MKP3 negatively modulates PDGF-induced Akt and Erk5 phosphorylation as well as chemotaxis

MAP kinase phosphatase-3 (MKP3), also known as DUSP6 or Pyst1, is a dual specificity phosphatase considered to selectively dephosphorylate extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2). Here, we report that in NIH3T3 cells, MKP3 is induced in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB treatment in an Erk1/2- and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent manner, but independently of Erk5 expression. Silencing of MKP3 expression did not affect PDGF-BB-induced Erk1/2 or p38 phosphorylation; however, their basal level of phosphorylation was elevated. Furthermore, we found that PDGF-BB-mediated activation of Erk5 and Akt was enhanced when the MKP3 expression was reduced. Interfering with Mek1/2 or PI3K using the inhibitors CI-1040 and LY-294002, respectively, inhibited PDGF-BB-induced MKP3 expression. Functionally, we found that MKP3 silencing did not affect cell proliferation, but enhanced the chemotactic response toward PDGF-BB. Although both Akt and Erk5 have been linked to increased cell survival, downregulation of MKP3 did not alter the ability of PDGF-BB to protect NIH3T3 cells from starvation-induced apoptosis. However, we observed an increased apoptosis in untreated cells with reduced MKP3 expression. In summary, our data indicate that there is negative cross-talk between Erk1/2 and Erk5 that involves regulation of MKP3 expression, and that PI3K in addition to promoting Akt phosphorylation also negatively modulates Akt, through MKP3 expression.     

Representing an ensemble of NMR-derived protein structures by a single structure.

The usefulness of representing an ensemble of NMR-derived protein structures by a single structure has been investigated. Two stereochemical properties have been used to assess how a single structure relates to the ensemble from which it was derived, namely the distribution of phi psi torsion angles and the distribution of chi 1 torsion angles. The results show that the minimized average structure derived from the ensemble (a total of 11 ensembles from the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank were analyzed) does not always correspond well with this ensemble, particularly for those ensembles generated with a smaller number of experimentally derived restraints per residue. An alternative method that selects the member of the ensemble which is closest to the "average" of the ensemble has been investigated (a total of 23 ensembles from the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank were analyzed). Although this method selected a structure that on the whole corresponded more closely to the ensemble than did the minimized average structure, this is still not a totally reliable means of selecting a single structure to represent the ensemble. This suggests that it is advisable to study the ensemble as a whole. A study has also been made of the practice of selecting the "best" rather than the most representative member of the ensemble. This too suggests that the ensemble should be studied as a whole. A study of the conformational space occupied by the ensemble also suggests the need to consider the ensemble as a whole, particularly for those ensembles generated with a smaller number of experimentally derived restraints per residue.     

Further Evidence for Multiple Forms of an N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Recognition Domain in Rat Brain Using Membrane Binding Techniques

Abstract— Pretreatment with sulfhydryl-reactive agents, such as N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuriphenylsul-fonic acid, invariably resulted in marked inhibition of the binding of dl -(E)-2-amino-4-[³H]propyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoic acid ([³H]CGP 39653), a competitive antagonist at an N-methyl-d -aspartate (NMDA)-sensitive subclass of central excitatory amino acid receptors, in brain synaptic membranes extensively washed and treated with Triton X-100, but did not significantly affect the binding of L-[³H]-glutamic acid ([³H]Glu), an endogenous agonist. The pre-treatment was effective in reducing the binding of [³H]-CGP 39653 at equilibrium, without altering the initial association rate, and decreased the affinity for the ligand. Pretreatment with sulfhydryl-reactive agents also enhanced the potencies of NMDA agonists to displace [³H]-CGP 39653 binding and attenuated those of NMDA antagonists, but had little effect on the potencies of the agonists and antagonists to displace [³H]Glu binding. The binding of both [³H]CGP 39653 and [³H]Glu was similarly sensitive to pretreatment with four different proteases in Tritontreated membranes, whereas pretreatment with phospho-lipase A₂ or C markedly inhibited [³H]CGP 39653 binding without altering [³H]Glu binding. Moreover, both phospho-lipases not only induced enhancement of the abilities of NMDA agonists to displace the binding of [³H]CGP 39653 and [³H]Glu, but also caused diminution of those of NMDA antagonists. These results suggest that both sulfhydryl-reactive agents and phospholipases may predominantly interfere with radiolabeling of the NMDA recognition domain in a state favorable to an antagonist by [³H]CGP 39653, with concomitant facilitation of that in an agonist-preferring form by [³H]Glu. The possible presence of multiple forms of the NMDA recognition domain is further supported by these data.     

