Structure, properties and enhanced expression of galactose-binding C-type lectins in mucous cells of gills from freshwater Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica)

2001 ◽  
Vol 360 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abinash Chandra MISTRY ◽  
Shinji HONDA ◽  
Shigehisa HIROSE

Using a Japanese-eel (Anguilla japonica) gill cDNA subtraction library, two novel β-d-galactose-binding lectins were identified that belong to group VII of the animal C-type lectin family. The eel C-type lectins, termed eCL-1 and eCL-2, are simple lectins composed of 163 amino acid residues, including a 22-residue signal peptide for secretion and a single carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of ∼ 130 residues typical of C-type lectins. The galactose specificity of the CRD was suggested by the presence of a QPD motif and confirmed by a competitive binding assay. Using Ruthenium Red staining, the lectins were shown to bind Ca2+ ions. SDS/PAGE showed that native eCL-1 and eCL-2have an SDS-resistant octameric structure (a tetramer of disulphide-linked dimers). Northern and Western blot analyses demonstrated high-level expression of eCL-1 and eCL-2 mRNAs and their protein products in gills from freshwater eels, which decreased markedly when the eels were transferred from freshwater to seawater. Immunohistochemistry showed that the eel lectins are localized in the exocrine mucous cells of the gill.

Author(s):  
M. C. Buhrer ◽  
R. A. Mathews

Ruthenium red has been used as a stain to demonstrate a variety of extracellular materials, especially acid mucopolysaccharides. It also reacts with certain intracellular and extracellular lipids. Since biochemical studies in our laboratory demonstrated the presence of a variety of monosaccharides in human hair ruthenium red staining procedures were adopted in order to evaluate the presence and morphological location of acid oligosaccharides in the keratinized aspect of hair.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5266-5275
Author(s):  
R D Palmiter ◽  
E P Sandgren ◽  
D M Koeller ◽  
R L Brinster

DNA regions of 10 and 7 kb that flank the mouse metallothionein II (MT-II) and MT-I genes, respectively, were combined with a minimally marked MT-I (MT-I*) gene and tested in transgenic mice. This construct resulted in (i) position-independent expression of MT-I* mRNA and copy number-dependent expression, (ii) levels of hepatic MT-I mRNA per cell per transgene that were about half that derived from endogenous MT-I genes, (iii) appropriate regulation by metals and hormones, and (iv) tissue distribution of transgene mRNA that resembled that of endogenous MT-I mRNA. These features were not observed when MT-I* was tested without the flanking regions. These MT-I flanking sequences also improved the expression of rat growth hormone reporter genes, with or without introns, that were under the control of the MT-I promoter. Moreover, they enhanced expression from two of four heterologous promoters/enhancers that were tested. Deletion analysis indicated that regions known to have DNase I-hypersensitive sites were necessary but not sufficient for high-level expression. These data suggest that the DNA regions flanking the mouse MT-I and MT-II genes have functions like the locus control regions described for other genes.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadeel Gassim Hassan ◽  
Abeer Babiker Idris ◽  
Mohamed A. Hassan ◽  
Hisham N. Altayb ◽  
Kyakonye Yasin ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundThere is an increase in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Sudan, accompanied by a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal malignancy. The cytotoxin-associated gene cagA gene is a marker of a pathogenicity island (PAI) in H. pylori and plays a crucial role in determining the clinical outcome of Helicobacter infections.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the frequency and heterogeneity of the cagA gene of H. pylori and correlate the presence of cagA gene with clinical outcomes.Materials and methodsFifty endoscopy biopsies were collected from Fedail and Soba hospitals in Khartoum state. DNA was extracted using the Guanidine chloride method followed by PCR to amplify 16S rRNA and cagA gene of H. pylori using specific primers. DNA amplicons of cagA gene were purified and sequenced. Bioinformatics and statistical analysis were done to characterize and to test the association between cagA gene and gastric complications.ResultsCagA gene was detected in 20/37(54%) of the samples that were found positive for H. pylori. There was no association between endoscopy finding and the presence of the cagA gene (p = 0.225). Specific amino acid variations were found at seven loci related to strains from a patient with duodenitis, gastric ulcer, and gastric atrophy (R448H, T457K, S460L, IT463-464VA, D470E, A482Q, KNV490-491-492TKT) while mutations in cancerous strain were A439P, T457P, and H500Y.ConclusionDisease-specific variations of cagA of H. pylori strains, in the region of amino acid residues 428-510, were evident among Sudanese patients with different gastroduodenal diseases. A novel mutation (K458N) was detected in a patient with duodenitis, which affects the positive electrostatic surface of cagA. Phylogenetic analysis showed a high level of diversity of cagA from Sudanese H. pylori strains.


