A fine balance of hydrophobic-electrostatic communication pathways in a pH-switching protein.

Allostery is the phenomenon of coupling between distal binding sites in a protein. Such coupling is at the crux of protein function and regulation in a myriad of scenarios, yet determining the molecular mechanisms of coupling networks in proteins remains a major challenge. Here, we report mechanisms governing pH-dependent myristoyl switching in monomeric hisactophilin, whereby the myristoyl moves between a sequestered state, i.e., buried within the core of the protein, to an accessible state, in which the myristoyl has increased accessibility for membrane binding. Measurements of the pH and temperature dependence of amide chemical shifts reveal protein local structural stability and conformational heterogeneity that accompany switching. An analysis of these measurements using a thermodynamic cycle framework shows that myristoyl-proton coupling at the single-residue level exists in a fine balance and extends throughout the protein. Strikingly, small changes in the stereochemistry or size of core and surface hydrophobic residues by point mutations readily break, restore, or tune myristoyl switch energetics. Synthesizing the experimental results with those of molecular dynamics simulations illuminates atomistic details of coupling throughout the protein, featuring a large network of hydrophobic interactions that work in concert with key electrostatic interactions. The simulations were critical for discerning which of the many ionizable residues in hisactophilin are important for switching and identifying the contributions of nonnative interactions in switching. The strategy of using temperature-dependent NMR presented here offers a powerful, widely applicable way to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of allostery in proteins at high resolution.

Retinoic acid receptor signalling directly regulates osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation from mesenchymal progenitor cells.

Low and high serum retinol levels are associated with increased fracture risk and poor bone health. We recently showed retinoic acid receptors (RARs) are negative regulators of osteoclastogenesis. Here we show RARs are also negative regulators of osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation. The pan-RAR agonist, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), directly inhibited differentiation and mineralisation of early osteoprogenitors and impaired the differentiation of more mature osteoblast populations. In contrast, the pan-RAR antagonist, IRX4310, accelerated differentiation of early osteoprogenitors. These effects predominantly occurred via RARγ and were further enhanced by an RARα agonist or antagonist, respectively. RAR agonists similarly impaired adipogenesis in osteogenic cultures. RAR agonist treatment resulted in significant upregulation of the Wnt antagonist, Sfrp4. This accompanied reduced nuclear and cytosolic ß-catenin protein and reduced expression of the Wnt target gene Axin2, suggesting impaired Wnt/ß-catenin signalling. To determine the effect of RAR inhibition in post-natal mice, IRX4310 was administered to male mice for 10 days and bones were assessed by µCT. No change to trabecular bone volume was observed, however, radial bone growth was impaired. These studies show RARs directly influence osteoblast and adipocyte formation from mesenchymal cells, and inhibition of RAR signalling in vivo impairs radial bone growth in post-natal mice.

Paper-Based Electrical Respiration Sensor.

Current methods of monitoring breathing require cumbersome, inconvenient, and often expensive devices; this requirement sets practical limitations on the frequency and duration of measurements. This article describes a paper-based moisture sensor that uses the hygroscopic character of paper (i.e. the ability of paper to adsorb water reversibly from the surrounding environment) to measure patterns and rate of respiration by converting the changes in humidity caused by cycles of inhalation and exhalation to electrical signals. The changing level of humidity that occurs in a cycle causes a corresponding change in the ionic conductivity of the sensor, which can be measured electrically. By combining the paper sensor with conventional electronics, data concerning respiration can be transmitted to a nearby smartphone or tablet computer for post-processing, and subsequently to a cloud server. This means of sensing provides a new, practical method of recording and analyzing patterns of breathing.

Nonnative interactions regulate folding and switching of myristoylated protein.

