Identification of the human homologue of the early-growth response gene Snk, encoding a serum-inducible kinase

Murine serum inducible kinase (mSnk) was recently cloned and characterized as an early-growth response gene involved in cell proliferation. Here we report the isolation and characterization of its human homologue, named hSnk. Sequence comparison shows that hSnk is highly conserved and its deduced protein sequence shares a significant amino acid identity with mSnk and rSnk proteins, as well as with other polo family kinase gene products. A survey of hSnk expression reveals that while a wide variety of human tissues express a low to moderate level of hSnk transcripts, fetal tissues, testis, and spleen express the most abundant hSnk transcripts. In addition, serum stimulation rapidly induces hSnk expression in fibroblast cells, reaching the peak level of induction within one hour post treatment. Considering that Plk and Prk, two other known human polo-family kinases, control cell cycle checkpoint and cell cycle progression, our current observations suggest that hSnk may also play an important role in cells undergoing rapid cell division or having a high mitotic index.

Patterning the optic neuroepithelium by FGF signaling and Ras activation

During vertebrate embryogenesis, the neuroectoderm differentiates into neural tissues and also into non-neural tissues such as the choroid plexus in the brain and the retinal pigment epithelium in the eye. The molecular mechanisms that pattern neural and non-neural tissues within the neuroectoderm remain unknown. We report that FGF9 is normally expressed in the distal region of the optic vesicle that is destined to become the neural retina, suggesting a role in neural patterning in the optic neuroepithelium. Ectopic expression of FGF9 in the proximal region of the optic vesicle extends neural differentiation into the presumptive retinal pigment epithelium, resulting in a duplicate neural retina in transgenic mice. Ectopic expression of constitutively active Ras is also sufficient to convert the retinal pigment epithelium to neural retina, suggesting that Ras-mediated signaling may be involved in neural differentiation in the immature optic vesicle. The original and the duplicate neural retinae differentiate and laminate with mirror-image polarity in the absence of an RPE, suggesting that the program of neuronal differentiation in the retina is autonomously regulated. In mouse embryos lacking FGF9, the retinal pigment epithelium extends into the presumptive neural retina, indicating a role of FGF9 in defining the boundary of the neural retina.

Lysosome proteins are redistributed during expression of a GTP-hydrolysis-defective rab5a

The functioning of the endocytic pathway is influenced by a distinct set of rab GTPases, including rab5a, which regulates homotypic fusion of early endosomes. Expression of a dominant active, GTPase-defective rab5a accelerates endosome fusion, causing the formation of a greatly enlarged endocytic compartment. Here we present evidence that rab5a also regulates trafficking between endosomes and lysosomes and may play a role in lysosome biogenesis. The GTPase defective rab5aQ79L mutant was inducibly expressed as an EGFP fusion in HEK293 cells, and the distribution of lysosome proteins and endocytic markers then assessed by deconvolution fluorescence microscopy. During expression of EGFP-rab5aQ79L, the lysosome proteins LAMP-1, LAMP-2 and cathepsin D were found in dilated EGFP-rab5aQ79L-positive vesicles, which also rapidly labeled with transferrin Texas Red. Exogenous tracers that normally traffic to lysosomes after prolonged chase (dextran Texas Red and DiI-LDL) also accumulated in these vesicles. Dextran Texas Red preloaded into lysosomes localized with subsequently expressed EGFP-rab5a Q79L, suggesting the existence of lysosome to endosome traffic. Cells expressing EGFP-rab5a wt or the dominant negative EGFP-rab5aS34N did not exhibit these abnormalities. Despite the dramatic alterations in lysosome protein distribution caused by expression of EGFP-rab5a Q79L, there was little change in the endocytosis or recycling of a cell-surface receptor (β2-adrenergic receptor). However, there was a deficiency of dense β-hexosaminidase-containing lysosomes in cells expressing EGFP-rab5aQ79L, as assessed by Percoll gradient fractionation. These results suggest that expression of a GTPase-defective rab5a affects lysosome biogenesis by alteration of traffic between lysosomes and endosomes.

