The Schizosaccharomyces pombe actin-related protein, Arp3, is a component of the cortical actin cytoskeleton and interacts with profilin

The gene encoding the actin-related protein Arp3 was first identified in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and is a member of an evolutionarily conserved family of actin-related proteins. Here we present several key findings that define an essential role for Arp3p in the functioning of the cortical actin cytoskeleton. First, mutants in arp3 interact specifically with profilin and actin mutants. Second, Arp3 localizes to cortical actin patches which are required for polarized cell growth. Third, the arp3 gene is required for the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton during the cell cycle. Finally, the Arp3 protein is present in a large protein complex. We believe that this complex may mediate the cortical functions of profilin at actin patches in S. pombe.

Fission yeast Sop2p: a novel and evolutionarily conserved protein that interacts with Arp3p and modulates profilin function

Profilins bind to monomeric actin and also interact with ligands such as phosphoinositide 4,5-bisphosphate, the proline-rich protein VASP and a complex of four to six polypeptides identified in Acanthamoeba that includes two actin-related proteins. Here, we report the identification and characterization of an essential gene from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, sop2+, a mutation in which rescues the temperature-sensitive lethality of a profilin mutation, cdc3-124. The sop2-1 mutant is defective for cell elongation and septation, suggesting that it is involved in multiple cortical actin-requiring processes. Consistent with a role in actin cytoskeletal function, negative interactions have been identified between sop2-1 and act1-48, a mutant allele of actin. Sop2p is a novel 377 amino acid polypeptide with similarity to proteins of the beta-transducin repeat family. Sop2p-related proteins have been identified by sequencing projects in diverse species, and we have isolated a human cDNA highly related to sop2+, SOP2 Hs, which functionally complements the sop2-1 mutation. Sop2p proteins from all species contain peptide sequences identical or highly similar to two peptide sequences from an Acanthamoeba beta-transducin repeat protein present in the profilin binding complex. Biochemical analyses demonstrate that Sop2p is present in a complex which also contains the actin-related protein, Arp3p. Immunofluorescence studies reveal the presence of Sop2p in (i) punctate structures distributed throughout the cell, (ii) cables that extend the length of the cell, and (iii) a medial band in a small percentage of septating cells. Collectively these data demonstrate the interaction of Sop2p with Arp3p, profilin and actin.

Construction of vectors and a genomic library for use with his3-deficient strains of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The construction of vectors for use in Schizosaccharomyces pombe using the his3+ gene as a selectable marker is described. In addition, we report the construction of a genomic library in a his3(+)-containing shuttle vector to facilitate the cloning of genes by complementation of mutant function in strains defective for His3 activity.

Coronary flow and flow reserve by PET simplified for clinical applications using rubidium-82 or nitrogen-13-ammonia

To validate routine, noninvasive determination of absolute myocardial perfusion and coronary flow reserve (CFR), cardiac PET was performed in animals using a simplified imaging protocol, high-dose dipyridamole and a simplified quantitative algorithm specific for 82Rb and 13N-ammonia.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-five PET scans were obtained in eight dogs after intravenous 13N-ammonia or 82Rb using serial dynamic PET or a simple two-image dataset. A simple flow model using the two-image dataset was developed for each radionuclide to account for varying arterial input function, flow-dependent myocardial extraction and increased permeability surface area (PS) product due to capillary recruitment at high flows not incorporated into previous models. Myocardial perfusion by the simple model was compared to standard, complete, two-compartment kinetic models validated by comparison to electromagnetic flow meter.

RESULTS

For 13N-ammonia, myocardial perfusion by the simple PET model correlated with that by complete compartmental analysis of multiple serial PET images with r = 0.94, slope = 0.96; CFR by compartmental analysis correlated with CFR by electromagnetic flow meter with r = 0.94, slope = 0.97. For 82Rb, myocardial perfusion determined by the simple model correlated with that determined by complete compartmental analysis of multiple serial PET images with r = 0.98, slope = 1.06; CFR determined by compartmental analysis correlated with CFR by electromagnetic flow meter with r = 0.88, slope = 1.13.

CONCLUSION

A simplified PET protocol using 13N-ammonia or 82Rb and simple flow models provide noninvasive measurement of CFR up to six times baseline flow throughout the heart and diagnostic image quality for routine clinical application.

Characterization of novel mutations at the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc2 regulatory phosphorylation site, tyrosine 15

The cdc2 protein kinase family is regulated negatively by phosphorylation in the glycine ATP-binding loop at a conserved tyrosine residue, Y15, alone or in combination with T14 phosphorylation. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe and other systems, substitution of these residues with structurally similar but nonphosphorylatable amino acids has generated proteins (Y15F or T14AY15F) that behave as constitutively tyrosine-dephosphorylated proteins or threonine and tyrosine-dephosphorylated proteins. Here we report the characteristics of three additional mutants at Y15--Y15E, Y15S, and Y15T--in S. pombe cdc2p. All three mutant proteins are active in in vitro kinase assays, but are unable to functionally complement cdc2 loss-of-function mutations in vivo. Additionally, all three mutants are dominant negatives. A more detailed analysis of the Y15T mutant indicates that it can initiate chromosome condensation and F-actin contractile ring formation, but is unable to drive the reorganization of microtubules into a mitotic spindle.

Novel alleles of cdc13 and cdc2 isolated as suppressors of mitotic catastrophe in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Cell cycle control in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe involves interplay amongst a number of regulatory molecules, including the cdc2, cdc13, cdc25, wee1, and mik1 gene products. Cdc2, Cdc13, and Cdc25 act as positive regulators of cell cycle progression at the G2/M boundary, while Wee1 and Miky1 play a negative regulatory role. Here, we have screened for suppressors of the lethal premature entry into mitosis, termed mitotic catastrophe, which results from simultaneous loss of function of both Wee1 and Mik1. Through such a screen, we hoped to identify additional components of the cell cycle regulatory network, and/or G2/M-specific substrates of Cdc2. Although we did not identify such molecules, we isolated a number of alleles of both cdc2 and cdc13, including a novel wee allele of cdc2, cdc2-5w. Here, we characterize cdc2-5w and two alleles of cdc13, which have implications for the understanding of details of the interactions amongst Cdc2, Cdc13, and Wee1.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe skp1+ encodes a protein kinase related to mammalian glycogen synthase kinase 3 and complements a cdc14 cytokinesis mutant

We report the cloning of the skp1+ gene, a Schizosaccharomyces pombe homolog of the glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) family whose members in higher eukaryotes are involved in cell fate determination, nuclear signalling, and hormonal regulation. skp1 is 67% identical to mammalian GSK-3 beta and displays similar biochemical properties in vitro. Like GSK-3 beta, skp1 is phosphorylated on a conserved tyrosine residue, and this phosphorylation is required for efficient activity. skp1 is also phosphorylated at a serine which has been identified as S-335. Phosphorylation at this site is likely to inhibit its function. Unlike the mammalian enzyme, skp1 both tyrosine autophosphorylates in yeast cells and can phosphorylate other proteins on tyrosine in bacteria. The skp1+ gene is not essential. However, cells with deletions in skp1+ are sensitive to heat shock and exhibit defects in sporulation. Overexpression of wild-type skp1+ specifically complements cdc14-118, one of several mutations causing a defect in cytokinesis. In addition, certain phosphorylation site mutants induce a delay or block in cytokinesis when overexpressed. Together, these data identify novel interactions of a fission yeast GSK-3 homolog with elements of the cytokinesis machinery.

Changes in myocardial perfusion abnormalities by positron emission tomography after long-term, intense risk factor modification

OBJECTIVE

To quantify changes in size and severity of myocardial perfusion abnormalities by positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with coronary artery disease after 5 years of risk factor modification.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Outpatient community setting.

INTERVENTION

Randomization of patients to risk factor modification consisting of very low-fat vegetarian diet, mild to moderate exercise, stress management, and group support (experimental group, n = 20) or to usual care by their own physicians, consisting principally of antianginal therapy (control group, n = 15).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Quantitative coronary arteriography and PET at baseline and 5 years after randomization. Automated, objective measures of size and severity of perfusion abnormalities on rest-dipyridamole PET images and of stenosis severity on arteriograms were made by computer algorithms.

