Presence of antibody against the inducible Hsp71 in patients with acute heat-induced illness

Antibodies against heat shock or stress proteins (Hsps) have been reported in a number of diseases in which they may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease or may be of use for prognosis. Heat-induced diseases, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, are frequent in hot working or living environments. There are still few investigations on the presence and possible significance of autoantibodies against Hsps in heat-induced illnesses. Using an immunoblotting technique with recombinant human Hsps, we analyzed the presence and titers of antibodies against Hsp60, Hsp71, and Hsp90alpha, and Hsp90beta in a group of 42 young male patients who presented with acute heat-induced illness during training. We also examined the presence of antibody against Hsp71 in a second group of 57 patients with acute heat-induced illness and measured the changes in titers of anti-Hsp71 antibodies in 9 patients hospitalized by emergency physicians. In the first group of young persons exercising in a hot environment, the occurrence of antibodies against Hsp71 and Hsp90alpha was significantly higher among individuals with symptoms of heat-induced illness (P < 0.05) than in the matched group of nonaffected exercising individuals. Moreover titers of antibody against Hsp71 were higher in individuals of the severe and mild heat-induced illness groups, the highest titer being found in the most severe cases. The results from the second group of 57 heat-affected patients exposed to extreme heat were similar. Again, patients with the more severe heat-induced symptoms showed a significantly higher incidence of antibodies to Hsp71 than controls and the titer of anti-Hsp71 was higher in the severely affected group. Finally, in a study of 9 patients, it was observed that the titer of anti-Hsp71 decreased during recovery from severe heat symptoms. These results suggest that measurement of antibodies to Hsps may be useful in assessing how individuals are responding to abnormal stress within their living and working environment and may be used as one biomarker to evaluate their susceptibility to heat-induced diseases.

[Identification and cloning of partial mbh2 gene cluster of hyperthermophile Aquifex pyrophilus]

A 0.8 kb fragment of mbhS2 gene of Aquifex pyrophilus was obtained by PCR with designed primers basing mbhS2 gene of A. aeolicus. It showed 85% homology with the corresponding region of A. aeolicus. Using it as probe, a 5.0 kb Nco I fragment was fished out from the partial genomic library of A. pyrophilus. Then this fragment was cloned, subcloned and sequenced. The result revealed that the fragment contains the full length gene for the mbhS2, the gene orf1 and the first 366 bp of orf2. Comparison with mbhS2 and orf963 of A. aeolicus shows 81% and 60% homologies in amino acid sequence, respectively.

The shorter zinc finger protein ZNF230 gene message is transcribed in fertile male testes and may be related to human spermatogenesis

The zinc finger gene family represents one of the largest in the mammalian genome, with several of these genes reported to be involved in spermatogenesis. A newly discovered gene has been identified that is expressed abundantly in the testicular tissue of fertile men as determined by mRNA differential display. The gene encodes a C(3)HC(4)-type zinc finger protein motif (ring finger motif) consistent with a role in pre-meiotic or post-meiotic sperm development. The gene was named ZNF230 and mapped to the short arm of chromosome 11 (11p15). ZNF230 has two transcripts, of 1 kb and 4.4 kb in length. The shorter 1 kb transcript was only detected in testicular tissue whereas the longer 4.4 kb transcript was not detected in testis but was found in several other tissues. The lack of detectable ZNF230 expression in azoospermic patients by reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR analysis is interpreted to mean that this gene is involved in maintaining normal human male fertility.

Association of plasma antibodies against the inducible Hsp70 with hypertension and harsh working conditions

Autoantibodies against certain stress or heat shock proteins (Hsps) may play a role in the pathogenesis and/ or prognosis of some diseases. Using immunoblotting with human recombinant Hsps and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, we have investigated the presence of antibodies against Hsp70, the inducible member of the 70-kDa family of heat shock proteins, and analyzed its possible association with hypertension and working conditions. Plasma and serum were collected from 764 steel mill workers from 6 work sites exposed to (1) severe noise; (2) severe noise and dust; (3) noise, dust, and heat; (4) noise and heat; (5) severe noise and heat; and (6) office conditions (control). Workers with prolonged exposure to stresses such as noise, dust, and high temperature and a combination of these in the workplace had a high incidence (26.6% to 40.2%) of antibodies to Hsp70 compared to the lowest incidence (18.6%) of antibodies to Hsp70 in the control group of office workers. Moreover, there was a statistical association of antibodies against Hsp70 with hypertension. The statistical correlation between the presence of antibodies to Hsp70 and hypertension is higher in the group of workers with blood pressure of 160/95 mmHg than in the 140/90-mmHg group after excluding possible effects of the workplace stresses. These results suggest that harsh workplace conditions can increase the production of antibodies against Hsp70 and that the presence of antibodies to this stress protein may be associated with hypertension. The precise mechanism for the elevation of antibodies against Hsps by environmental and workplace stresses and their relation to hypertension remains to be established.

[Fermentation conditions for production of alkaline elastase by alkaliphilic Bacillus XE22-4-1]

A extracellular alkaline elastase producing bacterial strain Bacillus XE22-4-1, with the optimum pH of 10.0 for its growth, was isolated and screened from alkali lake of Tibet. 2% glucose and 0.25% yeast extract are respectively the appropriate carbon and nitrogen source on elastase production. Soymeal can promote elastase production. The fermentation conditions in a 2 L stirred tank were investigated. The results have revealed that the dissolved oxygen is the most effective factor on elastase production. The maximum elastolytic activity reached 266 u/mL among 48 hours of fermentation by combination of enhancing aeration and changing the mixing speed.

