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Amino acid analogs while inducing heat shock proteins sensitize CHO cells to thermal damage.

Amino acid analogs have been shown to induce heat shock proteins (HSPs). We have examined the effect of these analogs on the thermal sensitivity of Chinese hamster fibroblasts (HA-1) and their stable heat-resistant variants. We found that exposure of HA-1 cells and their heat-resistant variants to canavanine or L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid cause enhanced synthesis of the three major mammalian HSPs (molecular weight 70,000, 87,000, and 110,000 kd). Although the synthesis of HSPs was increased, the analogs did not induce thermotolerance, a transient ability to protect cells from thermal damage. On the contrary, the analog treatment increased the thermal sensitivity of HA-1 cells, but not of the heat-resistant strains, when these cells were exposed subsequently to elevated temperatures. Our tentative explanation for these findings is that the incorporation of amino acid analogs into HSPs or other cellular proteins sensitizes HA-1 cells to heat. The heat-resistant strains contain higher levels of constitutive HSPs. The additional functional HSPs in the heat-resistant variants may protect these cells from thermal stress. The presence of some newly synthesized analog-substituted, perhaps nonfunctional, HSPs need not affect this thermal protection.

Animals↗

L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate stimulates collagen accumulation, cell proliferation, and formation of a three-dimensional tissuelike substance by skin fibroblasts.

Proliferation of human skin fibroblasts was stimulated significantly by the presence of L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc 2-P). The presence of Asc 2-P (0.1-1.0 mM) in the culture medium for 3 weeks enhanced the relative rate of collagen synthesis to total protein synthesis 2-fold as well as cell growth 4-fold. Coexistence of L-azetidine 2-carboxylic acid (AzC), an inhibitor of collagen synthesis, attenuated both effects of Asc 2-P in a dose-dependent manner. Supplementation of the medium with Asc 2-P also accelerated procollagen processing to collagen and deposition of collagen in the cell layer. Among the acidic glycosaminoglycans (GAG), another major component of extracellular matrix (ECM), deposition of sulfated forms was increased by the additive. Electron microscopic observations showed multilayered, rough endoplasmic reticulum-rich cells surrounded by dense ECM. These results indicate that Asc 2-P is useful in culture systems as a long-acting vitamin C derivative and also that it promotes reorganization of a three-dimensional tissuelike substance from skin fibroblasts in culture by stimulating collagen accumulation in the fibroblasts.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Methylation of atypical protein aspartyl residues during the stress response of HeLa cells.

A protein carboxyl methyltransferase (PCMT), which specifically modifies atypical protein L-isoaspartyl and D-aspartyl residues, is widely distributed in eucaryotic cells, but the factors that regulate its activity in vivo have not been identified. It has been proposed that the PCMT initiates the repair of structurally damaged proteins. To test the possibility that the concentration of structurally abnormal cellular proteins affects PCMT activity, protein carboxyl methylation reactions were studied in HeLa cells exposed to various stresses that increase the extent of protein unfolding in cells. Protein carboxyl methylation rates increased 70-80% during incubations at 42 degrees C and remained elevated for periods of up to 8 hr. This sustained increase was greater than that predicted from thermal effects on the enzyme alone and may reflect the exposure of atypical aspartyl sites as proteins unfold as well as increased rates of protein deamidation and isomerization at elevated temperatures. Methylation rates showed no increases following 12 hr incubations with the amino acid analogs L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid or L-canavanine. Northern blot analysis of RNA preparations from control and stressed cells revealed three major transcripts for the PCMT in HeLa cells, which are 1.6, 2.6, and 4.5 kb in length. The concentrations of all three transcripts decreased by approximately 20% from control levels during heat shock. No changes in PCMT transcript concentrations were observed during incubation with the amino acid analogs. By contrast, large increases in the concentrations of hsp70 and ubiquitin transcripts were observed following either heat or chemical stresses. The results demonstrate that the PCMT is a constitutive component of cells whose function is required under normal conditions as well as during stress conditions, which accelerate structural damage to cellular proteins.

Cytosol↗

Ascorbic acid stimulates barrier function of cultured endothelial cell monolayer.

