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Biomedical subjects

X Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to X Zhang.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Characterization of glycated hemoglobin in diabetic patients: usefulness of electrospray mass spectrometry in monitoring the extent and distribution of glycation.

A combination of chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques was used to evaluate the extent and distribution of glycation within the glycated hemoglobin (GHb) molecule. Studies on quantification of hemoglobin (Hb) glycation by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ES-MS) of intact globins employed specimens from 10 diabetic individuals and five normal controls. Detailed structural analysis of the phenylboronate affinity chromatography/ion-exchange (IE) HPLC-separated sub-populations of GHb was performed on a specimen carrying 13.7% GHb. An efficient protocol for mapping glycation sites within alpha and beta globins was developed, e.g., Glu-C/Asp-N proteolytic digestion followed by LC-ES-MS. Relative site occupancy within discrete components of GHb was evaluated. A correlation between the degree of glycation measured at Hb level (by affinity chromatography) and at globin level (measured by ES-MS) was carried out. The above studies led us to conclude that during the process of phenylboronate chromatography GHb dimers, rather than tetramers, are bound to the affinity resin so a fraction of glycated dimers rather than tetramers is measured. This finding implies that a process of glycation affects a much higher number of native Hb tetramers than was previously contemplated. No glycation sites appear to be missed by phenylboronate affinity chromatography. We have found no evidence of the presence of multiple glycations within a single globin chain. While glycation of both globins within a dimer cannot be excluded, it is unlikely to be a significant phenomenon. According to ES-MS data, an equivalent of about one globin per alphabeta dimer of the affinity chromatography-isolated GHb carried glycation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Determination of molecular self-diffusion coefficient using multiple spin-echo NMR spectroscopy with removal of convection and background gradient artifacts.

A new approach is presented for the measurement of the self-diffusion coefficients of molecules in solution. It has been applied to metabolites in biofluids such as seminal and blood plasma at physiological temperature. The method is based on the double-gradient-spin-echo pulse sequence in which CPMG and bipolar gradient pulses have been implemented. The double-gradient spin-echo is shown to be useful in reducing the thermal convection that can cause over-estimation of the diffusion coefficients. The multiple spin-echoes in association with the CPMG approach is also insensitive to background gradient artifacts. In addition, the CPMG sequence enables longer diffusion periods (up to seconds) to be used without phase distortion; therefore, the proposed method is suitable for determining the diffusion coefficients of small metabolites in biofluids, where the resonances of large molecules, such as proteins, are suppressed during the spin-echo period as a result of their fast relaxation.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2001

A role of PDGFRalpha in basal cell carcinoma proliferation.

Activation of the hedgehog pathway, through the loss of patched (PTC) or the activation of smoothened (SMO), occurs frequently in basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common human cancer. However, the molecular basis of this neoplastic effect is not understood. The downstream molecule Gli1 is known to mediate the biological effect of the pathway and is itself up-regulated in all BCCs. Gli1 can drive the production of BCCs in the mouse when overexpressed in the epidermis. Here we show that Gli1 can activate platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha) in C3H10T(1/2) cells. Functional up-regulation of PDGFRalpha by Gli1 is accompanied by activation of the ras-ERK pathway, a pathway associated with cell proliferation. The relevance of this mechanism in vivo is supported by a high level expression of PDGFRalpha in BCCs of mice and humans. In the murine BCC cell line ASZ001, in which both copies of the PTC gene are inactivated, DNA synthesis and cell proliferation can be slowed by re-expression of PTC, which down-regulates PDGFRalpha expression, or by downstream inhibition of PDGFRalpha with neutralizing antibodies. Therefore, we conclude that increased expression of PDGFRalpha may be an important mechanism by which mutations in the hedgehog pathway cause BCCs.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Suppressor of fused negatively regulates beta-catenin signaling.

Suppressor of fused (Su(fu)) is a negative regulator of the Hedgehog signaling pathway that controls the nuclear-cytoplasmic distribution of Gli/Ci transcription factors through direct protein-protein interactions. We show here that Su(fu) is present in a complex with the oncogenic transcriptional activator beta-catenin and functions as a negative regulator of T-cell factor (Tcf)-dependent transcription. Overexpression of Su(fu) in SW480 (APC(mut)) colon cancer cells in which beta-catenin protein is stabilized leads to a reduction in nuclear beta-catenin levels and in Tcf-dependent transcription. This effect of Su(fu) overexpression can be blocked by treatment of these cells with leptomycin B, a specific inhibitor of CRM1-mediated nuclear export. Overexpression of Su(fu) suppresses growth of SW480 (APC(mut)) tumor cells in nude mice. These observations indicate that Su(fu) negatively regulates beta-catenin signaling and that CRM-1-mediated nuclear export plays a role in this regulation. Our results also suggest that Su(fu) acts as a tumor suppressor.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed2001

A role for highly conserved carboxylate, aspartate-140, in oxygen activation and heme degradation by heme oxygenase-1.

