Production of monoclonal antibodies and immunohistochemical studies of brain myo-inositol monophosphate phosphatase

Five monoclonal antibodies that recognize porcine brain myo-inositol monophosphate phosphatase (IMPase) have been selected and designated as mAb IMPP 9, IMPP 10, IMPP 11, IMPP 15, and IMPP 17. These antibodies recognize different epitopes of the enzyme and one of these inhibited the enzyme activity. When the total proteins of the porcine brain homogenate separated by SDS-PAGE were probed with monoclonal antibodies, a single reactive protein band of 29 kDa, co-migrating with the purified porcine brain IMPase, was detected. Using the anti-IMPase antibodies as probes, the cross reactivities of the brain IMPase from human and other mammalian tissues, as well as from avian sources, were investigated. Among the human and animal tissues tested, the immunoreactive bands on Western blots appeared to have the same molecular mass of 29 kDa. In addition, there was IMPase immunoreactivity in the various neuronal populations in the rat brain. These results indicate that mammalian brains contain only one major type of immunologically similar IMPase, although some properties of the enzymes that were previously reported differ from each another. The first demonstration of the IMPase localization in the brain may also provide useful data for future investigations on the function of this enzyme in relation to various neurological diseases.     

Morphology of calretinin-immunoreactive neurons in the superficial layers of hamster superior colliculus after enucleation: lack of co-localization with GABA

We recently reported on the distribution and effects of eye enucleation on the immunoreactivity of calretinin in the superficial layers of the hamster superior colliculus (SC). In the present study, we describe the types of labeled cells and compare this labeling to that of GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. An almost complete depletion of calretinin-immunoreactive (IR) fibers in the superficial layers of the contralateral SC was found following unilateral enucleation. On the contralateral SC, many calretinin-IR cells were newly appeared. The majority of the newly-appeared cells had small- to medium-sized round, oval, or vertical fusiform cell bodies. Two-color immunofluorescence revealed that none of these newly-appeared cells were labeled with an antibody to GABA. The present results show that the calretinin-IR cells are unique in the superficial hamster SC when compared to most of the other brain areas, where many calretinin-IR cells are GABAergic interneurons.     

Activities of antioxidant and redox enzymes in human normal hepatic and hepatoma cell lines

The cellular defense system (including glutathione, glutathione-related enzymes, antioxidant and redox enzymes) plays a crucial role in cell survival and growth in aerobic organisms. To understand its physiological role in tumor cells, the glutathione content and related enzyme activities in the human normal hepatic cell line, Chang and human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, were systematically measured and compared. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities are 2.8-, 4.3-, and 2.9-fold higher in HepG2 cells than in Chang cells. Total glutathione content is also about 1.4-fold higher in HepG2, which is supported by significant increases in gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase activities. Two other glutathione-related enzymes, glutathione reductase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, are upregulated in HepG2 cells. However, thioredoxin reductase and glutathione S-transferase activities are significantly lower in HepG2 cells. These results propose that defense-related enzymes are largely modulated in tumor cells, which might be linked to their growth and maintenance.     

UV-vulnerability of human papilloma virus type-16 E7-expressing astrocytes is associated with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and caspase-3 activation

The human papilloma virus-type 16 (HPV-16) E6 and E7 proteins interact with the p53 and pRb tumor suppressor proteins, respectively. The effect of E6 or E7 expression on UV irradiation (5 and 20 J/m2)-induced genotoxic injury of confluent primary murine astrocytes was determined. Retroviral vectors were used to overexpress E6 and E7. Astrocytes expressing E7 showed increased vulnerability to UV-induced apoptosis while E6 over expressing astrocytes were protected from the same insults. Cell death in the E7 overexpressing cells was apoptotic because it showed DNA ladders, activation of caspase-3, formation of apoptotic bodies and decreased DNA content to less than the G0 level. After UV-irradiation the level of E2F1 in E7-expressing astrocytes was higher than E6-, LXSN- or mock-infected cells, and caspase-3 was activated to a greater extent. E7-expressing astrocytes showed the highest levels of Bax under normal growth conditions. The mitochondrial membrane potential of E7-expressing astrocytes was depolarized by 90% after UV-irradiation while the depolarization in control cells was about 50%. E6 overexpression decreased while E7 overexpression increased UV-induced astrocyte apoptosis.     

