[Analysis of amelogenesis imperfecta with abnormal tooth eruption caused by FAM83H mutation]

Objective: FAM83H is one of the major pathogenic genes of amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). Previous studies focused on the abnormal enamel development and mineralization caused by the mutations in FAM83H. Here we aimed to observe other effects of FAM83H mutations on tooth eruption besides AI through clinical case analysis. Methods: Published AI cases with FAM83H mutations were searched through PubMed database, and the characteristics of tooth eruption of each cases were counted and analyzed. The literature search range was from January 1, 2008 to February 28, 2023, using the keywords FAM83H and amelogenesis imperfecta. The included literature must provide the detailed radiographic imaging or dental eruption information of AI patients, as well as FAM83H gene mutation information. The basic clinical information, tooth phenotypes, and mutations of all the enrolled cases were collected and analyzed in order to find the characteristics of abnormal tooth eruption. Results: Among 45 papers about FAM83H related to AI, twenty meeting the inclusion criteria were selected, involving 50 AI patients carrying FAM83H mutations who had radiographic image data or the detailed description of tooth eruption. A total of 34 abnormal erupted teeth were from 12 patients (12/50, 24%), among which 85% (29/34) had clear eruption path without any eruption obstructions, either embedded (25/34, 74%) or partially erupted (4/34, 12%). Tooth position analysis found that abnormal eruption of canines and second molars accounted for the highest proportion, accounting for 38% (13/34) respectively. Conclusions: The mutations in FAM83H may lead to amelogenesis imperfecta as well as abnormal tooth eruption at specific tooth positions.

Changes in rumen fermentation and bacterial community in lactating dairy cows with subacute rumen acidosis following rumen content transplantation

Rumen microbiota intervention has long been used to cure ruminal indigestion in production and has recently become a research hotspot. However, how it controls the remodeling of rumen bacterial homeostasis and the restoration of rumen fermentation in cows of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) remains poorly understood. This study explored changes in rumen fermentation and bacterial communities in SARA cows following rumen content transplantation (RCT). The entire experiment comprised 2 periods: the SARA induction period and the RCT period. During the SARA induction period, 12 ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein cows were selected and allocated into 2 groups at random, fed either a conventional diet [CON; n = 4; 40% concentrate, dry matter (DM) basis] or a high-grain diet (HG; n = 8; 60% concentrate, DM basis). After the SARA induction period, the RCT period began. The HG cows were randomly divided into 2 groups: the donor-recipient (DR) group and the self-recipient (SR) group, and their rumen contents were removed completely before RCT. For the DR group, cows received 70% rumen content from the CON cows, paired based on comparable body weight; for the SR group, each cow received 70% rumen content, self-derived. The results showed that nearly all rumen fermentation parameters returned to the normal levels that the cows had before SARA induction after 6 d of transplantation, regardless of RCT. The concentrations of acetate, valerate, and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were not recovered in the SR cows, whereas all of them were recovered in the DR cows. The amplicon sequencing results indicated that both the SR and DR cows rebuild their rumen bacterial homeostasis quickly within 4 d after RCT, and the DR group showed a higher level of bacterial community diversity. At the genus level, the DR cows displayed an improved proportion of unclassified Ruminococcaceae and Saccharofermentans compared with the SR cows. Correlation analysis between the rumen bacteria and rumen fermentation suggested some potential relationships between the predominant transplantation-sensitive operational taxonomic units and VFA. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that RCT affected only those rumen bacterial taxa that showed weak interactions with other taxa and did not affect the pivotal rumen bacteria with high levels of co-occurrence. Our findings indicate that RCT contributes to the restoration of rumen bacterial homeostasis and rumen fermentation in cows suffering from SARA without affecting the core microbiome.

Gene function adjustment for carbohydrate metabolism and enrichment of rumen microbiota with antibiotic resistance genes during subacute rumen acidosis induced by a high-grain diet in lactating dairy cows

