Autumn senescence is a visually spectacular phenomenon in which trees prepare for the oncoming winter. The mechanism for regulation of autumn senescence in trees has been very hard to pinpoint. In this thesis the main focus is to investigate how autumn senescence is regulated in aspens (Populus tremula). Previous work has established that autumn senescence in aspens is under daylight control, in this thesis the metabolic status and the effect on autumn senescence was investigated. The metabolic status was altered by girdling which leads to accumulation of photosynthates in the canopy. This resulted in an earlier onset of senescence but also the speed of senescence was changed. At the onset of senescence the girdled trees also accumulated or retained anthocyanins. The nitrogen status of aspens during autumn senescence was also investigated, we found that high doses of fertilization could significantly delay the onset of senescence. The effects of various nitrogen forms was investigated by delivering organic and inorganic nitrogen through a precision fertilization delivery system that could inject solutes directly into the xylem of the mature aspens. The study showed that addition of nitrate delayed senescence, addition of arginine did not have any effect on the autumn senescence in aspens, and furthermore the nitrate altered the trees leaf metabolism that was more profound in high dosages of supplied nitrate.  Cytokinins are plant hormones believed to delay or block senescence, studies have suggested that the decrease of cytokinins and/or cytokinin signalling may precede senescence in some plants. To investigate how cytokinin regulates autumn senescence in aspens we profiled 34 cytokinin types in a free growing mature aspen. The study begun before autumn senescence was initiated and ended with the shedding of the leaves, and spanned three consecutive years. The study showed that the individual cytokinin profiles varied significantly between the years, this despite that senescence was initiated at the same time each year. Senescence was furthermore not connected to the depletion of either active or total cytokinins levels. The gene pattern of genes known to be associated with cytokinin was also studied, but no gene expression pattern that the profile generated could explain the onset of senescence. These results suggest that the depletion of cytokinins is unlikely to explain the tightly regulated onset of autumn leaf senescence in aspen.

Background: Autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (adFNDI) is a rare disease with symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria and dehydration caused by arginine vasopressin deficiency. Disease onset is within infancy or adolescence. A variety of disease-causing mutations of the arginine vasopressin neurophysin II gene (AVP) on chromosome 20p13 have been described. Methods: Two Polish families with adFNDI were screened for mutations. Processing of wild-type (WT) and mutant AVP was monitored using immunocytochemical methods in stably transfected Neuro2A cells. AVP secretion into the cell culture supernatant was investigated with an enzyme immunoassay. Results: In the first family a heterozygous p.G96D mutation was identified. Some patients additionally carried a novel heterozygous mutation p.A159T. The second family presented with a heterozygous mutation p.C98G. Confocal laser microscopy unveiled accumulation of p.G96D and p.C98G prohormones in the cellular bodies, whereas WT and p.A159T prohormones and/or processed products were located in the tips of cellular processes. Reduced levels of AVP in supernatant culture medium of p.G96D and p.C98G transfected cells in comparison to p.A159T and WT cells were found. Conclusions: We conclude that the p.G96D and p.C98G mutations cause adFNDI in the two reported families. The sequence variant p.A159T does not seem to have disease-causing effects. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Hintergrund. L-Arginin spielt eine komplexe Rolle in der renalen Matrixexpansion, eingeschlossen der endogene Stoffwechsel der Aminosäure in Stickoxid (NO), Polyamine, L-Prolin und Agmatin. Bei Ratten mit einer induzierten Anti-Thy1-Glomerulonephritis (GN) ist gezeigt worden, dass die diätetische Gabe von L-Arginin die Überproduktion von transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta sowie die Matrixakkumulation limitieren konnte. Die vorliegende Studie testet die Hypothese, dass die günstigen Effekte auf die Überexpression von TGF-beta in vivo durch die Generierung von NO vermittelt wird. Methoden. Einen Tag nach Induktion einer Anti-Thy-1-Glomerulonephritis wurden männliche Wistar Ratten, die mit normal proteinhaltigen Futter ernährt worden sind, in die folgenden Gruppen zugeordnet worden: (1) normale Kontrollen; (2) GN; (3) GN-Arg [plus 500 mg L-Arginin/die]; (4) GN-Arg-NAME [plus 500 mg L-Arginin/die und 75 mg/die des NO-Synthase-Inhibitors Nitro-L-Arginin-Methyl-Ester (L-NAME) im Trinkwasser] und (5) GN-Molsi [plus 10 mg/die des NO-Donors Molsidomin]. In Versuchsprotokoll 1 wurde die Behandlung bis Tag 7, in Protokoll 2 bis Tag 12 nach Induktion der Glomerulonephritis durchgeführt. Analysiert wurden die Daten des systolischen Blutdrucks, die histologische glomeruläre Matrixexpansion, die Proteinurie sowie die glomeruläre mRNA- und Protein-Expression des Schlüsselfibrogens TGF-beta, des Matrixproteins Fibronektin und des Protease-Inhibitors Plasminogen-Aktivator-Inhibitor Typ 1(PAI-1). Ergebnisse. Die Blutdruckwerte zeigten sich normal in unbehandelten Anti-Thy-1-Tieren und nicht signifikant beeinflusst durch eine der Behandlungen. Verglichen mit unbehandelten, nephritischen Ratten, reduzierten die Gabe von L-Arginin sowie von Molsidomin signifikant die glomeruläre TGF-beta Überexpression und auch in ähnlichem Mass in beiden Studienprotokollen. Die günstigen Effekte von L-Arginin wurden durch gleichzeitige Blockade der NOS-Synthese mit L-NAME aufgehoben. Die glomeruläre Matrixakkumulation, Fibronektin und PAI-1 mRNA- und Protein-Expression folgten eng der TGF-beta-Expression. Die Proteinurie wurde durch keine der Behandlungen signifikant beeinflusst.Schlussfolgerung. Die vorliegende Studie zeigt, dass die antifibrotischen Effekte der Aminosäure L-Arginin in der normotensiven Anti-Thy-1-Glomerulonephritis der Ratte hauptsächlich über die endogene Produktion von NO vermittelt werden. Diese Daten lassen vermuten, dass NO in vivo die TGF-beta-Überexpression auf einem blutdruck-unabhängigen Weg limitiert und dass NO-Donoren sich günstig in der Behandlung von menschlichen fibrotischen Nierenerkrankungen auswirken könnten. / Background. L-arginine olays a complex role in renal matrix expansion, involving endogenous metabolism into nitric oxide (NO), polyamines, L-prolin and agmatine. Supplementing dietary L-arginine intake has been shown to limit transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 overproduction and matrix accumulation in rats with induced anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis (GN). The present study tests the hypothesis that this beneficial effect on in vivo TGF-beta overproduction is mediated via the generation of NO. Methods. One day after inducion of anti-thy1 GN, male wistar rats fed a normal protein diet were assigned to the following groups: (1) normal controls; (2) GN; (3) GN-Arg [plus 500 mg L-arginine/day]; (4) GN-Arg-NAME [plus 500 mg L-arginine/day and 75 mg/day of the NO synthase inhibitor nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) in the drinking water] and (5) GN-Molsi [plus 10 mg/day of the NO donor molsidomine]. In protocol 1, treatment lasted until day 7 and in protocol 2 until day 12 after disease induction, respectively. Analysis included systolic blood pressure, proteinuria, a glomerular histologic matrix score and the glomerular mRNA and protein expression of the key fibrogen TGF-beta1, the matrix protein fibronectin and the protease inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). Results. Blood pressure was normal in untreated anti-thy1 animals and not significantly affected by any of the treatments. Compared to nephritic rats, administration of both L-arginine and molsidomine reduced glomerular TGF-beta1 overexpression significantly and to a similar degree in both protocols, while the beneficial effect of L-arginine was abolished by concomitant NO synthesis inhibition. Glomerular matrix accumulation, fibronectin and PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression cloxely followed the expression of TGF-beta1. Proteinuria was not significantly affected by any treatment. Conclusion. The present study shows that L-arginine´s antifibrotic action in normothensive anti-thy1 GN is mainly mediated by endogenous production of NO. The data suggest that NO limits in vivo TGF-beta overexpression in a pressur-independent manner and that NO donors may be of benefit in the treatment of human fibrotic renal disease.