Reprogramming of the activity of the activator/dissociation transposon family during plant regeneration in rice

Many aspects of epigenetic phenomena have been elucidated via studies of transposable elements. An active transposable element frequently loses its ability to mobilize and goes into an inactive state during development. In this study, we describe the cyclic activity of a maize transposable element dissociation (Ds) in rice. In rice genome, Ds undergoes the spontaneous loss of mobility. However, an inactive state of Ds can be changed into an active state during tissue culture. The recovery of mobility accompanies not only changes in the methylation patterns of the terminal region of Ds, but also alteration in the steady state level of the activator (Ac) mRNA that is expressed by a constitutive CaMV 35S promoter. Furthermore, the Ds-reactivation process is not random, but stage-specific during plantlet regeneration. Our findings have expanded previous observations on Ac reactivation in the tissue culture of maize.     

Protection by carnosine-related dipeptides against hydrogen peroxide-mediated ceruloplasmin modification

Carnosine, homocarnosine, and anserine are present in high concentrations in the muscle and brain of many animals and humans. Previous studies showed that these compounds have an antioxidant function. We investigated the protective effects of carnosine and related compounds on the modification of human ceruloplasmin that is induced by H2O2. Carnosine, homocarnosine, and anserine significantly inhibited the fragmentation and inactivation of ceruloplasmin that is induced by H2O2. All three compounds also inhibited the release of copper ion from protein, and the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the ceruloplasmin/H2O2 system. These compounds inhibited the fragmentation of human serum albumin that is induced by the copper-catalyzed oxidation system, as well as by the iron-catalyzed oxidation system. These results suggest that carnosine, homocarnosine, and anserine might protect ceruloplasmin against H2O2-mediated oxidative damage through a combination of copper chelation and free radical scavenging.     

Characterization of mycoplasma arginine deiminase expressed in E. coli and its inhibitory regulation of nitric oxide synthesis

We previously reported that a cytostatic protein that is found in ASC-17D Sertoli cell-conditioned media was Mycoplasma arginine deiminase (ADI), which hydrolyzes L-arginine into L-citrulline and ammonia. Here, we report the over-expression of recombinant ADI (rADI) in E. coli and the down-regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced-nitric oxide (NO) production by rADI treatment. We cloned the ADI gene from Mycoplasma arginini genomic DNA by a polymerase chain reaction, and changed five TGA tryptophan codons (stop codon in E. coli) to TGG codons in the coding region by site-directed mutagenesis in order to express in E. coli. The rADI was purified to apparent homogeneity by DEAE-Sepharose and arginine-affinity chromatography. The rADI expressed in E. coli was identified as 45 kDa on SDS-PAGE and 90 kDa on native PAGE, implying that it exists as a dimer like ADI of M. arginini. The Km for arginine of rADI was approximately 370+/-50 microM. Its optimal temperature and pH were 41 degrees C and pH 6.4, respectively, and enzyme activity remained > or = 50% for 5 d at physiological temperature and pH. Treatment of purified rADI suppressed NO production in macrophage-like RAW 264.7 and primary glial cells that were exposed to LPS. Furthermore, an intraperitoneal injection of rADI significantly suppressed the rise of blood nitrite/nitrate levels that were induced by the systemic administration of bacterial endotoxin LPS to mice, resulting in an improvement in their survival rate. These results suggest that the depletion of blood arginine with an arginine-metabolizing enzyme, such as ADI, could suppress excessive production of NO that is caused by inducible NOS (iNOS) during the endotoxemia. Also, rADI may be used as a new approach to control NO-related diseases, such as sepsis.     

A phytochrome-associated protein phosphatase 2A modulates light signals in flowering time control in Arabidopsis

Reversible protein phosphorylation, which is catalyzed by functionally coupled protein kinases and protein phosphatases, is a major signaling mechanism in eukaryotic cellular functions. The red and far-red light-absorbing phytochrome photoreceptors are light-regulated Ser/Thr-specific protein kinases that regulate diverse photomorphogenic processes in plants. Here, we demonstrate that the phytochromes functionally interact with the catalytic subunit of a Ser/Thr-specific protein phosphatase 2A designated FyPP. The interactions were influenced by phosphorylation status and spectral conformation of the phytochromes. Recombinant FyPP efficiently dephosphorylated oat phytochrome A in the presence of Fe(2+) or Zn(2+) in a spectral form-dependent manner. FyPP was expressed predominantly in floral organs. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants with overexpressed or suppressed FyPP levels exhibited delayed or accelerated flowering, respectively, indicating that FyPP modulates phytochrome-mediated light signals in the timing of flowering. Accordingly, expression patterns of the clock genes in the long-day flowering pathway were altered greatly. These results indicate that a self-regulatory phytochrome kinase-phosphatase coupling is a key signaling component in the photoperiodic control of flowering.