Estradiol stimulates growth hormone production in female goldfish

The effects of estradiol (E(2)) on growth hormone (GH) production was investigated in gonad-intact female goldfish. It was first necessary to generate a specific antibody for use in immunocytochemistry, Western, and dot-blot analyses of GH production. To accomplish this, grass carp GH (gcGH) cDNA was cloned by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and expressed in Echerichia coli and a specific polyclonal antibody to recombinant gcGH was generated in the rabbit. In Western blot, the anti-gcGH antibody specifically immunoreacted with recombinant gcGH, purified natural common carp GH, and with a single 21.5-kDa GH form from pituitary extracts of grass carp, common carp, goldfish, and zebrafish but not salmon, trout, or tilapia. Intraperitoneal injection of the recombinant gcGH enhanced the growth rates of juvenile common carp demonstrating biological activity of this GH preparation. Electron microscopic studies showed that the anti-gcGH-I antibody specifically reacted with GH localized in the secretory granules of the goldfish somatotroph. Using anti-gcGH-I in a dot-blot assay, it was found that in vivo implantation of solid silastic pellets containing E(2) (100 mu g/g body weight for 5 days) increased pituitary GH content by 150% in female goldfish. In a second, independent study employing a previously characterized anticommon carp GH antibody for radioimmunoassay, it was found that E(2) increased pituitary GH content by 170% and serum GH levels by approximately 350%. The E(2)-induced hypersecretion of GH and increase in pituitary GH levels was not associated with changes in steady-state pituitary GH mRNA levels, suggesting that this sex steroid may enhance GH synthesis at the posttranscriptional or translational level. Previous observations indicate that GH can stimulate ovarian E(2) production. The present results show that E(2) can in turn stimulate GH production, indicating the existence of a novel pituitary GH-ovarian feedback system in goldfish. (C) 1997 Academic Press.

不同FGF-2表达量的饲养层对猕猴和兔胚胎干细胞的增殖和自我更新的影响

胚胎干细胞（ESC）培养是ESC研究的基础，饲养层的选择是ESC培养的一个重要方面。本实验曾对不同的猕猴饲养层进行研究，显示能够更好的支持猕猴ESC生长的饲养层FGF-2表达量也较高。FGF-2，又名bFGF（碱性成纤维生长因子），是ESC生长所需的重要因子，但其中的分子机制现在并未完全了解。本文一方面对ESC相关研究进展进行了综述，另一方面对以下内容进行了研究：用转基因和RNA干（RNAi）扰的方法建立不同FGF-2的表达量猕猴耳部皮肤细胞（MESF）系五组：过表达FGF-2（f1），过表达的阴性对照组（f2），FGF-2 RNA干扰组（f3），RNA干扰的阴性对照组（f4）以及未作任何处理的对照组（f5），这五组MESF的FGF-2表达量相对值为f1：f2：f3：f4：f5＝4：2：1：2：2；c-fos，TGF-β1，INHBA，Gremlin1在f1中表达量上升，在f3中表达量下降；BMP4，TGF-β2在f1中表达量下降，在f3中表达量上升；表明内源FGF-2能够作用于MESF的TGF-β信号通路，引起相关基因表达量的变化。用这些细胞作为饲养层分别培养两种ESC（猕猴ESC，R366. 4和兔ESC，RFESC） ，连续培养了10代，其中在f1上培养的两种ESC增殖速度都比对照组快，并且c-fos，TGF-β1，INHBA，Gremlin1，OCT-4，Nanog，Sox2表达量均上升，BMP4表达下调；在f3上培养的猕猴ESC增殖较慢，BMP4表达上调，c-fos，TGF-β1，INHBA，Gremlin1，OCT-4，Nanog，Sox2表达下调；f3上的兔ESC没有变化。表明ESC中的TGF-β信号通路也受到调节。五组猕猴和兔的ESC形成的EB均表达各胚层早期标记基因(marker)，但表达量有差异，f1上ESC形成的EB所有marker都低表达。实验结果表明饲养层中的FGF-2含量高低不仅影响自身相关基因的表达，还对ESC的增殖和维持自我更新有一定的作用。

