Displaying publications 681 - 700 of 1608 in total

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  1. Increased expression and hotspot mutations of the multidrug efflux transporter, CDR1 in azole-resistant Candida albicans isolates from vaginitis patients
    Looi CY, D' Silva EC, Seow HF, Rosli R, Ng KP, Chong PP
    FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2005 Aug 15;249(2):283-9.
    PMID: 16006060
    The aims of our research were to investigate the gene expression of the multidrug efflux transporter, CDR1 and the major drug facilitator superfamily transporter, MDR1 gene in azole drug-resistant Candida albicans and Candida glabrata clinical isolates recovered from vaginitis patients; and to identify hotspot mutations that may be present in the C. albicans CaCDR1 gene that could be associated with drug-resistance. The relative expression of the CDR1 and MDR1 transcripts in ketoconazole and clotrimazole-resistant isolates and drug-susceptible ATCC strains were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Expression of CaCDR1 transcript was upregulated to varying extents in all three azole-resistant C. albicans isolates studied (1.6-, 3.7- and 3.9-fold) and all three C. glabrata isolates tested (at 1.9-, 2.3- and 2.7-fold). The overexpression level of CaCDR1 in the isolates correlated with the degree of resistance as reflected by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the drugs. The messenger RNA for another efflux pump, MDR1, was also overexpressed in one of the azole-resistant C. albicans isolates that overexpressed CDR1. This finding suggests that drug-resistance may involve synergy between energy-dependent drug efflux pumps CDR1p and MDR1p in some but not all isolates. Interestingly, DNA sequence analysis of the promoter region of the CaCDR1 gene revealed several point mutations in the resistant clinical isolates compared to the susceptible isolates at 39, 49 and 151 nucleotides upstream from the ATG start codon. This finding provides new information on point mutations in the promoter region which may be responsible for the overexpression of CDR1 in drug-resistant isolates.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fungal Proteins/genetics*; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics*
  2. Fulltext Identification of Pathways Mediating Growth Differentiation Factor5-Induced Tenogenic Differentiation in Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells
    Tan SL, Ahmad TS, Ng WM, Azlina AA, Azhar MM, Selvaratnam L, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(11):e0140869.
    PMID: 26528540 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140869
    To date, the molecular signalling mechanisms which regulate growth factors-induced MSCs tenogenic differentiation remain largely unknown. Therefore, a study to determine the global gene expression profile of tenogenic differentiation in human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) using growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) was conducted. Microarray analyses were conducted on hMSCs cultures supplemented with 100 ng/ml of GDF5 and compared to undifferentiated hMSCs and adult tenocytes. Results of QuantiGene® Plex assay support the use and interpretation of the inferred gene expression profiles and pathways information. From the 27,216 genes assessed, 873 genes (3.21% of the overall human transcriptome) were significantly altered during the tenogenic differentiation process (corrected p<0.05). The genes identified as potentially associated with tenogenic differentiation were ARHGAP29, CCL2, integrin alpha 8 and neurofilament medium polypeptides. These genes, were mainly associated with cytoskeleton reorganization (stress fibers formation) signaling. Pathway analysis demonstrated the potential molecular pathways involved in tenogenic differentiation were: cytoskeleton reorganization related i.e. keratin filament signaling and activin A signaling; cell adhesion related i.e. chemokine and adhesion signaling; and extracellular matrix related i.e. arachidonic acid production signaling. Further investigation using atomic force microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated apparent cytoskeleton reorganization in GDF5-induced hMSCs suggesting that cytoskeleton reorganization signaling is an important event involved in tenogenic differentiation. Besides, a reduced nucleostemin expression observed suggested a lower cell proliferation rate in hMSCs undergoing tenogenic differentiation. Understanding and elucidating the tenogenic differentiation signalling pathways are important for future optimization of tenogenic hMSCs for functional tendon cell-based therapy and tissue engineering.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/genetics; GTPase-Activating Proteins/genetics
  3. Fulltext The nucleoprotein of influenza A virus induces p53 signaling and apoptosis via attenuation of host ubiquitin ligase RNF43
    Nailwal H, Sharma S, Mayank AK, Lal SK
    Cell Death Dis, 2015 May 21;6:e1768.
