Disruption of a Rice Chloroplast-Targeted Gene OsHMBPP Causes a Seedling-Lethal Albino Phenotype

BACKGROUND

Chloroplast development is coordinately regulated by plastid- and nuclear-encoding genes. Although many regulators have been reported to be involved in chloroplast development, new factors remain to be identified, given the complexity of this process.

RESULTS

In this study, we characterized a rice mutant lethal albinic seedling 1(las1)form of a 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (OsHMBPP) that was targeted to the chloroplasts. The LAS1 mutation caused the albino lethal phenotype in seedlings. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that las1 were defective in early chloroplast development. LAS1 is preferentially expressed in leaves, implying its role in controlling chloroplast development. The expression levels of many chloroplast-encoded genes were altered significantly in las1. The expression levels of nuclear-encoded gene involved in Chl biosynthesis were also decreased in las1. We further investigated plastidic RNA editing in las1 and found that the edit efficiency of four chloroplast genes were markly altered. Compared with WT, las1 exhibited defective in biogenesis of chloroplast ribosomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that LAS1/OsHMBPP plays an essential role in the early chloroplast development in rice.

[Value of the simplified JSTH score criteria in the early diagnosis of sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation]

Objective: To evaluate the early diagnostic value of various indicators in the simplified JSTH score criteria for sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. Patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January in 2017 to December in 2018 were enrolled. Totally of 365 patients were recruited, with 224 males and 132 females. The simplified JSTH score criteria was used to diagnose DIC. The patients were divided into sepsis with DIC group and sepsis without DIC group according to the diagnostic criteria of sepsis. Platelet (PLT), fibrin degradation products (FDPs), prothrombin time (PT), antithrombin (AT), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) scores, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores and the simplified JSTH scores were recorded on the first ICU day. Correlation analyses were conducted.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for diagnosis of DIC with each indicator were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and predictive ability of 28-day mortality. Results: According to the simplified JSTH score, 143 cases of sepsis complicated with DIC were diagnosed. There were significant differences in PLT, FDP, AT, PT, APACHE Ⅱ score, SOFA score, 28-day mortality rate between the two groups (all P<0.01). It was shown by Pearson correlation analysis that the criteria has the best correlation with APACHEⅡ score and SOFA score (r=0.496 and 0.612, both P<0.01). The correlation between PLT and APACHE Ⅱ score or SOFA score was the best (r=-0.440 or-0.568, both P<0.01). It was shown by ROC curve that area under ROC curve (AUC) of PLT was 0.933, and the sensitivity and specificity was 93.0% and 85.0%, respectively. The 28-day mortality was predicted by using the indicators in the criteria. The AUG of AT was 0.813, and both the sensitivity (81.6%) and specificity (73.6%) were the highest. Conclusions: The simplified JSTH score criteria can be used for early diagnosis of sepsis-associated DIC and it is positively correlated with the severity of the disease. The correlation between PLT and the severity of disease is the best, and early diagnosis efficiency of PLT is the strongest. AT has a good predictive value for 28-day mortality.

[Research progress of odontoid fracture in children]

The majority of cervical spine injuries in children occur in the upper cervical spine, of which odontoid fracture is the most common. Odontoid fracture in children is a very insidious injury. Due to the unclear language and incompatible physical examination, the disease is often missed diagnosis. Because the child axis is still in the developmental segment, including 4 synchondrosis and 6 ossification centers, there are obvious anatomical and biological differences between the child odontoid fracture and the adult. Therefore, the choice of treatment is different from that of adults. This article will introduce the development of odontoid in children, and summarize the injury characteristics, clinical classification and treatment of odontoid fracture in children.

[Endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Wuhu City from 2009 to 2018]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Wuhu City from 2009 to 2018, so as to provide evidence for adjusting and developing the control strategy.

METHODS

The data regarding the endemic situation were retrospectively collected and analyzed in Wuhu City from 2009 to 2018.

RESULTS

The prevalence of human Schistosoma japonicum infections reduced from 0.450% in 2009 to 0.035% in 2018 in Wuhu City, and a reduction rate of 92.22% (χ² = 1 6128.307, P < 0.01), and the prevalence of S. japonicum infections decreased from 0.483% in 2009 to 0 in 2018 (χ² = 27.570, P < 0.01) in livestock. The area of snail habitats increased from 1 501.07 hm² in 2009 to 4 408.62 hm² in 2018, with an increase of 193.70%. No infected snails were found in Wuhu City since 2012, and no egg positives were detected in humans and livestock since 2016.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, the endemic situation of schistosomiasis is at a low level in Wuhu City; however, there are still factors affecting schistosomiasis transmission. In the future, the integrated strategy with emphasis on the control of infectious source and the surveillance-response system should be intensified to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis control.

Mikania Micrantha Wilt Virus Alters Insect Vector's Host Preference to Enhance Its Own Spread

As an invasive weed, Mikaniamicrantha Kunth has caused serious damage to natural forest ecosystems in South China in recent years. Mikania micrantha wilt virus (MMWV), an isolate of the Gentian mosaic virus (GeMV), is transmitted by Myzuspersicae (Sulzer) in a non-persistent manner and can effectively inhibit the growth of M. micrantha. To explore the MMWV-M. micrantha-M. persicae interaction and its impact on the invasion of M. micrantha, volatile compounds (VOCs) emitted from healthy, mock-inoculated, and MMWV-infected plants were collected, and effects on host preference of the apterous and alate aphids were assessed with Y-shaped olfactometers. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis indicated that MMWV infection changed the VOC profiles, rendering plants more attractive to aphids. Clip-cages were used to document the population growth rate of M.persicae fed on healthy, mock-inoculated, or MMWV-infected plants. Compared to those reared on healthy plants, the population growth of M. persicae drastically decreased on the MMWV-infected plants. Plant host choice tests based on visual and contact cues were also conducted using alate M.persicae. Interestingly, the initial attractiveness of MMWV-infected plants diminished, and more alate M. persicae moved to healthy plants. Taken together, MMWV appeared to be able to manipulate its plant host to first attract insect vectors to infected plants but then repel viruliferous vectors to promote its own dispersal. Its potential application for invasive weed management is discussed.

