Nucleotide Pyrophosphatases/Phosphodiesterases on the Move

Nucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases (NPPs) release nucleoside 5′-monophosphates from nucleotides and their derivatives. They exist both as membrane proteins, with an extracellular active site, and as soluble proteins in body fluids. The only well-characterized NPPs are the mammalian ecto-enzymes NPP1 (PC-1), NPP2 (autotaxin) and NPP3 (B10; gp130^RB13-6). These are modular proteins consisting of a short N-terminal intracellular domain, a single transmembrane domain, two somatomedin-B-like domains, a catalytic domain, and a C-terminal nuclease-like domain. The catalytic domain of NPPs is conserved from prokaryotes to mammals and shows remarkable structural and catalytic similarities with the catalytic domain of other phospho-/sulfo-coordinating enzymes such as alkaline phosphatases. Hydrolysis of pyrophosphate/phosphodiester bonds by NPPs occurs via a nucleotidylated threonine. NPPs are also known to auto(de)phosphorylate this active-site threonine, a process accounted for by an intrinsic phosphatase activity, with the phosphorylated enzyme representing the catalytic intermediate of the phosphatase reaction. NPP1-3 have been implicated in various processes, including bone mineralization, signaling by insulin and by nucleotides, and the differentiation and motility of cells. While it has been established that most of these biological effects of NPPs require a functional catalytic site, their physiological substrates remain to be identified.     

Effects of Transport Stress on Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Beagle Dogs

Here, to determine the effects of transport stress on blood parameters in dogs, we investigated the changes in hematologic and serum chemical parameters in healthy beagle dogs transported from Beijing, China, to Osaka, Japan, to obtain the background data. Only the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase increased clearly upon arrival, a change attributed to transport stress, but the activity gradually reduced afterward. No marked changes in levels of other blood parameters were noted. Our findings here suggest that alkaline phosphatase is a useful tool for studying transport stress.     

Mononuclear and dinuclear peroxotungsten complexes with co-ordinated dipeptides as potent inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase activity

New molecular peroxotungstate(VI) complexes with dipeptides as ancillary ligands of the type, [WO(O₂)₂(dipeptide)(H₂O)].3H₂O, dipeptide = glycyl-glycine or glycyl-leucine, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectral and physico-chemical methods including thermal analysis. The complexes contain side-on bound peroxo groups and a peptide zwitterion bonded to the metal centre unidentately through an O(carboxylate) atom. Investigations on certain biologically important key properties of these compounds and a set of dimeric compounds in analogous co-ligand environment, Na₂[W₂O₃(O₂)₄(dipeptide)₂].3H₂O, dipeptide = glycyl-glycine and glycyl-leucine, reported previously by us revealed interesting features of the compounds. Each of the compounds despite having a 7 co-ordinated metal centre exerts a strong inhibitory effect on alkaline phosphatase activity with a potency higher than that of the free dipeptide, tungstate or peroxotungstate. The compounds exhibit remarkable stability in solutions of acidic as well as physiological pH and are weaker as substrate to the enzyme catalase, compared to H₂O₂. The mononuclear and dinuclear peroxotungsten compounds are efficient oxidants of reduced glutathione (GSH), a reaction in which only one of the peroxo groups of a diperoxotungsten moiety of the complexes was found to be active.     

2-Methyl-5-tert-butylthiophenol—An Odorless Deprotecting Reagent Useful in Synthesis of Oligonucleotides and Their Analogs

Abstract

A solution of 2-methyl-5-tert-butylthiophenol and triethylamine in acetonitrile efficiently removed the methyl protecting groups from phosphate and phosphorothioate triesters and yielded oligonucleotides of high quality. This inexpensive odorless liquid is not toxic and is a suitable replacement for hazardous thiophenol and other reagents often used for this purpose.      

Transglutaminase-mediated internal protein labeling with a designed peptide loop

Post-translational internal protein labeling was explored through the insertion of a 13-mer peptidyl loop specifically recognized by microbial transglutaminase (MTG). The peptidyl loop included one lysine residue (abbreviated as the K-loop), and was designed and inserted into two different regions of the protein bacterial alkaline phosphatase (BAP). MTG-mediated selective labeling of a lysine residue in the K-loop was achieved with a functional Gln-donor substrate. Internal protein labeling in the vicinity of the active site of BAP (residues 91–93) markedly decreased the activity of the enzyme. Conversely, insertion of the K-loop at a site distal from the active site (residues 219–221) afforded site-specific and covalent internal protein labeling without impairing the activity of the enzyme.     

Augmented oxygen-mediated transcriptional activation of cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A expression and increased susceptibilities to hyperoxic lung injury in transgenic mice carrying the human CYP1A1 or mouse 1A2 promoter in vivo

Background/aims

TEC, a member of the TEC family of non-receptor type protein tyrosine kinases, has recently been suggested to play a role in hepatocyte proliferation and liver regeneration. This study aims to investigate the putative mechanisms of TEC kinase regulation of hepatocyte differentiation, i.e. to explore which signaling pathway TEC is involved in, and how TEC is activated in hepatocyte after hepatectomy and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulation.

Methods

We performed immunoprecipitation (IP) and immunoblotting (IB) to examine TEC tyrosine phosphorylation after partial hepatectomy in mice and HGF stimulation in WB F-344 hepatic cells. The TEC kinase activity was determined by in vitro kinase assay. Reporter gene assay, antisense oligonucleotide and TEC dominant negative mutant (TEC^KM) were used to examine the possible signaling pathways in which TEC is involved. The cell proliferation rate was evaluated by ³H-TdR incorporation.

Results

TEC phosphorylation and kinase activity were increased in 1 h after hepatectomy or HGF treatment. TEC enhanced the activity of Elk and serum response element (SRE). Inhibition of MEK1 suppressed TEC phosphorylation. Blocking TEC activity dramatically decreased the activation of Erk. Reduced TEC kinase activity also suppressed the proliferation of WB F-344 cells. These results suggest TEC is involved in the Ras-MAPK pathway and acts between MEK1 and Erk.

Conclusions

TEC promotes hepatocyte proliferation and regeneration and is involved in HGF-induced Erk signaling pathway.     

A dual reporter cell assay for identifying serotype and drug susceptibility of herpes simplex virus

A dual reporter cell assay (DRCA) that allows real-time detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection was developed. This was achieved by stable transfection of cells with an expression cassette that contains the dual reporter genes, secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), under the control of an HSV early gene promoter. Baby hamster kidney (BHK) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines were used as parental cell lines because the former is permissive for both HSV serotypes, HSV-1 and HSV-2, whereas the latter is susceptible to infection only by HSV-2. The DRCA permitted differential detection of HSV-1 and HSV-2 by observation of EGFP-positive cells, as substantiated by screening a total of 35 samples. The BHK-based cell line is sensitive to a viral titer as low as a single plaque-forming unit with a robust assay window as measured by a chemiluminescent assay. Evaluations of the DRCA with representative acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant HSV strains demonstrated that their drug susceptibilities were accurately determined by a 48-h format. In summary, this novel DRCA is a useful means for serotyping of HSV in real time as well as a rapid screening method for determining anti-HSV susceptibilities.     

Lactacystin, a proteasome inhibitor, enhances BMP-induced osteoblastic differentiation by increasing active Smads

Proteasome inhibitors enhance bone formation and osteoblastic differentiation in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, we examined whether the molecular mechanisms of lactacystin, one of many proteasome inhibitors, stimulated the osteoblastic differentiation of C2C12 cells that is induced by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Pretreatment with lactacystin enhanced the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity induced by BMP2, BMP4 or BMP7, but lactacystin did not induce ALP in the absence of BMPs. In addition, lactacystin-stimulated BMP2 induced mRNA expression of ALP, type I collagen, osteonectin, osteocalcin, Id1, Osterix, and Runx2. Lactacystin maintained BMP2-induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 and increased the length of time that these Smads were bound to target DNA. Moreover, lactacystin prevented BMP receptor-induced Smad degradation. This enhancement of BMP2-induced ALP activity and Smad phosphorylation by lactacystin was also observed in primary osteoblasts. These findings suggest that pretreatment with lactacystin accelerates BMP-induced osteoblastic differentiation by increasing the levels of phosphorylated Smads, which are maintained because BMP receptor-induced degradation is inhibited. We propose that optimized stimulation by proteasome inhibitors in a clinical setting may facilitate autogenous or BMP-induced bone formation in areas of defective bone.     

Psoralen stimulates osteoblast differentiation through activation of BMP signaling

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. In order to improve the treatment of osteoporosis, identification of anabolic and orally available agents with minimal side effects is highly desirable. Psoralen is a coumarin-like derivative extracted from Chinese herbs, which have been used to treat bone diseases for thousands of years. However, the role of Psoralen in osteoblast function and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that Psoralen promoted osteoblast differentiation in primary mouse calvarial osteoblasts in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrated by up-regulation of expressions of osteoblast-specific marker genes including type I collagen, osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein and enhancement of alkaline phosphatase activity. We further demonstrated that Psoralen up-regulated the expression of Bmp2 and Bmp4 genes, increased the protein level of phospho-Smad1/5/8, and activated BMP reporter (12xSBE-OC-Luc) activity in a dose-dependent manner, as well as enhanced the expression of Osx, the direct target gene of BMP signaling. Deletion of the Bmp2 and Bmp4 genes abolished the stimulatory effect of Psoralen on the expression of osteoblast marker genes, such as Col1, Alp, Oc and Bsp. Our results suggest that Psoralen acts through the activation of BMP signaling to promote osteoblast differentiation and demonstrate that Psoralen could be a potential anabolic agent to treat patients with bone loss-associated diseases such as osteoporosis.     

Lung cancer-derived Dickkopf1 is associated with bone metastasis and the mechanism involves the inhibition of osteoblast differentiation

Wnt/β-catenin signaling and Dickkopf1 (DKK1) play important roles in the progression of lung cancer, which preferably metastasizes to skeleton. But the role of them in bone dissemination is poorly understood. This study aims to define the role of DKK1 in lung cancer bone metastases and investigate the underlying mechanism. Our results demonstrated that DKK1 over-expression was a frequent event in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) blood samples, and serous DKK1 level was much higher in bone metastatic NSCLC compared to non-bone metastatic NSCLC. We also found that conditioned medium from DKK1 over-expressing lung cancer cells inhibited the differentiation of osteoblast, determined by alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin secretion, whereas the conditioned medium from DKK1 silencing lung cancer cells exhibited the opposite effects. Mechanistically, DKK1 reduced the level of β-catenin and RUNX2, as well as inhibiting the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Taken together, these results suggested that lung cancer-produced DKK1 may be an important mechanistic link between NSCLC and bone metastases, and targeting DKK1 may be an effective method to treat bone metastase of NSCLC.