@article{BrocherVogelHock2010, author = {Brocher, Jan and Vogel, Benjamin and Hock, Robert}, title = {HMGA1 down-regulation is crucial for chromatin composition and a gene expression profile permitting myogenic differentiation}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-67914}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Background: High mobility group A (HMGA) proteins regulate gene transcription through architectural modulation of chromatin and the formation of multi-protein complexes on promoter/enhancer regions. Differential expression of HMGA variants has been found to be important for distinct differentiation processes and deregulated expression was linked to several disorders. Here we used mouse C2C12 myoblasts and C2C12 cells stably over-expressing HMGA1a-eGFP to study the impact of deregulated HMGA1 expression levels on cellular differentiation. Results: We found that induction of the myogenic or osteogenic program of C2C12 cells caused an immediate down-regulation of HMGA1. In contrast to wild type C2C12 cells, an engineered cell line with stable overexpression of HMGA1a-eGFP failed to differentiate into myotubes. Immunolocalization studies demonstrated that sustained HMGA1a-eGFP expression prevented myotube formation and chromatin reorganization that normally accompanies differentiation. Western Blot analyses showed that elevated HMGA1a-eGFP levels affected chromatin composition through either down-regulation of histone H1 or premature expression of MeCP2. RT-PCR analyses further revealed that sustained HMGA1a expression also affected myogenic gene expression and caused either down-regulation of genes such as MyoD, myogenin, Igf1, Igf2, Igfbp1-3 or up-regulation of the transcriptional repressor Msx1. Interestingly, siRNA experiments demonstrated that knock-down of HMGA1a was required and sufficient to reactivate the myogenic program in induced HMGA1a over-expressing cells. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that HMGA1 down-regulation after induction is required to initiate the myogenic program in C2C12 cells. Sustained HMGA1a expression after induction prevents expression of key myogenic factors. This may be due to specific gene regulation and/or global effects on chromatin. Our data further corroborate that altered HMGA1 levels influence the expression of other chromatin proteins. Thus, HMGA1 is able to establish a specific chromatin composition. This work contributes to the understanding of how differential HMGA1 expression is involved in chromatin organization during cellular differentiation processes and it may help to comprehend effects of HMGA1 over-expression occurring in malign or benign tumours.}, subject = {HMG-Proteine}, language = {en} } @article{LaisneyBraaschWalteretal.2010, author = {Laisney, Juliette A. G. C. and Braasch, Ingo and Walter, Ronald B. and Meierjohann, Svenja and Schartl, Manfred}, title = {Lineage-specific co-evolution of the Egf receptor/ligand signaling system}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-67922}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Background: The epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr) with its numerous ligands has fundamental roles in development, cell differentiation and physiology. Dysfunction of the receptor-ligand system contributes to many human malignancies. Consistent with such various tasks, the Egfr gene family has expanded during vertebrate evolution as a consequence of several rounds of whole genome duplication. Of particular interest is the effect of the fish-specific whole genome duplication (FSGD) on the ligand-receptor system, as it has supplied this largest group of vertebrates with additional opportunities for sub- and/or neofunctionalization in this signaling system. Results: We identified the predicted components of the Egf receptor-ligand signaling system in teleost fishes (medaka, platyfish, stickleback, pufferfishes and zebrafish). We found two duplicated egfr genes, egfra and egfrb, in all available teleost genomes. Surprisingly only one copy for each of the seven Egfr ligands could be identified in most fishes, with zebrafish hbegf being the only exception. Special focus was put on medaka, for which we more closely investigated all Egf receptors and Egfr ligands. The different expression patterns of egfra, egfrb and their ligands in medaka tissues and embryo stages suggest differences in role and function. Preferential co-expression of different subsets of Egfr ligands corroborates the possible subfunctionalization and specialization of the two receptors in adult tissues. Bioinformatic analyses of the ligand-receptor interface between Egfr and its ligands show a very weak evolutionary conservation within this region. Using in vitro analyses of medaka Egfra, we