Gene network and canonical pathway analysis in prostate cancer: a microarray study

The molecular mechanism playing a role in the development of prostate cancer (PCA) is not well defined. We decided to determine the changes in gene expression in PCA tissues and to compare them to those in non-cancerous samples. Prostate tissue samples were collected by needle biopsy from 21 PCA and 10 benign prostate hyperplasic (BPH) patients. Total RNA was isolated, cDNA was synthesized, and gene expression levels were determined by microarray method. In the progression to PCA, 738 up-regulated and 515 down-regulated genes were detected in samples. Analysis using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software revealed that 466 network and 423 functions-pathways eligible genes were up-regulated, and 363 network and 342 functions-pathways eligible genes were down-regulated. Up-regulated networks were identified around IL-1beta and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) genes. The NFKB gene was centered around two up- and down-regulated networks. Up-regulated canonical pathways were assigned and four of them were evaluated in detail: acute phase response, hepatic fibrosis, actin cytoskeleton, and coagulation pathways. Axonal guidance signaling was the most significant down-regulated canonical pathway. Our data provide not only networks between the genes for understanding the biologic properties of PCA but also useful pathway maps for future understanding of disease and the construction of new therapeutic targets.     

Identification of differentially expressed, tumor-associated proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma by proteomic analysis

Oral squamous cellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor with poor prognosis and therefore the discovery of early markers to discriminate malignant from normal cells would be of critical importance in clinical diagnosis. Subcellular fractions from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and control samples, enriched in mitochondrial and cytosolic proteins, were analyzed by 2-DE, followed by MALDI-TOF-MS. Twenty proteins showed altered expression levels in OSCC; 14 were up- and 6 were down-regulated in comparison with the control samples. For 11 proteins, cofilin, C-reactive protein precursor, creatine kinase m-chain, fatty acid-binding protein, keratin type II, myosin light chain 2 and 3, nucleoside diphosphate kinase A, phosphoglycerate mutase 1, plakoglobulin, and retinoic acid-binding protein II, it is shown for the first time that they are differentially expressed in OSCC. Proteins with highly up-regulated levels may be of interest as potential diagnostic markers and consequently of clinical interest.     

Biomarker discovery in breast cancer serum using 2-D differential gel electrophoresis/ MALDI-TOF/TOF and data validation by routine clinical assays

In the present study, we used 2-D differential gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) and MS to screen biomarker candidates in serum samples obtained from 39 patients with breast cancer and 35 controls. First, we pooled the serum samples matched with age and menopausal status. Then, we depleted the two most abundant proteins albumin and IgG by immunoaffinity chromatography under partly denaturing conditions in order to enrich low-abundance proteins and proteins with low molecular weight. Concentrated and desalted samples were labeled with three different CyDyes including one internal standard, pooled from all the samples, and separated with 2-D DIGE in triplicate experiments. Biological variations of the protein expression level were analyzed with DeCyder software and evaluated for reproducibility and statistical significance. The profile of differentially expressed protein spots between patients and controls revealed proapolipoprotein A-I, transferrin, and hemoglobin as up-regulated and three spots, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein C-III, and haptoglobin alpha2 as down-regulated in patients. Finally, routine clinical immunochemical reactions were used to validate selected candidate biomarkers by quantitative determination of specific proteins in all individual serum samples. The serum level of transferrin correlated well with the 2-D-DIGE results. However, the serum levels of apolipoprotein A-I and haptoglobin could not be detected with the clinical routine diagnostic tests. This demonstrated an advantage 2-D DIGE still has over other techniques. 2-D DIGE can distinguish between isoforms of proteins, where the overall immunochemical quantification does fail due to a lack of isoform-special antibodies.     

