Phospholipase A2 engineering: design, synthesis, and expression of a gene for bovine (pro)phospholipase A2

A gene coding for the (pro)phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from bovine pancreas has been designed, synthesized, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene was designed with a variety of restriction sites that will facilitate future mutagenesis studies. Codons occurring frequently in prokaryotic systems were chosen whenever possible. The total gene spans 404 base pairs and was divided into 33 oligonucleotides. The gene was constructed in two halves of 224 and 180 base pairs from the oligonucleotides by the shotgun ligation technique using pBSM13- as the cloning vehicle. The two fragments were then ligated and cloned into pBSM13- to complete the gene. The (pro)PLA2 gene was then verified by restriction site mapping and dideoxy sequencing. The gene was expressed to high levels from a high copy number vector, designated as pJPN, derived from the E. coli secretion vector pIN-III-ompA3. Although the protein failed to be excreted and was in the form of insoluble inclusion body, active PLA2 could be obtained by renaturation of the inclusion body pellet followed by tryptic activation, which removes the signal sequence and the pro-peptide of proPLA2. The PLA2 thus obtained reacted with the antisera raised against the natural PLA2 purified from bovine pancreas, and the specific activity of the expressed PLA2 was identical to that of the natural PLA2. The shotgun ligation and synthetic gene approaches are simple and inexpensive and can be adapted to express most of the enzymes in the phospholipase A2 family.     

牛小脑肌醇磷脂激酶PI(4)K高产率纯化与特征

对牛小脑膜区肌醇磷脂激酶进行了11 500倍纯化,过程包括：TritonX-100抽提,硫酸铵沉淀,阳离子交换层析(phosphocellulose),亲和层析(Heparin Sepharose CL-6B)和阴离子交换层析(DEAE10,FPLC)等.纯化程度可达95％以上,对SDS-PAGE电泳结果进行扫描分析测其分子质量为56 ku.纯化的肌醇磷脂激酶的特异活性为450 nmol/mg·min, 动力学性质表现为ATP的表观K_m值为7.9×10^-7 mol/L,PI的表观K_m值为6.6×10^-7 mol/L. 腺嘌呤核苷是该酶的有效抑制剂,3.5×10^-7 mol/L腺嘌呤核苷可使该酶活力降低约50％,而TritonX-100对该酶活力具有刺激作用,0.5% TritonX-100可使该酶表现为最高活力.     

Extracellular matrix modulates mesangial cell apoptosis and mRNA expression of cathepsin-B and tissue transglutaminase

Mesangial matrix is a dynamic structure which modulates mesangial cell function. Since accumulation of matrix precedes the development of focal glomerulosclerosis, we studied the effect of different matrices on mesangial cell (MC) apoptosis. Suspended mesangial cells became apoptotic in a time dependent manner. Collagen type III did not modulate MC apoptosis when compared to cells grown on plastic. MCs grown on Matrigel, collagen type I and IV showed an increased number of apoptotic cells when compared to MCs grown on plastic. DNA end-labeling further confirmed these observations. MCs grown on Matrigel showed enhanced (P < 0.05) mRNA expression for tissue transglutaminase (TTG) and cathepsin-B. Mesangial cells grown on Matrigel also showed enhanced expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD). We conclude that mesangial cells require attachment to the matrix for their survival and alteration of the quality of matrix modulates mesangial cell apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 68:22–30, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Adenosine Analogues as Inhibitors or Inactivators of S-Adenosylhomocysteine Hydrolase from Bovine Pancreas

Abstract

The ability of some substrate-analogues to inhibit or to inactivate S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHase) purified from bovine pancreas was investigated. Our results confirm that 3-deazaarysteromicin (DZAry) is a more potent competitive inhibitor than 3-deazaadenosine (DZA), while nebularine (purine riboside), contrary to previous reports, showed an uncompetitive inhibition. Moreover, 2-chloroadenosine and 2′-deoxyadenosine were found to be irreversible inactivators of SAHase with increasing potency, respectively. K_i values found for these drugs were of the same order of magnitude as those reported for SAHases from other mammalian tissues. The SAHase substrate-analogues studied are believed to act as antineoplastic and/or antiviral agents. It is conceivable to postulate that their therapeutic effects could be, at least in part, attributable to inhibition or even to inactivation of SAHase which, in turn, causes a reduction in S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation reactions.     

Natural degenerating mitochondria in ovarian follicles of a cyprinodontidae fish, Epiplatys spilargyreus (teleost).

This study examines the evolution of mitochondria in the follicular cells during the development of the ovarian follicle in the teleostean fish Epiplatys spilargyreus. The mitochondria are few in number until the end of previtellogenesis; their matrix is dense, and their cristae are well developed. They proliferate during vitellogenesis and then are modified by deterioration of their matrix. Multilamellar structures are organized in the vacuolized mitochondria. During postvitellogenesis, these modifications become more advanced. The mitochondria degenerate, leaving vacuoles that contain heterogeneous structures, which will be released into the intercellular spaces. At the end of these mitochondrial transformations, the follicular cells degenerate. They release the elements which will participate in forming the secondary envelope.     

A new proposal regarding the transport mechanism of mercury in biological membranes

The interactions of mercury (Hg²⁺) with biological membranes have been investigated. The experimental results indicate that Hg²⁺ induces a rapid alkalinization in energized Lysosomes from rat liver. The interpretation of the process is that the mercury enters the Lysosomes as a Hg(OH)₂ electroneutral compound, thus inducing alkalinization in the matrix.     

Lysosomal enzymes in human platelets

In human freshly prepared platelets the following lysosomal enzymes were studied: alpha-mannosidase, alpha-fucosidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase. For each of the examined enzymes the conditions providing maximal activity (pH, buffer), kinetic parameters (saturating substrate concentration and Km) as well as heat stability were established. On the basis of these parameters it is suggested that many of the serum glycohydrolases may be platelet derived.     

A new preparation of S-100 protein from rat and bovine brains

The S-100 nervous system protein was purified from bovine and rat brains by a modification of the original procedure. The main modification consisted in substituting a step of calciumdependent binding of S-100 to a phenyl-Sepharose column for the original step of chromatography on G-200 Sephadex. The proteins were pure as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis. HPLC on a reversed phase and on a size-separation column, and by immunological criteria. The bovine S-100 behaved as previously described, during calcium binding, by displaying a conformational change as evidenced by increase in native fluorescence.     

The capacity of lysosomes of cultured mammalian cells to accumulate acridine orange is destroyed by hyperthermia

Summary Lysosomes of cultured mammalian cells, derived from a transplantable murine mammary adenocarcinoma, irreversibly lose their capacity to accumulate the fluorescent dye acridine orange after hyperthermia. As acridine orange may be regarded as a fluorescent probe of the internal pH of the lysosomes, we may conclude that the ability of lysosomes to maintain a low internal pH is destroyed by hyperthermia.The effects of hyperthermia on lysosome fluorescence and on cell survival show several similarities: in both cases hyperthermia is more effective at low pH, below pH 7.0, and CCP (carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone) enhances effects at low pH, but has no clear effect at pH 8.0. This leads to the conclusion that effects on lysosomes are an important and early event in cellular injury caused by hyperthermia. The activation energy, however, obtained for the effects of hyperthermia on lysosome fluorescence is about a factor of two lower than the activation energy reported for cell survival after hyperthermia. This suggests that the effect on lysosomes is not directly caused by hyperthermia but is triggered by some other hyperthermia-induced cellular damage.Abbreviations CCP carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - MOPS 2-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid - Tricine N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methylglycineSupported in part by grants from the KWF (Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds) and the IRS (Interuniversitair Instituut voor Radiopathologie en Stralenbescherming)     

Purification of DOPA decarboxylase from bovine striatum

Pyridoxal phosphate-dependent DOPA decarboxylase has been purified from bovine striatum to a specific activity of 1.6 U/mg protein. After ammonium sulfate precipitation (30–60%) it was purified by DEAE-Sephacel, Sephacryl S-200, and TSK Phenyl 5 PW chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a single silver staining band with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under both denaturing and non-denaturing conditions. The bovine striatal DOPA decarboxylase is a dimer (subunit M_r = 56000 by SDS-PAGE) with a native M_r of 106000 as judged by chromatography on Sephacryl S-200 and by sedimentation analysis. Similar to the DOPA decarboxylase purified from non-CNS tissues, the bovine striatal enzyme requires free sulfhydryl groups for activity, is strongly inhibited by heavy metal ions, and can decarboxylate 5-hydroxytryptophan as well. It should be noted, however, that the final enzyme preparation is enriched in DOPA decarboxylase activity. The distribution of the DOPA decarboxylase and 5-HTP decarboxylase activities also varies among several bovine brain regions. In addition, heat treatment of the enzyme preparation inactivated the two decarboxylation activities at different rates.Abbreviations AADC Aromatic L-amino Acid Decarboxylase - CNS Central Nervous System - DOPA 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine - DTT Dithiothreitol, 5-HTP - 5-hydroxytryptophan - Mr relative molecular weight - PLP pyridoxal 5-phosphate - SDS-PAGE Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Part of this paper was presented at the 1987 Annual Pharmacology and Toxicology Conferences held at University of North Dakota School of Medicine, North Dakota, USA Res Commun Psychol Psychiat Behav 12: 227–228, 1987 (Abstr).     

