Dynamic relocation of transcription and splicing factors dependent upon transcriptional activity

Recent interest in understanding the spatial organization of gene expression has focused attention on nuclear structures known as speckles or interchromatin granule clusters (IGCs) revealed by immunofluorescence or electron microscopy. Staining of nuclear factors involved in pre-mRNA splicing or, more recently, transcription, reveals 20-40 speckles per nucleus, resulting in the intriguing suggestion that speckles are nuclear sites of transcription and processing. In contrast, other investigations have observed transcription in other areas of the nucleus. In this study, we have examined the localization of active transcription as detected by uridine incorporation and recently developed RNA polymerase II antibodies, and compared this pattern with that of known splicing and polyadenylation factors. Our results indicate that in actively transcribing cells, transcription and splicing factors are dispersed throughout the nucleus with abundant sites of preferred localization. In contrast, in poorly transcribing cells, polymerase II and splicing factors localize to speckles. In nuclei inactivated for transcription by drugs or heat shock, the speckle type of co-localization is accentuated. These observations suggest that bulk transcription and splicing occur throughout the nucleus during periods of active transcription; and that factors involved in these two processes re-locate to minimal speckle domains during periods of inactive transcription.

[Mean corpuscular volume and red blood cell volume distribution width in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of combined measurement of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red blood cell volume distribution width (RDW) in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy.

METHODS

Hemoglobin concentration (HGB), MCV, RDW, serum iron concentration (Fe), total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation percentage (TS%) were simultaneously assayed in 605 pregnant women at prenatal examination. The results in different groups were analysed.

RESULTS

There were 68 cases in iron deficiency anemia group, 57 cases in non-iron deficiency anemia group and 480 pregnant women in normal group. RDW was significantly increased and MCV greatly decreased in iron deficiency anemia group as compared with that in normal group and non-iron deficiency anemia group. There were no differences in both MCV and RDW between normal group and non-iron deficiency anemia group.

CONCLUSIONS

Low MCV and high RDW were the characteristic changes of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy. We recommend the use of RDW and MCV in the initial classification of anemia in pregnancy.

ATP-binding site of human brain hexokinase as studied by molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis

The interaction of ATP with the active site of hexokinase is unknown since the crystal structure of the hexokinase-ATP complex is unavailable. It was found that the ATP binding site of brain hexokinase is homologous to that of actin, heat shock protein hsc70, and glycerol kinase. On the basis of these similarities, the ATP molecule was positioned in the catalytic domain of human brain hexokinase, which was modeled from the X-ray structure of yeast hexokinase. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to test the function of residues presumably involved in interaction with the tripolyphosphoryl moiety of ATP. Asp532, which is though to be involved in binding the Mg2+ ion of the MgATP2- complex, was mutated to Lys and Glu. The kcat values decreased 1000- and 200-fold, respectively, for the two mutants. Another residue, Thr680 was proposed to interact with the gamma-phosphoryl group of ATP through hydrogen bonds and was mutated to Val and Ser. The kcat value of the Thr680Val mutant decreased 2000-fold, whereas the kcat value of the Thr680Ser decreased only 2.5-fold, implying the importance of the hydroxyl group. The Km and dissociation constant values for either ATP or glucose of all the above mutants showed little or no change relative to the wild-type enzyme. The Ki values for the glucose 6-phosphate analogue 1,5-anhydroglucitol 6-phosphate, were the same as that of the wild-type enzyme, and the inhibition was reversed by inorganic phosphate (Pi) for all four mutants. The circular dichroism spectra of the mutants were the same as that of the wild-type enzyme. The results from the site-directed mutagenesis demonstrate that the presumed interactions of investigated residues with ATP are important for the stabilization of the transition state.

Anchoring of c-myc on nuclear matrix proteins in process of mouse thymic T lymphocyte proliferation induced by ConA

Isolation and characterization of functional nuclear matrix proteins involved in DNA anchoring and gene expression is one of the major subjects of current nuclear matrix research. Southwestern blotting (DNA-protein hybridization) was applied to studying the anchoring of c-myc on the nuclear matrix proteins in mouse thymic T lymphocytes. The results showed that c-myc bound to the lamin, p34 and p36 nuclear matrix proteins specifically. In the process of mouse thymic PNA-T lymphocytes proliferation induced by ConA, the anchoring of c-myc on p34 and p36 nuclear matrix proteins changed dynamically.

