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1.
Molecules ; 29(17)2024 Aug 26.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39274876

RESUMEN

Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) is currently known as the smallest naturally secreted luciferase. Due to its small molecular size, high sensitivity, short half-life, and high secretion efficiency, it has become an ideal reporter gene and is widely used in monitoring promoter activity, studying protein-protein interactions, protein localization, high-throughput drug screening, and real-time monitoring of tumor occurrence and development. Although studies have shown that different Gluc mutations exhibit different bioluminescent properties, their mechanisms have not been further investigated. The purpose of this study is to reveal the relationship between the conformational changes of Gluc mutants and their bioluminescent properties through molecular dynamics simulation combined with neural relationship inference (NRI) and Markov models. Our results indicate that, after binding to the luciferin coelenterazine (CTZ), the α-helices of the 109-119 residues of the Gluc Mutant2 (GlucM2, the flash-type mutant) are partially unraveled, while the α-helices of the same part of the Gluc Mutant1 (GlucM1, the glow-type mutant) are clearly formed. The results of Markov flux analysis indicate that the conformational differences between glow-type and flash-type mutants when combined with luciferin substrate CTZ mainly involve the helicity change of α7. The most representative conformation and active pocket distance analysis indicate that compared to the flash-type mutant GlucM2, the glow-type mutant GlucM1 has a higher degree of active site closure and tighter binding. In summary, we provide a theoretical basis for exploring the relationship between the conformational changes of Gluc mutants and their bioluminescent properties, which can serve as a reference for the modification and evolution of luciferases.


Asunto(s)
Luciferasas , Cadenas de Markov , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Luciferasas/metabolismo , Luciferasas/genética , Luciferasas/química , Conformación Proteica , Mutación , Animales , Copépodos/enzimología , Copépodos/genética , Imidazoles/química , Imidazoles/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Mediciones Luminiscentes , Pirazinas
2.
Nutrients ; 16(14)2024 Jul 09.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39064624

RESUMEN

Diabetes mellitus is a spreading global pandemic. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the predominant form of diabetes, in which a reduction in blood glucose uptake is caused by impaired glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation to the plasma membrane in adipose and muscle cells. Antihyperglycemic drugs play a pivotal role in ameliorating diabetes symptoms but often are associated with side effects. Hence, novel antidiabetic compounds and nutraceutical candidates are urgently needed. Phytogenic therapy can support the prevention and amelioration of impaired glucose homeostasis. Using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM), 772 plant extracts of an open-access plant extract library were screened for their GLUT4 translocation activation potential, resulting in 9% positive hits. Based on commercial interest and TIRFM assay-based GLUT4 translocation activation, some of these extracts were selected, and their blood glucose-reducing effects in ovo were investigated using a modified hen's egg test (Gluc-HET). To identify the active plant part, some of the available candidate plants were prepared in-house from blossoms, leaves, stems, or roots and tested. Acacia catechu (catechu), Pulmonaria officinalis (lungwort), Mentha spicata (spearmint), and Saponaria officinalis (common soapwort) revealed their potentials as antidiabetic nutraceuticals, with common soapwort containing GLUT4 translocation-activating saponarin.


Asunto(s)
Transportador de Glucosa de Tipo 4 , Hipoglucemiantes , Insulina , Microscopía Fluorescente , Extractos Vegetales , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Transportador de Glucosa de Tipo 4/metabolismo , Hipoglucemiantes/farmacología , Animales , Insulina/metabolismo , Ratones , Glucemia/efectos de los fármacos , Glucemia/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Transporte de Proteínas/efectos de los fármacos
3.
J Virol Methods ; 327: 114932, 2024 Jun.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38582378

RESUMEN

Senecavirus A (SVA) is a newly identified picornavirus associated with swine vesicular disease and neonatal mortality. The development of an SVA incorporating an exogenous reporter gene provides a powerful tool for viral research. In this study, we successfully constructed a recombinant SVA expressing Gaussia Luciferase (Gluc), termed rSVA-Gluc. The growth kinetics of rSVA-Gluc in BHK-21 cells were found to be comparable to those of the parental virus, and Gluc activity paralleled the virus growth curve. Genetic analysis revealed stable inheritance of the inserted reporter protein genes for at least six generations. We evaluated the utility of rSVA-Gluc in antiviral drug screening, and the results highlighted its potential as an effective tool for such purposes against SVA. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.


