scholarly journals Overexpression of Protease-Deficient DegPS210ARescues the Lethal Phenotype of Escherichia coli OmpF Assembly Mutants in a degP Background

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (17) ◽  
pp. 4882-4888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajeev Misra ◽  
Maria CastilloKeller ◽  
Ming Deng

ABSTRACT Replacement of OmpF's conserved carboxy-terminal phenylalanine with dissimilar amino acids severely impaired its assembly into stable trimers. In some instances, interactions of mutant proteins with the outer membrane were also affected, as judged by their hypersensitivity phenotype. Synthesis of all mutant OmpF proteins elevated the expression of periplasmic protease DegP, and synthesis of most of them made its presence obligatory for cell viability. These results showed a critical role for DegP in the event of aberrant outer membrane protein assembly. The lethal phenotype of mutant OmpF proteins in adegP null background was eliminated when a protease-deficient DegPS210A protein was overproduced. Our data showed that this rescue from lethality and a subsequent increase in mutant protein levels in the envelope did not lead to the proper assembly of the mutant proteins in the outer membrane. Rather, a detergent-soluble and thermolabile OmpF species resembling monomers accumulated in the mutants, and to a lesser extent in the parental strain, when DegPS210A was overproduced. Interestingly, this also led to the localization of a significant amount of mutant polypeptides to the inner membrane, where DegPS210A also fractionated. These results suggested that the DegPS210A-mediated rescue from toxicity involved preferential sequestration of misfolded OmpF monomers from the normal assembly pathway.

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria CastilloKeller ◽  
Rajeev Misra

ABSTRACT The expression of assembly-defective outer membrane proteins can confer lethality if they are not degraded by envelope proteases. We report here that the expression of a mutant OmpC protein, OmpC2Cys, which forms disulfide bonds in the periplasm due to the presence of two non-native cysteine residues, is lethal in cells lacking the major periplasmic protease, DegP. This lethality is not observed in dsbA strains that have diminished ability to form periplasmic disulfide bonds. Our data show that this OmpC2Cys-mediated lethality in a degP::Kmr dsbA + background can be reversed by a DegP variant, DegPS210A, that is devoid of its proteolytic activity but retains its reported chaperone activity. However, DegPS210A does not reverse the lethal effect of OmpC2Cys by correcting its assembly but rather by capturing misfolded mutant OmpC polypeptides and thus removing them from the assembly pathway. Displacement of OmpC2Cys by DegPS210A also alleviates the negative effect that the mutant OmpC protein has on wild-type OmpF.


Author(s):  
Hongtao Li ◽  
Peng Chen ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Xinning Wang

Background: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is usually activated in Wilms tumor (WT) cells and plays a critical role in WT development. Objective: The study purpose was to screen a NF-κB inhibitor from natural product library and explore its effects on WT development. Methods: Luciferase assay was employed to assess the effects of natural chemical son NF-κB activity. CCK-8 assay was conducted to assess cell growth in response to naringenin. WT xenograft model was established to analyze the effect of naringenin in vivo. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were performed to examine the mRNA and protein levels of relative genes, respectively. Results: Naringenin displayed significant inhibitory effect on NF-κB activation in SK-NEP-1 cells. In SK-NEP-1 and G-401 cells, naringenin inhibited p65 phosphorylation. Moreover, naringenin suppressed TNF-α-induced p65 phosphorylation in WT cells. Naringenin inhibited TLR4 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in WT cells. CCK-8 staining showed that naringenin inhibited cell growth of the two above WT cells in dose-and time-dependent manner, whereas Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) over expression partially reversed the above phenomena. Besides, naringenin suppressed WT tumor growth in dose-and time-dependent manner in vivo. Western blot found that naringenin inhibited TLR4 expression and p65 phosphorylation in WT xenograft tumors. Conclusion: Naringenin inhibits WT development viasuppressing TLR4/NF-κB signaling


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8117
Author(s):  
Nunzia D’Onofrio ◽  
Elisa Martino ◽  
Luigi Mele ◽  
Antonino Colloca ◽  
Martina Maione ◽  
...  

