Overexpression and Purification of the Oat (Avena Fatua) Protein AFN1 and Construction of a pMAL/AFN1 Expression Plasmid

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone with regulatory roles in many physiological processes. ABA expression is induced by environmental stresses such as drought and it is known to be an inhibitor of seed germination. A wild oat (Avena fatua) called AFN1 has been hypothesized to initiate the early stages of germination as its mRNA accumulates in nondormant seed embryos during imbibition. The polypeptide sequence of AFN1 suggests that it is an ABA glucosyl transferase. Glucosylation by AFN1 and thereby inactivation of ABA could lead to seed germination. In order to understand the role of AFN1 in germination, an ample quantity of AFN1 polypeptide is needed to test for enzymatic ABA glucosylase activity. My work has been to overexpress recombinant AFN1containing a (His)6 tag using a pRSETC E.coli expression system followed by Purification of the AFN1 protein by means of a nickel-affinity column that bind to the (His)6 tag. Due to the insufficient yield of AFN1 fusion protein obtained with this procedure, another method using a pMAL-c2x vector is now being employed. The pMAL expression system provides a method for expressing and purifying protein by tagging proteins with maltose-binding protein (MBP). It is anticipated that MBP tag will be advantageous as it can make the fusion protein more soluble and thereby yield a larger quantity of protein. Currently, work is underway on the construction of pMAL/AFN1 plasmid.

CD44 enhances invasion of basal-like breast cancer cells by upregulating serine protease and collagen-degrading enzymatic expression and activity

Introduction: Basal-like breast cancers (BL-BCa) have the worst prognosis of all subgroups of this disease. Hyaluronan (HA) and the HA receptor CD44 have a long-standing association with cell invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to establish the relation of CD44 to BL-BCa and to characterize how HA/CD44 signaling promotes a protease-dependent invasion of breast cancer (BrCa) cells.

Methods: CD44 expression was determined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of a breast cancer tissue microarray (TMA). In vitro experiments were performed on a panel of invasive BL-BCa cell lines, by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunoblotting, protease activity assays, and invasion assays to characterize the basis of HA-induced, CD44-mediated invasion.

Results: Expression of the hyaluronan (HA) receptor CD44 associated with the basal-like subgroup in a cohort of 141 breast tumor specimens (P = 0.018). Highly invasive cells of the representative BL-BCa cell line, MDA-MB-231 (MDA-MB-231Hi) exhibited increased invasion through a basement membrane matrix (Matrigel) and collagen. In further experiments, HA-induced promotion of CD44 signaling potentiated expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor uPAR, and underpinned an increased cell-associated activity of this serine protease in MDA-MB-231Hi and a further BL-BCa cell line, Hs578T cells. Knockdown of CD44 attenuated both basal and HA-stimulated uPA and uPAR gene expression and uPA activity. Inhibition of uPA activity by using (a) a gene-targeted RNAi or (b) a small-molecule inhibitor of uPA attenuated HA-induced invasion of MDA-MB-231Hi cells through Matrigel. HA/CD44 signaling also was shown to increase invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells through collagen and to potentiate the collagen-degrading activity of MDA-MB-231Hi cells. CD44 signaling was subsequently shown to upregulate expression of two potent collagen-degrading enzymes, the cysteine protease cathepsin K and the matrix metalloprotease MT1-MMP. RNAi- or shRNA-mediated depletion of CD44 in MDA-MB-231Hi cells decreased basal and HA-induced cathepsin K and MT1-MMP expression, reduced the collagen-degrading activity of the cell, and attenuated cell invasion through collagen. Pharmacologic inhibition of cathepsin K or RNAi-mediated depletion of MT1-MMP also attenuated MDA-MB-231Hi cell invasion through collagen.

Conclusion: HA-induced CD44 signaling increases a diverse spectrum of protease activity to facilitate the invasion associated with BL-BCa cells, providing new insights into the molecular basis of CD44-promoted invasion.

