Mechanism of regulation of WAVE1-induced actin nucleation by Rac1 and Nck

Rac signalling to actin -- a pathway that is thought to be mediated by the protein Scar/WAVE (WASP (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein)-family verprolin homologous protein -- has a principal role in cell motility. In an analogous pathway, direct interaction of Cdc42 with the related protein N-WASP stimulates actin polymerization. For the Rac-WAVE pathway, no such direct interaction has been identified. Here we report a mechanism by which Rac and the adapter protein Nck activate actin nucleation through WAVE1. WAVE1 exists in a heterotetrameric complex that includes orthologues of human PIR121 (p53-inducible messenger RNA with a relative molecular mass (M(r)) of 140,000), Nap125 (NCK-associated protein with an M(r) of 125,000) and HSPC300. Whereas recombinant WAVE1 is constitutively active, the WAVE1 complex is inactive. We therefore propose that Rac1 and Nck cause dissociation of the WAVE1 complex, which releases active WAVE1-HSPC300 and leads to actin nucleation.     

Lymphoid tissue genesis induced by commensals through NOD1 regulates intestinal homeostasis

Intestinal homeostasis is critical for efficient energy extraction from food and protection from pathogens. Its disruption can lead to an array of severe illnesses with major impacts on public health, such as inflammatory bowel disease characterized by self-destructive intestinal immunity. However, the mechanisms regulating the equilibrium between the large bacterial flora and the immune system remain unclear. Intestinal lymphoid tissues generate flora-reactive IgA-producing B cells, and include Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, as well as numerous isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs). Here we show that peptidoglycan from Gram-negative bacteria is necessary and sufficient to induce the genesis of ILFs in mice through recognition by the NOD1 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 1) innate receptor in epithelial cells, and beta-defensin 3- and CCL20-mediated signalling through the chemokine receptor CCR6. Maturation of ILFs into large B-cell clusters requires subsequent detection of bacteria by toll-like receptors. In the absence of ILFs, the composition of the intestinal bacterial community is profoundly altered. Our results demonstrate that intestinal bacterial commensals and the immune system communicate through an innate detection system to generate adaptive lymphoid tissues and maintain intestinal homeostasis.     

Glioma stem cells promote radioresistance by preferential activation of the DNA damage response

Ionizing radiation represents the most effective therapy for glioblastoma (World Health Organization grade IV glioma), one of the most lethal human malignancies, but radiotherapy remains only palliative because of radioresistance. The mechanisms underlying tumour radioresistance have remained elusive. Here we show that cancer stem cells contribute to glioma radioresistance through preferential activation of the DNA damage checkpoint response and an increase in DNA repair capacity. The fraction of tumour cells expressing CD133 (Prominin-1), a marker for both neural stem cells and brain cancer stem cells, is enriched after radiation in gliomas. In both cell culture and the brains of immunocompromised mice, CD133-expressing glioma cells survive ionizing radiation in increased proportions relative to most tumour cells, which lack CD133. CD133-expressing tumour cells isolated from both human glioma xenografts and primary patient glioblastoma specimens preferentially activate the DNA damage checkpoint in response to radiation, and repair radiation-induced DNA damage more effectively than CD133-negative tumour cells. In addition, the radioresistance of CD133-positive glioma stem cells can be reversed with a specific inhibitor of the Chk1 and Chk2 checkpoint kinases. Our results suggest that CD133-positive tumour cells represent the cellular population that confers glioma radioresistance and could be the source of tumour recurrence after radiation. Targeting DNA damage checkpoint response in cancer stem cells may overcome this radioresistance and provide a therapeutic model for malignant brain cancers.     

