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T Maeda

Publications and source records attributed to T Maeda.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Up-regulation of costimulatory/adhesion molecules by histone deacetylase inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) have been used to focus on the effects of inducing gene expression through the acetylation of histones which results in chromatin remodeling. The study explored whether HDACIs could induce the expression of costimulatory/adhesion molecules on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, thereby effectively inducing tumor immunity. The expression of CD80, CD86, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, HLA-ABC, and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was tested in human AML cell lines after the addition of HDACI, sodium butyrate (SB). Generally, increased expression of CD86 was observed by SB treatment in a majority of cell lines, and ICAM-1 was expressed in fewer cell lines. Essentially the same results were obtained using other HDACIs such as FR901228, trichostatin A, and trapoxin A. Quantitation of transcripts of CD86 accompanied with RNA synthesis inhibition assay and nuclear run-on assay revealed that SB up-regulates the CD86 expression transcriptionally. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that HDACI treatment caused remarkable acetylation on histone H3 and H4 at CD86 promoter chromatin in vivo. In 30 clinical AML samples, CD86 expression was significantly increased (P <.001) by SB treatment, and the expression of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 was moderately increased (P <.05) by SB treatment. Finally, the allogeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (allo-MLR) against HL60 cells pretreated with SB was enhanced 4-fold compared with allo-MLR obtained with non-treated HL60 cells. These results suggest that the immunotherapeutic use of HDACIs may become a novel tool for treatment of AML. (Blood. 2000;96:3847-3856)

Acetylation↗
PubMed2000

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase Its3 and calcineurin Ppb1 coordinately regulate cytokinesis in fission yeast.

The ppb1(+) gene encodes a fission yeast homologue of the mammalian calcineurin. We have recently shown that Ppb1 is essential for chloride ion homeostasis, and acts antagonistically with Pmk1 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In an attempt to identify genes that share an essential function with calcineurin, we screened for mutations that confer sensitivity to the calcineurin inhibitor FK506 and high temperature, and isolated a mutant, its3-1. its3(+) was shown to be an essential gene encoding a functional homologue of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PI(4)P5K). The temperature upshift or addition of FK506 induced marked disorganization of actin patches and dramatic increase in the frequency of septation in the its3-1 mutants but not in the wild-type cells. Expression of a green fluorescent protein-tagged Its3 and the phospholipase Cdelta pleckstrin homology domain indicated plasma membrane localization of PI(4)P5K and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. These green fluorescent protein-tagged proteins were concentrated at the septum of dividing cells, and the mutant Its3 was no longer localized to the plasma membrane. These data suggest that fission yeast PI(4)P5K Its3 functions coordinately with calcineurin and plays a key role in cytokinesis, and that the plasma membrane localization of Its3 is the crucial event in cytokinesis.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel gene, CORS26, encoding a putative secretory protein and its possible involvement in skeletal development.

We cloned a novel mouse cDNA, CORS26 (collagenous repeat-containing sequence of 26-kDa protein), encoding a secretory protein by suppression subtractive hybridization between transforming growth factor-beta1-treated and untreated C3H10T1/2 cells. The deduced amino acid sequence of CORS26 consists of 246 amino acids with a secretory signal peptide and contains a collagenous region (Gly-X-Y repeats) at the NH(2) terminus and a complement factor C1q globular domain at the COOH terminus. CORS26 is structurally similar to C1q and to adipocyte-specific protein Acrp30. Transfection analysis suggested that CORS26 is a secretory protein. Northern blot analysis revealed that CORS26 mRNA was present at high levels in rib growth plate cartilage and at moderate levels in kidney of adult mice. CORS26 mRNA was not detected in NIH3T3 cells, BALB/3T3 cells, C3H10T1/2 cells, or osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. In situ hybridization of mouse embryos between 13 and 15 days postcoitus revealed relatively high levels of CORS26 mRNA in condensed prechondrocytic cells of cartilage primordia and developing cartilages. However, CORS26 mRNA were undetectable in mature chondrocytes. Furthermore, overexpression of CORS26 enhanced the growth of C3H10T1/2 cells in vitro. The present findings suggest that the CORS26 gene may play an important role in skeletal development.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2000

