Mieko Otani

Molecular cloning of cDNAs for mouse low-molecular-weight and high-molecular-weight prekininogens

We isolated cDNAs encoding low-molecular-weight (L-) and high-molecular-weight (H-) prekininogens from a mouse liver cDNA library using rat T-kininogen cDNA and rat H-kininogen cDNA respectively, as probes. The signal peptide, the heavy chain, and the bradykinin moiety, which are common between the two prekininogens, consist of 20, 359, and 9 amino acids, respectively, while the light chains of the L- and H-prekininogens are composed of 44 and 273 amino acids, respectively. All 19 cysteine residues present in both mouse prekininogens are located at the same positions relative to those of human origin. The light chain of H-prekininogen contains a characteristic 15-repeated His-Gly sequence and a conserved sequence for binding prekallikrein or factor XI. Northern blotting or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction followed by Southern blotting using mouse L- and H-kininogen cDNAs demonstrated that both L- and H-kininogens are predominantly expressed in the liver and kidney. L-Kininogen mRNA was also expressed in other tissues, such as the adrenal gland, brain, spinal cord, testis, lung, heart, and skin, while levels of H-kininogen mRNA in these tissues were too low to detect, suggesting that L-kininogen is synthesized in various tissues of mouse, while H-kininogen is exclusively synthesized in the liver and kidney. A genomic Southern blot using H-prekininogen cDNA revealed that the L- and H-prekininogen mRNAs in mouse are probably encoded by a single gene, as is the case in both human and bovine.

Heat-Shock-Induced Proteins from Myxococcus xanthus

Optimal conditions for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of total cellular proteins from Myxococcus xanthus were established. Using these conditions, we analyzed protein patterns of heat-shocked M. xanthus cells. Eighteen major spots and 15 minor spots were found to be induced by heat shock. From N-terminal sequences of 15 major spots, DnaK, GroEL, GroES, alkyl hydroperoxide reductase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, succinyl coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase, 30S ribosomal protein S6, and ATP synthase alpha subunit were identified. Three of the 18 major spots had an identical N-terminal sequence, indicating that they may be different forms of the same protein. Although a DnaK homologue, SglK, has been identified in M. xanthus (R. M. Weimer, C. Creghton, A. Stassinopoulos, P. Youderian, and P. L. Hartzell, J. Bacteriol. 180:5357-5368, 1998; Z. Yang, Y. Geng, and W. Shi, J. Bacteriol. 180:218-224, 1998), SglK was not induced by heat shock. In addition, there were seven substitutions within the N-terminal 30-residue sequence of the newly identified DnaK. This is the first report to demonstrate that succinyl CoA synthetase, 30S ribosomal protein S6, and ATP synthase alpha subunit are heat shock inducible.

Germ cell specific protein VASA is over-expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer and disrupts DNA damage-induced G2 checkpoint

OBJECTIVE Cancer cells have characteristics, such as high telomerase activity and high levels of migration activity and proliferation, which are very similar to those of germ cell lineages. In this study, we examined the expression of VASA, a germ cell lineage specific marker and evaluated its clinical significance in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS We investigated VASA expression in 75 EOC tissues by immunohistochemistry, correlating results with clinicopathological factors. To clarify the effects of VASA on cellular phenotypes, we compared the protein expression profiles between SKOV-3 cells stably expressing VASA (SKOV-3-VASA) and vector-control cell lines by coupling 2D fingerprinting and identification of proteins by mass spectrometry. RESULTS VASA expression in tumor cells was found in 21 of 75 cases and was positively correlated with high age and serous histology. Significant down-regulation of 14-3-3sigma was observed in SKOV-3-VASA versus control cells. Over-expression of VASA abrogates the G2 checkpoint, induced by DNA damage, by down-regulating the expression of 14-3-3sigma. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that VASA may either play a direct role in the progression of EOC or serve as a valuable marker of tumorigenesis.

Identification of phosphorylated serine-15 and -82 residues of HSPB1 in 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer cells by proteomics.

