Inhibitory effect of calcium-binding protein regucalcin on ribonucleic acid synthesis in isolated rat liver nuclei

Functional pleiotropy of calcium binding protein Regucalcin in signaling and diseases

Regucalcin (Mr ∼ 33.38 kDa) is a calcium binding protein, discovered in rat liver. In humans, gene for regucalcin is located on chromosome-11 (p11.3-q11.2) consisting of seven exons and six introns. The protein differs from other calcium binding protein in the way that it lacks EF-hand motif of calcium binding domain. It is also called as Senescence Marker Protein-30 (SMP-30) as previously its weight assumes to be 30 kDa and expression of this protein decreases with aging in androgen independent manner. Among vertebrates, it is a highly conserved protein showing gene homology in Drosophila, Xenopus, fireflies and others too. It is primarily expressed in liver and kidney in addition to brain, lungs, and skeletal muscles. Regucalcin acts as a Ca²⁺ regulatory protein and controls various cellular functions in liver and other organs. It suppresses protein phosphatase, protein kinase, DNA and RNA synthesis. Published evidences suggest regucalcin to be a reliable biomarker in various disorders of liver, kidney, brain and ocular. In over expressed state, it subdues apoptosis in cloned rat hepatoma cells and also induces hyperlipidemia and osteoblastogenesis by regulating various factors. Owing to the multi-functionality of regucalcin this review is presented to elaborate its importance in order to understand its involvement in cellular signaling during various pathologies.

Downregulation of SMP30 in senescent human lens epithelial cells

Senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) has been reported to serve antiapoptotic and antioxidant roles, as well as roles in Ca²⁺ regulation, and may be involved in the occurrence and development of cataract. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of SMP30 in senescent human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) and explored the relationship between SMP30 and aging. SRA01/04 cells, a HLEC line, were treated with H₂O₂ to mimic aging, and cell morphological changes were observed by microscopy and cell activity was examined by MTT assay, senescence-associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining and cell cycle analysis. The expression of SMP30 mRNA and protein was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Following prolonged low-dose H₂O₂ exposure, cells exhibited senescence-related morphological changes, reduced growth activity, increased SA-β-Gal positive staining and cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases. SMP30 mRNA expression levels were significantly downregulated following exposure to 75 and 100 µM H₂O₂, and the protein expression levels in the same groups were decreased by >6-fold compared with the control untreated cells. However, no significant change was observed in SMP30 expression in the 25 and 50 µM H₂O₂ exposure groups. These results suggest that, in the early stage of senescence induced by H₂O₂-mediated chronic oxidative stress, there may be no significant change in SMP30 expression, but when the oxidative stress increases and senescence is aggravated, SMP30 may be significantly downregulated in the senescent HLECs. The present study indicates that SMP30 may be an important factor involved in the aging process of HLECs and the development of cataract.

Involvement of regucalcin as a suppressor protein in human carcinogenesis: insight into the gene therapy

Regucalcin, which its gene is located on the X chromosome, plays a multifunctional role as a suppressor protein in cell signal transduction in various types of cells and tissues. The suppression of regucalcin gene expression has been shown to involve in carcinogenesis. Regucalcin gene expression was uniquely downregulated in carcinogenesis of rat liver in vivo, although the expression of other many genes was upregulated, indicating that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the development of hepatocarcinogenesis. Overexpression of endogenous regucalcin was found to suppress proliferation of rat cloned hepatoma cells in vitro. Moreover, the regucalcin gene and its protein levels were demonstrated specifically to downregulate in human hepatocellular carcinoma by analysis with multiple gene expression profiles and proteomics. Regucalcin gene expression was also found to suppress in human tumor tissues including kidney, lung, brain, breast and prostate, suggesting that repressed regucalcin gene expression leads to the development of carcinogenesis in various tissues. Regucalcin may play a role as a suppressor protein in carcinogenesis. Overexpression of endogenous regucalcin is suggested to reveal preventive and therapeutic effects on carcinogenesis. Delivery of the regucalcin gene may be a novel useful tool in the gene therapy of carcinogenesis. This review will discuss regarding to an involvement of regucalcin as a suppressor protein in human carcinogenesis in insight into the gene therapy.