Asunto(s)
Antivirales , Genes Reporteros , Luciferasas , Picornaviridae , Picornaviridae/genética , Picornaviridae/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Antivirales/farmacología , Línea Celular , Luciferasas/genética , Luciferasas/metabolismo , Cricetinae , Evaluación Preclínica de Medicamentos/métodos
4.
Endocrinology ; 165(6)2024 Apr 29.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38679471

RESUMEN

The glycoprotein receptors, members of the large G protein-coupled receptor family, are characterized by a large extracellular domains responsible for binding their glycoprotein hormones. Hormone-receptor interactions are traditionally analyzed by ligand-binding assays, most often using radiolabeling but also by thermal shift assays. Despite their high sensitivity, these assays require appropriate laboratory conditions and, often, purified plasma cell membranes, which do not provide information on receptor localization or activity because the assays typically focus on measuring binding only. Here, we apply bioluminescence resonance energy transfer in living cells to determine hormone-receptor interactions between a Gaussia luciferase (Gluc)-luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) fusion and its ligands (human chorionic gonadotropin or LH) fused to the enhanced green fluorescent protein. The Gluc-LHCGR, as well as other Gluc-G protein-coupled receptors such as the somatostatin and the C-X-C motif chemokine receptors, is expressed on the plasma membrane, where luminescence activity is equal to membrane receptor expression, and is fully functional. The chimeric enhanced green fluorescent protein-ligands are properly secreted from cells and able to bind and activate the wild-type LHCGR as well as the Gluc-LHCGR. Finally, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer was used to determine the interactions between clinically relevant mutations of the hormones and the LHCGR that show that this bioassay provides a fast and effective, safe, and cost-efficient tool to assist the molecular characterization of mutations in either the receptor or ligand and that it is compatible with downstream cellular assays to determine receptor activation/function.


Asunto(s)
Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes , Unión Proteica , Humanos , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes/metabolismo , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes/genética , Receptores de HL/metabolismo , Receptores de HL/genética , Luciferasas/metabolismo , Luciferasas/genética , Animales , Transferencia de Energía por Resonancia de Bioluminiscencia/métodos , Gonadotropina Coriónica/metabolismo , Células HEK293 , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión/genética , Transferencia de Energía , Glicoproteínas/metabolismo , Mediciones Luminiscentes/métodos
5.
Adv Exp Med Biol ; 3234: 31-40, 2024.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38507198

RESUMEN

In the last two decades, biological mass spectrometry has become the gold standard for the identification of proteins in biological samples. The technological advancement of mass spectrometers and the development of methods for ionization, gas phase transfer, peptide fragmentation as well as for acquisition of high-resolution mass spectrometric data marked the success of the technique. This chapter introduces peptide-based mass spectrometry as a tool for the investigation of protein complexes. It provides an overview of the main steps for sample preparation starting from protein fractionation, reduction, alkylation and focus on the final step of protein digestion. The basic concepts of biological mass spectrometry as well as details about instrumental analysis and data acquisition are described. Finally, the most common methods for data analysis and sequence determination are summarized with an emphasis on its application to protein-protein complexes.


Asunto(s)
Péptidos , Proteínas , Péptidos/química , Espectrometría de Masas/métodos , Proteínas/química , Espectrometría de Masa por Láser de Matriz Asistida de Ionización Desorción/métodos
6.
Food Chem ; 447: 138840, 2024 Jul 30.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38458128

RESUMEN

Anthocyanins are susceptible to degradation by ß-glycosidase, resulting in color loss. This study analyzed the impact of ß-glycosidase on carboxylpyranocyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc) and its precursor cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy-3-gluc). Carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc exhibited enhanced stability upon treatment with ß-glucosidase. Ultraviolet-visible and circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed slight changes in the microenvironment and secondary structure of ß-glycosidase when carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc was present. The fluorescence experiment indicated that anthocyanins quench the fluorescence of ß-glycosidase through static quenching via hydrophobic interactions. Molecular docking of six types of carboxylpyranoanthocyanins and their precursors with ß-glycosidase revealed that carboxylpyranoanthocyanins exhibited lower binding affinity than their precursors, consistent with the enzyme kinetic experiment results. The incorporation carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc into Sanhua Plum Juice and Wine endowed them with vivid and stable coloration. The study illustrated that carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc exhibits low binding affinity with ß-glycosidase, thereby maintaining stability and confirming its potential as a colorant.