    PMID: 25996295 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.131
    The interplay between influenza virus and host factors to support the viral life cycle is well documented. Influenza A virus (IAV) proteins interact with an array of cellular proteins and hijack host pathways which are at the helm of cellular responses to facilitate virus invasion. The multifaceted nature of the ubiquitination pathway for protein regulation makes it a vulnerable target of many viruses including IAV. To this end we conducted a yeast two-hybrid screen to search for cellular ubiquitin ligases important for influenza virus replication. We identified host protein, RING finger protein 43 (RNF43), a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a novel interactor of nucleoprotein (NP) of IAV and an essential partner to induce NP-driven p53-mediated apoptosis in IAV-infected cells. In this study, we demonstrate that IAV leads to attenuation of RNF43 transcripts and hence its respective protein levels in the cellular milieu whereas in RNF43 depleted cells, viral replication was escalated several folds. Moreover, RNF43 polyubiquitinates p53 which further leads to its destabilization resulting in a decrease in induction of the p53 apoptotic pathway, a hitherto unknown process targeted by NP for p53 stabilization and accumulation. Collectively, these results conclude that NP targets RNF43 to modulate p53 ubiquitination levels and hence causes p53 stabilization which is conducive to an enhanced apoptosis level in the host cells. In conclusion, our study unravels a novel strategy adopted by IAV for utilizing the much conserved ubiquitin proteasomal pathway.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics; Oncogene Proteins/genetics
  4. Virulence, Host-Selective Toxin Production, and Development of Three Cochliobolus Phytopathogens Lacking the Sfp-Type 4'-Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase Ppt1
    Zainudin NA, Condon B, De Bruyne L, Van Poucke C, Bi Q, Li W, et al.
    Mol Plant Microbe Interact, 2015 Oct;28(10):1130-41.
    PMID: 26168137 DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-03-15-0068-R
    The Sfp-type 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferase Ppt1 is required for activation of nonribosomal peptide synthetases, including α-aminoadipate reductase (AAR) for lysine biosynthesis and polyketide synthases, enzymes that biosynthesize peptide and polyketide secondary metabolites, respectively. Deletion of the PPT1 gene, from the maize pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus and the rice pathogen Cochliobolus miyabeanus, yielded strains that were significantly reduced in virulence to their hosts. In addition, ppt1 mutants of C. heterostrophus race T and Cochliobolus victoriae were unable to biosynthesize the host-selective toxins (HST) T-toxin and victorin, respectively, as judged by bioassays. Interestingly, ppt1 mutants of C. miyabeanus were shown to produce tenfold higher levels of the sesterterpene-type non-HST ophiobolin A, as compared with the wild-type strain. The ppt1 strains of all species were also reduced in tolerance to oxidative stress and iron depletion; both phenotypes are associated with inability to produce extracellular siderophores biosynthesized by the nonribosomal peptide synthetase Nps6. Colony surfaces were hydrophilic, a trait previously associated with absence of C. heterostrophus Nps4. Mutants were decreased in asexual sporulation and C. heterostrophus strains were female-sterile in sexual crosses; the latter phenotype was observed previously with mutants lacking Nps2, which produces an intracellular siderophore. As expected, mutants were albino, since they cannot produce the polyketide melanin and were auxotrophic for lysine because they lack an AAR.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Fungal Proteins/genetics*
  5. Fulltext Transcription Factor CREB3L1 Regulates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Genes in the Osmotically Challenged Rat Hypothalamus
    Greenwood M, Greenwood MP, Paton JF, Murphy D
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0124956.
