Activator Mastoparan Research Articles

The structure and antimicrobial potential of wasp and hornet (Vespidae) mastoparans: A review

AbstractWasp venom is a complex mixture of biologically active components, including high molecular weight proteins, small peptides, bioactive amines, and amino acids. Peptides comprise up to 70% of dried venom. In social wasp venoms, three of the major peptide types are mastoparans, which cause mast cell degranulation, chemotactic peptides, which promote chemotaxis of polymorphonucleated leukocytes, and kinin‐related peptides, which are known to produce pain and increase vascular permeability. Among these, the bioactive tridecapeptide mastoparan is the most common and may even have antimicrobial activity. Herein we summarize the results of studies on vespid mastoparans, focusing on hornets (Vespa spp.) identified following a systematic literature search for mastoparans of hornets in the genus Vespa, the most active mastoparan research taxon. The common features of hornet mastoparans are C‐terminal amidation, amphipathic helical structure, and multiple functions such as mast cell degranulation and hemolysis, as well as membrane permeabilization. Most interestingly, all tested hornet mastoparans have strong antimicrobial activities, suggesting that they can provide useful insights into and opportunities for development of novel antibacterial peptides.

Allergic myocardial infarction

Allergic myocardial infarction

Sar1 translocation onto the ER-membrane for vesicle budding has different pathways for promotion and suppression of ER-to-Golgi transport mediated through H89-sensitive kinase and ER-resident G protein

ER-to-Golgi protein transport involves transport vesicles of which formation is initiated by assembly of Sar1. The assembly of Sar1 is suppressed by protein kinase inhibitor H89, suggesting that ER-to-Golgi transport is regulated progressively by H89 sensitive kinase. ER-resident G(i2) protein suppresses vesicle formation with inhibition of Sar1 assembly. This study examined whether these promotion and suppression of vesicle transport share the same signal pathway, by examining the effects of G(i/o) protein activator mastoparan 7 (Mp-7) and H89 on Sar1 and Sec23 recruitment onto microsomes. In a cell-free system for Sar1 translocation assay, GTPγS addition induced the translocation of Sar1 onto microsomes. Mp-7 and H89 decreased the Sar1 translocation. Double treatment of Mp-7 and H89 strongly decreased Sar1 translocation. In single and double treatments, however, G(i/o) protein inactivator pertussis toxin (IAP) partially restored the suppressive effect of Mp-7, but had not any effect on H89-induced effect. Then, the assembly of Sec23 onto the microsome was also increased by the addition of GTPγS. Sec23 translocation was decreased by Mp-7 and/or H89 treatment and recovered by IAP pretreatment except for H89 single treatment, similarly to Sar1 translocation in each treatment. Inhibitory effects of H89 and Mp-7on ER-to-Golgi vesicle transport by H89 or Mp-7 were also confirmed in a cell culture system by BFA-dispersion and BFA-reconstruction experiments. These findings indicate that promotion and suppression of ER-to-Golgi vesicle transport are modulated through separate signal pathways.

ER-resident Gi2protein controls sar1 translocation onto the ER during budding of transport vesicles

In our previous study, fluoride ([AlF(4) ](-) ) disturbed ER-to-Golgi transport through the activation of ER-resident heterotrimeric G protein (ER-G protein). Therefore, ER-G protein may be implicated in ER-to-Golgi transport at the early stage prior to coat protein assembly. Sar1 translocation onto the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane is suppressed by non-selective protein kinase inhibitor H89, suggesting the participation of H89-sensitive kinase in this process. To investigate the involvement of ER-G protein in ER-to-Golgi transport, the effect of G(i) protein activator (mastoparan 7) was examined on Sar1 translocation onto the ER in a cell-free system consisting of microsome membrane and cytosol. Sar1 translocation onto the microsome membrane was induced by addition of GTPγS in the cell-free system. Translocation of Sar1 by GTPγS was suppressed significantly by both H89 and mastoparan 7. Mastoparan 7 suppressed the translocation of Sar1 onto the microsome membrane with dosage dependency, but mastoparan 17, the inactive analog of mastoparan 7, had no effect on Sar1 translocation. The suppressive effect of mastoparan 7 was recovered by treatment with pertussis toxin (IAP). Moreover, G(i2) protein was detected on the microsome membrane by western blotting for heterotrimeric G(i) proteins. These results indicate that ER-G(i2) protein modulated Sar1 translocation onto the ER, suggesting that ER-resident G(i2) protein is an important negative regulator of vesicular transport at the early stage of vesicle formation before coat protein assembly on the ER.

