pH-Dependent Effects of Chlorpromazine on Liposomes and Erythrocyte Membranes

Abstract

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) is an amphipathic antipsychotic drug that binds to erythrocytes reaching in this way the central nervous system. CPZ is a basic molecule with pK = 8.6. This paper reports on CPZ-induced lysis of red blood cells and liposomes. Haemolysis was tested under hypotonic conditions, in the pH range 5.0–10.0. Cell sensitivity towards CPZ increased with increasing pH. Increasing pH caused also a decrease in the critical micellar concentrations of CPZ. These results are interpreted in terms of a competition between repulsive electrostatic forces and attractive hydrophobic forces, that would act both in pure CPZ and in mixed CPZ-phospholipid micelles. In order to eliminate possible pH effects mediated by red blood cell proteins, experiments were carried out in which CPZ induced release of a fluorescent dye from liposomes (large unilamellar vesicles). The latter observations confirmed that membrane sensitivity towards CPZ was increased at higher pH.     

A novel method to screen genomic libraries that combines genomic immunization with the prime-boost strategy

We employed a prime-boost regimen in combination with the expression library immunization protocol to improve the protective effectiveness of a genomic library used as immunogen. To demonstrate the feasibility of this novel strategy, we used as a prime a serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis random genomic library constructed in a eukaryotic expression vector. Mice immunized with different fractions of this library and boosted with a single dose of meningococcal outer membrane vesicles elicited higher bactericidal antibody titers compared with mice primed with the empty vector. After the boost, passive administration of sera from mice primed with two of these fractions significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria in the blood of infant rats challenged with live N. meningitidis. The method proposed could be applied to the identification of subimmunogenic antigens during vaccine candidate screening by employing expression library immunization.     

Ultrastructure of Microvillar Coelomocytes from the Trunk Coelom of Thysanocardia nigra Ikeda, 1904 (Sipuncula) from the Sea of Japan

This research is part of a study on the ultrastructure of coelomocytes and cellular complexes from the body cavity of sipunculans. New free-swimming elements called microvillar cells in the trunk coelom of Thysanocardia nigra Ikeda, 1904 are examined using transmission electron microscopy. The cell harbors a giant vesicle filled with a fibrous matrix and rosettes of minute osmiophilous granules. The nucleus is peripheral, and a few cell organelles are situated between the cell membrane and the vesicular membrane. The cell membrane bears numerous microvilli with enlarged apical points. Numerous small microvillar vesicles swimming in the coelomic fluid separate from the microvillar cells. The functional morphology of coelomocytes and cellular complexes is discussed.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Maiorova, Adrianov.     

Voltage-dependent orientation of membrane proteins

In order to study the influence of electrostatic forces on the disposition of proteins in membranes, we have examined the interaction of a receptor protein and of a membrane-active peptide with black lipid membranes. In the first study we show that the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor can insert spontaneously into lipid bilayers from the aqueous medium. Under the influence of a trans-positive membrane potential, the receptor, a negatively charged protein, appears to change its disposition with respect to the membrane. In the second study we consider melittin, an amphipathic peptide containing a generally hydrophobic stretch of 19 amino acids followed by a cluster of four positively charged residues at the carboxy terminus. The hydrophobic region contains two positively charged residues. In response to trans-negative electrical potential, melittin appears to assume a transbilayer position. These findings indicate that electrostatic forces can influence the disposition, and perhaps the orientation, of membrane proteins. Given the inside-negative potential of most or all cells, we would expect transmembrane proteins to have clusters of positively charged residues adjacent to the cytoplasmic ends of their hydrophobic transmembrane segments, and clusters of negatively charged residues just to the extracytoplasmic side. This expectation has been borne out by examination of the few transmembrane proteins for which there is sufficient information on both sequence and orientation. Surface and dipole potentials may similarly affect the orientation of membrane proteins.     

