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Biomedical subjects

Takeshi Endo

Publications and source records attributed to Takeshi Endo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase IX acts on the GlcNAc beta 1,2-Man alpha 1-Ser/Thr moiety, forming a 2,6-branched structure in brain O-mannosyl glycan.

Mammals contain O-linked mannose residues with 2-mono- and 2,6-di-substitutions by GlcNAc in brain glycoproteins. It has been demonstrated that the transfer of GlcNAc to the 2-OH position of the mannose residue is catalyzed by the enzyme, protein O-mannose beta1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (POMGnT1), but the enzymatic basis of the transfer to the 6-OH position is unknown. We recently reported on a brain-specific beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, GnT-IX, that catalyzes the transfer of GlcNAc to the 6-OH position of the mannose residue of GlcNAcbeta1,2-Manalpha on both the alpha1,3- and alpha1,6-linked mannose arms in the core structure of N-glycan (Inamori, K., Endo, T., Ide, Y., Fujii, S., Gu, J., Honke, K., and Taniguchi, N. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 43102-43109). Here we examined the issue of whether GnT-IX is able to act on the same sequence of the GlcNAcbeta1,2-Manalpha in O-mannosyl glycan. Using three synthetic Ser-linked mannose-containing saccharides, Manalpha1-Ser, GlcNAcbeta1,2-Manalpha1-Ser, and Galbeta1,4-GlcNAcbeta1,2-Manalpha1-Ser as acceptor substrates, the findings show that (14)C-labeled GlcNAc was incorporated only into GlcNAcbeta1,2-Manalpha1-Ser after separation by thin layer chromatography. To simplify the assay, high performance liquid chromatography was employed, using a fluorescence-labeled acceptor substrate GlcNAcbeta1,2-Manalpha1-Ser-pyridylaminoethylsuccinamyl (PAES). Consistent with the above data, GnT-IX generated a new product which was identified as GlcNAcbeta1,2-(GlcNAcbeta1,6-)Manalpha1-Ser-PAES by mass spectrometry and (1)H NMR. Furthermore, incorporation of an additional GlcNAc residue into a synthetic mannosyl peptide Ac-Ala-Ala-Pro-Thr(Man)-Pro-Val-Ala-Ala-Pro-NH(2) by GnT-IX was only observed in the presence of POMGnT1. Collectively, these results strongly suggest that GnT-IX may be a novel beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase that is responsible for the formation of the 2,6-branched structure in the brain O-mannosyl glycan.

Brain↗

Molecular cloning and characterization of human GnT-IX, a novel beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase that is specifically expressed in the brain.

A novel beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (beta1, 6GnT) cDNA was identified by a BLAST search using the amino acid sequence of human GnT-V as a query. The full-length sequence was determined by a combination of 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA end analysis and a further data base search. The open reading frame encodes a 792 amino acid protein with a type II membrane protein structure typical of glycosyltransferases. The entire sequence identity to human GnT-V is 42%. When pyridylaminated (PA) agalacto biantennary N-linked oligosaccharide was used as an acceptor substrate, the recombinant enzyme generated a novel product other than the expected GnT-V product, (GlcNAcbeta1,2-Manalpha1,3-)[GlcNAcbeta1,2-(GlcNAcbeta1,6-)Manalpha1,6-]Manbeta1,4-GlcNAcbeta1,4-GlcNAc-PA. This new product was identified as [GlcNAcbeta1,2-(GlcNAcbeta1,6-)Manalpha1,3-][Glc-NAcbeta1,2-(GlcNAcbeta1,6-)Manalpha1,6-]Manbeta1,4-GlcNAcbeta1,4-GlcNAc-PA by mass spectrometry and 1H NMR. Namely, the new GnT (designated as GnT-IX) has beta1,6GnT activity not only to the alpha1,6-linked mannose arm but also to the alpha1,3-linked mannose arm of N-glycan, forming a unique structure that has not been reported to date. Northern blot analysis showed that the GnT-IX gene is exclusively expressed in the brain, whereas the GnT-V gene is expressed ubiquitously. These results suggest that GnT-IX is responsible for the synthesis of a unique oligosaccharide structure in the brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glycation proceeds faster in mutated Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutases related to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord and motor cortex. It has been shown that 15-20% of patients with familial ALS (FALS) have defects in the Sod1 gene that encodes Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD). To elucidate the pathological role of mutated Cu, Zn-SODs in FALS, the susceptibility of mutants to glycation was examined. Mutated Cu, Zn-SODs (G37R, G93A, and I113T) related to FALS and wild type were produced in a baculovirus/insect cell expression system. Glycated and nonglycated proteins were separated on a boronate column, and the nonglycated fraction was then incubated with glucose. The mutated Cu, Zn-SODs were found to be highly susceptible to glycation compared with the wild-type enzyme as estimated by Western blot analysis using an anti-hexitol lysine antibody. The mutated Cu, Zn-SOD incubated with glucose generated higher levels of hydrogen peroxide than the wild-type enzyme. Mutated Cu, Zn-SODs were also shown to be highly susceptible to fructation, and the fructated mutant also produced higher levels of hydrogen peroxide than the wild type. These results suggest that high susceptibility of mutated Cu, Zn-SODs to glycation could be the origin of the oxidative stress associated with neuronal dysfunction in FALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗

Novel phosphine-catalyzed zipper cyclization of aliphatic diyne-dione and yne-dione systems.

[reaction: see text] An unexpected tri-n-butylphosphine-catalyzed zipper cyclization of diyne[bond]diones (1a-d) or yne-diones (1e and 1f) is described. Bicyclic ketones (2a, 2b, 2c, 2e, and 2f) with five- or six-membered rings fused to the five-membered ring were obtained from both aliphatic diyne-diones (1a-c) and yne-diones (1e and 1f) having tetra- or pentamethylene spacers. The bicyclic products (2) were produced with high diastereoselectivity.

Journal Article↗

Small GTPase Tc10 and its homologue RhoT induce N-WASP-mediated long process formation and neurite outgrowth.

Rho family small GTPases regulate multiple cellular functions through reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Among them, Cdc42 and Tc10 induce filopodia or peripheral processes in cultured cells. We have identified a member of the family, designated as RhoT, which is closely related to Tc10. Tc10 was highly expressed in muscular tissues and brain and remarkably induced during differentiation of C2 skeletal muscle cells and neuronal differentiation of PC12 and N1E-115 cells. On the other hand, RhoT was predominantly expressed in heart and uterus and induced during neuronal differentiation of N1E-115 cells. Tc10 exogenously expressed in fibroblasts generated actin-filament-containing peripheral processes longer than the Cdc42-formed filopodia, whereas RhoT produced much longer and thicker processes containing actin filaments. Furthermore, both Tc10 and RhoT induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 and N1E-115 cells, but Cdc42 did not do this by itself. Tc10 and RhoT as well as Cdc42 bound to the N-terminal CRIB-motif-containing portion of N-WASP and activated N-WASP to induce Arp2/3-complex-mediated actin polymerization. The formation of peripheral processes and neurites by Tc10 and RhoT was prevented by the coexpression of dominant-negative mutants of N-WASP. Thus, N-WASP is essential for the process formation and neurite outgrowth induced by Tc10 and RhoT. Neuronal differentiation of PC12 and N1E-115 cells induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and by serum starvation, respectively, was prevented by dominant-negative Cdc42, Tc10 and RhoT. Taken together, all these Rho family proteins are required for neuronal differentiation, but they exert their functions differentially in process formation and neurite extension. Consequently, N-WASP activated by these small GTPases mediates neuronal differentiation in addition to its recently identified role in glucose uptake.

3T3 Cells↗

Bonding mechanism and ultrastructural interfacial analysis of a single-step adhesive to dentin.

