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Cressman A, Morales D, Zhang Z, Le B, Foley J, Murray-Stewart T, Genetos DC, Fierro FA. Effects of Spermine Synthase Deficiency in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Are Rescued by Upstream Inhibition of Ornithine Decarboxylase. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2463. [PMID: 38473716 PMCID: PMC10931026 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the well-known relevance of polyamines to many forms of life, little is known about how polyamines regulate osteogenesis and skeletal homeostasis. Here, we report a series of in vitro studies conducted with human-bone-marrow-derived pluripotent stromal cells (MSCs). First, we show that during osteogenic differentiation, mRNA levels of most polyamine-associated enzymes are relatively constant, except for the catabolic enzyme spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1), which is strongly increased at both mRNA and protein levels. As a result, the intracellular spermidine to spermine ratio is significantly reduced during the early stages of osteoblastogenesis. Supplementation of cells with exogenous spermidine or spermine decreases matrix mineralization in a dose-dependent manner. Employing N-cyclohexyl-1,3-propanediamine (CDAP) to chemically inhibit spermine synthase (SMS), the enzyme catalyzing conversion of spermidine into spermine, also suppresses mineralization. Intriguingly, this reduced mineralization is rescued with DFMO, an inhibitor of the upstream polyamine enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC1). Similarly, high concentrations of CDAP cause cytoplasmic vacuolization and alter mitochondrial function, which are also reversible with the addition of DFMO. Altogether, these studies suggest that excess polyamines, especially spermidine, negatively affect hydroxyapatite synthesis of primary MSCs, whereas inhibition of polyamine synthesis with DFMO rescues most, but not all of these defects. These findings are relevant for patients with Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS), as the presenting skeletal defects-associated with SMS deficiency-could potentially be ameliorated by treatment with DFMO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Cressman
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (A.C.); (D.M.); (Z.Z.); (B.L.)
| | - David Morales
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (A.C.); (D.M.); (Z.Z.); (B.L.)
| | - Zhenyang Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (A.C.); (D.M.); (Z.Z.); (B.L.)
| | - Bryan Le
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (A.C.); (D.M.); (Z.Z.); (B.L.)
| | - Jackson Foley
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (J.F.); (T.M.-S.)
| | - Tracy Murray-Stewart
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (J.F.); (T.M.-S.)
| | - Damian C. Genetos
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Fernando A. Fierro
- Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (A.C.); (D.M.); (Z.Z.); (B.L.)
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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Stewart TM, Foley JR, Holbert CE, Khomutov M, Rastkari N, Tao X, Khomutov AR, Zhai RG, Casero RA. Difluoromethylornithine rebalances aberrant polyamine ratios in Snyder-Robinson syndrome. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e17833. [PMID: 37702369 PMCID: PMC10630878 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202317833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS) results from mutations in spermine synthase (SMS), which converts the polyamine spermidine into spermine. Affecting primarily males, common manifestations of SRS include intellectual disability, osteoporosis, hypotonia, and seizures. Symptom management is the only treatment. Reduced SMS activity causes spermidine accumulation while spermine levels are reduced. The resulting exaggerated spermidine:spermine ratio is a biochemical hallmark of SRS that tends to correlate with symptom severity. Our studies aim to pharmacologically manipulate polyamine metabolism to correct this imbalance as a therapeutic strategy for SRS. Here we report the repurposing of 2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an FDA-approved inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, in rebalancing spermidine:spermine ratios in SRS patient cells. Mechanistic in vitro studies demonstrate that, while reducing spermidine biosynthesis, DFMO also stimulates the conversion of spermidine into spermine in hypomorphic SMS cells and induces uptake of exogenous spermine, altogether reducing the aberrant ratios. In a Drosophila SRS model characterized by reduced lifespan, DFMO improves longevity. As nearly all SRS patient mutations are hypomorphic, these studies form a strong foundation for translational studies with significant therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Murray Stewart
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Jackson R Foley
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Cassandra E Holbert
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Maxim Khomutov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular BiologyRussian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | - Noushin Rastkari
