scholarly journals Characterization of a Cytotoxic Factor in Culture Filtrates of Serratia marcescens

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 1121-1128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent B. Marty ◽  
Christopher L. Williams ◽  
Linda J. Guynn ◽  
Michael J. Benedik ◽  
Steven R. Blanke
Keyword(s):  
Cytotoxic Activity ◽  
Serratia Marcescens ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Recombinant Expression ◽  
Cytotoxic Factor ◽  
Culture Filtrates ◽  
Type Strains

ABSTRACT Serratia marcescens culture filtrates have been reported to be cytotoxic to mammalian cells. Using biochemical and genetic approaches, we have identified a major source of this cytotoxic activity. Both heat and protease treatments abrogated the cytotoxicity of S. marcescens culture filtrates towards HeLa cells, suggesting the involvement of one or more protein factors. A screen for in vitro cytotoxic activity revealed that S. marcescens mutant strains that are deficient in production of a 56-kDa metalloprotease are significantly less cytotoxic to mammalian cells. Cytotoxicity was significantly reduced when culture filtrates prepared from wild-type strains were pretreated with either EDTA or 1,10-phenanthroline, which are potent inhibitors of the 56-kDa metalloprotease. Furthermore, cytotoxic activity was restored when the same culture filtrates were incubated with zinc divalent cations, which are essential for enzymatic activity of the 56-kDa metalloprotease. Finally, recombinant expression of the S. marcescens 56-kDa metalloprotease conferred a cytotoxic phenotype on the culture filtrates of a nonpathogenic Escherichia coli strain. Collectively, these data suggest that the 56-kDa metalloprotease contributes significantly to the in vitro cytotoxic activity commonly observed in S. marcescens culture filtrates.

scholarly journals B-1 cell: the precursor of a novel mononuclear phagocyte with immuno-regulatory properties

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 489-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Daniel Lopes ◽  
Mario Mariano
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Giant Cells ◽  
Mononuclear Phagocyte ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
B1 Cells ◽  
Regulatory Properties

Characterization of the origin, properties, functions and fate of cells is a fundamental task for the understanding of physiological and pathological phenomena. Despite the bulk of knowledge concerning the diverse characteristics of mammalian cells, some of them, such as B-1 cells, are still poorly understood. Here we report the results obtained in our laboratory on these cells in the last 10 years. After showing that B-1 cells could be cultured and amplified in vitro, a series of experiments were performed with these cells. They showed that B1 cells reside mostly in the peritoneal and pleural cavities, migrate to distant inflammatory foci, coalesce to form giant cells and participate in granuloma formation, both in vitro and in vivo. They are also able to present antigens to immunologically responsive cells and are endowed with regulatory properties. Further, we have also shown that these cells facilitate different types of infection as well as tumor growth and spreading. These data are presently reviewed pointing to a pivotal role that these cells may play in innate and acquired immunity.

Characterization of transport mechanisms and determinants critical for Na+-dependent Pisymport of the PiT family paralogs human PiT1 and PiT2

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (6) ◽  
pp. C1377-C1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pernille Bøttger ◽  
Susanne E. Hede ◽  
Morten Grunnet ◽  
Boy Høyer ◽  
Dan A. Klærke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Maximal Activity ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Transport Function ◽  
Knockout Mutant ◽  
Uptake Medium ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

The general phosphate need in mammalian cells is accommodated by members of the Pitransport (PiT) family ( SLC20), which use either Na+or H+to mediate inorganic phosphate (Pi) symport. The mammalian PiT paralogs PiT1 and PiT2 are Na+-dependent Pi(NaPi) transporters and are exploited by a group of retroviruses for cell entry. Human PiT1 and PiT2 were characterized by expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes with32Pias a traceable Pisource. For PiT1, the Michaelis-Menten constant for Piwas determined as 322.5 ± 124.5 μM. PiT2 was analyzed for the first time and showed positive cooperativity in Piuptake with a half-maximal activity constant for Piof 163.5 ± 39.8 μM. PiT1- and PiT2-mediated Na+-dependent Piuptake functions were not significantly affected by acidic and alkaline pH and displayed similar Na+dependency patterns. However, only PiT2 was capable of Na+-independent Pitransport at acidic pH. Study of the impact of divalent cations Ca2+and Mg2+revealed that Ca2+was important, but not critical, for NaPitransport function of PiT proteins. To gain insight into the NaPicotransport function, we analyzed PiT2 and a PiT2 Pitransport knockout mutant using22Na+as a traceable Na+source. Na+was transported by PiT2 even without Piin the uptake medium and also when Pitransport function was knocked out. This is the first time decoupling of Pifrom Na+transport has been demonstrated for a PiT family member. Moreover, the results imply that putative transmembrane amino acids E55and E575are responsible for linking Piimport to Na+transport in PiT2.

