Tetrameric and dimeric malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes

Two malate dehydrogenase isoforms, named MDH1 and MDH2, have been purified to homogeneity from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. Both enzymes consist of subunits with a molecular mass close to 33 kDa; native molecular mass determination by gel filtration, however, indicated that MDH1 is a dimer, whereas MDH2 is a tetramer. Both isoforms did not cross-react immunologically. The N-termini of both MDH isoforms and several tryptic peptides of MDH1 (amounting to about one third of the complete molecule) have been sequenced by automated Edman degradation. The tryptic digests of both enzymes have also been analysed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The apparent K(m) values in both directions of the reaction have been determined, as well as the possible inhibition by excess of the substrate oxaloacetate. The sequence data, together with the pI values and the presence or absence of oxaloacetate inhibition indicate that the dimeric MDH1 is the mitochondrial isoenzyme, whereas the tetrameric MDH2 is the glycosomal isoenzyme. No evidence was found for the presence of a cytosolic isoform. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.Fil: Reynoso Hunter, Giselle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Hellman, Ulf. Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research; SueciaFil: Cazzulo, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Nowicki, Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; Argentin

Euglena gracilis Ribonucleotide Reductase THE EUKARYOTE CLASS II ENZYME AND THE POSSIBLE ANTIQUITY OF EUKARYOTE B12 DEPENDENCE

Ribonucleotide reductases provide the building blocks for DNA synthesis. Three classes of enzymes are known, differing widely in amino acid sequence but with similar structural motives and allosteric regulation. Class I occurs in eukaryotes and aerobic prokaryotes, class II occurs in aerobic and anaerobic prokaryotes, and class III occurs in anaerobic prokaryotes. The eukaryote Euglena gracilis contains a class II enzyme (Gleason, F. K., and Hogenkamp, H. P. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 4894-4899) and, thus, forms an exception. Class II enzymes depend on vitamin B(12) for their activity. We purified the reductase from Euglena cells, determined partial peptide sequences, identified its cDNA, and purified the recombinant enzyme. Its amino acid sequence and general properties, including its allosteric behavior, were similar to the class II reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii. Both enzymes belong to a distinct small group of reductases that unlike all other homodimeric reductases are monomeric. They compensate the loss of the second polypeptide of dimeric enzymes by a large insertion in the monomeric chain. Data base searching and sequence comparison revealed a homolog from the eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum as the closest relative to the Euglena reductase, suggesting that the class II enzyme was present in a common, B(12)-dependent, eukaryote ancestor

Chromatin from two classes of platyhelminthes display both protist H1 and higher eukaryote core histones

AbstractHistones from the parasitic platyhelminthes, Echinococcus granulosus and Fasciola hepatica, were systematically characterized. Core histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4, which were identified on the basis of amino acid sequencing and mass spectrometry data, showed conserved electrophoretic patterns. Histones H1, identified on the basis of physicochemical properties, amino acid composition and amino acid sequencing, showed divergence, both in their number and electrophoretic mobilities, between the two species and among other organisms. According to these data, core histones but not H1 histones, would be stabilized during evolution at the level of platyhelminthes

Immunodominant proteins α-1 giardin and β-giardin are expressed in both assemblages A and B of Giardia lamblia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To date, eight assemblages of <it>Giardia lamblia </it>have been described, but only assemblages A and B are known to infect humans. Despite the fact that the genomic, biological, and clinical differences found between these two assemblages has raised the possibility that they may be considered different species, there is relatively limited information on their phenotypic differences. In the present study, we developed monoclonal antibodies against alpha-1 and beta giardin, two immunodominant proteins produced during <it>G. lamblia </it>infection, and studied their expression and localization in WB (assemblage A) and GS trophozoites (assemblage B).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The polyclonal antibodies generated against WB trophozoites, particularly those recognizing intracellular proteins as well as the proteins present at the plasma membrane (variable-specific surface proteins), showed cross-reactivity with intracellular proteins in GS trophozoites. The use of monoclonal antibodies against beta giardin indicated ventral disc localization, particularly at the periphery in WB trophozoites. Interestingly, although beta giardin was also restricted to the ventral disc in GS trophozoites, the pattern of localization clearly differed in this assemblage. On the other hand, monoclonal antibodies against alpha-1 giardin showed plasma membrane localization in both assemblages with the bare area of GS trophozoites also being distinguished. Moreover, the same localization at the plasma membrane was observed in Portland-1 (Assemblage A) and in P15 (Assemblage E) trophozoites.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found differences in localization of the beta giardin protein between assemblages A and B, but the same pattern of localization of alpha-1 giardin in strains from Assemblages A, B and E. These findings reinforce the need for more studies based on phenotypic characteristics in order to disclose how far one assemblage is from the other.</p

