Exendin-4 regulates the expression of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 via transcriptional factor PREB in the pancreatic ß cell line.

BACKGROUND: PRL regulatory element-binding (PREB) protein is a transcription factor that regulates insulin promoter activity in the rat anterior pituitary. The PREB protein is expressed not only in the anterior pituitary but also in pancreatic ß cells. Previously, we have reported that PREB plays an important role in glucose-mediated insulin gene expression in pancreatic ß cells. The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in pancreatic ß cells influences insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. Exendin-4 (Ex-4), a longacting agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1, stimulates ABCA1 expression in pancreatic ß cells. AIMS: In this study, we examined the role played by PREB in Ex-4-induced ABCA1 expression in pancreatic ß cells. MATERIAL/SUBJECTS AND METHODS: PREB mRNA and protein expression were evaluated in pancreatic ß cell line (INS-1 cells) treated with Ex-4 (10 nM). RESULTS: Ex-4 stimulated PREB protein and mRNA expression in INS-1 cells. PREB stimulated the activity of the luciferase reporter protein that was under the control of the ABCA1 promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that PREB mediates its transcriptional activity by directly binding to the ABCA1 promoter region. Finally, we used small interfering RNA to inhibit PREB expression in the cells and demonstrated that the knockdown of PREB expression attenuated the effects of Ex-4 on ABCA1 expression. CONCLUSION: PREB mediates Ex-4-stimulated transcription of the ABCA1 gene in pancreatic ß cells.

Descriptive analysis of the prevalence and the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium avium complex-infected pigs that were slaughtered on the main island of Okinawa.

Recent genetic studies have revealed that several epidemiological factors affect Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in pig populations. However, mechanisms underlying the spread of MAC infection among hog farms have not been clarified. In consideration of this situation, we cross-sectionally investigated the mechanisms underlying the spread of MAC on the island of Okinawa. Pigs slaughtered (n=706,763) and 331 hog farms on Okinawa were surveyed during the years 2002-2004. Two outbreaks of MAC infection were occurred in several farms during survey period. Bacteria were isolated from randomly selected pigs and genotype of isolates was determined by using genetic finger printing methods with the insertion sequence (IS) 1245 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Most isolates had large numbers of IS1245 copies, while strains with low copy numbers of IS1245 and isolates without IS1245 were seen in few farms. MACs strains were repeatedly isolated from pigs of the affected farms during the survey period. Those farms with an identical pig rearing systems showed synchronic changes in the prevalence of MAC infection. An industrial farm without an outbreak had an independent pig flow, but maintained distinct MAC strains. Multivariate analysis did not reveal independent factors for the prevalence of the MAC infection. These findings suggest that there were three clusters distinguished genetically in the main island of Okinawa, which were potentially spread by common pig flow. However, the outbreaks occurred because of unspecified conditions on each farm environment.

Serological test and chest computed tomography findings in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease.

The present authors have previously reported the usefulness of a serodiagnostic test to detect serum glycopeptidolipid (GPL) core antibody in diagnosing Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease in immunocompetent patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate correlations between the levels of antibody against GPL core and chest computed tomography (CCT) findings in patients with MAC lung disease. A total of 47 patients with MAC-positive culture from their sputum and who had radiographic abnormalities were investigated. Thirty-three patients met the American Thoracic Society criteria for MAC disease; 14 did not. All patients underwent both CCT examination and the serodiagnostic test for MAC at the same time. Small nodular shadows were seen on CCT in all 47 patients and bronchiectasis shadows were seen in 39 (83%) of them. There was a significant positive correlation between the extent of the disease and the level of GPL core immunoglobulin (Ig)A antibody. The levels of GPL core IgA antibody were significantly elevated in patients who had nodular shadows (10-30 mm) compared with patients who had small nodular shadows (<10 mm). The present results document that the levels of immunoglobulin A antibody against glycopeptidolipid core correlate with the chest computed tomography findings of Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease.

