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A simple method for improving protein solubility and long-term stability.

Increasing a protein concentration in solution to the required level, without causing aggregation and precipitation is often a challenging but important task, especially in the field of structural biology; as little as 20% of nonmembrane proteins have been found to be suitable candidates for structural studies predominantly due to poor protein solubility. We demonstrate here that simultaneous addition of charged amino acids L-Arg and L-Glu at 50 mM to the buffer can dramatically increase the maximum achievable concentration of soluble protein (up to 8.7 times). These amino acids are effective in preventing protein aggregation and precipitation, and they dramatically increase the long-term stability of the sample; additionally, they protect protein samples from proteolytic degradation. Specific protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions are not adversely affected by the presence of these amino acids. These additives are particularly suitable for situations where high protein concentration and long-term stability are required, including solution-state studies of isotopically labeled proteins by NMR.

Animals↗

The UBL domain of PLIC-1 regulates aggresome formation.

Defects in protein folding and the proteasomal pathway have been linked with many neurodegenerative diseases. PLIC-1 (protein linking IAP to the cytoskeleton) is a ubiquitin-like protein that binds to the ubiquitin-interacting motif (UIM) of the proteasomal subunit S5a. Here, we show that PLIC-1 also binds to the UIM proteins ataxin 3--a deubiquitinating enzyme--HSJ1a--a co-chaperone--and EPS15 (epidermal growth factor substrate 15)--an endocytic protein. Using a polyglutamine (polyQ) disease model, we found that both endogenous PLIC-1 and EPS15 localize to perinuclear aggresomes, and that polyQ enhances their in vivo interaction. We show that knockdown of PLIC-1 and EPS15 by RNA interference reduces aggresome formation. In addition, PLIC-1(DeltaUBL) functions as a dominant-negative mutant, blocking both polyQ transport to aggresomes and the association of EPS15 with dispersed aggregates. We also show that PLIC-1 is upregulated by arsenite-induced protein misfolding. These results indicate a role for PLIC-1 in the protein aggregation-stress pathway, and we propose a novel function for the ubiquitin-like (UBL) domain--by means of UBL-UIM interactions--in transport to aggresomes.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Hemagglutinin sequence clusters and the antigenic evolution of influenza A virus.

Continual mutations to the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of influenza A virus generate novel antigenic strains that cause annual epidemics. Using a database of 560 viral RNA sequences, we study the structure and tempo of HA evolution over the past two decades. We detect a critical length scale, in amino acid space, at which HA sequences aggregate into clusters, or swarms. We investigate the spatio-temporal distribution of viral swarms and compare it to the time series of the influenza vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization. We introduce a method for predicting future dominant HA amino acid sequences and discuss its potential relevance to vaccine choice. We also investigate the relationship between cluster structure and the primary antibody-combining regions of the HA protein.

Antibodies↗

Cloning and expression of a gene encoding an integrin-like protein in Candida albicans.

The existence of integrin-like proteins in Candida albicans has been postulated because monoclonal antibodies to the leukocyte integrins alpha M and alpha X bind to blastospores and germ tubes, recognize a candidal surface protein of approximately 185 kDa, and inhibit candidal adhesion to human epithelium. The gene alpha INT1 was isolated from a library of C. albicans genomic DNA by screening with a cDNA probe from the transmembrane domain of human alpha M. The predicted polypeptide (alpha Int1p) of 188 kDa contains several motifs common to alpha M and alpha X: a putative I domain, two EF-hand divalent cation-binding sites, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail with a single tyrosine residue. An internal RGD tripeptide is also present. Binding of anti-peptide antibodies raised to potential extracellular domains of alpha Int1p confirms surface localization in C. albicans blastopores. By Southern blotting, alpha INT1 is unique to C. albicans. Expression of alpha INT1 under control of a galactose-inducible promoter led to the production of germ tubes in haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in the corresponding ste12 mutant. Germ tubes were not observed in haploid yeast transformed with vector alone, in transformants expressing a galactose-inducible gene from Chlamydomonas, or in transformants grown in the presence of glucose or raffinose. Transformants producing alpha Int1p bound an anti-alpha M monoclonal antibody and exhibited enhanced aggregation. Studies of alpha Int1p reveal novel roles for primitive integrin-like proteins in adhesion and in STE12-independent morphogenesis.

