scholarly journals Characterization of ultrapotent chemogenetic ligands for research applications in non-human primates

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Raper ◽  
Mark A.G. Eldridge ◽  
Scott Sternson ◽  
Jalene Y Shim ◽  
Grace P Fomani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Effector Molecules ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Pharmacological Control

Chemogenetics is a technique for obtaining selective pharmacological control over a cell population by expressing an engineered receptor that is selectively activated by an exogenously administered ligand. A promising approach for neuronal modulation involves the use of Pharmacologically Selective Actuator Modules (PSAMs); these chemogenetic receptors are selectively activated by ultrapotent Pharmacologically Selective Effector Molecules (uPSEMs). To extend the use of PSAM/PSEMs to studies in nonhuman primates it is necessary to thoroughly characterize the efficacy and safety of these tools. We describe the time course and brain penetrance in rhesus monkeys of two compounds with promising binding specificity and efficacy profiles in in vitro studies, uPSEM792 and uPSEM817, after systemic administration. Rhesus macaques received subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration of uPSEM817(0.064 mg/kg) or uPSEM792 (0.87 mg/kg) and plasma and CSF samples were collected over the course of 48 hours. Both compounds exhibited good brain penetrance, relatively slow washout and negligible conversion to potential metabolites - varenicline or hydroxyvarenicline. In addition, we found that neither of these uPSEMs significantly altered heart rate or sleep. Our results indicate that both compounds are suitable candidates for neuroscience studies using PSAMs in nonhuman primates.

A somatic cell-derived system for studying both early and late mitotic events in vitro

1989 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-462
Author(s):  
J. Nakagawa ◽  
G.T. Kitten ◽  
E.A. Nigg
Keyword(s):  
Chromatin Condensation ◽  
Nuclear Lamina ◽  
Free System ◽  
Cell Free System ◽  
Protein Substrates ◽  
Nuclear Envelope Breakdown ◽  
Biochemical Fractionation ◽  
A Cell

We describe a cell-free system for studying mitotic reorganization of nuclear structure. The system utilizes soluble extracts prepared from metaphase-arrested somatic chicken cells and supports both the disassembly and subsequent partial reassembly of exogenous nuclei. By fluorescence microscopy, biochemical fractionation, protein phosphorylation assays and electron microscopy, we show that chicken embryonic nuclei incubated in extracts prepared from metaphase-arrested chicken hepatoma cells undergo nuclear envelope breakdown, lamina depolymerization and chromatin condensation. These prophase-like events are strictly dependent on ATP and do not occur when nuclei are incubated in interphase extracts. Compared to interphase extracts, metaphase extracts show increased kinase activities toward a number of nuclear protein substrates, including lamins and histone H1; moreover, they specifically contain four soluble phosphoproteins of Mr 38,000, 75,000, 95,000 and 165,000. Following disassembly of exogenous nuclei in metaphase extracts, telophase-like reassembly of a nuclear lamina and re-formation of nuclear membranes around condensed chromatin can be induced by depletion of ATP from the extract. We anticipate that this reversible cell-free system will contribute to the identification and characterization of factors involved in regulatory and mechanistic aspects of mitosis.

scholarly journals A cell-free framework for biological systems engineering

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrike Niederholtmeyer ◽  
Zachary Sun ◽  
Yutaka Hori ◽  
Enoch Yeung ◽  
Amanda Verpoorte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Biological Engineering ◽  
Free System ◽  
Node Negative ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Free Environment ◽  
Synthetic Networks

While complex dynamic biological networks control gene expression and metabolism in all living organisms, engineering comparable synthetic networks remains challenging1,2. Conducting extensive, quantitative and rapid characterization during the design and implementation process of synthetic networks is currently severely limited due to cumbersome molecular cloning and the difficulties associated with measuring parts, components and systems in cellular hosts. Engineering gene networks in a cell-free environment promises to be an efficient and effective approach to rapidly develop novel biological systems and understand their operating regimes3-5. However, it remains questionable whether complex synthetic networks behave similarly in cells and a cell-free environment, which is critical for in vitro approaches to be of significance to biological engineering. Here we show that synthetic dynamic networks can be readily implemented, characterized, and engineered in a cell-free framework and consequently transferred to cellular hosts. We implemented and characterized the “repressilator”6, a three-node negative feedback oscillator in vitro. We then used our cell-free framework to engineer novel three-node, four-node, and five-node negative feedback architectures going from the characterization of circuit components to the rapid analysis of complete networks. We validated our cell-free approach by transferring these novel three-node and five-node oscillators to Escherichia coli, resulting in robust and synchronized oscillations reflecting the in vitro observation. We demonstrate that comprehensive circuit engineering can be performed in a cell-free system and that the in vitro results have direct applicability in vivo. Cell-free synthetic biology thus has the potential to drastically speed up design-build-test cycles in biological engineering and enable the quantitative characterization of synthetic and natural networks.

scholarly journals In vitro Characterization of Fitness and Convalescent Antibody Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Cluster 5 Variant Emerging in Mink at Danish Farms

