Inactivation In Response Research Articles

Unmasking subtype-dependent susceptibility to C-type inactivation in mammalian Kv1 channels

Shaker potassium channels have been an essential model for studying inactivation of ion channels and shaped our earliest understanding of N-type vs. C-type mechanisms. In early work describing C-type inactivation, López-Barneo and colleagues systematically characterized numerous mutations of Shaker residue T449, demonstrating that this position was a key determinant of C-type inactivation rate. In most of the closely related mammalian Kv1 channels, however, a persistent enigma has been that residue identity at this position has relatively modest effects on the rate of inactivation in response to long depolarizations. In this study, we report alternative ways to measure or elicit conformational changes in the outer pore associated with C-type inactivation. Using a strategically substituted cysteine in the outer pore, we demonstrate that mutation of Kv1.2 V381 (equivalent to Shaker T449) or W366 (Shaker W434) markedly increases susceptibility to modification by extracellularly applied MTSET. Moreover, due to the cooperative nature of C-type inactivation, Kv1.2 assembly in heteromeric channels markedly inhibits MTSET modification of this substituted cysteine in neighboring subunits. The identity of Kv1.2 residue V381 also markedly influences function in conditions that bias channels toward C-type inactivation, namely when Na+ is substituted for K+ as the permeant ion or when channels are blocked by an N-type inactivation particle (such as Kvβ1.2). Overall, our findings illustrate that in mammalian Kv1 channels, the identity of the T449-equivalent residue can strongly influence function in certain experimental conditions, even while having modest effects on apparent inactivation during long depolarizations. These findings contribute to reconciling differences in experimental outcomes in many Kv1 channels vs. Shaker.

Amino acid transporter SLC38A5 is a tumor promoter and a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells have a great demand for nutrients in the form of sugars, amino acids, and lipids. Particularly, amino acids are critical for cancer growth and, as intermediates, connect glucose, lipid and nucleotide metabolism. PDAC cells meet these requirements by upregulating selective amino acid transporters. Here we show that SLC38A5 (SN2/SNAT5), a neutral amino acid transporter is highly upregulated and functional in PDAC cells. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of SLC38A5, we show its tumor promoting role in an in vitro cell line model as well as in a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model. Using metabolomics and RNA sequencing, we show significant reduction in many amino acid substrates of SLC38A5 as well as OXPHOS inactivation in response to SLC38A5 deletion. Experimental validation demonstrates inhibition of mTORC1, glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in KO cells, suggesting a serious metabolic crisis associated with SLC38A5 deletion. Since many SLC38A5 substrates are activators of mTORC1 as well as TCA cycle intermediates/precursors, we speculate amino acid insufficiency as a possible link between SLC38A5 deletion and inactivation of mTORC1, glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration, and the underlying mechanism for PDAC attenuation. Overall, we show that SLC38A5 promotes PDAC, thereby identifying a novel, hitherto unknown, therapeutic target for PDAC.

H3K9 tri-methylation at Nanog times differentiation commitment and enables the acquisition of primitive endoderm fate.

ABSTRACTMouse embryonic stem cells have an inherent propensity to explore gene regulatory states associated with either self-renewal or differentiation. This property depends on ERK, which downregulates pluripotency genes such as Nanog. Here, we aimed at identifying repressive histone modifications that would mark Nanog for inactivation in response to ERK activity. We found that the transcription factor ZFP57, which binds methylated DNA to nucleate heterochromatin, is recruited upstream of Nanog, within a region enriched for histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation (H3K9me3). Whereas before differentiation H3K9me3 at Nanog depends on ERK, in somatic cells it becomes independent of ERK. Moreover, the loss of H3K9me3 at Nanog, induced by deleting the region or by knocking out DNA methyltransferases or Zfp57, is associated with reduced heterogeneity of NANOG, delayed commitment into differentiation and impaired ability to acquire a primitive endoderm fate. Hence, a network axis centred on DNA methylation, ZFP57 and H3K9me3 links Nanog regulation to ERK activity for the timely establishment of new cell identities. We suggest that establishment of irreversible H3K9me3 at specific master regulators allows the acquisition of particular cell fates during differentiation.

