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Biomedical subjects

Cam Patterson

Publications and source records attributed to Cam Patterson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 activity by caveolin-1 and plasma membrane cholesterol.

The stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) by tumor-derived VEGF represents a key event in the initiation of angiogenesis. In this work, we report that VEGFR-2 is localized in endothelial caveolae, associated with caveolin-1, and that this complex is rapidly dissociated upon stimulation with VEGF. The kinetics of caveolin-1 dissociation correlated with those of VEGF-dependent VEGFR-2 tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting that caveolin-1 acts as a negative regulator of VEGF R-2 activity. Interestingly, we observed that in an overexpression system in which VEGFR-2 is constitutively active, caveolin-1 overexpression inhibits VEGFR-2 activity but allows VEGFR-2 to undergo VEGF-dependent activation, suggesting that caveolin-1 can confer ligand dependency to a receptor system. Removal of caveolin and VEGFR-2 from caveolae by cholesterol depletion resulted in an increase in both basal and VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR-2, but led to the inhibition of VEGF-induced ERK activation and endothelial cell migration, suggesting that localization of VEGFR-2 to these domains is crucial for VEGF-mediated signaling. Dissociation of the VEGFR-2/caveolin-1 complex by VEGF or cyclodextrin led to a PP2-sensitive phosphorylation of caveolin-1 on tyrosine 14, suggesting the participation of Src family kinases in this process. Overall, these results suggest that caveolin-1 plays multiple roles in the VEGF-induced signaling cascade.

Caveolin 1↗

Overexpression of the cochaperone CHIP enhances Hsp70-dependent folding activity in mammalian cells.

CHIP is a cochaperone of Hsp70 that inhibits Hsp70-dependent refolding in vitro. However, the effect of altered expression of CHIP on the fate of unfolded proteins in mammalian cells has not been determined. Surprisingly, we found that overexpression of CHIP in fibroblasts increased the refolding of proteins after thermal denaturation. This effect was insensitive to geldanamycin, an Hsp90 inhibitor, and required the tetratricopeptide repeat motifs but not the U-box domain of CHIP. Inhibition of Hsp70 chaperone activity abolished the effects of CHIP on protein folding, indicating that the CHIP-mediated events were Hsp70 dependent. Hsp40 competitively inhibited the CHIP-dependent refolding, which is consistent with in vitro data indicating that these cofactors act on Hsp70 in the ATP-bound state and have opposing effects on Hsp70 ATPase activity. Consistent with these observations, CHIP overexpression did not alter protein folding in the setting of ATP depletion, when Hsp70 is in the ADP-bound state. Concomitant with its effects on refolding heat-denatured substrates, CHIP increased the fraction of nascent chains coimmunoprecipitating with Hsc70, but only when sufficient ATP was present to allow Hsp70 to cycle rapidly. Our data suggest that, consistent with in vitro studies, CHIP attenuates the Hsp70 cycle in living cells. The impact of this effect on the fate of unfolded proteins in cells, however, is different from what might be expected from the in vitro data. Rather than resulting in inhibited refolding, CHIP increases the folding capacity of Hsp70 in eukaryotic cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

BMPER, a novel endothelial cell precursor-derived protein, antagonizes bone morphogenetic protein signaling and endothelial cell differentiation.

The development of endothelial cell precursors is essential for vasculogenesis. We screened for differentially expressed transcripts in endothelial cell precursors in developing mouse embryoid bodies. We cloned a complete cDNA encoding a protein that contains an amino-terminal signal peptide, five cysteine-rich domains, a von Willebrand D domain, and a trypsin inhibitor domain. We termed this protein BMPER (bone morphogenetic protein [BMP]-binding endothelial cell precursor-derived regulator). BMPER is specifically expressed in flk-1-positive cells and parallels the time course of flk-1 induction in these cells. In situ hybridization in mouse embryos demonstrates dorsal midline staining and staining of the aorto-gonadal-mesonephric region, which is known to host vascular precursor cells. BMPER is a secreted protein that directly interacts with BMP2, BMP4, and BMP6 and antagonizes BMP4-dependent Smad5 activation. In Xenopus embryos, ventral injection of BMPER mRNA results in axis duplication and downregulation of the expression of Xvent-1 (downstream target of Smad signaling). In an embryoid body differentiation assay, BMP4-dependent differentiation of endothelial cells in embryoid bodies is also antagonized by BMPER. Taken together, our data indicate that BMPER is a novel BMP-binding protein that is expressed by endothelial cell precursors, has BMP-antagonizing activity, and may play a role in endothelial cell differentiation by modulating local BMP activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

HoxB5 is an upstream transcriptional switch for differentiation of the vascular endothelium from precursor cells.

