Glycosyl-sn-1,2-dimyristylphosphatidylinositol is the membrane anchor for Trypanosoma equiperdum and T. (Nannomonas) congolense variant surface glycoproteins

We have analysed the structures of the Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) congolense and T. equiperdum variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) membrane anchors. Myristic acid uptake, phospholipase treatment, and nitrous acid deamination showed that, for each species, the anchor is glycosyl-sn-1,2-dimyristylphosphatidylinositol, as has been previously described for T. brucei. Osmotic lysis of these trypanosomes resulted in the release of soluble VSG, lacking fatty acid. In both species and in T. evansi, an endogenous phospholipase C, which cleaved diacylglycerol from membrane form VSG, was identified.     

Topological analysis of antigenic determinants on a variant surface glycoprotein of Trypanosoma brucei

Nine monoclonal antibodies specific for the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of Trypanosoma brucei MITat 1.6 have been produced and characterised as part of a coordinated project to define the three dimensional structure and immunological profile of this and other VSG molecules. Competition radioimmunoassays using all combinations of these antibodies identified five distinct antigenic determinants, showing varying degrees of overlap, on the MITat 1.6 VSG molecule. A map has been constructed of the determinants which have been identified. Immunofluorescent staining of living trypanosomes in suspension revealed that only one of the five determinants is exposed on the surface of intact trypanosomes, the other four being accessible to antibody only after the surface coat has been disrupted or released into solution. Immunoblots, to detect binding of the antibodies to MITat 1.6 VSG transferred from sodium dodecyl sulphate gels to nitrocellulose paper, showed binding of all the monoclonal antibodies, except those recognising the surface of the living trypanosome, to VSG in this form. This suggests the surface determinant may be more conformationally iabile than the others identified. The significance of the existence, and apparent predominance of variant specific antigenic determinants which are cryptic in the intact surface coat is discussed.     

Novel acylation of poxvirus A-type inclusion proteins

Myristylation is one of several post-translational modifications that occur on vaccinia virus (VV) proteins. Previously, time course labeling of VV-infected cells with myristic acid had indicated that five late proteins (17, 25, 36, 38 and 92 kDa) are myristylated. Four of these proteins were mapped to the E7R, L1R, AI6L and G9R open-reading frames, respectively, because of the predicted presence of the N-myristyltransferase recognition sequence (M-G-X-X-X-S/T/A) at their amino termini. In contrast, computer analyses of large (80–100 kDa) VV open reading frames did not reveal any predicted species with this N-terminal motif. By immunoprecipitation with monospecific sera and transient expression of cloned gene products, the myristylated 92-kDa protein has been demonstrated to be the A-type inclusion protein encoded by the Western Reserve (WR) strain of VV. Labeling of cowpox virus (CPV) infected cells with myristic acid indicated that the 160-kDa A-type inclusion protein appears to be myristylated as well. Both the VV 92-kDa and the CPV 160-kDa A-type inclusion proteins labeled with myristic acid were stable to hydroxylamine treatment, suggesting an amide linkage between the fatty acid and the acceptor protein. HPLC analysis confirmed that the 92-kDa protein was in fact myristylated. This data suggests that poxvirus ATI proteins may be subject to a novel type of internal myristylation modification, and the roles such modifications may play in the replication cycles of these viruses is discussed.     

High dietary consumption of trans fatty acids decreases brain docosahexaenoic acid but does not alter amyloid-β and tau pathologies in the 3xTg-AD model of Alzheimer's disease

Dietary consumption of trans fatty acids (TFA) has increased during the 20th century and is a suspected risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. More recently, high TFA intake has been associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). To investigate the impact of TFA on an animal model genetically programmed to express amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau pathological markers of AD, we have fed 3xTg-AD mice with either control (0% TFA/total fatty acid), high TFA (16% TFA) or very high TFA (43% TFA) isocaloric diets from 2 to 16 months of age. Effects of TFA on plasma hepatic enzymes, glucose and lipid profile were minimal but very high TFA intake decreased visceral fat of non-transgenic mice. Importantly, dietary TFA increased brain TFA concentrations in a dose-related manner. Very high TFA consumption substantially modified the brain fatty acid profile by increasing mono-unsaturated fatty acids and decreasing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Very high TFA intake induced a shift from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) toward n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-6) without altering the n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio in the cortex of both control and 3xTg-AD mice. Changes in levels of Aβ₄₀, Aβ₄₂, tau protein, phosphorylated tau protein and synaptic markers were not statistically significant in the three groups of 3xTg-AD mice, despite a trend toward decreased insoluble tau in very high TFA-fed 3xTg-AD animals. In summary, TFA intake modulated brain fatty acid profiles but had no significant effect on major brain neuropathological hallmarks of AD in an animal model.     

