Adaptive evolution of primate TRIM5 alpha, a gene restricting HIV-1 infection

Recent studies showed that nonhuman primate TRIM5 alpha can efficiently block HIV-1 infection in human cell lines. It can also restrict other retroviruses, therefore, suggested as a general defender against retrovirus infection. Here, we present an evolutionary analysis of TRIM5 alpha in primates. Our results demonstrated that TRIM5a has been evolving rapidly in primates, which is likely caused by Darwinian positive selection. The SPRY domain of TRM5 alpha, which may be responsible for recognition of incoming viral capsids showed higher nonsynonymous/synonymous substitution ratios than the non-SPRY domain, indicating that the adaptive evolution of TRIM5a ill primates might be an innate strategy developed in defending retrovirus infection during primate evolution. In addition, the comparative protein sequence analysis suggested that the amino acid substitution pattern at a single site (344R/Q/P) located in the SPRY domain may explain the differences in Susceptibilities of HIV-1 infection in diverse primate species. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

稳定表达HIV-1辅助蛋白Rev的THP-1细胞模型的建立和鉴定

Human immunodeficiency virus-1(HIV-1)辅助蛋白在其感染和艾滋病发病过程中起着非常重要的作用.Regulator of expression of virion proteins(Rev)作为HIV-1辅助蛋白之一,可以调节病毒结构蛋白mRNA出核转运和蛋白表达,对于病毒的复制至关重要.为研究Rev蛋白对靶细胞表犁和功能的影响,本实验采用电穿孔的方法,将HIV-1的rev基因导入THP-1细胞,通过流式分选结合G418筛选的方法建立稳定表达Rev蛋白的细胞模型;并通过RT-PCR、荧光观察及流式检测的方法,在mRNA和蛋白两个水平对所建立的细胞模犁进行鉴定.结果证实rev基凶成功导入了THP-1细胞并稳定表达,为后续rev基因产物与细胞相互作用的研究提供了平台.

HIV-1核衣壳蛋白NCp7抑制剂体外筛选方法的建立

目的 表达HIV-1核衣壳蛋白(nucleocapside protein p7,NCp7),并建立抑制剂筛选方法.方法 从pBRU2/ADP202质粒经PCR得到HIV-1 NCp7编码序列,克隆到pet28a 质粒中构建HIV-1 NCp7表达载体.阳性克隆转染E.coli BL21 DE3,以IPTG诱导,细胞裂解液经Q Sepharose H.P和SP Sepharose H.P纯化后纯度达到90%以上.将具有锌离子逐出活性的H2O2和2,2'-联硫基二吡啶(2,2'-dithiodipyridine,AT-2)与NCp7作用,用锌离子特异的荧光染料检测.用该方法检测KIZ-CM系列化合物.结果 可以检测H2O2和AT-2的锌离子逐出活性,经该方法筛选,KIZ-CM 10,18,19等化合物具有一定的锌离子逐出活性.结论 在国内首次建立了HIV-1 NCp7锌离子逐出方法,该方法可以用于NCp7抑制剂的筛选.

HIV-1核衣壳蛋白NCp7的功能及其抑制剂研究进展

NCp7在HIV-1生活周期中多个步骤发挥重要的核酸分子伴侣作用.抑制NCp7的功能可阻断HIV-1复制.NCp7含有两个高度保守的锌指结构,对NCp7的功能起决定性作用.锌指结构突变将导致HIV-1丧失感染能力.NCp7抑制剂可望成为下一代不容易产生耐药突变的抗HIV-1药物.本文就NCp7抑制剂目前的研究进展作简略综述.

多糖化合物抗HIV活性及应用

　多糖类化合物种类繁多,许多多糖化合物在体内或体外表现出良好的抗HIV 活性,多糖能 够作用于HIV 复制周期的多个环节,影响tat 、gp120、RT 等多个病毒蛋白的功能。目前,已有多糖 被用于杀微生物剂、抗病毒辅助治疗、抗机会性感染等临床研究中,多糖在临床上存在抗凝血活 性、生物利用度低等问题,但丰富的多糖类化合物因其作用多效性仍有广阔的抗HIV 应用前景。

Anti-HIV-1 property of trichosanthin correlates with its ribosome inactivating activity

