A simple method to test condoms for penetration by viruses.

A method by which virus penetration through condoms can be tested with simple, inexpensive equipment is described. The method uses chi X174 bacteriophage as the challenge virus and physiologically relevant pressure. Penetration by 0.1 microliters (or less) of challenge suspension can be readily detected. As examples, latex and natural-membrane condoms were examined.     

Age and growth of tarpon,Megalops atlanticus,larvae in the eastern Gulf of Mexico,with notes on relative abundance and probable spawning areas

Synopsis Leptocephali were collected in June 1981 and July 1989 over the continental shelf and slope of the Florida west coast. Tarpon larvae ranged 5.5–24.4 mm standard length (SL) and were the second most abundant leptocephalus species. Sagittae examined with compound microscopes and scanning electron microscopy had increments that were presumed to be formed daily. Increment counts made using the two microscopic techniques were not significantly different. Estimated ages ranged 2–25 days with a growth rate (± standard error) of 0.92 ± 0.04 mm d^–1 The least squares linear regression equation SL = 2.78 + 0.92 (age in days) best described the relationship between estimated age and length. Adult tarpon appear to undergo a substantial spawning migration from inshore areas frequented during spring and summer to offshore spawning grounds. Spawning occurs during May, June, and July, although the spawning season may be of greater duration.     

Molecular motors in axonal transport

Neurons require a large amount of intracellular transport. Cytoplasmic polypeptides and membrane-bounded organelles move from the perikaryon, down the length of the axon, and to the synaptic terminals. This movement occurs at distinct rates and is termed axonal transport. Axonal transport is divided into the slow transport of cytoplasmic proteins including glycolytic enzymes and cytoskeletal structures and the fast transport of membrane-bounded organelles along linear arrays of microtubules. The polypeptide compositions of the rate classes of axonal transport have been well characterized, but the underlying molecular mechanisms of this movement are less clear. Progress has been particularly slow toward understanding force-generation in slow transport, but recent developments have provided insight into the molecular motors involved in fast axonal transport. Recent advances in the cellular and molecular biology of one fast axonal transport motor, kinesin, have provided a clearer understanding of organelle movement along microtubules. The availability of cellular and molecular probes for kinesin and other putative axonal transport motors have led to a reevaluation of our understanding of intracellular motility.     

The delta psi- and Hsp70/MIM44-dependent reaction cycle driving early steps of protein import into mitochondria.

New steps in the reaction cycle that drives protein translocation into the mitochondrial matrix have been defined. The membrane potential (delta psi)- and the mtHsp70/MIM44-dependent import machinery cooperate in the transfer of the presequence across the inner membrane. Translocation intermediates, arrested at a stage where only the presequence could form a complex with mtHsp70, still required delta psi for further import. Delta psi at this stage prevented retrograde movement, since mtHsp70 did not bind to the presequence with sufficient affinity. In contrast, mature regions of incoming chains adjacent to the presequence were bound by mtHsp70 tightly enough to stabilize them in the matrix. Cycling of the mtHsp70 on and off incoming chains is a continuous process in the presence of matrix ATP. Both MIM44-bound and free forms of mtHsp70 were found in association with the incoming chains. These data are consistent with a reaction pathway in which the mtHsp70/MIM44 complex acts as a molecular ratchet on the cis side of the inner membrane to drive protein translocation into the matrix.     

Beyond translation: elongation factor-1α and the cytoskeleton

Summary While reported interactions of elongation factor-1 (EF-1) with various other molecules involved in protein biosynthesis are abundant, its interactions with major cytoskeletal proteins have not been as extensively examined. Major roles for EF-1 in cytoskeletal organization emerge from a review of such interactions within species as diverse as slime molds and mammals, sea urchins and higher plants. Based on these studies, the integration of EF-1's cytoskeletal roles with those of translation is considered, and prospective mechanisms for regulation of EF-1's cytoskeletal associations are discussed.Abbreviations EF elongation factor - RNP ribonucleoprotein particle - MT microtubule - MA mitotic apparatus - CaM calmodulin - MAP microtubule-associated protein     

Applying single-cell highly multiplexed secretome proteomics to characterize immunotherapeutic products and predict clinical responses

Genetically and phenotypically identical immune cell populations can be highly heterogenous in terms of their immune functions and protein secretion profiles. The microfluidic chip-based single-cell highly multiplexed secretome proteomics enables characterization of cellular heterogeneity of immune responses at different cellular and molecular layers. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that polyfunctional T cells that simultaneously produce 2+ proteins per cell at the single-cell level are key effector cells that contribute to the development of potent and durable cellular immunity against pathogens and cancers. The functional proteomic technology offers a wide spectrum of cellular function assessment and can uniquely define highly polyfunctional cell subsets with cytokine signatures from live individual cells. This high-dimensional single-cell analysis provides deep dissection into functional heterogeneity and helps identify predictive biomarkers and potential correlates that are crucial for immunotherapeutic product design optimization and personalized immunotherapy development to achieve better clinical outcomes.     

Regulation of Hsp70 function by a eukaryotic DnaJ homolog.

We report that a purified cytoplasmic Hsp70 homolog from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hsp70SSA1, exhibits a weak ATPase activity, which is stimulated by a purified eukaryotic dnaJp homolog (YDJ1p). Stable complex formation between Hsp70SSA1 and the permanently unfolded protein carboxymethylated alpha-lactalbumin (CMLA) was assayed by native gel electrophoresis. The affinity of Hsp70SSA1 for CMLA appeared to be regulated by YDJ1p. Significant reduction in both CMLA-Hsp70SSA1 complex formation and the release of CMLA pre-bound to Hsp70SSA1 was observed only in the presence of both YDJ1p and ATP. Thus, Hsp70SSA1 and YDJ1p interact functionally in the execution of Hsp70SSA1 chaperone activities in the eukaryotic cell.     

YDJ1p facilitates polypeptide translocation across different intracellular membranes by a conserved mechanism.

The role of S. cerevisiae YDJ1 protein (YDJ1p) in polypeptide translocation across membranes has been examined. A conditional ydj1 mutant strain (ydj1-151TS) is defective for import of several polypeptides into mitochondria and alpha factor into the endoplasmic reticulum at 37 degrees C. These defects are suppressed by E. coli dnaJ or overexpression of S. cerevisiae SIS1 proteins. A different ydj1 mutant, which cannot be farnesylated (ydj1-S406), displays similar transport defects to the ydj1-151 strain. Furthermore, the ability of purified ydj1-151p to stimulate the ATPase activity of hsp70SSA1 was greatly diminished compared with the wild-type protein. Together, these data suggest that YDJ1p functions in polypeptide translocation in a conserved manner, probably acting at organelle membranes and in association with hsp70 proteins.     

The Hsp70/90 cochaperone,Sti1, suppresses proteotoxicity by regulating spatial quality control of amyloid-like proteins

Conformational diseases are associated with the conversion of normal proteins into aggregation-prone toxic conformers with structures similar to that of β-amyloid. Spatial distribution of amyloid-like proteins into intracellular quality control centers can be beneficial, but cellular mechanisms for protective aggregation remain unclear. We used a high-copy suppressor screen in yeast to identify roles for the Hsp70 system in spatial organization of toxic polyglutamine-expanded Huntingtin (Huntingtin with 103Q glutamine stretch [Htt103Q]) into benign assemblies. Under toxic conditions, Htt103Q accumulates in unassembled states and speckled cytosolic foci. Subtle modulation of Sti1 activity reciprocally affects Htt toxicity and the packaging of Htt103Q into foci. Loss of Sti1 exacerbates Htt toxicity and hinders foci formation, whereas elevation of Sti1 suppresses Htt toxicity while organizing small Htt103Q foci into larger assemblies. Sti1 also suppresses cytotoxicity of the glutamine-rich yeast prion [RNQ+] while reorganizing speckled Rnq1–monomeric red fluorescent protein into distinct foci. Sti1-inducible foci are perinuclear and contain proteins that are bound by the amyloid indicator dye thioflavin-T. Sti1 is an Hsp70 cochaperone that regulates the spatial organization of amyloid-like proteins in the cytosol and thereby buffers proteotoxicity caused by amyloid-like proteins.     

Gene Expression-Based Classifiers Identify Staphylococcus aureus Infection in Mice and Humans

Staphylococcus aureus causes a spectrum of human infection. Diagnostic delays and uncertainty lead to treatment delays and inappropriate antibiotic use. A growing literature suggests the host’s inflammatory response to the pathogen represents a potential tool to improve upon current diagnostics. The hypothesis of this study is that the host responds differently to S. aureus than to E. coli infection in a quantifiable way, providing a new diagnostic avenue. This study uses Bayesian sparse factor modeling and penalized binary regression to define peripheral blood gene-expression classifiers of murine and human S. aureus infection. The murine-derived classifier distinguished S. aureus infection from healthy controls and Escherichia coli-infected mice across a range of conditions (mouse and bacterial strain, time post infection) and was validated in outbred mice (AUC>0.97). A S. aureus classifier derived from a cohort of 94 human subjects distinguished S. aureus blood stream infection (BSI) from healthy subjects (AUC 0.99) and E. coli BSI (AUC 0.84). Murine and human responses to S. aureus infection share common biological pathways, allowing the murine model to classify S. aureus BSI in humans (AUC 0.84). Both murine and human S. aureus classifiers were validated in an independent human cohort (AUC 0.95 and 0.92, respectively). The approach described here lends insight into the conserved and disparate pathways utilized by mice and humans in response to these infections. Furthermore, this study advances our understanding of S. aureus infection; the host response to it; and identifies new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues.