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Biomedical subjects

I Pecht

Publications and source records attributed to I Pecht.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

An IgE-dependent secretory response of mast cells can be induced by a glycosphingolipid-specific monoclonal antibody.

The signal transduction pathway of the type 1 Fcepsilon receptor (FcepsilonRI) has been proposed to be spatially constrained to plasma membrane microdomains enriched in glycosphingolipids and cholesterol. These domains are proposed to serve as platforms that enhance the efficiency of the antigen-receptor stimulus-response coupling process. Here we describe a monoclonal antibody (mAb) designated 2B5, raised by immunizing mice with rat mucosal-type mast cell (line RBL-2H3) membranes, which binds to glycosphingolipids and causes a dose-dependent secretory response of these cells. This secretory response to mAb 2B5 requires binding of IgE to the FcepsilonRI on these cells, although direct interactions between IgE and mAb 2B5 are excluded. The bound IgE- or FcepsilonRI-specific mAb did not affect binding of mAb 2B5 or its Fab fragments to the RBL-2H3 cells and only a limited interference with the binding of IgE to the FcepsilonRI by mAb 2B5 was observed. Binding of mAb 2B5 to the RBL-2H3 cells induced a distribution of fluorescently labeled IgE similar to that produced by antigen-induced aggregation of the IgE-FcepsilonRI. Thus we suggest that mAb 2B5 binds to cell surface glycosphingolipids that are probably associated with the FcepsilonRI-IgE complexes and causes their aggregation, thereby initiating the cascade leading to the cell's secretory response.

Animals

An immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif, with serine at site Y-2, binds SH2-domain-containing phosphatases.

Clustering of the mast cell function-associated antigen by its specific monoclonal antibody (G63) inhibits the FcepsilonRI-mediated secretory response. The cytosolic tail of the mast cell function-associated antigen contains a SIYSTL stretch, a potential immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif. To investigate the possible functional role of this sequence, as well as identify potential intracellular proteins that interact with it, peptides corresponding to residues 4-12 of the mast cell function-associated antigen's N-terminal cytoplasmic domain, containing the above motif, were synthesized and used in affinity chromatography of mast cell lysates. Both tyrosyl phosphorylated and thiophosphorylated mast cell function-associated antigen peptides bound the src homology domain 2 (SH2)-containing tyrosine phosphatases-1 (SHP-1), -2 (SHP-2) and inositol 5'-phosphatase (SHIP), though with different efficiencies. Neither the nonphosphorylated peptide nor its tyrosyl phosphorylated reversed sequence peptide bound any of these phosphatases. Point mutation analysis of mast cell function-associated antigen pITIM binding requirements demonstrated that for SHP-2 association the amino acid residue at position Y-2 is not restricted to the hydrophobic isoleucine or valine. Glycine and other amino acids with hydrophilic residues, such as serine and threonine, at this position also maintain this binding capacity, whereas alanine and acidic residues abolish it. In contrast, SHP-1 binding was maintained only when serine was substituted by valine, suggesting that the Y-2 position provides selectivity for peptide binding to SH2 domains of SHP-1 and SHP-2. These results were corroborated by surface plasmon resonance measurements of the interaction between tyrosyl phosphorylated mast cell function-associated antigen peptide and recombinant soluble SH2 domains of SHP-1, SHP-2 and SHIP, suggesting that the associations observed in the cell lysates may be direct. Taken together these results clearly indicate that the SIYSTL motif present in mast cell function-associated antigen's cytosolic tail exhibits characteristic features of an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif, suggesting it is a new member of the growing diverse family of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif-containing receptors.

Amino Acid Motifs

Electron transfer rates and equilibrium within cytochrome c oxidase.

