Cloning genes encoding receptors related to chemoattractant receptors

We report the cloning of a novel human gene (GPR32) encoding a putative G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) of 356 amino acids and a related pseudogene psi GPR32. The deduced amino acid sequence of GPR32 shares 35-39% identity with members of the chemoattractant receptor family. psi GPR32 shares 93% nucleotide identity with GPR32. We identified a mouse EST encoding a putative GPCR (GPR33) of 309 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of GPR33 shares 30-35% identity with members of the chemoattractant receptor family and 36% identity with the receptor encoded by GPR32. The human orthologue of GPR33 contains a single basepair substitution with respect to the mouse, resulting in the presence of an in-frame stop codon within the predicted second intracellular loop, demonstrating that it is a pseudogene. Through fluorescence in situ hybridization and physical mapping of YACs, both GPR32 and psi GPR32 were mapped to chromosomal 19, region q13.3, while psi GPR33 was mapped to chromosome 14q12.

Acidic pH promotes dimerization of Bcl-2 family proteins

Several members of the apoptosis-regulating Bcl-2 family of proteins can homo- or heterodimerize with each other at neutral pH and can also form ion channels in synthetic membranes at low pH. The effects of low pH on dimerization among these proteins, however, have not heretofore been examined. Surface plasmon resonance was used to examine the kinetics of dimerization as a function of pH between the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-XL (applied in the mobile phase) and three other members of the Bcl-2 family: Bcl-2, Bax, and Bid (immobilized on biosensor chips). In all cases, the relative affinity of dimerization was substantially increased at pH 4.0 compared to pH 7.0-7.4, ranging from a approximately 10-fold enhancement for Bcl-XL/Bcl-XL homodimers to >60-fold for Bcl-XL/Bid heterodimers. Comparison of the apparent association (ka) and dissociation (kd) rates at neutral and acidic pH revealed that the major contributor to increased affinity at low pH was a decreased rate of dimer dissociation. Thus, low pH stabilizes homo- and heterodimeric complexes comprised of Bcl-XL and these other Bcl-2 family proteins. At pH 4.0, the circular dichroism spectra of Bcl-XL and Bax were essentially unchanged relative to pH 7.0-7.4, indicating a complete retention of alpha-helical secondary structure at low pH and excluding gross denaturation of the proteins. Size-exclusion chromatography and bisANS (4,4'-dianilino-1, 1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid) labeling studies provided indirect evidence that Bcl-XL may undergo conformational changes at low pH. The findings are discussed with respect to the mechanisms of ion-channel formation by Bcl-2 family proteins and the putative molten globule state that has been proposed for these and structurally similar proteins.

[The correlation between P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance of squamous carcinoma in oral and maxillofacial region]

OBJECTIVE

To study the mechanism of drug resistance of oral carcinoma to chemotherapy.

METHODS

40 cases of squamous carcinoma in the oral and maxillofacial region were examined for the multidrug resistance gene product P-glycoprotein using a monoclonal antibody MRK16.

RESULTS

P-glycoprotein was detected in 62.5% of the sample. P-glycoprotein expression was related to the chemotherapy and the degree of differentiation. P-glycoprotein expression was higher in post-chemotherapy group than in unchemotherapy group (P < 0.05). Well differentiated tumors expressed P-glycoprotein more frequently (P < 0.05). P-glycoprotein expression was compared with clinic response to chemotherapy. The accuracy rate of prediction is 75%.

CONCLUSION

P-glycoprotein plays an important role in mechanism of multidrug resistance of squamous carcinoma in the oral and maxillofacial region.

Differential regulation of vitamin D responsive elements in normal and transformed keratinocytes

