Micro-assembly of functionalized particulate monolayer on C18-derivatized SiO2 surfaces

This work describes a simple approach to immobilize functionalized colloidal microstructures onto a C(18)-coated SiO(2) substrate via specific or non-specific bio-mediated interactions. Biotinylated bovine serum albumin pre-adsorbed onto a C(18) surface was used to mediate the surface assembly of streptavidin-coated microbeads (2.8 microm), while a bare C(18) surface was used to immobilize anti-Listeria antibody-coated microbeads (2.8 microm) through hydrophobic interactions. For a C(18) surface pre-adsorbed with bovine serum albumin, hydrophobic polystyrene microbeads (0.8 microm) and positively charged dimethylamino microbeads (0.8 microm) were allowed to self-assemble onto the surface. A monolayer with high surface coverage was observed for both polystyrene and dimethylamino microbeads. The adsorption characteristics of Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes on these microbead-based surfaces were studied using fluorescence microscopy. Both streptavidin microbeads pre-adsorbed with biotinylated anti-Listeria antibody and anti-Listeria antibody-coated microbeads showed specific capture of L. monocytogenes, while polystyrene and dimethylamino microbeads captured both E. coli and L. monocytogenes non-specifically. The preparation of microbead-based surfaces for the construction of microfluidic devices for separation, detection, or analysis of specific biological species is discussed.     

Partial characterization of the N－linked oligosaccharide structures on Pselectin glycoprotein ligand－1（PSGL－1）

PSGL-1, a specific ligand for P-, E- and L-selectin, was isolated from in vivo [3H]-glucosamine labeled HL-60 cells by a combination of wheat germ agglutinin-agarose and P- or E-selectin-agarose chromatography. N-linked oligosaccharides were released from the purified, denatured ligand molecule by peptide: N-glycosidase F treatment and, following separation by Sephacryl S-200 chromatography, partially characterized using lectin, ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography in combination with glycosidase digestions. The data obtained suggest that the N-glycans on PSGL-1 are predominantly core-fucosylated, multiantennary complex type structures with extended, poly-N-acetyllactosamine containing outer chains. A portion of the outer chains appears to be substituted with fucose indicating that the N-glycans, in addition to the O-glycans on PSGL-1, may be involved in selectin binding.     

Design, synthesis and biological activity of novel C2-C3' N-Linked macrocyclic taxoids

A series of novel macrocyclic taxoids was designed and synthesized by connecting the C-2 and C-3' N positions of the taxoid framework with various tethers. Cytotoxicity of these macrocyclic taxoids was evaluated against a human breast cancer cell line LCC6-WT, and a couple of the taxoids exhibited 0.09-0.3 microM IC(50) values.     

Obligatory requirement of sulfation for P-selectin binding to human salivary gland carcinoma Acc-M cells and breast carcinoma ZR-75-30 cells

Stimulated endothelial cells and activated platelets express P-selectin, which reacts with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) for leukocyte rolling on the stimulated endothelial cells and heterotypic aggregation of the activated platelets on leukocytes. P-selectin also binds to several cancer cells in vitro and promotes the growth and metastasis of human colon carcinoma in vivo. The P-selectin/PSGL-1 interaction requires tyrosine sulfation. However, it is unknown whether sulfation is necessary for P-selectin binding to somatic cancer cells. In this study, we show that P-selectin mediated adhesion of Acc-M cells, a cell line derived from a human adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland. These cells had a moderate expression of heparan sulfate-like proteoglycans, but had no detectable expressions of PSGL-1, CD24, Lewis(x), and sialyl Lewis(x). Treatment with sodium chlorate (a sulfation biosynthesis inhibitor), but not 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-xyloside (a proteoglycan biosynthesis inhibitor) or heparinases, reduced adhesion of these cells to P-selectin. Sodium chlorate also inhibited the P-selectin precipitation of the 160-, 54-, and 36-kDa molecules from the cell surface of Acc-M cells. Furthermore, P-selectin could bind to human breast carcinoma ZR-75-30 cells in a sulfation-dependent manner. Our results thus indicate that sulfation is essential for adhesion of nonblood-borne, epithelial-like human cancer cells to P-selectin.     

