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Killing of untreated target cells by nonimmunized rat macrophages in vitro. I. Studies on the type of effector cells and their capacity to destroy allogeneic target cells.

Spleen cells derived from unsensitized Wistar rats lysed untreated, allogeneic liver cells of high passages (93rd until 159th subculture) as well as allogeneic tumor cells in mixed cultures. On the other hand, rat liver cells between passages 42 and 56 and allogeneic or xenogeneic fibroblasts were not destroyed by rat spleen cells in vitro. The degree of target cell lysis was dependent on the incubation time and effector-target cell ratio. In the rat spleen, the macrophages were detected as effector cells. Rat peritoneal cells showed the same effects as rat spleen cells. Trypsin treatment caused no loss of cytotoxicity of rat macrophages. Thymocytes and blood lymphocytes of rats were not cytotoxic against allogeneic or xenogeneic target cells. The macrophages apparently destroyed target cells by a nonphagocytic form of cell contact. Unstimulated spleen cells of guinea pigs, Syrian hamsters, CBA mice and rabbits were not capable to destroy target cells in allogeneic and xenogeneic systems.

Animals↗

The Ras GDP/GTP cycle is regulated by oxidizing agents at the level of Ras regulators and effectors.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been found to play important roles in regulating cellular functions. Their action in vivo has been related to specific effects on signal transduction pathways, such as Ras pathway. In order to characterize which elements of Ras pathway are affected by ROS, we have analyzed the action of different oxidizing agents on the ability of GTPase activating protein GAP and nucleotide exchange factor GEF to enhance the intrinsic activities of Ras. The action of these agents on the binding between H-Ras and its effector c-Raf-1 was also investigated. No effects were observed on the intrinsic activities of H-Ras or Ras2p. On the other hand, reversible inhibitions of GEF and GAP actions on Ras were found, whose extent was dependent on the agent used. As tested with the scintillation proximity assay, these agents also inhibited the binding of c-Raf-1 to H-Ras. Our data reveal new potential targets for the action of ROS on Ras pathway and suggest that they can influence the Ras activation state indirectly via regulators and effectors.

GTPase-Activating Proteins↗

High-pressure NMR study of the complex of a GTPase Rap1A with its effector RalGDS. A conformational switch in RalGDS revealed from non-linear pressure shifts.

Unusually large non-linear 1H and 15N nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts against pressure have been detected for individual amide groups of the Ras-binding domain of Ral guanine dissociation stimulator (GDS). The non-linear response is largest in the region of the protein remote from the Rap1A-binding site, which increases by about two-fold by the complex formation with its effector protein Rap1A. The unusual non-linearity is explained by the increasing population of another conformer (N'), lying energetically above the basic native conformer (N), at higher pressure. It is considered likely that the conformational change from N to N' in the Ras-binding domain of RalGDS works as a switch to transmit the effector signal further to molecules of different RalGDS-dependent signaling pathways.

Models, Molecular↗

Identification of rabaptin-5, rabex-5, and GM130 as putative effectors of rab33b, a regulator of retrograde traffic between the Golgi apparatus and ER.

The role of rab33b, a Golgi-specific rab protein, was investigated. Microinjection of rab33b mutants stabilised in the GTP-specific state resulted in a marked inhibition of anterograde transport within the Golgi and in the recycling of glycosyltransferases from the Golgi to the ER, respectively. A GST-rab33b fusion protein stabilised in its GTP form was found to interact by Western blotting or mass spectroscopy with Golgi protein GM130 and rabaptin-5 and rabex-5, two rab effector molecules thought to function exclusively in the endocytic pathway. A similar binding was seen to rab1 but not to rab6, both Golgi rabs. In contrast, rab5 was as expected, shown to bind rabaptin-5 and rabex-5 as well as the endosomal effector protein EEA1 but not GM130. No binding of EEA1 was seen to any of the Golgi rabs.

Animals↗

Mechanism of oligomerization of Escherichia coli carbamoyl phosphate synthetase and modulation by the allosteric effectors. A site-directed mutagenesis study.

