Structural and functional characterization of transmembrane segment IV of the NHE1 isoform of the Na+/H+ exchanger

The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 1 is a ubiquitously expressed integral membrane protein that regulates intracellular pH in mammals. We characterized the structural and functional aspects of the critical transmembrane (TM) segment IV. Each residue was mutated to cysteine in cysteine-less NHE1. TM IV was exquisitely sensitive to mutation with 10 of 23 mutations causing greatly reduced expression and/or activity. The Phe(161) --> Cys mutant was inhibited by treatment with the water-soluble sulfhydryl-reactive compounds [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate and [2-sulfonatoethyl]methanethiosulfonate, suggesting it is a pore-lining residue. The structure of purified TM IV peptide was determined using high resolution NMR in a CD(3)OH:CDCl(3):H(2)O mixture and in Me(2)SO. In CD(3)OH: CDCl(3):H(2)O, TM IV was structured but not as a canonical alpha-helix. Residues Asp(159)-Leu(162) were a series of beta-turns; residues Leu(165)-Pro(168) showed an extended structure, and residues Ile(169)-Phe(176) were helical in character. These three structured regions rotated quite freely with respect to the others. In Me(2)SO, the structure was much less defined. Our results demonstrate that TM IV is an unusually structured transmembrane segment that is exquisitely sensitive to mutagenesis and that Phe(161) is a pore-lining residue.     

Gender-specific effects of exercise on cardiac pathology in Na+/H+ exchanger overexpressing mice

The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) has been implicated in various cardiac pathologies including ischemia/reperfusion damage to the myocardium and cardiac hypertrophy. It is known that NHE1 levels increase in cardiac disease and we have recently demonstrated that expression of an activated NHE1 protein promotes cardiac hypertrophy in the mouse myocardium. We examined the gender-specific effects of exercise in combination with elevated cardiac expression of NHE1 on the myocardium in mice. Control mice and transgenic mice expressing elevated levels of wild type NHE1 and activated NHE1 were examined. There were gender-specific differences in the effects of NHE1 with exercise. Exercised wild type male mice showed a tendency toward increased heart weight. This was not apparent in female mice expressing elevated NHE1 levels. In some transgenic female mice, there was a significant decrease in the size of the exercised hearts, which was different from what occurred with male mice. Body weight was maintained in exercised control and transgenic male mice; however, it decreased in female mice with exercise more so in transgenic female mice expressing elevated levels of NHE1. Female mice expressing activated NHE1 had elevated HW/BW ratios compared to males, and this was exaggerated by exercise. These results suggest that gender-specific activation of NHE1 may be critical and that NHE1 plays a more critical role in promoting some types of hypertrophy in females in comparison with males.     

雷州地区马尾藻系统进化分析

通过PCR扩增测序及种间比对,对获得的6种马尾藻18SrRNA、COI和ITS基因部分同源序列进行分析,结果显示:(1)18S rRNA基因同源序列长度为1 673 bp,其中保守位点1 668个,可变位点3个,简约信息位点1个,单变异多态位点2个;T、C、A、G的平均含量分别为26.4％、21.4％、24.4％、27.8％.(2)COI同源序列长度为643 bp,其中保守位点567个,可变位点76个,简约信息位点28个,单变异多态位点47个;T、C、A、G的平均含量分别为40.0％、17.6％、19.1％、23.3％.(3)ITS同源序列长度为1 539 bp,其中保守位点1 272个,可变位点193个,简约信息位点55个,单变异多态位点138个;T、C、A、G的平均含量分别为23.5％、26.5％、17.1％、32.9％.(4)基于Kimnra双参数模型计算遗传距离,选用褐藻纲部分物种为外源,构建18S rRNA,COI和ITS基因序列系统发育树.用COI和ITS基因构建的发育树与利用形态学进行的分类较为一致,真马尾藻亚属(Sargassum)的张氏马尾藻(Sargassum zhangii)、全缘马尾藻(Sargassum integerrimum)、匍枝马尾藻(Sargassum polycystum)、亨氏马尾藻(Sargassum henslowianum)、灰叶马尾藻(Sargassum cinereum)亲缘关系较近,先聚为一支,再与反曲叶亚属的半叶马尾藻(Sargassum hemiphyllum)聚为一支,然后与其他亚属的聚为一大支;而用18S rRNA基因构建的发育树中,亨氏马尾藻先与半叶马尾藻聚为一支,后与真马尾藻亚属的聚为一支,最后与其他亚属的聚为一大支.从序列的保守度分析,18SrRNA基因具有高度保守性,可用于属以上单元鉴别分类;COI和ITS基因多态性较高,可用于种间分类.     

The role of AMP-activated protein kinase in quercetin-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells

Our previous studies have shown that quercetin inhibits Cox-2 and Bcl-2 expressions, and induces human leukemia HL-60 cell apoptosis. In order to investigate the role of AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK） on quercetin- induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells, we used flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis. The expressions of LKB1, phosphorylated AMPK （p-AMPK）, and Cox-2 protein were detected in HL-60 cells and normal peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells （PBMCs） by western blot. The expressions of LKB1, p-AMPK, and Cox-2 were detected in HL-60 cells after culture with quercetin. The expressions of p-AMPK were detected in HL-60 cells after culture with AMPK inhibitor Compound C. Then, the expressions of LKB1, p-AMPK, and Cox-2 were detected in HL-60 cells after culture with quercetin alone or quercetin ＋ Compound C. It was found that there was no significant difference in LKB1 between PBMCs and HL-60. p-AMPK in PBMCs was higher than that in HL-60, while Cox-2 was lower. After culture of HL-60 with quercetin, p-AMPK was increased, Cox-2 was decreased, but LKB1 remained unchanged. After culture of HL-60 with Compound C, p-AMPK was decreased. There was no significant differ- ence in LKB1 between the quercetin-alone and the quercetin ＋ Compound C groups, p-AMPK decreased more significantly, while Cox-2 increased more significant- ly in the quercetin ＋ Compound C groups than those in the quercetin-alone groups. Taken together, these findings suggested that quercetin activates AMPK expression in HL-60 cells independent of LKB1 activation, inhibits Cox-2 expression by activating AMPK, and further regulates the Bcl-2-dependent pathways of apoptosis to exert its anti-leukemia effect.