The Chloroplast Calcium Sensor CAS Is Required for Photoacclimation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The plant-specific calcium binding protein CAS (calcium sensor) has been localized in chloroplast thylakoid membranes of vascular plants and green algae. To elucidate the function of CAS in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we generated and analyzed eight independent CAS knockdown C. reinhardtii lines (cas-kd). Upon transfer to high-light (HL) growth conditions, cas-kd lines were unable to properly induce the expression of LHCSR3 protein that is crucial for nonphotochemical quenching. Prolonged exposure to HL revealed a severe light sensitivity of cas-kd lines and caused diminished activity and recovery of photosystem II (PSII). Remarkably, the induction of LHCSR3, the growth of cas-kd lines under HL, and the performance of PSII were fully rescued by increasing the calcium concentration in the growth media. Moreover, perturbing cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis by application of the calmodulin antagonist W7 or the G-protein activator mastoparan impaired the induction of LHCSR3 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Our findings demonstrate that CAS and Ca(2+) are critically involved in the regulation of the HL response and particularly in the control of LHCSR3 expression.

Potentiation of acute morphine‐induced analgesia measured by a thermal test in bone cancer‐bearing mice

Agonists of μ-opioid receptors are currently used in the management of cancer pain. However, several data suggest that the analgesic effect of morphine can diminish during the development of experimental tumors. By using a thermal test, we have studied whether the analgesic effect evoked by morphine is altered in mice bearing two painful bone tumors. The analgesic effect evoked by systemic morphine remained unaltered after the intratibial inoculation of B16-F10 melanoma cells and was potentiated after the inoculation of NCTC 2472 osteosarcoma cells. Although the number of spinal μ-opioid receptors measured by western blot studies was not augmented in osteosarcoma-bearing mice, the analgesia evoked by intrathecal (i.t.) morphine was also enhanced. The analgesic response produced by the spinal administration of the Gi/o protein activator mastoparan was amplified, whereas the analgesic response evoked by the i.t. administration of the N-type calcium channel blocker ω-conotoxin remained unaltered. The efficacy of the GIRK channel blocker tertiapin-Q to antagonize the analgesic effect produced by a maximal dose of morphine was also increased in osteosarcoma-bearing mice. Our results seem to indicate that the analgesic effect of morphine on thermal nociception can be enhanced in response to the development of particular bone tumors in mice, being this potentiation probably related to a greater efficacy of the transduction system driven by Gi/o proteins and GIRK channels.

Activation of the sigma receptor 1 suppresses NMDA responses in rat retinal ganglion cells

The sigma receptor 1 (σR1) has been shown to modulate the activity of several voltage- and ligand-gated channels. Using patch-clamp techniques in rat retinal slice preparations, we demonstrated that activation of σR1 by SKF10047 (SKF) or PRE-084 suppressed N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated current responses from both ON and OFF type ganglion cells (GCs), dose-dependently, and the effect could be blocked by the σR1 antagonist BD1047 or the σR antagonist haloperidol. The suppression by SKF of NMDA currents was abolished with pre-incubation of the G protein inhibitor GDP-β-S or the Gi/o activator mastoparan. We further explored the intracellular signaling pathway responsible for the SKF-induced suppression of NMDA responses. Application of either cAMP/the PKA inhibitor Rp-cAMP or cGMP/the PKG inhibitor KT5823 did not change the SKF-induced effect, suggesting the involvement of neither cAMP/PKA nor cGMP/PKG pathway. In contrast, suppression of NMDA responses by SKF was abolished by internal infusion of the phosphatidylinostiol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, but not by the phosphatidylcholine-PLC inhibitor D609. SKF-induced suppression of NMDA responses was dependent on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), as evidenced by the fact that the effect was abolished when [Ca2+]i was buffered with 10 mM BAPTA. The SKF effect was blocked by xestospongin-C/heparin, IP3 receptor antagonists, but unchanged by ryanodine/caffeine, ryanodine receptor modulators. Furthermore, application of protein kinase C inhibitors Bis IV and Gö6976 eliminated the SKF effect. These results suggest that the suppression of NMDA responses of rat retinal GCs caused by the activation of σR1 may be mediated by a distinct [Ca2+]i-dependent PLC-PKC pathway. This effect of SKF could help ameliorate malfunction of GCs caused by excessive stimulation of NMDA receptors under pathological conditions.

Involvement of Gi/o proteins and GIRK channels in the potentiation of morphine-induced spinal analgesia in acutely inflamed mice

The analgesic efficacy of opiates can be enhanced in inflammatory states due to peripheral and spinal alterations. We describe here that the analgesic effect induced by intrathecal (i.t.) morphine assessed by measuring thermal withdrawal latencies is enhanced in carrageenan-inflamed mice. The spinal micro-opioid receptor (MOR) population is not up-regulated as demonstrated by Western blot assays. In contrast, behavioural experiments show the involvement of changes in transduction mechanisms activated by spinal opioid receptors. The i.t. administration of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NMMA (3-30 microg) antagonised with a similar potency and efficacy morphine-induced analgesia in inflamed and non-inflamed mice, discarding that an increase in NO release could be responsible of the enhancement of morphine-induced analgesia. The analgesic effects evoked by the i.t. administration of the direct G(i/o) protein activator mastoparan (0.03-10 microg), but not those induced by the N-type calcium channel blocker omega-conotoxin GVIA (3-30 ng), were potentiated in inflamed mice, suggesting that postsynaptic and not presynaptic mechanisms could be involved. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects on morphine-induced analgesia produced by the G(i/o) protein inhibitor pertussis toxin (0.1-17 ng) or the G-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels inhibitor tertiapin-Q (0.75-750 ng) were greatly enhanced in inflamed mice. These results suggest that differences in the transduction mechanism activated by MOR at postsynaptic level, probably related with GIRK channels activity, could participate in the potentiation of morphine-induced spinal analgesia in acutely inflamed mice.

Coupling of M3 Acetylcholine Receptor to Gq16 Activates a Natriuretic Peptide Receptor Guanylyl Cyclase

Muscarinic activation of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) involves a M3AChR/heterotrimeric-G protein/NPR-GC coupling mechanism. G protein activators Mastoparan (MAS) and Mastoparan-7 stimulated 4- and 10-fold the NPR-GC respectively, being insensitive to PTX and antibodies against Gαi/o subfamily. Muscarinic and MAS stimulation of NPR-GC was blocked by antibodies against C-terminal of Gαq16, whose expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. However, synthetic peptides from C-terminal of Gαq15/16 stimulated the NPR-GC. Coupling of αq16 to M3AChR is supported by MAS decreased [3H]QNB binding, being abolished after M3AChR-4-DAMP-alkylation. Anti-i3M3AChR antibodies blocked the muscarinic activation of NPR-GC, and synthetic peptide from i3M3AChR (M3P) was more potent than MAS increasing GTPγ [35S] and decreasing the [3H]QNB activities. Coupling between NPR-GC and Gαq16 was evaluated by using trypsin-solubilized-fraction from TSM membranes, which displayed a MAS-sensitive-NPR-GC activity, being immunoprecipitated with anti-Gαq16, also showing an immunoreactive heterotrimeric-G-β -subunit. These data support the existence of a novel transducing cascade, involving Gαq16β γ coupling M3AChR to NPR-GC.

Involvement of ethylene and lipid signalling in cadmium-induced programmed cell death in tomato suspension cells

Cadmium-induced cell death was studied in suspension-cultured tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cells (line MsK8) treated with CdSO 4. Within 24 h, cadmium treatment induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. Cell cultures showed recovery after 2–3 days which indicates the existence of an adaptation mechanism. Cadmium-induced cell death was alleviated by the addition of sub μM concentrations of peptide inhibitors specific to human caspases indicating that cell death proceeds through a mechanism with similarities to animal programmed cell death (PCD, apoptosis). Cadmium-induced cell death was accompanied by an increased production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) and simultaneous addition of antioxidants greatly reduced cell death. Inhibitors of phospholipase C (PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD) signalling pathway intermediates reduced cadmium-induced cell death. Treatment with the G-protein activator mastoparan and a cell permeable analogue of the lipid signal second messenger phosphatidic acid (PA) induced cell death. Ethylene, while not inducing cell death when applied alone, stimulated cadmium-induced cell death. Application of the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor aminoethoxy vinylglycine (AVG) reduced cadmium-induced cell death, and this effect was alleviated by simultaneous treatment with ethylene. Together the results show that cadmium induces PCD exhibiting apoptotic-like features. The cell death process requires increased H 2O 2 production and activation of PLC, PLD and ethylene signalling pathways.