The role of strand 1 of the C beta-sheet in the structure and function of alpha(1)-antitrypsin

Serpins inhibit cognate serine proteases involved in a number of important processes including blood coagulation and inflammation. Consequently, loss of serpin function or stability results in a number of disease states. Many of the naturally occurring mutations leading to disease are located within strand 1 of the C beta-sheet of the serpin. To ascertain the structural and functional importance of each residue in this strand, which constitutes the so-called distal hinge of the reactive center loop of the serpin, an alanine scanning study was carried out on recombinant alpha(1)-antitrypsin Pittsburgh mutant (P1 = Arg). Mutation of the P10' position had no effect on its inhibitory properties towards thrombin. Mutations to residues P7' and P9' caused these serpins to have an increased tendency to act as substrates rather than inhibitors, while mutations at P6' and P8' positions caused the serpin to behave almost entirely as a substrate. Mutations at the P6' and P8' residues of the C beta-sheet, which are buried in the hydrophobic core in the native structure, caused the serpin to become highly unstable and polymerize much more readily. Thus, P6' and P8' mutants of alpha(1)-antitrypsin had melting temperatures 14 degrees lower than wild-type alpha(1)-antitrypsin. These results indicate the importance of maintaining the anchoring of the distal hinge to both the inhibitory mechanism and stability of serpins, the inhibitory mechanism being particularly sensitive to any perturbations in this region. The results of this study allow more informed analysis of the effects of mutations found at these positions in disease-associated serpin variants.

Intron/exon organization and polymorphisms of the PLK3/PRK gene in human lung carcinoma cell lines

PLK3/PRK, a conserved polo family protein serine/threonine kinase, plays a significant role at the onset of mitosis and mitotic progression. Recently, PLK3/PRK has been shown to induce apoptosis when overexpressed in cell lines and is also implicated in cell proliferation and tumor development. Forty lung tumor cell lines were used for single-strand confirmation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing to examine the mutational status of PLK3/PRK. No missense or nonsense mutations were revealed in the lung carcinoma cell lines examined. However, three polymorphisms were identified as: a G to A at position 720, an A to G at 1053, and a G to C at 1275. Intron/exon boundaries were determined by amplification of genomic DNA with PLK3/PRK exon-specific primers. The amplification products with increased size relative to the cDNA were sequenced. Fifteen exons throughout the open reading frame were characterized. None of the introns were exceptionally large, typically ranging from 100-300 basepairs in length. These results suggest that although PLK3/PRK expression is downregulated in a majority of lung carcinoma samples, mutational inactivation of the coding sequence of the PLK3/PRK gene appears to be a rare event in lung cancer.

Plk3 functionally links DNA damage to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis at least in part via the p53 pathway

Polo-like kinase 3 (Plk3, previously termed Prk) contributes to regulation of M phase of the cell cycle (Ouyang, B., Pan, H., Lu, L., Li, J., Stambrook, P., Li, B., and Dai, W. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 28646-28651). Plk3 physically interacts with Cdc25C and phosphorylates this protein phosphatase predominantly on serine 216 (Ouyang, B., Li, W., Pan, H., Meadows, J., Hoffmann, I., and Dai, W. (1999) Oncogene 18, 6029-6036), suggesting that the role of Plk3 in mitosis is mediated, at least in part, through direct regulation of Cdc25C. Here we show that ectopic expression of a kinase-active Plk3 (Plk3-A) induced apoptosis. In response to DNA damage, the kinase activity of Plk3 was rapidly increased in an ATM-dependent manner, whereas that of Plk1 was markedly inhibited. Recombinant Plk3 phosphorylated in vitro a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing p53, but not glutathione S-transferase alone. Recombinant Plk1 also phosphorylated p53 but on residues that differed from those targeted by Plk3. Co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down assays demonstrated that Plk3 physically interacted with p53 and that this interaction was enhanced upon DNA damage. In vitro kinase assays followed by immunoblotting showed that serine 20 of p53 was a target of Plk3. Furthermore, expression of a kinase-defective Plk3 mutant (Plk3(K52R)) resulted in significant reduction of p53 phosphorylation on serine 20, which was correlated with a decrease in the expression of p21 and with a concomitant increase in cell proliferation. These results strongly suggest that Plk3 functionally links DNA damage to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via the p53 pathway.

