Molecular identification and characterization of novel membrane-bound metalloprotease, the soluble secreted form of which hydrolyzes a variety of vasoactive peptides

One class of zinc metalloproteases, represented by neutral endopeptidase 24.11 and endothelin-converting enzyme, has been shown to be involved in proteolytic activation or inactivation of many regulatory peptides. Here, we report molecular cloning and characterization of a novel member of this type II membrane-bound metalloprotease family, termed soluble secreted endopeptidase (SEP). Alternative splicing results in the generation of another transcript, SEP(Delta), which lacks a 69-base pair nucleotide segment following the transmembrane helix. Both SEP and SEP(Delta) mRNA are detected in all mouse tissues examined. Transfection of an SEP cDNA expression construct resulted in the expression of the membrane-bound form of SEP in the early secretory pathway as well as the soluble secreted form of the enzyme in the culture medium. In contrast, transfection of the SEP(Delta) cDNA only results in the expression of the membrane-bound form. In vitro enzymological analysis of the recombinant soluble form of SEP demonstrated that it hydrolyzes a variety of vasoactive peptides, including endothelin-1, atrial natriuretic peptide, and angiotensin I. This activity of SEP was inhibited by phosphoramidon and the neutral endopeptidase 24.11 specific inhibitor thiorphan, but it was only partially inhibited by the endothelin-converting enzyme specific inhibitor FR901533. These findings suggest that SEP is a novel metalloprotease that possesses a broad substrate specificity and that it may be involved in the metabolism of biologically active peptides intracellulary as well as extracellularly.

Determination of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline in mouse brain after treatment with haloperidol by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring

The content of the endogenous amine, 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1-MeTIQ), in mouse brain, treated with the antipsychotic agent haloperidol (HP) was determined by GC-SIM (selected ion monitoring) system. 1-MeTIQ in brain was extracted with chloroform at pH 11-12 and was detected as PFP derivative by GC-SIM. The 1-MeTIQ contents in mouse brains following intraperitoneal administration of HP or its dehydrated product, HPTP (1 and 4 mg/kg per day, for four days), were markedly reduced compared with control groups. This result agrees well with the findings in human idiopathic parkinsonianism and in MPTP-treated mouse brain. In addition, this finding suggests that the change of the endogenous amine 1-MeTIQ content in the brain plays an important role in the pathogenesis of toxin-induced parkinsonism.

The effect of muscle-tone-reducing procedures in athetotic head movements: partial nerve block by lidocaine and surgical release of the neck muscles

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of muscle-tone-reducing procedures (MTRPs), i.e. partial nerve block by lidocaine (PNB) and surgical release of muscle attachment to bone (SRMAB), on incessant involuntary head movements in athetotic patients.

METHODS

Pre/post-MTRP changes in neck-muscle activities, glabella movement and maximum isometric forces of the head were measured in six athetotic patients with severe spondylotic myelopathy resulting from incessant involuntary head movements.

RESULTS

Pre/post-MTRP changes in neck-muscle activities resembled those after gamma-block. In four patients, PNB reduced the maximum isometric force by no more than 40% of pre-PNB force, while decreasing the amount of involuntary head movements to 37-65% of the pre-PNB value in the frontal plane. MRSAB reduced the force by less than 40% of pre-SRMAB force in 4 MRSAB tested patients, while decreasing the amount of involuntary head movements to 12-45% of the pre-SRMAB value in all 6 patients.

CONCLUSION

MTRPs reduced involuntary head movements significantly while preserving voluntary muscle forces relatively well. PNB and SRMAB procedures have in common the effect of reducing gain in the myotatic reflex pathway by decreasing the excitatory inflows to alpha-motoneurons via muscle spindle Ia-afferents, which resulted from blocking mainly gamma-efferent conduction by PNB, and reducing background tension in muscle spindles by SRMAB.

A new Bennettitalean trunk with unilacunar five-trace nodal structure from the Upper Cretaceous of Hokkaido, Japan

A new species of Bucklandia is described based on a permineralized fossil trunk that was obtained from sediments of Upper Cretaceous age from Hokkaido, Japan. The quality of preservation is exquisite, and anatomical and morphological features are preserved at the cellular level. The specimen is clearly bennettitalean because of the cycadeoidean-type arrangement of vascular bundles in the petiole. However, this specimen is unique among previously described progymnosperms and gymnosperms in possessing a unilacunar five-trace type of nodal structure. The fossil thus contributes to a more complete understanding of the variation of nodal structure in bennettitalean trunks.

