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T G Cooper

Publications and source records attributed to T G Cooper.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Gln3p nuclear localization and interaction with Ure2p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Gln3p is one of two well characterized GATA family transcriptional activation factors whose function is regulated by the nitrogen supply of the cell. When nitrogen is limiting, Gln3p and Gat1p are concentrated in the nucleus where they bind GATA sequences upstream of nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive genes and activate their transcription. Conversely, in excess nitrogen, these GATA sequences are unoccupied by Gln3p and Gat1p because these transcription activators are excluded from the nucleus. Ure2p binds to Gln3p and Gat1p and is required for NCR-sensitive transcription to be repressed and for nuclear exclusion of these transcription factors. Here we show the following. (i) Gln3p residues 344-365 are required for nuclear localization. (ii) Replacing Ser-344, Ser-347, and Ser-355 with alanines has minimal effects on GFP-Gln3p localization. However, replacing Gln3p Ser-344, Ser-347, and Ser-355 with aspartates results in significant loss of its ability to be concentrated in the nucleus. (iii) N and C termini of the Gln3p region required for it to complex with Ure2p and be excluded from the nucleus are between residues 1-103 and 301-365, respectively. (iv) N and C termini of the Ure2p region required for it to interact with Gln3p are situated between residues 101-151 and 330-346, respectively. (v) Loss of Ure2p residues participating in either dimer or prion formation diminishes its ability to carry out NCR-sensitive regulation of Gln3p activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Ammonia regulates VID30 expression and Vid30p function shifts nitrogen metabolism toward glutamate formation especially when Saccharomyces cerevisiae is grown in low concentrations of ammonia.

The GATA family proteins Gln3p and Gat1p mediate nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When cells are cultured with a good nitrogen source (glutamine, ammonia), Gln3p and Gat1p are restricted to the cytoplasm, whereas with a poor nitrogen source (proline), they localize to the nucleus, bind to the GATA sequences of NCR-sensitive gene promoters, and activate transcription. The target of rapamycin-signaling cascade and Ure2p participate in regulating the cellular localization of Gln3p and Gat1p. Rapamycin, a Tor protein inhibitor, like growth with a poor nitrogen source, promotes nuclear localization of Gln3p and Gat1p. gln3 Delta and ure2 Delta mutants are partially resistant and hypersensitive to growth inhibition by rapamycin, respectively. We show that a vid30 Delta is more rapamycin-sensitive than wild type but less so than a ure2 Delta. VID30 expression is modestly NCR-sensitive, responsive to deletion of URE2, and greatly increases in low ammonia medium. Patterns of gene expression in a vid30 Delta suggest that the Vid30p function shifts the balance of nitrogen metabolism toward the production of glutamate, especially when cells are grown in low ammonia. CAN1, DAL4, DAL5, MEP2, DAL1, DAL80, and GDH3 transcription is down-regulated by Vid30p function with proline as the nitrogen source. An effect, however, that could easily be indirect.

Ammonia↗

Cis-acting sites contributing to expression of divergently transcribed DAL1 and DAL4 genes in S. cerevisiae: a word of caution when correlating cis-acting sequences with genome-wide expression analyses.

Correlating genome-wide expression profiles with sequence searches of promoter regions is being used as a technique to identify putative binding sites for transacting factors or to refine consensus sequences of those already known. To evaluate the limitations of such an approach in our studies of GATA-mediated transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we identified the relative contributions made to DAL1 and DAL4 expression by each of five Gln3p-, and/or Gat1p-, and three Dal82p-binding site homologous sequences situated in the 829-bp intergenic region separating these highly related, divergently transcribed genes. Our data suggest that although the correlation of repeated sequences or sequence homologies appearing within promoter regions with expression profiles obtained from genome-wide transcription analyses can provide useful starting points for analyses of cis-acting sites, significant limitations and possibilities for misinterpretation also abound.

Amidohydrolases↗

Fiber type and metabolic dependence of T2 increases in stimulated rat muscles.

