AtMYB44 belongs to the R2R3 MYB subgroup 22 transcription factor family in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Treatment with abscisic acid (ABA) induced AtMYB44 transcript accumulation within 30 min. The gene was also activated under various abiotic stresses, such as dehydration, low temperature, and salinity. In transgenic Arabidopsis carrying an AtMYB44 promoterdriven b-glucuronidase (GUS) construct, strong GUS activity was observed in the vasculature and leaf epidermal guard cells. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing AtMYB44 is more sensitive to ABA and has a more rapid ABA-induced stomatal closure response than wild-type and atmyb44 knockout plants. Transgenic plants exhibited a reduced rate of water loss, as measured by the fresh-weight loss of detached shoots, and remarkably enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress compared to wild-type plants. Microarray analysis and northern blots revealed that salt-induced activation of the genes that encode a group of serine/threonine protein phosphatases 2C (PP2Cs), such as ABI1, ABI2, AtPP2CA, HAB1, and HAB2, was diminished in transgenic plants overexpressing AtMYB44. By contrast, the atmyb44 knockout mutant line exhibited enhanced salt-induced expression of PP2C-encoding genes and reduced drought/salt stress tolerance compared to wild-type plants. Therefore, enhanced abiotic stress tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing AtMYB44 was conferred by reduced expression of genes encoding PP2Cs, which have been described as negative regulators of ABA signaling.

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a potent Ca2؉ -mobilizing messenger that in many cells releases Ca 2؉ from the endolysosomal system. Recent studies have shown that NAADP-induced Ca 2؉ mobilization is mediated by the two-pore channels (TPCs). Whether NAADP acts as a messenger in astrocytes is unclear, and downstream functional consequences have yet to be defined. Here, we show that intracellular delivery of NAADP evokes Ca 2؉ signals from acidic organelles in rat astrocytes and that these signals are potentiated upon overexpression of TPCs. We also show that NAADP increases acidic vesicular organelle formation and levels of the autophagic markers, LC3II and beclin-1. NAADP-mediated increases in LC3II levels were reduced in cells expressing a dominant-negative TPC2 construct. Our data provide evidence that NAADP-evoked Ca 2؉ signals mediated by TPCs regulate autophagy. Increases in cytosolic Ca2ϩ regulate a myriad of cellular functions including information processing in the central nervous system (1). In many cells, these increases can be driven by mobilization of intracellular Ca 2ϩ stores (2). Much attention has focused on the endoplasmic reticulum as a Ca 2ϩ store (3), but accumulating evidence also implicates acidic organelles such as lysosomes in the control of Ca 2ϩ dynamics (4). In particular, NAADP 2 has emerged as a novel intracellular Ca 2ϩ -mobilizing messenger that links cell surface stimulation to the release of Ca 2ϩ from acidic Ca 2ϩ stores (5). Changes in the concentration of cytosolic Ca 2ϩ in glial cells are key for bidirectional control of neuronal activity (1). Previous studies have shown that extracellular application of NAADP can evoke Ca 2ϩ signals in astrocytes, consistent with a messenger role for NAADP in this cell type, following its internalization (6). Interpretation of these results, however, is clouded by the demonstrated lack of specificity with respect to related nucleotides (6) and by the potential activation by NAADP of cell surface purinergic receptors (7). Whether NAADP acts as an intracellular messenger in astrocytes is therefore unclear.Although the role of inositol trisphosphate and ryanodine receptors is established in mediating Ca 2ϩ release from the ER in response to inositol trisphosphate and cyclic ADP-ribose, respectively (2), the molecular basis for Ca 2ϩ release by NAADP from acidic organelles is less certain (8). In a series of recent studies, however, a novel family of Ca 2ϩ channels, known as the two-pore channels (TPCs), have emerged as likely targets (9). Thus, TPCs localize to endosomes and/or lysosomes through an identified targeting motif and enhance NAADPmediated cytosolic Ca 2ϩ signals when overexpressed (10 -12). Inhibition of TPC expression/function using siRNA (10), TPC knock-out mice (11), or a dominant-negative TPC construct (10) reduces NAADP-evoked Ca 2ϩ signals, and biophysical analyses indicate that TPCs are NAADP-gated Ca 2ϩ -permeable channels (13). Moreover, a functional role for TPCs has been identified in events such ...

