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PubMed2003

In vivo analysis of nucleolar proteins modified by the yeast arginine methyltransferase Hmt1/Rmt1p.

In this report, we have investigated the impact of arginine methylation on the Gar1, Nop1, and Nsr1 nucleolar proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although previous reports have established that protein arginine methylation is important for nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, they have focused on the examination of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). We have extended this analysis to several nucleolar proteins that represent a distinct functional class of arginine-methylated proteins. We first developed an in vivo assay to identify proteins methylated by the Hmt1 arginine methyltransferase. This assay is based on the fact that the Hmt1 enzyme utilizes S-Adenosyl-L-methionine as the methyl donor for protein arginine methylation. Following SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis, 11 distinct proteins were identified as substrates for the Hmt1 methyltransferase. Hmt1p overexpression did not increase the methylation level on these proteins, suggesting they are fully methylated under the conditions examined. Three of the radiolabeled proteins were confirmed to be Gar1p, Nop1p, and Nsr1p. To monitor the cellular localization of these proteins, functional GFP fusion proteins were generated and found to be localized to the nucleolus. This localization was independent of arginine methylation. Furthermore, all three proteins examined did not export to the cytoplasm. In contrast, arginine methylation is required for the export of the nuclear RNA-binding proteins Npl3p, Hrp1p, and Nab2p. The observation that three nucleolar proteins are modified by Hmt1p but are not exported from the nucleolus implies an alternate role for arginine methylation.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1993

The major histocompatibility complex class II promoter-binding protein RFX (NF-X) is a methylated DNA-binding protein.

A mammalian protein called RFX or NF-X binds to the X box (or X1 box) in the promoters of a number of major histocompatibility (MHC) class II genes. In this study, RFX was shown to have the same DNA-binding specificity as methylated DNA-binding protein (MDBP), and its own cDNA was found to contain a binding site for MDBP in the leader region. MDBP is a ubiquitous mammalian protein that binds to certain DNA sequences preferentially when they are CpG methylated and to other related sequences, like the X box, irrespective of DNA methylation. MDBP from HeLa and Raji cells formed DNA-protein complexes with X-box oligonucleotides that coelectrophoresed with those containing standard MDBP sites. Furthermore, MDBP and X-box oligonucleotides cross-competed for the formation of these DNA-protein complexes. DNA-protein complexes obtained with MDBP sites displayed the same partial supershifting with an antiserum directed to the N terminus of RFX seen for complexes containing an X-box oligonucleotide. Also, the in vitro-transcribed-translated product of a recombinant RFX cDNA bound specifically to MDBP ligands and displayed the DNA methylation-dependent binding of MDBP. RFX therefore contains MDBP activity and thereby also EF-C, EP, and MIF activities that are indistinguishable from MDBP and that bind to methylation-independent sites in the transcriptional enhancers of polyomavirus and hepatitis B virus and to an intron of c-myc.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Transfected trophoblast-derived human cells can express a single HLA class I allelic product.

The human trophoblast-derived JAR cell line, that does not express polymorphic HLA class I antigens even after IFN induction, can be stably transfected by genomic clones encoding the entire HLA-A2, -A3 and -B7 alpha-chain genes. The transfected genes were expressed at the cell surface in association with endogenous beta 2-microglobulin (shown by FCM analysis) as a single allelic product without reexpression of any endogenous class I gene (shown by 1D.IEF analysis). Furthermore, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, alone and synergistically, increase cell surface expression of transfected MHC class I/endogenous beta 2m heterodimers without induction of endogenous class I alpha-chain genes. These data show that the MHC class I-negative JAR human cell line might be used for transfections with the aim of establishing human cells expressing just one defined MHC class I allele for functional and regulatory studies. These findings are discussed in relation to the methylated status solely of endogenous class I alpha-chain genes in JAR cells and suggest that transfected class I genes are not regulated in the same fashion and, in particular, that constitutive and TNF/IFN inducible trans-acting regulatory factors able to bind to cis-promoter/enhancer sequences of class I DNA are likely to be present.

Alleles↗
PubMed1998

Crystal structures of HLA-A*0201 complexed with antigenic peptides with either the amino- or carboxyl-terminal group substituted by a methyl group.