CO2 regulator SLAC1 and its homologues are essential for anion homeostasis in plant cells

The continuing rise in atmospheric [CO2] is predicted to have diverse and dramatic effects on the productivity of agriculture, plant ecosystems and gas exchange. Stomatal pores in the epidermis provide gates for the exchange of CO2 and water between plants and the atmosphere, processes vital to plant life. Increased [CO2] has been shown to enhance anion channel activity proposed to mediate efflux of osmoregulatory anions (Cl- and malate(2-)) from guard cells during stomatal closure. However, the genes encoding anion efflux channels in plant plasma membranes remain unknown. Here we report the isolation of an Arabidopsis gene, SLAC1 (SLOW ANION CHANNEL-ASSOCIATED 1, At1g12480), which mediates CO2 sensitivity in regulation of plant gas exchange. The SLAC1 protein is a distant homologue of bacterial and fungal C4-dicarboxylate transporters, and is localized specifically to the plasma membrane of guard cells. It belongs to a protein family that in Arabidopsis consists of four structurally related members that are common in their plasma membrane localization, but show distinct tissue-specific expression patterns. The loss-of-function mutation in SLAC1 was accompanied by an over-accumulation of the osmoregulatory anions in guard cell protoplasts. Guard-cell-specific expression of SLAC1 or its family members resulted in restoration of the wild-type stomatal responses, including CO2 sensitivity, and also in the dissipation of the over-accumulated anions. These results suggest that SLAC1-family proteins have an evolutionarily conserved function that is required for the maintenance of organic/inorganic anion homeostasis on the cellular level.     

Polo-like kinase-1 is activated by aurora A to promote checkpoint recovery

Polo-like kinase-1 (PLK1) is an essential mitotic kinase regulating multiple aspects of the cell division process. Activation of PLK1 requires phosphorylation of a conserved threonine residue (Thr 210) in the T-loop of the PLK1 kinase domain, but the kinase responsible for this has not yet been affirmatively identified. Here we show that in human cells PLK1 activation occurs several hours before entry into mitosis, and requires aurora A (AURKA, also known as STK6)-dependent phosphorylation of Thr 210. We find that aurora A can directly phosphorylate PLK1 on Thr 210, and that activity of aurora A towards PLK1 is greatly enhanced by Bora (also known as C13orf34 and FLJ22624), a known cofactor for aurora A (ref. 7). We show that Bora/aurora-A-dependent phosphorylation is a prerequisite for PLK1 to promote mitotic entry after a checkpoint-dependent arrest. Importantly, expression of a PLK1-T210D phospho-mimicking mutant partially overcomes the requirement for aurora A in checkpoint recovery. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the initial activation of PLK1 is a primary function of aurora A.     

Cell Toxicity Effect of Cadmium on Yeast Cells by Detecting NADH Autofluorescence

The cytotoxic effect of cadmium is studied by detecting intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotidea（NADH） autofluorescence in this work. NADH autofluorescence in processes of cadmium-induced apoptosis, necrosis and reversible injury are recorded timely. The relativity between time course of NADH autofluorescence and cadmium toxicity is established. The cell toxicity effect of Cadmium on yeast cells is studied by detecting the time courses of intracellular reduced NADH autofluorescence in this work. The relativity between time courses of NADH autofluorescence and Cadmium toxicity is established.     

Haem homeostasis is regulated by the conserved and concerted functions of HRG-1 proteins

Haems are metalloporphyrins that serve as prosthetic groups for various biological processes including respiration, gas sensing, xenobiotic detoxification, cell differentiation, circadian clock control, metabolic reprogramming and microRNA processing. With a few exceptions, haem is synthesized by a multistep biosynthetic pathway comprising defined intermediates that are highly conserved throughout evolution. Despite our extensive knowledge of haem biosynthesis and degradation, the cellular pathways and molecules that mediate intracellular haem trafficking are unknown. The experimental setback in identifying haem trafficking pathways has been the inability to dissociate the highly regulated cellular synthesis and degradation of haem from intracellular trafficking events. Caenorhabditis elegans and related helminths are natural haem auxotrophs that acquire environmental haem for incorporation into haemoproteins, which have vertebrate orthologues. Here we show, by exploiting this auxotrophy to identify HRG-1 proteins in C. elegans, that these proteins are essential for haem homeostasis and normal development in worms and vertebrates. Depletion of hrg-1, or its paralogue hrg-4, in worms results in the disruption of organismal haem sensing and an abnormal response to haem analogues. HRG-1 and HRG-4 are previously unknown transmembrane proteins, which reside in distinct intracellular compartments. Transient knockdown of hrg-1 in zebrafish leads to hydrocephalus, yolk tube malformations and, most strikingly, profound defects in erythropoiesis-phenotypes that are fully rescued by worm HRG-1. Human and worm proteins localize together, and bind and transport haem, thus establishing an evolutionarily conserved function for HRG-1. These findings reveal conserved pathways for cellular haem trafficking in animals that define the model for eukaryotic haem transport. Thus, uncovering the mechanisms of haem transport in C. elegans may provide insights into human disorders of haem metabolism and reveal new drug targets for developing anthelminthics to combat worm infestations.     

