Characterization and partial amino acid sequence of human plasma glutathione peroxidase

Human plasma glutathione peroxidase was purified to homogeneity and partially sequenced. Overlapping peptide fragments from three endopeptidase digests permitted the determination of one sequence of 32 contiguous amino acids and one sequence of 23 contiguous amino acids. Five additional unique peptide sequences without obvious overlaps were obtained. The sequence of 32 amino acid residues aligns with positions 82-113 of human cytosolic glutathione peroxidase with nine mismatches without gaps or insertions. The sequence of 23 amino acid residues aligns with positions 157-178 with six mismatches and an insertion of one residue. Three additional peptide sequences with no obvious sequence homology to glutathione peroxidase can be aligned based on the sequence of a cDNA clone encoding plasma glutathione peroxidase that was isolated from a human placental library. The plasma enzyme is a homotetramer composed of 21-kDa subunits which cannot reduce phospholipid hydroperoxides. These results indicate that the plasma glutathione peroxidase is distinct from both the classical cytosolic enzyme and the monomeric phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase. Only a negligible amount of glutathione peroxidase activity was detected in bile, indicating that the liver exports plasma glutathione peroxidase exclusively to the circulation.     

马铃薯StPSKRs基因的克隆及其亚细胞定位分析

该研究采用同源克隆与PCR扩增方法,从马铃薯品种‘Desiree’中克隆植物磺肽素受体基因StPSKR1和StPSKR2的全长cDNA,并对其进行生物信息学分析及亚细胞定位分析,为深入研究StPSKR1和StPSKR2基因在马铃薯生长发育和生物胁迫中的作用提供理论依据。结果发现:(1)通过同源克隆与PCR扩增获得StPSKR1和StPSKR2的全长cDNA片段,并将其克隆到pGWB5-GFP载体;测序结果显示这2个基因编码的蛋白质与数据库给定的蛋白质序列保持一致,表明成功克隆到StPSKR1和StPSKR2基因。(2)StPSKR1位于马铃薯1号染色体上,cDNA全长3 042 bp,编码1 013个氨基酸,预测蛋白相对分子质量为112.16 kD,理论等电点6.27;StPSKR2位于7号染色体,cDNA全长3 135 bp,编码1 044个氨基酸,相对分子量为114.99 kD,理论等电点6.19。(3)生物信息学分析显示,StPSKR1和StPSKR2都属于跨膜蛋白。(4)亚细胞定位结果显示,StPSKR1和StPSKR2均定位于细胞膜上。     

Anti-monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 gene therapy attenuates pulmonary hypertension in rats

Monocyte/macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a potent chemoattractant chemokine and an activator for mononuclear cells, may play a role in the initiation and/or progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH). To determine whether blockade of a systemic MCP-1 signal pathway in vivo may prevent PH, we intramuscularly transduced a naked plasmid encoding a 7-NH(2) terminus-deleted dominant negative inhibitor of the MCP-1 (7ND MCP-1) gene in monocrotaline-induced PH. We also simultaneously gave a duplicate transfection at 2-wk intervals or skeletal muscle-directed in vivo electroporation (EP) to evaluate whether a longer or higher expression might be more effective. The intramuscular reporter gene expression was enhanced 10 times over that by EP than by simple injection, and a significant 7ND MCP-1 protein in plasma was detected only in the EP group. 7ND MCP-1 gene transfer significantly inhibited the progression of MCT-induced PH as evaluated by right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arterioles, and mononuclear cell infiltration into the lung. Differential effects of longer or higher transgene expression were not apparent. Although the in vivo kinetics of 7ND MCP-1 gene therapy should be studied further, these encouraging results suggest that an anti-inflammatory strategy via blockade of the MCP-1 signal pathway may be an alternative approach to treat subjects with PH.     

Rapid determination of gatifloxacin in biological samples and pharmaceutical products using europium‐sensitized fluorescence spectrophotometry

A europium‐sensitized fluorescence spectrophotometry method using an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (SDBS), was developed for the determination of gatifloxacin (GFLX). The GFLX–Eu³⁺–SDBS system was studied and it was found that SDBS significantly enhanced the fluorescence intensity of the GFLX–Eu³⁺ complex (about 25‐fold). The optimal experimental conditions were determined as follows: excitation and emission wavelengths of 338 and 617 nm, pH 7.5, 3.0 × 10^–6 mol/L europium(III), and 5.0 × 10^–5 mol/L SDBS. The enhanced fluorescence intensity of the system (ΔI_f) showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of GFLX over the range 1.0 × 10^–8–8.0 × 10^–7 mol/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.9990. The detection limit (S:N = 3) was determined as 1.0 × 10^–9 mol/L. This method has been successfully applied for the determination of GFLX in pharmaceuticals and human urine/serum samples. Compared with most other methods reported, the rapid and simple procedure proposed here offered higher sensitivity, wider linear range and good stability. The luminescence mechanism of the system is also discussed in detail. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Secretory delivery of heterologous proteins in attenuated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio anguillarum</Emphasis> for potential use in vaccine design