Cloning and characterization of a human DEAH-box RNA helicase, a functional homolog of fission yeast Cdc28/Prp8

During the splicing process, spliceosomal snRNAs undergo numerous conformational rearrangements that appear to be catalyzed by proteins belonging to the DEAD/H-box superfamily of RNA helicases. We have cloned a new RNA helicase gene, designated DBP2 (DEAH-boxprotein), homologous to the Schizosaccaromyces pombe cdc28(+)/prp8(+) gene involved in pre-mRNA splicing and cell cycle progression. The full-length DBP2 contains 3400 nucleotides and codes for a protein of 1041 amino acids with a calculated mol. wt of 119 037 Da. Transfection experiments demonstrated that the GFP-DBP2 gene product, transiently expressed in HeLa cells, was localized in the nucleus. The DBP2 gene was mapped by FISH to the MHC region on human chromosome 6p21.3, a region where many malignant, genetic and autoimmune disease genes are linked. Because the expression of DBP2 gene in S.pombe prp8 mutant cells partially rescued the temperature-sensitive phenotype, we conclude that DBP2 is a functional human homolog of the fission yeast Cdc28/Prp8 protein.

Splicing error due to a splice acceptor site mutation in the ALD gene identified in a Japanese childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy case

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is characterised by progressive multifocal demyelination of central nervous system and adrenocortical insufficiency. This disorder has been also associated with mutations in the ALD gene, encoding an ATP-binding transporter which is located in the peroxisomal membrane. Defect of the gene may lead to impaired peroxisomal beta-oxidation and increase of serum and tissue very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). Here we report the results of analysis of the ALD gene in a Japanese patient with childhood cerebral ALD. In our patient, by sequencing of the ALD cDNA, an 8 bp insertion (ACCCCCAG) was detected at the start of exon 9, which corresponded to nucleotides from position -1 to -8 of the 3' splice acceptor site of intron 8. Sequencing of genomic DNA showed a single nucleotide substitution at position-10 of the 3' splice acceptor site of intron 8 replacing a G with an A which activated a cryptic splice acceptor site. It is concluded that a splicing error was induced by a point mutation that created a novel splice acceptor site. This insertion created a nonsense codon downstream, producing a truncated ALD protein. His mother and younger sister with increased VLCFA ratios were heterozygotes of normal and mutant ALD genes.

Assignment and functional roles of the cyoABCDE gene products required for the Escherichia coli bo-type quinol oxidase

Cytochrome bo from Escherichia coli belongs to the heme-copper terminal oxidase superfamily and functions as a redox-driven proton pump. In the present study, we examined the functional roles of the cyoABCDE genes, which encode cytochrome bo. We expressed the cyoABCDE genes in minicells using pTTQ18 derivatives and identified subunits II, I, III, and IV of the oxidase complex and heme O synthase as polypeptides with molecular weights of 33,500, 75,000, 20,500, 12,000, and 28,000, respectively. The expression level of heme O synthase (CyoE) was much lower than those of the oxidase subunits and seems to be controlled just tightly enough for the incorporation of heme O into the oxidase complex. To facilitate functional analysis of the gene products, we developed a single copy expression vector pHNF2, a derivative of the F-sex factor. Genetic complementation tests showed that deletions in each gene resulted in nonfunctional enzymes. Western blotting analysis indicated that the expression levels of subunits I and II were not affected by the deletions in the other cyo gene products. However, spectroscopic analyses of the mutant membranes revealed that all the deletions perturbed or eliminated the redox metal centers in subunit I. Present findings suggest that subunits II, III, and IV of the oxidase complex are required for the assembly of the metal centers in subunit I.

Exploring subunit-subunit interactions in the Escherichia coli bo-type ubiquinol oxidase by extragenic suppressor mutation analysis

Cytochrome bo-type ubiquinol oxidase is a four-subunit heme-copper terminal oxidase and functions as a redox-coupled proton pump in the aerobic respiratory chain of Escherichia coli. On the basis of deletion and chemical cross-linking analyses on subunit IV, we proposed that subunit IV is essential for CuB binding to subunit I and that it is present in a cleft between subunits I and III (Saiki, K., Nakamura, H., Mogi, T., and Anraku, Y. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15336-15340). To extend previous studies, we carried out alanine-scanning mutagenesis for selected 16-amino acid residues in subunit IV to explore subunit-subunit interactions in bo-type ubiquinol oxidase. We found that only the replacement of Phe83 in helix III resulted in the reduction of the catalytic activity but that this did not significantly affect the UV-visible spectroscopic properties and the copper content. This suggests that individual amino acid substitutions, including the six invariant residues, are not enough to alter such properties of the metal centers. Extragenic suppressor mutations were isolated for the Phe83 --> Ala mutation of subunit IV and identified as missense mutations in helices VII and VIII in subunit I. These observations provide further support for specific interactions of subunit IV with helix VII and/or VIII, the CuB binding domain, of subunit I and suggest that subunit IV functions as a domain-specific molecular chaperon in the oxidase complex.