Asunto(s)
Celulasas , Glucósidos , Glucósidos/química , Antocianinas/química , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Glicósido Hidrolasas
7.
AMB Express ; 14(1): 4, 2024 Jan 05.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38180602

RESUMEN

Classical fungal mutant strains obtained by mutagenesis have helped to elucidate fundamental metabolic pathways in the past. In the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, the gluc-1 strain was isolated long ago and characterized by its low level of ß-glucosidase activity, which is essential for the degradation of cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer on Earth and the main polymeric component of the plant cell wall. Based on genomic resequencing, we hypothesized that the causative mutation resides in the ß-glucosidase gene gh3-3 (bgl6, NCU08755). In this work, growth patterns, enzymatic activities and sugar utilization rates were analyzed in several mutant and overexpression strains related to gluc-1 and gh3-3. In addition, different mutants affected in the degradation and transport of cellobiose were analyzed. While overexpression of gh3-3 led to the recovery of ß-glucosidase activity in the gluc-1 mutant, as well as normal utilization of cellobiose, the full gene deletion strain Δgh3-3 was found to behave differently than gluc-1 with lower secreted ß-glucosidase activity, indicating a dominant role of the amino acid substitution in the point mutated gh3-3 gene of gluc-1. Our results furthermore confirm that GH3-3 is the major extracellular ß-glucosidase in N. crassa and demonstrate that the two cellodextrin transporters CDT-1 and CDT-2 are essential for growth on cellobiose when the three main N. crassa ß-glucosidases are absent. Overall, these findings provide valuable insight into the mechanisms of cellulose utilization in filamentous fungi, being an essential step in the efficient production of biorefinable sugars from agricultural and forestry plant biomass.

8.
Proteomics ; 24(3-4): e2200431, 2024 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37548120

RESUMEN

Middle-down proteomics (MDP) is an analytical approach in which protein samples are digested with proteases such as Glu-C to generate large peptides (>3 kDa) that are analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS). This method is useful for characterizing high-molecular-weight proteins that are difficult to detect by top-down proteomics (TDP), in which intact proteins are analyzed by MS. In this study, we applied GeLC-FAIMS-MS, a multidimensional separation workflow that combines gel-based prefractionation with LC-FAIMS MS, for deep MDP. Middle-down peptides generated by optimized limited Glu-C digestion conditions were first size-fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by C4 reversed-phase liquid chromatography separation and additional ion mobility fractionation, resulting in a significant increase in peptide length detectable by MS. In addition to global analysis, the GeLC-FAIMS-MS concept can also be applied to targeted MDP, where only proteins in the desired molecular weight range are gel-fractionated and their Glu-C digestion products are analyzed, as demonstrated by targeted analysis of integrins in exosomes. In-depth MDP achieved by global and targeted GeLC-FAIMS-MS supports the exploration of proteoform information not covered by conventional TDP by increasing the number of detectable protein groups or post-translational modifications (PTMs) and improving the sequence coverage.


Asunto(s)
Proteómica , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem , Proteómica/métodos , Flujo de Trabajo , Péptidos/análisis , Proteínas de Unión al ADN
9.
Poult Sci ; 103(1): 103253, 2024 Jan.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37989000

RESUMEN

The isolation of cultivable E. cecorum from the environment of poultry houses remains a challenge. Environmental samples (dust wipes, equipment swabs, pooled feces) and samples from culled bird vertebras were collected from an infected broiler flock on d 37 posthatching. To isolate the bacterium from the cultivable microbiota, suspensions from the environmental samples were streaked onto a blood agar base medium supplemented with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronic acid cyclohexylammonium salt (X-Gluc), colistin sulfate, and nalidixin. The chromogenic reaction facilitated the isolation of E. cecorum from contaminated surfaces and pooled feces. Isolates from both the environment and vertebras were confirmed using MALDI-TOF and PCR analysis. Colony appearance and antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed no phenotypic differences among the isolates. It remained unclear whether the isolates originated from the same clone. However, the principle of isolating the pathogen by streaking on a chromogenic agar may motivate researchers to investigate the transmission routes of infectious isolates, potentially leading to the optimization of biosecurity measures.


