scholarly journals Fat and carbohydrate preferences in mice: the contribution of α-gustducin and Trpm5 taste-signaling proteins

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (4) ◽  
pp. R1504-R1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Sclafani ◽  
Steven Zukerman ◽  
John I. Glendinning ◽  
Robert F. Margolskee
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Soybean Oil ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Signaling Proteins ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Extensive Experience ◽  
Sensory Signaling ◽  
Fat Taste ◽  
Oil Emulsions

Trpm5 and α-gustducin are key to the transduction of tastes of sugars, amino acids, and bitter compounds. This study investigated the role of these signaling proteins in the preference for fat, starch, and starch-derived polysaccharides (Polycose), using Trpm5 knockout (Trpm5 KO) and α-gustducin knockout (Gust KO) mice. In initial two-bottle tests (24 h/day), Trpm5 KO mice showed no preference for soybean oil emulsions (0.313–2.5%), Polycose solutions (0.5–4%), or starch suspensions (0.5–4%). Gust KO mice displayed an attenuated preference for Polycose, but their preferences for soybean oil and starch were comparable to those of C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice. Gust KO mice preferred starch to Polycose, whereas WT mice had the opposite preference. After extensive experience with soybean oil emulsions (Intralipid) and Polycose solutions, the Trpm5 KO mice developed preferences comparable to the WT mice, although their absolute intakes remained suppressed. Similarly, Gust KO mice developed a strong Polycose preference with experience, but they continued to consume less than the WT mice. These results implicate α-gustducin and Trpm5 as mediators of polysaccharide taste and Trpm5 in fat taste. The disruption in Polycose, but not starch, preference in Gust KO mice indicates that distinct sensory signaling pathways mediate the response to these carbohydrates. The experience-induced rescue of fat and Polycose preferences in the KO mice likely reflects the action of a postoral-conditioning mechanism, which functions in the absence of α-gustducin and Trpm5.

scholarly journals Human Rev1 relies on insert-2 to promote selective binding and accurate replication of stabilized G-quadruplex motifs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Ketkar ◽  
Lane Smith ◽  
Callie Johnson ◽  
Alyssa Richey ◽  
Makayla Berry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Mutation Frequency ◽  
Control Sequence ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Binding Properties ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
G4 Dna ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
Forward Mutagenesis

Abstract We previously reported that human Rev1 (hRev1) bound to a parallel-stranded G-quadruplex (G4) from the c-MYC promoter with high affinity. We have extended those results to include other G4 motifs, finding that hRev1 exhibited stronger affinity for parallel-stranded G4 than either anti-parallel or hybrid folds. Amino acids in the αE helix of insert-2 were identified as being important for G4 binding. Mutating E466 and Y470 to alanine selectively perturbed G4 binding affinity. The E466K mutant restored wild-type G4 binding properties. Using a forward mutagenesis assay, we discovered that loss of hRev1 increased G4 mutation frequency >200-fold compared to the control sequence. Base substitutions and deletions occurred around and within the G4 motif. Pyridostatin (PDS) exacerbated this effect, as the mutation frequency increased >700-fold over control and deletions upstream of the G4 site more than doubled. Mutagenic replication of G4 DNA (±PDS) was partially rescued by wild-type and E466K hRev1. The E466A or Y470A mutants failed to suppress the PDS-induced increase in G4 mutation frequency. These findings have implications for the role of insert-2, a motif conserved in vertebrates but not yeast or plants, in Rev1-mediated suppression of mutagenesis during G4 replication.

scholarly journals Deletion of 1–43 amino acids in cardiac myosin essential light chain blunts length dependency of Ca2+ sensitivity and cross-bridge detachment kinetics

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (2) ◽  
pp. H253-H259 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Jeshurun Michael ◽  
Sampath K. Gollapudi ◽  
Steven J. Ford ◽  
Katarzyna Kazmierczak ◽  
Danuta Szczesna-Cordary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Sarcomere Length ◽  
Cardiac Myosin ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Essential Light Chain ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Maximal Activation ◽  
Cardiac Muscle Fibers

The role of cardiac myosin essential light chain (ELC) in the sarcomere length (SL) dependency of myofilament contractility is unknown. Therefore, mechanical and dynamic contractile properties were measured at SL 1.9 and 2.2 μm in cardiac muscle fibers from two groups of transgenic (Tg) mice: 1) Tg-wild-type (WT) mice that expressed WT human ventricular ELC and 2) Tg-Δ43 mice that expressed a mutant ELC lacking 1–43 amino acids. In agreement with previous studies, Ca2+-activated maximal tension decreased significantly in Tg-Δ43 fibers. pCa50 (−log10 [Ca2+]free required for half maximal activation) values at SL of 1.9 μm were 5.64 ± 0.02 and 5.70 ± 0.02 in Tg-WT and Tg-Δ43 fibers, respectively. pCa50 values at SL of 2.2 μm were 5.70 ± 0.01 and 5.71 ± 0.01 in Tg-WT and Tg-Δ43 fibers, respectively. The SL-mediated increase in the pCa50 value was statistically significant only in Tg-WT fibers ( P < 0.01), indicating that the SL dependency of myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity was blunted in Tg-Δ43 fibers. The SL dependency of cross-bridge (XB) detachment kinetics was also blunted in Tg-Δ43 fibers because the decrease in XB detachment kinetics was significant ( P < 0.001) only at SL 1.9 μm. Thus the increased XB dwell time at the short SL augments Ca2+ sensitivity at short SL and thus blunts SL-mediated increase in myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. Our data suggest that the NH2-terminal extension of cardiac ELC not only augments the amplitude of force generation, but it also may play a role in mediating the SL dependency of XB detachment kinetics and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity.

Arginine 595 is duplicated in patients with acute leukemias carrying internal tandem duplications of FLT3 and modulates its transforming potential

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 686-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sridhar Vempati ◽  
Carola Reindl ◽  
Seshu Kumar Kaza ◽  
Ruth Kern ◽  
Theodora Malamoussi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Positive Charge ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Heterogeneous Group ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Acute Leukemias ◽  
Juxtamembrane Region ◽  
Tandem Duplications

Abstract FLT3–internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of mutations in patients with acute leukemias that are prognostically important. To characterize the mechanism of transformation by FLT3-ITDs, we sequenced the juxtamembrane region (JM) of FLT3 from 284 patients with acute leukemias. The length of FLT3-ITDs varied from 2 to 42 amino acids (AAs) with a median of 17 AAs. The analysis of duplicated AAs showed that in the majority of patients, the duplications localize between AAs 591 to 599 (YVDFREYEY). Arginine 595 (R595) within this region is duplicated in 77% of patients. Single duplication of R595 in FLT3 conferred factor-independent growth to Ba/F3 cells and activated STAT5. Moreover, deletion or substitution of the duplicated R595 in 2 FLT3-ITD constructs as well as the deletion of wild-type R595 in FLT3-ITD substantially reduced the transforming potential and STAT5 activation, pointing to a critical role of the positive charge of R595 in stabilizing the active confirmation of FLT3-ITDs. Deletion of R595 in FLT3-WT nearly abrogated the ligand-dependent activation of FLT3-WT. Our data provide important insights into the molecular mechanism of transformation by FLT3-ITDs and show that duplication of R595 is important for the leukemic potential of FLT3-ITDs.

