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R D Klausner

Publications and source records attributed to R D Klausner.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

AFT1: a mediator of iron regulated transcriptional control in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Using a scheme for selecting mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with abnormalities of iron metabolism, we have identified a gene, AFT1, that mediates the control of iron uptake. AFT1 encodes a 78 kDa protein with a highly basic amino terminal domain and a glutamine-rich C-terminal domain, reminiscent of transcriptional activators. The protein also contains an amino terminal and a C-terminal region with 10% His residues. A dominant mutant allele of this gene, termed AFT1-1up, results in high levels of ferric reductase and ferrous iron uptake that are not repressed by exogenous iron. The increased iron uptake is associated with enhanced susceptibility to iron toxicity. These effects may be explained by the failure of iron to repress transcription of FRE1, FRE2 and FET3. FRE1 and FRE2 encode plasma membrane ferric reductases, obligatory for ferric iron assimilation, and FET3 encodes a copper-dependent membrane-associated oxidase required for ferrous iron uptake. Conversely, a strain with interruption of the AFT1 gene manifests low ferric reductase and ferrous iron uptake and is susceptible to iron deprivation, because of deficient expression of FRE1 and negligible expression of FRE2 and FET3. Thus, AFT1 functions to activate transcription of target genes in response to iron deprivation and thereby plays a central role in iron homeostasis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Translational repressor activity is equivalent and is quantitatively predicted by in vitro RNA binding for two iron-responsive element-binding proteins, IRP1 and IRP2.

Iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) bind to specific RNA stem-loop structures known as iron-responsive elements (IREs) which mediate the post-transcriptional regulation of many genes of iron metabolism. Most studies have focused on the role of IRP1, which has previously been shown to bind with high affinity to IREs and mediate repression of in vitro translation of ferritin mRNAs. More recently, a second IRP has been identified that is expressed in all tissues and that binds IREs (Rouault, T. A., Haile, D. H., Downey, W. E., Philpott, C. C., Tang, C., Samaniego, F., Chin, J., Paul, I., Orloff, D., Harford, J. B., and Klausner, R. D. (1992) BioMetals 5, 131-140; Henderson, B. R., Seiser, C., and Kuhn, L. C. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 27327-27334; Guo, B., Yu, Y., and Leibold, E. A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 24252-24260; Samaniego, F., Chin, J., Iwai, K., Rouault, T. A., and Klausner, R. D. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 30904-30910). Here we report that purified recombinant IRP2 inhibits translation of ferritin mRNAs with a molar efficacy equal to that of recombinant IRP1. There is a quantitative correlation between binding to isolated RNA target motifs, as judged by gel retardation assays, and translational repressor function as assayed in an in vitro translation system. In contrast to IRP1, IRP2 is not inactivated for RNA binding by alkylation with N-ethylmaleimide or phenylmaleimide, and as we would therefore predict, IRP2 treated with N-ethylmaleimide remains an effective repressor of ferritin translation. As IRP1 and IRP2 clearly have equal capability of mediating translational repression in vitro, the contributions of both IRPs to overall regulation must be considered in describing the pathways of iron regulated gene expression in individual cells.

Alkylation↗

Depression in children after tonsillectomy.

Postoperative depression has been reported in adults undergoing open heart surgery and mastectomy. Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure and can be associated with significant morbidity including pain, difficulty swallowing, dehydration, and bleeding. While adults may be able to express their feelings about the postoperative course, children often are unable to express themselves. Because postoperative depression may manifest itself in unusual behavior that is dismissed as "expected," it may go unrecognized. We present three case reports in which the child demonstrated signs of depression following tonsillectomy. We believe that depression following tonsillectomy occurs more frequently than has been recognized. We describe the diagnosis and management of posttonsillectomy depression to increase the otolaryngologist's awareness of this entity.

Child↗

Overexpression of wild-type and mutant ARF1 and ARF6: distinct perturbations of nonoverlapping membrane compartments.

