Masatomo Maeda

STEROL REGULATORY ELEMENT-BINDING PROTEIN NEGATIVELY REGULATES MICROSOMAL TRIGLYCERIDE TRANSFER PROTEIN GENE TRANSCRIPTION

We herein report that mRNA expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) and its protein synthesis decline in response to sterol depletion in HepG2 cells, and we functionally characterized the MTP gene promoter in an effort to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which MTP gene transcription is regulated. Luciferase assays using truncated versions of the reporter gene revealed that the region at −124 to +33 base pairs of the human promoter contains the elements required for the suppression of transcription by sterol depletion. Enforced expression of an active form of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 (amino acids 1–487) or -2 (amino acids 1–481), both of which are activated under sterol-depleted conditions, is able to mimic sterol-mediated down-regulation. Either further truncation of the promoter region or mutation of the putative SREBP-binding sequence (5′-GCAGCCCAC-3′, −124 to −116 base pairs) abolishes the sterol- and SREBP-dependent transcriptional regulation. Gel mobility shift assay showed that recombinant SREBP-2-(1–481) is able to bind the sequence. Enforced expression of a truncated form of SREBP-2 (amino acids 31–481), which acts as an inhibitor of transcription of the low density lipoprotein receptor gene because it lacks the transcriptional activation domain, also diminishes the luciferase activity, suggesting that direct binding to the promoter region might be sufficient and that the mechanism by which SREBPs inhibit MTP gene expression is distinct from that for the transcriptional stimulation of sterol-regulated genes. Although the SREBP-binding site overlaps a negative insulin-responsive element, insulin negatively regulates MTP gene expression even when the amount of the active form of SREBPs is quite low under the sterol-loaded conditions, indicating that SREBPs only slightly mediate, if at all, the insulin effects. Overall, we conclude that SREBPs are responsible for regulation of lipoprotein secretion via their control of MTP gene expression. Moreover, our results describe for the first time a novel mechanism by which SREBPs negatively regulate expression of the gene encoding the protein involved in lipid metabolism.

The γ-subunit of ATP synthase from spinach chloroplasts Primary structure deduced from the cloned cDNA sequence

cDNA clones encoding the γ‐subunit of chloroplast ATP synthase were isolated from a spinach library using synthetic oligonucleotide probes. The predicted amino acid sequence indicated that the mature chloroplast γ‐subunit consists of 323 amino acid residues and is highly homologous (55% identical residues) with the sequence of the cyanobacterial subunit. The positions of the four cysteine residues were identified. The carboxyl‐terminal region of the choloroplast γ‐subunit is highly homologous with those of the γ‐subunits from six other sources (bacteria and mitochondria) sequenced thus far.

cDNA cloning and sequence determination of pig gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase

Complementary DNA to pig gastric mRNA encoding (H+ + K+)-ATPase was cloned, and its amino acid sequence was deduced from the nucleotide sequence. The enzyme contained 1034 amino acid residues (Mr. 114,285) including the initiation methionine. The sequence of pig (H+ + K+)-ATPase was highly homologous with that of the corresponding enzyme from rat, but had high degree of synonymous codon changes. Potential sites of phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and N-linked glycosylation sites were identified. The amino terminal region contained a lysine-rich sequence similar to that of the alpha subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, although a cluster of glycine residues was inserted into the sequence of the (H+ + K+)-ATPase. As the pig enzyme is advantageous for biochemical studies, the information of the primary structure is useful for further detailed studies.

Kinetic studies of chromaffin granule H+-ATPase and effects of bafilomycin A1

Vacuolar type H+-ATPase purified from bovine chromaffin granules did not show simple Michaelis-Menten type kinetics, and had apparent Km values of 5 microM, 30 microM and 300 microM. These three Km values suggested the presence of catalytic cooperativity during steady-state hydrolysis. The single turnover rate was 10(-3)-fold the maximal velocity of the enzyme and similar to the rate estimated from the velocity of steady-state hydrolysis with the smallest Km value (5 microM). The H(+)-ATPase was inhibited by the stoichiometric binding of bafilomycin A1, a specific inhibitor of vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase. This inhibitor not only lowered the rate of ATP hydrolysis at the single catalytic site, but also affected the catalytic cooperativity of the enzyme.

Mode of inhibition of sodium azide on H+-ATPase of Escherichia coli

Sodium azide inhibited multi‐site (steady‐state) ATPase activity of E. coli F1 more than 90%, but did not affect uni‐site (single‐site) ATPase activity. Thus azide inhibited multi‐site ATPase activity by lowering catalytic cooperativity. Consistent with this observation, azide changed the ligand‐induced fluorescence response of aurovertin bound to F1.

