Fluoropyrimidine-mediated radiosensitization depends on cyclin E-dependent kinase activation

Fluoropyrimidines radiosensitize human colon cancer cells that progress into S phase in the presence of drug (M.A. Davis, H-Y. Tang, J. Maybaum, and T.S. Lawrence. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 67. 509-512, 1995). We hypothesized that progression occurs in cells that generate elevated levels of cyclin E-dependent kinase activity despite the presence of the fluoropyrimidine. To test this hypothesis, we treated HT29 and SW620 human colon cancer cells with fluorodeoxyuridine under conditions that produced nearly complete inhibition of thymidylate synthase but which sensitized only the HT29 cells. We found that, whereas HT29 cells progressed into S phase and demonstrated increased cyclin E-dependent kinase activity, SW620 cells arrested just past the G1-S boundary and showed no change in kinase activity. Because these cell lines have the same p53 mutation, these findings suggest that there is a p53-independent G1-S checkpoint that mediates radiosensitization produced by fluorodeoxyuridine.     

The specific features of methionine biosynthesis and metabolism in plants

Plants, unlike other higher eukaryotes, possess all the necessary enzymatic equipment for de novo synthesis of methionine, an amino acid that supports additional roles than simply serving as a building block for protein synthesis. This is because methionine is the immediate precursor of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), which plays numerous roles of being the major methyl-group donor in transmethylation reactions and an intermediate in the biosynthesis of polyamines and of the phytohormone ethylene. In addition, AdoMet has regulatory function in plants behaving as an allosteric activator of threonine synthase. Among the AdoMet-dependent reactions occurring in plants, methylation of cytosine residues in DNA has raised recent interest because impediment of this function alters plant morphology and induces homeotic alterations in flower organs. Also, AdoMet metabolism seems somehow implicated in plant growth via an as yet fully understood link with plant-growth hormones such as cytokinins and auxin and in plant pathogen interactions. Because of this central role in cellular metabolism, a precise knowledge of the biosynthetic pathways that are responsible for homeostatic regulation of methionine and AdoMet in plants has practical implications, particularly in herbicide design.     

The three-dimensional structure of shikimate kinase

The three-dimensional structure of shikimate kinase from Erwinia chrysanthemi has been determined by multiple isomorphous replacement. Two models are presented: a high resolution 1.9 A model and a 2.6 A model which contains bound Mg-ADP. The enzyme is an alpha/beta protein consisting of a central sheet of five parallel beta-strands flanked by alpha-helices with overall topology similar to adenylate kinase. Evidence is presented that shikimate kinase undergoes major conformational changes on ligand binding. It resembles adenylate kinase in having a P-loop containing core structure and two flexible domains which undergo induced fit movement on substrate binding. The binding of Mg2+ in the active site of shikimate kinase involves direct interaction with two protein side-chains which is different from the situation found in adenylate kinase. Shikimate kinase has a readily identifiable Walker A-motif and a recognisable but modified Walker B-motif. Comparison of shikimate kinase to adenylate kinase has led to the identification of an adenine-binding motif (I/VDAXQ/NXP). Difference Fourier calculations have revealed the shikimate binding site which corresponds to the location of the AMP-binding site in adenylate kinase. A model for shikimate-binding is presented.     

The crystal structure of a phosphorylase kinase peptide substrate complex: kinase substrate recognition

The structure of a truncated form of the gamma-subunit of phosphorylase kinase (PHKgammat) has been solved in a ternary complex with a non-hydrolysable ATP analogue (adenylyl imidodiphosphate, AMPPNP) and a heptapeptide substrate related in sequence to both the natural substrate and to the optimal peptide substrate. Kinetic characterization of the phosphotransfer reaction confirms the peptide to be a good substrate, and the structure allows identification of key features responsible for its high affinity. Unexpectedly, the substrate peptide forms a short anti-parallel beta-sheet with the kinase activation segment, the region which in other kinases plays an important role in regulation of enzyme activity. This anchoring of the main chain of the substrate peptide at a fixed distance from the gamma-phosphate of ATP explains the selectivity of PHK for serine/threonine over tyrosine as a substrate. The catalytic core of PHK exists as a dimer in crystals of the ternary complex, and the relevance of this phenomenon to its in vivo recognition of dimeric glycogen phosphorylase b is considered.     