Understanding the mechanisms of colorectal cancer progression is crucial in the setting of strategies for its prevention. δ-Valerobetaine (δVB) is an emerging dietary metabolite showing cytotoxic activity in colon cancer cells via autophagy and apoptosis. Here, we aimed to deepen current knowledge on the mechanism of δVB-induced colon cancer cell death by investigating the apoptotic cascade in colorectal adenocarcinoma SW480 and SW620 cells and evaluating the molecular players of mitochondrial dysfunction. Results indicated that δVB reduced cell viability in a time-dependent manner, reaching IC50 after 72 h of incubation with δVB 1.5 mM, and caused a G2/M cell cycle arrest with upregulation of cyclin A and cyclin B protein levels. The increased apoptotic cell rate occurred via caspase-3 activation with a concomitant loss in mitochondrial membrane potential and SIRT3 downregulation. Functional studies indicated that δVB activated mitochondrial apoptosis through PINK1/Parkin pathways, as upregulation of PINK1, Parkin, and LC3B protein levels was observed (p < 0.0001). Together, these findings support a critical role of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis induced by δVB in SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cells.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueying Yang ◽  
Fei Shao ◽  
Dong Guo ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Juhong Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractFTO removes the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification from genes and plays a critical role in cancer development. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of FTO and its subsequent impact on the regulation of the epitranscriptome remain to be further elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that FTO expression is downregulated and inversely correlated with poor survival of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Mechanistically, Wnt signaling induces the binding of EZH2 to β-catenin. This protein complex binds to the LEF/TCF-binding elements at the promoter region of FTO, where EZH2 enhances H3K27me3 and inhibits FTO expression. Downregulated FTO expression substantially enhances the m6A levels in the mRNAs of a large number of genes in critical pathways, particularly metabolic pathway genes, such as MYC. Enhanced m6A levels on MYC mRNA recruit YTHDF1 binding, which promotes MYC mRNA translation and a subsequent increase in glycolysis and proliferation of tumor cells and tumorigenesis. Our findings uncovered a critical mechanism of epitranscriptome regulation by Wnt/β-catenin-mediated FTO downregulation and underscored the role of m6A modifications of MYC mRNA in regulating tumor cell glycolysis and growth.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Memmert ◽  
A. Damanaki ◽  
A. V. B. Nogueira ◽  
S. Eick ◽  
M. Nokhbehsaim ◽  
...  

Cathepsin S is a cysteine protease and regulator of autophagy with possible involvement in periodontitis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether cathepsin S is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Human periodontal fibroblasts were cultured under inflammatory and infectious conditions elicited by interleukin-1β and Fusobacterium nucleatum, respectively. An array-based approach was used to analyze differential expression of autophagy-associated genes. Cathepsin S was upregulated most strongly and thus further studied in vitro at gene and protein levels. In vivo, gingival tissue biopsies from rats with ligature-induced periodontitis and from periodontitis patients were also analyzed at transcriptional and protein levels. Multiple gene expression changes due to interleukin-1β and F. nucleatum were observed in vitro. Both stimulants caused a significant cathepsin S upregulation. A significantly elevated cathepsin S expression in gingival biopsies from rats with experimental periodontitis was found in vivo, as compared to that from control. Gingival biopsies from periodontitis patients showed a significantly higher cathepsin S expression than those from healthy gingiva. Our findings provide original evidence that cathepsin S is increased in periodontal cells and tissues under inflammatory and infectious conditions, suggesting a critical role of this autophagy-associated molecule in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (4) ◽  
pp. F284-F293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis A. Gonzalez ◽  
Flavia Cifuentes-Araneda ◽  
Cristobal Ibaceta-Gonzalez ◽  
Alex Gonzalez-Vergara ◽  
Leonardo Zamora ◽  
...  

