Biomedical subjects

Z Zhu

Publications and source records attributed to Z Zhu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Anoikis and metastatic potential of cloudman S91 melanoma cells.

Anoikis is a form of apoptosis induced in normal cells as a result of loss of their adhesion to substrate. In the present study, we have tested whether tumor cells are also sensitive to anoikis and whether selection of tumor cells for resistance to anoikis could increase their metastatic ability. In vitro cultured Cloudman S91 melanoma cells are strongly adherent to the plastic. Prevention of their adherence by rocking or by covering culture plates with polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate resulted in induction of anoikis and death of almost all cells. Their death was prevented in the presence of caspase inhibitor Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone. To select anoikis-resistant cells, S91 cells floating in the culture medium were sequentially isolated and transferred for seven generations. As a result, a new subline of S91 cells capable of growing in free cell suspension was selected. These S91 nonadherent (S91Nadh) cells were completely resistant to anoikis and manifested higher metastatic ability than S91Adh cells. Anoikis resistance of S91Nadh cells was not attributable to their resistance to other apoptotic signals in vitro, and they showed no increase in their survival in vivo in the lungs after i.v. inoculation. Increased metastatic potential of the anoikis-resistant S91Nadh cells was associated with various phenotypic changes, including increased proliferation and loss of VLA-4 integrin expression because of down-regulation of the VLA-49alpha (CLD49d) gene. In parallel, they showed a reduction in homotypic aggregation and binding to endothelial cells, increased Matrigel invasiveness, and decreased matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity that paralleled up-regulation of the TIMP-1 gene. S91Nadh cells also manifested changes in cell surface carbohydrates, such as appearance of alpha-galactosyl epitopes as a result of up-regulation of the alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase gene and concomitant reduction in cell membrane sialylation. Thus, selection of S91 melanoma cells for anoikis resistance resulted in an increase in their metastatic potential in parallel with multiple alterations in their phenotypic properties.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Molecular mechanisms associated with Se-allylselenocysteine regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Se-allylselenocysteine (ASC) has been shown to inhibit mammary carcinogenesis in vivo and cell growth in vitro. However, little is known about the molecular events that account for these effects. The goal of the present study was to use a mouse hyperplastic mammary epithelial cell line, TM12, to investigate the underlying mechanism(s) associated with ASC regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Cells were treated with 50 microM ASC and assessed after 3, 6 and 12 h of exposure. A significant inhibition of cell proliferation, as measured by BrdU incorporation into DNA, was observed within 3 h of ASC treatment. This inhibitory effect was slightly magnified at the later time points. The induction of apoptosis was also rapid, and progressed from a 1.3-fold increase at 3 h to a 4.4-fold increase at 12 h. Consistent with these cellular events, the levels of phosphorylated Rb protein were greatly reduced at all times points. The other accompanying changes included increases in P53, P21 and P27. Collectively, the results demonstrate for the first time that ASC is able to cause an immediate response in the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins that favor an arrest in proliferation and an augmentation in apoptosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Soluble recombinant endostatin purified from Escherichia coli: antiangiogenic activity and antitumor effect.

Endostatin is a potent and specific antiangiogenic protein capable of inhibiting the growth of murine and xenotransplanted human tumors. Thus far, however, recombinant endostatin prepared from Escherichia coli is insoluble after purification and therefore inappropriate for clinical settings. A soluble form of endostatin is available from a yeast system with relatively low yield and high cost, which has made it difficult to produce endostatin in quantities sufficient for extensive clinical evaluation. In this study, we developed a protocol to generate soluble recombinant murine endostatin from E. coli at a yield of 150 mg/liter-culture and 99% purity. The in vivo antiangiogenic and antitumor activities of the soluble recombinant endostatin are equally as potent as those of the previously published insoluble form. A similar protocol may be used to produce soluble human endostatin.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed2001

Photochemical generation and matrix-isolation detection of dimethylvinylidene.

