雪松聚球藻金属硫蛋白的纯化及其性质的研究

在雪松聚球藻的培养基中逐渐增加氯化镉的浓度以诱导藻细胞内金属硫蛋白的合成,经Ｓｅｐｈａｄｅｘ Ｇ－５０,ＤＥＡＥ－ｃｅｌｌｕｌｏｓｅ和Ｓｅｐｈａｄｅｘ Ｇ－２５柱层析,获得的ＭＴ没有亚型,经ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ分析是高度均一的。每个蛋白分子约含５个Ｃｄ原子,１０个巯基,分子量约为７．６ＫＤ,等电位ｐＨ４．５左右,半胱氨酸含量约占总氨基酸量的１５．５％,还含有少量的芳香族氨基酸,ＭＴ的最大紫外吸收在２５     

Enhanced transgenic plant resistance to nematodes by dual proteinase inhibitor constructs

Plant defence strategies usually involve the action of several gene products. Transgenic resistance strategies are likely to have enhanced efficacy when they involve more than one transgene. Here we explore possible mechanisms for the co-delivery of multiple effectors via a single transgene. As an example we report the co-delivery of two distinct proteinase inhibitors in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. to examine resistance against plant parasitic nematodes. A cysteine and serine proteinase inhibitor have been joined as translational fusions by one of two peptide linkers. One linker, part of the spacer region of a plant metallothionein-like protein (PsMTa), was selected to be cleaved in planta. A second linker, derived from the fungal enzyme galactose oxidase (GO) was chosen to be refractory to cleavage in planta. Western blot analysis of cell extracts confirmed the expected pattern of predominantly single inhibitors derived from the PsMTa construct and a primarily dual inhibitor from the GO construct. Analysis of cyst and root-knot nematodes recovered from transgenic Arabidopsis expressing inhibitors as single or dual molecules revealed the uptake of inhibitors with the exception of those linked by the PsMTa linker. This unexpected result may be due to residues of the PsMTa linker interacting with cell membranes. Despite lack of ingestion, PsMTa-linked cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) affected the sexual development of the cyst nematodes, indicating an external site of action. The engineered cystatin (Oc-IΔD86) component from the PsMTa constuct had no effect, indicating that ingestion is necessary for the cystatin to be effective. The delivery of dual inhibitors linked by the GO linker showed a clear additive effect over either inhibitor delivered singly. The application of this technology to other plant pathogens is discussed. Received: 3 July 1997 / Accepted: 8 August 1997     

Involvement of Oxidative Stress in Paraquat-Induced Metallothionein Synthesis Under Glutathione Depletion

The inhibition of glutathione (GSH) synthesis by -buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO) causes aggravation of hepatotoxicity of paraquat (PQ), an oxidative-stress inducing substance, in mice. On the other hand, synthesis of metallothionein (MT), a cysteine-rich protein having radical scavenging activity, is induced by PQ, and the induction by PQ is significantly enhanced by pretreatment of mice with BSO. The purpose of present study is to examine whether generation of reactive oxygens is involved in the induction of MT synthesis by PQ under inhibition of GSH synthesis. Administration of PQ to BSO-pretreated mice increased hepatic lipid peroxidation and frequency of DNA single strand breakage followed by manifestation of the liver injury and induction of MT synthesis. Both vitamin E and deferoxamine prevented MT induction as well as lipid peroxidation in the liver of mice caused by administration of BSO and PQ. In cultured colon 26 cells, both cytotoxicity and the increase in MT mRNA level caused by PQ were significantly enhanced by pretreatment with BSO. Facilitation of PQ-induced reactive oxygen generation was also observed by BSO treatment. These results suggest that reactive oxygens generated by PQ under inhibition of GSH synthesis may stimulate MT synthesis. GSH depletion markedly increased reactive oxygen generation induced by PQ, probably due to the reduced cellular capability to remove the radical species produced.     

不同亚型ZnMT使脱金属碳酸酐酶复活的比较研究

通过荧光探针、酶的活力测定及对金属硫蛋白（ＭＴ）分子中金属与巯基配位键的特征吸收检测,比较研究了锌诱导兔肾不同亚型ＺｎＭＴ使脱金属碳酸酐酶（ＡｐｏＣＡ）复活的能力大小。结果表明,不同亚型ＺｎＭＴ对ＡｐｏＣＡ具有不同的反应活性,ＭＴ１比ＭＴ_２对于ＡｎｏＣＡ的复活具有更强的反应活性,此结论与我们在研究不同亚型ＭＴ清除自由基时的结果相一致。这两种亚型ＭＴ在反应活性上的差异,很可能与其在生物体内功能上的分化密切相关。     

Identification of metallothionein isoforms with capillary zone electrophoresis using a polyacrylamide-coated tube

Metallothionein (MT) isoforms from various liver tissues were separated with capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using a polyacrylamide-coated tube at neutral pH. The electrophoresis was performed on MT-1 and MT-2 purified from mouse, rat, rabbit and human livers. The retention times of mouse and rat MT-1 coincided, while the retention times of rabbit and human MT-1 were longer. The retention times of MT-2 purified from the four sources were the same. MT-1 and MT-2 separated more definitely with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-Tris buffer (25 mM, pH 7.4) than with N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-3-aminopropane sulfonic acid (TAPS)-Tris buffer (25 mM, pH 7.7) or with N-(2-acetamido)iminodiacetic acid (ADA)-Tris buffer (25 mM, pH 7.4). In addition, liver MT isoforms prepared from Zn- or Cd-administered mice could be separated.     