This study examined the relationships between muscle fiber type, metabolism, and blood flow vs. the increase in skeletal muscle (1)H-NMR transverse relaxation time (T2) after stimulation. Triceps surae muscles of anesthetized rats were stimulated in situ at 1-10 Hz for 6 min, and T2 was calculated from (1)H-NMR images acquired at 4.7 T immediately after stimulation. At low-to-intermediate frequencies (1-5 Hz), the stimulation-induced T2 increase was greater in the superficial, fast-twitch white portion of the gastrocnemius muscle compared with the deeper, more aerobic muscles of the triceps surae group. Although whole triceps muscle area changed in parallel with T2 after stimulation when blood flow was intact, clamping of the femoral artery during stimulation prevented an increase in muscle area but not an increase in T2. Partial inhibition of lactic acid production with iodoacetate diminished intracellular acidification (measured by (31)P-NMR spectroscopy) during brief (1.5 min) stimulation but had no significant effect either on estimated osmolite accumulation or on muscle T2 after stimulation. Depletion of muscle phosphocreatine content by feeding rats beta-guanidinopropionate decreased both estimated osmolite accumulation and T2 after 1.5-min stimulation. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the T2 increase in stimulated muscle is related to osmotically driven shifts of fluid into an intracellular compartment.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional↗

Synthesis and glycosylation of CD52, the major 'maturation-associated' antigen of rat spermatozoa, in the cauda epididymidis.

A western and lectin blot analysis was performed of the major 'maturation-associated' antigen of rat spermatozoa, which is the rat counterpart of human CD52. In the absence of a suitable antibody, direct study of this approximately 26 kDa antigen, named previously SMemG, had been difficult. In the present study, these problems were overcome by raising a polyclonal antibody against a chemosynthetic peptide predicted from the cDNA sequence of the antigen. The antibody bound to a glycoprotein of rat cauda epididymidal tissue and spermatozoa, this glycoprotein was cleaved by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and, after deglycosylation, was reduced to approximately 6 kDa. Northern blot analysis confirmed that the CD52 mRNA was transcribed only post-testicularly, and antibody binding to testicular and sperm proteins of different molecular masses was shown to be nonspecific. Flow cytometry also indicated that the antigen was inserted into the sperm membrane during epididymal transit. Moreover, despite the presence of CD52 mRNA in all parts of the rat epididymis, only the 'long' mRNA molecules of the cauda region were efficiently translated and the antigen glycosylated, indicating that expression of rat CD52 is regulated on a post-transcriptional level. Lectin binding and deglycosylation studies supported the contention that there is extensive mucin-type O-glycosylation of rat CD52. In rats, there was no indication of complex N-linked carbohydrates similar to those described for human CD52.