A ”Clickable” Probe for Active MGMT in Glioblastoma Demonstrates Two Discrete Populations of MGMT

Various pathways can repair DNA alkylation by chemotherapeutic agents such as temozolomide (TMZ). The enzyme O6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) removes O6-methylated DNA adducts, leading to the failure of chemotherapy in resistant glioblastomas. Because of the anti-chemotherapeutic activities of MGMT previously described, estimating the levels of active MGMT in cancer cells can be a significant predictor of response to alkylating agents. Current methods to detect MGMT in cells are indirect, complicated, time-intensive, or utilize molecules that require complex and multistep chemistry synthesis. Our design simulates DNA repair by the transfer of a clickable propargyl group from O6-propargyl guanine to active MGMT and subsequent attachment of fluorescein-linked PEG linker via ”click chemistry.” Visualization of active MGMT levels reveals discrete active and inactive MGMT populations with biphasic kinetics for MGMT inactivation in response to TMZ-induced DNA damage.

Parecoxib, a selective blocker of cyclooxygenase-2, directly inhibits neuronal delayed-rectifier K+ current, M-type K+ current and Na+ current

Parecoxib, a prodrug of valdecoxib, is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 and widely used for traumatic and postoperative patients to avoid opioid-induced side effects. It is a potent analgesic and has a role in multimodal analgesic and enhanced recovery after surgery. Whether parecoxib exerts any actions on these types of ionic currents remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether it exerts any effects on ion currents in differentiated NG108-15 neuronal cells. Cell exposure to parecoxib (1–30 μM) caused a reversible reduction in the amplitude of IK(DR) with an IC50 value of 9.7 μM. The time course for the IK(DR) inactivation in response to a long-lasting pulse was changed to the biexponential process during cell exposure to 3 μM parecoxib. Other agents known to inhibit the cyclooxygenase activity have minimal effects on IK(DR). Parecoxib enhanced the degree of excessive accumulative inhibition of IK(DR) inactivation evoked by a train of brief repetitive stimuli. This compound suppressed the amplitude of M-type K+ current. It depressed the peak amplitude of voltage-gated Na+ current with no change in the current-voltage relationship of this current. However, it did not have any effect on hyperpolarization-activated cation current. No change in the expression level of KV3.1 mRNA was detected in the presence of parecoxib. The effects of parecoxib on ion currents are direct and unrelated to its inhibition of the enzymatic activity of cyclooxygenase-2. The inhibition of these ion channels by parecoxib may partly contribute to the underlying mechanisms by which it affects neuronal function in vivo.

TORC1 organized in inhibited domains (TOROIDs) regulate TORC1 activity.

The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is a eukaryotic serine/threonine protein kinase that functions in two distinct complexes, TORC1 and TORC2, to regulate growth and metabolism1,2. GTPases, responding to signals generated by abiotic stressors, nutrients, and, in metazoans, growth factors, play an important3, but poorly understood role in TORC1 regulation. Here, we report that, in budding yeast, glucose withdrawal, which leads to an acute loss of TORC1 kinase activity4, triggers a similarly rapid Rag GTPase-dependent redistribution of TORC1 from being semi-uniform around the vacuolar membrane to a single, vacuole-associated cylindrical structure visible by super-resolution optical microscopy. 3D reconstructions of cryo-electron micrograph images of these purified cylinders demonstrate that TORC1 oligomerizes into a higher-level hollow helical assembly which we name a TOROID (TORC1 Organised in Inhibited Domain). Fitting of the recently described mammalian TORC1 structure into our helical map revealed that oligomerisation leads to steric occlusion of the active site. Guided by the implications from our reconstruction, we present a TOR1 allele that prevents both TOROID formation and TORC1 inactivation in response to glucose withdrawal demonstrating that oligomerisation is necessary for TORC1 inactivation. Our results reveal a novel mechanism by which Rag-GTPases regulate TORC1 activity and suggest that the reversible assembly/disassembly of higher-level structure may be a new paradigm for the regulation of protein kinases.

