Lipolysis-Stimulated Lipoprotein Receptor Acts as Sensor to Regulate ApoE Release in Astrocytes.

Astroglia play an important role, providing de novo synthesized cholesterol to neurons in the form of ApoE-lipidated particles; disruption of this process can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. We recently reported that glia-specific suppression of the lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) gene leads to Alzheimer's disease-like memory deficits. Since LSR is an Apo-E lipoprotein receptor, our objective of this study was to determine the effect of LSR expression modulation on cholesterol and ApoE output in mouse astrocytes expressing human ApoE3.

Targeted Suppression of Lipoprotein Receptor LSR in Astrocytes Leads to Olfactory and Memory Deficits in Mice.

Perturbations of cholesterol metabolism have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Glia-neuron crosstalk is essential to achieve a tight regulation of brain cholesterol trafficking. Adequate cholesterol supply from glia via apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins ensures neuronal development and function.

Age-related changes in regiospecific expression of Lipolysis Stimulated Receptor (LSR) in mice brain.

The regulation of cholesterol, an essential brain lipid, ensures proper neuronal development and function, as demonstrated by links between perturbations of cholesterol metabolism and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. The central nervous system (CNS) acquires cholesterol via de novo synthesis, where glial cells provide cholesterol to neurons. Both lipoproteins and lipoprotein receptors are key elements in this intercellular transport, where the latter recognize, bind and endocytose cholesterol containing glia-produced lipoproteins.

Maintenance of membrane organization in the aging mouse brain as the determining factor for preventing receptor dysfunction and for improving response to anti-Alzheimer treatments.

Although a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the "aging" parameter is not systematically considered in preclinical validation of anti-AD drugs. To explore how aging affects neuronal reactivity to anti-AD agents, the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF)-associated pathway was chosen as a model. Comparison of the neuroprotective properties of CNTF in 6- and 18-month old mice revealed that CNTF resistance in the older animals is associated with the exclusion of the CNTF-receptor subunits from rafts and their subsequent dispersion to non-raft cortical membrane domains.

Expression profile of hepatic genes related to lipid homeostasis in LSR heterozygous mice contributes to their increased response to high-fat diet.

Perturbations of lipid homeostasis manifest as dyslipidemias and obesity, which are significant risk factors for atherosclerosis and diabetes. Lipoprotein receptors in the liver are key players in the regulation of lipid homeostasis, among which the hepatic lipolysis stimulated lipoprotein receptor, LSR, was recently shown to play an important role in the removal of lipoproteins from the circulation during the postprandial phase. Since heterozygous LSR+/- mice demonstrate moderate dyslipidemia and develop higher body weight gain in response to high-fat diet compared with littermate LSR+/+ controls, we questioned if LSR heterozygosity could affect genes related to hepatic lipid metabolism.

Membrane raft domains and remodeling in aging brain.

Lipids are the fundamental structural components of biological membranes. For a long time considered as simple barriers segregating aqueous compartments, membranes are now viewed as dynamic interfaces providing a molecular environment favorable to the activity of membrane-associated proteins. Interestingly, variations in membrane lipid composition, whether quantitative or qualitative, play a crucial role in regulation of membrane protein functionalities.

Improved Neuroprotection Provided by Drug Combination in Neurons Exposed to Cell-Derived Soluble Amyloid-β Peptide.

Oligomeric amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide contributes to impaired synaptic connections and neurodegenerative processes, and as such, represents a primary therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease (AD)-modifying approaches. However, the lack of efficacy of drugs that inhibit production of Aβ demonstrates the need for a better characterization of its toxic effects, both on synaptic and neuronal function. Here, we used conditioned medium obtained from recombinant HEK-AβPP cells expressing the human amyloid-β protein precursor (Aβ-CM), to investigate Aβ-induced neurotoxic and synaptotoxic effects.

Increased susceptibility of dyslipidemic LSR+/- mice to amyloid stress is associated with changes in cortical cholesterol levels.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that has been linked to changes in cholesterol metabolism. Neuronal cholesterol content significantly influences the pro-apoptotic effect of amyloid-β peptide42 (Aβ42), which plays a key role in AD development. We previously reported that aged mice with reduced expression of the lipolysis stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR+/-), demonstrate membrane cholesterol accumulation and decreased intracellular lipid droplets in several brain regions, suggesting a potential role of LSR in brain cholesterol distribution.

Inhibitory action of benzo[α]pyrene on hepatic lipoprotein receptors in vitro and on liver lipid homeostasis in mice.

Background: Dyslipidemia associated with obesity often manifests as increased plasma LDL and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein levels suggesting changes in hepatic lipoprotein receptor status. Persistent organic pollutants have been recently postulated to contribute to the obesity etiology by increasing adipogenesis, but little information is available on their potential effect on hepatic lipoprotein metabolism.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the common environmental pollutant, benzo[α]pyrene (B[α]P) on two lipoprotein receptors, the LDL-receptor and the lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) as well as the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) using cell and animal models.

