Zn2+-dependent redox switch in the intracellular T1-T1 interface of a Kv channel

The thiol-based redox regulation of proteins plays a central role in cellular signaling. Here, we investigated the redox regulation at the Zn(2+) binding site (HX(5)CX(20)CC) in the intracellular T1-T1 inter-subunit interface of a Kv4 channel. This site undergoes conformational changes coupled to voltage-dependent gating, which may be sensitive to oxidative stress. The main results show that internally applied nitric oxide (NO) inhibits channel activity profoundly. This inhibition is reversed by reduced glutathione and suppressed by intracellular Zn(2+), and at least two Zn(2+) site cysteines are required to observe the NO-induced inhibition (Cys-110 from one subunit and Cys-132 from the neighboring subunit). Biochemical evidence suggests strongly that NO induces a disulfide bridge between Cys-110 and Cys-132 in intact cells. Finally, further mutational studies suggest that intra-subunit Zn(2+) coordination involving His-104, Cys-131, and Cys-132 protects against the formation of the inhibitory disulfide bond. We propose that the interfacial T1 Zn(2+) site of Kv4 channels acts as a Zn(2+)-dependent redox switch that may regulate the activity of neuronal and cardiac A-type K(+) currents under physiological and pathological conditions.     

The genetic basis of alcoholism: multiple phenotypes,many genes,complex networks

Alcoholism is a significant public health problem. A picture of the genetic architecture underlying alcohol-related phenotypes is emerging from genome-wide association studies and work on genetically tractable model organisms.     

Dendritic cell-based xenoantigen vaccination for prostate cancer immunotherapy.

Many tumor-associated Ags represent tissue differentiation Ags that are poorly immunogenic. Their weak immunogenicity may be due to immune tolerance to self-Ags. Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is just such an Ag that is expressed by both normal and malignant prostate tissue. We have previously demonstrated that PAP can be immunogenic in a rodent model. However, generation of prostate-specific autoimmunity was seen only when a xenogeneic homolog of PAP was used as the immunogen. To explore the potential role of xenoantigen immunization in cancer patients, we performed a phase I clinical trial using dendritic cells pulsed with recombinant mouse PAP as a tumor vaccine. Twenty-one patients with metastatic prostate cancer received two monthly vaccinations of xenoantigen-loaded dendritic cells with minimal treatment-associated side effects. All patients developed T cell immunity to mouse PAP following immunization. Eleven of the 21 patients also developed T cell proliferative responses to the homologous self-Ag. These responses were associated with Ag-specific IFN-gamma and/or TNF-alpha secretion, but not IL-4, consistent with induction of Th1 immunity. Finally, 6 of 21 patients had clinical stabilization of their previously progressing prostate cancer. All six of these patients developed T cell immunity to human PAP following vaccination. These results demonstrate that xenoantigen immunization can break tolerance to a self-Ag in humans, resulting in a clinically significant antitumor effect.     

Explaining the scaling of transport costs: the role of stride frequency and stride length

The mechanisms which enable large animals to transport a unit of body mass through a unit distance at a lower metabolic cost than smaller animals have been the subject of numerous studies. Recent investigations have concluded that stride frequency is a main determinant. We examine the role of both stride frequency and stride length in determining the scaling of the cost of transport.
Slopes for regressions between stride frequency and speed and stride length and speed were determined in four species of rodents. These data were pooled with literature values for the slopes of stride frequency, stride length and cost of locomotion (all vs. speed) for a total of 17 species ranging in size from 30 g to 250 kg. Interspecific equations were calculated for each of these slopes versus body mass, and residuals from these allometric lines were calculated. Residuals were compared to see if variation in the rate of cost increase at a given size is related to variation in the rates of stride frequency and/or stride length increase.
The residual analysis revealed that the variation in transport cost is explicable only in terms of the interaction of stride frequency and stride length slopes. The product of the scaling exponents for stride frequency slope and stride length slope is not significantly different from the scaling exponent for the cost of transport. A model seeking to explain the scaling of the cost of transport must therefore consider the influence of both stride length and stride frequency.
We propose that absolutely longer limbs allow large animals to minimize the rate of increase of stride frequency and stride length with speed, and that this allows utilization of muscles with lower intrinsic rates of contraction, which in turn results in a lower mass-specific cost of transport.     

Structural characterization of the N-glycans of a recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen derived from yeast.

The N-glycans of purified recombinant middle surface protein (preS2+S) from hepatitis B virus, a candidate vaccine antigen expressed in a mnn9 mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have been characterized structurally. The glycans were released by N-glycanase treatment, isolated by size-exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-50 and Bio-Gel P-4 columns, and analyzed by 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The mixture of oligosaccharides was fractionated by HPLC, the major subfractions were isolated, and their carbohydrate compositions were determined by high-pH anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. The combined results suggest that high-mannose oligosaccharides account for all the N-glycans released from preS2+S: structures include Man7GlcNAc2, Man8GlcNAc2, and Man9GlcNAc2 isomers in the ratios of 3:6:1. Approximately 80% of the oligosaccharides contain the C2,C6-branched trimannosyl structural element typical of yeast high-mannose oligosaccharides but not usually found in high-mannose oligosaccharides in animal glycoproteins.