Production of multimeric forms of CD4 through a sugar-based cross-linking strategy

We have developed a three-step cross-linking procedure that is specifically targeted at the carbohydrate on a protein and applied it to CD4 as a model system for studying the role of multivalent interactions in function. In the first step CD4 was oxidized with periodate, creating aldehydes that served as targets for the subsequent chemistry. Next the aldehydes were modified with cystamine, converting the reactive group into a thiol. Finally cross-linking through the thiol moiety was generated with the homobifunctional cross-linker bismaleimidohexane. With this procedure, approximately 60% of the CD4 was converted into higher molecular weight complexes that were soluble and retained function as assessed by glycoprotein gp120 binding activity. CD4 dimers and tetramers by mass were 4 and 15 times as active as CD4 monomer in blocking virus infection with HTLV-IIIB in an in vitro cellular assay. The cross-linking chemistry provides an efficient method for producing homomultimers of a glycoprotein.     

Profiling Murine Tau with 0N, 1N and 2N Isoform-Specific Antibodies in Brain and Peripheral Organs Reveals Distinct Subcellular Localization,with the 1N Isoform Being Enriched in the Nucleus

In the adult murine brain, the microtubule-associated protein tau exists as three major isoforms, which have four microtubule-binding repeats (4R), with either no (0N), one (1N) or two (2N) amino-terminal inserts. The human brain expresses three additional isoforms with three microtubule-binding repeats (3R) each. However, little is known about the role of the amino-terminal inserts and how the 0N, 1N and 2N tau species differ. In order to investigate this, we generated a series of isoform-specific antibodies and performed a profiling by Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses using wild-type mice in three age groups: two months, two weeks and postnatal day 0 (P0). This revealed that the brain is the only organ to express tau at significant levels, with 0N4R being the predominant isoform in the two month-old adult. Subcellular fractionation of the brain showed that the 1N isoform is over-represented in the soluble nuclear fraction. This is in agreement with the immunohistochemical analysis as the 1N isoform strongly localizes to the neuronal nucleus, although it is also found in cell bodies and dendrites, but not axons. The 0N isoform is mainly found in cell bodies and axons, whereas nuclei and dendrites are only slightly stained with the 0N antibody. The 2N isoform is highly expressed in axons and in cell bodies, with a detectable expression in dendrites and a very slight expression in nuclei. The 2N isoform that was undetectable at P0, in adult brain was mainly found localized to cell bodies and dendrites. Together these findings reveal significant differences between the three murine tau isoforms that are likely to reflect different neuronal functions.     

Metabolomics and In-Silico Analysis Reveal Critical Energy Deregulations in Animal Models of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multifactorial disease known to result from a variety of factors. Although age is the principal risk factor, other etiological mechanisms have been identified, including gene mutations and exposure to toxins. Deregulation of energy metabolism, mostly through the loss of complex I efficiency, is involved in disease progression in both the genetic and sporadic forms of the disease. In this study, we investigated energy deregulation in the cerebral tissue of animal models (genetic and toxin induced) of PD using an approach that combines metabolomics and mathematical modelling. In a first step, quantitative measurements of energy-related metabolites in mouse brain slices revealed most affected pathways. A genetic model of PD, the Park2 knockout, was compared to the effect of CCCP, a complex I blocker. Model simulated and experimental results revealed a significant and sustained decrease in ATP after CCCP exposure, but not in the genetic mice model. In support to data analysis, a mathematical model of the relevant metabolic pathways was developed and calibrated onto experimental data. In this work, we show that a short-term stress response in nucleotide scavenging is most probably induced by the toxin exposure. In turn, the robustness of energy-related pathways in the model explains how genetic perturbations, at least in young animals, are not sufficient to induce significant changes at the metabolite level.     

A Novel Algorithm for Identification of Activated Cryptic 5′ Splice Sites

Abstract

The resonances of the protonated carbons of [d(TAGCGCTA)]₂ have been assigned by the two-dimensional proton-detected double-quantum heteronuclear correlation experiment ([¹H-^l3C]-DQCOSY). ¹³C-coupled and ^l3C-decoupled versions of the experiment were used. The assignment method is discussed in detail. The deoxyribose cross peaks segregate into five well-resolved regions, and the base cross peaks have distinct features that are helpful for assignments. The cross peaks from the ¹H-¹³C pairs at the Cyd5, Ado2 and ThdCH₃ base positions fall in separate regions of the spectrum from each other; they also are resolved from the closely spaced Ado8, Guo8, Cyd6 and Thd6. Additional parameters for distinction of the base signals are their differing J-coupling values and long-range coupling patterns.     

Cross-sectional Area-corrected Compression Modulus of Food Gel

The linearity of the stress-strain relationship for food gel is limited to a very narrow range of the strain (usually less than 0.1 as a Cauchy measure). The reason is thought due to the change in cross-sectional area of the gel upon deformation. In this report, the cross-sectional area was approximately corrected of the compressed gel on the assumption that the gel expanded uniformly without changing its volume upon compression. In cases when the initial Young’s modulus was calculated from the thus-corrected area for some food gels, the linearity was increased for a wider range of strain.     

A strategy for high cell density culture of heterotrophic microalgae with inhibitory substrates

Substrate inhibition is one of the major problems preventing high cell densities of microalgae in heterotrophic culture, so the possibility of overcoming the problem by various culture techniques was examined. It was found that perfusion culture may be the most appropriate technique for high cell densities in heterotrophic culture using inhibitory substrates. An experimental example in which a hollow fibre cell recycle system (HFCRS) was employed to achieve high cell densities of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii on acetate under heterotrophic conditions of growth was demonstrated. The cell density in the HFCRS was much higher than that reported in the literature for this species.     

The Neural Basis of Responsibility Attribution in Decision-Making

Social responsibility links personal behavior with societal expectations and plays a key role in affecting an agent’s emotional state following a decision. However, the neural basis of responsibility attribution remains unclear. In two previous event-related brain potential (ERP) studies we found that personal responsibility modulated outcome evaluation in gambling tasks. Here we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to identify particular brain regions that mediate responsibility attribution. In a context involving team cooperation, participants completed a task with their teammates and on each trial received feedback about team success and individual success sequentially. We found that brain activity differed between conditions involving team success vs. team failure. Further, different brain regions were associated with reinforcement of behavior by social praise vs. monetary reward. Specifically, right temporoparietal junction (RTPJ) was associated with social pride whereas dorsal striatum and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were related to reinforcement of behaviors leading to personal gain. The present study provides evidence that the RTPJ is an important region for determining whether self-generated behaviors are deserving of praise in a social context.