Conformational study of sequential Lys and Leu based polymers and oligomers using vibrational and electronic CD spectra

Vibrational CD (VCD) and electronic CD (ECD) spectra of some sequential Lys and Leu based oligo- and polypeptides were studied as a function of added salt and (for ECD) as a function of concentration in aqueous solution. For these samples, the VCD spectra can only be measured at relatively high concentrations under which the well-known salt-induced transition to a β-sheet form can be observed for the KL based species, but only the end-state α-helical conformation is obvious for the LKKL based samples. ECD concentration dependence demonstrates that, at high concentration with no added or with added salt, LKKL based oligomers and polymers give α-helical spectra. These data provide evidence of aggregation induced secondary structure formation in an exceptionally simple peptide system. Similarly, the KL based oligomers and polymers give β-sheet like spectra at high concentration or at high salt. These systems further provide model systems under “normal” aqueous conditions that yield VCD band shapes that correlate to the major secondary structural types of polypeptides. They are in substantial agreement with those spectra obtained on homopolypeptides and on proteins, confirming the relative independence of the VCD technique from side-chain and solvent effects. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

人肌肌酸激酶在SDS溶液中失活与构象变化的比较研究

应用紫外差吸收光谱、荧光发射光谱、ＣＤ先谱等监测手段,研究了ＳＤＳ溶液滴定人肌肌酸激酶时的构象与活力变化的关系。结果表明酶的活力丧失先于以紫外差吸收先谱、荧先发射谱和巯基暴露数目所监测到的构象变化。ＳＤＳ滴定时引起的酶的荧光发射光谱的变化在低滴定度阶段随着ＳＤＳ滴定量的增加,荧光强度下降,发射峰位红移,当ＳＤＳ浓度达到２．１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,荧光强度增大,继续增加ＳＤＳ滴定量,荧光强度又降低,发射峰位红移直至终态。紫外差吸收光谱随着ＳＤＳ溶液的加入,２８１ｎｍ．２８７ｎｍ和２９２ｎｍ的负差吸收峰增大。ＣＤ光谱结果表明在本实验所用的ＳＤＳ浓度范围内,ＳＤＳ对人肌肌酸激酶的二级结构几乎没有影响。上述结果支持了酶的活性部位构象柔性的观点。     

Membrane Channel Connexin 32 Maintains Lin−/c-kit+ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Compartment: Analysis of the Cell Cycle

Membrane channel connexin (Cx) forms gap junctions that are implicated in the homeostatic regulation of multicellular systems; thus, hematopoietic cells were assumed not to express Cxs. However, hematopoietic progenitors organize a multicellular system during the primitive stage; thus, the aim of the present study was to determine whether Cx32, a member of the Cx family, may function during the primitive steady-state hematopoiesis in the bone marrow (BM). First, the numbers of mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood and various hematopoietic progenitor compartments in the BM decreased in Cx32-knockout (KO) mice. Second, on the contrary, the number of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells, specifically the Lin⁻/c-kit⁺/Scal⁺ fraction, the KSL progenitor cell compartment, also increased in Cx32-KO mice. Third, expression of Cx32 was detected in Lin⁻/c-kit⁺ hematopoietic progenitor cells of wild-type mice (0.27% in the BM), whereas it was not detected in unfractionated wild-type BM cells. Furthermore, cell-cycle analysis of the fractionated KSL compartment from Cx32-KO BM showed a higher ratio in the G₂/M fraction. Taken together, all these results imply that Cx32 is expressed solely in the primitive stem cell compartment, which maintains the stemness of the cells, i.e., being quiescent and noncycling; and once Cx32 is knocked out, these progenitor cells are expected to enter the cell cycle, followed by proliferation and differentiation for maintaining the number of peripheral blood cells.     

Increased stem cell proliferation in the spinal cord of adult amyotrophic lateral sclerosis transgenic mice

Harnessing the regenerative potential of the central nervous system to repopulate depleted cellular populations from endogenous stem cells would be a novel approach for the treatment of neurological diseases resulting from cell death. Consequently, understanding if and how the central nervous system is capable of such regeneration would determine if such an approach is feasible. In this report, we provide evidence of widespread regenerative response in the spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis transgenic mice. However, this regenerative response appears to be largely unproductive. We demonstrate that there is significantly increased gliogenesis, but an absence of convincing neurogenesis. The fact that the neurodegenerative process stimulates a regenerative response suggests that the adult spinal cord has at least limited ability for regeneration. Further studies will determine if this endogenous regenerative process can be enhanced and directed so as to slow or even reverse the natural progression of this devastating disease.     