RESULTS

Size and severity of perfusion abnormalities on dipyridamole PET images decreased (improved) after risk factor modification in the experimental group compared with an increase (worsening) of size and severity in controls. The percentage of left ventricle perfusion abnormalities outside 2.5 SDs of those of normal persons (based on 20 disease-free individuals) on the dipyridamole PET image of normalized counts worsened in controls (mean +/- SE, + 10.3% +/- 5.6%) and improved in the experimental group (mean +/- SE, -5.1% +/- 4.8%) (P = .02); the percentage of left ventricle with activity less than 60% of the maximum activity on the dipyridamole PET image of normalized counts worsened in controls (+13.5% +/- 3.8%) and improved in the experimental group (-4.2% +/- 3.8%) (P = .002); and the myocardial quadrant on the PET image with the lowest average activity expressed as a percentage of maximum activity worsened in controls (-8.8% +/- 2.3%) and improved in the experimental group (+4.9% +/- 3.3%) (P = .001). The size and severity of perfusion abnormalities on resting PET images were also significantly improved in the experimental group as compared with controls. The relative magnitude of changes in size and severity of PET perfusion abnormalities was comparable to or greater than the magnitude of changes in percent diameter stenosis, absolute stenosis lumen area, or stenosis flow reserve documented by quantitative coronary arteriography.

CONCLUSIONS

Modest regression of coronary artery stenoses after risk factor modification is associated with decreased size and severity of perfusion abnormalities on rest-dipyridamole PET images. Progression or regression of coronary artery disease can be followed noninvasively by dipyridamole PET reflecting the integrated flow capacity of the entire coronary arterial circulation.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc4+ gene encodes a novel EF-hand protein essential for cytokinesis

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells divide by medial fission. One class of cell division mutants (cdc), the late septation mutants, defines four genes: cdc3, cdc4, cdc8, and cdc12 (Nurse, P., P. Thuriaux, and K. Nasmyth. 1976. Mol. & Gen. Genet. 146:167-178). We have cloned and characterized the cdc4 gene and show that the predicted gene product. Cdc4p, is a 141-amino acid polypeptide that is similar in sequence to EF-hand proteins including myosin light chains, calmodulin, and troponin C. Two temperature-sensitive lethal alleles, cdc4-8 and cdc4-31, accumulate multiple nuclei and multiple improper F-actin rings and septa but fail to complete cytokinesis. Deletion of cdc4 also results in a lethal terminal phenotype characterized by multinucleate, elongated cells that fail to complete cytokinesis. Sequence comparisons suggest that Cdc4p may be a member of a new class of EF-hand proteins. Cdc4p localizes to a ringlike structure in the medial region of cells undergoing cytokinesis. Thus, Cdc4p appears to be an essential component of the F-actin contractile ring. We find that Cdc4 protein forms a complex with a 200-kD protein which can be cross-linked to UTP, a property common to myosin heavy chains. Together these results suggest that Cdc4p may be a novel myosin light chain.

The Wee1 protein kinase regulates T14 phosphorylation of fission yeast Cdc2

The Cdc2 protein kinase is a key regulator of the G1-S and G2-M cell cycle transitions in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The activation of Cdc2 at the G2-M transition is triggered by dephosphorylation at a conserved tyrosine residue Y15. The level of Y15 phosphorylation is controlled by the Wee1 and Mik1 protein kinases acting in opposition to the Cdc25 protein phosphatase. Here, we demonstrate that Wee1 overexpression leads to a high stoichiometry of phosphorylation at a previously undetected site in S. pombe Cdc2, T14. T14 phosphorylation was also detected in certain cell cycle mutants blocked in progression through S phase, indicating that T14 phosphorylation might normally occur at low stoichiometry during DNA replication or early G2. Strains in which the chromosomal copy of cdc2 was replaced with either a T14A or a T14S mutant allele were generated and the phenotypes of these strains are consistent with T14 phosphorylation playing an inhibitory role in the activation of Cdc2 as it does in higher eukaryotes. We have also obtained evidence that Wee1 but not Mik1 or Chk1 is required for phosphorylation at this site, that the Mik1 and Chk1 protein kinases are unable to drive T14 phosphorylation in vivo, that residue 14 phosphorylation requires previous phosphorylation at Y15, and that the T14A mutant, unlike Y15F, is recessive to wild-type Cdc2 activity. Finally, the normal duration of G2 delay after irradiation or hydroxyurea treatment in a T14A mutant strain indicates that T14 phosphorylation is not required for the DNA damage or replication checkpoint controls.

