The complete amino acid sequence of growth hormone and partial amino acid sequence of prolactin and somatolactin from sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus)

Growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and somatolactin (SL) were purified simultaneously under alkaline condition (pH 9.0) from pituitary glands of sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicas) by a two-step procedure involving gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (rpHPLC). At each step of purification, fractions were monitored by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and by immunoblotting with chum salmon GH. PRL and SL antisera. The yields of sea perch GH, PRL and SL were 4.2, 1.0 and 0.28 mg/g wet tissue, respectively. The molecular weights of 19,200 and 20,370 Da were estimated by SDS-PAGE for sea perch GH and PRL, respectively. Two forms of sea perch SL were found: one (28,400 Da) is probably glycosylated, while the other one (23,200 Da) is believed to be deglycosylated. GH bioactivity was examined by an in vivo assay. Intraperitoneal injection of sea perch GH at a dose of 0.01 and 0.1 mug/g body weight at 7-day intervals resulted in a significant increase in body weight and length of juvenile rainbow trout. The complete sea-perch GH amino acid sequence of 187 residues was determined by sequencing fragments cleaved by chemicals and enzymes. Alignment of sea-perch GH with those of other fish GHs revealed that sea-perch GH is most similar to advanced marine fish, such as tuna, gilthead sea bream, yellowfin porgy, red sea bream, bonito and yellow tail with 98.4, 96.2%, 95.7%, 95.2%, 94.1% and 91% sequence identity, respectively. Sea-perch GH has low identity to Atlantic cod (76.5%), hardtail (73.3%), flounder (68.4%), chum salmon (66.3%), carp (54%) and blue shark (38%). Partial amino-acid sequences of 127 of sea-perch PRL and the N-terminal of 16 amino-acid sequence of sea-perch SL have been determined. The data show that sea-perch PRL has a slightly higher sequence identity with tilapia PRL( 73.2%) than with chum salmon PRL(70%) in this 127 amino-acid sequence. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Application of 2-(11H-benzo[a] carbazol-11-yl) Ethyl Carbonochloridate as a Pro-column Derivatization Reagent of Amino Acid by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

On a reversed phase Hypersil BDS C-18 (200 mm x 4. 6 mm, 5 mu m) column, 20 amino acids, which were derivatized using 2-(11H-benzo [a] carbazol-11-yl) ethyl carbonochloridate (BCEC-Cl) as pre-column derivatization reagent, were separated in conjunction with a gradient elution. Optimum derivatization was obtained by reacting of amino acids with BCEC-Cl at room temperature for 5 min in the presence of sodium borate catalyst in acetonitrile solvent. The fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths were 279 nm and 380 nm respectively. The identification of amino acid derivatives from hydrolyzed bovine serum albumin and bee pollen was carried out by post-column mass spectrometry with electrospray ion source in positive ion mode. Linear correlation coefficients of the amino acid derivatives were > 0.9990, and detection limits (at signal to noise of 3:1) were 1.49 - 19.74 fmol for the labeled amino acids.

Simultaneous determination of monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitters in rat endbrain tissues by pre-column derivatization with high-performance liquid chromatographic fluorescence detection and mass spectrometric identification

A sensitive and efficient method for simultaneous determination of glutamic acid (Glu), gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in rat endbrains was developed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection and on-line mass spectrometric identification following derivatization with 1,2-benzo-3,4-dihydrocarbazole-9-ethyl chloroformate (BCEOC). Different parameters which influenced derivatization and separation were optimized. The complete separation of five neurotransmitter (NT) derivatives was performed on a reversed-phase Hypersil BDS-C-18 column with a gradient elution. The rapid structure identification of five neurotransmitter derivatives was carried out by on-line mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) source in positive ion mode, and the BCEOC-labeled derivatives were characterized by easy-to-interpret mass spectra. Stability of derivatives, repeatability, precision and accuracy were evaluated and the results were excellent for efficient HPLC analysis. The quantitative linear range of five neurotransmitters were 2.441-2 x 10(4) nM, and limits of detection were in the range of 0.398-1.258 nM (S/N = 3:1). The changes of their concentrations in endbrains of three rat groups were also studied using this HPLC fluorescence detection method. The results indicated that exhausting exercise could obviously influence the concentrations of neurotransmitters in rat endbrains. The established method exhibited excellent validity, high sensitivity and convenience, and provided a new technique for simultaneous analysis of monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitters in rat brain. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chiral separation of enantiomers of amino acid derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography on a norvancomycin-bonded chiral stationary phase

