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Epigenetic histone modifications do not control Igkappa locus contraction and intranuclear localization in cells with dual B cell-macrophage potential.

Somatic rearrangement of the Ig genes during B cell development is believed to be controlled, at least in part, by accessibility of the loci to the recombinational machinery. Accessibility is poorly understood, but appears to be controlled by a combination of histone posttranslational modifications, large scale Ig locus contractions, and changes in intranuclear localization of the loci. These changes are regulated by developmental stage-specific as well as tissue-specific mechanisms. We previously isolated a murine B cell lymphoma line, Myc5, that can oscillate between the B cell and macrophage lineages depending upon growth conditions. This line provides an opportunity to study tissue-specific regulation of epigenetic mechanisms operating on the Ig loci. We found that when Myc5 cells are induced to differentiate from B cells into macrophages, expression of macrophage-specific transcripts was induced (M-CSFR, F4/80, and CD14), whereas B cell-specific transcripts decreased dramatically (mb-1, E47, IRF4, Pax5, and Igkappa). Loss of Igkappa transcription was associated with reduced Igkappa locus contraction, as well as increased association with heterochromatin protein-1 and association of the Igkappa locus with the nuclear periphery. Surprisingly, however, we found that histone modifications at the Igkappa locus remained largely unchanged whether the cells were grown in vivo as B cells, or in vitro as macrophages. These results mechanistically uncouple histone modifications at the Igkappa locus from changes in locus contraction and intranuclear localization.

Alleles↗

Interaction of the cellular prion protein with raft-like lipid membranes.

Conversion of the cellular isoform of the prion protein (PrP(C)) into the disease-associated isoform (PrP(Sc)) plays a key role in the development of prion diseases. Within its cellular pathway, PrP(C) undergoes several posttranslational modifications, i.e., the attachment of two N-linked glycans and a glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchor, by which it is linked to the plasma membrane on the exterior cell surface. To study the interaction of PrP(C) with model membranes, we purified posttranslationally modified PrP(C) from transgenic Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The mono-, di- and oligomeric states of PrP(C) free in solution were analyzed by analytical ultracentrifugation. The interaction of PrP(C) with model membranes was studied using both lipid vesicles in solution and lipid bilayers bound to a chip surface. The equilibrium and mechanism of PrP(C) association with the model membranes were analyzed by surface plasmon resonance. Depending on the degree of saturation of binding sites, the concentration of PrP(C) released from the membrane into aqueous solution was estimated at between 10(-9) and 10(-7) M. This corresponds to a free energy of the insertion reaction of -48 kJ/mol. Consequences for the conversion of PrP(C) to PrP(Sc) are discussed.

Animals↗

Identification of proteins in cell-free extracts using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A rapid method for the identification and characterization of proteins in bacterial cell-free extracts has been developed using directly combined liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry. The usefulness of this technique is demonstrated for monitoring the expression and chemical modification of phosphoenolpyruvate-sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) proteins from E. coli with molecular masses ranging from 9-65 kDa. The technique is characterized by minimal sample preparation, remarkable mass accuracy and resolution, reproducibility and the ability, unlike gel electrophoresis, to directly identify posttranslational modifications. The advantages of this technique over analogous matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry approaches and its potential as a standard tool in the biomolecular research laboratory are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Facile synthesis of site-specifically acetylated and methylated histone proteins: reagents for evaluation of the histone code hypothesis.

The functional capacity of genetically encoded histone proteins can be powerfully expanded by posttranslational modification. A growing body of biochemical and genetic evidence clearly links the unique combinatorial patterning of side chain acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation mainly within the highly conserved N termini of histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 with the regulation of gene expression and chromatin assembly and remodeling, in effect constituting a "histone code" for epigenetic signaling. Deconvoluting this code has proved challenging given the inherent posttranslational heterogeneity of histone proteins isolated from biological sources. Here we describe the application of native chemical ligation to the preparation of full-length histone proteins containing site-specific acetylation and methylation modifications. Peptide thioesters corresponding to histone N termini were prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis using an acid labile Boc/HF assembly strategy, then subsequently ligated to recombinantly produced histone C-terminal globular domains containing an engineered N-terminal cysteine residue. The ligation site is then rendered traceless by hydrogenolytic desulfurization, generating a native histone protein sequence. Synthetic histones generated by this method are fully functional, as evidenced by their self-assembly into a higher order H3/H4 heterotetramer, their deposition into nucleosomes by human ISWI-containing (Imitation of Switch) factor RSF (Remodeling and Spacing Factor), and by enzymatic modification by human Sirt1 deacetylase and G9a methyltransferase. Site-specifically modified histone proteins generated by this method will prove invaluable as novel reagents for the evaluation of the histone code hypothesis and analysis of epigenetic signaling mechanisms.