Animals↗

Roles of the Dal82p domains in allophanate/oxalurate-dependent gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Allophanate/oxalurate-induced gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires at least five transcription factors, four of which act positively (Gln3p, Gat1p, Dal81p, and Dal82p) and one negatively (Dal80p). Gln3p binds to and Gat1p is proposed to bind to single GATA sequences; Dal80p binds to pairs of specifically oriented and spaced GATA sequences, and Dal82p binds to a pathway-specific element, UIS(ALL). Dal82p consists of at least three domains as follows: (i) UIS(ALL) DNA-binding, (ii) transcriptional activation, and (iii) coiled-coil(DAL82). Here we show that the coiled-coil(DAL82) domain possesses two demonstrable functions. (i) It prevents Dal82p-mediated transcription when inducer is absent. (ii) It is a major, although not exclusive, domain through which the inducer signal is received. Supporting the latter conclusion, a 38-amino acid fragment, containing little more than the coiled-coil(DAL82) domain, supports oxalurate-inducible, Dal81p-dependent, reporter gene transcription. Dal81p is required for inducer responsiveness of LexAp-Dal82p and LexAp coiled-coil(DAL82)-mediated transcription but isn't needed for inducer-dependent activation mediated by a Dal82p containing deletions in both the coiled-coil(DAL82), UIS(ALL)-binding domains. There may be an interaction between Dal81p and the coiled-coil(DAL82) domain since (i) Dal81p is required for transcription mediated by LexA-coiled-coil(DAL82)p and (ii) a Dal81p-Dal82p complex is detected by two-hybrid assay.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Saccharomyces cerevisiae GATA sequences function as TATA elements during nitrogen catabolite repression and when Gln3p is excluded from the nucleus by overproduction of Ure2p.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae selectively uses good nitrogen sources (glutamine) in preference to poor ones (proline) by repressing GATA factor-dependent transcription of the genes needed to transport and catabolize poor nitrogen sources, a physiological process designated nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR). We show that some NCR-sensitive genes (CAN1, DAL5, DUR1,2, and DUR3) produce two transcripts of slightly different sizes. Synthesis of the shorter transcript is NCR-sensitive and that of the longer transcript is not. The longer transcript also predominates in gln3Delta mutants irrespective of the nitrogen source provided. We demonstrate that the longer mRNA species arises through the use of an alternative transcription start site generated by Gln3p-binding sites (GATAAs) being able to act as surrogate TATA elements. The ability of GATAAs to serve as surrogate TATAs, i.e. when synthesis of the shorter, NCR-sensitive transcripts are inhibited, correlates with sequestration of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-Gln3p in the cytoplasm in a way that is indistinguishable from that seen with EGFP-Ure2p. However, when the shorter, NCR-sensitive DAL5 transcript predominates, EGFP-Gln3p is nuclear. These data suggest that the mechanism underlying NCR involves the cytoplasmic association of Ure2p with Gln3p, an interaction that prevents Gln3p from reaching it is binding sites upstream of NCR-sensitive genes.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗

Nitrogen catabolite repression of DAL80 expression depends on the relative levels of Gat1p and Ure2p production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

GATA family activators (Gln3p and Gat1p) and repressors (Dal80p and Deh1p) regulate nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae presumably via their competitive binding to the GATA sequences upstream of NCR-sensitive genes. Ure2p, which is not a GATA family member, inhibits Gln3p/Gat1p from functioning in the presence of good nitrogen sources. We show that NCR-sensitive DAL80 transcription can be influenced by the relative levels of GAT1 and URE2 expression. NCR, normally observed with ammonia or glutamine, is severely diminished when Gat1p is overproduced, and this inhibition is overcome by simultaneously increasing URE2 expression. Further, overproduction of Ure2p nearly eliminates NCR-sensitive transcription under derepressive growth conditions, i.e. with proline as the sole nitrogen source. Enhanced green fluorescent protein-Gat1p is nuclear when Gat1p-dependent transcription is high and cytoplasmic when it is inhibited by overproduction of Ure2p.

Base Sequence↗

Functional domain mapping and subcellular distribution of Dal82p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Previous studies have shown that (i) Dal81p and Dal82p are required for allophanate-induced gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; (ii) the cis-acting element mediating the induced transcriptional response to allophanate is a dodecanucleotide, UIS(ALL); and (iii) Dal82p binds specifically to UIS(ALL). Here we show that Dal82p is localized to the nucleus and parallels movement of the DNA through the cell cycle. Deletion analysis of DAL82 identified and localized three functional domains. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified a peptide (consisting of Dal82p amino acids 1-85) that is sufficient to bind a DNA fragment containing UIS(ALL). LexA-tethering experiments demonstrated that Dal82p is capable of mediating transcriptional activation. The activation domain consists of two parts: (i) an absolutely required core region (amino acids 66-99) and (ii) less well defined regions flanking residues 66-99 that are required for full wild-type levels of activation. The Dal82p C terminus contains a predicted coiled-coil motif that down-regulates Dal82p-mediated transcriptional activation.

Base Sequence↗

Effect of cetrorelix on sperm morphology during migration through the epididymis in the cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis).