We use site-directed mutagenesis to clarify the role of effector-mediated oligomerization changes on the modulation of the activity of Escherichia coli carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) by its allosteric activator ornithine and its inhibitor UMP. The regulatory domain mutations H975L, L990A and N992A abolished, and N987V decreased CPS oligomerization. The oligomerization domain mutation L421E prevented tetramer but not dimer formation. None of the mutations had drastic effects on enzyme activity or changed the sensitivity or apparent affinity of CPS for ornithine and UMP. Our findings exclude the involvement of oligomerization changes in the control of CPS activity, and show that CPS dimers are formed by the interactions across regulatory domains, and tetramers by the interactions of two dimers across the oligomerization domains. A mechanism for effector-mediated changes of the oligomerization state is proposed.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Elongation factor G with effector loop from elongation factor Tu is inactive in translocation.

Elongation factors Tu and G (EF-Tu and EF-G) alternately interact with the ribosome during the elongation phase of protein biosynthesis. The function of both factors depends on GTP binding, and the factors are ascribed to a superfamily of G-proteins. All G-proteins contain the effector loop, a structural element that is important for the protein's interaction with its target molecule. In this study the effector loop of EF-G was replaced by the loop taken from EF-Tu. The EF-G with EF-Tu loop has markedly decreased GTPase activity and did not catalyze translocation. We conclude that these loops are not functionally interchangeable since the factors interact with different states of the ribosome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The putative effector-binding site of Leishmania mexicana pyruvate kinase studied by site-directed mutagenesis.

The activity of pyruvate kinase of Leishmania mexicana is allosterically regulated by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-P(2)), contrary to the pyruvate kinases from other eukaryotes that are usually stimulated by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-P(2)). Based on the comparison of the three-dimensional structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae pyruvate kinase crystallized with F-1,6-P(2) present at the effector site (R-state) and the L. mexicana enzyme crystallized in the T-state, two residues (Lys453 and His480) were proposed to bind the 2-phospho group of the effector. This hypothesis was tested by site-directed mutagenesis. The allosteric activation by F-2,6-P(2) appeared to be entirely abrogated in the mutated enzymes confirming our predictions.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Purification and phosphorylation of the effector protein NopL from Rhizobium sp. NGR234.

Bacterial pathogens use type III secretion systems (TTSSs) to deliver virulence factors into eukaryotic cells. These effectors perturb host-defence responses, especially signal transduction pathways. A functional TTSS was identified in the symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium sp. NGR234. NopL (formerly y4xL) of NGR234 is a putative symbiotic effector that modulates nodulation in legumes. To test whether NopL could interact with plant proteins, in vitro phosphorylation experiments were performed using recombinant nopL protein purified from Escherichia coli as well as protein extracts from Lotus japonicus and tobacco plants. NopL serves as a substrate for plant protein kinases as well as purified protein kinase A. Phosphorylation of NopL was inhibited by the Ser/Thr kinase inhibitor K252a as well as by PD98059, a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase inhibitor. It thus seems likely that, after delivery into the plant cell, NopL modulates MAP kinase pathways.

Autoradiography↗

Structural and biochemical analysis of Ras-effector signaling via RalGDS.

The structure of the complex of Ras with the Ras-binding domain of its effector RalGDS (RGS-RBD), the first genuine Ras-effector complex, has been solved by X-ray crystallography. As with the Rap-RafRBD complex (Nasser et al., 1995), the interaction is via an inter-protein beta-sheet between the switch I region of Ras and the second strand of the RGS-RBD sheet, but the details of the interactions in the interface are remarkably different. Mutational studies were performed to investigate the contribution of selected interface residues to the binding affinity. Gel filtration experiments show that the Ras x RGS-RBD complex is a monomer. The results are compared to a recently determined structure of a similar complex using a Ras mutant (Huang et al., 1998) and are discussed in relation to partial loss-of-function mutations and the specificity of Ras versus Rap binding.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Neutralization of the biological activity of cytokines and other protein effectors by antibody: theoretical formulation of antibody titration curves in relation to antibody affinity.

