Berberis aetnensis C. Presl. extracts: antimicrobial properties and interaction with ciprofloxacin

Previous research showed that berberine-containing Berberis species synthesise the substances 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin-D (5'-MHC-D) and pheophorbide a, which have no antimicrobial activity but inhibit the expression of multidrug resistant efflux pumps (MDRs) in Staphylococcus aureus and potentiate the action of berberine. The MDR pumps extrude synthetic and natural antimicrobials from bacterial cells. We searched for these compounds in Berberis aetnensis C. Presl. (Berberidaceae), an endemic plant of the volcano Mount Etna. This work confirms the presence of pheophorbide a and permits us to hypothesise the presence of 5'-MHC-D in leaf extracts. In fact, the activity of ciprofloxacin was improved when two chromatographic fractions isolated from leaf extracts were added. These results are indicative of the presence of MDR pump inhibitors. Moreover, crude extracts were tested on several micro-organisms and showed antimicrobial activity mainly against Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts.

Overexpression of mutated MRP4 in cisplatin resistant small cell lung cancer cell line: collateral sensitivity to azidothymidine

Cisplatin (CDDP) resistance is one of the major impediments in cancer chemotherapy. In an attempt to define this complex mechanism(s) of resistance, we have identified 7 cDNA fragments which are overexpressed in CDDP resistant small cell lung cancer cell line (SR-2) using PCR selected cDNA subtraction. One of these fragments was identical with nucleotide 3657-4042 of MRP4. The other fragments share sequence homology with elongation factor alpha, human placenta villi cDNA, heat shock protein (Hsp70), ribosomal RNA, BNP1 brain specific Na-dependent inorganic phosphate cotransporter and telomeric catalytic subunit. Examination of other MRP members (MRP1, 2, 3, 5, 6) did not show discernable differences in their expression between the parental (SCLC1) and the CDDP-resistant variant (SR-2). Full length MRP4 cDNA was obtained from SCLC1 and SR-2. Both cell lines carry a point mutation at nucleotide 3532 while SR-2 carries two additional mutations at 3228 and 3246. Since MRP4 is known to transport azidiothymidine (AZT) and overexpression of MRP4 confers AZT resistance, we have studied growth inhibitory effects of AZT and [3H]-AZT accumulation. Interestingly, SR-2 is more sensitive to AZT while accumulating lesser amounts of [3H]-AZT. The thymidine kinase activity is similar in both cell lines. Thus, the increased sensitivity to AZT in SR-2 could not be solely due to mutation of MRP4. These findings are most likely due to the inhibitory effects of telomere catalytic subunit by AZT. Thus, certain biochemical changes induced by CDDP can be explored for future treatment to overcome this form of resistance.

Bile salts and fatty acids induce the expression of Escherichia coli AcrAB multidrug efflux pump through their interaction with Rob regulatory protein

AcrAB of Escherichia coli, an archetype among bacterial multidrug efflux pumps, exports an extremely wide range of substrates including solvents, dyes, detergents and antimicrobial agents. Its expression is regulated by three XylS/AraC family regulators, MarA, SoxS and Rob. Although MarA and SoxS regulation works by the alteration of their own expression levels, it was not known how Rob, which is constitutively expressed, exerts its regulatory action. We show here that the induction of the AcrAB efflux pump by decanoate and the more lipophilic unconjugated bile salts is mediated by Rob, and that the low-molecular-weight inducers specifically bind to the C-terminal, non-DNA-binding domain of Rob. Induction of Rob is not needed for induction of AcrAB, and we suggest that the inducers act by producing conformational alterations in pre-existing Rob, as was suggested recently (Rosner, Dangi, Gronenborn and Martin, J Bacteriol 184: 1407-1416, 2002). Decanoate and unconjugated bile salts, which are present in the normal habitat of E. coli, were further shown to make the bacteria more resistant to lipophilic antibiotics, at least in part because of the induction of the AcrAB efflux pump. Thus, it is likely that E. coli is protecting itself by the Rob-mediated upregulation of AcrAB against the harmful effects of bile salts and fatty acids in the intestinal tract.

Piperazinyl-linked fluoroquinolone dimers possessing potent antibacterial activity against drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus

The synthesis of symmetric and asymmetric piperazinyl-linked dimers of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics is described. Specific dimers are shown to possess potent antibacterial activity against drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, including strains possessing resistance due to the NorA multidrug efflux pump and a mutation in the quinolone resistance-determining region of topoisomerase IV.

Structural basis of multiple drug-binding capacity of the AcrB multidrug efflux pump

Multidrug efflux pumps cause serious problems in cancer chemotherapy and treatment of bacterial infections. Yet high-resolution structures of ligand transporter complexes have previously been unavailable. We obtained x-ray crystallographic structures of the trimeric AcrB pump from Escherichia coli with four structurally diverse ligands. The structures show that three molecules of ligands bind simultaneously to the extremely large central cavity of 5000 cubic angstroms, primarily by hydrophobic, aromatic stacking and van der Waals interactions. Each ligand uses a slightly different subset of AcrB residues for binding. The bound ligand molecules often interact with each other, stabilizing the binding.

Escherichia coli lacking the AcrAB multidrug efflux pump also lacks nonproteinaceous, PHB-polyphosphate Ca2+ channels in the membrane

PHB(polyP) complexes bind calcium and form calcium channels in the cytoplasmic membrane in Escherichia coli and are likely to be important in Ca(2+) homeostasis in this organism. E. coli N43, which lacks the AcrA component of a major multidrug resistance pump, was shown to be defective in calcium handling, with an inability to maintain submicromolar levels of free Ca(2+) in the cytoplasm. Therefore, using an N-phenyl-1-napthylamine (NPN)-dependent fluorescence assay, we measured temperature-dependent phase transitions in the membranes of intact cells. These transitions specifically depend on the presence of PHB(Ca(2+)polyP) complexes. PHB(Ca(2+)polyP) channel complexes, particularly in stationary phase cultures, were detected in wild-type strains; however, in contrast, isogenic acrA(-) strains had greatly reduced amounts of the complexes. This indicates that the AcrAB transporter may have a novel, hitherto undetected physiological role, either directly in the membrane assembly of the PHB complexes or the transport of a component of the membrane, which is essential for assembly of the complexes into the membrane. In other experiments, we showed that the particular defective calcium handling detected in N43 was not due to the absence of AcrA but to other unknown factors in this strain.

