Neurological consequences of human calmodulin mutations

When calcium ions enter the cytosol,it is a stimulatory signal for cellular events.The calcium sensor calmodulin picks up the change in calcium concentration and relays this information to its more than 300 downstream interaction partners.In this way,calmodulin affects cellular processes such as fertilization,muscle contraction,neuronal firing,and apoptosis.That is,calmodulin is involved in(nearly)everything!The significance of calmodulin is emphasized by the fact that we all carry three different genes(CALM1,2,3)on different chromosomes that encode the exact same calmodulin protein,and these are all expressed in all cell types.Moreover,throughout vertebrate evolution,the protein sequence has remained completely unchanged.

Studies on Plant Calmodulin and Its Interaction with Antagonist W_7 by Ln^(3+) Luminescence Probes

Plant calmodulin(CaM) has been extracted from cauliflower, and the purified CaM has been identified with the activation of NAD kinase(NADK) and the inhibition effect of CaM antagonist W 7. CaM′s intrinsic fluorescence and Tb 3+ fluorescence showed that there was one tyrosine residue and four metal binding sites in cauliflower CaM. Based on Frster type nonradiative energy theory, the distances of Tyr→site Ⅲ, Ⅳ have been determined , and these are 1 23 nm(Tyr→site Ⅲ) and 1 18 nm(Tyr→site Ⅳ). The Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ fluorescence probes showed that the combination of CaM with W 7 resulted in significant change on CaM′s conformation, but did not affect coordination environment of metal binding sites.

黑鲷×真鲷杂交子代与真鲷的Calmodulin基因克隆与表达分析

采用cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE)获得的黑鲷(Acanthopagrus schlegelii,♂)×真鲷(Pagrus major,♀)的杂交子代F_1(AP)与真鲷(Pm)的两组Calmodulin(CaM)基因序列。通过生物软件分析了两者的差异及所表达的蛋白质特性;同时,应用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测了APCaM与PmCaM在仔鱼及2龄鱼的6种不同组织中的表达特征。结果表明:1)克隆得到APCaM与PmCaM的cDNA全长分别为1 230 bp、1 210bp,两基因序列均具有一个450 bp的开放阅读框(Open reading frame,ORF),编码了一个由149个氨基酸组成的多肽,该多肽包含有高度保守的4个EF-hand功能结构域。杂交F_1与真鲷的CaM基因非翻译区差异位点主要在3'端,ORF区域有5个氨基酸差异。2)两基因与其它鱼类的核苷酸序列相似性最高为95%,与氨基酸序列相似性最高为100%;从基因序列结构及蛋白质属性表明APCaM与PmCaM属保守的CaM基因家族。3)定量分析表明CaM在检测组织中均有表达,其中APCaM在脑中表达量最高,PmCaM在性腺中表达最高;APCaM与PmCaM在脑、肌肉、性腺及鳃中的表达存在显著差异(P<0.01),在肝、肾组织及仔鱼中的表达无显著差异(P>0.05);结合杂交F_1与双亲本在生长及性腺发育上的性状,推测CaM可能与生长及性腺发育调控有关。这些结果为探讨CaM基因在杂交F_1及真鲷亲本中的作用及鲷科育种研究提供基础资料。

High-level expression of human calmodulin in E.coli and its effects on cell proliferation

INTRODUCTIONCalmodulin（CaM）,widely distributed in almost alleukaryotic cells,is a major intracellular calcium receptorresponsible for mediating the Ca2+ signal to a multitude ofdifferent enzyme systems and is thought to play a vital rolein the regulation of cell proliferative cycle.Recently,

Functional analysis of tomato calmodulin gene family during fruit development and ripening

Calmodulin is a ubiquitous calcium sensor to recognize the different developmental and/or stimulus-triggered calcium changes and regulate plant growth and development.However,the function of calmodulin remains elusive for fleshy fruit development.We performed expression studies of a family of six calmodulin genes(SlCaMs)in tomato fruit.All calmodulins showed a double peak expression pattern.The first flat peak appeared at 10–30 days after anthesis,but their expression rapidly declined at mature green and breaker.Then a sharp and even higher peak came at turning/pink stages.Among six calmodulins,SlCaM1 had the highest expression during fruit enlargement,whereas SlCaM2 was the major calmodulin during fruit ripening.However,SlCaMs showed different patterns in three ripening mutants rin,Nor and Nr.In particular,at the stages corresponding to mature green and breaker,the expression levels of SlCaMs in those mutants were significantly higher than wild-type.Furthermore,SlCaMs,especially SlCaM2 were upregulated by ethylene.Transiently overexpressing SlCaM2 in mature green fruit delayed ripening,while reducing SlCaM2 expression accelerated ripening.Our results suggest that SlCaMs play double roles to regulate fruit ripening.Prior to the ethylene burst,the ethylene-independent repression of SlCaMs might be critical for fruit to initiate the ripening process.After the ethylene burst,SlCaMs could participate in the ethylene coordinated rapid ripening.

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II regulates colon cancer proliferation and migration via ERK1/2 and p38 pathways

AIM To investigate the role of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ(Ca MKⅡ) in colon cancer growth,migration and invasion.METHODS Ca MKⅡ expression in colon cancer and paracancerous tissues was evaluated via immunochemistry. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels of Ca MKⅡin tissue samples and MMP2,MMP9 and TIMP-1 expression in the human colon cancer cell line HCT116 were assessed by q RTPCR and western blot. Cell proliferation was detected with the MTT assay. Cancer cell migration and invasion were investigated with the Transwell culture system and woundhealing assay.RESULTS We first demonstrated that CaMK Ⅱ was ove rexpressed in human colon cancers and was associated with cancer differentiation. In the human colon cancer cell line HCT116,the Ca MKII-specific inhibitor KN93,but not its inactive analogue KN92,decreased cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore,KN93 also significantly prohibited HCT116 cell migration and invasion. The specific inhibition of ERK1/2 or p38 decreased the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells.CONCLUSION Our findings highlight Ca MKⅡ as a potential critical mediator in human colon tumor development and metastasis.

TaCML36, a wheat calmodulin-like protein,positively participates in an immune response to Rhizoctonia cerealis

Sharp eyespot,mainly caused by the soil-borne fungus Rhizoctonia cerealis,affects wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)production worldwide.In this study,we isolated TaCML36 gene encoding a wheat calmodulin-like protein,and studied its defense role in protection against R.cerealis.Transcription of TaCML36 was significantly elevated by both R.cerealis infection and exogenous ethylene treatment.Transcription was higher in resistant wheat lines than in susceptible ones.There were copies of TaCML36 on chromosomes 5A,5B,and 5D.The TaCML36 protein is composed of 183 amino acids and contains two calcium-binding EFhand domains.Subcellular localization assays in wheat indicated that TaCML36 localizes in both the cytoplasm and nucleus.Virus-induced gene silencing and disease assessment indicated that compared to the controls,TaCML36-silenced wheat plants displayed significantly reduced resistance to R.cerealis and had greater fungal biomass,suggesting that knockdown of TaCML36 impaired host resistance.Knockdown of TaCML36 also significantly repressed expression of pathogenesis-related genes such as Chitinase 1,PDF35,and PR17C,the ethylene response factor-encoding gene TaPIE1,and ethylene biosynthesis gene ACO2.Collectively,our results suggest that TaCML36 positively participates in the innate immune response to R.cerealis infection by modulating expression of defense-associated genes possibly in the ethylene signaling pathway.

Effects of Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase Ⅱ Inhibitor,KN-93,on Electrophysiological Features of Rabbit Hypertrophic Cardiac Myocytes

Cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death in clinical settings and the incidence of sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmias are closely related.The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase(CaMK) Ⅱ inhibitor,KN-93,on L-type calcium current(I Ca,L) and early after-depolarizations(EADs) in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes.A rabbit model of myocardial hypertrophy was constructed through abdominal aortic coarctation(LVH group).The control group(sham group) received a sham operation,in which the abdominal aortic was dissected but not coarcted.Eight weeks later,the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) was evaluated using echocardiography.Individual cardiomyocyte was isolated through collagenase digestion.Action potentials(APs) and I Ca,L were recorded using the perforated patch clamp technique.APs were recorded under current clamp conditions and I Ca,L was recorded under voltage clamp conditions.The incidence of EADs and I ca,L in the hypertrophic cardiomyocytes were observed under the conditions of low potassium(2 mmol/L),low magnesium(0.25 mmol/L) Tyrode’s solution perfusion,and slow frequency(0.25-0.5 Hz) electrical stimulation.The incidence of EADs and I ca,L in the hypertrophic cardiomyocytes were also evaluated after treatment with different concentrations of KN-92(KN-92 group) and KN-93(KN-93 group).Eight weeks later,the model was successfully established.Under the conditions of low potassium,low magnesium Tyrode’s solution perfusion,and slow frequency electrical stimulation,the incidence of EADs was 0/12,11/12,10/12,and 5/12 in sham group,LVH group,KN-92 group(0.5 μmol/L),and KN-93 group(0.5 μmol/L),respectively.When the drug concentration was increased to 1 μmol/L in KN-92 group and KN-93 group,the incidence of EADs was 10/12 and 2/12,respectively.At 0 mV,the current density was 6.7±1.0 and 6.3±0.7 PA·PF-1 in LVH group and sham group,respectively(P>0.05,n=12).When the drug concentration was 0.5 μmol/L in KN-92 and KN-93 groups,the peak I Ca,L at 0 mV was decreased by(9.4±2.8)% and(10.5±3.0)% in the hypertrophic cardiomyocytes of the two groups,respectively(P>0.05,n=12).When the drug concentration was increased to 1 μmol/L,the peak I Ca,L values were lowered by(13.4±3.7)% and(40±4.9)%,respectively(P<0.01,n=12).KN-93,a specific inhibitor of CaMKII,can effectively inhibit the occurrence of EADs in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes partially by suppressing I Ca,L,which may be the main action mechanism of KN-93 antagonizing the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in hypertrophic myocardium.

The calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor KN-93 protects rat cerebral cortical neurons from N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced injury

In this study, primary cultured cerebral cortical neurons of Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were treated with 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 μM calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor KN-93 after 50 μM N-methyI-D-aspartic acid-induced injury. Results showed that, compared with N-methyi-D- aspartic acid-induced injury neurons, the activity of cells markedly increased, apoptosis was significantly reduced, leakage of lactate dehydrogenase decreased, and intracellular Ca2＋ concentrations in neurons reduced after KN-93 treatment. The expression of caspase-3, phosphorylated calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and total calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II protein decreased after KN-93 treatment. And the effect was apparent at a dose of 1.0 pM KN-93. Experimental findings suggest that KN-93 can induce a dose-dependent neuroprotective effect, and that the underlying mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of caspase-3 and calmodulin- dependent protein kinase II expression.

MicroRNA-219 alleviates glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons by targeting calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ gamma

Septic encephalopathy is a frequent complication of sepsis,but there are few studies examining the role of micro RNAs（mi Rs） in its pathogenesis.In this study,a mi R-219 mimic was transfected into rat hippocampal neurons to model mi R-219 overexpression.A protective effect of mi R-219 was observed for glutamate-induced neurotoxicity of rat hippocampal neurons,and an underlying mechanism involving calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II γ（Ca MKIIγ） was demonstrated.mi R-219 and Ca MKIIγ m RNA expression induced by glutamate in hippocampal neurons was determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（q RT-PCR）.After neurons were transfected with mi R-219 mimic,effects on cell viability and apoptosis were measured by 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide（MTT） assay and flow cytometry.In addition,a luciferase reporter gene system was used to confirm Ca MKIIγ as a target gene of mi R-219.Western blot assay and rescue experiments were also utilized to detect Ca MKIIγ expression and further verify that mi R-219 in hippocampal neurons exerted its effect through regulation of Ca MKIIγ.MTT assay and q RT-PCR results revealed obvious decreases in cell viability and mi R-219 expression after glutamate stimulation,while Ca MKIIγ m RNA expression was increased.MTT,flow cytometry,and caspase-3 activity assays showed that mi R-219 overexpression could elevate glutamate-induced cell viability,and reduce cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity.Moreover,luciferase Ca MKIIγ-reporter activity was remarkably decreased by co-transfection with mi R-219 mimic,and the results of a rescue experiment showed that Ca MKIIγ overexpression could reverse the biological effects of mi R-219.Collectively,these findings verify that mi R-219 expression was decreased in glutamate-induced neurons,Ca MKIIγ was a target gene of mi R-219,and mi R-219 alleviated glutamate-induced neuronal excitotoxicity by negatively controlling Ca MKIIγ expression.