Base Sequence↗

Acute isovolemic hemodilution triggers proinflammatory and procoagulatory endothelial activation in vital organs: role of erythrocyte aggregation.

OBJECTIVES: The essential role of erythrocytes as oxygen carriers is historically well established, but their function to aggregate and the consequences on the microcirculation is under debate. The pathogenic potential of low erythrocyte aggregation could be important for patients undergoing on-pump cardipopulmonary bypass. These patients are severely hemodiluted due to preoperative isovolemic hemodilution (IHD), circuit priming, and large fluid infusions perioperatively. Considering the vascular endothelium sensitivity to variations in blood rheology, the authors hypothesize that low erythrocyte aggregation will be responsible for activation of vascular endothelium during acute IHD. METHODS: Acute IHD (30 mL/kg exchange transfusion with colloid solutions) was induced in an "aggregating species"(pigs, n = 15). The hypoxic oxidative stress (plasma malondialdehyde, ex vivo oxygen radicals production in heart, lung, kidney, liver, and ileum tissue biopsies), erythrocyte aggregation (LORCA), and endothelial activation (real-time quantitative RT-PCR on von Willebrand factor (vWF), E- and P-selectins, endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene-expression in tissue biopsies) were investigated. RESULTS: The production of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, measured as H2O2 generation, was similar at all times in sham-operated and hemodiluted animals, proving a maintained oxygen delivery to tissues. Acute IHD was followed by a dramatic drop in erythrocyte aggregation and immediate prothrombotic (significant vWF mRNA upregulation in heart, lungs, kidney, liver, ileum) and proinflammatory (significant E- and P-selectins mRNA upregulation in lungs and ileum) endothelial activation. Low erythrocyte aggregation was significantly correlated with increased mRNA-expression of vWF (heart, liver, ileum) and P-selectin (lungs, ileum, and heart). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that low erythrocyte aggregation might trigger endothelium-dependent thrombogenic and proinflammatory response during acute isovolemic hemodilution.

Animals↗

In vitro development of hypertrophic chondrocytes starting from selected clones of dedifferentiated cells.

Single cells from enzymatically dissociated chick embryo tibiae have been cloned and expanded in fresh or conditioned culture media. A cloning efficiency of approximately 13% was obtained using medium conditioned by dedifferentiated chondrocytes. A cloning efficiency of only 1.4% was obtained when conditioned medium from hypertrophic chondrocytes was used, and efficiencies of essentially 0 were found with fresh medium or medium conditioned by J2-3T3 mouse fibroblasts. Cell clones were selected by morphological criteria and clones showing a dedifferentiated phenotype (fibroblast-like) were further characterized. Out of 38 clones analyzed, 17 were able to differentiate to the hypertrophic chondrocyte stage and reconstitute hypertrophic cartilage when placed in the appropriate culture conditions. Cells from these clones expressed the typical markers of chondrocyte differentiation, i.e., type II and type X collagens. Clones not undergoing differentiation continued to express only type I collagen. Hypertrophic chondrocytes from differentiating clones were analyzed at the single cell level by immunofluorescence; all the cells were positive for type X collagen, while approximately 50% of them showed positivity for type II collagen.

Animals↗

Deep learning-based cell-specific gene regulatory networks inferred from single-cell multiome data.

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) provide a global representation of how genetic/genomic information is transferred in living systems and are a key component in understanding genome regulation. Single-cell multiome data provide unprecedented opportunities to reconstruct GRNs at fine-grained resolution. However, the inference of GRNs is hindered by insufficient single omic profiles due to the characteristic high loss rate of single-cell sequencing data. In this study, we developed scMultiomeGRN, a deep learning framework to infer transcription factor (TF) regulatory networks via unique integration of single-cell genomic (single-cell RNA sequencing) and epigenomic (single-cell ATAC sequencing) data. We create scMultiomeGRN to elucidate these networks by conceptualizing TF network graph structures. Specifically, we build modality-specific neighbor aggregators and cross-modal attention modules to learn latent representations of TFs from single-cell multi-omics. We demonstrate that scMultiomeGRN outperforms state-of-the-art models on multiple benchmark datasets involved in diseases and health. Via scMultiomeGRN, we identified Alzheimer's disease-relevant regulatory network of SPI1 and RUNX1 for microglia. In summary, scMultiomeGRN offers a deep learning framework to identify cell type-specific gene regulatory network from single-cell multiome data.

