Multienzyme interactions of the de novo purine biosynthetic protein PAICS facilitate purinosome formation and metabolic channeling

There is growing evidence that mammalian cells deploy a mitochondria-associated metabolon called the purinosome to perform channeled de novo purine biosynthesis (DNPB). However, the molecular mechanisms of this substrate-channeling pathway are not well defined. Here, we present molecular evidence of protein–protein interactions (PPIs) between the human bifunctional phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase/succinocarboxamide synthetase (PAICS) and other known DNPB enzymes. We employed two orthogonal approaches: bimolecular fluorescence complementation, to probe PPIs inside live, intact cells, and co-immunoprecipitation using StrepTag-labeled PAICS that was reintegrated into the genome of PAICS-knockout HeLa cells (crPAICS). With the exception of amidophosphoribosyltransferase, the first enzyme of the DNPB pathway, we discovered PAICS interacts with all other known DNPB enzymes and with MTHFD1, an enzyme which supplies the 10-formyltetrahydrofolate cofactor essential for DNPB. We show these interactions are present in cells grown in both purine-depleted and purine-rich conditions, suggesting at least a partial assembly of these enzymes may be present regardless of the activity of the DNPB pathway. We also demonstrate that tagging of PAICS on its C terminus disrupts these interactions and that this disruption is correlated with disturbed DNPB activity. Finally, we show that crPAICS cells with reintegrated N-terminally tagged PAICS regained effective DNPB with metabolic signatures of channeled synthesis, whereas crPAICS cells that reintegrated C-terminally tagged PAICS exhibit reduced DNPB intermediate pools and a perturbed partitioning of inosine monophosphate into AMP and GMP. Our results provide molecular evidence in support of purinosomes and suggest perturbing PPIs between DNPB enzymes negatively impact metabolite flux through this important pathway.     

脑红蛋白与Na^＋，K^＋-ATP酶β2亚基的相互作用及作用位点的鉴定

为研究神经系统特异性携氧蛋白———脑红蛋白 (NGB)保护神经元耐受缺氧损伤的分子机制 ,利用酵母双杂交系统从人胎脑cDNA文库中筛选与其有相互作用的蛋白质。序列分析表明 ,其中一个克隆的编码产物与Na ,K ATP酶 β2亚基 (NKA1b2 )序列一致。随后采用PCR方法从人胎脑cDNA文库中扩增获得NKA1b2全长cDNA。蛋白质结合实验表明 ,原核表达的NGB与体外转录翻译得到的NKA1b2在细胞外有结合作用。免疫共沉淀实验证明二者在生理条件下能够以复合物的形式存在。利用NGB系列短截体研究相互作用的位点发现 ,NGB蛋白N末端 1～ 75位氨基酸可与NKA1b2结合 ,但结合力很弱 ,而其C末端 75个氨基酸则与NKA1b2无结合作用 ,由此推测NGB蛋白整体的三维结构是结合所必需的。     

Estrogen receptor beta modulates permeability transition in brain mitochondria

Recent evidence highlights a role for sex and hormonal status in regulating cellular responses to ischemic brain injury and neurodegeneration. A key pathological event in ischemic brain injury is the opening of a mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPT) induced by excitotoxic calcium levels, which can trigger irreversible damage to mitochondria accompanied by the release of pro-apoptotic factors. However, sex differences in brain MPT modulation have not yet been explored. Here, we show that mitochondria isolated from female mouse forebrain have a lower calcium threshold for MPT than male mitochondria, and that this sex difference depends on the MPT regulator cyclophilin D (CypD). We also demonstrate that an estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) antagonist inhibits MPT and knockout of ERβ decreases the sensitivity of mitochondria to the CypD inhibitor, cyclosporine A. These results suggest a functional relationship between ERβ and CypD in modulating brain MPT. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation studies identify several ERβ binding partners in mitochondria. Among these, we investigate the mitochondrial ATPase as a putative site of MPT regulation by ERβ. We find that previously described interaction between the oligomycin sensitivity-conferring subunit of ATPase (OSCP) and CypD is decreased by ERβ knockout, suggesting that ERβ modulates MPT by regulating CypD interaction with OSCP. Functionally, in primary neurons and hippocampal slice cultures, modulation of ERβ has protective effects against glutamate toxicity and oxygen glucose deprivation, respectively. Taken together, these results reveal a novel pathway of brain MPT regulation by ERβ that could contribute to sex differences in ischemic brain injury and neurodegeneration.     

NOK通过JAK2依赖性方式激活STAT3信号通路

NOK能激活包含JAK-STAT信号通路在内的多种促细胞有丝分裂信号通路.研究发现,在人胚肾细胞(HEK293T)中,NOK与STAT3具有直接的相互作用.进一步的实验表明,NOK能同STAT3蛋白除螺旋结构域及c端结构域外的其他4个结构域发生相互作用,而NOK的胞内区则介导了NOK同STAT3的相互作用.同时,免疫共沉淀实验显示,NOK能与JAK2发生相互作用.重要的是,共同表达NOK与JAK2蛋白对STAT3信号通路能产生一种非常显著的协同激活作用,但当共同表达NOK和JAK2的激酶活性缺失突变体时,并不产生这种协同激活效应.综上,实验结果显示,NOK可能同STAT3和JAK2形成一个复合物,通过JAK2依赖性方式激活STAT3信号通路.     

Analysis of the proteins targeted by CDSP32, a plastidic thioredoxin participating in oxidative stress responses

The chloroplastic drought-induced stress protein of 32 kDa (CDSP32) is a thioredoxin induced by environmental stress conditions. To gain insight into the function of CDSP32, we applied two strategies to analyze its targets. First, using affinity chromatography with an immobilized CDSP32 active site mutant, we identified six plastidic targets of CDSP32. Three of them are involved in photosynthetic processes: ATP-ase gamma-subunit, Rubisco and aldolase. The three others participate in the protection against oxidative damage: two peroxiredoxins, PrxQ and the BAS1 2-Cys peroxiredoxin, and a B-type methionine sulfoxide reductase. Then, we developed a novel strategy to trap targets directly in leaf extracts. The method, based on co-immunoprecipitation using extracts from plants overexpressing Wt CDSP32 or CDSP32 active site mutant, confirmed the interaction in vivo between CDSP32 and the PrxQ and BAS1 peroxiredoxins. We showed that CDSP32 is able to form heterodimeric complexes with PrxQ and that the peroxiredoxin displays CDSP32-dependent peroxidase activity. Under photooxidative stress induced by methyl viologen, plants overexpressing CDSP32 active site mutant exhibit decreased maximal PSII photochemical efficiency and retain much less chlorophyll compared with Wt plants and with plants overexpressing Wt CDSP32. We propose that the increased sensitivity results from trapping in planta of the targets involved in the protection against oxidative damage. We conclude that CDSP32, compared with other plant thioredoxins, is a thioredoxin more specifically involved in plastidic responses against oxidative stress.     

Subcellular segregation of distinct heteromeric NMDA glutamate receptors in the striatum

Functional N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors are composed of heteromeric complexes of NR1, the obligatory subunit for channel activity, and NR2 or NR3 family members, which confer variability in the properties of the receptors. Recent studies have provided evidence for the existence of both binary (containing NR1 and either NR2A or NR2B) and ternary (containing NR1, NR2A, and NR2B) receptor complexes in the adult mammalian brain. However, the mechanisms regulating subunit assembly and receptor localization are not well understood. In the CNS, NMDA subunits are present both at intracellular sites and the post-synaptic membrane of neurons. Using biochemical protein fractionation and co-immunoprecipitation approaches we have found that in rat striatum binary NMDA receptors are widely distributed, and can be identified in the light membrane, synaptosomal membrane, and synaptic vesicle-enriched subcellular compartments. In contrast, ternary receptors are found exclusively in the synaptosomal membranes. When striatal proteins are chemically cross-linked prior to subcellular fractionation, ternary NMDA receptors can be precipitated from the light membrane and synaptic vesicle-enriched fractions where this type of receptor complex is not detectable under normal conditions. These findings suggest differential targeting of distinct types of NMDA receptor assemblies between intracellular and post-synaptic sites based on subunit composition. This targeting may underlie important differences in the regulation of the transport pathways involved in both normal as well as pathological receptor functions.     

Activation of farnesoid X receptor attenuates hepatic injury in a murine model of alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a common cause of advanced liver disease, and considered as a major risk factor of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hepatic cholestasis is a pathophysiological feature observed in all stages of ALD. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, and plays an essential role in the regulation of bile acid, lipid and glucose homeostasis. However, the role of FXR in the pathogenesis and progression of ALD remains largely unknown. Mice were fed Lieber-DeCarli ethanol diet or an isocaloric control diet. We used a specific agonist of FXR WAY-362450 to study the effect of pharmacological activation of FXR in alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we demonstrated that FXR activity was impaired by chronic ethanol ingestion in a murine model of ALD. Activation of FXR by specific agonist WAY-362450 protected mice from the development of ALD. We also found that WAY-362450 treatment rescued FXR activity, suppressed ethanol-induced Cyp2e1 up-regulation and attenuated oxidative stress in liver. Our results highlight a key role of FXR in the modulation of ALD development, and propose specific FXR agonists for the treatment of ALD patients.     

人脑中硒蛋白W与鞘脂激活蛋白原相互作用的筛选与验证

硒蛋白W(SelW)是人脑中一种重要的硒蛋白.在缺硒的条件下,SelW在脑中具有优先储备的特性,但其具体机制和在脑中的功能至今尚不清楚.本文以SelW突变体SelW′为"诱饵",采用酵母双杂交系统对人胎脑文库进行筛选,获得与SelW相互作用的蛋白,其中一种为鞘脂激活蛋白原(PSAP).采用荧光共振能量转移技术中的受体漂白和敏化发射两种方法,验证了SelW与PSAP的相互作用.构建表达载体在大肠杆菌中成功表达出SelW′,利用Pull-down技术验证了SelW′与PSAP在细胞外的直接相互作用.采用免疫共沉淀的方法验证了上述两种蛋白在昆明小鼠脑组织中的内源性相互作用.基于SelW和PSAP的已知生物功能,推测SelW可能在脑部发育和神经退行性疾病形成过程中发挥着重要作用.