A proteomic approach to study protein variation in GM durum wheat in relation to technological properties of semolina

Genetic manipulation of durum wheats by tobacco rab-1 genes influence the trafficking of gluten proteins through the secretory system by up- or down-regulating the transport step from the ER to the Golgi apparatus which may in turn modify functional performance of the grain. Gluten proteins were extracted from two genetically manipulated lines - Svevo B730 1-1 and Ofanto B688 1-2 - and their control lines and were analyzed by two dimensional gel electrophoresis. When the two-dimensional maps were compared by image analysis no significant differences between the GM line with an up-regulated trafficking containing the wild type tobacco rab1 (Svevo B730 1-1) and its control (Svevo control). By contrast, significant differences were found between the GM line with a down-regulated trafficking due to the tobacco rab1 mutant form (Ofanto B688 1-2) and its control (Ofanto control). Of the new protein spots detected in the down-regulated Ofanto B688 1-2 map, only a beta-amylase was identified. The remaining spots were susceptible to chymotripsin action but not to trypsin one, as in the case of the gluten protein. Rheological measurements showed that gluten quality was enhanced in the down-regulated Ofanto B688 1-2 without an increase in the amount of gluten. Proteomics is a useful and powerful tool for investigating protein changes in GMOs and in understanding events in food science and technology.     

HCV全基因组培养细胞的比较蛋白组学研究

利用比较蛋白质组技术研究了转染丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus, HCV)全基因组的人肝癌细胞系Huh7细胞模型中蛋白质表达谱的变化, 建立了Huh7-HCV的双向凝胶电泳蛋白质表达图谱和数据库. 通过双向凝胶电泳分离和图像分析, 对表达差异2倍以上蛋白质点进行了胶内酶解和MALDI-TOF MS鉴定. 得到包括与细胞骨架蛋白、细胞周期、凋亡和信号转导等相关的14个蛋白质, 并且用Western blot验证了热休克蛋白70的蛋白质组研究结果. 利用HCV全基因组培养系统, 采用蛋白质组学技术, 为研究HCV病毒和宿主细胞相互作用提供了新的实验数据, 为深入研究HCV病毒复制和分子致病机理奠定了基础.     

哮喘大鼠淋巴细胞蛋白质组的分析

通过建立卵蛋白(Ovalbumin, OVA) 致敏的Wistar大鼠哮喘动物模型, 利用二维凝胶电泳及MALDI-TOF-MS分析技术, 对哮喘大鼠与正常大鼠脾脏淋巴细胞差异表达蛋白质进行鉴定和分析. 结果显示, 在哮喘组中呈现高表达的蛋白质, 包括胶原蛋白调控蛋白质(hnRNP)以及细胞结构蛋白(Fibrinogen). 而与代谢相关的蛋白质(CoQ10)和线粒体内膜蛋白, 在哮喘组中呈低表达. 研究结果表明, 这些蛋白质与哮喘气道慢性炎症、气道高反应性和气道的重构有关.     

温敏核不育系水稻株1S及其矮秆突变体SV14茎的蛋白质组学比较

采用双向凝胶电泳对温敏核不育水稻株1S和其矮秆突变体SV14的茎(穗颈下第1节和第2节)蛋白进行了分离, 通过银染显色, 获得了分辨率和重复性较好的双向电泳图谱. 选取了26个蛋白质点采用MALDI-TOF-MS进行肽质谱指纹图分析, 最终有12个蛋白质点得到了可靠鉴定. 其中在SV14中相对于株1S上调的仅有OSJNBa0039C07.13 蛋白, 其它蛋白均表现为下调. 这些差异蛋白按照功能可分为4类: (1) 能量代谢相关蛋白; (2) 次生代谢相关蛋白; (3) 调控蛋白; (4) 未知蛋白. 对光合系统Ⅱ氧延伸复合物蛋白质前体2, 果糖二磷酸醛缩酶, UDP-葡糖醛酸脱羧酶对应的基因进行了半定量RT-PCR分析, 发现这几个基因与蛋白质的表达不一致, 可能是RNA发生了翻译后修饰而减少了蛋白表达量的结果. 这些差异蛋白很可能与水稻矮化有关, 为水稻矮秆基因的寻找提供了另一个有效途径.     

Partitionings and kinetic behaviors of major-to-ultratrace elements between industrial waste incineration fly and bottom ashes as studied by ICP-AES and ICP-MS.

