ATP depletion affects the phosphorylation state, ligand binding, and nuclear transport of the 4 S polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-binding protein in rat hepatoma cells

Utilizing proteomic approach to identify nuclear translocation related serine kinase phosphorylation site of GNMT as downstream effector for benzo[a]pyrene

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) protein is highly expressed in certain tissues, such as liver, pancreas, and prostate. GNMT serves multiple roles which include a methyl group transfer enzyme and a liver tumor suppressor. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a family member of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), is a known environmental carcinogen found in coal tar, tobacco smoke, barbecued food and incomplete combustion of auto fuel. BaP recruits cytochrome P450 to transform itself into benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (B(a) PDE), which covalently interacts with DNA causing tumorigenesis. BaP can be detoxified through GNMT and induces GNMT translocation into the cellular nucleus. GNMT translocation is accompanied by phosphorylation, but the role of phosphorylation in GNMT remains to be explored. Using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, this study identified serine 9 of GNMT as the phosphorylation site upon BaP treatment. When serine 9 was mutated and lost the capability to be phosphorylated, the occurrence of BaP-induced GNMT nuclear translocation was dramatically decreased. Also, this mutant from of GNMT lost the ability of phosphorylation and increased cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1a) expression upon BaP treatment. In addition, protein kinase C (PKC) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) may be required for such phosphorylation. Further characterization of phosphorylated GNMT for its link to BaP may bring new insights into chemical detoxification.

Characterization of the GNMT-HectH9-PREX2 tripartite relationship in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

The pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involves many molecular pathways. Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) is downregulated in almost all HCC and its gene knockout mice developed HCC with high penetrance. We identified PREX2, a novel PTEN inhibitor, as a GNMT-interacting protein. Such interaction enhanced degradation of PREX2 through an E3 ligase HectH9-mediated proteasomal ubiquitination pathway. Depletion of GNMT or HectH9 resulted in AKT activation in a PREX2 dependent manner and enhanced cell proliferation. An elevated PREX2 protein expression accompanied by activation of AKT was observed in the liver of Gnmt knockout mice. PREX2 protein expression was upregulated in 54.9% of human HCC samples, while its mRNA level was comparable in tumor and tumor-adjacent tissue, suggesting a post-translational alteration of PREX2 expression. Higher level of PREX2 in the tumor tissues was associated with poorer survival. These results reveal a novel mechanism in which GNMT participates in AKT signaling and HCC tumorigenesis by promoting HectH9-mediated PREX2 degradation.

pH regulation in glycosomes of procyclic form Trypanosoma brucei

Here we report the use of a fluorescein-tagged peroxisomal targeting sequence peptide (F-PTS1, acetyl-C{K(FITC)}GGAKL) for investigating pH regulation of glycosomes in live procyclic form Trypanosoma brucei When added to cells, this fluorescent peptide is internalized within vesicular structures, including glycosomes, and can be visualized after 30-60 min. Using F-PTS1 we are able to observe the pH conditions inside glycosomes in response to starvation conditions. Previous studies have shown that in the absence of glucose, the glycosome exhibits mild acidification from pH 7.4 ± 0.2 to 6.8 ± 0.2. Our results suggest that this response occurs under proline starvation as well. This pH regulation is found to be independent from cytosolic pH and requires a source of Na⁺ ions. Glycosomes were also observed to be more resistant to external pH changes than the cytosol; placement of cells in acidic buffers (pH 5) reduced the pH of the cytosol by 0.8 ± 0.1 pH units, whereas glycosomal pH decreases by 0.5 ± 0.1 pH units. This observation suggests that regulation of glycosomal pH is different and independent from cytosolic pH regulation. Furthermore, pH regulation is likely to work by an active process, because cells depleted of ATP with 2-deoxyglucose and sodium azide were unable to properly regulate pH. Finally, inhibitor studies with bafilomycin and EIPA suggest that both V-ATPases and Na⁺/H⁺ exchangers are required for glycosomal pH regulation.