Suppressive role of regucalcin in liver cell proliferation: involvement in carcinogenesis

Regucalcin (RGN/SMP30) was discovered in 1978 and is a unique calcium-binding protein contains no EF-hand motif calcium-binding domain. Its name, regucalcin, was proposed as it suppresses activation of enzymes related to calcium signalling. The regucalcin gene (rgn) is localized on the X chromosome. Regucalcin plays its role of suppressor protein in intracellular signalling pathways, including of protein kinases and protein phosphatase activities, protein synthesis, and DNA and RNA synthesis in liver cells. Overexpression of endogenous regucalcin has a suppressive effect on cell proliferation in modelled rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells, which are induced by various signalling stimulations in vitro. This suppressive effect is independent of apoptosis. Endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role on overproduction of proliferating cells in regenerating rat liver in vivo. Regucalcin mRNA expression is uniquely down-regulated in development of carcinogenesis in liver of rats in vivo. Regucalcin mRNA and protein expressions are also depressed in human hepatoma HepG2 cells, MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and prostate cancer LNCaP cells. Depression of regucalcin expression may be associated with activity progression of carcinogens. Regucalcin may be a key molecule suppressor protein in cell proliferation and carcinogenesis.

Role of regucalcin in cell nuclear regulation: involvement as a transcription factor

Regucalcin (RGN/SMP30) was discovered in 1978 as a calcium (Ca(2+))-binding protein that contains no EF-hand motif of the Ca(2+)-binding domain. The name of regucalcin was proposed for this Ca(2+)-binding protein, which can regulate various Ca(2+)-dependent enzyme activations in liver cells. The regucalcin gene is localized on the X chromosome. Regucalcin plays a multifunctional role in cell regulation through maintaining intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and suppressing signal transduction in various cell types. The cytoplasmic regucalcin is translocated into the nucleus and inhibits nuclear Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent protein kinases and protein phosphatases, Ca(2+)-activated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation and DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis. Moreover, overexpression of endogenous regucalcin regulates the gene expression of various proteins that are related to cell proliferation and apoptosis. This review will discuss the role of regucalcin in the regulation of cell nuclear function and an involvement in gene expression as a novel transcription factor.

Novel protein RGPR-p117: its role as the regucalcin gene transcription factor

RGPR-p117 was originally discovered as a novel protein that binds to a nuclear factor I (NFI) consensus motif TTGGC(N)(6)CC, which is present in the 5'-flanking region of the regucalcin gene (rgn). RGPR-p117 has been identified in human, rat, mouse, bovine, rabbit, and chicken livers. Phylogenetic analysis of six vertebrates shows that RGPR-p117 appears to form a single cluster, indicating a common evolutionary relationship of the RGPR-p117 family. The RGPR-p117 gene consists of at least 26 exons spanning approximately 4.1 kbp and is localized on human chromosome 1q25.2. RGPR-p117 mRNA is expressed in the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and brain of rats. RGPR-p117 mRNA expression is stimulated through signaling mechanisms. Mammalian RGPR-p117 conserves a leucine zipper motif, which is present in many gene regulatory proteins. RGPR-p117 has been shown to translocate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in NRK52E cells, a process which is mediated through protein kinase C signaling following hormonal stimulation. The phosphorylated RGPR-p117 binds to the TTGGC motif in the promoter region of the regucalcin gene and enhances regucalcin mRNA expression in the cells, indicating a role as a transcriptional factor. RGPR-p117 is also localized in the plasma membranes, nucleus, mitochondria, microsomes, and cytoplasm. Overexpression of RGPR-p117 has been found to induce a significant decrease in protein and DNA contents in cells, suggesting that RGPR-p117 may regulate the gene expression of other related proteins as well as the transcription factor. Also, overexpression of RGPR-p117 has a suppressive effect on cell death by inhibiting the gene expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, and Fas-associating death domain protein whose TTGGC motif is present in the promoter region of their genes. The novel protein RGPR-p117 has been shown to play an important role as a transcription factor.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of regucalcin in disk abalone (Haliotis discus discus): intramuscular calcium administration stimulates the regucalcin mRNA expression

