scholarly journals An Unusual ERAD-Like Complex Is Targeted to the Apicoplast of Plasmodium falciparum

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1134-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Spork ◽  
Jan A. Hiss ◽  
Katharina Mandel ◽  
Maik Sommer ◽  
Taco W. A. Kooij ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Protein Transport ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Encoded Proteins ◽  
Red Algal ◽  
Endosymbiotic Event ◽  
Targeting Signal ◽  
Green Fluorescent

ABSTRACT Many apicomplexan parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum, harbor a so-called apicoplast, a complex plastid of red algal origin which was gained by a secondary endosymbiotic event. The exact molecular mechanisms directing the transport of nuclear-encoded proteins to the apicoplast of P. falciparum are not well understood. Recently, in silico analyses revealed a second copy of proteins homologous to components of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation (ERAD) system in organisms with secondary plastids, including the malaria parasite P. falciparum. These proteins are predicted to be endowed with an apicoplast targeting signal and are suggested to play a role in the transport of nuclear-encoded proteins to the apicoplast. Here, we have studied components of this ERAD-derived putative preprotein translocon complex in malaria parasites. Using transfection technology coupled with fluorescence imaging techniques we can demonstrate that the N terminus of several ERAD-derived components targets green fluorescent protein to the apicoplast. Furthermore, we confirm that full-length PfsDer1-1 and PfsUba1 (homologues of yeast ERAD components) localize to the apicoplast, where PfsDer1-1 tightly associates with membranes. Conversely, PfhDer1-1 (a host-specific copy of the Der1-1 protein) localizes to the ER. Our data suggest that ERAD components have been “rewired” to provide a conduit for protein transport to the apicoplast. Our results are discussed in relation to the nature of the apicoplast protein transport machinery.

Active protein transport through plastid tubules: velocity quantified by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (22) ◽  
pp. 3921-3930 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.H. Kohler ◽  
P. Schwille ◽  
W.W. Webb ◽  
M.R. Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Active Transport ◽  
Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Protein Transport ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Fluorescence Correlation ◽  
Photon Excitation ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Dynamic tubular projections emanate from plastids in certain cells of vascular plants and are especially prevalent in non-photosynthetic cells. Tubules sometimes connect two or more different plastids and can extend over long distances within a cell, observations that suggest that the tubules may function in distribution of molecules within, to and from plastids. In a new application of two-photon excitation (2PE) fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), we separated diffusion of fluorescent molecules from active transport in vivo. We quantified the velocities of diffusion versus active transport of green fluorescent protein (GFP) within plastid tubules and in the cytosol in vivo. GFP moves by 3-dimensional (3-D) diffusion both in the cytosol and plastid tubules, but diffusion in tubules is about 50 times and 100 times slower than in the cytosol and an aqueous solution, respectively. Unexpectedly larger GFP units within plastid tubules exhibited active transport with a velocity of about 0.12 microm/second. Active transport might play an important role in the long-distance distribution of large numbers of molecules within the highly viscous stroma of plastid tubules.

WZsGreen/+: a new green fluorescent protein knock-in mouse model for the study of KIT-expressing cells in gut and cerebellum

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 412-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira Wouters ◽  
Karine Smans ◽  
Jean-Marie Vanderwinden
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Molecular Layer ◽  
Transgenic Animals ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Green Fluorescent

