Diphenyleneiodonium induces ROS-independent p53 expression and apoptosis in human RPE cells

The diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) is widely used as an inhibitor of flavoenzymes, particularly NADPH oxidase. In this study, we investigated the effect of DPI on the apoptosis of human RPE cells. DPI treatment in ARPE-19 cells evoked a dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition, and also induced DNA fragmentation and protein content of the proapoptotic factor Bax. In addition, DPI significantly induced the expression and phosphorylation of p53, which induces proapoptotic genes in response to DNA damage or irreparable cell cycle arrest. ROS have been implicated as a key factor in the activation of p53 by many chemotherapeutic drugs. Recent data on the regulation of intracellular ROS by DPI are controversial. Therefore, we analyzed whether DPI could contribute to the generation of intracellular ROS. Although there was increase in ROS level from cells treated for 24h with DPI, it was not detectable at early time points, required to induce p53 expression. And DPI-induced p53 expression was not affected by the ROS scavenger NAC. We conclude that DPI induces the expression of p53 by ROS-independent mechanism in ARPE-19 cells, and renders cells sensitive to drug-induced apoptosis by induction of p53 expression.     

Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts: a versatile cell system for transient gene expression analysis

The transient gene expression system using Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts has proven an important and versatile tool for conducting cell-based experiments using molecular, cellular, biochemical, genetic, genomic and proteomic approaches to analyze the functions of diverse signaling pathways and cellular machineries. A well-established protocol that has been extensively tested and applied in numerous experiments is presented here. The method includes protoplast isolation, PEG-calcium transfection of plasmid DNA and protoplast culture. Physiological responses and high-throughput capability enable facile and cost-effective explorations as well as hypothesis-driven tests. The protoplast isolation and DNA transfection procedures take 6-8 h, and the results can be obtained in 2-24 h. The cell system offers reliable guidelines for further comprehensive analysis of complex regulatory mechanisms in whole-plant physiology, immunity, growth and development.     

Discrimination of higher plant calluses based on embryogenic capacity and taxonomic classification by pyrolysis mass spectrometry

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) is a rapid, simple, high-resolution analytical method based on thermal degradation of complex material in a vacuum, and has been widely applied to the discrimination of closely related microbial strains. Minimally prepared samples of embryogenic and non-embryogenic calluses derived from various higher plants (sweet potato, morning glory, Korean ginseng, Siberian ginseng, and balloon flower) were subjected to PyMS for spectral fingerprinting. A dendrogram based on the unweighted pair group method, with arithmetic mean of pyrolysis mass spectra, divided the calluses into Siberian ginseng embryogenic callus and the others, which were subsequently divided into embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus groups, regardless of plant species from which the calluses were derived. In the non-embryogenic callus group, the dendrogram was in agreement with the known taxonomy of the plants. These results indicate that PyMS analysis could be applied for discriminating plant calluses based on embryogenic capacity and taxonomic classification.     

Characterization of Cold-Shock Protein A of Antarctic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> sp. AA8321

Abstact Polar organisms should have mechanisms to survive the extremely cold environment. Four genes encoding cold-shock proteins, which are small, cold-induced bacterial proteins, have been cloned from the Antarctic bacterium Streptomyces sp. AA8321. Since the specific functions of any polar bacterial or Streptomyces cold-shock proteins have not yet been determined, we examined the role of cold-shock protein A from Streptomyces sp. AA8321 (CspA_St). Gel filtration chromatography showed that purified CspA_St exists as a homodimer under physiological conditions, and gel shift assays showed that it binds to single-stranded, but not double-stranded, DNA. Overexpression of CspA_St in Escherichia coli severely impaired the ability of the host cells to form colonies, and the cells developed an elongated morphology. Incorporation of a deoxynucleoside analogue, 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine, into newly synthesized DNA was also drastically diminished in CspA_St-overexpressing cells. These results suggest that CspA_St play a role in inhibition of DNA replication during cold-adaptation.     

