Cell Cycle–coupled Relocation of Types I and II Topoisomerases and Modulation of Catalytic Enzyme Activities

We visualized DNA topoisomerases in A431 cells and isolated chromosomes by isoenzyme-selective immunofluorescence microscopy. In interphase, topoisomerase I mainly had a homogeneous nuclear distribution. 10–15% of the cells exhibited granular patterns, 30% showed bright intranucleolar patches. Topoisomerase II isoenzymes showed spotted (α) or reticular (β) nuclear patterns throughout interphase. In contrast to topoisomerase IIα, topoisomerase IIβ was completely excluded from nucleoli. In mitosis, topoisomerase IIβ diffused completely into the cytosol, whereas topoisomerases I and IIα remained chromosome bound. Chromosomal staining of topoisomerase I was homogeneous, whereas topoisomerase IIα accumulated in the long axes of the chromosome arms and in the centriols. Topoisomerase antigens were 2–3-fold higher in mitosis than in interphase, but specific activities of topoisomerase I and II were reduced 5- and 2.4-fold, respectively. These changes were associated with mitotic enzyme hyperphosphorylation. In interphase, topoisomerases could be completely linked to DNA by etoposide or camptothecin, whereas in mitosis, 50% of topoisomerase IIα escaped poisoning. Refractoriness to etoposide could be assigned to the salt-stable scaffold fraction of topoisomerase IIα, which increased from <2% in G₁ phase to 48% in mitosis. Topoisomerases I and IIβ remained completely extractable throughout the cell cycle. In summary, expression of topoisomerases increases towards mitosis, but specific activities decrease. Topoisomerase IIβ is released from the heterochromatin, whereas topoisomerase I and IIα remain chromosome bound. Scaffold-associated topoisomerase IIα appears not to be involved in catalytic DNA turnover, though it may play a role in the replicational cycle of centriols, where it accumulates during M phase.     

五指山猪不同组织中肌细胞生成素基因Myf4及生肌调节因子Myf6的表达

本文通过运用Real-time PCR技术,检测肌细胞生成素基因Myf4和生肌调节因子Myf6在出生后的第30天、第210天、第360天(出生到体成熟)的五指山猪肌肉组织中的表达变化,以及Myf4、Myf6在体成熟五指山猪肌肉、心、肝、脾、肺、肾、胃、小肠组织中mRNA相对表达情况。结果表明:Myf4及Myf6基因在五指山猪出生后在肌肉组织中的mRNA表达水平随着五指山猪的生长年龄生长而显著增长(p<0.05);Myf4及Myf6基因在成年五指山猪以上8种组织中均有表达,其中在肌肉组织中相对表达量最高。本研究结果将为五指山猪肌肉生长发育及矮小性状形成机理提供参考。     

重组人PCNA突变体的克隆与稳定表达

目的:构建重组人PCNA突变体(mutant PCNA,mPCNA)的真核表达质粒,并建立稳定高表达该目的蛋白的宫颈癌细胞系Hela.为进一步研究PCNA在DNA损伤修复中重要的生物学功能奠定基础.方法:将舍有定点突变的PCNA cDNA序列克隆到T载体中,然后再亚克隆到真核表达栽体pCDNA3.1/V5-His A上,构建真核表达载体质粒pCDNA3.1/V5-His A-mPCNA,稳定转染到Hela细胞中;Western Blotting法检测蛋白的表达情况;白细胞记数法测定细胞的生长速率.结果:真核表达质粒pCDNA3.1/V5-His A-mPCNA经酶切、测序分析与实验设计的序列完全一致;稳定建系后,Western Blotting结果显示在相应位置可见清楚的目的条带;稳定高表达mPCNA的细胞系与野生型细胞相比两者的生长速率基本一致.结论:成功构建了真核表达质粒pCDNA3.1/V5-His A-mPCNA;建立了稳定高表达该突变体的Hela细胞系;PCNA突变体的高表达不影响Hela细胞的正常生长.     