The crystal structures of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules complexed with antigenic peptides revealed a network of hydrogen bonds between the charged amino- and carboxyl-termini of the peptides and conserved MHC residues at both ends of the peptide binding site. These interactions were shown to contribute substantially to the stability of class I MHC/peptide complexes by thermal denaturation studies using synthetic peptides in which either the amino- or carboxyl-terminal group is substituted by a methyl group. Here we report crystal structures of HLA-A*0201 complexed with these terminally modified synthetic peptides showing that they adopt the same bound conformation as antigenic peptides. A number of variations in peptide conformation were observed for the terminally modified peptides, including in one case, a large conformational difference in four central peptide residues that is apparently caused by the lattice contact. This is reminiscent of the way binding a T-cell receptor changed the conformation of central residues of an MHC-bound peptide. The structures determined identify which conserved hydrogen bonds are eliminated in terminally substituted peptides and suggest an increased energetic importance of the interactions at the peptide termini for MHC-peptide stability.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗
PubMed1986

Distribution of 5-methylcytosine-rich regions in the polytene chromosomes of Phaseolus coccineus embryo suspensor as shown by the immunoperoxidase technique.

5-Methylcytosine (5-mC) has been visualized in polytene chromosomes of Phaseolus coccineus, scarlet bean using specific antibodies to 5-mC and the immunoperoxidase technique. The results obtained indicate that most heterochromatic regions are methylated, even though the frequency of methylation is highly variable and sometimes low. A preferential binding of anti-5-mC to centromeric heterochromatic blocks was observed. Comparison between anti-5-mC binding and the results of hybridization with highly repetitive DNA and satellite DNA shows, moreover, that centrometric heterochromatic regions hybridize in particular with both DNAs. This finding is consistent with the fact that repetitive DNA and satellite DNA are methylated to a considerably greater extent than main band DNA, in line with many data to be found in the literature. The binding pattern of anti-5-mC that we observed also suggests that methylation does not occur in all classes of repetitive DNA. The high variability of band methylation frequency is discussed in relation to a possible characteristic DNA composition of the band.

5-Methylcytosine↗
PubMed2004

MicroRNA binding sites in Arabidopsis class III HD-ZIP mRNAs are required for methylation of the template chromosome.

Dominant mutations in the Arabidopsis PHABULOSA (PHB) and PHAVOLUTA (PHV) transcription factor genes cause transformation of abaxial to adaxial leaf fates by altering a microRNA complementary site present in processed PHB and PHV mRNAs but not in the corresponding genomic DNA. phb-1d mutants accumulate excess PHB transcript throughout the leaf primordium, indicating defective regulation of PHB transcript synthesis and/or stability. We show that PHB and PHV coding sequences are heavily methylated downstream of the microRNA complementary site in most wild-type plant cells and that methylation is reduced in phb-1d and phv-1d mutants. Decreased methylation is limited to the chromosome bearing the dominant mutant allele in phb-1d heterozygotes. Low levels of methylation are detected in wt PHB DNA isolated from undifferentiated tissues. These results suggest a model in which the microRNA interacts with nascent, newly processed PHB mRNA to alter chromatin of the corresponding PHB template DNA predominantly in differentiated cells.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

Novel class of amino acid antagonists at non-N-methyl-D-aspartic acid excitatory amino acid receptors. Synthesis, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, and neuroprotection.

