Calf thymus Hsc70 protein protects and reactivates prokaryotic and eukaryotic enzymes

Experimental Milestones in the Discovery of Molecular Chaperones as Polypeptide Unfolding Enzymes

Molecular chaperones control the cellular folding, assembly, unfolding, disassembly, translocation, activation, inactivation, disaggregation, and degradation of proteins. In 1989, groundbreaking experiments demonstrated that a purified chaperone can bind and prevent the aggregation of artificially unfolded polypeptides and use ATP to dissociate and convert them into native proteins. A decade later, other chaperones were shown to use ATP hydrolysis to unfold and solubilize stable protein aggregates, leading to their native refolding. Presently, the main conserved chaperone families Hsp70, Hsp104, Hsp90, Hsp60, and small heat-shock proteins (sHsps) apparently act as unfolding nanomachines capable of converting functional alternatively folded or toxic misfolded polypeptides into harmless protease-degradable or biologically active native proteins. Being unfoldases, the chaperones can proofread three-dimensional protein structures and thus control protein quality in the cell. Understanding the mechanisms of the cellular unfoldases is central to the design of new therapies against aging, degenerative protein conformational diseases, and specific cancers.

Overproduction and biophysical characterization of human HSP70 proteins

Heat shock proteins (HSP) perform vital cellular functions and modulate cell response pathways to physical and chemical stressors. A key feature of HSP function is the ability to interact with a broad array of protein binding partners as a means to potentiate downstream response pathways or facilitate protein folding. These binding interactions are driven by ATP-dependent conformational rearrangements in HSP proteins. The HSP70 family is evolutionarily conserved and is associated with diabetes and cancer progression and the etiopathogenesis of hepatic, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders in humans. However, functional characterization of human HSP70s has been stymied by difficulties in obtaining large quantities of purified protein. Studies of purified human HSP70 proteins are essential for downstream investigations of protein-protein interactions and in the rational design of novel family-specific therapeutics. Within this work, we present optimized protocols for the heterologous overexpression and purification of either the nucleotide binding domain (NBD) or the nucleotide and substrate binding domains of human HSPA9, HSPA8, and HSPA5 in either Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We also include initial biophysical characterization of HSPA9 and HSPA8. This work provides the basis for future biochemical studies of human HSP70 protein function and structure.

Comprehensive review on the HSC70 functions, interactions with related molecules and involvement in clinical diseases and therapeutic potential

Heat shock cognate protein 70 (HSC70) is a constitutively expressed molecular chaperone which belongs to the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family. HSC70 shares some of the structural and functional similarity with HSP70. HSC70 also has different properties compared with HSP70 and other heat shock family members. HSC70 performs its full functions by the cooperation of co-chaperones. It interacts with many other molecules as well and regulates various cellular functions. It is also involved in various diseases and may become a biomarker for diagnosis and potential therapeutic targets for design, discovery, and development of novel drugs to treat various diseases. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review on HSC70 from the literatures including the basic general information such as classification, structure and cellular location, genetics and function, as well as its protein association and interaction with other proteins. In addition, we also discussed the relationship of HSC70 and related clinical diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, hepatic and many other diseases and possible therapeutic potential and highlight the progress and prospects of research in this field. Understanding the functions of HSC70 and its interaction with other molecules will help us to reveal other novel properties of this protein. Scientists may be able to utilize this protein as a biomarker and therapeutic target to make significant advancement in scientific research and clinical setting in the future.

Thermo and pH stable ATP-independent chaperone activity of heat-inducible Hsp70 from Pennisetum glaucum

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a class of molecular chaperones that play an essential role in preserving cellular functions under stressful conditions. The over production of recombinant proteins often causes cellular stress that results in aggregation/misfolding of proteins, which sometimes leads to the formation of inclusion bodies. Here we report the cloning and characterization of heat-inducible PgHsp70 from Pennisetum glaucum, a heat and drought tolerant plant that showed stability and chaperone activity at elevated temperatures. The predicted amino acid sequence of PgHsp70 revealed a high homology with Hsp70 from other plants, and the overall 3D structure homology modeling is similar to that of the constitutively expressed bovine cytosolic Heat Shock Cognate (HSC)-70. The purified recombinant protein had an apparent molecular mass of 70 kDa and displayed optimal chaperone activity at 50 degrees C, and pH 8.0. Under these conditions, the T(1/2) of PgHsp70 increased from 10 to 15 h in the presence of glycerol. The PgHsp70 exhibited a higher chaperone activity towards glutamate dehydrogenase than alcohol dehydrogenase. The expression of recombinant carbonic anhydrase (CA) in E. coli in a catalytically active soluble form rather than in inclusion bodies was made feasible by co-expression of PgHsp70. Circular dichroism (CD) studies of the recombinant PgHsp70 did not reveal any discernible changes in the alpha-helix content, with increase in temperature from 35 to 85 degrees C, thus suggesting a critical role of alpha-helix content in maintaining the chaperone activity.