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Xianzun Tao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologyUniversity of Miami Miller School of MedicineMiamiFLUSA
| | - Alex R Khomutov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular BiologyRussian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | - R Grace Zhai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologyUniversity of Miami Miller School of MedicineMiamiFLUSA
| | - Robert A Casero
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
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3
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Xiang L, Piao L, Wang D, Qi LFR. Overexpression of SMS in the tumor microenvironment is associated with immunosuppression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:974241. [PMID: 36544774 PMCID: PMC9760682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.974241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Disorders of polyamine metabolism may contribute to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the precise mechanism remains unknown. This study reports that spermine synthase (SMS), an enzyme involved in polyamine biosynthesis, is overexpressed in HCC and not associated with hepatitis virus infection in HCC patients. The results of analyzing the clinical data of HCC patients showed that SMS level as a categorical dependent variable was related to clinicopathological features of poor prognosis. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and ROC curve indicated that increased SMS level is associated with poor survival rate in HCC and may be a potential biomarker to discriminate HCC tissues. However, SMS overexpression limited the therapeutic effect of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), which seemed to be related to the immunosuppressive effect of the HCC immune microenvironment formed by higher mRNA transcript levels of immune checkpoints and higher infiltration levels of immunosuppressive cells. In samples with high and low SMS expression, functional enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that SMS may be linked to the occurrence and development of HCC by affecting a variety of immune-related pathways, such as Intestinal immune network for IgA production, Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, Antigen processing and presentation, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation. Subsequently, analysis of the co-expression network of SMS in the liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) cohort revealed that SMS has a broad impact on multiple important immune- and metabolic-related processes in HCC. In summary, SMS is a promising biomarker to differentiate the prognosis, immune characteristics, and holds promise as a potential target for ICB therapy to improve HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xiang
- Department of Translational Medicine Research Institute, Jiangsu Yifengrong Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Longhuan Piao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Li-Feng-Rong Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China,*Correspondence: Li-Feng-Rong Qi,
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Morales TS, Avis EC, Paskowski EK, Shabar H, Nowotarski SL, DiAngelo JR. The Role of Spermidine Synthase (SpdS) and Spermine Synthase (Sms) in Regulating Triglyceride Storage in Drosophila. Med Sci (Basel) 2021; 9:medsci9020027. [PMID: 34063217 PMCID: PMC8162547 DOI: 10.3390/medsci9020027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyamines are small organic cations that are important for several biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. The dysregulation of intracellular polyamines is often associated with diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and developmental disorders. Although polyamine metabolism has been well studied, the effects of key enzymes in the polyamine pathway on lipid metabolism are not well understood. Here, we determined metabolic effects resulting from the absence of spermidine synthase (SpdS) and spermine synthase (Sms) in Drosophila. While SpdS mutants developed normally and accumulated triglycerides, Sms mutants had reduced viability and stored less triglyceride than the controls. Interestingly, when decreasing SpdS and Sms, specifically in the fat body, triglyceride storage increased. While there was no difference in triglycerides stored in heads, thoraxes and abdomen fat bodies, abdomen fat body DNA content increased, and protein/DNA decreased in both SpdS- and Sms-RNAi flies, suggesting that fat body-specific knockdown of SpdS and Sms causes the production of smaller fat body cells and triglycerides to accumulate in non-fat body tissues of the abdomen. Together, these data provide support for the role that polyamines play in the regulation of metabolism and can help enhance our understanding of polyamine function in metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shannon L. Nowotarski
- Correspondence: (S.L.N.); (J.R.D.); Tel.: +1-610-396-6005 (S.L.N.); +1-610-396-6441 (J.R.D.)
| | - Justin R. DiAngelo
- Correspondence: (S.L.N.); (J.R.D.); Tel.: +1-610-396-6005 (S.L.N.); +1-610-396-6441 (J.R.D.)
