Interaction of the mouse and bovine myelin basic proteins and two cleavage fragments with anionic detergents

The binding of deoxycholate and dodecyl sulfate to the mouse and bovine myelin basic proteins and two peptide fragments, obtained by cleavage of the bovine basic protein at its single tryptophan residue, was examined. Complete equilibrium binding isotherms for both detergents were obtained by examining their binding to each of the polypeptides immobilized on agarose. The bulk of the binding of dodecyl sulfate was found to be highly cooperative, and at saturation all four polypeptides bound far more detergent than globular, water-soluble proteins. The sum of the dodecyl sulfate bound by each of the two bovine basic protein cleavage fragments was almost twice that bound by the intact protein at saturation, suggesting that cleavage of the bovine basic protein exposes sites for additional binding of dodecyl sulfate. At pH values below pH 8.0, an additional cooperative transition was observed below the critical micelle concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate in the binding isotherms of all four polypeptides. The midpoint of this transition corresponded to an apparent pK of approximately 5.5; however, the destruction of 90% of the histidine residues in the bovine basic protein had no effect on this transition. At pH 9.2 and moderate ionic strength (I = 0.1), the bulk of the binding of deoxycholate to the mouse and bovine basic proteins occurred at and above the critical micelle concentration of the detergent; and saturation values of deoxycholate binding to these two proteins were considerably higher than that reported for globular, water-soluble proteins. In marked contrast to the results with dodecyl sulfate, neither cleavage fragment was observed to bind deoxycholate. The results suggest that the higher ordered structure of the bovine basic protein may play an important role in the binding of anionic amphiphiles to the protein.     

IN VITRO PROTEIN SYNTHESIS ON FREE POLYRIBOSOMES ISOLATED FROM THE DEVELOPING MOUSE BRAIN

Abstract— Free polyribosomes were isolated at three ages (newborn, 2 weeks and 8 weeks) from the developing mouse brain. All three preparations were found to be highly polyribosomal in nature and were essentially identical with respect to their chemical composition and sedimentation properties. An estimate of the sedimentation coefficients of the first seven members of these polysome preparations yielded S °_20,w values of 76, 114, 146, 174, 196, 217 and 236. All three preparations were found to be very active when employed in in vitro protein synthesizing systems. An age-dependent response to the concentration of K⁺ was observed in the activities of the in vitro protein synthesizing systems. Optical K⁺ concentrations for the 0, 2 and 8 week old systems were 30, 50 and 65 mm, respectively. No such age dependence was observed when NH⁺₄ was used as the sole monovalent cation, with all systems exhibiting maximal activity at 50mm-NH⁺₄. The highest in uitro activities were consistently observed (at all three ages) when NNH⁺₄ was employed as the sole monovalent cation. Under optimal conditions, the newborn in vitro protein synthesizing system was observed to be approx 40% as active as either the 2 week or the 8 week systems which were equivalent in activity. The reduced activity of the newborn system appeared to be a function of both the polyribosomal and pH 5 enzyme preparations.     

A regional study of developing rat brain: The accumulation and distribution of proteolipid proteins

The accumulation and distribution of proteolipid proteins in rat brain and selected brain regions (cerebellum, cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and hippocampus) were studied during early postnatal development. In whole brain an eightfold increase of proteolipid was observed between ten and 33 days after birth. This was reflected in the separate regions examined where the proteolipid protein content increased six- to ten-fold during the same period. The basal ganglia and cerebral cortex contributed the greatest amount to the total proteolipid present. However, at 28–33 days the greatest concentration (mg/g tissue) was observed in the basal ganglia and hippocampus. When the proteolipid protein preparations were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, distinctive, heterogeneous patterns for each brain region were obtained. Proteolipid from basal ganglia (the region richest in white matter) consisted primarily of two major protein bands with apparent molecular weights of approximately 21,500 and 26,000. Both of these bands dramatically increased in quantity during myelination, and the larger protein coelectrophoresed with isolated myelin proteolipid protein. Both bands were also found present in proteolipid preparations from the other brain regions but in varying amounts relative to the total. The data suggest that the increase in proteolipid observed during this developmental period was due in large measure to the accumulation of myelin-specific proteolipids, but also that a significant proportion of the increase was due to the accumulation of nonmyelin components.     

