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Dynamic left/right regionalisation of endogenous myosin light chain 3F transcripts in the developing mouse heart.

It has recently emerged that transcriptional differences exist between left and right cardiac chambers. An example is provided by transgenic mice with an nlacZ reporter gene under transcriptional control of the fast skeletal muscle alkali myosin light chain (MLC) 3 promoter and 3' enhancer, which express beta-galactosidase in a left ventricular-right atrial dominant pattern in the developing and adult heart. Here, we demonstrate that endogenous MLC3F transcripts are also left/right regionalised in the mouse heart during embryonic development. Regionalisation is observed as early as embryonic day (E) 8.5, and by E10.5 MLC3F transcripts are present predominantly in the future left ventricle and right atrium, and to a lesser extent in the left atrium. Subsequently, MLC3F transcripts are down-regulated in the left ventricle, and by E12.5 expression is restricted to both atria and left-ventricular trabeculae. No MLC3F protein can be detected in the adult or embryonic mouse heart, suggesting that post-transcriptional regulation prevents this fast myosin isoform contributing to myocardial contraction. Left ventricular-right atrial dominant MLC3F transgenes therefore reflect transitory left/right regionalisation of the endogenous gene, unlike other reported cases of transgene regionalisation. MLC3F transgenes, however, maintain an embryonic-like distribution throughout development suggesting that myocardial gene expression is controlled by distinct temporal, as well as spatial, regulatory modules.

Age Factors↗

Analysis of protein homeostatic regulatory mechanisms in perturbed environments at steady state.

Nine different protein homeostatic regulatory mechanisms were analysed for their ability to maintain a generic protein P within a specified range of a set-point steady-state concentration while perturbed by external processes that altered the rates at which P was produced and/or consumed. Steady state regulatory effectiveness was defined by the area within a rectangular region of "perturbation space", where axes correspond to rates of positive and negative perturbations. The size of this region differed in accordance with the regulatory elements composing the homeostatic mechanism. Such elements included basic negative feedback control of transcription (in which P, at some high concentration relative to its set-point value, binds to the gene G that encodes it, thereby inhibiting transcription), multiple sequential binding of a feedback effector (two P's bind sequentially to G), and dimerization of a feedback effector (a P(2) dimer binds to G). Two homeostatic mechanisms included a cascade structure, one with and one without translational feedback control. Another mechanism included feedback control of P degradation. Finally, two mechanisms illustrated the limits of regulatory systems. One lacked all regulatory elements (and included only an invariant rate of P synthesis and degradation) while the other assumed perfect (Boolean) regulation, in which transcription is completely inhibited at [P]>[P](sp) and is fully active at [P]<[P](sp). All of the systems evaluated are known, but the analytical expressions developed here allow quantitative comparisons between them. These expressions were evaluated at values typical of the average protein in Escherichia coli. A method for building regulatory networks by linking semi-independent regulatory modules is discussed.

Animals↗

A formula for quantifying the effects of substrate cycles (futile cycles) on metabolic regulation. Its application to glucose futile cycle in liver as studied by glucose-6-phosphatase/glucokinase determinations.

Substrate cycles (SC) are formed by a 'forward pathway' (FP) and a 'backward pathway' (BP), the difference between FP and BP forming the 'metabolic flux' (MF) through the route of which the cycle is part. SC modulate regulatory effects, i.e. amplify or reduce the % change in MF compared to the % change in FP and BP, thus affecting the sensitivity to regulatory factors, including hormones. A formula is given to calculate (with an approximation of +/- 0.5) the 'flux response index' (FRI), i.e. the factor by which the % change in FP plus the % change in BP must be multiplied to obtain the % change in metabolic flux, when FP and BP undergo opposite, non-unidirectional changes (as is often the case in metabolic regulation). The formula is: FRI = [( FP + BP)/(FP-BP)]/2. By this formula we evaluated the hepatic activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and glucokinase (which roughly reflect hepatic glucose production and uptake, respectively), i.e. the two enzymes that catalyze the cycle between glucose-6-phosphate (glucose-6-P) and glucose. Based on data obtained in normal, nonobese diabetic and obese diabetic subjects as well as in normal, streptozotocin-diabetic, and obese diabetic (ob/ob) mice, we found that FRI was reduced in non-obese diabetic humans and animals whereas it was increased in obese-diabetic humans and mice, compared to normal controls. Thus, diabetes without obesity decreases, and obesity with diabetes increases, the sensitivity of the glucose-6-P/glucose cycle to regulatory agents.

