Functional Consequences of Calcium Uptake Modulation by Taurine In Vivo and In Vitro

Author(s):  
E. Trenkner ◽  
A. El Idrissi ◽  
R. Dumas ◽  
A. Rabe
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Joshua Mallen ◽  
Manisha Kalsan ◽  
Peyman Zarrineh ◽  
Laure Bridoux ◽  
Shandar Ahmad ◽  
...  

The highly conserved HOX homeodomain (HD) transcription factors (TFs) establish the identity of different body parts along the antero–posterior axis of bilaterian animals. Segment diversification and the morphogenesis of different structures is achieved by generating precise patterns of HOX expression along the antero–posterior axis and by the ability of different HOX TFs to instruct unique and specific transcriptional programs. However, HOX binding properties in vitro, characterised by the recognition of similar AT-rich binding sequences, do not account for the ability of different HOX to instruct segment-specific transcriptional programs. To address this problem, we previously compared HOXA2 and HOXA3 binding in vivo. Here, we explore if sequence motif enrichments observed in vivo are explained by binding affinities in vitro. Unexpectedly, we found that the highest enriched motif in HOXA2 peaks was not recognised by HOXA2 in vitro, highlighting the importance of investigating HOX binding in its physiological context. We also report the ability of HOXA2 and HOXA3 to heterodimerise, which may have functional consequences for the HOX patterning function in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (21) ◽  
pp. 11942-11957
Author(s):  
Giulia Miglietta ◽  
Marco Russo ◽  
Giovanni Capranico

Abstract Genomic DNA and cellular RNAs can form a variety of non-B secondary structures, including G-quadruplex (G4) and R-loops. G4s are constituted by stacked guanine tetrads held together by Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds and can form at key regulatory sites of eukaryote genomes and transcripts, including gene promoters, untranslated exon regions and telomeres. R-loops are 3-stranded structures wherein the two strands of a DNA duplex are melted and one of them is annealed to an RNA. Specific G4 binders are intensively investigated to discover new effective anticancer drugs based on a common rationale, i.e.: the selective inhibition of oncogene expression or specific impairment of telomere maintenance. However, despite the high number of known G4 binders, such a selective molecular activity has not been fully established and several published data point to a different mode of action. We will review published data that address the close structural interplay between G4s and R-loops in vitro and in vivo, and how these interactions can have functional consequences in relation to G4 binder activity. We propose that R-loops can play a previously-underestimated role in G4 binder action, in relation to DNA damage induction, telomere maintenance, genome and epigenome instability and alterations of gene expression programs.


Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 1857-1864 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Brouwer ◽  
W Chamulitrat ◽  
G Ferruzzi ◽  
DL Sauls ◽  
JB Weinberg

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is a paramagnetic gas that has been implicated in a wide range of biologic functions. The common pathway to evoke the functional response frequently involves the formation of an iron- nitrosyl complex in a target (heme) protein. In this study, we report on the interactions between NO and cobalt-containing vitamin B12 derivatives. Absorption spectroscopy showed that of the four Co(III) derivatives (cyanocobalamin [CN-Cbl], aquocobalamin [H2O-Cbl], adenosylcobalamin [Ado-Cbl], and methylcobalamin [MeCbl]), only the H2O- Cbl combined with NO. In addition, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of H2O-Cbl preparations showed the presence of a small amount of Cob-(II)alamin that was capable of combining with NO. The Co(III)-NO complex was very stable, but could transfer its NO moiety to hemoglobin (Hb). The transfer was accompanied by a reduction of the Co(III) to Co(II), indicating that NO+ (nitrosonium) was the leaving group. In accordance with this, the NO did not combine with the Hb Fe(II)-heme, but most likely with the Hb cysteine-thiolate. Similarly, the Co(III)-NO complex was capable of transferring its NO to glutathione. Ado-Cbl and Me-Cbl were susceptible to photolysis, but CN- Cbl and H2O-Cbl were not. The homolytic cleavage of the Co(III)-Ado or Co(III)-Me bond resulted in the reduction of the metal. When photolysis was performed in the presence of NO, formation of NO-Co(II) was observed. Co(II)-nitrosyl oxidized slowly to form Co(III)-nitrosyl. The capability of aquocobalamin to combine with NO had functional consequences. We found that nitrosylcobalamin had diminished ability to serve as a cofactor for the enzyme methionine synthase, and that aquocobalamin could quench NO-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation. Our in vitro studies therefore suggest that interactions between NO and cobalamins may have important consequences in vivo.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Brasey ◽  
Raouf Igue ◽  
Loubna Djemame ◽  
Serge Séguin ◽  
Paolo Renzi ◽  
...  