Application of the polysilicone fullerene coating for solid-phase microextraction in the determination of semi-volatile compounds

Solid-phase microextraction using polysilicone fullerene (PF) coating has been applied for the determination of semi-volatile compounds. Detection limits at the 10 ng l(-1) to approximately microg l(-1) level were achieved using flame ionization detection. A wide linear range was obtained with precision below 7% relative standard deviation. Parameters that affect the extraction process were investigated, which included sampling time, desorption time, sampling temperature, and salting out effect. Compared to the non-polar commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating, the PF coating has higher extraction efficiency, better selectivity and greater sensitivity for aromatic compounds. The experimental results revealed the thermal stability and life span are superior to commercially available PDMS. The PF coating has been demonstrated to possess planarity molecular recognition. The theoretical study confirmed that quantification is feasible under non-equilibrium conditions by use of the PF coating.

Recent advances in our knowledge of the Myxozoa

In the last few years two factors have helped to significantly advance our understanding of the Myxozoa. First, the phenomenal increase in fin fish aquaculture in the 1990s has lead to the increased importance of these parasites; in turn this has lead to intensified research efforts, which have increased knowledge of the development, diagnosis. and pathogenesis of myxozoans. The hallmark discovery in the 1980s that the life cycle of Myxobolus cerebralis requires development of an actinosporean stage in the oligochaete. Tubifex tubifex, led to the elucidation of the life cycles of several other myxozoans. Also, the life cycle and taxonomy of the enigmatic PKX myxozoan has been resolved: it is the alternate stage of the unusual myxozoan, Tetracapsula bryosalmonae, from bryozoans. The 18S rDNA gene of many species has been sequenced, and here we add 22 new sequences to the data set. Phylogenetic analyses using all these sequences indicate that: 1) the Myxozoa are closely related to Cnidaria (also supported by morphological data); 2) marine taxa at the genus level branch separately from genera that usually infect freshwater fishes; 3) taxa cluster more by development and tissue location than by spore morphology; 4) the tetracapsulids branched off early in myxozoan evolution, perhaps reflected by their having bryozoan, rather than annelid hosts; 5) the morphology of actinosporeans offers little information for determining their myxosporean counterparts (assuming that they exist); and 6) the marine actinosporeans from Australia appear to form a clade within the platysporinid myxosporeans. Ribosomal DNA sequences have also enabled development of diagnostic tests for myxozoans. PCR and in situ hybridisation tests based on rDNA sequences have been developed for Myxobolus cerebralis, Ceratomyxa shasta, Kudoa spp., and Tetracapsula bryosalmonae (PKX). Lectin-based and antibody tests have also been developed for certain myxozoans, such as PKX and C. shasta. We also review important diseases caused by myxozoans, which are emerging or re-emerging. Epizootics of whirling disease in wild rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have recently been reported throughout the Rocky Mountain states of the USA. With a dramatic increase in aquaculture of fishes using marine netpens, several marine myxozoans have been recognized or elevated in status as pathological agents. Kudoa thyrsites infections have caused severe post-harvest myoliquefaction in pen-reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and Ceratomyxa spp., Sphaerospora spp., and Myxidium leei cause disease in pen-reared sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream species (family Sparidae) in Mediterranean countries.

Preliminary studies on associations of IDDM3, IDDM4, IDDM5 and IDDM8 with IDDM in Chengdu population

OBJECTIVE

To study the associations of IDDM3, IDDM4, IDDM5 and IDDM8 with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).

METHODS

The polymorphisms of short tandem repeat (STR) loci D15S657, D11S1369, D6S2420 and D6S503, linked to IDDM3, IDDM4, IDDM5 and IDDM8 respectively, were studied by polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PCR-PAGE) followed by direct sequencing of PCR products in 105 normal Chinese Han nationality subjects and 48 patients with IDDM.

RESULTS

The allele frequencies of allele A5 at D15S657 locus, allele A5 at D11S1369 locus and allele A4 at D6S2420 locus were increased significantly in patients with IDDM compared to those in the control group. No difference in the allele frequencies at D6S503 locus was observed between IDDM and control group.

CONCLUSION

IDDM3, IDDM4, IDDM5 but not IDDM8 may be associated with IDDM in Chinese Han nationality population.

African Origin of Modern Humans in East Asia: A Tale of 12,000 Y Chromosomes

To test the hypotheses of modern human origin in East Asia, we sampled 12,127 male individuals from 163 populations and typed for three Y chromosome biallelic markers (YAP, M89, and M130). All the individuals carried a mutation at one of the three sites. These three mutations (YAP+, M89T, and M130T) coalesce to another mutation (M168T), which originated in Africa about 35,000 to 89,000 years ago. Therefore, the data do not support even a minimal in situ hominid contribution in the origin of anatomically modern humans in East Asia.

Monitoring motility, spreading, and mortality of adherent insect cells using an impedance sensor

An emerging sensor technology referred to as electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) has been extended for monitoring the behavior of insect cells including attachment, motility, and mortality. In ECIS, adherent cells were cultured on an array of eight small gold electrodes deposited on the bottom of tissue culture wells and immersed in a culture medium. Upon the attachment and spreading of cells on the gold electrode, the impedance increased because the cells acted as insulating particles to restrict the current flow. Experimental data revealed that insect cells interacted differently with various proteins used to precoat the gold electrode with concanavalin A as the best promoter to accelerate the rate of cell attachment. After the cells were fully spread, the measured impedance continued to fluctuate to reflect the constant motion and metabolic activity of the cells. As the cell behavior was sensitive to external chemicals, the applicability of ECIS for inhibition assays was demonstrated with HgCl2, trinitrotoluene, trinitrobenzene (TNB), and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene as model systems. Unlike conventional assays, the quantitative data obtained in this study are taken in real time and in a continuous fashion to depict cell motility and mortality.

