Hematological and plasma biochemical responses of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) to intraperitoneal injection of extracted microcystins with the possible mechanisms of anemia

Alterations in hematological indices such as decreases in blood cell counts (RBC), hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations are key symptoms of anemia. However, few experiments were conducted to examine changes in hematological indices of fish exposed to microcystins that are believed to be fatal to circulatory systems of vertebrates. An acute toxicological experiment was designed to study hematological changes of crucian carp injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with extracted microcystins at two doses, 50 and 200 mu g MC-LReqkg(-1) body weight. After being i.p. injected with microcystins, the fish exhibited behavioral abnormity. There were significant decreases in RBC in the high-dose group, and in Ht and Hb concentrations in both dose groups, while erythrocte sedimentation rate (ESR) significantly increased, indicating the appearance of normocytic anemia. There were no prominent changes in the three red cell indices, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH,), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CR) in both dose groups suggest the occurrence of kidney impairment. Alteration in blood indices was reversible at the low dose group. Conclusively, anemia induced by kidney impairment was a key factor to cause abnormity of swimming behaviors and high mortality of crucian carp. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Factors influencing hemolytic activity of venom from the jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye

In this study, hemolytic activity of venom from the jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye and some factors affecting it were assayed. The HU50 of R. esculentum full venom (RFV) against chicken erythrocytes was 3.40 mu g/ml and a Hill coefficient value was 1.73 suggesting at least two molecules participated in hemolytic activity. The hemolytic activity of RFV was affected by some chemical and physical factors such as divalent cations, EDTA, (NH4)(2)SO4, pH and temperature. In the presence of Mg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Ca2+ ( >= 2 mM), Mn2+ (>= 1 mM), EDTA (>= 2 mM) and (NH4)(2)SO4, the hemolytic activity of RFV was reduced. RFV had strong hemolytic activity at the pH 6-10 and the hemolytic ratios were 0.95-1.19. Hemolytic activity was temperature-sensitive and when RFV was pre-incubated at temperatures over 40 degrees C, it was sharply reduced. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Studies on the hemolytic activity of tentacle extracts of jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye: Application of orthogonal test

The present work is first reporting the hemolytic activity of venom from jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye extracted by different phosphate buffer solutions and incubated at different temperature according to the orthogonal test L6(1) x 3(6). Of the seven controllable independent variables, incubated temperature and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) had strongest effect on the hemolytic activity. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Partial characterization of the hemolytic activity of the nematocyst venom from the jellyfish Cyanea nozakii Kishinouye

Using a recently developed technique to extract jellyfish venom from nematocysts, the present study investigated the hemolytic activity of Cyanea nozakii Kishinouye nematocyst venom on chicken erythrocytes. Venom extract caused a significant concentration-dependent hemolytic effect. The extract could retain its activity at -80 degrees C but was unstable when kept at 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C for 2 days. The hemolytic activity was inhibited by heating within the range of 37-100 degrees C. The extract was active over a pH range of 5.0-8.63 and the pH optima for the extract was 7.8. Incubation of the venom with sphingomyelin specially inhibited hemolytic activity by up to 70%. Cu2+ and Mn2+ greatly reduced the hemolytic activity while Mg2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ produced a relatively low inhibiting effect on the hemolytic activity. Treatment with Ca2+ induced a concentration-dependent increase in the hemolytic activity. In the presence of 5 mM EDTA, all the hemolytic activity was lost, however, the venom containing 1.5 mM EDTA was stable in the long-term storage. PLA(2) activity was also found in the nematocyst venom of C. nozakii. These characteristics provide us a fundamental knowledge in the C. nozakii nematocyst venom which would benefit future research. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Simulated pathogenic conformational switch regions matched well with the biochemical findings

Pathogenic conformational conversion is a general causation of many disease, such as transmissible spon- giform encephalopathy (TSE) caused by misfolding of prion, sickle cell anemia, and etc. In such structural changes, misfolding occurs in regions important for the stability of native structure firstly. This destabi- lizes the normal conformation and leads to subsequent errors in folding pathway. Sites involved in the first stage can be deemed switch regions of the protein, and are vital for conformational conversion. Namely it could be a switch of disease at residue level. Here we report an algorithm that can identify such sites computationally with an accuracy of 93%, by calculating the probability of the native structure of a short segment jumping to a mistake one. Knowledge of such switch sites could be used to target clinical therapy, study physiological and pathologic mechanism of protein, and etc.

