Secretive Expression of Insect Antifungal Peptide-Encoded Genes in Pichia pastoris and Activity Assay of the Products

The antifungal peptides, drosomycin （Drs） and its isoform drosomycin-like C （Drs-lC） from Drosophila melanogaster and Thanatin from Podisus maculiventris, have potent activity with broad spectrum against filamentous fungi. Secretive expression of these genes in yeasts makes it possible to utilize the supernatants of yeast culture as protective reagents on fruit, vegetable, food and other agricultural products. So the study of effective secretion by yeast expression system is of great importance. Three genes, Drs, Drs-lC, and Thanatin, were cloned into pPICZαA and the recombinant vectors, pPICZαA-Drs, pPICZαA-Drs-lC, and pPICZαA-Thanatin were transformed into Pichia pastoris by the electric transfer method. The recombinant P. pastoris, which was screened by phenotype selection and PCR amplification, was induced to express antifungal peptide by methanol. The expressive products of the three recombinants showed antifungal activity against 5 out of 6 test fungi strains, and the products of Thanatin also had strong activity against the tested bacteria. The three antifungal peptide genes, Drs, Drs-lC, and Thanatin, were constructed into yeast P. pastoris. The expressed peptides were successfully secreted into the culture medium and exhibited potent activities against the test strains.

Expression and Activities Experiment of DNA Transduction Motif Based on GAL4 in Pichia Pastoris

The genes encoding DNA-binding domain（BD） designed based on the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4 and protein transduction domain of HIV-1 Tat protein were fused via soft linker peptide sequence, and cloned into yeast expression vector pPIC9k. The resulted plasmid pTG was linearized and transfected into Pichia pastoris strains GS 115 by electroporation. High copies of transformants were obtained with Muts and HIS＋ phenotype identi- fication, PCR amplification and screening of G418. After flask culture and expression induced by methanol, the target protein named TG was well expressed and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Under optimized conditions, the yield of soluble recombinant protein was approximately 39.7 mg/L. DNA binding activity and cell transduction property of TG were analyzed by gel eleetrophoresis and fluorescent microscopy. The results show that the recombinant protein could bind strongly to the plasmid containing upstream activating sequence（UAS）. The cell experiments revealed that TG could deliver the binding plasmid into HEK-293 cells effectively. In summary, the work presented here suggests that TG is specific toward UAS containing plasmid and has the potential for use as nonviral DNA delivery agent.

The value of B7-H3 expression in expressed prostatic secretions in differential diagnosis of patients with inflammatory elevation of PSA in t-PSA gray zone

Objective To investigate the value of BT-H3 in expressed prostatic secretions ( EPS) in differential diagnosis of patients with inflammatory elevation of PSA in t - PSA gray zone ( 4 - 10 ng /ml) . Methods One hundred and sixteen patients from ages of 19 to 80 years ( mean,40 years) were studied. In the group there

Magnolol protects against acute gastrointestinal injury in sepsis by down-regulating regulated on activation,normal T-cell expressed and secreted

BACKGROUND Sepsis is a major medical challenge.Magnolol is an active constituent of Houpu that improves tissue function and exerts strong anti-endotoxin and anti-inflammatory effects,but the mechanism by which it reduces intestinal inflammation in sepsis is yet unclear.AIM To assess the protective effect of magnolol on intestinal mucosal epithelial cells in sepsis and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.METHODS Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6,and regulated on activation,normal T-cell expressed and secreted(RANTES)levels in serum and ileal tissue in animal studies.The histopathological changes of the ileal mucosa in different groups were observed under a microscope.Cell Counting Kit-8 and cell permeability assays were used to determine the concentration of drug-containing serum that did not affect the activity of Caco2 cells but inhibited lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced decrease in permeability.Immunofluorescence and Western blot assays were used to detect the levels of RANTES,inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinaseβ(IKKβ),phosphorylated IKKβ(p-IKKβ),inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinaseα(IκBα),p65,and p-p65 proteins in different groups in vitro.RESULTS In rats treated with LPS by intravenous tail injection in the presence or absence of magnolol,magnolol inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines,IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αin a dose-dependent manner.In addition,magnolol suppressed the production of RANTES in LPS-stimulated sepsis rats.Moreover,in vitro studies suggested that magnolol inhibited the increase of p65 nucleation,thereby markedly downregulating the production of the phosphorylated form of IKKβin LPS-treated Caco2 cells.Specifically,magnolol inhibited the translocation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)from the cytosol into the nucleus and down-regulated the expression level of the chemokine RANTES in LPS-stimulated Caco2 cells.CONCLUSION Magnolol down-regulates RANTES levels by inhibiting the LPS/NF-κB signaling pathways,thereby suppressing IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αexpression to alleviate the mucosal barrier dysfunction in sepsis.

Role of RANTES and Its Receptor in Gastric Cancer Metastasis

This study examined the role of regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted（RANTES） and its receptor C-C chemokine receptor type 5（CCR5） in gastric cancer metastasis and the associated mechanism.The expression of RANTES and CCR5 was detected by using immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting in the gastric cancer tissues obtained from 60 gastric cancer patients with or without lymph node metastasis（n=30 in each）.The results showed that the expression levels of RANTES and CCR5 were higher in gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis than in that without metastasis（P0.05）.The expression levels of RANTES in 30 lymph nodes with cancerous invasion were higher than in 30 normal lymph nodes（P0.05）.Chemotactic test revealed that the number of migrating gastric cancer cells（n=295.0±54.6） induced by the protein of cancer-invading lymph nodes was greater than that by the protein mixture from cancer-invading lymph nodes and RANTES antibody（n=42.5±11.6）（P0.05）.RT-PCR showed that the expression levels of the main Th1 cytokines（IL-2,γ-IFN） were lower in gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis（2.22±0.90,3.26±1.15 respectively） than in that without metastasis（3.07±1.67,4.77±1.52 respectively）（P0.05）,but the expression level of the main Th 2 cytokine（IL-10） was higher in gastric cancer with lymph nodes metastasis（6.06±2.04） than in that without metastasis（4.88±1.87）（P0.05）.It was concluded that RANTES and its receptor CCR5 may contribute to gastric cancer metastasis through influencing the balance of Th1/Th2.RANTES and CCR5 may become a marker of gastric cancer metastasis.