Deep Learning↗

A density-sensing factor controls development in Dictyostelium.

For an unknown reason, several genes expressed during Dictyostelium development are regulated by cell density. This is mediated by an 80-kD glycoprotein, conditioned medium factor (CMF), which is slowly secreted and simultaneously sensed by starved cells. To examine further this eukaryotic cell density-sensing mechanism, we have isolated a cDNA encoding CMF. The derived amino acid sequence of CMF shows no obvious similarity to any known protein and thus may represent a new class of eukaryotic intercellular signal. CMF antisense transformants do not aggregate, whereas normal development is restored by the addition of purified CMF protein. This suggests that CMF might synchronize the onset of development in Dictyostelium by triggering aggregation when a majority of the cells in a given area have starved, as signaled by CMF secretion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential role of Sp100 isoforms in interferon-mediated repression of herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate-early protein expression.

Nuclear domains called ND10 or PML nuclear bodies contain interferon (IFN)-upregulated proteins like PML and Sp100. Paradoxically, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) begins its transcriptional cascade at aggregates of ND10-associated proteins, which in turn are destroyed by the HSV-1 immediate-early protein ICP0. While PML is essential in the formation of ND10, the function of Sp100 in the cells' defense against viral infection is unknown. In this study we investigated the potential antiviral effect of IFN-beta-induced Sp100. We found that IFN-beta treatment leads to a differential accumulation of four Sp100 isoforms in different cell lines. Using an HEK293 cell line derivative, 293-S, producing no detectable amounts of Sp100 even after IFN exposure, we analyzed individual Sp100 isoforms for their effect on HSV-1 infection. Sp100 isoforms B, C, and HMG, but not Sp100A, suppressed ICP0 and ICP4 early after infection. Isoforms B, C, and HMG suppressed expression from the ICP0 promoter in transient transfection, whereas Sp100A enhanced expression. Moreover, Sp100A localized in ND10, whereas the repressive isoforms were either dispersed within the nucleus or, at unphysiologically higher expression levels, formed new aggregates. The repressive activity was dependent on an intact SAND domain, since Sp100B bearing a W655Q mutation in the SAND domain lost this repressive activity and accumulated in ND10. Using RNA interference to knock down the repressive Sp100 isoforms B, C, and HMG, we find that they are an essential part of the IFN-beta-mediated suppression of ICP0 expression. These data suggest that repression by the Sp100 isoforms B, C, and HMG takes place outside of ND10 and raise the possibility that viral genomes at Sp100A accumulations are more likely to start their transcription program because of a more permissive local environment.

Antigens, Nuclear↗

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate prevents the glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of insulin gene expression in rodent islet cells.

Dexamethasone negatively regulates insulin gene expression in HIT-15 cells. In vivo, however, an excess of glucocorticoids results in an increase in insulin biosynthesis and peripheral hyperinsulinemia. To resolve this contradiction, we have studied the effects of dexamethasone in primary rat islet cells. We show here that dexamethasone decreases insulin mRNA levels in single islet cells, as in HIT-15 cells, but does not affect these levels in reaggregated islet cells and increases them in intact islets of Langerhans. Because cAMP is an important regulator of insulin gene expression and intracellular cAMP content may be decreased in single beta cells, we investigated whether cAMP could prevent the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on insulin mRNA levels. In the presence of cAMP analogues, the inhibitory action of dexamethasone was not only prevented, but insulin mRNA increased to levels comparable to those observed when cAMP analogues were used alone. We conclude that the insulin gene is negatively regulated by dexamethasone in single islet cells, but that other factors such as cAMP prevent this effect when the native environment of islet cells is preserved. Our results indicate that insulin gene regulation is influenced by cell to cell contacts within the islet, and that intracellular cAMP levels might be influential in this regulation.

Animals↗

Inhibition of cultured cell growth by vascular endothelial cadherin (cadherin-5/VE-cadherin).