Cardioprotective effects of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural mediated by inhibition of L-type Ca2+ currents.

Background and PurposeThe antioxidant 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) exerts documented beneficial effects in several experimental pathologies and is currently tested as an antisickling drug in clinical trials. In the present study, we examined the cardiovascular effects of 5‐HMF and elucidated the mode of action of the drug.Experimental ApproachThe cardiovascular effects of 5‐HMF were studied with pre‐contracted porcine coronary arteries and rat isolated normoxic‐perfused hearts. Isolated hearts subjected to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury were used to test for potential cardioprotective effects of the drug. The effects of 5‐HMF on action potential and L‐type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) were studied by patch‐clamping guinea pig isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes.Key Results5‐HMF relaxed coronary arteries in a concentration‐dependent manner and exerted negative inotropic, lusitropic and chronotropic effects in rat isolated perfused hearts. On the other hand, 5‐HMF improved recovery of inotropic and lusitropic parameters in isolated hearts subjected to I/R. Patch clamp experiments revealed that 5‐HMF inhibits L‐type Ca2+ channels. Reduced ICa,L density, shift of ICa,L steady‐state inactivation curves toward negative membrane potentials and slower recovery of ICa,L from inactivation in response to 5‐HMF accounted for the observed cardiovascular effects.Conclusions and ImplicationsOur data revealed a cardioprotective effect of 5‐HMF in I/R that is mediated by inhibition of L‐type Ca2+ channels. Thus, 5‐HMF is suggested as a beneficial additive to cardioplegic solutions, but adverse effects and contraindications of Ca2+ channel blockers have to be considered in therapeutic application of the drug.

CDPK Activation in PRR Signaling.

Calcium-dependent protein kinases undergo a rapid biochemical activation in response to an intracellular Ca increase induced by the PRR-dependent perception of a pathogen-related stimulus. Based on SDS gel resolution, the in-gel kinase assay allows the analysis of multiple in vivo protein samples in parallel, combining the advantage of protein separation according to molecular mass with the activity read-out of a protein kinase assay. It thus enables to follow the transient CDPK activation and inactivation in response to in vivo elicitation with a time-wise resolution. In addition, changes of CDPK phosphorylation activity often correlate with slight shifts in the enzyme's apparent molecular mass, indicating posttranslational modifications and a conformational change of the active enzyme compared to its inactive resting form. These band shifts can be detected by a simple immunoblotting to monitor CDPK activation.

Analysis of Hydroxyl Radicals and Inactivation Mechanisms of Bacteriophage MS2 in Response to a Simultaneous Application of UV and Chlorine.

The simultaneous application of UV and chlorine (expressed as UV/Cl2) as a water treatment method may be a good disinfection option for UV-resistant microorganisms, such as human adenoviruses (HAdVs). In this study, we developed two approaches using UV/Cl2: one to quantitate the OH• radicals based on the degradation of the probe compound para-chlorobenzoic acid (pCBA) and the other to use bacteriophage MS2 to understand the virus inactivation mechanisms in response to UV, chlorine and UV/Cl2 disinfection using reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), attachment and genome penetration assays. The results revealed that OH• radicals were produced at a concentration of 2.70 × 10-14 M in the UV/Cl2 treatment with a practical chlorine dose of 1 mg/L and with a minimum UV254 fluence of approximately 10 mJ/cm2, whereas UV or chlorine alone did not produce OH• radicals. In the UV/Cl2 treatment, synergistic effects on viral genome damage were observed, but were not directly due to OH• radicals. The ability of MS2 to penetrate the genome of the host bacteria was impaired, but its ability to attach to the host was not affected by the treatment. We concluded that the major cause of virus inactivation in response to UV/Cl2 was the damage to the viral genome caused by combination actions of chlorine species and OH• radicals.