The macromolecular permeability of cultured bovine aortic, bovine venous, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers was decreased significantly in culture medium containing L-ascorbic acid (Asc Acid; 0.01-0.1 mM) and L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc 2-P). Dithiothreitol, which shows reducing activity equivalent to that of Asc Acid, did not affect endothelial permeability. Asc Acid induced a sixfold increase in collagen synthesis by the endothelial cells. The coexistence of L-azetidine 2-carboxylic acid, an inhibitor of collagen synthesis, attenuated the effect of Asc 2-P in a dose-dependent manner. Another collagen synthesis inhibitor, ethyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, also inhibited collagen synthesis and increased endothelial permeability. The decrease in permeability of the endothelial monolayer was dependent on a reduction of the permeability coefficient of the endothelial monolayer. These findings indicate that endothelial barrier function is stimulated by Asc Acid via an increase in collagen synthesis.

Animals↗

Effects of L-proline and some of its analogs on retinal spreading of depression.

L-Proline inhibits glutamate-based spreading depressions (SDs) at low concentrations (2--2.5 mM) and promotes K+-based SDs at higher concentrations (5 mM). The inhibition of glutamate-based SDs was postulated to be due to competition of L-glutamate and L-proline for glutamate receptors on somatic and dendritic plasma membranes. The binding of proline to glutamate receptors was furthermore postulated to result in a release of K+ from the intracellular compartment, enhancing the extracellular K+ concentration sufficiently to promote K+-based SDs. A proline analog, L-baikiain, containing a double bond and one more C atom in the ring structure than proline had similar effects as the latter amino acid, but an analog, L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, with one less C atom in the ring had little effect on SD in the retina.

Animals↗

Differential temperature dependency of chemical stressors in HSF1-mediated stress response in mammalian cells.

Expression of stress proteins is generally induced by a variety of stressors. To gain a better understanding of the sensing and induction mechanisms of stress responses, we studied the effects of culture temperature on responses to various stressors, since the induction of hsp70 in mammalian cells by heat shock is somehow modulated by culture temperature. Hsp70 was not induced by treatment with sodium arsenite, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, or zinc sulfate at the level of heat shock factor (HSF) 1 activation in cells incubated at low temperature, although these treatments induced hsp70 in cells incubated at 37 degrees C. The repression of sodium arsenite or zinc sulfate-induced HSF1 activation by low temperature was not simply due to the inhibition of protein synthesis. On the other hand, heat shock and iodoacetamide induced HSF 1 activation in cells incubated at either temperature. Thus, there seem to be two kinds of stressors that induce HSF1 activation independently of or dependent on culture temperature. Furthermore, the reduction of glutathione level seemed to be essential for HSF1 activation by chemical stressors.

Animals↗

Two collagen-binding proteins, osteonectin and HSP47, are coordinately induced in transformed keratinocytes by heat and other stresses.

pSE48 was one of six clones selected by differential colony hybridization as a cDNA coding for mRNA expressed in parietal endoderm-like F9 cells and not in primitive endoderm-like F9 cells. It was sequenced and identified as a segment of mouse osteonectin (SPARC) cDNA. We found osteonectin to be heat-inducible in some cells. Expression and secretion of osteonectin were then investigated using mouse (Pam 212) and human (HSC-1) keratinocyte cell lines. Both the mRNA levels and the secretion of osteonectin increased concurrently when Pam and HSC-1 cells cultured in low calcium medium were exposed to various stresses including heat shock and treatment with sodium arsenite or L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid. Another collagen-binding stress protein, HSP47, was also found to be expressed, synthesized, and stress-inducible in the keratinocyte cell line. The degree of HSP47 induction by various stresses was not so prominent as that of HSP70 but greater than that of osteonectin. The time courses of osteonectin and HSP47 induction by heat shock were similar to each other and distinct from HSP70; they were slower and more persistent than HSP70. We identified a heat shock element-like sequence in the promoter region of the mouse and bovine osteonectin genes. This sequence might participate in the stress induction of osteonectin. Thus, osteonectin and HSP47 share another common feature, stress-inducibility, as well as collagen-binding capacity and inducibility through differentiation, although they are quite distinct in their amino acid sequence and distribution.

