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ABSTRACT: In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, genes involved in thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) synthesis (THI genes) and the pyruvate decarboxylase structural gene PDC5 are transcriptionally induced in response to thiamin starvation. Three positive regulatory factors (Thi2p, Thi3p, and Pdc2p) are involved in the expression of THI genes, whereas only Pdc2p is required for the expression of PDC5. Thi2p and Pdc2p serve as transcriptional activators and each factor can interact with Thi3p. The target consensus DNA sequence of Thi2p has been deduced. When TPP is not bound to Thi3p, the interactions between the regulatory factors are increased and THI gene expression is upregulated. In this study, we demonstrated that Pdc2p interacts with the upstream region of THI genes and PDC5. The association of Pdc2p or Thi2p with THI gene promoters was enhanced by thiamin starvation, suggesting that Pdc2p and Thi2p assist each other in their recruitment to the THI promoters via interaction with Thi3p. It is highly likely that, under thiamin-deprived conditions, a ternary Thi2p/Thi3p/Pdc2p complex is formed and transactivates THI genes in yeast cells. On the other hand, the association of Pdc2p with PDC5 was unaffected by thiamin. We also identified a DNA element in the upstream region of PDC5, which can bind to Pdc2p and is required for the expression of PDC5.
FEMS Microbiology Letters 03/2012; 330(2):140-7. · 2.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Effects of retro-inverso (RI) modifications of HTLV-1 protease inhibitors containing a hydroxyethylamine isoster backbone were clarified. Construction of the isoster backbone was achieved by a stereoselective aldol reaction. Four diastereomers with different configurations at the isoster hydroxyl site and the scissile site substituent were synthesized. Inhibitory activities of the new inhibitors suggest that partially modified RI inhibitors would interact with HTLV-1 protease in the same manner as the parent hydroxyethylamine inhibitor.
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry 02/2010; 18(7):2720-7. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: N,N-Dimethyl-N-[4-[[[2-(4-methylphenyl)-6,7-dihydro-5H-benzocyclohepten-8-yl]carbonyl]amino]benzyl]tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-aminium chloride (TAK779) is a potent and selective non-peptide CCR5 antagonist. To use a site-specifically labeled form as a molecular probe, TAK779 containing (13)C at positions C19, 35, and 36 was produced. A commercially available [(13)C]-methyl iodide was employed for the labeling. Starting from a known carboxylic acid segment containing no labeled carbon, the labeled TAK779 was constructed by the successive coupling of [(13)C]-labeled tolyl boronic ester by the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction and a [(13)C]-labeled aniline segment by amide bond formation.
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry 08/2009; 17(16):5769-74. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Most molecular imaging technologies require exogenous probes and may have some influence on the intracellular dynamics of target molecules. In contrast, Raman scattering light measurement can identify biomolecules in their innate state without application of staining methods. Our aim was to analyze intracellular dynamics of topoisomerase I inhibitor, CPT-11, by using slit-scanning confocal Raman microscopy, which can take Raman images with high temporal and spatial resolution. We could acquire images of the intracellular distribution of CPT-11 and its metabolite SN-38 within several minutes without use of any exogenous tags. Change of subcellular drug localization after treatment could be assessed by Raman imaging. We also showed intracellular conversion from CPT-11 to SN-38 using Raman spectra. The study shows the feasibility of using slit-scanning confocal Raman microscopy for the non-labeling evaluation of the intracellular dynamics of CPT-11 with high temporal and spatial resolution. We conclude that Raman spectromicroscopic imaging is useful for pharmacokinetic studies of anticancer drugs in living cells.
