Metabolism of farnesyl diphosphate in tobacco BY-2 cells treated with squalestatin

2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 794-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.-A. Hartmann ◽  
L. Wentzinger ◽  
A. Hemmerlin ◽  
T. J. Bach

Plant isoprenoids represent a large group of compounds with a wide range of physiological functions. In the cytosol, isoprenoids are synthesized via the classical acetate/mevalonate pathway. In this pathway, farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) occupies a central position, from which isoprene units are dispatched to the different classes of isoprenoids, with sterols as the major end products. The present work deals with effects of squalestatin (SQ) on the metabolism of FPP in proliferating and synchronized cultured tobacco cv. Bright Yellow-2 cells. SQ is a potent inhibitor of squalene synthase (SQS), the first committed enzyme in the sterol pathway. At nanomolar concentrations, SQ severely impaired cell growth and sterol biosynthesis, as attested by the rapid decrease in SQS activity. At the same time, it triggered a several-fold increase in both the enzymic activity and mRNA levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase. When SQ was added to cells synchronized by aphidicolin treatment, it was found to block the cell cycle at the end of G1 phase, but no cell death was induced. Tobacco cells were also fed exogenous tritiated trans-trans farnesol, the allylic alcohol derived from FPP, in the presence and absence of SQ. Evidence is presented that this compound was incorporated into sterols and ubiquinone Q10. In the presence of SQ, the sterol pathway was inhibited, but no increase in the radioactivity of ubiquinone was observed, suggesting that this metabolic channel was already saturated under normal conditions.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Liu ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Li Deng ◽  
Peng Xu

AbstractSqualene is the gateway molecule for triterpene-based natural products and steroids-based pharmaceuticals. As a super lubricant, it has been used widely in health care industry due to its skin compatibility and thermostability. Squalene is traditionally sourced from shark-hunting or oil plant extraction, which is cost-prohibitive and not sustainable. Reconstitution of squalene biosynthetic pathway in microbial hosts is considered as a promising alternative for cost-efficient and scalable synthesis of squalene. In this work, we reported the engineering of the oleaginous yeast, Y. lipolytica, as a potential host for squalene production. We systematically identified the bottleneck of the pathway and discovered that the native HMG-CoA reductase led to the highest squalene improvement. With the recycling of NADPH from the mannitol cycle, the engineered strain produced about 180.3 mg/l and 188.2 mg/L squalene from glucose or acetate minimal media, respectively. By optimizing the C/N ratio, controlling the media pH and mitigating the acetyl-CoA flux competition from lipogenesis, the engineered strain produced about 502.7 mg/L squalene in shake flaks, a 28-fold increase compared to the parental strain (17.2 mg/L). We also profiled the metabolic byproducts citric acid and mannitol level and observed that they are reincorporated into cell metabolism at the late stage of fermentation. This work may serve as a baseline to harness Y. lipolytica as an oleaginous cell factory for production of squalene or terpene-based chemicals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6801
Author(s):  
Viktória Kovács ◽  
Gábor Remzső ◽  
Valéria Tóth-Szűki ◽  
Viktória Varga ◽  
János Németh ◽  
...  

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is still a major cause of neonatal death and disability as therapeutic hypothermia (TH) alone cannot afford sufficient neuroprotection. The present study investigated whether ventilation with molecular hydrogen (2.1% H2) or graded restoration of normocapnia with CO2 for 4 h after asphyxia would augment the neuroprotective effect of TH in a subacute (48 h) HIE piglet model. Piglets were randomized to untreated naïve, control-normothermia, asphyxia-normothermia (20-min 4%O2–20%CO2 ventilation; Tcore = 38.5 °C), asphyxia-hypothermia (A-HT, Tcore = 33.5 °C, 2–36 h post-asphyxia), A-HT + H2, or A-HT + CO2 treatment groups. Asphyxia elicited severe hypoxia (pO2 = 19 ± 5 mmHg) and mixed acidosis (pH = 6.79 ± 0.10). HIE development was confirmed by altered cerebral electrical activity and neuropathology. TH was significantly neuroprotective in the caudate nucleus but demonstrated virtually no such effect in the hippocampus. The mRNA levels of apoptosis-inducing factor and caspase-3 showed a ~10-fold increase in the A-HT group compared to naïve animals in the hippocampus but not in the caudate nucleus coinciding with the region-specific neuroprotective effect of TH. H2 or CO2 did not augment TH-induced neuroprotection in any brain areas; rather, CO2 even abolished the neuroprotective effect of TH in the caudate nucleus. In conclusion, the present findings do not support the use of these medical gases to supplement TH in HIE management.


