Single amino acid changes in the virus capsid permit coxsackievirus B3 to bind decay-accelerating factor

Many coxsackievirus B isolates bind to human decay-accelerating factor (DAF) as well as to the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). The first-described DAF-binding isolate, coxsackievirus B3 (CB3)-RD, was obtained during passage of the prototype strain CB3-Nancy on RD cells, which express DAF but very little CAR. CB3-RD binds to human DAF, whereas CB3-Nancy does not. To determine the molecular basis for the specific interaction of CB3-RD with DAF, we produced cDNA clones encoding both CB3-RD and CB3-Nancy and mutated each of the sites at which the RD and Nancy sequences diverged. We found that a single amino acid change, the replacement of a glutamate within VP3 (VP3-234E) with a glutamine residue (Q), conferred upon CB3-Nancy the capacity to bind DAF and to infect RD cells. Readaptation of molecularly cloned CB3-Nancy to RD cells selected for a new virus with the same VP3-234Q residue. In experiments with CB3-H3, another virus isolate that does not bind measurably to DAF, adaptation to RD cells resulted in a DAF-binding isolate with a single amino acid change within VP2 (VP2-138 N to D). Both VP3-234Q and VP2-138D were required for binding of CB3-RD to DAF. In the structure of the CB3-RD-DAF complex determined by cryo-electron microscopy, both VP3-234Q and VP2-138D are located at the contact site between the virus and DAF.     

Arabidopsis phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase 1 binds F-actin and recruits phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase beta1 to the actin cytoskeleton

The actin cytoskeleton can be influenced by phospholipids and lipid-modifying enzymes. In animals the phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) are associated with the cytoskeleton through a scaffold of proteins; however, in plants such an interaction was not clear. Our approach was to determine which of the plant PIPKs interact with actin and determine whether the PIPK-actin interaction is direct. Our results indicate that AtPIPK1 interacts directly with actin and that the binding is mediated through a predicted linker region in the lipid kinase. AtPIPK1 also recruits AtPI4Kbeta1 to the cytoskeleton. Recruitment of AtPI4Kbeta1 to F-actin was dependent on the C-terminal catalytic domain of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase but did not require the presence of the N-terminal 251 amino acids, which includes 7 putative membrane occupation and recognition nexus motifs. In vivo studies confirm the interaction of plant lipid kinases with the cytoskeleton and suggest a role for actin in targeting PIPKs to the membrane.     

Free radicals and antioxidants in normal physiological functions and human disease

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS, e.g. nitric oxide, NO(*)) are well recognised for playing a dual role as both deleterious and beneficial species. ROS and RNS are normally generated by tightly regulated enzymes, such as NO synthase (NOS) and NAD(P)H oxidase isoforms, respectively. Overproduction of ROS (arising either from mitochondrial electron-transport chain or excessive stimulation of NAD(P)H) results in oxidative stress, a deleterious process that can be an important mediator of damage to cell structures, including lipids and membranes, proteins, and DNA. In contrast, beneficial effects of ROS/RNS (e.g. superoxide radical and nitric oxide) occur at low/moderate concentrations and involve physiological roles in cellular responses to noxia, as for example in defence against infectious agents, in the function of a number of cellular signalling pathways, and the induction of a mitogenic response. Ironically, various ROS-mediated actions in fact protect cells against ROS-induced oxidative stress and re-establish or maintain "redox balance" termed also "redox homeostasis". The "two-faced" character of ROS is clearly substantiated. For example, a growing body of evidence shows that ROS within cells act as secondary messengers in intracellular signalling cascades which induce and maintain the oncogenic phenotype of cancer cells, however, ROS can also induce cellular senescence and apoptosis and can therefore function as anti-tumourigenic species. This review will describe the: (i) chemistry and biochemistry of ROS/RNS and sources of free radical generation; (ii) damage to DNA, to proteins, and to lipids by free radicals; (iii) role of antioxidants (e.g. glutathione) in the maintenance of cellular "redox homeostasis"; (iv) overview of ROS-induced signaling pathways; (v) role of ROS in redox regulation of normal physiological functions, as well as (vi) role of ROS in pathophysiological implications of altered redox regulation (human diseases and ageing). Attention is focussed on the ROS/RNS-linked pathogenesis of cancer, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemia/reperfusion injury, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease), rheumatoid arthritis, and ageing. Topics of current debate are also reviewed such as the question whether excessive formation of free radicals is a primary cause or a downstream consequence of tissue injury.     

