Interaction of cholesterol with sphingomyelins and acyl-chain-matched phosphatidylcholines: a comparative study of the effect of the chain length.

In this study we have synthesized sphingomyelins (SM) and phosphatidylcholines (PC) with amide-linked or sn-2 linked acyl chains with lengths from 14 to 24 carbons. The purpose was to examine how the chain length and degree of unsaturation affected the interaction of cholesterol with these phospholipids in model membrane systems. Monolayers of saturated SMs and PCs with acyl chain lengths above 14 carbons were condensed and displayed a high collapse pressure ( approximately 70 mN/m). Monolayers of N-14:0-SM and 1(16:0)-2(14:0)-PC had a much lower collapse pressure (58-60 mN/m) and monounsaturated SMs collapsed at approximately 50 mN/m. The relative interaction of cholesterol with these phospholipids was determined at 22 degreesC by measuring the rate of cholesterol desorption from mixed monolayers (50 mol % cholesterol; 20 mN/m) to beta-cyclodextrin in the subphase (1.7 mM). The rate of cholesterol desorption was lower from saturated SM monolayers than from chain-matched PC monolayers. In SM monolayers, the rate of cholesterol desorption was very slow for all N-linked chains, whereas for PC monolayers we could observe higher desorption rates from monolayers of longer PCs. These results show that cholesterol interacts favorably with SMs (low rate of desorption), whereas its interaction (or miscibility) with long chain PCs is weaker. Introduction of a single cis-unsaturation in the N-linked acyl chain of SMs led to faster rates of cholesterol desorption as compared with saturated SMs. The exception was monolayers of N-22:1-SM and N-24:1-SM from which cholesterol desorbed almost as slowly as from the corresponding saturated SM monolayers. The results of this study suggest that cholesterol is most likely capable of interacting with all physiologically relevant (including long-chain) SMs present in the plasma membrane of cells.     

Integral membrane antigens involved in cell-substratum adhesion of hepatocytes and hepatoma cells

Cell-substratum adhesion of rat hepatocytes was inhibited by antisera raised against purified plasma membranes of rat liver (anti-liver-antiserum) and Morris hepatoma 7777 (anti-hepatoma-antiserum). It is assumed that substances which block the adhesion-inhibiting activity of the antisera are involved in cell-substratum adhesion. Adhesion-involved molecules of rat liver monitored as 'blocking activity' were compared with those of Morris hepatoma 7777 and 9121. They were found to be integral membrane glycoproteins, which could be solubilized only by detergents. Fractionation of plasma membrane extracts by size exclusion HPLC revealed two blocking activity peaks representing molecules involved in the adhesion to plastic (P-AIM) and collagen (C-AIM). In rat liver both adhesion-involved molecules were found; yet P-AIM seemed to be the major type of adhesion-involved molecule. In the relatively well differentiated Morris hepatoma 9121 also both types were detected. In membrane extracts of the high malignant and poorly differentiated Morris hepatoma 7777, however, no P-AIM but only C-AIM were found. Estimation by size exclusion HPLC revealed molecular weights of 120 kD for C-AIM and approx. 105 kD for P-AIM. On SDS gel electrophoresis proteins in the region of 95 kD were found in C-AIM containing fractions, whereas proteins of 105 kD are likely candidates for P-AIM.     

Depletion of CD8+ cells in sooty mangabey monkeys naturally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus reveals limited role for immune control of virus replication in a natural host species

