scholarly journals CSIG-29. STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL STUDIES OF PID1, A NOVEL GROWTH SUPPRESSOR IN BRAIN TUMORS

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi50-vi50
Author(s):  
Xiuhai Ren ◽  
Emi Hirsh ◽  
Min Mahdi ◽  
Fumiyaki Ito ◽  
Xiaojiang Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Brain cancers, including medulloblastomas and gliomas, are a major cause of death in children and adults. We reported that PID1 (Phosphotyrosine Interaction Domain containing 1) is a growth suppressor in medulloblastomas and gliomas (PMID: 24300787). PID1 also enhances the anti-tumor effects of chemotherapy (PMID: 28400607). We are now seeking to better understand the structure and mechanism of PID1, in order to utilize this knowledge to develop innovative PID1-based therapies. METHODS PID1 mutants were expressed in E. coli as MBP fusion proteins, purified and used for MALS analysis. Additional epitope tagged PID1 constructs (HA, V5, tGFP, eGFP) were generated, expressed in mammalian cells and analyzed by western blots, immunoprecipitation, and functional assays. RESULTS We carried out screening and testing of multiple mutants of purified PID1 and characterized them. Experiments in cell culture supported presence of similar findings in mammalian cells. Colony assays in glioma and medulloblastoma cell lines identified a region in PID1 that confers the most robust growth-inhibitory effect. Experiments are underway to further refine the boundaries and characteristics of this growth-inhibitory region. CONCLUSIONS This project, which is focused on better understanding of the structure and function of PID1, is uncovering novel aspects of its molecular function. Insights gained from this work will guide studies to develop innovative PID1-based therapies for gliomas and medulloblastomas.

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (6) ◽  
pp. 2163-2172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. King ◽  
Matthew C. Posewitz ◽  
Maria L. Ghirardi ◽  
Michael Seibert

ABSTRACT Maturation of [FeFe] hydrogenases requires the biosynthesis and insertion of the catalytic iron-sulfur cluster, the H cluster. Two radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) proteins proposed to function in H cluster biosynthesis, HydEF and HydG, were recently identified in the hydEF-1 mutant of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (M. C. Posewitz, P. W. King, S. L. Smolinski, L. Zhang, M. Seibert, and M. L. Ghirardi, J. Biol. Chem. 279:25711-25720, 2004). Previous efforts to study [FeFe] hydrogenase maturation in Escherichia coli by coexpression of C. reinhardtii HydEF and HydG and the HydA1 [FeFe] hydrogenase were hindered by instability of the hydEF and hydG expression clones. A more stable [FeFe] hydrogenase expression system has been achieved in E. coli by cloning and coexpression of hydE, hydF, and hydG from the bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum. Coexpression of the C. acetobutylicum maturation proteins with various algal and bacterial [FeFe] hydrogenases in E. coli resulted in purified enzymes with specific activities that were similar to those of the enzymes purified from native sources. In the case of structurally complex [FeFe] hydrogenases, maturation of the catalytic sites could occur in the absence of an accessory iron-sulfur cluster domain. Initial investigations of the structure and function of the maturation proteins HydE, HydF, and HydG showed that the highly conserved radical-SAM domains of both HydE and HydG and the GTPase domain of HydF were essential for achieving biosynthesis of active [FeFe] hydrogenases. Together, these results demonstrate that the catalytic domain and a functionally complete set of Hyd maturation proteins are fundamental to achieving biosynthesis of catalytic [FeFe] hydrogenases.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayashree Pohnerkar ◽  
Krishma Tailor ◽  
Prarthi Sagar ◽  
Keyur Dave