Human acetyl-CoA:glucosamine-6-phosphate N-acetyltransferase 1 has a relaxed donor specificity and transfers acyl groups up to four carbons in length

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inka Brockhausen ◽  
Dileep G. Nair ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
Xiaojing Yang ◽  
John S. Allingham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Articular Cartilage ◽  
Enzymatic Synthesis ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Acetyl Coenzyme A ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Acetyl Group

Glucosamine-6-phosphate N-acetyltransferase1 (GNA1) catalyses the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) to glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P) to form N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcNAc6P), which is an essential intermediate in UDP-GlcNAc biosynthesis. An analog of GlcNAc, N-butyrylglucosamine (GlcNBu) has shown healing properties for bone and articular cartilage in animal models of arthritis. The goal of this work was to examine whether GNA1 has the ability to transfer a butyryl group from butyryl-CoA to GlcN6P to form GlcNBu6P, which can then be converted to GlcNBu. We developed fluorescent and radioactive assays and examined the donor specificity of human GNA1. Acetyl, propionyl, n-butyryl, and isobutyryl groups were all transferred to GlcN6P, but isovaleryl-CoA and decanoyl-CoA did not serve as donor substrates. Site-specific mutants were produced to examine the role of amino acids potentially affecting the size and properties of the AcCoA binding pocket. All of the wild type and mutant enzymes showed activities of both acetyl and butyryl transfer and can therefore be used for the enzymatic synthesis of GlcNBu for biomedical applications.

scholarly journals Restoration of high-level transport activity by human reduced folate carrier/ThTr1 thiamine transporter chimaeras: role of the transmembrane domain 6/7 linker region in reduced folate carrier function

2003 ◽  
Vol 369 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Y. LIU ◽  
Teah L. WITT ◽  
Larry H. MATHERLY
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
K562 Cells ◽  
Reduced Folate Carrier ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Linker Region ◽  
Conserved Amino Acids

The reduced folate carrier (RFC; SLC19A1) is closely related to the thiamine transporter, SLC19A2 (ThTr1). Hydropathy models for these homologous transporters predict up to 12 transmembrane domains (TMDs), with internally oriented N- and C-termini and a large central loop between TMDs 6 and 7. The homologies are localized mostly in the TMDs. However, there is little similarity in their N- and C-terminal domains and the central peptide linkers connecting putative TMDs 1—6 and TMDs 7—12. To explore the functional role of the 61-amino acid central linker in the human RFC (hRFC), we introduced deletions of 49 and 60 amino acids into this region, differing by the presence of a stretch of 11 highly conserved amino acids between the human and rodent RFCs (positions 204—214). An additional hRFC construct was prepared in which only the 11 conserved amino acids were deleted. The resulting hRFCD215—R263Δ, hRFCK204—R263Δ and hRFCK204—R214Δ proteins were transfected into transport-impaired K562 cells. The deletion constructs were all expressed in plasma membranes; however, they were completely inactive for methotrexate and (6S)5-formyl tetrahydrofolate transport. Insertion of non-homologous 73- and 84-amino acid fragments from the structurally analogous ThTr1 linker region into position 204 of hRFCK204—R263Δ restored low levels of transport (16—21% of the wild type). Insertion of the ThTr1 linkers into hRFCD215—R263Δ at position 215 restored 60—80% of wild-type levels of transport. Collectively, our results suggest that the role of the hRFC linker peptide is to provide the proper spatial orientation between the two halves of the hRFC protein for optimal function, and that this is largely independent of amino acid sequence. Our results also demonstrate a critical transport role for the stretch of 11 conserved amino acids starting at position 204 of hRFC.

p53 domains: structure, oligomerization, and transformation

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 5182-5191
Author(s):  
P Wang ◽  
M Reed ◽  
Y Wang ◽  
G Mayr ◽  
J E Stenger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Tetramerization Domain ◽  
Wild Type P53 ◽  
Negative Phenotype

