John E. Hale

Ghrelin octanoylation mediated by an orphan lipid transferase

The peptide hormone ghrelin is the only known protein modified with an O-linked octanoyl side group, which occurs on its third serine residue. This modification is crucial for ghrelins physiological effects including regulation of feeding, adiposity, and insulin secretion. Despite the crucial role for octanoylation in the physiology of ghrelin, the lipid transferase that mediates this novel modification has remained unknown. Here we report the identification and characterization of human GOAT, the ghrelin O-acyl transferase. GOAT is a conserved orphan membrane-bound O-acyl transferase (MBOAT) that specifically octanoylates serine-3 of the ghrelin peptide. Transcripts for both GOAT and ghrelin occur predominantly in stomach and pancreas. GOAT is conserved across vertebrates, and genetic disruption of the GOAT gene in mice leads to complete absence of acylated ghrelin in circulation. The occurrence of ghrelin and GOAT in stomach and pancreas tissues demonstrates the relevance of GOAT in the acylation of ghrelin and further implicates acylated ghrelin in pancreatic function.

Evidence of free and bound leptin in human circulation. Studies in lean and obese subjects and during short-term fasting.

Little is known about leptins interaction with other circulating proteins which could be important for its biological effects. Sephadex G-100 gel filtration elution profiles of 125I-leptin-serum complex demonstrated 125I-leptin eluting in significant proportion associated with macromolecules. The 125I-leptin binding to circulating macromolecules was specific, reversible, and displaceable with unlabeled leptin (ED50: 0.73 +/- 0.09 nM, mean +/- SEM, n = 3). Several putative leptin binding proteins were detected by leptin-affinity chromatography of which either 80- or 100-kD proteins could be the soluble leptin receptor as approximately 10% of the bound 125I-leptin was immunoprecipitable with leptin receptor antibodies. Significantly higher (P < 0.001) proportions of total leptin circulate in the bound form in lean (46.5 +/- 6.6%) compared with obese (21.4 +/- 3.4%) subjects. In lean subjects with 21% or less body fat, 60-98% of the total leptin was in the bound form. Short-term fasting significantly decreased basal leptin levels in three lean (P < 0.0005) and three obese (P < 0.005) subjects while refeeding restored it to basal levels. The effects of fasting on free leptin levels were more pronounced in lean subjects (basal vs. 24-h fasting: 19.6 +/- 1.9 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.4 ng/ml) compared with those in obese subjects (28.3 +/- 9.8 vs. 14.7 +/- 5.3). No significant (P > 0.05) decrease was observed in bound leptin in either group. These studies suggest that in obese individuals the majority of leptin circulates in free form, presumably bioactive protein, and thus obese subjects are resistant to free leptin. In lean subjects with relatively low adipose tissue, the majority of circulating leptin is in the bound form and thus may not be available to brain receptors for its inhibitory effects on food intake both under normal and food deprivation states.

GOAT links dietary lipids with the endocrine control of energy balance

Central nervous system nutrient sensing and afferent endocrine signaling have been established as parallel systems communicating metabolic status and energy availability in vertebrates. The only afferent endocrine signal known to require modification with a fatty acid side chain is the orexigenic hormone ghrelin. We find that the ghrelin O-acyl transferase (GOAT), which is essential for ghrelin acylation, is regulated by nutrient availability, depends on specific dietary lipids as acylation substrates and links ingested lipids to energy expenditure and body fat mass. These data implicate the ghrelin-GOAT system as a signaling pathway that alerts the central nervous system to the presence of dietary calories, rather than to their absence as is commonly accepted.

