Analytical ultracentrifugation with fluorescence detection system reveals differences in complex formation between recombinant human TNF and different biological TNF antagonists in various environments

A number of studies have attempted to elucidate the binding mechanism between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and clinically relevant antagonists. None of these studies, however, have been conducted as close as possible to physiologic conditions, and so the relationship between the size distribution of TNF-antagonist complexes and the antagonists' biological activity or adverse effects remains elusive. Here, we characterized the binding stoichiometry and sizes of soluble TNF-antagonist complexes for adalimumab, infliximab, and etanercept that were formed in human serum and in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Fluorescence-detected sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation analyses revealed that adalimumab and infliximab formed a range of complexes with TNF, with the major complexes consisting of 3 molcules of the respective antagonist and one or 2 molcules of TNF. Considerably greater amounts of high-molecular-weight complexes were detected for infliximab in human serum. The emergence of peaks with higher sedimentation coefficients than the adalimumab monomer as a function of added human serum albumin (HSA) concentration in PBS suggested weak reversible interactions between HSA and immunoglobulins. Etanerept exclusively formed 1:1 complexes with TNF in PBS, and a small amount of complexes with higher stoichiometry was detected in human serum. Consistent with these biophysical characterizations, a reporter assay showed that adalimumab and infliximab, but not etanercept, exerted FcγRIIa- and FcγRIIIa-mediated cell signaling in the presence of TNF and that infliximab exhibited higher potency than adalimumab. This study shows that assessing distribution profiles in serum will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the in vivo behavior of therapeutic proteins.     

In vitro anti- biofilm and anti-bacterial activity of Sesbania grandiflora extract against Staphylococcus aureus

The main objective of this research is to investigate the anti-biofilm and anti-bacterial activity of Sesbania grandiflora (S. grandiflora) against Staphylococcus aureus. S. grandiflora extract were prepared and analyzed with UV –Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering. Biofilm forming pathogens were identified by congo-red assay. Quantification of Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) particularly protein and carbohydrate were calculated. The efficacy of the herbal extract S. grandiflora and its inhibition against the pathogenic strain of S. aureus was also evaluated. The gradual decrease or disappearance of peaks reveals the reduction of protein and carbohydrate content in the EPS of S. aureus when treated with S. grandiflora. The antibacterial activity of S. grandiflora extract against the bacterial strain S. aureus showed that the extract were more active against the strain. To conclude, anti-biofilm and antibacterial efficacy of S. grandiflora plays a vital role over biofilm producing pathogens and act as a good source for controlling the microbial population.     

华东三省转Bt基因棉花种植对边际水体中Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留的影响

为调查转基因棉花种植地区边际水体中的Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留情况, 在华东地区的山东、江苏、安徽三省棉田设置采样点, 连续3年在棉花的花铃期和收获季节, 对棉区地块内部及周围边际水体随机采样, 进行去杂及纯化处理后, 利用ELISA (酶联免疫吸附测定)方法检测水样中的Cry1Ab/c蛋白含量。结果表明: (1)在花铃期和收获季前后两周, 分别在5个布控点边际水体中检出Cry1Ab/c蛋白, 其中1个布控点阳性蛋白残留浓度最高达到0.4 ppb, 另外4个布控点检测出的阳性蛋白量均在0.04 ppb以下; (2)距离棉田越近, 蛋白检出阳性率越高, 其中棉田内水渠阳性率为13.3%; (3)连续种植时间超过7年的田地周围水体中蛋白阳性率为12.4%。在所有取样时间点中, 与花铃期相比, 收获季更容易检测到阳性结果。这表明在转基因棉花产区, 应在收获季进行适当的指导和监控, 以预防和降低转基因棉花中Cry1Ab/c蛋白对边际水体的潜在影响。     

一种新的以影像为基础的细胞增殖和细胞毒性检测方法

3-(4,5-二甲基-2-噻唑)-2,5-二苯基溴化四唑盐)（MTT）比色法是传统上检测细胞增殖和细胞毒性的常用方法.
CloneSelectTM成像系统是一种以影像为基础的用于分析细胞生长的可视检测系统.本研究采用人结直肠癌HCT116细胞系,运用CloneSelect成像系统和MTT方法分别检测药物阿的平的细胞毒性,并采用Bland Altman作图法比较两种实验方法获得的pEC50值,分析两种研究方法获得的结果的一致性. 结果表明,CloneSelectTM成像系统和MTT法获得的pEC50值具有较好的一致性.与MTT方法相比,基于影像的CloneSelectTM成像分析技术检测快速、无损伤且结果更准确,获取资料不损伤细胞,允许后续其它时间点或动力学检测. 研究提示,这种新的以影像为基础的检测技术可以替代MTT方法,用于分析不同药物的抗细胞增殖活性.     