Sequence context- and temperature-dependent nucleotide excision repair of a benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-guanine DNA adduct catalyzed by thermophilic UvrABC proteins

The influence of DNA base sequence context on the removal of a bulky benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-guanine adduct, (+)-trans-B[a]P-N2-dG (G*), by UvrABC nuclease from the thermophilic organism Bacillus caldotenax was investigated. The lesion was flanked by either T or C in otherwise identical complementary 43-mer duplexes (TG*T or CG*C, respectively). It was reported earlier that in the CG*C context, a dominant minor groove adduct structure was observed by NMR methods with all Watson-Crick base pairs intact, and the duplex exhibited a rigid bend. In contrast, in the TG*T context, a highly flexible bend was observed, base pairing at G*, and two 5'-base pairs flanking the adduct were impaired, and multiple solvent-accessible adduct conformations were observed. The TG*T-43-mer duplexes are incised with consistently greater efficiency by UvrABC proteins from B. caldotenax by a factor of 2.3 +/- 0.3. The rates of incisions increase with increasing temperature and are characterized by linear Arrhenius plots with activation energies of 27.0 +/- 1.5 and 23.4 +/- 1.0 kcal/mol for CG*C and TG*T duplexes, respectively. These values reflect the thermophilic characteristics of the UVrABC nuclease complex and the contributions of the different DNA substrates to the overall activation energies. These effects are consistent with base sequence context-dependent differences in structural disorder engendered by a loss of local base stacking interactions and Watson-Crick base pairing in the immediate vicinity of the lesions in the TG*T duplexes. The local weakening of base pairing interactions constitutes a recognition element of the UvrABC nucleotide excision repair apparatus.     

Glycitein activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase via vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling in nontumorigenic (RWPE-1) prostate epithelial cells

Increased consumption of soy is associated with a decreased risk for prostate cancer; however, the specific cellular mechanisms responsible for this anticancer activity are unknown. Dietary modulation of signaling cascades controlling cellular growth, proliferation and differentiation has emerged as a potential chemopreventive mechanism. The present study examined the effects of four soy isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, glycitein and equol) on extracellularsignal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) activity in a nontumorigenic prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE-1). All four isoflavones (10 micromol/L) significantly increased ERK1/2 activity in RWPE-1 cells, as determined by immunoblotting. Isoflavone-induced ERK1/2 activation was rapid and sustained for approximately 2 h posttreatment. Glycitein, the most potent activator of ERK1/2, decreased RWPE-1 cell proliferation by 40% (P<.01). Glycitein-induced ERK1/2 activation was dependent, in part, on tyrosine kinase activity associated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). The presence of both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in the RWPE-1 cell line was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Treatment of RWPE-1 cells with VEGF(165) resulted in transient ERK1/2 activation and increased cellular proliferation. The ability of isoflavones to modulate ERK1/2 signaling cascade via VEGFR signaling in the prostate may be responsible, in part, for the anticancer activity of soy.     

Minor diterpenoid glycosides from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana

From the commercial extract of the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, three new diterpenoid glycosides were isolated besides eight known steviol glycosides including stevioside, rebaudiosides A–F and dulcoside A. The structures of the three compounds were identified as 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) oxy]-kaur-16-en-18-oic acid-(6-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) ester (1), 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) oxy]-17-hydroxy-kaur-15-en-18-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (2), and 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) oxy]-17-oxo-kaur-15-en-18-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3) on the basis of extensive NMR and MS spectral studies. Another known diterpenoid glycoside, 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) oxy]-kaur-15-en-18-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (4) was also isolated and its complete NMR spectral assignments were made on the basis of COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectral data.