The high-grain diets fed to ruminants generally alters the structure and function of rumen microbiota, resulting in variations of rumen fermentation patterns and the occurrence of subacute rumen acidosis (SARA). To clarify the microbial mechanism for carbohydrate metabolism during SARA, 8 ruminally cannulated Holstein cows in mid lactation were selected for a 3-wk experiment. The cows were randomly divided into 2 groups, fed either a conventional diet (CON; 40% concentrate; dry matter basis) or a high-grain diet (HG; 60% concentrate; dry matter basis). Compared with the CON diet, the HG diet reduced average daily pH (5.71 vs. 6.13), acetate concentration (72.56 vs. 78.44 mM), acetate ratio (54.81 vs. 65.24%), and the ratio of the concentrations of acetate to propionate (1.87 vs. 3.21) but increased the concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (133.03 vs. 120.22 mM), propionate (41.32 vs. 24.71 mM), and valerate (2.46 vs. 1.68 mM) and the propionate ratio (30.51 vs. 20.47%). Taxonomic analysis indicated that the HG cows had a higher relative abundance of Ruminococcus, Eubacterium, Selenomonas, Ruminobacter, Succinimonas, Methanomicrobium, and Methanocaldococcus accompanied by a lower relative abundance of unclassified Firmicutes, unclassified Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides, Fibrobacter, Alistipes, Candidatus Methanoplasma, Methanomassiliicoccus, and Methanolobus. Carbohydrate-active enzyme annotation suggested that there was enriched abundance of glycosyltransferases (GT) 2, glycoside hydrolase (GH) 13, GH24, carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) 26, GH73, GH25, CBM12, GH23, GT8, CBM50, and GT9 and reduced abundance of GH78, GH31, S-layer homology, GH109, carbohydrate esterase 1, GH3, carbohydrate esterase 10, and GH43 in the HG group. Functional profiling revealed that the HG feeding mainly downregulated the pentose phosphate pathway of carbohydrate catabolism, acetate metabolism, propionate metabolism (succinate pathway), and methane metabolism, whereas it upregulated the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas and Entner-Doudoroff pathways of glycolysis and the citrate cycle. Additionally, the HG feeding promoted the abundance of various antibiotic resistance genes and antimicrobial resistance gene families. These results elucidated the structure and function adjustment of rumen microbiota for carbohydrate metabolism and summarized the enrichment of rumen antibiotic resistance genes under the HG feeding, which expands our understanding of the mechanism underlying the response of rumen microbiota to SARA in dairy cattle.

Large Collective Lamb Shift of Two Distant Superconducting Artificial Atoms

Virtual photons can mediate interaction between atoms, resulting in an energy shift known as a collective Lamb shift. Observing the collective Lamb shift is challenging, since it can be obscured by radiative decay and direct atom-atom interactions. Here, we place two superconducting qubits in a transmission line terminated by a mirror, which suppresses decay. We measure a collective Lamb shift reaching 0.8% of the qubit transition frequency and twice the transition linewidth. We also show that the qubits can interact via the transmission line even if one of them does not decay into it.

A rapid shift to high-grain diet results in dynamic changes in rumen epimural microbiome in sheep

The rapid shift to high-grain (HG) diets in ruminants can affect the function of the rumen epithelium, but the dynamic changes in the composition of the epithelium-associated (epimural) bacterial community in sheep still needs further investigation. Twenty male lambs were randomly allocated to four groups (n = 5). Animals of the first group received hay diet and represented a control group (CON). Simultaneously, animals in the other three groups (HG groups) were rapidly shifted to an HG diet (60% concentrate)which continued for 7 (HG7), 14 (HG14) and 28 (HG28) days, correspondingly. Results showed that ruminal pH dramatically decreased due to the rapid shift to the HG diet (P <0.001), while, the concentrations of butyrate (P <0.001), lactate (P = 0.001), valerate (P = 0.008) and total volatile fatty acids (P = 0.001) increased. Diversity estimators showed a dramatic decrease after the shift without recovering as the HG feeding continued. The principal coordinates analysis showed that CON group clustered separately from all HG groups with the presence of significant difference only between HG7 and HG28 (P = 0.034). The non-parametric multivariate analysis (npmv R-package) deduced that the primary significant differences in phyla and phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt)-predicted Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGGs) was attributed mainly to the diet composition (P <0.001, P = 0.001) compared to its application period (P = 0.140, 0.545) which showed a significant effect only on the genus (P = 0.001) and the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) level (P = 0.011). The Kruskal-Wallis test deduced that six phyla showed a significant effect due to the shift in diet composition. At the genus level, HG feeding altered the abundance of 12 taxa, four of which showed a significant variation due to the duration of the HG diet application. Similarly, we found that 21 OTUs showed significant variations due to the duration of the HG diet application. Furthermore, the genes abundance predicted by PICRUSt revealed that the HG feeding significantly affected seven metabolic pathways identified in the KEGG. Particularly, the abundance of gene families associated with carbohydrates metabolism were significantly higher in HG feeding groups (P = 0.027). Collectively, these results revealed that the rapid transition to an HG diet causes dramatic alterations in ruminal fermentation and the composition and function of ruminal epithelium-associated microbiome in sheep, while, the duration of the HG diet application causes drastic alterations to the abundance of some species.