Sequence and expression of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C of Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosoma brucei contains a membrane-bound phospholipase C which converts the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG), anchored in the membrane by a C-terminal glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol moiety, into a soluble form and diacylglycerol. The amino acid sequence (358 residues) of this enzyme, derived from the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA and the gene, reveals a polypeptide which lacks an obvious N-terminal signal sequence and stretches of exclusively hydrophobic residues. These properties suggest that the phospholipase is synthesized in the cytoplasm and subsequently associates with or translocates across intracellular membranes. There are much higher levels of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C mRNA in bloodstream form than in procyclic form trypanosomes. The phospholipase gene is probably present in one or two copies per haploid genome, probably not associated with VSG expression sites.     

Detection of the myristylated gag-raf transforming protein with raf-specific antipeptide sera

The post-translational modifications of the gag-raf fusion proteins of the 3611 murine sarcoma virus (MSV) have been examined by inhibiting glycosylation with tunicamycin and by in vivo labeling with [3H]myristic acid. The results show that P75gag-raf is myristylated but not glycosylated and that P90gag-raf is glycosylated but not myristylated (and is now termed gP90gag-raf). gP90gag-raf expression appeared to become lost during passage of the transformed cells, and consequently does not appear to be necessary for the maintenance of transformation. raf-specific sera for detecting gag-raf fusion proteins have been obtained from synthetic peptides made from different regions of the predicted v-raf sequence. Immunoprecipitation of P75gag-raf with raf-specific sera directly confirmed the deduced v-raf sequence. The fact that P75gag-raf is both myristylated and precipitated by antiserum to a predicted carboxyl-terminal peptide of the v-raf gene established that the mature protein represents the entire coding region. The gP90gag-raf thus appears to be a glycosylated form of P75gag-raf specified by the gag sequences of the fusion protein, in analogy with Pr65gag and gPr80gag of murine leukemia viruses. Antiserum to the carboxyl-terminal P75gag-raf peptide was the most efficient in immunoprecipitation, and will be useful for detecting the product of the c-raf gene.     

A glycolipid from Trypanosoma brucei related to the variant surface glycoprotein membrane anchor

The variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of Trypanosoma brucei is covalently linked to a phosphatidylinositol-containing glycolipid which serves as a membrane anchor. We previously identified a molecule, glycolipid A, which appears to be a biosynthetic precursor to the anchor [9]. In this paper we describe a related molecule, glycolipid C, which is similar to glycolipid A but which is more hydrophobic. Chromatographic analyses indicate that the polar head groups in glycolipids A and C are similar or identical. Both glycolipids contain phosphatidylinositol, but the inositol in glycolipid C is modified by a hydrophobic moiety. Since treatment of glycolipid C with mild alkali results in partial conversion to a molecule chromatographically identical to glycolipid A, it is likely that glycolipid C has an alkali-sensitive hydrophobic group, such as a fatty acid, linked to its inositol moiety.     

An improved method for the estimation of suramin in plasma and trypanosome samples

An improved method for the chemical estimation of suramin is described in which the aromatic amines released from the drug by acid hydrolysis are diazotised and then coupled to N-(1-napthyl)-ethylenediamine to form a pink coloured product (E_545nm^mM 267 ±5). Provided certain precautions are followed, the assay method is highly reproducible (±2%) and sufficiently sensitive to measure 2.5 nmol suramin in mixtures with plasma (0.5 ml) or trypanosomes (200 mg wet wt.).     

