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W K McCoubrey

Publications and source records attributed to W K McCoubrey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Heme oxygenase-2 interaction with metalloporphyrins: function of heme regulatory motifs.

Heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) degrades heme [Fe-protoporphyrin IX (Fe-PP)] to CO and bilirubin. The enzyme is a hemoprotein and interacts with nitric oxide. HO-2 has two copies of heme regulatory motif (HRM) with a conserved core of Cys264-Pro265 and Cys281-Pro282. We examined interaction of HO-2 HRMs with Fe-PP, Zn-protoporphyrin IX (Zn-PP; HO-2 inhibitor), and protoporphyrin IX (PP IX). Spectral analyses, using 1:4 or 1:1 molar ratio of the heme to 10-residue peptides, corresponding to HRM containing HO-2 sequences, revealed specific interactions as indicated by a shift in the absorption spectrum of heme. Five residue peptides qualitatively produced similar results. Substitution of cysteine with alanine in either peptide eliminated interactions, and substitution of proline with alanine reduced the peptides' affinity for heme. Neither Zn-PP nor PP IX absorption spectrum was affected by HRM peptides. The circular dichroism spectra confirmed heme-HRM peptides interactions. An astounding 4,000-6,000-fold higher concentrations of KCN were required at pH 7.5 to displace HRM peptides from heme. Data suggest (a) each HRM can contribute to HO-2-heme interaction, (b) heme iron interacts with cysteine thiol, (c) charged residues upstream of Cys264-Pro265 result in its high-affinity heme binding, and (d) inhibition of HO-2 activity by synthetic metalloporphyrins does not involve HRMs. We suggest that heme bound to HRMs may serve as a binding site/reservoir for gaseous signal molecules.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2000

Developmentally regulated expression of two transcripts for heme oxygenase-2 with a first exon unique to rat testis: control by corticosterone of the oxygenase protein expression.

Heme oxygenase (HO)-2, the constitutive cognate of oxidative stress inducible HO-1 (HSP32), degrades heme to biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron. The highest levels of HO-2 are found in the testis. Previously we identified multiple HO-2 homologous transcripts that differ in size and use three different 5' UTRs that form the untranslated first exon of the gene (referred to as rHO-2, rHO-2-1 and rHO-2-2) and two poly(A) signals. Also, we have characterized a functional glucocorticoid response element (GRE) in the promoter region of rHO-2. In this study, we have examined the structural basis for size heterogeneity of HO-2 transcripts and whether expression of HO-2 at mRNA and protein levels is subject to regulation by corticosterone. Age and tissue-dependence of transcript expression were examined as well. Our data indicate that the remarkable increase in HO-2 mRNA in adult rat testis is due primarily to generation of two HO-2 homologous transcripts of approx. 2.1kb and approx. 1.45kb size that use rHO-2 and are unique to this tissue, and that rHO-2 is not used within other organs. These transcripts are not present in the brain, kidney, thymus, heart, spleen, liver, or in prepubertal 14day old rat testis. The testis-specific transcripts contain all of the coding region exons present in the approx. 1.3kb and approx. 1.9kb transcripts that are common to all organs, including the adult and prepubertal rat testis. Differential use of the poly(A) signals accounts for the difference in size of these two transcripts. Treatment of newborn rats with corticosterone for 5days, starting on day 2 after birth, induced HO-2 protein expression in the testis as detected by Western blotting. In adult rat testis, corticosterone treatment, however, was not an effective regulator of HO-2 transcript populations or levels. The findings suggest that HO-2 levels in the testis are controlled by glucocorticoids; and that developmental and tissue-specific factor(s) determine generation of transcripts unique to the organ. The apparent exclusive use of rHO-2 by the mature testis is consistent with the possibility that HO-2 may play a role in male reproduction.

3' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed1999

Interaction of heme oxygenase-2 with nitric oxide donors. Is the oxygenase an intracellular 'sink' for NO?

Heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) is the constitutive cognate of the heat-shock protein-32 family of proteins. These proteins catalyze oxidative cleavage of heme to CO and biliverdin, and release Fe. HO-2 is a hemoprotein and binds heme at heme regulatory motifs (HRMs) with a conserved Cys-Pro pair; two copies of HRM are present in HO-2 (Cys264 and Cys281). The HO-2 HRMs are not present in HO-1 and are not involved in HO-2 catalytic activity. Optical CD, and spectral and activity analyses were used to examine reactivity of HO isozymes with NO species produced by NO donors. Purified Escherichia coli-expressed HO preparations, wild-type HO-2, Cys264/Cys281 --> Ala/Ala HO-2-mutant (HO-2-mut) and HO-1 preparations were used. A type II change (red shift) of the Soret band (405 nm --> 413-419 nm) was observed when wild-type HO-2 was treated with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), S-nitroglutathione (GSNO), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) or 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1); the NO scavenger, hydroxocobalamin (HCB) prevented the shift. Only SIN-1, which produces peroxynitrite by generating both NO and superoxide anion, decreased the Soret region absorption and the pyridine hemochromogen spectrum of HO-2; superoxide dismutase (SOD) blocked the decrease. Binding of heme to HO-2 protein was required for shift and/or decrease in absorption of the Soret band. NO donors significantly inhibited HO-2 activity, with SNP being the most potent inhibitor (> 40%). Again, trapping NO with HCB blocked HO-2 inactivation. HO-1 and HO-2-mut were not inactivated by NO donors. CD data suggest that the decrease in HO-2 activity was not related to change by NO species of the secondary structure of HO-2. Western blot analysis suggests that NO donors did not cause HO-1 protein loss and Northern blot analysis of HeLa cells treated with SIN-1 and SNP indicates that, unlike HO-1 mRNA, which is remarkably responsive to the treatments, HO-2 mRNA levels were modestly increased ( approximately two to threefold) by NO donors. The data are consistent with the possibility that NO interaction with HO-2-bound heme effects electronic interactions of residues involved in substrate binding and/or oxygen activation. The findings permit the hypothesis that HO-2 and NO are trans-inhibitors, whereby biological activity of NO is attenuated by interaction with HO-2, serving as an intracellular 'sink' for the heme ligand, and NO inhibits HO-2 catalytic activity. As such, the cellular level of both signaling molecules, CO and NO would be moderated.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Neuronal overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 correlates with an attenuated exploratory behavior and causes an increase in neuronal NADPH diaphorase staining.

Heme oxygenase isozymes, HO-1 (also known as hsp32) and HO-2, are the source for the formation of the putative messenger molecule carbon monoxide (CO), reactive iron, and the in vitro antioxidant bilirubin. We have developed and characterized transgenic (Tg) mice that overexpress the stress protein in neurons in various brain regions. The Tg mice were generated by the use of rat HO-1 cDNA under the control of the neuron-specific enolase promoter. Except for a tendency to have an enlarged spleen, Tg mice did not show gross anatomical changes. Increase in HO-1 mRNA, which was demonstrated by northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization, was accompanied by an increase in neuronal HO-1 protein expression, shown by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, and an increase in HO activity. Expression of the transgene correlated with an attenuation of exploratory behavior and increased circling activity and coincided with enhanced neuronal NADPH diaphorase staining. Those changes were not accompanied by an increase in DNA damage or significant change in whole-brain NO synthase activity. The HO-1 Tg mice potentially represent a good model to examine the function of CO as a neuromodulator, iron as a gene regulator, and bile pigments as in vivo antioxidants.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA from the rat brain that encodes hemoprotein heme oxygenase-3.

Two isozymes of heme oxygenase (HO), HO-1 or HSP32 and the constitutive form HO-2, have been characterized to date. We report the discovery of a third protein species and refer to it as HO-3. HO-3 is the product of a single transcript of approximately 2.4 kb and can encode a protein of approximately 33 kDa. The HO-3 transcript is found in the spleen, liver, thymus, prostate, heart, kidney, brain and testis and is the product of a single-copy gene. The predicted amino acid structure of HO-3 differs from both HO-1 (HSP32) and HO-2 but is closely related to HO-2 (approximately 90%). Escherichia coli expressed and purified HO-3 protein does not cross react with polyclonal antibodies to either rat HO-1 or HO-2, is a poor heme catalyst, and displays hemoprotein spectral characteristics. The predicted protein has two heme regulatory motifs that may be involved in heme binding. These motifs and the hemoprotein nature of HO-3 suggest a potential regulatory role for the protein in cellular processes which are heme-dependent.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Heme oxygenase-2 is a hemoprotein and binds heme through heme regulatory motifs that are not involved in heme catalysis.