Intramolecular electron transfer (ET) between the CuA center and heme a in bovine cytochrome c oxidase was investigated by pulse radiolysis. CuA, the initial electron acceptor, was reduced by 1-methyl nicotinamide radicals in a diffusion-controlled reaction, as monitored by absorption changes at 830 nm. After the initial reduction phase, the 830 nm absorption was partially restored, corresponding to reoxidation of the CuA center. Concomitantly, the absorption at 445 nm and 605 nm increased, indicating reduction of heme a. The rate constants for heme a reduction and CuA reoxidation were identical within experimental error and independent of the enzyme concentration. This demonstrates that a fast intramolecular electron equilibration is taking place between CuA and heme a. The rate constants for CuA --> heme a ET and the reverse (heme a --> CuA) process were found to be 13 000 s-1 and 3700 s-1, respectively, at 25 degrees C and pH 7.4. This corresponds to an equilibrium constant of 3.4 under these conditions. Thermodynamic and activation parameters of the ET reactions were determined. The significance of these results, particularly the observed low activation barriers, are discussed within the framework of the known three-dimensional structure, ET pathways and reorganization energies.

Animals

An allosteric mechanism controls antigen presentation by the H-2K(b) complex.

The mechanism of assembly/dissociation of a recombinant water-soluble class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) H-2Kb molecule was studied by a real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer method. Like the H-2Kd ternary complex [Gakamsky et al. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 14841-14848], the interactions among the heavy chain, beta2-microglobulin (beta2m), and antigenic peptides were found to be controlled by an allosteric mechanism. Association of the heavy chain with beta2m increased peptide binding rate constants by more than 2 orders of magnitude and enhanced affinity of the heavy-chain molecule for peptides. Interaction of peptides with the heavy-chain binding site, in turn, increased markedly the affinity of the heavy chain for beta2m. Binding of peptide variants of the ovalbumin sequence (257-264) to the heavy chain/beta2m heterodimer was found to be a biphasic reaction. The fast phase was a second-order process with nearly the same rate constants as those of binding of peptides derived from the influenza virus nucleoprotein 147-155 to the H-2Kd heavy chain/beta2m heterodimer [(3.0 +/- 1.0) x 10(-6) M-1 s-1 at 37 degrees C]. The slow phase was a result of both the ternary complex assembly from the "free" heavy chain, beta2m, and peptide as well as an intramolecular conformational transition within the heavy chain/beta2m heterodimer to a peptide binding conformation. Biexponential kinetics of peptide or beta2m dissociation from the ternary complex were observed. They suggest that it can exist in two conformations. The rate constants of beta2m dissociation from the H-2Kb ternary complex were, in the limits of experimental accuracy, independent of the structure of the bound peptide, though their affinities differed by an order of magnitude. Dissociation of peptides from the Kb heavy chain was always faster than from the ternary complexes, yet the heavy chain/peptide complexes were considerably more stable compared with their Kd/nucleoprotein peptide counterparts.

Allosteric Regulation

Human ceruloplasmin. Intramolecular electron transfer kinetics and equilibration.

Pulse radiolytic reduction of disulfide bridges in ceruloplasmin yielding RSSR(-) radicals induces a cascade of intramolecular electron transfer (ET) processes. Based on the three-dimensional structure of ceruloplasmin identification of individual kinetically active disulfide groups and type 1 (T1) copper centers, the following is proposed. The first T1 copper(II) ion to be reduced in ceruloplasmin is the blue copper center of domain 6 (T1A) by ET from RSSR(-) of domain 5. The rate constant is 28 +/- 2 s(-1) at 279 K and pH 7.0. T1A is in close covalent contact with the type 3 copper pair and indeed electron equilibration between T1A and the trinuclear copper center in the domain 1-6 interface takes place with a rate constant of 2.9 +/- 0.6 s(-1). The equilibrium constant is 0.17. Following reduction of T1A Cu(II), another ET process takes place between RSSR(-) and T1B copper(II) of domain 4 with a rate constant of 3.9 +/- 0.8. No reoxidation of T1B Cu(I) could be resolved. It appears that the third T1 center (T1C of domain 2) is not participating in intramolecular ET, as it seems to be in a reduced state in the resting enzyme.

Ceruloplasmin

Photoinduced electron transfer in singly labeled thiouredopyrenetrisulfonate azurin derivatives.