Biological activities of skin secretions of the salamander Tylototriton verrucosus

Water-soluble skin secretions of salamander Tylototriton venucosus, first described by Anderson in 1871, were studied for their biological and enzymatic activities. They were found to be toxic to mice with an intraperitoneal LD50 of 11.5 mg/kg. Using Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, it was proven that the toxic components of the secretions are proteins with molecular weights ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 Da. The secretions of T. venucosus display a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activities and also contain both proteolytic activity and trypsin inhibitory activity. In contrast, neither hemolytic nor hemorrhagic activities were found. The secretions were determined to have phospholipase A(2) activity; however, no acetylcholine esterase activity was detectable under the assay conditions.

Characterization and cloning of a novel phospholipase A(2) from the venom of Trimeresurus jerdonii snake

A phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) called jerdoxin, was isolated from Trimeresurus jerdonni snake venom and partially characterized. The protein was purified by three chromatographic steps. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence or absence of dithiothreitol showed that it had a molecular mass of 15 kDa. Jerdoxin had an enzymatic activity of 39.4 mumol/min/mg towards egg yolk phosphatidyl choline (PC). It induced edema in the footpads of mice. In addition, jerdoxin exhibited indirect hemolytic activity. About 97% hemolysis was observed when 2 mug/ml enzyme was incubated for 90 min in the presence of PC and Ca2+. No detectable hemolysis was noticed when PC was not added. Ca2+ was necessary for jerdoxin to exert its hemolytic activity, since only 52% hemolysis was seen when Ca2+ was absent in the reaction mixture. Furthermore, jerdoxin inhibited ADP induced rabbit platelet aggregation and the inhibition was dose dependent with an IC50 of 1.0 muM. The complete amino acid sequence of jerdoxin deduced from cDNA sequence shared high homology with other snake venom PLA(2)s, especially the D49 PLA(2)s. Also, the residues concerned to Ca2+ binding were conserved. This is the first report of cDNA sequence of T jerdonii venom PLA(2). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

恒河猴TRIM5α的组织分布及不同刺激促进PBMC中TRIM5α转录水平的上调

TRIM5α(tripartite motif protein 5-alpha)蛋白是恒河猴体内一种非常重要的限制因子,能抑制人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV-1,human immunodeficiency virus type 1)、马感染性贫血病毒(EIAV, equine infectious anemia virus)和猫免疫缺陷病毒(FIV, feline immunodeficiencyvirus)等逆转录病毒的复制.恒河猴TRIM5α的组织分布以及在受到外界刺激时TRIM5α mRNA表达量的变化研究还未见报道.本研究从中国恒河猴的各组织中提取总RNA,以β-actin基因作为内参照,通过半定量RT-PCR检测各组织中TRIMSα mRNA的表达.选择HIV-GFP-VSVG假病毒感染外周血单核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cell,PBMC),非特异性刺激剂--佛波脂(Phorbol myfismte acetate,PMA)+离子霉素(ionomycin,Ion)及CD28抗体+CD49d抗体分别共刺激恒河猴PBMC,研究不同刺激对恒河猴TRIM5α mRNA表达水平的影响.结果表明:TRIM5α mRNA表达于所研究的恒河猴21种组织中,免疫系统和泌尿生殖系统组织中表达量最高,而神经系统组织,如大脑、脊髓中表达较少,其他组织中未见明显的表达差异;HIV-GFP-VSVG感染和用PMA+Ion、CD28抗体+CD49d抗体分别共刺激PBMC能促进PBMC中TRIM5α mRNA的转录水平的上调.

