Inactivation of PPARβ/δ adversely affects satellite cells and reduces postnatal myogenesis.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) is a ubiquitously expressed gene with higher levels observed in skeletal muscle. Recently, our laboratory showed (Bonala S, Lokireddy S, Arigela H, Teng S, Wahli W, Sharma M, McFarlane C, Kambadur R. J Biol Chem 287: 12935-12951, 2012) that PPARβ/δ modulates myostatin activity to induce myogenesis in skeletal muscle. In the present study, we show that PPARβ/δ-null mice display reduced body weight, skeletal muscle weight, and myofiber atrophy during postnatal development. In addition, a significant reduction in satellite cell number was observed in PPARβ/δ-null mice, suggesting a role for PPARβ/δ in muscle regeneration. To investigate this, tibialis anterior muscles were injured with notexin, and muscle regeneration was monitored on days 3, 5, 7, and 28 postinjury. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed an increased inflammatory response and reduced myoblast proliferation in regenerating muscle from PPARβ/δ-null mice. Histological analysis confirmed that the regenerated muscle fibers of PPARβ/δ-null mice maintained an atrophy phenotype with reduced numbers of centrally placed nuclei. Even though satellite cell numbers were reduced before injury, satellite cell self-renewal was found to be unaffected in PPARβ/δ-null mice after regeneration. Previously, our laboratory had showed (Bonala S, Lokireddy S, Arigela H, Teng S, Wahli W, Sharma M, McFarlane C, Kambadur R. J Biol Chem 287: 12935-12951, 2012) that inactivation of PPARβ/δ increases myostatin signaling and inhibits myogenesis. Our results here indeed confirm that inactivation of myostatin signaling rescues the atrophy phenotype and improves muscle fiber cross-sectional area in both uninjured and regenerated tibialis anterior muscle from PPARβ/δ-null mice. Taken together, these data suggest that absence of PPARβ/δ leads to loss of satellite cells, impaired skeletal muscle regeneration, and postnatal myogenesis. Furthermore, our results also demonstrate that functional antagonism of myostatin has utility in rescuing these effects.

Targeted inactivation of hypocretin receptors in dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems alters brain activity in wakefulness