Animals↗

Heterogeneity in ornithine cytotoxicity of bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells in primary culture.

Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina is a chorioretinal degeneration caused by hyperornithinemia and a deficiency of ornithine-delta-aminotransferase (OAT). We recently showed that ornithine exhibits cytotoxicity to human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell lines treated with the OAT inhibitor, 5-fluoromethylornithine (5-FMOrn), and suggested that this system may be an in vitro model of gyrate atrophy. In the present study, in order to apply this system to primary cultured RPE cells, we freshly prepared RPE cells from bovine eyes and studied the effect of ornithine on cell damage. Two phenotypes, epithelioid and fusiform, which coexisted in the primary culture and epithelioid phenotype cells, but not fusiform ones, were severely damaged and partially detached from the substrate by 10 m m ornithine and 0.5 m m 5-FMOrn. Neither ornithine nor 5-FMOrn alone exhibited such cytotoxicity to both phenotypes of RPE cells. Proline significantly prevented the ornithine-induced cytotoxicity. Epithelioid and fusiform phenotypes isolated from the primary culture showed different distribution of actin filaments. A combination of ornithine and 5-FMOrn time-dependently inhibited [(3)H]thymidine incorporation in the epithelioid, but not fusiform, cells. Proline prevented the inhibition of [(3)H]thymidine incorporation by ornithine in 5-FMOrn-treated epithelioid cells. Furthermore, l -azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, a collagen synthesis inhibitor, reduced [(3)H]thymidine incorporation in epithelioid, but not fusiform, cells, which was reversed by proline. These results demonstrate that the epithelioid phenotype of bovine RPE cells becomes susceptible to ornithine following inactivation of OAT. The phenotypic cells and its prevention by proline may provide insight into biochemical triggers that induce gyrate atrophy.

Animals↗

Ascorbate affects proliferation of guinea-pig vascular smooth muscle cells by direct and extracellular matrix-mediated effects.

Proliferation of smooth muscle cells and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins are important events in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. We have investigated the direct and matrix-mediated effects of ascorbate on the proliferation rate of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) isolated from the guinea-pig aorta. In the presence of ascorbate, cells showed a bi-phasic growth pattern. At 125 microM ascorbate, -3H--thymidine incorporation was stimulated 25%. However, higher concentrations of ascorbate gradually decreased cell-incorporated radioactivity up to 50% at 2 mM ascorbate. These effects of ascorbate on DNA synthesis in VSMC were paralleled by the changes in cell number and were not due to ascorbate cytotoxicity. Alpha-tocopherol (0.1 mM), individually and in combinations with 1 mm ascorbate, also inhibited DNA synthesis in VSMC. Ascorbate also influenced proliferation of smooth muscle cells through matrix-mediated effect. New VSMC culture plated on extracellular matrices deposited by smooth muscle cells in the presence of 0.1-1 mM ascorbate had up to 50% lower proliferation rate than on matrices from ascorbate-deficient cells, as assessed by [3H]-thymidine incorporation. This effect was independent from alpha-tocopherol and specific inhibitors of collagen synthesis: L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid and pyridine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid. An ascorbate-dependent matrix effect was specific for smooth muscle cells grown on VSMC and human skin fibroblast-originated matrices, but not for human vascular endothelial cells. The possible involvement of ascorbate in the regulation of smooth muscle cells proliferation by its antioxidant/pro-oxidant effects and regulation of extracellular matrix composition are discussed.

Animals↗

The role of proline in osmoregulation in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli.

Previously we demonstrated that high intracellular proline levels conferred enhanced osmotolerance on Salmonella typhimurium. Stimulation of growth rate under conditions of osmotic inhibition could be brought about either by the addition of proline to the culture media or by mutations which result in proline over-production. Here, we report that there is a novel proline transport system in S. typhimurium which is activated in media of elevated osmolarity. this conclusion is based on the observation that putP- proP- double mutants, which lack both of the known proline permeases are resistant in minimal medium to the toxic proline analogues 3,4-dehydro-D, L-proline and L-azetidine-2-carboxylate. However, they regain sensitivity to the analogues in media of elevated osmolarity. Selecting resistance to 3,4-dehydro-D, L-proline in media of elevated osmolarity, we obtained mutants of putP- proP- strains which lack the osmotically activated proline permease. In these strains, exogenous proline could no longer alleviate osmotic inhibition.

