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Abstract
DNA topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitors either stabilize DNA-topo II complexes by blocking DNA religation (e.g. etoposide) or block the enzyme's catalytic activity (e.g. dexrazoxane). The former class of drugs causes direct DNA damage through topo II, while the latter class does not, but both classes cause apoptosis. We cloned the Fas ligand (FasL) promoter and coupled it to the luciferase gene. Treatment of cells transfected with this construct revealed that complex-stabilizing (DNA-damaging) agents induce FasL expression, but the catalytic inhibitors do not, suggesting that the FasL pathway may not be involved in all cases of topoisomerase-mediated apoptosis. Some topo II inhibitors activate a pathway involving stress-activated protein kinases, which include c-Jun N-terminal kinase-1 (JNK-1). We will discuss the effects of these agents on components of this pathway. Our earlier work revealed that topo IIalpha interacts with the cell cycle regulatory protein, retinoblastoma protein (Rb). This interaction and the subcellular distribution of these proteins are altered by topo II inhibitory drugs and lead to apoptosis. In addition, agents that affect Rb, such as E1A and E2F1/DP-1, when transfected into cells, also alter topo IIalpha-Rb localization, activate jun kinase pathways and cause apoptosis. This paper discusses current studies that are designed to determine the contributions of these signalling events to the alterations in subcellular protein distribution and apoptosis. We suggest that protein-protein interactions are important for mediation of cytotoxic signalling by anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- W T Beck
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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2
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Abstract
DNA topoisomerase (topo) I is a nuclear enzyme that plays an important role in DNA metabolism. Based on conserved nuclear targeting sequences, four classic nuclear localization signals (NLSs) have been proposed at the N terminus of human topo I, but studies with yeast have suggested that only one of them (amino acids (aa) 150-156) is sufficient to direct the enzyme to the nucleus. In this study, we expressed human topo I fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in mammalian cells and demonstrated that whereas aa 150-156 are sufficient for nuclear localization, the nucleolar localization requires aa 157-199. More importantly, we identified a novel NLS within aa 117-146. In contrast to the classic NLSs that are rich in basic amino acids, the novel NLS identified in this study is rich in acidic amino acids. Furthermore, this novel NLS alone is sufficient to direct not only EGFP into the nucleus but also topo I; and the EGFP.topo I fusion driven by the novel NLS is as active in vivo as the wild-type topo I in response to the topo I inhibitor topotecan. Together, our results suggest that human topo I carries two independent NLSs that have opposite amino acid compositions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Molecular Genetics and Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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3
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Yu R, Chen C, Mo YY, Hebbar V, Owuor ED, Tan TH, Kong AN. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways induces antioxidant response element-mediated gene expression via a Nrf2-dependent mechanism. J Biol Chem 2000; 275:39907-13. [PMID: 10986282 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m004037200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Antioxidant response element (ARE) regulates the induction of a number of cellular antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. However, the signaling pathways that lead to ARE activation remain unknown. Here, we report that the expression of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1), transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase (TAK1), and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK1) in HepG2 cells activated the ARE reporter gene, whereas the expression of their dominant-negative mutants impaired ARE activation by the chemicals sodium arsenite and mercury chloride. Coexpression of downstream kinases, MAP kinase kinase 4, MAP kinase kinase 6, and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase-1, but not MAP kinase kinase 3 and p38, augmented ARE activation by MEKK1, TAK1, and ASK1. The coexpression of a basic leucine zipper transcription factor Nrf2 but not c-Jun also greatly enhanced the activation of reporter gene by MEKK1, TAK1, and ASK1; however, a dominant-negative mutant of Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) blocked this event. Furthermore, when overexpressed, MEKK1, TAK1, and ASK1 induced the expression of heme oxygenase-1, a gene regulated by ARE, and the cotransfection with the dominant-negative mutant of Nrf2 abolished the induction. Taken together, these results suggest that MAP kinase pathways that are activated by MEKK1, TAK1, and ASK1 may link chemical signals to Nrf2, leading to the activation of ARE-dependent genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Yu
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics and Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA
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4
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Abstract
DNA topoisomerase (topo) I plays an important role in DNA metabolism by relieving the torsional restraints of DNA topology through ATP-independent single-strand DNA breakage. In the present study, we expressed human topo I in HeLa cells by fusing it to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The EGFP-topo I fusion protein is functionally active in that it relaxes supercoiled plasmid DNA; forms complexes with DNA, as revealed by band depletion assays; and increases the sensitivity of cells to topo I inhibitors such as topotecan, as determined by growth inhibition assays. In contrast, a mutant form of the EGFP-topo I fusion protein, in which the active Tyr has been replaced by Phe (Y723F), has no such activities. Furthermore, the fusion protein localizes to the nucleus at interphase and completely associates with chromatids at every stage of mitosis. Of importance, the mutant fusion protein (Y723F) displays a pattern of subcellular localization identical to that of the wild-type fusion protein, although the mutant fusion protein is catalytically inactive. These results suggest that in addition to its role in DNA metabolism, topo I might also play a structural role in chromosomal organization; moreover, the association of topo I with chromosomal DNA is independent of its catalytic activity. Finally, the fusion constructs may provide a useful tool to study drug action in tumor cells, as demonstrated by nucleolar delocalization of the fusion proteins in response to treatment with the topo I inhibitor topotecan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Division of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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5
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Abstract
DNA topoisomerase (topo) II is an essential nuclear enzyme that plays an important role in DNA metabolism and chromosome organization. In the present study, we expressed human topo IIalpha in mammalian cells by fusion to an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Decatenation assays indicated that the EGFP-topo IIalpha is catalytically active in vitro. Assays for band depletion, growth inhibition, and cytotoxicity by topo II inhibitors suggested that the fusion protein is also functional in vivo. By following its subcellular localization throughout the cell cycle in living cells, we found that the fusion protein is localized to the nucleus and nucleolus at interphase, and it is bound to chromosomal DNA at every stage of mitosis. Of importance, a mutant EGFP-topo IIalpha, in which the active Tyr 805 is replaced by Phe (Y805F) and is catalytically inactive, still binds to chromosomal DNA throughout the cell cycle like the wild-type enzyme. Together, our results suggest that the ability of topo IIalpha to bind to chromosomal DNA in the cell, a presumed requirement for its structural role, can be separated from its catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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6
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Abstract
Many anticancer agents exert their cytotoxicity through DNA damage and induction of apoptosis. Fas ligand (FasL), a key component of T lymphocytes, has been shown to be induced by some of those agents. To address what is an early signal for this induction, we constructed a FasL promoter-luciferase reporter gene to investigate effects of DNA topoisomerase (Topo) II inhibitors on FasL promoter activity. Transient transfection assays in HeLa and other tumor cell lines demonstrated that induction of FasL promoter activity in response to Topo II inhibitors such as VM-26 mimicked endogenous FasL expression under the same conditions. The ability of these agents to induce FasL expression correlated with their ability to cause DNA damage. For instance, complex-stabilizing Topo II inhibitors such as etoposide, teniposide, and doxorubicin, which cause DNA damage, strongly induce FasL expression; by contrast, non-DNA-damaging catalytic Topo II inhibitors such as ICRF-187 and merbarone do not do this. In support of the notion that DNA damage triggers FasL induction, we found that DNA-damaging irradiation also induced FasL promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, the catalytic Topo II inhibitor ICRF-187 suppressed VM-26-induced-FasL expression. This suppression correlated with the ability of this drug to inhibit VM-26-induced DNA strand breaks. Together, our results suggest that DNA damage in response to agents such as etoposide and teniposide might serve as an early signal to induce FasL expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Division of Developmental Therapeutics, Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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7
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Abstract
