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Biomedical subjects

G Hua

Publications and source records attributed to G Hua.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Granzyme K cleaves the nucleosome assembly protein SET to induce single-stranded DNA nicks of target cells.

Although granzymes (Gzms) A- and B-induced cell death pathways have been defined, little is known about how other orphan Gzms function in CTL-mediated cytotoxicity. GzmK and A are tryptases among all the Gzms of humans and they are closely linked on the same chromosome. In this study, we showed that GzmK can be efficiently delivered into target cells with a cationic lipid protein transfection reagent Pro-Ject. We found human GzmK triggers rapid cell death independently of caspase activation. The features of death are characterized by rapid externalization of phosphatidylserine, nuclear morphological changes and single-stranded DNA nicks. GzmK hydrolyzes the nucleosome assembly protein SET in its recombinant and native forms or in intact cells. Cleavage of SET by GzmK abrogates its nucleosome assembly activity. After GzmK loading, SET and DNase NM23H1 rapidly translocate into the nucleus and SET is cleaved, where the nuclease activity of NM23H1 is activated to nick chromosomal DNA.

Caspases↗
PubMed2003

Cloning of a Heliothis virescens 110 kDa aminopeptidase N and expression in Drosophila S2 cells.

We previously identified a novel Heliothis virescens 110 kDa aminopeptidase N (APN) that binds Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1Ac and Cry1Fa delta-endotoxins, and cloned an internal region of the 110 kDa APN gene (Banks et al., 2001). Here we describe the RACE-PCR cloning and sequence of a cDNA encoding 110 kDa APN. The 110 kDa APN gene was transiently co-expressed with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in Drosophila S2 cells using the pIZT expression vector. Enrichment of total membranes purified from S2 cells transfected with the 110 kDa APN gene had 3.3 fold increased APN enzymatic activity relative to enriched total membranes purified from S2 cells transfected with vector alone. Whereas the majority of S2 cells transfected with the 110 kDa APN gene bound rhodamine-labeled Cry1Ac toxin, no S2 cells transfected with vector alone bound rhodamine-labeled Cry1Ac toxin. This indicates that toxin binding to whole cells is APN mediated. However, flow cytometry and microscopy indicated that 110 kDa APN transfected S2 cells exposed to Cry1Ac or Cry1Fa toxin did not experience an increase in membrane permeability, indicating that APN transfected cells were resistant to toxin. This suggests while the H. virescens 110 kDa APN functions as a Bt toxin binding protein, it does not mediate cytotoxicity when expressed in S2 cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Binding analyses of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry delta-endotoxins using brush border membrane vesicles of Ostrinia nubilalis.

Transgenic corn expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab gene is highly insecticidal to Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer) larvae. We ascertained whether Cry1F, Cry9C, or Cry9E recognizes the Cry1Ab binding site on the O. nubilalis brush border by three approaches. An optical biosensor technology based on surface plasmon resonance measured binding of brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) injected over a surface of immobilized Cry toxin. Preincubation with Cry1Ab reduced BBMV binding to immobilized Cry1Ab, whereas preincubation with Cry1F, Cry9C, or Cry9E did not inhibit BBMV binding. BBMV binding to a Cry1F-coated surface was reduced when vesicles were preincubated in Cry1F or Cry1Ab but not Cry9C or Cry9E. A radioligand approach measured 125I-Cry1Ab toxin binding to BBMV in the presence of homologous (Cry1Ab) and heterologous (Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry9C, or Cry9E) toxins. Unlabeled Cry1Ac effectively competed for 125I-Cry1Ab binding in a manner comparable to Cry1Ab itself. Unlabeled Cry9C and Cry9E toxins did not inhibit (125)I-Cry1Ab binding to BBMV. Cry1F inhibited (125)I-Cry1Ab binding at concentrations greater than 500 nM. Cry1F had low-level affinity for the Cry1Ab binding site. Ligand blot analysis identified Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, and Cry1F binding proteins in BBMV. The major Cry1Ab signals on ligand blots were at 145 kDa and 154 kDa, but a strong signal was present at 220 kDa and a weak signal was present at 167 kDa. Cry1Ac and Cry1F binding proteins were detected at 220 and 154 kDa. Anti-Manduca sexta aminopeptidase serum recognized proteins of 145, 154, and 167 kDa, and anti-cadherin serum recognized the 220 kDa protein. We speculate that isoforms of aminopeptidase and cadherin in the brush border membrane serve as Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, and Cry1F binding proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Intracellular site of gamma-secretase cleavage for Abeta42 generation in neuro 2a cells harbouring a presenilin 1 mutation.