The importance of the cynomolgus monkey as a model for human reproductive medicine prompted this examination of epididymal sperm morphology. Computer-aided sperm morphological analysis was used for the first time to provide morphometric data on sperm heads as they traversed the epididymal duct of Macaca fascicularis. The duct was divided into six regions, starting close to the testis (proximal) and ending close to the vas deferens (distal). To determine the androgen-dependence of the changes, one group of animals received a GnRH-antagonist (Cetrorelix, Asta Medica, Frankfurt, Germany) to induce testicular regression and lower epididymal androgens, while a control group received only vehicle. Epididymides were removed 16 and 25 days after treatment, and sperm heads were analysed by a computer-assisted morphometric analyser. Cluster analysis revealed swollen sperm head cells in proximal regions 1 and 2 of the epididymis, but fewer such forms distally. Normal head shapes became the majority in region 4 and these underwent a gradual but statistically significant decrease in size (area, perimeter, length, width) and shape as they reached the distal regions. In the animals given Cetrorelix, sperm with swollen heads were found more distally than in the controls, although they were also never present in the distal cauda (region 6). Normal heads still became predominant in region 4 after 16 days treatment, and in region 6 after 25 days. The normal forms in the cauda epididymidis of treated animals were significantly larger than cells from control animals. We conclude that epididymal sperm maturation in the monkey is characterised by both a loss of sensitivity to distortion on air-drying, and by a decrease in sperm head size. The former, but not the latter, is attained by sperm in androgen-deficient epididymides from GnRH-antagonist-treated monkeys.

Animals↗

Maturational changes of the CD52-like epididymal glycoprotein on cynomolgus monkey sperm and their apparent reversal in capacitation conditions.

A major epididymal secretory protein in men has a colinear cDNA sequence with lymphocyte CD52, a sialylated glycoprotein. Immunostaining and flow cytometric detection of cynomolgus monkey sperm CD52 during epididymal maturation showed increases from 20 to 85% stained sperm from the caput to the corpus with staining intensities doubled. Freshly prepared cauda sperm showed only 10% staining while they markedly increased in percentage and intensity of staining upon incubation at 37 degrees C under capacitating conditions, but not at 4 degrees C. Western blotting of proteins from fresh cauda sperm revealed no less antigen than corpus sperm. Staining of ejaculated sperm exhibited similar increases during incubation. Further washing with a high salt medium before staining to remove any electrostatically-bound molecules masking the antigen showed no effect. Incubation-induced increases in antigen binding were accelerated by the addition of neuraminidase (0.25 and 0.5 U/ml), but not affected by the sialyl residue-rich fetuin (5 mg/ml) competing for any endogenous neuraminidase. There were no concomitant decreases in the staining of sialic acid residues during capacitation-incubation. These findings suggest a cryptic antigen epitope site as a consequence of sperm maturation and subsequent re-exposure under capacitation conditions, but not due to the removal of sialic acid residues by endogenous neuraminidase. Involvement of endogenous proteases was also ruled out, as incubation in the presence of protease inhibitors did not hinder the increases but resulted in a dose-dependent enhancement in staining, suggesting some protease-sensitive unmasking process. In conclusion, the monkey epididymal secreted CD52 on sperm underwent changes in antigenic characteristics during sperm maturation which were reversed under capacitation conditions.

Alemtuzumab↗

Seminal plasma characteristics as indicators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations in men with obstructive azoospermia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of seminal plasma volume, pH, fructose, and alpha-glucosidase for the detection of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations. DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. SETTING: University infertility clinic (referral center). PATIENT(S): Fifty-nine men with obstructive azoospermia. INTERVENTION(S): Semen analysis including seminal plasma volume, pH, fructose, alpha-glucosidase, molecular genetic diagnosis of CFTR mutations and FSH measurement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sensitivity and specificity of seminal plasma markers for the detection of CFTR mutations. RESULT(S): A CFTR mutation was detected in 26 of 59 patients with obstructive azoospermia. Patients carrying a mutation had significantly lower seminal plasma volume (mean +/- SEM: 1.5 +/- 1.4 mL vs. 2.8 +/- 2.2 mL), lower pH levels (25th percentile, median, 75th percentile: 6.5, 6.8, 7.5 vs. 7.7, 7. 9, 7.9) and lower fructose content (1.0, 1.1, 3.7 vs. 5.8, 20.0, 83. 0 micromol/ejaculate) than those without mutations. Diagnostic efficacy for detection of mutations was best (pH 81.4%, fructose 81. 8%) at a cutoff level for pH of 7.4 and fructose of 2 micromol/ejaculate. CONCLUSION(S): Seminal plasma markers provide an effective, noninvasive method to predict CFTR mutations in men with obstructive azoospermia.