Biological model of ED01 hepatocarcinogenesis

The ED01 bioassay on 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in BALB/c mice was analyzed using a biologically based, two-mutation model of the oncogenic process. Computer simulations indicate that 2-AAF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis has both genotoxic and promotional components. However, contrary to the current paradigm, we find that the genotoxic component of 2-AAF plays a minor role in its carcinogenicity. The ED01 hepatocarcinogenicity can be explained almost entirely to result from the promotional influence of 2-AAF on an existing pool of spontaneously initiated cells.

Identification of an active site residue of the R1 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli: characterization of substrate-induced polypeptide cleavage by C225SR1

Incubation of the C225S mutant of the R1 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli with the R2 subunit and nucleoside diphosphates leads to fragmentation of the polypeptide backbone of R1 [Mao, S. S., Holler, T. P., Bollinger, J.M., Jr., Yu, G. X., Johnston, M.I., & Stubbe, J. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 9744--9751]. The 26 and 60 kDa cleavage fragments were purified to homogeneity. The 26 kDa polypeptide was digested with Lys-C, and the peptides were partially purified by RP-HPLC. Mass spectrometric analysis (MALDI-TOF) of the HPLC fractions allowed the identification of the C-terminal peptide. The molecular mass of this peptide (2176) revealed that serine-224 constitutes its C-terminus, and further analysis of the distribution of its monoisotopic masses by FAB-MS indicated that Ser224 possesses a carboxamide rather than a carboxylate group. Treatment of the 60 kDa cleavage fragment with cyanogen bromide and subsequent MALDI-TOF analysis of the partially RP-HPLC purified peptides yielded a fraction containing its N-terminal peptide. This peptide was digested with trypsin, and the digestion mixture was purified by HPLC. Analysis of the fractions by MALDI-TOF identified the N-terminal peptide and determined a mass of 2222. This mass suggested valine 226 was the N-terminal residue (modified by an adduct of 28 mass units). Larger amounts of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of the 60 kDa fragment (V226LIE229) were obtained by complete digestion of the crude reaction mixture with endoproteinase Glu-C. The peptide mixture was then purified on an immunoadsorbent column containing immobilized antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide with the sequence KVLIE. After elution of the affinity-bound peptide, it was analyzed by CID-MS verifying that an adduct of 28 mass units was attached to valine 226. These results indicated that the amino group of Val226 is formylated. The localization of the residues at the cleavage site of C225SR1 provides a biochemical identification of the active site region of the R1 subunit of RDPR from E.coli. The details of the mechanism of cleavage remain to be elucidated.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of human brain hexokinase

Human brain hexokinase type I, expressed in Escherichia coli, has been crystallized from polyethylene glycol 8000 in the presence of inorganic phosphate. The crystals are hexagonal needles of diameter 0.25 mm, diffracting to a resolution of 3.5 A on a rotating-anode/area-detector system. The crystals belong to the space group P3(1)21/P3(2)21 with cell dimensions a = b = 171.5 A and c = 99.4 A. The specific volume of the crystal is 4.2 A3/Da, suggesting an asymmetric unit with a single 100 kDa molecule and a solvent content of 71% by volume or two molecules of hexokinase with a solvent content of 41%. The complex of hexokinase with glucose crystallizes under similar conditions, giving crystals of the same morphology.

A human axillary odorant is carried by apolipoprotein D

The characterization of the source of the odor in the human axillary region is not only of commercial interest but is also important biologically because axillary extracts can alter the length and timing of the female menstrual cycle. In males, the most abundant odor component is known to be E-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid (E-3M2H), which is liberated from nonodorous apocrine secretions by axillary microorganisms. Recently, it was found that in the apocrine gland secretions, 3M2H is carried to the skin surface bound to two proteins, apocrine secretion odor-binding proteins 1 and 2 (ASOB1 and ASOB2) with apparent molecular masses of 45 kDa and 26 kDa, respectively. To better understand the formation of axillary odors and the structural relationship between 3M2H and its carrier protein, the amino acid sequence and glycosylation pattern of ASOB2 were determined by mass spectrometry. The ASOB2 protein was identified as apolipoprotein D (apoD), a known member of the alpha2mu-microglobulin superfamily of carrier proteins also known as lipocalins. The pattern of glycosylation for axillary apoD differs from that reported for plasma apoD, suggesting different sites of expression for the two glycoproteins. In situ hybridization of an oligonucleotide probe against apoD mRNA with axillary tissue demonstrates that the message for synthesis of this protein is specific to the apocrine glands. These results suggest a remarkable similarity between human axillary secretions and nonhuman mammalian odor sources, where lipocalins have been shown to carry the odoriferous signals used in pheromonal communication.

