Characterization of an equine mannose-binding lectin and its roles in disease

The mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a pattern recognition serum protein, participates in the innate immune system of mammals as an opsonin. In humans, MBL plays a key role in first-line host defense against infection during the lag period prior to the development of a specific immune response. MBL also activates complement via the lectin pathway that requires a MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2). Homologues of human MBL (hMBL) have been identified in a variety of mammals, fish, and primitive animals such as ascidians. In this study, we report that equine MBL (eMBL) has properties that are similar to hMBL. In addition, we found low levels of MBL:MASP activity in sick horses compared to healthy horses. These results suggest that eMBL is involved in the immune response of the horse and that low MBL:MASP activity could be used to monitor immune function and clinical outcome.     

Identification and biochemical characterization of Leishmania strains isolated in Peru, Mexico, and Spain

Eight Leishmania promastigotes were isolated from different geographical areas: three (LP1, LP2, and LP3) from the provincial department La Libertad and the fourth (LP4) from the department of Cajamarca (northern Peru); another three (LM1, LM2, and LM3) in the province of Campeche (Mexico); and the last (LS1) from a clinical case of a dog in Madrid (Spain). The isolates were characterized by carbohydrate cell-surface residues using agglutinations with four purified lectins, by isoenzyme analysis using different isoenzymes, by analysis of kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism using four different restriction endonucleases and by the final metabolite patterns after in vitro culture. These isolates were compared with four reference strains and typified as: Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani, two strains of L. (L.) infantum, and one species of L. (Viania) peruviana. According to our results and the statistical study, the Peruvian isolates represent three different strains: one would be L. (V.) peruviana, another the strain isolated in Cajamarca (LP4) and the third would include the three strains from the department of La Libertad (LP1, LP2, and LP3), these latter three isolates being phylogenetically closer to the reference strain L. (L.) donovani. Meanwhile, the three isolates from Mexico form a group with close phylogenetic relationships to each other. The isolate from Spain belongs to the species L. (L.) infantum. Thus, a close correlation was drawn between the identity of each strain and its geographical origin.     

Cell surface carbohydrates of preimplantation embryos as assessed by lectin binding

Preimplantation embryos were obtained from the uteri and oviducts of 2 strains of mice, Swiss CD-1 and B₆ CBA. After removal of the zona pellucida by treatment with pronase, FITC-lectins were bound to the embryonic cell surfaces at either 4°C or 37°C. Both morula and blastocyst stage embryos bound the following lectins, FITC-ConA, FITC-WGA, FITC-RCA_II and FITC-RCA_I. No difference in binding was observed between the morula stage and the blastocyst stage within each mouse strain for each specific lectin. However B₆ CBA embryos bound less FITC-ConA and FITC-WGA than the corresponding Swiss CD-1 embryos. The topographical arrangement of the lectin receptors was observed to differ between 4°C and 37°C for FITC-Con A, FITC-RCA_II, and FITC-RCA_I. While lectins bound at 4°C showed a pattern of continuous labeling, the same lectin at 37°C showed aggregation of lectin receptors into patches indicating lateral mobility of these receptors within the embryonic cell membranes. In contrast FITC-WGA bound at 4°C and 37°C demonstrated continuous labeling of embryos at both temperatures. FITC-fucose binding protein did not bind to Swiss CD-1 embryos. The invasiveness of trophoblastic cells of mouse blastocysts was studied by culturing isolated embryos without prior enzyme treatment on reconstituted collagen gels. After 4 days in BME containing only glutamine and bovine serum albumin as supplements, the embryos shed their zona pellucida and implanted into the collagen gel as indicated by zones of lysis in proximity to the embryonic cells when analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.     

Fabrication of hierarchical hybrid structures using bio-enabled layer-by-layer self-assembly

Development of versatile and flexible assembly systems for fabrication of functional hybrid nanomaterials with well-defined hierarchical and spatial organization is of a significant importance in practical nanobiotechnology applications. Here we demonstrate a bio-enabled self-assembly technique for fabrication of multi-layered protein and nanometallic assemblies utilizing a modular gold-binding (AuBP1) fusion tag. To accomplish the bottom-up assembly we first genetically fused the AuBP1 peptide sequence to the C'-terminus of maltose-binding protein (MBP) using two different linkers to produce MBP-AuBP1 hetero-functional constructs. Using various spectroscopic techniques, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), we verified the exceptional binding and self-assembly characteristics of AuBP1 peptide. The AuBP1 peptide tag can direct the organization of recombinant MBP protein on various gold surfaces through an efficient control of the organic-inorganic interface at the molecular level. Furthermore using a combination of soft-lithography, self-assembly techniques and advanced AuBP1 peptide tag technology, we produced spatially and hierarchically controlled protein multi-layered assemblies on gold nanoparticle arrays with high molecular packing density and pattering efficiency in simple, reproducible steps. This model system offers layer-by-layer assembly capability based on specific AuBP1 peptide tag and constitutes novel biological routes for biofabrication of various protein arrays, plasmon-active nanometallic assemblies and devices with controlled organization, packing density and architecture.     

