This proposal describes a five-year training program for the development of an academic research career in basic science. The principal investigator is a postdoctoral research fellow at The University of Iowa. Her long-term goal in this project is the establishment of an independent research career studying the cell biology of redox-signaling in health and disease. Her mentor is Dr. John Engelhardt, professor and Chair of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. The research environment includes access to all equipment and supplies needed as well as an advisory committee of faculty members with expertise in areas of interest to the principal investigator. Intracellular redox-regulated signaling pathways are coordinated by the spatially controlled production of reactive oxygen species within various subcellular compartments. Despite the fact that it has been known for over three decades that superoxide is produced locally in the nucleus, its function and regulation at this site remain completely unknown. The broad, long-term objective of this project is to investigate how superoxide-producing enzymes at nuclear membranes are activated and regulated, and how they may be involved in regulating the transcription of injury response genes. Our preliminary data indicate that nuclear NADPH oxidase isoform 4 (NOX4) is functionally distinct from the NOX4 complex found elsewhere in the cell.
Our first aim will investigate the subunit composition of the nuclear NOX4 complex and elucidate the topology and permeability of superoxide production by nuclear membranes.
In aim 2, we hypothesize that NOX4 regulation in the nucleus is in part dependent on the localized availability of its substrate NADPH and that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the nucleus is recruited to NOX4 under conditions of LPS stress (which we know elevates nuclear NOX4 activity).
Aim 3 hypothesizes that nuclear superoxide plays a role in controlling the activity of several redox-regulated transcription factors, including NFkB and AP-1. The control of these transcription factors by nuclear superoxide signals will be studied using several transcription factor reporter assays. These studies provide the first investigation of physiological functions and regulation of nuclear superoxide.

Public Health Relevance

LPS released by gram-negative bacterial infections can cause rapid clinical deterioration and shock, often requiring care in an ICU setting. This proposal seeks to understand how LPS leads to an increase in nuclear superoxide free radical production by liver cells. The proposed research will enhance our understanding of LPS-mediated injury and may lead to new therapeutic approaches for endotoxin-mediated sepsis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01DK083429-04
Application #
8435441
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2010-03-01
Project End
2014-03-28
Budget Start
2013-03-01
Budget End
2014-03-28
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$102,646
Indirect Cost
$7,603
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242
Spencer, Netanya Y; Yan, Ziying; Cong, Le et al. (2016) Definitive localization of intracellular proteins: Novel approach using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase as a model. Anal Biochem 494:55-67
Spencer, Netanya Y; Engelhardt, John F (2014) The basic biology of redoxosomes in cytokine-mediated signal transduction and implications for disease-specific therapies. Biochemistry 53:1551-64
Spencer, Netanya Y; Zhou, Weihong; Li, Qiang et al. (2013) Hepatocytes produce TNF-? following hypoxia-reoxygenation and liver ischemia-reperfusion in a NADPH oxidase- and c-Src-dependent manner. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 305:G84-94
Spencer, Netanya Y; Yan, Ziying; Boudreau, Ryan L et al. (2011) Control of hepatic nuclear superoxide production by glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NADPH oxidase-4. J Biol Chem 286:8977-87
Li, Qiang; Spencer, Netanya Y; Pantazis, Nicholas J et al. (2011) Alsin and SOD1(G93A) proteins regulate endosomal reactive oxygen species production by glial cells and proinflammatory pathways responsible for neurotoxicity. J Biol Chem 286:40151-62
Li, Qiang; Spencer, Netanya Y; Oakley, Fredrick D et al. (2009) Endosomal Nox2 facilitates redox-dependent induction of NF-kappaB by TNF-alpha. Antioxid Redox Signal 11:1249-63