Potent histamine-releasing activity of atrahagin, a novel snake venom metalloproteinase

Poisonous snakebite wound is a popular disease worldwide. However, the pathogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, a novel metalloproteinase atrahagin in Chinese cobra (Naja atra) snake venom was purified, using heparin-sepharose followed by Superdex 75 gel filtration chromatography. Apart from its alpha-fibrinogenase activity, atrahagin potently activated human colon, lung and tonsil mast cells with the net histamine release being 25.9+/-4.4, 17.0+/-1.9, 13.2+/-3.6%, respectively. Time course studies revealed that the peak histamine release induced by atrahagin occurred at 12, 12 and 8 min following incubation of the enzyme with colon, lung and tonsil mast cells, respectively. The response of mast cells to atrahagin was abolished by preincubation of the cells with metabolic inhibitors or pertussis toxin, and by removal of Ca2+ and Mg2+ from the challenge buffer. In conclusion, activation of human mast cells by atrahagin indicated that the enzyme might contribute to the pathogenesis of snakebite wound.     

Screening and characterization of eicosapentaenoic acid-producing marine bacteria

To obtain eicosapentaenoic acid-producing bacteria, some 3,500 strains of bacteria were isolated from the intestine of marine animals from sea around the Korean peninsula. Forty two eicosapentaenoic acid-producing bacteria were obtained through screening with TLC and gas chromatography, and the strain with highest content of eicosapentaenoic acid (up to 33% of total fatty acid when grown at 5°C ) as the sole polyunsaturated fatty acid was identified as an Aeromonas sp. on the basis of physiological properties.     

Analysis of major antigenic determinants in Mistletoe lectin I

Antigenic determinants of Mistletoe Lectin I, a toxin from Viscum album were predicted on the basis of the primary amino acid sequence of the protein. Based on the results of analysis, the peptide FPGGSTRTQARS, which corresponds to the 144-155 segment of the viscumin A-chain, was synthesized. The peptide was tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies against the viscumin A-chain obtained previously. The peptide reacted with antibodies with a low affinity and did not inhibit the binding of viscumin molecule to any of the antibodies. Analysis of the peptide by 1H-NMR spectroscopy in aqueous solution was performed. The three-dimensional structure of the 144-155 segment in the native protein globule was shown.     

Expression and characterization of the first kunitz domain of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2

Human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (hTFPI-2) has three kunitz domains whose structure and function are unclear. We expressed the first kunitz domain of hTFPI-2 (hTFPI-2/KD1) as functional form using Pichia pastoris and investigated its characterization. In the experiment, hTFPI-2/KD1 can inhibit the plasmin and trypsin activity and the Ki of hTFPI-2/KD1 towards plasmin (30nM) and trypsin (50nM) was determined as 10 and 7nM by chromogenic assay, respectively. hTFPI-2/KD1 can also inhibit MMP-2 and MMP-9 in zymography assay. Furthermore, the inhibition of hTFPI-2/KD1 to the Matrigel invasion by HT-1080 is also described. This study provides a method to produce hTFPI-2/KD1 efficiently and some insights into the structure and function of hTFPI-2/KD1.     

Novobiocin induces a distinct conformation of Hsp90 and alters Hsp90-cochaperone-client interactions

