Residues Met~(76) and Gln~(79) in HLA-G α1 domain involved in KIR2DL4 recognition

INTRODUCTIONThe non-classical HLA class I antigen HLA-G is mainlyexpressed on extravillous cytotrophoblasts that invade de-ciduae in uterine pregnancy. Furthermore, HLA-G canmodulate the function of most immune component cellssuch as NK cells, T cells and…     

DL—蛋氨酸技术开发展望

本文介绍蛋氨酸的生产,用途及国内外市场动态。介绍蛋氨酸作为饲料添加剂的效益及蛋氨酸的生产前景及开发展望。     

KIR diversity in Māori and Polynesians: populations in which HLA-B is not a significant KIR ligand

HLA class I molecules and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) form a diverse system of ligands and receptors that individualize human immune systems in ways that improve the survival of individuals and populations. Human settlement of Oceania by island-hopping East and Southeast Asian migrants started ~3,500 years ago. Subsequently, New Zealand was reached ~750 years ago by ancestral Māori. To examine how this history impacted KIR and HLA diversity, and their functional interaction, we defined at high resolution the allelic and haplotype diversity of the 13 expressed KIR genes in 49 Māori and 34 Polynesians. Eighty KIR variants, including four ‘new’ alleles, were defined, as were 35 centromeric and 22 telomeric KIR region haplotypes, which combine to give >50 full-length KIR haplotypes. Two new and divergent variant KIR form part of a telomeric KIR haplotype, which appears derived from Papua New Guinea and was probably obtained by the Asian migrants en route to Polynesia. Māori and Polynesian KIR are very similar, but differ significantly from African, European, Japanese, and Amerindian KIR. Māori and Polynesians have high KIR haplotype diversity with corresponding allotype diversity being maintained throughout the KIR locus. Within the population, each individual has a unique combination of HLA class I and KIR. Characterizing Māori and Polynesians is a paucity of HLA-B allotypes recognized by KIR. Compensating for this deficiency are high frequencies (>50 %) of HLA-A allotypes recognized by KIR. These HLA-A allotypes are ones that modern humans likely acquired from archaic humans at a much earlier time.     

嗜热菌Anoxybacillus sp．DL3产蛋白酶条件及其酶学性质研究

目的：对Anoxybacillussp．DL3的产蛋白酶条件及其酶学性质进行研究,为下一步进行蛋白酶基因的克隆、表达提供依据。方法：应用常规方法液体培养细菌,研究温度、pH、培养基中碳源、氮源对菌株产蛋白酶的影响,硫酸铵盐析的方法提取酶液,并采用Folin法测酶活性。用紫外分光光度计在OD680hi／1测吸光值。并对提取的蛋白酶液进行酶的最适温度、pH以及酶的热稳定性和pH稳定性研究,向酶液中添加金属离子和EDTA、PMSF,研究其对酶活性的影响。结果：在培养基初始pH是6．5,培养温度为40℃时菌株产酶酶活性最大;培养基中以乳糖为碳源,酵母膏和硫酸铵为氮源,碳源与氮源的比例为1：2时,酶活最大。酶学性质研究结果显示：该酶的最适反应温度是55℃,最适反应pH是7．0;在50℃保温20min-80min内,酶活力下降幅度较小。60℃保温60min后,仍保持约60％的酶活。70℃保温60min后,残余酶活为30％。该酶在pH为6．0～8．0范围内,相对酶活差别不是很大,下降趋势大致相同。在强碱条件下,相对酶活下降很明显。Fe2＋、Cu2＋和Hg2＋对酶活性有明显的抑制作用;Ca2＋、Mg^2＋、Mn2＋等金属离子对酶活性有明显的促进作用;乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）和苯甲基磺酰氟（PMSF）对酶活性也有一定抑制作用。结论：Anoxybacillussp．DL3所产的蛋白酶为嗜热中性蛋白酶,此酶具有较好的热稳定性和pH耐受性,该菌株具有进一步开发、利用的价值。     

