PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

N Nozaki

Publications and source records attributed to N Nozaki.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Threonine 1342 in human topoisomerase IIalpha is phosphorylated throughout the cell cycle.

To investigate the relationship between the modulation of topoisomerase II activity and its phosphorylation state during the cell cycle, a monoclonal antibody against C-terminal peptide (residues 1335-1350) of topoisomerase IIalpha containing a consensus sequence of casein kinase II, TDDE and its phosphorylated threonine were prepared. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the antibody, named PT1342, recognized the immunogenic phosphopeptide but not the non-phosphorylated form of the peptide. The PT1342 antibody reacted only with a 170-kDa protein from HeLa cells and recognized anti-topoisomerase IIalpha immunoprecipitants. Furthermore, the antibody did not react with the human topoisomerase IIalpha mutated at codon 1342 from threonine to alanine, showing that PT1342 was directed against the phosphorylated threonine 1342. To examine the level of phosphorylation of threonine 1342 of topoisomerase IIalpha through the cell cycle, HeLa cells were stained simultaneously for phosphorylated topoisomerase IIalpha and DNA and analyzed by flow cytometry. Cells in the G2-M phase contained about double the PT1341-reacted topoisomerase IIalpha than did cells in G1 or S phases. The antibody stained the nuclei in interphase and mitotic chromosomes and its periphery, as seen with anti-topoisomerase IIalpha antibody. Thus, threonine 1342 in topoisomerase IIalpha is phosphorylated throughout the cell cycle.

Amino Acid Sequence

Degradation of topoisomerase IIalpha during adenovirus E1A-induced apoptosis is mediated by the activation of the ubiquitin proteolysis system.

The human epithermoid carcinoma-derived cell line MA1, established by introduction of the adenovirus E1A 12 S cDNA linked to the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat, elicits apoptosis after induction of E1A12S in response to dexamethasone. The level of topoisomerase IIalpha begins to decrease steeply within 36 h preceding the onset of DNA fragmentation, whereas its mRNA level is unchanged (Nakajima, T., Ohi, N., Arai, T., Nozaki, N., Kikuchi, A., and Oda, K. (1995) Oncogene 10, 651-662). Topoisomerase IIalpha prepared by immunoprecipitation or extraction of the nuclear matrix was degraded much more efficiently in the S10 extract prepared from MA1 cells treated with dexamethasone for 42 h (the 42-h extract) than in the extract from untreated MA1 cells (the 0-h extract) in an ATP- and ubiquitin-dependent manner. The proteolytic activity for degradation of topoisomerase IIalpha was suppressed specifically by inhibitors for the proteasome and was much reduced in the 42-h extract prepared from MA1-derivative cell lines expressing E1B19k or Bcl-2. The proteolytic activity was lost after fractionation of the 42-h S10 extract into the S70 and P70 fractions by centrifugation at 70,000 x g for 6 h but partially recovered when these fractions were combined. Polyubiquitinated forms of topoisomerase IIalpha could be detected by incubating it in the S70 or S100 extract, which lacks most of the proteasome activity. The ubiquitination activity in S70 prepared from the 42-h extract was 4- to 5-fold higher than that prepared from the 0-h extract. These results suggest that a component(s) in the ubiquitin proteolysis pathway, responsible for ubiquitination and degradation of topoisomerase IIalpha, is activated or induced during the latent phase of E1A-induced apoptosis.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Analysis of M phase-specific phosphorylation of DNA topoisomerase II.

