Chemical synthesis of 4,5-dioxovaleric acid and its nonenzymatic transamination to 5-aminolevulinic acid

4,5-Dioxovaleric acid (DOVA) was synthesized from 5-bromolevulinic acid via formation of the pyridinium bromide of 5-bromolevulinic acid, followed by nitrone formation with p-nitrosodimethylaniline, and hydrolysis of the nitrone to yield DOVA. Partial purification of DOVA was obtained by passage of the reaction mixture through a cation exchange column. DOVA was identified by paper electrophoresis and by a specific fluorometric assay. DOVA was nonenzymatically transaminated to 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) with glycine serving as the amino donor. Other compounds tested were less effective amino donors. Glyoxylic acid was identified as a reaction product by paper electrophoresis and a specific calorimetric test. ALA was identified by paper electrophoresis, paper chromatography of a pyrrole derivative, reaction with Ehrlich reagent, and by its enzymatic conversion by a barley extract to porphobilinogen and uroporphyrin. The nonenzymatic transamination was inhibited by Tris and was stimulated by high pH. The existence of this nonenzymatic activity is discussed in relation to previous reports of dova transaminase activity in cell extracts.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA-dependent RNA polymerase III: a zinc metalloenzyme.

Yeast nuclear RNA polymerase III was purified by batch adsorption to phosphocellulose, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and affinity chromatography on DNA-Sepharose. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme showed a single protein band which contained polymerase activity. The molecular weight estimated by sedimentation velocity centrifugation in a glycerol gradient was 380 000. Enzyme activity was inhibited 50% at 0.1 mM 1,10-phenanthroline and 100% of 1.0 mM, but was restored when 1,10-phenanthroline was removed by dialysis. Enzyme activity was not inhibited by 7,8-benzoquinoline, a nonchelating structural analogue of 1,10-phenanthroline. These results strongly suggest that inhibition of enzyme activity occurs by the formation of a reversible enzyme-zinc-phenanthroline ternary complex. The zinc content, measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy, was 2 g-atoms per mol of enzyme. Zinc was not removed from the enzyme by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, by passage through Chelex-100 resin, or by dialysis against buffer containing 1,10-phenanthroline. Enzyme-bound zinc was removed by dialysis after denaturation of the enzyme with heat and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Enzyme-bound zinc did not exchange with free zinc. These results establish yeast nuclear RNA polymerase III as a zinc metalloenzyme.     

Glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase activities during growth and sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.

Glutamine synthetase in Bacillus subtilis 168 was repressed to a greater extent by L-glutamine or L-arginine than by ammonia when each was used as sole nitrogen source. It was derepressed when either L-glutamate or nitrate was used as nitrogen source. Glutamate synthase was repressed by L-glutamate or L-arginine and, to a lesser extent, by L-glutamine but was derepressed during growth with ammonia or nitrate. Glutamine synthetase activity was unaltered during the onset of sporulation. Glutamate synthase activity, however, underwent a small and apparently transient increase in bacteria induced to sporulate by nitrogen limitation.     

The mechanisms of reduction of protein mixed disulfides (dethiolation) in cardiac tissue

Dethiolation of proteins (reduction of protein mixed disulfides) by NADPH-dependent and glutathione (GSH)-dependent enzymes, and by nonenzymatic reaction with GSH, was studied by electrofocusing methodology with glycogen phosphorylase b and creatine kinase as substrates. Phosphorylase b was not rapidly dethiolated by reduced glutathione alone, but a cardiac extract catalyzed rapid dethiolation by both an NADPH-dependent and a GSH-dependent process. In contrast, creatine kinase was actively dethiolated by GSH. This GSH-dependent dethiolation was not enhanced by a soluble extract of bovine heart. Creatine kinase was also not dethiolated by an NADPH-dependent process. Partial purification of the phosphorylase dethiolases showed that the NADPH-dependent dethiolase had both a high-molecular-weight and a low-molecular-weight component The properties of these components were similar to those of thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase. These two components were sensitive to inhibition by phenylarsine oxide and inhibition was reversed by addition of a dithiol. In contrast, GSH-dependent dethiolation required a single component of low molecular weight. This process was less sensitive to phenylarsine oxide inhibition. These studies show that two cytosolic proteins, phosphorylase b and creatine kinase, were dethiolated by different mechanisms. Phosphorylase b was dethiolated by both NADPH-dependent and GSH-dependent enzymes found in a soluble extract of bovine heart. In contrast, creatine kinase was rapidly dethiolated nonenzymatically by GSH alone.     