Soluble and filamentous proteins in Arabidopsis sieve elements

Phloem sieve elements are highly differentiated cells involved in the long-distance transport of photoassimilates. These cells contain both aggregated phloem-proteins (P-proteins) and soluble proteins, which are also translocated by mass flow. We used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to carry out a proteomic survey of the phloem exudate of Arabidopsis thaliana, collected by the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-facilitated method. We identified 287 proteins, a large proportion of which were enzymes involved in the metabolic precursor generation and amino acid synthesis, suggesting that sieve tubes display high levels of metabolic activity. RNA-binding proteins, defence proteins and lectins were also found. No putative P-proteins were detected in the EDTA-exudate fraction, indicating a lack of long-distance translocation of such proteins in Arabidopsis. In parallel, we investigated the organization of P-proteins, by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and the localization of the phloem lectin PP2, a putative P-protein component, by immunolocalization with antibodies against PP2-A1. Transmission electron microscopy observations of P-proteins revealed bundles of filaments resembling strings of beads. PP2-A1 was found weakly associated with these structures in the sieve elements and bound to plastids. These observations suggest that PP2-A1 is anchored to P-proteins and organelles rather than being a structural component of P-proteins.     

A lectin-coupled, targeted proteomic mass spectrometry (MRM MS) platform for identification of multiple liver cancer biomarkers in human plasma

Aberrantly glycosylated proteins related to liver cancer progression were captured with specific lectin and identified from human plasma by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry as multiple biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The lectin fractionation for fucosylated protein glycoforms in human plasma was conducted with a fucose-specific aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL). Following tryptic digestion of the lectin-captured fraction, plasma samples from 30 control cases (including 10 healthy, 10 hepatitis B virus [HBV], and 10 cirrhosis cases) and 10 HCC cases were quantitatively analyzed by MRM to identify which glycoproteins are viable HCC biomarkers. A1AG1, AACT, A1AT, and CERU were found to be potent biomarkers to differentiate HCC plasma from control plasmas. The AUROC generated independently from these four biomarker candidates ranged from 0.73 to 0.92. However, the lectin-coupled MRM assay with multiple combinations of biomarker candidates is superior statistically to those generated from the individual candidates with AUROC more than 0.95, which can be an alternative to the immunoassay inevitably requiring tedious development of multiple antibodies against biomarker candidates to be verified. Eventually the lectin-coupled, targeted proteomic mass spectrometry (MRM MS) platform was found to be efficient to identify multiple biomarkers from human plasma according to cancer progression.     

植物凝集素类受体激酶的研究进展

植物凝集素类受体激酶是定位在细胞膜上的蛋白质,其结构从胞外至胞内依次是氨基端信号肽、配体结合域、单通道跨膜域和胞内丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶域.目前对植物凝集素类受体激酶的功能、信号转导和配体识别等方面的研究已成为该领域的重点.对近年来国内外有关植物凝集素类受体激酶的结构、分类及其在植物抗病防御和抗逆反应中的作用研究进行综述,为今后进一步深入研究植物凝集素类受体激酶的生理生化功能及应用提供参考.     

酪胺信号放大-量子点标记银染增强的基因芯片可视化检测方法的建立

目的:建立一种酪胺信号放大-量子点标记银染增强的基因芯片可视化检测方法,提高基因芯片检测的灵敏度。方法:待测靶基因与固定在玻片上的探针杂交,依次加入链霉亲和素标记的辣根过氧化物酶、生物素标记的酪胺及链霉亲和素标记的量子点,37℃孵育,然后加入银增强试剂显色,最后用可视化生物芯片扫描仪扫描并记录结果;以牛布鲁菌210105株为检测对象,以酪胺信号放大-荧光素Cy3(TSA-Cy3)检测法为对照方法,测定酪胺信号放大-量子点标记银染增强(TSA-QDS)检测法的灵敏度。结果:确定了基因芯片量子点标记银染增强可视化检测方法的检测流程,优化了检测条件,并考察了检测灵敏度。优化的检测条件为:酪胺-生物素稀释比例为1∶4000,链酶亲和素标记的量子点稀释比例为1∶50,37℃孵育时间为25~30 min,银染增强时间为6~7 min。检测牛布鲁菌的灵敏度为103CFU/mL。结论:该方法实现了基因芯片高灵敏度可视化检测,其灵敏度与荧光法相当,并且有可视化的优势。     

Structural basis of the preferential binding for globo-series glycosphingolipids displayed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin I

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa contains several carbohydrate-binding proteins, among which is the P. aeruginosa lectin I (PA-IL), which displays affinity for alpha-galactosylated glycans. Glycan arrays were screened and demonstrated stronger binding of PA-IL toward alphaGal1-4betaGal-terminating structures and weaker binding to alphaGal1-3betaGal ones in order to determine which human glycoconjugates could play a role in the carbohydrate-mediated adhesion of the bacteria. This was confirmed in vivo by testing the binding of the lectin to Burkitt lymphoma cells that present large amounts of globotriaosylceramide antigen Gb3/CD77/P(k). Trisaccharide moieties of Gb3 (alphaGal1-4betaGal1-4Glc) and isoglobotriaosylceramide (alphaGal1-3betaGal1-4Glc) were tested by titration microcalorimetry, and both displayed similar affinity to PA-IL in solution. The crystal structure of PA-IL complexed to alphaGal1-3betaGal1-4Glc trisaccharide has been solved at 1.9-A resolution and revealed how the second galactose residue makes specific contacts with the protein surface. Molecular modeling studies were performed in order to compare the binding mode of PA-IL toward alphaGal1-3Gal with that toward alphaGal1-4Gal. Docking studies demonstrated that alphaGal1-4Gal creates another network of contacts for achieving a very similar affinity, and 10-ns molecular dynamics in explicit water allowed for analyzing the flexibility of each disaccharide ligand in the protein binding site. The higher affinity observed for binding to Gb3 epitope, both in vivo and on glycan array, is likely related to the presentation effect of the oligosaccharide on a surface, since only the Gb3 glycosphingolipid geometry is fully compatible with parallel insertion of neighboring trisaccharide heads in two binding sites of the same tetramer of PA-IL.