Regucalcin is a novel calcium (Ca(2+)) binding protein and it has been demonstrated to play a multifunctional role in many organisms. Here, we report the molecular cloning of invertebrate regucalcin cDNA from disk abalone Haliotis discus discus. The full length cDNA showed 1321 bp of nucleotides with a polyadenylated sequence (AATAAA). Abalone regucalcin (HdReg) open reading frame (ORF) consists of 918 nucleotides encoding 305 amino acids (aa). Estimated molecular mass was 33 kDa and predicted isoelectric point (pI) was 4.9. The HdReg aa sequence did not contain the EF-hand motif as a Ca(2+) binding domain, suggesting a novel class of Ca(2+) binding protein. Moreover, it showed 45% identity to chicken and zebrafish, and 44% to rat and mouse regucalcin in deduced aa level. The tissue expression analysis of HdReg mRNA was investigated by RT-PCR and it was expressed in all the tissues tested such as gill, mantle, digestive tract, and abductor muscle. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR results showed that an intramuscular administration of calcium chloride (CaCl(2)) (0.5 mg CaCl(2)/g of abalone) could significantly induce regucalcin mRNA in abductor muscle after 30 min of administration and reached maximum after 1 h. Subsequently, the expression level was decreased after 2 h. This indicates that the expression of regucalcin mRNA is constitutive, and specifically up regulated in abalone abductor muscle by Ca(2+) administration.

Relationship between RNA synthesis and the Ca2+-filled state of the nuclear envelope store

RNA synthesis and ATP-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake were measured simultaneously in isolated nuclear fraction of rat liver nuclei. Maximal level of RNA synthesis was obtained under ATP-dependent (45)Ca(2+)-uptake conditions (1 microM free [Ca(2+)] and 1 mM ATP in the bathing solution). This experimental condition was defined as "stimulated nuclei" condition. ATP-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake was inhibited using different strategies including: (a) eliminating Ca(2+) (1 mM EGTA); (b) lowering the ATP concentration; (c) modifying nuclear envelope membranes Ca(2+) permeability (Ca(2+) ionophores); or (d) inhibiting the nuclear Ca(2+) pump (thapsigargin and 3',3'',5',5''-tetraiodophenolsulfonephthalein). Under all the above conditions, RNA synthesis was lower than in "stimulated nuclei" condition. In the presence of ionomycin, RNA synthesis was significantly higher at 500 nM free [Ca(2+)], as compared with RNA synthesis in a Ca(2+)-free medium or at 1muM free [Ca(2+)]. However, even in such condition (500 nM free [Ca(2+)]), RNA synthesis was lower than RNA synthesis obtained in "stimulated nuclei" condition. We suggest two components for the effect of Ca(2+) on RNA synthesis: (A) a direct effect of nucleoplasmic [Ca(2+)]; and (B) an effect dependent on the accumulation of Ca(2+) in the nuclear envelope store mediated by the SERCA nuclear Ca(2+) pump.

Role of endogenous regucalcin in nuclear regulation of regenerating rat liver: suppression of the enhanced ribonucleic acid synthesis activity

The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis activity in the nucleus of normal and regenerating rat livers was investigated. Nuclear RNA synthesis was measured by the incorporation of [(3)H]-uridine 5'-triphosphate into the nuclear RNA in vitro. The presence of regucalcin (0.25 or 0.5 microM) in the reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in nuclear RNA synthesis of normal rat liver. alpha-Amanitin (10(-8)-10(-6) M), an inhibitor of RNA polymerase II and III, decreased significantly nuclear RNA synthesis activity. The effect of regucalcin (0.25 microM) in decreasing nuclear RNA synthesis activity was not seen in the presence of alpha-amanitin (10(-6) M). The calcium chloride (10 microM)-increased nuclear RNA synthesis activity was significantly suppressed by the addition of regucalcin (0.25 microM). RNA synthesis activity was significantly enhanced in the nuclei of regenating rat liver obtained at 24, 48, or 72 h after partial hepatectomy. This enhancement was significantly inhibited in the presence of PD98059 (10(-5) M), staurosporine (10(-6) M), or vanadate (10(-3) M). Western analysis of the nuclei of regenerating liver obtained at 24, 48, or 72 h after partial hepatectomy showed a significant increase in regucalcin protein as compared with that of sham-operated rats. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 or 50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture caused a significant increase in nuclear RNA synthesis activity of normal rat liver. This increase was completely blocked by the addition of regucalcin (1.0 microM). The effect of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in increasing nuclear RNA synthesis activity was significantly enhanced in the nuclei of regenerating liver obtained at 24, 48, or 72 h after partial hepatectomy. This enhancement was significantly suppressed by the addition of alpha-amanitin (10(-6) M), PD98059 (10(-5) M), staurosporine (10(-6) M), or vanadate (10(-3) M) in the reaction mixture. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin has a suppressive effect on the enhancement of RNA synthesis activity in the nucleus of regenerating rat liver with proliferative cells.

