Mitochondrial nitric oxide localization in H9c2 cells revealed by confocal microscopy.

This study shows the presence of all three nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) and NOS activity in H9c2 cells cultured under non-stimulated conditions. By using the 4,5 diaminofluoresceindiacetate (DAF-2DA) fluorimetric nitric oxide (NO(*)) detection system we observed NO(*) production in H9c2 cells. As revealed by confocal microscopy, NO(*) fluorescence colocalizes in mitochondria labeled with Mito-Tracker Red CM-H(2)Xros. Upon stimulation with acetylcholine (Ach), which increased NOS activity by 75%, the colocalization coefficient C(green) value, calculated as Pearson's correlation, increased from 0.07 to 0.10, demonstrating an augmented presence of NO(*) in mitochondria. Conversely, the presence of NO(*) in mitochondria decreased following cells pretreatment with l-MonoMethylArginine (L-NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of NOS activity, as indicated by the reduction of the C(green) value to 0.02. This work confirms that the presence of NO(*) in mitochondria can be modulated in response to different fluxes of NO(*).     

Molecular basis of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in rat vascular smooth muscles

ATP-sensitive K+ (K(ATP)) channels couple metabolic changes to membrane excitability in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). While the electrophysiological properties of K(ATP) channels have been examined, little is known about the molecular basis of K(ATP) complex in vascular SMCs. We identified and cloned four K(ATP) subunit genes from rat mesenteric artery, namely rvKir6.1, rvKir6.2, rvKirSUR1, and rvSUR2B. These clones showed over 99.6% amino acid sequence identity with other previously reported isoforms. The mRNA expression patterns of the K(ATP) subunits varied among rat aorta, mesenteric artery, pulmonary artery, tail artery, hepatic artery, and portal vein. Heterologous co-expression of rvKir6.1 and rvSUR2B yielded functional K(ATP) channels that were inhibited by glibenclamide, and opened by pinacidil. Our results for the first time reported the expression of four K(ATP) subunits in same vascular tissues, unmasking the diversity of native K(ATP) channels in vascular SMCs.     

Action of nereistoxin on recombinant neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Xenopus laevis</Emphasis> oocytes

Nereistoxin (NTX), a natural neurotoxin from the salivary glands of the marine annelid worm Lumbriconereis heteropoda, is highly toxic to insects. Its synthetic analogue, Cartap, was the first commercial insecticide based on a natural product. We have used voltage-clamp electrophysiology to compare the actions of NTX on recombinant nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nicotinic AChRs) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes following nuclear injection of cDNAs. The recombinant nicotinic AChRs investigated were chicken 7, chicken 42 and the Drosophila melanogaster/chicken hybrid receptors SAD/2 and ALS/2. No agonist action of NTX (0.1–100 M) was observed on chicken 7, chicken 42 and the Drosophila/chicken hybrid nicotinic AChRs. Currents elicited by ACh were reduced in amplitude by NTX in a dose-dependent manner. The toxin was slightly more potent on recombinant Drosophila/vertebrate hybrid receptors than on vertebrate homomeric (7) or heteromeric (42) nicotinic AChRs. Block by NTX of the chicken 7, chicken 42 and the SAD/2 and ALS/2 Drosophila/chicken hybrid receptors is in all cases non-competitive. Thus, the site of action on nicotinic AChRs of NTX, to which the insecticide Cartap is metabolised in insects, differs from that of the major nicotinic AChR-active insecticide, imidacloprid.     

Approaches to stabilization of inter-domain recombination in polyketide synthase gene expression plasmids

Regions of extremely high sequence identity are recurrent in modular polyketide synthase (PKS) genes. Such sequences are potentially detrimental to the stability of PKS expression plasmids used in the combinatorial biosynthesis of polyketide metabolites. We present two different solutions for circumventing intra-plasmid recombination within the megalomicin PKS genes in Streptomyces coelicolor. In one example, a synthetic gene was used in which the codon usage was reengineered without affecting the primary amino acid sequence. The other approach utilized a heterologous subunit complementation strategy to replace one of the problematic regions. Both methods resulted in PKS complexes capable of 6-deoxyerythronolide B analogue biosynthesis in S. coelicolor CH999, permitting reproducible scale-up to at least 5-l stirred-tank fermentation and a comparison of diketide precursor incorporation efficiencies between the erythromycin and megalomicin PKSs. Electronic Publication     

The fenestrin antigen in submembrane skeleton of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila is proposed as a marker of cell polarity during cell division and in oral replacement

Tetrahymena thermophila cells have two types of polarized morphogenesis: divisional morphogenesis and oral reorganization (OR). The aim of this research is the analysis of cortical patterns of immunostaining during cell division and in OR using previously characterized antibodies against fenestrin and epiplasm B proteins. During cell division, the anarchic field of basal body proliferation of the new developing oral apparatus (AF) showed concomitant strong binding of the fenestrin antigen and withdrawal of a signal of the epiplasm B antigen. At a specific stage, the fenestrin antigen also appeared as a character of the anterior cortex pole, with a co-localized decrease in the detected epiplasm B antigen. The fenestrin antigen also showed a polarity of duplicating basal bodies in ciliary rows. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling experiments were performed in the absence and presence of an inhibitor of activity of serine/threonine kinases, 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) as an inducer of the oral replacement process. In the presence of 6-DMAP, one class of cells started OR, and some others were trapped and affected in cell division. Both types of cells showed an instability of oral structures and formed enlarged primordial oral fields. These anarchic fields (AFs) bind the fenestrin antigen, with disappearance of epiplasmic antigen staining. Only one protein (about 64 kDa) is detected in western blots by the anti-fenestrin antibody and it accumulated in 6-DMAP-treated cells that are involved in uncompleted morphogenetic activity. At a defined stage of oral development, both during cell division and in OR, the fenestrin antigen served as a marker of polarity of the cell of the anterior pole character.     

(+)-(S)-alapyridaine--a general taste enhancer?

N-(1-Carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxymethyl-pyridinium-3-ol inner salt (alapyridaine), recently identified in heated sugar/amino acid mixtures as well as in beef bouillon, has been shown to exhibit general taste-enhancing activities, although tasteless on its own. Differing from other taste enhancers reported so far, racemic (R/S)-alapyridaine and, to an even greater extent (+)-(S)-alapyridaine, the physiologically active enantiomer, are able to enhance more than one basic taste quality. The threshold concentrations for the sweet taste of glucose and sucrose, for the umami taste of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (GMP), as well as the salty taste of NaCl, were significantly decreased when alapyridaine was present. In contrast, perception of the bitter tastes of caffeine and L-phenylalanine, as well as of sour-tasting citric acid, was unaffected. Furthermore, alapyridaine was shown to intensify known taste synergies such as, for example, the enhancing effect of L-arginine on the salty taste of NaCl, as well as that of GMP on the umami taste of MSG. The activity of (+)-(S)-alapyridaine could be observed not only in solutions of single taste compounds, but also in more complex tastant mixtures; for example, the umami, sweet and salty taste of a solution containing MSG, sucrose, NaCl and caffeine was significantly modulated, thus indicating that alapyridaine is a general taste enhancer.