ACE activity affects myogenic differentiation via mTOR signaling

Variation in ACE activity affects myogenic differentiation in C2C12 cells. The present study investigated the mechanism by which ACE influences the myogenic differentiation using the ACE-transduced C2C12 cells. Overexpression of ACE induced the down-regulation of myosin heavy chain, a late myogenic marker at 3-5 days after induction of differentiation. ACE-transduced cells exhibited the immature myotubes but an early myogenic marker (myogenin) was transiently increased at day 1. In ACE-transduced cells, phosphorylation of mTOR and its downstream effector (p70S6K) was suppressed at 2-5 day. However, upstream effector of mTOR (Akt) was transiently suppressed at day 3. Expression of IGF-II mRNA, which is controlled by mTOR, was also down-regulated during the differentiation in ACE-transduced cells. On the other hand, the treatment of cells with captopril, an ACE inhibitor, induced up-regulations of myosin heavy chain and phosphorylated p70S6K. These results suggest that ACE negatively regulates the myotube maturation via impairment of mTOR function.     

Enzymatic Formation of β-Citraurin from β-Cryptoxanthin and Zeaxanthin by Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase4 in the Flavedo of Citrus Fruit

In this study, the pathway of β-citraurin biosynthesis, carotenoid contents and the expression of genes related to carotenoid metabolism were investigated in two varieties of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu), Yamashitabeni-wase, which accumulates β-citraurin predominantly, and Miyagawa-wase, which does not accumulate β-citraurin. The results suggested that CitCCD4 (for Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase4) was a key gene contributing to the biosynthesis of β-citraurin. In the flavedo of Yamashitabeni-wase, the expression of CitCCD4 increased rapidly from September, which was consistent with the accumulation of β-citraurin. In the flavedo of Miyagawa-wase, the expression of CitCCD4 remained at an extremely low level during the ripening process, which was consistent with the absence of β-citraurin. Functional analysis showed that the CitCCD4 enzyme exhibited substrate specificity. It cleaved β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin at the 7,8 or 7′,8′ position. But other carotenoids tested in this study (lycopene, α-carotene, β-carotene, all-trans-violaxanthin, and 9-cis-violaxanthin) were not cleaved by the CitCCD4 enzyme. The cleavage of β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin by CitCCD4 led to the formation of β-citraurin. Additionally, with ethylene and red light-emitting diode light treatments, the gene expression of CitCCD4 was up-regulated in the flavedo of Yamashitabeni-wase. These increases in the expression of CitCCD4 were consistent with the accumulation of β-citraurin in the two treatments. These results might provide new strategies to improve the carotenoid contents and compositions of citrus fruits.Carotenoids, a diverse group of pigments widely distributed in nature, fulfill a variety of important functions in plants and play a critical role in human nutrition and health (Schwartz et al., 1997; Cunningham and Gantt, 1998; Havaux, 1998; Krinsky et al., 2003; Ledford and Niyogi, 2005). The pathway of carotenoid biosynthesis has been well documented in various plant species, including Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; Park et al., 2002), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum; Isaacson et al., 2002), pepper (Capsicum annuum; Bouvier et al., 1998), citrus (Citrus spp.; Kato et al., 2004, 2006; Rodrigo et al., 2004; Rodrigo and Zacarías, 2007; Kato, 2012; Zhang et al., 2012a), and apricot (Prunus armenaica; Kita et al., 2007). Genes encoding the enzymes in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway have been cloned, and their expression profiles have also been characterized (Fig. 1). As carotenoids contain a series of conjugated double bonds in the central chain, they can be oxidatively cleaved in a site-specific manner (Mein et al., 2011). The oxidative cleavage of carotenoids not only regulates their accumulation but also produces a range of apocarotenoids (Walter et al., 2010). In higher plants, many different apocarotenoids derive from the cleavage of carotenoids and have important metabolic functions, such as plant hormones, pigments, aroma and scent compounds, as well as signaling compounds (Fig. 1). A well-known example is abscisic acid, which is a C₁₅ compound derived from the cleavage of the 11,12 double bond of 9-cis-violaxanthin and 9′-cis-neoxanthin (Schwartz et al., 1997; Tan et al., 1997; Cutler and Krochko, 1999; Chernys and Zeevaart, 2000; Giuliano et al., 2003).Open in a separate windowFigure 1.Carotenoid and apocarotenoid metabolic pathway in plants. GGPP, Geranylgeranyl diphosphate. Enzymes, listed here from top to bottom, are named according to the designation of their genes: PSY, phytoene synthase; PDS, Phytoene desaturase; ZDS, ζ-carotene desaturase; ZISO, 15-cis-ζ-carotene isomerase; CRTISO, carotenoid isomerase; LCYb, lycopene β-cyclase; LCYe, lycopene ε-cyclase; HYe, ε-ring hydroxylase; HYb, β-ring hydroxylase; ZEP, zeaxanthin epoxidase; VDE, violaxanthin deepoxidase; NCED, 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase.Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) are a group of enzymes that catalyze the oxidative cleavage of carotenoids (Ryle and Hausinger, 2002). CCDs are nonheme iron enzymes present in plants, bacteria, and animals. In plants, CCDs belong to an ancient and highly heterogenous family (CCD1, CCD4, CCD7, CCD8, and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenases [NCEDs]). The similarity among the different members is very low apart from four strictly conserved His residues and a few Glu residues (Kloer and Schulz, 2006; Walter et al., 2010). In Arabidopsis, the CCD family contains nine members (CCD1, NCED2, NCED3, CCD4, NCED5, NCED6, CCD7, CCD8, and NCED9), and orthologs in other plant species are typically named according to their homology with an Arabidopsis CCD (Huang et al., 2009). In our previous study, the functions of CitCCD1, CitNCED2, and CitNCED3 were investigated in citrus fruits (Kato et al., 2006). The recombinant CitCCD1 protein cleaved β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and all-trans-violaxanthin at the 9,10 and 9′,10′ positions and 9-cis-violaxanthin at the 9′,10′ position. The recombinant CitNCED2 and CitNCED3 proteins cleaved 9-cis-violaxanthin at the 11,12 position to form xanthoxin, a precursor of abscisic acid (Kato et al., 2006). To date, information on the functions of other CCDs in citrus fruits remains limited, while the functions of CCD7 and CCD8, as well as NCED5, NCED6, and NCED9, in Arabidopsis have been characterized (Kloer and Schulz, 2006; Walter et al., 2010). In Arabidopsis, CCD7 cleaves all-trans-β-carotene at the 9′,10′ position to form all-trans-β-apo-10′-carotenal. All-trans-β-apo-10′-carotenal is further shortened by AtCCD8 at the 13,14 position to produce β-apo-13-carotenone (Alder et al., 2012). NCED5, NCED6, and NCED9 cleave 9-cis-violaxanthin at the 11,12 position to form xanthoxin (Tan et al., 2003). Compared with other CCDs, the function of CCD4 is poorly understood. In Chrysanthemum morifolium, CmCCD4a contributed to the white color formation by cleaving carotenoids into colorless compounds (Ohmiya et al., 2006). Recently, it has been reported that CsCCD4, CmCCD4a, and MdCCD4 could cleave β-carotene to yield β-ionone (Rubio et al., 2008; Huang et al., 2009).β-Citraurin, a C₃₀ apocarotenoid, is a color-imparting pigment responsible for the reddish color of citrus fruits (Farin et al., 1983). In 1936, it was first discovered in Sicilian oranges (Cual, 1965). In citrus fruits, the accumulation of β-citraurin is not a common event; it is only observed in the flavedos of some varieties during fruit ripening. The citrus varieties accumulating β-citraurin are considered more attractive because of their red-orange color (Ríos et al., 2010). Although more than 70 years have passed since β-citraurin was first identified, the pathway of its biosynthesis is still unknown. As its structure is similar to that of β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, β-citraurin was presumed to be a degradation product of β-cryptoxanthin or zeaxanthin (Oberholster et al., 2001; Rodrigo et al., 2004; Ríos et al., 2010; Fig. 1). To date, however, the specific cleavage reaction producing β-citraurin has not been elucidated. In this study, we found that the CitCCD4 gene was involved in the synthesis of β-citraurin, using two citrus varieties of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu), Yamashitabeni-wase, which accumulates β-citraurin predominantly, and Miyagawa-wase, which does not accumulate β-citraurin. To confirm the role of the CitCCD4 gene further, functional analyses of the CitCCD4 enzyme were performed in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, the regulation of β-citraurin content and CitCCD4 gene expression in response to ethylene and red light-emitting diode (LED) light treatments was also examined. This study, to our knowledge, is the first to investigate the biosynthesis of β-citraurin in citrus fruits. The results might provide new strategies to enhance the nutritional and commercial qualities of citrus fruits.     