Molecular diversity analysis of rumen methanogenic Archaea from goat in eastern China by DGGE methods using different primer pairs

AIMS

To screen a pair of primers suitable for denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic (DGGE) analysis of ruminal methanogenic Archaea and to detect the archaeal communities in the rumen of goat.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Nine primer pairs for 16S rDNA of methanogenic Archaea, including six for directed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and three for nested PCR were first evaluated by PCR amplification of the total DNA from rumen fluids and bacteria. The DGGE analysis of rumen fluids was then conducted with three primer sets (344fGC/915r, 1106fGC/1378r and 519f/915rGC) of the nine pairs tested. Good separation and quality of patterns were obtained in DGGE analysis with primer pairs 1106fGC/1378r and 519f/915rGC. A total of 40 DNA fragments were excised from the DGGE gels and their sequences were determined. All fragments belonged to methanogenic Archaea while primer pair 519f/915rGC had better amplification ranges than the other two primer pairs.

CONCLUSIONS

The procedure of DGGE analysis with primer pair 519f/915rGC was more suitable for investigating methanogenic archaeal community in the rumen. The dominant methanogenic Archaea in the rumen of goat was Methanobrevibacter sp. and an unidentified methanogenic Archaea.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

One pair of primers suitable for DGGE analysis of ruminal methanogenic Archaea was obtained and the molecular diversity of ruminal methanogenic Archaea in goat was investigated by PCR-DGGE.

alpha-Adducin gene and essential hypertension in China

Adducin is a membrane skeletal protein that is involved in the regulation of membrane ion transport and cellular signal transduction. Essential hypertension has been linked to alpha-adducin gene locus, and association of a polymorphism of the gene has been found in some studies, but results of linkage or association studies on alpha-adducin gene are controversial among different populations. This study was designed to examine the linkage between alpha-adducin gene locus and essential hypertension and to reveal the relationship between an alpha-adducin gene polymorphism (Gly460Trp) and essential hypertension in a Chinese population. For the linkage study, one hundred and six Chinese nuclear families were recruited, including 417 hypertensive patients in all 474 individuals. Those samples were genotyped at D4S412 and D4S3038. The distances between the two microsatellite markers and the alpha-adducin gene locus are less than 3cM. Parametric, non-parametric linkage (NPL) analyses using the GENEHUNTER software were carried out. Sib transmission-dise- quilibrium test (S-TDT), as well as transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT). was also implemented with TDT/S-TDT Program 1.1. Serum levels of uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), fasting glucose and lipids were determined as phenotypes. In an association study, 138 hypertensive and 121 normotensive subjects were genotyped at Gly460Trp of the alpha-adducin gene to examine a possible association between this polymorphism and blood pressure or other phenotypes. We fail to find the linkage between the two markers and essential hypertension by parametric, NPL analysis or TDT/S-TDT study. With the use of the simple association and the multivariate logistic regression analyses, we also fail to reveal a significant association between the Gly460Trp polymorphism in alpha-adducin gene and the blood pressure variation, or blood biochemical indices studied. The frequency of the 460Trp allele in Chinese (46-48%) is similar to that found in Japanese (54-60%) while the allele frequency is less common in Caucasian (13%-23%). These findings suggest that in our Chinese population, alpha-adducin 460Trp variant may not play an important role in the etiology of EH. And the negative results of linkage and TDT/ S-TDT further supports this conclusion.

Assessment of radionuclide contents in food in Hong Kong

Baseline values of concentrations of the natural radionuclides (238U, 226Ra, 228Ra/232Th, 210Pb) and artificial radionuclides (137Cs, 60Co) in food and drinks (tap water, milk, and water-based drinks) were determined by gamma spectroscopy. All food and drinks were found to contain detectable 40K contents: 0.1 to 160 Bq kg(-1) (fresh mass) for food and 0.006 to 61 Bq L(-1) for drinks. Most of the other natural radionuclides in solid food were found to have contents below the minimum detectable activities (MDA). More samples in the leafy vegetable, tomato, carrot and potato categories contained detectable amounts of 228Ra than the meat, cereal, and fish categories, with concentrations up to 1.2 Bq kg(-1) for the former categories and 0.35 Bq kg(-1) for the latter categories. The 238U and 226Ra radionuclides were detectable in most of the water-based drink samples (reaching 0.22 and 0.015 Bq kg(-1), respectively), and the 228Ra and 210Pb radionuclides were detectable in fewer water-based drink samples. The 137Cs contents in solid food were detectable in most of the solid food samples (reaching 0.59 Bq kg(-1)), but in drinks the 137Cs contents were very low (the maximum value is 0.23 Bq L(-1)) and normally lower than the MDA values. Nearly all the 60Co contents in food and drinks were below the MDA values and their contents were below those of 137Cs. The results indicate that drinks provide higher intake of natural radionuclides than solid food, but the solid food provides higher intake of 137Cs than drinks. From the measured concentrations, estimates were made on the consumption rate of radionuclides from food and drinks. The health effects due to the ingestion of the radionuclides were evaluated by calculating the committed effective dose. The committed effective dose due to the ingestion of natural radionuclides was estimated to be 69 microSv and 280 microSv for an adult male and female, respectively. The committed effective dose due to the ingestion of 137Cs and 60Co was estimated to be 0.5 microSv for both an adult male and female. The contributions from these two artificial radionuclides were less than those from the natural radionuclides by a factor of more than 100 and were also below the 1 mSv limit set in the new ICRP recommendations.