Trophoblast–endothelium signaling involves angiogenesis and apoptosis in a dynamic bioprinted placenta model

Trophoblast invasion and remodeling of the maternal spiral arteries are required for pregnancy success. Aberrant endothelium–trophoblast crosstalk may lead to preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that has serious effects on both the mother and the baby. However, our understanding of the mechanisms involved in this pathology remains elementary because the current in vitro models cannot describe trophoblast–endothelium interactions under dynamic culture. In this study, we developed a dynamic three-dimensional (3D) placenta model by bioprinting trophoblasts and an endothelialized lumen in a perfusion bioreactor. We found the 3D printed perfusion bioreactor system significantly augmented responses of endothelial cells by encouraging network formations and expressions of angiogenic markers, cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Bioprinting favored colocalization of trophoblasts with endothelial cells, similar to in vivo observations. Additional analysis revealed that trophoblasts reduced the angiogenic responses by reducing network formation and motility rates while inducing apoptosis of endothelial cells. Moreover, the presence of endothelial cells appeared to inhibit trophoblast invasion rates. These results clearly demonstrated the utility and potential of bioprinting and perfusion bioreactor system to model trophoblast–endothelium interactions in vitro. Our bioprinted placenta model represents a crucial step to develop advanced research approach that will expand our understanding and treatment options of preeclampsia and other pregnancy-related pathologies.     

Bioprospecting the African Renaissance: The new value of <Emphasis Type="Italic">muthi</Emphasis> in South Africa

This article gives an overview of anthropological research on bioprospecting in general and of available literature related to bioprospecting particularly in South Africa. It points out how new insights on value regimes concerning plant-based medicines may be gained through further research and is meant to contribute to a critical discussion about the ethics of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). In South Africa, traditional healers, plant gatherers, petty traders, researchers and private investors are assembled around the issues of standardization and commercialization of knowledge about plants. This coincides with a nation-building project which promotes the revitalization of local knowledge within the so called African Renaissance. A social science analysis of the transformation of so called Traditional Medicine (TM) may shed light onto this renaissance by tracing social arenas in which different regimes of value are brought into conflict. When medicinal plants turn into assets in a national and global economy, they seem to be manipulated and transformed in relation to their capacity to promote health, their market value, and their potential to construct new ethics of development. In this context, the translation of socially and culturally situated local knowledge about muthi into global pharmaceuticals creates new forms of agency as well as new power differentials between the different actors involved.     

Influenza H5N1 virus infection of polarized human alveolar epithelial cells and lung microvascular endothelial cells

Background

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus is entrenched in poultry in Asia and Africa and continues to infect humans zoonotically causing acute respiratory disease syndrome and death. There is evidence that the virus may sometimes spread beyond respiratory tract to cause disseminated infection. The primary target cell for HPAI H5N1 virus in human lung is the alveolar epithelial cell. Alveolar epithelium and its adjacent lung microvascular endothelium form host barriers to the initiation of infection and dissemination of influenza H5N1 infection in humans. These are polarized cells and the polarity of influenza virus entry and egress as well as the secretion of cytokines and chemokines from the virus infected cells are likely to be central to the pathogenesis of human H5N1 disease.

Aim

To study influenza A (H5N1) virus replication and host innate immune responses in polarized primary human alveolar epithelial cells and lung microvascular endothelial cells and its relevance to the pathogenesis of human H5N1 disease.

Methods

We use an in vitro model of polarized primary human alveolar epithelial cells and lung microvascular endothelial cells grown in transwell culture inserts to compare infection with influenza A subtype H1N1 and H5N1 viruses via the apical or basolateral surfaces.

Results

We demonstrate that both influenza H1N1 and H5N1 viruses efficiently infect alveolar epithelial cells from both apical and basolateral surface of the epithelium but release of newly formed virus is mainly from the apical side of the epithelium. In contrast, influenza H5N1 virus, but not H1N1 virus, efficiently infected polarized microvascular endothelial cells from both apical and basolateral aspects. This provides a mechanistic explanation for how H5N1 virus may infect the lung from systemic circulation. Epidemiological evidence has implicated ingestion of virus-contaminated foods as the source of infection in some instances and our data suggests that viremia, secondary to, for example, gastro-intestinal infection, can potentially lead to infection of the lung. HPAI H5N1 virus was a more potent inducer of cytokines (e.g. IP-10, RANTES, IL-6) in comparison to H1N1 virus in alveolar epithelial cells, and these virus-induced chemokines were secreted onto both the apical and basolateral aspects of the polarized alveolar epithelium.

Conclusion

The predilection of viruses for different routes of entry and egress from the infected cell is important in understanding the pathogenesis of influenza H5N1 infection and may help unravel the pathogenesis of human H5N1 disease.