[Research progress on the clinical significance of sagittal alignment and balance in cervical spine]

Though great progress on spinal sagittal alignment has been seen recently, which focuses on the lumbar spine-pelvic region and the whole spine, while there is a few research mainly concentrated on the cervical spine. In recent years, a growing number of researchers have been exploring the changes in the compensation of cervical sagittal alignment and their effect on surgery, and the preliminary results of these researches are satisfactory. The present review focuses on the measurement of sagittal plane parameters of cervical spine, changes of sagittal alignment in cervical spine disorders, and its effect on cervical surgery.

[Experts consensus on the management of the right heart function in critically ill patients]

To establish the experts consensus on the right heart function management in critically ill patients. The panel of consensus was composed of 30 experts in critical care medicine who are all members of Critical Hemodynamic Therapy Collaboration Group (CHTC Group). Each statement was assessed based on the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) principle. Then the Delphi method was adopted by 52 experts to reassess all the statements. (1) Right heart function is prone to be affected in critically illness, which will result in a auto-exaggerated vicious cycle. (2) Right heart function management is a key step of the hemodynamic therapy in critically ill patients. (3) Fluid resuscitation means the process of fluid therapy through rapid adjustment of intravascular volume aiming to improve tissue perfusion. Reversed fluid resuscitation means reducing volume. (4) The right ventricle afterload should be taken into consideration when using stroke volume variation (SVV) or pulse pressure variation (PPV) to assess fluid responsiveness.(5)Volume overload alone could lead to septal displacement and damage the diastolic function of the left ventricle. (6) The Starling curve of the right ventricle is not the same as the one applied to the left ventricle,the judgement of the different states for the right ventricle is the key of volume management. (7) The alteration of right heart function has its own characteristics, volume assessment and adjustment is an important part of the treatment of right ventricular dysfunction (8) Right ventricular enlargement is the prerequisite for increased cardiac output during reversed fluid resuscitation; Nonetheless, right heart enlargement does not mandate reversed fluid resuscitation.(9)Increased pulmonary vascular resistance induced by a variety of factors could affect right heart function by obstructing the blood flow. (10) When pulmonary hypertension was detected in clinical scenario, the differentiation of critical care-related pulmonary hypertension should be a priority. (11) Attention should be paid to the change of right heart function before and after implementation of mechanical ventilation and adjustment of ventilator parameter. (12) The pulmonary arterial pressure should be monitored timingly when dealing with critical care-related pulmonary hypertension accompanied with circulatory failure.(13) The elevation of pulmonary aterial pressure should be taken into account in critical patients with acute right heart dysfunction. (14) Prone position ventilation is an important measure to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance when treating acute respiratory distress syndrome patients accompanied with acute cor pulmonale. (15) Attention should be paid to right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling during the management of right heart function. (16) Right ventricular diastolic function is more prone to be affected in critically ill patients, the application of critical ultrasound is more conducive to quantitative assessment of right ventricular diastolic function. (17) As one of the parameters to assess the filling pressure of right heart, central venous pressure can be used to assess right heart diastolic function. (18). The early and prominent manifestation of non-focal cardiac tamponade is right ventricular diastolic involvement, the elevated right atrial pressure should be noticed. (19) The effect of increased intrathoracic pressure on right heart diastolic function should be valued. (20) Ttricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is an important parameter that reflects right ventricular systolic function, and it is recommended as a general indicator of critically ill patient. (21) Circulation management with right heart protection as the core strategy is the key point of the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome. (22) Right heart function involvement after cardiac surgery is very common and should be highly valued. (23) Right ventricular dysfunction should not be considered as a routine excuse for maintaining higher central venous pressure. (24) When left ventricular dilation, attention should be paid to the effect of left ventricle on right ventricular diastolic function. (25) The impact of left ventricular function should be excluded when the contractility of the right ventricle is decreased. (26) When the right heart load increases acutely, the shunt between the left and right heart should be monitored. (27) Attention should be paid to the increase of central venous pressure caused by right ventricular dysfunction and its influence on microcirculation blood flow. (28) When the vasoactive drugs was used to reduce the pressure of pulmonary circulation, different effects on pulmonary and systemic circulation should be evaluated. (29) Right atrial pressure is an important factor affecting venous return. Attention should be paid to the influence of the pressure composition of the right atrium on the venous return. (30) Attention should be paid to the role of the right ventricle in the acute pulmonary edema. (31) Monitoring the difference between the mean systemic filling pressure and the right atrial pressure is helpful to determine whether the infusion increases the venous return. (32) Venous return resistance is often considered to be a insignificant factor that affects venous return, but attention should be paid to the effect of the specific pathophysiological status, such as intrathoracic hypertension, intra-abdominal hypertension and so on. Consensus can promote right heart function management in critically ill patients, optimize hemodynamic therapy, and even affect prognosis.

