The dynamic relationship between inorganic polyphosphate and adenosine triphosphate in human non-small cell lung cancer H1299 cells.

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) plays a vital role in cellular energy metabolism and signaling, owing to its structure and high-energy phosphate bonds. Intracellular ATP functions both as a cellular energy source and a key factor in cell death, and ATP dynamics in tumor cells are crucial for advancing cancer therapy. In this study, we explored the interplay between polyP and ATP in cellular energy metabolism. Treatment with polyP did not affect cell proliferation of human non-small cell lung cancer H1299 and human glioblastoma T98G cell lines as compared to their respective control cells until 72 h post-treatment. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in polyP-treated cells was low, contrasting with the time-dependent increase observed in control cells. While the ATP content increased over time in untreated and Na-phosphate-treated control cells, it remained unchanged in polyP-treated cells. Furthermore, the addition of cyclosporine A, a mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) inhibitor, failed to restore ATP levels in polyP-treated cells. We performed lactate assays and western blot analysis to evaluate the effect of polyP on glucose metabolism and found no significant differences in lactate secretion or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity between polyP-treated and control cells. Additional pyruvate restored MMP but had no effect on the cellular ATP content in polyP-treated cells. We observed no correlation between the Warburg effect and glucose metabolism during ATP depletion in polyP-treated cells. Further investigation is warranted to explore the roles of polyP and ATP in cancer cell energy metabolism, which might offer potential avenues for therapeutic interventions.

α-Tocopheryl succinate stabilizes the structure of tumor vessels by inhibiting angiopoietin-2 expression.

α-Tocopheryl succinate (TS) is a tocopherol derivative and has multifaceted anti-cancer effects; TS not only causes cancer cell-specific apoptosis but also inhibits tumor angiogenesis. Although TS has the potential to be used as a well-tolerated anti-angiogenic drug, it is still unclear which step of the angiogenic process is inhibited by TS. Here, we show that TS inhibits the expression of angiopoietin (Ang)-2, which induces destabilization of vascular structure in the initial steps of the angiogenic process. In mouse melanoma cells, TS treatment decreased mRNA and extracellular protein levels of Ang-2; however, the mRNA level of Ang-1, which stabilizes the vascular structure, remained unchanged. Furthermore, aorta ring and Matrigel plug angiogenesis assays indicated that the conditioned medium from TS-treated cells (CM-TS) inhibited neovascularization and blood leakage from the existing blood vessels, respectively. Following immunohistochemical staining of the vessels treated with CM-TS, imaging studies showed that the vascular endothelial cells were highly packed with pericytes. In conclusion, we found that TS inhibits Ang-2 expression and, consequently, stabilizes the vascular structure during the initial step of tumor angiogenesis.

Analyses of starch biosynthetic protein complexes and starch properties from developing mutant rice seeds with minimal starch synthase activities.

BACKGROUND: Starch is the major component of cereal grains and is composed of essentially linear amylose and highly branched amylopectin. The properties and composition of starch determine the use and value of grains and their products. Starch synthase (SS) I, SSIIa, and SSIIIa play central roles in amylopectin biosynthesis. These three SS isozymes also affect seed development, as complete loss of both SSI and SSIIIa under reduced SSIIa activity in rice lead to sterility, whereas presence of minimal SSI or SSIIIa activity is sufficient for generating fertile seeds. SSs, branching enzymes, and/or debranching enzymes form protein complexes in cereal. However, the relationship between starch properties and the formation of protein complexes remain largely unknown. To better understand this phenomenon, properties of starch and protein complex formation were analyzed using developing mutant rice seeds (ss1 L /ss2a L /ss3a) in which all three major SS activities were reduced. RESULTS: The SS activity of ss1 L /ss2a L /ss3a was 25%-30% that of the wild-type. However, the grain weight of ss1 L /ss2a L /ss3a was 89% of the wild-type, 55% of which was starch, showing considerable starch synthesis. The reduction of soluble SS activity in ss1 L /ss2a L /ss3a resulted in increased levels of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and granule-bound starch synthase I, which are responsible for substrate synthesis and amylose synthesis, respectively. Together, these features led to an increase in apparent amylose content (34%) in ss1 L /ss2a L /ss3a compared with wild-type (20%). Gel filtration chromatography of the soluble proteins in ss1 L /ss2a L /ss3a showed that the majority of the starch biosynthetic enzymes maintained the similar elution patterns as wild-type, except that the amounts of high-molecular-weight SSI (> 300 kDa) were reduced and SSIIa of approximately 200-300 kDa were present instead of those > 440 kDa, which predominate in wild-type. Immuno-precipitation analyses suggested that the interaction between the starch biosynthetic enzymes maybe reduced or weaker than in wild-type. CONCLUSIONS: Although major SS isozymes were simultaneously reduced in ss1 L /ss2a L /ss3a rice, active protein complexes were formed with a slightly altered pattern, suggesting that the assembly of protein complexes may be complemented among the SS isozymes. In addition, ss1 L /ss2a L /ss3a maintained the ability to synthesize starch and accumulated less amylopectin and more amylose in starch.

Bound Substrate in the Structure of Cyanobacterial Branching Enzyme Supports a New Mechanistic Model.

Branching enzyme (BE) catalyzes the formation of α-1,6-glucosidic linkages in amylopectin and glycogen. The reaction products are variable, depending on the organism sources, and the mechanistic basis for these different outcomes is unclear. Although most cyanobacteria have only one BE isoform belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 13, Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142 has three isoforms (BE1, BE2, and BE3) with distinct enzymatic properties, suggesting that investigations of these enzymes might provide unique insights into this system. Here, we report the crystal structure of ligand-free wild-type BE1 (residues 5-759 of 1-773) at 1.85 Å resolution. The enzyme consists of four domains, including domain N, carbohydrate-binding module family 48 (CBM48), domain A containing the catalytic site, and domain C. The central domain A displays a (ß/α)8-barrel fold, whereas the other domains adopt ß-sandwich folds. Domain N was found in a new location at the back of the protein, forming hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with CBM48 and domain A. Site-directed mutational analysis identified a mutant (W610N) that bound maltoheptaose with sufficient affinity to enable structure determination at 2.30 Å resolution. In this structure, maltoheptaose was bound in the active site cleft, allowing us to assign subsites -7 to -1. Moreover, seven oligosaccharide-binding sites were identified on the protein surface, and we postulated that two of these in domain A served as the entrance and exit of the donor/acceptor glucan chains, respectively. Based on these structures, we propose a substrate binding model explaining the mechanism of glycosylation/deglycosylation reactions catalyzed by BE.

A novel classification of musculocutaneous nerve variations: The relationship between the communicating branch and transposed innervation of the brachial flexors to the median nerve.

The musculocutaneous nerve innervates the brachial flexors; i.e., the coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, and brachialis. The musculocutaneous and median nerve sometimes share a communicating branch and also muscular branches to brachial flexors are sometimes transposed to median nerve. Because these variations constitute a potentially important clinical and surgical issue, we evaluated 130 upper limbs of 65 cadavers and 184 cases of musculocutaneous and median nerve variations in the literature and devised a novel system of classification that covers each pattern of variation. Our proposed classification was applicable in all of our cases and those previously reported. In addition, transposed innervation of the brachial flexors from the musculocutaneous nerve to the communicating branches was observed in one limb in our case series. In this case and all previously reported cases of transposed innervation of the brachial flexors, communicating branches between the musculocutaneous and median nerve were found and no brachial flexor branch arose from the musculocutaneous nerve distal to the communicating branches. Consequently, we established that, as per our novel classification, all patterns of communicating branches could be classified into five types and the patterns of transposed innervation of the brachial flexors into three types.

Impaired Swallowing in Hospitalized Patients: An Observational Study in a Community Hospital in Japan (2012-2014).

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a serious health problem in aging populations. Older persons also experience high rates of chronic illness and hospitalization. Accurate identification of dysphagia at the time of hospital admission is important for providing supportive interventions for effective swallowing and preventing complications of dysphagia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of potential impairment of swallowing function, the association between self-reported and observed swallowing difficulty, and factors associated with swallowing impairment in hospitalized patients. METHODS: Data from 11,963 patients who were admitted to a community hospital from July 2012 to June 2014 were used. Patients responded to a brief self-administered questionnaire (BSAQ) about swallowing difficulties and performed a modified water swallow test (MWST) using a standardized protocol. Sensitivity and specificity of the BSAQ were evaluated against swallowing impairment based on the MWST. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations between background characteristics and impaired swallowing as evaluated by the screening tests. RESULTS: Median age of patients was 73 years (interquartile range, 63-81 years), and 5,780 (48.3%) were women. On the BSAQ, a total of 3,026 patients reported severe symptoms in any of 15 dysphagia-related questions (253 per 1,000 patients). The MWST showed that 593 patients were unable to successfully swallow 3 ml of cold water without choking or experiencing wet hoarseness two times within 30 seconds (50 per 1,000 patients). Each item score and the total score of the BSAQ were significantly associated with impaired swallowing as evaluated by the MWST. The sensitivity and specificity of the BSAQ for impaired swallowing as evaluated by the MWST were 72% and 66%, respectively. The prevalence of impaired swallowing as evaluated by both tests increased with age-especially in patients of ages ≥80 years. Age, male gender, and underlying diseases, including neurological and respiratory diseases, were associated with swallowing dysfunction detected by the MWST. DISCUSSION: Impaired swallowing function may frequently be present in older hospitalized patients. The clinical significance of the validated screening tests in nursing practice should be further studied.

Crystallization and crystallographic analysis of branching enzymes from Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142.

Several cyanobacterial species, including Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142, remarkably have four isoforms of α-glucan branching enzymes (BEs). Based on their primary structures, they are classified into glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 13 (BE1, BE2 and BE3) or family 57 (GH57 BE). In the present study, GH13-type BEs from Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142 (BE1, BE2 and BE3) have been overexpressed in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized. The recombinant BE1 was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Crystals of BE1 were obtained at 293 K in the presence of 0.2 M Mg(2+), 7-10%(w/v) ethanol, 0.1 M HEPES-NaOH pH 7.2-7.9. The crystals belonged to the tetragonal space group P41212, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 133.75, c = 185.90 Å, and diffracted to beyond 1.85 Šresolution. Matthews coefficient calculations suggested that the crystals of BE1 contained two molecules in the asymmetric unit.

Amylopectin biosynthetic enzymes from developing rice seed form enzymatically active protein complexes.

Amylopectin is a highly branched, organized cluster of glucose polymers, and the major component of rice starch. Synthesis of amylopectin requires fine co-ordination between elongation of glucose polymers by soluble starch synthases (SSs), generation of branches by branching enzymes (BEs), and removal of misplaced branches by debranching enzymes (DBEs). Among the various isozymes having a role in amylopectin biosynthesis, limited numbers of SS and BE isozymes have been demonstrated to interact via protein-protein interactions in maize and wheat amyloplasts. This study investigated whether protein-protein interactions are also found in rice endosperm, as well as exploring differences between species. Gel permeation chromatography of developing rice endosperm extracts revealed that all 10 starch biosynthetic enzymes analysed were present at larger molecular weights than their respective monomeric sizes. SSIIa, SSIIIa, SSIVb, BEI, BEIIb, and PUL co-eluted at mass sizes >700kDa, and SSI, SSIIa, BEIIb, ISA1, PUL, and Pho1 co-eluted at 200-400kDa. Zymogram analyses showed that SSI, SSIIIa, BEI, BEIIa, BEIIb, ISA1, PUL, and Pho1 eluted in high molecular weight fractions were active. Comprehensive co-immunoprecipitation analyses revealed associations of SSs-BEs, and, among BE isozymes, BEIIa-Pho1, and pullulanase-type DBE-BEI interactions. Blue-native-PAGE zymogram analyses confirmed the glucan-synthesizing activity of protein complexes. These results suggest that some rice starch biosynthetic isozymes are physically associated with each other and form active protein complexes. Detailed analyses of these complexes will shed light on the mechanisms controlling the unique branch and cluster structure of amylopectin, and the physicochemical properties of starch.

Functional characterization of three (GH13) branching enzymes involved in cyanobacterial starch biosynthesis from Cyanobacterium sp. NBRC 102756.

Starch and glycogen are widespread storage polysaccharides in bacteria, plants, and animals. Recently, some cyanobacteria were found to accumulate water-insoluble α-glucan similar to amylopectin rather than glycogen, the latter of which is more commonly produced in these organisms. The amylopectin-producing species including Cyanobacterium sp. NBRC 102756 invariably have three branching enzyme (BE) homologs, BE1, BE2, and BE3, all belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family 13. Multiple BE isoforms in prokaryotes have not been previously studied. In the present work, we carried out functional characterization of these enzymes expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzymes were all active, although the specific activity of BE3 was much lower than those of BE1 and BE2. After the incubation of the enzymes with amylopectin or amylose, the reaction products were analyzed by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate capillary electrophoresis method. BE1 and BE2 showed similar chain-length preference to BEIIb isoform of rice (Oryza sativa L.), while the catalytic specificity of BE3 was similar to that of rice BEI. These results indicate that starch-producing cyanobacteria have both type-I BE (BE3) and type-II BEs (BE1 and BE2) in terms of chain-length preferences, as is the case of plants. All BE isoforms were active against phosphorylase limit dextrin, in which outer branches had been uniformly diminished to 4 glucose residues. Based on its catalytic properties, BE3 was assumed to have a role to transfer the glucan chain bearing branch(es) to give rise to a newly growing unit, or cluster as observed in amylopectin molecule.

Anti versus syn opening of epoxides derived from 9-(3-deoxy-beta-D-glycero-pent-3-enofuranosyl)adenine with Me3Al: factors controlling the stereoselectivity.

Upon epoxidation with dimethyldioxirane, the 2',5'-bis-O-silyl derivatives of 9-(3-deoxy-beta-D-glycero-pent-3-enofuranosyl)adenine gave the respective "3',4'-up" epoxides exclusively. Reaction between these epoxides and Me3Al was investigated in detail. It was found that the stereoselectivity of epoxide ring opening (anti versus syn) varied significantly upon changing the amount of Me3Al, the solvent, the O-silyl protecting group, and the reaction temperature. A possible reaction mechanism is proposed.

Stereoselective synthesis of 4'-carbon-substituted xylofuranosyladenines.

Epoxidation of 2',5'-bis-O-silyl-protected N6-pivaloyl-3',4'-unsaturated adenine nucleosides (1, 2 and 3) with dimethyldioxirane uniformly proceeded face-selectively to give the respective 3',4'-beta-epoxides (4, 5 and 6). Ring cleavage of these epoxides examined with Me3Al in CH2Cl2 showed that the TBDMS (4) or TES (5) protected epoxide gave the desired 4'-alpha-methylated product (8 or 10) as the major stereoisomer, while use of the TBDPS protected epoxide (6) resulted in reverse stereoselectivity. Reactions of 4 with other organoaluminum reagents were also carried out.