Potential Regulatory Interactions of Escherichia coli RraA Protein with DEAD-box Helicases

Members of the DEAD-box family of RNA helicases contribute to virtually every aspect of RNA metabolism, in organisms from all domains of life. Many of these helicases are constituents of multicomponent assemblies, and their interactions with partner proteins within the complexes underpin their activities and biological function. In Escherichia coli the DEAD-box helicase RhlB is a component of the multienzyme RNA degradosome assembly, and its interaction with the core ribonuclease RNase E boosts the ATP-dependent activity of the helicase. Earlier studies have identified the regulator of ribonuclease activity A (RraA) as a potential interaction partner of both RNase E and RhlB. We present structural and biochemical evidence showing how RraA can bind to, and modulate the activity of RhlB and another E. coli DEAD-box enzyme, SrmB. Crystallographic structures are presented of RraA in complex with a portion of the natively unstructured C-terminal tail of RhlB at 2.8-Å resolution, and in complex with the C-terminal RecA-like domain of SrmB at 2.9 Å. The models suggest two distinct mechanisms by which RraA might modulate the activity of these and potentially other helicases.     

Insight of nitric oxide signaling: A potential biomarker with multifaceted complex mechanism in colorectal carcinogenesis

Colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC) is the most important health concerns throughout the World as the tumour cells rapidly spread and abruptly grow in colon and rectum to further organs. Several etiological factors are associated with colorectal carcinogenesis. During invasion and proliferation of tumour cells, various mechanistic molecular pathways are involved in the cells. Nitric Oxide pathway (NO) is one of the important cellular mechanisms associated with tumour cells initiation, invasion and progression. Epidemiological evidences suggest that NO has potential role in development of cancer. The multidisciplinary action of NO on the initiation of cancer depends on several factors including cell type, metastasis stage, and organs involved. This review emphasizes the biological significance of NO in each step of cancer metastasis, its controversial effects for carcinogenesis including initiation, invasion and progression.     

Compartmentalized Accumulation of cAMP near Complexes of Multidrug Resistance Protein 4 (MRP4) and Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) Contributes to Drug-induced Diarrhea

Diarrhea is one of the most common adverse side effects observed in ∼7% of individuals consuming Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. The mechanism of how these drugs alter fluid secretion in the gut and induce diarrhea is not clearly understood. Several drugs are either substrates or inhibitors of multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4), such as the anti-colon cancer drug irinotecan and an anti-retroviral used to treat HIV infection, 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT). These drugs activate cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-mediated fluid secretion by inhibiting MRP4-mediated cAMP efflux. Binding of drugs to MRP4 augments the formation of MRP4-CFTR-containing macromolecular complexes that is mediated via scaffolding protein PDZK1. Importantly, HIV patients on AZT treatment demonstrate augmented MRP4-CFTR complex formation in the colon, which defines a novel paradigm of drug-induced diarrhea.     

The three tricarboxylate synthase activities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynebacterium glutamicum</Emphasis> and increase of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lysine synthesis

Corynebacterium glutamicum owns a citrate synthase and two methylcitrate synthases. Characterization of the isolated enzymes showed that the two methylcitrate synthases have comparable catalytic efficiency, k _cat/K _m, as the citrate synthase with acetyl-CoA as substrate, although these enzymes are only synthesized during growth on propionate-containing media. Thus, the methylcitrate synthases have a relaxed substrate specifity, as also demonstrated by their activity with butyryl-CoA, whereas the citrate synthase does not accept acyl donors other than acetyl-CoA. A double mutant deleted of the citrate synthase gene gltA and one of the methylcitrate synthase genes, prpC1, was made unable to grow on glucose. From this mutant, a collection of suppressor mutants could be isolated which were demonstrated to have regained citrate synthase activity due to the relaxed specificity of the methylcitrate synthase PrpC2. Molecular characterization of these mutants showed that the regulator PrpR (Cg0800) located downstream of prpC1 is mutated with mutations likely to effect the secondary structure of the regulator, thus, resulting in expression of prpC2. This expression results in a citrate synthase activity, which is lower than that due to gltA in the original strain and results in increased l-lysine accumulation.     

The Aspergillus niger acuA and acuB genes correspond to the facA and facB genes in Aspergillus nidulans

Mutants in Aspergillus niger unable to grow on acetate as a sole carbon source were previously isolated by resistance to 1.2% propionate medium containing 0.1% glucose. AcuA mutants lacked acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) activity and acuB mutants lacked both ACS and isocitrate lyase activity. An acuA mutant was transformed to the acu+ phenotype with a clone of ACS (facA) from Aspergillus nidulans. The acuB mutant was transformed with the A. niger facB clone which has been identified by cross-hybridisation of an A. nidulans facB clone. These results confirm that acuA in A. niger is the gene for ACS and acuB is analogous to the A. nidulans facB regulatory gene.     