Switchable 3D optofluidic Y-branch waveguides tuned by Dean flows

Optical branch waveguides are one of the most important optical elements and have been widely exploited for optical communication systems. However, prevailing devices are typically solid and have limit in tunability. Liquid optical devices have attracted more interest for the advantage of tunability of liquid media, but their signals suffer serious leakage if the refractive index (RI) of liquid is smaller than that of solid channels. This paper demonstrates the tunable three-dimensional (3D) optofluidic Y-branch waveguides in plannar microchannels by simply introducing Dean flow. This device can reconfigure 3D Y-branch profiles and separate the intensity of light as tunable ratio from 0 to 1 by adjusting the flow rates with low loss. Different from the prevailing 2D liquid counterparts, the 3D configuration offer much more freedom in the selection of liquid media as liquid's RI can be totally independent to the solid channel structure. The transmission loss through the device is estimated to 0.97 db when the splitting angle is 10°, which shows the light is confined better in the 3D liquid structures than traditional 2D liquid counterparts. The Y-branch waveguides show potential in applications of integrated optofluidic devices.

Effects of goal-directed fluid therapy with different lactated Ringer's: hydroxyethyl starch ratios in hemorrhagic shock dogs

The effects of goal-directed fluid therapy, with lactated Ringer's (LR) and 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solution, on hemorrhagic shock dogs are unknown. We aimed to determine the optimal LR: HES ratio for the resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock dogs. Hemorrhagic shock was induced in 40 ventilated dogs by drawing an estimated 60% blood volume. The animals were randomly divided into five groups (N = 8) according to the LR: HES ratio of the resuscitation fluid (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3), and were then resuscitated for 24 h to reach the stroke volume variation (SVV) and hemoglobin (Hb) goals by fluid infusion and autologous blood perfusion. The extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), base excess (BE), sodium, chloride, Hb and creatinine clearance (Clearcrea) were checked after 24 h (R24). The EVLWI of the 3:1 group at R24 were higher than that of the 1:3 group and the baseline value (P < 0.05), whereas the PaO2 was lower (P < 0.05). In contrast to the 3:1 group at R24 and baseline, plasma chloride and sodium in the 1:3 and 1:2 groups increased; however, pH, BE, and Clearcrea decreased (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the 1:1 and 2:1 groups at R24 compared with baseline (P > 0.05). Resuscitation with LR and HES at 2:1 and 1:1 ratios are superior in maintaining the acid-base, electrolyte, and lung water balances as well as renal function in hemorrhagic shock dogs than at ratios of 3:l, 1:2, and1:3.

High tolerance to salinity and herbivory stresses may explain the expansion of Ipomoea cairica to salt marshes

BACKGROUND

Invasive plants are often confronted with heterogeneous environments and various stress factors during their secondary phase of invasion into more stressful habitats. A high tolerance to stress factors may allow exotics to successfully invade stressful environments. Ipomoea cairica, a vigorous invader in South China, has recently been expanding into salt marshes.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

To examine why this liana species is able to invade a stressful saline environment, we utilized I. cairica and 3 non-invasive species for a greenhouse experiment. The plants were subjected to three levels of salinity (i.e., watered with 0, 4 and 8 g L(-1) NaCl solutions) and simulated herbivory (0, 25 and 50% of the leaf area excised) treatments. The relative growth rate (RGR) of I. cairica was significantly higher than the RGR of non-invasive species under both stress treatments. The growth performance of I. cairica was not significantly affected by either stress factor, while that of the non-invasive species was significantly inhibited. The leaf condensed tannin content was generally lower in I. cairica than in the non-invasive I. triloba and Paederia foetida. Ipomoea cairica exhibited a relatively low resistance to herbivory, however, its tolerance to stress factors was significantly higher than either of the non-invasive species.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first study examining the expansion of I. cairica to salt marshes in its introduced range. Our results suggest that the high tolerance of I. cairica to key stress factors (e.g., salinity and herbivory) contributes to its invasion into salt marshes. For I. cairica, a trade-off in resource reallocation may allow increased resources to be allocated to tolerance and growth. This may contribute to a secondary invasion into stressful habitats. Finally, we suggest that I. cairica could spread further and successfully occupy salt marshes, and countermeasures based on herbivory could be ineffective for controlling this invasion.

Comparative studies on the expression patterns of three troponin T genes during mouse development

In vertebrates, three troponin T (TnT) genes, cardiac TnT (cTnT), skeletal muscle fast-twitch TnT (fTnT), and slow-twitch TnT (sTnT), have evolved for the regulation of striated muscle contraction. To understand the mechanism for muscle fiber-specific expression of the TnT genes, we compared their expression patterns during mouse development. Our data revealed that the TnT expression in the developing embryo was not as restricted as that in the adult. In addition to a strong expression in the developing heart beginning at day 7.5 p.c (postcoitum), the cTnT transcript was detected at later stages in some skeletal muscles, where beginning at day 11.75 p.c. the fTnT and sTnT genes were also expressed. Only sTnT but not fTnT was found transiently in the developing heart. At day 13.5 p.c., expressions of all three genes were detected in the developing tongue and this co-expression continued to day 16.5 p.c. with the fTnT isoform being predominant. At this stage, overlapping and distinct expression patterns of both sTnT and fTnT genes were also evident in many developing skeletal muscles. These data suggest that different muscles during development undergo a complex change in TnT isoforms resulting in different contractile properties. Unexpectedly, the cTnT transcript was persistently found in the developing bladder, where presumably smooth muscle is present. In transgenic mice, expression of a LacZ gene driven by a rat cTnT promoter (-497 to +192 bp) was very similar to that of the endogenous cTnT gene, suggesting that this promoter contained regulatory elements sufficient for the control of tissue-specific cTnT expression during development.

