The N-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain of galectin-8 recognizes specific glycosphingolipids with high affinity

Galectin-8 is a member of the galectin family and has two tandem repeated carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs). We determined the binding specificities of galectin-8 and its two CRDs for oligosaccharides and glycosphingolipids using ELISA and surface plasmon resonance assays. Galectin-8 had much higher affinity for 3'-O-sulfated or 3'-O-sialylated lactose and a Lewis x-containing glycan than for oligosaccharides terminating in Galbeta1-->3/4GlcNAc. This specificity was mainly attributed to the N-terminal CRD (N-domain), whereas the C-terminal CRD (C-domain) had only weak affinity for a blood group A glycan. The N-domain bound not only to oligosaccharides but also to glycosphingolipids including sulfatide (SM4 s), SM3, sialyl Lc4Cer, SB1a, GD1a, GM3, and sialyl nLc4Cer, suggesting that the N-domain recognizes a 3-O-sulfated or 3-O-sialylated Gal residue. The substitution of the C-3 of the Gal residue in lactose or N-acetyllactosamine with sulfate increased the degree of recognition by galectin-8 more potently than substitution with sialic acid. This is the first demonstration that galectin-8 binds to specific sulfated or sialylated glycosphingolipids with high affinity (KD approximately 10-8-10-9 M). When the Gln47 residue of the N-domain was converted to Ala47, the specific affinity for sulfated or sialylated glycans was selectively lost, indicating that this Gln47 plays important roles for binding to Neu5Acalpha2-->3Gal or SO3--->3Gal residues. The binding ability of galectin-8 to membrane-associated GM3 was confirmed using CHO cells, which predominantly express GM3. Binding of CHO cells to the mutein was significantly lower than to the N-domain.     

Leucine zipper motif of chicken histone acetyltransferase-1 is essential for in vivo and in vitro interactions with the p48 subunit of chicken chromatin assembly factor-1

We cloned cDNA encoding chicken cytoplasmic histone acetyltransferase-1, chHAT-1, comprising 408 amino acids including a putative initiation Met. It exhibits 80.4% identity to the human homolog and possesses a typical leucine zipper motif. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay, involving truncated and missense mutants of the chicken chromatin assembly factor-1 (chCAF-1)p48, revealed not only that a region (comprising amino acids 376–405 of chCAF-1p48 and containing the seventh WD dipeptide motif) binds to chHAT-1 in vitro, but also that mutation of the motif has no influence on the in vitro interaction. The GST pull-down assay, involving truncated and missense chHAT-1 mutants, established that a region, comprising amino acids 380–408 of chHAT-1 and containing the leucine zipper motif, is required for its in vitro interaction with chCAF-1p48. In addition, mutation of each of four Leu residues in the leucine zipper motif prevents the in vitro interaction. The yeast two-hybrid assay revealed that all four Leu residues within the leucine zipper motif of chHAT-1 are necessary for its in vivo interaction with chCAF-1p48. These results indicate not only that the proper leucine zipper motif of chHAT-1 is essential for its interaction with chCAF-1p48, but also that the propeller structure of chCAF-1p48 expected to act as a platform for protein–protein interactions may not be necessary for this interaction of chHAT-1.     

Effect of pertussis toxin on insulin-induced signal transduction in rat adipocytes and soleus muscles

It has been reported that pertussis toxin (PTX) suppresses the function of trimeric guanine nucleotide binding protein (G-protein). We examined the effect of PTX on insulin-induced glucose uptake, diacylglycerol (DG)-protein kinase C (PKC) signalling, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase and PKC zeta activation and insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Gialpha to clarify the role of G-protein for insulin-mediated signal transduction mechanism in rat adipocytes and soleus muscles. Isolated adipocytes and soleus muscles were preincubated with 0.01 approximately 1 ng/ml PTX for 2 hours, followed by stimulation with 10-100 nM insulin or 1 microM tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Pretreatment with PTX resulted in dose-responsive decreases in insulin-stimulated [3H]2-deoxyglucose (DOG) uptake, and unchanged TPA-stimulated [3H]2-DOG uptake, without affecting basal [3H]2-DOG uptake. In adipocytes, insulin-induced DG-PKC signalling, PI 3-kinase activation and PKC zeta translocation from cytosol to the membrane were suppressed when treated with PTX, despite no changes in [125I]insulin-specific binding and insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Moreover, to elucidate insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of 40 kDa alpha-subunit of G-protein (Gialpha-2), adipocytes were stimulated with 10 nM insulin for 10 minutes, homogenized, immunoprecipitated with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody, and immunoblotted with anti-Gialpha-2 antibody. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Gialpha-2 was found by immunoblot analysis with anti-Gialpha-2 antibody. These results suggest that G-protein regulates DG-PKC signalling by binding of Gialpha-2 with GTP and PI 3-kinase-PKC zeta signalling by releasing of Gbetagamma via dissociation of trimeric G-protein after insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation in insulin-sensitive tissues.     

