Protein microarray signature of autoantibody biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer

Cancer patients spontaneously generate autoantibodies (AAb) to tumor-derived proteins. To detect AAb, we have probed novel high-density custom protein microarrays (NAPPA) expressing 4988 candidate tumor antigens with sera from patients with early stage breast cancer (IBC), and bound IgG was measured. We used a three-phase serial screening approach. First, a prescreen was performed to eliminate uninformative antigens. Sera from stage I-III IBC (n = 53) and healthy women (n = 53) were screened for AAb to all 4988 protein antigens. Antigens were selected if the 95th percentile of signal of cases and controls were significantly different (p < 0.05) and if the number of cases with signals above the 95th percentile of controls was significant (p < 0.05). These 761 antigens were screened using an independent set of IBC sera (n = 51) and sera from women with benign breast disease (BBD) (n = 39). From these, 119 antigens had a partial area under the ROC curve (p < 0.05), with sensitivities ranging from 9-40% at >91% specificity. Twenty-eight of these antigens were confirmed using an independent serum cohort (n = 51 cases/38 controls, p < 0.05). Using all 28 AAb, a classifier was identified with a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 61.6% (AUC = 0.756). These are potential biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer.     

Cross-species transmission of a novel adenovirus associated with a fulminant pneumonia outbreak in a new world monkey colony

Adenoviruses are DNA viruses that naturally infect many vertebrates, including humans and monkeys, and cause a wide range of clinical illnesses in humans. Infection from individual strains has conventionally been thought to be species-specific. Here we applied the Virochip, a pan-viral microarray, to identify a novel adenovirus (TMAdV, titi monkey adenovirus) as the cause of a deadly outbreak in a closed colony of New World monkeys (titi monkeys; Callicebus cupreus) at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC). Among 65 titi monkeys housed in a building, 23 (34%) developed upper respiratory symptoms that progressed to fulminant pneumonia and hepatitis, and 19 of 23 monkeys, or 83% of those infected, died or were humanely euthanized. Whole-genome sequencing of TMAdV revealed that this adenovirus is a new species and highly divergent, sharing <57% pairwise nucleotide identity with other adenoviruses. Cultivation of TMAdV was successful in a human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell line, but not in primary or established monkey kidney cells. At the onset of the outbreak, the researcher in closest contact with the monkeys developed an acute respiratory illness, with symptoms persisting for 4 weeks, and had a convalescent serum sample seropositive for TMAdV. A clinically ill family member, despite having no contact with the CNPRC, also tested positive, and screening of a set of 81 random adult blood donors from the Western United States detected TMAdV-specific neutralizing antibodies in 2 individuals (2/81, or 2.5%). These findings raise the possibility of zoonotic infection by TMAdV and human-to-human transmission of the virus in the population. Given the unusually high case fatality rate from the outbreak (83%), it is unlikely that titi monkeys are the native host species for TMAdV, and the natural reservoir of the virus is still unknown. The discovery of TMAdV, a novel adenovirus with the capacity to infect both monkeys and humans, suggests that adenoviruses should be monitored closely as potential causes of cross-species outbreaks.     

ERK-MAPK drives lamellipodia protrusion by activating the WAVE2 regulatory complex

Cell movement begins with a leading edge protrusion, which is stabilized by nascent adhesions and retracted by mature adhesions. The ERK-MAPK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase-mitogen-activated protein kinase) localizes to protrusions and adhesions, but how it regulates motility is not understood. We demonstrate that ERK controls protrusion initiation and protrusion speed. Lamellipodial protrusions are generated via the WRC (WAVE2 regulatory complex), which activates the Arp2/3 actin nucleator for actin assembly. The WRC must be phosphorylated to be activated, but the sites and kinases that regulate its intermolecular changes and membrane recruitment are unknown. We show that ERK colocalizes with the WRC at lamellipodial leading edges and directly phosphorylates two WRC components: WAVE2 and Abi1. The phosphorylations are required for functional WRC interaction with Arp2/3 and actin during cell protrusion. Thus, ERK coordinates adhesion disassembly with WRC activation and actin polymerization to promote productive leading edge advancement during cell migration.     

Integrated approach to produce a recombinant, His-tagged human α-galactosidase A in mammalian cells

Successful production of recombinant proteins (r-proteins) by transient gene expression (TGE) depends on several parameters (including producer cells, culture conditions, transfection procedure, or expression vector) that should be optimized when producing any recombinant product. In this work, TGE-based production of human α-galactosidase A (GLA) is described. Producer cells, expression vectors, and parameters influencing cell metabolism after transfection have been tested. The enzyme is secreted, has the right molecular weight, and is enzymatically active. Productivities of up to 30-40 mg/L have been achieved, with a simple, fast procedure. A 6 × His tag allows enzyme purification in a single step, rendering a highly pure product. We propose a TGE-based protocol able to produce up to several milligrams per liter of highly pure, active GLA in a time as short as a few days. By this, enough amounts of engineered versions of the enzyme can be easily produced to be tested in vitro or in preclinical trials.     

