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Metallothionein is crucial for safe intracellular copper storage and cell survival at normal and supra-physiological exposure levels.

ABSTRACT: MTs (metallothioneins) increase the resistance of cells to exposure to high Cu (copper) levels. Characterization of the MT-Cu complex suggests that MT has an important role in the cellular storage and/or delivery of Cu ions to cuproenzymes. In this work we investigate how these properties contribute to Cu homoeostasis by evaluating the uptake, accumulation and efflux of Cu in wild-type and MT I/II null rat fibroblast cell lines. We also assessed changes in the expression of Cu metabolism-related genes in response to Cu exposure. At sub-physiological Cu levels (0.4 microM), the metal content was not dependent on MT; however, when extracellular Cu was increased to physiological levels (10 microM), MTs were required for the cell's ability to accumulate the metal. The subcellular localization of the accumulated metal in the cytoplasm was MT-dependent. Following supra-physiological Cu exposure (>50 microM), MT null cells had a decreased capacity for Cu storage and an elevated sensitivity to a minor increment in intracellular metal levels, suggesting that intracellular Cu toxicity is due not to the metal content but to the interactions of the metal with cellular components. Moreover, MT null cells failed to show increased levels of mRNAs encoding MT I, SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) and Ccs1 (Cu chaperone for SOD) in response to Cu exposure. These results support a role for MT in the storage of Cu in a safe compartment and in sequestering an intracellular excess of Cu in response to supra-physiological Cu exposure. Gene expression analysis suggests the necessity of having MT as part of the signalling pathway that induces gene expression in response to Cu.

SUBMITTER: Tapia L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1223976 | biostudies-other | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:Previous evaluation by different molecular and physiological assays of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) responses to heat shock exposure yielded a still fragmentary view of the mechanisms determining bacterial survival or death at supra-physiological temperatures. This study analyzed diverse facets of S. aureus heat-shock adjustment by recording global transcriptomic and metabolic responses of bacterial cultures shifted for 10 min from 37oC to a sub-lethal (43oC) or eventually lethal (48oC) temperature. A relevant metabolic model of the combined action of specific stress response mechanisms with more general, energy-regulating metabolic pathways in heat-shocked S. aureus was designed. While S. aureus cultures shifted to 43oC or left at 37oC showed marginal differences in growth and survival rates, bacterial cultures exposed to 48oC showed a rapid growth arrest followed by a subsequent decline in viable counts. The most substantial heat shock-induced changes at both 43oC and 48oC occurred in transcript levels of HrcA- and CtsR-regulated genes, encoding classical chaperones DnaK and GroESL, and some Hsp100/Clp ATPases components, respectively. Other metabolic pathways up-regulated by S. aureus exposure at 48oC included genes encoding several enzymes coping with oxidative stress, and DNA damage, or/and impaired osmotic balance. Some major components of the pentose phosphate cycle and gluconeogenesis were also up-regulated, which reflected depletion of free glucose by bacterial cultures grown in Mueller-Hinton broth prior to heat shock. In contrast, most purine- and pyrimidine-synthesis pathway components and amino acyl-tRNA synthetases were down-regulated at 48oC, as well as arginine deiminase and major fermentative pathway components, such as alcohol, lactate and formate dehydrogenases. Despite the heat-induced, increased requirements for ATP-dependent macromolecular repair mechanisms combined with declining energy sources, intracellular ATP levels remained remarkably constant during heat shock. In conclusion, the sequential loss of replication and viability at 48oC cannot be explained by significant reductions in intracellular ATP levels, but may reflect ATP rerouting for macromolecular repair mechanisms and cell survival. Our metabolic model also suggests that heat-stressed S. aureus should down-regulate the production of potential, DNA-damaging reactive oxygen species that might result from electron transport-generated ATP, involving excessive levels of free heavy metals, in particular iron. Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; heat shock; stress responses; transcriptomic profiling; physiological adjustment

Project description:Vitamin D may have anti-tumorigenic actions by influencing the gene expression profile of target tissues, which possess vitamin D receptors. We used a more physiological in vitro model, represented by short-term culture of breast cancer tissue slices, to study the transcriptional effects of a near physiological concentration of calcitriol. Methods. Breast cancer fragments were sliced and maintained in culture for 24 hours in the presence or absence (control) of calcitriol 0.5nM or 100nM (called physiological or supra-physiological concentrations). Five and 16 samples were included in a test or validation group and gene expression was analyzed by microarray (using SAM paired analysis) or qPCR, respectively. Results. Nine genes were regulated by calcitriol 0.5nM including CYP24A1, DPP4, EFTUD1 (FDR£0.01), which were up-modulated. However, using a less stringent FDR value (0.25) 61 genes were differentially expressed. Among the down-regulated transcripts were members of the MHC class II complex (HLA-DPA1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQA2, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DRA, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DRB3) and IgG binding (FCGR2A, FCGR2B, FCGR2C). There was an enrichment of genes presenting transcription factor binding sites for vitamin D, among the up-regulated genes and for interferon regulatory factor IRF1, among the down-regulated genes. Analyzing calcitriol supra-physiological effects, a more impressive transcriptional modulation was identified and 136 and 60 genes (FDR 0.1) were more and less expressed in treated samples. Up-regulated genes were involved in vitamin metabolic process, regulation of leukocyte-mediated immunity and positive regulation of alpha-beta T cell activation. Many of the induced genes were already reported as vitamin D responsive genes, including CD14, which was also up-regulated in another set of 16 samples. Genes modulated by both calcitriol concentrations were CYP24A1, DPP4, CA2 (these three in both sets of samples), EFTUD1, TKTL1, KCNK3. Conclusion. Small increments in calcitriol concentration, within the physiological range, for a relatively short period of time may exert transcriptional effects in breast cancer samples. Further studies employing physiological concentrations of vitamin D for longer periods of time may help to elucidate the hormone effects in breast cancer treatment and prevention.

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Metallothionein is crucial for safe intracellular copper storage and cell survival at normal and supra-physiological exposure levels.

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