Virus-Induced Chaperone-Enriched (VICE) domains function as nuclear protein quality control centers during HSV-1 infection

Virus-Induced Chaperone-Enriched (VICE) domains form adjacent to nuclear viral replication compartments (RC) during the early stages of HSV-1 infection. Between 2 and 3 hours post infection at a MOI of 10, host protein quality control machinery such as molecular chaperones (e.g. Hsc70), the 20S proteasome and ubiquitin are reorganized from a diffuse nuclear distribution pattern to sequestration in VICE domains. The observation that VICE domains contain putative misfolded proteins suggests that they may be similar to nuclear inclusion bodies that form under conditions in which the protein quality control machinery is overwhelmed by the presence of misfolded proteins. The detection of Hsc70 in VICE domains, but not in nuclear inclusion bodies, indicates that Hsc70 is specifically reorganized by HSV-1 infection. We hypothesize that HSV-1 infection induces the formation of nuclear protein quality control centers to remodel or degrade aberrant nuclear proteins that would otherwise interfere with productive infection. Detection of proteolytic activity in VICE domains suggests that substrates may be degraded by the 20S proteasome in VICE domains. FRAP analysis reveals that GFP-Hsc70 is dynamically associated with VICE domains, suggesting a role for Hsc70 in scanning the infected nucleus for misfolded proteins. During 42°C heat shock, Hsc70 is redistributed from VICE domains into RC perhaps to remodel viral replication and regulatory proteins that have become insoluble in these compartments. The experiments presented in this paper suggest that VICE domains are nuclear protein quality control centers that are modified by HSV-1 to promote productive infection.

Protein quality control is a protective cellular mechanism by which damaged proteins are refolded or degraded so that they cannot interfere with essential cellular processes. In the event that protein quality control machinery cannot refold or degrade damaged proteins, sequestration of misfolded protein is an alternative protective mechanism for reducing the toxic effects of misfolded protein. Several neurological diseases result from the accumulation of toxic misfolded proteins that cannot be efficiently refolded or degraded. In neurons from patients afflicted with Huntington's disease, misfolded huntingtin protein is sequestered in large aggregates in the nucleus called inclusion bodies. Inclusion bodies also contain protein quality control machinery including molecular chaperones, the proteasome and ubiquitin. Here we report that analogous structures called Virus-Induced Chaperone-Enriched (VICE) domains form in the nucleus of cells infected with Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1). VICE domains contain misfolded protein, chaperones and protein degradation activity. VICE domain formation is efficient in infected cells taxed with high levels of viral protein production. We hypothesize that misfolded proteins that arise in HSV-1-infected cells are sequestered in VICE domains to promote remodeling of misfolded proteins.

Role of nuclear protein denaturation and aggregation in thermal radiosensitization

Hyperthermia at temperatures above 41 degrees C denatures a set of thermolabile cellular proteins located in all parts of the cell. Non-histone nuclear proteins, including those comprising the nuclear matrix, appear to be particularly thermolabile. Heating isolated nuclear matrices of Chinese hamster lung (CHL) V79 cells to 46 degrees C at 1 degree C/min results in approximately 15% denaturation. Protein unfolding during denaturation exposes buried hydrophobic residues, which increases protein-protein interactions and results in the co-aggregation of denatured thermolabile proteins and native, aggregative-sensitive nuclear proteins. This aggregated protein, the majority of which is native, is insoluble and resistant to extraction during isolation of nuclei and is responsible for the increased protein content, usually expressed as an increased protein:DNA ratio, of nuclei isolated from heated cells. A large fraction of the aggregated protein is found to be associated with the nuclear matrix, distributed throughout the fibre network and nucleolus. Three general consequences of nuclear protein denaturation and aggregation of relevance to cellular damage are: (1) protein (enzyme) inactivation, both direct inactivation of thermolabile proteins and indirect inactivation due to co-aggregation; (2) reduced accessibility and altered physical properties of DNA due to masking by aggregated protein; and (3) protein redistribution into and out of the nucleus. Functional impairment of the nucleus appears to be due to one or a combination of these basic mechanisms.

