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Biomedical subjects

Mathias Dreger

Publications and source records attributed to Mathias Dreger.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Proteome analysis at the level of subcellular structures.

The targeting of proteins to particular subcellular sites is an important principle of the functional organization of cells at the molecular level. In turn, knowledge about the subcellular localization of a protein is a characteristic that may provide a hint as to the function of the protein. The combination of classic biochemical fractionation techniques for the enrichment of particular subcellular structures with the large-scale identification of proteins by mass spectrometry and bioinformatics provides a powerful strategy that interfaces cell biology and proteomics, and thus is termed 'subcellular proteomics'. In addition to its exceptional power for the identification of previously unknown gene products, the analysis of proteins at the subcellular level is the basis for monitoring important aspects of dynamic changes in the proteome such as protein transloction. This review summarizes data from recent subcellular proteomics studies with an emphasis on the type of data that can retrieved from such studies depending on the design of the analytical strategy.

Animals↗

Global role for ClpP-containing proteases in stationary-phase adaptation of Escherichia coli.

To elucidate the involvement of proteolysis in the regulation of stationary-phase adaptation, the clpA, clpX, and clpP protease mutants of Escherichia coli were subjected to proteome analysis during growth and during carbon starvation. For most of the growth-phase-regulated proteins detected on our gels, the clpA, clpX, or clpP mutant failed to mount the growth-phase regulation found in the wild type. For example, in the clpP and clpA mutant cultures, the Dps protein, the WrbA protein, and the periplasmic lysine-arginine-ornithine binding protein ArgT did not display the induction typical for late-stationary-phase wild-type cells. On the other hand, in the protease mutants, a number of proteins accumulated to a higher degree than in the wild type, especially in late stationary phase. The proteins affected in this manner include the LeuA, TrxB, GdhA, GlnA, and MetK proteins and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC). These proteins may be directly degraded by ClpAP or ClpXP, respectively, or their expression could be modulated by a protease-dependent mechanism. From our data we conclude that the levels of most major growth-phase-regulated proteins in E. coli are at some point controlled by the activity of at least one of the ClpP, ClpA, and ClpX proteins. Cultures of the strains lacking functional ClpP or ClpX also displayed a more rapid loss of viability during extended stationary phase than the wild type. Therefore, regulation by proteolysis seems to be more important, especially in resting cells, than previously suspected.

ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activitie↗

Identification of orcokinins in single neurons in the stomatogastric nervous system of the crayfish, Cherax destructor.

The orcokinins are a highly conserved family of crustacean peptides that enhance hindgut contractions in the crayfish Orconectes limosus (Stangier et al. [1992] Peptides 13:859-864). By combining immunocytochemical and mass spectrometrical analysis of the stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) in the crayfish Cherax destructor, we show that multiple orcokinins are synthesized in single neurons. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated orcokinin-like immunoreactivity in all four ganglia of the STNS and in the pericardial organs, a major neurohaemal organ. Identified neurons in the STNS were stained, including a pair of modulatory interneurons (inferior ventricular nerve neuron, IVN), a neuron with its cell body in the stomatogastric ganglion that innervates cardiac muscle c6 via the anterior median nerves (AM-c6), and a sensory neuron (anterior gastric receptor neuron). Five orcokinin-related peptides were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) post source decay fragmentation in samples of either the stomatogastric ganglion or the pericardial organs. Four of these peptides are identical to peptides derived from the cloned Procambarus clarkii precursor (Yasuda-Kamatani and Yasuda [2000] Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 118:161-172), including the original [Asn(13)]-orcokinin (NFDEIDRSGFGFN, [M+H](+) = 1,517.7 Da), [Val(13)]-orcokinin ([M+H](+) = 1,502.7 Da), [Thr(8)-His(13)]-orcokinin ([M+H](+) = 1,554.8 Da), and FDAFTTGFGHS ([M+H](+) = 1,186.5 Da). The fifth peptide is a hitherto unknown orcokinin variant: [Ala(8)-Ala(13)]-orcokinin ([M+H](+) = 1,458.7 Da). The masses of all five peptides were also detected in the inferior ventricular nerve of C. destructor, which contains the cell bodies and axons of the IVNs as well as the axons of two other orcokinin-like immunoreactive neurons. In the oesophageal nerve, in which all the orcokinin-like immunoreactivity derives from the IVNs, at least two of the orcokinins were detected, indicating that multiple orcokinins are synthesized in these neurons. Similarly, all four orcokinin masses were detected in the anterior median nerves, in which all the orcokinin-like immunoreactivity derives from the AM-c6 neuron. This study therefore lays the groundwork to investigate the function of the orcokinin peptide family using single identified neurons in a well-studied system.

Animals↗

Activation by acidic pH of CLC-7 expressed in oocytes from Xenopus laevis.

ClC chloride channels are important in diverse physiological functions such as transepithelial transport, cell volume regulation, excitability, and acidification of intracellular organelles. We have investigated the expression of CLC-7 in oocytes from Xenopus laevis with the two electrode voltage clamp technique and Western blot analysis. Using a specific antibody against CLC-7, we found an approximately 80 kDa protein in oocytes, previously injected with CLC-7-cRNA. In voltage clamp experiments on ClC-7-cRNA-injected oocytes, no current changes were detected at normal pH (7.4). However, acidification of the Ringer solution to pH values between 6 and 4 revealed strong currents which reversed at about -15 mV (30 mV positive to the normal resting potential) and showed strong outward rectification. We therefore suggest that ClC-7 in oocytes is a functional chloride current at acidic pH. Since ClC-7 is also found in neuronal tissues and was upregulated in a rat pain model, we suggest a role of CLC-7 also for nociception and pain.

Animals↗

Subcellular proteomics.

The step from the analysis of the genome to the analysis of the proteome is not just a matter of numerical complexity in terms of variants of gene products that can arise from a single gene. A significant further level of complexity is introduced by the supramolecular organization of gene products because of protein-protein interactions or targeting of proteins to specific subcellular structures. There is currently no single proteome analysis strategy that can sufficiently address all levels of the organization of the proteome. To approach an appropriate analytical complement for the interrogation of the proteome at all of the levels at which it is organized, there emerges the need for a whole arsenal of proteomics strategies. The proteome analysis at the level of subcellular structures (that can be enriched by subcellular fractionation) represents an analytical strategy that combines classic biochemical fractionation methods and tools for the comprehensive identification of proteins. Among the key potentials of this strategy is the capability to screen not only for previously unknown gene products but also to assign them, along with other known, but poorly characterized gene products, to particular subcellular structures. Furthermore, the analysis at the subcellular level is a prerequisite for the detection of important regulatory events such as protein translocation in comparative studies. This review is meant to give an overview on recent key studies in the field of proteome analysis at the level of subcellular structures, and to highlight potentials and requirements.

Animals↗