Suppressive role of endogenous regucalcin in the enhancement of nitric oxide synthase activity in liver cytosol of normal and regucalcin transgenic rats

The suppressive role of endogenous regucalcin, which is a regulatory protein of calcium signaling, in the enhancement of nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in the liver cytosol of rats was investigated. The enzyme activity was measured in a reaction mixture containing either vehicle or calcium chloride (1-20 microM) in the absence or presence of regucalcin (0.1, 0.25, or 0.5 microM). NO synthase activity was significantly increased by the addition of calcium (5-20 microM). This increase was completely abolished in the presence of trifluoperazine (TFP; 10-50 microM), an antagonist of Ca(2+)/calmodulin. The addition of regucalcin (0.1-0.5 microM) caused a significant fall in the calcium-increased enzyme activity. The effect of regucalcin (0.25 microM) in decreasing NO synthase activity was seen in the presence of ethylene glycol bis-(2-aminoethylether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA, 1 mM) or TFP (20 microM), indicating that regucalcin acts independent on Ca(2+)/calmodulin. NO synthase activity was significantly raised in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (10-50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture. The effect of the antibody (50 ng/ml) or calcium (10 microM) in elevating NO synthase activity in the liver cytosol of normal rats was not seen in the liver cytosol obtained from regucalcin transgenic rats. Moreover, the increase in NO synthase activity in the liver cytosol of normal rats induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of calcium (5.0 mg/100 g body weight) was significantly enhanced in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture. The administration of calcium caused a significant increase in regucalcin level in the liver cytosol of normal rats. The present study demonstrated that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the enhancement of NO synthase activity in the liver cytosol of rats.

Suppression of cell proliferation and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells overexpressing regucalcin

The role of endogenous regucalcin (RC) in the regulation of cell proliferation was investigated in the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells overexpressing RC stably. H4-II-E cells were transfected with RC/pCXN2 vector and the multiple neomycin-resistant clones which overexpress stably RC were selected. The RC content of RC/pCXN2-transfected cells used in this study was 19.7-fold as compared with that of the parental wild type H4-II-E cells. Wild type H4-II-E cells, pCXN2 vector-transfected cells (mock type), and RC/pCXN2-transfected cells (transfectants) were cultured for 24, 48, and 72 h in the presence of fetal bovine serum (10% FBS). Cell numbers of wild and mock type were significantly increased with the time course of culture. Cell numbers of transfectants was significantly suppressed as compared with that of wild and mock type. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis activity in the nuclear fraction of H4-II-E cells was significantly suppressed in transfectants with culture for 12-48 h. The presence of anti-RC monoclonal antibody (10-50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture caused a significant increase in DNA synthesis activity in the nuclei of wild type and transfectants; this increase was remarkable in transfectants. The effect of anti-RC monoclonal antibody (50 ng/ml) in increasing DNA synthesis activity in transfectants was completely prevented by the addition of regucalcin (1 microM). This study demonstrates that cell proliferation is suppressed in the cloned rat hepatoma H4-II-E overexpressing RC stably.

