Interception of teicoplanin oxidation intermediates yields new antimicrobial scaffolds

In the search for new efficacious antibiotics, biosynthetic engineering offers attractive opportunities to introduce minor alterations to antibiotic structures that may overcome resistance. Dbv29, a flavin-containing oxidase, catalyzes the four-electron oxidation of a vancomycin-like glycopeptide to yield A40926. Structural and biochemical examination of Dbv29 now provides insights into residues that govern flavinylation and activity, protein conformation and reaction mechanism. In particular, the serendipitous discovery of a reaction intermediate in the crystal structure led us to identify an unexpected opportunity to intercept the normal enzyme mechanism at two different points to create new teicoplanin analogs. Using this method, we synthesized families of antibiotic analogs with amidated and aminated lipid chains, some of which showed marked potency and efficacy against multidrug resistant pathogens. This method offers a new strategy for the development of chemical diversity to combat antibacterial resistance.     

Water loss from Jackass Penguin Spheniscus demersus eggs during natural incubation

The water budget of incubating Jackass Penguin eggs was studied on Marcus Island, South Africa, and complementary measurements were made in the laboratory. The mean ambient temperature was 16-5 "C and the mean humidity was 12-4 Torr (89% relative humidity). The temperature of incubated live and water-filled eggs ranged between 14^oCand 37 ^oC. The mean calculated egg temperature was 34-9' C. The mean brood patch temperature was 37-1 ^oC, slightly lower than the cloacal temperature (37.8 ^oC). The mean brood patch area was about 38 cm². The rate of water loss was 411 mg day^-1. The total diffusive water loss during 37 days of incubation was, as predicted, 15-2% of the initial 100-3 g egg mass. The total pore number was 6245 per egg and the shell thickness was 577 fira. It is suggested that the eggshell parameters, incubation length and nesting behaviour are compensated in such a way that an egg-to-nest water vapour pressure difference lower than commonly found is sufficient to bring about the normal total water loss.     

Characterization and structural analyses of nonspecific lipid transfer protein 1 from mung bean

Plant nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are thermal stable proteins that are capable of transferring lipid molecules between bilayers in vitro. This family of proteins, abundant in plants, is proposed to be involved in defense, pollination, and germination; the in vivo biological function remains, however, elusive. Here we report the purification and sequencing of an nsLTP1 from mung bean sprouts. We have also determined the solution structure of this nsLTP1, which represents the first 3D structure of the dicotyledonous nsLTP1 family. The global fold of mung bean nsLTP1 is similar to those of the monocotyledonous nsLTP1 structures and consists of four alpha-helices stabilized by four disulfide bonds. There are, however, some notable differences in the C-terminal tails and internal hydrophobic cavities. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to compare the thermodynamics and lipid transfer properties of mung bean nsLTP1 with those of rice nsLTP1. Docking of a lipid molecule into the solution structure of mung bean nsLTP1 reveals similar binding cavities and hydrophobic interactions as in rice nsLTP1, consistent with their comparable lipid transfer properties measured experimentally.     

Characterization of photodynamic therapy responses elicited in A431 cells containing intracellular organelle‐localized photofrin

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a photochemotherapeutic regimen used to treat several diseases, including cancer, exerts its effects mainly through induction of cell death. Using human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells as a model, we previously showed that distinct cell death types could be triggered by protocols that selectively delivered Photofrin (a clinically approved photosensitizer) to different subcellular sites (Hsieh et al. [2003] J Cell Physiol 194: 363–375]. Here, the responses elicited by PDT in A431 cells containing intracellular organelle‐localized Photofrin were further characterized. Two prominent cell phenotypes were observed under these conditions: one characterized by perinuclear vacuole (PV) formation 2–8 h after PDT followed by cell recovery or shrinkage within 48 h, and a second characterized by typical apoptotic features appearing within 4 h after PDT. DCFDA‐sensitive reactive oxygen species formed proximal to PVs during the response to PDT, covering areas in which both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi complex were located. Biochemical analyses showed that Photofrin‐PDT also induced JNK activation and altered the protein secretion profile. A more detailed examination of PV formation revealed that PVs were derived from the ER. The alteration of ER structure induced by PDT was similar to that triggered by thapsigargin, an ER Ca²⁺‐ATPase inhibitor that perturbs Ca²⁺ homeostasis, suggesting a role for Ca²⁺ in the formation of PVs. Microtubule dynamics did not significantly affect PV formation. This study demonstrates that cells in which intracellular organelles are selectively loaded with Photofrin mount a novel response to ER stress induced by PDT. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 821–833, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Study of cryopreservation of articular chondrocytes using the Taguchi method

