Abstract 1349: Overexpression And Dominant-negative Suppression Of Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channel Protein (Kir2.1) Alters Electrophysiology And Spiral Wave Dynamics Of An In Vitro Model Of Cardiac Myocytes

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh B Sekar ◽  
Eddy Kizana ◽  
Hee C Cho ◽  
Rachel R Smith ◽  
Brett P Eaton ◽  
...  

Introduction : An important role for the inwardly rectifying potassium current (I K1 ) has been postulated in controlling the stability and frequency of rotors responsible for ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. We investigated the effects of Kir2.1 overexpression and Kir2.1AAA dominant-negative mutant suppression on the electrophysiology and inducibility, stability and frequency of spiral waves in an in vitro cardiac tissue model. Methods/Results : Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) were transduced by lentiviral vectors encoding Kir2.1 or Kir2.1AAA. Immunostaining revealed Kir2.1 or mutant Kir2.1 protein overexpression and whole cell-clamp confirmed the predicted effects on I K1 , resting potential, and action potential duration (APD 80 ). Optical mapping was performed on confluent NRVM monolayers containing a 5 mm diameter central island of gene-modified NRVMs created by a stenciling technique. APs propagated with increased CV (25.1±2.7 cm/sec, n=7) and shortened APD 80 (73±11 msec, n=7) in islands of Kir2.1 overexpression, or decreased CV (13.1±1.1 cm/sec, n=7) and prolonged APD 80 (263±14 msec, n=7) in islands of Kir2.1AAA suppression, compared with normal CV and APD 80 of 19.2±0.4 cm/sec and 169±14 msec (n=7) in non-transduced islands. Reentry was initiated by rapid pacing. With Kir2.1 overexpression, reentrant waves anchored to the island and remained stable (89±15 minutes, n=3) with a frequency of 8±2 Hz. Superfusion with 0.5 mM BaCl 2 to block I K1 slowed reentry to 1 Hz and terminated it shortly after initiation. NRVM monolayers with islands of Kir2.1AAA suppression (n=3) displayed rapid spontaneous activity. Rapid pacing of these monolayers initiated an unstable figure-of-eight reentry (n=3) that degraded into single and multi-armed spiral waves, anchored to varying parts of the island with a maximum frequency of 2±1 Hz. Importantly, no reentry could be initiated in monolayers with non-transduced islands (n=3). Conclusion : Functional reentrant waves induced by rapid pacing are anchored to islands of localized Kir2.1 overexpression whereas they drop in frequency and meander in islands of dominant-negative suppression of Kir2.1, confirming the importance of I K1 for the stability of these waves in cardiac tissue.

Author(s):  
Geran Kostecki ◽  
Yu Shi ◽  
Christopher Chen ◽  
Daniel H. Reich ◽  
Emilia Entcheva ◽  
...  

AbstractInteractions between cardiac myofibroblasts and myocytes may slow conduction after cardiac injury, increasing the chance of life-threatening arrhythmia. While co-culture studies have shown that myofibroblasts can affect cardiomyocyte electrophysiology in vitro, the mechanism(s) remain debatable. In this study, primary neonatal rat cardiac myofibroblasts were transduced with the light-activated ion channel Channelrhodopsin-2, which allowed acute and selective modulation of myofibroblast currents in co-cultures with cardiomyocytes. Optical mapping revealed that myofibroblast-specific optogenetically induced inward currents decreased conduction velocity in the co-cultures by 27±6% (baseline = 17.7±5.3 cm/s), and shortened the cardiac action potential duration by 14±7% (baseline = 161±11 ms) when 0.017 mW/mm2 light was applied. When light irradiance was increased to 0.057 mW/mm2, the myofibroblast currents led to spontaneous beating in 6/7 co-cultures. Experiments showed that optogenetic perturbation did not lead to changes in myofibroblast strain and force generation, suggesting purely electrical effects in this model. In silico modeling of optogenetically modified myofibroblast-cardiomyocyte co-cultures largely reproduced these results and enabled a comprehensive study of relevant parameters. These results clearly demonstrate that myofibroblasts are sufficiently electrically connected to cardiomyocytes to effectively alter macroscopic electrophysiological properties in this model of cardiac tissue.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1571-1582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shrikesh Sachdev ◽  
Sriparna Bagchi ◽  
Donna D. Zhang ◽  
Angela C. Mings ◽  
Mark Hannink