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) derived from human epidermis fail to differentiate normally under the influence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] despite the presence of the vitamin D receptor. Previous studies from our laboratory showed that phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) was upregulated transcriptionally by 1,25(OH)2D3 in normal human keratinocytes, and a vitamin D responsive element (VDRE) in its promoter region has been identified. To examine the inducibility of human PLC-gamma1 transcription by 1,25(OH)2D3 and/or retinoic acid in SCC cell lines, we transiently transfected SCC4 and SCC12B2 cells with human PLC-gamma1 promoter-luciferase constructs containing the VDRE and tested the response of these constructs to 1,25(OH)2D3 and/or all-trans retinoic acid. The induction of the human PLC-gamma1 VDRE by 1,25(OH)2D3 was synergistic with all-trans retinoic acid in normal human keratinocytes, but none of the constructs was induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 and/or all-trans retinoic acid in SCC4 and SCC12B2 cells. In contrast, the construct containing the VDRE of the human 24-hydroxylase gene was induced several fold by 1,25(OH)2D3 in normal human keratinocytes and by both 1,25(OH)2D3 and all-trans retinoic acid in SCC4 and SCC12B2 cells. DNA mobility shift assays showed that both the vitamin D receptor and the retinoic acid receptor in SCC4 and SCC12B2 cells bound the human PLC-gamma1 VDRE similarly to that seen in normal keratinocytes. The data indicate that the VDRE in the human PLC-gamma1 gene is not functional in SCC4 and SCC12B2 cells, unlike normal human keratinocytes, even though vitamin D receptors bind normally to it. Failure of transcriptional control of the PLC-gamma1 gene by 1,25(OH)2D3 suggests the lack of a cofactor(s) linking the VDRE to the transcriptional machinery.

Bax directly induces release of cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria

Bax is a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family that resides in the outer mitochondrial membrane. It is controversial whether Bax promotes cell death directly through its putative function as a channel protein versus indirectly by inhibiting cellular regulators of the cell death proteases (caspases). We show here that addition of submicromolar amounts of recombinant Bax protein to isolated mitochondria can induce cytochrome c (Cyt c) release, whereas a peptide representing the Bax BH3 domain was inactive. When placed into purified cytosol, neither mitochondria nor Bax individually induced proteolytic processing and activation of caspases. In contrast, the combination of Bax and mitochondria triggered release of Cyt c from mitochondria and induced caspase activation in cytosols. Supernatants from Bax-treated mitochondria also induced caspase processing and activation. Recombinant Bcl-XL protein abrogated Bax-induced release of Cyt c from isolated mitochondria and prevented caspase activation. In contrast, the broad-specificity caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-valinyl-alaninyl-aspartyl-(0-methyl)- fluoromethylketone (zVAD-fmk) and the caspase-inhibiting protein X-IAP had no effect on Bax-induced release of Cyt c from mitochondria in vitro but prevented the subsequent activation of caspases in cytosolic extracts. Unlike Ca2+, a classical inducer of mitochondrial permeability transition, Bax did not induce swelling of mitochondria in vitro. Because the organellar swelling caused by permeability transition causes outer membrane rupture, the findings, therefore, dissociate these two events, implying that Bax uses an alternative mechanism for triggering release of Cyt c from mitochondria.

[Influence of processing methods on alkaloid, toxicity and effect of Strychnos nux-vomica L]

Determination has been made on the contents of strychnine, brucine and ephedrin in different processed products of Strychnos nux-vomica. The acute toxicity, analgesic and antiphlogistic actions of these products have also been detected. The result shows that the product processed with Ephedra sinica can reduce toxicity and promote curative effect. Among the different processing methods the preparation with Ephedra and Liqorice root and the preparation with Ephedra and alcohol appear better and thus useful in practical application.

Unusual nucleic acid binding properties of factor 2, an RNA polymerase II transcript release factor

Drosophila factor 2, an RNA polymerase II transcript release factor, exhibits a DNA-dependent ATPase activity (Xie, Z., and Price D. H. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 31902-31907). We examined the nucleic acid requirement and found that only double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) effectively activated the ATPase. Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) not only failed to activate the ATPase, but suppressed the dsDNA-dependent ATPase. Gel mobility shift assays showed that factor 2 formed stable complexes with dsDNA or ssDNA in the absence of ATP. However, in the presence of ATP, the interaction of factor 2 with dsDNA was destabilized, while the ssDNA-factor 2 complexes were not affected. The interaction of factor 2 with dsDNA was sensitive to increasing salt concentrations and was competed by ssDNA. In both cases, loss of binding of factor 2 to dsDNA was mirrored by a decrease in ATPase and transcript release activity, suggesting that the interaction of factor 2 with dsDNA is important in coupling the ATPase with the transcript release activity. Although the properties of factor 2 suggested that it might have helicase activity, we were unable to detect any DNA unwinding activity associated with factor 2.

