FBXL20 promotes breast cancer malignancy by inhibiting apoptosis through degradation of PUMA and BAX

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death that efficiently removes damaged cells to maintain tissue homeostasis. Defect in apoptotic machinery can lead to tumor development, progression, and resistance to chemotherapy. PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) and BAX (BCL2-associated X protein) are among the most well-known inducers of apoptosis. It has been reported that expression levels of BAX and PUMA are controlled at the posttranslational level by phosphorylation. However, the posttranslational regulation of these proapoptotic proteins remains largely unexplored. In this study, using biochemical, molecular biology, flow cytometric, and immunohistochemistry techniques, we show that PUMA and BAX are the direct target of the F-box protein FBXL20, which restricts their cellular levels. FBXL20 directs the proteasomal degradation of PUMA and BAX in a protein kinase AKT1-dependent manner to promote cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. Interestingly, inactivation of AKT1 results in activation of another protein kinase GSK3α/β, which facilitates the proteasomal degradation of FBXL20 by another F-box protein, FBXO31. Thus, a switch between two signaling kinases AKT1 and GSK3α/β modulates the functional activity of these proapoptotic regulators, thereby determining cell survival or death. RNAi-mediated ablation of FBXL20 results in increased levels of PUMA as well as BAX, which further enhances the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. We showed that high level expression of FBXL20 in cancer cells reduces therapeutic drug-induced apoptosis and promotes chemoresistance. Overall, this study highlights the importance of targeting FBXL20 in cancers in conjunction with chemotherapy and may represent a promising anticancer strategy to overcome chemoresistance.     

Isolation and characterization of a porin-like protein of 45 kilodaltons from Bacteroides fragilis

Resistance to the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in some Bacteroides fragilis strains may be associated with a lack of porin proteins. Comparison of outer membrane protein profiles from one resistant strain ( B. fragilis CFPL 358) and two susceptible strains of B . fragilis (ATCC 25285 and CFPL 92125) showed that a few proteins were missing in the resistant strain, especially a 45-kDa protein. To determine whether this protein was a porin-like protein, we attempted to isolate it from the two susceptible strains by using gel filtration (Sephacryl S-200, Superose 6) and ion exchange chromatographies (DEAE Trisacryl, DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow). Elution from DEAE resins was poor compared to the 60–67-kDa region, which suggested that the 45-kDa protein exhibited stronger cationic forms. The use of sodium dodecyl sulfate during elution improved the recovery of the 45-kDa protein, showing that detergent modified its conformation and its ionic bounds with the chromatographic matrices but it was not sufficient for good purification. Superose 6 gel filtration also failed to separate this protein from the 60–67-kDa region. The only method resulting in the positive recovery of a purified 45-kDa band from both susceptible B. fragilis strains was electroelution from SDS-PAGE. The swelling assay showed that the 45-kDa protein was a porin-like protein. From this study, we concluded that the 45-kDa protein from B. fragilis was a porin-like protein which might be involved in the antibiotic resistance of a strain in which this protein was missing.     

Characterization of DNA binding activities of over-expressedKpnI restriction endonuclease and modification methylase

The genes encoding theKpnI restriction endonuclease and methyltransferase fromKlebsiella pneumoniae have been cloned and expressed inEscherchia coli using a two plasmid strategy. The gene forKpnI methylase with its promoter was cloned and expressed in pACYC184. Even though the methylase clone is in a low copy number plasmid pACMK, high level expression of methylase is achieved. A hyper-expressing clone ofKpnI endonuclease, pETRK was engineered by cloning the R gene into the T7 expression system. This strategy resulted in over-expression ofKpnI endonuclease to about 15–30% of cellular protein. Both the enzymes were purified using a single Chromatographic step to apparent homogeneity. The yield of purified endonuclease and methylase from one liter of culture was approximately 30 and 6 mg respectively. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays show that both the enzymes are capable of binding to specific recognition sequence in the absence of any cofactors. The complexes ofKpnI methyl transferase and endonuclease with their cognate site exhibit distinctive behaviour with respect to ionic requirement.     

