Christof Lenz

Changes in the protein profile of Quercus ilex leaves in response to drought stress and recovery.

To characterize the molecular response of holm oak to drought stress and its capacity to recover 9-month-old Quercus ilex seedlings were subjected to three treatments for a 14-d period: (i) continuous watering to field capacity (control plants, W), (ii) no irrigation (drought treatment, D), and (iii) no irrigation for 7d followed by a watering period of 7d (recovery treatment, R). In drought plants, leaf water potential decreased from -0.72 (day 0) to -0.99MPa (day 7), and -1.50MPa (day 14). Shoot relative water content decreased from 49.3% (day 0) to 47.7% (day 7) and 40.8% (day 14). Photosystem II quantum yield decreased from 0.80 (day 0) to 0.72 (day 7) and 0.73 (day 14). Plants subjected to water withholding for 7d reached, after a 7-d rewatering period, values similar to those of continuously irrigated control plants. Changes in the leaf protein pattern in response to drought and recovery treatments were analyzed by using a proteomic approach. Twenty-three different spots were observed when comparing the two-dimensional electrophoresis profile of control to both drought and recovered plants. From these, 14 proteins were identified from tryptic peptides tandem mass spectra by using the new Paragon algorithm present in the ProteinPilot software. The proteins identified belong to the photosynthesis, carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism, and stress-related protein functional categories.

An ATM and ATR dependent checkpoint inactivates spindle assembly by targeting CEP63

Activation of the protein kinases ATM and ATR following chromosomal breakage prevents initiation of DNA replication and entry into mitosis. However, the effects of ATM and ATR activation in cells already progressing through mitosis are poorly understood. Here we report that ATM and ATR activation induced by DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) inhibits centrosome-driven spindle assembly in Xenopus laevis mitotic egg extract and somatic cells, delaying mitotic progression. Using a cDNA expression library to screen for ATM and ATR substrates, we identified centrosomal protein CEP63 as an ATM and ATR target required for normal spindle assembly. ATM and ATR phosphorylate Xenopus CEP63 (XCEP63) on Ser 560 and promote its delocalization from the centrosome. Suppression of ATM and ATR activity or mutation of XCEP63 Ser 560 to Ala prevented spindle assembly defects. Consistently, inactivation of the CEP63 gene in avian DT40 cells impaired spindle assembly and prevented ATM- and ATR-dependent effects on mitosis. These data indicate that ATM and ATR control mitotic events in vertebrate cells by targeting CEP63 and centrosome dependent spindle assembly.

Combined proteomic and transcriptomic analysis identifies differentially expressed pathways associated to Pinus radiata needle maturation.

Needle differentiation is a very complex process that leads to the formation of a mature photosynthetic organ from pluripotent needle primordia. The proteome and transcriptome of immature and fully developed needles of Pinus radiata D. Don were compared to described changes in mRNA and protein species that characterize the needle maturation developmental process. A total of 856 protein spots were analyzed, defining a total of 280 spots as differential between developmental stages, from which 127 were confidently identified. A suppressive subtractive library (2048 clones, 274 non redundant contigs) was built, and 176 genes showed to be differentially expressed. The Joint data analysis of proteomic and transcriptomic results provided a broad overview of differentially expressed pathways associated with needle maturation and stress-related pathways. Proteins and genes related to energy metabolism pathways, photosynthesis, and oxidative phosphorylation were overexpressed in mature needles. Amino acid metabolism, transcription, and translation pathways were overexpressed in immature needles. Interestingly, stress related proteins were characteristic of immature tissues, a fact that may be linked to defense mechanisms and the higher growth rate and morphogenetic competence exhibited by these needles. Thus, this work provides an overview of the molecular changes affecting proteomes and transcriptomes during P. radiata needle maturation, having an integrative vision of the functioning and physiology of this process.

Proteomic analysis of Pinus radiata needles: 2-DE map and protein identification by LC/MS/MS and substitution-tolerant database searching.