Reduction of respiratory system resistance of rabbits with surfactant deficiency using a novel ultra thin walled endotracheal tube

The ultra thin walled, two-stage endotracheal tube (UTW-TS-ETT) is very flexible, nonkinking, and has a widened extralaryngeal portion. The UTW-TS-ETT has a greater ID/OD (internal diameter/outer diameter) ratio than a comparable standard endotracheal tube (ST-ETT) because of its thinner wall: 0.2-0.25 mm in UTW-TS-ETT, compared to 0.55-0.8 mm in ST-ETT. The authors hypothesized that in an animal model of lung disease, significant reductions in respiratory system resistance (Rrs) of 30-40% would be achieved using the UTW-TS-ETT, compared to Rrs achieved with the comparable ST-ETT. This study compared the pulmonary mechanics of rabbits (N = 17, body weight 3.4-4.7 kg) before and after induction of surfactant deficiency, using either ST-ETT (OD 4.9 mm, ID 3.5 mm) or UTW-TS-ETT (OD 5.0 mm, ID 4.6 mm). Animals were sedated, paralyzed, and ventilated by an ETT placed through a tracheotomy incision. Surfactant deficiency was induced by lavaging the lungs with normal saline (10 ml/kg). Pulmonary mechanics were measured on identical ventilator settings for each ETT used at baseline and at 45 min after lavage. Compared to ST-ETT, UTW-TS-ETT reduced Rrs by 50.6 +/- 8.7% in normal lungs (significantly more than 40%; p < 0.01), and by 41.47 +/- 16.2% in surfactant deficient lungs (significantly more than 30%; p < 0.05). Tidal volume increased with UTW-TS-ETT in all animals but did not achieve statistical significance. The UTW-TS-ETT did not induce significant changes in respiratory system compliance, PaO2, PaCO2, or pH. It is concluded that UTW-TS-ETT significantly reduces Rrs in rabbits with either normal lungs or with surfactant deficient lungs. This novel ETT may be beneficial for ventilated patients with increased Rrs, by effecting a decrease in Rrs and thus reducing the work of breathing and improving ventilation efficiency.

Tension-band laminoplasty of the cervical spine

A new laminoplasty of the cervical spine has been developed using preserved ligaments as a tension-band. The laminae were enlarged in an open-door fashion and spacers inserted to maintain the spinolaminoligamentous complex intact. The stretched ligaments exerted a tension-band effect on the spacers and stabilised them so that neck movements could be started as soon as bleeding stopped. The spacers were iliac grafts, or were made of a bioactive ceramic which proved more satisfactory. The results of 102 cases with ceramic spacers showed an average preservation of preoperative movement between C2 and C7 to be 79% in cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 67% in ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament at 3 years after operation. No spacer became displaced. CT showed new bone formation in the lamina-ceramic gap in 59% of the spacers used in cervical spondylotic myelopathy by sixth months and in 63% in cases of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament by the third month. Neurological recovery was comparable to that after other types of laminoplasty, but the new method allows better function of the neck and more new bone formation around the spacers.

Probing a role of subunit IV of the Escherichia coli bo-type ubiquinol oxidase by deletion and cross-linking analyses

Subunit IV of the Escherichia coli bo-type ubiquinol oxidase is a 12-kDa membrane protein encoded by the cyoD gene and is conserved in the bacterial heme-copper terminal oxidases. To probe the functional role of subunit IV, we carried out deletion analysis and chemical cross-linking experiments with a homobifunctional and cleavable reagent. Spectroscopic properties of the mutant oxidases suggest that the C-terminal two-third (Val45 to His109) containing helices II and III is essential for the functional expression of the oxidase complex and for the CuB binding to the heme-copper binuclear center in subunit I. Cross-linking studies indicate that subunit IV is in close vicinity to subunit III. Based on these observations, we propose that subunit IV is present in a cleft formed by subunits I and III and assists the CuB binding to subunit I during biosynthesis or assembly of the oxidase complex.

Extradural tethering effect as one mechanism of radiculopathy complicating posterior decompression of the cervical spinal cord

STUDY DESIGN

This study used anatomical and clinical data to analyze the postoperative tension-status of cervical roots after posterior decompression of the cervical spinal cord. The efficacy of longitudinal durotomy with regard to prevention of postoperative palsy was investigated in a controlled study.

