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Biomedical subjects

Herbert Lindner

Publications and source records attributed to Herbert Lindner.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Phosphorylation of myorod (catchin) by kinases tightly associated to molluscan and vertebrate smooth muscle myosins.

Myorod, also known as catchin, a newly discovered component of molluscan smooth muscle thick filaments, is an alternative product of the myosin heavy chain gene. It contains a C-terminal rod part that is identical to that part of myosin and a unique N-terminal domain that is very small relative to the myosin head domain. The role of myorod in contraction or relaxation of this muscle type is unknown. In the present study we demonstrated that myorod was phosphorylated not only by a kinase endogenous to molluscan myosin and twitchin but also to vertebrate smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). The rates and maximal levels of phosphorylation were up to threefold higher than those observed by protein kinase A with clear optima at the physiological salt concentrations. Using a mild digestion with chymotrypsin we isolated an 11 kDa phosphopeptide and showed that the phosphorylation site was located at the N-terminal domain of myorod at Thr 141 position. The sequence around this site exhibited a high degree of similarity to that expected for the substrate recognition site of MLCK. The phosphorylation rates strongly depended on the ionic conditions indicating that this site could be readily sterically blocked during myorod polymerization. Another component of the thick filaments involved in regulation of the catch state, twitchin, was phosphorylated by MLCK and exhibited endogenous myorod kinase and MLCK activities. A possible role of these phosphorylation reactions in the regulation of molluscan smooth muscles is discussed.

Animals↗

Protein sites of attack of N-chlorotaurine in Escherichia coli.

N-Chlorotaurine sodium (NCT) is a promising microbicidal agent for topical treatment of infections. Its targets of attack in Escherichia coli have been investigated by proteomics. Incubation in 1% NCT for 10 and 30 min revealed a change of the charge and a separation of numerous proteins into a series of spots with a different pI. Charge differences could be related to oxidation of cysteine residues to their corresponding sulfonic acids. Heat shock protein 60 appeared, while ribosome-releasing factor, d-ribose periplasmic binding protein, and malonyl-CoA transacylase spots decreased. These results indicate penetration of oxidation capacity into the bacteria and destruction of essential proteins by NCT.

Acyl-Carrier Protein S-Malonyltransferase↗

Gefitinib-responsive EGFR-positive colorectal cancers have different proteome profiles from non-responsive cell lines.

Biomarkers that predict response to therapy with inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase remain largely uncharacterized. In order to define proteins involved in potential resistance mechanisms, we examined the effect of gefitinib (ZD1839, Iressa) in the EGFR-positive colon cancer cell lines Caco-2, DiFi, HRT-18 and HT-29. None of them exhibited an activating mutation in exons 19 or 21 of EGFR. Proteome profiling with two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry revealed 12 proteins differentially expressed in responsive and non-responsive cells. These proteins are involved in metabolic pathways, partially relevant in malignant growth and four of them are known to interact with the EGFR signalling pathway. Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminated hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCH-L1) and galectin-3 are overexpressed in the responsive cell line Caco-2, whereas fatty acid-binding protein (E-FABP) and heat shock protein (hsp) 27 are expressed more in the resistant cell lines HRT-18 and HT-29 suggesting a role in non-responsiveness of cells to gefitinib.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

ICln159 folds into a pleckstrin homology domain-like structure. Interaction with kinases and the splicing factor LSm4.

ICln is a multifunctional protein involved in regulatory mechanisms as different as membrane ion transport and RNA splicing. The protein is water-soluble, and during regulatory volume decrease after cell swelling, it is able to migrate from the cytosol to the cell membrane. Purified, water-soluble ICln is able to insert into lipid bilayers to form ion channels. Here, we show that ICln159, a truncated ICln mutant, which is also able to form ion channels in lipid bilayers, belongs to the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain superfold family of proteins. The ICln PH domain shows unusual properties as it lacks the electrostatic surface polarization seen in classical PH domains. However, similar to many classical PH domain-containing proteins, ICln interacts with protein kinase C, and in addition, interacts with cAMP-dependent protein kinase and cGMP-dependent protein kinase type II but not cGMP-dependent protein kinase type Ibeta. A major phosphorylation site for all three kinases is Ser-45 within the ICln PH domain. Furthermore, ICln159 interacts with LSm4, a protein involved in splicing and mRNA degradation, suggesting that the ICln159 PH domain may serve as a protein-protein interaction platform.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A cold-active extracellular metalloprotease from Pedobacter cryoconitis--production and properties.