We report the spectroscopic characterization of dimethylvinylidene, (CH3)2C=C:, generated within an argon matrix at 14 K from a bisperoxyester precursor. The carbene was identified by comparison of the experimental IR spectrum with vibrational frequencies computed at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. Chemical trapping of the carbene within a 9% CO/Ar matrix to form dimethylpropadienone supports this analysis. Additional products produced during photolysis were identified by comparison to the appropriate computed vibrational frequencies. The potential energy surface of dimethylvinylidene and its intramolecular rearrangement products, 2-butyne and methylcyclopropene, were also investigated computationally at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. A spin-state analysis of this carbene using a variety of computational methods (CCSD(T), B3LYP, MP2) indicates the singlet state is more stable than the triplet by approximately 45 kcal mol-1. We anticipate the bisperoxyester precursor used here will be a convenient and general way for initiating future studies of alkylvinylidenes under matrix-isolation conditions.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Human kallikrein 2 (hK2), but not prostate-specific antigen (PSA), rapidly complexes with protease inhibitor 6 (PI-6) released from prostate carcinoma cells.

Human kallikrein 2 (hK2) is a secreted, trypsin-like protease that shares 80% amino acid sequence identity with prostate-specific antigen (PSA). hK2 has been shown to be a serum marker for prostate cancer and may also play a role in cancer progression and metastasis. We have previously identified a novel complex between human kallikrein 2 (hK2) and protease inhibitor 6 (PI-6) in prostate cancer tissue. PI-6 is an intracellular serine protease inhibitor with both antitrypsin and antichymotrypsin activity. In the current study we have shown that PI-6 forms a rapid in vitro complex with hK2 but does not complex with PSA. Recombinant mammalian cells expressing both hK2 and PI-6 showed hK2-PI-6 complex in the spent media only after cell death and lysis. Similarly, LNCaP cells expressing endogenous hK2 and PI-6 showed extracellular hK2-PI-6 complex formation concurrently with cell death. Immunostaining of prostate cancer tissues with PI-6 monoclonal antibodies showed a marked preferential staining pattern in cancerous epithelial cells compared with noncancerous tissue. These results indicate that the hK2-PI-6 complex may be a naturally occurring marker of tissue damage and necrosis associated with neoplasia. Both hK2 and PI-6 were shed into the lumen of prostate cancer glands as granular material that appeared to be cellular necrotic debris. The differential staining pattern of PI6 in tissues suggests a complex regulation of PI-6 expression that may play a role in other aspects of neoplastic progression.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2001

Analysis of the factors influencing the therapeutic effects of onychomycosis.

In order to improve the curative effect of onychomycosis, the factors influencing the therapeutic effects were investigated. 545 cases including 245 males and 300 females, who were diagnosed both clinically and mycologically, were treated by Intraconazole with intermittent pulse therapy. The therapeutic effects were judged by the following observations regularly and analyzed from the factors as follows: age; growing speed of nails; accompanied diseases; family history; trauma of nails; infection ways of the pathogens; manifestation of the injury; pathogens; duration of the treatment. The results showed that the recovery rate was higher in younger patients (P < 0.01) with a quicker recovery rate (P < 0.001), and a lower recurrent rate (P < 0.01), as well as in those with quicker growing speed of new-born nail. Also the patients with WSO and DLSO manifestation had a higher recovery rate. The patients with onychomycosis caused by T. rubrum had a higher recovery rate (P < 0.01 to 0.001) no matter whether to prolong the treatment duration. The patients with diabetes mellitus or hyperhidrosis, as well as with positive family history or basic nail diseases such as trauma and paronychia, had a lower recovery rate and the curative effects were not satisfactory. It was concluded that although the single and some DLSO-manifestation nail injury could be cured by internal and external treatments with the help of removing the sick nail and the duration of the treatment could be shortened. The treatment duration should be prolonged in order to increase the curative effects and decrease the recurrence under such conditions as following: old patients above 60 years; patients with low-growing-speed new-borne nails; patients with thumb and big toel injury and ingrowing nail; patients with diabetes mellitus, hyperhidrosis or Renauld's phenomenon; patients with nail trauma before or during the treatment; patients with PSO or TDO manifestation; patients with onychomycosis caused by Candida or Aspergillus; patients with abnormal new-borne nails of abnormal color, coarse surface or abnormal thickness.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

The study on the relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor and proteinuria in adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats.

