Measurement of the Interaction Between Recombinant I-domain from Integrin alpha 2 beta 1 and a Triple Helical Collagen Peptide with the GFOGER Binding Motif Using Molecular Force Spectroscopy.

The role of the collagen-platelet interaction is of crucial importance to the haemostatic response during both injury and pathogenesis of the blood vessel wall. Of particular interest is the high affinity interaction of the platelet transmembrane receptor, alpha 2 beta 1, responsible for firm attachment of platelets to collagen at and around injury sites. We employ single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) using the atomic force microscope (AFM) to study the interaction of the I-domain from integrin alpha 2 beta 1 with a synthetic collagen related triple-helical peptide containing the high-affinity integrin-binding GFOGER motif, and a control peptide lacking this sequence, referred to as GPP. By utilising synthetic peptides in this manner we are able to study at the molecular level subtleties that would otherwise be lost when considering cell-to-collagen matrix interactions using ensemble techniques. We demonstrate for the first time the complexity of this interaction as illustrated by the complex multi-peaked force spectra and confirm specificity using control blocking experiments. In addition we observe specific interaction of the GPP peptide sequence with the I-domain. We propose a model to explain these observations.

Effect of beta-glucan on activity of antioxidant enzymes and Mx gene expression in virus infected grass carp

The effects of beta-glucan, an immunostimulatory agent, on the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities of erythrocytes and Mx gene expression were studied from grass carp that were challenged with grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV). The SOD and CAT activities in erythrocytes and Mx gene expression in spleen from the fish were detected by spectrophotometry and RT-PCR, respectively. Negative control fish were injected with PBS; positive control groups were injected with either P-glucan or GCHV only; and the experimental groups were pre-injected with beta-glucan 15 days prior to injection with GCHV. The results show that the SOD and CAT activities were higher in fish injected with beta-glucan for 15 days than the negative control group injected with PBS. The SOD and CATactivities significantly decreased when the fish were challenged with GCHV, but it was higher in the group pre-treated with beta-glucan than in infected fish not pre-treated, 15 days after GCHV infection. Mx gene expression levels increased during the early stages (at 12 h and 36 h) of GCHV infection, and it remained at higher levels from the 6th till the 10th day in the beta-glucan pre-treated group, but it was failing from the 6th day in the beta-glucan untreated group. The GCHV-infected group pre-treated with P-glucan had a higher survival rate (60%) than the group not pre-treated with P-glucan (20%), suggesting that beta-glucan possesses or enhances anti-viral responses. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative responses in rare minnow exposed to 17 beta-estradiol during different life stages

Present in the excrement of humans and animals, 17 beta-estradiol (E-2) has been detected in the aquatic environment in a range from several nanograms to several hundred nanograms per liter. In this study, the sensitivities of rare minnows during different life stages to E-2 at environmentally relevant (5, 25, and 100 ng l(-1)) and high (1000 ng l(-1)) concentrations were compared using vitellogenin (VTG) and gonad development as biomarkers under semistatic conditions. After 21 days of exposure, VTG concentrations in whole-body homogenates were analyzed; the results indicated that the lowest observed effective concentration for VTG induction was 25 ng l(-1) E-2 in the adult stage, but 100 ng l(-1) E-2 in the larval and juvenile stages. After exposure in the early life stage, the larval and juvenile fish were transferred to clean water until gonad maturation. No significant difference in VTG induction was found between the exposure and control groups in the adults. However, a markedly increased proportion of females and appearance of hermaphrodism were observed in the juvenile-stage group exposed to 25 ng l(-1) E-2. These results showed that VTG induction in the adult stage is more sensitive than in larval and juvenile stages following exposure to E-2. The juvenile stage may be the critical period of gonad development. Sex ratio could be a sensitive biomarker indicating exposure to xenoestrogens in early-life-stage subchronic exposure tests. The results of this study provide useful information for selecting sensitive biomarkers properly in aquatic toxicology testing.

Antimicrobial activity-specific to Gram-negative bacteria and immune modulation-mediated NF-kappa B and Sp1 of a medaka beta-defensin

