Yoshikazu Shimada

Cloning and chromosomal mapping of a novel ABC transporter gene (hABC7), a candidate for X-linked sideroblastic anemia with spinocerebellar ataxia

AbstractWe isolated a novel human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter cDNA, determined its nucleotide sequence, and designated it human ABC7 (hABC7). The nucleotide sequence was highly homologous to the ATM1 gene in yeast, which encodes an ABC transporter (yAtm1p) located in the mitochondrial inner membrane. The deduced human product, a putative half-type transporter, consists of 752 amino acids that are 48.9% identical to those of yAtm1p. A computer-assisted protein structural and localization analysis revealed that the mitochondrial targeting signal of yAtm1p is conserved in the N-terminal region of the primary sequence of the hABC7 protein, and therefore this product is also likely to be located in the mitochondrial inner membrane. The evidence strongly suggests that the hABC7 gene is a counterpart of ATM1 and that its product is probably involved in heme transport. We mapped the hABC7 gene to chromosome Xq13.1–q13.3 by fluorescence in-situ hybridization. As band Xq13 has been implicated in X-linked sideroblastic anemia with spinocerebellar ataxia, hABC7 becomes a candidate gene for this heritable disorder.

Cloning of a novel gene (ING1L) homologous to ING1, a candidate tumor suppressor.

The ING1 gene encodes p33ING1, a putative tumor suppressor for neuroblastomas and breast cancers, which has been shown to cooperate with p53 in controlling cell proliferation. We have isolated a novel human gene, ING1L, that potentially encodes a PHD-type zinc-finger protein highly homologous to p33ING1. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and radiation-hybrid analyses assigned ING1L to human chromosome 4. Both ING1 and ING1L are expressed in a variety of human tissues, but we found ING1L expression to be significantly more pronounced in tumors from several colon-cancer patients than in normal colon tissues excised at the same surgical sites. Although the significance of this observation with respect to carcinogenesis remains to be established, the data suggest that ING1L might be involved in colon cancers through interference with signal(s) transmitted through p53 and p33ING1.

Cloning and Expression of a Novel NADP(H)-Dependent Daidzein Reductase, an Enzyme Involved in the Metabolism of Daidzein, from Equol-Producing Lactococcus Strain 20-92

ABSTRACT Equol is a metabolite produced from daidzein by enteric microflora, and it has attracted a great deal of attention because of its protective or ameliorative ability against several sex hormone-dependent diseases (e.g., menopausal disorder and lower bone density), which is more potent than that of other isoflavonoids. We purified a novel NADP(H)-dependent daidzein reductase (L-DZNR) from Lactococcus strain 20-92 (Lactococcus 20-92; S. Uchiyama, T. Ueno, and T. Suzuki, international patent WO2005/000042) that is involved in the metabolism of soy isoflavones and equol production and converts daidzein to dihydrodaidzein. Partial amino acid sequences were determined from purified L-DZNR, and the gene encoding L-DZNR was cloned. The nucleotide sequence of this gene consists of an open reading frame of 1,935 nucleotides, and the deduced amino acid sequence consists of 644 amino acids. L-DZNR contains two cofactor binding motifs and an 4Fe-4S cluster. It was further suggested that L-DZNR was an NAD(H)/NADP(H):flavin oxidoreductase belonging to the old yellow enzyme (OYE) family. Recombinant histidine-tagged L-DZNR was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein converted daidzein to (S)-dihydrodaidzein with enantioselectivity. This is the first report of the isolation of an enzyme related to daidzein metabolism and equol production in enteric bacteria.

Cloning, expression, and mapping of UBE2I, a novel gene encoding a human homologue of yeast ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes which are critical for regulating the cell cycle.

From a human fetal-brain cDNA library we isolated a novel gene sharing significant homology with two yeast genes, UBC9 and hus5, which encode ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 9 (UBC9). In yeast this protein is critical for normal mitosis, and seems to be closely involved in progression of G2 to M phase of the cell cycle. The human UBC9 (h-UBC9) cDNA, (gene symbol UBE2I), contained an open reading frame of 474 nucleotides encoding 158 amino acids. Its predicted peptide showed respectively 56% and 66% identity (75% and 82% similarity) with the products of UBC9 and hus5. Northern-blot analysis revealed expression of three transcripts, 6.4 kb, 3.3 kb, and 1.35 kb, in all human tissues examined. This gene, UBE2I, was mapped to chromosome band 16p13.3 by FISH.

Alteration of methamphetamine-induced striatal dopamine release in mint-1 knockout mice

Mint-1, which is also called as X11 or mammalian Lin10, protein has been implicated in the synaptic vesicle exocytosis and the targeting and localization of synaptic membrane proteins. Here, we established mint-1 gene knockout (mint-1 KO) mice and investigated vesicular and transporter-mediated dopamine (DA) release evoked by high K(+) and methamphetamine (METH), respectively. Compared with wild-type control, high K(+)-evoked striatal DA release was attenuated, but not significantly, in the KO mice as measured by microdialysis method. The METH-induced DA release was significantly attenuated in the KO mice. In addition, METH-induced stereotypy was also significantly attenuated in the KO mice. Mint-1 KO mice showed more sensitive and prominent behavioral response to an approaching object as compared with wild-type mice. These results suggest that mint-1 protein is involved in transporter-mediated DA release induced by METH.

Identification of a Novel Dihydrodaidzein Racemase Essential for Biosynthesis of Equol from Daidzein in Lactococcus sp. Strain 20-92

ABSTRACT Equol is metabolized from daidzein, a soy isoflavone, by the gut microflora. In this study, we identified a novel dihydrodaidzein racemase (l-DDRC) that is involved in equol biosynthesis in a lactic acid bacterium, Lactococcus sp. strain 20-92, and confirmed that histidine-tagged recombinant l-DDRC (l-DDRC-His) was able to convert both the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of dihydrodaidzein to the racemate. Moreover, we showed that recombinant l-DDRC-His was essential for in vitro equol production from daidzein by a recombinant enzyme mixture and that efficient in vitro equol production from daidzein was possible using at least four enzymes, including l-DDRC. We also proposed a model of the metabolic pathway from daidzein to equol in Lactococcus strain 20-92.

Isolation and mapping of karyopherin α3 (KPNA3), a human gene that is highly homologous to genes encoding Xenopus importin, yeast SRP1 and human RCH1

From a human fetal-brain cDNA library, we isolated and characterized a novel gene (KPNA3) encoding a protein highly homologous to certain nuclear transport proteins of Xenopus and human. The complete cDNA clone, designated karyopherin alpha 3, contained an open reading frame of 1,563 nucleotides encoding 521 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence showed 48%, 45% and 48% identity with Xenopus importin, yeast SRP1 and human RCH1, respectively. The similarities among these proteins suggest that karyopherin alpha 3 may be involved in the nuclear transport system. Eight repeats of the arm motif were well conserved among these proteins. The N-terminal region of the predicted karyopherin alpha 3 product was highly basic and the C-terminal region was strongly acidic. A 4.3-kb transcript was expressed in all adult human tissues examined by Northern blotting. The cDNA clone was assigned to chromosome band 13q14.3 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Identification of two novel reductases involved in equol biosynthesis in Lactococcus strain 20-92.

Lactococcus strain 20–92 is a bacterium that produces equol directly from daidzein under anaerobic conditions. In this study, we reveal that the transcription of the gene encoding daidzein reductase in Lactococcus strain 20–92 (L-DZNR), which is responsible for the first stage of the biosynthesis of equol from daidzein, is regulated by the presence of daidzein. We analyzed the sequence surrounding the L-DZNR gene and found six novel genes, termed orf-US4, orf-US3, orf-US2, orf-US1, orf-DS1 and orf-DS2. These genes were expressed in Escherichia coli, and the resulting gene products were assayed for dihydrodaidzein reductase (DHDR) and tetrahydrodaidzein reductase (THDR) activity. The results showed that orf-US2 and orf-US3 encoded DHDR and THDR, respectively. DHDR in Lactococcus strain 20–92 (L-DHDR) was similar to the 3-oxoacyl-acyl-carrier-protein reductases of several bacteria and belonged to the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase family. THDR in Lactococcus strain 20–92 (L-THDR) was similar to several putative fumarate reductase/succinate dehydrogenase flavoprotein domain proteins. L-DHDR required NAD(P)H for its activity, whereas L-THDR required neither NADPH nor NADH. Thus, we succeeded in identifying two novel enzymes that are related to the second and third stages of the biosynthetic pathway that converts daidzein to equol.

cDNA cloning and functional analysis of p44.5 and p55, two regulatory subunits of the 26S proteasome

We have employed cDNA cloning to deduce the complete primary structures of p44.5 and p55, two subunits of PA700, a 700-kDa multisubunit regulatory complex of the human 26S proteasome. These polypeptides consist of 422 and 456 amino acids with calculated molecular masses of 47463 and 52903, and isoelectric points of 6.06 and 7.56, respectively. Computer-assisted homology analysis revealed high sequence similarities of p44.5 and p55 with yeast proteins whose functions are yet unknown. Disruption of the yeast genes, termed NAS4 and NAS5 (non-ATPase subunits 4 and 5), resulted in lethality, indicating that each of the two subunits is essential for proliferation of yeast cells.

Cloning, expression and chromosomal mapping of a novel cyclophilin-related gene (PPIL1) from human fetal brain

We isolated a human cDNA clone encoding a novel protein homologous to cyclophilins, specific cellular targets of cyclosporin A, which are conserved in species ranging from human to prokaryotes. This cDNA, designated hCyPX, contained an open reading frame of 498 nucleotides encoding 166 amino acids. Computer analysis indicated that its predicted amino acid sequence had 41.6%, 40.4%, and 39.2% homology to those of human, bovine, and Drosophila cyclophilins, respectively. Northern blot analysis indicated ubiquitous expression in adult human tissues, but most abundant expression in heart. Fluorescence in situ hybridization to human metaphase chromosomes localized this gene (PPIL1, peptidylprolyl isomerase [cyclophilin]-like 1) to chromosome bands 2p23.3-->p23.1.