Vascular peroxidase-1 is rapidly secreted, circulates in plasma, and supports dityrosine cross-linking reactions

Members of the peroxidase-cyclooxygenase superfamily catalyze biochemical reactions essential to a broad spectrum of biological processes, including host defense, thyroid hormone biosynthesis, and modification of extracellular matrix, as well as contributing to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. We recently identified a novel member of this family, vascular peroxidase-1 (VPO1), that is highly expressed in the human cardiovascular system. Its biosynthesis and enzymatic properties are largely unknown. Here, we report that VPO1 was rapidly and efficiently secreted into the extracellular space when the gene was stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Secreted VPO1 is a monomer with complex N-linked oligosaccharides and exhibits peroxidase activity. Biosynthesis of endogenous VPO1 by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) shares features exhibited by heterologous expression of recombinant VPO1 (rVPO1) in HEK cells. The proinflammatory agents lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-α induce expression of VPO1 mRNA and protein in HUVECs. Furthermore, murine and bovine sera and human plasma contain enzymatically active VPO1. rVPO1 exhibits spectral and enzymatic properties characteristic of the peroxidase-cyclooxygenase family, except with regard to its heat stability. rVPO1 catalyzes tyrosyl radical formation and promotes dityrosine cross-linking. Taken together, these data demonstrate that VPO1 is a glycosylated heme peroxidase that is actively secreted into circulating plasma by vascular endothelial cells and shares several features with other members of the peroxidase-cyclooxygenase family, including the catalysis of dityrosine formation.     

The lactoperoxidase system links anion transport to host defense in cystic fibrosis

Chronic respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis result from CFTR channel mutations but how these impair antibacterial defense is less clear. Airway host defense depends on lactoperoxidase (LPO) that requires thiocyanate (SCN-) to function and epithelia use CFTR to concentrate SCN- at the apical surface. To test whether CFTR mutations result in impaired LPO-mediated host defense, CF epithelial SCN- transport was measured. CF epithelia had significantly lower transport rates and did not accumulate SCN- in the apical compartment. The lower CF [SCN-] did not support LPO antibacterial activity. Modeling of airway LPO activity suggested that reduced transport impairs LPO-mediated defense and cannot be compensated by LPO or H2O2 upregulation.     

Neutralization of cobra venom by cocktail antiserum against venom proteins of cobra (Naja naja naja)

Naja naja venom was characterized by its immunochemical properties and electrophoretic pattern which revealed eight protein bands (14 kDa, 24 kDa, 29 kDa, 45 kDa, 48 kDa, 65 kDa, 72 kDa and 99 kDa) by SDS-PAGE in reducing condition after staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. The results showed that Naja venom presented high lethal activity. Whole venom antiserum or individual venom protein antiserum (14 kDa, 29 kDa, 65 kDa, 72 kDa and 99 kDa) of venom could recognize N. naja venom by Western blotting and ELISA, and N. naja venom presented antibody titer when assayed by ELISA. The neutralization tests showed that the polyvalent antiserum neutralized lethal activities by both in vivo and in vitro studies using mice and Vero cells. The antiserum could neutralize the lethal activities in in-vivo and antivenom administered after injection of cobra venom through intraperitoneal route in mice. The cocktail antiserum also could neutralize the cytotoxic activities in Vero cell line by MTT and Neutral red assays. The results of the present study suggest that cocktail antiserum neutralizes the lethal activities in both in vitro and in vivo models using the antiserum against cobra venom and its individual venom proteins serum produced in rabbits.     

