scholarly journals Recruitment of folliculin to lysosomes supports the amino acid–dependent activation of Rag GTPases

2013 ◽  
Vol 202 (7) ◽  
pp. 1107-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance S. Petit ◽  
Agnes Roczniak-Ferguson ◽  
Shawn M. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Interacting Protein ◽  
Rag Gtpases ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Pulmonary Cysts ◽  
Amino Acid Depletion ◽  
A Site

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, a human disease characterized by fibrofolliculomas (hair follicle tumors) as well as a strong predisposition toward the development of pneumothorax, pulmonary cysts, and renal carcinoma, arises from loss-of-function mutations in the folliculin (FLCN) gene. In this study, we show that FLCN regulates lysosome function by promoting the mTORC1-dependent phosphorylation and cytoplasmic sequestration of transcription factor EB (TFEB). Our results indicate that FLCN is specifically required for the amino acid–stimulated recruitment of mTORC1 to lysosomes by Rag GTPases. We further demonstrated that FLCN itself was selectively recruited to the surface of lysosomes after amino acid depletion and directly bound to RagA via its GTPase domain. FLCN-interacting protein 1 (FNIP1) promotes both the lysosome recruitment and Rag interactions of FLCN. These new findings define the lysosome as a site of action for FLCN and indicate a critical role for FLCN in the amino acid–dependent activation of mTOR via its direct interaction with the RagA/B GTPases.

scholarly journals Amino Acid Starvation Enhances Programmed Ribosomal Frameshift in Metavirus Ty3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Sezai Türkel
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Starvation ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Coding Regions ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Amino Acid Depletion ◽  
A Site ◽  
Wild Type Yeast

Ty3 is a retroviral-like element and propagates with a retroviral-like mechanism within the yeast cells. Ty3 mRNA contains two coding regions, which are GAG3 and POL3. The coding region POL3 is translated as a GAG3-POL3 fusion protein by a +1 programmed frameshift. In this study, it was shown that the Ty3 frameshift frequency is significantly increased by amino acid starvation in a Gcn2p complex dependent manner. When the yeast cells were subjected to amino acid starvation, the frameshift frequency of Ty3 increased more than 2-fold in the wild-type yeast cells, mostly independent of Gcn4p. However, Ty3 frameshift frequency remained at basal level in the gcn1, gcn20, or gcn2 mutant yeast cells in amino acid starved yeasts. Gcn1p forms a complex with Gcn2p and Gcn20p and is involved in the sensing of uncharged tRNAs on the ribosomal A-site during translation. Increases in uncharged tRNA levels due to amino acid depletion lead to ribosomal pauses. These ribosomal pauses are significant actors in the regulation of Ty3 frameshift frequency. Results of this research revealed that frameshift frequency in Ty3 is regulated by the Gcn2p complex in response to amino acid starvation in yeast.

Glu496Ala polymorphism of human P2X7receptor does not affect its electrophysiological phenotype

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (3) ◽  
pp. C749-C756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Boldt ◽  
Manuela Klapperstück ◽  
Cora Büttner ◽  
Sven Sadtler ◽  
Günther Schmalzing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Amino Acid Position ◽  
Functional Expression ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Ion Channel Properties ◽  
Gated Channel ◽  
Channel Properties

A glutamate to alanine exchange at amino acid position 496 of the human P2X7 receptor was recently shown to be associated with a loss of function in human B lymphocytes in terms of ATP-induced ethidium+ uptake, Ba2+ influx, and induction of apoptosis (Gu BJ, Zhang WY, Worthington RA, Sluyter R, Dao-Ung P, Petrou S, Barden JA, and Wiley JS. J Biol Chem 276: 11135–11142, 2001). Here we analyzed the effect of the Glu496 to Ala exchange on the channel properties of the human P2X7 receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes with the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. The amplitudes of ATP-induced whole cell currents characteristic of functional expression, kinetic properties including ATP concentration dependence, and permeation behavior were not altered by this amino acid exchange. Also in HEK293 cells, the Ala496 mutant mediated typical P2X7 receptor-dependent currents like the parent Glu496 hP2X7 receptor. Because the function of the P2X7 receptor as an ATP-gated channel for small cations including Ba2+ remained unaffected by this mutation, we conclude that Glu496 plays a critical role in pore formation but does not determine the ion channel properties of the human P2X7 receptor.

scholarly journals Importance of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Utilization in Francisella Intracellular Adaptation