Cadmium uptake by Caco-2 cells. Effect of some milk components

The effect of some milk components on the cellular uptake of cadmium has been studied using a human intestinal cell line (Caco-2). Cadmium uptake by Caco-2 cells increased with the concentration of this metal in the culture medium, in a saturable way. These cells were exposed to different concentrations of cadmium and the synthesis of metallothionein was studied by a cadmium-saturation method. The levels of metallothionein increased with the cadmium concentration in the medium up to 20 μM of metal. Supplementation of the culture medium with 10% bovine milk caused a 25% decrease in the uptake of cadmium with respect to that internalized by the cells maintained in the culture medium alone. However, the uptake of cadmium from the medium supplemented with 10% human milk was similar to that with serum-free medium. β-Lactoglobulin interacted with cadmium when studied by equilibrium dialysis, showing a stoichiometric binding constant of 5 × 10⁴l/mol. Interaction of lactoferrin with cadmium, however, was negligible. When Caco-2 cells were incubated in culture medium containing lactoferrin, cadmium uptake decreased with respect to that observed incubating the cells in a medium containing β-lactoglobulin or in the free-protein medium. The inhibitory effect of lactoferrin on the uptake of cadmium might be due to a reduction of the cell surface charge, through its binding to the membrane.     

Metallothionein Induction in Neonatal Rat Primary Astrocyte Cultures Protects Against Methylmercury Cytotoxicity

Abstract: Metallothionein (MT) protein and mRNA levels were monitored following exposure of rat neonatal primary astrocyte cultures to methylmercury (MeHg). MT-I and MT-II mRNAs were probed on northern blots with an [α-³²P]dCTP-labeled synthetic cDNA probe specific for rat MT mRNA. MT-I and MT-II mRNAs were detected in untreated cells, suggesting constitutive MT expression in these cells. The probes hybridize to a single mRNA with a size appropriate for MT, ∼550 and 350 bp for MT-I and MT-II, respectively. Expression of MT-I and MT-II mRNA in astrocyte monolayers exposed to 2 × 10⁻⁶ M MeHg for 6 h was increased over MT-I and MT-II mRNA levels in controls. Western blot analysis revealed a time-dependent increase in MT protein synthesis through 96 h of exposure to MeHg. Consistent with the constitutive expression of MTs at both the mRNA level and the protein level, we have also demonstrated a time-dependent increase in MT immunoreactivity in astrocytes exposed to MeHg. The cytotoxic effects of MeHg were measured by the rate of astrocytic d -[³H]aspartate uptake. Preexposure of astrocytes to CdCl₂, a potent inducer of MTs, completely reversed the inhibitory effect of MeHg on d -[³H]aspartate uptake that occurs in MeHg-treated astrocytes with constitutive MT levels. Associated with CdCl₂ treatment was a time-dependent increase in astrocytic MT levels. In summary, astrocytes constitutively express MTs; treatment with MeHg increases astrocytic MT expression, and increased MT levels (by means of CdCl₂ pretreatment) attenuate MeHg-induced toxicity. Increased MT expression may represent a generalized response to heavy metal exposure, thus protecting astrocytes and perhaps also, indirectly, juxtaposed neurons from the neurotoxic effects of heavy metals.     

Reactivity of propylene oxides towards deoxycytidine and identification of reaction products

In order to elucidate the mechanism of the stimulative effect of molybdenum on mercury-mediated renal metallothionein induction, the levels of translatable metallothionein mRNA (MT mRNA) in the kidneys of rats treated with saline or Na2MoO4 or HgCl2 or Na2MoO4 and HgCl2 were measured by translation experiments in cell-free protein synthesizing systems. The time course of accumulation of mercury in renal nuclei of rats given HgCl2 with or without Na2MoO4-pretreatment was also investigated. Molybdenum, itself, did not elevate levels of MT mRNA compared to saline controls at all time points (0, 6 and 14 h after exposure to HgCl2) but rapidly elevated the levels of the mRNA more than Hg-dosed rats when HgCl2 was also administered. On the other hand, the time course study in renal nuclei showed that the mercury content of nuclei was consistently lower in Mo-Hg-dosed rats than in Hg-dosed rats at all time points (4, 8 and 24 h after exposure to HgCl2). These results suggest that the stimulative effect of molybdenum on mercury-mediated metallothionein induction is coupled with an increase of the mRNA coding for the low molecular weight protein and that such an increase in the levels of translatable MT mRNA is not due to the difference in uptake of mercury into renal nuclei.     

Variation of the level of mercury and metallothionein in the kidneys and liver of rats with time of exposure to sodium selenite

Sodium selenite was administered to rats before, after, and simultaneously with mercuric chloride. In all animal groups, mercury was administered intravenously in doses of 0.5 mg/kg every other day for two weeks. Selenium was given intragastrically either in a single dose of 7.0 mg Se/kg or in repeated doses of 0.1 mg Se/kg every day for weeks. It was demonstrated that, depending on the administration schedule, selenium induced significant changes in the binding of mercury by soluble fraction proteins both in the kidneys and in the liver. In every exposure, the mercury content decreased mainly in the low-molecular weight proteins, and the level of metallothionein-like proteins was diminished in the both organs. In the kidneys, the mercury content showed a correlation with the level of metallothionein (r=0.78). Amounts of mercury below 10 μg/g kidney do not stimulate metallothionein biosynthesis in this organ. A distinct interaction effect was observed in the case of a simultaneous administration of equimolar amounts of both the metals in question.