Patients treated with interferons, other cytokines, or various biologically active proteins may form neutralizing antibodies, which can adversely affect clinical outcome. It is therefore important to understand how antibodies neutralize such soluble protein antigens and how best to quantitate such antibodies. By applying the mass action law to antigen-antibody reactions, we previously developed a mathematical model applicable in two situations: first, for antibodies having low affinity for the antigen concerned (the Constant Proportion (CP) case), and, second, for antibodies having high affinity (the Fixed Amount (FA) case). The results allowed calculation of neutralization titers which were independent of the particular assay method used. Neutralization by antibodies of intermediate affinity, however, requires different mathematical treatment because the mode of neutralization does not fit the two cases mentioned above. In this paper, theoretical neutralization curves were derived, based on the same mathematical model, for antibodies of intermediate affinity. We show that the slope of the neutralization curve relating residual active antigen to the concentration of antibodies is determined by the antibody association constant and the molar concentration of the effector antigen. It is therefore possible to infer the magnitude of the association constant from the observed neutralization curve. We show that values obtained for the neutralization titer of antibodies of intermediate affinity by the use of the formula previously described for the Fixed Amount and Constant Proportion cases may deviate from the theoretically sound values; the magnitude of the deviation can be estimated by applying the formulas described herein. These relationships should apply generally to antibody neutralization reactions with all biologically active soluble protein effector molecules that have a single and nonrepetitive epitope.

Antibodies↗

A rapid and versatile method for harnessing scFv antibody fragments with various biological effector functions.

A versatile expression vector is described for the rapid construction and evaluation of bispecific scFvs and scFv-based fusion proteins. An important feature of this vector is the presence of two multiple cloning sites (MCS) separated by an in frame linker sequence. The first MCS was specifically designed to contain unique SfiI and NotI restriction enzyme sites that can be used for directional and in frame insertion of scFvs (or potentially any molecule) selected from established phage-display systems. Using this new vector, a functional bs-(scFv)(2) (2C11-MOC31) was constructed for retargeted T-cell cytotoxicity towards EGP2 positive tumor cells. The vector was also used for grafting of a number of promising biological effector principles onto scFv MOC31, including the prodrug converting enzyme cytosine deaminase, the anti-angiogenic factor angiostatin, and the thrombogenic molecule tissue factor. We aimed at producing biologically active fusion proteins by directing them through the endoplasmic reticulum-based protein folding machinery of eukaryotic cells (COS-7) using a kappa light chain leader, thereby taking advantage of the associated quality control mechanisms that allow only fully folded and processed fusion proteins to be secreted into the medium. Supernatants derived from fusion protein transfected COS-7 cells, which were transiently transfected at low transfection rates, were directly assayed for the biological and/or targeting activity of the excreted fusion proteins without any prior purification steps. This procedure might help to identify those fusion proteins that have favourable characteristics like stability and biological activity in the presence of serum and at low protein concentrations. Targeted delivery of all effector principles was subsequently assessed in an in vitro model system. The method we devised is both rapid and versatile and can be useful to construct and identify series of new chimeric proteins with enhanced therapeutic potential in human cancer therapy.

Angiostatins↗

Amino acid substitutions in the effector domain of the gamma(1)34.5 protein of herpes simplex virus 1 have differential effects on viral response to interferon-alpha.

