ORCID Profile
0000-0001-5947-310X
Current Organisation
Griffith University Griffith Health
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Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 03-2000
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.74.5.2151-2160.2000
Abstract: Enwrapment by membrane cisternae has emerged recently as a mechanism of envelopment for large enveloped DNA viruses, such as herpesviruses, poxviruses, and African swine fever (ASF) virus. For both ASF virus and the poxviruses, wrapping is a multistage process initiated by the recruitment of capsid proteins onto membrane cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or associated ER-Golgi intermediate membrane compartments. Capsid assembly induces progressive bending of membrane cisternae into the characteristic shape of viral particles, and envelopment provides virions with two membranes in one step. We have used biochemical assays for ASF virus capsid recruitment, assembly, and envelopment to define the cellular processes important for the enwrapment of viruses by membrane cisternae. Capsid assembly on the ER membrane, and envelopment by ER cisternae, were inhibited when cells were depleted of ATP or depleted of calcium by incubation with A23187 and EDTA or the ER calcium ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin. Electron microscopy analysis showed that cells depleted of calcium were unable to assemble icosahedral particles. Instead, assembly sites contained crescent-shaped and bulbous structures and, in rare cases, empty closed five-sided particles. Interestingly, recruitment of the capsid protein from the cytosol onto the ER membrane did not require ATP or an intact ER calcium store. The results show that following recruitment of the virus capsid protein onto the ER membrane, subsequent stages of capsid assembly and enwrapment are dependent on ATP and are regulated by the calcium gradients present across the ER membrane cisternae.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.ATHEROSCLEROSIS.2013.08.018
Abstract: The use of calcium supplements for the prevention of complications of osteoporosis has significantly increased during the last years. The effects of calcium intake in postmenopausal women on cardiovascular parameters such as blood pressure, serum lipids and cardiovascular events are controversial. Even though transient beneficial effects of calcium supplementation have been reported, especially in women with low dietary calcium intake, their long-term outcomes are inconclusive. Only a very few studies investigating serum lipids in postmenopausal women have been described and these showed significant increases in high-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein to low-density lipoprotein ratio. With regards to cardiovascular events in this population group adverse effects have been reported on the rates of myocardial infarction and stroke with increased calcium intake by some authors, however, others described no effects or even beneficial outcomes. We present a review of the current literature which provides a balanced summary of the possible beneficial and adverse effects of calcium intake in postmenopausal women on cardiovascular parameters. Taking into account the modest effect of calcium supplementation in reducing fracture rates, a reassessment of the role, benefits and adverse effects of calcium supplements should be conducted in postmenopausal women.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-2003
DOI: 10.1093/HMG/DDG166
Abstract: The Menkes disease gene encodes a P-type transmembrane ATPase (ATP7A) that translocates cytosolic copper ions across intracellular membranes of compartments along the secretory pathway. ATP7A moves from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the cell surface in response to exogenously added copper ions and recycles back to the TGN upon copper removal. The protein contains a C-terminal di-leucine motif necessary for internalization from the cell surface. In this study we show that ATP7A is internalized by a novel pathway that is independent of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Expression of dominant-negative mutants of the dynamin-I, dynamin-II and Eps15 proteins that block clathrin-dependent endocytosis of the transferrin receptor do not inhibit internalization of endogenous ATP7A, or an ATP7A reporter molecule (CD8-MCF1). Similarly, inhibitors of caveolae-mediated uptake do not affect ATP7A internalization whilst preventing uptake of PODIPY-ganglioside GM(1), a caveolae marker. In contrast, expression of a constitutively active mutant of the Rac1 GTPase inhibits plasma membrane internalization of both the ATP7A and transferrin receptor transmembrane proteins. These findings define a novel route required for ATP7A internalization and delivery to endosomes.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2006
Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Date: 31-12-2013
DOI: 10.2174/1874609806666131204153102
Abstract: Ageing is associated with decreased muscle mass, strength, power and function, and reduction in bone density and mineral content, leading to reduced independence and increased risk of falls. Creatine supplementation is reported to improve muscular strength and performance with training in younger athletes, and therefore could benefit older in iduals. This review critically appraises the current literature on whether creatine supplementation enhances muscular performance and function, body composition, bone mineral density and content in older adults without the addition of resistance training, and thus determines whether creatine supplementation can lead to an improved lifestyle for the sedentary elderly population. There is conflicting evidence regarding the usefulness of creatine supplementation in older subjects. Generally, however, creatine supplementation, without associated resistance training, seems to enhance muscular strength, power and endurance, increase lean body mass (LBM) and improve the functional capacity of the elderly. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that increased muscle mass due to creatine supplementation can result in increased local bone density. It appears that the effect of creatine supplementation is more beneficial in larger muscles and less effective in smaller muscles, however there are exceptions. The mechanism by which creatine supplementation works requires further research, however it is likely that the effects of creatine are related to creatine kinase activity, providing enhanced energy production for greater muscular contraction. These data indicate that creatine supplementation without associated training in the elderly could potentially delay atrophy of muscle mass, improve endurance and strength, and increase bone strength, and thus may be a safe therapeutic strategy to help decrease loss in functional performance of everyday tasks.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2003
DOI: 10.1046/J.1523-1747.2003.12557.X
Abstract: Darier's disease is an autosomal dominantly inherited skin disorder characterized by loss of adhesion between epidermal cells, breakdown of desmosome-keratin filaments, and abnormal keratinization. ATP2A2 has been identified as the causative gene of Darier's disease. This gene encodes the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) isoform 2 pump, which transports Ca2+ from the cytosol into the endoplasmic reticulum lumen to maintain a low cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. Using indirect immunofluorescence and biochemical analysis, we investigated the distribution of key desmosomal proteins in normal human and Darier's disease keratinocytes under various calcium conditions. We show that inhibition of SERCA by thapsigargin in normal human keratinocytes impairs the trafficking of the desmoplakins, desmoglein, and desmocollin to the cell surface these proteins show a diffuse cytoplasmic distribution and, together with plakoglobin, form detergent-insoluble aggregates. In Darier's disease keratinocytes, only the trafficking of desmoplakin is significantly inhibited in these cells, desmoplakin forms insoluble aggregates when extracted with mild detergent. In contrast, the transmembrane proteins desmoglein and desmocollin are efficiently transported to the cell surface. These proteins, along with plakoglobin, remain equally distributed between detergent-soluble and -insoluble fractions. We also demonstrate an interaction between SERCA2 and desmoplakin during differentiation. Our results provide further insights into the critical role of calcium ATPases in maintaining epidermal integrity.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2003
DOI: 10.1016/J.TCB.2003.10.008
Abstract: Transmembrane domain (TMD) proteins comprise a major group of proteins that perform a wide range of functions and act to translate extracellular signals to intracellular responses. They include G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), growth factor receptors, ion channels, transporters and metabolic enzymes. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of trafficking of mutant membrane proteins in human disease and speculate on therapeutic strategies.
Publisher: IEEE
Date: 02-2014
Publisher: Microbiology Society
Date: 2007
Abstract: Assembly of African swine fever virus (ASFV) involves the transfer of the major capsid protein, p73, from the cytosol onto the cytoplasmic face of endoplasmic reticulum-derived membranes. During this process, the folding of p73 is dependent upon transient association with a specific viral chaperone, CAP80. The cell cytoplasm maintains high concentrations of reduced glutathione, leading to a reducing environment. Here, the effects of redox environment on the assembly of ASFV have been studied. Diamide, which oxidizes the cell cytosol, slowed the folding of p73 and prevented release from CAP80 and subsequent binding of p73 to membranes. Similarly, cell oxidation slowed the assembly of p73 molecules already bound to membranes into virus capsid precursors. Interestingly, addition of oxidized glutathione to newly assembled virus capsid precursors in vitro led to disassembly however, virus particles released from cells were resistant to oxidized glutathione. These data show that assembly of ASFV requires the reducing environment that prevails in the cytosol, but as the virus matures, it becomes resistant to oxidation, possibly indicating preparation for release from the cell.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1155/2014/358058
Abstract: With a more sedentary population comes growing rates of obesity and increased type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk. Exercise generally induces positive changes in traditional T2DM risk markers such as lipids, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity however alterations in concentrations of many circulating cytokines and their respective receptors are also becoming apparent. These cytokines may be early-response health risk factors otherwise overlooked in traditional T2DM risk marker analysis. Plasma levels of two adipocyte-originating cytokines, adiponectin and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP-4), alter following exercise. Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-insulin resistance roles and its secretion increases with physical activity, whilst elevated RBP-4 leads to increased insulin resistance, and secretion decreases with increasing physical activity thus these plasma adipokine levels alter favourably following exercise. Although current data are limited, they do suggest that the more intense the exercise, the greater the positive effect on plasma RBP-4 levels, whilst lower intensity aerobic exercise may positively improve adiponectin concentrations. Therefore short-duration, high intensity training may provide a time-efficient alternative to the recommended 150 min moderate aerobic exercise per week in providing positive changes in RBP-4 and other traditional T2DM risk markers and due to increased compliance give greater health benefits over the longer term.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2006
