Monica Thelestam's research while affiliated with Karolinska Institutet and other places

UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) is synthesized by UGP2-encoded UDP-Glc pyrophosphorylase (UGP) and is required for glycoconjugate biosynthesis and galactose metabolism because it is a uridyl donor for galactose-1-P (Gal1P) uridyltransferase. Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts harboring a hypomrphic UGP(G116D) variant display reduced UDP-Glc levels and cannot grow if galactose is the sole carbon source. Here, these cells were cultivated with glucose in either the absence or presence of galactose in order to investigate glycoconjugate biosynthesis and galactose metabolism. The UGP-deficient cells display < 5% control levels of UDP-Glc/UDP-Gal and > 100-fold reduction of [6-3H]galactose incorporation into UDP-[6-3H]galactose, as well as multiple deficits in glycoconjugate biosynthesis. Cultivation of these cells in the presence of galactose leads to partial restoration of UDP-Glc levels, galactose metabolism and glycoconjugate biosynthesis. The Vmax for recombinant human UGP(G116D) with Glc1P is 2000-fold less than that of the wild-type protein, and UGP(G116D) displayed a mildly elevated Km for Glc1P, but no activity of the mutant enzyme towards Gal1P was detectable. To conclude, although the mechanism behind UDP-Glc/Gal production in the UGP-deficient cells remains to be determined, the capacity of this cell line to change its glycosylation status as a function of extracellular galactose makes it a useful, reversible model with which to study different aspects of galactose metabolism and glycoconjugate biosynthesis.

UDP‐glucose (UDP‐Glc) is required for galactose metabolism and glycoconjugate biosynthesis and is synthesised from glucose‐1‐ phosphate by UDP‐Glc pyrophosphorylase (UGPP). UGPP‐deficient fibroblasts displaying reduced UDP‐Glc, impaired mitochondrial function and increased glucose regulated protein expression have been described. We have now characterised glycoconjugate biosynthesis and galactose metabolism in these cells and show that they display: 1) reduced [6‐ ³ H]galactose incorporation into UDP‐[6‐ ³ H]‐galactose; 2) an inability to glucosylate the dolichol‐linked oligosaccharide required for protein N ‐glycosylation; 3) hypo‐ N ‐glycosylated PrP C ; 4) truncated O‐glycans, and 5) reduced glucosylceramide and NeuAcα2,3Galβ1,4Glcβ‐ceramide levels. Transfection of the cells with wild type UGPP restores all the above defects except mitochondrial function. Surprisingly, it was discovered that the effects of transfecting the mutant cells with wild type UGPP were reproduced by prolonged cultivation of the cells with galactose. Accordingly, we describe a novel reversable model with which to study defects in galactose metabolism and glycoconjugate biosynthesis.

All Campylobacter jejuni species produce a genotoxin, which induce DNA double strand breaks, could lead to an increased risk of cancer especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. All individuals in Stockholm County who tested positive with C. jejuni between 1989 and 2006 were included. The cohort was followed-up until December 31, 2007 for the occurrence of cancer, overall and site specific. Standard incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by comparisons with the background population. There were 16,276 individuals who tested positive for C. jejuni generating 124,387 person years. Excluding the first year of follow-up the overall risk for cancer did neither differ from that expected SIR = 0.95 (95% CI 0.82-1.09) nor after 10 years or more of follow-up; SIR = 0.91 (95% CI 0.71-1.16). There was no increased risk for cancer in the gastro-intestinal tract, but there were significantly increased risks for melanomas SIR = 1.84 (95% CI 1.27-2.57) and squamous cell skin cancer SIR = 1.52 (95% CI 1.01-2.19) while a significantly decreased risk of respiratory cancers among males SIR = 0.32 (95% CI 0.12-0.70) was observed. Our results indicate no excess risks of malignancies following an infection by C. jejuni at least during the first decade. Furthermore, the finding of a decreased risk of respiratory cancers could be of interest, if the results are reproduced in future studies in other populations.