In the small intestine, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) surrounding the myenteric plexus generate the pacemaking slow waves that are essential for an efficient intestinal transit. The underlying molecular mechanisms of the slow wave are poorly known. KIT is currently the sole practical marker for ICC. Attempts to purify living ICC have so far largely failed, due to the loss of the KIT epitope during enzymatic dissociation. Aiming to identify and isolate living ICC, we designed a knock-in strategy to express a fluorescent tag in KIT-expressing cells by inserting the sequence of the novel green fluorescent protein ZsGreen into the first exon of the c-Kit gene, creating a null allele called WZsGreen. In the gastrointestinal tract of heterozygous WZsGreen/+ mice, tiny ZsGreen fluorescent dots were observed in all KIT-expressing ICC populations, with exception of ICC at the deep muscular plexus in small intestine. During development of the gastrointestinal tract, ZsGreen expression followed KIT expression in a spatiotemporal way. Stellate and basket KIT-expressing cells in the molecular layer of the cerebellum also exhibited ZsGreen dots, whereas no ZsGreen was detected in skin, testis, and bone marrow. ZsGreen dot-containing intestinal cells could be isolated from jejunum and maintained alive in culture for at least 3 days. ZsGreen is a suitable alternative to EGFP in transgenic animals. The novel WZsGreen/+ model reported here appears to be a promising tool for live studies of KIT-expressing cells in the gastrointestinal tract and cerebellum and for the further analysis of pacemaker mechanisms.

Induced Expression of the Heat Shock Protein Genes uspA and grpE during Starvation at Low Temperatures and Their Influence on Thermal Resistance of Escherichia coli O157:H7

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 2045-2050 ◽  
Author(s):  
YI ZHANG ◽  
MANSEL W. GRIFFITHS
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Heat Shock Proteins ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Thermal Tolerance ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Induced Expression ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Shock Proteins

Heat shock proteins play an important role in protecting bacterial cells against several stresses, including starvation. In this study, the promoters for two genes encoding heat shock proteins involved in many stress responses, UspA and GrpE, were fused with the green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene. Thus, the expression of the two genes could be quantified by measuring the fluorescence emitted by the cells under different environmental conditions. The heat resistance levels of starved and nonstarved cells during storage at 5, 10, and 37°C were compared with the levels of expression of the uspA and grpE genes. D52-values (times required for decimal reductions in count at 52°C) increased by 11.5, 14.6, and 18.5 min when cells were starved for 3 h at 37°C, for 24 h at 10°C, and for 2 days at 5°C, respectively. In all cases, these increases were significant (P < 0.01), indicating that the stress imposed by starvation altered the ability of E. coli O157:H7 to survive subsequent heat treatments. Thermal tolerance was correlative with the induction of UspA and GrpE. At 5°C, the change in the thermal tolerance of the pathogen was positively linked to the induced expression of the grpE gene but negatively related to the expression of the uspA gene. The results obtained in this study indicate that UspA plays an important role in starvation-induced thermal tolerance at 37°C but that GrpE may be more involved in regulating this response at lower temperatures. An improvement in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in these cross-protection responses may make it possible to devise strategies to limit their effects.

scholarly journals Autophagy and the cvt Pathway Both Depend onAUT9

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (8) ◽  
pp. 2125-2133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Lang ◽  
Steffen Reiche ◽  
Michael Straub ◽  
Monika Bredschneider ◽  
Michael Thumm
Keyword(s):  
Protein Turnover ◽  
Protein Transport ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Genomic Library ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Transport Pathways ◽  
Rich Media ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Mutant Cells

ABSTRACT In growing cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, proaminopeptidase I reaches the vacuole via the selective cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (cvt) pathway. During nutrient limitation, autophagy is also responsible for the transport of proaminopeptidase I. These two nonclassical protein transport pathways to the vacuole are distinct in their characteristics but in large part use identical components. We expanded our initial screen foraut − mutants and isolated aut9-1cells, which show a defect in both pathways, the vacuolar targeting of proaminopeptidase I and autophagy. By complementation of the sporulation defect of homocygous diploid aut9-1 mutant cells with a genomic library, in this study we identified and characterized the AUT9 gene, which is allelic withCVT7. aut9-deficient cells have no obvious defects in growth on rich media, vacuolar biogenesis, and acidification, but like other mutant cells with a defect in autophagy, they exhibit a reduced survival rate and reduced total protein turnover during starvation. Aut9p is the first putative integral membrane protein essential for autophagy. A biologically active green fluorescent protein-Aut9 fusion protein was visualized at punctate structures in the cytosol of growing cells.

