Novel Bone-Targeting Agent for Enhanced Delivery of Vancomycin to Bone.

We examined the pharmacokinetic properties of vancomycin conjugated to a bone-targeting agent (BT) with high affinity for hydroxyapatite after systemic intravenous administration. The results confirm enhanced persistence of BT-vancomycin in plasma and enhanced accumulation in bone relative to vancomycin. This suggests that BT-vancomycin may be a potential carrier for the systemic targeted delivery of vancomycin in the treatment of bone infections, potentially reducing the reliance on surgical debridement to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome.

Sex differences in brain proteomes of neuron-specific STAT3-null mice after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Signal transduction and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) plays an important role in neuronal survival, regeneration and repair after brain injury. We previously demonstrated that STAT3 is activated in brain after cerebral ischemia specifically in neurons. The effect was sex-specific and modulated by sex steroids, with higher activation in females than males. In the current study, we used a proteomics approach to identify downstream proteins affected by ischemia in male and female wild-type (WT) and neuron-specific STAT3 knockout (KO) mice. We established four comparison groups based on the transgenic condition and the hemisphere analyzed, respectively. Moreover, the sexual variable was taken into account and male and female animals were analyzed independently. Results support a role for STAT3 in metabolic, synaptic, structural and transcriptional responses to cerebral ischemia, indeed the adaptive response to ischemia/reperfusion injury is delayed in neuronal-specific STAT3 KO mice. The differences observed between males and females emphasize the importance of sex-specific neuronal survival and repair mechanisms, especially those involving antioxidant and energy-related activities, often caused by sex hormones.

High fructose feeding induces copper deficiency in Sprague-Dawley rats: a novel mechanism for obesity related fatty liver.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Dietary copper deficiency is associated with a variety of manifestations of the metabolic syndrome, including hyperlipidemia and fatty liver. Fructose feeding has been reported to exacerbate complications of copper deficiency. In this study, we investigated whether copper deficiency plays a role in fructose-induced fatty liver and explored the potential underlying mechanism(s). METHODS: Male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either an adequate copper or a marginally copper deficient diet for 4 weeks. Deionized water or deionized water containing 30% fructose (w/v) was also given ad lib. Copper and iron status, hepatic injury and steatosis, and duodenum copper transporter-1 (Ctr-1) were assessed. RESULTS: Fructose feeding further impaired copper status and led to iron overload. Liver injury and fat accumulation were significantly induced in marginal copper deficient rats exposed to fructose as evidenced by robustly increased plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and hepatic triglyceride. Hepatic carnitine palmitoyl-CoA transferase I (CPT I) expression was significantly inhibited, whereas hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) was markedly up-regulated in marginal copper deficient rats fed with fructose. Hepatic antioxidant defense system was suppressed and lipid peroxidation was increased by marginal copper deficiency and fructose feeding. Moreover, duodenum Ctr-1 expression was significantly increased by marginal copper deficiency, whereas this increase was abrogated by fructose feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that high fructose-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be due, in part, to inadequate dietary copper. Impaired duodenum Ctr-1 expression seen in fructose feeding may lead to decreased copper absorption, and subsequent copper deficiency.

Preclinical Alzheimer disease: brain oxidative stress, Abeta peptide and proteomics.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized clinically by progressive memory loss and subsequent dementia and neuropathologically by senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and synapse loss. Interestingly, a small percentage of individuals with normal antemortem psychometric scores meet the neuropathological criteria for AD (termed 'preclinical' AD (PCAD)). In this study, inferior parietal lobule (IPL) from PCAD and control subjects was compared for oxidative stress markers by immunochemistry, amyloid beta peptide by ELISA, and identification of protein expression differences by proteomics. We observed a significant increase in highly insoluble monomeric Abeta42, but no significant differences in oligomeric Abeta nor in oxidative stress measurements between controls and PCAD subjects. Expression proteomics identified proteins whose trends in PCAD are indicative of cellular protection, possibly correlating with previous studies showing no cell loss in PCAD. Our analyses may reveal processes involved in a period of protection from neurodegeneration that mimic the clinical phenotype of PCAD.