Myristylation of gag-onc fusion proteins in mammalian transforming retroviruses

Four cell lines producing transforming proteins encoded by three mammalian oncogenes (fes, abl, and ras) were investigated for incorporation of [3H]myristate into gag-onc fusion proteins. Using 5-min pulse-labelings, fusion proteins of Abelson murine leukemia virus, Gardner-Arnstein strain of feline sarcoma virus (FeSV), and Snyder-Theilen strain of FeSV were shown to be myristylated. In a 4-hr pulse, p29gag-ras of rat sarcoma virus (RaSV) was also shown to incorporate radiolabel. The fatty acid was recovered from this labeled protein by acid hydrolysis, and identified by reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography to be [3H]myristic acid. The results indicate that substitution of viral gag sequences by cellular oncogene sequences does not abolish their ability to become post-translationally modified by this long chain fatty acid (A. Schultz and S. Oroszlan, J. Virol. 46, 355-361). It is assumed that in the fusion proteins the myristyl moiety is linked through an amide linkage to the amino-terminal glycine as previously found for several retroviral gag precursor polyproteins (L. E. Henderson, H. C. Krutzsch, and S. Oroszlan, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 339-343). The possible role of myristylation of transforming proteins is discussed.     

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography of plasma fatty acids as their phenacyl esters to evaluate splanchnic and renal fatty acid balance in vivo.

Plasma fatty acids from renal and hepatic veins, and arterialized hand vein obtained in 20 subjects before and after insulin infusion were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography following phenacyl esterification. Separation and quantification over the range 1.0-100 nmol per injection of nine fatty acids was achieved within 60 min using [2H31]palmitic acid as internal standard. Analytical recoveries were greater than 90% and the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 2.5 and 4.0%, respectively. Following insulin infusion, net splanchnic uptake of total fatty acids decreased from 3.0+/-0.3 to 1.0+/-0.1 micromol/kg min (p<0.01), whereas net renal balance remained neutral (-0.04+/-0.04 vs. -0.06+/-0.03 micromol/kg min, p=N.S.). Individual fatty acid balance varied from a low of 0.012+/-0.005 (myristic acid) to a high of 0.95+/-0.08 (oleic acid) micromol/kg min across the splanchnic tissues and from 0.005+/-0.002 (stearic acid) to 0.21+/-0.1 (oleic acid) micromol/kg min across the kidney. There is a substantial diversity in changes in plasma concentration and regional balance of individual fatty acid during short-term fasting and hyperinsulinemia. This method is simple, accurate, and can be applied to assess individual fatty acid metabolism in vivo.     

Unusual fatty acid substitution in lipids and lipopolysaccharides of Helicobacter pylori.

Cellular fatty acids, phospholipid fatty acids, and lipopolysaccharide fatty acids of four strains of Helicobacter pylori were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The presence of myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, 19-carbon cyclopropane fatty acid, beta-hydroxypalmitic acid, and beta-hydroxystearic acid was confirmed. In phospholipids, myristic acid and 19-carbon cyclopropane fatty acid were the major fatty acids. Hydroxy fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids were not detected or occurred only in small amounts. The major fatty acids of lipopolysaccharides were stearic acid, beta-hydroxypalmitic acid, and beta-hydroxystearic acid. Unsaturated fatty acids and 19-carbon cyclopropane fatty acid were not found. The unusual compositions of H. pylori phospholipid and lipopolysaccharide fatty acids may have important implications for the taxonomy, physicochemical membrane properties, and biological activity of lipopolysaccharides.     

高效液相色谱法测定聚乳酸中乳酸单体残留量

目的通过高效液相色谱法(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)测定聚乳酸材料中乳酸单体的残留量,完善此类材料的质量评价方法。方法用三氯甲烷溶解聚乳酸材料样品后,加入等体积磷酸二氢钾水溶液(20 mmol/L,pH=2.87)涡旋振荡,静置分层后取上清液,采用C18 Synergi4u Hydro-RP 80A色谱柱,进样20μL,以流速0.6 m L/min,磷酸二氢钾水溶液为流动相,柱温30℃,紫外检测波长210 nm,外标法定量并进行方法学研究,包括液相色谱系统适应性、线性范围、检出限、定量限、回收率。结果本方法中理论塔板数为10660,拖尾因子为1.32,分离度为3.81,重复性相对标准偏差为0.54%(n=5),乳酸在浓度1.05~105μg/m L范围内与峰面积保持良好的线性关系(r=0.999979),检出限为0.42μg/m L,定量限为1.05μg/m L,萃取平均回收率为94.76%(n=6),其相对标准偏差为3.04%。聚乳酸样品中乳酸单体平均残留量为144.17μg/g。结论高效液相色谱法测定聚乳酸中乳酸单体残留量具有良好的线性范围,准确度高,重复性好,萃取回收率较高且操作简单,可用于聚乳酸材料中乳酸单体残留量测定。     

T-cell-independent and T-cell-dependent B-cell responses to exposed variant surface glycoprotein epitopes in trypanosome-infected mice.