Studies on the enzymatic and transcriptional activity of the dimerization cofactor for hepatocyte nuclear factor 1

The relationship between the enzymatic and the transcriptional activity of the bifunctional protein pterin-4a-carbinolamine dehydratase/dimerization cofactor for hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (DCoH) has been elucidated by site-directed mutagenesis. DCoH dimers harbor a binding site for hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1), two active centers that bind pterins, and a saddle-shaped surface that resembles nucleic acid binding domains. Two domains of the protein have been selectively targeted to determine if a change in one activity affects the other. No strong correlation has been found, supporting the idea that carbinolamine dehydratase activity is not required for HNF1 binding in vitro or transcriptional coactivation in vivo. Double mutations in the active center, however, influence the in vivo transcriptional activity but not HNF1 binding. This finding suggests that some active center residues also are used during transcription, possibly for binding of another (macro)molecule. Several mutations in the saddle led to a surprising increase in transcription, therefore linking this domain to transcriptional regulation as well. The transcriptional function of DCoH therefore is composed of two parts, HNF1 binding and another contributing effect that involves the active site and, indirectly, the saddle.

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Sweet Lupin, Chickpea, and Lentil 11S Globulins Decreases their Antigenic Activity

We investigated the effects of treatments with the enzymes pepsin and trypsin on the in vitro immunological reactivity of the major globulins found in the seeds of sweet lupin, chickpea, and lentil. Polyclonal major globulin-specific antiserum was obtained by immunization of rabbits with a solution of the 11 S globulin of each legume. The globulins were hydrolyzed with pepsin and trypsin for 1, 5, 15, and 30 min. The native globulins and their hydrolysates were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting to identify the polypeptide bands with antigenic activity, and the hypoantigenicity of the hydrolysates was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results show that enzymatic treatment of the major storage protein (11 S globulin) of sweet lupin, chickpea, and lentil with pepsin or trypsin lead to the formation of large amounts of short peptides and free amino acids that do not allow antibody binding, resulting in a weakened immunoreactivity.

Sulfated polysaccharide extracted of the green algae Caulerpa racemosa increase the enzymatic activity and paw edema induced by sPLA2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

Sulfated polysaccharides derived from seaweed have shown great potential for use in the development of new drugs. In this study, we observed that a low-molecular-weight sulfated polysaccharide from Caulerpa racemosa, termed CrSP, could interact with secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. When native sPLA2 (14 kDa) was incubated with CrSP, they formed a molecular complex (sPLA2:CrSP) with a molecular mass of 32 kDa, approximately. Size exclusion chromatography experiments suggested that CrSP formed a stable complex with sPLA2. We belived that sPLA2 and SPCr are involved an ionic interaction between negatively charged CrSP and the positively charged basic amino acid residues of sPLA2, because this interaction induced significant changes in sPLA2 enzymatic and pharmacological activities. CrSP caused a significant increase in sPLA2 enzymatic and bactericidal activity and increased its edematogenic effect. A pharmacological assay showed that the myotoxic activity of sPLA2:CrSP is unrelated to its enzymatic activity and that sPLA2:CrSP may have a practical application as a natural antibacterial agent for use in humans and commercially raised animals.

An introduction to biologics

An introduction to biologics 23.1 Introduction: Principles of biologics and their use as medicines 23.2 Protein biologics used as drugs 23.2.1 Proteins that function through enzymatic or regulatory activity. 23.2.1.1 Biologics as replacement of a deficient or abnormal protein. 23.2.1.2 Proteins that augment an existing biological process. 23.2.1.3 Proteins that provide a novel function or activity. 23.2.2. Proteins that function through specific targeting activity. 23.2.2.1. Monoclonal antibody nomenclature. 23.2.2.2. Naked monoclonal antibodies. 23.2.2.3. Conjugated monoclonal antibodies. 23.2.3. Recombinant protein vaccines.

