Proteomic analysis of salt-sensitive outer membrane proteins of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a universal marine pathogen with available genome sequences, could be used as a bacterial model to clarify the various physiological phenomena of its native and host environments. In the present study, proteomic methodologies were applied to investigate the expression pattern of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of V. parahaemolyticus at different NaCl concentrations. OmpW, OmpV, elongation factor TU and polar flagellin were determined to be osmoregulation-sensitive OMPs, among which OmpW and OmpV were reported to vary with changed NaCl concentrations in the pattern of osmolarity regulation. Therefore, our results not only expand our knowledge on osmoregulation-related proteins, but also provide a valuable strategy for the screening of salt-sensitive proteins.     

Progressive dilated cardiomyopathy in a patient with longstanding and complete prednisone-induced hematological remission of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

Summary A female patient is described in whom the diagnosis of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) with heart disease and peripheral neuropathy was made at the age of 32 years. Although prednisone induced a prompt and longstanding complete hematological remission, progressive and eventually intractable heart failure developed, and the patient died 6 years later. Endomyocardial biopsy at diagnosis showed infiltration with intact and disintegrated eosinophils and Charcot-Leyden crystals. Echocardiographic follow-up (including Doppler-Echocardiography) revealed mitral regurgitation with thickening and impaired motility of the posterior mitral leaflet, as well as progressive dilated cardiomyopathy. At autopsy, a diffuse interstitial fibrosis with patchy prominence in an eccentric hypertrophic and highly dilated heart was found. There were no significant endocardial thickening and no mural thrombi. In contrast to the findings of the initial endomyocardial biopsy, autopsy revealed no eosinophilic infiltrate.In this case, eosinophil-induced heart disease manifested as dilated cardiomyopathy, without endocardial fibrosis as originally described by Löffler. We speculate, that eosinophils have been deposited predominantly in the myocard at an early stage of disease, and — activated locally — secreted their granule proteins producing an initial damage to capillary endothelial cells and myocytes. After prednisone-induced clearance of eosinophils from blood and tissues, progressive, self-perpetuating interstitial fibrosis of the myocard and loss of myocytes eventually resulted in end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.Abkürzungsverzeichnis HES idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome - UBBC unsaturated vitamin B₁₂ binding capacity - ECP eosinophil cationic protein - MBC major basic protein - EDD end-diastolic diameter of the left ventricle - LA left atrium diameter - LVEDP left ventricular end-diastolic pressure - NIH National Institutes of Health     

The linear plasmid pSA3239 is essential for the replication of the Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae CCM 3239 chromosome

We previously reported the complete genome of Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. lavendulae CCM 3239, containing the linear chromosome and the large linear plasmid pSA3239. Although the chromosome exhibited replication features characteristic for the archetypal end-patching replication, it lacked the tap/tpg gene pair for two proteins essential for this process. However, this archetypal tpgSa-tapSa operon is present in pSA3239. Complete genomic sequence of the S. lavendulae Del-LP strain lacking this plasmid revealed the circularization of its chromosome with a large deletion of both arms. These results suggest an essential role of pSA3239-encoded TapSa/TpgSa in the end-patching replication of the chromosome.     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase induced by lipid-associated membrane proteins of Ureaplasma urealyticum is regulated by nuclear factor κB-mediated mechanism in murine macrophages

U.urealyticumisthesmallestprokaryoticorgan ismcapableofself replication.Thetinymicroor ganismcouldbeisolatedfromurogenital,placen tasandtherespiratorytractsofpreterminfants.Moreover,U.urealyticuminfectionmaybein volvedinnon specificurethritis(NSU),prostati tis,postpartumfever,infertility,pelvicinflamma torydisease,neonatalpneumoniaandevenchronic lungdisease(CLD)[1].ItisknownthatU.urealyticumlackscellwallstructureandcontains abundantmembraneproteins,butitspathogenicity isstillunknownclearly.…     

Isolation,characterization, phosphorylation and site of synthesis of Spinacia chloroplast ribosomal proteins