Residues Met^76 and Gin^79 in HLA-G α1 domain involved in KIR2DIA recognition

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) has long been speculated as a beneficial factor for a successful pregnancy for its restricted expression on fetal-matemal extravillous cytotrophoblasts and its capability of modulating uterine natural killer cell (uNK) function such as cytotoxicity and cytokine production through NK cell receptors. HLA class I α1 domain is an important killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) recognition site and the Met^76 and Gln^79 are unique to HLA-Gin this region. NK cell receptor KIR2DL4 is a specific receptor for HLA-G, yet the recognition site on HLA-G remains unknown. In this study, retroviral transduction was applied to express the wild type HLA-G (HLA-wtG), mutant HLA-G(HLA-mG) on the chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 cells and KIR2DL4 molecule on NK-92 cells,respectively. KIR2DL4-IgG Fc fusion protein was generated to determine the binding specificity between KIR2DL4 and HLA-G. Our results showed that residue Met76, Gln79 mutated to Ala^76.79 in the α1 domain of HLA-G protein could affect the binding affinity between KIR2DL4 and HLA-G, meanwhile, the KIR2DL4 transfected NK-92 cells (NK-92-2DL4) showed a considerably different cytolysis ability against the HLA-wtG and HLA-mG transfected K562 targets.Taken together, our data indicated that residue Met^76 and Gin^79 in HLA-G α1 domain plays a critical role in the recognition of KIR2DL4, which could be an explanation for the isoforms of HLA-G, all containing the α1 domain, with the potential to regulate NK functions.     

DL－氨基酸拆分条件的优化

本文利用高效液相色谱,应用两种不同类型的方法拆分Ｄ、Ｌ－氨基酸,对拆分条件进行了优化。当利用脲衍生型手性色谱柱时,流动相组成为：正已烷／二氯乙烷／乙醇＝７５：１８：７拆分迅速、有效;当利用柱前衍生反相色谱拆分时,在甲醇／ＮａＡｃ缓冲溶液流动相中加入适量ＴＨＦ得到很好的分离效果。     

Natural Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) Genotypes in two Arab Populations: Will KIR become a genetic landmark between nations?

Genotypic profiles of the Natural killer cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) have been reported to vary among different ethnic groups and this study represents a comparative report on its distribution between two Arabic populations in the Middle East: Lebanese and Palestinians. Our compared population samples included 120 unrelated healthy Lebanese (as per Mahfouz et al.) and a Palestinian population of 105 individuals (as per Norman et al.). All had their DNA typed using Sequence Specific Primer (SSP) technique for the presence of the different KIR loci. Similar to most published data, we observed that the two framework genes 2DL4 and 3DL2 are present in 100% of individuals from both communities, while 2DL2, 2DL3, 2DS1, 2DS2, 2DS3, 2DS5, 3DL1, and 3DS1 were very similar in frequency. However, significant differences were noted in the frequencies of 2DL1 and 2DS4. This report is comparing KIR genotyping distribution in two Arab populations that sheds additional light on the importance of this gene in delineating a possible geographic genetic demarcation among different ethnicities or even different communities among the same or close ethnic groups.     

1RS-7DS.7DL小麦-黑麦小片段易位系的鉴定

黑麦(Secale cereale L., RR)是改良普通小麦(Triticum aestivum L., AABBDD)的重要基因资源,将黑麦优异基因转移到普通小麦中,是小麦品种改良的有效途经之一。文章将四川地方品种蓬安白麦子(T. aestivum L., AABBDD) 与秦岭黑麦(S. cereale cv. Qinling, RR)杂交,染色体自动加倍获得八倍体小黑麦CD-13(AABBDDRR);通过顺序FISH和GISH分析,发现该八倍体小黑麦1RS端部与7DS的端部发生相互易位,是一个携带1RS-7DS.7DL小麦-黑麦小片段易位染色体的八倍体小黑麦。利用八倍体小黑麦CD-13与四川推广小麦品种川麦42杂交、连续自交,获得包含60个株系的F₅群体;对F₅群体的58个株系进行GISH和FISH分析发现,其中13个株系含有1RS-7DS.7DL小片段易位染色体。在这13个株系中,株系811染色体数目为2n=6x=42,是稳定的1RS-7DS.7DL小片段易位系;并且1RS特异分子标记和醇溶蛋白分析表明,1RS-7DS.7DL易位染色体1RS小片段的断裂点位于分子标记IB267-IAG95之间,不包含编码黑麦碱蛋白的Sec-1位点;同时1RS-7DS.7DL小片段易位系的千粒重与川麦42相当,远远高于八倍体小黑麦CD-13,对千粒重无负作用。因此,1RS-7DS.7DL小麦-黑麦小片段易位系可作为进一步深入研究1RS小片段上的优异基因及其遗传效应的重要材料。     

Isolation and characterization of coaggregation-defective (Cog−) mutants ofStreptococcus gordonii DL1 (Challis)

Streptococcus gordonii DL1 (Challis) bears coaggregation-mediating surface adhesins which recognize galactoside-containing surface polysaccharides onStreptococcus oralis 34,Streptococcus oralis C104, andStreptococcus SM PK509. Fifty-nine spontaneously-occurring coaggregation-defective (Cog^–) mutants ofS. gordonii DL1 unable to coaggregate with partner streptococci were isolated. Six representative Cog^– mutants were characterized by their coaggregation properties with fourActinomyces naeslundii strains (T14V, PK947, PK606, PK984),Veillonella atypica PK1910, andPropionibacterium acnes PK93. The six representative Cog^– mutants showed altered coaggregation with their streptococcal partners,A. naeslundii PK947, andP. acnes PK93. Based on the coaggregation phenotypes of these mutants, a model for the lactose-inhibitable coaggregation betweenS. gordonii DL1 and its partner bacteria is proposed. The potential use of these mutants in studies of oral biofilms is discussed.     

KIR gene diversity in Mexican mestizos of San Luis Potosí

Natural killer (NK) cell function is regulated by different types of membrane-bound receptors of which killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are the most complex and diverse. KIRs are encoded by 17 different genes located within the leukocyte receptor complex (19q13.4). The frequency with which KIR gene features are present in different human populations differs. Here, we present our results on the KIR gene diversity observed in a large group of mestizos from the central Mexican city of San Luis Potosí. In total, 53 different KIR genotypes were observed, 47 with previously described gene profiles and six harboring novel KIR gene combinations. Group A homozygous haplotypes were seen in 102 individuals (34%), while group B homozygous haplotypes were present in 45 (15%). Heterozygous combinations of groups A and B haplotypes were seen in 153 individuals (51%). Haplotype frequency estimations based on a true content of 600 chromosomes showed a relatively balanced proportion of group A (59.5%) and group B (40.5%) haplotypes in our study population. A homozygous combination of the cA01|tA01 haplotype was present in 33% of the population with other frequent combinations being cA01|tA01, cB03|tB01 in 14.7% and cA01|tA01, cB02|tA01 in 12%. The dendrogram derived from activating KIR gene phylogenetic analysis revealed five clearly distinct clades corresponding to African, East Asian, Arab/Caucasoid, Mexican mestizo/Amerindian and South Asian populations. Our results illustrate the genetic contribution that Caucasoid and Amerindian populations have made toward present-day Mexicans and suggest an important Southeast Asian genetic contribution to native Amerindian populations.     

The photosynthetic F1-α3β3 and α1β1 catalytic core complexes

Minimal photosynthetic catalytic F₁() core complexes, containing equimolar ratios of the and subunits, were isolated from membrane-bound spinach chloroplast CF₁ and Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophore RrF₁. A CF₁-₃₃ hexamer and RrF₁-₁₁ dimer, which were purified from the respective F₁() complexes, exhibit lower rates and different properties from their parent F₁-ATPases. Most interesting is their complete resistance to inhibition by the general F₁ inhibitor azide and the specific CF₁ inhibitor tentoxin. These inhibitors were earlier reported to inhibit multisite, but not unisite, catalysis in all sensitive F₁-ATPases and were therefore suggested to block catalytic site cooperativity. The absence of this typical property of all F₁-ATPases in the ₁₁ dimer is consistant with the view that the dimer contains only a single catalytic site. The ₃₃ hexamer contains however all F₁ catalytic sites. Therefore the observation that CF₁-₃₃ can bind tentoxin and is stimulated by it suggests that the F₁ subunit, which is required for obtaining inhibition by tentoxin as well as azide, plays an important role in the cooperative interactions between the F₁-catalytic sites.Abbreviations CF₀F₁ chloroplast F₀F₁ - CF₁ chloroplast F₁ - CF₁ chloroplast F₁ subunit - CF₁ chloroplast F₁ subunit - CF₁() a complex containing equal amounts of the CF₁ and subunits - MF₁ mitochondrial F₁ - RrF₀F₁ Rhodospirillum rubrum F₀F₁ - RrF₁ R. rubrum F₁ - RrF₁ R. rubrum F₁ subunit - RrF₁ R. rubrum F₁ subunit - RrF₁() a complex containing equal amounts of the RrF₁ and subunits - Rubisco Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase - TF₁ thermophilic bacterium PS3 F₁     

SUMO-1共价修饰ataxin-3

为了探讨ataxin-3的正常生理功能以及脊髓小脑型共济失调Ⅲ型/马查多-约瑟夫病的发病机理,采用酵母双杂交技术,选择polyQ扩展突变型ataxin-3全长构建诱饵质粒,筛选成人脑cDNA文库,寻找与之相互作用的蛋白质,筛选到互作蛋白smallubiquitin-likemodifier1(SUMO-1).进一步运用免疫共沉淀技术证实,SUMO-1在哺乳动物细胞中共价修饰野生型和polyQ扩展突变型ataxin-3.免疫荧光共定位实验发现,polyQ扩展突变型ataxin-3形成的核内蛋白聚合体与SUMO-1共定位.研究提示,ataxin-3的正常生理功能可能受SUMO-1的调节,SUMO-1可能参与了脊髓小脑型共济失调Ⅲ型/马查多-约瑟夫病的发病机制.     