The heme oxygenase (HO) system degrades heme to biliverdin and CO and releases chelated iron. In the primary sequence of the constitutive form, HO-2, there are three potential heme binding sites: two heme regulatory motifs (HRMs) with the absolutely conserved Cys-Pro pair, and a conserved 24-residue heme catalytic pocket with a histidine residue, His151 in rat HO-2. The visible and pyridine hemochromogen spectra suggest that the Escherichia coli expressed purified HO-2 is a hemoprotein. The absorption spectrum, heme fluorescence quenching, and heme titration analysis of the wild-type protein versus those of purified double cysteine mutant (Cys264/Cys281 --> Ala/Ala) suggest a role of the HRMs in heme binding. While the His151 --> Ala mutation inactivates HO-2, Cys264 --> Ala and Cys281 --> Ala mutations individually or together (HO-2 mut) do not decrease HO activity. Also, Pro265 --> Ala or Pro282 --> Ala mutation does not alter HO-2 activity. Northern blot analysis of ptk cells indicates that HO-2 mRNA is not regulated by heme. The findings, together with other salient features of HO-2 and the ability of heme-protein complexes to generate oxygen radicals, are consistent with HO-2, like five other HRM-containing proteins, having a regulatory function in the cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Regulation of heme oxygenase-2 by glucocorticoids in neonatal rat brain: characterization of a functional glucocorticoid response element.

Heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) is constitutively expressed in mammalian tissues; together with HO-1 (HSP32) it catalyzes the cleavage of heme to produce biliverdin IX alpha, CO and Fe. Detection of a consensus sequence of the glucocorticoid response element (GRE) in the promoter region of the HO-2 gene prompted the present study which has investigated the role of glucocorticoids (Gcs) in the regulation of HO-2 protein and transcript development in the newborn rat brain and has examined the promoter activity of the GRE in HeLa cells. Using in situ hybridization histochemistry, we noted a pronounced increase in signal for HO-2 mRNA in the brain of 14-day-old rats postnatally treated with corticosterone (5 microg/g, 4 x, starting 24-36 h after birth). And, using immunohistochemistry, a striking increase in neuronal HO-2 immunostaining in treated brains was detected. The HO-2 GRE was tested for responsiveness to dexamethasone (DX) using both a promoterless CAT expression vector, and a heterologous promoter containing luciferase expression vector in HeLa cells. The HO-2 promoter containing the GRE and transcription start site induced CAT reporter gene activity in response to DX, whereas mutation or deletion in the GRE abolished hormone responsiveness. Similarly, constructs containing the GRE conferred responsiveness to DX in an orientation-independent manner and increased relative luciferase activity. Further, specific binding of glucocorticoid receptor protein to the GRE was observed; binding could be competed out only by excess cold GRE and not by mutated HO-2 GRE, or AP1. HO-2 mRNAs (approximately 1.3 and approximately 1.9 kb) increased in HeLa cells treated with DX (5 microM), the level reached a maximum at 24 h. DX did not effect HO-1 mRNA level. The increase in the HO-2 transcript was accompanied by an increase in HO-2 protein, as assessed by Western blot analysis, and an increase in HO activity, as measured by bilirubin formation. Also, an increase in intensity of immunostaining was noted in DX-treated HeLa cells. We conclude that the GRE present in the HO-2 gene promoter region is functional, and propose the direct involvement of the adrenal glucocorticoids in modulation of HO-2 gene expression. In the context of biological functions of heme degradation products, we suggest that this regulation may be of significance, particularly to the neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Human biliverdin IXalpha reductase is a zinc-metalloprotein. Characterization of purified and Escherichia coli expressed enzymes.

