Differential expression of molecular chaperones in brain of patients with Down syndrome

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) in their molecular capacity as chaperones have been reported to regulate the apoptotic pathway and also play a critical role in protein conformational diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). As all Down syndrome (DS) brains display AD-like neuropathology, neuronal loss in DS was shown to be mediated by apoptosis. We decided to investigate the expression patterns of HSPs in seven brain regions of adults with DS using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Following 2-DE, approximately 120 protein spots were successfully identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization--mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) followed by quantification of the identified proteins. We unambiguously identified and quantified nine different chaperone proteins. Accordingly, all but three chaperone proteins did exhibit a significant change in expression. HSP 70 RY, heat shock cognate (HSC) 71 and glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 75 showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in DS temporal cortex whereas HSP 70.1 and GRP 78 were significantly increased (P<0.05) in cerebellum. Whilst T-complex 1 (TCP-1) epsilon subunit showed a significant decrease (P< 0.05) in parietal cortex, a similar extent of increase (P<0.05) as that observed in cerebellum was obtained in parietal levels of GRP 78. Alpha-crystallin B, HSP 60 and GRP 94 did not show any detectable changes in expression patterns. This report presents the first approach to quantify nine different chaperones simultaneously at the protein level in different brain regions and provides evidence for aberrant chaperone expression patterns in DS. The relevance of this aberrant expression patterns are discussed in relation to the biochemical and neuropathological abnormalities in DS brain.     

Aberrant expression of signaling-related proteins 14-3-3 gamma and RACK1 in fetal Down syndrome brain (trisomy 21)

Although Down Syndrome (DS, trisomy 21) is the most frequent isolated cause of mental retardation, information on brain protein expression and in particular protein expression of signaling-related proteins is limited. Impaired signaling in DS involving different signaling systems has been proposed and the availability of fetal brain along with recent proteome technologies unambiguously identifying individual brain proteins made us study individual signaling factors in the brain. We studied fetal brain cortex of controls (n = 7) and DS (n = 9) from early second trimester of gestation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with subsequent matrix-assisted laser/desorption ionization (MALDI) identification followed by quantification with specific software. Four 14-3-3 protein isoforms, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, receptor for activited kinase 1 (RACK1), constitutive photomorphogenesis (COP9) complex subunit 4 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II have been identified. Quantification showed that protein 14-3-3 gamma (means +/- standard deviation of controls: 10.18+/-2.30 and of DS 4.20+/-1.19) and two spots assigned to RACK1 (controls spot 1: 4.15+/-2.45 and DS 1.95+/-0.93; controls spot 2: 5.08+/-2.4 vs. DS: 2.56+/-1.19) were significantly decreased in DS cortex. Reduced 14-3-3 gamma may represent impaired neuronal differentiation, synaptic plasticity and impaired signaling by PKC and Raf while decreased RACK1 (anchoring protein receptor for activated C-kinase) may reflect or generate deranged beta-II- protein kinease C (PKC) function with the putative biological meaning of aberrant migration and neuritic outgrowth in DS early in life.     

Evidence for the relation of herpes simplex virus type 1 to Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease

The peripheral and central nervous system are harbouring herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and this virus has been proposed to be implicated in the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We tested whether the HSV-1 genome is found indeed in the brain of controls, patients with AD and Down syndrome (DS) and whether HSV-1 infectious proteins in brain were induced. Moreover, we tested whether interleukin (IL)-6, a marker for neuroinflammation, is found in brains of AD and DS. HSV-1 glycoprotein D gene, as well as viral phosphoprotein and glycoprotein were detected in all brain samples. IL-6 was detectable in seven out of the eight AD and all of the eight DS patients, but only three out of ten controls in the frontal cortex. IL-6 in cerebellum was detectable in all AD and DS patients, but only three out of nine controls. In conclusion, we propose that the detection of HSV-1 genome and HSV-1 inducible protein IL-6 not only shows the presence in human brain, but may indicate a role for HSV-1 in the process of neuroinflammation and apoptosis, known to occur in both neurodegenerative disorders, AD and DS.     