Animals↗

Natural occurrence of a slow lytic pseudomonas phage in a Pediatric case of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa severe pneumonia.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is widely distributed in the environment. As an opportunistic pathogen, it commonly causes infections in immunocompromised individuals, including respiratory tract infections and burn wound infections. P. aeruginosa possesses multiple antibiotic resistance mechanisms, including efflux pumps, resistance genes, and population dynamics. Phage therapy is a potential approach for addressing drug-resistant P. aeruginosa infections; however, clinical experience and standardized guidelines for its application in severe pneumonia remain limited. A 14-month-old infant was hospitalized for pneumonia. Four days later, he developed acute pneumonia and was sent to the ICU for 38&#xa0;days of antibiotic therapy; nonetheless, P. aeruginosa remained detectable in the patient's respiratory secretions. During the clinical course, phage zjk6 was detected from a longitudinal P. aeruginosa isolate in the absence of phage therapy. This finding documents the coexistence of a naturally detected phage and MDR P. aeruginosa during prolonged pneumonia, but does not establish that the phage mediated bacterial clearance or clinical recovery. We performed whole-genome sequencing on P. aeruginosa isolates from patients to ascertain if they were infected by the same infection and assessed their antibiotic resistance using drug sensitivity testing. We isolated phages using the drip technique and double-layer plate method, examined their appearance by transmission electron microscopy, and assessed their biological properties through one-step growth curve analysis and lysis spectrum detection. Genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses were performed to characterize phage zjk6 and representative bacterial isolates and to evaluate phage-host genomic relatedness. P. aeruginosa was isolated repeatedly during 49&#xa0;days of treatment. Comparative genomic analysis of representative longitudinal isolates revealed multiple strain backgrounds, including distinct ST508 and ST266 lineages and a closely related ST836 lineage. Phage zjk6 was isolated from the fifth clinical isolate, which served as the propagation/reference host. This phage possesses an elongated tail and a limited lysis spectrum, which is capable of gradually lysing the fifth isolated P. aeruginosa strain. Genomic analysis showed that zjk6 formed plaques and displayed slow lytic behavior under the tested conditions, while also carrying lysogeny-associated regulatory modules, indicating temperate potential rather than a strictly lytic lifestyle. A naturally detected slow lytic Pseudomonas phage may coexist with MDR P. aeruginosa during prolonged infection. These findings support further study of phage-bacterium interactions in clinical infections, while the therapeutic significance of zjk6 requires additional validation.

Antibiotic resistance↗

Polyamines enhance calcium mobilization in fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated phagocytes.

Spermidine and putrescine (50 microM-1 mM), found in exudates from infection sites, significantly enhance fMet-Leu-Phe-induced Ca2+ mobilization in differentiated HL-60 cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) by delaying the return to basal cytosolic Ca2+ levels. This enhancement by polyamines is associated with inhibition of Ca2+ efflux across the plasma membrane. In parallel with their effects on Ca2+ signaling, polyamines also significantly prolong the kinetics of fMet-Leu-Phe-induced protein kinase C translocation. Thus, polyamines may play a novel role in modulating regulatory events in phagocytes.

Calcium↗

Hexose metabolism in pancreatic islets. Regulation of aerobic glycolysis and pyruvate decarboxylation.