Hsp90 functions to facilitate the folding of newly synthesized and denatured proteins. Hsp90 function is modulated through its interactions with cochaperones and the binding and hydrolysis of ATP. Recently, novobiocin has been shown to bind to a second nucleotide binding site located within the C-terminal domain of Hsp90. In this report, we have examined the effect of novobiocin on Hsp90 function in reticulocyte lysate. Novobiocin specifically inhibited the maturation of the heme-regulated eIF2alpha kinase (HRI) in a concentration-dependent manner. Novobiocin induced the dissociation of Hsp90 and Cdc37 from immature HRI, while the Hsp90 cochaperones p23, FKBP52, and protein phosphatase 5 remained associated with immature HRI. Proteolytic fingerprinting of Hsp90 indicated that novobiocin had a distinct effect on the conformation of Hsp90, and molybdate lowered the concentration of novobiocin required to alter Hsp90's conformation by 10-fold. The recombinant C-terminal domain of Hsp90 adopted a proteolytic resistant conformation in the presence of novobiocin, indicating that alteration of Hsp90/cochaperone interactions was not the cause of the novobiocin-induced protease resistance within Hsp90's C-terminal domain. The concentration dependence of this novobiocin-induced conformation change correlated with the dissociation of Hsp90 and Cdc37 from immature HRI and novobiocin-induced inhibition of Hsp90/Cdc37-dependent activation of HRI's autokinase activity. The data suggest that binding of novobiocin to the C-terminal nucleotide binding site of Hsp90 induces a change in Hsp90's conformation leading to the dissociation of bound kinase. The unique structure and properties of novobocin-bound Hsp90 suggest that it may represent the "client-release" conformation of the Hsp90 machine.     

Detection of immune complexes using atomic force microscopy

Complex formation between immunoglobulins and ligands immobilized on mica was studied by atomic force microscopy in two different systems. In the first system, 60-kDa ligands possessing only one site for antibody recognition were used. In the other system, a more complex interaction of human immunoglobulin with immobilized polyclonal antibodies was studied. In both systems, specific complexes with proper ligand appeared, and unspecific interaction was not detected. The method of revealing immunocomplexes by image atomic force microscopy can be used in the development of modern diagnostic systems.     

Effect of ATP-sensitive potassium channel modulators and intermittent hypoxia on mitochondrial respiration during stress

The influence of activator of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) pinacidil and blocker glibenclamide after intermittent hypoxia in rats under stress condition on ADP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration by Chance and lipid peroxidation processes in liver have been investigated. We used next substrates of oxidation--0.35 mM succinate, 1 mM alpha-ketoglutarate, 3 mM glutamate, 3 mM pyruvate, 2.5 mM malate and inhibitor of the mitochondrial fermentative complex I (10 microM rotenone), succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (2 mM malonate) and inhibitor of transamination (1 mM aminooxiacetate). We suggest that adaptation by intermittent hypoxia and application of a KATP opener pinacidil possess significant protective effect on mitochondrial energy support under stress condition. Combination of intermittent hypoxia with pinacidil causes more efficient consumption of oxygen and decrease of lipid peroxidation processes comparative to intermittent hypoxia or pinacidil injection used separately. We conclude about the existence of the functional link between nitric oxide which is being increased under intermittent hypoxia and KATP opener. Both intermittent hypoxia and pinacidil effectively decrease the negative results of mitochondrial dysfunction under stress condition.     

Directional sensing requires G beta gamma-mediated PAK1 and PIX alpha-dependent activation of Cdc42

Efficient chemotaxis requires directional sensing and cell polarization. We describe a signaling mechanism involving G beta gamma, PAK-associated guanine nucleotide exchange factor (PIX alpha), Cdc42, and p21-activated kinase (PAK) 1. This pathway is utilized by chemoattractants to regulate directional sensing and directional migration of myeloid cells. Our results suggest that G beta gamma binds PAK1 and, via PAK-associated PIX alpha, activates Cdc42, which in turn activates PAK1. Thus, in this pathway, PAK1 is not only an effector for Cdc42, but it also functions as a scaffold protein required for Cdc42 activation. This G beta gamma-PAK1/PIX alpha/Cdc42 pathway is essential for the localization of F-actin formation to the leading edge, the exclusion of PTEN from the leading edge, directional sensing, and the persistent directional migration of chemotactic leukocytes. Although ligand-induced production of PIP(3) is not required for activation of this pathway, PIP(3) appears to localize the activation of Cdc42 by the pathway.     

Effect of stress on the ability of a phlA-based quantitative competitive PCR assay to monitor biocontrol strain Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0

A quantitative competitive PCR (QC-PCR) assay targeting the phlA gene of Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 was developed and tested in vitro. Statistically significant, positive correlations were found between QC-PCR and both CFU and total cell number when studying cells in log or stationary phase. The correlations disappeared when considering stressed cells.