Direct evidence of high DNA binding activity of transcription factor AP-1 in rheumatoid arthritis synovium

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is increasingly being used in plant biology from the cellular level to whole plant level. At the cellular level, GFP is being used as an in vivo reporter to assess frequency of transient and stable transformation. GFP has also proven to be an invaluable tool in monitoring trafficking and subcellular localization of protein. At the organ level and up, many exciting applications are rapidly emerging. The development of brighter GFP mutants with more robust folding properties has enabled better macroscopic visualization of GFP in whole leaves and plants. One interesting example has been the use of GFP to monitor virus movement in and among whole plants. GFP is also emerging as a powerful tool to monitor transgene movement and transgenic plants in the field. In a proof-of-concept study, tobacco was transformed with a modified version of the GFP gene controlled by a constitutive (35S) promoter. GFP expression in progeny plants ranged from 0% to 0.5%, and approximately 0.1% GFP was the minimal amount needed for unambiguous macroscopic detection. GFP is the first truly in vivo reporter system useful in whole plants, and we project its usefulness will increase even further as better forms of GFP genes become available.     

Modulation of JunD.AP-1 DNA binding activity by AP-1-associated factor 1 (AF-1)

AP-1-associated factor 1 (AF-1), is a novel protein complex that dramatically enhances the assembly of JunD-containing dimers onto AP-1 consensus sites. We describe the partial purification of AF-1 from nuclear extracts of the T-cell line MLA 144 by ionic, hydrophobic and gel filtration chromatography. AF-1 is a DNA-binding protein composed of low molecular mass polypeptides of 7-17 kDa that exists in solution as a 34-kDa complex. JunD interactions with DNA are accelerated in the presence of AF-1 through the formation of a true tri-molecular complex with JunD dimers and DNA that assembles much more rapidly on DNA than JunD alone. DNA binding analysis of AF-1 interaction with JunD.AP-1 and DNA shows that AF-1 increases the DNA binding affinity of JunD for AP-1 sites over 100-fold. DNA cleavage footprint analysis of isolated AF-1.JunD DNA complexes shows that the ternary complex makes nearly twice as many contacts with DNA than JunD dimers alone. AF-1 interacts readily, but differentially with Jun homodimers and Jun.Fos heterodimers. These findings distinguish AF-1 as a significant protein-specific modulator of AP-1.JunD in T-cells.     

The effects of measles virus persistent infection on AP-1 transcription factor binding in neuroblastoma cells

"Aerobiologia 2.0" is a simple computer program created to handle the pollen data collected every 2 hrs and daily by aerobiological monitoring stations equipped with Hirst-type spore traps. "Aerobiologia 2.0" runs on Windows 3.1 and is compatible with other programs that run on this operating system. The program was developed to store and process pollen data through a few straightforward operations. An unlimited calendar automatically calculates the day of the week. The pollen dictionary, which can hold up to 1216 different pollen types, may be modified or changed completely. Concentrations for every pollen type (in pollen grains/m3) are automatically recorded daily and every 2 hrs. 10-day and monthly sums are also calculated. The percentage of selected types, groups, or families of pollen collected each day, every 10 days, and monthly is quickly available. Pollen calendars and spectra in 24-hr, 10-day, monthly, tri-monthly, half-year, and yearly periods are readily produced. As soon as it is entered, the pollen data are saved on hard disk. A year's worth of data can be saved on a single 1.44 M byte floppy disk. Aerobiologia 2.0 is being used successfully to process the aeropollen data collected at the two monitoring stations managed by our Palynological Laboratory.     

Role of the transcription factor AP-1 in melanoma differentiation (review)

Despite increasing evidence that pain is a problem with which many in their later years must contend, little is known about the experience of community-dwelling seniors who require the assistance of home nursing services to remain independent and functional in their homes. This study investigated the prevalence and experience of pain among seniors who were recipients of home nursing services. The study was guided by the World Health Organization Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap. Face to face interviews were conducted with 66 individuals who reported whether they were often troubled by pain and/or had experienced pain of a noteworthy nature within the 2 weeks prior to the interview. In addition, they responded to standardized questions about their pain experience and their levels of disability and functional competence. Findings revealed that although three-quarters of respondents reported pain, there was no association between pain and measures of disability. Findings, however, revealed an association between pain and measures of functional competence, more specifically, global function, level of depressive symptomatology, sleep impairment and satisfaction with life. Implications for nursing include the need for a heightened awareness of the prevalence of pain in community-dwelling older adults and the development of assessment and intervention strategies that support their quality of life.     

Estrogen regulation of the insulin-like growth factor I gene transcription involves an AP-1 enhancer

As a step toward elucidating the physiological role of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in mediating estrogen action, we sought to determine the molecular basis of the phenomenon. In HepG2 cells expressing exogenous estrogen receptors (ER), a reporter gene plasmid containing 600 base pairs of the chicken IGF-I promoter enhanced expression of luciferase 8.6-fold in response to 10(-6) M 17 beta-estradiol, indicating that the IGF-I promoter is a target of estrogen regulation. Although no conventional estrogen-responsive element was identified within the promoter fragment, the AP-1 motif located therein was shown to be essential; the estrogen-responsive enhancement of the Fos-Jun binding to the AP-1 motif, which takes place by means of post-translational modification, mediates the estrogen action. A direct or indirect interaction between the estrogen-ER complex and the Fos-Jun complex seems to facilitate the Fos-Jun binding to the target DNA. Although ER binding to the target DNA was not considered to be involved in the signaling pathway, the DNA binding domain-deficient ER did not mediate the phenomenon, providing support for the existence of a unique function of the DNA binding domain of ER in facilitating some protein-protein interaction. In conclusion, our present observations demonstrate that the chicken IGF-I gene promoter is controlled by estrogen through a unique pathway involving Fos, Jun, and the DNA binding domain of ER.     

