Characterisation of the NUCKS gene on human chromosome 1q32.1 and the presence of a homologous gene in different species

The NUCKS gene is located on human chromosome 1q32.1 and consists of seven exons and six introns. The gene lacks a TATA box but contains two Inr elements, two GC boxes, and one consensus-binding site for E2F-1. NUCKS is expressed in all human adult and foetal tissues investigated, and has all the features of being a housekeeping gene. Both data searches and Western immunoblotting experiments show that a homologous protein is present in fish, amphibians, and birds but not in insects and yeast, suggesting that NUCKS is a vertebrate specific gene. In all the species investigated, the protein contains several consensus phosphorylation sites for cyclin-dependent kinases and CK-2, and we have shown that the fish protein (like mammalian NUCKS) indeed is a substrate for CDK1 and CK-2 in vitro. The NUCKS protein is also conserved with respect to a DNA-binding domain previously characterised in mammals, and two putative bipartite nuclear localisation signals.     

Linkage of Amino Acid Variation and Evolution of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp120 Envelope Glycoprotein (Subtype B) with Usage of the Second Receptor

To clarify the relationship between the amino acid variations of the gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and the chemokine receptors that are used as the second receptor for HIV, we evaluated amino acid site variation of gp120 between the X4 strains (use CXCR4) and the R5 strains (use CCR5) from 21 sequences of subtype B. Our analysis showed that residues 306 and 322 in the V3 loop and residue 440 in the C4 region were associated with usage of the second receptor. The polymorphism at residue 440 is clearly associated with the usage of the second receptor: The amino acid at position 440 was a basic amino acid in the R5 strains, and a nonbasic and smaller amino acid in the X4 strains, while the V3 loop of the X4 strains was more basic than that of the R5 strains. This suggests that residue 440 in the C4 region, which is close to the V3 loop in the three-dimensional structure, is critical in determining which second receptor is used. Analysis of codon frequency suggests that, in almost all cases, the difference at residue 440 between basic amino acids in the R5 strains and nonbasic amino acids in the X4 strains could be due to a single nucleotide change. These findings predict that the evolutionary changes in amino acid residue 440 may be correlated with evolutionary changes in the V3 loop. One possibility is that a change in electric charge at residue 440 compensates for a change in electric charge in the V3 loop. The amino acid polymorphism at position 440 can be useful to predict the cell tropism of a strain of HIV-1 subtype B.     

Biochemical and crystallographic analyses of maltohexaose-producing amylase from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. 707

Maltohexaose-producing amylase, called G6-amylase (EC 3.2.1.98), from alkalophilic Bacillus sp.707 predominantly produces maltohexaose (G6) from starch and related alpha-1,4-glucans. To elucidate the reaction mechanism of G6-amylase, the enzyme activities were evaluated and crystal structures were determined for the native enzyme and its complex with pseudo-maltononaose at 2.1 and 1.9 A resolutions, respectively. The optimal condition for starch-degrading reaction activity was found at 45 degrees C and pH 8.8, and the enzyme produced G6 in a yield of more than 30% of the total products from short-chain amylose (DP = 17). The crystal structures revealed that Asp236 is a nucleophilic catalyst and Glu266 is a proton donor/acceptor. Pseudo-maltononaose occupies subsites -6 to +3 and induces the conformational change of Glu266 and Asp333 to form a salt linkage with the N-glycosidic amino group and a hydrogen bond with secondary hydroxyl groups of the cyclitol residue bound to subsite -1, respectively. The indole moiety of Trp140 is stacked on the cyclitol and 4-amino-6-deoxyglucose residues located at subsites -6 and -5 within a 4 A distance. Such a face-to-face short contact may regulate the disposition of the glucosyl residue at subsite -6 and would govern the product specificity for G6 production.     

Trafficking mechanism of water channel aquaporin-2

Targeted positioning of the water channel AQP2 (aquaporin-2) strictly regulates body water homoeostasis. Trafficking of AQP2 to the apical membrane is critical for the reabsorption of water in renal collecting ducts. In addition to the cAMP-mediated effect of vasopressin on AQP2 trafficking to the apical membrane, other signalling cascades can also induce this sorting. Recently, AQP2-binding proteins which could regulate this trafficking have been discovered; SPA-1 (signal-induced proliferation-associated gene-1), a GAP (GTPase-activating protein) for Rap1, and the cytoskeletal protein actin. This review summarizes recent advances related to the trafficking mechanisms of AQP2.     

A novel transgenic chimaeric mouse system for the rapid functional evaluation of genes encoding secreted proteins

A major challenge of the post-genomic era is the functional characterization of anonymous open reading frames (ORFs) identified by the Human Genome Project. In this context, there is a strong requirement for the development of technologies that enhance our ability to analyze gene functions at the level of the whole organism. Here, we describe a rapid and efficient procedure to generate transgenic chimaeric mice that continuously secrete a foreign protein into the systemic circulation. The transgene units were inserted into the genomic site adjacent to the endogenous immunoglobulin (Ig) κ locus by homologous recombination, using a modified mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell line that exhibits a high frequency of homologous recombination at the Igκ region. The resultant ES clones were injected into embryos derived from a B-cell-deficient host strain, thus producing chimaerism-independent, B-cell-specific transgene expression. This feature of the system eliminates the time-consuming breeding typically implemented in standard transgenic strategies and allows for evaluating the effect of ectopic transgene expression directly in the resulting chimaeric mice. To demonstrate the utility of this system we showed high-level protein expression in the sera and severe phenotypes in human EPO (hEPO) and murine thrombopoietin (mTPO) transgenic chimaeras.     

Complex HTR2C linkage disequilibrium and promoter associations with body mass index and serum leptin

The occurrence of obesity, eating disorders, and related diseases has increased in many parts of the world. Given that few strong genetic factors have been found, it is clear that these are complex multi-factorial diseases. The serotonin receptor 2C, a member of the 5-HTergic system, has been implicated in the control of phagia and obesity. We report a detailed investigation of linkage disequilibrium (LD) within and between the HTR2C promoter and the flanking sequences around a commonly utilized marker in the second coding exon of HTR2C. We suggest that inconsistent associations between HTR2C and several phenotypes, including obesity, may be due to the LD pattern across the gene in which recombination and gene conversion have been influential. The nucleotide and haplotype distribution is consistent with that of the neutral mutation model. The number of haplotypes suggests demographic influences or over dominant selection that may have a function in HTR2C expression. Using the fine LD pattern, we describe a possible association with promoter haplotypes and diplotypes, including a GT microsatellite, and body mass index (BMI) 30 kgm^–2 (P<0.0001). SNP –995G>A heterozygotes, as well as promoter diplotypes, were found to marginally influence higher serum leptin corrected for percentage body fat (P=0.01), which might suggest that these subjects are leptin resistant. Our results complement previous studies of HTR2C in both mice and humans, and suggest the importance of genetic variation and elucidating the fine LD structure in uncovering the genetic factors of obesity.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Phytochrome-specific type 5 phosphatase controls light signal flux by enhancing phytochrome stability and affinity for a signal transducer

Environmental light information such as quality, intensity, and duration in red (approximately 660 nm) and far-red (approximately 730 nm) wavelengths is perceived by phytochrome photoreceptors in plants, critically influencing almost all developmental strategies from germination to flowering. Phytochromes interconvert between red light-absorbing Pr and biologically functional far-red light-absorbing Pfr forms. To ensure optimal photoresponses in plants, the flux of light signal from Pfr-phytochromes should be tightly controlled. Phytochromes are phosphorylated at specific serine residues. We found that a type 5 protein phosphatase (PAPP5) specifically dephosphorylates biologically active Pfr-phytochromes and enhances phytochrome-mediated photoresponses. Depending on the specific serine residues dephosphorylated by PAPP5, phytochrome stability and affinity for a downstream signal transducer, NDPK2, were enhanced. Thus, phytochrome photoreceptors have developed an elaborate biochemical tuning mechanism for modulating the flux of light signal, employing variable phosphorylation states controlled by phosphorylation and PAPP5-mediated dephosphorylation as a mean to control phytochrome stability and affinity for downstream transducers.     

A mitotic cascade of NIMA family kinases. Nercc1/Nek9 activates the Nek6 and Nek7 kinases

The Nek family of protein kinases in humans is composed of 11 members that share an amino-terminal catalytic domain related to NIMA, an Aspergillus kinase involved in the control of several aspects of mitosis, and divergent carboxyl-terminal tails of varying length. Nek6 (314AA) and Nek7 (303AA), 76% identical, have little noncatalytic sequence but bind to the carboxyl-terminal noncatalytic tail of Nercc1/Nek9, a NIMA family protein kinase that is activated in mitosis. Microinjection of anti-Nercc1 antibodies leads to spindle abnormalities and prometaphase arrest or chromosome missegregation. Herein we show that Nek6 is increased in abundance and activity during mitosis; activation requires the phosphorylation of Ser206 on the Nek6 activation loop. This phosphorylation and the activity of recombinant Nek6 is stimulated by coexpression with an activated mutant of Nercc1. Moreover, Nercc1 catalyzes the direct phosphorylation of prokaryotic recombinant Nek6 at Ser206 in vitro concomitant with 20-25-fold activation of Nek6 activity; Nercc1 activates Nek7 in vitro in a similar manner. Nercc1/Nek9 is likely to be responsible for the activation of Nek6 during mitosis and probably participates in the regulation of Nek7 as well. These findings support the conclusion that Nercc1/Nek9 and Nek6 represent a novel cascade of mitotic NIMA family protein kinases whose combined function is important for mitotic progression.