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the oxygen-dependent degradation of heme to biliverdinIXalpha, CO, and free iron ion via three sequential monooxygenase reactions. Although the distinct active-site structure of HO from cytochrome P450 families suggests unique distal protein machinery to activate molecular oxygen, the mechanism and the key amino acid for the oxygen activation have not been clear. To investigate the functionality of highly conserved polar amino acids in the distal helix of HO-1, we have prepared alanine mutants: T135A, R136A, D140A, and S142A, and found drastic changes in the heme degradation reactions of D140A. In this paper, we report the first evidence that D140 is involved in the oxygen activation mechanism in HO-1. The heme complexes of HO mutants examined in this study fold and bind heme normally. The pK(a) values of the iron-bound water and autoxidation rates of the oxy-form are increased with R136A, D140A, and S142A mutations, but are not changed with T135A mutation. As the wild-type, T135A, R136A, and S142A degrade heme to verdohemeIXalpha with H(2)O(2) and to biliverdinIXalpha with the NADPH reductase system. On the other hand, D140A heme complex forms compound II with H(2)O(2), and no heme degradation occurs. For the NADPH reductase system, the oxy-form of D140A heme complex is accumulated in the reaction, and only 50% of heme is degraded. The stopped flow experiments suggest that D140A cannot activate iron-bound dioxygen and hydroperoxide properly. To investigate the carboxylate functionality of D140, we further replaced D140 with glutamic acid (D140E), phenylalanine (D140F), and asparagine (D140N). D140E degrades heme normally, but D140N shows reactivity similar to that of D140A. D140F loses heme degradation activity completely. All of these results indicate that the carboxylate at position 140 is essential to activate the iron-bound dioxygen and hydroperoxide. On the basis of the present findings, we propose an oxygen activation mechanism involving the hydrogen-bonding network through the bridging water and D140 side chain.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Research of cloning, expression of human endostatin gene and its inhibition effects to the glioma in vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To clone human endostatin gene, detect its biological activities of endostatin protein and use it to cure human SHG44 gliomas of nude mice in vivo. METHODS: The mRNA from the human liver tissue was extracted. And the functional fragment of endostatin gene was amplified by RT-PCR. It was cloned into pUC19 and sequenced according to Dye primer sequencing kit. The non-fusion expression vector pDH-endo was constructed. The recombinant human endostatin gene was expressed in DH5alphaat the condition of temperature induction. The protein activities were tested by Chicken Chorio-Allantoic Membrane (CAM) assay and endothelial cell proliferation inhibitory assay. Endostatin protein was applied to the nude mice through hypodermic injection in order to cure the SHG44 glioma. RESULTS: The acquired endostatin gene is 551 bp, its sequence is correct and the expressed protein is 20 kDa. The protein possesses the anti-angiogenesis activity. Hypodermic injection of endostatin at the dose of 5 mg/kg/d, 10 mg/kg/d or 20 mg/kg/d can inhibit the human glioma angiogenesis and tumor growth(the inhibition rate of the tumor are seperately 34.5%, 76.1% and 80.2%). CONCLUSION: The cloning, expression and preliminary application of human endostatin protein lay the foundation for the antiangiogenesis therapy of glioma and the other solid tumors.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed2001

