基因工程表达产物的体外酰胺化加工

以Ｃ端为甘氨酸的修饰型人降钙素（ｍｈＣＴ－Ｇｌｙ）的融合蛋白为底物和利用重组酰胺化酶,研究建立基因工程表达产物的体外酰胺化加工系统。首先,人工合成ｍｈＣＴ－Ｇｌｙ基因,并构建其融合表达质粒ｐＧＥＸＣＴ,在大肠杆菌中获得了高效表达并通过新和层析分离纯化获得谷胱甘太Ｓ－转移酶（ＧＳＴ）融合蛋白（ＧＳＴ－ｍｈＣＴ－Ｇｌｙ）。同时,从稳定表达在鼠酰胺化酶的ＣＨＯ细胞株中制备了重组酶腕化酶。然后,利用此重组     

肠毒素性大肠杆菌ＣＳ６菌毛抗原与霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基在痢疾菌中的表达及其免疫

构建了携带asd、霍乱毒素Ｂ亚基（ＣＴＢ）基因的表达质粒pYX201,与福氏２a痢疾菌Ｔ３２的△asd突变株ＦaD构成宿主－质粒平衡致死系统,用于在没有抗生素选择压力的情况下,稳定表达ＣＴＢ抗原基因,以此为基础,构建了单独表达肠毒素性大肠杆菌ＣＳ２６菌毛抗原基因的重组质粒pYX202,以及同时表达ＣＳ６和ＣＴＢ的共表达质pYX203.Western blotting和ＥＬＩＳＡ检测结果证实ＣＳ６及ＣＴＢ在痢疾菌FaD中可以有效达。重组菌免疫家兔后可诱生相应的血清抗体,特别是ＣＴＢ的抗体效价较高,并持续较长时间。长研究为细菌性腹泻疫苗的研究提供了候选株。     

蛇毒类凝血酶鼠单克隆抗体的制备

采用杂交瘤技术,获得了４株稳定分泌抗蛇毒类凝血酶的单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株,均属ＩｇＧ１ｋ链,４株杂交瘤细胞培养上清液效价为 ４ × １０－１～４ × １０－２,腹水效价为 ４ × １０－１～３．２ ×１０－５。     

降钙素的基因结构与表达调控

降钙素与降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＴ／ＣＧＲＰ）基因编码一组多肽,即降钙素（ＣＴ）、降钙素的Ｎ端肽和Ｃ端肽、降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）及淀粉不溶素（Ａｍｙｌｉｎ）。ＣＴ／ＣＧＲＰ基因转录而成的ｍＲＮＡ前体,在不同组分中通过选择性加工形成ＣＴ ｍＲＮＡ或ＣＧＲＰｍＲＮＡ,再通过翻译及蛋白质加工,最后形成成熟的降钙素或降钙素基因相关肽。本简单介绍一下降钙素的基因结构及表达调控方面的研究进展。     

国产人ABO血型定型试剂稳定性观察

为了解国内人ＡＢＯ血型定型试剂的稳定性,随机对４个厂家生产的共２０批次的血型试剂置２－８℃条件下,定期进行稳定性观察,结果显示,所有试剂在其效期内,凝集效价均下降１－２个滴度,其中有二个批次的试剂在临近失效期时,效价已低于１：１２８,其余全部合格,合格率为９０％,说明目前国产人ＡＢＯ血型定型试剂的稳定性是良好的,同时提示该剂的稳定性还需进一步提高。     

中国Bt Ken－Ag最佳发酵培养基的优选及其发酵生理学研究

用正交试验方法选出ＢｔＫｅｎ－Ａｇ菌株的发酵培养基Ｍ３和ＦＢＨ２两个配方,其发酵液菌数可稳定的保持７０亿／ｍｌ,芽孢晶体形成率达８０－９０％,用ＦＢＨ２配方,对棉铃虫的毒力效价在２０００ＩＵ／μｌ以上。同时研究了在发酵培养基上的生长,ｐＨ变化、芽孢晶体形成以及糖、氮的代谢情况。     

含人IL－2基因的真核表达质粒的构建及其在真核细胞中的表达

本工作用ＰＣＲ由人的外周血单个核细胞。ｃＤＮＡ人中获取了带有信号肽的ＩＬ－２全ｃＤＮＡ克隆,并构建了不同的表达质粒：带有ＳＶ４０启动子的以质粒为载体的ｐＳＶＫ３－ＩＬ２和以逆转录病毒为载体的ｐＬＮ－ＩＬ２系列：ｐＬＮＣＩＬ２,ｐＬＮＳＩＬ２,ｐＬＩＬ２ＳＮ,它们分别带有ＣＭＶ、ＳＶ４０和ＬＴＲ启动子。用ＤＥＡＥ－Ｄｅｘｔｒａｎ法、ＳＡ→脂质体法和电穿孔等方法分别将这些ＩＬ－２表达质粒转染人ＣＯＳ－７及ＣＴＬＬ－２细胞中,测定不同时间细胞培养液上清中ＩＬ－２的量。结果表明,这些表达质粒在靶细胞中均有不同程度的一过性表达,ＩＬ－２的分泌至少可持续５天,转染后７２～９６小时ＩＬ－２产量最高,一般可达２８～３０Ｕ／ｍｌ,最高为５０Ｕ／ｍｌ。本工作比较了不同启动子和表达调控元件对ＩＬ－２表达的影响,还比较了在不同靶细胞中这些表达质粒产生ＩＬ－２的量。     

IL—2重组杆状病毒载体的构建及表达

将人白细胞介素２（ＩＬ－２）ｃＤＮＡ插入苜蓿银纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒（ＡｃＮ－ＰＶ）的转移载体ｐＶＬ１３９２中。经限制性酶切和ＤＮＡ杂交筛选、鉴定出重组转移载体ｐＶＬ１３９２－ＩＬ２。重组载体通过在昆虫细胞内共转染将ＩＬ－２ｃＤＮＡ转移到野生型ＡｃＮＰＶＤＮＡ中。经３２Ｐ标记探针鉴定出重组病毒Ａｃ１３９２－ＩＬ２。用重组病毒感染昆虫细胞,结果表达产物有明显刺激ＣＴＬＬ细胞生长,［３Ｈ］－ＴｄＲ掺入法检测ＩＬ－２活性为１５００ＩＵ／ｍ１。     

吗啡对福尔马林引起大鼠海马内IL-2RβmRNA表达的影响

本实验采用原位杂交法观察足底注射福尔马林（Ｆｏｒ）痛敏对海马内白细胞介素２受体βｍＲＮＡ（ＩＬ－２ＲβｍＲＮＡ）生成的影响及其与吗啡、促肾上腺皮质激素（ＡＣＴＨ）的关系。结果表明：正常大鼠海马有ＩＬ－２ＲβｍＲＮＡ表达,集中分布于ＣＡ１－ＣＡ４区神经元、齿状回颗粒细胞。足底注射Ｆｏｒ后６ｈ双侧海马ＩＬ－２ＲβｍＲＮＡ表达均增加（Ｐ〈０．０５）,１２ｈ达高峰,２４ｈ仍高于正常。在６ｈ时,腹腔注射吗啡     

白细胞介素—2活化DNA结合因子的研究

用凝胶阻滞分析的方法,发现鼠Ｔ淋巴细胞系ＣＴＬＬ－２在白细胞介素－２（ＩＬ－２）刺激下可活化一个结合因子,它与γ－干扰素活了列（ＧＡＳ）专一性结合,命名这个ＤＮＡ结合因子为白细胞介素－２活化核因子（ＩＬ－２－ＮＡＦ）,ＩＬ－２－ＮＡＦ的活化非常迅速,不需要新的蛋白质合成,并且它的活化程度随着ＩＬ－２刺激细胞的时间的不同而发生相应的变化,进一是步研究表明,ＩＬ－２－ＮＡＦ的活化过程是通过酪氨酸激酶的     

Is helodermin-like immunoreactivity in human thyroid C cells due to a salmon calcitonin-like substance?

