In vivo monitoring of serum protein cross linking in patients with diabetes mellitus. Evidence for pharmacological modification of immunoglobulin G cross links

Summary It is well known that increased cross linking of proteins due to nonenzymatic glycosylation occurs in diabetic animals and humans leading to accumulation of proteins (e.g. collagen). This in turn is strongly associated with diabetic long term complications.We developed a noninvasive method for studying in vivo cross linking and its pharmacological inhibition by L-arginine in a blind placebo controlled study with crossing over of two treatment periods of three months each.Glycemic control was assessed by determining blood glucose, HbA1c, fructosamine, and total glycosylated hemoglobin. The patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups A (n = 14) and B (n = 16). 20 healthy volunteers served as controls. Treatment consisted of two daily dosages of 1 g L-arginine free base. Cross linking of a human serum protein (IgG) was assessed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent Western blotting.Diabetic patients showed a statistically increased number of cross links compared to normal controls (Group A: 3.6 vs 2.0 bands, group B: 3.8 vs 2.0 bands). L-arginine led to a significant reduction of cross links in both treatment groups (Group A: 3.6 to 2.1 bands, group B: 3.8 to 2.5 bands).The described noninvasive method for assessing in vivo cross linking requires onlyµl amounts of serum and could serve to monitor protein cross linking in patients with diabetes mellitus.     

Expression of stress proteins (HSP-70 and HSP-90) in the rabbit urinary bladder subjected to partial outlet obstruction

Partial obstruction of the rabbit bladder outlet induces a rapid hypertrophy characterized by increased bladder mass, increased smooth muscle content, and increased collagen deposition. In addition, partial outlet obstruction induces decreased contractile responses to both field stimulation and postsynaptic receptor stimulation. Although the morphological and contractile responses to partial outlet obstruction have been well characterized, there is little information on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these changes. In a previous study, we demonstrated that one of the earliest genes to be expressed following partial outlet obstruction in rabbits was the gene expressing stress protein-70 (HSP-70). In order to further define the genetic and molecular basis of these responses, the expression of stress gene products HSP-70 and HSP-90 in rabbit urinary bladder subjected to partial outlet obstruction has been quantitatively evaluated by Western blot coupled with laser densitometry using anti-HSP-70 and-90 monoclonal antibodies. The data show that stress gene products HSP-70 and HSP-90 are constitutively expressed in control rabbit bladder tissue and transiently increased following partial outlet obstruction. Increased content of HSP-70 was detected at 6 hr after obstruction and reached a maximum (2.7-fold over the control level) at 24 hr. Increased HSP-90 was also detected at 6 hr but reached a maximum (4.5-fold over the control level) at 12 hr. By 7 day post-obstruction, the content of these two proteins returned to the control levels. This study suggests that alterations of stress gene expression resulting in increased HSP-70 and 90 may play an important role in the response of the bladder to partial outlet obstruction.     

某些肿瘤组织中血管内皮生长因子基因的表达

血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factors,VEGF)是新发现的生长因子,特异作用于血管内皮细胞,促进其增殖及新生血管的生成.已确认,它和实体肿瘤的生长有着十分密切的关系.文章报道,利用力子杂交技术分析了胃癌、肾癌、结肠癌和膀胱癌及其癌旁相应组织中VEGF mRNA的表达,结果发现,癌组织较其癌旁组织中vEGF mRNA的表达增高.SGC-7901细胞加TPA 4h后则明显促进VEGF mRNA的表达.转染含人反义N-ras₁ DNA片段重组质粒的人膀胱癌BIU-87细胞系可抑制VEGFmRNA表达.     

番茄果实中焦磷酸：果糖－6－磷酸1－磷酸转移酶的两种亚基特性的探讨

番茄果实由绿转红的过程中,焦磷酸：果糖－６－磷酸１－磷酸转移酶（ＰＦＰ）的酸型发生转化。在体外通过胰蛋白酶处理部分纯化的番茄绿果实中ＰＦＰ来探讨酶型转化的原因。蛋白免疫印渍结果证实ＰＦＰ的α－亚基比β－亚基更容易受到胰蛋白酶的降解,这也是ＰＦＰ经胰蛋白酶处理后酵解与生糖活性下降的原因。然而ＰＦＰ的亚基经尿素解离后,以胰蛋白酶处理的蛋白免疫印渍分析却表明ＰＦＰ的两种亚基均被胰蛋白酶更加有效地降解,显然α－亚基在ＰＦＰ的高级结构中有更多的酶切位点外露,而β－亚基上的酶切酶点可能位于分子的内部受到有效的保护。     

Stanniocalcin-like immunoreactivity in the corpuscles of Stannius of the bowfin Amia calva L.

Summary We used an antiserum against salmon stanniocalcin in an immunohistochemical, immunocytochemical, and Western blot analysis of bowfin (Amia calva) corpuscles of stannius. The bowfin is one of two extant holostean species with ancient ancestral links to modern-day bony fishes. The corpuscles of Stannius (white corpuscles) of the bowfin were scattered throughout much of the kidney among the adrenocortical homolog (yellow corpuscles) but could be distinguished from the adrenocortical homolog by their positive staining with both the periodic acid-Schiff reaction and a salmon stanniocalcin antiserum. Immunoreactivity was confined to cytoplamic granules and was absent when the antiserum was blocked with salmon stanniocalcin or with a crude extract of bowfin corpuscles of Stannius. When bowfin corpuscle-of-Stannius extracts were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, two closely spaced bands were evident (43–45 kDa). Staining of both bands was abolished by pre-absorption of the antiserum with salmon stanniocalcin. In comparison to salmon stanniocalcin, the reputed bowfin hormone migrated faster in gels, suggesting a smaller apparent size. The purification of bowfin stanniocalcin should yield important new information regarding the evolution of this unique calcium-regulating hormone.     

Furrows,press wheels and wetting agents improve crop emergence and yield on water repellent soils

The rates of emergence of wheat and lupin were measured in 13 field experiments on water repellent sands. Conventional sowing was compared with furrow sowing either with or without the use of a press wheel and several rates of banded wetting agent. Measurements included, severity of water repellence, plant emergence, rainfall, soil temperature at sowing and, at one site, the area of wet soil after sowing. All ameliorative techniques improved emergence, with responses being greatest when seeds were sown into dry soil. Compared with conventional sowing, furrow sowing increased wheat and lupin emergence by an overall average of 16 and 41%, respectively. The benefits were greater at the drier sites. Increases in emergence due to the use of a press wheel were sometimes small, although they always occurred (1–19%). It was visually observed that press wheel use gave more uniform seeding depth, reduced clods and ensured more accurate placement of banded wetting agent. Banded wetting agent consistently improved wheat and lupin emergence, particularly where early rains were light and press wheels were used. The wetting agent increased the cross-sectional area of wet topsoil (0–10 cm) which was positively related with increased wheat emergence (R² = 0.91). At 0.5 L ha⁻¹ of banded wetting agent, the soil along the furrow was four times wetter than without wetting agent. Wetting agent at 0.5 and 1 L ha⁻¹ (with press wheels) increased wheat emergence by 6 and 11% and lupin emergence by 13 and 11%, respectively. The high rates of banded wetting agent gave highest plant densities. Grain yield was only measured at three sites. Furrow sowing did not increase grain yield, however, press wheels use with furrow sowing increased grain yield by 30%. Banded wetting agent increased grain yield and they were positively correlated. The highest rate increased grain yields by a further 9% above press wheels and furrow sowing. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of Photoperiod Treatments on Phytochrome a Levels and Its mRNA Abundance in Photoperiod-Sensitive Genic Male-Sterile Rice Mutant and the Wild Type