The T-cell dependency of B-cell responses to variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) epitopes exposed in their native surface conformation on Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense clone LouTat 1 was investigated. T-cell requirements were examined by analyses of gamma globulin preparations derived from trypanosome-infected BALB/c nude (nu/nu) and thymus-intact (nu/+) mice. A radioimmunoassay was used to selectively quantitate antibody binding to native VSG 1 epitopes present on the surface of viable trypanosomes. Such analyses of VSG-specific antibody in infected mice demonstrated that in the absence of T cells there was a significant B-cell response to exposed VSG epitopes; however, in the presence of T cells these surface epitope-specific responses were greatly enhanced. In contrast to infection, immunization of mice with purified VSG 1 or paraformaldehyde-fixed parasites elicited significant VSG surface epitope-specific responses only in the presence of T cells (i.e., in nu/+ mice only). VSG-specific antibody responses in mice infected with three other clonal T. brucei rhodesiense populations (LouTat 1.2, 1.5, and 1.9) were found to be similar in this pattern, although not identical, to the anti-LouTat 1 responses. An important exception was that mice infected with LouTat 1.8 required T cells to produce VSG surface-specific antibody. Thus, the VSG surface epitope-specific B-cell responses in trypanosome-infected mice represent composite T-cell-independent and T-cell-dependent processes, and a significantly stronger response is made in the presence of T cells. However, immunization with VSG in the absence of infection elicited only T-cell-dependent responses. Since the relative contribution of T-cell-independent and T-cell-dependent processes to the total VSG-specific antibody produced during infection was variable (as seen with the absence of a T-cell-independent response to LouTat 1.8), this may reflect differences in the primary structure or display of VSG molecules on the trypanosome membrane or may represent active parasite interference with some epitope-specific B-cell responses.     

An expression-site-associated gene family of trypanosomes is expressed in vivo and shows homology to a variant surface glycoprotein gene

Utilizing first-strand cDNA from different stages, a gene family was identified that is expressed in bloodstream form trypanosomes but not in cultured procyclic forms. This family of 50-100 genes, termed bloodstream-specific 1 (BS1), shares a chromosomal distribution pattern similar to the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) genes and the expression-site-associated genes (ESAGs). The BS1 genes are expressed in several variants of Trypanosoma brucei brucei and in Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Sequence analysis of five members of this gene family reveals the recently described ESAG 6 and ESAG 7 genes as well as the ESAG X gene to be members of this family. We have been unable to localize the BS1 gene product in the cell but show that chronically infected rabbit serum recognizes recombinant BS1 protein arguing for expression in vivo. Finally we note that the derived protein sequence for the BS1 genes suggests an evolutionary relationship with at least one variant surface glycoprotein gene, and hence these studies may provide clues to understanding the molecular origins of antigenic variation in trypanosomes.     

Mice varying in resistance to African trypanosomiasis respond differently to treatments with variant surface glycoprotein

A comparative analysis of responses between resistant and susceptible hosts revealed that DBA/2 mice, after treatment with variant surface coat glycoprotein (VSG) from virulent or avirulent African trypanosomes, developed splenomegaly as the result of a near-doubling of the splenic cell population, had less polyclonal activation of B cells and were protected upon challenge with homologous trypanosomes. The susceptible C3H/Anf and C3H/HeJ mice on the other hand increased their splenic cell population by only 12%, had about twice the production of unelicited antibodies and were not immunized by the VSG treatments. This indicated that (a) proliferation of spleen cells during African trypanosomiasis may reflect an attempt to generate a specific and protective immune response and is not merely the result of polyclonal activation of lymphocytes; (b) production of unelicited antibodies is not merely a "bystander reaction" to the generation of antigen-specific responses; and (c) polyclonal antibody production in response to VSG is not linked to the LPS gene. Nonspecific immunosuppression as measured in mitogen assays was not elicited by VSG in either resistant or susceptible mice, indicating that polyclonal lymphocyte activation and nonspecific immunosuppression are unlinked phenomena. Mice injected with VSG from either virulent or avirulent isolates at levels normally encountered by hosts during severe, acute infection developed the same degree of splenomegaly and production of unelicited (polyclonal) antibodies. Therefore, any differences in polyclonal activation of lymphocytes measured between mice with acute vs. chronic African trypanosomiasis can be attributed to quantitative and not qualitative differences in VSG.     