Acetylation↗

Human liver tyrosylsulfotransferase.

The sulfation of tyrosine is a common posttranslational modification of peptides and may regulate the biological activity of a peptide. The biological activity of cholecystokinin is dependent on sulfation at the tyrosyl residue. Study of the enzyme(s) responsible for this activation step should provide the basis for future studies of the posttranslational control of peptide biological activity. The experiments reported here were designed to determine the subcellular distribution and biochemical properties of tyrosyl-sulfotransferase activity in normal human liver tissue. tert-Butoxycarbonylcholecystokinin octapeptide (desulfated) served as the sulfate-acceptor substrate. Subcellular distribution studies showed that tyrosyl-sulfotransferase activity was localized to the membrane-bound fraction. Tyrosylsulfotransferase was characterized by a pH optimum of 5.8, and activity was increased in the presence of sodium chloride and manganese chloride. The addition of detergents inhibited this enzyme activity. Using the optimized assay conditions, tyrosylsulfotransferase was measured in 20 individual human liver samples. Twenty-fold interindividual variation was found--variation that may be related to individual differences in the degree of posttranslational sulfation of proteins. The level of tyrosylsulfotransferase activity did not correlate with the levels of activity of two soluble sulfotransferases, thermostable and thermolabile phenol sulfotransferase. These results provide the basis for future studies to determine the role of sulfation of peptides in humans and whether individual variations in tyrosylsulfotransferase activities correlate with individual differences in the degree of sulfate conjugation of peptides.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Dominant isolated renal magnesium loss is caused by misrouting of the Na+,K+-ATPase gamma-subunit.

Hereditary primary hypomagnesemia comprises a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders in which hypomagnesemia is due to either renal or intestinal Mg(2+) wasting. These disorders share the general symptoms of hypomagnesemia, tetany and epileptiformic convulsions, and often include secondary or associated disturbances in calcium excretion. In a large Dutch family with autosomal dominant renal hypomagnesemia, associated with hypocalciuria, we mapped the disease locus to a 5.6-cM region on chromosome 11q23. After candidate screening, we identified a heterozygous mutation in the FXYD2 gene, encoding the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase gamma-subunit, cosegregating with the patients of this family, which was not found in 132 control chromosomes. The mutation leads to a G41R substitution, introducing a charged amino acid residue in the predicted transmembrane region of the gamma-subunit protein. Expression studies in insect Sf9 and COS-1 cells showed that the mutant gamma-subunit protein was incorrectly routed and accumulated in perinuclear structures. In addition to disturbed routing of the G41R mutant, Western blot analysis of Xenopus oocytes expressing wild-type or mutant gamma-subunit showed mutant gamma-subunit lacking a posttranslational modification. Finally, we investigated two individuals lacking one copy of the FXYD2 gene and found their serum Mg(2+) levels to be within the normal range. We conclude that the arrest of mutant gamma-subunit in distinct intracellular structures is associated with aberrant posttranslational processing and that the G41R mutation causes dominant renal hypomagnesemia associated with hypocalciuria through a dominant negative mechanism.

Animals↗

Inducible expression and phosphorylation of coactivator BOB.1/OBF.1 in T cells.

BOB.1/OBF.1 is a transcriptional coactivator that is constitutively expressed in B cells and interacts with the Oct1 and Oct2 transcription factors. Upon activation of Jurkat T cells and primary murine thymocytes with phorbol esters and ionomycin, BOB.1/OBF.1 expression and transactivation function were induced. BOB.1/OBF.1 was phosphorylated at Ser184 both in vivo and in vitro, and this modification was required for inducible activation. Mutation of Ser184 also diminished transactivation function in B cells, suggesting that the activating phosphorylation that is inducible in T cells is constitutively present in B cells. Thus, BOB.1/OBF.1 is a transcriptional coactivator that is critically regulated by posttranslational modifications to mediate cell type-specific gene expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A pH-induced modification of CII increases its arthritogenic properties.

