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J M Greenwood

Publications and source records attributed to J M Greenwood.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Valproic acid induces caspase 3-mediated apoptosis in microglial cells.

Valproic acid is widely used for the treatment of epilepsy and mood disorders, but its mode of action is unclear. Treatment of neuronal cells with valproic acid promotes neurite sprouting, is neuroprotective and drives neurogenesis; however its effects on non-neuronal brain cells are less clear. We report that valproic acid induces apoptosis in the mouse microglial cell line, BV-2, at concentrations within the therapeutic range. When BV-2 cells were incubated for 24 h with 500-1000 microM valproic acid we observed a reduction in cell number, the appearance of apoptotic morphology and increased caspase 3 cleavage. Exposure of a macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) to similar concentrations of valproic acid also led to reduced cell number but no caspase 3 cleavage, suggesting these cells responded to valproic acid with reduced proliferation rather than apoptosis. This was confirmed using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation studies. Similar concentrations of valproic acid added to Neuro-2a, SK-N-SH and C6 cell lines as well as human NTera-2 astrocytes did not evoke cell death. The caspase 3 inhibitor DEVD-CHO inhibited valproic acid-induced apoptosis in BV-2 cells whereas the MEK inhibitor U0126 potentiated valproic acid-mediated apoptosis. These results demonstrate that valproic acid selectively induces apoptosis in BV-2 cells by way of a caspase 3-mediated action. As activated microglia secrete neurotoxins in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and HIV dementia, valproic acid may alleviate these diseases by selectively killing microglia.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The pTugA and pTugAS vectors for high-level expression of cloned genes in Escherichia coli.

Plasmids pTugA and pTugAS, designed for expression of cloned genes in Escherichia coli, possess the features of high-level inducible transcription, enhanced RNA translation, portability, high copy number, stability and versatility. In addition, pTugAS can be used to produce fusion proteins comprising a target protein and a cellulose-binding domain. Such fusion proteins can be purified in a single step by affinity chromatography on cellulose. Expression of two model gene fusions using the pTug plasmids resulted in yields of 500 mg of intracellular and 250 mg of extracellular recombinant protein per liter.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1995

Purification of human interleukin-2 using the cellulose-binding domain of a prokaryotic cellulase.

Engineering gene fusions which introduce an affinity tag linked to the target polypeptide by a specific protease cleavage site is widely used to facilitate recombinant protein purification. A fusion protein CBDAPT-IL-2, comprised of the cellulose-binding domain (CBD) and Pro-Thr (PT) rich linker of the Cellulomonas fimi endo-beta-1,4-glucanase A (CenA) and a factor Xa cleavage sequence (IleGluGlyArg) fused to the N terminus of human interleukin-2, was produced in Escherichia coli, Streptomyces lividans and mammalian COS cells. CBDAPT-IL-2, secreted from S. lividans or COS cells or recovered from the insoluble fraction of E. coli, could be purified by adsorption on cellulose. The intact fusion protein adsorbed to cellulose was hydrolyzed in situ with factor Xa to release active interleukin-2.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1993

Use of monoclonal antibodies specific for the a determinant of K88 pili for detection of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in pigs.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the a determinant of K88 pili from porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli which react with all three K88 variants have been produced. These antibodies have been used for diagnosis of porcine enterotoxigenic E. coli in a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with sensitivity to 50 ng of pilus protein per ml.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cellulose-binding domains: potential for purification of complex proteins.

The endoglucanase CenA and the exoglucanase Cex from Cellulomonas fimi each contain a discrete cellulose-binding domain (CBD), at the amino-terminus or carboxyl-terminus respectively. The gene fragment encoding the CBD can be fused to the gene of a protein of interest. Using this approach hybrid proteins can be engineered which bind reversibly to cellulose and exhibit the biological activity of the protein partner. Alkaline phosphatase (PhoA) from Escherichia coli, and a beta-glucosidase (Abg) from an Agrobacterium sp. are dimeric proteins. The fusion polypeptides CenA-PhoA and Abg-CBC(Cex) are sensitive to proteolysis at the junctions between the fusion partners. Proteolysis results in a mixture of homo- and heterodimers; these bind to cellulose if one or both of the monomers carry a CBD, e.g. CenA-PhoA/CenA-PhoA and CenA-PhoA/PhoA. CBD fusion polypeptides could be used in this way to purify polypeptides which associate with the fusion partner.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Effects of atrial natriuretic factor in conscious rhesus monkeys with acute volume expansion.

The renal and hemodynamic responses to intravenous anaritide, a human atrial natriuretic factor [102-126] at 0.3 to 20 micrograms/kg in conscious rhesus monkeys with and without acute extracellular hypervolemia were analyzed and compared. Acute isotonic saline loading (intravenous bolus at 10 mL/kg plus continuous infusion at 0.25 mL/kg/min 30 min prior to and maintained throughout experiment) significantly augmented urine output (UV) and urinary Na+ excretion rate (UNaV) by 31% and 91%, respectively. Radial mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were not affected by volume expansion. Anaritide at doses higher than 0.3 micrograms/kg reduced MAP in a dose-dependent fashion in euvolemic monkeys. In contrast, reduction in MAP was observed only at the highest dose (20 micrograms/kg) of anaritide in hypervolemic monkeys. The hypotensive responses to anaritide at 20 micrograms/kg in euvolemic and hypervolemic animals were similar (-26 +/- 5 v -24 +/- 5 mm Hg, respective maximum changes in MAP). UV and UNaV were increased by anaritide at 3 to 20 micrograms/kg in both euvolemic and hypervolemic monkeys; however, the increases at each effective dose of anaritide were greater or tended to be greater in hypervolemic rhesus monkeys compared with euvolemic rhesus monkeys. Compared to vehicle responses, HR was not affected by anaritide in either group of animals. In conclusion, acute extracellular hypervolemia potentiates the renal but suppresses the hypotensive responses to anaritide in conscious rhesus monkeys.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Fusion to an endoglucanase allows alkaline phosphatase to bind to cellulose.

Endoglucanase CenA of Cellulomonas fimi comprises an N-terminal cellulose-binding domain and a C-terminal catalytic domain joined together by a sequence of 23 proline and threonine residues (the Pro-Thr box). The domains function independently when separated by proteolysis. TnphoA has been used to generate cenA'-'phoA fusions. CenA'-'PhoA fusion polypeptides which contain the entire cellulose-binding domain of CenA bind to cellulose, allowing their purification from periplasmic extracts in a single, facile step. This result has implications for purification or immobilisation of chimeric proteins on a cheap cellulose matrix.

Actinomycetales↗