Characterization of NorR protein, a multifunctional regulator of norA expression in Staphylococcus aureus

We characterized a Staphylococcus aureus norA gene expression regulator, NorR, initially identified from its binding to the norA promoter. The norR gene was 444 bp in length, located approximately 7 kb upstream from the norA gene, and encoded a predicted 17.6-kDa protein. Overexpression of norR in wild-type S. aureus strain ISP794 led to a fourfold decrease in sensitivity to quinolones and ethidium bromide and an increase in the level of norA transcripts, suggesting that NorR acts as a positive regulator of norA expression. Overexpression of norR in sarA and agr mutants did not alter quinolone sensitivity or levels of norA transcription, indicating that the presence of these two global regulatory systems is necessary for NorR to affect the expression of norA. Insertion and disruption of norR in ISP794 increased resistance to quinolones by 4- to 16-fold but had no effect on norA transcription, suggesting that NorR acts as a repressor for another unidentified efflux pump or pumps. These mutants also exhibited an exaggerated clumping phenotype in liquid media, which was complemented fully by a plasmid-encoded norR gene. Collectively, these results indicate that NorR is a multifunctional regulator, affecting cell surface properties as well as the expression of NorA and likely other multidrug resistance efflux pumps.

A multiple-antibiotic resistance-independent active chloramphenicol efflux in an Escherichia coli clinical isolate

The clinical isolate, Escherichia coli 1941, exhibits high resistance to chloramphenicol and tetracycline (minimum inhibitory concentrations of 512 micrograms/ml). Neither resistance is linked to the large conjugative plasmid present in the strain. The intracellular accumulation of radiolabeled chloramphenicol increased about 9-fold after the addition of the energy uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenol-hydrazone to an E. coli 1941 culture, indicating the presence of an active efflux mechanism. Sequence analysis and expression study suggested that the multiple-antibiotic resistance marRAB locus and the AcrAB drug-efflux pump were not involved in this active efflux of chloramphenicol.

The insulin secretory granule is the major site of K(ATP) channels of the endocrine pancreas

With ATP sites on K(ir)6.2 that inhibit activity and ADP sites on SUR1 that antagonize the inhibition, ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP) channels) are designed as exquisite sensors of adenine nucleotide levels that signal changes in glucose metabolism. If pancreatic K(ATP) channels localize to the insulin secretory granule, they would be well positioned to transduce changes in glucose metabolism into changes in granule transport and exocytosis. Tests for pancreatic K(ATP) channels localized to insulin secretory granules led to the following observations: fluorescent sulfonylureas that bind the pancreatic K(ATP) channel specifically label intracellular punctate structures in cells of the endocrine pancreas. The fluorescent glibenclamides colocalize with Ins-C-GFP, a live-cell fluorescent reporter of insulin granules. Expression of either SUR1-GFP or K(ir)6.2-GFP fusion proteins, but not expression of GFP alone, directs GFP fluorescence to insulin secretory granules. An SUR1 antibody specifically labels insulin granules identified by anti-insulin. Two different K(ir)6.2 antibodies specifically label insulin secretory granules identified by anti-insulin. Immunoelectron microscopy showed K(ir)6.2 antibodies specifically label perimeter membrane regions of the secretory granule. Relatively little or no labeling of other structures, including the plasma membrane, was found. Our results demonstrate that the insulin secretory granule is the major site of K(ATP) channels of the endocrine pancreas.

Relative contributions of the AcrAB, MdfA and NorE efflux pumps to quinolone resistance in Escherichia coli

Quinolones are widely used, broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. In screens for genes that, when overexpressed, allow Escherichia coli to grow on otherwise lethal concentrations of the fluoroquinolone norfloxacin, the ydhE gene was identified. We have shown that ydhE encodes a multidrug efflux pump with a narrower substrate range than that of its closest homologue, encoded by norM, and named the gene norE. The relative contributions to drug resistance of NorE compared with the two other known E. coli quinolone pumps, AcrAB and MdfA, have been defined. Overexpression of each of the three pumps separately resulted in roughly similar levels of quinolone resistance, whereas simultaneous overexpression of norE or mdfA in combination with acrAB gave synergic increases in quinolone resistance. The level of quinolone resistance mediated by efflux pumps seems to be constrained to an approximately 10-fold maximum, even with increased production of the pumps. We measured the drug resistance of an isogenic set of strains containing the various permutations of single, double and triple drug efflux pump mutants. The DeltanorE and DeltamdfA mutants were somewhat more susceptible to fluoroquinolones than the parent strain, and acrAB mutants were four- to six-fold more susceptible. Mutants lacking two or all three efflux pumps were not significantly more susceptible to fluoroquinolones than those lacking only one of the three pumps.

Intrinsic resistance of Escherichia coli to mureidomycin A and C due to expression of the multidrug efflux system AcrAB-TolC: comparison with the efflux systems of mureidomycin-susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Intrinsic resistance to mureidomycin is shown in Escherichia coli. This is in contrast to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which generally displays intrinsic resistance to a variety of antimicrobial agents, but not to mureidomycin. Isogenic efflux system mutants from both species were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests. These studies showed that the differences regarding the susceptibility of E. coli and P. aeruginosa to mureidomycin A and C may be explained by the expression of efflux systems that mediate resistance to mureidomycin A and C.

AcrAB multidrug efflux pump is associated with reduced levels of susceptibility to tigecycline (GAR-936) in Proteus mirabilis

Tigecycline has good broad-spectrum activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens with the notable exception of the PROTEEAE: A study was performed to identify the mechanism responsible for the reduced susceptibility to tigecycline in Proteus mirabilis. Two independent transposon insertion mutants of P. mirabilis that had 16-fold-increased susceptibility to tigecycline were mapped to the acrB gene homolog of the Escherichia coli AcrRAB efflux system. Wild-type levels of decreased susceptibility to tigecycline were restored to the insertion mutants by complementation with a clone containing a PCR-derived fragment from the parental wild-type acrRAB efflux gene cluster. The AcrAB transport system appears to be associated with the intrinsic reduced susceptibility to tigecycline in P. mirabilis.

3D structure of AcrB: the archetypal multidrug efflux transporter of Escherichia coli likely captures substrates from periplasm

Recent advances in structural biology have extended our understanding of the multiple drug efflux complex, AcrAB-TolC, of Escherichia coli. This tripartite complex and its homologs are the major mechanisms that give most Gram-negative bacteria their characteristic intrinsic resistance to a variety of lipophilic drugs, dyes, and detergents. Most recently, the structure of the transporter AcrB was elucidated at high resolution [Nature 419(2002)587]. It is a particularly significant achievement since integral membrane proteins are notoriously elusive structures for crystallography. The striking features of this trimeric pump, such as the presence of potential substrate-binding sites in the periplasmic domain and the possibility of direct interaction with the end of TolC tunnel, refine our understanding of the mode of action of this tripartite efflux transport complex.