SIV infection of sooty mangabeys (SMs), a natural host species, does not cause AIDS despite high-level virus replication. In contrast, SIV infection of nonnatural hosts such as rhesus macaques (RMs) induces an AIDS-like disease. The depletion of CD8+ T cells during SIV infection of RMs results in marked increases in plasma viremia, suggesting a key role for CD8+ T cells in controlling levels of SIV replication. To assess the role that CD8+ T cells play in determining the virologic and immunologic features of nonpathogenic SIV infection in SMs, we transiently depleted CD8+ T cells in SIV-infected and uninfected SMs using a CD8alpha-specific Ab (OKT8F) previously used in studies of SIV-infected RMs. Treatment of SMs with the OKT8F Ab resulted in the prompt and profound depletion of CD8+ T cells. However, in contrast to CD8+ cell depleted, SIV-infected RMs, only minor changes in the levels of plasma viremia were observed in most SIV-infected SMs during the period of CD8+ cell deficiency. Those SMs demonstrating greater increases in SIV replication following CD8+ cell depletion also displayed higher levels of CD4+ T cell activation and/or evidence of CMV reactivation, suggesting that an expanded target cell pool rather than the absence of CD8+ T cell control may have been primarily responsible for transient increases in viremia. These data indicate that CD8+ T cells exert a limited influence in determining the levels of SIV replication in SMs and provide additional evidence demonstrating that the absence of AIDS in SIV-infected SMs is not due to the effective control of viral replication by cellular immune responses.     

Biological functions of sphingomyelins

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a dominant sphingolipid in membranes of mammalian cells and this lipid class is specifically enriched in the plasma membrane, the endocytic recycling compartment, and the trans Golgi network. The distribution of SM and cholesterol among cellular compartments correlate. Sphingolipids have extensive hydrogen-bonding capabilities which together with their saturated nature facilitate the formation of sphingolipid and SM-enriched lateral domains in membranes. Cholesterol prefers to interact with SMs and this interaction has many important functional consequences. In this review, the synthesis, regulation, and intracellular distribution of SMs are discussed. The many direct roles played by membrane SM in various cellular functions and processes will also be discussed. These include involvement in the regulation of endocytosis and receptor-mediated ligand uptake, in ion channel and G-protein coupled receptor function, in protein sorting, and functioning as receptor molecules for various bacterial toxins, and for non-bacterial pore-forming toxins. SM is also an important constituent of the eye lens membrane, and is believed to participate in the regulation of various nuclear functions. SM is an independent risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, and new studies have shed light on possible mechanism behind its role in atherogenesis.     

Target Cell Availability,Rather than Breast Milk Factors,Dictates Mother-to-Infant Transmission of SIV in Sooty Mangabeys and Rhesus Macaques

Mother-to-infant transmission (MTIT) of HIV is a serious global health concern, with over 300,000 children newly infected in 2011. SIV infection of rhesus macaques (RMs) results in similar rates of MTIT to that of HIV in humans. In contrast, SIV infection of sooty mangabeys (SMs) rarely results in MTIT. The mechanisms underlying protection from MTIT in SMs are unknown. In this study we tested the hypotheses that breast milk factors and/or target cell availability dictate the rate of MTIT in RMs (transmitters) and SMs (non-transmitters). We measured viral loads (cell-free and cell-associated), levels of immune mediators, and the ability to inhibit SIV infection in vitro in milk obtained from lactating RMs and SMs. In addition, we assessed the levels of target cells (CD4+CCR5+ T cells) in gastrointestinal and lymphoid tissues, including those relevant to breastfeeding transmission, as well as peripheral blood from uninfected RM and SM infants. We found that frequently-transmitting RMs did not have higher levels of cell-free or cell-associated viral loads in milk compared to rarely-transmitting SMs. Milk from both RMs and SMs moderately inhibited in vitro SIV infection, and presence of the examined immune mediators in these two species did not readily explain the differential rates of transmission. Importantly, we found that the percentage of CD4+CCR5+ T cells was significantly lower in all tissues in infant SMs as compared to infant RMs despite robust levels of CD4+ T cell proliferation in both species. The difference between the frequently-transmitting RMs and rarely-transmitting SMs was most pronounced in CD4+ memory T cells in the spleen, jejunum, and colon as well as in central and effector memory CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood. We propose that limited availability of SIV target cells in infant SMs represents a key evolutionary adaptation to reduce the risk of MTIT in SIV-infected SMs.     

