Soluble Guanylate Cyclase α1–Deficient Mice: A Novel Murine Model for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The molecular signaling involved in the pathogenesis of POAG remains unknown. Here, we report that mice lacking the α₁ subunit of the nitric oxide receptor soluble guanylate cyclase represent a novel and translatable animal model of POAG, characterized by thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer and loss of optic nerve axons in the context of an open iridocorneal angle. The optic neuropathy associated with soluble guanylate cyclase α₁–deficiency was accompanied by modestly increased intraocular pressure and retinal vascular dysfunction. Moreover, data from a candidate gene association study suggests that a variant in the locus containing the genes encoding for the α₁ and β₁ subunits of soluble guanylate cyclase is associated with POAG in patients presenting with initial paracentral vision loss, a disease subtype thought to be associated with vascular dysregulation. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis and genetics of POAG and suggest new therapeutic strategies for POAG.     

Unconventional protein secretion: an evolving mechanism

The process by which proteins are secreted without entering the classical endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–Golgi complex pathway, in eukaryotic cells, is conveniently called unconventional protein secretion. Recent studies on one such protein called Acb1 have revealed a number of components involved in its secretion. Interestingly, conditions that promote the secretion of Acb1 trigger the biogenesis of a new compartment called CUPS (Compartment for Unconventional Protein Secretion). CUPS form near the ER exit site but lack ER‐specific proteins. Other proteins that share some of the features common with the secretion of Acb1 are interleukin‐1β and tissue transglutaminase. Here I will review recent advances made in the field and propose a new model for unconventional protein secretion.     

Double drugging of prolyl-tRNA synthetase provides a new paradigm for anti-infective drug development

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii and in immunocompromised patients it may lead to seizures, encephalitis or death. The conserved enzyme prolyl-tRNA synthetase (PRS) is a validated druggable target in Toxoplasma gondii but the traditional ‘single target–single drug’ approach has its caveats. Here, we describe two potent inhibitors namely halofuginone (HFG) and a novel ATP mimetic (L95) that bind to Toxoplasma gondii PRS simultaneously at different neighbouring sites to cover all three of the enzyme substrate subsites. HFG and L95 act as one triple-site inhibitor in tandem and form an unusual ternary complex wherein HFG occupies the 3’-end of tRNA and the L-proline (L-pro) binding sites while L95 occupies the ATP pocket. These inhibitors exhibit nanomolar IC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values independently, and when given together reveal an additive mode of action in parasite inhibition assays. This work validates a novel approach and lays a structural framework for further drug development based on simultaneous targeting of multiple pockets to inhibit druggable proteins.     

Golgi membranes remain segregated from the endoplasmic reticulum during mitosis in mammalian cells

What happens to organelles during mitosis, and how they are apportioned to each of the daughter cells, is not completely clear. We have devised a procedure to address whether Golgi membranes fuse with the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) during mitosis via the detection of interactions between ER and Golgi proteins. This procedure involves coexpressing an FKBP-tagged Golgi enzyme with an ER-retained protein fused to FRAP in COS cells. Since treatment with rapamycin induces a tight association between FKBP and FRAP, one would expect rapamycin to trap the FKBP-fused Golgi protein in the ER if it ever visits the ER during mitosis. However, after the doubly transfected cells progress through mitosis in the presence of rapamycin, we find the Golgi protein in the newly formed Golgi stacks and not in the ER. Based on these results, we conclude that Golgi membranes remain separate from the ER during mitosis in mammalian cells.     

Biosensor based on Langmuir–Blodgett films of poly(3-hexyl thiophene) for detection of galactose in human blood

An amperometric biosensor was developed to estimate galactose in human blood serum. Monolayers of poly(3-hexyl thiophene) were placed on glass plates coated with indium tin oxide formed by dispensing a mixed solution of stearic acid in chloroform on to a water sub-phase. Galactose oxidase was mixed with poly(3-hexyl thiophene)/stearic acid in chloroform and dispensed on to the air-water interface of Langmuir-Blodgett trough. These monolayers were transferred on to glass plates which were used as working electrodes with platinum as a reference electrode. The amperometric galactose biosensor thus fabricated had a linear response from 0.05 to 0.5 g galactose l(-1) in blood serum. The normal level in blood is < 0.05 g galactose l(-1) in adults and 0-0.2 g galactose l(-1) in infants. In case of galactosemia, this increases to above 0.2 g galactose l(-1) in infants.