Role of the conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex in protein glycosylation

The Golgi apparatus is a central hub for both protein and lipid trafficking/sorting and is also a major site for glycosylation in the cell. This organelle employs a cohort of peripheral membrane proteins and protein complexes to keep its structural and functional organization. The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex is an evolutionary conserved peripheral membrane protein complex that is proposed to act as a retrograde vesicle tethering factor in intra-Golgi trafficking. The COG protein complex consists of eight subunits, distributed in two lobes, Lobe A (Cog1-4) and Lobe B (Cog5-8). Malfunctions in the COG complex have a significant impact on processes such as protein sorting, glycosylation, and Golgi integrity. A deletion of Lobe A COG subunits in yeasts causes severe growth defects while mutations in COG1, COG7, and COG8 in humans cause novel types of congenital disorders of glycosylation. These pathologies involve a change in structural Golgi phenotype and function. Recent results indicate that down-regulation of COG function results in the resident Golgi glycosyltransferases/glycosidases to be mislocalized or degraded.     

Hemagglutinin of Influenza Virus Partitions into the Nonraft Domain of Model Membranes

The HA of influenza virus is a paradigm for a transmembrane protein thought to be associated with membrane-rafts, liquid-ordered like nanodomains of the plasma membrane enriched in cholesterol, glycosphingolipids, and saturated phospholipids. Due to their submicron size in cells, rafts can not be visualized directly and raft-association of HA was hitherto analyzed by indirect methods. In this study, we have used GUVs and GPMVs, showing liquid disordered and liquid ordered domains, to directly visualize partition of HA by fluorescence microscopy. We show that HA is exclusively (GUVs) or predominantly (GPMVs) present in the liquid disordered domain, regardless of whether authentic HA or domains containing its raft targeting signals were reconstituted into model membranes. The preferential partition of HA into ld domains and the difference between lo partition in GUV and GPMV are discussed with respect to differences in packaging of lipids in membranes of model systems and living cells suggesting that physical properties of lipid domains in biological membranes are tightly regulated by protein-lipid interactions.     

An 83-kDa embryonic-type nuclear antigen is detected within the germinal vesicles of oocytes of the ascidianHalocynthia roretzi

Summary Monoclonal antibodies were raised against germinal vesicles which were isolated from fully grown oocytes of the ascidianHalocynthia roretzi. Immunoblot analyses revealed that one of the antibodies, designated Hgv-2, recognized a single band with a molecular weight of about 83 kDa. The antibody, visualized by indirect immunohistochemistry, reacted only with the germinal vesicles of oocytes and did not react with test cells, follicle cells, and other somatic cells of the gonad. During embryogenesis the antigenicity was found in interphase nuclei of all embryonic cells. The antibody did not react with chromosomes or the mitotic apparatus. The antigenicity was retained by interphase nuclei of larval cells, but it disappeared from nuclei of juveniles about 7 days after metamorphosis.     

烟曲霉的细胞外囊泡蛋白质及RNA分析

目的 分析烟曲霉的细胞外囊泡(extracellular vesicles, EVs)中的重要成分,以进一步明确曲霉致病机制。方法 通过离心法分离烟曲霉的囊泡,用电镜观察形态。采用马尔文纳米颗粒跟踪分析仪分析溶液中EVs的大小分布。通过质谱仪对囊泡内处理后的肽段进行分析。二级质谱数据使用Maxquant (v1.5.2.8)进行检索。检测RNA分布,通过数据库分析烟曲霉EVs中miRNA可能参与的一些通路。结果 电镜下烟曲霉的EVs可见明显的双层脂质结构。NTA发现烟曲霉分析的EVs大小主要集中在130 nm左右。EVs蛋白中不稳定蛋白为9种(15%),其余为稳定蛋白,而等电点(isoelectric point, PI)>7的为6种蛋白。EVs中大部分是胞浆蛋白,其余比较多的是细胞外分泌蛋白,但仍有25%的蛋白不能定位。通过跨膜蛋白预测(transmembrane prediction, TMPred)和糖基磷脂酰肌醇(glycosylphosphatidylinositol, GPI)预测,有5种蛋白存在于双层脂质膜上的蛋白。检测到RNA中rRNA和tRNA分别占59.7%和...