Helodermin-like and salmon calcitonin (sCT)-like immunoreactivities co-existed in a subset of human calcitonin (hCT)-containing cells in normal human thyroid tissue and medullary thyroid carcinomas. Helodermin/sCT-immunoreactive cells were mostly different from calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-positive cells. Helodermin and sCT immunoreactivities were not identified in pulmonary and pancreatic hCT-positive neuroendocrine tumors, except for a few lung tumor cells showing positive staining with one of two sCT antisera used. Helodermin immunoreactivity demonstrated by rabbit antiserum R0086 was completely abolished in the presence of synthetic sCT, while sCT immunoreactivity was not absorbed by synthetic helodermin. The carboxyl terminal Arg30-Thr31 sequence (and Pro35 amide structure) of helodermin would be the epitopic site recognized by this antiserum, since a similar amino acid sequence is present in sCT molecules but absent from hCT and CGRP.     

Converting the highly amyloidogenic human calcitonin into a powerful fibril inhibitor by three-dimensional structure homology with a non-amyloidogenic analogue

Irreversible aggregation limits bioavailability and therapeutic activity of protein-based drugs. Here we show that an aggregation-resistant mutant can be engineered by structural homology with a non-amyloidogenic analogue and that the aggregation-resistant variant may act as an inhibitor. This strategy has successfully been applied to the amyloidogenic human calcitonin (hCT). Including only five residues from the non-amyloidogenic salmon calcitonin (sCT), we obtained a variant, polar human calcitonin (phCT), whose solution structure was shown by CD, NMR, and calculations to be practically identical to that of sCT. phCT was also observed to be a potent amyloidogenesis inhibitor of hCT when mixed with it in a 1:1 ratio. Fibrillation studies of phCT and the phCT-hCT mixture mimicked the sCT behavior in the kinetics and shapes of the fibrils with a dramatic reduction with respect to hCT. Finally, the effect of phCT alone and of the mixture on the intracellular cAMP level in T47D cells confirmed for the mutant and the mixture their calcitonin-like activity, exhibiting stimulation effects identical to those of sCT, the current therapeutic form. The strategy followed appears to be suitable to develop new forms of hCT with a striking reduction of aggregation and improved activity. Finally, the inhibitory properties of the aggregation-resistant analogue, if confirmed for other amyloidogenic peptides, may favor a new strategy for controlling fibril formation in a variety of human diseases.     

Amylin receptors mediate the anorectic action of salmon calcitonin (sCT)

The teleost salmon calcitonin (sCT), but not mammalian CT, shows similar biologic actions in the skeletal muscle as amylin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The peptides have also been shown to reduce food intake in rams. Because sCT, but not amylin, binds irreversibly to amylin binding sites, the aim of the present study was to compare the anorectic potency of both peptides. To determine whether sCT reduces food intake through interaction with amylin binding sites, we also tested whether appropriate antagonists (CORP 8-37, AC 187) attenuate the anorectic effect of sCT. Finally, we wanted to know whether rat calcitonin (rCT) and sCT reduce food intake to the same extent. Peptides were injected intraperitoneally at dark onset in 24 h food-deprived rats. At doses of 5 or 0.5 microg/kg, the anorectic effect of sCT was more potent and lasted much longer (e.g. 5 microg/kg: sCT > 10 h; amylin approx. 2 h) than that of amylin. Both CORP 8-37 and AC 187 (10 microg/kg) markedly reduced the anorectic action of sCT (0.5 microg/kg). In contrast to sCT, rCT (0.5 microg/kg) had no effect on food intake. It is concluded that sCT s anorectic effect is partly mediated by amylin receptors. Irreversible binding of sCT to amylin receptors may lead to a stronger and prolonged effect in comparison to amylin due to a sustained activation of the binding sites. Similar to other actions of CTs, the anorectic potency of sCT in rats was higher than that of mammalian (rat) CT. This agrees with binding profiles of amylin, sCT, and rCT at amylin binding sites as observed in in vitro studies.     