Histochemie 05/2009; 132(1):39-46. · 2.59 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Yeast genes involved in thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) synthesis are transcriptionally induced in response to thiamin starvation. In this system, three proteins (Thi2p, Thi3p, and Pdc2p) act as positive regulatory factors. Thi3p is a TPP-binding protein and upregulates THI genes expression when TPP is not bound. We found here that Pdc2p could transactivate gene expression and interact with Thi3p, both of which were enhanced by thiamin starvation. This enhancement of the transactivation activity was not observed in a thi3 strain. When the C-terminal region containing the deduced Thi3p-interacting domain was truncated, Pdc2p expressed striking transactivation activity in a Thi3p-independent fashion. We explored the hypothesis that Thi3p causes a conformational change in Pdc2p leading to full transactivation activity under favorable conditions.
FEBS Letters 12/2008; 582(29):3991-6. · 3.54 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The 3C-like (3CL) protease of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus is a key enzyme for the virus maturation. We found for the first time that the mature SARS 3CL protease is subject to degradation at 188Arg/189Gln. Replacing Arg with Ile at position 188 rendered the protease resistant to proteolysis. The R188I mutant digested a conserved undecapeptide substrate with a K(m) of 33.8 microM and k(cat) of 4753 s(-1). Compared with the value reported for the mature protease containing a C-terminal His-tag, the relative activity of the mutant was nearly 10(6). Novel peptide-aldehyde derivatives containing a side-chain-protected C-terminal Gln efficiently inhibited the catalytic activity of the R188I mutant. The results indicated for the first time that the tetrapeptide sequence is enough for inhibitory activities of peptide-aldehyde derivatives.
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry 10/2008; 16(21):9400-8. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The physiological significance of thiaminase II, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of thiamin, has remained elusive for several decades. The C-terminal domains of THI20 family proteins (THI20/21/22) and the whole region of PET18 gene product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are homologous to bacterial thiaminase II. On the other hand, the N-terminal domains of THI20 and THI21 encode 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine kinase and 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine phosphate kinase involved in the thiamin synthetic pathway. In this study, it was first indicated that the C-terminal domains of the THI20 family and PET18 are not required for de novo thiamin synthesis in S. cerevisiae, using a quadruple deletion strain expressing the N-terminal domain of THI20. Biochemical analysis using cell-free extracts and recombinant proteins demonstrated that yeast thiaminase II activity is exclusively encoded by THI20. It appeared that Thi20p has an affinity for the pyrimidine moiety of thiamin, and HMP produced by the thiaminase II activity is immediately phosphorylated. Thi20p was found to participate in the formation of thiamin from two synthetic antagonists, pyrithiamin and oxythiamin, by hydrolyzing both antagonists and phosphorylating HMP to give HMP pyrophosphate. Furthermore, 2-methyl-4-amino-5-aminomethylpyrimidine, a presumed naturally occurring thiamin precursor, was effectively converted to HMP by incubation with Thi20p. It is proposed that the thiaminase II activity of Thi20p is involved in the thiamin salvage pathway by catalyzing the hydrolysis of HMP precursors in S. cerevisiae.
FEMS Yeast Research 04/2008; 8(2):266-75. · 2.40 Impact Factor
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Kazuto Nosaka
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ABSTRACT: The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is able to synthesize thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) de novo, which involves the independent formation of two ring structures, 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine and 4-methyl-5-beta-hydroxyethylthiazole, in the early steps. In addition, this organism can efficiently utilize thiamin from the extracellular environment to produce TPP. Nineteen genes involved in the synthesis of TPP and the utilization of thiamin (THI genes) have been identified, and the function of several THI genes has been elucidated. All THI genes participating in the synthesis of the pyrimidine unit belong to multigene families. It is also intriguing that some thiamin biosynthetic proteins are composed of two distinct domains or form an enzyme complex. The expression of THI genes is coordinately induced in response to thiamin starvation. It is likely that the induction of THI genes is activated by a positive regulatory factor complex and that the protein-protein interaction among the factors is disturbed by TPP. Thiamin-hyperproducing yeast and fermented food containing a high content of thiamin are expected to be available in the future based on the progress in understanding thiamin biosynthesis and its genetic regulation in S. cerevisiae.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 09/2006; 72(1):30-40. · 3.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Core sequences necessary for substrate recognition and its inhibition at the PR/p3 site of HTLV-1 protease were clarified for the first time. From the cleavage rates of peptides containing a part of the PR/p3 site, a heptapeptide was found to be the minimal sequence required for substrate recognition. The use of synthetic inhibitors containing hydroxyethylamine dipeptide isostere indicated that a tetrapeptide sequence was necessary to achieve potent inhibition.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 08/2006; 16(14):3761-4. · 2.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: [reaction: see text] The solid-phase Horner-Emmons reaction was successfully applied for the convenient syntheses of olefin-containing protease inhibitors. The isomerization during the solid-phase Horner-Emmons reaction can be minimized simply by the use of an appropriate amount of the base. The synthesized olefin peptides, which have an olefin gamma-amino acid at the scissile site, were found to act as effective inhibitors for the HTLV-1 protease for the first time.
