Gene deletion, a mechanism of induced mutation by arabinosyl nucleosides

9-β- -Arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine (F-ara-A) and 9-β- -arabinofuranosyladenine (ara-A) are purine nucleoside analogues which are incorporated into nucleic acids. This study demonstrates the mutagenic properties of F-ara-A and ara-A and provides evidence for mechanisms by which the arabinosyl nucleosides induce mutation. At the drug dosages that evoked exponential cell killing, F-ara-A and ara-A caused a significant increase in the number of 6-thioguanine-resistant mutants in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Southern analyses showed that 15 of 16 drug-induced mutants had lost all or part of the HPRT gene, whereas no loss of the gene was found in 4 spontaneous mutants. We conclude that both F-ara-A and ara-A induced mutation predominantly by causing deletion of genetic method. The remarkable frequency of gene deletion among these drug-induced mutations is discussed with respect to possible mechanisms of action of arabinosyl nucleosides in mutational studies.     

2D and 3D sulfate-water supramolecular networks templated via triazole-nickel(II) complexes

Tuning the substituents of triazoles, we obtained di- and tri-nuclearic triazole-nickel complexes [Ni₂(deatrz)₄(H₂O)₅](SO₄)₂ · 7H₂O (1) and [Ni₃(dmtrz)₆(H₂O)₆](SO₄)₃ · 21H₂O (2) (deatrz = 3,5-diethanyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole; dmtrz = 3,5-dimethanyl-1,2,4-triazole). The X-ray single-crystal diffraction results reveal that sulfate anions and water clusters form supramolecular networks in both complexes. In 1, a supramolecular two-dimensional structure was fabricated by nano-sized grid with novel tetramer water rings templated via binuclear-nickel(II) cations, while in 2, water molecules and sulfate anions construct the first sulfate-water three-dimensional supramolecular network as host to encapsulate trinuclear-nickel guests.     

Recombinant synthesis, purification, and nucleotide binding characteristics of the first nucleotide binding domain of the cystic fibrosis gene product.

The majority of mutations which lead to clinical cystic fibrosis are located within the two predicted nucleotide binding domains of the cystic fibrosis gene product. We have used a prokaryotic expression system to synthesize and purify the first nucleotide binding domain (NBD-1, amino acids 426-588) with and without the most common mutation associated with the disease (the deletion of phenylalanine at position 508, delta F508). Both wild type and delta F508 NBD-1 bind ATP-agarose in a quantitatively comparable manner; this binding was inhibited by excess Na2ATP, trinitrophenol-ATP, or 8-azido-ATP. Irreversible NBD-1 labeling by an ATP analog was demonstrated using [32P]8-azido-ATP. This covalent labeling was inhibited by preincubation with Na2ATP, with half-maximal inhibition for Na2ATP occurring at approximately 5 mM for both the wild type and delta F508 nucleotide binding domain. These experiments are among the first to confirm the expectation that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator NBD-1 binds nucleotide. Since, under the conditions used in our study, NBD-1 without phenylalanine 508 displays very similar nucleotide binding characteristics to the wild type protein, our results support previous structural models which predict that the delta F508 mutation should not cause an alteration in ATP binding.     

Helicoverpa armigera cadherin fragment enhances Cry1Ac insecticidal activity by facilitating toxin-oligomer formation

The interaction between Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal protein Cry1A and cadherin receptors in lepidopteran insects induces toxin oligomerization, which is essential for membrane insertion and mediates Cry1A toxicity. It has been reported that Manduca sexta cadherin fragment CR12-MPED and Anopheles gambiae cadherin fragment CR11-MPED enhance the insecticidal activity of Cry1Ab and Cry4Ba to certain lepidopteran and dipteran larvae species, respectively. This study reports that a Helicoverpa armigera cadherin fragment (HaCad1) containing its toxin binding region, expressed in Escherichia coli, enhanced Cry1Ac activity against H. armigera larvae. A binding assay showed that HaCad1 was able to bind to Cry1Ac in vitro and that this event did not block toxin binding to the brush border membrane microvilli prepared from H. armigera. When the residues ¹⁴²³GVLSLNFQ¹⁴³⁰ were deleted from the fragment, the subsequent mutation peptide lost its ability to bind Cry1Ac and the toxicity enhancement was also significantly reduced. Oligomerization tests showed that HaCad1 facilitates the formation of a 250-kDa oligomer of Cry1Ac-activated toxin in the midgut fluid environment. Oligomer formation was dependent upon the toxin binding to HaCad1, which was also necessary for the HaCad1-mediated enhancement effect. Our discovery reveals a novel strategy to enhance insecticidal activity or to overcome the resistance of insects to B. thuringiensis toxin-based biopesticides and transgenic crops.     

PSII-efficiency,polysaccharide production,and phenotypic plasticity of Scenedesmus obliquus in response to changes in metabolic carbon flux

To investigate the response of Scenedesmus obliquus to changes in metabolic carbon flux, S. obliquus was cultured in medium with different concentrations of glyoxylate over 9 days. Results showed that growth rates were not affected in the lower concentration glyoxylate (0.25 and 0.5 mM). However, growth rate of S. obliquus was inhibited in the higher concentration glyoxylate (0.85 and 1.25 mM) during the early phase before recovering at higher densities. Changes in growth rates in different glyoxylate concentrations were in line with changes in F_v/F_m and Φ_PSII. Colony formation was observed in S. obliquus in the four glyoxylate treatments. As a consequence, the mean number of cells per particle of S. obliquus in the glyoxylate treatments were significantly higher than those in the control. The total polysaccharide content of S. obliquus cells increased with increased glyoxylate concentrations. The increased glyoxylate-stimulated polysaccharide levels were directly correlated with colony size of S. obliquus.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the determination of verticinone in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study