OBJECTIVES

To elucidate the mechanism of postoperative radiculopathy and to prevent its occurrence.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Previous anatomical studies by the authors revealed that the posteromedial shift of the dura-root junction following posterior bulging of the cervical dural sac exerted a traction force on the portion of the roots outside the dural sac and reduced the tension on the rootlets inside the dural sac. These traction-related phenomena disappear after longitudinal durotomy.

METHODS

Lengths of various parts of an anterior root were measured in 20 Japanese adult cadavers. The shortest pre- and postoperative distances between the anterolateral mid-edge of the spinal cord and dura-root junction were compared, using computed tomography-myelograms of postoperative C5 radiculopathies. The effects of longitudinal durotomy were also investigated in a controlled study involving 118 patients with laminoplasty.

RESULTS

The length ratio between the longest and shortest anterior rootlet in each cervical root showed fairly constant values. Clinically, the length of the shortest rootlet could be calculated using a myelogram. Radiographical findings in cases of postoperative radiculopathies suggested increased tension on roots outside the dural sac but not on rootlets inside the dural sac. Application of longitudinal durotomy in a type of lateral opening laminoplasty resulted in the disappearance of postoperative radiculopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

An extradural tethering effect was suggested as one mechanism leading to postoperative radiculopathy. Durotomy may be useful in the treatment of postoperative palsy.

Measurement of lung volumes and pulmonary mechanics during weaning of newborn infants with intractable respiratory failure from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Newborn infants with intractable respiratory failure who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) experience diffuse pulmonary atelectasis shortly after initiation of ECMO. Atelectasis is likely due to the primary lung injury and the reduction of applied inspiratory ventilator pressure when the respirator settings are changed to the "rest settings." These pathophysiologic changes result in a decrease in lung compliance and lung volumes. We hypothesized that improving lung functions observed during ECMO and indicated by an increase in lung volumes will predict successful weaning from ECMO. Sixteen infants (mean +/- SEM: gestational age, 40.3 +/- 0.3 weeks; birth weight, 3.5 +/- 0.1 kg) with meconium aspiration syndrome (n = 13), sepsis (n = 2), and persistent pulmonary hypertension (n = 1) were studied. We measured passive respiratory system mechanics and lung volumes initially during full ECMO support (115 +/- 18 h on ECMO, Study I), and then within 24 h prior to weaning from ECMO (Study II). Respiratory system compliance (Crs), respiratory system resistance (Rrs), functional residual capacity (FRC), and tidal volume (VT) were measured. Prior to Study I lung volumes were too small to be detected. Crs increased between Study I and Study II (0.41 +/- 0.05 to 0.63 +/- 0.05 mL/cmH2O/kg, P < 0.05), and VT increased between Study I and Study II (5.6 +/- 0.6 to 10.4 +/- 0.8 mL/kg, P = 0.0005). FRC increased from 3.6 +/- 1.0 to 7.9 +/- 0.9 mL/kg (P = 0.0001). There was no change in Rrs (88 +/- 8 to 89 +/- 6 cm H2O/L/s, P = 0.9). The combination of Crs > 0.5 mL/cmH2O/kg and FRC > 5 mL/kg was a better predictor (P = 0.0002) of readiness to wean from ECMO than either Crs (> 0.5 mL/cmH2O/kg, P = 0.057) or FRC (> 5 mL/kg, P = 0.007) alone. The combination of FRC and Crs had a sensitivity of 73.3% and specificity of 100% for successful decannulation. We conclude that repeated measurements of FRC and Crs can assess lung recovery and may assist in establishing criteria for successful weaning from ECMO.

Identification of the D-enantiomer of 2-hydroxyglutaric acid in glutaric aciduria type II

We determined the optical isomer of the 2-hydroxyglutaric acid (2HG) that was elevated in the urine of five Japanese children with a mild form of glutaric aciduria type II (GA2), caused by a deficiency of electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) or ETF-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF-QO). The D- and L-enantiomers of 2HG were separated by capillary gas chromatography with a combination of (S)-(+)-2-octanol derivatization and chromatography on a DB-1 column. The isomer that was elevated in GA2 patients was predominantly the D-enantiomer, an observation that may serve as an additional marker for the biochemical diagnosis of GA2. D-2HG dehydrogenation, but not L-2HG dehydrogenation is apparently blocked in GA2. A specific D-2HG dehydrogenase or D-2HG-CoA dehydrogenase may be metabolically linked to ETF and ETF-QO in the mitochondria.

Biosynthesis and functional role of haem O and haem A

Haem O and/or haem A are specifically synthesized for the haem-copper respiratory oxidases. A 17-carbon hydroxyethylfarnesyl chain at the pyrrole ring A of the haems seems essential for catalytic functions at the oxygen-reduction site. The discovery of haem O in the cytochrome bo complex from Escherichia coli was a breakthrough in the studies on haem A biosynthesis. Molecular biological and biochemical studies in the past three years demonstrated that the cyoE/ctaB/COX10 genes are indispensable for functional expression of the terminal oxidases and encode a novel enzyme haem O synthase (protohaem IX farnesyltransferase). It has recently been suggested that the ctaA gene adjacent to the ctaB-ctaCDEF gene cluster in Bacillus subtilis encodes haem A synthase (haem O monooxygenase). In this article, we review current knowledge of the genes for haem O and haem A biosyntheses, the location and regulation of haem O synthase, the possible enzymatic mechanism of farnesyl transfer to haem B and the possible roles of the farnesylated haems.

Studies on steroids in fetuses and neonates: identification of 16-dehydropregnenolone in the circulation of pre-term neonates

Unconjugated steroids were extracted with dichloromethane from the serum of pre-term neonates. Conjugated steroid fraction in the residue was separated and purified by high performance liquid chromatography. The purified steroid fraction was subjected to enzyme (arylsulfatase from Helix pomatia) or acid hydrolysis. Liberated steroid was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography-Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (GC/FT-IR). All of the results obtained from GC/MS and GC/FT-IR analysis were identical with those of authentic 16-dehydropregnenolone (3 beta-hydroxy-5,16-pregnadien-20-one, 16-DHP). This is the first report to demonstrate the presence of 16-DHP in human blood.

An Escherichia coli cyoE gene homologue in thermophilic Bacillus PS3 encodes a thermotolerant heme O synthase

The cyoE gene of the Escherichia coli bo-type quinol oxidase operon (cyoABCDE) has been previously shown to encode heme O synthase. To demonstrate a catalytic role of a cyoE homologue (the caaE gene) in the gene cluster for caa3-type cytochrome c oxidase of thermophilic Bacillus PS3, we have carried out genetic complementation analysis using the chimeric operon cyoABCD-caaE and heme O synthase assay using the CaaE-overproduced E. coli membranes. We found that the caaE gene encodes a thermotolerant heme O synthase which provides an intermediate for heme A biosynthesis.

Identification of the functional domains in heme O synthase. Site-directed mutagenesis studies on the cyoE gene of the cytochrome bo operon in Escherichia coli

The cytochrome bo complex is a terminal ubiquinol oxidase in the aerobic respiratory chain of Escherichia coli and is encoded by the cyoABCDE operon. Recently, we have demonstrated that heme O at the high-spin heme-binding site is essential for redox-coupled proton pumping by the oxidase and suggested that the cyoE gene encodes a novel enzyme for heme O biosynthesis, protoheme IX farnesyltransferase (heme O synthase) (Saiki, K., Mogi, T., and Anraku, Y. (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 189, 1491-1497). This study was focused to define the catalytic domain(s) of the CyoE protein via a site-directed mutagenesis approach. We have individually substituted 40 amino acid residues including 22 invariant residues with alanines and found that 23 mutant oxidases were nonfunctional and exhibited a specific loss of the CO binding activity at the site of the high-spin heme. Characterizations of the purified D65A, Y120A, and W172A mutant oxidases, which represent the mutations of different topological domains, revealed that their defects are attributable to substitution of protoheme IX for heme O present in the high-spin heme-binding site. Based on the above observations, we suggest that the conserved amino acid residues present in the cytoplasmic loops II/III and IV/V are part of the catalytic center of heme O synthase.

In vitro heme O synthesis by the cyoE gene product from Escherichia coli

The cytochrome bo complex is a heme-copper terminal quinol oxidase in the aerobic respiratory chain of Escherichia coli and contains low spin heme B, high spin heme O and CuB as the redox metal centers in subunit I. Based on site-directed mutagenesis studies on the cyoE gene in the cytochrome bo operon, we have postulated that the cyoE gene encodes a protoheme IX farnesyltransferase (heme O synthase) (Saiki, K., Mogi, T., and Anraku, Y. (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 189, 1491-1497). The present study demonstrates that the CyoE protein is localized in the cytoplasmic membrane and that the CyoE-overproduced membranes efficiently catalyze a conversion of exogenous ferrous protoheme IX and farnesyl diphosphate to heme O in the presence of divalent cations such as Mg2+ or Ca2+. Thus, the cyoABCDE operon in E. coli encodes not only subunits of the cytochrome bo complex but also heme O synthase that is specifically required for functional expression of the bo-type quinol oxidase. Heme O seems to be an intermediate in heme A biosynthesis.