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Governments have restricted public life during the COVID-19 pandemic, inter alia closing sports facilities and gyms. As regular exercise is essential for health, this study examined the effect of pandemic-related confinements on physical activity (PA) levels. A multinational survey was performed in 14 countries. Times spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as in vigorous physical activity only (VPA) were assessed using the Nordic Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form). Data were obtained for leisure and occupational PA pre- and during restrictions. Compliance with PA guidelines was calculated based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). In total, n = 13,503 respondents (39 ± 15 years, 59% females) were surveyed. Compared to pre-restrictions, overall self-reported PA declined by 41% (MVPA) and 42.2% (VPA). Reductions were higher for occupational vs. leisure time, young and old vs. middle-aged persons, previously more active vs. less active individuals, but similar between men and women. Compared to pre-pandemic, compliance with WHO guidelines decreased from 80.9% (95% CI: 80.3–81.7) to 62.5% (95% CI: 61.6–63.3). Results suggest PA levels have substantially decreased globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key stakeholders should consider strategies to mitigate loss in PA in order to preserve health during the pandemic.
Confinement measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused substantial reductions in global physical activity (PA) levels. In view of the manifold health benefits of PA, the development of interventions counteracting this trend is paramount. Our survey with 15,261 participants (38 ± 15 years, 58.5% females) examined preferences towards digital home exercise programs in 14 countries affected by COVID-19. More than two-thirds of the sample (68.4%, n = 10,433) indicated being interested in home exercise, and most participants were willing to work out at least three times per week (89.3%, n = 9328). Binary logistic regression revealed that female sex, working part-time, younger age, and being registered in a gym were associated with willingness to exercise. Flexibility (71.1%, n = 7377), resistance (68.6%, n = 7116), and endurance training (62.4%, n = 6478) were the most preferred types of exercise. Our results may guide health providers in developing individually tailored PA interventions during the current and future pandemics.
Most countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have repeatedly restricted public life to control the contagion. However, the health impact of confinement measures is hitherto unclear. We performed a multinational survey investigating changes in mental and physical well-being (MWB/PWB) during the first wave of the pandemic. A total of 14,975 individuals from 14 countries provided valid responses. Compared to pre-restrictions, MWB, as measured by the WHO-5 questionnaire, decreased considerably during restrictions (68.1 ± 16.9 to 51.9 ± 21.0 points). Whereas 14.2% of the participants met the cutoff for depression screening pre-restrictions, this share tripled to 45.2% during restrictions. Factors associated with clinically relevant decreases in MWB were female sex (odds ratio/OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11–1.29), high physical activity levels pre-restrictions (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.16–1.42), decreased vigorous physical activity during restrictions (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05–1.23), and working (partially) outside the home vs. working remotely (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.16–1.44/OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.23–1.47). Reductions, although smaller, were also seen for PWB. Scores in the SF-36 bodily pain subscale decreased from 85.8 ± 18.7% pre-restrictions to 81.3 ± 21.9% during restrictions. Clinically relevant decrements of PWB were associated with female sex (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.50–1.75), high levels of public life restrictions (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.18–1.36), and young age (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03–1.19). Study findings suggest lockdowns instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic may have had substantial adverse public health effects. The development of interventions mitigating losses in MWB and PWB is, thus, paramount when preparing for forthcoming waves of COVID-19 or future public life restrictions.
Poster presentation: NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclases (GC) are the principal receptors for nitric oxide (NO) and convert GTP into the second messenger cGMP. We showed that GC is prone to tyrosine phosphorylation in COS1 cells overexpressing the human holoenzyme. Similar results were obtained in PC12 cells and in rat aortic tissue slices. The major phosphorylation site was mapped to position 192 in the regulatory domain of the beta1 subunit. Tyrosine phosphorylation of GC was reduced in the presence of the inhibitors PP1 and PP2 indicating that Src-like kinases are critically involved in phosphorylation. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed an interaction between Src and GC. To further analyse the relevance of this posttranslational modification we generated a phospho-specific antibody raised against pTyr192. This antibody clearly distinguishes between phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated GC and may be a powerful tool to analyse the subcellular localisation of the phosphorylated enzyme.
Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is the major cytosolic receptor for nitric oxide (NO) that converts GTP into the second messenger cGMP in a NO-dependent manner. Other factors controlling this key enzyme are intracellular proteins such as Hsp90 and PSD95, which bind to sGC and modulate its activity, stability, and localization. To date little is known about the effects of posttranslational modifications of sGC, although circumstantial evidence suggests that reversible phosphorylation may contribute to sGC regulation. Here we demonstrate that inhibitors of protein-tyrosine phosphatases such as pervanadate and bisperoxo(1,10-phenanthroline)oxovanadate(V) as well as reactive oxygen species such as H2O2 induce specific tyrosine phosphorylation of the β1 but not of the α1 subunit of sGC. Tyrosine phosphorylation of sGCβ1 is also inducible by pervanadate and H2O2 in intact PC12 cells, rat aortic smooth muscle cells, and in rat aortic tissues, indicating that tyrosine phosphorylation of sGC may also occur in vivo. We have mapped the major tyrosine phosphorylation site to position 192 of β1, where it forms part of a highly acidic phospho-acceptor site for Src-like kinases. In the phosphorylated state Tyr(P)-192 exposes a docking site for SH2 domains and efficiently recruits Src and Fyn to sGCβ1, thereby promoting multiple phosphorylation of the enzyme. Our results demonstrate that sGC is subject to tyrosine phosphorylation and interaction with Src-like kinases, revealing an unexpected cross-talk between the NO/cGMP and tyrosine kinase signaling pathways at the level of sGC.
