A proteomic approach based on multiple parallel separation for the unambiguous identification of an antibody cognate antigen

Autoantibodies obtained from cancer patients have been identified as useful tools for cancer diagnostics, prognostics, and as potential targets for immunotherapy. Serological proteome analysis in combination with 2‐DE is a classic strategy for identification of tumor‐associated antigens in the serum of cancer patients. However, serological proteome analysis cannot always indicate the true antigen out of a complex proteome identified from a single protein spot because the most abundant protein is not always the most antigenic. To address this problem, we utilized multiple parallel separation (MPS) for proteome separation. The common identities present in the fractions obtained using different separation methods were regarded as the true antigens. The merit of our MPS technique was validated using anti‐ARPC2 and anti‐PTEN antibodies. Next, we applied the MPS technique for the identification of glycyl‐tRNA synthetase as the cognate antigen for an autoantibody that was overexpressed in the plasma of breast cancer patients. These results reveal that MPS can unambiguously identify an antibody cognate antigen by reducing false‐positives. Therefore, MPS could be used for the characterization of diagnostic antibodies raised in laboratory animals as well as autoantibodies isolated from diseased patients.     

A new 2-arylbenzofuran with antioxidant activity from the black colored rice (Oryza sativa L.) bran

From the black colored rice bran of Oryza sativa cv. Heugjinjubyeo, a new 2-arylbenzofuran, 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4,6-dihydroxybenzofuran-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester, oryzafuran (1), was isolated. Its structure has been elucidated on the basis of spectral data. This compound showed strong antioxidative activity in a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay.     

Effect of functional groups on the solubilities of coumarin derivatives in supercritical carbon dioxide

Summary Solubilities in supercritical CO₂ of coumarin, four monosubstituted coumarin derivatives (4-hydroxycoumarin, 7-hydroxycoumarin, 7-methoxycoumarin, and 7-methylcoumarin) and four disubstituted derivatives, (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin, 7-hydroxycoumarin-4-acetic acid, 7-methoxycoumarin-4-acetic acid, and 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin) were measured in the temperature range 35–50 °C and the pressure range 8.5–25 MPa. In general, the substituted coumarin derivatives were less soluble than simple coumarin. It was also found that substitution at the C-4 position of coumarin tended to reduce the solubility more than substitution at the C-7 position. These solubility data are essential for the systematic application of SFE and SFC of coumarin derivatives from plant sources.     

Blockade of translationally controlled tumor protein attenuated the aggressiveness of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and ameliorated collagen-induced arthritis

Histamine releasing factor/translationally controlled tumor protein (HRF/TCTP) stimulates cancer progression and allergic responses, but the role of HRF/TCTP in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains undefined. In this study, we explored the pathogenic significance of HRF/TCTP and evaluated the therapeutic effects of HRF/TCTP blockade in RA. HRF/TCTP transgenic (TG) and knockdown (KD) mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) were used to determine the experimental phenotypes of RA. HRF/TCTP levels in the sera of RA patients were measured and compared to those from patients with osteoarthritis (OA), ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet’s disease, and healthy controls. HRF/TCTP expression was also assessed in the synovium and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) obtained from RA or OA patients. Finally, we assessed the effects of HRF/TCTP and dimerized HRF/TCTP-binding peptide-2 (dTBP2), an HRF/TCTP inhibitor, in RA-FLSs and CIA mice. Our clinical, radiological, histological, and biochemical analyses indicate that inflammatory responses and joint destruction were increased in HRF/TCTP TG mice and decreased in KD mice compared to wild-type littermates. HRF/TCTP levels in the sera, synovial fluid, synovium, and FLSs were higher in patients with RA than in control groups. Serum levels of HRF/TCTP correlated well with RA disease activity. The tumor-like aggressiveness of RA-FLSs was exacerbated by HRF/TCTP stimulation and ameliorated by dTBP2 treatment. dTBP2 exerted protective and therapeutic effects in CIA mice and had no detrimental effects in a murine tuberculosis model. Our results indicate that HRF/TCTP is a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of RA.Subject terms: Translational research, Autoimmunity     

The enthalpy relaxation of amorphous Fe---Co alloys with metal-metalloid and metal-metal compositions

The enthalpy relaxation behaviour of metal-metalloid type (Fe_0.5Co_50.5)₈₃P₁₇ and metal-metal type (Fe_0.5Co_0.5) _90-Zr10 amorphous alloys was investigated with a DSC measurement. The annealing temperature (T_a) dependence of the annealing-induced reversible enthalpy relaxation evaluated with an endothermic showed the maximum at thesame T_a for the two alloys, but the magnitude of the relaxation was considerably smaller for the (Fe_0.5Co_0.5)₉₀Zr₁₀ alloy. Moreover, it was found that the amorphous (Fe_0.5Co_0.5)₉₀Zr₁₀ alloy has a larger atomic packing density and a higher activation energy of the enthalpy relaxation than the amorphous (Fe_0.5Co_0.5)₈₃P₁₇ alloy. Rhe small enthalpy relaxation and high activation energy for the amorphous (Fe_0.5Co_0.5)₉₀Zr₁₀ alloy were ascribed to the highly packed structure of the metal-metal type amorphous alloy.     

Polymerizations of ethylene and styrene initiated with trisiloxane-bridged dinuclear titanium metallocene/MMAO catalyst systems

Two kinds of the trisiloxane-bridged dinuclear titanium metallocene-type complexes were synthesized. They are monocyclopentadienyl and biscyclopentadienyl dinuclear titanocenes with trisiloxane bridges. The above complexes with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) cocatalyst initiate the polymerizations of ethylene and styrene to produce high-density polyethylene and syndiotactic polystyrene. In addition, a copolymer of ethylene and styrene was obtained.