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gael Gesbert ◽  
Elodie Ramond ◽  
Fabiola Tros ◽  
Julien Dairou ◽  
Eric Frapy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Metabolic Adaptation ◽  
Amino Acid Transporters ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Branched Chain Amino Acid ◽  
Branched Chain

Intracellular bacterial pathogens have adapted their metabolism to optimally utilize the nutrients available in infected host cells. We recently reported the identification of an asparagine transporter required specifically for cytosolic multiplication ofFrancisella. In the present work, we characterized a new member of the major super family (MSF) of transporters, involved in isoleucine uptake. We show that this transporter (here designated IleP) plays a critical role in intracellular metabolic adaptation ofFrancisella. Inactivation of IleP severely impaired intracellularF. tularensissubsp.novicidamultiplication in all cell types tested and reduced bacterial virulence in the mouse model. To further establish the importance of theilePgene inF. tularensispathogenesis, we constructed a chromosomal deletion mutant ofileP(ΔFTL_1803) in theF. tularensissubsp.holarcticalive vaccine strain (LVS). Inactivation of IleP in theF. tularensisLVS provoked comparable intracellular growth defects, confirming the critical role of this transporter in isoleucine uptake. The data presented establish, for the first time, the importance of isoleucine utilization for efficient phagosomal escape and cytosolic multiplication ofFrancisellaand suggest that virulentF. tularensissubspecies have lost their branched-chain amino acid biosynthetic pathways and rely exclusively on dedicated uptake systems. This loss of function is likely to reflect an evolution toward a predominantly intracellular life style of the pathogen. Amino acid transporters should be thus considered major players in the adaptation of intracellular pathogens.

scholarly journals Comprehensive linker-scanning mutagenesis of the hepatitis C virus E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins reveals new structure–function relationships

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (10) ◽  
pp. 2249-2261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Rychłowska ◽  
Ania M. Owsianka ◽  
Steven K. H. Foung ◽  
Jean Dubuisson ◽  
Krystyna Bieńkowska-Szewczyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Protein Conformation ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
New Findings

Despite extensive research, many details about the structure and functions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) glycoproteins E1 and E2 are not fully understood, and their crystal structure remains to be determined. We applied linker-scanning mutagenesis to generate a panel of 34 mutants, each containing an insertion of 5 aa at a random position within the E1E2 sequence. The mutated glycoproteins were analysed by using a range of assays to identify regions critical for maintaining protein conformation, E1E2 complex assembly, CD81 receptor binding, membrane fusion and infectivity. The results, while supporting previously published data, provide several interesting new findings. Firstly, insertion at amino acid 587 or 596 reduced E1E2 heterodimerization without affecting reactivity with some conformation-sensitive mAbs or with CD81, thus implicating these residues in glycoprotein assembly. Secondly, insertions within a conserved region of E2, between amino acid residues 611 and 631, severely disrupted protein conformation and abrogated binding of all conformation-sensitive antibodies, suggesting that the structural integrity of this region is critical for the correct folding of E2. Thirdly, an insertion at Leu-682 specifically affected membrane fusion, providing direct evidence that the membrane-proximal ‘stem’ of E2 is involved in the fusion mechanism. Overall, our results show that the HCV glycoproteins generally do not tolerate insertions and that there are a very limited number of sites that can be changed without dramatic loss of function. Nevertheless, we identified two E2 insertion mutants, at amino acid residues 408 and 577, that were infectious in the murine leukemia virus-based HCV pseudoparticle system.

scholarly journals Codon harmonization reduces amino acid misincorporation in bacterially expressed P. falciparum proteins and improves their immunogenicity