Development of a method of measuring cellular stress in cattle and sheep

In the current studies, flow cytometric methods were used to demonstrate that heat shock protein (hsp) 70 is constitutively expressed in ovine and bovine leukocytes but that the level of expression varies considerably between different leukocyte types and between species. We also show that expression of hsp70 is upregulated in response to an in vitro heat shock treatment. The optimal temperature for heat shock of leukocytes from sheep and cattle is 43.5 degrees C. In sheep and cattle, the relative susceptibility of leukocyte type to upregulation of hsp70 expression, as assayed as percent positive cells, by in vitro heat shock was cell type specific. Best results were obtained from fresh samples; after storage at room temperature for 24h upregulation was highly variable between animals and less than in fresh samples. These studies demonstrate that evaluation of leukocyte hsp70 expression by flow cytometry is a robust, reproducible method for use in the evaluation of cellular stress responses in cattle and sheep. The application of the methods described may be a valuable tool in assessing in vivo stress responses in livestock species.

Sex differences in heat shock protein 72 expression and localization in rats following renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Previously, we demonstrated gender differences in Na-K-ATPase (NKA) expression and function after renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury (Sex differences in the alterations of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase following ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat kidney. J Physiol 555: 471-480, 2004). Postischemic membrane destruction causes inhibition of NKA, whereas heat shock protein (HSP) 72 helps to preserve it. We tested the sex differences in postischemic expression of HSP72 and colocalization with NKA. The left renal pedicle of uninephrectomized female (F) and male (M) Wistar rats was clamped for 55 min followed by 2 (T2), 16 (T16), and 24 h (T24) of reperfusion. Uninephrectomized, sham-operated F and M rats served as controls. Postischemic blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and renal histology were analyzed. HSP72 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR, protein levels by Western blot analysis. Fluorescent immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the localization of HSP72 and NKA alpha(1)-subunit. Postischemic BUN and creatinine were higher, and renal histology showed more rapid progression in M vs. F (P < 0.05). HSP72 mRNA expression was higher in F vs. M in control and in all I/R groups (P < 0.05). Similar changes were observed in HSP72 protein levels (F vs. M, P < 0.05, control, T2, T16, T24, respectively). Immunohistochemical localization of HSP72 and NKA alpha(1) was similar in control F and M. In postischemic F kidneys, the majority of NKA alpha(1) and HSP72 was colocalized on the basolateral membrane of tubular cells, whereas in M prominent staining was observed in the cytosol and apical domain. This study indicates that in female kidneys the higher basal and postischemic levels of HSP72 and different colocalization with NKA might contribute to the gender differences in renal I/R injury.

Hsp90 Chaperones Wild-type p53 Tumor Suppressor Protein

Immortalized human fibroblasts were used to investigate the putative interactions of the Hsp90 molecular chaperone with the wild-type p53 tumor suppressor protein. We show that geldanamycin or radicicol, specific inhibitors of Hsp90, diminish specific wild-type p53 binding to the p21 promoter sequence. Consequently, these inhibitors decrease p21 mRNA levels, which lead to a reduction in cellular p21/Waf1 protein, known to induce cell cycle arrest. In control experiments, we show that neither geldanamycin nor radicicol affect p53 mRNA levels. A minor decrease in p53 protein level following the treatment of human fibroblasts with the inhibitors suggests the potential involvement of Hsp90 in the stabilization of wild-type p53. To support our in vivo findings, we used a reconstituted system with highly purified recombinant proteins to examine the effects of Hsp90 on wild-type p53 binding to the p21 promoter sequence. The human recombinant Hsp90 alpha-isoform as well as bovine brain Hsp90 were purified to homogeneity. Both of these molecular chaperones displayed ATPase activity and the ability to refold heat-inactivated luciferase in a geldanamycin- and radicicol-sensitive manner, suggesting that post-translational modifications are not involved in the modulation of Hsp90alpha activity. We show that the incubation of recombinant p53 at 37 degrees C decreases the level of its wild-type conformation and strongly inhibits the in vitro binding of p53 to the p21 promoter sequence. Interestingly, Hsp90 in an ATP-dependent manner can positively modulate p53 DNA binding after incubation at physiological temperature of 37 degrees C. Other recombinant human chaperones from Hsp70 and Hsp40 families were not able to efficiently substitute Hsp90 in this reaction. Consistent with our in vivo results, geldanamycin can suppress Hsp90 ability to regulate in vitro p53 DNA binding to the promoter sequence. In summary, the results presented in this article state that chaperone activity of Hsp90 is important for the transcriptional activity of genotypically wild-type p53.

