Identification of novel pheromone-response regulators through systematic overexpression of 120 protein kinases in yeast.

Protein kinases are well known to transmit and regulate signaling pathways. To identify additional regulators of the pheromone signaling apparatus in yeast, we evaluated an array of 120 likely protein kinases encoded by the yeast genome. Each kinase was fused to glutathione S-transferase, overexpressed, and tested for changes in pheromone responsiveness in vivo. As expected, several known components of the pathway (YCK1, STE7, STE11, FUS3, and KSS1) impaired the growth arrest response. Seven other kinases also interfered with pheromone-induced growth arrest; in rank order they are as follows: YKL116c (renamed PRR1) = YDL214c (renamed PRR2) > YJL141c (YAK1, SRA1) > YNR047w = YCR091w (KIN82) = YIL095w (PRK1) > YCL024w (KCC4). Inhibition of pheromone signaling by PRR1, but not PRR2, required the glutathione S-transferase moiety. Both kinases inhibited gene transcription after stimulation with pheromone, a constitutively active kinase mutant STE11-4, or overexpression of the transcription factor STE12. Neither protein altered the ability of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Fus3 to feedback phosphorylate a known substrate, the MAPK kinase Ste7. These results reveal two new components of the pheromone-signaling cascade in yeast, each acting at a point downstream of the MAPK.

Regulators of G protein signaling: a bestiary of modular protein binding domains.

Members of the newly discovered regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) families of proteins have a common RGS domain. This RGS domain is necessary for conferring upon RGS proteins the capacity to regulate negatively a variety of Galpha protein subunits. However, RGS proteins are more than simply negative regulators of signaling. RGS proteins can function as effector antagonists, and recent evidence suggests that RGS proteins can have positive effects on signaling as well. Many RGS proteins possess additional C- and N-terminal modular protein-binding domains and motifs. The presence of these additional modules within the RGS proteins provides for multiple novel regulatory interactions performed by these molecules. These regions are involved in conferring regulatory selectivity to specific Galpha-coupled signaling pathways, enhancing the efficacy of the RGS domain, and the translocation or targeting of RGS proteins to intracellular membranes. In other instances, these domains are involved in cross-talk between different Galpha-coupled signaling pathways and, in some cases, likely serve to integrate small GTPases with these G protein signaling pathways. This review discusses these C- and N-terminal domains and their roles in the biology of the brain-enriched RGS proteins. Methods that can be used to investigate the function of these domains are also discussed.

Identification of dominant optimal HLA-B60- and HLA-B61-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes: rapid characterization of CTL responses by enzyme-linked immunospot assay.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses play a major role in the antiviral immune response, but the relative contribution of CTL responses restricted by different HLA class I molecules is less well defined. HLA-B60 or the related allele B61 is expressed in 10 to 20% of Caucasoid populations and is even more highly prevalent in Asian populations, but yet no CTL epitopes restricted by these alleles have been defined. Here we report the definition of five novel HLA-B60-restricted HIV-1-specific CTL epitopes, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells in enzyme-linked immunospot (Elispot) assays and using CTL clones and lines in cytolytic assays. The dominant HLA-B60-restricted epitope, Nef peptide KEKGGLEGL, was targeted by all eight subjects with B60 and also by both subjects with B61 studied. This study additionally establishes the utility of the Elispot assay as a more rapid and efficient method of defining novel CTL epitopes. This approach will help to define new CTL epitopes that may play an important role in the immune control of HIV-1.

Differential narrow focusing of immunodominant human immunodeficiency virus gag-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in infected African and caucasoid adults and children.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity plays a central role in control of viral replication and in determining outcome in cases of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Incorporation of important CTL epitope sequences into candidate vaccines is, therefore, vital. Most CTL studies have focused upon small numbers of adult Caucasoid subjects infected with clade-B virus, whereas the global epidemic is most severe in sub-Saharan African populations and predominantly involves clade-C infection in both adults and children. In this study, sensitive enzyme-linked immunospot (elispot) assays have been utilized to identify the dominant Gag-specific CTL epitopes targeted by adults and children infected with clade-B or -C virus. Cohorts evaluated included 44 B-clade-infected Caucasoid American and African American adults and children and 37 C-clade-infected African adults and children from Durban, South Africa. The results show that 3 out of 46 peptides spanning p17(Gag) and p24(Gag) sequences tested contain two-thirds of the dominant Gag-specific epitopes, irrespective of the clade, ethnicity, or age group studied. However, there were distinctive differences between the dominant responses made by Caucasoids and Africans. Dominant responses in Caucasoids were more often within p17(Gag) peptide residues 16 to 30 (38 versus 12%; P < 0.01), while p24(Gag) peptide residues 41 to 60 contained the dominant Gag epitope more often in the African subjects tested (39 versus 4%; P < 0.005). Within this 20-mer p24(Gag), an epitope presented by both B42 and B81 is defined which represents the dominant Gag response in >30% of the total infected population in Durban. This epitope is closely homologous with dominant HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus Gag-specific CTL epitopes. The fine focusing of dominant CTL responses to these few regions of high immunogenicity is of significance to vaccine design.

RGS mRNA expression in rat striatum: modulation by dopamine receptors and effects of repeated amphetamine administration.

