Scaffold attachment of DNA loops in metaphase chromosomes

We have examined the higher-order loop organization of DNA in interphase nuclei and metaphase chromosomes from Drosophila Kc cells, and we detect no changes in the distribution of scaffold-attached regions (SARs) between these two phases of the cell cycle. The SARs, previously defined from experiments with interphase nuclei, not only are bound to the metaphase scaffold when endogenous DNA is probed but also rebind specifically to metaphase scaffolds when added exogenously as cloned, end-labeled fragments. Since metaphase scaffolds have a simpler protein pattern than interphase nuclear scaffolds, and both have a similar binding capacity, it appears that the population of proteins required for the specific scaffold-DNA interaction is limited to those found in metaphase scaffolds. Surprisingly, metaphase scaffolds isolated from Drosophila Kc cells contain both the lamin protein and a pore-complex protein, glycoprotein (gp) 188. To study whether lamin contributes to the SAR-scaffold interaction, we have carried out comparative binding studies with scaffolds from HeLa metaphase chromosomes, which are free of lamina, and from HeLa interphase nuclei. All Drosophila SAR fragments tested bind with excellent specificity to HeLa interphase scaffolds, whereas a subset of them bind to HeLa metaphase scaffolds. The maintenance of the scaffold-DNA interaction in metaphase indicates that lamin proteins are not involved in the attachment site for at least a subset of Drosophila SARs. This evolutionary and cell-cycle conservation of scaffold binding sites is consistent with a fundamental role for these fragments in the organization of the genome into looped domains.     

H5N1重组禽流感病毒样颗粒免疫原性研究

目的对构建的H5N1重组禽流感病毒样颗粒(VLPs)进行初步免疫原性探讨,并与H5N1全病毒灭活疫苗(WIV)进行体液免疫和细胞免疫的比较。方法在0周和3周分别以纯化H5N1重组禽流感病毒样颗粒、H5N1全病毒灭活疫苗及pH7.2 PBS腿部肌肉注射BALB/c小鼠,于不同时间收集血清,以血凝抑制试验(HI)和血清IgG抗体酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)评估体液免疫,CD4+、CD8+T细胞亚群及酶联免疫斑点试验(ELISPOT)评估细胞免疫,并以同型毒株滴鼻攻击,观察小鼠存活率。结果病毒样颗粒各组和全病毒灭活疫苗免疫后小鼠血清ELISA IgG效价均有升高;中和抗体效价除病毒样颗粒120 ng/只免疫剂量外其他免疫小鼠HI效价均达1︰40;小鼠脾CD4+T淋巴细胞亚群分类:全病毒灭活疫苗组(600μg/只)为36.56%;病毒样颗粒组(120 ng/只,600 ng/只,2 500 ng/只)分别为26.58%,32.20%,29.25%;PBS组为26.65%;CD8+T淋巴细胞亚群分类:全病毒灭活疫苗组(600 ng/只)为10.78%;病毒样颗粒组(120 ng/只,600 ng/只,2 500 ng/只)分别为1 3.53%,14.24%,1 3.35%;PBS组为10.69%。ELISPOT试验统计学数据显示,病毒样颗粒和全病毒灭活疫苗的小鼠脾单个核细胞分泌IFN-γ细胞与PBS组有显著性差异;小鼠保护性试验结果显示,除病毒样颗粒120 ng/只免疫剂量小鼠的存活率为87.5%外,其他病毒样颗粒实验组小鼠均为100%,PBS对照组为12.5%。结论 H5N1重组禽流感病毒样颗粒能诱导体液免疫和细胞免疫,并能抵御同型病毒株的攻击,可作为H5N1人用禽流感的候选疫苗。     

Characterization of a topoisomerase-like activity at specific hypersensitive sites in the Drosophila histone gene cluster

It is well known that treatment of DNA-topoisomerase complexes with SDS induces cleavage of the DNA by trapping a reactive intermediate in which the topoisomerase is covalently linked to the terminal phosphates of the cut DNA. I have used this technique to examine potential topoisomerase binding sites in the histone gene chromatin of Drosophila Kc cells. Treatment of Kc nuclei with SDS induces Mg++-dependent DNA cleavage near the borders of two nuclease-hypersensitive sites located 5' and 3' of histone H4. It is likely that the SDS-induced cleavage at these hypersensitive sites is due to a topoisomerase because protein becomes tightly bound to the ends of the cleaved DNA fragments. Preliminary experiments suggest that a type II topoisomerase may be responsible for the cleavage.     

