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Biomedical subjects

Ulf Hellman

Publications and source records attributed to Ulf Hellman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Methylation of Smad6 by protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1.

Signal transduction pathways utilize posttranslational modifications to regulate the activity of their components in a temporal-spatial and efficient fashion. Arginine methylation is one of the posttranslational modifications that can result in monomethylated-, asymmetric dimethylated- and/or symmetric dimethylated-arginine residues in proteins. Here we demonstrate that inhibitory-Smads (Smad6 and Smad7), but not receptor-regulated- (R-)Smads and the common-partner Smad4, can be methylated by protein arginine N-methyltransferase (PRMT)1. Using mass-spectrometric analysis, we found that PRMT1 dimethylates arginine(74) (Arg(74)) in mouse Smad6. PRMT1 interacts with the N-terminal domain of Smad6 in which Arg(74) residue is located. Assays examined so far have shown no significant differences between the functions of Smad6 and those of methylation-defective Smad6 (Smad6R74A). Both wild-type and Smad6R74A were equally efficient in blocking BMP-induced growth arrest upon their ectopic expression in HS-72 mouse B-cell hybridoma cells.

Alanine↗
PubMed2006

Alix facilitates the interaction between c-Cbl and platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor and thereby modulates receptor down-regulation.

Alix (ALG-2-interacting protein X) is an adaptor protein involved in down-regulation and sorting of cell surface receptors through the endosomal compartments toward the lysosome. In this study, we show that Alix interacts with the C-terminal region of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) beta-receptor (PDGFRbeta) and becomes transiently tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to PDGF-BB stimulation. Increased expression levels of Alix resulted in a reduced rate of PDGFRbeta removal from the cell surface following receptor activation, and this was associated with decreased receptor degradation. Furthermore, Alix was found to co-immunoprecipitate with the ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl, and elevated Alix levels increased the interaction between c-Cbl and PDGFRbeta. Interestingly, Alix interacted constitutively with both c-Cbl and PDGFRbeta. Moreover, c-Cbl was found to be hyperphosphorylated in cells engineered to overexpress Alix compared with control cells. The increased c-Cbl phosphorylation correlated with enhanced proteasomal degradation of c-Cbl, which in turn correlated with a decreased ubiquitination of PDGFRbeta. Our data suggest that Alix inhibits down-regulation of PDGFRbeta by modulating the interaction between c-Cbl and the receptor, thereby affecting the ubiquitination of the receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Yeast elf1 factor is phosphorylated and interacts with protein kinase CK2.

One of the biggest group of proteins influenced by protein kinase CK2 is formed by factors engaged in gene expression. Here we have reported recently identified yeast transcription elongation factor Elf1 as a new substrate for both monomeric and tetrameric forms of CK2. Elf1 serves as a substrate for both the recombinant CK2alpha' (K(m) 0.38 microM) and holoenzyme (K(m) 0.13 microM). By MALDI-MS we identified the two serine residues at positions 95 and 117 as the most probable in vitro phosphorylation sites. Coimmunoprecypitation experiments show that Elf1 interacts with catalytic (alpha and alpha') as well as regulatory (beta and beta') subunits of CK2. These data may help to elucidate the role of protein kinase CK2 and Elf1 in the regulation of transcription elongation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Fip1--an essential component of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae polyadenylation machinery is phosophorylated by protein kinase CK2.

Since Fip1 is phosphoprotein we investigated whether it is a substrate for protein kinase CK2. According to the amino acid sequence Fip1 harbours twenty putative CK2 phosphorylation sites. Here we have report characterization of Fip1 as a substrate for both forms of CK2. Fip1 serves as a substrate for both the recombinant CK2alpha ' (Km 1.28 microM) and holoenzyme (Km 1.4 microM) but not for CK1. By MALDI-MS we identified the two serine residues at positions 73 and 77 as the possible in vitro phosphorylation sites. These data may help to elucidate the role of Fip1 in the mRNA 3'-OH polyadenylation process and the involvement of CK2 mediated phosphorylation in regulation of interactions and activity members of cleavage/polyadenylation factor (CPF) complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Increased expression of cSHMT, Tbx3 and utrophin in plasma of ovarian and breast cancer patients.

Plasma samples of ovarian and breast cancer patients were used to search for markers of cancer using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Truncated forms of cytosolic serine hydroxymethyl transferase (cSHMT), T-box transcription factor 3 (Tbx3) and utrophin were aberrantly expressed in samples from cancer patients as compared to samples from noncancerous cases. Aberrant expression of proteins was validated by immunoblotting of plasma samples with specific antibodies to cSHMT, Tbx3 and utrophin. A cohort of 79 breast and 39 ovarian cancer patients and 31 individuals with noncancerous conditions was studied. We observed increased expression of truncated cSHMT, Tbx3 and utrophin in plasma samples obtained from patients at early stages of disease. Our data suggest that cSHMT, Tbx3 and utrophin can be used as components of multiparameter monitoring of ovarian and breast cancer (supplementary material for this article can be found on the International Journal of Cancer website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0020-7136/suppmat/index.html).

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2006

Interaction and functional cooperation between the serine/threonine kinase bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor with the tyrosine kinase stem cell factor receptor.

Transmembrane receptors with intrinsic serine/threonine or tyrosine kinase domains regulate vital functions of cells in multicellular eukaryotes, e.g., differentiation, apoptosis, and proliferation. Here, we show that bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR-II) which has a serine/threonine kinase domain, and stem cell factor receptor (c-kit) which contains a tyrosine kinase domain form a complex in vitro and in vivo; the interaction is induced upon treatment of cells with BMP2 and SCF. Stem cell factor (SCF) modulated BMP2-dependent activation of Smad1/5/8 and phosphorylation of Erk kinase. SCF also enhanced BMP2-dependent differentiation of C2C12 cells. We found that BMPR-II was phosphorylated at Ser757 upon co-expression with and activation of c-kit. BMPR-II phosphorylation required intact kinase activity of BMPR-II. Abrogation of the c-kit/SCF-dependent phosphorylation of BMPR-II at the Ser757 interfered with the cooperative effect of BMP2 and SCF. Our data suggest that the complex formation between c-kit and BMPR-II leads to phosphorylation of BMPR-II at Ser757, which modulates BMPR-II-dependent signaling.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of two sample preparation methods for prostate proteome analysis.

For laboratory techniques that require well-preserved proteins, such as 2-DE, fresh tissue must be harvested and processed as fast as possible to avoid proteolytic degradation. We describe a modified method for harvesting tissue from radical prostatectomy specimens for proteome analysis and compare it with the standard technique. Cells were scraped from cut surfaces of 11 prostate specimens. A fraction of the material was smeared on a glass slide and Giemsa stained for morphological control. The sample was collected in a medium with protease inhibitors, and the protein material was prepared for 2-DE. Filtering and Percoll centrifugation were omitted. Sample locations were noted on a specimen map. From the same area, a tissue block was harvested for comparison. The block was processed with the conventional technique including mechanical disintegration, filtering and Percoll centrifugation. Quality measures of 2-DE were similar with both methods. With the scrape sampling technique, control smears showed abundant epithelial cells and a cleaner background and processing was faster than with tissue block sampling. For proteomic analysis, the scrape sample technique has several advantages over the tissue block method.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗
PubMed2006

Correlation of protein expression, Gleason score and DNA ploidy in prostate cancer.

