A quantitative assay for the non-covalent association between apolipoprotein[a] and apolipoprotein B: an alternative measure of Lp[a] assembly

Increasing evidence suggests that the assembly of lipoprotein[a] (Lp[a]) proceeds in two steps. In the first step, non-covalent interactions between apolipoprotein[a] (apo[a]) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) of low density lipoprotein (LDL) form a dissociable apo[a]:LDL complex. In the second step, a covalent disulfide linkage forms the stable Lp[a] particle. Several methods are currently used to study the assembly of Lp[a], however, these methods are laborious, time-consuming, and not suitable for a high throughput screening. We report here the development of a rapid and simple assay based on the binding of labeled LDL to a Lp[a]/apo[a] substrate which is immobilized on the surface of a microtiter plate. Quantification of bound LDL provides a measure of the extent of complex formation. Labeled LDL bound to both Lp[a] and apo[a] substrates with similar affinity. Plasma lipoproteins containing apoB as well as free apo[a] were capable of competing with LDL binding. The binding of LDL to Lp[a]/apo[a] was inhibited by L-proline and lysine analogs, which are known to inhibit the non-covalent association between apo[a] and apoB. Using this method we have found that nicotinic acid and captopril are able to inhibit the association of apo[a] with apoB. This method is compatible with automation and can be applied to a high throughput screening of inhibitors of Lp[a] formation.     

Improved methods of estimating root length using a photocopier,a light box and a bar code reader

Photocopying was found to be a rapid method of making a permanent record of a root sample. The method used produced a copy with white roots against a black background. Manual estimates of root length were made from photocopies using a light box. The number of intersections visible when laid over a copy of a white on black regular square grid was counted. Automated estimates of root length were made by scanning a photocopy with a bar code reader in place of a pen in a computer-driven graph plotter. Roots >0.2 mm diameter were resolved with precision and speed.     

Identification of the domains required for direct interaction of the helicase-like and polymerase-like RNA replication proteins of brome mosaic virus.

Brome mosaic virus is a positive-strand RNA virus whose RNA replication requires viral protein 1a, which has putative helicase and capping functions, and 2a, which has putative polymerase function. Since domains of related sequence are conserved in a wide range of plus-strand RNA viruses, analysis of 1a and 2a function should have applicability to many other viruses. We have recently demonstrated that 1a and 2a form a complex in vivo and in vitro. Using immune coprecipitation and mutant polypeptides made in reticulocyte lysates, we have now mapped both the 1a and 2a domains necessary for complex formation. The sequences needed to bind 2a map to the carboxy-terminal helicase-like domain of 1a. Truncated polypeptides containing this domain were able to bind to 2a, while several small insertions in the helicase-like domain disrupted binding. The sequence required for binding 1a lies within a 115-residue subset of the 2a N-terminal segment preceding the polymerase-like domain. Truncations or fusion polypeptides containing this segment can bind 1a. We also determined that highly purified 2a protein made in insect cells can form a complex with highly purified 1a helicase-like domain made in Escherichia coli, suggesting that no other factor is required to mediate 1a-2a interaction. Previous genetic analyses of 1a and 2a are consistent with this mapping and show that the newly defined 1a and 2a binding regions are required for RNA synthesis. The locations of these interacting regions are discussed with regard to models of viral replication and the evolution of positive-strand RNA virus genomes.     

Effects of Wnt proteins on cell proliferation and apoptosis in HEK293 cells

Wnt proteins and Wnt signalings have been implicated in a variety of development and cell processes, while aberrant activation of Wnt signaling is linked to a range of cancers in many tissues. In this study, we used the HEK293 cell line to investigate the effects of Wnt3a and Wnt5a on proliferation and apoptosis in a serum starvation culture. After Wnt3a and Wnt5a proteins were expressed, they both promoted the proliferation of HEK293 cells under serum starvation. After 48h of serum starvation, both Wnt3a and Wnt5a inhibited serum starvation-induced apoptosis of HEK293 cells and continued up to 96h. We demonstrated that Wnt3a and Wnt5a can promote proliferation of HEK293 cells and inhibit serum starvation-induced apoptosis, which implies that Wnt3a and Wnt5a can maintain the survival of HEK293 cells under stress, and also provide a novel insight into the role of Wnt3a and Wnt5a and their related signalings in carcinogenesis.     

