scholarly journals Role of MexZ and PA5471 in transcriptional regulation of mexXY in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (10) ◽  
pp. 3312-3321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Yamamoto ◽  
Atsuhisa Ueda ◽  
Makoto Kudo ◽  
Yasuhiro Matsuo ◽  
Jun Fukushima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Drug Efflux Pump ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay

MexXY, a drug efflux pump in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, confers resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. We recently reported that MexZ binds to the promoter region of the mexXY operon. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) using recombinant MexZ and oligonucleotide probes prepared from the intergenic region between mexZ and mexX revealed that MexZ binds to a 20 bp palindromic sequence. Culture of P. aeruginosa in the presence of tetracycline induced higher levels of MexX and MexZ, as measured by immunoblotting and EMSA, than in the absence of antibiotics. When MexZ was expressed by a mexZ expression plasmid, the plasmid-borne MexZ repressed drug-induced MexX production, further confirming that MexZ acts as a repressor of the mexXY operon. PA5471 protein has been reported to be essential for drug-induced MexXY production. Similarly to that report, we observed that plasmid-borne PA5471 induced both MexX and MexZ production in PAO1 cells. Interestingly, interaction between MexZ and PA5471 was observed in a yeast two-hybrid assay. Furthermore, EMSA and in vitro transcription assays revealed that interaction between PA5471 and MexZ reduced MexZ DNA-binding ability, leading to mexXY transcription. These findings contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of mexZ and mexXY by drug-induced PA5471 expression.

scholarly journals Ouabain Modulates Zymosan-Induced Peritonitis in Mice

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Alves Leite ◽  
Anne Kaliery De Abreu Alves ◽  
José Guilherme Marques Galvão ◽  
Mariana Pires Teixeira ◽  
Luiz Henrique Agra Cavalcante-Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes ◽  
Potent Inhibitor ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Acute Inflammatory Response ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Plasma Exudation ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay ◽  
Number Of Cells

Ouabain, a potent inhibitor of the Na+, K+-ATPase, was identified as an endogenous substance. Recently, ouabain was shown to affect various immunological processes. We have previously demonstrated the ability of ouabain to modulate inflammation, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. Thus, the aim of the present work is to evaluate the immune modulatory role of ouabain on zymosan-induced peritonitis in mice. Our results show that ouabain decreased plasma exudation (33%). After induction of inflammation, OUA treatment led to a 46% reduction in the total number of cells, as a reflex of a decrease of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which does not appear to be due to cell death. Furthermore, OUA decreased TNF-α(57%) and IL-1β(58%) levels, without interfering with IL-6 and IL-10. Also,in vitroexperiments show that ouabain did not affect endocytic capacity. Moreover, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) shows that zymosan treatment increased (85%) NF-κB binding activity and that ouabain reduced (30%) NF-κB binding activity induced by zymosan. Therefore, our data suggest that ouabain modulated acute inflammatory response, reducing the number of cells and cytokines levels in the peritoneal cavity, as well as NFκB activation, suggesting a new mode of action of this substance.

scholarly journals Transcriptional regulation of human and murine 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-7 confers its participation in cholesterol biosynthesis

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Ohnesorg ◽  
Brigitte Keller ◽  
Martin Hrabé de Angelis ◽  
Jerzy Adamski
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Cholesterol Biosynthesis ◽  
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay

In both humans and mice, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-7 (HSD17B7) was described as possessing dual enzymatic functionality. The enzyme was first shown to be able to convert estrone to estradiol in vitro. Later involvement of this enzyme in postsqualene cholesterol biosynthesis was postulated (conversion of zymosterone to zymosterol) and could be proven in vitro. In this work, we performed a detailed analysis of the transcriptional regulation of both the human and murine genes. Despite relatively low sequence similarity, both promoters contain similar contexts of transcription factor-binding sites. The participation of these sites in transcriptional regulation of HSD17B7 was proven by electro-mobility shift assay and site-directed mutagenesis of the corresponding binding sites. We describe novel involvement of vitamin D receptor/retinoid X receptor and provide new information on the regulation of HSD17B7 expression by sterol regulatory element-binding protein and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4, the latter known from other genes of cholesterogenic enzymes. The results of our study provide unequivocal evidence for a role of HSD17B7 in cholesterol biosynthesis.

scholarly journals Transcript analysis reveals an extended regulon and the importance of protein–protein co-operativity for the Escherichia coli methionine repressor

2006 ◽  
Vol 396 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferenc Marincs ◽  
Iain W. Manfield ◽  
Jonathan A. Stead ◽  
Kenneth J. Mcdowall ◽  
Peter G. Stockley
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Gene Replacement ◽  
Dna Arrays ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Metabolic Role ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay

We have used DNA arrays to investigate the effects of knocking out the methionine repressor gene, metJ, on the Escherichia coli transcriptome. We assayed the effects in the knockout strain of supplying wild-type or mutant MetJ repressors from an expression plasmid, thus establishing a rapid assay for in vivo effects of mutations characterized previously in vitro. Repression is largely restricted to known genes involved in the biosynthesis and uptake of methionine. However, we identified a number of additional genes that are significantly up-regulated in the absence of repressor. Sequence analysis of the 5′ promoter regions of these genes identified plausible matches to met-box sequences for three of these, and subsequent electrophoretic mobility-shift assay analysis showed that for two such loci their repressor affinity is higher than or comparable with the known metB operator, suggesting that they are directly regulated. This can be rationalized for one of the loci, folE, by the metabolic role of its encoded enzyme; however, the links to the other regulated loci are unclear, suggesting both an extension to the known met regulon and additional complexity to the role of the repressor. The plasmid gene replacement system has been used to examine the importance of protein–protein co-operativity in operator saturation using the structurally characterized mutant repressor, Q44K. In vivo, there are detectable reductions in the levels of regulation observed, demonstrating the importance of balancing protein–protein and protein–DNA affinity.

scholarly journals The NtrC Family Regulator AlgB, Which Controls Alginate Biosynthesis in Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Binds Directly to the algD Promoter

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (2) ◽  
pp. 581-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Leech ◽  
April Sprinkle ◽  
Lynn Wood ◽  
Daniel J. Wozniak ◽  
Dennis E. Ohman
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Response Regulator ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Alginate Production ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay ◽  
Exponential Enrichment ◽  
Microarray Analyses ◽  
Phosphorylation Domain

ABSTRACT Alginate production in mucoid (MucA-defective) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is dependent upon several transcriptional regulators, including AlgB, a two-component response regulator belonging to the NtrC family. This role of AlgB was apparently independent of its sensor kinase, KinB, and even the N-terminal phosphorylation domain of AlgB was dispensable for alginate biosynthetic gene (i.e., algD operon) activation. However, it remained unclear whether AlgB stimulated algD transcription directly or indirectly. In this study, microarray analyses were used to examine a set of potential AlgB-dependent, KinB-independent genes in a PAO1 mucA background that overlapped with genes induced by d-cycloserine, which is known to activate algD expression. This set contained only the algD operon plus one other gene that was shown to be uninvolved in alginate production. This suggested that AlgB promotes alginate production by directly binding to the algD promoter (PalgD). Chromosome immunoprecipitation revealed that AlgB bound in vivo to PalgD but did not bind when AlgB had an R442E substitution that disrupted the DNA binding domain. AlgB also showed binding to PalgD fragments in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay at pH 4.5 but not at pH 8.0. A direct systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment approach showed AlgB binding to a 50-bp fragment located at bp −224 to −274 relative to the start of PalgD transcription. Thus, AlgB belongs to a subclass of NtrC family proteins that can activate promoters which utilize a sigma factor other than σ54, in this case to stimulate transcription from the σ22-dependent PalgD promoter.

scholarly journals Induction of hTERT Expression and Telomerase Activity by Estrogens in Human Ovary Epithelium Cells

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 3764-3771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Misiti ◽  
Simona Nanni ◽  
Giulia Fontemaggi ◽  
Yu-Sheng Cong ◽  
Jianping Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Α ◽  
Telomerase Activity ◽  
Human Ovary ◽  
Htert Gene ◽  
Human Telomerase

ABSTRACT In mammals, molecular mechanisms and factors involved in the tight regulation of telomerase expression and activity are still largely undefined. In this study, we provide evidence for a role of estrogens and their receptors in the transcriptional regulation of hTERT, the catalytic subunit of human telomerase and, consequently, in the activation of the enzyme. Through a computer analysis of the hTERT 5′-flanking sequences, we identified a putative estrogen response element (ERE) which was capable of binding in vitro human estrogen receptor α (ERα). In vivo DNA footprinting revealed specific modifications of the ERE region in ERα-positive but not ERα-negative cells upon treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2), indicative of estrogen-dependent chromatin remodelling. In the presence of E2, transient expression of ERα but not ERβ remarkably increased hTERT promoter activity, and mutation of the ERE significantly reduced this effect. No telomerase activity was detected in human ovary epithelial cells grown in the absence of E2, but the addition of the hormone induced the enzyme within 3 h of treatment. The expression of hTERT mRNA and protein was induced in parallel with enzymatic activity. This prompt estrogen modulation of telomerase activity substantiates estrogen-dependent transcriptional regulation of the hTERT gene. The identification of hTERT as a target of estrogens represents a novel finding which advances the understanding of telomerase regulation in hormone-dependent cells and has implications for a potential role of hormones in their senescence and malignant conversion.

scholarly journals microRNA-377 Signaling Modulates Anticancer Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Henderson ◽  
Praveen K. Dubey ◽  
Mallikarjun Patil ◽  
Sarojini Singh ◽  
Shubham Dubey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Rna Sequencing ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Chemotherapy Agent