The wheat germ agglutinin-fractionated proteome of subjects with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment hippocampus and inferior parietal lobule: Implications for disease pathogenesis and progression.

Lectin affinity chromatography is a powerful separation technique that fractionates proteins by selectively binding to specific carbohydrate moieties characteristic of protein glycosylation type. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) selectively binds terminal N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) and sialic acid moieties characteristic of O-linked glycosylation. The current study utilizes WGA affinity chromatography to fractionate proteins from hippocampus and inferior parietal lobule (IPL) from subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and arguably its earliest form, mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Proteins identified by proteomics that were fractionated from MCI and AD hippocampus by WGA affinity chromatography with altered levels compared with age-matched controls included GP96, γ-enolase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glucosidase IIα, 14-3-3ϵ, 14-3-3γ, 14-3-3ζ, tropomyosin-2, calmodulin 2, gelsolin, ß-synuclein, α1-antichymotrypsin, and dimethylguanosine tRNA methyltransferase. Proteins identified by proteomics that were fractionated from MCI and AD IPL by WGA affinity chromatography showing altered levels compared with age-matched controls included protein disulfide isomerase, calreticulin, and GP96. The proteins described in this study are involved in diverse processes, including glucose metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions, chaperoning, cytoskeletal assembly, and proteolysis, all of which are affected in AD. This study, the first to use proteomics to identify WGA-fractionated proteins isolated from brains from subjects with MCI and AD, provides additional information about the active proteome of the brain throughout AD progression.

3-O-phosphate ester conjugates of 17-ß-O-{1-[2-carboxy-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-carboxamido)anilido]ethyl}1,3,5(10)-estratriene as novel bone-targeting agents.

A series of 3-O-phosphorylated analogs (4-10) of a novel bone-targeting estradiol analog (3) were synthesized after a thorough study of the reaction of 3 with a selection of phosphoryl chlorides under a variety of reaction conditions. Evaluation of these novel phosphate analogs for affinity for hydroxyapatite revealed that they bind with equal or higher affinity when compared to the bone tissue accumulator, tetracycline.

Effect of rapid human N-acetyltransferase 2 haplotype on DNA damage and mutagenesis induced by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx).

Heterocyclic amines such as 2-amino-3-methylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) are dietary carcinogens generated when meats are cooked well-done. Bioactivation includes N-hydroxylation catalyzed by cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) followed by O-acetylation catalyzed by N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). Nucleotide excision repair-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with human CYP1A2 and either NAT2*4 (rapid acetylator) or NAT2*5B (slow acetylator) alleles were treated with IQ or MeIQx to examine the effect of NAT2 genetic polymorphism on IQ- or MeIQx-induced DNA adducts and mutagenesis. MeIQx and IQ both induced decreases in cell survival and significantly (p<0.001) greater number of endogenous hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) mutants in the CYP1A2/NAT2*4 than the CYP1A2/NAT2*5B cell line. IQ- and MeIQx-induced hprt mutant cDNAs were sequenced and over 85% of the mutations were single-base substitutions with the remainder exon deletions likely caused by splice-site mutations. For the single-base substitutions, over 85% were at G:C base pairs. Deoxyguanosine (dG)-C8-IQ and dG-C8-MeIQx adducts were significantly (p<0.001) greater in the CYP1A2/NAT2*4 than the CYP1A2/NAT2*5B cell line. DNA adduct levels correlated very highly with hprt mutants for both IQ and MeIQx. These results suggest substantially increased risk for IQ- and MeIQx-induced DNA damage and mutagenesis in rapid NAT2 acetylators.

Role of Human N-Acetyltransferase 2 Genetic Polymorphism on Aromatic Amine Carcinogen-Induced DNA Damage and Mutagenicity in a Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Mutation Assay.

