Purification of membrane-bound polyvinyl alcohol oxidase in Pseudomonas sp. VM15C

Abstract Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was utilized by a symbiotic mixed culture which was composed of Pseudomonas putida VM15A and Pseudomonas sp. VM14C. The PVA oxidase was found in the culture fluid, membrane, and cytosol fractions of VM15C. The membrane-bound PVA oxidase was purified by several steps of chromatography. The enzyme (p I = 9.6) exhibited the maximum activity at pH 8.0 to 8.4 and 45°C, and utilized secondary alcohol as well as PVA. The enzyme showed the PVA dehydrogenating activity linking with phenazine ethosulfate, indicating the possibility that PVA oxidation is coupled with an electron transport chain on the bacterial membrane.     

Association study between of Tie2/Angiopoietin-2 and VEGF/KDR pathway gene polymorphisms and vascular malformations

Vascular malformations (VMs) are common congenital and neonatal dysmorphogenesis. VMs mostly occur sporadically with a few exceptions of inheritability. Tie2/angiopoietins-2 (Ang-2) and VEGF/KDR pathways are known to be involved in normal and pathogenic angiogenesis. Our study was aimed to test the contribution of these pathway gene variants to VMs. A total of 8 variants were found among 103 VM patients and 142 healthy controls. These variants comprised rs638203, rs639225, rs80338908 and rs80338909 in Tie2 gene, rs1870377 and rs2305949 in KDR gene, rs79337921 and rs34590960 in ANTXR1 gene. Our results indicated that rs638203 (p = 0.029) and rs639225 (p = 0.018) in Tie2 gene were associated with VM. A further bioinformatics analysis suggested the rs638203-G and rs639225-G might cause an abnormal splicing of Tie2 gene into to a defective protein. Our results identified two novel Tie2 gene polymorphisms with genetic susceptibility to VMs, although future functional validation of the two polymorphisms is warranted in the future.     

Phosphorylation of NHERF1 S279 and S301 differentially regulates breast cancer cell phenotype and metastatic organotropism

Metastatic cancer cells are highly plastic for the expression of different tumor phenotype hallmarks and organotropism. This plasticity is highly regulated but the dynamics of the signaling processes orchestrating the shift from one cell phenotype and metastatic organ pattern to another are still largely unknown. The scaffolding protein NHERF1 has been shown to regulate the expression of different neoplastic phenotypes through its PDZ domains, which forms the mechanistic basis for metastatic organotropism. This reprogramming activity was postulated to be dependent on its differential phosphorylation patterns. Here, we show that NHERF1 phosphorylation on S279/S301 dictates several tumor phenotypes such as in vivo invasion, NHE1-mediated matrix digestion, growth and vasculogenic mimicry. Remarkably, injecting mice with cells having differential NHERF1 expression and phosphorylation drove a shift from the predominantly lung colonization (WT NHERF1) to predominately bone colonization (double S279A/S301A mutant), indicating that NHERF1 phosphorylation also acts as a signaling switch in metastatic organotropism.     

血管生成拟态和E-cad在食管鳞状细胞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的 探讨血管生成拟态( vasculogenic mimicry,VM)与E-钙粘蛋白(E-cadherin,E-cad))在食管鳞癌(esophageal squamous cell carcinoma)组织中的表达及意义.方法 收集食管鳞状细胞癌术后标本100例和30例癌旁正常食管黏膜,应用免疫组化法和组织化学法检测食管鳞状细胞癌和正常食管黏膜组织中VM和E-cad的表达情况.结果 在食管鳞状细胞癌组织和正常食管黏膜组织中,VM和E-cad的阳性表达率分别为47.0％、48.0％和0％、70.0％,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);VM及E-cad的表达与食管鳞癌的组织学分级、临床分期及淋巴结转移(P＜0.05);VM与E-cad在食管鳞癌中的表达呈负相关(r=-0.865,P=0.000).多因素分析:PTNM分期、淋巴结转移、VM和E-cad的表达是影响食管鳞癌根治术后患者预后的独立因素(P＜0.05);VM阳性组与阴性组的5年生存率分别为4.3％和64.2％,,差异有统计学意义(P=0.000);E-cad阳性组与阴性组5年生存率分别为60.4％和15.4％,差异有统计学意义(P=0.000).结论 具有VM结构的食管鳞状细胞癌的分化程度低,恶性度高,预后差,VM和E-cad表达的程度与食管鳞状细胞癌的进展和预后密切相关.     

Calorie restriction as an anti-invasive therapy for malignant brain cancer in the VM mouse

GBM (glioblastoma multiforme) is the most aggressive and invasive form of primary human brain cancer. We recently developed a novel brain cancer model in the inbred VM mouse strain that shares several characteristics with human GBM. Using bioluminescence imaging, we tested the efficacy of CR (calorie restriction) for its ability to reduce tumour size and invasion. CR targets glycolysis and rapid tumour cell growth in part by lowering circulating glucose levels. The VM-M3 tumour cells were implanted intracerebrally in the syngeneic VM mouse host. Approx. 12–15 days post-implantation, brains were removed and both ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres were imaged to measure bioluminescence of invading tumour cells. CR significantly reduced the invasion of tumour cells from the implanted ipsilateral hemisphere into the contralateral hemisphere. The total percentage of Ki-67-stained cells within the primary tumour and the total number of blood vessels was also significantly lower in the CR-treated mice than in the mice fed ad libitum, suggesting that CR is anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic. Our findings indicate that the VM-M3 GBM model is a valuable tool for studying brain tumour cell invasion and for evaluating potential therapeutic approaches for managing invasive brain cancer. In addition, we show that CR can be effective in reducing malignant brain tumour growth and invasion.     

