scholarly journals Insights on the mechanisms of Ca2+ regulation of connexin26 hemichannels revealed by human pathogenic mutations (D50N/Y)

2013 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Lopez ◽  
Jorge Gonzalez ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Andrew L. Harris ◽  
Jorge E. Contreras
Keyword(s):  
Essential Role ◽  
Negative Charge ◽  
Salt Bridge ◽  
Cysteine Residue ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Closed State ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Deactivation Kinetics ◽  
Connexin Hemichannel

Because of the large size and modest selectivity of the connexin hemichannel aqueous pore, hemichannel opening must be highly regulated to maintain cell viability. At normal resting potentials, this regulation is achieved predominantly by the physiological extracellular Ca2+ concentration, which drastically reduces hemichannel activity. Here, we characterize the Ca2+ regulation of channels formed by wild-type human connexin26 (hCx26) and its human mutations, D50N/Y, that cause aberrant hemichannel opening and result in deafness and skin disorders. We found that in hCx26 wild-type channels, deactivation kinetics are accelerated as a function of Ca2+ concentration, indicating that Ca2+ facilitates transition to, and stabilizes, the closed state of the hemichannels. The D50N/Y mutant hemichannels show lower apparent affinities for Ca2+-induced closing than wild-type channels and have more rapid deactivation kinetics, which are Ca2+ insensitive. These results suggest that D50 plays a role in (a) stabilizing the open state in the absence of Ca2+, and (b) facilitating closing and stabilization of the closed state in the presence of Ca2+. To explore the role of a negatively charged residue at position 50 in regulation by Ca2+, this position was substituted with a cysteine residue, which was then modified with a negatively charged methanethiosulfonate reagent, sodium (2-sulfanoethyl) methanethiosulfonate (MTSES)−. D50C mutant hemichannels display properties similar to those of D50N/Y mutants. Recovery of the negative charge with chemical modification by MTSES− restores the wild-type Ca2+ regulation of the channels. These results confirm the essential role of a negative charge at position 50 for Ca2+ regulation. Additionally, charge-swapping mutagenesis studies suggest involvement of a salt bridge interaction between D50 and K61 in the adjacent connexin subunit in stabilizing the open state in low extracellular Ca2+. Mutant cycle analysis supports a Ca2+-sensitive interaction between these two residues in the open state of the channel. We propose that disruption of this interaction by extracellular Ca2+ destabilizes the open state and facilitates hemichannel closing. Our data provide a mechanistic understanding of how mutations at position 50 that cause human diseases are linked to dysfunction of hemichannel gating by external Ca2+.

scholarly journals Essential role of glucose transporter GLUT3 for post-implantation embryonic development

2008 ◽  
Vol 200 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Schmidt ◽  
A Hommel ◽  
V Gawlik ◽  
R Augustin ◽  
N Junicke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Role ◽  
Glucose Transporter ◽  
Growth Arrest ◽  
Complete Loss ◽  
Transporter Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Post Implantation ◽  
Time Point

Deletion of glucose transporter geneSlc2a3(GLUT3) has previously been reported to result in embryonic lethality. Here, we define the exact time point of growth arrest and subsequent death of the embryo.Slc2a3−/−morulae and blastocysts developed normally, implantedin vivo, and formed egg-cylinder-stage embryos that appeared normal until day 6.0. At day 6.5, apoptosis was detected in the ectodermal cells ofSlc2a3−/−embryos resulting in severe disorganization and growth retardation at day 7.5 and complete loss of embryos at day 12.5. GLUT3 was detected in placental cone, in the visceral ectoderm and in the mesoderm of 7.5-day-old wild-type embryos. Our data indicate that GLUT3 is essential for the development of early post-implanted embryos.

Fast NMDA Receptor–Mediated Synaptic Currents in Neurons From Mice Lacking the ε2 (NR2B) Subunit

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 616-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth R. Tovar ◽  
Kathleen Sprouffske ◽  
Gary L. Westbrook
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Postsynaptic Membrane ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Nmda Receptor Subunit ◽  
Deactivation Kinetics ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Specific Antagonist

