Effect of dopamine receptor-related compounds on naïve common marmosets for auditory steady-state response.

Abnormalities of auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) and the effects of antipsychotic drugs on ASSRs have been investigated in patients with schizophrenia. It is presumed that drugs do not directly affect ASSRs because its abnormalities are associated with schizophrenia. Therefore, to investigate the direct effect of drugs on ASSRs, we established an ASSR evaluation system for common marmosets in a naïve state. Dopamine D1 receptor stimulation (SKF-81297, 2 mg/kg ip) significantly increased evoked power (EP) at 40 Hz. The phase locking factor (PLF) was increased significantly at 20, 30, 40, and 80 Hz. However, administration of a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist (SCH-39166, 0.3 mg/kg ip) resulted in a significant decrease in EP and PLF at 30 Hz. Dopamine D2 receptor stimulation (quinpirole, 1 mg/kg im) tended to increase EP and induced power (IP) at all frequencies, and a significant difference was observed at 30 Hz IP. There was no change in PLF at all frequencies. In addition, dopamine D2 receptor blockade (raclopride, 3 mg/kg ip) reduced EP and PLF at 30 Hz. Subcutaneous administration of the serotonin dopamine antagonist, risperidone (0.3 mg/kg), tended to increase IP and decrease PLF, but not significantly. Taken together, it is possible to compare the differences in the mode of action of drugs on ASSRs using naïve nonhuman primates.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We measured the effects of dopamine receptor-related compounds on ASSR in marmosets. D1 receptor stimulation increased the phase locking factor (PLF) and evoked power (EP), and reduced the induced power (IP). D2 receptor stimulation increased the IP. D1 and D2 receptor blockers reduced the PLF and EP at 30 Hz. Different modes of action of various drugs related to psychiatric disorders were evaluated by administering antipsychotic drugs to naïve marmosets.

The atypical antipsychotic blonanserin reverses (+)-PD-128907- and ketamine-induced deficit in executive function in common marmosets.

Antagonism of the dopamine D3 receptor is considered a promising strategy for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. We have previously reported that the atypical antipsychotic blonanserin, a dopamine D2/D3 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist, highly occupies dopamine D3 receptors at its antipsychotic dose range in rats. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of blonanserin on executive function in common marmosets using the object retrieval with detour (ORD) task. The dopamine D3 receptor-preferring agonist (+)-PD-128907 at 1mg/kg decreased success rate in the difficult trial, but not in the easy trial. Since the difference between the two trials is only cognitive demand, our findings indicate that excess activation of dopamine D3 receptors impairs executive function in common marmosets. Blonanserin at 0.1mg/kg reversed the decrease in success rate induced by (+)-PD-128907 in the difficult trial. This finding indicates that blonanserin has beneficial effect on executive function deficit induced by activation of the dopamine D3 receptor in common marmosets. Next, and based on the glutamatergic hypothesis of schizophrenia, the common marmosets were treated with the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine. Ketamine at sub-anesthetic doses decreased success rate in the difficult trial, but not in the easy trial. Blonanserin at 0.1mg/kg reversed the decrease in success rate induced by ketamine in the difficult trial. The findings of this study suggest that blonanserin might have beneficial effect on executive dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia.

RbAp48 is essential for viability of vertebrate cells and plays a role in chromosome stability.

RbAp46/48, histone chaperone, is a family of evolutionarily conserved WD40 repeat-containing proteins, which are involved in various chromatin-metabolizing processes, but their in vivo functional relevance is yet unclear. In order to examine the biological role of pRbAp48 in chicken DT40 cells, we generated a tetracycline-inducible system for conditional RbAp48-knockout cells. Depletion of RbAp48 led to delayed S phase progression associated with slow DNA synthesis and nascent nucleosome formation, followed by accumulation in G2/M phase, finally leading to cell death. Prior to cell death, these cells exhibited aberrant mitosis such as highly condensed and abnormal chromosome alignment on the metaphase plate, leading to chromosome missegregation. Depletion of RbAp48 also caused dissociation of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) from pericentromeric heterochromatin. Furthermore, depletion of RbAp48 from cells led to elevated levels of acetylation and slightly decreased levels of methylation, specifically at Lys-9 residue of histone H3. These results suggest that RbAp48 plays an important role in chromosome stability for proper organization of heterochromatin structure through the regulation of epigenetic mark.

