Design and synthesis of conformationally constrained 3-(N-alkylamino)propylphosphonic acids as potent agonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors

A series of conformationally constrained 3-(N-alkylamino)propylphosphonic acids were systematically synthesized and their activities as S1P receptor agonists were evaluated. Several pyrrolidine and cyclohexane analogs had S1P receptor profiles comparable to the acyclic lead compound, 3-(N-tetradecylamino)propylphosphonic acid (3), lowered circulating lymphocytes in mice after iv administration and were thus identified as being suitable for further investigations.     

The discovery of 3-(N-alkyl)aminopropylphosphonic acids as potent S1P receptor agonists

3-(N-Alkyl)aminopropylphosphonic acids are potent agonists of four of the five known sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor subtypes.     

Potentiation of cytotoxic drug activity in human tumour cell lines, by amine-substituted 2-arylbenzimidazole-4-carboxamide PARP-1 inhibitors

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of amine-substituted 2-arylbenzimidazole-4-carboxamide inhibitors of the DNA-repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is reported. The introduction of an amine substituent at the 2-aryl position is not detrimental to activity, with most inhibitors exhibiting K(i) values for PARP-1 inhibition in the low nanomolar range. Two compounds in this series were found to potentiate the cytotoxicity of the DNA-methylating agent temozolomide by 4-5-fold in a human colorectal cancer cell line.     

Proteolysis contributes to the exclusive centromere localization of the yeast Cse4/CENP-A histone H3 variant

Kinetochores are the specialized protein structures that form on centromeric DNA and direct chromosome segregation. It is critical that all chromosomes assemble a single kinetochore every cell cycle. One hallmark of all eukaryotic kinetochores is CENP-A, an essential centromeric histone H3 (CenH3) variant. Overexpression of CENP-A causes mislocalization to euchromatin, which could lead to deleterious consequences because CENP-A overexpression is associated with colorectal cancer . Although CENP-A protein levels are important for genomic stability, little is known about the mechanisms of CenH3 regulation. Here, we show that the levels of the budding yeast CenH3, Cse4, are regulated by ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Because mutation of all Cse4 lysine residues did not completely stabilize the protein, we isolated a dominant lethal mutant, CSE4-351, that was stable. The Cse4-351 protein localized to euchromatin, suggesting that proteolysis prevents CenH3 euchromatic localization. When wild-type Cse4 was fused to a degron signal, the soluble Cse4 protein was rapidly degraded, but the centromere bound Cse4 was stable, indicating that centromere localization protects Cse4 from degradation. Taken together, these data identify proteolysis as one mechanism that contributes to the restricted centromere localization of the yeast CenH3.     

The role of test accuracy in predicting acceptance of genetic susceptibility testing for Alzheimer's disease

A survey questionnaire regarding perceptions of risk and genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD) was completed by 518 offspring of AD cases from families with multiple affected, ascertained as part of a genetic linkage study of late onset AD. The questionnaire focused on respondents' perceptions of their own risk for AD as well as on the properties of real and hypothetical susceptibility tests, including error rates for false-positive and false-negative test results. Our findings showed that about 20% of the sample would refuse a susceptibility test with zero error rates, about 40% would accept tests with very high error rates in both directions, and the remainder would exercise some discrimination. Acceptance of high test error rates was significantly associated with male gender, low education, and high perceived lifetime risk of AD. In a previous paper related to this work, we showed that physicians caring for these families exercised much more discrimination in judging the acceptability of genetic tests they would offer to these same respondents. The findings show that there is a pressing need to educate the public, particularly those with relatives affected by a complex disease, to expect standards of accuracy for genetic tests comparable to those that prevail in other diagnostic and prognostic testing efforts in the broad field of clinical medicine.     

Histone deacetylase activity is required for embryonic stem cell differentiation

Mammalian development requires commitment of cells to restricted lineages, which requires epigenetic regulation of chromatin structure. Epigenetic modifications were examined during in vitro differentiation of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells. Global histone acetylation, a euchromatin marker, declines dramatically within 1 day of differentiation induction and partially rebounds by day 2. Histone H3-Lys9 methylation, a heterochromatin marker, increases during in vitro differentiation. Conversely, the euchromatin marker H3-Lys4 methylation transiently decreases, then increases to undifferentiated levels by day 4, and decreases by day 6. Global cytosine methylation, another heterochromatin marker, increases slightly during ES cell differentiation. Chromatin structure of the Oct4 and Brachyury gene promoters is modulated in concert with their pattern of expression during ES cell differentiation. Importantly, prevention of global histone deacetylation by treatment with trichostatin A prevents ES cell differentiation. Hence, ES cells undergo functionally important global and gene-specific remodeling of chromatin structure during in vitro differentiation. genesis 38:32-38, 2004.     