The Journal of Organic Chemistry 01/2006; 70(25):10596-9. · 4.45 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The expression of genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoding the enzymes involved in the metabolism of thiamin (THI genes) is co-ordinately repressed by exogenous thiamin and induced in the absence of thiamin. In this yeast THI regulatory system acts mainly at the transcriptional level, thiamin pyrophosphate (TDP) seems to serve as a corepressor, and genetic studies have identified three positive regulatory factors (Thi2p, Thi3p and Pdc2p). We found in a DNA microarray analysis that the expression of THI genes increased 10- to 90-fold in response to thiamin deprivation, and likewise, the expression of THI2 and THI3 increased 17-fold and threefold, respectively. After transfer from repressing to inducing medium, the promoter activity of both THI2 and THI3 increased in parallel with that of PHO3, one of THI genes. The stimulation of THI3 promoter activity was diminished by deletion of THI3, indicative of the autoregulation of THI3. The THI genes were not induced when THI2 was expressed from the yeast GAL1 promoter in a thi3Delta strain or when THI3 was expressed in a thi2Delta strain, suggesting that Thi2p and Thi3p participate simultaneously in the induction. When mutant Thi3p proteins lacking TDP-binding activity were produced in the thi3Delta strain, THI genes were expressed even under thiamin-replete conditions. This result supports the hypothesis that Thi3p senses the intracellular signal of the THI regulatory system to exert transcriptional control. Furthermore, Thi2p and Thi3p were demonstrated to bind each other and this interaction was partially diminished by exogenous thiamin, suggesting that Thi2p and Thi3p stimulate the expression as a complex whose function is disturbed by TDP bound to Thi3p. We discuss the possibility that the induction of THI genes is triggered by the activation of the complex attributed to decrease in intracellular TDP and the elevated complex in the autoregulatory fashion further upregulates THI genes. This is the first report of the involvement of the TDP-binding motif in genetic regulation.
Molecular Microbiology 11/2005; 58(2):467-79. · 5.01 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We cloned and analyzed the 5'-flanking region of the human thiamin pyrophosphokinase gene (hTPK1). Truncation analysis using transiently transfected HepG2 cells revealed the minimal region required for basal activity of the hTPK1 promoter, which was encoded in a sequence between -105 and +441 relative to the transcription start site. In an electrophoretic mobility shift assay using the nuclear extracts from HepG2 cells and the synthetic oligonucleotide containing the Sp1 site, specific DNA-protein complexes were identified. These findings indicate the importance of the Sp1 cis-element in regulating the hTPK1 gene expression.
Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 09/2005; 51(4):274-7. · 1.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We studied six infants with thiamine-responsive congenital lactic acidosis and normal pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity in vitro, through clinical and biochemical analysis. In addition to elevated lactate and pyruvate levels, the data revealed increased urinary excretion of alpha-ketoglutarate, alpha-ketoadipate, and branched chain ketoacids, indicating functional impairment of thiamine-requiring enzymes, such as pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, alpha-ketoadipate dehydrogenase, and branched chain amino acid dehydrogenase. The metabolism of thiamine has not been investigated in patients with thiamine-responsive congenital lactic acidosis. We evaluated two specific transport systems, THTR-1 (SLC19A2) and THTR-2 (SLC19A3), and a pyrophosphorylating enzyme of thiamine, thiamine pyrophosphokinase (hTPK 1), in addition to pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex activity; no abnormality was found. Although the clinical features of thiamine-responsive congenital lactic acidosis are heterogeneous and clinical responses to thiamine administration vary, we emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and initiation of thiamine therapy before the occurrence of permanent brain damage. Careful monitoring of lactate and pyruvate would be useful in determining thiamine dosage.
