Targeted inhibition of Livin resensitizes renal cancer cells towards apoptosis

Cancer cells are typically characterized by apoptosis deficiency. In order to investigate a possible role for the anti-apoptotic livin gene in renal cell cancer (RCC), we analyzed its expression in tumor tissue samples and in RCC-derived cell lines. In addition, we studied the contribution of livin to the apoptotic resistance of RCC cells by RNA interference (RNAi). Livin gene expression was detected in a significant portion of RCC tumor tissue specimens (13/14, 92.9%) and tumor-derived cell lines (12/15, 80.0%). Moreover, targeted inhibition of livin by RNAi markedly sensitized RCC cells towards proapoptotic stimuli, such as UV irradiation or the chemotherapeutic drugs etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, and vinblastine. These effects were specific for livin expressing tumor cells. We conclude that livin can contribute significantly to the apoptosis resistance of RCC cells. Targeted inhibition of livin could represent a novel therapeutic strategy to increase the sensitivity of renal cancers towards pro-apoptotic agents. Received 30 November 2006; received after revision 22 February 2007; accepted 20 March 2007     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Legionella pneumophila</Emphasis> — a human pathogen that co-evolved with fresh water protozoa

The bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila is found ubiquitously in fresh water environments where it replicates within protozoan hosts. When inhaled by humans it can replicate within alveolar macrophages and cause a severe pneumonia, Legionnaires disease. Yet much needs to be learned regarding the mechanisms that allow Legionella to modulate host functions to its advantage and the regulatory network governing its intracellular life cycle. The establishment and publication of the complete genome sequences of three clinical L. pneumophila isolates paved the way for major breakthroughs in understanding the biology of L. pneumophila. Based on sequence analysis many new putative virulence factors have been identified foremost among them eukaryotic-like proteins that may be implicated in many different steps of the Legionella life cycle. This review summarizes what is currently known about regulation of the Legionella life cycle and gives insight in the Legionella-specific features as deduced from genome analysis. Received 1 September 2006; received after revision 10 October 2006; accepted 22 November 2006     

Polypeptide translocation machinery of the yeast endoplasmic reticulum

Proteins enter the secretory pathway by two general routes. In one, the complete polypeptide is made in the cytoplasm and held in an incompletely folded state by chaperoning adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) such as hsp70. InSaccharomyces cerevisiae, fully synthesized secretory precursors engage the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane by interaction with a set of Sec proteins comprising the polypeptide translocation apparatus (Sec61p, Sec62p, Sec63p, Sec71p, Sec72p). Productive interaction requires displacement of hsp70 from the precursor, a reaction that is facilitated by Ydj1p, a homologue of theEscherichia coli DnaJ protein. Both DnaJ and Ydj1p regulate chaperone activity by stimulating the ATPase activity of their respective hsp70 partners (E. coli DnaK andS. cerevisiae Ssa1p, resepectively). In the ER lumen, another hsp70 chaperone, BiP, binds ATP and interacts with the ER membrane via its contact with a peptide loop of Sec63p. This loop represents yet another DnaJ homologue in that it contains a region of 70 residue similarity to the J box, the most conserved region of the DnaJ family of proteins. In the presence of ATP, under conditions in which BiP can bind to Sec63p, the secretory precursor passes from the cytosol into the lumen through a membrane channel formed by Sec61 p. A second route to the membrane pore that is used by many other secretory precursors, particularly in mammalian cells, requires that the polypeptide engage the ER membrane as the nascent chain emerges from the ribosome. Such cotranslational translocation bypasses the need for certain Sec proteins, instead utilizing an alternate set of cytosolic and membrane factors that allows the nascent chain to be inserted directly into the Sec61p channel.     

