1
|
Seufi AM, Hafez EE, Galal FH. Identification, phylogenetic analysis and expression profile of an anionic insect defensin gene, with antibacterial activity, from bacterial-challenged cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis. BMC Mol Biol 2011; 12:47. [PMID: 22067477 PMCID: PMC3234185 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2199-12-47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Defensins are a well known family of cationic antibacterial peptides (AMPs) isolated from fungi, plants, insects, mussels, birds, and various mammals. They are predominantly active against gram (+) bacteria, and a few of them are also active against gram (-) bacteria and fungi. All insect defensins belonging to the invertebrate class have a consensus motif, C-X5-16-C-X3-C-X9-10-C-X4-7-CX1-C. Only seven AMPs have already been found in different lepidopteran species. No report was published on the isolation of defensin from the Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis. Results An anionic defensin, termed SpliDef, was isolated from the haemolymph of the cotton leafworm, S. littoralis, after bacterial challenge using differential display technique. Based on sequence analyses of the data, specific primers for full length and mature peptide of defensin were designed and successfully amplified 471 and 150 bp amplicons. The integration of the results revealed that the 471 bp-PCR product has one open reading frame (orf) of 303 bp long, including both start codon (AUG) and stop codon (UGA). The deduced peptide consists of a 23-residues signal peptide, a 27-residues propeptide and a 50-residues mature peptide with the conserved six-cysteine motif of insect defensins. Both haemolymph and expressed protein exhibited antibacterial activities comparable to positive control. The RT-qPCR indicated that it was more than 41-folds up-regulated at 48 h p.i. Conclusion Our results highlight an important immune role of the defensin gene in Spodoptera littoralis by cooperating with other AMPs to control bacterial infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alaaeddeen M Seufi
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo university, 9 Gamaa St. Giza, 12613, Egypt.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lee S, Braden B, Kang SS, Rivier C. Urocortins are present in the rat testis. Neuropeptides 2011; 45:131-7. [PMID: 21256589 PMCID: PMC3043384 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2010.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2010] [Revised: 11/11/2010] [Accepted: 12/19/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis and release of testosterone (T) depends both on circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) and on an array of testicular factors whose role remains incompletely understood. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) had been reported in the rat testes, where it was thought to inhibit T secretion. However, the discovery that the CRF-related peptides urocortins (Ucns), of which there are currently three subtypes (Ucn 1, 2 and 3), cross-react with many reagents previously used to detect CRF, has cast doubt on this concept. Here we show that while CRF was readily measurable in rat hypothalami (which served as controls), signals for this peptide were barely detectable in total RNA extracted from the testes. On the other hand, microarray, RT-PCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses all indicated strong signals for Ucn 1 in the male gonads, with weaker levels of Ucn 2 and 3 mRNA gene expression. Results obtained for Ucn 1 gene expression were corroborated by immunohistochemical detection, which appeared restricted to Leydig cells. Finally, to investigate possible changes in testicular Ucn 1 levels induced by homeostatic challenges, we measured them in rats exposed to alcohol. We observed that indeed, the intragastric injection of this drug significantly increased testicular Ucn 1, but not Ucn 2, Ucn 3, CRF, CRFR1 or CRFR2 mRNA levels. Collectively, these results provide novel information regarding the presence of CRF-like peptides in the adult male rat testis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soon Lee
- The Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Brian Braden
- The Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sang Soo Kang
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Health Science Institute, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, 92 Chilam-Dong, Jinju, Gyeongnam 660-751, Korea
| | - Catherine Rivier
- The Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