Selective deletion of antigen-specific, activated T cells by a humanized MAB to CD2 (MEDI-507) is mediated by NK cells

CD2 is a 50-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein that plays an important role in T and natural killer (NT) lymphocyte functions. CD2 serves as both an adhesion molecule and as a costimulatory molecule through interactions with its ligand, CD58, on antigen presenting or target cells. Consistent with earlier studies using a rat anti-CD2 mAb, we have shown that treatment of alloantigen stimulated T lymphocytes with a humanized mAb, MEDI-507 (IgG1, kappa), induced hyporesponsiveness to subsequent stimulation with alloantigen but not to mitogen (phytohemagglutinin). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of cells from mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) treated with MEDI-507 revealed pronounced deletion of T and NK cells, consistent with lack of proliferation in the MLR. MEDI-507 F(ab')2 fragments did not have inhibitory activity or induce deletion of lymphocytes in the MLR. Removal of the NK cell subset by magnetic bead depletion using anti-CD16 and anti-CD56 mAbs eliminated both the T cell deletion and the inhibitory effect. Reconstitution of NK depleted responder populations using autologous NK cells restored the MEDI-507-mediated deletion activity to levels measured in the original MLR. Formaldehyde-fixed NK cells failed to mediate the MEDI-507-induced deletion effect. Altogether, our studies indicate that activated T cells with MEDI-507 bound to CD2 are preferential targets for autologous NK cells through a nonapoptotic cytotoxic mechanism.

Assessment of the transfer of 137Cs in three types of vegetables consumed in Hong Kong

A dynamic food chain model has been built for the modeling of the transfer of 137Cs in three types of vegetables consumed in Hong Kong, namely, white flowering cabbage (Brassica chinensis), head lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and celery (Apium graveolens). Some parameters have been estimated from the experimental data obtained in this work. The experimental data include the transfer factors of 137Cs from soil to the different vegetable species which are determined through high resolution gamma spectrometry, maximum crop biomasses for the vegetable species, the dry-to-fresh ratios for the vegetable species, the bulk density of soil layers and the average concentration of 137Cs in air. The derived parameters include the deposition rate and the root uptake rate, information for tillage, the logistic growth model and radionuclide concentrations in vegetables. The dynamic food chain model is solved by the Birchall-James algorithm to give the 137Cs concentration in subsurface soil, from the 0.1-25 cm soil layer, and the 137Cs concentration in harvested and unwashed vegetables. As validation of the model and parameters, the concentrations obtained experimentally and from the model are compared and are found to be in good agreement.

Characterization of protein-tyrosine phosphatases that dephosphorylate the high affinity IgE receptor

An early event that follows aggregation of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI) is the phosphorylation of protein tyrosines, especially those on the beta- and gamma-subunits of the receptor. Disaggregation of the receptors leads to their rapid dephosphorylation, but even stably aggregated receptors undergo continual rounds of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. We developed assays to study dephosphorylation of the receptors and other cellular proteins. Whole cell extracts dephosphorylated both subunits of the receptors rapidly and were as active against aggregated as against disaggregated FcepsilonRI. Upon disaggregation, the in vivo dephosphorylation of the FcepsilonRI and several other proteins followed first-order kinetics with closely similar rate constants despite substantial differences in the extent of phosphorylation. These results suggest that the level of phosphorylation of FcepsilonRI is largely controlled by the aggregation-induced action of kinase(s) and not from changes in susceptibility to or activity of the phosphatases. Much of the total phosphatase is lost when the cells are permeabilized, but the rate of dephosphorylation of disaggregated FcepsilonRI was comparable in intact and permeabilized cells. Thus, much of the activity utilized by the cell to dephosphorylate the FcepsilonRI is likely to be associated with the plasma membrane.