兔胚胎干细胞冷冻保存的研究

胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cells, ES 细胞)起源于着床前胚胎内的细胞群，对 鼠ES 细胞研究已经有20 多年，但直到1998 年才首次报道从人的胚胎中获得ES 细胞，2006 年本实验室从兔体外受精胚胎的内细胞团分离建立了兔胚胎干细胞 系RF。ES 细胞是能在体外长期培养，高度未分化的全能细胞系，可在适合的条 件下分化为胎儿或成体的各种类型的组织细胞。根据这一特性，它们可用于再生 细胞或组织移植。胚胎干细胞的成功冻存是其应用于临床的前提。成功的冻存是 在冷冻、解冻和复苏培养过程中，细胞具有较高的存活率，且仍能保持胚胎干细 胞的自我更新和全能性的特性。目前除了小鼠ES 细胞用常规慢速冷冻方法可以 达到95%以上的未分化集落复苏率外(Yao & Yuan, 2005)，其它物种尤其是灵长 类的许多ES 细胞系用常规慢速冷冻方法的复苏率极低，极大地限制了这些细胞 的临床应用。为提高兔胚胎干细胞RF 在慢速冷冻中的保存效果, 本研究比较了 二甲基亚砜(DMSO)和乙二醇（ethylene glycol，EG）对兔胚胎干细胞冷冻保护效 果。对冷冻复苏后的细胞进行台盼蓝染色，并研究其胚胎干细胞的分子特性，结 果表明， DMSO 比EG 具有更好的冷冻保护效果。再在以10% DMSO 为基础的 防冻液中添加膜稳定剂海藻糖或谷氨酰胺，细胞冷冻复苏后结果显示, 谷氨酰胺 对兔胚胎干细胞有明显的冷冻保护作用，使细胞存活率从71%提高到83.7%。当 谷氨酰胺浓度为0、5、10、20、40mmol/L 分别加入防冻液中后，20mmol/L 的 谷氨酰胺具有最佳的冷冻保护效果。以上结果得出兔胚胎干细胞慢速冷冻的防冻 液改进配方为：胚胎干细胞培养液中添加10% DMSO+20 mmol/L 谷氨酰胺.

兔胚胎干细胞分离建系及鉴定以及胚胎干细胞自我更新机制研究

人胚胎干细胞（ESC）的成功分离培养，吸引大批人对干细胞生物学的关注，特 别是ESC 在再生医学及人类早期胚胎发育研究的潜在价值。然而在人ESC 临床应用 之前需要找到合适的动物模型进行大量的预实验研究，从而评价其应用的安全性、有 效性及存活效率。因此，从其它物种建立稳定而可用的ESC 系也是必不可少的。ESC 能无限地自我更新并保持多潜能性，但控制其自我更新的分子机制现在仍然知之甚少 且物种间存在差异，了解ESC 的自我更新有利于提高建系率、改善培养体系及定向 分化体系。本文一方面对ESC 分离培养及自我更新机制的研究进展进行了综述，另 一方面对以下几个方面的内容进行了研究：1）建立了4 株稳定的兔ESC 系，能在体 外进行长期的培养并保持ESC 的多潜能Markers 及正常的XY 或XX 核型，具有碱性 磷酸酶活性、表达Oct-4、SSEA-1、SSEA-3、SSEA-4、TRA-1-60 及TRA-1-81。与人 和小鼠ESC 相似，兔ESC 表达多潜能基因（Oct-4、Nanog、Sox-2 及UTF-1），并表 达了与ESC 自我更新相关的信号通路（FGF、TGFβ及WNT）的许多基因。从形态 来说，兔ESC 与灵长类ESC 相似，但兔ESC 具有较快的增殖能力，与小鼠ESC 相类 似。在体外及体内兔ESC 均能分化成代表原始三胚层的各种细胞类型及组织。2) 从 受体抑制实验及生长因子的联合加入可以得出结论FGF 及TGF 信号通路对维持兔 ESC 的多潜能性发挥着重要的作用，这样的结果与人ESC 相类似。也表明FGF、TGF β及WNT 信号通路在兔ESC 的自我更新中都起着作用，而且他们之间可能形成了信 号调控网络，相互之间有着正负反馈作用。FGF2+Activin A 或TGFβ1+Noggin 的无 饲养层无血清培养体系不仅能显著抑制兔ESC 的分化，且能维持其长期的自我更新。 但与小鼠不同，TGFβ信号通路能影响其增殖能力，而对其多潜能性的维持并没有作 用。这就更说明了兔比小鼠更适宜成为人类疾病临床治疗之前的模型动物。3）四种 猕猴细胞系（MOF、MESF、MFG 和CMESF）可作为饲养层比MEFs（小鼠饲养层 细胞）更好或同等好支持猕猴ESC 的生长，保持其自我更新能力和分化的多能性。 而卵泡颗粒上皮样细胞（MFGE）不能支持猕猴ESC 的自我更新。进一步的研究表明 饲养层支持ESC 生长能力的差异可能是由于基因表达种类以及表达量上的差异而导 致的。