The N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has been implicated in the formation of synaptic connections. To investigate the role of the ε2 (NR2B) NMDA receptor subunit, which is prominently expressed during early development, we used neurons from mice lacking this subunit. Although ε2−/− mice die soon after birth, we examined whether NMDA receptor targeting to the postsynaptic membrane was dependent on the ε2 subunit by rescuing hippocampal neurons from these mice and studying them in autaptic cultures. In voltage-clamp recordings, excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) from ε2−/− neurons expressed an NMDA receptor–mediated EPSC that was apparent as soon as synaptic activity developed. However, compared with wild-type neurons, NMDA receptor–mediated EPSC deactivation kinetics were much faster and were less sensitive to glycine, but were blocked by Mg2+ or AP5. Whole cell currents from ε2−/− neurons were also more sensitive to block by low concentrations of Zn2+ and much less sensitive to the ε2-specific antagonist ifenprodil than wild-type currents. The rapid NMDA receptor–mediated EPSC deactivation kinetics and the pharmacological profile from ε2−/−neurons are consistent with the expression of ζ1/ε1 diheteromeric receptors in excitatory hippocampal neurons from mice lacking the ε2 subunit. Thus ε1 can substitute for the ε2 subunit at synapses and ε2 is not required for targeting of NMDA receptors to the postsynaptic membrane.

scholarly journals Essential roles for Pot1b in HSC self-renewal and survival

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (23) ◽  
pp. 6068-6077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Wang ◽  
Mei-Feng Shen ◽  
Sandy Chang
Keyword(s):  
Progenitor Cell ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Dyskeratosis Congenita ◽  
Telomere Maintenance ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Damage Response ◽  
First Time

Abstract Maintenance of mammalian telomeres requires both the enzyme telomerase and shelterin, which protect telomeres from inappropriately activating DNA damage response checkpoints. Dyskeratosis congenita is an inherited BM failure syndrome disorder because of defects in telomere maintenance. We have previously shown that deletion of the shelterin component Pot1b in the setting of telomerase haploinsufficiency results in rapid telomere shortening and fatal BM failure in mice, eliciting phenotypes that strongly resemble human syskeratosis congenita. However, it was unclear why BM failure occurred in the setting of Pot1b deletion. In this study, we show that Pot1b plays an essential role in HSC survival. Deletion of Pot1b results in increased apoptosis, leading to severe depletion of the HSC reserve. BM from Pot1bΔ/Δ mice cannot compete with BM from wild-type mice to provide multilineage reconstitution, indicating that there is an intrinsic requirement for Pot1b the maintenance of HSC function in vivo. Elimination of the p53-dependent apoptotic function increased HSC survival and significantly extended the lifespan of Pot1b-null mice deficient in telomerase function. Our results document for the first time the essential role of a component of the shelterin complex in the maintenance of HSC and progenitor cell survival.

Contribution of cysteine residue to the properties of Listeria monocytogenes listeriolysin O

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1153-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radosław Stachowiak ◽  
Jarosław Wiśniewski ◽  
Olga Osińska ◽  
Jacek Bielecki
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Hemolytic Activity ◽  
Cysteine Residue ◽  
Listeriolysin O ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Culture Model ◽  
The Family ◽  
Kinetics Of

Listeriolysin (LLO) is the key virulence factor critical for Listeria monocytogenes pathogenesis. Listerial cytolysin belongs to the family of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs), a group of pore-forming toxins produced by related gram-positive bacteria. Most CDCs contain a cysteine residue in the conserved undecapeptide — a sequence that is highly preserved among this group of proteins. Substitutions of cysteine do not always lead to loss of hemolytic activity, questioning the purpose of such strong conservation of this amino acid in the sequence of CDC. The properties of 3 L. monocytogenes strains, a wild type and 2 mutants expressing modified LLO within the cysteine residue, were analyzed in this work. The first of these mutants producing a toxin with cysteine to alanine substitution showed similar features to the wild type except that a thiol-reducing agent was not necessary for hemolytic activity. Another strain secreting LLO containing serine instead of cysteine exhibited strikingly different properties than the wild type. Modified toxin is independent of the reducing reagents, less stable, and shows accelerated kinetics of cytolysis in comparison with the unchanged protein. However, both mutant strains are less invasive in the cell culture model showing the important role of cysteine in L. monocytogenes virulence.

scholarly journals Understanding the Role of R266K Mutation in Cystathionine β-Synthase (CBS) Enzyme: An in Silico Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aashish Bhatt ◽  
Md. Ehesan Ali
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Bonding ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Salt Bridge ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Enzymatic Activities ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Long Distance