Biliverdin IXalpha reductase (BVR) catalyzes the conversion of the heme b degradation product, biliverdin, to bilirubin. BVR is unique among enzymes characterized to date in that it has dual pH/cofactor (NADH, NADPH) specificity. A cDNA clone encoding human BVR was isolated from a gamma library using a probe generated via reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction from human placental RNA. This approach was taken because the more direct approach of using the previously isolated rat BVR cDNA as the hybridization probe did not succeed. The human cDNA was cloned and sequenced; it was shown to have an open reading frame encoding a 296-amino-acid protein in which could be identified four peptides previously identified by micro-sequencing purified protein. The cDNA hybridized with a single message of approximately 1.2 kb in human kidney poly(A)-rich RNA, and appeared, by Southern blot analysis, to be the product of a single-copy gene. Sequence analysis indicated that the human reductase shows approximately 83% identity, at both the nucleotide and amino acid levels, with rat BVR. In some regions including the carboxyl terminus, protein sequence identity drops to 45%. Also noteworthy is the presence of two additional cysteine residues in the encoded human reductase (five compared to three for rat). The protein produced by an expression plasmid in which the insert was cloned in frame with lacZ sequences was characterized, and demonstrated dual pH and cofactor dependence. However, as suggested by kinetic analysis, the human enzyme may also use NADH as cofactor, as opposed to the rat reductase, which most likely utilizes only NADPH under physiological conditions. Western blot analysis and isoelectric focusing demonstrate that, although migrating as a single band on SDS/PAGE, the expressed protein, like that purified from tissue, consists of several isoelectric charge variants. Atomic absorption spectroscopy indicates that the protein purified from human liver contains Zn at an approximately 1:1 molar ratio. That human BVR is a Zn metalloprotein was further substantiated by 65Zn exchange analysis of both the purified and the fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli. Exogenous Zn also inhibits NADPH-dependent, but not NADH-dependent, activity. Hence, the NADH and NADPH binding regions are differentiated by their ability to interact with Zn; Fe-hematoporphyrin, however, inhibited both NADH- and NADPH-dependent activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The structure, organization and differential expression of the rat gene encoding biliverdin reductase.

Screening of phage lambda libraries and genomic polymerase chain reactions were employed to generate clones of the rat gene encoding biliverdin reductase (BVR), the penultimate enzyme in the heme metabolic pathway. This enzyme, which converts biliverdin to bilirubin, is unique among enzymes characterized to date in that it exhibits two pH optima, 6.75 and 8.7, and utilizes a different cofactor, NADH and NADPH, respectively, at each optimum. The gene, which is 12270 bp in length, consists of five exons and four introns; two introns are > or = 4 kb. Only two of the four splice sites conform to consensus donor/acceptor sequences. Primer extension indicates the presence of two distinct transcription start points (tsp) in kidney and brain, as well as an additional tsp present in kidney, but not in brain RNA. The gene lacks a conventional TATA-box; however, an overlapping pair of TATA-like sequences is found 80 nt upstream from the kidney-specific tsp. The promoter region contains binding sites for several known regulatory factors, including AP-1, HNF-5 and INF-1, as well as two partial (7/8) matches to the heat-shock (HS) transcription factor-binding site. However, the time-course of the increase in message level, as determined by Northern blot analysis, indicates that BVR is not an early HS protein in that the relative abundance of mRNA is increased 6 h after hyperthermia and not at 1 h after HS. The approx. 1.6-kb BVR message is abundantly expressed in kidney, spleen, liver and brain, and at lower levels in the thymus, with minimal levels being detected in testis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Multiple transcripts encoding heme oxygenase-2 in rat testis: developmental and cell-specific regulation of transcripts and protein.