The ARF GTP binding proteins are believed to function as regulators of membrane traffic in the secretory pathway. While the ARF1 protein has been shown in vitro to mediate the membrane interaction of the cytosolic coat proteins coatomer (COP1) and gamma-adaptin with the Golgi complex, the functions of the other ARF proteins have not been defined. Here, we show by transient transfection with epitope-tagged ARFs, that whereas ARF1 is localized to the Golgi complex and can be shown to affect predictably the assembly of COP1 and gamma-adaptin with Golgi membranes in cells, ARF6 is localized to the endosomal/plasma membrane system and has no effect on these Golgi-associated coat proteins. By immuno-electron microscopy, the wild-type ARF6 protein is observed along the plasma membrane and associated with endosomes, and overexpression of ARF6 does not appear to alter the morphology of the peripheral membrane system. In contrast, overexpression of ARF6 mutants predicted either to hydrolyze or bind GTP poorly shifts the distribution of ARF6 and affects the structure of the endocytic pathway. The GTP hydrolysis-defective mutant is localized to the plasma membrane and its overexpression results in a profound induction of extensive plasma membrane vaginations and a depletion of endosomes. Conversely, the GTP binding-defective ARF6 mutant is present exclusively in endosomal structures, and its overexpression results in a massive accumulation of coated endocytic structures.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1↗

The iron-responsive element binding protein: a target for synaptic actions of nitric oxide.

Molecular targets for the actions of nitric oxide (NO) have only been partially clarified. The dynamic properties of the iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster of the iron responsive-element binding protein (IRE-BP) suggested that it might serve as a target for NO produced in response to glutamatergic stimulation in neurons. In the present study, we demonstrate that N-methyl-D-aspartate, acting through NO, stimulates the RNA-binding function of the IRE-BP in brain slices while diminishing its aconitase activity. In addition, we demonstrate a selective localization of the IRE-BP in discrete neuronal structures, suggesting a potential role for this protein in the response of neurons to NO.

Aconitate Hydratase↗

Molecular characterization of a second iron-responsive element binding protein, iron regulatory protein 2. Structure, function, and post-translational regulation.

Several genes critical to the uptake, sequestration, and utilization of iron are regulated at the post-transcriptional level. The mRNAs encoded by these genes contain highly conserved stem-loop structures called iron-responsive elements (IREs). IREs function as the nucleic acid-binding sites for a cytosolic RNA-binding protein called the IRE-binding protein or IRE-BP. Binding of the IRE-BP to IREs is reversibly regulated by the iron status of the cell. The IRE-BP is highly conserved among human, rat, mouse, and rabbit, and it is identical to the cytosolic form of aconitase. In this study, we demonstrate that a distinct human gene encoding a protein which is 57% identical to the initially described IRE-BP, now referred to as iron regulatory protein 1 or IRP1, is also capable of binding to IREs with the same in vitro affinity and specificity the originally identified protein. This second gene product, which we call IRP2, is expressed in many tissues, but its mRNA abundance and tissue distribution are different from IRP1. In most cell lines tested, levels of IRP2 are inversely regulated by iron levels due to iron-dependent regulation of the half-life of the protein. In addition to changes in total amounts of IRP2, we demonstrate that the IRE binding activity of IRP2 can also vary up to 4-fold in the absence of any change in IRP2 protein levels. The possible reasons for the existence of a second IRP are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A genetic approach to elucidating eukaryotic iron metabolism.

Studies of mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have led to the identification of genes required for high affinity iron uptake. Reduction of iron (III) outside the cell is accomplished by means of reductases encoded by FRE1 and FRE2, homologues of the gp91-phox component of the oxygen reductase of human granulocytes. High affinity iron (II) transport from the exterior to the interior of the cell occurs by means of a transport system that has not been molecularly characterized. However, the transport process requires the activity of a copper-containing oxidase encoded by FET3. The amino acid sequence of this protein resembles other multi-copper oxidases, including mammalian ceruloplasmin. High affinity copper uptake mediated by the copper transport protein encoded by CTR1 is required to provide the FET3 protein with copper, and thus copper uptake is indirectly required for ferrous iron uptake. These genetic elements of yeast and their relationships may be conserved in complex eukaryotic organisms.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Involvement of dileucine motifs in the internalization and degradation of the insulin receptor.