The isoxazole amino acid 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl) propionic acid (AMPA) (1), which is a highly selective agonist at the AMPA subtype of excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors, has been used as a lead for the development of two novel EAA receptor antagonists. One of the compounds, 2-amino-3-[3-(carboxymethoxy)-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl]propionic acid (AMOA, 7), was synthesized via O-alkylation by ethyl chloroacetate of the amino acid protected AMPA derivative 4. The other compound, 2-amino-3-[2-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)-methyl-5-methyl-3-+ ++oxoisoxazolin -4-yl]propionic acid (AMNH, 14) was synthesized with use of 4-(chloromethyl)-3-methoxy-5-methylisoxazole (8) as the starting material. The intermediate 4-(chloromethyl)-2-(3-methoxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)methyl-5-me thylisoxazolin- 3-one (11) was converted into the acetamidomalonate (12), which was stepwise deprotected to give 14. Compounds 7 and 14 were stable in aqueous solution at pH values close to physiological pH. Neither 7 nor 14 showed detectable affinities for the receptor, ion channel, or modulatory sites of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor complex. Quantitative receptor autoradiographic and conventional binding techniques were used to study the affinities of 7 and 14 for non-NMDA receptor sites. Both compounds were inhibitors of the binding of [3H]AMPA (IC50 = 90 and 29 microM, respectively). Compounds 14 and 7 were both very weak inhibitors of the high-affinity binding of radioactive kainic acid [( 3H]KAIN). Compound 14, but not 7, was, however, shown to be an inhibitor of low-affinity [3H]KAIN binding (IC50 = 40 microM) as determined in the presence of 100 mM calcium chloride. In the rat cortical slice preparation, 7 was shown to antagonize excitation induced by 1 with some selectivity, whereas 14 proved to be a rather selective antagonist of KAIN-induced excitation. Both antagonists showed very weak effects on the excitatory effects of NMDA. Compound 7 was a poor antagonist of excitation by quisqualic acid (2), whereas 14 did not affect excitation by this nonselective AMPA receptor agonist. On cat spinal neurones, both 7 and 14 reduced excitations by 1 and KAIN, but, again, the excitatory effects of 2 were much less sensitive. Compound 14 and, in particular, 7 effectively protected rat striatal neurones against the neurotoxic effects of KAIN, whereas the toxic effects of 1 were reduced only by 7. Neither antagonist showed protection against the cell damage caused by intrastriatal injection of the NMDA agonist quinolinic acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Potential antipsychotic agents. 9. Synthesis and stereoselective dopamine D-2 receptor blockade of a potent class of substituted (R)-N-[(1-benzyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]benzamides. Relations to other side chain congeners.

A number of substituted N-[(1-benzyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]benzamides and -salicylamides have been prepared and investigated as dopamine D-2 receptor antagonists in vitro and in vivo. The affinity was found to be confined to the R enantiomer, in contrast to the corresponding N-ethyl or N-allyl derivatives. The X-ray structure of one of the compounds (15) confirmed the R stereochemistry. This compound (15) was found to adopt a solid-state conformation in which the 4-fluorobenzyl group is folded over the salicylamide moiety. Benzamides having a 2,3-dimethoxy substitution pattern (24 and 26) or salicylamides with a 5,6-dimethoxy grouping (21 and 22) were especially potent, in that they inhibited [3H]spiperone binding to rat striatal dopamine D-2 receptors in vitro with IC50 values of about 1 nM. The new compounds' ability to block apomorphine-induced stereotypies correlated with the affinity for the [3H]spiperone binding site. Higher dose levels were necessary to induce catalepsy than to block the apomorphine-induced responses. The influence of the aromatic substituents on the potency of substituted benzamides with three types of side chains, i.e. (R)-(1-benzyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl, (S)-(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl and 1-benzyl-4-piperidinyl, was compared. The 3-bromo-5,6-dimethoxysalicylamide substitution pattern was found to be the most general since it gave very potent compounds in all series. The substituted (R)-N-[(1-(4-fluoro-benzyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]benzamides (26) and -salicylamides (22) are suitable for development into 18F radioligands without altering the parent structure.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Bisulfite sequencing and dinucleotide content analysis of 15 imprinted mouse differentially methylated regions (DMRs): paternally methylated DMRs contain less CpGs than maternally methylated DMRs.

Imprinted genes in mammals show monoallelic expression dependent on parental origin and are often associated with differentially methylated regions (DMRs). There are two classes of DMR: primary DMRs acquire gamete-specific methylation in either spermatogenesis or oogenesis and maintain the allelic methylation differences throughout development; secondary DMRs establish differential methylation patterns after fertilization. Targeted disruption of some primary DMRs showed that they dictate the allelic expression of nearby imprinted genes and the establishment of the allelic methylation of secondary DMRs. However, how primary DMRs are recognized by the imprinting machinery is unknown. As a step toward elucidating the sequence features of the primary DMRs, we have determined the extents and boundaries of 15 primary mouse DMRs (including 12 maternally methylated and three paternally methylated DMRs) in 12.5-dpc embryos by bisulfite sequencing. We found that the average size of the DMRs was 3.2 kb and that their average G+C content was 54%. Dinucleotide content analysis of the DMR sequences revealed that, although they are generally CpG rich, the paternally methylated DMRs contain less CpGs than the maternally methylated DMRs. Our findings provide a basis for the further characterization of DMRs.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Glycine potentiates the stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis by excitatory amino acids in primary cultures of cerebellar neurons.

