Early Evolution of Ionotropic GABA Receptors and Selective Regimes Acting on the Mammalian-Specific Theta and Epsilon Subunits

BACKGROUND: The amino acid neurotransmitter GABA is abundant in the central nervous system (CNS) of both invertebrates and vertebrates. Receptors of this neurotransmitter play a key role in important processes such as learning and memory. Yet, little is known about the mode and tempo of evolution of the receptors of this neurotransmitter. Here, we investigate the phylogenetic relationships of GABA receptor subunits across the chordates and detail their mode of evolution among mammals. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Our analyses support two major monophyletic clades: one clade containing GABA(A) receptor alpha, gamma, and epsilon subunits, and another one containing GABA(A) receptor rho, beta, delta, theta, and pi subunits. The presence of GABA receptor subunits from each of the major clades in the Ciona intestinalis genome suggests that these ancestral duplication events occurred before the divergence of urochordates. However, while gene divergence proceeded at similar rates on most receptor subunits, we show that the mammalian-specific subunits theta and epsilon experienced an episode of positive selection and of relaxed constraints, respectively, after the duplication event. Sites putatively under positive selection are placed on a three-dimensional model obtained by homology-modeling. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an early divergence of the GABA receptor subunits, before the split from urochordates. We show that functional changes occurred in the lineages leading to the mammalian-specific subunit theta, and we identify the amino acid sites putatively responsible for the functional divergence. We discuss potential consequences for the evolution of mammals and of their CNS

Nivolumab versus placebo in patients with relapsed malignant mesothelioma (CONFIRM): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial

Background No phase 3 trial has yet shown improved survival for patients with pleural or peritoneal malignant mesothelioma who have progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in these patients. Methods This was a multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group, randomised, phase 3 trial done in 24 hospitals in the UK. Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, with histologically confirmed pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, who had received previous first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and had radiological evidence of disease progression, were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive nivolumab at a flat dose of 240 mg every 2 weeks over 30 min intravenously or placebo until disease progression or a maximum of 12 months. The randomisation sequence was generated within an interactive web response system (Alea); patients were stratified according to epithelioid versus non-epithelioid histology and were assigned in random block sizes of 3 and 6. Participants and treating clinicians were masked to group allocation. The co-primary endpoints were investigator-assessed progression-free survival and overall survival, analysed according to the treatment policy estimand (an equivalent of the intention-to-treat principle). All patients who were randomly assigned were included in the safety population, reported according to group allocation. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03063450. Findings Between May 10, 2017, and March 30, 2020, 332 patients were recruited, of whom 221 (67%) were randomly assigned to the nivolumab group and 111 (33%) were assigned to the placebo group). Median follow-up was 11·6 months (IQR 7·2–16·8). Median progression-free survival was 3·0 months (95% CI 2·8–4·1) in the nivolumab group versus 1·8 months (1·4–2·6) in the placebo group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·67 [95% CI 0·53–0·85; p=0·0012). Median overall survival was 10·2 months (95% CI 8·5–12·1) in the nivolumab group versus 6·9 months (5·0–8·0) in the placebo group (adjusted HR 0·69 [95% CI 0·52–0·91]; p=0·0090). The most frequently reported grade 3 or worse treatment-related adverse events were diarrhoea (six [3%] of 221 in the nivolumab group vs two [2%] of 111 in the placebo group) and infusion-related reaction (six [3%] vs none). Serious adverse events occurred in 90 (41%) patients in the nivolumab group and 49 (44%) patients in the placebo group. There were no treatment-related deaths in either group. Interpretation Nivolumab represents a treatment that might be beneficial to patients with malignant mesothelioma who have progressed on first-line therapy. Funding Stand up to Cancer–Cancer Research UK and Bristol Myers Squibb

Nucleotide sequence encoding the iron-sulphur protein subunit of the succinate dehydrogenase ofEscherichia coli