The gamma(1)34.5 protein of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a virus-encoded protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) regulatory protein that contributes to viral resistance to interferon. It functions to block the shutoff of protein synthesis mediated by the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase. This requires the carboxyl terminus of the gamma(1)34.5 protein to recruit PP1, forming a high-molecular-weight complex that dephosphorylates the alpha subunit of translation initiation factor eIF-2 (eIF-2alpha). In the present study, we introduced a series of point mutations into a region in the effector domain of the gamma(1)34.5 protein, which is adjacent to the PP1-binding domain. Analysis of these mutants in virus-infected cells shows that Ser209Ala, Ser209Asp, Ser218Ala, or Trp219Tyr substitution does not affect viral response to interferon-alpha. In contrast, Arg215Leu or Ser218Asp substitution rendered the virus hypersensitive to interferon-alpha, which correlates with the inability of these gamma(1)34.5 mutants to mediate dephosphorylation of eIF-2alpha. However, Arg215Leu or Ser218Asp substitution does not disrupt the formation of a high-molecular-weight complex required for eIF-2alpha dephosphorylation or binding of the gamma(1)34.5 protein to PP1. These results suggest that concerted action of the PP1-binding domain and the effector domain of the gamma(1)34.5 protein is required to confer HSV-1 interferon resistance.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Affinity purification of Ypt6 effectors and identification of TMF/ARA160 as a Rab6 interactor.

Rab/Ypt GTPases are key regulators of intracellular traffic in eukaryotic cells. One important function of Rab/Ypts is the nucleotide-dependent recruitment of downstream effector molecules onto the membrane of organelles. In budding yeast Ypt6 is required for recycling of membrane proteins from endosomes back to the Golgi. A biochemical approach based on the affinity purification of Ypt6:GTP-interacting proteins from yeast cytosol led to the identification of two conserved Ypt6 effectors, the tetrameric VFT complex and Sgm1. The mammalian homolog of Sgm1, TMF/ARA160, contains a short conserved coiled-coil motif that is sufficient for the binding to the three mammalian orthologs of Ypt6, Rab6A, Rab6A', and Rab6B.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

IFN-gamma-producing effector CD8+ T cells and IL-10-producing regulatory CD4+ T cells in fixed drug eruption.

BACKGROUND: Although effector and regulatory T cells play roles in the progression and resolution of inflammatory diseases, respectively, little in vivo data exist regarding the T-cell dynamics in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases in humans. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to phenotypically and functionally characterize the T cells responsible for initiation and regulation of inflammatory events in fixed drug eruption (FDE) as a disease model to study the role of cytokines produced within the epidermis in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin disease. METHODS: By use of flow cytometry, we phenotypically and functionally characterized the intraepidermal T cells that persist as a stable population in resting (pigmented) FDE lesions and that are present in active FDE lesions. RESULTS: In resting FDE lesions, most of the intraepidermal T cells were of the CD8 phenotype, most of which expressed cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen, alpha4beta1, CD11a, alphaEbeta7, and CD45RA but not CD27, CD62L, CCR4, or CCR7. This population selectively expressed CD122 but not CD25. Intracellular staining demonstrated that most intraepidermal CD8+ T cells were capable of producing IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha but produced little IL-2 and IL-4. On the other hand, in the FDE lesions that arose after challenge, a significant number of CD4+ T cells capable of producing IL-10 migrated into the lesional epidermis. Moreover, nearly 70% of the CD4+ T cells migrating into the lesional epidermis expressed CD25. CONCLUSIONS: Effector IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ T cells and regulatory IL-10-producing CD4+ T cells might be responsible for the progression and resolution of FDE, respectively.

Adult↗

Src tyrosine kinase is a novel direct effector of G proteins.

Heterotrimeric G proteins transduce signals from cell surface receptors to modulate the activity of cellular effectors. Src, the product of the first characterized proto-oncogene and the first identified protein tyrosine kinase, plays a critical role in the signal transduction of G protein-coupled receptors. However, the mechanism of biochemical regulation of Src by G proteins is not known. Here we demonstrate that Galphas and Galphai, but neither Galphaq, Galpha12 nor Gbetay, directly stimulate the kinase activity of downregulated c-Src. Galphas and Galphai similarly modulate Hck, another member of Src-family tyrosine kinases. Galphas and Galphai bind to the catalytic domain and change the conformation of Src, leading to increased accessibility of the active site to substrates. These data demonstrate that the Src family tyrosine kinases are direct effectors of G proteins.