A novel tumor suppressor function of glycine N-methyltransferase is independent of its catalytic activity but requires nuclear localization

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT), an abundant cytosolic enzyme, catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to glycine generating S-adenosylhomocysteine and sarcosine (N-methylglycine). This reaction is regulated by 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, which inhibits the enzyme catalysis. In the present study, we observed that GNMT is strongly down regulated in human cancers and is undetectable in cancer cell lines while the transient expression of the protein in cancer cells induces apoptosis and results in the activation of ERK1/2 as an early pro-survival response. The antiproliferative effect of GNMT can be partially reversed by treatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk but not by supplementation with high folate or SAM. GNMT exerts the suppressor effect primarily in cells originated from malignant tumors: transformed cell line of non-cancer origin, HEK293, was insensitive to GNMT. Of note, high levels of GNMT, detected in regenerating liver and in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts, do not produce cytotoxic effects. Importantly, GNMT, a predominantly cytoplasmic protein, was translocated into nuclei upon transfection of cancer cells. The presence of GNMT in the nuclei was also observed in normal human tissues by immunohistochemical staining. We further demonstrated that the induction of apoptosis is associated with the GNMT nuclear localization but is independent of its catalytic activity or folate binding. GNMT targeted to nuclei, through the fusion with nuclear localization signal, still exerts strong antiproliferative effects while its restriction to cytoplasm, through the fusion with nuclear export signal, prevents these effects (in each case the protein was excluded from cytosol or nuclei, respectively). Overall, our study indicates that GNMT has a secondary function, as a regulator of cellular proliferation, which is independent of its catalytic role.

The multi-functional roles of GNMT in toxicology and cancer

Although glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) has been discovered for five decades, its function was not elucidated until recently. In this review, we discuss the multiple roles of GNMT in toxicology and cancer. Besides catalyzing the production of methylglycine (sarcosine) in one carbon metabolism pathway, GNMT was found to be able to bind a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and inhibit DNA adducts formation. Moreover, GNMT exerts protective effects against the cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity of benzo(a)pyrene and aflatoxin B(1) in vitro and in vivo. Occupational study showed that workers who had genotypes with higher GNMT promoter activity may have lower content of oxidative damaged DNA products in their urine. In terms of cancer, recent studies using GNMT knockout mouse models demonstrated that GNMT deficiency has high penetrance in inducing the development of steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In terms of the mechanism, besides dysregulation of epigenetic modification, insights have been provided by recent identification of two novel proteins interacting with GNMT-DEPTOR and NPC2. These studies suggest that GNMT not only is involved in mTOR signaling pathway, but also plays an important role in the intracellular trafficking of cholesterol. The implication of these findings to the preventive medicine and translational research will be discussed.

One-step purification of functional human and rat pancreatic alpha cells

Pancreatic alpha cells contribute to glucose homeostasis by the regulated secretion of glucagon, which increases glycogenolysis and hepatic gluconeogenesis in response to hypoglycemia. Alterations of glucagon secretion are observed in diabetic patients and exacerbate the disease. The restricted availability of purified primary alpha cells has limited our understanding of their function in health and disease. This study was designed to establish convenient protocols for the purification of viable alpha cells from rat and human pancreatic islets by FACS, using intrinsic cellular properties. Islets were isolated from the pancreata of Wistar rats or deceased human organ donors. Dispersed islet cells were separated by FACS based on light scatter and autofluorescence. Purity of sorted cells was evaluated by immunocytochemistry using hormone specific antibodies. Relative hormone expression was further determined by quantitative RT-PCR. Viability was determined by Annexin V and propidium iodide staining and function was assessed by monitoring cytoplasmic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) using Fura-2/AM. We developed species-specific FACS gating strategies that resulted in populations consisting mainly of alpha cells (96.6 ± 1.4%, n = 3 for rat; 95.4 ± 1.7%, n = 4 for human, mean ± SEM). These cell fractions showed ~5-fold and ~4-fold enrichment (rat and human, respectively) of glucagon mRNA expression compared to total ungated islet cells. Most of the sorted cells were viable and functional, as they responded with an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) upon stimulation with L-arginine (10 mM). The majority of the sorted human alpha cells responded also to stimulation with kainate (100 μM), whereas this response was infrequent in rat alpha cells. Using the same sample preparation, but a different gating strategy, we were also able to sort rat and human populations enriched in beta cells. In conclusion, we have simplified and optimized a method for the purification of rat alpha cells, as well as established a novel approach to separate human alpha cells using neither antibodies nor dyes possibly interfering with cellular functions.

