Mitochondrial localization of SESN2

SESN2 is a member of the evolutionarily conserved sestrin protein family found in most of the Metazoa species. The SESN2 gene is transcriptionally activated by many stress factors, including metabolic derangements, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and DNA-damage. As a result, SESN2 controls ROS accumulation, metabolism, and cell viability. The best-known function of SESN2 is the inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 kinase (mTORC1) that plays a central role in support of cell growth and suppression of autophagy. SESN2 inhibits mTORC1 activity through interaction with the GATOR2 protein complex preventing an inhibitory effect of GATOR2 on the GATOR1 protein complex. GATOR1 stimulates GTPase activity of the RagA/B small GTPase, the component of RagA/B:RagC/D complex, preventing mTORC1 translocation to the lysosomes and its activation by the small GTPase Rheb. Despite the well-established role of SESN2 in mTORC1 inhibition, other SESN2 activities are not well-characterized. We recently showed that SESN2 could control mitochondrial function and cell death via mTORC1-independent mechanisms, and these activities might be explained by direct effects of SESN2 on mitochondria. In this work, we examined mitochondrial localization of SESN2 and demonstrated that SESN2 is located on mitochondria and can be directly involved in the regulation of mitochondrial functions.

Implication of KRT16, FAM129A and HKDC1 genes as ATF4 regulated components of the integrated stress response

The ATF4 transcription factor is a key regulator of the adaptive integrated stress response (ISR) induced by various stresses and pathologies. Identification of novel transcription targets of ATF4 during ISR would contribute to the understanding of adaptive networks and help to identify novel therapeutic targets. We were previously searching for genes that display an inverse regulation mode by the transcription factors ATF4 and p53 in response to mitochondrial respiration chain complex III inhibition. Among the selected candidates the human genes for cytokeratine 16 (KRT16), anti-apoptotic protein Niban (FAM129A) and hexokinase HKDC1 have been found highly responsive to ATF4 overexpression. Here we explored potential roles of the induction of KRT16, FAM129A and HKDC1 genes in ISR. As verified by RT-qPCR, a dysfunction of mitochondrial respiration chain and ER stress resulted in a partially ATF4-dependent stimulation of KRT16, FAM129A and HKDC1 expression in the HCT116 colon carcinoma cell line. ISRIB, a specific inhibitor of ISR, was able to downregulate the ER stress-induced levels of KRT16, FAM129A and HKDC1 transcripts. An inhibition of ATF4 by RNAi attenuated the induction of KRT16, FAM129A and HKDC1 mRNAs in response to ER stress or to a dysfunctional mitochondrial respiration. The similar induction of the three genes was observed in another tumor-derived cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa. However, in HaCaT and HEK293T cells that display transformed phenotypes, but do not originate from patient-derived tumors, the ER stress-inducing treatments resulted in an upregulation of FAM129A and HKDC1, but not KRT16 transcripts, By a luciferase reporter approach we identified a highly active ATF4-responsive element within the upstream region of the KRT16 gene. The results suggest a conditional regulation of KRT16 gene by ATF4 that may be inhibited in normal cells, but engaged during cancer progression. Potential roles of KRT16, FAM129A and HKDC1 genes upregulation in adaptive stress responses and pathologies are discussed.

Mitochondrial dysfunction induces SESN2 gene expression through Activating Transcription Factor 4

We found that inhibitors of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes III (myxothiazol) and I (piericidin A) in some epithelial carcinoma cell lines induce transcription of the p53-responsive SESN2 gene that plays an important role in stress response and homeostatic regulation. However, the effect did not depend on p53 because i) there was no induction of p53 after the treatment with piericidin A; ii) after the treatment with myxothiazol the peak of SESN2 gene upregulation occurred as early as 5h, before the onset of p53 activation (13h); iii) a supplementation with uridine that abolishes the p53 activation in response to myxothiazol did not abrogate the induction of SESN2 transcripts; iv) in the p53 negative HCT116 p53 -/- cells SESN2 transcription could be also induced by myxothiazol. In response to the respiratory chain inhibitors we observed an induction of ATF4, the key transcription factor of the integrated stress response (ISR). We found that the induction of SESN2 transcripts could be prevented by the ISR inhibitory small molecule ISRIB. Also, by inhibiting or overexpressing ATF4 with specific shRNA or ATF4-expressing constructs, respectively, we have confirmed the role of ATF4 in the SESN2 gene upregulation induced by mitochondrial dysfunction. At a distance of 228 bp upstream from the SESN2 transcription start site we found a candidate sequence for the ATF4 binding site and confirmed its requirement for the induction of SESN2 in luciferase reporter experiments. We suggest that the upregulation of SESN2 by mitochondrial dysfunction provides a homeostatic feedback that attenuates biosynthetic processes during temporal losses of energy supply from mitochondria thereby assisting better adaptation and viability of cells in hostile environments.