High Performance Proteomics: 7th HUPO Brain Proteome Project Workshop March 7-9, 2007 Wellcome Trust Conference Centre, Hinxton, UK

The Wellcome Trust Conference Centre at Hinxton, UK, was the meeting place of the 7th HUPO Brain Proteome Project Workshop entitled "High Performance Proteomics". It started on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 with a steering committee meeting followed by a two days series of talks dealing with the standardization and handling of tissues, body fluids as well as of proteomics data. The presentation and accompanying vivid discussions created a picture of actual strategies and standards in recent proteomics.     

Differential analysis of Bacillus anthracis after pX01 plasmid curing and comprehensive data on Bacillus anthracis infection in macrophages and glial cells

Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive bacterial organism responsible for anthrax. This organism has two pathogenic plasmids: pX01 and pX02. The genetic function of pX01, which comprises about 198 kb, is not known, except for a region called the pathogenic island, which contains three genes-pag, lef, and cya-that code for three toxic proteins. A 2-D difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) system was used to verify the existence of proteins controlled by the pX01 plasmid, and protein regulation data were obtained using DeCyder software. A total of 1728 proteins were identified in the wild-type strain of this organism and 1684 in the pX01 plasmid. Twenty-seven of these proteins disappeared and eight appeared when the pX01 plasmid was removed. An additional 52 proteins were downregulated and 15 were upregulated when this plasmid was removed. A total of 102 proteins have been identified using the MALDI-TOF method of analysis, including 49 whose functions are unknown. Among these, 31 participate in metabolic processes, two in cellular processes, 15 in the processing of genetic information, and five in the processing of extracellular information. Another seven proteins participate in bacterial virulence and pathogenesis. We investigated the functions of these proteins in other bacteria, particularly the B. anthracis derivative H9041. Bacterial growth differed between pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis and its pX01-/pX02+ derivative as did the cytotoxicity of macrophages infected by pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis and the pX01-pX02+ derivative. We also found that S100B protein levels increased in the host infected with pX01+/pX02+ B. anthracis or its pX01-/pX02+ derivative. These data suggest that the pX01 plasmid plays a key role in the regulation of protein functions in B. anthracis.     

Targeting bladder tumor cells in vivo and in the urine with a peptide identified by phage display

Bladder cancer is one of the most common tumors of the genitourinary tract. Here, we use phage display to identify a peptide that targets bladder tumor cells. A phage library containing random peptides was screened for binding to cells from human bladder tumor xenografts. Phage clones were further selected for binding to a bladder tumor cell line in culture. Six clones displaying the consensus sequence CXNXDXR(X)/(R)C showed selective binding to cells from primary human bladder cancer tissue. Of these, the CSNRDARRC sequence was selected for further study as a synthetic peptide. Fluorescein-conjugated CSNRDARRC peptide selectively bound to frozen sections of human bladder tumor tissue, whereas only negligible binding to normal bladder tissue was observed. When the fluorescent peptide was introduced into the bladder lumen, in a carcinogen-induced rat tumor model, it selectively bound to tumor epithelium. Moreover, when the peptide was intravenously injected into the tail vein, it homed to the bladder tumor but was not detectable in normal bladder and control organs. Next, we examined whether the peptide can detect tumor cells in urine. The fluorescent peptide bound to cultured bladder tumor cells but not to other types of tumor cell lines. Moreover, it bound to urinary cells of patients with bladder cancer, while showing little binding to urinary cells of patients with inflammation or healthy individuals. The CSNRDARRC peptide may be useful as a targeting moiety for selective delivery of therapeutics and as a diagnostic probe for the detection of bladder cancer.     

Co-treatment with interferon-γ and 1-methyl tryptophan ameliorates cardiac fibrosis through cardiac myofibroblasts apoptosis

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Electron transfer occurs through heme-Fe across the cytochrome c protein. The current models of long range electron transfer pathways in proteins include...