Studies of mice deleted for Sox3 and uc482: relevance to X-linked hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is genetically heterogeneous and characterized by low plasma calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. X-linked hypoparathyroidism (XLHPT) in two American families is associated with interstitial deletion-insertions involving deletions of chromosome Xq27.1 downstream of SOX3 and insertions of predominantly non-coding DNA from chromosome 2p25.3. These could result in loss, gain, or movement of regulatory elements, which include ultraconserved element uc482, which could alter SOX3 expression. To investigate this, we analysed SOX3 expression in EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cells from three affected males, three unaffected males, and four carrier females from one XLHPT family. SOX3 expression was similar in all individuals, indicating that the spatiotemporal effect of the interstitial deletion-insertion on SOX3 expression postulated to occur in developing parathyroids did not manifest in lymphoblastoids. Expression of SNTG2, which is duplicated and inserted into the X chromosome, and ATP11C, which is moved telomerically, were also similarly expressed in all individuals. Investigation of male hemizygous (Sox3−/Y and uc482−/Y) and female heterozygous (Sox3+/− and uc482+/−) knockout mice, together with wild-type littermates (male Sox3+/Y and uc482+/Y, and female Sox3+/+ and uc482+/+), revealed Sox3−/Y, Sox3+/−, uc482−/Y, and uc482+/− mice to have normal plasma biochemistry, compared to their respective wild-type littermates. When challenged with a low calcium diet, all mice had hypocalcaemia, and elevated plasma PTH concentrations and alkaline phosphatase activities, and Sox3−/Y, Sox3+/−, uc482−/Y, and uc482+/− mice had similar plasma biochemistry, compared to wild-type littermates. Thus, these results indicate that absence of Sox3 or uc482 does not cause hypoparathyroidism and that XLHPT likely reflects a more complex mechanism.

Isozyme-specific Effects of Protein Kinase C in Pain Modulation

Background Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine/threonine kinases that contains more than 10 isozymes. Evidence suggests that PKC may play important roles in pain modulation, but the isozyme-specific effects of PKC on different aspects of pain modulation are not fully understood. We hypothesize that different PKC isozymes play different roles in different aspects of pain modulation. Methods The nociceptive behaviors of mice with deletion of PKCα, β, γ, or δ in multiple pain models were compared with their respective wild-type littermates. Also, morphine analgesia and the development of morphine tolerance in mice with deletion of PKCγ were compared with their respective wild-type littermates. Results Thermal hyperalgesia induced by complete Freund's adjuvant injection was significantly attenuated by the deletion of PKCβ, γ, or δ, but not PKCα. Deletion of PKCγ significantly attenuated neuropathic mechanical allodynia induced by spared nerve injury, whereas deletion of PKCα enhanced this allodynia. Baseline thermal and mechanical sensitivity, nociceptive behaviors induced by formalin, mechanical allodynia induced by complete Freund's adjuvant injection, were not altered by deletion of PKCα, β, γ, or δ. Finally, morphine analgesia and the development of morphine tolerance were not altered in PKCγ-deficient mice. Conclusions PKC has isozyme-specific effects in pain modulation.

Role of Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase in Interleukin-6 Release from Isolated Mouse Skeletal Muscle

IL-6 is released from skeletal muscle during exercise and has consequently been implicated to mediate beneficial effects on whole-body metabolism. Using 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR), a pharmacological activator of 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), we tested the hypothesis that AMPK modulates IL-6 release from isolated muscle. Skeletal muscle from AMPKα2 kinase-dead transgenic, AMPKα1 knockout (KO) and AMPKγ3 KO mice and respective wild-type littermates was incubated in vitro, in the absence or presence of 2 mmol/liter AICAR. Skeletal muscle from wild-type mice was also incubated with the AMPK activator A-769662. Incubation of mouse glycolytic extensor digitorum longus and oxidative soleus muscle for 2 h was associated with profound IL-6 mRNA production and protein release, which was suppressed by AICAR (P < 0.001). Basal IL-6 release from soleus was increased between AMPKα2 kinase-dead and AMPKα1 KO and their respective wild-type littermates (P < 0.05), suggesting AMPK participates in the regulation of IL-6 release from oxidative muscle. The effect of AICAR on muscle IL-6 release was similar between AMPKα2 KD, AMPKα1 KO, and AMPKγ3 KO mice and their respective wild-type littermates (P < 0.001), indicating AICAR-mediated suppression of IL-6 mRNA expression and protein release is independent of AMPK function. However, IL-6 release from soleus, but not extensor digitorum longus, was reduced 45% by A-769662. Our results on basal and A-769662-mediated IL-6 release provide evidence for a role of AMPK in the regulation of IL-6 release from oxidative skeletal muscle. Furthermore, in addition to activating AMPK, AICAR suppresses IL-6 release by an unknown, AMPK-independent mechanism. Using transgenic and knockout mouse models to perturb AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, we provide evidence that AMPK-dependent pathways regulate IL-6 release from isolated oxidative skeletal muscle.

