The amoebapore superfamily

Amoebapores, synthesized by human protozoan parasites, form ion channels in target cells and artificial lipid membranes. The major pathogenic effect of these proteins is due to their cytolytic capability which results in target cell death. They comprise a coherent family and are homologous to other proteins and protein domains found in eight families. These families include in addition to the amoebapores (1) the saposins, (2) the NK-lysins and granulysins, (3) the pulmonary surfactant proteins B, (4) the acid sphingomyelinases, (5) acyloxyacyl hydrolases and (6) the aspartic proteases. These amoebapore homologues have many properties in common including membrane binding and stability. We note for the first time that a new protein, countin, from the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, comprises the eighth family within this superfamily. All currently sequenced members of these eight families are identified, and the structural, functional and phylogenetic properties of these proteins are discussed.     

A novel protein MAJN binds to Jak3 and inhibits apoptosis induced by IL-2 deprival

To find a possible signal interacting with the Jak3 N-terminal, we screened the human peripheral blood cDNA library through both a two-hybrid system and a tyrosine-phosphorylation-modified two-hybrid system using the N-terminal of Jak3 as bait. Results showed that one new homologue of myosin heavy chain, designated MAJN (molecule associated with Jak3 N-terminal), could bind to Jak3 in a tyrosine-phosphorylation-independent manner. The interaction between Jak3 and MAJN was further confirmed by immunoprecipitation in BAF-B03 beta cells. To investigate the function of MAJN, we have constructed the BAF-B03 beta/MAJN cell line that stably expresses MAJN and found that overexpression of MAJN can partially inhibit the apoptosis induced by interleukin-2 deprival. Further studies are needed to elucidate how MAJN executes its function to antagonize BAF-B03beta cell death in the absence of IL-2.     

Nuclear apoptosis induced by isolated mitochondria

We isolated and purified mitochondria from mouse livers and spinach leaves.When added into egg extracts of Xenopus laevis,they caused nuclei of mouse liver to undergo apoptotic changes.Chromatin condensation,margination and DNA ladder were observed.After incubating isolated mitochondria in some hypotonic solutions,and centrifuging these mixtures at mgh speed,we got mitochondrial supernatants.It was found that in the absence of cytosolic factor,the supernatant alone was able to induce apoptotic changes in nuclei.The effective components were partly of protein.DNA fragmentation was partly inhibited by caspase inhibitors AC-DEVD-CHO and AC-YVAD-CHO.Meanwhile,caspase inhibitors fully blocked chromatin condensation.Primary characterization of the nuclear endonuclease(s) induced by mitochondrial supernatants was also conducted.It was found that this endonuclease is different from endonuclease G,cytochrome c-induced nuclease,or Ca^2 -activated endonuclease.     

Structure and chromosomal localization of the human glycogenin-2 gene GYG2

Glycogenin-2 is one of two self-glucosylating proteins involved in the initiation phase of the synthesis of the storage polysaccharide glycogen. Cloning of the human glycogenin-2 gene, GYG2, has revealed the presence of 11 exons and a gene of more than 46 kb in size. The structure of the gene explains much of the observed diversity in glycogenin-2 cDNA sequences as being due to alternate exon usage. In some cases, there is variation in the splice junctions used. Over regions of protein sequence similarity, the GYG2 gene structure is similar to that of the other glycogenin gene, GYG. A genomic GYG2 clone was used to localize the gene to Xp22.3 by fluorescence in-situ hybridization. Localization close to the telomere of the short arm of the X chromosome is consistent with mapping information obtained from glycogenin-2 STS sequences. Glycogenin-2 maps between the microsatellite anchor markers AFM319te9 (DXS7100) and AFM205tf2 (DXS1060), and its 3' end is 34.5 kb from the 3' end of the arylsulphatase gene ARSD. GYG2 is outside the pseudoautosomal region PAR1 but still in a region of X-Y shared genes. As is true for several other genes in this location, an inactive remnant of GYG2, consisting of exons 1-3, may be present on the Y chromosome.     

韭菜线粒体锰超氧化物歧化酶纯化及性质研究

经硫酸铵沉淀、ＤＥＡＥ－Ｓｅｐｈａｃｅｌ层析和Ｓｅｐｈａｄｅｘ Ｇ－２００凝胶过滤,将韭菜线粒体ＳＯＤ纯化到均一程度。从６０００ｇ韭菜叶片线粒体中纯化得到２．５ｍｇ酶,酶比活力达１２００Ｕ／ｍｇ蛋白。该酶对ＫＣＮ和Ｈ２Ｏ２都不敏感,热稳定性弱 外光区吸收峰在２８０ｎｍ,凝胶过滤法测得其分子量为８２００Ｄ,ＳＯＳ－ＰＡＧＥ法测定其亚基分子量的２２０００Ｄ,ＤＮＳ法测得其Ｎ－末端氨基酸为缬氨酸。上述结     