Improved suppression of circulating complement does not block acute vascular rejection of pig-to-rhesus monkey cardiac transplants

At present, acute vascular rejection (AVR) remains a primary obstacle inhibiting long-term graft survival in the pig-to-non-human primate transplant model. The present study was undertaken to determine whether repetitive injection of low dose Yunnan-cobra venom factor (Y-CVF), a potent complement inhibitor derived from the venom of Naja kaouthia can completely abrogate hemolytic complement activity and subsequently improve the results in a pig-to-rhesus monkey heterotopic heart transplant model. Nine adult rhesus monkeys received a heterotopic heart transplant from wild-type pigs and the recipients were allocated into two groups: group 1 (n = 4) received repetitive injection of low dose Y-CVF until the end of the study and group 2 (n = 5) did not receive Y-CVF. All recipients were treated with cyclosporine A (CsA), cyclophosphamide (CyP) and steroids. Repetitive Y-CVF treatment led to very dramatic fall in CH50 and serum C3 levels (CH50 < 3 units/C3 remained undetectable throughout the experiment) and successfully prevented hyperacute rejection (HAR), while three of five animals in group 2 underwent HAR. However, the continuous suppression of circulating complement did not prevent AVR and the grafts in group 1 survived from 8 to 13 days. Despite undetectable C3 in circulating blood, C3 deposition was present in these grafts. The venular thrombosis was the predominant histopathologic feature of AVR. We conclude that repetitive injection of low dose Y-CVF can be used to continuously suppress circulating complement in a very potent manner and successfully prevent HAR. However, this therapy did not inhibit complement deposition in the graft and failed to prevent AVR. These data suggest that using alternative pig donors [i.e. human decay accelerating factor (hDAF)-transgenic] in combination with the systemic use of complement inhibitors may be necessary to further control complement activation and improve survival in pig-to-non-human primate xenotransplant model.

Cloning, expression and characterization of aerolysin from Aeromonas hydrophila in Escherichia coli

Aerolysin is a toxin (protein in nature) secreted by the strains of Aeromonas spp. and plays all important role in the virulence of Aeromonas strains. It has also found several applications such as for detection of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins etc. A. hydrophila is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium which causes frequent harm to the aquaculture. To obtain a significant amount of recombinant aerolysin in the active form, in this study, we expressed the aerolysin in E. Coli Under the control of T7 RNase promoter. The coding region (AerA-W) of the aerA gene of A. hydrophila XS91-4-1. excluding partial coding region of the signal peptide was cloned into the vector pET32a and then transformed into E. coli b121. After optimizing the expression conditions, the recombinant protein AerA-W was expressed in a soluble form and purified using His-Bind resin affinity chromatography. Recombinant aerolysin showed hemolytic activity in the agar diffusive hemolysis test. Western blot analysis demonstrated good antigenicity of the recombinant protein.

Identification of a novel cathelicidin gene in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

We report the cloning of a novel antimicrobial peptide gene, termed rtCATH_1, found in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. The predicted 216-residue rtCATH_1 prepropeptide consists of three domains: a 22-residue signal peptide, a 128-residue cathelin-like region containing two identifiable cathelicidin family signatures, and a predicted 66-residue C-terminal cationic antimicrobial peptide. This predicted mature peptide was unique in possessing features of different known (mammalian) cathelicidin subgroups, such as the cysteine-bridged family and the specific amino-acid-rich family. The rtCATH_1 gene comprises four exons, as seen in all known mammalian cathelicidin genes, and several transcription factor binding sites known to be of relevance to host defenses were identified in the 5' flanking region. By Northern blot analysis, the expression of rtCATH_1 was detected in gill, head kidney, and spleen of bacterially challenged fish. Primary cultures of head kidney leukocytes from rainbow trout stimulated with lipopolysaccharide or poly(I (.) C) also expressed riCATH_1. A 36-residue peptide corresponding to the core part of the fish cathelicidin was chemically synthesized and shown to exhibit potent antimicrobial activity and a low hemolytic effect. Thus, rtCATH_1 represents a novel antimicrobial peptide gene belonging to the cathelicidin family and may play an important role in the innate immunity of rainbow trout.