We present an integrated experimental and computational study of the molecular mechanisms by which myristoylation affects protein folding and function, which has been little characterized to date. Myristoylation, the covalent linkage of a hydrophobic C14 fatty acyl chain to the N-terminal glycine in a protein, is a common modification that plays a critical role in vital regulated cellular processes by undergoing reversible energetic and conformational switching. Coarse-grained folding simulations for the model pH-dependent actin- and membrane-binding protein hisactophilin reveal that nonnative hydrophobic interactions of the myristoyl with the protein as well as nonnative electrostatic interactions have a pronounced effect on folding rates and thermodynamic stability. Folding measurements for hydrophobic residue mutations of hisactophilin and atomistic simulations indicate that the nonnative interactions of the myristoyl group in the folding transition state are nonspecific and robust, and so smooth the energy landscape for folding. In contrast, myristoyl interactions in the native state are highly specific and tuned for sensitive control of switching functionality. Simulations and amide hydrogen exchange measurements provide evidence for increases as well as decreases in stability localized on one side of the myristoyl binding pocket in the protein, implicating strain and altered dynamics in switching. The effects of folding and function arising from myristoylation are profoundly different from the effects of other post-translational modifications.

Energetics and mechanisms of folding and flipping the myristoyl switch in the {beta}-trefoil protein, hisactophilin.

Myristoylation, the covalent linkage of a saturated, C(14) fatty acyl chain to the N-terminal glycine in a protein, plays a vital role in reversible membrane binding and signaling by the modified proteins. Currently, little is known about the effects of myristoylation on protein folding and stability, or about the energetics and molecular mechanisms of switching involving states with sequestered versus accessible myristoyl group. Our analysis of these effects in hisactophilin, a histidine-rich protein that binds cell membranes and actin in a pH-dependent manner, shows that myristoylation significantly increases hisactophilin stability, while also markedly increasing global protein folding and unfolding rates. The switching between sequestered and accessible states is pH dependent, with an apparent pK(switch) of 6.95, and an apparent free energy change of 2.0 kcal·mol(-1). The myristoyl switch is linked to the reversible uptake of ∼1.5 protons, likely by histidine residues. This pH dependence of switching appears to be the physical basis of the sensitive, pH-dependent regulation of membrane binding observed in vivo. We conclude that an increase in protein stability upon modification and burial of the attached group is likely to occur in numerous proteins modified with fatty acyl or other hydrophobic groups, and that the biophysical effects of such modification are likely to play an important role in their functional switches. In addition, the increased global dynamics caused by myristoylation of hisactophilin reveals a general mechanism whereby hydrophobic moieties can make nonnative interactions or relieve strain in transition states, thereby increasing the rates of interconversion between different states.

Temperature-Sensitive Resistance to Wheat streak mosaic virus in CO960333 and KS06HW79 Wheat.

Temperature-sensitive resistance (TSR) that can protect against losses to Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) has been described in elite wheat germplasm. A TSR identified in the advanced breeding line CO960333 and its derivative KS06HW79 was examined in growth-chamber tests conducted under constant temperature regimes of 18, 21, and 24°C against an array of WSMV isolates. At 18°C, all tested isolates systemically infected the pedigree parents, while the progeny line CO960333 remained free of symptoms; at 24°C, all lines were susceptible. At the intermediate temperature of 21°C, the TSR of KS06HW79 was effective in contrast to the TSRs of KS03HW12 and 'RonL'. In field trials conducted in 2011 and 2012, the TSR expressed in KS06HW79 conferred complete protection against yield losses from inoculation with the Sidney 81 isolate of WSMV, while the TSR of RonL conferred similar protection in 2012 but allowed small losses in 2011. The resistance expressed by KS06HW79 is likely not due to the Wsm1 gene because it did not contain the tightly linked J15 sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) DNA marker. These findings suggest that KS06HW79 could be an additional TSR source of value to wheat-breeding programs seeking to control losses from WSMV.

New Sources of Temperature-Sensitive Resistance to Wheat streak mosaic virus in Wheat.

