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Genes in the RB pathway and their knockout in mice.

The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB), the first identified human tumor suppressor gene, has been shown to be directly involved in the genesis of a variety of human cancers. RB is actually one of a family of three closely related genes including p107 and p130. Many elegant biochemical studies have demonstrated that RB is a critical component of the cell cycle regulatory machinery and have characterized the downstream effectors which the RB gene product regulates. More recent advances have demonstrated that the function of RB and RB-related genes is positively and negatively regulated by an intricate network of cell cycle regulatory proteins, some of which have also been implicated as tumor suppressor genes. Despite the detailed understanding of these biochemical and genetic pathways, the full function of genes in the RB pathway in the context of a whole organism is only now being addressed. Using gene knockout technology, it is now known that RB, and RB-related proteins p107 and p130, have important functions during early mouse development. Furthermore, despite its ubiquitous expression, RB has tissue- and cell-type specific effects which account for its function as a tumor suppressor but may also be independent of its role as a cell cycle regulator. Analysis of mice lacking regulatory genes upstream of RB and effector genes downstream of RB have confirmed that other genes in this pathway have tissue-specific effects on development and tumor susceptibility in mice.

Animals↗

Thiol-dependent passive K/Cl transport in sheep red cells: IV. Furosemide inhibition as a function of external Rb+, Na+, and Cl-.

The effect of the loop diuretic furosemide (4-chloro-N-furfuryl-5-sulfamoyl-anthranilic acid) on the thiol-dependent, ouabain-insensitive K(Rb)/Cl transport in low K+ sheep red cells was studied at various concentrations of extracellular Rb+, Na+ and Cl-. In Rb+-free NaCl media, 2 X 10(-3) M furosemide inhibited only one-half of thiol-dependent K+ efflux. In the presence of 23 mM RbCl, however, the concentration of furosemide to produce 50% K+ efflux inhibition (IC50) was 5 X 10(-5) M. In Rb+ containing NaCl media, the inhibitory effect of 10(-3) M furosemide was equal to that caused by NO-3 replacement of Cl- in the medium. The apparent synergistic action of furosemide and external Rb+ on K+ efflux was also seen in the ouabain-insensitive Rb+ influx. A preliminary kinetic analysis suggests that furosemide binding alters both maximal K+(Rb+) transport and apparent external Rb+ affinity. In the presence of external Rb+, Na+ (as compared to choline) exerted a small but significant augmentation of the furosemide inhibition of K+(Rb+) fluxes. There was no effect of Cl- on the IC50 value of furosemide. As there is no evidence for coupled Na+K+ cotransport in low K+ sheep red cells, furosemide may modify thiol-dependent K+(Rb+)/Cl flux or Rb+ (and to a slight degree Na+) modulate the effect of furosemide.

Animals↗

The effect of a hyposmotic shock and purinergic agonists on K+(Rb+) efflux from cultured human breast cancer cells.

The effect of a hyposmotic shock and extracellular ATP on the efflux of K(+)(Rb(+)) from human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) has been examined. A hyposmotic shock increased the fractional efflux of K(+)(Rb(+)) from MDA-MB-231 cells via a pathway which was unaffected by Cl(-) replacement. Apamin, charybdotoxin or removing extracellular Ca(2+) had no effect on volume-activated K(+)(Rb(+)) efflux MDA-MB-231 cells. An osmotic shock also stimulated K(+)(Rb(+)) efflux from MCF-7 cells but to a much lesser extent than found with MDA-MB-231 cells. ATP-stimulated K(+)(Rb(+)) efflux from MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent fashion but had little effect on K(+)(Rb(+)) release from MCF-7 cells. ATP-stimulated K(+)(Rb(+)) efflux was only inhibited slightly by replacing Cl(-) with NO(3)(-). Removal of external Ca(2+) during treatment with ATP reduced the fractional efflux of K(+)(Rb(+)) in a manner suggesting a role for cellular Ca(2+) stores. Charybdotoxin, but neither apamin nor iberiotoxin, inhibited ATP-stimulated K(+)(Rb(+)) release from MDA-MB-231 cells. Suramin inhibited the ATP-activated efflux of K(+)(Rb(+)). UTP also stimulated K(+)(Rb(+)) efflux from MDA-MB-231 cells whereas ADP, AMP and adenosine were without effect. A combination of an osmotic shock and ATP increased the fractional efflux of K(+)(Rb(+)) to a level greater than the sum of the individual treatments. It appears that the hyposmotically-activated and ATP-stimulated K(+) efflux pathways are separate entities. However, there may be a degree of 'crosstalk' between the two pathways.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

