scholarly journals Novel homodimeric and heterodimeric rat γ-hydroxybutyrate synthases that associate with the Golgi apparatus define a distinct subclass of aldo-keto reductase 7 family proteins

2002 ◽  
Vol 366 (3) ◽  
pp. 847-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent P. KELLY ◽  
Philip J. SHERRATT ◽  
Dorothy H. CROUCH ◽  
John D. HAYES
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Golgi Apparatus ◽  
High Activity ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Expressed Sequence Tag ◽  
Secretory Process ◽  
Succinic Semialdehyde ◽  
Sequence Identity ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
N Terminus

The aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 7 family is composed of the dimeric aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase (AFAR) isoenzymes. In the rat, two AFAR subunits exist, designated rAFAR1 and rAFAR2. Herein, we report the molecular cloning of rAFAR2, showing that it shares 76% sequence identity with rAFAR1. By contrast with rAFAR1, which comprises 327 amino acids, rAFAR2 contains 367 amino acids. The 40 extra residues in rAFAR2 are located at the N-terminus of the polypeptide as an Arg-rich domain that may form an amphipathic α-helical structure. Protein purification and Western blotting have shown that the two AFAR subunits are found in rat liver extracts as both homodimers and as a heterodimer. Reductase activity in rat liver towards 2-carboxybenzaldehyde (CBA) was resolved by anion-exchange chromatography into three peaks containing rAFAR1-1, rAFAR1-2 and rAFAR2-2 dimers. These isoenzymes are functionally distinct; with NADPH as cofactor, rAFAR1-1 has a low Km and high activity with CBA, whereas rAFAR2-2 exhibits a low Km and high activity towards succinic semialdehyde. These data suggest that rAFAR1-1 is a detoxication enzyme, while rAFAR2-2 serves to synthesize the endogenous neuromodulator γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Subcellular fractionation of liver extracts showed that rAFAR1-1 was recovered in the cytosol whereas rAFAR2-2 was associated with the Golgi apparatus. The distinct subcellular localization of the rAFAR1 and rAFAR2 subunits was confirmed by immunocytochemistry in H4IIE cells. Association of rAFAR2-2 with the Golgi apparatus presumably facilitates secretion of GHB, and the novel N-terminal domain may either determine the targeting of the enzyme to the Golgi or regulate the secretory process. A murine AKR protein of 367 residues has been identified in expressed sequence tag databases that shares 91% sequence identity with rAFAR2 and contains the Arg-rich extended N-terminus of 40 amino acids. Further bioinformatic evidence is presented that full-length human AKR7A2 is composed of 359 amino acids and also possesses an additional N-terminal domain. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that AKR7 proteins can be divided into two subfamilies, one of which is a Golgi-associated GHB synthase with a unique, previously unrecognized, N-terminal domain that is absent from other AKR proteins.

scholarly journals Role of a tryptophan anchor in human topoisomerase I structure, function and inhibition

2008 ◽  
Vol 411 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary S. Laco ◽  
Yves Pommier
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Topoisomerase I ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Functional Domain ◽  
Site Mutation ◽  
Supercoiled Dna ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Tryptophan Residues ◽  
N Terminus

Human Top1 (topoisomerase I) relaxes supercoiled DNA during cell division and transcription. Top1 is composed of 765 amino acids and contains an unstructured N-terminal domain of 200 amino acids, and a structured functional domain of 565 amino acids that binds and relaxes supercoiled DNA. In the present study we examined the region spanning the junction of the N-terminal domain and functional domain (junction region). Analysis of several published Top1 structures revealed that three tryptophan residues formed a network of aromatic stacking interactions and electrostatic interactions that anchored the N-terminus of the functional domain to sub-domains containing the nose cone and active site. Mutation of the three tryptophan residues (Trp203/Trp205/Trp206) to an alanine residue, either individually or together, in silico revealed that the individual tryptophan residue's contribution to the tryptophan ‘anchor’ was additive. When the three tryptophan residues were mutated to alanine in vitro, the resulting mutant Top1 differed from wild-type Top1 in that it lacked processivity, exhibited resistance to camptothecin and was inactivated by urea. The results indicated that the tryptophan anchor stabilized the N-terminus of the functional domain and prevented the loss of Top1 structure and function.

scholarly journals Substrate specificity of an aflatoxin-metabolizing aldehyde reductase

