Absence of cancer-associated changes in human fibroblasts immortalized with telomerase

The ectopic expression of telomerase in normal human cells results in an extended lifespan, indicating that telomere shortening regulates the timing of cellular senescence. As telomerase expression is a hallmark of cancer, we investigated the long-term effects of forced expression of human telomerase catalytic component (hTERT) in normal human fibroblasts. In vitro growth requirements, cell-cycle checkpoints and karyotypic stability in telomerase-expressing cells are similar to those of untransfected controls. In addition, co-expression of telomerase, the viral oncoproteins HPV16 E6/E7 (which inactivate p53 and pRB) and oncogenic HRAS does not result in growth in soft agar. Thus, although ectopic expression of telomerase in human fibroblasts is sufficient for immortalization, it does not result in changes typically associated with malignant transformation.

Structure of simian virus 40 at 3.8-A resolution

The crystallographically determined structure of simian virus 40 shows that the 72 pentamers of viral protein VP1, which form the outer shell, have identical conformations except for the C-terminal arms of their subunits. Five arms emerge from each pentamer and insert into neighbouring pentamers. This tying together of standard building blocks allows for the required variability in packing geometry without sacrificing specificity.

Ablation of the CDK inhibitor p57Kip2 results in increased apoptosis and delayed differentiation during mouse development

p57(Kip2) is a paternally imprinted gene that encodes a potent inhibitor of several cyclin/Cdk complexes. p57(Kip2) is primarily expressed in terminally differentiated cells, associates with G1 Cdks, and can cause cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. To investigate the role of p57(Kip2) in vivo, we have ablated the p57(Kip2) gene by homologous recombination in ES cells and generated mice devoid of p57(Kip2) expression. Most p57(Kip2) null mice die after birth and display severe developmental defects with varying degrees of penetrance. As expected, heterozygous mice that inherit a maternal, but not a paternal, targeted allele exhibit similar deficiencies and neonatal death. Developmental defects of p57(Kip2) mutant mice include cleft palate and gastrointestinal abnormalities ranging from an inflated GI tract to loss of the jejunum and ileum. These tissues display a significant increase of apoptotic cells in the absence of p57(Kip2). Most p57(Kip2) mutant mice have short limbs, a defect attributable to abnormal endochondral ossification caused by delayed cell cycle exit during chondrocyte differentiation. A similar defect has been observed in mice lacking p107 and p130, thus suggesting that p57(Kip2) might be an upstream regulator of these Rb-related proteins. The p57(Kip2) locus has been implicated in the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and in the development of sporadic Wilms' tumors and lung carcinomas. To date, we have not observed neoplastic development even in those p57(Kip2) mutant mice that have survived for >5 months of age. These findings indicate that p57(Kip2) has an important role during mouse development that cannot be compensated by other Cdk inhibitors.

Physical activity and colon cancer prevention: a meta-analysis

Although an inverse association between physical activity and risk of colon cancer is well established, a formal estimate of the magnitude of this risk reduction that includes recent studies is not available. This analysis examines the association by sex and study design, restricting analyses to studies where data for colon cancer alone were available. The authors reviewed published studies through June 2008 examining the association between physical activity and risk of colon cancer. Heterogeneity and publication bias were evaluated and random effects models used to estimate relative risks (RR). Differences by sex and study design were evaluated. A total of 52 studies were included. An inverse association between physical activity and colon cancer was found with an overall relative risk (RR) of 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72, 0.81). For men, the RR was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.71, 0.82); for women, this was little different, (RR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.88). The findings from case-control studies were stronger (RR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.74) than for cohort studies (RR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.88). This study confirms previous studies reporting an inverse association between physical activity and colon cancer in both men and women, and provides quantitative estimates of the inverse association.