The prognosis of prostate cancer correlates with tumor differentiation. Gleason score and DNA ploidy are two prognostic factors that correlate with prognosis. We analyzed differences in protein expression in prostate cancer of high and low aggressiveness according to these measures. From 35 prostatectomy specimens, 29 cancer samples and 10 benign samples were harvested by scraping cells from cut surfaces. DNA ploidy was assessed by image cytometry. Protein preparations from cell suspensions were examined by 2-DE. Protein spots that differed quantitatively between sample groups were identified by MS fingerprinting of tryptic fragments and MS/MS sequence analysis. We found 39 protein spots with expression levels that were raised or lowered in correlation with Gleason score and/or DNA ploidy pattern (31 overexpressed in high-malignant cancer, 8 underexpressed). Of these, 30 were identified by MS. Among overexpressed proteins were heat-shock, structural and membrane proteins and enzymes involved in gene silencing, protein synthesis/degradation, mitochondrial protein import (metaxin 2), detoxification (GST-pi) and energy metabolism. Stroma-associated proteins were generally underexpressed. The protein expression of prostate cancer correlates with tumor differentiation. Potential prognostic markers may be found among proteins that are differentially expressed and the clinical value of these should be validated.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Glycoproteome profiling of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) signaling: nonglycosylated cell death-inducing DFF-like effector A inhibits TGFbeta1-dependent apoptosis.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) is a potent regulator of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. TGFbeta binds to specific serine/threonine kinase receptors, which leads to activation of Smad-dependent and Smad-independent signaling pathways. O-Glycosylation is a dynamic PTM which has been observed in many regulatory proteins, but has not been studied in the context of TGFbeta signaling. To explore the effect of TGFbeta1 on protein O-glycosylation in human breast epithelial cells, we performed analyses of proteins which were affinity purified with Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA). HPA lectin allowed enrichment of proteins containing GalNAc and GlcNAc linked to serine and threonine residues. Using 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS, we identified 21 HPA-precipitated proteins, which were affected by treatment of cells with TGFbeta1. Among these proteins, regulators of cell survival, apoptosis, trafficking, and RNA processing were identified. We found that TGFbeta1 inhibited the appearance of cell death-inducing DFF-like effector A (CIDE-A) in 2-D gels with HPA-precipitated proteins. CIDE-A is a cell death activator which promotes DNA fragmentation. We observed that TGFbeta1 did not affect expression of CIDE-A, but inhibited its glycosylation. We found that deglycosylation of CIDE-A correlated with enhanced nuclear export of the protein, and that high level of nonglycosylated CIDE-A inhibited TGFbeta1-dependent cell death. Thus, inhibition of the glycosylation of CIDE-A may be a mechanism to protect cells from apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

Replacement surgery with unnatural amino acids in the lock-and-key joint of glutathione transferase subunits.

Proteins contain amino acid residues essential to structure and function. Ribosomal protein synthesis is typically limited to the 20 amino acids of the genetic code, but posttranslational chemical modifications can greatly expand the diversity of side chain functionalities. In this investigation, a natural aromatic residue in the lock-and-key joint at the subunit interface of the dimeric glutathione transferase P1-1 was replaced by an S-alkylcysteine residue to give a functional enzyme. Introduction of Cys in the key position inactivates the enzyme, but subsequent alkylation of this residue enhances the catalytic efficiency up to 27,000-fold. Combinatorial modification of Cys by a mixture of reagents facilitated identification of an n-butyl group as the most efficient activator. Alkylation also enhanced binding affinity for active-site ligands and stabilized the enzyme against chemical denaturation and thermal inactivation.

Alkylation↗
PubMed2005

Euglena gracilis ribonucleotide reductase: the eukaryote class II enzyme and the possible antiquity of eukaryote B12 dependence.

Ribonucleotide reductases provide the building blocks for DNA synthesis. Three classes of enzymes are known, differing widely in amino acid sequence but with similar structural motives and allosteric regulation. Class I occurs in eukaryotes and aerobic prokaryotes, class II occurs in aerobic and anaerobic prokaryotes, and class III occurs in anaerobic prokaryotes. The eukaryote Euglena gracilis contains a class II enzyme (Gleason, F. K., and Hogenkamp, H. P. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 4894-4899) and, thus, forms an exception. Class II enzymes depend on vitamin B(12) for their activity. We purified the reductase from Euglena cells, determined partial peptide sequences, identified its cDNA, and purified the recombinant enzyme. Its amino acid sequence and general properties, including its allosteric behavior, were similar to the class II reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii. Both enzymes belong to a distinct small group of reductases that unlike all other homodimeric reductases are monomeric. They compensate the loss of the second polypeptide of dimeric enzymes by a large insertion in the monomeric chain. Data base searching and sequence comparison revealed a homolog from the eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum as the closest relative to the Euglena reductase, suggesting that the class II enzyme was present in a common, B(12)-dependent, eukaryote ancestor.