Copper excess triggers phospholipase D activity in wheat roots

Wheat seedlings ( Triticum durum Desf.) were incubated in 100 μM Cu 2+ for different periods of time ranging from 1 min up to 16 h. Following metal addition a rapid intake of copper ions into the roots was observed. Cu 2+ induced an accumulation of both phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylbutanol within 1 min of incubation, the latter indicating a very rapid induction of phospholipase D (PLD) activity. The highest PLD stimulation was detected after 2 h from copper addition and decreased almost to the initial value at increasing times. Cycloheximide treatment of roots lowered phosphatidylbutanol accumulation because of a reduced PLD activity. The expression profile of a T. durum putative PLD-encoding gene showed a peak after 1 h of treatment as well, indicating that enhanced gene expression contributed to the increase in PLD activity. In the absence of copper ions, roots treated with the G protein activator mastoparan showed increases in phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylbutanol similar to those detected with the metal. PLD activity was also stimulated by cholera toxin. Two putatively G protein α subunit encoding sequences were isolated and no significant differences in transcription activity following Cu 2+ addition were observed. In copper-treated roots an early production of superoxide generated both by total and membrane-bound NADPH oxidase occurred. The G protein inhibitor suramin as well as the PLD antagonist 1-butanol abolished copper-induced superoxide production.

Gi/o proteins: Expression for direct activation enquiry

G protein-mediated pathways are fundamental mechanisms of cell signaling. In this paper, the expression and the characterization of the α i1, α i3, α o1, β 1, and γ 2 subunits of the human G protein are described. This approach was developed to evaluate the G protein activation profile of new compounds. pCR-TOPO T7 vectors, engineered to contain the target sequences, were used to transform Escherichia coli competent cells. Subunits were over-expressed in a preparative scale as fusion proteins with a six-histidine tag, and subsequently purified by metal chelate chromatography. Afterward, the His-tag was removed by enterokinase digestion, and the secondary structures of the recombinant subunits were analyzed by circular dichroism. To assess the functionality of the subunits, the rate of GTP hydrolysis and GTPγS binding were evaluated both in the absence and in the presence of two modulators: the peptidic activator Mastoparan and the non-peptidic activator N-dodecyl-lysinamide (ML250). Tests were conducted on isolated α-subunit and on heterotrimeric αβγ complex, alone or reconstituted in phospholipidic vesicles. Our results show that recombinant subunits are stable, properly folded and, fully active, which makes them suitable candidates for functional studies.

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Phosphorylate and Destabilize ABCA1 through a Phospholipase D2 Pathway

Abnormal high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism among patients with diabetes and insulin resistance may contribute to their increased risk of atherosclerosis. ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1 mediates the transport of cholesterol and phospholipids from cells to HDL apolipoproteins and thus modulates HDL levels and atherogenesis. Unsaturated fatty acids, which are elevated in diabetes, impair the ABCA1 pathway in cultured cells by destabilizing ABCA1 protein. Here we examined the cellular pathway that mediates the ABCA1 destabilizing effects of fatty acids. The long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase inhibitor triacsin C completely reversed fatty acid-induced ABCA1 destabilization, indicating that fatty acids need to be activated to their CoA derivatives to enhance ABCA1 degradation. Unsaturated but not saturated fatty acids stimulated phospholipase D (PLD) activity, the PLD inhibitor 1-butanol prevented the unsaturated fatty acid-induced reduction in ABCA1 levels, and the PLD2 activator mastoparan markedly reduced ABCA1 protein levels, implicating a role for PLD2 in the ABCA1 destabilizing effects of fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids and mastoparan increased phosphorylation of ABCA1 serines. PLD2 small interfering RNA abolished the ability of unsaturated fatty acids to inhibit lipid transport activity, to reduce protein levels, and to increase serine phosphorylation of ABCA1. The diacylglycerol analog oleoylacetylglycerol also reduced ABCA1 protein levels and increased its serine phosphorylation, suggesting that PLD2-generated diacylglycerols promote the destabilizing phosphorylation of ABCA1. These data provide evidence that intracellular unsaturated acyl-CoA derivatives destabilize ABCA1 by activating a PLD2 signaling pathway.

Constitutive Secretion of Protease Nexin-1 by Glial Cells and Its Regulation by G-Protein-Coupled Receptors

Extracellular serine proteases and their inhibitors (serpins) play a key role for synaptic plasticity in the developing and adult CNS. Serpins also counteract the extravasated proteases during brain injury. We studied the mechanisms by which one of the most important serpins, serpinE2 or protease nexin-1 (PN-1), is secreted by glial cells and how its secretion is regulated by extracellular signals. Using time-lapse videomicroscopy and biochemical methods, we demonstrate that PN-1 is constitutively secreted through small vesicles animated by a discontinuous movement using microtubules as tracks. The F-actin network underneath the plasma membrane acting as a barrier hindered PN-1 vesicle exocytosis. Vasointestinal/pituitary adenylate cyclase peptides and the G-protein activator mastoparan increased PN-1 secretion by disrupting the F-actin barrier. The receptor-mediated regulation of PN-1 constitutive secretion may be an important mechanism adapting extracellular proteolytic activity to synaptic activity.