A bichaperone (Hsp70-Hsp78) system restores mitochondrial DNA synthesis following thermal inactivation of Mip1p polymerase

Mitochondrial DNA synthesis is a thermosensitive process in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that restoration of mtDNA synthesis following heat treatment of cells is dependent on reactivation of the mtDNA polymerase Mip1p through the action of a mitochondrial bichaperone system consisting of the Hsp70 system and the Hsp78 oligomeric protein. mtDNA synthesis was inefficiently restored after heat shock in yeast lacking either functional component of the bichaperone system. Furthermore, the activity of purified Mip1p was also thermosensitive; however, the purified components of the mitochondrial bichaperone system (Ssc1p, Mdj1p, Mge1p, and Hsp78p) were able to protect its activity under moderate heat shock conditions as well as to reactivate thermally inactivated Mip1p. Interestingly, the reactivation of endogenous Mip1p contributed more significantly to the restoration of mtDNA synthesis than did import of newly synthesized Mip1p from the cytosol. These observations suggest an important link between function of mitochondrial chaperones and the propagation of mitochondrial genomes under ever-changing environmental conditions.

Calf thymus Hsc70 and Hsc40 can substitute for DnaK and DnaJ function in protein renaturation but not in bacteriophage DNA replication

Calf thymus (ct) Hsc70 has been shown previously to reactivate heat-inactivated prokaryotic and eukaryotic enzymes, while DnaK was able to reactivate solely prokaryotic enzymes. Here, we report on isolation from calf thymus of a DnaJ homolog, ctHsc40, and on testing of its cooperative function in three different assays: (i) reactivation of heat-inactivated DNA polymerases, (ii) stimulation of the ATPase activity of ctHsc70 chaperone, and (iii) replication of bacteriophage lambda DNA. Surprisingly, ctHsc70/ctHsc40 chaperones were found to reactivate the denatured prokaryotic and eukaryotic enzymes but not to promote bacteriophage lambda DNA replication, suggesting species specificity in DNA replication.

Genomic cloning of the Hsc71 gene in the hermaphroditic teleost Rivulus marmoratus and analysis of its expression in skeletal muscle: identification of a novel muscle-preferred regulatory element

To further our understanding of the role of stress proteins in development as well as in adaptation of fish to adverse environmental conditions, we undertook molecular analyses of stress protein encoding genes from the hermaphroditic teleost Rivulus marmoratus. We isolated a genomic clone containing the Hsc71 gene (rm-hsc71m) and its upstream sequences. rm-Hsc71m is not induced by external stress, but is enriched in a tissue-specific manner during early development. In adult, the strongest expression appeared in skeletal muscle, whereas lower expression was seen in the gill, eye and brain. To understand the regulatory basis of high muscle expression of rm-hsc71m, transfection of R.marmoratus muscle tissue was performed using 5' deletion fragments containing the rm-hsc71m promoter driving EGFP expression. An upstream region from -2.7 to -1.9 kb was identified as a muscle-specific regulatory region. Within this region, we identified at least three sites with the novel sequence TGTnACA interacting with a fish muscle factor having an M(r) of 32 000. Our data indicate that rm-hsc71m expression in skeletal muscle is controlled by a muscle-specific regulatory element containing this novel motif.

Stimulation of DNA Polymerase α Activity by Cdk2-Phosphorylated Rb Protein

We propose a new role of retinoblastoma protein as a cell growth activator in its phosphorylated form. The hyper-phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein generated by the action of cdk2/cyclin E strongly stimulated the activity of DNA polymerase alpha, but did not stimulate DNA polymerases delta, epsilon, or primase. But, cdk4/cyclin D-phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein showed little stimulation. Hyper-phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein interacted with the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase alpha, and stabilised DNA polymerase alpha from heat inactivation at 45 degrees C. These results suggest that in G1 phase, hypo-phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein suppresses the progression of cell cycle as a transcription inhibitor, but that after phosphorylation by cdk2/cyclin E at the G1/S boundary, hyper-phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein acts as a cell-cycle promoter by optimising the DNA polymerase alpha reaction.

The nuclear matrix is a thermolabile cellular structure

Heat shock sensitizes cells to ionizing radiation, cells heated in S phase have increased chromosomal aberrations, and both Hsp27 and Hsp70 translocate to the nucleus following heat shock, suggesting that the nucleus is a site of thermal damage. We show that the nuclear matrix is the most thermolabile nuclear component. The thermal denaturation profile of the nuclear matrix of Chinese hamster lung V79 cells, determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), has at least 2 transitions at Tm = 48 degrees C and 55 degrees C with an onset temperature of approximately 40 degrees C. The heat absorbed during these transitions is 1.5 cal/g protein, which is in the range of enthalpies for protein denaturation. There is a sharp increase in 1-anilinonapthalene-8-sulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence with Tm = 48 degrees C, indicating increased exposure of hydrophobic residues at this transition. The Tm = 48 degrees C transition has a similar Tm to those predicted for the critical targets for heat-induced clonogenic killing (Tm = 46 degrees C) and thermal radiosensitization (Tm = 47 degrees C), suggesting that denaturation of nuclear matrix proteins with Tm = 48 degrees C contribute to these forms of nuclear damage. Following heating at 43 degrees C for 2 hours, Hsc70 binds to isolated nuclear matrices and isolated nuclei, probably because of the increased exposure of hydrophobic domains. In addition, approximately 25% of exogenous citrate synthase also binds, indicating a general increase in aggregation of proteins onto the nuclear matrix. We propose that this is the mechanism for increased association of nuclear proteins with the nuclear matrix observed in nuclei Isolated from heat-shocked cells and is a form of indirect thermal damage.

Characteristics of the interaction between Hsc70 and the transferrin receptor in exosomes released during reticulocyte maturation

The transferrin receptor (TfR) of reticulocytes is released in vesicular form (exosomes) during their maturation to erythrocytes. The heat shock cognate 70-kDa protein (Hsc70) has been demonstrated to interact with the cytosolic domain of the TfR and could thus trigger the receptor toward this secretion pathway. We investigated the characteristics of the interaction between Hsc70 and the TfR in exosomes with an in vitro binding assay using TfR immobilized on Sepharose beads and purified Hsc70. The results show that Hsc70 binds to exosomal TfR with characteristics expected of a chaperone/peptide interaction. We demonstrated that heat-denatured luciferase competed for in vitro binding, dependent on the nucleotide bound to Hsc70, and that this interaction activates the ATPase activity of Hsc70. Moreover, we used immunosuppressive agents that interact with Hsc70, thus decreasing Hsc70 binding to TfR in our in vitro binding assay and enabling us to assess the role of this interaction in vivo during reticulocyte maturation.

Heat shock protein-70 repairs proximal tubule structure after renal ischemia

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have suggested a role of heat shock protein (HSP)-70 in cytoskeletal repair during cellular recovery from renal ischemia. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that HSP-70 interacts in vitro with cytoskeletal elements obtained from rat renal cortex during early reflow after renal ischemia.

METHODS

Cellular proteins were fractionated into cytoskeletal pellets and noncytoskeletal supernatants by Triton X-100 extraction of rat renal cortex obtained after 15 minutes or 18 hours of reflow after 45 minutes of renal ischemia, or from controls. Aliquots of isolated pellets were coincubated with aliquots of isolated supernatants in different combinations. A repeat Triton extraction was performed, and differential distribution of Na, K-ATPase or HSP-70 was assessed by Western blots and densitometric analysis.

RESULTS

Coincubation of cytoskeletal pellets obtained during early reflow after renal ischemia (exhibiting severe injury of the cytoskeletal anchorage of Na,K-ATPase) and noncytoskeletal supernatant obtained during later reflow (showing high HSP expression) resulted in specific translocation of HSP-70 from the supernatant into the pellet, functionally associated with dose-dependent stabilization of Na,K-ATPase within this cytoskeletal fraction. These effects could be reproduced by incubation with purified HSP-70 and were abolished by the addition of anti-HSP-70 antibodies.

CONCLUSION

These data support the hypothesis that HSP-70 interacts with cytoskeletal elements during the restoration of proximal tubule cell structure and polarity after renal ischemia. This experimental approach represents a new in vitro assay to study further the role of HSP in cellular repair.

Dual role of the mitochondrial chaperone Mdj1p in inheritance of mitochondrial DNA in yeast

Mdj1p, a homolog of the bacterial DnaJ chaperone protein, plays an essential role in the biogenesis of functional mitochondria in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We analyzed the role of Mdj1p in the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mitochondrial genomes were rapidly lost in a temperature-sensitive mdj1 mutant under nonpermissive conditions. The activity of mtDNA polymerase was severely reduced in the absence of functional Mdj1p at a nonpermissive temperature, demonstrating the dependence of the enzyme on Mdj1p. At a permissive temperature, the activity of mtDNA polymerase was not affected by the absence of Mdj1p. However, under these conditions, intact [rho(+)] genomes were rapidly converted to nonfunctional [rho(-)] genomes which were stably propagated in an mdj1 deletion strain. We propose that mtDNA polymerase depends on Mdj1p as a chaperone in order to acquire and/or maintain an active conformation at an elevated temperature. In addition, Mdj1p is required for the inheritance of intact mitochondrial genomes at a temperature supporting optimal growth; this second function appears to be unrelated to the function of Mdj1p in maintaining mtDNA polymerase activity.