Glycine N-methyltransferase and regulation of S-adenosylmethionine levels

Methylation is a major biological process. It has been shown to be important in formation of compounds such as phosphatidylcholine, creatine, and many others and also participates in epigenetic effects through methylation of histones and DNA. The donor of methyl groups for almost all cellular methylation reactions is S-adenosylmethionine. It seems that the level of S-adenosylmethionine must be regulated in response to developmental stages and metabolic changes, and the enzyme glycine N-methyltransferase has been shown to play a major role in such regulation in mammals. This minireview will focus on the latest discoveries in the elucidation of the mechanism of that regulation.

Insights into nuclear organization in plants as revealed by the dynamic distribution of Arabidopsis SR splicing factors

Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are splicing regulators that share a modular structure consisting of one or two N-terminal RNA recognition motif domains and a C-terminal RS-rich domain. We investigated the dynamic localization of the Arabidopsis thaliana SR protein RSZp22, which, as we showed previously, distributes in predominant speckle-like structures and in the nucleolus. To determine the role of RSZp22 diverse domains in its nucleolar distribution, we investigated the subnuclear localization of domain-deleted mutant proteins. Our results suggest that the nucleolar localization of RSZp22 does not depend on a single targeting signal but likely involves different domains/motifs. Photobleaching experiments demonstrated the unrestricted dynamics of RSZp22 between nuclear compartments. Selective inhibitor experiments of ongoing cellular phosphorylation influenced the rates of exchange of RSZp22 between the different nuclear territories, indicating that SR protein mobility is dependent on the phosphorylation state of the cell. Furthermore, based on a leptomycin B- and fluorescence loss in photobleaching-based sensitive assay, we suggest that RSZp22 is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein. Finally, with electron microscopy, we confirmed that RSp31, a plant-specific SR protein, is dynamically distributed in nucleolar cap-like structures upon phosphorylation inhibition. Our findings emphasize the high mobility of Arabidopsis SR splicing factors and provide insights into the dynamic relationships between the different nuclear compartments.

Glutamate receptors on human melanocytes regulate the expression of MiTF

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system but has also important functions in the epidermis. It is involved in keratinocyte barrier function and in re-epithelialization processes after wounding. Recently, glutamate signalling has been suggested to be implicated in the development of melanoma. The present study examined the expression and functionality of metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors on normal human melanocytes. We found that cultured melanocytes expressed the ionotropic glutamate receptors GluR2 and 4 [alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxsazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors] and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors 2A and 2C and possibly the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1. Melanocytes were also found to express specific glutamate transporters and decarboxylases, but appeared neither to produce nor to release l-glutamate. Stimulation with 10 or 100 microM AMPA or NMDA elevated intracellular calcium concentrations in melanocytes, and thus demonstrated the functionality of the glutamate receptors. Millimolar concentrations of l-glutamate did not induce melanocyte toxicity and had no stimulating effect on melanin production. However, blockage of AMPA and NMDA receptors with CFM-2, memantine or MK801 caused a rapid and reversible change in melanocyte morphology, which was associated with disorganisation of actin and tubulin microfilaments. After 24 h of treatment with the AMPA receptor inhibitor CFM-2, there was a sharp reduction in the expression of the crucial melanocyte differentiation and proliferation factor MiTF. The results of this study demonstrate a role for glutamate in melanocyte regulation that may have implications in melanocyte associated disorders.