Secular trends in the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity among Chinese adults, 1993-2009

The objective of this study is to examine the trends in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and prevalence of overweight (BMI 25-27.49 kg m(-2) ), general obesity (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg m(-2) ) and abdominal obesity (WC ≥ 90 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women) among Chinese adults from 1993 to 2009. Data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, which was conducted from 1993 to 2009 and included a total of 52,621 Chinese adults. During the period of 1993-2009, mean BMI values increased by 1.6 kg m(-2) among men and 0.8 kg m(-2) among women; mean WC values increased by 7.0 cm among men and 4.7 cm among women. The prevalence of overweight increased from 8.0 to 17.1% among men (P < 0.001) and from 10.7 to 14.4% among women (P < 0.001); the prevalence of general obesity increased from 2.9 to 11.4% among men (P < 0.001) and from 5.0 to 10.1% among women (P < 0.001); the prevalence of abdominal obesity increased from 8.5 to 27.8% among men (P < 0.001) and from 27.8 to 45.9% among women (P < 0.001). Similar significant trends were observed in nearly all age groups and regions for both men and women. The prevalence of overweight, general obesity and abdominal obesity among Chinese adults has increased greatly during the past 17 years.

Endogenous cellulases in animals: isolation of beta-1, 4-endoglucanase genes from two species of plant-parasitic cyst nematodes

beta-1,4-Endoglucanases (EGases, EC 3.2.1.4) degrade polysaccharides possessing beta-1,4-glucan backbones such as cellulose and xyloglucan and have been found among extremely variegated taxonomic groups. Although many animal species depend on cellulose as their main energy source, most omnivores and herbivores are unable to produce EGases endogenously. So far, all previously identified EGase genes involved in the digestive system of animals originate from symbiotic microorganisms. Here we report on the synthesis of EGases in the esophageal glands of the cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and Heterodera glycines. From each of the nematode species, two cDNAs were characterized and hydrophobic cluster analysis revealed that the four catalytic domains belong to family 5 of the glycosyl hydrolases (EC 3.2.1, 3.2.2, and 3.2.3). These domains show 37-44% overall amino acid identity with EGases from the bacteria Erwinia chrysanthemi, Clostridium acetobutylicum, and Bacillus subtilis. One EGase with a bacterial type of cellulose-binding domain was identified for each nematode species. The leucine-rich hydrophobic core of the signal peptide and the presence of a polyadenylated 3' end precluded the EGases from being of bacterial origin. Cyst nematodes are obligatory plant parasites and the identified EGases presumably facilitate the intracellular migration through plant roots by partial cell wall degradation.

Crystal structure of the repetitive segments of spectrin

The elongated proteins of the spectrin family (dystrophin, alpha-actinin, and spectrin) contain tandemly repeated segments and form resilient cellular meshworks by cross-linking actin filaments. The structure of one of the repetitive segments of alpha-spectrin was determined at a 1.8 angstrom resolution. A segment consists of a three-helix bundle. A model of the interface between two tandem segments suggests that hydrophobic interactions between segments may constrain intersegment flexibility. The helix side chain interactions explain how mutations that are known to produce hemolytic anemias disrupt spectrin associations that sustain the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane.

Quantum measurement and orientation tracking of fluorescent nanodiamonds inside living cells

Fluorescent particles are routinely used to probe biological processes. The quantum properties of single spins within fluorescent particles have been explored in the field of nanoscale magnetometry, but not yet in biological environments. Here, we demonstrate optically detected magnetic resonance of individual fluorescent nanodiamond nitrogen-vacancy centres inside living human HeLa cells, and measure their location, orientation, spin levels and spin coherence times with nanoscale precision. Quantum coherence was measured through Rabi and spin-echo sequences over long (>10 h) periods, and orientation was tracked with effective 1° angular precision over acquisition times of 89 ms. The quantum spin levels served as fingerprints, allowing individual centres with identical fluorescence to be identified and tracked simultaneously. Furthermore, monitoring decoherence rates in response to changes in the local environment may provide new information about intracellular processes. The experiments reported here demonstrate the viability of controlled single spin probes for nanomagnetometry in biological systems, opening up a host of new possibilities for quantum-based imaging in the life sciences.

The structure of simian virus 40 refined at 3.1 A resolution

BACKGROUND

The structure of simian virus 40 (SV40), previously determined at 3.8 degree resolution, shows how its pentameric VP1 assembly units are tied together by extended C-terminal arms. In order to define more precisely the possible assembly mechanisms, we have refined the structure at 3.1 degree resolution.

RESULTS

New data from a high-intensity synchrotron source have been used for phase extension by electron-density averaging and refinement, exploiting only the strict 5-fold non-crystallographic symmetry for the real-space averaging steps. The accurate model enables us to study important structural features of the virus particle in detail. The remarkably invariant core of the VP1 pentamer bears the docking sites for the C-terminal arms from other pentamers. These contacts are the principal way in which pentameric assembly units are linked together in the capsid. Only at the interface between five-coordinated and six-coordinated pentamers do the pentamer cores appear to interact strongly. There are two cation-binding sites per VP1 monomer, seen in a soaking experiment with gadolinium nitrate. These sites are quite close to each other at the interfaces between pentamers.

CONCLUSION

We propose that the contact between five-coordinated and six-coordinated pentamers may help to generate a six-pentamer nucleus, with which further pentamers can assemble to generate the complete particle. Calcium ions probably stabilize the structure of the assembled particle, rather than direct its assembly.

Structure of murine polyomavirus complexed with an oligosaccharide receptor fragment

The polyomaviruses are non-enveloped, icosahedrally symmetrical particles with circular double-stranded DNA genomes. The outer shell of the virion contains 360 copies of viral protein VP1 (M(r) approximately 42K) arranged in pentamers. We report here the structure at 3.65 A resolution of murine polyomavirus ('polyoma') complexed with an oligosaccharide receptor fragment. This structure has been determined using the previously described model of simian virus 40 (SV40). Although very similar in structure to SV40, polyoma has interesting biological differences. Cell-surface N-acetyl neuraminic acid (sialic acid) is required for polyoma infectivity, but not for SV40. Polyoma attaches to the surface of susceptible cells by stereospecific recognition of oligosaccharides terminating in (alpha 2,3)-linked sialic acid. Studies of pathogenicity show that the specificity of viral binding to such oligosaccharides is an important determinant of the virus' ability to establish a disseminated infection and to induce tumours in the natural host. The complex described here show how polyoma recognizes the receptor fragment and how strains with different receptor specificities can distinguish between alternative ligands. The results also suggest an explanation for the large disparity in pathogenicity exhibited by strains differing in only one amino-acid residue of VP1.

Size dependence of Young's modulus in ZnO nanowires

We report a size dependence of Young's modulus in [0001] oriented ZnO nanowires (NWs) with diameters ranging from 17 to 550 nm for the first time. The measured modulus for NWs with diameters smaller than about 120 nm is increasing dramatically with the decreasing diameters, and is significantly higher than that of the larger ones whose modulus tends to that of bulk ZnO. A core-shell composite NW model in terms of the surface stiffening effect correlated with significant bond length contractions occurred near the {1010} free surfaces (which extend several layers deep into the bulk and fade off slowly) is proposed to explore the origin of the size dependence, and present experimental result is well explained. Furthermore, it is possible to estimate the size-related elastic properties of GaN nanotubes and relative nanostructures by using this model.

IgA nephropathy, the most common cause of glomerulonephritis, is linked to 6q22-23

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major public health problem, affecting 1 in 1,000 individuals and with an annual death rate of 20% despite dialysis treatment. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of glomerulonephritis, a principal cause of ESRD worldwide; it affects up to 1.3% of the population and its pathogenesis is unknown. Kidneys of people with IgAN show deposits of IgA-containing immune complexes with proliferation of the glomerular mesangium (Fig. 1). Typical clinical features include onset before age 40 with haematuria and proteinuria (blood and protein in the urine), and episodes of gross haematuria following mucosal infections are common; 30% of patients develop progressive renal failure. Although not generally considered a hereditary disease, striking ethnic variation in prevalence and familial clustering, along with subclinical renal abnormalities among relatives of IgAN cases, have suggested a heretofore undefined genetic component. By genome-wide analysis of linkage in 30 multiplex IgAN kindreds, we demonstrate linkage of IgAN to 6q22-23 under a dominant model of transmission with incomplete penetrance, with a lod score of 5.6 and 60% of kindreds linked. These findings for the first time indicate the existence of a locus with large effect on development of IgAN and identify the chromosomal location of this disease gene.