    PMID: 25915053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124956
    Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is synthesised in magnocellular neurons (MCNs) of supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. In response to the hyperosmotic stressors of dehydration (complete fluid deprivation, DH) or salt loading (drinking 2% salt solution, SL), AVP synthesis increases in MCNs, which over-burdens the protein folding machinery in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are signaling pathways that improve ER function in response to the accumulation of misfold/unfold protein. We asked whether an ER stress response was activated in the SON and PVN of DH and SL rats. We observed increased mRNA expression for the immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP), activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4), C/EBP-homologous protein (Chop), and cAMP responsive element binding protein 3 like 1 (Creb3l1) in both SON and PVN of DH and SL rats. Although we found no changes in the splicing pattern of X box-binding protein 1 (Xbp1), an increase in the level of the unspliced form of Xbp1 (Xbp1U) was observed in DH and SL rats. CREB3L1, a novel ER stress inducer, has been shown to be activated by ER stress to regulate the expression of target genes. We have previously shown that CREB3L1 is a transcriptional regulator of the AVP gene; however, a role for CREB3L1 in the response to ER stress has yet to be investigated in MCNs. Here, we used lentiviral vectors to introduce a dominant negative form of CREB3L1 (CREB3L1DN) in the rat SON. Expression of CREB3L1DN in the SON decreased Chop and Xbp1U mRNA levels, but not BiP and Atf4 transcript expression. CREB3L1 is thus implicated as a transcriptional mediator of the ER stress response in the osmotically stimulated SON.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics; Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics
  6. Combined detection and genotyping of Chikungunya virus by a specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction
    Hasebe F, Parquet MC, Pandey BD, Mathenge EG, Morita K, Balasubramaniam V, et al.
    J Med Virol, 2002 Jul;67(3):370-4.
    PMID: 12116030
    A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed for the detection of Chikungunya virus infection. Based on the nonstructural protein 1 (nsP1) and glycoprotein E1 (E1) genes of Chikungunya, two primer sets were designed. Total RNA were extracted from the cell culture fluid of Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells inoculated with the S27 prototype virus, isolated in Tanzania in 1953, and the Malaysian strains (MALh0198, MALh0298, and MALh0398), isolated in Malaysia in 1998. For both sets of RNA samples, the expected 354- and 294-base pair (bp) cDNA fragments were amplified effectively from the nsP1 and E1 genes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted for the Malaysian strain and other virus strains isolated from different regions in the world endemic for Chikungunya, using partial E1 gene sequence data. The Malaysian strains isolated during the epidemics of 1998 fell into a cluster with other members of the Asian genotype.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics
  7. Chimeric Newcastle disease virus nucleocapsid with parts of viral hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion proteins
    Rabu A, Tan WS, Kho CL, Omar AR, Yusoff K
    Acta Virol., 2002;46(4):211-7.
    PMID: 12693857
    The nucleocapsid (NP) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) self-assembled in Escherichia coli as ring-like and herringbone-like particles. Several chimeric NP proteins were constructed in which the antigenic regions of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins of NDV, myc epitope, and six histidines (a hexa-His tag) were linked to the C-terminus of the NP monomer. These chimeric proteins were expressed efficiently in soluble form in E. coli as detected by Western blot analysis. Electron microscopy of the purified products revealed that they self-assembled into ring-like particles. These chimeric particles exhibited antigenicity of the myc epitope, suggesting that the foreign sequences were exposed on the surface of the particles. Chickens inoculated with the chimeric particles mounted an immune response against NDV, suggesting the possibility of use of the ring-like particle as a carrier of immunogens in subunit vaccines and immunological reagents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viral Fusion Proteins/genetics; Viral Proteins/genetics
  8. Effect of a carotene concentrate on the growth of human breast cancer cells and pS2 gene expression
    Nesaretnam K, Jin Lim E, Reimann K, Lai LC
    Toxicology, 2000 Oct 26;151(1-3):117-26.
    PMID: 11074306
    Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. The growth of breast cancer cells is either hormone-dependent or hormone-independent. Both types are represented in vitro by the estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) MCF-7 and the estrogen-receptor negative (ER-) MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively. The pS2 gene is an estrogen-regulated gene and serves as a marker for the ER+ tumours. Carotenoids are pigments with anti-cancer properties besides having pro-vitamin A, antioxidant and free-radical quenching effects. This study was designed firstly, to compare the effect of palm oil carotene concentrate with retinoic acid on the growth of the ER+ MCF-7 and the ER- MDA-MB-231 cells; and secondly to evaluate the effect of the palm oil carotene concentrate on the regulation of pS2 mRNA. The growth experiments were performed with monolayer cells seeded in phenol red free RPMI 1640 culture media and subsequently treated with varying concentrations of either retinoic acid or palm oil carotenoids. The cell numbers were determined at the start of each experiment and then at successive time intervals. The results showed that the palm oil carotene concentrate caused dose-dependent inhibition of estradiol-stimulated growth of MCF-7 cells but did not affect the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells. Retinoic acid caused similar, albeit more potent effects, as significant inhibition was observed at lower concentrations than the palm oil carotenoids. In the pS2 gene expression experiment, cell monolayers were treated with the carotene concentrate (10(-6) M), either with or without supplemented estradiol (10(-8) M), and subsequently the RNA was extracted. Northern blotting was performed and the regulation of pS2 mRNA determined using a 32P-labelled pS2 cDNA probe. The results showed that the palm oil carotene concentrate did not affect the expression of pS2 mRNA and are therefore independent of the estrogen-regulated pathway.