A sustained deficiency of mitochondrial respiratory complex III induces an apoptotic cell death through the p53-mediated inhibition of pro-survival activities of the activating transcription factor 4

Generation of energy in mitochondria is subjected to physiological regulation at many levels, and its malfunction may result in mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with different environmental influences or certain genetic conditions, and can be artificially induced by inhibitors acting at different steps of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). We found that a short-term (5 h) inhibition of ETC complex III with myxothiazol results in the phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2α and upregulation of mRNA for the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and several ATF4-regulated genes. The changes are characteristic for the adaptive integrated stress response (ISR), which is known to be triggered by unfolded proteins, nutrient and metabolic deficiency, and mitochondrial dysfunctions. However, after a prolonged incubation with myxothiazol (13-17 h), levels of ATF4 mRNA and ATF4-regulated transcripts were found substantially suppressed. The suppression was dependent on the p53 response, which is triggered by the impairment of the complex III-dependent de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidines by mitochondrial dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. The initial adaptive induction of ATF4/ISR acted to promote viability of cells by attenuating apoptosis. In contrast, the induction of p53 upon a sustained inhibition of ETC complex III produced a pro-apoptotic effect, which was additionally stimulated by the p53-mediated abrogation of the pro-survival activities of the ISR. Interestingly, a sustained inhibition of ETC complex I by piericidine did not induce the p53 response and stably maintained the pro-survival activation of ATF4/ISR. We conclude that a downregulation of mitochondrial ETC generally induces adaptive pro-survival responses, which are specifically abrogated by the suicidal p53 response triggered by the genetic risks of the pyrimidine nucleotide deficiency.

Nuclear oncoprotein prothymosin alpha is a partner of Keap1: implications for expression of oxidative stress-protecting genes

Animal cells counteract oxidative stress and electrophilic attack through coordinated expression of a set of detoxifying and antioxidant enzyme genes mediated by transcription factor Nrf2. In unstressed cells, Nrf2 appears to be sequestered in the cytoplasm via association with an inhibitor protein, Keap1. Here, by using the yeast two-hybrid screen, human Keap1 has been identified as a partner of the nuclear protein prothymosin alpha. The in vivo and in vitro data indicated that the prothymosin alpha-Keap1 interaction is direct, highly specific, and functionally relevant. Furthermore, we showed that Keap1 is a nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling protein equipped with a nuclear export signal that is important for its inhibitory action. Prothymosin alpha was able to liberate Nrf2 from the Nrf2-Keap1 inhibitory complex in vitro through competition with Nrf2 for binding to the same domain of Keap1. In vivo, the level of Nrf2-dependent transcription was correlated with the intracellular level of prothymosin alpha by using prothymosin alpha overproduction and mRNA interference approaches. Our data attribute to prothymosin alpha the role of intranuclear dissociator of the Nrf2-Keap1 complex, thus revealing a novel function for prothymosin alpha and adding a new dimension to the molecular mechanisms underlying expression of oxidative stress-protecting genes.

Variability in apoptotic response to poliovirus infection

In several cell types, poliovirus activates the apoptotic program, implementation of which is suppressed by viral antiapoptotic functions. In such cells, productive infection leads to a necrotic cytopathic effect (CPE), while abortive reproduction, associated with inadequate viral antiapoptotic functions, results in apoptosis. Here, we describe two other types of cell response to poliovirus infection. Murine L20B cells expressing human poliovirus receptor responded to the infection by both CPE and apoptosis concurrently. Interruption of productive infection decreased rather than increased the proportion of apoptotic cells. Productive infection was accompanied by the early efflux of cytochrome c from the mitochondria in a proportion of cells and by activation of DEVD-specific caspases. Inactivation of caspase-9 resulted in a marked, but incomplete, prevention of the apoptotic response of these cells to viral infection. Thus, the poliovirus-triggered apoptotic program in L20B cells was not completely suppressed by the viral antiapoptotic functions. In contrast, human rhabdomyosarcoma RD cells did not develop appreciable apoptosis during productive or abortive infection, exhibiting inefficient efflux of cytochrome c from mitochondria and no marked activation of DEVD-specific caspases. The cells were also refractory to several nonviral apoptosis inducers. Nevertheless, typical caspase-dependent signs of apoptosis in a proportion of RD cells were observed after cessation of viral reproduction. Such "late" apoptosis was also observed in productively infected HeLa cells. In addition, a tiny proportion of all studied cells were TUNEL positive even in the presence of a caspase inhibitor. Degradation of DNA in such cells appeared to be a postmortem phenomenon. Biological relevance of variable host responses to viral infection is discussed.