Biological Transport↗

Matrix control of tumor angiogenesis.

Endothelial cell migration is a key feature of angiogenesis. Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) or Tumor Angiogenesis Factor (TAF) induce cell migration and angiogenesis. When the matrix components, collagen or fibronectin, were used as a substratum in the phagokinesis assays, EGF- or TAF-induced cell migration was inhibited. It has been proposed that TAF activates cellular protease causing the matrix degradation that is evident during neovascularization in vitro. If such degradation leads to cell migration and angiogenesis, then other agents that interfere with the synthesis or assembly of matrix components should stimulate cell migration and angiogenesis. The proline analogues cis hydroxyproline, azetidine and dehydroproline are known modulators of cellular collagen synthesis. At optimal concentration (10(-5)M) these analogues caused 3-fold increases in endothelial cell migration rates in vivo as tested by a subcutaneous implant assay. We conclude from these studies that: (i) matrix components control cellular migration rates; high concentration of collagen or fibronectin inhibit angiogenically active inducers of endothelial cell migration. (ii) Intracellular modulation of synthesis of collagens leads to angiogenesis by stimulating cell migration. These findings relate to tumor angiogenesis and that TAF might trigger angiogenesis either by activation of latent proteases or by some modification of matrix assembly during synthesis that affects cell adhesion and migration.

Animals↗

L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, a phosphate derivative of L-ascorbic acid, enhances the growth of cultured rabbit keratocytes.

We examined the effect of L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (P-Asc) on the proliferation of cultured rabbit keratocytes. P-Asc is a phosphate derivative of L-ascorbic acid and has more prolonged vitamin C activity in solution than does L-ascorbic acid. The proliferation of cultured keratocytes was promoted by the presence of P-Asc in culture medium. Transmission electron microscopic observations revealed that cells were more multi-layered after culture in the presence of P-Asc (0.1 mM) for 30 days than were those cultured in the absence of P-Asc. The effect of P-Asc was abrogated by L-azetidine 2-carboxylic acid, which is an analogue of proline that inhibits the production and secretion of collagen. Our observations support a therapeutic role for P-Asc in the repair of corneal stromal damage such as that caused by a corneal chemical burn.

Animals↗

Prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor and lysyl hydroxylase inhibitor inhibit spreading of corneal epithelium.

BACKGROUND: The spreading of epithelium is critical in the healing of corneal wounds. Such epithelial spreading requires the continuous production of protein and glycoprotein. To determine whether collagen production is required for the spreading of corneal epithelium, we studied the effects of inhibitors for collagen production on spreading of corneal epithelium in vitro. METHODS: We examined the effect of two proline analogs, L-azetidine 2-carboxylic acid and cis-hydroxyproline, a prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, ethyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, and a lysyl hydroxylase inhibitor, minoxidil, on the spreading of epithelium of organ-cultured rabbit cornea. RESULTS: Both analogs and inhibitors inhibited epithelial spreading in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These observations indicate that collagen production may be involved in the spreading of corneal epithelium.

Animals↗

The raz1 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana lacks the activity of a high-affinity amino acid transporter.

The raz1 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. has been selected as resistant to the toxic proline analogue, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (2AZ). Seedlings of the mutant tolerated fivefold higher concentrations of 2AZ (ED50 = 0.25 mM) than the wild-type seedlings (EC50 = 0.05 mM). The mutant gene was found to be semi-dominant and the corresponding RAZ1 locus was mapped on chromosome 5 at 69.6 +/- 1.8 cM. The resistance to 2AZ could be fully and exclusively accounted for by the lower uptake rate of the proline analogue in the mutant. The influx of L-proline in roots of wild-type seedlings could be dissected into two components: (i) a component with a high affinity and a low capacity for L-proline (Km) approximately 20 microM, Vmax approximately 60 nmol.(g FW)-1.h-1) and also a high affinity for L-2AZ (Ki approximately 40 microM) and (ii) a low-affinity, high-capacity component (Km) approximately 5 mM: Vmax = 1300 nmol.(g FW)-1.h-1). Clearly, the raz1 mutation affects the activity of a high-affinity transporter, because the high-affinity uptake of proline in the mutant was at least fivefold lower than in the wild-type, whereas the low-affinity uptake was unchanged.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗

Effect of novel compound, 1-methyl-1-piperidino methane sulfonate (MPMS), on the osmoprotectant activity of glycine betaine, choline and L-proline in Escherichia coli.