could show that this receptor is only activated by medaka ligands, but not by human EGF. Altogether, our data suggest a lineage-specific Egfr/Egfr ligand co-evolution. Conclusions: Our data indicate that medaka Egfr signaling occurs via its two copies, Egfra and Egfrb, each of them being preferentially coexpressed with different subsets of Egfr ligands. This fish-specific occurrence of Egf receptor specialization offers unique opportunities to study the functions of different Egf receptor-ligand combinations and their biological outputs in vertebrates. Furthermore, our results strongly support the use of homologous ligands in future studies, as sufficient cross-specificity is very unlikely for this ligand/receptor system.}, subject = {Epidermaler Wachstumsfaktor-Rezeptor}, language = {en} } @article{FriedrichRahmannWeigeletal.2010, author = {Friedrich, Torben and Rahmann, Sven and Weigel, Wilfried and Rabsch, Wolfgang and Fruth, Angelika and Ron, Eliora and Gunzer, Florian and Dandekar, Thomas and Hacker, Joerg and Mueller, Tobias and Dobrindt, Ulrich}, title = {High-throughput microarray technology in diagnostics of enterobacteria based on genome-wide probe selection and regression analysis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-67936}, year = {2010}, abstract = {The Enterobacteriaceae comprise a large number of clinically relevant species with several individual subspecies. Overlapping virulence-associated gene pools and the high overall genome plasticity often interferes with correct enterobacterial strain typing and risk assessment. Array technology offers a fast, reproducible and standardisable means for bacterial typing and thus provides many advantages for bacterial diagnostics, risk assessment and surveillance. The development of highly discriminative broad-range microbial diagnostic microarrays remains a challenge, because of marked genome plasticity of many bacterial pathogens. Results: We developed a DNA microarray for strain typing and detection of major antimicrobial resistance genes of clinically relevant enterobacteria. For this purpose, we applied a global genome-wide probe selection strategy on 32 available complete enterobacterial genomes combined with a regression model for pathogen classification. The discriminative power of the probe set was further tested in silico on 15 additional complete enterobacterial genome sequences. DNA microarrays based on the selected probes were used to type 92 clinical enterobacterial isolates. Phenotypic tests confirmed the array-based typing results and corroborate that the selected probes allowed correct typing and prediction of major antibiotic resistances of clinically relevant Enterobacteriaceae, including the subspecies level, e.g. the reliable distinction of different E. coli pathotypes. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the global probe selection approach based on longest common factor statistics as well as the design of a DNA microarray with a restricted set of discriminative probes enables robust discrimination of different enterobacterial variants and represents a proof of concept that can be adopted for diagnostics of a wide range of microbial pathogens. Our approach circumvents misclassifications arising from the application of virulence markers, which are highly affected by horizontal gene transfer. Moreover, a broad range of pathogens have been covered by an efficient probe set size enabling the design of high-throughput diagnostics.}, subject = {Mikroarray}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Kapustjansky2011, author = {Kapustjansky, Alexander}, title = {In vivo imaging and optogenetic approach to study the formation of olfactory memory and locomotor behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-69535}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Understanding of complex interactions and events in a nervous system, leading from the molecular level up to certain behavioural patterns calls for interdisciplinary interactions of various research areas. The goal of the presented work is to achieve such an interdisciplinary approach to study and manipulate animal behaviour and its underlying mechanisms. Optical in vivo imaging is a new constantly evolving method, allowing one to study not only the local but also wide reaching activity in the nervous system. Due to ease of its genetic accessibility Drosophila melanogaster represents an extraordinary experimental organism to utilize not only imaging but also various optogenetic techniques to study the neuronal underpinnings of behaviour. In this study four genetically encoded sensors were used to investigate the temporal dynamics of cAMP concentration changes in the horizontal lobes of the mushroom body, a brain area important for learning