Isolation and characterization of mammalian D-aspartyl endopeptidase.

The accumulation of D-isomers of aspartic acid (D-Asp) in proteins during aging has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), cataracts and arteriosclerosis. Here, we identified a specific lactacystin-sensitive endopeptidase that cleaves the D-Asp-containing protein and named it D-aspartyl endopeptidase (DAEP). DAEP has a multi-complex structure (MW: 600 kDa) and is localized in the inner mitochondrial membrane. However, DAEP activity was not detected in E. coli, S. cerevisiae, and C. elegans. A specific inhibitor for DAEP, i-DAEP: (benzoyl-L-Arg-L-His-[D-Asp]-CH(2)Cl; MW: 563.01), was newly synthesized and inhibited DAEP activity (IC(50), 3 microM), a factor of ten greater than lactacystin on DAEP. On the other hand, i-DAEP did not inhibit either the 20S or 26S proteasome. And we identified succinate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase 1 as components of DAEP by affinity label using biotinylated i-DAEP. In the long life span of mammals, DAEP may serve as a scavenger against accumulation of racemized proteins in aging. Insights into DAEP will provide the foundation for developing treatments of diseases, such as AD, in which accumulation of D-Asp-containing proteins are implicated.

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of small-scale glycopeptidolipid preparations to identify serovars of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex.

AIMS: The antigenic glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) from Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) are grouped into 28 serovars on the basis of the variable oligosaccharide sequences and the core structures. To facilitate the identification of MAC serovars by employing liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), the diversity in fatty acyl moieties and the number of acetyl groups of GPLs should be characterized. METHODS AND RESULTS: Employing a small-scale preparation method, sufficient quantities of intact GPLs could be obtained from several colonies of MAC within 4 h. Tandem mass spectrometry of GPLs showed the presence of common fragment ion at m/z 1048 in the main molecular species of all reference strains. It revealed that the acyl moieties had similar diversity among all serovars. Furthermore, intact GPLs had mainly one or two acetyl groups. This allowed us to determine the masses of each serovar based on intact GPLs and to classify 16 isolates from patients by LC/MS. CONCLUSIONS: The present serotyping method using LC/MS analysis improved the precision of measurements and shortened the procedure time compared with conventional thin-layer chromatography or the seroagglutination test method. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This proposed method proves useful for identifying serovars of MAC for epidemiological and pathogenic research purposes.

Induction of thymic apoptosis by Shiga toxin from Escherichia coli O157:H7 in vivo and in vitro.

It is not known how Shiga toxins (Stxs), which are major virulence factors of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, can affect the host immune system. We investigated the effect of Stx2 on murine thymic cells in vivo and in vitro. After intraperitoneal administration of Stx2, the body weight of mice (BW) and the organ index of thymocytes (OIT) gradually decreased from day 1 to day 4. Apoptosis of thymocytes, assessed by TUNEL staining, and DNA fragmentation assay, was marked on day 3 and day 4. Decrease in BW and OIT due to Stx2 was antagonized by the simultaneous administration of murine anti-Stx2 IgG antibody with Stx2. In vitro administration of Stx2 also induced apoptosis of cultured thymocytes on day 3 and day 4 in a dose-dependent fashion. These results showed that Stx2 directly caused apoptosis of thymocytes in vivo and in vitro. Our findings imply that StA2 may be intimately related to pathogenesis of E. coli O157:H7 infection, by causing apoptosis of thymus.

Diels-Alder reactions of nitro-2(1H)-pyridones with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene.

Diels-Alder (DA) reactions of 3- or 5-nitro-2(1H)-pyridones and nitro-2(1H)-pyridones containing a methoxycarbonyl group with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene were examined. The DA reactions of 3-nitro-2(1H)-pyridones in this paper represent, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of DA reactions of 3-substituted 2(1H)-pyridones and consequent production of isoquinolones. Performing the same reactions with 5-nitro-2(1H)-pyridones yielded quinolones. DA reactions of 2(1H)-pyridones with nitro and methoxycarbonyl groups produced isoquinolones, quinolones and phenanthridones (the double DA adducts), aromatized or hydrogenated. The substituent effect was evaluated by calculating the activation energy, using the ab initio MO method.