人载脂蛋白APOA5的克隆表达纯化及相互作用蛋白研究

人类的载脂蛋白A5（apolipoprotein A5，APOA5）是一个新近发现的载脂蛋白家族成员。它在血浆中的含量比其他载脂蛋白低1-2个数量级，但能显著影响血浆三酰甘油水平，对血脂代谢具有重要意义，可以作为降血脂药物治疗中一个强有力的潜在靶标。 由于APOA5在血浆中含量低，直接从血浆中分离纯化很困难，国内一直没有报道简易可靠的纯化方法。为进一步研究APOA5的生物学特性，探讨其与TG代谢中的其它关键成分之间的相互关系，揭示其在脂类代谢相关疾病中的重要地位，必须有大量的蛋白和抗体用于基础研究。因此本研究首先利用基因工程技术，诱导表达纯化APOA5蛋白，免疫动物制备多克隆抗体，为进一步研究人肝脏细胞中APOA5的相互作用蛋白，研究APOA5蛋白在肝脏细胞中的功能奠定基础。 为了深入研究APOA5在肝脏中如何行使功能，我们采用细菌双杂交技术寻找与APOA5相互作用的蛋白因子。并采用Pull-down技术，免疫荧光及免疫共沉淀技术进一步确证其在体外和体内的相互作用关系，为进一步阐明APOA5在体内的生理功能提供了新的线索。 第一部分 APOA5基因的克隆、原核表达、纯化及其多克隆抗体的制备 本研究首先应用基因克隆技术，从人肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721的cDNA中扩增出1.1 kb的ApoA5基因全长序列。然后将其克隆至表达载体pThioHisD，构建原核表达载体pTH-APOA5。该重组质粒转化至大肠杆菌 BL21（DE3），成功实现人APOA5融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达。经发酵得到高效表达的融合蛋白。 融合蛋白在 IPGT 诱导下以包涵体的形式大量表达。利用融合蛋白上的一段组氨酸序列，用镍离子亲和柱进行纯化和复性后，获得较高纯度的人APOA5融合蛋白。利用该融合蛋白免疫新西兰大耳白兔，获得了高效价的兔抗人APOA5多克隆抗体，Western Blot结果显示此多克隆抗体与APOA5特异性结合。 第二部分 细菌双杂交筛选与APOA5相互作用的蛋白 本实验首先构建了pBT-APOA5重组质粒，经双酶切、PCR和测序鉴定证明重组诱饵质粒构建成功，并进行了表达、自激活鉴定。Western Blot鉴定证实报告菌株中表达了分子量为 68 kD左右的重组融合蛋白，与预测的分子量APOA5（41 kD）/lamda cI （27 kD）一致。自激活实验证明诱饵蛋白不能单独激活报告基因，可用于筛选人肝脏cDNA文库。经过双重抗性筛选和回复筛选，分离出10个阳性克隆。对结果进行生物信息学分析，得到7个与APOA5相互作用的蛋白，其中BI1为细胞凋亡调节因子；ATP6、CYTB、ND2、COX-1为线粒体表达蛋白； ALB、TTR为血清蛋白。 第三部分 APOA5与BI1相互作用的确证 首先构建了BI1的原核表达载体pGEX-5X-3-BI1，利用Pull-down实验检测了APOA5与BI1在体外具有相互作用。然后构建了BI1的真核表达载体pCDNA3.1-HA-BI1和APOA5的真核表达载体pCDNA3.1-APOA5，并验证其表达。通过免疫荧光细胞内共定位研究发现，靶蛋白APOA5主要分布于胞浆，与BI1在HEK293细胞有共定位，即APOA5与BI1存在相互作用的可能。最后利用免疫共沉淀手段，在HEK293细胞中确证了靶蛋白APOA5与BI1在体内的相互作用。 上述研究结果，为深入研究APOA5在体内的生物学功能提供了新的思路。 Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) is a newly discovered protein belongs to apolipoprotein family. APOA5’s concentration is 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than other apolipoproteins in the circulation. APOA5 significantly affected plasma triglyceride levels, which is important on lipid metabolism. APOA5 has strong potential to be used as a hypolipidemic drug target. Large amount of APOA5 protein and antibodies are needed in basic research, such as biological characteristics study of the APOA5, its relationship with other key components in TG metabolism, its role played in Lipid metabolism-related diseases. Due to its low concentration in plasma, separation and purification of APOA5 from the plasma is very difficult. Until now no report on simple and reliable method for purification has been published in China. In this study, we firstly got APOA5 recombinant protein using genetic engineering technology. The purified recombinant protein was used to immunize rabbits to get antiserum. It is important for further study of the APOA5 protein-interacting protein. And it lays the foundation for studing APOA5 function in liver. In order to study APOA5 function in liver, we used bacterial two-hybrid technology to find the APOA5 protein