Reactive oxygen species-induced phosphorylation of p53 on serine 20 is mediated in part by polo-like kinase-3

Upon exposure of cells to hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) phosphorylation of p53 was rapidly induced in human fibroblast GM00637, and this phosphorylation occurred on serine 9, serine 15, serine 20, but not on serine 392. In addition, H(2)O(2)-induced phosphorylation of p53 was followed by induction of p21, suggesting functional activation of p53. Induction of phosphorylation of p53 on multiple serine residues by H(2)O(2) was caffeine-sensitive and blocked in ATM(-/-) cells. Polo-like kinase-3 (Plk3) activity was also activated upon H(2)O(2) treatment, and this activation was ATM-dependent. Recombinant His(6)-Plk3 phosphorylated glutathione S-transferase (GST)-p53 fusion protein but not GST alone. When phoshorylated in vitro by His(6)-Plk3, but not by the kinase-defective mutant His6-Plk3(K52R), GST-p53 was recognized by an antibody specifically to serine 20-phosphorylated p53, indicating that serine 20 is an in vitro target of Plk3. Also serine 20-phosphorylated p53 was coimmunoprecipitated with Plk3 in cells treated with H(2)O(2). Furthermore, although H(2)O(2) strongly induced serine 15 phosphorylation of p53, it failed to induce serine 20 phosphorylation in Plk3-dificient Daudi cells. Ectopic expression of a Plk3 dominant negative mutant, Plk3(K52R), in GM00637 cells suppressed H(2)O(2)-induced serine 20 phosphorylation. Taken together, our studies strongly suggest that the oxidative stress-induced activation of p53 is at least in part mediated by Plk3.

[IFN-r/IL-4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients with chronic severe hepatitis]

OBJECTIVE

To understand the expressions of interferon-r (INF-r) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the patients with chronic severe hepatitis (CSH).

METHODS

PBMCs from the patients with CSH were separated routinely and stimulated by PMA/Ionomycin/Monensin. The production of IFN-r/IL-4 by CD4+ T cells in PBMC was determined by fluorescence activated call sorting (FACS) analysis and fluorescence-quantitative PCR assay for quantification of HBV DNA.

RESULTS

The percentage of IFN-gamma-producing T cells in CD4+ T cells was higher in patients with CSH (7.2%-26.3%) than in normal controls (2.2%-11.9%) (P<0.01). The percentage of Th1 cells increased significantly with the raise of hepatic inflammation activity. The percentage of IL-4-producing T cells in CD4+ T cells did not differ significantly between patients with CSH and normal controls. The quantification of HBV DNA decreased significantly with the increase of the percentage of IFN-gamma-producing T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Th1 cell is associated with hepatic inflammatory activity and IFN-gamma depresses HBV replication.

[Expression of MDR1-mRNA, MRP-mRNA and LRP-mRNA in patients with non-small cell lung cancer]

BACKGROUND

To investigate the expression of multidrug resistance (MDR1), multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and lung resistance protein (LRP) genes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Expression of MDR1, MRP and LRP genes was detected in 30 NSCLC patients by RT-PCR method.

RESULTS

The positive rates of MDR1 expression were 40% and 16.67% respectively in lung cancer tissues and normal lung tissues (P=0.045), and it was not associated with the degree of cell differentiation, histological classification and the clinical stage. The positive rates of MRP expression were 43.33% and 26.67% respectively in lung cancer tissues and normal lung tissues. Its expression was related to degree of cell differentiation (P=0.03), but not to the histological classification and the clinical stage. LRP expression of lung cancer tissues (56.67%) was much higher than that of normal tissues (P=0.0004), and it was not associated with degree of cell differentiation, histological classification and the clinical stage. Of the 30 lung cancer specimens, 7 expressed all the three kinds of genes, and 10 expressed none of them. The coincident rate was 56.67%.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that MDR1, MRP and LRP gene may play important roles in drug resistance in NSCLC.

The protective effect of hepatocyte growth-promoting factor (pHGF) against hydrogen peroxide-induced acute lung injury in rats

To examine the protective effect of hepatocyte growth-promoting factor (pHGF) in hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced acute lung injury in rats, we observed the pathological changes in lung tissue by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and by light and electron microscopy. We also measured the serum levels of lipid peroxide (LPO). At 6 to 24 h after H(2)O(2) injection, the level of LPO was significantly higher in the H(2)O(2) group than in the H(2)O(2) + pHGF-treated group. This finding indicated that pHGF protected against cell membrane damage in H2O2-induced acute lung injury. Positive TUNEL signals were found in capillary endothelial cells, alveolar epithelial cells, and inflammatory cells. In the H(2)O(2) + pHGF-treated group, TUNEL-positive signals were reduced compared with those in the H(2)O(2) group. This finding indicated that pHGF acts to suppress apoptosis. In the H(2)O(2) group, severe pulmonary edema was seen 3 h after H(2)O(2) injection, and at 24 h, severe atelectasis was seen. In the H(2)O(2) + pHGF-treated group, pulmonary edema was scarcely seen and severe atelectasis was not found. This finding indicated that pHGF acts to suppress both severe pulmonary edema and atelectasis. In the H(2)O(2) group, the formation of subendothelial blebs and disruption of endothelial cells was observed. Edema and disruption were seen in type I epithelial cells. In type II lung epithelial cells, mitochondria were swollen and microvilli had disappeared. In the H(2)O(2) + pHGF-treated group, the formation of subendothelial blebs was seen, but no severe subendothelial blebs were observed. Disruption of capillary endothelial cells and type I epithelial cells was not evident, nor was there damage to type II lung epithelial cells. These findings indicated that pHGF protects the progression of H(2)O(2)-induced acute lung injury, and showed that pHGF acts to stabilize the cell membrane in capillary endothelial cells and lung epithelial cells.

[The protective effect of hepatocyte growth-promoting factor (pHGF) against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats. II. Protective effects on cell membrane injury]

To examine the protective effects of hepatocyte growth-promoting factor (pHGF) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) -induced acute liver injury in rats, the pathological changes were observed by light and electron microcopy, and the serum GOT and GPT levels were measured. Acute liver injury was produced by the injection of CCl4 (2ml/kg BW) in two groups of animals, of which one received pHGF (300 microg/kg BW) via the tail vein after 4 hrs. In the group treated with CCl4 alone, serum GOT and GPT were significantly elevated (1280+/-228 and 187+/-73 IU/l, respectively) 6 hrs after injection, indicating the induction of liver injury by CCl4. They reached a peak (3836+/-654 and 1022+/-230 IU/l, respectively) at 48 hrs and declined thereafter, but did not completely recover after 72 hrs. PAS-negative cells were observed around the central veins after 6 hrs and most of the hepatocytes were PAS-negative at 12 hrs. PAS-positive cells began to appear and increased in number after 24 hrs. There were scarcely any PAS-negative cells remaining in the lobules after 72 hrs. In the group treated with CCl4 followed by pHGF, serum GOT and GPT levels were significantly lower than in the CCl4-treated group, and abundant PAS-positive hepatocytes were observed. Also, all hepatocytes were PAS-positive (as in normal liver) after 72 hrs. Administration of pHGF resulted in a decrease in the ultrastructural changes in rats with CCl4-induced liver injury such as vacuolation, cisternae formation and dilatation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest that pHGF acts to stabilize cell membranes, thereby providing protection against CCl4-induced hepatic injury.

New ferrocenyl chiral auxiliary substituents for amines: applications to syntheses of mossambine and vinblastine

(+)-(R)-1,2-(alpha-(R)-Mesyloxy-beta-dimethyltetramethylene)-ferrocene was synthesized and used as a chiral auxiliary for N-alkylation of methyl 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino[4,5-b] indole-5-xi-carboxylates. Condensation with aldehydes then provided tetracyclic products in a diastereomeric ratio of at least 97:3. Gentle cleavage in acetic acid removed the chiral auxiliary to give the corresponding secondary amines in >99% ee. Thus, key intermediates leading to mossambine and vinblastine could be synthesized with high enantioselectivity. The enantioselectivity greatly exceeds that found with other chiral N-auxiliaries developed in our studies.