We report for the first time that heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) expression is regulated by developmental and cell type-specific factors in the testis, and we describe the presence of three unique sizes of HO-2 transcripts in the testis. HO-2, together with HO-1 (HSP32), catalyzes oxidative cleavage of the heme molecule to biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron; HO-2 is the major isozyme of the testis. Northern blot analysis was used to demonstrate the presence of five transcripts for HO-2 in rat testis mRNA; they range from approximately 1.3 to approximately 2.1 kg in length with a predominant 1.45-kb message; three of the transcripts, approximately 1.45 kb, approximately 1.7 kb, and approximately 2.1 kg, are unique to testis. The two other transcripts of approximately 1.3 and approximately 1.9 kb are common to every tissue examined, including the testis. Analysis of three distinct cDNAs isolated from rat libraries in phage lambda indicates that all are identical from -37, relative to translation initiation through the coding region to the first of two poly(A) signals previously identified in the HO-2 gene (McCoubrey and Maines, 1994). Upstream of -37, the 5' untranslated sequences of the isolates differ in both length and sequence. Comparison with the genomic sequence suggests that the multiple transcripts arise by splicing of alternative first exons as well as use of alternate poly(A) signals. Northern hybridization with probes specific for the unique portion of each cDNA are consistent with this interpretation. Further, unlike HO-1, HO-2 messages are developmentally regulated; only approximately 1.3- and approximately 1.9-kb transcripts were detected, at minute levels, in the testis RNA of 7-day-old rats. A pronounced increase in total message level was observed by Day 28 postpartum, although the level had not reached the marked amplification seen in the adult testis. Further, the transcript patterns differed when Day 28 and adult testis were compared to Day 7 testis. The very predominant approximately 1.45-kb band and the approximately 1.7- and 2.1-kb bands were absent from Day 7 testis. Heme oxygenase activity and HO-2 protein levels, as assessed by Western blot, reflect the increases at the RNA level. Interestingly, although abundant HO-2 mRNA can be detected by in situ hybridization in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids, HO-2 protein was detected, by immunocytochemistry, only in spermatids. These observations demonstrate tissue and cell specificity of HO-2 gene expression and suggest that in the testis, HO-2 expression is regulated at the transcriptional and translational levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Site-directed mutagenesis of cysteine residues in biliverdin reductase. Roles in substrate and cofactor binding.

Biliverdin reductase is unique among all enzymes described to date in having two pH optima, 6.75 and 8.7, at which NADH or NADPH, respectively, are required for activity. The enzyme converts biliverdin to bilirubin in mammals. The mature enzyme, which is 293 amino acids long, has 3 cysteine residues, and is sulfhydryl dependent. To understand the role of the cysteine residues in enzyme activity, we examined the effects of the neutral substitution with alanine of each of three residues, individually and in combination, by site-directed mutagenesis. These residues in the predicted amino acid sequence of rat biliverdin reductase correspond to amino acids 73, 280 and 291. The modification of the amino-proximal cysteine (Cys73), which is flanked by a tyrosine residue, completely inactivated the enzyme with NADH at pH 6.75 and NADPH at pH 8.7. The loss of reductase activity was not due to changes in three-dimensional characteristics of the protein as suggested by its mobility in a non-denaturing gel. Although modification of either of the two cysteines located near the C-terminus (Cys280 and Cys291) significantly reduced activity with both cofactors, these mutations did not inactivate the enzyme. Comparison of Km values for the Cys280-->Ala and Cys291-->Ala mutants with the wild type protein, at pH 8.7, suggests that Cys280 principally functions in substrate binding while Cys291 is predominantly involved in cofactor binding. This assignment probably also applies at pH 6.75. Comparison of kcat of the mutants with wild type shows that mutation of Cys280 decreases Vmax of the enzyme. Mutation of both C-terminal cysteines caused inactivation of the enzyme, comparable to that produced by mutation of Cys73. Analysis by circular dichroism at far-ultraviolet wavelengths suggests that the alterations in activity are not the result of changes in the secondary structure of these mutants. These results are consistent with Cys73 having a central role in substrate/cofactor binding while biliverdin reductase can function, albeit at a reduced rate, with only one of the near C-terminus cysteines. The results are further consistent with the suggestion that although the two C-terminal cysteines have preferential affinities, they can serve similar functions in the interaction with substrate/cofactor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The structure, organization and differential expression of the gene encoding rat heme oxygenase-2.

