Large-scale discovery of novel genetic causes of developmental disorders

Despite three decades of successful, predominantly phenotype-driven discovery of the genetic causes of monogenic disorders, up to half of children with severe developmental disorders of probable genetic origin remain without a genetic diagnosis. Particularly challenging are those disorders rare enough to have eluded recognition as a discrete clinical entity, those with highly variable clinical manifestations, and those that are difficult to distinguish from other, very similar, disorders. Here we demonstrate the power of using an unbiased genotype-driven approach to identify subsets of patients with similar disorders. By studying 1,133 children with severe, undiagnosed developmental disorders, and their parents, using a combination of exome sequencing and array-based detection of chromosomal rearrangements, we discovered 12 novel genes associated with developmental disorders. These newly implicated genes increase by 10% (from 28% to 31%) the proportion of children that could be diagnosed. Clustering of missense mutations in six of these newly implicated genes suggests that normal development is being perturbed by an activating or dominant-negative mechanism. Our findings demonstrate the value of adopting a comprehensive strategy, both genome-wide and nationwide, to elucidate the underlying causes of rare genetic disorders.

The quantitatively important relationship between homocysteine metabolism and glutathione synthesis by the transsulfuration pathway and its regulation by redox changes

Homocysteine is a key junction metabolite in methionine metabolism. It suffers two major metabolic fates: transmethylation catalyzed by methionine synthase or betaine homocysteine methyl transferase and transsulfuration catalyzed by cystathionine beta-synthase leading to cystathionine. The latter is subsequently converted to cysteine, a precursor of glutathione. Studies with purified mammalian methionine synthase and cystathionine beta-synthase have revealed the oxidative sensitivity of both junction enzymes, suggesting the hypothesis that redox regulation of this pathway may be physiologically significant. This hypothesis has been tested in a human hepatoma cell line in culture in which the flux of homocysteine through transsulfuration under normoxic and oxidative conditions has been examined. Addition of 100 microM H(2)O(2) or tertiary butyl hydroperoxide increased cystathionine production 1.6- and 2.1-fold from 82 +/- 7 micromol h(-)(1) (L of cells)(-)(1) to 136 +/- 15 and 172 +/- 23 micromol h(-)(1) (L of cells)(-)(1), respectively. The increase in homocysteine flux through the transsulfuration pathway exhibited a linear dose dependence on the concentrations of both oxidants (50-200 microM H(2)O(2) and 10-200 microM tertiary butyl hydroperoxide). Furthermore, our results reveal that approximately half of the intracellular glutathione pool in human liver cells is derived from homocysteine via the transsulfuration pathway. The redox sensitivity of the transsulfuration pathway can be rationalized as an autocorrective response that leads to an increased level of glutathione synthesis in cells challenged by oxidative stress. In summary, this study demonstrates the importance of the homocysteine-dependent transsulfuration pathway in the maintenance of the intracellular glutathione pool, and the regulation of this pathway under oxidative stress conditions. Aberrations in this pathway could compromise the redox buffering capacity of cells, which may in turn be related to the pathophysiology of the different homocysteine-related diseases.

Preferential cytotoxicity on tumor cells by caffeic acid phenethyl ester isolated from propolis

The honeybee hive product, propolis, is a folk medicine employed for treating various ailments. Many important pharmaceutical properties have been ascribed to propolis, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immunostimulatory and carcinostatic activities. Propolis extracts have provided an active component identified as caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which was readily prepared in one step. Differential cytotoxicity has been observed in normal rat/human versus transformed rat/human melanoma and breast carcinoma cell lines in the presence of CAPE.

The DNA sequence and analysis of human chromosome 6

Chromosome 6 is a metacentric chromosome that constitutes about 6% of the human genome. The finished sequence comprises 166,880,988 base pairs, representing the largest chromosome sequenced so far. The entire sequence has been subjected to high-quality manual annotation, resulting in the evidence-supported identification of 1,557 genes and 633 pseudogenes. Here we report that at least 96% of the protein-coding genes have been identified, as assessed by multi-species comparative sequence analysis, and provide evidence for the presence of further, otherwise unsupported exons/genes. Among these are genes directly implicated in cancer, schizophrenia, autoimmunity and many other diseases. Chromosome 6 harbours the largest transfer RNA gene cluster in the genome; we show that this cluster co-localizes with a region of high transcriptional activity. Within the essential immune loci of the major histocompatibility complex, we find HLA-B to be the most polymorphic gene on chromosome 6 and in the human genome.