Accurate and live peroxisome biogenesis evaluation achieved by lentiviral expression of a green fluorescent protein fused to a peroxisome targeting signal 1

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (5) ◽  
pp. 295-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanguy Demaret ◽  
Guillaume E. Courtoy ◽  
Joachim Ravau ◽  
Patrick Van Der Smissen ◽  
Mustapha Najimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Peroxisome Biogenesis ◽  
Targeting Signal ◽  
Green Fluorescent

The Cdk and PCNA domains on p21Cip1 both function to inhibit G1/S progression during hyperoxia

2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (3) ◽  
pp. L506-L513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Helt ◽  
Rhonda J. Staversky ◽  
Yi-Jang Lee ◽  
Robert A. Bambara ◽  
Peter C. Keng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Nuclear Antigen ◽  
Cell Cycle Regulators ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Green Fluorescent

This study investigates molecular mechanisms underlying cell cycle arrest when cells are exposed to high levels of oxygen (hyperoxia). Hyperoxia has previously been shown to increase expression of the cell cycle regulators p53 and p21. In the current study, we found that p53-deficient human lung adenocarcinoma H1299 cells failed to induce p21 or growth arrest in G1 when exposed to 95% oxygen. Instead, cells arrested in S and G2. Stable expression of p53 restored induction of p21 and G1 arrest without affecting mRNA expression of the other Cip or INK4 G1 kinase inhibitors. To confirm the role of p21 in G1 arrest, we created H1299 cells with tetracycline-inducible expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), EGFP fused to p21 (EGFp21), or EGFP fused to p27 (EGFp27), a related cell cycle inhibitor. The amino terminus of p21 and p27 bind cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk), whereas the carboxy terminus of p21 binds the sliding clamp proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). EGFp21 or EGFp27, but not EGFP by itself, restored G1 arrest during hyperoxia. When separately overexpressed, the amino-terminal Cdk and carboxy-terminal PCNA binding domains of p21 each prevented cells from exiting G1 during exposure. These findings demonstrate that exposure in vitro to hyperoxia exerts G1 arrest through p53-dependent induction of p21 that suppresses Cdk and PCNA activity. Because PCNA also participates in DNA repair, these results raise the possibility that p21 also affects repair of oxidized DNA.

scholarly journals C-terminal tripeptide Ser-Asn-Leu (SNL) of human D-aspartate oxidase is a functional peroxisome-targeting signal

1998 ◽  
Vol 336 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leen AMERY ◽  
Chantal BREES ◽  
Myriam BAES ◽  
Chiaki SETOYAMA ◽  
Retsu MIURA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Targeting Signal ◽  
Fluorescent Pattern ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Positively Charged

The functionality of the C-terminus (Ser-Asn-Leu; SNL) of human d-aspartate oxidase, an enzyme proposed to have a role in the inactivation of synaptically released d-aspartate, as a peroxisome-targeting signal (PTS1) was investigated in vivoand in vitro. Bacterially expressed human d-aspartate oxidase was shown to interact with the human PTS1-binding protein, peroxin protein 5 (PEX5p). Binding was gradually abolished by carboxypeptidase treatment of the oxidase and competitively inhibited by a Ser-Lys-Leu (SKL)-containing peptide. After transfection of mouse fibroblasts with a plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) extended by PKSNL (the C-terminal pentapeptide of the oxidase), a punctate fluorescent pattern was evident. The modified GFP co-localized with peroxisomal thiolase as shown by indirect immunofluorescence. On transfection in fibroblasts lacking PEX5p receptor, GFP–PKSNL staining was cytosolic. Peroxisomal import of GFP extended by PGSNL (replacement of the positively charged fourth-last amino acid by glycine) seemed to be slower than that of GFP–PKSNL, whereas extension by PKSNG abolished the import of the modified GFP. Taken together, these results indicate that SNL, a tripeptide not fitting the PTS1 consensus currently defined in mammalian systems, acts as a functional PTS1 in mammalian systems, and that the consensus sequence, based on this work and that of other groups, has to be broadened to (S/A/C/K/N)-(K/R/H/Q/N/S)-L.

