A peptide chain release factor 2a gene regulates maize kernel development by modulating mitochondrial function

Mitochondrial protein translation that is essential for aerobic energy production includes four essential steps of the mitochondrial ribosome cycle,namely,initiation,elongation,termination of the polypeptide,and ribosome recycling.Translation termination initiates when a stop codon enters the A site of the mitochondrial ribosome where it is recognized by a dedicated peptide release factor(RF).However,RFs and mechanisms involved in translation in plant mitochondria,especially in monocotyledons,remain largely unknown.Here,we identified a crumpled kernel(crk5 allele)mutant,with significantly decreased kernel size,100-kernel weight,and an embryo-lethal phenotype.The Crk5 allele was isolated using map-based cloning and found to encode a mitochondrial localization RF2a.As it is an ortholog of Arabidopsis mitochondrial RF2a,we named the gene ZmmtRF2a.ZmmtRF2a is missing the 5th–7th exons in the crk5 resulting in deletion of domains containing motifs GGQ and SPF that are essential for release activity of RF,mitochondrial ribosome binding,and stop codon recognition.Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses indicate that the crk5 mutation results in abnormal mitochondrion structure and function.Intriguingly,we observed a feedback loop in the crk5 with up-regulated transcript levels detected for several mitochondrial ribosome and mitochondrial-related components,in particular mitochondrial complexes CI,CIV,and a ribosome assembly related PPR.Together,our data support a crucial role for ZmmtRF2a in regulation of mitochondrial structure and function in maize.

C-terminal 76 Amino Acids of eRF3 Are Not Required for the Binding of Release Factor eRF1a from Euplotes octocarinatus

Termination of translation in eukaryotes requires two polypeptide chain-release factors, eRF1 and eRF3. eRF1 recognizes stop signals, whereas eRF3 is a ribosome-dependent and eRFl-dependent GTPase. Polypeptide release factor eRF3 consists of N-terminal variable region and C-terminal conserved part. C-terminal part of eRF3 is responsible for termination of the translation, In the present study, the C-terminal of Euplotes octocarinatus eRF3 （eRF3C） and truncate eRF3C lacking 76 amino acids in C-terminal （eRF3Ct） were expressed in Escherichia coll. The recombinant GST-eRF3C and GST-eRF3Ct polypeptides were purifled by affinity chromatography using glutathione Sepharose 4B column. After enzymatic cleavage of GST tail, the eRF3C and eRF3Ct protein were obtained. Pull-down analysis showed that the recombinant GST-eRF3C and GST-eRF3Ct polypeptides interacted with E. octocarinatus polypeptide chain release factor eRF1a. This result suggested that the C-terminal of eRF3 having 76 amino acids were not required for the binding of eRFla in Euplotes octocarinatus.

Accommodating the bacterial decoding release factor as an alien protein among the RNAs at the active site of the ribosome

The decoding release factor （RF） triggers termination of protein synthesis by functionally mimicking a tRNA to span the decoding centre and the peptidyl transferase centre （PTC） of the ribosome. Structurally, it must fit into a site crafted for a tRNA and surrounded by five other RNAs, namely the adjacent peptidyl tRNA carrying the completed polypeptide, the mRNA and the three rRNAs. This is achieved by extending a structural domain from the body of the protein that results in a critical conformational change allowing it to contact the PTC. A structural model of the bacterial termination complex with the accommodated RF shows that it makes close contact with the first, second and third bases of the stop codon in the mRNA with two separate loops of structure＂ the anticodon loop and the loop at the tip of helix orS. The anticodon loop also makes contact with the base following the stop codon that is known to strongly influence termination efficiency. It confirms the close contact of domain 3 of the protein with the key RNA structures of the PTC. The mRNA signal for termination includes sequences upstream as well as downstream of the stop codon, and this may reflect structural restrictions for specific combinations of tRNA and RF to be bound onto the ribosome together. An unbiased SELEX approach has been investigated as a tool to identify potential rRNA-binding contacts of the bacterial RF in its different binding conformations within the active centre of the ribosome.

Overexpression of eRF3a Promotes Cell Proliferation and Migration in Liver Cancer

Objective:The eukaryotic release factor 3a(eRF3a),a member of the eukaryotic peptide chain release factor family,is overexpressed in several types of cancer.This study aims to investigate the biological role and mechanism of eRF3a in the progression of liver cancer.

