Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a still unresolved riddle

Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) was isolated from rabbit cerebral venous blood by Schoenenberger-Monnier group from Basel in 1977 and initially regarded as a candidate sleep-promoting factor. However, the link between DSIP and sleep has never been further characterized, in part because of the lack of isolation of the DSIP gene, protein and possible related receptor. Thus the hypothesis regarding DSIP as a sleep factor is extremely poorly documented and still weak. Although DSIP itself presented a focus of study for a number of researchers, its natural occurrence and biological activity still remains obscure. DSIP structure is different from any other known representative of the various peptide families. In this mini-review we hypothesize the existence of a DSIP-like peptide(s) that is responsible (at least partly) for DSIP-like immunoreactivity and DSIP biological activity. This assumption is based on: (i) a highly specific distribution of DSIP-like immunoreactivity in the neurosecretory hypothalamic nuclei of various vertebrate species that are not particularly relevant for sleep regulation, as revealed by the histochemical studies of the Geneva group (Charnay et al.); (ii) a large spectrum of DSIP biological activity revealed by biochemical and physiological studies in vitro; (iii) significant slow-wave sleep (SWS) promoting activity of certain artificial DSIP structural analogues (but not DSIP itself!) in rabbits and rats revealed by our early studies; and (iv) significant SWS-promoting activity of a naturally occurring dermorphin-decapeptide that is structurally similar to DSIP (in five of the nine positions) and the sleep-suppressing effect of its optical isomer, as revealed in rabbits. Potential future studies are outlined, including natural synthesis and release of this DSIP-like peptide and its role in neuroendocrine regulation.     

Interaction of delta sleep-inducing peptide and its analogues with cellular membranes: A structure-function analysis

The possibility of a correlation between the membrane properties of the delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) and its analogues and their biological activity in vivo was examined by a comparative study of the membrane effects of these peptides. The peptides exhibiting biological activity in vivo were shown to cause a statistically reliable disordering of lipids in thrombocyte plasma membranes similar to the effect of DSIP. The membrane effect of the D-Val²-, D-Tyr²-, and Tyr¹, Pro² analogues of DSIP had the same bimodal dose dependence characteristic of natural DSIP. Only a slight nonspecific lipid disordering was registered for Trp-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu, a biologically inactive hexapeptide analogue. These results indicate a correlation between the biological activity of the peptides during in vivo tests and their membrane properties in vitro. The structure-function relationship was studied within the group of DSIP analogues examined in vitro. The DSIP modeling effect, especially pronounced under the action of stress factors, was suggested to be directly associated with the ability of DSIP to change the dynamic structure of biological membranes.     

Phosphorylation of Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide (DSIP) by casein kinase II in vitro

A phosphorylated analogue of DSIP at Ser⁷ has been shown to exist endogenously by immunochemical studies. An enzyme which could phosphorylate DSIP has not yet been identified. In the present study, we examined DSIP as a substrate for in vitro phosphorylation by casein kinase II. DSIP was phosphorylated by the enzyme with apparent K_m and V_max values of 20 mM and 90.9 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Both ATP and GTP were utilized as phosphoryl donors. Phosphorylation of DSIP was inhibited by heparin and enhanced by spermine. These results demonstrate that DSIP can serve as a possible substrate for casein kinase II in vitro.     

Amphetamine-induced locomotor behavior of mice is influenced by DSIP

The delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) has been shown to induce effects other than only delta sleep. One of these effects was the paradoxical thermoregulatory and locomotor response of rats to amphetamine after DSIP administration. In the present investigation we found similar effects of DSIP on the locomotor activity in mice. However, two different doses of DSIP (30 and 120 nmol/kg) and 3 doses of amphetamine (4, 10, and 15 mg/kg) produced a complex pattern of effects in mice tested at 22 degrees C. In general, DSIP-treated mice showed lower locomotor activity after amphetamine than controls, but under two conditions, both using 15 mg/kg amphetamine, DSIP produced higher scores; this occurred in the first two hours after amphetamine for the 30 nmol/kg DSIP group and in the third hour for mice given 120 nmol/kg DSIP. The results indicate that the effects of DSIP on locomotor behavior were dependent on the dosage of the peptide and the time of measurement as well as the level of amphetamine stimulation.     

δ-睡眠肽与GFP融合蛋白的表达和纯化

构建δ-睡眠肽(DSIP)蛋白与GFP的融合基因表达载体,高效表达和纯化GFP-DSIP融合蛋白。通过SOE-PCR拼接DSIP全长编码基因,并使得DSIP上游具有肠激酶识别位点,经双酶切定向克隆至表达载体pET-28a,构建重组载体pET-28a-DSIP,通过PCR扩增GFP全长编码基因,经双酶切定向克隆至pET-28a-DSIP,构建原核重组表达载体pET-28a-GFP-DSIP,通过双酶切和测序鉴定后,导入E.coli BL21宿主菌中,IPTG诱导表达融合蛋白,采用镍亲和层析和分子筛凝胶层析获得高纯度蛋白,SDS-PAGE分析鉴定。经测序鉴定成功构建了原核重组表达载体pET-28a-GFP-DSIP,在IPTG诱导下获得可溶性的绿色荧光蛋白与睡眠肽的融合蛋白,经Ni-NTA亲和层析纯化成功获得高纯度的融合蛋白。成功构建了DSIP与GFP融合基因的重组表达载体,确定了GFP-DSIP融合蛋白诱导表达的最佳条件,获得了较高纯度的融合蛋白,为进一步研究DSIP蛋白的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

降钙素基因相关肽放射免疫测定中与内毒素交叉免疫的离体实验分析

本文用放射免疫法分析了内毒素对降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）离体免疫测定的影响。高浓度的内毒素（终浓度大于5μg／ml）可通过与CGRP多克隆抗体竞争性结合,影响CGBP的测定,内毒素与CGRP的交叉兔疫比率为5．6×10=6。以C18柱纯化待测样本可以有效地清除混杂的内毒素。结果表明离体实验中高浓度内毒素可干扰CGRP的放射免疫测定,C18柱可清除样本中的内毒素从而避免其对CGRP放射免疫测定的影响。     

Book review

Chronopharmacology. Cellular and Biochemical Interactions (Cellular Clocks Series/3), by Prof. Dr. Björn Lemmer, Center of Pharmacology, J.W. Goethe‐University, Frankfurt am Main, FRG. 1989. 744 pp., $150.00 (US and Canada), $180.00 (All other countries). ISBN 0–8247–8103–1 Published by Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, USA.

Chronobiology and chronomedicine. Basic research and applications. Proceedings of the IVth Annual Meeting of the European Society for Chronobiology, Birmingham, July 1988, by E. Morgan. 1990, 407 pp., soft cover sFr. 79.‐ISBN 3–631–42301–2 Published by Verlag Peter Lang, Frankfurt a.M., Bern, New York, Paris.

Biological rhythms in clinical practice by J. Ahrendt, J.M. Waterhouse and D.S. Minors 1989. 299 pp.m, hard cover £ 48.‐ISBN 0–7236–0961–6     

Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide Modulates the Stimulation of Rat Pineal N-Acetyltransferase Activity by Involving the α1 -Adrenergic Receptor

Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) has been isolated and characterized by its capacity to enhance delta sleep in rabbits. Up to now, sleep was the main target of DSIP research, but different extra-sleep effects of the peptide have been reported as well. Several mechanisms of action have been proposed, though no convincing evidence for any of them has been obtained so far. We recently detected that DSIP reduced the nocturnal increase of N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in rat pineal in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of this enzyme is known to be induced by adrenergic agonists and several studies have suggested that stimulation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors potentiates the "basic" effect of beta-receptors. DSIP in the range between 20 and 300 nM significantly enhanced NAT activity induced by 10(-6) M norepinephrine in vitro, and a similar effect was observed with 2nMP-DSIP, a phosphorylated analog. Incubation with prazosin eliminated the enhancement, whereas propranolol reduced norepinephrine stimulation that was still increased by P-DSIP and probably DSIP. It was concluded that the sleep-peptide and its analog modulate the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor of rat pineal in its response to adrenergic agonists. The same mechanism may also be responsible for other biological activities of DSIP such as sleep-induction and stress-tolerance.     

Reduction of N-acetyl methionine sulfoxide: A simple assay for peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase

A simple and rapid assay has been developed to measure the enzymatic activity of peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase. The assay is based on the reduction of labeled N-acetylmethionine sulfoxide to N-acetylmethionine. The N-acetylmethionine can be separated from the substrate by extraction into ethyl acetate.     

人胰岛素原C肽的合成及专一性抗体制备

利用固相多肽合成中的Boc途径合成了人胰岛素原C肽 ,经TSK柱层析一步纯化 ,产物达HPLC及毛细管电泳均一 ,蛋白质序列分析和质谱分析符合理论值 ,总回收率高达 41 %。为了提高寡肽抗体的专一性 ,我们将丙烯酰化的C肽经催化聚合形成了以聚丙酰为骨架 ,C肽为侧链的聚合体 ,分子量约为 2 5kD。免疫新西兰大白兔 1月 ,获得专一性抗体。用酶联免疫吸附法测得抗血清滴度达 2 .5× 1 0 4 ,与BSA无交叉反应。聚丙酰C肽抗原是制备C肽抗体的一种新的尝试 ,而且也可能成为新的多肽工程疫苗之一 ,为其他传染性疾病多肽疫苗的研究提供新的途径     