Glycine potentiates stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis by glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate, but not by quisqualate or carbamylcholine, in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells. This potentiation occurs in the absence of extracellular Mg2+, but is more evident when stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis by N-methyl-D-aspartate is measured in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+. The action of glycine is not antagonized by strychnine. These results suggest that glycine acts as a positive modulator of signal transduction at a specific class of N-methyl-D-aspartate-sensitive glutamate receptors coupled to inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in cerebellar granule cells.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2002

Cooperativity between DNA methyltransferases in the maintenance methylation of repetitive elements.

We used mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells with systematic gene knockouts for DNA methyltransferases to delineate the roles of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) and Dnmt3a and -3b in maintaining methylation patterns in the mouse genome. Dnmt1 alone was able to maintain methylation of most CpG-poor regions analyzed. In contrast, both Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a and/or Dnmt3b were required for methylation of a select class of sequences which included abundant murine LINE-1 promoters. We used a novel hemimethylation assay to show that even in wild-type cells these sequences contain high levels of hemimethylated DNA, suggestive of poor maintenance methylation. We showed that Dnmt3a and/or -3b could restore methylation of these sequences to pretreatment levels following transient exposure of cells to 5-aza-CdR, whereas Dnmt1 by itself could not. We conclude that ongoing de novo methylation by Dnmt3a and/or Dnmt3b compensates for inefficient maintenance methylation by Dnmt1 of these endogenous repetitive sequences. Our results reveal a previously unrecognized degree of cooperativity among mammalian DNA methyltransferases in ES cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Detailed methylation analysis of the glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP1) gene in prostate cancer.

Glutathione-S-Transferases (GSTs) comprise a family of isoenzymes that provide protection to mammalian cells against electrophilic metabolites of carcinogens and reactive oxygen species. Previous studies have shown that the CpG-rich promoter region of the pi-class gene GSTP1 is methylated at single restriction sites in the majority of prostate cancers. In order to understand the nature of abnormal methylation of the GSTP1 gene in prostate cancer we undertook a detailed analysis of methylation at 131 CpG sites spanning the promoter and body of the gene. Our results show that DNA methylation is not confined to specific CpG sites in the promoter region of the GSTP1 gene but is extensive throughout the CpG island in prostate cancer cells. Furthermore we found that both alleles are abnormally methylated in this region. In normal prostate tissue, the entire CpG island was unmethylated, but extensive methylation was found outside the island in the body of the gene. Loss of GSTP1 expression correlated with DNA methylation of the CpG island in both prostate cancer cell lines and cancer tissues whereas methylation outside the CpG island in normal prostate tissue appeared to have no effect on gene expression.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Volatile anesthetics and glutamate activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Several studies have indicated important functional interactions between volatile anesthetics and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) class of glutamate receptors. In the present study, we examined the effects of diethyl ether, chloroform, methoxyflurane, halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane on (1) glutamate activation of the NMDA receptor complex, including glycine reversal of anesthetic action, as revealed by [3H]-(5R, 10S)-(+)methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo [a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine, dizocilpine (MK-801) binding to the cation channel, and (2) [3H]cis-4-( phosphonomethyl)piperidine-2-carboxylic acid (CGS 19755) binding to the glutamate recognition site of the NMDA receptor In agreement with previous studies, glutamate increased the binding of 1 nM [3H]MK-801, measured after a 1-hr incubation at 37 degrees, by up to several hundred fold. This stimulation was blocked by glutamate antagonists and potentiated by glycine with an EC50 of approximately 0.03 muM. Glycine also had a direct stimulatory effect on [3H]MK-801 binding at much higher concentrations ( > or = 10 muM). All of the anesthetics examined depressed glutamate stimulation of [3H]MK-801 binding in a concentration-dependent manner with the following order of potency: halothane > or = enflurane > methoxyflurane > chloroform > diethyl ether. This inhibition of [3H]MK-801 binding was observed at concentrations that are routinely attained in the cerebrospinal fluid during surgical anesthesia. Moreover, the inhibition was reversed rapidly following removal of the anesthetics from the assay medium. Inclusion of glycine in the incubation medium markedly attenuated anesthetic-induced inhibition of glutamate-sensitive [3H]MK-801 binding with an EC50 of between 0.1 and 1 muM. Thus, this reversal by glycine correlated with its potentiating as opposed to its direct stimulatory, effect on NMDA receptors. Anesthetic inhibition of [3H]MK-801 binding could not be overcome by raising the glutamate concentration (i.e. the interaction did not appear to be competitive with respect to glutamate) unless glycine was present. Binding of [3H]CGS 19755 to the glutamate recognition site was also inhibited by each of the anesthetics examined. However, with the exception of chloroform, all of the anesthetics were more potent inhibitors of glutamate-stimulated [3H]MK-801 binding than they were of [3H]CGS 19755 binding. [3H]CGS 19755 binding saturation curves in the presence of halothane and enflurane indicated a decrease in the density of [3H]-CGS 19755 binding sites with no change in binding affinity (i.e. the inhibition did not appear to be competitive). These findings support the idea that anesthetic drugs disrupt NMDA receptor transmission through multiple allosteric effects on the receptor-channel activation mechanisms and the glutamate binding site.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alkaloids from Australian frogs (Myobatrachidae): pseudophrynamines and pumiliotoxins.

