Microbial synthesis of L-[15N]leucine L-[15N]isoleucine, and L-[3-13C]-and L-[3'-13C]isoleucines studied by nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The preparation of leucine and isoleucine labeled with 15N and of site-specific 13C-labeled isoleucines is described. This method is based on the induction of the biosynthetic pathways specific for branched chain amino acids in glutamic acid producing bacteria, and controlled provision of stable isotope labeled precursors. Corynebacterium glutamicum (ATCC 13032), a glutamic acid overproducer, was incubated in leucine production medium which consisted of a basal medium supplemented with [15N]ammonium sulfate, glucose, and sodium alpha-ketoisocaproate. production of L-[15N]leucine reached 138 mumol/ml at an isotopic efficiency of 90%. It was purified and checked by proton NMR and GC-MS. The electron impact (EI) spectrum showed 95 atom% enrichment. The cultivation of C. glutamicum in a similar medium containing alpha-ketobutyrate yielded L-[15N]isoleucine at a concentration of 120 mumol/ml. The GC-MS EI and chemical ionization (CI) spectra confirmed enrichment of 96 atom% 15N as that of the labeled precursors. The biosynthesis of L-[13C]isoleucine was carried out by induced cells which were transferred to a similar medium in which [2-13C]- or [3-13C]pyruvic acid replaced glucose. 13C NMR of the product isoleucine revealed single-site enrichment at C-3 or at C-3' respective to the precursor [13C]pyruvate; i.e., C-3 was labeled from [2-13C]pyruvate and C-3' from [3-13C]pyruvate. Mass spectrometric analysis confirmed that all molecules were labeled only in one carbon. This site-specific incorporation of [13C]pyruvate is contrasted with the labeling pattern obtained when producing cells were supplied with [2-13C]acetate, instead of pyruvate, when most label was incorporated into carbons 3 and 3' of the same isoleucine molecule.     

A missense mutation,S349P,completely inactivates phenylalanine hydroxylase in North African Jews with phenylketonuria

The majority of hyperphenylalaninemias (HPAs) result from mutations at the gene for phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). The broad phenotypic variability of these conditions, ranging from phenylketonuria (PKU) to mild benign HPA, is underlain by a wide spectrum of mutations giving rise to various genotypic combinations. Mutant PAH alleles, labeled by specific polymorphic haplotypes and mutations, are becoming useful markers in human population genetics. We report here a mutant PAH allele found in Jews from Morocco and Tunisia, marked by haplotype 4 and a missense mutation, TCA^SerCCA^pro, at codon 349 in exon 10 of the gene. In vitro expression of the mutation showed normal levels of mRNA with virtually no enzymatic activity or protein immunoreactivity, pointing to a highly unstable protein. A homozygote for this mutation showed the most severe (classical) type of PKU, while compound heterozygotes showed two other types of HPA — atypical PKU and high benign HPA — illustrating the interplay between different mutations that gives rise to various HPAs.     

Genetic Analysis of Macromolecular Transport across the Nuclear Envelope

Numerous factors that promote movement of macromolecules in and out of the nucleus have now been identified. These include both soluble cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic proteins and proteins of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Genetic analyses of the nuclear transport process in the model organism, the budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae,have revealed remarkable conservation of all of these factors. In addition, important clues as to how these factors promote the unique bidirectional movement across the NPC have emerged from studies of yeast. We summarize the characterization and genetic interactions of the soluble transport factors and present data to illustrate how genetic experiments can be used to further define the import and export pathways.     

Properties of the spectrin-like structural element of smooth-muscle alpha-actinin.

The fragment of smooth muscle alpha-actinin, comprising the four spectrin-like structural repeating units, has a high alpha-helix content, similar to that of spectrin, and a hydrodynamic frictional coefficient, indicative of an elongated, probably bent or kinked rod-like structure, as found for spectrin dimer and tetramer. The fragment exists in solution as an extremely stable dimer, which is dissociated only under denaturing conditions and is much more resistant to dissociation by urea than is the spectrin heterodimer. High-resolution proton magnetic resonance spectra reveal that a part of the polypeptide chain gives rise to sharp resonances; this is also true of spectrin and it implies that the individual structural repeating units contain segmentally mobile elements, which may be required to generate the elastic properties of the spectrin family of proteins. Again like spectrin, the alpha-actinin fragment contains multiple binding sites for long-chain fatty acids, as revealed by quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by 2-bromostearate (though not by 9(10)-bromostearate). The results point to extensive structural and functional similarities between the repeating units of all the proteins of the spectrin family.     