Selection of evolutionarily conserved mucosal-associated invariant T cells by MR1

The evolutionary conservation of T lymphocyte subsets bearing T-cell receptors (TCRs) using invariant alpha-chains is indicative of unique functions. CD1d-restricted natural killer T (NK-T) cells that express an invariant Valpha14 TCRalpha chain have been implicated in microbial and tumour responses, as well as in auto-immunity. Here we show that T cells that express the canonical hValpha7.2-Jalpha33 or mValpha19-Jalpha33 TCR rearrangement are preferentially located in the gut lamina propria of humans and mice, respectively, and are therefore genuine mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. Selection and/or expansion of this population requires B lymphocytes, as MAIT cells are absent in B-cell-deficient patients and mice. In addition, we show that MAIT cells are selected and/or restricted by MR1, a monomorphic major histocompatibility complex class I-related molecule that is markedly conserved in diverse mammalian species. MAIT cells are not present in germ-free mice, indicating that commensal flora is required for their expansion in the gut lamina propria. This indicates that MAIT cells are probably involved in the host response at the site of pathogen entry, and may regulate intestinal B-cell activity.     

Release of chromatin protein HMGB1 by necrotic cells triggers inflammation

High mobility group 1 (HMGB1) protein is both a nuclear factor and a secreted protein. In the cell nucleus it acts as an architectural chromatin-binding factor that bends DNA and promotes protein assembly on specific DNA targets. Outside the cell, it binds with high affinity to RAGE (the receptor for advanced glycation end products) and is a potent mediator of inflammation. HMGB1 is secreted by activated monocytes and macrophages, and is passively released by necrotic or damaged cells. Here we report that Hmgb1(-/-) necrotic cells have a greatly reduced ability to promote inflammation, which proves that the release of HMGB1 can signal the demise of a cell to its neighbours. Apoptotic cells do not release HMGB1 even after undergoing secondary necrosis and partial autolysis, and thus fail to promote inflammation even if not cleared promptly by phagocytic cells. In apoptotic cells, HMGB1 is bound firmly to chromatin because of generalized underacetylation of histone and is released in the extracellular medium (promoting inflammation) if chromatin deacetylation is prevented. Thus, cells undergoing apoptosis are programmed to withhold the signal that is broadcast by cells that have been damaged or killed by trauma.     

Regulation of angiogenesis by a non-canonical Wnt-Flt1 pathway in myeloid cells

Myeloid cells are a feature of most tissues. Here we show that during development, retinal myeloid cells (RMCs) produce Wnt ligands to regulate blood vessel branching. In the mouse retina, where angiogenesis occurs postnatally, somatic deletion in RMCs of the Wnt ligand transporter Wntless results in increased angiogenesis in the deeper layers. We also show that mutation of Wnt5a and Wnt11 results in increased angiogenesis and that these ligands elicit RMC responses via a non-canonical Wnt pathway. Using cultured myeloid-like cells and RMC somatic deletion of Flt1, we show that an effector of Wnt-dependent suppression of angiogenesis by RMCs is Flt1, a naturally occurring inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These findings indicate that resident myeloid cells can use a non-canonical, Wnt-Flt1 pathway to suppress angiogenic branching.     

