The activity of whole-cell biocatalysts is strongly compromised by the cell envelope, which is a permeability harrier against the diffusion of substrates and products. Although common chemical or physical permeahiliza...The activity of whole-cell biocatalysts is strongly compromised by the cell envelope, which is a permeability harrier against the diffusion of substrates and products. Although common chemical or physical permeahilization methods used in cultured cells enhance cell permeability, these methods inevitably add several extra processing steps after cell cultivation, as well as impede large scale processing. To increase membrane permeability and cell- bound glutamate decarboxylase （GAD） activity of recombinant Escherichia coil （BL21 （DE3）-pET28a-gadB） cells without the need for an additional permeabilization step, we investigated the permeabilizing effects of adding cell wall synthesis inhibitors or suffactants to the culture media. Ampidllin was the most effective at improving cell-bound GAD activity of the BL21 （DE3）-pET28a-gadB, although it decreased the cell biomass yield. The best permeabilization effect was observed using an ampicillin concentration of 5 pg. ml-1. Using this concentration, the cell hiomass did decrease by 40.58%, but the cell-bound GAD activity of BL21 （DE3）-pET28a-gadB and total cell-bound GAD activity per milliliter of culture was enhanced by 6.24- and 3.64-fold, respectively. Treatment ofBL21 （DE3）-pET28a-gadB cells with 5 tag.ml 1 ampicillin resulted in structural changes to the cell envelope, but did not substantially affect GAD expression. By entrapping the ampicillin-treated cells in an open pore gelation matrix, which is a polymer derived from polyvinyl alcohol （PVA）, alginate, and boric acid, the transfor- mation rate of γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） at the 10th cycle produced by immobilized and permeabilized cells remained 46% of the first cycle. GAD activity of the immobilized, permeabilized cells remained over 90% after 30 days of storage at 4 ℃.展开更多
Background The mitochondrial Na^＋/Ca^2＋ exchanger, NCLX, plays an important role in the balance between Ca2. influx and efflux across the mitochondrial inner membrane in endothelial ceils. Mitochondrial metabolism i...Background The mitochondrial Na^＋/Ca^2＋ exchanger, NCLX, plays an important role in the balance between Ca2. influx and efflux across the mitochondrial inner membrane in endothelial ceils. Mitochondrial metabolism is likely to be affected by the activity of NCLX because Ca^2＋ activates several enzymes of the Krebs cycle. It is currently believed that mitochondria are not only centers of energy produc- tion but are also important sites of reactive oxygen species （ROS） generation and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptor 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome activation. Methods ＆ Results This study focused on NCLX function, in rat aortic endothelial cells （RAECs）, induced by glucose. First, we detected an increase in NCLX expression in the endothelia of rats with diabetes mellitus, which was induced by an injection of streptozotocin. Next, colocalization of NCLX expression and mitochondria was detected using confocal analysis. Suppression of NCLX expression, using an siRNA construct （siNCLX）, enhanced mitochondrial Ca^2＋ influx and blocked efflux induced by glucose. Unexpectedly, silencing of NCLX expression induced increased ROS generation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusions These findings suggest that NCLX affects glucose-dependent mitochondrial Ca^2＋ signaling, thereby regulating ROS generation and NLRP3 in- flammasome activation in high glucose conditions. In the early stages of high glucose stimulation, NCLX expression increases to compensate in order to self-protect mitochondrial maintenance, stability, and function in endothelial cells.展开更多
Formation of apoptotic bodies is a typical character ofaPoptotic cell death, but how the processes are controlledis not known. In this study, we compared two apoptosisinducing systems in vascular endothelial cells (VE...Formation of apoptotic bodies is a typical character ofaPoptotic cell death, but how the processes are controlledis not known. In this study, we compared two apoptosisinducing systems in vascular endothelial cells (VEC). Wefound that the formation of aPoptotic bodies during apop-tosis induced by rattlesnake venom, which is an unique andspecific aPoptosis inducer to vascular endotheliaI cells, wasmuch faster than that induced by deprivation of survivalfactors (aFGF and serum). When we blocked the synthesisof mRNAs in cells treated with rattlesnake venom by DRB(5, 6- dichloro- 1 -β- D- rib ofur anosylb enzimidazole ), an in-hibitor of transcription, the formation of aPoptotic bodieswas dramatically inhibited. We examined the expressionof Psa gene and found that its expression was much higherin apoptosis induced by rattlesnake venom than that inaPoptosis induced by deprivation of aFGF and serum. Ourresults suggest that gene expression is important and P53gene may play a major role in inducing the formation ofapoptotic bodies in VEC.展开更多