Structural variation in the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacers of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacers (IGS) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were PCR-amplified and cloned with pT7Blue T vector. A total of six clones were isolated dependent on size difference. The clones were different with respect to both the number and the composition of the tRNA genes included, and were designated IGS-0, IGS-E, IGS-IA, IGS-AE, IGS-EKV and IGS-EKAV. IGS-EKAV included the cluster of tRNA(Glu)-tRNA(Lys)-tRNA(Ala)-tRNA(Val); IGS-EKV, tRNA(Glu)-tRNA(Lys)-tRNA(Val); IGS-AE, tRNA(Ala)-tRNA(Glu); IGS-IA, tRNA(Ile)-tRNA(Ala); and IGS-E, tRNA(Glu). IGS-0 had no tRNA gene. Some similarities were found in the nucleotide sequence of the non-coding regions flanked by the tRNA genes. The structure difference found in the spacers is meaningful for elucidating the evolutionary line of each ribosomal RNA operon and the profile is applicable as a molecular marker of the bacterium.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed2000

Phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 of the regulatory subunit of retinal cGMP phosphodiesterase. I. Identification of the kinase and its role in the turnoff of phosphodiesterase in vitro.

Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) is an essential component in retinal phototransduction. PDE is regulated by Pgamma, the regulatory subunit of PDE, and GTP/Talpha, the GTP-bound alpha subunit of transducin. In previous studies (Tsuboi, S., Matsumoto, H. , Jackson, K. W., Tsujimoto, K., Williamas, T., and Yamazaki, A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 15016-15023; Tsuboi, S., Matsumoto, H., and Yamazaki, A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 15024-15029), we showed that Pgamma is phosphorylated by a previously unknown kinase (Pgamma kinase) in a GTP-dependent manner in photoreceptor outer segment membranes. We also showed that phosphorylated Pgamma loses its ability to interact with GTP/Talpha, but gains a 10-15 times higher ability to inhibit GTP/Talpha-activated PDE than that of nonphosphorylated Pgamma. Thus, we propose that the Pgamma phosphorylation is probably involved in the recovery phase of phototransduction through shut off of GTP/Talpha-activated PDE. Here we demonstrate that all known Pgammas preserve a consensus motif for cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (Cdk5), a protein kinase believed to be involved in neuronal cell development, and that Pgamma kinase is Cdk5 complexed with p35, a neuronal Cdk5 activator. Mutational analysis of Pgamma indicates that all known Pgammas contain a P-X-T-P-R sequence and that this sequence is required for the Pgamma phosphorylation by Pgamma kinase. In three different column chromatographies of a cytosolic fraction of frog photoreceptor outer segments, the Pgamma kinase activity exactly coelutes with Cdk5 and p35. The Pgamma kinase activity ( approximately 85%) is also immunoprecipitated by a Cdk5-specific antibody, and the immunoprecipitate phosphorylates Pgamma. Finally, recombinant Cdk5/p35, which were expressed using clones from a bovine retina cDNA library, phosphorylates Pgamma in frog outer segment membranes in a GTP-dependent manner. These observations suggest that Cdk5 is probably involved in the recovery phase of phototransduction through phosphorylation of Pgamma complexed with GTP/Talpha in mature vertebrate retinal photoreceptors.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed2000

Phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 of the regulatory subunit of retinal cGMP phosphodiesterase. II. Its role in the turnoff of phosphodiesterase in vivo.