Most plant cells contain a large central vacuole that is essential to maintain cellular turgor. We report a new mutant allele of VTI11 that implicates the SNARE protein VTI11 in homotypic fusion of protein storage and lytic vacuoles. Fusion of the multiple vacuoles present in vti11 mutants could be induced by treatment with Wortmannin and LY294002, which are inhibitors of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K). We provide evidence that Phosphatidylinositol 3-Phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) regulates vacuole fusion in vti11 mutants, and that fusion of these vacuoles requires intact microtubules and actin filaments. Finally, we show that Wortmannin also induced the fusion of guard cell vacuoles in fava beans, where vacuoles are naturally fragmented after ABA-induced stomata closure. These results suggest a ubiquitous role of phosphoinositides in vacuole fusion, both during the development of the large central vacuole and during the dynamic vacuole remodeling that occurs as part of stomata movements.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is clinically characterized by progressive memory loss, behavioral and learning dysfunction and cognitive deficits, such as alterations in social interactions. The major pathological features of AD are the formation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles together with neuronal and vascular damage. The double transgenic mouse model of AD (2xTg-AD) with the APPswe/PS1dE9 mutations shows characteristics that are similar to those observed in AD patients, including social memory impairment, senile plaque formation and vascular deficits. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), when transplanted into the brain, produce positive effects by reducing amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition in transgenic amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilins1 (PS1) mice. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), exhibits neuroprotective effects against the excitotoxicity implicated in the AD neurodegeneration. The present study investigates the effects of MSCs overexpressing VEGF in hippocampal neovascularization, cognitive dysfunction and senile plaques present in 2xTg-AD transgenic mice. MSC were transfected with vascular endothelial growth factor cloned in uP vector under control of modified CMV promoter (uP-VEGF) vector, by electroporation and expanded at the 14th passage. 2xTg-AD animals at 6, 9 and 12 months old were transplanted with MSC-VEGF or MSC. The animals were tested for behavioral tasks to access locomotion, novelty exploration, learning and memory, and their brains were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for vascularization and Aβ plaques. MSC-VEGF treatment favored the neovascularization and diminished senile plaques in hippocampal specific layers. Consequently, the treatment was able to provide behavioral benefits and reduce cognitive deficits by recovering the innate interest to novelty and counteracting memory deficits present in these AD transgenic animals. Therefore, this study has important therapeutic implications for the vascular damage in the neurodegeneration promoted by AD.

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We present a detailed study on the self-assembly and cytotoxicity of arginine-rich fragments with general form [RF] (n=1-5). These highly simplified sequences, containing only two l-amino acids, provide suitable models for exploring both structure and cytotoxicity features of arginine-based oligopeptides. The organization of the sequences is revealed over a range of length scales, from the nanometer range down to the level of molecular packing, and their cytotoxicity toward C6 rat glioma and RAW264.7 macrophage cell lines is investigated. We found that the polymorphism is dependent on peptide length, with a progressive increase in crystalline ordering upon increasing the number of [RF] pairs along the backbone. A dependence on length was also found for other observables, including critical aggregation concentrations, formation of chiral assemblies and half maximum inhibitory concentrations (IC). Whereas shorter peptides self-assemble into fractal-like aggregates, clear fibrillogenic capabilities are identified for longer sequences with octameric and decameric chains exhibiting crystalline phases organized into cross-β structures. Cell viability assays revealed dose-dependent cytotoxicity profiles with very similar behavior for both glioma and macrophage cell lines, which has been interpreted as evidence for a nonspecific mechanism involved in toxicity. We propose that structural organization of [RF] peptides plays a paramount role regarding toxicity due to strong increase of local charge density induced by self-assemblies rich in cationic groups when interacting with cell membranes.

Although anoikis resistance has been considered a hallmark of malignant phenotype, the causal relation between neoplastic transformation and anchorage-independent growth remains undefined. We developed an experimental model of murine melanocyte malignant transformation, where a melanocyte lineage (melan-a) was submitted to sequential cycles of anchorage blockade, resulting in progressive morphologic alterations, and malignant transformation. Throughout this process, cells corresponding to premalignant melanocytes and melanoma cell lines were established and show progressive anoikis resistance and increased expression of Timp1. In melan-a melanocytes, Timp1 expression is suppressed by DNA methylation as indicated by its reexpression after 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment. Methylation-sensitive single-nucleotide primer extension analysis showed increased demethylation in Timp1 in parallel with its expression along malignant transformation. Interestingly, TIMP1 expression has already been related with negative prognosis in some human cancers. Although described as a MMP inhibitor, this protein has been associated with apoptosis resistance in different cell types. Melan-a cells overexpressing Timp1 showed increased survival in suspension but were unable to form tumors in vivo, whereas Timp1-overexpressing melanoma cells showed reduced latency time for tumor appearance and increased metastatic potential. Here, we demonstrated for the first time an increment in Timp1 expression since the early phases of melanocyte malignant transformation, associated to a progressive gene demethylation, which confers anoikis resistance. In this way, Timp1 might be considered as a valued marker for melanocyte malignant transformation.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is caused by a deficiency of alpha-iduronidase (IDUA), which leads to intralysosomal accumulation of glysosaminoglycans. Patients with MPS I present a wide range of clinical manifestations, but the mechanisms by which these alterations occur are still not fully understood. Genotype-phenotype correlations have not been well established for MPS I; hence, it is likely that secondary and tertiary alterations in cellular metabolism and signaling may contribute to the physiopathology of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze Ca(2+) and H(+) homeostasis, lysosomal leakage of cysteine proteases, and apoptosis in a murine model of MPS I. After exposition to specific drugs, cells from Idua-/- mice were shown to release more Ca(2+) from the lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum than Idua+/+ control mice, suggesting a higher intraorganelle store of this ion. A lower content of H(+) in the lysosomes and in the cytosol was found in cells from Idua-/- mice, suggesting an alteration of pH homeostasis. In addition, Idua-/- cells presented a higher activity of cysteine proteases in the cytosol and an increased rate of apoptotic cells when compared to the control group, indicating that lysosomal membrane permeabilization might occur in this model. Altogether, our results suggest that secondary alterations-as changes in Ca(2+) and H(+) homeostasis and lysosomal membrane permeabilization-may contribute for cellular damage and death in the physiopathology of MPS I.