Catalysis of covalent Lp(a) assembly: evidence for an extracellular enzyme activity that enhances disulfide bond formation

The assembly of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) particles occurs via a two-step mechanism in which noncovalent interactions between apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) and the apolipoproteinB-100 component of low density lipoprotein precede the formation of a single disulfide bond. Although we have previously demonstrated that the rate constant for the covalent step of Lp(a) assembly can be enhanced by altering the conformational status of apo(a), the resultant rates of covalent Lp(a) particle formation measured in vitro are relatively slow. The large excess of Lp(a) (over apo(a)) observed in vivo can be accounted for by a preferential clearance of apo(a) over Lp(a) and/or a sufficiently high rate of covalent Lp(a) assembly. In the present study, we report that cultured human hepatoma cells secrete an oxidase activity that dramatically enhances the rate of covalent Lp(a) assembly. This activity is likely possessed by a protein because it is heat-sensitive and is retained in the concentrate following ultrafiltration through a 5 kDa cutoff filter. However, a small molecule cofactor for the activity is suggested by the observation that the activity is lost upon dialysis. Plots of Lp(a) assembly rate versus input apo(a) concentration gave rectangular hyperbolae; the reaction displayed an unusual dependence on the concentration of apoB-100, with increasing concentrations of apoB-100 resulting in slower rates of Lp(a) assembly at low concentrations of apo(a), an effect that was alleviated by higher apo(a) concentrations. Interestingly, V(max(app))/K(m(app)) ratios were insensitive to apoB-100 concentration, which is diagnostic of a ping-pong reaction mechanism. In this way, the putative Lp(a) oxidase may be functionally analogous to protein disulfide isomerase, which exhibits a similar mechanism during the catalysis of disulfide bond formation during protein folding, although we have ruled out a role for this enzyme in Lp(a) assembly.     

Identification of the 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a reductase of the chlorophyll cycle in Arabidopsis

The interconversion of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, referred to as the chlorophyll cycle, plays a crucial role in the processes of greening, acclimation to light intensity, and senescence. The chlorophyll cycle consists of three reactions: the conversions of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b by chlorophyllide a oxygenase, chlorophyll b to 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a by chlorophyll b reductase, and 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a to chlorophyll a by 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a reductase. We identified 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a reductase, which is the last remaining unidentified enzyme of the chlorophyll cycle, from Arabidopsis thaliana by genetic and biochemical methods. Recombinant 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a reductase converted 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a to chlorophyll a using ferredoxin. Both sequence and biochemical analyses showed that 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a reductase contains flavin adenine dinucleotide and an iron-sulfur center. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis elucidated the evolution of 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a reductase from divinyl chlorophyllide vinyl reductase. A mutant lacking 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a reductase was found to accumulate 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a and pheophorbide a. Furthermore, this accumulation of pheophorbide a in the mutant was rescued by the inactivation of the chlorophyll b reductase gene. The downregulation of pheophorbide a oxygenase activity is discussed in relation to 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a accumulation.     

Mass separation of a multicomponent plasma flow in a curvilinear magnetic field

The motion of a metal plasma flow of a vacuum-arc discharge in a transportation plasma-optical system with a curvilinear magnetic field is studied experimentally and numerically. The flow position at the output of the system is shown to depend on the cathode material, which determines the mass-to-charge ratio of plasma ions. As a result, the flow with a greater ion mass-to-charge ratio moves along a trajectory with a larger radius. A similar effect is observed in the case of a multicomponent plasma flow generated by a composite cathode. The results of two-fluid MHD simulations of a plasma flow propagating in a curvilinear magnetic field agree qualitatively with the experimental data.     

The polymerase-like core of brome mosaic virus 2a protein, lacking a region interacting with viral 1a protein in vitro, maintains activity and 1a selectivity in RNA replication.

Brome mosaic virus (BMV), a member of the alphavirus-like super-family of positive-strand RNA viruses, encodes two proteins required for viral RNA replication: 1a and 2a. 1a contains m7G methyltransferase- and helicase-like domains, while 2a contains a polymerase (pol)-like core flanked by N- and C-terminal extensions. Genetic studies show that BMV RNA replication requires 1a-2a compatibility implying direct or indirect 1a-2a interaction in vivo. In vitro, la interacts with the N-terminal 125-amino-acid segment of 2a preceding the pol-like core, and prior deletion studies suggested that this 2a segment was essential for RNA replication. We have now used protein fusions and deletions to explore possible parallels between noncovalent 1a-2a interaction and covalent fusion of similar protein domains in tobacco mosaic virus and to see whether the N-terminal 2a-1a interaction was the primary basis for 1a-2a compatibility in vivo. We found that 2a can function as part of a tobacco mosaic virus-like 1a-2a fusion and that a 2a segment (amino acids 162 to 697) comprising the pol-like core was sufficient to provide 2a functions in such a fusion. Unexpectedly, the unfused 2a core segment also supported RNA replication when it and wild-type la were expressed as separate proteins. Moreover, in gene reassortant experiments with the related cowpea chlorotic mottle virus, the unfused 2a core segment showed the same 1a compatibility requirements as did wild-type BMV 2a. Thus, the pol-like core of 2a must interact with la in a way that is selective and essential for RNA synthesis, and 1a-2a interactions are more complex than the single, previously mapped interaction of the N-terminal 2a segment with 1a.     