Retinal cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) is regulated by Pgamma, the regulatory subunit of PDE, and GTP/Talpha, the GTP-bound alpha subunit of transducin. In the accompanying paper (Matsuura, I., Bondarenko, V. A., Maeda, T., Kachi, S., Yamazaki, M., Usukura, J., Hayashi, F., and Yamazaki, A. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 32950-32957), we have shown that all known Pgammas contain a specific phosphorylation motif for cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (Cdk5) and that the unknown kinase is Cdk5 complexed with its activator. Here, using frog rod photoreceptor outer segments (ROS) isolated by a new method, we show that Cdk5 is involved in light-dependent Pgamma phosphorylation in vivo. Under dark conditions only negligible amounts of Pgamma were phosphorylated. However, under illumination that bleached less than 0.3% of the rhodopsin, approximately 4% of the total Pgamma was phosphorylated in less than 10 s. Pgamma dephosphorylation occurred in less than 1 s after the light was turned off. Analysis of the phosphorylated amino acid, inhibition of Pgamma phosphorylation by Cdk inhibitors in vivo and in vitro, and two-dimensional peptide map analysis of Pgamma phosphorylated in vivo and in vitro indicate that Cdk5 phosphorylates a Pgamma threonine in the same manner in vivo and in vitro. These observations, together with immunological data showing the presence of Cdk5 in ROS, suggest that Cdk5 is involved in light-dependent Pgamma phosphorylation in ROS and that the phosphorylation is significant and reversible. In an homogenate of frog ROS, PDE activated by light/guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) was inhibited by Pgamma alone, but not by Pgamma complexed with GDP/Talpha or GTPgammaS/Talpha. Under these conditions, Pgamma phosphorylated by Cdk5 inhibited the light/GTPgammaS-activated PDE even in the presence of GTPgammaS/Talpha. These observations suggest that phosphorylated Pgamma interacts with and inhibits light/GTPgammaS-activated PDE, but does not interact with GTPgammaS/Talpha in the homogenate. Together, our results strongly suggest that after activation of PDE by light/GTP, Pgamma is phosphorylated by Cdk5 and the phosphorylated Pgamma inhibits GTP/Talpha-activated PDE, even in the presence of GTP/Talpha in ROS.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed2000

Activation of coagulation in C57BL/6 mice given verotoxin 2 (VT2) and the effect of co-administration of LPS with VT2.

To obtain better insight into the pathogenesis of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated diseases, in this study, we explored the effect of verotoxin 2 (VT2) on coagulation in an animal model. After being given VT2 (50 ng/kg, lethal dose), C57BL/6 mice showed progressively increasing expression of TF mRNA in the kidney and brain and elevated plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), normotest, fibrinogen, and PAI-1 paralleling the disease course over 24 hours; platelet counts were decreased at 48 hours with hemorrhage in the kidney and brain. Co-administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg) with VT2 (50 ng/kg) exhibited more prominant and/or prolonged increase in not only expression of TF and PAI-1 mRNAs in the kidney and brain but also plasma levels of TAT, fibrinogen, and PAI-1 and was associated with more remarkable hemorrhage in the tissues. Although VT2 (5 ng/kg) was not a lethal dose, co-administration of LPS (0.5 mg/kg) with VT2 (5 ng/kg) enhanced the susceptibility to VT2, resulting in more prolonged elevation of TAT levels during the first 24 hours than that in the LPS group and a second elevation at 72 hours, followed by death. Plasma IL-1beta level reached a maximum at 24 hours after VT2 (50 ng/kg) injection prior to the increase in TAT levels, whereas the increase in TNFalpha level immediately after injection was associated with the increase in PAI-1 mRNA. These observations indicate that the activation of coagulation by VT2 may occur through a mechanism different from that used by LPS, since plasma TAT levels rose in the mice immediately after LPS injection and returned to normal over 36 hours.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Alteration of rat dipeptidyl peptidase III by site-directed mutagenesis: cysteine(176) is a regulatory residue for the enzyme activity.