A novel method for the initiation of intramolecular electron transfer reactions in azurin is reported. The method is based on laser photoexcitation of covalently attached thiouredopyrenetrisulfonate (TUPS), the reaction that generates the low potential triplet state of the dye with high quantum efficiency. TUPS derivatives of azurin, singly labeled at specific lysine residues, were prepared and purified to homogeneity by ion exchange HPLC. Transient absorption spectroscopy was used to directly monitor the rates of the electron transfer reaction from the photoexcited triplet state of TUPS to Cu(II) and the back reaction from Cu(I) to the oxidized dye. For all singly labeled derivatives, the rate constants of copper ion reduction were one or two orders of magnitude larger than for its reoxidation, consistent with the larger thermodynamic driving force for the former process. Using 3-D coordinates of the crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and molecular structure calculation of the TUPS modified proteins, electron transfer pathways were calculated. Analysis of the results revealed a good correlation between separation distance from donor to Cu ligating atom (His-N or Cys-S) and the observed rate constants of Cu(II) reduction.

Azurin

Cutting edge: extracellular signal-regulated kinase activates syk: a new potential feedback regulation of Fc epsilon receptor signaling.

The protein tyrosine kinase Syk is an essential element in several cascades coupling Ag receptors to cell responses. Syk and the mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) were found to form a tight complex in both resting and Ag-stimulated rat mucosal-type mast cells (rat basophilic leukemia 2H3 cell line RBL-2H3). A direct serine phosphorylation and activation of Syk by ERK was observed in in vitro experiments. Moreover the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitors markedly decreased the Ag-induced phosphorylation of the tyrosyl residues of Syk and its activation as well as suppressed the degranulation of the cells. These results suggest a positive feedback regulation of Syk by ERK in the cascade coupling the type 1 Fc epsilon receptor to the secretory response of mast cells; hence, the existence of a novel type of cross-talk between protein serine/threonine kinases and protein tyrosine kinases is suggested.

Animals

Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif-bearing receptors regulate the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-induced activation of immune competent cells.

ITIM-bearing receptors, a family which only recently has been recognized, play a key role in the regulation of the ITAM-induced activation of immune competent cells. The mechanism of ITM-mediated regulation in various cells was recently clarified. The present review focuses on ITIM bearing membrane proteins that negatively regulate the activation of cells when co-crosslinked with ITAM containing receptors, illustrates the inhibitory processes by the negative regulation of B-, NK-, T-cells and mast cells and summarizes current views on the mechanism of ITIM-mediated inhibition.

Animals

Cooperation between SHP-2, phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase and phosphoinositol 5-phosphatase in the Fc gamma RIIb mediated B cell regulation.

Co-clustering B cell receptors (BCR) and type II receptors binding the Fc part of IgG (Fc gamma RIIb) inhibits B cell activation and antibody production. Tyrosine phosphorylation of an intracellular motif of Fc gamma RIIb has been shown to be a prerequisite of the inhibition. After being phosphorylated by BCR-activated tyrosine kinases, the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (P-ITIM) of Fc gamma RIIb recruits SH2 domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase(s) (PTPs) and polyphosphoinositol 5-phosphatase (SHIP) to the vicinity of BCR, which in turn dephosphorylate their specific substrates. This leads to the interruption of signal transduction, consequently to the anergy and/or apoptosis of the cell. The downstream signaling pathways affected by Fc gamma RIIb-BCR co-clustering are not clarified yet, neither the substrates of PTPs are known. We have studied the Fc gamma RIIb mediated B cell inhibition on human Burkitt lymphoma cell line (BL41). From the lysates of BL41 cells SHP-2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), as well as the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) Lyn bind both to the BCR-co-clustered Fc gamma RIIb and to its P-ITIM peptide. Lyn hyperphosphorylates the P-ITIM associated molecules, including SHIP in the in vitro protein tyrosine kinase activity assay. The P-ITIM-compelled multi-phosphoprotein complex binds to and activates SHP-2, which in turn dephosphorylates SHIP and Shc and probably other substrates. Subcellular localisation of these signaling molecules is regulated by the phosphotyrosine-SH2 domain interactions, thus dephosphorylation may result in the re-direction of Shc and SHIP within the cell, consequently, in the modulation of their activity. Finally, co-clustering Fc gamma RIIb and BCR or Fc gamma RIIb and CD19 on the intact cells inhibited PI3-K activity as detected in the anti-phosphotyrosine (anti-PY) precipitates. The results indicate that SHP-2 bound to and activated by the BCR co-clustered Fc gamma RIIb, may down-regulate PI3-K activity by dephosphorylating a yet unidentified regulatory molecule, which recruits PI3-K to the cell membrane.

