Mitochondrial dysfunctions during aging: vitamin E deficiency or caloric restriction--two different ways of modulating stress

Caloric restriction (CR), which has been demonstrated to offset the age-associated accrual of oxidative injury, involves a reduction in calory intake while maintaining adequate nutrition, preserves the activities of antioxidant enzymes in postmitotic tissues, maintains organ function, opposes the development of spontaneous diseases, and prolongs maximum life span in laboratory rodents. It has been proposed that reductions in Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production and cellular oxidative injury are central to the positive effects of CR. In the present investigation we studied the effect of CR and of a vitamin E deprived diet on mitochondrial structure and features in the liver of rats during aging, in order to ascertain the extent of modifications induced by these experimental conditions. CR rats displayed structural and functional mitochondrial properties (fatty acid pattern, respiratory chain activities, antioxidant levels, and hydroperoxide contents) similar to those of younger rats whilst vitamin E deficient rats appeared older than their own age. The mitochondria of the former, together with those of young rats, possessed the lowest Coenzyme Q₉, hydroperoxide, and cytochrome contents as well as a suitable fatty acid membrane composition. Our study confirms that CR is a valuable tool in limiting aging-related free-radical damage also at mitochondrial liver level.     

Levels of zinc and magnesium in senile and diabetic senile cataractous lenses

Zinc and magnesium in serum, hair, and lens were determined in diabetic and nondiabetic patients who have been operated because of senile cataract. Both trace elements were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, after acidic digestion of the lens and hair samples. Although there was no difference in serum, lens, and hair levels of magnesium between the two groups, the lens levels of zinc in diabetic patients (0.56+/-0.05 micromol/g dry weight) were significantly higher as compared with nondiabetic group (0.42+/-0.03 micromol/g dry weight). There was no statistically significant difference in serum and hair levels of zinc between the groups. The increased concentration of zinc in the lens of diabetic patients suggests that zinc might play a role in developmental mechanism of the diabetic senile cataract.     

Phosphorylation of the MAPKKK regulator Ste50p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a casein kinase I phosphorylation site is required for proper mating function

The Ste50 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a regulator of the Ste11p protein kinase. Ste11p is a member of the MAP3K (or MEKK) family, which is conserved from yeast to mammals. Ste50p is involved in all the signaling pathways that require Ste11p function, yet little is known about the regulation of Ste50p itself. Here, we show that Ste50p is phosphorylated on multiple serine/threonine residues in vivo. Threonine 42 (T42) is phosphorylated both in vivo and in vitro, and the protein kinase responsible has been identified as casein kinase I. Replacement of T42 with alanine (T42A) compromises Ste50p function. This mutation abolishes the ability of overexpressed Ste50p to suppress either the mating defect of a ste20 ste50 deletion mutant or the mating defect of a strain with a Ste11p deleted from its sterile-alpha motif domain. Replacement of T42 with a phosphorylation-mimetic aspartic acid residue (T42D) permits wild-type function in all assays of Ste50p function. These results suggest that phosphorylation of T42 of Ste50p is required for proper signaling in the mating response. However, this phosphorylation does not seem to have a detectable role in modulating the high-osmolarity glycerol synthesis pathway.     

Identification of the human salivary cystatin complex by the coupling of high-performance liquid chromatography and ion-trap mass spectrometry

Human salivary cystatins, five major (S, S1, S2, SA, SN) and two minor (C and D), are multifunctional proteins playing a different role in the oral environment. Salivary cystatin SN is able to effectively inhibit lysosomal cathepsins B, C, H and L and cystatin SA inhibits cathepsins C and L in vitro. These activities suggest, particularly for cystatin SN, an important role in the control of proteolytic events in vivo. Differently, cystatins S are involved, together with statherin, in the mineral balance of the tooth. Due to their distinct role, a reliable method for identification and quantification of the different cystatins, as well as of possible truncated and derived forms, could be helpful for the assessment of the status of the oral cavity. To this purpose high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI MS) was applied to the analysis of human saliva obtained from healthy subjects. All known salivary cystatins, with the exception of cystatin C, were detected. Strong evidence was also obtained for the presence in saliva of post-translational modified isoforms of cystatins, which may be related to donor habits. Cystatin SN and cystatins S, S1 and S2 were well separated by HPLC-ESI MS coupling from other components and thus this approach can be successfully applied to their quantification.     

Bicaudal D induces selective dynein-mediated microtubule minus end-directed transport

Bicaudal D is an evolutionarily conserved protein, which is involved in dynein-mediated motility both in Drosophila and in mammals. Here we report that the N-terminal portion of human Bicaudal D2 (BICD2) is capable of inducing microtubule minus end-directed movement independently of the molecular context. This characteristic offers a new tool to exploit the relocalization of different cellular components by using appropriate targeting motifs. Here, we use the BICD2 N-terminal domain as a chimera with mitochondria and peroxisome-anchoring sequences to demonstrate the rapid dynein-mediated transport of selected organelles. Surprisingly, unlike other cytoplasmic dynein-mediated processes, this transport shows very low sensitivity to overexpression of the dynactin subunit dynamitin. The dynein-recruiting activity of the BICD2 N-terminal domain is reduced within the full-length molecule, indicating that the C-terminal part of the protein might regulate the interaction between BICD2 and the motor complex. Our findings provide a novel model system for dissection of the molecular mechanism of dynein motility.     

A caudorostral wave of RALDH2 conveys anteroposterior information to the cardiac field

Establishment of anteroposterior (AP) polarity is one of the earliest decisions in cardiogenesis and plays an important role in the coupling between heart and blood vessels. Recent research implicated retinoic acid (RA) in the communication of AP polarity to the heart. We utilized embryo culture, in situ hybridization, morphometry, fate mapping and treatment with the RA pan-antagonist BMS493 to investigate the relationship between cardiac precursors and RA signalling. We describe two phases of AP signalling by RA, reflected in RALDH2 expression. The first phase (HH4-7) is characterized by increasing proximity between sino-atrial precursors and the lateral mesoderm expressing RALDH2. In this phase, RA signalling is consistent with diffusion of the morphogen from a large field rather than a single hot spot. The second phase (HH7-8) is characterized by progressive encircling of cardiac precursors by a field of RALDH2 originating from a dynamic and evolutionary-conserved caudorostral wave pattern in the lateral mesoderm. At this phase, cardiac AP patterning by RA is consistent with localized action of RA by regulated activation of the Raldh2 gene within an embryonic domain. Systemic treatment with BMS493 altered the cardiac fate map such that ventricular precursors were found in areas normally devoid of them. Topical application of BMS493 inhibited atrial differentiation in left anterior lateral mesoderm. Identification of the caudorostral wave of RALDH2 as the endogenous source of RA establishing cardiac AP fates provides a useful model to approach the mechanisms whereby the vertebrate embryo confers axial information on its organs.     

Three maize root-specific genes are not correctly expressed in regenerated caps in the absence of the quiescent center

The quiescent center is viewed as an architectural template in the root apical meristem of all angiosperm and gymnosperm root tips. In roots of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., the quiescent center inhibits differentiation of contacting initial cells and maintains the surrounding initial cells as stem cells. Here, the role of the quiescent center in the development of the maize (Zea mays L.) root cap has been further explored. Three maize root-specific genes were identified. Two of these were exclusively expressed in the root cap and one of them encoded a GDP-mannose-4,6-dehydratase. Most likely these two genes are structural, tissue-specific markers of the cap. The third gene, a putative glycine-rich cell wall protein, was expressed in the cap and in the root epidermis and, conceivably is a positional marker of the cap. Microsurgical and molecular data indicate that the quiescent center and cap initials may regulate the positional and structural expression of these genes in the cap and thereby control root cap development. Received: 22 September 1999 / Accepted: 9 November 1999     

19F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance as a Tool To Investigate Microbial Degradation of Fluorophenols to Fluorocatechols and Fluoromuconates

A method was developed to study the biodegradation and oxidative biodehalogenation of fluorinated phenols by ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Characterization of the ¹⁹F NMR spectra of metabolite profiles of a series of fluorophenols, converted by purified phenol hydroxylase, catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, and/or by the yeast-like fungus Exophiala jeanselmei, provided possibilities for identification of the ¹⁹F NMR chemical shift values of fluorinated catechol and muconate metabolites. As an example, the ¹⁹F NMR method thus defined was used to characterize the time-dependent metabolite profiles of various halophenols in either cell extracts or in incubations with whole cells of E. jeanselmei. The results obtained for these two systems are similar, except for the level of muconates observed. Altogether, the results of the present study describe a ¹⁹F NMR method which provides an efficient tool for elucidating the metabolic pathways for conversion of fluorine-containing phenols by microorganisms, with special emphasis on possibilities for biodehalogenation and detection of the type of fluorocatechols and fluoromuconates involved. In addition, the method provides possibilities for studying metabolic pathways in vivo in whole cells.     

Genomic screen for QTLs underlying alcohol consumption in the P and NP rat lines

Selective breeding for voluntary alcohol consumption was utilized to establish the alcohol-preferring (P) and alcohol-nonpreferring (NP) rat lines. Inbreeding was initiated after 30 generations of selection and, after 19 generations of inbreeding, 384 F₂ intercross progeny were created to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) influencing alcohol consumption. We had reported previously a QTL on Chromosome (Chr) 4; additional markers genotyped on Chr 4 have increased the maximum lod score from 8.6 to 9.2. This QTL acts in an additive fashion and continues to account for approximately 11% of the phenotypic variability. The 95% confidence interval is 12.5 cM and includes the candidate gene, neuropeptide Y. Subsequent to the identification of the QTL on Chr 4, a genome scan was completed to identify additional QTLs influencing alcohol consumption. A lod score of 2.5 was obtained on Chr 3, syntenic to a region previously reported for alcohol preference in mice. Analysis of Chr 8 produced a lod score of 2.2 near the dopamine D2 and serotonin 1b receptors, which have been previously reported as candidate genes for alcohol preference. Evidence for linkage to alcohol consumption was not found on any other chromosome. It therefore appears likely that, in addition to the QTL on Chr 4, multiple loci of small to moderate effect, such as those on Chrs 3 and 8, underlie the difference in alcohol consumption in the P/NP lines. Received: 15 September 1998 / Accepted: 8 October 1998