Asunto(s)
Pollos , Aves de Corral , Animales , Pollos/microbiología , Agar , Enterococcus
10.
J Sci Food Agric ; 104(4): 2372-2382, 2024 Mar 15.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37950695

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Pyranoanthocyanins are stable anthocyanin derivatives. Carboxylpyranoanthocyanin is one of the simplest pyranoanthocyanin, among which the production of carboxylpyranocyanidin-3-O-glucoside (crboxyl-pycy-3-gluc) is most feasible as a result of the abundance of its reactant, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy-3-gluc). RESULTS: In the present study, carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc was synthesized and its stability during processing and after ingestion as well as its bioavailability in vivo were comprehensively evaluated. Our results indicated that the color of carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc remained more stable compared to Cy-3-gluc when facing the large-span pH variation. The high retention of anthocyanin symbolized the superb stability under thermal processing, sulfur dioxide bleaching and ultrasonic treatment of carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc. Because of the stability under the alkaline condition, carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc is more stable after oral-gastrointestinal digestion. After in vitro gut microbiota fermentation, the retention of carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc was significantly higher than that of Cy-3-gluc. The larger molecular size made absorption of carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc into blood more difficult than its precursor. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated the promising stability of carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc during food processing and after digestion, confirming the potential of carboxyl-pycy-3-gluc as a colorant. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.


Asunto(s)
Antocianinas , Glucósidos , Antocianinas/análisis , Glucósidos/química , Disponibilidad Biológica , Digestión , Manipulación de Alimentos
11.
Viruses ; 15(10)2023 09 23.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37896767

RESUMEN

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is increasingly acknowledged as the primary cause of acute hepatitis. While most HEV infections are self-limiting, cases of chronic infection and fulminant hepatitis necessitate the administration of anti-HEV medications. However, there is a lack of specific antiviral drugs designed for HEV, and the currently available drug (ribavirin) has been associated with significant adverse effects. The development of innovative antiviral drugs involves targeting distinct steps within the viral life cycle: the early step (attachment and internalization), middle step (translation and RNA replication), and late step (virus particle formation and virion release). We recently established three HEV reporter systems, each covering one or two of these steps. Using these reporter systems, we identified various potential drug candidates that target different steps of the HEV life cycle. Through rigorous in vitro testing using our robust cell culture system with the genotype 3 HEV strain (JE03-1760F/P10), we confirmed the efficacy of these drugs, when used alone or in combination with existing anti-HEV drugs. This underscores their significance in the quest for an effective anti-HEV treatment. In the present review, we discuss the development of the three reporter systems, their applications in drug screening, and their potential to advance our understanding of the incompletely elucidated HEV life cycle.


Asunto(s)
Virus de la Hepatitis E , Hepatitis E , Humanos , Evaluación Preclínica de Medicamentos , Hepatitis E/tratamiento farmacológico , Antivirales/farmacología , Antivirales/uso terapéutico , Ribavirina/uso terapéutico , Replicación Viral
12.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2686: 351-363, 2023.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37540369

RESUMEN

The ß-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene system is an important technique with versatile uses in the study of flower development in a broad range of species. Transcriptional and translational GUS fusions are used to characterize gene and protein expression patterns, respectively, during reproductive development. Additionally, GUS reporters can be used to map cis-regulatory elements within promoter sequences and to investigate whether genes are regulated post-transcriptionally. Gene trap/enhancer trap GUS constructs can be used to identify novel genes involved in flower development and marker lines useful in mutant characterization. Flower development studies primarily have used the histochemical assay in which inflorescence tissue from transgenic plants containing GUS reporter genes are stained for GUS activity and examined as whole-mounts or subsequently embedded into wax and examined as tissue sections. In addition, quantitative GUS activity assays can be performed on either floral extracts or intact flowers using a fluorogenic GUS substrate. Another use of GUS reporters is as a screenable marker for plant transformation. A simplified histochemical GUS assay can be used to quickly identify transgenic tissues.