Immunoreactivity to collagen type II (CII) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients have been described to have an acidic pH in their inflamed synovial tissue. It is known that protein structures are modified by environmental pH, thus it is plausible that changes in synovial pH could affect the conformation of proteins like CII. Posttranslational modifications could alter the biophysical properties of cartilage proteins leading to autoimmunity. In this study we investigated if arthritogenicity of CII was affected by changes in pH, and if so, this could be correlated to altered protein conformation. Immunisation with CII at neutral pH induced a milder disease than did CII at acidic pH. All animals elicited a humoral response to CII, although with a significantly higher IgG1/IgG2b-ratio in the pH 7.4 group. Analysis by circular dichroism and electron microscopy indicated less fibrillation of CII at low pH as compared to neutral pH. Our results suggest that CII is more immunogenic and arthritogenic in an acidic environment than in a neutral environment. We can correlate these findings to pH-induced conformational changes of CII. Hence, self-tolerance to CII might be affected by changes in pH leading to altered and increased arthritogenicity.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

The role of adenylyltransferase and uridylyltransferase in the regulation of glutamine synthetase in Escherichia coli.

The regulation of GS activity involves two nucleotidylation cycles, the uridylylation cycle of PII and the adenylylation cycle of GS, which are catalyzed by two converter enzymes, uridylyltransferase and adenylyltransferase, respectively. The converter enzymes sense the fluctuation in the availability of nitrogen and accordingly regulate the activity of GS. On the other hand, the posttranslational modification of GS is tightly coupled to the transcriptional regulation of the glnA gene by unmodified PII protein acting as a repressor in the GS synthesis. Therefore, metabolic signals perceived by uridylyltransferase are transmitted through PII to two different levels of the regulation, namely, the posttranslational level and transcriptional level. In order to study the converter enzymes which exist in extremely low concentration, the glnD and glnE genes were cloned into a plasmid vector carrying the strong, regulatable lambda phage promoter. In this way, uridylyltransferase and adenylyltransferase were overproduced to the levels approaching 800- and 500-fold, respectively. The recombinant DNA technology also enabled us to examine the transcriptional regulation of the glnD and glnE genes. The expression of these genes was slightly repressed under nitrogen-excess conditions and the repressions were more pronounced under excess nitrogen plus carbon-limiting conditions. It was found that variations of the concentration of uridylyltransferase and adenylyltransferase also affect the rate of GS synthesis. Studies with strains harboring a multicopy plasmid, pglnD or pglnE, indicate that the elevated synthesis of the converter enzymes causes the enhancement of GS synthesis. In addition, the absence of one of the converter enzymes reduces the expression of the glnA gene. The parallel relationship between the converter enzymes and GS seems to derive from the binding capacity of the converter enzymes for the unbound PII, which is a repressor for the glnA gene. Therefore, it is believed that the metabolic regulation of the glnD and glnE genes is ultimately linked to the expression of the glnA operon.

Escherichia coli↗

Derivatization of posttranslationally modified amino acids.

After a brief overview of posttranslational modifications of protein amino acids, the use of various derivatizing reagents for amino acid analysis is discussed. Derivatization and chromatographic separation of hydroxyproline, methylhistidine, and phosphorylated amino acids are discussed in detail to illustrate some of the strategies that can be applied to the analysis of posttranslationally modified amino acids.

Amino Acids↗

Activity of the Kluyveromyces lactis Pdr5 multidrug transporter is modulated by the Sit4 protein phosphatase.

