Protein folding activity of ribosomal rna is a selective target of two unrelated antiprion drugs

Background: 6-Aminophenanthridine (6AP) and Guanabenz (GA, a drug currently in use for the treatment of hypertension) were isolated as antiprion drugs using a yeast-based assay. These structurally unrelated molecules are also active against mammalian prion in several cell-based assays and in vivo in a mouse model for prion-based diseases.Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we report the identification of cellular targets of these drugs. Using affinity chromatography matrices for both drugs, we demonstrate an RNA-dependent interaction of 6AP and GA with the ribosome. These specific interactions have no effect on the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome or on global translation. In contrast, 6AP and GA specifically inhibit the ribosomal RNA-mediated protein folding activity of the ribosome.Conclusion/Significance: 6AP and GA are therefore the first compounds to selectively inhibit the protein folding activity of the ribosome. They thus constitute precious tools to study the yet largely unexplored biological role of this protein folding activity

Protein Folding Activity of Ribosomal RNA Is a Selective Target of Two Unrelated Antiprion Drugs

International audienceBACKGROUND: 6-Aminophenanthridine (6AP) and Guanabenz (GA, a drug currently in use for the treatment of hypertension) were isolated as antiprion drugs using a yeast-based assay. These structurally unrelated molecules are also active against mammalian prion in several cell-based assays and in vivo in a mouse model for prion-based diseases. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we report the identification of cellular targets of these drugs. Using affinity chromatography matrices for both drugs, we demonstrate an RNA-dependent interaction of 6AP and GA with the ribosome. These specific interactions have no effect on the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome or on global translation. In contrast, 6AP and GA specifically inhibit the ribosomal RNA-mediated protein folding activity of the ribosome. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: 6AP and GA are therefore the first compounds to selectively inhibit the protein folding activity of the ribosome. They thus constitute precious tools to study the yet largely unexplored biological role of this protein folding activity

Early T Cell Signalling Is Reversibly Altered in PD-1+ T Lymphocytes Infiltrating Human Tumors

To improve cancer immunotherapy, a better understanding of the weak efficiency of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) is necessary. We have analyzed the functional state of human TIL immediately after resection of three types of tumors (NSCLC, melanoma and RCC). Several signalling pathways (calcium, phosphorylation of ERK and Akt) and cytokine secretion are affected to different extents in TIL, and show a partial spontaneous recovery within a few hours in culture. The global result is an anergy that is quite distinct from clonal anergy induced in vitro, and closer to adaptive tolerance in mice. PD-1 (programmed death -1) is systematically expressed by TIL and may contribute to their anergy by its mere expression, and not only when it interacts with its ligands PD-L1 or PD-L2, which are not expressed by every tumor. Indeed, the TCR-induced calcium and ERK responses were reduced in peripheral blood T cells transfected with PD-1. Inhibition by sodium stibogluconate of the SHP-1 and SHP-2 phosphatases that associate with several inhibitory receptors including PD-1, relieves part of the anergy apparent in TIL or in PD-1-transfected T cells. This work highlights some of the molecular modifications contributing to functional defects of human TIL

Antihypertensive Drug Guanabenz Is Active In Vivo against both Yeast and Mammalian Prions

Background: Prion-based diseases are incurable transmissible neurodegenerative disorders affecting animals and humans. [br/] Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we report the discovery of the in vivo antiprion activity of Guanabenz (GA), an agonist of a2-adrenergic receptors routinely used in human medicine as an antihypertensive drug. We isolated GA in a screen for drugs active in vivo against two different yeast prions using a previously described yeast-based two steps assay. GA was then shown to promote ovine PrPSc clearance in a cell-based assay. These effects are very specific as evidenced by the lack of activity of some GA analogues that we generated. GA antiprion activity does not involve its agonist activity on a2-adrenergic receptors as other chemically close anti-hypertensive agents possessing related mechanism of action were found inactive against prions. Finally, GA showed activity in a transgenic mouse-based in vivo assay for ovine prion propagation, prolonging slightly but significantly the survival of treated animals. [br/] Conclusion/Significance: GA thus adds to the short list of compounds active in vivo in animal models for the treatment of prion-based diseases. Because it has been administrated for many years to treat hypertension on a daily basis, without major side-effects, our results suggest that it could be evaluated in human as a potential treatment for prion-based diseases

