Tailor made: New insights into lipoarabinomannan structure may improve TB diagnosis

Detecting the mycobacterial glycolipid lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in urine by anti-LAM antibodies fills a gap in the diagnostic armamentarium of much needed simple rapid tests for tuberculosis, but lacks high sensitivity in all patient groups. A better understanding of LAM structure from clinically relevant strains may allow improvements in diagnostic performance. De et al. have recently determined the structures of LAM from three epidemiologically important lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and probed their interaction with an anti-LAM monoclonal antibody. Their results not only identify a series of tailoring modifications that impact antibody binding but also provide a roadmap for improving U-LAM-based diagnostics.     

麦迪霉素3-O-酰基转移酶在螺旋霉素链霉菌F21中酰化特性

螺旋霉素(SP)与麦迪霉素(MD)均为16元环大环内酯类抗生素, 并且结构非常相似。螺旋霉素含有3个组分,其结构差异表现在16元内酯环C3上的一个取代基的差异, SP I组分为羟基、SP II组分羟基乙酰化、SP III组分羟基丙酰化; 麦迪霉素是以麦迪霉素A1为主要组分的多组分抗生素, 麦迪霉素16元内酯环C3上连接的均为丙酰化羟基。已知这类抗生素16元内酯环C3羟基酰化是由一种称为3-O-酰基转移酶的蛋白催化完成。本研究将螺旋霉素产生菌—Streptomyces spiramyceticus F21中的螺旋霉素3-O-酰基转移酶基因用Streptomyces mycarofaciens ATCC 21454中的麦迪霉素3-O-酰基转移酶基因原位替换后, 发现所产生的螺旋霉素仍然含有3个组分, 并且螺旋霉素III组分也不是主要组分, 说明麦迪霉素3-O-酰基转移酶在螺旋霉素产生菌—S. spiramyceticus F21中不具有16元内酯环C3羟基丙酰化特异性以及酰化高效性, 也提示其在麦迪霉素产生菌中的丙酰化特异性和高效性可能与该菌株(种)的特性有关。     

促酰化蛋白对脂肪细胞分化中脂滴相关蛋白TIP47表达的影响

研究促酰化蛋白（acylation stimulating protein, ASP）在3T3-L1脂肪细胞分化中对脂滴相关蛋白TIP47(tail-interacting protein 47 kD)表达的影响,从而探讨ASP在成脂方面的重要意义．用免疫荧光染色法观察3T3-L1前脂肪细胞中TIP47的表达定位;采用经典激素鸡尾酒法诱导分化3T3-L1前脂肪细胞,用RT-PCR和Western 印迹方法检测诱导分化的3T3-L1脂肪细胞中TIP47 mRNA和蛋白表达;在分化过程中不同时点,对诱导分化中的3T3-L1脂肪细胞分别给予胰岛素和ASP处理,并设立相应空白对照,用RT-PCR和Western印迹方法检测TIP47 mRNA和蛋白表达． 结果显示,3T3-L1前脂肪细胞中TIP47主要在胞浆内表达;诱导分化过程中的3T3-L1脂肪细胞TIP47 mRNA和蛋白的表达水平呈时间依赖性降低;ASP对诱导分化的3T3-L1脂肪细胞中TIP47 mRNA和蛋白表达有显著的上调作用,但随着分化至48 h,其上调作用已不明显;胰岛素仅在分化的0 d对脂肪细胞中TIP47 mRNA和蛋白表达有上调作用,之后基本无影响．结果提示,ASP促成脂作用可能与其调节脂滴相关蛋白TIP47的表达密切相关,从而为认识及防治肥胖症开拓新的思路．     

促酰化蛋白(ASP)诱导3T3-L1前脂肪细胞分化

促酰化蛋白 (ASP)代替经典激素“鸡尾酒”诱导法中胰岛素 ,通过形态学观察、油红染色分化百分比测定、脂肪细胞甘油三酯合成率和甘油三酯总量测定 ,并与经典激素“鸡尾酒”法诱导前脂肪细胞分化情况比较 ,探讨ASP是否具有诱导 3T3 L1前脂肪细胞分化作用 .ASP组诱导分化第 6d ,3T3 L1前脂肪细胞变大、变圆 ,出现大量脂肪滴 ,形态由前脂肪细胞向成熟脂肪细胞转变 ;随着诱导分化时间延长 ,胞浆中脂滴进一步积累 .分化 9d时 ,3T3 L1前脂肪细胞分化完全 .油红染色结果显示 ,ASP组分化率很高 (85 % ) ,与胰岛素组分化率 (90 % )相似 ,明显高于IBMX +DEX组 (4 0 % ) .ASP不仅促进 3T3 L1前脂肪细胞形态向成熟脂肪细胞转化 ,同时促进细胞中甘油三酯的合成和积累 .ASP组诱导分化第 3d时 ,脂肪细胞甘油三酯合成率明显高于对照组和IBMX +DEX组 ,但仍低于胰岛素组 ;在分化第 6d和第 9d时 ,ASP组甘油三酯合成率进一步升高 ,与对照组和IBMX +DEX组相比差异有极显著性 ,与胰岛素组相比无显著性差异 .ASP组诱导分化 3d时 ,脂肪细胞中甘油三酯总量明显高于对照组和IBMX +DEX组 ;分化 6d和 9d时 ,甘油三酯总量进一步升高 ,与对照组和IBMX +DEX组相比差异有极显著性 ,而与胰岛素组相比无显著性差异 .结果表明 ,新型脂源性激     