In mammalian cells, two isoforms of DNA topoisomerase II (topo II), topo IIalpha and topo IIbeta, are phosphorylated. The phosphorylation of topo IIbeta changes its apparent molecular mass determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from 180 to 190 kDa in mitotic cells, whereas topo IIalpha affects it only slightly (Kimura, K., Nozaki, N., Saijo, M., Kikuchi, A., Ui, M., and Enomoto, T. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 24523-24526). Here we examined the stability of the protein and the phosphate moiety of each topo II isoform, as the cells progressed from M to G1 phase. While its protein moiety remained intact, 75% of the phosphates attached to topo IIbeta were removed within 4 h after release from mitotic block. On the other hand, 35% of topo IIalpha protein and 52% of the attached phosphates disappeared. We verified that M phase-specific phosphorylation had no particular effect on the catalytic activities of both topo II isoforms after extensive phosphatase digestion. We also examined the binding of two isoforms to the nucleus or chromosomes. In logarithmically growing cells, both isoforms were extracted from nuclei at the same concentrations of NaCl. From the mitotic chromosomes, topo IIbeta was extracted at much lower concentrations of NaCl than topo IIalpha.

Amino Acid Sequence

Specific interaction of topoisomerase II beta and the CD3 epsilon chain of the T cell receptor complex.

T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex is composed of six different subunits: TCR alpha and TCR beta and CD3 gamma, CD3 delta, CD3 epsilon, and CD3 eta. Antigen recognition signals are transduced from TCR to the cytoplasm through the cytoplasmic domain of the CD3 chains. To understand the downstream signal transduction pathways, we cloned genes encoding proteins capable of binding to CD3 epsilon with a probe of glutathione S-transferase fused to the cytoplasmic region of CD3 epsilon. One of these clones was found to encode topoisomerase II beta (topoII beta). The binding region of CD3 epsilon is located within the N-terminal 12 amino acids containing the motif of a basic amino acid cluster. A similar motif was found in the gamma chain of Fc receptors (FcR gamma) but not in the CD33 eta chain, and indeed, FcR gamma but not CD3 eta bound to topoII beta. The binding region of topoII beta was determined to be the C terminus. Since this region appears to be the regulatory region of the enzymatic activity, the binding of CD3 epsilon might affect the function of topoII beta. Although topoII beta is localized mainly in the nucleus and CD3E is a membrane protein, we demonstrated the presence of CD3 epsilon in the nuclear fraction of thymocytes, which increased upon T cell activation. The specific interaction in cells was evidenced by co-immunoprecipitation of topoII beta and CD3E from the nuclear fraction of T cells. The possible function of this interaction is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence

Immunohistochemical study of DNA topoisomerase II in human gastric disorders.

Topoisomerase II (topo II) separates chromosomes at the end of mitosis and is also the target for various chemotherapeutic agents. Expression of this enzyme has been demonstrated to increase rapidly at the end of the S to G2/M phase and decrease after the completion of mitosis. We immunolocalized topo II in specimens of both normal and neoplastic human gastric mucosas to evaluate expression of this enzyme. Three different antibodies were used for the immunostaining of topo II (anti-topo II alpha isoform, anti-topo II beta isoform and anti-topo II alpha and -beta isoforms). There were no significant differences in topo II labeling index (LI) between frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue sections obtained from the same cases. Topo II LI was significantly correlated with Ki67 LI in all of the specimens examined. The area of cells positive for Topo II was much narrower than that of Ki67 in the normal gastric glands, and the pattern of Topo II immunolocalization in both adenomas and adenocarcinomas was also essentially the same as that of Ki67. The topo II LI values (positive cells/1000 cells) for normal gastric gland, adenoma, intestinal-type adenocarcinoma, and diffuse-type adenocarcinoma were 114.7 +/- 2.2, 266.7 +/- 18.8, 277.6 +/- 19.2, and 324.5 +/- 5.3, respectively. Significant differences in topo II LI and topo II/Ki67 index were observed between normal and neoplastic mucosas (P < 0.0001) and between adenomas or intestinal-type adenocarcinoma and diffuse-type adenocarcinoma (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Simultaneous measurement of topo II alpha and nuclear DNA content by two-parameter flow cytometry revealed that the Jurkat cell line established from acute lymphocytic leukemia cells expressed the enzyme in cells at other than S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle whereas topo-II alpha-positive cells were predominantly observed in S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle in the cells from normal lymph nodes. These findings suggest that dys-regulation or qualitative changes of topo II alpha expression are associated with malignancy. Topo II immunostaining can thus detect proliferating cells in routinely processed tissue sections and can indicate the altered topo II alpha expression in human cancers, which may be related to the sensitivity to topo-II-targeted chemotherapeutic agents.

