scholarly journals Bax oligomerization is required for channel-forming activity in liposomes and to trigger cytochrome c release from mitochondria

2000 ◽  
Vol 345 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno ANTONSSON ◽  
Sylvie MONTESSUIT ◽  
Sandra LAUPER ◽  
Robert ESKES ◽  
Jean-Claude MARTINOU

Bax is a Bcl-2-family protein with pro-apoptotic activity that can form channels in lipid membranes. The protein has been shown to trigger cytochrome c release from mitochondria both in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant human Bax isolated in the presence of detergent was found to be present as an oligomer with an apparent molecular mass of approx. 160000 Da on gel filtration. When Bax was isolated in the absence of detergent the purified protein was monomeric with an apparent molecular mass of 22000 Da. Bax oligomers formed channels in liposomes and triggered cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria, whereas monomeric Bax was inactive in both respects. Incubation of the monomeric Bax with 2% octyl glucoside induced formation of oligomers that displayed channel-forming activity in liposomes and triggered cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Triton X-100, Nonidet P-40 and n-dedecyl maltoside also activated monomeric Bax, whereas CHAPS had no activating effect. In cytosolic extracts from mouse liver, Bax migrated at a molecular mass of 24000 Da on gel filtration, whereas after incubation of the cytosol with 2% octyl glucoside Bax migrated at approximately 140000 Da. These results show that oligomeric Bax possesses channel-forming activity whereas monomeric Bax has no such activity.

1997 ◽  
Vol 326 (3) ◽  
pp. 853-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio LIZANO ◽  
Bruno LOMONTE ◽  
Jay W. FOX ◽  
José Maréa GUTIÉRREZ

A protein that neutralizes the biological activities of basic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) myotoxin isoforms from the venom of the snake Bothrops asper was isolated from its blood by affinity chromatography with Sepharose-immobilized myotoxins. Biochemical characterization of this B. asper myotoxin inhibitor protein (BaMIP) indicated a subunit molecular mass of 23–25 kDa, an isoelectric point of 4, and glycosylation. Gel-filtration studies revealed a molecular mass of 120 kDa, suggesting that BaMIP possesses an oligomeric structure composed of five 23–25 kDa subunits. Functional studies indicated that BaMIP inhibits the PLA2 activity of B. asper basic myotoxins I and III, as well as the myotoxicity and edema-forming activity in vivo and cytolytic activity in vitro towards cultured endothelial cells, of all four myotoxin isoforms (I–IV) tested. Sequence analysis of the first 63 amino acid residues from the N-terminus of BaMIP indicated more than 65% sequence similarity to the PLA2 inhibitors isolated from the blood of the crotalid snakes Trimeresurus flavoviridis and Agkistrodon blomhoffii siniticus. These inhibitors also share sequences similar to the carbohydrate-recognition domains of human and rabbit cellular PLA2 receptors, suggesting a common domain evolution among snake plasma PLA2 inhibitors and mammalian PLA2 receptors. Despite this similarity, this is the first description of a natural anti-myotoxic factor from snake blood.


2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (1) ◽  
pp. F234-F242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Luis Viñas ◽  
Anna Sola ◽  
Michaela Jung ◽  
Chrysoula Mastora ◽  
Eugenia Vinuesa ◽  
...  

Certain determinants of ischemic resistance in the Brown Norway rat strain have been proposed, but no studies to date have focused on the role of the Wnt pathway in the ischemic resistance mechanism. We performed a comparative genomic study in Brown Norway vs. Sprague-Dawley rats. Selective manipulations of the Wnt pathway in vivo and in vitro allowed us to study whether the action of the Wnt pathway on apoptosis through the regulation of osteopontin was critical to the maintenance of inherent ischemic resistance mechanisms. The results revealed a major gene upregulation of the Wnt family in Brown Norway rats after renal ischemia-reperfusion. Manipulation of the Wnt signaling cascade by selective antibodies increased mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase 3 activity. The antiapoptotic role of Wnt was mediated by osteopontin, a direct Wnt target gene. Osteopontin was reduced by Wnt antibody administration in vivo, and osteopontin gene silencing in vitro significantly increased mitochondrial cytochrome c release. The overexpression of Wnt pathway genes detected in Brown Norway rats is critical in the maintenance of their inherent ischemic resistance. Activation of the Wnt signaling cascade reduces mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase 3 activity through the action of osteopontin.