青杨组(Populus section Tacamahaca Spach)不同种对增强UV-B的反应差异

人类向大气中排放的大量氮氧化合物和氟氯烃类化合物(CFC’s)引起臭氧分子的分解，导致到达地球表面的紫外辐射增加，特别是UV-B辐射增强。本项目以青杨组杨树为模式植物，从形态和生理方面研究了来自不同UV-B背景下的康定杨与青杨在增强UV-B下的反应及其反应差异,并探讨了干旱、施肥对它们抗UV-B能力的影响。杨树具有分布广、适应性强、在生态环境治理和解决木材短缺方面均占有重要位置，研究成果可为生态系统的恢复与重建提供理论依据和科学指导。主要研究结果有以下： 1. 在温室中经过增强UV-B处理，杨树的外部形态及生理活动受到了一定程度的影响。增强UV-B导致康定杨、青杨的生物量、叶面积及节间长度降低，叶片增厚，SOD活性升高，膜伤害增加，而对叶片数目、R/S、叶绿素A、叶绿素B及整个叶绿素含量没有影响。两种杨树对UV-B胁迫的响应存在差异：在增强UV-B条件下，青杨的植株高度、生物量、叶面积、脯氨酸含量、长期用水效率受到的影响大于康定杨，相比而言，康定杨在比叶面积、叶片厚度、可溶性糖含量、UV-B吸收物质的含量及SOD和GPX活性方面增加的程度大于青杨。这些区别说明，来自于高海拔的康定杨比来自于低海拔的青杨对增强UV-B 具有更强的耐性。我们认为二者在叶片厚度、比叶面积、UV-B吸收物质含量及SOD、GPX活性差异是导致对增强UV-B耐性不同的原因。 2. 干旱与增强UV-B对杨树的生长和生理特性均产生了影响，而且两种胁迫共同作用时干旱表现减弱或加剧了UV-B对杨树某些形态和生理特性的影响。 据试验结果，干旱显著地降低了杨树的株高、叶片数目、叶面积，增加了叶片厚度，促进ABA的积累，提高了CAT活性。对于干旱，两种杨树之间也表现出了一定的差异性。可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸在青杨叶片中得到显著积累，而在康定杨中没有变化。此外，CAT、长期用水效率在康定杨中受到的影响更加明显。长期用水效率的不同变化趋势说明两种杨树对水分胁迫采用了不同的用水策略，康定杨采用的是节水用水策略，提高用水效率，而青杨采用的是耗水的用水策略。根据干旱对叶面积、脯氨酸、ABA含量、CAT活性及长期用水效率等方面的影响，我们认为来自高海拔地区的康定杨比来自低海拔的青杨有更大的耐旱性，这是对生长环境长期适应的结果。在高海拔地区，因霜冻常带来土壤水分不可利用，降低了根系对水分的吸收，树木容易受到的生理性干旱。另外，高海拔的地区低的气温使植株对严寒有较强的耐性，减少了水分的需要。 生长于增强UV-B下的康定杨和青杨植株表现为高度降低，叶面积缩小，比叶面积增加；叶片栅栏组织、海绵组织均受到增强UV-B的影响，其厚度的增加导致整个叶片变厚。增强UV-B还显著提高了杨树的APX活性、UV-B吸收物质含量，而对叶片数目、ABA、可溶性蛋白质含量及CAT活性没有产生影响。试验中也观察到了两种杨树对增强UV-B响应的差异：与康定杨相比，在增强UV-B下青杨株高、叶面积降低的程度更大一些，SOD活性显著提高。另外UV-B吸收物质受到的影响不同。根据这些差别，高海拔的康定杨(3500 m)比来自低海拔的青杨(1500 m)增强UV-B有较强的耐性。 与水分充足情况下UV-B对植株的影响相比，干旱对杨树抗增强UV-B产生了一定的影响，表现为加剧或减弱UV-B对植物的影响，但这种影响与形态、生理指标有关。当干旱与增强UV-B共同作用时，杨树植株的株高、叶面积进一步降低、叶片进一步增厚。就脯氨酸的积累的而言，在没有水分胁迫时，增强UV-B促使它显著增加，而在干旱处理下这种效果变得不明显。干旱对增强UV-B的影响还与杨树的种类有一定的关系。在康定杨中，干旱减弱了增强UV-B对栅栏组织与海绵组织的影响，且在植株高度、叶面积上表现出累加效应，而在CAT上交互作用显著；但在青杨中干旱则加剧增强UV-B对栅栏组织与海绵组织的影响，在植株高度、叶面积及比叶面积上表现出显著的交互作用。据碳同素分析，在水分充足的条件下，无论是康定杨，还是青杨，增强UV-B均导致其长期用水效率的提高，然而当两种胁迫共同作用时，长期用水效率则表现出差异，在青杨中，长期用水效率得到进一步增高，而康定杨中干旱的效应被增强UV-B所减轻。 3. 田间试验表明，杨树的生长、生理特征都受到养分和增强UV-B的影响。施肥对杨树的影响表现为：提高了叶面积、生物量及SOD的活性，降低了抗坏血酸含量。对于施肥作用，两种杨树的反应也有区别：在康定杨中施肥显著增加了的叶片长度、宽度及光合色素的含量，降低了净光合速率、气孔导度及胞间CO2浓度；在青杨中，则SOD、GPX、APX活性表现增加。从试验看出，施肥对来自于高海拔地区的康定杨(3500 m)的影响较大，对来自低海拔的青杨(1500 m)影响较小，这与它们对原产地的生境适应有一定关系。在康定杨生长的高海拔地区，低温度和湿度不能为地上凋落物或土壤中的根分解提供理想的条件，造成当地土壤的低养分状况，所以当肥料施用以后，效果显著。 经过增强UV-B处理，杨树叶片中UV-B吸收物质含量、GPX的活性得到提高，而脯氨酸、丙二醛、可溶性蛋白质、叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量没有受到影响。对于增强UV-B两种杨树受到的影响也有所不同：在青杨中增强UV-B导致叶面积缩小，生物量、净光合速率降低，APX的活性及长期用水效率的提高，而对康定杨的这些指标没有产生显著影响，相反抗氧化酶的活性明显高于青杨。这些差异性是由于两种杨树对原产地不同UV-B背景的长期适应结果。康定杨长期生长在较高UV-B环境中，对UV-B有较强的耐性。而青杨适应于较低的UV-B环境，对增强UV-B较为敏感。 试验中施肥也影响了植株对增强UV-B的反应，不过这种影响与杨树的种类及测定指标有一定的相关性。例如，在缺肥的情况下，青杨的长期用水效率和康定杨的叶绿素含量都受到增强UV-B的显著影响，而施肥以后这种影响变得不显著。在缺肥的条件下，GPX、APX在青杨中的活性、GPX在康定杨中的活性对增加UV-B反应不敏感；而施肥以后则变化显著，同样胞间CO2浓度在康定杨也有类似的变化。 For past decades, Ultraviolet radiation, especially UV-B reaching the Earth’s surface increased because of depletion of ozone layer resulted from emission of NxO and CFC’s from human activities. In this experiment, different species of Populus section Tacamahaca Spach from different UV-B background were selected as a model plant to assess the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation. Morphological and physiological traits induced by enhanced UV-B were observed and the different responses between P. kangdingensis and P. cathayana were discussed, furthermore the influences of drought and fertilizer on responses induced by enhanced UV-B were studied. Since poplars play an important role in lumber supply, and are important component of ecosystems due to their fast growth and wide adaptation, the study could provide a strong theoretical evidence and scientific direction for the afforestation, and rehabilitation of ecosystem. The results are as follows: 1. The experiment conducted in a greenhouse indicated that morphological and