RB activation and repression of C-MYC transcription precede apoptosis of human prostate epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVES: The retinoblastoma gene (Rb) encodes a transcriptional regulatory protein that functions in the regulation of cellular growth, differentiation, and survival. Many of the target genes of Rb with respect to growth regulation and differentiation have been identified. However, the identities of the Rb target genes involved in the regulation of cell survival and cell death (apoptosis) are unknown. We sought to determine whether the c-myc oncogene, a known target of Rb activity in cell cycle control, is also recruited in an apoptotic pathway uniquely regulated by Rb in prostate epithelial cells. METHODS: We previously described a cell culture model to study the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells in which the human prostate cancer line, LNCaP, will undergo apoptosis after inducible expression and activation of the alpha isozyme of protein kinase C (PKC) or after exposure to low concentrations of the PKC activator TPA. Rb protein and c-myc mRNA and protein were evaluated in the Rb+/+ LNCaP and in the Rb-/- DU145 prostate cancer cells. RESULTS: TPA-induced apoptosis in LNCaP cells was preceded by the rapid depletion of c-myc mRNA. The DU145 cultures were resistant to TPA-induced apoptosis and the c-myc mRNA levels remained elevated. The examination of Rb protein in the LNCaP cells revealed rapid dephosphorylation preceding both c-myc protein depletion and apoptosis. Additionally, pretreatment of LNCaP cells with staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of several isozymes of the PKC family, inhibited apoptosis in these cells and completely blocked activation of Rb and repression of c-myc. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these studies, we suggest that induction of PKC-mediated apoptosis of Rb+/+ prostate cancer cells occurs by means of an intracellular pathway that involves the activation of Rb and repression of c-myc transcription.

Apoptosis↗

E2F1 mediates ectopic proliferation and stage-specific p53-dependent apoptosis but not aberrant differentiation in the ocular lens of Rb deficient fetuses.

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor, Rb, is a transcription cofactor that controls cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. Mutant mouse embryos lacking Rb exhibit ectopic proliferation and apoptosis that are mediated in some tissues by E2F1, a major partner of Rb, and by the p53 tumor suppressor. Whether E2F1 and p53 also mediate the differentiation defects in Rb mutant embryos is, however, not clear. Here we show that partially rescued mgRb:Rb-/- mutant fetuses exhibit ectopic lens epithelial cell proliferation, apoptosis and severe cataract. The abnormal cell proliferation and apoptosis were significantly suppressed in the lens of compound mutant fetuses lacking both Rb and E2F1 at embryonic day (E) E15.5. Interestingly however, at E18.5, only ectopic proliferation, not apoptosis, was dramatically reduced in mgRb:Rb-/-:E2F1-/- lenses. In contrast, p53 did not exert such a stage-specific effect and apoptosis was invariably suppressed in mgRb:Rb-/-:p53-/- composite mutant lenses throughout embryogenesis. Using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses, we identified a subset of lens specific genes, most notably the late differentiation marker filensin, which were not properly induced during lens development in mgRb:Rb-/-fetuses. Remarkably, despite the inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis, the degeneration of lens fibers and aberrant expression of filensin were only marginally corrected in mgRb:Rb-/-:E2F1-/- fetuses at E15.5 but not at all at E18.5 or in mgRb:Rb-/-:p53-/mutant fetuses. Thus, inactivation of E2F1 reduces ectopic cell proliferation and stage-specific p53-dependent apoptosis but does not rescue the differentiation defects associated with loss of Rb during lens development.

Animals↗

Chymotryptic digestion of the cytoplasmic domain of the beta subunit of Na/K-ATPase alters kinetics of occlusion of Rb+ ions.