and memory, in response to various physiological and pharmacological stimuli. Several transgenic lines with various genomic insertion sites for the sensor constructs Epac1, Epac2, Epac2K390E and HCN2 were screened for the best signal quality, one line was selected for further experiments. The in vivo functionality of the sensor was assessed via pharmacological application of 8-bromo-cAMP as well as Forskolin, a substance stimulating cAMP producing adenylyl cyclases. This was followed by recording of the cAMP dynamics in response to the application of dopamine and octopamine, as well as to the presentation of electric shock, odorants or a simulated olfactory signal, induced by acetylcholine application to the observed brain area. In addition the interaction between the shock and the simulated olfactory signal by simultaneous presentation of both stimuli was studied. Preliminary results are supporting a coincidence detection mechanism at the level of the adenylyl cyclase as postulated by the present model for classical olfactory conditioning. In a second series of experiments an effort was made to selecticvely activate a subset of neurons via the optogenetic tool Channelrhodopsin (ChR2). This was achieved by recording the behaviour of the fly in a walking ball paradigm. A new method was developed to analyse the walking behaviour of the animal whose brain was made optically accessible via a dissection technique, as used for imaging, thus allowing one to target selected brain areas. Using the Gal4-UAS system the protocerebral bridge, a substructure of the central complex, was highlighted by expressing the ChR2 tagged by fluorescent protein EYFP. First behavioural recordings of such specially prepared animals were made. Lastly a new experimental paradigm for single animal conditioning was developed (Shock Box). Its design is based on the established Heat Box paradigm, however in addition to spatial and operant conditioning available in the Heat Box, the design of the new paradigm allows one to set up experiments to study classical and semioperant olfactory conditioning, as well as semioperant place learning and operant no idleness experiments. First experiments involving place learning were successfully performed in the new apparatus.}, subject = {Taufliege}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerDieckmannSebaldetal.1994, author = {M{\"u}ller, T. and Dieckmann, T. and Sebald, Walter and Oschkinat, H.}, title = {Aspects of receptor binding and signalling of interleukin-4 investigated by site-directed mutagenesis and NMR spectroscopy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62444}, year = {1994}, abstract = {Cytokines are hormones that carry information from ceJI to ceH. This information is read from their surface upon binding to transmembrane receptors and by the subsequent initiation of receptor oligomerization. An inftuence on this process through mutagenesis on the hormone surface is highly desirab)e for medical reasons. However, an understanding of hormone-receptor interactions requires insight into the structural changes introduced by the mutations. In this line structural studies on human TL-4 and the medically important IL-4 antagonists YI24D and Y124G are presented. The site a.round YI24 is an important epitope responsible for the a.bility of 11-4 t.o ca.use a signal in the target cells. It is shown that the local main-chain structure around residue 124 in the variants remains unchanged. A strategy is presented here which allows the study of these types of proteins and their variants by NMR which does not require carbon Iabeiied sa.mples.}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{KruseShenArnoldetal.1993, author = {Kruse, N. and Shen, B. J. and Arnold, S. and Tony, H. P. and M{\"u}ller, T. and Sebald, Walter}, title = {Two distinct functional sites of human interleukin 4 are identified by variants impaired in either receptor binding or receptor activation}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62451}, year = {1993}, abstract = {Interleukin 4 (IL-4) exerts a decisive role in the coord.ination of proteelive immune responses against parasites, particularly helminths. A disregulation of ll.r4 function is possibly involved in the genesis of allergic disease states. The search for important amino acid residues in human ll.r4 by mutational analysis of charged invariant amino acid positions identified two distinct functional sites in the 4-helix-bundle protein. Site 1 was marked by amino acid substitutions of the glutamic acid at position 9 in helix A and arginine at position 88 in helix C. Exchanges at both positions led to IL-4 variants deficient in binding to the extracellular domain of the ll.r4 receptor (IL-4ReJ. In parallel, up to 1000-fold increased concentrations of this type of variant were required to induce T -cell proliferation and B-eeil CD23 expression. Site 2 was marked by amino acid exchanges in helix D at positions 121, 124 and 125 (arginine, tyrosine and serine respectively in the wild-type).