DNA topoisomerase (topo) II alpha is a major target for many anticancer agents. However, progress towards understanding how these agents interact with this enzyme in human cells and how resistance to these agents arises is greatly impeded by difficulties in expressing this gene. Here, we report on achieving a high level of expression of a full-length human topo II alpha gene in human cells. We started with the topo II alpha cDNA driven by a strong cytomegalovirus promoter and transiently transfected HeLa cells. Although topo II alpha mRNA was consistently detected in transfected cells, no exogenous topo II alpha protein was detected. By contrast, when the same cDNA was fused to an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), we detected a high level of expression at both mRNA and protein levels. The exogenous topo II alpha was localized to cell nuclei as expected, indicating that the fusion protein is properly folded. Furthermore, overexpression of the EGFP-topo II alpha fusion protein increased the sensitivity of the transfected cells to teniposide, suggesting that it functions as the endogenous counterpart. Thus, in addition to being used as a gene tag, the GFP fusion approach may be generally applicable for expressing genes, such as topo II alpha, that are difficult to express by conventional methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
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8
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Mo YY, Seshu J, Wang D, Mallavia LP. Synthesis in Escherichia coli of two smaller enzymically active analogues of Coxiella burnetii macrophage infectivity potentiator (CbMip) protein utilizing a single open reading frame from the cbmip gene. Biochem J 1998; 335 ( Pt 1):67-77. [PMID: 9742214 PMCID: PMC1219753 DOI: 10.1042/bj3350067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) have been identified in a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Macrophage infectivity potentiator (CbMip, 23.5 kDa) protein of the obligate intracellular bacterium, Coxiella burnetii, was shown previously to belong to the family of FKBPs based on sequence homology and peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) activity. Further characterization of the cbmip gene has identified two additional proteins with molecular masses of 15.5 and 15.0 kDa that are synthesized, in addition to the 23.5 kDa CbMip, when expressed in Escherichia coli. Amino acid sequencing at the N-terminus combined with transcription and translation fusion expression revealed that the two proteins were synthesized from the same open reading frame of the cbmip gene, but starting at different internal translation start codons, probably by translational reinitiation. When the internal methionines serving as start sites were replaced with lysine by site-directed mutagenesis, the synthesis of 15.5 and 15.0 kDa proteins was abolished even though the synthesis of 23.5 kDa CbMip was intact. This confirmed that the 15.5 and 15.0 kDa proteins are indeed generated by translational reinitiation and are not degradation products of the 23.5 kDa protein. Like other FKBPs, both 15.5 and 15.0 kDa proteins exhibit PPIase activity. Because they share significant sequence homology with FKBPs and have a similar PPIase activity, 15.5 and 15. 0 kDa proteins are designated as C. burnetii FKBP (Cb-FKBP) analogues I and II, respectively. TnphoA mutagenesis demonstrated that whereas the large protein (CbMip) is secreted, Cb-FKBP analogues I and II are cytoplasmic, indicating that structural variations could allow for different subcellular compartmentalization of similar proteins. Western-blot analysis of lysates of purified C. burnetii using a CbMip-specific monoclonal antibody revealed the presence of a protein migrating at approximately 15 kDa, indicating the presence of smaller Cb-FKBP analogue(s) in C. burnetii, although at much lower levels compared with 23.5 kDa CbMip. This unique gene organization seen with cbmip may provide the organism with a mechanism of efficient use of its limited genetic information to synthesize proteins that are structurally different yet functionally similar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Department of Microbiology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4233, USA
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9
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Guo Z, Mital D, Mo YY, Tian Y, Shen J, Chong AS, Foster P, Sankary H, McChesney L, Jensik SC, Williams JW. Effect of gene gun-mediated CTLA4IG and Fas ligand gene transfection on concordant xenogeneic islet graft rejection. Transplant Proc 1998; 30:589. [PMID: 9532189 DOI: 10.1016/s0041-1345(97)01418-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Z Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, IL 60612, USA
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10
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Mo YY, Wang Q, Beck WT. Down-regulation of topoisomerase IIalpha in CEM cells selected for merbarone resistance is associated with reduced expression of Sp3. Cancer Res 1997; 57:5004-8. [PMID: 9371492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) is a target for many clinically useful anticancer drugs. However, a major concern in the use of these drugs is the development of resistance, often manifested by reduced drug accumulation or reduced topo IIalpha activity, due to mutant enzyme or the enzyme's decreased expression. To date, little is known of how the topo IIalpha is down-regulated in the resistant cells. In this study, using CEM cells selected for resistance to merbarone, we found that topo IIalpha RNA levels were reduced, compared to the parental cells, and this corresponded to reduced protein levels, whereas there was no significant difference in the RNA stability among these cell lines. Furthermore, we detected a lower level of topo IIalpha promoter activity in these resistant cells compared to the drug-sensitive parents. Thus, the down-regulation of topo