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Murray Stewart T, Khomutov M, Foley JR, Guo X, Holbert CE, Dunston TT, Schwartz CE, Gabrielson K, Khomutov A, Casero RA. ( R, R)-1,12-Dimethylspermine can mitigate abnormal spermidine accumulation in Snyder-Robinson syndrome. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:3247-3256. [PMID: 31996374 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS) is an X-linked intellectual disability syndrome caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the spermine synthase (SMS) gene. Primarily affecting males, the main manifestations of SRS include osteoporosis, hypotonic stature, seizures, cognitive impairment, and developmental delay. Because there is no cure for SRS, treatment plans focus on alleviating symptoms rather than targeting the underlying causes. Biochemically, the cells of individuals with SRS accumulate excess spermidine, whereas spermine levels are reduced. We recently demonstrated that SRS patient-derived lymphoblastoid cells are capable of transporting exogenous spermine and its analogs into the cell and, in response, decreasing excess spermidine pools to normal levels. However, dietary supplementation of spermine does not appear to benefit SRS patients or mouse models. Here, we investigated the potential use of a metabolically stable spermine mimetic, (R,R)-1,12-dimethylspermine (Me2SPM), to reduce the intracellular spermidine pools of SRS patient-derived cells. Me2SPM can functionally substitute for the native polyamines in supporting cell growth while stimulating polyamine homeostatic control mechanisms. We found that both lymphoblasts and fibroblasts from SRS patients can accumulate Me2SPM, resulting in significantly decreased spermidine levels with no adverse effects on growth. Me2SPM administration to mice revealed that Me2SPM significantly decreases spermidine levels in multiple tissues. Importantly, Me2SPM was detectable in brain tissue, the organ most affected in SRS, and was associated with changes in polyamine metabolic enzymes. These findings indicate that the (R,R)-diastereomer of 1,12-Me2SPM represents a promising lead compound in developing a treatment aimed at targeting the molecular mechanisms underlying SRS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Murray Stewart
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
| | - Maxim Khomutov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Jackson R Foley
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
| | - Xin Guo
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Cassandra E Holbert
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
| | - Tiffany T Dunston
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
| | | | - Kathleen Gabrielson
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Alexey Khomutov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Robert A Casero
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
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Erratum: DFMD: Fast and Effective DelPhiForce Steered Molecular Dynamics Approach to Model Ligand Approach Toward a Receptor: Application to Spermine Synthase Enzyme. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:111. [PMID: 31720288 PMCID: PMC6832014 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Peng Y, Yang Y, Li L, Jia Z, Cao W, Alexov E. DFMD: Fast and Effective DelPhiForce Steered Molecular Dynamics Approach to Model Ligand Approach Toward a Receptor: Application to Spermine Synthase Enzyme. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:74. [PMID: 31552265 PMCID: PMC6737077 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report a novel approach, the DelPhiForce Molecular Dynamics (DFMD) method, for steered molecular dynamics simulations to model receptor-ligand association involving charged species. The main purpose of developing DFMD is to simulate ligand's trajectory toward the receptor and thus to predict the "entrance" of the binding pocket and conformational changes associated with the binding. We demonstrate that the DFMD is superior compared with molecular dynamics simulations applying standard cut-offs, provides correct binding forces, allows for modeling the ligand approach at long distances and thus guides the ligand toward the correct binding spot, and it is very fast (frequently the binding is completed in <1 ns). The DFMD is applied to model the binding of two ligands to a receptor (spermine synthase) and it is demonstrated that it guides the ligands toward the corresponding pockets despite of the initial ligand's position with respect to the receptor. Predicted conformational changes and the order of ligand binding are experimentally verified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhui Peng
- Computational Biophysics and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Physics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Ye Yang
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Physics, University of Texas, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Zhe Jia