Author(s):  
Jens Weusmann ◽  
James Deschner ◽  
Jean-Claude Imber ◽  
Anna Damanaki ◽  
Natalia D. P. Leguizamón ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Air-polishing has been used in the treatment of periodontitis and gingivitis for years. The introduction of low-abrasive powders has enabled the use of air-polishing devices for subgingival therapy. Within the last decade, a wide range of different low-abrasive powders for subgingival use has been established. In this study, the effects of a glycine powder and a trehalose powder on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) were investigated. Methods HGF were derived from three systemically and periodontally healthy donors. After 24 h and 48 h of incubation time, mRNA levels, and after 48 h, protein levels of TNFα, IL-8, CCL2, and VEGF were determined. In addition, NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and in vitro wound healing were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and post hoc Dunnett’s and Tukey’s tests (p < 0.05). Results Glycine powder significantly increased the expression of proinflammatory genes and showed exploitation of the NF-κB pathway, albeit trehalose powder hardly interfered with cell function and did not trigger the NF-κB pathway. In contrast to trehalose, glycine showed a significant inhibitory effect on the in vitro wound healing rate. Conclusion Subgingivally applicable powders for air-polishing devices can regulate cell viability and proliferation as well as cytokine expression. Our in vitro study suggests that the above powders may influence HGF via direct cell effects. Trehalose appears to be relatively inert compared to glycine powder.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1085
Author(s):  
Paula Mihaljević-Jurič ◽  
Sérgio F. Sousa

Statins are important drugs in the regulation of cholesterol levels in the human body that have as a primary target the enzyme β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR). This enzyme plays a crucial role in the mevalonate pathway, catalyzing the four-electron reduction of HMG-CoA to mevalonate. A second reduction step of this reaction mechanism has been the subject of much speculation in the literature, with different conflicting theories persisting to the present day. In this study, the different mechanistic hypotheses were evaluated with atomic-level detail through a combination of molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations. The obtained Gibbs free activation and Gibbs free reaction energy (15 kcal mol−1 and −40 kcal mol−1) show that this hydride step takes place with the involvement of a cationic His405 and Lys639, and a neutral Glu98, while Asp715 remains in an anionic state. The results provide an atomic-level portrait of this step, clearly demonstrating the nature and protonation state of the amino acid residues involved, the energetics associated, and the structure and charge of the key participating atoms in the several intermediate states, finally elucidating this missing step.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (6) ◽  
pp. C1937-C1946 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Collins ◽  
Hua Xu ◽  
Pawel R. Kiela ◽  
Jiamin Zeng ◽  
Fayez K. Ghishan