1995 ◽  
Vol 312 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
E M Ellis ◽  
J D Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
High Activity ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Aflatoxin B1 ◽  
Succinic Semialdehyde ◽  
Aldehyde Reductase ◽  
Aliphatic Aldehydes ◽  
Alpha Beta ◽  
Low Activity

The enzyme from rat liver that reduces aflatoxin B1-dialdehyde exhibits a unique catalytic specificity distinct from that of other aldo-keto reductases. This enzyme, designated AFAR, displays high activity towards dicarbonyl-containing compounds with ketone groups on adjacent carbon atoms; 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, acenaphthenequinone and camphorquinone were found to be good substrates. Although AFAR can also reduce aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes such as succinic semialdehyde, it is inactive with glucose, galactose and xylose. The enzyme also exhibits low activity towards alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl-containing compounds. Determination of the apparent Km reveals that AFAR has highest affinity for 9,10-phenanthrenequinone and succinic semialdehyde, and low affinity for glyoxal and DL-glyceraldehyde.

scholarly journals Studies on cystathionase activity in rat liver and brain during development. Effects of hormones and amino acids in vivo

1973 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 1011-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsti Heinonen
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Rat Brain ◽  
High Activity ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Newborn Rats ◽  
Postnatal Rats

High activity of cystathionase was present in rat liver but only low amounts of activity in rat brain during development. Triamcinolone had no effect on liver cystathionase activity in foetuses but increased the enzyme activity significantly in postnatal rats. l-Thyroxine decreased liver cystathionase activity significantly in newborn rats; administration of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate did not prevent this effect. l-Methionine significantly increased liver cystathionase activity in newborn rats.

scholarly journals Inducible Phase Separation of GSK3α As a Mechanism for Asparaginase Resistance in Acute Leukemias

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 169-169
Author(s):  
Laura Hinze ◽  
Sabine Schreek ◽  
Andre Zeug ◽  
Evgeni Ponimaskin ◽  
Roxane Labrosse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Equity Ownership

Asparaginase is an antileukemic enzyme that depletes the nonessential amino acid asparagine, but resistance is a common clinical problem whose biologic basis is poorly understood. We recently found that Wnt-induced inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) profoundly sensitizes drug-resistant leukemias to asparaginase (Hinze et al, Cancer Cell, 2019;35:664). This effect is mediated by a β-catenin independent branch of Wnt signaling termed Wnt-dependent stabilization of proteins (Wnt/STOP), which inhibits GSK3-dependent protein ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation (Acebron et al, Mol Cell, 2014;54:663). Thus, asparaginase-resistant leukemias rely on catabolic protein degradation as an alternative source of amino acids to survive asparaginase therapy. Asparaginase resistance is selectively mediated by GSK3α, because its genetic or pharmacologic inhibition fully phenocopied Wnt-induced sensitization to asparaginase (p < 0.0001), whereas selective inhibition of GSK3β had no effect. This is surprising because GSK3α and GSK3β are closely related paralogs thought to be redundant for many of their biologic functions. Thus, our objective was to define why asparaginase resistance is selectively dependent on GSK3α activity. To define the GSK3 domains responsible for asparaginase resistance, we leveraged the fact that selective depletion of GSK3α induces profound sensitization to asparaginase, and this effect is rescued by expression of a cDNA encoding GSK3α, but not GSK3β. We thus tested whether asparaginase resistance could be restored by expression of a series of GSK3 alleles in which the N-terminal, kinase, and C-terminal domains of GSK3α and GSK3β were swapped in various configurations. This revealed that asparaginase resistance is dependent on the N-terminal domain of GSK3α, whereas the kinase and the C-terminal domain were interchangeable. Fusing the N-terminus of GSK3α to the kinase and C-terminal domains of GSK3β fully restored asparaginase resistance in GSK3α depleted T-ALL (p < 0.0001) and AML cells (p < 0.0001). By contrast, fusing the N-terminus of GSK3β to the kinase and C-terminus of GSK3α had no discernible effect on response to asparaginase (p = n.s.). To investigate how the N-terminus of GSK3α regulates asparaginase response, we first applied structural prediction algorithms. This revealed that the N-terminal domain of GSK3α is a low-complexity (or prion-like) domain predicted to be intrinsically disordered, features associated with liquid-liquid phase separation. Phase separation is an increasingly recognized feature of cell biology that allows cells to concentrate components of important biochemical reactions in so-called membraneless organelles, thus promoting high-catalytic efficiency. Indeed, immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed that GSK3α, but not GSK3β, translocates into cytoplasmic bodies in response to asparagine depletion (p < 0.0001). The cytoplasmic GSK3a bodies were membraneless, as assessed by a proteinase K protection assay, and appeared to be distinct from known phase-separated compartments such as stress granules, P-bodies and aggresomes. However, cytoplasmic GSK3α bodies colocalized with the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), K48-linked ubiquitin and the proteasome, suggesting that these bodies function in protein unfolding, ubiquitination and degradation. Indeed, genetic depletion of either GSK3α or HSP70 blocked formation of phase-separated GSK3α bodies (p < 0.0001) and induced asparaginase sensitivity (p < 0.0001). To explore the clinical relevance of GSK3α body formation in response to asparagine starvation, we tested a panel of matched asparaginase resistant vs. sensitive T-ALL, AML and B-ALL patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), and found that the ability of GSK3α to undergo phase separation significantly correlated with resistance to asparaginase in T-ALL, B-ALL and AML (Figure 1, p < 0.0001). Our data support a model in which inducible phase separation of GSK3α and heat shock proteins represents a previously unrecognized response to amino acid starvation that concentrates the cellular machinery for protein degradation, thus allowing efficient catalysis of this alternative source of amino acids in response to amino acid starvation. Disclosures Chiosis: Samus Therapeutics: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Intellectual rights to the PU-FITC assay. Stevenson:Celgene: Research Funding. Neuberg:Celgene: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership. Bourquin:Servier: Other: Travel support.