interactor. Pull-down, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation techniques were used to further confirm the interaction between APOA5 with its interactor in vitro and in vivo. All of these stdudies provided new clues on its physiological functions in vivo. Part I: Cloning, prokaryotic expression, purification and polyclonal antibody preparation of APOA5 First of all, we amplified APOA5 CDS sequence from the human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721, and subcloned into Expression vector pThioHisD, and got the recombinants named pTH-APOA5. The plasmid was transformed to BL21 (DE3). E. coli BL21(DE3) cells bearing the pTH-APOA5 plasmid were cultured and APOA5 protein synthesis was induced by the addition of IPTG. Recombinant protein was expression in the form of inclusion. Inclusion bodies were dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline containing 8 M urea and 40 mM imidazole, then applied to a Ni2+ affinity column, and were eluted in a buffer containing 4 M urea and 200 mM imidazole. Fractions containing the APOA5 protein were pooled and dialyzed against buffer containing phosphate-buffered saline. Antiserum to recombinant human APOA5 was generated by immuning rabbit. Western Blot showed that this antiserum specific binding with APOA5. Part II Two-hybrid system screening protein interactions with the APOA5 The coding sequence of human APOA5 was amplified using synthetic oligonucleotide primers from pTH-APOA5 vector and was subcloned into the pBT plasmidc to yield pBT-APOA5 vector. DNA sequencing was performed to verify that no unwanted mutations occurred during the process of plasmid vector construction. We verified recombinant protein expression and tested self-activation by pBT-APOA5 prior to screening. Western Blot verified inducing a 68 kD band, consistent with the predicted molecular weight (APOA5 41 kD, lamda cI 27 kD). pBT-APOA5 can be used for screening human liver cDNA library because it can not self-activation. Totally 10 positive clones were isolated. The nucleotide sequence of the positive clones were determined and compared to NCBI nucleotide sequence databases. We got 7 protein which interact with APOA5, included BI1(Apoptosis regulator); ATP6, CYTB, ND2, COX-1(Mitochondrial protein) and ALB, TTR(Serum protein). Part III Confirming of interaction between APOA5 with BI1 pGEX-5X-3-BI1 vector was subcloned at first. Pull-down experiments were used to detect the interaction between APOA5 with BI1 in vitro. Later, pCDNA3.1-HA-BI1 and pCDNA3.1-APOA5 were subcloned. Through immunofluorescence co-localization study, we found APOA5 mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. APOA5 is co-localization with BI1 in HEK293 cells. Finally, we verified interaction between APOA5 with BI1 in vivo through immunoprecipitation.

