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Biomedical subjects

M Hecker

Publications and source records attributed to M Hecker.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

17beta-estradiol inhibition of NADPH oxidase expression in human endothelial cells.

We investigated the hypothesis that the antiatherosclerotic effect of 17beta-estradiol (E2) is due to a shift in the nitric oxide (NO)/superoxide (O2-) balance in the vessel wall, thereby increasing the bioavailability of NO. In human umbilical vein cultured endothelial cells, E2 (1-100 nmol/l), but not 17alpha-estradiol, caused a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in expression of the NADPH oxidase subunit gp91phox (up to 60% inhibition at both the mRNA and protein level). This effect was prevented by coincubation with the estrogen receptor antagonists tamoxifen and ICI 182,780 (1 micromol/l each). Within the same concentration range, E2 also up-regulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression ( approximately twofold). Moreover, preincubation of the cells with E2 or a gp91phox antisense oligonucleotide significantly decreased their capacity to generate O2- on phorbol ester stimulation (i.e., assembly of the active NADPH oxidase complex). Blockade of NO synthase activity, on the other hand, had no effect on phorbol ester-stimulated O2- formation. In addition, E2 (100 nmol/l) inhibited the increase in adhesion molecule and chemokine expression in cells exposed to cyclic strain. Cyclic strain enhanced endothelial O2- formation, thereby offsetting the inhibitory effect of NO on the expression of these gene products. E2 thus seems to act as an antioxidant at the genomic level which by improving the NO/O2- balance normalizes expression of proatherosclerotic gene products in endothelial cells.

Arteriosclerosis↗

A proteomic view on genome-based signal peptide predictions.

The availability of complete genome sequences has allowed the prediction of all exported proteins of the corresponding organisms with dedicated algorithms. Even though numerous studies report on genome-based predictions of signal peptides and cell retention signals, they lack a proteomic verification. For example, 180 secretory and 114 lipoprotein signal peptides were predicted recently for the Gram-positive eubacterium Bacillus subtilis. In the present studies, proteomic approaches were used to define the extracellular complement of the B. subtilis secretome. Using different growth conditions and a hyper-secreting mutant, approximately 200 extracellular proteins were visualized by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, of which 82 were identified by mass spectrometry. These include 41 proteins that have a potential signal peptide with a type I signal peptidase (SPase) cleavage site, and lack a retention signal. Strikingly, the remaining 41 proteins were predicted previously to be cell associated because of the apparent absence of a signal peptide (22), or the presence of specific cell retention signals in addition to an export signal (19). To test the importance of the five type I SPases and the unique lipoprotein-specific SPase of B. subtilis, the extracellular proteome of (multiple) SPase mutants was analyzed. Surprisingly, only the processing of the polytopic membrane protein YfnI was strongly inhibited in Spase I mutants, showing for the first time that a native eubacterial membrane protein is a genuine Spase I substrate. Furthermore, a mutation affecting lipoprotein modification and processing resulted in the shedding of at least 23 (lipo-)proteins into the medium. In conclusion, our observations show that genome-based predictions reflect the actual composition of the extracellular proteome for approximately 50%. Major problems are currently encountered with the prediction of extracellular proteins lacking signal peptides (including cytoplasmic proteins) and lipoproteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Stress-induced proteins of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

The pattern of proteins produced by bacteria represents the physiological state of the organism as well as the environmental conditions encountered. Environmental stress induces the expression of several regulons encoding stress proteins. Extensive information about the proteins which constitute these regulons (or stimulons) and their control is available for very few bacteria, such as the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and the Gram-negative Escherichia coli (gamma-proteobacteria) and is minimal for all other bacteria. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a Gram-negative plant pathogen of the alpha-proteobacteria, which constitutes the main tool for plant recombinant genetics. Our previous studies on the control of chaperone-coding operons indicated that A. tumefaciens has unique features and combines regulatory elements from both B. subtilis and E. coli. Therefore, we examined the patterns of proteins induced in A. tumefaciens by environmental changes using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and dual-channel image analysis. Shifts to high temperature, oxidative and mild acid stresses stimulated the expression of 97 proteins. The results indicate that most of these stress-induced proteins (80/97) were specific to one stress stimulon. Only 10 proteins appear to belong to a general stress regulon.