DNA交联损伤修复与范可尼贫血症通路

由于各种内源和外在的因素,DNA会受到各种损伤,不过生物体已经进化出了一套保守的DNA修复系统,对损伤的DNA进行修复,确保基因组的稳定性及完整性。交联损伤是一种常见的DNA损伤,其修复过程相对复杂,主要是通过范可尼贫血症(Fanconi anemia,FA)通路来实现。FA是一种呈现基因组不稳定性的遗传综合征,其内在的病因就是FA通路的失活,因此不能有效修复交联损伤,导致DNA复制异常。

12C6+束和Mitomycin C 诱导的DNA损伤效应

本文旨在分别研究重离子束及MMC在诱导细胞的DNA损伤效应中一些具体的分子机制，为治疗的进行以及相关辅助药物的开发提供理论依据。本文探索的重点有两个，第一个是重离子束辐射诱导的DNA损伤效应及p53在其中的激活，第二个是MMC诱导的DNA损伤效应及p53和BRCA1、H2AX等分子在其中的角色。 1. 12C6+离子束诱导HeLa细胞DNA损伤效应为了研究HeLa细胞经过12C6+ 束辐照之后的DNA损伤效应，及这个过程中p53激活的分子机制。我们运用中性单细胞电泳技术，检测了HeLa细胞经过4Gy 12C6+ 束辐照0h、3h、6h和12h之后DNA的损伤情况，以及0.5Gy、1Gy、2Gy和4Gy 12C6+ 束辐照0h后的DNA损伤情况。同时运用细胞生长实时监测仪监测了HeLa细胞在经过0Gy、0.5Gy和1Gy 12C6+ 束辐照之后的生长变化，并运用AO/EB双染检测了辐照24小时后的凋亡情况。另外，利用8mmol/L的caffeine（抑制ATM和ATR）和20μmol/L的wortmannin（抑制ATM和DNA-PK）处理HeLa细胞后再进行1Gy 12C6+ 束辐照，通过western blot检测p53的表达。结果显示，12C6+ 束辐照可造成HeLa细胞的DNA损伤，损伤随剂量升高而升高但随时间降低；并诱导HeLa细胞发生凋亡；而且辐照后p53表达升高，但经过caffeine或者wortmannin预先处理的细胞p53均没有显著升高。我们的结论是：12C6+ 束辐照可造成HeLa细胞的DNA损伤并诱导损伤修复及凋亡等效应，损伤效应相关的分子p53被激活，并且激活依赖于ATM。 2. MMC诱导的DNA损伤效应在这一部分研究中，首先，我们利用与上面相同的研究方法，探讨了p53在MMC诱导的DNA损伤效应中的激活情况，结果显示，MMC诱导的DNA损伤效应并不依赖于p53。另外，我们还探讨了， BRCA1在FANCD2的γ-H2AX依赖性转移中的作用。MMC可造成DNA的ICL（interstrand cross-link）损伤，ICL可通过FA(Fanconi Anemia)通路进行修复。FANCD2是FA通路的核心分子，在DNA产生ICL时被各种分子修饰然后转移到损伤部分，这个过程的涉及到ATR、γ-H2AX及BRCA1等，本文试图探讨BRCA1在其中的作用方式。研究中，我们监测了不同处理（包括对照、caffeine（可抑制ATR）、MMC及MMC ＋caffeine）的HCC1937(BRCA1缺陷型)和MCF7（BRCA1野生型）细胞的生长；并用Western blot检测MMC处理之后HCC1937细胞γ-H2AX的表达情况。结果表明，MMC和caffeine均可以抑制HCC1937的生长，但caffeine和MMC+caffeine的抑制效果是一样的；MMC和caffeine均可以抑制MCF7的生长，且MMC+caffeine处理比仅进行caffeine处理的抑制作用强；MMC处理之后，HCC1937的γ-H2AX表达显著升高。我们的结论是，在FANCD2的γ-H2AX依赖性转移中，H2AX的磷酸化并不依赖于BRCA1，不过，BRCA1和ATR应该参与一个相同的分子事件，可能是FANCD2的磷酸化。这个有待进一步的实验验证