Adolescent↗

Sperm number and condition affect the number of basal cells and their expression of macrophage antigen in the murine epididymis.

Unilateral ligation of the mid-corpus epididymis, the proximal vas deferens and imposition of an abdominal temperature for 6 days as well as bilateral castration for 3, 6 or 14 days, resulted in a change in epithelial composition of the adult murine epididymis with regard to the number and antigen expression of basal cells. There were fewer basal cells per tubule cross-section with fewer expressing F4/80 antigen when spermatozoa were absent from the proximal lumen following short-term castration. Conversely, more basal cells with more of them demonstrating macrophage antigen expression were evident when more or damaged spermatozoa were in the proximal lumen after corpus ligation and exposure to abdominal temperature or in the cauda after long-term withdrawal of androgen support. By contrast, ligation of the vas deferens did not lead to tubule distension, and hence sperm accumulation, and did not alter the basal cell population in the cauda epididymis. The data suggest that epididymal basal cells respond in number and macrophage antigen expression to the presence of sperm autoantigens in the lumen with little dependence on circulating androgens. These changes may represent responses to minimise the interaction of sperm autoantigens with the immune system and the risk of immunological infertility.

Animals↗

Objective evaluation of the morphology of human epididymal sperm heads.

Spermatozoa were obtained from nine epididymal regions of six epididymides taken from five men undergoing castration for prostatic carcinoma (53-76 years) and from one man with testicular cancer (38 years). Spermatozoa were obtained by mincing tissue in phosphate-buffered saline, making air dried smears and staining with Hemacolor. The percentage of sperm heads categorised subjectively as normal (of uniform shape) or otherwise was calculated for each region. This confirmed that grossly swollen sperm heads (previously shown to be artefacts) were only present in proximal regions of the duct. A computer-aided sperm morphology analyser (Sperm Class Analyzer(R)) was used to provide objective measurements of sperm head area, perimeter, length and width of the uniform sperm heads and revealed that there was a gradual and statistically significant decline in sperm head size upon maturation, as occurs in other species. There was no significant difference between the morphometric parameters of spermatozoa obtained from the distal cauda epididymis and those obtained from the ejaculates of young normozoospermic patients.

Adult↗

Metabolism of the putative antifertility agents 3-(36)chloro-1-hydroxypropanone and its dimethyl ketal in the male rat.

3-(36)Chloro-1-hydroxypropanone (CHOP), a specific inhibitor of sperm glycolysis in vitro, is rapidly metabolized by the male rat to alpha-chlorohydrin, 3-chlorolactate and the inhibitory sperm metabolite, 3-chlorolactaldehyde, presumably all being of the (S)-configuration. The dimethyl ketal of (36)Cl-CHOP [3-(36)Cl-dimethyl-CHOP] is rapidly metabolized producing identical metabolites and excreted radioactivity in urine at a similar rate. As neither compound produced diuresis, glucosuria or induced the formation of spermatocoeles, conditions associated with related male antifertility and antiglycolytic agents, they could represent an alternative means of producing (S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde within spermatozoa in vivo.

Acetone↗

In vitro inhibition of rat cauda epididymal sperm glycolytic enzymes by ornidazole, alpha-chlorohydrin and 1-chloro-3-hydroxypropanone.