Overlapping phage lambda clones were utilized to determine the complete nucleotide (nt) sequence of the rat gene encoding HO-2, the major heme oxygenase isozyme in the brain. This isozyme is the constitutive cognate of HSP32 (HO-1). The 12,563-bp gene consists of five exons and four introns, the first two exons are separated by a large intron of 8429 nt. The minus strand of intron 1 contains a nested sequence of 1046 nt with 87% identity to the cDNAs encoding the mouse and human non-histone chromosomal protein, HMG-17. In addition to the coding region, the similarity includes 40 bp upstream from the putative start codon and 800 bp of 3' untranslated sequence. The HO-2 gene lacks a conventional TATA box, but a TATA-like sequence (TAACTA) is found 26 nt upstream from the major transcription start point (tsp), as determined by primer extension. Upstream of the tsp, only a glucocorticoid-response element is found. The structure of the regulatory region is consistent with the previously demonstrated refractory nature of this isozyme to common inducers of gene expression and its apparent response to developmental changes in the adrenal steroid hormone profile. HO-2 is encoded by two transcripts (approx. 1.3 and approx. 1.9 kb), the larger of which is translated less efficiently than the smaller. Presently, we show that the transcripts are the products of a single gene and differ in the use of the polyadenylation signal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Domains of rat heme oxygenase-2: the amino terminus and histidine 151 are required for heme oxidation.

Cleavage of heme b (Fe-protoporphyrin IX) at the alpha-meso carbon bridge is catalyzed by heme oxygenase isozymes, HO-1 and HO-2, to form biliverdin IX alpha. Currently, we have examined the requirement for the amino terminus and the hydrophobic carboxy terminus of rat HO-2 expressed in Escherichia coli for heme degradation activity and have assessed the importance of His 151 for this activity. His 151 is in the longest span of amino acids (24 residues) which are present, with only a single conservative substitution, in seven cloned heme oxygenases including the apparent single isozyme in chicken. We show His 151 is essential for cleavage of heme, as substitution of alanine for this residue by site-directed mutagenesis resulted in expression of an inactive protein with immunoreactivity toward antibody to rat HO-2. A cDNA construct in which nucleotides encoding the 33 N-terminal amino acid residues were deleted, when expressed, produced a protein of predicted size and immunoreactivity with antibody to HO-2 but also devoid of heme degrading activity. The presence of additional residues at this terminus, for the most part, accounts for the larger size of HO-2 compared to HO-1. Conversely, the hydrophobic region at the carboxy terminus did not appear to be essential for heme degradation. A construct in which the sequence encoding the primarily hydrophobic amino acids of the carboxy terminus was replaced by a sequence encoding predominantly hydrophilic residues expressed a protein which retained full capability to convert heme to biliverdin. Further, the construct with a hydrophilic carboxy terminus was not appreciably associated with bacterial membranes, suggesting that the carboxy terminus in the wild-type protein serves as a membrane anchor for this enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Induction of kidney heme oxygenase-1 (HSP32) mRNA and protein by ischemia/reperfusion: possible role of heme as both promotor of tissue damage and regulator of HSP32.

Presently we describe, for the first time, induction of microsomal heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA and protein in response to ischemia/reperfusion and therefore define HO-1 as stress protein in the kidney. Specifically, Northern blot analysis of kidneys of rats subjected to bilateral ischemia for 30 min revealed an increase of 8- to 10-fold in the level of 1.8 Kb HO-1 mRNA 6 hr after reperfusion. The increase in transcript level was maintained when assessed after 24 hr. The levels of 1.3 and 1.9 Kb transcripts for the second isozyme of HO, HO-2, were decreased at both time points. The increase in HO-1 mRNA was reflected in HO-1 protein level, as judged by Western blot analysis and at the level of activity as judged by the rate of bilirubin formation. An absence of change in adrenal HO-1 mRNA level subsequent to renal ischemia/reperfusion suggested that the induction of kidney HO-1 did not reflect a generalized response of the rat organs to stress; rather, it was a target organ specific response. Moreover, in kidneys subjected to ischemia 6 and 24 hr after reperfusion, significant increases in the cellular content of heme were observed; heme is a known inducer of HO-1 synthesis. Ischemia/reperfusion also adversely affected concentration of cytochrome P-450 in both mitochondrial and the microsomal fractions of the kidney. We suggest that increase in tissue heme levels may be a significant factor in damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion to renal tissue, whereby the metalloporphyrin promotes oxygen-free radical formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Human heme oxygenase-2: characterization and expression of a full-length cDNA and evidence suggesting that the two HO-2 transcripts may differ by choice of polyadenylation signal.