ABSTRACT The inhibitor of kappa B alpha (IκBα) protein is able to shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. We have utilized a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches to provide mechanistic insight into nucleocytoplasmic shuttling by IκBα. IκBα contains multiple functional domains that contribute to shuttling of IκBα between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Nuclear import of IκBα is mediated by the central ankyrin repeat domain. Similar to previously described nuclear import pathways, nuclear import of IκBα is temperature and ATP dependent and is blocked by a dominant-negative mutant of importin β. However, in contrast to classical nuclear import pathways, nuclear import of IκBα is independent of soluble cytosolic factors and is not blocked by the dominant-negative RanQ69L protein. Nuclear export of IκBα is mediated by an N-terminal nuclear export sequence. Nuclear export of IκBα requires the CRM1 nuclear export receptor and is blocked by the dominant-negative RanQ69L protein. Our results are consistent with a model in which nuclear import of IκBα is mediated through direct interactions with components of the nuclear pore complex, while nuclear export of IκBα is mediated via a CRM1-dependent pathway.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 6500-6508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanette J. Pazdernik ◽  
David B. Donner ◽  
Mark G. Goebl ◽  
Maureen A. Harrington

ABSTRACT The death domain-containing receptor superfamily and their respective downstream mediators control whether or not cells initiate apoptosis or activate NF-κB, events critical for proper immune system function. A screen for upstream activators of NF-κB identified a novel serine-threonine kinase capable of activating NF-κB and inducing apoptosis. Based upon domain organization and sequence similarity, this novel kinase, named mRIP3 (mouse receptor interacting protein 3), appears to be a new RIP family member. RIP, RIP2, and mRIP3 contain an N-terminal kinase domain that share 30 to 40% homology. In contrast to the C-terminal death domain found in RIP or the C-terminal caspase-recruiting domain found in RIP2, the C-terminal tail of mRIP3 contains neither motif and is unique. Despite this feature, overexpression of the mRIP3 C terminus is sufficient to induce apoptosis, suggesting that mRIP3 uses a novel mechanism to induce death. mRIP3 also induced NF-κB activity which was inhibited by overexpression of either dominant-negative NIK or dominant-negative TRAF2. In vitro kinase assays demonstrate that mRIP3 is catalytically active and has autophosphorylation site(s) in the C-terminal domain, but the mRIP3 catalytic activity is not required for mRIP3 induced apoptosis and NF-κB activation. Unlike RIP and RIP2, mRIP3 mRNA is expressed in a subset of adult tissues and is thus likely to be a tissue-specific regulator of apoptosis and NF-κB activity. While the lack of a dominant-negative mutant precludes linking mRIP3 to a known upstream regulator, characterizing the expression pattern and the in vitro functions of mRIP3 provides insight into the mechanism(s) by which cells modulate the balance between survival and death in a cell-type-specific manner.


Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (10) ◽  
pp. 3173-3183 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.L. Kroll ◽  
E. Amaya

We have developed a simple approach for large-scale transgenesis in Xenopus laevis embryos and have used this method to identify in vivo requirements for FGF signaling during gastrulation. Plasmids are introduced into decondensed sperm nuclei in vitro using restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI). Transplantation of these nuclei into unfertilized eggs yields hundreds of normal, diploid embryos per day which develop to advanced stages and express integrated plasmids nonmosaically. Transgenic expression of a dominant negative mutant of the FGF receptor (XFD) after the mid-blastula stage uncouples mesoderm induction, which is normal, from maintenance of mesodermal markers, which is lost during gastrulation. By contrast, embryos expressing XFD contain well-patterned nervous systems despite a putative role for FGF in neural induction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 6068-6080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolás Nieto Moreno ◽  
Florencia Villafañez ◽  
Luciana E Giono ◽  
Carmen Cuenca ◽  
Gastón Soria ◽  
...  