Hormonal ligands for the nuclear receptor superfamily have at least two interacting mechanisms of action: 1) classical transcriptional regulation of target genes (genomic mechanisms); and 2) nongenomic actions that are initiated at the cell membrane, which could impact transcription. Although transcriptional mechanisms are increasingly well understood, membrane-initiated actions of these ligands are incompletely understood. Historically, this has led to a considerable divergence of thought in the molecular endocrine field. We have attempted to uncover principles of hormone action that are relevant to membrane-initiated actions of estrogens. There is evidence that the membrane-limited actions of hormones, particularly estrogens, involve the rapid activation of kinases and the release of calcium. Membrane actions of estrogens, which activate these rapid signaling cascades, can also potentiate nuclear transcription. These signaling cascades may occur in parallel or in series but subsequently converge at the level of modification of transcriptionally relevant molecules such as nuclear receptors and/or coactivators. In addition, other hormones or neurotransmitters may also activate cascades to crosstalk with estrogen receptor-mediated transcription. The idea of synergistic coupling between membrane-initiated and genomic actions of hormones fundamentally revises the paradigms of cell signaling in neuroendocrinology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nandini Vasudevan
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu W, Jones PD, Decoen W, Newsted JL, Giesy JP. Comparison of gene expression methods to identify genes responsive to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2005; 19:153-160. [PMID: 21783471 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2004.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2003] [Accepted: 06/22/2004] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide expression techniques are being increasingly used to assess the effects of environmental contaminants. Oligonucleotide or cDNA microarray methods make possible the screening of large numbers of known sequences for a given model species, while differential display analysis makes possible analysis of the expression of all the genes from any species. We report a comparison of two currently popular methods for genome-wide expression analysis in rat hepatoma cells treated with perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. The two analyses provided 'complimentary' information. Approximately 5% of the 8000 genes analyzed by the GeneChip array, were altered by a factor of three or greater. Differential display results were more difficult to interpret, since multiple gene products were present in most gel bands so a probabilistic approach was used to determine which pathways were affected. The mechanistic interpretation derived from these two methods was in agreement, both showing similar alterations in a specific set of genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenyue Hu
- Department of Zoology, 224 National Food Safety and Toxicology Center and Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1311, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bader JE, Deckert CM, Koglin N, Pluder F, Mörl K, Koczan D, Thiesen HJ, Beck-Sickinger AG. From Transcription Profile to Expression: The Signaling Repertoire of the SK-N-MC Neuroepithelioma Cell-Line. J Recept Signal Transduct Res 2004; 24:257-82. [PMID: 15648446 DOI: 10.1081/rrs-200035220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma cells are routinely cultured and widely used as a model system in biochemical and pharmacological experiments. To clarify the gene expression patterns of SK-N-MC cells with respect to G protein-coupled receptors and signaling network components, we describe in this report the transcription profile of the cell line. Following the traditional pathway from genome to proteome, selected examples are further examined at the level of protein expression and by functional assays. cRNA targets derived from total RNA extracts were hybridized to Affymetrix Human Genome U133A GeneChip arrays, and the data were analyzed and grouped according to functional aspects. Results obtained for neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1, Y5, and orexin Ox1 receptors were confirmed by RT-PCR. It is surprising that we found the presence of both NPY receptor subtypes and the absence of the orexin receptor at the mRNA level. Receptor-binding experiments confirmed NPY binding of the Y1 receptor in the nanomolar range but gave no evidence for high expression levels of Y5 receptor subtypes on the cell surface. Protein expression was assayed with immunoblots by using antibodies directed against selected Galpha protein subunits. The presence of at least Galphas, Galphai3, and Galphai2 subunits was indicated.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Binding Sites
- Blotting, Western
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Membrane/metabolism
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Humans
- Immunoblotting
- Inhibitory Concentration 50
- Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral/metabolism
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Orexin Receptors
- Peptides/chemistry
- Protein Binding
- RNA/chemistry
- RNA, Complementary/metabolism
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
- Receptors, Neuropeptide/metabolism
- Receptors, Neuropeptide Y/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Signal Transduction
- Transcription, Genetic
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen E Bader
- Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Malyala A, Pattee P, Nagalla SR, Kelly MJ, Rønnekleiv OK. Suppression subtractive hybridization and microarray identification of estrogen-regulated hypothalamic genes. Neurochem Res 2004; 29:1189-200. [PMID: 15176476 DOI: 10.1023/b:nere.0000023606.13670.1d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The gonadal steroid estrogen is a pleiotropic hormone that has multiple effects on numerous cellular functions. One of estrogen's major targets is the brain, where the steroid not only affects growth, differentiation, and survival of neurons, but also regulates cell excitability. Because estrogen modulates multiple, overlapping signaling pathways, it has been difficult to scrutinize the transcriptional activity of the steroid. Therefore, we still lack a global picture of how different genes interact and are regulated by estrogen. Herein we report the use of suppression subtractive hybridization followed by custom microarray analysis of thousands of genes that are differentially expressed during the negative feedback phase of the female reproductive cycle. We have found a number of key transcripts that are regulated by estrogen and contribute to the alteration in synaptic transmission and hence excitability of hypothalamic neurons (e.g., GABA neurons). These include gec-1, GABA(B)R2, PI3 kinase subunit p55gamma, and a number of proteins containing pleckstrin homology domains that are critical for plasma membrane targeting. Studies are underway to refine our analysis to individual nuclei and individual cells. However, what has emerged from this highly sensitive microarray analysis is that estrogen affects neuronal plasticity in hypothalamic neurons not only by transcription of new membrane proteins (e.g., receptors and channels), but also by altering expression of downstream signaling molecules and proteins involved in neurosecretory pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Malyala
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mong JA, Devidze N, Goodwillie A, Pfaff DW. Reduction of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in the preoptic area of female mice mimics estradiol effects on arousal and sex behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003; 100:15206-11. [PMID: 14638944 PMCID: PMC299958 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2436540100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In female rodents, sleep and activity levels fluctuate over the estrous cycle. When estradiol (E2) levels are highest, sleep is reduced whereas locomotion is increased. The preoptic area (POA) is a key site for estrogenic regulation of these functions. However, molecular mechanisms by which E2 acts to reduce sleep and increase activity are unclear. Recently, we demonstrated a twofold reduction in lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) transcript levels, after E2 treatment, in the ventrolateral POA (VLPO), a putative sleep-active nucleus. Catalytic activity of L-PGDS produces PGD2, an endogenous somnogen. Thus, we hypothesized that decreases in PGD2 in the VLPO may contribute to the generalized arousal mediated by estrogens. To test this, we infused (i) antisense oligonucleotides (oligos), containing locked nucleic acid moieties (an improved technology), targeted to L-PGDS mRNA, (ii) scrambled sequence control oligos, or (iii) saline vehicle into the VLPO of ovariectomized female mice treated with E2 or oil. Arousal states and activity levels were assessed in response to a series of sensory stimuli (vestibular, olfactory, and somatosensory). The vestibular stimulus, which was administered first, resulted in the strongest responses and elicited significantly different responses among the groups: all groups in the E2 cohort demonstrated increases in overall home cage activity and duration of that activity compared with the oil-treated control groups. As predicted from E2 suppression of L-PGDS transcript levels, the responses of the locked nucleic acid antisense oligo-treated animals from the oil cohort did not differ from the E2-treated groups, such that they also demonstrated increases in activity and duration of activity compared with their controls. Thus, reducing L-PGDS in the VLPO of oil-treated females mimicked the effect of E2 on activity and arousal and represents a unique molecular pathway through which E2 may modulate these functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Mong
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kappeler L, Gourdji D, Zizzari P, Bluet-Pajot MT, Epelbaum J. Age-associated changes in hypothalamic and pituitary neuroendocrine gene expression in the rat. J Neuroendocrinol 2003; 15:592-601. [PMID: 12716410 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2003.01039.