Endocytic trafficking of sphingomyelin depends on its acyl chain length

To study the principles of endocytic lipid trafficking, we introduced pyrene sphingomyelins (PyrSMs) with varying acyl chain lengths and domain partitioning properties into human fibroblasts or HeLa cells. We found that a long-chain, ordered-domain preferring PyrSM was targeted Hrs and Tsg101 dependently to late endosomal compartments and recycled to the plasma membrane in an NPC1- and cholesterol-dependent manner. A short-chain, disordered domain preferring PyrSM recycled more effectively, by using Hrs-, Tsg101- and NPC1-independent routing that was insensitive to cholesterol loading. Similar chain length-dependent recycling was observed for unlabeled sphingomyelins (SMs). The findings 1) establish acyl chain length as an important determinant in the endocytic trafficking of SMs, 2) implicate ESCRT complex proteins and NPC1 in the endocytic recycling of ordered domain lipids to the plasma membrane, and 3) introduce long-chain PyrSM as the first fluorescent lipid tracing this pathway.     

Identification of two types of protein immunochemically related to urinary urokinase occurring in human plasma

Plasma urokinase, a plasminogen activator immunochemically related to urinary urokinase (UK), was removed from human plasma (3.5 ng/ml) by immuno-depletion with antibodies raised against UK. The remaining plasminogen activator activity of the depleted plasma could not be inhibited by anti-UK antibodies and a sensitive ELISA for UK did not detect any UK levels that were higher than the background of the assay (0.1 ng/ml). However, when the depleted plasma was subjected to SDS-PAGE, substantial amounts of protein were found hereafter around 110 and 46 kD which now gave a positive reaction in the ELISA (35-350 ng/ml plasma). From these observations it is concluded that in human plasma two types of UK-related protein occur: Type I, among which the plasma urokinase, has antigenic determinants which are directly accessible to the anti-UK antibodies, Type II has determinants in a latent form. The function of the 110 kD type-II protein is that of a plasminogen activator; that of the 46 kD protein is not yet clear.     

非洲爪蟾两种卵化酶分子对卵黄膜作用机制的探讨

在分离纯化非洲爪蟾孵化酶时,得到了６０ＫＤ和４０ＫＤ两种分子,用卵化酶的特异性抗ＧＳＴ－ＵＶＳ．２抗体进行Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ杂交的结果证明二者均为孵化酶分子。６０ｋＤ分子很不稳定,在纯化过程中极易降解活性４０ＫＤ分子可能是由６０ＫＤ分子经过降解或自身降解丢失了两个ＣＵＢ重复区而形成的,而ＣＵＢ重复区很可能在对受精膜分子结构的修饰或改造中具有重要作用,在进一步验证其蛋白酶活性和生物活性时,发现二者几乎具     

Early resolution of acute immune activation and induction of PD-1 in SIV-infected sooty mangabeys distinguishes nonpathogenic from pathogenic infection in rhesus macaques

Primate lentiviruses are typically apathogenic in their evolutionarily coadapted host species but can be lethal when transferred to new host species. Why such infections are pathogenic in humans and rhesus macaques (RMs) but not in sooty mangabeys (SMs), a natural host, remains unclear. Studies of chronically infected animals point to the importance of diminished immune activation in response to the infection in SMs. In this study, we sought the causes and timing of the differences in immune activation in a comparative study of acute SIV infection in RMs and SMs. Surprisingly, we show that in acute infection immune activation is comparable in SMs and RMs but thereafter, SMs quickly resolve immune activation, whereas RMs did not. Early resolution of immune activation in SMs correlated with increased expression of PD-1 and with preservation of CD4(+) T cell counts and lymphatic tissue architecture. These findings point to early control of immune activation by host immunoregulatory mechanisms as a major determinant of the different disease outcomes in SIV infection of natural vs non-natural hosts.     