To study the relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proteinuria in adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats, a rat model of adriamycin-induced nephrotitis was developed by injection of adriamycin into a tail vein in a rat. At different time points, 24-h urinary protein excretion was measured by using Coomassie brilliant blue method and the serum VEGF levels detected by using ELISA assay. The interventional effect of VEGF on this model was observed. The results showed that: (1) The adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome rat model was developed successfully; (2) Serum VEGF levels and proteinuria were significantly increased at 7th day after intravenous injection of adriamycin. There was a positive correlation between serum VEGF levels and 24-h urinary protein excretion (r = 0.67, P < 0.05). (3) The 24-h urinary protein excretion was significantly increased in the rats receiving administration of VEGF (P < 0.05). It was concluded that VEGF might play an important role in the pathogenesis of proteinuria in adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Effects of multinutrient supplementation on antioxidant defense systems in healthy human beings.

Oxidative damage involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetics. The antioxidant defense system plays an important role in protecting body from oxidative damage. Numerous studies have been shown that a single vitamin or mineral supplementation has the beneficial effect on the antioxidant defense system. However, the overall combined effect of multinutrient supplementation on antioxidant defense system remains to be clarified. In the present double blind, placebo-controlled study, the antioxidative defense system was measured in 34 healthy subjects before and after multinutrient supplementation. Plasma vitamin C, E and beta-carotene, erythrocyte vitamin E, as well as whole blood selenium all showed increase at 5 weeks of supplementation. The activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), but not superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as GSH level were significantly increased at 16 weeks of supplementation. Moreover, the resistance of erythrocytes to 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidation was elevated at 5 weeks after supplementation. These results clearly demonstrated that short-term supplementation (16 weeks) with multinutrient could markedly improve antioxidative vitamin status and enzymatic activities. These improvements also led to the reduction of RBC susceptibility to free radial peroxidation.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

A novel and simplified route to the synthesis of N3S chelators for 99mTc labeling.

As one example of a N(3)S chelator, MAG(3) has been used successfully for labeling peptides, proteins, DNAs and other carriers with 99mTc. We now report on a simplified route to the synthesis of N(3)S chelators. As a test of the approach, we have synthesized the succinimidyl ester of S-acetylmercaptoacetyl-(L)-glutamyl(gamma-O-t-Bu)glycylglycolic acid (MAGluG(2)) (thus MAG(3) with a t-butyl protected carboxyl group on the backbone via an ethylene linker) and the succinimidyl ester of S-acetylmercaptoacetyl-phenylalanyl-glycylglycolic acid (MAPheG(2)) (thus MAG(3) with a benzyl group on the backbone). The first chelator was selected to provide a free carboxyl group in the backbone after conjugation to peptides and after t-butyl deprotection whereas the second chelator was selected for its expected lipophilicity. The Fmoc protected NHS ester of the corresponding glutamic acid and phenylalanine were purchased and each was reacted with diglycine followed by Fmoc deprotection to provide the tripeptide. This was reacted with SATA and the NHS ester added via DCC to provide the final NHS ester of MAGluG(2) or MAPheG(2). After purification, both NHS-derivatives were conjugated to HNE2 (a 7 kDa neutrophil elastase inhibitor) as a test polypeptide. In the MAGluG(2) case, t-butyl deprotection was performed after peptide conjugation. Both of the conjugated HNE2 peptides were radiolabeled with 99mTc by transchelation from tartrate as is routine for the labeling of MAG(3)-conjugated carriers. Labeling efficiencies and stability of the chelated 99mTc towards cysteine transchelation were identical for HNE2 labeled via MAGluG(2), MAPheG(2) and MAG(3). A 3 hr biodistribution of 99mTc radiolabels in normal mice showed significant differences between the three labeled HNE2, especially in major organs (liver and kidneys). We conclude that this synthesis route provides a simplified path to the synthesis of N(3)S chelators which in principle may be used to incorporate any natural or unnatural amino acid.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Allium chemistry: synthesis, natural occurrence, biological activity, and chemistry of Se-alk(en)ylselenocysteines and their gamma-glutamyl derivatives and oxidation products.

Syntheses are reported for gamma-glutamyl Se-methylselenocysteine (Sa), selenolanthionine (16), Se-1-propenylselenocysteine (Gd), Se-2-methyl-2-propenyl-L-selenocysteine (6e), and Se-2-propynyl-L-selenocysteine (6f). Oxidation of 8a and Se-methylselenocysteine (Ga) gives methaneseleninic acid (24), characterized by X-ray crystallography, and dimethyl diselenide (25). Oxidation of Se-2-propenyl-L-selenocysteine (6c) gives allyl alcohol and 3-seleninoalanine (22). Compound 22 is also formed on oxidation of 16 and selenocystine (4). Oxidation of 6d gives 2-[(E,Z)-1-propenylseleno]propanal (36). These oxidations occur by way of selenoxides, detected by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. The natural occurrence of many of the Se-alk(en)ylselenocysteines and their gamma-glutamyl derivatives and oxidation products is discussed. Three homologues of the potent cancer chemoprevention agents 6a and 6c, namely 6d-f, were evaluated for effects on cell growth, induction of apoptosis, and DNA-damaging activity using two murine mammary epithelial cell lines. Although each compound displays a unique profile of activity, none of these compounds (Gd-f) is likely to exceed the chemopreventive efficacy of selenocysteine Se-conjugates Ga and 6c.

Allium↗

PubMed2001

Doc-2/hDab2 expression is up-regulated in primary pancreatic cancer but reduced in metastasis.

SUMMARY: DOC-2/hDab2 (DOC-2) has tumor suppressive functions in ovarian cancer and choriocarcinoma. In these tumors, it negatively influences mitogenic signal transduction of growth factors and blocks ras activity. Pancreatic cancer exhibits a high frequency of K-ras gene mutations; however, it is not known whether DOC-2 expression is altered in these tumors. Therefore, we investigated DOC-2 expression in 22 pancreatic adenocarcinomas and in 6 pancreatic cancer cell lines. Findings in human tumors were compared with normal controls and correlated with clinicopathological data. Additionally, the influence of K-ras on DOC-2 transcription was investigated. Northern blot and Western blot analyses both demonstrated an increase of DOC-2 mRNA and protein levels in primary pancreatic cancers in comparison with normal controls. In situ hybridization showed DOC-2 mRNA expression in the majority of cancer cells of primary tumors, as well as in chronic pancreatitis-like lesions surrounding the cancer mass. Immunohistochemistry mirrored the in situ hybridization findings. In contrast, levels of expression of DOC-2 in lymph node metastases were markedly decreased in comparison with levels in primary tumors. In addition, in 5 metastatic pancreatic cancer cell lines, DOC-2 mRNA and protein levels were low, whereas quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated relatively higher levels in a nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer cell line. In conclusion, DOC-2 is overexpressed in primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma but down-regulated in metastatic disease, suggesting a tumor suppressor function of DOC-2 in the late steps of pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2001

Impaired recruitment of bone-marrow-derived endothelial and hematopoietic precursor cells blocks tumor angiogenesis and growth.