Efficient secretory expression of phospholipase D for the high-yield production of phosphatidylserine and phospholipid derivates from soybean lecithin

Phospholipase D(PLD)is an essential biocatalyst for the biological production of phosphatidylserine and phospholipid modification.However,the efficient heterologous expression of PLD is limited by its cell toxicity.In this study,a PLD was secretory expressed efficiently in Bacillus subtilis with an activity around 100 U/mL.A secretory expression system containing the signal peptide SPEstA and the dual-promoter PHpaII-SrfA was estab-lished,and the extracellular PLD activity further reached 119.22 U/mL through scale-up fermentation,191.30-fold higher than that of the control.Under optimum reaction conditions,a 61.61%conversion ratio and 21.07 g/L of phosphatidylserine production were achieved.Finally,the synthesis system of PL derivates was established,which could efficiently synthesis novel PL derivates.The results highlight that the secretory expression system constructed in this study provides a promising PLD producing strain in industrial application,and laid the foundation for the biosynthesis of phosphatidylserine and other PL derivates.As far as we know,this work re-ports the highest level of extracellular PLD expression to date and the enzymatic production of several PL der-ivates for the first time.

Cloning and Characterization of a Galactomannan-degrading Enzyme Gene in Pichia pastoris

[ Objective ] This study aimed to obtain the recombinant Pichia yeast strain which can efficiently degrade guar gum. The properties of the recombinant enzyme were studied preliminarily. [ Method ] A positive clone that could hydrolyze guar gum was obtained through the construction and functional screening of a soil genome library. Sequence analysis indicated that the 1485-bp clone encodes a 494-amino acid protein with a relative molecular mass of 53 949 kD, containing a cellulose-binding domain. The recombinant plasmid pHBM731 was generated by inserting the optimized target gene into a Pichia pastoris expression vector pHBMg05 that was transformed into three Pichia pastoris strains, GS115, KM71 and SMD1168. The biochemical properties of the enzyme were assessed. [ Result] The cloned galactonumnan （GM）-degrading enzyme was expressed and secreted by Pichia pastoris GSll5. High cell density fermentation was induced in recombi- nant Pichia pastoris at 25 and 28 ~C ; a higher enzyme activity was observed at an induction temperature of 28 ~C. The optimal temperature for the recombinant en- zyme is 60 ~C, and the optimal pH is 6.6. The enzyme activity was 38.61 U under optimal conditions. Over 50% of the enzyme activity was maintained under the optimal conditions after 9 h. Under the optimal conditions, the effect of metal ions on enzyme activity was analyzed. Ca2 ＋ , Fe2 ＋ and Li ~ slightly enhanced enzyme activity, while Mn2＋ and Co2＋ had little effect. Enzyme activity was modestly suppressed by Mg2~ , K~ and Na＋ , but considerably suppressed by Ag2~ and Zn2~ , with Cu2 ＋ showing the strongest inhibitory effects. [ Conclusion] A novel GM-degrading enzyme expressed by soil yeast was cloned, which can potentially be used in industrial applications to obtain eommereially useful guar gum-degradation products.

Cloning and expression of endo-β-glucanase II gene in Humicola insolens H31-3

Endo-β-glucanase II(EG II)gene cDNA was isolated from the fungus Humicola insolens H31-3 by RT-PCR.It was cloned into the expression vector pGAPZαA.The resultant recombinant plasmid was introduced into Pichia pastoris GS115 by electroporation after being linearized by BspHI digestion.The recombinant Pichia pastoris strain was obtained and SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular weight of the expression protein was about 55 kD.The cultivation condition and the characteristics of the recombinant EG II were also explored.

Clinicaland Experimental Study on Chronic Prostatitis with Blood Stasis Syndrome Treated by Prostatitis Recipe

Objective: To test and verify the effects of prostatitis decoction and its capsule on the treatment of chronic prostatitis with blood stasis Syndrome, and its therapeutic mechanism. Methods: The total of 561 patients were treated for 2 months, decoction group 322 cases, and capsule group 239 cases. As control group, 95 patients were treated with Qianliekang (前列康) tablets. Expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) pH and Zn content were measured before and after treatment. Observation on hemorheology and microcirculation disturbance with animal experiments were conducted. Results: The cure rate of prostatitis decoction and capsule groups was 65.8%, and 54.4% respectively, that of the control group was only 17.9%. EPS pH and Zn were markedly improved after prostatitis decoction treatment. Experimental work revealed that prostatitis decoction and its capsule had lowered the whole blood viscosity, thrombocyte adhesiveness rate and dry weight of thrombus in blood stasis rabbit model; and on rats model of microcirculation disturbance caused by adrenalin, the prostatitis decoction and its capsules had obviously delayed the occurrence of reduction and stopping of blood flow in arterioles. Conclusion: Prostatitis decoction (capsule) was effective in treating chronic prostatitis.

Skeletal Muscle Expresses and Secretes Apolipoprotein A-I

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the principal apolipoprotein of high density lipoprotein (HDL) particle, has been the subject of intense investigation because of its