Post-proline endopeptidase, further characterization of the enzyme from pig kidneys

1984 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 1846-1853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel Hauzer ◽  
Tomislav Barth ◽  
Linda Servítová ◽  
Karel Jošt
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Aspartic Acid ◽  
Ion Exchange Chromatography ◽  
Exchange Chromatography ◽  
Relative Molecular Mass ◽  
Enzyme Molecule ◽  
Thiol Compounds ◽  
Modified Method ◽  
N Terminus

A post-proline endopeptidase (EC 3.4.21.26) was isolated from pig kidneys using a modified method described earlier. The enzyme was further purified by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel. The final product contained about 95% of post-proline endopeptidase. The enzyme molecule consisted of one peptide chain with a relative molecular mass of 65 600 to 70 000, containing a large proportion of acidic and alifatic amino acids (glutamic acid, aspartic acid and leucine) and the N-terminus was formed by aspartic acid or asparagine. In order to prevent losses of enzyme activity, thiol compounds has to be added.

scholarly journals Generation of Antibodies against Foot-and-Mouth-Disease Virus Capsid Protein VP4 Using Hepatitis B Core VLPs as a Scaffold

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
Jessica Swanson ◽  
Rennos Fragkoudis ◽  
Philippa C. Hawes ◽  
Joseph Newman ◽  
Alison Burman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Capsid Protein ◽  
Disease Virus ◽  
Foot And Mouth Disease ◽  
Mouth Disease ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Mouth Disease Virus ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Foot And Mouth

The picornavirus foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the causative agent of the economically important disease of livestock, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). VP4 is a highly conserved capsid protein, which is important during virus entry. Previous published work has shown that antibodies targeting the N-terminus of VP4 of the picornavirus human rhinovirus are broadly neutralising. In addition, previous studies showed that immunisation with the N-terminal 20 amino acids of enterovirus A71 VP4 displayed on the hepatitis B core (HBc) virus-like particles (VLP) can induce cross-genotype neutralisation. To investigate if a similar neutralising response against FMDV VP4 could be generated, HBc VLPs displaying the N-terminus of FMDV VP4 were designed. The N-terminal 15 amino acids of FMDV VP4 was inserted into the major immunodominant region. HBc VLPs were also decorated with peptides of the N-terminus of FMDV VP4 attached using a HBc-spike binding tag. Both types of VLPs were used to immunise mice and the resulting serum was investigated for VP4-specific antibodies. The VLP with VP4 inserted into the spike, induced VP4-specific antibodies, however the VLPs with peptides attached to the spikes did not. The VP4-specific antibodies could recognise native FMDV, but virus neutralisation was not demonstrated. This work shows that the HBc VLP presents a useful tool for the presentation of FMDV capsid epitopes.

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