气体喷嘴反冲传输技术及在核科学中的应用

The gas-jet recoil transport technique is developed and improved as a new rapid and effective on-line and off beam method following "rabbit" apparatus in the study of short lives nuclei. It can transport the short half-life nuclear reaction products far from high radioactive area for collection and measurement at low background area. This technique has been widely used in the researches with accelerator and reactor. It is indispensable basic experimental technology and tool applied to nuclear reaction, spec...中文摘要：气体喷嘴反冲传输技术是继"跑兔"装置之后发展和完善起来的适合于短寿命核素研究的一种快速而有效的在线脱束方法。它能够将短寿命核反应产物传输至远离高辐射区的低本底场所进行收集和测量。该技术已在加速器和反应堆上得到了广泛的应用,是一种研究核反应、核谱学和合成与鉴别新元素、新核素的一种不可缺少的基本实验技术和工具。描述了气嘴系统的结构、基本原理、设计要求以及它的主要特性,特别是对系统的气体动力学机制以及各种参数对系统特性的影响等进行了讨论。最后,综述了它在核物理、核化学以及质谱学等领域的应用情况,并且给出了几个应用的典型例子。

Effects of Naotan Pill on repair of neural cells and cognitive disorders in juvenile rats following hypoxia and ischemia

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia and ischemia induce neuronal damage, decreased neuronal numbers and synaptophysin levels, and deficits in learning and memory functions. Previous studies have shown that lycium barbarum polysaccharide, the most effective component of barbary wolfberry fruit, has protective effects on neural cells in hypoxia-ischemia. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Naotan Pill on glutamate-treated neural cells and on cognitive function in juvenile rats following hypoxia-ischemia. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized, controlled, in vivo study was performed at the Cell Laboratory of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Institute of Modern Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Gansu Provincial Rehabilitation Center Hospital, China from December 2005 to August 2006. The cellular neurobiology, in vitro experiment was conducted at the Institute of Human Anatomy, Histology, Embryology and Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, and Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Gansu Provincial Rehabilitation Center Hospital, China from March 2007 to January 2008. MATERIALS: Naotan Pill, composed of barbary wolfberry fruit, danshen root, grassleaf sweetflag rhizome, and glossy privet fruit, was prepared by Gansu Provincial Rehabilitation Center, China. Rabbit anti-synaptophysin, choline acetyl transferase polyclonal antibody, streptavidin-biotin complex kit and diaminobenzidine kit (Boster, Wuhan, China), as well as glutamate (Hualian, Shanghai, China) were used in this study. METHODS: Cortical neural cells were isolated from neonatal Wistar rats. Neural cell damage models were induced using glutamate, and administered Naotan Pill prior to and following damage. A total of 54 juvenile Wistar rats were equally and randomly assigned into model, Naotan Pill, and sham operation groups. The left common carotid artery was ligated, and then rat models of hypoxic-ischemic injury were assigned to the model and Naotan Pill groups. At 2 days following model induction, rats in the Naotan Pill group were administered Naotan Pill suspension for 21 days. In the model and sham operation groups, rats received an equal volume of saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neural cell morphology was observed using an inverted phase contrast microscope. Survival rate of neural cells was measured by MTT assay. Synaptophysin and choline acetyl transferase expression was observed in the hippocampal CA1 region of juvenile rats using immunohistochemistry. Cognitive function was tested by the Morris water maze. RESULTS: Pathological changes were detected in glutamate-treated neural cells. Neural cell morphology remained normal after Naotan Pill intervention. Absorbance and survival rate of neural cells were significantly greater following Naotan Pill intervention, compared to glutamate-treated neural cells (P < 0.05). Synaptophysin and choline acetyl transferase expression was lowest in the hippocampal CA1 region in the model group and highest in the sham operation group. Significant differences among groups were observed (P < 0.05). Escape latency and swimming distance were significantly longer in the model group compared to the Naotan Pill group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Naotan Pill exhibited protective and repair effects on glutamate-treated neural cells. Naotan Pill upregulated synaptophysin and choline acetyl transferase expression in the hippocampus and improved cognitive function in rats following hypoxia-ischemia.

Preparation and Bioactivity of the Composite of PLGA and Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystals Surface-grafted with L-lactic Acid Oligomer

The hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystals of 100-200 nm in length and 20-30 nm in width were hydrothermally synthesized by the reaction of phosphoric acid and calcium hydroxide. Lactic acid oligomer surface grafted HA(op-HA) nanoparticles were obtained by oligomeric lactic acid with a certain molecular weight grafting onto the HA surface to form a Ca carboxylate bond in the absence of any catalyst. The op-HA was further blended with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) to prepare the nanocomposite of op-HA/PLGA. FTIR, TGA, ESEM and EDX were used to analyze grafting reaction, the graft ratio of op-HA, surface topography and calcium deposition of the composites, respectively. The rabbit osteoblasts were seeded and cultured on the surface of composites in vitro. The cell morphology, adhesion, proliferation and gene expression were evaluated with FITC staining, NIH image J software and the analysis of real-time PCR, respectively. The results show that the graft ratio of op-HA is 8.3% (mass fraction). The op-HA/PLGA nanocomposite possessed more suitable surface properties, including roughness and plenty of calcium and phosphor. It exhibited better cell adhesion, spreading and proliferation of rabbit osteoblasts, compared to pure PLGA.