NMR characterization of monomeric and oligomeric conformations of human calcitonin and its interaction with EGCG

Calcitonin is a 32-residue peptide hormone known for its hypocalcemic effect and its inhibition of bone resorption. While calcitonin has been used in therapy for osteoporosis and Paget's disease for decades, human calcitonin (hCT) forms fibrils in aqueous solution that limit its therapeutic application. The molecular mechanism of fiber formation by calcitonin is not well understood. Here, high-resolution structures of hCT at concentrations of 0.3 mM and 1 mM have been investigated using NMR spectroscopy. Comparing the structures of hCT at different concentrations, we discovered that the peptide undergoes a conformational transition from an extended to a β-hairpin structure in the process of molecular association. This conformational transition locates the aromatic side chains of Tyr12 and Phe16 in a favorable way for intermolecular π-π stacking, which is proposed to be a crucial interaction for peptide association and fibrillation. One-dimensional (1)H NMR experiments confirm that oligomerization of hCT accompanies the conformational transition at 1 mM concentration. The effect of the polyphenol epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) on hCT fibrillation was also investigated by NMR and electron microscopy, which show that EGCG efficiently inhibits fibril formation of hCT by preventing the initial association of hCT before fiber formation. The NMR experiments also indicate that the interaction between aromatic rings of EGCG and the aromatic side chains of the peptide may play an important role in inhibiting fibril formation of hCT.     

Modulating calcitonin fibrillogenesis: an antiparallel alpha-helical dimer inhibits fibrillation of salmon calcitonin

We have investigated the prefibrillar state of salmon (s) and human (h) calcitonin (CT). Size exclusion chromatography at pH 3.3 and 7.4 indicates that sCT is present in solution as a dimer, whereas hCT elutes as a monomer at pH 3.3 and as monomer-dimer at pH 7.4. Guanidine hydrochloride unfolding experiments show that dimerization is stabilized by hydrophobic interactions. We investigated the dimeric structure by multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and calculations by using an sCT mutant (LAsCT) in which Pro23 and Arg24 were substituted for Leu23 and Ala24. As indicated by the Leu9-Tyr27 and Leu12-Leu19 contacts, the mutated hormone forms a head-to-tail dimer whose basic unit is an alpha-helix in the region Leu12-Tyr22. The solution behavior of LAsCT is identical to that of sCT, so the dimeric structure can safely be extended to sCT: we believe that such a structure inhibits fibril maturation in sCT. No stable dimer was observed for hCT, which we attributed to the absence of a defined helical structure. However, we suggest that intermolecular collisions of short ordered regions (for example, a sequence of turns) in hCT favors intermolecular contacts, and specific orientation can be obtained through hydrogen bond formation involving Tyr12, Phe16, and Phe19, with the aromatic ring acting as an acceptor. Taken together, our results indicate that hCT fibrillation can be reduced by favoring a helical dimer, obtainable by replacing the three aromatic amino acids with leucines.     

Inhibitory effects of calcitonin on adenylate cyclase activity in different rat brain areas

We have investigated the effect of calcitonin (CT) on adenylate cyclase in membranes from different rat brain areas. Salmon calcitonin (sCT) dose-dependently inhibited the enzyme activity in midbrain, hypothalamus, medulla, pons and caudate nucleus, but was ineffective in adenohypophysis. The inhibitory effect was enhanced by GTP. Comparison of calcitonins of different origin indicated that sCT was the most potent in inhibiting the enzyme in hypothalamic membranes, eel CT (eCT) was slightly less potent, and human CT (hCT) was ineffective. Chronic I.C.V. pretreatment with sCT did not modify the subsequent in vitro sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to sCT. It is concluded that some of CNS actions of CT might involve modulation of intracellular cAMP levels.     

