Expression of stress proteins in cultured human cells as a sensitive indicator of metal toxicity

Human cell lines cultured under standardized conditions are found to react after a wide variety of aggressive but sub-lethal treatments by expressing stress proteins, mainly of the HSP68, HSP70 and HSP90 families. The stress reaction is a repair mechanism which rapidly takes place after minute damages caused to cell structures. It was therefore proposed to develop a sensitive biomarker to monitor environmental pollution, especially related to metals, based on the evaluation of stress protein production. This was achieved by computer-assisted densitometric analysis of autoradiographies of electrophoretically separated (35)S-labelled proteins. The results indicate that our biological models consisting in HT29 and HepG2 cell-lines react to low concentrations of cadmium or nickel by a clear-cut increase of stress proteins expression. In most cases, this effect is much more significant and much more rapid to observe than changes in growth curves. It may constitute a reliable index of cell susceptibility to environmental aggressions.     

8-METHOXYPSORALEN PLUS UVA INDUCES THE 72 kDa HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN IN ORGAN-CULTURED NORMAL HUMAN SKIN

Abstract The proteins induced by heat and other stressors, called heat shock proteins (HSP) or stress proteins, are considered to play a general role in protection from cellular injury. Exposure to UVA (320400 nm) following application of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), termed PUVA is commonly used in the field of dermatology. In order to understand the induction of HSP in PUVA-treated human skin, indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody specific for the 72 kDa HSP (HSP 72) was carried out in organ-cultured normal human skin that was treated with PUVA. When the organ-cultured skin was treated at 37°C for 1 h with 8-MOP at a final concentration of 10 or 100 μg/mL and exposed to UVA (51.3 kJ/m²), nuclear immunofluorcscence of HSP 72 was detected in the epidermal cells 12 h after UVA irradiation. In contrast, the induction of HSP 72 was not detected either by UVA irradiation or 8-MOP treatment. These results suggest that PUVA treatment is one of the stressors for human skin, and DNA damage caused by PUVA induces HSP 72.     

Involvement of Heat-Shock Protein 70 and P53 Proteins in Attenuation of UVC-lnduced Apoptosis by Thermal Stress in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Induction of apoptosis is a function of external stimuli and cellular gene expression. Many cells respond to DNA damage by the induction of apoptosis, which depends on a functional p53 protein and is signaled by elevation of p53 levels. In this study, we found that a prior exposure to mild stress (42 degrees C) can protect HepG2 (p53+/+) cells from a subsequent UVC-induced apoptosis determined by DNA fragmentation and ratio of sub-G1 peak, but no heat-enhanced protection was found in Hep3B (p53-/-) cells. Although a similar inductive pattern of HSP70 protein and mRNA was detected in the two cell lines under thermal stress, the effect of thermal stress on UVC-induced apoptosis in HepG2 and Hep3B cells was obviously different. Overexpression of HSP70 by transient transfection of HSP70 expression vector in HepG2 cells significantly inhibited UVC-induced cell death; however, this inhibitory effect did not occur in transfected-Hep3B cells. Treatment of HepG2 cells with p53-specific antisense oligonucleotide could effectively block the antiapoptotic effect of thermal stress on UVC-induced apoptosis and increase of intracellular wild-type p53 protein by transfecting wtp53 expression plasmid into Hep3B cells yielded more resistance to UVC irradiation after prior thermal stress exposure. The results reveal an involvement of p53 in the antiapoptotic effect of thermal stress on UVC irradiation. Finally, a p53 protein increase was detected in UVC-treated HepG2 cells and could be coimmunoprecipitated with HSP70 after a thermal stress treatment. Prolonged p53 binding activity and enhanced expression of p53-controlled genes such as G1 arrest and DNA damage 45 and wild-type p53 activation factor 1/Cdk-interacting protein 1 by thermal stress are also observed in UVC-irradiated HepG2 cells. Based on these results, we propose that the antiapoptotic effect of thermal stress is mediated by increasing HSP70 and modulating intracellular p53 function.     

Reactions of indium phosphide cluster cations with ammonia and trimethylamine

Chemistry of indium phosphide clusters is studied using the powerful trapped ion cell techniques of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry in conjunction with an external cluster source and ion guide. The external source is capable of generating a wide range of cluster ions which the ion guide loads with high efficiency into the FTICR cell. The differential pumping of the ion guide allows for operation of the FTICR at requisite low pressure conditions while extracting clusters generated in a high pressure environment. Highly selective reactions of indium phosphide clusters are observed with ammonia and trimethylamine. Of all the In_xP⁺_y cluster sizes and stoichiometries studied, only the indium dimer ion reacts exothermically with ammonia. Thermalized In⁺₂ reacts by indium ion transfer to ammonia. Owing to its much higher basicity, trimethylamine is much more reactive. The smaller indium phosphide clusters react by indium ion transfer to trimethylamine. As the clusters become larger, however, the reaction probability decreases to zero.     