PET and SPECT imaging for stereotactic localization

Stereotactic localization using PET and SPECT has been used together with the Leksell stereotactic frame and the other imaging tools routinely provided to Gamma Knife radiosurgery sites. The accuracy of the measurements has been confirmed with CT and MR using a Radiation Analog Dosimetry phantom. The activity of the radionuclide solution placed in the tubes of Elekta Radiosurgery's MR imaging box is somewhat critical because the window levels chosen for the scan will affect the apparent size of the lesion. A technique is presented to resolve areas of activity more than about 12-14 mm apart, and it may prove useful in targeting epileptogenic sites in patients with medically intractable epilepsy.

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc3+ gene encodes a profilin essential for cytokinesis

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe divides by medial fission and, like many higher eukaryotic cells, requires the function of an F-actin contractile ring for cytokinesis. In S. pombe, a class of cdc- mutants defective for cytokinesis, but not for DNA replication, mitosis, or septum synthesis, have been identified. In this paper, we present the characterization of one of these mutants, cdc3-124. Temperature shift experiments reveal that mutants in cdc3 are incapable of forming an F-actin contractile ring. We have molecularly cloned cdc3 and used the cdc3+ genomic DNA to create a strain carrying a cdc3 null mutation by homologous recombination in vivo. Cells bearing a cdc3-null allele are inviable. They arrest the cell cycle at cytokinesis without forming a contractile ring. DNA sequence analysis of the cdc3+ gene reveals that it encodes profilin, an actin-monomer-binding protein. In light of recent studies with profilins, we propose that Cdc3-profilin plays an essential role in cytokinesis by catalyzing the formation of the F-actin contractile ring. Consistent with this proposal are our observations that Cdc3-profilin localizes to the medial region of the cell where the F-actin contractile ring forms, and that it is essential for F-actin ring formation. Cells overproducing Cdc3-profilin become elongated, dumbbell shaped, and arrest at cytokinesis without any detectable F-actin staining. This effect of Cdc3-profilin overproduction is relieved by introduction of a multicopy plasmid carrying the actin encoding gene, act1+. We attribute these effects to potential sequestration of actin monomers by profilin, when present in excess.

Short-term cholesterol lowering decreases size and severity of perfusion abnormalities by positron emission tomography after dipyridamole in patients with coronary artery disease. A potential noninvasive marker of healing coronary endothelium