Ontogenic changes occur in intestinal brush-border membrane vesicle (BBMV) Na+/H+exchange activity. The present studies were designed to investigate ontogenic changes in Na+/H+exchanger (NHE) isoform 3 in rat jejunum. pH-dependent Na+ uptake was assayed in four age groups of rats in the presence of 0, 50, or 800 μM HOE-694, a specific NHE inhibitor with differential sensitivities for NHE2 [inhibition constant ( K i) = 5 μM in PS120 fibroblasts] and NHE3 ( K i = 650 μM). Results showed that NHE2 and NHE3 contribute to basal BBMV uptake at all ages. Uptake levels were highest in 6-wk-old rats, lower in adult rats, and lowest in 2-wk-old (suckling) and 3-wk-old (weanling) rats. NHE3 contribution ranged from 92% at 6 wk of age to 59% at 2 and 3 wk of age. NHE3 inhibition by 800 μM HOE-694 was 38–45%. Statistical analysis showed that HOE-694 had a significant effect at both concentrations at all ages and that differences were present between all ages except 2- and 3-wk rats (at all HOE-694 concentrations). Northern blot analyses of jejunal mucosa showed lowest NHE3 mRNA levels in 2-wk animals and higher levels in all other age groups. Polyclonal antibodies were developed against an NHE3 COOH-terminal fusion protein, and antiserum was characterized with NHE3-transfected PS120 cells and by immunohistochemistry. Western blot analyses showed lowest protein levels in 2-wk animals and higher levels in the other ages. Suckling rats were subcutaneously injected with methylprednisone (MP) for 2 days and killed 1 day later. Northern blot analyses showed a twofold increase in NHE3 mRNA expression with MP treatment. Immunoblot analyses showed a 2.5-fold increase in NHE3 immunoreactive protein levels with MP injection. Overall, these data suggest that NHE3 is regulated during ontogeny and that ontogenic changes are most apparent around the time of weaning. Furthermore, the data suggest that NHE3 is regulated at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels during mammalian intestinal development.


1983 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 1846-1856
Author(s):  
M C Brandriss

The PUT2 gene was isolated on a 6.5-kilobase insert of a recombinant DNA plasmid by functional complementation of a put2 (delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase-deficient) mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its identity was confirmed by a gene disruption technique in which the chromosomal PUT2+ gene was replaced by plasmid DNA carrying the put2 gene into which the S. cerevisiae HIS3+ gene had been inserted. The cloned PUT2 gene was used to probe specific mRNA levels: full induction of the PUT2 gene resulted in a 15-fold increase over the uninduced level. The PUT2-specific mRNA was approximately 2 kilobases in length and was used in S1 nuclease protection experiments to locate the gene to a 3-kilobase HindIII fragment. When delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase activity levels were measured in strains carrying the original plasmid, as well as in subclones, similar induction ratios were found as compared with enzyme levels in haploid yeast strains. Effects due to increased copy number or position were also seen. The cloned gene on a 2 mu-containing vector was used to map the PUT2 gene to chromosome VIII.


Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (6) ◽  
pp. 745-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Convissar ◽  
Marah Armouti ◽  
Michelle A Fierro ◽  
Nicola J Winston ◽  
Humberto Scoccia ◽  
...  

The regulation of AMH production by follicular cells is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the oocyte-secreted factors, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), on AMH production in primary human cumulus cells. Cumulus cells from IVF patients were cultured with a combination of GDF9, BMP15, recombinant FSH and specific signaling inhibitors. Stimulation with GDF9 or BMP15 separately had no significant effect onAMHmRNA levels. In contrast, simultaneous stimulation with GDF9 and BMP15 (G + B) resulted in a significant increase inAMHmRNA expression. Increasing concentration of G + B (0.6, 2.5, 5 and 10 ng/mL) stimulated AMH in a dose-dependent manner, showing a maximal effect at 5 ng/mL. Western blot analyses revealed an average 16-fold increase in AMH protein levels in cells treated with G + B when compared to controls. FSH co-treatment decreased the stimulation of AMH expression by G + B. The stimulatory effect of G + B on the expression of AMH was significantly decreased by inhibitors of the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway. These findings show for the first time that AMH production is regulated by oocyte-secreted factors in primary human cumulus cells. Moreover, our novel findings establish that the combination of GDF9 + BMP15 potently stimulates AMH expression.


1995 ◽  
Vol 311 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Bennett ◽  
M A Billett ◽  
A M Salter ◽  
E H Mangiapane ◽  
J S Bruce ◽  
...  