Wild-type p53 forms tetramers and multiples of tetramers. Friedman et al. (P. N. Friedman, X. B. Chen, J. Bargonetti, and C. Prives, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:3319-3323, 1993) have reported that human p53 behaves as a larger molecule during gel filtration than it does during sucrose gradient sedimentation. These differences argue that wild-type p53 has a nonglobular shape. To identify structural and oligomerization domains in p53, we have investigated the physical properties of purified segments of p53. The central, specific DNA-binding domain within murine amino acids 80 to 320 and human amino acids 83 to 323 behaves predominantly as monomers during analysis by sedimentation, gel filtration, and gel electrophoresis. This consistent behavior argues that the central region of p53 is globular in shape. Under appropriate conditions, however, this segment can form transient oligomers without apparent preference for a single oligomeric structure. This region does not enhance transformation by other oncogenes. The biological implications of transient oligomerization by this central segment, therefore, remain to be demonstrated. Like wild-type p53, the C terminus, consisting of murine amino acids 280 to 390 and human amino acids 283 to 393, behaves anomalously during gel filtration and apparently has a nonglobular shape. Within this region, murine amino acids 315 to 350 and human amino acids 323 to 355 are sufficient for assembly of stable tetramers. The finding that murine amino acids 315 to 360 enhance transformation by other oncogenes strongly supports the role of p53 tetramerization in oncogenesis. Amino acids 330 to 390 of murine p53 and amino acids 340 to 393 of human p53, which have been implicated by Sturzbecher et al. in tetramerization (H.-W. Sturzbecher, R. Brain, C. Addison, K. Rudge, M. Remm, M. Grimaldi, E. Keenan, and J. R. Jenkins, Oncogene 7:1513-1523, 1992), do not form stable tetramers under our conditions. Our findings indicate that p53 has at least two autonomous oligomerization domains: a strong tetramerization domain in its C-terminal region and a weaker oligomerization domain in the central DNA binding region of p53. Together, these domains account for the formation of tetramers and multiples of tetramers by wild-type p53. The tetramerization domain is the major determinant of the dominant negative phenotype leading to transformation by mutant p53s.

scholarly journals Proline Reverses the Abnormal Phenotypes of Colletotrichum trifolii Associated with Expression of Endogenous Constitutively Active Ras

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1647-1651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Memmott ◽  
Young-sil Ha ◽  
Martin B. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
G Protein ◽  
Growth Medium ◽  
Causative Organism ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Colletotrichum Trifolii ◽  
Rich Media ◽  
Constitutively Active

ABSTRACT Colletotrichum trifolii is the causative organism of alfalfa anthracnose. We previously cloned and characterized the small prototypical G protein, Ras, of C. trifolii, which is involved in the signaling pathways that mediate interaction between the pathogen and its host. Transformants expressing constitutively active forms of Ras have growth medium-dependent phenotypes. In nutrient-rich media (e.g., yeast extract and peptone), the phenotype of the transformants was indistinguishable from that of the wild type. However, during nutrient starvation, the transformants lose polarity, have distended hyphae, and fail to sporulate and produce appressoria. Since peptone caused the phenotype to revert, amino acids were tested singly and in combination to identify the responsible amino acid(s). We found that 1.6 mM proline in the medium reverses the constitutively active Ras phenotype.

scholarly journals Chemotaxis of Escherichia coli to Pyrimidines: a New Role for the Signal Transducer Tap

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (3) ◽  
pp. 972-979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianxian Liu ◽  
Rebecca E. Parales
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Signaling Domain ◽  
Chemotaxis Proteins ◽  
Periplasmic Domain