Renin is synthesized in the principal cells of the collecting duct (CD), and its production is increased via cAMP in angiotensin (ANG) II-dependent hypertension, despite suppression of juxtaglomerular (JG) renin. Vasopressin, one of the effector hormones of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) via the type 2-receptor (V2R), activates the cAMP/PKA/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) pathway and aquaporin-2 expression in principal cells of the CD. Accordingly, we hypothesized that activation of V2R increases renin synthesis via PKA/CREB, independently of ANG II type 1 (AT1) receptor activation in CD cells. Desmopressin (DDAVP; 10−6 M), a selective V2R agonist, increased renin mRNA (∼3-fold), prorenin (∼1.5-fold), and renin (∼2-fold) in cell lysates and cell culture media in the M-1 CD cell line. Cotreatment with DDAVP+H89 (PKA inhibitor) or CREB short hairpin (sh) RNA prevented this response. H89 also blunted DDAVP-induced CREB phosphorylation and nuclear localization. In 48-h water-deprived (WD) mice, prorenin-renin protein levels were increased in the renal inner medulla (∼1.4- and 1.8-fold). In WD mice treated with an ACE inhibitor plus AT1 receptor blockade, renin mRNA and prorenin protein levels were still higher than controls, while renin protein content was not changed. In M-1 cells, ANG II or DDAVP increased prorenin-renin protein levels; however, there were no further increases by combined treatment. These results indicate that in the CD the activation of the V2R stimulates renin synthesis via the PKA/CREB pathway independently of RAS, suggesting a critical role for vasopressin in the regulation of renin in the CD.


2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 5212-5224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mach ◽  
Karolina Osinski ◽  
Barbara Kropff ◽  
Ursula Schloetzer-Schrehardt ◽  
Magdalena Krzyzaniak ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Glycoproteins M and N (gM and gN, respectively) are among the few proteins that are conserved across the herpesvirus family. The function of the complex is largely unknown. Whereas deletion from most alphaherpesviruses has marginal effects on the replication of the respective viruses, both proteins are essential for replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). We have constructed a series of mutants in gN to study the function of this protein. gN of HCMV is a type I glycoprotein containing a short carboxy-terminal domain of 14 amino acids, including two cysteine residues directly adjacent to the predicted transmembrane anchor at positions 125 and 126. Deletion of the entire carboxy-terminal domain as well as substitution with the corresponding region from alpha herpesviruses or mutations of both cysteine residues resulted in a replication-incompetent virus. Recombinant viruses containing point mutations of either cysteine residue could be generated. These viruses were profoundly defective for replication. Complex formation of the mutant gNs with gM and transport of the complex to the viral assembly compartment appeared unaltered compared to the wild type. However, in infected cells, large numbers of capsids accumulated in the cytoplasm that failed to acquire an envelope. Transiently expressed gN was shown to be modified by palmitic acid at both cysteine residues. In summary, our data suggest that the carboxy-terminal domain of gN plays a critical role in secondary envelopment of HCMV and that palmitoylation of gN appears to be essential for function in secondary envelopment of HCMV and virus replication.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1307-1318
Author(s):  
H Hirai ◽  
H E Varmus

The products of the viral and cellular src genes, p60v-src and p60c-src, appear to be composed of multiple functional domains. Highly conserved regions called src homology 2 and 3 (SH2 and SH3), comprising amino acid residues 88 to 250, are believed to modulate the protein-tyrosine kinase activity present in the carboxy-terminal halves of the src proteins. To explore the functions of these regions more fully, we have made 34 site-directed mutations in a transformation-competent c-src gene encoding phenylalanine in place of tyrosine 527 (Y527F c-src). Twenty of the new mutations change only one or two amino acids, and the remainder delete small or large portions of the SH2-SH3 region. These mutant alleles have been incorporated into a replication-competent Rous sarcoma virus vector to examine the biochemical and biological properties of the mutant proteins after infection of chicken embryo fibroblasts. Four classes of mutant proteins were observed: class 1, mutants with only slight differences from the parental gene products; class 2, mutant proteins with diminished transforming and specific kinase activities; class 3, mutant proteins with normal or enhanced specific kinase activity but impaired biological activity, often as a consequence of instability; and class 4, mutant proteins with augmented biological and catalytic activities. In general, there was a strong correlation between total kinase activity (or amounts of intracellular phosphotyrosine-containing proteins) and transforming activity. Deletion mutations and some point mutations affecting residues 109 to 156 inhibited kinase and transforming functions, whereas deletions affecting residues 187 to 226 generally had positive effects on one or both of those functions, confirming that SH2-SH3 has complex regulatory properties. Five mutations that augmented the transforming and kinase activities of Y527F c-src [F172P, R175L, delta(198-205), delta(206-226), and delta(176-226)] conferred transformation competence on an otherwise normal c-src gene, indicating that mutations in SH2 (like previously described lesions in SH3, the kinase domain, and a carboxy-terminal inhibitory domain) can activate c-src.