Presence of antibody against the inducible Hsp71 in patients with acute heat-induced illness

Antibodies against heat shock or stress proteins (Hsps) have been reported in a number of diseases in which they may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease or may be of use for prognosis. Heat-induced diseases, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, are frequent in hot working or living environments. There are still few investigations on the presence and possible significance of autoantibodies against Hsps in heat-induced illnesses. Using an immunoblotting technique with recombinant human Hsps, we analyzed the presence and titers of antibodies against Hsp60, Hsp71, and Hsp90alpha, and Hsp90beta in a group of 42 young male patients who presented with acute heat-induced illness during training. We also examined the presence of antibody against Hsp71 in a second group of 57 patients with acute heat-induced illness and measured the changes in titers of anti-Hsp71 antibodies in 9 patients hospitalized by emergency physicians. In the first group of young persons exercising in a hot environment, the occurrence of antibodies against Hsp71 and Hsp90alpha was significantly higher among individuals with symptoms of heat-induced illness (P < 0.05) than in the matched group of nonaffected exercising individuals. Moreover titers of antibody against Hsp71 were higher in individuals of the severe and mild heat-induced illness groups, the highest titer being found in the most severe cases. The results from the second group of 57 heat-affected patients exposed to extreme heat were similar. Again, patients with the more severe heat-induced symptoms showed a significantly higher incidence of antibodies to Hsp71 than controls and the titer of anti-Hsp71 was higher in the severely affected group. Finally, in a study of 9 patients, it was observed that the titer of anti-Hsp71 decreased during recovery from severe heat symptoms. These results suggest that measurement of antibodies to Hsps may be useful in assessing how individuals are responding to abnormal stress within their living and working environment and may be used as one biomarker to evaluate their susceptibility to heat-induced diseases.

Isolation, characterization, and mapping of a novel human KRAB zinc finger protein encoding gene ZNF463

A novel human KRAB (Krüppel associated box) type zinc finger protein encoding gene, ZNF463, was obtained by mRNA differential display and RACE. It consists of 1904 nucleotides and encodes a protein of 463 amino acids with an amino-terminal KRAB domain and 12 carboxy-terminal C2H2 zinc finger units. The gene is mapped to chromosome 19q13.3 approximately 4 by FISH. As from Northern blot analysis ZNF463 is only expressed in testis, RT-PCR indicates that ZNF463 is expressed more highly in normal fertile adults than in fetus and azoospermic patients suggesting that it may play a role in human spermatogenesis.

Interaction of coxsackievirus A21 with its cellular receptor, ICAM-1

Coxsackievirus A21 (CAV21), like human rhinoviruses (HRVs), is a causative agent of the common cold. It uses the same cellular receptor, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), as does the major group of HRVs; unlike HRVs, however, it is stable at acid pH. The cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) image reconstruction of CAV21 is consistent with the highly homologous crystal structure of poliovirus 1; like other enteroviruses and HRVs, CAV21 has a canyon-like depression around each of the 12 fivefold vertices. A cryoEM reconstruction of CAV21 complexed with ICAM-1 shows all five domains of the extracellular component of ICAM-1. The known atomic structure of the ICAM-1 amino-terminal domains D1 and D2 has been fitted into the cryoEM density of the complex. The site of ICAM-1 binding within the canyon of CAV21 overlaps the site of receptor recognition utilized by rhinoviruses and polioviruses. Interactions within this common region may be essential for triggering viral destabilization after attachment to susceptible cells.

The sequence of the human genome

A 2.91-billion base pair (bp) consensus sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome was generated by the whole-genome shotgun sequencing method. The 14.8-billion bp DNA sequence was generated over 9 months from 27,271,853 high-quality sequence reads (5.11-fold coverage of the genome) from both ends of plasmid clones made from the DNA of five individuals. Two assembly strategies-a whole-genome assembly and a regional chromosome assembly-were used, each combining sequence data from Celera and the publicly funded genome effort. The public data were shredded into 550-bp segments to create a 2.9-fold coverage of those genome regions that had been sequenced, without including biases inherent in the cloning and assembly procedure used by the publicly funded group. This brought the effective coverage in the assemblies to eightfold, reducing the number and size of gaps in the final assembly over what would be obtained with 5.11-fold coverage. The two assembly strategies yielded very similar results that largely agree with independent mapping data. The assemblies effectively cover the euchromatic regions of the human chromosomes. More than 90% of the genome is in scaffold assemblies of 100,000 bp or more, and 25% of the genome is in scaffolds of 10 million bp or larger. Analysis of the genome sequence revealed 26,588 protein-encoding transcripts for which there was strong corroborating evidence and an additional approximately 12,000 computationally derived genes with mouse matches or other weak supporting evidence. Although gene-dense clusters are obvious, almost half the genes are dispersed in low G+C sequence separated by large tracts of apparently noncoding sequence. Only 1.1% of the genome is spanned by exons, whereas 24% is in introns, with 75% of the genome being intergenic DNA. Duplications of segmental blocks, ranging in size up to chromosomal lengths, are abundant throughout the genome and reveal a complex evolutionary history. Comparative genomic analysis indicates vertebrate expansions of genes associated with neuronal function, with tissue-specific developmental regulation, and with the hemostasis and immune systems. DNA sequence comparisons between the consensus sequence and publicly funded genome data provided locations of 2.1 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A random pair of human haploid genomes differed at a rate of 1 bp per 1250 on average, but there was marked heterogeneity in the level of polymorphism across the genome. Less than 1% of all SNPs resulted in variation in proteins, but the task of determining which SNPs have functional consequences remains an open challenge.

iProClass: an integrated, comprehensive and annotated protein classification database

