Identification of the cysteine residue responsible for oxidative inactivation of mouse galectin-2
In this study, we used point-mutated recombinant mGal-2 proteins to study which of the two highly conserved Cys residues in mGal-2 must be S-nitrosylated for protection against oxidative inactivation. Mutation of Cys57 to a Met residue (C57M) did not result in lectin inactivation following H2O2 treatment, whereas Cys75 mutation to Ser (C75S) led to significantly reduced lectin activity, as is the case for wild-type mGal-2. However, pre-treatment of the C75S mutant with S-nitrosocysteine protected the protein from H2O2-induced inactivation. Therefore, Cys57 is suggested to be responsible for oxidative inactivation of the mG...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - October 2, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tamura, M., Sasai, A., Ozawa, R., Saito, M., Yamamoto, K., Takeuchi, T., Ohtake, K., Tateno, H., Hirabayashi, J., Kobayashi, J., Arata, Y. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Proteolytic inactivation of anti-angiogenic vasohibin-1 by cancer cells
Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) is an angiogenesis inhibitor synthesized by endothelial cells (ECs) under conditions associated with physiological and pathological angiogenesis including cancers. VASH1, which is a 44-kDa protein, is processed after its translation and secretion, and a 29 kDa product cleaved both N-terminal and C-terminal end loses its anti-angiogenic activity. Here, we tested whether cancer cells modulate the processing of VASH1. When mouse EC line MS1 stably overexpressing the human VASH1 gene (MS1-hVASH1) and various cancer cell lines were co-cultured, there was an increased processing of hVASH1 protein in the cultu...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - October 2, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Saito, M., Suzuki, Y., Yano, S., Miyazaki, T., Sato, Y. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Oleic acid activates MMPs up-regulation through SIRT1/PPAR-{gamma} inhibition: a probable linkage between obesity and coronary arterial disease
Obesity is positively related to the growing prevalence of coronary arterial disease (CAD). It is well established in terms of the plasma concentrations of free fatty acid (FFA) that are up-regulated in cases associating with obesity. Oleic acid (OA) is known as the most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid in the human circulatory system. Several pro-atherosclerotic responses of OA have been established. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) acts as a key role in regulating the normal physical function in smooth muscle cells (SMCs). SIRT1 activation is developed as a novel approach to delay the progression of atherosclerotic injuries. However...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - October 2, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Chan, S.-H., Chu, P.-M., Kao, C.-L., Cheng, Y.-H., Hung, C.-H., Tsai, K.-L. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Roles of subunit NuoL in the proton pumping coupling mechanism of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) from Escherichia coli
Respiratory complex I has an L-shaped structure formed by the hydrophilic arm responsible for electron transfer and the membrane arm that contains protons pumping machinery. Here, to gain mechanistic insights into the role of subunit NuoL, we investigated the effects of Mg2+, Zn2+ and the Na+/H+ antiporter inhibitor 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA) on proton pumping activities of various isolated NuoL mutant complex I after reconstitution into Escherichia coli double knockout (DKO) membrane vesicles lacking complex I and the NADH dehydrogenase type 2. We found that Mg2+ was critical for proton pumping activity of c...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - October 2, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Narayanan, M., Sakyiama, J. A., Elguindy, M. M., Nakamaru-Ogiso, E. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Long noncoding RNA POU6F2-AS2 is associated with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Oesophageal carcinoma is one of the most lethal cancer types in the world, especially in some part of China. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major subtype, which has been shown to be associated with unhealthy diet habit, smoking, environmental carcinogens etc. The OSCC often progress slowly, however, it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Thus it is imperative to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the initiation and progression of OSCC. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) has emerged as a novel functional player transcribed from the genome. Here, we describe a novel lncRNA POU6F2-AS2 specifically ...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - October 2, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Liu, J., Sun, X., Zhu, H., Qin, Q., Yang, X., Sun, X. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), a specific enzyme that modifies ghrelin with a medium-chain fatty acid
In the gastric peptide hormone ghrelin, serine 3 (threonine 3 in frogs) is modified, primarily by n-octanoic acid; this modification is essential for ghrelin’s activity. The enzyme that transfers n-octanoic acid to Ser3 of ghrelin is ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT). GOAT, the only enzyme known to catalyze acyl modification of ghrelin, specifically modifies serine (or threonine) at the third position and does not modify other serine residues in ghrelin peptides. GOAT prefers n-hexanoyl-CoA over n-octanoyl-CoA as the acyl donor, although in the stomach the n-octanoyl form is the predominant form of acyl-modified ghrel...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - October 2, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Kojima, M., Hamamoto, A., Sato, T. Tags: JB Review Source Type: research
Erratum
(Source: Journal of Biochemistry)
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - August 25, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Tags: Erratum Source Type: research
Biophysical studies on calcium and carbohydrate binding to carbohydrate recognition domain of Gal/GalNAc lectin from Entamoeba histolytica: insights into host cell adhesion
This study provides the first molecular description of the role of calcium in Gal/GalNAc mediated host cell adhesion. (Source: Journal of Biochemistry)
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - August 25, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Yadav, R., Verma, K., Chandra, M., Mukherjee, M., Datta, S. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Mugineic acid, active ingredient of wheat grass: an oral novel hexadentate iron chelator in iron overloaded diseases
Iron chelation therapies are required for the treatment of iron overloaded patients; nonetheless, their side effects are also well known. We have evaluated iron-chelating activity of wheat grass extract (WHE) and its purified compound, mugineic acid in murine model with phenylhydrazine (PHZ) and dextran induced acute and chronic iron overload conditions. PHZ and dextran treatment induced acute and chronic iron overload condition in mice, respectively, as indicated by increased serum and tissue iron in both cases. Iron overload was also accompanied with haemosiderosis in tissues (liver and spleen). These PHZ and dextran-tre...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - August 25, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Das, P., Mukhopadhyay, S., Kumar Sarkar, N., Mandal, S., Kar, M., Mukhopadhyay, A. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Mutational analysis of structural elements in a class-I cyclic di-GMP riboswitch to elucidate its regulatory mechanism
In this study, we performed in vivo reporter assays and in vitro biochemical analyses of the full-length riboswitch and its aptamer domain. We evaluated the results of in vivo and in vitro analyses to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of the Vc2 riboswitch. The present results suggest that recognition of c-di-GMP ligand by the Vc2 riboswitch aptamer domain downregulates expression of its downstream ORF primarily at the translational level. (Source: Journal of Biochemistry)
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - August 25, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Inuzuka, S., Nishimura, K.-I., Kakizawa, H., Fujita, Y., Furuta, H., Matsumura, S., Ikawa, Y. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
High substrate specificity of ipsdienol dehydrogenase (IDOLDH), a short-chain dehydrogenase from Ips pini bark beetles
Ips spp. bark beetles use ipsdienol, ipsenol, ipsdienone and ipsenone as aggregation pheromone components and pheromone precursors. For Ips pini, the short-chain oxidoreductase ipsdienol dehydrogenase (IDOLDH) converts (–)-ipsdienol to ipsdienone, and thus likely plays a role in determining pheromone composition. In order to further understand the role of IDOLDH in pheromone biosynthesis, we compared IDOLDH to its nearest functionally characterized ortholog with a solved structure: human L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase type II/ amyloid-β binding alcohol dehydrogenase (hHADH II/ABAD), and conducted functional a...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - August 25, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Figueroa-Teran, R., Pak, H., Blomquist, G. J., Tittiger, C. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Amino acid sequence analysis and characterization of a ribonuclease from starfish Asterias amurensis
The aim of this study was to phylogenetically characterize the location of the RNase T2 enzyme in the starfish (Asterias amurensis). We isolated an RNase T2 ribonuclease (RNase Aa) from the ovaries of starfish and determined its amino acid sequence by protein chemistry and cloning cDNA encoding RNase Aa. The isolated protein had 231 amino acid residues, a predicted molecular mass of 25,906 Da, and an optimal pH of 5.0. RNase Aa preferentially released guanylic acid from the RNA. The catalytic sites of the RNase T2 family are conserved in RNase Aa; furthermore, the distribution of the cysteine residues in RNase Aa is simila...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - August 25, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Motoyoshi, N., Kobayashi, H., Itagaki, T., Inokuchi, N. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
10th anniversary of iPS cells: the challenges that lie ahead
In 2006, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells were generated by Yamanaka and Takahashi for the first time from a mouse fibroblast culture by introducing four factors. In the 10 years since then, this breakthrough discovery has been making waves in the fields of biology and medical science. For example, various technologies for generating iPS cells have been developed, and we have cultivated a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in reprogramming. In addition, many researchers have explored the applications of iPS cells, such as drug discovery, the study of disease mechanisms and regenerative medicine, and the de...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - August 25, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Aoi, T. Tags: JB Review Source Type: research
Human SCP4 is a chromatin-associated CTD phosphatase and exhibits the dynamic translocation during erythroid differentiation
The C-terminal domain (CTD) of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) large subunit contains tandem repeats of the heptapeptide, Tyr1-Ser2-Pro3-Thr4-Ser5-Pro6-Ser7. The CTD is subject to dynamic phosphorylation during transcription, mainly at serine residues (Ser2, Ser5 and Ser7). Regulation of CTD phosphorylation by specific kinases and phosphatases is crucial for coordinating transcription with RNA processing and histone modification. Human small CTD phosphatase 4 (SCP4), also called CTDSPL2 or HSPC129, is a putative CTD phosphatase belonging to the FCP/SCP family and implicated in control of - and -globin gene expression. Here,...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - July 27, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Wani, S., Sugita, A., Ohkuma, Y., Hirose, Y. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
Structural and mutational studies of an electron transfer complex of maize sulfite reductase and ferredoxin
The structure of the complex of maize sulfite reductase (SiR) and ferredoxin (Fd) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Co-crystals of the two proteins prepared under different conditions were subjected to the diffraction analysis and three possible structures of the complex were solved. Although topological relationship of SiR and Fd varied in each of the structures, two characteristics common to all structures were found in the pattern of protein-protein interactions and positional arrangements of redox centres; (i) a few negative residues of Fd contact with a narrow area of SiR with positive electrostatic surfac...
Source: Journal of Biochemistry - July 27, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Kim, J. Y., Nakayama, M., Toyota, H., Kurisu, G., Hase, T. Tags: Regular Papers Source Type: research
