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A mutation in the TRPC6 cation channel causes familial focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a kidney disorder of unknown etiology, and up to 20% of patients on dialysis have been diagnosed with it. Here we show that a large family with hereditary FSGS carries a missense mutation in the TRPC6 gene on chromosome 11q, encoding the ion-channel protein transient receptor potential cation channel 6 (TRPC6). The proline-to-glutamine substitution at position 112, which occurs in a highly conserved region of the protein, enhances TRPC6-mediated calcium signals in response to agonists such as angiotensin II and appears to alter the intracellular distribution of TRPC6 protein. Previous work has emphasized the importance of cytoskeletal and structural proteins in proteinuric kidney diseases. Our findings suggest an alternative mechanism for the pathogenesis of glomerular disease.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Effects on DNA synthesis and translocation caused by mutations in the RNase H domain of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase.

To determine the various roles of RNase H in reverse transcription, we generated a panel of mutations in the RNase H domain of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase based on sequence alignments and the crystal structures of Escherichia coli and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNases H (S. W. Blain and S. P. Goff, J. Biol. Chem. 268:23585-23592, 1993). These mutations were introduced into a full-length provirus, and the resulting genomes were tested for infectivity by transient transfection assays or after generation of stable producer lines. Several of the mutant viruses replicated normally, some showed significant delays in infectivity, and others were noninfectious. Virions were collected, and the products of the endogenous reverse transcription reaction were examined to determine which steps might be affected by these mutations. Some mutants left their minus-strand strong-stop DNA in RNA-DNA hybrid form, in a manner similar to that of RNase H null mutants. Some mutants showed increased polymerase pausing. Others were impaired in first-strand translocation, independently of their wild-type ability to degrade genomic RNA, suggesting a new role for RNase H in strand transfer. DNA products synthesized in vivo by the wild-type and mutant viruses were also examined. Whereas wild-type virus did not accumulate detectable levels of minus-strand strong-stop DNA, several mutants were blocked in translocation and did accumulate this intermediate. These results suggest that in vivo wild-type virus normally translocates minus-strand strong-stop DNA efficiently.

3T3 Cells↗

The adaptor protein shb binds to tyrosine 1175 in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 and regulates VEGF-dependent cellular migration.

Previous studies have shown that the adaptor protein Shb is involved in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. In this study, we demonstrate that Shb is phosphorylated in an Src-dependent manner upon vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulation using porcine aortic endothelial cells expressing the human VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) (KDR). In co-immunoprecipitation experiments, we could detect an interaction between Shb and the VEGFR-2 in human telomerase-immortalized microvascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, in a glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay, the Src homology 2 domain of Shb was shown to interact with phosphorylated tyrosine 1175 in the C-terminal tail of VEGFR-2. VEGF-induced Shb phosphorylation was lost in porcine aortic endothelial cells expressing a chimeric murine VEGFR-2 (Flk-1) with a mutation at the corresponding position. Shb expression was specifically decreased by 80%, in a transient manner, by using the short interfering RNA technique. Reduced Shb expression led to a loss of stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase at tyrosine 576, the generation of focal adhesions, and stress fiber formation in response to VEGF. Furthermore, we show that VEGF-induced migration is inhibited in Shb short interfering RNA-treated cells. Our data demonstrate that Shb is important for VEGF signaling in endothelial cells. This is achieved by Shb binding to tyrosine 1175 in the VEGFR-2, which regulates VEGF-induced formation of focal adhesions and cell migration, of which the latter occurs in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent manner.

Actins↗

Conjugational complementation analysis of transfer-deficient mutants of Flac in Escherichia coli.

A series of 102 transfer-deficient (tra(-)) mutants of Flac (84 of which have been previously described) were classified as carrying frameshift, amber, ochre, UGA, and nonsuppressible mutations. Techniques were evolved for using cultures of F prime strains as efficient recipients in matings, for measuring the number of (F'/F') heterozygote cells in transient populations, and for measuring complementation between different Flac tra(-) mutants. These techniques were used to define nine tra cistrons and to assign most of the tra(-) mutations to one or other of these.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Severe factor VII deficiency caused by a novel mutation His348 to Gln in the catalytic domain.