Regulatory role of endogenous regucalcin in the enhancement of nuclear deoxyribonuleic acid synthesis with proliferation of cloned rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E)

The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of deoxyribonuleic acid (DNA) synthesis in the nuclei of the cloned rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E) with proliferative cells was investigated. Cells were cultured for 6-96 h in a alpha-minimum essential medium (alpha-MEM) containing fetal bovine serum (FBS; 1 or 10%). Cell number was significantly increased between 24 and 96 h after culture with 10% FBS; cell proliferation was markedly stimulated by culture with 10% FBS as compared with that of 1% FBS. In vitro DNA synthesis activity in the nuclei of cells was significantly elevated 6 h after culture with 10% FBS and its elevation was remarkable at 12 and 24 h after the culture. Nuclear DNA synthesis activity was significantly reduced in the presence of various protein kinase inhibitors (PD98059, staurosprine, or trifluoperazine) in the reaction mixture containing the nuclei of cells cultured for 12 and 24 h with FBS (1 and 10%). The addition of regucalcin (10(-7) and 10(-6)M) in the reaction mixture caused a significant inhibition of nuclear DNA synthesis activity. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25-100 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture containing the nuclei of cells cultured for 24 h with 10% FBS resulted in a significant increase in nuclear DNA synthesis activity. This increase was completely blocked by the addition of regucalcin (10(-6) M). The effect of anti-regucalcin antibody (100 ng/ml) in increasing nuclear DNA synthesis activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of various protein kinase inhibitors. DNA synthesis activity was significantly enhanced in the presence of anti-regucalcin antibody (100 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture containing the nuclei of cells cultured for 24 h with 10% FBS in the presence of Bay K 8644 (2.5 x 10(-6) M). Culture with Bay K 8644 did not cause a significant increase in DNA synthesis activity in the absence of anti-regucalcin antibody. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the enhancement of nuclear DNA synthesis with proliferative cells.

Suppressive role of endogenous regucalcin in the enhancement of protein kinase activity with proliferation of cloned rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E)

The role of endogenous regucalcin, which is a regulatory protein in calcium signaling, in the regulation of protein kinase activity in the proliferation of the cloned rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E) was investigated. Hepatoma cells were cultured for 6-72 h in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS; 1 or 10%). The number of cells and protein kinase activity in the 5500 g supernatant of cell homogenate was significantly increased 24 and 48 h after the culture with FBS (1 or 10%); the culture with 10% FBS was potent effect as compared with that of 1% FBS. FBS (10%)-increased protein kinase activity preceded a significant elevation of cell number of 6 h after culture. Serum stimulation-induced increase in protein kinase activity was significantly decreased in the presence of trifluoperazine (50 microM), staurosporine (10(-6) M) or genistein (10(-5) M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (40 or 80 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture caused a significant increase in protein kinase activity in the cells cultured with FBS (1 or 10%). This increase was completely blocked by addition of regucalcin (10(-6) M), which can reveal an inhibitory effect on protein kinase activity. Moreover, the effect of antibody in increasing protein kinase activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of trifluoperazine, staurosporine, or genistein, indicating that endogenous regucalcin has an inhibitory effect on Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, and protein tyrosine kinase. The present study suggests that endogenous regucalcin plays a suppressive role in the enhancement of various protein kinase activities associated with a proliferation of the cloned rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E).

Suppressive effect of endogenous regucalcin on guanosine triphosphatase activity in rat liver nucleus

The effect of regucalcin, a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling, on guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activity in the nuclei of rat liver was investigated. GTPase activity was significantly increased by the addition of CaCl2 (50 microm) in the enzyme reaction mixture. This increase was not seen in the presence of trifluoperazine (25 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin, which could decrease nuclear GTPase activity, suggesting that nuclear endogenous calmodulin is involved in an increase in the enzyme activity related to Ca2+ addition. The presence of regucalcin (0.5 microM) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in nuclear GTPase activity. The enzyme activity was significantly raised in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 and 50 ng/ml) in the reaction mixture. This increase was completely abolished by the addition of regucalcin (0.5 microM). Also, the effect of regucalcin addition in increasing nuclear GTPase activity was seen in the presence of EGTA (0.1 mM), a chelator of Ca2+. The present study demonstrates that endogenous regucalcin has a suppressive effect on GTPase activity in the nuclei of rat liver.