The nucleotide sequence of a 961 base-pair segment of DNA containing the sdhB gene, which encodes the iron-sulphur protein subunit of the E. coli succinate dehydrogenase, has been determined. The sdhB structural gene comprises 711 base pairs (237 codons, excluding the translational initiator and terminator). It is separated by a 15 base-pair intergenic region from the preceding flavoprotein gene (sdhA) and is the distal gene of an operon that also includes genes (sdhC and D) encoding two hydrophobic subunits, sdhCDAB. The distal end of the sdh operon is linked to the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase gene (sucA) by a complex region of dyad symmetry that is homologous with several potential intercistronic regulatory elements or transcriptional attenuators. The sdhB structural gene encodes a polypeptide of Mr26637 that is strikingly homologous with the iron-sulphur protein subunit of fumarate reductase (38% identity, increasing to 58% when conservative changes are included). Both subunits contain 11 cysteine residues, 10 being conserved in three clusters resembling those found in ferredoxins. This work completes the sequence of a 9897 base-pair segment of DNA containing seven tricarboxylic acid cycle genes encoding three enzymes or enzyme complexes, citrate synthase (gltA), succinate dehydrogenase (sdh), and the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (suc), that are organized thus: gltA-sdhCDAB-sucAB

Nucleotide sequence encoding the flavoprotein and hydrophobic subunits of the succinate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli

The nucleotide sequence of a 3614 base-pair segment of DNA containing the sdhA gene, encoding the flavoprotein subunit of succinate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli, and two genes sdhC and sdhD, encoding small hydrophobic subunits, has been determined. Together with the iron-sulphur protein gene (sdhB) these genes form an operon (sdhCDAB) situated between the citrate synthase gene (gltA) and the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex genes (sucAB): gltA-sdhCDAB-sucAB. Transcription of the gltA and sdhCDAB gene appears to diverge from a single intergenic region that contains two pairs of potential promoter sequences and two putative CRP (cyclic AMP receptor protein)-binding sites. The sdhA structural gene comprises 1761 base-pairs (587 codons, excluding the initiation codon, AUG) and it encodes a polypeptide of Mr 64268 that is strikingly homologous with the flavoprotein subunit of fumarate reductase (frdA gene product). The FAD-binding region, including the histidine residue at the FAD-attachment site, has been identified by its homology with other flavoproteins and with the flavopeptide of the bovine heart mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase. Potential active-site cysteine and histidine residues have also been indicated by the comparisons. The sdhC (384 base-pairs) and sdhD (342 base-pairs) structural genes encode two strongly hydrophobic proteins of Mr 14167 and 12792 respectively. These proteins resemble in size and composition, but not sequence, the membrane anchor proteins of fumarate reductase (the frdC and frdD gene products)

The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex of Escherichia coli K12. Nucleotide Sequence Encoding the Dihydrolipoamide Acetyltransferase Component

The nucleotide sequence of the aceF gene, which encodes the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component (E2) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli K12, has been determined using the dideoxy chain‐termination method. The aceF gene comprises 1887 base pairs (629 codons excluding the initiation codon AUG); it is preceded by a short intercistronic segment of 14 base pairs containing a good ribosomal binding site, and it is followed closely by a potential rho‐independent terminator. The results extend by 1980 base pairs the previously sequenced segment of 3780 base pairs containing the structural gene (aceE) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1) and they confirm that aceE and aceF are the proximal and distal genes of the ace operon.The amino terminus, carboxy‐terminal sequence and amino acid composition of the acetyltransferase subunit predicted from the nucleotide sequence are in excellent agreement with previous studies with the purified protein. The predicted molecular weight (Mr= 65959) confirms experimental values derived from sedimentation equilibrium analysis and indicates that the higher values (78 000–89 000) that have been reported are due to unusual features of the protein that lead to anomalous mobilities during sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in gel filtration. The primary structure fully supports conclusions, based on limited tryptic proteolysis, that the acetyltransferase subunit possesses two heterologous domains: the lipoyl domain and the subunit binding and catalytic domain. The lipoyl domain corresponds to the amino‐terminal segment of the protein. It is acidic and contains three remarkably homologous repeating units of approximately 100 amino acids, each possessing a potential lipoyl binding site and a region that is characteristically rich in alanine and proline residues. The subunit binding and catalytic domain occupies most of the residual polypeptide in the carboxy‐terminal segment