Comparative proteomic analysis of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel complex in different tissue types.

ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels are expressed ubiquitously, but have diverse roles in various organs and cells. Their diversity can partly be explained by distinct tissue-specific compositions of four copies of the pore-forming inward rectifier potassium channel subunits (Kir6.1 and/or Kir6.2) and four regulatory sulfonylurea receptor subunits (SUR1 and/or SUR2). Channel function and/or subcellular localization also can be modified by the proteins with which they transiently or permanently interact to generate even more diversity. We performed a quantitative proteomic analysis of K(ATP) channel complexes in the heart, endothelium, insulin-secreting min6 cells (pancreatic ß-cell like), and the hypothalamus to identify proteins with which they interact in different tissues. Glycolysis is an overrepresented pathway in identified proteins of the heart, min6 cells, and the endothelium. Proteins with other energy metabolic functions were identified in the hypothalamic samples. These data suggest that the metabolo-electrical coupling conferred by K(ATP) channels is conferred partly by proteins with which they interact. A large number of identified cytoskeletal and trafficking proteins suggests endocytic recycling may help control K(ATP) channel surface density and/or subcellular localization. Overall, our data demonstrate that K(ATP) channels in different tissues may assemble with proteins having common functions, but that tissue-specific complex organization also occurs.

Cardiac ATP-sensitive K+ channel associates with the glycolytic enzyme complex.

Being gated by high-energy nucleotides, cardiac ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels are exquisitely sensitive to changes in cellular energy metabolism. An emerging view is that proteins associated with the K(ATP) channel provide an additional layer of regulation. Using putative sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) coiled-coil domains as baits in a 2-hybrid screen against a rat cardiac cDNA library, we identified glycolytic enzymes (GAPDH and aldolase A) as putative interacting proteins. Interaction between aldolase and SUR was confirmed using GST pulldown assays and coimmunoprecipitation assays. Mass spectrometry of proteins from K(ATP) channel immunoprecipitates of rat cardiac membranes identified glycolysis as the most enriched biological process. Coimmunoprecipitation assays confirmed interaction for several glycolytic enzymes throughout the glycolytic pathway. Immunocytochemistry colocalized many of these enzymes with K(ATP) channel subunits in rat cardiac myocytes. The catalytic activities of aldolase and pyruvate kinase functionally modulate K(ATP) channels in patch-clamp experiments, whereas D-glucose was without effect. Overall, our data demonstrate close physical association and functional interaction of the glycolytic process (particularly the distal ATP-generating steps) with cardiac K(ATP) channels.

Cell-penetrating peptides with intracellular actin-remodeling activity in malignant fibroblasts.

Cell-penetrating peptides can cross cell membranes and are commonly seen as biologically inert molecules. However, we found that some cell-penetrating peptides could remodel actin cytoskeleton in oncogene-transformed NIH3T3/EWS-Fli cells. These cells have profound actin disorganization related to their tumoral transformation. These arginine- and/or tryptophan-rich peptides could cross cell membrane and induce stress fiber formation in these malignant cells, whereas they had no perceptible effect in non-tumoral fibroblasts. In addition, motility (migration speed, random motility coefficient, wound healing) of the tumor cells could be decreased by the cell-permeant peptides. Although the peptides differently influenced actin polymerization in vitro, they could directly bind monomeric actin as determined by NMR and calorimetry studies. Therefore, cell-penetrating peptides might interact with intracellular protein partners, such as actin. In addition, the fact that they could reverse the tumoral phenotype is of interest for therapeutic purposes.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry: a powerful tool to study the internalization of cell-penetrating peptides.

This review summarizes the contribution of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in the study of cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) internalization in eukaryote cells. This technique was used to measure the efficiency of cell-penetrating peptide cellular uptake and cargo delivery and to analyze carrier and cargo intracellular degradation. The impact of thiol-containing membrane proteins on the internalization of CPP-cargo disulfide conjugates was also evaluated by combining MALDI-TOF MS with simple thiol-specific reactions. This highlighted the formation of cross-linked species to cell-surface proteins that either remained trapped in the cell membrane or led to intracellular delivery. MALDI-TOF MS is thus a powerful tool to dissect CPP internalization mechanisms.