Previously, we reported that mutations in presenilin 1 (PS1) increased the intracellular levels of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta)42. However, it is still not known at which cellular site or how PS1 mutations exert their effect of enhancing Abeta42-gamma-secretase cleavage. In this study, to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying this enhancement of Abeta42-gamma-secretase cleavage, we focused on determining the intracellular site of the cleavage. To address this issue, we used APP-C100 encoding the C-terminal beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) fragment truncated at the N terminus of Abeta (C100); C100 requires only gamma-secretase cleavage to yield Abeta. Mutated PS1 (M146L)-induced Neuro 2a cells showed enhanced Abeta1-42 generation from transiently expressed C100 as well as from full-length APP, whereas the generation of Abeta1-40 was not increased. The intracellular generation of Abeta1-42 from transiently expressed C100 in both mutated PS1-induced and wild-type Neuro 2a cells was inhibited by brefeldin A. Moreover, the generation of Abeta1-42 and Abeta1-40 from a C100 mutant containing a di-lysine endoplasmic reticulum retention signal was greatly decreased, indicating that the major intracellular site of gamma-secretase cleavage is not the endoplasmic reticulum. The intracellular generation of Abeta1-42/40 from C100 was not influenced by monensin treatment, and the level of Abeta1-42/40 generated from C100 carrying a sorting signal for the trans-Golgi network was higher than that generated from wild-type C100. These results using PS1-mutation-harbouring and wild-type Neuro 2a cells suggest that Abeta42/40-gamma-secretase cleavages occur in the Golgi compartment and the trans-Golgi network, and that the PS1 mutation does not alter the intracelluar site of Abeta42-gamma-secretase cleavage in the normal APP proteolytic processing pathway.

Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases↗
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning of a GPI-anchored aminopeptidase N from Bombyx mori midgut: a putative receptor for Bacillus thuringiensis CryIA toxin.

An aminopeptidase N (APN) with a molecular weight of 110kDa was released from the midgut membrane of Bombyx mori by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), and purified to a homogeneous state. This 110-kDa APN was different from the 100-kDa APN that we previously reported, in chromatographic behaviors, substrate specificity, and N-terminal and internal amino acid sequences. However, the N-terminal sequence of 110-kDa APN, DPAFRLPTTTRPRHYQVTLT, was highly homologous with those of Manduca sexta and Heliothis virescens APNs, which were identified as a receptor for an insecticidal toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis. From a B. mori midgut cDNA library, we cloned the 110-kDa APN cDNA that possessed a 2958-bp open reading frame encoding a 111573-Da polypeptide of 986 residues. The sequence of the eicosa-peptide Asp42Thr61 deduced from the cDNA was completely matched with the N-terminal sequence of the mature 110-kDa APN. One potential N-glycosylation site, HEXXHXW zinc-binding motif and characteristic proline-rich repeats were observed in the ORF. Moreover, the primary sequence contained two hydrophobic peptides on N- and C-termini. The N-terminal peptide sequence showed characteristics of leader peptide for secretion and the C-terminal peptide contained a possible glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring site. Taken together, the deduced amino acid sequence suggests that the 110-kDa APN is a GPI-anchored protein and a specific receptor protein for B. thuringiensis CryIA delta-endotoxin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of aminopeptidase N from the brush border membrane of the larvae midgut of silkworm, Bombyx mori as a zinc enzyme.

Three GPI-anchored proteins, aminopeptidase N, alkaline phosphatase and alkaline phosphodiesterase I were released from the midgut brush border membrane of Bombyx mori by phosphatidylinositol-specific phopholipase C and the aminopeptidase N was purified to a homogeneous state. N-terminus and 6 internal sequences, one of which possessed part of zinc-binding motif, showed homology with those from other species. The zinc content in purified aminopeptidase N was estimated as approximately 0.72 mol/mol of the protein and 1,10-phenanthroline completely inhibited the enzyme activity, suggesting zinc requirement for the activity. The aminopeptidase N activity was inhibited not only by probestin and actinonin, but also strongly depressed by amastatin, while leuhistin and bestatin were less inhibitory. These suggest that the active site of aminopeptidase N might be structurally different from those of mammals. Calcium and magnesium ions stimulated the aminopeptidase N activity, but copper ion was rather inhibitory. Zinc ion showed bi-modal effect on the activity, i.e., stimulatory at low concentration, but inhibitory at higher than 100 microM. This inhibition was completely restored by EDTA. These results suggest that the aminopeptidase N possesses two zinc ion-binding sites with high and low affinity as essential and inhibitory one, as well as some regulatory metal-binding sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Cloning and sequence analysis of the aminopeptidase N isozyme (APN2) from Bombyx mori midgut.

