Exogenous cytosine deaminase gene expression in Bifidobacterium breve I-53-8w for tumor-targeting enzyme/prodrug therapy

Bifidobacteria are nonpathogenic, anaerobic domestic bacteria with health-promoting properties for the host. In our previous study, Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) were found to be localized selectively and to proliferate within solid tumors after systemic application. Additionally, B. longum transformed by shuttle-plasmid including the cytosine deaminase (CD) gene expressed active CD, converted the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). We also demonstrated antitumor efficacy with a transformant of B. longum in rats. In this study, we found that Bifidobacterium breve (B. breve), the smallest species of human-derived bifidobacterium, expressed the exogenous transgene (CD), that CD enzymatic activity in the transformant of B. breve was much higher, and that the segregational stability of the plasmid was greater than that of B. longum. Thus, numerous transformants of B. breve were detected solely in the tumors after systemic administration. We consider the transformant of B. breve to be more beneficial in our enzyme/prodrug therapy.     

Synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and mechanism of action of anti-HIV-1 lamellarin α 20-sulfate analogues

Lamellarin α and six different types of lamellarin α 20-sulfate analogues were synthesized and their structure–activity relationships were investigated using a single round HIV-1 vector infection assay. All lamellarin sulfates having pentacyclic lamellarin core exhibited anti-HIV-1 activity at a 10 μM concentration range regardless of the number and position of the sulfate group. On the other hand, non-sulfated lamellarin α and ring-opened lamellarin sulfate analogues did not affect HIV-1 vector infection in similar concentrations. The lamellarin sulfates utilized in this study did not exhibit unfavorable cytotoxic effect under the concentrations tested (IC₅₀ > 100 μM). Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis indicated that hydrophilic lamellarin sulfates were hardly incorporated in the cell. HIV-1 Env-mediated cell–cell fusion was suppressed by lamellarin sulfates. These results suggested that lamellarin sulfates have a novel anti-HIV-1 activity besides the previously reported integrase activity inhibition, possibly at a viral entry step of HIV-1 replication.     

Vasorelaxant effects of macrocyclic bis(bibenzyls) from liverworts

Vasorelaxant effects of a series of bis(bibenzyls) from liverworts such as Marchantia polymorpha and Marchantia paleacea on rat aorta demonstrated that they relaxed phenylephrine (PE)-induced contractions, which may be mediated through the increased release of NO from endothelial cells as well as opening of K(+) channels, and inhibition of Ca(2+) influx through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (VDCs) and/or receptor-operated Ca(2+) channels (ROCs). Structure-activity relationship based on their structures was discussed. The presence of two aromatic rings which can be connected through two atoms bridge spacer may play an important role for vasorelaxant effect.     

Molecular analysis of X-linked inborn errors of purine metabolism: HPRT1 and PRPS1 mutations

Mutations of two enzyme genes, HPRT1 encoding hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) and PRPS1 encoding a catalytic subunit (PRS-I) of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase, cause X-linked inborn errors of purine metabolism. Analyzing these two genes, we have identified three HPRT1 mutations in Lesch-Nyhan families following our last report. One of them, a new mutation involving the deletion of 4224 bp from intron 4 to intron 5 and the insertion of an unknown 28 bp, has been identified. This mutation resulted in an enzyme polypeptide with six amino acids deleted due to abnormal mRNA skipping exon 5. The other HPRT1 mutations, a single base deletion (548delT, 183fs189X), and a point mutation causing a splicing error (532+1G>A, 163fs165X) were detected first in Japanese patients but have been reported in European families. On the other hand, in the analysis of PRPS1, no mutation was identified in any patient.     

Hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) mutations in the Asian population

Mutation of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gives rise to Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, which is characterized by hyperuricemia, severe motor disability, and self-injurious behavior, or HPRT-related gout (Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome). The marked heterogeneity of HPRT deficiency is well known, with more than 300 mutations at the HPRT gene locus having been reported (deletions, insertions, duplications, abnormal splicing, and point mutations at different sites of the coding region from exons 1 to 9). We have identified mutations in Asian families with patients manifesting different clinical phenotypes, including rare cases of female subjects, by analyzing all nine exons of the HPRT gene (HPRT1) from genomic DNA and reverse-transcribed mRNA using the polymerase chain reaction technique coupled with direct sequencing. We developed suitable methods to detect the mutations identified from respective families with HPRT deficiency. Then, prenatal genetic diagnoses in HPRT-deficient families were carried out using both mRNA and genomic DNA from chorionic villi or amniotic fluid cells. As shown here in the heterogeneity of HPRT mutations, the spectrum of 70 mutations identified in the Asian population fits the four main conclusions that emerged previously from worldwide analysis.     

Simultaneous determination of purine and pyrimidine metabolites in HPRT-deficient cell lines

Genetic mutations in the purine salvage enzyme, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), are known to cause Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome. In patients, purine metabolism is different from that of normal persons. We have previously developed a method for simultaneously determining the concentration of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides and nucleotides. This system was applied to determine the concentrations of nucleosides and nucleotides in HPRT-deficient cell lines. The amount of inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) was different in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome, and control cell lines. The difference in the amount of IMP confirmed the mutation of the enzyme.     

Plant regeneration via direct and indirect adventitious shoot formation and chromosome-doubled somaclonal variation in Titanotrichum oldhamii (Hemsl.) Solereder

The gesneriaceous perennial plant Titanotrichum oldhamii has beautiful foliage and attractive bright yellow flowers. However, breeding of T. oldhamii by conventional sexual hybridization may be difficult because sexual reproduction of this species is very rare. In the present study, plant regeneration systems via both direct and indirect formation of adventitious shoots from leaf explants were established as the first step toward breeding T. oldhamii by using biotechnological techniques. Adventitious shoots were formed efficiently on medium containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ benzyladenine. Histological observation showed that shoot formation on this medium occurred directly from leaf epidermal cells without callus formation. On the other hand, leaf explants formed calluses on medium containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The calluses could be maintained by monthly subculturing to fresh medium of the same composition. When the calluses were transferred to plant growth regulator-free medium, they formed adventitious shoots. Directly and indirectly formed shoots rooted well on medium containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid. Plantlets thus obtained were successfully acclimatized and grew vigorously in the greenhouse. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that no variation in the ploidy level was observed in plants regenerated via direct shoot formation, whereas chromosome doubling occurred in several plants regenerated via indirect shoot formation. Regenerated plants with the same ploidy level as the mother plants showed almost the same phenotype as the mother plants, whereas chromosome-doubled plants showed apparent morphological alterations: they had small and crispate flowers, and round and deep green leaves.     

Engagement of overexpressed Her2 with GEP100 induces autonomous invasive activities and provides a biomarker for metastases of lung adenocarcinoma

Overexpression of Her2/ErbB2/Neu in cancer is often correlated with recurrent distant metastasis, although the mechanism still remains largely elusive. We have previously shown that EGFR, when tyrosine-phosphorylated, binds to GEP100/BRAG2 to activate Arf6, which induces cancer invasion and metastasis. We now show that overexpressed Her2 in lung adenocarcinoma cells also employs GEP100. Like EGFR-GEP100 binding, this association is primarily mediated by the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of GEP100 and Tyr1139/Tyr1196 of Her2. Tyr1139/Tyr1196 are autonomously phosphorylated, when Her2 is overexpressed. Accordingly, invasive activities mediated by the Her2-GEP100 pathway are not dependent on external factors. Blocking Her2-GEP100 binding, as well as its signaling pathway all inhibit cancer invasive activities. Moreover, our clinical study indicates that co-overexpression of Her2 with GEP100 in primary lung adenocarcinomas of patients is correlated with the presence of their node-metastasis with a statistical significance. Since the GEP100 PH domain interacts with both Her2 and EGFR, targeting this domain may provide novel cancer therapeutics.     

A nor-sesquiterpene glycoside,rishitin-β-sophoroside,from tobacco

A new nor-sesquiterpene glycoside, isolated from flue-cured tobacco, was identified as rishitin-β-sophoroside. The absolute configuration of the aglycone, rishitin, was identical with that obtained from potato tuber tissue infected by pathogens.