2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 1016-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Li ◽  
Siran Wang ◽  
Jimei Yin ◽  
Linna Pan

Geraniin has previously been reported to possess extensive biological activity. In this study, we reported that geraniin is an inhibitor of tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Geraniin suppressed the proliferation of A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Geraniin arrested the cell cycle in the S phase and induced a significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as an increased percentage of cells with mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) disruption. Western blot analysis showed that geraniin inhibited Bcl-2 expression and induced Bax expression to disintegrate the outer mitochondrial membrane and cause cytochrome c release. Mitochondrial cytochrome c release was associated with the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 cascades. Additionally, geraniin resulted in tumor growth inhibition in A549 xenografts. Our results indicate cytotoxic activity of geraniin towards cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enjun Zuo ◽  
Cong Zhang ◽  
Jun Mao ◽  
Chenxue Gao ◽  
Shuhai Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract Because precise mechanism for 2,5-hexanedione (HD)-induced neuronal apoptosis largely remains unknown, we explored the potential mechanisms both in vivo and in vitro. Rats were intraperitoneally exposed to HD at different doses for 5 weeks, following which the expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), phosphorylation of Akt and Bad, dimerization of Bad and Bcl-xL, as well as the release of cytochrome c and the caspase-3 activity were measured. Moreover, these variables were also examined in vitro in HD-exposed VSC4.1 cells with or without a PI3K-specific agonist (IGF-1), and in HD-exposed VSC4.1 cells with or without a PI3K-specific inhibitor (LY294002) in the presence or absence of NGF. The data indicate that, as the concentration of HD increased, rats exhibited progressive gait abnormalities, and enhanced neuronal apoptosis in the rat sciatic nerve, compared with the results observed in the control group. Furthermore, HD significantly down-regulated NGF expression in the rat sciatic nerve. Moreover, suppression of NGF expression inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and Bad. Meanwhile, an increase in the dimerization of Bad and Bcl-xL in mitochondria resulted in cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. In contrast, HD-induced apoptosis was eliminated by IGF-1. Additionally, NGF supplementation reversed the decrease in phosphorylation of Akt and Bad, as well as reversing the neuronal apoptosis in HD-exposed VSC4.1 cells. However, LY294002 blocked these effects of NGF. Collectively, our results demonstrate that mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis is induced by HD through NGF suppression via the PI3K/Akt pathway both in vivo and in vitro.


1988 ◽  
Vol 250 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
S W Edwards ◽  
V Hughes ◽  
J Barlow ◽  
R Bucknall

We have used rocket immunoelectrophoresis and immunoblotting to detect myeloperoxidase in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This protein was enzymatically inactive but its identity as myeloperoxidase was confirmed by comparing its subunit structure with that of the purified enzyme. When neutrophils were stimulated to secrete myeloperoxidase in vitro, a polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 62 kDa was detected extracellularly by immunoblotting. Neutrophils isolated from synovial fluid showed a reduced level of this 62 kDa polypeptide but it was detected extracellularly in synovial fluid by immunoblotting. Thus, we conclude that neutrophils in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been activated in vivo to secrete myeloperoxidase and propose that the products of this enzyme system can contribute to the tissue damage associated with this disease.


1998 ◽  
Vol 334 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian C. BOULTON ◽  
Andrew R. GORRINGE ◽  
Nigel ALLISON ◽  
Andrew ROBINSON ◽  
Beatrice GORINSKY ◽  
...  