Defensins are a group of cationic antimicrobial peptides which play an important role in the innate immune system by exerting their antimicrobial activity against pathogens. In this study, we cloned a novel beta-defensin cDNA from medaka (Oryzias latipes) by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. The full-length cDNA consists of 480 bp, and the open reading frame (CRF) of 189 bp encodes a polypeptide of 63 amino acids (aa) with a predicted molecular weight of 7.44 kDa. Its genomic organization was analyzed, and Southern blot detection confirmed that only one copy of beta-defensin exists in the medaka HNI strain. RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry detections showed that the beta-defensin transcript and protein could be detected in eyes, liver, kidney, blood, spleen and gill, and obviously prevalent expression was found in eyes. Antimicrobial activity of the medaka beta-defensin was evaluated, and the antibacterial activity-specific to Gram-negative bacteria was revealed. Furthermore, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, was demonstrated to be able to induce about 13-fol up-regulation of the beta-defensin within first 12 h. In addition, promoter and promoter mutagenesis analysis were performed in the medaka beta-defensin. A proximal 100 base pair(bp) sequence (+26 to -73)and the next 1700 bp sequence (-73 to -1755) were demonstrated to be responsible for the basal promoter activity and for the transcription regulation. Three nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) cis-elements and a Sp1 cis-element were revealed by mutagenesis analysis to exist in the 5' flanking sequence, and they were confirmed to be responsible for the up-regulation of medaka beta-defensin stimulated by LPS. And, the Sp1 cis-element was further revealed to be related to the basal promoter activity, and transcriptional factor II D (TFIID) was found to be in charge of the gene transcription initiation. All the obtained data suggested that the novel medaka beta-defensin should have antimicrobial activity-specific to Gram-negative bacteria, and the antibacterial immune function should be modulated by NF-kappa B and Sp1. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular cloning and characterization of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) CD8 beta and CD4-like genes

Partial cDNA sequences of both CD8 beta and CD4-like (CD4L) genes of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were isolated from thymus cDNA library by the method of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Subsequently the full length cDNAs of carp CD8 and CD4L were obtained by means of 3' RACE and 5' RACE, respectively. The full length cDNA of carp CD8 is 1164 bp and encodes 207 amino acids including a signal peptide region of 24 amino acids, a transmembrane region of 23 amino acids from aa 167 to aa189 and an immunoglobulin V-set from aa 19 to aa 141. Similar to other species CD8 beta s,carp CD8 beta also lacks p56(lck) domain in the cytoplasmic region. The full length cDNA of carp CD4L is 2001 bp and encodes 458 amino acids including four immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains in the extracellular region, a transmembrane region of 23 amino acids at the C-terminal region from aa 402 to aa 424 and a cytoplasmic tail. Similar to mammalian, avian CD4s and fugu CD4L, carp CD4L also has the conserved p56(lck) tyrosine kinase motif (C-X-C) in the cytoplasmic region. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that carp CD8 beta and CD4L genes were both expressed predominantly in thymus. The results from this study can be used to understand the evolution of both the CD8 beta and CD4 molecules which can be used as markers for cytotoxic and helper T cells in carp. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Headspace solid-phase microextraction with novel sol-gel permethylated-beta-cyclodextrin/hydroxyl-termination silicone oil fiber for determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in soil

A simple, sensitive, and accurate method for determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soil has been developed based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Permethylated-beta-cyclodextrin/hydroxyl-termination silicone oil (PM-beta-CD/OH-TSO) fiber was first prepared by sol-gel technology and employed in SPME procedure. By exploiting the superiorities of sot-gel coating technique and the advantages of the high hydrophobic doughnut-shaped cavity of PM-beta-CD, the novel fiber showed desirable operational stability and extraction ability. After optimization on extraction conditions like water addition, extraction temperature, extraction time, salts effect, and solvents addition, the method was validated in soil samples, achieving good linearity (r>0.999), precision (R.S.D. < 10%), accuracy (recovery>78%), and detection limits (S/N =3) raging from 13.0 to 78.3 pg/g. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The recombinant beta subunit of C-phycocyanin inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) from blue-green algae has been reported to have various pharmacological characteristics, including antiinflammatory and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we expressed the beta-subunit of C-PC (ref to as C-POP) in Escherichia coli. We found that the recombinant C-PC/beta has anti-cancer properties. Under the treatment of 5 mu M of the recombinant C-PC/beta, four different cancer cell lines accrued high proliferation inhibition and apoptotic induction. Substantially, a lower response occurred in non-cancer cells. We investigated the mechanism by which C-PC/beta inhibits cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. We found that the C-PC/beta interacts with membrane-associated beta-tubulin and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Under the treatment of the C-PC/beta, depolymerization of microtubules and actin-filaments were observed. The cells underwent apoptosis with an increase in caspase-3, and caspase-8 activities. The cell cycle was arrested at the G0/G1 phase under the treatment of C-PC/beta. In addition, the nuclear level of GAPDH decreased significantly. Decrease in the nuclear level of GAPDH prevents the cell cycle from entering into the S phase. Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis may potentate the C-POP as a promising cancer prevention or therapy agent. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of the Rana grylio virus 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and its novel role in suppressing virus-induced cytopathic effect