Expressing temperature-sensitive resistance (TSR) protects wheat against yield losses from infection with Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). In examining how 2,429 wheat accessions from the National Small Grains Collection responded to inoculation with the Sid81 isolate of WSMV, 20 candidate TSR sources were discovered. To differentiate their relative effectiveness, accession responses over 21 days to inoculation with GH95, Sid81, and PV57 virus isolates in regimes of 18 and 20°C were observed. At 18°C, all 20 candidate TSR sources were uniformly or nearly uniformly asymptomatic 21 days after inoculation with the PV57 isolate, resistance indistinguishable from resistant checks KS96HW10-3 and RonL. By contrast, the Sid81 isolate induced symptoms in low but significant proportions of plants of two candidates, and the GH95 isolate in high proportions for four candidates and low but significant proportions for two others. In the more stringent 20°C regime, the uniform or near-uniform induction of symptoms in response to inoculation with GH95 failed to differentiate among the 20 candidate TSR sources and two resistant checks, while PV57 and Sid81 identified several candidates that performed similarly to KS96HW10-3 and significantly better than RonL. By identifying new sources of resistance, this study contributes to the control of WSMV.

Status of linusorbs in cold-pressed flaxseed oil during oxidation and their response toward antioxidants.

Linusorbs (LOs, cyclolinopeptides) are a class of naturally occurring cyclic hydrophobic peptides found in flaxseed oil, whose oxidation states indicate the oxidative stability and bitterness of flaxseed oil. Subjected to 63 °C accelerated oxidation, most Met-containing LOs in cold-pressed flaxseed oil entirely depleted by the 6th day except CLP, and MetO2-containing LOs became the dominant ones. However, no MetO2 form of Trp-containing LOs, such as CLD, CLF and CLG, were detected. Given their oxidative kinetics, methionine sulfoxide (MetO) residue in some LOs was less sensitive toward oxidation in the presence of Trp (Tryptophan) group, and the oxidative stability of Met-containing LOs was CLP < CLB < CLL ≈ CLM < CLO, as compared to MetO-containing LOs: CLD < CLE < CLC < CLF ≈ CLG. When antioxidant was added into cold-pressed flaxseed oil to assess the additives' antioxidant effect, no significant difference was observed on oil oxidative indices in early stage except α-tocopherol, where they vary dramatically in suppressing Met oxidation of LOs: L-AP (L-ascorbyl palmitate) > TBHQ (tert-butyl hydroquinone) > Î³-tocopherol > carnosic acid > α-tocopherol. Besides its ability to suppress oxidation of Trp-containing LOs, L-AP also exhibits superior antioxidant effect on non-Trp-containing LOs due to its amphiphilic property. Due to the prooxidative effects of both α- and γ-tocopherol on LOs that contain Trp, it has been suggested that tocopherols may repair Trp residue on LOs, leading to increased tendency of MetO residues to oxidize. The findings of this research are critical for elucidating the antioxidative mechanism of LOs, which can further lead to the establishment of strategies in suppressing bitter after taste to produce high-quality flaxseed oil.

Severe developmental bone phenotype in ClC-7 deficient mice.

Bone development is dependent on the functionality of three essential cell types: chondrocytes, osteoclasts and osteoblasts. If any of these cell types is dysfunctional, a developmental bone phenotype can result. The bone disease osteopetrosis is caused by osteoclast dysfunction or impaired osteoclastogenesis, leading to increased bone mass. In ClC-7 deficient mice, which display severe osteopetrosis, the osteoclast malfunction is due to abrogated acidification of the resorption lacuna. This study sought to investigate the consequences of osteoclast malfunction on bone development, bone structure and bone modeling/remodeling in ClC-7 deficient mice. Bones from wildtype, heterozygous and ClC-7 deficient mice were examined by bone histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry. ClC-7 deficient mice were found to have a severe developmental bone phenotype, characterized by dramatically increased bone mass, a high content of cartilage remnants, impaired longitudinal and radial growth, as well as lack of compact cortical bone development. Indices of bone formation were reduced in ClC-7 deficient mice; however, calcein labeling indicated that mineralization occurred on most trabecular bone surfaces. Osteoid deposition had great regional variance, but an osteopetrorickets phenotype, as observed in oc/oc mice, was not apparent in the ClC-7 deficient mice. A striking finding was the presence of very large abnormal osteoclasts, which filled the bone marrow space within the ClC-7 deficient bones. The development of these giant osteoclasts could be due to altered cell fate of the ClC-7 deficient osteoclasts, caused by increased cellular fusion and/or prolonged osteoclast survival. In summary, malfunctional ClC-7 deficient osteoclasts led to a severe developmental bone phenotype including abnormally large and non-functional osteoclasts. Bone formation paremeters were reduced; however, bone formation and mineralization were found to be heterogenous and continuing.

