Ubiquitylation within signaling pathways in- and outside of inflammation.

Ubiquitin is a highly conserved 76-amino-acid peptide that becomes covalently attached to lysine residues of target proteins. Since ubiquitin itself contains seven lysine residues, ubiquitin molecules can generate different types of polyubiquitin chains. Lys48-linked polyubiquitylation is well-known as posttranslational tag for targeting proteins for degradation by the 26S proteasome. Recent studies have revealed several new functions of ubiquitin, e.g. activation of protein kinases, control of gene transcription, DNA repair and replication, intracellular trafficking and virus budding. These functions are mainly mediated by Lys63 polyubiquitin chains or attachment of a single ubiquitin molecule to one or several lysine residues within the target protein. Importantly, protein ubiquitylation exhibits inducibility, reversibilty and recognition by specialized ubiquitin-binding domains, features similar to protein phosphorylation. In this review we comprehensively describe regulations of protein ubiquitylation and their impact on distinct signaling pathways.

VIGR--a novel inducible adhesion family G-protein coupled receptor in endothelial cells.

Using a signal sequence trap for selection of differentially expressed secretory and membrane proteins, we identified a novel member of the adhesion family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), termed vascular inducible GPCR (VIGR). VIGR contains C1r-C1s, Uegf and Bmp1 (CUB) and pentraxin (PTX)-like modules and a mucin-like spacer, followed by seven transmembrane domains. By surface biotinylation as well as by immunofluorescence analysis we demonstrate that endogenous, highly glycosylated VIGR is expressed on the cell surface of endothelial cells (ECs) upon LPS or thrombin treatment, and inducible expression is mediated by MAP kinases, but not NF-kappaB. We show that VIGR is selectively expressed in ECs derived from larger vessels, but not from microvessels. In summary, VIGR represents a novel GPCR of the adhesion family, which is unique in its long extra-cellular domain comprising CUB and PTX-like modules and in its inducibility by LPS and thrombin in a subset of ECs, suggesting an important function in cell-adhesion and potentially links inflammation and coagulation.

A membrane-anchored Theileria parva cyclophilin with a non-cleaved amino-terminal signal peptide for entry into the endoplasmic reticulum.

Recent studies suggest that peptidyl-prolyl isomerases of the cyclophilin family, that access the secretory pathway, can be involved in the interaction of parasitic protozoa with mammalian host cells. The amino acid sequence of a cDNA encoding a cyclophilin family member of the intracellular protozoan parasite of cattle Theileria parva contains a conserved C-terminal domain that exhibits 70% amino acid identity to cyclophilin proteins from other organisms, and a unique 60 amino acid novel N-terminal extension. Cell-free expression of the cDNA revealed a 26kDa amino translation product, indicating expression of the N-terminal domain. The protein-coding region contains three short introns, less than 100 base pairs in length and Northern blot analysis demonstrates expression of a single 0.9 kb transcript in the piroplasm and schizont stages. The transcript is present in high abundance in the intra-lymphocytic schizont stage. The recombinant protein binds to immobilized cyclosporin A, a finding consistent with peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase function in vivo. A predicted N-terminal signal peptide was functional for entry into the eukaryotic secretory transport pathway in a cell-free in vitro transcription/translation system. The C-terminal cyclophilin domain was translocated across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum and the uncleaved signal peptide functioned as a membrane anchor.

The human HERC family of ubiquitin ligases: novel members, genomic organization, expression profiling, and evolutionary aspects.

The HERC family of ubiquitin ligases is characterized by the presence of a HECT domain and one or more RCC1-like domains. We report the identification of two novel members, HERC4 and HERC6, and subdivide the family into one group of two large and one group of four small members according to protein size and domain structure. The small members share a similar genomic organization, three of them mapping to chromosomal region 4q22, indicating strong evolutionary cohesions. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the HERC ancestor emerged in nematodes and that the family expanded throughout evolution. The mRNA expression pattern of the small human members was found to be diverse in selected tissues and cells; overexpressed proteins display a similar cytosolic distribution. These data indicate that the HERC family members exhibit similarities in many aspects, but also sufficient differences indicating functional diversity.