ARMOR: Auto-Assembled Resilient Biomimetic Calcified Ornaments for Selective Cell Protection by Dual-Aptamer-Driven Hybridization Chain Reaction

Unlike plant and microbial cells having cell walls, the outermost layer of mammalian cell is a delicate, two-layered structure of phospholipids with proteins embedded, which is susceptible to environmental changes. It is necessary to create an “armor” on cell surface to protect cell integrity. Here, we propose an A uto-assembled R esilient bioM imetic calcified OR naments (ARMOR) strategy driven by dual-aptamer-based hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and Ca²⁺ assisted calcification for selective cell protection. This co-recognition design enhances the selectivity and leverages robust in situ signal amplification by HCR to improve the sensitivity. The calcified shell is cogenerated by crosslinking the alginate-HCR product with Ca²⁺ ion. ARMOR has high efficiency for shielding cells from environmental assaults, which can be applied to circulating tumor cell (CTC) protection, isolation, and identification, maintaining the native state and intact genetic information for downstream analysis.     

2-D PAGE analysis of pesticide-induced stress proteins of E. coli

Logarithmically growing batch cultures of Escherichia coli were exposed to sublethal concentrations of pyrethroid and carbamate pesticides of four different technical grades. This induced 17–20 stress proteins, as observed using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An E. coli culture growing exponentially in Luria Bertani medium (cell density ~2.3×10⁹ cells/ml) was exposed to predetermined sublethal doses of individual pesticides. The cells were harvested after 30 minutes of induction and the stress response was developed in fresh LB medium for three hours under the same growth conditions. Cell pellets were obtained and stored in sonication buffer. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed to resolve the proteins. Visualization of the protein spots by rapid silver staining showed 17–20 stress proteins which were absent in the standard protein profile of E. coli. On average 29% of these stress proteins were unique to the pollutant, while the remaining stress proteins overlapped with those of other pesticides. The iso-electric points (PIs) and molecular weights of the proteins were determined by comparing with protein markers with known PIs and molecular weights. Furthermore, upon comparing the pesticide-induced proteins within the same class and between the two different classes (pyrethroid and carbamate), it was apparent that the general nature of the stress remained the same throughout, which indirectly proved that the gene or set of genes responsible for stress expression are also the same, irrespective of the chemical nature of the substituents of the pesticides.     

Proteomic study of a tolerant genotype of durum wheat under salt-stress conditions

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stress conditions limiting crop growth and productivity. Duilio is a wheat genotype that shows tolerant behavior in both salt-stress and drought-stress conditions. Toward better understanding of the biochemical response to salinity in this genotype of durum wheat, a comparative label-free shotgun proteomic analysis based on normalized spectral abundance factors was conducted on wheat leaf samples subjected to increasing salt-stress levels (100 and 200 mmol L^-1 NaCl) with respect to untreated samples. We found significant changes in 71 proteins for the first stress level, in 83 proteins at the higher salinity level, and in 88 proteins when comparing salt-stress levels with each other. The major changes concerned the proteins involved in primary metabolism and production of energy, followed by those involved in protein metabolism and cellular defense mechanisms. Some indications of different specific physiological and defense mechanisms implicated in increasing tolerance were obtained. The enhanced salinity tolerance in Duilio appeared to be governed by a higher capacity for osmotic homeostasis, a more efficient defense, and an improvement of protection from mechanical stress by increased cell wall lignifications, allowing a better potential for growth recovery.     

Annexin II, a novel HSP27-interacted protein, is involved in resistance to UVC-induced cell death in human APr-1 cells

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is implicated in diverse biologic functions as a molecular chaperone. We found that HSP27 is involved in the protection of human cells against UVC lethality. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying UVC resistance, we searched for HSP27-interacted proteins related to resistance in UVC-resistant human cells, APr-1. Three candidates for HSP27-interacted proteins were found from cell lysates using an affinity column coupled with GST-fused HSP27 protein. Interaction between HSP27 and two candidates, annexin II and HSP70, was confirmed by immunoprecipitation analysis. After UVC irradiation, the amount of the complex of HSP27 and annexin II decreased in the postnuclear fraction, while it increased in the nuclear fraction. Cells transfected with annexin II-siRNA were more susceptible to UVC lethality. These results suggest that annexin II is a novel HSP27-interacted protein which is involved in UVC resistance in human cells, at least those tested here.     

