The limited proteolysis of tumor necrosis factor-α

The limited proteolysis of human recombinant TNF- by trypsin yields two stable products resulting from cleavage after Arg6 and Arg44. In solution these two products remain associated together in a trimer with a Stokes' radius slightly greater than the radius of intact TNF- and, therefore, could not be separated from each other under nondenaturing conditions. This limited digest retains at least 20% of the activity of the original TNF- sample, and has a tertiary structure that is similar to that of the native protein by circular dichroism. On the other hand, incorrectly folded, inactive TNF- undergoes extensive digestion following similar treatment with trypsin. These results indicate that the active form of TNF- has a tight core structure which is maintained afterN-terminal cleavage and removal.     

A general principle for the allocation of limited resources

Summary A marginal fitness theorem is derived for the allocation of a limited resource among alternative activities that have effects on the fitness of an individual. The marginal advantage theorem states that at the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS), the marginal gains from increasing each of the allocations (expressed as partial derivatives of the fitness advantage of a rare mutant) are equal. The theorem is true for all proportional allocations (a + b + c + ...=j), regardless of the number of allocations, the nature of the response curves describing the direct effects of the allocations [f(a), etc.], or the way the effects of different allocations combine into fitness. The theorem is extended to size-number compromises and packaging strategies. The marginal advantage theorem is used to derive general theorems about the marginal effects of allocations [f (a), etc.] at the ESS and matching rules concerned with the total fitness to cost ratios of allocations at the ESS. The marginal advantage theorem is applicable to diverse allocation strategies, and provides a method for obtaining ESS allocations for any number of allocations and their components.     

Conformational characterization of human angiogenin by limited proteolysis

The primary structure of angiogenin is 33% identical to that of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase), but the enzymatic activities of the two proteins differ markedly. Similarly, their susceptibilities to limited proteolysis differ as well. In contrast to RNase, angiogenin totally resists proteolysis by subtilisin. Indeed, among 16 proteases examined, only endoprotease Lys-C, trypsin, and pepsin are able to cleave angiogenin. Even with prolonged incubation, endoprotease Lys-C selectively cleaves the Lys-60-Asn-61 bond; the product retains full ribonucleolytic activity. Initially, trypsin also cleaves this same bond, but with time it causes extensive degradation. Pepsin, atpH 2, cleaves the Phe-9-Leu-10 bond, to give angiogenin (10–123), which displays 15% of the native activity toward ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The susceptibility to proteolysis and/or the sites of cleavage of angiogenin and bovine RNase differ markedly despite their structural homology. These differences are considered in terms of the amino acid sequences of the two proteins.     

The versatility of proteolytic enzymes

The growing realization of their physiological importance has generated renewed interest in the study of proteolytic enzymes. Modern methods of protein chemistry and molecular biology have revealed new insights into the protein and gene structure of a variety of protein precursors and their processing by limited proteolysis. Examples are given in this review for transmembrane processes and the role of signal peptidases of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic origin, the processing of prohormones and precursors of growth factors, protein components of blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, and of the complement system, and a group of granulocyte proteases, including the mast cell serine proteases. The relationship of homologous domains found in many of these proteases and their zymogens to protein evolution is a recurrent theme of this discussion.     

Limited proteolysis of native proteins: the interaction between avidin and proteinase K.

Avidin is a tetramer of 16-kDa subunits that have a high affinity for biotin. Proteolysis of native apoavidin by proteinase K results in a limited attack at the loop between beta-strands 3 and 4, involving amino acids 38-43. Specifically, sites of proteolysis are at Thr 40-Ser 41 and Asn 42-Glu 43. The limited proteolysis results in an avidin product that remains otherwise intact and which has enhanced binding for 4'-hydroxyazobenzene-2-benzoic acid (HABA), a chromogenic reporter that can occupy the biotin-binding site. Saturation of the biotin-binding site with the natural ligand protects avidin from proteolysis, but saturation with HABA enhances the rate of proteolysis of the same site. Analysis of the three-dimensional structures of apoavidin and holoavidin reveals that the 3-4 loop is accessible to solvent and scores highly in an algorithm developed to identify sites of proteolytic attack. The structure of holoavidin is almost identical to the apoprotein. In particular, the 3-4 loop has the same structure in the apo and holo forms, yet there are marked differences in proteolytic susceptibility of this region. Evidence suggests that the 3-4 loop is rather mobile and flexible in the apoprotein, and that it becomes constrained upon ligand binding. In one crystal structure of the apoprotein, this loop appears constrained by contacts with symmetry-related molecules. Structural analyses suggest that the "lid" to the biotin-binding site, formed by the 3-4 loop, is displaced and made more accessible by HABA binding, thereby enhancing its proteolytic susceptibility.     

