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Drug excretion mediated by a new prototype of polyspecific transporter.

Cationic drugs of different types and structures (antihistaminics, antiarrhythmics, sedatives, opiates, cytostatics and antibiotics, for example) are excreted in mammals by epithelial cells of the renal proximal tubules and by hepatocytes in the liver. In the proximal tubules, two functionally disparate transport systems are involved which are localized in the basolateral and luminal plasma membrane and are different from the previously identified neuronal monoamine transporters and ATP-dependent multidrug exporting proteins. Here we report the isolation of a complementary DNA from rat kidney that encodes a 556-amino-acid membrane protein, OCT1, which has the functional characteristics of organic cation uptake over the basolateral membrane of renal proximal tubules and of organic cation uptake into hepatocytes. OCT1 is not homologous to any other known protein and is found in kidney, liver and intestine. As OCT1 translocates hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic cations of different structures, it is considered to be a new prototype of polyspecific transporters that are important for drug elimination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The E-selectin-ligand ESL-1 is a variant of a receptor for fibroblast growth factor.

E-SELECTIN is an inducible cell-adhesion molecule on endothelial cells, which mediates the binding of neutrophils and functions as a Ca(2+)-dependent lectin. We have recently identified a 150K glycoprotein as the major ligand for E-selectin on myeloid cells, using a recombinant antibody-like form of mouse E-selectin as an affinity probe. Here we report the isolation of a mouse complementary DNA for this E-selectin ligand (ESL-1). The predicted amino-acid sequence of ESL-1 is 94% identical (over 1,078 amino acids) to the recently identified chicken cysteine-rich fibroblast growth-factor receptor, except for a unique 70-amino-acid aminoterminal domain of mature ESL-1. Fucosylation of ESL-1 is imperative for affinity isolation with E-selectin-IgG. A fucosylated, recombinant antibody-like form of ESL-1, but not of L-selectin, supports adhesion of E-selectin-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. Antibodies against ESL-1 block the binding of mouse myeloid cells to E-selectin. ESL-1, with a structure essentially identical to that of a receptor, thus functions as a cell adhesion ligand of E-selectin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

RGS8 accelerates G-protein-mediated modulation of K+ currents.

Transmembrane signal transduction via heterotrimeric G proteins is reported to be inhibited by RGS (regulators of G-protein signalling) proteins. These RGS proteins work by increasing the GTPase activity of G protein alpha-subunits (G alpha), thereby driving G proteins into their inactive GDP-bound form. However, it is not known how RGS proteins regulate the kinetics of physiological responses that depend on G proteins. Here we report the isolation of a full-length complementary DNA encoding a neural-tissue-specific RGS protein, RGS8, and the determination of its function. We show that RGS8 binds preferentially to the alpha-subunits G(alpha)o and G(alpha)i3 and that it functions as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP). When co-expressed in Xenopus oocytes with a G-protein-coupled receptor and a G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying K+ channel (GIRK1/2), RGS8 accelerated not only the turning off but also the turning on of the GIRK1/2 current upon receptor stimulation, without affecting the dose-response relationship. We conclude that RGS8 accelerates the modulation of G-protein-coupled channels and is not just a simple negative regulator. This property of RGS8 may be crucial for the rapid regulation of neuronal excitability upon stimulation of G-protein-coupled receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modulation of apoptosis by the widely distributed Bcl-2 homologue Bak.

Members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins are characterized by their ability to modulate cell death. Bcl-2 and some of its homologues inhibit apoptosis, whereas other family members, such as Bax, will accelerate apoptosis under certain conditions. Here we describe the identification and characterization of a complementary DNA that encodes a previously unknown Bcl-2 homologue designated Bak. Like Bax, the bak gene product primarily enhances apoptotic cell death following an appropriate stimulus. Unlike Bax, however, Bak can inhibit cell death in an Epstein-Barr-virus-transformed cell line. The widespread tissue distribution of Bak messenger RNA, including those containing long-lived, terminally differentiated cell types, suggests that cell-death-inducing activity is broadly distributed, and that tissue-specific modulation of apoptosis is controlled primarily by regulation of molecules that inhibit apoptosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Coexpression of P2X2 and P2X3 receptor subunits can account for ATP-gated currents in sensory neurons.