IIalpha appeared to occur at the transcriptional level. Nucleotide sequencing of the topo IIalpha promoter regions up to -1200 bp revealed no mutations, suggesting that some trans-acting factors are possibly involved in this down-regulation of topo Ilalpha. In this context, we found by Northern blot analysis that the transcription factor, sp3, was reduced in the drug-resistant cell lines compared to the parental cells. Furthermore, cotransfection experiments revealed that Sp3 induced topo IIalpha promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner in drug-sensitive CEM cells, but its induction of topo IIalpha promoter activity was attenuated in the resistant B12 cells. Our results suggest that down-regulation of Sp3 might contribute to the reduced expression of topo IIalpha in certain drug-resistant tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Division of Developmental Therapeutics, Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60607-7173, USA
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11
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Beck WT, Khélifa T, Kusumoto H, Mo YY, Rodgers Q, Wolverton JS, Wang Q. Novel mechanisms of resistance to inhibitors of DNA topoisomerases. Adv Enzyme Regul 1997; 37:17-26. [PMID: 9381970 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-2571(96)00024-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- W T Beck
- Cancer Center (m/c 569), College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago 60607-7173, USA
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12
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Mo YY, Beck WT. Heterogeneous expression of DNA topoisomerase II alpha isoforms in tumor cell lines. Oncol Res 1997; 9:193-204. [PMID: 9268990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase II alpha is a nuclear enzyme essential for DNA metabolism and cell cycle progression. Previous studies have shown that human tumor cell lines can express more than one topoisomerase II alpha isoform through alternative splicing. A 160-kDa isoform of topoisomerase II alpha has been described in several cell lines selected for resistance to inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase, but its physiological function has not been defined. In the present study, we have identified two major (160 and 140 kDa) and two minor (150 and 145 kDa) isoforms of topoisomerase II alpha in drug-sensitive human leukemic CEM cells, all of which have lost C-terminal regions that produce epitopes recognized by specific antibodies. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and molecular cloning identified four alternatively spliced transcripts of topoisomerase II alpha from CEM cells. Furthermore, nucleotide sequencing indicated that the 160-kDa isoform is encoded by two transcripts derived from alternative splicing at a different C-terminal site and that the other two transcripts likely code for the 150-kDa isoform. Although the full-length topoisomerase II alpha resided in the cell nucleus, all altered isoforms, except the 160 kDa that was located in both cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts in about equal amount, were shown to be present predominantly in the cytosol. In contrast to the observations of other groups, we have not found an association of the topoisomerase II alpha isoforms with drug resistance. Rather, our results suggest that expression of topoisomerase II alpha isoforms is cell type specific or might be associated with the neoplastic phenotype of the cells. Thus, although T-lineage tumor cell lines examined (CEM, Jurkat, and H9) displayed altered topoisomerase II alpha isoforms, normal T cells expressed only a full-length copy of the gene. Together, these results suggest that expression of altered topoisomerase II alpha isoforms is not limited to drug resistance, but might be a feature of neoplastic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Division of Developmental Therapeutics, University of Illinois at Chicago 60607, USA
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13
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Reynolds AB, Daniel JM, Mo YY, Wu J, Zhang Z. The novel catenin p120cas binds classical cadherins and induces an unusual morphological phenotype in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Exp Cell Res 1996; 225:328-37. [PMID: 8660921 DOI: 10.1006/excr.1996.0183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
p120cas (CAS) is a tyrosine kinase substrate whose phosphorylation has been implicated in cell transformation by Src and in ligand-induced signaling through the EGF, PDGF, and CSF-1 receptors. More recently, CAS has been shown to associate with E-cadherin and its cofactors (catenins), molecules that are involved in cell adhesion. Although both CAS and beta-catenin contain armadillo repeat domains (Arm domains), the amino acid identity between these proteins in this region is only 22%, and it is not yet clear whether CAS will emulate other catenins by associating with other members of the cadherin family. Here we report that in addition to binding E-cadherin, wild-type CAS associated with N-cadherin and P-cadherin. Transient transfection of cloned CAS isoforms into MDCK epithelial cells indicated that CAS1 and CAS2 isoforms are equally capable of binding to E-cadherin even though these cells preferentially express CAS2 isoforms. In addition, CAS colocalized with N-cadherin in NIH3T3 cells and analysis of CAS