Infektionen mit dem intestinalen Parasiten Giardia duodenalis, verursachen weltweit eine der häufigsten humanen Parasitosen. Bislang konnten keine eindeutigen Virulenz- oder Pathogenitätsmarker des Erregers beschrieben werden. Es wird allerdings vermutet, dass potentielle G. duodenalis Virulenzfaktoren Enzyme sind, die während des Kontaktes des Erregers mit den Dünndarmepithelzellen sezerniert werden. Eines dieser Enzyme ist die Arginin Deiminase (ADI), die Arginin zu Citrullin umwandelt. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es Merkmale zu identifizieren, die für die ADI als Virulenzfaktor sprechen. Dazu wurde das Enzym zunächst hinsichtlich seiner Bedeutung für die Wirt-Pathogen-Interaktion untersucht. Die mit rekombinanter, katalytisch aktiver ADI (Assemblage A) behandelten LPS-stimulierten humanen moDC zeigten eine Veränderung in ihrem Phänotyp als auch in ihrer Cytokinsekretion. Diese ließ sich auf die durch das Enzym hervorgerufene Arginindepletion und/oder auf die Bildung der Metabolite, Citrullin und NH4+, zurückführen. Weiterhin konnte gezeigt werden, dass Parasitenisolate verschiedener G. duodenalis Assemblage A-Subtypen, vermutlich durch die katalytische Aktivität der ADI, die Stickstoffmonoxid-Bildung einer intestinalen Epithelzelllinie inhibiert. Neben dem Einfluss auf die Wirtsimmunantwort wurde auch die Variabilität in der kodierenden Sequenz des Enzyms in verschiedenen Parasitenisolaten analysiert. Anschließend erfolgte die funktionelle Charakterisierung des nativen (verschiedene Assemblage A-Subtypen) als auch des rekombinant aufgereinigten Enzyms (Assemblage A, B und E). Dabei zeigten sich Unterschiede in der Substrataffinität der ADI für Arginin, sowohl zwischen unterschiedlichen Assemblage A-Subtypen als auch unterschiedlichen Assemblage-Klassen. Zusammenfassend wurde gezeigt, dass die G. duodenalis ADI immunmodulatorische Effekte hat und das vermutlich eine Korrelation zwischen der Variation in der Primärstruktur und der Funktion des Enzyms besteht. / Giardia duodenalis (G. duodenalis) is an intestinal protozoan parasite that causes giardiasis, one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases worldwide. So far, little is known concerning host-parasite interaction, in particular what determines the parasite’s pathogenicity. Several potential virulence factors, among them the arginine deiminase (ADI) that hydrolyzes arginine into citrulline and NH4+, are discussed. The ADI was identified to be released upon contact with intestinal epithelium by Giardia trophozoites and was recognized as an immunoreactive protein during acute human giardiasis. Aim of the study was to identify hints for G. duodenalis ADI to be a virulence factor. First, to analyze the enzyme’s impact on host-parasite interplay, its influence on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) was investigated. Treatment of LPS-stimulated cells with recombinant ADI of assemblage A changed DC phenotype (CD83, CD86) and cytokine secretion (TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12p40). These immunomodulatory changes in DC response were due to arginine depletion and the formation of reaction products, in particular, ammonium ions. Furthermore, trophozoites of different assemblage subtypes were shown, probably due to consumption of arginine by ADI, to reduce nitric oxide formation by intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. Second, variation in the ADI coding sequence of different G. duodenalis isolates being collected in a Giardia biobank was analyzed by sequencing. Subsequently, functional genetics were performed with native ADI of different assemblage A subtypes expressed by these strains as well as with purified, recombinant ADI of assemblage A, B and E. It was recognized that enzymes of the same subtype as well as of different assemblages types had different substrate affinities for arginine. To sum up, this report identified G. duodenalis ADI to be immunomodulatory and gives first indications of a correlation between enzyme function and variation of the protein primary structure.