This paper demonstrates that specific chymotryptic digestion of the cytoplasmic domain of the beta subunit of Na/K-ATPase leads to changes in the kinetics of occlusion of Rb+ ions. The experiments utilize extensively trypsinized Na/K-ATPase, "19-kDa membranes," which lack cytoplasmic loops of the alpha subunit, whereas membrane-embedded fragments (a COOH-terminal 19 kDa and three fragments of 8.1-11.7 kDa) containing transmembrane segments and extracellular loops are intact. The beta subunit is partially split into NH2- and COOH-terminal fragments of 16 and approximately 50 kDa, respectively. Cation occlusion and ouabain binding are preserved. The 19-kDa membranes were incubated, at 37 degrees C, with a selection of proteases, in the presence of Rb+ ions. In these conditions, only alpha-chymotrypsin destroyed the ability to occlude Rb+ ions. This process was associated with truncation of the 16-kDa fragment of the beta subunit in two stages. In the first stage, chymotrypsin removed 10 residues from the 16-kDa fragment to form a 15-kDa fragment (NH2-terminal Ile15) and 4 or 6 residues from the NH2 terminus of the alpha subunit fragment beginning at Asp68. In these membranes Rb+ occlusion was still intact at 37 degrees C. Strikingly, however, deocclusion of two Rb+ ions, which is characteristically biphasic in 19-kDa membranes, displayed deocclusion kinetic with mainly one fast phase. These membranes also showed a much lower affinity for Rb+ ions compared with 19-kDa membranes; and, consistent with the lower Rb+ affinity, Rb+ ions, at nonsaturating concentrations, protected less well against thermal inactivation of Rb+ occlusion. In the second stage, the 15-kDa fragment was truncated further to a 14-kDa fragment (NH2-terminal Leu24), followed by thermal destabilization of Rb+ occlusion even at high concentrations of Rb+ ions. Eventually, the thermally inactivated complex of fragments of alpha and beta subunits was digested to the limit peptides. The results suggest that the cytoplasmic domain of the beta subunit interacts with that of the alpha subunit, possibly with residues leading into the first transmembrane segment, and controls access of Rb+ ions into or out of the occlusion sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rb inhibits E2F-1-induced cell death in a LXCXE-dependent manner by active repression.

Rb (retinoblastoma protein) inhibits E2F-1-induced cell death. We now show that the ability of Rb to inhibit E2F-1-induced cell death is dependent on a functional LXCXE-binding site in Rb, thereby suggesting that proteins that bind the LXCXE-binding site in Rb may regulate the anti-apoptotic activity of Rb. HDAC1, an LXCXE protein that plays a critical role in Rb-mediated transcription repression, abrogates the effect of Rb on E2F-1-induced cell death. In contrast, RF-Cp145, another LXCXE protein, cooperates with Rb to inhibit E2F-1-induced cell death. Both proteins exert their effect in an LXCXE-dependent manner. Rb regulates E2F-induced cell death by acting upstream of p73. Rb represses the p73 promoter. Our results further suggest a model in which Rb-E2F-1 complexes mediate the anti-apoptotic activity of Rb through active repression of target genes without recruiting HDAC1.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Differential role of RB in response to UV and IR damage.

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB) is functionally inactivated in the majority of cancers and is a critical mediator of DNA damage checkpoints. Despite the critical importance of RB function in tumor suppression, the coordinate impact of RB loss on the response to environmental and therapeutic sources of damage has remained largely unexplored. Here, we utilized a conditional knockout system to ablate RB in adult fibroblasts. This model system enabled us to investigate the temporal role of RB loss on cell cycle checkpoints and DNA damage repair following ultraviolet (UV) and ionizing radiation (IR) damage. We demonstrate that RB loss compromises rapid cell cycle arrest following UV and IR exposure in adult primary cells. Detailed kinetic analysis of the checkpoint response revealed that disruption of the checkpoint is concomitant with RB target gene deregulation, and is not simply a manifestation of chronic RB loss. RB loss had a differential effect upon repair of the major DNA lesions induced by IR and UV. Whereas RB did not affect resolution of DNA double-strand breaks, RB-deficient cells exhibited accelerated repair of pyrimidine pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4 PP). In parallel, this repair was coupled with enhanced expression of specific factors and the behavior of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) recruitment to replication and repair foci. Thus, RB loss and target gene deregulation hastens the repair of specific lesions distinct from its ubiquitous role in checkpoint abrogation.