Effects of metabolic inhibition on phosphorylation levels of PKC isoforms in the guinea pig taenia caeci

We investigated which isoform of protein kinase C (PKC) is responsible to metabolic inhibition in the guinea pig taenia caeci with respect to their phosphorylation levels. By Western blot analysis using isoform-specific antibodies, at least four isoforms of PKC, alpha, beta2, epsilon and zeta were identified in the taenia. Prolonged metabolic inhibition of hypoxia, hypoxia+glucose depletion, and addition of cyanide (all in the presence of high K+) for more than 60 min, but not glucose-depletion only, elicited dephosphorylation of PKCs, alpha, beta2 and epsilon, except zeta. Ca2+ depletion from the medium prevented the dephosphorylation of PKCs induced by hypoxia, and apparently inhibited the dephosphorylation induced by hypoxia+glucose depletion. Acute treatment with hypoxia for 10-30 min elicited a gradual dephosphorylation of PKCbeta2, but not of other tested PKC isoforms. Considering the ATP level under various metabolic conditions reported previously, PKCbeta2 is suggested to be primarily responsible to hypoxia, and its dephosphorylation is closely associated with the alteration of adenylate compounds in the cell. Re-oxygenation after prolonged hypoxia did not restore the phosphoryation level of any tested PKCs, suggesting that the dephosphorylation of PKCs is associated with the irreversible damage of the cell under hypoxia. Presumably, the dephosphorylaton of PKCs, particularly PKCbeta2, plays a role in the signal transduction pathway under metabolic inhibition of the taenia, as reported in proliferative and pathophysiological processes in many other cells.

Erasure of kinase phosphorylation in astrocytes during oxygen-glucose deprivation is controlled by ATP levels and activation of phosphatases

We have examined the relationship between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and loss of maintenance of kinase-signalling cascades in primary cortical astrocytes during oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) as this may constitute an irreversible step that commits astrocytes to cell death. We report that the phosphorylation of Akt, ERK, JNK and p38 kinases, whose activities depend on serine, threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation, were all increased during OGD. All these phosphorylations were reduced to below detection limits when ATP levels were less than 10% of normal levels. Using ERK and Akt as representative examples, we show that this erasure is not irreversible as both ERK and Akt phosphorylations can be partially restored by addition of glucose under anoxic conditions. We further investigated whether OGD caused any change in phosphatase activity. The PP1/PP2A phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid and caliculyn A, but not cyclosporine A, delayed the removal of ERK and Akt phosphorylation under OGD. By comparing the extent of phosphorylation increase under OGD and normoxic conditions, we calculate that phosphatase activity was increased by approximately 3.6-fold during OGD. These data show that ATP levels control an important checkpoint in kinase function, and that ATP levels may need to be considered when studies of kinase function in relation to OGD are conducted.

Okadaic acid-induced, naringin-sensitive phosphorylation of glycine N-methyltransferase in isolated rat hepatocytes

Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) is an abundant cytosolic enzyme that catalyses the methylation of glycine into sarcosine, coupled with conversion of the methyl donor, S -adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), into S -adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy). GNMT is believed to play a role in monitoring the AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio, and hence the cellular methylation capacity, but regulation of the enzyme itself is not well understood. In the present study, treatment of isolated rat hepatocytes with the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, was found to induce an overphosphorylation of GNMT, as shown by proteomic analysis. The analysis comprised two-dimensional gel electrophoretic separation of (32)P-labelled phosphoproteins and identification of individual protein spots by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The identity of GNMT was verified by N-terminal Edman sequencing of tryptic peptides. Chromatographic separation of proteolytic peptides and (32)P-labelled amino acids suggested that GNMT was phosphorylated within a limited region, and only at serine residues. GNMT phosphorylation could be suppressed by naringin, an okadaic acid-antagonistic flavonoid. To assess the possible functional role of GNMT phosphorylation, the effect of okadaic acid on hepatocytic AdoMet and AdoHcy levels was examined, using HPLC separation for metabolite analysis. Surprisingly, okadaic acid was found to have no effect on the basal levels of AdoMet or AdoHcy. An accelerated AdoMet-AdoHcy flux, induced by the addition of methionine (1 mM), was likewise unaffected by okadaic acid. 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside, an activator of the hepatocytic AMP-activated protein kinase, similarly induced GNMT phosphorylation without affecting AdoMet and AdoHcy levels. Activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase by dibutyryl-cAMP, reported to cause GNMT phosphorylation under cell-free conditions, also had little effect on hepatocytic AdoMet and AdoHcy levels. Phosphorylation of GNMT would thus seem to play no role in regulation of the intracellular AdoMet/AdoHcy ratio, but could be involved in other GNMT functions, such as the binding of folates or aromatic hydrocarbons.