We show by Northern blot analysis that human HO-2 is encoded by two transcripts (1.3 and 1.7 kb) and is a single-copy gene as judged by Southern blot analysis. We further provide evidence based on Northern blot and sequence analysis of a cDNA representing the larger transcript that the transcripts differ in the 3' untranslated region. A 274-base-pair DNA fragment from the rat heme oxygenase-2 gene (I. Cruse and M.D. Maines, 1988, J. Biol. Chem. 263, 3348-3353) was used to isolate a human HO-2 cDNA from a fetal kidney library in lambda gt11. The clone, designated hK-1, was sequenced and the cDNA insert was determined to be 1625 base pairs in length, encoding a protein of 313 amino acids. Two consensus polyadenylation signals separated by 440 nucleotides were identified in the 3' untranslated region. The size of the cDNA insert closely approximated the larger of two mRNAs. The nucleotide sequence was 88% identical to the rat HO-2 gene within the predicted coding region and the putative translation product was also estimated to be 88% identical to the rat gene product (M. O. Rotenberg and D. Maines, 1990, J. Biol. Chem. 265, 7501). The predicted size, 36 kDa, corresponded well with HO-2 detected in human testis microsomes by Western blot analysis. Further, the fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli displayed significant heme oxygenase activity, which was inhibited by Zn- and Sn-protoporphyrins, known inhibitors of eukaryotic heme oxygenase, but not by sulfhydryl reagents.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Microinjected DNA from the X chromosome affects sex determination in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The signal for sex determination in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes (X/A ratio). By previous genetic tests, elements that feminized chromosomal males appeared to be widespread on the X chromosome, but the nature of these elements was not determined. In experiments to define a feminizing element molecularly, cloned sequences were added to chromosomally male embryos by microinjection into the mother. Three different X-chromosome clones, including part of an actin gene, part of a myosin heavy chain gene, and all of two myosin light chain genes, feminize chromosomal males. Both somatic and germline aspects of sex determination are affected. In contrast, about 40 kilobases of nematode autosomal DNA, phage lambda DNA, and plasmid pBR322 DNA do not affect sex determination. A feminizing region was localized to a maximum of 131 base pairs within an intron of the X-linked actin gene; a part of the gene that does not have this region is not feminizing. The results suggest that short, discrete elements found associated with many X-linked genes may act as signals for sex determination in C. elegans.

Actins↗
PubMed1986

The role of single-strand breaks in the catenation reaction catalyzed by the rat type I topoisomerase.

The type I topoisomerase from rat cells produces true catenanes from circular SV40 DNA in a reaction which is dependent on the presence of a single-strand break in at least one member of a pair of reacting molecules. The role of the single-strand break in the reaction was examined. Molecules containing a nick with a 3'-hydroxyl and 5'-phosphate or a nick with a 3'-phosphate and 5'-hydroxyl and molecules with single-stranded gaps were all found to be equally effective in the catenation reaction. It was found that the enzyme could, at a low frequency, break DNA by acting opposite a pre-existing single-strand break. Thus, incubation of nicked circular DNA in the presence of the topoisomerase, polynucleotide kinase, and [gamma-32P]ATP led to the production of a low level of labeled linear molecules containing covalently attached protein. Nicked linear molecules treated with topoisomerase in the absence of polynucleotide kinase generated fragments of sizes consistent with breakage in the opposite strand near the pre-existing nick. Based on these results, we propose that the catenation reaction may involve the transient production of linear intermediates by the action of the topoisomerase opposite a pre-existing nick in the DNA. Rejoining of the two ends by the enzyme could lead to the interlocking of two or more circular DNAs. In addition, these results suggest a possible role for the type I topoisomerase in illegitimate recombination.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