[Treatment of dyskinetic disorders with tremor by lesioning and DBS of Vim].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of stereotactic operation in treatment of dyskinetic disorders with tremor as the main symptom and to study the value of anatomic location and microelectrode functional location. METHODS: Surgiplan system and microelectrode direction technique were used to locate the Vim, and then target lesioning and deep brain simulation (DBS) were performed in 22 patients with dyskinetic disorders with tremor. After the operation, a follow-up was conducted for 6 approximately 12 months. RESULTS: After the operation, tremor disappeared in 21 patients and hypermyotonia was improved in 13 cases. During the follow-up tremor completely disappeared in 18 patients, including 3 cases treated with DBS, was markedly alleviated in 3 cases and was slightly improved in one case. Typical cell firing at tremor was recorded in 17 cases during the operation. CONCLUSION: The surgiplan system and microelectrode recording technique play an important role in location of Vim. Accurate location is crucial for success of operation. The curative effect of DBS is similar as lesioning operation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Crystal structure of ClF(4)(+)SbF(6)(-), normal coordinate analyses of ClF(4)(+), BrF(4)(+), IF(4)(+), SF(4), SeF(4), and TeF(4), and simple method for calculating the effects of fluorine bridging on the structure and vibrational spectra of ions in a strongly interacting ionic solid.

The crystal structure of the 1:1 adduct ClF(5).SbF(5) was determined and contains discrete ClF(4)(+) and SbF(6)(-) ions. The ClF(4)(+) cation has a pseudotrigonal bipyramidal structure with two longer and more ionic axial bonds and two shorter and more covalent equatorial bonds. The third equatorial position is occupied by a sterically active free valence electron pair of chlorine. The coordination about the chlorine atom is completed by two longer fluorine contacts in the equatorial plane, resulting in the formation of infinite zigzag chains of alternating ClF(4)(+) and cis-fluorine bridged SbF(6)(-) ions. Electronic structure calculations were carried out for the isoelectronic series ClF(4)(+), BrF(4)(+), IF(4)(+) and SF(4), SeF(4), TeF(4) at the B3LYP, MP2, and CCSD(T) levels of theory and used to revise the previous vibrational assignments and force fields. The discrepancies between the vibrational spectra observed for ClF(4)(+) in ClF(4)(+)SbF(6)(-) and those calculated for free ClF(4)(+) are largely due to the fluorine bridging that compresses the equatorial F-Cl-F bond angle and increases the barrier toward equatorial-axial fluorine exchange by the Berry mechanism. A computationally simple model, involving ClF(4)(+) and two fluorine-bridged HF molecules at a fixed distance as additional equatorial ligands, was used to simulate the bridging in the infinite chain structure and greatly improved the fit between observed and calculated spectra.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Functional importance of Stat3 tetramerization in activation of the alpha 2-macroglobulin gene.

A tetrameric Stat3 complex was found to be essential in transfection experiments for maximal interleukin-6-inducible activation of alpha2-macroglobulin gene promoter. Stable tetramer formation of purified phosphorylated Stat3 was dependent on protein.protein interaction involving the N-terminal domain of Stat3. The functional importance of tetramer formation was shown by the decreased levels of transcriptional activation associated with hypomorphic mutations in N-terminal residues.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2001

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF)2 represses the T helper cell type 2 response through interaction with NFAT-interacting protein (NIP45).

Recently we have identified a novel protein NIP45 (nuclear factor of activated T cells [NFAT]-interacting protein) which substantially augments interleukin (IL)-4 gene transcription. The provision of NIP45 together with NFAT and the T helper cell type 2 (Th2)-specific transcription factor c-Maf to cells normally refractory to IL-4 production, such as B cells or Th1 clones, results in substantial IL-4 secretion to levels that approximate those produced by primary Th2 cells. In studies designed to further our understanding of NIP45 activity, we have uncovered a novel facet of IL-4 gene regulation. We present evidence that members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) family of proteins, generally known to function as adapter proteins that transduce signals from the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, contribute to the repression of IL-4 gene transcription and that this effect is mediated through their interaction with NIP45.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The distinct roles of T cell-derived cytokines and a novel follicular dendritic cell-signaling molecule 8D6 in germinal center-B cell differentiation.

Germinal center-B (GC-B) cells differentiate into memory B cells and plasma cells (PC) through interaction with T cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDC). Activated T cell and FDC play distinct roles in this process. The detailed kinetic experiments revealed that cytokines secreted by activated T cells determined the pathway of GC-B cell differentiation. IL-4 directs GC-B cells to differentiate into memory B cells, whereas IL-10 steers them into PC. FDC/HK cells do not direct either pathway, but provide signals for proliferation of GC-B cells. A novel FDC-signaling molecule 8D6 (FDC-SM-8D6) produced by FDC augments PC generation in the GC. FDC-SM-8D6-specific mAb blocked PC generation and IgG secretion but not memory B cell proliferation. COS cells expressing FDC-SM-8D6 enhanced GC-B cell proliferation and Ab secretion, which was blocked by mAb 8D6. In the cultures with B cell subsets, PC generation was inhibited by mAb 8D6 in the cultures with CD27(+) B cells but not in the culture with CD27(-) B cells, suggesting that CD27(+) PC precursor is the specific target of FDC-SM-8D6 stimulation.