SmC2P1, a C2 domain protein from Scophthalmus maximus that binds bacterial pathogen-infected lymphocytes and reduces bacterial survival

C2 domains are protein structural modules found in many eukaryotic proteins involved in signal transduction, membrane trafficking, and immune defense. Most of the studied C2 domain-containing proteins are multi-domained in structure, in which the C2 domain is an independently folded motif and plays an essential role in calcium-dependent membrane-targeting. Although C2 domains isolated from intact proteins have been studied for biological functions, no study on natural proteins containing C2 domain only has been documented. In this study, we identified a Scophthalmus maximus protein SmC2P1 that is comprised of a single C2 domain and lacks any other apparent domain structures. The deduced amino acid sequence of SmC2P1 contains 129 residues and shares 36-38% identities with the C2 domains of the perforins of several fish species. Like typical C2 domains, SmC2P1 is predicted to organize into eight beta-strands with a Ca2+-binding site located in inter-strand loops. SmC2P1 expression was detected, in deceasing order, in liver, spleen, blood, brain, muscle, kidney, gill, and heart. Experimental challenge of turbot with a bacterial pathogen significantly upregulated SmC2P1 expression in kidney in a time-dependent manner. Recombinant SmC2P1 purified from yeast exhibits no hemolytic activity but binds to pathogen-infected kidney lymphocytes in the presence of calcium. Furthermore, interaction of recombinant SmC2P1 with bacterium-infected lymphocytes reduced bacterial survival. These results indicate that SmC2P1 is a functional protein that is involved in host immune defense against bacterial infection. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

水母刺丝囊毒素的提取，溶血活性和毒性的研究

本文研究了水母毒性细胞—刺丝囊的性质、刺丝囊毒素的提取及刺丝囊毒素的溶血活性和毒性等方面的内容。 通过显微镜、扫描电镜及透射电镜分别对霞水母、海蜇、沙蜇触手中所含刺丝囊的形态特点进行了分析，发现三种水母触手中含有不同形状和大小的刺丝囊。应用珠磨式组织研磨器破碎刺丝囊，可有效提取刺丝囊毒素。 霞水母刺丝囊毒素具有明显的溶血活性。4-37°C范围内毒素的溶血活性与温度变化密切相关。毒素溶血活性对pH敏感。胰蛋白酶和鞘磷脂能明显抑制毒素的溶血活性。毒素的溶血活性具有二价金属离子依赖性，Ca2+可能是毒素溶血活性的重要活化剂。EDTA，NaCl及GSH对毒素的溶血活性具有稳定作用。 水母刺丝囊毒素与触手中提取的毒素含有明显不同的蛋白组成，刺丝囊毒素的溶血活性强于触手中提取的毒素。 霞水母刺丝囊毒素表现出明显的神经毒性作用。毒素对草鱼的毒性具有剂量依赖性。霞水母刺丝囊毒素的致死毒性对热的稳定性要比已报道的其它水母毒素强。毒性对pH敏感，胰蛋白酶对毒素的毒性具有明显的抑制作用。毒素的毒性在-80°C稳定。通过DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow和Sephadex G-100分离霞水母刺丝囊毒素，主要得到两条蛋白谱带，分子量分别为60kDa和47kDa。毒素中的溶血活性成分不具有致死毒性。