Identification of a taurine transport inhibitory substance in sesame seeds

An ethanol extract from sesame seeds inhibited the taurine uptake in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. The uptake of such alpha-amino acids as leucine and glutamic acid was not inhibited by the extract, indicating that this inhibition is specific to the taurine uptake. The unknown inhibitor in the sesame extract was purifled by reversed-phase HPLC by monitoring the inhibitory effect on taurine uptake. The isolated substance was identified as lysophosphatidylcholine, linoleoyl (Lyso-PC), by NMR and MS analysis. Lyso-PC inhibited the taurine uptake in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of approximately 200 microM. Although Lyso-PC is known to be a surface active and cell lytic compound, neither damage nor loss of integrity of the Caco2 cell monolayer was apparent after treating with 200 microM Lyso-PC. Inhibition was observed by incubating cells with Lyso-PC for only 1 min prior to the uptake experiments. These results suggest the direct effect of Lyso-PC on the cell membrane to be the main mechanism for this inhibition. Lyso-PC may play a role in the regulation of certain intestinal transporters.     

The role of atypical and conventional PKC in dehydroepiandrosterone-induced glucose uptake and dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance

We have reported that both dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dexamethasone (Dexa) directly activate PKC. In this study, we investigated the effects of these hormones on conventional PKC (cPKC) and atypical PKC (aPKC). DHEA and Dexa directly activated PKCbeta and PKCzeta to the same degree. In rat adipocytes, DHEA and Dexa activated endogenous immunoprecitable PKCzeta to 246 and 164%, respectively, from basal level (100%). In adipocytes, 5 min treatment with DHEA increased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity in immunoprecipitate with anti-phosphotyrotyrosine antibody to 235%. Preincubation with wortmannin, myristoylated PKCzeta pseudosubstrate, but not with Go6976, abolished DHEA-induced 2-deoxyglucose (DOG) uptake. cPKC inhibitors prevented Dexa-induced insulin resistance. Moreover, DHEA and Dexa increased DOG uptake to 330 and 220%, respectively, in adipocytes overexpressed with wild-type PKCzeta, but not in those overexpressed with dominant negative. These results indicate that DHEA and Dexa activate both cPKC and aPKC, and Dexa-induced cPKC activation may lead to insulin resistance. In contrast, DHEA may mimic or enhance insulin action via PI 3-kinase and aPKC.     

Reidentification of facultatively alkaliphilic Bacillus firmus OF4 as Bacillus pseudofirmus OF4

With a view toward verifying the original classification of alkaliphilic Bacillus firmus OF4, physiological and biochemical characteristics were more extensively catalogued than in original studies, and this catalog was supplemented with 16S rDNA sequence homology and more extensive DNA–DNA hybridization analyses. Phylogenetic analysis of this alkaliphile based on the comparison of multiple 16S rDNA sequences from Bacillus species indicated that this strain is most closely related to Bacillus pseudofirmus. Consistently, in the DNA–DNA hybridization analysis of the alkaliphile and Bacillus reference strains, the highest level of DNA–DNA relatedness (96%) was found between the alkaliphile and the B. pseudofirmus type strain (DSM 8715^T). The findings support the conclusion that this alkaliphile strain is more closely related to B. pseudofirmus than to B. firmus, and we propose the future use of the designation B. pseudofirmus OF4. Received: April 20, 1999 / Accepted: August 31, 1999     

Analysis of the genome of an alkaliphilic Bacillus strain from an industrial point of view

Bacillus species and other microbes with pH optima for growth higher than pH 9 are defined as alkaliphiles. A large number of alkaliphilic Bacillus strains producing useful enzymes, have been isolated from various environments. Some of these enzymes, such as proteases and cellulases from alkaliphilic Bacillus strains, have been commercialized and have brought great advantages to industry and domestic life. To support further development of the enzyme industry, we initiated analysis of the genome of Bacillus halodurans C-125, which is 4.25 Mb in size, and constructed a physical and genetic map for comparison with the Bacillus subtilis chromosome. Systematic sequencing of the whole genome of Bacillus halodurans C-125 has been automated since the beginning of May 1998, and sequencing of 98% of the whole genome has been done so far. Through genome analysis, it became apparent that the genome organization of alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans C-125 is totally different from that of B. subtilis orthologues. Received: July 11, 1999 / Accepted: December 27, 1999     

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignment of mono-sulfated galactosylceramides with four types of ceramides from human kidney

The full assignment of 1H and 13C NMR signals of galactosylceramide 3-sulfate (galactosyl sulfatide) and 1H signals of galactosylceramide 6-sulfate was achieved by using 1H-1H DQF-COSY and 1H-13C heteronuclear COSY. Analyses were performed on a mixture of galactosyl sulfatides with four representative ceramide types consisting of a combination of non-hydroxy or 2-hydroxy fatty acids and sphingenine or 4D-hydroxysphinganine (trihydroxysphinganine) as the long-chain bases. The 1H and 13C NMR parameters of galactosyl sulfatide with 4-hydroxysphinganine as well as 13C signals of complex lipids with 4-hydroxysphinganine were elucidated for the first time. Not only sulfation of the galactosyl residue, but also modification of the aglycon, including hydroxylation of fatty acids and hydration of the double bond in sphingoid bases, altered the chemical shifts substantially. In addition, the unique long-range coupling constants, 4J(H,H) and 5J(H,H), in the galactosyl residue of galactosyl sulfatide could be determined.