The inhibitory effects of Escherichia coli maltose binding protein on β-amyloid aggregation and cytotoxicity

The aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide from its monomeric to its fibrillar form importantly contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we investigated the effects of Escherichia coli maltose binding protein (MBP), which has been previously used as a fusion protein, on Aβ42 fibrillization, in order to improve understanding of the self-assembly process and the cytotoxic mechanism of Aβ42. MBP, at a sub-stoichiometric ratio with respect to Aβ42, was found to have chaperone-like inhibitory effects on β-sheet fibril formation, due to the accumulation of Aβ42 aggregates by sequestration of active Aβ42 species as Aβ42-MBP complexes. Furthermore, MBP increased the lag time of Aβ42 polymerization, decreased the growth rate of fibril extension, and suppressed Aβ42 mediated toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. It appears that MBP decreases the active concentration of Aβ42 by sequestering it as Aβ42-MBP complex, and that this sequestration suppresses ongoing nucleation and retards the growth rate of Aβ42 species required for fibril formation. We speculate that inhibition of the growth rate of potent Aβ42 species by MBP suppresses Aβ42-mediated toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells.     

Complete functional rescue of the ABCA1-/- mouse by human BAC transgenesis

Humanized mouse models are useful tools to explore the functional and regulatory differences between human and murine orthologous genes. We have combined a bioinformatics approach and an in vivo approach to assess the functional and regulatory differences between the human and mouse ABCA1 genes. Computational analysis identified significant differences in potential regulatory sites between the human and mouse genes. The effect of these differences was assessed in vivo, using a bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic humanized ABCA1 mouse model that expresses the human gene in the absence of mouse ABCA1. Humanized mice expressed human ABCA1 protein at levels similar to wild-type mice and fully compensated for cholesterol efflux activity and lipid levels seen in ABCA1-deficient mice. Liver X receptor agonist administration resulted in significant increases in HDL values associated with parallel increases in the hepatic ABCA1 protein and mRNA levels in the humanized ABCA1 mice, as seen in the wild-type animals. Our studies indicate that despite differences in potential regulatory regions, the human ABCA1 gene is able to functionally fully compensate for the mouse gene. Our humanized ABCA1 mice can serve as a useful model system for functional analysis of the human ABCA1 gene in vivo and can be used for the generation of potential new therapeutics that target HDL metabolism.     

Regulation of oxygen affinity by quaternary enhancement: Does hemoglobin ypsilanti represent an allosteric intermediate?

Recent crystallographic studies on the mutant human hemoglobin Ypsilanti (beta 99 Asp-->Tyr) have revealed a previously unknown quaternary structure called "quaternary Y" and suggested that the new structure may represent an important intermediate in the cooperative oxygenation pathway of normal hemoglobin. Here we measure the oxygenation and subunit assembly properties of hemoglobin Ypsilanti and five additional beta 99 mutants (Asp beta 99-->Val, Gly, Asn, Ala, His) to test for consistency between their energetics and those of the intermediate species of normal hemoglobin. Overall regulation of oxygen affinity in hemoglobin Ypsilanti is found to originate entirely from 2.6 kcal of quaternary enhancement, such that the tetramer oxygenation affinity is 85-fold higher than for binding to the dissociated dimers. Equal partitioning of this regulatory energy among the four tetrameric binding steps (0.65 kcal per oxygen) leads to a noncooperative isotherm with extremely high affinity (pmedian = .14 torr). Temperature and pH studies of dimer-tetramer assembly and sulfhydryl reaction kinetics suggest that oxygenation-dependent structural changes in hemoglobin Ypsilanti are small. These properties are quite different from the recently characterized allosteric intermediate, which has two ligands bound on the same side of the alpha 1 beta 2 interface (see ref. 1 for review). The combined results do, however, support the view that quaternary Y may represent the intermediate cooperativity state of normal hemoglobin that binds the last oxygen.     

斜纹夜蛾3种SlitPBPs的组织表达模式分析

性信息素结合蛋白(pheromone binding proteins,PBPs)能够与性信息素分子结合,从而启动昆虫的寻偶及交配行为。本研究采用半定量RT-PCR技术分别对斜纹夜蛾3种性信息素结合蛋白SlitPBP1、SlitPBP2和SlitPBP3基因在雌、雄虫不同组织的基因表达模式进行了比较分析。组织表达模式结果表明,SlitPBP1基因只在雌、雄虫触角和雌虫前足中表达而在其他组织中无表达;SlitPBP2基因在雌虫的触角、喙、前足、中足、后足、翅膀和雄虫的触角、喙、前足、翅膀中均有表达,且在同一部位,SlitPBP2基因在雌虫的表达量均高于雄虫相应部位的表达量;除雌、雄虫的胸部外,SlitPBP3在雌、雄虫的触角、喙、前足、中足、后足、腹部和翅膀中均有较高水平的表达。可见,SlitPBP1、SlitPBP2和SlitPBP3基因在斜纹夜蛾不同组织的表达模式各不相同。本研究结果可为深入研究不同SlitPBPs蛋白在斜纹夜蛾生长发育过程中的不同生理功能提供科学参考。     

TMEM126A is a mitochondrial located mRNA (MLR) protein of the mitochondrial inner membrane

Background

Hereditary optic neuropathies (HONs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that affect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and axons that form the optic nerve. Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and the autosomal dominant optic atrophy related to OPA1 mutations are the most common forms. Nonsyndromic autosomal recessive optic neuropathies are rare and their existence has been long debated. We recently identified the first gene responsible for these conditions, TMEM126A. This gene is highly expressed in retinal cellular compartments enriched in mitochondria and supposed to encode a mitochondrial transmembrane protein of unknown function.