Transport of ethanolamine and its incorporation into the variant surface glycoprotein of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei

The membrane-attached form of the variant surface glycoprotein (mf-VSG) of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei is anchored to the plasma membrane by a hydrophobic C-terminal lipo-oligosaccharide containing ethanolamine. Analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that several different cloned T. brucei strains (strain EATRO 110 and variants 117 and 118 of strain 427) incorporated [3H]ethanolamine into both mf-VSG and the soluble VSG derived from it, but not into other proteins. Other trypanosomatids, e.g. Leishmania mexicana promastigotes, T. cruzi epimastigotes, and T. brucei procyclic forms, did not incorporate ethanolamine into cellular proteins. Thus, [3H]ethanolamine can be used as a specific biosynthetic label for T. brucei VSG polypeptides. The time course of incorporation of [3H]ethanolamine into VSG showed a lag period of about 15 min. Double-labelling experiments using [3H]ethanolamine and H3[32P]O4 demonstrated that ethanolamine labelled only the C-terminal moiety and was not incorporated into other portions of the VSG molecule. Cellular uptake of ethanolamine occurred via a specific carrier-mediated transport system having a Vmax of 132 pmol min-1 mg-1 protein and a Km of 3.7 microM. The properties of this transport system are consistent with the possibility that ethanolamine is derived entirely from the host.     

Fatty acids modulate excitability in guinea-pig hippocampal slices.

A variety of fatty acids produced sustained changes in excitability in the guinea-pig hippocampal slice. Although each fatty acid was unique, a general pattern was evident. During a 30-min exposure, the synaptic potential was minimally affected, although population spike amplitude showed significant increases. With wash, synaptic efficacy increased. The increase in the synaptic potential was significant with arachidonic acid (100 microM), oleic acid (100 microM), myristic acid (250 microM) and capric acid (250 microM). Also with wash, the coupling between the synaptic potential and the population spike was reduced significantly for most of the fatty acids tested: arachidonic acid (50 microM, 100 microM), linoleic acid (100 microM) oleic acid (100 microM), stearic acid (100 microM), myristic acid (250 microM) and capric acid (250 microM, 500 microM). The fatty acids may influence neuronal excitability, in part, through a direct membrane action. The observed synaptic enhancement is consistent with a role for a fatty acid in long-term potentiation. In addition, fatty acid exposure mimics the effects of X-radiation. We suggest that free radical-induced release of fatty acids contributes to electrophysiological damage in a number of pathological states.     

Performance of Protein-A-Based Affinity Membranes for Antibody Purification

The preparation of affinity membranes for application in antibody purification studies is described here. Protein-A-attached poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-L-alanine) (PHEMAAL) membranes were produced by a photopolymerization technique and then characterized by swelling tests, surface area measurements, contact angle and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. The water swelling ratio of the PHEMAAL membrane was 133.2%. PHEMAAL membranes have large pores with a size in the range of 5–10 μm. Protein A was covalently attached onto the PHEMAAL membranes via cyanogen bromide (CNBr) activation. Maximum protein A loading was 4.7 mg/g. There was a very low non-specific IgG adsorption onto the PHEMAAL membranes, about 0.38 mg/g. The maximum IgG adsorption on the PHEMAAL–protein A membrane was found to be 9.8 mg/g at pH 7.4 from aqueous solutions. Higher adsorption amount was observed from human plasma (up to 37.3 mg/g). Adsorbed IgG was eluted using 0.1 M glycine-HCl buffer (pH 3.5) with a purity of 93%. PHEMAAL–protein A membrane was used for repetitive adsorption/elution of IgG without noticeable loss in IgG adsorption amount after 10 cycles. The PHEMAAL–protein A membrane showed several advantages, such as simpler preparation procedure, good selectivity for IgG purification from human plasma and good stability throughout repeated adsorption–elution cycles.