Biomedical subjects

Tommaso Beccari

Publications and source records attributed to Tommaso Beccari.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cloning and expression of mouse cytosolic alpha-mannosidase (Man2c1).

It is known that the neutral/cytosolic alpha-mannosidase (Man2c1) which can cleave alpha 1,2-, alpha 1,3-, and alpha 1,6-linked mannose residues, is stimulated by cobalt and is inhibited by furanose analogues swainsonine (SW) and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-mannitol (DIM). The enzyme is involved in the degradation of oligomannosides derived from dolichol intermediates and the degradation of newly synthesized glycoproteins. An immunological relationship has been demonstrated between the rat endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase and the cytosolic alpha-mannosidase. In fact antibodies raised against the soluble alpha-mannosidase recognized the membrane form of the ER alpha-mannosidase. A cDNA encoding the mouse cytosolic alpha-mannosidase was obtained by RZPD (Deutsches Ressourcenzentrum fur Genomforschung GmbH), Berlin, Germany. Comparison of the mouse genomic sequence with the cDNA sequence revealed the presence of 25 introns within the cytosolic alpha-mannosidase gene. The gene spans 11.5 kb from the major transcription initiation site to the RNA cleavage site. The transcription initiation site of mouse cytosolic alpha-mannosidase was mapped to 170 bases upstream of the ATG codon using 5' RACE. Northern blotting analysis revealed expression of a major transcript of 3.8 kb in all tissues examined. COS cells transfected with the cDNA showed a 20-fold increase in cytosolic alpha-mannosidase activity. This enzyme activity was stimulated by cobalt and inhibited by DIM and EDTA. Furthermore we demonstrated that the expressed enzyme was active towards the radiolabeled substrate Man9GlcNAc1 giving the final product Man5GlcNAc1 through the formation of Man8GlcNAc1 isomer C as intermediate.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

PubMed2006

Sterol dependent regulation of human TM7SF2 gene expression: role of the encoded 3beta-hydroxysterol Delta14-reductase in human cholesterol biosynthesis.

3Beta-hydroxysterol Delta(14)-reductase operates during the conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol in mammalian cells. Besides the endoplasmic reticulum 3beta-hydroxysterol Delta(14)-reductase (C14SR) encoded by TM7SF2 gene, the lamin B receptor (LBR) of the inner nuclear membrane possesses 3beta-hydroxysterol Delta(14)-reductase activity, based on its ability to complement C14SR-defective yeast strains. LBR was indicated as the primary 3beta-hydroxysterol Delta(14)-reductase in human cholesterol biosynthesis, since mutations in LBR gene were found in Greenberg skeletal dysplasia, characterized by accumulation of Delta(14)-unsaturated sterols. This study addresses the issue of C14SR and LBR role in cholesterol biosynthesis. Both human C14SR and LBR expressed in COS-1 cells exhibit 3beta-hydroxysterol Delta(14)-reductase activity in vitro. TM7SF2 mRNA and C14SR protein expression in HepG2 cells grown in delipidated serum (LPDS) plus lovastatin (sterol starvation) were 4- and 8-fold higher, respectively, than in LPDS plus 25-hydroxycholesterol (sterol feeding), resulting in 4-fold higher 3beta-hydroxysterol Delta(14)-reductase activity. No variations in LBR mRNA and protein levels were detected in the same conditions. The induction of TM7SF2 gene expression is turned-on by promoter activation in response to low cell sterol levels and is mediated by SREBP-2. The results suggest a primary role of C14SR in human cholesterol biosynthesis, whereas LBR role in the pathway remains unclear.

Bone Diseases, Developmental↗

PubMed2006

Fluorimetric determination of activity and isoenzyme composition of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase in seminal plasma of fertile men and infertile patients with secretory azoospermia.

BACKGROUND: The activity and isoenzyme composition of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase (EC.3.2.1.52) in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men have been evaluated. However, no data are available on the isoenzyme content in seminal plasma from patients with secretory azoospermia. METHODS: The activity and isoenzyme composition of seminal plasma from 15 normozoospermic controls and 18 patients with secretory azoospermia were determined by fluorimetric methods. 4-Methylumbelliferil-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 4-methylumbelliferil-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside-6-sulfate were used as fluorigenic substrates. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the assays. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in total enzyme activity between the two groups, while isoenzyme A activity was significantly lower (p=0.004) and the ratio between total enzyme activity and isoenzyme A activity was significantly higher (p=0.04) in azoospermic patients compared to controls. The diagnostic efficiency of these evaluations was low (< or =75.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the isoenzyme composition of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase in seminal plasma from patients with secretory azoospermia is significantly different from controls, but this difference does not represent a useful marker of secretory azoospermia. The fluorimetric assays are simple and rapid methods for evaluating the isoenzyme composition.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Identification and characterization of five novel MAN2B1 mutations in Italian patients with alpha-mannosidosis.

Mutation analysis performed on six Italian families with alpha-mannosidosis type II allowed the identification of five new mutations in the MAN2B1 gene: c.157G>T, c.562C>T, c.599A>T, c.293dupA, c.2402G>A (p.E53X, p.R188X, p.H200L, p.Y99VfsX61, p.G801D). Protein residues G801 and H200 are conserved among the four mammalian alpha-mannosidases cloned to date: human, cattle, cat and mouse. In vitro expression studies demonstrated that both missense mutations expressed no residual alpha-mannosidase activity indicating that they are disease-causing mutations. Modelling into the three-dimensional structure revealed that the p.H200L could involve the catalytic mechanism, whereas p.G801D would affect the correct folding of the enzyme.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy in alpha-mannosidosis mice: a preclinical animal study.

