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PITALRE, the catalytic subunit of TAK, is required for human immunodeficiency virus Tat transactivation in vivo.

The human cdc2-related kinase PITALRE is the catalytic component of TAK, the Tat-associated kinase. Previously, we have proposed that TAK is a cellular factor that mediates Tat transactivation function. Here we demonstrate that transient overexpression of PITALRE specifically squelches Tat-1 activation of both a transfected and an integrated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR), suggesting that PITALRE mediates Tat function as a multiprotein complex. A catalytic mutant of PITALRE, D167N, was found to be more efficient than wild-type PITALRE in squelching Tat transactivation. Neither wild-type PITALRE nor D167N was able to squelch transactivation of the human T-cell leukemia type 1 LTR by the Tax protein. Additionally, we show that artificial targeting of PITALRE to a nascent RNA element, in the absence of Tat, activated HIV-1 LTR expression. These results indicate that a PITALRE-containing complex mediates transactivation by Tat and suggest that Tat proteins function by localizing such a PITALRE-containing complex to the site of the transcribing provirus.

Artificial Gene Fusion↗

Communication between the cell membrane and the nucleus: role of protein compartmentalization.

Understanding how the information is conveyed from outside to inside the cell is a critical challenge for all biologists involved in signal transduction. The flow of information initiated by cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix contacts is mediated by the formation of adhesion complexes involving multiple proteins. Inside adhesion complexes, connective membrane skeleton (CMS) proteins are signal transducers that bind to adhesion molecules, organize the cytoskeleton, and initiate biochemical cascades. Adhesion complex-mediated signal transduction ultimately directs the formation of supramolecular structures in the cell nucleus, as illustrated by the establishment of multi complexes of DNA-bound transcription factors, and the redistribution of nuclear structural proteins to form nuclear subdomains. Recently, several CMS proteins have been observed to travel to the cell nucleus, suggesting a distinctive role for these proteins in signal transduction. This review focuses on the nuclear translocation of structural signal transducers of the membrane skeleton and also extends our analysis to possible translocation of resident nuclear proteins to the membrane skeleton. This leads us to envision the communication between spatially distant cellular compartments (i.e., membrane skeleton and cell nucleus) as a bidirectional flow of information (a dynamic reciprocity) based on subtle multilevel structural and biochemical equilibria. At one level, it is mediated by the interaction between structural signal transducers and their binding partners, at another level it may be mediated by the balance and integration of signal transducers in different cellular compartments.

Animals↗

Aggregation of mammalian cells expressing the platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex and the requirement for tyrosine sulfation of GP Ib alpha.

The glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex mediates platelet aggregation in response to high shear forces by binding von Willebrand factor (vWF) in the plasma. We investigated the possibility that the complex could mediate a similar phenomenon if expressed in nonhematopoietic cells. When agitated on a tabletop shaker, CHO and L cells expressing the full complex formed large aggregates in the presence of vWF and the modulator ristocetin. When the rate of agitation was increased, aggregation occurred without added ristocetin and appeared to require only the application of a physical force. The aggregation was homophilic and temperature-dependent and required a functional ligand-binding subunit of the GP Ib-IX complex, GP Ib alpha. Posttranslational tyrosine sulfation of GP Ib alpha was required for aggregate formation and stability. Thus, aggregation of cells expressing the GP Ib-IX complex is a unique example of a ligand-receptor interaction induced by mechanical forces and demonstrates an important biological role for sulfation of tyrosine residues.

Animals↗

Srb7p is essential for the activation of a subset of genes.

The mediator complex in the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme is known to be involved in transcriptional activation. The role of the essential mediator component Srb7p has been difficult to investigate, since no conditional lethal allele has been available to date. While the expression of Srb7p under the control of a repressible promoter is not sufficient to reduce the level of Srb7p beneath the threshold for survival, we have been able to isolate a clone termed ts16 which confers a temperature sensitive phenotype. ts16 contains an insertion mutation that requires translational frameshifting for correct expression of Srb7p, leading to extremely low protein levels. Strains bearing the ts16 construct show mild defects in the transcription of constitutive genes like TDH1 but severely affect activated transcription, e.g. of the GAL1 gene. In contrast, CUP1, which is also independent of other holoenzyme components, is not affected by ts16.

Alleles↗

Site-specific Srb10-dependent phosphorylation of the yeast Mediator subunit Med2 regulates gene expression from the 2-microm plasmid.

The yeast Mediator complex is required for transcriptional regulation both in vivo and in vitro, and its function is conserved in all eukaryotes. Mediator interacts with both transcriptional activators and RNA polymerase II, but little is known about the mechanisms by which it operates at the molecular level. Here, we show that the cyclin-dependent kinase Srb10 interacts with, and phosphorylates, the Med2 subunit of Mediator both in vivo and in vitro. A point mutation of the single phosphorylation site in Med2 results in a strongly reduced expression of the REP1, REP2, FLP1, and RAF1 genes, which are all located on the endogenous 2-microm plasmid. Combined with previous studies on the effects of SRB10/SRB11 deletions, our data suggest that posttranslational modifications of Mediator subunits are important for regulation of gene expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nucleocytoplasmic sorting of macromolecules following mitosis: fate of nuclear constituents after inhibition of pore complex function.

PtK2 cells in which pore complex-mediated transport is blocked by microinjection early in mitosis of a monoclonal antibody (specific for an Mr 68,000 pore complex glycoprotein) or of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) complete cytokinesis. However, their nuclei remain stably arrested in a telophase-like organization characterized by highly condensed chromatin and the absence of nucleoli, indicating a requirement for pore-mediated transport for the reassembly of interphase nuclei. We have now examined this requirement more closely by monitoring the behavior of individual nuclear macromolecules in microinjected cells using immunofluorescence microscopy and have investigated the effect of microinjecting the antibody or WGA on cellular ultrastructure. The absence of nuclear transport did not affect the sequestration into daughter nuclei of components such as DNA, DNA topoisomerase I and the nucleolar protein fibrillarin that are carried through mitosis on chromosomes. On the other hand, lamins, snRNAs and the p68 pore complex glycoprotein, all cytoplasmic during mitosis, remained largely cytoplasmic in the telophase-arrested cells. Electron microscopy showed the nuclei to be surrounded by a double-layered membrane with some inserted pore complexes. In addition, however, a variety of membranous structures with associated pore complexes was regularly noted in the cytoplasm, suggesting that chromatin may not be essential for the postmitotic formation of pore complexes. We propose that cellular compartmentalization at telophase is a two-step process. First, a nuclear envelope tightly encloses the condensed chromosomes, excluding non-selectively all macromolecules not associated with the chromosomes. Interphase nuclear organization is then progressively restored by selective pore complex-mediated uptake of nuclear proteins from the cytoplasm.

Animals↗

Contrasting requirements for ubiquitylation during Fc receptor-mediated endocytosis and phagocytosis.

Fc receptors on leukocytes mediate internalization of antibody-containing complexes. Soluble immune complexes are taken up by endocytosis, while large antibody-opsonized particles are internalized by phagocytosis. We investigated the role of ubiquitylation in internalization of the human FcgammaRIIA receptor by endocytosis and phagocytosis. A fusion of FcgammaRIIA to green fluorescent protein (GFP) was expressed in ts20 cells, which bear a temperature-sensitive mutation in the E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme. Uptake of soluble IgG complexes mediated by FcgammaRIIA-GFP was blocked by incubation at the restrictive temperature, indicating that endocytosis requires ubiquitylation. In contrast, phagocytosis and phagosomal maturation were largely unaffected when ubiquitylation was impaired. FcgammaRIIA-GFP was ubiquitylated in response to receptor cross-linking. Elimination of the lysine residues present in the cytoplasmic domain of FcgammaRIIA impaired endocytosis, but not phagocytosis. The proteasomal inhibitor clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone strongly inhibited endocytosis, but did not affect phagocytosis. These studies demonstrate a role for ubiquitylation in the endocytosis of immune receptors, and reveal fundamental differences in the mechanisms underlying internalization of a single receptor depending on the size or multiplicity of the ligand complex.

Antigen Presentation↗

WW and EF hand domains of dystrophin-family proteins mediate dystroglycan binding.

