In situ observation of localized,sub-mm scale changes of phosphorus biogeochemistry in the rhizosphere

Plant and Soil - We imaged the sub-mm distribution of labile P and pH in the rhizosphere of three plant species to localize zones and hot spots of P depletion and accumulation along individual root...     

17 Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human breast cancer: analysis of kinetic and clinical parameters

In this study, we assessed the rate of estradiol degradation via the 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) enzyme in breast tumors from postmenopausal women. We initially studied the effects of time, level of enzyme activity, amount of tissue assayed, and substrate concentration on the linearity of conversion of estradiol to estrone in breast tumor homogenates. The reaction was demonstrated to be linear when less than 15% conversion of estradiol to estrone occurred over 30 min with homogenates produced from 2.5 mg of tissue. Detailed kinetic experiments demonstrated the presence of two classes of enzyme activity, one with high affinity and the other with low affinity. In 83% of the tumors examined, the high affinity form was present and had a median Km of 0.62 microM and Vmax of 82 nmol/g protein/h. In 29 tumors, HSD activity could be precisely quantified and correlated with clinical parameters. No statistically significant correlation of enzyme activity with estrogen receptor (r2 = 0.06) or progesterone receptor (r2 = 0.006) or with patient age could be detected (r2 = 0.001). In 12 additional tumors, activity exceeded 15% conversion of estradiol to estrone at 30 min and precise quantitation was not possible. The average content of progesterone receptor was similar for these 12 tumors as for the 19 with lower HSD activity. However, estrogen receptor content and patient age were lower in the group with high HSD activity. The finding of a high affinity form of HSD in this study provides support for the biological importance of this enzyme in breast cancer tissues.     

The synthesis of 2'-methylseleno adenosine and guanosine 5'-triphosphates

Modified nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) represent powerful building blocks to generate nucleic acids with novel properties by enzymatic synthesis. We have recently demonstrated the access to 2'-SeCH(3)-uridine and 2'-SeCH(3)-cytidine derivatized RNAs for applications in RNA crystallography, using the corresponding nucleoside triphosphates and distinct mutants of T7 RNA polymerase. In the present note, we introduce the chemical synthesis of the novel 2'-methylseleno-2'-deoxyadenosine and -guanosine 5'-triphosphates (2'-SeCH(3)-ATP and 2'-SeCH(3)-GTP) that represent further candidates for the enzymatic RNA synthesis with engineered RNA polymerases.     

Metalloproteomics and metal toxicology of α-synuclein

Significant evidence has been accumulated linking exposure to heavy metals and/or distortion of metal homeostasis with the development of various neurodegenerative diseases. α-Synuclein is known to be involved in pathogenesis of a subset of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as synucleinopathies. Therefore the interplay between metals, α-synuclein and neurodegeneration has attracted significant attention of researchers. This review discusses some of the aspects of the α-synuclein metalloproteomics and represents the peculiarities and consequences of α-synuclein interaction with various metal ions. Both non-specific and specific binding of this protein to metals is considered together with the analysis of the effects of such interactions on α-synuclein structure and aggregation propensity.     

Degradation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor KRP1 is regulated by two different ubiquitin E3 ligases

In animals and fungi, a group of proteins called the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors play a key role in cell cycle regulation. However, comparatively little is known about the role of these proteins in plant cell cycle regulation. To gain insight into the mechanisms by which the plant cell cycle is regulated, we studied the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor KRP1 in Arabidopsis. KRP1 interacts with the CDKA;1/CYCD2;1 complex in planta and functions in the G1–S transition of the cell cycle. Furthermore, we show that KRP1 is a likely target of the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. Two different ubiquitin protein ligases, SCF^SKP2 and the RING protein RKP, contribute to its degradation. These results suggest that SCF^SKP2b and RPK play an important role in the cell cycle through regulating KRP1 protein turnover.