Preparation, Surface Properties and Biological Activity of the Composite of Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) and Bioglass Nanoparticles Surface Grafted with Poly(L-lactide)

SiO2-CaO-P2O5 gel bioglass (BG) nanoparticles with the diameter of 40 nm were synthesized by sol-gel approach. The surface of BG nanoparticles was grafted through the ring-open polymerization of the L-lactide to yield poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) grafted gel particle (PLLA-g-BG). The PLLA-g-BG was further blended with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) to prepare the nanocomposites of PLLA-g-BG/PLGA with the various blend ratios of two phases. PLLA-g-BG accounted 10%, 20% and 40% in the composite, respectively. TGA, ESEM and EDX were used to analyze the graft ratio of PLLA-g-BG, the dispersion of nano-particles and the surface elements of the composites respectively. The rabbit osteoblasts were seeded and cultured on the thin films of composites in vitro. The cell adhesion, spreading and growth of osteoblasts were analyzed with FITC staining, NIH Image J software and MTT assay. The change of cell cycle was monitored by flow cytometry (FCM). The results demonstrated that the Surface modification of BG with PLLA could significantly improve the dispersing of the particles in the matrix of PLGA. The nanocomposite with 20% PLLA-g-BG exhibited superior surface properties, including roughness and plenty of silicon, calcium and phosper, to enhance the adhesion, spreading and proliferation of osteoblasts.

Determination of diphenhydramine by capillary electrophoresis with tris(2,2 '-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescence detection

Tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescence detection in a capillary electrophoresis separation system was used for the determination of diphenhydramine. In this study, platinum disk electrode (300 mum in diameter) was used as a working electrode and the influence of applied potential and buffer conditions were investigated. Under optimal conditions: 1.2 V applied potential, pH 8.50, 15 kV separation voltage and 10 mmol l(-1) running buffer, the calibration curve of diphenhydramine was linear over the range of 4 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-5) Mol l(-1). This technique gave satisfactory precision, and relative standard deviations of migration times and chemiluminescence peak intensities were less than 1 and 6%, respectively. The technique was applied to animal studies for determination of diphenhydramine extracted from rabbit plasma and urine samples, and the extraction efficiency were between 92 and 98.5%.

Enzymatic and kinetic properties of selenium-containing catalytic antibody with cGPX activity

Three selenium-containing catalytic antibodies mHB4, mHB5 and mHB7 which acted as mimics of cytosolic glutathione peroxidase(cGPX), were prepared by chemically introducing selenium into monoclonal antibodies HB4, HB5 and HB7. HB4. HB5 and HB7 were raised against a GSH derivative GSH-S-DNP dibenzyl ester, The cGPX activity of mHB4, mHB5, mHB7 were 170, 1 867, 32 U/mu mol, respectively. The cGPX activity of mHB5 was 0, 32 fold of natural rabbit liver cGPX and 1. 51 fold of m4A4. About two atoms of selenium existed in each of mHB5 molecule determined by inductively-coupled plasma/mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), The optimal activity of mHB5 was at between pH 8. 4 and 8, 8, The reaction catalyzed by mHB5 involved a Ping-Pong mechanism. At pH 7. 0 and 37 degreesC, the apparent second-order rate constants for reaction of mHB5 with H2O2 and t-ROOH were as followed: k(+1) (H2O2) = 9. 71 x 10(6) L/(mol min), k(+1)(t-ROOH) = 5. 99 x 10(5) L/(mol.min). Rate accelerations (k(cat)/K-m/k(uncat)) 9. 8 x 10(6) and 3.7 x 10(5) fold those of the uncatalytic reaction were observed.

A selenium-containing abzyme, the activity of which surpassed the level of native glutathione peroxidase

Using two different glutathione derivatives as hapten, we have prepared two abzymes, which display glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity. Their GPX activities are 0.2 and 1.6 times that of natural GPX from rabbit liver, respectively. Selenium content analysis indicates that the activity difference between the two abzymes is possibly attributed to the conformation difference of the abzymes.

