Comparisons of Plasma Membranes from Shoots and Roots of Winter Rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Puma): Polypeptide Composition, ATPase Activity and Specific Naphthylphthalamic Acid Binding Capacity

Polypeptide compositions, ATPase characteristics, and the N-1-naphthylphthalamicacid binding capacity of plasma membranes prepared from winterrye (Secale cereale L. cv. Puma) shoots and roots were examinedand compared. Some unique polypeptides were revealed in each plasma membraneby one- and two-dimensional slab gel electrophoresis. A differencewas also detected in glycopeptide compositions. The plasma membranesfrom both organs contained Mg²⁺-stimulated ATPase exhibitingslightly different properties in the divalent cation specificityand the kinetic constants. The ATPase activities from both organsshowed a similar optimum pH around 6.5, simple Michaelis-Mentensaturation with increasing ATP-Mg concentrations, and littleK⁺-stimulation at the optimum pH. Both ATPases were inhibitedby orthovanadate, however, the degree of inhibition was a littledifferent in each membrane sample. The specific N-1-naphthylphthalamicacid binding capacity in the shoot plasma membrane was 2.6-foldhigher than that in the root plasma membrane. These results suggest that polypeptide compositions of plasmamembranes vary corresponding with a difference in the physiologicalfunctions of plasma membranes between shoots and roots of winterrye. ¹ Contribution No. 2670 from the Institute of Low TemperatureScience. (Received May 17, 1984; Accepted October 9, 1984)     

Properties of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine

A large-scale purification method for hepatitis B surface antigen produced in a recombinant yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was established. The resulting HBsAg was greater than 99% pure and suitable for vaccine use. The yeast-derived HBsAg was structurally and biochemically similar to plasma-derived HBsAg. The anti-HBs antibody producing potency of the yeast-derived vaccine in mice was significantly higher than that of the plasma-derived vaccine. The yeast-derived vaccine induced protective antibody against hepatitis B virus of either adr or ayw subtype in a chimpanzee efficacy study. These observations demonstrate the usefulness of the yeast-derived vaccine as a second-generation hepatitis B vaccine.     

Tam41 Is a CDP-Diacylglycerol Synthase Required for Cardiolipin Biosynthesis in Mitochondria

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Crystal structure of basic 7S globulin, a xyloglucan-specific endo-β-1,4-glucanase inhibitor protein-like protein from soybean lacking inhibitory activity against endo-β-glucanase

β-Linked glucans such as cellulose and xyloglucan are important components of the cell walls of most dicotyledonous plants. These β-linked glucans are constantly exposed to degradation by various endo-β-glucanases from pathogenic bacteria and fungi. To protect the cell wall from degradation by such enzymes, plants secrete proteinaceous endo-β-glucanases inhibitors, such as xyloglucan-specific endo-β-1,4-glucanase inhibitor protein (XEGIP) in tomato. XEGIPs typically inhibit xyloglucanase, a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH)12 family. XEGIPs are also found in legumes, including soybean and lupin. To date, tomato XEGIP has been well studied, whereas XEGIPs from legumes are less well understood. Here, we determined the crystal structure of basic 7S globulin (Bg7S), a XEGIP from soybean, which represents the first three-dimensional structure of XEGIP. Bg7S formed a tetramer with pseudo-222 symmetry. Analytical centrifugation and size exclusion chromatography experiments revealed that the assembly of Bg7S in solution depended on pH. The structure of Bg7S was similar to that of a xylanase inhibitor protein from wheat (Tritinum aestivum xylanase inhibitor) that inhibits GH11 xylanase. Surprisingly, Bg7S lacked inhibitory activity against not only GH11 but also GH12 enzymes. In addition, we found that XEGIPs from azukibean, yardlongbean and mungbean also had no impact on the activity of either GH12 or GH11 enzymes, indicating that legume XEGIPs generally do not inhibit these enzymes. We reveal the structural basis of why legume XEGIPs lack this inhibitory activity. This study will provide significant clues for understanding the physiological role of Bg7S.     

