Maleimide-thiol coupling of a bioactive peptide to an elastin-like protein polymer

Recombinant elastin-like protein (ELP) polymers display several favorable characteristics for tissue repair and replacement as well as drug delivery applications. However, these materials are derived from peptide sequences that do not lend themselves to cell adhesion, migration, or proliferation. This report describes the chemoselective ligation of peptide linkers bearing the bioactive RGD sequence to the surface of ELP hydrogels. Initially, cystamine is conjugated to ELP, followed by the temperature-driven formation of elastomeric ELP hydrogels. Cystamine reduction produces reactive thiols that are coupled to the RGD peptide linker via a terminal maleimide group. Investigations into the behavior of endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells on the RGD-modified ELP hydrogel surface reveal significantly enhanced attachment, spreading, migration and proliferation. Attached endothelial cells display a quiescent phenotype.     

Novel extracellular matrix for cell sheet recovery using genetically engineered elastin-like protein

Elastin-like peptides (ELPs) sequences are repeats of the pentapeptide GVGVP, and they have the ability to coaggregate reversibly, depending on the temperature. By exploiting this characteristic, a novel extracellular matrix protein (ECM) containing ELP was developed genetically to harvest a cell sheet from a culture dish. One of the ELP constructs, G288, consisted of 288 repeats of the sequence GVGVGP (G); it was attached to a hydrophobic dish surface. Next, cells with the sequence His-G36RG36, which has a His tag and an RGD sequence (R) that promotes attachment of the cell between the G36 sequences, consisted of 36 repeats of the sequence GVGVP, were added to the dish. After these cells became confluent, the temperature was changed to 20 degrees C in order to reverse the coaggregation. At this temperature, cells could be detached from the dish as a cell sheet. This genetically engineering method for construction of thermoresponsive ECM would be suitable to modify ECM with further functional domains.     

Mineralization and bone regeneration using a bioactive elastin-like recombinamer membrane

The search for alternative therapies to improve bone regeneration continues to be a major challenge for the medical community. Here we report on the enhanced mineralization, osteogenesis, and in vivo bone regeneration properties of a bioactive elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) membrane. Three bioactive ELRs exhibiting epitopes designed to promote mesenchymal stem cell adhesion (RGDS), mineralization (DDDEEKFLRRIGRFG), and both cell adhesion and mineralization were synthesized using standard recombinant protein techniques. The ELR materials were then used to fabricate membranes comprising either a smooth surface (Smooth) or channel microtopographies (Channels). Mineralization and osteoblastic differentiation of primary rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) were analyzed in both static and dynamic (uniaxial strain of 8% at 1 Hz frequency) conditions. Smooth mineralization membranes in static condition exhibited the highest quantity of calcium phosphate (Ca/P of 1.78) deposition with and without the presence of cells, the highest Young's modulus, and the highest production of alkaline phosphatase on day 10 in the presence of cells growing in non-osteogenic differentiation medium. These membranes were tested in a 5 mm-diameter critical-size rat calvarial defect model and analyzed for bone formation on day 36 after implantation. Animals treated with the mineralization membranes exhibited the highest bone volume within the defect as measured by micro-computed tomography and histology with no significant increase in inflammation. This study demonstrates the possibility of using bioactive ELR membranes for bone regeneration applications.     

Human recombinant elastin-like protein coatings for muscle cell proliferation and differentiation

Recombinant proteins represent a new and promising class of polymeric materials in the field of biomaterials research. An important model for biomaterial design is elastin, the protein accounting for the elasticity of several tissues. Human elastin-like polypeptides (HELPs) have been developed as recombinant versions of elastin with the purpose of enhancing some peculiar characteristics of the native protein, like self-assembling. In this paper, we report on a comparative study of rat myoblasts response to coatings based on two different HELP macromolecules, with respect to control cultures on bare cell culture polystyrene and on a standard collagen coating. Cell behavior was analyzed in terms of adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. The collected data strongly suggest the use of HELPs as excellent biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.     

Surface immobilization of elastin-like polypeptides using fluorinated surface modifying additives

Elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) surface modification represents a valuable approach for the development of biomaterials in a wide range of medical applications. In this study, ELP surface modification has been achieved through the use of elastin cross-linking peptide (ECP) bioactive fluorinated surface modifiers (ECP-BFSMs). The synthesis of low molecular weight fluorinated additives was described and their subsequent blending with a base polycarbonate urethane (PCNU) was shown to successfully enrich the surface to allow for ELP surface cross-linking via lysine moieties on the peptide segments of the ECP-BFSMs. The kinetics for the surface migration of fluorescent ECP-BFSMs was studied over a 2-week period by two-photon confocal microscopy. A decrease in advancing contact angle from 87.9° to 75.3° was observed for ECP-BFSM modified PCNU and was associated with the presence of ECP peptides on the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated an increase in surface atomic percent of fluorine (from 0.2 to 7.2%) and nitrogen (from 1.0 to 3.0%) associated with the surface localization of fluoro groups and amide groups associated with the peptides in the ECP-BFSMs. A further increase in surface atomic percent of nitrogen (from 3.0 to 8.3%) was observed after ELP surface cross-linking. These ELP-modified surfaces were shown to promote increased smooth muscle cell adhesion, spreading and retention over a 7-day culture period relative to their non-ELP4 analogs. This novel surface modifying additive approach may be used for various biomimetic applications since it generates a stable ECM-like surface retained onto a relatively inert fluorinated background.     

汉坦病毒S基因－多肽噬菌体表面呈现文库的构建

目的：构建汉坦病毒S基因—多肽片断噬菌体表面呈现文库，以期筛检出抗汉坦病毒InAb识别的病毒核衣壳蛋白抗原表位。方法：用DNaseI随机降解汉坦病毒76－118株S基因，回收50bp～300bp小的DNA片断，与克隆接头连接后插入经SfiI线性化的噬菌体载体fuse5，电穿孔导入MC1061菌建库。转化菌培养扩增后提取重组噬菌体，感染K91细胞测定库容，并随机挑选若干克隆测序。结果：构建的S基因噬菌体文库库容（以转导单位TU表示）为3．375X1010。抽检的8个克隆中有5个含有4种大小和组成不同的正确插人的S基因片断，另外3个克隆均为野生型载体的回复突变。结论：所建文库有足够大的库容和较好的多样性，预计可以满足筛检汉坦病毒核衣壳蛋白抗原表位的需要。     

Quantitative determination of TCR cross-reactivity using peptide libraries and protein databases.

A single T cell clone can be activated by many different peptides in the context of a particular HLA molecule. To quantify the number of peptides that can be recognized by a CD4(+) T cell clone, we screened a one-bead-one-peptide synthetic peptide library and a protein database for peptides that stimulate an HLA-DR3-restricted, human glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65)-reactive CD4(+) T cell clone. Both the library screening and the database analysis indicated that this T cell clone is able to recognize approximately 10(6) 11-mer peptides at low nanomolar concentration. Furthermore, we determined that the frequency of cross-reactivity increased only 1.5-3 times when the peptide concentration increased 10 times, in the range of 0.01 - 1 microM. These data imply that there is a considerable potential for T cell cross-reactivity and are useful for studies on the role of molecular mimicry in the etiology of T cell-mediated disease.     

Sequence of choline acetyltransferase temperature-sensitive mutants determined by the polymerase chain reaction

Two temperature-sensitive alleles of Drosophila melanogaster, Cha(ts1) and Cha(ts2), have been previously identified and are thought to be point mutations in the structural gene for the neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzyme choline acetyltransferase. In order to clarify the molecular nature of these alleles and characterize the presumed amino acid substitutions, we have used the polymerase chain reaction to amplify choline acetyltransferase messenger ribonucleic acid fragments from both mutant genotypes. Amplified mutant complementary deoxyribonucleic acid was cloned and used to construct chimeric complementary deoxyribonucleic acid clones containing approximately two-thirds of the wild-type sequence which would code for N-terminal amino acids and one-third of the mutant sequence coding for the C-terminal amino acids. After in vitro translation of complementary ribonucleic acid produced from the chimeric complementary deoxyribonucleic acid clones, choline acetyltransferase activity was determined and shown to be thermolabile. Sequence analyses of these clones showed that one amino acid substitution due to single base substitution is crucial in each chimeric choline acetyltransferase complementary deoxyribonucleic acid to generate a thermolabile choline acetyltransferase product. The point mutations of the structural gene for choline acetyltransferase are thus confirmed and shown to regulate the thermolability of the enzyme produced by Cha(ts1) and Cha(ts2).     

Tuftsin and its analogues. III. Modification of basic amino acid residues in the peptide chain

Five tuftsin analogues, containing one or two of the basic amino acid residues, respectively in position: 2, 3, 2 and 4, 2 and 3--of the peptide chain, were synthesized and tested for biologic activity by the Najjar test.     

Effect of an artificial silk elastin-like protein on the migration and collagen production of mouse fibroblasts

A silk elastin-like protein (SELP) is an artificial compound composing silk fibroin-like and elastin-like tandem repeats. The objective of this study is to evaluate the SELP effect on the migration, proliferation, and proteins production of L929 mouse fibroblasts. Upon culturing with different concentrations of SELP, the cells migration and their collagen production significantly enhanced in the SELP concentrations from 10^?3 to 10?μg/ml. However, irrespective of the SELP concentration, no difference in the production of fibronectin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) was observed. When the migration of mouse peritoneal macrophages by SELP was evaluated, significant enhancement of macrophages migration was observed in any concentration. It is concluded that the SELP has a potential to promote the migration of fibroblasts and macrophages, and the fibroblast collagen production.     

Construction of cancer vaccines with carbohydrate and protein (peptide) tumor antigens.

Tumor vaccinology is as old as immunological thought and as young as our rapidly evolving understanding of antigen processing and presentation. The recent availability of carbohydrate and peptide tumor antigens suitable for vaccine construction, conjugate and recombinant vector technologies capable of augmenting helper and cytotoxic T cell activity and potent new immunological adjuvants have combined to produce considerable optimism for the future of tumor vaccines.     

Genetic synthesis and characterization of pH- and temperature-sensitive silk-elastinlike protein block copolymers

The purpose of this work was to synthesize and characterize a pH- and temperature-sensitive block copolymer containing repeating sequences from silk (Gly-Ala-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ser) and elastin (Gly-Val-Gly-Val-Pro) protein. The monomer contained one repeat of silk and eight repeat units of elastin, with the first valine in one of the elastin repeats being replaced by glutamic acid. The copolymer was synthesized using genetic engineering techniques. The sensitivity of the copolymer to pH and temperature was examined at various polymer concentrations and ionic strengths. Turbidity measurements were carried out over a temperature range of 20 to 100 degrees C at various pH, concentration, and ionic strength values. The introduction of an ionizable residue (glutamic acid) rendered the copolymer sensitive to changes in pH. The transition termperature (T(t)), the temperature at which the polymer became insoluble upon increase in temperature, was modulated by changing the pH. In general, the T(t) value, was found: (1) to increase with an increase in pH, (2) to decrease with increasing ionic strength, and (3) to decrease with increasing concentration. Results of these studies suggest that by strategic placement of charged amino acids in genetically engineered silk-elastinlike protein block copolymers it is possible to precisely control sensitivity to stimuli such as pH and temperature.     

One-step detection of c-kit point mutations using peptide nucleic acid-mediated polymerase chain reaction clamping and hybridization probes

The prognostic significance of somatic activating codon 816 c-kit mutations in pediatric urticaria pigmentosa has not yet been established in detail. Detection of such mutations in archival paraffin-embedded biopsies is usually hampered by an abundance of surrounding normal cells. Here we describe a method for the selective amplification and specific detection of c-kit mutation Asp816-->Val in complete tissue sections cut from up to 24-year-old paraffin blocks. Peptide nucleic acid-mediated polymerase chain reaction clamping of the wild-type allele was combined with on-line mutation detection using oligonucleotide hybridization probes. In DNA extracted from HMC-1 cells heterozygously carrying the c-kit mutation Asp816-->Val, the one-tube assay allowed specific detection of this mutation in a more than 1000-fold excess of normal background DNA within 1 hour and without the need for additional analytical steps. In a series of 38 cases with pediatric urticaria pigmentosa we detected c-kit codons 815 and 816 mutations in 16 cases. Mutation detection did not correlate with clinical outcome after a mean follow-up of 11.2 years. In conclusion, the procedure described may represent an ideal screening tool for all kinds of clinical applications, using point mutations as markers of, for example, early events in carcinogenesis, circulating metastatic tumor cells, and minimal residual disease.     