DOI: 10.1016/J.YMGME.2006.05.008
Abstract: Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) results from an inherited partial deficiency of ferrochelatase, the terminal enzyme of haem biosynthesis. Excess protoporphyrin IX accumulates in erythrocytes, plasma, liver, and skin, which mediates a distinctive form of cutaneous photosensitivity that manifests during childhood. Ferrochelatase is synthesised on cytosolic ribosomes as a preprotein with a cleavable presequence at its amino-terminus. This leader sequence is thought to target ferrochelatase to mitochondria where it is cleaved to produce the active mature protein. In this study, we show that the 62 amino acid leader sequence is sufficient for targeting of a leader sequence-YFP fusion protein to mitochondria. A truncated fusion protein lacking the first 62 amino acids did not target to mitochondria, and formed punctate aggregates in the cytoplasm of cells. This suggests that all the information required for mitochondrial localisation resides within the first 62 amino acid presequence. A missense mutation, P62R, predicted to be located within the ferrochelatase presequence has been identified in a patient with EPP. We hypothesised that this mutation may exert its effect through defective targeting to mitochondria. Our data showed that this mutated full-length ferrochelatase successfully targeted to mitochondria. Interestingly, there was inhibited cleavage of YFP from wild-type and mutant leader sequence fusion proteins. Generation of leader sequence-YFP fusion proteins containing an additional 11 amino acids from the mature protein allowed proteolytic processing to occur. These data suggest that the first 62 amino acids allow targeting to mitochondria but do not contain sufficient information for efficient processing of the protein.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2004
Publisher: The American Association of Immunologists
Date: 06-2008
DOI: 10.4049/JIMMUNOL.180.11.7404
Abstract: The recognition of carbohydrate moieties by cells of the innate immune system is emerging as an essential element in antifungal immunity, but despite the number and ersity of lectins expressed by innate immune cells, few carbohydrate receptors have been characterized. Mincle, a C-type lectin, is expressed predominantly on macrophages, and is here shown to play a role in macrophage responses to the yeast Candida albicans. After exposure to the yeast in vitro, Mincle localized to the phagocytic cup, but it was not essential for phagocytosis. In the absence of Mincle, production of TNF-α by macrophages was reduced, both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, mice lacking Mincle showed a significantly increased susceptibility to systemic candidiasis. Thus, Mincle plays a novel and nonredundant role in the induction of inflammatory signaling in response to C. albicans infection.
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 15-08-2001
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.75.16.7221-7229.2001
Abstract: It is generally believed that cellular chaperones facilitate the folding of virus capsid proteins, or that capsid proteins fold spontaneously. Here we show that p73, the major capsid protein of African swine fever virus (ASFV) failed to fold and aggregated when expressed alone in cells. This demonstrated that cellular chaperones were unable to aid the folding of p73 and suggested that ASFV may encode a chaperone. An 80-kDa protein encoded by ASFV, termed the capsid-associated protein (CAP) 80, bound to the newly synthesized capsid protein in infected cells. The 80-kDa protein was released following conformational maturation of p73 and dissociated before capsid assembly. Coexpression of the 80-kDa protein with p73 prevented aggregation and allowed the capsid protein to fold with kinetics identical to those seen in infected cells. CAP80 is, therefore, a virally encoded chaperone that facilitates capsid protein folding by masking domains exposed by the newly synthesized capsid protein, which are susceptible to aggregation, but cannot be accommodated by host chaperones. It is likely that these domains are ultimately buried when newly synthesized capsid proteins are added to the growing capsid shell.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-2002
Abstract: The Menkes disease protein (ATP7A or MNK) is a P-type transmembrane ATPase that regulates translocation of cytosolic copper ions across intracellular membranes of compartments along the secretory pathway. In this study, we show that endogenous MNK in cultured cell lines is localized to the distal Golgi apparatus and translocates to the plasma membrane in response to exogenous copper ions. This transport event is not blocked by expression of a dominant-negative mutant protein kinase D, an enzyme implicated in regulating constitutive trafficking from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the plasma membrane, whereas constitutive transport of CD4 is inhibited. In contrast, protein kinase A inhibitors block copper-stimulated MNK delivery to the plasma membrane. Expression of constitutively active Rho GTPases such as Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA reveals a requirement for Cdc42 in the trafficking of MNK, to the cell surface. Furthermore, overexpression of WASp inhibits anterograde transport of MNK, further supporting regulation by the Cdc42 GTPase. These findings define a novel step in TGN-to-plasma membrane traffic required to export MNK to the cell surface.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-08-2003
DOI: 10.1093/HMG/DDG247
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Christian Cobbold.