The effect of GTPase activating protein upon ras is inhibited by mitogenically responsive lipids

Bacterially synthesized c-Ha-ras protein (Ras) was incubated with guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activating (GA) protein in the presence of various phospholipids. The stimulation of Ras GTPase activity by GA protein was inhibited in some cases. Among the lipids most active in blocking GA protein activity were lipids that show altered metabolism during mitogenic stimulation. These included phosphatidic acid (containing arachidonic acid), phosphatidylinositol phosphates, and arachidonic acid. Other lipids, including phosphatidic acid with long, saturated side chains, diacylglycerols, and many other common phospholipids, were unable to alter GA protein activity. The interaction of lipids with GA protein might be important in the regulation of Ras activity during mitogenic stimulation.     

Inhibition of GTPase activating protein stimulation of Ras-p21 GTPase by the Krev-1 gene product

Krev-1 is known to suppress transformation by ras. However, the mechanism of the suppression is unclear. The protein product of Krev-1, Rap1A-p21, is identical to Ras-p21 proteins in the region where interaction with guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activating protein (GAP) is believed to occur. Therefore, the ability of GAP to interact with Rap1A-p21 was tested. Rap1A-p21 was not activated by GAP but bound tightly to GAP and was an effective competitive inhibitor of GAP-mediated Ras-GTPase activity. Binding of GAP to Rap1A-p21 was strictly guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-dependent. The ability of Rap1A-p21 to bind tightly to GAP may account for Krev-1 suppression of transformation by ras. This may occur by preventing interaction of GAP with Ras-p21 or with other cellular proteins necessary for GAP-mediated Ras GTPase activity.     

Dual signaling regulated by calcyon, a D1 dopamine receptor interacting protein

The synergistic response of cells to the stimulation of multiple receptors has been ascribed to receptor cross talk; however, the specific molecules that mediate the resultant signal amplification have not been defined. Here a 24-kilodalton single transmembrane protein, designated calcyon, we functionally characterize that interacts with the D1 dopamine receptor. Calcyon localizes to dendritic spines of D1 receptor-expressing pyramidal cells in prefrontal cortex. These studies delineate a mechanism of Gq- and Gs-coupled heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein-coupled receptor cross talk by which D1 receptors can shift effector coupling to stimulate robust intracellular calcium (Ca2+i) release as a result of interaction with calcyon. The role of calcyon in potentiating Ca2+-dependent signaling should provide insight into the D1 receptor-modulated cognitive functions of prefrontal cortex.     

The protein kinase domain of the ANP receptor is required for signaling

A plasma membrane form of guanylate cyclase is a cell surface receptor for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). In response to ANP binding, the receptor-enzyme produces increased amounts of the second messenger, guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate. Maximal activation of the cyclase requires the presence of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) or nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs. The intracellular region of the receptor contains at least two domains with homology to other proteins, one possessing sequence similarity to protein kinase catalytic domains, the other to regions of unknown function in a cytoplasmic form of guanylate cyclase and in adenylate cyclase. It is now shown that the protein kinase-like domain functions as a regulatory element and that the second domain possesses catalytic activity. When the kinase-like domain was removed by deletion mutagenesis, the resulting ANP receptor retained guanylate cyclase activity, but this activity was independent of ANP and its stimulation by ATP was markedly reduced. A model for signal transduction is suggested in which binding of ANP to the extracellular domain of its receptor initiates a conformational change in the protein kinase-like domain, resulting in derepression of guanylate cyclase activity.     

SV2 is the protein receptor for botulinum neurotoxin A

How the widely used botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) recognizes and enters neurons is poorly understood. We found that BoNT/A enters neurons by binding to the synaptic vesicle protein SV2 (isoforms A, B, and C). Fragments of SV2 that harbor the toxin interaction domain inhibited BoNT/A from binding to neurons. BoNT/A binding to SV2A and SV2B knockout hippocampal neurons was abolished and was restored by expressing SV2A, SV2B, or SV2C. Reduction of SV2 expression in PC12 and Neuro-2a cells also inhibited entry of BoNT/A, which could be restored by expressing SV2 isoforms. Finally, mice that lacked an SV2 isoform (SV2B) displayed reduced sensitivity to BoNT/A. Thus, SV2 acts as the protein receptor for BoNT/A.     

The elastin receptor: a galactoside-binding protein

The elastin receptor complex contains a component of 67 kilodaltons that binds to a glycoconjugate affinity column containing beta-galactoside residues and is eluted from this column with lactose. This protein component is also released from the surface of cultured chondroblasts by incubation with lactose, and its association with immobilized elastin is inhibited by lactose. Since lactose also blocks elastic fiber formation by cultured chondroblasts, the galactoside-binding property of the elastin receptor is implicated in this process.     