Die fortschreitende Vermehrung extrazellulärer Matrixproteine ist zentrales Kennzeichen von chronisch-progressiver Niereninsuffizienz. L-Arginin ist eine semi-essentielle Aminosäure und über seinen endogenen Metaboliten Stickoxid (NO) in komplexer Weise mit renaler Matrixvermehrung verbunden. In dieser Arbeit wurde untersucht, wie sich die Gabe von L-Arginin auf die Matrixexpansion bei experimenteller, immun-vermittelter Nierenerkrankung auswirkt. Im Modell der akuten Anti-Thy1-Glomerulonephritis der Ratte und der chronischen Lupusnephritis der MRL/lpr-Maus wurde gezeigt, daß die Aktivierung des L-Arginin-NO-Stoffwechsels sowohl mit günstigen als auch mit ungünstigen Wirkungen auf die renale Matrixakkumulation verbunden ist. Diese "duale" Wirkung von L-Arginin ist im wesentlichen als Ausdruck der "ambivalenten" Wirkung von NO zu deuten. Antifibrotische Wirkungen von L-Arginin stehen in enger Verbindung mit einer gesteigerten endothelialen NO-Synthese. Neben renaler Blutdrucksenkung vermittelt die endotheliale NO-Synthase auch parakrin wichtige antifibrotische Effekte. Profibrotische Wirkungen von L-Arginin stehen in engem Zusammenhang mit einer gesteigerten NO-Synthese durch induzierbare, destruktive NO-Synthasen. Folgen sind verstärkte Organschädigung und beschleunigte Progression von renaler Funktionseinschränkung. / Ongoing expansion of extracellular matrix proteins is a hallmark of progressive chronic renal insufficiency. L-Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid and alters renal matrix accumulation via its endogenous metabolite nitric oxide (NO) in a complex manner. The present study analyzed how administration of L-arginine affects renal matrix accumulation in experimental immune-mediated disease. In acute anti-Thy1 glomerulonephritis of the rat and chronic lupus nephritis of MRL/lpr-mice, activation of the L-arginine-NO-pathway was related to both beneficial and detrimental actions on renal matrix accumulation. This "dual" effect of L-arginine administration essentially reflects the "ambivalent" nature of NO. Antifibrotic actions of L-arginine are associated with increased endothelial NO synthesis. In addition to lowering glomerular blood pressure, endothelial NO production mediates important paracrine antifibrotic actions. Profibrotic effects of L-arginine are related to increased NO production by inducible, destructive NO synthases, resulting in increased organ damage and accelerated progression of chronic kidney insufficiency.

O presente trabalho visa contribuir para o esclarecimento da seqüência de eventos intracelulares produzidos pelas PKCs a e e, na modulação do pHi, via NHE1. Os estudos foram realizados em células MDCK e as medidas de pHi efetuadas por microscopia de fluorescência. A expressão das PKCs a e e, bem como do NHE1 foi investigada por western blot, utilizando anticorpos específicos para cada proteína. Os estudos foram realizados na situação controle ou na vigência de PMA ou ANG II, AVP e /ou inibidores específicos para cada receptor hormonal ou isoforma de PKC. Nossos resultados indicam que PMA (10-7 M) estimula a recuperação do pHi, por modular a atividade das PKCs a e e. ANG II e AVP em concentrações fisiológicas estimulam a recuperação do pHi após sobrecarga ácida, concomitante com o aumento da fosforilação da PKC a. Em concentração elevada, ambos hormônios não alteram estes parâmetros. O efeito de ANG II ou de AVP depende da interação de cada hormônio com receptores específicos para modular as vias de sinalização celular envolvidas com o aumento dos níveis de diacilglicerol, cálcio citosólico e AMPc. / The purpose of this work was to investigate the signaling events of PKCs a e e on the NHE1 activity. The effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), angiotensin II (ANG II) or arginine vasopressin (AVP) on the intracellular pH (pHi) was investigated in MDCK cells by using the fluorescence microscopy and fluorescent probe BCECF/AM. The NHE1 or PKCs a e e expression was examined by western blot and specific antibodies. Our results indicate that PMA (10-7 M) or low concentration of ANG II and AVP induced a significant increase of pH recovery rate and PKC a expression, after intracellular acidification with NH4Cl pulse. ANG II or AVP did not change the PKC a expression. However, in right concentration, both hormones did not change these parameter. In conclusion, the effect of ANG II and AVP on NHE1 activity, depend of specifics membrane receptors and cellular signaling of intracellular calcium, DAG and PKCs a and e.