Animals↗

The retinoblastoma gene product RB stimulates Sp1-mediated transcription by liberating Sp1 from a negative regulator.

Studies have demonstrated that the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product, RB, can either positively or negatively regulate expression of several genes through cis-acting elements in a cell-type-dependent manner. The nucleotide sequence of the retinoblastoma control element (RCE) motif, GCCACC or CCACCC, and the Sp1 consensus binding sequence, CCGCCC, can confer equal responsiveness to RB. Here, we report that RB activates transcription of the c-jun gene through the Sp1-binding site within the c-jun promoter. Preincubation of crude nuclear extracts with monoclonal antibodies to RB results in reduction of Sp1 complexes in a mobility shift assay, while addition of recombinant RB in mobility shift assay mixtures with CCL64 cell extracts leads to an enhancement of DNA-binding activity of SP1. These results suggest that RB is directly or indirectly involved in Sp1-DNA binding activity. A mechanism by which RB regulates transactivation is indicated by our detection of a heat-labile and protease-sensitive Sp1 negative regulator(s) (Sp1-I) that specifically inhibits Sp1 binding to a c-jun Sp1 site. This inhibition is reversed by addition of recombinant RB proteins, suggesting that RB stimulates Sp1-mediated transactivation by liberating Sp1 from Sp1-I. Additional evidence for Sp1-I involvement in Sp1-mediated transactivation was demonstrated by cotransfection of RB, GAL4-Sp1, and a GAL4-responsive template into CV-1 cells. Finally, we have identified Sp1-I, a approximately 20-kDa protein(s) that inhibits the Sp1 complexes from binding to DNA and that is also an RB-associated protein. These findings provide evidence for a functional link between two distinct classes of oncoproteins, RB and c-Jun, that are involved in the control of cell growth, and also define a novel mechanism for the regulation of c-jun expression.

3T3 Cells↗

The transcription factor E2F-1 is a downstream target of RB action.

Reintroduction of RB into SAOS2 (RB-/-) cells causes a G1 arrest and characteristic cellular swelling. Coexpression of the cellular transcription factor E2F-1 could overcome these effects. The ability of E2F-1 to bind to RB was neither necessary nor sufficient for this effect, and S-phase entry was not accompanied by RB hyperphosphorylation under these conditions. Furthermore, E2F-1 could overcome the actions of a nonphosphorylatable but otherwise intact RB mutant. These data, together with the fact that RB binds to E2F-1 in vivo, suggest that E2F-1 is a downstream target of RB action. Mutational analysis showed that the ability of E2F-1 to bind to DNA was necessary and sufficient to block the formation of large cells by RB, whereas the ability to induce S-phase entry required a functional transactivation domain as well. Thus, the induction of a G1 arrest and the formation of large cells by RB in these cells can be genetically dissociated. Furthermore, the ability of the E2F-1 DNA-binding domain alone to block one manifestation of RB action is consistent with the notion that RB-E2F complexes actively repress transcription upon binding to certain E2F-responsive promoters. In keeping with this view, we show here that coproduction of an E2F1 mutant capable of binding to DNA, yet unable to transactivate, is sufficient to block RB-mediated transcriptional repression.

Base Sequence↗

RB reversibly inhibits DNA replication via two temporally distinct mechanisms.

The retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor is a critical negative regulator of cellular proliferation. Repression of E2F-dependent transcription has been implicated as the mechanism through which RB inhibits cell cycle progression. However, recent data have suggested that the direct interaction of RB with replication factors or sites of DNA synthesis may contribute to its ability to inhibit S phase. Here we show that RB does not exert a cis-acting effect on DNA replication. Furthermore, the localization of RB was distinct from replication foci in proliferating cells. While RB activation strongly attenuated the RNA levels of multiple replication factors, their protein expression was not diminished coincident with cell cycle arrest. During the first 24 h of RB activation, components of the prereplication complex, initiation factors, and the clamp loader complex (replication factor C) remained tethered to chromatin. In contrast, the association of PCNA and downstream components of the processive replication machinery was specifically disrupted. This signaling from RB occurred in a manner dependent on E2F-mediated transcriptional repression. Following long-term activation of RB, we observed the attenuation of multiple replication factors, the complete cessation of DNA synthesis, and impaired replicative capacity in vitro. Therefore, functional distinctions exist between the "chronic" RB-mediated arrest state and the "acute" arrest state. Strikingly, attenuation of RB activity reversed both acute and chronic replication blocks. Thus, continued RB action is required for the maintenance of two kinetically and functionally distinct modes of replication inhibition.

Alleles↗

Rb-loss is associated with high malignancy in chondrosarcoma.

Loss of function of the human retinoblastoma gene (Rb) is a frequent genetic abnormality in human malignancies and causes a disturbance in the cell cycle and loss of normal proliferation and differentiation. We studied the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the Rb gene in 31 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cartilaginous tumors using polymerase chain reaction. The tumors were subdivided into 8 cases of dedifferentiated (DD) chondrosarcoma, 17 cases of conventional chondrosarcoma (nine grade 1, seven grade 2 and one grade 3), 4 enchondromas and 2 chondroblastomas. Both components of DD chondrosarcoma, the low-grade and anaplastic components, were separated by a microdissection approach. The genetic data were correlated with the expression of the Rb protein examined by Rb immunohistochemistry. We found Rb-LOH in one grade 3 chondrosarcoma, and in the anaplastic component in 7 of 8 cases of DD chondrosarcoma (89% of all high-grade chondrosarcomas). All tumors with Rb-LOH were immunohistochemically Rb-negative. The only case of DD chondrosarcoma negative for Rb-LOH in both components of the tumor also showed weak expression of the Rb protein in the anaplastic component. All benign cartilaginous tumors, low-grade chondrosarcomas and low-grade tumor components of DD chondrosarcomas were negative regarding Rb-LOH but positive in Rb immunohistostaining. We concluded that Rb-LOH predominantly occurs in high-grade chondrosarcomas. However, it is not a marker for identifying low-grade tumors with a tendency towards progression or local recurrence.

Adolescent↗

RB status as a determinant of response to UCN-01 in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

7-Hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01), a protein kinase inhibitor in clinical development, demonstrates potent antineoplastic activity. To determine whether specific genetic abnormalities would modulate the response to UCN-01, a model of human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines with differential abnormalities of p16CDKN2, RB, and p53 was used for these studies. Cell growth was measured by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and cell cycling was studied using flow cytometric analysis of DNA content. Changes in protein levels and phosphorylation were assessed by Western blotting. In cell lines expressing wild-type RB (A549 and Calul), UCN-01 treatment resulted in dose-dependent growth inhibition, arrest of cells in G1, and a reduction of cells in S phase. p16CDKN2-null cells showed similar growth inhibition to normal fetal lung fibroblasts. UCN-01-induced growth arrest was accompanied by induction of p21CDKN1 and a shift of Rb to the hypophosphorylated state in both p53 wild-type and mutant cell lines. In contrast, UCN-01 treatment of the RB-null cell line H596 resulted in less growth inhibition. To test the role of RB in response to UCN-01, effects of treatment were examined in two human isogenic models of RB expression: the bladder cancer cell line 5637 (RB-null) and the prostate cancer cell line DU-145 (RB-mutant). In the Rb-expressing 5637 subline (RB5), UCN-01 treatment resulted in Rb hypophosphorylation and an accumulation in G1 in contrast to the parent line. Similarly, the wild-type Rb-expressing DU-145 sublines (DU1.1 and B5) showed increased G1 arrest compared with the parent cells. We conclude that UCN-01-induced G1 arrest can occur in cells null for p53 and p16CDKN2, and that RB status influences the ability of UCN-01 to induce a G1 arrest. These data suggest that the molecular profile of cell cycle regulating genes in individual tumors may predict responsiveness and provide insight into optimal therapeutic application of this new antineoplastic agent.

