Expression and secretion of human alpha1(I) procollagen fragment by Hansenula polymorpha as compared to Pichia pastoris

Secretion of a human collagen alpha1(I) chain fragment was achieved in Hansenula polymorpha using the native alpha1(I) procollagen secretory signal sequence. The N-terminal propeptide in the fragment was cleaved off during secretion, yielding the N-terminus of mature alpha1(I) collagen. In Pichia pastoris transformants, the expression of the fragment could be detected on RNA-level, but the product could not be determined extracellularly. After fusion of the fragment with a myc-HIS6 epitope, the intact product was found intracellularly. The difference in the extracellular level of the protein between the two expression hosts is most likely caused by difference in secretion efficiency.     

Do distribution volumes and clearances relate to tissue volumes and blood flows? A computer simulation

Background

Thoracotomy is associated with severe pain that may persist for years. Acupuncture is a complementary therapy with a proven role in pain control. A randomized trial showed that acupuncture was effective in controlling pain after abdominal surgery, but the efficacy of this technique for the treatment of thoracotomy pain has not been established. We developed a novel technique for convenient application of acupuncture to patients undergoing thoracotomy, and in a Phase II trial evaluated the safety of this intervention and the feasibility of doing a randomized trial.

Methods

Adult patients scheduled for unilateral thoracotomy with preoperative epidural catheter placement received acupuncture immediately prior to surgery. Eighteen semi-permanent intradermal needles were inserted on either side of the spine, and four were inserted in the legs and auricles. Needles were removed after four weeks. Using a numerical rating scale, pain was measured on the first five postoperative days. After discharge, pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory at 7, 30, 60 and 90 days.

Results

Thirty-six patients were treated with acupuncture. Of these, 25, 23, and 22 patients provided data at 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively. The intervention was well tolerated by patients with only one minor and transient adverse event of skin ulceration.

Conclusion

The rate of data completion met our predefined criterion for determining a randomized trial to be feasible (at least 75% of patients tolerated the intervention and provided evaluable data). This novel intervention is acceptable to patients undergoing thoracotomy and does not interfere with standard preoperative care. There was no evidence of important adverse events. We are now testing the hypothesis that acupuncture significantly adds to standard perioperative pain management in a randomized trial.     

新生隐球菌转录共激活因子MBF1基因的鉴定与敲除

目的构建新生隐球菌转录共激活因子MBF1基因缺陷菌株。方法采用套叠PCR方法 ,构建含有抗性基因NEO以及靶基因上下游同源DNA片段的基因敲除框,通过基因枪将重组片段转化入新生隐球菌,应用PCR筛选和DNA序列测序方法对基因突变株进行鉴定与验证。结果成功构建了新生隐球菌基因突变株mbf1裣。结论通过基因突变株mbf1裣的构建,为深入研究新生隐球菌转录辅助因子Mbf1的功能机制奠定基础。     

SA-hIL2双功能融合蛋白的研制及其生物学鉴定

目的：制备链亲和素标记的人白细胞介素-2(SA-hIL2)融合蛋白,并研究其生物学功能。方法：构建SA-L-IL2-pET24重组表达质粒,在大肠杆菌中表达SA-hIL2融合蛋白,对表达的SA-hIL2融合蛋白采用镍金属螯合（Ni-NTA）层析柱进行纯化,透析复性。CCK-8法检测SA-hIL2融合蛋白对PHA刺激的人外周血淋巴细胞的增值活性,流式细胞仪分析SA-hIL2融合蛋白对生物素化的B16.F10肿瘤细胞表面锚定修饰效率。结果：SA-hIL2在大肠杆菌中实现了高效表达,约占菌体总蛋白的20％,制备的SA-hIL2融合蛋白纯度达到95％,并具有双重活性,即hIL-2促进PHA刺激的人外周血淋巴细胞的增值活性和SA介导的高效结合至已生物素化的B16.F10肿瘤细胞表面的功能（表面锚定修饰效率约95％）。结论：研制的SA-hIL2融合蛋白具有双重活性,可为研制表面修饰的新型肿瘤细胞疫苗提供基础。