Complex of NS3 protease and NS4A peptide of BK strain hepatitis C virus: a 2.2 A resolution structure in a hexagonal crystal form

The crystal structure of the NS3 protease of the hepatitis C virus (BK strain) has been determined in the space group P6(3)22 to a resolution of 2.2 A. This protease is bound with a 14-mer peptide representing the central region of the NS4A protein. There are two molecules of the NS3(1-180)-NS4A(21'-34') complex per asymmetric unit. Each displays a familiar chymotrypsin-like fold that includes two beta-barrel domains and four short alpha-helices. The catalytic triad (Ser-139, His-57, and Asp-81) is located in the crevice between the beta-barrel domains. The NS4A peptide forms an almost completely enclosed peptide surface association with the protease. In contrast to the reported H strain complex of NS3 protease-NS4A peptide in a trigonal crystal form (Kim JL et al., 1996, Cell 87:343-355), the N-terminus of the NS3 protease is well-ordered in both molecules in the asymmetric unit of our hexagonal crystal form. The folding of the N-terminal region of the NS3 protease is due to the formation of a three-helix bundle as a result of crystal packing. When compared with the unbound structure (Love RA et al., 1996, Cell 87:331-342), the binding of the NS4A peptide leads to the ordering of the N-terminal 28 residues of the NS3 protease into a beta-strand and an alpha-helix and also causes local rearrangements important for a catalytically favorable conformation at the active site. Our analysis provides experimental support for the proposal that binding of an NS4A-mimicking peptide, which increases catalytic rates, is necessary but not sufficient for formation of a well-ordered, compact and, hence, highly active protease molecule.

The flavonoid baicalin exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by binding to chemokines

Baicalin (BA) is a flavonoid compound purified from the medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities. In order to elucidate the mechanism(s) of action of BA, we tested whether BA could interfere with chemokines or chemokine receptors, which are critical mediators of inflammation and infection. We observed that BA inhibited the binding of a number of chemokines to human leukocytes or cells transfected to express specific chemokine receptors. This was associated with a reduced capacity of the chemokines to induce cell migration. Co-injection of BA with CXC chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) into rat skin significantly inhibited IL-8 elicited neutrophil infiltration. BA did not directly compete with chemokines for binding to receptors, but rather acted through its selective binding to chemokine ligands. This conclusion was supported by the fact that BA cross-linked to oxime resin bound chemokines of the CXC (stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha, IL-8), CC (macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-2), and C (lymphotactin (Ltn)) subfamilies. BA did not interact with CX3C chemokine fractalkine/neurotactin or other cytokines, such as TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, indicating that its action is selective. These results suggest that one possible anti-inflammatory mechanism of BA is to bind a variety of chemokines and limit their biological function.

How does the W434F mutation block current in Shaker potassium channels?

The mutation W434F produces an apparently complete block of potassium current in Shaker channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Tandem tetrameric constructs containing one or two subunits with this mutation showed rapid inactivation, although the NH2-terminal inactivation domain was absent from these constructs. The inactivation showed a selective dependence on external cations and was slowed by external TEA; these properties are characteristic of C-type inactivation. Inactivation was, however, incompletely relieved by hyperpolarization, suggesting the presence of a voltage-independent component. The hybrid channels had near-normal conductance and ion selectivity. Single-channel recordings from patches containing many W434F channels showed occasional channel openings, consistent with open probabilities of 10(-5) or less. We conclude that the W434F mutation produces a channel that is predominantly found in an inactivated state.

Mutant p53 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells is stabilized by elevated phospholipase D activity and contributes to survival signals generated by phospholipase D

p53 is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancer. Although the loss of tumor suppressor functions for p53 in tumorigenesis is well characterized, gain-of-function p53 mutations observed in most cancers are not as widely appreciated. The human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, which has high levels of a mutant p53, has high levels of phospholipase D (PLD) activity, which provides a survival signal in these cells when deprived of serum growth factors. We report here that the mutant p53 in MDA-MB-231 cells is stabilized by the elevated PLD activity in these cells. Surprisingly, the survival of MDA-MB-231 cells deprived of serum was dependent on the mutant p53. These data indicate that a mutant p53, stabilized by elevated PLD activity, can contribute to the suppression of apoptosis in a human breast cancer cell line and suggest a rationale for the selection of p53 mutations early in tumorigenesis to suppress apoptosis in an emerging tumor.

Rosiglitazone short-term monotherapy lowers fasting and post-prandial glucose in patients with type II diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The short-term efficacy, safety and tolerability of rosiglitazone were compared with placebo in patients with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in a dose-ranging study.