Comment on "A G protein coupled receptor is a plasma membrane receptor for the plant hormone abscisic acid"

Liu et al. (Reports, 23 March 2007, p. 1712) reported that the Arabidopsis thaliana gene GCR2 encodes a seven-transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptor for abscisic acid. We argue that GCR2 is not likely to be a transmembrane protein nor a G protein-coupled receptor. Instead, GCR2 is most likely a plant homolog of bacterial lanthionine synthetases.     

D1 dopamine receptor activation required for postsynaptic expression of D2 agonist effects

D1 and D2 dopamine receptors exert synergistic effects on the firing rates of basal ganglia neurons and on the expression of stereotyped behavior in rats. Moreover, the ability of D2 agonists to induce changes in basal ganglia single unit activity and spontaneous motor activity is dependent upon the presence of endogenous dopamine to stimulate D1 receptors; in rats treated with alpha-methyl-rho-tyrosine to reduce endogenous dopamine levels, the neurophysiological and behavioral effects of the D2 agonist quinpirole are significantly attenuated, while the effects of nonselective agonists like apomorphine, which stimulate both D1 and D2 receptors, or combinations of a D2 agonist and a D1 agonist are not attenuated. Thus, the previously held view that D2 receptors alone are responsible for evoking the changes in behavior and basal ganglia output induced by nonselective dopamine agonists and endogenous dopamine is not supported by these results, which indicate that these phenomena require concurrent stimulation of both dopamine receptor subtypes.     

The neutrophil-activating protein (NAP-1) is also chemotactic for T lymphocytes

T lymphocyte chemotactic factor (TCF) was purified to homogeneity from the conditioned media of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human blood mononuclear leukocytes by a sequence of chromatography procedures. The amino-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified TCF showed identity with neutrophil-activating protein (NAP-1). Both TCF and recombinant NAP-1 (rNAP-1) were chemotactic for neutrophils and T lymphocytes in vitro supporting the identity of TCF with NAP-1. Injection of rNAP-1 into lymphatic drainage areas of lymph nodes in Fisher rats caused accelerated emigration of only lymphocytes in high endothelial venules. Intradermal injection of rNAP-1 caused dose-dependent accumulation of neutrophils and lymphocytes.     

Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 protein is critical for intestinal cholesterol absorption

Dietary cholesterol consumption and intestinal cholesterol absorption contribute to plasma cholesterol levels, a risk factor for coronary heart disease. The molecular mechanism of sterol uptake from the lumen of the small intestine is poorly defined. We show that Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1(NPC1L1) protein plays a critical role in the absorption of intestinal cholesterol. NPC1L1 expression is enriched in the small intestine and is in the brush border membrane of enterocytes. Although otherwise phenotypically normal, NPC1L1-deficient mice exhibit a substantial reduction in absorbed cholesterol, which is unaffected by dietary supplementation of bile acids. Ezetimibe, a drug that inhibits cholesterol absorption, had no effect in NPC1L1 knockout mice, suggesting that NPC1L1 resides in an ezetimibe-sensitive pathway responsible for intestinal cholesterol absorption.     

CRACM1 is a plasma membrane protein essential for store-operated Ca2+ entry

Store-operated Ca2+ entry is mediated by Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels following Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. We performed a genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) screen in Drosophila cells to identify proteins that inhibit store-operated Ca2+ influx. A secondary patch-clamp screen identified CRACM1 and CRACM2 (CRAC modulators 1 and 2) as modulators of Drosophila CRAC currents. We characterized the human ortholog of CRACM1, a plasma membrane-resident protein encoded by gene FLJ14466. Although overexpression of CRACM1 did not affect CRAC currents, RNAi-mediated knockdown disrupted its activation. CRACM1 could be the CRAC channel itself, a subunit of it, or a component of the CRAC signaling machinery.     

Fibroblast growth factor receptor is a portal of cellular entry for herpes simplex virus type 1

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous pathogen responsible for considerable morbidity in the general population. The results presented herein establish the basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor as a means of entry of HSV-1 into vertebrate cells. Inhibitors of basic FGF binding to its receptor and competitive polypeptide antagonists of basic FGF prevented HSV-1 uptake. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that do not express FGF receptors are resistant to HSV-1 entry; however, HSV-1 uptake is dramatically increased in CHO cells transfected with a complementary DNA encoding a basic FGF receptor. The distribution of this integral membrane protein in vivo may explain the tissue and cell tropism of HSV-1.     