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ria Lassaunière ◽  
Jannik Fonager ◽  
Morten Rasmussen ◽  
Anders Frische ◽  
Charlotta Polacek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Reference Strain ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Susceptible Animal ◽  
In Vitro Characterization ◽  
Cynomolgus Macaques ◽  
Animal Hosts

In addition to humans, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can transmit to animals that include hamsters, cats, dogs, mink, ferrets, tigers, lions, cynomolgus macaques, rhesus macaques, and treeshrew. Among these, mink are particularly susceptible. Indeed, 10 countries in Europe and North America reported SARS-CoV-2 infection among mink on fur farms. In Denmark, SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly among mink farms and spilled-over back into humans, acquiring mutations/deletions with unknown consequences for virulence and antigenicity. Here we describe a mink-associated SARS-CoV-2 variant (Cluster 5) characterized by 11 amino acid substitutions and four amino acid deletions relative to Wuhan-Hu-1. Temporal virus titration, together with genomic and subgenomic viral RNA quantitation, demonstrated a modest in vitro fitness attenuation of the Cluster 5 virus in the Vero-E6 cell line. Potential alterations in antigenicity conferred by amino acid changes in the spike protein that include three substitutions (Y453F, I692V, and M1229I) and a loss of two amino acid residues 69 and 70 (ΔH69/V70), were evaluated in a virus microneutralization assay. Compared to a reference strain, the Cluster 5 variant showed reduced neutralization in a proportion of convalescent human COVID-19 samples. The findings underscore the need for active surveillance SARS-CoV-2 infection and virus evolution in susceptible animal hosts.

Scanning Studies of Cell Surfaces

1973 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 608-609
Author(s):  
Virginia Fonte ◽  
Nancy Weller ◽  
Keith R. Porter
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Structural Organization ◽  
Cell Surfaces ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Scanning Electron

The surfaces of a cell in its topography and anti-genicity expresses subtle variations in the effective genome, as well as the physiology and structural organization of the underlying cytoplasm. Understanding the relationship of these various factors to the surface depends in part on obtaining a detailed characterization of the topography of cells and how this topography changes with phases in the cell cycle, with transformation to malignancy and with the cell's response to such physiologically active agents as cyclic AMP.We have therefore explored the usefulness of the scanning electron microscope in investigations of the cell's topography. Cells grown under favourable in vitro conditions have been fixed in glutaraldehyde, dehydrated in acetone and dried by the critical point method of Anderson.

Disassembly of the Drosophila nuclear lamina in a homologous cell-free system

1995 ◽  
Vol 108 (5) ◽  
pp. 2027-2035 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Maus ◽  
N. Stuurman ◽  
P.A. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Lamina ◽  
Meiotic Metaphase ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Cell Free Extract ◽  
Free System ◽  
Nuclear Lamin ◽  
A Cell

Stage 14 Drosophila oocytes are arrested in first meiotic metaphase. A cell-free extract of these oocytes catalyzes apparent disassembly of purified Drosophila nuclei as well as of nuclear lamin polymers formed in vitro from isolated interphase lamins. Biochemically, the oocyte extract catalyzes lamin solubilization and phosphorylation as well as characteristic changes in one- and two-dimensional gel mobility. A previously unidentified soluble lamin isoform is easily seen after in vitro disassembly. This isoform is detectable but present only in very small quantities in vivo and is apparently derived specifically from one of the two interphase lamin isoforms. Cell-free nuclear lamina disassembly is ATP-dependent and addition of calcium to extracts blocks disassembly as judged both morphologically and biochemically. This system will allow enzymological characterization of cell-free lamina disassembly as well as molecular analysis of specific Drosophila mutants.

scholarly journals Anti-HIV Activity of MDL 74968, a Novel Acyclonucleotide Derivative of Guanine: Drug Resistance and Drug Combination Effects in Vitro

1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 253-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.L. Taylor ◽  
S.P. Ahmed ◽  
T.M. Brennan ◽  
J.-F. Navé ◽  
P. Casara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleoside Analogues ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Cell Viability Assay ◽  
Viability Assay ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Hiv 1

MDL 74968 (9-[2-methylidene-3-(phosphonomethoxy)-propyl]guanine), a novel acyclonucleotide derivative of guanine, inhibited human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in vitro with activity comparable to that of adefovir (PMEA; 9-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl)adenine). MDL 74968 was investigated in combination with two licensed nucleoside analogues, zidovudine and didanosine, using a cell viability assay, and drug interactions were evaluated by the isobologram technique, by calculating combination indices and by the MacSynergy™ program. Inhibition of HIV-1 replication was only additive in both cases. MDL 74968 had equivalent antiviral activity against strains of HIV-1 HXB2 engineered to have mutations which conferred resistance to the nucleoside analogues lamivudine, didanosine and zidovudine and the non-nucleoside inhibitor of reverse transcriptase (RT) nevirapine, as against the wild type strain. Continued passage of HIV-1 RF in C8166 cells in the presence of MDL 74968 for 5 months (30 passages) failed to select drug resistant mutants. Continued passage of virus in the presence of the same concentration of adefovir for the same length of time selected a virus in a single culture, which was 3-fold resistant to adefovir and cross-resistant to MDL 74968. Genotypic characterization of this virus revealed a lysine to arginine exchange (AAA to AGA) at position 65 in the RT gene. This virus was not cross-resistant to either zidovudine or nevirapine but showed reduced sensitivity to zalcitabine, didanosine and lamivudine. Continued passage of HIV-1 RF in the presence of nevirapine or zidovudine, using similar experimental protocols selected drug resistant viruses after eight and 17 passages, respectively, but these viruses remained sensitive to adefovir and MDL 74968.