Methods

A specific polyclonal antibody targeting the TMEM126A protein has been generated. Quantitative fluorescent in situ hybridization, cellular fractionation, mitochondrial membrane association study, mitochondrial sub compartmentalization analysis by both proteolysis assays and transmission electron microscopy, and expression analysis of truncated TMEM126A constructs by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy were carried out.

Results

TMEM126A mRNAs are strongly enriched in the vicinity of mitochondria and encode an inner mitochondrial membrane associated cristae protein. Moreover, the second transmembrane domain of TMEM126A is required for its mitochondrial localization.

Conclusions

TMEM126A is a mitochondrial located mRNA (MLR) that may be translated in the mitochondrial surface and the protein is subsequently imported to the inner membrane. These data constitute the first step toward a better understanding of the mechanism of action of TMEM126A in RGCs and support the importance of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of HON.

General significance

Local translation of nuclearly encoded mitochondrial mRNAs might be a mechanism for rapid onsite supply of mitochondrial membrane proteins.     

胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-1启动子的克隆与序列分析

用酚氯仿抽提法提取SD大鼠的肝脏基因组DNA,PCR扩增胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-1（IGFBP-1）启动子并克隆至pUC118载体。从含IGFBP-1启动子的质粒中酶切分离出IGFBP-1启动子并测序。PCR扩增出420bp的目的DNA片段,与文献报道的IGFBP-1启动子DNA大小一致。经正、反两方向序列分析显示,克隆的基因序列和GenBank数据库中的IGFBP-1启动子基因序列一致。以上结果表明克隆成功了IGFBP-1启动子基因,为构建具双向调节的胰岛素分泌调控基因质粒奠定了基础。     

Porcine gastric mucin binds to recombinant norovirus particles and competitively inhibits their binding to histo-blood group antigens and Caco-2 cells

AIMS: To determine if human noroviruses (NV) bind to histo-blood group antigens (HBGA) from pig gastric mucosa. METHODS AND RESULTS: An assay was developed to measure the inhibition of binding of recombinant norovirus-like particles (rNVLP) to HBGA in human saliva by porcine gastric mucin (PGM). The binding of rNVLP to HBGA could be inhibited by PGM in a dose-dependent pattern. Also, rNVLP could be captured effectively by PGM coated directly on plates and was detected by binding of polyclonal antibodies against rNVLP. Similarly, the binding of rNVLP to PGM could be inhibited effectively by HBGA in human saliva, and by Lewis b and Lewis d synthetic oligosaccharides (OS), but not inhibited effectively by an H3 OS or by purified bovine submaxillary gland mucin. Preincubation of rNVLPs with PGM completely inhibited their binding to human Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: PGM binds effectively to rNVLPs and competitively inhibits rNVLPs binding to human HBGA and Caco-2 cells. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report of the binding of glycoproteins from animal gastric mucosa to human NVs. This study highlights the importance of further characterizing the NV incidence and infections in nonhuman animal hosts and the possibility that NV is a zoonotic disease.     

猪肠毒素源性大肠杆菌K88ac粘附抗原的核苷酸序列分析

 本文对国内流行的猪肠毒素源性大肠杆菌K88ac抗原的结构基因的核苷酸序列进行了测定。该基因由849对核苷酸组成,编码了283个氨基酸的蛋白亚单位及21个氨基酸的信号肽。与国外报道的K88ac序列的不同是我们发现一个碱基的点突变,导致在抗原决定簇内一个氨基酸的改变。从核苷酸序列推导出的氨基酸序列与另两种亚型进行了比较。     

应用组织芯片技术研究MMP-9和PCNA在宫颈癌组织中的表达及其意义

目的探讨MMP-9和PCNA在宫颈癌组织中的联合表达、相关性及其临床意义。方法采用组织芯片和免疫组化技术检测143例宫颈浸润癌(ICC)、20例癌旁正常宫颈上皮(NCE)中MMP-9和PCNA的表达,统计分析MMP-9、PCNA表达与病理分级、临床分期和淋巴结转移等临床病理因素的关系。结果 MMP-9、PCNA在宫颈癌组织中的阳性率分别为89.5%(128/143)和93.7%(134/143),较正常宫颈组织中的阳性率40.0%(8/20)和15.0%(3/20)显著增高(P=0.000)。MMP-9的表达与病理分级(r=0.342,P=0.000)、淋巴结转移(r=0.197,P=0.018)和间质浸润深度(r=0.203,P=0.015)呈正相关。PCNA表达与临床分期(r=0.228,P=0.006)、病理分级(r=0.330,P=0.000)呈正相关。MMP-9和PCNA在宫颈癌组织中的表达强度呈正相关(r=0.228,P=0.006),二者表达一致的比例高达87.41%(125/143)。结论MMP-9和PCNA在宫颈癌中的异常表达与肿瘤的分化、侵袭和发展密切相关,联合检测二者的表达对于进一步理解宫颈癌的生物学行为和判断预后有一定价值。