physiological traits of two poplars were affected by enhanced UV-B radiation. Enhanced UV-B radiation not only reduced biomass, leave area and internode length, but also increased leaf thickness and SOD activity as well as MDA concentration and electrolyte rate. However, no significant changes in leaf numbers, root shoot ratio, and total chlorophyll and chlorophyll component were observed. There were different responses to enhanced UV-B radiation between two species. Compared with P. kangdingensis, cuttings of P. cathayana, exhibited lower height increment and smaller leaf area. In addition, there were significant differences in free proline, soluble protein, and UV-B absorbing compounds, and the activity of SOD and GPX, long-term WUE between them. Differences in plant height, biomass, leaf area, free proline concentration, and long-termed WUE showed that P. cathayana were more affected by enhanced UV-B radiation than P. kangdingensis. In contrast, more increase of specific leaf mass, leaf thickness, and soluble sugar, and UV-B absorbing compounds, and activity of SOD and GPX were observed in P. kangdingensis. According to these results, we suggested that P. kangdingensis from high elevation, which adapted to higher UV-B environments, had more tolerance to enhanced UV-B than P. cathayana from low elevation, which adapted to lower UV-B environment. We believe it was the difference of leaf thickness, specific leaf mass, and UV-B absorbing compounds as well as the activity of SOD and GPX resulted in lower adaptation of P. cathayana to enhanced UV-B radiation. 2. Growth and physiological traits of two poplars were affected by both drought and enhanced UV-B radiation. Moreover, it was observed that when two stresses applied together drought could exacerbate UV-B effects or decrease sensitivity to UV-B. In the experiment, drought significantly decreased plant height, leaf numbers, leaf area, and increased leaf thickness, and ABA, and CAT activity of two poplars. There were significant interspecific differences to drought stress. Exposed to drought, soluble protein and proline concentration were increased in P. cathayana but not in P. kangdingensis. However, more changes in CAT and long-term WUE were observed in kangdingensis. Different change in long-term WUE suggests that two poplars adapted different water-use strategies. P. kangdingensis employ a conservative water-use strategy, whereas P. cathayana employ a prodigal water-use strategy. Based on the differences in leaf area, accumulation of free proline and ABA, CAT activity as well as long-term WUE, we believed that P. kangdingensis from high elevation had a greater tolerance to drought than P. cathayana from low elevation，which is the result of adaptation to local environment. In high elevation area, trees are prone to suffer from physiological drought because of un-movable water caused by frost. Besides lower temperature enable the plants had greater adaptability to frost as a results the requirement of water is reduced Enhanced UV-B radiation decreased shoots height, leaf area, and increased specific leaf mass and thickness of palisade and sponge layer as well as APX activity and UV-B absorbing compounds in both species. Whereas, leaf numbers, ABA content, soluble protein and CAT activity showed no differences to enhanced UV-B radiation. Interspecific differences were also observed. Compared with P. kangdingensis, P. cathayana showed lower shoot height and smaller leaf area, higher SOD activity. Besides, variation in UV-B absorbing compounds was found. These differences suggested that P. kangdingensis from high elevation (3500 m) was more tolerant to enhanced UV-B radiation than P. cathayana from low