ß.A variants affected at site 2 exhibited partial agonist activity during T -cell proliferation; however, they still bound with high affinity to IL-4Rex. [The generation of an IL-4 antagonist by replacing tyrosine 124 with aspartic acid has been described before by Kruse et al. (1992) (EMBO }., 11, 3237-3244)]. These findings indicate that IL-4 functions by bind.ing IL-4Rex via site 1 which is constituted by residues on helices A and C. They further suggest that the association of a second, still undetined receptor protein with site 2 in helix D activates the receptor system and generates a transmembrane signal.}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{KruseTonySebald1992, author = {Kruse, N. and Tony, H. P. and Sebald, Walter}, title = {Conversion of human interleukin-4 into a high affinity antagonist by a single amino acid replacement}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62469}, year = {1992}, abstract = {lnterleukin-4 (IL-4) represents a prototypic lymphokine (for a recent review see Paul, 1991). It promotes differentiation of B-cells and the proliferation of T- and B-cell, and other cell types of the lymphoid system. An antagonist of human IL-4 was discovered during the studies presented here after Tyr124 of the recombinant proteinbad been substituted by an aspartic acid residue. This IL-4 variant, Y124D, bound with high affinity to the IL-4 receptor (K\(_D\) = 310 pM), but retained no detectable proliferative activity for T -<:ells and inhibited IL-4-dependent T -cell proliferation competitively (K\(_i\) = 620 pM). The loss of efficacy in variant Y124D was estimated to be > 100-fold on the basis of a weak partial agonist activity for the very sensitive induction of CD23 positive B-cells. The subsitution of Tyr124 by either phenylalanine, histidine, asparagine, Iysine or glycine resulted in partial agonist variants with unaltered receptor binding atTmity and relatively small deficiencies in efficacy. These results demoostrate that high affinity binding and signal generation can be uncoupled efticiently in a Iigand of a receptor betonging to the recently identified hematopoietin receptor family. In addition we show for the first time, that a powerful antagonist acting on the IL-4 receptor system can be derived from the IL-4 protein.}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{LehrnbecherMerzSebaldetal.1991, author = {Lehrnbecher, T. and Merz, H. and Sebald, Walter and Poot, M.}, title = {Interleukin 4 drives phytohemagglutinin-activated T cells through several cell cycles: no synergism between interleukin 2 and interleukin 4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62491}, year = {1991}, abstract = {Cell kinetic studies of T cells stimulated with the interleukin 2 (11-2), D-4, or both lymphokines were performed with conventional [3H] thymidine incorporation and with the bivariate BrdU/Hoechst technique. 11-2 and 11-4 are able to drive phytohemagglutininactivated T cells through more than one cell cycle. Neither synergistic nor inhibitory efl'ect on T -cell proliferationwas seen for the stimulation with both 11-2 and 11-4 as compared with the effect ofll-2 alone. The quantitative data ofthe cell cycle distribution ofphytohemagglutininactivated T cells suggestthat the population ofll-4-responsive cells is at least an overlapping population, if not a real subset of the ·population of the 11-2-responsive cells.}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Batzilla2011, author = {Batzilla, Julia}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Yersinia enterocolitica subspecies palearctica serotype O:3: Identification of novel virulence-associated genes and evolutionary aspects}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-69668}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Yersinia enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Serobiotyp O:3/4 ist verantwortlich f{\"u}r 80-90 \% aller Yersiniosen beim Menschen in Deutschland und Europa. Y. enterocolitica Infektionen zeigen vielf{\"a}ltige Krankheitsbilder wie Gastroenteritis, Lymphadenitis und verschiedene Sp{\"a}tkomplikationen wie reaktive Arthritis. Das wichtigste Tierreservoir stellt das Hausschwein dar. Rohes Schweinefleisch in Metzgereien in Deutschland und anderen Regionen in Nord-Ost Europa ist h{\"a}ufig mit Yersinien kontaminiert (Bayern: 25 \%). Da sich Serobiotyp O:3/4-St{\"a}mme geografisch und phylogenetisch deutlich von dem bisher sequenzierten Serobiotyp O:8/1B Stamm 8081 unterscheiden, wurde eine komplette Genomsequenzierung