Uneven modulation of the annexin 1 system in osteoblast-like cells by dexamethasone

We tested whether glucocorticoids modulated osteoblast expression of the annexin 1 system, including the ligand and two G-coupled receptors termed formyl-peptide receptor (FPR) and FPR-like-1 (FPRL-1). In Saos-2 cells, rapid up-regulation of FPR mRNA upon cell incubation with dexamethasone (0.01-1 microM) was observed, with significant changes as early as 2h and a more marked response at 24h; annexin 1 and FPRL-1 mRNA changes were more subtle. At the protein level, dexamethasone provoked a rapid externalization of annexin 1 (maximal at 2h) followed by delayed time-dependent changes in the cell cytosol. Saos-2 cell surface expression of FPR or FPRL-1 could not be detected, even when dexamethasone was added with the bone modelling cytokines interleukin-6 or interleukin-1. The uneven modulation of the annexin 1 system (mediator and its putative receptors) in osteoblasts might lead to a better understanding of how these complex biochemical pathways become operative in bone.     

Use of SILAC for exploring sheddase and matrix degradation of fibroblasts in culture by the PIII SVMP atrolysin A: identification of two novel substrates with functional relevance

Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) in Viperid venoms primarily function to give rise to local and systemic hemorrhage following snake envenomation. Years of research on these toxins, both in vitro and in vivo, indicate that they function by disrupting capillary basement membranes, stromal matrix and cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts to allow escape of capillary contents under pressure. However, most of these studies used either defined substrates in vitro or were limited by relevant antibodies for detection of sites of action in vivo. In this investigation we use stable isotope-labeled amino acids in culture (SILAC) to determine novel proteolytic activities for exogenously added atrolysin A, a hemorrhagic PIII SVMP isolated from Crotalus atrox venom. When comparing the solubilized products of SILAC-labeled cultured human fibroblasts treated with atrolysin A to that of untreated fibroblasts using LC/MS/MS, several proteins were identified as being released into the culture media specifically due to atrolysin A proteolytic activity. These included collagen VI, fibronectin, fibulin 2 and annexin V. Of particular interest was the observation of collagen VI and annexin V in that the release of these substrates could play a role in altering hemostasis and promote hemorrhage caused by the more typical actions of atrolysin A. In summary, this study demonstrates the utility of SILAC for exploring sheddase activity with cells in culture and suggests the presence of two novel substrates for SVMPs that may play a pathological role in altering host hemostasis during envenomation.     

Structural Identification of Kudinchagenin I

A novel triterpenoid, kudinchagenin Ⅰ was isolated from the leaves of Ilex kudincha C. J. Tseng and its structure was determined to be 3β-hydroxy- 11 (12), 13 ( 18 ), 19 ( 29 ) - triene-28,20β-lactonic-ursane by a combination of spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Mg2+ Induced Fluorescence Change in Relation to Thylakoid Surface Electric Charge in Two Varieties of Soybean Chloroplasts

The effects of Mg2+ concentration on chlorophyll a light-in-duced variable fluorescence and eleetrophoretie velocity of chloroplasts obtained from two varieties of soybean (Ji-Pei No. 1 and Feng-Shou Yellow) were recorded. The light induced variable fluorescence yield and the eleetrophoretie mobility of two kinds of ehloroplasts in the suspending medium containing low level of salt differs from each other. But, the fluorescence yield of chloroplast membranes from two varieties of soybean is relative to that of eleetrophoretic mobility. The pattern of kinetic change of Mg2+ induced variable fluorescence intensity is similar to that of eleetrophoretie mobility. The optimum concentrations of Mg2+ required for the effect on chlorophyll fluorescence and the electrophoretie velocity change are also similar These results indicate that Mg2+ induced excitation energy distribution change between the two photosystems is intimately related to Mg2+-indueed alteration of thylakoil membrane surface eleetrostat.ie property. The possible role of earboxyl group of proteins on Mg2+ induced effects has been discussed in this paper.     

基于16S rDNA和COⅠ基因序列探讨四种溞类的系统关系和分类地位

为了检验已记录的4个溞属种类（(隆线溞Daphnia carinata、透明溞D. hyalina、蚤状溞D. pulex和大型溞D. magna）的系统分类, 用试剂盒法分别提取4种溞类的基因组DNA。利用特异性引物, 通过PCR扩增了4种溞属种类的16S rDNA和COⅠ基因部分序列, 并与来自GenBank中每个种类相似度较高的同种序列进行分析。结果表明, 基于16S rDNA和COⅠ基因, 4个溞属种类的平均种间相似度分别为85.56%和80.67%, 碱基中A+T含量均明显高于G+C含量。基于COⅠ基因, 巢湖隆线溞与来自GenBank上的拟同形溞（(Daphnia similoides AB549199）)相似度为99%, 分歧度为0.4%0.9%。就16S rDNA和COⅠ基因而言, 巢湖透明溞更接近于盔形溞（Daphnia galeata）。基于16S rDNA和COⅠ基因构建的NJ树和贝叶斯树, 两者的主要分枝基本一致。结果暗示, 巢湖隆线溞与拟同形溞为一个种, 透明溞应属于盔形溞。由于缺乏核基因的研究, 有关巢湖溞属的分类地位还需进行更深入的探讨。       

