Design,synthesis, biological evaluation,and modeling of a non-carbohydrate antagonist of the myelin-associated glycoprotein

Broad modifications of various positions of the minimal natural epitope recognized by the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), a blocker of regeneration of neurite injuries, produced sialosides with nanomolar affinities. However, important pharmacokinetic issues, for example, the metabolic stability of these sialosides, remain to be addressed. For this reason, the novel non-carbohydrate mimic 3 was designed and synthesized from (?)-quinic acid. For the design of 3, previously identified beneficial modifications of side chains of Neu5Ac were combined with the replacement of the ring oxygen by a methylene group and the substitution of the C(4)-OH by an acetamide. Although docking experiments to a homology model of MAG revealed that mimic 3 forms all but one of the essential hydrogen bonds identified for the earlier reported lead 2, its affinity was substantially reduced. Extensive molecular-dynamics simulation disclosed that the missing hydrogen bond of the former C(8)-OH leads to a change of the orientation of the side chain. As a consequence, an important hydrophobic contact is compromised leading to a loss of affinity.     

Angiopoietin-2 sensitizes endothelial cells to TNF-alpha and has a crucial role in the induction of inflammation

The angiopoietins Ang-1 and Ang-2 have been identified as ligands of the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-2 (refs. 1,2). Paracrine Ang-1-mediated activation of Tie-2 acts as a regulator of vessel maturation and vascular quiescence. In turn, the antagonistic ligand Ang-2 acts by an autocrine mechanism and is stored in endothelial Weibel-Palade bodies from where it can be rapidly released upon stimulation. The rapid release of Ang-2 implies functions of the angiopoietin-Tie system beyond its established role during vascular morphogenesis as a regulator of rapid vascular responses. Here we show that mice deficient in Ang-2 (encoded by the gene Angpt2) cannot elicit an inflammatory response in thioglycollate-induced or Staphylococcus aureus-induced peritonitis, or in the dorsal skinfold chamber model. Recombinant Ang-2 restores the inflammation defect in Angpt2(-/-) mice. Intravital microscopy showed normal TNF-alpha-induced leukocyte rolling in the vasculature of Angpt2(-/-)mice, but rolling cells did not firmly adhere to activated endothelium. Cellular experiments showed that Ang-2 promotes adhesion by sensitizing endothelial cells toward TNF-alpha and modulating TNF-alpha-induced expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules. Together, these findings identify Ang-2 as an autocrine regulator of endothelial cell inflammatory responses. Ang-2 thereby acts as a switch of vascular responsiveness exerting a permissive role for the activities of proinflammatory cytokines.     

The agony of choice: Impact of the host animal species on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performance for host cell protein quantification

Host cell proteins (HCPs) are inevitable process-related impurities in biotherapeutics commonly monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Of particular importance for their reliable detection are the anti-HCP polyclonal antibodies (pAbs), supposed to detect a broad range of HCPs. The present study focuses on the identification of suitable host animal species for the development of high-performance CHO-HCP ELISAs, assuming the generation of pAbs with adequate coverage and specificity. Hence, antibodies derived from immunization of sheep, goats, donkeys, rabbits, and chickens were compared concerning their amount of HCP-specific antibodies, coverage, and performance in a sandwich ELISA. Immunization of sheep, goats, donkeys, and rabbits met all test criteria, whereas the antibodies from chickens cannot be recommended based on the results of this study. Additionally, a mixture of antibodies from the five host species was prepared to assess if coverage and ELISA performance can be improved by a multispecies approach. Comparable results were obtained for the single- and multispecies ELISAs in different in-process samples, indicating no substantial improvement for the latter in ELISA performance while raising ethical and financial concerns.     

Biochemical properties of a novel cell wall protein associated with elongation growth in higher plants

A monoclonal antibody of IgM-type (TIM-11B2) was screened froma hybridoma library. The antibody recognizes a 40 kDa glycoprotein,p40, with high specificity. This protein was detected in allplant species examined so far and was found to be located bothsolubly and ionically-bound within the primary cell wall. The strongest immunobiochemical signals of p40 were found intissues undergoing elongation growth, whereas in other tissuesonly a faint signal could be detected. Those included the non-elongatingparts of different seedlings, such as the apical part of monocotprimary leaves or the leaves of dicots grown in light. Inhibitionof pea epicotyl growth by white light irradiation resulted ina strong decrease of the immunostain signal. On the other hand,induction of rapid coleoptile growth in rice seedlings inducedby submergence resulted in a strong increase of the immunobiochemicalsignal of p40. Time-course studies on the expression of p40during protoplast regeneration revealed that p40 is apparentlynot involved in cell wall formation. The hypothesis that p40is characteristic for tissues with the ability for elongationgrowth is discussed. Comparison of biochemical data and location of p40 with proteinsdescribed up to now indicate that this glycoprotein has notbeen characterized before. Key words: Cell wall protein, elongation growth, monoclonal antibody     

Self-eating to grow and kill: autophagy in filamentous ascomycetes

Autophagy is a tightly controlled degradation process in which eukaryotic cells digest their own cytoplasm containing protein complexes and organelles in the vacuole or lysosome. Two types of autophagy have been described: macroautophagy and microautophagy. Both types can be further divided into nonselective and selective processes. Molecular analysis of autophagy over the last two decades has mostly used the unicellular ascomycetes Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris. Genetic analysis in these yeasts has identified 36 autophagy-related (atg) genes; many are conserved in all eukaryotes, including filamentous ascomycetes. However, the autophagic machinery also evolved significant differences in fungi, as a consequence of adaptation to diverse fungal lifestyles. Intensive studies on autophagy in the last few years have shown that autophagy in filamentous fungi is not only involved in nutrient homeostasis but in other cellular processes such as cell differentiation, pathogenicity and secondary metabolite production. This mini-review focuses on the specific roles of autophagy in filamentous fungi.     

The Measles Virus Nucleocapsid Protein Tail Domain Is Dispensable for Viral Polymerase Recruitment and Activity

Paramyxovirus genomes are ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes consisting of nucleoprotein (N)-encapsidated viral RNA. Measles virus (MeV) N features an amino-terminal RNA-binding core and a 125-residue tail domain, of which only the last 75 residues are considered fully mobile on the nucleocapsid surface. A molecular recognition element (MoRE) domain mediates binding of the viral phosphoprotein (P). This P N-tail interaction is considered instrumental for recruiting the polymerase complex to the template. We have engineered MeV N variants with tail truncations progressively eliminating the MoRE domain and upstream tail sections. Confirming previous reports, RNPs with N truncations lacking the carboxyl-terminal 43-residues harboring the MoRE domain cannot serve as polymerase template. Remarkably, further removal of all tail residues predicted to be surface-exposed significantly restores RNP bioactivity. Insertion of structurally dominant tags into the central N-tail section reduces bioactivity, but the negative regulatory effect of exposed N-tail stems is sequence-independent. Bioactive nucleocapsids lacking exposed N-tail sections are unable to sustain virus replication, because of weakened interaction of the advancing polymerase complex with the template. Deletion of the N-MoRE-binding domain in P abrogates polymerase recruitment to standard nucleocapsids, but polymerase activity is partially restored when N-tail truncated RNPs serve as template. Revising central elements of the current replication model, these data reveal that MeV polymerase is capable of productively docking directly to the nucleocapsid core. Dispensable for polymerase recruitment, N-MoRE binding to P-tail stabilizes the advancing polymerase-RNP complex and may rearrange unstructured central tail sections to facilitate polymerase access to the template.     

High‐Throughput DNA sequencing of ancient wood

Reconstructing the colonization and demographic dynamics that gave rise to extant forests is essential to forecasts of forest responses to environmental changes. Classical approaches to map how population of trees changed through space and time largely rely on pollen distribution patterns, with only a limited number of studies exploiting DNA molecules preserved in wooden tree archaeological and subfossil remains. Here, we advance such analyses by applying high‐throughput (HTS) DNA sequencing to wood archaeological and subfossil material for the first time, using a comprehensive sample of 167 European white oak waterlogged remains spanning a large temporal (from 550 to 9,800 years) and geographical range across Europe. The successful characterization of the endogenous DNA and exogenous microbial DNA of 140 (~83%) samples helped the identification of environmental conditions favouring long‐term DNA preservation in wood remains, and started to unveil the first trends in the DNA decay process in wood material. Additionally, the maternally inherited chloroplast haplotypes of 21 samples from three periods of forest human‐induced use (Neolithic, Bronze Age and Middle Ages) were found to be consistent with those of modern populations growing in the same geographic areas. Our work paves the way for further studies aiming at using ancient DNA preserved in wood to reconstruct the micro‐evolutionary response of trees to climate change and human forest management.     

Nitrogen turnover in soil and global change

Nitrogen management in soils has been considered as key to the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and a protection of major ecosystem services. However, the microorganisms driving processes like nitrification, denitrification, N-fixation and mineralization are highly influenced by changing climatic conditions, intensification of agriculture and the application of new chemicals to a so far unknown extent. In this review, the current knowledge concerning the influence of selected scenarios of global change on the abundance, diversity and activity of microorganisms involved in nitrogen turnover, notably in agricultural and grassland soils, is summarized and linked to the corresponding processes. In this context, data are presented on nitrogen-cycling processes and the corresponding microbial key players during ecosystem development and changes in functional diversity patterns during shifts in land use. Furthermore, the impact of increased temperature, carbon dioxide and changes in precipitation regimes on microbial nitrogen turnover is discussed. Finally, some examples of the effects of pesticides and antibiotics after application to soil for selected processes of nitrogen transformation are also shown.