Trace element concentration differences in regions of human brain by INAA

Studies have shown that there is a potential relationship between the levels of trace elements in cerebral tissues and neurological disorders. However, there are few publications available on the elemental composition of these tissues as well as for different regions of the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate trace element differences in various regions of the human brain from an elderly population of normal individuals. Brain samples from 31 individuals of both genders, aged 51–95 years were provided by the Brain Bank of the Brazilian Aging Study Group of the São Paulo University, Medical School. The tissues from the regions of the hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital cortex were dissected using a titanium knife, ground, freeze-dried and then analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Samples and element standards were irradiated with a neutron flux at the IEA-R1 nuclear research reactor for Br, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Se and Zn determinations. One-way ANOVA test (p < 0.05) was used to compare the results which showed significant differences for several elements among the brain regions. Most of our brain analysis results agreed with the literature data. The results were also submitted for brain region classification by cluster analysis.     

Changes of voltage-dependent anion-selective channel proteins VDAC1 and VDAC2 brain levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome

Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel proteins (VDACs) are pore-forming proteins found in the other mitochondrial membrane of all eukaryotes and in brain postsynaptic membranes. VDACs regulate anion fluxes of a series of metabolites including ATP, thus regulating mitochondrial metabolic functions. We determined protein levels of VDACs in individual post-mortem brain regions of patients with Down Syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectroscopy (MALDI-MS). VDAC1 (SWISS-PROT accession number P21796) and VDAC2 (P45880) were unambiguously identified and quantified, but VDAC3 was not found. The spots representing VDAC1 were separated with different p/s (p/7.5, 8.5, and 10.0) probably caused by post-translational modifications as, e.g., phosphorylation. In DS cerebellum, total VDAC1 protein was elevated significantly whereas VDAC2 did not show any significant alterations. In AD brains, VDAC1 p/10.0 was significantly reduced in temporal, frontal, and occipital cortex with the p/7.5 form elevated in occipital cortex. Total VDAC1 was significantly decreased in frontal cortex and thalamus. VDAC2 was significantly elevated in temporal cortex only. The biological meaning of our results may be derangement of voltage-dependent anion-selective channel function and reflecting impaired glucose, energy, and intermediary metabolism as well as apoptotic mechanisms.     

Role of the solvent in the dynamical transitions of proteins: the case of the lysozyme-water system

We study the dynamics of hydration water in the protein lysozyme in the temperature range 180 K相似文献   

Chitosan-g-MPEG-modified alginate/chitosan hydrogel microcapsules: a quantitative study of the effect of polymer architecture on the resistance to protein adsorption

The chemical modification of the alginate/chitosan/alginate (ACA) hydrogel microcapsule with methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) was investigated to reduce nonspecific protein adsorption and improve biocompatibility in vivo. The graft copolymer chitosan-g-MPEG (CS-g-MPEG) was synthesized, and then alginate/chitosan/alginate/CS-g-MPEG (ACAC(PEG)) multilayer hydrogel microcapsules were fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LBL) polyelectrolyte self-assembly method. A quantitative study of the modification was carried out by the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) technique, and protein adsorption on the modified microcapsules was also investigated. The results showed that the apparent graft density of the MPEG side chain on the microcapsules decreased with increases in the degree of substitution (DS) and the MPEG chain length. During the binding process, the apparent graft density of CS-g-MPEG showed rapid growth-plateau-rapid growth behavior. CS-g-MPEG was not only bound to the surface but also penetrated a certain depth into the microcapsule membranes. The copolymers that penetrated the microcapsules made a smaller contribution to protein repulsion than did the copolymers on the surfaces of the microcapsules. The protein repulsion ability decreased with the increase in DS from 7 to 29% with the same chain length of MPEG 2K. CS-g-MPEG with MPEG 2K was more effective at protein repulsion than CS-g-MPEG with MPEG 550, having a similar DS below 20%. In this study, the microcapsules modified with CS-g-MPEG2K-DS7% had the lowest IgG adsorption of 3.0 ± 0.6 μg/cm(2), a reduction of 61% compared to that on the chitosan surface.     

The protein kinase DYRK1A phosphorylates the splicing factor SF3b1/SAP155 at Thr434, a novel in vivo phosphorylation site

Background  

The U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) component SF3b1/SAP155 is the only spliceosomal protein known to be phosphorylated concomitant with splicing catalysis. DYRK1A is a nuclear protein kinase that has been localized to the splicing factor compartment. Here we describe the identification of DYRK1A as a protein kinase that phosphorylates SF3b1in vitro and in cultivated cells.     