elevation (1500 m). Compared with morphological and physiological changes induced by enhanced UV-B radiation under well-watered conditions, drought exacerbated or decreased these changes. However, these effects vary with parameters measured. When two stresses applied together, shoot height and leaf area further decreased while leaf thickness further increased. Under well-watered conditions, enhanced UV-B radiation significantly increased proline content, but such effect was not observed under drought conditions. The effect of drought on enhanced UV-B radiation was related to species. For example, drought reduced the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on palisade parenchyma and sponge mesophyll in P. kangdingensis, and additive effects in shoot height and leaf area and interactive effect CAT activity were observed. In contrast, for P. cathayana drought significantly exacerbated the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on palisade parenchyma and sponge mesophyll; there were noticeable interaction in shoot height, leaf area and specific leaf mass. As far as long-term WUE is concerned, it was increased by enhanced UV-B radiation under well-watered conditions in both species. While different effect was observed between two species in combination of two stresses. Long-term water use efficiency was further increased in P. cathayana whereas the effect was less significant in P. kangdingensis. 3. The field experiment showed that growth and physiological traits of poplars were affected by nutrition and enhanced UV-B radiation. Fertilization significantly increased leaf area, biomass and SOD activity, reduced Ascorbic acid concentration. There was interspecific difference in response to fertilization. For P. kangdingensis, fertilization significantly increased leaf width, leaf length and photosynthetic pigments content while net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration were significantly decreased. However, for P. cathayana, these parameters were unaffected except the increase of SOD, GPX and APX activity. From above, it could concluded that P. kangdingensis from high elevation was more affected by fertilization than P. cathayana, This difference was due to adaptation to local environment., The low temperature and moisture where P. kangdingensis was collected can not provided optimum to decompose roots and litter fall as a result the nutrition in soil was poor. Exposed to enhanced UV-B radiation, for both species UV-B absorbing compounds and GPX activity were significantly increased while proline, MDA, soluble protein, chlorophyll, carotenoids were not affected. Different responses were also observed between the two species. Enhanced UV-B radiation caused significant decreases in leaf area, biomass, net photosynthetic rate and increase in APX activity and long-term WUE in P. cathayana but not in P. kangdingensis. In addition, activity in antioxidant enzymes was much higher in P. kangdingensis than in P. cathayana. In the experiment fertilization affected responses of cuttings to enhanced UV-B radiation, but it concern species and parameters measured. Long-term WUE in P. cathayana and chlorophyll in P. kangdingensis were significantly increased by enhanced UV-B radiation under non-fertilization treatments while the increase was not found under fertilization treatment. In contrast, under no fertilization treatment enhanced UV-B radiation did not affected GPX and APX activity in P. cathayana and GPX in P. kangdingensis while significant increase appeared after application of fertilization. Similar effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on intercellular CO2 concentration in P. kangdingensis was observed.

