Effects of Selenium Yeast on Oxidative Stress,Growth Inhibition,and Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells

Recent evidence suggests that selenium (Se) yeast may exhibit potential anti-cancer properties; whereas the precise mechanisms remain unknown. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effects of Se yeast on oxidative stress, growth inhibition, and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. Treatments of ER-positive MCF-7 and triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells with Se yeast (100, 750, and 1500 ng Se/mL), methylseleninic acid (MSA, 1500 ng Se/mL), or methylselenocysteine (MSC, 1500 ng Se/mL) at a time course experiment (at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h) were analyzed. Se yeast inhibited the growth of these cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Compared with the same level of MSA, cancer cells exposure to Se yeast exhibited a lower growth-inhibitory response. The latter has also lower superoxide production and reduced antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, MSA (1500 ng Se/mL)-exposed non-tumorigenic human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) have a significant growth inhibitory effect, but not Se yeast and MSC. Compared with MSA, Se yeast resulted in a greater increase in the early apoptosis in MCF-7 cells as well as a lower proportion of early and late apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, nuclear morphological changes and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were observed. In conclusion, a dose of 100 to 1500 ng Se/mL of Se yeast can increase oxidative stress, and stimulate growth inhibitory effects and apoptosis induction in breast cancer cell lines, but does not affect non-tumorigenic cells.     

酵母双杂交筛选Clathrin相互作用蛋白

目的 应用酵母双杂交技术从小鼠肺cDNA文库中筛选与Clathrin相互作用蛋白,进一步阐明Clathrin在急性肺损伤和急性呼吸窘迫症（ALI/ARDS）发生时肺泡上皮极性损伤中的具体作用机制。方法 首先构建酵母双杂交pSos-Clathrin诱饵载体,酶切鉴定,然后确定Clathrin诱饵蛋白无自激活特性并检测了Clathrin诱饵蛋白的表达;最后筛选小鼠肺cDNA文库并对筛选得到的阳性克隆进行回转验证,对回转验证结果为阳性的文库克隆质粒送检测序,分析克隆序列。结果 酵母双杂交筛选小鼠肺cDNA文库得到4个与Clathrin相互作用蛋白,分别是：腺苷酸环化酶关联蛋白1,细丝蛋白α,DAP凋亡诱导蛋白激酶2和G蛋白耦联受体激酶6。结论 Clathrin参与细胞极性调节、炎症损伤和细胞凋亡等过程。     

Induced cross-protection responses against Cr(III) and Fe(III) ions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Stress tolerance of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined after exposure to iron and chromium, which are essential minerals in low concentrations but can be toxic if present in high concentrations. Induction of possible cross-protection responses was performed with the yeast pre-treatment at the start of cultivation with low concentrations of Fe(III) or Cr(III) ions, which slightly inhibit the growth and the subsequent exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of Fe(III) or Cr(III) ions in the mid-exponential phase. No cross-protection was found if yeasts were pre-treated with 0.1 mM Cr(III) and subsequent exposure to 2.5 mM Fe(III) ions took place. If pre-treated with 0.1 mM Fe(III) Saccharomyces cerevisiae conferred protection to subsequent challenges with a sub-lethal concentration of 2.5 mM Cr(III) ions resulting in higher biomass formation and higher relative cell viability in comparison to cells without pre-treatment. It is shown for the first time that iron pre-treatment enhanced yeast condition against chromium related stress via cross-protection mechanism.     

Host transcription factor Rpb11p affects tombusvirus replication and recombination via regulating the accumulation of viral replication proteins

Previous genome-wide screens identified over 100 host genes whose deletion/down-regulation affected tombusvirus replication and 32 host genes that affected tombusvirus RNA recombination in yeast, a model host for replication of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV). Down-regulation of several of the identified host genes affected the accumulation levels of p33 and p92(pol) replication proteins, raising the possibility that these host factors could be involved in the regulation of the amount of viral replication proteins and, thus, they are indirectly involved in TBSV replication and recombination. To test this model, we developed a tightly regulated expression system for recombinant p33 and p92(pol) replication proteins in yeast. We demonstrate that high accumulation level of p33 facilitated efficient viral RNA replication, while the effect of p33 level on RNA recombination was less pronounced. On the other hand, high level of p92(pol) accumulation promoted TBSV RNA recombination more efficiently than RNA replication. As predicted, Rpb11p, which is part of the polII complex, affected the accumulation levels of p33 and p92(pol) as well as altered RNA replication and recombination. An in vitro assay with the tombusvirus replicase further supported that Rpb11p affects TBSV replication and recombination only indirectly, via regulating p33 and p92(pol) levels. In contrast, the mechanism by which Rpt4p endopeptidase/ATPase and Mps1p threonine/tyrosine kinase affect TBSV recombination is different from that proposed for Rpb11p. We propose a model that the concentration (molecular crowding) of replication proteins within the viral replicase is a factor affecting viral replication and recombination.     

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of yeast extracts containing rotavirus-like particles: A potential veterinary vaccine

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in many animal species of economic interest. A simple, safe and cost-effective vaccine is required for the control and prevention of rotavirus in animals. In this study, we evaluated the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts containing rotavirus-like particles (RLP) as a vaccine candidate in an adult mice model. Two doses of 1 mg of yeast extract containing rotavirus proteins (between 0.3 and 3 μg) resulted in an immunological response capable of reducing the replication of rotavirus after infection. Viral shedding in all mice groups diminished in comparison with the control group when challenged with 100 50% diarrhea doses (DD₅₀) of murine rotavirus strain EDIM. Interestingly, when immunizing intranasally protection against rotavirus infection was observed even when no increase in rotavirus-specific antibody titers was evident, suggesting that cellular responses were responsible of protection. Our results indicate that raw yeast extracts containing rotavirus proteins and RLP are a simple, cost-effective alternative for veterinary vaccines against rotavirus.     

Schizosaccharomyces pombe: A novel transport vehicle of functional DNA and mRNA into mammalian antigen-presenting cells

Vaccine vehicles based on recombinant yeasts have become promising candidates for the induction of cellular immune responses. In this study, we investigated the capacity of the fission yeast Sz. pombe for the delivery of functional nucleic acids into murine and human antigen-presenting cells. We demonstrate that Sz. pombe cells effectively induce maturation of human dendritic cells (DC), an important prerequisite for T-cell activation. Further, recombinant fission yeast efficiently delivers functional DNA and mRNA into murine macrophages and human DC resulting in the expression of the model antigen eGFP in these cells. Thus, Sz. pombe suggests itself as a promising candidate for a novel live vaccine.     

酵母双杂交系统筛选CLN8P相互作用蛋白

目的：应用酵母双杂交系统筛选CLN8P相互作用蛋白质,通过对相互作用蛋白质的筛选及研究,探讨CLN8的功能,为NCL8和NCLs疾病群的发病机制研究提供线索,并为疾病的蛋白质相互作用网络提供资料。方法 应用酵母双杂交技术,以pLexA-CLN8为诱饵质粒筛选人胎脑cDNA文库,得到Leu+LacZ+阳性克隆,进一步进行验证,并对验证后的阳性克隆的外源性片断进行测序及同源性分析。结果 从人胎脑cDNA文库中筛选得到60个Leu+LacZ+阳性克隆;将获得的具有外源性片段的文库质粒与诱饵质粒一对一重新转入酵母体内对相互作用进行验证,共获得阳性克隆22个;对验证后阳性克隆测序并进行同源性分析,共获得不同的候选基因序列10个。结论 应用酵母双杂交系统,共筛选得到10个不同的基因,其编码蛋白与CLN8P有相互作用,可能与NCLs 发病机制相关。     

糖尿病并发症相关基因醛糖还原酶酵母细胞模型的建立

目的 构建由绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）标记的糖尿病慢性并发症相关基因醛糖还原酶（AR）表达载体，并在酵母细胞中表达，建立AR抑制剂筛选模型。方法 构建AR与GFP的嵌合基因，将此AR：：GFP嵌合基因克隆到酵母表达载体pYEX-BX中，再将重组载体pYEX-BX-AR：：GFP转化至酵母宿主菌INVSC1，在SC-UD选择性培养基中表达AR：：GFP。结果 PCR扩增出约l106bp大小片段，为AR基因片段；RT-PCR在酵母细胞中检测到ARmRNA的表达；经CuS04诱导后可见AR：：GFP融合蛋白的绿色荧光；诱导剂CuSO4终浓度在100～200μmol／L范围内相对荧光强度较高，细胞密度适中；培养基SC-UD的pH值为6左右最适合细胞生长和荧光表达。结论 AR：：GFP在酿酒酵母中成功地表达，酵母细胞是研究目的基因功能与表达的良好模式菌。     

Cloning and characterization of a novel hepatitis B virus core binding protein C12

AIM: To elucidate the biological function of HBV core antigen (HBcAg) on pathogenesis of hepatitis B, a novel gene C12 coding for protein with unknown function interacting with HBcAg in hepatocytes was identified and characterized. METHODS: HBcAg bait plasmid pGBKT7-HBcAg was constructed and transformed into yeast AH109, then the transformed yeast was mated with yeast Y187 containing liver complementary DNA (cDNA) library plasmid in 2×YPDA medium. Diploid yeast was plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing X-α-gal for screening twice. After extracting and sequencing of plasmid from blue colonies, we isolated a cDNA clone encoding a novel protein designated as C12 that directly interacted with HBcAg. The interaction between HBcAg and C12 was verified again by re-mating. PEGFP-N1-C12 fluorescent protein fusion gene was transfected in 293 and L02 cell, and observed by fluorescent microscope. MTT reduction assay was used to study the action of C12 protein effect on metabolism of mammal cell. Yeast two-hybrid and cDNA microarray were performed to search binding protein and differential expression genes regulated by C12 protein. RESULTS: C12 gene was screened and identified by yeast two-hybrid system 3. The interaction between HBcAg and the novel protein coded by the new gene C12 was further confirmed by re-mating. After 48 h, fluorescence of fusion protein could be observed steadily in the 293 and L02 cell plasma. Under MTT assay, we found that the expression of C12 did not influence the growth of liver cells. Seventeen differential expression genes in HepG2 cells transfected with C12 protein expression plasmid by cDNA microarray, of which 16 genes were upregulated and 1 gene was downregulated by C12 protein. Twenty-one colonies containing 16 different genes coding for C12 protein binding proteins were isolated by yeast two-hybrid, there were 2 new genes with unknown function. CONCLUSION: The novel protein C12 is located in cell plasma, and its overexpression has no significant effect on the metabolism of liver cell. It interacts with many proteins in hepatocytes and may be involved in many processes of gene expression.     

MIF活性区域相互作用蛋白的筛选

目的: 筛选与巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(MIF)催化巯基蛋白质氧化还原酶(TPOR)活性域相互结合的蛋白。方法: 采用酵母双杂交系统进行筛选。首先构建pBTM116-MIF诱饵质粒,转化酵母菌株L40;将表达MIF催化 TPOR活性域的L40酵母菌株制备成感受态菌,在人骨肉瘤cDNA文库中筛选。通过组氨酸(HIS3报告基因活性和β半乳糖苷酶实验,初步确定与催化TPOR活性域片段相互作用的蛋白,最终通过免疫共沉淀和免疫荧光技术来确认。结果: 分别构建含野生型MIF的pBTM116-MIF和野生型硫氧还蛋白样蛋白2(TXNL2)的pACT2-TXNL2质粒,将其共转染L40酵母菌。HIS3报告基因活性检测和β半乳糖苷酶阳性实验结果提示TXNL2可能是与MIF催化 TPOR活性片段相互作用的蛋白。将重组质粒pcDNA3.1-Myc-TXNL2转染MCF7细胞,免疫共沉淀实验结果表明MIF抗体能够共沉淀Myc-TXNL2蛋白;免疫荧光结果显示Myc-TXNL2与MIF在细胞质中位置分布相同。结论: TXNL2可能是与MIF催化TPOR活性片段相互作用的蛋白。本研究为MIF氧化还原机制的研究提供了新的实验依据。