Substrate specificity of the RND-type multidrug efflux pumps AcrB and AcrD of Escherichia coli is determined predominantly by two large periplasmic loops

AcrAB-TolC is a constitutively expressed, tripartite efflux transporter complex that functions as the primary resistance mechanism to lipophilic drugs, dyes, detergents, and bile acids in Escherichia coli. TolC is an outer membrane channel, and AcrA is an elongated lipoprotein that is hypothesized to span the periplasm and coordinate efflux of such substrates by AcrB and TolC. AcrD is an efflux transporter of E. coli that provides resistance to aminoglycosides as well as to a limited range of amphiphilic agents, such as bile acids, novobiocin, and fusidic acid. AcrB and AcrD belong to the resistance nodulation division superfamily and share a similar topology, which includes a pair of large periplasmic loops containing more than 300 amino acid residues each. We used this knowledge to test several plasmid-encoded chimeric constructs of acrD and acrB for substrate specificity in a marR1 DeltaacrB DeltaacrD host. AcrD chimeras were constructed in which the large, periplasmic loops between transmembrane domains 1 and 2 and 7 and 8 were replaced with the corresponding loops of AcrB. Such constructs provided resistance to AcrB substrates at levels similar to native AcrB. Conversely, AcrB chimeras containing both loops of AcrD conferred resistance only to the typical substrates of AcrD. These results cannot be explained by simply assuming that AcrD, not hitherto known to interact with AcrA, acquired this ability by the introduction of the loop regions of AcrB, because (i) both AcrD and AcrA were found, in this study, to be required for the efflux of amphiphilic substrates, and (ii) chemical cross-linking in intact cells efficiently produced complexes between AcrD and AcrA. Since AcrD can already interact with AcrA, the alterations in substrate range accompanying the exchange of loop regions can only mean that substrate recognition (and presumably binding) is determined largely by the two periplasmic loops.

Chimeric analysis of the multicomponent multidrug efflux transporters from gram-negative bacteria

Many multidrug transporters from gram-negative bacteria belong to the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily of transporters. RND-type multidrug transporters have an extremely broad substrate specificity and protect bacterial cells from the actions of antibiotics on both sides of the cytoplasmic membrane. They usually function as three-component assemblies spanning the outer and cytoplasmic membranes and the periplasmic space of gram-negative bacteria. The structural determinants of RND transporters responsible for multidrug recognition and complex assembly remain unknown. We constructed chimeric RND transporters composed of N-terminal residues of AcrB and C-terminal residues of MexB, the major RND-type transporters from Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. The assembly of complexes and multidrug efflux activities of chimeric transporters were determined by coexpression of hybrid genes either with AcrA, the periplasmic component of the AcrAB transporter from E. coli, or with MexA and OprM, the accessory proteins of the MexAB-OprM pump from P. aeruginosa. We found that the specificity of interaction with the corresponding periplasmic component is encoded in the T60-V612 region of transporters. Our results also suggest that the large periplasmic loops of RND-type transporters are involved in multidrug recognition and efflux.

Tag-mediated isolation of yeast mitochondrial ribosome and mass spectrometric identification of its new components

Mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (mrps) of the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have been extensively characterized genetically and biochemically. However, the list of the genes encoding individual mrps is still not complete and quite a few of the mrps are only predicted from their similarity to bacterial ribosomal proteins. We have constructed a yeast strain in which one of the small subunit proteins, termed Mrp4, was tagged with S-peptide and used for affinity purification of mitochondrial ribosome. Mass spectrometric analysis of the isolated proteins detected most of the small subunit mrps which were previously identified or predicted and about half of the large subunit mrps. In addition, several proteins of unknown function were identified. To confirm their identity further, we added tags to these proteins and analyzed their localization in subcellular fractions. Thus, we have newly established Ymr158w (MrpS8), Ypl013c (MrpS16), Ymr188c (MrpS17) and Ygr165w (MrpS35) as small subunit mrps and Img1, Img2, Ydr116c (MrpL1), Ynl177c (MrpL22), Ynr022c (MrpL50) and Ypr100w (MrpL51) as large subunit mrps.

Crystal structure of bacterial multidrug efflux transporter AcrB

AcrB is a major multidrug exporter in Escherichia coli. It cooperates with a membrane fusion protein, AcrA, and an outer membrane channel, TolC. We have determined the crystal structure of AcrB at 3.5 A resolution. Three AcrB protomers are organized as a homotrimer in the shape of a jellyfish. Each protomer is composed of a transmembrane region 50 A thick and a 70 A protruding headpiece. The top of the headpiece opens like a funnel, where TolC might directly dock into AcrB. A pore formed by three alpha-helices connects the funnel with a central cavity located at the bottom of the headpiece. The cavity has three vestibules at the side of the headpiece which lead into the periplasm. In the transmembrane region, each protomer has twelve transmembrane alpha-helices. The structure implies that substrates translocated from the cell interior through the transmembrane region and from the periplasm through the vestibules are collected in the central cavity and then actively transported through the pore into the TolC tunnel.

A resistance-nodulation-cell division family xenobiotic efflux pump in an obligate anaerobe, Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative obligate anaerobe, contains two homologs of an Escherichia coli resistance-nodulation-cell division-type multidrug exporter gene, acrB, in putative operons, together with homologs of membrane fusion protein gene acrA and outer membrane channel gene tolC. MIC determination and accumulation assays with mutants with disruptions of one or more genes showed that one cluster, named xepCAB, pumped out multiple agents including rifampin, puromycin, and ethidium bromide.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary diffraction studies of AcrB, an inner-membrane multi-drug efflux protein

Resistance of pathogens to antibiotics is often dependent on multi-drug export proteins that reside in the inner membrane of bacteria. This work describes the expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of AcrB of Escherichia coli. Together with AcrA and TolC, AcrB forms a proton motive force dependent efflux pump of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) transporter superfamily and is responsible for resistance towards many common antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and novobiocin. AcrB crystallizes in space group R32, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 143, c = 513 A; the crystals diffract to 3.0 A resolution.

Multidrug transporters and antibiotic resistance in Lactococcus lactis

The Gram-positive bacterium Lactococcus lactis produces two distinct multidrug transporters, designated LmrA and LmrP, that both confer resistance to a wide variety of cationic lipophilic cytotoxic compounds as well as to many clinically relevant antibiotics. While LmrP is a proton/drug antiporter that belongs to the major facilitator superfamily of secondary transporters, LmrA is an ATP-dependent primary transporter that belongs to the ATP-binding cassette superfamily of transport proteins. Both LmrA and LmrP function as "hydrophobic vacuum cleaners" by excreting lipophilic cationic compounds from the inner leaflet of the membrane directly into the external water phase. LmrA is both functionally and structurally homologous to the human multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein. LmrA is a half ABC transporter that is functional as a homodimer, consistent with the general four-domain organization of ABC transporters, and is proposed to mediate drug transport by an alternating two-site transport mechanism.