Factor VII is a vitamin K-dependent zymogen that plays a key role in the initiation of the extrinsic pathway. A severe factor VII deficiency was identified in a 45-year old male whose plasma factor VII antigen was less than 60 ng/ml and expressed 5.2% of normal factor VII activity. DNA sequence analysis of the patient's factor VII gene showed a thymidine to guanine transversion at nucleotide 10968 in exon VIII that results in a novel amino acid substitution of His348 to Gln. The patient was homozygous for this mutation, whereas some of his family members were heterozygous. Both wild type and mutant factor VII were transiently expressed in COS-1 cells. The level of secreted mutant factor VII antigen was only 11.0% of the level of wild type factor VII. In CHO cells stably transfected with the mutant factor VII, only 37.3% of the total labeled FVII was secreted into the conditioned media and the remainder was retained inside the cells. These data suggest this mutation leads to factor VII deficiency due to the impaired secretion of the molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The human alpha subunit glycoprotein hormone gene utilizes a unique CCAAT binding factor.

Placenta-specific expression of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of glycoprotein hormones involves the interaction of at least two different cis-acting elements: the upstream regulatory element (URE), which binds a placenta-specific trans-acting factor; and two tandem cAMP-response elements (CREs), which bind a ubiquitous protein (CRE-binding protein). To identify additional elements required for promoter activity, we used block replacement mutagenesis to produce a series of 10-base pair transversion mutations throughout the proximal promoter-regulatory region of the human alpha subunit gene. Transient expression of these constructs in choriocarcinoma cells enabled the identification of several closely spaced transcriptional control elements in addition to the previously identified URE and CREs. Gel mobility shift assays, methylation interference analyses, and UV cross-linking permitted identification of a factor that binds specifically to a canonical CCAAT box contained within the proximal promoter-regulatory of the human alpha subunit gene. This factor, which we refer to as alpha subunit CCAAT-binding factor (alpha CBF), is found in a variety of cell types and appears to be distinct from the previously characterized CCAAT-binding factors CTF/NF1, C/EBP, CP1, and NF-Y. We suggest that interaction of alpha CBF with factors binding to the URE and CREs may be required for maximal activity of the alpha subunit promoter in placental cells.

Base Sequence↗

Hypoxic regulation of lactate dehydrogenase A. Interaction between hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and cAMP response elements.

The oxygen-regulated control system responsible for the induction of erythropoietin (Epo) by hypoxia is present in most (if not all) cells and operates on other genes, including those involved in energy metabolism. To understand the organization of cis-acting sequences that are responsible for oxygen-regulated gene expression, we have studied the 5' flanking region of the mouse gene encoding the hypoxically inducible enzyme lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH). Deletional and mutational analysis of the function of mouse LDH-reporter fusion gene constructs in transient transfection assays defined three domains, between -41 and -84 base pairs upstream of the transcription initiation site, which were crucial for oxygen-regulated expression. The most important of these, although not capable of driving hypoxic induction in isolation, had the consensus of a hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) site, and cross-competed for the binding of HIF-1 with functionally active Epo and phosphoglycerate kinase-1 sequences. The second domain was positioned close to the HIF-1 site, in an analogous position to one of the critical regions in the Epo 3' hypoxic enhancer. The third domain had the motif of a cAMP response element (CRE). Activation of cAMP by forskolin had no effect on the level of LDH mRNA in normoxia, but produced a magnified response to hypoxia that was dependent upon the integrity of the CRE, indicating an interaction between inducible factors binding the HIF-1 and CRE sites.

Animals↗

The Drosophila light-activated conductance is composed of the two channels TRP and TRPL.

SUMMARY: Drosophila phototransduction is a G protein-coupled, calcium-regulated signaling cascade that serves as a model system for the dissection of phospholipase C (PLC) signaling in vivo. The Drosophila light-activated conductance is constituted in part by the transient receptor potential (trp) ion channel, yet trp mutants still display a robust response demonstrating the presence of additional channels. The transient receptor potential-like (trpl) gene encodes a protein displaying 40% amino acid identity with TRP. Mammalian homologs of TRP and TRPL recently have been isolated and postulated to encode components of the elusive I(crac) conductance. We now show that TRP and TRPL localize to the membrane of the transducing organelle, together with rhodopsin and PLC, consistent with a role in PLC signaling during phototransduction. To determine the function of TRPL in vivo, we isolated trpl mutants and characterized them physiologically and genetically. We demonstrate that the light-activated conductance is composed of TRP and TRPL ion channels and that each can be activated on its own. We also use genetic and electrophysiological tools to study the contribution of each channel type to the light response and show that TRP and TRPL can serve partially overlapping functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fast transient cytokine-receptor interactions monitored in real time by reflectometric interference spectroscopy.