<p>Antisense oligonucleotides (AON) delivered via inhalation are in drug development for respiratory diseases. In rodents and monkeys, repeated exposure to high doses of inhaled phosphorothioate (PS) AON can lead to microscopic changes in the lungs, including accumulation of alveolar macrophages in the lower airway that have a <em>foamy</em> appearance. The functional consequences that result from this morphological change are unclear as there is controversy whether the vacuoles/inclusion bodies reflect normal clearance of the inhaled AON or are early indicators of lung toxicity. The morphological and functional responses of macrophage to PS AON were characterized <em>in vitro</em> using the comparator drug amiodarone, as a known inducer of foamy macrophages. Morphological changes of increased vacuolization with the presence of lamellated structures were observed in macrophages in response to both amiodarone and AON treatment. Functional responses to the drugs clearly differed with amiodarone treatment leading to apoptosis of cells and cell death, release of proinflammatory mediators IL-1RA, MIP-1<em>α </em>and TNF<em>α</em>, decrease in IP-10, a cytokine shown to be involved in protection against pulmonary fibrosis and altered phagocytosis capacity of the cells. In contrast, AON in concentrations up to 30 μM, had no effect on cell viability or apoptosis, had minimal effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased IP-10 levels and did not alter the phagocytic capacity of the cells. Exposure of macrophages to AON<em> in vitro</em>, led to morphological changes of increased vacuolization, but did not lead to functional consequences which were observed with another vacuolization-inducing drug, suggesting that the <em>in vivo </em>phenotypic changes observed following inhalation of AON may be consistent with a clearance mechanism and not an activation or impairment of macrophages.</p>


2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (1) ◽  
pp. R170-R176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Galvez ◽  
Denise Wong ◽  
Chris M. Wood

A novel cell isolation technique was used to characterize cadmium and calcium uptake in distinct populations of gill cells from the adult rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss). A specific population of mitochondria-rich (MR) cell, termed the PNA+ MR cell (PNA is peanut lectin agglutinin), was found to accumulate over threefold more 109Cd than did PNA− MR cells, pavement cells (PV cells), and mucous cells during a 1-h in vivo exposure at 2.4 μg/l 109Cd. In vitro 109Cd exposures, performed in standard PBS and Cl−-free PBS, at concentrations from 1 to 16 μg/l 109Cd, were also carried out to further characterize Cd2+ uptake kinetics. As observed during in vivo experiments, PNA+ MR cells accumulated significantly more 109Cd than did other cell types when exposures were performed by an in vitro procedure in PBS. Under such conditions, Cd2+ accumulation kinetics in all cell types could be described with Michaelis-Menten relationships, with Km values of ∼3.0 μg/l Cd (27 nM) for both MR cell subtypes and 8.6 μg/l Cd (77 nM) for PV cells. In similar experiments performed in Cl−-free conditions, a significant reduction in 109Cd accumulation in PNA+ MR cells was seen but not in PNA− MR or in PV cells. In vitro 45Ca fluxes were also performed to determine the cellular localization of Ca2+ transport in these functionally distinct populations of gill cells. 45Ca uptake was most pronounced in PNA+ MR cells, with levels over threefold higher than those found in either PNA− MR or in PV cells. Results from the present study suggest that the PNA+ MR cell type is a high-affinity and high-capacity site for apical entry of Cd2+ and Ca2+ in the gill epithelium of rainbow trout.


