Engineered Thermoplasma acidophilum factor F3 mimics human aminopeptidase N (APN) as a target for anticancer drug development

Human aminopeptidase N (hAPN) is an appealing objective for the development of anti-cancer agents. The absence of mammalian APN experimental structure negatively impinges upon the progression of structure-based drug design. Tricorn interacting factor F3 (factor F3) from Thermoplasma acidophilum shares 33% sequence identity with hAPN. Engineered factor F3 with two point directed mutations resulted in a protein with an active site identical to hAPN. In the present work, the engineered factor F3 has been co-crystallized with compound D24, a potent APN inhibitor introduced by our lab. Such a holo-form experimental structure helpfully insinuates a more bulky pocket than Bestatin-bound Escherichia coli APN. This evidence discloses that compound D24 targetting the structure of E. coli APN cannot bind to the activity cleft of factor F3 with high affinity. Thus, there is a potential risk of inefficiency to design hAPN targeting drug while using E. coli APN as the target model. We do propose here now that engineered factor F3 can be employed as a reasonable alternative of hAPN for drug design and development.     

Identification and characterization of the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> carAB</Emphasis> genes responsible for encoding carbamoylphosphate synthetase in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Halomonas eurihalina</Emphasis>

Halomonas eurihalina is a moderately halophilic bacterium which produces exopolysaccharides potentially of great use in many fields of industry and ecology. Strain F2-7 of H. eurihalina synthesizes an anionic exopolysaccharide known as polymer V2-7, which not only has emulsifying activity but also becomes viscous under acidic conditions, and therefore we consider it worthwhile making a detailed study of the genetics of this strain. By insertional mutagenesis using the mini-Tn 5 Km2 transposon we isolated and characterized a mutant strain, S36 K, which requires both arginine and uracil for growth and does not excrete EPS. S36 K carries a mutation within the carB gene that encodes the synthesis of the large subunit of the carbamoylphosphate synthetase enzyme, which in turn catalyzes the synthesis of carbamoylphosphate, an important precursor of arginine and pyrimidines. We describe here the cloning and characterization of the carAB genes, which encode carbamoylphosphate synthetase in Halomonas eurihalina, and discuss this enzyme's possible role in the pathways for the synthesis of exopolysaccharides in strain F2-7.     

Oxidative inactivation of paraoxonase1, an antioxidant protein and its effect on antioxidant action

Paraoxonase1 (PON1), one of antioxidant proteins to protect low density lipoprotein (LDL) from the oxidation, is known to lose its activity in the oxidative environment. Here, we attempted to elucidate the possible mechanisms for the oxidative inactivation of PON1, and to examine the capability of hydroxyl radicals-inactivated PON1 to prevent against LDL oxidation. Of various oxidative systems, the ascorbate/Cu₂₊ system was the most potent in inactivating the purified PON1 (PON1) as well as HDL-bound PON1 (HDL-PON1). In contrast to a limited inactivation by Fe₂₊ (2.0 μM), the inclusion of Cu₂₊ (0.1-1.0 μM) remarkably enhanced the inactivation of PON1 in the presence of ascorbate (0.5 mM). A similar result was also obtained with the inactivation of HDL-PON1. The inactivation of PON1 by ascorbate/Cu₂₊ was pevented by catalase, but not general hydroxyl radical scavengers, supporting Cu₂₊-catalyzed oxidative inactivation. In addition, Cu₂₊ alone inactivated PON1, either soluble or HDL-bound, by different mechanisms, concentration-dependent. Separately, there was a reverse relationship between the inactivation of PON1 and its preventive action against LDL oxidation during Cu₂₊-induced oxidation of LDL. Noteworthy, ascorbate/Cu₂₊-inactivated PON1, which was charaterized by the partial loss of histidine residues, expressed a lower protection against Cu₂₊-induced LDL oxidation, compared to native PON1. Based on these results, it is proposed that metal-catalyzed oxidation may be a primary factor to cause the decrease of HDL-associated PON1 activity under oxidative stress, and radicals-induced inactivation of PON1 may lead to the decrease in its antioxidant action against LDL oxidation.     

Male germ cell-specific RNA binding protein RBMY: a new oncogene explaining male predominance in liver cancer

Male gender is a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but the mechanisms are not fully understood. The RNA binding motif gene on the Y chromosome (RBMY), encoding a male germ cell-specific RNA splicing regulator during spermatogenesis, is aberrantly activated in human male liver cancers. This study investigated the in vitro oncogenic effect and the possible mechanism of RBMY in human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and its in vivo effect with regards to the livers of human and transgenic mice. RBMY expression in HepG2 cells was knocked down by RNA interference and the cancer cell phenotype was characterized by soft-agar colony formation and sensitivity to hydrogen-peroxide-induced apoptosis. The results revealed that RBMY knockdown reduced the transformation and anti-apoptotic efficiency of HepG2 cells. The expression of RBMY, androgen receptor (AR) and its inhibitory variant AR45, AR-targeted genes insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Up-regulation of AR45 variant and reduction of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 expression was only detected in RBMY knockdown cells. Moreover, RBMY positive human male HCC expressed lower level of AR45 as compared to RBMY negative HCC tissues. The oncogenic properties of RBMY were further assessed in a transgenic mouse model. Liver-specific RBMY transgenic mice developed hepatic pre-cancerous lesions, adenoma, and HCC. RBMY also accelerated chemical carcinogen-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in transgenic mice. Collectively, these findings suggest that Y chromosome-specific RBMY is likely involved in the regulation of androgen receptor activity and contributes to male predominance of HCC.     