Since the discovery of hypocretins/orexins (Hcrt/Ox) in 1998, several narcoleptic mouse models, such as Hcrt-KO, Hcrtrl-KO, Hcrtr2-KO and double receptors KO mice, and orexin-ataxin transgenic mice were generated. The available Hcrt mouse models do not allow the dissection of the specific role of Hcrt in each target region. Dr. Anne Vassalli generated loxP-flanked alleles for each Hcrt receptor, which are manipulated by Cre recombinase to generate mouse lines with disrupted Hcrtrl or Hcrtr2 (or both) in cell type-specific manner. The role of noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (OA) in ttie regulation of vigilance states is well documented. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the role of the Hcrt input into these two monoaminergic systems. Chronic loss of Hcrtrl in NA neurons consolidated paradoxical sleep (PS), and altered wakefulness brain activity in baseline, during the sleep deprivation (SD), and when mice were challenged by a novel environment, or exposed to nest-building material. The analysis of alterations in the sleep EEG delta power showed a consistent correlation with the changes in the preceding waking quality in these mice. Targeted inactivation of Hcrt input into DA neurons showed that Hcrtr2 inactivation present the strongest phenotype. The loss of Hcrtr2 in DA neurons caused modified brain activities in spontaneous wakefulness, during SD, and in novel environmental conditions. In addition to alteration of wakefulness quality and quantity, conditional inactivation of Hcrtr2 in DA neurons caused an increased in time spent in PS in baseline and a delayed and less complete PS recovery after SD. In the first 30 min of sleep recovery, single (i.e. for Hcrtrl or Hcrtr2) conditional knockout receptor mice had opposite changes in delta activity, including an increased power density in the fast delta range with specific inactivation of Hcrtr2, but a decreased power density in the same range with specific inactivation of Hcrtrl in DA cells. These studies demonstrate a complex impact of Hcrt receptors signaling in both NA and DA system, not only on quantity and quality of wakefulness, but also on PS amount regulation as well as on SWS delta power expression. -- Depuis la découverte des hypocrétines/orexines (Hcrt/Ox) en 1998, plusieurs modèles de souris, narcoleptiques telles que Hcrt-KO, Hcrtr2-KO et récepteurs doubles KO et les souris transgéniques orexine-ataxine ont été générés. Les modèles de souris Hcrt disponibles ne permettaient pas la dissection du rôle spécifique de l'Hcrt dans chaque noyau neuronal cible. Notre laboratoire a généré des allèles loxP pour chacun des 2 gènes codant pour les récepteurs Hcrtr, qui sont manipulés par recombinase Cre pour générer des lignées de souris avec Hcrtrl inactivé, ou Hcrtr2 inactivé, (ou les deux), spécifiquement dans un type cellulaire particulier. Le rôle de la noradrénaline (NA) et la dopamine (DA) dans la régulation des états de vigilance est bien documentée. Le but de cette thèse est d'étudier le rôle de l'afférence Hcrt dans ces deux systèmes monoaminergiques au niveau de l'activité cérébrale telle qu'elle apparaît dans l'électroencéphalogramme (EEG). Mon travail montre que la perte chronique de Hcrtrl dans les neurones NA consolide le sommeil paradoxal (PS), et l'activité cérébrale de l'éveil est modifiée en condition spontanée, au cours d'une experience de privation de sommeil (SD), et lorsque les souris sont présentées à un nouvel environnement, ou exposées à des matériaux de construction du nid. Ces modifications de l'éveil sont corrélées à des modifications de puissance de l'activité delta du sommeil lent qui le suit. L'inactivation ciblée des Hcrtrs dans les neurones DA a montré que l'inactivation Hcrtr2 conduit au phénotype le plus marqué. La perte de Hcrtr2 dans les neurones DA mène à des modification d'activité cérébrale en éveil spontané, pendant SD, ainsi que dans des conditions environnementales nouvelles. En plus de l'altération de la qualité de l'éveil et de la quantité, l'inactivation conditionnelle de Hcrtr2 dans les neurones DA a provoqué une augmentation du temps passé en sommeil paradoxal (PS) en condition de base, et une reprise retardée et moins complète du PS après SD. Dans les 30 premières minutes de la récupération de sommeil, les modèles inactivés pour un seul des récepteurs (ie pour Hcrtrl ou Hcrtr2 seulement) montrent des changements opposés en activité delta, en particulier une densité de puissance accrue dans le delta rapide avec l'inactivation spécifique de Hcrtr2, mais une densité de puissance diminuée dans cette même gamme chez les souris inactivées spécifiquement en Hcrtrl dans les neurones DA. Ces études démontrent un impact complexe de l'inactivation de la neurotransmission au niveau des récepteurs d'Hcrt dans les deux compartiments NA et DA, non seulement sur la quantité et la qualité de l'éveil, mais aussi sur la régulation de quantité de sommeil paradoxal, ainsi que sur l'expression de la puissance delta pendant le sommeil lent.

Evaluation in vitro de la fonction hémostatique des concentrés plaquettaires traités par inactivation des pathogènes par amotosalem-UVA

