Relative actin nucleation promotion efficiency by WASP and WAVE proteins in endothelial cells

The mammalian genome encodes multiple Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP)/WASP-family Verprolin homologous (WAVE) proteins. Members of this family interact with the actin related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex to promote growth of a branched actin network near the plasma membrane or the surface of moving cargos. Arp2/3 mediated branching can further lead to formation of comet tails (actin rockets). Despite their similar domain structure, different WASP/WAVE family members fulfill unique functions that depend on their subcellular location and activity levels. We measured the relative efficiency of actin nucleation promotion of full-length WASP/WAVE proteins in a cytoplasmic extract from primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). In this assay WAVE2 and WAVE3 complexes showed higher nucleation efficiency than WAVE1 and N-WASP, indicating distinct cellular controls for different family members. Previously, WASP and N-WASP were the only members that were known to stimulate comet formation. We observed that in addition to N-WASP, WAVE3 also induced short actin tails, and the other WAVEs induced formation of asymmetric actin shells. Differences in shape and structure of actin-based growth may reflect varying ability of WASP/WAVE proteins to break symmetry of the actin shell, possibly by differential recruitment of actin bundling or severing (pruning or debranching) factors.     

Identification of a novel compound that inhibits iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated macrophages from Schisandra chinensis

A novel α-iso-cubebenol, which has anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, was isolated from the fruits of Schisandra chinensis. α-iso-cubebenol inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production. Consistent with these findings, α-iso-cubebenol also reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 at the protein and mRNA levels in a concentration-dependent manner. α-iso-cubebenol also inhibited LPS-induced nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit. Furthermore, α-iso-cubebenol suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 kinase induced by LPS. Since the novel α-iso-cubebenol blocked the production of several pro-inflammatory mediators induced by LPS in macrophages, the molecule can be useful material for the development of anti-inflammatory agents against bacterial infections or endotoxin.     

Identification of an anticoagulant peptide that inhibits both fXIa and fVIIa/tissue factor from the blood-feeding nematode Ancylostoma caninum

Factor VIIa-tissue factor complex (fVIIa/TF) and factor XIa (fXIa) play important roles in the initiation and amplification of coagulation, respectively. They may be good targets for the development of novel anticoagulants to treat and prevent thromboembolic disease. In this study, we cloned, expressed and identified a novel anticoagulant peptide, AcaNAP10, from the blood-feeding nematode Ancylostoma caninum. AcaNAP10 showed potent anticoagulant activity and doubled the activated partial thromboplastin and prothrombin times at estimated concentrations of 92.9 nM and 28.8 nM, respectively. AcaNAP10 demonstrated distinct mechanisms of action compared with known anticoagulants. It inhibited fXIa and fVIIa/TF with IC₅₀ values of 25.76 ± 1.06 nM and 123.9 ± 1.71 nM, respectively. This is the first report on an anticoagulant that can inhibit both fXIa and fVIIa/TF. This anticoagulant peptide may be an alternative molecule for the development of novel anticoagulants.     

马立克氏病病毒meq基因敲除株感染性克隆的免疫效果评价

【目的】比较和评价了敲除meq基因的MDV感染性克隆作为新型DNA疫苗的免疫保护效果。【方法】将1日龄SPF鸡饲养于正压过滤空气的SPF动物饲养隔离罩内。1日龄时,将SPF鸡以10μg/只的剂量通过大腿肌肉注射的方式接种溶解于PBS缓冲液中的敲除meq基因的MDV感染性克隆GX0101 Δmeq-BAC,分别在免疫后5天或12天以500PFU/只的剂量接种超强毒rMd5。饲养90天,观察死亡情况,对每一只鸡剖检并取心脏与肝脏做石蜡切片,进行病理观察。【结果】免疫5天后攻毒,CVI988/Rispens对超强毒rMd5的保护指数可达到87%,GX0101 Δmeq-BAC对rMd5的保护指数仅达33%;而免疫12天后对rMd5的保护指数为53%。【结论】相对于细胞结合疫苗CVI988/Rispens,DNA疫苗在机体内的病毒拯救是使其获得保护力的前提条件,因此有一定的免疫空当期。以GX0101 Δmeq-BAC作为疫苗免疫不仅能使雏鸡在受到超强毒感染时发病延迟,而且还能提供较好的免疫保护效果。     

Development of AFLP and STS markers linked to a waterlogging tolerance in Korean soybean landraces