Role of cyclin E and cyclin E-dependent kinase in mitogenic stimulation by cementum-derived growth factor in human fibroblasts

Cementum-derived growth factor (CGF) is a 14 kDa polypeptide sequestered in tooth cementum. It is an IGF-I like molecule that is weakly mitogenic to fibroblasts, but its mitogenic action is synergistically potentiated in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) or serum. We have examined whether the CGF affects cyclin E levels and the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) associated with this cyclin, and whether these changes contribute to the synergism in mitogenic activity between CGF and EGF. Optimal DNA synthesis by serum-starved human gingival fibroblasts required the presence of CGF for 0-12 h and EGF for 0-3 h. Therefore, cells were serum starved for 48 h and then exposed to CGF, EGF, or CGF + EGF. Cells incubated with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) served as positive controls. At various time points after the addition of growth factors, cyclin E levels were examined by Western analysis. Cdk associated with cyclin E was immunoprecipitated with anti-cyclin E antibody and kinase activity was measured using H1 histone as substrate. Cyclin E and the H1 kinase activity levels increased after 8-12 h in cells exposed to CGF and in positive controls exposed to 10% FBS. They returned to basal level 4 h later in cells exposed to CGF alone, whereas in the presence of CGF + EGF and FBS they remained elevated for up to 20 h. The cyclin E levels did not increase in the presence of EGF alone. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21cip1 and p27kip1 were barely detectable in these cells. Fibroblasts transfected with LXSN-cyclin E, a retroviral vector containing cyclin E cDNA, overexpressed cyclin E and their steady-state cyclin E-Cdk activity was higher than control cells. DNA synthesis by cyclin E overexpressing cells was higher, but optimal DNA synthesis by these cells required the presence of CGF and EGF. These results show that CGF action involves an increase in the levels of cyclin E and E-Cdk activity and that the higher levels are maintained in the presence of both CGF and EGF. They also indicate that sustained high cyclin E levels and Cdk2 activity during G1 phase are necessary, but not sufficient, for optimal mitogenic response in human fibroblasts.     

c-Myc or cyclin D1 mimics estrogen effects on cyclin E-Cdk2 activation and cell cycle reentry

Estrogen-induced progression through G1 phase of the cell cycle is preceded by increased expression of the G1-phase regulatory proteins c-Myc and cyclin D1. To investigate the potential contribution of these proteins to estrogen action, we derived clonal MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines in which c-Myc or cyclin D1 was expressed under the control of the metal-inducible metallothionein promoter. Inducible expression of either c-Myc or cyclin D1 was sufficient for S-phase entry in cells previously arrested in G1 phase by pretreatment with ICI 182780, a potent estrogen antagonist. c-Myc expression was not accompanied by increased cyclin D1 expression or Cdk4 activation, nor was cyclin D1 induction accompanied by increases in c-Myc. Expression of c-Myc or cyclin D1 was sufficient to activate cyclin E-Cdk2 by promoting the formation of high-molecular-weight complexes lacking the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, as has been described, following estrogen treatment. Interestingly, this was accompanied by an association between active cyclin E-Cdk2 complexes and hyperphosphorylated p130, identifying a previously undefined role for p130 in estrogen action. These data provide evidence for distinct c-Myc and cyclin D1 pathways in estrogen-induced mitogenesis which converge on or prior to the formation of active cyclin E-Cdk2-p130 complexes and loss of inactive cyclin E-Cdk2-p21 complexes, indicating a physiologically relevant role for the cyclin E binding motifs shared by p130 and p21.     

CETP and exchangeable apoproteins: common features in lipid binding activity

It was evaluated in the spinal cord-transected rats whether the urethrogenital (UG) reflex shows some of the features that are present during ejaculation in intact animals. It was found that the UG reflex was facilitated after its first elicitation: the latency of the reflex was shorter than the previous one and low intensity of stimulation was needed to produce the reflex. In addition, a change in the latency of the reflex was found that was correlated with the number of stimulation trials. The latency change showed a J-shaped curve that is similar to that found for the ejaculation latency in a copulatory series. An inhibition of the reflex appeared after several trials: the reflex could not be elicited after three continuous trials. The reflex could be elicited again if the intensity of stimulation was increased. The UG reflex also showed 'exhaustion': it could not be elicited, even with high intensities of stimulation, after 3 h of rest. All these findings were present when the UG reflex was elicited by applying pressure to the urethra or when it was evoked by the electrical stimulation to the pudendal nerve. According to these findings, it can be concluded that the UG reflex maintains some of the features that are found during ejaculation in intact animals. According to this view, it can be speculated that some of the mechanisms that control ejaculation in intact animals can be localized at a spinal level.     

Regulatory roles of cyclin dependent kinase phosphorylation in cell cycle control

Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are universal regulators of cell cycle progression in eukaryotic cells. Cdk activity is controlled by phosphorylation at three conserved sites, and many of the enzymes that act on these sites have now been identified. Although the biochemistry of Cdk phosphorylation is relatively well understood, the regulatory roles of such phosphorylation are, in many cases, obscure. Recent studies have uncovered new and unexpected potential roles, and prompted re-examination of previously assumed roles, of Cdk phosphorylation.     

