Utilization of a receptor reserve for effective amplification of mitogenic signaling by an epidermal growth factor mutant deficient in receptor activation

The idea of a receptor reserve in mediating cellular function is well known but direct biochemical evidence has not been easy to obtain. This study stems from our results showing that L15 of epidermal growth factor (EGF) is important in both EGF receptor (EGFR) binding and activation, and the L15A analog of human EGF (hEGF) partially uncouples EGFR binding from EGFR activation (Nandagopal et al., [1996] Protein Engng 9:781-788). We address the cellular mechanism of mitogenic signal amplification by EGFR tyrosine kinase in response to L15A hEGF. L15A is partially impaired in receptor dimerization, shown by chemical cross-linking and allosteric activation of EGFR in a substrate phosphorylation assay. Immunoprecipitation experiments reveal, however, that L15A can induce EGFR autophosphorylation in intact murine keratinocytes by utilizing spare receptors, the ratio of total phosphotyrosine content per receptor being significantly lower than that elicited by wild-type. This direct biochemical evidence, based on function, of utilization of a receptor reserve for kinase stimulation suggests that an EGF variant can activate varying receptor numbers to generate the same effective response. L15A-activated receptors can stimulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) that is important for mitogenesis. The lack of linear correlation between levels of receptor dimerization, autophosphorylation, and MAPK activation suggests that signal amplification is mediated by cooperative effects. Flow cytometric analyses show that the percentages of cells which proliferate in response to 1 nM L15A and their rate of entry into S-phase are both decreased relative to 1 nM wild-type, indicating that MAPK activation alone is insufficient for maximal stimulation of mitogenesis. Higher concentrations of L15A reverse this effect, indicating that L15A and wild-type differ in the number of receptors each activates to induce the threshold response, which may be attained by cooperative activation of receptor dimers/oligomers by van der Waal's weak forces of attraction. The maintenance of a receptor reserve underscores an effective strategy in cell survival.     

Mitogenomic phylogeny of the Percichthyidae and Centrarchiformes (Percomorphaceae): comparison with recent nuclear gene-based studies and simultaneous analysis

Delineation of the fish family Percichthyidae (Percomorphaceae) has a long and convoluted history, with recent morphological-based studies restricting species members to South American and Australian freshwater and catadromous temperate perches. Four recent nuclear gene-based phylogenetic studies, however, found that the Percichthyidae was not monophyletic and was nested within a newly discovered inter-familial clade of Percomorphaceae, the Centrarchiformes, which comprises the Centrarchidae and 12 other families. Here, we reexamined the systematics of the Percichthyidae and Centrarchiformes based on new mitogenomic information. Our mitogenomic results are globally congruent with the recent nuclear gene-based studies although the overall amount of phylogenetic signal of the mitogenome is lower. They do not support the monophyly of the Percichthyidae, because the catadromous genus Percalates is not exclusively related to the freshwater percichthyids. The Percichthyidae (minus Percalates) and Percalates belong to a larger clade, equivalent to the Centrarchiformes, but their respective sister groups are unresolved. Because all recent analyses recover a monophyletic Centrarchiformes but with substantially different intra-relationships, we performed a simultaneous analysis for a character set combining the mitogenome and 19 nuclear genes previously published, for 22 centrarchiform taxa. This analysis furthermore indicates that the Centrarchiformes are divided into three lineages and the superfamily Cirrhitoidea is monophyletic as well as the temperate and freshwater centrarchiform perch-like fishes. It also clarifies some of the relationships within the freshwater Percichthyidae.     

Substrate-binding loop interactions with pseudouridine trigger conformational changes that promote catalytic efficiency of pseudouridine kinase PUKI

Pseudouridine, one major RNA modification, is catabolized into uracil and ribose-5′-phosphate by two sequential enzymatic reactions. In the first step, pseudouridine kinase (PUKI) phosphorylates pseudouridine to pseudouridine 5′-monophosphate. High-fidelity catalysis of pseudouridine by PUKI prevents possible disturbance of in vivo pyrimidine homeostasis. However, the molecular basis of how PUKI selectively phosphorylates pseudouridine over uridine with >100-fold greater efficiency despite minor differences in their K_m values has not been elucidated. To investigate this selectivity, in this study we determined the structures of PUKI from Escherichia coli strain B (EcPUKI) in various ligation states. The structure of EcPUKI was determined to be similar to PUKI from Arabidopsis thaliana, including an α/β core domain and β-stranded small domain, with dimerization occurring via the β-stranded small domain. In a binary complex, we show that Ser30 in the substrate-binding loop of the small domain mediates interactions with the hallmark N1 atom of pseudouridine nucleobase, causing conformational changes in its quaternary structure. Kinetic and fluorescence spectroscopic analyses also showed that the Ser30-mediated interaction is a prerequisite for conformational changes and subsequent catalysis by EcPUKI. Furthermore, S30A mutation or EcPUKI complexed with other nucleosides homologous to pseudouridine but lacking the pseudouridine-specific N1 atom did not induce such conformational changes, demonstrating the catalytic significance of the proposed Ser30-mediated interaction. These analyses provide structural and functional evidence for a pseudouridine-dependent conformational change of EcPUKI and its functional linkage to catalysis.     