Selected contribution: mechanical strain increases force production and calcium sensitivity in cultured airway smooth muscle cells

Cultured airway smooth muscle cells subjected to cyclic deformational strain have increased cell content of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and myosin and increased formation of actin filaments. To determine how these changes may increase cell contractility, we measured isometric force production with changes in cytosolic calcium in individual permeabilized cells. The pCa for 50% maximal force production was 6.6+/-0.4 in the strain cells compared with 5.9+/-0.3 in control cells, signifying increased calcium sensitivity in strain cells. Maximal force production was also greater in strain cells (8.6+/-2.9 vs. 5.7+/-3.1 microN). The increased maximal force production in strain cells persisted after irreversible thiophosphorylation of myosin light chain, signifying that increased force could not be explained by differences in myosin light chain phosphorylation. Cells strained for brief periods sufficient to increase cytoskeletal organization but insufficient to increase contractile protein content also produced more force, suggesting that strain-induced cytoskeletal reorganization also increases force production.

Conformational modulation of slow skeletal muscle troponin T by an NH(2)-terminal metal-binding extension

Troponin T (TnT) is an essential element in the thin filament Ca(2+)-regulatory system controlling striated muscle contraction. Alternative RNA splicing generates developmental and muscle type-specific TnT isoforms differing in the hypervariable NH(2)-terminal region. Using avian fast skeletal muscle TnT containing a metal-binding segment, we have demonstrated a role of the NH(2)-terminal domain in modulating the conformation of TnT (Wang J and Jin JP. Biochemistry 37: 14519-14528, 1998). To further investigate the structure-function relationship of TnT, the present study constructed and characterized a recombinant protein in which the metal-binding peptide present in avian fast skeletal muscle TnT was fused to the NH(2) terminus of mouse slow skeletal muscle TnT. Metal ion or monoclonal antibody binding to the NH(2)-terminal extension induced conformational changes in other domains of the model TnT molecule. This was shown by the altered affinity to a monoclonal antibody against the COOH-terminal region and a polyclonal antiserum recognizing multiple epitopes. Protein binding assays showed that metal binding to the NH(2)-terminal extension had effects on the interaction of TnT with troponin I, troponin C, and most significantly, tropomyosin. The data indicate that the NH(2)-terminal Tx [4-7 repeats of a sequence motif His-(Glu/Ala)-Glu-Ala-His] extension confers a specific conformational modulation in the slow skeletal muscle TnT.

Characterization, crystallization and preliminary X--ray diffraction analysis of acutohaemolysin, a haemolytic toxin from Agkistrodon acutus venom

Acutohaemolysin, a phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) from the venom of the snake Agkistrodon acutus, has been isolated and purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose column followed by cation-exchange chromatography on a CM-Sepharose column. It is an alkaline protein with an isoelectric point of 10.5 and is comprised of a single polypeptide chain of 13 938 Da. Its N-terminal amino-acid sequence shows very high similarity to Lys49-type PLA(2) proteins from other snake venoms. Although its PLA(2) enzymatic activity is very low, acutohaemolysin has a strong indirect haemolytic activity and anticoagulant activity. Acutohaemolysin crystals with a diffraction limit of 1.60 A were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to the space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 45.30, b = 59.55, c = 46.13 A, beta = 117.69 degrees. The asymmetric unit contains one molecule.

Forced expression of essential myosin light chain isoforms demonstrates their role in smooth muscle force production

The molecular determinants of the contractile properties of smooth muscle are poorly understood, and have been suggested to be controlled by splice variant expression of the myosin heavy chain near the 25/50-kDa junction (Kelley, C. A., Takahashi, M., Yu, J. H., and Adelstein, R. S. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 12848-12854) as well as by differences in the expression of an acidic (MLC(17a)) and a basic (MLC(17b)) isoform of the 17-kDa essential myosin light chain (Nabeshima, Y., Nonomura, Y., and Fujii-Kuriyama, Y. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 106508-10612). To investigate the molecular mechanism that regulates the mechanical properties of smooth muscle, we determined the effect of forced expression of MLC(17a) and MLC(17b) on the rate of force activation during agonist-stimulated contractions of single cultured chicken embryonic aortic and gizzard smooth muscle cells. Forced expression of MLC(17a) in aortic smooth muscle cells increased (p < 0.05) the rate of force activation, forced expression of MLC(17b) in gizzard smooth muscle cells decreased (p < 0.05) the rate of force activation, while forced expression of the endogenous MLC(17) isoform had no effect on the rate of force activation. These results demonstrate that MLC(17) is a molecular determinant of the contractile properties of smooth muscle. MLC(17) could affect the contractile properties of smooth muscle by either changing the stiffness of the myosin lever arm or modulating the rate of a load-dependent step and/or transition in the actomyosin ATPase cycle.

Preserved close linkage between the genes encoding troponin I and troponin T, reflecting an evolution of adapter proteins coupling the Ca(2+) signaling of contractility

Ca(2+)-regulated motility is essential to numerous cellular functions, including muscle contraction. Systems with troponin C, myosin light chain, or calmodulin as the Ca(2+) receptor have evolved in striated muscle and other types of cells to transduce the cytoplasm Ca(2+) signals into allosteric conformational changes of contractile proteins. While these Ca(2+) receptors are homologous proteins, their coupling to the responding elements is quite different in various cell types. The Ca(2+) regulatory system in vertebrate striated muscle represents a highly specialized such signal transduction pathway consisting of the troponin complex and tropomyosin associated with the actin filament. To understand the molecular mechanism in the Ca(2+) regulation of muscle contraction and cell motility, we have revealed a preserved ancestral close linkage between the genes encoding two of the troponin subunits, troponin I and troponin T, in the genome of mouse. The data suggest that the troponin I and troponin T genes may have originated from a single locus and evolved in parallel to encode a striated muscle-specific adapter to couple the Ca(2+) receptor, troponin C, to the actin-myosin contractile machinery. This hypothesis views the three troponin subunits as two structure-function domains: the Ca(2+) receptor and the signal transducing adapter. This model may help to further our understanding of the Ca(2+) regulation of muscle contraction and the structure-function relationship of other potential adapter proteins which are converged to constitute the Ca(2+) signal transduction pathways governing nonmuscle cell motility.

