Molecular characterization and chromosomal assignment of the canine protein C gene

Protein C is a precursor to a serine protease present in the plasma that plays an important physiological role in the regulation of blood coagulation. Mutations in the human protein C gene have been linked to some cases of Morbus Perthes disease, a thrombophilic condition that results in aseptic necrosis of the femur head and neck. We have cloned the canine protein C gene to investigate whether Morbus Perthes disease in dogs is also caused by mutations within this gene. A genomic λFIXII clone was isolated, and 11,420 bp of DNA sequence were determined containing the complete protein C gene (Acc No. AJ001979). As in humans, the gene consists of nine exons with the translation start codon located in the second exon. The 1.7-kb mRNA contains a 1368-bp open reading frame coding for 456 amino acids. With the genomic protein C clone as a probe in a FISH experiment, the canine protein C gene was assigned to Chromosome (Chr) 19q21-q22. To search for possible mutations, we amplified genomic DNA from one healthy and 15 clinically and pathohistologically confirmed Morbus Perthes patients. Sequence analysis did not reveal any amino acid differences between the affected dogs and the normal control. Several nucleotide polymorphisms were detected, which however, did not result in an amino acid exchange. From these data we conclude that in contrast to human, canine Morbus Perthes disease is most likely not caused by mutations within the protein C gene. Received: 24 June 1998 / Accepted: 18 September 1998     

Optimisation and evaluation of a high-throughput mammalian protein expression system

Transient transfection of mammalian cells with episomal vectors is a very useful method for producing high levels of recombinant proteins. Transient systems remove the need for the laborious and time-consuming process of creating stable cell lines. Here, we describe the optimisation and evaluation of a high-throughput transient expression system in HEK293-EBNA cells. The process was developed for the expression of 10 constructs simultaneously in deep-well plates and subsequent purification using 96-well plate affinity chromatography. This enabled multiple combinations of different constructs, vectors, and expression conditions to be studied in parallel.     

The inhibitory effect of ErbB2 on epidermal growth factor-induced formation of clathrin-coated pits correlates with retention of epidermal growth factor receptor-ErbB2 oligomeric complexes at the plasma membrane

By constructing stably transfected cells harboring the same amount of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR), but with increasing overexpression of ErbB2, we have demonstrated that ErbB2 efficiently inhibits internalization of ligand-bound EGFR. Apparently, ErbB2 inhibits internalization of EGF-bound EGFR by constitutively driving EGFR-ErbB2 hetero/oligomerization. We have demonstrated that ErbB2 does not inhibit phosphorylation or ubiquitination of the EGFR. Our data further indicate that the endocytosis deficiency of ErbB2 and of EGFR-ErbB2 heterodimers/oligomers cannot be explained by anchoring of ErbB2 to PDZ-containing proteins such as Erbin. Instead, we demonstrate that in contrast to EGFR homodimers, which are capable of inducing new clathrin-coated pits in serum-starved cells upon incubation with EGF, clathrin-coated pits are not induced upon activation of EGFR-ErbB2 heterodimers/oligomers.     

Nectarin IV, a potent endoglucanase inhibitor secreted into the nectar of ornamental tobacco plants. Isolation, cloning, and characterization

