Preparation of protected peptidyl thioester intermediates for native chemical ligation by Nα‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry: considerations of side‐chain and backbone anchoring strategies,and compatible protection for N‐terminal cysteine*,†

Abstract: Native chemical ligation has proven to be a powerful method for the synthesis of small proteins and the semisynthesis of larger ones. The essential synthetic intermediates, which are C‐terminal peptide thioesters, cannot survive the repetitive piperidine deprotection steps of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. Therefore, peptide scientists who prefer to not use N^α‐t‐butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) chemistry need to adopt more esoteric strategies and tactics in order to integrate ligation approaches with Fmoc chemistry. In the present work, side‐chain and backbone anchoring strategies have been used to prepare the required suitably (partially) protected and/or activated peptide intermediates spanning the length of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI). Three separate strategies for managing the critical N‐terminal cysteine residue have been developed: (i) incorporation of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐S‐(N‐methyl‐N‐phenylcarbamoyl)sulfenylcysteine [Fmoc‐Cys(Snm)‐OH], allowing creation of an otherwise fully protected resin‐bound intermediate with N‐terminal free Cys; (ii) incorporation of N^α‐9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐S‐triphenylmethylcysteine [Fmoc‐Cys(Trt)‐OH], generating a stable Fmoc‐Cys(H)‐peptide upon acidolytic cleavage; and (iii) incorporation of N^α‐t‐butyloxycarbonyl‐S‐fluorenylmethylcysteine [Boc‐Cys(Fm)‐OH], generating a stable H‐Cys(Fm)‐peptide upon cleavage. In separate stages of these strategies, thioesters are established at the C‐termini by selective deprotection and coupling steps carried out while peptides remain bound to the supports. Pilot native chemical ligations were pursued directly on‐resin, as well as in solution after cleavage/purification.     

胃癌组织中CA19-9的表达研究

目的 研究肿瘤相关抗原CA19－9在胃癌组织中的表达情况。方法 采用免疫组织化学方法对30例胃癌、癌旁组织、正常胃粘膜和30例胃溃疡组织中的CA19－9的表达情况进行了检测。结果 30例胃癌CA19－9阳性表达23例（76.7%,23/30)。其中胞浆和胞膜均阳性的16例（69.6%,16/23)，而仅胞膜阳性5例（21.7%,5/23)。30例癌旁组织CA19－9阳性表达1例（3.3%,1/30)且为胞膜阳性。正常胃粘膜和胃溃疡组织中CA19－9表达均为阴性。在10例高分化腺癌组织中阳性4例，17例低分化腺癌组织中阳性16例，3例粘液癌全为阳性。结论 胃组织中CA19－9的表达可能成为胃癌的肿瘤标志之一，尤其适用于低分化腺癌和粘液癌，而对高分化腺癌不适合。     

基质金属蛋白酶-9在腰椎间盘髓核组织中的表达

目的 检测腰椎间盘髓核组织中基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）的表达，进一步阐明椎间盘退变的机制。方法 利用RT-PCR和Western-Blot技术，对20例正常腰椎间盘髓核、45例退变腰椎间盘髓核的MMP-9进行了检测。结果 正常腰椎间盘组髓核内有一定量的MMP-9表达，退变腰椎间盘组髓核MMP-9mRNA、蛋白质表达水平升高，分别是正常组的1．86和1．65倍，存在差异（P〈0．05）。结论 MMP-9与腰椎间盘髓核退变关系密切。     

Presence of lysine at aa 335 of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein of mumps virus vaccine strain Urabe AM9 is not a requirement for neurovirulence

The recent global resurgence of mumps has drawn attention to the continued need for robust mumps immunization programs. Unfortunately, some vaccines derived from inadequately attenuated vaccine strains of mumps virus have caused meningitis in vaccinees, leading to withdrawal of certain vaccine strains from the market, public resistance to vaccination, or in some cases, cessation of national mumps vaccination programs. The most widely implicated mumps vaccine in cases of postvaccination meningitis is derived from the Urabe AM9 strain, which remains in use in some countries. The Urabe AM9 vaccine virus has been shown to exhibit a considerable degree of nucleotide and amino acid heterogeneity. Some studies have specifically implicated variants containing a lysine residue at amino acid position 335 in the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein with neurotoxicity, whereas a glutamic acid residue at this position was associated with attenuation. To test this hypothesis we generated two modified Urabe AM9 cDNA clones coding either for a lysine or a glutamic acid at position 335 in the HN gene. The two viruses were rescued by reverse genetics and characterized in vitro and in vivo. Both viruses exhibited similar growth kinetics in neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines and were of similar neurotoxicity when tested in rats, suggesting that amino acid 335 is not a crucial determinant of Urabe AM9 growth or neurovirulence.     