Fast skeletal muscle troponin T increases the cooperativity of transgenic mouse cardiac muscle contraction

1. To investigate the functional significance of different troponin T (TnT) isoforms in the Ca2+ activation of muscle contraction, transgenic mice have been constructed with a chicken fast skeletal muscle TnT transgene driven by a cardiac alpha-myosin heavy chain gene promoter. 2. Cardiac muscle-specific expression of the fast skeletal muscle TnT has been obtained with significant myofibril incorporation. Expression of the endogenous cardiac muscle thin filament regulatory proteins, such as troponin I and tropomyosin, was not altered in the transgenic mouse heart, providing an authentic system for the functional characterization of TnT isoforms. 3. Cardiac muscle contractility was analysed for the force vs. Ca2+ relationship in skinned ventricular trabeculae of transgenic mice in comparison with wild-type litter-mates. The results showed unchanged pCa50 values (5.1 +/- 0.04 and 5.1 +/- 0.1, respectively) but significantly steeper slopes (the Hill coefficient was 2.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.2, P < 0.05). 4. The results demonstrate that the structural and functional variation of different TnT isoforms may contribute to the difference in responsiveness and overall cooperativity of the thin filament-based Ca2+ regulation between cardiac and skeletal muscles.

Protein crystallization with a combination of hard and soft precipitants

Much effort and progress have been made in understanding the nucleation and crystallization of globular proteins, and many techniques have been developed to crystallize proteins in the past decades. The advantages of the use of combined precipitants in protein crystallization have been much appreciated. Unfortunately, there is still no theory or empirical guide on how to combine so many precipitants and how to use combined precipitants, although many proteins have been crystallized successfully using combined precipitants. This report gives a proposal about how to use conventional precipitants to obtain protein crystals, based on a novel idea of hard and soft precipitant combinations.

Purification and characterization of two fibrinogen-clotting enzymes from five-pace snake (Agkistrodon acutus) venom

From the snake venom of Agkistrodon acutus, two proteases, acuthrombin-A and acuthrombin-C, were isolated and purified to homogeneity. They can cleave the human fibrinogen to release the fibrinopeptide A and fibrinopeptide B with specific activity of 120 and 370 NIH units/mg, respectively; the fibrinogen-clotting activity can be inhibited distinctly by PMSF or DFP or EDTA, but not by heparin. The two proteases show also arginine-esterase activity hydrolyzing some synthetic substrates such as TAME and BAEE. Additionally, they are glycoproteins with an average content of 2.4% (acuthrombin-A) and 2.1% (acuthrombin-C) neutral carbohydrates, respectively. Acuthrombin-A has a MW of 13,900 as estimated by SDS-PAGE under reduced or nonreduced conditions and 28,000 as determined by gel filtration. For acuthrombin-C, there were two protein bands corresponding to MW of 13,900 and 14,800 on SDS-PAGE with different darkness under reduced or nonreduced conditions, while its MW was estimated to be 69,000 by gel filtration. The isoelectric points were 7.5 for acuthrombin-A and 5.0 for acuthrombin-C by isoelectric focusing. Neither acuthrombin-A nor acuthrombin-C has haemorrhagic or lethal activity. Acuthrombin-A has also a small amount of activity to activate the Factor XIII.

Purification, characterization, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction of acuthrombin-B, a thrombin-like enzyme from Agkistrodon acutus venom

Acuthrombin-B, a thrombin-like enzyme from Agkistrodon acutus venom, has been isolated and purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-100 and fast performance liquid chromatography on DEAE-8HR. The protease is an acid protein (pI 6.0) consisting of two non-identical polypeptide chains (14.4 and 16 kDa) and there is no disulfide bond between the subunits. Its molecular weight is 27 kDa as estimated by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-100. The protease has arginine-esterase activity and hydrolyzes synthetic substrates such as p-toluenesulfonyl arginine methyl ester and alpha-N-benzoyl-L-arginine amide ethyl ester, and shows clotting activity with human fibrinogen, rabbit citrated plasma and human citrated plasma in vitro. The specific activity with human fibrinogen was estimated to be 230 NIH units mg-1. The protease is considered as a serine-type protease and contains metal ion(s) to some extent, as indicated by the fact that its clotting and arginine-esterase activities could be completely inhibited by PMSF and partially inhibited by the chelating agent EDTA, while the thrombin inhibitor heparin had no effect on its clotting activity towards rabbit citrated plasma. Acuthrombin-B crystals with a resolution limit of 2.06 A were obtained by conventional hanging-drop vapour diffusion. The crystals belong to space group P21 with unit-cell parameters a = 34.97, b = 53.58, c = 67.88 A, beta = 98.89 degrees and contain one molecule per asymmetric unit.

