scholarly journals Functional Characterization of OXYL, A SghC1qDC LacNAc-specific Lectin from The Crinoid Feather Star Anneissia Japonica

Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imtiaj Hasan ◽  
Marco Gerdol ◽  
Yuki Fujii ◽  
Yasuhiro Ozeki
Keyword(s):  
Human Cancer ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Carbohydrate Binding ◽  
Human Cancer Cell Lines ◽  
Intronless Genes ◽  
Feather Star

We identified a lectin (carbohydrate-binding protein) belonging to the complement 1q(C1q) family in the feather star Anneissia japonica (a crinoid pertaining to the phylum Echinodermata). The combination of Edman degradation and bioinformatics sequence analysis characterized the primary structure of this novel lectin, named OXYL, as a secreted 158 amino acid-long globular head (sgh)C1q domain containing (C1qDC) protein. Comparative genomics analyses revealed that OXYL pertains to a family of intronless genes found with several paralogous copies in different crinoid species. Immunohistochemistry assays identified the tissues surrounding coelomic cavities and the arms as the main sites of production of OXYL. Glycan array confirmed that this lectin could quantitatively bind to type-2 N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc: Galβ1-4GlcNAc), but not to type-1 LacNAc (Galβ1-3GlcNAc). Although OXYL displayed agglutinating activity towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it had no effect on bacterial growth. On the other hand, it showed a significant anti-biofilm activity. We provide evidence that OXYL can adhere to the surface of human cancer cell lines BT-474, MCF-7, and T47D, with no cytotoxic effect. In BT-474 cells, OXYL led to a moderate activation of the p38 kinase in the MAPK signaling pathway, without affecting the activity of caspase-3. Bacterial agglutination, anti-biofilm activity, cell adhesion, and p38 activation were all suppressed by co-presence of LacNAc. This is the first report on a type-2 LacNAc-specific lectin characterized by a C1q structural fold.

scholarly journals Angiotensin II Receptors in Cortical and Medullary Adrenal Tumors1

1997 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 865-869
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Opocher ◽  
Stefano Rocco ◽  
Margherita Cimolato ◽  
Barbara Vianello ◽  
Giorgio Arnaldi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Angiotensin Ii ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Adrenal Tumors ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Receptor Density ◽  
Aldosterone Producing Adenoma ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Several pieces of evidences suggest that angiotensin II (Ang II) has mitogenic effects, and a link between Ang II receptors and adrenal tumors can be suggested. In various adrenal tumors, aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), Cushing’s adrenal adenomas (Cush), pheochromocytomas (Pheo), and adrenal carcinomas, we studied the density, affinity, and subtype of Ang II receptors. Ang II binding was tested in cell membrane homogenates. [125I]Ang II was used as ligand, and Losartan and CGP 42112 were used as selective Ang II type 1 and type 2 antagonists, respectively. In APA, Ang II receptor density was 178.5 ± 82.7 fmol/mg: however, due to the high degree of variability, the receptor density was not significantly higher than that in nontumorous adrenal cortex (59.3 ± 8.4 fmol/mg). In Cush, the receptor density (27.6 ± 8.2 fmol/mg; P< 0.05) was significantly lower than that in controls, whereas in Pheo and cortical carcinoma, Ang II binding was very low and in several cases almost undetectable. There was no remarkable difference in the Ang II receptor affinity among all tissues tested. The ratio between type 1 and type 2 Ang II receptors showed a large prevalence of type 1 in controls, APA, and three cases of Cush; in two cases of Cush, this ratio was reversed. In conclusion, our data indicate that Ang II receptors are normally expressed in APA and can also be detected in Cush, whereas they have a very low density in Pheo and adrenal carcinoma. Therefore, Ang II receptors are not involved in the lack of response to Ang II that is characteristic of APA; additionally, a reduction of Ang II receptors can be associated with dedifferentiation or malignancy of adrenal tumors. Further investigation of the expression and functional characterization of Ang II receptors is required to better clarify their possible role in adrenal tumorigenesis.