Short-lived infected cells support virus replication in sooty mangabeys naturally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus: implications for AIDS pathogenesis

Sooty mangabeys (SMs) naturally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) do not develop AIDS despite high levels of virus replication. At present, the mechanisms underlying this disease resistance are poorly understood. Here we tested the hypothesis that SIV-infected SMs avoid immunodeficiency as a result of virus replication occurring in infected cells that live significantly longer than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected human cells. To this end, we treated six SIV-infected SMs with potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) and longitudinally measured the decline in plasma viremia. We applied the same mathematical models used in HIV-infected individuals and observed that SMs naturally infected with SIV also present a two-phase decay of viremia following ART, with the bulk (92 to 99%) of virus replication sustained by short-lived cells (average life span, 1.06 days), and only 1 to 8% occurring in longer-lived cells. In addition, we observed that ART had a limited impact on CD4(+) T cells and the prevailing level of T-cell activation and proliferation in SIV-infected SMs. Collectively, these results suggest that in SIV-infected SMs, similar to HIV type 1-infected humans, short-lived activated CD4(+) T cells, rather than macrophages, are the main source of virus production. These findings indicate that a short in vivo life span of infected cells is a common feature of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic primate lentivirus infections and support a model for AIDS pathogenesis whereby the direct killing of infected cells by HIV is not the main determinant of disease progression.     

磷酸盐饥饿时番茄幼苗根部质膜蛋白组分的变化

对处于磷酸盐饥饿条件下的番茄幼苗根部质膜以及去除质膜的其他膜部分的蛋白质含量及组分的变化进行了检测。结果显示,磷酸盐饥饿第７ｄ时,受胁迫苗根部质膜及去除质膜的其他膜蛋白质含量与各自的对照相当。而ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ的结果表明,磷酸盐饥饿第７ｄ时受胁迫苗根部质膜蛋白质中出现４条对照中所没有的新的多肽（分子量分别为３４ｋＤ,３６ｋＤ,４６ｋＤ和４９ｋＤ）。该结果经浓度梯度电泳得到进一步的证实。本文推测在受     

Cadherins expression during gamete maturation and fertilization in the rat

A role for adhesion molecules in gamete fusion, preceding fertilization, has been previously suggested. We investigated the presence of cadherins, Ca(2+) dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules, in rat oocytes and spermatozoa using an anti-pan-cadherin antibody and specific antibodies against the 3 classical cadherins: E- (epithelial), P- (placental), and N- (neural) cadherins. Electrophoretic separation was performed on samples of lysed oocytes of different stages: germinal vesicle oocytes, metaphase II eggs, newly fertilized and 2-cell embryos, as well as spermatozoa from testes, caput and cauda epididymis and ejaculate. Localization of cadherins was determined on intact, gametes by immunocytochemistry, using confocal microscopy. Immunoblotting with the pan-cadherin antibody revealed a major band of approximately 120 kD in all oocyte and sperm extracts. Oocytes presented E-cadherin at appropriate molecular weight but N-cadherin only as a specific 40 kD band. In sperm lysate, at all stages, both E- and N-cadherin were demonstrated as major protein bands but a series of lower molecular weight proteins (that may represent protein degradation) were also detected. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed that E- and N-cadherins are already present on the plasma membrane of immature unfertilized oocytes, although their concentration increases after fertilization in early cleavage stage embryos. Cadherin localization on spermatozoa changed during maturation from a dispersed pattern over the entire head plasma membrane of testicular spermatozoa to a restricted equatorial and post-acrosomal plasma membrane staining in ejaculated spermatozoa. These findings suggest a specific cadherin organization at the fusogenic domains of both gametes.     