METHODS

After a 2-week placebo run-in phase, 303 patients were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of treatment with twice-daily placebo or 2, 4 or 6 mg of rosiglitazone.

RESULTS

All rosiglitazone doses significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose compared with baseline. All rosiglitazone treatment groups showed significantly reduced peak postprandial glucose concentrations compared with baseline (p < 0.001) and with placebo (p < 0.0001) and reduced postprandial glucose excursion, without an increase in the area under the postprandial insulin concentration-time curve. Rosiglitazone at 4 and 6 mg twice daily prevented the increase in HbA1c observed in the placebo group. C peptide and serum insulin concentrations were significantly reduced from baseline in all rosiglitazone treatment groups. In all rosiglitazone treatment groups, nonesterified fatty acids decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) and triglycerides did not change. Although total LDL and HDL cholesterol increased significantly in the rosiglitazone treatment groups, total cholesterol/HDL ratios did not change significantly. The proportion of patients with one or more adverse event was similar in all four treatment groups. No patient showed evidence of hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

Rosiglitazone given twice daily significantly reduced fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations, C peptide, insulin and nonesterified fatty acids in Type II diabetic patients. The glucose-lowering effect of the 4-mg twice-daily dose of rosiglitazone was similar to that of 6-mg twice daily, suggesting that 4 mg twice daily should be the maximum clinical dose.

Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection is associated with increased mortality

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are associated with decreased survival, and up to 30% of CDI patients may experience a recurrence. Data on the impact of recurrent CDI on mortality are scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine whether recurrent CDI was independently associated with decreased 6-month survival compared with patients with CDI who did not develop a recurrence. We performed a retrospective cohort study at an academic, urban, tertiary care hospital. Data were collected from the electronic medical record and chart review. CDI patients were followed for 180 days from the end of their index hospital discharge or end of index CDI antibiotic treatment, whichever was later, to determine mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare patient mortality by recurrent CDI status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine independent risk factors for death within 180 days. In all, 3958 patients aged ≥ 18 years who developed an initial CDI episode from 2003 to 2009, including 421 patients with recurrent CDI, were included in the study. Thirty-six per cent of persons with recurrent CDI died within 180 days, compared with 26% of persons without CDI recurrence (log-rank p <0.001). Recurrent CDI was associated with significantly higher hazards of death within 180 days, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities and medications received during the index CDI hospitalization (hazard ratio 1.33; 95% CI 1.12-1.58). Recurrent CDI is associated with significantly increased risk of death within 6 months after completion of their initial CDI treatment compared with CDI patients who do not develop a recurrence.

Crystal structure of yeast Esa1 suggests a unified mechanism for catalysis and substrate binding by histone acetyltransferases

Esa1 is the catalytic subunit of the NuA4 histone acetylase (HAT) complex that acetylates histone H4, and it is a member of the MYST family of HAT proteins that includes the MOZ oncoprotein and the HIV-1 Tat interacting protein Tip60. Here we report the X-ray crystal structure of the HAT domain of Esa1 bound to coenzyme A and investigate the protein's catalytic mechanism. Our data reveal that Esa1 contains a central core domain harboring a putative catalytic base, and flanking domains that are implicated in histone binding. Comparisons with the Gcn5/PCAF and Hat1 proteins suggest a unified mechanism of catalysis and histone binding by HAT proteins, whereby a structurally conserved core domain mediates catalysis, and sequence variability within a structurally related N- and C-terminal scaffold determines substrate specificity.

Molecular cloning of M6: identification of a PLP/DM20 gene family

M6 is a membrane glycoprotein that is expressed on central neurons and certain polarized epithelia from early developmental stage. Antibodies against M6 interfere with cerebellar neurite outgrowth in vitro. Two closely related cDNAs were obtained by expression cloning, both of which showed high homology with the major CNS myelin protein PLP/DM20. Although M6 and PLP/DM20 share many molecular characteristics, in situ hybridization revealed nonoverlapping distributions of their mRNAs in mouse CNS. The identification of a gene family including neuron-specific M6 and glia-specific PLP/DM20 in CNS suggests a broader functional role for these molecules than myelination.