Field tests with the Insect Growth Regulators, epofenonane and fenoxycarb, in apple orchards against leafrollers and side-effects on some leafroller parasites

The Insect Growth Regulators with juvenile hormone activity, fenoxycarb and epofenonane, were applied either to separate apple trees, which were artificially inoculated with Adoxophyes orana (F.v.R.) and Pandemis heparana (Denn. & Schiff.), or in apple orchards infested with several naturally occurring leafroller species. The susceptibility of leafrollers to fenoxycarb was very high and the foliar residue remained active for at least 4 weeks. The leafroller parasites Apanteles ater (Ratzeburg) and Colpoclypeus florus (Walker), during their development in or on the host, appeared to be less susceptible to both epofenonane and fenoxycarb than the host itself.

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Résumé Le fénoxycarbe et l'épofénonane (régulateurs de croissance des insectes) ont été appliqués soit sur des pommiers isolés, artificiellement inoculés avec Adoxophyes orana (F.v.R.) et avec Pandemis heparana (Denn und Schiff), soit dans des vergers, contaminés naturellement par plusieurs espèces de tordeuses. Sur les arbres isolés, le fénoxycarbe appliqué à raison de 5 g de composé actif/100 l et l'épofénonane de 5 ml de composé actif/100 l, affectent la morphogenèse d'A. orana et P. heparana. Le fénoxycarbe agit sur A. orana même à une concentration de 0,5 g de composé actif/100 l. Dans les vergers, la vaporisation d'épofénonane (750 ml de composé actif/100 l) et de fénoxycarbe (75–150 g de composé actif/100 l) a déformé sévèrement les larves d'A. orana, d'Archips podana (Sc.), de Spilonota ocellana (F.) de P. heparana et d'Archips rosana (L.). Les résidus foliaires actifs ont persisté au moins 4 semaines, comme l'ont montré les effets morphogénétiques observés chez A. orana et P. haparana. Au cours de leur développement, sur ou à l'intérieur de l'hôte, les parasites de tordeuses Apanteles ater (Ratzeburg) et Colpoclypeus florus (Walker), sont moins sensibles à l'épofénonane et au fénoxycarbe que l'hôte lui-même. Des expériences ultérieures à plus grande échelle sont nécessaires pour évaluer l'utilisation des régulateurs de croissance des insectes contre les tordeuses dans le contrôle intégré des vergers.

     

A direct fluorescence-based assay for RGS domain GTPase accelerating activity

Diverse extracellular signals regulate seven transmembrane-spanning receptors to modulate cellular physiology. These receptors signal primarily through activation of heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins). A major determinant of heterotrimeric G protein signaling in vivo and in vitro is the intrinsic GTPase activity of the Galpha subunit. RGS (regulator of G protein signaling) domain-containing proteins are GTPase accelerating proteins specific for Galpha subunits. In this article, we describe the use of the ribose-conjugated fluorescent guanine nucleotide analog BODIPYFL-GTP as a spectroscopic probe to measure intrinsic and RGS protein-catalyzed nucleotide hydrolysis by Galphao. BODIPYFL-GTP bound to Galphao exhibits a 200% increase in fluorescence quantum yield. Hydrolysis of BODIPYFL-GTP to BODIPYFL-GDP reduces the quantum yield to 27% above its unbound value. We demonstrate that BODIPYFL-GTP can be used as a rapid real-time probe for measuring RGS domain-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis by Galphao. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this assay in the analysis of loss-of-function point mutants of both Galphao and RGS12. This assay should be useful in screening for and analyzing RGS protein inhibitory compounds.     

Transmembrane helix 11 is a genuine regulator of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump and acts as a functional parallel of β-subunit on α-Na+,K+-ATPase

The housekeeping sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase SERCA2b transports Ca(2+) across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane maintaining a vital Ca(2+) gradient. Compared with the muscle-specific isoforms SERCA2a and SERCA1a, SERCA2b houses an 11th transmembrane segment (TM11) and a short luminal extension (LE) at its C terminus (2b-tail). The 2b-tail imposes a 2-fold higher apparent Ca(2+) affinity and lower V(max). Previously, we assumed that LE is the sole functional region of the 2b-tail and that TM11 is a passive element providing an additional membrane passage. However, here we show that peptides corresponding to the TM11 region specifically modulate the activity of the homologous SERCA1a in co-reconstituted proteoliposomes and mimic the 2b-tail effect (i.e. lower V(max) and higher Ca(2+) affinity). Using truncated 2b-tail variants we document that TM11 regulates SERCA1a independently from LE, confirming that TM11 is a second, previously unrecognized functional region of the 2b-tail. A phylogenetic analysis further indicates that TM11 is the oldest and most conserved feature of the 2b-tail, found in the SERCA pump of all Bilateria, whereas LE is only present in Nematoda and vertebrates. Considering remarkable similarities with the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase α-β interaction, we now propose a model for interaction of TM11 with TM7 and TM10 in the anchoring subdomain of the Ca(2+) pump. This model involves a TM11-induced helix bending of TM7. In conclusion, more than just a passive structural feature, TM11 acts as a genuine regulator of Ca(2+) transport through interaction with the pump.     