Enzyme Dynamic Study on Calmodulin Ca^(++)-Mg^(++)-ATPase System of Red Blood Cells Inhibited byα-anordrin and Probimane

To clarify the possible mechanisms of α anordin and probimane on calmodulin Ca^(++)-Mg^(++)-ATPase system, enzyme dynamic study was carried out by determining three dynamic parameters [the substrate concentration(ATP) response curve, dose(inhibitors) response curve and time response curve]. Our data have shown that the inhibitory rates of α anordrin and probimane are unrelated to substrate(APT) concentrations, but related to calmodulin concentrations. The inhibition of α anordrin and probimane is very quick that is completed within 1 to 5 min and can maintain more than 1 hr in the same inhibitory rates. So it is possible that α anordrin and probimane are calmodulin competitors with calmodulin like binding whose actions can occur by affecting the reaction balance of substrate and product on target enzymes of calmodulin( Ca^(++)-Mg^(++)-ATPase).

The roles and relations of calpastatin,calmodulin and an undefined cytoplasmic factor in the regulation of cardiac L-type Ca^(2+) channels

Objective To explore the mechanism that cytoplasmic factors could recover L-type Ca2+ channel activity after "run-down".The factors include ATP,calpastatin and H fraction(a high molecular fraction of bovine cardiac cytoplasm).Methods Single Ca2+ channel activities were recorded with patch clamp technique in guinea-pig cardiac myocytes.Run-down was induced by the inside-out patch formation.Calpastatin(CS),calmodulin(CaM)and three GST-fusion fragment peptides derived from the C-terminal tail of guinea-pig Cav1.2,CT-1(amino acids number 1509-1791),CT-2(1777-2003)and CT-3(1944-2169)were produced as GST fusion proteins.Results(1)CaM + ATP or CS + ATP restored the channels after run-down;however,the CaM or CS's effects became smaller with the longer run-down time.(2)After run down,CaM-dependent protein kinase(CaMKII)produced Ca2+ channel activity to only 2-10% of the basal activity,however,in the presence of CaMKII,the time-dependent nature of the CaM effect was abolished.(3)In pull-down assay,CT-1 treated with CaMKII showed a higher affinity for CaM than that treated with phosphatase.(4)CaMKII was detected in the H fraction of bovine cardiac cytoplasm.Conclusions The results show that CS,CaM and CaMKII are all involved in the maintenance of the basal activity of L-type Ca2+ channels,and that there might be cross talks among the four factors(CS,CaM,CaMKII and the undefined cytoplasmic factor).

Impedance Characterization of Adsorption Process of Calmodulin on Au Substrate and its Combination with Ca^(2+)

In this paper, the adsorption process of calmodulin (CaM) on Au substrate was first investigated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. The result reveals that the adsorption of the protein-calmodulin contains two steps, i.e., one short quick step followed by a slow one. The complexation of calmodulin with Ca2+ was also first probed using EIS technique, in which the complexation of CaM with Ca2+ could be reflected by the change of apparent membrane capacitance(Capp) clearly. In all above measurements, a redox couple Fe(CN)63-/ Fe(CN)64- was used as probing-pin to reflect all the changes occurring in the above process. Our work suggests that some biological processes of CaM could be studied using EIS method conveniently.