Dileucine motifs have been shown to be involved in trans Golgi sorting, lysosomal targeting, and internalization of a number of proteins. The insulin receptor contains four dileucine pairs in its cytoplasmic domain. To determine if these insulin receptor sequences can serve as lysosomal sorting sequences, chimeric molecules expressing the Tac antigen fused to each isolated insulin receptor motif were constructed. A chimera containing the juxtamembrane dileucine motif (EKITLL), which closely resembles the sequences originally identified in the gamma- and delta-chains of the T cell receptor (DKQTLL and EVQALL), was shown to sort to lysosomes by immunofluorescence microscopy, as did a chimera expressing the dileucine motif (GGKGLL) found in the tyrosine kinase domain. Chimeras expressing either a second tyrosine kinase domain sequence (HVVRLL) or the carboxyl-terminal sequence (EIVNLL) localized to both lysosomes and the plasma membrane. In contrast, chimeras expressing two other potential sorting signals found in the cytoplasmic tail of the insulin receptor (NARDII and KNGRIL) localized predominantly to the plasma membrane. Exclusively cell surface staining was also seen for a chimera expressing a mutant motif (EKITAA), where the leucine residues were mutated to alanines. When the alanine pair was introduced into the juxtamembrane domain of the intact insulin receptor and the mutant receptor expressed in NIH-3T3 cells, we found that the mutation did not impair insulin binding or receptor tyrosine kinase activity. However, the Ala-Ala mutant internalized insulin 5-fold slower than the wild-type receptor. Taken together, these findings suggest that the dileucine motif found in the juxtamembrane domain of the insulin receptor is involved in receptor internalization and that other insulin receptor sequences may mask the potential lysosomal targeting signals in the intact molecule.

3T3 Cells↗

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae copper transport protein (Ctr1p). Biochemical characterization, regulation by copper, and physiologic role in copper uptake.

The CTR1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a protein required for high affinity copper uptake. The protein is expressed on the plasma membrane, is heavily glycosylated with O-linkages, and exists as an oligomer in vivo. The transcript abundance is strongly regulated by copper availability, being induced by copper deprivation and repressed by copper excess. Regulation occurs at very low, nontoxic levels of available copper and is independent of ACE1, the trans-inducer of yeast metallothionein. Expression of Ctr1p is limiting for copper uptake, since overexpression from a 2 mu high copy number plasmid increases copper uptake. Mutations in CTR1 result in altered cellular responses to extracellular copper, demonstrating a physiologic role for CTR1 in the delivery of copper to the cytosol. A copper-dependent reporter gene construct, CUP1-lacZ, is not expressed in CTR1 mutants to the same level as in wild-type strains, and Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase activity is deficient in these mutants. The growth arrest that occurs in CTR1 mutants grown aerobically in copper-deficient media is attributable to the defect in Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase activity.

Aerobiosis↗

The bifunctional iron-responsive element binding protein/cytosolic aconitase: the role of active-site residues in ligand binding and regulation.

The iron-responsive element binding protein/cytosolic aconitase functions as either an RNA binding protein that regulates the uptake, sequestration, and utilization of iron or an enzyme that interconverts citrate and isocitrate. These mutually exclusive functions are regulated by changes in cellular iron levels. By site-directed mutagenesis we show that (i) ligation of a [4Fe-4S] cluster is necessary to inactivate RNA binding and activate enzyme function in vivo, (ii) three of four arginine residues of the aconitase active site participate in RNA binding, and (iii) aconitase activity is not required for iron-mediated regulation of RNA binding.

Aconitate Hydratase↗

Binary and ternary complexes between T-cell receptor, class II MHC and superantigen in vitro.

