ATM regulates Cdt1 stability during the unperturbed S phase to prevent re-replication

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) plays crucial roles in DNA damage responses, especially with regard to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). However, it appears that ATM can be activated not only by DSB, but also by some changes in chromatin architecture, suggesting potential ATM function in cell cycle control. Here, we found that ATM is involved in timely degradation of Cdt1, a critical replication licensing factor, during the unperturbed S phase. At least in certain cell types, degradation of p27^Kip1 was also impaired by ATM inhibition. The novel ATM function for Cdt1 regulation was dependent on its kinase activity and NBS1. Indeed, we found that ATM is moderately phosphorylated at Ser1981 during the S phase. ATM silencing induced partial reduction in levels of Skp2, a component of SCF^Skp2 ubiquitin ligase that controls Cdt1 degradation. Furthermore, Skp2 silencing resulted in Cdt1 stabilization like ATM inhibition. In addition, as reported previously, ATM silencing partially prevented Akt phosphorylation at Ser473, indicative of its activation, and Akt inhibition led to modest stabilization of Cdt1. Therefore, the ATM-Akt-SCF^Skp2 pathway may partly contribute to the novel ATM function. Finally, ATM inhibition rendered cells hypersensitive to induction of re-replication, indicating importance for maintenance of genome stability.     

Purification of substrate proteins of casein kinases from the cytosol fraction of AH-66 hepatoma cells

We have attempted to purify endogenous substrate proteins for casein kinases I and II from the cytosol of AH-66 hepatoma cells. Utilizing the fact that only a few substrates are concentrated in the fraction eluted from DEAE-cellulose between 0.3 and 0.6 M NaCl, two substrates were purified from this fraction by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, and HPLC on a DEAE-5PW column. The purified substrate proteins had molecular masses of 30.5 kDa and 31 kDa. The 31-kDa protein substrate was markedly phosphorylated by casein kinase II, but only slightly by casein kinase I. The radioactive phosphate incorporated into 31-kDa substrate by casein kinase II was 0.2 mol/mol of the protein and phosphorylation occurred on both threonine and serine residues. The 30.5 kDa protein was only slightly phosphorylated by casein kinase II, but not at all by casein kinase I.     

Tissue distribution of casein kinases

The activities of casein kinases 1 and 2 in cytosol fractions prepared from 12 different rat tissues were compared. Casein kinase activities were detected in all tissues examined. Total casein kinase activities of lung, spleen, testis, and thymus were much higher than those of skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and adrenal gland. When activities of casein kinases 1 and 2 partially purified from lung, spleen, testis, and thymus prepared from 5 rats were compared, both total and specific activities of these kinases in testis were higher than those in the other tissues. These results indicate that testis is the most suitable tissue in rats for large-scale purification of casein kinase 1 as well as casein kinase 2.     

Pure human inactive renin. Evidence that native inactive renin is prorenin

To clarify contradicting observations on the identity of inactive renin and prorenin, inactive renin was completely purified from native human chorion laeve and the culture medium of human chorion cells. A 720,000-fold purification with 14% recovery was achieved from chorion laeve in 6 steps, including immunoaffinity chromatography on a monoclonal antibody to human renin coupled to Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B. A 3,100-fold purification with 40% recovery was achieved from chorion culture medium in 4 steps, including immunoaffinity chromatography. Inactive renin purified from the two different sources migrated as a single protein band with the same molecular weight of 47,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and consisted of multiple components that could be resolved by isoelectric focusing. Both had the same pI values which shifted downward upon activation by trypsin; however, relative peak heights were different between the two preparations. The purified inactive renin from chorion laeve was completely inactive and did not bind to pepstatin-aminohexyl-Sepharose; however, that from chorion culture medium was partially active and completely bound to the pepstatin gel, indicating that each molecule is partially activated. Trypsin-activated inactive renins from both sources were identical with human renal renin in terms of pH optimum and Km. Specific activities of trypsin-activated inactive renin from chorion laeve and chorion culture medium were 529 Goldblatt units/mg of protein and 449 Goldblatt units/mg of protein, respectively. Amino acid sequence analysis of both of the purified inactive renin preparations demonstrated a leucine residue at the amino terminus. The sequence of 11 additional amino acids was identical in both and agreed with that predicted from the base sequence of the renin gene. These findings indicate that preprorenin is converted to prorenin following removal of a 23-amino acid signal peptide and that the native inactive renin, whose amino acid sequence commences with Leu-Pro-Thr..., is prorenin.     