Endothelial cell proliferation is inhibited by the establishment of cell to cell contacts. Adhesive molecules at junctions could therefore play a role in transferring negative growth signals. The transmembrane protein VE-cadherin (vascular endothelial cadherin/cadherin-S) is selectively expressed at intercellular clefts in the endothelium. The intracellular domain interacts with cytoplasmic proteins called catenins that transmit the adhesion signal and contribute to the anchorage of the protein to the actin cytoskeleton. Transfection of VE-cadherin in both Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and L929 cells confers inhibition of cell growth. Truncation of VE-cadherin cytoplasmic region, responsible for linking catenins, does not affect VE-cadherin adhesive properties but abolishes its effect on cell growth. Seeding human umbilical vein endothelial cells or VE-cadherin transfectants on a recombinant VE-cadherin amino-terminal fragment inhibited their proliferation. These data show that VE-cadherin homotypic engagement at junctions participates in density dependent inhibition of cell growth. This effect requires both the extracellular adhesive domain and the intracellular catenin binding region of the molecule.

Animals↗

Expression of Eph receptors and ephrins is differentially regulated by E-cadherin.

E-cadherin is the main cell adhesion molecule of early embryonic and adult epithelial cells. Downregulation of E-cadherin is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition during embryonic mesoderm formation and tumor progression. To identify genes whose expression is affected by the loss of E-cadherin, we compared mRNA expression patterns between wild-type and E-cadherin null mutant embryonic stem (ES) cells. We found that expression of several Eph receptors and ephrins is dependent on E-cadherin. Rescue of E-cadherin null ES cells with E-cadherin cDNA restores the wild-type expression pattern of Eph family members. Rescue of E-cadherin null ES cells with N-cadherin cDNA does not restore the wild-type expression pattern, indicating that the regulation of differential expression of Eph family members is specific to E-cadherin. Constitutive ectopic expression of E-cadherin in non-epithelial NIH3T3 cells results in the production of the EphA2 receptor. In epithelial cells, E-cadherin is required for EphA2 receptor localization at cell-cell contacts; in the absence of functional E-cadherin, EphA2 localizes to the perinuclear region. Our results indicate that E-cadherin may be directly or indirectly required for the membrane localization of Eph receptors and their membrane-bound ligands.

Cadherins↗

Rapid and large-scale formation of chondrocyte aggregates by rotational culture.

Chondrocytes in articular cartilage synthesize collagen type II and large sulfated proteoglycans, whereas the same cells cultured in monolayer (2D) dedifferentiate into fibroblastic cells and express collagen type I and small proteoglycans. On the other hand, a pellet culture system was developed as a method for preventing the phenotypic modulation of chondrocytes and promoting the redifferentiation of dedifferentiated ones. Because the pellet culture system forms only one cell aggregate each tube by a centrifugator, the pellet could not be applied to produce a tissue-engineered cartilage. Therefore, we tried to form chondrocyte aggregates by a rotational culture, expecting to form a large number of aggregates at once. In order to increase cell-cell interactions and decrease chondrocyte-material interaction, dishes with low retention of protein adsorption and cell adhesiveness were used. In addition, rotational shaking of the dish including cells was attempted to increase the cell-cell interaction. The shaking speed was set at 80 rpm, so the cells would be distributed in the center of the dish to augment the frequency of cell-cell contact. Under these conditions, bovine articular chondrocytes started aggregating in a few hours. At 24-36 h of rotational culture, aggregates with smooth surfaces were observed. Parameters such as increase of culture time and addition of TGF-beta controlled diameters of the aggregates. There were many fusiform cells at the periphery of the aggregates, where the cells tended to form a multilayered zone in cross sections. In addition, lacune-like structure, which was almost the same as pellet culture, was observed. It was found that the internal structure of the aggregates was similar to that of pellets reported previously. Therefore, the aggregates formed by a rotational culture could become an essential component to make tissue-engineered artificial cartilage.

Animals↗

[Application of gene sequence cluster in research for H3 antigenic evolution of influenza A virus].

OBJECTIVE: Gene sequence data were clustered to explore evolution lineages of H3 antigen of influenza A virus. METHODS: All data of H3 RNA sequence in NCBI Genbank and Influenza sequence database were downloaded and aligned in ClustalX while two step cluster method were applied to explore the data. RESULTS: All sequences were aggregated into ten clusters, while seven of them mainly were human virus. Human virus and avian/other mammal virus were separated into different clusters distinctively, but coexisted into same clusters with swine virus. Time and host distribution were very distinctive in these clusters, but no geographic distribution features were found. CONCLUSION: With the interaction of human immunity system, H3 antigen mutated significantly every 5 - 7 years, and the speed of mutation had accelerated with the application of influenza vaccines in recent years. Mean while, human and swine influenza virus were not separated distinctly between clusters indicating that they had short inheritance distance. Result showed again that swine served as the mixer for antigenic recombination of different influenza virus.