1. D-Glucose (0.5-16.7 mM) preferentially stimulates aerobic glycolysis and D-[3,4-14C]glucose oxidation, relative to D-[5-3H]glucose utilization in rat pancreatic islets, the concentration dependency of such a preferential effect displaying a sigmoidal pattern. 2. Inorganic and organic calcium antagonists, as well as Ca2+ deprivation, only cause a minor decrease in the ratio between D-[3,4-14C]glucose oxidation and D-[5-3H]glucose utilization in islets exposed to a high concentration of the hexose (16.7 mM). 3. Non-glucidic nutrient secretagogues such as 2-aminobicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylate (BCH), 2-ketoisocaproate and 3-phenylpyruvate fail to stimulate aerobic glycolysis and D-[3,4-14C]glucose oxidation in islets exposed to 6.0 mM D-glucose. Nevertheless, BCH augments [1-14C]pyruvate and [2-14C]pyruvate oxidation. 4. The glucose-induced increment in the paired ratio between D-[3,4-14C]glucose oxidation and D-[5-3H]glucose utilization is impaired in the presence of either cycloheximide or ouabain. 5. These findings suggest that the preferential effect of D-glucose upon aerobic glycolysis and pyruvate decarboxylation is not attributable solely to a Ca(2+)-induced activation of FAD-linked glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and/or pyruvate dehydrogenase, but may also involve an ATP-modulated regulatory process.

Aerobiosis↗

Time-resolved fluorescence of tryptophan synthase.

Time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence of the tryptophan synthase alpha 2 beta 2 complex and of the beta 2 dimer from Salmonella typhimurium were measured to characterize the conformational properties of the beta subunit in the presence and in the absence of the alpha subunit when the catalytic species internal aldimine, external aldimine and alpha-aminoacrylate Schiff bases were selectively accumulated within the beta active site. The fluorescence decay of the coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, bound via a Schiff base in the beta subunit of the alpha 2 beta 2 complex (internal aldimine species), is accounted for by two lifetimes (2.9 and 0.9 ns) of almost equal fractional intensity that are slightly affected by pH. Accordingly, both the absorption and emission spectra were found to be pH independent. The emission properties of the internal aldimine in the beta 2 dimer are pH dependent, suggesting that the alpha-subunit binding alters the microenvironment of the beta-subunit active site. This conclusion is also supported by the emission of the single tryptophanyl residue of the enzyme (Trp-177 beta). In the reaction of L-serine with the alpha 2 beta 2 complex, the predominant catalytic intermediate is the external aldimine (lambda(max) = 422 nm) at pH 10, and the alpha-aminoacrylate (lambda(max) = 350 nm) at pH 7. The external aldimine exhibits a high fluorescence intensity at 500 nm that decays with a single lifetime of 6.2 ns in the alpha 2 beta 2 complex, at pH 10, and at a similar value in the beta 2 dimer. The emission properties of the external aldimine with respect to the internal aldimine, and the small effects induced by alpha-subunit binding indicate a shielding of the coenzyme and a stabilization of its excited state. In contrast, the short fluorescence lifetime (0.4 ns) and the weak fluorescence emission of the alpha-aminoacrylate Schiff base indicate an increase of non-radiative processes possibly due to a more tight coupling of this intermediate with the protein matrix with respect to the external aldimine. Whereas the internal aldimine is distributed in two tautomeric forms, both the external aldimine and the alpha-aminoacrylate are present in single conformational states with distinct structural and/or dynamic properties that may modulate regulatory intersubunit signals.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Immunoperoxidase localization and denovo biosynthesis of a 10.5-kDa inhibin in benign and malignant conditions of human breast.

Using immunocytochemistry, we report the occurrence of a 10.5-kDa inhibin in human breast tissue specimens obtained from normal, fibroadenoma and adenocarcinoma cases. The immunostaining for inhibin was confined to the cytoplasm of the epithelium and myoepithelium cells. Expression of inhibin increased in following order: normal (1+); adenocarcinoma and lobular carcinoma in situ (2+) and fibroadenoma (4+). Breast explants has the ability of denovo biosynthesis of inhibin in vitro. In view of the growth modulating regulatory properties of 10.5 kDa inhibin, our findings are suggestive of the potential role of inhibin in breast pathology.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Barx1, a new mouse homeodomain transcription factor expressed in cranio-facial ectomesenchyme and the stomach.