Extração, caracterização e atividades biológicas de proteínas da espécie cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur

The extraction, chemical and structural characterization of a wide variety of compounds derived from plants has been a major source of bioactive molecules. Several proteases have been isolated in the plant kingdom, with numerous pharmacological and biotechnological applications. Among the proteases isolated from plants, are the fibrinogenolytic, with relevant application in the treatment of disorders in the coagulation cascade, in addition to potential use as a tool in clinical laboratories. In this study, in addition to evaluating the effects of the protein extract of Cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur (Euphorbiaceae) in the coagulation cascade also investigates the presence of antimicrobial activity and characterizes the proteolytic activity detected in this extract, aiming to determine their potential pharmacological and biotechnological application. In this way, crude protein extracts obtained from the leaves of C. urens in Tris-HCl 0.05M, NaCl 0.15M, pH 7.5, were precipitated in different concentrations of acetone, and assessed for the presence of proteolytic activity in azocaseína and fibrinogen. The most active fraction (F1.0) in these tests was chosen for assessment of biological activity and biochemical characterization. The Aα chain and Bβ of fibrinogen were completely cleaved at a concentration of 0.18 μg/μL of protein fraction in 4 minutes. Fibrinogenolytic activity presented total inhibition in the presence of E-64 and partial in the presence of EDTA. The fraction demonstrated coagulant activity in plasm and reduced the APTT, demonstrating acting on the factors coagulation of the intrinsic pathway and common, not exerting effects on the PT. Fibrinolytic activity on plasma clot was detected only in SDS-PAGE in high concentrations of fraction, and there were no defibrinating. Although several proteases isolated from plants and venomous animals are classically toxic, the fraction F1.0 of C. urens not expressed hemorrhagic nor hemolytic activities. Fraction F1.0 also showed no antimicrobial activity. In proteolytic activity on the azocasein, the optimal pH was 5.0 and optimum temperature of 60ºC. The enzyme activity has been shown to be sensitive to the presence of salts tested, with inhibition for all compounds. The surfactant triton did not influence the enzyme activity, but the tween-20 and SDS inhibited the activity. In the presence of reducing agents increase in enzyme activity occurred, a typical feature of enzymes belonging to the class of cysteine proteases. Several bands with proteolytic activity were detected in zymogram, in the region of high-molecular-weight, which were inhibited by E-64. In this study, we found that C. urens presents in its constitution cysteine proteases with fibrinogenolytic and procoagulant activity, which may be isolated, with potential application in treatment of bleeding disorders, thrombolytic and clinical laboratory

Purification of papain from fresh latex of Carica papaya

No presente trabalho apresenta-se um método de cristalização da papaína oriunda do látex fresco de mamão, o qual apresenta uma alta produtividade em relação aos métodos previamente descritos. A metodologia aqui descrita não envolve o uso de reagentes sulfidrílicos, a papaína foi obtida de forma praticamente pura, apresentando uma simples banda quando submetida a eletroforese, e com propriedades idênticas àquelas obtidas por outros métodos. A atividade específica foi determinada utilizando Z-gly-pNP e BAEE como substrato. A papaína obtida por essa metodologia, sem uso de substâncias tais como cisteína e ditiotreitol, apresenta-se na forma de um complexo com inibidores naturais, os quais podem ser removidos por diálise.