Characterization of the laminated layer of in vitro cultivated Echinococcus vogeli metacestodes

The metacestode (larval) stages of the cestode parasites Echinococcus vogeli and E. multilocularis were isolated from the peritoneal cavity of experimentally infected C57BL/6 mice and were cultured in vitro for a period of up to 4 mo under conditions normally applied for the in vitro cultivation of E. multilocularis metacestodes. In contrast to E. multilocularis, E. vogeli did not exhibit extensive exogenous budding and proliferation but increased in size with a final diameter of up to 10 mm. Most metacestodes contained protoscoleces, singly or in groups, either associated with brood capsules or growing directly out of the germinal layer. Each individual metacestode was covered by an acellular translucent laminated layer that was considerably thicker than the laminated layer of E. multilocularis metacestodes. The ultrastructural characteristics, protein content, and carbohydrate composition of the laminated layer of in vitro cultivated E. vogeli and E. multilocularis were assessed using transmission electron microscopy, lectin fluorescence labeling, and lectin blotting assays. The laminated layer of E. vogeli is, as previously described for E. multilocularis metacestodes, largely composed of N-acetyl-beta-D-galactosaminyl residues and alpha- and beta-D-galactosyl residues, as well as of the core structure of O-linked carbohydrate chains, N-acetylgalactosamine-beta-1,3-galactose. However, in contrast to E. multilocularis, N-linked glycopeptides and alpha-D-mannosyl and/or glucosyl residues were also associated with the laminated layer of E. vogeli. The laminated layer from both species was isolated from in vitro cultivated metacestodes, and the purified fractions were comparatively analyzed. The protein:carbohydrate ratio (1:1) was similar in both parasites; however, the protein banding pattern obtained by silver staining following sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggested intrinsic differences in protein composition. A polyclonal antiserum raised against the E. multilocularis laminated layer and a monoclonal antibody, G11, directed against the major E. multilocularis laminated layer antigen Em2 did not cross-react with E. vogeli, indicating distinct compositional and antigenic differences between these 2 parasites.

Comparative study on the immunogenicity between Hsp70 DNA vaccine and Hsp65 DNA vaccine in human Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The BALB/c mice were immunized with Hsp70 DNA and Hsp65 DNA vaccines in human Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Eight weeks after immunization, the eyeballs were removed, blood and spleen taken, and intraperitoneal macrophages were harvested. The lymphocytic stimulating index (SI) was used to measure the cellular proliferating ability and NO release to measure the phagocytic activity of the macrophages. With ELISA kit, the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in serum and the splenic lymphocytic cultured supernatant were detected. The results showed that after the mice were immunized with 100 micrograms/mouse of Hsp70 DNA vaccine intramuscularly, the splenic lymphocytic proliferating ability in the mice was significantly increased as compared with that in the control group, vector group and Hsp65 DNA vaccine group (P < 0.01); The contents of NO in the intraperitoneal macrophages of the mice were significantly lower than in the control group and Hsp65 DNA vaccine group (P < 0.01); The levels of serum IL-2 in the mice were significantly higher than in the control group, but there was no statistical difference between Hsp65 DNA group and vector group (P > 0.05); The contents of serum IFN-gamma in the mice were significantly higher than in the control group, but significantly lower than in the Hsp65 DNA vaccine group (P < 0.05). It was indicated that immunization with Hsp70 DNA vaccine could obviously enhance the immune response, but its intensity seemed inferior to Hsp65 DNA vaccine. The anti-infection mechanisms and clinical use in the future of the vaccines of Hsp70 DNA and Hsp65 DNA are worth further studying.

Incomplete cytokinesis and induction of apoptosis by overexpression of the mammalian polo-like kinase, Plk3

The polo-like kinases (Plks) are a family of conserved serine/threonine kinases that play a critical role in the normal progression of cells through mitosis. The Plk3 serine/threonine kinase is a mammalian member of this family. Overexpression of Plk3 in mammalian cells suppresses proliferation and inhibits colony formation. Subsequent analysis demonstrated that overexpression of Plk3 induces chromatin condensation and apoptosis. This phenotype could not be inhibited by coexpression of Bcl-2 and was partially dependent on the COOH-terminal domain of Plk3 but not on the catalytic activity of Plk3. Analysis of EGFP-Plk3 subcellular localization revealed that Plk3 localizes to the cellular cortex and to the cell midbody during exit from mitosis and is consistent with a role in cytokinesis. These data suggest that overexpression or ectopic suppression of Plk3 interferes with cellular proliferation by impeding cytokinesis.