昆虫神经毒性酯酶活性的测定

首次报道了针对昆虫建立的神经毒性酯酶(NTE)活性检测方法以及据此法所测得的棉铃虫幼虫的NTE活性。将测定脊椎动物NTE活性的方法改进并微量化以适用于无脊椎动物昆虫体内NTE活性测定。对于棉铃虫幼虫,该法测得其头部、中肠和脂肪体等3个部位的NTE活性分别为5.30,1.40和14.50nmolminmgprotein。     

豌豆蚜触角转录组化学感受蛋白的鉴定、表达和结合特性分析

[目的]本研究旨在鉴定豌豆蚜Acyrthosiphon pisum触角转录组中化学感受蛋白(chemosensory protein,CSP)基因,明确触角中高表达的豌豆蚜CSP蛋白与蚜虫报警信息素、性信息素以及植物挥发物的分子结合特性.[方法]通过对豌豆蚜成蚜触角进行转录组测序,鉴定触角中候选CSP基因;采用RPKM...     

A rapid method for determining dynamic binding capacity of resins for the purification of proteins

Biolayer interferometry is a novel method for quantifying macromolecules, such as proteins, in solution. The presence of other, non-binding molecules does not interfere with quantification, which allows one to measure the concentration of the molecule of interest in a crude mixture. Here we apply this method to determining the dynamic binding capacity of affinity resins.     

Mapping of the Ogura fertility restorer gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rfo</Emphasis> and development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rfo</Emphasis> allele-specific markers in canola (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> L.)

Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and its corresponding nuclear fertility restorer gene, Rfo, have been introduced from radish to Brassica species by interspecific crosses. Rfo restores male fertility by altering the translational expression of Orf138, a mitochondrial gene, whose expression results in the male sterile phenotype. This system has been extensively investigated and breeding restorer lines for the Ogura CMS has become a major objective for hybrid seed production in many canola breeding programs. In this study, we have sequenced genomic clones of Rfo amplified from a canola restorer line R2000, licensed from INRA, France, and a Dow AgroSciences non-restorer line Nexera 705 using primers designed from the radish Rfo sequence (GenBank accession AJ550021). Sequence alignment revealed three homologous sequences of Rfo. Two of the sequences were present in both R2000 and Nexera 705 but the third one was present only in R2000. These results suggested that the first two sequences could be the homoeologous sequences of Rfo already existing in the canola genome and the third one could be the radish Rfo introduced into canola. Based on the sequence differences between the restorer and non-restorer lines, Rfo allele-specific PCR markers were developed. We also developed a high throughput, Rfo allele-specific Invader^® assay through Third Wave Technologies. Linkage analysis revealed a co-segregation between the allele-specific marker and the phenotypes for fertility restoration. This allele-specific marker has been mapped in the linkage group N19 and proved to be very useful for direct selection of Rfo alleles for fertility restoration during marker-assisted introgression of the Ogura restorer for hybrid development in canola.     

A mutation at the Ala122 position of acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) located on chromosome 6D of wheat: improved resistance to imidazolinone and a faster assay for marker assisted selection

A new mutation at the acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) locus on chromosome 6D of wheat was analyzed in detail because it conferred an improved resistance to the imidazolinone group of herbicides. Sequence analysis showed that the mutation was at the Ala122 position (A122T), a position in AHAS which has not to date been identified in imidazolinone resistant wheat lines even though the position has been identified in other plants and is associated with resistance. An allele-specific assay for the mutation (in the wheat line Brookton-8) was developed and used in a genetic analysis. Two mapping populations were analysed and the doubled haploid progeny from the cross Brookton-8 × Clearfield STL proved to be most informative. The AHAS^Ala122 mutation (A122T) was allelic to the AHAS^Ser653 mutation (S653N) in Clearfield STL (Imi1, on chromosome 6D) and hence was assigned to the chromosome 6D locus. The analysis of the doubled haploid lines in the mapping population demonstrated the greater resistance conferred by the A122T mutation because lines from the same cross and carrying either the A122T or S653N mutations could be directly compared. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.