The guanosine nucleotide derivatives ppGpp and pppGpp are central to the remarkable capacity of bacteria to adapt to fluctuating environment and metabolic perturbations. These alarmones are synthesized by two proteins, RelA and SpoT in E. coli and the activities of each of the two enzymes are highly regulated for homeostatic control of (p)ppGpp levels in the cell. Although the domain structure and function of RelA are well defined, the findings of this study unfold the regulatory aspect of RelA that is possibly relevant in vivo. We uncover here the importance of the N-terminal 1-119 amino acids of the enzymatically compromised (p)ppGpp hydrolytic domain (HD) of monofunctional RelA for the (p)ppGpp mediated regulation of RelA-CTD function. We find that even moderate level expression of RelA appreciably reduces growth when the basal levels of (p)ppGpp in the cells are higher than in the wild type, an effect independent of its ability to synthesize (p)ppGpp. This is evidenced by the growth inhibitory effects of oversynthesis of the RelA-CTD in the relA+ strain but not in relA null mutant, suggesting the requirement of the functional RelA protein for basal level synthesis of (p)ppGpp, accordingly corroborated by the restoration of the growth inhibitory effects of the RelA-CTD expression in the relA1 spoT202 mutant. The N-terminal 119 amino acids of RelA fused in-frame with the RelA-CTD, both from 406-744 amino acids (including TGS) and from 454-744 amino acids (sans TGS) caused growth inhibition only in spoT1 and spoT202 relA1 mutants, uncovering the hitherto unrealized (p)ppGpp-dependent regulation of RelA-CTD function. An incremental rise in the (p)ppGpp levels is proposed to progressively modulate the interaction of RelA-CTD with the ribosomes, with possible implications in the feedback regulation of the N-terminal (p)ppGpp synthesis function, a proposal that best explains the nonlinear relationship between (p)ppGpp synthesis and increased ratio of RelA:ribosomes, both in vitro as well as in vivo.


2011 ◽  
Vol 195 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Ma ◽  
Janel Titus ◽  
Alyssa Gable ◽  
Jennifer L. Ross ◽  
Patricia Wadsworth

Mitotic spindle assembly requires the regulated activity of numerous spindle-associated proteins. In mammalian cells, the Kinesin-5 motor Eg5 interacts with the spindle assembly factor TPX2, but how this interaction contributes to spindle formation and function is not established. Using bacterial artificial chromosome technology, we generated cells expressing TPX2 lacking the Eg5 interaction domain. Spindles in these cells were highly disorganized with multiple spindle poles. The TPX2–Eg5 interaction was required for kinetochore fiber formation and contributed to Eg5 localization to spindle microtubules but not spindle poles. Microinjection of the Eg5-binding domain of TPX2 resulted in spindle elongation, indicating that the interaction of Eg5 with TPX2 reduces motor activity. Consistent with this possibility, we found that TPX2 reduced the velocity of Eg5-dependent microtubule gliding, inhibited microtubule sliding, and resulted in the accumulation of motor on microtubules. These results establish a novel function of TPX2 in regulating the location and activity of the mitotic motor Eg5.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avijit Das ◽  
Sumit Biswas ◽  
Malabika Biswas

Background:The Gp07 protein of aureophage Phi11 exhibits growth inhibitory effects when overexpressed inE. coli.The protein harbors two domains- an amino terminal Bro-like domain and a carboxy terminal Ant superfamily like KilA domain, of which the KilA domain retains the growth inhibitory effect of Gp07.Methods:We studied the effects exerted by the overexpression of Gp07 and its separate domains upon the growth rate as well as the morphology of theE. colicells. Additionally, we generated a mutant of Gp07 (designated as ΔGp07) by deleting the first eleven amino acid residues from the amino-terminal region of Gp07, and studied its growth inhibitory effects uponE. coli.Results:Our results indicate that Gp07, ΔGp07 as well as the Carboxy-terminal region of Gp07 upon overexpression, retards the growth rate of theE. colicells and also induces filamentation in the cells. Surprisingly, our data clearly suggests that the growth inhibition and filamentation induced by the the amino-terminal domain of Gp07 is temporal in nature.Conclusion:The carboxy-terminal of domain of gp07 is essential for its activity.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mervi T. Hyvönen ◽  
Tuomo A. Keinänen ◽  
Gulgina K. Nuraeva ◽  
Dmitry V. Yanvarev ◽  
Maxim Khomutov ◽  
...  