Control of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice by GAD expression or suppression in beta cells

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is a pancreatic beta cell autoantigen in humans and nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. beta Cell-specific suppression of GAD expression in two lines of antisense GAD transgenic NOD mice prevented autoimmune diabetes, whereas persistent GAD expression in the beta cells in the other four lines of antisense GAD transgenic NOD mice resulted in diabetes, similar to that seen in transgene-negative NOD mice. Complete suppression of beta cell GAD expression blocked the generation of diabetogenic T cells and protected islet grafts from autoimmune injury. Thus, beta cell-specific GAD expression is required for the development of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice, and modulation of GAD might, therefore, have therapeutic value in type 1 diabetes.

Genomic sequence and structural organization of mouse slow skeletal muscle troponin T gene

Three muscle type-specific troponin T (TnT) genes are present in vertebrate to encode a number of protein isoforms via alternative mRNA splicing. While the genomic structures of cardiac and fast skeletal muscle TnT genes have been documented, this study cloned and characterized the slow skeletal muscle TnT (sTnT) gene. Complete nucleotide sequence and genomic organization revealed that the mouse sTnT gene spans 11.1kb and contains 14 exons, which is smaller and simpler than the fast skeletal muscle and cardiac TnT genes. Potentially representing a prototype of the TnT gene family, the 5'-region of the sTnT gene contains fewer unsplit large exons, among which two alternatively spliced exons are responsible for the NH2-terminal variation of three sTnT isoforms. The sTnT gene structure shows that the alternatively spliced central segment found in human sTnT cDNAs may be a result from splicing using an alternative acceptor site at the intron 11-exon 12 boundary. Together with the well-conserved protein structure, the highly specific expression of sTnT in slow skeletal muscles indicates a differentiated function of this member of the TnT gene family. The determination of genomic structure and alternative splicing pathways of sTnT gene lays a foundation to further understand the TnT structure-function evolution as well as contractile characteristics of different types of muscle fiber.

Three alternatively spliced mouse slow skeletal muscle troponin T isoforms: conserved primary structure and regulated expression during postnatal development

We have cloned and sequenced full-length cDNAs encoding mouse slow skeletal muscle troponin T (sTnT). Alternative mRNA splicing-generated two high Mr isoforms and one low Mr sTnT isoform differing in the NH2-terminal primary structure have been identified by Western blotting, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and cDNA cloning/expression analyses. Together with a 5'-alternative exon that was also found in human sTnT encoding an 11-amino-acid acidic segment, the results revealed a novel alternative splicing pathway to include or exclude a three-base segment to generate additional sTnT isoforms with NH2-terminal charge variations. Overriding the phylogenetic divergence, primary structure of sTnT is better conserved between mammalian and avian species than that of cardiac, fast and skeletal muscle TnTs from one species. Western blots demonstrate four expression patterns of sTnT during postnatal skeletal muscle development: (1) a decrease to a non-detectable level in mouse masseter, (2) an increase to become the sole TnT in sheep masseter, (3) an increase of the total level as well as the proportion of the low Mr isoform in sheep diaphragm and, (4) no significant change in total level or high/low Mr isoform ratio in sheep gastrocnemius. The highly conserved primary structure and fiber type-specific and developmentally regulated expression of sTnT indicate a physiological importance of this under-studied member of the TnT gene family.

Cyclosporine inhibited calcium-mediated apoptosis of HL-60 cells

AIM

To study the effects of cyclosporine (Cyc) on apoptosis of HL-60 cells.

METHODS

Apoptotic cells induced by harringtonine (Har), camptothecin (Cam), or calcimycin (Cal), thapsigargin (Tha) were identified with DNA electrophoresis, morphology, and flow cytometry. Relative [Ca2+]i alteration of apoptotic HL-60 cells were determined with flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Cal 1 mg.L-1 or Tha 0.5 mg.L-1 induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. This effect was inhibited by nontoxic concentration of Cyc 1 mg.L-1. Cyc did not inhibit Har- or Cam-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Both Cal and Tha increased intracellular calcium, whereas Har or Cam did not.

CONCLUSION

Cyc inhibited apoptosis only induced by calcium increasement in HL-60 cells. The mechanism of apoptosis induced by Cal or Tha was different from that by Har or Cam.

Human skeletal muscle nebulin sequence encodes a blueprint for thin filament architecture. Sequence motifs and affinity profiles of tandem repeats and terminal SH3

Analysis of deduced protein sequence and structural motifs of approximately 5500 residues of human fetal skeletal muscle nebulin reveals the design principles of this giant multifunctional protein in the sarcomere. The bulk of the sequence is constructed of approximately 150 tandem copies of approximately 35-residue modules that can be classified into seven types. The majority of these modules form 20 super-repeats, with each super-repeat containing a 7-module set (one of each type in the same order). These super-repeats are further divided into eight segments: with six segments containing adjacent, highly homologous super-repeats, one single repeat segment consisting of 8 nebulin modules of the same type, and a non-repeat segment terminating with a SH3 domain at the C terminus. The interactions of actin, tropomyosin, troponin, and calmodulin with nebulin fragments consisting of either repeating modules or the SH3 domain support its role as a giant actin-binding cofilament of the composite thin filament. Such affinity profiles also suggest that nebulin may bind to tropomyosin and troponin to form a composite calcium-linked regulatory complex on the thin filament. The modular construction, super-repeat structure, and segmental organization of nebulin sequence appear to encode thin filament length, periodicity, insertion, and sarcomere proportion in the resting muscle.

A novel yeast protein showing specific association with the cyclin-dependent kinase 5

The present study describes a significant amino acid sequence homology between neuronal Cdk5 activator (nck5a) and an open reading frame of an unknown gene on the yeast S. cerevisiae chromosome III. A cDNA encoding a 25 kDa fragment of this yeast protein, the region containing homologous sequence to nck5a was cloned and expressed in E. coli as a glutathine-S-transferase fusion protein (GST-p25Y). GST-p25Y was found to block the in vitro activation of Cdk5 by nck5a and to affinity precipitate Cdk5 from bovine brain extract. The observations indicate that the yeast protein is capable of specific and high affinity association with Cdk5.