des europ{\"a}ischen Serobiotyp O:3/4 DSMZ Referenzstammes Y11 (aus Patientenstuhl isoliert) durchgef{\"u}hrt. Um einen genaueren Einblick in die Y. enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Gruppe zu erhalten, wurden zus{\"a}tzlich zwei weitere Serobiotyp O:3/4 Isolate (Stamm Y8265, Patientenisolat, und Stamm Y5307, mit reaktiver Arthritis assoziiertes Patientenisolat), sowie ein eng verwandtes Y. enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Serobiotyp O:5,27/3 Isolat, Stamm Y527P, und zwei Biotyp 1A Isolate (ein Isolat nosokomialer Herkunft (Serogruppe O:5) und ein Umwelt-Isolat (O:36)) unvollst{\"a}ndig sequenziert. Die nicht mausvirulenten St{\"a}mme wurden mit dem mausvirulenten Y. enterocolitica subsp. enterocolitica Serobiotyp O:8/1B Stamm 8081 verglichen, um genetische Besonderheiten von Stamm Y11 und der Y. enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Gruppe zu identifizieren. Besonderer Fokus lag hierbei auf dem pathogenen Potential von Stamm Y11, um neue potentielle Virulenz Faktoren und Fitnessfaktoren zu identifizieren, darunter vor allem solche, die eine Rolle bei der Wirtsspezifit{\"a}t von Serobiotyp O:3/4 spielen k{\"o}nnten. Y. enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Serobiotyp O:3/4 St{\"a}mmen fehlen einige der Charakteristika der mausvirulenten Gruppe Y. enterocolitica subsp. enterocolitica, beispielsweise die Yersiniabactin kodierende‚ High-Pathogenicity Island (HPI), das Yts1 Typ 2 Sekretionssystem und das Ysa Typ 3 Sekretionssystem. Die Serobiotyp O:3/4-St{\"a}mme haben ein anderes Repertoir von Virulenz Faktoren erworben, darunter Gene bzw. genomische Inseln f{\"u}r das Ysp Typ 3 Sekretionssystem, Rtx-{\"a}hnliches putatives Toxin, Insektizid-Toxine und ein funktionelles PTS System f{\"u}r die Aufnahme von N-acetyl-galactosamin, dem aga-Operon. Nach dem Transfer des aga-Operons in Y. enterocolitica subsp. enterocolitica O:8/1B konnte Wachstum auf N-acetyl-galactosamin festgestellt werden. Neben diesen Genen k{\"o}nnen m{\"o}glicherweise auch zwei Prophagen (PhiYep-2 und PhiYep-3) und eine asn tRNA assoziierte genomische Insel (GIYep-01) zur Pathoadaptation von Y. enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Serobiotyp O:3/4 beitragen. Der PhiYep-3 Prophage und die GIYep-01 Insel weisen Rekombinationsaktivit{\"a}t auf, und PhiYep-3 wurde nicht in allen untersuchten Serobiotyp O:3/4 St{\"a}mmen gefunden. Y. enterocolitica subsp. palearctica Serobiotyp O:5,27/3 Stamm Y527P ist genetisch eng verwandt zu allen Serobiotyp O:3/4 Isolaten, wohingegen die Biotyp 1A Isolate ein mehr Mosaik-artiges Genom aufweisen und potentielle Virulenzgene sowohl mit Serobiotyp O:8/1B als auch O:3/4 gemeinsam haben, was einen gemeinsamen Vorfahren impliziert. Neben dem pYV Virulenz-Plasmid fehlen den Biotyp 1A Isolaten klassische Virulenzmarker wie das Ail Adhesin, das YstA Enterotoxin und das Virulenz-assoziierte Protein C (VapC). Interessanterweise gibt es keine betr{\"a}chtlichen Unterschiede zwischen den bekannten Virulenzfaktoren des nosokomialen Isolats und dem Umweltisolat der Biotyp 1A-Gruppe, abgesehen von einem verk{\"u}rzten Rtx Toxin-{\"a}hnlichem Genkluster und {\"U}berresten eines P2-{\"a}hnlichen Phagen im Krankenhausisolat der Serogruppe O:5.}, subject = {Genanalyse}, language = {en} } @article{GoebSchmittBenaventeetal.2010, author = {Goeb, Eva and Schmitt, Johannes and Benavente, Ricardo and Alsheimer, Manfred}, title = {Mammalian Sperm Head Formation Involves Different Polarization of Two Novel LINC Complexes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68449}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Background: LINC complexes are nuclear envelope bridging protein structures formed by interaction of SUN and KASH proteins. They physically connect the nucleus with the peripheral cytoskeleton and are critically involved in a variety of dynamic processes, such as nuclear anchorage, movement and positioning and meiotic chromosome dynamics. Moreover, they are shown to be essential for maintaining nuclear shape. Findings: Based on detailed expression analysis and biochemical approaches, we show here that during mouse sperm development, a terminal cell differentiation process characterized by profound morphogenic restructuring, two novel distinctive LINC complexes are established. They consist either of spermiogenesis-specific Sun3 and Nesprin1 or Sun1g, a novel non-nuclear Sun1 isoform, and Nesprin3. We could find that these two LINC complexes specifically polarize to opposite spermatid poles likely linking to sperm-specific cytoskeletal structures. Although, as shown in co-transfection / immunoprecipitation experiments, SUN proteins appear to arbitrarily interact with various KASH partners, our study demonstrates that they actually are able to confine their binding to form distinct LINC complexes. Conclusions: Formation of the mammalian sperm head involves assembly and different polarization of two novel spermiogenesis-specific LINC complexes. Together, our findings suggest that theses LINC complexes connect the differentiating spermatid nucleus to surrounding cytoskeletal structures to enable its well-directed shaping and elongation, which in turn is a critical parameter for male fertility.