A Genome-Wide RNAi Screen Identifies Regulators of Cholesterol-Modified Hedgehog Secretion in Drosophila

Hedgehog (Hh) proteins are secreted molecules that function as organizers in animal development. In addition to being palmitoylated, Hh is the only metazoan protein known to possess a covalently-linked cholesterol moiety. The absence of either modification severely disrupts the organization of numerous tissues during development. It is currently not known how lipid-modified Hh is secreted and released from producing cells. We have performed a genome-wide RNAi screen in Drosophila melanogaster cells to identify regulators of Hh secretion. We found that cholesterol-modified Hh secretion is strongly dependent on coat protein complex I (COPI) but not COPII vesicles, suggesting that cholesterol modification alters the movement of Hh through the early secretory pathway. We provide evidence that both proteolysis and cholesterol modification are necessary for the efficient trafficking of Hh through the ER and Golgi. Finally, we identified several putative regulators of protein secretion and demonstrate a role for some of these genes in Hh and Wingless (Wg) morphogen secretion in vivo. These data open new perspectives for studying how morphogen secretion is regulated, as well as provide insight into regulation of lipid-modified protein secretion

The Glycosylation of the Aspartic Proteinases from Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) and Cardoon (Cynara Cardunculus L.)

Plant aspartic proteinases characterised at the molecular level contain one or more consensus N-glycosylation sites [Runeberg-Roos, P., Törmäkangas, K. & Östman, A. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 202, 102120131027; Asakura, T., Watanabe, H., Abe, K. & Arai, S. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 232, 77201383; Veríssimo, P., Faro, C., Moir, A. J. G., Lin, Y., Tang, J. & Pires, E. (1996) Eur. J. Biochem. 235, 76220137681. We found that the glycosylation sites are occupied for the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) aspartic proteinase (Asn333) and the cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) aspartic proteinase, cardosin A (Asn70 and Asn363). The oligosaccharides from each site were released from peptide pools by enzymatic hydrolysis with peptide-N-glycanase A or by hydrazinolysis and their structures were determined by exoglycosidase sequencing combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. It was observed that 6% of the oligosaccharides from the first glycosylation site of cardosin A are of the oligomannose type. Modified type glycans with proximal Fuc and without Xyl account for about 82%, 14% and 3% of the total oligosaccharides from the first and the second glycosylation sites of cardosin A and from H. vulgare aspartic proteinase, respectively. Oligosaccharides with Xyl but without proximal Fuc were only detected in the latter proteinase (4%). Glycans with proximal Fuc and Xyl account for 6%, 86% and 92% of the total oligosaccharides from the first and second glycosylation sites of cardosin A and from H. vulgure aspartic proteinase, respectively

The Flavonoid Luteolin Worsens Chemical-Induced Colitis in NF-κBEGFP Transgenic Mice through Blockade of NF-κB-Dependent Protective Molecules

BACKGROUND: The flavonoid luteolin has anti-inflammatory properties both in vivo and in vitro. However, the impact of luteolin on experimental models of colitis is unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To address the therapeutic impact of luteolin, NF-κB(EGFP) transgenic mice were fed a chow diet containing 2% luteolin- or isoflavone-free control chow (AIN-76), and acute colitis was induced using 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Additionally, development of spontaneous colitis was evaluated in IL-10(−/−);NF-κB(EGFP) transgenic mice fed 2% luteolin chow diet or control chow diet. Interestingly, NF-κB(EGFP) transgenic mice exposed to luteolin showed worse DSS-induced colitis (weight loss, histological scores) compared to control-fed mice, whereas spontaneous colitis in IL-10(−/−);NF-κB(EGFP) mice was significantly attenuated. Macroscopic imaging of live resected colon showed enhanced EGFP expression (NF-κB activity) in luteolin-fed mice as compared to control-fed animals after DSS exposure, while cecal EGFP expression was attenuated in luteolin-fed IL-10(−/−) mice. Interestingly, confocal microscopy showed that EGFP positive cells were mostly located in the lamina propria and not in the epithelium. Caspase 3 activation was significantly enhanced whereas COX-2 gene expression was reduced in luteolin-fed, DSS-exposed NF-κB(EGFP) transgenic mice as assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. In vitro, luteolin sensitized colonic epithelial HT29 cells to TNFα-induced apoptosis, caspase 3 activation, DNA fragmentation and reduced TNFα-induced C-IAP1, C-IAP2 and COX-2 gene expression. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that while luteolin shows beneficial effects on spontaneous colitis, it aggravates DSS-induced experimental colitis by blocking NF-κB-dependent protective molecules in enterocytes