O presente trabalho visa contribuir para o esclarecimento da seqüência de eventos intracelulares produzidos pelas PKCs a e e, na modulação do pHi, via NHE1. Os estudos foram realizados em células MDCK e as medidas de pHi efetuadas por microscopia de fluorescência. A expressão das PKCs a e e, bem como do NHE1 foi investigada por western blot, utilizando anticorpos específicos para cada proteína. Os estudos foram realizados na situação controle ou na vigência de PMA ou ANG II, AVP e /ou inibidores específicos para cada receptor hormonal ou isoforma de PKC. Nossos resultados indicam que PMA (10-7 M) estimula a recuperação do pHi, por modular a atividade das PKCs a e e. ANG II e AVP em concentrações fisiológicas estimulam a recuperação do pHi após sobrecarga ácida, concomitante com o aumento da fosforilação da PKC a. Em concentração elevada, ambos hormônios não alteram estes parâmetros. O efeito de ANG II ou de AVP depende da interação de cada hormônio com receptores específicos para modular as vias de sinalização celular envolvidas com o aumento dos níveis de diacilglicerol, cálcio citosólico e AMPc. / The purpose of this work was to investigate the signaling events of PKCs a e e on the NHE1 activity. The effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), angiotensin II (ANG II) or arginine vasopressin (AVP) on the intracellular pH (pHi) was investigated in MDCK cells by using the fluorescence microscopy and fluorescent probe BCECF/AM. The NHE1 or PKCs a e e expression was examined by western blot and specific antibodies. Our results indicate that PMA (10-7 M) or low concentration of ANG II and AVP induced a significant increase of pH recovery rate and PKC a expression, after intracellular acidification with NH4Cl pulse. ANG II or AVP did not change the PKC a expression. However, in right concentration, both hormones did not change these parameter. In conclusion, the effect of ANG II and AVP on NHE1 activity, depend of specifics membrane receptors and cellular signaling of intracellular calcium, DAG and PKCs a and e.

Background: Autosomal dominant familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (adFNDI) is a rare disease with symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria and dehydration caused by arginine vasopressin deficiency. Disease onset is within infancy or adolescence. A variety of disease-causing mutations of the arginine vasopressin neurophysin II gene (AVP) on chromosome 20p13 have been described. Methods: Two Polish families with adFNDI were screened for mutations. Processing of wild-type (WT) and mutant AVP was monitored using immunocytochemical methods in stably transfected Neuro2A cells. AVP secretion into the cell culture supernatant was investigated with an enzyme immunoassay. Results: In the first family a heterozygous p.G96D mutation was identified. Some patients additionally carried a novel heterozygous mutation p.A159T. The second family presented with a heterozygous mutation p.C98G. Confocal laser microscopy unveiled accumulation of p.G96D and p.C98G prohormones in the cellular bodies, whereas WT and p.A159T prohormones and/or processed products were located in the tips of cellular processes. Reduced levels of AVP in supernatant culture medium of p.G96D and p.C98G transfected cells in comparison to p.A159T and WT cells were found. Conclusions: We conclude that the p.G96D and p.C98G mutations cause adFNDI in the two reported families. The sequence variant p.A159T does not seem to have disease-causing effects. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

The presented dissertation focuses on non-covalent interactions of hyaluronan of different molecular weights (9–1540 kDa) with basic (oligo)-amino acids (especially arginine) and the antimicrobial peptide cecropin B. High-resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy (HR-US), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and potentiometric titration techniques were chosen to investigate the interactions. The thesis focuses on the characterization of interactions, especially with respect to the used molecular weight of interacting polymers and the ionic strength of the environment. Whether interactions occur or not was determined primarily by the length of the arginine oligomer chain. For monomeric amino acids, the interactions were investigated mainly by potentiometric titrations. Interactions were observable from arginine oligomers with eight monomer units. The molecular weight of hyaluronan mainly affected the intensity of the interactions. The transition between the individual conformations of hyaluronan (rod and random coil) was especially significant. Investigation of interactions was performed in water, in solutions with different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS. The sufficiently high ionic strength of the solution was able to suppress the interactions in water between the oligomers of arginine and hyaluronan. The basic antimicrobial peptide cecropin B has been shown to interact with hyaluronan in water but not in PBS. Based on these results, it was possible to conclude that the hyaluronan-cecropin B system would be particularly suitable for topical applications.

