Isolation of peptide aptamers that inhibit intracellular processes.

We have developed a method for isolation of random peptides that inhibit intracellular processes in bacteria. A library of random peptides expressed as fusions to Escherichia coli thioredoxin (aptamers) were expressed under the tight control of the arabinose-inducible P(BAD) promoter. A selection was applied to the library to isolate aptamers that interfered with the activity of thymidylate synthase (ThyA) in vivo. Expression of an aptamer isolated by this method resulted in a ThyA(-) phenotype that was suppressed by simultaneous overexpression of ThyA. Two-hybrid analysis showed that this aptamer is likely to interact with ThyA in vivo. The library also was screened for aptamers that inhibited growth of bacteria expressing them, and five such aptamers were characterized. Four aptamers were bacteriostatic when expressed, whereas one showed a bactericidal effect. Introduction of translational stop codons into various aptamers blocked their activity, suggesting that their biological effects were likely to be due to protein aptamer rather than RNA. Combinatorial aptamers provide a new genetic and biochemical tool for identifying targets for antibacterial drug development.

Cardiac conduction abnormalities preceding transoesophageal echocardiographic evidence of perivalvar extension of infection in a case of Salmonella prosthetic valve endocarditis.

A 59 year old African-American man developed complete heart block in association with Salmonella enteritidis prosthetic valve endocarditis. Severe cardiac conduction abnormalities signalled the presence of perivalvar extension of infection before development of evidence of abscess by transoesophageal echocardiography. Cardiac conduction temporarily returned after debridement and aortic homograft placement. This case emphasises the value of electrocardiographic monitoring in the detection of perivalvar extension of infection complicating infective endocarditis, even in the era of sophisticated imaging modalities.

Signal transduction by the B-cell antigen receptor.

The antigen receptor of B lymphocytes (BCR) plays important roles in recognition of foreign antigens and self-components to allow the immune system to make appropriate antibody responses. The BCR is a complex between membrane immunoglobulin and the Ig-alpha and Ig-beta heterodimer. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments have shown that the mu heavy chain transmembrane domain plays a key role in the association of mIgM with Ig-alpha/Ig-beta. In the absence of complex formation, mIgM is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, and this function is also specified by the mu chain transmembrane domain. The ability of various mutant mIgM molecules to associate with Ig-alpha/Ig-beta correlates well with their ability to induce signal transduction reactions such as protein tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphoinositide breakdown. Thus, the signaling ability of the BCR appears to reside in the Ig-alpha/Ig-beta heterodimer. The cytoplasmic domains of Ig-alpha and Ig-beta each contain an ITAM sequence, which is defined by its limited homology with subunits of the T-cell antigen receptor and of Fc receptors. Moreover, chimeric proteins containing these ITAMs and surrounding sequences from the cytoplasmic domains of Ig-alpha or Ig-beta exhibit signaling function characteristics of the intact BCR. The Ig-alpha and Ig-beta chimeras are each capable of inducing all of the BCR signaling events tested and thus represent redundant functions. Cross-linking these chimeras leads to their phosphorylation and to binding of the intracellular tyrosine kinases Lyn and Syk. The BCR expressed in the nonlymphoid AtT20 cells, which express the Src-family tyrosine kinase Fyn but not Syk, was not able to trigger vigorous signaling reactions. Introduction of the active form of Syk into these cells restored some signaling events. These results are consistent with a model in which the ITAMs act to initiate the BCR signaling reactions by binding and activating tyrosine kinases.

A mutation of the mu transmembrane that disrupts endoplasmic reticulum retention. Effects on association with accessory proteins and signal transduction.

The mu heavy chain has an unusually high content of hydroxyl-containing amino acids in its membrane-spanning region. We have examined the involvement of two of these hydrophilic residues in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention, interactions with Ig-alpha/Ig-beta, and transmembrane signaling. Neighboring tyrosine and serine residues were mutated to either phenylalanine and alanine (mutant YS/FA) or valine and valine (mutant YS/VV). Membrane Ig (mIgM) molecules containing these mutant mu chains were expressed on the surface of transfected B lymphoma cells. Anti-Ig-induced signaling by the YS/FA mutant mIgM was equivalent to wild-type (wt) mIgM, whereas signaling by the YS/VV mutant mIgM was notably diminished. Association between mutant YS/VV mIgM and Ig-alpha/Ig-beta was detectable but reduced in comparison to YS/FA or wt mIgM. Signaling by YS/VV mutant mIgM appeared to involve Ig-alpha/Ig-beta, because these proteins were tyrosine phosphorylated on receptor cross-linking. When YS/VV and wt mu chains were cotransfected with light chains into nonlymphoid cells, mutant mIgM was expressed at the cell surface in the absence of Ig-alpha/Ig-beta, whereas wt mIgM was not. These data suggest that the mutated residues contribute to ER retention and directly or indirectly to association with Ig-alpha/Ig-beta. Moreover, ER retention can be disrupted without preventing functional association with Ig-alpha/Ig-beta. In addition, these data indicate that the hydroxyl groups of the mutated residues are not required for functional association between mu and Ig-alpha/Ig-beta because their removal did not reduce the ability of the YS/FA mutant mIgM to associate with accessory proteins or to participate in signal transduction.