Rate constants for reactions of iodine atoms in solution

Laser flash photolysis (at 248 or 308 nm) or aryl iodides in water or water/methanol solutions produces iodine atoms and phenyl radicals. Iodine atoms react rapidly with added I^? to form I₂^? but do not react rapidly with O₂ (k ? 10⁷ L mol^?1 s^?1). Iodine atoms oxidize phenols to phenoxyl radicals, with rate constants that vary from 1.6 × 10⁷ L mol^?1 s^?1 for phenol to about 6 × 10⁹ L mol^?1 s^?1 for 4-methoxyphenol and hydroquinone. Ascorbate and a Vitamin E analogue are also oxidized very rapidly. N-Methylindole is oxidized by I atoms to its radical cation with a diffusion-controlled rate constant, 1.9 × 10¹⁰ L mol^?1 s^?1. Iodine atoms also oxidize sulfite and ferrocyanide ions rapidly but do not add to double bonds. The phenyl radicals, produced along with the I atoms, react with O₂ to give phenylperoxyl radicals, which react with phenols much more slowly than I atoms. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High activity of Mj HSP16.5 under acidic condition

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) exist ubiquitously among all organisms, with a variety of functions. All small heat shock proteins assemble into a native large oligomeric state containing 9–40 monomers. The sHSPs show chaperone-like activity to prevent the aggregation of nonnative proteins under stressful cellular conditions such as non-optimal temperatures, pH changes, osmotic pressure, and exposure to toxic chemicals. It was found that a common dimeric subunit of sHSPs might be the major active species, but whether the native large oligomeric state is only a storage state or a state crucial to its molecular chaperone activity is still under debate. The native large oligomeric state of the small heat shock protein from a hyperthermophilic methanarchaeon, Methanococcus jannaschii (Mj HSP 16.5), is a stable icositetramer, which is a symmetric hollow sphere that is very stable even at 85°C, and no small active subunit has been detected till now. Our results show that Mj sHSP 16.5 changes into small and active oligomeric state at pH 3, likely as octamers (average result) at 25°C, and dimers at 65°C. The dimer of Mj HSP 16.5 at pH 3.0 and 65°C is very active and efficient, even 7-fold more efficient than the high-temperature-activated icositetramer at neutral pH. Monomer exchange can be observed between dimers of Mj HSP 16.5 at pH 3.0 and 65°C. These results not only demonstrate that the icositetramer structure of Mj sHSP16.5 is not necessary for its molecular chaperone activity, but also suggest that Mj sHSP16.5 is a very efficient chaperone acting at high temperature and under the acidic condition. Even though it is not clear whether the native environment of Methanococcus jannaschii is acidic or not, given its ability to excrete acidic compounds, it is likely that Methanococcus jannaschii will encounter acidic internal or external environments at high temperature. Our results demonstrate that Mj HSP 16.5 may help Methanococcus jannaschii to survive better under those extreme environmental conditions. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20203001, 20673003, and 30490245) and Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2006AA02Z301)     

Proteomic Investigation over the Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy Mediated by Rose Bengal Against Staphylococcus aureus

In order, understanding the antimicrobial action of photodynamic therapy and how this technique can contribute to its application in the control of pathogens. The objective of the study was to employ a proteomic approach to investigate the protein profile of Staphylococcus aureus after antimicrobial photodynamic therapy mediated by rose bengal (RB-aPDT). S. aureus was treated with RB (10 nmoL L⁻¹) and illuminated with green LED (0.17 J cm⁻²) for cell viability evaluation. Afterward, proteomic analysis was employed for protein identification and bioinformatic tools to classify the differentially expressed proteins. The reduction in S. aureus after photoinactivation was ~2.5 log CFU mL⁻¹. A total of 12 proteins (four up-regulated and eight down-regulated) correspond exclusively to alteration by RB-aPDT. Functionally, these proteins are distributed in protein binding, structural constituent of ribosome, proton transmembrane transporter activity and ATPase activity. The effects of photodamage include alterations of levels of several proteins resulting in an activated stress response, altered membrane potential and effects on energy metabolism. These 12 proteins required the presence of both light and RB suggesting a unique response to photodynamic effects. The information about this technique contributes valuable insights into bacterial mechanisms and the mode of action of photodynamic therapy.     