Pediatric Neurology 09/2005; 33(2):98-104. · 1.52 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Two redundant genes, THI20 and THI21, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encode a 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine monophosphate (HMP-P) kinase required for thiamin biosynthesis. Using functional complementation analysis with an Escherichia coli mutant strain and a defined biochemical system containing partially purified proteins for the reconstitution of thiamin monophosphate synthesis, we demonstrate that both Thi20p and Thi21p proteins also have HMP kinase activity. Although each isoform independently can synthesize HMP pyrophosphate (HMP-PP) from HMP, there is a marked difference in efficiency between the two proteins. The thi20 deletion strain grows at the same rate as the parental strain in minimal medium without thiamin, but its ability to synthesize HMP-PP from HMP is significantly decreased. We discuss the possibility that HMP is not involved in the pathway of de novo thiamin synthesis in S. cerevisiae.
Current Genetics 04/2005; 47(3):156-62. · 2.56 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Thiamin pyrophosphokinase catalyzes the pyrophosphorylation of thiamin to thiamin pyrophosphate in the presence of ATP and Mg2+. The kinetic properties of human thiamin pyrophosphokinase (hTPK1) were investigated using purified histidine-tagged recombinant protein. The plots of the initial velocity against MgATP concentrations gave a sigmoidal character when Mg2+/ATP was maintained at 1. However, the addition of an excess amount of Mg2+ resulted in the restoration of activity at lower concentrations of MgATP. A steady-state kinetics study led us to conclude that the kinase reaction obeys a ping-pong mechanism. Site-directed mutagenesis was also performed on hTPK1 to examine the contributions of eight strictly conserved residues in thiamin pyrophosphokinase on the kinetic properties. Mutations D71N, D73N, and D100N reduced kcat markedly, indicating that these aspartic acids play a crucial role in carrying out the catalytic process of hTPK1. A selective decrease in the kcat/Km(thiamin) value was observed in the D133N mutant, whereas the kcat/Km(ATP) values of T99A and R131G were significantly decreased. Interestingly, the replacement of Gln-96 with Glu caused an increase in the kcat/Km(thiamin) value (3.53-fold of the wild-type). It was therefore suggested that the residues Gln-96, Thr-99, Arg-131, and Asp-133 are conserved as functionally significant components for substrate recognition in thiamin pyrophosphokinase.
Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology 07/2003; 49(3):156-62. · 1.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A human thiamine pyrophosphokinase cDNA clone (hTPK1) was isolated and sequenced. When the intact hTPK1 open reading frame was expressed as a histidine-tag fusion protein in Escherichia coli, marked enzyme activity was detected in the bacterial cells. The hTPK1 mRNA was widely expressed in various human tissues at a very low level, and the mRNA content in cultured fibroblasts was unaffected by the thiamine concentration of the medium. The chromosome localization of the hTPK1 gene was assigned to 7q34.