Surface plasmon resonance analysis of the binding mechanism of pharmacological and peptidic inhibitors to human somatic angiotensin I-converting enzyme.

Somatic angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) possesses two catalytic domains and plays a major role in the regulation of blood pressure, thus representing a therapeutic target for the treatment of hypertension. We present a comprehensive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) study of the interaction of human somatic ACE with the pharmacological inhibitors captopril and lisinopril, the bradykinin potentiating peptide BPP-11b, and the food peptidic inhibitors from bovine αs2-casein, F(174)ALPQYLK(181) and F(174)ALPQY(179). SPR binding curves recorded with the high potency inhibitors captopril, lisinopril, and BPP-11b were evaluated both by regression analysis and by kinetic distribution analysis.

Lactoferrin and its hydrolysate bind directly to the oleate-activated form of the lipolysis stimulated lipoprotein receptor.

The hepatic removal of triglyceride-rich chylomicrons during the postprandial phase represents an important step towards determining the bioavailability of dietary lipids amongst the peripheral tissues. Indeed, elevated postprandial lipemia is often associated with obesity and increased risk of coronary heart disease. The milk protein, lactoferrin, has been shown to inhibit hepatic chylomicron remnant removal by the liver, resulting in increased postprandial lipemia.

Binding of divalent metal ions to 1-25 β-caseinophosphopeptide: an isothermal titration calorimetry study.

To better understand the mechanism of metal ion transport through the gastrointestinal tract to their absorption sites, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to investigate the binding of dicationic metals to β-CN(1-25)4P, a β-casein tetraphosphorylated peptide. ITC technology was found suitable for studying weak bonds between metal ions and phosphopeptides and provided a direct means of thermodynamic and stoichiometric characterisation of complex formation. Thus, one mole of β-CN(1-25)4P binds two moles of Ca(2+), Mg(2+) or Zn(2+) under experimental conditions close to those of the ileum (pH 8, 37°C), with rather low binding affinity constants (K=4900-11,200M(-1)).

Identification of phosphorylation sites of equine beta-casein isoforms.

Equine beta-casein is phosphorylated at variable degrees and isoforms carrying 3 to 7 phosphate groups (3P-7P) have been found in milk, but the phosphorylated amino acid residues of each isoform are not yet identified. In the present work, the different phosphorylation variants were first isolated by ion-exchange chromatography and then hydrolysed by trypsin to generate caseinophosphopeptides (CPPs), each containing all the potential phosphorylation sites. The equine CPPs were prepared by metal oxide affinity chromatography, a method based on the affinity of phosphate groups towards titanium dioxide immobilized onto a micro-column.

Structure-function relationship of the chloroplastic glutaredoxin S12 with an atypical WCSYS active site.

Glutaredoxins (Grxs) are efficient catalysts for the reduction of mixed disulfides in glutathionylated proteins, using glutathione or thioredoxin reductases for their regeneration. Using GFP fusion, we have shown that poplar GrxS12, which possesses a monothiol (28)WCSYS(32) active site, is localized in chloroplasts. In the presence of reduced glutathione, the recombinant protein is able to reduce in vitro substrates, such as hydroxyethyldisulfide and dehydroascorbate, and to regenerate the glutathionylated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Interfacial approach to polyaromatic hydrocarbon toxicity: phosphoglyceride and cholesterol monolayer response to phenantrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo[a]pyrene.

Interactions of phenantrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo[a]pyrene (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) with model phospholipid membranes were probed using the Langmuir technique. The lipid monolayers were prepared using 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine, 1,2-myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and cholesterol. Surface pressure and electrical surface potential were measured on mixed phospholipid/PAH monolayers spread on a pure water subphase.

An atypical catalytic mechanism involving three cysteines of thioredoxin.

Unlike other thioredoxins h characterized so far, a poplar thioredoxin of the h type, PtTrxh4, is reduced by glutathione and glutaredoxin (Grx) but not NADPH:thioredoxin reductase (NTR). PtTrxh4 contains three cysteines: one localized in an N-terminal extension (Cys(4)) and two (Cys(58) and Cys(61)) in the classical thioredoxin active site ((57)WCGPC(61)). The property of a mutant in which Cys(58) was replaced by serine demonstrates that it is responsible for the initial nucleophilic attack during the catalytic cycle.

Trapping of the thioacylglyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase intermediate from Bacillus stearothermophilus. Direct evidence for a flip-flop mechanism.

The crystal structure of the thioacylenzyme intermediate of the phosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been solved at 1.8A resolution. Formation of the intermediate was obtained by diffusion of the natural substrate within the crystal of the holoenzyme in the absence of inorganic phosphate.

Redox based anti-oxidant systems in plants: biochemical and structural analyses.