Distinct binding properties of the AT(1) receptor antagonist [(3)H]candesartan to intact cells and membrane preparations

[(3)H]-2-Ethoxy-1-[(2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl)methyl]-1H-benzimidazoline-7-carboxylic acid ([(3)H]candesartan), a non-peptide angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1) receptor) antagonist bound with high affinity and specificity to intact adherent human AT(1) receptor transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. The binding characteristics were preserved when cells were suspended, but the dissociation was 3-4-fold faster and the affinity 2-fold lower, while examining [(3)H]candesartan binding to cell membranes. These data suggested the role of the intracellular organisation of living CHO-hAT(1) cells in antagonist-AT(1) receptor interactions. Yet, a specific role of microtubule or actin filaments of the cytoskeleton, receptor phosphorylation by Protein Kinase C, membrane polarity, cytoplasmic components like ATP and the need of an intact cell membrane could be excluded. The potential effect of protease degradation or receptor oxidation during the membrane preparation was also unlikely. The dissociation rate and the equilibrium dissociation constant of [(3)H]candesartan increased with the temperature for both intact cells and membranes. Thermodynamic studies suggested that the bonds between candesartan and the hAT(1) receptor may be of different nature in intact CHO-hAT(1) cells and membranes thereof. Whereas the binding was almost completely enthalpy-driven on intact cells, there was a mixed contribution of both enthalpy and entropy on membranes.

The existence of the 4S polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-protein binding in 14-day-old chick embryo liver

Cytochrome P-450IA1, the isozyme most closely associated with aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), is regulated by two high-affinity binding proteins, the 4S polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-binding protein which primarily binds PAHs and the 8S Ah (dioxin) receptor which binds 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and like congeners. The present study was conducted to determine whether the 4S protein existed in 14-day-old chick embryo liver when AHH activity is maximal to determine if they are linked as is the 8S Ah receptor and to confirm the existence of the dioxin receptor by investigating their ligand binding characteristics in the presence and absence of sodium molybdate, an agent that stabilizes steroid hormone receptors and partially stabilizes the dioxin receptor. Competitive ligand binding studies were performed with liver cytosol from livers of male 14-day-old chick embryos using [3H]-benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) or [3H]-TCDD in the presence and absence of a 200-fold excess of B[a]P, benzo[e]pyrene (B[e]P), 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), and tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDBF). Specific PAH-binding activity was assayed using sucrose gradient analysis. In the absence of molybdate, the 4S PAH-binding protein had high affinity for B[a]P, B[e]P, 3-MC, but very low affinity for TCDBF; the Ah receptor exhibited high affinity for TCDBF. In the presence of sodium molybdate, the Ah receptor was stabilized while the 4S PAH-binding protein was relatively unaffected. These results affirm the existence of two distinct PAH-binding proteins in 14-day-old chick embryo liver cytosol and suggest a linkage of the 4S protein to AHH.

Intranuclear diffusion and hybridization state of oligonucleotides measured by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in living cells

Fluorescein-labeled oligodeoxynucleotides (oligos) were introduced into cultured rat myoblasts, and their molecular movements inside the nucleus were studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). FCS revealed that a large fraction of both intranuclear oligo(dT) (43%) and oligo(dA) (77%) moves rapidly with a diffusion coefficient of 4 x 10(-7) cm2/s. Interestingly, this rate of intranuclear oligo movement is similar to their diffusion rates measured in aqueous solution. In addition, we detected a large fraction (45%) of the intranuclear oligo(dT), but not oligo(dA), diffusing at slower rates ( Collapse

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MESH Headings

• Animals
• Biological Transport
• Cell Line
• Cell Nucleus/metabolism
• Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
• Muscle, Skeletal/ultrastructure
• Oligonucleotides/metabolism
• Rats
• Spectrometry, Fluorescence

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Grants

• HD-07439 NICHD NIH HHS
• NS-28760 NINDS NIH HHS
• F32 AR008361 NIAMS NIH HHS
• T32 HD007439 NICHD NIH HHS
• AR-08361 NIAMS NIH HHS

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Affiliation(s)

J C Politz Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester Foundation Campus, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, USA.
E S Browne
D E Wolf
T Pederson