Development ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 121 (12) ◽  
pp. 4161-4170 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L. Johnson ◽  
J.K. Grenier ◽  
M.P. Scott

The membrane protein, Patched, plays a critical role in patterning embryonic and imaginal tissues in Drosophila. patched constitutively inactivates the transcription of target genes such as wingless, decapentaplegic, and patched itself. The secreted protein, Hedgehog, induces transcription of target genes by opposing the Patched signaling pathway. Using the Gal4 UAS system we have overexpressed patched in wing imaginal discs and found that high Patched levels, expressed in either normal or ectopic patterns, result in loss of wing vein patterning in both compartments centering at the anterior/posterior border. In addition, patched inhibits the formation of the mechanosensory neurons, the campaniform sensilla, in the wing blade. The patched wing vein phenotype is modulated by mutations in hedgehog and cubitus interruptus (ci). Patched overexpression inhibits transcription of patched and decapentaplegic and post-transcriptionally decreases the amount of Ci protein at the anterior/posterior boundary. In hedgehogMrt wing discs, which express ectopic hedgehog, Ci levels are correspondingly elevated, suggesting that hedgehog relieves patched repression of Ci accumulation. Protein kinase A also regulates Ci; protein kinase A mutant clones in the anterior compartment have increased levels of Ci protein. Thus patched influences wing disc patterning by decreasing Ci protein levels and inactivating hedgehog target genes in the anterior compartment.


2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaunian Chen ◽  
Johann Schredelseker ◽  
Hirohito Shimizu ◽  
Jie Huang ◽  
Kui Lu ◽  
...  

Abnormal Ca2+ handling in cardiac muscle cells is associated with a wide range of human cardiac diseases, including heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Zebrafish tremblor (tre) mutant embryos manifest unsynchronized cardiac contractions due to a Ca2+ extrusion defect in cardiomyocytes and thus are used as an animal model for aberrant Ca2+ homeostasis-induced cardiac arrhythmia. To further dissect molecular mechanisms regulating cardiac Ca2+ homeostasis, we conducted a chemical suppressor screen on tre and found that efsevin, a synthetic compound, potently suppresses cardiac fibrillation and restores rhythmic cardiac contractions in tre embryos. In addition, the treatment with efsevin blocks the propagation of arrhythmogenic Ca2+ waves and accelerates the decay phase of Ca2+ sparks in adult murine cardiomyocytes under Ca2+ overload conditions, demonstrating that efsevin modulates Ca2+ handling in both embryonic and adult cardiac tissues. Through a biochemical pulldown assay, we identified a direct interaction between efsevin and VDAC2, a mitochondrial outer membrane voltage dependent anion channel. Overexpression of VDAC2 restores synchronized cardiac contraction in tre and knocking down VDAC2 activity abolishes the rescue effect of efsevin on tre, suggesting that efsevin modulates cardiac Ca2+ homeostasis by potentiating VDAC2 activity. We further showed that enhancing mitochondria Ca2+ uptake by overexpressing MICU or MCU suppresses cardiac fibrillation in tre just like VDAC2 does. Interestingly, this suppressive effect is absent in tre/vdac2 double deficient embryos and co-expression of VDAC2 and MICU or MCU results in synergistic rescue effect on tre, indicating a critical role for mitochondria in regulating cardiac Ca2+ handling and rhythmicity and suggesting that VDAC2 functions as a gate for transporting Ca2+ across the outer membrane. Taken together, our findings identify efsevin as a potent pharmacological tool to modulate cardiac Ca2+ handling, suggest a critical role of mitochondria in the control of cardiac rhythmicity and establish VDAC2 as a modulator of cardiac Ca2+ handling and a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of arrhythmias.


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