Effect of annealing on calcium pectin gel formation by thermomechanical analysis

Pectin solutions were annealed at various temperatures and time intervals. Calcium pectin gels were prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of pectin and calcium chloride (CaCl₂). The degree of Na to Ca substitution (DS) was calculated based on the data obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry. DS increased with increasing Ca content and levelled off at the characteristic Ca content which corresponds to the saturated value assuming all -COOH was converted into -COO₂Ca. The characteristic saturated values depended annealing temperature and time at sol state. DS was calculated and it was found that DS decreased with increasing annealing temperature. Viscoelastic properties of gels in water were investigated using a thermomechanical analyzer (TMA). Dynamic modulus increased and tanδ decreased with increasing DS. Swelling ratio of gels decreased with increasing annealing temperature and time at sol state showing a similar tendency to the results of DS. It can be concluded that a large network structure was formed when the samples were annealed at high temperature for a long time at sol state. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

醋酸淀粉/聚乳酸的制备及性能的影响研究

采用自设计的双螺杆结构挤出制备聚乳酸(PLA)/醋酸淀粉(AS)的全生物降解材料,考察材料的AS的含量和取代度对复合材料动态流变性能、机械性能的影响。研究结果表明,AS含量明显影响复合材料的力学性能、复合黏度和储能模量:当AS含量从45%增加到70%,材料的拉伸强度下降,复数黏度和储能模量则提高。随着AS取代度由1.0上升为3.0,复合材料的复数黏度和储能模量下降,拉伸强度由12.0MPa上升为15.5MPa。对复合材料进行电镜扫描分析发现,AS以海岛结构形式分散在PLA的连续相中,取代度2.0的AS与PLA相容性最好,当其质量含量达到70%,材料的拉伸强度仍然不低于10.0MPa,具有较好的机械强度。     

Elemental concentration in the cortex and hippocampus of Wistar rats by X-ray total reflection fluorescence with synchrotron radiation

Summary The study of trace element levels is of great importance due to their relevance in agingand several neurodegenerative diseases. This work compares the elemental concentrations in different postnatal ages and between the temporal cortex, entorhinal cortex and hippocampus from Wistar rats, using X-ray total reflection fluorescence with synchrotron radiation. Ten elements were determined in brain samples: Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, (at trace level) and P, S, Cl and K (at major levels). The elements that increased with aging in cortical areas were: S, K, Fe, Cu and Zn. Ca and Zn levels decreased with advancing age in the hippocampus. In addition to this, Ti, Mn and Fe levels were more conspicuous in the entorhinal cortex.     

Photodynamic treatment (ALA-PDT) suppresses the expression of the oncogenic Bcr-Abl kinase and affects the cytoskeleton organization in K562 cells

K562 is the chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)-derived cell line that expresses high levels of chimeric oncoprotein Bcr-Abl. The deregulated (permanent) kinase activity of Bcr-Abl leads to continuous proliferation of K562 cells and their resistance to the apoptosis promotion by conventional drugs. The photodynamic treatment (PDT) based on the application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and irradiation with blue light (ALA-PDT) resulted in the suppression of K562 cells proliferation. It was followed by a necrosis-like cell death [K. Kuzelová, D. Grebenová, M. Pluskalová, I. Marinov, Z. Hrkal, J. Photochem. Photobiol. B 73 (2004) 67-78]. ALA-PDT led to the perturbation of the Hsp90/p23 multichaperone complex of which the Bcr-Abl is the client protein. Bcr-Abl protein was suppressed whereas the bcr-abl mRNA level was not affected. Further on, we observed several changes in the cytoskeleton organization. We detected ALA-PDT-mediated disruption of filamental actin structure using FITC-Phalloidin staining. In connection with this we uncovered certain cytoskeleton organizing proteins involved in the cell response to the treatment. Among these proteins, Septin2, which plays a role in maintaining actin bundles, was suppressed. Another one, PDZ-LIM domain protein 1 (CLP36) was altered. This protein acts as an adaptor molecule for LIM-kinase which phosphorylates and thus inactivates cofilin. Cofilin was indeed dephosphorylated and could thus be activated and operate as an actin-depolymerizing factor. We propose the scheme of molecular response of K562 cells to ALA-PDT.     