A novel compound, 1-methyl-1-piperidino methane sulfonate (MPMS), was found to block the osmoprotectant activity of choline and L-proline, but not glycine betaine in Escherichia coli. MPMS was more active against salt-sensitive than salt-resistant strains, but had no effect on the salt tolerance of a mutant which was unable to transport choline, glycine betaine and proline. Growth of E. coli in NaCl was inhibited by MPMS and restored by glycine betaine, but not by choline or L-proline. Uptake of radiolabeled glycine betaine, choline or L-proline by cells grown at high osmolarity was not inhibited when MPMS and the radioactive substrates were added simultaneously. Preincubation for 5 min with MPMS reduced the uptake of choline and L-proline, but not glycine betaine. Similar incubation with MPMS had no effect on the uptake of radiolabeled glucose or succinate. The toxicity of MPMS was much lower than that of the L-proline analogues L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid and 3,4-dehydro-DL-proline. The exact mechanism by which MPMS exerts its effect is not entirely clear. MPMS or a metabolite may interfere with the activity of several independent permeases involved in the uptake of osmoprotective compounds, or the conversion of choline to glycine betaine, or effect the expression of some of the osmoregulatory genes.

Azetidinecarboxylic Acid↗

The Escherichia coli proB gene corrects the proline auxotrophy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae pro1 mutants.

We constructed plasmids carrying the Escherichia coli proB gene that encodes gamma-glutamyl kinase, under the control of the yeast GAL1 promoter. This construction was carried out with both the wild-type proB+ gene and a mutant allele, proB74, that specifies an enzyme resistant to feedback inhibition by proline. Yeast pro1 mutants harboring these plasmids are proline prototrophs. We conclude that the pro1 mutation results in a deficiency in the gamma-glutamyl kinase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of the proB74 allele in yeast resulted in enhanced resistance to the proline analogue L-azetidine-2-carboxylate and in a 2.4-fold elevation of the intracellular free proline levels. This result suggests that gamma-glutamyl kinase is the rate limiting step in proline biosynthesis in yeast.

Alleles↗

Antimutagenic unusual amino acids from plants.

Five unusual amino acids were identified as antimutagens against spontaneous mutation of Salmonella typhimurium TA100: L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (1) from Liliaceae plants, alpha-(methylenecyclopropyl)glycine (2) from Litchi chinensis seeds, and 2-amino-4-methylhex-5-ynoic acid (3), hypoglycin A (4), and (2S,4R)-2-amino-4-hydroxyhept-6-ynoic acid (5) from Euphoria longana seeds. The absolute stereochemistry of 5 was determined by its chiral synthesis from L-allylglycine, proving that 5 is the C-4 epimer of the amino acid previously isolated from dried longan seeds.

Amino Acids↗

Forward mutation in Escherichia coli and gene conversion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae compared quantitatively with reversion in Salmonella typhimurium.

Forward mutation to c'azetidine carboxylic acid resistance in Escherichia coli WP2 and gene conversion at the tryptophan locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D4 were compared with reversion in strains TA98, TA100 and TA1537 of S. typhimurium for sensitivity and range of agents detected. Eight mutagens of known and differing modes of action were used in assays in liquid culture. It was concluded that neither non-specific system could replace all the Salmonella strains in a programme of mutagenicity assays in liquid culture; however, E. coli caca(r) could adequately replace strains TA100 and TA1537, provided that TA98 was retained to detect certain types of frame-shift mutation. Also gene conversion would prove useful in the assay of antibacterial agents.

Biological Assay↗