Activatory effect of regucalcin on GTPase activity in rat liver plasma membranes

The effect of regucalcin, a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling, on guanosine-5'-triphosphatase (GTPase) activity in isolated rat liver plasma membranes was investigated. GTPase activity was significantly increased by the addition of Ca2+ (25-100 microM) in the enzyme reaction mixture. Such an increase was not seen by other metals (Mg, Co, Zn, Cu, Ni and Mn) with 50 microM. The activatory effect of calcium (50 microM) was significantly decreased by calmodulin (2.5 and 5 microg/ml), indicating that it does not depend on calmodulin. The presence of regucalcin (0.1-0.5 microM) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant increase in GTPase activity. This increase was not significantly enhanced by calcium (50 microM). GTPase activity was significantly increased by dithiothreitol (DTT; 5 mM), a protecting reagent of thiol (SH)-groups, while it was decreased by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM; 5 mM), a modifying reagent of SH-groups. The effect of calcium or regucalcin in increasing GTPase activity was not seen in the presence of NEM. Also, the activatory effect of calcium or regucalcin on GTPase was not seen in the presence of vanadate, an inhibitor of protein phosphorylation, which could inhibit GTPase activity. Moreover, the effect of regucalcin was not seen in the presence of digitonin (0.01%), a solubilizing reagent of membranous lipids, while the effect of calcium was not inhibited by digitonin. The present study demonstrates that regucalcin has an activatory effect on GTPase activity independently of Ca2+ in rat liver plasma membranes.

In vivo technique for determining transcriptional mutagenesis

When an elongating RNA polymerase encounters DNA damage on the template strand of a transcribed gene it can either be arrested by or be transcribed through the lesion. Lesions that arrest RNA polymerases are thought to be subject to transcription-coupled repair, whereas that damage that is bypassed can cause miscoding, resulting in "mutations" in the transcript (transcriptional mutagenesis). We have developed a technique using a plasmid-based luciferase reporter assay to determine the extent to which a particular type of DNA base modification is capable of causing transcriptional mutagenesis in vivo. The system uses Escherichia coli strains with different DNA repair backgrounds and is designed to detect phenotypic changes caused by transcriptional mutagenesis under nongrowth conditions. In addition, this method is capable of indicating the extent to which a particular DNA repair enzyme (or pathway) suppresses the occurrence of transcriptional mutagenesis. Thus, this technique provides a tool with which the effects of various genes on non-replication-dependent pathways resulting in the generation of mutant proteins can be gauged.

The role of regucalcin in nuclear regulation of regenerating liver

Regucalcin was discovered in 1978 as a Ca(2+)-binding protein that does not contain EF-hand motif of Ca(2+)-binding domain [Yamaguchi, M., and Yamamoto T., Chem. Pharm. Bull. 26, 1915-1918, 1978]. The name regucalcin was proposed for this Ca(2+)-binding protein, which can regulate liver cell functions related to Ca(2+). Regucalcin has been demonstrated to play a multifunctional role in liver and kidney cells, for which regucalcin mRNA expression and its protein content are pronounced. Hepatic regucalcin mRNA expression has been shown to be mediated through signaling pathway of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, and tyrosine kinase. AP-1- and NF-1-like factors can bind to the promotor region of the rat regucalcin gene to mediate the Ca(2+) response for transcriptional activation. Growing evidence supports the view, moreover, that regucalcin plays an important role in the regulation of Ca(2+) signaling from the cytoplasm to nuclei in the proliferative cells of regenerating rat liver. Also, regucalcin has been demonstrated to be transported to liver nucleus, and it can inhibit nuclear protein kinase, protein phosphatase, and DNA and RNA synthesis in regenerating liver. Regucalcin plays a physiologic role in the control for overexpression of proliferative cells. Regucalcin has been proposed to be an important regulatory protein in nuclear signaling system.

Role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in rat liver nuclei

The role of endogenous regucalcin in the regulation of Ca(2+)-ATPase, a Ca(2+) sequestrating enzyme, in rat liver nuclei was investigated. Nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was significantly reduced by the addition of regucalcin (0.1-0.5 microM) into the enzyme reaction mixture. The presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (25 or 50 ng/ml) caused a significant elevation of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity; this effect was completely abolished by the addition of regucalcin (0.1 microM). The effect of anti-regucalcin antibody (50 ng/ml) in increasing Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was completely prevented by the presence of thapsigargin (10(-6) M), an inhibitor of Ca(2+) sequestrating enzyme, N-ethylmaleimide (1 mM), a modifying reagent of thiol groups, or vanadate (10(-5) M), an inhibitor of phosphorylation of the enzyme by ATP, which revealed an inhibitory effect on nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. Meanwhile, the effect of anti-regucalcin antibody (50 ng/ml) was significantly enhanced by the addition of calmodulin (5 microg/ml), which could increase nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. In addition, the effect of antibody (50 ng/ml) was significantly reduced by the presence of trifluoperazine (20 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin. These results suggest that the endogenous regucalcin in liver nuclei has a suppressive effect on nuclear Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, and that regucalcin can inhibit an activating effect of calmodulin on the enzyme.

