miR393 and miR164 influence indeterminate but not determinate nodule development

The roles of auxin in the regulation of symbiotic legume nodule formation are unclear. We recently showed that enhanced sensitivity to auxin resulting from overexpression of miR160 inhibits determinate nodule formation in soybean. We examined the roles of miR393 and miR164 in soybean (that forms determinate nodules) and Medicago truncatula (that forms indeterminate nodules). Our results together with previous studies suggest that indeterminate nodule formation requires a higher, but narrow window of auxin sensitivity and that miR164 regulation is not crucial for determinate nodule formation.     

Structural characterization of the Mr = 55,000 antigen (ZP3) of porcine oocyte zona pellucida. Purification and characterization of alpha- and beta-glycoproteins following digestion of lactosaminoglycan with endo-beta-galactosidase

The major macromolecular component of the porcine oocyte zona pellucida is a Mr = 55,000 antigen, termed ZP3, comprised of greater than 25 charge isomers. ZP3 was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity from nonreduced, sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated porcine zonae pellucidae by chromatography on Sephacryl S-400 and hydroxylapatite resins. The carbohydrate moiety of purified ZP3 was comprised of a heterogeneous population of acidic lactosaminoglycans as evidenced by the saccharide composition and size distribution of glycopeptides produced by Pronase digestion of ZP3, as well as by the sensitivity of ZP3 to digestion with Escherichia freundii endo-beta-galactosidase. Endo-beta-galactosidase-digested ZP3 was resolved by gel electrophoresis into two components, termed alpha-glycoprotein and beta-glycoprotein, with Mr values (nonreduced) of 46,000 and 42,000, respectively. Each was comprised of fewer and more neutral charge isomers than ZP3. Following purification by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, the alpha- and beta-glycoproteins of endo-beta-galactosidase-digested ZP3 were distinguished on the basis of amino acid and carbohydrate compositions, amino-terminal sequence analyses and peptide mapping experiments, thus suggesting differences in the primary structures of their respective polypeptide moieties. Corresponding dissimilarities in the immunoreactivities of the alpha- and beta-glycoproteins toward polyclonal antisera raised against ZP3, alpha-glycoprotein, and beta-glycoprotein were revealed by competitive binding radioimmunoassays as well as by immunoblotting experiments. Collectively, the data were interpreted to indicate that the Mr = 55,000 antigen of porcine oocyte zona pellucida is in fact comprised of overlapping families of charge isomers corresponding to two structurally and immunologically distinct lactosaminoglycan-containing glycoproteins.     

Structure and refinement at 1.8 A resolution of the aspartic proteinase from Rhizopus chinensis

The structure of rhizopuspepsin (EC 3.4.23.6), the aspartic proteinase from Rhizopus chinensis, has been refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 0.143 at 1.8 A resolution. The positions of 2417 protein atoms have been determined with a root-mean-square (r.m.s.) error of 0.12 A. In the final model, the r.m.s. deviation from ideality for bond distances is 0.010 A, and for angle distances it is 0.034 A. During the course of the refinement, a calcium ion and 373 water molecules, of which 17 are internal, have been located. The active aspartate residues, Asp35 and Asp218, are involved in similar hydrogen-bonding interactions with neighboring residues and with several water molecules. One water molecule is located between the two carboxyl groups of the catalytic aspartate residues in a tightly hydrogen-bonded position. The refinement resulted in an unambiguous interpretation of the highly mobile "flap", a beta-hairpin loop region that projects over the binding pocket. Large solvent channels are formed when the molecules pack in the crystal, exposing the binding pocket and making it easily accessible. Intermolecular contacts involve mainly solvent molecules and a few protein atoms. The three-dimensional structure of rhizopuspepsin closely resembles other aspartic proteinase structures. A detailed comparison with the structure of penicillopepsin showed striking similarities as well as subtle differences in the active site geometry and molecular packing.     

A mixed self-assembled monolayer-based surface plasmon immunosensor for detection of E. coli O157:H7

The sensitivity and specificity of a polyethylene glycol terminated alkanethiol mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 is demonstrated. Purified monoclonal (Mabs) or polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) against E. coli O157:H7 were immobilized on an activated sensor chip and direct and sandwich assays were carried to detect E. coli O157:H7. Effect of Protein G based detection and effect of concentrations of primary and secondary antibodies in sandwich assay were investigated. The sensor surface was observed under an optical microscope at various stages of the detection process. The sensor could detect as low as 10(3)CFU/ml of E. coli O157:H7 in a sandwich assay, with high specificity against Salmonella Enteritidis. The detection limit using direct assay and Protein G were 10(6)CFU/ml and 10(4)CFU/ml, respectively. Results indicate that an alkanethiol SAM based SPR biosensor has the potential for rapid and specific detection of E. coli O157:H7, using a sandwich assay.     

The use of Fab-masking antigens to enhance the activity of immobilized antibodies

This study demonstrates that masking the Feb regions of a monoclonal antibody (Mab) with synthetic antigens prior to covalent immobilization efficiency. Water-soluble adducts of poly(2-methyloxazoline) polymers and a syntheticpeptide epitope for the Mab were constructed. These synthetic antigens are referred to as Fab-masking antigents (FMAs). The antibody used in this study is a Ca(2+)-dependent murine monoclonal lgG directed against the plasma protein, human protein C (hPC). The FMAs were pre-equilibrated with Mab in the presence of calcium prior to immobilization and were then removed by EDTA, which destabilized the FMA-Mab complexes. The antigen binding efficiency and accessibility of the Fab domain of the immobilized antibody was significantly increased for Mab immobilized in the presence of FMA relative to those Mab immobilized without FMA. The increase in binding efficiency was most pronounced for the largest FMA employed. No appreciable differences were detected in the avidity of hPC-Mab complexes formed by immunosorbents produced by either masked or unmaked antibody. These results provide evidence that orientgation may play an important role in the binding activity of immobilized antibodies.     

Circulating MiRNAs of ‘Asian Indian Phenotype’ Identified in Subjects with Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Several omics technologies are underway worldwide with an aim to unravel the pathophysiology of a complex phenotype such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While recent studies imply a clinically relevant and potential biomarker role of circulatory miRNAs in the etiology of T2DM, there is lack of data on this aspect in Indians—an ethnic population characterized to represent ‘Asian Indian phenotype’ known to be more prone to develop T2DM and cardiovascular disease than Europeans. We performed global serum miRNA profiling and the validation of candidate miRNAs by qRT-PCR in a cohort of subjects comprised of normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and patients with T2DM. Our study revealed 4 differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-128, miR-130b-3p, miR-374a-5p, miR-423-5p) in subjects with IGT and T2DM patients compared to control subjects. They were positively or negatively correlated to cholesterol levels, HbA_1C, HOMA-IR and fasting insulin. Interestingly, circulating level of miR-128 and miR-130b-3p were also altered in serum of diet-induced diabetic mice compared to control animals. Among the altered circulating miRNAs, miR-128 had never been described in previous studies/populations and appeared to be a ‘New Lead’ in Indians. It was positively correlated with cholesterol both in prediabetic subjects and in diet-induced diabetic mice, suggesting that its increased level might be associated with the development of dyslipedemia associated with T2DM. Our findings imply directionality towards biomarker potential of miRNAs in the prevention/diagnosis/treatment outcomes of diabetes.