Effect of propionyl-L-carnitine treatment on membrane phospholipid fatty acid turnover in diabetic rat erythrocytes

In this work we have examined the effect of the oral administration of propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) on the membrane phospholipid fatty acid turnover of erythrocytes from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. A statistically significant reduction in radioactive palmitate, oleate, and linoleate, but not arachidonate, incorporation into membrane phosphatidylcholine (PC) of diabetic rat erythrocytes with respect to control animals was found. Changes in radioactive fatty acid incorporation were also found in diabetic red cell phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), though they were not statistically significant. Oral propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) treatment of diabetic rats partially restored the ability of intact red cells to reacylate membrane PC with palmitate and oleate, and reacylation with linoleate was fully restored. The analysis of the membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition revealed a consistent increase of linoleate levels in diabetic rat red cells, and a modest decrease of palmitate, oleate and arachidonate. The phospholipid fatty acid composition of diabetic red blood cells was not affected by the PLC treatment. Lysophosphatidylcholine acyl-CoA transferase (LAT) specific activity measured with either palmitoyl-CoA or oleyl-CoA was significantly reduced in diabetic erythrocyte membranes in comparison to controls. In addition LAT kinetic parameters of diabetic erythrocytes were altered. The reduced LAT activity could be partially corrected by PLC treatment of diabetic rats. Our data suggest that the impaired erythrocyte membrane physiological expression induced by the diabetic disease may be attenuated by the beneficial activity of PLC on the red cell membrane phospholipid fatty acid turnover.Abbreviations LAT lysophosphatidylcholine acyl-CoA transferase - PC phosphatidylcholine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - PLC propionyl-L-carnitine - STZ streptozotocin     

Effect of Surfactants on Activity and Stability of Native and Chemically Modified Lipases A and B from Candida Rugosa

The effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100 on the hydrolytic activity of lipases A and B from Candida rugosa has been studied. Lipase B is significantly more affected than lipase A by the presence of both surfactants; Triton X-100 produces a more deleterious effect than SDS with both isoenzymes. In addition, the stability of lipases A and B in the presence of different concentrations of SDS was investigated; lipase A was more stable than isoform B. Both isoenzymes were chemically modified by reaction of their amino groups with octanoyl chloride or activated polyethylene glycol (PEG, mol. wt. 5000). In all cases the modification produced a protective effect against denaturation by SDS. In particular, PEG₅₀₀₀-liPases A and B were significantly more stable (stabilization factor: 3-4) than the native enzymes at the surfactant concentrations tested.     

Detection and identification of mycoplasmas by amplification of rDNA

Alignment of published 16S rRNA sequences allowed the definition of a pair of oligonucleotides suitable for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using this pair of PCR primers, several mycoplasmas including the four human parasites Mycoplasma genitalium, M. hominis, M. salivarium and M. orale were detected. This DNA amplification was restricted to species of the genus Mycoplasma while no cross-reaction was observed with DNA from other bacteria and eukaryotic cells. Subsequent analysis of amplified products by either specific oligonucleotide hybridization or dideoxy sequencing specified the identity of the detected mycoplasmas. This method offers a highly discriminating and sensitive assay for the direct detection and identification of these microorganisms without the need for prior cultivation.     

Oil synthesis in vitro in microsomal membranes from developing cotyledons of Linum usitatissimum L.

Microsomal preparations from developing linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) cotyledons catalyzed i) acyl exchange between acyl-CoA and position 2 of sn-phosphatidylcholine, ii) acylation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate to yield phosphatidic acid, and iii) the utilisation of phosphatidic acid in the production of diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol. Selectivity studies for C₁₈ acyl species of acyl-CoA indicated a bias for the channelling of oleate to phosphatidylcholine for, presumably, its desaturation, and the utilisation of the polyunsaturated fatty-acid products in the acyl-CoA pool for phosphatidic acid and subsequent triacylglycerol synthesis. The microsomal preparations were capable of returning glycerol backbone with associated acyl components to phosphatidylcholine from diacylglycerol where it may be further enriched with polyunsaturated C₁₈ acids by desaturation. The acyl quality in linolenate-rich oilseeds appears to be under similar control to that found in linoleate-rich species. Present address: To whom the correspondence should be addressed     

The Synthesis of Thio- and Selenoanalogues of Phospholipids on the Basis of 2-Butyl-2-Hydroxymethyl-1,3-Propanediol

New analogues of nonglycerol polyol phospholipids were prepared on the basis of 1,1,1-trimethylolpenthane. Amidophosphites and cyclophosphites of the isopropylidene derivative of this polyol were intermediates in the syntheses. They were treated with sulfur or selenium. Phosphoacetals were converted into lipids by direct acylation with higher fatty acid chlorides. The triol bicyclophosphite was also used in the lipid syntheses. It was directly acylated at the oxygen atom, and the resulting acylpolyol of chlorophosphite was then converted into phospholipids by alcoholysis and subsequent treatment with sulfur.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2005, pp. 414–419.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Savin, Kutsemako.