Occurrence and Yield Effects of Wheat Infected with Triticum mosaic virus in Kansas.

Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) infects wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the Great Plains region of the United States. This study determined the occurrence of TriMV at three locations over 3 years and yield effects of wheat mechanically infected with TriMV. Wheat infection with TriMV, Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), and the High Plains virus (HPV) was verified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both wheat singly infected with TriMV and doubly infected with TriMV and WSMV occurred at three, two, and one locations in 2007, 2008, and 2009, respectively. Wheat singly infected with HPV occurred at one and two locations in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Wheat doubly infected with WSMV and HPV occurred at one location in 2008 and 2009. Infection with TriMV declined at two locations each year and, at the third location, it increased the second year and was not detected the third year. WSMV infection increased, except for a decline the third year at one location. In contrast to 3.0% infection of wheat with TriMV and WSMV at one location, 85% of the wheat 1.6 km from that site was infected with TriMV and WSMV in 2009. Infection of wheat with TriMV caused significant yield and volume weight reductions in Danby, RonL, and Jagalene but not KS96HW10-3 wheat.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and routine childhood vaccinations - a self-controlled case series.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an autoimmune, central nervous system demyelinating disorder that follows antecedent immunologic challenges, such as infection or vaccination. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between routine childhood vaccinations and ADEM. Children under 7 years of age admitted to the two tertiary level pediatric hospitals in Victoria, Australia with ADEM from 2000-2015 had their clinical information linked to vaccination records from the Australian Childhood Immunization Register. Chart review was undertaken utilizing the Brighton Collaboration ADEM criteria. The self-controlled case-series (SCCS) methodology was employed to determine the relative incidences of ADEM post-vaccination in two risk intervals: 5-28 days and 2-42 days. Forty-six cases were eligible for SCCS analysis with a median age of 3.2 years. Of the forty-six cases, three were vaccine proximate cases and received vaccinations 23, 25 and 28 days before ADEM onset. Two vaccine proximate cases received their 4-year-old scheduled vaccinations (MMR and DTPa-IPV) and one vaccine proximate case the 1-year old scheduled vaccinations (MMR and Hib-MenC). The relative incidence of ADEM during the narrow and broad risk intervals were 1.041 (95% CI 0.323-3.356, p = 0.946) and 0.585 (95% CI 0.182-1.886, p = 0.370) respectively. Sensitivity analyses did not yield any substantial deviations. These results do not provide evidence of an association between vaccinations routinely provided to children aged under 7 years in Australia and the incidence of ADEM. However, these results should be interpreted with caution as the number of ADEM cases identified was limited and further research is warranted.

The role of gp130-mediated signals in osteoclast development: regulation of interleukin 11 production by osteoblasts and distribution of its receptor in bone marrow cultures.