Evidence for heme-mediated redox regulation of human cystathionine beta-synthase activity

Human cystathionine beta-synthase catalyzes the first step in the catabolic removal of the toxic metabolite, homocysteine. It is unique in being dependent on both pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and heme for activity. The reaction involves condensation of serine and homocysteine to give cystathionine. Although the role of PLP can be rationalized in analogy with other PLP-dependent enzymes that catalyze beta-replacement reactions, the role of the heme is unknown. In this study, we have purified and characterized the recombinant human enzyme and have examined the effect of heme oxidation state on enzyme activity. We find that under reducing conditions, generated by addition of titanium citrate, the enzyme exhibits a 1.7-fold lower activity than under oxidizing conditions. Reoxidation of the ferrous enzyme with ferricyanide results in alleviation of inhibition. This redox-linked change in enzyme activity correlates with changes in heme oxidation state monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy. Dithiothreitol, which does not reduce the enzyme-bound heme, does not perturb enzyme activity. These studies provide the first evidence for redox-linked regulation of cystathionine beta-synthase which is heme-dependent.

Intravesical drug delivery: Challenges, current status, opportunities and novel strategies

The urinary bladder has certain unique anatomical features which enable it to form an effective barrier to toxic substances diffusing from the urine into the blood. The barrier function is due to the epithelial surface of the urinary bladder, the urothelium, which has characteristic umbrella cells, joined by tight junctions and covered by impenetrable plaques, as well as an anti-adherent mucin layer. Diseases of the urinary bladder, such as bladder carcinomas and interstitial cystitis, cause acute damage to the bladder wall and cannot be effectively treated by systemic administration of drugs. Such conditions may benefit from intravesical drug delivery (IDD), which involves direct instillation of drug into the bladder via a catheter, to attain high local concentrations of the drug with minimal systemic effects. IDD however has its limitations, since the permeability of the urothelial layer is very low and instilled drug solutions become diluted with urine and get washed out of the bladder during voiding, necessitating repeated infusions of the drug. Permeation enhancers serve to overcome these problems to some extent by using electromotive force to enhance diffusion of the drug into the bladder wall or chemical molecules, such as chitosan, dimethylsulphoxide, to temporarily disrupt the tight packing of the urothelium. Nanotechnology can be integrated with IDD to devise drug-encapsulated nanoparticles that can greatly improve chemical interactions with the urothelium and enhance penetration of drugs into the bladder wall. Nanocarriers such as liposomes, gelatin nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles and magnetic particles, have been found to enhance local drug concentrations in the bladder as well as target diseased cells. Intravesical drug carriers can be further improved by using mucoadhesive biomaterials which are strongly adhered to the urothelial cell lining, thus preventing the carrier from being washed away during urine voiding. This increases the residence time of the drug at the target site and enables sustained delivery of the drug over a prolonged time span. Polymeric hydrogels, such as the temperature sensitive PEG-PLGA-PEG polymer, have been used to develop in situ gelling systems to deliver drugs into the bladder cavity. Recent advances and future prospects of biodegradable nanocarriers and in situ gels as drug delivery agents for intravesical drug delivery are reviewed in this paper.

A novel mode of carbohydrate recognition in jacalin, a Moraceae plant lectin with a beta-prism fold

Jacalin, a tetrameric two-chain lectin (66,000 Mr) from jackfruit seeds, is highly specific for the tumour associated T-antigenic disaccharide. The crystal structure of jacalin with methyl-alpha-D-galactose reveals that each subunit has a three-fold symmetric beta-prism fold made up of three four-stranded beta-sheets. The lectin exhibits a novel carbohydrate-binding site involving the N terminus of the alpha-chain which is generated through a post-translational modification involving proteolysis, the first known instance where such a modification has been used to confer carbohydrate specificity. This new lectin fold may be characteristic of the Moraceae plant family. The structure provides an explanation for the relative affinities of the lectin for galactose derivatives and provides insights into the structural basis of its T-antigen specificity.

