Protein S-guanylation by the biological signal 8-nitroguanosine 3\u27,5\u27-cyclic monophosphate

The signaling pathway of nitric oxide (NO) depends mainly on guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP, 1). Here we report the formation and chemical biology of a nitrated derivative of cGMP, 8-nitroguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-nitro-cGMP, 2), in NO-mediated signal transduction. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated marked 8-nitro-cGMP production in various cultured cells in an NO-dependent manner. This finding was confirmed by HPLC plus electrochemical detection and tandem mass spectrometry. 8-Nitro-cGMP activated cGMP-dependent protein kinase and showed unique redox-active properties independent of cGMP activity. Formation of protein Cys-cGMP adducts by 8-nitro-cGMP was identified as a new post-translational modification, which we call protein S-guanylation. 8-Nitro-cGMP seems to regulate the redox-sensor signaling protein Keap1, via S-guanylation of the highly nucleophilic cysteine sulfhydryls of Keap1. This study reveals 8-nitro-cGMP to be a second messenger of NO and sheds light on new areas of the physiology and chemical biology of signal transduction by NO

Nitric Oxide as an Endogenous Mutagen for Sendai Virus without Antiviral Activity

Nitric oxide (NO) may affect the genomes of various pathogens, and this mutagenesis is of particular interest for viral pathogenesis and evolution. Here, we investigated the effect of NO on viral replication and mutation. Exogenous or endogenous NO had no apparent antiviral effect on influenza A virus and Sendai virus. The mutagenic potential of NO was analyzed with Sendai virus fused to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene (GFP-SeV). GFP-SeV was cultured in SW480 cells transfected with a vector expressing inducible NO synthase (iNOS). The mutation frequency of GFP-SeV was examined by measuring loss of GFP fluorescence of the viral plaques. GFP-SeV mutation frequency in iNOS-SW480 cells was much higher than that in parent SW480 cells and was reduced to the level of mutation frequency in the parent cells by treatment with an NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor. Immunocytochemistry showed generation of more 8-nitroguanosine in iNOS-SW480 cells than in SW480 cells without iNOS transfection. Authentic 8-nitroguanosine added exogenously to GFP-SeV-infected CV-1 cells increased the viral mutation frequency. Profiles of the GFP gene mutations induced by 8-nitroguanosine appeared to resemble those of mutations occurring in mouse lungs in vivo. A base substitution that was characteristic of both mutants (those induced by 8-nitroguanosine and those occurring in vivo) was a C-to-U transition. NO-dependent oxidative stress in iNOS-SW480 cells was also evident. Together, the results indicate unambiguously that NO has mutagenic potential for RNA viruses such as Sendai virus without affecting viral replication, possibly via 8-nitroguanosine formation and cellular oxidative stress

Proapoptotic Effect of Proteolytic Activation of Matrix Metalloproteinases by Streptococcus pyogenes Thiol Proteinase (Streptococcus Pyrogenic Exotoxin B)

Streptococcus pyogenes thiol proteinase, also known as streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SpeB), has been suggested to be a major virulence factor in S. pyogenes infection. SpeB was reported to induce apoptosis of host cells, but its mechanism of action is not yet fully understood. In this study, we examined the involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in SpeB-induced apoptosis. We first developed a large-scale preparation of recombinant SpeB and precursors of human MMP-9 and -2 (proMMPs) by using Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3)pLysS and baculovirus-insect cell expression systems, respectively. Treatment with SpeB induced effective proteolytic activation of both proMMP-9 and -2. When RAW264 murine macrophages were incubated with SpeB-activated proMMP-9, the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in conditioned medium (CM), assessed by an enzyme immunoassay, was elevated. This increase was completely inhibited by addition of the MMP inhibitor SI-27 to the cell culture. The CM also produced marked induction of apoptosis of U937 human monocytic cells. Similarly, soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) was detected in CM of cultures of SW480 cells expressing FasL after treatment with SpeB-activated proMMPs; this CM also induced apoptosis in U937 cells. SpeB had a direct effect as well and caused the release of TNF-α and sFasL from the cells. SpeB-dependent production of MMP-9 and -2 and proapoptotic molecules (TNF-α and sFasL) was evident in a murine model of severe invasive S. pyogenes infection. These results suggest that SpeB or SpeB-activated MMPs contribute to tissue damage and streptococcal invasion in the host via extracellular release of TNF-α and sFasL