Different dietary fatty acids exert specific effects on plasma lipids but the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Hamsters were fed on low-cholesterol diets containing triacylglycerols enriched in specific saturated fatty acids, and effects on plasma lipids and the expression of genes involved in hepatic lipoprotein metabolism were measured. Trimyristin and tripalmitin caused significant rises in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol which were accompanied by significant reductions in hepatic LDL receptor mRNA levels. Tripalmitin also increased hepatic expression of the apolipoprotein B gene, implying an increased production of LDL via very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and decreased removal of LDL in animals fed this fat. Hepatic levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase mRNA did not vary significantly between the groups. Compared with triolein, tristearin had little effect on hepatic gene expression or total plasma cholesterol. However, it caused a marked decrease in VLDL cholesterol and a rise in LDL cholesterol such that overall it appeared to be neutral. Lipid analysis suggested a rapid desaturation of much of the dietary stearate. The differential changes in plasma lipids and hepatic mRNA levels induced by specific dietary fats suggests a role for fatty acids or a metabolite thereof in the regulation of the expression of genes involved in lipoprotein metabolism.


1996 ◽  
Vol 317 (3) ◽  
pp. 925-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker DANGEL ◽  
Jeanette GIRAY ◽  
Dieter RATGE ◽  
Hermann WISSER

The regulation of the expression of β-adrenoceptors (β-ARs) is not thoroughly understood. We demonstrate that the rat heart cell-line H9c2 expresses both β1- and β2-ARs. In radioligand-binding experiments, the maximal binding capacity of (-)-[125I]-iodocyanopindolol was determined as 18±0.6 fmol/mg of protein with a KD of 35.4±4.1 pM. Competitive radioligand-binding experiments with subtype-specific β-antagonists reveal a subtype ratio of β1- to β2-ARs of 29%:71%. With competitive reverse-transcriptase PCR we found β2-mRNA to be up to 1600 times more frequent than β1-mRNA. Treatment of the H9c2 cell-line with the β-adrenergic agonist (-)-isoproterenol (10-6 M), the antagonist (-)-propranolol (10-6 M) and the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (500 nM) induces regulatory effects on both the β-AR protein and mRNA level. Isoproterenol treatment leads to down-regulation of the total receptor number by 56±4%, due to a decrease in β2-ARs, while maintaining the β1-AR number constant. On the transcription level, both β1-and β2-mRNAs are decreased by 30% and 42% respectively. mRNA stability measurements reveal a reduced half-life of β2-mRNA from 9.3 h to 6.5 h after isoproterenol treatment. Incubation of cells with (-)-propranolol does not affect the amounts of β-ARs and their mRNAs. Dexamethasone induces a 1.8±0.2-fold increase in β-AR number over the basal level as well as a 1.9±0.2-fold increase in the amount of β2-mRNA. Because the half-life of β2-mRNA was unaffected by dexamethasone, the increased β2-mRNA level must be due to an enhanced transcription rate. The β1-mRNA levels are unchanged during dexamethasone-incubation of the cells. Our data clearly demonstrate that treatment of H9c2 rat heart cells with isoproterenol and dexamethasone induces alterations in the level of RNA stability as well as gene transcription, leading to altered receptor numbers.


Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 102 (9) ◽  
pp. 3354-3362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels W. C. J. van de Donk ◽  
Marloes M. J. Kamphuis ◽  
Berris van Kessel ◽  
Henk M. Lokhorst ◽  
Andries C. Bloem

AbstractHMG-CoA reductase is the rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway leading to the formation of cholesterol and isoprenoids such as farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP). The inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase by lovastatin induced apoptosis in plasma cell lines and tumor cells from patients with multiple myeloma. Here we show that cotreatment with mevalonate or geranylgeranyl moieties, but not farnesyl groups, rescued myeloma cells from lovastatin-induced apoptosis. In addition, the inhibition of geranylgeranylation by specific inhibition of geranylgeranyl transferase I (GGTase I) induced the apoptosis of myeloma cells. Apoptosis triggered by the inhibition of geranylgeranylation was associated with reduction of Mcl-1 protein expression, collapse of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, expression of the mitochondrial membrane protein 7A6, cytochrome c release from mitochondria into the cytosol, and stimulation of caspase-3 activity. These results imply that protein geranylgeranylation is critical for regulating myeloma tumor cell survival, possibly through regulating Mcl-1 expression. Our results show that pharmacologic agents such as lovastatin or GGTase inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of multiple myeloma.


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