The partitionings of major-to-ultratrace elements between industrial waste incineration fly ash (IWIFA) and industrial waste incineration bottom ash (IWIBA) in industrial waste incinerators were investigated by measuring their concentration distributions, where the incineration ash samples were collected from three different types of industrial waste incinerators. The concentrations of the elements in the incineration ash samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). As a result, ca. 40 elements in the concentration range from mg g(-1) to sub-microg g(-1) could be determined in both IWIFA and IWIBA samples. The concentration ratios of CF/CB (CF, concentration in fly ash; CB, concentration in bottom ash) for analyte elements were used to evaluate the partitionings of the elements between fly and bottom ashes. Then, the correlations between the CF/CB values of the elements and the dissociation energies of their monoxides were examined to evaluate the kinetic behaviors of the elements during the incineration processes. It was found that lithophile and siderophile elements, which have a large affinity with oxygen, were almost equally distributed between fly and bottom ashes, regardless of the dissociation energies of their monoxides. On the other hand, chalcophile elements with rather large volatility provided different behaviors; the elements with the smaller dissociation energies of monoxides were more partitioned in fly ashes than those with the larger ones.     

拟南芥和甜菜夜蛾相互作用的差异蛋白分析

以甜菜夜蛾(Spodoptera exigua)和模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thanliana)作为研究体系, 应用蛋白质双向凝胶电泳(Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, 2-DE)分析了在甜菜夜蛾取食诱导条件下拟南芥蛋白表达的差异, 从蛋白质水平揭示昆虫取食诱导条件下植物的化学防御机制. 结果发现, 在昆虫取食诱导条件下, 有28个蛋白发生显著变化, 其中17个蛋白点上调表达, 11个蛋白点下调表达. 利用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF MS)对差异蛋白进行了鉴定, 结果发现转酮酶、S-腺苷甲硫氨酸合成酶、二氢硫辛酰胺脱氢酶和脂肪酸合成酶在植物诱导化学防御中具有重要的作用, 其中脂肪酸合成酶与茉莉酸代谢通路相关.     

Toxicity of Methanol and Formaldehyde Towards <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> as Assessed by DNA Microarray Analysis

To assess the toxicity of the C1 compounds methanol and formaldehyde, gene expression profiles of treated baker’s yeast were analyzed using DNA microarrays. Among approximately 6,000 open reading frames (ORFs), 314 were repressed and 375 were induced in response to methanol. The gene process category “energy” comprised the greatest number of induced genes while “protein synthesis” comprised the greatest number of repressed genes. Products of genes induced by methanol were mainly integral membrane proteins or were localized to the plasma membrane. A total of 622 and 610 ORFs were induced or repressed by formaldehyde, respectively. More than one-third of the genes found to be strongly repressed by formaldehyde belonged to the “protein synthesis” functional category. Conversely, genes in the subcategory of “nitrogen, sulfur, and selenium metabolism” within “metabolism” and in the category of “cell rescue, defense, and virulence” were up-regulated by exposure to formaldehyde. Our data suggest that membrane structure is a major target of methanol toxicity, while proteins were major targets of formaldehyde toxicity.     

Divide and conquer: rat liver tissue proteomics based on the analysis of purified constituents

Comparative proteome data of normal and diseased tissue samples are difficult to interpret. Proteins detected in tissues are derived from different cell types and blood constituents. Pathologic or toxicant-induced aberrations may affect the proteome profile of tissues in several ways since different cell types may respond in very different and highly specific manners. The aim of this study was to analyze the proteome profiles of purified rat liver primary cells and of blood plasma in comparison to liver whole tissue. Moreover, we investigated alterations of these profiles induced by the liver toxicant N-nitrosomorpholine (NNM) used as a model compound. Whole liver samples, pure hepatocytes and Kupffer cells as well as blood plasma were obtained from saline- or NNM-treated rats. Proteins were separated by 2-D PAGE and their amounts were estimated by fluorography. Selected proteins were identified by MS analysis of tryptic digests. Among them we identified proteins exclusively expressed in the analysed constituents. Several of these proteins were assigned in the proteome profile of whole-tissue homogenates. Furthermore, we identified several proteins that were modified, up-regulated or down-regulated due to NNM treatment in total liver homogenates. Some of these protein alterations were specifically detected in primary cells isolated from NNM-treated rats. Thus, we demonstrated the successful assignment of NNM-induced proteome alterations in rat liver to the cell type of origin. The currently applied approach may help to better understand pathologic processes at a whole-tissue level.     

不稳定性心绞痛血瘀证的血浆蛋白质组学研究

为了寻找冠心病不稳定性心绞痛血瘀证血浆差异表达蛋白, 探索冠心病不稳定性心绞痛血瘀证的蛋白质组学特点. 采用差异凝胶双向电泳和质谱联用技术对12例冠心病不稳定性心绞痛血瘀证患者和12例健康人血浆进行比较研究. 初步发现了Fibrinogen β chain, Fibrinogen γ chain, α1-Antitrypsin, Haptoglobin β chain, Haptoglobin α2 chain在冠心病不稳定性心绞痛血瘀证患者中高表达, ApoA-IV, ApoA-I, Transthyretin, ApoJ在冠心病不稳定性心绞痛血瘀证患者中低表达. 差异表达蛋白根据功能可分为以下三类: (1)急性时相反应负相蛋白; (2)载脂蛋白; (3)凝血相关蛋白. 冠心病不稳定性心绞痛血瘀证可能与炎症反应、脂代谢紊乱以及凝血功能异常相关.     

Functional specific roles of H-ras and N-ras. A proteomic approach using knockout cell lines

Ras small GTPases function as transducers of extracellular signals regulating cell survival, growth and differentiation. There are three major ras isoforms: H-, N- and K-Ras. To improve the understanding of H- and N-Ras protein signalling networks, we compared total proteome changes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts knock out for H-ras and/or N-ras, using proteomics tools combining 2DE, semi-quantitative image analysis, in-gel trypsin digestion and mass spectrometry. There are four up-regulated proteins due to the loss of expression of H-Ras (including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A) and eight down-regulated (including stress-70 protein, dihydropyrimidinase-related-protein 3, heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein, tropomyosin beta chain, Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 1) and six up-regulated proteins (e.g. leukocyte elastase inhibitor A, L-lactate dehydrogenase B chain, c-Myc-responsive protein Rcl, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein) due to the loss of expression of both N- and H-Ras. Most of these proteins are related to Ras signalling in one way or another. Changes in expression of some of these proteins were further confirmed by Western blot. This proteomic comparative analysis from loss of function of H- and N-Ras knockout fibroblasts yields interpretable data to elucidate the differential protein expression, and contributes to evaluate the possibilities for physiological and therapeutic targets.     

血管外膜肌成纤维细胞分化相关蛋白研究

为寻找涉及血管紧张素II (AngII)和转化生长因子β1 (TGF-β1)诱导的血管肌成纤维细胞(MF)分化的蛋白, 本研究采用双向电泳和质谱从整体水平检测了MF分化前后蛋白表达谱的变化, 共找到41个差异表达的蛋白点, 表达水平和/或蛋白位置在Ang II和TGF-β1刺激后都发生明显变化的蛋白点14个, 4个蛋白上调, 6个蛋白下调, 2个蛋白位置发生明显变化, 2个蛋白表达上调,位置也发生变化; 只在Ang II诱导的MF中表达发生变化的蛋白20个, 只在TGF-β1诱导的MF中表达发生变化的蛋白7个. 选取Ang II和TGF-β1共同调节的14个蛋白进行质谱鉴定, 结果除骨架蛋白外, 首次发现MF分化同泛素蛋白酶体系统和嘌呤合成有关; septin 2的下调可能是成纤维细胞分化的标志. 本研究运用蛋白质组学技术发现了新的参与MF分化的蛋白质, 为进一步研究和干预细胞表型转化提供了新的思路和靶点.     

Glycoproteomic analysis of plasma from patients with atopic dermatitis: CD5L and ApoE as potential biomarkers

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disorder that is both uncomfortable and distressing to patients, and its prevalence has been steadily increasing. It is obvious that the identification of efficient markers of AD in plasma would offer the possibility of effective diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies. In this study, a proteomic approach was used to analyze plasma glycoproteins from both children with AD and healthy child donors. Several protein spots showing significant quantitative changes in the AD patients were identified. Through sequential studies, it was confirmed that CD5L and ApoE were significantly up-regulated or down-regulated, respectively, in the plasma from AD patients compared with that from healthy donors. In addition, we suggest that the up-regulated CD5L in AD patients causes eosinophilia by inhibiting apoptosis or promoting the proliferation of eosinophils either in combination with or without IL-5. The glycoproteomic data in this study provides clues to understanding the mechanism of atopic alterations in plasma and suggests AD-related proteins can be used as candidate markers for AD.     