Histone acetyltransferase PCAF is involved in transactivation of Bcl-6 and Pax5 genes in immature B cells.

Histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) belonging to GCN5 family regulates various epigenetic events for transcriptional regulation through alterations in the chromatin structure. During normal development of B cells, gene expressions of numerous transcription factors are strictly regulated by epigenetic mechanisms including histone acetylation and deacetylation to complete their development pathways. Here, by analyzing PCAF-deficient DT40 mutants, ΔPCAF, we report that PCAF takes part in transcriptional activation of B cell lymphoma-6 (Bcl-6) and Paired box gene 5 (Pax5), which are essential transcription factors for normal development of B cells. PCAF-deficiency caused drastic decrease in mRNA levels of Bcl-6 and Pax5, and remarkable increase in that of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1). In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that PCAF-deficiency caused remarkable decrease in acetylation levels of both H3K9 and H3K14 residues within chromatin surrounding the 5'-flanking regions of Bcl-6 and Pax5 genes in vivo, suggesting that their gene expressions may be regulated by PCAF. These results revealed that PCAF is involved in transactivation of Bcl-6 and Pax5 genes, resulting in down-regulation of Blimp-1 gene expression, and plays a key role in epigenetic regulation of B cell development.

Paired box gene 5 isoforms A and B have different functions in transcriptional regulation of B cell development-related genes in immature B cells.

The transcription factor paired box gene 5 (Pax5) is essential for B cell development. In this study, complementation analyses in Pax5-deficient DT40 cells showed that three Pax5 isoforms Pax5A, Pax5B and Pax5BΔEx8 (another spliced isoform of Pax5B lacking exon 8) exhibit distinct roles in transcriptional regulation of six B cell development-related genes (activation-induced cytidine deaminase, Aiolos, BTB and CNC homology 2, B cell lymphoma-6, early B cell factor 1, origin binding factor-1 genes), transcriptions of which are remarkably down-regulated by Pax5-deficiency. Moreover, ectopic expression study shows that these Pax5 isoforms may regulate themselves and each other at the transcriptional level.

Lack of GCN5 remarkably enhances the resistance against prolonged endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis through up-regulation of Bcl-2 gene expression.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a complex membrane structure, has important roles in all eukaryotic cells. Catastrophe of its functions would lead to ER stress that causes various diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and so on. Prolonged ER stress could trigger apoptosis via activation of various signal transduction pathways. To investigate physiological roles of histone acetyltransferase GCN5 in regulation of ER stress, we analyzed responses of homozygous GCN5-deficient DT40 mutants, ΔGCN5, against ER stress. GCN5-deficiency in DT40 caused drastic resistance against apoptosis induced by pharmacological ER stress agents (thapsigargin and tunicamycin). Pharmaceutical analysis using specific Bcl-2 inhibitors showed that the drastic resistance against prolonged ER stress-induced apoptosis is, in part, due to up-regulation of Bcl-2 gene expression in ΔGCN5. These data revealed that GCN5 is involved in regulation of prolonged ER stress-induced apoptosis through controlling Bcl-2 gene expression.

Histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP-associated factor is an effective suppressor of secretory immunoglobulin synthesis in immature B cells.

The histone acetyltransferase p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) catalyzes acetylation of core histones and plays important roles in epigenetics by altering the chromatin structure in vertebrates. In this study, PCAF-deficient DT40 mutants were analyzed and it was found that PCAF participates in regulation of secretory IgM heavy chain (H-chain) synthesis. Remarkably, PCAF-deficiency causes an increase in the amount of secretory IgM H-chain mRNA, but not in that of IgM light chain and membrane-bound IgM H-chain mRNAs, resulting in dramatic up-regulation of the amount of secretory IgM protein. These findings suggest that PCAF regulates soluble antibody production and is thus an effective suppressor of secretory IgM H-chain synthesis.

GCN5 is involved in regulation of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene expression in immature B cells.