La transfusion de concentrés plaquettaires, dès 1958, a permis d'augmenter l'espérance et la qualité de vie des patients dans le domaine de l'onco-hématologie, notamment en réduisant les risques hémorragiques induits par les chimiothérapies intensives. Après le traumatisme de l'affaire du sang contaminé dans les années 1980-1990, la médecine transfusionnelle a adopté des exigences de sécurité et de qualité très strictes et régulées dans plusieurs pays par les instances politiques. Cependant même les mesures de qualité les plus strictes n'ont permis d'atteindre le risque « zéro », notamment en ce qui concerne les contaminations bactériennes. De plus, la prise de conscience de l'existence de nouveaux pathogènes (West Nile Virus, Chikungunya, Prions) a stimulé le développement de 3 techniques d'inactivation des pathogènes pouvant s'appliquer au plasma et aux concentrés plaquettaires : la technique INTERCEPT utilisant l'amotosalen/UVA, la technique MIRASOL avec la riboflavine/UV et la technique THERAFLEX avec les UVC. La Suisse a fait office de pionnière en étant le premier pays au monde à adopter de manière généralisée l'inactivation des pathogènes par la technique INTERCEPT pour les concentrés plaquettaires dès 2011 après sa validation par Swissmedic en 2009 et son implémentation réussie dans plusieurs centres de transfusion pilotes. Coïncidence? Le décès tragique d'un patient pédiatrique en 2009 suite à une contamination bactérienne par une transfusion de concentré plaquettaire a précédé cette décision. Les cliniciens ont besoin de disposer de concentrés plaquettaires sûrs d'un point de vue microbiologique mais également sur le plan hémostatique, d'où la nécessité de disposer de preuves solides sur l'efficacité thérapeutique de ces nouveaux produits. Ceci a fait l'objet de la revue publiée dans Blood Reviews « The clinical and biological impact of new pathogen inactivation technologies on platelets concentrates » dont l'originalité est de couvrir l'étude de l'effet des processus d'inactivation des pathogènes sur la fonction plaquettaire sous toutes ses facettes allant de la protéomique aux études d'hémovigilance. Ce travail montre l'efficacité de ces méthodes et leur sécurité et souligne que l'observation de taux de recirculation moindre peut être compensée par une augmentation du statut d'activation des plaquettes. Le deuxième article publié comme co-auteur dans le journal Blood Transfusion « In vitro evaluation of pathogen-inactivated buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates during storage: The psoralen-based photochemical treatment step-by-step » se pose la question de la modification des propriétés fonctionnelles des plaquettes dans une étude à deux bras (par comparaison entre plaquettes traitées et non traitées). En plus de deux tests utilisés en pratique clinique (agrégation plaquettaire et cytométrie de flux) un test expérimental d'adhésion plaquettaire au fibrinogène en condition statique a été développé en collaboration avec le Prof Angelillo-Scherrer dans le cadre du laboratoire de recherche et développement du SRTS-VD. Les résultats obtenus démontrent la conservation du métabolisme plaquettaire et des changements mineurs dans la capacité d'agrégation mais une augmentation de la capacité d'adhésion au fibrinogène des plaquettes traitées probablement via une augmentation de la conversion de l'intégrine ailb(B3 dans sa forme activée. Les techniques d'inactivation des pathogènes appliqués aux concentrés plaquettaires représentent un important progrès dans le domaine de la médecine transfusionnelle. Leur impact au niveau moléculaire reste cependant encore en partie inconnu et fait l'objet d'études. Le défi actuel consiste à réussir à les adopter aux concentrés érythrocytaires, ce qui révolutionnerait la médecine transfusionnelle.

Caspase-mediated cleavage of raptor participates in the inactivation of mTORC1 during cell death.

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a highly conserved protein complex regulating key pathways in cell growth. Hyperactivation of mTORC1 is implicated in numerous cancers, thus making it a potential broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic target. Here, we characterized how mTORC1 responds to cell death induced by various anticancer drugs such rapamycin, etoposide, cisplatin, curcumin, staurosporine and Fas ligand. All treatments induced cleavage in the mTORC1 component, raptor, resulting in decreased raptor-mTOR interaction and subsequent inhibition of the mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation of downstream substrates (S6K and 4E-BP1). The cleavage was primarily mediated by caspase-6 and occurred at two sites. Mutagenesis at one of these sites, conferred resistance to cell death, indicating that raptor cleavage is important in chemotherapeutic apoptosis.

Compensatory embryonic response to allele-specific inactivation of the murine X-linked gene Hcfc1.