Antigenic Variation↗

Different conformations of the 3' termini of initiator and elongator transfer ribonucleic acids. An EPR study.

The 3' ends of transfer ribonucleic acids were covalently labeled with a nitroxide spin label. The 3' end of initiator tRNA (tRNAMetf) from Escherichia coli shows different motional behavior than the 3' terminus of elongator tRNAs as monitored by EPR. The line shapes of the EPR spectra are quite sensitive to the buffer conditions, as shown by measurements in 4 different buffers. The data are consistent with a constrained or folded back 3' terminus in the initiator tRNA as opposed to the freely rotating elongator 3' terminus. The EPR spectra are also sensitive to aggregation of the tRNA.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

Plasmin-induced proteolysis of tenascin-C: modulation by T lymphocyte-derived urokinase-type plasminogen activator and effect on T lymphocyte adhesion, activation, and cell clustering.

Proteolysis and remodeling of the extracellular matrix occur physiologically in processes such as tissue morphogenesis and repair and may participate in the regulation of complex cell functions, including proliferation and differentiation. While matrix degradation appears to be relevant to T lymphocyte migration through tissues, little is known about whether degraded matrix affects T lymphocyte function. We have studied the interaction between T lymphocytes and tenascin-C (TN-C), a matrix protein we have previously reported to inhibit T lymphocyte activation, in the context of plasmin-induced degradation. Here we report that plasmin efficiently cleaves TN-C. Peripheral blood T lymphocytes stimulated with phorbol ester, anti-CD28, or anti-CD3 Ab, induce, within 24 to 48 h, a strong plasminogen-dependent proteolysis of TN-C. We demonstrate that stimulated T lymphocytes activate plasminogen by secreting the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). Plasminogen activation by T lymphocyte-derived u-PA occurs efficiently in fluid phase in the absence of cells. We investigate the consequences of plasmin-induced proteolysis on three of the effects of TN-C in relation to lymphocyte functions. Plasmin proteolysis converts TN-C from a nonadhesive into an adhesive substrate for T lymphocytes and abolishes its aggregating activity on PBMC. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of TN-C on T lymphocyte activation remains unaffected. These observations demonstrate that stimulated T lymphocytes induce plasminogen-dependent proteolysis of TN-C by secreting u-PA and suggest that proteolysis of TN-C may represent a mechanism by which to regulate some of its effects on T lymphocyte functions.

Cell Adhesion↗

Drug targeting of HIV-1 RNA.DNA hybrid structures: thermodynamics of recognition and impact on reverse transcriptase-mediated ribonuclease H activity and viral replication.

RNA degradation via the ribonuclease H (RNase H) activity of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) is a critical component of the reverse transcription process. In this connection, mutations of RT that inactivate RNase H activity result in noninfectious virus particles. Thus, interfering with the RNase H activity of RT represents a potential vehicle for the inhibition of HIV-1 replication. Here, we demonstrate an approach for inhibiting the RNase H activity of HIV-1 RT by targeting its RNA.DNA hybrid substrates. Specifically, we show that the binding of the 4,5-disubstituted 2-deoxystreptamine aminoglycosides, neomycin, paromomycin, and ribostamycin, to two different chimeric RNA-DNA duplexes, which mimic two distinct intermediates in the reverse transcription process, inhibits specific RT-mediated RNase H cleavage, with this inhibition being competitive in nature. UV melting and isothermal titration calorimetry studies reveal a correlation between the relative binding affinities of the three drugs for each of the chimeric RNA-DNA host duplexes and the relative extents to which the drugs inhibit RT-mediated RNase H cleavage of the duplexes. Significantly, this correlation also extends to the relative efficacies with which the drugs inhibit HIV-1 replication. In the aggregate, our results highlight a potential strategy for AIDS chemotherapy that should not be compromised by the unusual genetic diversity of HIV-1.

Aminoglycosides↗