To comprehend the importance of cysteine residues for the regulation of enzyme activity, we replaced each of seven cysteine residues in rat dipeptidyl peptidase III cDNA with alanine, glycine, or glutamic acid residue using site-directed mutagenesis. Each mutated cDNA was expressed in E. coli (BL21), and each expressed DPP III was purified to apparent homogeneity on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Six of the mutant proteins had similar activity to that of the wild-type enzyme, whereas the activity of the Cys(176) --> Ala mutant enzyme was only 25-35% of that of the wild-type enzyme activity. This mutant enzyme was resistant against both PCMB and NEM. Furthermore, both Cys(176) --> Gly and Cys(176) --> Glu mutated enzymes showed no DPP III activity. These seven mutated enzymes contained significant amounts of zinc, as determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicate that Cys(176) is essential for the regulation of DPP III activity.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2000

Molecular cloning and immunohistochemical localization of rat dipeptidyl peptidase III.

Dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP III) was purified to homogeneity from rat liver cytosol. The calculated molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 82845.6 according to TOF-MS, and 82000 on non-denatured PAGE and 82000 on SDS-PAGE in the absence or presence of beta-ME. These findings suggest that the enzyme assumes a monomeric form in rat liver cytosol. The enzyme rapidly hydrolyzed the substrate Arg-Arg-MCA and moderately hydrolyzed Ala-Arg-MCA in a pH range of 7. 5 to 9.5. The K(in), K(cat) and K(cat)/K(m) values of DPP III at optimal pH (pH 8.5) were 290 microM, 18.0 s(-1) and 6.21x10(4) s(-1)M(-1) for Arg-Arg-MCA and 125 microM, 4.53 s(-1) and 3.62x10(4) s(-1)M(-1) for Ala-Arg-MCA, respectively. DPP III was potently inhibited by EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, DFP, PCMBS, NEM, beta-ME and iodoacetamide. Furthermore, we screened a rat liver cDNA library using affinity-purified anti-rat DPP III rabbit IgG, and we determined the cDNA structure and deduced the amino acid sequence. The cDNA designated as lambdaRDIII-11 is composed of 2640 bp of nucleotides in length and encodes 738 amino acids in the coding region. Although the enzyme has a novel zinc-binding motif, HEXXXH in structure, DPP III is thought to belong to family 1 in clan MA in the metalloprotease kingdom. These findings suggest that DPP III is a metalloprotease that is probably regulated by SH modification. The DPP III antigen was extensively detected in the cytosol of various rat tissues by the immunohistochemical examination of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Transduction of the human deoxycytidine kinase gene in rodent tumor cells induces in vivo growth retardation in syngeneic hosts.

Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) mediates the phosphorylation of nucleoside analogues that can be used as anti-cancer agents. We examined whether susceptibility of mouse colon carcinoma (Colon 26) and rat gliosarcoma (9L) cells to 1-beta-D-arabiofuranosylcytonsine (AraC), a chemotherapeutic agent, can be increased after the tumor cells were transduced with the human dCK gene. Expression of the dCK gene in both cell lines conferred increased sensitivity in vitro to AraC. Although their proliferation rates in vitro remained the same as those of parental cells, tumor growth of the transduced cells in syngeneic host animals was unexpectedly retarded compared with that of respective parental cells. In contrast, the growth of the transduced cells was not different from that of parental cells, when they were inoculated in T cell-defective nude mice. A histological examination revealed infiltration of eosinophils into the dCK gene-transduced but not into parental Colon 26 tumor. These data suggest that a therapeutic gene, when expressed in xenogenic animals, can be a tumor antigen which is recognized by a host defense system.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Three-dimensional crystal structure of human eosinophil cationic protein (RNase 3) at 1.75 A resolution.

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP; RNase 3) is a human ribonuclease found only in eosinophil leukocytes that belongs to the RNase A superfamily. This enzyme is bactericidal, helminthotoxic and cytotoxic to mammalian cells and tissues. The protein has been cloned, heterologously overexpressed, purified and crystallized. Its crystal structure has been determined and refined using data up to 1. 75 A resolution. The molecule displays the alpha+beta folding topology typical for members of the ribonuclease A superfamily. The catalytic active site residues are conserved with respect to other ribonucleases of the superfamily but some differences appear at substrate recognition subsites, which may account, in part, for the low catalytic activity. Most strikingly, 19 surface-located arginine residues confer a strong basic character to the protein. The high concentration of positive charges and the particular orientation of the side-chains of these residues may also be related to the low activity of ECP as a ribonuclease and provides an explanation for its unique cytotoxic role through cell membrane disruption.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Inhibition of rabbit platelet aggregation by nucleoside 5'-alkylphosphates: correlation with inhibition of agonist-induced calcium influx.

