Generation of biologically active endostatin fragments from human collagen XVIII by distinct matrix metalloproteases

Endostatin, a potent inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and tumor growth, is proteolytically cleaved from the C-terminal noncollagenous NC1 domain of type XVIII collagen. We investigated the endostatin formation from human collagen XVIII by several MMPs in vitro. The generation of endostatin fragments differing in molecular size (24-30 kDa) and in N-terminal sequences was identified in the cases of MMP-3, -7, -9, -13 and -20. The cleavage sites were located in the protease-sensitive hinge region between the trimerization and endostatin domains of NC1. MMP-1, -2, -8 and -12 did not show any significant activity against the C-terminus of collagen XVIII. The anti-proliferative effect of the 20-kDa endostatin, three longer endostatin-containing fragments generated in vitro by distinct MMPs and the entire NC1 domain, on bFGF-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells was established. The anti-migratory potential of some of these fragments was also studied. In addition, production of endostatin fragments between 24-30 kDa by human hepatoblastoma cells was shown to be due to MMP action on type XVIII collagen. Our results indicate that certain, especially cancer-related, MMP family members can generate biologically active endostatin-containing polypeptides from collagen XVIII and thus, by releasing endostatin fragments, may participate in the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis.     

The terminal phase of cytokinesis in the Caenorhabditis elegans early embryo requires protein glycosylation

RNA interference (RNAi) was used to characterize the requirement of protein glycosylation for cell membrane stability during cytokinesis in the early embryo. This screen targeted 13 enzymes or components of polypeptide sugar transferases that initiate either N-glycosylation or three different pathways of O-glycosylation. RNAi of genes in the mucin-type and epidermal growth factor-fringe glycosylation pathways did not affect cytokinesis. However, embryos deficient in N-glycosylation exhibited a variable inability to complete cytokinesis. The most potent block in early embryonic cell division was obtained by RNAi of the polypeptide xylose transferase (ppXyl-T), which is required to initiate the proteoglycan modification pathway. Two generations of ppXyl-T RNAi-feeding treatment reduced the body size, mobility, brood size, and life span of adult animals. Embryos escaping ppXyl-T and Gal-T2 RNAi lethality develop to adulthood but have cytokinesis-deficient offspring, suggesting that glycosyltransferases in the proteoglycan pathway are maternal proteins in the early embryo. Gal-T2::GFP fusions and anti-Gal-T2 antibodies revealed a perinuclear staining pattern, consistent with the localization of the Golgi apparatus. RNAi in green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged strains to follow tubulin, PIE-1, and chromatin showed that deficient proteoglycan biosynthesis uncouples the stability of newly formed cell membranes from cytokinesis, whereas cleavage furrow initiation, mitotic spindle function, karyokinesis, and partitioning of intrinsic components are intact.     

WOR5, a novel tungsten-containing aldehyde oxidoreductase from Pyrococcus furiosus with a broad substrate Specificity

WOR5 is the fifth and last member of the family of tungsten-containing oxidoreductases purified from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. It is a homodimeric protein (subunit, 65 kDa) that contains one [4Fe-4S] cluster and one tungstobispterin cofactor per subunit. It has a broad substrate specificity with a high affinity for several substituted and nonsubstituted aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with various chain lengths. The highest catalytic efficiency of WOR5 is found for the oxidation of hexanal (V(max) = 15.6 U/mg, K(m) = 0.18 mM at 60 degrees C). Hexanal-incubated enzyme exhibits S = 1/2 electron paramagnetic resonance signals from [4Fe-4S]1+ (g values of 2.08, 1.93, and 1.87) and W5+ (g values of 1.977, 1.906, and 1.855). Cyclic voltammetry of ferredoxin and WOR5 on an activated glassy carbon electrode shows a catalytic wave upon addition of hexanal, suggesting that ferredoxin can be a physiological redox partner. The combination of WOR5, formaldehyde oxidoreductase, and aldehyde oxidoreductase forms an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of a broad range of aldehydes in P. furiosus.     

Phenology and abundance in relation to climatic variation in a sub-arctic insect herbivore–mountain birch system

The two forest-defoliating geometrid moth species Operophtera brumata and Epirrita autumnata are known to exhibit different altitudinal distribution patterns in northern birch forests. One possible explanation for this is that altitudinal climatic variation differentially affects the performance of two species through mismatching larval and host plant phenology. We explored this hypothesis by investigating the relationship between larval phenology and leaf phenology of Betula pubescens, which is the main host plant of both moth species, along ten replicate altitudinal transects during two springs with contrasting climate in northern Norway. There was a distinct monotonous cline in host plant phenology with increasing altitude in both years of the study, but the development of the leaves were generally 14 days later in the first of the 2 years due to cold spring weather. We found that larval development of both species closely tracked host plant leaf phenology independent of altitude and year. However, at the time of sampling, E. autumnata was approximately one instar ahead of O. brumata at all altitudes, probably reflecting that E. autumnata has faster early instar growth than O. brumata. The abundance of O. brumata was lowest at the altitudinal forest-line, while E. autumnata was lowest near sea level. Our results do not indicate that the altitudinal distribution patterns of the two moth species is due to any phenological mismatch between larval and host plant phenology. We suggest rather that natural enemies at low altitudes limit larval survival and thus abundance of E. autumnata, while an early onset of winter at the forest limit reduces survival of late eclosing adults of O. brumata.     