Cation-selective P2X receptor channels were first described in sensory neurons where they are important for primary afferent neurotransmission and nociception. Here we report the cloning of a complementary DNA (P2X3) from rat dorsal root ganglia that had properties dissimilar to those of sensory neurons. We also found RNA for (P2X1)(ref. 7), (P2X2)(ref. 8) and P2X4 (ref. 9) in sensory neurons; channels expressed from individual cDNAs did not reproduce those of sensory ganglia. Coexpression of P2X3 with P2X2, but not other combinations, yielded ATP-activated currents that closely resembled those in sensory neurons. These properties could not be accounted for by addition of the two sets of channels, indicating that a new channel had formed by subunit heteropolymerization. Although in some tissues responses to ATP can be accounted for by homomeric channels, our results indicate that ATP-gated channels of sensory neurons may form by a specific heteropolymerization of P2X receptor subunits.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

A phosphate transporter from the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus versiforme.

Vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with the roots of most terrestrial plants, including many agriculturally important crop species. The fungi colonize the cortex of the root to obtain carbon from their plant host, while assisting the plant with the uptake of phosphate and other mineral nutrients from the soil. This association is beneficial to the plant, because phosphate is essential for plant growth and development, especially during growth under nutrient-limiting conditions. Molecular genetic studies of these fungi and their interaction with plants have been limited owing to the obligate symbiotic nature of the VA fungi, so the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal-mediated uptake and translocation of phosphate from the soil to the plant remain unknown. Here we begin to investigate this process by identifying a complementary DNA that encodes a transmembrane phosphate transporter (GvPT) from Glomus versiforme, a VA mycorrhizal fungus. The function of the protein encoded by GvPT was confirmed by complementation of a yeast phosphate transport mutant. Expression of GvPT was localized to the external hyphae of G. versiforme during mycorrhizal associations, these being the initial site of phosphate uptake from the soil.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning of the amiloride-sensitive FMRFamide peptide-gated sodium channel.

The peptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 (FMRFamide) and structurally related peptides are present both in invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems. Although they constitute a major class of invertebrate peptide neurotransmitters, the molecular structure of their receptors has not yet been identified. In neurons of the snail Helix aspersa, as well as in Aplysia bursting and motor neurons, FMRFamide induces a fast excitatory depolarizing response due to direct activation of an amiloride-sensitive Na+ channel. We have now isolated a complementary DNA from Helix nervous tissue; when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, it encodes an FMRFamide-activated Na+ channel (FaNaCh) that can be blocked by amiloride. The corresponding protein shares a very low sequence identity with the previously cloned epithelial Na+ channel subunits and Caenorhabditis elegans degenerins, but it displays the same overall structural organization. To our knowledge, this is the first characterization of a peptide-gated ionotropic receptor.

Amiloride↗

Regulation of cell adhesion and anchorage-dependent growth by a new beta 1-integrin-linked protein kinase.

The interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix regulates cell shape, motility, growth, survival, differentiation and gene expression, through integrin-mediated signal transduction. We used a two-hybrid screen to isolate genes encoding proteins that interact with the beta 1-integrin cytoplasmic domain. The most frequently isolated complementary DNA encoded a new, 59K serine/threonine protein kinase, containing four ankyrin-like repeats. We report here that this integrin-linked kinase (ILK) phosphorylated a beta 1-integrin cytoplasmic domain peptide in vitro and coimmunoprecipitated with beta 1 in lysates of mammalian cells. Endogenous ILK kinase activity was reduced in response to fibronectin. Overexpression of p59ILK disrupted epithelial cell architecture and inhibited adhesion to integrin substrates, while inducing anchorage-independent growth. We propose that ILK is a receptor-proximal protein kinase regulating integrin-mediated signal transduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cloning and characterization of the thyroid iodide transporter.

