Arabidopsis mutant plants with diverse defects in polyamine metabolism show unequal sensitivity to exogenous cadaverine probably based on their spermine content

Arabidopsis plants do not synthesize the polyamine cadaverine, a five carbon-chain diamine and structural analog of putrescine. Mutants defective in polyamine metabolic genes were exposed to exogenous cadaverine. Spermine-deficient spms mutant grew well while a T-DNA insertion mutant (pao4-1) of polyamine oxidase (PAO) 4 was severely inhibited in root growth compared to wild type (WT) or other pao loss-of-function mutants. To understand the molecular basis of this phenomenon, polyamine contents of WT, spms and pao4-1 plants treated with cadaverine were analyzed. Putrescine contents increased in all the three plants, and spermidine contents decreased in WT and pao4-1 but not in spms. Spermine contents increased in WT and pao4-1. As there were good correlations between putrescine (or spermine) contents and the degree of root growth inhibition, effects of exogenously added putrescine and spermine were examined. Spermine mimicked the original phenomenon, whereas high levels of putrescine evenly inhibited root growth, suggesting that cadaverine-induced spermine accumulation may explain the phenomenon. We also tested growth response of cadaverine-treated WT and pao4-1 plants to NaCl and found that spermine-accumulated pao4-1 plant was not NaCl tolerant. Based on the results, the effect of cadaverine on Arabidopsis growth and the role of PAO during NaCl stress are discussed.     

Enzymatic (13)C labeling and multidimensional NMR analysis of miltiradiene synthesized by bifunctional diterpene cyclase in Selaginella moellendorffii

Diterpenes show diverse chemical structures and various physiological roles. The diversity of diterpene is primarily established by diterpene cyclases that catalyze a cyclization reaction to form the carbon skeleton of cyclic diterpene. Diterpene cyclases are divided into two types, monofunctional and bifunctional cyclases. Bifunctional diterpene cyclases (BDTCs) are involved in hormone and defense compound biosyntheses in bryophytes and gymnosperms, respectively. The BDTCs catalyze the successive two-step type-B (protonation-initiated cyclization) and type-A (ionization-initiated cyclization) reactions of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP). We found that the genome of a lycophyte, Selaginella moellendorffii, contains six BDTC genes with the majority being uncharacterized. The cDNA from S. moellendorffii encoding a BDTC-like enzyme, miltiradiene synthase (SmMDS), was cloned. The recombinant SmMDS converted GGDP to a diterpene hydrocarbon product with a molecular mass of 272 Da. Mutation in the type-B active motif of SmMDS abolished the cyclase activity, whereas (+)-copalyl diphosphate, the reaction intermediate from the conversion of GGDP to the hydrocarbon product, rescued the cyclase activity of the mutant to form a diterpene hydrocarbon. Another mutant lacking type-A activity accumulated copalyl diphosphate as the reaction intermediate. When the diterpene hydrocarbon was enzymatically synthesized from [U-(13)C(6)]mevalonate, all carbons were labeled with (13)C stable isotope (>99%). The fully (13)C-labeled product was subjected to (13)C-(13)C COSY NMR spectroscopic analyses. The direct carbon-carbon connectivities observed in the multidimensional NMR spectra demonstrated that the hydrocarbon product by SmMDS is miltiradiene, a putative biosynthetic precursor of tanshinone identified from the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza. Hence, SmMDS functions as a bifunctional miltiradiene synthase in S. moellendorffii. In this study, we demonstrate that one-dimensional and multidimensional (13)C NMR analyses of completely (13)C-labeled compound are powerful methods for biosynthetic studies.     

Distinct modulated pupil function system for real-time imaging of living cells

Optical microscopy is one of the most contributive tools for cell biology in the past decades. Many microscopic techniques with various functions have been developed to date, i.e., phase contrast microscopy, differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, confocal microscopy, two photon microscopy, superresolution microscopy, etc. However, person who is in charge of an experiment has to select one of the several microscopic techniques to achieve an experimental goal, which makes the biological assay time-consuming and expensive. To solve this problem, we have developed a microscopic system with various functions in one instrument based on the optical Fourier transformation with a lens system for detection while focusing on applicability and user-friendliness for biology. The present instrument can arbitrarily modulate the pupil function with a micro mirror array on the Fourier plane of the optical pathway for detection. We named the present instrument DiMPS (Distinct optical Modulated Pupil function System). The DiMPS is compatible with conventional fluorescent probes and illumination equipment, and gives us a Fourier-filtered image, a pseudo-relief image, and a deep focus depth. Furthermore, DiMPS achieved a resolution enhancement (pseudo-superresolution) of 110 nm through the subtraction of two images whose pupil functions are independently modulated. In maximum, the spatial and temporal resolution was improved to 120 nm and 2 ms, respectively. Since the DiMPS is based on relay optics, it can be easily combined with another microscopic instrument such as confocal microscope, and provides a method for multi-color pseudo-superresolution. Thus, the DiMPS shows great promise as a flexible optical microscopy technique in biological research fields.     