Carcinogenic aromatic amines such as 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP) and 2-aminofluorene (AF) require metabolic activation to form electrophilic intermediates that mutate DNA leading to carcinogenesis. Bioactivation of these carcinogens includes N-hydroxylation catalyzed by CYP1A2 followed by O-acetylation catalyzed by arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). To better understand the role of NAT2 genetic polymorphism in ABP- and AF-induced mutagenesis and DNA damage, nucleotide excision repair-deficient (UV5) Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were stably transfected with human CYP1A2 and either NAT2*4 (rapid acetylator) or NAT2*5B (slow acetylator) alleles. ABP and AF both caused significantly (P < 0.001) greater mutagenesis measured at the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) locus in the UV5/CYP1A2/NAT2*4 acetylator cell line compared to the UV5, UV5/CYP1A2, and UV5/CYP1A2/NAT2*5B cell lines. ABP- and AF-induced hprt mutant cDNAs were sequenced and over 80% of the single-base substitutions were at G:C base pairs. DNA damage also was quantified by γH2AX in-cell western assays and by identification and quantification of the two predominant DNA adducts, N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl (dG-C8-ABP) and N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF) by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. DNA damage and adduct levels were dose-dependent, correlated highly with levels of hprt mutants, and were significantly (P < 0.0001) greater in the UV5/CYP1A2/NAT2*4 rapid acetylator cell line following treatment with ABP or AF as compared to all other cell lines. Our findings provide further clarity on the importance of O-acetylation in CHO mutagenesis assays for aromatic amines. They provide evidence that NAT2 genetic polymorphism modifies aromatic amine-induced DNA damage and mutagenesis that should be considered in human risk assessments following aromatic amine exposures. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:235-245, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Plasma and Serum Proteins Bound to Nanoceria: Insights into Pathways by which Nanoceria may Exert Its Beneficial and Deleterious Effects In Vivo.

Nanoceria (CeO2, cerium oxide nanoparticles) is proposed as a therapeutic for multiple disorders. In blood, nanoceria becomes protein-coated, changing its surface properties to yield a different presentation to cells. There is little information on the interaction of nanoceria with blood proteins. The current study is the first to report the proteomics identification of plasma and serum proteins adsorbed to nanoceria. The results identify a number of plasma and serum proteins interacting with nanoceria, proteins whose normal activities regulate numerous cell functions: antioxidant/detoxification, energy regulation, lipoproteins, signaling, complement, immune function, coagulation, iron homeostasis, proteolysis, inflammation, protein folding, protease inhibition, adhesion, protein/RNA degradation, and hormonal. The principal implications of this study are: 1) The protein corona may positively or negatively affect nanoceria cellular uptake, subsequent organ bioprocessing, and effects; and 2) Nanoceria adsorption may alter protein structure and function, including pro- and inflammatory effects. Consequently, prior to their use as therapeutic agents, better understanding of the effects of nanoceria protein coating is warranted.

Proteomic identification of nitrated brain proteins in early Alzheimer's disease inferior parietal lobule.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive decline in multiple cognitive domains. Its pathological hallmarks include senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the earliest detectable stage of AD with limited symptomology and no dementia. The yearly conversion rate of patients from MCI to AD is 10-15%, although conversion back to normal is possible in a small percentage. Early diagnosis of AD is important in an attempt to intervene or slow the advancement of the disease. Early AD (EAD) is a stage following MCI and characterized by full-blown dementia; however, information involving EAD is limited. Oxidative stress is well-established in MCI and AD, including protein oxidation. Protein nitration also is an important oxidative modification observed in MCI and AD, and proteomic analysis from our laboratory identified nitrated proteins in both MCI and AD. Therefore, in the current study, a proteomics approach was used to identify nitrated brain proteins in the inferior parietal lobule from four subjects with EAD. Eight proteins were found to be significantly nitrated in EAD: peroxiredoxin 2, triose phosphate isomerase, glutamate dehydrogenase, neuropolypeptide h3, phosphoglycerate mutase1, H(+)- transporting ATPase, alpha-enolase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase. Many of these proteins are also nitrated in MCI and late-stage AD, making this study the first to our knowledge to link nitrated proteins in all stages of AD. These results are discussed in terms of potential involvement in the progression of this dementing disorder.