Journal Article↗

Global analysis of the general stress response of Bacillus subtilis.

Gene arrays containing all currently known open reading frames of Bacillus subtilis were used to examine the general stress response of Bacillus. By proteomics, transcriptional analysis, transposon mutagenesis, and consensus promoter-based screening, 75 genes had previously been described as sigma(B)-dependent general stress genes. The present gene array-based analysis confirmed 62 of these already known general stress genes and detected 63 additional genes subject to control by the stress sigma factor sigma(B). At least 24 of these 125 sigma(B)-dependent genes seemed to be subject to a second, sigma(B)-independent stress induction mechanism. Therefore, this transcriptional profiling revealed almost four times as many regulon members as the proteomic approach, but failure of confirmation of all known members of the sigma(B) regulon indicates that even this approach has not yet elucidated the entire regulon. Most of the sigma(B)-dependent general stress proteins are probably located in the cytoplasm, but 25 contain at least one membrane-spanning domain, and at least 6 proteins appear to be secreted. The functions of most of the newly described genes are still unknown. However, their classification as sigma(B)-dependent stress genes argues that their products most likely perform functions in stress management and help to provide the nongrowing cell with multiple stress resistance. A comprehensive screening program analyzing the multiple stress resistance of mutants with mutations in single stress genes is in progress. The first results of this program, showing the diminished salt resistance of yjbC and yjbD mutants compared to that of the wild type, are presented. Only a few new sigma(B)-dependent proteins with already known functions were found, among them SodA, encoding a superoxide dismutase. In addition to analysis of the sigma(B)-dependent general stress regulon, a comprehensive list of genes induced by heat, salt, or ethanol stress in a sigma(B)-independent manner is presented. Perhaps the most interesting of the sigma(B)-independent stress phenomena was the induction of the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor sigma(W) and its entire regulon by salt shock.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Putative sigma factor SigI (YkoZ) of Bacillus subtilis is induced by heat shock.

A Bacillus subtilis disruption mutant with a mutation in sigI (formerly ykoZ) shows a temperature-sensitive growth on agar plates. The transcription of the sigI gene is heat shock induced in rich medium but not in minimal medium. Proteome studies revealed a reduced amount of GsiB protein in the sigI mutant under heat shock conditions.

Bacillus subtilis↗

ACE inhibitor and AT1 antagonist blockade of deformation-induced gene expression in the rabbit jugular vein through B2 receptor activation.

Deformation-induced endothelin-1 synthesis in endothelial cells may contribute to the intimal hyperplasia of venous bypass grafts. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor antagonists are capable of reducing vein graft disease. Therefore, the effects of these drugs on endothelial preproendothelin-1 (ppET-1) and smooth muscle endothelin B receptor (ET(B)-R) expression were investigated in isolated perfused segments of the rabbit jugular vein. Pretreatment with ramiprilat (0.3 micromol/L) or irbesartan (0.01 to 1 micromol/L) had no effect on basal ppET-1 or ET(B)-R expression but markedly attenuated the deformation-induced expression of these gene products, and these effects were reversed by the B(2) receptor antagonist icatibant (Hoe 140) and by the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine. Candesartan (1 micromol/L) mimicked the inhibitory effect of irbesartan. Moreover, reporter gene analysis with a rat ppET-1 promoter-luciferase construct transiently transfected into porcine aortic cultured endothelial cells revealed that the inhibitory effect of both ramiprilat and irbesartan on deformation-induced ppET-1 expression is species independent and mediated at the level of transcription. In addition, RT-PCR analysis detected only AT(1) receptor expression in the endothelium-intact rabbit jugular vein, and neither irbesartan nor ramiprilat affected endothelial NO synthase expression. Thus, ACE inhibitors and AT(1) receptor antagonists are capable of suppressing deformation-induced gene expression in the vessel wall in both an autocrine (ppET-1) and a paracrine (ET(B)-R) manner via a common mechanism of action that constitutes a B(2) receptor-mediated increase in endothelial NO release.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗

TatC is a specificity determinant for protein secretion via the twin-arginine translocation pathway.

The recent discovery of a ubiquitous translocation pathway, specifically required for proteins with a twin-arginine motif in their signal peptide, has focused interest on its membrane-bound components, one of which is known as TatC. Unlike most organisms of which the genome has been sequenced completely, the Gram-positive eubacterium Bacillus subtilis contains two tatC-like genes denoted tatCd and tatCy. The corresponding TatCd and TatCy proteins have the potential to be involved in the translocation of 27 proteins with putative twin-arginine signal peptides of which approximately 6-14 are likely to be secreted into the growth medium. Using a proteomic approach, we show that PhoD of B. subtilis, a phosphodiesterase belonging to a novel protein family of which all known members are synthesized with typical twin-arginine signal peptides, is secreted via the twin-arginine translocation pathway. Strikingly, TatCd is of major importance for the secretion of PhoD, whereas TatCy is not required for this process. Thus, TatC appears to be a specificity determinant for protein secretion via the Tat pathway. Based on our observations, we hypothesize that the TatC-determined pathway specificity is based on specific interactions between TatC-like proteins and other pathway components, such as TatA, of which three paralogues are present in B. subtilis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Shear stress-dependent regulation of the human beta-tubulin folding cofactor D gene.

The flowing blood generates shear stress at the endothelial cell surface. The endothelial cells modify their phenotype by alterations in gene expression in response to different levels of fluid shear stress. To identify genes involved in this process, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to laminar shear stress (venous or arterial levels) in a cone-and-plate apparatus for 24 hours. Using the method of RNA arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction, we cloned a polymerase chain reaction fragment representing an mRNA species downregulated by arterial compared with venous shear stress (shear stress downregulated gene-1, SSD-1). According to Northern blot analysis, corresponding SSD-1 cDNA clones revealed a similar, time-dependent downregulation after 24 hours of arterial shear stress compared with venous shear stress or static controls. Three SSD-1 mRNA species of 2.8, 4.1, and 4.6 kb were expressed in a tissue-specific manner. The encoded amino acid sequence of the human endothelial SSD-1 isoform (4.1-kb mRNA species) revealed 80.4% identity and 90.9% homology to the bovine ss-tubulin folding cofactor D (tfcD) gene. Downregulation of tfcD mRNA expression by shear stress was defined at the level of transcription by nuclear run-on assays. The tfcD protein was downregulated by arterial shear stress. The shear stress-dependent downregulation of tfcD mRNA and protein was attenuated by the NO synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Furthermore, the NO donor DETA-NO downregulated tfcD mRNA. Because tfcD was shown to be a microtubule-destabilizing protein, our data suggest a shear stress-dependent regulation of the microtubular dynamics in human endothelial cells.

Arteries↗

Monitoring of genes that respond to overproduction of an insoluble recombinant protein in Escherichia coli glucose-limited fed-batch fermentations.

The cellular response of Escherichia coli to overproduction of the insoluble heterologous protein alpha-glucosidase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during a glucose-limited fed-batch fermentation was analyzed on the transcriptional and the translational levels. After the induction of the tac-regulated overexpression of the recombinant model protein, a significant but transient increase of the mRNA levels of the heat shock genes lon and dnaK could be observed. The mRNA level of the gene coding for the inclusion body-associated protein IbpB showed the strongest increase and remained at a clearly higher level until the end of the fermentation. By contrast, the mRNA levels of htrA and ppiB were decreased after induction of the alpha-glucosidase overexpression. Analysis of the soluble cytoplasmic protein fraction 3 h after induction revealed increased levels of the chaperones GroEL, DnaK, and Tig and a decrease in the protein levels of the two ribosomal proteins S6 and L9, the peptidylprolyl-cis-trans-isomerase PpiB, and the sigma(38)-dependent protein Dps. Analysis of the aggregated protein fraction revealed a remarkably inhomogeneous composition of the alpha-glucosidase inclusion bodies. N-terminal sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identification showed that most of these spots are fragments of the heterologous alpha-glucosidase. Host stress proteins, like DnaK, GroEL, IbpA, IbpB, and OmpT, have been found to be associated with the alpha-glucosidase protein aggregates.