Concentrations of individual RNA sequences in polyadenylated nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA populations of Drosophila cells.

Steady state concentrations of individual RNA sequences in poly(A) nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA populations of Drosophila Kc cells were determined using cloned cDNA fragments. These cDNAs represent poly(A) RNA sequences of different abundance in the cytoplasm of Kc cells, but their steady state concentrations in poly(A) hnRNA was always lower. Of ten different sequences analysed, eight showed some four-fold lower concentration in hnRNA mRNA, two were underrepresented in hnRNA relative to the others. The obvious clustering of mRNA/hnRNA ratios is discussed in relation to sequence complexity and turnover rates of these RNA populations.     

Enhancement of recombinant human EPO production and sialylation in chinese hamster ovary cells through Bombyx mori 30Kc19 gene expression

Productivity and sialylation are two important factors for the production of recombinant glycoproteins in mammalian cell culture. In our previous study, we found that silkworm hemolymph increased the sialylation of recombinant secreted human placental alkaline phosphatase in the insect cells, promoted the transfer of sialic acids onto the glycoprotein oligosaccharides in an in vitro asialofetuin sialylation system, and enhanced recombinant protein production in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. These beneficial effects were mainly due to the 30K proteins, which consist of five isoforms. Among the 30K proteins, 30Kc19 was determined to be the major component. In this study, the 30Kc19 gene was introduced into a CHO cell line producing recombinant human erythropoietin, and its effects on productivity and sialylation were investigated. The transient expression of 30Kc19 significantly improved the production and sialylation of EPO. A stable cell line containing 30Kc19 was also established to investigate the effect of 30Kc19 gene expression. The stable expression of 30Kc19 increased the production and sialylation by 102.6% and 87.1%, respectively. The enhanced productivity from 30Kc19 expression is believed to occur because the 30Kc19 protein suppresses the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and consequently improves the generation of intracellular ATP. In addition, the positive effect of 30Kc19 expression on sialylation is believed to be due to its ability to maintain sialyltransferase activity. In conclusion, 30Kc19 expression is a novel approach to improve the production and sialylation of recombinant glycoproteins in CHO cells.     

In vitro assembly of virus-like particles with Rous sarcoma virus Gag deletion mutants: identification of the p10 domain as a morphological determinant in the formation of spherical particles.

Retroviruses are unusual in that expression of a single protein, Gag, leads to budding of virus-like particles into the extracellular space. We have developed conditions under which virus-like particles are formed spontaneously in vitro from fragments of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag protein purified after expression in Escherichia coli. The CA-NC fragment of Gag was shown previously to assemble into hollow cylinders (S. Campbell and V. M. Vogt, J. Virol. 69:6487-6497, 1995). We have now extended these studies to larger Gag proteins. In every case examined, assembly into regular structures required RNA. A nearly full-length Gag missing only the C-terminal PR domain, as well as similar proteins missing in addition the N-terminal half of MA, the C-terminal half of MA, the entire MA sequence, or the entire p2 sequence, all assembled into spherical particles resembling RSV in size. By contrast, proteins missing p10 assembled into cylindrical particles like those formed by CA-NC alone. Thin section electron microscopy showed that each of these Gag proteins formed in the expressing E. coli cells particles similar in shape to those seen in vitro. We conclude from these results that neither the sequences required for membrane binding in vivo, near the N terminus of Gag, nor the sequences required for a late step in budding, in the p2 portion of Gag, are essential for formation of virus-like particles in this system. Furthermore, we postulate the existence of a shape-determining sequence in p10, which provides or facilitates interactions required for the growing particle to be constrained to a spherical shape.     

Influenza virus matrix protein is the major driving force in virus budding

To get insights into the role played by each of the influenza A virus polypeptides in morphogenesis and virus particle assembly, the generation of virus-like particles (VLPs) has been examined in COS-1 cell cultures expressing, from recombinant plasmids, different combinations of the viral structural proteins. The presence of VLPs was examined biochemically, following centrifugation of the supernatants collected from transfected cells through sucrose cushions and immunoblotting, and by electron-microscopic analysis. It is demonstrated that the matrix (M1) protein is the only viral component which is essential for VLP formation and that the viral ribonucleoproteins are not required for virus particle formation. It is also shown that the M1 protein, when expressed alone, assembles into virus-like budding particles, which are released in the culture medium, and that the recombinant M1 protein accumulates intracellularly, forming tubular structures. All these results are discussed with regard to the roles played by the virus polypeptides during virus assembly.     