Difference of rejection in single versus combined pancreas and kidney transplantation in rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the difference of rejection in single versus combined pancreas and kidney transplantation in rats.

METHODS

Allograft models including simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplant and pancreas or kidney transplant alone were established in SD-Wistar rats, rejections of pancreas and kidney in different models were compared morphologically and functionally.

RESULTS

Mean survival time (MST) of pancreas was significantly prolonged in SPK than in pancreas transplant alone (PTA) (11.5 days vs. 9.2 days, P < 0.05). Incidence of interstitial pancreatic rejection at gade II and grade III was much obvious in PTA than in SPK (42.9% vs. 12.5% at grade II and 28.6% vs 6.3% at grade II , P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in MST between SPK and kidney transplant alone( KTA). Administration of cyclosporine A prolonged the MST of pancreas and kidney, without altering the tendency stated above.

CONCLUSIONS

In SPK, the function of pancreas is protected by kidney hence the severity of rejection is reduced, whereas the function of kidney is not protected by pancreas. It suggests that different organs differ in immunoallergization and immunoregulation, and immune response tend to attack organs with greater immunoactivity, those organs with minor one could be protected. Cyclosporine A is effective on prolonging the MST of pancreas and kidney.

Cyclosporin A inhibits creatine uptake by altering surface expression of the creatine transporter

The immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibited the hCRT-1 cDNA-induced creatine uptake in Xenopus oocytes and the endogenous creatine uptake in cultured C(2)C(12) muscle cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. FK506, another potent immunosuppressant, was unable to mimic the effect of CsA suggesting that the inhibitory effect of CsA was specific. To delineate the mechanism underlying, we investigated the effect of CsA on the K(m) and V(max) of creatine transport and also on the cell surface distribution of the creatine transporter. Although CsA treatment did not affect the K(m) (20-24 microm) for creatine, it significantly decreased the V(max) of creatine uptake in both oocytes and muscle cells. CsA treatment reduced the cell surface expression level of the creatine transporter in the muscle cells by approximately 60% without significantly altering its total expression level, and the reduction in the cell surface expression paralleled the decrease in creatine uptake. Taken together, our results suggest that CsA inhibited creatine uptake by altering the surface abundance of the creatine transporter. We propose that CsA impairs the targeting of the creatine transporter by inhibiting the function of an associated cyclophilin, resulting in an apparent loss in surface expression of the creatine transporter. Our results also suggest that prolonged exposure to CsA may result in chronically creatine-depleted muscle, which may be a cause for the development of CsA-associated clinical myopathies in organ transplant patients.

p55CDC/hCDC20 is associated with BUBR1 and may be a downstream target of the spindle checkpoint kinase

Eukaryotic cells have evolved a mechanism that delays the progression of mitosis until condensed chromosomes are properly positioned on the mitotic spindle. We have been studying genes that regulated the spindle checkpoint in human cells. Enforced expression of human BUBR1, but not a BUBR1 mutant allele, enhances accumulation of mitotic cells. Yeast two-hybrid system and GST-pulldown analyses show that p55CDC/hCdc20, a protein known to link spindle checkpoint components such as MAD2 to anaphase promoting complex (APC), interacts with BUBR1. In addition, p55CDC is capable of pulling down BUBR1 in sf-9 cells infected with both p55CDC and His6-BUBR1 recombinant baculoviruses but not in the cells infected with p55CDC baculoviruses or with the baculoviral vector alone. Moreover, immunoprecipitation followed by Western blot analyses confirmed that native p55CDC is associated with BUBR1 in HeLa cells. Spindle checkpoint activation by nocodazole treatment enhances the association between p55CDC and His6-BUBR1. In nocodazole-arrested mitotic cells, both CDC16 and hyperphosphorylated CDC27, two APC components, preferentially associate with His6-BUBR1 resins, but not the control resins. Furthermore, BUBR1 phosphorylates p55CDC in vitro, and the phosphorylation of p55CDC by BUBR1 appears to be correlated with spindle checkpoint activation. Together, our studies strongly suggest that BUBR1 may target APC via p55CDC.