Apoptosis-related fragmentation, translocation, and properties of human prothymosin alpha

Human prothymosin alpha is a proliferation-related nuclear protein undergoing caspase-mediated fragmentation in apoptotic cells. We show here that caspase-3 is the principal executor of prothymosin alpha fragmentation in vivo. In apoptotic HeLa cells as well as in vitro, caspase-3 cleaves prothymosin alpha at one major carboxy terminal (DDVD(99)) and several suboptimal sites. Prothymosin alpha cleavage at two amino-terminal sites (AAVD(6) and NGRD(31)) contributes significantly to the final pattern of prothymosin alpha fragmentation in vitro and could be detected to occur in apoptotic cells. The major caspase cleavage at D(99) disrupts the nuclear localization signal of prothymosin alpha, which leads to a profound alteration in subcellular localization of the truncated protein. By using a set of anti-prothymosin alpha monoclonal antibodies, we were able to observe nuclear escape and cell surface exposure of endogenous prothymosin alpha in apoptotic, but not in normal, cells. We demonstrate also that ectopic production of human prothymosin alpha and its mutants with nuclear or nuclear-cytoplasmic localization confers increased resistance of HeLa cells toward the tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis.

Cytochrome c is transformed from anti- to pro-oxidant when interacting with truncated oncoprotein prothymosin alpha

Many apoptotic signals are known to induce release to cytosol of cytochrome c, a small mitochondrial protein with positively charged amino acid residues dominating over negatively charged ones. On the other hand, in this group, it was shown that prothymosin alpha (PT), a small nuclear protein where 53 of 109 amino acid residues are negatively charged, is truncated to form a protein of 99 amino acid residues which accumulates in cytosol during apoptosis [FEBS Lett. 467 (2000) 150]. It was suggested that positively charged cytochrome c and negatively charged truncated prothymosin alpha (tPT), when meeting in cytosol, can interact with each other. In this paper, such an interaction is shown. (1) Formation of cytochrome cz.ccirf;tPT complex is demonstrated by a blot-overlay assay. (2) Analytical centrifugation of solution containing cytochrome c and tPT reveals formation of complexes of molecular masses higher than those of these proteins. The masses increase when the cytochrome c/tPT ratio increases. High concentration of KCl prevents the complex formation. (3) In the complexes formed, cytochrome c becomes autoxidizable; its reduction by superoxide or ascorbate as well as its operation as electron carrier between the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes appear to be inhibited. (4) tPT inhibits cytochrome c oxidation by H(2)O(2), catalyzed by peroxidase. Thus, tPT abolishes all antioxidant functions of cytochrome c which, in the presence of tPT, becomes in fact a pro-oxidant. A possible role of tPT in the development of reactive oxygen species- and cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis is discussed.

Sensing prothymosin alpha origin, mutations and conformation with monoclonal antibodies

To overcome poor immunogenicity of prothymosin alpha, a small and highly acidic nuclear protein involved in cell proliferation, production of anti-prothymosin alpha antibodies in mice immunized with free human prothymosin alpha, with prothymosin alpha coupled to different carriers and with prothymosin alpha fused to green fluorescent protein was assessed. Fusing prothymosin alpha to green fluorescent protein turned out to be the superior approach resulting in production of high titer anti-prothymosin alpha antibodies. From these studies, two highly specific anti-prothymosin alpha monoclonal antibodies recognizing epitopes within the amino terminal (2F11) and middle (4F4) portions of the human prothymosin alpha molecule were obtained and characterized. As expected, the 2F11 antibody displayed broad species specificity, whereas the 4F4 antibody appeared to be species-specific permitting discrimination of human versus rat protein. Furthermore, a combination of point mutations in prothymosin alpha that alter the properties of the protein precluded recognition by the 4F4 antibody. Intramolecular masking of the 4F4 epitope in prothymosin alpha fused to the Tat transduction peptide of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 was observed. The anti-prothymosin alpha antibodies obtained were suitable for precipitation of human prothymosin alpha from HeLa cell lysates and for immunolocalization of the endogenous prothymosin alpha within the cells. Fusion with green fluorescent protein may thus be helpful in raising antibodies against 'problematic' proteins.