Nitric oxide (NO)-sensitive soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is the major cytosolic receptor for NO, catalyzing the conversion of GTP to cGMP. In a search for proteins specifically interacting with human sGC, we have identified the multidomain protein AGAP1, the prototype of an ArfGAP protein with a GTPase-like domain, Ankyrin repeats, and a pleckstrin homology domain. AGAP1 binds through its carboxyl terminal portion to both the α1 and β1 subunits of sGC. We demonstrate that AGAP1 mRNA and protein are co-expressed with sGC in human, murine, and rat cells and tissues and that the two proteins interact in vitro and in vivo. We also show that AGAP1 is prone to tyrosine phosphorylation by Src-like kinases and that tyrosine phosphorylation potently increases the interaction between AGAP1 and sGC, indicating that complex formation is modulated by reversible phosphorylation. Our findings may hint to a potential role of AGAP1 in integrating signals from Arf, NO/cGMP, and tyrosine kinase signaling pathways.
Structural and functional characterization of the dimerization region of soluble guanylyl cyclase
(2004)
Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is a ubiquitous enzyme that functions as a receptor for nitric oxide. Despite the obligate heterodimeric nature of sGC, the sequence segments mediating subunit association have remained elusive. Our initial screening for relevant interaction site(s) in the most common sGC isoenzyme, α1 β1, identified two regions in each subunit, i.e. the regulatory domains and the central regions, contributing to heterodimer formation. To map the relevant segments in the β1 subunit precisely, we constructed multiple N- and C-terminal deletion variants and cotransfected them with full-length α1 in COS cells. Immunoprecipitation revealed that a sequence segment spanning positions 204–408 mediates binding of β1 to α1 The same region of β1[204–408] was found to promote β /β1 homodimerization. Fusion of [204 β1–408] to enhanced green fluorescent protein conferred binding activity to the recipient protein. Coexpression of β1[204–408] with α1 or β1 targeted the sGC subunits for proteasomal degradation, suggesting that β1[204–408] forms structurally deficient complexes with α1 and β1. Analysis of deletion constructs lacking portions of the β1 dimerization region identified two distinct segments contributing to α1 binding, i.e. an N-terminal site covering positions 204–244 and a C-terminal site at 379–408. Both sites are crucial for sGC function because deletion of either site rendered sGC dimerization-deficient and thus functionally inactive. We conclude that the dimerization region of β1 extends over 205 residues of its regulatory and central domains and that two discontinuous sites of 41 and 30 residues, respectively, facilitate binding of β1 to the α1 subunit of sGC.
Poster presentation: NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclases (sGCs) are cytosolic receptors for nitric oxide (NO) catalyzing the conversion of GTP to cGMP. sGCs are obligate heterodimers composed of one alpha and beta subunit each. The allosteric mechanism of sGC activation via NO is well understood, however, our knowledge about alternative mechanisms such as protein-protein interactions regulating activity, availability, translocation and expression of sGC is rather limited. In a search by the yeast two-hybrid system using the catalytic domain of the alpha1 subunit as the bait, we have identified two structurally related proteins AGAP1 [1] and MRIP2 as novel sGC interacting proteins. MRIP2 is a multi-domain protein of 75 kDa comprising a single PH and ArfGAP domain each and two ankyrin repeats. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments using COS1 cells overexpressing both proteins demonstrated the interaction of MRIP2 with both subunits of the sGC alpha1beta1. Confocal microscopical analysis showed a prominent plasma membrane staining of MRIP2. This membrane association is mediated through an N-terminal myristoylation site and through binding of its PH domain to phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P2). We hypothesize that MRIP2 may represent an acceptor protein for sGC that mediates recruitment of cytosolic sGC to the plasma membrane or other subcellular compartments.
Poster presentation NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclases (soluble guanylyl cyclase, sGC) are among the key regulators of intracellular cGMP concentration. The mechanisms underlying NO-mediated activation of sGC are quite well understood, however, little is known about the fine-tuning of sGC activity through alternative mechanisms such as protein phosphorylation. Several reports have demonstrated the reversible phosphorylation of sGC on serine/threonine residues, and it has been speculated, though not experimentally proven, that sGC might also be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. Using broad-spectrum phosphatase inhibitors we were able to demonstrate tyrosine phosphorylation at Tyr192 of the beta 1 subunit of human sGC in COS1 cells. This residue forms part of a sequence segment (YEDL) representing a preferential binding site for SH2 domains of Src-like kinases. Pull-down assays and co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that Src can indeed bind via its SH2 domain to pTyr192 of beta 1 indicating that tyrosine phosphorylation of sGC may be followed by recruitment of Src-like kinases to the phosphorylated beta 1 subunit. In support of this hypothesis, immunofluorescence studies showed a colocalization of overexpressed sGC and Src at the plasma membrane of COS1 and Hela cells. Together, our results point to an unexpected crosstalk between tyrosine kinase pathway(s) and the NO/cGMP signalling cascade which may result in translocation of the predominantly cytosolic sGC to the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane.