Functional studies of PLIM-1, a pollen-specific protein

Bronchial smooth muscle (SM) mesenchymal cell precursors change their shape from round to spread/elongated while undergoing differentiation. Here we show that this change in cell shape induces the expression of laminin (LM) α2 chain not present in round mesenchymal cells. LM α2 expression is reversible and switched on and off by altering the cell's shape in culture. In comparison, the expression of LM β1 and γ1 remains unchanged. Functional studies showed that mesenchymal cell spreading and further differentiation into SM are inhibited by an antibody against LM α2. Dy/dy mice express very low levels of LM α2 and exhibit congenital muscular dystrophy. Lung SM cells isolated from adult dy/dy mice spread defectively and synthesized less SM α-actin, desmin, and SM-myosin than controls. These deficiencies were completely corrected by exogenous LM-2. On histological examination, dy/dy mouse airways and gastrointestinal tract had shorter SM cells, and lungs from dy/dy mice contained less SM-specific protein. The intestine, however, showed compensatory hyperplasia, perhaps related to its higher contractile activity. This study therefore demonstrated a novel role for the LM α2 chain in SM myogenesis and showed that its decrease in dy/dy mice results in abnormal SM.

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Mapping and functional analysis of an instability element in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA

AJP Renal Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajprenal.2000.279.5.f866 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 279 (5) ◽

pp. F866-F873 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Omar F. Laterza ◽

Lynn Taylor ◽

Shashikala Unnithan ◽

Ly Nguyen ◽

Norman P. Curthoys

Keyword(s):

Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase ◽

Luciferase Activity ◽

Specific Protein ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Reporter Construct ◽

Luciferase Reporter Construct ◽

Functional Studies ◽

Renal Gluconeogenesis ◽

Shift Analysis ◽

Nontranslated Region

Phosph oenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) is a key regulatory enzyme of renal gluconeogenesis. The 3′-nontranslated region of the PEPCK mRNA contains an instability element that facilitates its rapid turnover and contributes to the regulation of PEPCK gene expression. Such processes are mediated by specific protein-binding elements. Thus RNA gel shift analysis was used to identify proteins in rat renal cortical cytosolic extracts that bind to the 3′-nontranslated region of the PEPCK mRNA. Deletion constructs were then used to map the binding interactions to two adjacent RNA segments (PEPCK-6 and PEPCK-7). However, competition experiments established that only the binding to PEPCK-7 was specific. Functional studies were performed by cloning similar segments in a luciferase reporter construct, pLuc/Zeo. This analysis indicated that both PEPCK-6 and PEPCK-7 segments were necessary to produce a decrease in luciferase activity equivalent to that observed with the full-length 3′-nontranslated region. Thus the PEPCK-7 segment binds a specific protein that may recruit one or more proteins to form a complex that mediates the rapid decay of the PEPCK mRNA.

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Neurotrophin signaling is modulated by specific transmembrane domain interactions

10.1101/2021.05.24.445441 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

María L. Franco ◽

Kirill D. Nadezhdin ◽

Taylor P. Light ◽

Sergey A. Goncharuk ◽

Andrea Soler-Lopez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Structural Model ◽

Transmembrane Domain ◽

Current Model ◽

Direct Interaction ◽

Specific Protein ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Protein Interface ◽

Functional Studies ◽

Domain Interactions ◽

Neurotrophin Signaling

The neurotrophin receptors p75 and TrkA play an important role in the development and survival of the nervous system. Biochemical data suggest that p75 and TrkA regulate the activities of each other. For instance, p75 is able to regulate the response of TrkA to lower concentrations of NGF and TrkA promotes p75 shedding by -secretases in a ligand-dependent manner. The current model is that p75 and TrkA are regulated by means of a physical direct interaction, however the nature of such interaction has been elusive so far. Here using NMR in micelles, multiscale molecular dynamics (MD), FRET and functional studies we identified and characterized the direct interaction between TrkA and p75 through the transmembrane domains (TMDs). MD of p75-TMD mutants suggests that although the interaction between TrkA and p75 TMDs is maintained, a specific protein interface is required to facilitate TrkA active homodimerization in the presence of NGF. The same mutations in the TMD protein interface of p75 reduced the activation of TrkA by NGF and cell differentiation. In summary we provide a structural model of the p75/TrkA receptor complex stabilized by transmembrane domain interactions.