CK2(beta)tes gene encodes a testis-specific isoform of the regulatory subunit of casein kinase 2 in Drosophila melanogaster

An earlier described CK2(beta)tes gene of Drosophila melanogaster is shown to encode a male germline specific isoform of regulatory beta subunit of casein kinase 2. Western-analysis using anti-CK2(beta)tes Ig revealed CK2(beta)tes protein in Drosophila testes extract. Expression of a CK2(beta)tes-beta-galactosidase fusion protein driven by the CK2(beta)tes promoter was found in transgenic flies at postmitotic stages of spermatogenesis. Examination of biochemical characteristics of a recombinant CK2(beta)tes protein expressed in Escherichia coli revealed properties similar to those of CK2beta: (a) CK2(beta)tes protein stimulates CK2alpha catalytic activity toward synthetic peptide; (b) it inhibits phosphorylation of calmodulin and mediates stimulation of CK2alpha by polylysine; (c) it is able to form (CK2(beta)tes)2 dimers, as well as (CK2alpha)2(CK2(beta)tes)2 tetramers. Using the yeast two-hybrid system and coimmunoprecipitation analysis of protein extract from Drosophila testes, we demonstrated an association between CK2(beta)tes and CK2alpha. Northern-analysis has shown that another regulatory (beta') subunit found recently in D. melanogaster genome is also testis-specific. Thus, we describe the first example of two tissue-specific regulatory subunits of CK2 which might serve to provide CK2 substrate recognition during spermatogenesis.

Early alteration of nucleocytoplasmic traffic induced by some RNA viruses

A HeLa cell line expressing the green fluorescent protein fused to the SV40 T-antigen nuclear localization signal (EGFP-NLS) was established. Fluorescence in these cells was confined to the nuclei. After poliovirus infection, cytoplasmic fluorescence in a proportion of cells could be detected by 1 h postinfection (p.i.) and in virtually all of the fluorescent cells by 2 h p.i. The relocation could be prevented by cycloheximide but not by inhibition of poliovirus replication by guanidine. HCl. Nuclear exit of a protein composed of three copies of GFP fused to the NLS also occurred upon poliovirus infection. A similar redistribution of EGFP-NLS took place upon infection with coxsakievirus B3 and, to a lesser extent, with vesicular stomatitis virus. The EGFP-NLS efflux was not due to the loss of NLS. Thus, some positive-strand and negative-strand RNA viruses trigger a rapid nonspecific relocation of nuclear proteins.

Divalent metal cation binding properties of human prothymosin alpha

The divalent cation binding properties of human prothymosin alpha, an abundant nuclear protein involved in cell proliferation, were evaluated. By using prothymosin alpha retardation on a weak cation chelating resin charged with various divalent cations, specific binding of Zn2+ ions by prothymosin alpha was observed. This finding was further confirmed by the equilibrium dialysis analysis which demonstrated that, within the micromolar range of Zn2+ concentrations, prothymosin alpha could bind up to three zinc ions in the presence of 100 mM NaCl and up to 13 zinc ions in the absence of NaCl. Equilibrium dialysis analysis also revealed that prothymosin alpha could bind Ca2+, although the parameters of Ca2+ binding by prothymosin alpha were less pronounced than those of Zn2+ binding in terms of the number of metal ions bound, the KD values, and the resistance of the bound metal ions to 100 mM NaCl. The effects of Zn2+ and Ca2+ on the interaction of prothymosin alpha with its putative partners, Rev of HIV type 1 and histone H1, were examined. We demonstrated that Rev binds prothymosin alpha, and that prothymosin alpha binding to Rev but not to histone H1 was significantly enhanced in the presence of zinc and calcium ions. Our data suggest that the modes of prothymosin alpha interaction with Rev and histone H1 are distinct and that the observed zinc and calcium-binding properties of prothymosin alpha might be functionally relevant.

Prothymosin alpha fragmentation in apoptosis

We observed fragmentation of an essential proliferation-related human nuclear protein prothymosin alpha in the course of apoptosis induced by various stimuli. Prothymosin alpha cleavage occurred at the DDVD(99) motif. In vitro, prothymosin alpha could be cleaved at D(99) by caspase-3 and -7. Caspase hydrolysis disrupted the nuclear localization signal of prothymosin alpha and abrogated the ability of the truncated protein to accumulate inside the nucleus. Prothymosin alpha fragmentation may therefore be proposed to disable intranuclear proliferation-related function of prothymosin alpha in two ways: by cleaving off a short peptide containing important determinants, and by preventing active nuclear uptake of the truncated protein.