Assembly of human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-like particles

Viral particles of human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV) consist of three virion structural proteins, including spike protein, membrane protein, and envelope protein. In this report, virus-like particles were assembled in insect cells by the co-infection with recombinant baculoviruses, which separately express one of these three virion proteins. We found that the membrane and envelope proteins are sufficient for the efficient formation of virus-like particles and could be visualized by electron microscopy. Sucrose gradient purification followed by Western blot analysis and immunogold labeling showed that the spike protein could be incorporated into the virus like particle also. The construction of engineered virus-like particles bearing resemblance to the authentic one is an important step towards the development of an effective vaccine against infection of SARS CoV.     

广州地区GⅡ.17型诺如病毒GZ-L343毒株病毒样颗粒的构建与免疫特征的鉴定

【背景】人源诺如病毒是急性胃肠炎暴发的主要原因,GII.4是过去几十年的主要流行基因型。2014/2015年出现的GII.17型变异株是中国首例导致大规模暴发的非GII.4流行株。通过对来自华南地区的诺如病毒GII.17型毒株的完整基因组序列进行分析,证实了该GII.17型突变株与先前确定的GII型变异株不同。【目的】制备广州地区GII.17型诺如病毒GZ-L343的病毒样颗粒,并系统表征其免疫原性及功能特性。【方法】借助杆状病毒表达系统制备GII.17-GZ-L343的病毒样颗粒,并通过氯化铯梯度超速离心对其进行纯化,制备抗血清并对其免疫功能进行评价。【结果】聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质免疫印迹结果表明所得蛋白分子量大小约为58kDa;透射电镜结果表明病毒样颗粒直径约为30nm;酶联免疫吸附测定结果显示该病毒样颗粒具有较好的免疫原性;唾液组织血型抗原的体外受体结合测定表明,该病毒样颗粒与部分A型、B型、O型及AB型分泌及非分泌血型样本存在阳性结合;效价测定结果表明免疫所得血清效价在104以上;交叉反应结果表明该抗血清与异型病毒样颗粒不存在交叉反应。此外,体外阻断结果表明,该抗血清仅能阻...     

Analysis of an insect neuropeptide, Schistocerca gregaria ion transport peptide (ITP), expressed in insect cell systems

We have produced an active form of Schistocerca gregaria ion transport peptide (ITP) in an insect cell expression system. Transformed Drosophila Kc1 cells secreted a form of ITP into the cell culture medium that was proteolytically cleaved correctly at the amino (N)-terminus. Concentrated culture supernatant from transformed Kc1 and Hi5 cells had high biological activity when tested on isolated locust ilea. Conversely, ITP expressed by baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells was larger in size and had decreased specific activity compared to ITP produced by Kc1 cells due to incorrect cleavage of the peptide at the N-terminus in the baculovirus system. This demonstrates how processing of the secreted foreign protein (ITP) expressed under the late polyhedrin promoter is compromised in a baculovirus-infected cell. Transient transformation of Kc1 cells results in supernatants containing two forms of ITP; one form (A) co-elutes with synthetic ITP and the other form (B) has reduced electrophoretic mobility. In contrast, in stably transformed Kc1 cell supernatant, ITP is expressed in a single form, which has the same electrophoretic mobility and specific biological activity as form A produced by transiently transformed Kc1 cells. Arch.     

Isopentenoid synthesis in embryonic Drosophila cells: prenylated protein profile and prenyl group usage.