INCREASED PHOSPHORYLATION OF DARPP-32 BY D_1 AGONISTIC ACTION OF l-STEPHOLIDINE IN THE 6-OHDA-LESIONED RAT STRIATUM

为了进一步阐明ＳＰＤ对大鼠纹状体突触后Ｄ１受体的激动作用特性,本文应用反磷酸化在体内测定及放射配体结合方法,分别观察ＳＰＤ对６ＯＨＤＡ损毁大鼠纹状体ＤＡＲＰＰ３２体内磷酸化作用及突触后Ｄ１受体密度的影响。结果表明：皮下给予ＳＰＤ（２０,４０ｍｇ／ｋｇ,２１ｄ）,损毁侧纹状体ＤＡＲＰＰ３２体外［３２Ｐ］的掺入量较健侧下降５０％（Ｐ＜００１）。换言之,损毁侧纹状体内ＤＡＲＰＰ３２的磷酸化程度增加了。然而,ＳＰＤ使损毁导致Ｄ１受体上调的作用减弱（Ｂｍａｘ从３８５０±２６１ｆｍｏｌ／ｍｇ降至３１９７±２０１ｆｍｏｌ／ｍｇ水平）。因此,ＳＰＤ激动Ｄ１受体,使６ＯＨＤＡ损毁大鼠纹状体内ＤＡＲＰＰ３２磷酸化作用加强,而受体密度减少。这是ＳＰＤ调节脑内Ｄ１受体信号转导功能的重要机制。     

胃粘膜损伤中EB病毒感染与P53抑癌基因突变的研究

为了探讨EB病毒（EBV）感染与胃癌发生的关系,应用PCR技术对166例胃粘膜损伤标本的EBVDNA进行检测．其中66例应用银染PCR－SSCP分析技术检测了p53exon5～8突变情况,10例应用直接法原位PCR技术检测了EBV在组织中的感染情况。结果166例标本中EBV感染率为30．1％;EBV在细胞中感染大体是弥散型,主要存在于细胞核。66例标本中p53基因突变率为54．5％。对比分析,EBV阳性标本中p53基因突变率为75％（21／28）,EBV阴性标本中p53基因突变率为39．5％（15／38）。结果表明,EBV对胃粘膜组织细胞具有易感性,p53基因突变在胃粘膜病变中是一个常发事件,EBV感染与p53基因突变之间存在着高度相关性．对癌症的发生具有重要作用。     

汉坦病毒H8205部分核壳蛋白基因在E.coli中的表达

根据汉坦病毒Ｈ８２０５株ＮＰ基因的序列,设计一对引物,扩增ＮＰ前２９２个氨基酸多肽基因片段,克隆于表达载体ｐＧＥＸ３Ｘ,与载体中２６ｋＤ的谷胱苷肽巯基转移酶（ＧＳＴ）融合表达。ＳＤＳＰＡＧＥ显示表达产物（ＧＳＴＮＰ）主要以包涵体形式存在。Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔｉｎｇ表明此融合蛋白有抗原性。包涵体经分离、洗涤、溶解后,Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ６Ｂ层析纯化,用此融合蛋白作抗原,进行ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测临床ＨＦＲＳ病人标本的ＩｇＧ和ＩｇＭ,有很好的特异性和敏感性。有生物活性的汉坦病毒Ｈ８２０５ＮＰ的体外表达成功,为汉坦病毒基因工程抗原的大量制备奠定了基础,也为汉坦病毒的临床检测和流行病学调查提供了一种廉价、安全、可靠的抗原。     

MTT比色法测定促肝细胞生长物质对肝细胞生长的刺激活性

本实验建立了用简便的ＭＴＴ比色法对促肝细胞生长物质的促肝细胞增殖作用的测定方法,确定了实验的最适条件。与传统的３Ｈ ＴｄＲ掺入法进行比较的结果显示,ＭＴＴ比色法与３Ｈ ＴｄＲ掺入法测定结果基本相符,灵敏度相近,但消除了同位素的污染,是一个测定促肝细胞生长物质刺激肝细胞增殖活性的简便方法。     