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Reverse gyrase and genome stability in hyperthermophilic organisms

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst0370069 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 69-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Giuseppe Perugino ◽

Anna Valenti ◽

Anna D'Amaro ◽

Mosè Rossi ◽

Maria Ciaramella

Keyword(s):

Genome Stability ◽

Specific Protein ◽

Reverse Gyrase ◽

Dna Topoisomerase ◽

Functional Studies ◽

Type Ia ◽

The Subject ◽

And Function ◽

Hyperthermophilic Organisms ◽

Unique Ability

Reverse gyrase is a DNA topoisomerase that is peculiar in many aspects: it has the unique ability to introduce positive supercoils into DNA molecules; it comprises a type IA topoisomerase fused to a helicase-like domain; although it is a type IA topoisomerase, its reaction is ATP-dependent; and it is the only hyperthermophile-specific protein. All these features have made reverse gyrase the subject of biochemical, structural and functional studies, although they have not shed complete light on the evolution, mechanism and function of this distinctive enzyme. In the present article, we review the latest progress on structure–function relationships of reverse gyrase, and discuss old and recent data linking reverse gyrase to DNA stability, protection and repair in hyperthermophilic organisms.

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Role of placenta-specific protein 1 in trophoblast invasion and migration

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-14-0052 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 148 (4) ◽

pp. 343-352 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Wen-Lin Chang ◽

Qing Yang ◽

Hui Zhang ◽

Hai-Yan Lin ◽

Zhi Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

First Trimester ◽

Specific Protein ◽

Trophoblast Invasion ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Invasion And Migration ◽

Functional Studies ◽

And Migration ◽

Extravillous Trophoblasts

Placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC1), a placenta-specific gene, is known to be involved in the development of placenta in both humans and mice. However, the precise role of PLAC1 in placental trophoblast function remains unclear. In this study, the localization of PLAC1 in human placental tissues and its physiological significance in trophoblast invasion and migration are investigated by technical studies including real-time RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and functional studies by utilizing cell invasion and migration assays in the trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo as well as the primary inducing extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). The results show that PLAC1 is mainly detected in the trophoblast columns and syncytiotrophoblast of the first-trimester human placental villi, as well as in the EVTs that invade into the maternal decidua. Knockdown of PLAC1 by RNA interference significantly suppresses the invasion and migration of HTR8/SVneo cells and shortens the distance of the outgrowth of the induced EVTs from the cytotrophoblast column of the explants. All the above data suggests that PLAC1 plays an important role in human placental trophoblast invasion and migration.

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Densitometric Identification of Primitive Erythroblasts After Reaction With Diaminobenzidine

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100072083 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 328-329

Author(s):

John A. Trotter

Keyword(s):

Red Blood Cells ◽

Analytical Method ◽

Blood Cells ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Specific Protein ◽

Visual Examination ◽

Hemoglobin Synthesis ◽

Peroxidatic Activity ◽

Small Density

Hemoglobin is the specific protein of red blood cells. Those cells in which hemoglobin synthesis is initiated are the earliest cells that can presently be considered to be committed to erythropoiesis. In order to identify such early cells electron microscopically, we have made use of the peroxidatic activity of hemoglobin by reacting the marrow of erythropoietically stimulated guinea pigs with diaminobenzidine (DAB). The reaction product appeared as a diffuse and amorphous electron opacity throughout the cytoplasm of reactive cells. The detection of small density increases of such a diffuse nature required an analytical method more sensitive and reliable than the visual examination of micrographs. A procedure was therefore devised for the evaluation of micrographs (negatives) with a densitometer (Weston Photographic Analyzer).

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The low-resolution 3D-structure of porin, a channel-forming protein in E. coliouter membranes

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100075932 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 440-441

Author(s):

A. Engel ◽

D.L. Dorset ◽

A. Massalski ◽

J.P. Rosenbusch

Keyword(s):

Crystal Packing ◽

3D Structure ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Protein Ratio ◽

Crystal Forms ◽

Large Molecules ◽

Functional Studies ◽

Voltage Dependent ◽

Planar Membranes ◽

Hexagonal Arrays

Porins represent a group of channel forming proteins that facilitate diffusion of small solutes across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, while excluding large molecules (>650 Da). Planar membranes reconstituted from purified matrix porin (OmpF protein) trimers and phospholipids have allowed quantitative functional studies of the voltage-dependent channels and revealed concerted activation of triplets. Under the same reconstitution conditions but using high protein concentrations porin aggregated to 2D lattices suitable for electron microscopy and image processing. Depending on the lipid-to- protein ratio three different crystal packing arrangements were observed: a large (a = 93 Å) and a small (a = 79 Å) hexagonal and a rectangular (a = 79 Å b = 139 Å) form with p3 symmetry for the hexagonal arrays. In all crystal forms distinct stain filled triplet indentations could be seen and were found to be morphologically identical within a resolution of (22 Å). It is tempting to correlate stain triplets with triple channels, but the proof of this hypothesis requires an analysis of the structure in 3 dimensions.