Solution Structures of Cytosolic RNA Sensor MDA5 and LGP2 C-terminal Domains: IDENTIFICATION OF THE RNA RECOGNITION LOOP IN RIG-I-LIKE RECEPTORS*

The RIG-I like receptor (RLR) comprises three homologues: RIG-I (retinoic acid-inducible gene I), MDA5 (melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5), and LGP2 (laboratory of genetics and physiology 2). Each RLR senses different viral infections by recognizing replicating viral RNA in the cytoplasm. The RLR contains a conserved C-terminal domain (CTD), which is responsible for the binding specificity to the viral RNAs, including double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and 5′-triphosphated single-stranded RNA (5′ppp-ssRNA). Here, the solution structures of the MDA5 and LGP2 CTD domains were solved by NMR and compared with those of RIG-I CTD. The CTD domains each have a similar fold and a similar basic surface but there is the distinct structural feature of a RNA binding loop; The LGP2 and RIG-I CTD domains have a large basic surface, one bank of which is formed by the RNA binding loop. MDA5 also has a large basic surface that is extensively flat due to open conformation of the RNA binding loop. The NMR chemical shift perturbation study showed that dsRNA and 5′ppp-ssRNA are bound to the basic surface of LGP2 CTD, whereas dsRNA is bound to the basic surface of MDA5 CTD but much more weakly, indicating that the conformation of the RNA binding loop is responsible for the sensitivity to dsRNA and 5′ppp-ssRNA. Mutation study of the basic surface and the RNA binding loop supports the conclusion from the structure studies. Thus, the CTD is responsible for the binding affinity to the viral RNAs.     

Macrophage activation for tumor cytotoxicity: Control of cytotoxic activity by the time interval effector and target cells are exposed to lymphokines

Macrophages continuously exposed to lymphokines (LK) and target cells throughout a 48-hr cytotoxicity assay exhibit 3-fold more tumoricidal activity than do cells optimally treated with LK before addition of tumor cells. Increased cytotoxic activity induced by continuous LK treatment was not due to direct toxic effects of LK on tumor target cells or to alterations in target cell susceptibility to cytopathic effects of LK-activated macrophages. Moreover, sensitivities of responsive macrophages to LK activation signals and time courses for onset and loss of tumoricidal activity during continuous exposure or LK pulse were identical. Analysis of macrophage or LK dose responses and time courses for development of cytotoxicity each suggest that differences in tumoricidal activity between macrophages continuously exposed or pulsed with LK were quantitative: the number of cytotoxic events was increased 2.7 ± 0.2-fold (mean ± SEM for 11 experiments) during continuous LK treatment. Optimal levels of macrophage tumoricidal activity then occur only if effector cells, target cells and activation stimuli are simultaneously present for a defined time interval: tumor cells need not be present during the initial 2 to 3 hr of culture; LK can be removed after 8 hr with little or no loss of cytotoxic activity. However, removal of LK or target cells during the critical 4- to 8-hr interval decreased levels of cytotoxicity 3-fold. Thus, nonspecific effector function by LK-activated macrophages in controlled by both the physicochemical nature of the LK mediator and the time interval effector and target cells are exposed to LK.     