HERC5, a HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase tightly regulated in LPS activated endothelial cells.

By differential screening we isolated genes upregulated in inflammatory cytokine-stimulated human skin microvascular endothelial cells. One of these cDNAs encoded RCC1 (regulator of chromosome condensation 1)-like repeats and a HECT (homologous to E6-AP C-terminus) domain, representing a member of the HERC (HECT and RCC1 domain protein) family of ubiquitin ligases. The mRNA level of this member, HERC5, is specifically upregulated in endothelial cells by the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1beta, and by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but is hardly expressed in other cells of the vascular wall such as primary smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. Regulation of HERC5 gene expression suggests a critical role for the transcription factor NF-kappaB. In contrast to mRNA expression HERC5 protein is subject of enhanced degradation upon LPS stimulation of endothelial cells. The time course of LPS-induced changes in HERC5 protein and mRNA levels suggests that the initial drop in HERC5 protein is balanced by increased protein synthesis due to upregulation of HERC5 mRNA. This leads to recovery of HERC5 protein levels within 12 hours of LPS stimulation and points at a tight control of HERC5 protein. To analyze functional activity of this putative member of the ubiquitin-conjugating pathway we performed in vitro assays with different ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes. We found that HERC5 possesses ubiquitin ligase activity and requires the presence of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UbcH5a for its activity. These data show for the first time that a functionally active HECT ubiquitin ligase exhibits a tightly controlled cytosolic level under inflammatory conditions in endothelial cells.

Identification and characterization of a conserved, stage-specific gene product of Plasmodium falciparum recognized by parasite growth inhibitory antibodies.

We have identified a novel conserved protein of Plasmodium falciparum, designated D13, that is stage-specifically expressed in asexual blood stages of the parasite. The predicted open reading frame (ORF) D13 contains 863 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 99.7 kDa and displays a repeat region composed of pentapeptide motives. Northern blot analysis with lysates of synchronized blood stage parasites showed that D13 is highly expressed at the mRNA level during schizogony. The first N'-terminal 138 amino acids of D13 were expressed in Escherichia coli and the purified protein was used to generate anti-D13 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Using total lysates of blood stage parasites and Western blot analysis, these MAbs stained one single band of approximately 100 kDa, corresponding to the predicted molecular mass of ORF D13. Western blot analysis demonstrated further that D13 is expressed during schizogony, declines rapidly in early ring stages and is undetectable in trophozoites. D13 protein is localized in individual merozoites in a distinct area, as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence analysis. After subcellular fractionation, D13 was confined to the pelleted fraction of the parasite lysate and its extraction by alkaline carbonate buffer treatment indicated that D13 is not a membrane-integral protein. Inclusion of certain anti-D13 MAbs into in vitro cultures of blood stage parasites resulted in considerable reduction in parasite growth. The N'-terminal domain encompassing 158 amino acids is 94 and 95%, respectively, identical at the amino acid level between Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium yoelii, and P. falciparum. In summary, we describe a novel stage-specifically expressed, highly conserved gene product of P. falciparum that is recognized by parasite growth inhibitory antibodies.

Polymorphic membrane protein (PMP) 20 and PMP 21 of Chlamydia pneumoniae induce proinflammatory mediators in human endothelial cells in vitro by activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway.

We tested whether polymorphic membrane proteins (PMPs) of Chlamydia pneumoniae might play a role in triggering an inflammatory response in human endothelial cells. Of 15 purified, recombinant chlamydial PMPs tested, 2 (PMP 20 and PMP 21) dose-dependently increased the production of the inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), in cultured human endothelial cells; production of IL-8 was also increased. When endothelial cells were infected by live C. pneumoniae, an increase in the production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 was seen. We used adenovirus-induced overexpression of IkappaBalpha-an inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB-to demonstrate that PMP 20 and PMP 21 increase the production of IL-6 and MCP-1 in human endothelial cells by activation of the NF-kappaB pathway, because, in cells overexpressing IkappaBalpha, treatment with the respective PMP did not result in increased production of IL-6 and MCP-1. Thus, C. pneumoniae could, by interactions of its PMPs with the endothelium, contribute to the process of vascular injury during the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.