scholarly journals In vitro DNA synthesis in the macronuclear replication band of Euplotes eurystomus.

1987 ◽  
Vol 104 (5) ◽  
pp. 1125-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
D E Olins ◽  
A L Olins

Isolated macronuclei from the hypotrichous ciliated protozoan Euplotes eurystomus incorporate biotinylated dUTP specifically into the replication band (RB) as detected with immunofluorescence, using rabbit anti-biotin antibodies followed by fluorescein-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG. When gold-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG was used in a preembedded reaction, subsequent immunoelectron microscopic analysis demonstrated that the biotinylated nucleotide appeared more concentrated in the rear zone of the RB, with almost no labeling in the forward zone. It was possible to use the immunofluorescent assay to establish that incorporation of biotinylated dUTP is inhibited by simultaneous addition of N-ethyl maleimide or aphidicolin, and by omission of any one of the other unlabeled dNTPs. In addition, prolonged heat shock of the intact cells, before lysis and in vitro assay, yielded markedly reduced incorporation. Comparison with published data on the in vivo incorporation of [3H]thymidine into Euplotes eurystomus RBs indicates the fidelity of the in vitro reaction.

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Régine Bosson ◽  
Isabelle Guillas ◽  
Christine Vionnet ◽  
Carole Roubaty ◽  
Andreas Conzelmann

ABSTRACT After glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) are added to GPI proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a fatty acid of the diacylglycerol moiety is exchanged for a C26:0 fatty acid through the subsequent actions of Per1 and Gup1. In most GPI anchors this modified diacylglycerol-based anchor is subsequently transformed into a ceramide-containing anchor, a reaction which requires Cwh43. Here we show that the last step of this GPI anchor lipid remodeling can be monitored in microsomes. The assay uses microsomes from cells that have been grown in the presence of myriocin, a compound that blocks the biosynthesis of dihydrosphingosine (DHS) and thus inhibits the biosynthesis of ceramide-based anchors. Such microsomes, when incubated with [3H]DHS, generate radiolabeled, ceramide-containing anchor lipids of the same structure as made by intact cells. Microsomes from cwh43Δ or mcd4Δ mutants, which are unable to make ceramide-based anchors in vivo, do not incorporate [3H]DHS into anchors in vitro. Moreover, gup1Δ microsomes incorporate [3H]DHS into the same abnormal anchor lipids as gup1Δ cells synthesize in vivo. Thus, the in vitro assay of ceramide incorporation into GPI anchors faithfully reproduces the events that occur in mutant cells. Incorporation of [3H]DHS into GPI proteins is observed with microsomes alone, but the reaction is stimulated by cytosol or bovine serum albumin, ATP plus coenzyme A (CoA), or C26:0-CoA, particularly if microsomes are depleted of acyl-CoA. Thus, [3H]DHS cannot be incorporated into proteins in the absence of acyl-CoA.


2006 ◽  
Vol 398 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna C. Hearps ◽  
David A. Jans

In addition to its well-documented role in integration of the viral genome, the HIV-1 enzyme IN (integrase) is thought to be involved in the preceding step of importing the viral cDNA into the nucleus. The ability of HIV to transport its cDNA through an intact nuclear envelope allows HIV-1 to infect non-dividing cells, which is thought to be crucial for the persistent nature of HIV/AIDS. Despite this, the mechanism utilized by HIV-1 to import its cDNA into the nucleus, and the viral proteins involved, remains ill-defined. In the present study we utilize in vitro techniques to assess the nuclear import properties of the IN protein, and show that IN interacts with members of the Imp (Importin) family of nuclear transport proteins with high affinity and exhibits rapid nuclear accumulation within an in vitro assay, indicating that IN possesses potent nucleophilic potential. IN nuclear import appears to be dependent on the Imp α/β heterodimer and Ran GTP (Ran in its GTP-bound state), but does not require ATP. Importantly, we show that IN is capable of binding DNA and facilitating its import into the nucleus of semi-intact cells via a process that involves basic residues within amino acids 186–188 of IN. These results confirm IN as an efficient mediator of DNA nuclear import in vitro and imply the potential for IN to fulfil such a role in vivo. These results may not only aid in highlighting potential therapeutic targets for impeding the progression of HIV/AIDS, but may also be relevant for non-viral gene delivery.


