Combinatorial Diversity of Fission Yeast SCF Ubiquitin Ligases by Homo- and Heterooligomeric Assemblies of the F-Box Proteins Pop1p and Pop2p

Background: SCF ubiquitin ligases share the core subunits cullin 1, SKP1, and HRT1/RBX1/ROC1, which associate with different F-box proteins. F-box proteins bind substrates following their phosphorylation upon stimulation of various signaling pathways. Ubiquitin-mediated destruction of the fission yeast cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor Rum1p depends on two heterooligomerizing F-box proteins, Pop1p and Pop2p. Both proteins interact with the cullin Pcu1p when overexpressed, but it is unknown whether this reflects their co-assembly into bona fide SCF complexes. Results: We have identified Psh1p and Pip1p, the fission yeast homologues of human SKP1 and HRT1/RBX1/ROC1, and show that both associate with Pop1p, Pop2p, and Pcu1p into a ~500 kDa SCFPop1p-Pop2p complex, which supports polyubiquitylation of Rum1p. Only the F-box of Pop1p is required for SCFPop1p-Pop2p function, while Pop2p seems to be attracted into the complex through binding to Pop1p. Since all SCFPop1p-Pop2p subunits, except for Pop1p, which is exclusively nuclear, localize to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, the F-box of Pop2p may be critical for the assembly of cytoplasmic SCFPop2p complexes. In support of this notion, we demonstrate individual SCFPop1p and SCFPop2p complexes bearing ubiquitin ligase activity. Conclusion: Our data suggest that distinct homo- and heterooligomeric assemblies of Pop1p and Pop2p generate combinatorial diversity of SCFPop function in fission yeast. Whereas a heterooligomeric SCFPop1p-Pop2p complex mediates polyubiquitylation of Rum1p, homooligomeric SCFPop1p and SCFPop2p complexes may target unknown nuclear and cytoplasmic substrates

Perfluoroalkyl substances are increased in patients with late-onset ulcerative colitis and induce intestinal barrier defects ex vivo in murine intestinal tissue

Background Environmental factors are strongly implicated in late-onset of inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we investigate whether high levels of perfluoroalkyl substances are associated with (1) late-onset inflammatory bowel disease, and (2) disturbances of the bile acid pool. We further explore the effect of the specific perfluoroalkyl substance perfluorooctanoic acid on intestinal barrier function in murine tissue. Methods Serum levels of perfluoroalkyl substances and bile acids were assessed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer in matched samples from patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 20) and Crohn's disease (n = 20) diagnosed at the age of >= 55 years. Age and sex-matched blood donors (n = 20), were used as healthy controls. Ex vivo Ussing chamber experiments were performed to assess the effect of perfluorooctanoic acid on ileal and colonic murine tissue (n = 9). Results The total amount of perfluoroalkyl substances was significantly increased in patients with ulcerative colitis compared to healthy controls and patients with Crohn's disease (p Discussion Our results demonstrate that perfluoroalkyl substances levels are increased in patients with late-onset ulcerative colitis and may contribute to the disease by inducing a dysfunctional intestinal barrier.</p

Simultaneous determination of perfluoroalkyl substances and bile acids in human serum using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

There is evidence of a positive association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and cholesterol levels in human plasma, which may be due to common reabsorption of PFASs and bile acids (BAs) in the gut. Here we report development and validation of a method that allows simultaneous, quantitative determination of PFASs and BAs in plasma, using 150 mu L or 20 mu L of sample. The method involves protein precipitation using 96-well plates. The instrumental analysis was performed with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), using reverse-phase chromatography, with the ion source operated in negative electrospray mode. The mass spectrometry analysis was carried out using multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method proved to be sensitive, robust, and with sufficient linear range to allow reliable determination of both PFASs and BAs. The method detection limits were between 0.01 and 0.06 ng mL(-1) for PFASs and between 0.002 and 0.152 ng mL(-1) for BAs, with the exception of glycochenodeoxycholic acid (0.56 ng mL(-1)). The PFAS measured showed excellent agreement with certified plasma PFAS concentrations in NIST SRM 1957 reference serum. The method was tested on serum samples from 20 healthy individuals. In this proof-of-concept study, we identified significant associations between plasma PFAS and BA levels, which suggests that PFAS may alter the synthesis and/or uptake of BAs.Graphica