Comparative Evaluation of Pumice Stone as an Alternative Immobilization Material for 1,3-Propanediol Production from Waste Glycerol by Immobilized Klebsiella pneumoniae

In this study, pumice stone (PS), which is a vastly available material in Turkey, was evaluated as an alternative immobilization material in comparison to other commercially available immobilization materials such as glass beads and polyurethane foam. All immobilized bioreactors resulted in much better 1,3-propanediol production from waste glycerol in comparison to the suspended cell culture bioreactor. It was also demonstrated that the locally available PS material is as good as the commercially available immobilization material. The maximum volumetric productivity (8.5?g?L^?1?h^?1) was obtained by the PS material, which is 220?% higher than the suspended cell system. Furthermore, the immobilized bioreactor system was much more robust against cell washout even at very low hydraulic retention time values.     

Toxicities of nano zinc oxide to five marine organisms: influences of aggregate size and ion solubility

Nano zinc oxide (nZnO) is increasingly used in sunscreen products, with high potential of being released directly into marine environments. This study primarily aimed to characterize the aggregate size and solubility of nZnO and bulk ZnO, and to assess their toxicities towards five selected marine organisms. Chemical characterization showed that nZnO formed larger aggregates in seawater than ZnO, while nZnO had a higher solubility in seawater (3.7 mg L⁻¹) than that of ZnO (1.6 mg L⁻¹). Acute tests were conducted using the marine diatoms Skeletonema costatum and Thalassiosia pseudonana, the crustaceans Tigriopus japonicus and Elasmopus rapax, and the medaka fish Oryzias melastigma. In general, nZnO was more toxic towards algae than ZnO, but relatively less toxic towards crustaceans and fish. The toxicity of nZnO could be mainly attributed to dissolved Zn²⁺ ions. Furthermore, molecular biomarkers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), metallothionein (MT) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were employed to assess the sublethal toxicities of the test chemicals to O. melastigma. Although SOD and MT expressions were not significantly increased in nZnO-treated medaka compared to the controls, exposure to ZnO caused a significant up-regulation of SOD and MT. HSP70 was increased two to fourfold in all treatments indicating that there were probably other forms of stress in additional to oxidative stress such as cellular injury.     

An electrophoretic study of vitamin E status and expression of heat shock proteins in alveolar type II and liver cells

Vitamin E is the most important lipophilic antioxidant. Oxidative injuries are prevented or minimized by vitamin E supplementation. Various physiological and pathological situations are accompanied by vitamin E deficiency. However, it is not clear whether alimentary vitamin E deficiency in itself constitutes oxidant stress that induces appropriate responses, which, in turn, can be avoided by adequate vitamin E supplies, or whether the remaining cellular antioxidants compensate a temporary vitamin E deficiency. We studied effects of the dietary vitamin E status on cellular vitamin E levels and on the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in alveolar type II cells and liver. The expression of HSPs, representing an early and very sensitive marker of cellular stress, was compared with the activity of antioxidative enzymes. Vitamin E depletion caused a substantial increase in HSP32 in alveolar type II cells, whereas in liver there was a marked increase in HSP70. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes, however, did not change significantly. A reversal of HSP expression to almost normal levels was seen after vitamin E resupplementation. These results indicate that, under normal conditions, a suboptimal supply of vitamin E to rats exposes the alveolar type II cells and the liver to reversible cellular stress.     

A new way to determine the three-dimensional solubility parameters of hydrogenated nitrile rubber and the predictive power

In order to understand the swelling behavior of hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) more fully, the total solubility parameters (δ_t) of HNBR (Therban 2568) were determined by equilibrium swelling tests. Then, the swelling responses were analysed by a computer program to determine the Hansen three-dimensional solubility parameter (HSP). The HSP values – determined from lightly cured rubber samples – were estimated as δ_d = 18.4 (J/cm³)^1/2, δ_p = 6.0 (J/cm³)^1/2, δ_h = 4.5 (J/cm³)^1/2 and δ_t = 19.9 (J/cm³)^1/2. The energy difference (Ra) between HNBR and solvents or solvent mixtures have been calculated by their HSP values and proven to be useful for predicting the swelling behaviour of HNBR. The swelling volume decreases with increasing Ra values. Using blended solvents, a clear correlation between Ra values and the rubber swelling response was established. Thus, it may be possible to use the Hansen three-dimensional solubility parameters to predict swelling phenomena of cured rubber articles in mixed fluids such as bio-fuels or lubricants. Also, the HSP values may be used to predict the response of rubber seals or gaskets when replacing toxic or expensive fluids with more favorable environmentally friendly or inexpensive ones.     