BACKGROUND

Cholesterol lowering over 1- to 3-year trials is associated with modest regression or no progression of focal coronary artery stenoses compared with progression in controls, a decrease in cardiac events proportionately more than the modest improvement in percent stenosis, and in experimental animals improved endothelial-mediated coronary vasodilation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Accordingly, we hypothesized that there would be improvement in size and severity of perfusion abnormalities by rest-dipyridamole positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in a randomized intensive cholesterol-lowering trial with each patient studied after a baseline control period, a 90-day intensive cholesterol-lowering treatment, and a final control period off cholesterol-lowering regimens. Completely automated, objective measures of size and severity of perfusion abnormalities on rest-dipyridamole PET images were made by computer algorithm in 12 patients with coronary artery disease. There were statistically significant decreases (improvement) in size and severity of perfusion abnormalities by rest-dipyridamole PET on comparison of baseline control with perfusion abnormalities after intensive 90-day cholesterol lowering and significant increases (worsening) in size and severity after the final control period, respectively, as follows. (1) The percent of left ventricle outside 2.5 SD of normal values on the dipyridamole-to-rest ratio image of normalized counts was 22 +/- 20% after the initial control period, 13 +/- 14% after the treatment period, and 26 +/- 22% after the final control period with a significant decrease (improvement) occurring between the initial control and treatment periods (P = .02) and an increase (worsening) occurring between the treatment and final control periods (P = .009). (2) The percent of left ventricle with a ratio of < or = 0.66 in the dipyridamole-to-rest ratio image of normalized counts was 11 +/- 13% after the initial control period, 5.8 +/- 10% after the treatment period, and 14 +/- 19% after the final control period with a significant decrease (improvement) occurring between the initial control and treatment periods (P = .04) and an increase (worsening) occurring between the treatment and final control periods (P = .02). (3) The myocardial quadrant on the polar display with the lowest average activity expressed as a percent of maximal activity was 0.81 +/- 0.18 after the initial control period, 0.87 +/- 0.014 after the treatment period, and 0.77 +/- 0.23 after the final control period with significant improvement occurring between the initial control and treatment periods (P = .05) and worsening occurring between the treatment and final control periods (P = .05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that relatively short-term, intensive cholesterol lowering over 90 days improves myocardial perfusion capacity before anatomic regression of stenoses occurs and that such improvement, or deterioration after withdrawal of lipid-lowering treatment, can be followed noninvasively by dipyridamole PET, reflecting the integrated flow capacity of the entire coronary arterial/arteriolar vascular system affected by diffuse atherosclerosis.

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc5+ gene encodes an essential protein with homology to c-Myb

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc5+ gene was identified in the first screen for cell division cycle mutants in this yeast. The cdc5+ gene was reported to be required for nuclear division but because of its modest elongation and leaky nature at the non-permissive temperature, it was not investigated further. Here, we report the characterization of the single allele of this gene, cdc5-120, in more detail. The mutant arrests with a 2N DNA content and a single interphase nucleus. Further genetic analyses suggest that cdc5+ gene function is essential in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. We have cloned and sequenced the cdc5+ gene. The deduced protein sequence predicts that Cdc5 is an 87 kDa protein and contains a region sharing significant homology with the DNA binding domain of the Myb family of transcription factors. Deletion mapping of the cdc5+ gene has shown that the N-terminal 232 amino acids of the protein, which contain the Myb-related region, are sufficient to complement the cdc5ts strain. A cdc5 null mutant was generated by homologous recombination. Haploid cells lacking cdc5+ are inviable, indicating that cdc5+ is an essential gene. A fusion protein consisting of bacterial glutathione S-transferase joined in-frame to the N-terminal 127 amino acids of the Cdc5 protein is able to bind to DNA cellulose at low salt concentrations. This evidence suggests that cdc5+ might encode a transcription factor whose activity is required for cell cycle progression and growth during G2.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe his3 gene for use as a selectable marker

A DNA fragment which carries the his3 gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been isolated and characterized for use as a selectable marker in transformations. The his3 gene encodes the imidazole acetol phosphate transaminase enzyme (E.C.2.6.1.9), which is responsible for converting imidazole acetol-P to histidinol-P in step 8 of histidine biosynthesis. The nucleotide sequences of a 2196 bp gene fragment and a corresponding cDNA clone were determined. Three intron sequences punctuate the 1451 bp coding region which generates a predicted polypeptide of 384 amino acids with a molecular mass of 42736 daltons. Northern analysis of his3 mRNAs indicates that the transcript is approximately 1.6 kb in size. Steady-state levels are down-regulated by nitrogen limitation but are unaffected by histidine starvation. The deduced amino acid sequence was compared to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HIS5, Escherichia coli HisC, and Salmonella typhimurium HisC proteins, all of which are imidazole acetol phosphate transaminases. The S. pombe his3 protein was 49.5% identical to the S. cerevisiae HIS5 protein and 21.5% identity was found when all four proteins were compared. The shuttle vector pBG1 was constructed by subcloning the smallest functional region of his3 and the S. pombe ars1 sequence into pUC18 for use in transformation of His3--S. pombe strains. New S. pombe strains in which the his3 gene was deleted have also been constructed.