Crystal Structures of Copper-depleted and Copper-bound Fungal Pro-tyrosinase: INSIGHTS INTO ENDOGENOUS CYSTEINE-DEPENDENT COPPER INCORPORATION*

Tyrosinase, a dinuclear copper monooxygenase/oxidase, plays a crucial role in the melanin pigment biosynthesis. The structure and functions of tyrosinase have so far been studied extensively, but the post-translational maturation process from the pro-form to the active form has been less explored. In this study, we provide the crystal structures of Aspergillus oryzae full-length pro-tyrosinase in the holo- and the apo-forms at 1.39 and 2.05 Å resolution, respectively, revealing that Phe⁵¹³ on the C-terminal domain is accommodated in the substrate-binding site as a substrate analog to protect the dicopper active site from substrate access (proteolytic cleavage of the C-terminal domain or deformation of the C-terminal domain by acid treatment transforms the pro-tyrosinase to the active enzyme (Fujieda, N., Murata, M., Yabuta, S., Ikeda, T., Shimokawa, C., Nakamura, Y., Hata, Y., and Itoh, S. (2012) ChemBioChem. 13, 193–201 and Fujieda, N., Murata, M., Yabuta, S., Ikeda, T., Shimokawa, C., Nakamura, Y., Hata, Yl, and Itoh, S. (2013) J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 18, 19–26). Detailed crystallographic analysis and structure-based mutational studies have shown that the copper incorporation into the active site is governed by three cysteines as follows: Cys⁹², which is covalently bound to His⁹⁴ via an unusual thioether linkage in the holo-form, and Cys⁵²² and Cys⁵²⁵ of the CXXC motif located on the C-terminal domain. Molecular mechanisms of the maturation processes of fungal tyrosinase involving the accommodation of the dinuclear copper unit, the post-translational His-Cys thioether cross-linkage formation, and the proteolytic C-terminal cleavage to produce the active tyrosinase have been discussed on the basis of the detailed structural information.     

Nck1 deficiency accelerates unloading‐induced bone loss

Mechanical stress is an important signal to determine the levels of bone mass. Unloading‐induced osteoporosis is a critical issue in bed‐ridden patients and astronauts. Many molecules have been suggested to be involved in sensing mechanical stress in bone, though the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are not fully understood. Nck1 is an adaptor protein known to mediate signaling from plasma membrane‐activated receptors to cytosolic effectors regulating actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Nck1 has also been implicated in cellular responses to endoplasmic reticulum stress. In vitro, in case of cell stress the actin cytoskeleton is disrupted and in such cases Nck1 has been reported to enter the nucleus of the cells to mediate the nuclear actin polymerization. However, the role of Nck1 in vivo during the bone response to mechanical stimuli is unknown. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of Nck1 in unloading‐induced bone loss in vivo. Sciatic and femoral nerve resection was conducted. Neurectomy‐based unloading enhanced Nck1 gene expression in bone about twofold. Using the Nck1 deficient mice and control Nck1+/+, effects of neurectomy‐based unloading on bone structure were examined. Unloading reduced bone volume in wild type mice by 30% whereas the levels in bone loss were exacerbated to 50% in Nck1 deficient mice due to neurectomy after 4 weeks. These data demonstrate that Nck1 gene deficiency accelerates the mechanical unloading‐induced bone loss suggesting Nck1 to be a crucial molecule in mechanical stress mediated regulation in bone metabolism. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1397–1403, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Fasting-Responsive Signaling Pathway that Extends Life Span in C. elegans

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Highlights? JNK/AP-1 signaling and DAF-16 play a central role in fasting-stimulus responses ? AP-1 and DAF-16 mediate induction of fasting genes that play key roles in life-span extension ? The SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex is a target of fasting-responsive signaling ? Fasting enhances protein ubiquitination, causing a reduction in protein carbonylation