To synthesize and secrete heterologous proteins in an attenuated Vibrio anguillarum strain for potential multivalent live vaccine development, different antigen-delivery systems based on bacterial-originated secretion signal peptides (SPs) were designed and identified in this work. Four SPs were derived from hemolysin of Escherichia coli, RTX protein of V. cholerae, hemolysin of V. anguillarum, zinc-metalloprotease of V. anguillarum, respectively, and their abilities to support secretion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in an attenuated V. anguillarum strain MVAV6203 were assayed. Immunodetection of GFP showed that the capability of the tested signal leaders to direct secretion of GFP varied greatly. Although all the four signal peptide-fused GFPs could be expressed correctly and trapped intracellularly in recombinant strains, only the EmpA signal peptide could confer efficient secretion to GFP. For the investigation of its potential application in live bacteria carrier vaccines, a heterologous protein EseB of Edwardsiella tarda was fused to the SP(empA) antigen-delivery system and introduced into the strain MVAV6203. Further analysis of EseB demonstrated that the constructed SP(empA) antigen-delivery system could be used to secrete foreign protein in attenuated V. anguillarum and be available for carrier vaccines development.     

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone protects retinal pigment epithelium cells from oxidative stress through activation of melanocortin 1 receptor–Akt–mTOR signaling

Patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD) will develop vision loss in the center of the visual field. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell apoptosis is an important contributor of AMD. In this study, we explored the pro-survival effect of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) on oxidative stressed RPE cells. We found that α-MSH receptor melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) was functionally expressed in primary and transformed RPE cells. RPE cells were response to α-MSH stimulation. α-MSH activated Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Erk1/2 signalings in RPE cells, which were inhibited by MC1R siRNA knockdown. α-MSH protected RPE cells from hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced apoptosis, an effect that was almost abolished when MC1R was depleted by siRNA. α-MSH-mediated S6K1 activation and pro-survival effect against H₂O₂ was inhibited by Akt inhibitors (perifosine, MK-2206 and LY294002). Further, mTOR inhibition by rapamycin, or by mTOR siRNA knockdown, diminished α-MSH’s pro-survival effect in RPE cells. Thus, Akt and its downstream mTOR signaling mediates α-MSH-induced survival in RPE cells. In summary, we have identified a new α-MSH–MC1R physiologic pathway that reduces H₂O₂-induced RPE cell damage, and might minimize the risk of developing AMD.     

N-Acetylcysteine ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced organ damage in conscious rats

Lipopolysaccharide is strongly associated with septic shock, leading to multiple organ failure. It can activate monocytes and macrophages to release proinflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and nitric oxide (NO). The present experiments were designed to induce endotoxin shock by an intravenous injection ofKlebsiella pneumoniae lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg) in conscious rats. Arterial pressure and heart rate (HR) were continuously monitored for 48 h after LPS administration. N-Acetyl-cysteine was used to study its effects on organ damage. Biochemical substances were measured to reflect organ functions. Biochemical factors included blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cre), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), aspartate transferase (GOT), alanine transferase (GPT), TNF-, IL-1, methyl guanidine (MG), and nitrites/nitrates. LPS caused significant increases in blood BUN, Cre, LDH, CPK, GOT, GPT, TNF-, IL-1, MG levels, and HR, as well as a decrease in mean arterial pressure and an elevation of nitrites/nitrates. N-Acetylcysteine suppressed the release of TNF-, IL-1, and MG, but enhanced NO production. These actions ameliorate LPS-induced organ damage in conscious rats. The beneficial effects may suggest a potential chemopreventive effect of this compound in sepsis prevention and treatment.     

Novel coronaviruses and astroviruses in bats

Zoonotic transmissions of emerging pathogens from wildlife to human have shaped the history of mankind. These events have also highlighted our poor understanding of microorganisms circulated in wild animals. Coronaviruses and astroviruses, which can be found from a wide range of mammals, were recently detected in bats. Strikingly, these bat viruses are genetically highly diverse and these interesting findings might help to better understand the evolution and ecology of these viruses. The discoveries of these novel bats viruses not only suggested that bats are important hosts for these virus families, but also reiterated the role of bats as a reservoir of viruses that might pose a zoonotic threat to human health.