Apolipoprotein C-II amyloid fibrils assemble via a reversible pathway that includes fibril breaking and rejoining

Alzheimer's and several other diseases are characterized by the misfolding and assembly of protein subunits into amyloid fibrils. Current models propose that amyloid fibril formation proceeds via the self-association of several monomers to form a nucleus, which then elongates by the addition of monomer to form mature fibrils. We have examined the concentration-dependent kinetics of apolipoprotein C-II amyloid fibril formation and correlated this with the final size distribution of the fibrils determined by sedimentation velocity experiments. In contrast to predictions of the nucleation-elongation model, the final size distribution of the fibrils was found to be relatively independent of the starting monomer concentration. To explain these results, we extended the nucleation-elongation model to include fibril breaking and rejoining as integral parts of the amyloid fibril assembly mechanism. The system was examined under conditions that affected the stability of the mature fibrils including the effect of dilution on the free pool of monomeric apolipoprotein C-II and the time-dependent recovery of fibril size following sonication. Antibody-labelling transmission electron microscopy studies provided direct evidence for spontaneous fibril breaking and rejoining. These studies establish the importance of breaking and rejoining in amyloid fibril formation and identify prospective new therapeutic targets in the assembly pathway.     

Complement component C1q inhibits beta-amyloid- and serum amyloid P-induced neurotoxicity via caspase- and calpain-independent mechanisms

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal loss, β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. Complement protein C1q has been found associated with fibrillar Aβ deposits, however the exact contributions of C1q to Alzheimer's disease is still unknown. There is evidence that C1q, as an initiator of the inflammatory complement cascade, may accelerate disease progression. However, neuronal C1q synthesis is induced after injury/infection suggesting that it may be a beneficial response to injury. In this study, we report that C1q enhances the viability of neurons in culture and protects neurons against Aβ- and serum amyloid P (SAP)-induced neurotoxicity. Investigation of potential signaling pathways indicates that caspase and calpain are activated by Aβ, but C1q had no effect on either of these pathways. Interestingly, SAP did not induce caspase and calpain activation, suggesting that C1q neuroprotection is in distinct from caspase and calpain pathways. In contrast to Aβ- and SAP-induced neurotoxicity, neurotoxicity induced by etoposide or FCCP was unaffected by the addition of C1q, indicating pathway selectivity for C1q neuroprotection. These data support a neuroprotective role for C1q which should be further investigated to uncover mechanisms which may be therapeutically targeted to slow neurodegeneration via direct inhibition of neuronal loss.     

Over-expression of GFP-FEZ1 causes generation of multi-lobulated nuclei mediated by microtubules in HEK293 cells

FEZ1 (Fasciculation and elongation protein zeta 1) is an ortholog of the Caenorhabditis elegans protein UNC-76, involved in neuronal development and axon outgrowth, in that worm. Mammalian FEZ1 has already been reported to cooperate with PKC-zeta in the differentiation and polarization of PC12 neuronal cells. Furthermore, FEZ1 is associated with kinesin 1 and JIP1 to form a cargo-complex responsible for microtubule based transport of mitochondria along axons. FEZ1 can also be classified as a hub protein, since it was reported to interact with over 40 different proteins in yeast two-hybrid screens, including at least nine nuclear proteins. Here, we transiently over-expressed GFP-FEZ1full in human HEK293 and HeLa cells in order to study the sub-cellular localization of GFP-FEZ1. We observed that over 40% of transiently transfected cells at 3 days post-transfection develop multi-lobulated nuclei, which are also called flower-like nuclei. We further demonstrated that GFP-FEZ1 localizes either to the cytoplasm or the nuclear fraction, and that the appearance of the flower-like nuclei depends on intact microtubule function. Finally, we show that FEZ1 co-localizes with both, α- and especially with γ-tubulin, which localizes as a centrosome like structure at the center of the multiple lobules. In summary, our data suggest that FEZ1 has an important centrosomal function and supply new mechanistic insights to the formation of flower-like nuclei, which are a phenotypical hallmark of human leukemia cells.     

Cellular mechanisms for dopamine D4 receptor-induced homeostatic regulation of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors

Aberrant dopamine D(4) receptor function has been implicated in mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Recently we have found that D(4) receptor exerts an activity-dependent bi-directional regulation of AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated synaptic currents in pyramidal neurons of prefrontal cortex (PFC) via the dual control of calcium/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII) activity. In this study, we examined the signaling mechanisms downstream of CaMKII that govern the complex effects of D(4) on glutamatergic transmission. We found that in PFC neurons at high activity state, D(4) suppresses AMPAR responses by disrupting the kinesin motor-based transport of GluR2 along microtubules, which was accompanied by the D(4) reduction of microtubule stability via a mechanism dependent on CaMKII inhibition. On the other hand, in PFC neurons at the low activity state, D(4) potentiates AMPAR responses by facilitating synaptic targeting of GluR1 through the scaffold protein SAP97 via a mechanism dependent on CaMKII stimulation. Taken together, these results have identified distinct signaling mechanisms underlying the homeostatic regulation of glutamatergic transmission by D(4) receptors, which may be important for cognitive and emotional processes in which dopamine is involved.     

生长抑素联合奥美拉唑治疗重症胰腺炎的疗效分析

目的：探讨重症胰腺炎患者采用生长抑素联合奥美拉唑治疗的临床效果。方法：选取2005 年10 月至2012 年10 月医院收治的老年重症胰腺炎患者98 例。将所有患者随机分为观察组和对照组,每组各49 例,对照组患者采取常规方法治疗重症胰腺炎,观察组患者在此基础上加用生长抑素联合奥美拉唑进行治疗。两组患者的疗程均为7 天,治疗结束后,对两组患者的临床疗效、各项恢复指标和并发症等情况进行对比分析。结果：观察组患者治疗的总有效率显著高于对照组（93.9%vs.71.4%,P〈0.05）;观察组患者的平均住院、肠道恢复、腹痛腹胀缓解、血淀粉酶、尿淀粉酶等各项指标恢复至正常时间及预后均显著优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：采用生长抑素联合奥美拉唑治疗重症胰腺炎,可以获得更高的疗效,患者症状改善明显,治疗时间短,并发症少,死亡率低,值得临床推广。     

白念珠菌SAP2的毒性和发病机理的体外研究概述

白念珠菌是人类最常见的条件致病真菌,是院内感染的第四大原因。近年来白念珠菌致病性的研究取得了很大进展。其中分泌性天冬氨酰蛋白酶(secreted aspartyl proteinase,Sap)是近年研究热点,Sap产量高的白念珠菌菌株对黏膜上皮细胞的黏附作用比产量低的菌株高。白念珠菌的SAP是由多基因家族编码的同工酶系统,该家族包含至少10个Sap基因,在感染的不同阶段表达出来。其中Sap2蛋白酶的含量最高,其分子量为41kDa,能降解多种人体蛋白,去除宿主的防御屏障作用,有助于白念珠菌通过循环系统传播;还能刺激细胞产生IL-1α,IL-8、γ-干扰素等细胞因子。通过对其毒力和致病机理的深入研究,可以为日后研制相关抗体或疫苗奠定基础。     

Identification of potential novel interaction partners of the sodium-activated potassium channels Slick and Slack in mouse brain

The sodium-activated potassium channels Slick (Slo2.1, KCNT2) and Slack (Slo2.2, KCNT1) are paralogous channels of the Slo family of high-conductance potassium channels. Slick and Slack channels are widely distributed in the mammalian CNS and they play a role in slow afterhyperpolarization, generation of depolarizing afterpotentials and in setting and stabilizing the resting potential. In the present study we used a combined approach of (co)-immunoprecipitation studies, Western blot analysis, double immunofluorescence and mass spectrometric sequencing in order to investigate protein–protein interactions of the Slick and Slack channels. The data strongly suggest that Slick and Slack channels co-assemble into identical cellular complexes. Double immunofluorescence experiments revealed that Slick and Slack channels co-localize in distinct mouse brain regions. Moreover, we identified the small cytoplasmic protein beta-synuclein and the transmembrane protein 263 (TMEM 263) as novel interaction partners of both, native Slick and Slack channels. In addition, the inactive dipeptidyl-peptidase (DPP 10) and the synapse associated protein 102 (SAP 102) were identified as constituents of the native Slick and Slack channel complexes in the mouse brain. This study presents new insights into protein–protein interactions of native Slick and Slack channels in the mouse brain.     

Inhibition of a cold-active alkaline phosphatase by imipenem revealed by in silico modeling of metallo-β-lactamase active sites

We demonstrate the inhibition of the native phosphatase activity of a cold active alkaline phosphatase from Vibrio (VAP) (IC₅₀ of 44 ± 4 (n = 4) μM at pH 7.0 after a 30 min preincubation) by a specific β-lactam compound (only by imipenem, and not by ertapenem, meropenem, ampicillin or penicillin G). The homologous scaffold was detected by an in silico analysis that established the spatial and electrostatic congruence of the active site of a Class B2 CphA metallo-β-lactamase from Aeromonas hydrophila to the active site of VAP. The tested β-lactam compounds did not inhibit Escherichia coli or shrimp alkaline phosphatase, which could be ascribed to the lower congruence indicated by CLASP. There was no discernible β-lactamase activity in the tested alkaline phosphatases. This is the first time a scaffold recognizing imipenem in an alkaline phosphatase (VAP) has been demonstrated.     

白念珠菌MP65和SAP2蛋白原核表达质粒的构建与表达

目的构建以白念珠菌基因MP65和SAP2为目的基因的原核表达质粒,IPTG诱导其表达融合蛋白,并对其免疫原性进行分析。方法PCR法自白念珠菌标准菌株获取MP65和SAP2基因,分别插入至原核表达载体pGEx．4T之和pET32a中;将重组表达质粒转染感受态EcoliBL-21,经IPTG诱导表达、纯化后,SDS—PAGE和Western blot分析。结果PCR法克隆出全长为1140bp的MP65和1197bp的SAP2基因,构建的原核表达质粒pGEX-4T-2-MP65及pET32a-SAP2,可分别表达出66KD左右的GST融合蛋白和His融合蛋白。结论成功获取了白念珠菌基因^伊65和SAP2,所构建的原核表达质粒在BL-21中成功表达;两种蛋白均有免疫原性。