The reservoir for HIV-1 in human peripheral blood is a T cell that maintains expression of CD4

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) selectively infects cells expressing the CD4 molecule, resulting in substantial quantitative and qualitative defects in CD4+ T lymphocyte function in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, only a very small number of cells in the peripheral blood of HIV-1-infected individuals are expressing virus at any given time. Previous studies have demonstrated that in vitro infection of CD4+ T cells with HIV-1 results in downregulation of CD4 expression such that CD4 protein is no longer detectable on the surface of the infected cells. In the present study, highly purified subpopulations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from AIDS patients were obtained and purified by fluorescence-automated cell sorting. They were examined with the methodologies of virus isolation by limiting dilution analysis, in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, and gene amplification. Within PBMCs, HIV-1 was expressed in vivo predominantly in the T cell subpopulation which, in contrast to the in vitro observations, continued to express CD4. The precursor frequency of these HIV-1-expressing cells was about 1/1000 CD4+ T cells. The CD4+ T cell population contained HIV-1 DNA in all HIV-1-infected individuals studied and the frequency in AIDS patients was at least 1/100 cells. This high level of infection may be the primary cause for the progressive decline in number and function of CD4+ T cells in patients with AIDS.     

The neuron-specific protein PGP 9.5 is a ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase

A complementary DNA (cDNA) for ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L3 was cloned from human B cells. The cDNA encodes a protein of 230 amino acids with a molecular mass of 26.182 daltons. The human protein is very similar to the bovine homolog, with only three amino acids differing in over 100 residues compared. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA was 54% identical to that of the neuron-specific protein PGP 9.5. Purification of bovine PGP 9.5 confirmed that it is also a ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase. These results suggest that a family of such related proteins exists and that their expression is tissue-specific.     

Location and chemical synthesis of a binding site for HIV-1 on the CD4 protein

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) uses the CD4 protein as a receptor for infection of susceptible cells. A candidate structure for the HIV-1 binding site on the CD4 protein was identified by epitope mapping with a family of eight functionally distinct CD4-specific monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with a panel of large CD4-derived synthetic peptides. All of the seven epitopes that were located reside within two immunoglobulin-like disulfide loops situated between residues 1 and 168 of the CD4 protein. The CD4-specific monoclonal antibody OKT4A, a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 binding, recognized a site between residues 32 and 47 on the CD4 protein. By analogy to other members of the immunoglobulin superfamily of proteins, this particular region has been predicted to exist as a protruding loop. A synthetic analog of this loop (residues 25 to 58) showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of HIV-1-induced cell fusion. It is proposed that a loop extending from residues 37 to 53 of the CD4 protein is a binding site for the AIDS virus.     

A G protein-coupled receptor is a plasma membrane receptor for the plant hormone abscisic acid

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates many physiological and developmental processes in plants. The mechanism of ABA perception at the cell surface is not understood. Here, we report that a G protein-coupled receptor genetically and physically interacts with the G protein alpha subunit GPA1 to mediate all known ABA responses in Arabidopsis. Overexpressing this receptor results in an ABA-hypersensitive phenotype. This receptor binds ABA with high affinity at physiological concentration with expected kinetics and stereospecificity. The binding of ABA to the receptor leads to the dissociation of the receptor-GPA1 complex in yeast. Our results demonstrate that this G protein-coupled receptor is a plasma membrane ABA receptor.     

PirB is a functional receptor for myelin inhibitors of axonal regeneration

A major barrier to regenerating axons after injury in the mammalian central nervous system is an unfavorable milieu. Three proteins found in myelin--Nogo, MAG, and OMgp--inhibit axon regeneration in vitro and bind to the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Nogo receptor (NgR). However, genetic deletion of NgR has only a modest disinhibitory effect, suggesting that other binding receptors for these molecules probably exist. With the use of expression cloning, we have found that paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PirB), which has been implicated in nervous system plasticity, is a high-affinity receptor for Nogo, MAG, and OMgp. Interfering with PirB activity, either with antibodies or genetically, partially rescues neurite inhibition by Nogo66, MAG, OMgp, and myelin in cultured neurons. Blocking both PirB and NgR activities leads to near-complete release from myelin inhibition. Our results implicate PirB in mediating regeneration block, identify PirB as a potential target for axon regeneration therapies, and provide an explanation for the similar enhancements of visual system plasticity in PirB and NgR knockout mice.     

The muscle protein Dok-7 is essential for neuromuscular synaptogenesis

The formation of the neuromuscular synapse requires muscle-specific receptor kinase (MuSK) to orchestrate postsynaptic differentiation, including the clustering of receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Upon innervation, neural agrin activates MuSK to establish the postsynaptic apparatus, although agrin-independent formation of neuromuscular synapses can also occur experimentally in the absence of neurotransmission. Dok-7, a MuSK-interacting cytoplasmic protein, is essential for MuSK activation in cultured myotubes; in particular, the Dok-7 phosphotyrosine-binding domain and its target in MuSK are indispensable. Mice lacking Dok-7 formed neither acetylcholine receptor clusters nor neuromuscular synapses. Thus, Dok-7 is essential for neuromuscular synaptogenesis through its interaction with MuSK.