A New Method to Characterize Conformation-Specific Antibody by a Combination of Agarose Native Gel Electrophoresis and Contact Blotting

In this study, we review the agarose native gel electrophoresis that separates proteins and macromolecular complexes in their native state and transfer of the separated proteins from the agarose gel to membranes by contact blotting which retains the native state of these structures. Green fluorescent protein showed functional state both on agarose gel and blotted membrane. Based on the combined procedures, we discovered conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies against PLXDC2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

A Simple and Highly Effective Method for Slow-Freezing Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Dimethyl Sulfoxide, Hydroxyethyl Starch and Ethylene Glycol

<div><p>Vitrification and slow-freezing methods have been used for the cryopreservation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Vitrification requires considerable skill and post-thaw recovery is low. Furthermore, it is not suitable for cryopreservation of large numbers of hPSCs. While slow-freezing methods for hPSCs are easy to perform, they are usually preceded by a complicated cell dissociation process that yields poor post-thaw survival. To develop a robust and easy slow-freezing method for hPSCs, several different cryopreservation cocktails were prepared by modifying a commercially available freezing medium (CP-1™) containing hydroxyethyl starch (HES), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in saline. The new freezing media were examined for their cryopreservation efficacy in combination with several different cell detachment methods. hPSCs in cryopreservation medium were slowly cooled in a conventional −80°C freezer and thawed rapidly. hPSC colonies were dissociated with several proteases. Ten percent of the colonies were passaged without cryopreservation and another 10% were cryopreserved, and then the recovery ratio was determined by comparing the number of Alkaline Phosphatase-positive colonies after thawing at day 5 with those passaged without cryopreservation at day 5. We found that cell detachment with Pronase/EDTA followed by cryopreservation using 6% HES, 5% DMSO, and 5% ethylene glycol (EG) in saline (termed CP-5E) achieved post-thaw recoveries over 80%. In summary, we have developed a new cryopreservation medium free of animal products for slow-freezing. This easy and robust cryopreservation method could be used widely for basic research and for clinical application.</p></div

Schematic overview of the protocol for hPSCs cryopreservation and thaw.

<p>Schema shows the protocol for the slow-freezing procedure with the combined use of Pronase/EDTA and cryopreservation medium CP-5E (left) and rapid thawing (right).</p

Selection of cryopreservation medium for slow-freezing.

<p>(A) Recovery frequencies (rate, %) of iPSC (201B7) colonies treated with Pronase/EDTA dissociation followed by cryopreservation with 5 different media (Formulas A–E). Recovery frequencies (rate, %) were determined by the percentage of ALP+ colonies 5 days after thawing compared with those at day 5 after passaging with Pronase/EDTA without cryopreservation. Recovery frequencies (rate, %) are shown as bars with S.D. Formula A: [6% HES, 5% DMSO, 4% BSA, and 50% D-MEM/F12 in saline]; B: [6% HES, 5% DMSO, and 50% D-MEM/F12 in saline]; C: [6% HES, 5% DMSO, and 4% BSA in saline]; D: [6% HES and 5% DMSO in saline]; E: [6% HES, 5% DMSO, and 5% ethylene glycol (EG) in saline]. Results of 3 independent experiments are shown. Differences between E and the others are significant. *; <i>P</i><0.05. (B) The effects of EG addition on cryopreservation efficacy of freezing media. Various concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, or 15% v/v) of EG were added to cryopreservation Formula D (6% HES, 5% DMSO in saline). Recovery frequencies (rate, %) were determined by scoring the post-thaw number of ALP+ colonies and those without cryopreservation. Results of 3 independent experiments are shown. *; <i>P</i><0.05 (C) ALP staining of colonies of iPSC 201B7 maintained for 5 days after passage (left photo: post-plating, non-frozen control) and those 5 days after thaw (right photo: post-thawing, dissociation with Pronase/EDTA and cryopreservation with CP-5E). Magnified photos are attached. Scale bars indicate 500 µm. (D) Cell colonies of hiPSC cell lines (201B7, 253G1) or hESC cell lines (KhES-1, H1) were dissociated with Pronase/EDTA, followed by cryopreservation with CP-5E (Formula E: 6% HES, 5% DMSO, and 5% EG in saline). Recovery frequencies (%) were determined by scoring the number of ALP+ colonies after thawing for comparison with nonfrozen cells. Results of 3 independent experiments are shown.</p