We have developed and validated a sensitive liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric (LC–ESI-MS) method for the quantification of verticinone, a major active constituent from Fritillaria hupehensis Hsiao et KC Hsia., in rat plasma. Verticinone and the internal standard (IS), hupehenine, were extracted from plasma samples by a simple liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate after being alkalified by 1 M ammonia hydroxide. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ column using a gradient elution program with methanol and water as the mobile phase. The detection was performed by selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode via positive electrospray ionization (ESI) interface. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.1 ng/mL. The calibration curves were linear (r² > 0.998) over the concentration range of 0.1–200 ng/mL. Within- and between-run precision was less than 6.5% and accuracy was within ±10.7%. The validated method was applied to the pharmacokinetic study of verticinone in rats after a single oral administration of 1 mg/kg.     

Schistosoma japonicum: Cloning, expression and characterization of a gene encoding the α5-subunit of the proteasome

The development of an effective vaccine against the schistosome is thought to be the most desirable means to control schistosomiasis, even though there is an effective means of chemotherapy with praziquantel. A full-length cDNA encoding the Schistosoma japonicum proteasome subunit alpha type 5 protein (SjPSMA5) was first isolated from 18-day-schistosomulum cDNAs. The cDNA had an open reading frame (ORF) of 747 bp and encoded 248 amino acids. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that SjPSMA5 is up-regulated in 18-day and 32-day schistosomes, and the level of expression in male is around fourfold higher than that in female worms at 42 days. The SjPSMA5 was subcloned into pET28a(+) and expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. Western blotting showed that the recombinant SjPSMA5 (rSjPSMA5) was immunogenic. After immunization of BALB/c mice with rSjPSMA5, reductions of 23.29% and 35.24% were obtained in the numbers of worms and eggs in the liver, respectively. The levels of specific IgG antibodies and cells were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the group vaccinated with rSjPSMA5 combined with Seppic 206 adjuvant than in the other groups, as detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry. The study suggested that rSjPSMA5 induced partial immunoprotection against S. japonicum in BALB/c mice, and it could be a potential vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis.     

Cloning and characterization of a beta-glucosidase from marine microbial metagenome with excellent glucose tolerance

The demand for beta-glucosidases insensitive to product inhibition is increasing in modern biotechnology, for these enzymes would improve the process of saccharification of lignocellulosic materials. In this study, a beta-glucosidase gene which encodes a 442-amino-acid protein was isolated from a marine microbial metagenomic library by functional screening and named as bgl1A. The protein was identified to be a member of GH1 family, and was recombinantly expressed, purified and biochemically characterized. The recombinant beta-glucosidase, Bgl1A, exhibited high level of stability in the presence of various cations and high concentrations of NaCl. Interestingly, it was activated by glucose at concentrations lower than 400 mM. With glucose further increasing, the enzyme activity of Bgl1A was gradually inhibited, but remained 50% original value in even as high as 1,000 mM glucose. These findings indicate Bgl1A might be a potent candidate for industrial applications.     

First Experimental Evidence for the Presence of a CRISPR Toxin in Sulfolobus

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (cas) genes constitute the adaptive immune system in bacteria and archaea. Although the CRISPR-Cas systems have been hypothesized to encode potential toxins, no experimental data supporting the hypothesis are available in the literature. In this work, we provide the first experimental evidence for the presence of a toxin gene in the type I-A CRISPR system of hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus. csa5, under the control of its native promoter in a shuttle vector, could not be transformed into CRISPR-deficient mutant Sulfolobus solfataricus Sens1, demonstrating a strong toxicity in the cells. A single-amino-acid mutation destroying the intersubunit bridge of Csa5 attenuated the toxicity, indicative of the importance of Csa5 oligomerization for its toxicity. In line with the absence of Csa5 toxicity in S. solfataricus InF1 containing functional CRISPR systems, the expression of csa5 is repressed in InF1 cells. Induced from the arabinose promoter in Sens1 cells, Csa5 oligomers resistant to 1% SDS co-occur with chromosome degradation and cell death, reinforcing the connection between Csa5 oligomerization and its toxicity. Importantly, a rudivirus was shown to induce Csa5 expression and the formation of SDS-resistant Csa5 oligomers in Sulfolobus cells. This demonstrates that the derepression of csa5 and the subsequent Csa5 oligomerization take place in native virus-host systems. Thus, csa5 is likely to act as a suicide gene under certain circumstances to inhibit virus spreading.     

pKILLIN: a versatile positive-selection cloning vector based on the toxicity of Killin in Escherichia coli

The invention of DNA cloning over 40 years ago marked the advent of molecular biology. The technique has now become a routine practice in any modern biomedical laboratory. Although positive-selection of recombinants in DNA cloning seems to be superior to blue/white selection based on the disruption of the lacZ gene, it is rarely practiced due to its high background, lack of multiple cloning sites, and inability to express the genes of interest or purify the protein products. Here we report the creation of a new positive-selection cloning vector dubbed pKILLIN, which overcomes all of the above pitfalls. The essence behind its high cloning efficiency is the extreme toxicity and small size of the toxic domain of killin, a recently discovered p53 target gene. Insertion inactivation of killin within the multiple cloning site via either blunt- or sticky-end ligation not only serves as a highly efficient cloning trap, but also may allow any cloned genes to be expressed as His-tagged fusion proteins for subsequent purification. Thus, pKILLIN is a versatile positive-selection vector ideal for cloning PCR products, making DNA libraries, as well as routine cloning and bacterial expression of genes.