In vivo chaperone activity of heat shock protein 70 and thermotolerance

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is thought to play a critical role in the thermotolerance of mammalian cells, presumably due to its chaperone activity. We examined the chaperone activity and cellular heat resistance of a clonal cell line in which overexpression of Hsp70 was transiently induced by means of the tetracycline-regulated gene expression system. This single-cell-line approach circumvents problems associated with clonal variation and indirect effects resulting from constitutive overexpression of Hsp70. The in vivo chaperone function of Hsp70 was quantitatively investigated by using firefly luciferase as a reporter protein. Chaperone activity was found to strictly correlate to the level of Hsp70 expression. In addition, we observed an Hsp70 concentration dependent increase in the cellular heat resistance. In order to study the contribution of the Hsp70 chaperone activity, heat resistance of cells that expressed tetracycline-regulated Hsp70 was compared to thermotolerant cells expressing the same level of Hsp70 plus all of the other heat shock proteins. Overexpression of Hsp70 alone was sufficient to induce a similar recovery of cytoplasmic luciferase activity, as does expression of all Hsps in thermotolerant cells. However, when the luciferase reporter protein was directed to the nucleus, expression of Hsp70 alone was not sufficient to yield the level of recovery observed in thermotolerant cells. In addition, cells expressing the same level of Hsp70 found in heat-induced thermotolerant cells containing additional Hsps showed increased resistance to thermal killing but were more sensitive than thermotolerant cells. These results suggest that the inducible form of Hsp70 contributes to the stress-tolerant state by increasing the chaperone activity in the cytoplasm. However, its expression alone is apparently insufficient for protection of other subcellular compartments to yield clonal heat resistance to the level observed in thermotolerant cells.

On the mechanism of FtsH-dependent degradation of the sigma 32 transcriptional regulator of Escherichia coli and the role of the Dnak chaperone machine

The Escherichia coli sigma 32 transcriptional regulator has been shown to be degraded both in vivo and in vitro by the FtsH (HflB) protease, a member of the AAA protein family. In our attempts to study this process in detail, we found that two sigma 32 mutants lacking 15-20 C-terminal amino acids had substantially increased half-lives in vivo or in vitro, compared with wild-type sigma 32. A truncated version of sigma 32, sigma 32 C delta, was purified to homogeneity and shown to be resistant to FtsH-dependent degradation in vitro, suggesting that FtsH initiates sigma 32 degradation from its extreme C-terminal region. Purified sigma 32 C delta interacted with the DnaK and DnaJ chaperone proteins in a fashion similar to that of wild-type sigma 32. However, in contrast to wild-type sigma 32, sigma 32 C delta was largely deficient in its in vivo and in vitro interaction with core RNA polymerase. As a consequence, the truncated sigma 32 protein was completely non-functional in vivo, even when overproduced. Furthermore, it is shown that wild-type sigma 32 is protected from degradation by FtsH when complexed to the RNA polymerase core, but sensitive to proteolysis when in complex with the DnaK chaperone machine. Our results are in agreement with the proposal that the capacity of the DnaK chaperone machine to autoregulate its own synthesis negatively is simply the result of its ability to sequester sigma 32 from RNA polymerase, thus making it accessible to degradation by the FtsH protease.

ATP releases HSP-72 from protein aggregates after renal ischemia

The pattern of 72-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP-72) induction after renal ischemia suggests a role in restoring cell structure. HSP-72 activity in the repair and release from denatured and aggregated proteins requires ATP. Protein aggregates were purified from normal and ischemic rat renal cortex. The addition of ATP to cortical homogenates reduced HSP-72, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, and actin in aggregates subsequently isolated, suggesting that their interaction is ATP dependent. Altering ATP hydrolysis in the purified aggregates, however, had different effects. ATP released HSP-72 during reflow and preserved Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase association with aggregates at 2 h but had no effect in controls or at 6 h reflow and caused no change in actin. These results indicate that HSP-72 complexes with aggregated cellular proteins in an ATP-dependent manner and suggests that enhancing HSP-72 function after ischemic renal injury assists refolding and stabilization of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase or aggregated elements of the cytoskeleton, allowing reassembly into a more organized state.

Hsp70 and Hsp40 chaperone activities in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of mammalian cells

The existence and function of a Hsp40-Hsp70 chaperone machinery in mammalian cells in vivo was investigated. The rate of heat inactivation of firefly luciferase transiently expressed in hamster O23 fibroblasts was analyzed in cells co-transfected with the gene encoding the human Hsp40 (Ohtsuka, K. (1993) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 197, 235-240), the human inducible Hsp70 (Hunt, C., and Morimoto, R. I. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 82, 6455-6459), or a combination of both. Whereas the expression of human Hsp70 alone in hamster cells was sufficient for the protection of firefly luciferase during heat shock, expression of the human Hsp40 alone was not. Rather, this led to a small but significant increase in the heat sensitivity of luciferase. The expression of the human Hsp40 only led to heat protection when the human Hsp70 was expressed as well. Under such conditions the rate of luciferase reactivation from the heat-inactivated state was increased, but the rate of inactivation during heat shock was not affected. Using constructs that direct firefly luciferase either to the cytoplasm or to the nucleus (Michels, A. A., Nguyen, V.-T., Konings, A. W. T., Kampinga, H. H., and Bensaude, O. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 234, 382-389), it was demonstrated that these chaperone functions are found in both compartments. Our data provide the first evidence on how the Hsp40/Hsp70 chaperone complex acts as heat protector in mammalian cells in vivo.