A study of radioactivities in six types of fish consumed in Hong Kong

The contents of natural and artificial radionuclides in two types of fresh water fish and four types of marine fish commonly consumed by the Hong Kong population have been measured using HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry. The two types of fresh water fish are grey mullet (mugil cephalus) and grass carp (ctenopharyngodon idellus). The four types of marine fish are white pomfret (pampus argenteus), red bullseye (priacanthus macracanthus), golden thread (nemipterus) and ginkgo (gymnocranius griseus). All measurements of U and Th chain radionuclides in the samples have yielded values below MDA except for positive detection of 228Ra (assuming 228Ra to be in equilibrium with 228Ac) in grey mullet and bullseye perch. The 40K and 137Cs radionuclides were detectable in all samples, with values of 0.01-0.2 and 41.23-111.47 Bq/kg fresh respectively. The different levels of radioactivity in different species of fish is suggested to be due to differences in metabolism and feeding patterns. The radionuclide 60Co, the only other artificial radionuclide to be investigated herein, recorded values below MDA for most of the samples; observable values ranged from 0.01 to 0.04 Bq/kg fresh. Committed effective doses due to ingestion of radionuclides from fish have been estimated to be 1.2 (male) and 6.4 (female) microSv/yr for natural radionuclides; 0.027 (male) and 0.026 (female) microSv/yr for artificial radionuclides.

Kinetics of tyrosine phosphorylation when IgE dimers bind to FC epsilon receptors on rat basophilic leukemia cells

Previously, we demonstrated that aggregates of the high affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI), formed by the binding of chemically cross-linked oligomers of IgE, continue to signal early and late cellular responses long after the formation of new aggregates is blocked. In the present work, we explore quantitatively the relationship between aggregation of the receptors and one of the earliest biochemical changes this initiates. We compare the time course of aggregate formation, inferred from studies of the binding of dimers of IgE, and the time course of phosphorylation of tyrosines on receptor subunits when the receptors are aggregated. A simple model does not fit the data. It appears that aggregates formed late in the response are less effective signaling units than those formed initially. We propose new explanations for the persistence of the response and the unusual kinetics.

Effects of subunit mutation on the rotational dynamics of Fc epsilon RI, the high affinity receptor for IgE, in transfected cells

Erythrosin-labeled immunoglobulin E (IgE) and time-resolved phosphorescence anisotropy were used to monitor the rotational dynamics of transfected wild-type (alpha beta gamma 2) and four mutant Fc epsilon RI receptors in the monomeric and dimeric state on P815 cells. Erythrosin-IgE bound to Fc epsilon RI on cells transfected with either beta or gamma subunits with truncated COOH-terminal cytoplasmic segments exhibit faster rotational motion than when bound to Fc epsilon RI on cells transfected with wild-type subunits. Deletion of the NH2-terminal cytoplasmic segment of the beta subunit or the COOH-terminal cytoplasmic segment of the alpha subunit does not cause any significant change in the anisotropy decay. Dimers of IgE-receptor complexes formed with anti-IgE monoclonal antibody B1E3 exhibit substantially slower anisotropy decays for all the receptor constructs used, including a receptor construct that only contains the ectodomain of the alpha subunit anchored to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell membranes through a lipid tail. This loss of rotational motion of dimeric IgE-Fc epsilon RI complexes may be due to nonspecific entanglement or to specific interactions involving IgE or the extracellular portion of alpha. The results suggest that the beta and gamma subunits of the tetrameric alpha beta gamma 2 receptor participate in interactions with other membrane components even in the absence of receptor aggregation. The loss of such interactions may be related to the functional impairments previously determined for these mutants.

Chemical cross-linking of IgE-receptor complexes in RBL-2H3 cells

Aggregation of the high-affinity receptors for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) on mast cells activates nonreceptor kinases and other enzymes, thereby initiating a complex biochemical cascade. We have employed a chemical cross-linker in order to stabilize the association of Fc epsilon RI with other cellular proteins that are involved in the early events. We reacted the water-soluble, membrane-impermeant chemical cross-linker 3,3'-dithiobis(sulfosuccinimidyl propionate) (DTSSP) with permeabilized rat mucosal mast cells of the RBL line and analyzed immunoprecipitates of the receptor in detergent lysates of cells that had biosynthetically incorporated [35S]cysteine. Gel electrophoresis revealed substantial amounts of nonreceptor components only when the cells had been reacted with DTSSP. Receptors isolated from cells whose receptor-bound IgE had been aggregated with antigen prior to cross-linking yielded a similar pattern of 35S-labeled proteins. However, when the cells had also been exposed to [gamma-32P]ATP, the proteins associated with the cross-linked, aggregated receptors revealed enhanced incorporation of 32P compared to those associated with cross-linked, unaggregated receptors. A variety of antibodies were used to try to identify the associated proteins. Of those tested for, two, the src-like kinase p53/56lyn and the delta isoform of protein kinase C, were associated with the cross-linked Fc epsilon RI in amounts much greater than could be accounted for by nonspecific cross-linking.