Synthesis of an insulin analogue embodying a strongly fluorescent moiety, [19-Tryptophan-A]insulin

As part of our aim to study the conformation of insulin in solution by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, we have synthesized the analogue [19-Tryptophan-A]insulin. In this compound, the tyrosine residue at position 19 of the A-chain of insulin, one of the most strongly conserved residues in insulins from various species, is substituted with the strongly fluorescent tryptophan residue. [19-Tryptophan-A]insulin displays 4.1±1.9% of the potency of natural insulin in binding to the insulin receptor from rat liver plasma membranes, 5.0±2.3% in stimulating lipogenesis in rat adipocytes, and 75.7±4% of the potency of insulin in radioimmunoassay. In connection with our previous work, these data indicate that an aromatic side chain at position A¹⁹ of insulin seems necessary but not sufficient for high biological activity. We further conclude that in regard to the immunogenic determinants of insulin, tryptophan in position A¹⁹ is an essentially neutral substitution for tyrosine in that position, in sharp contrast to the situation with regard to biological activity.     

Differentiation in human amniotic fluid cell cultures: Chorionic gonadotropin production

Summary Two of the distinguishable cell classes subcultured from human amniotic fluid were examined for their capability to produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as determined by radioimmunoassay. The class that predominates in most cultures used for prenatal genetic diagnosis, previously termed AF (for amniotic fluid), secretes hCG into the culture medium. Dermal fibroblasts do not, nor does another type of cultured cell from amniotic fluid, previously termed F because of a resemblance to fibroblasts. Primary AF cultures produce more hCG than do subcultures. Evidence that this hormone is intact hCG is provided by its immunoreactivity with antisera raised against the β-subunit and against the intact molecule of hCG. Furthermore, a dose-response curve for hormone in culture medium is parallel to that of highly purified intact hCG. It is postulated that AF cultures are derived from fetal membranes and retain properties of trophoblast. Research supported by Grand HD 11379 from the National Institutes of Health.     

人防御素的研究进展

人防御素是近年发现的人体内重要的内源性抗生素,已引起国内外生物和医学研究者的日益重视。这里综述了人防御素的组织分布、分子生物学特点、作用机理、医学及药用价值等方面的研究进展,对采用基因重组方法生产人防御素的方法进行了评述,并展望了防御素的应用前景和发展趋势。     

IgE peptide-specific CTL inhibit IgE production: a transient IgE suppression model in wild-type and HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice

Effect of IgE peptide-specific CTL on IgE antibody production was studied in mouse models. CTL elicited in B6.A2Kb tg mice against a human IgE peptide nonamer, pWV, lysed human IgE-secreting U266 myeloma cells and inhibit IgE production by these cells. U266 transfected with mouse A2Kb transgene (U266-A2Kb) were optimally lysed by these CTL, because the α3 domain of A2Kb interacts well with the CD8 co-receptors. The CTL generated were more effective in inhibiting IgE production by U266-A2Kb cells than lysing these cells. IgE production by and progression of U266 myeloma were suppressed in B6.A2Kb tg mice rendered tolerant to these cells and vaccinated with pWV along with CpG. We also studied the CTL response elicited in wild-type mice by a mouse nonameric IgE peptide, PI-1, along with CpG. This treatment caused a transient suppression of the IgE response in mice previously sensitized to an antigen. In mice treated with this regimen repeatedly, the IgE response was fully recovered 20 days after each treatment. Notably, while IgE peptide/CpG-treated mice remained unresponsive to antigen challenge in vivo, antigen-specific IgE production can be elicited by antigen in cultured splenocytes from these mice. Moreover, IgE peptide/CpG also inhibited an on-going IgE response, including IgE production by bone marrow cells. Taken together, these observations indicate that a CTL-based IgE peptide vaccine targeting IgE-secreting B/plasma cells may be safely employed as a therapeutic approach for suppressing IgE production.     

Innate Immunity Promotes Sleep through Epidermal Antimicrobial Peptides

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beta-Endorphin: deletion of a single amino acid residue abolishes immunoreactivity but retains opiate potency.

Two synthetic analogs of camel β-endorphin, one with omission of Leu-14 and the other with omission of Asn-20, have been assayed for immunoreactivity by radioimmunoassay, opiate activity in the guinea pig ileum preparation and analgesic potency in mice. It was found that the omission analogs had no immunoreactivity, but retained significant biological activities. As far as we are aware, this is the first instance in which deletion of a single amino acid residue in a biologically active peptide abolished immunoreactivity.