Effects of tributyltin on barrier functions in human intestinal Caco-2 cells

The effect of tributyltin (TBT) on human intestinal epithelial cell functions was investigated by using human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers. We paid particular attention to the effect of TBT on two barrier functions: the tight junction as a physical barrier and MDR1/P-glycoprotein as a biological barrier. A loss of monolayer integrity was apparent from the TBT treatment and the paracellular permeability was increased by TBT. On the other hand, the activity of P-glycoprotein, which was examined by measuring the accumulation of Rhodamine-123 and daunomycin, was increased by prolonged TBT treatment in a concentration-dependent manner (1-100 nM). Furthermore, it was clarified by Western and Northern blots that this increase was accompanied by the increased expression of MDR1 mRNA and protein. The activation of a multidrug resistance transporter P-glycoprotein by TBT would cause a disorder of the human intestines by changing the drug pharmacokinetics.     

Responses of the rat cardiovascular system to substance P,neurotensin and bombesin

The carotid arterial blood pressure and heart rate responses to intravenous injections of substance P, neurotensin and bombesin were compared in anaesthetized rats. In rats anaesthetized with urethane neurotensin produced only a fall in blood pressure but in rats anaesthetized with sodium thiobutabarbitone, the fall was preceded by a transient rise in blood pressure. The reason for the different responses to neurotensin with the two anaesthetics was not investigated. The hypotensive effect of neurotensin observed with both anaesthetics was abolished by mepyramine and therefore appeared to be mediated by action on H₁ receptors either of neurotensin directly or of histamine released. On the other hand, catecholamines might be implicated in the pressor response to neurotensin observed in rats anaesthetized with sodium thiobutabarbitone since it was reduced by phentolamine and hexamethonium. Low doses of substance P produced a depressor response which was not inhibited by the antagonists tested. At higher doses marked tachycardia occurred and the depressor response was less and was often followed by a pressor response. The tachycardia was abolished by propranolol but not by cervical cord section or by hexamethonium. Bombesin produced a pressor response which was unaffected by hexamethonium but was reversed to depressor by phentolamine. This depressor response to bombesin was abolished by propranolol. It was concluded that substance P produced a depressor response by action on its own specific receptors and tachycardia by catecholamine release whereas neurotensin and bombesin produced cardiovascular actions which were mediated entirely by amine release.     

Inactivation of Lactobacillus Bacteriophage PL-1 by Microwave Irradiation

The effect of microwave irradiation on the survival of bacteriophage PL-1, which is specific for Lactobacillus casei, was studied using a commercial 2,450 MHz microwave oven. The phages were inactivated by microwave irradiation according to almost first-order reaction kinetics. The rate of phage inactivation was not affected by the difference in the continuous or intermittent irradiation, nor by the concentrations of phages used, but was affected by the volume of phage suspensions, which prevented the loss of generated heat. Microwave irradiation of phage suspensions produced a number of ghost phages with empty heads, but fragmentation of the tail was hardly noticed. The breakage of phage genome DNA was primarily caused by the heat generated by microwave irradiation, whereas the phage DNA was not affected by the same temperature achieved by heat from outside. Thus we concluded that the phage-inactivating effect of microwave irradiation was mainly attributed to a thermal microwave effect, which was much stronger than a simple thermal exposure.     

A thermophilic glucoamylase fromCephalosporium eichhorniae

A novel exocellular glucoamylase produced by a thermophilic fungus,Cephalosporium eichhorniae, was purified by a combination of membrane filtration and Sephadex chromatography. The enzyme was a glycoprotein, 28% carbohydrate by weight. It was composed of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 26,850. The enzyme was thermostable with optimum activity between 45 and 62°C. It had a substrate preference of amylose>amylopectin. Analysis by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography showed the major hydrolytic product of starch was glucose, classifying this enzyme as a thermophilic glucoamylase.     