The multidrug efflux pump NorA is not required for salicylate-induced reduction in drug accumulation by Staphylococcus aureus

Growth of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of salicylate leads to reduced ciprofloxacin and ethidium accumulation and increased resistance to ethidium. Salicylate induced reduction in ciprofloxacin accumulation is energy-independent while salicylate induced alterations in ethidium accumulation and efflux is proton motive force-dependent. NorA is an intrinsic multidrug efflux pump that contributes to intrinsic levels of fluoroquinolone and ethidium resistance in S. aureus. The NorA inhibitor reserpine did not dramatically affect the ability of salicylate to induce increased ciprofloxacin and ethidium resistance. Inactivation of norA did not alter the ability of salicylate to induce increased ciprofloxacin and ethidium resistance levels and a reduction in ciprofloxacin accumulation. These data demonstrate that NorA is not absolutely required for the salicylate-inducible multidrug resistance mechanism of S. aureus.

Reduced Fhit expression is associated with mismatch repair deficiency in human advanced colorectal carcinoma

The Fragile Histidine Triad gene, encompassing the FRA3B fragile site at chromosome 3p14.2, is a candidate tumour suppressor gene involved in multiple tumour types including colorectal carcinomas. Recently, it has been reported that the Fragile Histidine Triad gene may be a target of damage in a fraction of mismatch deficient tumours. To explore this hypothesis, we analysed both Fragile histidine triad and mismatch repair protein (Msh2 and Mlh1) expression using immumohistochemical methods in 52 advanced colorectal carcinomas (19 well-, 17 moderately-, and 16 poorly-differentiated). In addition, we examined whether the Fragile histidine triad and mismatch repair protein expression correlated with p53 expression and clinicopathological findings. Significant loss or reduction of Fragile histidine triad expression was noted in 18 of the 52 (34.6%) advanced colorectal carcinomas: 2 (10.5%) well-differentiated, 3 (17.6%) moderately-differentiated, 13 (81.3%) poorly-differentiated carcinomas, the frequency being significantly higher in the latter than that in the former two (P<0.0001). Loss of mismatch repair protein (mainly, Mlh1) expression was detected in 21 of the 52 (40.4%) colorectal carcinomas. Moreover, reduced Fragile histidine triad expression was significantly associated with absence of mismatch repair protein expression in the advanced colorectal carcinomas (P<0.0001). However, the Fragile histidine triad and mismatch repair protein expression was not significantly associated with p53 expression. These results suggested that reduced Fragile histidine triad expression might be correlated with mismatch repair expression, but not with p53 expression.

GSH-dependent photolabeling of multidrug resistance protein MRP1 (ABCC1) by [125I]LY475776. Evidence of a major binding site in the COOH-proximal membrane spanning domain

Substrates transported by the 190-kDa multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) (ABCC1) include endogenous organic anions such as the cysteinyl leukotriene C(4). In addition, MRP1 confers resistance against various anticancer drugs by reducing intracellular accumulation by co-export of drug with reduced GSH. We have examined the properties of LY475776, an intrinsically photoactivable MRP1-specific tricyclic isoxazole modulator that inhibits leukotriene C(4) transport by this protein in a GSH-dependent manner. We show that [125I]LY475776 photolabeling of MRP1 requires GSH but is also supported by several non-reducing GSH derivatives and peptide analogs. Limited proteolysis revealed that [(125)I]LY475776 labeling was confined to the 75-kDa COOH-proximal half of MRP1. More extensive proteolysis generated two major 125I-labeled fragments of approximately 56 and approximately 41 kDa, and immunoblotting with regionally directed antibodies showed that these fragments correspond to amino acids approximately 1045-1531 and approximately 1150-1531, respectively. However, an approximately 33-kDa COOH-terminal immunoreactive fragment was not labeled, inferring that the major [125I]LY475776-labeling site resides approximately between amino acids 1150-1250. This region encompasses transmembrane (TM) segments 16 and 17 at the COOH-proximal end of the third membrane spanning domain of the protein. [125I]LY475776 labeling of mutant MRP1 molecules with substitutions of Trp(1246) in TM17 were reduced >80% compared with wild-type MRP1, confirming that TM17 is important for LY475776 binding. Finally, vanadate-induced trapping of ADP inhibited [125I]LY475776 labeling, suggesting that ATP hydrolysis causes a conformational change in MRP1 that reduces the affinity of the protein for this inhibitor.

Structure-activity relationship of indomethacin analogues for MRP-1, COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition. identification of novel chemotherapeutic drug resistance modulators

We report the screening of analogues of indomethacin to investigate the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of indomethacin-mediated multidrug resistance associated protein-1 (MRP-1) inhibition. By examining the activities of compounds with minor variations of the parent structure, we were able to separate MRP-1, glutathione-S-transferase (GST), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activities. Combination cytotoxicity assays were utilised to identify agents which possess synergistic potential in MRP-1-expressing cell lines. MRP-1 Inside Out Vesicles (IOVs) were utilised to demonstrate the ability of the indomethacin analogues to inhibit the pump directly. Most of the indomethacin analogues active as MRP-1 inhibitors were poor GST inhibitors when compared with the GST-inhibitory activity of indomethacin. Two of the MRP-1 inhibitory analogues were found to have no COX-1 inhibitory activity and low COX-2 inhibitory activity, suggesting potentially reduced clinical toxicity. One MRP-1 inhibitory indomethacin analogue was also found to have low COX-1 inhibitory activity, but significant COX-2 inhibitory activity, making this analogue again interesting in terms of low potential toxicity, but with the possibility of direct inhibitory effects on tumour growth.

Facial appearance in persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia

Persistent hyperinsulinism is the most common cause of recurrent hypoglycemia in infancy because of inappropriate oversecretion of insulin by the pancreas. Pancreatic lesions can be either focal or diffuse, and they have distinct molecular bases. We have studied the facial features in 17 unrelated patients presenting with neonatal (n = 8) or infancy-onset (n = 9) hyperinsulinism. Hyperinsulinism was related to focal adenomatous hyperplasia (n = 7), diffuse hyperinsulinism (n = 5), non-operated hyperinsulinism (n = 2), and hyperinsulinism with hyperammonemia (n = 3). SUR1 or Kir6.2 mutations were found in six of seven focal adenomatous hyperplasia and three of five diffuse hyperinsulinism. A loss of the maternal allele from chromosome 11p15 in the lesion was found in all focal adenomatous hyperplasia. GLUD1 mutations were found in all patients with hyperammonemia. Large birth weight (mean > 3,800 g) was consistently observed (11/17) but protruding tongue, exomphalos, or visceromegaly were never noted and Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome could always be ruled out. All patients presented with high forehead, small nasal tip, and short columella giving the impression that the nose is large and bulbous, smooth philtrum, and thin upper lip. A square appearance to the face was more obvious in younger patients. These specific facial features, observed in patients with hyperinsulinism of various molecular mechanisms, could be the consequence of fetal intoxication by insulin. However, to date, facial anomalies have not been noted in infants of diabetic mothers and inversely, malformations that are commonly reported in infants of diabetic mothers were not present in our hyperinsulinemic patients.

