Development of new tolerant strains to hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic solvents by the yeast surface display methodology

Yeast surface display is a research methodology based on anchoring functional proteins and peptides onto the surface of the cells of this eukaryotic organism. Its development has resulted in the construction of a good number of new whole-cell biocatalysts with diverse applications in biotechnology, pharmacy, and medicine. In this work, we describe the design of new yeast strains in which several proteins and peptides have been introduced at the N-terminal position of protein agglutinin Aga2p. In all cases, proteins were correctly expressed and displayed on the cell surface according to the western blot, fluorescence microscopy, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses. The introduction of a glycosylable, Ser/Thr-rich protein (S1) resulted in improved resistance to ethanol, nonane, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) stress. The protein with a very high hydrophobic content (S2d) proved to confer tolerance to acetonitrile, ethanol, nonane, salt, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The introduction of five leucine residues at the N-terminal position of S1 and S2 resulted in similar or increased resistance to the above-mentioned stress conditions. The adverse effects described in a previous work, when these residues were introduced into the N-terminus of Aga2p, with no other protein acting as a spacer, were not observed. Indeed, these strains grew better in the presence of hydrophilic solvents such as acetonitrile and ethanol. The new strains reported in this work have biotechnological potentiality given their behavior under adverse conditions of interest for biocatalytic and industrial processes.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hot1p regulated gene YHR087W (HGI1) has a role in translation upon high glucose concentration stress

Background

While growing in natural environments yeasts can be affected by osmotic stress provoked by high glucose concentrations. The response to this adverse condition requires the HOG pathway and involves transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms initiated by the phosphorylation of this protein, its translocation to the nucleus and activation of transcription factors. One of the genes induced to respond to this injury is YHR087W. It encodes for a protein structurally similar to the N-terminal region of human SBDS whose expression is also induced under other forms of stress and whose deletion determines growth defects at high glucose concentrations.

Results

In this work we show that YHR087W expression is regulated by several transcription factors depending on the particular stress condition, and Hot1p is particularly relevant for the induction at high glucose concentrations. In this situation, Hot1p, together to Sko1p, binds to YHR087W promoter in a Hog1p-dependent manner. Several evidences obtained indicate Yhr087wp’s role in translation. Firstly, and according to TAP purification experiments, it interacts with proteins involved in translation initiation. Besides, its deletion mutant shows growth defects in the presence of translation inhibitors and displays a slightly slower translation recovery after applying high glucose stress than the wild type strain. Analyses of the association of mRNAs to polysome fractions reveals a lower translation in the mutant strain of the mRNAs corresponding to genes GPD1, HSP78 and HSP104.

Conclusions

The data demonstrates that expression of Yhr087wp under high glucose concentration is controlled by Hot1p and Sko1p transcription factors, which bind to its promoter. Yhr087wp has a role in translation, maybe in the control of the synthesis of several stress response proteins, which could explain the lower levels of some of these proteins found in previous proteomic analyses and the growth defects of the deletion strain.

Removal of N-glycans from cell surface proteins induces apoptosis by reducing intracellular glutathione levels in the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line S4MH

Expression of determined Asn-bound glycans (N-glycans) in cell surface glycoproteins regulates different processes in tumour cell biology. Specific patterns of N-glycosylation are displayed by highly metastatic cells and it has been shown that inhibition of N-glycan processing restrains cell proliferation and induces cell death via apoptosis. However, the mechanisms by which different N-glycosylation states may regulate cell viability and growth are not understood. Since malignant cells express high levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and a reduction of intracellular GSH induces cell death via apoptosis, we investigated whether GSH was involved in the induction of apoptosis by removal of cell surface N-glycans. We found that removal of N-glycans from cell surface proteins by treating the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line S4MH with tunicamycin or N-glycosidase resulted in a reduction in intracellular GSH content and cell death via apoptosis. Moreover, GSH depletion caused by the specific inhibitor of GSH synthesis BSO induced apoptosis in S4MH cells. This data indicates that adequate N-glycosylation of cell surface glycoproteins is required for maintenance of intracellular GSH levels that are necessary for cell survival and proliferation.

Crystallinity assessment and in vitro cytotoxicity of polylactide scaffolds for biomedical applications

Bioresorbable polylactides are one of the most important materials for tissue engineering applications. In this work we have prepared scaffolds based on the two optically pure stereoisomers: poly(L: -lactide) (PLLA) and poly(D: -lactide) (PDLA). The crystalline structure and morphology were evaluated by DSC, AFM and X-ray diffraction. PLLA and PDLA crystallized in the α form and the equimolar PLLA/PDLA blend, crystallized in the stereocomplex form, were analyzed by a proliferation assay in contact with mouse L-929 and human fibroblasts and neonatal keratinocytes for in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation. SEM analysis was conducted to determine the cell morphology, spreading and adhesion when in contact with the different polymer surfaces. The preserved proliferation rate showed in MTT tests and the high colonization on the surface of polylactides observed by SEM denote that PLLA, PDLA and the equimolar PLLA/PDLA are useful biodegradable materials in which the crystalline characteristics can be tuned for specific biomedical applications.

Molecular response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine and laboratory strains to high sugar stress conditions

One of the stress conditions that can affect Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells during their growth is osmotic stress. Under particular environments (for instance, during the production of alcoholic beverages) yeasts have to cope with osmotic stress caused by high sugar concentrations. Although the molecular changes and pathways involved in the response to saline or sorbitol stress are widely understood, less is known about how cells respond to high sugar concentrations. In this work we present a comprehensive study of the response to this form of stress which indicates important transcriptomic changes, especially in terms of the genes involved in both stress response and respiration, and the implication of the HOG pathway. We also describe several genes of an unknown function which are more highly expressed under 20% (w/v) glucose than under 2% (w/v) glucose. In this work we focus on the YHR087w (RTC3) gene and its encoded protein. Proteomic analysis of the mutant deletion strain reveals lower levels of several yeast Hsp proteins, which establishes a link between this protein and the response to several forms of stress. The relevance of YHR087W for the response to high sugar and other stress conditions and the relationship of the encoded protein with several Hsp proteins suggest applications of this gene in biotechnological processes in which response to stress is important.

Ubiquitin ligase Rsp5p is involved in the gene expression changes during nutrient limitation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Rsp5p is an essential ubiquitin ligase involved in many different cellular events, including amino acid transporters degradation, transcription initiation and mRNA export. It plays important role in both stress resistance and adaptation to the change of nutrients. We have found that ubiquitination machinery is necessary for the correct induction of the stress response SPI1 gene at the entry of the stationary phase. SPI1 is a gene whose expression is regulated by the nutritional status of the cell and whose deletion causes hypersensitivity to various stresses, such as heat shock, alkaline stress and oxidative stress. Its regulation is mastered by Rsp5p, as mutations in this gene lead to a lower SPI1 expression. In this process, Rsp5p is helped by several proteins, such as Rsp5p-interacting proteins Bul1p/2p, the ubiquitin conjugating protein Ubc1p and ubiquitin proteases Ubp4p and Ubp16p. Moreover, a mutation in the RSP5 gene has a global effect at the gene expression level when cells enter the stationary phase. Rsp5p particularly controls the levels of the ribosomal proteins mRNAs at this stage. Rsp5p is also necessary for a correct induction of p-bodies under stress conditions, indicating that this protein plays an important role in the post-transcriptional fate of mRNA under nutrient starvation.

Genetic manipulation of HSP26 and YHR087W stress genes may improve fermentative behaviour in wine yeasts under vinification conditions

Throughout wine production yeast cells are affected by a plethora of stress conditions that compromise their ability to carry out the whole process. In recent years important knowledge about the mechanisms involved in stress response in both laboratory and wine yeast strains has been obtained. Several studies have indicated that a correlation exists between stress resistance, expression of stress response genes and fermentative behaviour. In this work we introduce several genetic manipulations in two genes induced by several stress conditions: HSP26 (which encodes a heat shock protein) and YHR087W (encoding a protein of unknown function) in two different wine yeasts, ICV16 and ICV27. These manipulations include expression in multicopy and centromeric plasmids, and substitution of the promoter in one of the genomic copies of these genes for that of the SPI1 gene, encoding for a cell wall protein of unknown function, or the PGK1 gene, which encodes the phosphoglycerate kinase glycolytic enzyme. Our results indicate that some of these modifications result in strains with higher expression of these genes, better resistance to certain stress conditions, and even improved fermentative behaviour. The modifications of the YHR087W gene are particularly interesting, and suggest an important role of this gene in the vinification process.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae signature genes for predicting nitrogen deficiency during alcoholic fermentation

Genome-wide analysis of the wine yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae PYCC4072 identified 36 genes highly expressed under conditions of low or absent nitrogen in comparison with a nitrogen-replete condition. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis for four of these transcripts with this strain and its validation with another wine yeast strain underlines the usefulness of these signature genes for predicting nitrogen deficiency and therefore the diagnosis of wine stuck/sluggish fermentations.

Transcriptional response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to different nitrogen concentrations during alcoholic fermentation

Gene expression profiles of a wine strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae PYCC4072 were monitored during alcoholic fermentations with three different nitrogen supplies: (i) control fermentation (with enough nitrogen to complete sugar fermentation), (ii) nitrogen-limiting fermentation, and (iii) the addition of nitrogen to the nitrogen-limiting fermentation (refed fermentation). Approximately 70% of the yeast transcriptome was altered in at least one of the fermentation stages studied, revealing the continuous adjustment of yeast cells to stressful conditions. Nitrogen concentration had a decisive effect on gene expression during fermentation. The largest changes in transcription profiles were observed when the early time points of the N-limiting and control fermentations were compared. Despite the high levels of glucose present in the media, the early responses of yeast cells to low nitrogen were characterized by the induction of genes involved in oxidative glucose metabolism, including a significant number of mitochondrial associated genes resembling the yeast cell response to glucose starvation. As the N-limiting fermentation progressed, a general downregulation of genes associated with catabolism was observed. Surprisingly, genes encoding ribosomal proteins and involved in ribosome biogenesis showed a slight increase during N starvation; besides, genes that comprise the RiBi regulon behaved distinctively under the different experimental conditions. Here, for the first time, the global response of nitrogen-depleted cells to nitrogen addition under enological conditions is described. An important gene expression reprogramming occurred after nitrogen addition; this reprogramming affected genes involved in glycolysis, thiamine metabolism, and energy pathways, which enabled the yeast strain to overcome the previous nitrogen starvation stress and restart alcoholic fermentation.

Use of solid-phase microextraction followed by on-column silylation for determining chlorinated bisphenol A in human plasma by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

In this study, a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method based on poly(acrylate)-coated fibres has been developed for detection and quantification of chlorinated bisphenol A in human plasma due to the need for an assessment of human exposure to them. After desorption of the analytes for 7 min at 300 degrees C, they were directly derivatized in the GC injector port by injection of 2 microL of diluted bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). The formation of trimethylsilylate derivatives improves the selectivity, sensitivity and performance of the chromatographic properties obtained when the analytes are directly separated. Quantification was carried out using single-ion monitoring (SIM). The respective chloroderivative molecular ions appear at 406, 440, 474 and 508 m/z; whereas the base peaks corresponding to a loss of a methyl group in all cases appear at 391, 425, 459 and 493 m/z for mono-, di-, tri- and tetrabisphenol A, respectively. Deuterated bisphenol A (BPA-d16) was used as an internal standard. The method was applied to the determination of Cl-BPA, Cl2-BPA, Cl3-BPA and Cl4-BPA at very low concentration levels in plasma. Recovery efficiencies were close to 100% in all cases.

Analysis of the expression of some stress induced genes in several commercial wine yeast strains at the beginning of vinification

AIMS

During fermentation yeast cells should cope with stress conditions. We pursue a better understanding of the stress response in wine yeasts at the beginning of vinification.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analyse by means of quantitative PCR the expression of several stress induced genes in 24 efficient commercial wine yeast strains at the beginning of vinifications performed under standard conditions or with small variations in pH and temperature. In all cases, high levels (with differences among strains) of GPD1 mRNA but quite low expression of other stress genes (TRX2, HSP104 and SSA3) were found. For all these genes, mRNA levels increase as temperature decreases or pH increases.

CONCLUSIONS

Important levels of expression of GPD1 (but not of other stress genes) are required during the first hours of vinification, because of the need for glycerol production to counteract the hyperosmotic stress at this point. The differences among strains suggest that certain level of expression is enough to ensure the continuity of the process. Variations in the pH and temperature of the vinification can affect gene expression.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

A common pattern of stress response between efficient wine strains exists, which could be used as a criterion for selection. Studies of this kind can allow the establishment of connections between gene expression and physiological traits.

Analyses of stress resistance under laboratory conditions constitute a suitable criterion for wine yeast selection

During wine production, yeast cells are affected by several conditions that are adverse to growth (oxidative, osmotic and ethanol stress among others) and they should detect and respond to these conditions, otherwise alcoholic fermentation can be negatively affected. In this work we have analyzed the fermentative behaviour of 14 commercial and non-commercial strains in several synthetic musts. According to the data obtained these strains have been classified into three groups depending on whether or not vinification was completed (and on the amount of residual sugar remaining in the must if it was not). Moreover, we have determined the resistance of these strains to several stress situations under laboratory growth conditions. We have been able to establish a correlation between the groups based on fermentative behaviour and resistance to several stress conditions (especially oxidative and ethanol stress), by applying discriminant analysis to the data obtained in these experiments. Our results indicate a clear relationship between stress resistance and fermentative behaviour and this opens up the possibility of using this information as a criterion for the future selection of wine yeasts.

Nuclease activity of [Cu(sulfathiazolato)(2)(benzimidazole)(2)]2MeOH. Synthesis, properties and crystal structure

The [Cu(sulfathiazolato)(2)(benzimidazole)(2)]2MeOH complex has been synthesised and characterised. It crystallises in the monoclinic system, space group C1c1, with unit cell dimensions a=18.829(7) A, b=12.206(3) A, c=17.233(5) A, alpha=90.06(2) degrees, beta=97.28(3) degrees, gamma=90.21(3) degrees and Z=4. The geometry around the copper(II) ion is intermediate between tetrahedral and square planar. The complex produces cleavage of plasmid pUC18 in presence of reducing agents. The efficiency of cleavage reaction of the title compound with pUC18 and with different reducing agents follows the order ascorbate-H(2)O(2)>ascorbate>MPA>dithiothreitol>H(2)O(2).

L-2-Oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate reverses the tumour growth-promoting effect of interleukin-2 and improves the anti-tumour efficacy of biochemotherapy in mice bearing B16 melanoma liver metastases

The efficacy of sequential chemoimmunotherapy involving interleukin-2 (IL2) in metastatic melanoma is limited, in part, by the severe toxicity associated with most therapeutic regimens. Glutathione (GSH), the most prevalent intracellular non-protein thiol, plays an important role in protecting against cellular injury caused by various anticancer agents. GSH is also involved in the IL2-induced proliferative activity of immune system cells and some melanoma cells expressing IL2 receptors, such as B16 melanoma cells. The present study investigated the effect of selective manipulation of GSH using the cysteine prodrug l-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTZ) on the response of B16 melanoma to sequential biochemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (CY) and IL2. We found that OTZ, by depressing GSH levels, abrogates the in vitro growth-promoting effects of IL2 on B16 melanoma cells. The combination of OTZ plus IL2 in vivo also showed antitumour activity in mice bearing B16 melanoma liver metastases, significantly increasing their life span. Schedule dependency between both compounds was found; OTZ given intermittently in combination with daily IL2 administration was found to be the best therapeutic schedule. We also observed that whereas IL2 or OTZ alone added to CY resulted in a lower or non-significant improvement in the life span of the mice compared with tolerated doses of CY alone, the addition of both OTZ and IL2 to CY produced a significantly greater increase in survival than CY alone, and markedly protected mice against CY-induced toxicity, which allowed the administration of otherwise lethal doses of CY, with the CY activity/toxicity ratio being increased by four-fold.

Analysis of the stress resistance of commercial wine yeast strains

Alcoholic fermentation is an essential step in wine production that is usually conducted by yeasts belonging to the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The ability to carry out vinification is largely influenced by the response of yeast cells to the stress conditions that affect them during this process. In this work, we present a systematic analysis of the resistance of 14 commercial S. cerevisiae wine yeast strains to heat shock, ethanol, oxidative, osmotic and glucose starvation stresses. Significant differences were found between these yeast strains under certain severe conditions, Vitilevure Pris Mouse and Lalvin T73 being the most resistant strains, while Fermiblanc arom SM102 and UCLM S235 were the most sensitive ones. Induction of the expression of the HSP12 and HSP104 genes was analyzed. These genes are reported to be involved in the tolerance to several stress conditions in laboratory yeast strains. Our results indicate that each commercial strain shows a unique pattern of gene expression, and no clear correlation between the induction levels of either gene and stress resistance under the conditions tested was found. However, the increase in mRNA levels in both genes under heat shock indicates that the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of their expression by stress function in all of the strains.

Tunicamycin treatment reduces intracellular glutathione levels: effect on the metastatic potential of the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line S4MH

Highly metastatic cells are known to overexpress certain Asn-linked oligosaccharides in the plasmatic membrane. Another phenotypic characteristic of malignant cells consists in the expression of high levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH). The aim of the present work was to demonstrate that the inhibition of N-glycosylation induces changes in intracellular GSH levels, and in turn participates in the inhibition of the metastatic potential of tumor cells by tunicamycin treatment. Firstly, we demonstrated that in comparison to the poorly metastatic cell line F21, the highly metastatic cells S4MH express a higher number of Asn-linked beta1-6 branched oligosaccharides and sialic acid (SA) and/or chitobiose oligosaccharides in glycoproteins involved in the regulation of the adhesion efficiency of tumor cells on endothelial cells and extracellular matrix. Our results showed that the decrease in S4MH cell adhesion efficiency on endothelial cells and extracellular matrix after the inhibition of N-glycan processing by tunicamycin treatment was caused by: (1) inhibition of the expression of N-glycan structures recognized by endothelial endogenous lectins, including beta1-6 branched oligosaccharides and SA and/or chitobiose oligosaccharides, and (2) redistribution of cell surface glycoproteins with beta1-6 branched oligosaccharides and/or SA and/or chitobiose oligosaccharides in their structures, caused by the depletion of intracellular GSH levels. The latter condition prevents the organization of these glycoproteins in the plasmatic membrane of S4MH cells necessary for anchoring to the substratum.

Effects of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate on the cytotoxic activity and toxicity of cyclophosphamide in mice bearing B16F10 melanoma liver metastases

Glutathione (GSH) is the major non-protein thiol in cells that plays a critical role against damage from electrophilic agents such as alkylating drugs. Selective therapeutic GSH elevation in normal but not in tumour cells has been suggested as a means of protecting host tissues against more intense doses of chemotherapy. The present study investigated the response of B16 melanoma to treatment with the cysteine pro-drug L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTZ), alone and in combination with cyclophosphamide (CY). We found that OTZ decreased the GSH levels and proliferation rate of B16 melanoma cells in vitro, sensitizing them to the cytotoxic action of the activated metabolite of CY, acrolein (AC). In contrast to OTZ, the cysteine deliverer N-acetylcysteine (NAC) enhanced B16 melanoma cell proliferation by increasing GSH levels, and markedly decreased the sensitivity of these tumour cells to AC. In vivo studies showed the antitumoral activity of OTZ in B16 melanoma liver metastasis-induced mice, increasing their life span. We also observed that, whereas with CY treatment the GSH levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were reduced and a dose-dependent leukopenia was produced, OTZ significantly increased PBMC GSH content, reducing toxicity and enhancing the survival of mice bearing established melanoma liver metastases treated with lethal dose CY. These results suggest a critical role for OTZ in protecting against alkylator agent-induced immunosuppression, which may allow the dose escalation of these cytostatic drugs to improve their therapeutic benefit in the treatment of malignant melanoma.

Statistical analysis of yeast genomic downstream sequences reveals putative polyadenylation signals

The study of a few genes has permitted the identification of three elements that constitute a yeast polyadenyl-ation signal: the efficiency element (EE), the positioning element and the actual site for cleavage and poly-adenyl-ation. In this paper we perform an analysis of oligonucleotide composition on the sequences located downstream of the stop codon of all yeast genes. Several oligonucleotide families appear over-represented with a high significance (referred to herein as 'words'). The family with the highest over-representation includes the oligonucleotides shown experimentally to play a role as EEs. The word with the highest score is TATATA, followed, among others, by a series of single-nucleotide variants (TATGTA, TACATA, TAAATA.) and one-letter shifts (ATATAT). A position analysis reveals that those words have a high preference to be in 3' flanks of yeast genes and there they have a very uneven distribution, with a marked peak around 35 bp after the stop codon. Of the predicted ORFs, 85% show one or more of those sequences. Similar results were obtained using a data set of EST sequences. Other clusters of over-represented words are also detected, namely T- and A-rich signals. Using these results and previously known data we propose a general model for the 3' trailers of yeast mRNAs.

An inverse correlation between stress resistance and stuck fermentations in wine yeasts. A molecular study

During alcoholic fermentations yeast cells are subjected to several stress conditions and, therefore, yeasts have developed molecular mechanisms in order to resist this adverse situation. The mechanisms involved in stress response have been studied in Saccharomyces cerevisiae laboratory strains. However a better understanding of these mechanisms in wine yeasts could open the possibility to improve the fermentation process. In this work an analysis of the stress response in three wine yeasts has been carried out by studying the expression of several representative genes under several stress conditions which occur during fermentation. We propose a simplified method to study how these stress conditions affect the viability of yeast cells. Using this approach an inverse correlation between stress-resistance and stuck fermentations has been found. We also have preliminary data about the use of the HSP12 gene as a molecular marker for stress-resistance in wine yeasts.

In vitro and in vivo comparison between the effects of treatment with adenosine triphosphate and treatment with buthionine sulfoximine on chemosensitization and tumour growth of B16 melanoma

In this study we compare the effects of treatment with external sodium adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) with the effects of L-buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO) on B16 melanoma growth and on the modulation of the cytotoxic antimelanoma activity of cyclophosphamide (CY). We evaluated the in vitro effects of treatment with ATP or BSO on intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi(m)) and the proliferation rate of the B16F10 melanoma cell line. Compared with untreated cells, delta psi(m) and GSH levels were already significantly decreased (25% and 57% reduction, respectively) after the first hour of incubation in culture cells exposed to 3 mM ATP. After 24 and 48 h a major reduction was observed in delta psi(m) (nearly 30%). GSH levels were also maximally depleted at 24 h (approximately 75%) and partially recovered (up to 37% of levels of control) after ATP was removed from the medium. At 24 and 48 h, the proliferation rate was decreased 1.4- and 1.7-fold, respectively, compared with control cells. Treatment with 50 microM BSO produced a time-dependent decrease in GSH levels (0.5, 21, 48 and 97.3% reduction at 1, 4, 8 and 24 h, respectively), but up to 54% of the levels of control cells was recovered after BSO was removed from the medium. In contrast to ATP, neither delta psi(m) nor proliferation rate was significantly modified in the first 24 h with BSO treatment. At 48 h, delta psi(m) was reduced by nearly 27%, and cell proliferation decreased 1.2-fold compared with controls. When the in vitro cytotoxic effect of low dose acrolein (an active metabolite of CY) in combination with BSO or ATP was analysed, a synergistic effect was found between BSO and acrolein, with a dose modification factor (DMF) of 1.98, but the antiproliferative effects of acrolein plus ATP were only approximately additive (DMF = 1.05). In addition, in in vivo studies differential effects were found between ATP and BSO. Specifically, whereas BSO alone significantly increased the survival time of mice bearing B16 melanoma liver metastases, and enhanced the cytotoxic effect of CY on this tumour model, no therapeutic benefits could be observed with ATP treatment, either alone or in combination with diethyl maleate (a GSH-depleting agent) and CY. In conclusion, our findings show that in our experimental system, both extracellular ATP and BSO have growth-inhibitory properties against B16 melanoma in vitro. In vivo, however, only BSO produces a chemosensitizing effect, whereas ATP has not proved useful as a biological modifier of chemotherapy.