Endothelial cells differentiate from mesoderm-derived precursors to initiate the earliest events in vascular development. Although the signaling events that regulate the successive steps of vascular development are known in some detail, the transcriptional processes that regulate the first steps in vasculogenesis are not well defined. We have studied the regulatory mechanisms of flk1 expression as a model to understand the upstream events in endothelial cell differentiation, since flk1 is the earliest marker of endothelial precursors. Using a variety of biochemical approaches, we identified a cis-acting element in the first intron of the flk1 gene that is required for endothelium-dependent expression in transgenic reporter gene assays. Using the yeast one-hybrid system, we identified HoxB5 as the transcription factor that binds this cis-acting element, the HoxB5-binding element (HBE). HoxB5 mRNA colocalized with flk1 expression in differentiating embryoid bodies, and HoxB5 potently transactivated the flk1 promoter in an HBE-dependent fashion in transient-transfection assays. Overexpression of HoxB5 led to expansion of flk1(+) angioblasts in differentiating embryoid bodies and increased the number of PECAM (platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule)-positive primitive blood vessels. HoxB5 is necessary and sufficient to activate the cell-intrinsic events that regulate the differentiation of angioblasts and mature endothelial cells from their mesoderm-derived precursors.

Animals↗

CHIP: a link between the chaperone and proteasome systems.

CHIP, carboxy terminus of Hsc70 interacting protein, is a cytoplasmic protein whose amino acid sequence is highly conserved across species. It is most highly expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle and brain. The primary amino acid sequence is characterized by 3 domains, a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain at its amino terminus, a U-box domain at its carboxy terminus, and an intervening charged domain. CHIP interacts with the molecular chaperones Hsc70-Hsp70 and Hsp90 through its TPR domain, whereas its U-box domain contains its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Its interaction with these molecular chaperones results in client substrate ubiquitylation and degradation by the proteasome. Thus, CHIP acts to tilt the folding-refolding machinery toward the degradative pathway, and it serves as a link between the two. Because protein degradation is required for healthy cellular function, CHIP's ability to degrade proteins that are the signature of disease, eg, ErbB2 in breast and ovarian cancers, could prove to be a point of therapeutic intervention.

Animals↗

Chaperone-dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP mediates a degradative pathway for c-ErbB2/Neu.

Overexpression of the transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2 is common in multiple malignancies, including breast and ovarian cancer. ErbB2 is resistant to degradation mediated by c-Cbl, the E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for ligand-induced ubiquitination of ErbB1 (epidermal growth factor receptor). Because of its resistance to degradation, ErbB2 is the preferred dimerization partner for other members of the ErbB family, and its overexpression in vivo is associated with poor prognosis. We now show that the chaperone-binding ubiquitin ligase CHIP efficiently ubiquitinates and down-regulates ErbB2. CHIP expression shortens the half-life of both nascent and mature ErbB2 protein. In vitro ubiquitination assay shows that CHIP serves as a ubiquitin ligase for ErbB2, and both exogenously expressed and endogenous CHIP coprecipitate with the kinase. Furthermore, CHIP association with ErbB2 requires a chaperone intermediate and is increased by the chaperone-binding drug geldanamycin, a potent stimulator of ErbB2 ubiquitination and degradation. These data describe a previously unrecognized pathway, amenable to pharmacologic manipulation, that mediates ErbB2 stability.

Animals↗

Mitochondrial integrity and function in atherogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Coronary atherosclerotic disease remains the leading cause of death in the Western world. Although the exact sequence of events in this process is controversial, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RS) likely play an important role in vascular cell dysfunction and atherogenesis. Oxidative damage to the mitochondrial genome with resultant mitochondrial dysfunction is an important consequence of increased intracellular RS. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the contribution of mitochondrial oxidant generation and DNA damage to the progression of atherosclerotic lesions in human arterial specimens and atherosclerosis-prone mice. Mitochondrial DNA damage not only correlated with the extent of atherosclerosis in human specimens and aortas from apolipoprotein E(-/-) mice but also preceded atherogenesis in young apolipoprotein E(-/-) mice. Apolipoprotein E(-/-) mice deficient in manganese superoxide dismutase, a mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme, exhibited early increases in mitochondrial DNA damage and a phenotype of accelerated atherogenesis at arterial branch points. CONCLUSIONS: Mitochondrial DNA damage may result from RS production in vascular tissues and may in turn be an early event in the initiation of atherosclerotic lesions.