In vivo exposure to ozone produces an increase in a 72-kDa heat shock protein in guinea pigs

Although several lines of evidence have suggested that oxidizing agents can induce heat shock proteins (HSPs) in vitro, little is known about the induction of HSPs during in vivo exposure to oxidants. Guinea pigs were exposed to ozone for 6 h and euthanized up to 72 h later. Proteins from lavage cells and lung tissue were characterized by immunoblotting with 72- and 73/72-kDa HSP monoclonal antibodies. Although 73-kDa HSP was expressed constituitively in lung tissue, it was not affected by ozone. In contrast, 72-kDa HSP was significantly increased in lavage cells and lung tissue of animals exposed to 0.4 and 0.66 parts/million of ozone. Both heat treatment and arsenite induced 72-kDa HSP in cultured alveolar macrophages. The increase in 72-kDa HSP in the lavage cell pellet peaked at 24 h after ozone, whereas the influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes peaked at 4 h. Examination of the induction of HSPs by ozone may provide clues to the development of ozone tolerance in humans and animals.

Molecular chaperones, folding catalysts, and the recovery of active recombinant proteins from E. coli. To fold or to refold

The high-level expression of recombinant gene products in the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli often results in the misfolding of the protein of interest and its subsequent degradation by cellular proteases or its deposition into biologically inactive aggregates known as inclusion bodies. It has recently become clear that in vivo protein folding is an energy-dependent process mediated by two classes of folding modulators. Molecular chaperones, such as the DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE and GroEL-GroES systems, suppress off-pathway aggregation reactions and facilitate proper folding through ATP-coordinated cycles of binding and release of folding intermediates. On the other hand, folding catalysts (foldases) accelerate rate-limiting steps along the protein folding pathway such as the cis/trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl bonds and the formation and reshuffling of disulfide bridges. Manipulating the cytoplasmic folding environment by increasing the intracellular concentration of all or specific folding modulators, or by inactivating genes encoding these proteins, holds great promise in facilitating the production and purification of heterologous proteins. Purified folding modulators and artificial systems that mimic their mode of action have also proven useful in improving the in vitro refolding yields of chemically denatured polypeptides. This review examines the usefulness and limitations of molecular chaperones and folding catalysts in both in vivo and in vitro folding processes.

A 16-kDa protein functions as a new regulatory protein for Hsc70 molecular chaperone and is identified as a member of the Nm23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase family

Cytoplasmic Hsc70 is a multifunctional molecular chaperone. It is hypothesized that accessory proteins are used to specify the diverse chaperone activities of Hsc70. A 16-kDa cytosolic protein (p16) co-purified with Hsc70 obtained from a fish hepatocyte cell line, PLHC-1. Hsc70 also co-immunoprecipitated with p16 from PLHC-1 cells and fish liver. p16 was identified as a member of the Nm23/nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase family based on its amino acid sequence similarity, NDP kinase activity, and recognition by anti-human NDP kinase-A antibody. This antibody also co-immunoprecipitated Hsc70 and NDP kinase from human HepG2 cells. p16 monomerized Hsc70 and released Hsc70 from pigeon cytochrome c peptide (Pc) but not from FYQLALT, a peptide specifically designed for high affinity binding. Therefore, p16 may modulate Hsc70 function by maintaining Hsc70 in a monomeric state and by dissociating unfolded proteins from Hsc70 either through protein-protein interactions or by supplying ATP indirectly through phosphate transfer. p16 did not affect basal or unfolded protein-stimulated ATPase activity of bovine brain Hsc70 using in vitro assays. Interestingly, bovine liver NDP kinase did not dissociate the Hsc70.Pc complex. In addition, two nonconservative amino acid subsitutions were found near the amino terminus of p16. Therefore, p16 may be a unique Nm23/NDP kinase that functions as an accessory protein for cytosolic Hsc70 in eukaryotes.