An ABC transporter homologous to TAP proteins

Polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNA from rat intestine revealed the expression of a novel ABC transporter, TAPL (TAP‐like). Subsequently, the protein sequence was deduced from the nucleotide sequence of cDNA carrying the entire coding region. TAPL is transcribed ubiquitously in various rat tissues. The protein, with 762 amino acid residues, has potential transmembrane domains, and an ATP‐binding domain in its amino and carboxyl terminal regions, respectively, and is highly homologous to TAP1 and TAP2 (transporters associated with antigen presentation/processing): pairwise comparisons with TAPL demonstrated 39 and 41% of the residues are identical, respectively. These numerical values are essentially the same as that for TAP1 and TAP2 (39%), and the hydropathy profiles of TAPL, TAP1 and TAP2 are quite similar. The similarity among these three proteins suggests that they could be derived from a common ancestral gene. Furthermore, we found that there is a potential splicing isoform, sharing the amino terminal 720 amino acid residues of TAPL.

Molecular cloning of cDNA encoding the 16 KDa subunit of vacuolar H+-ATPase from mouse cerebellum

cDNA for the 16 kDa subunit of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase was cloned from mouse cerebellum and sequenced. The deduced polypeptide (155 amino acid residues; molecular weight, 15,808) was highly hydrophobic and homologous to the subunits of bovine adrenal medulla, Torpedo marmorata electric lobe, Drosophila and yeast. Glu-139 (supposed to be essential for proton transport) was also conserved as the potential dicyclohexylcarbodiimide binding site. The subunit had four transmembrane segments: Segment II and IV were highly homologous and Glu-139 was located in Segment IV. The roles of the non-conserved regions are discussed.

Involvement of a non‐proton pump factor (possibly Donnan‐type equilibrium) in maintenance of an acidic pH in lysosomes

Change of the internal pH of isolated lysosomes was measured with fluorescein isothiocyanate‐dextran. In buffer of pH 7.0, isolated lysosomes had an acidic pH of about 5.5, which decreased to pH 5.2 on addition of ATP. Addition of bafilomycin inhibited the acidification by H+‐ATPase and resulted in an increase of the internal pH to 5.5 due to passive diffusion of protons across the lysosomal membrane. However, no further alkalization was observed. The acidic pH (pH 5.5) of isolated lysosomes could be maintained for at least 48 h in the absence of ATP, but increased gradually to pH 5.9–6.4 upon incubation with monovalent cations (K+ or Na+), amines, or ionophores. These results suggest that a non‐proton pump factor (possibly Donnan equilibrium) is involved in maintaining the acidic pH of isolated lysosomes.

ß-Subunit of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase: An amino acid replacement within a conserved sequence (G-X-X-X-X-G-K-T/S) of nucleotide-binding proteins

A mutant strain KF87 of E. coli with a defective ß‐subunit (Ala‐151 → Val) of F1‐ATPase was isolated. The mutation is within the conserved sequence (G‐X‐X‐X‐X‐G‐K‐T/S) of nucleotide‐binding proteins. The mutant F1‐ATPase had a much higher rate of uni‐site hydrolysis of ATP than the wild type, and about 6% of the wild‐type multi‐site activity. The mutant enzyme showed defective transmission of conformational change(s) between the ligand‐ and aurovertin‐binding sites.A mutant strain KF87 of E. coli with a defective beta-subunit (Ala-151----Val) of F1-ATPase was isolated. The mutation is within the conserved sequence (G-X-X-X-X-G-K-T/S) of nucleotide-binding proteins. The mutant F1-ATPase had a much higher rate of uni-site hydrolysis of ATP than the wild type, and about 6% of the wild-type multi-site activity. The mutant enzyme showed defective transmission of conformational change(s) between the ligand- and aurovertin-binding sites.

Mutational replacements of conserved amino acid residues in the α subunit change the catalytic properties of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase

Four Escherichia coli mutants with defects in the alpha subunit of H+-ATPase (F0F1) (strain KF154, Pro-281----Leu; KF101 and KF131, Ala-285----Val; KF114, Arg-376----Cys) were isolated, and the kinetic properties of their F1-ATPases were studied. All the mutations so far identified are clustered in the two defined regions of the alpha subunit. With F1 of strain KF114, as with F1 of uncA401 (Ser-373----Phe; T. Noumi, M. Futai, and H. Kanazawa (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 10076-10079), the rate of multisite hydrolysis of ATP was 4 X 10(-3)-fold lower than that with wild-type F1, suggesting that residues Ser-373 and Arg-376 or the regions in their vicinities are essential for positive catalytic cooperativity. With F1 from strain KF101, multisite hydrolysis was higher (about 40% of that of the wild type), but the F1 was unstable and showed defective interaction with the membrane sector (F0). The F1 from KF154 had lower multisite hydrolysis (about 10% of that of the wild type) but could support slow growth by oxidative phosphorylation.