人FOXO3a基因真核表达载体的构建及其功能验证

目的:构建带myc标签的人FOXO3a基因真核表达载体,并对其功能进行初步检测。方法:采用PCR技术,从乳腺文库中扩增人FOXO3a基因,并将其正确插入pXJ-40-myc载体;将重组质粒与空载体分别转染人乳腺癌细胞系ZR75-1、MCF-7后,通过Western印迹检测其表达情况,并用CCK8法测定细胞生长曲线。结果:双酶切和测序鉴定表明myc-FOXO3a真核表达质粒构建成功,转染乳腺癌ZR75-1、MCF-7细胞后目的基因成功表达;细胞生长曲线结果显示,转染myc-FOXO3a的乳腺癌细胞较空载体细胞生长较慢。结论:构建了带myc标签的人FOXO3a基因真核表达载体,为进一步研究FOXO3a在乳腺癌中的功能奠定了基础。     

Inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation by cytosolic protein in presence of ADP and high concentration of Fe2+

Microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by NADPH, but not by ascorbate, was found to be inhibited by liver cytosol. This inhibition was not dependent on glutathione and was enhanced by ADP in presence of Fe2+ at a concentration of 50 microM or higher. ATP was also effective, but not AMP or cyclic AMP. The cytosolic factor appeared to be a protein as it was heat-labile (greater than 70 degrees C), was non-dialyzable and was precipitated by ammonium sulfate and acetone. It was stable for several months in frozen state and also when heated at 50 degrees C for 10 min. The inhibition by the cytosolic protein was obtained by producing a lag in the activity of lipid peroxidation and was reversed by ceruloplasmin but not by catalase, cytochrome c, hemoglobin or superoxide dismutase. This inhibitory effect by cytosol was limited to formation of lipid peroxides whereas oxygen uptake and NADPH oxidation remained unaffected. Regulation of lipid peroxidation by nucleotide-Fe complexes and cytosolic proteins is indicated by these studies.     

A macrocyclic nitrosyl ruthenium complex is a NO donor that induces rat aorta relaxation.

The vasorelaxation induced by a nitrosyl macrocyclic ruthenium complex, proposed as a new nitric oxide (NO) carrier, was studied in rat isolated aorta. The compound trans-[RuCl([15]aneN4)NO]2+ was characterized by elemental analysis, UV-visible spectrum, and infrared spectrum. Based on the electrochemical process, the reduction of the compound was followed by NO release, which was also observed using norepinephrine as a reducing agent and NO released was analyzed by a sensor. Vasorelaxation induced by this NO donor was studied and compared to those obtained with sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The relaxation induced by the compound was concentration-dependent in denuded rat aortas and occurred only in pre-contracted arteries with norepinephrine. The macrocyclic compound induced relaxation with a similar efficacy as SNP, although the potency of SNP was slightly greater. The time to reach maximum relaxation (595 s) was longer than that of SNP (195 s). Relaxation was completely abolished by oxyhemoglobin, a known NO scavenger.     

Effect of osmotic shock on tetracycline resistance in Escherichia coli bearing an R-factor

1. Escherichia coli with an R-factor conferring resistance to tetracycline was induced to high-degree resistance by pre-exposure to the antibiotic. The degree of resistance was drastically lowered by subjecting the cells to osmotic shock. 2. Resistance to tetracycline was rapidly restored by incubating the shocked cells in a glucose-salts medium containing shock proteins prepared from tetracycline-sensitive and -resistant cells. Resistance was also restored by incubating the cells in a complex medium without shock protein. 3. The initial recovery of resistance was followed by a secondary fall in resistance when the cells were cultured in complex medium; this secondary fall was largely prevented by the addition of a low concentration (10mug/ml) of tetracycline to cells. The secondary fall was significantly less in shocked E. coli cells harbouring a mutant R-factor in which tetracycline resistance is largely constitutive. 4. Tetracycline resistance was also transiently depressed by treating R-factor-bearing cells with EDTA in tris buffer. 5. The significance of these results in relation to the mechanism of tetracycline resistance in R-factor-bearing cells is discussed.     