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 02/2001; · 4.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Thiamin pyrophosphokinase (EC 2.7.6.2) catalyzes the pyrophosphorylation of thiamin with adenosine 5′-triphosphate to form thiamin pyrophosphate. A mouse thiamin
pyrophosphokinase cDNA clone (mTPK1) was isolated using a combination of mouse expressed sequence tag database analysis, a two-step polymerase chain reaction
procedure, and functional complementation screening with aSaccharomyces cerevisiae thiamin pyrophosphokinase-deficient mutant (thi80). The predicted protein contained 243 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 27,068. When the intact mTPK1 open reading frame was expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein in Escherichia coli lacking thiamin pyrophosphokinase, marked enzyme activity was detected in the bacterial cells. The corresponding 2.5-kilobase
pair mRNA was expressed in a tissue-dependent manner and was found at relatively high levels in the kidney and liver, indicating
that the mode of expression of mTPK1 genes differs with cell type. The expression ofmTPK1 genes in cultured mouse neuroblastoma and normal liver cells was unaffected by the thiamin concentration in the medium (10
μm versus 3.0 nm). This is the first report on identification of the primary sequence for mammalian thiamin pyrophosphokinase.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 11/1999; 274(48):34129-34133. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the progression of malignancy in gliomas. We studied the growth inhibition of the malignant glioma cell lines using an antisense EGFR oligodeoxynucleotide enveloped with LipofectinR. At a concentration of 5 M of the antisense EGFR oligodeoxynucleotide enveloped with LipofectinR, the proliferation of three malignant glioma cell lines was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05)="" compared="" with="" that="" of="" the="" cells="" exposed="" to="" 5="">M sense EGFR oligodeoxynucleotide. The activity of the tyrosine kinase and the DNA synthesis was also significantly suppressed (p < 0.05).="" these="" findings="" show="" that="" the="" antisense="" egfr="" oligodeoxynucleotide="" enveloped="" with="">R has a possibility to become a useful gene therapy against malignant gliomas.
Journal of Neuro-Oncology 08/1998; 39(3):237-244. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Two signaling pathways, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3k)/Akt and Ras/MAPK, are major effectors triggered by nerve growth factor (NGF). Rac1, Cdc42 and GSK-3beta are reported to be targets of PI-3k in the signal transduction for neurite outgrowth. Immediately after NGF was added, broad ruffles were observed temporarily around the periphery of PC12 cells prior to neurite growth. As PC12D cells are characterized by a very rapid extension of neurites in response to various agents, the signaling pathways described above were studied in relation to the NGF-induced formation of ruffles and outgrowth of neurites. Wortmannin, an Akt inhibitor (V), and GSK-3beta inhibitor (SB425286) suppressed the neurite growth in NGF-treated cells, but not in dbcAMP-treated cells. The outgrowth of neurites induced by NGF but not by dbcAMP was inhibited with the expression of mutant Ras. But upon the expression of dominant-negative Rac1, cells often extended protrusions, incomplete neurites, lacking F-actin. Intact neurites were observed in cells with dominant-negative Cdc42. These results suggest that NGF-dependent neurite outgrowth occurs via a mechanism involving activation of the Ras/PI-3K/Akt/GSK-3beta pathway, while dbcAMP-dependent neurite growth might be induced in a distinct manner. However, inhibitors for GSK-3beta and PI-3k (wortmannin) did not suppress the NGF-dependent formation of ruffles. In addition, the formation of ruffles was not inhibited by the expression of mutant Ras. On the other hand, it was suppressed by the expression of dominant-negative Rac1 or Cdc42. These results suggest that the NGF-induced ruffling requires activation of Rac1 and Cdc42, but does not require Ras, PI-3k, Akt and GSK-3beta. Taken together, the NGF-dependent formation of ruffles might not require Ras/PI-3k/Akt/GSK-3beta, but these pathways might contribute to the formation of intact neurites due to combined actions including Rac1.
Neurochemistry International 51(2-4):216-26. · 2.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The total synthesis of mono-THF acetogenins, cis-solamin A and B, and reticulatacin, was accomplished starting with muricatacin. The backbone of the mono-THF acetogenins was constructed by olefin cross-metathesis between the tetrahydrofuran moiety and γ-lactone moiety. An enzymatic kinetic transesterification procedure was successfully applied to the synthesis of an optically pure γ-lactone moiety. Notably, cis-THF compounds were obtained without using protective groups.Graphical abstract
Tetrahedron. 66(40):7946-7953.