Limited and selective transfer of plasma membrane glycoproteins to membrane of secondary lysosomes

Radioactive galactose, covalently bound to cell surface glycoconjugates on mouse macrophage cells, P388D1, was used as a membrane marker to study the composition, and the kinetics of exchange, of plasma membrane-derived constituents in the membrane of secondary lysosomes. Secondary lysosomes were separated from endosomes and plasma membrane on self-forming Percoll density gradients. Horseradish peroxidase, taken up by fluid-phase pinocytosis, served as a vesicle contents marker to monitor transfer of endosomal contents into secondary lysosomes. Concurrently, the fraction of plasma membrane-derived label in secondary lysosomes increased by first order kinetics (k = [56 min]-1) from less than 0.1% (background level) to a steady-state level of approximately 2.5% of the total label. As analyzed by NaDodSO4 PAGE, labeled molecules of Mr 160-190 kD were depleted and of Mr 100-120 kD were enriched in lysosome membrane compared with the relative composition of label on the cell surface. No corresponding selectivity was observed for the degradation of label, with all Mr classes being affected to the same relative extent. The results indicate that endocytosis-derived transfer of plasma membrane constituents to secondary lysosomes is a limited and selective process, and that only approximately 1% of internalized membrane is recycled via a membrane pool of secondary lysosomes.     

Expression of differentiation and age-related antigens on chicken erythroleukemia cells transformed by avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV)

Immature circulating chicken red cells express on their surface two antigenic molecules referred to as Im 48 kD and Im 140 kD antigens. The Im 140 kD antigen is not present beyond the erythroblast stage while the expression of Im 48 kD antigenic molecule remains detectable on circulating erythrocytes of embryos and young chickens, but not on erythrocytes of adult animals. In addition to Im 48 kD and Im 140 kD antigens, the avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV)-transformed erythroid cells express two novel high molecular weight (MW) immature antigens referred to as Im 150 kD and Im 160 kD. Since the transformed erythroid cells are apparently blocked at a stage close to the colony-forming units erythrocytic (CFU-E), these molecules might be expressed on these progenitor cells. The age-related antigenic molecules referred to as E1 48 kD and A 40 kD/A 85 kD antigens are detected on erythrocytes of embryos (and young chickens) and adult animals respectively. The E1 48 kD antigen as well as an antigen related to the A 40 kD were also detected on AEV-transformed erythroid cells deriving from both young chicken bone marrow and yolk sac. The presence of an adult antigen on the embryonic cells might well be related to the transformation by AEV, since the yolk sac CFU-E progenitor cells do not bear the adult antigenicity.     

Xenopus MHC class II molecules. I. Identification and structural characterization

Class II antigens from the Xenopus laevis MHC (f haplotype) were identified by using a rabbit antihuman class II beta-chain serum (anti-p29boost). This xenoantiserum inhibits bidirectional Xenopus MLR (but not PHA-stimulation), recognizes the same molecules as certain MHC-linked Xenopus alloantisera, and immunoprecipitates class II molecules from Xenopus cells consistent with the tissue distribution of mammalian class II molecules. The Xenopus class II molecules are composed of two different chains, both of which are 30 to 35kD transmembrane glycoproteins. The alpha-chains have some N-terminal sequence homology with mammalian class II alpha-chains (both I-E/DR and I-A/DC); the beta-chains are directly recognized by anti-p29boost and have a markedly increased SDS gel mobility under nonreducing conditions. During biosynthesis, they are noncovalently associated with a number of other chains, including ones at 25kD, 33kD, and 40 to 45kD. The alpha-chains bear three N-linked glycans (two Endo H insensitive in mature material) and the beta-chains bear two (one Endo H insensitive). Unlike most mammalian class II molecules, the deglycosylated beta-chains are significantly larger and more acidic than the alpha-chains.     