The role of local tight packing of hydrophobic groups in β-structure

An analysis of the tendency of hydrophobic groups to tight packing on the surface of β-sheets based on well-known parameters of β-sheets and hydrophobic groups was conducted. This analysis shows the existence of very limited numbers and clearly outlined architecture families of regular parts for the majority of β-structure-containing domains. Each family of architecture strongly depends on the number of β-strands in the pure β-domains and on the existence and number of additional α-helixes and on the mutual arrangements β-strands and α-helixes along the chain in mixed α/β-domains. This paper demonstrates that the tendency of hydrophobic groups to the local tight packing on the surface of β-sheets is probably the main reason for the twist of β-sheets. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Seasonal dynamics of fatty acid composition in female northern pike (Esox lucius L.)

Seasonal changes in the fatty acid composition of neutral and polar lipids were measured in the ovary, liver, white muscle, and adipopancreatic tissue of northern pike. The role of environmental and physiological factors underlying these changes was evaluated. From late summer (August–September) to winter (January–March), the weight percentage of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially 22:6n3) declined significantly in the neutral lipids of all somatic tissues examined. However, large quantities of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids accumulated in the recrude cing ovaries during fall and the weight percentage of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in ovary polar lipids also increased significantly. Additionally, the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content of somatic polar lipids increased significantly during fall due to increases in the total polar lipid content of the somatic tissues. This suggests that during fall n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid are diverted away from somatic neutral lipids and thereby conserved for use in ovary construction and for incorporation into tissue polar lipids. The percentage of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in ovary neutral lipids also declined during fall and early winter, perhaps as an adaptation to conserve these fatty acids for storage in oocyte polar lipids and later incorporation into cellular membranes of the developing embryo. Reductions in the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content of somatic and ovarian neutral lipids during fall were compensated for specifically by increases in the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids rather than saturated fatty acids. This suggests that the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in pike neutral lipid, is regulated physiologically, and hence may influence the physiological functioning of these lipids. During fall and early winter the percentage of saturated fatty acids declined significantly in the polar lipids of all tissues examined. This change was consistent with the known effects of cold acclimation on the fatty acid composition of cellular membranes. As the ovaries were recrudescing from September to January, liver polar lipids exhibited significant decreases in the percentage of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and increases in monounsaturated fatty acids, and acquired a fatty acid composition very similar to that of ovary polar lipids. Therefore, seasonal changes in the percentage of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in liver polar lipids probably reflect the liver's role in vitellogenesis rather than the effects of temperature on membrane fatty acid composition. At all times of year, the fatty acid compositions of white muscle and adipopancreatic tissue neutral lipids were very similar, which may indicate a close metabolic relationship between these lipid compartments.Abbreviations AP adipopancreatic - BHT butylated hydroxytoluene - CI confidence interval - EFA essential fatty acids - MUFA monounsaturated fatty acids - NL neutral lipids - PL polar lipids - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acids - SFA saturated fatty acids     

酪氨酸磷酸酶PRL-3增加胃癌细胞BGC823的SP细胞比例并提高其对化疗药物的耐受性

蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶PRL-3是近年发现的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶家族成员,能促进肿瘤细胞的侵袭、转移及上皮细胞间质转型,提示PRL-3可能在肿瘤发生发展及诱导肿瘤干细胞生成中发挥重要作用.由于侧群(SP)细胞具有许多干细胞的性质,SP细胞分选是目前筛选和分离获得干细胞或前体细胞常用的有效方法.为探讨PRL-3在诱导干细胞生成中的潜在作用,本文在建立过表达PRL-3的人胃癌细胞BGC823的基础上,通过SP分选和CCK-8的方法分析PRL-3对BGC823细胞中SP细胞的比例以及对化疗药物耐受性的影响.结果提示,高表达PRL-3提高BGC823中SP细胞的比例（2.5% vs 9.4%）,同时增加BGC823对化疗药物紫杉醇和顺铂的耐受性（相对于对照细胞,其耐药指数分别为1.75和1.29）.由于SP细胞的产生和细胞耐药性的提高与ABC家族基因表达水平上调密切相关,通过定量 RT-PCR和Western印迹检测发现,PRL-3能上调ABCB1和ABCG2的表达.上述研究结果表明,PRL-3有可能通过上调ABCB1和ABCG2的表达,增加胃癌细胞BGC823的SP细胞比例并增加其对化疗药物的耐受性.     