Identification and characterization of the Escherichia coli envC gene encoding a periplasmic coiled-coil protein with putative peptidase activity

PM61 is a chain-forming envC strain of Escherichia coli with a leaky outer membrane. It was found to have an oversized penicillin-binding protein 3, which was the result of an IS4 insertion in the prc gene. The other properties of PM61 were caused by the envC mutation. We cloned the envC (yibP) gene and identified the mutation site, causing a single residue substitution, H366Y, in the PM61 envC allele. The gene product was predicted to be a periplasmic protein having coiled-coil structure in the N-terminal region and homology to lysostaphin in the C-terminal region. Overexpression of envC inhibited cell growth, and overexpression of the PM61 mutant allele caused cell lysis. Disruption of the chromosomal envC caused the same defects as the envC point mutation, indicating the gene is dispensable for growth but important for normal septation/separation and cell envelope integrity.

Oxidative stress inactivates the human DNA mismatch repair system

In the human DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system, hMSH2 forms the hMutSalpha and hMutSbeta complexes with hMSH6 and hMSH3, respectively, whereas hMLH1 and hPMS2 form the hMutLalpha heterodimer. These complexes, together with other components in the MMR system, correct single-base mismatches and small insertion/deletion loops that occur during DNA replication. Microsatellite instability (MSI) occurs when the loops in DNA microsatellites are not corrected because of a malfunctioning MMR system. Low-frequency MSI (MSI-L) is seen in some chronically inflamed tissues in the absence of genetic inactivation of the MMR system. We hypothesize that oxidative stress associated with chronic inflammation might damage protein components of the MMR system, leading to its functional inactivation. In this study, we demonstrate that noncytotoxic levels of H2O2 inactivate both single-base mismatch and loop repair activities of the MMR system in a dose-dependent fashion. On the basis of in vitro complementation assays using recombinant MMR proteins, we show that this inactivation is most likely due to oxidative damage to hMutSalpha, hMutSbeta, and hMutLalpha protein complexes. We speculate that inactivation of the MMR function in response to oxidative stress may be responsible for the MSI-L seen in nonneoplastic and cancer tissues associated with chronic inflammation.

Toxic waste disposal in Escherichia coli

About 10% of the nalidixic acid-resistant (Nal(r)) mutants in a transposition-induced library exhibited a growth factor requirement as the result of cysH, icdA, metE, or purB mutation. Resistance in all of these mutants required a functional AcrAB-TolC efflux pump, but the EmrAB-TolC pump played no obvious role. Transcription of acrAB was increased in each type of Nal(r) mutant. In the icdA and purB mutants, each of the known signaling pathways appeared to be used in activating the AcrAB-TolC pump. The metabolites that accumulate upstream of the blocks caused by the mutations are hypothesized to increase the levels of the AcrAB-TolC pump, thereby removing nalidixic acid from the organism.

Antisense hairpin loop oligonucleotides as inhibitors of expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1: their stability in fetal calf serum and human plasma

Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) is a transmembrane pump protein responsible for the efflux of chemotherapeutic drugs, an important cause of anticancer treatment failure. Trying to circumvent MRP-mediated resistance we designed and synthesized hairpin loops forming antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs), both phosphodiesters (PO-ODNs) and their phosphorothioate analogues (PS-ODNs), to reduce the protein expression by targeting its mRNA in a sequence specific manner. Melting temperature measurements as well as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis supported the preferential formation of a secondary structure, which was expected to protect ODNs against 3'-exonuclease degradation. ODNs and PS-ODNs designed in this work were successfully tested as antisense inhibitors of the expression of MRP1 in the leukaemia HL60/ADR cell line. Foreseeing the necessity to perform clinical studies with such ODNs we investigated their stability against the 3'-exonuclease activity of fetal calf serum and human plasma. Under the conditions, corresponding to physiological ones, we observed high stability of hairpin loop forming ODNs, especially those containing longer (e.g. 7 base pair) stems. Comparative studies on the stability of chemically unmodified hairpin loop forming ODNs and their PS-counterparts indicated that endonuclease activity did not play any important role in the process of their nucleolytic degradation. Our studies provide strong evidence for high stability of chemically unmodified hairpin loop ODNs, making them an attractive alternative to phosphorothioate analogues commonly used in antisense strategy.

Multidrug resistance-associated protein--reduction of expression in human leukaemia cells by antisense phosphorothioate olignucleotides

Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) causes cellular drug resistance in several cancer cell lines. In this paper we show that antisense oligonucleotides decrease MRP1 expression in human leukaemia cells. We investigated biological activity of a series of 12 linear phosphorothioate oligonucleotides, complementary to several regions of MRP1 mRNA. The oligonucleotides were administered to leukaemia HL60/ADR cells overexpressing MRP1 protein. Then, the level of MRP1 mRNA was determined by means of semiquantitative RT-PCR and the protein level by reaction with specific monoclonal antibodies. Some of the investigated antisense oligonucleotides decrease the expression level of the MRP1 protein by 46% and its mRNA level by 76%.

Implication of protein kinase C in the regulation of DNA mismatch repair protein expression and function

The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins are essential for the maintenance of genomic stability of human cells. Compared with hereditary or even sporadic carcinomas, MMR gene mutations are very uncommon in leukemia. However, genetic instability, attested by either loss of heterozygosity or microsatellite instability, has been extensively documented in chronic or acute malignant myeloid disorders. This observation suggests that in leukemia some internal or external signals may interfere with MMR protein expression and/or function. We investigated the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) stimulation by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on MMR protein expression and activity in human myeloid leukemia cell lines. First, we show here that unstimulated U937 cells displayed low level of PKC activity as well as MMR protein expression and activity compared with a panel of myeloid cell lines. Second, treatment of U937 cells with TPA significantly increased (3-5-fold) hMSH2 expression and, to a lesser extent, hMSH6 and hPMS2 expression, correlated to a restoration of MMR function. In addition, diacylglycerol, a physiological PKC agonist, induced a significant increase in hMSH2 expression, whereas chelerythrine or calphostin C, two PKC inhibitors, significantly decreased TPA-induced hMSH2 expression. Reciprocally, treatment of HEL and KG1a cells that exhibited a high level of PKC expression, with chelerythrine significantly decreased hMSH2 and hMSH6 expression. Moreover, the alteration of MMR protein expression paralleled the difference in microsatellite instability and cell sensitivity to 6-thioguanine. Our results suggest that PKC could play a role in regulating MMR protein expression and function in some myeloid leukemia cells.