Role of regucalcin in calcium signaling

Regucalcin was discovered in 1978 as a calcium-binding protein that does not contain EF-hand motif of Ca(2+)-binding domain [M. Yamaguchi and T. Yamamoto, Chem. Pharm. Bull. 26 1915-1918 (1978)]. In recent years, regucalcin has been demonstrated to play an important role as a regulatory protein in Ca2+ signaling in rat liver and kidney cells. The organization of the rat regucalcin gene consists of seven exons and six introns. The mRNA is mainly present in liver and kidney with a size of 1.8 kb. Hepatic regucalcin mRNA expression has been shown to be stimulated by various factors including calcium, calcitonin, insulin, and estrogen in rats. The mRNA is also expressed in hepatoma cells (Morris hepatoma, HepG2, and rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells). Regucalcin plays a role in the maintenance of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis due to activating Ca2+ pump enzymes in the plasma membrane (basolateral membrane) and microsomes of liver and renal cortex cells. Moreover, regucalcin has an inhibitory effect on the activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent enzymes and protein kinase C. Also, regucalcin has been demonstrated to regulate nuclear function in liver cells; it can inhibit Ca(2+)-activated DNA fragmentation, DNA and RNA synthesis, protein kinase and protein phosphatase activities in the nuclei. Such an effect is also seen in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver. Regucalcin may play a physiological role in the control for overexpression of proliferative cells. Regucalcin has been proposed to be an important regulatory protein in Ca2+ signaling system, and it plays a multifunctional role in liver and kidney cells.

Decrease in protein kinase and phosphatase activities in the liver nuclei of rats exposed to carbon tetrachloride

The alteration in protein kinase and phosphatase activities in the liver nuclei of rats administered carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) was investigated. Rats received a single oral administration of CCl(4) (1 ml/100 g body wt of 5, 10, and 25% CCl(4) in corn oil), and 5, 24, and 48 h later they were euthanized by bleeding. The administration of CCl(4) (10 and 25%) caused a significant decrease in protein kinase activity in the liver nuclei. The enzyme activity in the liver nuclei from normal and CCl(4)-administered rats was significantly increased by the addition of Ca(2+) (0.5 mM) and calmodulin (10 microg/ml) in the reaction mixture, suggesting that Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activation is not suppressed by CCl(4) treatment. Liver nuclear phosphatase activity toward phosphotyrosine, but not phosphoserine and phosphothreonine, was markedly decreased by CCl(4) (5, 10, and 25%) administration. This decrease was seen 5 h after CCl(4) administration. The presence of vanadate (10(-4) M) in the reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity in the liver nuclei from normal and CCl(4)-administered rats, whereas the enzyme activity was not decreased by okadaic acid (10(-5) M) or sodium fluoride (10(-3) M). The effect of anti-regucalcin antibody (100 ng/ml) in increasing phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity was seen in the liver nuclei of CCl(4)-administered rats, suggesting that regucalcin-sensitive phosphatase activity is decreased by CCl(4) administration. The present study demonstrates that CCl(4) administration induces a decrease in protein kinase and tyrosine phosphatase activities, which are involved in signaling factors in the liver nuclei of rats.

Phenotypic change caused by transcriptional bypass of uracil in nondividing cells

Cytosine deamination to uracil occurs frequently in cellular DNA. In vitro, RNA polymerase efficiently inserts adenine opposite to uracil, resulting in G to A base substitutions. In vivo, uracil could potentially alter transcriptional fidelity, resulting in production of mutant proteins. This study demonstrates that in nondividing Escherichia coli cells, a DNA template base replaced with uracil in a stop codon in the firefly luciferase gene results in conversion of inactive to active luciferase. The level of transcriptional base substitution is dependent on the capacity to repair uracil. These results provide evidence for a DNA damage-dependent, transcription-driven pathway for generating mutant proteins in nondividing cells.