The membrane-spanning dystrophin glycoprotein complex mediates an indirect linkage between the actin-based cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. Although expressed by diverse cell types, genetic lesions of members of this complex result in muscular dystrophy phenotypes emphasizing the importance of these interactions in muscle cells. We have characterized interactions between dystrophin family members and dystroglycan: cytoskeletal and transmembrane components of the complex, respectively. Our results demonstrate that both the WW and EF hand domains of dystrophin and utrophin, an autosomal homologue of dystrophin, directly bind the cytoplasmic domain of dystroglycan. Furthermore, alpha-dystrobrevin, a more distantly related dystrophin family member which lacks a WW domain but contains the EF hand domain, binds dystroglycan. This is the first demonstration of a direct interaction between a dystrobrevin or utrophin and dystroglycan, and has implications for the organization of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex and the use of dystrophin homologues in muscular dystrophy therapy.

Animals↗

Visceral surface oxygen tension in experimental colitis in the rabbit.

The impairment of bowel healing that is characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is poorly understood. Because bowel healing is related to the adequacy of perfusion in other circumstances, we studied bowel surface oxygen tension (PSO2), which is related to bowel perfusion, in rabbits with IBD. Both cell-mediated (n = 17) and immune complex-mediated (n = 10) colitis caused marked attenuation of colon PSO2. Control (n = 13) left colon PSO2 was 36 +/- 5 (SEM) torr. In mild colitis, left colon PSO2 fell to 11 +/- 5 torr, and in severe colitis it fell to 4 +/- 1 torr (p less than 0.01 for each compared with control). These changes occurred irrespective of the mechanism of induction of colitis. Gastric and small intestinal PSO2 were unaffected. Hepatic and renal PSO2 were decreased in severe colitis only. The presence of decreased PSO2 was a better marker for the presence of IBD than was histologic evaluation. It is suggested that attenuation of PSO2 may be a marker for the physiologic activity of IBD. If this is so, PSO2 may prove a useful adjunct in the operative management of IBD.

Animals↗

Vasculitis: immunological aspects.

The laboratory approach to patients with a vasculitic syndrome is of limited help in defining the diagnosis but may provide clues as to the pathogenesis (immune complex-mediated or cell-mediated reaction). Serial determinations of immune complexes or complement levels can also serve as the basis for assessment of disease activity and therapeutic interventions in some patients. In addition to angiographic findings there is only one way of establishing a tentative diagnosis of vasculitis: by histological demonstration.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

A COUP-TF/Svp homolog is highly expressed during vitellogenesis in the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

In the mosquito Aedes aegypti, vitellogenesis is activated via an ecdysteroid hormonal cascade initiated by a blood meal. The functional ecdysone receptor is a heterodimer composed of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle, the homolog of the retinoid X receptor. The precise tuning of this hormonal response requires participation of both positive and negative transcriptional regulators. In Drosophila, Svp, a homolog of chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor (COUP-TF), inhibits ecdysone receptor complex-mediated transactivation in vitro and in vivo. Here we report the cloning and characterization of the Svp homolog in mosquito Aedes aegypti, AaSvp. It possesses a high degree of amino acid sequence similarity to the members of the COUP-TF/Svp subfamily. AaSvp transcripts and protein are present in the fat body at high levels from the state of arrest to about 60 h post blood meal. AaSvp binds strongly to a variety of direct repeats of the sequence AGGTCA, but weakly to inverted repeats such as hsp27 EcRE. Transient transfection assays in Drosophila S2 cells showed that AaSvp was able to repress 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E)-dependent transactivation mediated by the mosquito ecdysteroid receptor complex. These data suggest that AaSvp negatively regulates the 20E signaling in the fat body during mosquito vitellogenesis.

Aedes↗

Basic and clinical immunology in uveitis.