Recently, the effect of ligand receptor interaction on the membrane structure of liposomes has been studied extensively. However, little is known about how it exists on biological membranes. In this paper, the effect ...Recently, the effect of ligand receptor interaction on the membrane structure of liposomes has been studied extensively. However, little is known about how it exists on biological membranes. In this paper, the effect of Con-canavalin A (ConA) receptor interaction on the structure of cell membranes was studied by Circular Dichroism (CD) and 3lP Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).CD results of both the purified macrophage membranes and human erythrocyte ghosts (EG) showed that the conformation of membrane proteins changed after ConA bind ing.For further research, 31P-NMR was used to detect the organization of phospholipid molecules on macrophage mem branes. After ConA binding, the tendency to form non bi-layer structure increased with the amount of ConA. The changes of 31P-NMR spectra of living macrophages might be partly due to the above stated reason too.In addition, ConA-receptor interaction also induced similar results of 31P-NMR spectra in EG. In contrast, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA ), another kind of lectin, rarely showed the same influence.展开更多
A cell-free preparation obtained from extracts of activated Xenopus laevis eggs induced chromatin decondensation and nuclear formation from demembranated Xenopus sperm nuclei. Electron microscopy revealed that the rea...A cell-free preparation obtained from extracts of activated Xenopus laevis eggs induced chromatin decondensation and nuclear formation from demembranated Xenopus sperm nuclei. Electron microscopy revealed that the reassembled nucleus had a double-layered nuclear membrane, nuclear pore complexes, and decondensed chromatin etc. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated the presence of lamina in newly assembled nuclei. Western-blotting results showed that lamin LII was present in egg extracts and in lamina of the reassembled nuclei which were previously reported to contain only eggderived lamin LIII.展开更多
The many kinds of cell structures involved in cell-cell communication include tight junction,adherens junction and gap junction,but almost all are between adjacent cells.Recently,a general and dynamic membrane tether,...The many kinds of cell structures involved in cell-cell communication include tight junction,adherens junction and gap junction,but almost all are between adjacent cells.Recently,a general and dynamic membrane tether,termed tunneling nanotubes or membrane nanotubes(MNTs),was discovered to be involved in communication between distant cells.By facilitating intercellular communication,MNTs contribute to many biological functions and pathologic changes in cells.Many works have revealed the structure,formation and functional properties of MNTs.However,as novel structures,further research is needed.展开更多
基金Supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21176220,20876143,31470793)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(Z13B060008)the Key Technology Research and Development Project of Ningbo(2011C11023)
文摘The activity of whole-cell biocatalysts is strongly compromised by the cell envelope, which is a permeability harrier against the diffusion of substrates and products. Although common chemical or physical permeahilization methods used in cultured cells enhance cell permeability, these methods inevitably add several extra processing steps after cell cultivation, as well as impede large scale processing. To increase membrane permeability and cell- bound glutamate decarboxylase （GAD） activity of recombinant Escherichia coil （BL21 （DE3）-pET28a-gadB） cells without the need for an additional permeabilization step, we investigated the permeabilizing effects of adding cell wall synthesis inhibitors or suffactants to the culture media. Ampidllin was the most effective at improving cell-bound GAD activity of the BL21 （DE3）-pET28a-gadB, although it decreased the cell biomass yield. The best permeabilization effect was observed using an ampicillin concentration of 5 pg. ml-1. Using this concentration, the cell hiomass did decrease by 40.58%, but the cell-bound GAD activity of BL21 （DE3）-pET28a-gadB and total cell-bound GAD activity per milliliter of culture was enhanced by 6.24- and 3.64-fold, respectively. Treatment ofBL21 （DE3）-pET28a-gadB cells with 5 tag.ml 1 ampicillin resulted in structural changes to the cell envelope, but did not substantially affect GAD expression. By entrapping the ampicillin-treated cells in an open pore gelation matrix, which is a polymer derived from polyvinyl alcohol （PVA）, alginate, and boric acid, the transfor- mation rate of γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） at the 10th cycle produced by immobilized and permeabilized cells remained 46% of the first cycle. GAD activity of the immobilized, permeabilized cells remained over 90% after 30 days of storage at 4 ℃.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No. 81173625, 81373458） Thanks for the kind help of Dr. Wang （Pulmonary Division, Boston Children＇s Hospital, MA, USA）, who was extremely helpful in the revision of the language.