Alginate, inorganic polyphosphate, GTP and ppGpp synthesis co-regulated in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: implications for stationary phase survival and synthesis of RNA/DNA precursors

The regulatory protein AlgR2 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa positively regulates nucleoside diphosphate kinase (Ndk) and succinyl-CoA synthetase, enzymes critical in nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) formation. AlgR2 positively regulates the production of alginate, GTP, ppGpp and inorganic polyphosphate (poly P). An algR2 mutant with low levels of these metabolites has them restored by introducing and overexpressing either the algR2 or the ndk gene into the algR2 mutant. Thus, Ndk is involved in the formation of these compounds and largely prevents the death of the algR2 mutant, which occurs early in the stationary phase. We demonstrate that the 12 kDa Ndk-pyruvate kinase (Pk) complex, previously shown to generate predominantly GTP instead of all the NTPs, has a low affinity for the deoxynucleoside diphosphates and cannot generate the dNTPs needed for DNA replication and cell division; this complex may thus be involved in regulating the levels of both NTPs and dNTPs that modulate cell division and survival in the stationary phase.

[Textual research on herb youba]

A textual research has been conducted to clarify the botanical origin of the herb Youba in ancient medicinal literatures. The name Youba in (Xin Xiu Ben Cao) published in the Tang dynasty and (Ben Cao Gang Mu) published in the Ming dynasty has been confirmed to be the immature tuber of Pinellia pedatisecta (without branches around the tuber), whereas the same name Youba in (Zhi Wu Ming Shi Tu Kao) published in the Qing dynasty refers to Arisaema yunnanense.

Genetic analysis of chloroplast c-type cytochrome assembly in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: One chloroplast locus and at least four nuclear loci are required for heme attachment

Chloroplasts contain up to two c-type cytochromes, membrane-anchored cytochrome f and soluble cytochrome c6. To elucidate the post-translational events required for their assembly, acetate-requiring mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that have combined deficiencies in both plastid-encoded cytochrome f and nucleus-encoded cytochrome c6 have been identified and analyzed. For strains ct34 and ct59, where the phenotype displays uniparental inheritance, the mutations were localized to the chloroplast ccsA gene, which was shown previously to be required for heme attachment to chloroplast apocytochromes. The mutations in another eight strains were localized to the nuclear genome. Complementation tests of these strains plus three previously identified strains of the same phenotype (ac206, F18, and F2D8) indicate that the 11 ccs strains define four nuclear loci, CCS1-CCS4. We conclude that the products of the CCS1-CCS4 loci are not required for translocation or processing of the preproteins but, like CcsA, they are required for the heme attachment step during assembly of both holocytochrome f and holocytochrome c6. The ccsA gene is transcribed in each of the nuclear mutants, but its protein product is absent in ccs1 mutants, and it appears to be degradation susceptible in ccs3 and ccs4 strains. We suggest that Ccsl may be associated with CcsA in a multisubunit "holocytochrome c assembly complex," and we hypothesize that the products of the other CCS loci may correspond to other subunits.

Drosophila factor 2, an RNA polymerase II transcript release factor, has DNA-dependent ATPase activity

Drosophila factor 2 has been identified as a component of negative transcription elongation factor (N-TEF) that causes the release of RNA polymerase II transcripts in an ATP-dependent manner (Xie, Z. and Price D. H. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 11043-11046). We show here that the transcript release activity of factor 2 requires ATP or dATP and that adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS), adenosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imino)triphosphate (AMP-PNP), or other NTPs do not support the activity. Factor 2 demonstrated a strong DNA-dependent ATPase activity that correlated with its transcript release activity. At 20 microg/ml DNA, the ATPase activity of factor 2 had an apparent Km(ATP) of 28 microM and an estimated Kcat of 140 min-1. Factor 2 caused the release of nascent transcripts associated with elongation complexes generated by RNA polymerase II on a dC-tailed template. Therefore, no other protein cofactors are required for the transcript release activity of factor 2. Using the dC-tailed template assay, it was found that renaturation of the template was required for factor 2 function.

[Purification and properties of inulinase from Kluyveromyces sp. Y-85]

The crude endocellular inulinase from Kluyveromyces sp. Y-85 was purified to two components, designated as EI and EII, using PEG6000-phosphate buffer extraction, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, DEAE chromatography and gel filtration (Protein-PAK); The crude exocellular inulinase from this strain was purified to Eexo by means of PEG6000-phosphate buffer extraction, double DEAE-Sephace chromatography, Sephadex G-150 gel filtration. EI, EII and Eexo were demonstrated to be homogeneous by Waters 650E protein purification system. Their molecular weights are 42 kD, 65 kD and 57 kD, respectively. All the inulinases were glycoproteins containing a saccharide (from 25% to 35%) and belonged to the endo-inulinase. In addition, EI, EII, Eexo were optimally reactive at pH4.6, 4.5, 4.6 and at 52 degrees C, 52 degrees C, 55 degrees C, respectively. Ag+, Hg2+ and PCMB inhibited these enzymes' activity strongly. The products of raw inulin extracted from Helianthus tuberosus hydrolyzed by these three enzymes were fructose (86.5%) and glycose (13.5%).

