Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase from Helicobacter pylori

Orotic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (PyrE) (EC 2.4.2.10) is a key enzyme in de novo uridine monophosphate (UMP) biosynthesis. It catalyzes the reaction between orotic acid and 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) to yield orotidine monophosphate (OMP), which is transformed to uridine monophosphate by decarboxylation. H. pylori PyrE was crystallized at 294 +/- 1 K by the hanging drop vapor-diffusion method. The crystals belong to the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit-cell dimensions a = 95.8, b = 104.9, c = 281.1 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees. A set of diffraction data was collected to 3.29 A resolution using synchrotron X-ray radiation.     

Ca2+: a stabilizing component of the transglutaminase activity of Galphah (transglutaminase II)

Galphah (transglutaminase type II; tissue transglutaminase) is a bifunctional enzyme with transglutaminase (TGase) and guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activities. The GTPase function of Galphah is involved in hormonal signaling and cell growth while the TGase function plays an important role in apoptosis and in cross-linking extracellular and intracellular proteins. To analyze the regulation of these dual enzymatic activities we examined their calcium-dependence and thermal stability in enzymes from several cardiac sources (mouse heart, and normal, ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathic human hearts). The GTP binding activity of Galphah was markedly inhibited by Ca2+ whereas the TGase activity was strongly stimulated, suggesting that Ca2+ acts as a regulator, switching Galphah from a GTPase to a TGase. The TGase function of Galphah of both mouse and human hearts was more thermostable in the presence of Ca2+.     

GnRH-II analogs for selective activation and inhibition of non-mammalian and type-II mammalian GnRH receptors

Recently, we identified three types of non-mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors (GnRHR) in the bullfrog (designated bfGnRHR-1-3), and a mammalian type-II GnRHR in green monkey cell lines (denoted gmGnRHR-2). All these receptors responded better to GnRH-II than GnRH-I, while mammalian type-I GnRHR showed greater sensitivity to GnRH-I than GnRH-II. In the present study, we designed new GnRH-II analogs and examined whether they activated or inhibited non-mammalian and mammalian type-II GnRHRs. [D-Ala6]GnRH-II, with D-Ala substituted for Gly6 in GnRH-II, increased inositol phosphate (IP) production in cells stably expressing non-mammalian GnRHRs more effectively than native GnRH-II. However, it exhibited lower activity for mammalian type-I GnRHR than GnRH-I itself. Trptorelix-1, a GnRH-II antagonist, inhibited GnRH-induced IP production in cells expressing non-mammalian GnRHRs more effectively than Cetrorelix, a GnRH-I antagonist. Trptorelix-1, however, had lower potency for mammalian type-I GnRHR than Cetrorelix. Ligand-receptor binding assays revealed that [D-Ala6]GnRH-II and Trptorelix-1 have higher affinities for non-mammalian GnRHRs but lower affinities for mammalian type-I GnRHR than GnRH-II and Cetrorelix, respectively. Moreover, [D-Ala6]GnRH-II and Trptorelix-1 had a higher affinity for gmGnRHR-2 than GnRH-II and Cetrorelix, respectively. These results indicate that [D-Ala6]GnRH-II and Trptorelix-1 are highly effective agonist and antagonist, respectively, for non-mammalian and type-II mammalian GnRHRs.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of phosphoglycerate kinase from Thermus caldophilus

We report the purification and crystallization of phosphoglycerate kinase from Thermus caldophilus (Tca). The enzyme crystallizes in the P2(1)2(1)2(1) space group (cell dimensions a = 65.1, b = 71.3, c = 80.2 A), with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. A complete set of diffraction data was collected from an orthorhombic crystal up to 1.8 A resolution.     

Effects of Aroclor 1254 on the expression of rat placental PRL-family genes

This study was performed to investigate the effects of Aroclor 1254 (A1254), a commercial polychlorinated biphenyl mixture, on the expression of rat placental prolactin (PRL) family genes and reproductive activity. Placental lactogen-Iv and -II, and prolactin-like protein-A and -C mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the placentas of A1254-treated rats in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA levels of Pit-1alpha and beta isotypes, which are involved in the regulation of PRL family gene expression, were also decreased in the A1254-treated rat placenta. In the rat placental junctional zone, high-dose A1254 (25 mg/kg B.W.) treatment reduced the number of spongiotrophoblasts, cells in which the PRL family genes are expressed. Finally, maternal exposure to A1254 was shown to have significant toxic effects on reproductive activity, including embryonic and placental growth retardation, delay of parturition, and reduction of the number of pups per litter. The results of the present study indicated that A1254 has an inhibitory effect on PRL family, Pit-1alpha, and beta gene expression in the rat placenta, leading to significant toxic effects on reproductive activity in rats.     

Is the Voltage Gate of Connexins CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-sensitive? Cx45 Channels and Inhibition of Calmodulin Expression

The sensitivity of Cx45 channels to CO₂, transjunctional voltage (V _j) and inhibition of calmodulin (CaM) expression was tested in oocytes by dual voltage clamp. Cx45 channels are very sensitive to V _j and close with V _j preferentially by the slow gate, likely to be the same as the chemical gate. With a CO₂-induced drop in junctional conductance (G _j), both the speed of V _j-dependent inactivation of junctional current (I _j) and V _j sensitivity increased. With 40-mV V _j-pulses, the of single exponential I _j decay reversibly decreased by 40% during CO₂ application, and G_{j steady state}/G_{j peak} decreased multiphasically, indicating that both kinetics and V _j sensitivity of chemical/slow V _j gating are altered by changes in [H⁺]_i and/or [Ca²⁺]_i. CaM expression was inhibited with oligonucleotides antisense to CaM mRNA. With 15 min CO₂, relative junctional conductance (G _jt/G _jt0) dropped to 0% in controls, but only by 17% in CaM-antisense oocytes. Similarly, V _j sensitivity was significantly lessened in CaM-antisense oocytes. The data indicate that both the speed and sensitivity of V _j-dependent inactivation of the junctional current of Cx45 channels are affected by CO₂ application, and that CaM plays a key role in channel gating.     

The MHC class I-like IgG receptor controls perinatal IgG transport,IgG homeostasis,and fate of IgG-Fc-coupled drugs

Abs of the IgG isotype are efficiently transported from mother to neonate and have an extended serum t(1/2) compared with Abs of other isotypes. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the MHC class I-related protein, the neonatal FcR (FcRn), is the FcR responsible for both in vivo functions. To understand the phenotypes imposed by FcRn, we produced and analyzed mice with a defective FcRn gene. The results provide direct evidence that perinatal IgG transport and protection of IgG from catabolism are mediated by FcRn, and that the latter function is key to IgG homeostasis, essential for generating a potent IgG response to foreign Ags, and the basis of enhanced efficacy of Fc-IgG-based therapeutics. FcRn is therefore a promising therapeutic target for enhancing protective humoral immunity, treating autoimmune disease, and improving drug efficacy.     

Role of double-negative regulatory T cells in long-term cardiac xenograft survival

A novel subset of CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) (double negative; DN) regulatory T cells has recently been shown to induce donor-specific skin allograft acceptance following donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). In this study, we investigated the effect of DLI on rat to mouse cardiac xenotransplant survival and the ability of DN T cells to regulate xenoreactive T cells. B6 mice were given either DLI from Lewis rats, a short course of depleting anti-CD4 mAb, both DLI and anti-CD4 treatment together, or left untreated. DLI alone did not prolong graft survival when compared with untreated controls. Although anti-CD4-depleting mAb alone significantly prolonged graft survival, grafts were eventually rejected by all recipients. However, the combination of DLI and anti-CD4 treatment induced permanent cardiac xenograft survival. We demonstrate that recipients given both DLI and anti-CD4 treatment had a significant increase in the total number of DN T cells in their spleens when compared with all other treatment groups. Furthermore, DN T cells harvested from the spleens of DLI plus anti-CD4-treated mice could dose-dependently inhibit the proliferation of syngeneic antidonor T cells. Suppression mediated by these DN T cells was specific for antidonor T cells as T cells stimulated by third-party Ags were not suppressed. These results demonstrate for the first time that a combination of pretransplant DLI and anti-CD4-depleting mAb can induce permanent survival of rat to mouse cardiac xenografts and that DN T regulatory cells play an important role in preventing long-term concordant xenograft rejection through the specific suppression of antidonor T cells.