Alkaloids↗

[An experiment study of in vitro induced antitumor immune responses by vaccination of tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells to kill SO-RB(50)].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate induced antitumor immune responses by vaccination of tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) to kill retinoblastoma cells SO-RB(50). We hope to offer new approach for the treatment of patients with retinoblastoma. METHODS: DC was pulsed with RB tumor lysates in vitro and incubated with autologous lymphocytes to induce antigen specific CTL (cytotoxic T lymphocyte, CTL). SO-RB(50) cells were used as target cells and Raji cells were used as control target cells. Cytotoxicity of CTL was evaluated by MTT method (methyl thiazolyl letrazolium). The specific cytotoxicity of CTL to SO-RB(50) and Raji cells was compared. The cytotoxicity of CTL from RB and normal subjects was compared between these two groups. RESULTS: Antigen specific CTL showed greater cytotoxicity to SO-RB(50) than Raji cells, the difference was statistically significant, P < 0.01. The cytotoxicity was dose-dependent to the ratio of CTL/target cell. The nonspecific cytotoxicity to Raji cells was the same in CTL from RB patients and normal subjects, P > 0.05. The specific cytotoxicity of CTL from RB patients to SO-RB(50) was weaker than that from the healthy subjects, P < 0.01. CONCLUSION: DC pulsed with RB tumor lysate in vitro can induce antigen specific CTL which can kill the SO-RB(50) target cells specifically. This method may have potential value of therapy for the RB patients.

Cancer Vaccines↗

Relationship between immune system and gram-negative bacteria. IV. T lymphocytes from Lpsd mice possess binding site(s) for Rb Salmonella.

We have previously shown that Salmonella minnesota R345 (Rb) spontaneously binds to 50 to 55% of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In the present study, we have compared Rb cytoadherence to lymphoid cells from various tissues of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) hyporesponsive (Lpsd) and LPS responsive (Lpsn) mouse strains. A higher number of spleen cells from Lpsd mice (C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScN) bound Rb bacteria (22 to 30%) than cells from Lpsn mice (4 to 9%). Rb bound mainly to T cells, and cytoadherence occurred in both Lyt-1+ and Lyt-2+ T cell subsets. By contrast, purified splenic B cells from Lpsd and Lpsn mice gave less than 4% Rb cytoadherence. In both mouse strains, cytoadherence was mediated by the homologous LPS structure, because purified Rb-LPS blocked Rb Salmonella binding to T cells. On the other hand, smooth Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 LPS (S-LPS) and Salmonella R595 (Re) LPS (Re-LPS), which contain mainly lipid A, were without effect on Rb binding. Increased Rb binding was seen with T cells from Peyer's patches (PP), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), and peripheral blood than from spleen of C3H/HeN (Lpsn) mice; however, greater cytoadherence was always seen with T cells of these tissues from C3H/HeJ mice. Interestingly, treatment of whole spleen or purified T cells from C3H/HeN mice with neuraminidase enhanced cytoadherence to levels seen with C3H/HeJ cells. The observed Rb binding to PP, MLN, and PBMC cells in both mouse strains suggests that gut microbial environment may play an important role in Rb cytoadherence. This is also supported by the evidence that when spleen cells of germfree and conventional mice were tested for Rb binding, higher cytoadherence was observed in conventional mice only. Taken together, these results indicate that T cells of Lpsd mice express binding site(s) for Salmonella, whereas Lpsn mice have T cells with these structure(s) in a cryptic configuration.

Adhesiveness↗

Activation of electrogenic Rb+ transport of (Na,K)-ATPase by an electric field.