The iProClass database is an integrated resource that provides comprehensive family relationships and structural and functional features of proteins, with rich links to various databases. It is extended from ProClass, a protein family database that integrates PIR superfamilies and PROSITE motifs. The iProClass currently consists of more than 200,000 non-redundant PIR and SWISS-PROT proteins organized with more than 28,000 superfamilies, 2600 domains, 1300 motifs, 280 post-translational modification sites and links to more than 30 databases of protein families, structures, functions, genes, genomes, literature and taxonomy. Protein and family summary reports provide rich annotations, including membership information with length, taxonomy and keyword statistics, full family relationships, comprehensive enzyme and PDB cross-references and graphical feature display. The database facilitates classification-driven annotation for protein sequence databases and complete genomes, and supports structural and functional genomic research. The iProClass is implemented in Oracle 8i object-relational system and available for sequence search and report retrieval at http://pir.georgetown.edu/iproclass/.

Protein Information Resource: a community resource for expert annotation of protein data

The Protein Information Resource, in collaboration with the Munich Information Center for Protein Sequences (MIPS) and the Japan International Protein Information Database (JIPID), produces the most comprehensive and expertly annotated protein sequence database in the public domain, the PIR-International Protein Sequence Database. To provide timely and high quality annotation and promote database interoperability, the PIR-International employs rule-based and classification-driven procedures based on controlled vocabulary and standard nomenclature and includes status tags to distinguish experimentally determined from predicted protein features. The database contains about 200,000 non-redundant protein sequences, which are classified into families and superfamilies and their domains and motifs identified. Entries are extensively cross-referenced to other sequence, classification, genome, structure and activity databases. The PIR web site features search engines that use sequence similarity and database annotation to facilitate the analysis and functional identification of proteins. The PIR-Inter-national databases and search tools are accessible on the PIR web site at http://pir.georgetown.edu/ and at the MIPS web site at http://www.mips.biochem.mpg.de. The PIR-International Protein Sequence Database and other files are also available by FTP.

Y chromosome haplotypes reveal prehistorical migrations to the Himalayas

By using 19 Y chromosome biallelic markers and 3 Y chromosome microsatellite markers, we analyzed the genetic structure of 31 indigenous Sino-Tibetan speaking populations (607 individuals) currently residing in East, Southeast, and South Asia. Our results showed that a T to C mutation at locus M122 is highly prevalent in almost all of the Sino-Tibetan populations, implying a strong genetic affinity among populations in the same language family. Furthermore, the extremely high frequency of H8, a haplotype derived from M122C, in the Sino-Tibetan speaking populations in the Himalayas including Tibet and northeast India indicated a strong bottleneck effect that occurred during a westward and then southward migration of the founding population of Tibeto-Burmans. We, therefore, postulate that the ancient people, who lived in the upper-middle Yellow River basin about 10,000 years ago and developed one of the earliest Neolithic cultures in East Asia, were the ancestors of modern Sino-Tibetan populations.

[Studies on the polymorphism of MICA gene in four Chinese populations]

OBJECTIVE

To understand with greater clearness the genetic polymorphism of (GCT)n repeat of MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA)in some Chinese populations and provide preliminary genetic evidence for the independent origin of Chinese Baima Tibetan (BMT).

METHODS

ACD-blood or saliva specimens of 411 unrelated individuals from four Chinese populations were collected. A primer pair spanning exon 5 of MICA gene was used to amplify the GCT region. Alleles were detected by PCR and denaturing PAGE. Comparison of the allelic distributions among the four populations was carried out.

RESULTS

Five previously reported alleles have been observed in all the four populations, but the allelic distributions are different from one another. The most frequent allele is the A5 in all the four populations (0.325 in BMT, 0.345 in Tibetans, 0.390 in Chengdu Hans and 0.319 in Qiangs). A5.1 allele is the second most frequent allele in Chengdu Hans (0.230) and in Qiangs (0.293), while the second most frequent alleles for BMT and Tibetans are A4 (0.254) and A9 (0.272) respectively. The distribution of alleles in BMT is significantly different from that in the other three populations.

CONCLUSION

Alleles of MICA gene exon 5 are conservative in all populations studied so far. The results suggest that genetically BMT might be an independent ethnic population.

[Clinical application of irradiated drug-containing porcine-cornea to patients with ocular burns]

OBJECTIVE

To explore a new method for the management of patients with ocular burns.

METHODS

Fifty-five cases of patients with ocular burns (in 88 eyes) were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. Thirty cases in treatment group with 49 eyes were transplanted with irradiated drug-containing (ofloxacin, acetyl cysteine and reduced glutathione) porcine-cornea. 25 cases in control group with 39 eyes were treated with routine program.

RESULTS

Thirty-two eyes were rescued in treatment group with the cure rate of 65.3%. But only 17 eyes were saved in control group with the cure rate of 43.59%, indicating significant difference of the cure rate between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Irradiated drug-containing porcine-cornea might well be an ideal therapeutic material for the management of patients with ocular burns.

High-performance polyethylene glycol-coated solid-phase microextraction fibers using sol-gel technology

The sol-gel method is applied for the preparation of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers. An electron microscopy experiment suggested a porous structure for Superox-4 (polyethylene glycol, PEG) coating. SPME-GC analyses provided evidence that the sol-gel fibers have some advantages, such as high velocities of mass transfer, efficient extraction rates. high thermal stability, long life span, and spacious range of application for both polar and non-polar analytes. Efficient SPME-GC analyses of benzene-toluene-ethylbenzene-xylenes, phenols, phthalic diesters, naphthalene congeners and pesticides were achieved using sol-gel-coated PEG fibers.

