The cellular location and substrate specificity of the catalytic subunit (C) of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) depend on its interaction with A and B subunits. The distribution of epitope-tagged wild-type or mutated C subunits was studied by transient expression in COS-7 cells. Wild-type tagged C expressed at low levels formed ABC trimer and AC dimer like the endogenous C. Single mutations of C at the site of phosphorylation (Y307F) or carboxymethylation (L309Q) resulted in recovery of only AC dimer. Double mutation of both residues resulted in association of C with α4 protein (α4), a novel subunit of PP2A, instead of with A and B subunits. Thus, the distribution of C between ABC trimer, AC dimer, and α4C complexes can be affected by modifications of the C-terminal residues. The α4 protein is a homologue of the yeast Tap42 protein that functions downstream of the TOR protein to regulate protein synthesis. Transient overexpression of FLAG-α4 resulted in increased dephosphorylation of elongation factor 2, but had no effect on phosphorylation of either p70S6 kinase or PHAS-I (eIF4E-BP). Signals that affect phosphorylation or methylation of the C subunit of PP2A may promote subunit exchange and direct phosphatase activity to specific intracellular substrates.
The mammalian SWI/SNF complex is an evolutionarily conserved ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex that consists of nine or more components. SRG3, a murine homologue of yeast SWI3, Drosophila MOIRA, and human BAF155, is a core component of the murine SWI/SNF complex required for the regulation of transcriptional processes associated with development, cellular differentiation, and proliferation. Here we report that SRG3 interacts directly with other components of the mammalian SWI/SNF complex such as SNF5, BRG1, and BAF60a. The SWIRM domain and the SANT domain were required for SRG3-SNF5 and SRG3-BRG1 interactions, respectively. In addition, SRG3 stabilized SNF5, BRG1, and BAF60a by attenuating their proteasomal degradation, suggesting its general role in the stabilization of the SWI/SNF complex. Such a stabilization effect of SRG3 was not only observed in the in vitro cell system, but also in cells isolated from SRG3 transgenic mice or knock-out mice haploinsufficient for the Srg3 gene. Taken together, these results suggest the critical role of SRG3 in the post-transcriptional stabilization of the major components of the SWI/SNF complex.
Lobarstin is a metabolite occurring from the Antarctic lichen Stereocaulon alpnum. Human glioblastoma is highly resistant to chemotherapy with temozolomide. Lobarstin was examined for its effect on glioblastoma.Temozolomide-resistant T98G cells were subjected to toxicity test with temozolomide and/or lobarstin. DNA damage and recovery was assessed by the alkaline comet assay and expression of DNA repair genes was examined by RT-PCR and western blot analysis.Lobarstin alone at 40 μM was toxic against T98G, but had no effect in primary human fibroblasts. Co-treatment of lobarstin with temozolomide yielded enhanced toxicity. Temozolomide-alone or with lobarstin co-treatment gave similar extent of DNA damage. However, the recovery was reduced in co-treated cells. Expression of DNA repair genes, O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 and ligase 3 were reduced in lobarstin-treated cells.Enhanced sensitivity to temozolomide by lobarstin co-treatment may be attributed to reduced DNA repair.
Abstract Inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (Id-1) has been implicated in tumor angiogenesis by regulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but its molecular mechanism has not been fully understood. Here, we show the cross talk between Id-1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), that Id-1 induces VEGF by enhancing the stability and activity of HIF-1α in human endothelial and breast cancer cells. Although both the transcript and proteins levels of VEGF were induced by Id-1, only the protein expression of HIF-1α was induced without transcriptional changes in both human umbilical endothelial cells and MCF7 breast cancer cells. Such induction of the HIF-1α protein did not require de novo protein synthesis but was dependent on the active extracellular response kinase (ERK) pathway. In addition, stability of the HIF-1α protein was enhanced in part by the reduced association of the HIF-1α protein with von Hippel-Lindau protein in the presence of Id-1. Furthermore, Id-1 enhanced nuclear translocation and the transcriptional activity of HIF-1α. Transcriptional activation of HIF-1–dependent promoters was dependent on the active ERK pathway, and the association of HIF-1α protein with cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein was enhanced by Id-1. Finally, Id-1 induced tube formation in human umbilical endothelial cells, which also required active ERK signaling. In conclusion, we provide the molecular mechanism of the cross talk between HIF-1α and Id-1, which may play a critical role in tumor angiogenesis. (Mol Cancer Res 2007;5(4):321–9)
OBJECTIVE Peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR)-α/γ dual agonists have been developed to alleviate metabolic disorders. However, several PPARα/γ dual agonists are accompanied with unwanted side effects, including body weight gain, edema, and tissue failure. This study investigated the effects of a novel PPARα/γ dual agonist, CG301269, on metabolic disorders both in vitro and in vivo. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Function of CG301269 as a PPARα/γ dual agonist was assessed in vitro by luciferase reporter assay, mammalian one-hybrid assay, and analyses of PPAR target genes. In vitro profiles on fatty acid oxidation and inflammatory responses were acquired by fatty acid oxidation assay and quantitative (q)RT-PCR of proinflammatory genes. In vivo effect of CG301269 was examined in db/db mice. Total body weight and various tissue weights were measured, and hepatic lipid profiles were analyzed. Systemic glucose and insulin tolerance were measured, and the in vivo effect of CG301269 on metabolic genes and proinflammatory genes was examined by qRT-PCR. RESULTS CG301269 selectively stimulated the transcriptional activities of PPARα and PPARγ. CG301269 enhanced fatty acid oxidation in vitro and ameliorated insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia in vivo. In db/db mice, CG301269 reduced inflammatory responses and fatty liver, without body weight gain. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that CG301269 exhibits beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism by simultaneous activation of both PPARα and PPARγ. Our data suggest that CG301269 would be a potential lead compound against obesity and related metabolic disorders.
A toxicogenomics study was performed in the mouse liver after treatment of a bile-duct–damaging chemical, 4,4′-methylene dianiline (MDA), across multiple doses and sampling times in an acute phase using the AB Expression Array System. Imprinting control region (ICR) mice were given a single oral administration of a low (10 mg/kg b.w.) or high (100 mg/kg b.w.) dose of MDA. Mice were sacrificed six, twenty-four, and seventy-two hours after treatment for serum chemistry, histopathology, and mRNA preparation from liver samples. Treatment with MDA increased liver-toxicity–related enzymes in blood and induced bile-duct cell injury, followed by regeneration. To explore potential biomarker gene profiles, the altered genes were categorized into four expression patterns depending on dose and time. Numerous functionally defined and unclassified genes in each category were up- or down-regulated throughout the period from cellular injury to the recovery phase, verified by RT-PCR. Many genes associated with liver toxicity and diseases belonged to one of these categories. The chemokine-mediated Th1 pathway was implicated in the inflammatory process. The genes associated with oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cell-cycle regulation were also dynamically responsive to MDA treatment. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was likely responsible for the reconstitution process of the MDA-injured liver.