Interleukin (IL)-11 is a multifunctional cytokine whose role in osteoclast development has not been fully elucidated. We examined IL-11 production by primary osteoblasts and the effects of rat monoclonal anti-mouse glycoprotein 130 (gp130) antibody on osteoclast formation, using a coculture of mouse osteoblasts and bone marrow cells. IL-1, TNF alpha, PGE2, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25(OH)2D3) similarly induced production of IL-11 by osteoblasts, but IL-6, IL-4, and TGF beta did not. Primary osteoblasts constitutively expressed mRNAs for both IL-11 receptor (IL-11R alpha) and gp130. Osteotropic factors did not modulate IL-11R alpha mRNA at 24 h, but steady-state gp130 mRNA expression in osteoblasts was upregulated by 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, PTH, or IL-1. In cocultures, the formation of multinucleated osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) in response to IL-11, or IL-6 together with its soluble IL-6 receptor was dose-dependently inhibited by rat monoclonal anti-mouse gp130 antibody. Furthermore, adding anti-gp130 antibody abolished OCL formation induced by IL-1, and partially inhibited OCL formation induced by PGE2, PTH, or 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. During osteoclast formation in marrow cultures, a sequential relationship existed between the expression of calcitonin receptor mRNA and IL-11R alpha mRNA. Osteoblasts as well as OCLs expressed transcripts for IL-11R alpha, as indicated by RT-PCR analysis and in situ hybridization. These results suggest a central role of gp130-coupled cytokines, especially IL-11, in osteoclast development. Since osteoblasts and mature osteoclasts expressed IL-11R alpha mRNA, both bone-forming and bone-resorbing cells are potential targets of IL-11.

Interleukin (IL)-6 induction of osteoclast differentiation depends on IL-6 receptors expressed on osteoblastic cells but not on osteoclast progenitors.

We reported that interleukin (IL) 6 alone cannot induce osteoclast formation in cocultures of mouse bone marrow and osteoblastic cells, but soluble IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) strikingly triggered osteoclast formation induced by IL-6. In this study, we examined the mechanism of osteoclast formation by IL-6 and related cytokines through the interaction between osteoblastic cells and osteoclast progenitors. When dexamethasone was added to the cocultures, IL-6 could stimulate osteoclast formation without the help of soluble IL-6R. Osteoblastic cells expressed a very low level of IL-6R mRNA, whereas fresh mouse spleen and bone marrow cells, both of which are considered to be osteoclast progenitors, constitutively expressed relatively high levels of IL-6R mRNA. Treatment of osteoblastic cells with dexamethasone induced a marked increase in the expression of IL-6R mRNA. By immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody, IL-6 did not tyrosine-phosphorylate a protein with a molecular mass of 130 kD in osteoblastic cells but did so in dexamethasone-pretreated osteoblastic cells. Osteoblastic cells from transgenic mice constitutively expressing human IL-6R could support osteoclast development in the presence of human IL-6 alone in cocultures with normal spleen cells. In contrast, osteoclast progenitors in spleen cells from transgenic mice overexpressing human IL-6R were not able to differentiate into osteoclasts in response to IL-6 in cocultures with normal osteoblastic cells. These results clearly indicate that the ability of IL-6 to induce osteoclast differentiation depends on signal transduction mediated by IL-6R expressed on osteoblastic cells but not on osteoclast progenitors.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulates osteoclast differentiation by a mechanism independent of the ODF/RANKL-RANK interaction.

Osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF, also called RANKL/TRANCE/OPGL) stimulates the differentiation of osteoclast progenitors of the monocyte/macrophage lineage into osteoclasts in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF, also called CSF-1). When mouse bone marrow cells were cultured with M-CSF, M-CSF-dependent bone marrow macrophages (M-BMM phi) appeared within 3 d. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts were also formed when M-BMM phi were further cultured for 3 d with mouse tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the presence of M-CSF. Osteoclast formation induced by TNF-alpha was inhibited by the addition of respective antibodies against TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) or TNFR2, but not by osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF, also called OPG, a decoy receptor of ODF/RANKL), nor the Fab fragment of anti-RANK (ODF/RANKL receptor) antibody. Experiments using M-BMM phi prepared from TNFR1- or TNFR2-deficient mice showed that both TNFR1- and TNFR2-induced signals were important for osteoclast formation induced by TNF-alpha. Osteoclasts induced by TNF-alpha formed resorption pits on dentine slices only in the presence of IL-1alpha. These results demonstrate that TNF-alpha stimulates osteoclast differentiation in the presence of M-CSF through a mechanism independent of the ODF/RANKL-RANK system. TNF-alpha together with IL-1alpha may play an important role in bone resorption of inflammatory bone diseases.