Asunto(s)
Flores , Glucuronidasa , Glucuronidasa/genética , Glucuronidasa/metabolismo , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas , Genes Reporteros , Plantas Modificadas Genéticamente/genética , Plantas Modificadas Genéticamente/metabolismo , Flores/genética , Flores/metabolismo , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas
13.
J Virol Methods ; 316: 114711, 2023 06.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36921673

RESUMEN

The mechanism of discontinuous transcription for the synthesis of a series of sub-genomic mRNAs to express the structural proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) potentially allows for the simultaneous expression of multiple foreign genes. This can occur by insertion of multiple novel independent transcription units between the ORF sequences of the PRRSV genome. Here, an expression cassette consisting of a red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene flanked at its 3' end by transcription-regulating sequences (TRS) and an expression cassette consisting of an iLOV gene flanked at its 5' end by TRS, was constructed. The resulting expression cassette containing a RFP and an iLOV gene were introduced between ORF1b and 2 as well as ORF7 and 3'UTR, respectively, in an infectious PRRSV cDNA clone. Transfection of the resulting clone (pGX-12RFP-73iLOV) into cells resulted in the recovery of a recombinant virus (rGX-12RFP-73iLOV). Simultaneous expression of RFP and iLOV was observed in MARC-145 cells infected with rGX-RFP-iLOV. To test the ability of the PRRSV genome to express all three reporter genes simultaneously, an expression cassette containing the Gluc gene and one containing the iLOV gene were also inserted in between ORF1b and 2 as well as ORF7 and 3'UTR, respectively. This was performed in a recently obtained infectious PRRSV cDNA clone carrying a RFP gene in nsp2. Transfection of the construct (pGX-R-Gluc-iLOV) carrying the three reporter genes into cells allowed the rescue of the recombinant reporter virus (rGX-R-Gluc-iLOV) which showed similar growth characteristics to the parental virus but yielded 100-fold less infectious viruses. Fluorescence microscopy of cells infected with rGX-R-Gluc-iLOV demonstrated the presence of both RFP and iLOV genes. Gluc activities in supernatants harvested at different time points from cells infected with recombinant viruses carrying Gluc showed increased levels of Gluc activity as the infection progressed. This indicated that Gluc gene as well as its activity were acceptable parameters to monitor viral propagation. Our results indicate that it is possible to introduce at least three foreign proteins simultaneously in a PRRSV-based vector and such studies will prove invaluable in our future understanding of these viruses.


Asunto(s)
Síndrome Respiratorio y de la Reproducción Porcina , Virus del Síndrome Respiratorio y Reproductivo Porcino , Porcinos , Animales , Virus del Síndrome Respiratorio y Reproductivo Porcino/genética , ADN Complementario/genética , Regiones no Traducidas 3' , Células Clonales , Transfección , Replicación Viral/genética
14.
JHEP Rep ; 4(9): 100514, 2022 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35898957

RESUMEN

Background & Aims: The chronicity of HBV (and resultant liver disease) is determined by intrahepatic persistence of the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), an episomal form that encodes all viral transcripts. Therefore, cccDNA is a key target for new treatments, with the ultimate therapeutic aim being its complete elimination. Although established cccDNA molecules are known to be stable in resting hepatocytes, we aimed to understand their fate in dividing cells using in vitro models. Methods: We infected HepG2-NTCP and HepaRG-NTCP cells with HBV and induced mitosis by passaging cells. We measured cccDNA copy number (by precise PCR assays) and HBV-expressing cells (by immunofluorescence) with wild-type HBV. We used reporter viruses expressing luciferase or RFP to track number of HBV-expressing cells over time after mitosis induction using luciferase assays and live imaging, respectively. Results: In all cases, we observed dramatic reductions in cccDNA levels, HBV-positive cell numbers, and cccDNA-dependent protein expression after each round of cell mitosis. The rates of reduction were highly consistent with mathematical models of a complete cccDNA loss in (as opposed to dilution into) daughter cells. Conclusions: Our results are concordant with previous animal models of HBV infection and show that HBV persistence can be efficiently overcome by inducing cell mitosis. These results support therapeutic approaches that induce liver turnover (e.g. immune modulators) in addition to direct-acting antiviral therapies to achieve hepatitis B cure. Lay summary: Chronic hepatitis B affects 300 million people (killing 884,000 per year) and is incurable. To cure it, we need to clear the HBV genome from the liver. In this study, we looked at how the virus behaves after a cell divides. We found that it completely clears the virus, making 2 new uninfected cells. Our work informs new approaches to develop cures for chronic hepatitis B infections.

