Cross-talk between calcium-calmodulin and nitric oxide in abscisic acid signaling in leaves of maize plants

Using pharmacological and biochemical approaches, the signaling pathways between hydrogen peroxide （H2O2）, calcium （Ca^2＋）-calmodulin （CAM）, and nitric oxide （NO） in abscisic acid （ABA）-induced antioxidant defense were investigated in leaves of maize （Zea mays L.） plants. Treatments with ABA, H2O2, and CaCl2 induced increases in the generation of NO in maize mesophyll cells and the activity of nitric oxide synthase （NOS） in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions of maize leaves. However, such increases were blocked by the pretreatments with Ca^2＋ inhibitors and CaM antagonists. Meanwhile, pretreatments with two NOS inhibitors also suppressed the Ca^2＋-induced increase in the production of NO. On the other hand, treatments with ABA and the NO donor sodium nitroprusside （SNP） also led to increases in the concentration of cytosolic Ca^2＋ in protoplasts of mesophyll cells and in the expression of calmodulin 1 （CaM1） gene and the contents of CaM in leaves of maize plants, and the increases induced by ABA were reduced by the pretreatments with a NO scavenger and a NOS inhibitor. Moreover, SNP-induced increases in the expression of the antioxidant genes superoxide dismutase 4 （SOD4）, cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase （cAPX）, and glutathione reductase 1 （GR1） and the activities of the chloroplastic and cytosolic antioxidant enzymes were arrested by the pretreatments with Ca^2＋ inhibitors and CaM antagonists. Our results suggest that Ca^2＋-CaM functions both upstream and downstream of NO production, which is mainly from NOS, in ABA- and H2O2-induced antioxidant defense in leaves of maize plants.

Calmodulins and calmodulin-like proteins-mediated plant organellar calcium signaling networks under abiotic stress

Plant calmodulins(CaMs)and calmodulin-like proteins(CMLs)mediate Ca~(2+)signaling in response to abiotic stresses.Manipulation of this signaling in crops could increase stress tolerance.We review methods for detecting Ca~(2+)signals,regulatory roles of Ca Ms and CMLs,binding targets,and Ca~(2+)networks under abiotic stress in organelles.

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.

Changes of Calmodulin Distribution in the Embryo Sac of Oryza sativa Before and After Fertilization: an Immunogold Electron Microscope Study

Changes of calmodulin (CaM) distribution in the embryo sac of rice (Oryza sativa subsp. Japonica) at various stages before and after fertilization have been investigated by using immunogold electron microscopy. Before pollination, both cytoplasm and vacuoles of the egg cell, synergids and central cell were labeled by gold particles. A small amount of gold particles were localized in the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and dictyosomes. From pollination to fertilization, CaM amount increased in these cells, especially rich in the starch of amyloplasts. Increase of gold particles in the central cell began about 2 h earlier than that in the egg cell. There was no distinct difference of CaM amount between the degenerated and the persistent synergids. It is interesting to observe an obvious change of CaM distribution form during pollination and fertilization from scattered single particles to clustered particles, and back again to single particles after the fertilization finished. CaM was also localized extracellularly in the embryo sac wall as well as in the wall and intercellular space of nucellus cells. The extracellular CaM also changes in its amount and form after pollination. These results suggest that CaM, either intra- or extra-cellular, may play important roles in fertilization and zygote formation.

Using Isolated Embryo Sacs and Early Proembryos for Localization of Calmodulin mRNA Before and After Fertilization in Nicotiana

An in situ hybridization technique for localization of calmodulin(CaM) mRNA in isolated entire embryo sacs and proembryos in Nicotiana tabacum L.cv.W38 has been developed. This technique can be applied to small amounts of materials in which a whole view of CaM mRNA distribution can be obtained. The authors revealed that CaM mRNA expression changes dramatically before and after fertilization. Especially interesting is that a prominent CaM mRNA band appears between the egg apparatus and polar nuclei temporarily during the period of pollination and fertilization. The band disappears just prior to fertilization and expands to a fan_shaped region that occupies the micropylar portion of the embryo sac. After fertilization, CaM mRNA accumulates in the elongated zygotes with higher concentration in their chalazal portion than in the micropylar portion. Such an asymmetrical pattern continues to manifest in the early proembryos. It is supposed that CaM mRNA may be involved in the early events and signaling steps associated with double fertilization and zygote polarization in higher plants.