- Computational Biophysics and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Physics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Weiguo Cao
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Emil Alexov
- Computational Biophysics and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Physics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States,*Correspondence: Emil Alexov
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Murray-Stewart T, Dunworth M, Foley JR, Schwartz CE, Casero RA Jr. Polyamine Homeostasis in Snyder-Robinson Syndrome. Med Sci (Basel) 2018; 6:E112. [PMID: 30544565 DOI: 10.3390/medsci6040112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations of the spermine synthase gene (SMS) result in Snyder-Robinson Syndrome (SRS), a recessive X-linked syndrome characterized by intellectual disability, osteoporosis, hypotonia, speech abnormalities, kyphoscoliosis, and seizures. As SMS catalyzes the biosynthesis of the polyamine spermine from its precursor spermidine, SMS deficiency causes a lack of spermine with an accumulation of spermidine. As polyamines, spermine, and spermidine play essential cellular roles that require tight homeostatic control to ensure normal cell growth, differentiation, and survival. Using patient-derived lymphoblast cell lines, we sought to comprehensively investigate the effects of SMS deficiency on polyamine homeostatic mechanisms including polyamine biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes, derivatives of the natural polyamines, and polyamine transport activity. In addition to decreased spermine and increased spermidine in SRS cells, ornithine decarboxylase activity and its product putrescine were significantly decreased. Treatment of SRS cells with exogenous spermine revealed that polyamine transport was active, as the cells accumulated spermine, decreased their spermidine level, and established a spermidine-to-spermine ratio within the range of wildtype cells. SRS cells also demonstrated elevated levels of tissue transglutaminase, a change associated with certain neurodegenerative diseases. These studies form a basis for further investigations into the leading biochemical changes and properties of SMS-mutant cells that potentially represent therapeutic targets for the treatment of Snyder-Robinson Syndrome.
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Vuosku J, Karppinen K, Muilu-Mäkelä R, Kusano T, Sagor GHM, Avia K, Alakärppä E, Kestilä J, Suokas M, Nickolov K, Hamberg L, Savolainen O, Häggman H, Sarjala T. Scots pine aminopropyltransferases shed new light on evolution of the polyamine biosynthesis pathway in seed plants. Ann Bot 2018; 121:1243-1256. [PMID: 29462244 PMCID: PMC5946884 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcy012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Background and Aims Polyamines are small metabolites present in all living cells and play fundamental roles in numerous physiological events in plants. The aminopropyltransferases (APTs), spermidine synthase (SPDS), spermine synthase (SPMS) and thermospermine synthase (ACL5), are essential enzymes in the polyamine biosynthesis pathway. In angiosperms, SPMS has evolved from SPDS via gene duplication, whereas in gymnosperms APTs are mostly unexplored and no SPMS gene has been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the functional properties of the SPDS and ACL5 proteins of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in order to elucidate the role and evolution of APTs in higher plants. Methods Germinating Scots pine seeds and seedlings were analysed for polyamines by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the expression of PsSPDS and PsACL5 genes by in situ hybridization. Recombinant proteins of PsSPDS and PsACL5 were produced and investigated for functional properties. Also gene structures, promoter regions and phylogenetic relationships of PsSPDS and PsACL5 genes were analysed. Key Results Scots pine tissues were found to contain spermidine, spermine and thermospermine. PsSPDS enzyme catalysed synthesis of both spermidine and spermine. PsACL5 was found to produce thermospermine, and PsACL5 gene expression was localized in the developing procambium in embryos and tracheary elements in seedlings. Conclusions Contrary to previous views, our results demonstrate that SPMS activity is not a novel feature developed solely in the angiosperm lineage of seed plants but also exists as a secondary property in the Scots pine SPDS enzyme. The discovery of bifunctional SPDS from an evolutionarily old conifer reveals the missing link in the evolution of the polyamine biosynthesis pathway. The finding emphasizes the importance of pre-existing secondary functions in the evolution of new enzyme activities via gene duplication. Our results also associate PsACL5 with the development of vascular structures in Scots pine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaana Vuosku
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
| | - Katja Karppinen
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
