Proteinase Produced by Chlamydia psittaci in L Cells

L cells (mouse fibroblasts) infected with Chlamydia psittaci (strain meningopneumonitis) produced a proteinase differing in solubility in ammonium sulfate from the proteinase of uninfected L cells. Synthesis of the enzyme was inhibited by chloramphenicol but not by cycloheximide, indicating that the new proteinase in infected L cells was synthesized by Chlamydia psittaci. The chlamydial proteinase had no demonstrable ion requirements and was not inhibited by a variety of inhibitors of proteinase activity. Gel filtration experiments suggested a molecular weight of approximately 250,000. The proteinase appeared in infected L cells at the time host cells began to die and the large chlamydial cells began to reorganize into small ones. Some possible functions for the chlamydial proteinase were proposed.     

Cell Wall Synthesis by Chlamydia psittaci Growing in L Cells

Biochemical events accompanying changes in structure and behavior of the cell walls of Chlamydia psittaci strain 6BC during its developmental cycle in L cells (mouse fibroblasts) were studied by measuring at short intervals the effect of d-cycloserine and penicillin G on incorporation of labeled intermediates into acid-insoluble fractions of infected L cells in which host incorporation had been inhibited by cycloheximide and into intact chlamydial cells and cell walls separated from the infected L cells. d-Cycloserine enhanced the incorporation of (14)C-l-alanine at all times in the developmental cycle, but the incorporation of (14)C-l-lysine was always inhibited. In parallel experiments, penicillin G had no effect on incorporation of any of these intermediates, but when infected L cells incorporated (14)C-l-alanine in the presence of penicillin G, the labeled alanine was released more rapidly in the subsequent absence of the antibiotic than in its continued presence. When either penicillin G or d-cycloserine was present throughout the developmental cycle, C. psittaci continued to synthesize deoxyribonucleic acid and protein, but at less than normal rates.     

Experimental Chlamydia psittaci Infection of Japanese Quail

Japanese quail were used for the infection model of avian chlamydiosis. One-day-old Japanese quail were highly susceptible to lethal infection by a Chlamydia psittaci strain of budgerigar origin upon inoculation via the air sac route with 10^4.1 FFU of the organism, showing an acute and lethal course with chlamydial propagation. In contrast, 7-day-old quail developed resistance to the infection as shown by the lack of lethal effect with the same dose. The resistance of 7-day-old birds was abolished by immunosuppressive treatment with cyclophosphamide. Upon inoculation with a sublethal dose of 10^2.1 FFU, latent infection was established in 1-day-old birds with a minimum number of the organism. The latent infection in the birds was converted to the lethal form by treatment with cyclophosphamide along with chlamydial propagation and suppression of antibody production.     

Interaction of L Cells and Chlamydia psittaci: Entry of the Parasite and Host Responses to Its Development

The entry and development of Chlamydia psittaci in the L cell was studied by using purified, infectious parasites at high multiplicity. Entry of the parasite was accomplished by an act of phagocytosis by the host which was independent of an adsorption stage but was temperature-dependent. Kinetic studies of phagocytosis performed with (14)C-amino acid-labeled, purified parasites indicated that the rate of phagocytosis was directly proportional to the multiplicity of inoculation. Electron microscopy of cells infected at high multiplicity with purified infectious C. psittaci showed that phagocytosed chlamydiae were segregated in a host phagocytic vacuole throughout their developmental cycle which consisted of the transition of infecting elementary bodies to reticulate bodies dividing by binary fission, followed by the reemergence of a population of elementary bodies. The process of the transition was examined and a proposed sequence of intermediate bodies is presented. In isopycnic gradients of fractionated, infected L cells, chlamydial phagocytic vacuoles were apparent as a dense band distinct from lysosome and mitochondrion peaks, as indicated by acid phosphatase and cytochrome oxidase activities. Chlamydiae inactivated by heat or neutralized by antiserum were phagocytosed and appeared in lysosomes within 12 hr after infection according to electron microscopy; however, chlamydiae which were continuously inhibited in their development by chloramphenicol were retained intact in the cell for 24 hr without lysosomal response. The possibility of a lysosomal inhibitor on the native parasite is discussed.     

Neutralization of Chlamydia psittaci with Monoclonal Antibodies

Neutralization of Chlamydia (C.) psittaci avian strain P-1041 was examined in vitro using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Of the 10 MAbs used, 6 were found to exhibit neutralizing capability. These include 3 against major outer membrane protein (MOMP), 1 against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 2 against other protein molecules [90 kilodalton (kDa) and 90/50 kDa]. Most neutralizing MAbs were dependent on complement for efficient neutralization, while a strain-specific MAb (2B5) against the 90 kDa protein displayed a different requirement for complement and neutralized the infectivity of the P-1041 at high concentrations without complement. By competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (competitive inhibition ELISA), all 3 neutralizing anti-MOMP MAbs were demonstrated to recognize different epitopes found in very close proximity to each other on the outer membrane.     