Interleukin-18 (interferon-gamma-inducing factor) is produced by osteoblasts and acts via granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and not via interferon-gamma to inhibit osteoclast formation.

We have established by differential display polymerase chain reaction of mRNA that interleukin (IL)-18 is expressed by osteoblastic stromal cells. The stromal cell populations used for comparison differed in their ability to promote osteoclast-like multinucleated cell (OCL) formation. mRNA for IL-18 was found to be expressed in greater abundance in lines that were unable to support OCL formation than in supportive cells. Recombinant IL-18 was found to inhibit OCL formation in cocultures of osteoblasts and hemopoietic cells of spleen or bone marrow origin. IL-18 inhibited OCL formation in the presence of osteoclastogenic agents including 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, prostaglandin E2, parathyroid hormone, IL-1, and IL-11. The inhibitory effect of IL-18 was limited to the early phase of the cocultures, which coincides with proliferation of hemopoietic precursors. IL-18 has been reported to induce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production in T cells, and both agents also inhibit OCL formation in vitro. Neutralizing antibodies to GM-CSF were able to rescue IL-18 inhibition of OCL formation, whereas neutralizing antibodies to IFN-gamma did not. In cocultures with osteoblasts and spleen cells from IFN-gamma receptor type II-deficient mice, IL-18 was found to inhibit OCL formation, indicating that IL-18 acted independently of IFN-gamma production: IFN-gamma had no effect in these cocultures. Additionally, in cocultures in which spleen cells were derived from receptor-deficient mice and osteoblasts were from wild-type mice and vice versa, we identified that the target cells for IFN-gamma inhibition of OCL formation were the hemopoietic cells. The work provides evidence that IL-18 is expressed by osteoblasts and inhibits OCL formation via GM-CSF production and not via IFN-gamma production.

Communication between ephrinB2 and EphB4 within the osteoblast lineage.

Members of the ephrin and Eph family are local mediators of cell function through largely contact-dependent processes in development and in maturity. Production of ephrinB2 mRNA and protein are increased by PTH and PTHrP in osteoblasts. Both a synthetic peptide antagonist of ephrinB2/EphB4 receptor interaction and recombinant soluble extracellular domain of EphB4 (sEphB4), which is an antagonist of both forward and reverse EphB4 signaling, were able to inhibit mineralization and the expression of several osteoblast genes involved late in osteoblast differentiation. The findings are consistent with ephrinB2/EphB4 signaling within the osteoblast lineage having a paracrine role in osteoblast differentiation, in addition to the proposed role of osteoclast-derived ephrinB2 in coupling of bone formation to resorption. This local regulation might contribute to control of osteoblast differentiation and bone formation at remodeling sites, and perhaps also in modeling.

An Experimental Host Range for Triticum mosaic virus.

Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) is a newly discovered virus isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum). This study was conducted to determine an experimental host range for TriMV and identify species that could serve as differential hosts for isolating TriMV from Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). Plants tested were mechanically inoculated with the 06-123 isolate of TriMV or the Sidney 81 isolate of WSMV. Some plants were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibodies of TriMV and WSMV. Plants infected with TriMV always produced mosaic symptoms and only extracts of symptomatic plants reacted with antibodies of TriMV. Maize is not a host for TriMV but barley, oat, rye, and triticale are hosts of TriMV. Certain barley and triticale accessions are hosts for TriMV but not WSMV. These plants can be used in combination with maize to separate WSMV and TriMV in plants infected by both viruses. We also showed that 8 wild grass species were susceptible to TriMV and 25 were not. All of the grasses susceptible to infection with TriMV have been reported as susceptible to infection with WSMV. Because of their growth habits, these plant species would be less desirable for use as differential hosts than maize, barley, and triticale.