mutants in vivo indicated that the CAS-N-cadherin interaction requires an intact CAS Arm domain. The data suggest that CAS-cadherin interactions in general are dictated by the conserved armadillo repeats and are not heavily influenced by sequences added outside the Arm domain by alternative splicing. Interestingly, overexpression of CAS in NIH3T3 cells induced a striking morphological phenotype characterized by the presence of long dendrite-like processes. This branching phenotype was specific for CAS, since (i) overexpression of the structurally similar beta-catenin had little effect on cell morphology, and (ii) the branching was abolished by deletions in the CAS Arm domain. Our data indicate that, like other catenins, CAS is a cofactor for multiple members of the cadherin family. However, the dramatically distinct phenotype exhibited by fibroblasts overexpressing CAS, versus beta-catenin, support recent data suggesting that these catenins have fundamentally different and possibly opposing roles in cadherin complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Reynolds
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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14
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Mo YY, Reynolds AB. Identification of murine p120 isoforms and heterogeneous expression of p120cas isoforms in human tumor cell lines. Cancer Res 1996; 56:2633-40. [PMID: 8653709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
p120cas (CAS) is a protein tyrosine kinase substrate that associates directly with the cytoplasmic tail of the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. CAS is thus part of a multimolecular complex that, along with other cadherin-binding proteins (catenins), mediates interactions between E-cadherin and the actin cytoskeleton. Down-regulation of E-cadherin expression and defects in catenin function have been implicated in tumor metastasis, but the role of CAS in these processes has not been addressed. Recently, the study of CAS was complicated when new anti-CAS antibodies revealed the presence of at least four putative CAS isoforms that appeared to vary in abundance between cell types. Here, we identify the four major isoforms expressed in murine fibroblasts, and we show that they are products of alternative splicing. Analysis of CAS isoforms in a variety of murine cell lines indicates that motile cells like fibroblasts and macrophages preferentially express CAS1 (i.e., CAS1A and CAS1B isoforms), and epithelial cells preferentially express CAS2 (i.e., CAS2A and CAS2B isoforms), whereas nonadherent cells (e.g., B cells, T cells, and myeloid cells) do not express detectable levels of CAS. Interestingly, CAS1 expression is dramatically up-regulated in a Src-transformed Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line, indicating that the pattern of isoform expression can be altered by cell transformation. Analysis of a variety of differentiated and metastatic human tumor cell lines reveals that CAS isoform expression in these cells is quite heterogeneous. Furthermore, several poorly differentiated cell lines fail to express particular isoforms that are typically observed in well-differentiated cell lines. These data raise the possibility that unbalanced expression of CAS isoforms in human carcinomas may influence cadherin function and contribute to malignant or metastatic cell phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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15
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Mo YY, Cianciotto NP, Mallavia LP. Molecular cloning of a Coxiella burnetii gene encoding a macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) analogue. Microbiology (Reading) 1995; 141 ( Pt 11):2861-71. [PMID: 8535514 DOI: 10.1099/13500872-141-11-2861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The gene encoding a protein that reacted with antibodies specific for Legionella pneumophila macrophage infectivity potentiator (LpMip) was cloned from Coxiella burnetii, the obligate intracellular rickettsia that causes Q fever in humans. Nucleotide sequencing analysis revealed an ORF encoding a gene product of 230 amino acids with a molecular mass of 25.5 kDa and a predicted pI of 10.7. The predicted amino acid sequence from the ORF shows similarity with Mip/Mip-like proteins of Legionella (46%) and Chlamydia (30%). Moreover, like LpMip, the amino acid sequence of the C terminus of this protein has over 35% identity to prokaryotic and eukaryotic FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) that belong to a superfamily of immunophilins and are peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases (PPIases). When overproduced in Escherichia coli, the C. burnetii protein also exhibited PPIase activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that C. burnetii encodes a Mip analogue (CbMip). A putative leader peptide at the N terminus of CbMip was detected by computer analysis. Furthermore, TnphoA mutagenesis demonstrated that in E. coli CbMip was secreted. In view of the role of Mip/Mip-like proteins in the pathogenesis of Legionella and Chlamydia, CbMip may be a C. burnetii virulence factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Department of Microbiology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4233, USA
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16