The role of bone marrow (BM)-derived precursor cells in tumor angiogenesis is not known. We demonstrate here that tumor angiogenesis is associated with recruitment of hematopoietic and circulating endothelial precursor cells (CEPs). We used the angiogenic defective, tumor resistant Id-mutant mice to show that transplantation of wild-type BM or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mobilized stem cells restore tumor angiogenesis and growth. We detected donor-derived CEPs throughout the neovessels of tumors and Matrigel-plugs in an Id1+/-Id3-/- host, which were associated with VEGF-receptor-1-positive (VEGFR1+) myeloid cells. The angiogenic defect in Id-mutant mice was due to impaired VEGF-driven mobilization of VEGFR2+ CEPs and impaired proliferation and incorporation of VEGFR1+ cells. Although targeting of either VEGFR1 or VEGFR2 alone partially blocks the growth of tumors, inhibition of both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 was necessary to completely ablate tumor growth. These data demonstrate that recruitment of VEGF-responsive BM-derived precursors is necessary and sufficient for tumor angiogenesis and suggest new clinical strategies to block tumor growth.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

TPH and suicidal behavior: a study in suicide completers.

An association between the gene that codes for tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)-the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of serotonin-and suicidal behavior has been investigated with some detail in samples of living subjects who attempted suicide. In this study, we investigated TPH and suicide completion, the most severe form of suicidal behavior. A relatively large sample of suicide completers (n = 101) was genotyped at three TPH loci (two polymorphisms in the promoter region, A-6526G and G-5806T, and one in intron 7, A218C) and compared to psychiatrically normal living controls (n = 129). Although no significant differences were found between groups for genetic variation at single loci, haplotype analysis revealed that one haplotype (-6526G -5806T 218C) was significantly more frequent among suicide cases than in normal controls (chi(2) = 11.30, df = 2, P = 0.0008; OR = 2.0 CI: 1.30-3.6). Further analyses suggested that this haplotype is particularly more frequent among subjects who committed suicide using violent methods. Similar results were observed in recent haplotype analyses in suicide attempters, which found that the equivalent of haplotype -6526G -5806T 218C was more frequent in impulsive attempters (Rotondo et al, Mol Psychiatry 1999; 4: 360-368). Our results replicate in suicide completers previous data observed in suicide attempters. These and other results continue to point to the substantial role that the gene that codes for TPH may play in the neurobiology of suicidal behavior.

Genetic Predisposition to Disease↗

PubMed2001

IL-11: insights in asthma from overexpression transgenic modeling.

The evolution of our understanding of IL-11 mirrors, in many ways, the problems that are faced by investigators in the post-genome era and the types of techniques that might need to be used to deal with these issues. IL-11 was discovered as a soluble factor in fibroblast supernatants that stimulated the proliferation of "IL-6-dependent" plasmacytoma cells. It was subsequently demonstrated to be an important stimulator of platelet reconstitution and a pleiotropic regulator of nonrespiratory tissues. In the lung, IL-11 is produced by a variety of structural cells and eosinophils in response to a variety of stimuli, including TGF-beta, major basic proteins, and viruses. IL-11 is also detected in exaggerated quantities at sites of virus infection. Its potential effector functions at these sites were defined with constitutive and inducible overexpression transgenic modeling systems which demonstrated that IL-11 causes nodular mononuclear infiltrates, airway remodeling with subepithelial fibrosis, airways obstruction, and airways hyperresponsiveness and can block alveolar development when expressed during development. In accord with these murine findings, IL-11 is selectively expressed in eosinophils and epithelial cells in patients with moderate and severe asthma where expression correlates directly with disease severity and inversely with FEV(1). Studies using transgenic mice also demonstrated that IL-11 inhibits antigen-induced tissue inflammation. Thus IL-11 might be an important regulator of inflammatory and remodeling responses in the asthmatic airway.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Elevated F-18 FDG uptake in laryngeal muscles mimicking thyroid cancer metastases.

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) has been used to evaluate early-stage larynx cancer and metastases of thyroid cancer. However, elevated F-18 FDG uptake in laryngeal muscles may lead to misinterpretation. In this report, three patients with thyroid cancer are described who had thyroid surgery 2 months to 1 year before F-18 FDG positron emission tomographic imaging. Various degrees of moderate to intense uptake were observed in their laryngeal regions. In one patient, this was caused by laryngeal muscle uptake. To determine the origin of the increased muscle uptake in the other two patients, the authors analyzed the position and shape of the foci of high uptake in light of the patients' clinical histories and other imaging results.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Different chelators and different peptides together influence the in vitro and mouse in vivo properties of 99Tcm.

