scholarly journals ppGpp functions as an alarmone in metazoa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doshun Ito ◽  
Hinata Kawamura ◽  
Akira Oikawa ◽  
Yuta Ihara ◽  
Toshio Shibata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Nutrient Deficiency ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Metabolic Changes ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
And Function

AbstractGuanosine 3’,5’-bis(pyrophosphate) (ppGpp) functions as a second messenger in bacteria to adjust their physiology in response to environmental changes. In recent years, the ppGpp-specific hydrolase, metazoan SpoT homolog-1 (Mesh1), was shown to have important roles for growth under nutrient deficiency in Drosophila melanogaster. Curiously, however, ppGpp has never been detected in animal cells, and therefore the physiological relevance of this molecule, if any, in metazoans has not been established. Here, we report the detection of ppGpp in Drosophila and human cells and demonstrate that ppGpp accumulation induces metabolic changes, cell death, and eventually lethality in Drosophila. Our results provide the first evidence of the existence and function of the ppGpp-dependent stringent response in animals.

scholarly journals ppGpp functions as an alarmone in metazoa

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doshun Ito ◽  
Hinata Kawamura ◽  
Akira Oikawa ◽  
Yuta Ihara ◽  
Toshio Shibata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Nutrient Deficiency ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Metabolic Changes ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
And Function

AbstractGuanosine 3′,5′-bis(pyrophosphate) (ppGpp) functions as a second messenger in bacteria to adjust their physiology in response to environmental changes. In recent years, the ppGpp-specific hydrolase, metazoan SpoT homolog-1 (Mesh1), was shown to have important roles for growth under nutrient deficiency in Drosophila melanogaster. Curiously, however, ppGpp has never been detected in animal cells, and therefore the physiological relevance of this molecule, if any, in metazoans has not been established. Here, we report the detection of ppGpp in Drosophila and human cells and demonstrate that ppGpp accumulation induces metabolic changes, cell death, and eventually lethality in Drosophila. Our results provide the evidence of the existence and function of the ppGpp-dependent stringent response in animals.

scholarly journals The Mammalian Septin MSF Localizes with Microtubules and Is Required for Completion of Cytokinesis

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3532-3545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Surka ◽  
Christopher W. Tsang ◽  
William S. Trimble
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Division ◽  
Nuclear Division ◽  
Cleavage Furrow ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Central Spindle ◽  
Synchronized Cells ◽  
Binucleated Cells ◽  
And Function

Cytokinesis in animal cells involves the contraction of an actomyosin ring formed at the cleavage furrow. Nuclear division, or karyokinesis, must be precisely timed to occur before cytokinesis in order to prevent genetic anomalies that would result in either cell death or uncontrolled cell division. The septin family of GTPase proteins has been shown to be important for cytokinesis although little is known about their role during this process. Here we investigate the distribution and function of the mammalian septin MSF. We show that during interphase, MSF colocalizes with actin, microtubules, and another mammalian septin, Nedd5, and coprecipitates with six septin proteins. In addition, transfections of various MSF isoforms reveal that MSF-A specifically localizes with microtubules and that this localization is disrupted by nocodazole treatment. Furthermore, MSF isoforms localize primarily with tubulin at the central spindle during mitosis, whereas Nedd5 is mainly associated with actin. Microinjection of affinity-purified anti-MSF antibodies into synchronized cells, or depletion of MSF by small interfering RNAs, results in the accumulation of binucleated cells and in cells that have arrested during cytokinesis. These results reveal that MSF is required for the completion of cytokinesis and suggest a role that is distinct from that of Nedd5.

scholarly journals NEURONAL-SPECIFIC PROTEASOME AUGMENTATION VIA EXTENDS LIFESPAN AND REDUCES AGE-RELATED NEURODEGENERATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S96-S97
Author(s):  
Andrew M Pickering
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Stress Resistance ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Animal Kingdom ◽  
Age Related ◽  
And Function

Abstract Cognitive function declines with age throughout the animal kingdom and increasing evidence shows that disruption of the proteasome system contributes to this decline. The proteasome has important roles in multiple aspects of the nervous system, including synapse function and plasticity, as well as preventing cell death and senescence. We report that augmentation of proteasome function, using overexpression of the proteasome β5 subunit, enhances proteasome assembly and function. Significantly, we go on to show neuronal-specific proteasome augmentation slows age-related declines in measures of learning, memory, and circadian rhythmicity. Surprisingly neuronal specific proteasome augmentation of proteasome function also produces a robust increase of lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. Our findings appear specific to the nervous system; ubiquitous proteasome overexpression increases oxidative stress resistance but does not impact lifespan and is detrimental to some healthspan measures. These findings demonstrate a key role of the proteasome system in brain aging.

scholarly journals Identification of a nuclear-localized nuclease from wheat cells undergoing programmed cell death that is able to trigger DNA fragmentation and apoptotic morphology on nuclei from human cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 397 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Domínguez ◽  
Francisco J. Cejudo
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Serine Protease ◽  
Dna Fragmentation ◽  
Plant Cells ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Free System ◽  
Nuclear Extracts ◽  
Apoptotic Morphology

PCD (programmed cell death) in plants presents important morphological and biochemical differences compared with apoptosis in animal cells. This raises the question of whether PCD arose independently or from a common ancestor in plants and animals. In the present study we describe a cell-free system, using wheat grain nucellar cells undergoing PCD, to analyse nucleus dismantling, the final stage of PCD. We have identified a Ca2+/Mg2+ nuclease and a serine protease localized to the nucleus of dying nucellar cells. Nuclear extracts from nucellar cells undergoing PCD triggered DNA fragmentation and other apoptotic morphology in nuclei from different plant tissues. Inhibition of the serine protease did not affect DNA laddering. Furthermore, we show that the nuclear extracts from plant cells triggered DNA fragmentation and apoptotic morphology in nuclei from human cells. The inhibition of the nucleolytic activity with Zn2+ or EDTA blocked the morphological changes of the nucleus. Moreover, nuclear extracts from apoptotic human cells triggered DNA fragmentation and apoptotic morphology in nuclei from plant cells. These results show that degradation of the nucleus is morphologically and biochemically similar in plant and animal cells. The implication of this finding on the origin of PCD in plants and animals is discussed.