Coupling of processing of alpha-glucosyl transferase mRNA with translation.

Bacteriophage T4 α-glucosyl transferase mRNA is made as a polycistronic 21S molecule that is processed during normal infection to the commonly found 14.5S species. By using antibiotic inhibitors of protein synthesis, it is possible to distinguish two steps involved in the processing of the 21S polycistronic α-gt mRNA in T4-infected $\text{Escherichia coli}$. There is an initial cleavage to an 18S molecule that does not require protein synthesis. However, the next step, the conversion of the 18S into the 14.5S molecule, requires simultaneous protein synthesis.     

Cloning and Characterization of the Gene Encoding Pyrroloquinoline Quinone-dependent Poly (vinyl alcohol) Dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas sp. Strain VM15C

A gene library of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-degrading Pseudomonas sp. strain VM15C was constructed in Escherichia coli with the vector pUC18. Screening of this library with a chromogenic PVA dehydrogenase assay resulted in the isolation of a clone that carries the gene (pdh) for the PVA dehydrogenase, and the entire nucleotide sequence of its structural gene was determined. The gene encodes a protein of 639 amino acid residues (68,045 Da) and in the deduced amino acid sequence, some putative functional sites, a signal sequence, a heme c-binding site, and a PQQ-binding site, were detected. The amino acid sequence showed low similarity to other types of quinoprotein dehydrogenases. PVA dehydrogenase expressed in E. coli clones required PQQ. Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ stimulated the activity. PVA-dependent heme c reduction occurred with exogenous PQQ in cell extracts of the E. coli clone. The PVA dehydrogenase in the E. coli clone was localized in the cytoplasm.     

Cryopreservation of rat precision-cut liver and kidney slices by rapid freezing and vitrification

Precision-cut tissue slices of both hepatic and extra-hepatic origin are extensively used as an in vitro model to predict in vivo drug metabolism and toxicity. Cryopreservation would greatly facilitate their use. In the present study, we aimed to improve (1) rapid freezing and warming (200 degrees C/min) using 18% Me(2)SO as cryoprotectant and (2) vitrification with high molarity mixtures of cryoprotectants, VM3 and VS4, as methods to cryopreserve precision-cut rat liver and kidney slices. Viability after cryopreservation and subsequent 3-4h of incubation at 37 degrees C was determined by measuring ATP content and by microscopical evaluation of histological integrity. Confirming earlier studies, viability of rat liver slices was maintained at high levels by rapid freezing and thawing with 18% Me(2)SO. However, vitrification of liver slices with VS4 resulted in cryopreservation damage despite the fact that cryoprotectant toxicity was low, no ice was formed during cooling and devitrification was prevented. Viability of liver slices was not improved by using VM3 for vitrification. Kidney slices were found not to survive cryopreservation by rapid freezing. In contrast, viability of renal medullary slices was almost completely maintained after vitrification with VS4, however vitrification of renal cortex slices with VS4 was not successful, partly due to cryoprotectant toxicity. Both kidney cortex and medullary slices were vitrified successfully with VM3 (maintaining viability at 50-80% of fresh slice levels), using an optimised pre-incubation protocol and cooling and warming rates that prevented both visible ice-formation and cracking of the formed glass. In conclusion, vitrification is a promising approach to cryopreserve precision-cut (kidney) slices.     

江苏泰州地区HIV感染人群的血浆病毒群落研究

为探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒(Human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)感染人群血浆病毒群落组成,分析HIV感染人群血浆病毒群落的特点,研究病毒载量对HIV感染人群血浆病毒群落的影响,本研究通过Miseq高通量测序,对江苏泰州地区203份HIV感染人群的血浆样本进行了病毒宏基因组学分析。结果显示,高通量测序共得到243824条注释为病毒的序列,可注释到至少17个不同的病毒科(包括未分类病毒),包括12种哺乳动物类病毒(占99.87%),2种昆虫病毒(占0.05%),1种植物病毒(占不到0.01%),2种其他病毒(占0.02%)及未分类病毒;检出HIV病毒载量组的病毒群落中占据主导地位的是细小病毒科,其次是黄病毒科和指环病毒科,未检出病毒载量组中的主要病毒为黄病毒科,其次为指环病毒科和细小病毒科;系统进化分析显示,注释为细小病毒的序列与已知病毒的同源性较高,而注释为指环病毒和人佩吉病毒的序列中有部分序列与已知病毒同源性较高,另有部分序列与已知病毒的差异较大,疑似有新型病毒的存在;应用PCR扩增对部分病毒序列进行验证,将验证后的部分序列与原始序列进行比对,一致性达到近99%。