Superantigens are proteins that in association with class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-bearing cells can stimulate virtually all T cells that express particular classes of the variable beta-domains of the T-cell receptor (TCR). This mechanism of T-cell activation circumvents the usual requirement for peptide-specific MHC recognition. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) is a bacterial superantigen that causes food poisoning and shock. We have characterized the tertiary complex of SEB, a soluble T-cell receptor, and a soluble class II MHC molecule DR1, and the three binary complexes TCR-SEB, SEB-DR1, and the peptide-specific complex DR1-TCR. We report here that in each case the specificity of the interaction among the soluble molecules is the same as observed in biological assays. Native gel electrophoresis and plasmon resonance affinity measurements indicate that SEB-TCR complex can form in the absence of class II MHC and that SEB-TCR interaction increases the binding of DR1. The observation that a superantigen can form complexes with TCR in both the absence and presence of class II MHC may provide a mechanism for its ability to induce anergy in some circumstances and activation in others (reviewed in ref. 8).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Aluminum fluoride acts on the reversibility of ARF1-dependent coat protein binding to Golgi membranes.

The GTP-dependent interaction of ADP ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) with Golgi membranes is required for the binding of cytosolic coatomer proteins to those membranes. Whereas both GTP and GTP gamma S can support coatomer binding to membranes, by using partially purified components, GTP-driven binding is rapidly reversible (t1/2 of 2 min) while that driven by GTP gamma S is more stable (t1/2 of over 30 min). In the presence of GTP, aluminum fluoride, an activator of trimeric G proteins, promotes the stable ARF-dependent binding of coatomer to membranes, even though this reagent does not itself activate ARF. Aluminum fluoride appears to act, like GTP gamma S, to make the binding of coatomer relatively irreversible. It acts to inhibit ARF-GTP hydrolysis catalyzed by the membrane and thus makes the ARF-GTP active state persistent. This effect is not dependent on the presence of any cytosolic component, such as the coatomer. The number of molecules of ARF that can be protected from hydrolysis by aluminum fluoride, however, is only a fraction of the total amount of ARF that can bind to membranes in the presence of GTP gamma S. We propose that this population defines a set of binding sites that are sufficient for coat protein assembly onto the membrane.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1↗

Evidence that the pathway of transferrin receptor mRNA degradation involves an endonucleolytic cleavage within the 3' UTR and does not involve poly(A) tail shortening.

The stability of transferrin receptor (TfR) mRNA is regulated by iron availability. When a human plasma-cytoma cell line (ARH-77) is treated with an iron source (hemin), the TfR mRNA is destabilized and a shorter TfR RNA appears. A similar phenomenon is also observed in mouse fibroblasts expressing a previously characterized iron-regulated human TfR mRNA (TRS-1). In contrast, mouse cells expressing a constitutively unstable human TfR mRNA (TRS-4) display the shorter RNA irrespective of iron treatment. These shorter RNAs found in both the hemin-treated ARH-77 cells and in the mouse fibroblasts are shown to be the result of a truncation within the 3' untranslated regions of the mRNAs. The truncated RNA is generated by an endonuclease, as most clearly evidenced by the detection of the matching 3' endonuclease product. The cleavage site of the human TfR mRNA in the mouse fibroblasts has been mapped to single nucleotide resolution to a single-stranded region near one of the iron-responsive elements contained in the 3' UTR. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrates that the sequence surrounding the mapped endonuclease cleavage site is required for both iron-regulated mRNA turnover and generation of the truncated degradation intermediate. The TfR mRNA does not undergo poly(A) tail shortening prior to rapid degradation since the length of the poly(A) tail does not decrease during iron-induced destabilization. Moreover, the 3' endonuclease cleavage product is apparently polyadenylated to the same extent as the full-length mRNA.

Animals↗

An activating mutation in ARF1 stabilizes coatomer binding to Golgi membranes.

The Ras-related protein ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) is a low molecular weight GTP binding protein, which in its GTP state supports the binding of coatomer, a cytosolic coat protein complex, to Golgi membranes. To create an "active" ARF, we constructed a point mutation in ARF1, Q71I, which was predicted to slow the rate of GTP hydrolysis. We demonstrate that Q71I, in contrast to wild type ARF1, exhibits a 2-3-fold increase in the half-life of ARF-GTP and is able to promote stable coatomer binding to Golgi membranes in the presence of GTP in vitro. Additionally, Q71I is able to support the binding of a significant amount of coatomer to membranes in the absence of added nucleotides, effectively bypassing the brefeldin A (BFA)-sensitive exchange activity. Furthermore, transfection of cells with Q71I, but not ARF1, renders the Golgi association of coatomer resistant to the effects of BFA in vivo. These observations provide compelling evidence that ARF1 is a necessary GTP binding protein that regulates the reversible binding of coat proteins to Golgi membranes and that the effects of BFA on this process in living cells must be a consequence of BFA's inhibition of guanine nucleotide exchange onto ARF1.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1↗

Molecular characterization of a copper transport protein in S. cerevisiae: an unexpected role for copper in iron transport.