Solution synthesis and biological activity of human pleiotrophin, a novel heparin-binding neurotrophic factor consisting of 136 amino acid residues with five disulfide bonds.

Human pleiotrophin (hPTN), a novel heparin-binding neurotrophic factor consisting of 136 amino acid residues with five intramolecular disulfide bonds, was synthesized by solution procedure in order to demonstrate the utility of our strategy using our newly developed solvent system, a mixture of trifluoroethanol (TFE) and dichloromethane (DCM) or chloroform (CHL). The final protected peptide was synthesized by coupling two larger protected intermediates, Boc-(1-64)-OH and H-(65-136)-OBzl, in CHL/TFE (3:1; v/v) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC) in the presence of 3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazine (HOOBt). After removal of all protecting groups using the HF procedure followed by treatment with Hg(OAc)2, the fully deprotected peptide was subjected to an oxidative folding reaction. The product was confirmed as having the correct disulfide structure by examining the cystine peptides obtained by enzymatic digestions, and as possessing the same biological activities as those of the natural product. The N- and C-terminal half domains (1-64 and 65-136) were also synthesized, and measurement of their biological activities indicated that the C-terminal half domain displays almost all the activities of the full-length molecule, whereas the N-terminal half domain shows almost no activity. From these results, we were able to confirm that the C-terminal half domain is responsible for the expression of biological activities in the same manner as human midkine (hMK), another heparin-binding neurotrophic growth factor.

Structure and serologic properties of O-specific polysaccharide from Citrobacter freundii possessing cross-reactivity with Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Citrobacter freundii OCU158 is a serologically cross-reactive strain with Escherichia coli O157:H7. To explore the close relationship between two strains, we have analyzed the chemical structures of O-specific polysaccharides and antigenic properties of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of both strains. The structure of O-specific polysaccharides from both strains was found to be identical by chemical and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, in which D-PerNAc was 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannose: [-->4)-beta-D-Glc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-PerNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalNAc-(1 --> 3)-alpha-L-Fuc-(1-->](n). The enzyme immunoassay using LPS derived either from E. coli O157 or from C. freundii could equally detect high levels of serum antibodies against LPS in patients with enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157 infection. Absorption of antibodies in EHEC patient serum by LPS from E. coli O157 or C. freundii, however, showed a difference in the epitopes. This difference was attributable to the epitope specificity of the core region and/or lipid A structure in LPS.

Structural basis for the biological activity of dendrotoxin-I, a potent potassium channel blocker.

A topochemical model to explain the biological activity of dendrotoxin-I (DTX-I), a potent blocker for potassium channels, was developed by searching common spatial arrangements of functionally important residues between DTX-I, alpha-dendrotoxin, dendrotoxin-K, BgK, ShK, and charybdotoxin. The first three are structurally and functionally related to one another, and specifically target to Kv1 type potassium channels. The last three are structurally unrelated to the first three but have the ability to displace (125)I-labeled dendrotoxins on the same types of potassium channels. In order to obtain the correct electronic surface potential, thought to be crucial for the DTX-I function, we determined the three-dimensional solution structure of DTX-I by nmr spectroscopy using its correct amino acid sequence recently determined by our group. The most interesting characteristic of our model is that DTX-I has two binding sites to potassium channels: one is the cationic domain made up of Lys residues at positions 5 in the 3(10)-helix, 28 and 29 in the beta-turn, and the other is the Lys19/Tyr17/Trp37 triad located in the antiprotease domain. The cationic domain and the triad are located at the opposite sides of the molecular structure and are separated by about 25 A between Lys29 Calpha and Tyr17 Calpha. The functional triad is characterized by three distances, d(1) approximately 7.5 A (Lys19 Calpha-the center of the Tyr17 aromatic ring), d(2) approximately 8.1 A (Lys19 Calpha-the center of the 6-membered ring of the Trp37 indole group), and d(3) approximately 7. 3 A (the center of the Tyr17 aromatic ring-the center of the 6-membered ring of the Trp37 indole group). This model should aid in the pharmaceutical design of peptide and nonpeptide drugs with potassium channel blocking potencies, as well as in understanding of the physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and structure-function analysis of potassium channels.