A novel membrane-anchored Rab5 interacting protein required for homotypic endosome fusion

The ras-related GTPase rab5 is rate-limiting for homotypic early endosome fusion. We used a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify a rab5 interacting protein, rab5ip. The cDNA sequence encodes a ubiquitous 75-kDa protein with an N-terminal transmembrane domain (TM), a central coiled-coil structure, and a C-terminal region homologous to several centrosome-associated proteins. rab5ip lacking the transmembrane domain (rab5ipTM(-)) had a greater affinity in vitro for rab5-guanosine 5'-O-2-(thio)diphosphate than for rab5-guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate. In transfected HeLa cells, rab5ipTM(-) was partly cytosolic and localized (by immunofluorescence) with a rab5 mutant believed to be in a GDP conformation (GFP-rab5(G78A)) but not with GFP-rab5(Q79L), a GTPase-deficient mutant. rab5ip with the transmembrane domain (rab5ipTM(+)) was completely associated with the particulate fraction and localized extensively with GFP-rab5(wt) in punctate endosome-like structures. Overexpression of rab5ipTM(+) using Sindbis virus stimulated the accumulation of fluid-phase horseradish peroxidase by BHK-21 cells, and homotypic endosome fusion in vitro was inhibited by antibody against rab5ip. rab5ipTM(-) inhibited rab5(wt)-stimulated endosome fusion but did not inhibit fusion stimulated by rab5(Q79L). rab5ip represents a novel rab5 interacting protein that may function on endocytic vesicles as a receptor for rab5-GDP and participate in the activation of rab5.

[Construction of recombinant BCG bearing Schistosoma japonicum 26Ku antigen gene and study on its immunogenicity on mice]

OBJECTIVE

To construct recombinant BCG vaccine bearing Schistosoma japonicum 26Ku glutathione S-transferase (Sj26GST) gene and determine its immunogenicity on BALB/c mice.

METHODS

Using techniques of molecular biology, human mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP70 promoter and Sj26GST gene were linked to produce a fused gene. The fused gene was cloned into an E. coli-Mycobacterium shuttle plasmid pBCG-2000 to construct an E. coli-Mycobacterium expression shuttle plasmid pBCG-Sj26 that could express Sj26GST gene. Then, the pBCG-Sj26 was introduced by electroporation into mycobacterium bovis BCG to construct a recombinant BCG vaccine bearing Sj26GST gene (rBCG- Sj26GST). The expression of Sj26GST gene in BCG was induced by heating. The lymphocyte stimulating index (SI), macrophage activity and IL-2, IFN-gamma levels of the serum and culture supernatant of spleen lymphocytes were tested after immunization of BALB/c mice with rBCG-Sj26GST vaccine.

RESULTS

The fused gene of HSP70 promoter and Sj26GST cDNA was inserted into an E. coli-Mycobacterium shuttle expression plasmid by analysing electrophoresis results on PCR products using plasmid pBCG-Sj26 as a templet. The content of rSj26GST contained 15% of total bacterial protein of BCG. The SI of the experimental group was 2.26 +/- 0.43, which was significantly higher than those in the control group (1.61 +/- 0.28, P < 0.05), vector group (1.48 +/- 0.30, P < 0.05) and BCG group (1.42 +/- 0.26, P < 0.05). The macrophage NO level of the experimental group was (357.42 +/- 84.11) nmol/ml which was significantly higher than those in the control group (183 nmol/ml +/- 33 nmol/ml, P < 0.01) and vector group (203 nmol/ml +/- 56 nmol/ml, P < 0.01). The serum IL-2 level of the experimental group was (267 pg/ml +/- 130 pg/ml), which was significantly higher than those in the control group (45 pg/ml +/- 15 pg/ml, P < 0.01) and vector group (52 pg/ml +/- 29 pg/ml, P < 0.05. Compared with the control group, the serum IFN-gamma level increased by 20%, the IL-2 level of the culture supernatant of spleen lymphocytes increased by 44%.