Animals↗

A noncoding RNA regulates human protease-activated receptor-1 gene during embryogenesis.

Activation of the human protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) by thrombin leads to myriad functions essential for maintaining vascular integrity. Upregulation of PAR-1 expression is considered important in atherosclerosis, angiogenesis and tumor metastasis. In vitro analysis of the human PAR-1 promoter function revealed a positive regulatory element between -4.2 and -3.2 kb of the transcription start site. This element was examined in transgenic mice containing either 4.1 or 2.9 kb of the 5' flanking sequence driving a LacZ reporter gene. Only the 4.1 kb PAR-1 transgene was expressed in vivo and only during embryonic development. The transgene expression was observed only in developing arteries and not in veins. Further examination of this putative regulatory sequence identified a novel noncoding RNA (ncR-uPAR:noncoding RNA upstream of the PAR-1) gene at -3.4 kb. The ncR-uPAR upregulated PAR-1-core promoter-driven luciferase activity and mRNA expression in vitro in a Pol II-dependent manner. This noncoding RNA appears to act in trans, albeit locally at the adjacent PAR-1 promoter. These data suggest that an untranslated RNA plays a role in PAR-1 gene expression during embryonic growth.

Animals↗

Tiny dancers: the integrin-growth factor nexus in angiogenic signaling.

A vital step in growth factor-driven angiogenesis is the coordinated engagement of endothelial integrins with the extracellular matrix. The molecular mechanisms that partner growth factors and integrins are being elucidated, revealing an intricate interaction of surface receptors and their signaling pathways.

Animals↗

Drug-induced ubiquitylation and degradation of ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases: implications for cancer therapy.

Overexpression of ErbB-2/HER2 is associated with aggressive human malignancies, and therapeutic strategies targeting the oncoprotein are currently in different stages of clinical application. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that block the nucleotide-binding site of the kinase are especially effective against tumors. Here we report an unexpected activity of TKIs: along with inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation, they enhance ubiquitylation and accelerate endocytosis and subsequent intracellular destruction of ErbB-2 molecules. Especially potent is an irreversible TKI (CI-1033) that alkylates a cysteine specific to ErbB receptors. The degradative pathway stimulated by TKIs appears to be chaperone mediated, and is common to the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) antagonist geldanamycin and a stress-induced mechanism. In agreement with this conclusion, CI-1033 and geldanamycin additively inhibit tumor cell growth. Based upon a model for drug-induced degradation of ErbB-2, we propose a general strategy for selective destruction of oncoproteins by targeting their interaction with molecular chaperones.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Postischemic recovery of contractile function is impaired in SOD2(+/-) but not SOD1(+/-) mouse hearts.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to myocardial stunning. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a major defense mechanism against ROS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contributions of cytosolic (SOD1) and mitochondrial (SOD2) isoforms to protect against myocardial stunning. METHODS AND RESULTS: Isolated hearts from wild-type, heterozygous (+/-) SOD1 and SOD2 knockout mice received 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. After 60 minutes of reperfusion, the heart rate multiplied by the developed pressure (HRxDP) in the wild-type and SOD1(+/-) hearts recovered to 92 +/- 9 and 85 +/- 7 of preischemic baseline values, respectively (P=NS). In contrast, the HRxDP was significantly lower (63 +/- 7%) in the SOD2(+/-) hearts compared with the wild-type hearts. Western blot analysis and enzymatic activity of tissue lysates confirmed reduction of activities of specific SOD isoforms without compensatory increase in the other isoform in the knockout animals studied. CONCLUSIONS: Postischemic functional recovery is more sensitive to a partial deficiency of SOD2 than a partial deficiency of SOD1. Therefore, modulation of the mitochondrial SOD isoform is a critical determinant in the tolerance of the heart to oxidative stress.

Animals↗

A new gun in town: the U box is a ubiquitin ligase domain.

Ubiquitin ligases determine protein stability in a highly regulated manner by coordinating the addition of polyubiquitin chains to proteins that are then targeted to the proteasome for degradation. Ubiquitin ligases have generally been separated into two groups--those containing HECT domains and those with RING finger domains. Recently, a third group of ubiquitin ligases has emerged: those containing a U-box domain. Patterson discusses what is known about the few U-box-containing proteins that have been characterized, although the general properties of U-box proteins that distinguish them from other ubiquitin ligases are still a matter of speculation.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Protein quality control: U-box-containing E3 ubiquitin ligases join the fold.