Rapid Preparation of a Distinct Lysosomal Population from Myelinating Mouse Brain Using Percoll Gradients

To study the vesicular lysosome-associated transport and the metabolism of some brain macromolecules (in particular, sialoglycoconjugates), we developed a rapid procedure to obtain a distinct lysosomal population starting from myelinating mouse brain. This procedure is based on an initial differential centrifugation step producing a 1,000-17,500-g fraction (P2), followed by isopycnic centrifugation of fraction P2 on a self-generated colloidal silica gel (Percoll) gradient. The heaviest subfraction thus obtained is very rich in acid hydrolase activities like beta-galactosidase, arylsulfatase A, and acid phosphatase. The enrichment of these enzymes is approximately 100-fold as compared with the starting homogenate, whereas the markers of other subcellular organelles, such as mitochondria, plasma membranes, or the Golgi apparatus, are virtually absent. The lysosomal preparation contains approximately 12-14% of the total acid hydrolase activities, with a protein yield of approximately 0.12%. Electron microscopy shows that the lysosomal fraction is composed of an approximately 90% pure population of lysosomes. Therefore, the procedure described here is suitable for obtaining a highly purified lysosome preparation from myelinating mouse brain.     

Bovine Sex Determining Region Y: Cloning,Optimized Expression,and Purification

Sex determining region Y gene (SRY) is located on Y chromosome and encodes a protein with 229 amino acids. In this study, ORF region of SRY with a length of 690 bp was synthesized using PCR and ligated to pET28a (+), then transformed in E.coli DH5α. E.coli BL21 (DE3) strain was chosen to express recombinant bovine SRY protein. A set of optimization steps was taken including different concentrations of IPTG, glucose, and temperatures at differed incubation times after the induction. Results showed that temperature points and different concentrations of IPTG and glucose had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on total protein and recombinant bovine SRY. After purification, various temperatures and concentrations of IPTG showed meaningful effects (p < 0.01) on the solubility of expressed recombinant SRY. Highest soluble rSRY protein amount was achieved where 0.5 mM IPTG and 0.5% glucose was used at 20°C during induction. In the absence of glucose, the highest amount of soluble recombinant SRY levels were achieved at the concentrations of 0.8 mM of IPTG at 28°C, 20°C, and 1.5 mM IPTG at 37°C during induction for 16, 24, and 8 hours, respectively. Regarding the results obtained in this study, it could be stated that by decreasing temperature and inducer concentration, soluble bovine SRY protein expression increases.     

Natural purified porcine gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) stimulates exocrine pancreas secretion due to contamination with a cholecystokinin-like substance

The effects of purified natural gastric inhibitory polypeptide-enterogastrone III (GIP-EG III) and a fraction which is further purified by high pressure liquid chromatography (GIP-HPLC) were investigated on the endocrine and exocrine isolated perfused pancreas of rats. At the dose of 5 ng/ml used for both GIP preparations, only GIP-EG III significantly stimulated volume and amylase secretion of the exocrine pancreas. The response of insulin release to stimulation by GIP-EG III or GIP-HPLC was not significantly different. In the presence of cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) at a concentration which gave half-maximal stimulation of amylase secretion, GIP-EG III almost doubled the response of the exocrine pancreas, whereas GIP-HPLC had no additional effect. CCK-8 alone significantly increased total insulin output under hyperglycemic conditions. We conclude that porcine GIP purified by gel chromatography contains a CCK-like substance which can be removed by further purification on high pressure liquid chromatography without affecting the insulinotropic activity. Some of the reported effects of GIP could be due to contamination.     

Electron microscopic study of the in vivo erythrophagocytosis by alveolar macrophages of the cat

Summary Erythrophagoeytosis in vivo by cat alveolar macrophages was studied under the electron microscope by collecting the macrophages at 2 hours and 48 hours following the intratracheal injection of autologous blood. Considering the progressive ultrastructural modifications of the red blood cell plasma membrane, different successive stages were observed, corresponding to the hemolysis of the erythrocytes: 1. A recently engulfed erythrocyte appears unaltered within the phagocytic vacuole. 2. A dense layer, surrounding the plasma membrane of the red cell, is observed within the phagocytic vacuole. 3. The content of the vacuole is uniformly dense and the plasma membrane of the red cell exhibits discontinuous thickenings. 4. The whole vacuole appears very dense (hyperdense stage) and the plasma membrane is shown altered. The whole process of erythrophagocytosis is accompanied by an active fusion of the phagocytic vacuole with typical lysosomes and lysosomes containing crystal-like material. It is suggested that hemolysis may be explained in terms of enzymic digestion of the proteinic part of the plasma membrane of the erythrocyte.The authors wish to thank Miss Gabrielle Audet for her technical assistance, and Mr. Gaston Chevalier for revision of the English text.