Macrophages induce invasiveness of epithelial cancer cells via NF-kappa B and JNK

Tumor-associated macrophages may influence tumor progression, angiogenesis and invasion. To investigate mechanisms by which macrophages interact with tumor cells, we developed an in vitro coculture model. Previously we reported that coculture enhanced invasiveness of the tumor cells in a TNF-alpha- and matrix metalloprotease-dependent manner. In this report, we studied intracellular signaling pathways and induction of inflammatory genes in malignant cells under the influence of macrophage coculture. We report that coculture of macrophages with ovarian or breast cancer cell lines led to TNF-alpha-dependent activation of JNK and NF-kappaB pathways in tumor cells, but not in benign immortalized epithelial cells. Tumor cells with increased JNK and NF-kappaB activity exhibited enhanced invasiveness. Inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway by TNF-alpha neutralizing Abs, an NF-kappaB inhibitor, RNAi to RelA, or overexpression of IkappaB inhibited tumor cell invasiveness. Blockade of JNK also significantly reduced invasiveness, but blockade of p38 MAPK or p42 MAPK had no effect. Cocultured tumor cells were screened for the expression of 22 genes associated with inflammation and invasion that also contained an AP-1 and NF-kappaB binding site. EMMPRIN and MIF were up-regulated in cocultured tumor cells in a JNK- and NF-kappaB-dependent manner. Knocking down either MIF or EMMPRIN by RNAi in the tumor cells significantly reduced tumor cell invasiveness and matrix metalloprotease activity in the coculture supernatant. We conclude that TNF-alpha, via NF-kappaB, and JNK induces MIF and EMMPRIN in macrophage to tumor cell cocultures and this leads to increased invasive capacity of the tumor cells.     

Characterization of a novel chemokine-containing storage granule in endothelial cells: evidence for preferential exocytosis mediated by protein kinase A and diacylglycerol

We have recently shown that several proinflammatory chemokines can be stored in secretory granules of endothelial cells (ECs). Subsequent regulated exocytosis of such chemokines may then enable rapid recruitment of leukocytes to inflammatory sites. Although IL-8/CXCL8 and eotaxin-3/CCL26 are sorted to the rod-shaped Weibel-Palade body (WPB), we found that GROalpha/CXCL1 and MCP-1/CCL2 reside in small granules that, similarly to the WPB, respond to secretagogue stimuli. In the present study, we report that GROalpha and MCP-1 colocalized in 50- to 100-nm granules, which occur throughout the cytoplasm and at the cell cortex. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed no colocalization with multimerin or tissue plasminogen activator, i.e., proteins that are released from small granules of ECs by regulated exocytosis. Moreover, the GROalpha/MCP-1-containing granules were Rab27-negative, contrasting the Rab27-positive, WPB. The secretagogues PMA, histamine, and forskolin triggered distinct dose and time-dependent responses of GROalpha release. Furthermore, GROalpha release was more sensitive than IL-8 release to inhibitors and activators of PKA and PKC but not to an activator of Epac, a cAMP-regulated GTPase exchange factor, indicating that GROalpha release is regulated by molecular adaptors different from those regulating exocytosis of the WPB. On the basis of these findings, we designated the GROalpha/MCP-1-containing compartment the type 2 granule of regulated secretion in ECs, considering the WPB the type 1 compartment. In conclusion, we propose that the GROalpha/MCP-1-containing type 2 granule shows preferential responsiveness to important mediators of EC activation, pointing to the existence of selective agonists that would allow differential release of selected chemokines.     

Molecular characterization of cyanobacterial diversity in a shallow eutrophic lake

We have studied the diversity of pelagic cyanobacteria in Lake Loosdrecht, The Netherlands, through recovery and analysis of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences from lake samples and cyanobacterial isolates. We used an adapted protocol for specific amplification of cyanobacterial rDNA for denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. This protocol enabled direct comparison of cyanobacterial community profiles with overall bacterial profiles. The theoretical amplification specificity of the primers was supported by sequence analysis of DNA from excised DGGE bands. Sequences recovered from these bands, in addition to sequences obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloning from lake DNA as well as from cyanobacterial isolates from the lake, revealed a diverse consortium of cyanobacteria, among which are representatives of the genera Aphanizomenon, Planktothrix, Microcystis and Synechococcus. One numerically important and persistent cyanobacterium in the lake, Prochlorothrix hollandica, appeared to co-occur with an unknown but related species. However, the lake is dominated by filamentous species that originally have been termed 'Oscillatoria limnetica-like'. We show that this is a group of several related cyanobacteria, co-occurring in the lake, which belong to the Limnothrix/Pseudanabaena group. The available variation among the coexisting strains of this group can explain the persistent dominance of the group under severe viral pressure.