The microtubule-binding domain of MAP4, a ubiquitous microtubule-associated protein, contains a region rich in proline and basic residues (proline-rich region). We searched the bovine adrenal gland for MAP4 isoforms, and identified a novel variant lacking 72 consecutive amino acid residues within the proline-rich region, as compared with the full-length MAP4. The amino acid sequence of the missing region was highly conserved (about 85% identity/similarity) among the corresponding regions of bovine, human, mouse, and rat MAP4, which suggested the functional significance of this region. A comparison of the genomic sequence with the cDNA sequence revealed that the missing region is encoded by a single exon. A MAP4 variant cDNA homologous to the bovine form was also detected in rat cells, suggesting that the new variant can be generated by alternative splicing, not only in bovine but also in other mammalian species. The mRNA expression of the novel isoform was restricted to the brain and the adrenal medulla, suggesting that this isoform is specific to a certain cell type. Using a bacterially expressed fragment corresponding to the microtubule-binding domain of the novel isoform, we analyzed its in vitro characteristics. The fragment induced microtubule assembly and bound to preformed microtubules, but the activities were slightly lower than those of the conventional MAP4 fragment, which carries the full-length proline-rich region. The microtubules assembled in the presence of the fragment failed to be bundled. Instead, a constant spacing between neighboring microtubules was observed.

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Export of mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is one of the essential steps for eukaryotic gene expression. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, heat shock stress at 42°C causes block of mRNA export from the nucleus. We now report that saline and ethanol stresses also inhibit nuclear mRNA export, resulting in accumulation of bulk poly (A)⁺ RNA, as well as a specific mRNA, in the nucleus. Under stressed conditions, an mRNA export receptor Mex67p relocates to the nucleolus from the nuclear periphery and this relocation is closely correlated with inhibition of mRNA export by the stresses. Pretreatment of cells with a mild saline stress induced thermotolerance in mRNA export in a similar manner seen with mild heat pretreatment and protected mRNA export machinery from the subsequent severe heat shock. In contrast, mild ethanol stress could not induce the thermotolerance in mRNA export, suggesting that the stress response induced by ethanol differs from that induced by saline and heat shock stresses. In addition, we found that the Spc1p MAPK pathway is involved in induction of thermotolerance in mRNA export. Of the downstream targets for Spc1p, the Atf1p transcription factor was essential for induction of thermotolerance in mRNA export. We also found that Hsp16p, the expression of which is controlled by Atf1p, is involved in acquisition of thermotolerance in mRNA export in S. pombe.

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The direct homo- and heteromeric association between G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), adenosine A_2A receptor (A_2AR) and dopamine D₂ receptor (D₂R), occurs although little is known about the selectivity of their formation (A_2AR/A_2AR vs. A_2AR/D₂R). In order to stimulate the heteromerization of A_2AR and D₂R, we have designed a single-polypeptide-chain heterodimeric A_2AR/D₂R complex by fusing the C-terminus of the A_2AR via transmembrane (TM) of a type II TM protein with the N-terminus of D₂R in tandem. This was successfully expressed on the cell surface as a full-length protein with specific binding to the respective ligands and functional coupling to G-proteins comparable to wild-type receptors, suggesting the possible creation of physiologically relevant heteromeric A_2AR/D₂R. This expression system would be useful to exclusively clarify the properties of heteromeric GPCRs irrespective of homomeric receptors.

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MAP4, a ubiquitous heat-stable MAP, is composed of an asymmetric structure common to the heat-stable MAPs, consisting of an N-terminal projection (PJ) domain and a C-terminal microtubule (MT)-binding (MTB) domain. Although the MTB domain has been intensively studied, the role of the PJ domain, which protrudes from MT-wall and does not bind to MTs, remains unclear. We investigated the roles of the PJ domain on the dynamic instability of MTs by dark-field microscopy using various PJ domain deletion constructs of human MAP4 (PJ1, PJ2, Na-MTB and KDM-MTB). There was no obvious difference in the dynamic instability between the wtMAP4 and any fragments at 0.1 μM, the minimum concentration required to stabilize MTs. The individual MTs stochastically altered between polymerization and depolymerization phases with similar profiles of length change as had been observed in the presence of MAP2 or tau. We also examined the effects at the increased concentrations of 0.7 μM, and found that in some cases the dynamic instability was almost entirely attenuated. The length of both the polymerization and depolymerization phases decreased and “pause-phases” were occasionally observed, especially in the case of PJ1, PJ2 or Na-MTB. No obvious change was observed in the increased concentration of wtMAP4 and KDM-MTB. Additionally, the profiles of MT length change were quite different in 0.7 μM PJ2. Relatively rapid and long depolymerization phases were sometimes observed among quite slow length changes. Perhaps, this unusual profile could be due to the uneven distribution of PJ2 along the MT lattice. These results indicate that the PJ domain of MAP4 participates in the regulation of the dynamic instability.

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Annexins are a family of Ca²⁺/phospholipid-binding proteins that have diverse functions. To understand the function of annexin in Physarum polycephalum, we searched for its binding proteins. Here we demonstrate the presence of two novel annexin-binding proteins. The homology search of partial amino acid sequences of these two proteins identified them as aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs). Furthermore, antibody against aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases cross-reacted with one of two proteins. Our results imply the interaction between intracellular membrane dynamics and protein translation system, and may give a clue to understand the mechanism of some myositis diseases, which have been known to produce autoantibodies against ARSs.

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Natural and synthetic polycationic proteins, such as protamine, have been used to reproduce the tissue injury and changes in epithelial permeability caused by positively charged substances released by polymorphonuclear cells during inflammation. Protamine has diverse and often conflicting effects on epithelial permeability. The effects of this polycation on the distribution and expression of tight junction (TJ)-associated proteins have not yet been investigated. In this work, we examined the influence of protamine on paracellular barrier function and TJ structure using two strains of the epithelial Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line that differed in their TJ properties (“tight” TJ-strain I and “leaky” TJ-strain II). Protamine induced concentration-, time- and strain-dependent alterations in transepithelial electrical resistance (R_t) only when applied to apical or apical+basolateral monolayer surfaces, indicating a polarity of action. In MDCK II cells, protamine (50 μg/ml) caused a significant increase in R_t that returned to control values after 2 h. However, the treatment of this MDCK strain with a higher concentration of protamine (250 μg/ml) significantly decreased the R_t after 30 min. In contrast, treated MDCK I monolayers showed a significant decrease in R_t after apical treatment with protamine at both concentrations. The protamine-induced decrease in R_t was paralleled by an increase in the phenol red basal-to-apical flux in both MDCK strains, suggesting disruption of the paracellular barrier. Marked changes in cytoskeletal F-actin distribution/polymerization and a significant reduction in the junctional expression of the tight junctional proteins occludin and claudin-1 but subtle alterations in ZO-1 were observed following protamine-elicited paracellular barrier disruption. In conclusion, protamine induces alterations in the epithelial barrier function of MDCK monolayers that may involve the cytoskeleton and TJ-associated proteins. The various actions of protamine on epithelial function may reflect different degrees of interaction of protamine with the plasma membrane and different intracellular processes triggered by this polycation.

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