Microscopie de photodétachement de Si et OH (spectroscopie micro-eV par imagerie de fonction d'onde pour un test de validité du modèle de l'électron libre)

Le microscope de photodétachement, construit au laboratoire Aimé Cotton au milieu des années 90, permet de visualiser les images d'interférences obtenues à partir d'électrons détachés d'ions négatifs par excitation laser, en présence d'un champ électrique uniforme. Après détachement, dans une première approximation, l'électron et l'espèce neutre précédemment liés n'interagissent plus : on a une source d'électrons libres. Or, selon les l'équations de la mécanique classique, un électron libre d'énergie cinétique donnée placé dans un champ électrique uniforme a deux trajectoires paraboliques différentes pour arriver en un même point. Quantiquement parlant, l'onde de matière électronique se divise et suit les deux chemins possibles. Du fait de la cohérence de l'onde électronique émise par photodétachement, les deux demi-ondes interfèrent. Les images d'interférences enregistrées sont très sensibles à l'énergie cinétique des électrons qui les composent. On peut ainsi mesurer cette énergie par comparaison entre les images expérimentales et celles prédites par le modèle théorique de l'électron libre. On peut ainsi faire de la spectroscopie de très haute résolution. L'étude quantitative des images a été utilisée pour tester la validité du modèle de l'électron libre pour le détachement de Si et OH, en recherchant d'éventuels effets d'interaction entre l'électron détaché et l'espèce neutre. L'anion Si a permis de valider le modèle pour un atome plus lourd que ceux précédemment utilisés. L'anion moléculaire OH a été choisi notamment pour examiner l'effet d'un potentiel dipolaire sur les interférences. Les résultats obtenus n'ont pas mis en évidence de modification des images, et ont donc validé cette méthode pour la mesure des énergies de détachement d'ions diatomiques. Ces travaux ont permis de proposer de nouvelles mesures des affinités électroniques de Si et de OH, avec une meilleure précision.The photodetachment microscope was built in the middle of the nineties at Laboratory Aimé Cotton. It enables one to record interference patterns due to electrons detached from negative ions by a laser into a uniform electric field. In a first approximation, the previously linked electron and neutral species don't interact any more after detachment : we have a free electron source. According to the classical equations of movement, a free electron placed in a uniform electric field with a given kinetic energy has two different trajectories for going to a given point. In a quantum point of view, the electronic matter wave is divided into two parts, which follow both possible ways. As the electronic wave emitted by photodetachment is coherent, these two half-waves interfere. The recorded interference patterns are highly sensitive to the electron kinetic energy, which can thus be measured by comparison between the experimental data and the free electron model predictions. These high resolutlon spectroscopy measurements were used for testing the free electron model validity for the Si and OH anions, looking for possible interaction effects between the detached electron and the neutral species. The Si anion enables us to show the validity of the method for an atom heavier than those previously studied. The OH molecular anion was chosen for examining the dipolar potential effect on the interference images. We didn't see any modification of the images, and the obtained results validated this method for the measurements of diatomic anion detachment energies. These researches provided new values for the electron affinities of Si and OH, with an improved accuracy.ORSAY-PARIS 11-BU Sciences (914712101) / SudocSudocFranceF

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La place des matériaux organiques dans le mobilier de la tombe princière de Lavau (Aube) : premiers résultats

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La place des matériaux organiques dans le mobilier de la tombe princière de Lavau (Aube) : premiers résultats

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Application of [Pt(II)(Tetra-Tert-Butylsalophen)] Complex within Organic Devices: Deep Red Emission, Bistable Light-Emitting Diodes and Operational Stability

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