Genetika ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 503-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanqing Wang ◽  
Ke Wang ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Slaven Prodanovic ◽  
Xiaohui Li ◽  
...  

Gliadins, as the major components of wheat storage proteins, determine the extensibility properties of dough and have important effects on flour processing quality. Wheat related species carries potential storage protein gene resources for quality improvement. In this study, we isolated and characterized the first complete ?-gliadin gene Omega-AS from Aegilops speltoides L. (2n = 2x = 14, SS) by allelic-specific PCR and investigated its phylogenetic relationships among Triticum and Aegilopsspecies. Molecular structure showed that Omega-AS gene consisted of 1122 bp encoding 373 amino acid residues with deduced molecular mass 41379.21 Da. Omega-AS gene was exceptionally rich in prolines and glutamines with fewer methionine and no cysteine. Sequence characterization and epitope analysis showed that three epitopes QQPIPVQPQQ, TQPQQPTPIQ and IQPQQPFPQQ were absent in Omega-AS gene encoded protein, indicating its potential value for wheat quality improvement with less toxic, or no toxic peptides. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Omega-AS was closely related to gliadin genes of wheat and related species and its divergence from bread wheat was more recently (less than 1.243 MYA). Heterologous expression showed that Omega-AS gene could successfully express with a high level in E. coli under the control of T7promoter. The transcription expression pattern of Omega-AS gene during grain development detected by qRT-PCR revealed that the highest expression level occurred at 17 days post an thesis.


1980 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 588-600
Author(s):  
S C Holt ◽  
A C Tanner ◽  
S S Socransky

Selected human oral and nonoral strains of the genera Actinobacillus and Haemophilus were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The strains examined were morphologically identical to recognized Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Haemophilus aphrophilus, and Haemophilus paraphrophilus. By transmission electron microscopy, the cells were typically gram negative in morphology, with several strains possessing some extracellular ruthenium red-staining polymeric material. Numerous vesicular structures, morphologically identical to lipopolysaccharide vesicles, were seen to originate from and be continuous with the surface of the outer membrane. Large numbers of these vesicles were also found in the external environment. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that both actinobacilli and haemophili possessed surface projections and an amorphous surface material which connected and covered adjacent cells.


Microscopy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 286-290
Author(s):  
Takamichi Kamigaki ◽  
Akihiro Ogawa

Abstract Some species of lactic acid bacteria used for the production of natural cheese produce exopolysaccharides (EPS). Electron microscopy is useful for analyzing the microstructure of EPS produced by lactic acid bacteria. However, pretreatments used to observe the microstructure of EPS by electron microscopy, such as dehydration and resin embedding, can result in EPS flowing out easily from the cell. Therefore, in this study, the Tokuyasu method was conducted on cryosection to reduce EPS outflow. Two types of observation method, namely, using lectin and ruthenium red, were conducted in an attempt to observe EPS produced by Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171. Observation using the lectin method confirmed that colloidal gold particles conjugated with a lectin recognizing β-galactoside were present in the capsule. Structures that appeared to be β-galactoside-containing slime polysaccharides that were released from the cell wall were also observed. Observation using ruthenium red showed that capsular polysaccharides (CPS) in the capsule were present as a net-like structure. Colloidal gold conjugation with an anti-β-lactoglobulin antibody, in addition to ruthenium red staining, allowed the identification of slime polysaccharides released from the cell wall in the milk protein network derived from the culture medium. Based on these results, the Tokuyasu method was considered to be a useful pretreatment method to clarify and observe the presence of EPS. In particular, both CPS in the capsule and slime exopolysaccharides released from the cell wall were visualized.