Hierarchical graphs for rule-based modeling of biochemical systems

Background  

In rule-based modeling, graphs are used to represent molecules: a colored vertex represents a component of a molecule, a vertex attribute represents the internal state of a component, and an edge represents a bond between components. Components of a molecule share the same color. Furthermore, graph-rewriting rules are used to represent molecular interactions. A rule that specifies addition (removal) of an edge represents a class of association (dissociation) reactions, and a rule that specifies a change of a vertex attribute represents a class of reactions that affect the internal state of a molecular component. A set of rules comprises an executable model that can be used to determine, through various means, the system-level dynamics of molecular interactions in a biochemical system.     

Effect of tranexamic acid and delta-aminovaleric acid on lipoprotein(a) metabolism in transgenic mice

The assembly of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a two-step process which involves the interaction of kringle-4 (K-IV) domains in apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) with Lys groups in apoB-100. Lys analogues such as tranexamic acid (TXA) or delta-aminovaleric acid (delta-AVA) proved to prevent the Lp(a) assembly in vitro. In order to study the in vivo effect of Lys analogues, transgenic apo(a) or Lp(a) mice were treated with TXA or delta-AVA and plasma levels of free and low density lipoprotein bound apo(a) were measured. In parallel experiments, McA-RH 7777 cells, stably transfected with apo(a), were also treated with these substances and apo(a) secretion was followed. Treatment of transgenic mice with Lys analogues caused a doubling of plasma Lp(a) levels, while the ratio of free:apoB-100 bound apo(a) remained unchanged. In transgenic apo(a) mice a 1. 5-fold increase in plasma apo(a) levels was noticed. TXA significantly increased Lp(a) half-life from 6 h to 8 h. Incubation of McA-RH 7777 cells with Lys analogues resulted in an up to 1. 4-fold increase in apo(a) in the medium. The amount of intracellular low molecular weight apo(a) precursor remained unchanged. We hypothesize that Lys analogues increase plasma Lp(a) levels by increasing the dissociation of cell bound apo(a) in combination with reducing Lp(a) catabolism.     

Molecular cloning and expression of the col2a1a and col2a1b genes in the medaka, Oryzias latipes

The Col2a1 gene is expressed in notochord, otic vesicle, cartilaginous tissue and the anlage of endochondral bone during development in higher vertebrates. Type II collagen, a homotrimeric product of the Col2a1 gene, functions as a key regulatory protein for cartilage development and endochondral ossification. In medaka and zebrafish, a single homolog of the col2a1 gene has been identified. However, it is necessary to note that many genes are duplicated in teleost fishes. To clarify function of col2a1 genes in teleost fishes and to further understand the process of cartilage development and endochondral ossification, we cloned and mapped the gene loci of two col2a1 orthologs in medaka. The proteins encoded by both medaka col2a1a and col2a1b genes were highly conserved (85.3% and 82.6%) relative to human COL2A1, but synteny was not observed. We also examined the expression patterns of col2a1a and col2a1b during embryonic development. Whole-mount insitu hybridization data suggests that expression patterns of both medaka co2a1a and col2a1b genes are similar to that of zebrafish co2a1 in the early embryonic stages. In medaka, the two col2a1 genes show a closely correlated pattern of spatial and temporal expression. In late embryonic stages, however, there were differences in both expression patterns in the pectoral fin. This study is the first report of two homologs of col2a1 in teleosts and also the first examination of col2a1a and col2a1b expression patterns in this group.     

A system for coupled multiple-column separation of proteins

Purification of proteins is commonly a multiple-step process involving size exclusion, ion exchange, affinity, hydrophobic, and other modes of chromatography. In an effort to circumvent the laborious process of collecting the solutes from each column and reintroducing them onto a second column, a valving system is described that directs the samples eluted from a high-performance liquid chromatographic column through a detector with a high-pressure cell into either a second column or into storage loops of a multiloop value. This multiloop value is referred to as a high-pressure fraction collector. After development of the first column is complete, a second solvent can be directed to the second column or high-pressure fraction collector to elute the solutes back through the detector and onto any other column in the system. The process of eluting a sample from a column through a single detector and directing it to the high-pressure fraction collector or any other column in the system may be repeated a number of times. Such valving systems make it possible to chromatograph a single protein component on two or three columns in a short time.     