芳香族二硫化物/烯类单体络合光聚合

本文采用二苯基二硫及对位取代物(DS)作为光聚合引发剂,得到一些烯类单体(M)的聚合速度,顺序为:丙烯腈(AN)>甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)>苯乙烯(St)。其中丙烯腈的效果最好。对DS的结构,DS及单体的浓度以及溶剂性质的影响都作了研究。从测定的稳态和瞬态电子光谱表明,在该反应体系中,DS和M分子间能形成基态和激发态络合物,这种激发络合物有较长的寿命,因而很有利于DS的自由基生成。文中对DS的光化学初级过程也作了讨论。     

Hydration-dependent protein dynamics revealed by molecular dynamics simulation of crystalline staphylococcal nuclease

Molecular dynamics simulations of crystalline Staphylococcal nuclease in full and minimal hydration states were performed to study hydration effects on protein dynamics at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300 K. In a full hydration state (hydration ratio in weight, h=0.49), gaps are fully filled with water molecules, whereas only crystal waters are included in a minimal hydration state (h=0.09). The inflection of the atomic mean-square fluctuation of protein as a function of temperature, known as the glass-like transition, is observed at approximately 220 K in both cases, which is more significant in the full hydration state. By examining the temperature dependence of residual fluctuation, we found that the increase of fluctuations in the loop and terminal regions, which are exposed to water, is much greater than that in other regions in the full hydration state, but the mobilities of the corresponding regions are relatively restricted in the minimal hydration state by intermolecular contact. The atomic mean-square fluctuation of water molecules in the full hydration state at 300 K is 1 order of magnitude greater than that in the minimal hydration state. Above the transition temperature, most water molecules in the full hydration state behave like bulk water and act as a lubricant for protein dynamics. In contrast, water molecules in the minimal hydration state tend to form more hydrogen bonds with the protein, restricting the fluctuation of these water molecules to the level of the protein. Thus, intermolecular interaction and solvent mobility are important to understand the glass-like transition in proteins.     

Charge state dependent collision-induced dissociation of native and reduced porcine elastase

The [M + 20H](20+)-[M + 12H](12+) charge states of native and reduced porcine elastase, a 25.9 kDa serine protease, were subjected to collisional activation in a quadrupole ion trap. For most charge states, ion parking was used to increase the number of parent ions over that yielded directly by electrospray. Ion-ion proton transfer reactions were used to reduce product ion charge states largely to +1 to simplify spectral interpretation. Both forms of the protein show charge state dependent fragmentation behavior. The native protein, which contains four disulfide linkages, shows almost no evidence for fragmentation within the regions of the protein linked by disulfide bonds. However, at the lowest charge states studied, evidence for cleavage of a least one of the disulfide bonds was evident in the appearance of a c-type ion. The highest charge states of native elastase showed several prominent cleavages C-terminal to valine residues. As the charge state decreased, however, preferential cleavages at acidic amino acid residues became important. The reduced form of the protein did not show particularly prominent cleavages at valine residues. However, many of the same preferential cleavages at acidic amino acid residues noted for the native protein were also observed in the same charge states of the reduced protein. The reduced protein also showed additional cleavages from regions of the protein that are ordinarily protected by disulfide linkages in the native form.     

Identification of heparin samples that contain impurities or contaminants by chemometric pattern recognition analysis of proton NMR spectral data

Chemometric analysis of a set of one-dimensional (1D) (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral data for heparin sodium active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) samples was employed to distinguish USP-grade heparin samples from those containing oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS) contaminant and/or unacceptable levels of dermatan sulfate (DS) impurity. Three chemometric pattern recognition approaches were implemented: classification and regression tree (CART), artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector machine (SVM). Heparin sodium samples from various manufacturers were analyzed in 2008 and 2009 by 1D (1)H NMR, strong anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, and percent galactosamine in total hexosamine tests. Based on these data, the samples were divided into three groups: Heparin, DS ≤ 1.0% and OSCS = 0%; DS, DS > 1.0% and OSCS = 0%; and OSCS, OSCS > 0% with any content of DS. Three data sets corresponding to different chemical shift regions (1.95-2.20, 3.10-5.70, and 1.95-5.70 ppm) were evaluated. While all three chemometric approaches were able to effectively model the data in the 1.95-2.20 ppm region, SVM was found to substantially outperform CART and ANN for data in the 3.10-5.70 ppm region in terms of classification success rate. A 100% prediction rate was frequently achieved for discrimination between heparin and OSCS samples. The majority of classification errors between heparin and DS involved cases where the DS content was close to the 1.0% DS borderline between the two classes. When these borderline samples were removed, nearly perfect classification results were attained. Satisfactory results were achieved when the resulting models were challenged by test samples containing blends of heparin APIs spiked with non-, partially, or fully oversulfated chondroitin sulfate A, heparan sulfate, or DS at the 1.0%, 5.0%, and 10.0% (w/w) levels. This study demonstrated that the combination of 1D (1)H NMR spectroscopy with multivariate chemometric methods is a nonsubjective, statistics-based approach for heparin quality control and purity assessment that, once standardized, minimizes the need for expert analysts.     

Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells resist to TRAIL-induced apoptosis,and the resistance is abolished by cisplatin

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the TNF family, selectively induce apoptosis in various transformed cell lines but not in almost-normal tissues. It is regulated by 2 death receptors, TRAIL receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1) and TRAIL-R2 and 2 decoy receptors, TRAIL-R3 and TRAIL-R4. However, the determining factors of the sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis are not clearly understood. Herein, we investigated the expression of TRAIL-R, c-FLIP, FADD-like interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme inhibitory protein, and TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. Seven of ten HCC cell lines showed resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis and five of seven TRAIL-resistant cell lines became sensitive to TRAIL by co-treatment with cycloheximide. In HCC cell lines, their TRAIL resistance did not correlate with the basal expression level of TRAIL receptors or c-FLIP, however, in human tissues, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 expressions were notably decreased compared to normal counterpart. Cisplatin showed synergistic effect on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in most HCC cell lines regardless of their p53 status and TRAIL-R1 was induced by cisplatin treatment in certain cell lines. Inhibition of nuclear factor K B (NF-kappaB) by SN50, a peptide inhibitor of NF-KB activity, had no effect on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HCC cells. These results suggest that (a) the majority of human HCC cell lines are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis and cycloheximide-sensitive short-lived antiapoptotic molecule(s) is responsible for this resistance, (b) the expression of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 is reduced in HCC tissues, and the increased expression of TRAIL-R1 may be a mechanism of cisplatininduced sensitization to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in some HCC cells, and (c) the activation of NF-kappaB may not be involved in the TRAIL resistance of HCC cells     

Alteration of protein composition in mouse thymocytes by signals through T-cell receptor

To avoid destructive autoimmunity, T-cell precursors (thymocytes) expressing autoreactive T-cell receptor are deleted in the thymus via an apoptotic process by the signals from the T-cell receptor-CD3 complexes. In order to analyze the apoptotic mechanism, we established a cell-free system using the lysates from mouse thymocytes treated in vivo with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb). The soluble cytosolic high molecular mass protein fraction from the anti-CD3-treated thymocytes revealed an activity that directly induces nuclear apoptotic morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. This fragmentation activity was not observed in the fraction from the thymocytes without anti-CD3 treatment. Proteins in both fractions were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The silver-stained gels revealed differences in protein spots. These protein spots were identified by database searching of mass spectrometric (MS) and tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) data obtained from in-gel tryptic digests of the spots, using an integrated system of liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/ion-trap mass spectrometry. In this study, the high mobility group protein HMG2 was identified as one of the cytosolic proteins that is increased by the signals from the T-cell receptor, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase were found to be decreased by the signals.     

UV-B exposure causes DNA damage and changes in protein expression in northern pike (Esox lucius) posthatched embryos

The ongoing anthropogenically caused ozone depletion and climate change has increased the amount of biologically harmful UV-B radiation, which is detrimental to fish in embryonal stages. The effects of UV-B radiation on the levels and locations of DNA damage manifested as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and p53 protein in newly hatched embryos of pike were examined. Pike larvae were exposed in the laboratory to current and enhanced doses of UV-B radiation. UV-B exposure caused the formation of CPDs in a fluence rate-dependent manner, and the CPDs were found deeper in the tissues with increasing fluence rates. UV-B radiation induced HSP70 in epidermis, and caused plausible p53 activation in the brain and epidermis of some individuals. Also at a fluence rate occurring in nature, the DNA damage in the brain and eyes of pike and changes in protein expression were followed by severe behavioral disorders, suggesting that neural molecular changes were associated with functional consequences.