Duality in the Mastoparan Action on Glucose Transport in Rat Adipocytes

Mastoparan, a tetradecapeptide purified from wasp venom, has been shown to stimulate glucose transport in rat adipocytes although the mechanism of its action has remained undefined. Here, we characterized the action of mastoparan on glucose transport in rat adipocytes. Mastoparan at a concentration of 20 microM or more caused a dose-dependent release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from the cells, which closely correlated with its stimulatory effect on glucose uptake. The mastoparan-induced glucose uptake was inhibited neither by deprivation of ATP with KCN nor by addition of phloretin, a direct inhibitor of glucose transporter, suggesting that the ability of mastoparan to stimulate glucose uptake did not derive from activation of the glucose transport system (i.e. translocation or activation of GLUT4 and/or GLUT1). On the other hand, mastoparan at a lower concentration (15 microM or below), which showed an insignificant effect on LDH release, potentiated the insulin action on glucose transport and Akt phosphorylation in the presence of adenosine deaminase. The effect of mastoparan was not additive to that of phenylisopropyladenosine and was completely abolished by pretreatment of adipocytes with pertussis toxin (1 microg/ml for 2 hours). Thus, the present study disclosed duality in the action of mastoparan on glucose uptake in rat adipocytes. At a concentration of 15 microM or less, it enhances the insulin action on glucose transport by a pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi protein-dependent mechanism. At higher concentrations, however, mastoparan increases non-specific permeability of the plasma membrane, which causes LDH release as well as glucose uptake not mediated through glucose transporter.

Tetrapeptides on N- and C-terminal regions of mastoparan inhibit catecholamine release from chromaffin cells by blocking nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Mastoparan (MP), a tetradecapeptide in wasp venom, has been reported to evoke catecholamine release, but also reported to inhibit secretory response upon nicotinic stimulation in adrenal chromaffin cells. To elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of MP, we examined the effect of two MP fragments (INLK-NH2 and KKIL-NH2) on catecholamine release in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. These MP fragments inhibited catecholamine release induced by nicotinic stimulation in a noncompetitive manner. These fragments did not affect catecholamine release evoked by high [K+] or by other secretagogues, neither caused catecholamine release by themselves. Replacement by hydrophobic and basic amino acids of the MP fragments enhanced the inhibitory effects on ACh-evoked catecholamine release. Among 23 analogs of the MP fragments, (Nle)3-R-NH2 showed the most potent inhibition with IC50 = 541 microM. These results suggested that the MP fragments selectively inhibit the secretory response to nicotinic stimulation by attacking nAChR on the site(s) made up of hydrophobic and acidic amino acids but other than ACh-binding sites. This mechanism may explain the inhibitory action of MP on nicotine-evoked catecholamine release.

Wnt-5a and G-protein signaling are required for collagen-induced DDR1 receptor activation and normal mammary cell adhesion.

The collagen-induced phosphorylation of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) in Wnt-5a-expressing HB2 mammary cells was effectively inhibited by pertussis toxin, but not by cholera toxin or antibodies blocking beta(1) integrins. Moreover, pertussis toxin reduced adhesion of the cells to collagen by approximately 50%, and antibodies against beta(1) integrins had a similar effect that was in fact additive to that of pertussis toxin. Cholera toxin had accordingly no such effect on adhesion. By comparison, pertussis toxin did not influence adhesion of Wnt-5a-antisense HB2 cells or MCF-7 mammary tumor cells, neither of which express Wnt-5a or exhibit activation of DDR1. In accordance with these results, direct mastoparan-induced activation of G-proteins in Wnt-5a-deficient MCF-7 cells enabled collagen-induced phosphorylation of DDR1 and enhanced their adhesion. The inactive analogue mastoparan-17 had no such effects on MCF-7 cells nor did active mastoparan affect adhesion of Wnt-5a-expressing HB2 cells. A possible explanation for how DDR1, a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), potentiates mammary cell adhesion comes from our observations that pertussis toxin also inhibited the recruitment of the cytoskeletal regulator phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) to DDR1 as well as its phosphorylation/activation. In accordance with that, the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin significantly impaired adhesion of normal Wnt-5a-expressing HB2 cells but had little effect on adhesion of Wnt-5a-antisense HB2 cells. Thus, a G(i/o)-protein signaling pathway mediates the effect of Wnt-5a expression by enabling collagen-induced activation of DDR1, which, in parallel with beta(1) integrins, regulates adhesion of mammary cells.