土荆芥挥发性化感物质诱导蚕豆保卫细胞死亡及信号调节

为了探讨入侵植物土荆芥的化感作用机制,以其入侵地广泛种植的农作物蚕豆叶片下表皮为受试材料,通过对保卫细胞的活性分析,研究了土荆芥挥发油及其两种主要成分α-萜品烯和对伞花素诱导保卫细胞死亡及其信号调节的机制。结果表明:土荆芥挥发油、α-萜品烯、对伞花素具有显著的细胞毒性,随着处理剂量增加,保卫细胞存活率显著下降,细胞核出现了畸形、碎裂和降解等程序性细胞死亡的典型特征;活性氧(Reactive oxygen species,ROS)、一氧化氮合酶(Nitric oxide synthetase,NOS)和Ca~(2+)的组织化学定位显示,在土芥挥发油、α-萜品烯和对伞花素作用下,保卫细胞内ROS、NOS和Ca~(2+)的水平明显高于对照组;活性氧清除剂(AsA)、Ca~(2+)螯合剂(EGTA)和硝酸还原酶抑制剂(NaN——3)均可有效缓解土荆芥挥发油、α-萜品烯和对伞花素的细胞毒性,显著提高了保卫细胞的存活率(P0.05)。上述结果表明,ROS、NO和Ca~(2+)参与了土荆芥挥发油、α-萜品烯和对伞花素诱导蚕豆保卫细胞死亡的信号调节过程。土荆芥挥发油、α-萜品烯和对伞花素诱导的保卫细胞死亡,可能是通过ROS和NO调控保卫细胞内Ca~(2+)水平的变化而引起的。     

野油菜黄单胞菌6-磷酸果糖激酶基因的初步分析

6-磷酸果糖激酶是糖酵解途径中的关键酶,它催化糖酵解途径中第一个不可逆反应。本研究利用pK18mobsacB自杀质粒采用同源双交换的方法对野油菜黄单胞菌Xcc8004中的6-磷酸果糖激酶基因(XC_0872)进行缺失突变,获得无标记的缺失突变体DM0872。表型检测结果显示DM0872突变体不影响野油菜黄单胞菌对葡萄糖和果糖的利用,不影响胞外多糖的合成,也不影响其致病性。该结果显示糖酵解途径在野油菜黄单胞菌的地位并不重要。另外,我们利用RT-PCR方法检测了XC_0872的转录情况,结果显示XC_0872在Xcc8004中是转录的。而之前曾有报道称黄单胞菌中无法检测出6-磷酸果糖激酶活性,这表明XC_0872进行了转录后调控从而使6-磷酸果糖激酶活性受到限制。本研究为野油菜黄单胞菌中糖酵解途径的调控提供了理论依据,对揭示野油菜黄单胞菌中该途径的调控机制具有一定的意义。     

Contrasting genetic variation and differentiation on Hainan Island and the Chinese mainland populations of Dacrycarpus imbricatus (Podocarpaceae)

Dacrycarpus imbricatus is a vulnerable conifer in China whose geographical distribution encompasses large island but small mainland populations, providing a framework for contrasting the patterns of population genetic composition. In this study, seven populations on Hainan Island and the Chinese mainland were sampled throughout its distribution range and assessed using ISSR. The results did not show significant differences neither in genetic variation nor in genetic differentiation between the island and the mainland populations (P > 0.05). Severe bottlenecks were identified at population, island/mainland as well as range-wide scales. A relatively high level of variation but a low degree of differentiation was revealed. Ecological and life traits were suggested to play main roles in the shaping of genetic variation pattern. Of them long generation times could have exerted a lagging effect on both the genetic variation and differentiation. Our findings may contribute to establish management practices.     

Response to ocean acidification in larvae of a large tropical marine fish,Rachycentron canadum

Currently, ocean acidification is occurring at a faster rate than at any time in the last 300 million years, posing an ecological challenge to marine organisms globally. There is a critical need to understand the effects of acidification on the vulnerable larval stages of marine fishes, as there is potential for large ecological and economic impacts on fish populations and the human economies that rely on them. We expand upon the narrow taxonomic scope found in the literature today, which overlooks many life history characteristics of harvested species, by reporting on the larvae of Rachycentron canadum (cobia), a large, highly mobile, pelagic‐spawning, widely distributed species with a life history and fishery value contrasting other species studied to date. We raised larval cobia through the first 3 weeks of ontogeny under conditions of predicted future ocean acidification to determine effects on somatic growth, development, otolith formation, swimming ability, and swimming activity. Cobia exhibited resistance to treatment effects on growth, development, swimming ability, and swimming activity at 800 and 2100 μatm pCO₂. However, these scenarios resulted in a significant increase in otolith size (up to 25% larger area) at the lowest pCO₂ levels reported to date, as well as the first report of significantly wider daily otolith growth increments. When raised under more extreme scenarios of 3500 and 5400 μatm pCO₂, cobia exhibited significantly reduced size‐at‐age (up to 25% smaller) and a 2–3 days developmental delay. The robust nature of cobia may be due to the naturally variable environmental conditions this species currently encounters throughout ontogeny in coastal environments, which may lead to an increased acclimatization ability even during long‐term exposure to stressors.