Early in female mammalian embryonic development, cells randomly inactivate one of the two X chromosomes to achieve overall equal inactivation of parental X-linked alleles. Hcfc1 is a highly conserved X-linked mouse gene that encodes HCF-1 - a transcriptional co-regulator implicated in cell proliferation in tissue culture cells. By generating a Cre-recombinase inducible Hcfc1 knock-out (Hcfc1(lox)) allele in mice, we have probed the role of HCF-1 in actively proliferating embryonic cells and in cell-cycle re-entry of resting differentiated adult cells using a liver regeneration model. HCF-1 function is required for both extraembryonic and embryonic development. In heterozygous Hcfc1(lox/+) female embryos, however, embryonic epiblast-specific Cre-induced Hcfc1 deletion (creating an Hcfc1(epiKO) allele) around E5.5 is well tolerated; it leads to a mixture of HCF-1-positive and -negative epiblast cells owing to random X-chromosome inactivation of the wild-type or Hcfc1(epiKO) mutant allele. At E6.5 and E7.5, both HCF-1-positive and -negative epiblast cells proliferate, but gradually by E8.5, HCF-1-negative cells disappear owing to cell-cycle exit and apoptosis. Although generating a temporary developmental retardation, the loss of HCF-1-negative cells is tolerated, leading to viable heterozygous offspring with 100% skewed inactivation of the X-linked Hcfc1(epiKO) allele. In resting adult liver cells, the requirement for HCF-1 in cell proliferation was more evident as hepatocytes lacking HCF-1 fail to re-enter the cell cycle and thus to proliferate during liver regeneration. The survival of the heterozygous Hcfc1(epiKO/+) female embryos, even with half the cells genetically compromised, illustrates the developmental plasticity of the post-implantation mouse embryo - in this instance, permitting survival of females heterozygous for an X-linked embryonic lethal allele.

Structure-function relationships of the alpha1b-adrenergic receptor.

The alpha1b-adrenergic receptor (AR) is a member of the large superfamily of seven transmembrane domain (TMD) G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Combining site-directed mutagenesis of the alpha1b-AR with computational simulations of receptor dynamics, we have explored the conformational changes underlying the process of receptor activation, i.e. the transition between the inactive and active states. Our findings suggest that the structural constraint stabilizing the alpha1b-AR in the inactive form is a network of H-bonding interactions amongst conserved residues forming a polar pocket and R143 of the DRY sequence at the end of TMDIII. We have recently reported that point mutations of D142, of the DRY sequence and of A293 in the distal portion of the third intracellular loop resulted in ligand-independent (constitutive) activation of the alpha1b-AR. These constitutively activating mutations could induce perturbations resulting in the shift of R143 out of the polar pocket. The main role of R143 may be to mediate receptor activation by triggering the exposure of several basic amino acids of the intracellular loops towards the G protein. Our investigation has been extended also to the biochemical events involved in the desensitization process of alpha1b-AR. Our results indicate that immediately following agonist-induced activation, the alpha1b-AR can undergo rapid agonist-induced phosphorylation and desensitization. Different members of the G protein coupled receptor kinase family can play a role in agonist-induced regulation of the alpha1b-AR. In addition, constitutively active alpha1b-AR mutants display different phosphorylation and internalization features. The future goal is to further elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the complex equilibrium between activation and inactivation of the alpha1b-AR and its regulation by pharmacological substances. These findings can help to elucidate the mechanism of action of various agents displaying properties of agonists or inverse agonists at the adrenergic system.

T-type Ca2+ channels, SK2 channels and SERCAs gate sleep-related oscillations in thalamic dendrites.

T-type Ca2+ channels (T channels) underlie rhythmic burst discharges during neuronal oscillations that are typical during sleep. However, the Ca2+-dependent effectors that are selectively regulated by T currents remain unknown. We found that, in dendrites of nucleus reticularis thalami (nRt), intracellular Ca2+ concentration increases were dominated by Ca2+ influx through T channels and shaped rhythmic bursting via competition between Ca2+-dependent small-conductance (SK)-type K+ channels and Ca2+ uptake pumps. Oscillatory bursting was initiated via selective activation of dendritically located SK2 channels, whereas Ca2+ sequestration by sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases (SERCAs) and cumulative T channel inactivation dampened oscillations. Sk2-/- (also known as Kcnn2) mice lacked cellular oscillations, showed a greater than threefold reduction in low-frequency rhythms in the electroencephalogram of non-rapid-eye-movement sleep and had disrupted sleep. Thus, the interplay of T channels, SK2 channels and SERCAs in nRt dendrites comprises a specialized Ca2+ signaling triad to regulate oscillatory dynamics related to sleep.