A possible role for posttranslational modifications in regulating the activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters has not been well established. In this study, the drug efflux ABC transporter gene KlPDR5 was isolated from the budding yeast Kluyveromyces lactis, and it was found that the encoded KlPdr5 drug pump is posttranslationally regulated by the type 2A-related Ser/Thr protein phosphatase, Sit4p. The KlPdr5 transporter is a protein of 1,525 amino acids sharing 63.8% sequence identity with its Saccharomyces cerevisiae counterpart, ScPdr5p. Overexpression of the KlPDR5 gene confers resistance to oligomycin, antimycin, econazole, and ketoconazole, whereas cells with a disrupted allele of KlPDR5 are hypersensitive to the drugs and have a decreased capacity to carry out efflux of the anionic fluorescent dye rhodamine 123. It was found that a chromosomal disruption of KlPDR5 abolishes the drug-resistant phenotype associated with sit4 mutations and that a synergistic hyperresistance to the drugs can be created by overexpressing KlPDR5 in sit4 mutants. These data strongly indicate that the multidrug-resistant phenotype of sit4 mutants is mediated by negatively modulating the activity of KlPdr5p. As the transcriptional level of KlPDR5 and the steady-state level of KlPdr5p are not significantly affected by mutations in SIT4, the regulation by Sit4p appears to be a posttranslational process.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus K-bZIP represses gene transcription via SUMO modification.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a human gammaherpesvirus implicated in AIDS-related neoplasms. Previously, we demonstrated that the early lytic gene product K-bZIP is a transcriptional repressor that affects a subset of viral gene transcriptions mediated by the viral transactivator K-Rta (Y. Izumiya et al. J. Virol. 77:1441-1451, 2003). Sumoylation has emerged as an important posttranslational modification that affects the location and function of cellular and viral proteins and also plays a significant role in transcriptional repression along with Ubc9, the E2 SUMO conjugation enzyme. Here, we provide evidence that K-bZIP is sumoylated at the lysine 158 residue and associates with Ubc9 both in a cell-free system and in virus-infected BCBL-1 cells. Reporter assays showed that the expression of SUMO-specific protease 1 attenuated the transcriptional repression activity of K-bZIP. The expression of a K-bZIPK158R mutant, which was no longer sumoylated, exhibited the reduced transcriptional repression activity. This indicates that sumoylation plays an important part in the transcriptional repression activity of K-bZIP. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that K-bZIP interacts with and recruits Ubc9 to specific KSHV promoters. Thus, our data indicate that K-bZIP is a SUMO adaptor, which recruits Ubc9 to specific viral target promoters, thereby exerting its transcriptional repression activity.

Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors↗

Prostaglandin D2 synthase and its post-translational modifications in neurological disorders.

Prostaglandin D2 synthase (PGDS) (beta-trace protein) is a highly abundant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glycoprotein. A number of studies have been performed to determine the potential value of this protein for the diagnosis of various neurological disorders. The measurement of total PGDS levels in CSF has proved marginally useful for this purpose, but promising results were obtained while investigating changes in the posttranslational modifications (PTM) pattern. Using 2-DE analysis, we previously showed that PGDS is differentially expressed in ante- and post mortem CSF samples. In the present study, we examined whether the PGDS isoforms may help to distinguish stroke and neurodegenerative disease patients from healthy subjects. The pattern of PGDS PTM was analyzed in CSF from patients with various neurological disorders (n = 44) using IEF/immunoblotting techniques. Strong alterations of this pattern were detected in patients with different forms of degenerative dementia. These findings are consistent with PGDS being altered in some neurological diseases and provide new opportunities for clinical applications.

Aged↗

ChIPmentation for Epigenomic Analysis in Fission Yeast.

Histone modifications and transcription factor-DNA interactions regulate vital processes such as transcription, recombination, repair, and accurate chromosome segregation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-Seq) has been instrumental in studying genome-wide distribution of DNA-bound or chromatin-associated factors and histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Here, we describe a ChIPmentation protocol adapted for fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This method merges Tn5 mediated tagmentation with existing ChIP protocols, resulting in lower sample input requirements with significant reduction in hands-on time and sample preparation costs.

Schizosaccharomyces↗

The N-terminal region of the CCAAT displacement protein (CDP)/Cux transcription factor functions as an autoinhibitory domain that modulates DNA binding.