Mechanism of B cell antigen receptor function: transmembrane signaling and triggering of apoptosis.

The antigen receptor of B lymphocytes (BCR) plays important roles in virtually every stage in the development, inactivation, or activation of B cells. The BCR is a complex of membrane immunoglobulin (mIg) and a heterodimer of two transmembrane polypeptides called Ig-alpha and Ig-beta. Site directed mutation of the mu immunoglobulin heavy chain has demonstrated that the mu transmembrane domain plays a key role in the assembly of mIgM with Ig-alpha/Ig-beta. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the ability of various mutant mIgM molecules to associate with Ig-alpha/Ig-beta and their ability to induce signal transduction reactions such as protein tyrosine phosphorylation and phosphoinositide breakdown. The cytoplasmic domains of Ig-alpha and Ig-beta share a region of limited homology with each other and with components of the T cell antigen receptor and of the Fc receptor. The presence of regions of the cytoplasmic domains of Ig-alpha or Ig-beta including this conserved amino acid sequence motif is sufficient to confer signaling function on chimeric transmembrane proteins. Both Ig-alpha and Ig-beta chimeras are capable of inducing all of the BCR signaling events tested. Based on these and related observations, we propose that the motifs act to initiate the BCR signaling reactions by binding and activating tyrosine kinases. Among the important events mediated by BCR signaling is induced expression of a series of genes referred to as early response genes. In B cells these include transcription factors and at least one component that regulates signaling events. One of these genes, c-myc, appears to play an important role in mediating apoptosis in B cells stimulated via the BCR complex.

Role of the mu immunoglobulin heavy chain transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains in B cell antigen receptor expression and signal transduction.

Membrane immunoglobulins (mIg) serve as the recognition components of B lymphocyte antigen receptors. Binding of antigen to these receptors leads to dramatic effects on B cell growth and viability. We have examined the structural elements of mIgM that are involved in antigen receptor assembly and function. Expression of transfected wild-type mIgM in a B cell line led to assembly with the other two known components of the antigen receptor, Ig-alpha and Ig-beta, expression on the cell surface, and when cross-linked by anti-IgM antibodies, stimulation of signal transductin reactions, including tyrosine protein phosphorylation, inositol phosphate production, and increases in cytoplasmic calcium concentration. Replacement of the highly conserved COOH-terminal 41 amino acids of mIgM heavy chain (mu m) with the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of human CD8 alpha resulted in a molecule which was expressed on the B cell surface at levels comparable to wild-type mIgM, but which did not form a complex with Ig-alpha or Ig-beta and did not stimulate any of the signaling reactions mentioned above. Replacement of the basic three-amino-acid cytoplasmic domain of mu m with a different but similarly charged sequence had no effect on cell-surface expression or signaling function. On the other hand, removal of the entire cytoplasmic domain resulted in a molecule which did not bind Ig-alpha and Ig-beta and which did not transduce signals. This effect is probably due to altered post-translational processing of this mutant molecule. Finally, a series of eight single-amino-acid substitutions in the transmembrane domain was constructed. Most of these resulted in the removal of hydroxyl groups from conserved residues postulated to be important for interactions with other components. Each of these mutant molecules was capable of transducing signals when cross-linked by anti-IgM, but one was partially defective. Since alteration of any single residue was not sufficient to disrupt signaling completely, the interactions required for signaling are likely to involve multiple residues, so that elimination of one hydroxyl group does not prevent the interaction. We propose that the cytoplasmic domain of mu m does not play a critical role in receptor function but that the transmembrane domain specifies interactions with other components, probably Ig-alpha and Ig-beta, required for proper antigen receptor signal transduction.