A novel norvancomycin-bonded chiral stationary phase (NVC-CSP) was synthesized by using the chiral selector of norvancomycin. The chiral separation of enantiomers of several dansyl-amino acids by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the reversed-phase mode is described. The effects of some parameters, such as organic modifier concentration, column temperature, pH and flow rate of the mobile phase, on the retention and enantioselectivity were investigated. The study showed that ionic, as well as hydrophobic interactions were engaged between the analyte and macrocycle in this chromatographic system. Increasing pH of buffers usually improved the chiral resolution for dansyl-alpha-amino-n-butyric acid (Dns-But), dansyl-methionine (Dns-Met) and dansyl-threonine (Dns-Thr), but not for dansyl-glutamic acid (Dns-Glu) which contains two carboxylic groups in its molecular structure. The natural logarithms of selectivity factors (In alpha) of all the investigated compounds depended linearly on the reciprocal of temperature (1/T), most processes of enantioseparation were controlled enthalpically. Interestingly, the process of enantioseparation for dansyl-threonine was enthalpy-controlled at pH of 3.5, while at pH of 7.0, it was entropy-controlled according to thermodynamic parameters Delta(R,S)DeltaHdegrees and Delta(R,S)DeltaSdegrees afforded by Van't Hoff plots. In order to get baseline separation for all the solutes researched, norvancomycin was also used as a chiral mobile phase additive. In combination with the NVC-CSP remarkable increases in enanselectivity were observed for all the compounds, as the result of a "synergistic" effect. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The c-myc coding DNA sequences of cyprinids (Teleostei : Cypriniformes): Implications for phylogeny

The family Cyprinidae is one of the largest fish families in the world, which is widely distributed in East Asian, with obvious difference in characteristic size among species. The phylogenetic analysis of cyprinid taxa based on the functionally important genes can help to understand the speciation and functional divergench of the Cyprinidae. The c-myc gene is an important gene regulating individual growth. In the present study, the sequence variations of the cyprinid c-myc gene and their phylogenetic significance were analyzed. The 41 complete sequences of the c-myc gene were obtained from cyprinids and outgroups through PCR amplification and clone. The coding DNA sequences of the c-myc gene were used to infer molecular phylogenetic relationships within the Cyprinidae. Myxocyprinus asiaticus (Catostomidae), Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cobitidae) and Hemimyzon sinensis (Homalopteridae) were assigned to the outgroup taxa. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML), and Bayesian retrieved similar topology. Within the Cyprinidae, Leuciscini and Barbini formed the monophyletic lineage respectively with high nodal supports. Leuciscini comprises Xeno-cyprinae, Cultrinae, East Asian species of Leuciscinae and Danioninae, Gobioninae and Acheilognathinae, and Barbini contains Schizothoracinae, Barbinae, Cyprininae and Labeoninae. Danio rerio, D. myersi and Rasbora trilineata were supposed to separate from Leuciscinae and Barbini and to form another lineage, The positions of some Danioninae species were still unresolved. Analyses of both amino acid variation with parsimony information and two high variation regions indicated that there is no correlation between variations of single amino acid or high variation regions and characteristic size of cyprinids. In,addition, the species with smaller size were usually found to be basal within clades in the tree, which might be the results of the adaptation to the primitive ecology and survival pressure.

7-Amino actinomycin D bound to single-stranded hairpin DNA enhanced by loop sequence-dependent luminescent Eu3+ and Tb3+ binding

Lanthanide Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions have been widely used in luminescent resonance energy transfer (LRET) for bioassays to study metal binding microenvironments. We report here that Eu3+ or Tb3+ can increase the binding affinity of antitumor antibiotic drug agent, 7-amino actinomycin D (7AACTD), binding to 5'-GT/TG-5' or 5'-GA/AG-5' mismatched stem region of the single-stranded hairpin DNA. Further studies indicate that the effect of Eu3+ or Tb3+ on 7AACTD binding is related to DNA loop sequence. Our results will provide new insights into how metal ions can enhance antitumor agents binding to their targets.

Computer simulation of human iodothyronine deiodinase single-chain antibody

Iodothyronine plays a major role in growth, basic metabolism and organ formation. It has an extremely limited source in the body. In this thesis, we designed iodothyronine(T4) as hapten. Then a single chain antibody displayed on phange was obtained from a human phage displaying a single chain antibody library. The specific genes of E3 was subcloned in P-5E vector. According to its amino acid sequences, we simulate its three dimention structure by computer. It has never been reported in PDB.

Isolation, characterization and electron microscopic single particle analysis of the NADH : ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Aquifex aeolicus

The proton-translocating NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) has been purified from Aquifex aeolicus, a hyperthermophilic eubacterium of known genome sequence. The purified detergent solubilized enzyme is highly active above 50 degreesC. The specific activity for electron transfer from NADH to decylubiquinone is 29 U/mg at 80 degreesC. The A. aeolicus complex I is completely sensitive to rotenone and 2-n-decyl-quinazoline-4-yl-amine. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows that it may contain up to 14 subunits. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the bands indicates the presence of a stable subcomplex, which is composed of subunits E, F, and G. The isolated complex is highly stable and active in a temperature range from 50 to 90 degreesC, with a half-life of about 10 h at 80 degreesC. The activity shows a linear Arrhenius plot at 50-85 degreesC with an activation energy at 31.92 J/mol K. Single particle electron microscopy shows that the A. aeolicus complex I has the typical L-shape. However, visual inspection of averaged images reveals many more details in the external arm of the complex than has been observed for complex I from other sources. In addition, the angle (90degrees) between the cytoplasmic peripheral arm and the membrane intrinsic arm of the complex appears to be invariant.

Bromophenols coupled with derivatives of amino acids and nucleosides from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides

Three new bromophenols coupled with pyroglutamic acid derivatives and one bromophenol coupled with deoxyguanosine were obtained from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides. By spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis their structures were elucidated as N-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)methyl pyroglutamate (1), N-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)pyroglutamic acid (2), N-[3-bromo-2-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-4,5-dihydroxybenzyllmethyl pyroglutamate (3), and 2-N-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzylamino)deoxyguanosine (4), respectively. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated against several microorganisms and human cancer cell lines, but found inactive. To our knowledge this is the first report of bromophenols coupled with amino acid or nucleoside derivatives through the C-N bond.

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.

A NOVEL PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR FROM SNAKE-VENOM - PURIFICATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND MOLECULAR-CLONING

A novel plasminogen activator from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom (TSV-PA) has been identified and purified to homogeneity. It is a single chain glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 33,000 and an isoelectric point of pH 5.2. It specifically activates plasminogen through an enzymatic reaction. The activation of human native GIu-plasminogen by TSV-PA is due to a single cleavage of the molecule at the peptide bond Arg(561)-Val-(562). Purified TSV-PA, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of several tripeptide p-nitroanilide substrates, does not activate nor degrade prothrombin, factor X, or protein C and does not clot fibrinogen nor show fibrino(geno)lytic activity in the absence of plasminogen. The activity of TSV-PA was readily inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and by p-nitrophenyl-p-guanidinobenzoate. Oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of the N-terminal and the internal peptide sequences of TSV-PA were used for the amplification of cDNA fragments by polymerase chain reaction. This allowed the cloning of a full-length cDNA encoding TSV-PA from a cDNA library prepared from the venom glands. The deduced complete amino acid sequence of TSV-PA indicates that the mature TSV-PA protein is composed of 234 amino acids and contains a single potential N-gIycosylation site at Asn(1G1). The sequence of TSV-PA exhibits a high degree of sequence identity with other snake venom proteases: 66% with the protein C activator from Aghistrodon contortrix contortrix venom, 63% with batroxobin, and 60% with the factor V activator from Russell's viper venom. On the other hand, TSV-PA shows only 21-23% sequence similarity with the catalytic domains of u-PA and t-PA. Furthermore, TSV-PA lacks the sequence site that has been demonstrated to be responsible for the interaction of t-PA (KHRR) and u-PA (RRHR) with plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1.

Characterization of a fibrinogen-clotting enzyme from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom, and comparative study with other venom proteases

Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom, which contains TSV-PA (a specific plasminogen activator sharing 60-70% sequence homology with venom fibrinogen-clotting enzymes), also possesses fibrinogen-clotting activity in vitro. A fibrinogen-clotting enzyme (stejnobin) has been purified to homogeneity by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono-Q column. It is a single-chain glycoprotein with a mol. wt of 44,000. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of stejnobin shows great homology with venom fibrinogen-clotting enzymes and TSV-PA. Like TSV-PA, stejnobin was able to hydrolyse several chromogenic substrates. Comparative study of substrate specificities of stejnobin and other venom proteases purified in our laboratory was carried out on five chromogenic substrates. Stejnobin clotted human fibrinogen with a specific activity of 122 NIH thrombin-equivalent units/mg protein. However, stejnobin did not act on other blood coagulation factors, such as factor X, prothrombin and plasminogen. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride inhibited its activity, whereas ethylenediamine tetracetic acid had no effect on it, indicating that it is a serine protease. Although stejnobin showed strong immunological cross-reaction with polyclonal antibodies raised against TSV-PA, it was interesting to observe that, unlike the case of TSV-PA, these antibodies did not inhibit the amidolytic and fibrinogen-clotting activities of stejnobin. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cloning and characterization of a blood coagulation factor IX-binding protein from the venom of Trimeresurus stejnegeri

A blood coagulation factor IX-binding protein (TSV-FIX-BP) was isolated from the snake venom of Trimeresurus stejnegeri. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, TSV-FIX-BP showed a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 23,000 under non-reducing conditions. and two distinct bands with apparent molecular weights of 14,800 and 14,000 under reducing conditions. cDNA clones containing the coding sequences of TSV-FIX-BP were isolated and sequenced to determine the structure of the precusors of TSV-FIX-BP subunits. The deduced amino acid sequences of two subunits of TSV-FIX-BP were confirmed by N-terminal protein sequencing and trypsin-digested peptide mass fingerprinting. TSV-FIX-BP was a nonenzymatic C-type lectin-like anti-coagulant. The anti-coagulant activity of TSV-FIX-BP was mainly caused by its dose dependent interaction with blood coagulation factor IX but not with blood coagulation factor X. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.