Human Dermal Fibroblasts Demonstrate Positive Immunostaining for Neuron- and Glia- Specific Proteins

In stem cell cultures from adult human tissue, undesirable contamination with fibroblasts is frequently present. The presence of fibroblasts obscures the actual number of stem cells and may result in extracellular matrix production after transplantation. Identification of fibroblasts is difficult because of the lack of specific fibroblast markers. In our laboratory, we isolate and expand neural-crest-derived stem cells from human hair follicle bulges and investigate their potential to differentiate into neural cells. To establish cellular identities, we perform immunohistochemistry with antibodies specific for glial and neuronal markers, and use fibroblasts as negative control. We frequently observe that human adult dermal fibroblasts also express some glial and neuronal markers. In this study, we have sought to determine whether our observations represent actual expression of these markers or result from cross-reactivity. Immunohistochemistry was performed on human adult dermal fibroblasts using acknowledged glial and neuronal antibodies followed by verification of the data using RT-qPCR. Human adult dermal fibroblasts showed expression of the glia-specific markers SOX9, glial fibrillary acidic protein and EGR2 (KROX20) as well as for the neuron-specific marker class III β-tubulin, both at the protein and mRNA level. Furthermore, human adult dermal fibroblasts showed false-positive immunostaining for S100β and GAP43 and to a lower extent for OCT6. Our results indicate that immunophenotyping as a tool to determine cellular identity is not as reliable as generally assumed, especially since human adult dermal fibroblasts may be mistaken for neural cells, indicating that the ultimate proof of glial or neuronal identity can only be provided by their functionality.     

Fish oil affects phosphoinositide turnover and thromboxane A metabolism in cultured vascular muscle cells

Fish oil has been reported as having beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases. Elevated serum lipoproteins, prostaglandins and intracellular free calcium concentrations [( Ca2+]i) of the vasculature and thus the phosphoinositide (PI) turnover may be involved in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Therefore, the effect of fish oil on the potency of both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and angiotensin II (AII) to stimulate the PI turnover in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) has been studied. Furthermore, a possible link between PI turnover activity and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) metabolism in these cells has been investigated. In VSMC cultured for up to 7 weeks with either fish oil or n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) a decrease to 5-48% of the LDL-induced inositol trisphosphate (IP3) formation (= 100%) was found. A similar range of decreased IP3 synthesis was observed, when AII was used instead of LDL. Both LDL- and AII-stimulated TXA2 synthesis was suppressed concomitantly within the range 34-60%. Blockade of VSMC TXA2 biosynthesis with either indomethacin or TXA2 synthetase blocker (SQ-80338) inhibited LDL-induced formation of IP3 in a dose-dependent manner. Similar results were obtained, when TXA2 receptor coupling antagonists (SQ-27427 or BM-13177) were used. However, blockers of TXA2 synthesis and of TXA2 receptor binding failed to affect AII-induced formation of IP3.     

Automatic bioprocess control. 1. A general concept.

Automation of bioprocesses is presented and discussed. A general concept is applied to laboratory scale reactors as well as to large scale production facilities consisting of many unit operations with a hierarchical and highly modular structure. The implementation of non-dedicated and intelligent analytical subsystems is foreseen. Hard- and software requirements are discussed in view of the functional requirements of both scientific research and production engineering. Some practical experience is reported using several different components in parallel installations.     

Isolation and characterization of plasma membrane-associated cortical granules from sea urchin eggs

Cortical granules, which are specialized secretory organelles found in ova of many organisms, have been isolated from the eggs of the sea urchins Arbacia punctulata and Strongylocentrtus pupuratus by a simple, rapid procedure. Electron micropscope examination of cortical granules prepared by this procedure reveals that they are tightly attached to large segments of the plasma membrane and its associated vitelline layer. Further evidence that he cortical granules were associated with these cell surface layers was obtained by (125)I-labeling techniques. The cortical granule preparations were found to be rich in proteoesterase, which was purified 32-fold over that detected in a crude homogenate. Similarly, the specific radioactivity of a (125)I-labeled, surface glycoprotein was increased 40-fold. These facts, coupled with electron microscope observations, indicate the isolation procedure yields a preparation in which both the cortical granules and the plasma membrane-vitelline layer are purified to the same extent. Gel electrophoresis of the membrane-associated cortical granule preparation reveals the presence of at least eight polypeptides. The major polypeptide, which is a glycotprotein of apparent mol wt of 100,000, contains most of the radioactivity introduced by (125)I-labeling of the intact eggs. Lysis of the cortical granules is observed under hypotonic conditions, or under isotonic conditions if Ca(2+) ion is present. When lysis is under isotonic conditions is induced by addition of Ca(2+) ion, the electron-dense contents of the granules remain insoluble. In contrast, hypotonic lysis results in release of the contents of the granule in a soluble form. However, in both cases the (125)I-labeled glycoprotein remains insoluble, presumably because it is a component of either the plasma membrane or the vitelline layer. All these findings indicate that, using this purified preparation, it should be possible to carry out in vitro studies to better define some of the initial, surface-related events observed in vivo upon fertilization.     

Temperature-induced transitions in the conformation of intermediates in the hydrolytic cycle of myosin.