Summary We have characterized the ribosomal proteins from Spinacia chloroplasts using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The 30S and 50S subunits contain 23–25 and 36 ribosomal proteins, respectively. In contrast to prokaryotic ribosomes, chloroplast ribosomes contain at least one (and possibly two) phosphorylated ribosomal proteins. Isolated chloroplasts synthesize in the presence of (³⁵S) labeled methionine and cysteine at least seven 30S and thirteen 50S ribosomal proteins which are assembled into (pre)ribosomes. This suggests that about one third of the chloroplast ribosomal proteins is encoded by the chloroplast DNA itself. The identity of several labeled proteins in the two-dimensional gel electrophoretic patterns which did not comigrate with stained chloroplast ribosomal proteins is discussed.Abbreviations CBB Coomassie Brilliant Blue - CHI cycloheximide - cp chloroplast - DTT dithiotreitol - EDTA ethylene diamine tetraacetate - EGTA ethylene glycol-bis (-amino ethyl ether) N,N-tetraacetic acid - kD kilodalton - LHCP light harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein - PMSF phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride - RuBPCase ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase - SDS sodiumdodecylsulphate     

BDNF对急性高眼压后大鼠视网膜三种钙结合蛋白表达的影响

目的：检测外源性BDNF对急性高眼压后大鼠视网膜Parvalbumin（PV），calbindin D-28k（CB）和calretinin（CR）表达的影响。方法：72只SD大鼠随机分成高眼压组、溶媒预处理高眼压组和BDNF预处理高眼压组，每组动物左眼制作急性高眼压模型，右眼为正常对照，动物分别存活1、3、7或14d。用免疫组化方法检测视网膜PV、CB和CR的表达变化。结果：溶媒预处理高眼压组中PV、CB和CR的表达与高眼压组相似。高眼压组中，随着再灌时间延长，内层视网膜中PV和CB标记的神经元数先下调再逐渐恢复，而CR标记的神经元数逐渐减少；再灌1d时PV和CR具有从内核层到内网层的重新分布。在BDNF预处理高眼压组，PV、CB和CR标记的神经元数在再灌1d、7d和14d时与高眼压组比较无明显差异，但在再灌3d时，明显高于后者（P〈0．05）。结论：BDNF预处理对急性高眼压后视网膜的保护作用可能与其再灌早期上调钙结合蛋白的表达有关。     

Annexin A2的结构和功能及其与疾病的关系

Annexins是一类钙依赖性膜磷脂结合蛋白。Annexin A2是Annexins家族中的一个重要成员,存在于细胞膜、胞质和胞外。Annexin A2蛋白在细胞膜构架的形成、膜聚合、内吞和胞吐中均扮演重要角色。Annexin A2还参与某些病理过程,与心血管疾病、血液病、肿瘤等多种疾病相关。文章简要综述了Annexin A2分子的结构、生化特征、生物学功能及其与疾病的关系。     

In vivo requirements for rDNA chromosome condensation reveal two cell-cycle-regulated pathways for mitotic chromosome folding

Chromosome condensation plays an essential role in the maintenance of genetic integrity. Using genetic, cell biological, and biochemical approaches, we distinguish two cell-cycle-regulated pathways for chromosome condensation in budding yeast. From G(2) to metaphase, we show that the condensation of the approximately 1-Mb rDNA array is a multistep process, and describe condensin-dependent clustering, alignment, and resolution steps in chromosome folding. We functionally define a further postmetaphase chromosome assembly maturation step that is required for the maintenance of chromosome structural integrity during segregation. This late step in condensation requires the conserved mitotic kinase Ipl1/aurora in addition to condensin, but is independent of cohesin. Consistent with this, the late condensation pathway is initiated during the metaphase-to-anaphase transition, supports de novo condensation in cohesin mutants, and correlates with the Ipl1/aurora-dependent phosphorylation of condensin. These data provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of higher-order chromosome folding and suggest that two distinct condensation pathways, one involving cohesins and the other Ipl1/aurora, are required to modulate chromosome structure during mitosis.