Aggregation of the high-affinity IgE receptor and enhanced activity of p53/56lyn protein-tyrosine kinase

Aggregation of the receptor with high affinity for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) on the surface of mast cells and basophils stimulates phosphorylation of protein tyrosines, a process in which p53/56lyn kinase has been implicated. We measured the association between Fc epsilon RI and the kinase, using chemical crosslinking to stabilize their interaction. In the rat basophilic leukemia mast cell line, 3-4%, and at most 20%, of Fc epsilon RI appear to be associated with the kinase prior to aggregation, even though there is an excess of total cell lyn kinase. Aggregating the Fc epsilon RI causes three to four times more of the kinase to associate with receptors, a process requiring a prior phosphorylation step. In an in vitro assay, the lyn associated with the aggregated receptors becomes disproportionately more phosphorylated than would be predicted from the amount of lyn associated with the receptors. These and other data are consistent with a model in which aggregation of the receptor leads to its transphosphorylation by constitutively associated lyn kinase. We propose that additional molecules of this kinase are thereby recruited and that this markedly enhances transphosphorylation of tyrosine on the receptor and associated proteins, thereby initiating a cascade of further biochemical changes. This model is also consistent with data on receptors such as the clonotypic receptors on B and T lymphocytes, which share structural and functional features with Fc epsilon RI.

Dynamics of signal transduction after aggregation of cell-surface receptors: studies on the type I receptor for IgE

Many ligands stimulate cellular responses by aggregating the cell-surface receptors to which they are bound. We investigated several mechanistic questions related to aggregation of receptors by using the high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) on mast cells as a model system. We briefly exposed cells to covalently cross-linked oligomers of IgE and then added excess monomeric IgE to prevent further aggregation. Early events were examined by monitoring the phosphorylation of protein tyrosines; later events were examined by monitoring secretion. We found that aggregated receptors continue to signal both late and early events in the absence of formation of new aggregates. Additional experiments suggested that the clustered receptors undergo a dynamic process of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Our findings suggest that for these and related receptors that function by aggregation, the persistence of signal transduction is directly related to the intrinsic affinity of the ligand for the individual receptor.

Effects of subunit mutation on the localization to coated pits and internalization of cross-linked IgE-receptor complexes

IgE receptors of mast cells, Fc epsilon RI, localize to coated pits and internalize after cross-linking. We investigated whether any one of the receptor's four distinctive cytoplasmic domains regulates these phenomena. COS cells, which lack Fc epsilon RI entirely, and P815 mouse mastocytoma cells that lack the alpha and beta subunits of the tetrameric Fc epsilon RI (alpha beta gamma 2), were transfected with wild-type, incomplete, or variant Fc epsilon RI. IgE-receptor complexes were observed by electron microscopy. Before cross-linking with anti-IgE gold particles, receptors were not preferentially localized to coated pits, which occupy approximately 1% of the cell surface. After cross-linking, up to 10 to 20% of the wild-type and most other receptor variants were in coated pits in transfected P815 cells at any one time. beta-less variants localized normally but, surprisingly, receptors containing a variant beta subunit showed reduced localization. "Receptors" consisting simply of the lipid-anchored ectodomains of the human alpha subunit failed to localize to coated pits. In general, cross-linked receptors that localized to coated pits were progressively internalized, whereas receptors that failed to accumulate in coated pits were not. We conclude that no single cytoplasmic domain of the Fc epsilon RI uniquely controls its ligand-induced localization to coated pits and internalization.

Effects of subunit mutation on the localization to coated pits and internalization of cross-linked IgE-receptor complexes

IgE receptors of mast cells, Fc epsilon RI, localize to coated pits and internalize after cross-linking. We investigated whether any one of the receptor's four distinctive cytoplasmic domains regulates these phenomena. COS cells, which lack Fc epsilon RI entirely, and P815 mouse mastocytoma cells that lack the alpha and beta subunits of the tetrameric Fc epsilon RI (alpha beta gamma 2), were transfected with wild-type, incomplete, or variant Fc epsilon RI. IgE-receptor complexes were observed by electron microscopy. Before cross-linking with anti-IgE gold particles, receptors were not preferentially localized to coated pits, which occupy approximately 1% of the cell surface. After cross-linking, up to 10 to 20% of the wild-type and most other receptor variants were in coated pits in transfected P815 cells at any one time. beta-less variants localized normally but, surprisingly, receptors containing a variant beta subunit showed reduced localization. "Receptors" consisting simply of the lipid-anchored ectodomains of the human alpha subunit failed to localize to coated pits. In general, cross-linked receptors that localized to coated pits were progressively internalized, whereas receptors that failed to accumulate in coated pits were not. We conclude that no single cytoplasmic domain of the Fc epsilon RI uniquely controls its ligand-induced localization to coated pits and internalization.

