Analysis of the dielectric properties of keratin in the α-dispersion electric field region

The dielectric method has been applied to study the relaxation mechanisms of non-irradiated and γ-irradiated keratin-water systems in the electric field frequency range of 10¹–10⁵ Hz and at temperatures from 22 to 190°C. Measurements were performed for keratin samples containing 3% water by mass at room temperature. The doses of γ-irradiation were 5, 50 and 200 kGy. The influence of water and γ-irradiation on the dielectric behaviour of keratin was negligible up to 120°C but significant in the temperature range of 140–190°C. In the first temperature range, the motion of polar side chains was characterised by a low activation energy of 11 kJ mol⁻¹, while longer relaxation times varied from 418 to 155 ms. In the range 140–190°C, the release of the strongly bound water in keratin samples irradiated with doses of 0–50 kGy was evidenced by the high value of the activation energy of 84 kJ mol⁻¹ and shorter relaxation times varying from 43 to 3 ms. The value of the activation energy decreased to 55 kJ mol⁻¹ for keratin samples irradiated with 200 kGy as a result of degradation of the hydrogen bond between the water and polar groups of the main chain of the macromolecule. The results presented may be useful in bio-electrical impedance analysis, for physiological and clinical research. The method applied in vivo should permit detection of changes in the stratum corneum induced by water, ionising radiation, cosmetics and diseases such as fibromyalagia or diabetic foot ulcers.     

Elementary study on the antigenicity of SARS-CoV Mc region

To test the antigenic activity of M protein (Mc protein) in the inner membrane of SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV Mc protein's bases locating inside the membrane were cloned, the His-fusion protein was expressed in E. coli and analyzed for its antigenic activity. Among those 7 clinically diagnosed patients' sera , there were 5 positive and 2 negative in reaction with His-fusion protein. All of the 20 healthy persons' sera and rabbit anti-OC43 and 229E were of negative reaction with His-fusion protein. The animals immunized with His-fusion protein have produced multi-clonal antibody. The His-fusion protein could specially react with clinically diagnosed SARS patients' sera and the animals immunized with His-fusion protein could produce specifically multi-clonal antibody, but it could not react with the sera of healthy persons and the rabbit anti-OC43 and 229E.     

Nucleotide sequence of the 3′ terminal region of the RNA of two filamentous grapevine viruses

Summary The 3 terminal region of grapevine virus A (GVA) and grapevine virus B (GVB), encompassing 1883 and 2136 nucleotides, respectively, was sequenced by the deoxynucleotide chain termination method. Three putative open reading frames (ORF) were identified in both genomic viral RNAs, denoted 1 to 3 in the 5 to 3 direction. ORF 1 encoded a polypeptide with estimated M_r of 31 kDa (GVA) and 36.5 kDa (GVB), possessing the G/D motif of the 30 K superfamily movement proteins, and showing good alignments with putative movement proteins of trichoviruses and capilloviruses. ORF 2 was identified as the coat protein (CP) cistron, coding for polypeptides with an estimated M_r of 21.5 kDa (GVA) and 21.6 kDa (GVB). These CPs showed substantial sequence homology with one another and with CPs of tricho- and capilloviruses, but not of closteroviruses. ORF 3 potentially coded for two small polypeptides with estimated M_r of 10 kDa (GVA) and 14 kDa (GVB). The ORF 3 product of GVB (14 K), but not that of GVA, shared some homology with the 3 terminal polypeptides of different plant viruses that exhibit the zinc finger domain of proteins with nucleic acid-binding properties. GVA and GVB have many properties in common with trichoviruses but possess an extra open reading frame (ORF 3). Whether this finding may have a bearing on the classification of these viruses is unclear. However, until the taxonomic significance of this difference in genome structure is established, it seems plausible to include GVA and GVB as tentative species in theTrichovirus genus.     

Isolation of the missing 5′-end of the encoding region of the bovine leukemia virus cell receptor gene

Summary The missing 5-end of the encoding region of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) cell receptor gene (BLVRcp1/5) was isolated from a lambda gt11 cDNA library using the³²P-labeledEcoRI-SamI fragment corresponding to the 5-end of a 2.3 kbp cDNA fragment encoding the binding domain of the bovine leukemia virus cell receptor gene (BLVRcp1). The nucleotide and amino acid sequence analysis of the BLVRcp1/5 cDNA revealed that the 1058 bpEcoRI fragment at its 5-end contained a new 114 amino acid long sequence, and at its 3-end contained a completely identical 88 amino acid overlapping region with the 5-end of the BLVRcp1 cDNA. The combined sequences of both cDNAs represent the whole encoding region of the BLV cell receptor gene. The longest open reading frame of the BLV cell receptor gene encodes a protein containing 843 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 94.2 kDa which concurs with experimentally detected native BLV receptor protein. Search for homology has shown that about 250 bp of the BLV cell receptor gene is highly homologous to Venter's tag sequences of an unidentified gene from the human brain library.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Identification and characterization of the short variable region of the Japanese encephalitis virus 3′ NTR