Mutations in NNT encoding nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase cause familial glucocorticoid deficiency

Using targeted exome sequencing, we identified mutations in NNT, an antioxidant defense gene, in individuals with familial glucocorticoid deficiency. In mice with Nnt loss, higher levels of adrenocortical cell apoptosis and impaired glucocorticoid production were observed. NNT knockdown in a human adrenocortical cell line resulted in impaired redox potential and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Our results suggest that NNT may have a role in ROS detoxification in human adrenal glands.

Characterization of NO binding to human cystathionine beta-synthase: possible implications of the effects of CO and NO binding to the human enzyme

Homocysteine is a key junction metabolite that can be converted to cystathionine in a reaction catalyzed by the heme and pyridoxal phosphate-dependent cystathionine beta-synthase. The heme has unusual spectroscopic properties and the axial ligands have been assigned as histidine and cysteine, respectively. Its role in the protein is not obvious from the chemistry of the beta-replacement reaction that is catalyzed. We have characterized the binding of the gaseous signaling molecule, NO, to cystathionine beta-synthase and examined its effect on the reactions catalyzed by the truncated dimeric form of the enzyme, W409X, which is a natural variant. Binding of NO appears to result in the formation of a five-coordinate ferrous nitrosyl species in which both endogenous ligands have been lost. This is in contrast to CO binding which is reported to displace the thiolate ligand and form a six-coordinate species. NO binds to the full-length enzyme with a K(d) of 281+/-50 microM and to the truncated enzyme with a K(d) of 350+/-44 microM. Binding of NO to the full-length enzyme inhibits activity with a K(i) of 320+/-60 microM. These studies demonstrate that as with CO, perturbation of the heme environment by NO is communicated to the active site with concomitant inhibition of enzyme activity, and suggests a regulatory role for heme in cystathionine beta-synthase.

Conformation, protein-carbohydrate interactions and a novel subunit association in the refined structure of peanut lectin-lactose complex

The structure of the complex of the tetrameric peanut lectin with lactose has been refined to an R-value of 16.4% using 2.25 angstroms resolution X-ray diffraction data. The subunit conformation in the structure is similar to that in other legume lectins except in the loops. It has been shown that in the tertiary structure of legume lectins, the short five-stranded sheet plays a major role in connecting the larger flat six-stranded and curved seven-stranded sheets. Furthermore, the loops that connect the strands at the two ends of the seven-stranded sheet curve toward and interact with each other to produce a second hydrophobic core in addition to the one between the two large sheets. The protein-lactose interactions involve the invariant features observed in other legume lectins in addition to those characteristic of peanut lectin. The "open" quaternary association in peanut lectin is stabilised by hydrophobic, hydrogen-bonded and water-mediated interactions. Contrary to the earlier belief, the structure of peanut lectin demonstrates that the variability in quaternary association in legume lectins, despite all of them having nearly the same tertiary structure, is not necessarily caused by covalently bound carbohydrate. An attempt has been made to provide a structural rationale for this variability, on the basis of buried surface areas during dimerisation. A total of 45 water molecules remain invariant when the hydration shells of the four subunits are compared. A majority of them appear to be involved in stabilising loops.

Aggressive phenotypic and genotypic features in pediatric and NF2-associated meningiomas: a clinicopathologic study of 53 cases

Pediatric and NF2-associated meningiomas are uncommon and poorly characterized in comparison to sporadic adult cases. In order to elucidate their molecular features, we analyzed MIB-1, progesterone receptor (PR), NF2, merlin, DAL-1, DAL-1 protein, and chromosomal arms 1p and 14q in 53 meningiomas from 40 pediatric/NF2 patients using immunohistochemistry and dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Fourteen pediatric (42%) patients, including 5 previously undiagnosed patients, had NF2. The remaining 19 (58%) did not qualify. All 7 of the adult patients had NF2. Meningioma grading revealed 21 benign (40%), 26 atypical (49%), and 6 anaplastic (11%) examples. Other aggressive findings included high mitotic index (32%), high MIB-1 LI (37%), aggressive variant histology (e.g. papillary, clear cell) (25%), brain invasion (17%), recurrence (39%), and patient death (17%). FISH analysis demonstrated deletions of NF2 in 82%, DAL-1 in 82%, 1p in 60%, and 14q in 66%. NF2-associated meningiomas did not differ from sporadic pediatric tumors except for a higher frequency of merlin loss in the former (p = 0.020) and a higher frequency of brain invasion in the latter (p = 0.007). Thus, although pediatric and NF2-associated meningiomas share the common molecular alterations of their adult, sporadic counterparts, a higher fraction are genotypically and phenotypically aggressive. Given the high frequency of undiagnosed NF2 in the pediatric cases, a careful search for other features of this disease is warranted in any child presenting with a meningioma.

The DNA sequence and biological annotation of human chromosome 1

The reference sequence for each human chromosome provides the framework for understanding genome function, variation and evolution. Here we report the finished sequence and biological annotation of human chromosome 1. Chromosome 1 is gene-dense, with 3,141 genes and 991 pseudogenes, and many coding sequences overlap. Rearrangements and mutations of chromosome 1 are prevalent in cancer and many other diseases. Patterns of sequence variation reveal signals of recent selection in specific genes that may contribute to human fitness, and also in regions where no function is evident. Fine-scale recombination occurs in hotspots of varying intensity along the sequence, and is enriched near genes. These and other studies of human biology and disease encoded within chromosome 1 are made possible with the highly accurate annotated sequence, as part of the completed set of chromosome sequences that comprise the reference human genome.

Liposomes: applications in medicine

Liposomes are spherical lipid bilayers from 50 nm to 1000 nm in diameter that serve as convenient delivery vehicles for biologically active compounds. The field of liposome research has expanded considerably over the last 30 years. It is now possible to engineer a wide range of liposomes varying in size, phospholipid composition and surface characteristics to suit the specific application for which they are intended. This paper gives an overview of the main advances in liposome research from a point of view of their applications in medicine. Aqueous contrast enhancing agents entrapped in liposomal carriers can be targeted to the liver and spleen and distinctions can be made between normal and tumorous tissue using computed tomography. Topical application of liposomes has great potential in dermatology. Liposomes have been used to deliver anticancer agents in order to reduce the toxic effects of the drugs when given alone or to increase the circulation time and effectiveness of the drugs. From the original concept of encapsulating hemoglobin in an inert shell, liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin (LEH) has evolved into a fluid proven to carry oxygen, capable of surviving for reasonable periods in the circulation and amenable to large-scale production. Liposomes may be used to target specific cells by attaching amino acid fragments such as antibodies or proteins or appropriate fragments that target specific receptor sites. Liposomal DNA delivery vectors and further enhancements in the forms of LPDI and LPDII are some of the safest and potentially most versatile transfer vectors used to date. DNA vaccination and improved efficiency of gene therapy are just a few of the upcoming applications of liposomes.

Human methionine synthase reductase, a soluble P-450 reductase-like dual flavoprotein, is sufficient for NADPH-dependent methionine synthase activation

Methionine synthase is a key enzyme in the methionine cycle that catalyzes the transmethylation of homocysteine to methionine in a cobalamin-dependent reaction that utilizes methyltetrahydrofolate as a methyl group donor. Cob(I)alamin, a supernucleophilic form of the cofactor, is an intermediate in this reaction, and its reactivity renders the enzyme susceptible to oxidative inactivation. In bacteria, an NADPH-dependent two-protein system comprising flavodoxin reductase and flavodoxin, transfers electrons during reactivation of methionine synthase. Until recently, the physiological reducing system in mammals was unknown. Identification of mutations in the gene encoding a putative methionine synthase reductase in the cblE class of patients with an isolated functional deficiency of methionine synthase suggested a role for this protein in activation (Leclerc, D., Wilson, A., Dumas, R., Gafuik, C., Song, D., Watkins, D., Heng, H. H. Q., Rommens, J. M., Scherer, S. W., Rosenblatt, D. S., and Gravel, R. A. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 3059-3064). In this study, we have cloned and expressed the cDNA encoding human methionine synthase reductase and demonstrate that it is sufficient for supporting NADPH-dependent activity of methionine synthase at a level that is comparable with that seen in the in vitro assay that utilizes artificial reductants. Methionine synthase reductase is a soluble, monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 78 kDa. It is a member of the family of dual flavoproteins and is isolated with an equimolar concentration of FAD and FMN. Reduction by NADPH results in the formation of an air stable semiquinone similar to that observed with cytochrome P-450 reductase. Methionine synthase reductase reduces cytochrome c in an NADPH-dependent reaction at a rate (0.44 micromol min(-1) mg(-1) at 25 degrees C) that is comparable with that reported for NR1, a soluble dual flavoprotein of unknown function, but is approximately 100-fold slower than that of P-450 reductase. The K(m) for NADPH is 2.6 +/- 0.5 microm, and the K(act) for methionine synthase reductase is 80.7 +/- 13.7 nm for NADPH-dependent activity of methionine synthase.

Targeted disruption of the methionine synthase gene in mice

Alterations in homocysteine, methionine, folate, and/or B12 homeostasis have been associated with neural tube defects, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Methionine synthase, one of only two mammalian enzymes known to require vitamin B12 as a cofactor, lies at the intersection of these metabolic pathways. This enzyme catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate to homocysteine, generating tetrahydrofolate and methionine. Human patients with methionine synthase deficiency exhibit homocysteinemia, homocysteinuria, and hypomethioninemia. They suffer from megaloblastic anemia with or without some degree of neural dysfunction and mental retardation. To better study the pathophysiology of methionine synthase deficiency, we utilized gene-targeting technology to inactivate the methionine synthase gene in mice. On average, heterozygous knockout mice from an outbred background have slightly elevated plasma homocysteine and methionine compared to wild-type mice but seem to be otherwise indistinguishable. Homozygous knockout embryos survive through implantation but die soon thereafter. Nutritional supplementation during pregnancy was unable to rescue embryos that were completely deficient in methionine synthase. Whether any human patients with methionine synthase deficiency have a complete absence of enzyme activity is unclear. These results demonstrate the importance of this enzyme for early development in mice and suggest either that methionine synthase-deficient patients have residual methionine synthase activity or that humans have a compensatory mechanism that is absent in mice.

Sequence analysis of the coding region of human methionine synthase: relevance to hyperhomocysteinaemia in neural-tube defects and vascular disease

Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels are observed in two apparently unrelated diseases: neural-tube defects (NTD) and premature vascular disease. Defective human methionine synthase (MS) could result in elevated Hcy levels. We sequenced the coding region of MS in 8 hyperhomocysteinaemic patients (4 NTD patients and 4 patients with pregnancies complicated by spiral arterial disease, SAD). We identified only one mutation resulting in an amino acid substitution: an A-->G transition at bp 2756, converting an aspartic acid (D919) into a glycine (G). We screened genomic DNA for the presence of this mutation in 56 NTD patients, 69 mothers of children with NTD, 108 SAD patients and 364 controls. There was no increased prevalence of the GG and AG genotypes in NTD patients, their mothers or SAD patients. The D919G mutation does not seem to be a risk factor for NTD or vascular disease. We then examined the mean Hcy levels for each MS genotype. There was no correlation between GG- or AG-genotype and Hcy levels. The D919G mutation is thus a fairly prevalent, and probably benign polymorphism. This study, though limited, provides no evidence for a major involvement of MS in the aetiology of homocysteine-related diseases such as NTD or vascular disease.