Effect-based proteomic detection of growth promoter abuse

Unregulated growth promoter use in food-producing animals is an issue of concern both from food safety and animal welfare perspectives. However, the monitoring of such practices is analytically challenging due to the concerted actions of users to evade detection. Techniques based on the monitoring of biological responses to exogenous administrations have been proposed as more sensitive methods to identify treated animals. This study has, for the first time, profiled plasma proteome responses in bovine animals to treatment with nortestosterone decanoate and 17β-oestradiol benzoate, followed by dexamethasone administration. Two-dimensional fluorescence differential in-gel electrophoresis analysis revealed a series of hepatic and acute-phase proteins within plasma whose levels were up- or down-regulated within phases of the treatment regime. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immuno-assays were developed to quantify responses of identified protein markers during the experimental treatment study with a view to developing methods which can be used as screening tools for growth promoter abuse detection. SPR analysis demonstrated the potential for plasma proteins to be used as indicative measures of growth promoter administrations and concludes that the sensitivity and robustness of any detection approach based on plasma proteome analysis would benefit from examination of a range of proteins representative of diverse biological processes rather being reliant on specific individual markers.     

快速老化模型小鼠血清蛋白质组学分析比较

以6月及12月龄SAMP 8及同龄SAMR 1为研究对象, 应用双向凝胶电泳法, 分析比较了快速老化模型小鼠(Senescence accelerated mice, SAM)的快速老化亚系SAMP 8及抗快速老化亚系SAMR 1血清蛋白表达的差异. 与同龄SAMR 1比较, 6月龄SAMP 8血清中有15个蛋白点表达显著上调, 3个蛋白点表达显著下调, 7个蛋白点只在SAMP 8中有表达; 12月龄SAMP 8血清中有9个蛋白点表达显著上调, 7个蛋白点表达显著下调, 12个蛋白点只在SAMP 8中有表达. 应用质谱进行肽质量指纹图谱分析和数据库检索共鉴定了19种蛋白质. 其中6个蛋白只在6月龄SAMP 8中表达, 4个蛋白只在12月龄SAMP 8中表达. 此外, 在6月龄及12月龄SAMP 8血清差异蛋白中, 存在9个共同的差异蛋白, 按照功能可分为4类: (1) 免疫相关蛋白; (2) 老化相关蛋白; (3) 糖代谢及神经元凋亡相关蛋白; (4) 其它蛋白. 上述研究结果显示, SAMP 8和SAMR 1血清蛋白表达存在明显差异, 其中一些差异蛋白可能是SAMP 8老化进程中相关病理生理变化的重要原因.     

Proteome analysis demonstrates complex replicon and luteolin interactions in pSyma-cured derivatives of Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 2011

Sinorhizobium meliloti was studied by proteomic analysis to investigate the contribution made by plasmid-encoded functions on the intracellular regulation of this bacterium. Protein profiles of strain 2011 were compared with those from its mutant strains which were either cured of their pRme2011a (also called pSyma) plasmid (strain 818), or contained an extensive deletion of this plasmid (strain SmA146). Plasmid pSyma contains the nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes and is 1.4 Mbp with an estimated coding potential of 1,400 proteins. However, under the growth conditions used we could detect 60 differences between the parent strain and its pSyma-cured derivative, strain 818. While the majority of these differences were due to regulatory changes, such as up- and downregulation, some proteins were totally missing in some strains. These 60 proteins were classified into 21 subgroups, A to U, based on their measured protein levels when the cells were grown in the presence or absence of luteolin. Comparisons were made between the different strains to assess the possible interactions of the different proteins of the subgroups and plasmid pSyma. These results suggest that pSyma has a role in the regulation of the expression of genes from the other replicons (3.5 Mbp chromosome and the 1.7 Mbp pSymB plasmid) present in the S. meliloti cells. Proteome analysis provides a sensitive tool to examine the functional organisation of the S. meliloti genome and the intracellular gene interactions between replicons and will provide a powerful analytical tool to complement the genome sequencing of strain 1021.