OBJECTIVES: to characterize the interaction of 4-acryloxyethyltrimellitic acid (4-AET), a key ingredient in a commercial all-in-one adhesive (Reactmer Bond) with dentin apatite, to measure the solubility of 4-AET calcium (4-AETCa), and to examine the ultrastructure of the resin-dentin interface bonded by this adhesive. METHODS: solubility of synthesized 4-AETCa in several solutions was measured. Flattened bovine dentin blocks were treated with 0.1wt% NaOCl for 10 min, or 5.0wt% NaOCl for 10 min, or 30 min. Fourier transform infrared analysis using attenuated total reflection (FT-IR/ATR) was performed on these four substrates before and after treatment with a 4-AET mixture (4-AET/HEMA: 40/60wt%). Undemineralized, unstained sections of human sound dentin that were bonded with the same comonomers were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: the respective solubilities of the 4-AETCa in water, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA; 100wt%) and HEMA/water (70/30wt%) were 0.023, 0.003 and 0.014 mol/l after 2 min. The IR analysis indicated that Ca-carboxylate (new bands: nuCz.dbnd6;O:1580 and 1413 cm(-1)) was formed on all dentin specimens following application of 4-AET, with or without NaOCl pretreatment. TEM showed a 1 micro m thick hybrid layer with some remnant apatite crystallites that were encapsulated by a layer of less electron-dense material. SIGNIFICANCE: the results suggest that ionized carboxyl groups in 4-AET may interact with Ca(2+) from apatite crystallites within the partially demineralized hybrid layer to form an insoluble calcium salt (4-AETCa) that may aid in bonding this resin system to dentin.

Animals↗

New colorimetric detection of glucose by means of electron-accepting indicators: ligand substitution of [Fe(acac)3-n(phen)n]n+ complexes triggered by electron transfer from glucose oxidase.

A new colorimetric detection technique for glucose, based on electron transfer from glucose oxidase (GODred) to iron(III) acetylacetonate(acac)/phenanthroline(phen) mixed complexes, is developed. When GOD is added to an aqueous mixture that contains tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III) complex (FeIII-(acac)3), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and glucose, the color immediately changes from pale yellow to red. The red color originates from formation of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) complex ([FeII(phen)3]2+). Differential pulse voltammetry indicates that cationic, mixed-ligand complexes of [Fe(acac)3-n-(phen)n]n+ are formed upon mixing the labile FeIII(acac)3 complex and phenanthroline. The cationic mixed-ligand complexes electrostatically bind to GOD (pI 4.2), and are easily reduced by electron transfer from GODred. This electron transfer is not affected by the presence of oxygen. The reduced complex [FeII(acac)3-n(phen)n](n-1)+ then undergoes rapid ligand exchange to FeII (phen)3. Formation of the colored FeII complex is repressed when the salt concentration in the mixture is increased, or when anionic bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPS) is employed in place of phenanthroline. The use of labile metal complexes as electron acceptors would be widely applicable to the design of new biochromic detection systems.

Electrochemistry↗

Small GTPase Rah/Rab34 is associated with membrane ruffles and macropinosomes and promotes macropinosome formation.

Macropinocytosis is an efficient process for the uptake of nutrients and solute macromolecules into cells from the external environment. Macropinosomes, which are surrounded by actin, are formed from the cell surface membrane ruffles and migrate toward the cell center. We have cloned the entire coding sequence of a member of the Rab family small GTPases, Rah/Rab34. It lacked a consensus sequence for GTP-binding/GTPase domain. Although wild-type Rah exhibited extremely low GTPase activity in vitro, it exerted appreciable GTPase activity in vivo. In fibroblasts, Rah was colocalized with actin to the membrane ruffles and membranes of relatively large vesicles adjacent to the ruffles. These vesicles were identified as macropinosomes on the basis of several criteria. Rah and Rab5 coexisted in some, but not all, macropinosomes. Rah was predominantly associated with nascent macropinosomes, whereas Rab5 was present in endosomes at later stages. The number of macropinosomes in the cells overexpressing Rah increased about 2-fold. The formation of macropinosomes by the treatment of platelet-derived growth factor or phorbol ester was also facilitated by Rah but suppressed by a dominant-negative Rah. Rah-promoted macropinosome formation was retarded by dominant-negative mutants of Rac1 and WAVE2, which are essential for membrane ruffling. These results imply that Rah is required for efficient macropinosome formation from the membrane ruffles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

G-protein alpha(olf) subunit promotes cellular invasion, survival, and neuroendocrine differentiation in digestive and urogenital epithelial cells.

