Role of the charged groups of glutathione disulfide in the catalysis of glutathione reductase: crystallographic and kinetic studies with synthetic analogues

Six analogues of glutathione disulfide were synthesized. All of them involved the abolishment of charges, either by amidation of carboxylates or by removal of amino groups. Four of these analogues could be bound to crystalline oxidized glutathione reductase, and their binding modes could be established by X-ray analyses at 2.4-A resolution. All six analogues were catalytically processed; the kinetic parameters were determined. The two analogues that did not bind in the crystals had by far the poorest catalytic efficiencies. Kinetic parameters together with X-ray data show the influence of each charged group on binding and catalytic rate. Data analysis indicates that the enzyme avoids processing of incorrect substrates in two ways: First, it reduces their binding strengths and/or enforces displacement of catalytically important substrate parts. Furthermore, it forms a fragile cluster of bound substrate and catalytically competent residues, which is unbalanced by incorrect parts of the substrate such that catalysis is prevented. A scouting microcalorimetric study using glutathione disulfide yielded a binding enthalpy of -103 (+/- 10) kJ/mol at 25 degrees C and a heat capacity change of -8 (+/- 1) kJ.mol-1.K-1. The study showed that it is feasible to measure these parameters as a function of substrate modification.     

Cue-signal-response analysis of TNF-induced apoptosis by partial least squares regression of dynamic multivariate data.

Biological signaling networks process extracellular cues to control important cell decisions such as death-survival, growth-quiescence, and proliferation-differentiation. After receptor activation, intracellular signaling proteins change in abundance, modification state, and enzymatic activity. Many of the proteins in signaling networks have been identified, but it is not known how signaling molecules work together to control cell decisions. To begin to address this issue, we report the use of partial least squares regression as an analytical method to glean signal-response relationships from heterogeneous multivariate signaling data collected from HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells stimulated to undergo programmed cell death. By partial least squares modeling, we relate dynamic and quantitative measurements of 20-30 intracellular signals to cell survival after treatment with tumor necrosis factor alpha (a death factor) and insulin (a survival factor). We find that partial least squares models can distinguish highly informative signals from redundant uninformative signals to generate a reduced model that retains key signaling features and signal-response relationships. In these models, measurements of biochemical characteristics, based on very different techniques (Western blots, kinase assays, etc.), are grouped together as covariates, showing that heterogenous data have been effectively fused. Importantly, informative protein predictors of cell responses are always multivariate, demonstrating the multicomponent nature of the decision process.     

Immunological approaches to the characterization and diagnosis of mitochondrial disease

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are important tools in the diagnosis and characterization of mitochondrial diseases. They can be used in immunohistochemical and/or Western blotting approaches to identify misassembled OXPHOS complexes or pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiencies where the intact complex is not formed which is the great majority of cases. The advantage of antibody based approaches is that they can be quantitative, require very small amounts of tissue sample and are fast, simple and relatively cheap to perform. Here we provide details of the mAbs currently available and describe optimized protocols for both immunohistochemistry using patient fibroblasts as well as Western blotting using either cell culture or biopsy material.     

Predation by three owl species on northern pocket gophers of different body mass

Summary We examined the estimated sizes of Thomomys talpoides in the diets of Bubo virginianus (1,505 g), Tyto alba (437 g), and Asio otus (245 g) in north-central Oregon between 1973 and 1982. The three owl species tended to consume T. talpoides of different size and responded differently to predicted seasonal body mass changes in the T. talpoides population. On an annual basis B. virginianus preyed upon the largest individuals (x = 67.9 g), whereas A. otus preyed upon the smallest (x = 41.0 g). When compared with the predicted values for the size composition of the T. talpoides population, B. virginianus appeared to prey upon T. talpoides randomly with respect to size, whereas A. out demonstrated a high degree of selectivity, consistently preying upon relatively small individuals. However, the absence of significant seasonal changes in prey size electivities suggests that active choice is not a major factor in predation on gophers by A. otus. Instead, evidence suggests that A. otus attacks T. talpoides randomly with respect to size but captures them in accordance with size-related capture probabilities. Tyto alba preyed most commonly upon intermediate sized T. talpoides (x = 63.3 g), and the presence of T. alba coincided with the seasonal occurrence of T. talpoides of this general size.     