1993 ◽  
Vol 294 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Wang ◽  
M R Lee

We have cloned the cDNA of rat hsc70 (clathrin-uncoating ATPase) into a T7 expression system and have expressed this enzyme in Escherichia coli. The recombinant clathrin-uncoating ATPase is in the cytosolic fraction of the bacterium and is soluble. It was purified to homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose and ATP-agarose column chromatography. From 1 litre of bacterial culture (0.3-0.4 g of proteins), 5-20 mg of pure recombinant clathrin-uncoating ATPase was routinely obtained. The cloned enzyme is capable of dissociating clathrin from bovine coated vesicle. Furthermore, it is not methylated on basic amino acid residues and is not blocked at the N-terminus, indicating that these modifications on hsc70 are not essential for uncoating of clathrin. Binding of [alpha-32P]ATP by purified recombinant hsc70 was analysed by Scatchard plot. The results indicate that there one high-affinity binding component with a Kd (dissociation constant) of 0.2-0.3 microM. The peptide-stimulated ATPase activities of recombinant hsc70 at 37 degrees C with respect to S-peptide peptides P3a and GT4 at a concentration of 1.2 mM are 142 +/- 6, 214 +/- 8 and 362 +/- 5 pmol/h per micrograms of hsc70 protein respectively. The EC50 values of hsc70 ATPase for S-peptide, peptides P3a and GT4 are 2, 0.67 and 0.17 mM respectively. On the other hand, the dissociation constants of S-peptide, peptides P3a and GT4 for recombinant hsc70 are 7.6, 13 and 100 microM respectively. Thus peptide GT4 is the only peptide examined for which the binding constant is comparable with the EC50 for stimulation ATPase activity, albeit it has the lowest affinity for hsc70.


1998 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-99
Author(s):  
R. L. Sidebotham ◽  
N. K. Dhir ◽  
J. B. Elder ◽  
J. Spencer ◽  
M. M. Walker ◽  
...  

1. Mucin histochemistry is markedly altered in the stomach in intestinal-type adenocarcinoma. To increase understanding of these changes we have examined the content and distribution of carbohydrate in mucus glycopolypeptides isolated from non-malignant antrum, and from the uninvolved gastric mucosa and tumour site of patients with this disease. 2. The content of carbohydrate declined by 12.6% (P = 0.02) in mucus glycopolypeptides from uninvolved gastric mucosa when compared with those from non-malignant antrum, and by a further 25.4% (P < 0.001) in mucus glycopolypeptides from the tumour site. The first of these changes was accompanied by a significant decrease in the number of carbohydrate chains/1000 amino acid residues, and a significant increase in the number of monosaccharide units in each carbohydrate chain. The second of these changes was accompanied by significant decreases in both the number of carbohydrate chains/1000 amino acid residues, and in the number of monosaccharide units in each carbohydrate chain. 3. The number of sulphated monosaccharide units/100 carbohydrate chains increased from a mean of 7.2 in mucus glycopolypeptides from non-malignant antrum to a mean of 27.2 (P < 0.001) in preparations from uninvolved gastric mucosa and 22.7 (P < 0.001) in preparations from the tumour site. 4. Evidence is presented that these structural changes to mucus glycopolypeptides from the malignant stomach are due to an abnormal mucin biosynthesis by metaplastic goblet cells and/or immature gastric-type mucous cells within the uninvolved mucosa, and immature mucous cells at the tumour site.


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