The heterotrimeric G-protein subunits Galpha and Gbetagamma are involved in cellular transformation and tumor development. Here, we report the expression of Galpha(olf) in human digestive and urogenital epithelial cells using RT-PCR and Western blot. When the constitutively activated form of Galpha(olf)Q214L (AGalpha(olf)) was stably transfected in canine kidney MDCKts.src and human colonic HCT-8/S11 epithelial cells, it induced cellular invasion in collagen gels. AGalpha(olf)-mediated invasion was abrogated by agonists of platelet activating factor receptors (PAF-R) and protease-activated receptors -1 (PAR-1), pharmacological inhibitors of PI3'-Kinase (wortmannin), protein kinase C (Gö6976 and GF109203X), Rho GTPase (C3T exoenzyme), but was independent of protein kinase A. Accordingly, the invasive phenotype induced by AGalpha(olf) in HCT-8/S11 cells was reversed by the RhoA antagonist RhoD (G26V). Although AGalpha(olf) protected MDCKts.src cells against serum starvation-mediated apoptosis via a Rho-independent pathway, both AGalpha(olf) and Rho inhibition by C3T induced neuroendocrine-like differentiation linked to extensive neurite outgrowth and parathyroid hormone-related protein expression in human prostatic LNCaP-AGalpha(olf) cells. Since prostate tumors with a larger neuroendocrine cell population display increased invasiveness, persistent activation of the G-protein alpha(olf) may exert convergent adverse effects on cellular invasion and survival in solid tumors during the neoplastic progression towards metastasis. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1205498

Apoptosis↗

WICH, a novel verprolin homology domain-containing protein that functions cooperatively with N-WASP in actin-microspike formation.

We describe a novel protein that contains a verprolin-homology (V) region, through which several actin-regulating proteins, including Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family members, bind directly to actin. The amino acid sequence is homologous to the sequences of WASP-interacting protein (WIP) and CR16, both of which associate with WASP and/or N-WASP, and thus these three proteins constitute a new protein family. We named the protein WICH (WIP- and CR16-homologous protein). WICH associates strongly with N-WASP but only weakly with WASP via its C-terminal WASP-interacting (W) region. Ectopic expression of WICH induces actin-microspike formation through cooperation with N-WASP. In addition, expression of the W fragment of WICH suppresses microspike formation induced by N-WASP, indicating an essential role for WICH in N-WASP-induced microspike formation.

Actins↗

Ermelin, an endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein, contains the novel HELP domain conserved in eukaryotes.

We have cloned a cDNA encoding a novel protein referred to as ermelin from mouse C2 skeletal muscle cells. This protein contained six hydrophobic amino acid stretches corresponding to transmembrane domains, two histidine-rich sequences, and a sequence homologous to the fusion peptides of certain fusion proteins. Ermelin also contained a novel modular sequence, designated as HELP domain, which was highly conserved among eukaryotes, from yeast to higher plants and animals. All these HELP domain-containing proteins, including mouse KE4, Drosophila Catsup, and Arabidopsis IAR1, possessed multipass transmembrane domains and histidine-rich sequences. Ermelin was predominantly expressed in brain and testis, and induced during neuronal differentiation of N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells but downregulated during myogenic differentiation of C2 cells. The mRNA was accumulated in hippocampus and cerebellum of brain and central areas of seminiferous tubules in testis. Epitope-tagging experiments located ermelin and KE4 to a network structure throughout the cytoplasm. Staining with the fluorescent dye DiOC(6)(3) identified this structure as the endoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest that at least some, if not all, of the HELP domain-containing proteins are multipass endoplasmic reticulum membrane proteins with functions conserved among eukaryotes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Up-regulation of CD13/aminopeptidase N induced by phorbol ester is involved in redox regulation and tumor necrosis factor alpha production in HL-60 cells.

Here, we demonstrate the possible involvement of oxidative stress in altered CD13/aminopeptidase N (APN) expression during myeloid cell differentiation induced by TPA. In flow cytometrical analysis, CD13/APN protein was constitutively expressed in HL-60 cells. When the cells were treated with TPA, CD13/APN expression was up-regulated with increased intracellular peroxides and a morphological change into macrophage-like cells. This increase in CD13/APN expression was suppressed by treatment with N-acetylcysteine. Transfection of Mn-superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene to the cells also suppressed the up-regulated CD13/APN expression. Furthermore, a neutralizing antibody to TNFalpha partially blocked this up-regulation. These results indicate that the change in intracellular redox state could be involved in the up-regulation of CD13/APN expression during TPA-induced differentiation of HL-60 cells, suggesting that TNFalpha may serve as, at least, one of the signals stimulated by TPA.