[Transcriptional expression of oncogenes and Rb antioncogene in experimental atherosclerotic lesions]

Atherosclerosis (AS) is characterized by the proliferation of the smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the arterial wall. Its pathogenesis might be associated with overexpression of oncogenes in SMC. Gorden and Barrett et al found that sis mRNA level elevated in human atherosclerotic plaques 5-12 fold above level present in normal artery. But the transcriptional expression of c-fos, c-myc, c-jun, H-ras, v-erb-B oncogenes and Rb antioncogene in atherosclerotic lesion has not yet been reported. A study on these oncogenes and Rb gene expression in artherosclerotic lesions in rabbits fed on high cholesterol diet were assayed by the dot blot hybridization using alpha-32P-labelled oncogenes and Rb gene fragments as the probes. After fed with the high cholesterol diet for six months, the plasma cholesterol levels in AS rabbits were significantly increased (1300 +/- 240 mg/dl vs 67.1 +/- 11.5 mg/dl). The atherosclerotic plaques covered 91% +/- 11% of the intimal aortic surface of aorta thoracalis. The results showed that the atherosclerotic plaques contained 3-4 fold more v-sis, c-fos and c-myc mRNA (P < 0.01), 2 fold more c-jun and H-ras mRNA (P < 0.01), and less Rb mRNA (P < 0.05) than those in the normal aortic arteries. But the expression of v-erb-B gene in atherosclerotic plaques remained unchanged. These results indicate that the abnormal expression of v-sis, c-myc, c-fos, c-jun, and H-ras oncogenes and Rb antioncogene may play an important role in arterial SMC proliferation and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Nuclear matrix proteins as structural and functional components of the mitotic apparatus

The eukaryotic nucleus is a membrane-enclosed compartment containing the genome and associated organelles supported by a complex matrix of nonhistone proteins. Identified as the nuclear matrix, this component maintains spatial order and provides the structural framework needed for DNA replication, RNA synthesis and processing, nuclear transport, and steroid hormone action. During mitosis, the nucleoskeleton and associated chromatin is efficiently dismantled, packaged, partitioned, and subsequently reassembled into daughter nuclei. The dramatic dissolution of the nucleus is accompanied by the assembly of a mitotic apparatus required to facilitate the complex events associated with nuclear division. Until recently, little was known about the fate or disposition of nuclear matrix proteins during mitosis. The availability of specific molecular probes and imaging techniques, including confocal microscopy and improved immunoelectron microscopy using resinless sections and related procedures, has enabled investigators to identify and map the distribution of nuclear matrix proteins throughout the cell cycle. This chapter will review the structure, function, and distribution of the protein NuMA (nuclear matrix mitotic apparatus) and other nuclear matrix proteins that depart the nucleus during the interphase/mitosis transition to become structural and functional components within specific domains of the mitotic apparatus.

Effects of antisense epidermal growth factor and its receptor retroviral expression vectors on cell growth of human pancreatic carcinoma cell line

A 150 bp epidermal growth factor (EGF) cDNA fragment and a 1024 bp epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) cDNA fragment were inserted into 5.05 kb pBabe-puro retroviral vectors between BamH I and EcoR I sites in 3'-5' and/or 5'-3' orientation. The vectors were ligated with EGF and EGFR fragments by T-4 Ligase. The recombinant retroviral vectors were then packaged with packaging cell line PA317 through calcium phosphate mediated transfection. The viral supernatant of transfected PA317 cell lines were used to infect the human pancreatic carcinoma cell line PC-7. The resultant transformant cell lines: PC-7/AS-EGF, PC-7/S-EGFR, PC-7/AS-EGFR and PC-7/pBabe were tested for their endogenous EGF and EGFR mRNA expressions, cell growth rate, 3H-TdR incorporation rate, soft agar colony formation and tumorigenicity in nude mice. The results showed that there were noticeable inhibitions of cell growth, 3H-TdR incorporation rate, soft agar colony formation and tumorigenicity in nude mice in PC-7/AS-EGF and PC-7/AS-EGFR transformant cell lines. The endogenous EGF mRNA expression was blocked in PC-7/AS-EGF cell line and the endogenous EGFR mRNA was significantly down-regulated in PC-7/AS-EGFR cell line.