An aminopeptidase N (APN) isozyme having the molecular weight of 90 kDa, was released by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and purified homogeneously, from the brush border membrane of Bombyx mori. From the result of cDNA cloning, the primary structure of 90 kDa APN proved to consist of 948 amino acid residues, containing a typical metalloprotease-specific zinc-binding motif in the deduced sequence. Moreover, the primary sequence contained two hydrophobic segments on N- and C-termini. The N-terminal one showed characteristics of leader peptide for secretion and the C-terminal one contained a possible glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring site, suggesting that the APN encoded by the cDNA is not only a zinc-binding enzyme, but also a GPI-anchored protein. The primary sequence is significantly homologous with those of insect and mammalian APNs, and contains four conserved segments around the zinc-binding motif, two potential N-glycosylation sites and four conserved Cys residues. The deduced primary sequence had 30.7% identity with that of B. mori 110 kDa APN, and did not contain the N-terminal and internal amino acid sequences of B. mori 100 kDa APN, revealing B. mori 90 kDa APN to be the third isozyme on the midgut brush border membrane. On the other hand, the primary sequence of 90 kDa APN showed high homology with Manduca sexta APN2 (65.1% identity) and Plutella xylostella APN2 (63.8% identity). It appears that the B. mori 90 kDa APN should be classified in the insect apn2 cluster and differentiated from insect apn1 and mammalian apn clusters by phylogenetic analysis. These results suggest that 90 kDa APN isozyme encoded by the cDNA is a product of B. mori apn2 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

[Bleomycin-induced fibroblast proliferation is inhibited by IH764-3].

It reports that IH764-3 has both therapeutical and prophylactic effect on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and mice. The data presented indicate that IH764-3 is a potent inhibitor of the two important ways commonly thought to be the main causes of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM): 1) BLM stimulates the alveolar macrophages to secrete fibroblast growth factor (FGF); and 2) BLM increases the proliferation rate of the fibroblast directly. This demonstration of suppression of the stimulative effect of BLM on the fibroblast proliferation by IH764-3 provides direct evidence that IH764-3 could be a promising anti-fibrogenetic drug candidate.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Experimental study of the effect of IH764-3 on pulmonary fibrosis.

IH764-3 is a potent component isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza. We have studied the effect of IH764-3 on experimental pulmonary fibrosis in rats and mice treated with a single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin-A6. Three groups of animals were assigned as BLM+saline, BLM+IH764-3 and normal control. The results indicated that in the treated group, lung coefficient, surfactant, hydroxyproline content and FGF activity were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05, 0.05, 0.001 and 0.05, respectively). Electron microscopic examination showed that pulmonary ultrastructure was markedly better in the treated group: type II alveolar epithelial cells, infiltrating inflammatory cells, proliferating collagen-forming cells, collagen and elastic fibers were obviously fewer in the treated group. These results demonstrate that IH764-3 has prophylactic and therapeutic effects on pulmonary fibrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The effect of IH764-3 on fibroblast proliferation and function.

The effect of IH764-3, a potent component isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza, on the proliferation and function of cultured fibroblasts was studied. It was found that the fibroblast growth curve had a dose-dependent relationship with IH764-3 concentration. The incorporation of 3H-TdR and 3H-proline into fibroblasts was significantly inhibited by IH764-3, and calmodulin, fibronectin and thrombospondin contents in the test group were obviously lower than those in the control group. Flow cytometry showed that in the IH764-3-treated group, the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase was higher than that in the control. Electron microscopic observation (TEM and SEM) showed that in the treated group, collagen secretion was decreased. All of these results indicate that IH764-3 exerts a direct inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation and affects their ability to synthesize collagen.

Animals↗