Serine/threonine protein kinase PrkA of the human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes: biochemical characterization and identification of interacting partners through proteomic approaches

Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of listeriosis, a very serious food-borne human disease. The analysis of the proteins coded by the L. monocytogenes genome reveals the presence of two eukaryotic-type Ser/Thr-kinases (lmo1820 and lmo0618) and a Ser/Thr-phosphatase (lmo1821). Protein phosphorylation regulates enzyme activities and protein interactions participating in physiological and pathophysiological processes in bacterial diseases. However in the case of L. monocytogenes there is scarce information about biochemical properties of these enzymes, as well as the physiological processes that they modulate. In the present work the catalytic domain of the protein coded by lmo1820 was produced as a functional His(6)-tagged Ser/Thr-kinase, and was denominated PrkA. PrkA was able to autophosphorylate specific Thr residues within its activation loop sequence. A similar autophosphorylation pattern was previously reported for Ser/Thr-kinases from related prokaryotes, whose role in kinase activity and substrate recruitment was demonstrated. We studied the kinase interactome using affinity chromatography and proteomic approaches. We identified 62 proteins that interact, either directly or indirectly, with the catalytic domain of PrkA, including proteins that participate in carbohydrates metabolism, cell wall metabolism and protein synthesis. Our results suggest that PrkA could be involved in the regulation of a variety of fundamental biological processes.     

The fission yeast MO25 protein functions in polar growth and cell separation

Proteins of the MO25 family are widely conserved but their function has not been characterized in detail. Human MO25 is a cofactor of LKB1, a conserved protein kinase with roles in cell polarity in nematodes, flies and mammalian cells. Furthermore, the budding yeast MO25 homologue, Hym1, is important for cell separation and morphogenesis. We have characterized Pmo25p, the MO25 homologue in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Pmo25p is an essential protein required for polar growth; in its absence the actin cytoskeleton becomes depolarized and cells adopt a round morphology. In addition, pmo25 mutants are defective in cell separation. Both functions of Pmo25p appear to be mediated by the Orb6p–Mob2p kinase complex. Pmo25p shows no distinct localization during interphase, but it is recruited to one of the two spindle pole bodies during anaphase and to the division site during cytokinesis. The septation initiation network (SIN) regulates the localization of Pmo25p, suggesting that it regulates Pmo25p function during cell division.     

Assembly of TbetaRI:TbetaRII:TGFbeta ternary complex in vitro with receptor extracellular domains is cooperative and isoform-dependent

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) isoforms initiate signaling by assembling a heterotetrameric complex of paired type I (TbetaRI) and type II (TbetaRII) receptors on the cell surface. Because two of the ligand isoforms (TGFbetas 1, 3) must first bind TbetaRII to recruit TbetaRI into the complex, and a third (TGFbeta2) requires a co-receptor, assembly is known to be sequential, cooperative and isoform-dependent. However the source of the cooperativity leading to recruitment of TbetaRI and the universality of the assembly mechanism with respect to isoforms remain unclear. Here, we show that the extracellular domain of TbetaRI (TbetaRI-ED) binds in vitro with high affinity to complexes of the extracellular domain of TbetaRII (TbetaRII-ED) and TGFbetas 1 or 3, but not to either ligand or receptor alone. Thus, recruitment of TbetaRI requires combined interactions with TbetaRII-ED and ligand, but not membrane attachment of the receptors. Cell-based assays show that TbetaRI-ED, like TbetaRII-ED, acts as an antagonist of TGFbeta signaling, indicating that receptor-receptor interaction is sufficient to compete against endogenous, membrane-localized receptors. On the other hand, neither TbetaRII-ED, nor TbetaRII-ED and TbetaRI-ED combined, form a complex with TGFbeta2, showing that receptor-receptor interaction is insufficient to compensate for weak ligand-receptor interaction. However, TbetaRII-ED does bind with high affinity to TGFbeta2-TM, a TGFbeta2 variant substituted at three positions to mimic TGFbetas 1 and 3 at the TbetaRII binding interface. This proves both necessary and sufficient for recruitment of TbetaRI-ED, suggesting that the three different TGFbeta isoforms induce assembly of the heterotetrameric receptor complex in the same general manner.     

The new higher level classification of eukaryotes with emphasis on the taxonomy of protists

This revision of the classification of unicellular eukaryotes updates that of Levine et al. (1980) for the protozoa and expands it to include other protists. Whereas the previous revision was primarily to incorporate the results of ultrastructural studies, this revision incorporates results from both ultrastructural research since 1980 and molecular phylogenetic studies. We propose a scheme that is based on nameless ranked systematics. The vocabulary of the taxonomy is updated, particularly to clarify the naming of groups that have been repositioned. We recognize six clusters of eukaryotes that may represent the basic groupings similar to traditional "kingdoms." The multicellular lineages emerged from within monophyletic protist lineages: animals and fungi from Opisthokonta, plants from Archaeplastida, and brown algae from Stramenopiles.     

Rotavirus vp7 antigen produced by Lactococcus lactis induces neutralizing antibodies in mice

AIMS: To determine if live recombinant Lactococcus lactis strains expressing rotavirus VP7 antigen are immunogenic in mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the food-grade lactic acid bacterium L. lactis as a carrier, we expressed VP7, the major rotavirus outer shell protein and one of the main components of the infective particle, as a cytoplasmic, secreted or cell wall anchored forms. Our results showed that recombinant L. lactis strains secreting VP7 proved to be more immunogenic than strains containing the antigen in the cytoplasm or anchored to the cell wall. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first demonstration that recombinant L. lactis producing VP7 can induce the production of a neutralizing antibody response against rotavirus by the intragastric route. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Rotaviruses are the single most important aetiological agents of severe diarrhoea of infants and young children worldwide and have been estimated to be responsible for 650 000-800 000 deaths per year of children younger than 5 years old in development countries. Thus, the development of a safe and effective vaccine has been a global public health goal. Although two of five mice orally inoculated with L. lactis strains secreting VP7 elicited a specific-antibody response, these strains could be very useful to be used as a prototype to develop a new generation of protective rotavirus vaccines.