Understanding the basic immune mechanisms and how they relate to the eye are becoming obtainable goals with far reaching implications. Attempts are made to classically divide the immune responses noted into Type I-IgE mediated, Type II-Antibody mediated killing, Type III-Immune complex mediation, and Type IV-Cell mediated. Though several mechanisms are surely working simultaneously, it remains an helpful method of analysis. Until recently, Type III hypersensitivity reactions were thought to be the basic underlying cause of most ocular inflammatory disease, but recent evidence would suggest that cell mediated mechanisms are more important for sight threatening ocular disease (uveitis). The S-antigen and IRBP induced experimental models for uveitis have provided us with invaluable information concerning the potential mechanisms underpinning uveitis, while the diseases themselves manifest many aspects of that seen in human disease. Additionally, it has permitted us to investigate the way in which immune cells may "home" to a target organ, this in part due to the expression of HLA antigens on non-immune tissues in the eye. The observation that T-cell mechanisms appear of major import in uveitis permitted a new approach to therapy, the use of the anti-T-cell drug cyclosporine. Its use in severe sight threatening disease has shown it to be effective, thereby confirming the notion of the importance of T-cell mediation of these diseases. Perhaps most notable is this agent's efficacy in the treatment of Behçet uveitis. The problem of renal toxicity has been addressed by using cyclosporine in combination with other agents, including those not directly affecting the immune system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Allergy and Immunology↗

NAT, a human complex containing Srb polypeptides that functions as a negative regulator of activated transcription.

A complex that represses activated transcription and contains the human homologs of the yeast Srb7, Srb10, Srb11, Rgr1, and Med6 proteins was isolated. The complex is devoid of the Srb polypeptides previously shown to be components of the yeast Mediator complex that functions in transcriptional activation. The complex phosphorylates the CTD of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) at residues other than those phosphorylated by the kinase of TFIIH. Moreover, the complex specifically interacts with RNAPII. The interaction is not mediated by the CTD of RNAPII, but is precluded by phosphorylation of the CTD. Our results indicate that the complex is a subcomplex of the human RNAPII holoenzyme. We suggest that the RNAPII holoenzyme is a transcriptional control panel, integrating and responding to specific signals to activate or repress transcription.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Import of proteins into mitochondria: a novel pathomechanism for progressive neurodegeneration.

The vast majority of mitochondrial proteins are encoded as precursors by the nuclear genome. A major aspect of mitochondrial biogenesis is therefore the transfer of nuclear-encoded, cytosplasmically synthesized precursor proteins across and into the mitochondrial membranes. During the past years the use of simple model organisms such as the yeasts S. cerevisiae and N. crassa has helped considerably to identify and unravel the structure and function of a substantial number of components involved in targeting of nuclear-encoded preproteins to mitochondria. Several pathways and a number of components were characterized that are involved in guiding mitochondrial preproteins to their specific sites of function. In particular, import of nuclear-encoded precursor proteins into and across the mitochondrial inner membrane is mediated by two distinct translocases, the TIM23 complex and the TIM22 complex. Both TIM complexes cooperate with the general preprotein translocase of the outer membrane, TOM complex. The TIM complexes differ in the their substrate specificity. While the TIM23 complex mediates import of preproteins with a positively charged matrix targeting signal, the TIM22 complex facilitates the insertion of a class of hydrophobic proteins with internal targeting signals into the inner membrane. Most recently the rapid progress of research has allowed elucidation of a new mitochondrial disease on the molecular level. This rare X-linked progressive neurodegenerative disorder, named Mohr-Tranebjaerg (MT syndrome), is caused by mutations in the DDP1 gene and includes sensorineural deafness, blindness, mental retardation and a complex movement disorder. The analysis of the novel pathomechanism is based on the homology of the affected DDP1 protein to a family of conserved yeast components acting along the TIM22 pathway. This contribution briefly summarizes the current knowledge of the pathways of protein import and proposes a mechanism to explain how defective import leads to neurodegeneration.

Animals↗

The PIDDosome, a protein complex implicated in activation of caspase-2 in response to genotoxic stress.

Apoptosis is triggered by activation of initiator caspases upon complex-mediated clustering of the inactive zymogen, as occurs in the caspase-9-activating apoptosome complex. Likewise, caspase-2, which is involved in stress-induced apoptosis, is recruited into a large protein complex, the molecular composition of which remains elusive. We show that activation of caspase-2 occurs in a complex that contains the death domain-containing protein PIDD, whose expression is induced by p53, and the adaptor protein RAIDD. Increased PIDD expression resulted in spontaneous activation of caspase-2 and sensitization to apoptosis by genotoxic stimuli. Because PIDD functions in p53-mediated apoptosis, the complex assembled by PIDD and caspase-2 is likely to regulate apoptosis induced by genotoxins.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Fc gamma RIII mediates neutrophil recruitment to immune complexes. a mechanism for neutrophil accumulation in immune-mediated inflammation.