Role of DL α-lipoic acid in gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity

The effect of DL -lipoic acid on the nephrotoxic potential of gentamicin was examined. Intraperitoneal injection of gentamicin (100 mg/kg/day) to rats resulted in decreased activity of the glycolytic enzymes-hexokinase, phosphoglucoisomerase, aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase. The two gluconeogenic enzymes—glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1, 6-diphosphatase, the transmembrane enzymes namely the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase and the brushborder enzyme alkaline phosphatase, also showed decreased activities. This decrease in the activities of ATPases and alkaline phosphatase suggests basolateral and brush border membrane damage. Decreased activity of the TCA cycle enzymes isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH), suggests a loss in mitochondrial integrity. These biochemical disturbances were effectively counteracted by lipoic acid administration. Lipoic acid administration by gastric intubation at two different concentrations (10 mg and 25 mg/kg/day) brought about an increase in the activity of the glycolytic enzymes, ATPases and the TCA cycle enzymes. The gluconeogenic enzymes however showed a further decrease in their activities at both the concentrations of lipoic acid administered. These observations shed light on the nephroprotective action of lipoic acid against experimental aminoglycoside toxicity and the protection afforded at 25 mg/kg/day of lipoic acid was noted to be higher than that at 10 mg level.     

Does the KIR2DS5 Gene Protect from Some Human Diseases?

Background

KIR2DS5 gene encodes an activating natural killer cell receptor whose ligand is not known. It was recently reported to affect the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In our studies on KIR2DS5 gene associations with human diseases, we compared the frequencies of this gene in patients and relevant controls. Typing for KIR2DS5 gene was performed by either individual or multiplex polymerase chain reactions which, when compared in the same samples, gave concordant results. We noted an apparently protective effect of KIR2DS5 gene presence in several clinical conditions, but not in others. Namely, this effect was observed in ankylosing spondylitis (p = 0.003, odds ratio [OR] = 0.47, confidence interval [CI] = 0.28–0.79), endometriosis (p = 0.03, OR = 0.25, CI = 0.07–0.82) and acute rejection of kidney graft (p = 0.0056, OR = 0.44, CI = 0.24–0.80), but not in non-small-cell lung carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis, spontaneous abortion, or leukemia (all p>0.05). In addition, the simultaneous presence of KIR2DS5 gene and HLA-C C1 allotype exhibited an even stronger protective effect on ankylosing spondylitis (p = 0.0003, OR = 0.35, CI = 0.19–0.65), whereas a lack of KIR2DS5 and the presence of the HLA-C C2 allotype was associated with ankylosing spondylitis (p = 0.0017, OR = 1.92, CI = 1.28–2.89), whereas a lack of KIR2DS5 and presence of C1 allotype was associated with rheumatoid arthritis (p = 0.005, OR = 1.47, CI = 1.13–1.92). The presence of both KIR2DS5 and C1 seemed to protect from acute kidney graft rejection (p = 0.017, OR = 0.47, CI = 0.25–0.89), whereas lack of KIR2DS5 and presence of C2 seemed to favor rejection (p = 0.0015, OR = 2.13, CI = 1.34–3.37).

Conclusions/Significance

Our results suggest that KIR2DS5 may protect from endometriosis, ankylosing spondylitis, and acute rejection of kidney graft.     

下调Perilipin 1基因表达对3T3-L1细胞脂解的影响

目的:研究下调围脂滴蛋白基因(PLIN1)表达对3T3-L1细胞脂解的影响。方法:采用RNA干扰技术,构建3组阳性及1组阴性sh-PLIN1重组载体,并进行菌液PCR和DNA测序鉴定。Western blot测定PLIN1A蛋白表达,评价载体下调效果。细胞转染有效载体2天后,Bodipy 493/503染色脂滴;酶学方法测定细胞中甘油三酯和甘油含量;Western blot检测甘油三酯脂肪酶(ATGL)、激素敏感性脂肪酶(HSL)及其磷酸化蛋白(p-HSL)的表达。酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定细胞中环磷酸腺苷(c AMP)和蛋白激酶A(PKA)的浓度。结果:各sh-PLIN1干扰载体构建成功,且3组阳性载体均能显著下调PLIN1A蛋白的表达(P0.05)。转染有效载体后,与阴性转染组相比,sh-PLIN1转染组细胞中脂滴减小,甘油三酯含量降低,甘油含量升高,ATGL和HSL相对表达量显著升高(P0.05),p-HSL相对表达量及c AMP、PKA的浓度无显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:下调PLIN1基因表达可加快3T3-L1细胞脂解速率,其可能通过上调ATGL和HSL的表达而实现,c AMP/PKA信号通路对其无明显调节作用。