Among the 400 soybean (Glycine max) landraces, we selected 3 tolerant (KAS150-9, KAS160-15, and KAS170-9) and 3 susceptible lines (KAS160-14, KAS160-20, and KAS201-6-1) by the survival percentage and injury scores. Susceptible lines showed decrease in chlorophyll content and increase in glucose and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents under waterlogging stress, while tolerant lines did not change significantly. For AFLP analysis, 8 EcoRI (+3) and 8 MseI (+3) primers used in 32 primer combinations generated a total of 2 566 bands with a mean of 80 bands per primer combination, of which 1 117 (43.5 %) were clearly polymorphic between the tolerant and susceptible lines. A genetic similarity coefficient, based on cluster analysis using an unweighted pair grouping method of average (UPGMA), was 0.79 for the tolerant group, while the susceptible landraces were genetically less related, with a genetic similarity coefficient of 0.17. The 10 reproducible polymorphic PCR products present in the 3 tolerant or susceptible lines were sequenced and converted into sequence tagged site (STS) markers. These STS primer sets were designated GmWT01-GmWT06 and GmWS01-GmWS04. Two STS primer sets, GmWT06 and GmWS02, generated a single monomorphic PCR product identical in size to the original AFLP fragments. For the broad application of these STS markers in marker-assisted selection (MAS) for soybean genotypes tolerant to waterlogging stress, two developed STS markers are being evaluated with putative waterlogging tolerant mutant lines induced by γ-radiation in soybean mutation breeding programs.     

Observation and kinematic description of long actin tracks induced by spherical beads

We report an in vitro study comparing the growth of long actin tails induced by spherical beads coated with the verprolin central acidic domain of the polymerization enzyme N-WASP to that induced by Listeria monocytogenes in similar cellular extracts. The tracks behind the beads show characteristic differences in shape and curvature from those left by the bacteria, which have an elongated shape and a similar polymerization-inducing enzyme distributed only on the rear surface of the cell. The experimental tracks are simulated using a generalized kinematic model, which incorporates three modes of bead rotation with respect to the tail. The results show that the trajectories of spherical beads are mechanically deterministic rather than random, as suggested by stochastic models. Assessment of the bead rotation and its mechanistic basis offers insights into the biological function of actin-based motility.     

A quantitative approach to analyze binding diffusion kinetics by confocal FRAP

Most of the important types of interactions that occur in cells can be characterized as binding-diffusion type processes, and can be quantified by kinetic rate constants such as diffusion coefficients (D) and binding rate constants (k_on and k_off). Confocal FRAP is a potentially important tool for the quantitative analysis of intracellular binding-diffusion kinetics, but how to dependably extract accurate kinetic constants from such analyses is still an open question. To this end, in this study, we developed what we believe is a new analytical model for confocal FRAP-based measurements of intracellular binding-diffusion processes, based on a closed-form equation of the FRAP formula for a spot photobleach geometry. This approach incorporates a binding diffusion model that allows for diffusion of both the unbound and bound species, and also compensates for binding diffusion that occurs during photobleaching, a critical consideration in confocal FRAP analysis. In addition, to address the problem of parametric multiplicity, we propose a scheme to reduce the number of fitting parameters in the effective diffusion subregime when D's for the bound and unbound species are known. We validate this method by measuring kinetic rate constants for the CAAX-mediated binding of Ras to membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, obtaining binding constants of k_on ∼ 255/s and k_off ∼ 31/s.     

Bcl-2、Fas和FasL在BPH组织中的表达及其意义

目的:研究凋亡相关基因Bcl-2、Fas和FasL在前列腺增生组织中表达,并探讨其与前列腺增生症的关系.方法:收集哈尔滨医科大学附属第二医院2004年5月--2005年8月前列腺增生症(BPH)组织标本36例,前列腺癌(PCa)组织标本12例和正常前列腺(NP)组织标本7例.应用免疫组织化学SABC方法,检测BPH、PCa和NP组织标本中凋亡相关基因Bcl-2、Fas和FasL的表达,并探讨Bcl-2、Fas和FasL的表达与前列腺增生症的关系.结果:①BPH与PCa组Bcl-2蛋白阳性表达明显高于NP组(P<0.05),而BPH组与PCa组阳性表达无显著差异;PCa组Fas表达显著低于BPH和NP(P<0.05、0.01),而BPH和NP组之间差异也有显著性(P<0.05);FasL在三组之间表达差异均无显著性(P>0.05).②在BPH组织中Bcl-2的表达与Fas表达呈负相关(P(0.05),与FasL表达呈正相关(P<0.05),余均未见相关性.结论:Bcl-2、Fas、FasL均参与了BPH的发生发展过程,Bcl-2、Fas、FasL表达的综合结果可能是引起BPH的原因之一.