Regulatory properties of neuronal cdc2-like kinase

Neuronal cdc2-like kinase, nclk, is a heterodimer of cyclin dependent protein kinase 5, cdk5, and a 25 kDa subunit derived from a novel, neuron-specific, 35 kDa protein: p35. The characterization and regulation of nclk will be summarized in this minireview. The activity of nclk appears to be governed by highly complex regulatory mechanisms including protein-protein interaction, protein phosphorylation and isoforms. The histone H1 kinase activity of nclk is absolutely dependent of the interaction between the 25 kDa subunit and the catalytic subunit, cdk5. In addition, nclk interacts with other cellular proteins to form macromolecular complexes. The kinase activity of nclk is inhibited in vitro by the phosphorylation reactions of a weel-like protein tyrosine kinase and a protein serine/threonine kinase from bovine thymus. Northern blot analysis has revealed the existence of two populations of p35 mRNA of 2 and 4 kb. A novel cDNA encoding a p35 homologous protein has been obtained from a human hippocampus library.

Reconstitution of neuronal Cdc2-like kinase from bacteria-expressed Cdk5 and an active fragment of the brain-specific activator. Kinase activation in the absence of Cdk5 phosphorylation

Neuronal Cdc2-like kinase is a heterodimer of Cdk5 and a 25-kDa subunit which is derived from a brain-specific 35-kDa novel protein, p35 (Lew, J., Huang, Q.-Q., Qi, Z., Winkfein, R. J., Aebersold, R., Hunt, T., and Wang, J. H. (1994) Nature 371, 423-426). Three truncated forms of p35 including the one corresponding to the 25-kDa subunit of the kinase have been expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to activate a bacteria-expressed Cdk5 with equal efficacy. The shortest truncated form of p35, p21, spanning amino acid residues 88 to 291, has been used to reconstitute active Cdk5 kinase and to characterize the activation reaction. The purified kinase displays similar specific enzyme activity and similar phosphorylation site specificity as the neuronal Cdc2-like kinase purified from bovine brain. Bovine brain extract contains Cdk5 uncomplexed with p35 or p25 which has also been found to be activated by p21 or p25. The results substantiate the previous suggestion that p35 is a specific Cdk5 activator. Several observations suggest that, unlike other well characterized Cdc2-like kinases whose activities depend on the phosphorylation of the catalytic subunits at a specific site by a distinct kinase, the reconstituted Cdk5/p21 does not depend on the phosphorylation of Cdk5 for activity. The reconstitution of the highly active Cdk5 kinase was achieved without requiring any other kinase in the reconstitution reaction. The possibility of autophosphorylation of Cdk5 on the putative activation site has been ruled out as no phosphorylation occurred on Cdk5 during the enzyme reaction. The rate and extent of the kinase reconstitution were not significantly affected by Mg2+ ATP.

Structure, function, and regulation of neuronal Cdc2-like protein kinase

We have identified and purified from bovine brain a novel protein kinase which catalyzes in vitro phosphorylation of neurofilament proteins NF-H and NF-M and tau proteins at sites implicating the enzyme in the regulation of neurocytoskeleton dynamics and in Alzheimer pathology. The protein kinase displays a phosphorylation site specificity similar or identical to the cell cycle regulatory kinase, cdc2 kinase. The purified kinase is a heterodimer of a cdc2-like catalytic subunit, called cdk5, and a 25 kDa regulatory subunit. The regulatory subunit is essential for kinase activity, and it is derived from a 35 kDa protein, p35 by proteolysis. Northern blot analysis of tissue distribution indicates that cdk5 is widely distributed but especially rich in brain, whereas p35 expression is only found in brain. The protein kinase is therefore termed neuronal cdc2-like kinase. The neuron-specificity of the enzyme appears to be conferred by the regulatory subunit. During cell division, cdc2 kinase is regulated by complex phosphorylation mechanisms involving a network of specific protein kinases. Some of these kinases or their homologs have been found in mammalian brains and they may be involved in the regulation of neuronal cdc2-like kinase.

A brain-specific activator of cyclin-dependent kinase 5

Phosphorylation of the neurofilament proteins of high and medium relative molecular mass, as well as of the Alzheimer's tau protein, is thought to be catalysed by a protein kinase with Cdc2-like substrate specificity. We have purified a novel Cdc2-like kinase from bovine brain capable of phosphorylating both the neurofilament proteins and tau. The purified enzyme is a heterodimer of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and a novel regulatory subunit, p25 (ref. 8). When overexpressed and purified from Escherichia coli, p25 can activate Cdk5 in vitro. Unlike Cdk5, which is ubiquitously expressed in human tissue, the p25 transcript is expressed only in brain. A full-length complementary DNA clone showed that p25 is a truncated form of a larger protein precursor, p35, which seems to be the predominant form of the protein in crude brain extract. Cdk5/p35 is the first example of a Cdc2-like kinase with neuronal function.