scholarly journals Activation of platelet heparitinase by tumor cell-derived factors

Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Haimovitz-Friedman ◽  
DJ Falcone ◽  
A Eldor ◽  
V Schirrmacher ◽  
I Vlodavsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Native Form ◽  
Heat Stable ◽  
Inactive Form ◽  
Cell Lining ◽  
Mouse Lymphoma

Abstract The nature of the cooperation between platelets and tumor cells during the process of blood-borne metastasis is essentially unknown. In previous in vitro studies we showed that platelets participated in the formation of gaps in the endothelial cell lining, and that concomitantly heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans were degraded by the platelet heparitinase, released on activation of platelets. In the current study we show that the ability to degrade proteoheparan sulfate derived from endothelial extracellular matrix is gradually eliminated when the number of human platelets is decreased from 5 x 10(7) to 10(6) cells/mL. When aliquots of conditioned media or lysates of either Eb or heat-inactivated ESb mouse lymphoma cells (both of which showed no heparanase activity) were added to freeze-thawed lysates of 10(6) platelets, a reappearance of platelet heparitinase activity was observed. A similar activation was not elicited by lysates of several normal mammalian cells. These data suggest that in its native form, a fraction of the platelet heparitinase is stored in an inactive form that can be activated by a factor secreted by lymphoma, but not by normal cells. Partial characterization of the heparitinase-activating factor showed that it is a heat-stable polyanionic molecule, devoid of proteolytic activity and resistant to both proteolytic and chondroitinase digestions. Activation of platelet heparitinase was also observed on coincubation with chondroitinases ABC and AC, suggesting that the inactive form of platelet heparitinase could result from a complex formation with a chondroitinase-sensitive proteoglycan. The lymphoma-derived heparitinase activating factor itself is, however, not a chondroitinase, because activity of chondroitinase could not be detected in Eb and ESb cells. A possible mechanism by which tumor cells recruit and regulate the activity of platelet heparitinase, and its relevance to the progression of blood borne metastasis, is discussed.

scholarly journals Integrated Bioinformatic Analyses and Immune Characterization of New Neisseria gonorrhoeae Vaccine Antigens Expressed during Natural Mucosal Infection

Vaccines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianmou Zhu ◽  
Ryan McClure ◽  
Odile B. Harrison ◽  
Caroline Genco ◽  
Paola Massari
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae ◽  
Recombinant Expression ◽  
Selection Strategy ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Vaccine Antigens ◽  
Mucosal Infection ◽  
Associated Proteins

There is an increasingly severe trend of antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains worldwide and new therapeutic strategies are needed against this sexually-transmitted pathogen. Despite the urgency, progress towards a gonococcal vaccine has been slowed by a scarcity of suitable antigens, lack of correlates of protection in humans and limited animal models of infection. N. gonorrhoeae gene expression levels in the natural human host does not reflect expression in vitro, further complicating in vitro-basedvaccine analysis platforms. We designed a novel candidate antigen selection strategy (CASS), based on a reverse vaccinology-like approach coupled with bioinformatics. We utilized the CASS to mine gonococcal proteins expressed during human mucosal infection, reported in our previous studies, and focused on a large pool of hypothetical proteins as an untapped source of potential new antigens. Via two discovery and analysis phases (DAP), we identified 36 targets predicted to be immunogenic, membrane-associated proteins conserved in N. gonorrhoeae and suitable for recombinant expression. Six initial candidates were produced and used to immunize mice. Characterization of the immune responses indicated cross-reactive antibodies and serum bactericidal activity against different N. gonorrhoeae strains. These results support the CASS as a tool for the discovery of new vaccine candidates.

scholarly journals Purification and In Vitro Characterization of the Serratia marcescens NucC Protein, a Zinc-Binding Transcription Factor Homologous to P2 Ogr

2003 ◽  
Vol 185 (6) ◽  
pp. 1808-1816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor McAlister ◽  
Chao Zou ◽  
Robert H. Winslow ◽  
Gail E. Christie
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Serratia Marcescens ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Late Gene Expression ◽  
In Vitro Characterization ◽  
Template Dna

