Interactions between the nuclear matrix proteins and the 5'-flanking cis-acting elements of the human ε-globin gene

An erythroid-specific nuclear matrix protein (termed ε-NMPk) in K562 cells, which can specifically bind to the positive stage-specific regulatory element (ε-PRE Ⅱ , - 446- - 419 bp) upstream of the human ε-globin gene, has been identified by using gel mobility shift assay. Meanwhile, Southwestern blotting assay showed that the nuclear matrix protein ε-NMPk in K562, cells may be composed of two polypeptides ( ～ 40 ku). In addition, it is observed in the gel mobility shift assay that the nuclear matrix proteins from K562, HEL and Raji cells can bind to the silencer DNA ( - 392- - 177 bp) in the 5'-flanking sequence of human ε-globin gene respectively. However, the shift band K detected in K562 cells is different from shift band H/R in HEL and Raji cells, suggesting that a common nuclear matrix protein may exist in HEL and Raji cells. Results show that the nuclear matrix protein may play an important role in the regulation of the human ε-globin gene expression.     

Biological function of HIV-1 transmembrane protein gp41──A study on a putative cellular receptor of gp41

Since 1992, the study of biological functions of HIV-1 gp41 has made great progress. Experimental evidence from several research groups demonstrated that gp41 has a putative cellular receptor. A recombinant soluble gp41 (aa539-684) and gp41 immunosuppressive peptide (aa583-599) could bind to human B lymphocytes and monocytes, but weakly bind to T lymphocytes. It was found that gp41 contains two cellular binding sites (aa583-599 and 641-675). GP41 could selectively inhibit cell proliferation of human T, B lymphocytes and monocytes, enhance human MHC class Ⅰ, Ⅱ and ICAM-1 molecule expression on cell surface. Gp41 binding proteins and a monoclonal antibody against the first binding site could inhibit this modulation effect. Amino acid sequence homology exists between gp41 and human type Ⅰ interferons, and the homologous region is located in the first binding site on gp41 and in the receptor binding site on type Ⅰ interferons. Studies in other groups indicate that both binding sites in gp41 may be associated with HIV infection of cells. Peptides containing two binding sites could respectively inhibit HIV infection of cells. A monoclonal antibody recognizing the second binding site could neutralize lab-strains and recently separated strains of HIV-1. Besides, antibodies against two regions (homologous with gp41 binding sites) of SIV transmembrane protein gp32 could protect macaques from SIV infection. These results suggest that the study of gp41 binding sites and cellular receptor could contribute to understanding the mechanism of HIV infection and to developing HIV vaccine and anti-HIV drugs.     

Effects of point mutation C→T at - 64 of human δ globin gene promoter on DNA binding proteins

By electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), the effect of point mutation C→T at - 64 of human δ-globin gene on its binding proteins has been studied. Two segments of 36 bp from - 83- - 48 bp of the 6 globin gene promoter, named WOG and MOG, were synthesized. WOG includes wild type CAAT-like box (CCAAC), while MOG includes the mutant CAAT-like box (CCAAT, -64 C→T). Results indicate that: ( i ) in erythroid cell lines MEL, K562 and Hemin induced K562, the affinity of MOG with CCAAT binding protein (CBF) and GATA-1 was greatly increased; ( ii ) in Hemin induced K562 cell line, there were another two novel specific DNA binding proteins, named C and D temporarily, besides the above two factors. The former was combined with WOG and MOG, likely indicating its relation with the increased gene expression after induction. The latter was only combined with MOG, which had possible relationship with the point mutation of - 64 C→T; ( iii ) EMSA also indicates that the suppression mechanisms of the expression of 6 globin gene is different in various periods of human developments. The result evidently supports the hypothesis that the defect CAAT-like box in human 6 globin gene contributes the main reason of its low level expression. The defect c/s-acting element CAAT-like box affects gene expression by its combination with the frans-acting element CBF and GATA-1.     