    Matched MeSH terms: Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics; Proteins/genetics*
  9. Tioman virus, a novel paramyxovirus isolated from fruit bats in Malaysia
    Chua KB, Wang LF, Lam SK, Crameri G, Yu M, Wise T, et al.
    Virology, 2001 May 10;283(2):215-29.
    PMID: 11336547
    A search for the natural host of Nipah virus has led to the isolation of a previously unknown member of the family Paramyxoviridae. Tioman virus (TiV) was isolated from the urine of fruit bats (Pteropus hypomelanus) found on the island of the same name off the eastern coast of peninsular Malaysia. An electron microscopic study of TiV-infected cells revealed spherical and pleomorphic-enveloped viral particles (100--500 nm in size) with a single fringe of embedded peplomers. Virus morphogenesis occurred at the plasma membrane of infected cells and morphological features of negative-stained ribonucleoprotein complexes were compatible with that of viruses in the family Paramyxoviridae. Serological studies revealed no cross-reactivity with antibodies against a number of known Paramyxoviridae members except for the newly described Menangle virus (MenV), isolated in Australia in 1997. Failure of PCR amplification using MenV-specific primers suggested that this new virus is related to but different from MenV. For molecular characterization of the virus, a cDNA subtraction strategy was employed to isolate virus-specific cDNA from virus-infected cells. Complete gene sequences for the nucleocapsid protein (N) and phosphoprotein (P/V) have been determined and recombinant N and V proteins produced in baculovirus. The recombinant N and V proteins reacted with porcine anti-MenV sera in Western blot, confirming the serological cross-reactivity observed during initial virus characterization. The lack of a C protein-coding region in the P/V gene, the creation of P mRNA by insertion of 2-G residues, and the results of phylogenetic analyses all indicated that TiV is a novel member of the genus Rubulavirus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viral Proteins/genetics; Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics
  10. Lactobacillus acidophilus as a live vehicle for oral immunization against chicken anemia virus
    Moeini H, Rahim RA, Omar AR, Shafee N, Yusoff K
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2011 Apr;90(1):77-88.
    PMID: 21181148 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-010-3050-0
    The AcmA binding domains of Lactococcus lactis were used to display the VP1 protein of chicken anemia virus (CAV) on Lactobacillus acidophilus. One and two repeats of the cell wall binding domain of acmA gene were amplified from L. lactis MG1363 genome and then inserted into co-expression vector, pBudCE4.1. The VP1 gene of CAV was then fused to the acmA sequences and the VP2 gene was cloned into the second MCS of the same vector before transformation into Escherichia coli. The expressed recombinant proteins were purified using a His-tag affinity column and mixed with a culture of L. acidophilus. Whole cell ELISA and immunofluorescence assay showed the binding of the recombinant VP1 protein on the surface of the bacterial cells. The lactobacilli cells carrying the CAV VP1 protein were used to immunize specific pathogen-free chickens through the oral route. A moderate level of neutralizing antibody to CAV was detected in the serum of the immunized chickens. A VP1-specific proliferative response was observed in splenocytes of the chickens after oral immunization. The vaccinated groups also showed increased levels of Th1 cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ. These observations suggest that L. acidophilus can be used in the delivery of vaccines to chickens.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics; Capsid Proteins/genetics
  11. Cloning, expression, and characterization of recombinant Hev b 3, a Hevea brasiliensis protein associated with latex allergy in patients with spina bifida
    Wagner B, Krebitz M, Buck D, Niggemann B, Yeang HY, Han KH, et al.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1999 Nov;104(5):1084-92.
