Allosteric Inhibition as a New Mode of Action for BAY 1213790, a Neutralizing Antibody Targeting the Activated Form of Coagulation Factor XI

Factor XI (FXI), the zymogen of activated FXI (FXIa), is an attractive target for novel anticoagulants because FXI inhibition offers the potential to reduce thrombosis risk while minimizing the risk of bleeding. BAY 1213790, a novel anti-FXIa antibody, was generated using phage display technology. Crystal structure analysis of the FXIa–BAY 1213790 complex demonstrated that the tyrosine-rich complementarity-determining region 3 loop of the heavy chain of BAY 1213790 penetrated deepest into the FXIa binding epitope, forming a network of favorable interactions including a direct hydrogen bond from Tyr102 to the Gln451 sidechain (2.9 Å). The newly discovered binding epitope caused a structural rearrangement of the FXIa active site, revealing a novel allosteric mechanism of FXIa inhibition by BAY 1213790. BAY 1213790 specifically inhibited FXIa with a binding affinity of 2.4 nM, and in human plasma, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and inhibited thrombin generation in a concentration-dependent manner.     

Relationship between the action of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species on bilayer membranes and antioxidants

Membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO) induced by hydroxyl (*OH) and ascorbyl (*Asc) radicals and by peroxynitrite (ONOO-) was investigated in asolectin (ASO), egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) and PC/phosphatidic acid mixtures (PC:PA) liposomes and rat liver microsomes (MC). Enthalpy variation (DeltaH) of PC:PA at different molar ratios were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. It was also evaluated the LPO inhibition by quercetin, melatonin and Vitamin B6. The oxidant effect power follows the order *OH approximately *Asc > ONOO- on PC and MC; whilst on ASO liposomes, it follows *Asc > *OH approximately ONOO-. Increasing amounts of PA in PC liposomes resulted in lower levels of LPO. The DeltaH values indicate a more ordered membrane arrangement as a function of PA amount. The results were discussed in order to provide a complete view involving the influence of membranes, oxidants and antioxidants intrinsic behavior on the LPO dynamics.     

中国汉族人群原纤维蛋白-1基因(FBN1)第27内含子G/A多态性

采用PCR-ASO方法, 对日本筑波大学101名中国汉族留学人员的DNA样品进行了原纤维蛋白-1基因(FBN1)第27内含子G/A多态性测定。结果发现,A等位基因频率为0.5396,G等位基因频率为0.4604。与Tynan等人报道的数据(A和G等位基因的频率分别为0.1675和0.8325)相比,有非常显著差异(P<0 .01),提示两样本间有不同的遗传背景。 Abstract:The G/A polymorphisms in intron 27 of fibrillin-1 gene in 101 Chinese Hans who were studying and working in University of Tsukuba,Japan were analyzed with PCR-ASO method.The frequencies of A and G alleles,were 0.5396 and 0.4604 respectively.In a population sample reported by Tynan the frequency of A allele was 0.1675 that of G allele was 0.8325.The distribution of G/A polymorphism was significantly different between the two population sample(P<0.01),suggesting different genetic backgrounds.     

Antisense-Mediated Transcript Knockdown Triggers Premature Transcription Termination

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Directed RNase H Cleavage of Nascent Transcripts Causes Transcription Termination

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Transfection of siRNAs can alter miRNA levels and trigger non-specific protein degradation in mammalian cells

Sequence-non-specific effects of siRNAs that alter the expression of non-targeted genes have been reported, including competition of siRNAs with endogenous RISC components. However, the detailed mechanisms and subsequent effects of such competition are not well documented. Here we analyze the competition of miRNAs in mammalian cells with low concentrations of siRNAs, and found that: 1) transfection of different siRNAs in the low nanomolar range used to deplete target RNAs can reduce the levels of miRNAs in different cell types, 2) siRNA transfection results in rapid reduction of Ago2-associated miRNAs concurrent with accumulation of Ago2-bound siRNAs and a significant change in the expression levels of many miRNAs, 3) competition largely depends on Ago2 and not Dicer, 4) microarray analysis showed that the majority of highly expressed miRNAs are reduced, in a siRNA concentration dependent manner, and low abundant miRNAs may be unchanged or repressed and a few miRNAs appear to have increased levels, and 5) consistent with previous studies, the expression levels of mRNAs that are targeted by highly repressed miRNAs are preferentially increased. As a consequence of such competition, we observed that α-tubulin, a substrate of two up-regulated proteases, granzyme B and granzyme M, was rapidly degraded at the protein level upon siRNA transfection. Our results support a model in which transfection of siRNAs can change the levels of many miRNAs by competition for Ago2, leading to altered expression of many miRNA target genes, which can in turn affect downstream gene expression even at the protein level.     

我国核酸药物市场分析及对策建议

近年来,因兼具基因修饰和传统药物的双重特点,核酸药物已逐渐成为精准生物医学和疾病治疗的热点。为进一步推动我国核酸药物行业创新发展,采用定量分析和定性分析相结合的方法,对国内外核酸药物获批/授权、市场和研发情况进行分析,揭示全球ASO、siRNA、RNA aptamer及mRNA等四大类核酸药物的产业发展态势,系统梳理我国支持核酸药物创新发展的政策与措施,明确未来的技术主攻方向和应用潜力。面对国内基因治疗的迫切需求及核酸药物创制的严峻形势,研究提出推动源头创新、完善成果转移转化机制和营造良好竞争环境等对策建议。