ADP-ribosylation factor 1 transiently activates high-affinity adaptor protein complex AP-1 binding sites on Golgi membranes

Association of the Golgi-specific adaptor protein complex 1 (AP-1) with the membrane is a prerequisite for clathrin coat assembly on the trans-Golgi network (TGN). The AP-1 adaptor is efficiently recruited from cytosol onto the TGN by myristoylated ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) in the presence of the poorly hydrolyzable GTP analog guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS). Substituting GTP for GTPgammaS, however, results in only poor AP-1 binding. Here we show that both AP-1 and clathrin can be recruited efficiently onto the TGN in the presence of GTP when cytosol is supplemented with ARF1. Optimal recruitment occurs at 4 microM ARF1 and with 1 mM GTP. The AP-1 recruited by ARF1.GTP is released from the Golgi membrane by treatment with 1 M Tris-HCl (pH 7) or upon reincubation at 37 degreesC, whereas AP-1 recruited with GTPgammaS or by a constitutively active point mutant, ARF1(Q71L), remains membrane bound after either treatment. An incubation performed with added ARF1, GTP, and AlFn, used to block ARF GTPase-activating protein activity, results in membrane-associated AP-1, which is largely insensitive to Tris extraction. Thus, ARF1. GTP hydrolysis results in lower-affinity binding of AP-1 to the TGN. Using two-stage assays in which ARF1.GTP first primes the Golgi membrane at 37 degreesC, followed by AP-1 binding on ice, we find that the high-affinity nucleating sites generated in the priming stage are rapidly lost. In addition, the AP-1 bound to primed Golgi membranes during a second-stage incubation on ice is fully sensitive to Tris extraction, indicating that the priming stage has passed the ARF1.GTP hydrolysis point. Thus, hydrolysis of ARF1.GTP at the priming sites can occur even before AP-1 binding. Our finding that purified clathrin-coated vesicles contain little ARF1 supports the concept that ARF1 functions in the coat assembly process rather than during the vesicle-uncoating step. We conclude that ARF1 is a limiting factor in the GTP-stimulated recruitment of AP-1 in vitro and that it appears to function in a stoichiometric manner to generate high-affinity AP-1 binding sites that have a relatively short half-life.     

DAP-2, the Drosophila homolog of transcription factor AP-2

Between 1985 and 1995, fourteen patients affected by spinal meningiomas underwent surgery at our department. All patients were female, 86 per cent of tumors were thoracic, and the rest was cervical. Thoracic meningiomas occurred predominantly in the lower thoracic spine. One patient had multiple spinal meningiomas, while two other patients had concurrent spinal and cranial meningiomas. The cases are studied with respect to their epidemiology, tumor location, clinical presentation, type of surgical procedure, histopathology and outcome.     

Location of the phosphate binding site within Clostridium symbiosum pyruvate phosphate dikinase

Pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK) catalyzes the interconversion of ATP, Pi, and pyruvate with AMP, PPi, and PEP in three partial reactions: (1) E + ATP --> E.ATP --> E-PP.AMP, (2) E-PP.AMP + Pi --> E-PP.AMP.Pi --> E-P.AMP.PPi, and (3) E-P + pyruvate --> E-P.pyruvate --> E.PEP. The Clostridium symbiosum PPDK structure consists of N-terminal, central, and C-terminal domains. The N-terminal and central domains catalyze partial reactions 1 and 2 whereas the C-terminal and central domains catalyze partial reaction 3. The goal of the present work is to determine where on the N-terminal domain catalysis of partial reactions 1 and 2 occurs and, in particular, where the Pi binding site is located. Computer modeling studies implicated Arg337 as a key residue for Pi binding. This role was tested by site-directed mutagenesis. The R337A PPDK was shown to be impaired in catalysis of the forward (kcat 300-fold lower) and reverse (kcat 30-fold lower) full reactions. Time courses for the single turnover reactions were measured to show that catalysis of partial reaction 1 is 5-fold slower in the mutant, catalysis of the second partial reaction is 140-fold slower in the mutant, and catalysis of the third partial reaction is unaffected. With the exception of the mutation site, the crystal structure of the R337A PPDK closely resembles the structure of the wild-type protein. Thus, the altered kinetic properties observed for this mutant are attributed solely to the elimination of the interaction between substrate and the guanidinium group of the Arg337 side chain. On the basis of these findings we propose that the Pi binding site is located within the crevice of the PPDK N-terminal domain, at a site that is flanked by the ATP beta-P and the Mg2+ cofactor.     

Search for DNA repair inhibitors: selective binding of nucleic bases-acridine conjugates to a DNA duplex containing an abasic site

The abasic site is one of the most frequent DNA lesions generated by spontaneous or enzymatic cleavage of the N-glycosidic bond. The abasic site is also an intermediate in the nucleotide and base excision DNA repair. We examined molecules which recognize and cleave DNA at the abasic site with high efficiency. These molecules incorporate in their structure a nucleic base for abasic site recognition, an intercalator for DNA binding, and a polyamino linker for ionic interaction and DNA cleavage. Such compounds, by interfering with abasic sites in DNA, are also inhibitors of DNA repair. In order to better understand the parameters of the interaction, we carried out a UV thermal denaturation study of synthetic oligonucleotides containing the lesion both in the absence and in the presence of the drugs. A similar study was also carried out using the corresponding nonmodified oligonucleotide. The results indicate selective binding of the base-chain-intercalator conjugates to the abasic site containing oligonucleotides.