Since the 1980s, the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) variants with slightly short variable regions (VR) of the 3′ non-translated region (NTR) have been found; however, the implications of these short VR remain unclear. We recently identified two novel types of short VR (5 and 9 nt shorter than that of major group of genotype I JEV strains) of genotype I JEV isolates. To elucidate the impact of these short VR on the replication and virulence of JEV, we generated five recombinant JEV viruses: M41-d5 and M41-d9 have deletions in the VR that correspond to those observed in some recent JEV isolates, M41-d5d9 has both the 5- and 9-nt deletions in the VR, M41-d27 has a large deletion that encompasses both the 5- and 9-nt deletion regions, and M41-a13 has a 13-nt sequence insertion of the genotype III JEV strain Beijing-1 into the parent genotype I JEV strain Mie/41/2002 genome. The recombinant viruses and the parent virus, except for the M41-d27 mutant, showed similar growth properties in mammalian and mosquito cell lines. Mouse challenge experiments indicated that no significant differences among the recombinant viruses M41-d5d9, M41-d27, M41-a13, and the parent virus. Our results suggest that the short VR in JEV 3′ NTR do not affect its growth in vitro or its pathogenicity in mice.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Species-specific B-cell epitope on the C-terminal region of the α antigen fromMycobacterium scrofulaceum

In the amino acid (AA) sequences of α antigen from mycobacteria, C-terminal regions were variable among a variety of mycobacterial species though the N-terminal regions were relatively conserved. These regions may possess some species-specific antigenic determinants of the α antigen fromMycobacterium scrofulaceum(S-α). AAs288–300 of S-α fused to β-galactosidase was reactive with the antisera raised against S-α. The same fused peptide did not react with the antisera raised against the α antigen fromMycobacterium avium(A-α) andMycobacterium bovisBCG (B-α). B-cell epitope mapping then was performed focusing on the C-terminal region of S-α using the synthetic peptides. Their reactivities with antisera raised against the α antigens of three different mycobacterial species were assessed by ELISA. AAs279–286 were a cross-reactive common immunodominant region among three mycobacterial species. This region may be one of the cross-reactive common epitopes in mycobacterial species. And AAs291–300 were reactive only with the antisera raised against S-α. This region may possess a species-specific epitope.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Functional study of the different haplotypes cDNA in the coding region of CⅡTA gene

Objective To study the function of 4 different haplotypes cDNA which are constructed by two non-homonymy single nueleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites C19170G (Leu45Val) and C30799G (Ala500Gly) in the coding region of human CⅡTA gene. Methods HeLa cells were transfeeted with eu-karyotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. C Ⅱ TA mRNA and HLA classⅡanti-gen (HLA-DR, DP, DQ) were respectively detected by RT-PCR and indirect cell immunofluoreseence tech-nique in the untransfected and transfeeted with four eukaryotic expression vectors and empty vectors HeLa cells. The quantity of HLA classⅡ antigen were analyzed by flow eytometry. Results No expression of CⅡTA mRNA and HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed on original HeLa cells and empty vector transfected cells. CⅡTA mRNA expression was emerged, and the expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigen were observed in the HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA. And there were not significantly different with the levels of HLA class Ⅱ antigen expression among HeLa cells transfected with eukaryotic expression vectors containing four different haplotypes cDNA ( P > 0.05 ). Con-dusion The SNP of Chinese at the sites C19170G(Leu45Val) and C30799G(Ala500Gly) in the coding site of C Ⅱ TA gene did not influence capability of CⅡTA trans-aetivating HLA class Ⅱgene expression.     

Characterization of the 5′-flanking region and chromosomal assignment of the human brain natriuretic peptide gene

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone that occurs predominantly in the ventricle, and synthesis and secretion of BNP are greatly augmented in patients with congestive heart failure and in animal models of ventricular hypertrophy. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the human BNP gene expression in the heart, the human BNP gene was isolated from a size-selected genomic minilibrary. The 1.9-kb human BNP 5-flanking region (–1813 to +110) contained an array of putative cis-acting regulatory elements. Various lengths of the cloned 5-flanking sequences were linked upstream to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene, and their promoter activities were assayed. The 1.9-kb promoter region showed a high-level CAT activity in cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiocytes. When the CT-rich sequences (–1288 to –1095) were deleted, the high-level activity was reduced to approximately 30%. The 399-bp BNP 5 flanking region (–289 to +110) showed approximately 10% activity of the 1.9-kb region. Furthermore, using human-rodent somatic hybrid cell lines, the BNP gene was assigned to human chromosome 1, on which the atrial natriuretic peptide gene is localized. The present study leads to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms for the human BNP gene expression in the heart.Abbreviations ANP Atrial natriuretic peptide - AP-1 Activator protein-1 - BNP Brain natriuretic peptide - CAT Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase