Conserved C272/278 in b domain regulate the function of PDI-P5 to make lysozymes trypsin-resistant forms via significant intermolecular disulfide cross-linking.

Protein disulfide isomerase-P5 (P5) is thought to have important functions as an oxidoreductase, however, molecular functions of P5 have not been fully elucidated. We have reported that P5 has insulin reductase activity and inhibits lysozyme refolding by formation of lysozyme multimers with hypermolecular mass inactivated by intermolecular disulfides (hyLYS) in oxidative refolding of reduced denatured lysozyme. To explore the role of each domain of P5, we investigated the effects of domain deletion and Cys-Ala mutants of P5 on insulin reduction and the oxidative refolding of the lysozyme. The mutants of catalytic cysteines, C36/39A, C171/174A, and C36/39/171/174A inhibited the lysozyme refolding almost similarly to P5, and even b domain without catalytic cysteines showed moderate inhibitory effect, suggesting that the b domain played a key role in the inhibition. Western blotting analysis of the refolding products indicated that the catalytic cysteines in both the a and a' domains cross-linked lysozyme comparably to form hyLYS resistant to trypsin, in which b domain was suggested to capture lysozyme for the significant sulfhydryl oxidation. The mutant of the conserved cysteines in b domain, C272/278A, did not form hyLYS, however, showed predominant reductase activity, implying that P5 functioned as a potent sulfhydryl oxidase and a predominant reductase depending on the circumstance around C272/278. These results provide new insight into the molecular basis of P5 function.

Proteomic identification of differentially expressed genes during differentiation of cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) embryonic stem cells to astrocyte progenitor cells in vitro.

Understanding astrocytogenesis is valuable for the treatment of nervous system disorders, as astrocytes provide structural, metabolic and defense support to neurons, and regulate neurons actively. However, there is limited information about the molecular events associated with the differentiation from primate ES cells to astrocytes. We therefore investigated the differentially expressed proteins in early astrocytogenesis, from cynomolgus monkey ES cells (CMK6 cell line) into astrocyte progenitor (AstP) cells via the formation of primitive neural stem spheres (Day 4), mature neural stem spheres (NSS), and neural stem (NS) cells in vitro, using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). We identified 66 differentially expressed proteins involved in these five differentiation stages. Together with the results of Western blotting, RT-PCR, and a search of metabolic pathways related to the identified proteins, these results indicated that collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2), its phosphorylated forms, and cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP1) were upregulated from ES cells to Day 4 and NSS cells, to which differentiation stages apoptosis-associated proteins such as caspases were possibly related; Phosphorylated CRMP2s were further upregulated but CRABP1 was downregulated from NSS cells to NS cells, during which differentiation stage considerable axon guidance proteins for development of growth cones, axon attraction, and repulsion were possibly readied; Nonphosphorylated CRMP2 was downregulated but CRABP1 was re-upregulated from NS cells to AstP cells, in which differentiation stage reorganization of actin cytoskeleton linked to focal adhesion was possibly accompanied. These results provide insight into the molecular basis of early astrocytogenesis in monkey.

Proteomic identification of differentially expressed genes in neural stem cells and neurons differentiated from embryonic stem cells of cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) in vitro.

Understanding neurogenesis is valuable for the treatment of nervous system disorders. However, there is currently limited information about the molecular events associated with the transition from primate ES cells to neural cells. We therefore sought to identify the proteins involved in neurogenesis, from Macaca fascicularis ES cells (CMK6 cell line) to neural stem (NS) cells to neurons using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF), and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). During the differentiation of highly homogeneous ES cells to NS cells, we identified 17 proteins with increased expression, including fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7), collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2), and cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP1), and seven proteins with decreased expression. In the differentiation of NS cells to neurons, we identified three proteins with increased expression, including CRMP2, and 10 proteins with decreased expression. Of these proteins, FABP7 is a marker of NS cells, CRMP2 is involved in axon guidance, and CRABP1 is thought to regulate retinoic acid access to its nuclear receptors. Western blot analysis confirmed the upregulation of FABP7 and CRABP1 in NS cells, and the upregulation of CRMP2 in NS cells and neurons. RT-PCR results showed that CRMP2 and FABP7 mRNAs were also upregulated in NS cells, while CRABP1 mRNA was unchanged. These results provide insight into the molecular basis of monkey neural differentiation.

Protein disulfide isomerase-P5, down-regulated in the final stage of boar epididymal sperm maturation, catalyzes disulfide formation to inhibit protein function in oxidative refolding of reduced denatured lysozyme.

In mammalian spermiogenesis, sperm mature during epididymal transit to get fertility. The pig sharing many physiological similarities with humans is considered a promising animal model in medicine. We examined the expression profiles of proteins from boar epididymal caput, corpus, and cauda sperm by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting. Our results indicated that protein disulfide isomerase-P5 (PDI-P5) human homolog was down-regulated from the epididymal corpus to cauda sperm, in contrast to the constant expression of protein disulfide isomerase A3 (PDIA3) human homolog. To examine the functions of PDIA3 and PDI-P5, we cloned and sequenced cDNAs of pig PDIA3 and PDI-P5 protein precursors. Each recombinant pig mature PDIA3 and PDI-P5 expressed in Escherichia coli showed thiol-dependent disulfide reductase activities in insulin turbidity assay. Although PDIA3 showed chaperone activity to promote oxidative refolding of reduced denatured lysozyme, PDI-P5 exhibited anti-chaperone activity to inhibit oxidative refolding of lysozyme at an equimolar ratio. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis suggested that disulfide cross-linked and non-productively folded lysozyme was responsible for the anti-chaperone activity of PDI-P5. These results provide a molecular basis and insights into the physiological roles of PDIA3 and PDI-P5 in sperm maturation and fertilization.

Proteomic identification of differentially expressed genes in mouse neural stem cells and neurons differentiated from embryonic stem cells in vitro.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent stem cells and give rise to a variety of differentiated cell types including neurons. To study a molecular basis for differentiation from ES cells to neural cells, we searched for proteins involved in mouse neurogenesis from ES cells to neural stem (NS) cells and neurons by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and peptide mass fingerprinting, using highly homogeneous cells differentiated from ES cells in vitro. We newly identified seven proteins with increased expression and one protein with decreased expression from ES cells to NS cells, and eight proteins with decreased expression from NS cells to neurons. Western blot analysis confirmed that a tumor-specific transplantation antigen, HS90B, decreased, and an extracellular matrix and membrane glycoprotein (such as laminin)-binding protein, galectin 1 (LEG1), increased in NS cells, and LEG1 and a cell adhesion receptor, laminin receptor (RSSA), decreased in neurons. The results of RT-PCR showed that mRNA of LEG1 was also up-regulated in NS cells and down-regulated in neurons, implying an important role of LEG1 in regulating the differentiation. The differentially expressed proteins identified here provide insight into the molecular basis of neurogenesis from ES cells to NS cells and neurons.

Search for novel stress-responsive protein components using a yeast mutant lacking two cytosolic Hsp70 genes, SSA1 and SSA2.

Heat shock proteins (Hsp) 70 are a ubiquitous family of molecular chaperones involved in many cellular processes. A yeast strain, ssa1/2, with two functionally redundant cytosolic Hsp70s (SSA1 and SSA2) deleted shows thermotolerance comparable to mildly heat-shocked wild type yeast, as well as increased protein synthesis and ubiquitin-proteasome protein degradation. Since mRNA abundance does not always correlate well with protein expression levels it is essential to study proteins directly. We used a gel-based approach to identify stress-responsive proteins in the ssa1/2 mutant and identified 43 differentially expressed spots. These were trypsin-digested and analyzed by nano electrospray ionization liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nESI-LC-MS/MS). A total of 22 non-redundant proteins were identified, 11 of which were confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. Nine proteins, most of which were up-regulated (2-fold or more) in the ssa1/2 mutant, proved to be stress-inducible proteins such as molecular chaperones and anti-oxidant proteins, or proteins related to carbohydrate metabolism. Interestingly, a translational factor Hyp2p up-regulated in the mutant was also found to be highly phosphorylated. These results indicate that the cytosolic Hsp70s, Ssa1p and Ssa2p, regulate an abundance of proteins mainly involved in stress responses and protein synthesis.