The CCAAT displacement protein/Cut homeobox (CDP/Cux) transcription factor is expressed as multiple isoforms that may contain up to four DNA-binding domains: Cut repeats 1, 2, and 3 (CR1, CR2, CR3) and the Cut homeodomain (HD). The full-length protein, which contains all four DNA-binding domains, is surprisingly less efficient than the shorter isoforms in DNA binding. Using a panel of recombinant proteins expressed in mammalian or bacterial cells, we have identified a domain at the extreme N terminus of the protein that can inhibit DNA binding. This domain was able to inhibit the activity of full-length CDP/Cux and of proteins containing various combinations of DNA-binding domains: CR1CR2, CR3HD, or CR2CR3HD. Since inhibition of DNA binding was also observed with purified proteins obtained from bacteria, we conclude that autoinhibition does not require post-translational modification or interaction with an interacting protein but instead functions through an intramolecular mechanism. Antibodies directed against the N-terminal region were able to partially relieve inhibition. In vivo, the transition between the inactive and active states for DNA binding is likely to be governed by posttranslational modifications and/or interaction with one or more protein partners. In addition, we show that the relief of autoinhibition can be accomplished via the proteolytic processing of CDP/Cux. Altogether, these results reveal a novel mode of regulation that serves to modulate the DNA binding activity of CDP/Cux.

Animals↗

The prenylation of proteins.

The prenylated proteins represent a newly discovered class of post-translationally modified proteins. The known prenylated proteins include the oncogene product p21ras and other low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins, the nuclear lamins, and the gamma subunit of the heterotrimeric G proteins. The modification involves the covalent attachment of a 15-carbon (farnesyl) or 20-carbon (geranylgeranyl) isoprenoid moiety in a thioether linkage to carboxyl terminal cysteine. The nature of the attached substituent is dependent on specific sequence information in the carboxyl terminus of the protein. In addition, prenylation entrains other posttranslational modifications forming a reaction pathway. In this article, we review our current understanding of the biochemical reactions involved in prenylation and discuss the possible role of this modification in the control of cellular functions such as protein maturation and cell growth.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the major site of O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine modification in the C terminus of insulin receptor substrate-1.

Signal transduction from the insulin receptor to downstream effectors is attenuated by phosphorylation at a number of Ser/Thr residues of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) resulting in resistance to insulin action, the hallmark of type II diabetes. Ser/Thr residues can also be reversibly glycosylated by O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) monosaccharide, a dynamic posttranslational modification that offers an alternative means of protein regulation to phosphorylation. To identify sites of O-GlcNAc modification in IRS-1, recombinant rat IRS-1 isolated from HEK293 cells was analyzed by two complementary mass spectrometric methods. Using data-dependent neutral loss MS3 mass spectrometry, MS/MS data were scanned for peptides that exhibited a neutral loss corresponding to the mass of N-acetylglucosamine upon dissociation in an ion trap. This methodology provided sequence coverage of 84% of the protein, permitted identification of a novel site of phosphorylation at Thr-1045, and facilitated the detection of an O-GlcNAc-modified peptide of IRS-1 at residues 1027-1073. The level of O-GlcNAc modification of this peptide increased when cells were grown under conditions of high glucose with or without chronic insulin stimulation or in the presence of an inhibitor of the O-GlcNAcase enzyme. To map the exact site of O-GlcNAc modification, IRS-1 peptides were chemically derivatized with dithiothreitol following beta-elimination and Michael addition prior to LC-MS/MS. This approach revealed Ser-1036 as the site of O-GlcNAc modification. Site-directed mutagenesis and Western blotting with an anti-O-GlcNAc antibody suggested that Ser-1036 is the major site of O-GlcNAc modification of IRS-1. Identification of this site will facilitate exploring the biological significance of the O-GlcNAc modification.

Acetylglucosamine↗

The antimicrobial effect of a structural variant of subtilin against outgrowing Bacillus cereus T spores and vegetative cells occurs by different mechanisms.

Subtilin is a ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptide that contains several unusual amino acids as a result of posttranslational modifications. Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to construct a structural variant of subtilin in which the unusual dehydroalanine (Dha) residue at position 5 was changed to alanine. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, amino acid composition, and N-terminal sequence analysis established that the mutation did not disrupt posttranslational processing of the precursor peptide. This mutant subtilin was devoid of antimicrobial activity as assessed by its lack of inhibitory effects on outgrowth of Bacillus cereus T spores. However, this same mutant subtilin was fully active with respect to its ability to induce lysis of vegetative B. cereus T cells. Because an intact Dha-5 residue is required in the one instance but not in the other, it was concluded that the molecular mechanism by which subtilin inhibits (without lysis) spore outgrowth is not the same as the mechanism by which it inhibits (with lysis) vegetative cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