Crystal structure of lactoperoxidase at 2.4 A resolution

Lactoperoxidase (LPO) is a member of the mammalian peroxidase superfamily. It catalyzes the oxidation of thiocyanate and halides. Freshly isolated and purified samples of caprine LPO were saturated with ammonium iodide and crystallized using 20% polyethylene glycol 3350 in a hanging drop vapor diffusion setup. The structure has been determined using X-ray crystallographic method and refined to R_cryst and R_free factors of 0.196 and 0.203, respectively. The structure determination revealed an unexpected phosphorylation of Ser198 in LPO, which is also confirmed by anti-phosphoserine antibody binding studies. The structure is also notable for observing densities for glycan chains at all the four potential glycosylation sites. Caprine LPO consists of a single polypeptide chain of 595 amino acid residues and folds into an oval-shaped structure. The structure contains 20 well-defined α-helices of varying lengths including a helix, H_2a, unique to LPO, and two short antiparallel β-strands. The structure confirms that the heme group is covalently linked to the protein through two ester linkages involving carboxylic groups of Glu258 and Asp108 and modified methyl groups of pyrrole rings A and C, respectively. The heme moiety is slightly distorted from planarity, but pyrrole ring B is distorted considerably. However, an iron atom is displaced only by 0.1 Å from the plane of the heme group toward the proximal site. The substrate diffusing channel in LPO is cylindrical in shape with a diameter of approximately 6 Å. Two histidine residues and six buried water molecules are connected through a hydrogen-bonded chain from the distal heme cavity to the surface of protein molecule and seemingly form the basis of proton relay for catalytic action. Ten iodide ions have been observed in the structure. Out of these, only one iodide ion is located in the distal heme cavity and is hydrogen bonded to the water molecule W1. W1 is also hydrogen bonded to the heme iron as well as to distal His109. The structure contains a calcium ion that is coordinated to seven oxygen atoms and forms a typical pentagonal bipyramidal coordination geometry.     

烟草环斑病毒外壳蛋白基因的原核表达及抗血清的制备

烟草环斑病毒(Tobaccoringspotvirus,TRSV)是我国二类进境检疫危险性有害生物,对农业生产危害较大。本研究依据TRSV外壳蛋白基因cp序列设计合成了2条引物,通过RT-PCR扩增得到长约1500bp的目的片段。将目的片段与质粒pET-22b( )连接,构建了含TRSVcp基因的融合蛋白原核表达载体pETRSV-CP。序列分析表明,TRSV-SD1的cp基因全长1548bp,编码515个氨基酸与GenBank中其它TRSV分离物cp基因相比,核苷酸及推导的氨基酸序列同源性为90.7%~94.6%。将pETRSV-CP转入大肠杆菌,诱导表达。SDS-PAGE结果显示,表达的TRSVCP融合蛋白的相对分子质量约为58kDa。以此融合蛋白制备的抗血清的效价为1/1024,抗血清与TRSV具有良好的特异性反应。     

The inhibition effects of some natural products on lactoperoxidase purified from bovine milk

In this study, inhibition profiles of some natural products, which are digoxin, L‐Dopa, dopamine, isoliquiritigenin, and 1,1,2,2‐tetrakis(p‐hydroxyphenyl)ethane (Tetrakis), were investigated against bovine lactoperoxidase (LPO) enzyme. Digoxin, L‐Dopa, and dopamine are active ingredients of some drugs, which have important functions in our body, especially in cases of heart failure. Isoliquiritigenin and tetrakis are types of natural phenolic compounds, which play an important role in cancer prevention and treatment. LPO enzyme was purified from bovine milk using sepharose‐4B‐l ‐tyrosine sulfonamide affinity column chromatography. LPO is responsible for the nonimmune biological defense system and has antibacterial activity so selection of these active substances is important. The inhibition studies are performed with the ABTS substrate. Bovine LPO enzyme was effectively inhibited by phenolic molecules. K_i values of these natural products were found as 0.20 ± 0.09, 0.22 ± 0.17, 0.49 ± 0.11, 0.49 ± 0.27, and 1.20 ± 0.25 μM, respectively. Tetrakis and digoxin exhibited noncompetitive inhibition, and other molecules showed competitive inhibition.     