Molecular chaperones act with folding co-chaperones to suppress protein aggregation and refold stress damaged proteins. However, it is not clear how slowly folding or misfolded polypeptides are targeted for proteasomal degradation. Generally, selection of proteins for degradation is mediated by E3 ubiquitin ligases of the mechanistically distinct HECT and RING domain sub-types. Recent studies suggest that the U-box protein family represents a third class of E3 enzymes. CHIP, a U-box-containing protein, is a degradatory co-chaperone of heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and Hsp90 that facilitates the polyubiquitination of chaperone substrates. These data indicate a model for protein quality control in which the interaction of Hsp70 and Hsp90 with co-chaperones that have either folding or degradatory activity helps to determine the fate of non-native cellular proteins.

Cysteine Endopeptidases↗

Things have changed: cell cycle dysregulation and smooth muscle cell dysfunction in atherogenesis.

The prevalence of coronary artery disease increases with age, and age itself is an independent risk factor for atherogenesis, suggesting that the biological milieu in aging populations is conducive to atheromatous lesion formation. Increased generation of reactive oxygen species and accrual of oxidative damage are likely factors in the atherogenic mechanism attributable to aging, yet the precise molecular processes underlying the age-associated events culminating in atherosclerotic lesion formation remain to be determined. Recent data suggest that changes in reactive oxygen species production are among the factors that contribute to vascular cell dysfunction associated with aging and that cell cycle events also become dysregulated at the same time, although we do not yet know the extent to which these two events are linked. Recent studies are discussed here that explore the link between aging, cell cycle events, and reactive oxygen species generation within the context of vascular cell biology and atherogenesis.

Aging↗

A combined strategy to reduce restenosis for vascular tissue engineering applications.

Biodegradable polymers including poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) have been used to develop cardiovascular prostheses such as vascular grafts and stents. However, implant-associated thrombosis, inflammation, and restenosis are still major obstacles for the utility of these devices. The lack of an endothelial cell (EC) lining (endothelialization) on the implants and the responses of the immune systems toward the implants have been associated with these complications. In our research strategy, we have combined the drug delivery principle with the strategies of tissue engineering, the controlled release of anti-inflammation drugs and enhanced endothelialization, to reduce the implant-associated adverse responses. We first integrated curcumin, an anti-inflammatory drug and anti-smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferative drug, with PLLA. This curcumin-loaded PLLA material was then modified using adsorptive coating of adhesive proteins such as fibronectin, collagen-I, vitronectin, laminin, and matrigel to improve the endothelial cell (EC) adhesion and proliferation, and ECs were seeded on top of these modified surfaces. Our results showed steady drug release kinetics over the period of 50 days from curcumin-loaded PLLA materials. Additionally, integration of curcumin in PLLA increased the roughness of the scaffold at the nanometric scale using an atomic force microscopic analysis. Moreover, coating with fibronectin on curcumin-loaded PLLA surfaces gave the highest EC adhesion and proliferation compared to other adhesive proteins using PicoGreen DNA assays. The ability of our strategy to release the curcumin for producing anti-inflammation and anti-proliferation responses and to improve EC adhesion and growth after EC seeding suggests this strategy may reduce implant-associated adverse responses and be a better approach for vascular tissue engineering applications.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Direct identification of ubiquitination sites on ubiquitin-conjugated CHIP using MALDI mass spectrometry.

The study of protein ubiquitination, a post-translational modification by ubiquitin, has emerged as one of the most active areas in biology because of the important role of this type of modification on the regulation of various cellular proteins. Advances in techniques for the determination and site mapping of protein ubiquitination can facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of this modification. We have recently described a novel method for identifying peptides containing ubiquitinated amino acid residues, based on the MALDI-MS/MS analysis of tryptic peptide derivatives. In particular, we have utilized N-terminal sulfonation of these peptides to provide a unique fragmentation pattern that leads to the direct identification and sequencing of ubiquitin modified peptides. Here we present an application of this new method on the characterization of ubiquitin conjugated C-terminal Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP), a recently identified U-box containing E3 enzyme. Three peptides bearing ubiquitination sites have been identified from the digest of ubiquitinated CHIP; one of these was a site on CHIP, while the other two were found on the ubiquitin molecules, demonstrating that sulfonation of tryptic peptides is a general and efficient method for characterizing protein ubiquitination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