scholarly journals Signal sequence insufficiency contributes to neurodegeneration caused by transmembrane prion protein

2010 ◽  
Vol 188 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neena S. Rane ◽  
Oishee Chakrabarti ◽  
Lionel Feigenbaum ◽  
Ramanujan S. Hegde

Protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum is mediated by signal sequences that vary widely in primary structure. In vitro studies suggest that such signal sequence variations may correspond to subtly different functional properties. Whether comparable functional differences exist in vivo and are of sufficient magnitude to impact organism physiology is unknown. Here, we investigate this issue by analyzing in transgenic mice the impact of signal sequence efficiency for mammalian prion protein (PrP). We find that replacement of the average efficiency signal sequence of PrP with more efficient signals rescues mice from neurodegeneration caused by otherwise pathogenic PrP mutants in a downstream hydrophobic domain (HD). This effect is explained by the demonstration that efficient signal sequence function precludes generation of a cytosolically exposed, disease-causing transmembrane form of PrP mediated by the HD mutants. Thus, signal sequences are functionally nonequivalent in vivo, with intrinsic inefficiency of the native PrP signal being required for pathogenesis of a subset of disease-causing PrP mutations.

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 394 (11) ◽  
pp. 1475-1483
Author(s):  
Jendrik Marbach ◽  
Peter Zentis ◽  
Philipp Ellinger ◽  
Henrik Müller ◽  
Eva Birkmann

Abstract Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases which occur as sporadic, genetic, and transmissible disorders. A molecular hallmark of prion diseases is the conformational conversion of the host-encoded cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) into its misfolded pathogenic isoform (PrPSc). PrPSc is the main component of the pathological and infectious prion agent. The study of the conversion mechanism from PrPC to PrPSc is a major field in prion research. PrPC is glycosylated and attached to the plasma membrane via its glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchor. In this study we established and characterised the expression of fully posttranslationally modified mammalian Syrian golden hamster PrPC in the yeast Pichia pastoris using native PrPC-specific N- and C-terminal signal sequences. In vivo as well as in vitro-studies demonstrated that the signal sequences controlled posttranslational processing and trafficking of native PrPC, resulting in PrPC localised in the plasma membrane of P. pastoris. In addition, the glycosylation pattern of native PrPC could be confirmed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 2530-2542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry H. Matundan ◽  
Kevin R. Mott ◽  
Aslam Abbasi Akhtar ◽  
Joshua J. Breunig ◽  
Homayon Ghiasi

ABSTRACTTo investigate the role of the signal sequences of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) gK on virus replication and viral pathogenesis, we constructed recombinant viruses with or without mutations within the signal sequences of gK. These recombinant viruses expressed two additional copies of the mutated (MgK) or native (NgK) form of the gK gene in place of the latency-associated transcript with a myc epitope tag to facilitate detection at their 3′ ends. The replication of MgK virus was similar to that of NgK bothin vitroandin vivo, as well as in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of latently infected mice. The levels of gB and gK transcripts in the corneas, TG, and brains of infected mice on days 3 and 5 postinfection were markedly virus and time dependent, as well as tissue specific. Mutation in the signal sequence of gK in MgK virus blocked cell surface expression of gK-myc in rabbit skin cells, increased 50% lethal dose, and decreased corneal scarring in ocularly infected mice compared to the NgK or revertant (RgK) virus. MgK and NgK viruses, and not the RgK virus, showed a reduced extent of explant reactivation at the lower dose of ocular infection but not at the higher dose. However, the time of reactivation was not affected by overexpression of the different forms of gK. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the 8mer peptide (ITAYGLVL) within the signal sequence of gK promotes cell surface expression of gK in infected cells and ocular pathogenesis in infected mice.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we show for the first time that mutations within the signal sequence of gK blocked cell surface expression of inserted recombinant gKin vitro. Furthermore, this blockage in cell surface expression was correlated with higher 50% lethal dose and less corneal scarringin vivo. Thus, these studies point to a key role for the 8mer within the signal sequence of gK in HSV-1-induced pathogenicity.