The Manganese-containing Ribonucleotide Reductase of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes is a Class Ib Enzyme

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) are key enzymes in living cells that provide the precursors of DNA synthesis. The three characterized classes of RNRs differ by their metal cofactor and their stable organic radical. We have purified to near homogeneity the enzymatically active Mn-containing RNR of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes, previously claimed to represent a fourth RNR class. N-terminal and internal peptide sequence analyses clearly indicate that the C. ammoniagenes RNR is a class Ib enzyme. In parallel, we have cloned a 10-kilobase pair fragment from C. ammoniagenes genomic DNA, using primers specific for the known class Ib RNR. The cloned class Ib locus contains the nrdHIEF genes typical for class Ib RNR operon. The deduced amino acid sequences of the nrdE and nrdF genes matched the peptides from the active enzyme, demonstrating that C. ammoniagenes RNR is composed of R1E and R2F components typical of class Ib. We also show that the Mn-containing RNR has a specificity for the NrdH-redoxin and a response to allosteric effectors that are typical of class Ib RNRs. Electron paramagnetic resonance and atomic absorption analyses confirm the presence of Mn as a cofactor and show, for the first time, insignificant amounts of iron and cobalt found in the other classes of RNR. Our discovery that C. ammoniagenes RNR is a class Ib enzyme and possesses all the highly conserved amino acid side chains that are known to ligate two ferric ions in other class I RNRs evokes new, challenging questions about the control of the metal site specificity in RNR. The cloning of the entire NrdHIEF locus of C. ammoniagenes will facilitate further studies along these lines

Germ Line Origin and Somatic Mutations Determine the Target Tissues in Systemic AL-Amyloidosis

BACKGROUND: Amyloid is insoluble aggregated proteins deposited in the extra cellular space. About 25 different proteins are known to form amyloid in vivo and are associated with severe diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, prion diseases and type-2 diabetes. Light chain (AL) -amyloidosis is unique among amyloid diseases in that the fibril protein, a monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain, varies between individuals and that no two AL-proteins with identical primary structures have been described to date. The variability in tissue distribution of amyloid deposits is considerably larger in systemic AL-amyloidosis than in any other form of amyloidosis. The reason for this variation is believed to be based on the differences in properties of the amyloidogenic immunoglobulin light chain. However, there is presently no known relationship between the structure of an AL-protein and tissue distribution. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We compared the pattern of amyloid deposition in four individuals with amyloid protein derived from variable light chain gene O18-O8, the source of a high proportion of amyloidogenic light chains, and in whom all or most of the fibril protein had been determined by amino acid sequencing. In spite of great similarities between the structures of the proteins, there was a pronounced variability in deposition pattern. We also compared the tissue distribution in these four individuals with that of four other patients with AL-amyloid derived from the L2-L16 gene. Although the interindividual variations were pronounced, liver and kidney involvement was much more evident in the latter four. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that although the use of a specific gene influences the tissue distribution of amyloid, each light chain exhibits one or more determinants of organ-specificity, which originate from somatic mutations and post-translational modifications. Eventual identification of such determinants could lead to improved treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis

Variation in amount of wild-type transthyretin in different fibril and tissue types in ATTR amyloidosis