Effects of transient coronary occlusion on the capillary network in the left ventricle of rat

The objective was to examine the changes in the capillary network in the left ventricle of rats subjected to transient occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by reperfusion (I-R). Eighteen Wistar rats were divided into three groups and all rats were anaesthetized with ethyl ether and artificially ventilated. The I-R 1 rats were subjected to a 3 min occlusion followed by reperfusion; the I-R 3 rats had three 3 min occlusions separated by 3 min of reperfusion; the Sham-operated rats underwent surgery but the coronary artery was not occluded. The thorax was closed at the end of the procedures and the rats were sacrificed for isolation of the hearts 30 d after treatment. Frozen sections of the left ventricles were cut and differential staining was used to classify the capillary portions. Five additional rats treated as the I-R 1 group were sacrificed at 120 min after reperfusion. Their left ventricles were used for immunohistochemical investigation of the early expression of bFGF and VEGF. By comparison with the Sham-operated rats, both I-R groups showed increases in the capillary density of total and venular capillary portions, an increased capillary : myocyte (C : M) ratio and a decrease in the capillary domain area in the three capillary portions. The changes in the I-R 1 group were significantly greater than those in the I-R 3 group, suggesting that the frequent experience of ischemic attack reduces the capacity of angiogenesis. In the rats sacrificed 120 min after the start of reperfusion, bFGF and VEGF were expressed on capillaries and in some myocytes. Punctate bFGF or VEGF staining was observed even 30 d after the transient ischemia. One 3 min occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by reperfusion produced changes in capillarity that would increase the oxygen supply to ventricular tissues. These effects may be attributed to the bFGF and VEGF expressed around capillaries. Repeated occlusions interspersed with a short period of reperfusion reduced the advantageous effects on capillarity.

[Study of estrogen receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and its response to anti-estrogen therapy]

OBJECTIVE

To study the usefulness of anti-estrogen therapy for moderately and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Estrogen receptors (ER) were examined in 51 cases of HCC by immunohistochemical staining of needle aspiration biopsy HCC specimens. The cases studied were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (N = 25) and the anti-estrogen treated group (N = 26). Patients in the control group were given matelin and immune RNA while those in the anti-estrogen treated group were given Tamoxifen in addition. A 50% reduction of serum AFP level and a 50% decrease in tumor size were considered therapeutically effective.

RESULTS

In the control group, the response rate as judged by AFP level (RR-AFP) and by tumor size (RR-TS) in the ER+ patients was 42.9% (3 of 7 cases) and 14.3% (1 of 7 cases), respectively, while the 2 RRs in the ER- patients were lower but the difference was statistically insignificant. In contrast, in the Tamoxifen-treated group, RR-AFP was 83.3% (5 of 6 cases) and RR-TS was 50.0% (3 of 6 cases). The difference in RRs of ER+ patients in the 2 groups was statistically significant. No complete remission was observed.

CONCLUSION

Endocrinotherapy may be of value in the treatment of ER+ HCC.

Differential regulation of Na/K-ATPase alpha-subunit isoform gene expressions in cardiac myocytes by ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli

We showed before that partial inhibition of Na/K-ATPase by non-toxic concentrations of ouabain caused hypertrophic growth of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, and induced several early- and late-response genes that are markers of cardiac hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to determine if the genes of the alpha-subunit isoforms of Na/K-ATPase were among those regulated by ouabain; and if so, to begin the characterization of the pathways regulating these genes. When neonatal myocytes, expressing alpha1- and alpha3-isoform messages, were exposed to 5-100 micro M ouabain, alpha1 mRNA was not affected, but alpha3 mRNA was decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Ouabain-induced down-regulation of alpha3 mRNA was accompanied by a decrease in alpha3-protein content in these myocytes. There was a significant correlation between ouabain effects on alpha3-repression and skeletal alpha-actin induction; also, ouabain's transcriptional effects on both genes were antagonised by retinoic acid. These findings suggested the association of alpha3 repression with ouabain-induced hypertrophy. Phenylephrine and a phorbol ester, two hypertrophic stimuli that do not inhibit Na/K-ATPase, also down-regulated alpha3 mRNA without affecting alpha1 mRNA, suggesting that alpha3-repression is a common feature of the hypertrophic phenotype in these myocytes. Ouabain-induced repression of alpha3 required the influx of extracellular Ca2+, and was antagonized by inhibitors of protein kinase C, Ca2+-calmodulin kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase but not by inhibition of protein kinase A. These data, and prior findings on the mechanisms of hypertrophic effects of phenylephrine and phorbol esters, suggest that transcriptional repression of alpha3 by ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli involves a common step regulated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Effects of the beta 2-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol on capillary geometry in cardiac and skeletal muscles in young and middle-aged rats