Characterization of damage and biotic factors associated with the decline of Eucalyptus wandoo in southwest Western Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 2589-2602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan J Hooper ◽  
K Sivasithamparam
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Partial Harvest ◽  
Foliage Density ◽  
Density Ratios ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mixed Age ◽  
Eucalyptus Wandoo

Crown decline of wandoo, Eucalyptus wandoo, in southwest Western Australia has escalated over the last 10 years, so very few unaffected stands remain. To assess the canopy-damage characteristics of trees in decline a destructive, partial-harvest method was used to sample branches in natural mixed-age stands. Necrosis of common cankers was closely associated with type-1 borer damage, characterized by "longitudinal" gallery structure on declining trees only. Cankers were found to be consistently more severe on declining trees, with decay regions affecting a greater proportion of sapwood tissue. Several infestations causing type-1 borer damage that varied in age were found on declining branches, providing evidence of cyclical damage events. Type-2 borer damage characterized by "ring-barking" gallery structure caused extensive damage in canopies, but was not always associated with decline. Interactions between foliage density and canker score showed that 17.8% and 63.1% of the variability in foliage-density ratios was accounted for in declining intermediate-health and unhealthy classes, respectively. The relationship was negligible for the healthy class (9.9%), providing strong evidence that cankers are causing foliage loss in declining canopies. Evidence suggests that an interaction between type-1 borer infestations and decay-causing fungi is responsible for the decline in E. wandoo wandoo canopies.

scholarly journals The Blue Copper-Containing Nitrite Reductase fromAlcaligenes xylosoxidans: Cloning of the nirAGene and Characterization of the Recombinant Enzyme

1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (8) ◽  
pp. 2323-2329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Prudêncio ◽  
Robert R. Eady ◽  
Gary Sawers
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Nitrite Reductase ◽  
Recombinant Enzyme ◽  
Leader Peptide ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Blue Copper

ABSTRACT The nirA gene encoding the blue dissimilatory nitrite reductase from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans has been cloned and sequenced. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the characterization of a gene encoding a blue copper-containing nitrite reductase. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits a high degree of similarity to other copper-containing nitrite reductases from various bacterial sources. The full-length protein included a 24-amino-acid leader peptide. The nirA gene was overexpressed inEscherichia coli and was shown to be exported to the periplasm. Purification was achieved in a single step, and analysis of the recombinant Nir enzyme revealed that cleavage of the signal peptide occurred at a position identical to that for the native enzyme isolated from A. xylosoxidans. The recombinant Nir isolated directly was blue and trimeric and, on the basis of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and metal analysis, possessed only type 1 copper centers. This type 2-depleted enzyme preparation also had a low nitrite reductase enzyme activity. Incubation of the periplasmic fraction with copper sulfate prior to purification resulted in the isolation of an enzyme with a full complement of type 1 and type 2 copper centers and a high specific activity. The kinetic properties of the recombinant enzyme were indistinguishable from those of the native nitrite reductase isolated from A. xylosoxidans. This rapid isolation procedure will greatly facilitate genetic and biochemical characterization of both wild-type and mutant derivatives of this protein.

scholarly journals Identification and functional characterization of CD8+ T regulatory cells in type 1 diabetes patients

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e0210839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marsha Pellegrino ◽  
Antonino Crinò ◽  
Manuela M. Rosado ◽  
Alessandra Fierabracci
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
T Regulatory Cells ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Regulatory Cells ◽  
Diabetes Patients

scholarly journals Genetic Risk Scores for Diabetes Diagnosis and Precision Medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1500-1520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam S Udler ◽  
Mark I McCarthy ◽  
Jose C Florez ◽  
Anubha Mahajan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Scores ◽  
Diabetes Diagnosis ◽  
Physiological Mechanisms ◽  
Risk Variants ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
Disease Predisposition ◽  
Dna Sequence Variants

Abstract During the last decade, there have been substantial advances in the identification and characterization of DNA sequence variants associated with individual predisposition to type 1 and type 2 diabetes. As well as providing insights into the molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms involved in disease pathogenesis, these risk variants, when combined into a polygenic score, capture information on individual patterns of disease predisposition that have the potential to influence clinical management. In this review, we describe the various opportunities that polygenic scores provide: to predict diabetes risk, to support differential diagnosis, and to understand phenotypic and clinical heterogeneity. We also describe the challenges that will need to be overcome if this potential is to be fully realized.

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