It has been established that vertebrates and yeasts modified a unique subset of polypeptides with farnesyl and geranylgeranyl residues. This observation has been extended to Drosophila Kc cells. [3H]Mevalonate was incorporated into 54 Kc cell peptides (18-92 kDa). As reported for mammalian cells, most of the labeled peptides had molecular weights between 21 and 27 kDa. C18 radio-HPLC tryptic digest profiles for delipidized, [3H]mevalonate-labeled (a) insect (Drosophila and Spodoptera frugiperda) and mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary met 18-2b) cells, (b) Kc cell nuclear lamin, and (c) a 23.5-kDa purified Kc cell GTP-binding protein were compared and analyzed. [35S]Cysteine-labeled Kc cells yielded a tryptic digest radio-HPLC profile which was congruent with that for [3H]mevalonate-labeled cells. A significant fraction (30-33%) of the doubly labeled tryptic peptides were eluted with greater than or equal to 93% acetonitrile. Kc cell nuclear lamin tryptic digests yielded a single 3H-labeled product which migrated as S-farnesylcysteine. The Kc cell 23.5-kDa GTP-binding protein's 3H-labeled oligopeptide(s)/amino acid(s) was geranylgeranylated and its tryptic digest profile was representative of prenylated proteins whose oligopeptides eluted with greater than or equal to 93% acetonitrile. Moreover, the 3H-labeled oligopeptide/amino acid profiles plus prenyl group patterns for [3H]mevalonate-labeled Kc and mammalian cell total extracts were similar. Collectively, these observations supported a prenylated protein spectrum and prenyl group usage as highly conserved eukaryotic cellular characteristics.     

Variability of ecdysteroid-induced cell cycle alterations in Drosophila Kc sublines

Abstract. The cell cycle of two lines isolated from Drosophila Kc cells was followed by flow cytofluorometry and cell counting. The first line is the 8-9K clone which grew in a medium supplemented with 5% serum; the second, named subline Kc0, grew in a serum-free medium. The stationary phase is characterized by a G₂ cell accumulation: 73% in the 8-9K clone and 50% in the Kc0 subline.
When the medium was supplemented with the steroid moulting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone, more than 90% of 8-9K cells and 65% of Kc0 cells were progressively arrested in G₂. In the continuous presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone, most of the 8-9K cells remain G₂-arrested; no massive G₂ release into M was observed and only a few cells were able to divide. When treated for only 3 or 7 days, a transient release into M and proliferation occurred after hormone-free medium renewal, largely masked by G₂ cell death. These results are discussed in comparison with other reports on cell cycle alteration induced by ecdysteroids.     

Induction of the Drosophila heat shock response in isolated polytene nuclei

When Drosophila salivary glands are disrupted in cytoplasm from heat-shocked Drosophila Kc cells in culture, puffs are induced in the polytene nuclei at the heat shock loci. The in vitro response increases with time of incubation, reaching in vivo levels after 2 hr, and is sensitive to α-amanitin. Cytoplasm from control Kc cells induces poorly, but prolonged exposure to air or the addition of hydrogen peroxide stimulates induction to the levels observed with cytoplasm from heat-shocked Kc cells. Autoradiography confirms that the heat shock loci induced to puff in vitro are the most actively transcribing sites in the genome.     

Adenovirus dodecahedron allows large multimeric protein transduction in human cells

Adenovirus dodecahedron is a virus-like particle composed of only two viral proteins of human adenovirus serotype 3 that are responsible for virus attachment and internalization. We show here that this dodecameric particle, devoid of genetic information, efficiently penetrates human cells and can deliver large multimeric proteins such as immunoglobulins.     

Protective Effect of the Silkworm Protein 30Kc6 on Human Vascular Endothelial Cells Damaged by Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL)

Although the 30K family proteins are important anti-apoptotic molecules in silkworm hemolymph, the underlying mechanism remains to be investigated. This is especially the case in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this study, a 30K protein, 30Kc6, was successfully expressed and purified using the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system in silkworm cells. Furthermore, the 30Kc6 expressed in Escherichia coli was used to generate a polyclonal antibody. Western blot analysis revealed that the antibody could react specifically with the purified 30Kc6 expressed in silkworm cells. The In vitro cell apoptosis model of HUVEC that was induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) and in vivo atherosclerosis rabbit model were constructed and were employed to analyze the protective effects of the silkworm protein 30Kc6 on these models. The results demonstrated that the silkworm protein 30Kc6 significantly enhanced the cell viability in HUVEC cells treated with Ox-LDL, decreased the degree of DNA fragmentation and markedly reduced the level of 8-isoprostane. This could be indicative of the silkworm protein 30Kc6 antagonizing the Ox-LDL-induced cell apoptosis by inhibiting the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Furthermore, Ox-LDL activated the cell mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), especially JNK and p38. As demonstrated with Western analysis, 30Kc6 inhibited Ox-LDL-induced cell apoptosis in HUVEC cells by preventing the MAPK signaling pathways. In vivo data have demonstrated that oral feeding of the silkworm protein 30Kc6 dramatically improved the conditions of the atherosclerotic rabbits by decreasing serum levels of total triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC). Furthermore, 30Kc6 alleviated the extent of lesions in aorta and liver in the atherosclerotic rabbits. These data are not only helpful in understanding the anti-apoptotic mechanism of the 30K family proteins, but also provide important information on prevention and treatment of human cardiovascular diseases.     