Haloperidol aggravates transverse aortic constriction-induced heart failure via mitochondrial dysfunction

Haloperidol is an antipsychotic drug that inhibits the dopamine D2 receptor among others. Haloperidol also binds the sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) and inhibits it irreversibly. A serious outcome of haloperidol treatment of schizophrenia patients is death due to sudden cardiac failure. Although the cause remains unclear, we hypothesized that these effects were mediated by chronic haloperidol inhibition of cardiac σ1R. To test this, we treated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with haloperidol, exposed them to angiotensin II and assessed hypertrophy, σ1R expression, mitochondrial Ca2+ transport and ATP levels. In this context, haloperidol treatment altered mitochondrial Ca2+ transport resulting in decreased ATP content by inactivating cardiac σ1R and/or reducing its expression. We also performed transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and then treated mice with haloperidol. After two weeks, haloperidol-treated mice showed enhanced heart failure marked by deteriorated cardiac function, reduced ATP production and increasing mortality relative to TAC only mice. ATP supplementation via sodium pyruvate rescued phenotypes seen in haloperidol-treated TAC mice. We conclude that σ1R inactivation or downregulation in response to haloperidol treatment impairs mitochondrial Ca2+ mobilization, depleting ATP depletion from cardiomyocytes. These findings suggest a novel approach to mitigate haloperidol-related adverse effects in schizophrenia patients by ATP supplementation.

Inactivation of p53 Is Sufficient to Induce Development of Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats.

ObjectivePulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) show similarities to cancer cells. Due to the growth-suppressive and pro-apoptotic effects of p53 and its inactivation in cancer, we hypothesized that the p53 pathway could be altered in PAH. We therefore explored the involvement of p53 in the monocrotaline (MCT) rat model of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the pathophysiological consequences of p53 inactivation in response to animal treatment with pifithrin-α (PFT, an inhibitor of p53 activity).Methods and ResultsPH development was assessed by pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy and arterial wall thickness. The effect of MCT and PFT on lung p53 pathway expression was evaluated by western blot. Fourteen days of daily PFT treatment (2.2 mg/kg/day), similar to a single injection of MCT (60 mg/kg), induced PH and aggravated MCT-induced PH. In the first week after MCT administration and prior to PH development, p53, p21 and MDM2 protein levels were significantly reduced; whereas PFT administration effectively altered the protein level of p53 targets. Anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative effects of PFT were revealed by TUNEL and MTT assays on cultured human PA-SMCs treated with 50 μM PFT.ConclusionsPharmacological inactivation of p53 is sufficient to induce PH with a chronic treatment by PFT, an effect related to its anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative properties. The p53 pathway was down-regulated during the first week in the rat MCT model. These in vivo experiments implicate the p53 pathway at the initiation stages of PH pathogenesis.

Negative and positive temperature dependence of potassium leak in MscS mutants: Implications for understanding thermosensitive channels

Bacterial mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS) is a protein, whose activity is modulated by membrane tension, voltage and cytoplasmic crowding. MscS is a homoheptamer and each monomer consists of three transmembrane helices (TM1-3). Hydrophobic pore of the channel is made of TM3s surrounded by peripheral TM1/2s. MscS gating is a complex process, which involves opening and inactivation in response to the increase of membrane tension. A number of MscS mutants were isolated. Among them mutants affecting gating have been found including gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) that open at lower or at higher thresholds, respectively. Previously, using an in vivo screen we isolated multiple MscS mutants that leak potassium and some of them were GOF or LOF. Here we show that for a subset of these mutants K+ leak is negatively (NTD) or positively (PTD) temperature dependent. We show that temperature reliance of these mutants does not depend on how MS gating is affected by a particular mutation. Instead, we argue that NTD or PTD leak is due to the opposite allosteric coupling of the structures that determine the temperature dependence to the channel gate. In PTD mutants an increased hydration of the pore vestibule is directly coupled to the increase in the channel conductance. In NTD mutants, at higher temperatures an increased hydration of peripheral structures leads to complete separation of TM3 and a pore collapse.

Blockade of the metabotropic glutamate (mGluR2) modulates arousal through vigilance states transitions: Evidence from sleep–wake EEG in rodents

Accumulating data continue to support the therapeutic potential of glutamate metabotropic (mGluR2) receptors for treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. Glutamate neurotransmission is an integral component of sleep–wake mechanisms, which have translational relevance to assess on-target activity of drugs. Here, we investigated the influence of mGluR2 inactivation upon sleep–wake electroencephalogram (EEG) in rodents. Rats were administered with vehicle, the specific mGluR2 antagonist LY341495 (2.5, 5, 10mg/kg) or negative allosteric modulator (NAM) Ro-4491533 (2.5, 10 and 40mg/kg) at lights onset. mGluR2 (−/−) mice were used to confirm the selectivity of functional response. Both LY341495 and Ro-4491533 induced an immediate and endured desynchronized cortical activity during 3–6h associated with enhanced theta and gamma oscillations and depressed slow oscillations during sleep. The arousal-promoting effect is consistent with the marked lengthening of sleep onset latency, an increased number of state transitions from light sleep to waking and the gradual increase in homeostatic compensatory sleep. The arousal response to mGluR2 blockade was not accompanied by sharp rebound hypersomnolence as found with the classical psycho-stimulant amphetamine. mGluR2 (−/−) mice and their WT littermates exhibited similar sleep–wake phenotype, while Ro-4491533 (40mg/kg) enhanced waking associated with increased locomotor activity and body temperature in WT but not in mGluR2 (−/−) mice, which confirm the role of mGluR2 inactivation in the arousal response. Our results lend support for a role of mGluR2 blockade in promoting cortical arousal associated with theta/gamma oscillations as well as high thresholds transitions from sleep to waking.

Input-dependent subcellular localization of spike initiation between soma and axon at cortical pyramidal neurons

BackgroundAction potentials can be initiated at various subcellular compartments, such as axonal hillock, soma and dendrite. Mechanisms and physiological impacts for this relocation remain elusive, which may rely on input signal patterns and intrinsic properties in these subcellular compartments. We examined this hypothesis at the soma and axon of cortical pyramidal neurons by analyzing their spike capability and voltage-gated sodium channel dynamics in response to different input signals.ResultsElectrophysiological recordings were simultaneously conducted at the somata and axons of identical pyramidal neurons in the cortical slices. The somata dominantly produced sequential spikes in response to long-time steady depolarization pulse, and the axons produced more spikes in response to fluctuated pulse. Compared with the axons, the somata possessed lower spike threshold and shorter refractory periods in response to long-time steady depolarization, and somatic voltage-gated sodium channels demonstrated less inactivation and easier reactivation in response to steady depolarization. Based on local VGSC dynamics, computational simulated spike initiation locations were consistent with those from the experiments. In terms of physiological impact, this input-dependent plasticity of spike initiation location made neuronal encoding to be efficient.ConclusionsLong-time steady depolarization primarily induces somatic spikes and short-time pulses induce axonal spikes. The input signal patterns influence spike initiations at the axon or soma of cortical pyramidal neurons through modulating local voltage-gated sodium channel dynamics.

Jak3 Enables Chemokine-Dependent Actin Cytoskeleton Reorganization by Regulating Cofilin and Rac/Rhoa GTPases Activation

We have previously shown that Jak3 is involved in the signaling pathways of CCR7, CCR9 and CXCR4 in murine T lymphocytes and that Jak3−/− lymphocytes display an intrinsic defect in homing to peripheral lymph nodes. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the defective migration observed in Jak3−/− lymphocytes remains elusive. Here, it is demonstrated for the first time, that Jak3 is required for the actin cytoskeleton reorganization in T lymphocytes responding to chemokines. It was found that Jak3 regulates actin polymerization by controlling cofilin inactivation in response to CCL21 and CXCL12. Interestingly, cofilin inactivation was not precluded in PTX- treated cells despite their impaired actin polymerization. Additionally, Jak3 was required for small GTPases Rac1 and RhoA activation, which are indispensable for acquisition of the migratory cell phenotype and the generation of a functional leading edge and uropod, respectively. This defect correlates with data obtained by time-lapse video-microscopy showing an incompetent uropod formation and impaired motility in Jak3-pharmacologically inhibited T lymphocytes. Our data support a new model in which Jak3 and heterotrimeric G proteins can use independent, but complementary, signaling pathways to regulate actin cytoskeleton dynamics during cell migration in response to chemokines.