GCN5 is involved in the acetylation of core histones, which is an important epigenetic event for transcriptional regulation through alterations in the chromatin structure in eukaryotes. To investigate physiological roles of GCN5, we have systematically analyzed phenotypes of homozygous GCN5-deficient DT40 mutants. Here, we report participation of GCN5 in regulation of IgM heavy chain (H-chain) gene expression. GCN5-deficiency down-regulates gene expressions of IgM H-chain (as whole, membrane-bound and secreted forms of its mRNA) but not light chain (L-chain), causing decreases in membrane-bound and secreted forms of IgM proteins. Chromatin immnoprecipitation assay revealed that GCN5 binds to the chicken IgM H-chain gene around its constant region but not L-chain gene, and acetylate Lys-9 residues of histone H3 within chromatin surrounding the constant region. These results suggest that GCN5 takes part in transcriptional regulation of the IgM H-chain gene via histone acetylation resulting in formation of relaxed chromatin arrangement around its coding region and plays a key role in epigenetic regulation of B cell functions.

Protein kinase Cθ gene expression is oppositely regulated by GCN5 and EBF1 in immature B cells.

In this study, we revealed that GCN5 and early B cell factor 1 (EBF1) participate in regulation of protein kinase Cθ (PKCθ) gene expression in an opposite manner in immature B cells. GCN5-deficiency in DT40 caused drastic down-regulation of transcription of PKCθ. In contrast, EBF1-deficiency brought about remarkable up-regulation of that of PKCθ, and re-expression of EBF1 dramatically suppressed transcription of PKCθ. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that GCN5 binds to the 5'-flanking region of the chicken PKCθ gene and acetylates histone H3, and EBF1 binds to the 5'-flanking region of the gene surrounding putative EBF1 binding motifs.

GCN5 is essential for IRF-4 gene expression followed by transcriptional activation of Blimp-1 in immature B cells.

During B-cell differentiation, the gene expression of B-cell differentiation-related transcription factors must be strictly controlled by epigenetic mechanisms including histone acetylation and deacetylation, to complete the differentiation pathway. GCN5, one of the most important histone acetyltransferases, is involved in epigenetic events for transcriptional regulation through alterations in the chromatin structure. In this study, by analyzing the homozygous DT40 mutants GCN5(-/-), generated with gene targeting techniques, we found that GCN5 was necessary for transcriptional activation of IRF-4, an essential transcription factor for plasma cell differentiation. GCN5 deficiency caused drastic decreases in both the mRNA and the protein levels of Blimp-1 and IRF-4. The ectopic expression of Blimp-1 and IRF-4 suggests that IRF-4, but not Blimp-1, is the target gene of GCN5 in immature B cells. Moreover, a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that GCN5 bound to the IRF-4 gene around its 5'-flanking region and acetylated H3K9 residues within chromatin surrounding the region in vivo, suggesting that gene expression of IRF-4 is certainly regulated by GCN5. These results reveal that GCN5 is essential for IRF-4 gene expression, followed by transcriptional activation of Blimp-1, and plays a key role in epigenetic regulation of B-cell differentiation.

GCN5 protects vertebrate cells against UV-irradiation via controlling gene expression of DNA polymerase η.

By UV-irradiation, cells are subjected to DNA damage followed by mutation, cell death and/or carcinogenesis. DNA repair systems such as nucleotide excision repair (NER) and translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) protect cells against UV-irradiation. To understand the role of histone acetyltransferase GCN5 in regulation of DNA repair, we studied the sensitivity of GCN5-deficient DT40, GCN5(-/-), to various DNA-damaging agents including UV-irradiation, and effects of GCN5-deficiency on the expression of NER- and TLS-related genes. After UV-irradiation, cell death and DNA fragmentation of GCN5(-/-) were appreciably accelerated as compared with those of DT40. Interestingly, GCN5(-/-) showed a remarkable sensitivity to only UV-irradiation but not to other DNA-damaging agents tested. Semiquantitative RT-PCR showed that transcription of DNA polymerase η (POLH) gene whose deficiency is responsible for a variant form of xeroderma pigmentosum was drastically down-regulated in GCN5(-/-) (to ∼25%). In addition, ectopic expression of human POLH in GCN5(-/-) dramatically reversed the sensitivity to UV-irradiation of GCN5(-/-) to almost the same level of wild type DT40. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that GCN5 binds to the chicken POLH gene 5'-flanking region that contains a typical CpG island and acetylates Lys-9 of histone H3, but not Lys-14 in vivo. These data suggest that GCN5 takes part in transcription regulation of POLH gene through alterations in the chromatin structure by direct interaction with its 5'-flanking region, and protects vertebrate cells against UV-induced DNA damage via controlling POLH gene expression.

Influence of fungicidal activity against Candida tropicalis on the efficacy of micafungin and liposomal amphotericin B in a neutropenic murine lethal infection model.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between in vitro killing activity and in vivo efficacy of micafungin (MCFG) and liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) against Candida tropicalis in a neutropenic murine lethal infection model. METHODS: Candida albicans (one strain) and C. tropicalis (three strains) were tested in time-kill studies. Cyclophosphamide-treated mice were inoculated intravenously with each strain. One day after inoculation, antifungals were administered intravenously once daily for 1 or 3 days. RESULTS: MCFG exhibited fungicidal activity against C. albicans ATCC 90029 and C. tropicalis SP-20142, and fungistatic activity against C. tropicalis ATCC 42678 and SP-20047. The ED(50)s (dosage that results in 50% survival) of MCFG for C. tropicalis ATCC 42678 and SP-20047 (4.1-50 mg/kg) were higher than those for other strains (1.6-12 mg/kg). A 1-day course of MCFG was not effective against C. tropicalis ATCC 42678 and SP-20047 at the clinical dose (5 mg/kg), which achieved an AUC level almost equal to that of 100 mg in humans, whereas a 3-day course of 5 mg/kg MCFG was efficacious against all strains. In contrast, L-AMB showed fungicidal activity against all strains tested and the ED(50)s of L-AMB were 0.08-0.65 mg/kg. In both treatment regimens, the minimum effective doses of L-AMB (≤0.5 mg/kg) were less than the clinical dosage (≤5 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: The in vivo efficacy of MCFG and L-AMB showed a correlation with the in vitro killing activity. At the clinical dose, L-AMB exerted anti-C. tropicalis activity within a shorter treatment period than MCFG.

EBF1 acts as a powerful repressor of Blimp-1 gene expression in immature B cells.

The transcription factor, early B cell factor 1 (EBF1) with an atypical zinc-finger and helix-loop-helix motif, is essential for development and differentiation of lymphocytes. In mice, EBF1 is involved in the generation of pre-pro B cells (the first specified progenitors of B cells) from common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) and transcription regulations of various genes involved in B cell-development, for instance, mb-1 and Pax5. During B lymphopoiesis, interestingly, EBF1 is detected throughout from CLPs to mature B cells. However, in immature B cells, the physiological role of EBF1 remains to be elucidated. Here, by analyzing EBF1-deficient DT40 cells, EBF1(-/-), generated by us, we show that EBF1-deficiency caused significant increases (to ∼800%) in both mRNA and protein levels of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1), the master gene for plasma cell differentiation. In addition, both transcription and protein synthesis of Blimp-1 were remarkably down-regulated (to ∼20%) by re-expression (over-expression) of EBF1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that EBF1 binds to proximal 5'-upstream regions around two putative EBF1 binding motifs of the gene in vivo. These results suggest that EBF1 takes part in transcriptional regulations of the Blimp-1 gene in immature B cells, and may play a key role in B cell differentiation. This is the first report on a novel EBF1 function in immature B cells as a powerful repressor of Blimp-1 gene expression.

The histone chaperone facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) protein maintains normal replication fork rates.

Ordered nucleosome disassembly and reassembly are required for eukaryotic DNA replication. The facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) complex, a histone chaperone comprising Spt16 and SSRP1, is involved in DNA replication as well as transcription. FACT associates with the MCM helicase, which is involved in DNA replication initiation and elongation. Although the FACT-MCM complex is reported to regulate DNA replication initiation, its functional role in DNA replication elongation remains elusive. To elucidate the functional role of FACT in replication fork progression during DNA elongation in the cells, we generated and analyzed conditional SSRP1 gene knock-out chicken (Gallus gallus) DT40 cells. SSRP1-depleted cells ceased to grow and exhibited a delay in S-phase cell cycle progression, although SSRP1 depletion did not affect the level of chromatin-bound DNA polymerase α or nucleosome reassembly on daughter strands. The tracking length of newly synthesized DNA, but not origin firing, was reduced in SSRP1-depleted cells, suggesting that the S-phase cell cycle delay is mainly due to the inhibition of replication fork progression rather than to defects in the initiation of DNA replication in these cells. We discuss the mechanisms of how FACT promotes replication fork progression in the cells.

GCN5 regulates the activation of PI3K/Akt survival pathway in B cells exposed to oxidative stress via controlling gene expressions of Syk and Btk.

Histone acetyltransferase(s) (HATs) are involved in the acetylation of core histones, which is an important event for transcription regulation through alterations in the chromatin structure in eukaryotes. General control non-depressible 5 (GCN5) was first identified as a global coactivator and transcription-related HAT. Here we report that GCN5 regulates the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/acutely transforming retrovirus AKT8 in rodent T cell lymphoma (Akt) survival pathway in B cells exposed to oxidative stress via controlling gene expressions of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). The GCN5-deficiency remarkably caused apoptotic cell death by treatment with exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in chicken DT40 cells. In GCN5-deficient DT40 cells, gene expressions of Syk and Btk, which are involved in activation of PI3K/Akt survival pathway in DT40 cells exposed to exogenous H(2)O(2), were remarkably decreased compared with those in wild type DT40 cells. In addition, phosphorylation of Akt in H(2)O(2)-treated GCN5-deficient cells was remarkably suppressed as compared to that of DT40. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that GCN5 binds to proximal 5'-upstream regions of Syk and Btk genes in vivo. These results suggest that GCN5 takes part in transcriptional regulations of the Syk and Btk genes, and plays a key role in epigenetic regulation of PI3K/Akt survival pathway in B cells exposed to reactive oxygen species such as H(2)O(2).

GCN5 regulates the superoxide-generating system in leukocytes via controlling gp91-phox gene expression.

The superoxide anion (O(2)(-))-generating system is an important mechanism of innate immune response against microbial infection in phagocytes and is involved in signal transduction mediated by various physiological and pathological signals in phagocytes and other cells, including B lymphocytes. The O(2)(-)-generating system is composed of five specific proteins: p22-phox, gp91-phox, p40-phox, p47-phox, p67-phox, and a small G protein, Rac. Little is known regarding epigenetic regulation of the genes constituting the O(2)(-)-generating system. In this study, by analyzing the GCN5 (one of most important histone acetyltransferases)-deficient DT40 cell line, we show that GCN5 deficiency causes loss of the O(2)(-)-generating activity. Interestingly, transcription of the gp91-phox gene was drastically downregulated (to ∼4%) in GCN5-deficient cells. To further study the involvement of GCN5 in transcriptional regulation of gp91-phox, we used in vitro differentiation system of U937 cells. When human monoblastic U937 cells were cultured in the presence of IFN-γ, transcription of gp91-phox was remarkably upregulated, and the cells were differentiated to macrophage-like cells that can produce O(2)(-). Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay using the U937 cells during cultivation with IFN-γ revealed not only that association of GCN5 with the gp91-phox gene promoter was significantly accelerated, but also that GCN5 preferentially elevated acetylation levels of H2BK16 and H3K9 surrounding the promoter. These results suggested that GCN5 regulates the O(2)(-)-generating system in leukocytes via controlling the gp91-phox gene expression as a supervisor. Our findings obtained in this study should be useful in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in epigenetic regulation of the O(2)(-)-generating system in leukocytes.

Possible involvement of Helios in controlling the immature B cell functions via transcriptional regulation of protein kinase Cs.

The transcription factor Ikaros family consists of five zinc-finger proteins: Ikaros, Aiolos, Helios, Eos and Pegasus; these proteins except Pegasus are essential for development and differentiation of lymphocytes. However, in B lymphocytes, the physiological role of Helios remains to be elucidated yet, because its expression level is very low. Here, we generated the Helios-deficient DT40 cells, Helios (-/-), and showed that the Helios-deficiency caused significant increases in transcriptions of four protein kinase Cs (PKCs); PKC-δ, PKC-ε, PKC-η and PKC-ζ, whereas their expressions were drastically down-regulated in the Aiolos-deficient DT40 cells, Aiolos (-/-). In addition, Helios (-/-) was remarkably resistant against phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/ionomycin treatment, which mimics the B cell receptor (BCR)-mediated stimulation. In the presence of PMA/ionomycin, their viability was remarkably higher than that of DT40, and their DNA fragmentation was less severe than that of DT40 in the opposite manner for the Aiolos-deficiency. The resistance against the PMA/ionomycin-induced apoptosis of Helios (-/-) was sensitive to Rottlerin but not to Go6976. In addition, the Helios-deficiency caused remarkable up-regulation of the Rottlerin-sensitive superoxide (O2 (-))-generating activity. These data suggest that Helios may contribute to the regulation of the BCR-mediated apoptosis and O2 (-)-generating activity, via transcriptional regulation of these four PKCs (especially PKC-δ) in immature B lymphocytes. Together with previous data, our findings may significantly help in the understanding of the B lymphocyte-specific expressions of PKC genes and molecular mechanisms of both the BCR-mediated apoptosis involved in negative selection and the O2 (-)-generating system in immature B lymphocytes.