Relatively few studies comparing different methods of labelling peptides with 99Tcm have been reported. In this investigation, we evaluated the influence of three chelators on the in vitro and in vivo properties of two small, similar peptides (HNE2 and HNE4) labelled with 99Tcm. Both peptides were labelled with hydrazinonicotinamide (HYNIC) (tricine) at pH 5-6 and with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) at both pH 5-6 and 7-8. All ten preparations were brought to pH 7.2 immediately after labelling. Each preparation labelled well and control labelling showed each label to be attached specifically at chelation sites. Analysis of 37 degrees C human serum incubates showed little evidence of label instability but high protein binding in several cases. The stability of 99Tcm to cysteine challenge for labelled DTPA- and MAG3-peptides was similar but lower than that for the HYNIC-peptides. Reverse phase HPLC of the DTPA-peptides, but not the MAG3-peptides, showed different 99Tcm species depending on labelling pH. The 3 h biodistributions in normal mice were generally independent of labelling pH for both MAG3-peptides but were heavily influenced by labelling pH for both DTPA-peptides. While significant differences in biodistribution for the same labelling method were evident between peptides, as expected, far larger differences in the case of both peptides resulted from changing chelators and, in the case of DTPA, changing the labelling method. In summary, the chelators and labelling methods influenced the biodistribution of 99Tcm in a characteristic fashion common to both peptides. Differences in biodistribution due to the different peptides were relatively small and generally lost in the much larger differences due to chelator and labelling method. In conclusion, it may be important to compare chelators and labelling methods before selecting a 99Tcm labelling method for any particular peptide.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Essential role played by the C-terminal domain of glycoprotein I in envelopment of varicella-zoster virus in the trans-Golgi network: interactions of glycoproteins with tegument.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is enveloped in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Here we report that glycoprotein I (gI) is required within the TGN for VZV envelopment. Enveloping membranous TGN cisternae were microscopically identified in cells infected with intact VZV. These sacs curved around, and ultimately enclosed, nucleocapsids. Tegument coated the concave face of these sacs, which formed the viral envelope, but the convex surface was tegument-free. TGN cisternae of cells infected with VZV mutants lacking gI (gI(Delta)) or its C (gI(DeltaC))- or N-terminal (gI(DeltaN))-terminal domains were uniformly tegument coated and adhered to one another, forming bizarre membranous stacks. Viral envelopment was compromised, and no virions were delivered to post-Golgi structures. The TGN was not gI-immunoreactive in cells infected with the gI(Delta) or gI(DeltaN) mutants, but it was in cells infected with gI(DeltaC) (because the ectodomains of gI and gE interact). The presence in the TGN of gI lacking a C-terminal domain, therefore, was not sufficient to maintain enveloping cisternae. In cells infected with intact VZV or with gI(Delta), gI(DeltaN), or gI(DeltaC) mutants, ORF10p immunoreactivity was concentrated on the cytosolic face of TGN membranes, suggesting that it interacts with the cytosolic domains of glycoproteins. Because of the gE-gI interaction, cotransfected cells that expressed gE or gI were able to target truncated forms of the other to the TGN. Our data suggest that the C-terminal domain of gI is required to segregate viral and cellular proteins in enveloping TGN cisternae.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Genome segment S8 of grass carp hemorrhage virus encodes a virion protein.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome segment S8 of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV) was determined from cDNA corresponding to the viral genomic RNA. It is 1,287 nucleotides in length and contains a large open reading frame that could encode a protein of 409 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 44 kD. The S8 was expressed using the pET fusion protein vector and detected by Western blotting analysis using the chicken egg IgY against intact GCHV particles, indicating that S8 encodes a virion protein. Amino acid sequence comparisons revealed that the protein encoded by S8 is closely related to protein sigma2 of mammalian reovirus, suggesting that the deduced protein of S8 is an inner capsid protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