A Study on the Molecular Switch of Gene Expression of the Mouse Heart Nuclear DNA Fragments

It is observed by in situ stain that LDH(1-5)…nNAD+ can probably enter the nucleopore and can be bound bound specifically with the genes that encode them. During the in vitro expression, the dilution of heart nuclear DNA fragments could enhance the expression activity of LDH/DNA and the amount of expressed LDH(1-5) is in proportion to the amount of dissociable LDH(1-5) on the LDH/DNA. With the integration of 14CLeu to the proteins, it is also observed that the addition of LDH(1-5)…nNAD+ can suppress the in vitro expression activity of LDH/DNA. AFM bservation shows that the regulation sequence at the both ends of active genes may be bound with such active factors as proteins encoded by the genes which probably is the main molecular switch of gene expression and regulation we have been always searching for. Our work shows the prospective application of the combination of AFM and isotope labeling in the research of biological reaction.     

PX domain and CD domain play different roles in localization and vacuolation of Sorting Nexin 10

Sorting nexins （SNXs） are PX domain containing proteins and essential for intracellular protein sorting, trafficking and signal transduction. The PX domains of SNXs can bind to various phosphorelated phosphoinositides （PIs） and target the host proteins to endosomes. Recently, we have reported that overexpression of SNX10 in mammalian cells could induce giant vacuoles. In this study, we aimed to identify regions in SNX10 critical for the vacuolation activity. We found that both the PX domain and the CD1 region were essential for vacuolation. We provided evidence that the PX domain was able to specifically bind to Ptdlns（3）P and target SNX10 to endosomes. A mutation in the 131 region of the PX domain （V15A） disrupted the Ptdlns（3）P binding ability and the endosomal localization of SNX10. However, correct subcellular localization alone was not sufficient for SNX10 to induce vacuoles. We found that the CD1 region, which was not required for the localization, was indispensable for the vacuolation activity of SNX10. In summary, both the PX domain and the CD1 region are necessary for SNX10 to induce vacuoles but they play different roles in this process.     

Conformational change of glutathione-S-transferase by its co-expression with prion domain of yeast Ure2p

Ure2 protein from Saccharomyces cerevisisae has a changeable structure similar to that ofrnammalian prion protein. Its N-terminal is the prion domain (PrD) consisting of 65 amino acids which plays a critical role in yeast prion development. In this study, PrD gene was recombinated with glutathione-S-transferase(GST) gene, and a soluble GST-PrD(sGST-PrD) fusion protein was expressed in E. coli. sGST-PrD could spontaneously polymerize into amyloid fibrils in vitro, displaying typical β-sheet-type structure; it had increased resistance to proteinase K and exhibited amvloid-like optical properties. Moreover, the aggregated GST-PrD(aGST-PrD) could induce sGST-PrD to aggregate into fibrils. These results indicate that PrD could change the conformation of GST moiety in a recombinant protein with PrD to form a prion-like chimeric protein, which proves that PrD has the ability to mediate a prion-like conversion of other proteins fused with it.     

Interaction of hepatitis B virus with tumor suppressor gene p53: its significance and biological function

The mechanism of the interaction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with tumor suppressor p53 and its role in the hepatocar-cinogenesis have been studied by PCR-directed sequencing, gel shift assays and in situ ultraviolet cross-linking assay. The biological function of the interaction of HBV with p53 gene was investigated by co-transfection of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase ( CAT) reporter gene. p53 and HBV DNA. and quantitative PCR. Among the 16 primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) samples. 13 were HBV-DNA positive. 10 HBxAg positive and 9 p53 protein positive. The p53 gene point mutation was found in 5 samples, one of which had a G to T substitution located at codon 249. After analyzing the HBV genome by a computer program, a p53 response element binding sequence was found in HBV genome at upstream of enhancer I. from 1047 to 1059 nucleotides. This sequence could specifically bind to p53 protein, increase p53 protein accumulation in the PHC cells and stimulate the transactivating activity of p53 and HBV replication . The results also revealed that HBxAg could combine with p53 protein to form a complex in the cells and enhance CAT expression. Immunocytochemical staining showed that p53 protein complex was located in the cytoplasm and the process of p53 entry to nuclei was. in part, blocked. From our results, we conclude that the mutation of p53 gene at codon 249 is infrequent in HBV-associated PHC. the DNA-protein binding between HBV and p53. and the protein-protein binding between HBxAg and p53 might lead to the reduction or inactivation of p53 protein, which in turn resulting in HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Evidence for existence of a close association between CD14 and CXCR4 on monocytic cell line U937