Proteomic identification of nitrated brain proteins in traumatic brain-injured rats treated postinjury with gamma-glutamylcysteine ethyl ester: insights into the role of elevation of glutathione as a potential therapeutic strategy for traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs suddenly and has damaging effects to the brain that are dependent on the severity of insult. Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. Oxidative damage is associated with traumatic brain injury through reactive oxygen/nitrogen species production. One such species, peroxynitrite, is elevated in TBI brain tissue (Orihara et al. [2001] Forensic Sci. Int. 123:142-149; Deng et al. [2007] Exp. Neurol. 205:154-165). Peroxynitrite can react with carbon dioxide and decompose to produce NO(2) and carbonate radicals, which in turn can lead to 3-nitrotyrosine, an index of protein nitration. Gamma-glutamylcysteine ethyl ester (GCEE) is an ethyl ester moiety of gamma-glutamylcysteine, an agent that up-regulates glutathione (GSH) production in brain (Drake et al. [2002] J. Neurosci. Res. 68:776-784). Many preclinical studies of TBI have employed pretreatment of animals with proposed beneficial agents prior to the injury itself. However, in the real world of TBI, treatment begins postinjury. Hence, insights into agents that improve outcome following injury are desperately needed. This study is one of the first to investigate a potential GSH-based therapy for TBI postinjury. Protein carbonyls, an index of protein oxidation, were significantly elevated in brain of animals subjected to TBI. However, if, after TBI, GCEE was administered i.p., protein carbonyl levels were significantly reduced. Similarly, 3-nitrotyrosine levels were elevated in brain following TBI but significantly decreased following TBI if GCEE was administered i.p. Redox proteomics analysis showed that several brain proteins were nitrated after TBI. However, if GCEE was given i.p. following TBI, many of these proteins were protected from nitration. The results are encouraging and are discussed with reference to potential therapeutic strategies for TBI involving elevated GSH.

Effect of N-acetyltransferase 2 polymorphism on tumor target tissue DNA adduct levels in rapid and slow acetylator congenic rats administered 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine or 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoxaline.

2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) are suspected human carcinogens generated in well done meats. After N-hydroxylation, they are O-acetylated by N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) to electrophiles that form DNA adducts. dG-C8-MeIQx and dG-C8-PhIP adducts have been identified in human tissues. In the female rat, administration of PhIP leads to mammary and colon tumors, whereas MeIQx induces liver tumors. Both humans and rats exhibit NAT2 genetic polymorphism yielding rapid and slow acetylator phenotypes. Because O-acetylation is an activation pathway, we hypothesized that MeIQx- and PhIP-induced DNA damage would be greater in tumor target tissues and higher in rapid than slow NAT2 acetylators. Adult female rapid and slow acetylator rats congenic at the Nat2 locus received a single dose of 25 mg/kg MeIQx or 50 mg/kg PhIP by gavage, and tissue DNA was isolated after 24 h. Deoxyribonucleoside adducts were identified and quantified by capillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using isotope dilution methods with deuterated internal standards. Major adducts were those bound to the C8 position of deoxyguanosine. dG-C8-PhIP DNA adducts were highest in colon, lowest in liver and did not significantly differ between rapid and slow acetylator congenic rats in any tissue tested. In contrast, dG-C8-MeIQx adducts were highest in liver and significantly (p < 0.001) higher in rapid acetylator liver than in slow acetylator liver. Our results are consistent with the tumor target specificity of PhIP and MeIQx and with increased susceptibility to MeIQx-induced liver tumors in rapid NAT2 acetylators.

Protein modification by acrolein: formation and stability of cysteine adducts.