Algal Proteins↗
PubMed2005

In vivo expression and characteristics of novel alpha-D-mannose-rich glycoprotein markers of apoptotic cells.

We recently established that an increased expression of alpha-D-mannose (Man)- and beta-D-galactose-rich plasma membrane glycoproteins (GPs) is characteristic for apoptotic cells in vitro [Bilyy, R.O., Stoika, R.S., 2003. Lectinocytochemical detection of apoptotic murine leukemia L1210 cells. Cytometry 56A, 89-95]. It was independent of cell line or apoptosis-inducing agent, and can therefore be considered as a selective marker for identification and isolation of apoptotic cells [Bilyy, R.O., Antonyuk, V.O., Stoika, R.S., 2004. Cytochemical study of role of alpha-D-mannose- and beta-D-galactose-containing glycoproteins in apoptosis. J. Mol. Histol. 35, 829-838]. The main goals of the present study were: (1) to determine whether an increased expression of specific GPs also takes place after apoptosis induction in vivo; and (2) to identify additional characteristics of the membrane GP markers of the apoptotic cells. To reach these goals, we studied the expression of alpha-Man-rich membrane GPs in murine leukemia L1210 cells inoculated into abdominal cavities of mice which were then subjected to the action of apoptosis inducer doxorubicin. Another experimental model used in the present work was splenocytes obtained from mice treated with dexamethasone. Lectin-affinity chromatography and PAGE electrophoresis, or PAGE electrophoresis and lectinoblot analysis were applied for isolation of plasma membrane GPs (34 kDa, and high M(W) of approximately 600 and 800 kDa) whose expressions were increased during apoptosis. Triton X-114 treatment of cell membrane samples showed that the apoptotic cell-specific GPs were localized in the peripheral and integral compartments of plasma membrane. Apoptosis in vitro and in vivo was accompanied by an increased expression of the same GP, identified by MALDI-TOF MS analysis as the microtubule-actin cross-linking factor 1. Other GPs, whose expressions were also increased at apoptosis, were similarly identified as G-protein beta-subunit like (Acc# BAA06185.1) and dystonin isoform beta.

Actins↗
PubMed2005

IGF-1 receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition by the cyclolignan PPP induces G2/M-phase accumulation and apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells.

Emerging evidence suggests the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) to be an important mediator of tumor-cell survival and resistance to cytotoxic therapy in multiple myeloma (MM). Recently, members of the cyclolignan family have been shown to selectively inhibit the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity of the IGF-1R beta-chain. The effects of the cyclolignan picropodophyllin (PPP) were studied in vitro using a panel of 13 MM cell lines and freshly purified tumor cells from 10 patients with MM. PPP clearly inhibited growth in all MM cell lines and primary MM samples cultured in the presence or absence of bone marrow stromal cells. PPP induced a profound accumulation of cells in the G(2)/M-phase and an increased apoptosis. Importantly, IGF-1, IGF-2, insulin, or IL-6 did not reduce the inhibitory effects of PPP. As demonstrated by in vitro kinase assays, PPP down-regulated the IGF-1 RTK activity without inhibiting the insulin RTK activity. This conferred decreased phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and reduced cyclin dependent kinase (CDK1) activity. In addition, the expression of mcl-1 and survivin was reduced. Taken together, we suggest that interfering with the IGF-1 RTK by using the cyclolignan PPP offers a novel and selective therapeutic strategy for MM.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2005