Adenocarcinoma

Molecular cloning of cDNA encoding mouse Cdc21 and CDC46 homologs and characterization of the products: physical interaction between P1(MCM3) and CDC46 proteins.

Two new mouse genes encoding proteins that belong to the yeast minichromosome maintenance (MCM) protein family, which is involved in the initiation of DNA replication, were isolated and their nucleotide sequence was determined. They were a putative CDC46/MCM5 homolog and a putative cdc21 homolog. About 30% amino acid identity was obtained between members in the family, and > 40% between the putative mouse and yeast homologs. The expression of these genes was cell-cycle specific at the late G1 to S phase. Immunochemical analyses showed the physical interaction between mouse P1MCM3 and CDC46 protein. These results suggest that MCM proteins function in co-ordination for DNA replication.

Animals

Adenovirus E1A-induced apoptosis elicits a steep decrease in the topoisomerase II alpha level during the latent phase.

The human KB derivative cell line MA1, established by introduction of the adenovirus E1A 12S cDNA linked to the hormone-inducible promoter, elicits apoptosis upon treatment with dexamethasone. The cell lines partially refractory to apoptosis were established by introducing the expression plasmid for the adenovirus E1B 19k protein to MA1 cells. After induction of E1A in MA1 cells by dexamethasone, the level of p53 increased to about 10-fold within 24 h, and morphological changes characteristics of apoptosis began to be observed within 48 h. Most of cells were killed at 72 h releasing apoptotic bodies. The level of topoisomerase II alpha began to decrease steeply within 36 h, preceding the onset of DNA degradation while its mRNA level unchanged throughout the apoptotic process. E1B 19k protected the decrease in topoisomerase II alpha as well as DNA fragmentation depending on its expression levels. Topoisomerase II alpha is induced specifically at G2/M, and computer search revealed the presence of cyclin B type destruction box in topoisomerase II alpha. These results strongly suggest that E1A or E1A stabilized p53 induces apoptosis by targeting topoisomerase II alpha to the ubiquitination pathway and E1B 19k alleviates its action.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins

Identification of the nature of modification that causes the shift of DNA topoisomerase II beta to apparent higher molecular weight forms in the M phase.

Human cell lines express two genetically distinct isoforms of DNA topoisomerase (topo II) II: topo II alpha (p170) and topo II beta (p180). We detected a higher molecular weight form with an apparent molecular mass of about 190 kDa in M phase-arrested HeLa cells (Kimura, K., Saijo, M., Ui, M., and Enomoto, T. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 1173-1176). In this study we confirmed, using anti-topo II alpha and topo II beta monoclonal antibodies, that this higher molecular weight form is topo II beta and consists of doublet bands around 190 kDa. We confirmed that the doublet bands constituted an M phase-specific phenomenon and were not an artifact of the procedure used to accumulate mitotic cells. Digesting the immunoprecipitated materials from mitotic cell extracts with alkaline phosphatase resulted in the disappearance of the doublet bands and the appearance of the 180-kDa band with the concomitant disappearance of 32P label in the region of the doublet bands. Neither heat-inactivated alkaline phosphatase nor phosphodiesterase affected the doublet bands and the 32P label. Topo II beta in interphase cells was also phosphorylated, but the shift in apparent molecular weight was very slight after alkaline phosphatase digestion. Analysis of the labeled phosphoamino acids present in topo II beta from M phase and logarithmically growing cells indicated that phosphorylation occurred mainly on serine and fairly on threonine residues in both topo II beta isoforms. These results indicated that topo II beta is phosphorylated at specific sites in M phase, resulting in the formation of the doublet bands.

Amino Acid Sequence

DNA polymerase alpha associated protein P1, a murine homolog of yeast MCM3, changes its intranuclear distribution during the DNA synthetic period.

We isolated a murine gene for the DNA polymerase alpha associated protein P1, which shares high homology with the budding yeast MCM3 protein, which is a member of a protein family involved in the early event of DNA replication having a putative DNA-dependent ATPase motif. Using a polyclonal anti-P1 antibody raised against a beta-galactosidase-P1 fusion protein, we identified at least two forms of P1 protein in the nucleus of a mouse cell line, an underphosphorylated form that was associated with a particular nuclear structure and a hyperphosphorylated form loosely bound to the nucleus. During progression through S phase, P1 disappeared, first from the euchromatic region, then from the heterochromatic region, apparently in parallel with temporally ordered DNA replication. Thus, it is likely that the underphosphorylated P1 is dissociated from the nuclear structure after DNA replication by cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation. This is the first direct observation of a protein whose behavior is consistent with that of a hypothetical factor which restricts the chromatin to replicate once per cell cycle in higher eukaryotes.

Amino Acid Sequence

Centromere protein B assembles human centromeric alpha-satellite DNA at the 17-bp sequence, CENP-B box.

We purified 15,000-fold from HeLa cell nuclear extract the centromere antigen that reacts specifically with the 17-bp sequence, designated previously as CENP-B box, in human centromeric alpha-satellite (alphoid) DNA by a two-step procedure including an oligonucleotide affinity column. The purified protein was identified as the centromere protein B (CENP-B) by its mobility on SDS-PAGE (80 kD), and reactivities to a monoclonal antibody raised to CENP-B (bacterial fusion protein) and to anticentromere sera from patients with autoimmune diseases. Direct binding by CENP-B of the CENP-B box sequence in the alphoid DNA has been proved using the purified CENP-B by DNA mobility-shift assay, Southwestern blotting, and DNase I protection analysis. The binding constant of the antigen to the CENP-B box sequence is 6 x 10(8) M-1. DNA mobility-shift assays indicated that the major complex formed between the CENP-B and the DNA contains two DNA molecules, suggesting the importance of the CENP-B/CENP-B box interaction in organization of higher ordered chromatin structures in the centromere and/or kinetochore. Location of DNA binding and dimerization domains in CENP-B was discussed based on the DNA mobility-shift assays performed with a protein fraction containing intact and partial cleavage products of CENP-B.

Autoantigens

Expression of c-fos and c-myc in Raji Burkitt's lymphoma cells during the progression of DMSO-induced G1 cells into S phase.

Using flow cytometry, we have recently found that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reversibly induces G1-arrest in the cell cycle of human lymphoid cell lines such as Raji, Akata, and Molt-4. Here we investigated c-fos and c-myc expression in Raji Burkitt's lymphoma cells at DMSO-induced G1 arrest and after release from DMSO. A small but significant accumulation of c-fos mRNA was observed in G1-arrested Raji cells after treatment with 1.5% DMSO for 96 h. When G1-arrested Raji cells were transferred to DMSO-free medium, a transient increase in c-fos transcripts was detected 30-60 min after the release. The steady state level of c-myc transcripts in G1-arrested Raji cells was found to be one-third that in the log-phase cells. After removal of DMSO, the level of c-myc mRNA was restored and reached a maximum at 4.5-6 h. Immunoblot analysis with a monoclonal antibody against human c-myc protein indicated that c-myc protein in the G1-arrested cells was decreased less than one-tenth that in the log-phase cells. The level of c-myc protein gradually increased after the release from DMSO and reached a maximum at 6-9 h.

Blotting, Northern

A human centromere antigen (CENP-B) interacts with a short specific sequence in alphoid DNA, a human centromeric satellite.