The toxicity of the ubiquitous pollutant and endogenous metabolite, acrolein, is due in part to covalent protein modifications. Acrolein reacts readily with protein nucleophiles via Michael addition and Schiff base formation. Potential acrolein targets in protein include the nucleophilic side chains of cysteine, histidine, and lysine residues as well as the free amino terminus of proteins. Although cysteine is the most acrolein-reactive residue, cysteine-acrolein adducts are difficult to identify in vitro and in vivo. In this study, model peptides with cysteine, lysine, and histidine residues were used to examine the reactivity of acrolein. Results from these experiments show that acrolein reacts rapidly with cysteine residues through Michael addition to form M+56 Da adducts. These M+56 adducts are, however, not stable, even though spontaneous dissociation of the adduct is slow. Further studies demonstrated that when acrolein and model peptides are incubated at physiological pH and temperature, the M+56 adducts decreased gradually accompanied by the increase of M+38 adducts, which are formed from intramolecular Schiff base formation. Adduct formation with the side chains of other amino acid residues (lysine and histidine) was much slower than cysteine and required higher acrolein concentration. When cysteine residues were blocked by reaction with iodoacetamide and higher concentrations of acrolein were used, adducts of the N-terminal amino group or histidyl residues were formed, but lysine adducts were not detected. Collectively, these data demonstrate that acrolein reacts avidly with protein cysteine residues and that the apparent loss of protein-acrolein Michael adducts over time may be related to the appearance of a novel (M+38) adduct. These findings may be important in identification of in vivo adducts of acrolein with protein cysteine residues.

Bone selective effect of an estradiol conjugate with a novel tetracycline-derived bone-targeting agent.

In this study a novel bone-targeting agent containing elements of the tricarbonylmethane system of ring A of tetracycline was developed and was shown to bind to the mineral constituent of bone, hydroxyapatite. Conjugation of this bone-targeting agent to estradiol resulted in a bone-targeted estrogen (BTE(2)-A1) with an enhanced ability to bind to hydroxyapatite. In an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis a partial separation of the skeletal effects of estradiol from the uterine effects was observed following subcutaneous administration of BTE(2)-A1. This novel bone-targeting estradiol delivery system has the potential to improve the safety profile of estradiol in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Differences between human slow N-acetyltransferase 2 alleles in levels of 4-aminobiphenyl-induced DNA adducts and mutations.

Aromatic amines such as 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP) require biotransformation to exert their carcinogenic effects. Genetic polymorphisms in biotransformation enzymes such as N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) may modify cancer risk following exposure. Nucleotide excision repair-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with human cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and a single copy of either NAT2*4 (rapid acetylator), NAT2*5B (common Caucasian slow acetylator), or NAT2*7B (common Asian slow acetylator) alleles (haplotypes) were treated with ABP to test the effect of NAT2 polymorphisms on DNA adduct formation and mutagenesis. ABP N-acetyltransferase catalytic activities were detectable only in cell lines transfected with NAT2 and were highest in cells transfected with NAT2*4, lower in cells transfected with NAT2*7B, and lowest in cells transfected with NAT2*5B. Following ABP treatment, N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl (dG-C8-ABP) was the primary adduct formed. Cells transfected with both CYP1A1 and NAT2*4 showed the highest concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) mutants, and dG-C8-ABP adducts. Cells transfected with CYP1A1 and NAT2*7B showed lower levels of cytotoxicity, hprt mutagenesis, and dG-C8-ABP adducts. Cells transfected with CYP1A1 only or cells transfected with both CYP1A1 and NAT2*5B did not induce cytotoxicity, hprt mutagenesis or dG-C8-ABP adducts. ABP-DNA adduct levels correlated very highly (r>0.96) with ABP-induced hprt mutant levels following each treatment. The results of the present study suggest that investigations of NAT2 genotype or phenotype associations with disease or toxicity could be more precise and reproducible if heterogeneity within the "slow" NAT2 acetylator phenotype is considered and incorporated into the study design.

