Exocyst is a protein complex conserved in yeast, animals and plants. It mediates tethering of a secretory vesicle to the plasma membrane in the semifinal step of exocytosis. Several roles of exocyst in the processes of cell polarization in plant cells have been implied, including polarized growth of polen tubes and root hairs, cytokinesis, deposition of seed coat pectin and possibly autophagy. One of the most recent roles of exocyst includes also a response to bacterial and fungal pathogens. Exo70B2 and Exo70H1 subunits were shown to play prominent roles in this respect, with Exo70H1 being responsible for mediating defense against bacterial (Pseudomonas syringae) and Exo70B2 defense against both bacterial and fungal (Blumeria graminis) pathogens. Recently, new data appeared indicating the interaction between Exo70B1 and RIN4 and Exo70A1 and NOI6, respectively. RPM-1 interacting protein 4 (RIN4) is a well known negative regulator of both basal and effector-triggered resistance. This thesis shows interaction between NOI6 and several exocyst subunits, confirming previous data. I show here that exocyst subunints interact specifically with N terminus of NOI6 protein and that this interaction is lost in the shorter version of NOI6 mimicking AvrRpt2 cleavage. Since AvrRpt2 is an effector protein from...

The final step of secretion termed exocytosis is mediated by the exocyst complex. The exocyst is an evolutionary conserved protein complex that tethers secretory vesicle to the target membrane and consists of eight subunits: Sec3, Sec5, Sec6, Sec8, Sec10, Sec15, Exo84, and Exo70. Sec15 exocyst subunit was previously shown to connect the rest of the exocyst complex with a secretory vesicle in yeast, mammals and fruit fly via interaction with Rab GTPase and GEF of Rab GTPase. Here, I show that plant SEC15B potentially functions in evolutionary conserved manner. First, two mutant lines of Arabidopsis thaliana sec15b mutant were tested in characteristics typical for other exocyst mutants. Although some characteristics reach certain level of plasticity, both sec15b-1 and sec15b-2 show similar tendencies, which are mostly consistent with defects with other mutants in exocyst subunits. sec15b-1 has been determined as a stronger allele that is defective in formation of seed coat, elongation of etiolated hypocotyl, growth of stem and primary root, establishment of axillary branches and lateral roots, diameter of rosette and, unexpectedly, growth of pollen tubes. Phenotype of sec15b-1 was rescued by insertion of SEC15B gene under SEC15B promotor. Second, complementation test showed that SEC15B and SEC15A are...

In the recent years, there has been a growing number of publications indicating at the involvement of plant secretory pathway in defense against phytopathogens. Specifically, roles of plant exocyst complex have been explored in deeper detail in current research. Yet, exactly how exocyst- mediated exocytosis contributes to secretion of antimicrobials and cell wall-based defense remains unclear. In the presented Dissertation, I provide both experimental evidence and devise further hypotheses on selected exocyst's subunits in plant immune reactions. Particularly, I show that EXO70B1 exocyst subunit interacts with immunity-related RIN4 protein. Cleavage of RIN4 by AvrRpt2 Pseudomonas syringae effector protease releases both RIN4 fragments and EXO70B1 from the plasma membrane when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. I speculate on how this might have an implication in regulation of polarized callose deposition. In a co-authored opinion paper, we also hypothesize that EXO70B1-mediated autophagic degradation of TN2 resistance protein prevents its hyperactivation and lesion mimic phenotype development. In addition, in collaboration with my colleagues, I present data on EXO70H4's engagement in PMR4 callose synthase secretion, required for silica deposition. Representing a possible...