Chemical constituents of plants from the genus Symplocos

The chemical constituents of Symplocos genus were reviewed with 90 structures and 28 references cited. These constituents include triterpenoids, flavonoids, lignans, phenols, steroids, alkaloids, and iridoids. Triterpenoids are the dominant constituents within the genus Symplocos, some of them exhibited antiproliferative effects. Some phenolic glycoside derivatives showed inhibitory activity against snake-venom phosphodiesterase I and human nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase.     

Preliminary molecular characterization and crystallization of mitochondrial respiratory complex II from porcine heart

The mitochondrial respiratory complex II, or succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, is an integral membrane protein complex in both the tricarboxylic acid cycle (Krebs cycle) and aerobic respiration. The gene sequences of each complex II subunit were measured by RT-PCR. N-terminal sequencing work was performed to identify the mitochondrial targeting signal peptide of each subunit. Complex II was extracted from porcine heart and purified by the ammonium sulfate precipitation method. The sample was solubilized by 0.5% (w/v) sugar detergent n-decyl-beta-D-maltoside, stabilized by 200 mM sucrose, and crystallized with 5% (w/v) poly(ethylene glycol) 4000. Important factors for the extraction, purification and crystallization of mitochondrial respiratory complex II are discussed.     

The effects of IAM38 blocking or CD4 blocking on the binding of exogenous DNA in rabbit sperm

The binding of exogenous DNA to sperm is a key process for sperm-mediated gene transfer; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to identify the DNA binding proteins (DBPs) in rabbit sperm and to gain further understanding of the molecular mechanism of sperm and exogenous DNA interaction. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used for separating free sperm proteins and complexes of DNA fragment/sperm proteins. A distinct band was found after Coomassie blue staining, and seven potential proteins were identified by mass spectrometry analysis. An analysis of the physical/chemical properties of the seven proteins revealed that the sperm inner acrosomal membrane protein IAM38 (IAM38) matched the features of the DBPs. Western blotting analysis showed that the IAM38 and CD4 were present in the sperm but not in the seminal plasma. Blocking of the IAM38 impaired the DNA-binding capacity of the sperm. Blocking the CD4 decreased the DNA-uptake capacity of the sperm but did not influence the DNA-binding capacity of the sperm. Moreover, the EGFP-positive embryos and EGFP-positive blastocysts were also decreased after IAM38 blocking or CD4 blocking in comparison with the control group. In conclusion, our results imply that foreign DNA first binds to the transmembrane IAM38 of the sperm plasma membrane and then forms the complex of DNA/IAM38/CD4 with CD4 to complete the transportation of exogenous DNA into the nucleus of sperm.

     

The Dynamic Change of Gene-Regulated Networks in Cashmere Goat Skin with Seasonal Variation

Biochemical Genetics - The Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) is renowned for its high-quality fiber production trait. The hair cycle in Cashmere goat has an annual rhythm. To deepen the understanding of...     

A miniaturized analytical method based on molecularly imprinted absorbents for selective extraction of (S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine and combinatorial screening of polymer precursors by computational simulation

Chiral resolution of binaphthylamine is often a toilful conundrum in the field of analytical chemistry and biomedicine. The work puts forward a selective, sensitive, and miniaturized analytical method based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as adsorbent for miniaturized tip solid-phase extraction (MTSPE) in the separation of binaphthylamine enantiomer. This method combines the advantages of MIPs (high selectivity), MTSPE (low consumption), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC, high sensitivity). A simple synthesis methodology of MIP (P2) was conducted through bulk polymerization with (S)-(?)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine (S-DABN) as template together with methacrylic acid monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker in proper porogen, realizing a selective recognition and efficient enrichment for S-DABN. The method exhibited appreciable linearity (0.06–1.00 mg ml^?1), low quantification limit (0.056 mg ml^?1), good absolute recoveries (45.70%–69.29%), and high precision (relative standard deviations ≤ 3.54%), along with low consumption (0.50 ml sample solution and 25.0 mg adsorbent). Based on the density functional theory, computational simulation was used to make a preliminary prediction for rational design of MIPs and gave a reasonable elaboration involving the potential mechanism of templates interacting with functional monomers. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics were investigated to evaluate the recombination process of substrates. In addition, the selectivity of MIPs for S-DABN was obtained by MIP-MTSPE coupled with HPLC, which supports the feasibility of this convenient design process. The proposed method was employed for selective extraction of S-DABN and exhibited promising potential in the application of chiral analysis.     

Effect of explant type,culture medium,and BAP concentration on in vitro shoot development in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivars

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is an important horticultural crop with many nutraceutical values. With increasing market demand,...