A novel method for assessing the 3-D orientation accuracy of inertial/magnetic sensors

A novel method for assessing the accuracy of inertial/magnetic sensors is presented. The method, referred to as the “residual matrix” method, is advantageous because it decouples the sensor's error with respect to Earth's gravity vector (attitude residual error: pitch and roll) from the sensor's error with respect to magnetic north (heading residual error), while remaining insensitive to singularity problems when the second Euler rotation is close to ±90°. As a demonstration, the accuracy of an inertial/magnetic sensor mounted to a participant's forearm was evaluated during a reaching task in a laboratory. Sensor orientation was measured internally (by the inertial/magnetic sensor) and externally using an optoelectronic measurement system with a marker cluster rigidly attached to the sensor's enclosure. Roll, pitch and heading residuals were calculated using the proposed novel method, as well as using a common orientation assessment method where the residuals are defined as the difference between the Euler angles measured by the inertial sensor and those measured by the optoelectronic system. Using the proposed residual matrix method, the roll and pitch residuals remained less than 1° and, as expected, no statistically significant difference between these two measures of attitude accuracy was found; the heading residuals were significantly larger than the attitude residuals but remained below 2°. Using the direct Euler angle comparison method, the residuals were in general larger due to singularity issues, and the expected significant difference between inertial/magnetic sensor attitude and heading accuracy was not present.     

猪环状RNA IGF1R促进脂肪细胞分化

环状RNA(circular RNA, circRNA)作为竞争性内源RNA(competitive endogenous RNA, ceRNA)在细胞分化调控中发挥着重要作用。本研究旨在对猪环状RNA IGF1R(circular RNA insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, circIGF1R)进行鉴定及分析,探明其表达规律,构建猪circIGF1R相关的ceRNA调控网络,并探究其异位表达对小鼠间充质干细胞(C3H10T1/2)成脂分化的调控作用。通过正反向引物PCR、Sanger测序、RNase R酶消化检测和qRT-PCR验证circIGF1R是胰岛素样生长因子1受体(insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, IGF1R)第二外显子形成的circRNA,它在猪各组织中均有表达,且其表达量在脂肪组织中随日龄增加呈上升趋势;使用miRDB、TargetScan和miRWalk在线软件预测circIGF1R靶基因,运用RNAhybrid软件进行结合位点预测,使用DAVID生物信息功能分析软件对候选靶基因进行GO和KEGG富集分析,运用Cytoscape软件构建ceRNA网络,基于基因表达相关性和预测的靶标关系,绘制了GO和KEGG富集分析及构建了ceRNA网络;双荧光素酶报告基因分析证明circIGF1R及FABP4可与ssc (Sus scrofa chromosome) -miR-133a-5p结合;成功构建circIGF1R过表达载体,在间充质干细胞C3H10T1/2中异位表达,过表达circIGF1R后关键成脂调控因子CEBPα、CEBPβ、FABP4和PPARγ极显著升高(P＜0.01),脂滴数量显著增加。本研究结果证明,circIGF1R在猪脂肪组织中存在,并且可能通过ceRNA机制正调控C3H10T1/2细胞成脂分化,为进一步研究circIGF1R调控猪前体肌内脂肪细胞成脂分化奠定理论基础。     

大丽轮枝菌甘油-3-磷酸脱氢酶的功能分析

大丽轮枝菌可侵染棉花、马铃薯、番茄等660余种寄主植物,引致黄萎病,造成严重的经济损失。为了深入了解大丽轮枝菌的致病机制,本研究在前期棉花提取物诱导大丽轮枝菌转录组分析的基础上,选择上调差异表达的线粒体甘油-3-磷酸脱氢酶基因VdGut2(VD592＿6958＿Chr4)和非差异表达的胞质甘油-3-磷酸脱氢酶基因VdGpd(VD592＿10256＿Chr2),进行了功能分析。结果表明,两个VdGut2敲除突变体菌株的产孢量较野生型菌株分别下降了32%和41%,病情指数分别下降了70%和51%,菌落生长速率也显著下降;VdGpd过表达菌株产孢量和病情指数较野生型菌株显著下降,但在甘油为唯一碳源的培养基上其菌落生长速率显著上升。因此,VdGut2促进了大丽轮枝菌分生孢子的形成、碳源的利用以及对寄主植物的致病过程,VdGpd抑制了大丽轮枝菌分生孢子的形成和对寄主植物的致病力,却促进了甘油的代谢。