Animals↗

A novel Rab5 GDP/GTP exchange factor complexed to Rabaptin-5 links nucleotide exchange to effector recruitment and function.

The small GTPase Rab5 plays an essential role in endocytic traffic. Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor delivers Rab5 to the membrane, where a nucleotide exchange activity allows recruitment of an effector protein, Rabaptin-5. Here we uncovered a novel 60 kDa Rab5-binding protein, Rabex-5. Rabex-5 forms a tight physical complex with Rabaptin-5, and this complex is essential for endocytic membrane fusion. Sequencing of mammalian Rabex-5 by nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry and cloning revealed striking homology to Vps9p, a yeast protein implicated in endocytic traffic. Rabex-5 displays GDP/GTP exchange activity on Rab5 upon delivery of the GTPase to the membrane. This demonstrates that a soluble exchange factor coupled to a Rab effector translocates from cytosol to the membrane, where the complex stabilizes the GTPase in the active state.

Animals↗

Changes in cellular composition induced by neocarzinostatin pretreatment in Meth A-bearing mice and the responsible antitumor effector cells.

We previously reported that tumor eradication was induced by a single injection of neocarzinostatin (NCS) between 1 day and 4 weeks before Meth A transplantation in Balb/c mice via augmenting host-mediated antitumor activity. In order to elucidate the mechanism of this tumor eradication, the cellular components of spleen and regional lymph nodes, tumor infiltrating cells and antitumor effector cells were investigated. Pretreatment with NCS on day -3 caused an increase in the percentage of T-cell subsets, a decrease in the percentage of B-cells, Mac-1+ cells and asialo GM1+ cells and a decrease of the total cell number in the spleen. These changes were observed before but not during the period of tumor regression and were also observed in non-transplanted mice with NCS treatment. In the lymph nodes, while B-cells increased on Meth A transplantation, this was suppressed by NCS pretreatment. Although histological examination of tumor nodules showed the presence of only a few host immune cells in the tumor tissue, the area of necrosis was already extensive on day 7 and expanded thereafter. In vivo depletion of whole T-cells, T-cell subsets or asialo GM1+ cells by antibody treatment suggests that the antitumor effector cells in tumor eradication were Thy1,2+/Lyt2+, and at least some of which also express asialo GM1 antigen and that L3T4+ T-cells were also involved in tumor eradication.

Animals↗

Intracellular signaling and endosomal trafficking of immunoreceptors. Shared effectors underlying MHC class II-restricted antigen presentation.

The cells of the immune system express a wide variety of receptors, defined as immunoreceptors because they are involved in antigen recognition. B and T lymphocytes express clonally distributed receptors which recognize either soluble antigens, through B-cell receptors (BcR), or peptides associated to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, through T-cell receptors (TcR). Many lymphoid or myeloid cells, such as B lymphocytes, macrophages or dendritic cells, express receptors for antigen-antibody complexes, which recognize the Fc portion of immunoglobulins (FcR). Although their ligands are different, immunoreceptors share both structural and functional homologies. The BcRs, TcRs and most FcRs, are multichain complexes composed of a ligand binding module, including one or two chains which determine the specificity of antigen recognition and a transducing module, which includes two to six chains containing a conserved motif in their cytoplasmic tail (A.D. Keegan and W.E. Paul, Immunol. Today 13 (1992) 63-68). This motif, called ITAM for immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (M.G. Reth, Nature 338 (1989) 383-384 and J.C. Cambier, Immunol. Today 16 (1995) 110-114) consists of five conserved amino acid residues precisely spaced over an amino acid sequence (D2xY2xL7x2xL). ITAMs couple receptors to intracellular effectors which induce a cascade of events leading to both cell activation and to down regulation of the receptors. This review focuses on recent data supporting the involvement of cytosolic effectors of cell activation in the endosomal transport of immunoreceptors. The possible role of these cytosolic factors in lysosomal transport and MHC class II restricted antigen presentation is discussed.

Antigen Presentation↗