Population studies in Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana: Chromosome numbers and sesquiterpene lactone races

The sesquiterpene lactones and chromosome numbers for three chemical races of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana have been examined from four populations in western Montana. TLC analysis of the sesquiterpene lactones in the seeds and seed producing parents demonstrated that genetic exchange does occur between sympatric sesquiterpene lactone chemical races. However, other evidence suggests that introgression between these races is restricted to zones of sympatry. There appears to be no correlation between chromosome numbers and sesquiterpene lactone races.     

Raman-based dynamic feeding strategies using real-time glucose concentration monitoring system during adalimumab producing CHO cell cultivation

The use of Process Analytical Technology tools coupled with chemometrics has been shown great potential for better understanding and control of mammalian cell cultivations through real-time process monitoring. In-line Raman spectroscopy was utilized to determine the glucose concentration of the complex bioreactor culture medium ensuring real-time information for our process control system. This work demonstrates a simple and fast method to achieve a robust partial least squares calibration model under laboratory conditions in an early phase of the development utilizing shake flask and bioreactor cultures. Two types of dynamic feeding strategies were accomplished where the multi-component feed medium additions were controlled manually and automatically based on the Raman monitored glucose concentration. The impact of these dynamic feedings was also investigated and compared to the traditional bolus feeding strategy on cellular metabolism, cell growth, productivity, and binding activity of the antibody product. Both manual and automated dynamic feeding strategies were successfully applied to maintain the glucose concentration within a narrower and lower concentration range. Thus, besides glucose, the glutamate was also limited at low level leading to reduced production of inhibitory metabolites, such as lactate and ammonia. Consequently, these feeding control strategies enabled to provide beneficial cultivation environment for the cells. In both experiments, higher cell growth and prolonged viable cell cultivation were achieved which in turn led to increased antibody product concentration compared to the reference bolus feeding cultivation.     

肥厚型心肌病患者在心肺运动中核心指标的特征性研究*

目的: 肥厚型心肌病（HCM）,以心肌肥厚为主要特征的心肌疾病,猝死率高。临床症状表现为呼吸困难、乏力、胸痛等。症状限制性极限运动心肺运动试验（CPET）在整体整合生理和医学（HIPM）理论指导下是唯一评估人体整体功能状态检查,肥厚型心肌病患者在心肺运动中核心数据变化值得进一步探讨。方法: 选择2017年4月至2020年1月在阜外医院就诊签署知情同意书后完成CPET受试者244例为研究对象,其中219例肥厚型心肌病（肥厚心组）和无诊断疾病健康人25例（正常组）,观察两组CPET核心指标的异同。结果: ①肥厚心组男163女56例,正常组11男14女;肥厚心组年龄（46.7±12.8,16.0~71.0）岁;正常组年龄（43.7±10.4,26.0~61.0）岁。②肥厚心组CPET核心指标的峰值摄氧量（Peak VO₂）为（65.2±13.8,22.8~103.4）%pred;无氧阈（AT）为（66.4±13.0,33.7~103.5）%pred;峰值氧脉搏（Peak O₂ pulse）为（84.3±19.0,90.9~126.0）%pred;摄氧效率平台（OUEP）为（99.2±13.4,69.1~155.5）%pred;分钟通气量和二氧化碳排出量比值最小值（Lowest VE/VCO₂）为（108.0±13.2,70.4~154.0）%pred;分钟通气量和二氧化碳排出量比值斜率（VE/VCO₂ Slope）为（108.5±17.9,66.9~164.9）%pred, 肥厚心组较正常组在峰值摄氧量,无氧阈,峰值氧脉搏,摄氧效率平台等百分预计值（%pred）等指标均显著降低（P<0.01或P<0.05）;而Lowest VE/VCO₂和VE/VCO₂ Slope（%pred）显著升高（P<0.05）,差异均有统计学意义。个体而言,部分患者就诊时整体功能状态尚在正常范围内。③CPET中Peak VO₂与其他核心指标AT、OUEP、Peak O₂ pulse、峰值收缩压呈正相关;与Lowest VE/VCO₂ 和VE/VCO₂ Slope呈负相关。结论: 肥厚型心肌病患者能安全完成CPET,CPET指标具有特异性,不仅可用于整体功能评测、疾病诊断与鉴别诊断、危险分层、疗效评估和精准预后预测,并可用于整体论指导下的个体化整体方案慢病有效管理,值得进一步深入研究和临床推广应用。