Method for enhancing solubility of the expressed recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli

The production of correctly folded protein in Escherichia coli is often challenging because of aggregation of the overexpressed protein into inclusion bodies. Although a number of general and protein-specific techniques are available, their effectiveness varies widely. We report a novel method for enhancing the solubility of overexpressed proteins. Presence of a dipeptide, glycylglycine, in the range of 100 mM to 1 M in the medium was found to significantly enhance the solubility (up to 170-fold) of the expressed proteins. The method has been validated using mycobacterial proteins, resulting in improved solubilization, which were otherwise difficult to express as soluble proteins in E. coli. This method can also be used to enhance the solubility of other heterologous recombinant proteins expressed in a bacterial system.     

Developmental alteration of nerve injury induced glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptor expression is crucial for the determination of injured motoneuron fate

Axotomy-induced neuronal death occurs in neonatal motoneurons, but not in adult rat. Here we demonstrated that during the course of postnatal development, nerve injury induced down-regulation of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptor GFRalpha1 in axotomized hypoglossal motoneurons of rat are gradually converted to the adult up-regulation pattern of response. The compensatory expression of GFRalpha1 specifically in the injured motoneurons of neonates by adenovirus succeeded in rescuing the injured neurons without an application of growth factors. To the contrary, the nuclear antisense RNA for GFRalpha1 expression accelerates the axotomy-induced neuronal death in pups. These findings suggest that the receptor expression response after nerve injury is critical for the determination of injured motoneuron fate.     

Reactive oxygen-induced carcinogenesis causes hypermethylation of p16(Ink4a) and activation of MAP kinase

BACKGROUND: Implantation of foreign materials into mice and humans has been noted to result in the appearance of soft tissue sarcomas at the site of implantation. These materials include metal replacement joints and Dacron vascular grafts. In addition, occupational exposure to nickel has been shown to result in an increased risk of carcinogenesis. The molecular mechanisms of foreign body-induced carcinogenesis are not fully understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to gain insight into these mechanisms, we implanted nickel sulfide into wild type C57BL/6 mice as well as a mouse heterozygous for the tumor suppressor gene, p53. Malignant fibrous histiocytomas arose in all mice, and we have characterized the profile of tumor suppressor genes and signal transduction pathways altered in these cells. RESULTS: All tumors demonstrated hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor gene p16, as well as activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) signaling pathway. This knowledge may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of tumors caused by foreign body implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress induced by nickel sulfide appears to cause loss of p16 and activation of MAP kinase signaling. These findings support the hypothesis of synergistic interactions between MAP kinase activation and p16 loss in carcinogenesis.     

Interaction of metal ions with caffeine and theophylline: stability and structural features

The interactions of caffeine and theophylline with divalent cadmium, mercury, strontium and barium ions were studied in aqueous solution and physiological pH. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and absorption spectra were used to determine the cation binding mode and association constants. Spectroscopic results showed that Cd(2+), Hg(2+), Sr(2+) and Ba(2+) bind strongly to caffeine and theophylline. Direct and indirect (through metal hydration shell) interactions were observed for caffeine and theophylline with Cd(2+), Hg(2+), Sr(2+) and Ba(2+) through O6 and N9 (caffeine) and O6, N9 and N7 atoms (theophylline). The overall binding constants are:k(Cd-caffeine) = 1.24 x 10(5) M(-1), k(Hg-caffeine) = 1.74 x 10(5) M(-1), k(Sr- caffeine) = 3.3 x 10(4) M(-1), k(Ba-caffeine) = 1.8 x 10(4) M(-1), k(Cd-theophylline) = 5.75 x 10(5) M(-1), k(Hg-theophylline) = 2.14 x 10(5) M(-1), k(Sr-theophylline) = 4.6 x 10(4) M(-1), k(Ba-theophylline) = 3 x 10(4) M(-1). These k values are evidence for weak and strong cation interactions in these metal complexes.     

Selective inhibition of selenocysteine tRNA maturation and selenoprotein synthesis in transgenic mice expressing isopentenyladenosine-deficient selenocysteine tRNA

Selenocysteine (Sec) tRNA (tRNA([Ser]Sec)) serves as both the site of Sec biosynthesis and the adapter molecule for donation of this amino acid to protein. The consequences on selenoprotein biosynthesis of overexpressing either the wild type or a mutant tRNA([Ser]Sec) lacking the modified base, isopentenyladenosine, in its anticodon loop were examined by introducing multiple copies of the corresponding tRNA([Ser]Sec) genes into the mouse genome. Overexpression of wild-type tRNA([Ser]Sec) did not affect selenoprotein synthesis. In contrast, the levels of numerous selenoproteins decreased in mice expressing isopentenyladenosine-deficient (i(6)A(-)) tRNA([Ser]Sec) in a protein- and tissue-specific manner. Cytosolic glutathione peroxidase and mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase 3 were the most and least affected selenoproteins, while selenoprotein expression was most and least affected in the liver and testes, respectively. The defect in selenoprotein expression occurred at translation, since selenoprotein mRNA levels were largely unaffected. Analysis of the tRNA([Ser]Sec) population showed that expression of i(6)A(-) tRNA([Ser]Sec) altered the distribution of the two major isoforms, whereby the maturation of tRNA([Ser]Sec) by methylation of the nucleoside in the wobble position was repressed. The data suggest that the levels of i(6)A(-) tRNA([Ser]Sec) and wild-type tRNA([Ser]Sec) are regulated independently and that the amount of wild-type tRNA([Ser]Sec) is determined, at least in part, by a feedback mechanism governed by the level of the tRNA([Ser]Sec) population. This study marks the first example of transgenic mice engineered to contain functional tRNA transgenes and suggests that i(6)A(-) tRNA([Ser]Sec) transgenic mice will be useful in assessing the biological roles of selenoproteins.     

Fluid phase endocytosis of [125I]iodixanol in rat liver parenchymal, endothelial and Kupffer cells

Endocytosis of [125I]iodixanol was studied in vivo and in vitro in rat liver cells to determine fluid phase endocytic activity in different liver cells (hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and endothelial cells). The Kupffer cells were more active in the uptake of [l25I]iodixanol than parenchymal cells or endothelial cells. Inhibition of endocytic uptake via clathrin-coated pits (by potassium depletion and hypertonic medium) reduced uptake of [125I]iodixanol much more in Kupffer cells and endothelial cells than in hepatocytes. To gain further information about the importance of clathrin-mediated fluid phase endocytosis, the expression of proteins known to be components of the endocytic machinery was investigated. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting, endothelial cells and Kupffer cells were found to express approximately fourfold more rab4, rab5 and rab7 than parenchymal cells, while clathrin was expressed at a higher level in endothelial cells than in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes. Using electron microscopy it was shown that liver endothelial cells contained approximately twice as many coated pits per membrane unit than the parenchymal and Kupffer cells, thus confirming the immunoblotting results concerning clathrin expression. Electron microscopy on isolated liver cells following fluid phase uptake of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) showed that HRP-containing organelles had a different morphology in the different cell types: In the liver endothelial cells HRP was in small, tubular endosomes, while in Kupffer cells HRP was mainly found in larger structures, reminiscent of macropinosomes. Parenchymal cells contained HRP in small vacuolar endosomes with a punctuated distribution. In conclusion, we find that the Kupffer cells and the endothelial cells have a higher pinocytic activity than the hepatocytes. The hepatocytes do, however, account for most of the total hepatic uptake. The fluid phase endocytosis in liver endothelial cells depends mainly on clathrin-mediated endocytosis, while the parenchymal cells have additional clathrin-independent mechanisms that may play an important role in the uptake of plasma membrane components. In the Kupffer cells the major uptake of fluid phase markers seems to take place via a macropinocytic mechanism.     

In vitro plant regeneration from seed explants of wild groundnut species (Genus Arachis, Section Extranervosae)

In vitro regeneration of wild groundnut species from Section Extranervosae (Arachis villosulicarpa, A. macedoi, A. retusa, A. burchellii, A. pietrarellii, A. prostrata, A. aff. prostrata and a new species) was examined for the purpose of germplasm renewal and conservation. Seeds of different ages, stored at the seed bank of CENARGEN/EMBRAPA were either inoculated on culture medium or used as a source of embryo axis and cotyledon explants. Whole seeds failed to germinate on MS either without growth regulators (MS0) or supplemented with 10 M TDZ. Embryo axes cultured on MS0 produced only single plants. In the presence of 8.8 M BAP these explants showed multi-shoot formation. Cotyledons cultured on MS supplemented with 110 M BAP developed adventitious shoots through direct organogenesis. Plant regeneration was obtained from A. villosulicarpa, A. macedoi, A. retusa, A. burchellii and A. pietrarellii both from embryo axes and cotyledons. Explants from A. prostrata and A. aff. prostrata did not produce regenerants. Rooting of shoots was induced in the presence of 5.4 M NAA. Primary plants derived from these explants were further multiplied by culturing nodal segments on MS medium plus 2.7 M NAA.     

Efficient shoot organogenesis of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) induced by thidiazuron

Morphogenesis from several explant types excised from in-vitro-grown plantlets of a Brazilian eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) variety (F-100) was evaluated in response to thidiazuron (TDZ). Leaves and cotyledons were found to be the most responsive explants. Optimal shoot bud induction rates (75–100 buds/explant) were achieved in the presence of 0.2 μm TDZ. Organogenic calli were transferred to growth regulator free MS medium before shoot excision. Rooting was induced on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.6 μm IAA. Received: 1 March 1997 / Revision received: 29 October 1997 / Accepted: 15 November 1997     

Effects of auxin and light treatments of donor plants on shoot production fromindica-type rice (Oryza sativa L.)

An efficient clonal propagation procedure for a Brazilianindica rice subspecies was developed with shoot apex explants. Shoot apices were excised from 4-d-old seedlings and cultured on MS medium supplemented with 8.9 μM 6-benzyladenine. The efficiency of shoot production was influenced by growth regulators and light treatments to the donor plant. Explants derived from seedlings growth in the presence of 10.7 μM naphthaleneacetic acid and in the absence of light showed significantly increased regeneration capacity as compared to control explants. Anatomical analysis of the new shoot meristems revealed that they originated from preexisting apical and axillary meristem as well as from the mesocotyl parenchyma.