Growth Inhibition and Induction of Stress Protein,GroEL, of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus cereus</Emphasis> Exposed to Antibacterial Peptide Isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> SC-8

This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial effect of BSAP-254 on Bacillus cereus with the induced stress proteins. The BSAP-254 is an antimicrobial peptide isolated from soybean-fermenting bacteria, Bacillus subtilis SC-8. It had a narrow spectrum of activity against B. cereus group. The growth inhibitory effect of BSAP-254 (50 μg/mL) reduced the population of B. cereus from >10⁸ to 10⁴ colony-forming units per milliliter within 30 min. In B. cereus exposed to BSAP-254, 14 intracellular proteins were differentially expressed as determined by 2-DE coupled with MS. Of the differentially expressed proteins identified, the stress protein GroEL, which is heat shock protein, was induced in B. cereus exposed to antibacterial peptide.     

Hierarchical Unfolding of Mj HSP16.5

Mj HSP16.5 is a small heat shock protein (sHSP) from the hyperthermophilic methanoarchaeon, Methanococcus jannaschii (Mj), which lives at the environment of high temperature up to 94 °C. The structural data showed that Mj HSP16.5 was a 24-mer that formed a hollow sphere with octahedral symmetry. Mj HSP16.5 was very stable at pH 7 that it maintained the 24-mer structure even at 85 °C. In the present study, we investigated the unfolding process of Mj HSP16.5 in the presence of denaturants using several techniques, including circular dichroism (CD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy, and size exclusive chromatography (SEC). We found that 8 mol·L⁻¹ urea had no obvious effect on the structure of Mj HSP16.5 at pH 7. The unfolding of Mj HSP16.5 at pH 7 in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride (GdHCl) showed hierarchical behavior. Three significant transitions were observed around 2.0, 3.0, and 6.0 mol·L⁻¹ GdHCl at pH 7. ANS (8-anilino-1- naphthalenesulfonic acid) titration results showed that the binding ability of Mj HSP16.5 to ANS decreased gradually as the concentration of GdHCl increased until around 2.0 mol·L⁻¹ GdHCl, indicating surface hydrophobic area change, and this first transition was companioned with precipitation of Mj HSP16.5. Acrylamide quenching of fluorescence showed that the Stern-Volmer constant changed at about 3.0 mol·L⁻¹ GdHCl, indicating changes of the dimeric interface, and this phase transition was companioned with oligomeric state change from 24-mer to small oligomers (4-mer to 8-mer). The last unfolding phase started around 5.0 mol·L⁻¹ GdHCl, with a midpoint of 6.1 mol·L⁻¹ GdHCl, and Mj HSP16.5 was completely unfolded at 7.0 mol·L⁻¹ GdHCl. We also found that Mj HSP16.5 could be quite easily unfolded at pH 3, where it could be completely unfolded in 4.0 mol·L⁻¹ GdHCl.     

Reactivity of Singlet Oxygen Toward Proteins: The Effect of Structure in Basic Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor and in Ribonuclease A

The reactions of singlet oxygen, ¹O₂, with large peptides have been described previously. It was found that even in these systems, which in their native form are generally not supposed to possess a stable structure in solution, the polypeptide does impede the access of ¹O₂ to the amino acids that react readily with ¹O₂. Here we describe the ¹0₂ reaction with two proteins of well-defined structure. The quenching of ¹O₂ by bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and by ribonuclease A (RNase A) was compared to that of a solution at the same concentration as those of its constituent amino acids that react readily with ¹O₂. The proteins were studied in their native form, when partly denatured by splitting their S-S bonds and when fully denatured. It was found that while in the native form the quenching rate constant was seven times lower in BPTI (2.2 vs 15.2 times 10⁷WM^-1 s^-1) and three times lower in RNase A (11.0 vs 32 times 10⁷M^-l s^-1) than in a mixture of its constituent amino acid residues, it increased upon denaturation reaching in the fully denatured state the value of the corresponding amino acid mixture. More striking is the effect of the protein structure when comparing the fraction of the encounters between ¹O₂ and protein, which cause damage to the protein, as reflected in the decrease of its biological activity. This decrease is assumed to be due to the chemical (oxidative) reactions of ¹O₂ in the protein. In the exceptionally stable BPTI the fraction of such encounters was 0.05 and in RNase A it was 0.2, whereas for the amino acid tryptophan in solution, 0.7 of the collisions with ¹O₂ led to a chemical reaction.