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A cDNA membrane array displaying 1183 probes was used to detect hypothalamic and pituitary changes in gene expression accompanying ageing and age-associated pituitary macroadenomas. Four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (3-, 15-, 24-month-old and 24-month-old with prolactinoma) were compared in two independent hybridizations. cDNA array data were confirmed and completed by comparative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on selected genes. The expression of 454 and 116 mRNAs was detected in hypothalamus and pituitary, respectively. Growth hormone (GH) mRNA alone represented 85% of total gene expression in the gland of young rats, and other pituitary hormone transcripts 2.8%, while melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) mRNA, the most expressed neuropeptide transcript involved in neuroendocrine regulation, accounted for only 0.8% of total hypothalamic transcripts. The proportion of genes modified in the hypothalamus and pituitary was rather modest: 1.5% and 5.2%, respectively, for ageing per se, and 1.1% and 5.2% for age-associated macroprolactinomas. Among pituitary specific RNAs, GH mRNA expression was notably decreased with age. At the hypothalamic level, expression of genes directly involved in GH regulation, such as somatostatin and growth hormone-releasing hormone, was not altered, while neuropeptide transcripts involved in feeding behaviour [orexin/hypocretin, MCH, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART)] were significantly altered. In addition, a few ubiquitous transcripts (hnRNP-K, PFKm, CCND 2, calponin and set) were differently affected in both tissues. Modifications in hypothalamic orexigenic (orexin, MCH) and anorexigenic (POMC, CART) gene expression are in keeping with an age-associated decrease in energy consumption but a higher one in the presence of macroprolactinomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Kappeler
- INSERM U549, Centre Paul Broca, 2ter rue d'Alesia, 75014 Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Mong JA, Devidze N, Frail DE, O'Connor LT, Samuel M, Choleris E, Ogawa S, Pfaff DW. Estradiol differentially regulates lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase transcript levels in the rodent brain: Evidence from high-density oligonucleotide arrays and in situ hybridization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003; 100:318-23. [PMID: 12518068 PMCID: PMC140964 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.262663799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microarrays comprise an efficient approach to discovering large numbers of differentially expressed mRNA transcripts in the CNS resulting from changes in hormonal milieu. We used high-density oligonucleotide microarrays to examine the short- and long-term actions of estradiol (E(2)) on the transcriptomes from the medial basal hypothalamus and other brain regions of E(2)-treated (10 microg) adult female mice. Our results have revealed several unanticipated gene regulations. Most striking is lipocalin prostaglandin D(2) synthase (L-PGDS), which catalyzes the conversion of prostaglandin (PG) H(2) to PGD(2), a neuromodulator involved in a variety of functions, including sleep, pain, and odor responses. In situ hybridization revealed significant increases in L-PGDS expression in the arcuate and ventromedial nucleus of the medial basal hypothalamus compared with vehicle controls. The magnitude of these changes is approximately 2-fold and suggests a modulatory role for PGD(2) in E(2)-controlled neuroendocrine secretions and behaviors. Surprisingly, L-PGDS gene expression is reduced 2-fold after E(2) treatment in the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO), the suspected site of action for the sleep-promoting effects of PGD(2). Finally, whereas L-PGDS has been reported to be expressed primarily in oligodendrocytes of the adult rodent brain, we demonstrate, immunocytochemically, that L-PGDS is also expressed in a population of VLPO neurons. Thus, our data suggest the intriguing possibility that E(2) modulation of L-PGDS plays a role in the regulation of sleep-wake states through hitherto unknown mechanisms in VLPO neurons and through hormone-dependent neuronal-glial cooperation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Mong
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Vasudevan N, Ogawa S, Pfaff D. Estrogen and thyroid hormone receptor interactions: physiological flexibility by molecular specificity. Physiol Rev 2002; 82:923-44. [PMID: 12270948 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00014.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The influence of thyroid hormone on estrogen actions has been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. In transient transfection assays, the effects of liganded thyroid hormone receptors (TR) on transcriptional facilitation by estrogens bound to estrogen receptors (ER) display specificity according to the following: 1) ER isoform, 2) TR isoform, 3) the promoter through which transcriptional facilitation occurs, and 4) cell type. Some of these molecular phenomena may be related to thyroid hormone signaling of seasonal limitations upon reproduction. The various combinations of these molecular interactions provide multiple and flexible opportunities for relations between two major hormonal systems important for neuroendocrine feedbacks and reproductive behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nandini Vasudevan
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Current Awareness on Comparative and Functional Genomics. Comp Funct Genomics 2002. [PMCID: PMC2448418 DOI: 10.1002/cfg.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
|