125I辐照的聚醚醚酮粒子链的生物安全性

BACKGROUND: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has the potential to carry short-range radiations for cancer treatment. However, there is a lack of bio-safety assessment focusing on¹²⁵I irradiated PEEK particle chain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bio-safety of the ¹²⁵I brachytherapy source irradiated PEEK particle chain. METHODS: PEEK particle chain extracts were prepared according to GBT-16886 and applied in acute toxicity test on mice and rabbits, rabbit pyrogen test and rabbit intradermal reaction test. Animals in experimental, material and negative control groups were given irradiated PEEK particle chain extracts, non-irradiated PEEK particle chain extracts and extracts, respectively, to compare the experimental results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In mouse and rabbit acute toxicity test: irradiated PEEK particle chain extracts made no effects on the animal general conditions like breathing, activity, hair, secretion and body weight and morphology of the heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney and other vital organs. In pyrogen test: the maximum temperature in three rabbits reached 0.4 ℃ (< 0.6 ℃), and the sum was 0.7 ℃ (< 1.3 ℃). In intradermal reaction test: the rabbit erythema and edema reaction scores both were 0. To conclude, ¹²⁵I irradiated PEEK particle chain exhibits a good bio-safety, presenting no acute toxicity, pyogen reaction and intradermal reaction.      

抗人大肠癌单链抗体与绿色荧光蛋白融合基因的构建和表达

目的构建并表达绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)和鼠抗人大肠癌单链抗体ND-1scFv的融合蛋白,产生具有荧光的抗体。方法将鼠抗人大肠癌单链抗体ND-1scFv的基因克隆到pET28a(+)-GFP的表达载体,转化到大肠杆菌BL21中进行融合基因ND-1-scFv/GFP诱导表达。Ni-NTA亲和层析对表达产物进行分离、纯化,免疫印迹和荧光显微镜方法验证融合蛋白的表达。结果 ND-1scFv被克隆到表达载体pET28a(+)-GFP中,诱导表达的融合蛋白以包涵体形式存在,分子量为58kDa。SDS-PAGE灰度扫描结果显示纯化后的蛋白纯度为90%,荧光显微镜检测显示,表达有目的蛋白的大肠杆菌BL21具有明显的绿色荧光。结论成功构建并表达融合基因ND-1-scFv/GFP,为该单抗的肿瘤特异成像研究奠定了基础。E.coli     

Antigen presentation of lysozyme: T-cell recognition of peptide and intact protein after priming with synthetic overlapping peptides comprising the entire protein chain.

Recently, using synthetic overlapping peptides which encompass the entire protein chain of hen egg lysozyme, the full submolecular profile of continuous regions on the protein recognized by T cells (T sites) was localized. In the present report, we have examined in two mouse strains the proliferative response to peptides and to native protein of lymph node cells from mice primed with synthetic overlapping peptides, either individually or as a mixture. It was found that the pattern of T-cell recognition observed after priming with peptides differs from that obtained when the native protein is used as the immunogen. Some, but not all, of the T-site containing peptides were effective in priming for an anti-lysozyme T-cell response. Several peptides which were highly immunogenic as free synthetic peptides were not associated with any of the known protein T sites. Further, some peptides were effective in priming for T cells that respond in vitro to the priming peptide, but not to the whole protein. If antigen processing proceeds via fragmentation, then only those regions containing T sites would be expected to be effective in priming for a T-cell response to the intact protein. Since this was not found to be the case, it is unlikely that fragmentation of lysozyme is a prerequisite for antigen presentation. Rather, we suggest that the critical aspects in the presentation of a protein antigen predominantly involve recognition of an intact protein, the interaction of which with the cell membrane triggers cellular activating events.     

Cellular localization and cell cycle regulation by a temperature-sensitive p53 protein

Primary rat embryo fibroblasts were transformed by a p53 mutant (alanine to valine change at amino acid 135) plus ras. This p53val135 mutant is temperature sensitive for a conformational change detected by the binding of a monoclonal antibody, PAb246, which recognizes the wild-type protein or the great majority of p53val135 at 32.5 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, both mutant and wild-type p53 conformational forms co-exist in the cells, while at 39.5 degrees C, the majority of the p53val135 in the cell is in a mutant conformation not recognized by PAb246 antibody. At 39.5 degrees C, the mutant p53 is localized in the cytoplasm of the cell. At 32.5 degrees C, the p53 protein enters the nucleus and stops the growth of these cells. At 37 degrees C where there is a mixture of mutant and wild-type p53, the wild-type p53 protein is in a complex with hsc70 and mutant p53 protein in the cytoplasm of the cell during G1. This wild-type protein enters the nucleus as the cells enter the S-phase of the cell cycle. At 32.5 degrees C, the cells stop replication and arrest at the G1/S border. After 48 hr at 32.5 degrees C, 91% of the cells are in the G1 fraction of the cell cycle. The S-phase cells appear to be immune to the p53 negative regulation of growth until they enter the next G1 period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)