Redox proteomic identification of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-modified brain proteins in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: insight into the role of lipid peroxidation in the progression and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Numerous investigations point to the importance of oxidative imbalance in mediating AD pathogenesis. Accumulated evidence indicates that lipid peroxidation is an early event during the evolution of the disease and occurs in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Because MCI represents a condition of increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), early detection of disease markers is under investigation. Previously we showed that HNE-modified proteins, markers of lipid peroxidation, are elevated in MCI hippocampus and inferior parietal lobule compared to controls. Using a redox proteomic approach, we now report the identity of 11 HNE-modified proteins that had significantly elevated HNE levels in MCI patients compared with controls that span both brain regions: Neuropolypeptide h3, carbonyl reductase (NADPH), alpha-enolase, lactate dehydrogenase B, phosphoglycerate kinase, heat shock protein 70, ATP synthase alpha chain, pyruvate kinase, actin, elongation factor Tu, and translation initiation factor alpha. The enzyme activities of lactate dehydrogenase, ATP synthase, and pyruvate kinase were decreased in MCI subjects compared with controls, suggesting a direct correlation between oxidative damage and impaired enzyme activity. We suggest that impairment of target proteins through the production of HNE adducts leads to protein dysfunction and eventually neuronal death, thus contributing to the biological events that may lead MCI patients to progress to AD.

Phosphorylation-dependent interaction with 14-3-3 in the regulation of bad trafficking in retinal ganglion cells.

PURPOSE: To focus on the proteomic analysis of 14-3-3 proteins and to determine their cellular localization and functional role during glaucomatous neurodegeneration. METHODS: Complementary proteomic approaches were used to identify phosphorylated proteins in a chronic pressure-induced rat model of glaucoma. To detect interacting proteins, specific protein complexes were eluted using coimmunoprecipitation and recombinant protein-based affinity pull-down for subsequent mass spectrometric analysis. Western blot analysis was performed for validation of the proteomic findings, and immunohistochemical analysis of rat eyes and human donor eyes determined the cellular localization of 14-3-3 proteins. In addition, in vivo treatment experiments were conducted using JNK and protein phosphatase inhibitors. RESULTS: Findings of mass spectrometry, Western blotting, and tissue immunolabeling revealed the presence of different 14-3-3 isotopes in RGCs and their up-regulation and phosphorylation during glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Consecutive experiments through proteomic analysis identified various proteins interacting with 14-3-3, which included calmodulin and a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, Bad; 14-3-3 was found to keep phospho-Bad sequestered in the cytoplasm. However, this association was disrupted in ocular hypertensive eyes in correlation with Bad dephosphorylation and 14-3-3 phosphorylation, thereby leading to mitochondrial translocation of Bad for apoptotic function. Inhibition of JNK activity and of protein phosphatase activity complementarily secured the 14-3-3-scaffold of Bad in the cytoplasm and preserved optic nerve axons in ocular hypertensive eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this in vivo study identify that an important protein family associated with checkpoint control pathways, 14-3-3, is involved in cellular signaling during glaucomatous neurodegeneration in a phosphorylation-dependent manner.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in C57BL/6 mice detected through proteomics screening of the amniotic fluid.

BACKGROUND: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), a severe consequence of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, is associated with craniofacial defects, mental retardation, and stunted growth. Previous studies in C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N mice provide evidence that alcohol-induced pathogenesis follows early changes in gene expression within specific molecular pathways in the embryonic headfold. Whereas the former (B6J) pregnancies carry a high-risk for dysmorphogenesis following maternal exposure to 2.9 g/kg alcohol (two injections spaced 4.0 h apart on gestation day 8), the latter (B6N) pregnancies carry a low-risk for malformations. The present study used this murine model to screen amniotic fluid for biomarkers that could potentially discriminate between FAS-positive and FAS-negative pregnancies. METHODS: B6J and B6N litters were treated with alcohol (exposed) or saline (control) on day 8 of gestation. Amniotic fluid aspirated on day 17 (n = 6 replicate litters per group) was subjected to trypsin digestion for analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption-time of flight mass spectrometry with the aid of denoising algorithms, statistical testing, and classification methods. RESULTS: We identified several peaks in the proteomics screen that were reduced consistently and specifically in exposed B6J litters. Preliminary characterization by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and multidimensional protein identification mapped the reduced peaks to alpha fetoprotein (AFP). The predictive strength of AFP deficiency as a biomarker for FAS-positive litters was confirmed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSIONS: : These findings in genetically susceptible mice support clinical observations in maternal serum that implicate a decrease in AFP levels following prenatal alcohol damage.