Effect of the mutation (C3435T) at exon 26 of the MDR1 gene on expression level of MDR1 messenger ribonucleic acid in duodenal enterocytes of healthy Japanese subjects

The effect of the C3435T mutation at exon 26 of the MDR1 gene on the expression levels of MDR1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was evaluated by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction in 51 biopsy specimens of duodenum obtained from 13 healthy Japanese subjects. The mRNA levels of MDR1 were 0.38 +/- 0.15, 0.56 +/- 0.14, and 1.13 +/- 0.42 (mean value +/- SE) in the subjects with the homozygote of wild-type allele (C/C), compound heterozygote with mutant T allele (C/T), and the homozygote of the mutant allele (T/T), respectively, reasonably explaining the lower digoxin serum concentration after administration of a single oral dose to subjects harboring a mutant T allele. Good correlation (r =.797; P <.01) was observed between the mRNA concentrations of MDR1 and CYP3A4 in the individual biopsy specimens. This finding suggested a lower plasma concentration of the substrates for CYP3A4 in subjects harboring the C3435T mutation of the MDR1 gene.

Frequent LOH at hMLH1, a highly variable SNP in hMSH3, and negligible coding instability in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Molecular alterations such as DNA microsatellite instability (MSI/RER), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) can occur throughout the genome and be associated with different types of cancer. In the present study, we aimed at detecting molecular alterations within the mismatch DNA repair genes in ovarian cancer (OC), using a sensitive, accurate and reliable protocol we have developed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A combination of high-resolution GeneScan software analysis and automated DNA cycle sequencing was used.

RESULTS

Negligible coding MSI was observed in selected sequences of mismatch DNA repair genes in our series of sixty-two ovarian tumors and matched blood DNAs. Unlike MSI, loss of one hMLH1 allele was scored in almost half (47%) of the informative cases. In addition, an SNP in hMSH3/intron 5 was found to be highly variable in OC patients.

CONCLUSION

1) Coding DNA instability is likely to be a very rare event in OC and, therefore, may not significantly contribute to the development of OC, and 2) the high frequency of LOH at hMLH1 observed in our ovarian tumors suggests that further investigation is needed to determine if such a trend exists in other mismatch DNA repair and/or critical genes.

NorA functions as a multidrug efflux protein in both cytoplasmic membrane vesicles and reconstituted proteoliposomes

Overexpression of NorA, an endogenous efflux transporter of Staphylococcus aureus, confers resistance to certain fluoroquinolone antimicrobials and diverse other substrates. The norA gene was amplified by PCR and cloned in the expression vector pTrcHis2. Histidine-tagged NorA (NorA-His) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells to prepare two experimental systems, everted membrane vesicles enriched with NorA-His and proteoliposomes reconstituted with purified NorA-His. In membrane vesicles, NorA-His actively transported Hoechst 33342, a dye that is strongly fluorescent in the membrane but has low fluorescence in an aqueous environment. Transport was activated by the addition of ATP or lactate and reversed by the addition of nigericin, with the addition of K(+)-valinomycin having little effect. Transport of Hoechst 33342 was inhibited competitively by verapamil, a known inhibitor of NorA, and by other NorA substrates, including tetraphenyl phosphonium and the fluoroquinolones norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. In contrast, sparfloxacin, a fluoroquinolone whose antimicrobial activity is not affected by NorA expression, exhibited noncompetitive inhibition. NorA induction and overexpression yielded 0.5 to 1 mg of a largely homogeneous 40- to 43-kDa protein per liter of culture. NorA-His incorporated into proteoliposomes retained the ability to transport Hoechst 33342 in response to an artificial proton gradient, and transport was blocked by nigericin and verapamil. These data provide the first experimental evidence of NorA functioning as a self-sufficient multidrug transporter.

Influence of redox-active compounds and PXR-activators on human MRP1 and MRP2 gene expression

In the present study, we investigated the inducibility of the drug conjugate transporter genes MRP1 and MRP2 by redox-active compounds such as tertiary butylated hydroquinone (tBHQ) and quercetin and by chemicals known to activate the pregnane X receptor (PXR) such as rifampicin and clotrimazol and by the metalloid compound arsenite. The human MRP2 gene was found to be inducible in HepG2 cells by rifampicin, clotrimazol, arsenite and tBHQ. As MRP1 expression is extremely low in HepG2 cells, its inducibility was studied in MCF-7 cells. However, only tBHQ and quercetin acted as inducers, but not the other compounds investigated. Reporter gene assays demonstrated that proximal promoter regions of the genes contribute to the induction by tBHQ, quercetin (MRP1) and clotrimazol (MRP2). However, the deletion of binding sites supposed to mediate the induction process (a PXR-binding element-like sequence for the clotrimazol effect and an ARE (antioxidative response element) for the tBHQ/quercetin effect) did not result in a significant decrease in the induction factor indicating that other parts of the promoter are probably involved in the induction process. In summary, expression of both genes can be up-regulated by redox-active compounds, while the other compounds tested induced only MRP2 but not MRP1 expression.

Role of the multidrug resistance protein 1 gene in the carcinogenicity of aflatoxin B1: investigations using mrp1-null mice

The multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) protects cells from xenobiotics by extruding from the intracellular compartment glutathione (GSH)-S-conjugates, glucuronyl conjugates and sulfate conjugates and by the co-export of xenobiotic(s) and GSH. An ATP-dependent transport of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and its GSH conjugates by MRP1 has been previously demonstrated in vitro. In the present study, we have sought to investigate the in vivo role of MRP1 in AFB1 carcinogenicity, by comparing the incidence of tumors occurring in mrp1 (+/+) and mrp1 (-/-) mice 12 months after an 8 weeks exposure to AFB1. The carcinogen induced a similar number of lung and liver tumors in both strains. Most lung tumors were of the solid type and showed a moderate degree of differentiation in both mrp1 (+/+) and mrp1 (-/-) mice. These data provide direct evidence that in vivo MRP1 does not protect from AFB1 carcinogenicity. Due to the redundancy of transmembrane export pumps, other pump(s) may effectively vicariate for MRP1-mediated transport of AFB1 and its glutathione conjugates.