ABSTRACT NucC is structurally and functionally homologous to a family of prokaryotic zinc finger transcription factors required for late gene expression in P2- and P4-related bacteriophages. Characterization of these proteins in vitro has been hampered by their relative insolubility and tendency to aggregate. We report here the successful purification of soluble, active, wild-type NucC protein. Purified NucC exhibits site-specific binding to a conserved DNA sequence that is located upstream of NucC-dependent Serratia marcescens promoters and the late promoters of P2-related phages. This sequence is sufficient for binding of NucC in vitro. NucC binding to the S. marcescens nuclease promoter P nucA and to the sequence upstream of the P2 late promoter P F is accompanied by DNA bending. NucC protects about 25 nucleotides of the P F upstream region from DNase I digestion, and RNA polymerase protects the promoter region only in the presence of NucC. Template DNA, RNA polymerase holoenzyme, and purified NucC are the only macromolecular components required for transcription from P F in vitro.

scholarly journals YPR139c/LOA1encodes a novel lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase associated with lipid droplets and involved in TAG homeostasis

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Ayciriex ◽  
Marina Le Guédard ◽  
Nadine Camougrand ◽  
Gisèle Velours ◽  
Mario Schoene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lysophosphatidic Acid ◽  
Lipid Droplets ◽  
Neutral Lipids ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Metabolic Labeling ◽  
Lysophosphatidic Acid Acyltransferase ◽  
Escherichia Coli Cells ◽  
Type Strains

For many years, lipid droplets (LDs) were considered to be an inert store of lipids. However, recent data showed that LDs are dynamic organelles playing an important role in storage and mobilization of neutral lipids. In this paper, we report the characterization of LOA1 (alias VPS66, alias YPR139c), a yeast member of the glycerolipid acyltransferase family. LOA1 mutants show abnormalities in LD morphology. As previously reported, cells lacking LOA1 contain more LDs. Conversely, we showed that overexpression results in fewer LDs. We then compared the lipidome of loa1Δ mutant and wild-type strains. Steady-state metabolic labeling of loa1Δ revealed a significant reduction in triacylglycerol content, while phospholipid (PL) composition remained unchanged. Interestingly, lipidomic analysis indicates that both PLs and glycerolipids are qualitatively affected by the mutation, suggesting that Loa1p is a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPA AT) with a preference for oleoyl-CoA. This hypothesis was tested by in vitro assays using both membranes of Escherichia coli cells expressing LOA1 and purified proteins as enzyme sources. Our results from purification of subcellular compartments and proteomic studies show that Loa1p is associated with LD and active in this compartment. Loa1p is therefore a novel LPA AT and plays a role in LD formation.

scholarly journals Synthesis, Characterization and Antitumour Activity of Some Butyltin(IV) Cysteaminates and N,N-Dimethylcysteaminates

2000 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 233-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Gielen ◽  
Karel Handlir ◽  
Martin Hollein ◽  
Dick de Vos
Keyword(s):  
Cytotoxic Activity ◽  
Antitumour Activity ◽  
Synthesis And Characterization

The synthesis and characterization of four di- and tri-n-butyltin cysteaminates and N,N-dimethylcysteaminates and three protonated / quaternized derivatives are reported. They all exhibit moderate or high in vitro cytotoxic activity. Six of seven compounds presented in this work are more active than cisplatin, etoposide and 5-fluorouracil, but less active than methotrexate and doxorubicin.

scholarly journals Truncation of gene F5L partially masks rescue of vaccinia virus strain MVA growth on mammalian cells by restricting plaque size

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 466-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca M. Dobson ◽  
David C. Tscharke
Keyword(s):  
Vaccinia Virus ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Serial Passage ◽  
Plaque Morphology ◽  
Marker Rescue ◽  
Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara ◽  
Vacv Strain ◽  
Vaccinia Virus Strain

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is a candidate vaccine vector that is severely attenuated due to mutations acquired during several hundred rounds of serial passage in vitro. A previous study used marker rescue to produce a set of MVA recombinants with improved replication on mammalian cells. Here, we extended the characterization of these rescued MVA strains and identified vaccinia virus (VACV) gene F5L as a determinant of plaque morphology but not replication in vitro. F5 joins a growing group of VACV proteins that influence plaque formation more strongly than virus replication and which are disrupted in MVA. These defective genes in MVA confound the interpretation of marker rescue experiments designed to map mutations responsible for the attenuation of this important VACV strain.

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