Proteome analysis of tunicamycin-induced ER stress

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurs upon increased levels of unfolded proteins and results in activation of cellular responses such as the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD). To examine ER stress, we performed a quantitative proteome analysis of human neuroblastoma cells using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) in combination with SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. Proteins associated with the ER were overrepresented in the dataset of altered proteins. In particular, ER chaperones responsible for protein folding were significantly upregulated in response to ER stress. The important ER stress regulator 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP-78 or BiP) was highly upregulated together with several proteins that have been found to form a multiprotein complex with BiP including cyclophilin B, DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 11, endoplasmin, hypoxia upregulated protein 1, protein disulfide isomerase and protein disulfide isomerase A4 upon tunicamycin-induced ER stress. Furthermore, seven aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and five proteins belonging to the Sec61 complex were increased in response to tunicamycin-induced ER stress.     

Current Status of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Type II Diabetes

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a multifunctional role in lipid biosynthesis, calcium storage, protein folding, and processing. Thus, maintaining ER homeostasis is essential for cellular functions. Several pathophysiological conditions and pharmacological agents are known to disrupt ER homeostasis, thereby, causing ER stress. The cells react to ER stress by initiating an adaptive signaling process called the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the ER initiates death signaling pathways when ER stress persists. ER stress is linked to several diseases, such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Thus, its regulation can provide possible therapeutic targets for these. Current evidence suggests that chronic hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia linked to type II diabetes disrupt ER homeostasis, thereby, resulting in irreversible UPR activation and cell death. Despite progress in understanding the pathophysiology of the UPR and ER stress, to date, the mechanisms of ER stress in relation to type II diabetes remain unclear. This review provides up-to-date information regarding the UPR, ER stress mechanisms, insulin dysfunction, oxidative stress, and the therapeutic potential of targeting specific ER stress pathways.     

Ultraviolet Light,Unfolded Protein Response and Autophagy†

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays an important role in the regulation of protein synthesis. Alterations in the folding capacity of the ER induce stress, which activates three ER sensors that mediate the unfolded protein response (UPR). Components of the pathways regulated by these sensors have been shown to regulate autophagy. The last corresponds to a mechanism of self-eating and recycling important for proper cell maintenance. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is an external damaging stimulus that is known for inducing oxidative stress, and DNA, lipid and protein damage. Many controversies exist regarding the role of UV-inducing ER stress or autophagy. However, a connection between the three of them has not been addressed. In this review, we will discuss the contradictory theories regarding the relationships between UV radiation with the induction of ER stress and autophagy, as well as hypothetic connections between UV, ER stress and autophagy.     

Hypoxia‐Activated Prodrugs of PERK Inhibitors

Tumour hypoxia plays an important role in tumour progression and resistance to therapy. Under hypoxia unfolded proteins accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and this stress is relieved through the protein kinase R‐like ER kinase (PERK) signalling arm of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Targeting the UPR through PERK kinase inhibitors provides tumour growth inhibition, but also elicits on‐mechanism normal tissue toxicity. Hypoxia presents a target for tumour‐selective drug delivery using hypoxia‐activated prodrugs. We designed and prepared hypoxia‐activated prodrugs of modified PERK inhibitors using a 2‐nitroimidazole bioreductive trigger. The new inhibitors retained PERK kinase inhibitory activity and the corresponding prodrugs were strongly deactivated. The prodrugs were able to undergo fragmentation following radiolytic reduction, or bioreduction in HCT116 cells, to release their effectors, albeit inefficiently. We examined the effects of the prodrugs on PERK signalling in hypoxic HCT116 cells. This study has identified a 2‐substituted nitroimidazole carbamate prodrug with potential to deliver PERK inhibitors in a hypoxia‐selective manner.     

Rutin induces endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated apoptosis in human triple-negative breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells – In vitro and in silico docking studies

Rutin is a bioactive compound that possesses anti-tumor activities through triggering apoptosis. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is insensitive to targeted anti-tumoral drugs, and drug resistance in TNBC poses a challenge for a successful cure. The accumulation of misfolded proteins in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) results in cellular stress that initiates a specialized response designated as the unfolded protein response. This study aimed to find potential ER stress targets in triple-negative breast cancer. The viability of cells was evaluated using an MTT assay. Cell migration and proliferation were done by wound scratch and colony formation assay. Cell cycle detection, measurement of ER stress, mitochondrial membrane potential disruption, and cell death identification was performed using flow cytometry. The interaction of rutin with ER stress proteins is predicted using in silico docking. The pattern of gene expression was determined by qRT-PCR. The elevated rate of cell viability, cell cycle arrest, ER stress, MMP, and apoptotic induction was observed in combination treatment. Rutin exhibited the highest glide score with ASK1 and JNK. The results of qRT-PCR showed that rutin induced apoptosis through upregulation of ASK1 and JNK. The present study provides strong evidence supporting an important role of the ER stress response in mediating rutin-induced apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer.     

Lacidipine remodels protein folding and Ca 2+ homeostasis in Gaucher's disease fibroblasts: a mechanism to rescue mutant glucocerebrosidase

The hallmark of Gaucher's disease cellular pathogenesis is the lysosomal accumulation of glucosylceramide, which is caused by misfolding of mutated glucocerebrosidase (GC) and loss of lysosomal GC activity, and leads to depletion of [Ca(2+)](ER). We demonstrate that modulation of Ca(2+) homeostasis and enhancement of the cellular folding capacity synergize to rescue the folding of mutated GC variants. Lacidipine, an L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker that also inhibits [Ca(2+)](ER) efflux, enhances folding, trafficking, and activity of degradation-prone GC variants. Lacidipine remodels mutated GC proteostasis by simultaneously activating a series of distinct molecular mechanisms, namely modulation of Ca(2+) homeostasis, upregulation of the ER chaperone BiP, and moderate induction of the unfolded protein response. However, unlike previously reported proteostasis regulators, lacidipine treatment is not cytotoxic but prevents apoptosis induction typically associated with sustained activation of the unfolded protein response.     

Retinal proteins associated with redox regulation and protein folding play central roles in response to high glucose conditions

Diabetic retinopathy typically causes poor vision and blindness. A previous study revealed that a high blood glucose concentration induces glycoxidation and weakens the retinal capillaries. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of high blood glucose induced diabetic retinopathy remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we cultured the retinal pigmented epithelial cell line ARPE‐19 in mannitol‐balanced 5.5, 25, and 100 mM glucose media and investigated protein level alterations. Proteomic analysis revealed significant changes in 137 protein features, of which 124 demonstrated changes in a glucose concentration dependent manner. Several proteins functionally associated with redox regulation, protein folding, or the cytoskeleton are affected by increased glucose concentrations. Additional analyses also revealed that cellular oxidative stress, including endoplasmic reticulum stress, was significantly increased after treatment with high glucose concentrations. However, the mitochondrial membrane potential and cell survival remained unchanged during treatment with high glucose concentrations. To summarize, in this study, we used a comprehensive retinal pigmented epithelial cell based proteomic approach for identifying changes in protein expression associated retinal markers induced by high glucose concentrations. Our results revealed that a high glucose condition can induce cellular oxidative stress and modulate the levels of proteins with functions in redox regulation, protein folding, and cytoskeleton regulation; however, cell viability and mitochondrial integrity are not significantly disturbed under these high glucose conditions.     

Proteomic analysis of the cellular proteins induced by adaptive concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in human U937 cells

When cells are first exposed to low levels of oxidative stress, they develop a resistance to a subsequent challenge of the same stress, even at higher levels. Although some protein(s) induced by oxidative stress likely mediated this adaptive response, the nature of these proteins is unknown. In this study, the total proteins extracted from human U937 leukemia cells exposed to 50 micromM H(2)O(2) for 24 h to induce an optimal protective response were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. H(2)O(2) treatment induced elevation of level of 34 protein spots. An analysis of these spots by a matrix associated laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identified 28 of the H(2)O(2)-induced proteins. These include proteins involved in energy metabolism, translation and RNA processing, chaperoning or mediating protein folding, cellular signaling, and redox regulation, as well as a mitochondrial channel component, and an actin-bundling protein. Therefore, it appears that the cellular adaptation to oxidative stress is a complex process, and is accompanied by a modulation of diverse cellular functions.     

Balancing life with glycoconjugates: monitoring unfolded protein response-mediated anti-angiogenic action of tunicamycin by Raman Spectroscopy

Asparagine-linked protein glycosylation is a hallmark for glycoprotein structure and function. Its impairment by tunicamycin [a competitive inhibitor of N-acetylglucosaminyl 1-phosphate transferase (GPT)] has been known to inhibit neo-vascularization (i.e., angiogenesis) in humanized breast tumor due to an induction of ER stress-mediated unfolded protein response (UPR). The studies presented here demonstrate that (i) tunicamycin (i) inhibits capillary endothelial cell proliferation in a dose dependent manner; (ii) treated cells are incapable of forming colonies upon its withdrawal; and (iii) tunicamycin treatment causes nuclear fragmentation. Tunicamycin-induced ER stress-mediated UPR event in these cells was studied with the aid of Raman spectroscopy, in particular, the interpretation of bands at 1672, 1684 and 1694 cm(-1), which are characteristics of proteins and originate from C=O stretching vibrations of mono-substituted amides. In tunicamycin-treated cells these bands decreased in area as follows: at 1672 cm(-1) by 41.85% at 3 h and 55.39% at 12 h; at 1684 cm(-1) by 20.63% at 3 h and 40.08% at 12 h; and also at 1994 cm(-1) by 33.33% at 3 h and 32.92% at 12 h, respectively. Thus, in the presence of tunicamycin, newly synthesized protein chains fail to arrange properly into their final secondary and/or tertiary structures, and the random coils they form had undergone further degradation.     

Proteomic and redox‐proteomic study on the role of glutathione reductase in human lung cancer cells

Glutathione reductase (GR), a cytosolic protein, plays a vital role in maintaining a correct redox status in cells. However, comprehensive investigations of GR‐modulated cellular responses, including protein level alteration and redox regulation, have yet to be performed. In this study, we cultured a human lung adenocarcinoma line transfected with empty pLKO.1 vector as a control, CL1‐0shControl, and its GR‐knockdown derivative, CL1‐0shΔGR, to evaluate differential protein level alteration and redox regulation of these two cell lines. We identified 34 spots that exhibited marked changes in intensities, and 13 proteins showing significant changes in thiol reactivity, in response to GR depletion. Several proteins involved in redox regulation, calcium signaling, cytoskeleton regulation, and protein folding showed significant changes in expression, whereas proteins involved in redox regulation, protein folding, and glycolysis displayed changes in thiol reactivity. Interestingly, GR knockdown induces peroxiredoxin‐1 overexpression in the air‐exposed tissue and high oxygen consuming tissue such as cornea and liver, but not in the low oxygen consuming tissues such as breast and uterine. In summary, we used a comprehensive lung adenocarcinoma based proteomic approach for identifying GR‐modulated protein expression alteration and redox modification. Based on our research, this is the first comprehensive proteomic and redox‐proteomic analysis used to investigate the role of GR in a mammalian cell model.     

内质网硒蛋白的研究进展

硒是哺乳动物必需的一种微量营养元素,主要以硒代半胱氨酸的形式存在于各种硒蛋白中,硒的主要生物功能通过硒蛋白实现.在25种哺乳动物硒蛋白中,有7种硒蛋白位于内质网,分别为2型脱碘酶、15-kDa硒蛋白、硒蛋白M、硒蛋白T、硒蛋白K、硒蛋白S和硒蛋白N.除了2型脱碘酶外,对其余内质网硒蛋白知之甚少.最近一些研究显示,一些内质网硒蛋白在氧化还原平衡调节、蛋白质折叠质量控制、错误折叠蛋白从内质网逆向转运至胞质、Ca2+稳态调节、内质网应激调节及炎症调节等过程中发挥作用.本文介绍了每种内质网硒蛋白的结构、功能及其生理和病理作用的一些最新研究进展,并对未来需要研究的内容进行了展望.     

De novo Design of Selective Membrane‐Active Peptides by Enzymatic Control of Their Conformational Bias on the Cell Surface

Selectively targeting the membrane‐perturbing potential of peptides towards a distinct cellular phenotype allows one to target distinct populations of cells. We report the de novo design of a new class of peptide whose ability to perturb cellular membranes is coupled to an enzyme‐mediated shift in the folding potential of the peptide into its bioactive conformation. Cells rich in negatively charged surface components that also highly express alkaline phosphatase, for example many cancers, are susceptible to the action of the peptide. The unfolded, inactive peptide is dephosphorylated, shifting its conformational bias towards cell‐surface‐induced folding to form a facially amphiphilic membrane‐active conformer. The fate of the peptide can be further tuned by peptide concentration to affect either lytic or cell‐penetrating properties, which are useful for selective drug delivery. This is a new design strategy to afford peptides that are selective in their membrane‐perturbing activity.     

Synthesis of PAF,an Antifungal Protein from P. chrysogenum,by Native Chemical Ligation: Native Disulfide Pattern and Fold Obtained upon Oxidative Refolding

The folding of disulfide proteins is of considerable interest because knowledge of this may influence our present understanding of protein folding. However, sometimes even the disulfide pattern cannot be unequivocally determined by the available experimental techniques. For example, the structures of a few small antifungal proteins (PAF, AFP) have been disclosed recently using NMR spectroscopy but with some ambiguity in the actual disulfide pattern. For this reason, we carried out the chemical synthesis of PAF. Probing different approaches, the oxidative folding of the synthetic linear PAF yielded a folded protein that has identical structure and antifungal activity as the native PAF. In contrast, unfolded linear PAF was inactive, a result that may have implications concerning its redox state in the mode of action.     

One-Pot Chemical Protein Synthesis Utilizing Fmoc-Masked Selenazolidine to Address the Redox Functionality of Human Selenoprotein F**

Human SELENOF is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) selenoprotein that contains the redox active motif CXU (C is cysteine and U is selenocysteine), resembling the redox motif of thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases (CXXC). Like other selenoproteins, the challenge in accessing SELENOF has somewhat limited its full biological characterization thus far. Here we present the one-pot chemical synthesis of the thioredoxin-like domain of SELENOF, highlighted by the use of Fmoc-protected selenazolidine, native chemical ligations and deselenization reactions. The redox potential of the CXU motif, together with insulin turbidimetric assay suggested that SELENOF may catalyze the reduction of disulfides in misfolded proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SELENOF is not a protein disulfide isomerase (PDI)-like enzyme, as it did not enhance the folding of the two protein models; bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and hirudin. These studies suggest that SELENOF may be responsible for reducing the non-native disulfide bonds of misfolded glycoproteins as part of the quality control system in the ER.     

Residue-specific real-time NMR diffusion experiments define the association states of proteins during folding

Characterizing the association states of proteins during folding is critical for understanding the nature of protein-folding intermediates and protein-folding pathways, protein aggregation, and disease-related aggregation. To study the association states of unfolded, folded, and intermediate species during protein folding, we have introduced a novel residue-specific real-time NMR diffusion experiment. This experiment, a combination of NMR real-time folding experiments and 3D heteronuclear pulsed field gradient NMR diffusion experiments (LED-HSQC), measures hydrodynamic properties, or molecular sizes, of kinetic species directly during the folding process. Application of the residue-specific real-time NMR diffusion experiments to characterize the folding of the collagen triple helix motif shows that this experiment can be used to determine the association states of unfolded, folded, and kinetic intermediates with transient lifetimes simultaneously. The ratio of the apparent translational diffusion coefficients of the unfolded to the folded form of the triple helix is 0.59, which correlates very well with a theoretical ratio for monomer to linear trimer. The apparent diffusion coefficients of the kinetic intermediates formed during triple helix folding indicate the formation of trimer-like associates which is consistent with previously published kinetic and relaxation data. The residue-specific time dependence of apparent diffusion coefficients of monomer and trimer peaks also illustrates the ability to use diffusion data to probe the directionality of triple helix formation. NMR diffusion experiments provide a new strategy for the investigation of protein-folding mechanisms, both to understand the role of kinetic intermediates and to determine the time-dependent aggregation processes in human diseases.