HER2/ErbB2 activates HSF1 and thereby controls HSP90 clients including MIF in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer

Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) in breast cancer strongly correlates with aggressive tumors and poor prognosis. Recently, a positive correlation between HER2 and MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor, a tumor-promoting protein and heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) client) protein levels was shown in cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanistic link remained unknown. Here we show that overexpressed HER2 constitutively activates heat-shock factor 1 (HSF1), the master transcriptional regulator of the inducible proteotoxic stress response of heat-shock chaperones, including HSP90, and a crucial factor in initiation and maintenance of the malignant state. Inhibiting HER2 pharmacologically by Lapatinib (a dual HER2/epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor) or CP724.714 (a specific HER2 inhibitor), or by knockdown via siRNA leads to inhibition of phosphoactivated Ser326 HSF1, and subsequently blocks the activity of the HSP90 chaperone machinery in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer lines. Consequently, HSP90 clients, including MIF, AKT, mutant p53 and HSF1 itself, become destabilized, which in turn inhibits tumor proliferation. Mechanistically, HER2 signals via the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)–AKT– mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis to induce activated pSer326 HSF1. Heat-shock stress experiments confirm this functional link between HER2 and HSF1, as HER2 (and PI3K) inhibition attenuate the HSF1-mediated heat-shock response. Importantly, we confirmed this axis in vivo. In the mouse model of HER2-driven breast cancer, ErbB2 inhibition by Lapatinib strongly suppresses tumor progression, and this is associated with inactivation of the HSF1 pathway. Moreover, ErbB2-overexpressing cancer cells derived from a primary mouse ErbB2 tumor also show HSF1 inactivation and HSP90 client destabilization in response to ErbB2 inhibition. Furthermore, in HER2-positive human breast cancers HER2 levels strongly correlate with pSer326 HSF1 activity. Our results show for the first time that HER2/ErbB2 overexpression controls HSF1 activity, with subsequent stabilization of numerous tumor-promoting HSP90 clients such as MIF, AKT and HSF1 itself, thereby causing a robust promotion in tumor growth in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Expression of GLTSCR2/Pict-1 in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin

The most important cause of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) is DNA damage induced by exposure to solar UV irradiation. DNA damage induced by UV irradiation is sensed by early DNA damage response (DDR) proteins. Recently, GLTSCR2 has been suggested to play a role in UV light-induced DDR. To explore the role of GLTSCR2 in the development of cutaneous SCC, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying GLTSCR2 inactivation in response to UV irradiation. We analyzed cutaneous SCC (n=42), basal cell carcinomas (BCC; n=26), and normal skin tissue samples (n=36) and compared GLTSCR2 expression between tumor and normal tissues, using immunohistochemistry. Next, to investigate the effects of UV irradiation on GLTSCR2, we performed immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, immunoblotting, half-life assay for GLTSCR2, and comet assay after UV irradiation in primary keratinocytes. GLTSCR2 expression in SCC was significantly lower than that of normal skin tissue (p<0.05), but not different between BCC and normal skin. In cultured primary keratinocytes, GLTSCR2 expression was decreased and translocated after UV irradiation. UV irradiation accelerated degradation of GLTSCR2 through proteasomal pathway. Knockdown of GLTSCR2 resulted in marked decrease in γH2AX foci after UV exposure. Furthermore, comet assay showed that DNA damage after UV exposure persists longer in GLTSCR2 knocked-down cells. Our data show that GLTSCR2 is downregulated in SCC of the skin and that UV light exposure decreases the stability of GLTSCR2 and sensitizes keratinocytes to DNA damage. Therefore, our data suggest that GLTSCR2 might be involved in the development and/or progression of SCC of the skin.