[Polymorphisms of four STRs and their associations with IDDM in Chinese Han population]

OBJECTIVE

To obtain the polymorphic data of short tandem repeat(STR) loci of D15S657, D11S1369, D6S2420 and D6S503 in Chinese Han population and to study the association of these four STR loci with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(IDDM).

METHODS

The polymorphisms of the four STRs were studied by polymerase chain reaction-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(PCR-PAGE) followed by direct sequencing of PCR products in 105 normal Chinese Hans and 48 patients with IDDM.

RESULTS

Seven alleles at D15S657 locus, 5 alleles at D11S1369 locus, 7 alleles at D6S2420 locus and 4 alleles at D6S503 locus were found. No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed. The heterozygosities of these loci were 0. 7524, 0.6000, 0.6286, 0.6571 and the polymorphic information contents(PIC) 0.7616, 0.4430, 0.5345 and 0.5932, respectively. The allele frequencies of allele A(5) at D15S657 locus, allele A(5) at D11S1369 locus and allele A(4) at D6S2420 locus were increased significantly in patients with IDDM, compared to those in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The four STRs, used as genetic markers, were suitable for case-control study, forensic medicine identification and population genetic study. There is an association between the polymorphisms of D15S657, D11S1369, D6S2420 and IDDM.

Cladistic analysis of myxozoan species with known alternating life-cycles

The phylogenetic relationships of 15 myxozoan taxa with known alternating life-cycles were investigated in order to provide insight into the puzzling matches between myxosporeans and actinosporeans of the myxozoan life-cycle data. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using two partitioned data-sets of life-cycle stages, myxosporean stage from fish hosts versus actinosporean stage from annelid hosts, and a combined data-set of myxosporean and actinosporean stages. A cnidarian parasite of fish, Polypodium hydriforme Ussov, 1885, was used as the outgroup. The supraspecific level grouping in the conventional classification of actinosporeans was not supported in the analysis of the partitioned data from the actinosporean phase, which yielded two equally parsimonious trees. Analysis of the partitioned data from the myxosporean phase provided 24 equally parsimonious trees and did not support the current classification of myxosporeans. The analyses of the partitioned data of myxozoans by life-cycle stage revealed a lack of taxonomic congruence between the two life-stage partitions. Two equally parsimonious trees were obtained from analysis of the combined data. The suborder Variisporina of the Myxozoa was not supported by the total evidence trees, while the monophyly of the species of Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 and of the Myxidiidae were supported. The cladograms from the combined data revealed that these myxozoan species formed four major monophyletic groups. Among them, two were supported by the partitioned data of the actinosporean phase. The phylogenetic signals and the better resolution reflected by the trees of combined data suggest that the phylogenetic total evidence approach should be employed in future studies of the systematics of myxozoans.

A preliminary study of single nucleotide polymorphisms of lipoprotein lipase gene in coronary atherosclerotic heart disease

OBJECTIVE

This study inquired into the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) of lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL) and coronary atherosclerotic heart disease(CHD).

METHODS

Exon 6 and fragment of intron 6 in LPL gene from 102 cases of CHD and 110 normal subjects were analysed by polymerase chain reaction amplification, temperature-modulated high-performance liquid chromatography (TmHPLC) and DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

Three new SNPs (4212t/c, 4509t/c, 4576a/c) were detected in the intron 6 of LPL gene. There was significant difference in frequencies of 4212t/c, and 4576a/c between health group and CHD group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study has accumulated additional data on SNPs in LPL gene and provided new data for exploring the mechanism of CHD.

PIR: a new resource for bioinformatics

The Protein Information Resource (PIR) has greatly expanded its Web site and developed a set of interactive search and analysis tools to facilitate the analysis, annotation, and functional identification of proteins. New search engines have been implemented to combine sequence similarity search results with database annotation information. The new PIR search systems have proved very useful in providing enriched functional annotation of protein sequences, determining protein superfamily-domain relationships, and detecting annotation errors in genomic database archives.

AVAILABILITY

http://pir.georgetown.edu/.

CONTACT

mcgarvey@nbrf.georgetown.edu

The longevity of actinosporean spores from oligochaetes of Lake Sasajewun, Algonquin Park, Ontario, and their reaction to fish mucus

The longevity of 7 forms of actinosporean spores and the reaction of 6 forms of actinosporeans to fish mucus were investigated. The maximum longevity of actinosporean spores kept at ambient laboratory temperatures was 14 days. Spore longevity ranged from 11 to 14 days among actinosporeans. The reaction of spores to fish mucus varied among the actinosporeans. Triactinomyxon F of Xiao and Desser, 1998 reacted only to the mucus of the common shiner Luxilus cornutus, and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas, whereas the aurantiactinomyxon form of Xiao and Desser, 1998, and raabeia B of Xiao and Desser, 1998 reacted readily to mucus of all fish species tested. The differences in reaction to fish mucus among actinosporeans may indicate their different host range. These results indicate that actinosporean spores are short-lived and that actinosporeans respond to their hosts by chemodetection.

The protein information resource (PIR)

The Protein Information Resource (PIR) produces the largest, most comprehensive, annotated protein sequence database in the public domain, the PIR-International Protein Sequence Database, in collaboration with the Munich Information Center for Protein Sequences (MIPS) and the Japan International Protein Sequence Database (JIPID). The expanded PIR WWW site allows sequence similarity and text searching of the Protein Sequence Database and auxiliary databases. Several new web-based search engines combine searches of sequence similarity and database annotation to facilitate the analysis and functional identification of proteins. New capabilities for searching the PIR sequence databases include annotation-sorted search, domain search, combined global and domain search, and interactive text searches. The PIR-International databases and search tools are accessible on the PIR WWW site at http://pir.georgetown.edu and at the MIPS WWW site at http://www. mips.biochem.mpg.de. The PIR-International Protein Sequence Database and other files are also available by FTP.

