Effects of temperature on diphosphopyridine nucleotide-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase from bovine heart. Aspects of the kinetics, stability, and quarternary structure of the enzyme.

A temperature-dependent conformational change of the active DPN-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase was observed. When initial reaction kinetic data were examined between 35 and 5 degrees, the Hill number (n) varied from 2 at higher to n approaching unity at lower temperatures, with an inflection point at 17 degrees. The presence of manganous isocitrate in the incubation media shifted the transition temperature for enzyme inactivation by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) from 8-16 degrees. These temperature-dependent transitions were paralleled by progressive changes in sedimentation velocities from s20, w of 10.4 at 25 degrees to 7.3 at 10 degrees as measured by active band centrifugation. The linear Arrhenius plot for apparent V max and the constancy of S0.5 for the substrate manganous isocitrate between 35 and 5 degrees suggest that this temperature-dependent conformational change may not be solely related to manganous isocitrate. Further indications of equilibria between different species of enzyme in solution and effects of substrates and cofactors on conformation came from studies of specific activity of enzyme diluted into buffers at 3 and 25 degrees. Dilution to concentrations between 10 and 25 mum enzyme resulted in relatively rapid protein concentration-dependent inactivation which could be prevented and fully reversed by manganous isocitrate. No further substantial inactivation was found subsequent to this phase at 25 degrees. Lowering the temperature of the dilution buffer to 3 degrees favored formation of enzyme species exhibiting a further time and pH-dependent loss of activity which became independent of protein concentration below 7 mum enzyme. The rate of cold inactivation was reduced by raising the ionic strength of the buffer and its progress could be arrested by manganous isocitrate; however, the substrate did not restore the original activity.     

Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of primate cardiopulmonary aging

Aging is a major risk factor for many diseases,especially in highly prevalent cardiopulmonary comorbidities and infectious diseases including Coronavirus Diseas...     

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

LGR5 regulates osteogenic differentiation of human thoracic ligamentum flavum cells by Wnt signalling pathway

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) is ectopic ossification of the spinal ligaments. Histologically, the development of TOLF can be described as the process of endochondral ossification. However, the underlying aetiology has not been completely clarified. In this investigation, the gene expression profile associated with leucine‐rich repeat‐containing G‐protein‐coupled receptors (LGR) and Wnt signalling pathway in the thoracic ligamentum flavum cells (TLFCs) of different ossification stages was analysed via RNA sequencing. We further confirmed the significant differences in the related gene expression profile by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. LGR5 was first identified in primary human TLFCs during osteogenic differentiation. To evaluate the effect of LGR5 on osteogenic differentiation, LGR5 has been knocked down and overexpressed in human TLFCs. We observed that the knockdown of LGR5 inhibited the activity of Wnt signalling and attenuated the potential osteogenic differentiation of TLFCs, while overexpression of LGR5 activated the Wnt signalling pathway and increased osteogenic differentiation. Our results provide important evidence for the potent positive mediatory effects of LGR5 on osteogenesis by enhancing the Wnt signalling pathway in TOLF.     

Quantitative regulation of the thermal stability of enveloped virus vaccines by surface charge engineering to prevent the self-aggregation of attachment glycoproteins

The development of thermostable vaccines can relieve the bottleneck of existing vaccines caused by thermal instability and subsequent poor efficacy, which is one of the predominant reasons for the millions of deaths caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. Research into the mechanism of viral thermostability may provide strategies for developing thermostable vaccines. Using Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as model, we identified the negative surface charge of attachment glycoprotein as a novel determinant of viral thermostability. It prevented the temperature-induced aggregation of glycoprotein and subsequent detachment from virion surface. Then structural stability of virion surface was improved and virus could bind to and infect cells efficiently after heat-treatment. Employing the approach of surface charge engineering, thermal stability of NDV and influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines was successfully improved. The increase in the level of vaccine thermal stability was determined by the value-added in the negative surface charge of the attachment glycoprotein. The engineered live and inactivated vaccines could be used efficiently after storage at 37°C for at least 10 and 60 days, respectively. Thus, our results revealed a novel surface-charge-mediated link between HN protein and NDV thermostability, which could be used to design thermal stable NDV and IAV vaccines rationally.     

转录因子在植物干旱应激中的功能研究进展

转录因子是一种多功能蛋白,在感知应激信号、应答相应应激基因表达及传导应激信号中起着关键作用。干旱是影响植物生长发育的主要非生物胁迫之一。为了适应干旱环境,植物发展了复杂的分子机制,其中转录因子可同时控制多种途径调控干旱应激,是操纵调控和应激响应途径的有力工具。近年来,越来越多的植物转录因子的功能被阐明,了解转录因子在干旱应激的功能,对植物的工程抗旱有重要的实践意义。综述转录因子在植物干旱应激中的功能研究进展,以期为今后转录因子的研究和利用提供理论依据,培育具有较强抗旱能力的植物。     

磁性聚乙二醇载体固定化α淀粉酶的研究

α淀粉酶广泛应用于粮食加工、食品、酿造、发酵、纺织品和医药工业［1］．由于固定化酶的优点,国内外研究人员对固定化糖化酶［2,3］和固定化α淀粉酶[4]的制备及在淀粉酶法生产葡萄糖方面的应用作了大量的研究,显示了工业应用前景．然而,迄今为止,用磁性载体固定化α淀粉酶尚未见报道．我们用磁性聚乙二醇胶体粒子作载体,制备出具有磁响应性强、稳定性强、活力高的固定化α淀粉酶．由于具有磁响应性,可借助外部磁场方便简单地回收酶,为该酶工业化生产葡萄糖提供了一种新的途径．而且,由于磁性的优点,也为该酶在食品、医药、纺织…     

Homology modeling threedimensional structure of AnxB1 and reducing its immunogenicity by sequence-deleted mutagenesis

AnxB1,a novel annexin previously isolated from Cysticercus cellulose,shows high thrombi affinity and anticoagulant activity in vivo.In order to investigate the relationship between structure and biological function,a predicted three-dimensional(3D)model of AnxB1 was generated by homology modeling.This model contains four homologous internal-domains and the Cα trace of domain Ⅰ,Ⅱ and IV shows high similarity.Based on the structure characterization,four sequence-deleted mutants were constructed and expressed as GST fusion proteins in E.coli.Two of the mutants,GST-M3 and GST-M4 reserved high anticoagulant activity(p＜0.01 vs.GST).Furthermore,compared with the wild type GST-AnxB1,the immunogenicity of GST-M3 and GST-M4 was reduced significantly(p＜0.01)and the molecular weight was lowered to 27 kD and 34 kD,respectively.These observations laid a solid foundation for further study on developing new thrombolytic agents with higher efficiency and lower side effect.