Curcumin dramatically enhances retinoic acid-induced superoxide generating activity via accumulation of p47-phox and p67-phox proteins in U937 cells.

The membrane bound cytochrome b558 composed of large gp91-phox and small p22-phox subunits, and cytosolic proteins p40-, p47- and p67-phox are important components of superoxide (O(2)(-))-generating system in phagocytes and B lymphocytes. A lack of this system in phagocytes is known to cause serious life-threatening infections. Here, we describe that curcumin, a polyphenol responsible for the yellow color of curry spice turmeric, dramatically activates the O(2)(-)-generating system during retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation of human monoblastic leukemia U937 cells to macrophage-like cells. When U937 cells were cultured in the presence of RA and curcumin, the O(2)(-)-generating activity increased more than 4-fold compared with that in the absence of the latter. Semiquantitative RT-PCR showed that co-treatment with RA and curcumin slightly enhanced gene expressions of the five components compared with those of the RA-treatment only. On the other hand, immunoblot analysis revealed that co-treatment with RA and curcumin caused remarkable accumulation of protein levels of p47-phox (to 7-fold) and p67-phox (to 4-fold) compared with those of the RA-treatment alone. These results suggested that curcumin dramatically enhances RA-induced O(2)(-)-generating activity via accumulation of cytosolic p47-phox and p67-phox proteins in U937 cells. Therefore, it should have the potential as an effective modifier in therapy of leukemia and/or as an immunopotentiator.

Histone H1 null vertebrate cells exhibit altered nucleosome architecture.

In eukaryotic nuclei, DNA is wrapped around an octamer of core histones to form nucleosomes, and chromatin fibers are thought to be stabilized by linker histones of the H1 type. Higher eukaryotes express multiple variants of histone H1; chickens possess six H1 variants. Here, we generated and analyzed the phenotype of a complete deletion of histone H1 genes in chicken cells. The H1-null cells showed decreased global nucleosome spacing, expanded nuclear volumes, and increased chromosome aberration rates, although proper mitotic chromatin structure appeared to be maintained. Expression array analysis revealed that the transcription of multiple genes was affected and was mostly downregulated in histone H1-deficient cells. This report describes the first histone H1 complete knockout cells in vertebrates and suggests that linker histone H1, while not required for mitotic chromatin condensation, plays important roles in nucleosome spacing and interphase chromatin compaction and acts as a global transcription regulator.

Lacking of Aiolos accelerates pre-mature B cell apoptosis mediated by BCR signaling through elevation in cytochrome c release.

Antigen binding to B cell receptor (BCR) of pre-mature B lymphocytes leads to their apoptosis, while binding to BCR of mature B lymphocytes induces their activation and proliferation. The former binding is believed to be a mechanism so as to exclude B cell clones leading to protection from auto-immune diseases. Cross-linking of BCR of pre-mature B cells, including chicken DT40 cells, with anti-immunoglobulin antibody induces their apoptosis. The PMA/ionomycin treatments, which mimic BCR stimulation, are used to study intracellular signal transduction of B lymphocytes. Here, by analyzing the Aiolos-deficient DT40 cell line, Aiolos(-/-), we reveal that the lack of Aiolos accelerates apoptosis of DT40 cells mediated by BCR signaling. Moreover, the Aiolos-deficiency and BCR signaling cooperatively control this apoptosis through dramatically elevated cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol and elevated caspase (caspase-3, 8 and 9) activities, resulting in drastically diminished amounts of ICAD followed by increased DNA fragmentation. Re-expression study reveals that the shorter isoform of Aiolos (Aio-2) controls PMA/ionomycin-mediated apoptosis via up-regulation and down-regulation of the PKCdelta and bak genes, respectively. These findings could be a powerful trigger to resolve molecular mechanisms of negative selection of B lymphocytes and also auto-immune diseases.