Familial osteoarthritis of the hip joint associated with acetabular dysplasia maps to chromosome 13q

Genetic factors have been implicated in osteoarthritis (OA), particularly in OA of the hip joint (hip OA). Several instances of familial hip OA that show distinctive modes of inheritance but that differ from chondrodysplasia have been reported. Here, we report the characterization of a large Japanese family with an inherited disease of the hip that is indistinguishable from common hip OA, as evidenced by clinical symptoms and radiographs of the joint. This family contained eight patients in 4 generations. Affected individuals develop pain in the hip joint during adolescence, and the disease progresses to severe crippling before age 60 years. Patients generally are in good health, height is not reduced, and there is no extraskeletal involvement suggestive of chondrodysplasia. The skeletal change is bilateral acetabular dysplasia followed by OA, which occurs after age approximately 40 years and is indistinguishable from idiopathic nonfamilial dysplastic hip OA. This trait shows autosomal dominant inheritance, with a considerably consistent phenotype. Genomewide screening revealed linkage at chromosome 13q22, and haplotype analysis narrowed the locus to a 6.0-cM interval between markers D13S1296 and D13S162, with a maximal multipoint LOD score of 3.57. The family described here represents a novel genetic entity as a monogenic form of hip OA. Its further characterization can aid in elucidating the etiology and pathogenesis of a common idiopathic form of OA.     

Identification of the substrate interaction region of the chitin-binding domain of Streptomyces griseus chitinase C

Chitinase C from Streptomyces griseus HUT6037 was discovered as the first bacterial chitinase in family 19 other than chitinases found in higher plants. Chitinase C comprises two domains: a chitin-binding domain (ChBD(ChiC)) for attachment to chitin and a chitin-catalytic domain for digesting chitin. The structure of ChBD(ChiC) was determined by means of 13C-, 15N-, and 1H-resonance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The conformation of its backbone comprised two beta-sheets composed of two and three antiparallel beta-strands, respectively, this being very similar to the backbone conformations of the cellulose-binding domain of endoglucanase Z from Erwinia chrysanthemi (CBD(EGZ)) and the chitin-binding domain of chitinase A1 from Bacillus circulans WL-12 (ChBD(ChiA1)). The interaction between ChBD(ChiC) and hexa-N-acetyl-chitohexaose was monitored through chemical shift perturbations, which showed that ChBD(ChiC) interacted with the substrate through two aromatic rings exposed to the solvent as CBD(EGZ) interacts with cellulose through three characteristic aromatic rings. Comparison of the conformations of ChBD(ChiA1), ChBD(ChiC), and other typical chitin- and cellulose-binding domains, which have three solvent-exposed aromatic residues responsible for binding to polysaccharides, has suggested that they have adopted versatile binding site conformations depending on the substrates, with almost the same backbone conformations being retained.     

1.25 A resolution crystal structures of human haemoglobin in the oxy, deoxy and carbonmonoxy forms

The most recent refinement of the crystallographic structure of oxyhaemoglobin (oxyHb) was completed in 1983, and differences between this real-space refined model and later R state models have been interpreted as evidence of crystallisation artefacts, or numerous sub-states. We have refined models of deoxy, oxy and carbonmonoxy Hb to 1.25 A resolution each, and compare them with other Hb structures. It is shown that the older structures reflect the software used in refinement, and many differences with newer structures are unlikely to be physiologically relevant. The improved accuracy of our models clarifies the disagreement between NMR and X-ray studies of oxyHb, the NMR experiments suggesting a hydrogen bond to exist between the distal histidine and oxygen ligand of both the alpha and beta-subunits. The high-resolution crystal structure also reveals a hydrogen bond in both subunit types, but with subtly different geometry which may explain the very different behaviour when this residue is mutated to glycine in alpha or beta globin. We also propose a new set of relatively fixed residues to act as a frame of reference; this set contains a similar number of atoms to the well-known "BGH" frame yet shows a much smaller rmsd value between R and T state models of HbA.     

Overexpression of RCI2A decreases Na+ uptake and mitigates salinity-induced damages in Arabidopsis thaliana plants

We have investigated whether the overexpression of RCI2A gene causes an enhanced salt-tolerant phenotype in Arabidopsis thaliana . Although the growth of RCI2A -overexpressing transgenic plants was comparable with that of wild type under normal conditions, high salinity treatment caused decreased accumulation of Na⁺ and ameliorated suppression of the shoot growth of transgenic plants than that of wild type. Under high salinity treatment, the chlorophyll content of the shoots of wild-type plants significantly decreased compared with transgenic plants. The increases of malondialdehyde (MDA) and of H₂O₂ production caused by high salinity were greater in the shoots of wild type than in that of transgenic plants. These results suggest that overexpression of RCI2A can alleviate salinity-induced growth suppression and photooxidative damages via reducing Na⁺ uptake into the shoots.     