The biogenic polyamines, spermine, spermidine (Spd) and putrescine (Put) are present at micro-millimolar concentrations in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells (many prokaryotes have no spermine), participating in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation. In mammalian cells Put is formed exclusively from L-ornithine by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and many potent ODC inhibitors are known. In bacteria, plants, and fungi Put is synthesized also from agmatine, which is formed from L-arginine by arginine decarboxylase (ADC). Here we demonstrate that the isosteric hydroxylamine analogue of agmatine (AO-Agm) is a new and very potent (IC50 3•10−8 M) inhibitor of E. coli ADC. It was almost two orders of magnitude less potent towards E. coli ODC. AO-Agm decreased polyamine pools and inhibited the growth of DU145 prostate cancer cells only at high concentration (1 mM). Growth inhibitory analysis of the Acremonium chrysogenum demonstrated that the wild type (WT) strain synthesized Put only from L-ornithine, while the cephalosporin C high-yielding strain, in which the polyamine pool is increased, could use both ODC and ADC to produce Put. Thus, AO-Agm is an important addition to the set of existing inhibitors of the enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis, and an important instrument for investigating polyamine biochemistry.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15009-e15009
Author(s):  
Md Mohiuddin ◽  
Hideharu Kimura ◽  
Satoshi Watanabe ◽  
Miki Abo ◽  
Takashi Sone ◽  
...  

e15009 Background: Lung cancer patients have a significantly higher risk of contracting COVID-19, and interactions with the healthcare system during cancer therapy can put patients at risk. Preliminary studies in COVID-19 patients with severe disease found a reduction in the number and function of natural killer (NK) cells. Other studies in COVID-19 patients reported acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to the extreme release of inflammatory cytokines. Besides, adverse effects of chemotherapy, such as chemotherapy resistance and the escalation of cellular senescence can worsen the condition of patients with COVID-19. Considering these facts, we evaluated the growth-inhibitory effects of three commonly used chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin, pemetrexed, and paclitaxel, in gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (PC9GR) cells and investigated the underlying mechanism. Methods: In this study, flow cytometry (FCM) was used to profile the activity and function of human NK cells. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to quantify cytokine levels. PC9GR cells were treated with cisplatin, paclitaxel, or pemetrexed as monotherapy for 72 h and then evaluated with a cell viability assay, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, SA-β-Gal staining, and Western blotting. Results: We demonstrated that NK cell dysfunction was linked to the reduced NK-mediated elimination of PC9GR cells. The PC9GR cells showed the marked secretion of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF cytokines, which was connected to the activation of the inhibitory signaling pathway of NK cells. We found that paclitaxel was the most potent growth inhibitor, cisplatin had an intermediate growth inhibitory effect, and pemetrexed induced a minimal growth inhibitory effect in PC9GR cells. These growth inhibitory effects were observed to be associated with ROS-mediated DNA damage, which led to the activation of apoptotic caspases. Surprisingly, paclitaxel was the strongest remover of senescent cells; pemetrexed had an intermediate effect, and cisplatin removed the lowest number of senescent cells. Conclusions: In light of these findings, paclitaxel may have a better therapeutic effect than cisplatin or pemetrexed on PC9GR cells, suggesting that paclitaxel could offer a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 370-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Voak ◽  
Karin Seifert ◽  
Nuala A. Helsby ◽  
Shane R. Wilkinson

ABSTRACTMany of the nitroaromatic agents used in medicine function as prodrugs and must undergo activation before exerting their toxic effects. In most cases, this is catalyzed by flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent type I nitroreductases (NTRs), a class of enzyme absent from higher eukaryotes but expressed by bacteria and several eukaryotic microbes, including trypanosomes andLeishmania. Here, we utilize this difference to evaluate whether members of a library of aziridinyl nitrobenzamides have activity againstLeishmania major. Biochemical screens using purifiedL. majorNTR (LmNTR) revealed that compounds containing an aziridinyl-2,4-dinitrobenzyl core were effective substrates for the enzyme and showed that the 4-nitro group was important for this activity. To facilitate drug screening against intracellular amastigote parasites, we generated leishmanial cells that expressed the luciferase reporter gene and optimized a mammalian infection model in a 96-well plate format. A subset of aziridinyl-2,4-dinitrobenzyl compounds possessing a 5-amide substituent displayed significant growth-inhibitory properties against the parasite, with the most potent agents generating 50% inhibitory concentrations of <100 nM for the intracellular form. This antimicrobial activity was shown to be LmNTR specific sinceL. major NTR+/−heterozygote parasites were slightly resistance to most aziridinyl dinitrobenzyl agents tested. When the most potent leishmanicidal agents were screened against the mammalian cells in which the amastigote parasites were propagated, no growth-inhibitory effect was observed at concentrations of up to 100 μM. We conclude that the aziridinyl nitrobenzamides represent a new lead structure that may have the potential to treat leishmanial infections.