Neutrophil accumulation is a hallmark of immune complex-mediated inflammatory disorders. Current models of neutrophil recruitment envision the capture of circulating neutrophils by activated endothelial cells. We now demonstrate that immobilized immune complexes alone support the rapid attachment of neutrophils, under physiologic flow conditions. Initial cell tethering requires the low-affinity Fc gamma receptor IIIB (Fc gamma RIIIB), and the beta(2) integrins are additionally required for the subsequent shear-resistant adhesion. The attachment function of Fc gamma RIIIB may be facilitated by its observed presentation on neutrophil microvilli. In vivo, in a model of acute antiglomerular basement membrane nephritis in which immune complexes are accessible to circulating neutrophils, Fc gamma RIII-deficient mice had a significant reduction in neutrophil recruitment. Thus, the interaction of immune complexes with Fc gamma RIII may mediate early neutrophil recruitment in immune complex-mediated inflammation.

Animals↗

Immune response to progesterone immobilized on Cu2+-induced amphifilic polyelectrolyte-protein complex: antigen specificity and affinity of hybridoma clones.

Cu2+-mediated complex formation between copolymers of acrylic acid with N-isopropyl-acyrlamide (CP1) and negatively charged covalent conjugate of bovine serum albumin with progesterone (BSA.P) was studied in neutral water in the presence of Cu2+. It was shown that under conditions where CP and BSA.P are negatively charged and incapable of binding to one another, the divalent Cu2+ act as "fasteners" promoting the formation of relatively stable water-soluble ternary polycomplexes. The immunogenic properties of ternary mixtures BSA.P-Cu2+-CP1 and BSA.P+IFA were investigated and the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against progesterone hormone was analyzed. Fusion following the two different immunization procedures resulted in the growth of comparable numbers of progesterone-specific MAbs with apparently similar antigen affinities. Thus, immunizations using antigens in BSA.P-Cu2+-CP1 appear to provide an efficient alternative to incomplete Freund's adjuvant.

Acrylamides↗

Studies on the mechanism of uptake of low density lipoprotein-proteoglycan complex in macrophages.

Earlier, we (Vijayagopal, P. et al. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 960, 210) showed that mouse peritoneal macrophages metabolize low density lipoprotein (LDL)-proteoglycan complex by a receptor pathway distinct from the acetyl-LDL receptor. Further studies were conducted to probe further into the mechanism of LDL-proteoglycan complex uptake by macrophages. Both 125I-methyl-LDL-proteoglycan complex and 125I-LDL-proteoglycan complex were taken up and degraded by the cells to the same extent. Similarly, the ability of these ligands to stimulate cholesteryl ester synthesis was also indistinguishable. These results rule out the possibility of apoB,E receptor involvement in the uptake of LDL-proteoglycan complex in macrophages. Sodium fluoride, cytochalasin D and aggregated LDL inhibited degradation of the complex by 24%, 26% and 28%, respectively, indicating that phagocytosis is only a minor pathway for the uptake. Both binding and degradation of the complex were not inhibited by excess hyaluronic acid suggesting that ligand recognition was not through hyaluronic acid binding sites. As compared to acetyl-LDL, the cellular degradation of LDL-proteoglycan complex was retarded. Macrophages exhibited a rapid stimulation of [3H]inositol trisphosphate (IP3) release and diacylglycerol production when incubated with LDL-proteoglycan complex. Furthermore, pertussis toxin produced a 62% inhibition of LDL-proteoglycan complex mediated IP3 release, suggesting that LDL-proteoglycan complex metabolism in macrophages is dependent upon the G-protein coupled signal transduction mechanism. These results show that receptor mediated endocytosis plays a major role in the metabolism of LDL-proteoglycan complex in macrophages.

Animals↗