FGF-21/FGF-21 receptor interaction and activation is determined by βKlotho

Fibroblast growth factor‐21 (FGF‐21) is a metabolic regulator that can influence glucose and lipid control in diabetic rodents and primates. We demonstrate that βKlotho is an integral part of an activated FGF‐21‐βKlotho‐FGF receptor (FGFR) complex thus a critical subunit of the FGF‐21 receptor. Cells lacking βKlotho did not respond to FGF‐21; the introduction of βKlotho to these cells conferred FGF‐21‐responsiveness and recapitulated the entire scope of FGF‐21 signaling observed in naturally responsive cells. Interestingly, FGF‐21‐mediated effects are heparin independent suggesting that βKlotho plays a role in FGF‐21 activity similar to the one played by heparin in the signaling of conventional FGFs. Moreover, in addition to conferring specificity for FGF‐21, βKlotho appears to support FGF‐19 activity and mediates the receptor selectivity profile of FGF‐19. All together, these results indicate that βKlotho and FGFRs form the cognate FGF‐21 receptor complex, mediating FGF‐21 cellular specificity and physiological effects. J. Cell. Physiol. 215: 1–7, 2008.

Alloxan is an inhibitor of the enzyme O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase.

We have previously shown that diabetogenic antibiotic streptozotocin (STZ), an analog of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), inhibits the enzyme O-GlcNAc-selective N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase) which is responsible for the removal of O-GlcNAc from proteins. Alloxan, another beta-cell toxin is a uracil analog. Since the O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) uses UDP-GlcNAc as a substrate, we investigated whether alloxan might interfere with the process of protein O-glycosylation by blocking OGT, a very abundant enzyme in beta-cells. In isolated pancreatic islets, alloxan almost completely blocked both glucosamine-induced and STZ-induced protein O-GlcNAcylation, suggesting that alloxan indeed was inhibiting (OGT). In order to show definitively that alloxan was inhibiting OGT activity, recombinant OGT was incubated with 0-10 mM alloxan, and OGT activity was measured directly by quantitating UDP-[(3)H]-GlcNAc incorporation into the recombinant protein substrate, nucleoporin p62. Under these conditions, OGT activity was completely inhibited by 1 mM alloxan with half-maximal inhibition achieved at a concentration of 0.1 mM alloxan. Together, these data demonstrate that alloxan is an inhibitor of OGT, and as such, is the first OGT inhibitor described.

New Transmembrane AMPA Receptor Regulatory Protein Isoform, γ-7, Differentially Regulates AMPA Receptors

AMPA-type glutamate receptors (GluRs) mediate most excitatory signaling in the brain and are composed of GluR principal subunits and transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory protein (TARP) auxiliary subunits. Previous studies identified four mammalian TARPs, γ-2 (or stargazin), γ-3, γ-4, and γ-8, that control AMPA receptor trafficking, gating, and pharmacology. Here, we explore roles for the homologous γ-5 and γ-7 proteins, which were previously suggested not to serve as TARPs. Western blotting reveals high levels of γ-5 and γ-7 in the cerebellum, where γ-7 is enriched in Purkinje neurons in the molecular layer and glomerular synapses in the granule cell layer. Immunoprecipitation proteomics shows that cerebellar γ-7 avidly and selectively binds to AMPA receptor GluR subunits and also binds to the AMPA receptor clustering protein, postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95). Furthermore, γ-7 occurs together with PSD-95 and AMPA receptor subunits in purified postsynaptic densities. In heterologous cells, γ-7 but not γ-5 greatly enhances AMPA receptor glutamate-evoked currents and modulates channel gating. In granule cells from stargazer mice, transfection of γ-7 but not γ-5 increases AMPA receptor-mediated currents. Compared with stargazin, γ-7 differentially modulates AMPA receptor glutamate affinity and kainate efficacy. These studies define γ-7 as a new member of the TARP family that can differentially influence AMPA receptors in cerebellar neurons.

The Role of Mass Spectrometry in Biomarker Discovery and Measurement

Recent advances in the biological and analytical sciences have led to unprecedented interest in the discovery and quantitation of endogenous molecules that serve as indicators of drug safety, mechanism of action, efficacy, and disease state progression. By allowing for improved decision-making, these indicators, referred to as biomarkers, can dramatically improve the efficiency of drug discovery and development. Mass spectrometry has been a key part of biomarker discovery and evaluation owing to several important attributes, which include sensitive and selective detection, multi-analyte analysis, and the ability to provide structural information. Because of these capabilities, mass spectrometry has been widely deployed in search for new markers both through the analysis of large molecules (proteomics) and small molecules (metabonomics). In addition, mass spectrometry is increasingly being used to support quantitative measurement to assist in the evaluation and validation of biomarker leads. In this review, the dual role of mass spectrometry for biomarker discovery and measurement is explored for both large and small molecules by examining the key technologies and methods used along the continuum from drug discovery through clinical development.