scholarly journals Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vector Mediates Postexposure Protection against Sudan Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in Nonhuman Primates

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 5664-5668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Geisbert ◽  
Kathleen M. Daddario-DiCaprio ◽  
Kinola J. N. Williams ◽  
Joan B. Geisbert ◽  
Anders Leung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Zaire Ebolavirus ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis

ABSTRACT Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vectors expressing homologous filoviral glycoproteins can completely protect rhesus monkeys against Marburg virus when administered after exposure and can partially protect macaques after challenge with Zaire ebolavirus. Here, we administered a VSV vector expressing the Sudan ebolavirus (SEBOV) glycoprotein to four rhesus macaques shortly after exposure to SEBOV. All four animals survived SEBOV challenge, while a control animal that received a nonspecific vector developed fulminant SEBOV hemorrhagic fever and succumbed. This is the first demonstration of complete postexposure protection against an Ebola virus in nonhuman primates and provides further evidence that postexposure vaccination may have utility in treating exposures to filoviruses.

scholarly journals Purification and characterization of NAD+:ADP-ribosyltransferase (polymerizing) from Dictyostelium discoideum

1993 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Kofler ◽  
E Wallraff ◽  
H Herzog ◽  
R Schneider ◽  
B Auer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Affinity Purification ◽  
Tight Binding ◽  
Purification Scheme ◽  
Adp Ribosyltransferase ◽  
Dna Ends ◽  
Lower Eukaryote

A novel affinity-purification scheme based on the tight binding of NAD+:ADP-ribosyltransferase (polymerizing) [pADPRT; poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; EC 2.4.2.30] to single-strand nicks in DNA, single-stranded patches and DNA ends has been developed to facilitate the purification of this enzyme from the lower eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum. Two homogeneous forms of the enzyme, with M(r) values of 116,000 and 90,000, were prepared from D. discoideum by using poly(A) hybridized to oligo(dT)-cellulose as affinity material. The Km is 20 microM NAD+ for the 90,000-M(r) protein and 77 microM NAD+ for the 116,000-M(r) protein. The optimum conditions for the enzyme activity in vitro are 6-10 degrees C and pH 8. The time course is linear during the first 10 min of the reaction only. As in enzymes of higher eukaryotes, the activity is dependent on DNA and histone H1 and is inhibited by 3-methoxybenzamide, nicotinamide, theophylline, caffeine and thymidine.

Characterization of anti oLHβ-antibodies acting as contraceptives in rhesus monkeys. I. In vitro binding properties

1982 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 295-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukio Yamamoto ◽  
Glen L. Gunsalus ◽  
Kalyan Sundaram ◽  
Rosemarie B. Thau
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Binding Properties ◽  
In Vitro Binding ◽  
Vitro Binding

Characterization of an insect ferritin subunit synthesized in a cell-free system

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1005-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Ketola-Pirie
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mass ◽  
Proteinase K ◽  
Translation Product ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Free System ◽  
Cell Free System ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Vacuolar System

Ferritin, an iron-sequestering and -binding protein, is localized to the vacuolar system in Calpodes ethlius larvae. The amount of iron-loaded ferritin in intact larval midgut can be increased by pretreatment with iron. When poly(A)+ RNA from control or iron-treated larvae was translated in vitro, a 24 kilodalton (kDa) protein was a major translation product. If the cell-free system was supplemented with dog pancreatic microsomes, the 24-kDa protein was not detectable: the major translation product was 28–30 kDa. The 24-kDa and 28- to 30-kDa proteins were identified as ferritin subunits by immunoprecipitation with anti-Manduca ferritin antibodies. Proteinase K digestion of the translation products showed that the 28- to 30-kDa subunit was targeted into the lumen of, and protected by, the microsomes. The change in molecular mass of the ferritin monomer was attributed to glycosylation of the 24-kDa subunit within the lumen of the microsomes. This was demonstrated by (i) the ability of the 28- to 30-kDa subunit, but not the 24-kDa subunit, to bind concanavalin A on Western blots and (ii) inhibition of the change in molecular mass from 24 to 28–30 kDa if tunicamycin is added to the microsomes. The results indicate that the Calpodes ferritin subunit was synthesized, targeted to microsomes, and glycosylated within their lumen in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system primed with midgut poly(A)+ RNA extracted from control or iron-treated larvae.Key words: insect ferritin, cell-free synthesis, glycosylation.

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