Differential isotope-labeling for Leu and Val residues in a protein by E. coli cellular expression using stereo-specifically methyl labeled amino acids

The ¹H–¹³C HMQC signals of the ¹³CH₃ moieties of Ile, Leu, and Val residues, in an otherwise deuterated background, exhibit narrow line-widths, and thus are useful for investigating the structures and dynamics of larger proteins. This approach, named methyl TROSY, is economical as compared to laborious methods using chemically synthesized site- and stereo-specifically isotope-labeled amino acids, such as stereo-array isotope labeling amino acids, since moderately priced, commercially available isotope-labeled α-keto acid precursors can be used to prepare the necessary protein samples. The Ile δ₁-methyls can be selectively labeled, using isotope-labeled α-ketobutyrates as precursors. However, it is still difficult to prepare a residue-selectively Leu and Val labeled protein, since these residues share a common biosynthetic intermediate, α-ketoisovalerate. Another hindering drawback in using the α-ketoisovalerate precursor is the lack of stereo-selectivity for Leu and Val methyls. Here we present a differential labeling method for Leu and Val residues, using four kinds of stereo-specifically ¹³CH₃-labeled [U–²H;¹⁵N]-leucine and -valine, which can be efficiently incorporated into a protein using Escherichia coli cellular expression. The method allows the differential labeling of Leu and Val residues with any combination of stereo-specifically isotope-labeled prochiral methyls. Since relatively small amounts of labeled leucine and valine are required to prepare the NMR samples; i.e., 2 and 10 mg/100 mL of culture for leucine and valine, respectively, with sufficient isotope incorporation efficiency, this approach will be a good alternative to the precursor methods. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated for 82 kDa malate synthase G.     

Imaging analysis of subcellular correlation of androgen receptor and estrogen receptor alpha in single living cells using green fluorescent protein color variants

Androgen and estrogen act not only in a sex-specific manner but also interactively and synergistically. In the present study, to examine the possible interaction between androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha), we investigated the subcellular dynamics of AR and ERalpha fused with green fluorescent protein color variants in single living cells using time-lapse microscopy and the technique of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. AR and ERalpha showed punctate colocalization in the nucleus with estrogen, but not androgen. N-terminal AR deletion mutant did not form a nuclear punctate pattern with either androgen or estrogen. In the presence of AR, but not ERalpha, N-terminal AR deletion mutant formed a punctate nuclear pattern with androgen. AR had different mobility depending on the ligand and the presence of ERalpha. On the other hand, AR had little effect on the stability of ERalpha. ERalpha mutant that does not bind coactivators did not alter the mobility of AR. Taken together, using an imaging technique, we clarified that possible homo/hetero dimerization between AR and ERalpha could be attributed to androgen-estrogen interaction in living cells.     

Interferon-gamma: a key contributor to hyperoxia-induced lung injury in mice

Hyperoxia-induced lung injury complicates the care of many critically ill patients who receive supplemental oxygen therapy. Hyperoxic injury to lung tissues is mediated by reactive oxygen species, inflammatory cell activation, and release of cytotoxic cytokines. IFN-gamma is known to be induced in lungs exposed to high concentrations of oxygen; however, its contribution to hyperoxia-induced lung injury remains unclear. To determine whether IFN-gamma contributes to hyperoxia-induced lung injury, we first used anti-mouse IFN-gamma antibody to blockade IFN-gamma activity. Administration of anti-mouse IFN-gamma antibody inhibited hyperoxia-induced increases in pulmonary alveolar permeability and neutrophil migration into lung air spaces. To confirm that IFN-gamma contributes to hyperoxic lung injury, we then simultaneously exposed IFN-gamma-deficient (IFN-gamma-/-) mice and wild-type mice to hyperoxia. In the early phase of hyperoxia, permeability changes and neutrophil migration were significantly reduced in IFN-gamma-/- mice compared with wild-type mice, although the differences in permeability changes and neutrophil migration between IFN-gamma-/- mice and wild-type mice were not significant in the late phase of hyperoxia. The concentrations of IL-12 and IL-18, two cytokines that play a role in IFN-gamma induction, significantly increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after exposure to hyperoxia in both IFN-gamma-/- mice and wild-type mice, suggesting that hyperoxia initiates upstream events that result in IFN-gamma production. Although there was no significant difference in overall survival, IFN-gamma-/- mice had a better early survival rate than did the wild-type mice. Therefore, these data strongly suggest that IFN-gamma is a key molecular contributor to hyperoxia-induced lung injury.     

The hypothalamus is involved in the anorexic effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 in chicks

The present study was carried out to investigate whether the hypothalamus is involved in the anorexic effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in chicks. To examine this, Fos expression in the chick hypothalamus were immunohistochemically detected after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of 30-pmol GLP-1. ICV injection of GLP-1 stimulated the expression of Fos-like immunoreactive (FLI) cells in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN). When 15-pmol GLP-1 was directly injected into the chick VMN, the chick's food intake was significantly decreased compared with the control treatment. Microinjection of GLP-1 into the (LHA) also inhibited feeding in chicks, although ICV injection of GLP-1 did not stimulate FLI expression in the brain area. These results suggest that VMN and some brain regions are involved in the anorexic effect of GLP-1 in chicks.     

Radical scavenging activity of spring mountain herbs in the Shikoku mountain area and identification of antiradical constituents by simple HPLC detection and LC-MS methods

The functionality of spring mountain herbs, which were collected in the Kajigamori mountain area of Shikoku area in Japan, was investigated in the course of our studies for utilizing local plant resources. The radical scavenging activity of the extracts from seventeen herbs was measured. Among these herbs, two extracts from Polystichym ovato-paleaceum (Japanese name: Tsuyanashiinode) and Sambucus racemosa subsp. sieboldiana (Japanese name: Niwatoko) showed potent DPPH radical scavenging activity. The material evidence for the potent activity of the extracts was studied by a combination of our developed method for detecting antiradical compounds, LC-MS/MS, and enzymatic hydrolysis.     

A method of tracking donor cells after simulated autologous transplantation: a study using synovial cells of transgenic rats

A transgenic rat was used as a transplantation donor to simulate autologous transplantation. The sex-matched transplantation between a female transgenic and a wild-type rat can theoretically be regarded as an autologous transplantation due to the genetic agreement of these rats except for the non-protein-producing transgenes. Transgene-containing synovial cells were tracked in the joint using this autologous transplantation model. The transgenes in the donor synovial cells were detected using in situ hybridization (ISH), while mitotic activities were simultaneously examined by immunodetection of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). A defect was generated in the knee joint capsule of a Fischer 344 (wild-type) rat. The synovium of a transgenic rat was sutured to the defect of the wild-type rat in group 1 and was allowed to free float in the joint in group 2. A large number of BrdU-labeled, transgene-containing synovial cells were detected in both groups at 3 days. The number of these cells then decreased, but they could still be identified even at 4 weeks after autologous transplantation. These results indicated that transplanted synovial cells were viable in the joint for at least 4 weeks. Furthermore, the transgenic rat was shown to be an effective animal model for distinguishing the extrinsic from the intrinsic cells in the cellular intermixed tissues in vivo. The combined method of ISH for detecting transgene-containing cells and the immunohistochemistry of BrdU for detecting proliferating cells was also shown to be effective for tracking the viability of extrinsic cells after autologous transplantation.