1H NMR dipolar echo decay spectroscopy: a sensitive probe of membrane structure

The structural and motional properties of membrane lipids in various physical states and macroscopic organizations are elucidated by 1H NMR dipolar echo decay spectroscopy (DECODE). Multilamellar lipid dispersions in the gel (L beta') and liquid-crystalline (L alpha) states and a nonbilayer, hexagonal (HII) phase are readily distinguished, a dynamic profile within these phases is identified, and dipolar order parameters are obtained in the fluid phases. The method is suitable for any pulsed NMR spectrometer. DECODE provides the first depth-dependent assay of lipid order that does not rely on isotopic labeling or exogenous probe.     

Effect of rAd5-Vector HIV-1 Preventive Vaccines on HIV-1 Acquisition: A Participant-Level Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

Background

Three phase 2b, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized efficacy trials have tested recombinant Adenovirus serotype-5 (rAd5)-vector preventive HIV-1 vaccines: MRKAd5 HIV-1 gag/pol/nef in Step and Phambili, and DNA/rAd5 HIV-1 env/gag/pol in HVTN505. Due to efficacy futility observed at the first interim analysis in Step and HVTN505, participants of all three studies were unblinded to their vaccination assignments during the study but continued follow–up. Rigorous meta-analysis can provide crucial information to advise the future utility of rAd5-vector vaccines.

Methods

We included participant-level data from all three efficacy trials, and three Phase 1–2 trials evaluating the HVTN505 vaccine regimen. We predefined two co-primary analysis cohorts for assessing the vaccine effect on HIV-1 acquisition. The modified-intention-to-treat (MITT) cohort included all randomly assigned participants HIV-1 uninfected at study entry, who received at least the first vaccine/placebo, and the Ad5 cohort included MITT participants who received at least one dose of rAd5-HIV vaccine or rAd5-placebo. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of HIV-1 infection (vaccine vs. placebo) and evaluate HR variation across vaccine regimens, time since vaccination, and subgroups using interaction tests.

Findings

Results are similar for the MITT and Ad5 cohorts; we summarize MITT cohort results. Pooled across the efficacy trials, over all follow-up time 403 (n = 224 vaccine; n = 179 placebo) of 6266 MITT participants acquired HIV-1, with a non-significantly higher incidence in vaccine recipients (HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.99–1.48, P = 0.06). The HRs significantly differed by vaccine regimen (interaction P = 0.03; MRKAd5 HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.11–1.78, P = 0.005 vs. DNA/rAd5 HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.61–1.26, P = 0.48). Results were similar when including the Phase 1–2 trials. Exploratory analyses based on the efficacy trials supported that the MRKAd5 vaccine-increased risk was concentrated in Ad5-positive or uncircumcised men early in follow-up, and in Ad5-negative or circumcised men later. Overall, MRKAd5 vaccine-increased risk was evident across subgroups except in circumcised Ad5-negative men (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.58−1.63, P = 0.91); there was little evidence that the DNA/rAd5 vaccine, that was tested in this subgroup, increased risk (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.61–1.26, P = 0.48). When restricting the analysis of Step and Phambili to follow-up time before unblinding, 114 (n = 65 vaccine; n = 49 placebo) of 3770 MITT participants acquired HIV-1, with a non-significantly higher incidence in MRKAd5 vaccine recipients (HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.89–1.14, P = 0.18).

Interpretation and Significance

The data support increased risk of HIV-1 infection by MRKAd5 over all follow-up time, but do not support increased risk of HIV-1 infection by DNA/rAd5. This study provides a rationale for including monitoring plans enabling detection of increased susceptibility to infection in HIV-1 at-risk populations.     

Failure of Intravenous or Intracardiac Delivery of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to Improve Outcomes after Focal Traumatic Brain Injury in the Female Rat

Mesenchymal stromal cells secrete a variety of anti-inflammatory factors and may provide a regenerative medicine option for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. The present study investigates the efficacy of multiple intravenous or intracardiac administrations of rat mesenchymal stromal cells or human mesenchymal stromal cells in female rats after controlled cortical impact by in vivo MRI, neurobehavior, and histopathology evaluation. Neither intravenous nor intracardiac administration of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from either rats or humans improved MRI measures of lesion volume or neurobehavioral outcome compared to saline treatment. Few mesenchymal stromal cells (<0.0005% of injected dose) were found within 3 days of last dosage at the site of injury after either delivery route, with no mesenchymal stromal cells being detectable in brain at 30 or 56 days post-injury. These findings suggest that non-autologous mesenchymal stromal cells therapy via intravenous or intracardiac administration is not a promising treatment after focal contusion traumatic brain injury in this female rodent model.