We provide in this paper a comparative biochemical and structural analysis of the major thiol oxidoreductases (thioredoxin and glutaredoxin) of photosynthetic organisms in relation with their reductases and with target proteins, especially those involved either in the detoxication of peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide (thiol-peroxidases) or in the repair of oxidized methionines in proteins (methionine sulfoxide reductases). Particular emphasis will be given to the catalytic and regeneration mechanisms used by these enzymes. In addition, the protein-protein interactions of these systems will be discussed, leading to an integrated view of the functioning of these systems in various plant sub-cellular compartments.

Crystal structures of a poplar thioredoxin peroxidase that exhibits the structure of glutathione peroxidases: insights into redox-driven conformational changes.

Glutathione peroxidases (GPXs) are a group of enzymes that regulate the levels of reactive oxygen species in cells and tissues, and protect them against oxidative damage. Contrary to most of their counterparts in animal cells, the higher plant GPX homologues identified so far possess cysteine instead of selenocysteine in their active site. Interestingly, the plant GPXs are not dependent on glutathione but rather on thioredoxin as their in vitro electron donor.

Invariant Thr244 is essential for the efficient acylation step of the non-phosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Streptococcus mutans.

One of the most striking features of several X-ray structures of CoA-independent ALDHs (aldehyde dehydrogenases) in complex with NAD(P) is the conformational flexibility of the NMN moiety. However, the fact that the rate of the acylation step is high in GAPN (non-phosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) from Streptococcus mutans implies an optimal positioning of the nicotinamide ring relative to the hemithioacetal intermediate within the ternary GAPN complex to allow an efficient and stereospecific hydride transfer. Substitutions of serine for invariant Thr244 and alanine for Lys178 result in a drastic decrease of the efficiency of hydride transfer which becomes rate-limiting.

The first crystal structure of a thioacylenzyme intermediate in the ALDH family: new coenzyme conformation and relevance to catalysis.

Crystal structures of several members of the nonphosphorylating CoA-independent aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) family have shown that the peculiar binding mode of the cofactor to the Rossmann fold results in a conformational flexibility for the nicotinamide moiety of the cofactor. This has been hypothesized to constitute an essential feature of the catalytic mechanism because the conformation of the cofactor required for the acylation step is not appropriate for the deacylation step. In the present study, the structure of a reaction intermediate of the E268A-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPN) from Streptococcus mutans, obtained by soaking the crystals of the enzyme/NADP complex with the natural substrate, is reported.

Crystal structure and solution NMR dynamics of a D (type II) peroxiredoxin glutaredoxin and thioredoxin dependent: a new insight into the peroxiredoxin oligomerism.

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) constitute a family of thiol peroxidases that reduce hydrogen peroxide, peroxinitrite, and hydroperoxides using a strictly conserved cysteine. Very abundant in all organisms, Prxs are produced as diverse isoforms characterized by different catalytic mechanisms and various thiol-containing reducing agents. The oligomeric state of Prxs and the link with their functionality is a subject of intensive research.

Active site mutagenesis and phospholipid hydroperoxide reductase activity of poplar type II peroxiredoxin.

The nature of the active site and the substrate specificity of poplar type II peroxiredoxin, an enzyme which preferentially uses glutaredoxin as an electron donor, were investigated in this study. The type II peroxiredoxin is able to use phospholipid hydroperoxide nearly as efficiently as hydrogen peroxide. Two of the hyper-conserved amino acid residues in peroxiredoxins have been altered, by site-directed mutagenesis, generating the mutants T48V and R129Q.

New antitumour cyclic astin analogues: synthesis, conformation and bioactivity.

Astins, antitumour cyclic pentapeptides, were isolated from the Aster tataricus. Their chemical structures, consist of a 16-membered ring system containing a unique beta,gamma-dichlorinated proline [Pro(Cl)2], other non-coded amino acid residues and a cis conformation in one of the peptide bonds. The astin backbone conformation, along with the cis peptide bond in which the beta,gamma-dichlorinated proline residue is involved, was considered to play an important role in their antineoplastic activities on sarcoma 180A and P388 lymphocytic leukaemia in mice, but the scope and potential applications of this activity remain unclear.

Alpha-aminoxy acids as building blocks for the oxime and hydroxylamine pseudopeptide links. Application to the synthesis of human elastase inhibitors.

The aminoxy acids NH2-O-C(alpha)HR-CO2H are much more easily obtained in the enantiomerically pure form than the analogous hydrazino acids NH2-NH-C(alpha)HR-CO2H, and it has been shown that the isosteric amidoxy psi[CO-NH-O] and hydrazide psi[CO-NH-NH] amide surrogates Induce two quite similar gamma-like folded structures. An aminoxy acid can also be N-coupled to a peptide aldehyde to give the aldoxime psi[CH = N-O] link or to a peptide ketone to form the ketoxime psi[CR= N-O] link. The former can be further reduced into the hydroxylamine psi[CH2-NH-O] link which gives rise to reduced amidoxy peptides.