The conformations of the transitory intermediates of the myosin ATPase occurring during the hydrolytic cycle, enzyme without ligand, enzyme-substrate complex and two different forms of enzyme-product complex, have been characterized in terms of numbers and classes of reactive thiol groups based on incorporation of radioactively labeled alkylation reagent. The techniques employed allowed this to be done under steady-state conditions in the presence of high ligand concentrations on intact myosin from rabbit fast skeletal muscles at low ionic strength where the protein is in the gel state as it is in muscle. The binding of a divalent cation (Mg2+ or Ca2+) nucleotide complex exposes thiol-1 as well as thiol-2 groups. The long-lived ATPase intermediate occurring at temperatures above 10 degrees C adopts the same conformation with Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions. This intermediate does not protect the thiol-1 and thiol-2 groups but exposes a number of thiol-3 groups which seem to be located distant from the active site. The conformation of the intermediate prevailing in the presence of ATP changes with lowering temperature below 10 degrees C and is identical with that found in the presence of ADP at 0 degree C indicating a change in the rate-limiting step of the hydrolytic cycle. In the absence of divalent cations no such temperature-dependent change in conformation was observed. Evaluation of the activation entropies shows that the structure of the long-lived intermediate occurring above 10 degrees C in the presence of Mg2+ ions goes through a transformation from low to high order at around 20 degrees C. In the case of the monovalent-cation-stimulated ATPase a constant activation energy of around 70 kJ/mol, typical of many enzyme reactions, was found over the entire temperature range from 0--35 degrees C.     

Vaccination with Recombinant RNA Replicon Particles Protects Chickens from H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of subtype H5N1 not only cause a devastating disease in domestic chickens and turkeys but also pose a continuous threat to public health. In some countries, H5N1 viruses continue to circulate and evolve into new clades and subclades. The rapid evolution of these viruses represents a problem for virus diagnosis and control. In this work, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vectors expressing HA of subtype H5 were generated. To comply with biosafety issues the G gene was deleted from the VSV genome. The resulting vaccine vector VSV*ΔG(HA) was propagated on helper cells providing the VSV G protein in trans. Vaccination of chickens with a single intramuscular dose of 2×10⁸ infectious replicon particles without adjuvant conferred complete protection from lethal H5N1 infection. Subsequent application of the same vaccine strongly boosted the humoral immune response and completely prevented shedding of challenge virus and transmission to sentinel birds. The vaccine allowed serological differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) by employing a commercially available ELISA. Immunized chickens produced antibodies with neutralizing activity against multiple H5 viruses representing clades 1, 2.2, 2.5, and low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (classical clade). Studies using chimeric H1/H5 hemagglutinins showed that the neutralizing activity was predominantly directed against the globular head domain. In summary, these results suggest that VSV replicon particles are safe and potent DIVA vaccines that may help to control avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry.     

Mechanism of Bacterial Oligosaccharyltransferase: IN VITRO QUANTIFICATION OF SEQUON BINDING AND CATALYSIS*

N-Linked glycosylation is an essential post-translational protein modification in the eukaryotic cell. The initial transfer of an oligosaccharide from a lipid carrier onto asparagine residues within a consensus sequon is catalyzed by oligosaccharyltransferase (OST). The first X-ray structure of a complete bacterial OST enzyme, Campylobacter lari PglB, was recently determined. To understand the mechanism of PglB, we have quantified sequon binding and glycosylation turnover in vitro using purified enzyme and fluorescently labeled, synthetic peptide substrates. Using fluorescence anisotropy, we determined a dissociation constant of 1.0 μm and a strict requirement for divalent metal ions for consensus (DQNAT) sequon binding. Using in-gel fluorescence detection, we quantified exceedingly low glycosylation rates that remained undetected using in vivo assays. We found that an alanine in the −2 sequon position, converting the bacterial sequon to a eukaryotic one, resulted in strongly lowered sequon binding, with in vitro turnover reduced 50,000-fold. A threonine is preferred over serine in the +2 sequon position, reflected by a 4-fold higher affinity and a 1.2-fold higher glycosylation rate. The interaction of the +2 sequon position with PglB is modulated by isoleucine 572. Our study demonstrates an intricate interplay of peptide and metal binding as the first step of protein N-glycosylation.     

Structure-activity relationship in the oxazolidinone-quinolone hybrid series: influence of the central spacer on the antibacterial activity and the mode of action

Oxazolidinone-quinolone hybrids, which combine the pharmacophores of a quinolone and an oxazolidinone, were synthesised and shown to be active against a variety of susceptible and resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The nature of the spacer greatly influences the antibacterial activity by directing the mode of action, that is quinolone- and/or oxazolidinone-like activity. The best compounds in this series have a balanced dual mode of action and overcome all types of resistance, including resistance to quinolones and linezolid, in clinically relevant Gram-positive pathogens.     

Phylogenetic utility of the nuclear gene arginine decarboxylase: an example from Brassicaceae

Arginine decarboxylase (ADC) is an important enzyme in the production of putrescine and polyamines in plants. It is encoded by a single or low-copy nuclear gene that lacks introns in sequences studied to date. The rate of Adc amino acid sequence evolution is similar to that of ndhF for the angiosperm family studied. Highly conserved regions provide several target sites for PCR priming and sequencing and aid in nucleotide and amino acid sequence alignment across a range of taxonomic levels, while a variable region provides an increased number of potentially informative characters relative to ndhF for the taxa surveyed. The utility of the Adc gene in plant molecular systematic studies is demonstrated by analysis of its partial nucleotide sequences obtained from 13 representatives of Brassicaceae and 3 outgroup taxa, 2 from the mustard oil clade (order Capparales) and 1 from the related order Malvales. Two copies of the Adc gene, Adc1 and Adc2, are found in all members of the Brassicaceae studied to data except the basal genus Aethionema. The resulting Adc gene tree provides robust phylogenetic data regarding relationships within the complex mustard family, as well as independent support for proposed tribal realignments based on other molecular data sets such as those from chloroplast DNA.