Biochemical examination of the potential eukaryotic-type protein kinase genes in the complete genome of the unicellular Cyanobacterium synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

The complete genome of the unicellular motile cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 harbors seven putative genes for a subfamily Pkn2 of the eukaryotic-type (or "Hanks-type") protein kinase. Previously, SpkA and SpkB were shown to have protein kinase activity and to be required for cell motility. Here, the other five genes were examined. These genes, except for spkG (slr0152), were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. Eukaryotic-type protein kinase activity of the expressed SpkC (Slr0599), SpkD (S110776) and SpkF (Slr1225) was demonstrated as autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of the general substrate proteins. SpkE (Slr1443) did not show any activity, a finding consistent with its lack of several key amino acid residues in its kinase motif. Gene-disrupted mutants showed no discernible defect in phenotype except that spkD was apparently essential for survival.     

Preparation and analysis of spermatocyte meiotic pachytene bivalents of pigs for gene mapping

Well-spread meiotic pachytene bivalents were obtained by using the prolonged hypotonic treatment combined with high chloroform Carnory's fixative solution from cells of the testes of domestic pigs. Comparison in the division index and length of pachytene bivalents with metaphase chromosomes showed that those of the former are 5 times higher and 3.42(1.87-5.98) times longer than those of the latter. Comparative studies on chromomere maps of bivalents and mitotic chromosomal G-bands were conducted by using the chromosome 12 as a example. Sex vesicle and various shapes of synaptic sex chromosomes have been observed. Two-color PRimed IN Situ (PRINS) labeling has been conducted successfully on pachytene bivalents of pigs.     

低氧时一氧化碳对PASMC增殖的影响及机制探讨

目的和方法 :应用MTT比色、原位杂交、免疫细胞化学技术检测内源性或外源性CO对低氧状态下PASMC增殖的作用以及对PDGF B和原癌基因bcl 2、突变型p5 3表达的影响 ,探讨CO抑制低氧状态下PASMC增殖的机制。结果 :各组PASMC中PDGF BmRNA原位杂交和PDGF B蛋白的免疫细胞化学染色均为阴性 ,单纯低氧组较正常对照组Bcl 2和突变型P5 3蛋白表达增强 (P <0 .0 1) ,Hemin和CO干预组Bcl 2和突变型P5 3蛋白表达低于单纯低氧组 ,而Hb干预组则高于单纯低氧组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :低氧时CO可能通过抑制Bcl 2和突变型P5 3的表达而抑制PASMC的增殖     

Bone morphogenetic protein receptor signaling is necessary for normal murine postnatal bone formation

Functions of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are initiated by signaling through specific type I and type II serine/threonine kinase receptors. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that the type IB BMP receptor (BMPR-IB) plays an essential and specific role in osteoblast commitment and differentiation. To determine the role of BMP receptor signaling in bone formation in vivo, we generated transgenic mice, which express a truncated dominant-negative BMPR-IB targeted to osteoblasts using the type I collagen promoter. The mice are viable and fertile. Tissue-specific expression of the truncated BMPR-IB was demonstrated. Characterization of the phenotype of these transgenic mice showed impairment of postnatal bone formation in 1-mo-old homozygous transgenic mice. Bone mineral density, bone volume, and bone formation rates were severely reduced, but osteoblast and osteoclast numbers were not significantly changed in the transgenic mice. To determine whether osteoblast differentiation is impaired, we used primary osteoblasts isolated from the transgenic mice and showed that BMP signaling is blocked and BMP2-induced mineralized bone matrix formation was inhibited. These studies show the effects of alterations in BMP receptor function targeted to the osteoblast lineage and demonstrate a necessary role of BMP receptor signaling in postnatal bone growth and bone formation in vivo.     

Development of a set of expression vectors in Hansenula polymorpha

Four expression vectors based on formate dehydrogenase promoter (FMDp) and methanol oxidase promoter (MOXp) from Hansenula polymorpha were developed to express heterologous genes in Hansenula polymorpha. A secretion signal sequence of the mating factor-alpha from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was inserted in the secretory expression plasmids for efficient secretion. A modified green fluorescent protein (mGFP5) was used as the marker of expression for the first time in H. polymorpha NCYC495 (leu 1.1) to determine the expression ability of these plasmids. The mGFP5 thus expressed retained its biochemical and physiological properties, such as accumulation inside cells and efficient secretion into the culture media. These results indicated that the four integrative vectors are useful expression systems which could be directly applied for production of heterologous proteins of interests in H. polymorpha.