增殖细胞核抗原蛋白在Spodoptera frugiperda昆虫细胞中的表达及纯化

目的:利用昆虫细胞表达系统生产重组的人增殖细胞核抗原(proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA),并进行纯化和抗体结合特性鉴定。方法:以HeLa细胞逆转录的cDNA为模板,扩增人PCNA基因,并插入杆状病毒载体AcMNPV。利用昆虫细胞得到PCNA基因的重组杆状病毒。病毒感染细胞表达蛋白,联合镍柱亲和层析和离子交换层析获得高纯度的重组人PCNA蛋白。ELISA法测定抗体结合特异性。结果:以HeLa细胞cDNA为模板得到的基因序列同GenBank的人PCNA基因序列一致。草地贪夜蛾细胞(Spodoptera frugiperda,Sf9)表达重组人PCNA(recombinant human PCNA,rPCNA)的最佳感染值(MOI)和感染时间分别为0.05h和144h。rPCNA的产量高达110mg/L细胞,纯度95%。间接ELISA法检测抗体结合特性,rPCNA的敏感性和特异性分别为93.3%和85.0%。结论:建立了rPCNA的表达和纯化方法,获得了高效表达、高度抗体结合特异性的PCNA蛋白,该蛋白质能进一步开发为PCNA相关疾病的体外诊断试剂盒,具较大的应用价值。     

Expression of myogenic factors in denervated chicken breast muscle: isolation of the chicken Myf5 gene.

In this study, we have isolated and characterized the chicken Myf5 gene, and cDNA clones encoding chicken MyoD1 and myogenin. The chicken Myf5 and MRF4 genes are tandemly located on a single genomic DNA fragment, and the chicken Myf5 gene is organized into at least three exons. Using genomic and cDNA probes, we further analyzed the mRNA levels of four myogenic factors during chicken breast muscle development. This analysis revealed that myogenin expression is restricted to in ovo stages in breast muscle, and is not detectable in neonatal and adult stages. On the other hand, Myf5 expression is detectable until day 7 post-hatching, and is not found in adult muscle, whereas high levels of MyoD1 and MRF4 are detectable at all stages. To further understand the roles of innervation on muscle maturation, we analyzed the expression of the four myogenic factors in denervated adult breast muscle. We found that MyoD1, myogenin, and MRF4 are induced at high levels in denervated muscle, whereas no change occurs in the level of Myf5. These studies suggest that innervation controls the relative abundance and type of myogenic factors that are expressed in adult muscle, and that when nerve control is removed, the muscle reverts to a neonatal phenotype, with the enhanced expression of three myogenic factors (MyoD1, myogenin, and MRF4).     

生长激素释放因子在动物骨骼肌的表达

生长激素释放因子是由动物和人的下丘脑合成并分泌的多肽,具有促进生长激素合成与分泌的作用,从而提高动物生长速度。向肌肉组织注射质粒DNA,外源基因可以较稳定表达一定的时间。将含生长激素释放因子基因的表达质粒注射动物肌肉组织,可能成为一种刺激动物生长的新方法。     

Coronary Injury Score Correlates with Proliferating Cells and Alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression in Stented Porcine Coronary Arteries

Neointimal formation and cell proliferation resulting into in-stent restenosis is a major pathophysiological event following the deployment of stents in the coronary arteries. In this study, we assessed the degree of injury, based on damage to internal elastic lamina, media, external elastic lamina, and adventitia following the intravascular stenting, and its relationship with the degree of smooth muscle cell proliferation. We examined the smooth muscle cell proliferation and their phenotype at different levels of stent injury in the coronary arteries of domestic swine fed a normal swine diet. Five weeks after stent implantation, swine with and without stents were euthanized and coronaries were excised. Arteries were embedded in methyl methacrylate and sections were stained with H&E, trichrome, and Movat’s pentachrome. The expression of Ki67, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), vimentin, and HMGB1 was evaluated by immunofluorescence. There was a positive correlation between percent area stenosis and injury score. The distribution of SMA and vimentin was correlated with the degree of arterial injury such that arteries that had an injury score >2 did not have immunoreactivity to SMA in the neointimal cells near the stent struts, but these neointimal cells were positive for vimentin, suggesting a change in the smooth muscle cell phenotype. The Ki67 and HMGB1 immunoreactivity was highly correlated with the fragmentation of the IEL and injury in the tunica media. Thus, the extent of coronary arterial injury during interventional procedure will dictate the degree of neointimal hyperplasia, in-stent restenosis, and smooth muscle cell phenotype.     