Impact of BCRP/MXR, MRP1 and MDR1/P-Glycoprotein on thermoresistant variants of atypical and classical multidrug resistant cancer cells

The impact of the ABC transporters breast cancer resistance protein/mitoxantrone resistance associated transporter (BCRP/MXR), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and multidrug resistance gene-1/P-glycoprotein (MDR1/PGP) on the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype in chemoresistance and thermoresistance was investigated in the parental human gastric carcinoma cell line EPG85-257P, the atypical MDR subline EPG85-257RNOV, the classical MDR subline EPG85-257RDB and their thermoresistant counterparts EPG85-257P-TR, EPG85-257RNOV-TR and EPG85-257RDB-TR. Within the atypical MDR subline EPG85-257RNOV expression of BCRP/MXR and of MRP1 were clearly enhanced (vs. parental and classical MDR lines). MDR1/PGP expression was distinctly elevated in the classical MDR subline EPG85-257RDB (vs. parental and atypical MDR sublines). In all thermoresistant counterparts basal expression of BCRP/MXR, MRP1 and MDR1/PGP was increased relative to thermosensitive sublines. Although it could be shown that the overexpressed ABC transporters were functionally active, however, no decreased drug accumulations of doxorubicin, mitoxantrone and rhodamine 123 were observed. Thus, expression of BCRP/MXR, MRP1 and MDR1/PGP was found to be dependent on the appropriate type of chemoresistance; correlating with a classical or atypical MDR phenotype. Within the thermoresistant variants, however, the increase in ABC transporter expression did obviously not influence the MDR phenotype.

ATP binding to the first nucleotide-binding domain of multidrug resistance protein MRP1 increases binding and hydrolysis of ATP and trapping of ADP at the second domain

Multidrug resistance protein (MRP1) utilizes two non-equivalent nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) to bind and hydrolyze ATP. ATP hydrolysis by either one or both NBDs is essential to drive transport of solute. Mutations of either NBD1 or NBD2 reduce solute transport, but do not abolish it completely. How events at these two domains are coordinated during the transport cycle have not been fully elucidated. Earlier reports (Gao, M., Cui, H. R., Loe, D. W., Grant, C. E., Almquist, K. C., Cole, S. P., and Deeley, R. G. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 13098-13108; Hou, Y., Cui, L., Riordan, J. R., and Chang, X. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 20280-20287) indicate that intact ATP is observed bound at NBD1, whereas trapping of the ATP hydrolysis product, ADP, occurs predominantly at NBD2 and that trapping of ADP at NBD2 enhances ATP binding at NBD1 severalfold. This suggested transmission of a positive allosteric interaction from NBD2 to NBD1. To assess whether ATP binding at NBD1 can enhance the trapping of ADP at NBD2, photoaffinity labeling experiments with [alpha-(32)P]8-N(3)ADP were performed and revealed that when presented with this compound labeling of MRP1 occurred at both NBDs. However, upon addition of ATP, this labeling was enhanced 4-fold mainly at NBD2. Furthermore, the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue, 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP), bound preferentially to NBD1, but upon addition of a low concentration of 8-N(3)ATP, the binding at NBD2 increased severalfold. This suggested that the positive allosteric stimulation from NBD1 actually involves an increase in ATP binding at NBD2 and hydrolysis there leading to the trapping of ADP. Mutations of Walker A or B motifs in either NBD greatly reduced their ability to be labeled by [alpha-(32)P]8-N(3)ADP as well as by either [alpha-(32)P]- or [gamma-(32)P]8-N(3)ATP (Hou et al. (2000), see above). These mutations also strongly diminished the enhancement by ATP of [alpha-(32)P]8-N(3)ADP labeling and the transport activity of the protein. Taken together, these results demonstrate directly that events at NBD1 positively influence those at NBD2. The interactions between the two asymmetric NBDs of MRP1 protein may enhance the catalytic efficiency of the MRP1 protein and hence of its ATP-dependent transport of conjugated anions out of cells.

Role of glutathione in the multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4)-mediated efflux of cAMP and resistance to purine analogues

Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4) is a member of the MRP subfamily, which in turn is a member of the superfamily of ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) transporters. Within the MRP subfamily, ABCC4,ABCC5 (MRP5), ABCC11 (MRP8) and ABCC12 (MRP9) have similar predicted membrane topologies. All lack the additional transmembrane domain, TMD(0), which is present in the other MRPs. Using cells stably overexpressing ABCC4, this study shows that ABCC4 exports GSH. ABCC4 also facilitates the efflux of cAMP. Depletion of intracellular GSH with DL-buthionine-(S,R)-sulphoximine led to decreased export of cAMP and a corresponding increase in intracellular cAMP was observed. ABCC4 also mediates resistance to purine analogues 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)-adenine and 6-thioguanine. This resistance can be reversed by the presence of DL-buthionine-(S,R)-sulphoximine. We conclude that as well as nucleotide and nucleoside analogues, ABCC4 can mediate the export of GSH. In addition, GSH plays an important role in the function of ABCC4. Depletion of intracellular GSH adversely affects the export of cAMP by ABCC4. Resistance to nucleoside analogues is also adversely affected by depletion of cellular GSH.

Control of the AcrAB multidrug efflux pump by quorum-sensing regulator SdiA

SdiA is an Escherichia coli protein that regulates cell division in a cell density-dependent, or quorum-sensing, manner. We report that SdiA also controls multidrug resistance by positively regulating the multidrug resistance pump AcrAB. Overproduction of SdiA confers multidrug resistance and increased levels of AcrAB. Conversely, sdiA null mutants are hypersensitive to drugs and have decreased levels of AcrB protein. Our findings provide a link between quorum sensing and multidrug efflux. Combined with previously published reports, our data support a model in which a role of drug efflux pumps is to mediate cell-cell communication in response to cell density. Xenobiotics expelled by pumps may resemble the communication molecules that they normally efflux.

Increased expression of the multidrug efflux genes acrAB occurs during slow growth of Escherichia coli

Intrinsic antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli is elicited by the gene products of the multidrug efflux acrAB-tolC operon. In this paper, we have shown that acrAB is regulated as a function of the growth rate of E. coli during growth in batch and chemostat culture. In chemostat culture, expression of acrAB is inversely related to growth rate irrespective of the limiting nutrient. The level of expression of acrAB is greater under glucose limitation compared with either iron or nitrogen limitation. Increase in expression of acrAB confers a greater resistance to ciprofloxacin, and the implications for a clinical situation are discussed. Slow growth rate regulation of acrAB transcription does not require the presence of the stationary-phase sigma factor. A putative gearbox consensus sequence was identified at the -10 region of the acrAB promoter.