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanism of the Inhibition of Estradiol-Induced Endometrial Epithelial Cell Proliferation by Clomiphene Citrate

Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 394-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuyoshi Amita ◽  
Toshifumi Takahashi ◽  
Seiji Tsutsumi ◽  
Tsuyoshi Ohta ◽  
Keiko Takata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Clomiphene Citrate ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Epithelial Cell Proliferation ◽  
Endometrial Epithelial Cell ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Abstract We examined the molecular mechanisms of the antiestrogenic effects of clomiphene citrate (CC) in the endometrium using two types of cell lines, Ishikawa and EM-E6/E7/hTERT cells. CC or ICI182780 inhibited 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced endometrial cell proliferation and transcriptional activation of the estrogen response element (ERE) gene. We directly visualized the ligand-estrogen receptor (ER)α interaction using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged ERα in a single living cell. Whereas E2 changed the nuclear localization of GFP-ERα to a punctate distribution within 5 min, CC or ICI182780 changed the slower and less mobilization of GFP-ERα compared with E2. Pretreatment with CC or ICI182780 partly prevented the E2-induced nuclear redistribution of GFP-ERα. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching revealed that GFP-ERα mobility treated with E2 was more rapid than that treated by CC or ICI182780. As coactivator recruitment to the ER is essential for ER-dependent transcription, we examined the interaction between ERα and steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1). The complex formation between ERα and SRC-1 was significantly increased by E2 but was prevented in the presence of CC or ICI182780 by coimmunoprecipitation. Moreover, the E2-induced colocalization of GFP-ERα and SRC-1 was prevented in the presence of CC or ICI182780 according to an immunofluorescence assay. We also observed that the reduction of SRC-1 using small interfering RNA for SRC-1 resulted in the inhibition of E2-induced cell proliferation and transcriptional activation of the ERE gene. Collectively, these results suggest that CC may inhibit E2-induced endometrial epithelial cell proliferation and ERE transactivation by inhibiting the recruitment of SRC-1 to ERα.

scholarly journals Identification of an Outer Segment Targeting Signal in the Cooh Terminus of Rhodopsin Using Transgenic Xenopus laevis

2000 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 1369-1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice M. Tam ◽  
Orson L. Moritz ◽  
Lawrence B. Hurd ◽  
David S. Papermaster
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Outer Segment ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Localization Signal ◽  
Targeting Signal ◽  
Retinal Degenerative Diseases ◽  
Membrane Spanning ◽  
Green Fluorescent

Mislocalization of the photopigment rhodopsin may be involved in the pathology of certain inherited retinal degenerative diseases. Here, we have elucidated rhodopsin's targeting signal which is responsible for its polarized distribution to the rod outer segment (ROS). Various green fluorescent protein (GFP)/rhodopsin COOH-terminal fusion proteins were expressed specifically in the major red rod photoreceptors of transgenic Xenopus laevis under the control of the Xenopus opsin promoter. The fusion proteins were targeted to membranes via lipid modifications (palmitoylation and myristoylation) as opposed to membrane spanning domains. Membrane association was found to be necessary but not sufficient for efficient ROS localization. A GFP fusion protein containing only the cytoplasmic COOH-terminal 44 amino acids of Xenopus rhodopsin localized exclusively to ROS membranes. Chimeras between rhodopsin and α adrenergic receptor COOH-terminal sequences further refined rhodopsin's ROS localization signal to its distal eight amino acids. Mutations/deletions of this region resulted in partial delocalization of the fusion proteins to rod inner segment (RIS) membranes. The targeting and transport of endogenous wild-type rhodopsin was unaffected by the presence of mislocalized GFP fusion proteins.

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