Australian frogs of the genus Pseudophryne contain two distinct classes of alkaloids. The pseudophrynamine class (3a-prenyl pyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles) are unique to this genus of frogs of the family Myobatrachidae, while the pumiliotoxin-A class (8-hydroxy-8-methyl-6-alkylidene-1-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes) also occur in dendrobatid frogs of the genera Dendrobates, Epipedobates, and Minyobates, in ranid frogs of the genus Mantella, and in bufonid toads of the genus Melanophryniscus. All seven species of Pseudophryne examined contain both classes of alkaloids. The pseudophrynamines were the predominant class in both species (Pseudophryne guentheri and Pseudophryne occidentalis) from Western Australia, while all of the eastern species (Pseudophryne australis, Pseudophryne bibronii, Pseudophryne coriacea, Pseudophryne corroboree, and Pseudophryne semimarmorata) contained significant amounts of both pseudophrynamines and pumiliotoxins. Pumiliotoxins, in particular pumiliotoxin B, were predominant in two eastern species (P. australis and a southern population of P. corroboree), while pseudophrynamines were dominant in P. bibronii, four of six populations of P. coriacea, one population of P. semimarmorata, and a northern population of P. corroboree. Structures are proposed for several new alkaloids of the pseudophrynamine class.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1986

Liver-specific expression of a Qa-encoded class I gene is associated with DNA hypomethylation.

DNA methylation of two murine major histocompatibility complex (H-2) class I genes was examined in hybridizations to MspI and HpaII chromosomal DNA restriction digests. Q10, which exhibits liver-specific expression, and H-2Kb, a transplantation antigen gene, were examined in liver, spleen, thymus, and cell-line DNAs. Unmethylated Q10 gene sequences were detected only in the liver, whereas the H-2Kb gene was unmethylated in all tissues examined.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

1-Amino-substituted 4-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles (gamma-carbolines) as tricyclic analogues of ellipticines: a new class of antineoplastic agents.

A series of 1-amino-substituted 4-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles that are structurally related to ellipticines by deletion of a ring have been synthesized in order to evaluate their DNA affinity, their in vitro cytotoxicity on L1210 cultured cells, and their in vivo antitumor activity. Among 24 derivatives that have been prepared and studied for the structure-activity relationship in this new class of antineoplastic agents, those that have a NH(CH2)3N(R)2 side chain (R = CH3 or C2H5) at their 1-position, a 4-methyl group, and an 8-OH substituent, either with a 5-NH or with a 5-NCH3 group, show the most potent cytotoxicities on L1210 cultured cells and in vivo antitumor properties in P388 and L1210 leukemia systems. In vivo antineoplastic activity of the most potent products was confirmed in P388 and L1210 leukemia systems. In vivo antineoplastic activity of the most potent products was confirmed on other mouse experimental tumors from the standard NCI screening:B16 melanoma and C38 adenocarcinoma.

Alkaloids↗