Lung Transplant Metalloproteinase Levels Are Elevated Prior to Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Parenchymal disease in the allograft lung is associated with interstitial remodeling believed to be mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Recent studies suggest high levels of MMP-9 are associated with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in lung transplant recipients. Since BOS occurs late in the posttransplant period and may be preceded by episodes of acute rejection or infection, which are associated with interstitial remodeling, we examined MMP profiles in allograft bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in the early posttransplant period (preceding BOS). Gelatin zymography, protein array analysis and specific ELISA on BAL fluids from transplanted lungs indicated that MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were strongly expressed in allograft BAL fluid from stable patients, or those with infection or rejection compared to BAL fluid from normal volunteers. Elevated expression of MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 occurred early, and was sustained for the 3.2 years covered in this study. Elevations of MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the first 2 years posttransplant appear to be associated with lung transplantation itself, and not infection or rejection. These data suggest that ongoing and clinically silent MMP activity could perpetuate progressive disease in the allograft lung.     

MMP-9及TIMP-1在大鼠感染性脑水肿的表达及意义

目的探讨MMP-9及TIMP-1在大鼠感染性脑水肿的表达及意义。方法应用免疫组织化学方法（SP法）检测大鼠急性感染性脑水肿模型中MMP-9及TIMP-1的表达情况及其比值变化。结果MMP-9及TIMP-1在LPS组各时间点表达均高于对照纽且各时间点MMP-9／TIMP-1比值均明显升高（P〈0．05）。结论MMP-9及TIMP-1可能参与了感染性脑水肿的发生和发展。     

痔组织弹性纤维退变和血管生成的机制及其意义

目的研究痔组织弹性纤维的病理变化及微血管密度(MVD)和血管生成相关蛋白的表达与痔形成的关系。方法利用免疫组织化学染色技术(SP法),对比研究24例Ⅲ度痔患者的正常肛垫和痔两种组织内弹性纤维和MVD的变化,并检测一氧化氮合酶(NOS)的3种亚型、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和金属基质蛋白酶(MMP)2、MMP9在两种组织中表达的差异。结果痔组织存在显著的新生血管形成,痔组织与相对正常肛垫组织间的MVD计数、VEGF、MMP9表达差异存在统计学意义(P<0.05)。痔组织中iNOS明显增高,但与正常肛垫组织比较,不具备统计学意义;痔组织弹性纤维出现断裂、扭曲、变形、玻璃样变等异常,而正常肛垫组织中弹性纤维形态较规则、密集,断裂和变形少见。结论新生血管形成可能是痔的发病机制之一;MMP9对肛垫纤维支持结构的直接降解作用可能是痔形成和加重的一个重要机制;痔组织中iNOS表达增高还提示炎症因素和一氧化氮可能参与了痔的病理过程。     

CD44v9和MMP-9在结直肠癌组织中表达的临床意义

目的研究CD44v9和基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)在结直肠癌和癌旁组织中表达的临床意义。方法采用RT-PCR方法分别检测46例结直肠癌及癌旁组织CD44v9及MMP-9的阳性表达情况。结果46例结直肠癌组织中CD44v9和MMP-9的阳性表达率分别是58.7%和82.6%,明显高于癌旁组织(58.7%和47.8%),两者比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.001)。CD44v9和MMP-9在结直肠癌组织的阳性表达率与肿瘤的大小、分化高低、浸润深度、临床分期及淋巴结转移相关,而且两者在结直肠癌中的表达呈正相关。结论CD44v9和MMP-9与结直肠癌侵袭和转移性有关,可作为预测肿瘤转移潜能的指标。     

大肠癌患者血清MMP-9与VEGF水平的变化及意义

目的本文检测血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和基质金属蛋白酶(MMP-9)在大肠癌患者血清中的水平,探讨其与大肠癌恶性程度、浸润、转移的关系。方法用ELISA法对48例大肠癌患者及40例正常对照者血清VEGF和MMP-9进行检测。结果大肠癌患者血清VEGF、MMP-9的水平分别为(665.8±232.8)ng/L;(532.7±208.9)ug/L。显著高于对照组(391.6±135.2)ng/L;(317.8±132.2)ug/L(P<0.01)。并与组织分化程度、Duke’s分期有关。低分化者及C、D期患者较中、高度分化及A、B期高(P<0.01)。结论大肠癌患者血清VEGF和MMP-9水平增高,与肿瘤的组织分化程度、转移、分期有关,提示VEGF、MMP-9对大肠癌恶性程度的判断有一定的价值。