[Preliminary study on relationship between antibody against heat stress protein 70 and hypertension]

OBJECTIVE

To preliminarily explore the relationship between main antibody against heat stress protein 70 (anti-HSP70) and hypertension.

METHODS

Serum anti-HSP70 was determined with Western blotting technique in hypertensive and normotensive groups. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between anti-HSP70 and hypertension.

RESULTS

It was found that level of antibody against the main heat shock protein 70 was significantly higher in patients with hypertension (based on criteria of 160/95 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) than in controls, after adjustment for the generally recognized risk factors for hypertension (such as age, sex, length of employment, body mass index, job, et al.). There still was stronger association between anti-HSP70 and hypertension (based on criteria of 140/90 mm Hg), but its strength of association was weaker than the former.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-HSP70 may potentially serve as a serum biomarker to assess hypertension, or anti-HSP70 itself may be involved in the development of hypertension.

Detection and its implication of heat stress protein 27 and P21 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

To study the expression of heat stress protein 27 (HSP27) and P21 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissue, and to evaluate the significance of both HSP27 and P21 in the pathogenesis, development and prognosis of NPC. Indirect immunofluorescence method combined with SABC was applied. Our results showed that (1) the positive rates of HSP27 and P21 expressed in NPC tissue in 36 cases were 88.9% and 94.4%; (2) while in 10 hyperplastic nasopharyngitis tissues, the positive rate of HSP27 and P21 were both 5; (3) all the 5 normal tissues were negatively stained. It is obvious that a co-expressing tendency of HSP27 and P21 could be identified, and it was associated with the degree of malignancy and the clinical stage of NPC. It is concluded that the positive expression of HSP27 and P21 may have clinical significance in the evaluation of the occurring, development and prognosis of NPC, and in NPC treatment.

[Analysis for the titer of plasma antibody to heat stress protein 70 in workers exposed to benzene]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the titer of plasma antibody against heat stress protein 70 (HSP70) in workers exposed to benzene and its possible relationship to their health.

METHODS

Forty-two workers exposed to more than 40 mg/m(3) of benzene were selected as a high exposure group, 50 of workers exposed to less than 40 mg/m(3) as a low exposure group, and 42 unexposed as a control group. Their plasma antibody against HSP70 was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Analysis was conducted to study the relationship between it and other factors.

RESULTS

Proportion of plasma positive antibody to HSP70 with a titer of 1:20 was significantly higher in high exposure group (26.2%) than that in controls (9.5%). Moreover, prevalence of adverse symptoms and positive signs, and level of lipid peroxide were all significantly higher in high exposure group with positive antibody to HSP70 than those with negative antibody.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the titer of plasma antibody to HSP70 had close relation with the health of workers exposed to benzene.

ProClass protein family database

ProClass is a protein family database that organizes non-redundant sequence entries into families defined collectively by PIR superfamilies and PROSITE patterns. By combining global similarities and functional motifs into a single classification scheme, ProClass helps to reveal domain and family relationships and classify multi-domain proteins. The database currently consists of >155 000 sequence entries retrieved from both PIR-International and SWISS-PROT databases. Approximately 92 000 or 60% of the ProClass entries are classified into approximately 6000 families, including a large number of new members detected by our GeneFIND family identification system. The ProClass motif collection contains approximately 72 000 motif sequences and >1300 multiple alignments for all PROSITE patterns, including >21 000 matches not listed in PROSITE and mostly detected from unique PIR sequences. To maximize family information retrieval, the database provides links to various protein family, domain, alignment and structural class databases. With its high classification rate and comprehensive family relationships, ProClass can be used to support full-scale genomic annotation. The database, now being implemented in an object-relational database management system, is available for online sequence search and record retrieval from our WWW server at http://pir.georgetown.edu/gfserver/proclass.html

Molecular characterization of myxozoan parasites from Lake Sasajewun, Algonquin Park, Ontario, by riboprinting

The small subunit-rRNA genes of 18 myxozoans from Lake Sasajewun, Algonquin Park were amplified and digested with restriction endonucleases for riboprinting analysis. Identical riboprints were not found between the myxosporeans and the actinosporeans. The distinct riboprinting patterns observed among these myxozoans indicate considerable genetic diversity within this group. Identical riboprints were found between Myxobolus pendula and Myxobolus pellicides, and between triactinomyxon 'C' and Triactinomyxon ignotum. Parsimony analysis of the riboprints demonstrated that neither the myxosporeans nor the actinosporeans formed a monophyletic group. Some species of Myxobolus are more closely related to forms of triactinomyxon, echinactinomyxon or raabeia than to other Myxobolus species. These results are consistent with the two-host life cycle hypothesis of myxozoans that myxosporeans and actinosporeans are alternating stages of the same organisms.

[A study on the roles of CD86 in antigen-induced eosinophil infiltration into airways and airway hyperresponsiveness]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of CD86 on antigen-induced eosinophil infiltration into the airways and airway hyperresponsiveness in sensitized mice, and further elucidate the role of CD86 in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

METHODS

Female BALB/c mice (n = 8 for each group) were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to induce airway eosinophilia and airway hyperresponsiveness. Airway responsiveness was espressed by the provocative concentration of acetylcholine causing 50% increase in respiratory resistance (PC50). Effect of anti-CD86 monoclonal antibody (mAb) on antigen-induced changes of eosinophil numbers in brochoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and airway reactivity was observed. CD86 expression on BALF cells was detected by flow cytometry and concentrations of interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 in homogenized supernatant of lung tissue were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