Biochemical characterization of selenium-containing catalytic antibody as a cytosolic glutathione peroxidase mimic

A selenium-containing catalytic antibody (Se-4A4), prepared by converting reactive serine residues of a monoclonal antibody (4A4) raised against a GSH derivative into selenocysteines, acts as a mimic of cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (cGPX). To clarify the mechanism of action of this catalytic antibody, detailed studies on kinetic behaviour and biological activity were carried out. A rate of acceleration (k(cat)/K-m/k(uncat)) 10(7)-fold that of the uncatalytic reaction is observed. Under similar conditions, the turnover number (k(cat)) of Se-4A4 is 42% of that of the natural rabbit liver cGPX. The Se-4A4 reaction involves a Ping Pong mechanism, which is the same as that of the natural cGPX. The selenocysteine residue is located in the binding site of the antibody and is shown to be crucial for this activity. Of the thiol compounds tested, only GSH is able to serve as substrate for Se-4A4. It was demonstrated, using the free-radical-damage system (hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase) of cardiac mitochondria, that Se-4A4 can protect mitochondria from free-radical damage at least 10(4)-fold more effectively than the natural cGPX.

Interaction between Thymidylate Synthase and Its Cognate mRNA in Zebrafish Embryos

Thymidylate synthase (TS), which catalyzes the de novo synthesis of dUMP, is an important target for cancer therapy. In this report, the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and ZD1694 on the regulation of TS gene expression were evaluated in zebrafish embryos. Our results revealed that the expression of TS was increased by about six-fold when embryos were treated with 1.0 mu M 5-FU and there was a greater than 10-fold increase in the TS protein level after treatment with 0.4 mu M ZD1694. Northern blot analysis confirmed that expression of TS mRNA was identical in treated or untreated embryos. Gel shift and immunoprecipitation assays revealed that zebrafish TS was specifically bound with its cognate mRNA in vitro and in vivo. We identified a 20 nt RNA sequence, TS:N20, localized to the 5'-UTR of TS mRNA, which corresponded to nt 13-32; TS:N20 bound to the TS protein with an affinity similar to that of the full-length TS mRNA. The MFold program predicted that TS:N20 formed a stable stem-loop structure similar to that of the cis-acting element found in human TS mRNA. Variant RNAs with either a deletion or mutation in the core motif of TS:N20 were unable to bind to the TS protein. In vitro translation experiments, using the rabbit lysate system, confirmed that zebrafish TS mRNA translation was significantly repressed when an excess amount of TS protein was included in the system. Additionally, a TS stability experiment confirmed that treatment of zebrafish embryos with 5-FU could increase the TS stability significantly, and the half life of TS protein was about 2.7 times longer than in untreated embryos. Our study revealed a structural requirement for the interaction of TS RNA with TS protein. These findings also demonstrated that the increase in TS protein induced by 5-FU occurs at the post-transcriptional level and that increased stability and translation efficiency both contributed to the increase in TS protein levels induced by TS inhibitors.

Interaction between Thymidylate Synthase and Its Cognate mRNA in Zebrafish Embryos

Thymidylate synthase (TS), which catalyzes the de novo synthesis of dUMP, is an important target for cancer therapy. In this report, the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and ZD1694 on the regulation of TS gene expression were evaluated in zebrafish embryos. Our results revealed that the expression of TS was increased by about six-fold when embryos were treated with 1.0 mu M 5-FU and there was a greater than 10-fold increase in the TS protein level after treatment with 0.4 mu M ZD1694. Northern blot analysis confirmed that expression of TS mRNA was identical in treated or untreated embryos. Gel shift and immunoprecipitation assays revealed that zebrafish TS was specifically bound with its cognate mRNA in vitro and in vivo. We identified a 20 nt RNA sequence, TS:N20, localized to the 5'-UTR of TS mRNA, which corresponded to nt 13-32; TS:N20 bound to the TS protein with an affinity similar to that of the full-length TS mRNA. The MFold program predicted that TS:N20 formed a stable stem-loop structure similar to that of the cis-acting element found in human TS mRNA. Variant RNAs with either a deletion or mutation in the core motif of TS:N20 were unable to bind to the TS protein. In vitro translation experiments, using the rabbit lysate system, confirmed that zebrafish TS mRNA translation was significantly repressed when an excess amount of TS protein was included in the system. Additionally, a TS stability experiment confirmed that treatment of zebrafish embryos with 5-FU could increase the TS stability significantly, and the half life of TS protein was about 2.7 times longer than in untreated embryos. Our study revealed a structural requirement for the interaction of TS RNA with TS protein. These findings also demonstrated that the increase in TS protein induced by 5-FU occurs at the post-transcriptional level and that increased stability and translation efficiency both contributed to the increase in TS protein levels induced by TS inhibitors.