Antibodies, Blocking↗
PubMed2001

Microscopic approach for the site distribution and thermodynamic properties of a single-component polymer subjected to an external field.

A microscopic statistical mechanics approach is proposed for a nonuniform single-component freely jointed tangential hard-sphere polymer in the framework of density-functional theory. The present approach avoids the use of single-chain simulation in the theory by treating bonding interaction on the basis of the properties of the Dirac delta function. The present excess free energy includes all terms of functional perturbative expansion around the uniform bulk fluid in the form of the Verlet-modified bridge function. The second-order direct correlation function of a uniform polymer melt as the input parameter is obtained by solving numerically the polymer-reference-interaction-site-model integral equation with the Percus-Yevick closure. Predictions of the present approach for such microscopic structural and thermodynamics properties as the site density distribution, the partition coefficient, and the adsorption isotherm near a hard wall or between two hard walls are compared with computer-simulation results and with those of previous theories. The comparison indicates that the present approach is more accurate than the previous integral equation theory and the most accurate Monte Carlo density-functional theories. The predicted oscillations of the medium-induced force between two hard walls immersed in polymer melts are consistent with the experimental results available in the literature. The relation of the present approach with self-consistent-field theory, as well as the differences between the two, are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Differential regulation of chemokine gene expression by 15-deoxy-delta 12,14 prostaglandin J2.

Ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), such as 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2) have been proposed as a new class of antiinflammatory compounds with possible clinical applications. As there is some controversy over the inhibitory effects of 15d-PGJ2 on chemokine gene expression, we investigated whether 15d-PGJ2 itself affected chemokine gene expression in human monocytes/macrophages and two monocytic cell lines. Here we demonstrate that the 15d-PGJ2 can induce IL-8 gene expression. In contrast, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 gene expression was suppressed by 15d-PGJ2, while the expression of RANTES was unaltered. Furthermore, concomitant treatment of monocytes/macrophages with 15d-PGJ2 (2.5 x 10(-6) M) potentiated LPS-induced gene expression of IL-8 mRNA, but suppressed PMA-induction of IL-8 mRNA. In addition, treatment of U937 and THP-1 cells with 15d-PGJ2 also resulted in induction of IL-8 gene expression. Further studies demonstrated that 15d-PGJ2 regulated IL-8 gene expression via a ligand-specific and PPARgamma-dependent pathway. Our observations revealed a previous unappreciated function and mechanism of 15d-PGJ2-mediated regulation of cytokine gene expression in monocytes/macrophages.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2001

Par-4 is a synaptic protein that regulates neurite outgrowth by altering calcium homeostasis and transcription factor AP-1 activation.

Although Par-4 (prostate apoptosis response-4) is involved in initiation of neurodegenerative cascades associated with certain neurodegenerative disorders, normal physiological roles of Par-4 in neurons have remained elusive. It was recently reported that Par-4 protein levels could be regulated at translational level in synaptic terminals following apoptotic insults, suggesting that Par-4 might play a role in synaptic function. We report that Par-4 is a synaptic protein preferably localized in postsynaptic density (PSD). The expression of Par-4 in synaptosome preparations and PSDs are developmentally and regionally regulated. Synaptic Par-4 is enriched in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, but not in the cerebellum. In vitro as well as in vivo experiments demonstrate that the levels of synaptic Par-4 increase as the neurons mature. Overexpression of Par-4 in transfected PC12 cells inhibits nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced cellular differentiation and neurite outgrowth by a mechanism involving aberrant elevation of intracellular calcium levels and suppression of activation of the transcription factor AP-1. The actions of Par-4 were consistently blocked by co-expression of the dominant negative regulator of Par-4 activity (the leucine zipper domain of Par-4). Since the leucine zipper domain of Par-4 (Leu.zip) may mediate protein--protein interactions, the results indicate that the actions of Par-4 require its interaction with other protein(s) or dimerization with itself. These results suggest that Par-4 may play an important role in postsynaptic signal transduction and regulation of cellular pathways associated with cellular differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Identification of Par-4 as a novel synaptic protein may have significant implications in understanding the mechanisms of synaptic functions in physiological and pathological settings.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Co-conformational variability of cyclodextrin complexes studied by induced circular dichroism of azoalkanes.

