Characterization of the heparin binding sites in human apolipoprotein E

Apolipoprotein (apo) E mediates lipoprotein remnant clearance via interaction with cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Both the 22-kDa N-terminal domain and 10-kDa C-terminal domain of apoE contain a heparin binding site; the N-terminal site overlaps with the low density lipoprotein receptor binding region and the C-terminal site is undefined. To understand the molecular details of the apoE-heparin interaction, we defined the microenvironments of all 12 lysine residues in intact apoE3 and examined their relative contributions to heparin binding. Nuclear magnetic resonance measurements showed that, in apoE3-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine discs, Lys-143 and -146 in the N-terminal domain and Lys-233 in the C-terminal domain have unusually low pK(a) values, indicating high positive electrostatic potential around these residues. Binding experiments using heparin-Sepharose gel demonstrated that the lipid-free 10-kDa fragment interacted strongly with heparin and a point mutation K233Q largely abolished the binding, indicating that Lys-233 is involved in heparin binding and that an unusually basic lysine microenvironment is critical for the interaction with heparin. With lipidated apoE3, it is confirmed that the Lys-233 site is completely masked and the N-terminal site mediates heparin binding. In addition, mutations of the two heparin binding sites in intact apoE3 demonstrated the dominant role of the N-terminal site in the heparin binding of apoE even in the lipid-free state. These results suggest that apoE interacts predominately with cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans through the N-terminal binding site. However, Lys-233 may be involved in the binding of apoE to certain cell-surface sites, such as the protein core of biglycan.     

Functional and structural basis of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A deficiency

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) is the key regulatory enzyme of hepatic long-chain fatty acid beta-oxidation. Human CPT1A deficiency is characterized by recurrent attacks of hypoketotic hypoglycemia. We presently analyzed at both the functional and structural levels five missense mutations identified in three CPT1A-deficient patients, namely A275T, A414V, Y498C, G709E, and G710E. Heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae permitted to validate them as disease-causing mutations. To gain further insights into their deleterious effects, we localized these mutated residues into a three-dimensional structure model of the human CPT1A created from the crystal structure of the mouse carnitine acetyltransferase. This study demonstrated for the first time that disease-causing CPT1A mutations can be divided into two categories depending on whether they affect directly (functional determinant) or indirectly the active site of the enzyme (structural determinant). Mutations A275T, A414V, and Y498C, which exhibit decreased catalytic efficiency, clearly belong to the second class. They are located more than 20 A away from the active site and mostly affect the stability of the protein itself and/or of the enzyme-substrate complex. By contrast, mutations G709E and G710E, which abolish CPT1A activity, belong to the first category. They affect Gly residues that are essential not only for the structure of the hydrophobic core in the catalytic site, but also for the chain-length specificity of CPT isoforms. This study provides novel insights into the functionality of CPT1A that may contribute to the design of drugs for the treatment of lipid disorders.     

Effect of parity on bone mineral density in female rhesus macaques from Cayo Santiago

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between parity, bone mineral density, and spontaneous osteopenia/osteoporosis in a large skeletal population of female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from the free-ranging colony of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. The sample consists of 119 mature female monkeys aged 4.0-22.2 years at time of death. The data consist of measurements of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD), obtained from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) of the last lumbar vertebra. After controlling for age, there is a significant increase in BMD of the spine with increasing parity (P = 0.0006), up to a parity of 7 offspring. Thus, high parity initially has a positive effect on BMD in female rhesus monkeys, but this positive effect disappears with parities that are greater than 7 offspring. After controlling for parity, however, age has a negative (P = 0.015) effect on BMD, beginning several years after the attainment of peak BMD (age 9.5 years). Thus, it appears that parity initially mitigates the effects of aging, but the positive effect of parity on BMD is eventually overwhelmed by the aging process. Mean BMC and BMD values are higher in parous females compared to nulliparous females in the same age range. Similarly, females with low parity have significantly lower mean BMD values than do age-matched high-parity controls, and the frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis is greater in low-parity females. Forty-three percent (43%) of the osteopenic/osteoporotic females in the sample are members of the low-parity group, even though it composes only 13% (16/119) of the entire sample. This study demonstrates that the free-ranging female rhesus monkeys from Cayo Santiago are a good nonhuman primate model for the study of bone mineral density, parity, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.     

Use of phage display and high-density screening for the isolation of an antibody against the 51-kDa subunit of complex I

Monoclonal antibodies play an increasingly important role in structural biology. In this report, we develop the use of phage display technology for the isolation of an antibody that binds to a specific subunit of a macromolecular assembly. Antibodies that bind to the intact complex are selected from a phage display library and screened with a high-density Western blot to identify a subunit-specific binder. Conventional Western blotting and competition ELISA are then used to confirm the identity of the target subunit and that the antibody binds to the native protein complex and not to an epitope that is only revealed when the antibody is immobilized for phage selection. Using this technique, monoclonal scFv and Fab fragments have been produced that bind to the 51-kDa subunit of bovine complex I, a large integral membrane protein complex from mitochondria.     