    PMID: 10550757
    BACKGROUND: Two natural rubber latex proteins, Hev b 1 and Hev b 3, have been described in spina bifida (SB)-associated latex allergy.

    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clone and express Hev b 3 and to obtain the immunologic active and soluble recombinant allergen for diagnosis of SB-associated latex allergy.

    METHODS: A complementary DNA (cDNA) coding for Hev b 3 was amplified from RNA of fresh latex collected from Malaysian rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). PCR primers were designed according to sequences of internal peptide fragments of natural (n) Hev b 3. The 5'-end sequence was obtained by specific amplification of cDNA ends. The recombinant (r) Hev b 3 was produced in Escherichia coli as a 6xHis tagged protein. Immunoblotting and inhibition assays were performed to characterize the recombinant allergen.

    RESULTS: An Hev b 3 cDNA clone of 922 bp encoding a protein of 204 amino acid residues corresponding to a molecular weight of 22.3 kd was obtained. In immunoblots 29/35, latex-allergic patients with SB revealed IgE binding to rHev b 3, as did 4 of 15 of the latex-sensitized group. The presence of all IgE epitopes on rHev b 3 was shown by its ability to abolish all IgE binding to nHev b 3. Hev b 3 is related to Hev b 1 by a sequence identity of 47%. Cross-reactivity between these 2 latex allergens was illustrated by the large extent of inhibition of IgE binding to nHev b 1 by rHev b 3.

    CONCLUSION: rHev b 3 constitutes a suitable in vitro reagent for the diagnosis of latex allergy in patients with SB. The determination of the full sequence of Hev b 3 and the production of the recombinant allergen will allow the epitope mapping and improve diagnostic reagents for latex allergy.

    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Proteins/genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics
  12. Identification of potential hot spots in the carboxy-terminal part of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BNLF-1 gene in both malignant and benign EBV-associated diseases: high frequency of a 30-bp deletion in Malaysian and Danish peripheral T-cell lymphomas
    Sandvej K, Peh SC, Andresen BS, Pallesen G
    Blood, 1994 Dec 15;84(12):4053-60.
    PMID: 7994023
    In this study, we have sequenced the C-terminal part of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-BNLF-1 gene encoding for the latent membrane protein-1 from tissues of EBV-positive Danish Hodgkin's disease (HD) and of Danish and Malaysian peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTLs) and from tonsils of Danish infectious mononucleosis (IM). Our study showed that some of the 7 single-base mutations and the 30-bp deletion previously detected between codons of amino acid 322 and 366 in the BNLF-1 gene of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CAO were present in all Malaysian PTLs and in 60% of the Danish PTLs. In HD and the IM cases, the mutations were present in about 30%. The 30-bp deletion and the single base mutations occurred independently, and mutations were detectable in the majority of EBV type B-positive cases. These findings suggest that the 30-bp deletion and the 7 single-base mutations in the C-terminal part of the CAO-BNLF-1 gene do not characterize a new EBV type A substrain. Rather, some of the positions of single base mutations and the 30-bp deletion are hot spots that may have mutated independently through the evolution of EBV strains.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics*; Viral Structural Proteins/genetics*
  13. Structural basis for binding uronic acids by family 32 carbohydrate-binding modules
    Teh AH, Sim PF, Hisano T
    Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2020 12 10;533(3):257-261.
    PMID: 33010888 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.09.064
    The alginate lyase AlyQ from Persicobacter sp. CCB-QB2 is a three-domained enzyme with a carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) from family 32. The CBM32 domain, AlyQB, binds enzymatically cleaved but not intact alginate. Co-crystallisation of AlyQB with the cleaved alginate reveals that it binds to the 4,5-unsaturated mannuronic acid of the non-reducing end. The binding pocket contains a conserved R248 that interacts with the sugar's carboxyl group, as well as an invariant W303 that stacks against the unsaturated pyranose ring. Targeting specifically the non-reducing end is more efficient than the reducing end since the latter consists of a mixture of mannuronic acid and guluronic acid. AlyQB also seems unable to bind these two saturated sugars as they contain OH groups that will clash with the pocket. Docking analysis of YeCBM32, which binds oligogalacturonic acid, shows that the stacking of the pyranose ring is shifted in order to accommodate the sugar's axial C1-OH, and its R69 is accordingly elevated to bind the sugar's carboxyl group. Unlike AlyQB, YeCBM32's binding pocket is able to accommodate both saturated and unsaturated galacturonic acid.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Recombinant Proteins/genetics
  14. Identification of novel extracellular protein for PCB/biphenyl metabolism in Rhodococcus jostii RHA1
    Atago Y, Shimodaira J, Araki N, Bin Othman N, Zakaria Z, Fukuda M, et al.
    Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2016 May;80(5):1012-9.
    PMID: 26828632 DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2015.1127134
    Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 (RHA1) degrades polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) via co-metabolism with biphenyl. To identify the novel open reading frames (ORFs) that contribute to PCB/biphenyl metabolism in RHA1, we compared chromatin immunoprecipitation chip and transcriptomic data. Six novel ORFs involved in PCB/biphenyl metabolism were identified. Gene deletion mutants of these 6 ORFs were made and were tested for their ability to grow on biphenyl. Interestingly, only the ro10225 deletion mutant showed deficient growth on biphenyl. Analysis of Ro10225 protein function showed that growth of the ro10225 deletion mutant on biphenyl was recovered when exogenous recombinant Ro10225 protein was added to the culture medium. Although Ro10225 protein has no putative secretion signal sequence, partially degraded Ro10225 protein was detected in conditioned medium from wild-type RHA1 grown on biphenyl. This Ro10225 fragment appeared to form a complex with another PCB/biphenyl oxidation enzyme. These results indicated that Ro10225 protein is essential for the formation of the PCB/biphenyl dioxygenase complex in RHA1.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics*; Recombinant Proteins/genetics
  15. Fulltext Neuronal connectivity between habenular glutamate-kisspeptin1 co-expressing neurons and the raphe 5-HT system
    Nathan FM, Ogawa S, Parhar IS
    J Neurochem, 2015 Nov;135(4):814-29.
    PMID: 26250886 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13273
    The habenula, located on the dorsal thalamic surface, is an emotional and reward processing center. As in the mammalian brain, the zebrafish habenula is divided into dorsal (dHb) and ventral (vHb) subdivisions that project to the interpeduncular nucleus and median raphe (MR) respectively. Previously, we have shown that kisspeptin 1 (Kiss1) expressing in the vHb, regulates the serotonin (5-HT) system in the MR. However, the connectivity between the Kiss1 neurons and the 5-HT system remains unknown. To resolve this issue, we generated a specific antibody against zebrafish Kiss1 receptor (Kiss-R1); using this primary antibody we found intense immunohistochemical labeling in the ventro-anterior corner of the MR (vaMR) but not in 5-HT neurons, suggesting the potential involvement of interneurons in 5-HT modulation by Kiss1. Double-fluorescence labeling showed that the majority of habenular Kiss1 neurons are glutamatergic. In the MR region, Kiss1 fibers were mainly seen in close association with glutamatergic neurons and only scarcely within GABAergic and 5-HT neurons. Our findings indicate that the habenular Kiss1 neurons potentially modulate the 5-HT system primarily through glutamatergic neurotransmission via as yet uncharacterized interneurons. The neuropeptide kisspeptin (Kiss1) play a key role in vertebrate reproduction. We have previously shown modulatory role of habenular Kiss1 in the raphe serotonin (5-HT) systems. This study proposed that the habenular Kiss1 neurons modulate the 5-HT system primarily through glutamatergic neurotransmission, which provides an important insight for understanding of the modulation of 5-HT system by the habenula-raphe pathway.
    Matched MeSH terms: Zebrafish Proteins/genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
  16. Functional characterisation and product specificity of Endo-β-1,3-glucanase from alkalophilic bacterium, Bacillus lehensis G1
    Jaafar NR, Khoiri NM, Ismail NF, Mahmood NAN, Abdul Murad AM, Abu Bakar FD, et al.
    Enzyme Microb Technol, 2020 Oct;140:109625.