低心血管疾病风险选择性环氧合酶-2抑制剂的虚拟筛选

摘要 目的：寻找具有血栓素A2受体（Thromboxane A2 receptor,TP）抑制作用的选择性环氧合酶-2（Cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2）抑制剂,以期降低其心血管疾病风险。方法：本研究从公开数据库中获取了512种TP抑制剂,通过分子对接、分子动力学模拟和ADMET预测,筛选出化合物TP84。结果：分子对接结果显示,与先前获批的选择性COX-2抑制剂罗非昔布相比,TP84对COX-2的亲和力更高,对环氧合酶-1（Cyclooxygenase-1,COX-1）的亲和力更低;分子动力学模拟进一步表明,模拟过程中TP84与COX-1的结合不稳定,而TP84能稳定结合COX-2,与COX-2的结合自由能是COX-1的3倍;此外,根据ADMET预测,TP84的药物化学、吸收、分布、代谢、排泄和毒性处于类药物候选物的可接受范围内。结论：TP84是一种潜在的低心血管疾病风险选择性COX-2抑制剂。     

Layilin,A Novel Talin-binding Transmembrane Protein Homologous with C-type Lectins,is Localized in Membrane Ruffles

Changes in cell morphology and motility are mediated by the actin cytoskeleton. Recent advances in our understanding of the regulators of microfilament structure and dynamics have shed light on how these changes are controlled, and efforts continue to define all the structural and signaling components involved in these processes. The actin cytoskeleton-associated protein talin binds to integrins, vinculin, and actin. We report a new binding partner for talin that we have named layilin, which contains homology with C-type lectins, is present in numerous cell lines and tissue extracts, and is expressed on the cell surface. Layilin colocalizes with talin in membrane ruffles, and is recruited to membrane ruffles in cells induced to migrate in in vitro wounding experiments and in peripheral ruffles in spreading cells. A ten–amino acid motif in the layilin cytoplasmic domain is sufficient for talin binding. We have identified a short region within talin''s amino-terminal 435 amino acids capable of binding to layilin in vitro. This region overlaps a binding site for focal adhesion kinase.     

Dopamine depletion and subsequent treatment with L-DOPA, but not the long-lived dopamine agonist pergolide, enhances activity of the Akt pathway in the rat striatum

Dysregulation of signaling pathways is believed to contribute to Parkinson's disease pathology and l-DOPA-induced motor complications. Long-lived dopamine (DA) agonists are less likely to cause motor complications by virtue of continuous stimulation of DA receptors. In this study, we compared the effects of the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion and subsequent treatment with l-DOPA and DA agonist pergolide on signaling pathways in rats. Pergolide caused less pronounced behavioral sensitization than l-DOPA (25 mg/kg, i.p., 10 days), particularly at lower dose (0.5 and 0.25 mg/kg, i.p.). Pergolide, but not l-DOPA, reversed lesion-induced up-regulation of preproenkephalin and did not up-regulate preprodynorphine or DA D3 receptor in the lesioned hemisphere. Pergolide was as effective as l-DOPA in reversing the lesion-induced elevation of ERK2 phosphorylation in response to acute apomorphine administration (0.05 mg/kg, s.c.). Chronic l-DOPA significantly elevated the level of Akt phosphorylation at both Thr(308) and Ser(473) and concentration of phosphorylated GSK3alpha, whereas pergolide suppressed the lesion- and/or challenge-induced supersensitive Akt responses. The data indicate that l-DOPA, unlike pergolide, exacerbates imbalances in the Akt pathway caused by the loss of DA. The results support the hypothesis that the Akt pathway is involved in long-term actions of l-DOPA and may be linked to l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia.     

Human p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor drugs inhibit Plasmodium falciparum replication

We recently demonstrated that human p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors reduced in vitro and in vivo replication of the protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Encephalitozoon cuniculi. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of five p38 MAPK inhibitors to block the replication of Plasmodium falciparum in human erythrocytes cultured ex vivo and demonstrate that the pyridinylimidazole RWJ67657 and the pyrrolobenzimidazole RWJ68198 reduced P. falciparum replication, yielded trophozoites that were greatly diminished in size at 24 h, and that these two agents interfered with stage differentiation. Interestingly, the chloroquine-resistant strain W2 was significantly more sensitive to these drugs than was the chloroquine-sensitive strain HB3. These results suggest that pyridinylimidazoles and pyrrolobenzimidazoles designed to inhibit human p38 MAPK activation can be developed to treat malaria.     

Overcoming resistance to rapalogs in gliomas by combinatory therapies

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor type, with a mean patient survival of approximately 1 year. Many previous analyses of the glioma kinome have identified key deregulated pathways that converge and activate mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Following the identification and characterization of mTOR-promoting activity in gliomagenesis, data from preclinical studies suggested the targeting of mTOR by rapamycin or its analogs (rapalogs) as a promising therapeutic approach. However, clinical trials with rapalogs have shown very limited efficacy on glioma due to the development of resistance mechanisms. Analysis of rapalog-insensitive glioma cells has revealed increased activity of growth and survival pathways compensating for mTOR inhibition by rapalogs that are suitable for therapeutic intervention. In addition, recently developed mTOR inhibitors show high anti-glioma activity. In this review, we recapitulate the regulation of mTOR signaling and its involvement in gliomagenesis, discuss mechanisms resulting in resistance to rapalogs, and speculate on strategies to overcome resistance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Inhibitors of Protein Kinases (2012).