We investigated the effects of uridine 5'-alkylphosphates on agonist-induced aggregation, increased intracellular calcium concentration [Ca(2+)](i), and Ca(2+) (Mn(2+)) influx in washed rabbit platelets. Uridine 5'-hexadecylphosphate (UMPC16) and uridine 5'-eicosylphosphate (UMPC20) at a concentration of 1 x 10(-5) M inhibited platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF), thrombin, arachidonic acid, and ADP. UMPC16 did not cause significant interference in the binding of [(3)H-acetyl]PAF to platelets. The inhibition of PAF-induced platelet aggregation by UMPC16 was dependent upon the addition time; UMPC16 was ineffective at 60 sec when the extracellular calcium uptake reached the maximum level in PAF-stimulated platelets. Furthermore, UMPC16 inhibited guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)-induced platelet aggregation but did not affect ionophore A23187- and calcium-independent agonist phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced platelet aggregation. UMPC16 markedly inhibited the Ca(2+) (Mn(2+)) influx induced by PAF and ADP, and partly inhibited the [Ca(2+)](i) increase induced by the receptor-mediated stimulation. On the other hand, UMPC16 did not affect the [Ca(2+)](i) increase and Ca(2+) (Mn(2+)) influx induced by ionomycin. These experiments suggest that inhibition of calcium influx associated with receptor-mediated platelet activation may be involved in the action of UMPC16.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed2000

Crystal structure of tobacco necrosis virus at 2.25 A resolution.

The crystal structure of tobacco necrosis virus (TNV) has been determined by real-space averaging with 5-fold non-crystallographic symmetry, and refined to R=25.3 % for diffraction data to 2.25 A resolution. A total of 180 subunits form a T=3 virus shell with a diameter of about 280 A and a small protrusion at the 5-fold axis. In 276 amino acid residues, the respective amino terminal 86, 87 and 56 residues of the A, B and C subunits are disordered. No density for the RNA was found. The subunits have a "jelly roll" beta-barrel structure, as have the structures of the subunits of other spherical viruses. The tertiary and quaternary structures of TNV are, in particular, similar to those of southern bean mosaic virus, although they are classified in different groups. Invisible residues 1 to 56 with a high level of basic residues are considered to be located inside the particle. Sequence comparison of the coat proteins of several TNV strains showed that the sequences of the disordered segment diverge considerably as compared with those of the ordered segment, consistent with a small tertiary structural constraint being imposed on the N-terminal segment. Basic residues are localized on the subunit interfaces or inner surface of the capsid. Positive charges of the basic residues facing the interior, as well as those of the N-terminal segment, may neutralize the negative charge of the RNA inside. Five calcium ions per icosahedral asymmetric unit are located at the subunit interfaces; three are close to the exterior surface, the other two away from it. The environments of the first three are similar, and those of the other two sites are similar. These calcium ions are assumed to be responsible for the stabilization/transition of the quaternary structure of the shell. Three peptide segments ordered only in the C subunits are clustered around each 3-fold (quasi-6-fold) axis forming a beta-annulus, and may lead to quasi-equivalent interactions for the organization of the T=3 shell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Aberrant expression of photoreceptor-specific calcium-binding protein (recoverin) in cancer cell lines.

Cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) is an ocular manifestation of a paraneoplastic syndrome whereby immunological reactions to retinal antigens aberrantly expressed in tumor cells lead to the degeneration of retinal photoreceptor cells. In our previous study (H. Ohguro et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 40: 82-89, 1999), recoverin, a retina-specific calcium-binding protein, and heat shock cognate protein 70 (hsc 70) were identified as autoantigens recognized by sera from patients with CAR. Therefore, we suggested that autoimmune reactions against both recoverin and hsc 70 might be involved in the pathogenesis of CAR. To elucidate the initial step of the molecular pathology of CAR, we examined the expression of recoverin and hsc 70 by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot using cell lines of several kinds of cancers, including lung small cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, uterine cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, and leukemia. Recoverin was expressed in 21 of the 31 cancer cell lines. The expression levels of hsc 70 were significantly higher in cancer cell lines than in noncancerous cell lines. However, no difference in the expression levels of hsc 70 was observed between recoverin-positive and -negative cell lines. Immunofluorescence labeling by the affinity-purified recoverin antibody revealed the immunoreactivity to recoverin as a granular pattern within the cancer cells. Lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, which did not express recoverin, exhibited a significant reduction in cell proliferation upon transfection with human recoverin cDNA. Taken together, our present data suggest that the retina-specific calcium-binding protein recoverin is expressed in more than 50% of a variety of cancer cells and may play a significant role in the cell proliferation of these tumor cells.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed2000

Purification and characterization of bovine cone arrestin (cArr).

To elucidate the quenching mechanism of phototransduction in vertebrate cone photoreceptors, a cDNA clone encoding cone specific arrestin (cArr) was isolated from a bovine retinal cDNA library using a human cArr cDNA probe. Affinity-purified anti-peptide antibody specific to cArr was prepared. Immunohistochemical staining displayed specific labeling of cArr in cone photoreceptors and immunoblotting identified a 46 kDa protein band. We purified cArr from bovine retinas by sequential column chromatography using DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration and mono Q columns. Binding studies revealed no binding of cArr to rhodopsin regardless of whether it was bleached and/or phosphorylated. cArr also failed to bind to heparin-Sepharose under conditions which rod arrestin (rArr) bound to the column. The present data suggest that cArr may play a role in the quenching of phototransduction in cone photoreceptors and that its activity therein is different to that of rArr.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

The development of terminal Schwann cells associated with periodontal Ruffini endings in the rat incisor ligament.

The postnatal development of the terminal Schwann cell, an analogue of the lamellar cell in cutaneous sensory receptors, was examined by histochemistry for non-specific cholinesterase and immunohistochemistry for S-100 protein in the periodontal Ruffini endings of the rat incisor. Double immunohistochemistry for S-100 protein and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) was also performed to examine the relationship between terminal Schwann cells and axons. Histochemistry for non-specific cholinesterase was able to demonstrate the age-related development of the terminal Schwann cells; the morphology and distribution of the developing terminal Schwann cells became almost identical to those in adults during postnatal days 15-18. Axons showing PGP 9.5-like immunoreactivity elongated and expanded after arrangement of terminal Schwann cells in the alveolus-related part. This suggests that the terminal Schwann cell is important in the development and maturation of the periodontal Ruffini endings.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Human p55(CDC)/Cdc20 associates with cyclin A and is phosphorylated by the cyclin A-Cdk2 complex.

The initiation of anaphase and exit from mitosis depend on the activation of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), a multicomponent, ubiquitin-protein ligase. The WD-repeat protein called p55(CDC)(Cdc20) directly binds to and activates APC/C. By using yeast two-hybrid screening, we found that cyclin A, a critical cell cycle regulator in the S and G2/M phases, specifically interacts with p55(CDC). Ectopically expressed p55(CDC) and cyclin A form a stable protein complex in mammalian cells. The p55(CDC)-cyclin A interaction occurs through the region containing the WD repeats of p55(CDC) and the region between the destruction box and the cyclin box of cyclin A. In addition to the physical interaction, p55(CDC) is phosphorylated by cyclin A-associated kinase. These findings suggest that the function of p55(CDC) is mediated or regulated by its complex formation with cyclin A.

Animals↗