The effects of 10 day clenbuterol administration on cardiac and skeletal muscle capillarities were studied, particularly in terms of the distribution of arteriolar and venular capillaries and their capillary density, in young (10-week-old) and middle-aged (37-week-old) male Wistar rats. Rats of the treated groups were fed a diet containing 2 mg kg-1 clenbuterol hydrochloride. In both young and middle aged rats, clenbuterol treatment increased the body wt and the weights of the heart and hindlimb muscles. The mean fibre cross-sectional area was significantly increased after the treatment in the left ventricle, soleus, plantaris and both deep and superficial portions of gastrocnemius (P < 0.01). In the left ventricle, the total capillary density and the density of venular capillaries were decreased after the treatment in both young (9 and 13%, respectively) and middle-aged rats (10 and 11%, respectively). A decrease in total capillary density was also observed in all skeletal muscles examined. In both young and middle-aged rats, the capillary-to-fibre (C:F) ratio and the proportion of each capillary did not change after the treatment in both the left ventricle and skeletal muscles. Clenbuterol significantly decreased the activity of succinate dehydrogenase in all skeletal muscles examined (P < 0.01). These results suggest that clenbuterol increased the diffusion distance for oxygen in the left ventricle and skeletal muscles. These changes may reduce the oxygen supply to tissues and increase muscle fatigability.

[Effect of hypoxia on maximal myocardial blood flow in right ventricle]

In order to study the changes of coronary reserve capacity, the effects of hypoxia on hemodynamics and maximal myocardial blood flow in right ventricle were observed. Rats wre divided into 3 groups:normoxic group (control), acute hypoxic group and chronic hypoxic group. Maxmimal myocardial blood flow in the right ventricle was measured with 99 m Tc radiolabelled from RBC during adenosine infusion. The results showed that cardiac output, PaO2 and oxygen delivery were decreased during acute hypoxia, but myocardial blood flow in right ventricle was increased, as compared with the control group. There were no significant change of maximal myocardial blood flow in the right ventricle in acute hypoxic rats. Hematocrit and blood viscosity at different shear rate and RV weight index were augmented, whereas oxygen delivery and myocardial blood flow became normal during chronic hypoxia. Maximal blood flow in RV was significantly decreased whereas arterial wall thickness and collagen in arterial adventitia were increased in chronic hypoxic rats. The above results suggest that the decreased coronary reserve might beresulted from the increasedblood viscosity, arterial wall thickness and collagen in arterial adventitia and right ventricular hypertrophy.

[The development of an computerized analysis system for the women pelvic cavity impedance rheogram]

This article introduces the components and functions of an computered analysis system for the women pelvic cavity impedance rheogram. It can sample the pelvic cavity impedance rheogram signal of the body double-side and the reference ECG signal. With help of manual intervence, it also can automatically recognize characteristic points of the pelvic cavity impedance rheogram and measure the parameters. It can correct the recognized characteristic points simultaneously and print the pelvic cavity impedance rheogram of the body double-side and 15 characteristic data parameters. After clinical applying, the analysis results of mors 100 patients make clear that: this system has remarkably clinical significance for diagnosis of the women pelvic cavity extravasated blood and evaluation of treating effect, so it has much better clinical applied expectation.

Cyclic AMP-independent activation of neutrophil-like HL-60 cells by prostaglandin E2

The role of cAMP in mediating prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-stimulated aggregation of neutrophil-like HL-60 cells has been investigated. Although the EP2 receptors appear to couple to Gs-proteins, PGE2 stimulated HL-60 cell aggregation appears to be a cAMP-independent process. This response to PGE2 in independent of calcium and tyrosine kinase activity, appears to involve activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase which is negatively regulated by phosphatidic acid generated from phospholipase D activity, and is partially dependent on protein kinase C activity. In contrast, although the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) produces a similar aggregation response to PGE2, FMLP uses a distinct intracellular signalling pathway. The aggregation response to FMLP involves activation of Gi-proteins, is partially dependent on extracellular calcium, is negatively regulated by protein kinase C, and is independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phospholipase D and tyrosine kinase activity. The possibility exists that EP2 receptor activation leads to Gs-dependent, but cAMP-independent, stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in HL-60 cells.