The development of an inexpensive, portable, stable, sensitive and selective biosensor for detection of odorants is a daunting task. Here, we hypothesized the development of a detector layer composed of the protein groups; the olfactory receptors (ORs) and the odorant binding proteins (OBPs), known to bind odorants in animal sensing. We report the design of 13 OR gene-vector constructs, and their subsequent transformation into Escherichia (E.) coli (BL21 (DE3)-STAR-pLysS) strain. Moreover, we report the expression of several ORs into an in vitro wheat germ extract using three separate detergent mixes for protein solubilization.   In addition, we describe the design of an odorant binding protein from the Aenopheles gambiae mosquito PEST strain (OBP-PEST) gene-vector construct under an IPTG (Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside) inducible promoter. OBP-PEST was heterologously expressed in E.coli with an 8 amino acid long sequence (WSPQFEK) attached C-terminally, via a thrombin cleavage site and a flexible linker (GSSG). The WSPQFEK sequence, commonly referred to as a Strep-tag, enabled subsequent affinity chromatography purification of the protein, via binding to an engineered Streptavidin equivalent. Surprisingly, the OBP-PEST was found to contain a signal sequence leading to its truncation and secretion when expressed in E.coli.   Biophysical analyses were established using Circular Dichroism (CD) for the analysis of two lipocalins: Beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) and OBP-PEST. We studied the solubility, refoldability and the conformational transitions of BLG, as a result of change in solvent, pH and temperature. The secondary structure of OBP-PEST and its thermal stability was investigated.   In conclusion, this thesis work has enabled biophysical analyses of OBP-PEST and future analogs of interest to the development of a stable protein detector layer. Although further experiments are needed to fully characterize the biophysical properties, and to find odorant substrates of OBP-PEST, it was found to be a suitable alternative to ORs in a biosensor detector layer application. More importantly, an inherent OBP-PEST signal sequence was found to mediate protein secretion when expressed heterologously in E.coli. To the best of our knowledge this is the first lipocalin discovered to be secreted upon heterologous expression in E.coli.   We hypothesize that this signal peptide could be used as a means for targeted secretion and, hence, efficient protein purification.

The time- and dose-dependent effects of wortmannin on transepithelial electrical resistance (R(te)) and forskolin-stimulated chloride secretion in T84 monolayer cultures were studied. In both instances, maximal effects developed over 2 h and were stable thereafter. Inhibition of forskolin-stimulated chloride secretion, as measured by the short-circuit current (I(SC)) technique, had an IC50 of 200-500 nM, which is 100-fold higher than for inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), but similar to the IC50 for inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Previous work demonstrated that 500 nM wortmannin did not inhibit the cAMP activation of apical membrane chloride channels. We show here that 500 nM wortmannin has no affect on basolateral Na/K/2Cl-cotransporter activity, but inhibits basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase activity significantly. The MLCK inhibitors ML-7 and KT5926 were without affect on forskolin-stimulated I(SC). Similarly, the p38- and MEK-specific MAPK inhibitors SB203580 and PD98059 did not reduce forskolin-stimulated I(SC). In contrast, the non-specific MAPK inhibitor apigenin reduced forskolin-stimulated I(SC) and basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase activity similar to wortmannin. In isolated membranes from T84 cells, wortmannin did not inhibit Na/K-ATPase enzymatic activity directly. We conclude that one or more MAPK may regulate the functional expression of basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase by controlling the abundance of enzyme molecules in the plasma membrane.

Studies of dietary fat absorption are generally conducted by using an animal model equipped with a lymph cannula. Although this animal model is widely accepted as the in vivo model of dietary fat absorption, the surgical techniques involved are challenging and expensive. Genetic manipulation of the animal model is also costly and time consuming. The alternative in vitro model is arguably more affordable, timesaving, and less challenging. Importantly, the in vitro model allows investigators to examine the enterocytes as an isolated system, reducing the complexity inherent in the whole organism model. This paper describes how human colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2) can serve as an in vitro model to study the enterocyte transport of lipids, and lipid-soluble drugs and vitamins. It explains the proper maintenance of Caco-2 cells and the preparation of their lipid mixture; and it further discusses the valuable option of using the permeable membrane system. Since differentiated Caco-2 cells are polarized, the main advantage of using the permeable membrane system is that it separates the apical from the basolateral compartment. Consequently, the lipid mixture can be added to the apical compartment while the lipoproteins can be collected from the basolateral compartment. In addition, the effectiveness of the lentivirus expression system in upregulating gene expression in Caco-2 cells is discussed. Lastly, this paper describes how to confirm the successful isolation of intestinal lipoproteins by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