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Disruption of endogenous regulator homeostasis underlies the mechanism of rat CYP1A1 mRNA induction by metyrapone

The transcriptional induction of the cytochrome P-450 1A1 (CYP1A1) gene by xenobiotics such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons is dependent on their interaction with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Administration of the structurally unrelated compounds metyrapone (a cytochrome P-450 inhibitor) or dexamethasone (a glucocorticoid) to male rats does not induce hepatic CYP1A1 mRNA. However, administration of both metyrapone and dexamethasone to male rats results in the induction of hepatic CYP1A1 mRNA expression. The induction response is mimicked in vitro in cultured rat hepatocytes by the addition of metyrapone and dexamethasone to a serum-free culture medium, suggesting that these compounds act directly on the liver in vivo to effect hepatic CYP1A1 mRNA induction. An examination of the characteristics of CYP1A1 induction by metyrapone and dexamethasone in combination in vitro indicate that at least 6 h of treatment is required for detectable levels of CYP1A1 mRNA to accumulate in hepatocytes. In contrast, beta-naphthoflavone, which is known to bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor to effect CYP1A1 gene expression, induces detectable levels of CYP1A1 mRNA within 2 h of treatment. CYP1A1 mRNA is also induced when hepatocytes are treated with metyrapone in combination with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide but not with dexamethasone in combination with cycloheximide, indicating that CYP1A1 mRNA induction is strictly dependent on the presence of metyrapone and suggesting that the metyrapone-associated induction of CYP1A1 mRNA is dependent on a loss of a constitutively expressed protein that functions to suppress CYP1A1 gene expression. The role of dexamethasone in metyrapone-associated induction of CYP1A1 is probably mediated through the glucocorticoid receptor since the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 reduces the levels of CYP1A1 mRNA induced by metyrapone and dexamethasone in combination. Increasing the levels of the photosensitizer riboflavin present in the culture medium 10-fold and exposure to light increases the levels of CYP1A1 mRNA induced by metyrapone and dexamethasone in combination in vitro, suggesting that photoactivation of inducing medium constituent(s) might be required for induction. Failure to induce CYP1A1 mRNA by co-administration of metyrapone and dexamethasone in hepatocytes cultured in a balanced salt solution with or without photoactivation indicates that induction is dependent on a photoactivated component of the culture medium and not on metyrapone or dexamethasone alone. The addition of tryptophan in the presence of riboflavin to the balanced salt solution restores CYP1A1 mRNA induction by metyrapone alone and induction is increased when medium is exposed to light, indicating that induction is dependent on tryptophan photoactivation in vitro. Metyrapone failed to compete with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin for specific binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in rat liver cytosolic fractions. These results suggest that CYP1A1 might be induced in rats by metyrapone through an indirect mechanism associated with an elevation in the level of an endogenously generated inducer such as photoactivated product(s) of tryptophan and not because of metyrapone's interacting with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. The dependence of CYP1A1 induction on dexamethasone or cycloheximide suggests that derepression by a glucocorticoid receptor-modulated negative-acting factor of CYP1A1 gene expression might be critical to induction by metyrapone.

alpha-Thrombin inhibits signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 signaling by interleukin-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, and ciliary neurotrophic factor in CCL39 cells

We recently demonstrated that, in rat aortic smooth muscle cells, alpha-thrombin stimulated Stat3/SIF-A (signal transducers and activators of transcription 3/sis-inducing factor-A) activity [G. J. Bhat et al. (1997) Hypertension 29(Pt. 2), 356-360]. In the present study, we observed that exposure of CCL39 cells (a Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cell line) to alpha-thrombin resulted in a time-dependent decrease in basal SIF-A activity. We hypothesized that the decrease in basal SIF-A was due to the initiation of an inhibitory pathway, following alpha-thrombin exposure. To test this hypothesis, we determined if alpha-thrombin would inhibit Stat3 and SIF-A activation by interleukin-6 (IL-6), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). In support of this hypothesis, alpha-thrombin inhibited the Stat3/SIF-A response induced by all the above cytokines. The inhibition by alpha-thrombin was concentration dependent, was sensitive to hirudin, and was mimicked by the thrombin receptor agonist peptide. The inhibition did not require the activation of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-sensitive isoforms of protein kinase C and was reversed by pretreatment with the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAPKK1 or MEK1) inhibitor PD98059. Inhibitory cross talk between alpha-thrombin and IL-6 was also observed in MRC-5 cells, a fibroblast cell line derived from human lung tissue. Thus, we identify a novel alpha-thrombin inhibitory pathway which, acting through a MAPKK1-dependent mechanism, blocks IL-6-, LIF-, and CNTF-induced Stat3/SIF-A activation. This inhibitory cross talk may provide an important regulatory function to modulate gene transcription by these cytokines, during immune and inflammatory responses.