Formation of protein kinase C(epsilon)-Lck signaling modules confers cardioprotection.

The epsilon isoform of protein kinase C (PKCepsilon) is a member of the PKC family of serine/threonine kinases and plays a critical role in protection against ischemic injury in multiple organs. Functional proteomic analyses of PKCepsilon signaling show that this isozyme forms multiprotein complexes in the heart; however, the precise signaling mechanisms whereby PKCepsilon orchestrates cardioprotection are poorly understood. Here we report that Lck, a member of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, forms a functional signaling module with PKCepsilon. In cardiac cells, PKCepsilon interacts with, phosphorylates, and activates Lck. In vivo studies showed that cardioprotection elicited either by cardiac-specific transgenic activation of PKCepsilon or by ischemic preconditioning enhances the formation of PKCepsilon-Lck modules. Disruption of these modules, via ablation of the Lck gene, abrogated the infarct-sparing effects of these two forms of cardioprotection, indicating that the formation of PKCepsilon-Lck signaling modules is required for the manifestation of a cardioprotective phenotype. These findings demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, that the assembly of a module (PKCepsilon-Lck) is an obligatory step in the signal transduction that results in a specific phenotype. Thus, PKCepsilon-Lck modules may serve as novel therapeutic targets for the prevention of ischemic injury.

2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoxaline-induced DNA adduct formation and mutagenesis in DNA repair-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human cytochrome P4501A1 and rapid or slow acetylator N-acetyltransferase 2.

2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) is one of the most potent and abundant mutagens in the western diet. Bioactivation includes N-hydroxylation catalyzed by cytochrome P450s followed by O-acetylation catalyzed by N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). In humans, NAT2*4 allele is associated with rapid acetylator phenotype, whereas NAT2*5B allele is associated with slow acetylator phenotype. We hypothesized that rapid acetylator phenotype predisposes humans to DNA damage and mutagenesis from MeIQx. Nucleotide excision repair-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells were constructed by stable transfection of human cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and a single copy of either NAT2*4 (rapid acetylator) or NAT2*5B (slow acetylator) alleles. CYP1A1 and NAT2 catalytic activities were undetectable in untransfected Chinese hamster ovary cell lines. CYP1A1 activity did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among the CYP1A1-transfected cell lines. Cells transfected with NAT2*4 had 20-fold significantly higher levels of sulfamethazine N-acetyltransferase (P = 0.0001) and 6-fold higher levels of N-hydroxy-MeIQx O-acetyltransferase (P = 0.0093) catalytic activity than cells transfected with NAT2*5B. Only cells transfected with both CYP1A1 and NAT2*4 showed concentration-dependent cytotoxicity and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase mutagenesis following MeIQx treatment. Deoxyguanosine-C8-MeIQx was the primary DNA adduct formed and levels were dose dependent in each cell line and in the following order: untransfected < transfected with CYP1A1 < transfected with CYP1A1 and NAT2*5B < transfected with CYP1A1 and NAT2*4. MeIQx DNA adduct levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in CYP1A1/NAT2*4 than CYP1A1/NAT2*5B cells at all concentrations of MeIQx tested. MeIQx-induced DNA adduct levels correlated very highly (r2 = 0.88) with MeIQx-induced mutants. These results strongly support extrahepatic activation of MeIQx by CYP1A1 and a robust effect of human NAT2 genetic polymorphism on MeIQx-induced DNA adducts and mutagenesis. The results provide laboratory-based support for epidemiologic studies reporting higher frequency of heterocyclic amine-related cancers in rapid NAT2 acetylators.