Septal localization of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis MtrB sensor kinase promotes MtrA regulon expression

The mechanisms responsible for activation of the MtrAB two-component regulatory signal transduction system, which includes sensor kinase MtrB and response regulator MtrA, are unknown. Here, we show that an MtrB-GFP fusion protein localized to the cell membrane, the septa, and the poles in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis. This localization was independent of MtrB phosphorylation status but dependent upon the assembly of FtsZ, the initiator of cell division. The M. smegmatis mtrB mutant was filamentous, defective for cell division, and contained lysozyme-sensitive cell walls. The mtrB phenotype was complemented by either production of MtrB protein competent for phosphorylation or overproduction of MtrA(Y102C) and MtrA(D13A) mutant proteins exhibiting altered phosphorylation potential, indicating that either MtrB phosphorylation or MtrB independent expression of MtrA regulon genes, including those involved in cell wall processing, are necessary for regulated cell division. In partial support of this observation, we found that the essential cell wall hydrolase ripA is an MtrA target and that the expression of bona fide MtrA targets ripA, fbpB, and dnaA were compromised in the mtrB mutant and partially rescued upon MtrA(Y102C) and MtrA(D13A) overproduction. MtrB septal assembly was compromised upon FtsZ depletion and exposure of cells to mitomycin C, a DNA damaging agent, which interferes with FtsZ ring assembly. Expression of MtrA targets was also compromised under the above conditions, indicating that MtrB septal localization and MtrA regulon expression are linked. We propose that MtrB septal association is a necessary feature of MtrB activation that promotes MtrA phosphorylation and MtrA regulon expression.     

CFTR genotype and clinical outcomes of adult patients carried as cystic fibrosis disease

Background

There are nearly 2000 cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) mutations that cause cystic fibrosis (CF). These mutations are classified into six classes; on the one hand, the first three classes cause severe disease involvement in early childhood, on the other hand, the Class IV, V and VI mutations cause minor severe disease in the same age. Nowadays, with therapeutic advances in CF management and competence of pediatricians, physicians of adults have to deal with two groups of CF patients: (i) adults diagnosed in childhood with severe mutations and (ii) adults who initiated symptoms in adulthood and with Class IV, V and VI mutations. The aim of this study was to analyze adults from a clinical center, treated as CF disease, screening the CFTR genotype and evaluating the clinical characteristics.

Methods

Thirty patients followed as CF disease at the University Hospital were enrolled. After a complete molecular CFTR negative screening and sweat test levels between 40 and 59 mEq/L, five patients were characterized as non-CF disease and were excluded. Molecular screening was performed by CFTR gene sequencing/MLPA or by specific mutation screening. Clinical data was obtained from medical records. The patients were divided into three groups: (1) patients with Class I, II and III mutations in two CFTR alleles; (2) genotype with at least one allele of Class IV, V or VI CFTR mutations and, (3) non-identified CFTR mutation + one patient with one allele with CFTR mutation screened (Class I).

Results

There was an association of CFTR class mutation and sodium/chloride concentration in the sweat test (sodium: p = 0.040; chloride: p = 0.016), onset of digestive symptoms (p = 0.012), lung function parameter (SpO₂ — p = 0.016), Bhalla score (p = 0.021), age at diagnosis (p = 0.008) and CF-related diabetes (p = 0.029). There was an association between Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic colonization (as clinical marker for the lung disease status) and lung impairment (FEV₁% — p = 0.027; Bhalla score — p = 0.021), CF-related diabetes (p = 0.040), chloride concentration in the sweat test (p = 0.040) and chronic infection by microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus — p = 0.039; mucoid P. aeruginosa — p = 0.001). There is no positive association with the status of other clinical markers and the CFTR genotype groups. For clinical association with pancreatic insufficiency (as clinical marker for digestive symptoms), no association was related.

Conclusion

The adults with CF diagnosed by sweat test have specific clinical and genotypic characteristics, being a population that should be studied to cause better future management. Some patients treated as CF disease by clinical symptoms, showed no disease, taking into account the sweat test and complete exon sequencing/MLPA screening.