蝉花提取物通过促进氧化胁迫应答抑制H2O2诱导的HeLa细胞衰老

本实验探究蝉花提取物(CCE)通过促进HeLa细胞的氧化胁迫应答抑制H2O2诱导的细胞衰老.在实验中,使用不同浓度的CCE处理HeLa细胞48h或72h,检测细胞的存活率.然后使用H2O2在HeLa细胞中诱导氧化胁迫,检测CCE处理组和对照组细胞的β 半乳糖苷酶活性和ROS水平的变化.HeLa细胞经CCE处理72h之后,提取RNA,通过实时荧光定量实验检测CAT、SOD1、SOD2、GPX1等抗氧化基因的表达量.结果表明：CCE抑制HeLa细胞的增殖,且呈剂量依赖效应,较低浓度的CCE（≦0.100mg/mL）对细胞生长无明显抑制作用.0.100mg/mL的CCE处理HeLa细胞72h后能够显著地促进CAT和SOD1 等基因的转录,从而降低H2O2产生的过量ROS,抑制细胞衰老.     

甲醛致斜纹夜蛾SL-1细胞DNA损伤作用的研究

为了研究甲醛致昆虫细胞DNA-蛋白质的交联作用（DNA—protein crosslinks,DPC）和DNA的断裂作用,以斜纹夜蛾SL-1细胞为材料,采用KCI-SDS沉淀法和彗星实验来检测液态甲醛染毒后SL-1细胞中DPC的含量及DNA的断裂效应．KCISDS沉淀法的结果表明,低浓度的液态甲醛（25μmol／L,125μmol／L）不能引起DPC,较高浓度（625μmol／L）可以引起明显的DPC（P〈0．01）;而彗星实验的结果则显示甲醛在低浓度（5μmol／L,25μmol／L）时可以引起DNA链的断裂（P〈0．01）,在较高浓度（625μmol／L）时尾部DNA％和尾矩比空白对照显著降低（P〈0．01）,表明此时甲醛所致的DPC掩盖了DNA断裂的作用．结论是甲醛在较高浓度时可以导致明显的DPC作用,而在低浓度时以DNA断裂为主．     

AKR1家族基因AKR1C1,AKR1C3,AKR1B1调控肺腺癌A549细胞顺铂耐药的研究

探究醛酮还原酶家族1(Aldo-Keto Reductases family 1,AKR1)3个基因AKR1C1,AKR1C3,AKR1B1调控肺腺癌A549细胞顺铂耐药的作用。通过对肺腺癌A549细胞及相应的顺铂耐药细胞A549/DDP的差异表达基因谱进行分析,发现AKR1家族的3个成员AKR1C1,AKR1C3及AKR1B1同时在A549/DDP细胞中显著上调。在细胞水平上对这3个基因进行了RNA定量实验,抑制剂实验和RNA干扰实验,观察其是否参与调控A549/DDP对顺铂的药物敏感性。研究结果证实:AKR1C1或AKR1B1酶活抑制剂与顺铂联合使用可显著提高A549/DDP细胞的顺铂敏感性,而抑制AKR1C3酶活性并不能引起A549/DDP对顺铂的敏感性增强;此外,基于RNA干扰技术,在A549/DDP细胞中同时敲减AKR1C1和AKR1B1不仅增强了顺铂的细胞毒性,且同时显著增强了顺铂诱导的细胞凋亡作用。以上结果表明,AKR1家族中的AKR1C1和AKR1B1基因在调节A549细胞顺铂耐药中起到了关键的作用。     

Nbs1 is essential for DNA repair by homologous recombination in higher vertebrate cells

Double-strand breaks occur during DNA replication and are also induced by ionizing radiation. There are at least two pathways which can repair such breaks: non-homologous end joining and homologous recombination (HR). Although these pathways are essentially independent of one another, it is possible that the proteins Mre11, Rad50 and Xrs2 are involved in both pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In vertebrate cells, little is known about the exact function of the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 complex in the repair of double-strand breaks because Mre11- and Rad50-null mutations are lethal. Here we show that Nbs1 is essential for HR-mediated repair in higher vertebrate cells. The disruption of Nbs1 reduces gene conversion and sister chromatid exchanges, similar to other HR-deficient mutants. In fact, a site-specific double-strand break repair assay showed a notable reduction of HR events following generation of such breaks in Nbs1-disrupted cells. The rare recombinants observed in the Nbs1-disrupted cells were frequently found to have aberrant structures, which possibly arise from unusual crossover events, suggesting that the Nbs1 complex might be required to process recombination intermediates.