}, subject = {Sperma}, language = {en} } @article{DummerPosseckertNestleetal.1992, author = {Dummer, R. and Posseckert, G. and Nestle, F. and Witzgall, R. and Burger, M. and Becker, J. C. and Sch{\"a}fer, E. and Wiede, J. and Sebald, Walter and Burg, G.}, title = {Soluble interleukin-2 receptors inhibit interleukin 2-dependent proliferation and cytotoxicity: explanation for diminished natural killer cell activity in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas in vivo?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62473}, year = {1992}, abstract = {No abstract available}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{MerzFliednerOrschescheketal.1991, author = {Merz, H. and Fliedner, A. and Orscheschek, K. and Binder, T. and Sebald, Walter and M{\"u}ller-Hermelink, H. K. and Feller, A. C.}, title = {Cytokine expression in T-cell lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease. Its possible implication in autocrine or paracrine production as a potential basis for neoplastic growth}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62483}, year = {1991}, abstract = {No abstract available}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{KruseLehrnbecherSebald1991, author = {Kruse, N. and Lehrnbecher, T. and Sebald, Walter}, title = {Site-directed mutagenesis reveals the importance of disulfide bridges and aromatic residues for structure and proliferative activity of human interleukin-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62505}, year = {1991}, abstract = {Mutant proteins (muteins) of human lnterleukin-4 (llA) were constructed by means of in vitro mutagenesis. The muteins were expressed in E. co/1, submitted to a renaturation and purification protocol and analysed for biological activity. Exchange of the cysteines at either position 46 or 99 which form one of the three disulfide bridges resulted. in a nearly co•mplete loss · of biological actiyity and an unstable protein. The exchange of tyrosine 124 also inactivated the protein, while a mutation of tyrosine 56 left some residual activity. Exchange of the other four cysteines or of · the single tryptophane had smaller etTects.}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{GoetzEylertEisenreichetal.2010, author = {Goetz, Andreas and Eylert, Eva and Eisenreich, Wolfgang and Goebel, Werner}, title = {Carbon Metabolism of Enterobacterial Human Pathogens Growing in Epithelial Colorectal Adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) Cells}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68555}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Analysis of the genome sequences of the major human bacterial pathogens has provided a large amount of information concerning their metabolic potential. However, our knowledge of the actual metabolic pathways and metabolite fluxes occurring in these pathogens under infection conditions is still limited. In this study, we analysed the intracellular carbon metabolism of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC HN280 and EIEC 4608-58) and Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium (Stm 14028) replicating in epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2). To this aim, we supplied [U-13C6]glucose to Caco-2 cells infected with the bacterial strains or mutants thereof impaired in the uptake of glucose, mannose and/or glucose 6-phosphate. The 13C-isotopologue patterns of protein-derived amino acids from the bacteria and the host cells were then determined by mass spectrometry. The data showed that EIEC HN280 growing in the cytosol of the host cells, as well as Stm 14028 replicating in the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) utilised glucose, but not glucose 6-phosphate, other phosphorylated carbohydrates, gluconate or fatty acids as major carbon substrates. EIEC 4608-58 used C3-compound(s) in addition to glucose as carbon source. The labelling patterns reflected strain-dependent carbon flux via glycolysis and/or the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, the pentose phosphate pathway, the TCA cycle and anapleurotic reactions between PEP and oxaloacetate. Mutants of all three strains impaired in the uptake of glucose switched to C3-substrate(s) accompanied by an increased uptake of amino acids (and possibly also other anabolic monomers) from the host cell. Surprisingly, the metabolism of the host cells, as judged by the efficiency of 13C-incorporation into host cell amino acids, was not significantly affected by the infection with either of these intracellular pathogens.