Biomedical subjects

Rang Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Rang Huang.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Potential of a simple solid-phase extraction method coupled to analytical and bioanalytical methods for an improved determination of microcystins in algal samples.

Artemia assays and protein phosphatase assays are commonly used for the screening of microcystins (MCs) in algal samples instead of the standard mouse toxicity assay. However, it has been shown that their results are often biased because of the matrix effects. To eliminate the possible interferences in the algal matrices, a new solid-phase extraction (SPE) method using silica gel as a sorbent was developed and evaluated. Results show that this SPE method could not only reduce the toxicity of the Microcystis samples towards brine shrimp by 50-80% but also eliminate 90-100% of the endogenous phosphatase activity from Spirulina and Chlorella samples, thus improving the determination of microcystins in algal samples using either of the two bioanalytical methods. The application of this SPE method as an off-line cleanup for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection is also described in this study. After SPE, the HPLC chromatograms of Microcystis samples have clear baselines that have no interferences with the analyte peaks.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Purification and characterization of a novel haemagglutinin from Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

We previously identified a strong haemagglutination activity in the freshwater unicellular green alga, Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Here, we sought to purify and characterize the haemagglutinin associated with this activity. Ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration on sephacryl S-200 and DEAE-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography were used to purify the haemagglutinin, which was designated CPH (Chlorella pyrenoidosa haemagglutinin). The molecular weight of CPH was estimated as 58 kDa by SDS-PAGE and 60 kDa by gel filtration of the native protein, indicating that this haemagglutinin exists as a monomer. The haemagglutinin activity of CPH was inhibited by glycoproteins, especially yeast mannan, but not by monosaccharides or disaccharides, indicating that CPH is carbohydrate-specific. In addition to the composition of CPH shown to be rich in glycine and acidic amino acids, heamagglutinating activity of CPH was insensitive to variations in pH or the presence of divalent cations, and atomic force microscopy revealed that the protein is rod-shaped. These results indicate that the characteristics of CPH are consistent with its identification as a haemagglutinin, and suggest that CPH may be a viable candidate for applications in a variety of biomedical fields.

Biotechnology↗

PubMed2006

Comparison of protein phosphatase inhibition activities and mouse toxicities of microcystins.

Eight naturally purified microcystins (MCs), including MC-LR, -FR, -WR, -RR, [d-Asp(3)]MC-FR, -WR, -RR, and [Dha(7)]MC-RR were utilized to determine the effects of amino acid substitutions and modifications on MC-induced protein phosphatase inhibition activity and mouse toxicity. Catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase 1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A) were purified and subjected to the inhibition assays, and intraperitoneal injection was used to administer MCs into mice for the toxicity assay. It is found that the replacement of the non-polar amino acid l-leucine at the second position of these heptacyclic peptide toxins by a polar l-arginine reduces their mouse toxicities and inhibitory activities against PP-1 and PP-2A to different extends. Demethylation of methyldehydroalanine (Mdha) at the seventh amino acid of MC-RR exhibits the least mouse toxicity and phosphatase inhibition. The loss of a methyl group on the common methylaspartic acid (MeAsp) at the third position of MC-FR, -WR, and -RR does not alter their toxicity levels, but dominantly reduces their activities in PP-1 inhibition compared to other substitutions or modifications. This suggests that the methyl group on MeAsp is also important for MCs inhibition. However, such a tendency is not observed for PP-2A. By comparing the LD(50) values of the mouse toxicity assay and IC(50) values of the PP-1 and PP-2A inhibition assay of eight MCs using linear regression, it is evident that the MC-induced toxicity is much more related to the inhibition of PP-2A than PP-1, which suggests that PP-2A inhibition may play a major role in the MC-induced mouse toxicity.

Animals↗