This study evaluates the effect of control factors on cryopreservation of articular cartilage chondrocytes using the Taguchi method. Freeze-thaw experiments based on the L₈(2⁷) two-level orthogonal array of the Taguchi method are conducted, and ANOVA (analysis of variables) is adopted to determine the statistically significant control factors that affect the viability of the cell. Results show that the type of cryoprotectant, freezing rate, thawing rate, and concentration of cryoprotectant (listed in the order of influence) are the statistically significant control factors that affect the post-thaw viability. The end temperature and durations of the first and second stages of freezing do not affect the post-thaw viability. Within the ranges of the control factors studied in this work, the optimal test condition is found to be a freezing rate of 0.61 ± 0.03 °C/min, a thawing rate of 126.84 ± 5.57 °C/min, Me₂SO cryoprotectant, and a cryoprotectant concentration of 10% (v/v) for maximum cell viability. In addition, this study also explores the effect of cryopreservation on the expression of type II collagen using immunocytochemical staining and digital image processing. The results show that the ability of cryopreserved chondrocytes to express type II collagen is reduced within the first five days of monolayer culture.     

Mistletoe lectin (Viscum album coloratum) modulates proliferation and cytokine expressions in murine splenocytes

It is well documented that an extract of European mistletoe has a variety of biological effects, such as the stimulation of cytokine production from immune cells, and additional immunoadjuvant activities. While the European mistletoe has been studied intensively, we know less about Korean mistletoe as a therapeutic plant, especially as a possible immunomodulating drug. This study will investigated the effects of Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin, VCA) on murine splenocytes to investigate whether VCA acts as an immunomodulator, which could lead to improved immune responses in these cells. The results showed that VCA inhibited cell proliferation at higher concentrations (at 1-8 ng/ml) and enhanced cell proliferation at lower concentrations (at 4-32 pg/ml). Further studies were carried out to determine if the proproliferative or anti-proliferative activity exhibited by VCA was correlated with cytokine secretion. Consequently, interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion was decreased in concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated murine splenocytes by VCA (4-64 ng/ml), but there was no change in IL-4 levels. This suggests that VCA has the ability to modulate murine splenocyte proliferation and can possibly act on the balance of Th1/Th2 cellular immune responses.     

Testicular dmrt1 is involved in the sexual fate of the ovotestis in the protandrous black porgy

In hermaphroditic fish, the ovotestis can respond to external stimuli so that only one type of gonadal tissue (either ovarian or testicular tissue) will remain reproductively active and the other will recede to a rudimentary stage. However, the molecular mechanism for sexual fate determination is still poorly understood in hermaphroditic fish. In the present study, we examined whether sexual fate determination with respect to testis development is due to differential expression of dmrt1. Expression of dmrt1 was limited to the spermatogonia-surrounding cells (Sertoli cells) throughout testis development. Testicular dmrt1 was differentially expressed in fish (black porgy [Acanthopagrus schlegeli Bleeker]) depending on if fish were destined to be female or male. Expression of dmrt1 in Sertoli cells did not require germ cell factors with busulfan treatment. To examine the role of dmrt1, we used virus-based RNA interference. Deficiency of dmrt1 resulted in a reduced number of germ cells in the testis and stimulated a male-to-female sex change. Higher serum luteinizing hormone levels were detected in 2(+)- to 3-yr-old male fish as compared to sex-changing female fish. Furthermore, we showed that fish treated in vivo with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gnrh) and fish treated in vitro with gonadotropin (Gth) had higher dmrt1 expression in the testis, suggesting that these endocrine factors may affect the male-to-female sex change. Therefore, our data suggest that dmrt1 plays a key role in initial testis differentiation and in later maintenance of male development. We show, to our knowledge for the first time, the functions of dmrt1 in hermaphroditic fish, which indicate that male-phase maintenance may be regulated by the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis via the Gnrh-Gth-Dmrt1 axis.