Author(s):  
Hongli Zhou ◽  
Minyu Zhou ◽  
Yue Hu ◽  
Yanin Limpanon ◽  
Yubin Ma ◽  
...  

AbstractAngiostrongylus cantonensis (AC) can cause severe eosinophilic meningitis or encephalitis in non-permissive hosts accompanied by apoptosis and necroptosis of brain cells. However, the explicit underlying molecular basis of apoptosis and necroptosis upon AC infection has not yet been elucidated. To determine the specific pathways of apoptosis and necroptosis upon AC infection, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis for gene expression microarray (accession number: GSE159486) of mouse brain infected by AC revealed that TNF-α likely played a central role in the apoptosis and necroptosis in the context of AC infection, which was further confirmed via an in vivo rescue assay after treating with TNF-α inhibitor. The signalling axes involved in apoptosis and necroptosis were investigated via immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Immunofluorescence was used to identify the specific cells that underwent apoptosis or necroptosis. The results showed that TNF-α induced apoptosis of astrocytes through the RIP1/FADD/Caspase-8 axis and induced necroptosis of neurons by the RIP3/MLKL signalling pathway. In addition, in vitro assay revealed that TNF-α secretion by microglia increased upon LSA stimulation and caused necroptosis of neurons. The present study provided the first evidence that TNF-α was secreted by microglia stimulated by AC infection, which caused cell death via parallel pathways of astrocyte apoptosis (mediated by the RIP1/FADD/caspase-8 axis) and neuron necroptosis (driven by the RIP3/MLKL complex). Our research comprehensively elucidated the mechanism of cell death after AC infection and provided new insight into targeting TNF-α signalling as a therapeutic strategy for CNS injury.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Nathan P. Wiederhold

Invasive infections caused by Candida that are resistant to clinically available antifungals are of increasing concern. Increasing rates of fluconazole resistance in non-albicans Candida species have been documented in multiple countries on several continents. This situation has been further exacerbated over the last several years by Candida auris, as isolates of this emerging pathogen that are often resistant to multiple antifungals. T-2307 is an aromatic diamidine currently in development for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. This agent has been shown to selectively cause the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential in yeasts when compared to mammalian cells. In vitro activity has been demonstrated against Candida species, including C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. auris strains, which are resistant to azole and echinocandin antifungals. Activity has also been reported against Cryptococcus species, and this has translated into in vivo efficacy in experimental models of invasive candidiasis and cryptococcosis. However, little is known regarding the clinical efficacy and safety of this agent, as published data from studies involving humans are not currently available.


Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Budani ◽  
Gian Mario Tiboni

Nitric oxide (NO) is formed during the oxidation of L-arginine to L-citrulline by the action of multiple isoenzymes of NO synthase (NOS): neuronal NOS (nNOS), endotelial NOS (eNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS). NO plays a relevant role in the vascular endothelium, in central and peripheral neurons, and in immunity and inflammatory systems. In addition, several authors showed a consistent contribution of NO to different aspects of the reproductive physiology. The aim of the present review is to analyse the published data on the role of NO within the ovary. It has been demonstrated that the multiple isoenzymes of NOS are expressed and localized in the ovary of different species. More to the point, a consistent role was ascribed to NO in the processes of steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, and oocyte meiotic maturation in in vitro and in vivo studies using animal models. Unfortunately, there are few nitric oxide data for humans; there are preliminary data on the implication of nitric oxide for oocyte/embryo quality and in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) parameters. NO plays a remarkable role in the ovary, but more investigation is needed, in particular in the context of human ovarian physiology.


Author(s):  
Julian Alfke ◽  
Uta Kampermann ◽  
Svetlana Kalinina ◽  
Melanie Esselen

AbstractDietary polyphenols like epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)—which represents the most abundant flavan-3-ol in green tea—are subject of several studies regarding their bioactivity and health-related properties. On many occasions, cell culture or in vitro experiments form the basis of published data. Although the stability of these compounds is observed to be low, many reported effects are directly related to the parent compounds whereas the impact of EGCG degradation and autoxidation products is not yet understood and merely studied. EGCG autoxidation products like its dimers theasinensin A and D, “P2” and oolongtheanin are yet to be characterized in the same extent as their parental polyphenol. However, to investigate the bioactivity of autoxidation products—which would minimize the discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo data—isolation and structure elucidation techniques are urgently needed. In this study, a new protocol to acquire the dimers theasinensin A and D as well as oolongtheanin is depicted, including a variety of spectroscopic and quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometric (qTOF-HRMS) data to characterize and assign these isolates. Through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, polarimetry, and especially circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy after enzymatic hydrolysis the complementary atropisomeric stereochemistry of the isolated theasinensins is illuminated and elucidated. Lastly, a direct comparison between the isolated EGCG autoxidation products and the monomer itself is carried out regarding their antioxidant properties featuring Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values. These findings help to characterize these products regarding their cellular effects and—which is of special interest in the flavonoid group—their redox properties.


Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 930-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Szilvassy ◽  
PM Lansdorp ◽  
RK Humphries ◽  
AC Eaves ◽  
CJ Eaves

Abstract A simple procedure is described for the quantitation and enrichment of murine hematopoietic cells with the capacity for long-term repopulation of lymphoid and myeloid tissues in lethally irradiated mice. To ensure detection of the most primitive marrow cells with this potential, we used a competitive assay in which female recipients were injected with male “test” cells and 1 to 2 x 10(5) “compromised” female marrow cells with normal short-term repopulating ability, but whose long-term repopulating ability had been reduced by serial transplantation. Primitive hematopoietic cells were purified by flow cytometry and sorting based on their forward and orthogonal light-scattering properties, and Thy-1 and H-2K antigen expression. Enrichment profiles for normal marrow, and marrow of mice injected with 5-fluorouracil (5- FU) four days previously, were established for each of these parameters using an in vitro assay for high proliferative potential, pluripotent colony-forming cells. When all four parameters were gated simultaneously, these clonogenic cells were enriched 100-fold. Both day 9 and day 12 CFU-S were copurified; however, the purity (23%) and enrichment (75-fold) of day 12 CFU-S in the sorted population was greater with 5-FU-treated cells. Five hundred of the sorted 5-FU marrow cells consistently repopulated recipient lymphoid and myeloid tissues (greater than 50% male, 1 to 3 months post-transplant) when co-injected with 1 to 2 x 10(5) compromised female marrow cells, and approximately 100 were sufficient to achieve the same result in 50% of recipients under the same conditions. This relatively simple purification and assay strategy should facilitate further analysis of the heterogeneity and regulation of stem cells that maintain hematopoiesis in vivo.


1970 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. TROELSEN

Forage of six pure species was harvested for hay at several maturity stages during four years. The digestible energy content of 102 different lots of hay was determined by feeding to four groups of sheep during the same period, and by in vitro digestions and energy analysis of the undigested residues. The relationship between digestible energy content assayed by the two methods was highly significant (r = 0.85) and did not differ between years and species. Exclusion from regression of the hays containing less than 2 or more than 3 digestible kcal/g revealed that the in vitro assay could reproduce the in vivo digestible energy value with a standard deviation of 0.31 in over 70% of the hays. This represented the maturity and quality range of forage commonly fed to cattle and sheep. The in vitro assay therefore appeared promising for commercial quality determinations.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3727-3734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifang Fang ◽  
Albert E. Fliss ◽  
Jie Rao ◽  
Avrom J. Caplan

ABSTRACT The Saccharomyces cerevisiae SBA1 gene was cloned by PCR amplification from yeast genomic DNA following its identification as encoding an ortholog of human p23, an Hsp90 cochaperone. TheSBA1 gene product is constitutively expressed and nonessential, although a disruption mutant grew more slowly than the wild type at both 18 and 37°C. A double deletion of SBA1and STI1, encoding an Hsp90 cochaperone, displayed synthetic growth defects. Affinity isolation of histidine-tagged Sba1p (Sba1His6) after expression in yeast led to coisolation of Hsp90 and the cyclophilin homolog Cpr6. Using an in vitro assembly assay, purified Sba1His6 bound to Hsp90 only in the presence of adenosine 5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) or adenyl-imidodiphosphate. Furthermore, interaction between purified Sba1His6 and Hsp90 in yeast extracts was inhibited by the benzoquinoid ansamycins geldanamycin and macbecin. The in vitro assay was also used to identify residues in Hsp90 that are important for complex formation with Sba1His6, and residues in both the N-terminal nucleotide binding domain and C-terminal half were characterized. In vivo analysis of known Hsp90 substrate proteins revealed that Sba1 loss of function had only a mild effect on the activity of the tyrosine kinase v-Src and steroid hormone receptors.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document