1989 ◽  
Vol 109 (6) ◽  
pp. 2653-2664 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Deshaies ◽  
R Schekman

Yeast sec62 mutant cells are defective in the translocation of several secretory precursor proteins into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (Rothblatt et al., 1989). The deficiency, which is most restrictive for alpha-factor precursor (pp alpha F) and preprocarboxypeptidase Y, has been reproduced in vitro. Membranes isolated from mutant cells display low and labile translocation activity with pp alpha F translated in a wild-type cytosol fraction. The defect is unique to the membrane fraction because cytosol from mutant cells supports translocation into membranes from wild-type yeast. Invertase assembly is only partly affected by the sec62 mutation in vivo and is nearly normal with mutant membranes in vitro. A potential membrane location for the SEC62 gene product is supported by evaluation of the molecular clone. DNA sequence analysis reveals a 32-kD protein with no obvious NH2-terminal signal sequence but with two domains of sufficient length and hydrophobicity to span a lipid bilayer. Sec62p is predicted to display significant NH2- and COOH-terminal hydrophilic domains on the cytoplasmic surface of the ER membrane. The last 30 amino acids of the COOH terminus may form an alpha-helix with 14 lysine and arginine residues arranged uniformly about the helix. This domain may allow Sec62p to interact with other proteins of the putative translocation complex.


2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 1024-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hossein Boskabady ◽  
Sakine Shahmohammadi Mehrjardi ◽  
Abadorrahim Rezaee ◽  
Houshang Rafatpanah ◽  
Sediqeh Jalali

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Kanzaki ◽  
Tetsuhiro Chiba ◽  
Junjie Ao ◽  
Keisuke Koroki ◽  
Kengo Kanayama ◽  
...  

AbstractFGF19/FGFR4 autocrine signaling is one of the main targets for multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying FGF19/FGFR4 signaling in the antitumor effects to MKIs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, the impact of FGFR4/ERK signaling inhibition on HCC following MKI treatment was analyzed in vitro and in vivo assays. Serum FGF19 in HCC patients treated using MKIs, such as sorafenib (n = 173) and lenvatinib (n = 40), was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lenvatinib strongly inhibited the phosphorylation of FRS2 and ERK, the downstream signaling molecules of FGFR4, compared with sorafenib and regorafenib. Additional use of a selective FGFR4 inhibitor with sorafenib further suppressed FGFR4/ERK signaling and synergistically inhibited HCC cell growth in culture and xenograft subcutaneous tumors. Although serum FGF19high (n = 68) patients treated using sorafenib exhibited a significantly shorter progression-free survival and overall survival than FGF19low (n = 105) patients, there were no significant differences between FGF19high (n = 21) and FGF19low (n = 19) patients treated using lenvatinib. In conclusion, robust inhibition of FGF19/FGFR4 is of importance for the exertion of antitumor effects of MKIs. Serum FGF19 levels may function as a predictive marker for drug response and survival in HCC patients treated using sorafenib.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1414
Author(s):  
Josep M. Cambra ◽  
Emilio A. Martinez ◽  
Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez ◽  
Maria A. Gil ◽  
Cristina Cuello

The development of chemically defined media is a growing trend in in vitro embryo production (IVP). Recently, traditional undefined culture medium with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been successfully replaced by a chemically defined medium using substances with embryotrophic properties such as platelet factor 4 (PF4). Although the use of this medium sustains IVP, the impact of defined media on the embryonic transcriptome has not been fully elucidated. This study analyzed the transcriptome of porcine IVP blastocysts, cultured in defined (PF4 group) and undefined media (BSA group) by microarrays. In vivo-derived blastocysts (IVV group) were used as a standard of maximum embryo quality. The results showed no differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the PF4 and BSA groups. However, a total of 2780 and 2577 DEGs were detected when comparing the PF4 or the BSA group with the IVV group, respectively. Most of these genes were common in both in vitro groups (2132) and present in some enriched pathways, such as cell cycle, lysosome and/or metabolic pathways. These results show that IVP conditions strongly affect embryo transcriptome and that the defined culture medium with PF4 is a guaranteed replacement for traditional culture with BSA.


Tumor Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-26
Author(s):  
Maike Busch ◽  
Natalia Miroschnikov ◽  
Jaroslaw Thomas Dankert ◽  
Marc Wiesehöfer ◽  
Klaus Metz ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common childhood eye cancer. Chemotherapeutic drugs such as etoposide used in RB treatment often cause massive side effects and acquired drug resistances. Dysregulated genes and miRNAs have a large impact on cancer progression and development of chemotherapy resistances. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the involvement of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) in RB progression and chemoresistance as well as the impact of miR-138, a potential RARα regulating miRNA. METHODS: RARα and miR-138 expression in etoposide resistant RB cell lines and chemotherapy treated patient tumors compared to non-treated tumors was revealed by Real-Time PCR. Overexpression approaches were performed to analyze the effects of RARα on RB cell viability, apoptosis, proliferation and tumorigenesis. Besides, we addressed the effect of miR-138 overexpression on RB cell chemotherapy resistance. RESULTS: A binding between miR-138 and RARα was shown by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The study presented revealed that RARα is downregulated in etoposide resistant RB cells, while miR-138 is endogenously upregulated. Opposing RARα and miR-138 expression levels were detectable in chemotherapy pre-treated compared to non-treated RB tumor specimen. Overexpression of RARα increases apoptosis levels and reduces tumor cell growth of aggressive etoposide resistant RB cells in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of miR-138 in chemo-sensitive RB cell lines partly enhances cell viability after etoposide treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that RARα acts as a tumor suppressor in retinoblastoma and is downregulated upon etoposide resistance in RB cells. Thus, RARα may contribute to the development and progression of RB chemo-resistance.