15.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2524: 223-233, 2022.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35821475

RESUMEN

Reverse genetics systems provide a powerful tool to generate recombinant arenavirus expressing reporters to facilitate the investigation of the arenavirus life cycle and also for the discovery of antiviral countermeasures. The plasmid-encoded viral ribonucleoprotein components initiate the transcription and replication of a plasmid-driven full-length viral genome, resulting in infectious virus. Thereby, this approach is ideal for the generation of recombinant arenaviruses expressing reporter genes that can be used as valid surrogates for virus replication. By splitting the small viral segment (S) into two viral segments (S1 and S2), each of them encoding a reporter gene, recombinant tri-segmented arenavirus can be rescued. Bi-reporter-expressing recombinant tri-segmented arenaviruses represent an excellent tool to study the biology of arenaviruses, including the identification and characterization of both prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures for the treatment of arenaviral infections. In this chapter, we describe a detailed protocol on the generation and in vitro characterization of recombinant arenaviruses containing a tri-segment genome expressing two reporter genes based on the prototype member in the family, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Similar experimental approaches can be used for the generation of bi-reporter-expressing tri-segment recombinant viruses for other members in the arenavirus family.


Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Arenaviridae , Genética Inversa , Infecciones por Arenaviridae/genética , Infecciones por Arenaviridae/prevención & control , Genes Reporteros , Humanos , Virus de la Coriomeningitis Linfocítica/genética , Genética Inversa/métodos , Replicación Viral/genética
16.
Curr Res Toxicol ; 3: 100067, 2022.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35330709

RESUMEN

Today various tobacco and nicotine products are available, many of them can be regarded as potentially risk-reduced products when compared to the most frequently used product, combustible cigarettes (CCs). A commonality of these products is that they deliver nicotine, although in quite different amounts and uptake routes, the most common of which are inhalation through the lung and absorption through the oral mucosa. Product-specific nicotine delivery as well as the subject-related use patterns are important factors which determine the pharmacokinetics and achieved internal dose levels of the alkaloid. The latter two parameters are highly relevant for the long-term product loyalty and, consequently, for the implicated health risks, since the risk-reduced products will replace CCs in the long-term only when users will experience a similar level of satisfaction. We measured nicotine and its major metabolites in plasma, saliva and urine samples collected in a controlled clinical study with habitual users (10 per group) of CCs, electronic cigarettes (ECs), heated tobacco products (HTP), oral tobacco (OT), and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Non-users (NU) of any tobacco/nicotine products served as (negative) control group. Moderate to strong correlations were observed between the daily consumption and the urinary nicotine equivalents (comprising nicotine and its 10 major metabolites, Nic + 10) or plasma and saliva cotinine concentrations. The average daily nicotine dose as measured by the urinary excretion of Nic + 10 (reflecting approximately 95 % of the absorbed nicotine) amounted to 17 and 22 mg/24 h for smokers (CC) and OT users, respectively, while it was in the range of 6-12 mg/24 h for users of ECs, HTP and NRT products, with high inter-individual variations in each user group. The individual daily nicotine intake, which was calculated by applying product-specific models, showed none to good agreement with the corresponding internal nicotine dose measured by Nic + 10 excretion. Possible reasons for the observed deviations between calculated and objectively measured nicotine doses are discussed.

17.
Molecules ; 26(17)2021 Sep 02.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34500772

RESUMEN

Dried urine spots (DUS) represent a potential alternative sample storage for forensic toxicological analysis. The aim of the current study was to develop and validate a liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric procedure for the detection and quantitative determination of cannabinoids and metabolites in DUS. A two-step extraction was performed on DUS and urine samples. An LC-MS/MS system was operated in multiple reaction monitoring and positive polarization mode. The method was checked for sensitivity, specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effects and carryover. The method was applied to 70 urine samples collected from healthy volunteers and drug addicts undergoing withdrawal treatment. The method was successfully developed for DUS. LODs lower than 2.0 ng/mL were obtained for all the monitored substances. All the validation parameters fulfilled the acceptance criteria either for DUS or urine. Among the real samples, 45 cases provided positive results for at least one compound. A good quali-quantitative agreement was obtained between DUS and urine. A good stability of THC, THCCOOH and THCCOOH-gluc was observed after a 24 h storage, in contrast to previously published results. DUS seems to provide a good alternative storage condition for urine that should be checked for the presence of cannabinoids and metabolites.