The MYC protein controls cellular functions such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. In response to genotoxic agents, cells overexpressing MYC undergo apoptosis. However, the MYC-regulated effectors acting upstream of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway are still unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that expression of Myc is required to activate the Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent DNA damage checkpoint responses in rat cell lines exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) or the bacterial cytolethal distending toxin (CDT). Phosphorylation of the ATM kinase and its downstream effectors, such as histone H2AX, were impaired in the myc null cell line HO15.19, compared to the myc positive TGR-1 and HOmyc3 cells. Nuclear foci formation of the Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome (Nbs) 1 protein, essential for efficient ATM activation, was also reduced in absence of myc. Knock down of the endogenous levels of MYC by siRNA in the human cell line HCT116 resulted in decreased ATM and CHK2 phosphorylation in response to irradiation. Conversely, cell death induced by UV irradiation, known to activate the ATR-dependent checkpoint, was similar in all the cell lines, independently of the myc status. These data demonstrate that MYC contributes to the activation of the ATM-dependent checkpoint responses, leading to cell death in response to specific genotoxic stimuli.

Thermal instability in the toxin catalytic subunit may be a common property of toxins that exit the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by exploiting the mechanism of ER-associated degradation (ERAD). The Haemophilus ducreyi cytolethal distending toxin (HdCDT) does not utilize ERAD to exit the ER, so we predicted the structural properties of its catalytic subunit (HdCdtB) would differ from other ER-translocating toxins. Here, we document the heat-stable properties of HdCdtB which distinguish it from other ER-translocating toxins. Cell-based assays further suggested that HdCdtB does not unfold before exiting the ER and that it may move directly from the ER lumen to the nucleoplasm. These observations suggest a novel mode of ER exit for HdCdtB.

IntroductionMolecular Characteristics of the ToxinsCellular Effects of the ToxinsMolecular Mode of Action of the ToxinsBiological Consequences of Toxin Action on CellsRelationship of the C. difficile Toxins to Other Large Clostridial CytotoxinsConclusions and Perspectives for the Future

Exposure of adherent cells to DNA damaging agents, such as the bacterial cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) or ionizing radiations (IR), activates the small GTPase RhoA, which promotes the formation of actin stress fibers and delays cell death. The signalling intermediates that regulate RhoA activation and promote cell survival are unknown. We demonstrate that the nuclear RhoA-specific Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factor (GEF) Net1 becomes dephosphorylated at a critical inhibitory site in cells exposed to CDT or IR. Expression of a dominant negative Net1 or Net1 knock down by iRNA prevented RhoA activation, inhibited the formation of stress fibers, and enhanced cell death, indicating that Net1 activation is required for this RhoA-mediated responses to genotoxic stress. The Net1 and RhoA-dependent signals involved activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase p38 and its downstream target MAPK-activated protein kinase 2. Our data highlight the importance of Net1 in controlling RhoA and p38 MAPK mediated cell survival in cells exposed to DNA damaging agents and illustrate a molecular pathway whereby chronic exposure to a bacterial toxin may promote genomic instability.

Large clostridial cytotoxins and protein overexpression were used to probe for involvement of Ras-related GTPases (guanosine triphosphate) in synaptic transmission in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. The toxins TcdA-10463 (inactivates Rho, Rac, Cdc42, Rap) and TcsL-1522 (inactivates Ral, Rac, Ras, R-Ras, Rap) both inhibited autaptic responses. In a proportion of the neurons (25%, TcdA-10463; 54%, TcsL-1522), the inhibition was associated with a shift from activity-dependent depression to facilitation, indicating that the synaptic release probability was reduced. Overexpression of a dominant negative Ral mutant, Ral A28N, caused a strong inhibition of autaptic responses, which was associated with a shift to facilitation in a majority (80%) of the neurons. These results indicate that Ral, along with at least one other non-Rab GTPase, participates in presynaptic regulation in hippocampal neurons.

The cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs) are unique in their ability to induce DNA damage, activate checkpoint responses and cause cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in intoxicated cells. However, little is known about their cellular internalization pathway. We demonstrate that binding of the Haemophilus ducreyi CDT (HdCDT) on the plasma membrane of sensitive cells was abolished by cholesterol extraction with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The toxin was internalized via the Golgi complex, and retrogradely transported to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), as assessed by N-linked glycosylation. Further translocation from the ER did not require the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway, and was Derlin-1 independent. The genotoxic activity of HdCDT was dependent on its internalization and its DNase activity, as induction of DNA double-stranded breaks was prevented in Brefeldin A-treated cells and in cells exposed to a catalytically inactive toxin. Our data contribute to a better understanding of the CDT mode of action and highlight two important aspects of the biology of this bacterial toxin family: (i) HdCDT translocation from the ER to the nucleus does not involve the classical pathways followed by other retrogradely transported toxins and (ii) toxin internalization is crucial for execution of its genotoxic activity.