The ABCG2 transporter is an efficient Hoechst 33342 efflux pump and is preferentially expressed by immature human hematopoietic progenitors

A promising and increasingly exploited property of hematopoietic stem cells is their ability to efflux the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342. The Hoechst-negative cells are isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting as a so-called side "population" (SP) of bone marrow. This SP from bone marrow, as well as other tissues, is reported to contain immature stem cells with considerable plasticity. Some cell lines also efflux Hoechst and generate SP profiles. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and efflux inhibition studies with the lung carcinoma cell line, A549, implicated the ABCG2 transporter as a Hoechst efflux pump. Furthermore, it is shown that transient expression of ABCG2 generates a robust SP phenotype in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. The results allow the conclusion that ABCG2 is a potent Hoechst efflux pump. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was used to characterize the developmental pattern of expression of ABCG2 in hematopoiesis. It is expressed at relatively high levels in putative hematopoietic stem cells (isolated as SP, 34+/38- or 34+/KDR+ populations) and drops sharply in committed progenitors (34+/38+, 34+/33+, or 34+/10+). Expression remains low in most maturing populations, but rises again in natural killer cells and erythroblasts. Comparison of messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for the 3 major multidrug-resistant efflux pumps, MDR1, MRP1, and ABCG2, in bone marrow SP cells reveals that ABCG2 is the predominant form in these cells. These data suggest that ABCG2 contributes significantly to the generation of the SP phenotype in hematopoietic stem cells. Furthermore, the sharp down-regulation of ABCG2 at the stage of lineage commitment suggests that this gene may play an important role in the unique physiology of the pluripotent stem cell.

Somatic expansion behaviour of the (CTG)n repeat in myotonic dystrophy knock-in mice is differentially affected by Msh3 and Msh6 mismatch-repair proteins

The mechanism of expansion of the (CTG)n repeat in myotonic dystrophy (DM1) patients and the cause of its pathobiological effects are still largely unknown. Most likely, long repeats exert toxicity at the level of nuclear RNA transport or splicing. Here, we analyse cis- and trans-acting parameters that determine repeat behaviour in novel mouse models for DM1. Our mice carry 'humanized' myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (Dmpk) allele(s) with either a (CTG)84 or a (CTG)11 repeat, inserted at the correct position into the endogenous DM locus. Unlike in the human situation, the (CTG)84 repeat in the syntenic mouse environment was relatively stable during intergenerational segregation. However, somatic tissues showed substantial repeat expansions which were progressive upon aging and prominent in kidney, and in stomach and small intestine, where it was cell-type restricted. Other tissues examined showed only marginal size changes. The (CTG)11 allele was completely stable, as anticipated. Introducing the (CTG)84 allele into an Msh3-deficient background completely blocked the somatic repeat instability. In contrast, Msh6 deficiency resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of somatic expansions. Competition of Msh3 and Msh6 for binding to Msh2 in functional complexes with different DNA mismatch-recognition specificity may explain why the somatic (CTG)n expansion rate is differentially affected by ablation of Msh3 and Msh6.

Expression of heavy subunit of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCSh) in human colorectal carcinoma

Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) is a heterodimer consisting of heavy (gamma-GCSh) and light (gamma-GCSl) subunits. gamma-GCS catalyzes the rate-limiting de novo biosynthesis of glutathione (GSH), an abundant physiological antioxidant that plays important roles for regulating oxidative stress. Expression of gamma-GCSh and gamma-GCSl are sensitive to oxidative stress. To investigate whether expression of gamma-GCS is correlated with tumor progression, we used immunohistochemical approaches to examine 16 human colorectal adenomas and resected 57 carcinomas from untreated patients. In adjacent normal colorectal epithelium, levels of gamma-GCSh expression were low. Strong cytoplasmic staining for gamma-GCSh was detected in 3 (18.8%) adenoma and 48 (84.2%) carcinomas. The frequency of gamma-GCSh expression in carcinoma was significantly higher than in adenoma (p<0.0001). We used RNase protation assay and Western blot to determine levels of gamma-GCSh mRNA and protein from 10 pairs of matched carcinomas with adjacent normal controls. Elevated expression of both gamma-GCSh mRNA and protein were found in 6 cases, suggesting that transcriptional and/or posttranscriptional regulation play an important role in the upregulation of gamma-GCS during colorectal carcinogenesis. We also examined the expression of another redox-regulated gene, multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1). Strong staining for MRP1 was detected in 1 (6.3%) adenoma and 40 (70.2%) carcinomas. The frequency of MRP1 expression in carcinoma was significantly higher than in adenoma ( p<0.0001). Nuclear p53 expression was detected in 30 (52.6%) of carcinomas. There is a significant correlation between gamma-GCSh and MRP1 expression (p=0.013) but not between gamma-GCSh and p53. Since gamma-GCS is a sensor of oxidative stress, these results are consistent with the notion that oxidative stress is associated with colorectal tumor progression.

Membrane topology of a multidrug efflux transporter, AcrB, in Escherichia coli

AcrA/B in Escherichia coli is a multicomponent system responsible for intrinsic resistance to a wide range of toxic compounds, and probably cooperates with the outer membrane protein TolC. In this study, acrAB genes were cloned from the E. coli W3104 chromosome. To determine the topology of the inner membrane component AcrB, we employed a chemical labeling approach to analyse mutants of AcrB in which a single cysteine residue had been introduced. The cysteine-free AcrB mutant, in which the two intrinsic Cys residues were replaced by Ala, retained full drug resistance. We constructed 33 cysteine mutants in which a single cysteine was introduced into each putative hydrophilic loop region of the cysteine-free AcrB. The binding of [(14)C]N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) to the Cys residue and the competition of NEM binding with the binding of a membrane-impermeant maleimide, 4-acetamide-4'-maleimidylstilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (AMS), in intact cells were investigated. The results revealed that the N- and C-terminals are localized on the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane and the two large loops are localized on the periplasmic surface of the membrane. The results supported the 12-membrane-spanning structure of AcrB. Three of the four short periplasmic loop regions were covered by the two large periplasmic loop domains and were not exposed to the water phase until one of the two large periplasmic loops was removed.

Copper-transporting P-type adenosine triphosphatase (ATP7B) is expressed in human breast carcinoma

This is the first report to show that a copper-transporting P-type adenosine triphosphatase, ATP7B, is expressed in certain breast carcinomas, and a priori knowledge of its expression is important for the choice of therapy. We investigated the hypothesis that ATP7B, which was shown to be associated with cisplatin resistance in vitro, is expressed in certain breast carcinomas. To test this hypothesis, ATP7B expression and protein level were examined in 41 breast carcinomas using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. ATP7B gene / protein could be detected in 22.0% (9 / 41) of breast carcinomas and ATP7B gene expression was correlated well with the protein expression. In nine ATP7B-positive tumors, adjacent normal breast tissue was similarly analyzed, revealing that ATP7B is upregulated in breast carcinoma. ATP7B gene expression in poorly differentiated carcinoma was significantly higher than that in well- / moderately differentiated carcinoma (P = 0.012). Furthermore, we found no association between the ATP7B gene / protein expression and that of MDR1, MRP1, LRP and BCRP. These findings suggested that ATP7B gene expression might be a chemoresistance marker for cisplatin in patients with poorly differentiated breast carcinoma.