}, subject = {Metabolismus}, language = {en} } @article{DrescherBluethgenSchmittetal.2010, author = {Drescher, Jochen and Bluethgen, Nico and Schmitt, Thomas and Buehler, Jana and Feldhaar, Heike}, title = {Societies Drifting Apart? Behavioural, Genetic and Chemical Differentiation between Supercolonies in the Yellow Crazy Ant Anoplolepis gracilipes}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68573}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Background: In populations of most social insects, gene flow is maintained through mating between reproductive individuals from different colonies in periodic nuptial flights followed by dispersal of the fertilized foundresses. Some ant species, however, form large polygynous supercolonies, in which mating takes place within the maternal nest (intranidal mating) and fertilized queens disperse within or along the boundary of the supercolony, leading to supercolony growth (colony budding). As a consequence, gene flow is largely confined within supercolonies. Over time, such supercolonies may diverge genetically and, thus, also in recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons, CHC's) by a combination of genetic drift and accumulation of colony-specific, neutral mutations. Methodology/Principal Findings: We tested this hypothesis for six supercolonies of the invasive ant Anoplolepis gracilipes in north-east Borneo. Within supercolonies, workers from different nests tolerated each other, were closely related and showed highly similar CHC profiles. Between supercolonies, aggression ranged from tolerance to mortal encounters and was negatively correlated with relatedness and CHC profile similarity. Supercolonies were genetically and chemically distinct, with mutually aggressive supercolony pairs sharing only 33.1\%617.5\% (mean 6 SD) of their alleles across six microsatellite loci and 73.8\%611.6\% of the compounds in their CHC profile. Moreover, the proportion of alleles that differed between supercolony pairs was positively correlated to the proportion of qualitatively different CHC compounds. These qualitatively differing CHC compounds were found across various substance classes including alkanes, alkenes and mono-, di- and trimethyl-branched alkanes. Conclusions: We conclude that positive feedback between genetic, chemical and behavioural traits may further enhance supercolony differentiation through genetic drift and neutral evolution, and may drive colonies towards different evolutionary pathways, possibly including speciation.}, subject = {Ameisen}, language = {en} } @article{SieversBilligGottschalketal.2010, author = {Sievers, Claudia and Billig, Gwendolyn and Gottschalk, Kathleen and Rudel, Thomas}, title = {Prohibitins Are Required for Cancer Cell Proliferation and Adhesion}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68548}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Prohibitin 1 (PHB1) is a highly conserved protein that together with its homologue prohibitin 2 (PHB2) mainly localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Although it was originally identified by its ability to inhibit G1/S progression in human fibroblasts, its role as tumor suppressor is debated. To determine the function of prohibitins in maintaining cell homeostasis, we generated cancer cell lines expressing prohibitin-directed shRNAs. We show that prohibitin proteins are necessary for the proliferation of cancer cells. Down-regulation of prohibitin expression drastically reduced the rate of cell division. Furthermore, mitochondrial morphology was not affected, but loss of prohibitins did lead to the degradation of the fusion protein OPA1 and, in certain cancer cell lines, to a reduced capability to exhibit anchorage-independent growth. These cancer cells also exhibited reduced adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Taken together, these observations suggest prohibitins play a crucial role in adhesion processes in the cell and thereby sustaining cancer cell propagation and survival.}, subject = {Krebs }, language = {en} } @article{MuellerSebaldOschkinat1994, author = {M{\"u}ller, T. and Sebald, Walter and Oschkinat, H.