Evidence that cobalt-carbon bond homolysis is coupled to hydrogen atom abstraction from substrate in methylmalonyl-CoA mutase

Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase catalyzes the isomerization of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. It is dependent on the cofactor, coenzyme B12 or adenosylcobalamin, for activity. The first step in this, and other coenzyme B12-dependent reactions, is postulated to be homolysis of the Co-C bond of the cofactor. Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase accelerates the rate of Co-C bond homolysis by a factor of approximately 10(12). The strategy employed by the enzyme for the remarkable labilization of this bond is not known. Using UV-visible stopped-flow spectrophotometry, we demonstrate that the Co-C homolysis rate in the presence of protiated substrate has a rate constant of >600 s(-1) at 25 degrees C. In the presence of [CD3]methylmalonyl-CoA, this rate decreases to 28 +/- 2 s(-1). These results suggest that Co-C bond homolysis is coupled to hydrogen atom abstraction from the substrate and that the intrinsic binding energy of substrate may be a significant contributor to catalysis by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

Chromosome 1p and 14q FISH analysis in clinicopathologic subsets of meningioma: diagnostic and prognostic implications

The second most frequently reported genetic abnormalities in meningiomas after 22q loss are deletions of 1p and 14q. To assess the potential diagnostic and prognostic utility of these chromosomal alterations, we studied 180 well-characterized meningiomas using dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with DNA probes localized to 1p32, 1p36, 14q13, and 14q32. Our cohort consisted of 77 benign (grade I), 74 atypical (grade II), and 29 anaplastic (grade III) meningiomas. Benign and atypical meningiomas were further stratified into subsets of recurring (despite gross total resection) vs non-recurring (at least 10 yr of follow-up) and mitotically active vs brain invasive subsets, respectively. Losses of 1p and 14q losses were identified in 23% and 31% of benign, 56% and 57% of atypical, and 75% and 67% of anaplastic meningiomas, respectively (p < 0.001 for 1p; p = 0.004 for 14q). Combined 1p/14q deletions were encountered in 7% benign. 39% atypical, and 63% anaplastic meningiomas (p < 0.001). Benign non-recurring meningiomas were less likely to harbor 14q deletions than recurring examples (17% vs 50%, p = 0.013). There was a trend for anaplastic meningiomas with 14q deletions and atypical meningiomas with combined 1p/14q deletions to have poorer overall survivals, though neither reached statistical significance. We conclude that 1p and 14q deletions are highly associated with increasing histologic grade and play an important role in meningioma tumor progression. Furthermore, 14q FISH analysis may aid in assessing recurrence risk in histologically benign meningiomas.

Cloning, mapping and RNA analysis of the human methionine synthase gene

Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine is a risk factor in both birth defects and vascular disease. Methionine synthase (MS) is a cobalamin dependent enzyme which catalyzes methylation of homocysteine to methionine. Impaired MS activity is expected to lead to increased levels of plasma homocysteine. In addition, defects in this gene may underlie the methionine-dependence observed in a number of human tumor cell lines. We describe here the isolation and characterization of the human MS cDNA. It contains an open reading frame of 3798 nucleotides encoding a protein of 1265 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 140 kDa. The amino acid sequence of the human MS is 55% identical with that of the Escherichia coli enzyme (METH) and 64% identical with the predicted Caenorhabditis elegans enzyme. Seven peptide sequences derived from purified porcine MS have substantial similarity to the human protein. Northern analysis indicates that the MS RNA is present in a wide variety of tissues. We have mapped the human gene to chromosomal location 1q43, a region found monosomic in individuals with deletion 1q syndrome. The isolation of the MS cDNA will now allow the direct determination of whether mutations in this gene contribute to folate-related neural tube defects, cardiovascular diseases, and birth defects.