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome inactivating (RI) protein possessing anti-tumor and antiviral activity, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The mechanism of these actions is not entirely clear, but is generally attributed to its RI property. In order to study the relationship between the anti-HIV-1 activity of TCS and its RI activity, three TCS mutants with different RI activities were constructed by using site-directed mutagenesis. The anti-HIV-1 activities of the three mutants were tested in vitro. Results showed that two TCS mutants, namely TCSM((120-123)), TCSE160A/E189A, with the greatest decrease in RI activity, lost almost all of the anti-HIV activity and cytopathic effect. Another mutant TCSR122G, which exhibited a 160-fold decrease in RI activity, retained some anti-HIV activity. The results from this study suggested that RI activity of TCS may have significant contribution to its anti-HIV-1 property. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

Independency of anti-HIV-1 activity from ribosome-inactivating activity of trichosanthin

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome-inactivating (RI) protein possessing multiple biological and pharmacological activities. Its major action is inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication but the mechanism is still elusive. All evidences showed that this action is related to its RI activity. Previous studies found that TCS mutants with reduced RI activity simultaneously lost some anti-HIV activity. In this study, an exception was demonstrated by two TCS mutants retaining almost all RI activity but were devoid of anti-HIV-1 activity. Five mutants were constructed by using site-directed mutagenesis with either deletion or addition of amino acids to the C-terminal sequence. Results showed that the RI activity of mutants with C-terminal deletion mutants (TCSC2, TCSC4, and TCSC14) decreased by 1.2-3.3-fold with parallel downshifting of its anti-HIV-1 activity (1.4-4.8-fold). Another two mutants, TCSC19aa and TCSKDEL having 19 amino acid extension and a KDEL signal sequence added to the C-terminal sequence, retained all RI activity but subsequently lost most of the anti-HIV-1 activity. These findings suggested that ribosome inactivation alone might not be adequate to explain the anti-HIV action of TCS. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Site-directed PEGylation of trichosanthin retained its anti-HIV activity with reduced potency in vitro

Trichosanthin (TCS) was the first ribosome inactivating protein found to possess anti-HIV-1 activity. Phase I/II clinical trial of this compound had been done. Antigenicity and short plasma half-life were the major side effects preventing further clinical trial. Modification of TCS is therefore necessary to revive the interest to develop this compound as an anti-HIV agent. Three potential antigenic sites (Ser-7, Lys-173, and Gln-219) were identified by computer modeling. Through site-directed mutagenesis, these three antigenic amino acids were mutated to a cysteine residue resulting in 3 TCS mutants, namely S7C, K173C, and Q219C. These mutants were further coupled to polyethylene glycol with a molecular size of 20 kDa (PEG) via the cysteine residue. This produced another three TCS derivatives, namely PEG(20)k-S7C, PEG(20)k-K173C, and PEG(20)k-Q219C. PEGylation had been widely used recently to decrease immunogenicity by masking the antigenic sites and prolong plasma half-life by expanding the molecular size. The in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity of these mutants and derivatives was tested. Results showed that the anti-HIV-1 activity of S7C, K173C, and Q219C was decreased by about 1.5- to 5.5-fold with slightly lower cytotoxicity. On the other hand, PEGylation produced larger decrease (20- to 30-fold) in anti-HIV activity. Cytotoxicity was, however, weakened only slightly by about 3-fold. The in vitro study showed that the anti-HIV activity of PEGylated TCS was retained with reduced potency. The in vivo activity is expected to have only slightly changed due to other beneficial effects like prolonged half-life. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enhanced apoptotic action of trichosanthin in HIV-1 infected cells

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) effective against HIV-1 replication. The mechanism is not clear. Present results suggested that the antiviral action tray be partly mediated through enhanced apoptosis on infected cells. TCS induced apoptosis in normal H9 cells and this action was more potent in those infected with HIV-1. In flow cytometry study, TCS induced larger population of apoptotic H9 cells chronically infected with HIV-1 in a dose-dependent manner. At TCS concentration of 25 mu g/ml. 8.4% of normal H9 cells were found to be apoptotic whereas the same concentration induced 24.5% in HIV-1 chronically infected cells. Such difference was not found in the control experiments without TCS treatment. Two other studies supported this action. Cytotoxic study showed that cell viability was always lower in HIV-1 infected cells after TCS treatment, and DNA fragmentation studs confirmed more laddering in infected cells. The mechanism of TCS induced apoptosis in normal or infected H9 cells is not clear. Results in this study demonstrated that TCS is snore effective in inducing apoptosis in HIV-1 infected cells. This may explain in part the antiviral action of TCS. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (CEP-11004) counteracts the anti-HIV-1 action of trichosanthin

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome-inactivating protein possessing multiple biological and pharmacological activities. One of its major actions is inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. The mechanism is still not clear. It is

A new lectin from the sea worm Serpula vermicularis: Isolation, characterization and anti-HIV activity

A GlcNAc-specific lectin was isolated from the sea worm Serpula vermicularis (SVL) (Annelida) and purified by ion-exchange, affinity and gel permeation chromatography. SVL was a homotetrameric protein with native molecular mass of about 50 kDa, and consis

D77, one benzoic acid derivative, functions as a novel anti-HIV-1 inhibitor targeting the interaction between integrase and cellular LEDGF/p75

Integration of viral-DNA into host chromosome mediated by the viral protein HIV-1 integrase (IN) is an essential step in the HIV-1 life cycle. In this process, Lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75) is discovered to function as a cellular co-fa

与植物多糖硫酸酯结合的HIV-1ⅢB灭活病毒免疫小鼠的研究

目的：为了探讨植物多糖硫酸酯（’&&(）与)*+%$ 结合后，能否诱导,-./+#0 的)*+%$ 暴露出中和抗体的表 位，用它作为灭活疫苗以便诱导产生中和抗体。方法：用’&&( 结合的灭活,-./+#0 作为免疫原，与佐剂混和后，免疫 0(102 3 小鼠，制备出免疫血浆。用41-5( 检测血浆内抗,-./+ 特异性-)6 抗体的滴度，用改良的活细胞染色法中和试验检测 免疫血浆的抗,-./+#0 的中和活性。结果：从与’&&( 结合的,-./+#0 免疫组的动物获得的免疫血浆内抗,-./+ 抗体的滴 度（7 组：+8 # 9 +$" ；: 组：+8 # 9 +$" ）比未结合’&&( 的,-./+#0 免疫组（;8 < 9 +$# ）高，雌性小鼠的免疫血浆的特异性抗体滴 度比雄性的高& 倍。所有免疫组获得的免疫血浆均没有抗,-./+ 中和活性。结论：’&&( 与)*+%$ 相互作用不能诱导暴露出 )*+%$ 的中和抗体表位，但’&&( 可以增强机体免疫原的抗体反应强度，提示它可以作为免疫增强剂用于疫苗研究。

In vitro anti-HIV and -HSV activity and safety of sodium rutin sulfate as a microbicide candidate

Sodium rutin sulfate (SRS) is a sulfated rutin modified from the natural flavonol glycoside rutin. Here, we investigated its in vitro anti-HIV and -HSV activities and its cytotoxic profile. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of SRS against HIV-1 X4 virus IIIB, HIV-1 R5 isolates Ada-M and Ba-L were 2.3 +/- 0.2, 4.5 +/- 2.0 and 8.5 +/- 3.8 mu M with a selectivity index (SI) of 563, 575 and 329, respectively. Its IC50 against primary R5 HIV-1 isolate from Yunnan province in China was 13.1 +/- 5.5 mu M, with a Sl of 197. In contrast, unsulfated rutin had no activity against any of the HIV-1 isolates tested. Further study indicated that SRS blocked viral entry and virus-cell fusion likely through interacting with the HIV- I envelope glycoprotein. SRS also demonstrated some activity against human herpes simplex virus (HSV) with an IC50 of 88.3 +/- 0.1 mu M and a Sl of 30. The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) of SRS was >3.0 mM, as determined in human genital ME 180, HeLa and primary human foreskin fibroblast cells. Minimum inhibitory concentration of SRS for vaginal lactobacilli was >3.0 mM. These results collectively indicate that SRS represents a novel candidate for anti-HIV-1/HSV microbicide development. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Predicted glycosyl transferase genes located outside the HEP island are required for formation of heterocyst envelope polysaccharide in Anabaena sp strain PCC 7120

During maturation, heterocysts form an envelope layer of polysaccharide, called heterocyst envelope polysaccharide (HEP), whose synthesis depends on a cluster of genes, the HEP island, and on an additional, distant gene, hepB, or a gene immediately downstream from hepB. We show that HEP formation depends upon the predicted glycosyl transferase genes all4160 at a third locus and alr3699, which is adjacent to hepB and is cotranscribed with it. Mutations in the histidine kinase genes hepN and hepK appear to silence the promoter of hepB and incompletely down-regulate all4160.