}, title = {Antagonist design through forced electrostatic mismatch}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62408}, year = {1994}, abstract = {No abstract available}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{ReuschArnoldHeusseretal.1994, author = {Reusch, P. and Arnold, S. and Heusser, C. and Wagner, K. and Weston, B. and Sebald, Walter}, title = {Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies define two different functional sites in human interleukin-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62418}, year = {1994}, abstract = {Human interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a small four-helix-bundle protein which is essential for organizing defense reactions against macroparasites, in particular helminths. Human IL-4 also appears to exert a pathophysiological role during various IgE-mediated allergic diseases. Seven different monoclonal antibodies neutralizing the activity of human IL-4 were studied in order to identify functionally important epitopes. A collection of 41 purified IL-4 variants was used to analyse how defined amino acid replacements affect binding affinity for each individual mAb. Specific amino acid positions could be assigned to four different epitopes. mAbs recognizing epitopes on helix A and/or C interfered with IL-4 receptor binding and thus inhibited IL-4 function. However, other mAbs also inhibiting IL-4 function recognized an epitope on helix D of IL-4 and did not inhibit IL-4 binding to the receptor protein. One mAb, recognizing N-terminal and C-terminal residues, partially competed for binding to the receptor. The results of these mAb epitope analyses confirm and extend previous data on the functional consequences of the amino acid replacements which showed that amino acid residues in helices A and C of IL-4 provide a binding site for the cloned IL-4 receptor and that a signalling site in helix D interacts with a further receptor protein.}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{DemchukMuellerOschkinatetal.1994, author = {Demchuk, E. and Mueller, T. and Oschkinat, H. and Sebald, Walter and Wade, R. C.}, title = {Receptor binding properties of four-helix-bundle growth factors deduced from electrostatic analysis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62424}, year = {1994}, abstract = {Hormones of the hematopoietin class mediate signal transduction by binding to specific transmembrane receptors. Structural data show that the human growth hormone (hGH) forms a complex with a homodimeric receptor and that hGH is a member of a class of hematopoietins possessing an antiparallel 4-a-helix bundle fold. Mutagenesis experiments suggest that electrostatic interactions may have an important influence on hormonereceptor recognition. In order to examine the specificity of hormone-receptor complexation, an analysis was made of the electrostatic potentials of hGH, interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and the hGH and IL-4 receptors. The binding surfaces of hGH and its receptor, and of IL-4 and its receptor, show complementary electrostatic potentials. The potentials of the hGH and its receptor display approximately 2-fold rotational symmetry because the receptor subunits are identical. In contrast, the potentials of GM-CSF and IL-2 Iack such symmetry, consistent with their known high affinity for hetero-oligomeric receptors. Analysis of the electrostatic potentials supports a recently proposed hetero-oligomeric model for a high-affinity IL-4 receptor and suggests a possible new receptor binding mode for G-CSF; it also provides valuable information for guiding structural and mutagenesis studies of signal-transducing proteins and their receptors.}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} } @article{LehrnbecherPootOrschescheketal.1994, author = {Lehrnbecher, T. and Poot, M. and Orscheschek, K. and Sebald, Walter and Feller, A. C. and Merz, H.}, title = {Interleukin 7 as interleukin 9 drives phytohemagglutinin-activated T cells through several cell cycles; no synergism between interleukin 7, interleukin 9 and interleukin 4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-62438}, year = {1994}, abstract = {The effects of the interlenkins IL-7 and IL-9 on cell cycle progression were investigated by conventional [3H]thymidine incorporation and by the bivariate BrdU/Hoechst technique. 8oth IL· 7 and IL-9 drive phytohemagglutinin-activated T cells through more than one cell cycle, but IL-7 wasmorepotent on cell cycle progression than IL-9. Neither synergistic nor inhibitory effects were seen between various combinations of the lymphokines IL-7, IL-9 and IL-4 compared to each lymphokine alone. When T cells are activated with phytohemagglutinin for 3 days, all or most IL-4 responsive cells respond to IL-7 as weil, whereas only a part of IL-7 responders are IL-4 responders. In contrast, when T cells are activated with phytohemagglutinin for 7 days, the quantitative data of the cell cycle distribution soggest that the population of IL-7 responders is at least an overlapping, if not a real subset of the population of the IL-4 responders.}, subject = {Biochemie}, language = {en} }