Molecular mechanisms for the regulation of skin homeostasis

L'ubiquitination est une modification des protéines conservée, consistant en l'addition de résidus « ubiquitine » et régulant le destin cellulaire des protéines. La protéine « TRAF-interacting protein » TRAIP (ou TRIP) est une ligase E3 qui catalyse l'étape finale de l'ubiquitination. TRAIP est conservé dans l'évolution et est nécessaire au développement des organismes puisque l'ablation de TRAIP conduit à la mort embryonnaire aussi bien de la drosophile que de la souris. De plus, la réduction de l'expression de TRAIP dans des kératinocytes épidermiques humains réprime la prolifération cellulaire et induit un arrêt du cycle cellulaire en phase Gl, soulignant le lien étroit entre TRAIP et la prolifération cellulaire. Comme les mécanismes de régulation de la prolifération jouent un rôle majeur dans l'homéostasie de la peau, il est important de caractériser la fonction de TRAIP dans ces mécanismes. En utilisant des approches in vitro, nous avons déterminé que la protéine TRAIP est instable, modifiée par l'addition d'ubiquitine et ayant une demi-vie d'environ 4 heures. Nos analyses ont également révélé que l'expression de TRAIP est dépendante du cycle cellulaire, atteignant un pic d'expression en phase G2/M et que l'induction de son expression s'effectue principalement au cours de la transition Gl/S. Nous avons identifié le facteur de transcription E2F1 comme en étant le responsable, en régulant directement le promoteur de TRAIP. Aussi, TRAIP endogène ou surexprimée est surtout localisée au niveau du nucléole, une organelle nucléaire qui est désassemblée pendant la division cellulaire. Pour examiner la localisation subcellulaire de TRAIP pendant la mitose, nous avons imagé la protéine TRAIP fusionnée à une protéine fluorescente, à l'intérieur de cellules vivantes nommées HeLa, à l'aide d'un microscope confocal. Dans ces conditions, TRAIP est majoritairement localisée autour des chromosomes en début de mitose, puis est arrangée au niveau de l'ADN chromosomique en fin de mitose. La détection de TRAIP endogène à l'aide d'un anticorps spécifique a confirmé cette localisation. Enfin, l'inactivation de TRAIP dans les cellules HeLa par interférence ARN a inhibé leur capacité à s'arrêter en milieu de mitose. Nos résultats suggèrent que le mécanisme sous-jacent peut être lié au point de contrôle de l'assemblage du fuseau mitotique. - Ubiquitination of proteins is a post-translational modification which decides the cellular fate of the protein. The TRAF-interacting protein (TRAIP, TRIP) functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase mediating addition of ubiquitin moieties to proteins. TRAIP interacts with the deubiquitinase CYLD, a tumor suppressor whose functional inactivation leads to skin appendage tumors. TRAIP is required for early embryonic development since removal of TRAIP either in Drosophila or mice by mutations or knock¬out is lethal due to aberrant regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Furthermore, shRNA- mediated knock-down of TRAIP in human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) repressed cell proliferation and induced a Gl/S phase block in the cell cycle. Additionally, TRAIP expression is strongly down- regulated during keratinocyte differentiation supporting the notion of a tight link between TRAIP and cell proliferation. We thus examined the biological functions of TRAIP in epithelial cell proliferation. Using an in vitro approach, we could determine that the TRAIP protein is unstable, modified by addition of ubiquitin moieties after translation and exhibits a half-life of 3.7+/-1-6 hours. Our analysis revealed that the TRAIP expression is modulated in a cell-cycle dependent manner, reaching a maximum expression level in G2/M phases. In addition, the expression of TRAIP was particularly activated during Gl/S phase transition and we could identify the transcription factor E2F1 as an activator of the TRAIP gene promoter. Both endogenous and over-expressed TRAIP mainly localized to the nucleolus, a nuclear organelle which is disassembled during cell division. To examine the subcellular localization of TRAIP during M phase, we performed confocal live-cell imaging of a functional fluorescent protein TRAIP-GFP in HeLa cells. TRAIP was distributed in the cytoplasm and accumulated around mitotic chromosomes in pro- and meta-phasic cells. TRAIP was then confined to chromosomal DNA location in anaphase and later phases of mitosis. Immune-detection of endogenous TRAIP protein confirmed its particular localization in mitosis. Finally, inactivating TRAIP expression in HeLa cells using RNA interference abrogated the cells ability to stop or delay mitosis progression. Our results suggested that TRAIP may involve the spindle assembly checkpoint.