Structural analysis of DNA-PKcs: modelling of the repeat units and insights into the detailed molecular architecture

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is part of the eukaryotic DNA double strand break repair pathway and as such is crucial for maintenance of genomic stability, as well as for V(D)J (variable-diversity-joining) recombination. The catalytic subunit of DNA-PK (DNA-PKcs) belongs to the phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase-like kinase (PIKK) superfamily and is comprised of approximately 4100 amino acids. We have used a novel repeat detection method to analyse this enormous protein and have identified two different types of helical repeat motifs in the N-terminal region of the sequence, as well as other previously unreported features in this repeat region. A comparison with the ATMs, ATRs, and TORs show that the features identified are likely to be conserved throughout the PIKK superfamily. Homology modelling of parts of the DNA-PKcs sequence has been undertaken and we have been able to fit the models to previously obtained electron microscopy data. This work provides an insight into the overall architecture of the DNA-PKcs protein and identifies regions of interest for further experimental studies.     

Endocytosis and sorting of ErbB2 and the site of action of cancer therapeutics trastuzumab and geldanamycin

ErbB2 is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase whose surface overexpression is linked to tumorigenesis and poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Two models have emerged that account for the high surface distribution of ErbB2. In one model, the surface pool is dynamic and governed by a balance between endocytosis and recycling, whereas in the other it is retained, static, and excluded from endocytosis. These models have contrasting implications for how ErbB2 exerts its biological function and how cancer therapies might down-regulate surface ErbB2, such as the antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) or the Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin. Little is known, however, about how these treatments affect ErbB2 endocytic trafficking. To investigate this issue, we examined breast carcinoma cells by immunofluorescence and quantitative immunoelectron microscopy and developed imaging and trafficking kinetics assays using cell surface fluorescence quenching. Surprisingly, trastuzumab does not influence ErbB2 distribution but instead recycles passively with internalized ErbB2. By contrast, geldanamycin down-regulates surface ErbB2 through improved degradative sorting in endosomes exclusively rather than through increased endocytosis. These results reveal substantial dynamism in the surface ErbB2 pool and clearly demonstrate the significance of endosomal sorting in the maintenance of ErbB2 surface distribution, a critical feature of its biological function.     

Kinetochore Localization of Spindle Checkpoint Proteins: Who Controls Whom?

The spindle checkpoint prevents anaphase onset until all the chromosomes have successfully attached to the spindle microtubules. The mechanisms by which unattached kinetochores trigger and transmit a primary signal are poorly understood, although it seems to be dependent at least in part, on the kinetochore localization of the different checkpoint components. By using protein immunodepletion and mRNA translation in Xenopus egg extracts, we have studied the hierarchic sequence and the interdependent network that governs protein recruitment at the kinetochore in the spindle checkpoint pathway. Our results show that the first regulatory step of this cascade is defined by Aurora B/INCENP complex. Aurora B/INCENP controls the activation of a second regulatory level by inducing at the kinetochore the localization of Mps1, Bub1, Bub3, and CENP-E. This localization, in turn, promotes the recruitment to the kinetochore of Mad1/Mad2, Cdc20, and the anaphase promoting complex (APC). Unlike Aurora B/INCENP, Mps1, Bub1, and CENP-E, the downstream checkpoint protein Mad1 does not regulate the kinetochore localization of either Cdc20 or APC. Similarly, Cdc20 and APC do not require each other to be localized at these chromosome structures. Thus, at the last step of the spindle checkpoint cascade, Mad1/Mad2, Cdc20, and APC are recruited at the kinetochores independently from each other.     

Rab9 GTPase regulates late endosome size and requires effector interaction for its stability

Rab9 GTPase resides in a late endosome microdomain together with mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPRs) and the tail-interacting protein of 47 kDa (TIP47). To explore the importance of Rab9 for microdomain establishment, we depleted the protein from cultured cells. Rab9 depletion decreased late endosome size and reduced the numbers of multilamellar and dense-tubule-containing late endosomes/lysosomes, but not multivesicular endosomes. The remaining late endosomes and lysosomes were more tightly clustered near the nucleus, implicating Rab9 in endosome localization. Cells displayed increased surface MPRs and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1. In addition, cells showed increased MPR synthesis in conjunction with MPR missorting to the lysosome. Surprisingly, Rab9 stability on late endosomes required interaction with TIP47. Rabs are thought of as independent, prenylated entities that reside either on membranes or in cytosol, bound to GDP dissociation inhibitor. These data show that Rab9 stability is strongly influenced by a specific effector interaction. Moreover, Rab9 and the proteins with which it interacts seem critical for the maintenance of specific late endocytic compartments and endosome/lysosome localization.