We have isolated and characterized the Nectarin IV (NEC4) protein that accumulates in the nectar of ornamental tobacco plants (Nicotiana langsdorffii x Nicotiana sanderae var LxS8). This 60-kD protein has a blocked N terminus. Three tryptic peptides of the protein were isolated and sequenced using tandem mass spectroscopy. These unique peptides were found to be similar to the xyloglucan-specific fungal endoglucanase inhibitor protein (XEGIP) precursor in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and its homolog in potato (Solanum tuberosum). A pair of oligonucleotide primers was designed based on the potato and tomato sequences that were used to clone a 1,018-bp internal piece of nec4 cDNA from a stage 6 nectary cDNA library. The remaining portions of the cDNA were subsequently captured by 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Complete sequencing of the nec4 cDNA demonstrated that it belonged to a large family of homologous proteins from a wide variety of angiosperms. Related proteins include foliage proteins and seed storage proteins. Based upon conserved identity with the wheat (Triticum aestivum) xylanase inhibitor TAXI-1, we were able to develop a protein model that showed that NEC4 contains additional amino acid loops that are not found in TAXI-1 and that glycosylation sites are surface exposed. Both these loops and sites of glycosylation are on the opposite face of the NEC4 molecule from the site that interacts with fungal hemicellulases, as indicated by homology to TAXI-I. NEC4 also contains a region homologous to the TAXI-1 knottin domain; however, a deletion in this domain restructures the disulfide bridges of this domain, resulting in a pseudoknottin domain. Inhibition assays were performed to determine whether purified NEC4 was able to inhibit fungal endoglucanases and xylanases. These studies showed that NEC4 was a very effective inhibitor of a family GH12 xyloglucan-specific endoglucanase with a K(i) of 0.35 nm. However, no inhibitory activity was observed against other family GH10 or GH11 xylanases. The patterns of expression of the NEC4 protein indicate that, while expressed in nectar at anthesis, it is most strongly expressed in the nectary gland after fertilization, indicating that inhibition of fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes may be more important after fertilization than before.     

Detection of 5'- and 3'-UTR-derived small RNAs and cis-encoded antisense RNAs in Escherichia coli

Evidence is accumulating that small, noncoding RNAs are important regulatory molecules. Computational and experimental searches have led to the identification of ~60 small RNA genes in Escherichia coli. However, most of these studies focused on the intergenic regions and assumed that small RNAs were >50 nt. Thus, the previous screens missed small RNAs encoded on the antisense strand of protein-coding genes and small RNAs of <50 nt. To identify additional small RNAs, we carried out a cloning-based screen focused on RNAs of 30–65 nt. In this screen, we identified RNA species corresponding to fragments of rRNAs, tRNAs and known small RNAs. Several of the small RNAs also corresponded to 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) and internal fragments of mRNAs. Four of the 3′-UTR-derived RNAs were highly abundant and two showed expression patterns that differed from the corresponding mRNAs, suggesting independent functions for the 3′-UTR-derived small RNAs. We also detected three previously unidentified RNAs encoded in intergenic regions and RNAs from the long direct repeat and hok/sok elements. In addition, we identified a few small RNAs that are expressed opposite protein-coding genes and could base pair with 5′ or 3′ ends of the mRNAs with perfect complementarity.     

Structure-activity relationship study of novel tissue transglutaminase inhibitors

Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one acylhydrazide derivatives were discovered as moderately potent inhibitors of TGase 2 (tissue transglutaminase) utilizing a fluorescence-based assay that measured TGase 2 catalyzed incorporation of the dansylated Lys derivative alpha-N-Boc-Lys-CH(2)-CH(2)-dansyl into the protein substrate N,N-dimethylated-casein. A SAR study revealed that the acylhydrazide thioether side-chain and the thiophene ring were critical to inhibitory activity.     

Human high density lipoproteins are platforms for the assembly of multi-component innate immune complexes

Human innate immunity to non-pathogenic species of African trypanosomes is provided by human high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Here we show that native human HDLs containing haptoglobin-related protein (Hpr), apolipoprotein L-I (apoL-I) and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) are the principle antimicrobial molecules providing protection from trypanosome infection. Other HDL subclasses containing either apoA-I and apoL-I or apoA-I and Hpr have reduced trypanolytic activity, whereas HDL subclasses lacking apoL-I and Hpr are non-toxic to trypanosomes. Highly purified, lipid-free Hpr and apoL-I were both toxic to Trypanosoma brucei brucei but with specific activities at least 500-fold less than those of native HDLs, suggesting that association of these apolipoproteins within the HDL particle was necessary for optimal cytotoxicity. These studies show that HDLs can serve as platforms for the assembly of multiple synergistic proteins and that these assemblies may play a critical role in the evolution of primate-specific innate immunity to trypanosome infection.     

Validation and use of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to West Nile virus in American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida

In October 2002, West Nile virus (WNV) was identified in farmed American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida showing clinical signs and having microscopic lesions indicative of central nervous system disease. To perform seroepidemiologic studies, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to determine exposure of captive and wild alligators to WNV. To validate the test, a group of WNV-seropositive and -seronegative alligators were identified at the affected farm using hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). The indirect ELISA utilized a rabbit anti-alligator immunoglobulins polyclonal antibody as the secondary antibody, and inactivated WNV-infected Vero cells were used as the coating antigen. For all samples (n=58), the results of the ELISA were consistent with the HAI and PRNT findings. Plasma was collected from 669 free-ranging alligators from 21 sites across Florida in April and October 2003. Four samples collected in April and six in October were positive for WNV antibodies using HAI, PRNT, and the indirect ELISA. This indicated that wild alligators in Florida have been exposed to WNV. These findings can be used as a baseline for future surveys.     

The establishment of an ELISA for the detection of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) in the serum of pregnant cows and heifers

The pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are a large gene family expressed in trophoblast cells of ruminant ungulates. The detection of PAGs (more specifically, PAG-1) in maternal serum has served as the basis for pregnancy detection in cattle. Unfortunately, PAG-1 and/or antigenically-related PAGs exhibit a long half-life in maternal serum (>8 d) and can be detected 80-100 d post-partum, thereby producing false positives in animals bred within 60-d of calving. The goal of the present studies was to develop a monoclonal-based assay that targeted early-pregnancy PAGs whose persistence in maternal serum post-partum might be relatively short-lived. Three anti-PAG monoclonal antibodies that recognized distinct subsets of PAGs were selected and used as trapping reagents in a 'sandwich' type of enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). A polyclonal antiserum with broad specificity was used for detecting bound PAGs. A total of 42 cows and heifers were bled daily on day 15, days 22 to 28, and then weekly throughout pregnancy and for 10 weeks (approximately 70 d) into the post-partum period. The ELISA was able to detect PAG in maternal serum of all animals unambiguously by day 28 post-insemination (PAG concentration: 8.75 +/- 3.04 ng/mL). In maternal serum, PAG concentrations peaked during the week of parturition at 588.9 +/- 249.9 ng/mL, and after calving, PAG was completely cleared (half-life: 4.3 d) by eight-week post-partum in 38 of 40 of the animals tested and was at very low concentrations in the remaining two (1.4 and 4.9 ng/mL, respectively). In summary, a monoclonal-based assay has been established that is sensitive enough to detect PAG in maternal serum by the forth week of pregnancy, but does not suffer from carry-over of antigen from a previous pregnancy.     

Herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA polymerase requires the mammalian chaperone hsp90 for proper localization to the nucleus

Many viruses and bacteriophage utilize chaperone systems for DNA replication and viral morphogenesis. We have previously shown that in the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-infected cell nucleus, foci enriched in the Hsp70/Hsp40 chaperone machinery are formed adjacent to viral replication compartments (A. D. Burch and S. K. Weller, J. Virol. 78:7175-7185, 2004). These foci have now been named virus-induced chaperone-enriched (VICE) foci. Since the Hsp90 chaperone machinery is known to engage the Hsp70/Hsp40 system in eukaryotes, the subcellular localization of Hsp90 in HSV-1-infected cells was analyzed. Hsp90 is found within viral replication compartments as well as in the Hsp70/Hsp40-enriched foci. Geldanamycin, an inhibitor of Hsp90, results in decreased HSV-1 yields and blocks viral DNA synthesis. Furthermore, we have found that the viral DNA polymerase is mislocalized to the cytoplasm in both infected and transfected cells in the presence of geldanamycin. Additionally, in the presence of an Hsp90 inhibitor, proteasome-dependent degradation of the viral polymerase was detected by Western blot analysis. These data identify the HSV-1 polymerase as a putative client protein of the Hsp90 chaperone system. Perturbations in this association appear to result in degradation, aberrant folding, and/or intracellular localization of the viral polymerase.