Bioactive hydrogel microcapsules for guiding stem cell fate decisions by release and reloading of growth factors

Human pluripotent stem cells(hPSC)hold considerable promise as a source of adult cells for treatment of diseases ranging from diabetes to liver failure.Some of the challenges that limit the clinical/translational impact of hPSCs are high cost and difficulty in scaling-up of existing differentiation protocols.In this paper,we sought to address these challenges through the development of bioactive microcapsules.A co-axial flow focusing microfluidic device was used to encapsulate hPSCs in microcapsules comprised of an aqueous core and a hydrogel shell.Importantly,the shell contained heparin moieties for growth factor(GF)binding and release.The aqueous core enabled rapid aggregation of hPSCs into 3D spheroids while the bioactive hydrogel shell was used to load inductive cues driving pluripotency maintenance and endodermal differentiation.Specifically,we demonstrated that one-time,1 h long loading of pluripotency signals,fibroblast growth factor(FGF)-2 and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1,into bioactive microcapsules was sufficient to induce and maintain pluripotency of hPSCs over the course of 5 days at levels similar to or better than a standard protocol with soluble GFs.Furthermore,stem cell-carrying microcapsules that previously contained pluripotency signals could be reloaded with an endodermal cue,Nodal,resulting in higher levels of endodermal markers compared to stem cells differentiated in a standard protocol.Overall,bioactive heparin-containing core-shell microcapsules decreased GF usage five-fold while improving stem cell phenotype and are well suited for 3D cultivation of hPSCs.

Involvement of CRF2 signaling in enterocyte differentiation

To determine the role of corticotropin releasing factor receptor (CRF2) in epithelial permeability and enterocyte cell differentiation.METHODSFor this purpose, we used rat Sprague Dawley and various colon carcinoma cell lines (SW620, HCT8R, HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines). Expression of CRF2 protein was analyzed by fluorescent immunolabeling in normal rat colon and then by western blot in dissociated colonic epithelial cells and in the lysates of colon carcinoma cell lines or during the early differentiation of HT-29 cells (ten first days). To assess the impact of CRF2 signaling on colonic cell differentiation, HT-29 and Caco-2 cells were exposed to Urocortin 3 recombinant proteins (Ucn3, 100 nmol/L). In some experiments, cells were pre-exposed to the astressin 2b (A2b) a CRF2 antagonist in order to inhibit the action of Ucn3. Intestinal cell differentiation was first analyzed by functional assays: the trans-cellular permeability and the para-cellular permeability were determined by Dextran-FITC intake and measure of the transepithelial electrical resistance respectively. Morphological modifications associated to epithelial dysfunction were analyzed by confocal microscopy after fluorescent labeling of actin (phaloidin-TRITC) and intercellular adhesion proteins such as E-cadherin, p120ctn, occludin and ZO-1. The establishment of mature adherens junctions (AJ) was monitored by following the distribution of AJ proteins in lipid raft fractions, after separation of cell lysates on sucrose gradients. Finally, the mRNA and the protein expression levels of characteristic markers of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) differentiation such as the transcriptional factor krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) or the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) were performed by RT-PCR and western blot respectively. The specific activities of DPPIV and alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzymes were determined by a colorimetric method.RESULTSCRF2 protein is preferentially expressed in undifferentiated epithelial cells from the crypts of colon and in human colon carcinoma cell lines. Furthermore, CRF2 expression is down regulated according to the kinetic of HT-29 cell differentiation. By performing functional assays, we found that Ucn3-induced CRF2 signaling alters both para- and trans-cellular permeability of differentiated HT-29 and Caco-2 cells. These effects are partly mediated by Ucn3-induced morphological changes associated with the disruption of mature AJ in HT-29 cells and tight junctions (TJ) in Caco-2 cells. Ucn3-mediated activation of CRF2 decreases mRNA and protein expression levels of KLF4 a transcription factor involved in IEC differentiation. This signaling is correlated to a down-regulation of key IEC markers such as DPPIV and AP, at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that CRF2 signaling could modulate IEC differentiation. These mechanisms could be relevant to the stress induced epithelial alterations found in inflammatory bowel diseases.

ANALYSIS OF CRACK-TIP SINGULARITIES FOR AN INTERFACIAL PERMEABLE CRACK IN METAL/PIEZOELECTRIC BIMATERIALS

By modeling metal as a special piezoelectric material with extremely small piezoelectricity and extremely large permittivity, we have obtained the analytical solutions for an interracial permeable crack in metal/piezoelectric bimaterials by means of the generalized Stroh formalism. The analysis shows that the stress fields near a permeable interracial crack tip are usually with three types of singularities： r^-1/2±iε and r^-1/2. Further numerical calculation on the oscillatory index ε are given for 28 types of metal/piezoelectric bimaterials combined by seven commercial piezoelectric materials： PZT-4, BaTiO3, PZT-5H, PZT-6B, PZT-7A, P-7 and PZT-PIC 151 and four metals： copper, silver, lead and aluminum, respectively. The explicit expressions of the crack tip energy release rate （ERR） and the crack tip generalized stress intensity factors （GSIF） are obtained. It is found that both the ERR and GSIF are independent of the electric displacement loading, although they seriously depends on the mechanical loadings.

ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX STRESS INTENSITIES FOR CRACKED LAMINATES

Classical plate theory has been used to find out interfacial stress intensity factors in composite laminates. By using a well-known relation between the crack-tip energy release rate and the complex stress intensity factor. a closed-form solution for complex. Stress intensity in terms of external loading and a mode mix parameter for fairly. general composite laminates is given. Then a procedure for determining this mode mix. parameter is presented. followed by numerical results for some laminates. Small scale contact condition is expressed in terms of external loading In particular, a symmetric property of interfacial toughness curye is proven. Finally. the accuracy of failure load predicled by elininating oscllation index is discussed. and an example is presented to show the validity and limitation of β=0 approximation.

Biodegradable chitosan scaffolds containing microspheres as carriers for controlled transforming growth factor-β_1 delivery for cartilage tissue engineering

Background Natural articular cartilage has a limited capacity for spontaneous regeneration. Controlled release of transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） to cartilage defects can enhance chondrogenesis. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of using biodegradable chitosan microspheres as carriers for controlled TGF-β1 delivery and the effect of released TGF-β1 on the chondrogenic potential of chondrocytes. Methods Chitosan scaffolds and chitosan microspheres loaded with TGF-β1 were prepared by the freeze-drying and the emulsion-crosslinking method respectively. In vitro drug release kinetics, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was monitored for 7 days. Lysozyme degradation was performed for 4 weeks to detect in vitro degradability of the scaffolds and the microspheres. Rabbit chondrocytes were seeded on the scaffolds containing TGF-β1 microspheres and incubated in vitro for 3 weeks. Histological examination and type Ⅱ collagen immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the effects of released TGF-β1 on cell adhesivity, proliferation and synthesis of the extracellular matrix. Results TGF-β1 was encapsulated into chitosan microspheres and the encapsulation efficiency of TGF-β1 was high （90.1%）. During 4 weeks of incubation in lysozyme solution for in vitro degradation, the mass of both the scaffolds and the microspheres decreased continuously and significant morphological changes was noticed. From the release experiments, it was found that TGF-β1 could be released from the microspheres in a multiphasic fashion including an initial burst phase, a slow linear release phase and a plateau phase. The release amount of TGF-β1 was 37.4%, 50.7%, 61.3%, and 63.5% for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days respectively. At 21 days after cultivation, type II collagen immunohistochemical staining was performed. The mean percentage of positive cells for collagen type II in control group （32.7%± 10.4%） was significantly lower than that in the controlled TGF-β1 release group （92.4%±4.8%, P〈0.05）. Both the proliferation rate and production of collagen type Ⅱ in the transforming growth factor-β1 microsphere incorporated scaffolds were significantly higher than those in the scaffolds without microspheres, indicating that the activity of TGF-β1 was retained during microsphere fabrication and after growth factor release. Conclusion Chitosan microspheres can serve as delivery vehicles for controlled release of TGF-β1, and the released growth factor can augment chondrocytes proliferation and synthesis of extracellular matrix. Chitosan scaffolds incorporated with chitosan microspheres loaded with TGF-β1 possess a promising potential to be applied for controlled cytokine delivery and cartilage tissue engineering.

Mitsugumin 53 protects the kidney from severe burn injury in mice

Mitsugumin 53 (MG53), a newly identified muscle-specific protein, is an essential component of the cell membrane repair machinery in skeletal and cardiac muscle. However, the role of MG53 after burns in other tissues remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the possible roles of MG53 in the protection of the kidney after severe burn injury, and an animal scalding model of 30% of total body surface area (TBSA) was used. Recombinant human MG53 (rhMG53) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) was injected intravenously via the tail vein. Data showed that the mortality in the MG53-treated group was lower than that in control group. Administration of rhMG53 may alleviate histological alterations in renal tubular epithelial cells after burn injury. Renal tubular injury scores and the average optical density score of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) immunohistochemical staining in the MG53-treated group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.001). Exogenous rhMG53 was found to be located in renal tubular epithelial cells. Numerous polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) were expressed in the mouse kidney after severe scalding. In conclusion, our data indicate that MG53 protein protects the kidney by involving local PTRF after severe burn injury.