To identify the proteins involved in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance, a comparison of the total and phosphorylated proteins between the human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line DLD-1 and its 5-FU-resistant subclone DLD-1/5-FU was performed. Using 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF-based proteomics, 17 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated protein spots were identified in the 5-FU-resistant DLD-1/5-FU cells compared with the parent cell lines. In DLD-1/5-FU cells, 7 anti-apoptotic proteins (HSPB1, proteasome subunit α-5, transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase, 14-3-3 β, 14-3-3 γ, 14-3-3 σ, and phosphoglycerate kinase 1) were up-regulated and 4 proapoptotic proteins (cofilin-1, pyruvate kinase M2, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and nucleophosmin) were down-regulated. The results show that the acquired drug resistance of DLD-1/5-FU cells is caused by the prevention of drug-induced apoptosis, in particular through the enhanced constitutive expression of HSPB1 and its phosphorylated form. Short interfering RNA knockdown of endogenous HSPB1 in DLD-1/5-FU cells restored the sensitivity to 5-FU. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF/TOF and 2-DE Western blot analysis identified the phosphorylated residues of HSPB1 as Ser-15 and Ser-82 in the main (diphosphorylated) form and Ser-15, Ser-78, and Ser-82 in the minor (triphosphorylated) form. The current findings indicate that phosphorylated HSPB1 may play an important role in 5-FU resistance.

Proteomic analysis of the brain tissues from a transgenic mouse model of amyloid β oligomers

Amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers are presumed to be one of the causes of Alzheimers disease (AD). Previously, we identified the E693Δ mutation in amyloid precursor protein (APP) in patients with AD who displayed almost no signals of amyloid plaques in amyloid imaging. We generated APP-transgenic mice expressing the E693Δ mutation and found that they possessed abundant Aβ oligomers from 8months of age but no amyloid plaques even at 24months of age, indicating that these mice are a good model to study pathological effects of Aβ oligomers. To elucidate whether Aβ oligomers affect proteome levels in the brain, we examined the proteins and phosphoproteins for which levels were altered in 12-month-old APP(E693Δ)-transgenic mice compared with age-matched non-transgenic littermates. By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) followed by staining with SYPRO Ruby and Pro-Q Diamond and subsequent mass spectrometry techniques, we identified 17 proteins and 3 phosphoproteins to be significantly changed in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of APP(E693Δ)-transgenic mice. Coactosin like-protein, SH3 domain-bind glutamic acid-rich-like protein 3 and astrocytic phosphoprotein PEA-15 isoform 2 were decreased to levels less than 0.6 times those of non-transgenic littermates, whereas dynamin, profilin-2, vacuolar adenosine triphosphatase and creatine kinase B were increased to levels more than 1.5 times those of non-transgenic littermates. Furthermore, 2DE Western Blotting validated the changed levels of dynamin, dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2 (Dpysl2), and coactosin in APP(E693Δ)-transgenic mice. Glyoxalase and isocitrate dehydrogenase were increased to levels more than 1.5 times those of non-transgenic littermates. The identified proteins could be classified into several groups that are involved in regulation of different cellular functions, such as cytoskeletal and their interacting proteins, energy metabolism, synaptic component, and vesicle transport and recycling. These findings indicate that Aβ oligomers altered the levels of some proteins and phosphoproteins in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, which could illuminate novel therapeutic avenues for the treatment of AD.

Caenorhabditis elegans p97 controls germline- specific sex determination by controlling the TRA-1 level in a CUL-2-dependent manner

p97 (CDC-48 in Caenorhabditis elegans) is a ubiquitin-selective AAA (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities) chaperone and its key function is to disassemble protein complexes. p97 functions in diverse cellular processes including endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation, membrane fusion, and meiotic and mitotic progression. However, its cellular functions in development have not yet been clarified. Here, we present data that p97 is involved in the switch from spermatogenesis to oogenesis in the germline of the C. elegans hermaphrodite. We found that the cdc-48.1 deletion mutant produced less sperm than the wild type and thus showed a decreased brood size. The cdc-48.1 mutation suppressed the sperm-overproducing phenotypes of fbf-1 and fem-3(gf) mutants. In addition, the p97/CDC-48–UFD-1–NPL-4 complex interacted with the E3 ubiquitin ligase CUL-2 complex via NPL-4 binding to Elongin C. Furthermore, TRA-1A, which is the terminal effector of the sex determination pathway and is regulated by CUL-2-mediated proteolysis, accumulated in the cdc-48.1 mutant. Proteasome activity was also required for the brood size determination and sperm-oocyte switch. Our results demonstrate that the C. elegans p97/CDC-48–UFD-1–NPL-4 complex controls the sperm-oocyte switch by regulating CUL-2-mediated TRA-1A proteasome degradation.

Protein W, a spore‐specific protein in Myxococcus xanthus, formation of a large electron‐dense particle in a spore

The gene for the major spore‐specific protein, termed protein W, was cloned, and it was found that protein W is composed of 426 amino acid residues including 31% charged (133 residues) and 39% hydrophobic (166 residues) amino acids. In the protein, a motif consisting of five amino acid residues [(V/L/I)–R–E–R–(V/L/I)] is repeated 28 times, and another motif [M–M–(P/G)–Q–G] five times. Protein W is synthesized during a very late stage of development, forming a single, large electron‐dense particle (200–400 nm in diameter) inside a spore. X‐ray microanalysis of the particle revealed that it contains a high amount of phosphate in addition to calcium and magnesium. It is proposed that protein W consisting of highly charged repetitive sequences is a polyphosphate storage protein to store energy in spores. The disruption of the gene for protein W resulted in delayed fruiting body formation and a lower spore yield.