Eukaryotic expression and secretion of EGFP-labeled annexin A5

The Ca²⁺-dependent binding of annexin A5 to phosphatidylserine on cell surfaces is a reliable marker for apoptosis that is widely used in flow cytometry based apoptosis assays. In this approach, annexin A5 must be coupled to a fluorescent dye, but standard dyes such as fluorescein are photolabile, and the heterogeneous chemical linkage partially inhibits binding to phosphatidylserine. Recombinant fusions comprising annexin A5 and fluorescent proteins are available for prokaryotic expression, but can be purified only at low concentrations due to their low solubility in the cytoplasm. Here we describe a eukaryotic expression system for the secretion of functional recombinant annexin A5, with and without fluorescent protein fusions, in different formats. Metal affinity purification yielded up to 18 μg of histidine-tagged annexin A5 fusions per ml processed cell culture supernatants. Furthermore the supernatant itself was sufficient for direct use in apoptosis assays. The availability of such fusion proteins offers new and more economical opportunities for the development and application of this widely utilized apoptosis assay.     

Eryptosis triggered by bismuth

Bismuth is used for multiple industrial purposes and in the treatment of several gastrointestinal diseases. Untoward effects of bismuth include anemia, which could, in theory, result from suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis. Hallmarks of eryptosis are cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine exposure at the cell surface. Phosphatidylserine-exposing cells are rapidly cleared from circulating blood. Signaling leading to eryptosis includes increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺ activity and formation of ceramide. The present experiments explored whether bismuth elicits eryptosis. To this end, phosphatidylserine exposure was estimated from annexin V-binding, cell shrinkage from decrease of forward scatter in FACS analysis, cytosolic Ca²⁺ activity from Fluo3 fluorescence and ceramide abundance from binding of fluorescent antibodies. A 48 h exposure to bismuth (≥500 μg/l BiCl₃) enhanced the percentage of annexin V-binding cells and decreased forward scatter, increased cytosolic Ca²⁺ activity, and stimulated ceramide formation. In conclusion, bismuth stimulates eryptosis, the suicidal death of erythrocytes. The effect may contribute to or even account for the development of anemia during bismuth treatment. Moreover, ceramide formation in intestinal cells may participate in the therapeutic efficacy of bismuth preparations. This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB 766 and the Carl Zeiss Stiftung. The experimental work and studies on human subjects have been approved by the Ethical commission of the University of Tübingen.     

桔小实蝇幼体及成虫残体DNA条形码识别技术的建立与应用

实蝇类害虫多为国内外检疫对象, 其鉴定识别方法主要依据成虫的外部形态特征, 而传统的形态学识别法对口岸经常截获的幼体及残缺的虫体, 则无能为力。本研究以桔小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis的幼体（卵、 幼虫、 蛹）以及成虫残体（足、 翅、 头部、 胸部、 腹部）为对象, 利用 DNA 条形码技术, 构建实蝇类害虫快速鉴定技术体系, 并以其他4种常见实蝇（包括番石榴实蝇B. correcta、 瓜实蝇B. cucurbitae、 南亚果实蝇B. tau、 柑桔大实蝇B. minax）为对象对该技术体系进行应用验证。结果显示, 桔小实蝇幼体以及成虫残体的碱基序列与数据库中靶标种COⅠ基因碱基序列的一致性为99.51%~99.84%, 其他4种实蝇相应序列与数据库中靶标种COⅠ基因序列的一致性分别为100%, 100%, 99.81%~99.83%和100%; 以邻接法（NJ法）构建系统发育树, 靶标种实蝇均与数据库中对应种实蝇聚为一支, 且置信度均为100%。以K2-P模型计算种内及种间遗传距离得出, 5种实蝇的种间遗传距离为0.0597~0.2363, 平均为0.1693; 种内遗传距离为0.0000~0.0041, 平均为0.0019。这些结果表明, 基于DNA条形码的物种识别技术完全可用于口岸截获的实蝇类害虫幼体及残体的准确鉴定。     

Identification of natural compounds targeting Annexin A2 with an anti-cancer effect

Annexin A2, a multifunctional tumor associated protein, promotes nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation by interacting with NF-κB p50 subunit and facilitating its nuclear translocation. Here we demonstrated that two ginsenosides Rg5 (G-Rg5) and Rk1 (G-Rk1), with similar structure, directly bound to Annexin A2 by molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay. Both Rg5 and Rk1 inhibited the interaction between Annexin A2 and NF-κB p50 subunit, their translocation to nuclear and NF-κB activation. Inhibition of NF-κB by these two ginsenosides decreased the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), leading to caspase activation and apoptosis. Over expression of K302A Annexin A2, a mutant version of Annexin A2, which fails to interact with G-Rg5 and G-Rk1, effectively reduced the NF-κB inhibitory effect and apoptosis induced by G-Rg5 and G-Rk1. In addition, the knockdown of Annexin A2 largely enhanced NF-κB activation and apoptosis induced by the two molecules, indicating that the effects of G-Rg5 and G-Rk1 on NF-κB were mainly mediated by Annexin A2. Taken together, this study for the first time demonstrated that G-Rg5 and G-Rk1 inhibit tumor cell growth by targeting Annexin A2 and NF-κB pathway, and G-Rg5 and G-Rk1 might be promising natural compounds for targeted cancer therapy.