The epidermal growth factor receptor modulates DNA double-strand break repair by regulating non-homologous end-joining

In mammalian cells repair of radiation-induced DNA damage appears to be also controlled by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with a special impact on DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. Aim of this study was to demonstrate this interaction between EGFR signalling and DNA DSB repair and to identify the underlying downstream pathways. We especially wanted to know in how far non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) as the most important DSB repair pathway is involved in this interaction. Overall DSB repair was determined by counting γH2AX foci remaining 24 after irradiation, while NHEJ activity was monitored by using a specially designed repair construct stably integrated into the genome. The overall DSB repair capacity was clearly enhanced when EGFR was activated by its natural ligand EGF and, vice versa, was reduced when EGFR was blocked either by the specific antibody Cetuximab or the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib, whereby reduction was clearly stronger for erlotinib. There was also a difference in the pathways affected. While erlotinib lead to a block of both, MAPK as well as AKT signalling, Cetuximab only affected MAPK. As demonstrated by specific inhibitors (PD98059, AKTIII) EGFR interacts with DSB repair mostly via MAPK pathway. Also for NHEJ activity, there was a substantial increase, when EGFR was activated by EGF as determined for two different reporter cell lines (A549.EJ and H1299.EJ) and, vice versa, a reduction was seen when EGFR signalling was blocked by Cetuximab or erlotinib. There was, however, no difference for the two inhibitors used. This regulation of NHEJ by EGFR was only blocked when ERK was affected by siRNA but not when AKT was knocked down. These data indicate that EGFR modulates DSB repair by regulating NHEJ via MAPK signalling.     

Cell-free synthesis of mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor precursor and its transport into yeast mitochondria

ATPase inhibitor protein, which blocks mitochondrial ATPase activity by forming an enzyme-inhibitor complex, was found to be synthesized as a larger precursor in a cell-free translation system directed by yeast mRNA. Other protein factors, which stabilize latent ATPase by binding to the enzyme-inhibitor complex, were also found to be formed as larger precursors. The precursor of ATPase inhibitor protein was transported into isolated yeast mitochondria and was cleaved to the mature peptide in the mitochondria. Impaired mitochondria lacking phosphorylation activity could not convert the precursor to the mature form. Neither antimycin A nor oligomycin alone exhibited a marked effect on the transport-processing of the precursor by intact mitochondria. However, when antimycin A was added with oligomycin, the transport-processing was markedly inhibited. The processing was also strongly inhibited by an uncoupler, carbonylcyanide p-trifluoro-methoxyphenyl hydrazone. The inhibition by the uncoupler was not relieved by ATP added externally. It is concluded that the transport-processing of precursor proteins requires intact mitochondria with a potential difference across the inner membrane.     

Activity-induced internalization and rapid degradation of sodium channels in cultured fetal neurons

A regulatory mechanism for neuronal excitability consists in controlling sodium channel density at the plasma membrane. In cultured fetal neurons, activation of sodium channels by neurotoxins, e.g., veratridine and alpha-scorpion toxin (alpha-ScTx) that enhance the channel open state probability induced a rapid down-regulation of surface channels. Evidence that the initial step of activity-induced sodium channel down-regulation is mediated by internalization was provided by using 125I-alpha-ScTx as both a channel probe and activator. After its binding to surface channels, the distribution of 125I-alpha-ScTx into five subcellular compartments was quantitatively analyzed by EM autoradiography. 125I-alpha-ScTx was found to accumulate in tubulovesicular endosomes and disappear from the cell surface in a time-dependent manner. This specific distribution was prevented by addition of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a channel blocker. By using a photoreactive derivative to covalently label sodium channels at the surface of cultured neurons, we further demonstrated that they are degraded after veratridine-induced internalization. A time-dependent decrease in the amount of labeled sodium channel alpha subunit was observed after veratridine treatment. After 120 min of incubation, half of the alpha subunits were cleaved. This degradation was prevented totally by TTX addition and was accompanied by the appearance of an increasing amount of a 90-kD major proteolytic fragment that was already detected after 45-60 min of veratridine treatment. Exposure of the photoaffinity-labeled cells to amphotericin B, a sodium ionophore, gave similar results. In this case, degradation was prevented when Na+ ions were substituted by choline ions and not blocked by TTX. After veratridine- or amphotericin B-induced internalization of sodium channels, breakdown of the labeled alpha subunit was inhibited by leupeptin, while internalization was almost unaffected. Thus, cultured fetal neurons are capable of adjusting sodium channel density by an activity-dependent endocytotic process that is triggered by Na+ influx.     