We report the identification and characterization of CTR1, a gene in the yeast S. cerevisiae that encodes a multispanning plasma membrane protein specifically required for high affinity copper transport into the cell. The predicted protein contains a methionine- and serine-rich domain that includes 11 examples of the sequence Met-X2-Met, a motif noted in proteins involved in bacterial copper metabolism. CTR1 mutants and deletion strains have profound deficiency in ferrous iron uptake, thus revealing a requirement for copper in mediating ferrous transport into the cell. Genetic evidence suggests that the target for this requirement is the FET3 gene (detailed in a companion study), predicted to encode a copper-containing protein that acts as a cytosolic ferro-oxidase. These findings provide an unexpected mechanistic link between the uptake of copper and iron.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The iron-responsive element-binding protein: localization of the RNA-binding site to the aconitase active-site cleft.

The iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRE-BP) binds to specific stem-loop RNA structures known as iron-responsive elements (IREs) present in a variety of cellular mRNAs (e.g., those encoding ferritin, erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase, and transferrin receptor). Expression of these genes is regulated by interaction with the IRE-BP. The IRE-BP is identical in sequence to cytosolic aconitase, and the function of the protein is determined by the presence or absence of an Fe-S cluster. The protein either functions as an active aconitase when the Fe-S cluster is present or as an RNA-binding protein when the protein lacks this cluster. Aconitase activity and IRE-binding activity are mutually exclusive, and interconversion between the two activities is determined by intracellular Fe concentrations. Mapping of the RNA-binding site of the IRE-BP by UV cross-linking studies defines a major contact site between IRE and protein in the active-site region. Modeling based on probable structural similarities between the previously crystallized mitochondrial aconitase and the IRE-BP predicts that these residues would be accessible to the IRE only were there a major change in the predicted conformation of the protein when cells are iron-depleted.

Aconitate Hydratase↗

Overexpression of iron-responsive element-binding protein and its analytical characterization as the RNA-binding form, devoid of an iron-sulfur cluster.

The iron-responsive element-binding protein (IRE-BP) has been defined and identified as an RNA-binding protein found in iron-deprived eukaryotic cells. IRE-BP binds to stem-loop structures, iron-responsive elements (IREs), which are located in the untranslated regions of the mRNAs for several genes including ferritin, and the transferrin receptor. When bound, IRE-BP prevents ferritin translation and stabilizes the transferrin receptor transcript. When cells are iron replete, an iron-sulfur cluster is ligated to the IRE-BP, the protein loses RNA binding properties, and it acquires aconitase activity. Cytosolic aconitase from liver can be converted into the IRE-BP by oxidative removal of its Fe-S cluster. We describe here overexpression of IRE-BP in baculovirus-infected insect cells which yields IRE-BP devoid of an iron-sulfur cluster. We describe a one-step purification of the IRE-BP and a quantitative analysis of Fe, S2-, S0, protein, and enzyme activity on IRE-BP, as obtained in cell lysates, after purification, and after reconstitution to active aconitase. On the average not more than 3% of the over-expressed purified protein contained an intact Fe-S cluster, and it was demonstrated that that cluster was not lost during purification. Scatchard analysis of RNA-binding data was compatible with a single high-affinity RNA-binding form of the IRE-BP. Active aconitase could be reconstituted from the purified IRE-BP obtained from the expression system by addition of iron, thiol, and sulfide, and the characteristic epr spectrum of the 3Fe form of cytosolic aconitase was obtained after ferricyanide oxidation of the reconstituted material.

Animals↗