The solution structures of the beta-cyclodextrin complexes between 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (1) and its 1-isopropyl-4-methyl derivative 2 have been investigated by means of induced circular dichroism (ICD) and MM3-92 force-field calculations, which considered the effect of solvation within a continuum approximation. Of primary interest was the so-called co-conformation of the host-guest complex, i.e., the relative orientation of the guest within the host. A pool of low-energy complex structures, which were located by means of a Monte Carlo simulated annealing routine, was generated to evaluate the dynamic co-conformational variability of the complexes. The ICD effects were calculated for the computed low-energy structures by applying a semiempirical method. The experimental and theoretical ICD as well as the calculated low-energy complex geometries suggest solution co-conformations in which the parent compound 1 adapts a lateral arrangement with the ethano bridge of the guest penetrating deepest into the cavity and the azo group aligning parallel to the plane of the upper rim. In contrast, the alkyl derivative 2 prefers a frontal co-conformation with the isopropyl group penetrating deepest into the cavity and the azo group aligning perpendicular to the plane of the upper rim. The validity of the predictions of the Harata rule regarding the sign and the intensity of the ICD signals for the n(-)pi, n(+)pi, and pipi transition of the azo chromophore in dependence on the complex co-conformation are discussed. With respect to the co-conformational variability of the complexes of the two azoalkanes, it was observed that the nearly spherical guest 1 forms a geometrically better defined complex than the sterically biased, alkyl-substituted derivative 2. This dichotomy is attributed to the largely different modes of binding for azoalkanes 1 and 2. It is concluded that the goodness-of-fit in a host-guest complex cannot be directly related to the "tightness-of-fit".

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Theiler's virus-infected L-selectin-deficient mice have decreased infiltration of CD8(+) T lymphocytes in central nervous system but clear the virus.

Mice with targeted deletion of L-selectin gene (L-sel(-/-)) were used to investigate the role of adhesion molecule in immunologic responses following virus infection in the central nervous system (CNS). L-Sel(-/-) mice from a resistant H-2(b) genetic background and parental wild-type H-2(b) (C57BL/6) mice were infected with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) intracerebrally and the kinetics of virus replication and infiltration of immune cells in the CNS determined. The levels of infectious TMEV, as measured by plaque assay at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after infection were between 4 and 6 log(10) PFU of virus per gram of CNS tissues at days 3 and 7 post-infection, and then decreased to undetectable levels by day 14 after infection in both strains of mice. The L-sel(-/-) mice had decreased numbers of CD8(+) T lymphocytes (17.72%+/-2.4) infiltrating into the CNS at 7 days post-infection when compared to wild-type mice (31.02%+/-7.5). In addition, the L-sel(-/-) mice had significantly lower levels of TMEV-specific serum IgG resulting in lower virus neutralizing activity of the serum when compared to wild-type mice. However, the L-sel(-/-) mice had 2.5-fold increase in B lymphocytes in the CNS (8.29%+/-1.1) when compared to wild-type mice (3.2%+/-0.4). Taken together, these data indicate that L-selectin plays a role in recruitment of B and CD8(+) T lymphocytes into the CNS following virus infection, which, however, did not affect the ability of the mice to clear TMEV infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A structural pathway for activation of the kinesin motor ATPase.

Molecular motors move along actin or microtubules by rapidly hydrolyzing ATP and undergoing changes in filament-binding affinity with steps of the nucleotide hydrolysis cycle. It is generally accepted that motor binding to its filament greatly increases the rate of ATP hydrolysis, but the structural changes in the motor associated with ATPase activation are not known. To identify the conformational changes underlying motor movement on its filament, we solved the crystal structures of three kinesin mutants that decouple nucleotide and microtubule binding by the motor, and block microtubule-activated, but not basal, ATPase activity. Conformational changes in the structures include a disordered loop and helices in the switch I region and a visible switch II loop, which is disordered in wild-type structures. Switch I moved closer to the bound nucleotide in two mutant structures, perturbing water-mediated interactions with the Mg2+. This could weaken Mg2+ binding and accelerate ADP release to activate the motor ATPASE: The structural changes we observe define a signaling pathway within the motor for ATPase activation that is likely to be essential for motor movement on microtubules.

Amino Acid Substitution↗