We now report a mutation in the nuclear-encoded flavoprotein (Fp) subunit gene of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in two siblings with complex II deficiency presenting as Leigh syndrome. Both patients were homozygous for an Arg554Trp substitution in the Fp subunit. Their parents (first cousins) were heterozygous for the mutation that occurred in a conserved domain of the protein and was absent from 120 controls. The deleterious effect of the Arg to Trp substitution on the catalytic activity of SDH was observed in a SDH- yeast strain transformed with mutant Fp cDNA. The Fp subunit gene is duplicated in the human genome (3q29; 5p15), with only the gene on chromosome 5 expressed in human-hamster somatic cell hybrids. This is the first report of a nuclear gene mutation causing a mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency in humans.

Mutation of a nuclear succinate dehydrogenase gene results in mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency

The telomerase ribonucleoprotein catalyzes the addition of new telomeres onto chromosome ends A gene encoding a mammalian telomerase homolog called TP1 (telomerase-associated protein 1) was identified and cloned TP1 exhibited extensive amino acid similarity to the Tetrahymena telomerase protein p80 and was shown to interact specifically with mammalian telomerase RNA Antiserum to TP1 immunoprecipitated telomerase activity from cell extracts, suggesting that TP1 is associated with telomerase in vivo The identification of TP1 suggests that telomerase-associated proteins are conserved from ciliates to humans

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/275/5302/973.full.pdf

A mammalian telomerase-associated protein.

Molecular interaction between COP1 and HY5 defines a regulatory switch for light control of Arabidopsis development

Prohibitins are ubiquitous, abundant and evolutionarily strongly conserved proteins that play a role in important cellular processes. Using blue native electrophoresis we have demonstrated that human prohibitin and Bap37 together form a large complex in the mitochondrial inner membrane. This complex is similar in size to the yeast complex formed by the homologues Phb1p and Phb2p. In yeast, levels of this complex are increased on co-overexpression of both Phb1p and Phb2p, suggesting that these two proteins are the only components of the complex. Pulse–chase experiments with mitochondria isolated from phb1/phb2-null and PHB1/2 overexpressing cells show that the Phb1/2 complex is able to stabilize newly synthesized mitochondrial translation products. This stabilization probably occurs through a direct interaction because association of mitochondrial translation products with the Phb1/2 complex could be demonstrated. The fact that Phb1/2 is a large multimeric complex, which provides protection of native peptides against proteolysis, suggests a functional homology with protein chaperones with respect to their ability to hold and prevent misfolding of newly synthesized proteins.

/pdf/prohibitins-act-as-a-membrane-bound-chaperone-for-the-59iz4blbey.pdf

Prohibitins act as a membrane‐bound chaperone for the stabilization of mitochondrial proteins

In Arabidopsis thaliana, signal transduction of the hormone ethylene involves at least two receptors, ETR1 and ERS, both of which are members of the two-component histidine protein kinase family that is prevalent in prokaryotes. The pathway also contains a negative regulator of ethylene responses, CTR1, which closely resembles members of the Raf protein kinase family. CTR1 is thought to act at or downstream of ETR1 and ERS based on double mutant analysis; however, the signaling mechanisms leading from ethylene perception to the regulation of CTR1 are unknown. By using the yeast two-hybrid assay, we detected a specific interaction between the CTR1 amino-terminal domain and the predicted histidine kinase domain of ETR1 and ERS. We subsequently verified these interactions by using an in vitro protein association assay(s). In addition, we determined that the amino-terminal domain of CTR1 can associate with the predicted receiver domain of ETR1 in vitro. Based on deletion analysis, the portion of CTR1 that interacts with ETR1 roughly aligns with the regulatory region of Raf kinases. These physical associations support the genetic evidence that CTR1 acts in the pathway of ETR1 and ERS and suggest that these interactions could be involved in the regulation of CTR1 activity.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/95/9/5401.full.pdf

Association of the Arabidopsis CTR1 Raf-like kinase with the ETR1 and ERS ethylene receptors

A fast yeast-transformation technique has been developed by adding thio compounds to alkali-ion based protocols and incubating at 45°C. This procedure is especially recommended for cells from stationary phase at a density up to 2.5×108 cells/ml. It involves only one step for the preparation and transformation of competent cells within 30 min. The yield was more than 104 transformants/μg plasmid DNA. This protocol is easy to scale up for many DNA samples and is also applicable for yeast cells from different types of storages.

One-step transformation of yeast in stationary phase.

CPT-11 (Irinotecan) remains an important chemotherapeutic agent against various solid tumors nowadays. Potential adverse effects, especially gastrointestinal toxicities, are the main limiting factor for its clinical utility. Ling Zhi-8 (LZ-8), a fungal immunomodulatory protein in Ganoderma lucidum mycelia, has potential for drug development due to its multiple bioactivities and functions. This study aimed to explore the influence of LZ-8 on CPT-11-treated IEC-6 cells in vitro and on mice with CPT-11-induced intestinal injury in vivo. The mechanism through which LZ-8 exerted its protective effects was also investigated. In the in vitro study, the viability and claudin-1 expression of IEC-6 cells decreased gradually with increasing concentrations of CPT-11, but LZ-8 treatment had no obvious influence on their viability, morphology, and claudin-1 expression. Pretreatment of LZ-8 significantly improved CPT-11-decreased cell viability and claudin-1 expression in IEC-6 cells. In mice with CPT-11-induced intestinal injury, LZ-8 treatment could ameliorate symptoms and mitigate intestinal damage. Meanwhile, LZ-8 restored claudin-1 expression in the intestinal membranes in CPT-11-treated mice. Collectively, our results demonstrated the protective effects of LZ-8 against CPT-11 damage in both IEC-6 cells and mice. LZ-8 can restore claudin-1 expression in intestinal cells following CPT-11 treatment, suggesting the role of claudin-1 in the scenario.

/pdf/ling-zhi-8-a-fungal-immunomodulatory-protein-in-ganoderma-1oh0tdk6.pdf

Dz-Chi Chen

Papers

One-step transformation of yeast in stationary phase.

Ling Zhi-8, a fungal immunomodulatory protein in Ganoderma lucidum, alleviates CPT-11-induced intestinal injury via restoring claudin-1 expression.