The 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) isoenzymes play a key role in cellular steroid hormone synthesis. Here, a 3 beta-HSD gene homolog,was cloned from Rana grylio virus (RGV), a member of family Iridoviridae. RGV 3 beta-HSD gene has 1068 bp, encoding a 355 aa predicted protein. Transcription analyses showed that RGV 3 beta-HSD gene was transcribed immediate-early during infection from an initiation site 19 nucleotides upstream of the translation start site. Confocal microscopy revealed that the 3 beta-HSD-EGFP fusion protein was exclusively colocalized with the mitochondria marker (pDsRed2-Mito) in EPC cells. Upon morphological observation and MTT assay, it was revealed that overexpression of RGV 3 beta-HSD in EPC cells could apparently suppress RGV-induced cytopathic effect (CPE). The present studies indicate that the RGV immediate-early 3 beta-HSD gene encodes a mitochondria-localized protein, which has a novel role in suppressing virus-induced CPE. All these suggest that RGV 3 beta-HSD might be a protein involved in host-virus interaction. @ 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Genomic organization, gene duplication, and expression analysis of interleukin-1 beta in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) is one of the pivotal early response pro-inflammatory cytokines that enables organisms to respond to infection and induces a cascade of reactions leading to inflammation. In spite of its importance and two decades of studies in the mammalian species, genes encoding IL-1 beta were not identified from non-mammalian species until recently. Recent research, particularly with genomic approaches, has led to sequencing of IL-1 beta from many species. Clinical studies also Suggested IL-1 beta as an immunoreagulatory molecule potentially useful for enhancing vaccination. However, no IL-1 beta genes have been identified from channel catfish, the primary aquaculture species from the United States. In this study, we identified two distinct cDNAs encoding catfish IL-1 beta. Their encoding genes were identified, sequenced, and characterized. The catfish IL-1 beta genes were assigned to bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Genomic studies indicated that the IL-1 beta genes were tandemly duplicated on the same chromosome. Phylogenetic analysis of various IL-1 beta genes indicated the possibility of recent species-specific gene duplications in channel catfish, and perhaps also in swine and carp. Expression analysis indicated that both IL-1 beta genes were expressed, but exhibited distinct expression profiles in various catfish tissues, and after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular and expression characterization of three gonadotropin subunits common alpha, FSH beta and LH beta in groupers

A SMART cDNA plasmid library was constructed from protogyous greasy grouper (Epinephelus coioides) pituitary, and the full-length cDNAs of three gonadotropin (GTH) subunits common alpha, FSH beta and LH beta were cloned and sequenced from the library. The nucleotide sequences of common alpha, FSH beta and LH beta subunit cDNAs are 647, 594 and 574 bp in length, and encode for mature peptides of 94, 99 and 115 aa, respectively. High homology was observed by amino acid sequence alignment and identity comparison of the grouper mature peptides of common alpha, FSH beta and LH beta with that of other fishes. Phylogenetic tree analyses of the three GTH mature subunits revealed similar phylogeny relationships among the studied fish species. Three polyclonal antibodies were prepared from the in vitro expressed common alpha, FSH beta and LH beta mature proteins, respectively. Western blot analysis and immunofluoresence localization were performed on two typical stages of ovarian development stages in red-spotted grouper. Significant differences in protein expression levels of three gonadotropin subunits were revealed between the two ovarian development stages. In the individuals with resting ovary, common alpha was almost not detected in pituitaries, and FSH beta and LH beta expression levels were very low. While in the individuals with developing ovary, the expression of all three gonadotropin subunits reached to a high level. Immunofluoresence localization indicated that the grouper FSH beta cells mainly distributed in the middle area of PPD, while the LH beta cells distributed more widely, including in the area similar to the FSH beta cells and at the external periphery of pituitary near to the PI side. The common alpha might be expressed in both FSH beta and LH beta cells. Double immunofluoresence localization further demonstrated FSH beta and LH beta expression in distinct cells in the PPD area, although the FSH beta and LH beta cells were detected in the identical area of PPD. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential expression of thyroid-stimulating hormone beta subunit in gonads during sex reversal of orange-spotted and red-spotted groupers