    PMID: 32912685 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2020.109625
    Endo-β-1,3-glucanase from alkalophilic bacterium, Bacillus lehensis G1 (Blg32) composed of 284 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 31.6 kDa is expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Herein, Blg32 characteristics, substrates and product specificity as well as structural traits that might be involved in the production of sugar molecules are analysed. This enzyme functions optimally at the temperature of 70 °C, pH value of 8.0 with its catalytic activity strongly enhanced by Mn2+. Remarkably, the purified enzyme is highly stable in high temperature and alkaline conditions. It exhibits the highest activity on laminarin (376.73 U/mg) followed by curdlan and yeast β-glucan. Blg32 activity increased by 62% towards soluble substrate (laminarin) compared to insoluble substrate (curdlan). Hydrolytic products of laminarin were oligosaccharides with degree of polymerisation (DP) of 1 to 5 with the main product being laminaritriose (DP3). This suggests that the active site of Blg32 could recognise up to five glucose units. High concentration of Blg32 mainly produces glucose whilst low concentration of Blg32 yields oligosaccharides with different DP (predominantly DP3). A theoretical structural model of Blg32 was constructed and structural analysis revealed that Trp156 is involved in multiple hydrophobic stacking interactions. The amino acid was predicted to participate in substrate recognition and binding. It was also exhibited that catalytic groove of Blg32 has a narrow angle, thus limiting the substrate binding reaction. All these properties and knowledge of the subsites are suggested to be related to the possible mode of action of how Blg32 produces glucooligosaccharides.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Recombinant Proteins/genetics
  17. Melatonin improves cognitive behavior, oxidative stress, and metabolism in tumor-prone lethal giant larvae mutant of Drosophila melanogaster
    Wong KC, Sankaran S, Jayapalan JJ, Subramanian P, Abdul-Rahman PS
    Arch Insect Biochem Physiol, 2021 May;107(1):e21785.
    PMID: 33818826 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21785
    Mutant lethal giant larvae (lgl) flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are known to develop epithelial tumors with invasive characteristics. The present study has been conducted to investigate the influence of melatonin (0.025 mM) on behavioral responses of lgl mutant flies as well as on biochemical indices (redox homeostasis, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, transaminases, and minerals) in hemolymph, and head and intestinal tissues. Behavioral abnormalities were quantitatively observed in lgl flies but were found normalized among melatonin-treated lgl flies. Significantly decreased levels of lipid peroxidation products and antioxidants involved in redox homeostasis were observed in hemolymph and tissues of lgl flies, but had restored close to normalcy in melatonin-treated flies. Carbohydrates including glucose, trehalose, and glycogen were decreased and increased in the hemolymph and tissues of lgl and melatonin-treated lgl flies, respectively. Key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism showed a significant increment in their levels in lgl mutants but had restored close to wild-type baseline levels in melatonin-treated flies. Variables of lipid metabolism showed significantly inverse levels in hemolymph and tissues of lgl flies, while normalization of most of these variables was observed in melatonin-treated mutants. Lipase, chitinase, transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase showed an increment in their activities and minerals exhibited decrement in lgl flies; reversal of changes was observed under melatonin treatment. The impairment of cognition, disturbance of redox homeostasis and metabolic reprogramming in lgl flies, and restoration of normalcy in all these cellular and behavioral processes indicate that melatonin could act as oncostatic and cytoprotective agents in Drosophila.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics; Drosophila Proteins/genetics
  18. Tricistronic expression of MOAP-1, Bax and RASSF1A in cancer cells enhances chemo-sensitization that requires BH3L domain of MOAP-1
    Lee YH, Pang SW, Revai Lechtich E, Shah K, Simon SE, Ponnusamy S, et al.
    J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2020 Jul;146(7):1751-1764.
    PMID: 32377840 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03231-9
    PURPOSE: Although important for apoptosis, the signaling pathway involving MOAP-1(Modulator of Apoptosis 1), RASSF1A (RAS association domain family 1A), and Bax (Bcl-2 associated X protein) is likely to be dysfunctional in many types of human cancers due to mechanisms associated with gene mutation and DNA hyper-methylation. The purpose of the present study was to assess the potential impact of generating physiologically relevant signaling pathway mediated by MOAP-1, Bax, and RASSF1A (MBR) in cancer cells and chemo-drug resistant cancer cells.

    METHODS: The tricistronic expression construct that encodes MOAP-1, Bax, and RASSF1A (MBR) or its mutant, MOAP-1∆BH3L, Bax and RASSF1A (MBRX) was expressed from an IRES (Internal Ribosome Entry Site)-based tricistronic expression vector in human breast cancer cells, including MCF-7, MCF-7-CR (cisplatin resistant) and triple negative breast cancer cells, BMET05, for functional characterization through in vitro and in vivo models.

    RESULTS: Transient expression of MBR potently promoted dose-dependent apoptotic signaling and chemo-sensitization in the cancer cells, as evidenced by loss of cell viability, nuclei condensation and Annexin-V positive staining while stable expression of MBR in MCF-7 cells significantly reduced the number of MBR stable clone by 86% and the stable clone exhibited robust chemo-drug sensitivity. In contrast, MBRX stable clone exhibited chemo-drug resistance while transiently over-expressed MOAP-1ΔBH3L inhibited the apoptotic activity of MBR. Moreover, the spheroids derived from the MBR stable clone displayed enhanced chemo-sensitivity and apoptotic activity. In mouse xenograft model, the tumors derived from MBR stable clone showed relatively high level of tumor growth retardation associated with the increase in apoptotic activity, leading to the decreases in both tumor weight and volume.

    CONCLUSIONS: Expression of MBR in cancer cells induces apoptotic cell death with enhanced chemo-sensitization requiring the BH3L domain of MOAP-1. In animal model, the expression of MBR significantly reduces the growth of tumors, suggesting that MBR is a potent apoptotic sensitizer with potential therapeutic benefits for cancer treatment.

    Matched MeSH terms: Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics*; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/genetics*
  19. Fulltext Optimization of the expression of surface antigen SAG1/2 of Toxoplasma gondii in the yeast Pichia pastoris
    Thiruvengadam G, Init I, Fong MY, Lau YL
    Trop Biomed, 2011 Dec;28(3):506-13.
    PMID: 22433878 MyJurnal
    Surface antigens are the most abundant proteins found on the surface of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Surface antigen 1 (SAG1) and Surface antigen 2 (SAG2) remain the most important and extensively studied surface proteins. These antigens have been identified to play a role in host cell invasion, immune modulation, virulence attenuation. Recombinant SAG1/2 was cloned and expressed in yeast Pichia pastoris. We describe here optimization of critical parameters involved in high yield expression of the recombinant SAG1/2. Our results suggest that recombinant SAG1/2 were best expressed at 30ºC, pH 6 and 1% methanol as the carbon source by X33 Pichia cells. Additional optimizations included the downstream process such as ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialysis. The fusion protein was purified using Ni-NTA purification system with 80% recovery. The purified protein was 100% specific and sensitive in detection of toxoplasmosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics; Protozoan Proteins/genetics
  20. Fulltext Design and Characterisation of Inhibitory Peptides against Bleg1_2478, an Evolutionary Divergent B3 Metallo-β-lactamase
    Selvaraju G, Leow TC, Salleh AB, Normi YM
    Molecules, 2020 Dec 09;25(24).
    PMID: 33316879 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245797
    Previously, a hypothetical protein (HP) termed Bleg1_2437 (currently named Bleg1_2478) from Bacillus lehensis G1 was discovered to be an evolutionary divergent B3 subclass metallo-β-lactamase (MBL). Due to the scarcity of clinical inhibitors for B3 MBLs and the divergent nature of Bleg1_2478, this study aimed to design and characterise peptides as inhibitors against Bleg1_2478. Through in silico docking, RSWPWH and SSWWDR peptides with comparable binding energy to ampicillin were obtained. In vitro assay results showed RSWPWH and SSWWDR inhibited the activity of Bleg1_2478 by 50% at concentrations as low as 0.90 µM and 0.50 µM, respectively. At 10 µM of RSWPWH and 20 µM of SSWWDR, the activity of Bleg1_2478 was almost completely inhibited. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analyses showed slightly improved binding properties of the peptides compared to ampicillin. Docked peptide-protein complexes revealed that RSWPWH bound near the vicinity of the Bleg1_2478 active site while SSWWDR bound at the center of the active site itself. We postulate that the peptides caused the inhibition of Bleg1_2478 by reducing or blocking the accessibility of its active site from ampicillin, thus hampering its catalytic function.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Recombinant Proteins/genetics
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