Development of gelatinous (reaction) fibers in stems of Gnetum gnemon (Gnetales)

In extraxylary tissues of the stem Gnetum gnemon produces gelatinous fibers that can also function as reaction or tension fibers. These gelatinous fibers occur in all axes in the outer cortex and in displaced axes progressively in the middle and inner cortex and finally in the secondary phloem. Early cell differentiation in the cortex produces initials of laticifers that are unique in gymnosperms. Subsequently narrow fibers differentiate from cells that undergo both extensive passive elongation, as a result of internodal elongation, together with their active apical intrusive growth. Outer fibers always complete secondary wall development and become an important mechanical component of stems. Differentiation of fiber initials continues in the middle and inner cortex, but secondary wall formation can only be determined by a gravimorphic stimulus that produces eccentric development of fibers. Further eccentric development of fibers then continues in the outer secondary phloem from dedifferentiated phloem parenchyma cells that initially undergo extensive intrusive growth. All such cells have characteristic features of tension fibers of angiosperms. They exhibit a pronounced purely cellulosic innermost layer of the secondary wall (Sg layer). In addition, fiber initials are coenocytic, including up to eight nuclei that become distributed uniformly throughout the length of the cell. Mature macerated fibers are markedly brittle, making accurate length measurements difficult. Although cytologically uniform, these fibers thus originate from two kinds of initial (primary and secondary). They also differ in their response to a gravimorphic stimulus determined by their times of inception and their eccentric location. These cells show a suite of positional and gravimorphic responses that illustrate the complexity of plant cell differentiation.     

Genetic studies of B-lymphocyte deficiency and mastocytosis in strain A/WySnJ mice

The A/WySnJ mouse, but not the related A/J strain, has peripheral B-lymphocyte deficiency and mastocytosis. Minimally, two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) control the B-cell deficiency in (A/WySnJ x CAST/Ei)F2 intercross mice; one of them, Bcmd-1, mapped to Chromosome (Chr) 15. Several QTLs controlled the mastocytosis in this intercross, and it was not possible to determine whether any of them co-segregated with Bcmd-1. We have now mapped a second QTL controlling the B-cell deficiency, Bcmd-2, to Chr 4. Furthermore, we narrowed the map position of Bcmd-1 to <2.0 cM. Both QTLs have been confirmed through the construction of AW. Bcmd-1(c), AW. Bcmd-2(c), and AW. Bcmd-1(c)Bcmd-2(c) recombinant congenic strains. The Bcmd-1 locus is the major regulator of B-cell homeostasis, while Bcmd-2 is the minor regulator, and their effects are additive, as shown by splenic B-cells analysis in these congenic strains. In addition, Bcmd-2 or a linked locus controls mastocytosis, while Bcmd-1 does not, as indicated by splenic mast cell analysis in the congenic strains. Thus, the major genetic controls on B-cell homeostasis and mast cell homeostasis in A/WySnJ mice are asserted by distinct genes.     

Complement-independent, peroxide-induced antibody lysis of platelets in HIV-1-related immune thrombocytopenia

Immunologic thrombocytopenia is seen commonly in HIV-1 infection. The pathogenesis of this problem has been unclear, but it is associated with circulating immune complexes that contain platelet membrane components and anti-platelet membrane GPIIIa49-66 IgG antibodies. These antibodies cause acute thrombocytopenia when injected into mice. We now show that purified anti-GPIIIa49-66 causes platelet fragmentation, in vitro in the absence of complement, and in vivo in wild-type and C3-deficient mice. The mechanism of complement-independent platelet lysis is shown to be caused by the antibody-induced generation of H202, as indicated by in vitro experiments with inhibitors of reactive oxygen species, and in vivo studies carried out with p47phox-deficient mice. Thus, a novel mechanism of immunologic platelet clearance is described in which an anti-platelet IgG causes platelet fragmentation via the induction of reactive oxygen species.     

Protein profiling comes of age

Ever since DNA microarrays were first applied to the quantitation of RNA levels, there has been considerable interest in generating a protein homolog that can be used to assay cellular protein expression. A recent paper describes the first microarray that can be used for such protein profiling.     

Overexpression of alcohol dehydrogenase exacerbates ethanol-induced contractile defect in cardiac myocytes

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is characterized by impaired ventricular function although its toxic mechanism is unclear. This study examined the impact of cardiac overexpression of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which oxidizes ethanol into acetaldehyde (ACA), on ethanol-induced cardiac contractile defect. Mechanical and intracellular Ca(2+) properties were evaluated in ventricular myocytes from ADH transgenic and wild-type (FVB) mice. ACA production was assessed by gas chromatography. ADH myocytes exhibited similar mechanical properties but a higher efficiency to convert ACA compared with FVB myocytes. Acute exposure to ethanol depressed cell shortening and intracellular Ca(2+) in the FVB group with maximal inhibitions of 23.3% and 23.4%, respectively. Strikingly, the ethanol-induced depression on cell shortening and intracellular Ca(2+) was significantly augmented in the ADH group, with maximal inhibitions of 43.7% and 40.6%, respectively. Pretreatment with the ADH inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole (4-MP) or the aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor cyanamide prevented or augmented the ethanol-induced inhibition, respectively, in the ADH but not the FVB group. The ADH transgene also substantiated the ethanol-induced inhibition of maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening and unmasked an ethanol-induced prolongation of the duration of shortening/relengthening, which was abolished by 4-MP. These data suggest that elevated cardiac ACA exposure due to enhanced ADH expression may play an important role in the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.     

Physical interaction of Cdc28 with Cdc37 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Cdc37 protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is thought to be a kinase-targeting subunit of the chaperone Hsp90. In a genetic screen, four protein kinases were identified as interacting with Cdc37 - Cdc5, Cdc7, Cdc15 and Cak1. This result underlines the importance of Cdc37 for the folding of protein kinases. In addition, we showed that Ydj1, a yeast DnaJ homolog belonging to the Hsp40 family of chaperones, genetically interacts with Cdc37. No physical interaction has so far been detected between Cdc37 and Cdc28, although genetic interactions (synthetic lethality and mutation suppression), and biochemical studies have suggested that these two proteins functionally interact. We found that, when separately expressed, the N-terminal lobe of Cdc28 interacted strongly with the C-terminal moiety of Cdc37 in a two-hybrid system. This was not the case for the full-length Cdc28 protein. We present models to explain these results.