Direct Involvement of N-Cadherin–mediated Signaling in Muscle Differentiation

Cell–cell interactions, mediated by members of the cadherin family of Ca²⁺-dependent adhesion molecules, play key roles in morphogenetic processes as well as in the transduction of long-range growth and differentiation signals. In muscle differentiation cell adhesion is involved in both early stages of myogenic induction and in later stages of myoblast interaction and fusion. In this study we have explored the involvement of a specific cadherin, namely N-cadherin, in myogenic differentiation. For that purpose we have treated different established lines of cultured myoblasts with beads coated with N-cadherin–specific ligands, including a recombinant N-cadherin extracellular domain, and anti-N-cadherin antibodies. Immunofluorescent labeling for cadherins and catenins indicated that treatment with the cadherin-reactive beads for several hours enhances the assembly of cell–cell adherens-type junctions. Moreover, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting analyses indicated that treatment with the beads for 12–24 h induces myogenin expression and growth arrest, which are largely independent of cell plating density. Upon longer incubation with the beads (2–3 d) a major facilitation in the expression of several muscle-specific sarcomeric proteins and in cell fusion into myotubes was observed. These results suggest that surface clustering or immobilization of N-cadherin can directly trigger signaling events, which promote the activation of a myogenic differentiation program.     

Differentiation-dependent PTPIP51 Expression in Human Skeletal Muscle Cell Culture

Protein tyrosine phosphatase-interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51) expression was analyzed in proliferating and differentiating human myogenic cells cultured in vitro. Satellite cell cultures derived from four different individuals were used in this study. To analyze the expression of PTPIP51, myoblasts were cultured under conditions promoting either proliferation or differentiation. In addition, further differentiation of already-differentiated myobtubes was inhibited by resubmitting the cells to conditions promoting proliferation. PTPIP51 protein and mRNA were investigated in samples taken at defined time intervals by immunostaining, immunoblotting, in situ hybridization, and PCR. Image analyses of fluorescence immunostainings were used to quantify PTPIP51 in cultured myoblasts and myotubes. Myoblasts grown in the presence of epidermal and fibroblast growth factors (EGF and FGF), both promoting proliferation, expressed PTPIP51 on a basic level. Differentiation to multinuclear myotubes displayed a linear increase in PTPIP51 expression. The rise in PTPIP51 protein was paralleled by an augmented expression of muscle-specific proteins, namely, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase and myosin heavy-chain protein, both linked to a progressive state of myotubal differentiation. This differentiation-induced increase in PTPIP51 was partly reversible by resubmission of differentiated myotubes to conditions boosting proliferation. The results clearly point toward a strong association between PTPIP51 expression and differentiation in human muscle cells. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:425–435, 2009)     

Vascular Bed–specific Expression of an Endothelial Cell Gene Is Programmed by the Tissue Microenvironment

The endothelium is morphologically and functionally adapted to meet the unique demands of the underlying tissue. At the present time, little is known about the molecular basis of endothelial cell diversity. As one approach to this problem, we have chosen to study the mechanisms that govern differential expression of the endothelial cell–restricted von Willebrand factor (vWF) gene. Transgenic mice were generated with a fragment of the vWF gene containing 2,182 bp of 5′ flanking sequence, the first exon and first intron coupled to the LacZ reporter gene. In multiple independent lines of mice, β-galactosidase expression was detected within endothelial cells in the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. In isogeneic transplantation models, LacZ expression in host-derived auricular blood vessels was specifically induced by the microenvironment of the heart. In in vitro coculture assays, expression of both the transgene and the endogenous vWF gene in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC) was upregulated in the presence of cardiac myocytes. In contrast, endothelial cell levels of thrombomodulin protein and mRNA were unchanged by the addition of ventricular myocytes. Moreover, CMEC expression of vWF was not influenced by the addition of 3T3 fibroblasts or mouse hepatocytes. Taken together, the results suggest that the vWF gene is regulated by vascular bed–specific pathways in response to signals derived from the local microenvironment.