Rearrangement of VHa1-encoding Ig gene segment to the a2 chromosome in an a1/a2 heterozygous rabbit. Evidence for trans recombination

VDJ genes were cloned from leukemic B cells of an a1/a2 heterozygous Emu-cmyc transgenic rabbit. Restriction mapping and nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that one clone, 5C3, had a VHa1-encoding gene segment functionally rearranged to a JH gene segment from the a2 chromosome. This VDJ gene may be the result of a trans recombination between a VH gene on the a1 chromosome and a JH gene segment on the a2 chromosome or, it may be the result of a cis recombination if the a2 chromosome contains VHa1-encoding gene segments.     

Wall plasma in a wideband dielectric cherenkov maser

Results are reported of experimental investigations that have revealed the presence of a plasma in the interaction region of a model wideband relativistic microwave amplifier—a dielectric Cherenkov maser. The electrodynamic properties of a hybrid system—a waveguide with an annular dielectric liner and a plasma layer adjacent to its inner wall—are analyzed. Experiments with a high-current accelerator have revealed that the power of the emitted microwaves at the output of the system increases strongly when an external microwave source at different frequencies in the X-band is switched on. However, this effect was found to be hard to reproduce. Indirect evidence is obtained of the fact that, during the transport of an electron beam and under the action of the signal from a high-power pulsed magnetron, the plasma in the system is created at the surface of the dielectric. In the model of a cold magnetized plasma, a dispersion relation is derived for axisymmetric waves in a system with a wall plasma layer. The spectra of the waveguide and plasma modes in the system and the transverse structure of their electromagnetic fields are investigated thoroughly as functions of the plasma density and layer thickness. It is shown that even a very thin layer of a high-density plasma results in a large frequency shift of the dispersion curve of the waveguide mode, in which case the coupling impedance at a fixed frequency decreases sharply. On the other hand, a layer of a moderately dense plasma increases the coupling impedance for the waveguide mode. It is established that, in a configuration with a wall plasma layer, the longitudinal component of the electric field of a plasma mode whose power flux in the dielectric is of a volumetric nature reverses direction across the layer.     

Selecting pedigrees for linkage analysis of a quantitative trait: the expected number of informative meioses.

With evidence of segregation at a major locus for a quantitative trait having been found, a logical next step is to select a subset of the pedigrees to include in a linkage study to map the major locus. Ideally this subset should include much of the linkage information in the sample but include only a fraction of the pedigrees. We previously described a strategy for selecting pedigrees for linkage analysis of a quantitative trait on the basis of a pedigree likelihood-ratio statistic. For quantitative traits controlled by a major locus with a rare dominant allele, the likelihood-ratio strategy extracted nearly all the information for linkage while typically requiring marker data on only about one-third of the pedigrees. Here, we describe a new strategy to select pedigrees for linkage analysis on the basis of the expected number of potentially informative meioses in each pedigree. We demonstrate that this informative-meioses strategy provides an efficient and more general means to select pedigrees for a linkage study of a quantitative trait.     

Increased virulence and competitive advantage of a/alpha over a/a or alpha/alpha offspring conserves the mating system of Candida albicans

The majority of Candida albicans strains in nature are a/alpha and must undergo homozygosis to a/a or alpha/alpha to mate. Here we have used a mouse model for systemic infection to test the hypothesis that a/alpha strains predominate in nature because they have a competitive advantage over a/a and alpha/alpha offspring in colonizing hosts. Single-strain injection experiments revealed that a/alpha strains were far more virulent than either their a/a or alpha/alpha offspring. When equal numbers of parent a/alpha and offspring a/a or alpha/alpha cells were co-injected, a/alpha always exhibited a competitive advantage at the time of extreme host morbidity or death. When equal numbers of an engineered a/a/alpha2 strain and its isogenic a/a parent strain were co-injected, the a/a/alpha2 strain exhibited a competitive advantage at the time of host morbidity or death, suggesting that the genotype of the mating-type (MTL) locus, not associated genes on chromosome 5, provides a competitive advantage. We therefore propose that heterozygosity at the MTL locus not only represses white-opaque switching and genes involved in the mating process, but also affects virulence, providing a competitive advantage to the a/alpha genotype that conserves the mating system of C. albicans in nature.     