We report the interaction between a human centromere antigen and an alphoid DNA, a human centromeric satellite DNA, which consists of 170-bp repeating units. A cloned alphoid DNA fragment incubated with a HeLa cell nuclear extract is selectively immunoprecipitated by the anticentromere sera from scleroderma patients. Immunoprecipitation of the DNA made by primer extension defines the 17-bp segment on the alphoid DNA that is required for formation of DNA-antigen complex. On the other hand, when proteins bound to the biotinylated alphoid DNA carrying the 17-bp motif are recovered by streptavidin agarose and immunoblotted, the 80-kD centromere antigen (CENP-B) is detected. DNA binding experiments for proteins immunoprecipitated with anticentromere serum, separated by gel electrophoresis, and transferred to a membrane strongly suggest that the 80-kD antigen specifically binds to the DNA fragment with the 17-bp motif. The 17-bp motif is termed the "CENP-B box." Alphoid monomers with the CENP-B box are found in all the known alphoid subclasses, with varying frequencies, except the one derived from the Y chromosome so far cloned. These results imply that the interaction of the 80-kD centromere antigen with the CENP-B box in the alphoid repeats may play some crucial role in the formation of specified structure and/or function of human centromere.

Autoantigens

Diversity of cellular molecules in human cells detected by monoclonal antibodies reactive with c-myc proteins produced in Escherichia coli.

Six clones of monoclonal antibodies, MYC-1 to -6, were prepared by using two kinds of truncated c-myc proteins, p23 and p42, produced in Escherichia coli as immunogens. Analysis with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblotting assays with peptides produced in Escherichia coli showed that 5 clones of monoclonal antibodies, MYC-1 to -4 and -6, were reactive with c-myc protein encoded by exon 2. The remaining one clone, MYC-5, was reactive with the portion of c-myc protein encoded by exon 3. All monoclonal antibodies were also reactive with phosphorylated c-myc protein produced by insect cells infected by the baculovirus expression vector with the human c-myc gene. With immunoblotting assays using cellular lysates, MYC-1 and -3 detected bands at the levels of 58 kDa and 60 kDa, MYC-5 detected a band at 56 kDa and MYC-6 detected bands at 68 kDa and 75 kDa. All of these bands were detectable in nuclear extracts of HL-60 and Colo320, both of which have amplified c-myc genes, and also the extract of RmycYl which is the c-myc gene transfectant into 3Yl rat cells. None of them was detectable in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and 3Yl, both of which lacked activated c-myc genes. This indicates that these nuclear proteins are either c-myc gene products or molecules closely related to the c-myc gene. The remaining two clones, MYC-2 and -4, detected a band at the level of 85 kDa in cytoplasmic extracts of all the above-mentioned cells independent of the presence of the c-myc gene. This suggests that 85 kDa protein might be irrelevant to the c-myc gene. The 56 kDa protein was detectable by MYC-5 in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as leukemic cells of some patients.

Animals

In vitro transcription of the origin region of replication of the Escherichia coli chromosome.

Transcription was carried out in vitro by RNA polymerase on supercoiled minichromosome DNA containing the replication origin of the Escherichia coli chromosome (oriC) and the products were analyzed. Leftward transcription starting from the 16-kDa gene promoter located adjacent to the right of oriC was inhibited by the DnaA protein, a protein essential for initiation of replication. This inhibition is due to binding of DnaA protein to the 9-base pair sequence (dnaA box) located just upstream of the 16-kDa gene promoter. The inhibition was observed at levels of DnaA protein and RNA polymerase comparable to those required for replication of oriC plasmids in vitro and was abolished at high levels of RNA polymerase. These results suggest that a balance of DnaA protein and RNA polymerase is important in regulating transcription and that this regulation operates under conditions that allow initiation of replication. The transcription traversed oriC with very few transcripts terminating before or within it. DnaA protein did not affect the chain length of these transcripts. Furthermore, we identified leftward transcripts which start close to position 177 in the oriC sequence.

Bacterial Proteins