Primary Role of NADH Formed by Glucose Dehydrogenase in ATP Provision at the Early Stage of Spore Germination in Bacillus megaterium QM B1551

Metabolic events involved in energy metabolism were studied in order to evaluate the ATP‐forming ability of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spores at the very early stage of germination. When heat‐activated spores were germinated on glucose as a sole substrate, its oxidation into gluconate (catalyzed by glucose dehydrogenase, EC 1.1.1.47), the accompanying NADH formation, oxygen uptake, and RNA synthesis were initiated immediately after germination, even when anaerobic breakdown of 3‐phosphoglycerate (an ATP source for spores) and the subsequent glucose metabolism via the phosphorylating pathway were impaired by potassium fluoride (KF). In contrast, fructose metabolism and the accompanying metabolic events did not begin until a few minutes after triggering of germination, and those events were entirely abolished by KF, indicating that fructose metabolism is initiated exclusively via its phosphorylation by the ATP derived from endogenous 3‐phosphoglycerate. Thus those results provided further evidence for our previous proposal (Otani et al (1987) Microbiol. Immunol. 31: 967–974; Sano et al (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 151: 48–52) that the first molecules of ATP in germinating spores can be efficiently generated via aerobic oxidation of NADH, which is formed by glucose dehydrogenase. Fluorescence monitoring of NADH in germinating spores also supported this conclusion.

Lipid A-activated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression via nuclear factor-κB in mouse choroid plexus cells.

Choroid plexus (CP) which is responsible for the inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO) are thought to play a crucial role in the process of bacterial meningitis. The present study investigated the mechanisms regulating inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in the choroid plexus epithelium (CPe) in mice. Initially, the expression of iNOS in mouse CPe was strengthened by intracerebroventriclar (i.c.v.) administration of lipid A, which is part of a Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin located at one end of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule. Next, the expression of iNOS in the CP epithelial cell line ECPC-4 cells was increased from 24 to 48h after lipid A treatment, although mRNA and proteins of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and -4 expressed in ECPC-4 cells were not changed by lipid A. The expression of total nuclear factor κB (NFκB), an inflammatory transcriptional factor, in ECPC-4 cells was not changed for 72 h after lipid A treatment, while cytoplasmic NFκB was decreased and nuclear NFκB was increased from 1 to 2 h. In addition, the phosphorylation of inhibitor κB (IκB) was peaked at 10 min, and the level of IκB was attenuated from 10 to 45 min after lipid A treatment. Moreover, the RNA interference (RNAi) of NFκB suppressed the expression of iNOS induced by lipid A. We demonstrated that lipid A-induced iNOS expression in ECPC-4 cells was mainly regulated by the activation of NFκB-IκB intracellular signaling pathway. Thus, we propose that the CPe plays a pivotal role in innate immunity responses of the brain, that is, the signal pathway TLRs on the CPe following inflammatory stimulation such as meningitis is activated, leading to iNOS expression through NFκB.

Proteomic analysis of time-dependent changes in proteins expressed in mouse hippocampus during synaptic plasticity induced by GABAA receptor blockade.

Protein synthesis is required for long-lasting synaptic plasticity. We examined the time-dependent changes in protein expression that occurred in the hippocampus during synaptic plasticity using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry. The levels of 15 proteins were significantly changed in mouse hippocampus 8h after bicuculline application (1.0mg/kg, i.p.). Expression of 14 proteins (i.e., dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2, α-tubulin isotype M-α-2, tubulin β-1 chain, tubulin β-2A chain, protein disulfide-isomerase ERp61 precursor, chaperonin-containing T complex polypeptide 1 β subunit, T complex polypeptide 1 [partial], creatine kinase B-type, cytosolic malate dehydrogenase [partial], vacuolar adenosine triphosphatase subunit A, and uncharacterized protein LOC433182) was increased and expression of one protein (i.e., actin γ, cytoplasmic 1) was decreased. Western blotting also validated the changes in dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 2, creatine kinase B-type, and vacuolar adenosine triphosphatase subunit A levels in mouse hippocampus 8h after bicuculline application. The identified proteins were effectors of cellular functions including neuronal differentiation, cytoskeletal dynamics, folding of proteins, stress response, energy metabolism, synapse formation, and unknown function. Taken together, these findings indicate that the identified proteins play an important role in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.