Common and specific features of childhood psychopathology.

This article describes a conceptual and data-analytic model for characterizing different levels of common and specific features of child psychopathology: common features, which differentiate psychopathology from normality; broadband-specific features, which differentiate internalizing problems (e.g., anxiety, somatization) from externalizing problems (e.g., aggression, hyperactivity); and narrowband-specific features, which differentiate different narrowband syndromes (e.g., anxiety from somatization, hyperactivity from aggression) within each of the broadband syndromes. As an illustration of the model, data for 6 cognitive variables (e.g., global self-worth, causal attributions) are related to 6 psychopathology domains (e.g., aggression, depression) in a sample of 204 children. It is suggested that common features may be related to severity of psychopathology, whereas specific features may be more related to differentiation of psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increased activation of protein kinase A type I contributes to the T cell deficiency in common variable immunodeficiency

The molecular mechanisms underlying the T cell dysfunction often present in common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) are not established. cAMP-dependent protein kinase A type I (PKAI) is an important inhibitor of T cell proliferation after Ag stimulation. We therefore investigated the possibility that activation of PKAI may be involved in the development of T cell dysfunction in CVI. An exogenously added PKAI-selective antagonist (Rp-8-Br-cAMPS) induced a significant increase in anti-CD3-stimulated PBMC proliferation in 20 CVI patients compared with no effect in 15 controls. Purified T cells from 7 CVI patients with strictly defined T cell deficiency had elevated endogenous cAMP levels compared with controls. Treatment of T cells from these CVI patients with Rp-8-bromo-cAMP-phosphorothioate markedly improved anti-CD3-stimulated proliferation (up to 3.7-fold), particularly in CD4+ lymphocytes, reaching proliferation levels comparable to control values. No effect of cAMP antagonist on T cell proliferation was seen in controls. In these CVI patients, cAMP antagonist also increased IL-2 production in anti-CD3-stimulated T cells. However, exogenously added IL-2 at concentrations comparable to the achieved increase in IL-2 levels after addition of cAMP antagonist had no effect on T cell proliferation. Furthermore, the stimulatory effects of exogenously added IL-2 at higher concentrations and cAMP antagonist on T cell proliferation were additive. Our findings indicate that increased PKAI activation may be an important molecular basis for the T cell defect in CVI and suggest that the cAMP/PKAI system may be a potential molecular target for immunomodulating therapy in these patients.     

Influence of activation modes on the specific surface and development of a microporous structure of viscose-based carbon fibers

The specific surface and porous structure of viscose-based carbon fibers produced by the Krasnoyarsk Plant of Chemical Fibers are investigated by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption using an ASAP 2020 device. The dependence of their specific surface and character of the pore-size distribution on gas-phase activation modes in the carbon dioxide stream at a temperature of 900°C is shown. It is established that the adsorption surface of carbon fibers can rise from 0.3 to 1900 m²/g during the activation. It is revealed that the prolongation of the activation time leads to an increase in the specific fiber surface owing to the appearance of numerous new micropores and the development of the microporous structure.     

The structure and stability of common mental disorders (DSM-III-R): a longitudinal-epidemiological study

The latent structure and stability of 10 common mental disorders were examined in a birth cohort at ages 18 and 21. A 2-factor model, in which some disorders were presumed to reflect internalizing problems and others were presumed to reflect externalizing problems, provided a more optimal fit to the data than either a 1- or a 4-factor model. To a significant extent, persons in the sample retained their relative positions on the latent factors across the 3-year period from age 18 to age 21. Results offer potential clarification of the meaning of comorbidity in psychopathology research by suggesting that comorbidity may results from common mental disorders being reliable, covariant indicators of stable, underlying "core psychopathological processes."     

Crystal structure of the complex of the cyclin D-dependent kinase Cdk6 bound to the cell-cycle inhibitor p19INK4d

The crystal structure of the cyclin D-dependent kinase Cdk6 bound to the p19 INK4d protein has been determined at 1.9 A resolution. The results provide the first structural information for a cyclin D-dependent protein kinase and show how the INK4 family of CDK inhibitors bind. The structure indicates that the conformational changes induced by p19INK4d inhibit both productive binding of ATP and the cyclin-induced rearrangement of the kinase from an inactive to an active conformation. The structure also shows how binding of an INK4 inhibitor would prevent binding of p27Kip1, resulting in its redistribution to other CDKs. Identification of the critical residues involved in the interaction explains how mutations in Cdk4 and p16INK4a result in loss of kinase inhibition and cancer.