Phosphoproteome profiling of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling: abrogation of TGFbeta1-dependent phosphorylation of transcription factor-II-I (TFII-I) enhances cooperation of TFII-I and Smad3 in transcription.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) signaling involves activation of a number of signaling pathways, several of which are controlled by phosphorylation events. Here, we describe a phosphoproteome profiling of MCF-7 human breast epithelial cells treated with TGFbeta1. We identified 32 proteins that change their phosphorylation upon treatment with TGFbeta1; 26 of these proteins are novel targets of TGFbeta1. We show that Smad2 and Smad3 have different effects on the dynamics of TGFbeta1-induced protein phosphorylation. The identified proteins belong to nine functional groups, e.g., proteins regulating RNA processing, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and proteasomal degradation. To evaluate the proteomics findings, we explored the functional importance of TGFbeta1-dependent phosphorylation of one of the targets, i.e., transcription factor-II-I (TFII-I). We confirmed that TGFbeta1 stimulated TFII-I phosphorylation at serine residues 371 and 743. Abrogation of the phosphorylation by replacement of Ser371 and Ser743 with alanine residues resulted in enhanced complex formation between TFII-I and Smad3, and enhanced cooperation between TFII-I and Smad3 in transcriptional regulation, as evaluated by a microarray-based measurement of expression of endogenous cyclin D2, cyclin D3, and E2F2 genes, and by a luciferase reporter assay. Thus, TGFbeta1-dependent phosphorylation of TFII-I may modulate TGFbeta signaling at the transcriptional level.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2005

Siroheme- and [Fe4-S4]-dependent NirA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a sulfite reductase with a covalent Cys-Tyr bond in the active site.

The nirA gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is up-regulated in the persistent state of the bacteria, suggesting that it is a potential target for the development of antituberculosis agents particularly active against the pathogen in its dormant phase. This gene encodes a ferredoxin-dependent sulfite reductase, and the structure of the enzyme has been determined using x-ray crystallography. The enzyme is a monomer comprising 555 amino acids and contains a [Fe4-S4] cluster and a siroheme cofactor. The molecule is built up of three domains with an alpha/beta fold. The first domain consists of two ferredoxin-like subdomains, related by a pseudo-2-fold symmetry axis passing through the whole molecule. The other two domains, which provide much of the binding interactions with the cofactors, have a common fold that is unique to the sulfite/nitrite reductase family. The domains form a trilobal structure, with the cofactors and the active site located at the interface of all three domains in the center of the molecule. NirA contains an unusual covalent bond between the side chains of Tyr69 and Cys161 in the active site, in close proximity to the siroheme cofactor. Removal of this covalent bond by site-directed mutagenesis impairs catalytic activity, suggesting that it is important for the enzymatic reaction. These residues are part of a sequence fingerprint, able to distinguish between ferredoxin-dependent sulfite and nitrite reductases. Comparison of NirA with the structure of the truncated NADPH-dependent sulfite reductase from Escherichia coli suggests a binding site for the external electron donor ferredoxin close to the [Fe4-S4] cluster.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2005

Amyloid deposits in transthyretin-derived amyloidosis: cleaved transthyretin is associated with distinct amyloid morphology.

The pathological fibrillar deposits found in the heart and other organs of patients with senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA) and Swedish familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) contain wild-type (wt) and a mutant form of transthyretin (TTR), respectively. Previously, it was reported that these two forms of amyloid have different molecular features and it was thus postulated that the mechanism responsible for TTR fibrillogenesis in SSA and FAP may differ. To document further the nature of the amyloid in these entities, detailed morphological, histochemical, immunological, and structural analyses of specimens obtained from 14 individuals with SSA and 11 Swedish FAP patients have been performed. Two distinct patterns of amyloid deposition (designated A and B) were evident. In pattern A, found in all SSA and five of 11 FAP cases, the amyloid had a homogeneous but patchy distribution within the sub-endocardium, sub-epicardium, and myocardium; exhibited weak congophilia and green birefringence; and was composed of tightly packed, short, unorientated fibrils. This material contained mainly approximately 79-residue C-terminal fragments of the amyloidogenic precursor protein. In pattern B, seen in the six other FAP patients, the amyloid appeared as thin streaks throughout the cardiac tissue; often surrounded individual muscle cells; was strongly congophilic and birefringent; had long fibrils arranged in parallel bundles, often penetrating into myocytes; and was composed of virtually intact TTR molecules. These findings provide substantive evidence for the morphological and structural heterogeneity of TTR fibrils and suggest that the two types of deposition may reflect fundamental differences in the pathogenesis of the TTR-associated amyloidoses.

Adult↗