In the process of cloning murine proteins capable of binding to a regulatory module of the Ncam promoter, we isolated a novel homeobox gene, Barx1, the first vertebrate member of the structural subclass defined by Drosophila BarH1. Here we report its sequence, chromosomal localisation and embryonic expression pattern. Barx1 was strongly expressed in restricted areas of head and neck mesenchyme and in the wall of the developing stomach and at weaker levels in the proximal fore- and hindlimbs. At embryonic day 10.5, expression in the head region is detected in spatially restricted areas of the first and second branchial arches, before any apparent cellular or morphological differentiation. Later in development, all expressing tissues in this region, which include the mesenchyme underlying the olfactory epithelium, the primary and secondary palate, the molar tooth papillae and the stroma of the submandibular gland, appear derived from ectomesenchyme of neural crest origin. At day 16.5, all locations other than the developing molars had become Barx1-negative. An intriguing feature is the restriction of Barx1 expression to the molars suggesting a role in the differentiation of molars from incisors. Barx1 already marks the future stomach region of the primitive gut at embryonic day 9.5 and is present in the mesenchymal wall of the stomach up to day 16.5. These results thus direct a search for its function to a number of inductive epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during craniofacial development and to stomach organogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

MAP kinase pathways: the first twenty years.

The MAP kinases, discovered approximately 20 years ago, together with their immediate upstream regulators, are among the most highly studied signal transduction molecules. This body of work has shaped many aspects of our present views of signal transduction by protein kinases. The effort expended in this area reflects the extensive participation of these regulatory modules in the control of cell fate decisions, i.e., proliferation, differentiation and death, across all eukaryotic phylla and in all tissues of metazoans. The discovery of these kinases is reviewed, followed by a discussion of some of the features of this signaling module that account for its broad impact on cell function and its enormous interest to many investigators.

Animals↗

Control of Hoxd genes' collinearity during early limb development.

Hoxd genes are essential for limb growth and patterning. They are activated following a complex transcriptional regulation, leading to expression domains that are collinear in both space and time. To understand the mechanism(s) underlying collinearity, we produced and analyzed a set of mouse strains containing systematic deletions and duplications within the HoxD cluster. We show that two waves of transcriptional activation, controlled by different mechanisms, generate the observed developmental expression patterns. The first wave is time-dependent, involves the action of opposite regulatory modules, and is essential for the growth and polarity of the limb up to the forearm. The second phase involves a different regulation and is required for the morphogenesis of digits. We propose that these two phases reflect the different phylogenetic histories of proximal versus distal limb structures and discuss the biological relevance of these collinear patterns, particularly for the origin of the anterior-to-posterior limb polarity.

Age Factors↗

Genomic regulation of Hox collinearity.

During vertebrate limb development, Hoxd genes are transcribed in two temporal phases; an early wave controls growth and polarity up to the forearm and a late wave patterns the digits. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Tarchini and Duboule (2006) report that two opposite regulatory modules direct early collinear expression of Hoxd genes.

Animals↗

Short and highly efficient synthetic promoters for melanoma-specific gene expression.

Here, we report the construction and functional analysis of synthetic promoters designed for gene therapy applications requiring strong and specific gene expression in melanoma cell lines. We have analysed the transcriptional activity of different combinations of two transcriptional regulatory modules, a melanocyte-specific element from the human tyrosinase promoter and a cell-cycle-specific element from the human alpha-fetoprotein promoter. Transient expression assays in different cell lines show that several of these composite synthetic promoters can drive a strong and selective expression of a reporter gene in melanoma cell, providing us with a new powerful tool for gene therapy of melanomas.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

Phosphorylation and ubiquitination coordinate homeostasis of a tomato transporter responsible for fruit sugar accumulation.