Doxorubicin (DOX, an anthracycline) is a widely used chemotherapy agent against various forms of cancer; however, it is also known to induce dose-dependent cardiotoxicity leading to adverse complications. Investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms and strategies to limit DOX-induced cardiotoxicity might have potential clinical implications. Our previous study has shown that expression of microRNA-377 (miR-377) increases in cardiomyocytes (CMs) after cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice, but its specific role in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity has not been elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effect of anti-miR-377 on DOX-induced cardiac cell death, remodeling, and dysfunction. We evaluated the role of miR-377 in CM apoptosis, its target analysis by RNA sequencing, and we tested the effect of AAV9-anti-miR-377 on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and mortality. DOX administration in mice increases miR-377 expression in the myocardium. miR-377 inhibition in cardiomyocyte cell line protects against DOX-induced cell death and oxidative stress. Furthermore, RNA sequencing and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed alterations in a number of cell death/survival genes. Intriguingly, we observed accelerated mortality and enhanced myocardial remodeling in the mice pretreated with AAV9-anti-miR-377 followed by DOX administration as compared to the AAV9-scrambled-control-pretreated mice. Taken together, our data suggest that in vitro miR-377 inhibition protects against DOX-induced cardiomyocyte cell death. On the contrary, in vivo administration of AAV9-anti-miR-377 increases mortality in DOX-treated mice.

scholarly journals Crystal structure of the nucleoid-associated protein Fis (PA4853) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 209-215
Author(s):  
Juan Zhou ◽  
Zengqiang Gao ◽  
Heng Zhang ◽  
Yuhui Dong
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Dna Inversion ◽  
Terminal Loop ◽  
Factor For Inversion Stimulation ◽  
Critical Residues ◽  
Mobility Shift Assay

Factor for inversion stimulation (Fis) is a versatile bacterial nucleoid-associated protein that can directly bind and bend DNA to influence DNA topology. It also plays crucial roles in regulating bacterial virulence factors and in optimizing bacterial adaptation to various environments. Fis from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA4853, referred to as PaFis) has recently been found to be required for virulence by regulating the expression of type III secretion system (T3SS) genes. PaFis can specifically bind to the promoter region of exsA, which functions as a T3SS master regulator, to regulate its expression and plays an essential role in transcription elongation from exsB to exsA. Here, the crystal structure of PaFis, which is composed of a four-helix bundle and forms a homodimer, is reported. PaFis shows remarkable structural similarities to the well studied Escherichia coli Fis (EcFis), including an N-terminal flexible loop and a C-terminal helix–turn–helix (HTH) motif. However, the critical residues for Hin-catalyzed DNA inversion in the N-terminal loop of EcFis are not conserved in PaFis and further studies are required to investigate its exact role. A gel-electrophoresis mobility-shift assay showed that PaFis can efficiently bind to the promoter region of exsA. Structure-based mutagenesis revealed that several conserved basic residues in the HTH motif play essential roles in DNA binding. These structural and biochemical studies may help in understanding the role of PaFis in the regulation of T3SS expression and in virulence.

Promiscuous partnering and independent activity of MexB, the multidrug transporter protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2010 ◽  
Vol 430 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Welch ◽  
Chidiebere U. Awah ◽  
Shiheng Jing ◽  
Hendrik W. van Veen ◽  
Henrietta Venter
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Drug Transport ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Multidrug Transporter ◽  
Drug Efflux ◽  
Transporter Protein ◽  
Functional Complex ◽  
Drug Efflux Pump ◽  
Key Questions

The MexAB–OprM drug efflux pump is central to multidrug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The ability of the tripartite protein to confer drug resistance on the pathogen is crucially dependent on the presence of all three proteins of the complex. However, the role of each protein in the formation of the intact functional complex is not well understood. One of the key questions relates to the (in)ability of MexB to act independently of its cognitive partners, MexA and OprM. In the present study, we have demonstrated that, in the absence of MexA and OprM, MexB can: (i) recruit AcrA and TolC from Escherichia coli to form a functional drug-efflux complex; (ii) transport the toxic compound ethidium bromide in a Gram-positive organism where the periplasmic space and outer membrane are absent; and (iii) catalyse transmembrane chemical proton gradient (ΔpH)-dependent drug transport when purified and reconstituted into proteoliposomes. Our results represent the first evidence of drug transport by an isolated RND (resistance–nodulation–cell division)-type multidrug transporter, and provide a basis for further studies into the energetics of RND-type transporters and their assembly into multiprotein complexes.

scholarly journals Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip model to evaluate the role of tumor environmental stress on NK cell exhaustion

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. eabc2331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose M. Ayuso ◽  
Shujah Rehman ◽  
Maria Virumbrales-Munoz ◽  
Patrick H. McMinn ◽  
Peter Geiger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Cell Exhaustion

Solid tumors generate a suppressive environment that imposes an overwhelming burden on the immune system. Nutrient depletion, waste product accumulation, hypoxia, and pH acidification severely compromise the capacity of effector immune cells such as T and natural killer (NK) cells to destroy cancer cells. However, the specific molecular mechanisms driving immune suppression, as well as the capacity of immune cells to adapt to the suppressive environment, are not completely understood. Thus, here, we used an in vitro microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip platform to evaluate how NK cells respond to the tumor-induced suppressive environment. The results demonstrated that the suppressive environment created by the tumor gradually eroded NK cell cytotoxic capacity, leading to compromised NK cell surveillance and tumor tolerance. Further, NK cell exhaustion persisted for an extended period of time after removing NK cells from the microfluidic platform. Last, the addition of checkpoint inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents alleviated NK cell exhaustion.

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