Transport of rat liver glycine N-methyltransferase into rat liver nuclei

Rat liver cytosolic glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) catalyzes the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation of glycine to sarcosine. It is comprised of four identical 292-amino acid residue subunits. Recently, evidence has been provided to show that GNMT is identical to the cytosolic receptor for benzo[a]pyrene, which induces cytochrome P450 1A1 gene expression. In the present study we show that chemical modification of purified rat liver GNMT with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) resulted in dissociation of the tetrameric enzyme and was accompanied by loss of enzyme activity. Amino acid sequence analysis of the FITC-labeled peptides obtained by hydrolysis of the modified protein with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease revealed that lysines 45, 89, 92, 96, 122, and 147 were modified. Lys-122 and Lys-147 were derivatized in tetrameric, dimeric, and monomeric forms of the enzyme. Lysines 45, 89, 92, and 96 were derivatized only in monomeric GNMT, suggesting that modification of these residues resulted in GNMT dissociation. The modified monomeric GNMT was quickly transported into isolated rat liver nuclei. This transport was specific for the GNMT monomer, since neither tetramer nor dimer was able to enter the nuclei. Bovine carbonic anhydrase, similar in size to the GNMT monomer, was labeled with FITC to a similar extent but was not transported into the nuclei. Disruption of the nuclei containing fluorescein-labeled GNMT and subsequent extraction of the nuclear lysate with both high and low salt buffers recovered FITC-GNMT only in the chromatin pellet. Our study supports the suggestion of an additional function for GNMT, probably connected with regulation of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene expression.

Glycine N-methyltransferase is an example of functional diversity. Role as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-binding receptor

The cytochrome P-4501A1 (CYP1A1) gene is regulated by several trans-acting factors including the 4 S polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-binding protein, which has recently been identified as glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) (Raha, A., Wagner, C., Macdonald, R. G., and Bresnick, E. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 5750-5756). The role of GNMT as a 4 S PAH-binding protein in mediating the induction of cytochrome P-4501A1 has been investigated further. GNMT cDNA, which was cloned into a pMAMneo vector containing the Rous sarcoma virus promoter and the neomycin resistance gene, was stably transfected into D422 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Several positive clones were selected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and assayed for the expression of recombinant protein. Western blot analysis indicated the expression of significant levels of the 4 S protein in the stably transfected CHO cells (CHO-GNMT). Cytosolic preparations from the CHO-GNMT showed high benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) binding but no 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) binding activity when compared with clones transfected with the pMAMneo vector alone (CHO-neo) or the parental CHO cells. Challanging the CHO-GNMT cells with 4 microM B[a]P resulted in elevated levels of CYP1A1 mRNA. Equally effective in inducing CYP1A1 mRNA were benzo[e]pyrene and 3-methylcholanthrene. On the other hand, TCDD did not induce CYP1A1 gene expression in these cells. B[a]P-treated CHO-GNMT, expressing the 4 S protein, also showed CYP1A1 protein by Western blotting and exhibited ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity; neither the CHO-neo or parental CHO cells were positive for any of these measures. No Ah receptor message or protein was detectable in the parental CHO, CHO-neo, or CHO-GNMT cells. Furthermore, no XRE binding activity was observed in TCDD-treated cytosolic preparations or nuclear extracts from CHO-GNMT cells that were treated with TCDD. These studies unequivocally establish that GNMT is a PAH-binding protein that can mediate the induction of CYP1A1 by PAHs such as B[a]P through an Ah receptor-independent pathway.