Efficient production of a bioactive, multiple disulfide-bonded protein using modified extracts of Escherichia coli

In this report, we demonstrate that a complex mammalian protein containing multiple disulfide bonds is successfully expressed in an E.coli-based cell-free protein synthesis system. Initially, disulfide-reducing activities in the cell extract prevented the formation of disulfide bonds. However, a simple pretreatment of the cell extract with iodoacetamide abolished the reducing activity. This extract was still active for protein synthesis even under oxidizing conditions. The use of a glutathione redox buffer coupled with the DsbC disulfide isomerase and pH optimization produced 40 microg/mL of active urokinase protease in a simple batch reaction. This result not only demonstrates efficient production of complex proteins, it also emphasizes the control and flexibility offered by the cell-free approach.     

Structure of an Fab-protease complex reveals a highly specific non-canonical mechanism of inhibition

The vast majority of protein protease inhibitors bind their targets in a substrate-like manner. This is a robust and efficient mechanism of inhibition but, due to the highly conserved architecture of protease active sites, these inhibitors often exhibit promiscuity. Inhibitors that show strict specificity for one protease usually achieve this selectivity by combining substrate-like binding in the active site with exosite binding on the protease surface. The development of new, specific inhibitors can be aided greatly by binding to non-conserved regions of proteases if potency can be maintained. Due to their ability to bind specifically to nearly any antigen, antibodies provide an excellent scaffold for creating inhibitors targeted to a single member of a family of highly homologous enzymes. The 2.2 Å resolution crystal structure of an Fab antibody inhibitor in complex with the serine protease membrane-type serine protease 1 (MT-SP1/matriptase) reveals the molecular basis of its picomolar potency and specificity. The inhibitor has a distinct mechanism of inhibition; it gains potency and specificity through interactions with the protease surface loops, and inhibits by binding in the active site in a catalytically non-competent manner. In contrast to most naturally occurring protease inhibitors, which have diverse structures but converge to a similar inhibitory archetype, antibody inhibitors provide an opportunity to develop divergent mechanisms of inhibition from a single scaffold.     

Effective cancer therapy based on selective drug delivery into cells across their membrane using receptor-mediated endocytosis

Cancer is one of the major causes of death globally. The current treatment options are insufficient, leading to unmet medical needs in cancer treatment. Off-target side effects, multidrug resistance, selective distribution to cancerous tissues, and cell membrane permeation of anti-cancer agents are critical problems to overcome. There is a method to solve these problems by using receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME). It is well known that proteins such as integrin, HER2, EGFR, or other cancer biomarkers are specifically overexpressed on the surface of target cancer cells. By taking advantage of such specific receptors, payloads can be transported into cells through endocytosis using a conjugate composed of the corresponding ligands connected to the payloads by an appropriate linker. After RME, the payloads released by endosomal escape into the cytoplasm can exhibit the cytotoxic activity against cancer cells. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), tumor-homing peptides (THPs), and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are utilized as ligands in this system. Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) based on RME have already been used to cure cancer. In addition to the canonical conjugate method, nanocarriers for spontaneous accumulation in cancer tissue due to enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect are extensively used. In this review, I introduce the possibilities and advantages of drug design and development based on RME for the treatment of cancer.     

Mechanisms underlying modulation of podocyte TRPC6 channels by suPAR: Role of NADPH oxidases and Src family tyrosine kinases

The soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and may function as a circulating “permeability factor” driving primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Here we examined the mechanisms whereby suPAR causes mobilization and increased activation of Ca²⁺-permeable TRPC6 channels, which are also implicated in FSGS. Treatment of immortalized mouse podocytes with recombinant suPAR for 24?h caused a marked increase in cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) that required signaling through integrins. This effect was associated with increased assembly of active cell surface NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2) complexes and was blocked by the Nox2 inhibitor apoycynin. Treatment with suPAR also evoked a functionally measurable increase in TRPC6 channels that was blocked by concurrent treatment with the ROS-quencher TEMPOL as well as by inhibition of Rac1, an essential component of active Nox2 complexes. Elevated ROS evoked by exposing cells to suPAR or H₂O₂ caused a marked increase in the abundance of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins including Src, and suPAR-evoked Src activation was blocked by TEMPOL. Moreover, mobilization and increased activation of TRPC6 by suPAR or H₂O₂ was blocked by concurrent exposure to PP2, an inhibitor of Src family tyrosine kinases. These data suggest that suPAR induces oxidative stress in podocytes that in turn drives signaling through Src family kinases to upregulate TRPC6 channels. The combination of oxidative stress and altered Ca²⁺ signaling may contribute to loss of podocytes and progression of various forms of CKD.     

高分子量和低分子量尿激酶的分离纯化及动力学性质研究

人尿激酶粗品经苯甲脒亲和柱纯化和Protein-PahSP柱分离后,得到两种分子量的尿激酶（UK）,即高分子量尿激酶（HUK）和低分子量尿激酶（LUK）．采用考马斯亮蓝法测定蛋白质浓度,纤维蛋白平板法测定活力,测得HUK比活为2.9×105IU／mg蛋白,LUK为3.5×105IU／mg蛋白,活力回收为70％以上．经SDS-PAGE鉴定,HUK和LUK均是单一条带,分子量分别为54kD和33kD．HUK和LUK水解显色底物S2444的动力学常数,分别测得HUK的Km为64μmol/L,Kcat为15s-1,LUK的Km为49μmol／L,kcat为13s-1,LUK的催化效率（Kcat／Km）稍高于HUK．     

腺病毒介导的uPAR反义核酸转移抑制肿瘤细胞的侵袭

为了观察尿激酶受体(uPAR)反义核酸对肿瘤细胞体外侵袭的抑制作用,用PCR方法扩增uPAR cDNA 5′端－46 bp～＋454 bp一段长500 bp的序列,利用DNA重组技术将其克隆到病毒载体pAdeno-X中, 构建出重组腺病毒载体pAdeno-X-uPAR(－)和pAdeno-X-uPAR(+).线性化后的重组腺病毒载体转染HEK293细胞7天后,可以获得滴度分别为1.5×10⁸ pfu/ml和0.5×10⁸ pfu/ml的uPAR反义和正义核酸表达重组腺病毒,分别命名为Ad-uPAR(－)和Ad-uPAR(+).以不同的病毒感染指数（MOI）感染人肺巨细胞癌高转移株95D肿瘤细胞,3天后用RNA印迹法可以检测肿瘤细胞uPAR正义和反义核酸表达水平,随着MOI的升高,Ad-uPAR(－)感染的肿瘤细胞uPAR蛋白水平逐渐下降,肿瘤细胞的体外侵袭能力也明显下降,而感染Ad-uPAR(+)的肿瘤细胞无明显变化.结果表明,重组腺病毒可以表达uPAR正义和反义核酸,uPAR反义核酸可以明显抑制人肺巨细胞癌高转移株95D肿瘤细胞在体外的侵袭能力.     

Naturally occurring human plasminogen,like genetically related apolipoprotein(a), contains oxidized phosphatidylcholine adducts

Human apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)), synthesized in the liver, contains oxidized phosphatidylcholine (oxPtdPC) adducts probably generated at the hepatic site. Since plasminogen (Plg), also synthesized in the liver, is genetically related and structurally homologous to apo(a), we wanted to determine whether it contains oxPtdPCs and their location. We used Plg isolated from fresh or frozen normal human plasma and several commercial preparations. Some were freed of non-covalently bound lipids by organic solvent extraction. By immunoblot analyses, all products reacted against T15, a natural IgM monoclonal antibody specific for phosphorylcholine -containing oxidized phospholipids (ox-PLs). This immunoreactivity was retained in urokinase type plasminogen activator -generated plasmin and was abrogated in Plg previously digested with lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂), a reaction that generated predominantly C16:0 lysophosphatidylcholine species as determined by mass spectrometry. Lyso derivatives were also generated upon the cleavage by Lp-PLA2 of a model ox-PL chemically linked to a lysine-containing pentapeptide. From inorganic phosphorous analyses, we found 2 mol of oxPtdPC/mole of Plg distributed between the kringles 1–4 and mini-Plg domain. OxPtdPCs were also present in the Plg isolated from the serum-free medium of cultured human HepG2 cells. In conclusion, our results provide strong evidence that naturally occurring Plg contains oxPtdPC probably linked by a Schiff base and also suggest that the linkage occurs at the hepatic site. Given the emerging evidence for the cardiovascular pathogenicity of oxPtdPCs, we speculate that they may impart athero-thrombogenic properties to Plg under inflammatory conditions.     

EGFR and HER2 exert distinct roles on colon cancer cell functional properties and expression of matrix macromolecules

Background

ErbB receptors, EGFR and HER2, have been implicated in the development and progression of colon cancer. Several intracellular pathways are mediated upon activation of EGFR and/or HER2 by EGF. However, there are limited data regarding the EGF-mediated signaling affecting functional cell properties and the expression of extracellular matrix macromolecules implicated in cancer progression.

Methods

Functional assays, such as cell proliferation, transwell invasion assay and migration were performed to evaluate the impact of EGFR/HER2 in constitutive and EGF-treated Caco-2 cells. Signaling pathways were evaluated using specific intracellular inhibitors. Western blot was also utilized to examine the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2. Real time PCR was performed to evaluate gene expression of matrix macromolecules.

Results

EGF increases cell proliferation, invasion and migration and importantly, EGF mediates overexpression of EGFR and downregulation of HER2. The EGF–EGFR axis is the main pathway affecting colon cancer's invasive potential, proliferative and migratory ability. Intracellular pathways (PI3K-Akt, MEK1/2-Erk and JAK-STAT) are all implicated in the migratory profile. Notably, MT1- and MT2-MMP as well as TIMP-2 are downregulated, whereas uPA is upregulated via an EGF–EGFR network. The EGF–EGFR axis is also implicated in the expression of syndecan-4 and TIMP-1. However, glypican-1 upregulation by EGF is mainly mediated via HER2.

Conclusions and general significance

The obtained data highlight the crucial importance of EGF on the expression of both receptors and on the EGF–EGFR/HER2 signaling network, reveal the distinct roles of EGFR and HER2 on expression of matrix macromolecules and open a new area in designing novel agents in targeting colon cancer. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Matrix-mediated cell behaviour and properties.     

多通道流动电泳技术及其在蛋白质、酶和抗体纯化中的应用研究

提出一种新型制备电泳方法即多通道流动电动电泳技术,建立了微机控制的电泳设备,考查了操作条件对设备分离效率的影响。应用该技术进行牛血清清蛋白(BSA)-牛血红蛋白(HBB)混合物的连续分离,每小时从含BSA、HBB各37.0mg的蛋白质混合物中分离出13.6mg的BSA和20.0mg的HBB。应用该技术进行尿激酶粗品的纯化,可将其比活力由4000IU/mg提高到4×10~4IU/mg以上,产量在10×10~4IU/h以上。将该技术与(NH_4)SO_4沉淀方法结合,从15ml免疫鼠血清中分离出12.5mg高纯度尿激酶抗体IgG,产量为2.1mg/h。上述结果证明多通道流动电泳技术具有分离速度快、精度高和可操作性好等优点,在生物产品分离领域中具有广阔的应用前景。