Comparison of proteins synthesized in vivo and in vitro by mRNA from isolated protoplasts

Studies of proteins synthesized in vitro by messenger RNA (mRNA) extracted from tobacco protoplasts showed that the changes in protein synthesis and especially the lack of certain proteins observed previously in isolated protoplasts did not result from a failure of translation.     

In vitro selected peptides bind with thymidylate synthase mRNA and inhibit its translation

Thymidylate synthase (TS), an essential enzyme for catalyzing the biosynthesis of thymidylate, is a critical therapeutic target in cancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that TS functions as an RNA-binding protein by interacting with two different sequences on its own mRNA, thus, repressing translational efficiency. In this study, peptides binding TS RNA with high affinity were isolated using mRNA display from a large peptide library (＞1013 different sequences). The randomized library was subjected up to twelve rounds of in vitro selection and amplification. Comparing the amino acid composition of the selected peptides (12th round, R12) with those from the initial random library (round zero, R0), the basic and aromatic residues in the selected peptides were enriched significantly, suggesting that these peptide regions might be important in the peptide-TS mRNA interaction. Categorizing the amino acids at each random position based on their physicochemical properties and comparing the distributions with those of the initial random pool, an obvious basic charge characteristic was found at positions 1, 12, 17 and 18, suggesting that basic side chains participate in RNA binding. Secondary structure prediction showed that the selected peptides of R12 pool represented a helical propensity compared with R0 pool, and the regions were rich in basic residues. The electrophoretic gel mobility shift and in vitro translation assays showed that the peptides selected using mRNA display could bind TS RNA specifically and inhibit the translation of TS mRNA. Our results suggested that the identified peptides could be used as new TS inhibitors and developed to a novel class of anticancer agents.     

Correlation of changes in transglutaminase activity and polyamine content of neoplastic tissue during the metastatic process

Transglutaminase activity and the levels of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine were measured in two transplantable rat sarcomata: P₈ which metastasises consistently to the lung, and P₇ which metastasises infrequently. With the P₇ sarcoma no metastases were detected following implantation; similarly, no significant changes occurred in the levels of transglutaminase activity, putrescine, spermidine or spermine during tumour growth. However, with the P₈ sarcoma at approx. 30 days after implantation there was a marked decrease in transglutaminase activity, mirrored exactly by a 20-fold increase in the levels of acid-soluble putrescine. Measurement of covalently-bound polyamines in the P₈ sarcoma indicated a significant and corresponding decrease in the levels of bound putrescine. The timing of these changes coincided with the time at which the P₈ sarcoma was shown to have metastasised, and suggests that the changes observed may be related to this phenomenon.     

Mitotic checkpoint gene expression is tuned by codon usage bias

The mitotic checkpoint (also called spindle assembly checkpoint, SAC) is a signaling pathway that safeguards proper chromosome segregation. Correct functioning of the SAC depends on adequate protein concentrations and appropriate stoichiometries between SAC proteins. Yet very little is known about the regulation of SAC gene expression. Here, we show in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe that a combination of short mRNA half‐lives and long protein half‐lives supports stable SAC protein levels. For the SAC genes mad2 ⁺ and mad3 ⁺, their short mRNA half‐lives are caused, in part, by a high frequency of nonoptimal codons. In contrast, mad1 ⁺ mRNA has a short half‐life despite a higher frequency of optimal codons, and despite the lack of known RNA‐destabilizing motifs. Hence, different SAC genes employ different strategies of expression. We further show that Mad1 homodimers form co‐translationally, which may necessitate a certain codon usage pattern. Taken together, we propose that the codon usage of SAC genes is fine‐tuned to ensure proper SAC function. Our work shines light on gene expression features that promote spindle assembly checkpoint function and suggests that synonymous mutations may weaken the checkpoint.     