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli exhibits chemotactic responses to sugars, amino acids, and dipeptides, and the responses are mediated by methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). Using capillary assays, we demonstrated that Escherichia coli RP437 is attracted to the pyrimidines thymine and uracil and the response was constitutively expressed under all tested growth conditions. All MCP mutants lacking the MCP Tap protein showed no response to pyrimidines, suggesting that Tap, which is known to mediate dipeptide chemotaxis, is required for pyrimidine chemotaxis. In order to confirm the role of Tap in pyrimidine chemotaxis, we constructed chimeric chemoreceptors (Tapsr and Tsrap), in which the periplasmic and cytoplasmic domains of Tap and Tsr were switched. When Tapsr and Tsrap were individually expressed in an E. coli strain lacking all four native MCPs, Tapsr mediated chemotaxis toward pyrimidines and dipeptides, but Tsrap did not complement the chemotaxis defect. The addition of the C-terminal 19 amino acids from Tsr to the C terminus of Tsrap resulted in a functional chemoreceptor that mediated chemotaxis to serine but not pyrimidines or dipeptides. These results indicate that the periplasmic domain of Tap is responsible for detecting pyrimidines and the Tsr signaling domain confers on Tapsr the ability to mediate efficient chemotaxis. A mutant lacking dipeptide binding protein (DBP) was wild type for pyrimidine taxis, indicating that DBP, which is the primary chemoreceptor for dipeptides, is not responsible for detecting pyrimidines. It is not yet known whether Tap detects pyrimidines directly or via an additional chemoreceptor protein.

scholarly journals Role of cationic amino acids in the Na+/dicarboxylate co-transporter NaDC-1

2000 ◽  
Vol 350 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana M. PAJOR ◽  
Esther S. KAHN ◽  
Rama GANGULA
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Xenopus Oocytes ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Cationic Amino Acids

The role of cationic amino acids in the Na+/dicarboxylate co-transporter NaDC-1 was investigated by site-directed mutagenesis and subsequent expression of mutant transporters in Xenopus oocytes. Of the ten residues chosen for mutagenesis, eight (Lys-34, Lys-107, Arg-108, Lys-333, Lys-390, Arg-368, Lys-414 and Arg-541) were found to be non-essential for function or targeting. Only two conserved residues, Lys-84 (at the cytoplasmic end of helix 3) and Arg-349 (at the extracellular end of helix 7), were found to be important for transport. Both mutant transporters were expressed at the plasma membrane. The mutation of Lys-84 to Ala resulted in an increased Km for succinate of 1.8mM, compared with 0.3mM in the wild-type NaDC-1. The R349A mutant had Na+ and citrate kinetics that were similar to those of the wild type. However, succinate handling in the R349A mutant was altered, with evidence of inhibition at high succinate concentrations. In conclusion, charge neutralization of Lys-84 and Arg-349 in NaDC-1 affects succinate handling, suggesting that these residues might have roles in substrate binding.

scholarly journals ATPIF1 maintains normal mitochondrial structure which is impaired by CCM3 deficiency in endothelial cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kang Wang ◽  
Haixuan Chen ◽  
Zhongyang Zhou ◽  
Haifeng Zhang ◽  
Huanjiao Jenny Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Normal Structure ◽  
Signaling Proteins ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Abstract Background Numerous signaling pathways have been demonstrated experimentally to affect the pathogenesis of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM), a disease that can be caused by CCM3 deficiency. However, the understanding of the CCM progression is still limited. The objective of the present work was to elucidate the role of CCM3 by RNA-seq screening of CCM3 knockout mice. Results We found that ATPIF1 was decreased in siCCM3-treated Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs), and the overexpression of ATPIF1 attenuated the changes in cell proliferation, adhesion and migration caused by siCCM3. The probable mechanism involved the conserved ATP concentration in mitochondria and the elongated morphology of the organelles. By using the CRISPR-cas9 system, we generated CCM3-KO Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and found that the knockout of CCM3 destroyed the morphology of mitochondria, impaired the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mitophagy. Overexpression of ATPIF1 contributed to the maintenance of normal structure of mitochondria, inhibiting activation of mitophagy and other signaling proteins (e.g., KLF4 and Tie2). The expression of KLF4 returned to normal in CCM3-KO EPCs after 2 days of re-overexpression of CCM3, but not other signaling proteins. Conclusion ATPIF1 maintains the normal structure of mitochondria, inhibiting the activation of mitophagy and other signaling pathway in endothelial cells. Loss of CCM3 leads to the destruction of mitochondria and activation of signaling pathways, which can be regulated by KLF4.

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