Small Peptide Interacting with Pollen Calmodulinand their Effects on Cellular Functions

The interaction between dansyl-labeled pollen calmodulin (D-pCaM) and synthesized peptides was studied in the presence of Ca2+ by fluorescence spectra. It is Found that Gly/L-Ala --> D-Ala substitution in peptide chains caused great changes in their affinity for pCaM. Besides. our data provided evidence on the dissimilarity of different CaMs although they have highly-conserved structures. A preliminary study was carried out on the effects of CaM-binding peptides on cellular signal transduction, cell proliferation, showing the participation of CaM in cell functions mentioned above.

Cloning and Structural Analysis of Calmodulin Gene from the Mangrove Plant Sonneratia Paracaseolaris

Calmodulin is a calcium binding protein that modulates the activity of diverse groups of protein including some protein kinase, adenylate cyclases and ATPase. Here we use the total DNA of Sonneratia paracaseolaris as the template of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR primers have been designed and synthesized according to the 5-and 3-terminal oligonucleotide sequences of Calmodulin gene of plants in Genbank and ligated with cloning vector pBsk(+).The recombinant clones have been obtained from the selected medium. The results of DNA sequences analysis show that the nucleotide sequences of ORF share more than 85% homologies as compared with those of calmodulin genes of several other plants.Similar to rice and apple, the ORF is interrupted by an intron behind the 75th nucleotide.

Preparation of Europium Induced Conformation-specific anti-calmodulin Monoclonal Antibody

Monoclonal antibody technique was employed to detect the conformational difference of CaM induced by metal ions. A trivalent europium ion induced conformation-specific anti-calmodulin monoclonal antibody was successfully prepared with europium-saturated calmodulin as antigen.

Effects of Hypoxia on Calmodulin Levels of Lung Tissues and Small Pulmonary Arterial Walls in Young Pigs

The effects of chronic hypoxia on calmodulin levels of lung tissues and small pulmonary ar-terial walls were studied in young pigs, The tissue specimens of hypoxic animals were obtained underhypoxic conditions. The following results were collected:(1) The swine exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia showed a significant pulmonary pressor re-sponse at a simulated high altitude of 4000 m.(2) A higher level of calmodulin was found in the lung tissues of chronic hypoxic animals. It maybe related to the increased release of some vaosactive substances from pulmonary non-muscularcalls.(3) No significant difference of calmodulin level of small arterial walls was demonstrated between theexperimental animals and the control.The findings suggest that pulmonary vasoconstriction due to hypoxia is not likely to be associatedwith obvious change in calmodulin level in the smooth muscle of blood vessels.

The relationship between alterations of calcium and calmodulin levels in the cerebral cortex and the blood following brain in

Ｔｈｅｒｅｌａｔｉｏｎｓｈｉｐｂｅｔｗｅｅｎａｌｔｅｒａｔｉｏｎｓｏｆｃａｌｃｉｕｍａｎｄｃａｌｍｏｄｕｌｉｎｌｅｖｅｌｓｉｎｔｈｅｃｅｒｅｂｒａｌｃｏｒｔｅｘａｎｄｔｈｅｂｌｏｏｄｆｏｌｌｏｗｉｎｇｂｒａｉｎｉｎｊｕｒｙｉｎｒａｔｓ￥ＸｕＲｕｘｉａ...

Allosteric Mechanism of Calmodulin Revealed by Targeted Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Calmodulin （CAM） is involved in the regulation of a variety of cellular signaling pathways. To accomplish its physiological functions, CaM binds with Ca2＋ at its EF-hand Ca2＋ binding sites which induce the conformational switching of CaM. However, the molecular mechanism by which Ca2＋ binds with CaM and induces conformational switching is still obscure. Here we combine molecular dynamics with targeted molecular dynamics simulation and achieve the state-transition pathway of CaM. Our data show that Ca2＋ binding speeds up the conformational transition of CaM by weakening the interactions which stabilize the closed state. It spends about 6.5 ns and 5.25 ns for transition from closed state to open state for apo and holo CaM, respectively. Regarding the contribution of two EF-hands, our data indicate that the first EF-hand triggers the conformational transition and is followed by the second one. We determine that there are two interaction networks which contribute to stabilize the closed and open states, respectively.