Fibrillar seeds alleviate amyloid-β cytotoxicity by omitting formation of higher-molecular-weight oligomers

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides can exist in distinct forms including monomers, oligomers and fibrils, consisting of increased numbers of monomeric units. Among these, Aβ oligomers are implicated as the primary toxic species as pointed by multiple lines of evidence. It has been suggested that toxicity could be rendered by the soluble higher-molecular-weight (high-n) Aβ oligomers. Yet, the most culpable form in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains elusive. Moreover, the potential interaction among the insoluble fibrils that have been excluded from the responsible aggregates in AD development, Aβ monomers and high-n oligomers is undetermined. Here, we report that insoluble Aβ fibrillar seeds can interact with Aβ monomers at the stoichiometry of 1:2 (namely, each Aβ molecule of seed can bind to two Aβ monomers at a time) facilitating the fibrillization by omitting the otherwise mandatory formation of the toxic high-n oligomers during the fibril maturation. As a result, the addition of exogenous Aβ fibrillar seeds is seen to rescue neuronal cells from Aβ cytotoxicity presumably exerted by high-n oligomers, suggesting an unexpected protective role of Aβ fibrillar seeds.     

Plasmodium falciparum RuvB1 is an active DNA helicase and translocates in the 5′–3′ direction

RuvB family of protein contains two similar kinds of proteins i.e. RuvB1 and RuvB2 from yeast to human. These proteins belong to the AAA + class of proteins and are critical components of several multiprotein complexes involved in diverse cellular activities. There are two RuvB proteins annotated in the Plasmodium database but the identification of the third protein recently by our lab has raised the question why Plasmodium falciparum contains three RuvB proteins instead of two. Hence the biochemical characterizations of these proteins have become essential to understand the role of these proteins in the malaria parasite. Recently we have reported the characterization of the recombinant PfRuvB3, which contains ATPase activity but lacks DNA helicase activity. In the present study we report the phylogenetic analysis and detailed biochemical characterization of one of the other RuvB homologue RuvB1 from P. falciparum. PfRuvB1 shows considerable homology with human as well as yeast RuvB1 and contains Walker motif A and Walker motif B. The activity analysis of this protein revealed that PfRuvB1 is an ATPase and this activity increased significantly in the presence of ss-DNA. PfRuvB1 also contains DNA helicase activity and translocates preferentially in 5′ to 3′ direction. In vivo investigation of PfRuvB1 revealed that it is constitutively expressed during all the stages of intraerythrocytic cycle of P. falciparum and localizes mainly to the nucleus. These studies will make important contribution in understanding the role of RuvB protein in P. falciparum.     

Total soluble protein profiles of Beauveria bassiana and their relationship with virulence against Helicoverpa armigera

Intracellular total soluble proteins of Beauveria bassiana are believed to play an important role in virulence against insect hosts. Thirty B. bassiana isolates collected from different geographical regions and host ranges were characterised by total soluble proteins present in cells, using the SDS–PAGE technique to differentiate the isolates based on virulence and host insect origin. In vitro analysis of total soluble protein profiles of 30 isolates was studied to understand the relationship of isolates with their host of origin and virulence against Helicoverpa armigera. There was a positive relationship between virulence and host origin. All the non-virulent isolates are grouped together. Similarly, highly virulent isolates against H. armigera were grouped together. The relationship between total soluble proteins and pathogenicity was positively correlated. Thirty isolates shared only 22% similarity in their protein profiles.     

Purification of Human Erythrocyte Transglutaminase by Immunoaffinity Chromatography

Human erythrocyte transglutaminase was purified using a reusable immunoaffinity column prepared from a monoclonal antibody described previously (Birckbichler et al., Hybridoma, 4, 179–186, 1985). The purified TGase was catalytically active and exhibited a single band of apparent M_r = 85, 000 on SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The amino acid composition of the enzyme was determined. The amino terminus was blocked, and the carboxy-terminal residue appeared to be isoleucine.     

两种果子狸血清IgG纯化方法 的比较

目的 探讨一种具有简便快捷、高纯度、活性好的果子狸血清IgG纯化方法。方法 比较Hitrap Protein A亲和层析和PAGE电泳两种纯化法对果子狸血清IgG的纯化,用PAGE还原电泳和Western-Blot法对IgG作纯度鉴定。结果 对Hitrap Protein A纯化的果子狸血清IgG,其活性虽好,但纯度不高;而非还原PAGE电泳所纯化的果子狸血清IgG不但纯度高（〉95%）、并具有较强的免疫活性。结论 非还原PAGE电泳法纯化果子狸血清IgG,是一种具有高纯度、免疫活性强的纯化方法 。     

腰带长体茧蜂Macrocentrus cingulum毒液和卵巢蛋白的电泳分析

寄生蜂毒液和卵巢蛋白在寄生过程中起着重要作用,蛋白成分和性质的研究日益深入.本文主要通过SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)试验,分析了腰带长体茧蜂毒液和卵巢蛋白的分子量组成.结果表明,腰带长体茧蜂毒液蛋白图谱显示约有7条蛋白带介于43～100 kDa之间,含量较高的三条带为97kDa、64kDa、45kDa;卵巢蛋白图谱显示约有12条蛋白带,位于30～200 kDa之间,含量较高的两条带为39kDa、43kDa.并对毒液和卵巢的生物学功能进行了探讨.     

种子醇溶蛋白提取及检测条件探索

以大麦、小麦、玉米、高粱和苏丹草的种子为材料提取种子的醇溶蛋白,分析了不同提取剂及不同固液比[种子粉末样品质量(g)与提取剂的体积(mL)的比例]对种子醇溶蛋白提取效果的影响,并对SDS-PAGE检测醇溶蛋白中的不同胶浓度、厚度以及样品上样量等的影响进行了研究.结果表明,60%的正丙醇、乙二醇、异丙醇和叔丁醇分别是小麦、大麦、玉米以及高粱和苏丹草的最佳提取剂,将1∶6比例提取的种子醇溶蛋白以15μL上样,0.5mm厚度的15%分离胶电泳可以得到清晰的电泳检测图谱.     

湖北省优质杂交稻品种贮藏蛋白的比较研究

研究选取水稻品种共20个,其中包括湖北省近两年审定的优质杂交水稻品种10个(‘鄂早17’、‘鄂早18’、‘两优1193’、‘武香880’、‘岳优26’、‘宜优99’、‘协优96’、‘鄂晚12’、‘鄂中5号’、‘两优277’)以及7个普通杂交水稻(‘G98-202’、‘578’、‘两优637’、‘宜优22’、‘3685’、‘3089’、‘加育948’)和国家审定的优质水稻品种3个(‘嘉育948’、‘两优932’、‘舟903’),采用不连续的SDS-PAGE电泳分析种子贮藏蛋白,结果在谷蛋白中主要分离出57 kD的蛋白前体、37～39 kD的酸性亚基和22～23 kD的碱性亚基。同时,选取品种‘3089’、‘嘉育948’、‘537’、‘舟903’和‘两优932’,利用高效液相色谱法分析了种子贮藏蛋白中的谷蛋白亚基的含量。结果表明,水稻谷蛋白亚基含量的多少可以作为评价品种营养品质优劣的参考依据之一。     

聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳中LPS样品制备方法的改进

为了对革兰阴性细菌的LPS进行快速分析,观察LPS的产量、分子量分布,进行菌种筛选和抗原传代稳定性研究,实验中对热酚法、酶水解法、冷酚法三种制备LPS的方法进行了比较。结果证明,改进的水饱和冷酚LPS提取方法,需要时间短、经济、方便,只须几个细菌菌落就可以提取LPS进行SDS-PAGE电泳分析,说明该方法有很好的实用性。