Determination of bisphenol A in water by micro liquid-liquid extraction followed by silylation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis

A method for the determination of bisphenol A according to the European Union guideline, which establishes a limit of 0.1 ng/mL for organic pollutants in water, is proposed. The method involves a micro liquid-liquid extraction using dichloromethane followed by a silylation step. Identification and quantitation are performed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, using an HP-5MS column. The retention time is 7.02 min. Quantitation is carried out using single-ion monitoring (SIM) at m/z 73, 357, and 372. A clean-up is not necessary using SIM mode. Deuterated anthracene (2H10-anthracene) is used as an internal standard. The method is applied to the determination of bisphenol A at very low concentration levels (10.0-250.0 ng/L) in different types of natural water samples. The detection limit obtained is 0.4 ng/L. Recovery efficiencies are close to 100% in all cases.

The yeast FBP1 poly(A) signal functions in both orientations and overlaps with a gene promoter

This report provides an analysis of a region of chromosome XII in which the FBP1 and YLR376c genes transcribe in the same direction. Our investigation indicates that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae FBP1 gene contains strong signals for polyadenylation and transcription termination in both orientations in vivo . A (TA)14 element plays a major role in directing polyadenylation in both orientations. While this region has four nonoverlapping copies of a TATATA hexanucleotide, which is a very potent polyadenylation efficiency element in yeast, it alone is not sufficient for full activation in the reverse orientation of a cluster of downstream poly(A) sites, and an additional upstream sequence is required. The putative RNA hairpin formed from the (TA)14 element is not involved in 3'-end formation. Surprisingly, deletion of the entire (TA)14 stretch affects transcription termination in the reverse orientation, in contrast to our previous results with the forward orientation, indicating that the transcription termination element operating in the reverse orientation has very different sequence requirements. Promoter elements for the YLR376c gene overlap with the signal for FBP1 3'-end formation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that overlapping of both types of regulatory signals has been found in two adjacent yeast genes.

The Uba2 and Ufd1 proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae interact with poly(A) polymerase and affect the polyadenylation activity of cell extracts

Poly(A) polymerase is responsible for the addition of the adenylate tail to the 3' ends of mRNA. Using the two-hybrid system we have identified two proteins which interact specifically with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae poly(A) polymerase, Pap1. Uba2 is a homolog of ubiquitin-activating (E1) enzymes and Ufd1 is a protein whose function is probably also linked to the ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathway. These two proteins interact with Pap1 and with each other, but not with eight other target proteins which were tested in the two-hybrid system. The last 115 amino acids of Uba2, which contains an 82-amino acid region not present in previously characterized E1 enzymes, is sufficient for the interaction with Pap1. Both Uba2 and Ufd1 can be co-immunoprecipitated from extracts with Pap1, confirming in vitro the interaction identified by two-hybrid analysis. Depletion of Uba2 from cells produces extracts which polyadenylate precursor RNA with increased efficiency compared to extracts from nondepleted cells, while depletion of Ufd1 yields extracts which are defective in processing. These two proteins are not components of polyadenylation factors, and instead may have a role in regulating poly(A) polymerase activity.

A natural A/T-rich sequence from the yeast FBP1 gene exists as a cruciform in Escherichia coli cells

Palindromic or semipalindromic sequences can adopt cruciform structures in DNA in vitro. It has been demonstrated in some cases that A/T-rich cruciforms exist also in vivo in Escherichia coli. The biological function of those structures is not understood although putative cruciforms have been found in interesting locations on replication origins, operators, or transcriptional termination regions. Here we show by means of the use of structure-dependent nucleases that the 3' end of the yeast FBP1 gene contains a stable cruciform both in vitro and in E. coli cells and that in both cases, its extrusion depends on the DNA supercoiling state.