The stress response against denatured proteins in the deletion of cytosolic chaperones SSA1/2 is different from heat-shock response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

BACKGROUND: A yeast strain lacking the two genes SSA1 and SSA2, which encode cytosolic molecular chaperones, acquires thermotolerance as well as the mild heat-shocked wild-type yeast strain. We investigated the genomic response at the level of mRNA expression to the deletion of SSA1/2 in comparison with the mild heat-shocked wild-type using cDNA microarray. RESULTS: Yeast cDNA microarray analysis revealed that genes involved in the stress response, including molecular chaperones, were up-regulated in a similar manner in both the ssa1/2 deletion mutant and the mild heat-shocked wild-type. Genes involved in protein synthesis were up-regulated in the ssa1/2 deletion mutant, but were markedly suppressed in the mild heat-shocked wild-type. The genes involved in ubiquitin-proteasome protein degradation were also up-regulated in the ssa1/2 deletion mutant, whereas the unfolded protein response (UPR) genes were highly expressed in the mild heat-shocked wild-type. RT-PCR confirmed that the genes regulating protein synthesis and cytosolic protein degradation were up-regulated in the ssa1/2 deletion mutant. At the translational level, more ubiquitinated proteins and proteasomes were detected in the ssa1/2 deletion mutant, than in the wild-type, confirming that ubiquitin-proteasome protein degradation was up-regulated by the deletion of SSA1/2. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the mechanism for rescue of denatured proteins in the ssa1/2 deletion mutant is different from that in the mild heat-shocked wild-type: Activated protein synthesis in the ssa1/2 deletion mutant supplies a deficiency of proteins by their degradation, whereas mild heat-shock induces UPR.

Effects of heat shock on survival, proliferation and differentiation of mouse neural stem cells.

Hyperthermia during pregnancy is a significant cause of reproductive problems ranging from abortion to congenital defects of the central nervous system (CNS), including neural tube defects and microcephaly. Neural stem cells (NSCs) can proliferate and differentiate into neurons and glia, playing a key role in the formation of the CNS. Here, we examined the effects of heat shock on homogeneous proliferating NSCs derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. After heat shock at 42 °C for 20 min, the proliferating NSCs continued to proliferate, although subtle changes were observed in gene expression and cell survival and proliferation. In contrast, heat shock at 43 °C caused a variety of responses: the up-regulation of genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSP), induction of apoptosis, temporal inhibition of cell proliferation and retardation of differentiation. Finally, effects of heat shock at 44 °C were severe, with almost all cells disappearing and the remaining cells losing the capacity to proliferate and differentiate. These temperature-dependent effects of heat shock on NSCs may be valuable in elucidating the mechanisms by which hyperthermia during pregnancy causes various reproductive problems.

Effects of iodine on global gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

It is well documented that iodine kills microorganisms with a broad spectrum, but a systematic study of its mechanism of action has not yet been reported. Here we found the action of iodine on gene expression level, using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with a DNA microarray. It was found that, like antimicrobial activity, iodine causes an immediate and dose-dependent (0.5 mM, 0.75 mM and 1 mM) transcriptional alteration in yeast cells. The effects of iodine continued after the first immediate response. Genes for c-compound and carbohydrate metabolism, for energy, and for cell rescue were continuously up-regulated. On the other hand, genes related to protein fate were induced especially at 0.5 h. The gene expression profile at 0.5 h was significantly different from that of a longer iodine exposed condition. The main reaction at 0.5 h after iodine addition might be due to oxidative toxicity, and the profile at 0.5 h was similar to that of an agricultural bactericide.