Atividade biológica e enzimática em solo tratado com cloreto e sulfato de bário

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Characterization of an ADP-ribosyltransferase toxin (AexT) from Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida

An ADP-ribosylating toxin named Aeromonas salmonicida exoenzyme T (AexT) in A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, the etiological agent of furunculosis in fish, was characterized. Gene aexT, encoding toxin AexT, was cloned and characterized by sequence analysis. AexT shows significant sequence similarity to the ExoS and ExoT exotoxins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to the YopE cytotoxin of different Yersinia species. The aexT gene was detected in all of the 12 A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida strains tested but was absent from all other Aeromonas species. Recombinant AexT produced in Escherichia coli possesses enzymatic ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Monospecific polyclonal antibodies directed against purified recombinant AexT detected the toxin produced by A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida and cross-reacted with ExoS and ExoT of P. aeruginosa. AexT toxin could be detected in a wild type (wt) strain of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida freshly isolated from a fish with furunculosis; however, its expression required contact with RTG-2 rainbow trout gonad cells. Under these conditions, the AexT protein was found to be intracellular or tightly cell associated. No AexT was found when A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida was incubated in cell culture medium in the absence of RTG-2 cells. Upon infection with wt A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, the fish gonad RTG-2 cells rapidly underwent significant morphological changes. These changes were demonstrated to constitute cell rounding, which accompanied induction of production of AexT and which led to cell lysis after extended incubation. An aexT mutant which was constructed from the wt strain with an insertionally inactivated aexT gene by allelic exchange had no toxic effect on RTG-2 cells and was devoid of AexT production. Hence AexT is directly involved in the toxicity of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida for RTG-2 fish cells.

Caspase-3 mediates hippocampal apoptosis in pneumococcal meningitis

Bacterial meningitis causes neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, which is associated with learning and memory impairments after cured disease. The execution of the apoptotic program involves pathways that converge on activation of caspase-3, which is required for morphological changes associated with apoptosis. Here, the time course and the role of caspase-3 in neuronal apoptosis was assessed in an infant rat model of pneumococcal meningitis. During clinically asymptotic meningitis (0-12 h after infection), only minor apoptotic damage to the dentate gyrus was observed, while the acute phase (18-24 h) was characterized by a massive increase of apoptotic cells, which peaked at 36 h. In the subacute phase of the disease (36-72 h), the number of apoptotic cells decreased to control levels. Enzymatic caspase-3 activity was significantly increased in hippocampal tissue of infected animals compared to controls at 22 h. The activated enzyme was localized to immature cells of the dentate gyrus, and in vivo activity was evidenced by cleavage of the amyloid-beta precursor protein. Intracisternal administration of the caspase-3-specific inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO significantly reduced apoptosis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. In contrast to a study where the decrease of hippocampal apoptosis after administration of a pan-caspase inhibitor was due to downmodulation of the inflammatory response, our data demonstrate that specific inhibition of caspase-3 did not affect inflammation assessed by TNF-alpha and IL-1beta concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid space. Taken together, the present results identify caspase-3 as a key effector of neuronal apoptosis in pneumococcal meningitis.

Activating mutations for the Met tyrosine kinase receptor in human cancer

Recently, mutations in the Met tyrosine kinase receptor have been identified in both hereditary and sporadic forms of papillary renal carcinoma. We have introduced the corresponding mutations into the met cDNA and examined the effect of each mutation in biochemical and biological assays. We find that the Met mutants exhibit increased levels of tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced kinase activity toward an exogenous substrate when compared with wild-type Met. Moreover, NIH 3T3 cells expressing mutant Met molecules form foci in vitro and are tumorigenic in nude mice. Enzymatic and biological differences were evident among the various mutants examined, and the somatic mutations were generally more active than those of germ-line origin. A strong correlation between the enzymatic and biological activity of the mutants was observed, indicating that tumorigenesis by Met is quantitatively related to its level of activation. These results demonstrate that the Met mutants originally identified in human papillary renal carcinoma are oncogenic and thus are likely to play a determinant role in this disease, and these results raise the possibility that activating Met mutations also may contribute to other human malignancies.

Enzymatic activity other than lipase

In this chapter, enzymes (other than lipase) which are present in cream are discussed. The effects of heat treatments on the activities of these enzymes are described. The influence of residual enzyme activiv, remaining after heating, on cream quality is also discussed.