In vivo tumorigenicity and in vitro sensitivity to tumor-necrosis-factorα mediated killing of c-Ha-ras-transformed cells

Summary Cellular subclones of high and low tumorigenicity obtained from a mouse c-Ha-ras-transformed clone, were examined for their sensitivity to tumornecrosis-factor (TNF)-mediated cytotoxicity. Cells of the highly tumorigenic subclones showed a significantly enhanced resistance to the cytotoxic effect of TNF plus cyclohexamide (CHI) as compared to cells of the lowtumorigenic subclones. The enhanced resistance to TNF+CHI was not due to a lower expression of TNF receptors on the cells. The c-Ha-ras-transfected cells were transformed and maintained in culture only (C cells). In vivo passage of cells of the initially low-tumorigenic c-Ha-ras subclones through the mouse significantly enhanced the tumorigenic potential of these CTC cells (culture/tumor/culture). In correlation with their enhanced tumorigenicity, the CTC cells were highly resistant to TNF-mediated cytotoxicity as compared to C cells of the same subclone. Furthermore, the involvement of TNF in determining the tumorigenic phenotype of the c-Ha-ras-transformed cells was demonstrated in a more direct manner. Cells of a c-Ha-ras-transformed low-tumorigenic, highly TNF-sensitive subclone were selected by repeated cycles of in vitro exposure to TNF. As a result, a stable, highly TNF-resistant population of cells emerged. These TNF-resistant cells caused more tumors in mice as compared to their original TNF-sensitive cells. These results show that the resistance to the cytotoxic effect of TNF plus cyclohexamide may be involved, at least partially, in the tumorigenic potential of c-Ha-ras-transformed cells and suggest a possible role for TNF in the enhancement of the tumorigenic potential of these cells in mice.     

Expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">MAX2</Emphasis> under <Emphasis Type="Italic">SCARECROW</Emphasis> promoter enhances the strigolactone/MAX2 dependent response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> roots to low-phosphate conditions

Main conclusion

MAX2/strigolactone signaling in the endodermis and/or quiescent center of the root is partiallysufficient to exert changes in F-actin density and cellular trafficking in the root epidermis, and alter gene expression during plant response to low Pi conditions.Strigolactones (SLs) are a new group of plant hormones that regulate different developmental processes in the plant via MAX2, an F-box protein that interacts with their receptor. SLs and MAX2 are necessary for the marked increase in root-hair (RH) density in seedlings under conditions of phosphate (Pi) deprivation. This marked elevation was associated with an active reduction in actin-filament density and endosomal movement in root epidermal cells. Also, expression of MAX2 under the SCARECROW (SCR) promoter was sufficient to confer SL sensitivity in roots, suggesting that SL signaling pathways act through a root-specific, yet non-cell-autonomous regulatory mode of action. Here we show evidence for a non-cell autonomous signaling of SL/MAX2, originating from the root endodermis, and necessary for seedling response to conditions of Pi deprivation. SCR-derived expression of MAX2 in max2-1 mutant background promoted the root low Pi response, whereas supplementation of the synthetic SL GR24 to these SCR:MAX2 expressing lines further enhanced this response. Moreover, the SCR:MAX2 expression led to changes in actin density and endosome movement in epidermal cells and in TIR1 and PHO2 gene expression. These results demonstrate that MAX2 signaling in the endodermis and/or quiescent center is partially sufficient to exert changes in F-actin density and cellular trafficking in the epidermis, and alter gene expression under low Pi conditions.

     

Slk19p is a centromere protein that functions to stabilize mitotic spindles.

We have identified a novel centromere-associated gene product from Saccharomyces cerevisiae that plays a role in spindle assembly and stability. Strains with a deletion of SLK19 (synthetic lethal Kar3p gene) exhibit abnormally short mitotic spindles, increased numbers of astral microtubules, and require the presence of the kinesin motor Kar3p for viability. When cells are deprived of both Slk19p and Kar3p, rapid spindle breakdown and mitotic arrest is observed. A functional fusion of Slk19p to green fluorescent protein (GFP) localizes to kinetochores and, during anaphase, to the spindle midzone, whereas Kar3p-GFP was found at the nuclear side of the spindle pole body. Thus, these proteins seem to play overlapping roles in stabilizing spindle structure while acting from opposite ends of the microtubules.     

Identification and functional implications of pseudouridine RNA modification on small noncoding RNAs in the mammalian pathogen Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite that causes sleeping sickness, cycles between an insect and a mammalian host. However, the effect of RNA modifications such as pseudouridinylation on its ability to survive in these two different host environments is unclear. Here, two genome-wide approaches were applied for mapping pseudouridinylation sites (Ψs) on small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA), 7SL RNA, vault RNA, and tRNAs from T. brucei. We show using HydraPsiSeq and RiboMeth-seq that the Ψ on C/D snoRNA guiding 2′-O-methylation increased the efficiency of the guided modification on its target, rRNA. We found differential levels of Ψs on these noncoding RNAs in the two life stages (insect host and mammalian host) of the parasite. Furthermore, tRNA isoform abundance and Ψ modifications were characterized in these two life stages demonstrating stage-specific regulation. We conclude that the differential Ψ modifications identified here may contribute to modulating the function of noncoding RNAs involved in rRNA processing, rRNA modification, protein synthesis, and protein translocation during cycling of the parasite between its two hosts.