Macrophage-Mediated Degradation of β-Amyloid via an Apolipoprotein E Isoform-Dependent Mechanism

Recent studies suggest that bone marrow-derived macrophages can effectively reduce β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in brain. To further elucidate the mechanisms by which macrophages degrade Aβ, we cultured murine macrophages on top of Aβ plaque-bearing brain sections from transgenic mice expressing PDAPP [human amyloid precursor protein (APP) with the APP717V>F mutation driven by the platelet-derived growth factor promoter]. Using this ex vivo assay, we found that macrophages from wild-type mice very efficiently degrade both soluble and insoluble Aβ in a time-dependent manner and markedly eliminate thioflavine-S positive amyloid deposits. Because macrophages express and secrete apolipoprotein E (apoE), we compared the efficiency of Aβ degradation by macrophages prepared from apoE-deficient mice or mice expressing human apoE2, apoE3, or apoE4. Macrophages expressing apoE2 were more efficient at degrading Aβ than apoE3-expressing, apoE4-expressing, or apoE-deficient macrophages. Moreover, macrophage-induced degradation of Aβ was effectively blocked by an anti-apoE antibody and receptor-associated protein, an antagonist of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor family, suggesting involvement of LDL receptors. Measurement of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity in the media from human apoE-expressing macrophages cocultured with Aβ-containing brain sections revealed greater levels of MMP-9 activity in apoE2-expressing than in either apoE3- or apoE4-expressing macrophages. Differences in MMP-9 activity appear to contribute to the isoform-specific differences in Aβ degradation by macrophages. These apoE isoform-dependent effects of macrophages on Aβ degradation suggest a novel “peripheral” mechanism for Aβ clearance from brain that may also, in part, explain the isoform-dependent effects of apoE in determining the genetic risk for Alzheimers disease.

Leptin is a four-helix bundle: secondary structure by NMR

Leptin is a signaling protein that in its mutant forms has been associated with obesity and Type II diabetes. The lack of sequence similarity has precluded analogies based on structural resemblance to known systems. Backbone NMR signals for mouse leptin (13C/15N ‐labeled) have been assigned and its secondary structure reveals it to be a four‐helix bundle cytokine. Helix lengths and disulfide pattern are in agreement with leptin as a member of the short‐helix cytokine family. A three‐dimensional model was built verifying the mechanical consistency of the identified elements with a short‐helix cytokine core.

A proteomic analysis of adult rat bone reveals the presence of cartilage/chondrocyte markers

The non‐mineral component of bone matrix consists of 90% collagenous, 10% non‐collagenous proteins. These proteins regulate mineralization, growth, cell signaling and differentiation, and provide bone with its tensile strength. Expression of bone matrix proteins have historically been studied individually or in small numbers owing to limitations in analytical technologies. Current mass‐spectrometric and separations technologies allow a global view of protein expression patterns in complex samples. To our knowledge, no proteome profile of bone matrix has yet been reported. Therefore, we have used mass spectrometry as a tool to generate a profile of proteins present in the extracellular matrix of adult rat bone. Overall, 108 and 25 proteins were identified with high confidence in the metaphysis and diaphysis, respectively, using a bottom up proteomic technique. Twenty‐one of these proteins were present in both the metaphysis and diaphysis including the bone specific proteins, osteocalcin, type I collagen, osteopontin, osteoregulin, and bone sialoprotein. Interestingly, type II collagen, a protein thought to be exclusively expressed in cartilage, was identified in both the metaphysis and diaphysis. This observation was validated by Western blot. Additionally, the presence of aggrecan, another protein expressed in cartilage was identified in the bone matrix extracts by Western blot. The proteome profile generated using this technology represents an initial survey of the acid soluble proteins of bone matrix which provides a reference for the analysis of deviations from the normal composition due to perturbations or disease states. J. Cell. Biochem. 101: 466–476, 2007.