Iodide (I-) is an essential constituent of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, and is accumulated by the thyroid. The transport of iodide, the first step in thyroid hormogenesis, is catalysed by the Na+/I- symporter, an intrinsic membrane protein that is crucial for the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders. Although several other important thyroid proteins involved in hormogenesis have been characterized, the Na+/I- symporter has not. Here we report the isolation of a complementary DNA clone that encodes this symporter, as a result of functional screening of a cDNA library from a rat thyroid-derived cell line (FRTL-5) in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Oocyte microinjection of an RNA transcript made in vitro from this cDNA clone elicited a more than 700-fold increase in perchlorate-sensitive Na+/I- symport activity over background. To our knowledge, this is the first iodide-transporting molecule to have its cDNA cloned, providing a missing link in the thyroid hormone biosynthetic pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A Grb2-associated docking protein in EGF- and insulin-receptor signalling.

The protein Grb2 plays a central role in signalling by receptor protein-tyrosine kinases, where its SH2 domain binds to the receptor and its two SH3 domains link to effectors. One target effector is Sos, so Grb2 links receptor protein-tyrosine kinases with the Ras signalling pathway. The SH3 domains can also couple to other signalling proteins, including Vav, c-Abl and dynamin. We have identified several bands in glial and medulloblastoma tumours that are recognized by Grb2 but these did not correspond to any known protein. Here we use recombinant Grb2 to isolate a complementary DNA called Gab1 (for Grb2-associated binder-1). Gab1 shares amino-acid homology and several structural features with IRS-1 (insulin-receptor substrate-1; refs 6,7), is a substrate of the EGF and insulin receptors, and can act as a docking protein for several SH2-containing proteins. Over-expression of Gab1 enhances cell growth and results in transformation. We conclude that Gab1 is a new protein in EGF and insulin receptor signalling which could integrate signals from different systems.

3T3 Cells↗

Enhanced dihydropyridine receptor channel activity in the presence of ryanodine receptor.

Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle involves a voltage sensor in the plasma membrane which, in response to depolarization, causes an intracellular calcium-release channel to open. The skeletal isoform of the ryanodine receptor (RyR-1) functions as the Ca2+-release channel and the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) functions as the voltage sensor and also as an L-type Ca2+ channel. Here we examine the possibility that there is a retrograde signal from RyR-1 to the DHPR, using myotubes from mice homozygous for a disrupted RyR-1 gene (dyspedic mice). As expected, we find that there is no excitation-contraction coupling in dyspedic myotubes, but we also find that they have a roughly 30-fold reduction in L-type Ca2+-current density. Injection of dyspedic myotubes with RyR-1 complementary DNA restores excitation-contraction coupling and causes the density of L-type Ca2+ current to rise towards normal. Despite the differences in Ca2+-current magnitude, measurements of charge movement indicate that the density of DHPRs is similar in dyspedic and RyR-1-expressing myotubes. Our results support the possibility of a retrograde signal by which RyR-1 enhances the function of DHPRs as Ca2+ channels.

Animals↗

A G-protein-coupled receptor for leukotriene B4 that mediates chemotaxis.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent chemoattractant that is primarily involved in inflammation, immune responses and host defence against infection. LTB4 activates inflammatory cells by binding to its cell-surface receptor (BLTR). LTB4 can also bind and activate the intranudear transcription factor PPAR alpha, resulting in the activation of genes that terminate inflammatory processes. Here we report the cloning of the complementary DNA encoding a cell-surface LTB4 receptor that is highly expressed in human leukocytes. Using a subtraction strategy, we isolated two cDNA clones (HL-1 and HL-5) from retinoic acid-differentiated HL-60 cells. These two clones contain identical open reading frames encoding a protein of 352 amino acids and predicted to contain seven membrane-spanning domains, but different 5'-untranslated regions. Membrane fractions of Cos-7 cells transfected with an expression construct containing the open reading frame of HL-5 showed specific LTB4 binding, with a K(d) (0.154nM) comparable to that observed in retinoic acid-differentiated HL-60 cells. In CHO cells stably expressing this receptor, LTB4 induced increases in intracellular calcium, D-myo-inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3) accumulation, and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Furthermore, CHO cells expressing exogenous BLTR showed marked chemotactic responses towards low concentrations of LTB4 in a pertussis-toxin-sensitive manner. Our findings, together with previous reports, show that LTB4 is a unique lipid mediator that interacts with both cell-surface and nuclear receptors.

Animals↗

Control of microtubule dynamics by the antagonistic activities of XMAP215 and XKCM1 in Xenopus egg extracts.

Microtubules are dynamic polymers that move stochastically between periods of growth and shrinkage, a property known as dynamic instability. Here, to investigate the mechanisms regulating microtubule dynamics in Xenopus egg extracts, we have cloned the complementary DNA encoding the microtubule-associated protein XMAP215 and investigated the function of the XMAP215 protein. Immunodepletion of XMAP215 indicated that it is a major microtubule-stabilizing factor in Xenopus egg extracts. During interphase, XMAP215 stabilizes microtubules primarily by opposing the activity of the destabilizing factor XKCM1, a member of the kinesin superfamily. These results indicate that microtubule dynamics in Xenopus egg extracts are regulated by a balance between a stabilizing factor, XMAP215, and a destabilizing factor, XKCM1.

Animals↗

Expression profiling using microarrays fabricated by an ink-jet oligonucleotide synthesizer.

We describe a flexible system for gene expression profiling using arrays of tens of thousands of oligonucleotides synthesized in situ by an ink-jet printing method employing standard phosphoramidite chemistry. We have characterized the dependence of hybridization specificity and sensitivity on parameters including oligonucleotide length, hybridization stringency, sequence identity, sample abundance, and sample preparation method. We find that 60-mer oligonucleotides reliably detect transcript ratios at one copy per cell in complex biological samples, and that ink-jet arrays are compatible with several different sample amplification and labeling techniques. Furthermore, results using only a single carefully selected oligonucleotide per gene correlate closely with those obtained using complementary DNA (cDNA) arrays. Most of the genes for which measurements differ are members of gene families that can only be distinguished by oligonucleotides. Because different oligonucleotide sequences can be specified for each array, we anticipate that ink-jet oligonucleotide array technology will be useful in a wide variety of DNA microarray applications.

Cells, Cultured↗

Enhancement of drug sensitivity and a bystander effect in PC-9 cells transfected with a platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor thymidine phosphorylase cDNA.

5'-Deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) and 1-(tetrahydro-2-furyl)-5-fluorouracil (tegafur), prodrugs of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), are anticancer agents activated by thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase). As it is well known that the levels of dThdPase are higher in tumours than in normal tissue, it should be advantageous to use such pyrimidine antimetabolites for the selective inhibition of tumour growth. However, tumours are not necessarily sensitive to 5'-DFUR and tegafur because their levels of dThdPase vary. In this study, we examined whether transfection of tumour cells with a human platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) complementary DNA (cDNA) expressing dThdPase would sensitize the cells to the cytotoxic effects of pyrimidine antimetabolites in vitro. A cDNA encoding PD-ECGF was transfected into PC-9 cells (human lung adenocarcinoma). The transfected cells, PC9-DPE2, had a more than 50 times higher activity of dThdPase than the parental PC-9 cells or control PC-9 cells transfected with the pcDNA3 vector alone (PC9-D1). They were more sensitive than parental PC-9 or PC9-D1 cells not only to 5'-DFUR and tegafur but also to 5-FU. In addition, we demonstrated that PC9-DPE2 cells are able to potentiate the cytotoxic effects of 5'-DFUR towards co-cultured parental PC-9 cells. This "bystander effect' did not require cell-cell contact. These results suggest that transfection of PD-ECGF (dThdPase) genes may be useful as a gene therapy strategy for cancer treatment.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Gene expression profiling of oxidative stress on atrial fibrillation in humans.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is thought be caused by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress at the cellular level results from many factors, including exposure to alcohol, medications, cold, toxins or radiation. In this study we investigated gene transcriptional profiles on the human myocardial tissues from AF and oxidative stress conditions. Right atrial appendages were obtained from AF patients (n = 26) undergoing the Maze procedure, and from control patients (n = 26) who were in normal sinus rhythm and undergoing coronary artery bypass graft operation. To examine the effects of oxidative stress on AF, we used radioactive complementary DNA (cDNA) microarrays to evaluate changes in the expression of 1,152 known genes. This technology, which monitors thousands of genes simultaneously, gives us a better picture of the interactions between AF and oxidative stress. Total RNAs prepared from the retrieved tissues were used to synthesize 33P-labeled cDNAs by reverse transcription and hybridized to cDNA microarrays. Gene expression profiles showed that 30 genes were upregulated and 25 were downregulated in AF patients compared with control patients. Moreover, comparison rank analysis revealed that the expression of five genes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-including flavin containing monooxygenase 1, monoamine oxidase B, ubiquitin specific protease 8, tyrosinase-related protein 1, and tyrosine 3-monooxygenase-increased by more than 2.0 of the Z-ratio, and two genes related to antioxidants including glutathione peroxidase 1, and heme oxygenase 2-decreased to the Z-ratio levels of < or = -2.0. Apparently, a balanced regulation of pro- and anti-oxidation can be shifted toward pro-oxidation and can result in serious damage similar to that of human AF. Western blotting analysis confirmed the upregulation of tyrosinase-related protein 1 and tyrosine 3-monooxygenase and the downregulation of heme oxygenase 2. These results suggested that the gene expression pattern of myocardial tissues in AF patients can be associated with oxidative stress, resulting in a significant increase in ROS. Thus, the cDNA microarray technique was useful for investigating transcription profiles in AF. It showed that the intracellular mechanism of oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathologic progression of AF and offers novel insight into potential treatment with antioxidants.

Atrial Appendage↗

Analysis of the mouse transcriptome based on functional annotation of 60,770 full-length cDNAs.

Only a small proportion of the mouse genome is transcribed into mature messenger RNA transcripts. There is an international collaborative effort to identify all full-length mRNA transcripts from the mouse, and to ensure that each is represented in a physical collection of clones. Here we report the manual annotation of 60,770 full-length mouse complementary DNA sequences. These are clustered into 33,409 'transcriptional units', contributing 90.1% of a newly established mouse transcriptome database. Of these transcriptional units, 4,258 are new protein-coding and 11,665 are new non-coding messages, indicating that non-coding RNA is a major component of the transcriptome. 41% of all transcriptional units showed evidence of alternative splicing. In protein-coding transcripts, 79% of splice variations altered the protein product. Whole-transcriptome analyses resulted in the identification of 2,431 sense-antisense pairs. The present work, completely supported by physical clones, provides the most comprehensive survey of a mammalian transcriptome so far, and is a valuable resource for functional genomics.

Alternative Splicing↗

Archaea predominate among ammonia-oxidizing prokaryotes in soils.

Ammonia oxidation is the first step in nitrification, a key process in the global nitrogen cycle that results in the formation of nitrate through microbial activity. The increase in nitrate availability in soils is important for plant nutrition, but it also has considerable impact on groundwater pollution owing to leaching. Here we show that archaeal ammonia oxidizers are more abundant in soils than their well-known bacterial counterparts. We investigated the abundance of the gene encoding a subunit of the key enzyme ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) in 12 pristine and agricultural soils of three climatic zones. amoA gene copies of Crenarchaeota (Archaea) were up to 3,000-fold more abundant than bacterial amoA genes. High amounts of crenarchaeota-specific lipids, including crenarchaeol, correlated with the abundance of archaeal amoA gene copies. Furthermore, reverse transcription quantitative PCR studies and complementary DNA analysis using novel cloning-independent pyrosequencing technology demonstrated the activity of the archaea in situ and supported the numerical dominance of archaeal over bacterial ammonia oxidizers. Our results indicate that crenarchaeota may be the most abundant ammonia-oxidizing organisms in soil ecosystems on Earth.

Ammonia↗