Familial transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is caused by a mutation in the TTR gene, although wild-type (wt) TTR is also incorporated into the amyloid fibrils. Liver transplantation (LT) is the prevailing treatment of the disease and is performed in order to eliminate the mutant TTR from plasma. The outcome of the procedure is varied; especially problematic is a progressive cardiomyopathy seen in some patients, presumably caused by continued incorporation of wtTTR. What determines the discrepancy in outcome is not clear. We have previously shown that two structurally distinct amyloid fibrils (with or without fragmented ATTR) are found among ATTRV30M patients. In this study, we investigated the proportion of wtATTR in cardiac and adipose amyloid from patients having either fibril type. It was found that cardiac amyloid more easily incorporates wtTTR than adipose amyloid, offering a potential explanation for the vulnerability of cardiac tissue for continued amyloidosis after LT. In cardiac tissue, fibrils with fragmented ATTR contained a higher wt proportion than fibrils without, suggesting that continued incorporation of wtTTR after LT, perhaps, can take place more easily in these patients. In adipose tissue, a rapid increase in wt proportion after LT indicates that a rather fast turnover of the deposits must occur. A difference in wt proportion between the fibril types was seen post-LT but not pre-LT, possibly caused by differences in turnover rate. Conclusively, this study further establishes the basic dissimilarities between the two fibril types and demonstrates that their role in LT outcome needs to be further investigated

An Id-like molecule, HHM, is a synexpression group-restricted regulator of TGF-β signalling

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β induces various cellular responses principally through Smad-dependent transcriptional regulation. Activated Smad complexes cooperate with transcription factors in regulating a group of target genes. The target genes controlled by the same Smad-cofactor complexes are denoted a synexpression group. We found that an Id-like helix-loop-helix protein, human homologue of Maid (HHM), is a synexpression group-restricted regulator of TGF-β signalling. HHM suppressed TGF-β-induced growth inhibition and cell migration but not epithelial–mesenchymal transition. In addition, HHM inhibited TGF-β-induced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-type 1 (PAI-1), PDGF-B, and p21WAF, but not Snail. We identified a basic-helix-loop-helix protein, Olig1, as one of the Smad-binding transcription factors affected by HHM. Olig1 interacted with Smad2/3 in response to TGF-β stimulation, and was involved in transcriptional activation of PAI-1 and PDGF-B. HHM, but not Id proteins, inhibited TGF-β signalling-dependent association of Olig1 with Smad2/3 through physical interaction with Olig1. HHM thus appears to regulate a subset of TGF-β target genes including the Olig1-Smad synexpression group. HHM is the first example of a cellular response-selective regulator of TGF-β signalling with clearly determined mechanisms

Specific combinations of SR proteins associate with single pre-messenger RNAs in vivo and contribute different functions

Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are required for messenger RNA (mRNA) processing, export, surveillance, and translation. We show that in Chironomus tentans, nascent transcripts associate with multiple types of SR proteins in specific combinations. Alternative splicing factor (ASF)/SF2, SC35, 9G8, and hrp45/SRp55 are all present in Balbiani ring (BR) pre-messenger ribonucleoproteins (mRNPs) preferentially when introns appear in the pre-mRNA and when cotranscriptional splicing takes place. However, hrp45/SRp55 is distributed differently in the pre-mRNPs along the gene compared with ASF/SF2, SC35, and 9G8, suggesting functional differences. All four SR proteins are associated with the BR mRNPs during export to the cytoplasm. Interference with SC35 indicates that SC35 is important for the coordination of splicing, transcription, and 3′ end processing and also for nucleocytoplasmic export. ASF/SF2 is associated with polyribosomes, whereas SC35, 9G8, and hrp45/SRp55 cosediment with monoribosomes. Thus, individual endogenous pre-mRNPs/mRNPs bind multiple types of SR proteins during transcription, and these SR proteins accompany the mRNA and play different roles during the gene expression pathway in vivo