Genetic linkage between lipoprotein(a) phenotype and a DNA polymorphism in the plasminogen gene

Coronary heart disease risk correlates directly with plasma concentrations of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), a low-density lipoprotein-like particle distinguished by the presence of the glycoprotein apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)), which is bound to apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) by disulfide bridges. Size isoforms of apo(a) are inherited as Mendelian codominant traits and are associated with variations in the plasma concentration of lipoprotein(a). Plasminogen and apo(a) show striking protein sequence homology, and their genes both map to chromosome 6q26-27. In a large family with early coronary heart disease and high plasma concentrations of Lp(a), we found tight linkage between apo(a) size isoforms and a DNA polymorphism in the plasminogen gene; plasma concentrations of Lp(a) also appeared to be related to genetic variation at the apo(a) locus. We found free recombination between the same phenotype and alleles of the apoB DNA polymorphism. This suggests that apo(a) size isoforms and plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations are each determined by genetic variation at the apo(a) locus.     

一种引致人体原发性皮肤毛霉病的非高温根毛霉属真菌

由石家庄中国人民解放军白求恩国际和平医院皮肤科李成龙大夫提供的一株人体皮肤病菌经我们研究鉴定为毛霉目(Mucorales)毛霉科(Mucoraceae)根毛霉属(Rhizomucor)的一个种,并定名为多变根毛霉新种(Rhizomucor variabilis Zheng & G.-q.Chen sp. nov.)。据李大夫介绍,这株菌是从一名居住在江苏农村到该医院看病的女病人的手上病部分离的。这个病人没有一般真菌病病人所患有的其他疾病如糖尿病、白血病等等。她也没有患有其他毛霉病,因此她的皮肤毛霉病是原发性的而不是继发性的。我们查阅文献结果,国内由根毛霉属真菌引致的毛霉病过去仅有过一次肺部感染的报道;国外则有过较多次数的由根毛霉引致的人体毛霉病,主要为肺部疾病并可引致继发性的皮肤病,尚未见有由根毛霉属引起的原发性皮肤毛霉病的报道。无论国内、外引起人体毛霉病的根毛霉均为微小根毛霉[Rhizomucor pusillus(Lindt) Schipper,包括Mucor pusillus Lindt,Mucor parasiticus Lucet & Costanin等异名]一种。因此,本病例为我国第二例由根毛霉弓l起的人体毛霉病及第一例由根毛霉引起的人体皮肤毛霉病,同时又是全世界第一例由根毛霉属除微小根毛霉以外的另外一个种引起的人体毛霉病,很可能还是全世界第一例由根毛霉引起的人体原发性皮肤毛霉病。多变根毛霉与根毛霉属内所有过去已报道过的种都有显著差异。它的最适生长温度为24-30℃,最低9℃,最高38℃;其他种均为高温真菌,它们的最高生长温度可达55℃或更高。形态方面,多变根毛霉也与属内其他已知种明显不同。它的菌落高达4-8 mm并呈鲜明的浅黄色;其他已知种菌落低矮,除奈尼塔尔根毛霉(Rhizomucor nainitalensis Joshi)外全部为深暗灰色,奈尼塔尔根毛霉菌落色泽虽然较浅,但为浅灰或灰黄色,与多变根毛霉的鲜明黄色不同。它的假根异常发达并可从菌体的各个部位如菌丝、匍匐丝、孢子枝、孢子囊、囊轴上长出;其他已知种的假根一般都不发达且从未见有从孢子枝、孢子囊、囊轴等处长出的描述。它的孢子枝的分枝常常长于主枝;其他已知种则分枝长度一般不超过主枝。它的囊轴形状多变:球形、近球形、扁球形、卵形、椭圆形、梨形等等,两边对称或不对称,溢缩或不绕缩,纵向深裂或不作纵向深裂;其他已知种的囊轴形状通常为倒卵形至梨形的规则形状。它的囊领明显;其他已知种的囊领均很不明显至缺如。它的孢囊孢子形状和大小变化都较大,卵形、椭圆形、矩圆形、近球形、近三角形或其他各种不规则形状,长度范围2.5-16.5 μm;其他已知种除上面已经提到过的奈尼塔尔根毛霉外,它们的孢囊孢子形状仅限于卵形、椭圆形、近球形等较规则的形状,长度范围总是在3-6 μm范围内,奈尼塔尔根毛霉的孢囊孢子形状虽然多变,但其决度亦在3-6 μm的范围内。此外,多变根毛霉的孢子囊、囊轴、孢囊孢子等各种构造均较大;其他已知种则较小,其中肿梗根毛霉[Rhizomucor tauricus (Milko & Schkurenko) Schipper]虽亦较大,但除此之外与多变根毛霉迥异。多变根毛霉未见有接合孢子,将我们保存的全部微小根毛霉菌株与它分别配对时,或将我们的几对别的属的(+)(-)测试菌株与它分别配对时,均未见形成接合孢子或有任何反应。