The human forkhead box O1A (FOXO1A) gene on chromosome 13q14.1 is a key transcription factor in insulin signaling in liver and adipose tissue and plays a central role in the regulation of key pancreatic β-cell genes including IPF1. We hypothesized that sequence variants of FOXO1A contribute to the observed defects in hepatic and peripheral insulin action and altered β-cell compensation that characterize type 2 diabetes (T2DM). To test this hypothesis, we screened the three exons, 3′ untranslated region, and 5′ flanking region for sequence variants in Caucasian and African-American individuals with early onset (<45 years) T2DM. We identified only six variants; none altered the coding sequence, and except for one variant in the 3′ untranslated region, they were rare or absent in Caucasians. To increase coverage of the gene, we selected seven additional variants in the large first intron and 5′ flanking region, thus providing 13 variants that spanned 116.4 kb. Based on frequency and linkage disequilibrium patterns in a subset of individuals, we selected eight SNPs to type in a Caucasian population comprising 192 unrelated nondiabetic control individuals and 192 individuals with T2DM, and 10 SNPs to type in 182 controls and 352 diabetic individuals of African-American ancestry. No variant was associated with T2DM (African-Americans, p > 0.08; Caucasians, p > 0.09). Of the 8 Caucasian SNPs, six comprised a single haplotype block spanning over 100 kb and including most of the large first intron. In contrast, no block was observed among SNPs typed in African-Americans. No haplotype was associated with T2DM. FOXO1A variation is rare and is unlikely to contribute to T2DM in either Caucasian or African-American populations.

Human mast-cell chymase (EC 3.4.21.39) is a chymotrypsin-like serine protease that is stored in and released from mast-cell granules. This enzyme has been expressed in Pichia pastoris by homologous recombination of the cDNA coding for the mature active chymase into the Pichia genome. Cells producing the highest levels of recombinant human chymase were selected by activity screening and they were grown in a fermentor. Methanol induction resulted in the secretion of active chymase into the Pichia growth media and increasing levels of enzyme were detected in the media for 5 days. Active enzyme was purified from the culture media with a 22 % yield of activity by a simple two-step procedure involving hydrophobic-interaction chromatography followed by affinity chromatography on immobilized heparin. The major peak from the heparin column contained a single band of 30.6 kDa on SDS/PAGE. The purified recombinant human chymase was 96% active and the yield was 2.2 mg/l of growth media.

1. The role of calmodulin (CaM) in transmitter release was investigated using liposomes to deliver CaM and monoclonal antibodies against CaM (antiCaM) directly into the frog motor nerve terminal. 2. Miniature endplate potentials (MEPPs) were recorded in a high K+ solution, and effects on transmitter release were monitored using estimates of the quantal release parameters m (number of quanta released), n (number of functional transmitter release sites), p (mean probability of release), and vars p (spatial variance in p). 3. Administration of CaM, but not heat-inactivated CaM, encapsulated in liposomes (1000 units ml-1) produced an increase in m (25%) that was due to an increase in n. MEPP amplitude was not altered by CaM. 4. Administration of antiCaM, but not heat-inactivated antiCaM, in liposomes (50 μl ml-1) produced a progressive decrease in m (40%) that was associated with decreases in n and p. MEPP amplitude was decreased (15%) after a 25 min lag time, suggesting a separation in time between the decreases in quantal release and quantal size. 5. Bath application of the membrane-permeable CaM antagonist W7 (28 μM) produced a gradual decrease in m (25%) that was associated with a decrease in n. W7 also produced a decrease in MEPP amplitude that paralleled the decrease in m. The decreases in MEPP size and m produced by W7 were both reversed by addition of CaM. 6. Our results suggest that CaM increases transmitter release by mobilizing synaptic vesicles at the frog motor nerve terminal.

Proper functioning of endocrine cells is crucial for organismal homeostasis. The underlying mechanisms that fine-tune the amount, and the timing of hormone secretion are not clear. JIP1 / MAPK8IP1 (JNK interacting protein 1) is a scaffold protein that mediates cellular stress response, and is highly expressed in endocrine cells, including insulin secreting b-cells in pancreas islets. However, the role of JIP1 in b-cells is unclear. This study demonstrates that b-cell specific Jip1 ablation results in decreased glucose-induced insulin secretion, without a change in Insulin1 and Insulin2 gene expression. Inhibition of both JIP1-kinesin interaction, and JIP1-JNK interaction by genetic mutations also resulted in decreased insulin secretion, suggesting that JIP1 may mediate insulin vesicle trafficking through interacting with kinesin and JNK. Autophagy is a cellular recycling mechanism and implicated in the b-cell function. Both JIP1 and JNK are proposed to regulate autophagy pathway. However, it is unclear whether JNK plays a role in the promotion or suppression of autophagy. The findings of this study show that JNK is not essential for autophagy induction, but can regulate autophagy in a cell and context specific manner. The results in this thesis implies a mechanism that link cellular trafficking and stress signaling pathways in the regulated hormone secretion. In addition to the known role of JIP1 in metabolism and insulin resistance, this finding may also be relevant to endocrine pathologies.