The effect of photoperiod treatments on phytochrome A (Phy A) level and its mRNA abundance in the leaves of a photoperiod-sensitive genic male-sterile mutant (Nongken 58S) and its wild type ("Nongken 58') of Oryza sativa L. was investigated. The top two leaves of each rice shoot were harvested at the end of the last dark phase of 10 cycles during photoperiod-sensitive stage for fertility alteration of the mutant. Phy A was measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using rabbit polyclonal and mouse monoclonal antibodies. Compared with longday (LD) treatment,short day (SD) resulted in 38.5% increase of relative Phy A content in the mutant, only 18.5% increase in the wild type. In an extended darkness (25 h), the accumulation of Phy A also appeared to be more rapid in the mutant seedlings than in its wild type. RNA dot blot analyses with RPA3 (a cDNA clone of rice Phy A) as a probe showed:the abundances of Phy A mRNA in top leaves of Nongken 58S and "Nongken 58" were obviously higher in SD than those in ID at the end of dark phase of 5 d and 10 d photoperiod treatments. Moreover, under SD Phy A mRNA contents in Nongken 58S were more than those in "Nongken 58" during the whole photoperi- od-sensitive stage for fertility alteration. In addition, after 10 cycles of end-of-day far-red irradiations (EOD FR), the heading and flowering date of the mutant was delayed for 2 d. However, EOD FR had little or no effect on male fertility of the mutant.     

Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors in peri-implantation mouse embryos

FGF receptor (FGFR) function is essential during peri-implantation mouse development. To understand which receptors are functioning, we tested for the expression of all four FGF receptors in peri-implantation blastocysts. By RT-PCR, FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 were detected at high levels, FGFR-2 at lower levels, and FGFR-1 was detected at background levels compared to control tissues. Because FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 were detected at the highest levels, we studied these in detail. Between 3.5 days after fertilization (E3.5) and E6.0, FGFR-4 mRNA was detected ubiquitously in the peri-implantation embryo, restricted to the inner cell mass (ICM) and its derivatives and primitive endoderm by E6.0, and was not detected at E6.5. FGFR-3 mRNA was detected ubiquitously in the peri-implantation embryo with a tendency towards extraembryonic cells. We tested blastocyst outgrowths, a model for implantation, for FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 protein. FGFR-3 protein was detected in all cells early during the outgrowth. Later, FGFR-3 was detected in the extraembryonic endoderm and trophoblast giant cells (TGC), but not in the ICM. FGFR-4 protein was detected in all cells of the implanting embryo, but was restricted to the ICM/primitive endoderm in later stage outgrowths. The distribution of the receptor proteins in the blastocyst outgrowths is similar to the distribution of the mRNA detected by in situ hybridization of sections of embryos. The data suggest roles for FGFR-3 and FGFR-4 in peri-implantation development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 51:254–264, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Multicopy expression vector based on temperature-regulated lac repressor: expression of human immunodeficiency virus env gene in Escherichia coli

A new expression vector (pBB1) has been constructed for the regulated expression of genes in Escherichia coli. Based on the pUC plasmids, the pBB 1 carries lacIts allele of the lac repressor gene. This makes it possible to control expression of cloned genes by shifting the temperature from 30°C to 42°C. Thus the vector combines advantages of the pUC plasmids with convenient regulation by temperature. Expression of a fragment of HIV-1 env gene was achieved with the help of this vector and shown by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western-blot analysis.     

Gene expression and molecular characterization of a thermostable trehalose phosphorylase fromThermoanaerobacter tengcongensis

A gene encoding the trehalose phosphorylase (TreP), which reversibly catalyzes trehalose degradation and synthesis from α-glucose-1-phosphate (α-Glc-1-P) and glucose, was cloned fromThermoanaerobacter tengcongensis and successfully expressed inEscherichia coli. The overexpressed TreP, with a molecular mass of approximately 90 kDa, was determined by SDS-PAGE. It catalyzes trehalose synthesis and degradation optimally at 70°C (for 30 min), with the optimum pHs at 6.0 and 7.0, respectively. It is highly thermostable, with a 77% residual activity after incubation at 50°C for 7 h. Under the optimum reaction conditions, 50 μg crude enzyme of the TreP is able to catalyze the synthesis of trehalose up to 11.6 mmol/L from 25 mmol/L α-Glc-1-P and 125 mmol/L glucose within 30 min, while only 1.5 mmol/L out of 250 mmol/L trehalose is degraded within the same time period. Dot blotting revealed that thetreP gene inT. tengcongensis was upregulated in response to salt stress but downregulated when trehalose was supplied. Both results indicate that the dominant function of theT. tengcongensis TreP is catalyzing trehalose synthesis but not degradation. Thus it might provide a novel route for industrial production of trehalose.