Differential impact of low temperature on fatty acid unsaturation and lipoxygenase activity in figleaf gourd and cucumber roots

Previous studies show that low temperature strongly induces suberin layers in the roots of chilling-sensitive cucumber plants, while in contrast, low temperature produces a much weaker induction of suberin layers in the roots of the chilling-tolerant figleaf gourd [S.H. Lee, G.C. Chung, S. Steudle, Gating of aquaporins by low temperature in roots of chilling-sensitive cucumber and -tolerant figleaf gourd, J. Exp. Bot. 56 (2005) 985-995; S.H. Lee, G.C. Chung, E. Steudle, Low temperature and mechanical stresses differently gate aquaporins of root cortical cells of chilling-sensitive cucumber and figleaf gourd, Plant Cell Environ. (2005) in press; S.J. Ahn, Y.J. Im, G.C. Chung, B.H. Cho, S.R. Suh, Physiological responses of grafted-cucumber leaves and rootstock roots affected by low root temperature, Scientia Hort. 81 (1999) 397-408]. Here, the effect of low temperature on fatty acid unsaturation and lipoxygenase activity was examined in cucumber and figleaf gourd. The double bond index demonstrated that membrane lipid unsaturation shows hyperbolic saturation curve in figleaf gourd roots while a biphasic response in cucumber roots to low temperature. In figleaf gourd, the hyperbolic response in the double bond index was primarily due to accumulation of linolenic acid. Chilling stress also significantly induced lipoxygenase activity in figleaf gourd roots. These results suggest that the degree of unsaturation of root plasma membrane lipids correlates positively with chilling-tolerance. Therefore, studies that compare the effects of chilling on cucumber and figleaf gourd may provide broad insight into stress response mechanisms in chilling-sensitive and chilling-tolerant plants. Furthermore, these studies may provide important information regarding the relationship between lipid unsaturation and lipoxygenase function/activity, and between lipoxygenase activity and water channeling during the response to chilling stress. The possible roles of these processes in chilling tolerance are discussed.     

Rigid-cluster models of conformational transitions in macromolecular machines and assemblies

We present a rigid-body-based technique (called rigid-cluster elastic network interpolation) to generate feasible transition pathways between two distinct conformations of a macromolecular assembly. Many biological molecules and assemblies consist of domains which act more or less as rigid bodies during large conformational changes. These collective motions are thought to be strongly related with the functions of a system. This fact encourages us to simply model a macromolecule or assembly as a set of rigid bodies which are interconnected with distance constraints. In previous articles, we developed coarse-grained elastic network interpolation (ENI) in which, for example, only Calpha atoms are selected as representatives in each residue of a protein. We interpolate distance differences of two conformations in ENI by using a simple quadratic cost function, and the feasible conformations are generated without steric conflicts. Rigid-cluster interpolation is an extension of the ENI method with rigid-clusters replacing point masses. Now the intermediate conformations in an anharmonic pathway can be determined by the translational and rotational displacements of large clusters in such a way that distance constraints are observed. We present the derivation of the rigid-cluster model and apply it to a variety of macromolecular assemblies. Rigid-cluster ENI is then modified for a hybrid model represented by a mixture of rigid clusters and point masses. Simulation results show that both rigid-cluster and hybrid ENI methods generate sterically feasible pathways of large systems in a very short time. For example, the HK97 virus capsid is an icosahedral symmetric assembly composed of 60 identical asymmetric units. Its original Hessian matrix size for a Calpha coarse-grained model is >(300,000)(2). However, it reduces to (84)(2) when we apply the rigid-cluster model with icosahedral symmetry constraints. The computational cost of the interpolation no longer scales heavily with the size of structures; instead, it depends strongly on the minimal number of rigid clusters into which the system can be decomposed.     

Adaptive risk group refinement

We construct interpretable prognostic rules based on a sequence of "box-shaped" regions in the predictor space indexed by the fraction of patients in the prognostic group. In addition, the method can be used as a building block to construct more general prognostic rules based on unions of boxes, or even as a tool to find multiple prognostic groups. Simulations are used to study the properties of the new method and compare it to constructing prognostic groups based on regression trees and linear proportional hazards (PH) models. We consider an example based on data from several completed clinical trials for patients with multiple myeloma.     

Production of biologically active human interleukin-4 in transgenic tobacco and potato

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a key regulatory role in the immune system. Recombinant human IL-4 (rhIL-4) offers great potential for the treatment of cancer, viral and autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, the high production cost of IL-4 associated with conventional expression systems has, until now, limited broader clinical testing, particularly with regard to the more convenient and safer oral delivery of IL-4 as opposed to parenteral injection in patients. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of transgenic plants for the cost-effective production of rhIL-4. IL-4 expression vectors with different modifications under the control of a constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (CaMV 35S) promoter were introduced into tobacco by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic tobaccos expressing various levels of rhIL-4 protein were generated. Higher expression was achieved through IL-4 retention in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with the maximal accumulation being approximately 0.1% of total soluble protein (TSP) in the leaves. No improvement in expression was further achieved by replacing the native signal peptide of IL-4 with the plant signal peptide. The best rhIL-4-expressing vector shown in tobacco was selected and further transferred into potato plants. The analysis of transgenic tubers also revealed various levels of rhIL-4, with the highest being 0.08% of TSP. Sensitive in vitro T-cell proliferation assays showed that plant-derived rhIL-4 retained full biological activity. These results suggest that plants can be used to produce biologically active rhIL-4 and probably many other mammalian proteins of medical significance. Moreover, the production of plants expressing rhIL-4 will enable the testing of plant rhIL-4 by oral delivery for the treatment of clinical diseases.     

Intra-articular injection of recombinant TRAIL induces synovial apoptosis and reduces inflammation in a rabbit knee model of arthritis

We demonstrated previously that local, intra-articular injection of an adenoviral vector expressing human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in a rabbit knee model of inflammatory arthritis stimulated synovial apoptosis and reduced inflammation. To examine whether intra-articular injection of recombinant chimeric human TRAIL protein (rTRAIL) also induces apoptosis of proliferating rabbit synovium and reduces inflammation, we used an experimental rabbit arthritis model of rheumatoid arthritis, induced by intra-articular introduction of allogeneic fibroblasts genetically engineered to secrete human IL-1β. Analysis of synovium isolated from the rabbits treated with intra-articular injection of rTRAIL, relative to saline control, showed areas of extensive acellular debris and large fibrous regions devoid of intact cells, similar to adenoviral mediated TRAIL gene transfer. Extensive apoptosis of the synovial lining was demonstrated using TUNEL analysis of the sections, corresponding to the microscopic findings in hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, leukocyte infiltration into the synovial fluid of the inflamed knee joints following rTRAIL treatment was reduced more than 50% compared with the saline control. Analysis of the glycosaminoglycan synthetic rate by cultured cartilage using radiolabeled sulfur and cartilage histology demonstrated that rTRAIL did not adversely affect cartilage metabolism and structure. Analysis of serum alanine aminotransferase showed that intra-articular injection of rTRAIL did not have adverse effects on hepatic function. These results demonstrate that intra-articular injection of rTRAIL could be therapeutic for treating pathologies associated with rheumatoid arthritis.     

A new triple crossover triangle (TXT) motif for DNA self-assembly

A new triple crossover triangle (TXT) motif was conceived on the basis of the DNA triple crossover (TX) motif. The new motif is rigid and triangular prism-shaped, out of which 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D DNA structures can be assembled. The 1-D TXT array was self-assembled and was observed by the TEM with negative staining by uranyl acetate. The architectural schemes for 2-D and 3-D structures are presented.     

Structure-activity relationship of 5'-substituted fluoro-neplanocin a analogues as potent inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase

Four 5'-substituted fluoro-neplanocin A analogues la-d were designed and synthesized, and the inhibitory activity against SAH was in the following order: NH2 > SH > F, N3, indicating a hydrogen bonding donor is essential for inhibitory activity.     

Peroxisomal proteomics, a new tool for risk assessment of peroxisome proliferating pollutants in the marine environment

In an attempt to improve the detection of peroxisome proliferation as a biomarker in environmental pollution assessment, we have applied a novel approach based on peroxisomal proteomics. Peroxisomal proteins from digestive glands of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis were analyzed using 2-DE and MS. We have generated a reference 2-DE map from samples obtained in a well-studied reference area and compared this with peroxisomal proteomes from other sequenced genomes. In addition, by comparing 2-DE maps from control samples with samples obtained in a polluted area, we have characterized the peroxisome proliferation expression pattern associated with exposure to a polluted environment. Over 100 spots were reproducibly resolved per 2-DE map; 55 differentially expressed spots were quantitatively detected and analyzed, and 14 of these showed an increase in protein expression of more than fourfold. Epoxide hydrolase, peroxisomal antioxidant enzyme, and sarcosine oxidase (SOX) have been identified by ESI MS/MS, and acyl-CoA oxidase, multifunctional protein, and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase were immunolocalized by Western blotting. Our results indicate that a peroxisomal protein pattern associated to marine pollutant exposure can be generated, and this approach may have a greater potential as biomarker than traditional, single-protein markers.