Inhibitory effect of calcium-binding protein regucalcin on protein kinase activity in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver

The effect of Ca2+-binding protein regucalcin on protein kinase activity in the nuclei of normal and regenerating rat livers was investigated. Protein kinase activity in the nuclei isolated from normal rat liver was significantly increased by addition of Ca2+ (500 microM) and calmodulin (10 microg/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture. Nuclear protein kinase activity was significantly decreased in the presence of EGTA (1.0 mM), trifluoperazine (TFP; 20 microM), dibucaine (10(-4) M), or staurosporine (10(-7) M), indicating that Ca2+-dependent protein kinases are present in the nuclei. Protein kinase activity was significantly elevated in the liver nuclei obtained at 6 to 48 h after a partial hepatectomy. Hepatectomy-increased nuclear protein kinase activity was significantly decreased in the presence of EGTA (1.0 mM), TFP (20 microM), or staurosporine (10(-7) M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The presence of regucalcin (0.1-0.5 microM) caused a significant decrease in protein kinase activity in the nuclei obtained from normal and regenerating rat livers. Meanwhile, the nuclear protein kinase activity from normal and regenerating livers was significantly elevated in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50-200 ng/ml). The present study suggests that regucalcin plays a role in the regulation of protein kinase activity in the nuclei of proliferative liver cells.

Role of calcium-binding protein regucalcin in regenerating rat liver

Regucalcin is a novel calcium-binding protein which does not contain EF-hand motif as a Ca²⁺ -binding domain. The organization of the rat regucalcin gene consists of seven exons and six introns. Its mRNA is mainly present in liver but slightly in kidney with a size of 1.8 kb. Hepatic regucalcin mRNA expression is stimulated by various factors including calcium, calcitonin, insulin, and oestrogen in rats. The mRNA is also expressed in hepatoma cells (Morris hepatoma and HepG2). Regucalcin plays a role in the maintenance of cytosolic Ca²⁺ homeostasis in liver cells. Moreover, regucalcin has an inhibitory effect on Ca²⁺ /calmodulin-dependent enzyme activation, protein kinase C activation, and many Ca²⁺ -activated enzymes, indicating a role in the regulation of the Ca²⁺ -signalling system. Recently, regucalcin has been demonstrated to regulate nuclear function in liver cells. Regucalcin can inhibit Ca²⁺ -activated nuclear DNA fragmentation in rat isolated liver nuclei. Furthermore, the liver nuclear DNA and RNA syntheses are inhibited by regucalcin. Such an effect of regucalcin is also seen in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver. The regucalcin mRNA level is increased in regenerating liver. These findings suggest that regucalcin plays a regulatory role in the suppression for overexpression of proliferative cells.

Alteration in calcium content and Ca2+-ATPase activity in the liver nuclei of rats orally administered carbon tetrachloride

The alteration in calcium transport in the liver nuclei of rats orally administered carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was investigated. Rats received a single oral administration of CCl4 (5, 10, and 25%, 1.0 ml/100 g body weight), and 5, 24 and 48 h later the animals were sacrificed. The administration of CCl4 (25%) caused a remarkable elevation of calcium content in the liver tissues and the nuclei of rats. Liver nuclear Ca2+-ATPase activity was markedly decreased by CCl4 (25%) administration. The presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP(10(-4) and 10(-3) M) or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) in the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in Ca2+-ATPase activity in the liver nuclei obtained from normal rat, while the enzyme activity was significantly increased by calmodulin (1.0 and 2.0 microg/ml). These signaling factor's effects were completely impaired in the liver nuclei obtained from CCl4 (25%)-administered rats. DNA fragmentation in the liver nuclei obtained from CCl4-administered rats was significantly decreased by the presence of EGTA (2 mM) in the reaction mixture, suggesting that the endogenous calcium activates nuclear DNA fragmentation. The present study demonstrates that calcium transport system in the liver nuclei is impaired by liver injury with CCl4 administration in rats.