Cloning and functional expression of a complementary DNA encoding a mammalian nucleoside transport protein

Expression screening in Xenopus oocytes was used to isolate a cDNA from rat jejunal epithelium encoding a Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transport protein (named cNT1). The cDNA sequence of cNT1 predicts a protein of 648 amino acids (relative molecular mass 71,000) with 14 potential transmembrane domains. Data base searches indicate significant sequence similarity to the NUPC proton/nucleoside symporter of Escherichia coli. There is no sequence similarity between cNT1 and proteins of mammalian origin. Functionally, cNT1 exhibited the transport characteristics of the nucleoside transport system cit (selective for pyrimidine nucleosides and adenosine) and accepted both 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC) as permeants (Km = 0.49 and 0.51 mM, respectively). The demonstration of transport of AZT by cNT1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes provides the first direct evidence that AZT enters cells by transporter-mediated processes, as well as by passive diffusion. Consistent with the tissue distribution of system cit transport activity, transcripts for cNT1 were detected in kidney as well as jejunum. cNT1 therefore belongs to a potential new gene family and may be involved in the intestinal absorption and renal handling of pyrimidine nucleoside analogs used to treat acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Nebulin is a full-length template of actin filaments in the skeletal muscle sarcomere: an immunoelectron microscopic study of its orientation and span with site-specific monoclonal antibodies

Nebulin, a giant myofibrillar protein with size variants from 700 to 900 kDa in various skeletal muscles, has been proposed to constitute a set of inextensible filaments anchored at the Z-line and coextensive with actin filaments. To elucidate the architectural organization of this fourth set of myofilaments in the skeletal muscle sarcomere, we performed immunoelectron microscopic localization of epitope profiles of a number of site-specific monoclonal antibodies against cloned human nebulin fragments of known sequence loci. Monoclonal antibody N113, which is directed to fragment ND8 at approximately 300 residues away from the C-terminus, labelled the edges of Z-lines in both human quadriceps muscle and rabbit psoas muscle. Monoclonal antibody N101, which is directed to fragment NB5 near the N-terminal side, is localized to a single locus at 0.89 micron from the Z-line in human quadriceps muscle and 0.80 micron from the Z-line in rabbit psoas muscle. Additionally, monoclonal antibody N109, which is directed to fragment NA3 on the carboxy side of the adjacent fragment NB5, is localized at 0.76 micron away from the Z-line in rabbit psoas muscle. This one-to-one correspondence between epitope loci and sequence loci demonstrates that a single nebulin polypeptide spans the length of the thin filament with its C-terminus anchored at the Z-line. The epitope spacings of site-specific antibodies are consistent with the notion that the nebulin filament is uniform in mass density along its length.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Functional expression of Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transport systems of rat intestine in isolated oocytes of Xenopus laevis. Demonstration that rat jejunum expresses the purine-selective system N1 (cif) and a second, novel system N3 having broad specificity for purine and pyrimidine nucleosides

Isolated stage VI oocytes from Xenopus laevis expressed uridine transport activity after microinjection of mRNA from rat jejunum. Uridine uptake during 30 min (10 microM, 20 degrees C) by mRNA-injected oocytes reached 2.5 pmol/oocyte, compared with endogenous uptake by water-injected oocytes of about 0.05 pmol/oocyte. The expressed transport activity was 96% Na(+)-dependent, saturable (apparent Km = 15 microM) and inhibited by phloridzin (IC50 = 100 microM). Nucleoside inhibition studies resolved the expressed transport activity into two components: 1) a novel Na(+)-dependent system of broad purine and pyrimidine specificity that was inhibited by low concentrations of guanosine, inosine, adenosine, uridine, thymidine, and cytidine and 2) a Na(+)-dependent system of narrower specificity that was inhibited by low concentrations of guanosine, inosine, adenosine, and uridine and by high concentrations of thymidine and cytidine. The characteristics of the latter system are consistent with those of the Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transport system N1 (cif), previously identified in a number of cell types and tissues, including intestinal epithelia and cultured cells of intestinal origin. The broad specificity system, which was also detected in mRNA-injected oocytes using thymidine as permeant, has been given the provisional designation N3 to distinguish it from the previously described N1 (purine-selective) and N2 (pyrimidine-selective) Na(+)-linked nucleoside transporters. Rat jejunal transporters N1 and N3 were both expressed maximally by the same mRNA size fraction (1.6-3.0 kb, peak 2.3 kb).

Complete nucleotide sequence and structural organization of rat cardiac troponin T gene. A single gene generates embryonic and adult isoforms via developmentally regulated alternative splicing

We have previously demonstrated that rat cardiac troponin T (TnT) is expressed as two different isoforms during development, the larger, more acidic embryonic isoform and the smaller, more basic adult isoform, which appear to be generated from a common transcript of the cardiac TnT gene by alternative RNA splicing. In this study, Southern blot analysis confirmed the existence of a single copy of cardiac TnT gene in the rat genome. For investigation of the molecular mechanism of isoform switch and the control of this gene expression in myocardial development, several overlapping genomic clones were isolated from a rat genomic library. Complete nucleotide sequences were determined from these genomic clones and revealed a 19,186 base-pair DNA fragment containing 16 exons of rat cardiac TnT gene. Its DNA sequence and exon organization appeared to differ from that of the rat fast skeletal muscle TnT gene or chicken cardiac TnT gene. Comparison of genomic and cDNA clones also confirmed that the cardiac TnT isoform switching was due to the inclusion or exclusion of exon 4 during RNA processing. Sequence analysis allowed us to further identify the other alternatively spliced exon containing only nine nucleotides in size (exon 12). The inclusion and complete or partial exclusion of this exon may be responsible for generating three classes of mRNAs detected by our cDNA clones. The functional significance of this variation in TnT isoforms remained unknown, but its splicing pattern did not appear to link to the developmental changes. The 5' upstream structure was very similar to that in chicken cardiac TnT gene but differed from that in the rat fast skeletal muscle TnT gene, suggesting a similar regulatory mechanism for mammalian and avian cardiac TnT expression.