Biomedical subjects

Sylvie Babajko

Publications and source records attributed to Sylvie Babajko.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-1) involvement in intrauterine growth retardation: study on IGFBP-1 overexpressing transgenic mice.

In humans, intrauterine growth retardation is correlated to high levels of serum IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1). This present study analyzes in vivo the impact of circulating IGFBP-1 on body growth associated to bone mineralization and carbohydrate resources. Transgenic mice used in this work overexpressed human IGFBP-1 in liver from embryonic day (E)14.5, concomitantly to the appearance of ossification centers, through to adulthood. Growth retardation was observed as early as E17.5 in homozygous (HM) mice being 20% smaller at birth (postnatal d 1). Anatomical analysis of the skeletons by alizarin red and alcian blue staining showed that the mice exhibited pleiotropic defects of several skeletal units. Some bones were small and dysmorphic. Our results showed reduced mineralization in the posterior area of the skull (delayed suture closure), as well as in the appendicular and axial skeleton. Heterozygous crossings showed a loss of HM animals. Moreover, IGFBP-1 overexpression contributed to decreased fetal hepatic glycogen and neonate blood glucose levels which constitute the main reservoir of carbohydrate resources for neonates. Thus, this reduced carbohydrate pool contributed to perinatal mortality. Maternal IGFBP-1 expression was also clearly associated with neonate growth retardation (newborn weights from HM mothers were 20% smaller than newborns from NT mothers) and reduced fetal carbohydrate resources. In conclusion, antenatal growth retardation and delayed mineralization in transgenic mice are related to overexpressed fetal and maternal circulating human IGFBP-1. Similar perturbations could be observed in human intrauterine growth retardation suggesting the IGF/IGFBP system is involved in fetal growth, biomineralization, and energetic status in humans.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Cytoplasmic foci are sites of mRNA decay in human cells.

Understanding gene expression control requires defining the molecular and cellular basis of mRNA turnover. We have previously shown that the human decapping factors hDcp2 and hDcp1a are concentrated in specific cytoplasmic structures. Here, we show that hCcr4, hDcp1b, hLsm, and rck/p54 proteins related to 5'-3' mRNA decay also localize to these structures, whereas DcpS, which is involved in cap nucleotide catabolism, is nuclear. Functional analysis using fluorescence resonance energy transfer revealed that hDcp1a and hDcp2 interact in vivo in these structures that were shown to differ from the previously described stress granules. Our data indicate that these new structures are dynamic, as they disappear when mRNA breakdown is abolished by treatment with inhibitors. Accumulation of poly(A)(+) RNA in these structures, after RNAi-mediated inactivation of the Xrn1 exonuclease, demonstrates that they represent active mRNA decay sites. The occurrence of 5'-3' mRNA decay in specific subcellular locations in human cells suggests that the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells may be more organized than previously anticipated.

Cell Compartmentation↗

PubMed2004

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-6 transgenic mice: postnatal growth, brain development, and reproduction abnormalities.

In biological fluids, IGFs bind to six distinct binding proteins (IGFBP-1 to -6). IGFBP-6 is of particular interest because it has been shown to inhibit proliferation in many cell types and to be synthesized in the central nervous system (CNS). It also has the strongest affinity for IGF-II among the IGFBPs. To study IGFBP-6 function in vivo, we established IGFBP-6 transgenic mice in which human IGFBP-6 (hIGFBP-6) cDNA is expressed under the control of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. Northern and Western blot analysis revealed strong transgene expression in the CNS. With histological examination of the CNS, cerebellum size and weight proved to be reduced by about 25% and 35%, respectively, and there were smaller numbers of differentiated, GFAP-expressing astrocytes than in wild-type mice. Between birth and 1 month of age, transgenic mice had high levels of circulating hIGFBP-6 and reduced plasma IGF-I, and, as a result, body weight was significantly reduced. Reproductive physiology was also affected. Litter size was reduced by 27% when wild-type males were mated with 3-month-old transgenic females and by 66% when mated with 6-month-old transgenic females. Histological examination of ovaries of transgenic mice revealed a marked decrease in weight and in the number of corpora lutea, suggesting altered ovulation, and circulating LH levels were reduced by 50%. Our results indicate that this new model of transgenic mouse may prove to be a useful tool in elucidating the in vivo role of IGFBP-6 in the brain, especially in regard to hypothalamic control, and in reproductive physiology.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

'Cap-tabolism'.

distinctive feature of eukaryotic mRNA and small nuclear RNA (snRNA) that are transcribed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is the presence of a cap structure at their 5' end. This essential modification serves as an inviting 'landing pad' for factors that are involved in various cellular processes such as pre-mRNA splicing, nucleocytoplasmic RNA export and localization, and translation initiation. Because of the important functions mediated by the mRNA cap, this structure needs to be modified and/or degraded in a tightly controlled manner. Several cellular and viral systems implicated in cap metabolism have been uncovered recently; their analyses provide interesting new information on cell structure and function.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Human Dcp2: a catalytically active mRNA decapping enzyme located in specific cytoplasmic structures.

We have cloned cDNAs for the human homologues of the yeast Dcp1 and Dcp2 factors involved in the major (5'-3') and NMD mRNA decay pathways. While yeast Dcp1 has been reported to be the decapping enzyme, we show that recombinant human Dcp2 (hDcp2) is enzymatically active. Dcp2 activity appears evolutionarily conserved. Mutational and biochemical analyses indicate that the hDcp2 MutT/Nudix domain mediates this activity. hDcp2 generates m7GDP and 5'-phosphorylated mRNAs that are 5'-3' exonuclease substrates. Corresponding decay intermediates are present in human cells showing the relevance of this activity. hDcp1 and hDcp2 co-localize in cell cytoplasm, consistent with a role in mRNA decay. Interestingly, these two proteins show a non-uniform distribution, accumulating in specific foci.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2002

The amino-terminal region of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, (1-95)IGFBP-3, induces apoptosis of MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells.

In an earlier study, we reported that an N-terminal proteolytic fragment ((1-95)IGFBP-3) corresponding to the first 95 residues of human insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) inhibits proliferation in a variety of fibroblasts. With a view to investigating its cytostatic capacity in carcinoma cells, we transiently transfected MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells with an expression vector containing (1-95)IGFBP-3 cDNA. The transfected cells secreted a hyper-glycosylated form of (1-95)IGFBP-3. Twenty-four hours after transfection, cell morphology and viability were similar in control and (1-95)IGFBP-3-secreting cells. However, after 48 h, (1-95)IGFBP-3-secreting cells were apoptotic, with marked cytoplasmic vacuolation and increased free histones in the cytoplasm. Culture media conditioned by (1-95)IGFBP-3-secreting cells also induced morphological changes and apoptosis in wild-type MCF-7 cells, indicating that (1-95)IGFBP-3 was responsible for the effects observed. These results provide further evidence that the N-terminal proteolytic fragment of IGFBP-3 has a functional role.

Adenocarcinoma↗