蛇毒Ⅱ类磷脂酶A2 功能分化的分析研究

研究蛇毒Ⅱ类磷脂酶A2 (PLA2 ) 中D49 PLA2 和K49 PLA2 的功能分化及其功能分化决定位点的鉴定。方法: 运 用序列比较分析, 进化树构建和DIVERGE v1104 软件计算研究D49 PLA2 和K49 PLA2 的功能分化情况及其分化位点。结果: 序列比较分析, 进化树构建和DIVERGE v1104 软件计算结果表明蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2 中D49 PLA2 和K49 PLA2 的确发生了功能分 化, 对于K49 PLA2 来说, 1S , 7K, 11Q , E12 , R34 , T56 , N88 , L92 , E108 , K116 , K128 可能为功能分化决定位点。对于 D49 PLA2 , L2 , G33 , G35 , F46 和Y118 可能为功能分化决定位点。结论: 我们首次通过序列比较分析, 进化树构建和DI2 VERGE v1104 软件计算鉴定出蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2 中D49 PLA2 和K49 PLA2 可能的功能分化位点, 为今后通过基因重组和定点突 变方法研究蛇毒Ⅱ类PLA2 结构功能关系提供了线索。

眼镜蛇毒神经生长因子对成年猫坐骨神经损伤后的作用

目的　探讨从眼镜蛇毒分离纯化出的神经生长因子(nerve grow th facto r, N GF) 对成年猫坐骨神经 损伤后的影响。方法　制成成年猫坐骨神经损伤模型, 损伤局部注射蛇毒N GF 2 Lgö(kg·d) , 分别治疗10 d 和30 d, 并与对照组(损伤坐骨神经, 不给药物) 比较。结果　术后10 d, 对照组术侧远端神经纤维数量比治疗组明显减少 (P < 0. 01) , 治疗组术侧足底刺激出现早, 肢体活动恢复快。术后30 d, 治疗组术侧远端神经纤维大量再生, 再生神 经纤维数量已明显超过对照组和术后10 d 组水平(P < 0. 01) , 但结构紊乱, 轴突和郎氏结消失。术侧肢体在连续注 射N GF 16 d 左右出现足底刺激反应消失, 肢体瘫痪等改变。结论　眼镜蛇毒N GF 在神经损伤早期应用能减轻神 经纤维发生的溃变, 促进受损神经的再生与功能恢复; 而损伤局部长时间注射蛇毒N GF 则会导致神经纤维增生过 度, 丧失传导功能。

眼镜蛇毒神经生长因子对成年猫坐骨神经损伤治疗效果的实验室观察

目的:探讨从眼镜蛇毒分离纯化出的神经生长因子(nerve growth factor ,NGF) 对成年猫坐 骨经损伤后的影响。方法: 本实验制成成年猫坐骨神经损伤模型, 损伤局部注射蛇毒NGF(2μg/ kg/ d) ,分别治疗10d 和30d ,并与对照组(损伤坐骨神经,不给药物) 比较。结果:眼镜蛇毒NGF 在 神经损伤早期应用能减轻神经纤维发生的溃变,促进神经纤维再生。结论: 损伤局部长时间注射 NGF 会导致神经纤维增生过度,丧失传导功能。

金环蛇毒心脏毒对S180,EAC腹水癌细胞的细胞毒性作用

目的: 探讨金环蛇毒心脏毒对S180, EAC 腹水癌细胞的细胞毒作用。方法: 采用小白鼠腹腔和皮下接种S180, EAC 腹 水癌细胞造成小白鼠腹水模型后腹腔注射金环蛇毒心脏毒。结果: 腹腔注射金环蛇毒心脏毒, 能抑制肿瘤细胞的生长, 降低接 种率。但不能完全控制腹水和癌细胞的生长。体外试验表明有明显的细胞毒作用。台酚蓝染色镜检可见死细胞显著增加, 腹 水图片检查, 给药后细胞膜破裂, 纤维化坏死明显。结论: 能延长小白鼠存活时间。

中华眼镜蛇蛇毒神经生长因子生物活性和理化性质测定

目的：控制中华眼镜蛇蛇毒神经生长因子产品质量，研究其理化性质及生物学活性的定性和定量。方法：通过离子交换色谱、凝胶过滤及FPLC色谱分高纯化得到中华眼镜蛇蛇毒神经生长因子，按国家新药审批有关要求对其进行了SDS－PAGE电泳，N端蛋白质序列规定，HPLC色谱分析，UV光谱图谱扫描，并利用PC12细胞培养法和鸡胚背根神经节培养法检测其生物活性。结果：电泳为一条带，亚基分子量为13500，N端蛋白质序列测定后确证为神经生长因子（NGF），HPLC为单峰，相对百分含量为95％以上，279．6nm处呈现出蛋白质样特征吸收峰。生物活性测定为，PC12细胞培养法灵敏度可达1ng／ml，鸡胚背根神经节培养法需30ng／ml的浓度梯度才能在神经节上有所反应。结论：此实验样品为具有较高生物活性的高纯度NGF多肽。

金环蛇蛇毒对S180, EAC 腹水癌细胞的细胞毒性作用

　目的　探讨金环蛇毒对S180, EAC 腹水癌细胞的细胞毒性作用。　方法　采用小白鼠腹腔和皮下 接种S180, EAC 腹水癌细胞造成小白鼠腹水模型后腹腔注射金环蛇毒。　结果　腹腔注射金环蛇毒, 能 抑制肿瘤细胞的生长, 降低接种率。但不能完全控制腹水和癌细胞的生长。体外试验表明有明显的细胞毒 作用。台酚蓝染色镜检可见死细胞显著增加, 腹水图片检查给药后细胞膜破裂, 纤维化坏死明显。　结论 　能延长小白鼠存活时间。

尖吻蝮蛇毒出血毒素DaHT-3 的红外光谱测定

　目的　观察蛇毒出血毒素结构的变化对功能的影响。　方法　利用傅利叶变换红外光谱仪对尖吻 蝮蛇毒出血毒素(DaHT23) 在溶液中酰胺I 带吸收光谱的研究, 探测了此出血毒素在溶液中的自然构象 和加入EDTA 螯合剂除去金属离子后构象的变化。　结果　此出血毒素在水溶液中的自然构象分别是: A2 螺旋为3118%、B2折叠为5611%、转角为1211%; 而在去除金属离子情况下A2螺旋和B2折叠减少, 转角 和无规卷曲增加, 即加入螯合剂后其A2螺旋、B2折叠、转角和无规卷曲分别变为11%、2614%、4612% 和 1615%。由于结构的变化, 它的出血活性和蛋白水解酶活性均被丧失。　结论　金属离子, 特别是锌离子 在维系蛇毒出血蛋白酶分子中的二级结构中起着很重要的作用。

尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒出血毒素的纯化与部分性质

目的　被尖吻蝮蛇(D ienag k istrod on acu tus) 咬伤会引起严重的出血, 对蛇毒出血毒素的研究有利 于治疗蛇伤出血药物筛选。方法　采用Sephadex G275, DEA E2Sephadex A 250, Sephadex G2200 和两次 PBE 聚焦层析纯化。SDS2PA GE 电泳和等电聚焦电泳测定纯化样品的纯度和等电点。氨基酸组成用自动氨 基酸分析仪测定。以小鼠背部皮下注射部位出血斑的面积来确定最小出血剂量和常规的方法测定酶活性。 结果　从尖吻蝮蛇毒中纯化到一个相对分子量为56 000 的出血毒素(DaHT23) , 经氨基酸组成测定计算, 它由487 个氨基酸残基组成。此成分在SDS2PA GE 上显示出一条均一的蛋白染色带, 其p I 为5150。该出 血成分的最小出血剂量是216Lg, 具有蛋白水解酶活力, 其活力为3168, 但没有精氨酯酶和磷脂酶A 2 活 力。当加入EDTA 螯合剂去除金属离子后, 它们的出血活力和蛋白水解酶活力均丧失。结论　这是从大 陆尖吻蝮蛇毒中获得的一个新的出血金属蛋白酶(DaHT 23)。

Characterization of a new bradykinin-potentiating peptide (TmF) from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus

A novel bradykinin-potentiating peptide (BPP), designated as TmF, has been purified to homogeneity from the venom of Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus by 70% cold methanol extraction, Sephadex G-15 gel filtration and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The amino acid sequence of TmF was determined to be pGlu-Gly-Arg-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-Pro-Ile-Pro-Pro (pGlu denotes pyroglutamic acid), which shared high homology with other BPPs. The molecular mass of TmF was 1.1107 kD as determinated by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), which was in accordance with the calculated value of 1.1106 kD. The potentiating "unit" of TmF to bradykinin-induced (BK-induced) contraction on the guinea-pig ileum in vitro was (1.13 +/- 0.3) unit (mg/L), and TmF (5.0 x 10(-4) mg/kg) increased the pressure-lowering-effect of bradykinin (5.0 x 10(-5) mg/kg) with approximate descent value of (14 +/- 2) mmHg. In addition, TmF inhibited the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin 11, 2 x 10(-3) mg of TmF caused 50% inhibition (IC50) of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) hydrolyzing activity to bradykinin.

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.

