Isolation and characterization of 20 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the migratory freshwater fish Leporinus obtusidens (Characiformes: Anostomidae) using 454 shotgun pyrosequencing.

Twenty polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the Neotropical fish Leporinus obtusidens using a next generation sequencing approach and tested in two other characifomes species, Schizodon platae and Prochilodus lineatus. Microsatellite loci alleles in L. obtusidens ranged between 2 and 20 alleles per locus (mean = 5·7), with expected heterozygosity values ranging from 0·097 to 0·956 (mean = 0·578) and observed heterozygosity values ranging from 0·000 to 0·800 (mean = 0·400) in a sample of 20 specimens from the lower Paraná River (Argentina). Most of these markers will be a valuable tool for captive breeding and stocking programmes, as well as for analyses of population connectivity and genetic structure in this broadly distributed Neotropical migratory fish.

Cancer gene therapy by thyroid hormone-mediated expression of toxin genes.

Many of the strategies developed in the last few years to treat cancer by gene therapy are based on putative killer-suicide genes whose products convert a prodrug into a toxic compound. When the therapy is applied to humans, a vector carrying the killer gene is first inoculated into the tumor of the patient, who 1 week later receives the corresponding prodrug that will selectively kill the cells able to process it to its toxic derivative. A strategy that obviates the need for a prodrug to destroy the cancer cells would be preferable because the patient would only need one treatment instead of two consecutive ones. In the following study, we describe the construction of retroviral vectors in which a reporter or a toxin gene (either the Pseudomonas exotoxin or the Ricinus communis toxin, ricin) is placed under the control of the thyroid hormone (T3) regulatable promoter of the rat myelin basic protein (MBPp). We demonstrate that the expression of these genes under the control of MBPp is regulated by T3 in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the MBPp is switched off when T3 is removed from the serum of the culture medium, allowing the production of retroviruses carrying the toxic gene. In vivo, the toxin gene bearing retroviruses is capable of eradicating experimentally induced brain tumors in Wistar rats. The gene therapy strategy described here does not require the use of a prodrug to destroy the neoplastic cells.

Inhibition of steady-state mitochondrial ATP synthesis by bicarbonate, an activating anion of ATP hydrolysis.

Bicarbonate, an activating anion of ATP hydrolysis, inhibited ATP synthesis coupled to succinate oxidation in beef heart submitochondrial particles but diminished the lag time and increased the steady-state velocity of the (32)Pi-ATP exchange reaction. The latter effects exclude the possibility that bicarbonate is inducing an intrinsic uncoupling between ATP hydrolysis and proton translocation at the level of F(1)F(o) ATPase. The inhibition of ATP synthesis was competitive with respect to ADP at low fixed [Pi], mixed at high [Pi] and non-competitive towards Pi at any fixed [ADP]. From these results we can conclude that (i) bicarbonate does not bind to a Pi site in the mitochondrial F(1); (ii) it competes with the binding of ADP to a low-affinity site, likely the low-affinity non-catalytic nucleotide binding site. It is postulated that bicarbonate stimulates ATP hydrolysis and inhibits ATP synthesis by modulating the relative affinities of the catalytic site for ATP and ADP.

Steady-state kinetics of F1-ATPase. Mechanism of anion activation.

The kinetic behaviour of the ATPase activity of beef heart F1 depends largely on the exposure of the enzyme to some anionic ligands such as sulphate and/or EDTA. F1 prepared in the presence of such anions exhibited a triphasic kinetic pattern whereas F1 from which those anions were removed by dialysis exhibited only two Km values for ATP. Conversely to what has been previously reported, bicarbonate did not linearize F1-ATPase kinetics. Moreover, anion activation cannot be simply explained by promotion of ADP release but mainly by an increase in affinity of the third catalytic site for ATP.

Inhibition of mitochondrial energy-linked reactions by 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), a hydroxamic acid from Gramineae.

DIMBOA (2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one) is the main hydroxamic acid isolated from maize extracts. It inhibited reversibly ATP synthesis, Pi-ATP exchange reaction and ATPase activity in submitochondrial particles from bovine heart. Half-maximal effects were obtained with 4, 2, and 6 mM DIMBOA respectively. At higher concentrations it also inhibited mitochondrial electron transport (I50 = 11 mM). Irreversible inactivation of mitochondrial electron transport, Pi-ATP exchange reaction and 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate energy-dependent fluorescence enhancement was also observed. These effects of DIMBOA on energy-linked mitochondrial reactions may explain the inhibitory action of DIMBOA on several aerobic organisms.

Inhibition by suramin of mitochondrial ATP synthesis.

Suramin, a drug intensively used in the chemotherapy of African trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis, is currently being tested in clinical trials for AIDS treatment. Its effects on mitochondrial energy metabolism in mammals were studied. At low concentrations it inhibited ATP synthesis and ATPase activity in submitochondrial particles, as well as ADP-stimulated oxygen consumption and the uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity in intact rat liver mitochondria. At higher concentrations it also inhibited uncoupled electron transport in both submitochondrial particles and intact mitochondria. From comparison of the kinetic patterns of those inhibitions, evidence suggesting that the adenine nucleotide translocase may be another target for the action of suramin was obtained. The relevance of these findings to the understanding of the biochemical basis of suramin toxicity is discussed.

Primary structure and developmental expression of Bufo arenarum cellular nucleic acid-binding protein: changes in subcellular localization during early embryogenesis.

A Bufo arenarum cellular nucleic acid-binding protein (bCNBP) full-length cDNA was cloned. bCNBP is a 19.4 kDa protein containing seven CCHC zinc finger motifs, an RGG box and a Ser-rich region. Amino acid comparisons showed high values of homology in vertebrates and smaller values in insects or inferior eukaryotes. Northern blot analysis during oogenesis and early development revealed two transcripts with different expressions of pattern behavior. One of them is present in all stages analyzed, whereas the other is only detected from the beginning of zygotic transcription. Immunocytochemistry assays carried out on sections of ovary and early embryos showed that there was no specific staining of previtellogenic oocytes. In early vitellogenic oocytes, in oocytes at stages V/VI and in embryos at early blastula stage, reaction was observed inside the cytoplasm. At mid-blastula stage, CNBP was mainly detected in the epiblast. At the late gastrula stage, two layers of cells were stained in the archenteron roof, in which the internal one presented as strong staining. Nuclei in this layer were stained even stronger than the cytoplasm. Changes in mRNA expression patterns, accompanied by changes in subcellular localization, suggest that CNBP might interact with both nuclear and cytoplasmic nucleic acids.

Inhibition of energy metabolism by benzoxazolin-2-one.

The effects of the title compound (BOA) on energy-linked reactions in mitochondria were studied. BOA inhibited electron transfer between the flavin and ubiquinone in Complex I, and ATP synthesis at the F1 moiety of the ATPase complex. These results are discussed in relation to the toxicity of BOA towards a wide range of aerobic organisms.

Evaluation of the Extent of Homologous Chloroplast DNA Sequences in the Mitochondrial Genome of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.).

Southern blot hybridization techniques were used to estimate the extent of chloroplast DNA sequences present in the mitochondrial genome of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) The entire mitochondrial chromosome was homogeneously labeled and used to probe blotted DNA fragments obtained by extensive restriction of the tobacco chloroplast genome. The strongest cross-homologies were obtained with fragments derived from the inverted repeat and the atpBE cluster regions, although most of the clones tested (spanning 85% of the tobacco plastid genome) hybridized to mitochondrial DNA. Homologous chloroplast DNA restriction fragments represent a total of 30 to 68 kilobase pairs, depending upon the presence or absence of tRNA-encoding fragments. Plastid genes showing homology with mitochondrial DNA include those encoding ribosomal proteins, RNA polymerase, subunits of photosynthetic complexes, and the two major rRNAs.

Probing the role of the carboxyl-terminal region of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase by site-directed mutagenesis and deletion analysis.

The carboxyl-terminal region of plant ferredoxin-NADP+ reductases is formed by an invariant alpha-helix/loop/beta-strand, culminating in a conserved tyrosine that displays extensive interaction with the prosthetic group FAD. We have investigated the potential role of the terminal region in reductase function, by introducing mutations and deletions on pea ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Replacement of the terminal tyrosine by tryptophan, phenylalanine, serine, and glycine resulted in a 2.2-, 2.0-, 22-, and 302-fold reduction, respectively, in kcat for the diaphorase reaction, whereas elimination of the tyrosine caused a 846-fold decrease in kcat. Km values were largely unaffected by the substitutions. Similar results were obtained when the mutants were assayed for cytochrome c reduction, indicating that aromaticity is the most important factor to the function of the tyrosine in catalysis. The presence of the phenol ring at the carboxyl-terminal position of wild-type reductase is important, but not an absolute requirement for enzyme function or FAD assembly. Deletion of the alpha-helix/beta-strand region prevented reductase proper folding in the bacterial host, while shortening of the terminal region by splicing 3 amino acids at the beginning of the alpha-helix produced a moderately soluble reductase, devoid of FAD and enzymatic activity.

Expression, assembly and secretion of a fully active plant ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The flavoprotein ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase catalyzes the final step of the photosynthetic electron transport i.e., the reduction of NADP+ by ferredoxin. Expression and secretion of this enzyme was examined in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a cDNA cloned from a pea library [Newman, B. J. & Gray, J. C. (1988) Plant Mol. Biol. 10, 511-520]. Two pea library cDNA sequences were employed, one corresponding to the mature enzyme and the other containing, in addition, the sequence of the transit peptide that directs ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase to the chloroplast. These sequences were introduced into a yeast shuttle vector in frame with the mating factor alpha 1 secretion-signal coding region under the control of its natural mating factor alpha 1 promoter. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells transformed with the recombinant plasmids were able to synthesize and secrete fully active pea ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase. In both cases, a 35-kDa polypeptide was the major product. N-terminal sequencing of the secreted proteins indicates processing at position -1 with respect to the N-terminus of the pea mature enzyme. Yeast cells transformed with plasmid encoding the ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase precursor secrete four-times more ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase to the medium than cells transformed with the plasmid encoding the mature form of the enzyme. Ferredoxin-NADP+ reductases purified from culture medium showed structural and enzymatic properties that were identical, within the experimental error, to those of native plant ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase. The overall results indicate that pea ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase can be properly folded and its prosthetic group assembled in the yeast endoplasmic reticulum, and that its natural transit peptide favors its secretion.

Involvement of the flavin si-face tyrosine on the structure and function of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductases.

In ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase (FNR), FAD is bound outside of an anti-parallel beta-barrel with the isoalloxazine lying in a two-tyrosine pocket. To elucidate the function of the flavin si-face tyrosine (Tyr-89 in pea FNR) on the enzyme structure and catalysis, we performed ab initio molecular orbital calculations and site-directed mutagenesis. Our results indicate that the position of Tyr-89 in pea FNR is mainly governed by the energetic minimum of the pairwise interaction between the phenol ring and the flavin. Moreover, most of FNR-like proteins displayed geometries for the si-face tyrosine phenol and the flavin, which correspond to the more negative free energy theoretical value. FNR mutants were obtained replacing Tyr-89 by Phe, Trp, Ser, or Gly. Structural and functional features of purified FNR mutants indicate that aromaticity on residue 89 is essential for FAD binding and proper folding of the protein. Moreover, hydrogen bonding through the Tyr-89 hydroxyl group may be responsible of the correct positioning of FAD and the substrate NADP(+)

Contribution of the FAD binding site residue tyrosine 308 to the stability of pea ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase.

The contribution made by tyrosine 308 to the stability of pea ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase was investigated using site-directed mutagenesis. The phenol side chain of the invariant carboxyl terminal tyrosine is stacked coplanar to the isoalloxazine moiety of the FAD cofactor. Fluorescence measurements indicate that this interaction plays a significant role in FAD fluorescent quenching by the reductase apoprotein. Replacement of the tyrosine by tryptophan or phenylalanine caused only a minor increase in the quantum yields of bound FAD, whereas nonaromatic substitutions to serine and glycine resulted in a large fluorescent rise. Results from NADP+ titration experiments support a recent hypothesis [Karplus et al. (1991) Science 251, 60-66], suggesting that the phenol ring of Tyr 308 may fill the nicotinamide binding pocket in the absence of the nucleotide. The stability of the site-directed mutants, judged by thermal- and urea-induced denaturation studies, was lowered with respect to the wild-type enzyme. FNR variants harboring nonaromatic substitutions displayed more extensive destabilization. The decrease in thermodynamic stability correlated with the impairment of catalytic activities [Orellano et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem 268, 19267-19273]. The results indicate that the presence of the electron-rich aromatic side chain adjacent to the isoalloxazine ring is essential for maximum stabilization of the FNR holoenzyme, resulting in a flavin conformation which optimizes electron flow between the prosthetic group and its redox partners.

Identification of mRNA-binding proteins during development: characterization of Bufo arenarum cellular nucleic acid binding protein.

Ultraviolet irradiation was used to covalently cross-link poly(A)+RNA and associated proteins in eggs and embryos of the toad Bufo arenarum. Four major proteins with apparent sizes of 60, 57, 45 and 30-24 kDa were identified. It was observed that the same mRNA-binding proteins were isolated from eggs to gastrula and neural stages of development. The 30 kDa polypeptide, p30, appeared as the main ultraviolet (UV) cross-linked protein in the developmental stages analyzed. By means of polyclonal antibodies, it was determined that this polypeptide has a cytoplasmic localization and it was detected in liver, eggs and embryos. The presence of p30 was also analyzed by western blot during oogenesis and development. The 30 kDa polypeptide was present in all stages analyzed but it could not be detected in stages I-II of oogenesis. At the neural stage, the relative amount of p30 began to decrease, reaching its lowest levels after stages 26-30 (tail-bud in Bufo arenarum). On the basis of purification, immunoprecipitation and western blot assays the 30 kDa protein was identified as the Bufo arenarum cellular nucleic acid binding protein.

A productive NADP+ binding mode of ferredoxin-NADP + reductase revealed by protein engineering and crystallographic studies.

The flavoenzyme ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) catalyzes the production of NADPH during photosynthesis. Whereas the structures of FNRs from spinach leaf and a cyanobacterium as well as many of their homologs have been solved, none of these studies has yielded a productive geometry of the flavin-nicotinamide interaction. Here, we show that this failure occurs because nicotinamide binding to wild type FNR involves the energetically unfavorable displacement of the C-terminal Tyr side chain. We used mutants of this residue (Tyr 308) of pea FNR to obtain the structures of productive NADP+ and NADPH complexes. These structures reveal a unique NADP+ binding mode in which the nicotinamide ring is not parallel to the flavin isoalloxazine ring, but lies against it at an angle of approximately 30 degrees, with the C4 atom 3 A from the flavin N5 atom.