CONCLUSIONS

The foreign gene encoding Sj26 GST can be expressed in BCG. rBCG Sj26GST vaccine may induce stronger immune response in BALB/c mice than in control, vector and BCG groups.

[A clinical study on coincidence with hyperthyroidism and thyroid carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

A retrospective study has been carried out to evaluate the prevalence of coincidence with hyperthyroidism and thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS

394 patients underwent surgery for hyperthyroidism and 245 patients suffered from thyroid cancer were chosen for the study in our hospital from January 1983 to June 1998.

RESULTS

Thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism coincided in 12 patients. The incidence of thyroid cancer was 3.0% (12/394) in hyperthyroidism, and the incidence of hyperthyroidism was 4.9% in thyroid cancer. There were 7 female and 5 male, with a diffuse goiter (n = 3), a diffuse goiter with a cold nodule (n = 3), multinodular goiter (n = 6). Among the 12 patients, 7 patients had an occult thyroid cancer with a diameter of 1 cm or less, most of them with papillary carcinoma, less frequently had metastases, 4 patients had thyroid cancer with a diameter of 3 cm or more, and 3 patients had metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of coincidence with thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism is more than that of thyroid cancer in population. Diagnostics for exclusion of thyroid cancer is required carefully even in the presence of hyperthyroidism.

[Resources of spectroscopy and spectrometry on the World Wide Web--I]

Some resources of spectroscopy and spectrometry on the world wide web, including spectra databases, journals, societies, associations and organizations, conferences and syposia, institutes and companies, and spectroscopists, are introduced. A lot of useful websites are given in this paper.

PRK, a cell cycle gene localized to 8p21, is downregulated in head and neck cancer

The human PRK gene encodes a protein serine/threonine kinase of the polo family and plays an essential role in regulating meiosis and mitosis. We have previously shown that PRK expression is downregulated in a significant fraction of lung carcinomas. Our current studies reveal that PRK mRNA expression is downregulated in a majority (26 out of 35 patients) of primary head and neck squamous-cell carcinomas (HNSCC) compared with adjacent uninvolved tissues from the same patients, regardless of stage. In addition, PRK transcripts were undetectable in one of the two HNSCC cell lines analyzed. Ectopic expression of PRK, but not a PRK deletion construct, in transformed A549 fibroblast cells suppresses their proliferation. Furthermore, fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses show that the PRK gene localizes to chromosome band 8p21, a region that exhibits a high frequency of loss of heterozygosity in a variety of human cancers, including head and neck cancers, and that is proposed to contain two putative tumor suppressor genes. Considering that PRK plays an important role in the regulation of the G2/M transition and cell cycle progression, our current studies suggest that deregulated expression of PRK may contribute to tumor development. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 27:332-336, 2000.

[Expression and immunological reactivity of recombinant HCV-core protein]

OBJECTIVE

To express HCV-core proteins in E.coli and to develop effective HCV-core DNA-based vaccine.

METHODS

The vector that expresses the highly conserved HCV core genes were constructed. The pGEX-3X HCVCore constructs contained the 1-201 ncls (1-67aa, C201), 1-402 ncls (1-134aa, C402) and 1-591ncls ( 1-197aa, C591), then expressed in E.coli cells.

RESULTS

The products of HCV C201 and C402 genes were expressed as a fusion protein with glutathione-S-transferase (GST, 26kDa) whose molecular weight were 3.1 x 10(4) and 3.9 x 10(4) separately. C591 gene was not effectively expressed in E.coli. The expressed proteins were sequestered within inclusion bodies (IB) and a variety of procedures designed to minimize IB formation proved unsuccessful. The method finally adopted involved the purification of inclusion bodies followed by the solubilization, purification, and refolding of the expressed protein. The purified C402 protein was antigenically reactive with serum from chronically infected HCV patients. BALB/C mice were immunized by a subcutaneous injection of C402 protein together with Freund's complete adjuvant which produced strong anti-HCV core humoral immune responses.

CONCLUSION

It is important for the study of gene vaccine to construct a certain length of HCV core gene.