Asunto(s)
Cannabinoides , Toxicología Forense , Detección de Abuso de Sustancias , Urinálisis , Cannabinoides/metabolismo , Cannabinoides/orina , Cromatografía Liquida , Humanos , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem
18.
J Biol Chem ; 296: 100366, 2021.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33545176

RESUMEN

Reliable measurement of ligand binding to cell surface receptors is of outstanding biological and pharmacological importance. Resonance energy transfer-based assays are powerful approaches to achieve this goal, but the currently available methods are hindered by the necessity of receptor tagging, which can potentially alter ligand binding properties. Therefore, we developed a tag-free system to measure ligand‒receptor interactions in live cells using the Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) as a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer donor. GLuc is as small as the commonly applied Nanoluciferase but has enhanced brightness, and its proper substrate is the frequently used coelenterazine. In our assay, bystander bioluminescence resonance energy transfer is detected between a GLuc-based extracellular surface biosensor and fluorescent ligands bound to their unmodified receptors. The broad spectrum of applications includes equilibrium and kinetic ligand binding measurements for both labeled and competitive unlabeled ligands, and the assay can be utilized for different classes of plasma membrane receptors. Furthermore, the assay is suitable for high-throughput screening, as evidenced by the identification of novel α1 adrenergic receptor ligands. Our data demonstrate that GLuc-based biosensors provide a simple, sensitive, and cost-efficient platform for drug characterization and development.


Asunto(s)
Transferencia de Energía por Resonancia de Bioluminiscencia/métodos , Luciferasas/química , Luciferasas/metabolismo , Bioensayo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Transferencia de Energía , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Cinética , Ligandos , Unión Proteica , Transporte de Proteínas , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal
19.
Acta Pharm Sin B ; 11(12): 3983-3993, 2021 Dec.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35024320

RESUMEN

Unfolded protein response (UPR) is a stress response that is specific to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). UPR is activated upon accumulation of unfolded (or misfolded) proteins in the ER's lumen to restore protein folding capacity by increasing the synthesis of chaperones. In addition, UPR also enhances degradation of unfolded proteins and reduces global protein synthesis to alleviate additional accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER. Herein, we describe a cell-based ultra-high throughput screening (uHTS) campaign that identifies a small molecule that can modulate UPR and ER stress in cellular and in vivo disease models. Using asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGR) fused with Cypridina luciferase (CLuc) as reporter assay for folding capacity, we have screened a million small molecule library and identified APC655 as a potent activator of protein folding, that appears to act by promoting chaperone expression. Furthermore, APC655 improved pancreatic ß cell viability and insulin secretion under ER stress conditions induced by thapsigargin or cytokines. APC655 was also effective in preserving ß cell function and decreasing lipid accumulation in the liver of the leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mouse model. These results demonstrate a successful uHTS campaign that identified a modulator of UPR, which can provide a novel candidate for potential therapeutic development for a host of metabolic diseases.

20.
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica ; (12): 2352-2359, 2021.
Artículo en Chino | WPRIM (Pacífico Occidental) | ID: wpr-886953

RESUMEN

Deamidation is one of the most common degradation impurities in protein and peptide drugs. The deamidation of glutamine and asparagine in the protein sequence can lead to changes in the chemical and biological properties of the protein. However, the rutine trypsin-based pretreatment process can significantly increase the artificial deamidation impurities during the digestion process, resulting in high determination level. In this study, after optimizing the conditions of Glu-C enzymatic hydrolysis, we obtained the best enzymatic conditions under acidic condition and the artificial deamidation impurities significantly reduced in digestion process, identified the deamidation site (N48). Through the methodological investigation and comparison of the measurement results of different methods, the specificity, reproducibility and accuracy of the method are verified. The method established in this research has laid a solid foundation for the accurate determination of deamidation impurities in cobratide and its similar protein peptide biochemical drugs.

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