Mycolic acids from Rhodococcus, Gordonia, and Dietzia.

The mycolic acids from 11 species of Rhodococcus, seven species of Gordonia, and one species of Dietzia were analyzed using capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GLC/MS). All strains tested in this study were divided into three groups according to the degree of double bonds and the average carbon number (Av.Nc.) of their mycolic acids. The genus Gordonia belongs to the first group possessing an Av.Nc. in the upper 50s and 60s with 0 to 5 double bonds. Some Rhodococcus species possessed Av.Nc. in the 40s with a variety of distributions of polyunsaturated fatty acids from 0 to 4. The rest of the Rhodococcus species and the genus Dietzia possessed Av.Nc. in the 30s with saturated fatty acids. We previously reported on Nocardia strains whose Av.Nc. were in the 50s. Considering the identification of mycolic acid-containing Actinomycetales at the generic level, the Av.Nc. proved to be useful as a means of differentiating the genera Rhodococcus, Gordonia and Nocardia. The genus Dietzia was found to have its own characteristic constitution of mycolic acid molecular species. The mycolic acids from D. maris 58001T were characterized by an almost equal amount of constituents of even- and odd-numbered carbon chains, whereas the major components of mycolic acids in all other strains had even-numbered carbon chains. Another characteristic of Dietzia was some even-numbered mycolic acids which contained odd-numbered straight chains with odd-numbered alpha-branches. These characteristics indicated that Dietzia might possess a novel fatty acid biosynthesis system.

Combined solid-phase and solution approach for the synthesis of large peptides or proteins.

In the synthesis of large peptides or proteins, highly homogeneous segments are indispensable for a convergent strategy either on a solid-phase resin or in solution. Employing Boc/Bzl chemistry to prepare fully protected segments with a free alpha-carboxyl group from the solid support, base-labile linkers are profitable for practical peptide synthesis since they require no special equipment. For this purpose, an N-[9-(hydroxymethyl)-2-fluorenyl]succinamic acid (HMFS) linker was adopted. Consequently, there must be high compatibility between the protecting groups of the segment and the anchoring group which is cleavable by treatment with morpholine or piperidine in DMF. Instead of using the 2-bromobenzyloxycarbonyl (BrZ) group for the Tyr residue and the formyl (For) group for the Trp residue, both of which are the most susceptible protecting groups under these base-catalysed conditions, the base-resistant 3-pentyl (Pen) and cyclohexyloxycarbonyl (Hoc) groups were introduced to the respective side-chain functional groups. By applying the present strategy, the authors were able to rapidly synthesize homogeneous protected segments for use in the subsequent segment coupling in solution. In the present paper, the utility of the combined solid-phase and solution approach is demonstrated by synthesizing muscarinic toxin 1 (MTX1) which binds to the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

Structure-activity relationships of calcicludine and dendrotoxin-I, homologous peptides acting on different targets, calcium and potassium channels.

Calcicludine (CaC) and dendrotoxin-I (DTX-I) possess high homology of their primary structures despite their different biological activities acting on calcium and potassium channels, respectively. In order to elucidate the channel specificity displayed by these toxins, their three-dimensional structures were compared by NMR. These analyses revealed that their overall conformations are similar except for the structure at the N-terminus. To demonstrate the significance of this N-terminal, chimeric peptides, CaC(1-30)/DTX-I(31-60) and DTX-I(1-30)/CaC(31-60), were synthesized. The CD spectra and receptor-binding measurements of chimeric peptides indicated that the contribution to the overall conformation and to the affinity of the N-terminal part of molecule seem to be more important than that of the C-terminal one. These results suggest that the N-terminal part may participate in distinguishing between calcium and potassium channels.

Mycolic acid analysis in Nocardia species. The mycolic acid compositions of Nocardia asteroides, N. farcinica, and N. nova.

Mycolic acids from twelve Nocardia species were analyzed for structure using capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. This high-resolution procedure permitted good separation of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) ether derivatives of mycolic acid methyl ester according to the total number of carbon and double bonds. The profiles of the mycolic acid molecular species were used as models to illustrate the difference in the structures of each species, even in the case of N. asteroides complex; N. asteroides, N. farcinica and N. nova. Although N. asteroides and N. farcinica had similar lengths of carbon skeleton, i.e., 51.9-53.7 was the average carbon number (Av.Nc.), they had different compositions of unsaturated acids. Mycolic acids from N. asteroides were composed of abundant saturated acids and less than 1% tetraenoic acids; mycolic acids from N. farcinica were composed of unsaturated acids, which were composed of abundant dienoic acids, 2-12% of tetraenoic acids and a trace of pentaenoic acids. In contrast, Av.Nc. of mycolic acids from N. nova were 55.7-56.3, which were relatively longer than those from N. asteroides or N. farcinica. Regarding the characteristics of the structure of alpha-branch, major components were C16:0 and C18:0 for N. asteroides 23206T, and C16:0 and C14:0 for N. farcinica 23157T, respectively. The presence of monounsaturated alpha-branch (C18:1 and C16:1) was characteristic of N. nova.

Identification of human, rat and mouse nocistatin in brain and human nocistatin in brain and human cerebrospinal fluid.

Nocistatin was recently isolated from bovine brain and shown to block hyperalgesia and allodynia induced by nociceptin and prostaglandin (PG) E2. The counterparts of human, rat and mouse are deduced from their precursor prepronociceptin to be 30, 35, and 41 residue peptide respectively. To identify these mature forms of nocistatin, three peptides were synthesized and a detection program for nocistatin was developed, using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with specific radioimmunoassay (RIA). Nocistatin extracted from human, rat and mouse brain were subjected to HPLC and nocistatin-like immunoreactivity (NST-IR) was determined. All three species showed two NST-IR peaks, one of which coincided with that of the corresponding putative nocistatin. The same NST-IR was also detected in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Chemical synthesis of the precursor molecule of the Aequorea green fluorescent protein, subsequent folding, and development of fluorescence.

The present paper describes the total chemical synthesis of the precursor molecule of the Aequorea green fluorescent protein (GFP). The molecule is made up of 238 amino acid residues in a single polypeptide chain and is nonfluorescent. To carry out the synthesis, a procedure, first described in 1981 for the synthesis of complex peptides, was used. The procedure is based on performing segment condensation reactions in solution while providing maximum protection to the segment. The effectiveness of the procedure has been demonstrated by the synthesis of various biologically active peptides and small proteins, such as human angiogenin, a 123-residue protein analogue of ribonuclease A, human midkine, a 121-residue protein, and pleiotrophin, a 136-residue protein analogue of midkine. The GFP precursor molecule was synthesized from 26 fully protected segments in solution, and the final 238-residue peptide was treated with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride to obtain the precursor molecule of GFP containing two Cys(acetamidomethyl) residues. After removal of the acetamidomethyl groups, the product was dissolved in 0.1 M Tris. HCl buffer (pH 8.0) in the presence of DTT. After several hours at room temperature, the solution began to emit a green fluorescence (lambdamax = 509 nm) under near-UV light. Both fluorescence excitation and fluorescence emission spectra were measured and were found to have the same shape and maxima as those reported for native GFP. The present results demonstrate the utility of the segment condensation procedure in synthesizing large protein molecules such as GFP. The result also provides evidence that the formation of the chromophore in GFP is not dependent on any external cofactor.

Anti-nociceptive responses produced by human putative counterpart of nocistatin.

b-nocistatin is a heptadecapeptide produced from bovine prepronociceptin and blocks the induction of hyperalgesia and touch-evoked pain (allodynia) by intrathecal administration of nociceptin or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Human prepronociceptin may generate a 30-amino acid peptide different in length from b-nocistatin. Here, we examine whether the human putative counterpart of nocistatin (h-nocistatin) possessed the same biological activities as b-nocistatin. Simultaneous intrathecal injection of h-nocistatin in mice blocked the induction of allodynia by nociceptin and PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner with ID50 values of 329 pg kg(-1) and 16.6 ng kg(-1), respectively. h-nocistatin was about 10 times less potent than b-nocistatin. h-nocistatin also attenuated the nociceptin- and PGE2-induced hyperalgesia. These results demonstrate that h-nocistatin is biologically active and may be involved in the processing of pain at the spinal level in humans.

Chemical synthesis of dendrotoxin-I: revision of the reported structure.

Dendrotoxin I (DTX-I) is a 60-residue peptide from the venom of the black mamba snake Dendroaspis polylepis, which binds to neuronal K+ channels. The structure reported previously for DTX-I was synthesized for the first time by a solution procedure. The synthetic product was confirmed to have the correct primary and disulfide structure determined by peptide mapping, sequence analysis and mass measurements. Comparison of synthetic DTX-I with the natural one by high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis, as well as by sequence analysis, revealed that the Asn residue at position 12 in the synthetic peptide was Asp in the natural product. Synthesis of DTX-I with Asp at position 12 gave a peptide identical with the natural product in all aspects. NMR analysis of synthetic [Asn12]- and [Asp12]-DTX-I also supported our findings that the Asn residue at position 12 in the DTX-I molecule should be revised as Asp. [Asn12]- and [Asp12]-DTX-I had very similar binding affinities when tested against radiolabeled dendrotoxin binding to rat brain synaptosomal membranes.

Nocistatin, a peptide that blocks nociceptin action in pain transmission.

Prolonged tissue damage or injury often leads to chronic pain states such that noxious stimuli evoke hyperalgesia and innocuous tactile stimuli evoke pain (allodynia). The neuropeptide nociceptin, also known as orphanin FQ, is an endogenous ligand for the orphan opioid-like receptor which induces both hyperalgesia and allodynia when administered by injection through the theca of the spinal cord into the subarachnoid space (that is, intrathecally). Here we show that the nociceptin precursor contains another biologically active peptide which we call nocistatin. Nocistatin blocks nociceptin-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia, and attenuates pain evoked by prostaglandin E2. It is the carboxy-terminal hexapeptide of nocistatin (Glu-Gln-Lys-Gln-Leu-Gln), which is conserved in bovine, human and murine species, that possesses allodynia-blocking activity. We have also isolated endogenous nocistatin from bovine brain. Furthermore, intrathecal pretreatment with anti-nocistatin antibody decreases the threshold for nociceptin-induced allodynia. Although nocistatin does not bind to the nociceptin receptor, it binds to the membrane of mouse brain and of spinal cord with high affinity. Our results show that nocistatin is a new biologically active peptide produced from the same precursor as nociceptin and indicate that these two peptides may play opposite roles in pain transmission.

Solution structure of alpha-conotoxin MI determined by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation with the explicit solvent water.

The conformation of alpha-conotoxin MI, a potent antagonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, has been investigated in aqueous solution. Two-dimensional NMR experiments and simulated annealing calculations provide the overall topology of alpha-conotoxin MI; then molecular dynamics simulation with the explicit solvent water was followed in order to obtain a more reliable solution structure. The resulting conformation indicates the presence of a 3(10) helix and a type I beta-turn for residues Pro6-Cys8 and Gly9-Try12, respectively, and shows a significant structural similarity to that of alpha-conotoxin GI, which has biological activity similar to that of MI. The present study provides a molecular basis for the alpha-conotoxin-receptor interaction.