Interaction of aggregated native and mutant IgE receptors with the cellular skeleton

When aggregated, cell surface proteins become resistant to solubilization by detergents, presumably because of aggregation-induced or -stabilized interactions between the membrane protein and the cytoskeleton or plasma membrane skeleton. We genetically engineered variants of the tetrameric high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) to identify a site on its alpha, beta, or gamma chains that mediates such putative interactions. Using flow cytofluorometry, we studied rat basophilic leukemia cells, transiently transfected COS cells, and stably transfected P815 cells bearing wild-type and mutated receptors. We observed that (i) solubilization was markedly dependent on the degree of aggregation, the extent varying somewhat with the cell type and, particularly at lower levels of aggregation, with the time after addition of detergent; (ii) truncation of no single cytoplasmic domain of the alpha, beta, or gamma chains ablated the insolubilization effect; and (iii) incomplete receptors were also efficiently insolubilized by aggregation. Thus receptors consisting only of alpha and gamma chains, a "receptor" consisting of only the ectodomain of the alpha chain attached to the plasma membrane by a glycosyl-phosphatidyl inositol anchor, and "receptors" consisting only of minimally modified gamma chains were resistant to solubilization after aggregation. We conclude that no unique subunit or domain of Fc epsilon RI mediates the insolubilization phenomenon. Our results support a model in which the bridging of membrane proteins leads to their becoming nonspecifically enmeshed in a network of membrane skeletal proteins on either the outside and/or the inside of the membrane so that dissolution of the lipid bilayer becomes irrelevant.

Immobilization and internalization of mutated IgE receptors in transfected cells

Earlier studies have shown that the mast cell receptor IgE (Fc epsilon RI) for is expressed on COS-7 cells transfected with the cDNA for each of the three types of subunits that form the tetrameric, alpha beta gamma 2, receptor. Although such transfected COS cells fail to exhibit some of the early biochemical perturbations initiated by aggregation of the receptor on normal mast cells and related tumor lines, we show here that other characteristics of the endogenous Fc epsilon RI are retained. Thus, the unaggregated transfected wild-type receptors were found to have a restricted translational diffusion similar to that observed for endogenous receptors on mast cells as assessed by fluorescence photobleaching and recovery. Similarly, as with endogenous receptors the mobility of transfected receptors was sharply reduced when the receptors were aggregated by reaction with small oligomers of IgE. In addition, aggregation of the transfected Fc epsilon RI caused them to be internalized by the COS cells by a cytochalasin-sensitive mechanism, albeit at a considerably slower rate than was seen with endogenous receptors on mast cells or with transfected receptors in a line of receptor-deficient mast cells. We also examined the mobility and internalization before and after aggregation, of some 13 different combinations of receptor subunit mutants in which one or more of the five cytoplasmic domains of the receptor had been truncated. Our results show that whatever interactions between the receptor and cellular components may account for the phenomena we studied, such interactions do not critically depend upon the bulk of the cytoplasmic domains of the receptor.

Immobilization and internalization of mutated IgE receptors in transfected cells

Earlier studies have shown that the mast cell receptor IgE (Fc epsilon RI) for is expressed on COS-7 cells transfected with the cDNA for each of the three types of subunits that form the tetrameric, alpha beta gamma 2, receptor. Although such transfected COS cells fail to exhibit some of the early biochemical perturbations initiated by aggregation of the receptor on normal mast cells and related tumor lines, we show here that other characteristics of the endogenous Fc epsilon RI are retained. Thus, the unaggregated transfected wild-type receptors were found to have a restricted translational diffusion similar to that observed for endogenous receptors on mast cells as assessed by fluorescence photobleaching and recovery. Similarly, as with endogenous receptors the mobility of transfected receptors was sharply reduced when the receptors were aggregated by reaction with small oligomers of IgE. In addition, aggregation of the transfected Fc epsilon RI caused them to be internalized by the COS cells by a cytochalasin-sensitive mechanism, albeit at a considerably slower rate than was seen with endogenous receptors on mast cells or with transfected receptors in a line of receptor-deficient mast cells. We also examined the mobility and internalization before and after aggregation, of some 13 different combinations of receptor subunit mutants in which one or more of the five cytoplasmic domains of the receptor had been truncated. Our results show that whatever interactions between the receptor and cellular components may account for the phenomena we studied, such interactions do not critically depend upon the bulk of the cytoplasmic domains of the receptor.