Previous study shows that human erythrocytes when exposed, in an isotonic suspension, to an electric field that generated 6-15 mV of transmembrane potential induced a Rb+ uptake that was sensitive to ouabain, a potent inhibitor of (Na,K)-ATPase ( Serpersu , E. H., and Tsong , T. Y. (1983) J. Membr . Biol. 74, 191-201). Here we present evidence that this uptake indeed involved the activity of (Na,K)-ATPase. Transport of Rb+, K+, and Na+ were carefully monitored during the voltage stimulation. It is shown that the electric field stimulated only the ouabain-sensitive influx of Rb+, and this uptake was against a chemical concentration gradient. The rate of the stimulated Rb+ uptake was measured under different intracellular Na+ and extracellular Rb+ concentrations. The Km for the stimulated Rb+ uptake was, respectively, 7 mM for the intracellular Na+ and 1.7 mM for the extracellular Rb+, consistent with the values for the red cell (Na,K)-ATPase. Yet, the voltage-sensitive Rb+ uptake did not depend on the intracellular ATP level. Neither did the voltage stimulation cause an elevation of ATP concentration in the red blood cells as was observed in mitochondrial and chloroplast ATP synthetase systems under higher electric field conditions. Since only Rb+ uptake was stimulated by the voltage, it follows then that the Na+ and the K+ pumping activities of the (Na,K)-ATPase could be decoupled, and the K+ pumping activity may derive from the electrogenic component of the enzyme action. In the present case, the applied electric field could polarize the membrane to provide membrane potential required for the electrogenic transport of Rb+. Data also show that vanadate at 180 microM completely inhibited the ATP-dependent Na+ and Rb+ pumping activities of the enzyme, but only reduced the voltage-stimulated Rb+ uptake to 50% level. This represents the first systematic study of the activation of a transport ATPase by an externally applied electric field.

Biological Transport, Active↗

PCR detection of Xbal polymorphism in the human Rb gene of retinoblastoma patients.

Inactivation of the Rb (retinoblastoma) tumor suppressor gene is associated with hereditary and sporadic cases of retinoblastoma and other Rb-related tumors. Early diagnosis and genetic counseling heavily depend on practical methods for the detection of Rb deletions and mutations in high-risk families. Here we report on the use of a pair of primers in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a 945-bp fragment from intron 17 of the Rb gene (T.L. McGee, G.S. Cowley, D.W. Yandell and T.P. Dryja, 1990, Nucleic Acid Research, 18: 207). Xbal digestion of the PCR product reveals 2 allelic versions: a single 945-bp fragment (allele 1) or 2 fragments of 315 and 630 bp (allele 2). We used total genomic DNA (blood and tumors) to investigate the power of this PCR-Rb-Xbal-RFLP in the identification of both segregation and loss of heterozygosity of the Rb gene. In one family studied (family 1A) in which 2 generations were affected, it was possible to localize the mutated Rb gene to Xbal-Rb allele 2. The assay of loss of heterozygosity of the Rb gene is available for all Xbal-Rb allele 1-2 individuals, so that analyses may be applied in large scale investigation of the participation of Rb gene in tumor development. We conclude that PCR-Rb-Xbal-RFLP is a practical and powerful tool for oncology research and genetic counseling.

Eye Neoplasms↗

Interaction of the retinoblastoma gene product, RB, with cyclophilin A negatively affects cyclosporin-inhibited NFAT signaling.

The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product, p105Rb (RB), is generally believed to be an important regulator in the control of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Several cellular factors that form complexes with RB and exert their cellular regulatory functions have been identified, such as the newly identified RB:cyclophilin A (CypA) complex. The physical interactions between RB and CypA were demonstrated by glutathione S-transferase affinity matrix binding assays and immunoprecipitation, followed by Western blot analyses. The N-terminal region of CypA mediated the interaction with RB, whereas the region upstream of the A-pocket of RB was required for binding to CypA. Ectopic expression of RB into Jurkat cells partially blocks the function of cyclosporin (CsA) to inhibit nuclear factor for activation of T cell (NFAT) activation by phorbol ester (PMA) plus ionomycin A (IA), suggesting that RB may prevent CsA inhibition of T lymphocyte activation. These results are further evidenced by the effect of RB on both calcineurin (CN) and NFAT binding activity in vitro, suggesting that the interaction of RB with CypA interferes with the CsA:CypA complex and blocks CsA-inhibited CN activity. These data reveal the functional link between RB and CypA and their involvement in T cell activation signaling.

Blotting, Western↗