Translocation and endocytosis for cell-penetrating peptide internalization.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) share the property of cellular internalization. The question of how these peptides reach the cytoplasm of cells is still widely debated. Herein, we have used a mass spectrometry-based method that enables quantification of internalized and membrane-bound peptides. Internalization of the most used CPP was studied at 37 degrees C (endocytosis and translocation) and 4 degrees C (translocation) in wild type and proteoglycan-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells. Both translocation and endocytosis are internalization pathways used by CPP. The choice of one pathway versus the other depends on the peptide sequence (not the number of positive changes), the extracellular peptide concentration, and the membrane components. There is no relationship between the high affinity of these peptides for the cell membrane and their internalization efficacy. Translocation occurs at low extracellular peptide concentration, whereas endocytosis, a saturable and cooperative phenomenon, is activated at higher concentrations. Translocation operates in a narrow time window, which implies a specific lipid/peptide co-import in cells.

Cell-surface thiols affect cell entry of disulfide-conjugated peptides.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can cross the cell membrane and are widely used to deliver bioactive cargoes inside cells. The cargo and the CPP are often conjugated through a disulfide bridge with the common acceptation that this linker is stable in the extracellular biological medium and should not perturb the internalization process. However, with the use of thiol-specific reagents combined with mass spectrometry (as a quantitative method to measure intracellular concentrations of peptides) and confocal microscopy (as a qualitative method to visualize internalized peptides) analyses, we could show that, depending on the peptide sequence, thiol/disulfide exchange reactions could happen at the cell surface. These exchange reactions lead to the reduction of disulfide conjugates. In addition, it was observed that not only disulfide- but also thiol-containing peptides could cross-react with cell-surface thiols. The peptides cross-linked by thiol-containing membrane proteins were either trapped in the membrane or further internalized. Therefore, a new route of cellular uptake was unveiled that is not restricted to CPPs: a protein kinase C peptide inhibitor that is not cell permeant could cross cell membranes when an activated cysteine (with a 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl moiety) was introduced in its sequence.

A20 Inhibits ß-Cell Apoptosis by Multiple Mechanisms and Predicts Residual ß-Cell Function in Type 1 Diabetes.

Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) contributes to ß-cell death in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Genome-wide association studies have identified the gene TNF-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3), encoding for the zinc finger protein A20, as a susceptibility locus for T1D. A20 restricts NF-κB signaling and has strong antiapoptotic activities in ß-cells. Although the role of A20 on NF-κB inhibition is well characterized, its other antiapoptotic functions are largely unknown. By studying INS-1E cells and rat dispersed islet cells knocked down or overexpressing A20 and islets isolated from the ß-cell-specific A20 knockout mice, we presently demonstrate that A20 has broader effects in ß-cells that are not restricted to inhibition of NF-κB. These involves, suppression of the proapoptotic mitogen-activated protein kinase c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), activation of survival signaling via v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (Akt) and consequently inhibition of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Finally, in a cohort of T1D children, we observed that the risk allele of the rs2327832 single nucleotide polymorphism of TNFAIP3 predicted lower C-peptide and higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels 12 months after disease onset, indicating reduced residual ß-cell function and impaired glycemic control. In conclusion, our results indicate a critical role for A20 in the regulation of ß-cell survival and unveil novel mechanisms by which A20 controls ß-cell fate. Moreover, we identify the single nucleotide polymorphism rs2327832 of TNFAIP3 as a possible prognostic marker for diabetes outcome in children with T1D.

Further studies of the norditerpene (+)-harringtonolide isolated from Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. drupacea: absolute configuration, cytotoxic and antifungal activities.

Harringtonolide (= hainanolide) is a complex polycyclic fused norditerpene isolated from CEPHALOTAXUS HARRINGTONIA var. DRUPACEA. In spite of its appealing biological properties - we measured an IC (50) of 43 nM on KB cells and a significant antifungal activity - its absolute configuration has not yet been firmly established. This was done herein using X-ray anomalous scattering after bromination of the tropone ring, unambiguously giving the stereochemistry 5 R,6 R,7 S,13 S,14 S,15 R,16 R. Detailed IN VITRO biological measurements are provided.

Tracking a new cell-penetrating (W/R) nonapeptide, through an enzyme-stable mass spectrometry reporter tag.

We have designed a mass stable reporter (msr) tag with m/z over 500, trifluoroacetyl(alpha,alpha-diethyl)Gly-Lys(Nepsilonbiotin)-(D)Lys-Cys, for the quantification of the uptake and study of the degradation processes of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP), by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. This tag was found stable in cell lysis conditions. Using a quantitative MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis based method, an accurate tracking of a new CPP and of its degradation products could be done. (1) The new msr(W/R) nonapeptide (H-RRWWRRWRR-NH2) enters chinese hamster ovary (CHO) K1 cells with a kinetic reaching a steady state after 30-60 min of incubation. This plateau was stable for 4 h and decreased slowly afterward. (2) The peptide msr(W/R) nonapeptide was not cytotoxic over 48 h incubation with CHO cells. (3) After 1 h incubation, the msr(W/R) nonapeptide accumulated with a 3-fold higher concentration than the extracellularly added concentration (7.5 microM). (4) The intracellular quantification was accurate with less than 3% of the quantified peptide being potentially membrane-bound. (5) There was no leakage of the full-length CPP outside the cells. And, finally, (6) analysis of the degradation process of this new CPP suggests that the peptide did not traffick to lysosomes.

[Tracking Trojan peptides in cells]. / Dosage et pistage de peptides Troyens dans les cellules.

Trojan peptides or cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) are natural or designed peptides identified as cellular membrane-crossing molecules, in particular through their potency to vehiculate various kinds of compounds to the cytoplasm and nucleus of living cells. The indirect methods used so far to detect these peptides in cells led to controversial hypotheses on the mechanism of their cell entry. Therefore, we have developed a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry-based quantification method to track these peptides inside cells. This new method is presented in this review.

The two NK-1 binding sites correspond to distinct, independent, and non-interconvertible receptor conformational states as confirmed by plasmon-waveguide resonance spectroscopy.

Two nonstoichiometric ligand binding sites have been previously reported for the NK-1 receptor, with the use of classical methods (radioligand binding and second messenger assays). The most populated (major, NK-1M) binding site binds substance P (SP) and is related to the adenylyl cyclase pathway. The less populated (minor, NK-1m) binding site binds substance P, C-terminal hexa- and heptapeptide analogues of SP, and the NK-2 endogenous ligand, neurokinin A, and is coupled to the phospholipase C pathway. Here, we have examined these two binding sites with plasmon-waveguide resonance (PWR) spectroscopy that allows the thermodynamics and kinetics of ligand-receptor binding processes and the accompanying structural changes of the receptor to be monitored, through measurements of the anisotropic optical properties of lipid bilayers into which the receptor is incorporated. The binding of the three peptides, substance P, neurokinin A, and propionyl[Met(O(2))(11)]SP(7-11), to the partially purified NK-1 receptor has been analyzed by this method. Substance P and neurokinin A bind to the reconstituted receptor in a biphasic manner with two affinities (K(d1) = 0.14 +/- 0.02 nM and K(d2) = 1.4 +/- 0.18 nM, and K(d1) = 5.5 +/- 0.7 nM and K(d2) = 620 +/- 117 nM, respectively), whereas only one binding affinity (K(d) = 5.5 +/- 0.4 nM) could be observed for propionyl[Met(O(2))(11)]SP(7-11). Moreover, binding experiments in which one ligand was added after another one has been bound to the receptor have shown that the binding of these ligands to each binding site was unaffected by the fact that the other site was already occupied. These data strongly suggest that these two binding sites are independent and non-interconvertible on the time scale of these experiments (1-2 h).