Mutational analysis of human prothymosin alpha reveals a bipartite nuclear localization signal

Mutants of human prothymosin alpha with impaired ability to inhibit yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. cerevisiae cell growth were characterized. Two types of prothymosin alpha-inactivating mutations were observed. Mutations that belong to the first type compromised the nuclear entry of prothymosin alpha by affecting its nuclear localization signal. Analysis of subcellular distribution of GFP-prothymosin alpha fusions revealed a bipartite nuclear localization signal that is both necessary and sufficient for nuclear import of the protein in human cells. Mutations of the second type abrogated the inhibitory action of prothymosin alpha through an unknown mechanism, without influencing the nuclear import of the protein.

Overproduction in Escherichia coli, purification and properties of human prothymosin alpha

A bacterial strain overproducing human prothymosin alpha was constructed based on the efficient T7 RNA polymerase transcription of human prothymosin alpha cDNA. The highest yield of the human prothymosin alpha, up to 30% of the total bacterial protein, was achieved with constructions containing 6-10 nucleotides between the Shine-Dalgarno sequence and initiation ATG codon. Unexpectedly, cells grown in the presence of inducer of T7 RNA polymerase synthesis produced substantially lower levels of prothymosin alpha than those grown in the absence of inducer. A simple procedure for prothymosin alpha isolation was elaborated, resulting in large amounts of electrophoretically pure and immunoactive protein.

Internal ribosome entry site of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA is unable to direct translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

To evaluate the potential of the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to promote efficient expression of foreign genes in the yeast, S. cerevisiae, we have constructed E. coli-yeast shuttle vectors in which the EMCV 5' non-coding region was fused to the reporter gene, human prothymosin alpha. Efficiency of translation of corresponding RNA transcripts in mammalian cell-free systems was highly dependent on the sequence context and/or position of the initiation codon. No translation of these IRES-dependent mRNAs occurred in S. cerevisiae.

A complex RNA sequence determines the internal initiation of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA translation

Translation initiation on EMCV RNA occurs via binding of ribosomes to an internal sequence within the 5' noncoding region. To investigate the organization of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) we have determined the translational efficiencies of a series of deletion mutants within the 5' noncoding region of EMCV RNA. Three functional regions have been distinguished: a sequence between nts 315-484 and the upper parts of the double-helical structural domains III (nts 488-647) and IV (nts 701-763). The first one greatly enhances translation, but is not absolutely necessary for internal initiation. The other two regions are indispensable to this process. A sequence within domain IV determines inhibition of in vitro translation of mRNAs with 5'-terminal dependent initiation. It is proposed to interact with a translational factor(s) common to the internal and 5'-terminal dependent initiation.

A factor that specifically binds to the 5'-untranslated region of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA

A protein factor that specifically binds to the 5'-untranslated region of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) RNA has been found in extracts of ascites carcinoma Krebs-2 cells. This was done using UV-irradiation on extracts supplemented with in vitro synthesized 32P-labelled transcripts followed by analysis of crosslinked proteins by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The transcripts represented the viral RNA sequence from nt 315 to 1155, its derivatives with internal deletions or truncated forms. This set of transcripts has allowed us to find out that the factor (p58) binds to EMCV RNA within the sequence 315-485.

Adenovirus 2 VA RNAI synthesized in SP6 system

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Topography of RNA in the ribosome: location of the 5 S RNA residues A39 and U40 on the central protuberance of the 50 S subunit

The internal site of 5 S RNA comprising residues A39 and U40 has been localized on the E. coli 50 S ribosomal subunit by immune electron microscopy. It has been found to be located on the interface side of the central protuberance at the position distinctly apart but very close to the position of the 5 S RNA 3'-end providing evidence for a quite compact folded conformation of the 5 S RNA in situ.

Localization of 5′ and 3′ ends of the ribosome-bound segment of template polynucleotides by immune electron microscopy

Poly(U) with an average chain length of 40-70 nucleotides was modified at the 5'- or 3'-terminal residues with 2,4-dinitrophenyl derivatives. The modified poly(U) was used to form 30S.poly(U) or 70S.poly(U).Phe-tRNA complexes. Localization of the 5' and 3' ends of the template polynucleotide on the 30S subunit and the 70S ribosome was performed by immune electron microscopy using antibodies against dinitrophenyl haptens. The 5' and 3' ends of poly(U) (putative entry and exit sites of the message) were found in the same region both on the 30S subunit and the 70S ribosome. They were located on the dorsal side of the 30S subunit between the head and the body near the groove bordering the side ledge (platform). Comparison of the size of this region with the possible length of the polynucleotide chain covered by the ribosome allowed us to suggest that the message makes a 'U-turn" (or forms a 'loop') as it passes through the ribosome.