Active site residues of human brain hexokinase as studied by site-specific mutagenesis

The truncated gene of hexokinase, mini-hexokinase, starting with methionine 455 and ending at the C terminus was expressed in Escherichia coli. Mini-hexokinase lost its ability to ameliorate inhibition of glucose-6-P-inhibited mini-hexokinase in the presence of phosphate (P(i)). We suggest that the P(i) site either resides in the N-terminal half of hexokinase I or requires the N-terminal portion of the enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to obtain two mutants of mini-hexokinase: C606S and C628S. Both are thought to be associated with the active site of hexokinase I. These mutants exhibited a 3-fold increase in Km for glucose but no change in either the Km for ATP or the kcat. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed no differences among the wild-type or mutant enzymes. These results suggest that Cys606 and Cys628 are not involved in glucose binding directly. The putative ATP-binding site of full-length human brain hexokinase may involve Arg539 and Gly679, and these residues were mutated to Ile. For the mutant R539I, the kcat value decreased 114-fold relative to wild-type hexokinase, whereas the Km values for ATP and glucose changed only slightly. No change was observed in the Ki value for 1,5-anhydroglucitol 6-phosphate. CD spectra showed only a slight change in secondary structure. For the mutant G679I, overexpressed hexokinase is insoluble. We suggest that Arg539 is important for catalysis because it stabilizes the transition state product ADP-hexokinase. Gly679 is probably important for proper folding of the protein.

Deformed protein binding sites and cofactor binding sites are required for the function of a small segment-specific regulatory element in Drosophila embryos

How each of the homeotic selector proteins can regulate distinct sets of DNA target elements in embryos is not understood. Here we describe a detailed functional dissection of a small element that is specifically regulated by the Deformed homeotic protein. This 120 bp element (module E) is part of a larger 2.7 kb autoregulatory enhancer that maintains Deformed (Dfd) transcription in the epidermis of the maxillary and mandibular segments of Drosophila embryos. In vitro binding assays show that module E contains only one Dfd protein binding site. Mutations in the Dfd binding site that increase or decrease its in vitro affinity for Dfd protein generate parallel changes in the regulatory activity of module E in transgenic embryos, strong evidence that the in vitro-defined binding site is a direct target of Dfd protein in embryos. However, a monomer or multimer of the Dfd binding region alone is not sufficient to supply Dfd-dependent, segment-specific reporter gene expression. An analysis of a systematic series of clustered point mutations in module E revealed that an additional region containing an imperfect inverted repeat sequence is also required for the function of this homeotic protein response element. The Dfd binding site and the putative cofactor binding site(s) in the region of the inverted repeat are both necessary and in combination sufficient for the function of module E.

Nuclear-mitotic apparatus protein: a structural protein interface between the nucleoskeleton and RNA splicing

Vertebrate splicing factors are localized to discrete domains within the nuclei of somatic cells. The mechanism whereby such nuclear domains, identified as speckles by immunofluorescence microscopy, are generated is unclear. Recent studies suggest that the spatial order within the nucleus is maintained by nuclear matrix factors. Here we show that a protein in the nuclear matrix and mitotic apparatus [nuclear-mitotic apparatus protein, NuMA; Lydersen, B. & Pettijohn, D. (1980) Cell 22, 489-499] colocalizes with splicing factors in interphase nuclei and is associated with small nuclear ribonucleoproteins in a complex immunoprecipitated from HeLa extract with small nuclear ribonucleoprotein antibodies. Moreover, NuMA associates with splicing complexes that are reconstituted in vitro using wild-type pre-mRNA, but not with nonspecific RNA. Cumulatively, these observations suggest a function of NuMA or NuMA-like proteins in interphase cells in providing a bridge between RNA processing and the nucleoskeleton.