Antigens, CD

Parameters determining the stimulatory capacity of the type I Fc epsilon-receptor.

Several experiments and theoretical considerations aimed at obtaining the parameters which determine the capacity of type I Fc epsilon-receptors to stimulate the secretion of mast cells are reviewed. Earlier studies have established that secretion requires Fc epsilon RI clustering at least two dimers. The roles of such clusters lifetimes and configuration requires a detailed and quantitative analysis of Fc epsilon RI clustering and stimulus secretion. Different approaches to these issues are described and discussed. We especially address the relevance of the general concept of kinetical proof reading (T.W. McKeithan, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92 (1995) 5042) which is based on the assumption that the stimulating receptors must stay in an active state sufficiently long to bridge the time interval between initiation and termination of cell activation. For mast cells which generally secrete upon clustering of type I Fc epsilon-receptors, this implies that effective stimulation requires a sufficiently long lifetime of such clusters. This notion is corroborated by results obtained from several experiments performed in the last 20 years which are briefly described and compared in this review.

Animals

Mast cell stimulation by co-clustering the type I Fc epsilon-receptors with mast cell function-associated antigens.

The secretory response of rat mucosal-type mast cells (line RBL 2H3) to stimuli produced by clustering or co-clustering two of its membranal components; the type I Fc epsilon receptor and the mast cell function associated antigen (MAFA) was investigated. The primary reagents employed for this purpose were Fab fragments of the monoclonal antibodies J17 and G63 specific to the above respective proteins. The Fabs were then aggregated by F(ab')2 fragments of mouse IgG specific goat antibodies. This reaction was assumed to yield predominantly three different bivalent clustering reagents. Namely, dimers of the Fc epsilon RI specific (J17-Fab)2; dimers of the MAFA specific, (G63-Fab)2 and bispecific (J17-Fab-G63-Fab) dimers. The observed cellular secretory response was analyzed by employing a model which accounts for the clustering and co-clustering of Fc epsilon RIs and MAFAs by the above protocols. Results of this analysis provided evidence that at least some of the MAFA molecules are physically associated with the Fc epsilon RI. As a consequence, clustering of MAFA and Fc epsilon RI by bispecific J17-Fab-G63-Fab dimers induces secretion at comparatively low concentrations of these reagents, though with a significantly lower maximal response than that caused by the respective monospecific reagent (J17-Fab)2. This result most likely reflects the inhibitory capacity of MAFA-Fc epsilon RI interaction.

Animals

Inhibition of IgE-mediated triggering of mast cells by complement-derived peptides interacting with the Fc epsilon RI.

Mucosal type mast cells, in contrast to the serosal type ones, do not respond to cationic agents, or to the complement-derived peptides C3a and C5a. Earlier we have found that while C3a does not activate the rat mucosal type mast cells (line RBL-2H3), it strongly inhibits the IgE-mediated triggering of these cells, by interfering with the Fc epsilon RI-initiated signaling pathway. In the present study we further investigated the mechanism of this process. It is shown, that C3a interacts with the beta-chain of the Fc epsilon RI complex. Binding of the complement peptide to the cells apparently causes a decrease in the proximity of the IgE-binding Fc epsilon RI. Investigating certain sequences of C3a we found that the inhibition is caused by the C-terminal sequences of the complement-peptide, ranging from positions 56 to 77 and also by a shorter sequence, ranging from positions 56 to 64. The inhibitory effect of these peptides was observed both in the case of RBL-2H3 cells and mouse bone marrow derived mast cells.