盐穗木HcDMC1的原核表达和抗血清的制备

DMC1是减数分裂过程中同源染色体配对和重组修复所必需的减数分裂特异蛋白。根据盐胁迫下盐穗木转录组数据库,克隆获得的盐穗木DNA损伤修复基因命名为HcDMC1。为深入分析盐穗木HcDMC1基因的耐盐功能,通过原核表达获得盐穗木HcDMC1的融合蛋白,用于免疫小鼠制备特异性的HcDMC1抗血清。结果表明,利用pET30a-HcDMC1能够在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中诱导表达融合蛋白His-HcDMC1,纯化融合蛋白His-HcDMC1的含量为1.0 mg·mL^-1。每次每只小鼠免疫接种50 μg融合蛋白,三次免疫接种后进行抗体效价及特异性检测。ELISA检测抗血清滴度约为1：400 000,Western Blot检测证明了抗血清的特异性。本研究制备的小鼠抗血清能够为盐穗木HcDMC1蛋白的功能鉴定和免疫检测提供实验材料。     

棉铃虫中肠钙粘蛋白、氨肽酶N及碱性磷酸酯酶的抗血清对Cry1Ac和Cry2Aa毒力的影响

【目的】Cry1A和Cry2A类Bt蛋白通过特异性地与昆虫中肠上的受体蛋白结合而发挥杀虫作用,现已广泛应用于转基因抗虫作物。本研究旨在进一步明确Cry2A类蛋白的作用机制和Cry1A受体蛋白在Cry2A发挥毒力中的作用。【方法】本研究首先提取了棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera的BBMV,制备了钙粘蛋白(CAD)、氨肽酶N(APN)和碱性磷酸酯酶(ALP)3种受体蛋白的抗体和抗血清;然后,利用Western blot检测BBMV上这3种受体蛋白后,利用抗体封闭技术比较了敏感棉铃虫和Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫(BtR)中3种受体蛋白的抗血清对Cry1Ac和Cry2Aa毒力的影响。【结果】对敏感品系棉铃虫,这3种已知的Cry1Ac受体蛋白抗血清显著地降低了Cry1Ac和Cry2Aa的毒力。其中APN抗血清对Cry1Ac毒力的影响最大,棉铃虫幼虫的死亡率降低了84.44%;ALP抗血清对Cry2Aa的毒力影响最大,棉铃虫幼虫死亡率比对照降低了71.04%。Cry1Ac对Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫(BtR)的毒力显著降低,Cry2Aa的毒性也减弱。在Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫(BtR)中,3种受体抗血清对Cry1Ac的影响比在敏感棉铃虫中的影响小,尤其是CAD和APN抗血清对Cry1Ac毒力的抑制率显著低于在敏感棉铃虫中的抑制作用;CAD和ALP抗血清对Cry2Aa毒力的影响与在敏感棉铃虫中的影响差异不显著,但APN抗血清可以显著降低Cry2Aa对Cry1Ac抗性棉铃虫(BtR)的毒力。【结论】棉铃虫CAD,APN和ALP不仅参与了Cry1Ac的杀虫过程,也对Cry2Aa毒力有一定的影响,而且这3种蛋白可能与棉铃虫对Cry1Ac和Cry2Aa产生抗性及交互抗性相关。     

三种菜豆凝集素的分离纯化及其与黑皮扁豆凝集素抗血清的免疫交叉反应

利用Tris-HCl缓冲液浸提、硫酸铵分级沉淀、离子交换和分子筛层析,分别从白花菜豆(Phaseolus albiflora L.var)、紫花菜豆(Phaseolus purpurea L.var)、红花菜豆(Phaseolus coccineus L.var)种子中纯化得到3种菜豆凝集素(PAL,白花菜豆凝集素;PPL,紫花菜豆凝集素;PCL,红花菜豆凝集素).纯化的3种菜豆凝集素经SDS-PAGE电泳检测都只有一个分子量约为32 kD的亚基,它们都能与黑皮扁豆凝集素抗血清发生免疫交叉反应.     

前列腺素F（PGF）抗血清对小鼠胚泡着床的影响

本文试图利用自制的PGP抗血清,对小鼠子宫局部进行注射,以观察其对胚泡着床的影响。结果表明,于妊娠第3天(孕卵在输卵管阶段)单侧子宫角注射PGF抗血清,对胚泡着床无影响。而妊娠第4天(胚泡在子宫阶段〕单侧或双侧子宫角注射PGF抗血清,对胚泡着床均有明显的抑制作用。这一结果提示小鼠胚泡着床中PGF起着重要的作用。