Abstract We have previously found that UV-induced DNA damage causes hyperphosphorylation of the carboxy terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), inhibition of transcriptional elongation and changes in alternative splicing (AS) due to kinetic coupling between transcription and splicing. In an unbiased search for protein kinases involved in the AS response to DNA damage, we have identified glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) as an unforeseen participant. Unlike Cdk9 inhibition, GSK-3 inhibition only prevents CTD hyperphosphorylation triggered by UV but not basal phosphorylation. This effect is not due to differential degradation of the phospho-CTD isoforms and can be reproduced, at the AS level, by overexpression of a kinase-dead GSK-3 dominant negative mutant. GSK-3 inhibition abrogates both the reduction in RNAPII elongation and changes in AS elicited by UV. We show that GSK-3 phosphorylates the CTD in vitro, but preferentially when the substrate is previously phosphorylated, consistently with the requirement of a priming phosphorylation reported for GSK-3 efficacy. In line with a role for GSK-3 in the response to DNA damage, GSK-3 inhibition prevents UV-induced apoptosis. In summary, we uncover a novel role for a widely studied kinase in key steps of eukaryotic transcription and pre-mRNA processing.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (2) ◽  
pp. G499-G506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Nicke ◽  
Min-Jen Tseng ◽  
Marycarol Fenrich ◽  
Craig D. Logsdon

CCK stimulates pleiotrophic responses in pancreatic acinar cells; however, the intracellular signaling pathways involved are not well understood. To evaluate the role of the ras gene product in CCK actions, a strategy involving in vitro adenoviral-mediated gene delivery of a dominant-negative mutant Ras (RasN17) was utilized. Isolated acini were infected with various titers of either a control adenovirus or an adenoviral construct expressing RasN17 for 24 h before being treated with CCK. Titer-dependent expression of RasN17 in the acini was confirmed by Western blotting. Infection with control adenovirus [106–109plaque-forming units/mg acinar protein (multiplicity of infection of ∼1–1,000)] had no effect on CCK stimulation of acinar cell amylase release, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) or c-Jun kinase (JNK) kinases, or DNA synthesis. In contrast, infection with adenovirus bearing ras N17 increased basal amylase release, inhibited CCK-mediated JNK activation, had no effect on CCK activation of ERK, and inhibited DNA synthesis. These data demonstrate important roles for Ras in specific actions of CCK on pancreatic acinar function.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (2) ◽  
pp. G322-G330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian K. Dieckgraefe ◽  
Danielle M. Weems

The signaling pathways activated in response to gastrointestinal injury remain poorly understood. Previous work has implicated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase as a mediator of wound-signal transduction and a possible regulator of epithelial restitution. Monolayer injury resulted in rapid activation of p42 and p44 ERK. Injury-induced ERK activation was blocked by protein kinase C inhibition or by disruption of the cell cytoskeleton. Significant increases in Fos and early growth response (Egr)-1 mRNA levels were stimulated by injury, peaking by 20 min. ERK activation and the induction of Egr-1 mRNA were inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion with PD-98059. Fos mRNA expression was partially blocked by PD-98059. Western blot analysis demonstrated strong expression and nuclear localization of Fos and Egr after wounding. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that nuclear extracts contained a protein that specifically bound double-stranded oligonucleotides containing the Egr consensus binding element. Gel supershift assays demonstrated that the protein-DNA complexes were recognized by anti-Egr antibody. Inhibition of injury-induced ERK activation by PD-98059 or direct interference with Egr by expression of a dominant negative mutant led to significantly reduced in vitro monolayer restitution.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 2180-2188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-José Lallena ◽  
María T. Diaz-Meco ◽  
Gary Bren ◽  
Carlos V. Payá ◽  
Jorge Moscat

ABSTRACT The atypical protein kinase C (PKC) isotypes (λ/ιPKC and ζPKC) have been shown to be critically involved in important cell functions such as proliferation and survival. Previous studies have demonstrated that the atypical PKCs are stimulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and are required for the activation of NF-κB by this cytokine through a mechanism that most probably involves the phosphorylation of IκB. The inability of these PKC isotypes to directly phosphorylate IκB led to the hypothesis that ζPKC may use a putative IκB kinase to functionally inactivate IκB. Recently several groups have molecularly characterized and cloned two IκB kinases (IKKα and IKKβ) which phosphorylate the residues in the IκB molecule that serve to target it for ubiquitination and degradation. In this study we have addressed the possibility that different PKCs may control NF-κB through the activation of the IKKs. We report here that αPKC as well as the atypical PKCs bind to the IKKs in vitro and in vivo. In addition, overexpression of ζPKC positively modulates IKKβ activity but not that of IKKα, whereas the transfection of a ζPKC dominant negative mutant severely impairs the activation of IKKβ but not IKKα in TNF-α-stimulated cells. We also show that cell stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate activates IKKβ, which is entirely dependent on the activity of αPKC but not that of the atypical isoforms. In contrast, the inhibition of αPKC does not affect the activation of IKKβ by TNF-α. Interestingly, recombinant active ζPKC and αPKC are able to stimulate in vitro the activity of IKKβ but not that of IKKα. In addition, evidence is presented here that recombinant ζPKC directly phosphorylates IKKβ in vitro, involving Ser177 and Ser181. Collectively, these results demonstrate a critical role for the PKC isoforms in the NF-κB pathway at the level of IKKβ activation and IκB degradation.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 6861-6870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Costa-Mattioli ◽  
Yuri Svitkin ◽  
Nahum Sonenberg

ABSTRACT Translation of poliovirus and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNAs is initiated by recruitment of 40S ribosomes to an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the mRNA 5′ untranslated region. Translation initiation of these RNAs is stimulated by noncanonical initiation factors called IRES trans-activating factors (ITAFs). The La autoantigen is such an ITAF, but functional evidence for the role of La in poliovirus and HCV translation in vivo is lacking. Here, by two methods using small interfering RNA and a dominant-negative mutant of La, we demonstrate that depletion of La causes a dramatic reduction in poliovirus IRES function in vivo. We also show that 40S ribosomal subunit binding to HCV and poliovirus IRESs in vitro is inhibited by a dominant-negative form of La. These results provide strong evidence for a function of the La autoantigen in IRES-dependent translation and define the step of translation which is stimulated by La.


2009 ◽  
Vol 206 (9) ◽  
pp. 1957-1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebekka Grundler ◽  
Laurent Brault ◽  
Christelle Gasser ◽  
Alex N. Bullock ◽  
Tobias Dechow ◽  
...  

FLT3-ITD–mediated leukemogenesis is associated with increased expression of oncogenic PIM serine/threonine kinases. To dissect their role in FLT3-ITD–mediated transformation, we performed bone marrow reconstitution assays. Unexpectedly, FLT3-ITD cells deficient for PIM1 failed to reconstitute lethally irradiated recipients, whereas lack of PIM2 induction did not interfere with FLT3-ITD–induced disease. PIM1-deficient bone marrow showed defects in homing and migration and displayed decreased surface CXCR4 expression and impaired CXCL12–CXCR4 signaling. Through small interfering RNA–mediated knockdown, chemical inhibition, expression of a dominant-negative mutant, and/or reexpression in knockout cells, we found PIM1 activity to be essential for proper CXCR4 surface expression and migration of cells toward a CXCL12 gradient. Purified PIM1 led to the phosphorylation of serine 339 in the CXCR4 intracellular domain in vitro, a site known to be essential for normal receptor recycling. In primary leukemic blasts, high levels of surface CXCR4 were associated with increased PIM1 expression, and this could be significantly reduced by a small molecule PIM inhibitor in some patients. Our data suggest that PIM1 activity is important for homing and migration of hematopoietic cells through modification of CXCR4. Because CXCR4 also regulates homing and maintenance of cancer stem cells, PIM1 inhibitors may exert their antitumor effects in part by interfering with interactions with the microenvironment.


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