Alpha-mannosidosis is a lysosomal storage disorder which manifests itself in the excessive storage of mannose-containing oligosaccharides in the lysosomes of multiple peripheral tissues and in the brain. Here we report on the correction of storage in a mouse model of alpha-mannosidosis after intravenous administration of lysosomal acid alpha-mannosidase (LAMAN) from bovine kidney, and human and mouse recombinant LAMAN. The bovine and the human enzyme were barely phosphorylated, whereas the bulk of the mouse LAMAN contained mannose 6-phosphate recognition markers. The clearance decreased from bovine to human to mouse LAMAN with plasma half-times of 4, 8 and 12 min, respectively. The apparent half-life of the internalized enzyme was dependent on the enzyme source as well as tissue type and varied between 3 and 16 h. The corrective effect on the storage of neutral oligosaccharides was time-, tissue- and dose-dependent, and the effects were observed to be transient. After a single dose of LAMAN the maximum corrective effect was observed between 2 and 6 days after injection. In general the corrective effect of the human LAMAN was higher than that of the mouse LAMAN and lowest for the bovine LAMAN. Injection of 250 mU human LAMAN/g body weight followed by a subsequent injection 3.5 days later was sufficient to clear liver, kidney and heart from neutral oligosaccharides. Surprisingly a decrease in mannose containing oligosaccharides was also observed in the brain, with storage levels reported at <30% than that found in controls. These data clearly underline the efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy for the correction of storage in alpha-mannosidosis and suggest that this treatment can substantially decrease storage in the brain.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Mouse sulphamidase gene: characterization of the promoter region of the gene and expression in mouse tissues.

Sulphamidase is a lysosomal enzyme necessary for the degradation of heparan sulphate. The deficiency of this hydrolase causes a disorder known as mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA, characterized by a profound neurological deterioration. Human and mouse exon-intron structures were reported without any characterization of their promoter regions [DNA Res. 3 (1996) 269; Mamm. Genome 11 (2000) 436]. The promoter region was isolated and characterized to understand the factors affecting the expression of mouse sulphamidase. The 5'-flanking region was shown to contain a GC-rich region and putative binding sites for the transcription factors SRY, MZF1 and Nkx-2.5 with no TATA or CAAT boxes present. The 5' region had promoter activity to drive luciferase gene expression in transfected COS cells. The transcription initiation site of mouse sulphamidase was mapped to a single adenine residue 355 bases upstream of ATG codon. Northern blot analysis revealed differential expression of a major transcript of 4.5 kb in all tissues examined. Finally, the 3'-untranslated region of the mouse sulphamidase gene was isolated and found to be longer than the region identified in the human gene.

3' Flanking Region↗

PubMed2003

Cathepsin B in osteoblasts.

Active cathepsin B has been found in cell extract and medium of human osteoblast-like cells and MG-63 cells. The released form is stable at neutral and alkaline pH and, in both cell types, intracellular and extracellular cathepsin B activities are increased by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) and parathyroid hormone (PTH). To evaluate the physiological role of cathepsin B in osteoblasts, we investigated the production and secretion of this enzyme in normal human synovial fibroblasts and modulation by IL-1beta and PTH. Lactate secretion concurrent with release of cathepsin B and comparable responses in osteoblasts were also examined. Our data show that synovial fibroblasts respond differently to treatment with the two agents, suggesting a cell-specific regulation of cathepsin B and possible involvement in osteoblast physiology. Cathepsin B involvement was then evaluated in the activation of plasminogen activator (PA) in MG-63 cells using two specific inhibitors of cathepsin B, CA074 and CA074-Me, in constitutive conditions and after treatment with IL-1beta. As results of PA activity obtained in the presence of IL-beta were in contrast with previous reports, we examined the activities of PA, pro-PA activated with trypsin, and plasmin in cell extract and media of MG-63 cells after 24-h treatment with IL-1beta. Results show that in normal conditions and in the presence of IL-1beta, cathepsin B is involved in the activation of PA. Moreover, IL-1beta stimulates PA, pro-PA activated by trypsin, and plasmin activity in medium, whereas in cell extract it stimulates pro-PA activated by trypsin and plasmin activity. IL-1beta has no effect on cell extract-associated PA.

Cathepsin B↗

PubMed2002

Cloning and expression of sterol Delta 14-reductase from bovine liver.

Biosynthesis of cholesterol represents one of the fundamental cellular metabolic processes. Sterol Delta 14-reductase (Delta 14-SR) is a microsomal enzyme involved in the conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol in mammals. Amino-acid sequence analysis of a 38-kDa protein purified from bovine liver in our laboratory revealed > 90% similarity with a human sterol reductase, SR-1, encoded by the TM7SF2 gene, and with the C-terminal domain of human lamin B receptor. A cDNA encoding the 38-kDa protein, similar to human TM7SF2, was identified by analysis of a bovine expressed sequence tag (EST) database. The cDNA was synthesized by RT-PCR, cloned, and sequenced. The cDNA encodes a 418 amino-acid polypeptide with nine predicted transmembrane domains. The deduced amino-acid sequence exhibits high similarity with Delta 14-SR from yeasts, fungi, and plants (55-59%), suggesting that the bovine cDNA encodes Delta 14-SR. Northern blot analysis of bovine tissues showed high expression of mRNA in liver and brain. The polypeptide encoded by the cloned cDNA was expressed in COS-7 cells. Immunofluorescence analysis of transfected cells revealed a distribution of the protein throughout the ER. COS-7 cells expressing the protein exhibited Delta 14-SR activity about sevenfold higher than control cells. These results demonstrate that the cloned bovine cDNA encodes Delta 14-SR and provide evidence that the human TM7SF2 gene encodes Delta 14-SR.

Amino Acid Sequence↗