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Specific Labeling of Protein Domains with Antibody Fragments

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100098587 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

pp. 416-417

Author(s):

U. Aebi ◽

L.E. Buhle ◽

W.E. Fowler

Keyword(s):

Image Processing ◽

Specific Protein ◽

Antibody Fragments ◽

Supramolecular Organization ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Ordered Structures ◽

Virus Capsids ◽

Processing Techniques

Many important supramolecular structures such as filaments, microtubules, virus capsids and certain membrane proteins and bacterial cell walls exist as ordered polymers or two-dimensional crystalline arrays in vivo. In several instances it has been possible to induce soluble proteins to form ordered polymers or two-dimensional crystalline arrays in vitro. In both cases a combination of electron microscopy of negatively stained specimens with analog or digital image processing techniques has proven extremely useful for elucidating the molecular and supramolecular organization of the constituent proteins. However from the reconstructed stain exclusion patterns it is often difficult to identify distinct stain excluding regions with specific protein subunits. To this end it has been demonstrated that in some cases this ambiguity can be resolved by a combination of stoichiometric labeling of the ordered structures with subunit-specific antibody fragments (e.g. Fab) and image processing of the electron micrographs recorded from labeled and unlabeled structures.

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Ionic homeostasis and subcellular element compartmentation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010013434x ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 150-151

Author(s):

Ann LeFurgey ◽

Peter Ingram ◽

J.J. Blum ◽

M.C. Carney ◽

L.A. Hawkey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Major ◽

Ionic Homeostasis ◽

X Ray ◽

Functional Studies ◽

Cell Compartments ◽

X Ray Imaging ◽

Resolution Electron ◽

Multiple Cell ◽

Role Of Zn

Subcellular compartments commonly identified and analyzed by high resolution electron probe x-ray microanalysis (EPXMA) include mitochondria, cytoplasm and endoplasmic or sarcoplasmic reticulum. These organelles and cell regions are of primary importance in regulation of cell ionic homeostasis. Correlative structural-functional studies, based on the static probe method of EPXMA combined with biochemical and electrophysiological techniques, have focused on the role of these organelles, for example, in maintaining cell calcium homeostasis or in control of excitation-contraction coupling. New methods of real time quantitative x-ray imaging permit simultaneous examination of multiple cell compartments, especially those areas for which both membrane transport properties and element content are less well defined, e.g. nuclei including euchromatin and heterochromatin, lysosomes, mucous granules, storage vacuoles, microvilli. Investigations currently in progress have examined the role of Zn-containing polyphosphate vacuoles in the metabolism of Leishmania major, the distribution of Na, K, S and other elements during anoxia in kidney cell nuclel and lysosomes; the content and distribution of S and Ca in mucous granules of cystic fibrosis (CF) nasal epithelia; the uptake of cationic probes by mltochondria in cultured heart ceils; and the junctional sarcoplasmic retlculum (JSR) in frog skeletal muscle.

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Immunocytochemical localization of p65 with one-nanometer gold particles following silver development

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010015719x ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 1042-1043

Author(s):

Richard W. Burry ◽

Diane M. Hayes

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Bovine Serum Albumin ◽

Calf Serum ◽

Specific Protein ◽

Immunocytochemical Localization ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Gold Particles ◽

Pass Through ◽

Label Distribution ◽

Phosphate Buffered Saline

Electron microscopic (EM) immunocytochemistry localization of the neuron specific protein p65 could show which organelles contain this antigen. Antibodies (Ab) labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) followed by chromogen development show a broad diffuse label distribution within cells and restricting identification of organelles. Particulate label (e.g. 10 nm colloidal gold) is highly desirable but not practical because penetration into cells requires destroying the plasma membrane. We report pre-embedding immunocytochemistry with a particulate marker, 1 nm gold, that will pass through membranes treated with saponin, a mild detergent.Cell cultures of the rat cerebellum were fixed in buffered 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.1% glutaraldehyde (Glut.). The buffer for all incubations and rinses was phosphate buffered saline with: 1% calf serum, 0.2% saponin, 0.1% gelatin, 50 mM glycine 1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin, and (not in the HRP labeled cultures) 0.02% sodium azide. The monoclonal #48 to p65 was used with three label systems: HRP, 1 nm avidin gold with IntenSE M development, and 1 nm avidin gold with Danscher development.

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