AMB Express ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeraja Punde ◽  
Jennifer Kooken ◽  
Dagmar Leary ◽  
Patricia M. Legler ◽  
Evelina Angov
Keyword(s):  
Protein Structure ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Codon Usage ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Codon usage frequency influences protein structure and function. The frequency with which codons are used potentially impacts primary, secondary and tertiary protein structure. Poor expression, loss of function, insolubility, or truncation can result from species-specific differences in codon usage. “Codon harmonization” more closely aligns native codon usage frequencies with those of the expression host particularly within putative inter-domain segments where slower rates of translation may play a role in protein folding. Heterologous expression of Plasmodium falciparum genes in Escherichia coli has been a challenge due to their AT-rich codon bias and the highly repetitive DNA sequences. Here, codon harmonization was applied to the malarial antigen, CelTOS (Cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites). CelTOS is a highly conserved P. falciparum protein involved in cellular traversal through mosquito and vertebrate host cells. It reversibly refolds after thermal denaturation making it a desirable malarial vaccine candidate. Protein expressed in E. coli from a codon harmonized sequence of P. falciparum CelTOS (CH-PfCelTOS) was compared with protein expressed from the native codon sequence (N-PfCelTOS) to assess the impact of codon usage on protein expression levels, solubility, yield, stability, structural integrity, recognition with CelTOS-specific mAbs and immunogenicity in mice. While the translated proteins were expected to be identical, the translated products produced from the codon-harmonized sequence differed in helical content and showed a smaller distribution of polypeptides in mass spectra indicating lower heterogeneity of the codon harmonized version and fewer amino acid misincorporations. Substitutions of hydrophobic-to-hydrophobic amino acid were observed more commonly than any other. CH-PfCelTOS induced significantly higher antibody levels compared with N-PfCelTOS; however, no significant differences in either IFN-γ or IL-4 cellular responses were detected between the two antigens.

scholarly journals A Novel Pinkish-White Flower Color Variant Is Caused by a New Allele of Flower Color Gene W1 in Wild Soybean (Glycine soja)

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1001
Author(s):  
Jagadeesh Sundaramoorthy ◽  
Gyu Tae Park ◽  
Hyun Jo ◽  
Jeong-Dong Lee ◽  
Hak Soo Seo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Substitution ◽  
Functional Activity ◽  
Glycine Soja ◽  
Wild Soybean ◽  
Flower Color ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Protein Variation ◽  
Color Variant ◽  
Color Gene

The enzyme flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H) plays an important role in producing anthocyanin pigments in soybean. Loss of function of the W1 locus encoding F3′5′H always produces white flowers. However, few color variations have been reported in wild soybean. In the present study, we isolated a new color variant of wild soybean accession (IT261811) with pinkish-white flowers. We found that the flower’s pinkish-white color is caused by w1-s3, a single recessive allele of W1. The SNP detected in the mutant caused amino acid substitution (A304S) in a highly conserved SRS4 domain of F3′5′H proteins. On the basis of the results of the protein variation effect analyzer (PROVEAN) tool, we suggest that this mutation may lead to hypofunctional F3′5′H activity rather than non-functional activity, which thereby results in its pinkish-white color.

scholarly journals Tick Importin-α Is Implicated in the Interactome and Regulome of the Cofactor Subolesin

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 457
Author(s):  
Sara Artigas-Jerónimo ◽  
Margarita Villar ◽  
Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz ◽  
Grégory Caignard ◽  
Damien Vitour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rational Design ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Vaccine Antigen ◽  
Tick Feeding ◽  
Interacting Protein ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Importin Α

Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) represent a burden for human and animal health worldwide. Currently, vaccines constitute the safest and most effective approach to control ticks and TBDs. Subolesin (SUB) has been identified as a vaccine antigen for the control of tick infestations and pathogen infection and transmission. The characterization of the molecular function of SUB and the identification of tick proteins interacting with SUB may provide the basis for the discovery of novel antigens and for the rational design of novel anti-tick vaccines. In the present study, we used the yeast two-hybrid system (Y2H) as an unbiased approach to identify tick SUB-interacting proteins in an Ixodes ricinus cDNA library, and studied the possible role of SUB as a chromatin remodeler through direct interaction with histones. The Y2H screening identified Importin-α as a potential SUB-interacting protein, which was confirmed in vitro in a protein pull-down assay. The sub gene expression levels in tick midgut and fat body were significantly higher in unfed than fed female ticks, however, the importin-α expression levels did not vary between unfed and fed ticks but tended to be higher in the ovary when compared to those in other organs. The effect of importin-α RNAi was characterized in I. ricinus under artificial feeding conditions. Both sub and importin-α gene knockdown was observed in all tick tissues and, while tick weight was significantly lower in sub RNAi-treated ticks than in controls, importin-α RNAi did not affect tick feeding or oviposition, suggesting that SUB is able to exert its function in the absence of Importin-α. Furthermore, SUB was shown to physically interact with histone 4, which was corroborated by protein pull-down and western blot analysis. These results confirm that by interacting with numerous tick proteins, SUB is a key cofactor of the tick interactome and regulome. Further studies are needed to elucidate the nature of the SUB-Importin-α interaction and the biological processes and functional implications that this interaction may have.

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