The surface expression of HIV-1 coreceptors (CXCR4 and CCR5) on monocytes can be regulated by the ligand of CD14,and the susceptibility of the cells to HIV-1 is then changed.Our previous study found that monoclonal antibody against CD14 could dramatically inhibit CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis and cell-cell fusion.Based on these studies,we explored potential relationship between CD14 and CXCR4 on monocytic cell line U937.Flow cytometry analysis showed that anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 12G5 strongly inhibited binding of the FITC-conjugated anti-CD14 monoclonal antibodies (TUK4 and UCHM1) to U937,while another CX- CR4-specific mAb B-R24 did not show any effect on this binding.On the other hand,two anti-CD14 monoclonal antibodies (TUK4 and UCH-M1) obviously inhibited the binding of the PE-conjugated anti-CXCR4 mAb 12G5 to U937 but did not inhibit the binding of mAb 12G5 to CXCR4-transfected 3T3 cells (3T3.T4.CXCR4),which indicates that the blocking of mAb 12G5 binding to CXCR4 by CD14- specific mAbs is not involved in the possibility that CD14-specific mAbs directly bind to CXCR4.These results suggested existence of a close association between CD14 and CXCR4 on monocytic cell line U937.     

A homolog of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Riemerella anatipestifer is an extracellular protein and exhibits biological activity

Riemerella anatipestifer is the causative agent of septicemia anserum exsudativa in ducks. Its pathogenesis and virulence factors are still unclear. The glycelytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase （GAPDH）, an anchorless and multifunctional protein on the surface of several pathogenic microorganisms, is involved in virulence and adhesion. Whether homologs of GAPDH exist, and display similar characteristics in R. anatipestifer （RaGAPDH） has not been determined. In our research, the RaGAPDH activity from various R. anatipestifer isolates was confirmed. Twenty-two gapdh genes from genornic DNA of R. anatipestifer isolates were cloned and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The distribution of RaGAPDH in R. anatipestifer CZ2 strain was confirmed by antisera to recombinant RaGAPDH. The ability of purified RaGAPDH to bind host proteins was analyzed by solid-phase ligandbinding assay. Results revealed that all R. anatipestifer isolates showed different levels of GAPDH activity except four strains, which contained a gapdh-like gene. The gapdh of R. anatipestifer, which is located phylogenetically in the same branch as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coil （EHEC）, belonged to class I GAPDH, and encoded a 36.7-kDa protein. All RaGAPDH-encoding gene sequences from field isolates of R. anatipestiferdisplayed 100% homology. The RaGAPDH localized on the extracellular membrane of several R. anatipestifer strains. Further, it was released into the culture medium, and exhibited GAPDH enzyme activity. We also confirmed the binding of RaGAPDH to plasminogen and fibrinogen. These results demonstrated that GAPDH was present in R. anatipestifer, although not in all strains, and that RaGAPDH might contribute to the microorganism＇s virulence.     

Recombinant sTRAIL induces cell death of tumor cell lines as well as primary cancer cells

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a new member of TNF family. It was reported that TRAIL could induce apoptosis of tumor cells but not normal cells in tissue culture system. To further study the biological activity and potential clinical significance, a recombinant soluble TRAIL (rsTRAIL) has been expressed stably in E. coli after transformation of pET28b vector containing the extracellular domain of TRAIL. The yield of rsTRAIL is approximately as high as 60% of whole bacterial proteins. The rsTRAIL, purified by Ni+ -agarose affinity chromatography, could remarkably trigger apoptosis at the concentrations of 0.1-1 μg/mL in all 7 tumor cell lines tested in vitro. However, this killing activity has not been observed in mouse fibroblast cell line (NIH3T3) as normal control. Further investigation shows that the rsTRAIL could also kill primary tumor cells isolated freshly from patients with cardiac cancer, breast cancer and malignant thymoma, while the normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes are not killed under the same conditions. These results provide new evidence that rsTRAIL could induce apoptosis of tumor cells specifically and it could be a new promising medicine for tumor therapy.     