Folding and association of thermophilic dimeric and trimeric DsrEFH proteins: Tm0979 and Mth1491.

Although the majority of natural proteins exist as protein-protein complexes, the molecular basis for the formation and regulation of such interactions and the evolution of protein interfaces remain poorly understood. We have investigated these phenomena by characterizing the thermal and chemical denaturation of thermophilic DsrEFH proteins that have a common subunit fold but distinct quaternary structures: homodimeric Tm0979 and homotrimeric Mth1491. Tm0979 forms a moderate affinity dimer, and a monomeric intermediate is readily populated at equilibrium and during folding kinetics. In contrast, the Mth1491 trimer has extremely high stability, so that a monomeric form is not measurably populated at equilibrium, although it may be during folding kinetics. A common mechanism for evolution of quaternary structures may be facile formation of a relatively stable monomeric species, with stabilizing intermolecular interactions centering on alternative environments for a beta-strand at the edge of the monomer, augmented by malleable hydrophobic interactions. The exceptional trimer stability arises from a remarkably slow unfolding rate constant, 6.5 x 10(-13) s(-1), which is a common characteristic of highly stable thermophilic and/or oligomeric proteins. The folding characteristics of Tm0979 and Mth1491 have interesting implications for assembly and regulation of homo- and heterooligomeric proteins in vivo.

Neuronal adaptations, neuroendocrine and immune correlates of heroin self-administration.

Opioid receptor-mediated action in the central nervous system (CNS) has been consistently shown to trigger changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and suppress a variety of parameters of immune function in investigator-delivered paradigms. Overwhelming evidence supports the concept that the CNS undergoes numerous and complex neuronal adaptive changes in addicts, and in animal models of heroin addiction as a result of the training of drug stimuli to serve as reinforcers, altering the function of individual neurons and the larger neural circuits within which the neurons operate. Taken together, these advances suggest that since plastic neuronal changes occur in drug addiction and related animal model paradigms, profiles of neuroendocrine and immune function would differ in a rat model of heroin self-administration compared to passive infusion of drug. Self-administration of heroin induces neuronal circuitry adaptations in specific brain regions that may be related to alterations in neuroendocrine and T lymphocyte function also observed. Animals self-administering (SA) heroin exhibit increased mu-opioid receptor agonist ([D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO))-stimulated guanosine-5'-O-(gamma-thio)-triphosphate ([(35)S]GTPgammaS) binding in the anterior hypothalamus (50% and 33%) and rostral medial thalamus (33% and 36%) compared with control animals receiving identical non-contingent injections of yoked-heroin (YH) or yoked-saline (YS), respectively. No changes in agonist-stimulated G-protein sensitization were observed in 14 other brain regions studied. No changes in mu-opioid receptor density, ((3)H-DAMGO binding) were seen in all brain regions examined. The neuronal changes in SA animals were correlated with elevated adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) (64% and 104%) and glucocorticoid production (198% and 79%) compared with YH and YS groups, respectively. Neuroendocrine adaptive changes in SA animals were associated with thymic hypoplasia. Splenic T lymphocytes from animals that had self-administered heroin showed a profoundly reduced ability to proliferate in response to concanavalin A (50% and 48% compared with YH and YS controls, respectively; Fig. 1A), or a monoclonal antibody (R73) to the CD3/T-cell receptor complex (anti-TCR) plus IL-2 (55% and 59% compared with YH and YS controls, respectively; Fig. 1B). Self-administration of heroin selectively alters T lymphocyte function, as no effects on natural killer cell activity or macrophage functions were observed. These findings may have relevance to the acquisition and documented increased incidence of infectious diseases, including HIV, in heroin addicts, due to a pre-existing T-cell immunodeficient state.