A gene knockout approach in mice to identify glucose sensors controlling glucose homeostasis.

A key aspect of glucose homeostasis is the constant monitoring of blood glucose concentrations by specific glucose sensing units. These sensors, via stimulation of hormone secretion and activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), regulate tissue glucose uptake, utilization or production. The best described glucose detection system is that of the pancreatic beta-cells which controls insulin secretion. Secretion of other hormones, in particular glucagon, and activation of the ANS, are regulated by glucose through sensing mechanisms which are much less well characterized. Here I review some of the studies we have performed over the recent years on a mouse model of impaired glucose sensing generated by inactivation of the gene for the glucose transporter GLUT2. This transporter catalyzes glucose uptake by pancreatic beta-cells, the first step in the signaling cascade leading to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Inactivation of its gene leads to a loss of glucose sensing and impaired insulin secretion. Transgenic reexpression of the transporter in GLUT2/beta-cells restores their normal secretory function and rescues the mice from early death. As GLUT2 is also expressed in other tissues, these mice were then studied for the presence of other physiological defects due to absence of this transporter. These studies led to the identification of extra-pancreatic, GLUT2-dependent, glucose sensors controlling glucagon secretion and glucose utilization by peripheral tissues, in part through a control of the autonomic nervous system.

Effect of rufinamide on gating properties of voltage-gated sodium channel Na(v)1.7

Background: Voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav1.x) are important players in chronic pain. A particular interest has grown in Nav1.7, expressed in nociceptors, since mutations in its gene are associated to two inherited pain syndromes or insensitivity to pain. Rufinamide, a drug used to treat refractory epilepsy such as the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, has been shown to reduce the number of action potentials in cortical neurons without completely blocking Na channels. Aim: The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of rufinamide on Nav1.7 current. Methods and results: Whole-cell patch clamp experiments were performed using HEK293 cells stably expressing Nav1.7. Rufinamide significantly decreased peak sodium current by 28.3, 21.2 and 12.5% at concentrations of 500, 100 and 50μM respectively (precise EC50 could not be calculated since higher rufinamide concentrations could not be achieved in physiological buffer solution). No significant difference on the V1/2 of voltage-dependence of activation was seen; however a shift in the steady-state inactivation curve was observed (-82.6 mV to -88.8 mV and -81.8 to -87.6 mV for 50 and 100 μM rufinamide respectively, p <0.005). Frequency-dependent inhibition of Nav1.7 was also influenced by the drug. One hundred μM rufinamide reduced the peak sodium current (in % of the peak current taken at the first sweep of a train of 50) from 90.8 to 80.8% (5Hz), 88.7 to 71.8% (10 Hz), 69.1 to 49.2% (25 Hz) and 22.3 to 9.8% (50 Hz) (all p <0.05). Onset of fast inactivation was not influenced by the drug since no difference in the time constant of current decay was observed. Conclusion: In the concentration range of plasma level in human treated for epilepsy, 15 μM, rufinamide only minimally blocks Nav1.7. However, it stabilizes the inactivated state and exerts frequencydependent inhibition of Nav1.7. These pharmacological properties may be of use in reducing ectopic discharges as a causal and symptom related contributor of neuropathic pain syndrome.