TRIM27 Negatively Regulates NOD2 by Ubiquitination and Proteasomal Degradation

NOD2, the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing gene family (NLR) member 2 is involved in mediating antimicrobial responses. Dysfunctional NOD2 activity can lead to severe inflammatory disorders, but the regulation of NOD2 is still poorly understood. Recently, proteins of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family have emerged as regulators of innate immune responses by acting as E3 ubiquitin ligases. We identified TRIM27 as a new specific binding partner for NOD2. We show that NOD2 physically interacts with TRIM27 via the nucleotide-binding domain, and that NOD2 activation enhances this interaction. Dependent on functional TRIM27, ectopically expressed NOD2 is ubiquitinated with K48-linked ubiquitin chains followed by proteasomal degradation. Accordingly, TRIM27 affects NOD2-mediated pro-inflammatory responses. NOD2 mutations are linked to susceptibility to Crohns disease. We found that TRIM27 expression is increased in Crohns disease patients, underscoring a physiological role of TRIM27 in regulating NOD2 signaling. In HeLa cells, TRIM27 is partially localized in the nucleus. We revealed that ectopically expressed NOD2 can shuttle to the nucleus in a Walker A dependent manner, suggesting that NOD2 and TRIM27 might functionally cooperate in the nucleus. We conclude that TRIM27 negatively regulates NOD2-mediated signaling by degradation of NOD2 and suggest that TRIM27 could be a new target for therapeutic intervention in NOD2-associated diseases.Funding Agencies|German Research Foundation (DFG)|SFB670-NG01|Swedish Society of Medicine||Regional Research Council of South-East Sweden (FORSS)||Swedish Research Council division of Medicine||Gustav V 90th anniversary foundation||Italian Telethon Foundation||DFG|SE 1122/2-1|</p

Mechanisms of bacterial-epithelial interaction in Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease (CD) is believed to be initiated when an individual, who has agenetic predisposition either leading to a disturbance in the barrier functionand/or the innate immune system is exposed to triggering environmentalfactors, the most important being intraluminal bacteria. Genetic and functionalstudies have confirmed the Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), Nod2, TLR4and NALP3, as important mediators of the inflammatory process associatedwith disease progression. However, the mechanisms that link enteric bacteriaand barrier function in a background of genetic predisposition to CD are justbeginning to emerge. The general aim of this thesis was therefore to morethoroughly investigate the mechanisms of bacterial-epithelial interaction in CD. Here we present evidence suggesting that the small bowel is able to inducetranscytosis of antigens after short term exposure to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. This suggests that small bowel enterocytes are able toattain follicle associated epithelial (FAE) abilities and contribute to the barrierdysfunction observed in CD. Furthermore we report a positive effect of anti-TNFα treatment (infliximab) on the translocation of adherent invasive E.coli (AIEC) across the colonic mucosa of patients suffering from severe CD. We also confirm the importance of the Nod-like receptors (NLRs) in thepathogenesis of CD by showing that combined polymorphisms in the genesencoding NALP3 and CARD8 confer susceptibility to CD among Swedish menand in addition to previous published results add a gender aspect on thegenotype-phenotype relationship in CD. Finally, we show that Nod2 is rapidlysubjected to ubiquitination followed by proteasomal degradation, henceproviding important clues about how NLR regulation might occur in the cell,suggesting that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is an important factor toconsider in the development of the disease. In conclusion we report novel insights into the bacterial-epithelial interactionsoccurring in CD and contribute important clues about the origin of this disease.ISBN: 978

Linköping University Medical Dissertation No 1113 Mechanisms of bacterial-epithelial interaction in Crohn’s disease

- 3-Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew. When I bit off more than I could chew, But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all and I stood tall And did it my way. Till pappa och mamma för att ni ständigt uppmuntrar Crohn’s disease (CD) is believed to be initiated when an individual, who has a genetic predisposition either leading to a disturbance in the barrier function and/or the innate immune system is exposed to triggering environmental factors, the most important being intraluminal bacteria. Genetic and functional studies have confirmed the Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), Nod2, TLR4 and NALP3, as important mediators of the inflammatory process associated with disease progression. However, th

The Intestinal Barrier and Current Techniques for the Assessment of Gut Permeability

The intestinal barrier is essential in human health and constitutes the interface between the outside and the internal milieu of the body. A functional intestinal barrier allows absorption of nutrients and fluids but simultaneously prevents harmful substances like toxins and bacteria from crossing the intestinal epithelium and reaching the body. An altered intestinal permeability, a sign of a perturbed barrier function, has during the last decade been associated with several chronic conditions, including diseases originating in the gastrointestinal tract but also diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. This has led to an intensified interest from researchers with diverse backgrounds to perform functional studies of the intestinal barrier in different conditions. Intestinal permeability is defined as the passage of a solute through a simple membrane and can be measured by recording the passage of permeability markers over the epithelium via the paracellular or the transcellular route. The methodological tools to investigate the gut barrier function are rapidly expanding and new methodological approaches are being developed. Here we outline and discuss, in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo techniques and how these methods can be utilized for thorough investigation of the intestinal barrier.Funding Agencies|Faculty of Medicine and Health, Orebro University, Sweden; LIONS international Foundation; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linkoping University</p