Crystal structure of the biologically active form of class Ib ribonucleotide reductase small subunit from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Two nrdF genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis code for different R2 subunits of the class Ib ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). The proteins are denoted R2F-1 and R2F-2 having 71% sequence identity. The R2F-2 subunit forms the biologically active RNR complex with the catalytic R1E-subunit. We present the structure of the reduced R2F-2 subunit to 2.2 A resolution. Comparison of the R2F-2 structure with a model of R2F-1 suggests that the important differences are located at the C-terminus. We found that within class Ib, the E-helix close to the iron diiron centre has two preferred conformations, which cannot be explained by the redox-state of the diiron centre. In the R2F-2 structure, we also could see a mobility of alphaE in between the two conformations.     

An early- and late-stage convolution model for disease natural history

The standard convolution model of disease natural history posits an asymptomatic (preclinical) and a symptomatic (clinical) state. An augmented model includes, in both the preclinical and clinical states, an early and late stage of disease. In the case of cancer, the early stage would generally correspond to the organ-confined stages before there is evidence of cancer spread. We compute the number of screen-detected (preclinical) and clinical cases in the early and late stages expected under a given screening program and show how the model can be fit to data from a screening trial using maximum likelihood. We also develop expressions for sojourn time, lead time, and overdiagnosis in the context of the model, where each of the above concepts incorporates disease stage. As an example, we fit the model to data from the Mayo Lung Cancer Screening trial.     

Inter-rater agreement on chromosome 5 breakage in FISH-based mutagen sensitivity assays (MSAs)

In chromosome breakage assays, validated, universal criteria for selection of cells and classification of chromosome aberrations may enhance their utility for cancer susceptibility screening. To standardize a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) modification of the mutagen sensitivity assay (MSA), scoring criteria were evaluated by web-based validation. Two hundred digital FISH images were assigned random identification numbers. With this set of images, criteria for inclusion of cells and measurement of the frequency of abnormal cells were evaluated by eight observers, all of whom had five or more years of experience. Observers included doctoral and MS/BS level cytogeneticists, and were drawn from a randomized pool of 54 volunteers. Questions addressed were: (1) how uniformly were criteria applied to analysis of a standard digital FISH image set and (2) did concordance vary with educational level? These data suggest inter-rater agreement within a factor of 2 for average breakage frequency, but revealed greater variability in cell selection. These results aid in estimating the components of assay variance due to definitions, technical parameters and biological variables.     

A preliminary study on the induction of dioestrous ovulation in the mare – a possible method for inducing prolonged luteal phase

Background  

Strong oestrous symptoms in the mare can cause problems with racing, training and handling. Since long-acting progesterone treatment is not permitted in mares at competition (e.g. according to FEI rules), there is a need for methods to suppress unwanted cyclicity. Spontaneous dioestrous ovulations in the late luteal phase may cause a prolongation of the luteal phase in mares.     

缺氧诱导因子与肺癌关系研究进展

缺氧诱导因子(Hypoxia-inducible factors,HIFs)是在缺氧条件下广泛存在于人和哺乳动物体内的一种转录因子,在细胞的增殖、存活、血管发生、新陈代谢、肿瘤侵袭和转移等过程中起着重要作用。缺氧是实体瘤的一个重要特征,缺氧诱导因子与肿瘤的发生、发展关系密切,通过分析缺氧诱导因子与肺癌的关系,为研发新靶点的肺癌药物奠定一定的理论基础。     

Identification of low molecular weight pyroglutamate A{beta} oligomers in Alzheimer disease: a novel tool for therapy and diagnosis

N-terminally truncated Aβ peptides starting with pyroglutamate (AβpE3) represent a major fraction of all Aβ peptides in the brain of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. AβpE3 has a higher aggregation propensity and stability and shows increased toxicity compared with full-length Aβ. In the present work, we generated a novel monoclonal antibody (9D5) that selectively recognizes oligomeric assemblies of AβpE3 and studied the potential involvement of oligomeric AβpE3 in vivo using transgenic mouse models as well as human brains from sporadic and familial AD cases. 9D5 showed an unusual staining pattern with almost nondetectable plaques in sporadic AD patients and non-demented controls. Interestingly, in sporadic and familial AD cases prominent intraneuronal and blood vessel staining was observed. Using a novel sandwich ELISA significantly decreased levels of oligomers in plasma samples from patients with AD compared with healthy controls were identified. Moreover, passive immunization of 5XFAD mice with 9D5 significantly reduced overall Aβ plaque load and AβpE3 levels, and normalized behavioral deficits. These data indicate that 9D5 is a therapeutically and diagnostically effective monoclonal antibody targeting low molecular weight AβpE3 oligomers.     

The Sjogren's syndrome-associated autoantigen Ro52 is an E3 ligase that regulates proliferation and cell death

Patients affected by Sj?gren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) carry autoantibodies to an intracellular protein denoted Ro52. Although the serologic presence of Ro52 autoantibodies is used clinically for diagnostic purposes, the function of the protein or why it is targeted as an autoantigen in several rheumatic conditions has not been elucidated. In this study, we show that the expression of Ro52 is significantly increased in PBMC of patients with Sj?gren's syndrome and SLE, and demonstrate that Ro52 is a RING-dependent E3 ligase involved in ubiquitination. Overexpression of Ro52, but not of Ro52 lacking the RING domain, in a mouse B cell line lead to decreased growth in steady state and increased cell death after activation via the CD40 pathway. The role of Ro52 in activation-mediated cell death was further confirmed as a reduction in Ro52 expression restored cell viability. These findings suggest that the increased expression of the Ro52 autoantigen in patients may be directly involved in the reduced cellular proliferation and increased apoptotic cell death observed in Sj?gren's syndrome and SLE, and may thus contribute to the autoantigenic load and induction of autoimmune B and T cell responses observed in rheumatic patients.     

The effect of different antioxidants on glutathione turnover in human cell lines and their interaction with hydrogen peroxide

BACKGROUND: Glutathione plays crucial roles in antioxidant defence and glutathione deficiency contributes to oxidative stress and may therefore play a key role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects on glutathione turnover of thiol and non-thiol antioxidants in human cell cultures and if any of the antioxidant had a short-term cellular effect against different levels of hydrogen peroxide. METHODS: We have investigated the effect on the total glutathione amount in HeLa and hepatoma cell cultures of thiol antioxidants in comparison with non-thiol antioxidants, such as a copper chelator, Vitamin C, and a flavonoid. Furthermore, we have investigated the short-term (within 24h) interaction of the different antioxidants with hydrogen peroxide. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Lipoic acid and quercetin (Quer) were the two antioxidants that showed the highest stimulation of glutathione synthesis in cell cultures as judged by the total glutathione amount. However, no antioxidant protected against hydrogen peroxide present in concentrations that lowered cell protein. This finding may be attributed to the fact that it is necessary to incubate cell cultures with antioxidants or small doses of oxidants for a period before the cultures are exposed to hydrogen peroxide in order to enhance the antioxidant defence. The presence of Quer and Vitamin C lowered cell protein and total glutathione even in cell cultures containing hydrogen peroxide in concentrations that did not lower cell protein. This finding might be attributed to pro-oxidant properties and formation of excess reactive oxygen species in the presence of Quer and Vitamin C.