Structural and functional insights into the self-sufficient flavin-dependent halogenase.

Flavin-dependent halogenases (FDHs) have tremendous applications in synthetic chemistry. A single-component FDH, AetF, exhibits both halogenase and reductase activities in a continuous polypeptide chain. AetF exhibits broad substrate promiscuity and catalyzes the two-step bromination of l-tryptophan (l-Trp) to produce 5-bromotryptophan (5-Br-Trp) and 5,7-dibromo-l-tryptophan (5,7-di-Br-Trp). To elucidate the mechanism of action of AetF, we solved its crystal structure in complex with FAD, FAD/NADP+, FAD/l-Trp, and FAD/5-Br-Trp at resolutions of 1.92-2.23 Å. The obtained crystal structures depict the unprecedented topology of single-component FDH. Structural analysis revealed that the substrate flexibility and dibromination capability of AetF could be attributed to its spacious substrate-binding pocket. In addition, highly-regulated interaction networks between the substrate-recognizing residues and 5-Br-Trp are crucial for the dibromination activity of AetF. Several Ala variants underwent monobromination with >98 % C5-regioselectivity toward l-Trp. These results reveal the catalytic mechanism of single-component FDH for the first time and contribute to efficient FDH protein engineering for biocatalytic halogenation.

MicroRNA-135b alleviates MPP+-mediated Parkinson's disease in in vitro model through suppressing FoxO1-induced NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis.

The present study focused on the novel roles and the underlying mechanisms of miR-135b in pyroptosis of MPP+-induced Parkinson's disease (PD). We established an in vitro PD model induced by MPP+. Our results demonstrated miR-135b was lower while FoxO1 was inversely higher in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y and PC-12 cells. Luciferase reporter assay showed FoxO1 was a downstream target of miR-135b. MiR-135b mimics suppressed MPP+-induced pyroptosis and the upregulation of TXNIP, NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, GSDMDNterm and IL-1ß. Moreover, FoxO1 overexpression had no effect on miR-135b but reversed its own downregulation caused by miR-135b mimics. Meanwhile, overexpression of FoxO1 abolished the inhibitory effects of miR-135b on pyroptosis and reversed the downregulation of pyroptotic genes and LDH release. In summary, miR-135b played a protective role in Parkinson's disease via inhibiting pyroptosis by targeting FoxO1. MiR-135b might serve as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

[Effect of AKR1A1 knock-down on H2;O2; and 4-hydroxynonenal-induced cytotoxicity in human 1321N1 astrocytoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of human aldo-keto reductase 1A1 (AKR1A1) in the resistance to oxidative stress and the metabolism of toxic aldehyde in astrocytoma cells. METHODS: The siRNA was transfected into 1321N1 astrocytoma cells using Lipofectamine(TM); RNAiMax. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were applied to evaluate the knock-down efficiency of AKR1A1. MTT assay was used to examine the cell viability after H2;O2; and 4-hydroxynonenal treatment in AKR1A1 knock-down cells. In addition, the effect of knocking down AKR1A1 on cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the presence of H2;O2; was measured using 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCFH-DA). RESULTS: Western blotting and qRT-PCR showed that the AKR1A1-specific siRNA inhibited AKR1A1 gene expression by about 70% in 1321N1 cells. Cells with knock-down of AKR1A1 were more sensitive to H2;O2; and 4-hydroxynonenal-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, cellular ROS level in the cells with knock-down of AKR1A1 was much higher than that in the control cells in the presence of H2;O2;. CONCLUSION: The specific siRNA could efficiently inhibit AKR1A1 expression in 1321N1 cells. AKR1A1 could be involved in the metabolism of 4-hydroxynonenal and play a role in the resistance to oxidative stress.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 induces the phosphorylation of PRAS40 via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in PC12 cells.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a polypeptide tropic factor that plays an important role in the survival and differentiation of both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Numerous studies have demonstrated that IGF-1 promotes neuronal cell survival via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa (PRAS40) is a recently discovered downstream target of Akt. However, the relationship between IGF-1 and PRAS40 is not known. In this study, we characterized the phosphorylation of PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 in PC12 cells and explored the signaling pathway responsible for the effect of IGF-1. IGF-1 induced the phosphorylation of Akt at Thr473 and PRAS40 at Thr246 in PC12 cells. The phosphorylation of Akt and PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 (100ng/ml) was inhibited by the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) specific inhibitor LY294002 (50µM), while no inhibitory effect was observed for a MAPK kinase pathway specific inhibitor PD98059 nor a p38 MAPK inhibitor PD169316, suggesting that the phosphorylation of PRAS40 induced by IGF-1 is mediated by the PI3K pathway in PC12 cells and primary cultured neurons. In further support this hypothesis, an Akt kinase specific inhibitor, Akt inhibitor VIII, attenuated IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of PRAS40 at the concentration that blocked the phosphorylation of Akt induced by IGF-1. Taken together, these data demonstrate that IGF-1 stimulates the phosphorylation of PRAS40 at Thr246 in neuronal cells and the effect of IGF-1 is mediated, at least in part, by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Proline-rich Akt substrate of 40kDa (PRAS40): a novel downstream target of PI3k/Akt signaling pathway.

Modifications in signaling of the proline-rich Akt substrate of 40-kDa (PRAS40) pathway is implicated in type 2 diabetes and melanoma. PRAS40 is known for its ability to regulate the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) kinase activity, possessing a key regulatory role at the cross point of signal transduction pathways activated by growth factor receptors. Recently it has been found that PRAS40 is regulated by its upstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) which is activated by many tyrosine kinase receptors growth factors including insulin-like growth factor 1. Also, PRAS40 functions downstream of mTORC1 and upstream from its effectors ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Phosphorylation of PRAS40 by Akt and mTORC1 disrupts the binding between mTORC1 and PRAS40, and relieves the inhibitory constraint of PRAS40 on mTORC1 activity. This review summarizes the signaling regulating PRAS40 phosphorylation, as well as the dual function of PRAS40 as substrate and inhibitor of mTORC1 upon growth factor stimulation and under pathophysiological conditions.

The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and cholesteryl ester transfer protein TaqIB gene polymorphism is influenced by alcohol drinking in a population-based sample.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a key enzyme in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol metabolism. We studied the association between CETP TaqIB polymorphism and the HDL cholesterol levels considering environmental factors in a population-based sample consisting of 1729 participants who did not use lipid-lowering agents (659 men and 1070 women). The CETP TaqIB genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP analysis. The serum HDL cholesterol levels of female participants with the B2B2 genotype were significantly higher than those with other genotypes (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis with covariates such as age, waist to hip (W/H) ratio, alcohol drinking, current smoking, non-HDL cholesterol, and logarithm of triglyceride revealed that the CETP TaqIB genotype was an independent determinant of HDL cholesterol levels in men (p=0.049) and women (p<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that an interaction was observed between the CETP TaqIB polymorphism and alcohol consumption in the regulation of HDL cholesterol levels in men (p=0.049) and women (p=0.022). No interactions were observed between the CETP TaqIB polymorphism and current smoking status, body mass index, or W/H ratio in the regulation of HDL cholesterol levels. The association between the CETP TaqIB polymorphism and HDL cholesterol levels was more evident in alcohol consumers than in non-drinkers.