Stem cell factor programs the mast cell activation phenotype

Mast cells, activated by Ag via FcεRI, release an array of proinflammatory mediators that contribute to allergic disorders, such as asthma and anaphylaxis. The KIT ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), is critical for mast cell expansion, differentiation, and survival, and under acute conditions, it enhances mast cell activation. However, extended SCF exposure in vivo conversely protects against fatal Ag-mediated anaphylaxis. In investigating this dichotomy, we identified a novel mode of regulation of the mast cell activation phenotype through SCF-mediated programming. We found that mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells chronically exposed to SCF displayed a marked attenuation of FcεRI-mediated degranulation and cytokine production. The hyporesponsive phenotype was not a consequence of altered signals regulating calcium flux or protein kinase C, but of ineffective cytoskeletal reorganization with evidence implicating a downregulation of expression of the Src kinase Hck. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a major role for SCF in the homeostatic control of mast cell activation with potential relevance to mast cell-driven disease and the development of novel approaches for the treatment of allergic disorders.     

In silico analysis of amino acid biosynthesis and proteolysis in Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 2038 and the implications for bovine milk fermentation

The amino acid biosynthesis pathway and proteolytic system of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 2038 (L. bulgaricus 2038), a mainstay of large-scale yogurt production, were modeled based on its genomic sequence. L. bulgaricus 2038 retains more potential for amino acid synthesis and a more powerful proteolytic system than other L. bulgaricus strains, but favors amino acid uptake over de novo synthesis. Free amino acids and peptides in bovine milk provide the main nitrogen sources; whey is more important than casein for L. bulgaricus during fermentation. Free amino acids are imported by amino acid permeases and by ABC-type transport systems whereas exogenous oligopeptides are imported by ABC-type proteins only. Histidine is neither synthesized nor imported singly, which might explain why L. bulgaricus cannot grow in synthetic media.     

Identification of thepurA gene encoding adenylosuccinate synthetase inThiobacillus ferrooxidans

ThepurA gene ofThiobacillus ferrooxidans encoding adenylosuccinate synthetase [EC 6.3.4.4] was identified in the upstream region of theiro gene encoding Fe(II)-oxidase (J. Biol. Chem 267:11242–11247, 1992). ThepurA gene consisted of 1290 base-pairs, which translated into a 29-amino-acid protein. The gene is functionally active, because it is able to complement anEscherichia coli purA-deficient strain. The deduced gene product has a high degree (60.9%) of sequence identity with that (432 aa) ofE. coli purA gene, and both the products share GDEGKGK-DETG-TKLD sequences which are supposed to be GTP-binding domain. The downstream region of theiro gene contained another open-reading frame (ORF) of 1218 bp, and this showed high homlogy (56.6% over 249 bp) withE. coli ORF-II, which is found as a second ORF and truncated form in the downstream region of thepurA gene. Comparison of the gene organization in the flanking region ofpurA gene betweenT. ferrooxidans andE. coli is also described.     

Preparation, characterization, and antitumor activity of new cisplatin analogs with homopiperazines: crystal structure of [PtII(1-methylhomopiperazine)(methylmalonato)].2H2O

A series of new platinum(II) and (IV) complexes with homopiperazine have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, and 195Pt nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. The complexes are of two types: [PtIILX] (where L = homopiperazine (hpip), 1-methylhomopiperazine (mhpip), or 1,4-dimethylhomopiperazine (dmhpip), and X = 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato (CBDCA), or methylmalonato ligand) and [PtIV(L-)trans-(Y)2Cl2] (where Y = hydroxo, acetato, or chloro ligand). Among the complexes synthesized, the crystal structure of [PtII(mhpip)(methylmalonato)].2H2O was determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The crystallographic parameters were orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1) (no. 19), a = 7.2014(14), b = 7.3348(15), c = 26.971(5) A, and Z = 4. The structure refinements converged to R1 = 0.0641 and wR2 = 0.1847. In this complex, platinum has a slightly distorted square planar geometry with the two adjacent corners being occupied by two nitrogens of the mhpip ligand, whereas the remaining cis positions are coordinated with two oxygen atoms of the methylmalonato group. The mhpip ligand is in a boat conformation and forms five and six membered chelating rings with platinum. The intricate network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds holds the crystal lattice together. Some of these synthesized cisplatin analogs have good in vitro cytotoxic activity against the cisplatin-sensitive human ovarian A2780 (IC50 = 0.083-17.8 microM) and the isogenic cisplatin-resistant 2780CP (IC50 = 20.1-118.1 microM) cell lines.