Pinus radiata is one of the most economically important forest tree species, with a worldwide production of around 370 million m (3) of wood per year. Current selection of elite trees to be used in conservation and breeding programes requires the physiological and molecular characterization of available populations. To identify key proteins related to tree growth, productivity and responses to environmental factors, a proteomic approach is being utilized. In this paper, we present the first report of the 2-DE protein reference map of physiologically mature P. radiata needles, as a basis for subsequent differential expression proteomic studies related to growth, development, biomass production and responses to stresses. After TCA/acetone protein extraction of needle tissue, 549 +/- 21 well-resolved spots were detected in Coommassie-stained gels within the 5-8 pH and 10-100 kDa M(r) ranges. The analytical and biological variance determined for 450 spots were of 31 and 42%, respectively. After LC/MS/MS analysis of in-gel tryptic digested spots, proteins were identified by using the novel Paragon algorithm that tolerates amino acid substitution in the first-pass search. It allowed the confident identification of 115 out of the 150 protein spots subjected to MS, quite unusual high percentage for a poor sequence database, as is the case of P. radiata. Proteins were classified into 12 or 18 groups based on their corresponding cell component or biological process/pathway categories, respectively. Carbohydrate metabolism and photosynthetic enzymes predominate in the 2-DE protein profile of P. radiata needles.

The ratio of SRPK1/SRPK1a regulates erythroid differentiation in K562 leukaemic cells

SRPK1, the prototype of the serine/arginine family of kinases, has been implicated in the regulation of multiple cellular processes such as pre-mRNA splicing, chromatin structure, nuclear import and germ cell development. SRPK1a is a much less studied isoform of SRPK1 that contains an extended N-terminal domain and so far has only been detected in human testis. In the present study we show that SRPK1 is the predominant isoform in K562 cells, with the ratio of the two isoforms being critical in determining cell fate. Stable overexpression of SRPK1a induces erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. The induction of globin synthesis was accompanied by a marked decrease in proliferation and a significantly reduced clonogenic potential. Small interfering RNA-mediated down-regulation of SRPK1 in K562 cells results similarly in a decrease in proliferative capacity and induction of globin synthesis. A decreased SRPK1/SRPK1a ratio is also observed upon hemin/DMSO-induced differentiation of K562 cells as well as in normal human erythroid progenitor cells. Mass spectrometric analysis of SRPK1a-associated proteins identified multiple classes of RNA-binding proteins including RNA helicases, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins, ribosomal proteins, and mRNA-associated proteins. Several of the SRPK1a-copurifying proteins have been previously identified in ribosomal and pre-ribosomal complexes, thereby suggesting that SRPK1a may play an important role in linking ribosomal assembly and/or function to erythroid differentiation in human leukaemic cells.

Production of small binary carbon clusters by laser ablation of thin films of derivatised fullerenes

Abstract The distribution of small carbon clusters derived by laser ablation (laser desorption/ionization) of thin films of derivatised fullerenes has been studied. The production of positive and negative ions has been monitored by time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometry. The materials under investigation included the [60]fullerene (C 60 ), hydrogenated and deuterated [60]fullerenes (C 60 X 36 where X=H and D), fluorinated [60]fullerenes (C 60 F x where x =46 and 48) and the aza[60]fullerene dimer ((C 59 N) 2 ). Following laser ablation using a nitrogen laser, the efficient formation of small, negatively charged carbon clusters has been observed, while the corresponding positively charged clusters were not formed. Derivatised fullerenes display the co-formation of small binary carbon clusters of the type C n X − , where n shows odd/even alternation depending on X which represents the heteroatom initially linked to or networked with the fullerene cage. Although binary carbon clusters C n X − were formed where X=H, D and N, the ablation of fluorofullerene targets would not lead to the formation of C n F − clusters under the applied conditions, as confirmed by ablation experiments with chloro/fluoroalky-polymers. The formation of the binary carbon clusters has been also studied by laser fluence-dependent production of C n D − ions from C 60 D 36 , and by the production of C n P − ions using a composite C 60 /P 4 target. Possible pathways leading to small binary carbon clusters are addressed.