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Afseth G, Mo YY, Mallavia LP. Characterization of the 23S and 5S rRNA genes of Coxiella burnetii and identification of an intervening sequence within the 23S rRNA gene. J Bacteriol 1995; 177:2946-9. [PMID: 7751314 PMCID: PMC176976 DOI: 10.1128/jb.177.10.2946-2949.1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterization of the rRNA operon from the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii has determined the order of the rRNA genes to be 16S-23S-5S. A 444-bp intervening sequence (IVS) was identified to interrupt the 23S rRNA gene beginning at position 1176. The IVS is predicted to form a stem-loop structure formed by flanking inverted repeats, and the absence of intact 23S rRNA molecules suggests that the loop is removed. An open reading frame in the IVS has been identified that shows 70% similarity at the amino acid level to IVS open reading frames characterized from four species of Leptospira.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Afseth
- Department of Microbiology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4233, USA
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17
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Abstract
We have identified and sequenced four genes that encode the protein subunits comprising the succinate dehydrogenase enzyme complex (Sdh) of the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii. The Sdh-encoding gene cluster (sdhCDAB) begins 3326 bp upstream from the citrate synthase-encoding gene (gltA) start codon and is read with opposite polarity. An open reading frame encoding the N-terminal 280 amino acids (aa) of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (SucA) begins 24 bp downstream from the stop codon of the gene specifying the iron-sulfur subunit (sdhB) of Sdh. The deduced aa sequence of Sdh subunits and the N-terminal portion of SucA revealed significant aa identity with the Esherichia coli homologues ranging from a low of 36.6% for SdhD to a high of 61.2% for SdhA and SdhB. Primer extension identified transcription start points (tsp) for sdh and sucA. The region upstream from the sdh tsp, but not the sucA tsp, displayed homology to promoter consensus sequences of E. coli. Further evidence that sucA transcription can occur independent of sdh transcription was provided by demonstrating that a TnphoA insertion disrupting sdhB had no effect on the production of SucA by an E. coli cell-extract-directed in vitro transcription/translation system. The plasmid clone pLPM60, which carries the C. burnetii sdhCDAB coding and upstream regulatory regions, rescued an E. coli sdhA mutant (MOB252), indicating functional expression of the rickettsial locus. A cell extract of MOB252 transformed with pLPM60 showed a sixfold greater level of Sdh enzyme activity over the E. coli wild type. A plasmid clone lacking the sdh upstream regulatory region did not complement nor produce sdh mRNA by dot blot analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Heinzen
- Department of Microbiology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4233, USA
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18
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Mo YY, Geibel M, Bonsall RF, Gross DC. Analysis of Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) Leaves for Plant Signal Molecules That Activate the syrB Gene Required for Synthesis of the Phytotoxin, Syringomycin, by Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae. Plant Physiol 1995; 107:603-612. [PMID: 12228385 PMCID: PMC157164 DOI: 10.1104/pp.107.2.603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
An important aspect of the interaction of Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae with plant hosts is the perception of plant signal molecules that regulate expression of genes, such as syrB, required for synthesis of the phytotoxin, syringomycin. In this study, the leaves of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) were analyzed to determine the nature of the syrB-inducing activity associated with tissues of a susceptible host. Crude leaf extracts yielded high amounts of total signal activity of more than 12,000 units g-1 (fresh weight) based on activation of a syrB-lacZ fusion in strain B3AR132. The signal activity was fractionated by C18 reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and found to be composed of phenolic glycosides, which were resolved in three regions of the high-performance liquid chromatography profile, and sugars, which eluted with the void volume. Two flavonol glycosides, quercetin 3-rutinosyl-4[prime]-glucoside and kaempferol 3-rutinosyl-4[prime]-glucoside, and a flavanone glucoside, dihydrowogonin 7-glucoside, were identified. The flavonoid glycosides displayed similar specific signal activities and were comparable in signal activity to arbutin, a phenyl [beta]-glucoside, giving rise to between 120 and 160 units of [beta]-galactosidase activity at 10 [mu]M. Although D-fructose exhibits intrinsic low level syrB-inducing signal activity, D-fructose enhanced by about 10-fold the signal activities of the flavonoid glycosides at low concentrations (e.g. 10 [mu]M). This demonstrates that flavonoid glycosides, which represent a new class of phenolic plant signals sensed by P. s. syringae, are in sufficient quantities in the leaves of P. avium to activate phytotoxin synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. Y. Mo
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6430 (Y.-Y.M.,R.F.B., D.C.G.)