| | - Riina Muilu-Mäkelä
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Bio-based Business and Industry, Parkano, Finland
| | - Tomonobu Kusano
- Tohoku University, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - G H M Sagor
- Tohoku University, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Komlan Avia
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
- UMI 3614 Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Austral de Chile, Station Biologique Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Emmi Alakärppä
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
| | - Johanna Kestilä
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
| | - Marko Suokas
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
| | - Kaloian Nickolov
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
| | - Leena Hamberg
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Management and Production of Renewable Resources, Vantaa, Finland
| | - Outi Savolainen
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
| | - Hely Häggman
- University of Oulu, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tytti Sarjala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Bio-based Business and Industry, Parkano, Finland
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Behringer M, Montag JCK, Kilian Y, Heaton P, Mester J. Polyamines, myosin heavy chains, and collagen specific amino acids after a repeated bout of eccentric exercise. Res Sports Med 2016; 24:287-97. [PMID: 27379471 DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2016.1202830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We investigated alternatives to commonly used biomarkers of exercise-induced tissue damage. Over 5 days following two bouts of 100 drop-to-vertical jumps (inter-bout rest period of 3 weeks), myosin heavy chain 1, hydroxylysine (HYL), hydroxyproline (HYP), spermine (SPM) and spermine synthase (SMS) were measured in the serum of 10 participants. HYL significantly increased from 5.92 ± 1.49 ng/mL to 6.48 ± 1.47 ng/mL at 24 h. A similar trend was observed for bout 2, but without reaching significance. SPM significantly increased only after bout 1 from 0.96 ± 0.19 ng/mL at pretest to a peak level of 1.12 ± 0.26 ng/mL at 24 h, while B2 increments remained non-significant. Myosin heavy chain 1, HYP and SMS values remained below the detection limit of the applied enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Though HYL and SM increased after the intervention, both markers showed a large standard deviation (SD) combined with small increments. Therefore, none of the investigated biomarkers provides a meaningful alternative to commonly used damage markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Behringer
- a Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics , German Sport University Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | | | - Yvonne Kilian
- a Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics , German Sport University Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | - Phil Heaton
- b Department of Mechanical and Design Engineering , University of Portsmouth , Portsmouth , UK
| | - Joachim Mester
- a Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics , German Sport University Cologne , Cologne , Germany
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Peng Y, Norris J, Schwartz C, Alexov E. Revealing the Effects of Missense Mutations Causing Snyder-Robinson Syndrome on the Stability and Dimerization of Spermine Synthase. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:E77. [PMID: 26761001 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2015] [Revised: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Missense mutations in spermine synthase (SpmSyn) protein have been shown to cause the Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS). Depending on the location within the structure of SpmSyn and type of amino acid substitution, different mechanisms resulting in SRS were proposed. Here we focus on naturally occurring amino acid substitutions causing SRS, which are situated away from the active center of SpmSyn and thus are not directly involved in the catalysis. Two of the mutations, M35R and P112L, are reported for the first time in this study. It is demonstrated, both experimentally and computationally, that for such mutations the major effect resulting in dysfunctional SpmSyn is the destabilization of the protein. In vitro experiments indicated either no presence or very little amount of the mutant SpmSyn in patient cells. In silico modeling predicted that all studied mutations in this work destabilize SpmSyn and some of them abolish homo-dimer formation. Since dimerization and structural stability are equally important for the wild type function of SpmSyn, it is proposed that the SRS caused by mutations occurring in the N-domain of SpmSyn is a result of dysfunctional mutant proteins being partially unfolded and degraded by the proteomic machinery of the cell or being unable to form a homo-dimer.
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12
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Abstract
Polyamines play important roles in cell physiology including effects on the structure of cellular macromolecules, gene expression, protein function, nucleic acid and protein synthesis, regulation of ion channels, and providing protection from oxidative damage. Vertebrates contain two polyamines, spermidine and spermine, as well as their precursor, the diamine putrescine. Although spermidine has an essential and unique role as the precursor of hypusine a post-translational modification of the elongation factor eIF5A, which is necessary for this protein to function in protein synthesis, no unique role for spermine has been identified unequivocally. The existence of a discrete spermine synthase enzyme that converts spermidine to spermine suggest that spermine must be needed and this is confirmed by studies with Gy mice and human patients with Snyder-Robinson syndrome in which spermine synthase is absent or greatly reduced. In both cases, this leads to a severe phenotype with multiple effects among which are intellectual disability, other neurological changes, hypotonia, and reduced growth of muscle and bone. This review describes these alterations and focuses on the roles of spermine which may contribute to these phenotypes including reducing damage due to reactive oxygen species, protection from stress, permitting correct current flow through inwardly rectifying K(+) channels, controlling activity of brain glutamate receptors involved in learning and memory, and affecting growth responses. Additional possibilities include acting as storage reservoir for maintaining appropriate levels of free spermidine and a possible non-catalytic role for spermine synthase protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony E Pegg
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
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Frau M, Feo F, Pascale RM. Pleiotropic effects of methionine adenosyltransferases deregulation as determinants of liver cancer progression and prognosis. J Hepatol 2013; 59:830-41. [PMID: 23665184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2013.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Downregulation of liver-specific MAT1A gene, encoding S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthesizing isozymes MATI/III, and upregulation of widely expressed MAT2A, encoding MATII isozyme, known as MAT1A:MAT2A switch, occurs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Being inhibited by its reaction product, MATII isoform upregulation cannot compensate for MATI/III decrease. Therefore, MAT1A:MAT2A switch contributes to decrease in SAM level in rodent and human hepatocarcinogenesis. SAM administration to carcinogen-treated rats prevents hepatocarcinogenesis, whereas MAT1A-KO mice, characterized by chronic SAM deficiency, exhibit macrovesicular steatosis, mononuclear cell infiltration in periportal areas, and HCC development. This review focuses upon the pleiotropic changes, induced by MAT1A/MAT2A switch, associated with HCC development. Epigenetic control of MATs expression occurs at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In HCC cells, MAT1A/MAT2A switch is associated with global DNA hypomethylation, decrease in DNA repair, genomic instability, and signaling deregulation including c-MYC overexpression, rise in polyamine synthesis, upregulation of RAS/ERK, IKK/NF-kB, PI3K/AKT, and LKB1/AMPK axis. Furthermore, decrease in MAT1A expression and SAM levels results in increased HCC cell proliferation, cell survival, and microvascularization. All of these changes are reversed by SAM treatment in vivo or forced MAT1A overexpression or MAT2A inhibition in cultured HCC cells. In human HCC, MAT1A:MAT2A and MATI/III:MATII ratios correlate negatively with cell proliferation and genomic instability, and positively with apoptosis and global DNA methylation. This suggests that SAM decrease and MATs deregulation represent potential therapeutic targets for HCC. Finally, MATI/III:MATII ratio strongly predicts patients' survival length suggesting that MAT1A:MAT2A expression ratio is a putative prognostic marker for human HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Frau
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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Abstract
The Snyder-Robinson syndrome is caused by missense mutations in the spermine sythase gene that encodes a protein (SMS) of 529 amino acids. Here we investigate, in silico, the molecular effect of three missense mutations, c.267G>A (p.G56S), c.496T>G (p.V132G), and c.550T>C (p.I150T) in SMS that were clinically identified to cause the disease. Single-point energy calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and pKa calculations revealed the effects of these mutations on SMS's stability, flexibility, and interactions. It was predicted that the catalytic residue, Asp276, should be protonated prior binding the substrates. The pKa calculations indicated the p.I150T mutation causes pKa changes with respect to the wild-type SMS, which involve titratable residues interacting with the S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine (MTA) substrate. The p.I150T missense mutation was also found to decrease the stability of the C-terminal domain and to induce structural changes in the vicinity of the MTA binding site. The other two missense mutations, p.G56S and p.V132G, are away from active site and do not perturb its wild-type properties, but affect the stability of both the monomers and the dimer. Specifically, the p.G56S mutation is predicted to greatly reduce the affinity of monomers to form a dimer, and therefore should have a dramatic effect on SMS function because dimerization is essential for SMS activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhang
- Computational Biophysics and Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Shaolei Teng
- Computational Biophysics and Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
- Department of Genetics & Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Liangjiang Wang
- Department of Genetics & Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
- J.C. Self Research Institute of Human Genetics, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29646
| | - Charles E. Schwartz
- Department of Genetics & Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
- J.C. Self Research Institute of Human Genetics, Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC 29646
| | - Emil Alexov
- Computational Biophysics and Bioinformatics, Department of Physics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
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