In sensitized mice challenged with ovalbumin 20 minutes once a day for 6 days, the number of BALF eosinophils was (9.2 +/- 1.5) x 10(8)/L. However, no eosinophil could be found in the BALF from mice without ovalbumin sensitization and challenge. Also, ovalbumin treatment led to PC50 value decrease from (0.66 +/- 0.13) g/L to (0.17 +/- 0.07) g/L (P < 0.01). CD86 expression on BALF cells from ovalbumin sensitized- and challenged-mice (36.4 +/- 6.2) was much higher than that from control mice (12.3 +/- 3.6, P < 0.01). In mice treated with intravenous injection of anti-CD86 mAb before each challenge, BALF eosinophils decreased by 67% (P < 0.01), and PC50 value increased by 69% (P < 0.01). Our results showed that anti-CD86 mAb prevented antigen-induced airway eosinophilia and airway hyperresponsiveness accompanied by a decrement of levels of both interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 in lung tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-CD86 mAb is able to inhibit antigen-induced airway eosinophilia and to ameliorate airway hyperresponsiveness, possibly by inhibiting production of interleukin-4 and interleukin-5. These data suggested that the blockade of airway antigen-presenting cells' functions couid be of value in treatment of human asthma.

Effects of bead-bead interactions on the static and dynamical properties of model polymer solutions

The effects of segment-segment interactions on the static and dynamical properties of model polymer solutions are examined by Brownian dynamics simulations in the free-draining limit over a wide concentration range. A bead-and-spring model is used to describe the polymer chains at a coarse-grained level, in which segment-segment interactions are represented by a bead-bead pair potential with a Gaussian analytic form, beta u(ev)(r)=A exp(-r(2)/2 sigma(2)), where beta=1/k(B)T and A and sigma are characteristic energy and distance scales, respectively. The chain dimensions, self-diffusion coefficient, and viscosity of the systems are studied as functions of number density of beads of the system, rho, at given excluded-volume potential parameters, A and sigma. Our results show that in the limit of infinite dilution even for short chains (N approximately 10) there is statistically significant scaling behavior in the static and dynamical properties. For a system with given values of A and sigma the change in polymer coil size shows a realistic trend as the concentration of the system increases. In the dilute and concentrated regions the coil size decreases as a result of increasing interchain repulsions, while in the highly concentrated region the coil size increases again, showing a return to Rouse-like behavior because the intrapolymer and interpolymer segment-segment interactions become effectively indistinguishable for an arbitrary bead and to a large extent are "balanced out." In the limit of infinite dilution, the self-diffusion coefficient of the center of mass, D(cm), depends on N only and not on the potential parameter A, while in contrast the specific viscosity eta(sp) depends on both N and A. As the concentration increases D(cm) decreases and eta(sp) increases consistent with the behavior of real polymers. When the system becomes highly concentrated, however, both D(cm) and eta(sp) unrealistically return to the Rouse limit. This suggests that from the concentrated region upward in concentration, the entanglement or the topological constraints caused by the physical connectivity of the chains significantly influence their dynamical behavior. The mean-field segment-segment interactions or excluded-volume effects incorporated in the current coarse-grained bead-spring approach cannot capture this entanglement effect, and therefore give rise to unrealistic dynamical behavior in the concentrated regime.

ECSIT is an evolutionarily conserved intermediate in the Toll/IL-1 signal transduction pathway

Activation of NF-kappaB as a consequence of signaling through the Toll and IL-1 receptors is a major element of innate immune responses. We report the identification and characterization of a novel intermediate in these signaling pathways that bridges TRAF6 to MEKK-1. This adapter protein, which we have named ECSIT (evolutionarily conserved signaling intermediate in Toll pathways), is specific for the Toll/IL-1 pathways and is a regulator of MEKK-1 processing. Expression of wild-type ECSIT accelerates processing of MEKK-1, whereas a dominant-negative fragment of ECSIT blocks MEKK-1 processing and activation of NF-kappaB. These results indicate an important role for ECSIT in signaling to NF-kappaB and suggest that processing of MEKK-1 is required for its function in the Toll/IL-1 pathway.

[Cloning of the idiopathic azoospermia related genes with mRNA differential display method]

OBJECTIVE

Defect of some genes related to spermatogenesis may result in male infertility with azoospermia. This study aimed to clone some of the genes.

METHODS

Testis tissues from a patient with idiopathic azoospermia and from a normal fathered man were investigated with an improved mRNA differential display approach.

RESULTS

Significant difference was observed between the two tissues in gene expression. Five differential expressed sequence-tags (ESTs) were cloned and sequenced. Homology analysis with software advanced BLAST 2.0 showed that one EST shared 100% homology with cosmid L27h9, which located in Huntington's disease region on 4p16.3; the other 4 showed very low homology with sequences in GenBank.

CONCLUSION

Azoospermia has complex genetic heterogeneity. A gene located in Huntington's disease region on 4p16.3 is expressed in human testis during the spermatogenesis, and a loss of its function may associate with azoospermia.

Abnormalities of tumor suppressor genes P16 and P15 in primary maxillofacial squamous cell carcinomas

As members of the same gene family, tumor suppressor genes P16/CDKN2/INK4A and P15/INK4B have a high degree of structural and functional homology with both P16 and P15 proteins involved directly in the regulation of cell cycles. However, the status of P16 and P15 genes in primary maxillofacial squamous cell carcinomas (MSCC) has not been reported. Studies on abnormalities of these genes including homozygous deletion, methylation of the 5'CpG islands, and mutations were carried out in 65 primary MSCC with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), methylation-specific PCR (MSP), PCR-SSCP (single-strand conformation polymorphism), and DNA sequencing techniques. Of the 65 tumors, 22 (34%) were methylated; 7 (11%) displayed point mutations. The total frequency of alteration of the P16 gene was 43% (28/65). The methylation rate of P15 was 12% (8/65). No homozygous deletion was found in either the P16 gene or P15 gene. In all MSCC samples, almost half (49%) harbored an alteration of the P16 or P15 gene. The P16 gene was altered more frequently than P15, and therefore is inactivated by methylation or mutation in a significant proportion of MSCC. The P15 gene appeared to play a lesser role in tumorigenesis of these tumors.

