Inter-lobe Motions Allosterically Regulate the Structure and Function of EGFR Kinase.

Protein kinases play important roles in cellular signaling and have been one of the best-studied drug targets. The kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that has been extensively studied for cancer drug discovery and for understanding the unique activation mechanism by dimerization. Here, we analyzed all available 206 crystal structures of the EGFR kinase and the dynamics observed in molecular simulations to identify how these structures are determined. It was found that the arrangement between the N- and C-terminal lobes plays a key role in regulating the kinase structure by sensitively responding to the intermolecular interactions, or the crystal environment. A whole variety of crystal forms in the database is thus reflected in the broad distribution of the inter-lobe arrangement. The configuration of the catalytically important motifs as well as the bound ATP is closely coupled with the inter-lobe motion. When the intermolecular interactions are those of the activating asymmetric dimer, EGFR kinase takes the open-lobe arrangement that constructs the catalytically active configuration.

Different mechanisms between copper and iron in catecholamines-mediated oxidative DNA damage and disruption of gene expression in vitro.

Catechols produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce oxidative DNA damage through reduction-oxidation reactions with metals such as copper. Here, we examined oxidative DNA damage by neurotransmitter catecholamines in the presence of copper or iron and evaluated the effects of this damage on gene expression in vitro. Dopamine induced strand breaks and base oxidation in calf thymus DNA in the presence of Cu(II) or Fe(III)-NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid). The extent of this damage was greater for Cu(II) than for Fe(III)-NTA. For the DNA damage induced by dopamine, the responsible reactive species were hydrogen peroxide and Cu(I) for Cu(II) and hydroxyl radicals and Fe(II) for Fe(III)-NTA. Cu(II) induced DNA conformational changes, but Fe(III)-NTA did not in the presence of dopamine. These differences indicate different modes of action between Cu and Fe-NTA with regard to the induction of DNA damage. Expression of the lacZ gene coded on plasmid DNA was inhibited depending on the extent of the oxidative damage and strand breaks. Endogenous catecholamines (dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline) were more potent than catechols (no aminoalkyl side chains) or 3,4-dihydroxybenzylamine (aminomethyl side chain). These results suggest that the metal-mediated DNA damage induced by dopamine disrupts gene expression, and leukoaminochromes (further oxidation products of O-quinones having aminoethyl side chain) are involved in the DNA damage. These findings indicate a possibility that metal (especially iron and copper)-mediated oxidation of catecholamines plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease.

Carbonyl side-chain of catechol compounds is a key structure for the suppression of copper-associated oxidative DNA damage in vitro.

Catechol is possibly carcinogenic to humans (International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC). The key mechanism could include its oxidative DNA-damaging effect in combination with reductive-oxidative metals like Cu. We found that DNA damage was suppressed by introducing an α-carbonyl group to catechol at C4-position to produce carbonyl catechols. During the oxidative DNA-damaging process, catechols but not carbonyl catechols were oxidized to o-quinone; however, coexisting Cu(II) was reduced to Cu(I). Carbonyl catechols were possibly arrested at the oxidation step of semiquinones in the presence of Cu(II). Cu(I)-binding to DNA was stronger than Cu(II)-binding, on the basis of the circular dichroism spectral change. None of the carbonyl catechols induced such change, suggesting sequestration of Cu(I) from DNA. Solid-phase extraction experiments and spectrophotometric analyses showed the formation of semiquinone chelates with Cu(I). Thus, chelate formation could explain the suppression mechanism of the Cu-catechol-dependent DNA damage by terminating the reduction-oxidation cycle. Structural modifications such as introducing an α-carbonyl group to catechol at C4-position would contribute to reducing the risk and improving industrial and medical potentials of aromatic/phenolic compounds sustaining our daily lives.

Effects of redecoration of a hospital isolation room with natural materials on stress levels of denizens in cold season.

We investigated the effects of redecoration of a hospital isolation room with natural materials on thermoregulatory, cardiovascular and hormonal parameters of healthy subjects staying in the room. Two isolation rooms with almost bilaterally-symmetrical arrangements were used. One room (RD) was redecorated with wood paneling and Japanese paper, while the other (CN) was unchanged (with concrete walls). Seven healthy male subjects stayed in each room for over 24 h in the cold season. Their rectal temperature (T(re)) and heart rate, and the room temperature (T(a)) and relative humidity were continuously measured. Arterial blood pressures, arterial vascular compliance, thermal sensation and thermal comfort were measured every 4 h except during sleeping. Blood was sampled after the stay in the rooms. In RD, T(a) was significantly higher by about 0.4 degrees C and relative humidity was lower by about 5% than in CN. Diurnal T(re) levels of subjects in RD significantly differed from those in CN, i.e., T(re)s were significantly higher in RD than in CN especially in the evening. In RD, the subjects felt more thermally-comfortable than in CN. Redecoration had minimal effects on cardiovascular parameters. Plasma levels of catecholamines and antidiuretic hormone did not differ, while plasma cortisol level was significantly lower after staying in RD than in CN by nearly 20%. The results indicate that, in the cold season, redecoration with natural materials improves the thermal environment of the room and contributes to maintaining core temperature of denizens at preferable levels. It also seems that redecoration of room could attenuate stress levels of isolated subjects.