Real-time analysis of P-glycoprotein-mediated drug transport across primary intestinal epithelium three-dimensionally cultured in vitro

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an efflux transporter that regulates bioavailability of orally administered drugs at the intestinal epithelium. To develop an in vitro experimental model that mimics P-gp-mediated intestinal drug transport in vivo, we employed normal intestinal epithelium three-dimensionally cultured. Physiological expression of P-gp mRNA and the expression of its protein at the apical membrane were observed in the small intestinal epithelium grown as cystic organoids. Rhodamine123 (Rh123), a substrate for P-gp, was actively transported in the basoapical direction and accumulated in the luminal space, while the epithelial integrity was kept intact. Furthermore, we were able to monitor the whole process of Rh123 transport and its inhibition by verapamil in real-time, from which kinetic parameters for Rh123 transport could be estimated by a mathematical modeling. The method here described to evaluate the dynamics of P-gp-mediated transport in primary intestinal epithelial cells would be instrumental in investigating the physiological function of P-gp and its inhibitors/inducers in vitro.     

A Back Hydrogen Exchange Procedure via the Acid-Unfolded State for a Large Protein

A deuterated protein sample is required for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of a large protein because severe signal broadenings occur because of the high molecular weight. The deuterated sample expressed in (2)H(2)O should subsequently be subjected to a back hydrogen exchange at amide groups. To perform the back exchange, the protein molecule is unfolded or destabilized so that internal residues become accessible to the solvent. However, the refolding yield from the destabilized or unfolded state of a large protein is usually low, leading to a dilemma in NMR measurements of large proteins. In our previous paper [Suzuki, M., et al. (2011) Biochemistry50, 10390-10398], we suggested that an acid-denatured microbial transglutaminase (MTG) consisting of 331 amino acid residues can be recovered effectively under low-salt conditions, escaping from the aggregation-prone intermediate. Here, we demonstrate that proMTG, the pro form of MTG consisting of 376 amino acid residues, can be refolded perfectly from the acid-unfolded state under low-salt conditions, as confirmed by circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopies. By performing the same procedure with a deuterated proMTG expressed in (2)H(2)O, we observed complete back exchanges for internal residues by NMR spectroscopy. Our procedure has potential applications to the back hydrogen exchange of large proteins for NMR measurements.     

Molecular structure and function of bacterial nitric oxide reductase

The crystal structure of the membrane-integrated nitric oxide reductase cNOR from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined. The smaller NorC subunit of cNOR is comprised of 1 trans-membrane helix and a hydrophilic domain, where the heme c is located, while the larger NorB subunit consists of 12 trans-membrane helices, which contain heme b and the catalytically active binuclear center (heme b(3) and non-heme Fe(B)). The roles of the 5 well-conserved glutamates in NOR are discussed, based on the recently solved structure. Glu211 and Glu280 appear to play an important role in the catalytic reduction of NO at the binuclear center by functioning as a terminal proton donor, while Glu215 probably contributes to the electro-negative environment of the catalytic center. Glu135, a ligand for Ca(2+) sandwiched between two heme propionates from heme b and b(3), and the nearby Glu138 appears to function as a structural factor in maintaining a protein conformation that is suitable for electron-coupled proton transfer from the periplasmic region to the active site. On the basis of these observations, the possible molecular mechanism for the reduction of NO by cNOR is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory Oxidases.     

Structure and function of bacterial nitric oxide reductases: Nitric oxide reductase, anaerobic enzymes

The crystal structures of bacterial nitric oxide reductases (NOR) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Geobacillus stearothermophilus were reported. The structural characteristics of these enzymes, especially at the catalytic site and on the pathway that catalytic protons are delivered, are compared, and the corresponding regions of aerobic and micro-aerobic cytochrome oxidases, O(2) reducing enzymes, which are evolutionarily related to NOR are discussed. On the basis of these structural comparisons, a mechanism for the reduction of NO to produce N(2)O by NOR, and the possible molecular evolution of the proton pumping ability of the respiratory enzymes is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 17th European Bioenergetics Conference (EBEC 2012).     

A new structural insight into differential interaction of cyanobacterial and plant ferredoxins with nitrite reductase as revealed by NMR and X-ray crystallographic studies

Ferredoxin (Fd), which plays a pivotal role in photosynthesis as an electron carrier, forms a transient complex with various Fd-dependent enzymes, such as nitrite reductase (NiR), to achieve efficient intermolecular electron transfer. We studied the protein-protein interaction of Fd and NiR by NMR spectroscopy and determined three acidic regions of Fd to be major sites for the interaction with NiR, indicating that the complex is stabilized through electrostatic interaction. During this study, we found Fds from higher plant and cyanobacterium, in spite of their high structural similarities including the above acidic regions, differ remarkably in the interaction with cyanobacterial NiR. In activity assay of NiR, K(m) value for maize Fd (74.6 μM) was 9.6 times larger than that for Leptolyngbya boryana Fd (7.8 μM). The two Fds also showed a similar difference in binding assay to NiR-immobilized resin. Comparative site-specific mutagenesis of two Fds revealed that their discriminative ability for the interaction with NiR is attributed mainly to non-charged residues in the peripheral region of [2Fe-2S] cluster. These non-charged residues are conserved separately between Fds of plant and cyanobacterial origins. Our data highlight that intermolecular force(s) other than electrostatic attraction is(are) also crucial for the molecular interaction between Fd and partner enzyme.