A novel calmodulin-like protein gene in rice which has an unusual prolonged C-terminal sequence carrying a putative prenylation site

A rice cDNA encoding a novel calmodulin-like protein was identified. It has 38 additional amino acids at the C-terminus of a complete, typical calmodulin (CaM) sequence of 149 amino acids. The four C-terminal amino acid residues form a CAAL motif which could be a site for protein prenylation and may subsequently cause the protein to become membrane associated. RT-PCR analysis confirmed that such a combined protein gene truly exists in rice. Sequence analysis of its genomic counterpart showed that there is an intron located at junction of the normal CaM sequence and the 38 C-terminal amino acids. This introduces a potential stop codon for normal CaM if an alternative splicing mechanism is involved. Southern blot analysis of rice genomic DNA revealed that there is only one locus for this gene. The northern blot analysis showed that this gene is highly expressed in rice roots, shoots and flowers. The distribution of this protein demonstrates the functional importance of this novel CaM-like protein in rice.

Stimulation of osteoblast proliferation by C-terminal fragments of parathyroid hormone-related protein

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)-related protein (107-139) (PTHrP(107-139)) and PTHrP(107-111) have been reported to be potent inhibitors of isolated osteoclast activity, and inhibition of bone resorption by PTHrP(107-139) occurs in vivo. However, the actions of C-terminal PTHrP on osteoblast activity has not been studied much. The present study addresses this issue by examining the effect of PTHrP(107-139), PTHrP(107-119), PTHrP(120-139), and PTHrP(107-111) on the proliferation of fetal rat osteoblasts. Treatment with PTHrP(107-139) for 24 h caused a dose-dependent increase in cell number, [3H]thymidine and [3H]phenylalanine incorporation in cultured osteoblasts. The effect was apparent at concentrations of 10-10 M and greater and was sustained over time. PTHrP(107-119) and PTHrP(107-111) had effects on cell number, DNA, and protein synthesis which were comparable to those of PTHrP(107-139), whereas PTHrP(120-139) was without effect. Retroverted PTHrP(107-111) also stimulated all three activities but was only one tenth as potent as PTHrP(107-139). PTHrP(107-139) had no effect on osteoblast apoptosis. It is concluded that PTHrP(107-139) is not only an inhibitor of osteoclastic bone resorption but that it also stimulates osteoblast growth. This activity resides within the pentapeptide fragment PTHrP(107-111). These findings support a possible role for C-terminal fragments of PTHrP in the normal regulation of bone cell function and, possibly, bone mass.

Apoptotic cascade of neurons in the subcortical sensory relay nuclei following the neonatal infraorbital nerve transection

A terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was utilized for detection of neuronal death in the subcortical relay nuclei of the trigeminosensory system following the infraorbital nerve transection in newborn rats. At 18-24 h after injury, numerous TUNEL-positive profiles were found within the ventroposteromedial thalamic nucleus (VPM) contralateral to the injury, whereas the VPM on the ipsilateral side and of the age-matched normal control contained only a few profiles per section. Electron microscopy revealed that the TUNEL-positive profiles were apoptotic neurons. The ventral part of the ipsilateral brainstem sensory trigeminal nuclear complex (the nucleus principalis, and the subnuclei oralis and interpolaris) exhibited statistically significant 65-70% increase in number of apoptotic neurons compared to the contralateral side. Taken together with our previous study [T. Sugimoto, C. Xiao, H. Ichikawa, Neonatal primary neuronal death induced by capsaicin and axotomy involves an apoptotic mechanism, Brain Res. 807 (1998) 147-154], the present results demonstrated a cascade of apoptosis in the primary, secondary and tertiary order sensory neurons along the neuroaxis.

Electron microscopic demonstration of nick end-labeled DNA fragments during capsaicin-induced apoptosis of trigeminal primary neurons in neonatal rats

DNA fragmentation was induced in the trigeminal ganglion of newborn rats by subcutaneous capsaicin injection (50 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours later, numerous roundish profiles were intensely labeled by both a DNA polymerase I-mediated nick translation method and a terminal transferase-mediated tailing method. Direct electron microscopic examination of labeled profiles indicated that the labeled profiles were neurons at earlier stages of apoptosis. DNA fragmentation signal was first detected in the nucleoplasm and later spread to the cytoplasm. The cell finally disintegrated forming many small apoptotic bodies. DNA fragmentation signal in the apoptotic bodies was readily labeled by the tailing but not the translation method.

Postnatal changes in Bax-immunoreactivity and apoptosis of the rat trigeminal primary neurons

The developmental changes of Bax protein-like immunoreactivity (Bax-ir) and naturally occurring cell death were investigated in the trigeminal primary neurons of rats, in the first 2 postnatal weeks. At 1 day postpartum, the trigeminal primary neurons exhibited intense cytoplasmic Bax-ir. A densitometric analysis indicated >95% of cells exhibited an ir-density (the staining intensity as compared to the background level) higher than 1.5. By 2 weeks the ir-density significantly decreased with >95% lower than 1.5, that was similar to the adult level. A nick-end labeling method revealed DNA fragmentation in apoptotic trigeminal primary neurons in newborn rats. During the first 11 days the percentage of apoptotic cells was highly correlated to the postnatal days with a regression line y = -0.083x + 0.877 (r = 0.976). A possible role of Bax in neonatal rat primary neurons is discussed.