Die myeloische Entwicklung wird durch die Familie der Transkriptionsfaktoren CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding-Protein (C/EBP) reguliert. Eine aberrante Expression oder Funktion von C/EBPs stört die normale myeloische Differenzierung und wird bei vielen Arten hämatopoetischer Malignome beobachtet. Mutationen von CEBPA führen zu einem veränderten Expressionsanteil der verkürzten Isoform C/EBPa p30 und werden bei etwa 15% der AML-Patienten (akute myeloische Leukämie) nachgewiesen. Obwohl die verkürzte Isoform C/EBPα p30 als Onkogen identifiziert wurde da sie die Proliferation myeloischer Vorläufer fördert, behält sie dennoch eine Differenzierungsfunktion. Unser Interesse gilt der Frage, wie diese beiden Funktionen von C/EBPα p30 reguliert werden. Die C/EBP-Familie gehört der Gruppe intrinsisch ungeordneter Proteine an, die zudem viele posttranslationale Modifikationen (PTMs) aufweisen. PTMs auf C/EBPα verändern seine biologische Funktionsweise stark. Frühere Forschungsarbeiten haben drei Argininreste am N-Terminus von C/EBPα p30 identifiziert, die aufgrund des Methylierungsstatus differentiell mit anderen Proteinen interagieren. In dieser Arbeit untersuchen wir den Einfluss der C/EBPα p30 Arginin-Methylierung auf seine pro-leukämische Aktivität sowie dessen Fähigkeit zur Neuausrichtung der hämatopoietischen Differenzierungslinie. Mit Hilfe von Aminosäuresubstitutionen fanden wir heraus, dass C/EBPα p30 Mutanten der Methylierungsmimesis oder Ladungsabschaffung die myeloische Differenzierung verstärkt, während Ladungserhalt-Mutanten die Erneuerung und Proliferation hämatopoetischer Stamm-/Vorläuferzellen unterstützt. Transkriptionelles Profiling von Zellen, die mutierte C/EBPα -p30-Varianten exprimieren, deutet auf potenzielle Ziele der methyliertem bzw. unmethyliertem C/EBPα p30 hin. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass der Arginin-Methylierungsstatus das Leukämie- und Differenzierungs-Potenzial von C/EBPα p30 verändert und somit ein neues Ziel der Leukämietherapie darstellen könnten. / Myeloid development is regulated by the family of transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer-binding-protein (C/EBP). Aberrant expression or functioning of C/EBPs disturbs normal myeloid differentiation and is found in many types of hematopoietic malignancies. Mutations of CEBPA lead to imbalanced expression of the truncated isoform C/EBPα p30 and are found in approximately 15% of AML (acute myeloid leukemia) patients. Yet, how C/EBPα participates in leukemic progression remains to be discovered. More specifically, the truncated isoform C/EBPα p30, although being identified as an oncogenic isoform that promotes proliferation of myeloid progenitors, still retains differentiation function. The question of how both functions of C/EBPα p30 are regulated, is of our interest. C/EBP family also represents a group of intrinsically disordered proteins, which contain many post-translational modifications (PTMs). PTMs on C/EBPα greatly alter its functioning. Previous works have identified three arginine residues at the N-terminus of C/EBPα p30 that interact differently with others protein dependent on their methylation status. We hypothesize, that methylation of these arginine residues plays important roles in the biology of C/EBPα p30. In this study, we used a lymphoid-to-myeloid transdifferentiation (LMT) system to investigate the influence of arginine-methylation on C/EBPα-induced lineage switch and its pro-leukemic activity. Using amino acid substitution, we found that C/EBPα p30 mutants that resemble arginine-methylated p30 enhanced myeloid differentiation, while the charge-retention mutant, resembling arginine-unmethylated p30, supported renewability and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors. Transcriptional profiling of cells expressing C/EBPα p30 variants suggested potential targets of either methylated or unmethylated p30. The results implied that arginine methylations alter C/EBPα p30’s leukemic potential and might comprise novel targets of leukemia therapy.