TMVA, a novel GPIb-binding protein, significantly prevents platelet microthrombi formation and prolongs discordant cardiac xenograft survival

In xenotransplantation, donor endothelium is the first target of immunological attack. Activation of the endothelial cell by preformed natural antibodies leads to platelet binding via the interaction of the glycoprotein (GP) Ib and von Willebrand factor (vWF). TMVA is a novel GPIb-binding protein purified from the venom of Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus. In this study, the inhibitory effect of TMVA on platelet aggregation in rats and the effect on discordant guinea pig-to-rat cardiac xenograft survival were investigated. Three doses (8, 20 or 40 mug/kg) of TMVA were infused intravenously to 30 rats respectively. Platelet aggregation rate was assayed 0.5, 12, and 24 h after TMVA administration. Wister rats underwent guinea pig cardiac cervical heterotopic transplantation using single dosing of TMVA (20 mug/kg, i.v., 0.5 h before reperfusion). Additionally, levels of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) within rejected graft tissues were determined by radioimmunoassay. Treatment with TMVA at a dose of 20 or 40 mug/kg resulted in complete inhibition of platelet aggregation 0.5 h after TMVA administration. Rats receiving guinea pig cardiac xenografts after TMVA therapy had significantly prolonged xenograft survival. Histologic and immunopathologic analysis of cardiac xenografts in TMVA treatment group showed no intragraft platelet microthrombi formation and fibrin deposition. Additionally, the ratio of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) to TXB2 in TMVA treatment group was significantly higher than those in control group. We conclude that the use of this novel GPIb-binding protein was very effective in preventing platelet microthrombi formation and fibrin deposition in a guinea pig-to-rat model and resulted in prolongation of xenograft survival. The increased ratio of PGI(2)/TXA(2) in TMVA treatment group may protect xenografts from the endothelial cell activation and contribute to the prolongation of xenograft survival.

Nitrate and phosphate supplementation to increase toxin production by the marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense

Alexandrium tamarense toxins have great value in biotechnology research as well as important in connection with shellfish poisoning. The influence of nitrate or nitrate and phosphate supplementation on cell biomass and toxin content were investigated in batch cultures. When cultures at low nitrate (88.2 mu M NaNO3) Were supplemented with 793.8 mu M NaNO3 at day 10 the cell density and cellular toxin contents were increased by 6-29% and 20-76%, respectively, compared with controls, and maximal values were 43,600 cells/ml (day 38) and 0.91 pg/cell (day 31). Supplementation with nitrate at day 14 or with nitrate and phosphate at day 10/14 to the cultures did not increase the cell density compared with the non-supplemented middle nitrate or high phosphate (108 mu M NaH2PO4) cultures, respectively, but increased the cellular toxin contents by an average of 52%. The results showed that supplementation with nitrate or with nitrate and phosphate at different growth phases of the cultures increased toxin yield by an average of 46%. Supplementation with nitrate at selected times to maintain continuous low level of nitrate might contribute to the effective increase of toxin yield of A. tamarense. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Small fish communities in two regions of the Liangzi Lake, China, with or without submersed macrophytes

Small fish communities were compared between the vegetated and vegetation-free regions of the Liangzi Lake, a shallow lake along the middle reach of the Yangtze River, China. Fish were sampled using 10 x 10 m(2) block nets and poisoning. Three samples were taken from either the near shore area or lake centre of each region. A total of 19 fish species were collected; all species occurred in the vegetated region but only 12 occurred in the vegetation-free region. The dominant small fish were Carassius auratus auratus in the vegetated region and Ctenogobius giurinus in the vegetation-free region. Diversity, density and biomass of small fishes were significantly higher in the vegetated region than in the vegetation-free region in both near shore and lake centre areas. In the vegetated region, density and biomass of small fishes was significantly higher, while species diversity significantly lower in the near shore area than in the lake centre. In the vegetation-free region, density of small fishes was significantly higher in the near shore area than in the lake centre area, but species diversity or biomass was unaffected by location.

CYCLIC PEPTIDE HEPATOTOXINS FROM FRESH-WATER CYANOBACTERIAL (BLUE-GREEN-ALGAE) WATERBLOOMS COLLECTED IN CENTRAL CHINA

Toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) waterblooms have been found in several Chinese water bodies since studies began there in 1984. Waterbloom samples for this study contained Anabaena circinalis, Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria sp. Only those waterblooms dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa were toxic by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) mouse bioassay. Signs of poisoning were the same as with known hepatotoxic cyclic peptide microcystins. One toxic fraction was isolated from each Microcystis aeruginosa sample. Two hepatotoxic peptides were purified from each of the fractions by high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by amino acid analysis followed by low and high resolution fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). LD50 i.p. mouse values for the two toxins were 245-mu-g/kg (Toxin A) and 53-mu-g/g (Toxin B). Toxin content in the cells was 0.03 to 3.95 mg/g (Toxin A) and 0.18 to 3.33 mg/kg (Toxin B). The amino acid composition of Toxin A was alanine [1], arginine [2], glutamic acid [1] and beta-methylaspartic acid [1]; for Toxin B it was the same, except one of the arginines was replaced with a leucine. Low- and high-resolution FAB-MS showed that the molecular weights were 1,037 m/z (Toxin A) and 994 m/z (Toxin B), with formulas of C49H76O12N13 (Toxin A) and C49H75O12N10 (Toxin B). It was concluded that Toxin A is microcystin-RR and Toxin B is microcystin-LR, both known cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins isolated from cyanobacteria in other parts of the world. Sodium borohydride reduction of microcystin-RR yielded dihydro-microcystin-RR (m/z = 1,039), an important intermediate in the preparation of tritium-labeled toxin for metabolism and fate studies.