MicroRNA-146a抑制胶质瘤细胞增殖的研究

目的：检测胶质瘤中miR-146a的表达水平,并研究miR-146a对胶质瘤细胞增殖的影响。方法：应用实时定量PCR的方法检测胶质瘤组织和癌旁组织中miR-146a的表达水平,采用脂质体细胞转染miRNA模拟物的方式过表达miR-146a,MTT法检测转染后细胞的增殖率,利用在线软件targetScan预测miRNA可能的靶基因。结果：miR-146a在胶质瘤组织中表达明显降低（P〈0.01）,相对表达水平为癌旁组织的35%,细胞转染miR-146a模拟物后,miR-146a表达明显增加,癌细胞增殖率明显降低（P〈0.01）,仅为原细胞的47%。Notch1基因是miR-146a影响胶质瘤细胞增殖活力的可能靶基因。结论：miR-146a可能通过抑制Notch1基因的表达调控胶质瘤细胞的增殖。     

Acetaminophen toxicity results in site-specific mitochondrial damage in isolated mouse hepatocytes

Exposure of isolated mouse hepatocytes to a toxic concentration of acetaminophen (5 mM) resulted in damage to the mitochondrial respiratory apparatus. The nature of this damage was investigated by measuring respiration stimulated by site-specific substrates in digitonin-permeabilized hepatocytes after acetaminophen exposure. Respiration stimulated by succinate at energy-coupling site 2 was most sensitive to inhibition and was decreased by 47% after 1 h. Respiration supported by NADH-linked substrates (site 1) was also decreased but to a lesser extent, while there was no decrease in the rate of ascorbate + N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD)-supported respiration (site 3). The loss of mitochondrial respiratory function was accompanied by a decrease in ATP levels and ATP/ADP ratios in the cytosolic compartment and was preceded by a loss of reduced glutathione in both the cytosol and mitochondria. All these effects occurred well before the loss of cell membrane integrity. The putative toxic metabolite of acetaminophen, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinonimine (NAPQI), produced a similar pattern of respiratory dysfunction in isolated hepatic mitochondria. Respiration stimulated by succinate- and NADH-linked substrates was very sensitive to 50 microM NAPQI, while ascorbate + TMPD-supported respiration was unaffected. The interaction between NAPQI and the respiratory chain was further investigated using submitochondrial particles. Succinate dehydrogenase (associated with respiratory complex II) was found to be very sensitive to NAPQI, while NADH dehydrogenase (respiratory complex I) was inhibited to a lesser extent. Our results indicate that a loss of the ability to utilize succinate- and NADH-linked substrates due to attack of the respiratory chain by NAPQI causes a disruption of energy homeostasis in acetaminophen hepatotoxicity.     

The use of a cyanine dye in measuring membrane potential in yeast

An attempt was made to use 3,3'-dipropylthiacarbocyanine as a membrane potential probe in yeast by following both its fluorescence changes and its uptake by the cells under different conditions. It was found that the uptake of the dye into the cytoplasmic compartment was translated into an increased fluorescence, and the uptake by the mitochondria produced a quenching of the fluorescence. The experiments to measure uptake showed that a large amount of the dye was taken up by the cells under "deenergized" conditions. The uptake of the cyanine, however, was significantly reduced by the omission of the substrate, by deenergization of the mitochondria, or by the addition of K+, but not by Na+. This cyanine seems to be a good, qualitative indicator of the potential of the plasma membrane and of the mitochondria of the cells, with a faster response than those probes used before in yeast.