A novel 11-residual peptaibol-derived carrier peptide for in vitro oligodeoxynucleotide delivery into cell

Using a pore- and channel-forming peptide, TV-XIIa, which is an 11-residual peptaibol isolated from the fungus Trichoderma viride, we developed a vehicle for the cellular delivery of such polar biologically active agents as antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). To function as an ODN carrier, basic amino acids, 10-mer of lysine, were conjugated to the C-terminus of TV-XIIa and the designed carrier peptide, Ac-U-N-I-I-U-P-L-L-U-P-I-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-OH (U: alpha-aminoisobutyric acid), was synthesized by the Fmoc-based solid-phase method. The complex between the carrier peptide and ODNs, which was electrostatically formed, was capable of crossing the membranes of NIH3T3 cells and the ODNs were accumulated in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. However, the complex was not taken up by A549 cells. The translocation of the complex occurred at both 4 and 37 degrees C in NIH3T3 cells and did not seem to involve an energy-dependent endocytic process.     

Overexpression of the endoplasmic reticulum 60 protein ER-60 downregulates apoB100 secretion by inducing its intracellular degradation via a nonproteasomal pathway: evidence for an ER-60-mediated and pCMB-sensitive intracellular degradative pathway

Co- and posttranslational regulation of apolipoprotein B (apoB) has been postulated to involve degradation by both proteasomal and nonproteasomal pathways; however, nonproteasomal mechanisms of apoB degradation are currently unknown. We have previously demonstrated an intracellular association of newly synthesized apoB with endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-60, an ER-localized protein, possessing both proteolytic and chaperone activities. In the present paper, adenoviral expression vectors containing rat ER-60 cDNA were used to achieve dose- and time-dependent overexpression of ER-60 to investigate its role in apoB100 turnover. Overexpressed ER-60 accumulated in the microsomal lumen of HepG2 cells and was associated with apoB100 in dense lipoprotein particles. Overexpression of ER-60 in HepG2 cells significantly reduced both intracellular and secreted apoB100, with no effect on the secretion of a control protein, albumin. Similar results were obtained in McA-RH7777 rat hepatoma cells. ER-60-stimulated apoB100 degradation and inhibition of apoB100 secretion were sensitive to the protease inhibitor, p-chloromercuribenzoate (pCMB), in a dose-dependent manner but were unaffected by the proteasomal or lysosomal protease inhibitors, N-acetyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-nor-leucinal, E64, and leupeptin. Interestingly, enhanced expression of ER-60 induced apoB100 fragmentation in permeabilized HepG2 cells and resulted in detection of a unique 50 kDa degradation intermediate, a process that could be inhibited by pCMB. Intracellular stability and secretion of apoB100 in primary hamster hepatocytes were also found to be sensitive to pCMB. When taken together, the data suggest an important role for ER-60 in promoting apoB100 degradation via a pCMB-sensitive process in the ER. ER-60 may act directly as a protease or may be involved indirectly as a chaperone/protein factor targeting apoB100 to this nonproteasomal and pCMB-sensitive degradative pathway.     

Time course of gene expression during Porphyromonas gingivalis strain ATCC 33277 biofilm formation

Chronological gene expression patterns of biofilm-forming cells are important to understand bioactivity and pathogenicity of biofilms. For Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 biofilm formation, the number of genes differentially regulated by more than 1.5-fold was highest during the growth stage (312/2,090 genes), and some pathogen-associated genes were time-dependently controlled.     

Relocation of Aurora B from centromeres to the central spindle at the metaphase to anaphase transition requires MKlp2

Mitotic kinases of the Polo and Aurora families are key regulators of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Here, we have investigated the role of MKlp1 and MKlp2, two vertebrate mitotic kinesins essential for cytokinesis, in the spatial regulation of the Aurora B kinase. Previously, we have demonstrated that MKlp2 recruits Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) to the central spindle in anaphase. We now find that in MKlp2 but not MKlp1-depleted cells the Aurora B-INCENP complex remains at the centromeres and fails to relocate to the central spindle. MKlp2 exerts dual control over Aurora B localization, because it is a binding partner for Aurora B, and furthermore for the phosphatase Cdc14A. Cdc14A can dephosphorylate INCENP and may contribute to its relocation to the central spindle in anaphase. We propose that MKlp2 is involved in the localization of Plk1, Aurora B, and Cdc14A to the central spindle during anaphase, and that the integration of signaling by these proteins is necessary for proper cytokinesis.