Sugar transport mediated by different transporters is essential for maintaining sugar homeostasis in plants. Here, we report that phosphorylation and ubiquitination coordinate the homeostasis of a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) sugar transporter SlSWEET16, revealing a new aspect of plant sugar homeostasis. SlSWEET16 is localized to plasma membrane and functions as a mono- and disaccharide transporter. SlSWEET16 mediates cellular sugar efflux, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of SlSWEET16 leads to increased fruit sugar accumulation. Strikingly, the C-terminus of SlSWEET16 is subjected to both phosphorylation and ubiquitination. Two protein kinases including SlSnRK2.3 and SlSnRK2.4 associate with the C-terminus of SlSWEET16, resulting into an increase in the stability of SlSWEET16. Meanwhile, the C-terminus of SlSWEET16 also interacts with an E3 ubiquitin ligase SlTT3.1L2, which decreases the stability of SlSWEET16. SlSnRK2.3 and SlSnRK2.4 inhibit fruit sugar accumulation, whereas SlTT3.1L2 promotes it. Mutations of phosphorylated or ubiquitinated residues in SlSWEET16's C-terminus further corroborate the contribution of phosphorylation and ubiquitination to the stability of SlSWEET16 and fruit sugar accumulation. Our results reveal a multiple-protein regulatory module that integrates different post-translational modifications to control transporter-mediated fruit sugar accumulation.

Solanum lycopersicum↗

A wild soybean MADS-box gene GsAGL62 improves seed weight by enhancing cytokinin signaling and cell proliferation.

Soybean seed weight is a key yield determinant, but the transcriptional mechanisms connecting hormone signaling to seed growth are poorly understood. Here, we identify GsAGL62, a wild soybean MADS-box transcription factor located within a previously mapped hundred-seed weight (HSW) locus and a domestication-associated selective sweep. Functional analyses show that overexpression of GsAGL62 in cultivated soybean significantly increases HSW, whereas ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-induced gmagl62 mutants reduce it. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal that GsAGL62 enhances cytokinin accumulation and signaling cytokinin-associated responses, accompanied by increased expression of genes involved in cell proliferation. Mechanistically, GsAGL62 directly binds to the promoter of the conserved growth inhibitor GmATPK2 and represses its transcription. Consistently, independent EMS-induced gmatpk2 mutants exhibit increased seed weight, supporting GmATPK2 as a downstream negative regulator of seed growth. Population genetic analyses further reveal strong differentiation of GsAGL62 promoter haplotypes during soybean domestication and improvement. These haplotypes show differential promoter activities and are associated with distinct agronomic performance, suggesting that cis-regulatory variation at GsAGL62 contributes to its selection during soybean improvement. Collectively, our findings establish a regulatory module linking GsAGL62 to cytokinin-associated responses, cell proliferation, and seed growth, and highlight GsAGL62 as a potential target for soybean yield improvement.

Cell proliferation↗

The transcription factor SbWRKY6 confers cadmium tolerance via activating SbPLAC8-17 expression in sorghum.

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental pollutant that severely threatens crop productivity and food safety. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying Cd detoxification and tolerance in sorghum remain largely elusive. Herein, we functionally characterized SbWRKY6, a Cd&#x2011;induced WRKY transcription factor that localizes to the nucleus and functions as a transcriptional activator. Stable overexpression of SbWRKY6 significantly enhanced Cd tolerance in sorghum, as evidenced by improved growth performance, mitigated oxidative damage, and decreased Cd concentration in plant tissues, whereas silencing of SbWRKY6 resulted in a Cd-hypersensitive phenotype with exacerbated toxicity symptoms. Mechanistically, we identified SbPLAC8-17, a member of the Plant Cadmium Resistance (PCR)/PLAC8 family, as a critical downstream target of SbWRKY6. Heterologous expression of SbPLAC8-17 functionally complemented the Cd&#x2011;sensitive phenotype of the yeast mutant &#x2206;ycf1 and reduced intracellular Cd accumulation. Further yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and dual-luciferase reporter (Dual-LUC) assays confirmed that SbWRKY6 directly binds to the SbPLAC8-17 promoter and transcriptionally activates its expression. In vivo silencing of SbPLAC8-17 significantly impaired cellular Cd&#xb2;&#x207a; efflux and aggravated Cd toxicity in sorghum. Additionally, the rapid Cd-induced transcriptional upregulation of SbMPK3 and its direct physical interaction with SbWRKY6 suggest a potential upstream regulatory module that remains to be functionally validated. Collectively, this study elucidates a novel SbWRKY6&#x2011;SbPLAC8-17 transcriptional cascade that positively regulates Cd tolerance by facilitating Cd&#xb2;&#x207a; efflux, providing promising genetic targets for phytoremediation and molecular breeding of safe sorghum cultivars for Cd-contaminated fields.