1998 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 679-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Horst Spielmann ◽  
Michael Balls ◽  
Jack Dupuis ◽  
Wolfgang J. W. Pape ◽  
Odile de Silva ◽  
...  

In 1996, the Scientific Committee on Cosmetology of DGXXIV of the European Commission asked the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods to test eight UV filter chemicals from the 1995 edition of Annex VII of Directive 76/768/EEC in a blind trial in the in vitro 3T3 cell neutral red uptake phototoxicity (3T3 NRU PT) test, which had been scientifically validated between 1992 and 1996. Since all the UV filter chemicals on the positive list of EU Directive 76/768/EEC have been shown not to be phototoxic in vivo in humans under use conditions, only negative effects would be expected in the 3T3 NRU PT test. To balance the number of positive and negative chemicals, ten phototoxic and ten non-phototoxic chemicals were tested under blind conditions in four laboratories. Moreover, to assess the optimum concentration range for testing, information was provided on appropriate solvents and on the solubility of the coded chemicals. In this study, the phototoxic potential of test chemicals was evaluated in a prediction model in which either the Photoirritation Factor (PIF) or the Mean Photo Effect (MPE) were determined. The results obtained with both PIF and MPE were highly reproducible in the four laboratories, and the correlation between in vitro and in vivo data was almost perfect. All the phototoxic test chemicals provided a positive result at concentrations of 1μg/ml, while nine of the ten non-phototoxic chemicals gave clear negative results, even at the highest test concentrations. One of the UV filter chemicals gave positive results in three of the four laboratories only at concentrations greater than 100μg/ml; the other laboratory correctly identified all 20 of the test chemicals. An analysis of the impact that exposure concentrations had on the performance of the test revealed that the optimum concentration range in the 3T3 NRU PT test for determining the phototoxic potential of chemicals is between 0.1μg/ml and 10μg/ml, and that false positive results can be obtained at concentrations greater than 100μg/ml. Therefore, the positive results obtained with some of the UV filter chemicals only at concentrations greater than 100μg/ml do not indicate a phototoxic potential in vivo. When this information was taken into account during calculation of the overall predictivity of the 3T3 NRU PT test in the present study, an almost perfect correlation of in vitro versus in vivo results was obtained (between 95% and 100%), when either PIF or MPE were used to predict the phototoxic potential. The management team and participants therefore conclude that the 3T3 NRU PT test is a valid test for correctly assessing the phototoxic potential of UV filter chemicals, if the defined concentration limits are taken into account.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 507
Author(s):  
Isabel Gonzalez-Alvarez ◽  
Marival Bermejo ◽  
Yasuhiro Tsume ◽  
Alejandro Ruiz-Picazo ◽  
Marta Gonzalez-Alvarez ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to predict in vivo performance of three oral products of Etoricoxib (Arcoxia® as reference and two generic formulations in development) by conducting in vivo predictive dissolution with GIS (Gastro Intestinal Simulator) and computational analysis. Those predictions were compared with the results from previous bioequivalence (BE) human studies. Product dissolution studies were performed using a computer-controlled multicompartmental dissolution device (GIS) equipped with three dissolution chambers, representing stomach, duodenum, and jejunum, with integrated transit times and secretion rates. The measured dissolved amounts were modelled in each compartment with a set of differential equations representing transit, dissolution, and precipitation processes. The observed drug concentration by in vitro dissolution studies were directly convoluted with permeability and disposition parameters from literature to generate the predicted plasma concentrations. The GIS was able to detect the dissolution differences among reference and generic formulations in the gastric chamber where the drug solubility is high (pH 2) while the USP 2 standard dissolution test at pH 2 did not show any difference. Therefore, the current study confirms the importance of multicompartmental dissolution testing for weak bases as observed for other case examples but also the impact of excipients on duodenal and jejunal in vivo behavior.


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