Investigating protein-protein interactions by mutational analysis requires practical techniques for quantifying rate constants and equilibrium constants over several orders of magnitude with reasonably high sample throughput. We have employed spectroscopic interferometry for label-free monitoring of the interaction between the cytokine interferon alpha2 (IFNalpha2) and the extracellular domain of its receptor ifnar2 (ifnar2-EC). We implemented a versatile surface chemistry for the glass substrate of this transducer for covalent immobilization of proteins. Affinity capturing with a monoclonal anti-ifnar2-EC antibody (mAb) followed by crosslinking with a second, noncompetitive mAb provided stable, but still reversible, immobilization of ifnar2-EC. We measured kinetics and affinity of numerous of mutants of IFNalpha2 and ifnar2-EC. Dissociation rate constants up to 0.3 s(-1) and association rate constants up to 3 x 10(6) M(-)1 s(-1) were resolved by the system. Dissociation constants down to 200 microM were measured with protein concentrations up to 50 microM without no background signal or nonspecific binding. The instrument detection limit is approximately 10 pm without the need for temperature stabilization or referencing channels. The system proved effective for large-scale mutational analysis involving alanine scanning mutagenesis and double mutant cycles.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

RNA polymerase I can mediate expression of CAT and neo protein-coding genes in Trypanosoma brucei.

We show that the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) promoter can efficiently direct expression of protein-coding genes in the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. The rRNA promoter was characterized by: (i) point mutations at the rRNA transcription initiation site which completely abolished its promoter function in transient CAT transformation assays; (ii) the alpha-amanitin resistance of transcription of rRNA promoter-neomycin phosphotransferase (neo) genes in stably transformed trypanosomes; and (iii) the nucleolar location of neo RNA, synthesized under the control of the rRNA promoter. The rRNA promoter-derived CAT mRNA required a 3' splice acceptor site and the neo mRNA was trans-spliced and polyadenylated. In situ hybridization revealed neo RNA at the nucleolus in stably transformed trypanosomes in which rRNA promoter-neo constructs were integrated either at a rRNA locus or at a locus for the procyclic acidic repetitive protein (PARP) coding genes. We postulate that trans-splicing, by uncoupling the requirement for transcription of protein-coding genes by RNA polymerase II, allows RNA polymerase I mediated protein-coding gene transcription, presumably because a 5' cap can be transferred to the pre-mRNA by trans-splicing.

Amanitins↗

Transient hypoxia causes Alzheimer-type molecular and biochemical abnormalities in cortical neurons: potential strategies for neuroprotection.

Familial Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has been linked to amyloid beta protein precursor (AbetaPP) and presenilin gene mutations. In sporadic AD, which accounts for the vast majority of cases, the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration is unknown; however, recent evidence suggests a role for oxidative stress. The present study demonstrates that transient hypoxic injury to cortical neurons causes several of the molecular and biochemical abnormalities that occur in AD including, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired membrane integrity, increased levels of DNA damage, reactive oxygen species, phospho-tau, phospho-MAP-1B, and ubiquitin immunoreactivity, and AbetaPP cleavage with accumulation of Abeta-immunoreactive products. These abnormalities were associated with activation of kinases that phosphorylate tau, including glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk-5). Further studies showed that significant neuro-protection with sparing of mitochondrial function and membrane integrity could be achieved by pre-treating the cortical neurons with N-acetyl cysteine, glutathione, or inhibitors of GSK-3beta, MAP kinase, or AbetaPP gamma-secretase. Therefore, in the absence of underlying gene mutations, oxidative stress can cause AD-type abnormalities, including aberrant post-translational processing of neuronal cytoskeletal proteins and APP. Our results also suggest that pre-treatment with agents that block specific components of the AD neurodegeneration cascade may provide neuroprotection against oxidative stress-induced impairments in membrane integrity, mitochondrial function, and viability.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Nonsense mutations in cspA cause ribosome trapping leading to complete growth inhibition and cell death at low temperature in Escherichia coli.