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Abstract
Two-component regulatory systems play important roles in the adaptive responses of many bacteria to environmental changes. The sensor proteins of these systems are highly conserved near their C-termini. We exploited this feature to isolate a gene encoding a putative sensor component from the obligate intracellular rickettsial parasite Coxiella burnetii (Cb). Using degenerate primers and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we isolated a DNA fragment from a genomic library of Cb containing an open reading frame (ORF), sufficient to encode a 48-kDa protein. Sequence comparison revealed that the deduced protein shared high homology to members of the bacterial sensor protein family, particularly at three conserved regions of the C terminus. When the Cb sensor-like gene was cloned into a high-copy-number vector and introduced into an E. coli strain (phoM, phoR), the mutant expressed low levels of alkaline phosphatase activity, suggesting that the gene functioned as a sensor protein in E. coli. Consequently, we designated this gene qrsA (for Q fever agent regulatory sensor-like gene). Because two-component regulatory systems have been implicated in a variety of cellular processes, including virulence determinants in some pathogenic bacteria, the identification of qrsA in Cb may shed light on how the pathogen adapts to extracellular changes during infection, as it proliferates in the phagolysosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Department of Microbiology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4233
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Quigley NB, Mo YY, Gross DC. SyrD is required for syringomycin production by Pseudomonas syringae pathovar syringae and is related to a family of ATP-binding secretion proteins. Mol Microbiol 1993; 9:787-801. [PMID: 8231810 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1993.tb01738.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The syrD gene of Pseudomonas syringae pathovar syringae strain B301D-R was characterized and sequenced. The syrD open reading frame is 1695 bp long and encodes a predicted protein, SyrD, of approximately 63 kDa. Database searches revealed that SyrD shares a high degree of similarity with the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of transporter proteins which are responsible for specific nutrient uptake and for secretion of certain cellular products in prokaryotes, and for multiple drug resistance in mammals. The amino acid sequence homology between SyrD and the ABC proteins was greatest at the conserved residues which constitute the ATP-binding cassette of these proteins; these residues lie in the hydrophilic C-terminal half of SyrD. The N-terminus of SyrD is predicted to be hydrophobic and to contain six membrane-spanning alpha-helices. syrD mutants of strain B301D-R were significantly less virulent than other syr mutants, were deficient in four large polypeptides thought to be components of a syringomycin synthetase complex, and showed reduced expression of a syrB-lacZ reporter gene fusion in trans. It is proposed that SyrD is a cytoplasmic membrane protein that functions as an ATP-driven efflux pump for the secretion of syringomycin.
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Affiliation(s)
- N B Quigley
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6430
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Abstract
The syrB gene is required for syringomycin production by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and full virulence during plant pathogenesis. Strain B3AR132 containing a syrB::lacZ fusion was used to detect transcriptional activation of the syrB gene in syringomycin minimal medium by plant metabolites with signal activity. Among 34 plant phenolic compounds tested, arbutin, phenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and salicin were shown to be strong inducers of syrB, giving rise to approximately 1,200 U of beta-galactosidase activity at 100 microM; esculin and helicin were moderate inducers, with about 250 to 400 U of beta-galactosidase activity at 100 microM. Acetosyringone and flavonoids that serve as signal molecules in Agrobacterium and Rhizobium species, respectively, did not induce the syrB::lacZ fusion. All syrB inducers were phenolic glucosides and none of the aglucone derivatives were active, suggesting that the beta-glycosidic linkage was necessary for signal activity. Phenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside containing galactose substituted for glucose in the beta-glycosidic linkage also lacked inducer activity. Phenolic signal activity was enhanced two- to fivefold by specific sugars common to plant tissues, including D-fructose, D-mannose, and sucrose. The effect of sugars on syrB induction was most noticeable at low concentrations of phenolic glucoside (i.e., 1 to 10 microM), indicating that sugars such as D-fructose increase the sensitivity of P. syringae pv. syringae to the phenolic plant signal. Besides induction of syrB, syringomycin biosynthesis by parental strain B3A-R was induced to yield over 250 U of toxin by the additions of arbutin and D-fructose to syringomycin minimal medium. These data indicate that syringomycin production by most strains of P. syringae pv. syringae is modulated by the perception of two classes of plant signal molecules and transduced to the transcriptional apparatus of syringomycin (syr) genes such as syrB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Mo
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6430
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