Establishment and evaluation of detection methods for process-specific residual host cell protein and residual host cell DNA in biological preparation

To establish accurate detection methods of process-specific Escherichia coli residual host cell protein (HCP) and residual host cell DNA (rcDNA) in recombinant biological preparations. Taking the purification process of GLP expressed by E. coli as a specific-process model, the HCP of empty E. coli was intercepted to immunize mice and rabbits. Using IgG from immunized rabbits as the coating antibody and mouse immune serum as the second sandwich antibody, a process-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for E. coli HCP was established. Targeting the 16S gene of E. coli, ddPCR was used to obtain the absolute copies of rcDNA in samples. Non-process-specific commercial ELISA kit and the process-specific ELISA established in this study were used to detect the HCP in GLP preparation. About 62% of HCPs, which should be process-specific HCPs, could not be detected by the non-process-specific commercial ELISA kit. The sensitivity of established ELISA can reach 338 pg/mL. The rcDNA could be absolutely quantitated by ddPCR, for the copies of rcDNA in three multiple diluted samples showed a reduced gradient. While the copies of rcDNA in three multiple diluted samples could not be distinguished by the qPCR. Process-specific ELISA has high sensitivity in detecting process-specific E. coli HCP. The absolutely quantitative ddPCR has much higher accuracy than the relatively quantitative qPCR, it is a nucleic acid quantitative method that is expected to replace qPCR in the future.     

Species-dependent enantioselective pharmacokinetics of PNU-103017, a Pyrone HIV protease inhibitor

PNU-103017, 4-Cyano-N-(3-(cyclopropyl(5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-cycloocta(b) pyran-3-yl)methyl)phenyl)-benzenesulfonamide, is a selective HIV aspartyl protease inhibitor under evaluation as a potential oral treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Diseases. PNU-103017 is a racemic mixture of two enantiomers, designated PNU-103264 (R-) and PNU-103265 (S-). Stereoselective pharmacokinetics of the two enantiomers of PNU-103017 were observed in the dog, rat, and human after single and multiple dose administration of the racemate and were apparently species-dependent. Mean enantiomeric ratios of plasma concentrations (R-/S-) at each time point were greater than 1 in the dog, ranging from 1.22 to 3.06, but less than 1 in the rat and in the human, ranging from 0.44 to 0.80 and 0.23 to 0.73, respectively. A trend towards increased or decreased (farther from 1:1, R-/S-) enantiomeric ratio of plasma concentrations with time after each administration was also observed. The enantiomeric ratio remained unchanged after multiple dose administration in the rat, dog, and human although enzyme induction and increased plasma clearance were observed for both enantiomers. Chirality 10:210–216, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Preparation of fluorescence quenched libraries containing interchain disulphide bonds for studies of protein disulphide isomerases

Protein disulphide isomerase is an enzyme that catalyses disulphide redox reactions in proteins. In this paper, fluorogenic and interchain disulphide bond containing peptide libraries and suitable substrates, useful in the study of protein disulphide isomerase, are described. In order to establish the chemistry required for the generation of a split-synthesis library, two substrates containing an interchain disulphide bond, a fluoroescent probe and a quencher were synthesized. The library consists of a Cys residue flanked by randomized amino acid residues at both sides and the fluoroescent Abz group at the amino terminal. All the 20 natural amino acids except Cys were employed. The library was linked to PEGA‒beads via methionine so that the peptides could be selectively removed from the resin by cleavage with CNBr. A disulphide bridge was formed between the bead‒linked library and a peptide containing the quenching chromophore (Tyr(NO₂)) and Cys(pNpys) activated for reaction with a second thiol. The formation and cleavage of the interchain disulphide bonds in the library were monitored under a fluoroescence microscope. Substrates to investigate the properties of protein disulphide isomerase in solution were also synthesized. © 1998 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.