Xenozoonoses in xenotransplantation

Pig to human xenotransplantation is one of the possible ways to solve the problem of organ shortage, but the potential risk of xenozoonoses hinders the progress of xenotransplantation. Among pathogens that might cause xenozoonoses, porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) is undoubtedly the most noticeable. Current researches show that PERV exists in pigs' genomes and is able to express in multiple tissues and organs in pigs. Other experiments also show that PERV could successfully infect several human cell lines in vitro and could infect SCID mice through pig to mouse islet transplantation. The discussion and research on the risk of PERV is one of the hottest topics in current xenotransplantation, but the question of whether PERV will transmit to human through xenotransplantation has not been answered due to the lack of suitable animal models. More work should be done to evaluate the risk of xenozoonoses caused by PERV after pig to human xenotransplantation.     

S100A8 mediates the activation of P65/HLA-B/S100A8/BCL-2/Caspase-9 (-3) pathway in laryngeal carcinogenesis

S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8),a possible novel member of NF-kappa B signal pathway in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC),interacts with human leukocyte antigen B (HLA-B) which carries an NF-kappa B binding site within the enhancer A. The objective of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of S100A8 in laryngeal carcinogenesis. RT-PCR,Western blotting and immuno-histochemistry staining were applied to evaluate the expression levels of IKKα,P65,REL-B,S100A8,APAF-1 and BCL-2 genes. The signal transduction passway in which S100A8 might participate was explored by RNA interference. Flow cytometry,TUNEL assay and cell invasion in vitro were used to detect the biological behavior of Hep2 cells induced by S100A8 gene. Our results showed that high expression of S100A8 was related to tumorigenesis in LSCC and negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation,indicating that S100A8 gene could inhibit apoptosis and promote metastasis in LSCC. Additionally,the suppression of S100A8 by RNA interference down-regulated BCL-2 but not APAF-1,P65 and IKKα,while,the suppression of P65 could significantly down-regulate the expression of S100A8 gene. In conclusion,S100A8 plays an important role in P65/HLA-B/S100A8/BCL-2/Caspase-9 (-3) pathway in laryngeal carcinoma.     

RNA interference-mediated inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus replication

Persistent and recurrent infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) represents one of the most common and severe viral infections of humans, and has caused a formidable health problem in the affected countries. Currently used antiviral drugs have a very limited success on controlling HBV replication and infection. RNA interference (RNAi), a process by which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) directs sequence-specific degradation of target mRNA in mammalian and plant cells, has recently been used to knockdown gene expression in various species. In this study, we sought to determine whether RNAi-mediated silencing of HBV viral gene expression could lead to the effective inhibition of HBV replication. We first developed RNAi vectors that expressed small interfering RNA (siRNA) and targeted the HBV core or surface gene sequence. Our results demonstrated that these specific siRNAs efficiently reduced the levels of corresponding viral RNAs and proteins, and thus suppressed viral replication. Treatment with siRNA gave the greatest reduction in the levels of HBsAg (92%) and in HBeAg (85%) respectively in the cultured cell medium. Our findings further demonstrated that the RNAi-mediated antiviral effect was sequence-specific and dose-dependent. Therefore, our findings strongly suggest that RNAi-mediated silencing of HBV viral genes could effectively inhibit the replication of HBV, hence RNAi-based strategy should be further explored as a more efficacious antiviral therapy of HBV infection.     

Construction and<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> study of an E1B-defective adenovirus

An E1B-defective adenovirus named rl/Ad was constructed by homologous recombination.The construction,selection and propagation of recombinant virus was done in the human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK293).The in vitro study demonstrated that the recombinant virus has the ability to replicate in and lyse some p53-deficient human tumor cells such as the human glioblastoma tumor cells (U251) and human bladder tumer cells (EJ) but not in the normal cells with functional p53 such as the human fibroblast cells (MRC-5).Also,based on the cytopathic effect (CPE),it was demonstrated that the U251 cells were more sensitive to the infection of rl/Ad than that of EJ cells under identical conditions.In this paper,it was found that rl/Ad could be very useful in studying the in vitro selective replication of E1B-defective adenovirus.This may help to determine the safety of using any E1B-defective adenoviruses in cancer gene therapy.