Single injections of cocaine, amphetamine, or methamphetamine increased RGS2 mRNA levels in rat striatum by two- to fourfold. The D1 dopamine receptor-selective antagonist SCH-23390 had no effect by itself but strongly attenuated RGS2 mRNA induction by amphetamine. In contrast, the D2 receptor-selective antagonist raclopride induced RGS2 mRNA when administered alone and greatly enhanced stimulation by amphetamine. To examine the effects of repeated amphetamine on RGS2 expression, rats were treated with escalating doses of amphetamine (1.0-7.5 mg/kg) for 4 days, followed by 8 days of multiple daily injections (7.5 mg/kg/2 h x four injections). Twenty hours after the last injection the animals were challenged with amphetamine (7.5 mg/kg) or vehicle and killed 1 h later. In drug-naive animals, acute amphetamine induced the expression of RGS2, 3, and 5 and the immediate early genes c-fos and zif/268. RGS4 mRNA levels were not affected. Prior repeated treatment with amphetamine strongly suppressed induction of immediate early genes and RGS5 to a challenge dose of amphetamine. In sharp contrast, prior exposure to amphetamine did not reduce the induction of RGS2 and RGS3 mRNAs to a challenge dose of amphetamine, indicating that control of these genes is resistant to amphetamine-induced tolerance. These data establish a role for dopamine receptors in the regulation of RGS2 expression and suggest that RGS2 and 3 might mediate some aspects of amphetamine-induced tolerance.

Molecular characterization of human and rat RGS 9L, a novel splice variant enriched in dopamine target regions, and chromosomal localization of the RGS 9 gene.

A novel splice variant of RGS 9 was isolated from a rat hypothalamus, human retina, and a human kidney (Wilm's) tumor. This variant, termed RGS 9L, differs from the retinal form (termed RGS 9S) identified previously in that it contains a 211- (rat) or 205- (human) amino acid proline-rich domain on the carboxyl terminus. The pattern of RGS 9 mRNA splicing was tissue specific, with striatum, hypothalamus- and nucleus accumbens expressing RGS 9L, whereas retina and pineal expressed RGS 9S almost exclusively. This pattern of mRNA splicing seemed to be highly conserved between human and rodents, suggesting cell-specific differences in the function of these variants. Transient expression of RGS 9L augmented basal and beta-adrenergic receptor-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity while suppressing dopamine D2 receptor-mediated inhibition. Furthermore, RGS 9L expression greatly accelerated the decay of dopamine D2 receptor-induced GIRK current. These results indicate RGS 9L inhibits heterotrimeric Gi function in vivo, probably by acting as a GTPase-activating protein. The human RGS 9 gene was localized to chromosome 17 q23-24 by radiation hybrid and fluorescent in situ hybridization analyses. The RGS 9 gene is within a previously defined locus for retinitis pigmentosa (RP 17), a disease that has been linked to genes in the rhodopsin/transducin/cGMP signaling pathway.

Regulators of G protein signaling: rapid changes in mRNA abundance in response to amphetamine.

This study examined mRNAs encoding regulators of G protein signaling (RGSs) expressed within the striatum and determined whether their expression in the caudate putamen was altered by amphetamine. RT-PCR techniques were used to clone cDNA probes of RGSs expressed within the rat striatum. Northern blot analysis of caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens RNA determined the relative abundance of RGS mRNA expressed within the caudate putamen and adjacent nucleus accumbens to be RGS 2 > RGS 5 > RGS 16 > RGS 4 = RGS 9 > RGS 8 = RGS 3. A single injection of amphetamine rapidly and transiently induced RGS 2 mRNA. The temporal pattern of induction of RGS 2 strongly resembled that of the immediate early gene c-fos. Levels of mRNAs of RGS 3 and 5 steadily increased over a 4-h interval, as did that of the 6.6-kb transcript of RGS 8. The level of RGS 9 mRNA, which shows strong striatal-specific expression, steadily decreased over a 4-h interval, whereas RGS 4 and 16 and the 3.9-kb transcript of RGS 8 were not significantly affected at any point examined. The ability of amphetamine to alter RGS mRNA expression within the caudate putamen suggests these proteins may play an important role in adaptive processes to psychostimulant exposure.

Serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine transporter mRNAs: heterogeneity of distribution and response to 'binge' cocaine administration.

Quantitative in situ hybridization was utilized to map the distribution and abundance of the serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine transporter (SERT, DAT and NET, respectively) mRNAs. SERT mRNA was quantified within the dorsal raphe (DR) and the median raphe (MR), DAT mRNA within the ventral tegmental area -substantia nigra (VTA-SN) region and NET mRNA within the locus coeruleus (LC). SERT mRNA expression within the raphe complex was organized into distinct subregional domains with the rank order of mRNA abundance: ventromedial (vm) DR > dorsomedial (dm) DR > MR > dorsolateral (dl) DR. The relative abundance of DAT mRNA also varied across subregions: SN pars compacta > the parabrachial pigmentosis (PBP) > the intrafascicular (IF). The effects of a 'binge' paradigm of cocaine administration on SERT, DAT and NET mRNA abundance were compared in the brains of behaviorally sensitized rats. Cocaine significantly decreased the abundance of the SERT mRNA within the dlDR and DAT mRNA abundance within the SNc and the PBP, and increased the abundance of the NET mRNA within the LC. Finally, correlational analysis indicated that post-cocaine levels of DAT, SERT and NET mRNAs were not associated with cocaine-induced sensitization.