Amino Acid Sequence

Enhanced rate of intramolecular electron transfer in an engineered purple CuA azurin.

The recent expression of an azurin mutant where the blue type 1 copper site is replaced by the purple CuA site of Paracoccus denitrificans cytochrome c oxidase has yielded an optimal system for examining the unique electron mediation properties of the binuclear CuA center, because both type 1 and CuA centers are placed in the same location in the protein while all other structural elements remain the same. Long-range electron transfer is induced between the disulfide radical anion, produced pulse radiolytically, and the oxidized binuclear CuA center in the purple azurin mutant. The rate constant of this intramolecular process, kET = 650 +/- 60 s-1 at 298 K and pH 5.1, is almost 3-fold faster than for the same process in the wild-type single blue copper azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (250 +/- 20 s-1), in spite of a smaller driving force (0.69 eV for purple CuA azurin vs. 0.76 eV for blue copper azurin). The reorganization energy of the CuA center is calculated to be 0.4 eV, which is only 50% of that found for the wild-type azurin. These results represent a direct comparison of electron transfer properties of the blue and purple CuA sites in the same protein framework and provide support for the notion that the binuclear purple CuA center is a more efficient electron transfer agent than the blue single copper center because reactivity of the former involves a lower reorganization energy.

Azurin

Fcgamma receptor-mediated inhibition of human B cell activation: the role of SHP-2 phosphatase.

Co-clustering of the type II receptors binding the Fc part of IgG (FcgammaRIIb) and B cell receptors results in the translocation of cytosolic, negative regulatory molecules to the phosphorylated immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (P-ITIM) of the FcgammaRIIb. SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatases (SHP-1 and SHP-2), and the polyphosphoinositol 5'-phosphatase (SHIP) have been reported earlier to bind to murine FcgammaRIIb P-ITIM. However, neither the functional substrates of these enzymes, nor the mechanism of the inhibition are fully resolved. We show here that the human FcgammaRIIb binds SHP-2 when co-clustered with the B cell receptors, whereas its synthetic P-ITIM peptide bindes SHP-2 and SHIP in lysates of the Burkitt's lymphoma cell line BL41. The P-ITIM peptide binding enhances SHP-2 activity, resulting in dephosphorylation and release of P-ITIM-bound SHIP and Shc. Moreover, P-ITIM-bound SHP-2 dephosphorylates synthetic peptides corresponding to the sites of tyrosine phosphorylation on SHIP and Shc, indicating that these proteins are its potential substrates. Thus SHP-2-induced dephosphorylation may modulate the intracellular localization and/or activity of SHIP and Shc, thereby inhibiting further activation pathways which they mediate.

Amino Acid Sequence

Photophysical analysis of class I major histocompatibility complex protein assembly using a xanthene-derivatized beta2-microglobulin.

Spectral changes and a sixfold increase in the emission intensity were observed in the fluorescence of a single xanthene probe (Texas red) attached to beta2m-microglobulin (beta2m) upon assembly of beta2m into a ternary complex with mouse H-2Kd heavy chain and influenza nuclear protein peptide. Dissociation of the labeled beta2m from the ternary complex restored the probe's fluorescence and absorption spectra and reduced the emission intensity. Thus changes in xanthene probe fluorescence upon association/dissociation of the labeled beta2m molecule with/from the ternary complex provide a simple and convenient method for studying the assembly/dissociation mechanism of the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) encoded molecule. The photophysical changes in the probe can be accounted for by the oligomerization of free labeled beta2m molecules. The fluorescence at 610 nm is due to beta2m dimers, where the probes are significantly separated spatially so that their emission and excitation properties are close to those of xanthene monomers. Fluorescence around 630 nm is due to beta2m oligomers where xanthene probes interact. Minima in the steady-state excitation (550 nm) and emission (630 nm) anisotropy spectra correlate with the maxima of the high-order oligomer excitation and emission spectra, showing that their fluorescence is more depolarized. These photophysical features are explained by splitting of the first singlet excited state of interacting xanthene probes that can be modeled by exciton theory.