Activation of methionine synthase by insulin-like growth factor-1 and dopamine: a target for neurodevelopmental toxins and thimerosal

Methylation events play a critical role in the ability of growth factors to promote normal development. Neurodevelopmental toxins, such as ethanol and heavy metals, interrupt growth factor signaling, raising the possibility that they might exert adverse effects on methylation. We found that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)- and dopamine-stimulated methionine synthase (MS) activity and folate-dependent methylation of phospholipids in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, via a PI3-kinase- and MAP-kinase-dependent mechanism. The stimulation of this pathway increased DNA methylation, while its inhibition increased methylation-sensitive gene expression. Ethanol potently interfered with IGF-1 activation of MS and blocked its effect on DNA methylation, whereas it did not inhibit the effects of dopamine. Metal ions potently affected IGF-1 and dopamine-stimulated MS activity, as well as folate-dependent phospholipid methylation: Cu(2+) promoted enzyme activity and methylation, while Cu(+), Pb(2+), Hg(2+) and Al(3+) were inhibitory. The ethylmercury-containing preservative thimerosal inhibited both IGF-1- and dopamine-stimulated methylation with an IC(50) of 1 nM and eliminated MS activity. Our findings outline a novel growth factor signaling pathway that regulates MS activity and thereby modulates methylation reactions, including DNA methylation. The potent inhibition of this pathway by ethanol, lead, mercury, aluminum and thimerosal suggests that it may be an important target of neurodevelopmental toxins.

Studies of the interaction between Rad52 protein and the yeast single-stranded DNA binding protein RPA

The RFA1 gene encodes the large subunit of the yeast trimeric single-stranded DNA binding protein replication protein A (RPA), which is known to play a critical role in DNA replication. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain carrying the rfa1-44 allele displays a number of impaired recombination and repair phenotypes, all of which are suppressible by overexpression of RAD52. We demonstrate that a rad52 mutation is epistatic to the rfa1-44 mutation, placing RFA1 and RAD52 in the same genetic pathway. Furthermore, two-hybrid analysis indicates the existence of interactions between Rad52 and all three subunits of RPA. The nature of this Rad52-RPA interaction was further explored by using two different mutant alleles of rad52. Both mutations lie in the amino terminus of Rad52, a region previously defined as being responsible for its DNA binding ability (U. H. Mortenson, C. Beudixen, I. Sunjeuaric, and R. Rothstein, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:10729-10734, 1996). The yeast two-hybrid system was used to monitor the protein-protein interactions of the mutant Rad52 proteins. Both of the mutant proteins are capable of self-interaction but are unable to interact with Rad51. The mutant proteins also lack the ability to interact with the large subunit of RPA, Rfa1. Interestingly, they retain their ability to interact with the medium-sized subunit, Rfa2. Given the location of the mutations in the DNA binding domain of Rad52, a model incorporating the role of DNA in the protein-protein interactions involved in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks is presented.

Biosynthesis and maturation of the malaria aspartic hemoglobinases plasmepsins I and II

During the intraerythrocytic stage of infection, the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum digests most of the host cell hemoglobin. Hemoglobin degradation occurs in the acidic digestive vacuole and is essential for the survival of the parasite. Two aspartic proteases, plasmepsins I and II, have been isolated from the vacuole and shown to make the initial cleavages in the hemoglobin molecule. We have studied the biosynthesis of these two enzymes. Plasmepsin I is synthesized and processed to the mature form soon after the parasite invades the red blood cell, while plasmepsin II synthesis is delayed until later in development. Otherwise, biosynthesis of the plasmepsins is identical. The proplasmepsins are type II integral membrane proteins that are transported through the secretory pathway before cleavage to the soluble form. They are not glycosylated in vivo, despite the presence of several potential glycosylation sites. Proplasmepsin maturation appears to require acidic conditions and is reversibly inhibited by the tripeptide aldehydes N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-norleucinal and N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-methional. These compounds are known to inhibit cysteine proteases and the chymotryptic activity of proteasomes but not aspartic proteases. However, proplasmepsin processing is not blocked by other cysteine protease inhibitors, nor by the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin. Processing is also not blocked by aspartic protease inhibitors. This inhibitor profile suggests that unlike most other aspartic proteases, proplasmepsin maturation may not be autocatalytic in vivo, but instead could require the action of an unusual processing enzyme. Compounds that block processing are expected to be potent antimalarials.