Stability of the Nucleic Acids of L Cells After Infection with the Meningopneumonitis Agent

The stability of host nucleic acids in L cells infected with Chlamydia psittaci (strain meningopneumonitis) was studied. The L cells were prelabeled with either (32)P-orthophosphate, (3)H-uridine, or (3)H-thymidine. After infection, the redistribution of each label among the different fractions of host and parasite was quantitatively determined and compared. There were no signs of accelerated degradation of host nucleic acid as the consequence of meningopneumonitis infection. Comparison of the specific activities of the meningopneumonitis nucleic acids with that of the acid-soluble fraction of host cell cytoplasm suggested that the major source of precursors for parasite nucleic acid synthesis was the common cytoplasmic pool of the infected host cell.     

体外培养的哺乳动物细胞的葡萄糖和谷氨酰胺代谢

综述体外培养哺乳动物细胞的葡萄糖和谷氨酰胺代谢。大部分的葡萄糖通过糖酵解途径为细胞提供中间代谢物质和能量 ,最终生成乳酸 ,只有很少部分进入TCA循环和磷酸戊糖途径。谷氨酰胺通过谷氨酰胺酶生成谷氨酸 ,并进一步通过谷氨酸脱氢酶或转氨酶生成α -酮戊二酸进入TCA循环 ,为细胞提供中间代谢物质和能量。糖酵解和谷氨酰胺代谢 (glutaminolysis)受葡萄糖和谷氨酰胺的影响而相互调节。     

Lipid Composition of Chlamydia psittaci Growth in Monkey Kidney Cells in Defined Medium

The lipid compositions of (i) monkey kidney (MK-2) cells cultivated in Eagle's minimal essential medium (MEM) with 5% calf serum, (ii) MK-2 cells cultivated in Waymouth medium supplemented with 20 mug of sodium oleate and 2 mg of bovine albumin per ml, (iii) Chlamydia psittaci strain 6BC grown in the latter host system, and (iv) calf serum were compared. Strain 6BC contains 31% phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) and 15% phosphatidyl glycerol (PG), whereas the host cell contains almost the same amount of PE (27%) and no PG. A high concentration of total lipid was observed in strain 6BC (29 to 34%), whereas MK-2 cells contain only 9 to 15% and calf serum contains 4.5% total lipid. The fatty acids of the total lipid from strain 6BC contain branched-chain acids. These fatty acids were found mostly in PE (33.0%) and PG (37.0%). No branched-chain fatty acid was found in the MK-2 cells. There was an increase in triglyceride content when MK-2 cells cultivated in MEM (19.2%) were compared with cells cultivated in Waymouth medium (28.0%). A high concentration (62.0%) of octadecenoic acid (C18:1) was found in the triglyceride of MK-2 cells cultivated in Waymouth medium. The level of polyunsaturated fatty acids observed in MK-2 cells cultivated in Waymouth medium (10.8%) and in the chlamydiae grown in these cells (13.3%) was low compared with the level in MK-2 cells (28.8%) cultivated in MEM with 5% calf serum and the level in calf serum itself (50.8%). A higher ratio of sterol ester to free sterol was found in calf serum than in MK-2 cells or in chlamydiae. Host contribution to lipid composition of strain 6BC is discussed.     

Detection of Chlamydia psittaci by Immunofluorescence

A direct fluorescent-antibody (FA) test was developed to detect Chlamydia psittaci in dural impressions from specimen-inoculated mice. Technical procedures for the test were compared. C. psittaci was found in mice after infection as early by the FA technique as it was by cytochemical staining methods usually used. The lymphogranuloma venereum organism was also stained by conjugated antibody to C. psittaci. A distinctive advantage of the described FA test is that organisms are identified immunologically as members of the genus Chlamydia simultaneously with their detection.     

Sedimentation Changes of L Cells in a Density Gradient Early After Infection with Vaccinia Virus

By 2 h postinfection, LM cells infected with vaccinia virus show a shift in their distribution when separated on a Ficoll density gradient. This shift is dependent on both time and the multiplicity of infection and is due, at least in part, to an increase in cell size. Those cells which do shift in position in the gradient represent infected members of the population. Physical changes induced in virus-infected cells can be utilized for studying early events in virus replication.     

Immunoelectron microscopy of Chlamydia psittaci with monoclonal antibodies.

An immunoelectron microscopic study was performed to determine the distribution of antigenic components on particles of Chlamydia psittaci and infected cells using a number of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Of three anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibodies (4D5, A2 and 4G5), two antibodies (4D5 and A2) reacted with the surface of reticulate bodies (RBs) but not with that of elementary bodies (EBs). The other antibody (4G5) reacted with both EBs and RBs. Examination of infected cells in thin sections revealed that 4D5 and A2 combined with the membranes of both EBs and RBs. These results indicate that each LPS epitope localized at a different position in the chlamydial membrane. Most MAbs directed to protein antigens reacted on the surface of both EBs and RBs though 3E9 specific for the 90 kDa and 50 kDa protein components combined with RBs only.     

Effect of Abscisic Acid on Glucose Metabolism in Guard Cells of Vicia faba L.

The effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on the formation of osmoticallyactive solutes and on cell wall synthesis in guard cells wereexamined using sonicated abaxial epidermal strips of Vicia fabaL. incubated with ¹⁴C-glucose at pH 4 and 6. Radioactivity wasincorporated mainly into malate,sucrose, starch and cell-wallfractions. ¹⁴C- Glucose uptake by the guard cells was reducedwhen 1 µm ABA was added. Malate formation, which was moreactive at pH 6 than at 4, was inhibited by ABA at pH 6, butnot at pH 4. Conversion of ¹⁴C-glucose into ¹⁴C-sucrose wasstimulated by ABA at both pH values. Release of radio activesolutes (composed mainly of glucose and malate)from the guardcells into the medium was more active at pH 6 than at pH 4.ABA stimulated there lease at both pH values. Turnover of starchwas more remarkable when the pH value was 6. ABA inhibited thesynthesis of starch, but did not affect its degradation. Cell-wallsynthesis inthe guard cells was also inhibited by ABA, the inhibitionrate being greater at pH 4 than at pH 6.These results suggestthat ABA may have two different actions on stomatal movement:to changethe metabolic activities in the guard cells so as tolower the concentration of osmotically active solutes, and tochange the mechanical properties of cell walls by modulatingcell-wall metabolism. (Received September 7, 1987; Accepted November 30, 1987)     

Hemagglutinin in Cell Walls of Chlamydia psittaci

Intact purified elementary bodies (EB) of Chlamydia psittaci agglutinate chicken erythrocytes in low titer, whereas homogenates of EB and of EB cell walls agglutinate at much higher titers depending on the extent of disruption by shaking and sonication. The hemagglutinin is contained in the cell envelope and can be purified with cell wall fractions. Treatment of cell wall with sodium dodecyl sulfate completely inactivated the hemagglutinin. Purified hemagglutinin was found to have an identical polypeptide composition to EB cell walls. Preparations of purified reticulate forms, the reproductive intracellular form of the organism, were almost totally devoid of hemagglutinin.     

DMH1 Increases Glucose Metabolism through Activating Akt in L6 Rat Skeletal Muscle Cells

DMH1(4-[6-(4-Isopropoxyphenyl)pyrazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl] quinoline) is a compound C analogue with the structural modifications at the 3- and 6-positions in pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine backbone. Compound C was reported to inhibit both AMPK and Akt. Our preliminary work found that DMH1 activated Akt. Since Akt was involved in glucose metabolism, we aimed to identify the effects of DMH1 on glucose metabolism in L6 rat muscle cells and the potential mechanism. Results showed that DMH1 increased lactic acid release and glucose consumption in L6 rat muscle cells in a dose-dependent manner. DMH1 activated Akt in L6 cells. Akt inhibitor inhibited DMH1-induced Akt activation and DMH1-induced increases of glucose uptake and consumption. DMH1 had no cytotoxicity in L6 cells, but inhibited mitochondrial function and reduced ATP production. DMH1 showed no effect on AMPK, but in the presence of Akt inhibitor, DMH1 significantly activated AMPK. Compound C inhibited DMH1-induced Akt activation in L6 cells. Compound C inhibited DMH1-induced increase of glucose uptake, consumption and lactic acid release in L6 cells. DMH1 inhibited PP2A activity, and PP2A activator forskolin reversed DMH1-induced Akt activation. We concluded that DMH1 increased glucose metabolism through activating Akt and DMH1 activated Akt through inhibiting PP2A activity in L6 rat muscle cells. In view of the analogue structure of DMH1 and compound C and the contrasting effects of DMH1 and compound C on Akt, the present study provides a novel leading chemical structure targeting Akt with potential use for regulating glucose metabolism.     

基于RNA-seq技术研究埃可病毒30型感染RD细胞前后的差异表达基因

埃可病毒30型(Echovirus 30,E30)是一种全球传播的B组肠道病毒,常与无菌性脑膜炎等疾病暴发有关,分析E30在感染人横纹肌肉瘤(Human rhabdomyosarcoma,RD)细胞前后的差异表达基因有助于了解该病毒的复制周期以及宿主感染机制。本研究通过转录组测序技术探究E30感染RD细胞前后的基因表达谱变化,共检测到的1281个差异表达基因,其中包括730个下调基因和551个上调基因。基因本体论(Gene Ontology,GO)和京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes,KEGG)富集分析表明,显著差异表达基因主要参与细胞受体信号通路的调节、炎症反应、免疫细胞活化、调控细胞生命周期等。利用荧光定量PCR(Realtime quantitative PCR,qPCR)对其中9个与炎症和免疫反应相关的差异表达基因进行验证,发现DEAD-box解旋酶3(DEAD-box RNA helicase 3,DDX3)表达上调,这与转录组学分析一致。利用RK-33(DDX3的小分子抑制剂)靶向抑制DDX3的表达,发现RK-33能够抑制E30的复制,并且qPCR结果显示在抑制DDX3的表达后,GTP酶激活蛋白结合蛋白1(GTPase-activating protein-binding protein1,G3BP1)和干扰素调节因子3(Interferon Regulatory Factor 3,IRF3)的表达也出现不同程度地降低。本研究的结果提示DDX3表达可能影响E30复制,这一发现为进一步探索E30在感染宿主过程中的分子机制奠定基础。