异种血清诱发肝纤维化模型中ECM变化的研究

为了观察异种血清诱发肝纤维化过程中细胞外基质（ECM）及其生成细胞的变化规律,经腹腔注射猪血清建立大鼠肝纤维化模型,以免疫组织化学方法显示肝内胶原（Col）Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ型和纤连蛋白（Fn）及其生成细胞。结果：①Fn最早在汇管区、小叶间隔内沉积,ColⅢ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ随之增多,停止血清注射后它们都明显减弱或消失;ColⅠ沉积出现最迟,但阳性迅速增强,停止注射后仍较强;②结蛋白（Dm）阳性的肝星状细胞（HSC,原称Ito细胞）其分布和数量变化与Fn和ColⅡ基本同步,而位于汇管区及细胞间隔的原始间叶细胞（PMC）Dm（-）。提示ECM生成细胞可能来自细胞骨架表型不同的PMC和HSC,本模型由于能清晰地显示ECM及其生成细胞而更适用于肝纤维化机制及防治的研究。     

Nuclear reassemblyin vitro is independent of nucleosome/chromatin assembly

It was show11 that nuclear reassembly was induced by small pieces of DNA fragments in cell-free extracts ofXenopus. In an attempt to learn the relationship between the nuclear reassembly and nucleosome/chromatin assembly, limited amounts of CM-Cellulose are used to eliminate the capacity of the egg extract S-150 to assemble chromatin. while the forming of nucleosomes is checked with DNA supercoiling by plasmid DNA pBR322 incubated in the extract, and further analysed by micrococcal nuclease digestion. This depleted extract is then used to induce nuclear reassembly around demembraned sperms with membrane vesicles. It is found that CM-Cellulose depletes histones H2A and H2B efficiently and blocks the assembly of nucleosomes, the demembraned sperms are yet reconstituted into nuclei in the treated S-150, although the chromatin in reassembled nuclei does not produce protected DNA fragments when digested with micrococcal nuclease. It suggests that in the cell-free system ofXenopus, DNA can be formed into nuclei without assembly of nucleosomes or chromatin.     

Inhibition of human cytochrome P450 1A2 by flavones: A molecular modeling study

Cytochrome P450 1A2 metabolizes a number of important drugs, procarcinogens, and endogenous compounds. Several flavones, a class of phytochemicals consumed in the human diet, have been shown to differentially inhibit human P450 1A2-mediated methoxyresorufin demethylase. A molecular model of this P450 was constructed in order to elucidate the molecular basis of the P450-flavone interaction. Flavone and its 3,5,7-trihydroxy and 3,5,7-trimethoxy derivatives were docked into the active site to assess their mode of binding. The site is hydrophobic and includes several residues that hydrogen bond with substituents on the flavone nucleus. The binding interactions of these flavones in the modeled active side are consistent with their relative inhibitory potentials, namely 3,5,7-trihydroxylflavone > flavone >3,5,7-trimethoxylflavone, toward P450 1A2-mediated methoxyresorufin demethylation.     

Triterpenoids and Flavonoids from the Leaves of Astragalus membranaceus and Their Inhibitory Effects on Nitric Oxide Production

Four new cycloartane triterpenes, named huangqiyegenins V and VI and huangqiyenins K and L ( 1 – 4 , resp.), together with nine known triterpenoids, 5 – 13 , and eight flavonoids, 14 – 21 , were isolated from a 70%‐EtOH extract of Astragalus membranaceus leaves. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analyses, and the compounds were identified as (9β,11α,16β,20R,24S)‐11,16,25‐trihydroxy‐20,24‐epoxy‐9,19‐cyclolanostane‐3,6‐dione ( 1 ), (9β,16β,24S)‐16,24,25‐trihydroxy‐9,19‐cyclolanostane‐3,6‐dione ( 2 ), (3β,6α,9β,16β,20R,24R)‐16,25‐dihydroxy‐3‐(β‐D ‐xylopyranosyloxy)‐20,24‐epoxy‐9,19‐cyclolanostan‐6‐yl acetate ( 3 ), and (3β,6α,9β,16β,24E)‐26‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐16‐hydroxy‐3‐(β‐D ‐xylopyranosyloxy)‐9,19‐cyclolanost‐24‐en‐6‐yl acetate ( 4 ). All isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against LPS‐induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Compounds 1 – 3, 14, 15 , and 18 exhibited strong inhibition on LPS‐induced NO release by macrophages with IC₅₀ values of 14.4–27.1 μM .     

CARD9-Dependent Neutrophil Recruitment Protects against Fungal Invasion of the Central Nervous System

Candida is the most common human fungal pathogen and causes systemic infections that require neutrophils for effective host defense. Humans deficient in the C-type lectin pathway adaptor protein CARD9 develop spontaneous fungal disease that targets the central nervous system (CNS). However, how CARD9 promotes protective antifungal immunity in the CNS remains unclear. Here, we show that a patient with CARD9 deficiency had impaired neutrophil accumulation and induction of neutrophil-recruiting CXC chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid despite uncontrolled CNS Candida infection. We phenocopied the human susceptibility in Card9 ^-/- mice, which develop uncontrolled brain candidiasis with diminished neutrophil accumulation. The induction of neutrophil-recruiting CXC chemokines is significantly impaired in infected Card9 ^-/- brains, from both myeloid and resident glial cellular sources, whereas cell-intrinsic neutrophil chemotaxis is Card9-independent. Taken together, our data highlight the critical role of CARD9-dependent neutrophil trafficking into the CNS and provide novel insight into the CNS fungal susceptibility of CARD9-deficient humans.