingdao. However, direct biological evidence for “seed” source is lacking. It is still unclear whether this alga could survive the Qingdao local coastal environment and pose future danger of potential blooming. Systematic and seasonal sampling of waters in the intertidal zone at six collection sites along the Qingdao coast was conducted from December 2008 to April 2009. Forty-eight water samples were analyzed. From these, nine different morphotypes of Ulva were grown in the laboratory under standard temperature and light regimes. Growth of Ulva was observed in all water samples. However, molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the dominant U. prolifera strain of the 2008 bloom was absent in all the water-derived cultures during the sampling period. These results provide evidence that the dominant bloom-forming alga was unlikely able to survive the coastal waters (the minimal surface water temperature in February is 2°C) in winter conditions in Qingdao, even though all the sampling locations were heavily covered by this alga in June 2008.     

海洋菌W11产中温淀粉酶的酶学特性

本研究从威海文登海域筛选获得一株产淀粉酶海洋菌W11,初步鉴定为弧菌,并探讨pH、温度、无机离子对淀粉酶活性和稳定性的影响及该酶底物浓度效应和Km值。结果表明:在pH7.5左右酶活性最高,pH在4.0～7.5范围内体现较强的稳定性。最适酶解温度为55℃,酶液在60℃以下有较好的热稳定性;Ba2+、Mn2+对淀粉酶有激活作用,而Cu2+、Mg2+、Zn2+则抑制淀粉酶活性,表观Km值为0.973mg/mL。海洋菌W11所产的中温淀粉酶保存温度范围较广、适应pH作用的范围广及稳定性较强,将有着广泛的应用潜力。     

Sortase A介导的(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ寡聚体高效立体选择性转化(S)-苯基乙二醇

【目的】以金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)的sortase A为"分子订书机",用于(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ分子之间的连接,获得催化功能与稳定性增强的氧化还原酶寡聚体,高效催化2-羟基苯乙酮,合成(S)-苯基乙二醇。【方法】从S.aureus基因组中克隆sortase A基因,在大肠杆菌中表达,通过镍柱和凝胶层析纯化重组酶,获得纯酶sortase A。通过基因工程手段在(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ的C末端添加GGGGSLPETGG序列,蛋白纯化获得(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ-GGGGSLPETGG,摸索了sortase A催化(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ-GGGGSLPETGG的分子连接,形成(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ寡聚体的最佳条件,并研究了寡聚体酶学性质及生物转化(S)-苯基乙二醇的效率。【结果】(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ寡聚体比酶活力为38.5 U/mg,比原始型(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ提高了6倍,最适反应温度为50°C,最适pH为6.0,在50°C放置1 h后酶活仍旧保持90%以上;蛋白质变性实验结果显示,(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ寡聚体的变性温度为60.1°C,比原始酶提高了10°C;生物转化结果显示(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ寡聚体在3 h内完全转化5 g/L 2-羟基苯乙酮,产生光学纯度为100%的(S)-苯基乙二醇,相比于重组大肠杆菌(S)-羰基还原酶Ⅱ全细胞催化时间缩短了16倍。【结论】本研究首次将sortase A应用于氧化还原酶的分子连接,显著提高了酶的催化效率和热稳定性,表明sortase在手性催化中有很大的潜在应用价值。     

Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography of Glyptothorax fokiensis and Glyptothorax hainanensis in Asia

Whole mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences in 62 fish from 13 locations in Southeast China identified two major clades corresponding to two allopatric taxa, Glyptothorax fokiensis fokiensis and Glyptothorax fokiensis hainanensis . Reciprocal monophyly and a molecular clock separation between these two taxa of 2·3 million years indicate these taxa should be elevated to species. Mismatch distributions and Fu's F _S statistic suggest that both G. fokiensis and G. hainanensis have experienced recent population expansions. Analysis of molecular variance indicates that most of the genetic variation resides among populations within both species, with Φ _ST= 0·645 for G. fokiensis and 0·801 for G. hainanensis , suggesting restricted gene flow among populations. Significant correlations between the geographic and the genetic distances provide support for the importance of geographic isolations between populations. Nested clade analysis also confirms low levels of genetic exchanges between the two major groups and between populations within each group. The phylogeographical pattern among populations of Glyptothorax in East Asia can be attributed to historical fragmentations, demographic expansions and occasional long-distance dispersals stimulated by tectonic activity and Ice Age climate changes.     

The use of avidin-biotinylglycan as the model for in vitro glycoprotein processing

In an attempt to evaluate the effects of the protein matrix on the specificity of glycoprotein processing in Golgi membranes, we have developed a model neoglycoprotein consisting of biotinylated glycans bound noncovalently to avidin (Chen, V. J., and Wold, F. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 939-444) with which the protein effect on processing can be evaluated as the difference in substrate efficiency between a free biotinylated glycan and the same biotinylated glycan bound to avidin. The avidin (streptavidin)-glycan complex stability was found to be proper for the experimental design; the complex remains intact for extended periods of incubation at the concentrations used, but the glycan can be completely liberated and recovered by heating the complex at 95 degrees C for 10 min in the presence of a 10-fold molar excess of biotin. By measuring the relative rates of [14C]sugar incorporation into the free and bound substrates it was demonstrated that the protein indeed influences the processing reactions; under conditions where free glycans such as biotinyl-Asn-Glc-NAc2-Man5 and 6-(biotinamido)hexanoyl-Asn-Glc-NAc2-Man5 could be converted to the biantennary products R-Asn-GlcNAc2-Man3-GlcNAc2-Gal2-sialyl2 in the presence of UDP-GlcNAc, UDP-Gal and CMP-sialic acid and Golgi enzymes, the avidin-bound derivative without the extension arm gave only low levels of product and the streptavidin-bound one remained unaltered. The presence of the extension arm in the substrates significantly improved the yield of some products in the complex, apparently by reducing or eliminating the avidin inhibition of the early steps, but not of the late ones. There are consequently two types of effect of the protein matrix on processing efficiency. One is expressed only when the glycan is close to the protein surface and affecting primarily early steps (mannosidases and GlcNAc transferases). The other is apparently independent of the proximity of the glycan core and the protein, and affects primarily late steps, in particular the incorporation of the second sialic acid residue into a biantennary complex glycan.