Cooperative action of Hsp70, Hsp90, and DnaJ proteins in protein renaturation

The proteins required for the repair of damaged proteins in the eukaryotic cytoplasm remain largely uncharacterized. The renaturation of thermally denatured firefly luciferase readily occurs in rabbit reticulocyte lysate by an ATP-dependent process. Earlier studies had shown that this chaperoning activity could be reconstituted, in part, using purified preparations of hsp70 and hsp90. We have extended the description of this system by clarifying the importance of hsp70 and hsp90 and have tested for additional factors that enhance renaturation. Using mutant hsp70 proteins, we have shown that hsp70 is required for luciferase renaturation. We have also found that hsp70 and hsp90 preparations purified by common procedures were contaminated with low levels of DnaJ proteins that are essential for the renaturing activity. When hsp70 and hsp90 preparations free of DnaJ proteins are used, the system must be supplemented with a DnaJ protein to obtain renaturation activity. The yeast DnaJ protein, YDJ-1, was found to be very effective for this purpose. Although significant renaturation can occur with only hsp70 and DnaJ proteins, hsp90 also contributes to the renaturation process, both in the complex environment of reticulocyte lysate and in a purified system. However, using highly purified hsp90 and geldanamycin, a specific inhibitor of hsp90 function, we have determined that hsp90 is not an essential component of the renaturation system. The contribution of hsp90 to renaturation is only partially blocked by geldanamycin, suggesting that this protein may influence activity in more than one way. This study indicates that hsp70, hsp90, and DnaJ proteins function cooperatively to renature damaged proteins in the eukaryotic cytoplasm and provides a framework by which additional components can be identified and individual chaperone contributions can be investigated.

Real time kinetics of the DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE molecular chaperone machine action

Applying stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy for measuring conformational changes of the DnaK molecular chaperone (bacterial Hsp70 homologue) and its binding to target peptide, we found that after ATP hydrolysis, DnaK is converted to the DnaK*(ADP) conformation, which possesses limited affinity for peptide substrates and the GrpE cochaperone but efficiently binds the DnaJ chaperone. In the presence of DnaJ (bacterial Hsp40 homologue), the DnaK*(ADP) form is converted back to the DnaK conformation, and the resulting DnaJ-DnaK(ADP) complex binds to peptide substrates more tightly. Formation of the DnaJ(substrate-DnaK(ADP)) complex is a rate-limiting reaction. The presence of GrpE and ATP hydrolysis promotes the fast release of the peptide substrate from the chaperone complex and converts DnaK to the DnaK*(ADP) conformation. We conclude that in the presence of DnaJ and GrpE, the binding-release cycle of DnaK is stoichiometrically coupled to the adenosine triphosphatase activity of DnaK.

Role of the mitochondrial DnaJ homologue, Mdj1p, in the prevention of heat-induced protein aggregation

The role of the mitochondrial Hsp70 system in the prevention of heat-induced protein aggregation was studied in isolated mitochondria from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Firefly luciferase was employed as a thermolabile tester protein. After shift to 40 degrees Celsius transient increase of mt-Hsp70/luciferase complex was observed, which required functional Mdj1p and Mge1p, the mitochondrial homologues of DnaJ and GrpE. The kinetics of luciferase aggregation, however, were not influenced by mutations in either mt-Hsp70 or Mge1p. Only the absence of Mdj1p led to enhanced protein aggregation. Thus, a central role in the transient protection against heat stress is attributed to this mitochondrial DnaJ homologue.

Heat-shock induced protein modifications and modulation of enzyme activities

Upon heat stress, the cell physiology is profoundly altered. The extent of the alterations depends on the severity of the stress and may lead to cell death. The heat shock response is an array of metabolic changes characterized by the impairment of major cellular functions and by an adaptative reprogramming of the cell metabolism. The enhanced synthesis of the HSPs is a spectacular manifestation of this reprogramming. Numerous post translational modifications of proteins occur in response to heat stress and can be related to altered cellular functions. Some proteins are heat-denatured and temporarily inactivated. Heat-denaturation is reversible, chaperones may contribute to the repair. The extent of heat-denaturation depends on the cell metabolism: (a) it is attenuated in thermotolerant cells or in cells overexpressing the appropriate chaperones (b) it is enhanced in energy-deprived cells. Covalent modifications may also rapidly alter protein function. Changes in protein glycosylation, methylation, acetylation, farnesylation, ubiquitination have been found to occur during stress. But protein phosphorylation is the most studied modification. Several protein kinase cascades are activated, among which the various mitogen activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) cascades which are also triggered by a wide range of stimuli. As a possible consequence, stress modifies the phosphorylation status and the activity of components from the transcriptional and translational apparatuses. The same kinases also target key enzymes of the cellular metabolism. Protein denaturation results in constitutive hsp titration, this titration is a signal to trigger the heat-shock gene transcription and to activate some of the protein kinase cascades.