A Novel Interaction in the Selectivity Filter of Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels Crucial for Slow Inactivation

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels undergo a process termed slow inactivation in response to prolonged depolarizations. This process is thought to occur in response to structural rearrangements near the selectivity filter, which ultimately result in nonconducting (inactivated) channels. Although substantial efforts have been made to understand this process, the details of slow inactivation at the atomic level have yet to be unraveled in eukaryotic Kv channels. Based on information gleaned from crystal structures, the indole nitrogen of a highly conserved Trp, Trp435 in Shaker potassium channels, had been proposed to form a hydrogen bond with Tyr445 in the GYGD selectivity filter signature sequence, thus contributing to open pore stability and likely slow inactivation. Functionally, however, we find that the indole nitrogen of Trp435 does not contribute to slow inactivation as mutations to Phe or Tyr at this site do not affect slow inactivation. In contrast, removal of the hydroxyl group from Tyr445 by Phe substitution results in a rapidly inactivating phenotype, and this could be slowed by application of external TEA, thus suggesting a role for Tyr445 in slow inactivation. A closer examination of the available structural information of side chains in close physical proximity of Tyr445 pointed towards a possible role of Thr439, a highly conserved side chain in the pore helix. Indeed, Thr439Val channels were non-conducting and behaved similar to the permanently inactivated Trp434Phe phenotype. Re-introduction of a hydroxyl moiety in position 439 via the Thr439Ser mutation led to a WT-like conductance-voltage relationship and only a modestly increased inactivation rate compared to WT. Together, these results suggest a novel and energetically significant hydroxyl-hydroxyl interaction between Tyr445 and Thr439 that regulates slow inactivation in Kv channels.

HIV-1 Tat Protein-dependent Cytotoxicity is Attenated by 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-Prostaglandin J2 in Rat Hippocampal Slices: Involvement of the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway

15-deoxy-delta12,14 prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) may hold promise in treatment of the pathologies associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the central nervous system. However, its precise role and neuroprotective mechanism in the hippocampus remain poorly understood. In the present study, rat hippocampal slices were stimulated with HIV-1 Tat protein to investigate the protective role of 15d-PGJ2 on the hippocampal cytotoxicity. Full-length HIV-1 Tat protein (Tat1-86), but neither its Tat32-62 nor Tat30-86 fragment, significantly induced cytotoxicity in the hippocampus, the brain region most commonly damaged in HIV-associated dementia. This Tat-induced cytotoxicity was associated with inactivation of MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. In contrast, Tat1-86 did not alter Wnt signaling pathway necessary for cell survival. Pretreatment of slices with 15d-PGJ2 markedly reduced Tat-driven cytotxicity. Interestingly, this reduction was accompanied by suppressionof ERK inactivation in response to Tat. Moreover, the inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway with SL327 enhanced the Tat-induced cytotoxicity, confirming the ERK-dependent mechanism of Tat-driven cytotoxicity. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the protective action of 15d-PGJ2 against the hippocampal cytotoxicity upon Tat stimulation is exerted through suppression of Tat-mediated ERK1/2 inactivation.

Assessment of caspase mediated degradation of linker for activation of T cells (LAT) at a single cell level

Caspase/Granzyme B mediated protein degradation is involved in elimination of activated T cell receptor (TCR) signaling molecules during processes of thymocyte selection and maintenance of peripheral homeostasis of T cells. Key components of TCR signaling cassette including LAT undergo biological inactivation in response to pro-apoptotic or anergy inducing environmental stimuli. Although available Western immunoblotting-based techniques are appropriate for detection of protein degradation in bulk populations of target cells, quantitative assessment of this process at a single cell level requires a different approach. Here we report on a novel, flow cytometry-based method for assessment of LAT integrity. This method exploits a loss of an anti-LAT antibody epitope recognition following proteolytic degradation of C-terminal domain of the LAT. We show that the LAT degradation precedes phosphatidylserine translocation to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane and thus may constitute an early marker of T cell apoptosis. When used in conjunction with multi-parameter flow cytometry, our method revealed that FoxP3+CD4+CD8low thymocytes i.e. precursors of thymus derived CD4+ regulatory T cells, in contrast to Foxp3− CD4+CD8low thymocytes are resistant to LAT degradation in response to CD3ε crosslinking. This finding can be used as an additional marker for T regulatory cell lineage.