Author(s):  
J. P. Petrali ◽  
E. J. Donati ◽  
L. A. Sternberger

Specific contrast is conferred to subcellular antigen by applying purified antibodies, exhaustively labeled with uranium under immunospecific protection, to ultrathin sections. Use of Seligman’s principle of bridging osmium to metal via thiocarbohydrazide (TCH) intensifies specific contrast. Ultrathin sections of osmium-fixed materials were stained on the grid by application of 1) thiosemicarbazide (TSC), 2) unlabeled specific antiserum, 3) uranium-labeled anti-antibody and 4) TCH followed by reosmication. Antigens to be localized consisted of vaccinia antigen in infected HeLa cells, lysozyme in monocytes of patients with monocytic or monomyelocytic leukemia, and fibrinogen in the platelets of these leukemic patients. Control sections were stained with non-specific antiserum (E. coli).In the vaccinia-HeLa system, antigen was localized from 1 to 3 hours following infection, and was confined to degrading virus, the inner walls of numerous organelles, and other structures in cytoplasmic foci. Surrounding architecture and cellular mitochondria were unstained. 8 to 14 hours after infection, antigen was localized on the outer walls of the viral progeny, on cytoplasmic membranes, and free in the cytoplasm. Staining of endoplasmic reticulum was intense and focal early, and weak and diffuse late in infection.


Author(s):  
M. Boublik ◽  
R.M. Wydro ◽  
W. Hellmann ◽  
F. Jenkins

Ribosomes are ribonucleoprotein particles necessary for processing the genetic information of mRNA into proteins. Analogy in composition and function of ribosomes from diverse species, established by biochemical and biological assays, implies their structural similarity. Direct evidence obtained by electron microscopy seems to be of increasing relevance in understanding the structure of ribosomes and the mechanism of their role in protein synthesis.The extent of the structural homology between prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes has been studied on ribosomes of Escherichia coli (E.c.) and Artemia salina (A.s.). Despite the established differences in size and in the amount and proportion of ribosomal proteins and RNAs both types of ribosomes show an overall similarity. The monosomes (stained with 0.5% aqueous uranyl acetate and deposited on a fine carbon support) appear in the electron micrographs as round particles with a diameter of approximately 225Å for the 70S E.c. (Fig. 1) and 260Å for the 80S A.s. monosome (Fig. 2).


Author(s):  
M. Boublik ◽  
N. Robakis ◽  
J.S. Wall

The three-dimensional structure and function of biological supramolecular complexes are, in general, determined and stabilized by conformation and interactions of their macromolecular components. In the case of ribosomes, it has been suggested that one of the functions of ribosomal RNAs is to act as a scaffold maintaining the shape of the ribosomal subunits. In order to investigate this question, we have conducted a comparative TEM and STEM study of the structure of the small 30S subunit of E. coli and its 16S RNA.The conventional electron microscopic imaging of nucleic acids is performed by spreading them in the presence of protein or detergent; the particles are contrasted by electron dense solution (uranyl acetate) or by shadowing with metal (tungsten). By using the STEM on freeze-dried specimens we have avoided the shearing forces of the spreading, and minimized both the collapse of rRNA due to air drying and the loss of resolution due to staining or shadowing. Figure 1, is a conventional (TEM) electron micrograph of 30S E. coli subunits contrasted with uranyl acetate.


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