The giant organelles in beige and Chediak-Higashi fibroblasts are derived from late endosomes and mature lysosomes.

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS) is an autosomal recessive disease affecting secretory granules and lysosomes-like organelles. In CHS fibroblasts, acidic organelles are abnormally large and clustered in the perinuclear area. We have analyzed fibroblast cell lines from a CHS patient and from the murine model for CHS, the beige mouse, to determine which lysosome-like compartments are affected. Uptake of neutral red showed that in both beige and CHS cell lines, the acidic organelles were markedly clustered in the perinuclear region of the cells. Giant organelles (> 4 microns) were observed in a fraction of the cells, and these were more dramatic in the beige fibroblasts than in the CHS fibroblasts. The total dye uptake of both mutant cell lines was similar to their respective wild type fibroblasts, suggesting that the overall volume of acidic compartments is unaffected by the disorder. Histochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that the giant organelles in both beige and CHS fibroblasts were positive for cathepsin D, lysosome-associated membrane protein (LAMP) 1, LAMP 2, and a 120-kD lysosomal glycoprotein, all marker proteins for late endosomes and lysosomes. The giant organelles were also negative for transferrin receptor and mannose-6-phosphate receptor, and most of them were also negative for rab 7. This distribution of marker proteins shows that the giant organelles in both beige and CHS are derived from late compartments of the endocytic pathway. This conclusion was confirmed using endocytic tracers. BSA was transported to the giant organelles, but only after long incubation times, and only at 37 degrees C. alpha 2-Macroglobulin was taken up and degraded at similar rates by CHS or beige cells and their respective wild type control cells. Taken together, our results indicate that the mutation in CHS specifically affects late endosomes and lysosomes, with little or no effect on early endosomes. Although the mutation clearly causes mislocalization of these organelles, it appears to have little effect on their endocytic and degradative functions.

Anacystis Mutants with Different Tolerances to DCMU-Type Herbicides Show Differences in Architecture and Dynamics of the Photosynthetic Apparatus, Depending on Site and Mode of the Amino Acid Exchanges in the D1 Protein

Mutants of Anacystis R2 with different amino acid exchanges in positions 255 and/or 264 in copy I of the psbA gene, leading to different tolerances to DCMU-type herbicides, are com- pared with the respective wild type concerning pigmentation and incorporation of 35S into the D1 protein upon growth in the presence of [35S]methionine. All mutants have shade-type appearance compared to the wild type, although to different extents depending on site and mode of the amino acid exchange in the D1 protein. Except for 3 mutants, there is no correlation between shade-type appearance on one hand and resistance towards a certain inhibitor on the other hand. Not only the molar ratio of phycocyanin (PC) to chlorophyll (Chi) is higher in all mutants compared to the respective wild type, but also the rate of synthesis of the D1 protein. On the background of different levels of total 35S incorporation within 18 min, D1 synthesis can be related to shade adaptation. Degradation of the D1 protein remains to be thoroughly studied in this context. No reproducible differences in whole chain electron transport were observed between mutants and wild type.

DIPLOIDS OF CLOCK MUTANTS OF CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDI

ABSTRACT Diploids constructed from three clock mutants of Chlamydomonas have been analyzed. In the haploid state, these mutations all lengthen the clock period, and they are at separate genetic loci. One is recessive, one dominant, and one is probably incompletely dominant to their respective wild-type alleles.

GENETICS OF YEAST HEXOKINASE

ABSTRACT Two independent isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking hexokinase activity (EC 2.7.1.1) are described. Both mutant strains grow on glucose but are unable to grow on fructose, and contain two mutant genes h×k1 and h×k2 each. The mutations are recessive and noncomplementing. Genetic analysis suggests that these two unlinked genes h×k1 and h×k2 determine, independently of each other, the synthesis of hexokinase isozymes P1 and P2, respectively. h×k1 is located on chromosome VIR distal to met10, and h×k2 is on chromosome IIIR distal to MAL2. Of four hexokinase-positive spontaneous reversions, one is very tightly linked to h×k1 and the other three to the h×k2 locus. The reverted enzymes are considerably more thermolabile than the respective wild-type enzymes, and in one case show altered immunological properties. Data are presented which suggest that the h×k1 and h×k2 mutations are missense mutations in the structural genes of hexokinase P1 and hexokinase P2, respectively. These are presumably the only enzymes that allow S. cerevisiae to grow on fructose.