shASPP2 H22稳转肝癌细胞系的构建及ASPP2敲低对H22移植瘤小鼠血管生成的影响

摘要 目的：构建小鼠shASPP2 H22稳转肝癌细胞系,观察ASPP2敲低对血管生成的影响。方法：针对小鼠ASPP2基因设计了3个不同的shRNA干扰序列（Y18421,Y18422,Y18423）及1个对照序列（GL427NC2）,采用双酶切（Age Ⅰ和EcoR Ⅰ）及质粒连接构建重组质粒,使用菌落PCR和测序比对进行鉴定;使用293T细胞将各重组质粒包装慢病毒并测定滴度;将 shASPP2和对照慢病毒质粒转染H22细胞,采用流式细胞术测定转染效率;采用qRT-PCR、Western Blot法观察shASPP2慢病毒对H22细胞ASPP2的干扰效果;采用CCK8法观察ASPP2敲低对H22细胞增殖的影响;采用Western Blot法观察ASPP2敲低对H22细胞及上清VEGF表达和分泌的影响;采用细胞注射法建立小鼠ASPP2敲低H22细胞皮下移植瘤模型,游标卡尺法观察肿瘤体积大小,采用活体激光共聚焦观察肿瘤血管生成情况,采用Western Blot法观察肿瘤组织VEGF的表达。结果：双酶切、菌落PCR和测序鉴定结果表示各重组质粒构建成功;各重组质粒经慢病毒包装后,测定显示Y18421、Y18422、Y18423和GL427NC2慢病毒质粒的滴度分别为3.40×10⁸ TU/mL、4.08×10⁸ TU/mL、5.49×10⁸ TU/mL和1.7×10⁹ TU/mL;Y18421、Y18422、Y18423及GL427NC2慢病毒质粒转染效率分别为：86.2 %、69.6 %、60.8 %和76.9 %。与GL427NC2 H22细胞相比,Y18421 H22细胞的ASPP2 mRNA及蛋白的表达明显降低（P<0.01,P<0.05）;Y18421细胞在培养24,48,72 h后增殖速率显著增加（P<0.0001,P<0.001,P<0.01）;Y18421细胞及上清的VEGF表达显著升高（P<0.001,P<0.01,P<0.05）。与GL427NC2 细胞移植瘤相比,Y18421细胞移植瘤体积明显增大（P<0.05）,总血管长度显著增加（P<0.05）,VEGF蛋白的表达明显上调（P<0.05）。结论：小鼠shASPP2 H22稳转肝癌细胞系构建成功,ASPP2敲低可能通过上调VEGF的表达促进小鼠H22细胞移植瘤血管生成。     

Importance of the leader region of mRNA for translation initiation of ColE2 Rep protein

Translation initiation of mRNA encoding the Rep protein of the ColE2 plasmid required for initiation of plasmid DNA replication is fairly efficient in Escherichia coli cells despite the absence of a canonical Shine-Dalgarno sequence. To define sequences and structural elements responsible for translation efficiency of the Rep mRNA, a series of rep-lacZalpha translational fusions bearing various mutations in the region encoding the leader region of the Rep mRNA was generated and tested for the translation activity by measuring the beta-galactosidase activity. We showed that the region rich in A and U between the stem-loop II structure and GA cluster sequence, formation of the stem-loop II structure, but not its sequence, and the region between the GA cluster sequence and initiation codon are important along with the GA cluster sequence for efficient translation of the Rep protein. The existence of these important regions in the leader region of the Rep mRNA may explain the mechanism of inhibition of the Rep protein translation by an antisense RNA (RNAI), which is complementary to the leader region.     

Efficient Inhibition of wear debris-induced inflammation by locally delivered siRNA

Aseptic loosening is the most common long-term complication of total joint replacement, which is associated with the generation of wear debris. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on wear debris-induced inflammation. A local delivery of lentivirus-mediated TNF-α siRNA into the modified murine air pouch, which was stimulated by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles, resulted in significant blockage of TNF-α both in mRNA and protein levels for up to 4 weeks. In addition, significant down-regulation of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was observed in TNF-α siRNA-treated pouches. The safety profile of gene therapy was proven by Bioluminescent assay and quantitative fluorescent flux. Histological analysis revealed less inflammatory responses (thinner pouch membrane and decreased cellular infiltration) in TNF-α siRNA-treated pouches. These findings suggest that local delivery of TNF-α siRNA might be an excellent therapeutic candidate to inhibit particle-induced inflammation.