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The mechanisms of transport and distribution of nucleotide sugars in the cell remain unclear. In an attempt to further characterize nucleotide sugar transporters (NSTs), we determined the subcellular localization of overexpressed epitope-tagged canine UDP-GlcNAc transporter, human UDP-Gal transporter splice variants (UGT1 and UGT2), and human SLC35B4 transporter splice variants (longer and shorter version) by indirect immunofluorescence using an experimental model of MDCK wild-type and MDCK-RCAr mutant cells. Our studies confirmed that the UDP-GlcNAc transporter was localized to the Golgi apparatus only and its localization was independent of the presence of endogenous UDP-Gal transporter. After overexpression of UGT1, the protein colocalized with the Golgi marker only. When UGT2 was overexpressed, the protein colocalized with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) marker only. When UGT1 and UGT2 were overexpressed in parallel, UGT1 colocalized with the ER and Golgi markers and UGT2 with the ER marker only. This suggests that localization of the UDP-Gal transporter may depend on the presence of the partner splice variant. Our data suggest that proteins involved in nucleotide sugar transport may form heterodimeric complexes in the membrane, exhibiting different localization which depends on interacting protein partners. In contrast to previously published data, both splice variants of the SLC35B4 transporter were localized to the ER, independently of the presence of endogenous UDP-Gal transporter.
Mercury compounds are known neurotoxins. Thimerosal (THIM), which contains molecularly 49% of mercury, is added as preservative to many child vaccines and is suspected to be a major factor in autism pathogenesis. Data from Adverse Event Reporting of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) provide epidemiological evidence for a link between mercury exposure from THIM-containing vaccines and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Our earlier studies showed that neonatally administered THIM causes persistent changes in pain reactivity, which are manifested in adult rats. In this study we investigated acute effects of THIM on pain reactivity, body temperature and brain glutamatergic system in mature rats. Single injection of THIM induced marked hypoalgesia, measured in hot plate test. This effect was time- and dose-dependent. It was reversed by administration of naloxone before the test and by two neurosteroids – dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and androsterone. THIM also caused a dose-dependent hypothermia. Administration of THIM directly to the prefrontal cortex of freely moving rats increased the extracellular concentration of glutamate. The results suggest that acute THIM injection rapidly changes the neurochemical systems related to glutamate, opioid peptides, and probably GABA, which may contribute to developmental and neurotoxic effect of this compound. Funded by EC grant MEXC-CT-2006-42371 to M. D. Majewska.
Thimerosal (THIM), an organomercury compound added to many child vaccines, is a prime suspect as agent causing autism epidemic. Data analysis from Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (CDC,USA) revealed that children immunized with THIM containing vaccines are several times more likely to develop autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders than those, who received THIM-free vaccines. In this study we examined developmental neurotoxic effects of THIM administered to Lewis and Wistar rats i.m. in four equal doses (12 μg Hg/kg to 3 mg Hg/kg) on postnatal days 7–14. Analysis of Hg content in brains of THIM-treated animals showed signifi cant amounts of Hg, which remained there for longer than 30 days. When animals reached maturity their brains were removed and examined for histopathological changes using H&E and immunohistochemistry staining (GFAP, synaptophysin, neurofi laments, dopamine, opiate receptors). Vast structural damage was found in the brains of THIM-treated animals: reduced number of Purkinie cells, ischemic and necrotic changes in the amygdala, ischemic and cell structure abnormalities in the temporal neocortex, dorsal and ventral hippocampus; hippocampal, pontal and cerebellar clasmatodendrosis, loss of synaptic junctions in hippocampus. These neuropathological changes correspond with behavioral alterations observed in THIM-treated rats and seem analogous to structural brain abnormalities found in autistic patients. Funded by EC grant MEXC-CT-2006-42371 to M.D. Majewska.
The properties of plant purple acid phosphatases (PAPs), metallophosphoesterases present in some bacteria, plants and animals are reviewed. All members of this group contain a characteristic set of seven amino-acid residues involved in metal li- gation. Animal PAPs contain a binuclear metallic center composed of two irons, whereas in plant PAPs one iron ion is joined by zinc or manganese ion. Among plant PAPs two groups can be distinguished: small PAPs, monomeric proteins with molecular mass around 35 kDa, structurally close to mammalian PAPs, and large PAPs, homodimeric proteins with a single polypeptide of about 55 kDa. Large plant PAPs exhibit two types of structural organization. One type comprises enzymes with subunits bound by a disulfide bridge formed by cysteines located in the C-terminal region around position 350. In the second type no cysteines are located in this posi­tion and no disulfide bridges are formed between subunits. Differences in structural organisation are reflected in substrate preferences. Recent data reveal in plants the occurrence of metallophosphoesterases structurally different from small or large PAPs but with metal-ligating sequences characteristic for PAPs and expressing pro­nounced specificity towards phytate or diphosphate nucleosides and inorganic pyrophosphate.
Transferrins play a major role in iron homeostasis and metabolism. In vertebrates, these proteins are synthesised in the liver and dispersed within the organism by the bloodstream. In oviparous vertebrates additional expression is observed in the oviduct and the synthesised protein is deposited in egg white as ovotransferrin. Most research on ovotransferrin has been performed on the chicken protein. There is a limited amount of information on other bird transferrins, and until our previous paper on red-eared turtle protein there was no data on the isolation, sequencing and biochemical properties of reptilian ovotransferrins. Recently our laboratory deposited ten new sequences of reptilian transferrins in the EMBL database. A comparative analysis of these sequences indicates a possibility of different mechanisms of iron release among crocodile and snake transferrin. In the present paper we follow with the purification and analysis of the basic biochemical properties of two crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus, C. rhombifer) and one snake (Python molurus bivittatus) ovotransferrins. The proteins were purified by anion exchange and hydrophobic chromatography, and their N-terminal amino-acid sequences, molecular mass and isoelectric points were determined. All three proteins are glycosylated and their N-glycan chromatographic profiles show the largest contribution of neutral oligosaccharides in crocodile and disialylated glycans in python ovotransferrin. The absorption spectra of iron-saturated transferrins were analysed. Iron release from these proteins is pH-dependent, showing a biphasic character in crocodile ovotransferrins and a monophasic type in the python protein. The reason for the different types of iron release is discussed.
Azurocidin is an inactive serine protease homolog with primary sequence similarity to neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G, and proteinase 3. The aim of this study was to investigate possible consequences of differential glycosylation of azurocidin in regard to its secretion, protein stability as measured by susceptibility to proteolysis, and antibacterial activity. Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to generate mutant azurocidin variants lacking individual N-glycosylation sites. Our results show that N-linked glycans may play a role in proper azurocidin folding and subsequent secretion by insect cells. We also demonstrate that N-linked glycosylation contributes to azurocidin stability by protecting it from proteolysis. The lack of N-glycosylation at individual sites does not significantly influence the azurocidin antibacterial activity.
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