<div>Human cystathionine β-synthase (hCBS) is a unique pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme that catalyses the condensation reactions in the transsulfuration pathways. The specific role of Heme in the enzymatic activities has not yet been established, however, several experimental studies indicated the bi-directional communications between the Heme and PLP. Performing classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations upon developing the necessary force field parameters for the cysteine and histidine bound hexa-coordinated Heme, we have investigated <i>In Silico</i> dynamical aspects of the bi-directional communications. Furthermore, we have investigated the comparative aspects of electron density overlap across the communicating pathways adopting the density functional theory (DFT) in conjunction with the hybrid exchange correlation functional for the CSB<sup>WT</sup> (wild-type) and CBS<sup>R266K</sup> (mutated) case. The atomistic dynamical simulations and subsequent explorations of the electronic structure not only confirm the reported observations but provide an in-depth mechanistic understating of how the non-covalent hydrogen bonding interactions with Cys52 control the such long-distance communication. Our study also provides a convincing answer to the reduced enzymatic activities in the R266K hCBS in comparison to the wild-type enzymes. We further realized that the difference in hydrogen-bonding patterns as well as salt-bridge interactions play the pivotal role in such long distant bi-directional communications.</div>

scholarly journals Oligomerization and hemolytic properties of the C-terminal domain of pyolysin, a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Pokrajac ◽  
J. Robin Harris ◽  
Naghmeh Sarraf ◽  
Michael Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Full Length ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Monomer Structure ◽  
Streptolysin O ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Domain 4

Pyolysin (PLO) belongs to the homologous family of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs), which bind to cell membranes containing cholesterol to form oligomeric pores of large size. The CDC monomer structure consists of 4 domains. Among these, the C-terminal domain 4 has been implicated in membrane binding of the monomer, while the subsequent processes of oligomerization and membrane insertion have primarily been assigned to other domains of the molecule. Recombinantly expressed or proteolytic fragments that span domain 4 of the CDCs streptolysin O and perfringolysin O bind to membranes but fail to oligomerize, and they inhibit the activity of the respective wild-type toxins. We report here that the isolated domain 4 of pyolysin (PLO-D4) not only binds to membranes but also forms oligomers with itself, as well as hybrid oligomers with the full-length toxin. As expected, the pure PLO-D4 oligomers are devoid of pore-forming activity. Surprisingly, however, within hybrid oligomers, PLO-D4 not only fails to inhibit, but even amplifies the hemolytic activity of the full-length toxin, to an extent similar to that of doubling the amount of the full-length toxin alone. We propose that this amplification may be related to the kinetics of the oligomerization reaction. Overall, our findings indicate a greater role of domain 4 in the oligomerization of CDCs than previously demonstrated.

scholarly journals Intestinal Hypoxia-inducible Factor-2α (HIF-2α) Is Critical for Efficient Erythropoiesis

2011 ◽  
Vol 286 (22) ◽  
pp. 19533-19540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik R. Anderson ◽  
Xiang Xue ◽  
Yatrik M. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Serum Iron ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Blood Count ◽  
Iron Absorption ◽  
Complete Blood Count ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Small Intestinal

Erythropoiesis is a coordinated process by which RBCs are produced. Erythropoietin, a kidney-derived hormone, and iron are critical for the production of oxygen-carrying mature RBCs. To meet the high demands of iron during erythropoiesis, small intestinal iron absorption is increased through an undefined mechanism. In this study, erythropoietic induction of iron absorption was further investigated. Hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) signaling was activated in the small intestine during erythropoiesis. Genetic disruption of HIF-2α in the intestine abolished the increase in iron absorption genes as assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analyses. Moreover, the increase in serum iron following induction of erythropoiesis was entirely dependent on intestinal HIF-2α expression. Complete blood count analysis demonstrated that disruption of intestinal HIF-2α inhibited efficient erythropoiesis; mice disrupted for HIF-2α demonstrated lower hematocrit, RBCs, and Hb compared with wild-type mice. These data further cement the essential role of HIF-2α in regulating iron absorption and also demonstrate that hypoxia sensing in the intestine, as well as in the kidney, is essential for regulation of erythropoiesis by HIF-2α.

scholarly journals Essential Role of Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB–Inducing Kinase and Inhibitor of κb (Iκb) Kinase α in Nf-κb Activation through Lymphotoxin β Receptor, but Not through Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor I

2001 ◽  
Vol 193 (5) ◽  
pp. 631-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akemi Matsushima ◽  
Tsuneyasu Kaisho ◽  
Paul D. Rennert ◽  
Hiroyasu Nakano ◽  
Kyoko Kurosawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Necrosis ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Nuclear Factor ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Embryonic Fibroblasts ◽  
Iκb Kinase ◽  
Β Receptor ◽  
Deficient Mice ◽  
Necrosis Factor