Association between IgE antibody against soluble egg antigen and resistance to reinfection with Schistosoma japonicum

There is evidence that immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibody may be a critical component of protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium reinfection. In the present study, 555 individuals aged 3-67 years infected with S.japonicum received praziquantel treatment before the transmission season commenced; 45 d later, blood samples from 265 individuals who had no S. japonicum egg in their stool were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for specific isotypic antibodies. Single, non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that exposure intensity, age, soluble egg antigen (SEA)-IgE, SEA-IgM and soluble adult worm antigen-IgG4 were relevant to reinfection; multiple, non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that exposure intensity was still a significant factor for reinfection while the SEA-IgE antibody level was associated with resistance to reinfection with S. japonicum, with a protective index of 2.00. It is suggested that this population in an area endemic for schistosomiasis japonica exhibits acquired immunity.

Enzymatic properties of human Na,K-ATPase alpha1beta3 isozyme

Recent results of a wide-scale human cDNA sequencing project have identified a cDNA which encodes a hitherto unknown human protein sequence exhibiting structural similarities with beta-subunits of the Na,K- and H,K-ATPase family and with the amphibian Na,KATPase beta3-subunit, in particular. In this study the ability of the putative human beta3-subunit to assemble with the human alpha1-subunit in functionally active Na,KATPase was examined using the baculovirus expression system. The recombinant baculovirus simultaneously expressing both alpha1 and beta3 human proteins was produced using the dual-promoter transfer vector p2Bac. The expression of both human proteins in baculovirus-infected Sf-9 cell membranes detected with specific antibodies resulted in the formation of a catalytically competent alpha1beta3 ATPase complex. Characterization of the recombinant ATPase complex involved the analysis of Na+, K+, and ATP dependencies of enzyme activity and its sensitivity toward ouabain. Preparations of HeLa cell membranes containing alpha1beta1 isozyme of human Na,K-ATPase were used as control. The data obtained clearly demonstrated that alpha1beta3 ATPase exhibits enzymatic properties which are characteristic of Na, K-ATPase. The recombinant alpha1beta3 isozyme displayed significantly lower sensitivity to ouabain than native alpha1beta1. These findings indicate that the hitherto unknown alpha1beta3 isozyme of human Na,K-ATPase is likely to exist in vivo, thus suggesting further expansion of human Na,K-ATPase isozyme diversity. The present studies are the first in which heterologous expression has been used for the characterization of an isozyme of human Na, K-ATPase.

BAG-1 modulates the chaperone activity of Hsp70/Hsc70

The 70 kDa heat shock family of molecular chaperones is essential to a variety of cellular processes, yet it is unclear how these proteins are regulated in vivo. We present evidence that the protein BAG-1 is a potential modulator of the molecular chaperones, Hsp70 and Hsc70. BAG-1 binds to the ATPase domain of Hsp70 and Hsc70, without requirement for their carboxy-terminal peptide-binding domain, and can be co-immunoprecipitated with Hsp/Hsc70 from cell lysates. Purified BAG-1 and Hsp/Hsc70 efficiently form heteromeric complexes in vitro. BAG-1 inhibits Hsp/Hsc70-mediated in vitro refolding of an unfolded protein substrate, whereas BAG-1 mutants that fail to bind Hsp/Hsc70 do not affect chaperone activity. The binding of BAG-1 to one of its known cellular targets, Bcl-2, in cell lysates was found to be dependent on ATP, consistent with the possible involvement of Hsp/Hsc70 in complex formation. Overexpression of BAG-1 also protected certain cell lines from heat shock-induced cell death. The identification of Hsp/Hsc70 as a partner protein for BAG-1 may explain the diverse interactions observed between BAG-1 and several other proteins, including Raf-1, steroid hormone receptors and certain tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors. The inhibitory effects of BAG-1 on Hsp/Hsc70 chaperone activity suggest that BAG-1 represents a novel type of chaperone regulatory proteins and thus suggest a link between cell signaling, cell death and the stress response.