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。

Quantitative Stucture-Activity Relationship Studies onCalmodulin Antagonists of Alkylamino 1,2-Diphenylethvl-ene Compounds

从新的先导化合物６－氨基１，２－二苯乙烯－１出发，研究了１５个烷氨基１，２－二苯乙烯类钙调素拮抗剂的结构与活性之间的关系。发现：顺式构型的活性一般比反式构型强，而双键还原的化合物活性更低。从芳香亲脂中心到碱性中心之间的烷基链长度增加时，拮抗活性随之增强。ＱＳＡＲ分析显示：苯环上具较大脂水分配系数及给电子的取代基时拮抗活性可提高。

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

Calmodulin (CaM), widely distributed in almost all eukaryotic cells, is a major intracellular calcium receptor responsible for mediating the Ca2 + signal to a multitude of different enzyme systems and is thought to play a vital role in the regulation of cell proliferative cycle[1，2]. Recently, many studies showed that CaM is also present in extracellular fluid such as cell culture media and normal body fluid and has been reported to stimulate proliferation in a range of normal and neoplastic cells, apparently acting as an autocrine growth factor[3-11]. In 1988, Crocker et al reported for the first time that addition of extracellular pure pig brain CaM could promote DNA synthesis and cell [7]proliferation in K562 human leukaemic lymphocytes[7].After that, more and more research was done on extracellular CaM and evidences demonstrated that extracellular CaM could also stimulate cell proliferation in normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells[5], keratinocytes[4], suspension-cultured cells of Angelica Dahurica, etc[6]. CaM is a monomeric protein of 148 amino acids that contains four homologous Ca2 + -binding domains. CaM has been highly conserved throughout the evolution. Only 1 out of 148 amino acids of human CaM is different from that of fish CaM. Complementary DNAs encoding rat, eel, chicken, human, and trypanosome CaM have been cloned.

Immunoelectron microscopic localization of calmodulin in corn root cells

Methods for the localization of plant calmodulin by immuno-gold and immuno-peroxidase electron microscopy have been developed. In both corn root-cap cells and meristematic cells, calmodulin was found to be localized in the nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria as well as in the cell wall. In the meristematic cells, calmodulin was distinctly localized on the plasma membrane, cytoplasmic face of rough endoplasmic reticulum and polyribosomes. Characteristically, calmodulin was present in the amyloplasts of root-cap cells. The widespread distribution of calmodulin may reflect its pleiotropic functions in plant cellular activities.

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.

Cloning and Analysis of Calmodulin Gene from Porphyra yezoensis Ueda (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

In order to understand the mechanisms of signal transduction and anti-desiccation mechanisms of Porphyra yezoensis, cDNA and its genomic sequence of Calmodulin gene (CaM) was cloned by the technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the analysis of P. yezoensis ESTs from dbEST database. The result shows that the full-length cDNA of CaM consists of 603 bps including an ORF encoding for 151 amino acids and a terminate codon UGA, while the length of genomic sequence is 1231 bps including 2 exons and 1 intron. The average GC content of the coding region is 58.77%, while the GC content of the third position of this gene is as high as 82.23%. Four Ca2+ binding sites (EF-hand) are found in this gene. The predicted molecular mass of the deduced peptide is 16688.72 Da and the pI is 4.222. By aligning with known CaM genes, the similarity of CaM gene sequence with homologous genes in Chlamydomonas incerta and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is 72.7% and 72.2% respectively, and the similarity of the deduced amino acid sequence of CaM gene with homologous genes in C. incerta and C. reinhardtii are both 71.5%. This is the first report on CaM from a species of Rhodophyta.

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.

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).

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

The changes of calcium and calmodulin (CaM) levels in the brain cortex and blood of rat were studied following brain injury. The effect of anisodamine on changes of calcium and CaM levels was investigated in this study. The results showed that the levels of alcium in the brain cortex and serum increased after brain injury.The increase of calcium in the brain cortex was more evident than that in the serum, and reached 24. 12±10. 22 mmol/kg dry brain cortex 48 h after brain injury, which was twice the control value. The increases of CaM in the brain cortex and plasma were very apparent, and reached the peak at 48 h after injury, which were 2. 6 and 2. 8 times the control values respectively. The increases of CaM were closely correlated to the changes of calcium. Anisodamine had the effects of reducing the Ca2+ and CaM concentrations in this study.

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.

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.

Real-time Analysis of the Interaction between Calmodulin and Melittin by SPR Spectroscopy

The dynamic interaction process of calmodulin with an immobilized peptide melittin was investigated in real time by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, and dissociation constant of the complex was calculated to be 3.3710-6 mol/L.

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.