Animals

Azide binding to the trinuclear copper center in laccase and ascorbate oxidase.

Azide binding to the blue copper oxidases laccase and ascorbate oxidase (AO) was investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopies. As the laccase : azide molar ratio decreases from 1:1 to 1:7, the intensity of the type 2 (T2) Cu(II) EPR signal decreases and a signal at g approximately 1.9 appears. Temperature and microwave power dependent EPR measurements showed that this signal has a relatively short relaxation time and is therefore observed only below 40 K. A g approximately 1.97 signal, with similar saturation characteristics was found in the AO : azide (1:7) sample. The g < 2 signals in both proteins are assigned to an S = 1 dipolar coupled Cu(II) pair whereby the azide binding disrupts the anti-ferromagnetic coupling of the type 3 (T3) Cu(II) pair. Analysis of the position of the g < 2 signals suggests that the distance between the dipolar coupled Cu(II) pair is shorter in laccase than in AO. The proximity of T2 Cu(II) to the S = 1 Cu(II) pair enhances its relaxation rate, reducing its signal intensity relative to that of native protein. The disruption of the T3 anti-ferromagnetic coupling occurs only in part of the protein molecules, and in the remaining part a different azide binding mode is observed. The 130 K EPR spectra of AO and laccase with azide (1:7) exhibit, in addition to an unperturbed T2 Cu(II) signal, new features in the g parallel region that are attributed to a perturbed T2 in protein molecules where the anti-ferromagnetic coupling of T3 has not been disrupted. While these features are also apparent in the AO : azide sample at 10 K, they are absent in the EPR spectra of the laccase : azide sample measured in the range of 6-90 K. Moreover, pulsed ENDOR measurements carried out at 4.2 K on the latter exhibited only a reduction in the intensity of the 20 MHz peak of the 14N histidine coordinated to the T2 Cu(II) but did not resolve any significant changes that could indicate azide binding to this ion. The lack of T2 Cu(II) signal perturbation below 90 K in laccase may be due to temperature dependence of the coupling within the trinuclear : azide complex.

Ascorbate Oxidase

The intramolecular electron transfer between copper sites of nitrite reductase: a comparison with ascorbate oxidase.

The intramolecular electron transfer (ET) between the type 1 Cu(I) and the type 2 Cu(II) sites of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans dissimilatory nitrite reductase (AxNiR) has been studied in order to compare it with the analogous process taking place in ascorbate oxidase (AO). This internal process is induced following reduction of the type 1 Cu(II) by radicals produced by pulse radiolysis. The reversible ET reaction proceeds with a rate constant kET = k(1-->2) + k(2-->1) of 450 +/- 30 s(-1) at pH 7.0 and 298 K. The equilibrium constant K was determined to be 0.7 at 298 K from which the individual rate constants for the forward and backward reactions were calculated to be: k(1-->2) = 185 +/- 12 s(-1) and k(2-->1) 265 +/- 18 s(-1). The temperature dependence of K allowed us to determine the deltaH(o) value of the ET equilibrium to be 12.1 kJ mol(-1). Measurements of the temperature dependence of the ET process yielded the following activation parameters: forward reaction, deltaH* = 22.7 +/- 3.4 kJ mol(-1) and deltaS* = -126 +/- 11 J K(-1) mol(-1); backward reaction, deltaH* = 10.6 +/- 1.7 kJ mol(-1) and deltaS* = -164 +/- 15 J K(-1) mol(-1). X-ray crystallographic studies of NiRs suggest that the most probable ET pathway linking the two copper sites consists of Cys136, which provides the thiolate ligand to the type 1 copper ion, and the adjacent His135 residue with its imidazole being one of the ligands to the type 2 Cu ion. This pathway is essentially identical to that operating between the type 1 Cu(I) and the trinuclear copper centre in ascorbate oxidase, and the characteristics of the internal ET processes of these enzymes are compared. The data are consistent with the faster ET observed in nitrite reductase arising from a more advantageous entropy of activation when compared with ascorbate oxidase.

Alcaligenes