2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (8) ◽  
pp. 2243-2250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiko Chiba ◽  
Hiroyuki Mori ◽  
Koreaki Ito

ABSTRACT SecY, a central component of the membrane-embedded sector of protein translocase, contains six cytosolic domains. Here, we examined the importance of the C-terminal cytosolic region of SecY by systematically shortening the C-terminal end and examining the functional consequences of these mutations in vivo and in vitro. It was indicated that the C-terminal five residues are dispensable without any appreciable functional defects in SecY. Mutants missing the C-terminal six to seven residues were partially compromised, especially at low temperature or in the absence of SecG. In vitro analyses indicated that the initial phase of the translocation reaction, in which the signal sequence region of the preprotein is inserted into the membrane, was affected by the lack of the C-terminal residues. SecA binding was normal, but SecA insertion in response to ATP and a preprotein was impaired. It is suggested that the C-terminal SecY residues are required for SecA-dependent translocation initiation.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Feric ◽  
Azadeh Sarfallah ◽  
Furqan Dar ◽  
Dmitry Temiakov ◽  
Rohit V Pappu ◽  
...  

Phase separation organizes many membraneless structures in cells. The functional consequences of concentrating cellular machinery into biomolecular condensates, however, is largely unclear. Here, we use in vitro reconstitutions, in vivo studies, and computational modelling to uncover structure-function relationships of mitochondrial (mt-) transcriptional condensates. In vitro, we find that the core mt-transcription machinery — consisting of POLRMT, TFAM, TFB2M, and DNA — forms viscoelastic, multi-phasic condensates. Strikingly, the rates of condensate-mediated transcription are considerably lower than equivalent reactions in bulk solution. Dampened rates are associated with reduced diffusivities of components that become kinetically arrested in non-equilibrium, vesicular condensates. Perturbation of mt-components in vivo and computational simulations recapitulate the transcription-dependent reorganizations observed in vitro. Our findings demonstrate close, bidirectional interdependence between structure and function of transcriptional condensates.


2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2156-2169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloy Bejarano ◽  
Henrique Girao ◽  
Andrea Yuste ◽  
Bindi Patel ◽  
Carla Marques ◽  
...  

Different pathways contribute to the turnover of connexins, the main structural components of gap junctions (GJs). The cellular pool of connexins targeted to each pathway and the functional consequences of degradation through these degradative pathways are unknown. In this work, we focused on the contribution of macroautophagy to connexin degradation. Using pharmacological and genetic blockage of macroautophagy both in vitro and in vivo, we found that the cellular pool targeted by this autophagic system is primarily the one organized into GJs. Interruption of connexins' macroautophagy resulted in their retention at the plasma membrane in the form of functional GJs and subsequent increased GJ-mediated intercellular diffusion. Up-regulation of macroautophagy alone is not sufficient to induce connexin internalization and degradation. To better understand what factors determine the autophagic degradation of GJ connexins, we analyzed the changes undergone by the fraction of plasma membrane connexin 43 targeted for macroautophagy and the sequence of events that trigger this process. We found that Nedd4-mediated ubiquitinylation of the connexin molecule is required to recruit the adaptor protein Eps15 to the GJ and to initiate the autophagy-dependent internalization and degradation of connexin 43. This study reveals a novel regulatory role for macroautophagy in GJ function that is directly dependent on the ubiquitinylation of plasma membrane connexins.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 8973
Author(s):  
Nina McTiernan ◽  
Christine Darbakk ◽  
Rasmus Ree ◽  
Thomas Arnesen

The majority of the human proteome is subjected to N-terminal (Nt) acetylation catalysed by N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs). The NatA complex is composed of two core subunits—the catalytic subunit NAA10 and the ribosomal anchor NAA15. Furthermore, NAA10 may also have catalytic and non-catalytic roles independent of NatA. Several inherited and de novo NAA10 variants have been associated with genetic disease in humans. In this study, we present a functional analysis of two de novo NAA10 variants, c.29A>G p.(D10G) and c.32T>G p.(L11R), previously identified in a male and a female, respectively. Both of these neighbouring amino acids are highly conserved in NAA10. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that both variants hamper complex formation with NAA15 and are thus likely to impair NatA-mediated Nt-acetylation in vivo. Despite their common impact on NatA formation, in vitro Nt-acetylation assays showed that the variants had opposing impacts on NAA10 catalytic activity. While NAA10 c.29A>G p.(D10G) exhibits normal intrinsic NatA activity and reduced monomeric NAA10 NAT activity, NAA10 c.32T>G p.(L11R) displays reduced NatA activity and normal NAA10 NAT activity. This study expands the scope of research into the functional consequences of NAA10 variants and underlines the importance of understanding the diverse cellular roles of NAA10 in disease mechanisms.


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