文摘Background The mitochondrial Na^＋/Ca^2＋ exchanger, NCLX, plays an important role in the balance between Ca2. influx and efflux across the mitochondrial inner membrane in endothelial ceils. Mitochondrial metabolism is likely to be affected by the activity of NCLX because Ca^2＋ activates several enzymes of the Krebs cycle. It is currently believed that mitochondria are not only centers of energy produc- tion but are also important sites of reactive oxygen species （ROS） generation and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptor 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome activation. Methods ＆ Results This study focused on NCLX function, in rat aortic endothelial cells （RAECs）, induced by glucose. First, we detected an increase in NCLX expression in the endothelia of rats with diabetes mellitus, which was induced by an injection of streptozotocin. Next, colocalization of NCLX expression and mitochondria was detected using confocal analysis. Suppression of NCLX expression, using an siRNA construct （siNCLX）, enhanced mitochondrial Ca^2＋ influx and blocked efflux induced by glucose. Unexpectedly, silencing of NCLX expression induced increased ROS generation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusions These findings suggest that NCLX affects glucose-dependent mitochondrial Ca^2＋ signaling, thereby regulating ROS generation and NLRP3 in- flammasome activation in high glucose conditions. In the early stages of high glucose stimulation, NCLX expression increases to compensate in order to self-protect mitochondrial maintenance, stability, and function in endothelial cells.
文摘Formation of apoptotic bodies is a typical character ofaPoptotic cell death, but how the processes are controlledis not known. In this study, we compared two apoptosisinducing systems in vascular endothelial cells (VEC). Wefound that the formation of aPoptotic bodies during apop-tosis induced by rattlesnake venom, which is an unique andspecific aPoptosis inducer to vascular endotheliaI cells, wasmuch faster than that induced by deprivation of survivalfactors (aFGF and serum). When we blocked the synthesisof mRNAs in cells treated with rattlesnake venom by DRB(5, 6- dichloro- 1 -β- D- rib ofur anosylb enzimidazole ), an in-hibitor of transcription, the formation of aPoptotic bodieswas dramatically inhibited. We examined the expressionof Psa gene and found that its expression was much higherin apoptosis induced by rattlesnake venom than that inaPoptosis induced by deprivation of aFGF and serum. Ourresults suggest that gene expression is important and P53gene may play a major role in inducing the formation ofapoptotic bodies in VEC.
文摘Recently, the effect of ligand receptor interaction on the membrane structure of liposomes has been studied extensively. However, little is known about how it exists on biological membranes. In this paper, the effect of Con-canavalin A (ConA) receptor interaction on the structure of cell membranes was studied by Circular Dichroism (CD) and 3lP Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).CD results of both the purified macrophage membranes and human erythrocyte ghosts (EG) showed that the conformation of membrane proteins changed after ConA bind ing.For further research, 31P-NMR was used to detect the organization of phospholipid molecules on macrophage mem branes. After ConA binding, the tendency to form non bi-layer structure increased with the amount of ConA. The changes of 31P-NMR spectra of living macrophages might be partly due to the above stated reason too.In addition, ConA-receptor interaction also induced similar results of 31P-NMR spectra in EG. In contrast, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA ), another kind of lectin, rarely showed the same influence.
文摘A cell-free preparation obtained from extracts of activated Xenopus laevis eggs induced chromatin decondensation and nuclear formation from demembranated Xenopus sperm nuclei. Electron microscopy revealed that the reassembled nucleus had a double-layered nuclear membrane, nuclear pore complexes, and decondensed chromatin etc. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated the presence of lamina in newly assembled nuclei. Western-blotting results showed that lamin LII was present in egg extracts and in lamina of the reassembled nuclei which were previously reported to contain only eggderived lamin LIII.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2013CB933701)the Projects of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30910103902)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81270159)
文摘The many kinds of cell structures involved in cell-cell communication include tight junction,adherens junction and gap junction,but almost all are between adjacent cells.Recently,a general and dynamic membrane tether,termed tunneling nanotubes or membrane nanotubes(MNTs),was discovered to be involved in communication between distant cells.By facilitating intercellular communication,MNTs contribute to many biological functions and pathologic changes in cells.Many works have revealed the structure,formation and functional properties of MNTs.However,as novel structures,further research is needed.