Neisseria meningitidis utilization of human serum transferrin (hTF)-bound iron is an important pathogenicity determinant. The efficiency of this system would clearly be increased through preferential binding of diferric hTF over the iron-free form. To characterize this process, functionally active meningococcal transferrin-binding protein A (TbpA) and TbpB have been purified from N. meningitidis using a novel purification procedure. The association of isolated Tbps and Tbps in the presence of hTF was investigated by gel filtration. Co-purified TbpA+B formed a complex of molecular mass 300 kDa which bound 1–2 molecules of hTF. Purified TbpA formed a complex of 200 kDa, indicating association as a dimer, whereas TbpB aggregated to form multimers of variable sizes. On recombining TbpA and TbpB, a stable complex of equivalent size to co-purified TbpA+B was formed. This complex may be composed of a single TbpA dimer and 1 molecule of TbpB. The technique of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used to demonstrate clearly that TbpB of either high (85 kDa) or low (68 kDa) molecular-mass preferentially bound diferric hTF in comparison with iron-free hTF. This selectivity was not observed with TbpA, but was found at low levels with co-purified TbpA+B. Individual TbpA and TbpB, recombined in a 1:1 molecular ratio, showed iron-mediated discriminatory binding at an intermediate level. SPR was also used to show that TbpA and TbpB bound to distinct regions of hTF, and that prior saturation with TbpB reduced subsequent TbpA binding. The results demonstrated that hTF bound more TbpA than TbpB, with an approximate ratio of 2:1. We have demonstrated that in vitro, TbpA+B exists as a receptor complex composed of a TbpA dimer and one molecule of TbpB, and that TbpB selectively binds diferric hTF. We propose that, in vivo, TbpA and TbpB also exist as a receptor complex, with TbpB selectively binding diferric hTF, bringing it close to TbpA, the transmembrane component, where the ferric iron can be transported to the periplasm.


1969 ◽  
Vol 22 (03) ◽  
pp. 577-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.M.P Paulssen ◽  
A.C.M.G.B Wouterlood ◽  
H.L.M.A Scheffers

SummaryFactor VIII can be isolated from plasma proteins, including fibrinogen by chromatography on agarose. The best results were obtained with Sepharose 6B. Large scale preparation is also possible when cryoprecipitate is separated by chromatography. In most fractions containing factor VIII a turbidity is observed which may be due to the presence of chylomicrons.The purified factor VIII was active in vivo as well as in vitro.


1977 ◽  
Vol 37 (01) ◽  
pp. 073-080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knut Gjesdal ◽  
Duncan S. Pepper

SummaryHuman platelet factor 4 (PF-4) showed a reaction of complete identity with PF-4 from Macaca mulatta when tested against rabbit anti-human-PF-4. Such immunoglobulin was used for quantitative precipitation of in vivo labelled PF-4 in monkey serum. The results suggest that the active protein had an intra-platelet half-life of about 21 hours. In vitro 125I-labelled human PF-4 was injected intravenously into two monkeys and isolated by immuno-precipita-tion from platelet-poor plasma and from platelets disrupted after gel-filtration. Plasma PF-4 was found to have a half-life of 7 to 11 hours. Some of the labelled PF-4 was associated with platelets and this fraction had a rapid initial disappearance rate and a subsequent half-life close to that of plasma PF-4. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that granular PF-4 belongs to a separate compartment, whereas membrane-bound PF-4 and plasma PF-4 may interchange.


1981 ◽  
Vol 45 (03) ◽  
pp. 290-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H Levine ◽  
Danielle G Sladdin ◽  
Norman I Krinsky

SummaryIn the course of studying the effects on platelets of the oxidant species superoxide (O- 2), Of was generated by the interaction of xanthine oxidase plus xanthine. Surprisingly, gel-filtered platelets, when exposed to xanthine oxidase in the absence of xanthine substrate, were found to generate superoxide (O- 2), as determined by the reduction of added cytochrome c and by the inhibition of this reduction in the presence of superoxide dismutase.In addition to generating Of, the xanthine oxidase-treated platelets display both aggregation and evidence of the release reaction. This xanthine oxidase induced aggreagtion is not inhibited by the addition of either superoxide dismutase or cytochrome c, suggesting that it is due to either a further metabolite of O- 2, or that O- 2 itself exerts no important direct effect on platelet function under these experimental conditions. The ability of Of to modulate platelet reactions in vivo or in vitro remains in doubt, and xanthine oxidase is an unsuitable source of O- 2 in platelet studies because of its own effects on platelets.


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