Localization of NuMA protein isoforms in the nuclear matrix of mammalian cells

Using a monoclonal antibody 2D3 generated against a kinetochore-enriched human chromosome preparation, we identified a high molecular mass protein with nuclear staining in interphase and polar staining of the pericentriolar region in the mitotic spindle. Initially termed centrophilin, this protein associates with the minus-ends of spindle microtubules (MT) and appears to be important in spindle organization [Tousson et al., 1991: J. Cell Biol. 112:427-440]. Comparison of a partial cDNA sequence obtained for centrophilin with the full length cDNA sequence of nuclear mitotic apparatus protein (NuMA) [Compton et al., 1992: J. Cell Biol. 116:1395-1408; Yang et al., 1992: J. Cell Biol. 116:1303-1317] has indicated that NuMA and centrophilin are the same protein. Using a polyclonal NuMA antibody, we have provided further evidence that NuMA exists as isoforms as shown by peptide mapping and immunoblots. Sequential fractionation experiments along with immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and EM immunogold labeling have demonstrated that NuMA isoforms are novel components of nuclear core filaments. Thus, NuMA, a long coiled-coil protein, appears to have dual functions in interphase and mitosis during the cell cycle. In interphase, NuMA likely plays a structural role in the nucleoskeleton that may be important in nuclear organization and functions, whereas in mitosis, NuMA appears to be associated with spindle MT organization and chromosome positioning.

[A study on developmental toxicity of vanadium pentoxide in Wistar rats]

Timed-pregnant Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with V2O5 at 0.33, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg/day on days 6-15 of gestation. Maternal toxic symptoms, decreased of weight gain during treatment and placenta weight, increased incidence of embryo-fetus mortality and external or skeletal malformation and fetal growth retardation were observed in the 3.0 mg/kg group. Increased incidence of embryo-fetus mortality and external or skeletal malformation, delayed ossification of bone and decreased placenta weight were observed in the 1.0 mg/kg group. These results indicate that V2O5 is a developmental toxicant with or without obvious maternal toxicity in Wistar rats. Although vanadium can be accumulated in placenta, it could passed through placenta. In this study, vanadium could induce a decrease of placenta weight without obvious maternal toxicity, and an A/D ratio of 3 was noted. These results suggest that vanadium may exert a direct effect on embryo-fetues or a "double effect" on the placenta function and embryo-fetus both. It has been reported that vanadium does not increase mal formation in NIN, Kunming, Swiss, NMRI mice or Syrian golden hamster. The dose for inducing developmental toxicity of vanadium in mice is higher than that in rats. This suggests that rats be more sensitive than mice to the developmental toxicity of vanadium.

Centrophilin: a novel mitotic spindle protein involved in microtubule nucleation

A novel protein has been identified which may serve a key function in nucleating spindle microtubule growth in mitosis. This protein, called centrophilin, is sequentially relocated from the centromeres to the centrosomes to the midbody in a manner dependent on the mitotic phase. Centrophilin was initially detected by immunofluorescence with a monoclonal, primate-specific antibody (2D3) raised against kinetochore-enriched chromosome extract from HeLa cells (Valdivia, M. M., and B. R. Brinkley. 1985. J. Cell Biol. 101:1124-1134). Centrophilin forms prominent crescents at the poles of the metaphase spindle, gradually diminishes during anaphase, and bands the equatorial ends of midbody microtubules in telophase. The formation and breakdown of the spindle and midbody correlates in time and space with the aggregation and disaggregation of centrophilin foci. Immunogold EM reveals that centrophilin is a major component of pericentriolar material in metaphase. During recovery from microtubule inhibition, centrophilin foci act as nucleation sites for the assembly of spindle tubules. The 2D3 probe recognizes two high molecular mass polypeptides, 180 and 210 kD, on immunoblots of whole HeLa cell extract. Taken together, these data and the available literature on microtubule dynamics point inevitably to a singular model for control of spindle tubule turnover.

Polyethylene glycol significantly enhances the transfer of membrane immunoblotting

Poly(ethylene glycol)n is a group of water-soluble, hydrophobic, optically transparent and biomacromolecule-nondenaturing polymers. These properties have caused it be widely used for various purposes in the biological sciences. In this study, the effects of poly(ethylene glycol)n on protein preservation, electrotransferring, and immunoblotting from sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane have been systematically evaluated. After SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 30% poly(ethylene glycol)n may be applied to reversibly fix proteins within the gel more completely, differing from irreversible fixation produced by solutions such as trichloroacetic acid-sulfosalicylic acid or acetic acid-methanol systems. The intragel proteins, fixed by poly(ethylene glycol)n, can be electroblotted directly onto PVDF membranes in the presence of 30% poly(ethylene glycol)n. We have shown that treatment with poly(ethylene glycol)n may reduce background, raise signal-to-noise ratio, sharpen protein bands, and increase resolution, resulting in enhancement of the immunoblotting transfer. It is possible to visualize a few picograms of a single protein band, increasing the sensitivity of the method by 10- to 100-fold, as compared with standard immunoblotting techniques.