Comparative phosphorescence and optically detected magnetic resonance studies of fatty acid binding to serum albumin

The binding of free fatty acid to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by phosphorescence and optical detection of triplet-state magnetic resonance spectroscopy in zero applied magnetic field. We have found that oleic acid perturbs the excited triplet state of Trp-134 but not that of Trp-212 in BSA. The assignment is made by comparing the BSA results with those obtained from oleic acid binding to HSA. The phosphorescence 0,0 band as well as the zero-field splittings of Trp-134 undergoes significant changes upon binding of oleic acid to BSA. Shifts of the 0,0-band wavelength and of the zero-field splittings point to large changes in the Trp-134 local environment which accompany the complex formation. The shifts are progressive until 3-4 mol of oleic acid is added. The spectroscopic changes may be attributed to Stark effects caused by a protein conformational change near Trp-134 in the BSA-oleate complex. Oleic acid binding has a minimal effect on the triplet-state properties of the single Trp-214 of HSA. The binding specificity with regard to chain length and unsaturation is reflected by the differences in the Trp environment when BSA forms complexes with various fatty acids.

Optical detection of triplet-state magnetic resonance studies on individual tryptophan residues of serum albumin: correlation between phosphorescence and zero-field splittings

Cyanogen bromide cleavage of bovine serum albumin (BSA) yields two fragments, N (1-183) and C (184-582), containing 183 and 399 amino acid residues, respectively. Each in each fragment are characterized in this study by phosphorescence and optically detected magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the results are compared with those of the intact albumin. Trp-134 in fragment N is located in a hydrophobic environment in the interior of the protein, as reflected by its red-shifted phosphorescence and characteristic zero-field splittings. The spectral properties of Trp-212 in fragment C suggest its location in a partially buried, inhomogeneous environment. They show great similarity to those of human serum albumin, which contains a single Trp at position 214. The Trp phosphorescence 0,0-bands of fragments C and N are fitted with Gaussian functions by computer, and their relative contributions to the phosphoresence 0,0-band of BSA are adjusted to fit the observed BSA 0,0-band. The wavelength dependence of the [D[-[E[ transition frequencies of fragments N and C is then weighted by their 0,0-band intensity, taking into account differences in spin alignment, and summed to predict the peak frequency of the [D[-[E[ band profile as a function of phosphorescence wavelength for the intact BSA. Good agreement between predicted and observed behavior of [D[-[E[ vs. wavelength for the intact protein provides strong evidence for the additivity of the phosphorescence and ODMR spectra of the individual Trp sites in BSA. We find that Trp-134 and Trp-212 have wavelength-independent and wavelength-dependent zero-field splittings, respectively.

Comparative optically detected magnetic resonance studies of mammalian phospholipase A2-lipid interactions

A major difference between porcine and bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PA2) is the relatively low affinity of the bovine enzyme for lipid-water interfaces. We have investigated the binding of porcine, bovine, and equine PA2 to n-hexadecylphosphocholine (C16-PC) micelles using optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectroscopy. The zero field splittings (ZFS) of the single Trp-3 residue undergo significant changes upon binding of PA2 to C16-PC micelles. ZFS titrations of PA2 vs C16-PC indicate that porcine and equine enzymes have similar binding affinity and stoichiometry, while bovine PA2 binds much more weakly to the lipid-water interfaces. This may be attributed to the differences in the amino acid composition and the conformation of the binding sites for lipid-water interfaces of these enzymes.

Optically detected magnetic resonance studies of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 binding to a negatively charged substrate analogue

The direct binding of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 and its zymogen to 1,2-bis(heptanylcarbamoyl)-rac-glycerol 3-sulfate was studied by optical detection of triplet-state magnetic resonance spectroscopy in zero applied magnetic field. The zero-field splittings of the single Trp3 residue undergo significant changes upon binding of phospholipase A2 to lipid. Shifts in zero-field splittings, characterized mainly by a reduction of the E parameter from 1.215 to 1.144 GHz, point to large changes in the Trp3 local environment which accompany the complexing of phospholipase A2 with lipid. This may be attributed to Stark effects caused by the binding of a charged group near Trp3 in the enzyme-lipid complex. The cofactor, Ca2+, which is strongly bound to the enzyme active site, has an influence on the bonding, as reflected by smaller zero-field splitting shifts. A relatively small change in the Trp environment was observed for the interaction of the zymogen with lipid.

Investigation of phospholipase-lipid interactions by optical detection of triplet state magnetic resonance spectroscopy

We have investigated the binding of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PA2) to n-hexadecylphosphocholine (C16PN) micelles using optical detection of triplet state magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectroscopy. The zero field splittings (zfs) of the single Trp3 residue undergo significant changes upon binding of PA2 to C16PN micelles. Zfs titrations of PA2 vs C16PN indicate that the binding stoichiometry is C16PN:PA2 approximately 25. A reduction of the (E) parameter from 1.227 to 1.135 GHz is postulated to result from Stark effects caused by the binding of a polar group (possibly phosphocholine) near Trp3 in the PA2-C16PN micelle complex.