Transient Expression of CD20 Antigen (Pan B Cell Marker) in Activated Lymph Node T Cells

In contrast to the case of peripheral T cells, the surface expression of CD20 antigen and the expression of CD20 mRNA in monkey lymph node (LN) T cells underwent a noticeable increase when they were cultured with mitogen and interleukin-2 (IL-2). To confirm in vivo regulation of CD20 expression during the activation of LN T cells, we examined LNs derived from monkeys experimentally inoculated with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Significant expression of CD20 antigen was detected in the T cells of the LNs at the stage of lymphadenopathy. These findings suggest that lymphocyte activation in the LNs induced expression of the CD20 molecule in some T cells.     

Genetic polymorphisms of the CST2 locus coding for cystatin SA

A new genetic polymorphism of cystatin SA has been identified in human submandibular-sublingual saliva by means of basic gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with anti-cystatin S. Two proteins, SA1 and SA2, are given by two alleles of CST2, viz., CST2^*1 and CST^*2. Inheritance is controlled by two codominant alleles at an autosomal locus. This hypothesis is supported by studies of 16 families 32 children. Gene frequencies for CST2^*1 and CST2^*2 are 0.935 and 0.065, respectively (n = 341). Eighteen amino acids determined among 20 N-terminal residues of cystatin SA2 are identical with the sequence encoded by CST2. Three forms of cystatin S (mono-phosphorylated cystatin S, di-phosphorylated cystatin S, and non-phosphorelated cystatin S) are present in the 341 saliva samples tested.     

DIVISION APPARATUS OF THE CHLOROPLAST IN NANNOCHLORIS BACILLARIS (CHLOROPHYTA)1

Chloroplast division in Nannochloris bacillaris Naumann (Chlorophyta) was examined by electron microscopy after preparation of samples by freeze-substitution. A pair of belts appeared on the surface of the outer and inner envelope membranes at the middle of the chloroplast. These belts seemed to be constructed of thin fibrils that run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belts. The outer fibrillar belt increased in width as the constriction of the chloroplast advanced. It appears that the fibrillar belt is the division apparatus of the chloroplast. It encircles the chloroplast and finally divides the chloroplast in two as the diameter of the belt decreases.     

Phylogeny of symbiotic methanogens in the gut of the termite Reticulitermes speratus

Abstract The phylogeny of a symbiotic methanogen inhabiting the gut of a lower termite, Reticulitermes speratus , was analysed without cultivation. The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (ssrDNA) and a 640-bp portion of the gene encoding subunit A of methyl coenzyme M reductase ( mcrA ) were amplified from a mixed-population DNA of the termite gut by polymerase chain reaction and cloned. The nucleotide sequence of the ssrDNA and the predicted amino acid sequence of the mcrA product were compared with those of the known methanogens. Both comparisons indicated that the termite symbiotic methanogen belonged to the order Methanobacteriales but was distinct from the known members of this order.     

Cloning and Characterization of the cDNA Encoding a Novel Brain-Specific 14-kDa Protein

A new acidic protein with a molecular weight of 14,000 was purified from rat brain, in which it was specifically expressed, and partially sequenced by protein sequencing. On the basis of results obtained from the amino acid sequences, mixed oligonucleotides were synthesized and used as probes to clone a cDNA from a rat brain cDNA library. The cloned cDNA provided the full-length sequence of the 14-kDa protein. Northern blot hybridization using total RNA from several tissues of the rat provided evidence that the 14-kDa protein was expressed specifically in rat brain. Transfection of this cDNA into mammalian cells resulted in expression of the 14-kDa protein. The amino acid sequence predicted from the cDNA of the rat brain 14-kDa protein contained 137 amino acid residues. A hydropathy profile revealed a hydrophobic domain (amino acids 60-80) flanked by highly hydrophilic stretches on both sides. Whereas the N-terminal region of the 14-kDa protein contained four repeating motifs, EKTKEGV, the C-terminal domain was rich in glutamic acid and proline. A computer search of the amino acid sequence of the 14-kDa protein indicated no homology to any other protein reported so far.