An extracellular protease from Pedobacter cryoconitis, isolated from alpine cryoconite on glacier ice, was purified and characterized. Despite high cell densities at a temperature range of 1-25 degrees C, the optimum temperature for protease production was 15 degrees C. Maximum enzyme production was achieved when the strain was grown in a pH-neutral medium containing soybean meal, wheat flour and citrate over 72 h. The 27-kDa enzyme was a metalloprotease (sensitive to EDTA, EGTA and phenanthroline) and showed maximal activity towards azocasein at 40 degrees C and pH 8. The protease was stable for 60 min at 20-30 degrees C, lost 50% of activity after 30 min at 40 degrees C, and was inactivated at 50 degrees C, but was resistant to repeated freezing and thawing. Calcium ions had no protective effect against thermal denaturation. More than 80% of the maximum activity were retained at a pH in the range of 7-10. No activity loss was detected after 1 h at pH 7-9 and 20 degrees C, nor after 1 h of incubation with 3 M urea or 0.1% perborate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In vitro acetylation of HMGB-1 and -2 proteins by CBP: the role of the acidic tail.

Histone acetyltransferases CBP, PCAF, and Tip60 have been tested for their ability to in vitro acetylate HMGB-1 and -2 proteins and their truncated forms lacking the C-terminal tail. It was found that these proteins were substrates for CBP only. Analyses of modified proteins by electrophoresis, amino acid sequencing, and mass spectrometry showed that full-length HMGB-1 and -2 were monoacetylated at Lys2. Removal of the C terminus resulted in (i) an increased incorporation of radiolabeled acetate within the proteins to a level close to that observed with histones H3/H4 and (ii) creation of a novel target site at Lys81. Acetylated and nonmodified HMGB-1 and -2 protein lacking the acidic tail were compared relative to their binding affinity to distorted DNA and the ability to bend linear DNA. Both proteins showed similar affinities to cisplatin-damaged DNA; the acetylated protein, however, was 3-fold more effective in inducing ligase-mediated circularization of a 111-bp DNA fragment. The alterations in the acetylation pattern of HMGB-1 and -2 upon removal of the C-terminal tail are regarded as a means by which the acidic domain modulates some properties of these proteins.

Acetylation↗

Different proteome pattern of epidermal growth factor receptor-positive colorectal cancer cell lines that are responsive and nonresponsive to C225 antibody treatment.

The monoclonal antibody C225 directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) blocks downstream mitogenic signaling and is effective in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Clinical data, however, suggest the presence of primary and secondary resistance mechanisms that are hardly understood. To define proteins involved in EGFR-triggered growth regulation and potential resistance mechanisms, we characterized the proteome profile of two colorectal cancer cell lines with a high expression of functional EGFR but a different response to treatment with C225. In Caco-2 and HRT-18, a complete saturation of EGFR was achieved after incubation with C225; whereas Caco-2 showed inhibition of proliferation, growth of HRT-18 was not suppressed. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis and subsequent mass spectrometry, we identified 14 proteins differentially expressed in both cell lines. All proteins are involved in metabolic pathways and malignant growth. Expression of enzymes such as ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme 1, glutathione S-transferase P, and chloride intracellular channel protein 1 does not seem to interfere with the antiproliferative effect of anti-EGFR antibody. On the other hand, expression of proteins such as fatty acid binding protein and heat shock protein 27 might constitute strong antiapoptotic effects contributing to the nonresponse of HRT-18 to C225 treatment. Proteome-based investigations can help us better understand the complex protein interactions involved in EGFR signaling and its blockage by therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Calgranulins in cystic fluid and serum from patients with ovarian carcinomas.

Ovarian cancer remains still associated with poor prognosis because it is diagnosed predominantly at advanced stages. Ovarian-specific tumor markers do not yet exist for early detection of the disease. At the search of diagnostic markers for ovarian cancer, proteomic-based approaches have focused on novel investigations of neoplastic processes in tumor patients. Cystic fluids of malignant and benign ovarian tumors and serum from the corresponding patients were collected and processed for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins were visualized on the gels by silver staining. At the low molecular mass level between 10 and 20 kDa, selected protein spots were additionally processed for nanospray mass spectrometry and partial amino acid sequencing. For protein identification, the sequencing results were compared with computer information from a protein data bank. Protein patterns from cystic fluids of ovarian carcinomas differed significantly from those of benign cysts and revealed additional polypeptides at low molecular mass level between 10 and 20 kDa. Protein patterns from serum of patients with malignant ovarian tumors also contained additional polypeptides between 10 and 20 kDa that were not detected in serum from patients with benign cysts. The additional proteins in serum were present in similar electrophoretic positions compared with those found in the cystic fluid of the corresponding ovarian carcinomas. Protein spots in the range of 10-20 kDa were selected for partial amino acid sequencing. Two protein spots were identified as calgranulin A and three spots as calgranulin B. Either both proteins or only calgranulin A or B were present in cystic fluid from ovarian carcinomas and serum of the corresponding patients. These two proteins were absent or not detectable in fluid from benign ovarian cysts and in serum from those patients. Our investigations concerning protein patterns in cystic fluid of malignant and benign ovarian tumors provide new information about alterations in protein synthesis linked to neoplastic events of the ovary. With the proteomic strategy, new tumor markers are characterized and may serve for diagnostic purposes of patients with ovarian cancer.

Adult↗

Regulation and processing of maize histone deacetylase Hda1 by limited proteolysis.

A maize histone deacetylase gene was identified as a homolog of yeast Hda1. The predicted protein corresponds to a previously purified maize deacetylase that is active as a protein monomer with a molecular weight of 48,000 and is expressed in all tissues of germinating embryos. Hda1 is synthesized as an enzymatically inactive protein with an apparent molecular weight of 84,000 that is processed to the active 48-kD form by proteolytic removal of the C-terminal part, presumably via a 65-kD intermediate. The enzymatically inactive 84-kD protein also is part of a 300-kD protein complex of unknown function. The proteolytic cleavage of ZmHda1 is regulated during maize embryo germination in vivo. Expression of the recombinant full-length protein and the 48-kD form confirmed that only the smaller enzyme form is active as a histone deacetylase. In line with this finding, we show that the 48-kD protein is able to repress transcription efficiently in a reporter gene assay, whereas the full-length protein, including the C-terminal part, lacks full repression activity. This report on the processing of Hda1-p84 to enzymatically active Hda1-p48 demonstrates that proteolytic cleavage is a mechanism to regulate the function of Rpd3/Hda1-type histone deacetylases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Anti-SLA seropositive autoimmune hepatitis sera recognize distinct subunits of glutathione S-transferase: high prevalence of the Ya autoantigen.

We have recently reported that anti-SLA seropositive autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients develop autoantibodies against glutathione S-transferase (GST). GSTs are multifunctional enzymes mediating hepatic detoxification of cytotoxic and genotoxic compounds and are also involved in biliary secretion. We have observed varying reactivity of individual AIH sera towards several GST isoenzymes. Since the GST subunits have very similar molar masses and therefore are not satisfactorily resolved by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we have performed their fractionation by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to better separate the individual GST isoenzymes. 4 individual GST subunits were isolated as judged by electrophoretic analysis of the 4 distinct peaks. The identity of isolated proteins was unequivocally determined by protein sequencing. Isolated subtypes were loaded on 15% SDS gels and blotted. Immunoblotting was performed with eleven anti-SLA positive sera that displayed differential reactivity with total GSTs. Fractionation of the GSTs by HPLC did not impair their ability to react with specific autoantibodies. Interestingly, the majority of GST-positive AIH sera reacted with one or two GST subtypes, only two sera recognized 3 subunits. Ya was most prevalent autoantigen. Autoantibodies against Yb2 were detected solely in one serum. This pattern of reactivity indicates that individual patients' sera discriminate between GST subunits despite their sequence homology. It is well known that the GST variants differ within their amino-terminal part while the residual moiety is highly conserved. It would suggest that autoantibodies recognize distinct epitopes located within amino-terminus of individual GST variants.

Animals↗

Capillary electrophoresis analysis of histones, histone variants, and their post-translationally modified forms: a review.

Histones are the most intensively studied group of basic nuclear proteins and are of great importance with regard to the organization of chromatin structure and control of gene activity. The complexity of this protein family places very high demands on the analytical methods applied. The advent of high-performance capillary electrophoresis provided a promising new tool for their separation, which is an essential prerequisite for studying the biological role of this protein family. Problems inherent to histone analysis due to their unique physical and chemical properties are reviewed, and the pros and cons of distinct strategies developed for CE separation of these proteins are discussed.

Buffers↗