We have cloned and characterized the full-length cDNA encoding thyroid-stimulating hormone beta-subunit (TSHbeta) from orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides. It contains 913 nucleotides with an open reading frame encoding 146 amino acids with a 20 amino acid signal peptide. The grouper mature TSHbeta has 75, 70, 61, 59, 41, 42 and 40% identities to that of rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, zebrafish, European eel, chicken. mouse and human, respectively. RT-PCR analysis indicated that the TSHbeta mRNA was expressed abundantly not only in pituitary but also in gonads. A more interesting finding is to reveal the differential TSHbeta expressions between the ovaries and the transitional gonads or testes in natural individuals of orange-spotted grouper and red-spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara, and in artificial sex reversal individuals of red-spotted grouper induced by MT feeding. In situ hybridization localization provided direct evidence that the TSHbeta was transcribed in the germ cells. In the growing oocytes, the TSHbeta transcripts were concentrated on the ooplasm periphery. In testicular tissues, the intensively expressed TSHbeta cells were found to be spermatogonia and spermatocytes in the spermatogenic cysts. This is the first report of a TSHbeta expressed in the gonads of any vertebrates in addition to the expected expression in the pituitary, and it expresses more transcripts in the gonads during sex reversal or testis than in the ovaries both in E. coioides and E. akaara. Importantly, the TSHbeta identification in germ cells allows us to further investigate the functional roles and the molecular mechanisms in gametogenesis of groupers, especially in sex reversal and in spermatogenesis. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Water solubility enhancement of phthalates by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and beta-cyclodextrin

Water solubility enhancements of six phthalates (five aliphatic phthalates and one phenyl phthalate) by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) were studied at 25 degreesC. The solubilities of these plithalates are remarkably enhanced by CTAB solutions above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Only marginal enhancement of phthalate solubility was observed in solutions containing CTAB below its cmc and beta-CD at low concentrations (less than 5 mM). The solubility enhancements of the plithalates are proportional to the added amount of CTAB and beta-CD. Partition coefficients of the plithalates between monomeric CTAB surfactant and water (K-MN) and between CTAB micelle and water K-MC) were estimated from the experimental data. The mechanisms of solubility enhancements by CTAB and beta-CD were discussed. A log-linear equation was proposed and evaluated for the solubilization by CTAB below cmc, while the previously proposed linear partitioning model was questioned. The structures of the complexes formed between plithalates and beta-CD were proposed, and the formation constants were estimated. The values of log K-MC, log K-MN, and log Kbeta-CD of the plithalates were found to correlate linearly with the log K-OW of plithalates, with the exception of the solid phenyl phthalate.

Effect of beta-irradiation on photoluminescence of MOCVD grown GaN

The effect of beta particles interaction on the optical properties of MOCVD grown GaN is reported. A significant change in luminescence properties of GaN is observed after exposing the material with 0.6 MeV beta particles with low dose of 10(12) cm(-2). The results obtained from photoluminescence measurements of irradiated GaN samples in low dose are found contradictory to those reported in literature for samples irradiated with heavy dose (> 10(15) cm(-2)) of electron. An increase in intensity of yellow luminescence has been observed with increasing dose of beta particles which is in disagreement to the already reported results in literature for heavily irradiated samples. A model has been proposed to sort out this inconsistency. The increase in YL intensity at low dose is attributed to the increase in concentration of VGaON complex whereas production of non-radiative VGaON clusters is assumed to justify the decrease in YL intensity at high dose.

Luminescence emission originating from nitrogen doping of beta-Ga2O3 nanowires

Nitrogen-doped beta-Ga2O3 nanowires (GaO NWs) were prepared by annealing the as-grown nanowires in an ammonia atmosphere. The optical properties of the nitrogen-doped GaO NWs were studied by measurements of the photoluminescence and phosphorescence decay at the temperature range between 10 and 300 K. The experimental results revealed that nitrogen doping in GaO NWs induced a novel intensive red-light emission around 1.67 eV, with a characteristic decay time around 136 mus at 77 K, much shorter than that of the blue emission (a decay time of 457 mus). The time decay and temperature-dependent luminescence spectra were calculated theoretically based on a donor-acceptor pair model, which is in excellent agreement with the experimental data. This result suggests that the observed novel red-light emission originates from the recombination of an electron trapped on a donor due to oxygen vacancies and a hole trapped on an acceptor due to nitrogen doping.

Parameters determining crystallinity in beta-SiC thin films prepared by catalytic chemical vapor deposition

The effects of deposition gas pressure and H-2 dilution ratio (H-2/SiH4+CH4+H-2), generally considered two of dominant parameters determining crystallinity in beta-SiC thin films prepared by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD), often called hot-wire CVD method, on the films properties have been systematically studied. As deposition gas pressure increase from 40 to 1000 Pa, the crystallinity of the films is improved. From the study of H-2 dilution ratio, it is considered that H-2 plays a role as etching gas and modulating the phases in beta-SiC thin films. On the basis of the study on the parameters, nanocrystalline beta-SiC films were successfully synthesized on Si substrate at a low temperature of 300degreesC. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra show formation of beta-SiC. Moreover, according to Sherrer equation, the average grain size of the films estimated is in nanometer-size. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.