CspA, the major cold shock protein of Escherichia coli, is dramatically induced immediately after cold shock. CspA production is transient and reduces to a low basal level when cells become adapted. Here we show that expression from multicopy plasmids of mutant cspA mRNAs bearing nonsense mutations in the coding region caused sustained high levels of the mutant mRNAs at low temperature, resulting in complete inhibition of cell growth ultimately leading to cell death. We demonstrate that the observed growth inhibition was caused by largely exclusive occupation of cellular ribosomes by the mutant cspA mRNAs. Such sequestration of ribosomes even occurs without a single peptide bond formation, implying that the robust translatability of the cspA mRNA is determined at the step of initiation. Further analysis demonstrated that the downstream box of the cspA mRNA was dispensable for the effect, whereas the upstream box of the mRNA was essential. Our system may offer a novel means to study sequence or structural elements involved in the translation of the cspA mRNA and may also be utilized to regulate bacterial growth at low temperature.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Mutation of aspartic acid residues in the fructosyltransferase of Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 25975.

The site-directed mutated fructosyltransferases (Ftfs) of Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 25975, D312E, D312S, D312N and D312K were all active at 37 degrees C, indicating that Asp-312 present in the 'sucrose box' was not the nucleophilic Asp residue responsible for the formation of a covalent fructosyl-enzyme intermediate required for enzyme activity. Analysis of the kinetic constants of the purified mutated forms of the enzyme showed that Asp-312 was most likely an essential amino acid involved in determining acceptor recognition and/or stabilizing a beta-turn in the protein. In contrast, when the Asp-397 of the Ftf present in the conserved triplet RDP motif of all 60 bacterial and plant family-32 glycosylhydrolases was mutated to a Ser residue, both sucrose hydrolysis and polymerization ceased. Tryptophan emission spectra confirmed that this mutation did not alter protein structure. Comparison of published data from other site-directed mutated enzymes implicated the Asp residue in the RDP motif as the one that may form a transient covalent fructosyl intermediate during the catalysis of sucrose by the Ftf of S. salivarius.

Aspartic Acid↗

Absence of N-linked glycosylation does not affect plasma membrane localization of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2).

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) multidrug transporter that confers resistance to various anticancer drugs like topotecan and mitoxantrone. To obtain more insight in its cellular functioning, we investigated phosphorylation and N-linked glycosylation of BCRP. In the epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line, we did not detect phosphorylation of BCRP, in contrast to MRP2, which was phosphorylated. In the ovarian carcinoma cell line T8 also no phosphorylated BCRP was detected. As BCRP in both lines effectively transports drugs, it appears that phosphorylation of BCRP (if it occurs at all) is not needed for drug transport. We further mutated the asparagine residues 418, 557 and 596 in three putative N-linked glycosylation motifs of BCRP to alanines. Mutant proteins were expressed in CHO9 and MDCKII cells by transient transfection and characterized by Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis. We found that only BCRP-N596A and a mutant with all three asparagines mutated (triple mutant) were not glycosylated anymore, indicating that only asparagine 596 is normally glycosylated. The mutation of asparagine 596 (or 418) had little effect on the subcellular localization of BCRP, indicating that N-linked glycosylation is not essential for routing to the plasma membrane. However, BCRP-N557A and the triple mutant were mainly localized intracellularly, probably in the endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that this mutation disrupted proper routing of BCRP.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Mem↗

Differential roles of the Src homology 2 domains of phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) in platelet-derived growth factor-induced activation of PLC-gamma1 in intact cells.

Upon stimulation of cells with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) binds to the tyrosine-phosphorylated PDGF receptor through one or both of its Src homology 2 (SH2) domains, is phosphorylated by the receptor kinase, and is thereby activated to hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate. Association of PLC-gamma1 with the insoluble subcellular fraction is also enhanced in PDGF-stimulated cells. The individual roles of the two SH2 domains of PLC-gamma1 in mediating the interaction between the enzyme and the PDGF receptor have now been investigated by functionally disabling each domain. A critical Arg residue in each SH2 domain was mutated to Ala. Both wild-type and mutant PLC-gamma1 proteins were transiently expressed in a PLC-gamma1-deficient fibroblast cell line, and these transfected cells were stimulated with PDGF. The mutant protein in which the COOH-terminal SH2 domain was disabled bound to the PDGF receptor. Accordingly, it was phosphorylated by the receptor, catalyzed the production of inositol phosphates, and mobilized intracellular calcium to extents similar to (but slightly less than) those observed with the wild-type enzyme. In contrast, the mutant in which the NH(2)-terminal SH2 domain was impaired did not bind to the PDGF receptor and consequently was neither phosphorylated nor activated. These results suggest that the NH(2)-terminal SH2 domain, but not the COOH-terminal SH2 domain, of PLC-gamma1 is required for PDGF-induced activation of PLC-gamma1. Functional impairment of the SH2 domains did not affect the PDGF-induced redistribution of PLC-gamma1, suggesting that recruitment of PLC-gamma1 to the particulate fraction does not involve the SH2 domains.

Animals↗

Molecular analysis of mutations in a patient with purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) deficiency is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder resulting in severe combined immunodeficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular defects responsible for PNP deficiency in one such patient. The patient's PNP cDNA was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Point mutations leading to amino acid substitutions were found in both alleles. One point mutation led to a Ser-to-Gly substitution at amino acid 51 and was common to both alleles. In addition, an Asp-to-Gly substitution at amino acid 128 and an Arg-to-Pro substitution at amino acid 234 were found in the maternal and paternal alleles, respectively. In order to prove that these mutations were responsible for the disease state, each of the three mutations was constructed separately by site-directed mutagenesis of the normal PNP cDNA, and each was transiently expressed in COS cells. Lysates from cells transfected with the allele carrying the substitution at amino acid 51 retained both function and immunoreactivity. Lysates from cells transfected with PNP alleles carrying a substitution at either amino acid 128 or amino acid 234 contained immunoreactive material but had no detectable human PNP activity. In summary, molecular analysis of this patient identified point mutations within the PNP gene which are responsible for the enzyme deficiency.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Reduced global cooperativity is a common feature underlying the amyloidogenicity of pathogenic lysozyme mutations.

One of the 20 or so human amyloid diseases is associated with the deposition in vital organs of full-length mutational variants of the antibacterial protein lysozyme. Here, we report experimental data that permit a detailed comparison to be made of the behaviour of two of these amyloidogenic variants, I56T and D67H, under identical conditions. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange experiments monitored by NMR and mass spectrometry reveal that, despite their different locations and the different effects of the two mutations on the structure of the native state of lysozyme, both mutations cause a cooperative destabilisation of a remarkably similar segment of the structure, comprising in both cases the beta-domain and the adjacent C-helix. As a result, both variant proteins populate transiently a closely similar, partially unstructured intermediate in which the beta-domain and the adjacent C-helix are substantially and simultaneously unfolded, whereas the three remaining alpha-helices that form the core of the alpha-domain still have their native-like structure. We show, in addition, that the binding of a camel antibody fragment, cAb-HuL6, which was raised against wild-type lysozyme, restores to both variant proteins the stability and cooperativity characteristic of the wild-type protein; as a consequence, it inhibits the formation of amyloid fibrils by both variants. These results indicate that the reduction in global cooperativity, and the associated ability to populate transiently a specific, partly unfolded intermediate state under physiologically relevant conditions, is a common feature underlying the behaviour of these two pathogenic mutations. The formation of intermolecular interactions between lysozyme molecules that are in this partially unfolded state is therefore likely to be the fundamental trigger of the aggregation process that ultimately leads to the formation and deposition in tissue of amyloid fibrils.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Differential enhancement of spontaneous transition mutations in the lacI gene of an Ung- strain of Escherichia coli.

In this communication, the contribution of cytosine deamination to spontaneous mutagenesis in the lacI gene of E. coli was examined. In a wild-type strain, 75% of the amber mutations recovered were G:C----A:T transitions and 60% of these were at the 5-methylcytosine spontaneous hotspots Am6, Am15 and Am34. In a strain deficient for uracil-DNA glycosylase (Ung-), 96% of the amber mutations were G:C----A:T transitions while only 15% of these occurred at the hotspot sites. This shift in the mutational distribution demonstrates that cytosine deamination is a potent mutagenic process, which is enhanced in the absence of glycosylase. Moreover, some amber sites were greatly enhanced in the Ung- strain while others were only slightly enhanced. This result suggests that the rate of cytosine deamination at individual sites may be influenced by surrounding base composition. Therefore, we examined the neighboring sequences and found a strong correlation between the fold-increase in mutation and the A/T richness of the surrounding sequence. It is suggested that A/T-rich regions denature more often, forming transient single strands in which cytosine residues would be expected to deaminate more readily.

Adenine↗