Functional and molecular defects of hiPSC-derived neurons from patients with ATM deficiency.

Loss of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase, a key factor of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, causes the cancer predisposing and neurodegenerative syndrome ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). To investigate the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, we have reprogrammed fibroblasts from ATM-null A-T patients and normal controls to pluripotency (human-induced pluripotent stem cells), and derived from these neural precursor cells able to terminally differentiate into post-mitotic neurons positive to >90% for ß-tubulin III+/microtubule-associated protein 2+. We show that A-T neurons display similar voltage-gated potassium and sodium currents and discharges of action potentials as control neurons, but defective expression of the maturation and synaptic markers SCG10, SYP and PSD95 (postsynaptic density protein 95). A-T neurons exhibited defective repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and repressed phosphorylation of ATM substrates (e.g., γH2AX, Smc1-S966, Kap1-S824, Chk2-T68, p53-S15), but normal repair of single-strand breaks, and normal short- and long-patch base excision repair activities. Moreover, A-T neurons were resistant to apoptosis induced by the genotoxic agents camptothecin and trabectedin, but as sensitive as controls to the oxidative agents. Most notably, A-T neurons exhibited abnormal accumulation of topoisomerase 1-DNA covalent complexes (Top1-ccs). These findings reveal that ATM deficiency impairs neuronal maturation, suppresses the response and repair of DNA DSBs, and enhances Top1-cc accumulation. Top1-cc could be a risk factor for neurodegeneration as they may interfere with transcription elongation and promote transcriptional decline.

[Purification and properties of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial hexokinase from the rabbit brain]. / Purificazione e proprieta' dell'esocinasi citoplasmatica e di quella mitocondriale da cervello di coniglio.

The soluble Hexokinase from rabbit brain was purified 4,700-fold to near homogeneity by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography, dye-ligand chromatography and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a specific activity of 110 units/mg of protein and was obtained in 70% yield. The properties of the purified cytoplasmic hexokinase were compared with those of the solubilized mitochondrial enzyme. No significant differences were found in M.W., pI and electrophoretic mobility. However, the temperature dependence of activity and specificity for several hexose substrates were markedly different.

[Hexokinase in bone marrow cells in the rabbit]. / Esocinasi nelle cellule di midollo di coniglio.

The hexokinase isozymic pattern of circulating reticulocytes fractionated by density gradient ultracentrifugation was studied. All the cellular fractions obtained show similar ratio of hexokinase Ia/hexokinase Ib while a four fold decay in specific activity was evidenced. Bone-marrow cells of anemic rabbits also contain low amounts of HK Ib while this isozymic form is not present in basophilic erythroblasts.

[Determination of the energy load of erythrocytes in long-distance and medium-distance runners]. / Determinazione della carica energetica in eritrociti di atleti fondisti e mezzofondisti.

In this study erythrocytes drawn from well-trained athletes (middle- and long-distance runners) and from sedentary subjects have been compared for their adenine nucleotide contents. ADP and AMP appeared to be significantly (p less than 0,001) increased only in red cells from athletes in the rest state. After athletes' race this difference with control subjects become insignificant. Nevertheless, the observed ADP and AMP modifications are not great enough to influence the energy charge (CE) of the compared erythrocytes.