Acetylcysteine↗

A catalytically inactive beta 1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) behaves as a dominant negative GnT-III inhibitor.

beta 1,4-N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) plays a regulatory role in the biosynthesis of N-glycans, and it has been suggested that its product, a bisecting GlcNAc, is involved in a variety of biological events as well as in regulating the biosynthesis of the oligosaccharides. In this study, it was found, on the basis of sequence homology, that GnT-III contains a small region that is significantly homologous to both snail beta 1,4GlcNAc transferase and beta1,4Gal transferase-1. Subsequent mutational analysis demonstrated an absolute requirement for two conserved Asp residues (Asp321 and Asp323), which are located in the most homologous region of rat GnT-III, for enzymatic activity. The overexpression of Asp323-substituted, catalytically inactive GnT-III in Huh6 cells led to the suppression of the activity of endogenous GnT-III, but no significant decrease in its expression, and led to a specific inhibition of the formation of bisected sugar chains, as shown by structural analysis of the total N-glycans from the cells. These findings indicate that the mutant serves a dominant negative effect on a specific step in N-glycan biosynthesis. This type of 'dominant negative glycosyltransferase', identified has potential value as a powerful tool for defining the precise biological roles of the bisecting GlcNAc structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A glycomic approach to hepatic tumors in N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) transgenic mice induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN): identification of haptoglobin as a target molecule of GnT-III.

A glycomic approach to the identification of target molecules in glycosyltransferase gene targeting mice is a promising strategy to understand the biological significance of glycosyltransferase genes in vivo. In order to understand the biological effects of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) on tumor formation in the liver, diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced tumor formation in the GnT-III transgenic mice was examined. Our findings show that the incidence of hepatic tumor could be dramatically suppressed. A glycomic approach using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by lectin blot analysis and sequence analysis revealed that haptoglobin, a radical scavenger molecule in serum was heavily glycosylated in hepatic tumor-bearing GnT-III transgenic mice that had been treated with DEN. Immunoprecipitation followed by E4-PHA lectin blot analysis also confirmed that the bisecting GlcNAc, a product of GnT-III was added to haptoglobin molecules. Since the use of DEN is known to lead to the production of lipid peroxidation products which facilitate this reaction and haptoglobin is an acute phase reactant, acting as a radical scavenger against hemoglobin or iron stimulated lipid peroxidation, a relationship between the glycosylation of haptoglobin and the suppression of hepatoma development can not be ruled out. This paper is the first report that shows a relationship between the sugar chains of glycoproteins with radical scavenger activity and hepatocarcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Differential expression of glutathione reductase and cytosolic glutathione peroxidase, GPX1, in developing rat lungs and kidneys.

A mutant rat GPX1 (a cytosolic predominant form), in which the selenocysteine residue in the catalytic center was replaced by cysteine, was prepared and an antibody against the mutant enzyme was raised. The resultant antibody specifically reacted with rat GPX1 and was, together with the Glutathione reductase (GR) antibody, used in a Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry experiments. To elucidate the physiological coupling of these enzymes under oxidative stress which accompanies the birth, developmental changes of the protein levels and enzymatic activities of GR and GPX1 were examined for lungs and kidneys from prenatal fetus to adult rats. The expression of GR was already evident at the prenatal stage and remained high in lungs at all stages. However, GR activity in kidneys gradually increased after birth reaching maximal levels at adulthood. An immunohistochemical study showed that GR was strongly bound to the bronchial epithelia in lungs and the epithelial cells of renal tubes. GPX1 was expressed in the renal tube epithelial cells and its level gradually increased after birth in a manner similar to that of GR. The expression of GPX1 in the lungs was, on the other hand, variable and occurred in some alveolar cells and bronchial epithelia only at restricted periods. It preferentially localized in nuclei at a late stage of development. Thus, the expression of the two functionally coupled enzymes via GSH did not appear to coordinate with development, tissue localization or under oxidative stress. Since many gene products show GSH-dependent preoxidase activity, other peroxidase(s) may be induced to compensate for the low GPX1 levels at stages with high GR expression.

Animals↗