Chlorinated antifertility compounds are known to inhibit glycolysis of spermatozoa as they reside in the epididymis but new compounds need to be evaluated that retain antifertility action but do not exhibit side-effects. In this study, two known antifertility agents and a related compound were compared for their inhibition of rat sperm metabolism and motility in vitro. The dose-dependent inhibition in vitro of the glycolytic enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) of distal cauda epididymal rat spermatozoa by (R)-, (S)- and (R,S)-ornidazole (ORN), (R,S)-alpha-chlorohydrin (ACH) and 1-chloro-3-hydroxypropanone (CHOP) was compared. The direct inhibition of GAPDH by ORN suggests that it inhibits without prior conversion outside the cell but inhibition was not stereo-specific. The GAPDH, but not TPI, activity of spermatozoa incubated with ACH and CHOP was highly correlated with kinematic parameters of spermatozoa incubated in pyruvate- and lactate-free medium. ACH only inhibited the activity of intact spermatozoa and the inhibition was not reversed by washing the particulate sperm fraction after sonication. High concentrations of ACH (100 mmol/L) killed intact rat spermatozoa and decreased the extent of GAPDH inhibition. CHOP, unlike ACH, was an effective inhibitor of both intact and sonicated cells. Pre-CHOP, the dimethylketal precursor of CHOP, and its other hydrolysis product MeOH, were both ineffective in vitro. CHOP and related ketals may be more effective inhibitors of sperm glycolysis than ACH and may prove useful for investigating sperm-specific glycolytic inhibition, a prerequisite for the development of antiglycolytic, post-testicular acting contraceptives.

Acetone↗

The cause of infertility of male c-ros tyrosine kinase receptor knockout mice.

Male homozygous transgenic c-ros knockout mice are sterile by natural mating, lack a part of their epididymis, and the epididymal sperm exhibit tail angulation in vivo and in vitro. To ascertain if this abnormal tail form caused the infertility, the number and nature of sperm in the tract of females mated to knockout and wild-type mice were determined. Percentage motility and numbers of sperm in the uterus 1 h after mating were similar between genotypes. The majority of the uterine sperm from the wild-type males had straight flagella, whereas 46-86% of knockout sperm were bent at the cytoplasmic droplet even when motile. Motile knockout sperm showed a 54 and 37% reduction in the straightline and curvilinear velocities compared with straight wild-type sperm. Sequential flushings of the oviduct 4 h after mating with the wild-type males contained sperm: 591 +/- 119 free, 371 +/- 70 loosely, and 122 +/- 47 tightly bound to the epithelium, but no knockout sperm were recovered from the oviduct or observed within the uterotubal junction in tissue sections. The infertility of c-ros knockout male mice can be explained by the sperm's inability to enter the oviduct, as a result of their bent tails forming the entangled sperm mass and their compromised flagellar vigor within the uterus.

Animals↗

The dual-specificity protein phosphatase Yvh1p regulates sporulation, growth, and glycogen accumulation independently of catalytic activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae via the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase cascade.

Yvh1p, a dual-specific protein phosphatase induced specifically by nitrogen starvation, regulates cell growth as well as initiation and completion of sporulation. We demonstrate that yvh1 disruption mutants are also unable to accumulate glycogen in stationary phase. A catalytically inactive variant of yvh1 (C117S) and a DNA fragment encoding only the Yvh1p C-terminal 159 amino acids (which completely lacks the phosphatase domain) complement all three phenotypes as well as the wild-type allele; no complementation occurs with a fragment encoding only the C-terminal 74 amino acids. These observations argue that phosphatase activity is not required for the Yvh1p functions we measured. Mutations which decrease endogenous cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels partially suppress the sporulation and glycogen accumulation defects. In addition, reporter gene expression supported by a DRR2 promoter fragment, containing two stress response elements known to respond to cAMP-protein kinase A, decreases in a yvh1 disruption mutant. Therefore, our results identify three cellular processes that both require Yvh1p and respond to alterations in cAMP, and they lead us to suggest that Yvh1p may be a participant in and/or a contributor to regulation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase cascade. The fact that decreasing the levels of cAMP alleviates the need for Yvh1p function supports this suggestion.

Cyclic AMP↗