Two Drosophila melanogaster proteins related to intermediate filament proteins of vertebrate cells

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against a 46,000 mol wt major cytoplasmic protein from Drosophila melanogaster Kc cells. These antibodies reacted with the 46,000 and a 40,000 mol wt protein from Kc cells. Some antibodies showed cross-reaction with 55,000 (vimentin) and 52,000 mol wt (desmin) proteins from baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells that form intermediate sized filaments in vertebrate cells. In indirect immunofluorescence, the group of cross reacting antibodies stained a filamentous meshwork in the cytoplasm of vertebrate cells. In Kc cells the fluorescence seemed to be localized in a filamentous meshwork that became more obvious after the cells had flattened out on a surface. These cytoskeletal structures are heat-labile; the proteins in Kc or BHK cells rearrange after a brief heat shock, forming juxtanuclear cap structures.     

Inhibition of [3H]ponasterone A binding by ecdysone agonists in the intact Kc cell line.

Inhibition of the binding of [3H]ponasterone A ([3H]PoA) by ecdysone agonists including diacylhydrazines such as RH-5849, tebufenozide (RH-5992) and methoxyfenozide (RH-2485) was examined in intact Drosophila Kc cells. The reciprocal logarithm of the concentration at which there is 50% inhibition of [3H]PoA binding, pIC(50) (M), was determined as the binding activity for all compounds from each concentration-response curve. The order of the activity was PoA>20-hydroxyecdysone>cyasterone>inokosterone>or=makisterone A>methoxyfenozide>or=tebufenozide>ecdysone>RH-5849. The ranking of steroidal ecdysone analogs is consistent with that obtained against Spodoptera Sf-9 cells. Furthermore, in terms of pIC(50), all binding activity for ecdysone analogs, except ecdysone, estimated in the Kc cell line system was significantly higher than that for the Sf-9 cell line system. However, the activity of ecdysone was comparable between Kc and Sf-9 cells. The activity of diacylhydrazine analogs against Kc cells was significantly low compared with that against Sf-9 cells. The potency of methoxyfenozide was 1/200 that of PoA, which showed the highest activity in the Kc cell line system among all compounds tested. The activity of tebufenozide analogs having an n-pentyl or n-hexyl group instead of a 4-ethylphenyl group was similar to that of RH-5849.     

Extrachromosomal circular DNAs in Drosophila melanogaster: Comparison between embryos and Kc0% cells

We established the size distribution of extrachromosomal covalently closed circular DNA molecules from embryos of various Drosophila melanogaster strains and from Kc0% tissue culture cells. In embryos, more than 80% of the circular DNA molecules are smaller than 2.5 kb and all the distributions show a peak of molecules of between 200 and 400 bp. The Kc0% cell distribution differs mainly from that of embryos in that 48% of the molecules have a size between 4 and 8 kb. Correlating with this, circular molecules homologous to copia, 412 and 297 were detected only in Kc0% cells. The three tandemly repeated families containing the 5S genes, the histone genes and the 240 bp repeat of the ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer, which had previously been identified in circular DNAs from embryos, were also found in cultured cells. A fourth tandemly repeated family corresponding to the 1.688 g/cm³ satellite DNA was detected, both in embryos and Kc0% cells. It consists of circular multimeric molecules containing multiple copies of the 359 bp repeated unit. No circular DNA molecules homologous to the actin genes, the type I ribosomal DNA insertion, or the F and I transposable elements were found in embryos or Kc0% cells. Thus it appears that the extrachromosomal circular DNA molecules from embryos and from tissue culture cells differ mainly in the presence of circular copies of the copia-like transposable elements.