Some citrus chitinases also possess chitosanase activities

Several acidic chitinase and chitosanase isoforms were found in 4-week-old nonembryogenic sweet orange (Valencia [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck]) callus tissue. Two isoforms (designated A1-CF1 and A1-CF2) were purified to homogeneity using HPLC size exclusion, anion exchange, and chromatofocusing techniques. Both hydrolase isoforms exhibited activity with either colloidal chitin or solubilized shrimp shell chitosan. Specific activities for the purified isoforms could not be calculated because of the lack of protein and contamination of ampholytes. However, the specific activities for chitinase and chitosanase after anion exchange were respectively 404 nmol GlcNAc per min per mg protein and 2,475 nmol GlcN per min per mg protein. The M_r for both enzymes was 30,500. The homogeneous proteins cross-reacted in western blots with antiserum against a basic class I potato leaf chitinase.     

植物抗冻蛋白的生物化学研究进展

抗冻蛋白是一种能抑制冰晶生长的蛋白质或糖蛋白质．自二十世纪60年代发现以来，研究对象先后从极区鱼类、昆虫转移到植物材料上．抗冻蛋白包括抗冻糖蛋白、抗冻蛋白Ⅰ、抗冻蛋白Ⅱ、抗冻蛋白Ⅲ、抗冻蛋白Ⅳ．简要介绍了植物抗冻蛋白的生化特征、抗冻机制及其应用研究，并对抗冻蛋白的基因工程作了系统综述．     

抗冻蛋白基因转化植物的研究展望

重新评估了用美洲拟鲽抗冻蛋白基因转化烟草的研究，认为植物耐寒性状的提高与转基因植物中冻抗蛋白含量呈正相关是转基因植物成功的关键性指标。美洲拟鲽抗冻蛋白的空间结构与冷冻诱导蛋白相似而且都保护细胞膜免受冻害，因而提出了用冷诱导蛋白调节元的顺式作用元件和反式作用因子的调控序列来控制抗冻蛋白基因在植物中冷诱导表达的思路。     

二甲苯蓝FF与蛋白质相互作用的分光光度研究

在pH1 7～2 8的弱酸性介质中,二甲苯蓝FF与牛血清蛋白、人血清蛋白、卵白蛋白、α 糜蛋白酶等作用形成结合产物时将导致吸收光谱发生变化,在390nm处产生明显的褪色作用,而在560nm附近吸光度增强,其ΔA值均与蛋白浓度成正比,根据蛋白质的不同分别在0～60mg/L或0～80mg/L范围内符合Beer定律,不同蛋白质的表观摩尔吸光系数在2 8×105至1 3×106之间.据此,建立了一种测定蛋白质的双波长叠加分析法.该法应用于血清蛋白样品中总蛋白质的质量分析,回收率在98 7%～102 9%范围内.     

视黄醇结合蛋白基因的研究发展

视黄醇结合蛋白(Retinol-Binding Proteins，RBP)是一类维生素A的运载蛋白，参与血清和细胞内视黄醇／酸的转运，是疏水小分子结合蛋白家族的成员。RBP主要在肝脏中合成并释放入血液进而进入各种组织，通过与视黄醇、前白蛋白及细胞表面受体相互作用，在维生素A的储存、代谢、转运到周围靶器官中具有重要功能。细胞内视黄醇结合蛋白则主要在细胞内发挥类似作用。本文主要就血清及细胞内视黄醇结合蛋白的基因结构、作用机理、发育性表达、组织定位及染色体定位、对动物繁殖性能和胚胎发育的影响等方面进行综述。     

药用植物广藿香的品种分类探讨

根据栽培在广东省3个地区的广藿香Pogostemon cablin(Blanco) Benth.的形态特征，药材特性和采用超薄等电聚焦电泳技术得出的蛋白质电泳图谱，把广东省栽培的广藿香分为3个栽培品种（cultivas)，即（1）石牌广藿香（P.cablin (Blanco)Benth.cv.shipaiensis)，（2）高要广藿香（P.cablin (Blanco)Benth.cv.gaoyaoensis),(3)湛江广藿香（P.cablin(Blanco) Benth.cv.zhanjiangensis)。