Humoral response of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata to trematode infection: observations on a circulating hemagglutinin

The hemolymph of invertebrates often contains molecules that agglutinate vertebrate erythrocytes and that may function as humoral mediators of "non-self" recognition. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine if exposure of M line or 10-R2 strain Biomphalaria glabrata snails to infection with the trematodes Echinostoma paraensei and Schistosoma mansoni could increase agglutinating activity in snail hemolymph, and 2) identify particular hemolymph molecules with such activity. In some host-parasite combinations, such as juvenile M line snails and E. paraensei, infection provoked significant elevations in titer from as early as 2 days postinfection (dpi) through 15 dpi. In other combinations, as with 10-R2 snails and E. paraensei or S. mansoni, host responses were comparatively modest, yet still measurable. In general, E. paraensei and S. mansoni elicited different responses from the same host strain, and M line and 10-R2 snails responded differently to the same parasite. Further study of the response of juvenile M line snails to E. paraensei indicated that hemolymph agglutinating activity could be inhibited by several monosaccharides (including L-fucose) and by EDTA and EGTA. An affinity column containing L-fucose agarose beads was used to purify molecules with agglutinating activity from the hemolymph of such snails. The fraction eluted from the column by 0.2 M L-fucose was shown by SDS-PAGE to contain a broad band of 80-120 kD and, less consistently, a 200 kD band. Following extensive dialysis to remove L-fucose, this fraction had agglutinating activity. As a previous study has shown that the hemolymph of E. paraensei-infected snails contains significantly increased quantities of 80-120 kD polypeptides, it is concluded that polypeptides in this size range are responsible, at least in part, for the increased hemolymph agglutination activity in such snails.     

非洲爪蟾孵化酶分子对卵黄膜作用方式的研究

非洲爪蟾的孵化液对卵黄膜和二甲基酷蛋白具有降妥活性。用非洲爪蟾孵化酶的特异性抗ＧＳＴ－ＵＶ．２抗体进行Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ杂交的结果表明,孵化液中出现一种分子量为６０ｋＤ的大组分,有时也会出现一种分子量为４０ｋＤ的小组分。     

Conserved Region Amplification Polymorphism (CoRAP), a Novel Marker Technique for Plant Genotyping in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia miltiorrhiza</Emphasis>

Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), a widely popular Chinese herb, is grown in various regions in China. Identifying SMs grown in different provinces of China is difficult, and therefore genotyping these collections would be highly valuable. Based on the techniques of sequence-related amplified polymorphism and target region amplified polymorphism, a novel PCR-based molecular marker technique called conserved region amplification polymorphism (CoRAP) is reported in this study to genotype SMs. The CoRAP technique is based on the use of two primers: fixed and arbitrary primers. The former is derived from target EST sequences deposited in Genbank; while, the core sequence (CACGC) of the latter is a conserved region found in most introns. In the present study, we utilized CoRAP to genotype SMs from different geographical origins. PCR amplification is performed for 30 cycles at an annealing temperature of 52°C. Each PCR reaction has generated as many as 30–50 fragments of 50 to 1,000 bp in size. The successful DNA genotyping of SMs by CoRAP was achieved. This new genotyping method is rapid, efficient, and reproducible.     

Protein Kinases in Zucchini (Characterization of Calcium-Requiring Plasma Membrane Kinases)

Using an in situ phosphorylation assay with zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L. cv Dark Green) seedling tissue, we have identified numerous polypeptides that are capable of acting as protein kinases. Total protein preparations from different organs contain different kinase profiles, but all are within the range of 55 to 70 kD. At least four kinases are associated with highly purified plasma membranes from etiolated zucchini hypocotyls. The major phosphorylated polypeptides from plasma membranes range in apparent molecular mass from 58 to 68 kD. The plasma membrane kinases are activated by micromolar concentrations of calcium and phosphorylate serine, and, to a lesser extent, threonine residues. These characteristics are similar to those of a soluble calcium-dependent protein kinase that has been purified to homogeneity from soybean suspension cultures. Three of the zucchini plasma membrane kinases share antigenic epitopes with the soluble soybean kinase. The presence of kinase activity at different apparent molecular masses may be indicative of separate kinases with similar characteristics. The zucchini hypocotyl protein kinases are not removed from plasma membrane vesicles by 0.5 M NaCl/5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate or by detergent concentrations below the critical micelle concentration of two types of detergent. This indicates that the plasma membrane protein kinases are tightly associated with the membrane in zucchini seedlings.