A stable phage lysin (Cpl-1) dimer with increased antipneumococcal activity and decreased plasma clearance.

Bacteriophages (phages) produce endolysins (lysins) as part of their lytic cycle in order to degrade the peptidoglycan layer of the infected bacteria for subsequent release of phage progeny. Because these enzymes maintain their lytic and lethal activity against Gram-positive bacteria when added extrinsically to the cells, they have been actively exploited as novel anti-infectives, sometimes termed enzybiotics. As with other relatively small peptides, one issue in their clinical development is their rapid inactivation through proteolytic degradation, immunological blockage and renal clearance. The antipneumococcal lysin Cpl-1 was shown to escape both proteolysis and immunological blockage. However, its short plasma half-life (20.5 min in mice) may represent a shortcoming for clinical usefulness. Here we report the construction of a Cpl-1 dimer with a view to increasing both the antipneumococcal specific activity and plasma half-life of Cpl-1. Dimerisation was achieved by introducing specific cysteine residues at the C-terminal end of the enzyme, thus favouring disulphide bonding. Compared with the native monomer, the constructed dimer demonstrated a two-fold increase in specific antipneumococcal activity and a ca. ten-fold decrease in plasma clearance. As several lysins are suspected to dimerise on contact with their cell wall substrate to be fully active, stable pre-dimerised enzymes may represent a more efficient alternative to the native monomer.

Chondrodysplasia and Abnormal Joint Development Associated with Mutations in IMPAD1, Encoding the Golgi-Resident Nucleotide Phosphatase, gPAPP.

We used whole-exome sequencing to study three individuals with a distinct condition characterized by short stature, chondrodysplasia with brachydactyly, congenital joint dislocations, cleft palate, and facial dysmorphism. Affected individuals carried homozygous missense mutations in IMPAD1, the gene coding for gPAPP, a Golgi-resident nucleotide phosphatase that hydrolyzes phosphoadenosine phosphate (PAP), the byproduct of sulfotransferase reactions, to AMP. The mutations affected residues in or adjacent to the phosphatase active site and are predicted to impair enzyme activity. A fourth unrelated patient was subsequently found to be homozygous for a premature termination codon in IMPAD1. Impad1 inactivation in mice has previously been shown to produce chondrodysplasia with abnormal joint formation and impaired proteoglycan sulfation. The human chondrodysplasia associated with gPAPP deficiency joins a growing number of skeletoarticular conditions associated with defective synthesis of sulfated proteoglycans, highlighting the importance of proteoglycans in the development of skeletal elements and joints.

Drosophila melanogaster dHCF Interacts with both PcG and TrxG Epigenetic Regulators.

Repression and activation of gene transcription involves multiprotein complexes that modify chromatin structure. The integration of these complexes at regulatory sites can be assisted by co-factors that link them to DNA-bound transcriptional regulators. In humans, one such co-factor is the herpes simplex virus host-cell factor 1 (HCF-1), which is implicated in both activation and repression of transcription. We show here that disruption of the gene encoding the Drosophila melanogaster homolog of HCF-1, dHCF, leads to a pleiotropic phenotype involving lethality, sterility, small size, apoptosis, and morphological defects. In Drosophila, repressed and activated transcriptional states of cell fate-determining genes are maintained throughout development by Polycomb Group (PcG) and Trithorax Group (TrxG) genes, respectively. dHCF mutant flies display morphological phenotypes typical of TrxG mutants and dHCF interacts genetically with both PcG and TrxG genes. Thus, dHCF inactivation enhances the mutant phenotypes of the Pc PcG as well as brm and mor TrxG genes, suggesting that dHCF possesses Enhancer of TrxG and PcG (ETP) properties. Additionally, dHCF interacts with the previously established ETP gene skd. These pleiotropic phenotypes are consistent with broad roles for dHCF in both activation and repression of transcription during fly development.