Expression of Human Calcitonin by Microencapsulated Recombinant Myoblasts

A novel approach to treat post-menopausal osteoporosis is proposed by engineering cell lines for the secretion of human calcitonin (hCT) and which would then be suitable for implantation in different allogeneic hosts. Mouse myoblast were transfected with the cDNA for hCT using the liposome-based gene delivery technique and clones secreting of human calcitonin were isolated. Human calcitonin expression was detected by ELISA. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses also confirmed the plasmid, pcDNA3-hCT, had been transfected into the cells. Upon enclosure in microcapsules, which are biocompatible membranes that permit exit of therapeutic proteins but not entry of immune mediators, the myoblasts continued to secrete human calcitonin into the culture medium. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using these encapsulated recombinant myoblasts to deliver human calcitonin and the potential of allergenic gene therapy for postmenopausal osteoporosis.     

Biologically potent analogues of salmon calcitonin which do not contain an N-terminal disulfide-bridged ring structure

The disulfide bridge formed between the cysteine residues at positions 1 and 7 of salmon calcitonin (sCT) is not required for biological activity. The analogues [Ala1,7]sCT,[AcmCys1,7]sCT and [AmcCys1,Ala7]sCT (AcmC = S-acetamido-methylcysteine) are linear sequences which retain full hypocalcemic activity in the intact rat and ability to activate adenylate cyclase of rat renal membranes. The secondary structure of these peptides in aqueous solution in the presence or absence of lipid is not greatly perturbed by the opening of the disulfide ring. In contrast with salmon calcitonin, substitution of Cys by AcmCys in human calcitonin results in greatly reduced hypocalcemic activity but no loss in the ability of the peptide to activate renal adenylate cyclase. Thus in vitro activation of adenylate cyclase by human calcitonin analogues is not always correlated with in vivo hypocalcemic potency.     

Overexpression, purification and characterization of recombinant salmon calcitonin, a therapeutic protein, in Streptomyces avermitilis

Calcitonin (CT) is a peptide hormone produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland in mammals and by the ultimobranchial gland of birds and fish. Salmon calcitonin (sCT), which is more potent and longer lasting than human CT, has been used widely for the treatment of osteoporosis, paget's disease, hypercalcemic shock and chronic pain in terminal cancer patients. sCT is one of the many bioactive peptides that require C-terminal amidation for full biological activity. In this study we describe the over-expression and over-production of C-terminal amidated sCT in recombinant Streptomyces avermitilis. With this approach the utilization of expensive peptide synthesis can be circumvented.     

Effects of disulfide bond and cholesterol derivatives on human calcitonin amyloid formation

Human calcitonin (hCT) is a 32-residue peptide that aggregates to form amyloid fibrils under appropriate conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of the intramolecular disulfide bond formed at the N-terminal region of the peptide in the aggregation kinetics of hCT. Our results indicate that the presence of the disulfide bond in hCT plays a crucial role in forming the critical nucleus needed for fibril formation, facilitating the rate of hCT amyloidogenesis. Furthermore, we reported for the first time the effects of cholesterol, cholesterol sulfate, and 3β-[N-(dimethylaminoethane)carbamoyl]-cholesterol (DC-cholesterol) on the amyloid formation of oxidized hCT. Our results show that while cholesterol does not affect amyloidogenesis of oxidized hCT, high concentrations of cholesterol sulfate exhibits a moderate inhibiting activity on hCT amyloid formation. In particular, our results show that DC-cholesterol strongly inhibits amyloidogenesis of oxidized hCT in a dose-dependent manner. Further studies at different pH conditions imply the crucial impact of electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions in mediating the interplay of hCT and the surface of DC-cholesterol vesicles and the inhibiting function of DC-cholesterol on hCT fibrillization.