Both nuclear factor (NF)-κB–inducing kinase (NIK) and inhibitor of κB (IκB) kinase (IKK) have been implicated as essential components for NF-κB activation in response to many external stimuli. However, the exact roles of NIK and IKKα in cytokine signaling still remain controversial. With the use of in vivo mouse models, rather than with enforced gene-expression systems, we have investigated the role of NIK and IKKα in signaling through the type I tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor (TNFR-I) and the lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR), a receptor essential for lymphoid organogenesis. TNF stimulation induced similar levels of phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα in embryonic fibroblasts from either wild-type or NIK-mutant mice. In contrast, LTβR stimulation induced NF-κB activation in wild-type mice, but the response was impaired in embryonic fibroblasts from NIK-mutant and IKKα-deficient mice. Consistent with the essential role of IKKα in LTβR signaling, we found that development of Peyer's patches was defective in IKKα-deficient mice. These results demonstrate that both NIK and IKKα are essential for the induction of NF-κB through LTβR, whereas the NIK–IKKα pathway is dispensable in TNFR-I signaling.

scholarly journals Identification of a Disulfide Bridge Linking the Fourth and the Seventh Extracellular Loops of the Na+/Glucose Cotransporter

2006 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique G. Gagnon ◽  
Pierre Bissonnette ◽  
Jean-Yves Lapointe
Keyword(s):  
Double Mutant ◽  
Xenopus Oocytes ◽  
Disulfide Bridge ◽  
Cysteine Residue ◽  
Fluorescent Labeling ◽  
Single Mutation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Positive Direction ◽  
Extracellular Loops

The Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) is an archetype for the SLC5 family, which is comprised of Na+-coupled transporters for sugars, myo-inositol, choline, and organic anions. Application of the reducing agent dithriothreitol (DTT, 10 mM) to oocytes expressing human SGLT1 affects the protein's presteady-state currents. Integration of these currents at different membrane potentials (Vm) produces a Q-V curve, whose form was shifted by +25 mV due to DTT. The role of the 15 endogenous cysteine residues was investigated by expressing SGLT1 constructs, each bearing a single mutation for an individual cysteine, in Xenopus oocytes, using two-microelectrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology and fluorescent labeling. 12 of the 15 mutants were functional and could be separated into three distinct groups based on the effect of the mutation on the Q-V curve: four mutants did not perturb the transferred charge, six mutants shifted the Q-V curve towards negative potentials, and two mutants (C255A and C511A) produced a shift in the positive direction that was identical to the shift produced by DTT on the wild-type (wt) SGLT1. The double mutant C255,511A confirms that the effects of each single mutant on the Q-V curve were not additive. With respect to wt SGLT1, the apparent affinities for α-methylglucose (αMG) were increased in a similar manner for the single mutants C255A and C511A, the double mutant C255,511A as well as for wt SGLT1 treated with DTT. When exposed to a maleimide-based fluorescent probe, wt SGLT1 was not significantly labeled but mutants C255A and C511A could be clearly labeled, indicating an accessible cysteine residue. These residues are presumed to be C511 and C255, respectively, as the double mutant C255,511A could not be labeled. These results strongly support the hypothesis that C255 and C511 form a disulfide bridge in human SGLT1 and that this disulfide bridge is involved in the conformational change of the free carrier.

scholarly journals Role of Mammalian Rad54 in Telomere Length Maintenance

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (16) ◽  
pp. 5572-5580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Jaco ◽  
Purificación Muñoz ◽  
Fermín Goytisolo ◽  
Joanna Wesoly ◽  
Susan Bailey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Repair ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Repair Pathway ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Putative Role ◽  
Telomere Capping ◽  
Chromosome Fusions ◽  
Deficient Mice

ABSTRACT The homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair pathway participates in telomere length maintenance in yeast but its putative role at mammalian telomeres is unknown. Mammalian Rad54 is part of the HR machinery, and Rad54-deficient mice show a reduced HR capability. Here, we show that Rad54-deficient mice also show significantly shorter telomeres than wild-type controls, indicating that Rad54 activity plays an essential role in telomere length maintenance in mammals. Rad54 deficiency also resulted in an increased frequency of end-to-end chromosome fusions involving telomeres compared to the controls, suggesting a putative role of Rad54 in telomere capping. Finally, the study of mice doubly deficient for Rad54 and DNA-PKcs showed that telomere fusions due to DNA-PKcs deficiency were not rescued in the absence of Rad54, suggesting that they are not mediated by Rad54 activity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document