Sorghum↗

Tissue-specific regulation of the mouse alphaA-crystallin gene in lens via recruitment of Pax6 and c-Maf to its promoter.

Pax6 is a lineage-restricted DNA-binding transcription factor regulating the formation of mammalian organs including brain, eye and pancreas. Pax6 plays key roles during the initial formation of lens lineage, proliferation of lens progenitor and precursor cells and their terminal differentiation. In addition to Pax6, lens fiber cell differentiation is regulated by c-Maf, Prox1 and Sox1. Crystallins are essential lens structural proteins required for light refraction and transparency. Mouse alphaA-crystallin represents about 17% of all crystallins at the protein level and ranks as one of the most abundant tissue-specific proteins. Lens-specific expression of this gene is regulated at the level of transcription. A promoter fragment of -88 to +46 is capable of driving lens-specific expression in transgenic mouse. Here we provide data suggesting that this lens-specific promoter fragment is comprised of multiple Pax6 and Maf-binding sites. Site-directed mutagenesis of regions within these sites resulted in partially or completely reduced promoter activities in lens cells. Co-transfections using Pax6 and c-Maf alone revealed moderate and strong activations of this promoter, respectively. In contrast to synergistic activation of alphaB-crystallin by Pax6 and c-Maf, Pax6 has a neutral effect on c-Maf-mediated alphaA-crystallin promoter activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitations established in vivo interactions of Pax6 and c-Maf with the alphaA-crystallin promoter in lens cells. Collectively, the present data support a molecular model in which tissue-specific expression of alphaA-crystallin is regulated by recruitment of Pax6 and c-Maf, two proteins regulating multiple processes of lens differentiation, to its promoter. In addition, the data suggest a molecular model of temporal and spatial regulation of alphaB, alphaA and gamma-crystallin genes in mouse embryonic lens by using variants of the Pax6/Maf regulatory module.

Animals↗

Physiological actions of regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins.

Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins are a family of proteins, which accelerate GTPase-activity intrinsic to the alpha subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins and play crucial roles in the physiological control of G-protein signaling. If RGS proteins were active unrestrictedly, they would completely suppress various G-protein-mediated cell signaling as has been shown in the over-expression experiments of various RGS proteins. Thus, physiologically the modes of RGS-action should be under some regulation. The regulation can be achieved through the control of either the protein function and/or the subcellular localization. Examples for the former are as follows: (i) Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP(3)) inhibits RGS-action, which can be recovered by Ca(2+)/calmodulin. This underlies a voltage-dependent "relaxation" behavior of G-protein-gated K(+) channels. (ii) A modulatory protein, 14-3-3, binds to the RGS proteins phosphorylated by PKA and inhibits their actions. For the latter mechanism, additional regulatory modules, such as PDZ, PX, and G-protein gamma subunit-like (GGL) domains, identified in several RGS proteins may be responsible: (i) PDZ domain of RGS12 interacts with a G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor, CXCR2, and thus facilitates its GAP action on CXCR2-mediated G-protein signals. (ii) RGS9 forms a complex with a type of G-protein beta-subunit (Gbeta5) via its GGL domain, which facilitates the GAP function of RGS9. Both types of regulations synergistically control the mode of action of RGS proteins in the physiological conditions, which contributes to fine tunings of G-protein signalings.

Amino Acid Sequence↗