Biotechnology↗

CD154 stimulation of interleukin-12 synthesis in human endothelial cells.

The interaction of proinflammatory type 1 T helper (Th1) cells expressing the CD40 ligand (CD154) with endothelial cells expressing the corresponding receptor (CD40) may play an important role in chronic inflammation including arteriosclerosis. Here we demonstrate that activation of CD40 in human cultured endothelial cells (e.g. by interaction with freshly isolated human T cells) not only up-regulates expression of various adhesion molecules, chemokines and cytokines, but within 12-24 h also causes the release of bioactive interleukin-12 (IL-12 p70) through induction of IL-12 p40 synthesis. IL-12 p35, on the other hand, appears to be constitutively expressed in these cells. Despite enhancing expression of the other gene products, cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha, alone or in combination, failed to induce IL-12 p40 expression, whereas IFN-gamma markedly augmented CD154-induced IL-12 p40 and p70 release. Of note was that the magnitude of CD154-induced IL-12 synthesis in the cultured endothelial cells was comparable to that evoked in freshly isolated human monocytes. This CD40-mediated induction of endothelial IL-12 synthesis may thus lead to an enhanced activation of the adherent CD154-expressing Th1 cells, thereby fuelling the proinflammatory response.

CD40 Ligand↗

Alkaline proteins of Bacillus subtilis: first steps towards a two-dimensional alkaline master gel.

The genomic sequence of Bacillus subtilis, which is the best studied Gram-positive bacterium, enabled us to obtain a theoretical two-dimensional (2-D) map, demonstrating that about one-third of this proteome has a theoretical alkaline isoelectric point (pI). This represents an important part of the entire proteome, which is not detectable in conventional 2-D gels (pH range 4-7). Sequence analysis revealed that 91% of the ribosomal proteins and a high amount of theoretical membrane proteins should be localized in the alkaline pH range requiring different protein extraction procedures. In order to find the pH range which gives the best resolution results for the alkaline proteins of B. subtilis, immobilized pH gradients (IPGs) with different pH ranges (pH 6-10, 6-11, 4-12, 9-12, and 3-10) were tested and optimized for IPG 4-12. Here we present a version of a first alkaline master 2-D gel for B. subtilis, which is a further complement of the already existing master gel (pH 4-7) in the Sub2D database. Almost 150 spots could be detected and 41 proteins have already been identified.

Alkalies↗

Transcriptional control of deformation-induced preproendothelin-1 gene expression in endothelial cells.

Deformation-induced synthesis of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in endothelial cells exposed to high blood pressure may play an important role in vein graft disease and in restenosis following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Effective inhibitors of preproendothelin ET-1 (ppET-1) processing to ET-1 are not available, and blockade of ppET-1 expression may therefore emerge as an alternative therapeutic approach. To evaluate this, we investigated deformation-sensitive transcription factors controlling ppET-1 expression in both native (rabbit carotid artery and jugular vein) and cultured endothelial cells (EC; porcine aorta and human umbilical vein). Deformation of both native and cultured endothelial cells for 6 h resulted in a marked increase in ET-1 synthesis which was preceded by a transient (30-60 min) activation of transcription factors activator protein-1 (AP-1) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) beta and/or delta. A decoy oligodeoxynucleotide directed against AP-1 inhibited deformation-induced ppET-1 expression in the rabbit jugular vein as well as in porcine aorta EC and human umbilical vein EC but not in the rabbit carotid artery. Subsequent reporter gene analyses with different rat ppET-1 promoter-luciferase constructs transiently transfected into porcine aorta EC identified a single AP-1 binding site at -110 to -100 bp as the primary response element for deformation-induced ppET-1 expression. Moreover, a C/EBP-specific decoy oligodeoxynucleotide abolished ppET-1 expression in the endothelium of the rabbit carotid artery, but not in the jugular vein where basal ET-1 synthesis was greatly enhanced instead. These findings suggest that the key transcription factors controlling deformation-induced ppET-1 expression in endothelial cells are blood vessel rather than species-specific. In humans, adjunct treatment with an AP-1-specific decoy oligodeoxynucleotide may prove be an interesting gene therapeutic option for the above cardiovascular interventions.

Animals↗

Toxin genes on pathogenicity islands: impact for microbial evolution.

Toxin-specific genes are often located on mobile genetic elements such as phages, plasmids and pathogenicity islands (PAIs). The uropathogenic E. coli strain 536 carries two alpha-hemolysin gene clusters, which are part of the pathogenicity islands I536 and II536, respectively. Using different genetic techniques, two additional PAIs were identified in the genome of the E. coli strain 536, and it is likely that further PAIs are located on the genome of this strain. Pathogenicity islands are often associated with tRNA genes. In the case of the E. coli strain 536, the PAI-associated tRNA gene leuX, which encodes a minor leucyl-tRNA, affects the expression of various virulence traits including alpha-hemolysin production. The exact mode of action of the tRNA5Leu-dependent gene expression has to be identified in the future.

Bacterial Toxins↗

Proteomics, DNA arrays and the analysis of still unknown regulons and unknown proteins of Bacillus subtilis and pathogenic gram-positive bacteria.

The complete sequence of the bacterial genomes provides new perspectives for the study of gene expression and gene function. By the combination of the highly sensitive 2-dimensional (2D) protein gel electrophoresis with the identification of the protein spots by microsequencing or mass spectrometry we established a 2D protein index of Bacillus subtilis that currently comprises almost 400 protein entries. A computer-aided evaluation of the 2D gels loaded with radioactively-labelled proteins from growing or stressed/starved cells proved to be a powerful tool in the analysis of global regulation of the expression of the entire genome. For the general stress regulon it is demonstrated how the proteomics approach can be used to analyse the regulation, structure and function of still unknown regulons. The application of this approach is illustrated for the sigmaB dependent general stress regulon. For the comprehensive description of proteins/genes belonging to stimulons or regulons it is generally recommended to complement the proteome approach with DNA array techniques in order to identify and allocate still undiscovered members of individual regulons. This approach is also very attractive to uncover the function of still unknown global regulators and regulons and to dissect the entire genome into its basic modules of global regulation. The same strategy can be used to analyse the regulation, structure and function of regulons encoding virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria for a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenicity and for the identification of new antibacterial targets.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Influence of pathogenicity islands and the minor leuX-encoded tRNA5Leu on the proteome pattern of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain 536.

The uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain 536 (O6:K15:H31) carries four distinct DNA regions in its chromosome, termed pathogenicity islands (PAIs I536 to IV536). Each of these PAIs encodes at least one virulence factor. All four PAIs are associated with tRNA genes. PAI I536 and PAI II536 can be spontaneously deleted from the chromosome by homologous recombination between flanking direct repeats. The deletion of PAI II536 results in the truncation of the associated gene leuX encoding the tRNALeu. This tRNA influences the expression of various virulence traits. In order to get a deeper insight into the role of PAI I536/II536 and of the tRNA5LeU for the protein expression, the protein expression patterns of Escherichia coli 536 and different derivatives were studied. Differences in the protein expression patterns of the wild-type strain Escherichia coli 536, its mutants 536-21 (PAI I536-, PAI II536-, leuX-), 536delta102 (PAI I536+, PAI II536+, leuX-) as well as of the strain 536R3 (PAI I536-, PAI II536-, leuX+) were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. We identified about 39 different intracellular proteins whose expression is markedly altered in the different strain backgrounds. These differences can be linked either to the presence or absence of the PAI I536 and PAI II536 or to that of the tRNA gene leuX. The identities of 34 proteins have been determined by MALDI-TOF-MS. The identification of five proteins was not possible. The results suggest that proteome analysis is an efficient approach to study differences in global gene expression. The comparison of protein expression patterns of the uropathogenic E. coli strain 536 and different derivatives revealed that in this strain the expression of various proteins including those encoded by many housekeeping genes is affected by the presence of PAI I536 and Pai II536 or by that of the tRNA5Leu.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Modulation by dihydropyridine-type calcium channel antagonists of cytokine-inducible gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.

1. The 1,4-dihydropyridine nifedipine is frequently used in the therapy of hypertension and heart failure. In addition, nifedipine has been shown to exert distinct anti-arteriosclerotic effects both in experimental animal models and in patients. In the present study we have investigated the hypothesis that the latter effect of this class of drugs is mediated by an interference with the expression of pro-arteriosclerotic gene products in the vessel wall. Moreover, to elucidate as to whether nifedipine acts via L-type calcium channel blockade, its effects were compared to those of another dihydropyridine, Bay w 9798, which has no calcium-antagonistic properties in concentrations up to 10 microM as verified by superfusion bioassay. 2. Both, nifedipine and Bay w 9798, in concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1 microM, augmented the interleukin-1beta/tumour necrosis factor-alpha (IL-1beta/TNF-alpha)-induced expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat aortic cultured smooth muscle cells (raSMC) 2 - 3 fold, as judged by RT - PCR and Western blot analyses. 3. In contrast, cytokine-induced mRNA expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in these cells was down-regulated by more than 60% in the presence of both dihydropyridines, as judged by RT - PCR and Northern blot analyses. 4. Nuclear run-on assays and incubation with the transcription-terminating drug actinomycin D revealed that both drugs acted at the level of mRNA synthesis rather than stability. 5. These findings suggest that 1,4-dihydropyridines such as nifedipine affect the expression of both potentially pro-arteriosclerotic (MCP-1) and anti-arteriosclerotic (iNOS) gene products in the vessel wall at the level of transcription, and that these effects are unrelated to their calcium channel-blocking properties.

Animals↗

Stretch-induced endothelin B receptor-mediated apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Growing evidence suggests that a pressure-induced increase in the synthesis of endothelin (ET-1) is involved in arterial remodeling and, as a consequence, in the manifestation of chronic hypertension. To study potential stretch-induced changes in gene expression and their functional consequences, we have cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (raSMC) and porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) on flexible elastomer membranes. The cells were periodically stretched (up to 20% elongation, 0.5 Hz, 6 h) and the expression of prepro-ET-1 and that of the endothelin A and B receptors (ET(A)-R and ET(B)-R) were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis and ELISA (ET-1). In contrast to PAEC where ET-1 synthesis was up-regulated up to eightfold on exposure to cyclic stretch, ET-1 synthesis in raSMC was decreased by more than 80% under these conditions. ET(A) R -mRNA expression in stretched raSMC declined to 50% whereas ET(B) R -mRNA levels were increased up to 10-fold. One functional consequence of this apparent shift in receptor abundance was an apoptosis-promoting action of exogenous ET-1 (10 nM), as judged by the appearance of subdiploid peaks during FACS analysis, caspase-3 activation and chromatin condensation. This ET-1-induced apoptosis appeared to be ET(B)-R mediated, as it was completely suppressed by the ET(B)-R antagonist BQ 788 but not by the ET(A)-R antagonist BQ 123. Moreover, raSMC derived from homozygous spotting lethal rats, which lack a functional ET(B)-R, showed no signs of apoptosis after exposure to cyclic strain and exogenous ET-1. These findings suggest a central role for the endothelin system in the onset of hypertension-induced remodeling in conduit arteries, which may proceed via an initial stretch-induced apoptosis of the smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