scholarly journals Extensive and diverse patterns of cell death sculpt neural networks in insects

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinziana Pop ◽  
Chin-Lin Chen ◽  
Connor J Sproston ◽  
Shu Kondo ◽  
Pavan Ramdya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Evolutionary Adaptation ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
The Many ◽  
And Function ◽  
Evolutionary Role

Changes to the structure and function of neural networks are thought to underlie the evolutionary adaptation of animal behaviours. Among the many developmental phenomena that generate change programmed cell death (PCD) appears to play a key role. We show that cell death occurs continuously throughout insect neurogenesis and happens soon after neurons are born. Mimicking an evolutionary role for increasing cell numbers, we artificially block PCD in the medial neuroblast lineage in Drosophila melanogaster, which results in the production of ‘undead’ neurons with complex arborisations and distinct neurotransmitter identities. Activation of these ‘undead’ neurons and recordings of neural activity in behaving animals demonstrate that they are functional. Focusing on two dipterans which have lost flight during evolution we reveal that reductions in populations of flight interneurons are likely caused by increased cell death during development. Our findings suggest that the evolutionary modulation of death-based patterning could generate novel network configurations.

Alpha-Tocopherol Protects Cultured Human Cells from the Acute Lethal Cytotoxicity of Dioxin

2002 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei-Ichi Hirai ◽  
Jie-Hong Pan ◽  
Ying-Bo Shui ◽  
Eriko Simamura ◽  
Hiroki Shimada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Dehydroascorbic Acid ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Alpha Tocopherol ◽  
Cervical Cancer Cells ◽  
Cultured Human Cells ◽  
Nuclear Damage ◽  
Conjunctival Epithelial Cells

The possible protection of cultured human cells from acute dioxin injury by antioxidants was investigated. The most potent dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), caused vacuolization of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in cultured human conjunctival epithelial cells and cervical cancer cells. Subsequent nuclear damage included a deep irregular indentation resulting in cell death. A dosage of 30–40 ng/mL TCDD induced maximal intracellular production of H2O2 at 30 minutes and led to severe cell death (0–31% survival) at two hours. A dose of 1.7 mM alpha-tocopherol or 1 mM L-dehydroascorbic acid significantly protected human cells against acute TCDD injuries (78–97% survivals), but vitamin C did not provide this protection. These results indicate that accidental exposure to fatal doses of TCDD causes cytoplasmic free radical production within the smooth endoplasmic reticular systems, resulting in severe cytotoxicity, and that vitamin E and dehydroascorbic acid can protect against TCDD-induced cell damage.

Effects of Maternal Obesity and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on the Placenta: Current Knowledge and Targets for Therapeutic Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-192
Author(s):  
Samantha Bedell ◽  
Janine Hutson ◽  
Barbra de Vrijer ◽  
Genevieve Eastabrook
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Gestational Diabetes ◽  
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Maternal Obesity ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Exchange Site ◽  
And Function

: Obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are becoming more common among pregnant women worldwide and are individually associated with a number of placenta-mediated obstetric complications, including preeclampsia, macrosomia, intrauterine growth restriction and stillbirth. The placenta serves several functions throughout pregnancy and is the main exchange site for the transfer of nutrients and gas from mother to fetus. In pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity or GDM, the placenta is exposed to environmental changes, such as increased inflammation and oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and altered hormone levels. These changes can affect placental development and function and lead to abnormal fetal growth and development as well as metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities in the offspring. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the effects of obesity and GDM on placental development and function. Understanding these processes is key in developing therapeutic interventions with the goal of mitigating these effects and preventing future cardiovascular and metabolic pathology in subsequent generations.

scholarly journals Individual Expression of Hepatitis A Virus 3C Protease Induces Ferroptosis in Human Cells In Vitro

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7906
Author(s):  
Alexey A. Komissarov ◽  
Maria A. Karaseva ◽  
Marina P. Roschina ◽  
Andrey V. Shubin ◽  
Nataliya A. Lunina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Hepatitis A Virus ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Human Cells ◽  
Mitochondrial Potential ◽  
3C Protease ◽  
Wide Range

Regulated cell death (RCD) is a fundamental process common to nearly all living beings and essential for the development and tissue homeostasis in animals and humans. A wide range of molecules can induce RCD, including a number of viral proteolytic enzymes. To date, numerous data indicate that picornaviral 3C proteases can induce RCD. In most reported cases, these proteases induce classical caspase-dependent apoptosis. In contrast, the human hepatitis A virus 3C protease (3Cpro) has recently been shown to cause caspase-independent cell death accompanied by previously undescribed features. Here, we expressed 3Cpro in HEK293, HeLa, and A549 human cell lines to characterize 3Cpro-induced cell death morphologically and biochemically using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. We found that dead cells demonstrated necrosis-like morphological changes including permeabilization of the plasma membrane, loss of mitochondrial potential, as well as mitochondria and nuclei swelling. Additionally, we showed that 3Cpro-induced cell death was efficiently blocked by ferroptosis inhibitors and was accompanied by intense lipid peroxidation. Taken together, these results indicate that 3Cpro induces ferroptosis upon its individual expression in human cells. This is the first demonstration that a proteolytic enzyme can induce ferroptosis, the recently discovered and actively studied type of RCD.

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