Phospholipase D in Phytophthora infestans and its role in zoospore encystment.

We show that differentiation of zoospores of the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans into cysts, a process called encystment, was triggered by both phosphatidic acid (PA) and the G-protein activator mastoparan. Mastoparan induced the accumulation of PA, indicating that encystment by mastoparan most likely acts through PA. Likewise, mechanical agitation of zoospores, which often is used to induce synchronized encystment, resulted in increased levels of PA. The levels of diacylglycerolpyrophosphate (DGPP), the phosphorylation product of PA, increased simultaneously. Also in cysts, sporangiospores, and mycelium, mastoparan induced increases in the levels of PA and DGPP. Using an in vivo assay for phospholipase D (PLD) activity, it was shown that the mastoparan-induced increase in PA was due to a stimulation of the activity of this enzyme. Phospholipase C in combination with diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase activity also can generate PA, but activation of these enzymes by mastoparan was not detected under conditions selected to highlight 32P-PA production via DAG kinase. Primary and secondary butanol, which, like mastoparan, have been reported to activate G-proteins, also stimulated PLD activity, whereas the inactive tertiary isomer did not. Similarly, encystment was induced by n- and sec-butanol but not by tert-butanol. Together, these results show that Phytophthora infestans contains a mastoparan- and butanol-inducible PLD pathway and strongly indicate that PLD is involved in zoospore encystment. The role of G-proteins in this process is discussed.

Trichoderma atroviride G-protein alpha-subunit gene tga1 is involved in mycoparasitic coiling and conidiation.

The soil fungus Trichoderma atroviride, a mycoparasite, responds to a number of external stimuli. In the presence of a fungal host, T. atroviride produces hydrolytic enzymes and coils around the host hyphae. In response to light or nutrient depletion, asexual sporulation is induced. In a biomimetic assay, different lectins induce coiling around nylon fibers; coiling in the absence of lectins can be induced by applying cyclic AMP (cAMP) or the heterotrimeric G-protein activator mastoparan. We isolated a T. atroviride G-protein alpha-subunit (Galpha) gene (tgal) belonging to the fungal subfamily with the highest similarity to the Galpha1 class. Generated transgenic lines that overexpress Galpha show very delayed sporulation and coil at a higher frequency. Furthermore, transgenic lines that express an activated mutant protein with no GTPase activity do not sporulate and coil at a higher frequency. Lines that express an antisense version of the gene are hypersporulating and coil at a much lower frequency in the biomimetic assay. The loss of Tgal in these mutants correlates with the loss of GTPase activity stimulated by the peptide toxin Mas-7. The application of Mas-7 to growing mycelial colonies raises intracellular cAMP levels, suggesting that Tgal can activate adenylyl cyclase. In contrast, cAMP levels and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity drop when diffusible host signals are encountered and the mycoparasitism-related genes ech42 and prb1 are highly expressed. Mycoparasitic signaling is unlikely to be a linear pathway from host signals to increased cAMP levels. Our results demonstrate that the product of the tga1 gene is involved in both coiling and conidiation.

Mastoparan Stimulates GABA Release from MIN6 Cells: Relationship between SNARE Proteins and Mastoparan Action

We examined the action of mastoparan on β cell exocytosis. Mastoparan stimulated GABA and insulin release from MIN6 β cells. On the other hand, mastopraran-induced GABA release was decreased by expressing the tetanus toxin C1 light chain in MIN6 cells. We have then investigated the relationship between SNARE proteins and mastoparan action using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer system. Overexpression of t-SNAREs, syntaxin 1A, and SNAP-25 inhibited the mastoparan-induced insulin release by approximately half-fold of control levels, however, the mastoparan-induced GABA release was not affected by these t-SNAREs overexpression. The overexpression of mutant α-SNAP (1–285), which inhibits the wild-type α-SNAP function in a dominant negative manner, did not influence either mastoparan-induced GABA or insulin release in spite of its marked inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin release. Our data indicate that mastoparan stimulates GABA exocytosis via vesicular transport; however, SNARE proteins are differently involved in the exocytosis of insulin and GABA.