Preparation and characterization of polyclonal antibodies against ARL-1 protein.

AIM: To prepare and characterize polyclonal antibodies against aldose reductase-like (ARL-1) protein. METHODS: ARL-1 gene was inserted into the E. coli expression vector pGEX-4T-1(His)(6)C and vector pQE-30. Recombinant ARL-1 proteins named ARL-(His)(6) and ARL-GST were expressed. They were purified by affinity chromatography. Sera from domestic rabbits immunized with ARL-(His) (6) were purified by CNBr-activated sepharose 4B coupled ARL-GST. Polyclonal antibodies were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Recombinant proteins of ARL-(His)(6) with molecular weight of 35.7 KD and ARL-GST with molecular weight of 60.8 KD were highly expressed. The expression levels of ARL-GST and ARL-(His)(6) were 15.1 % and 27.7 % among total bacteria proteins, respectively. They were soluble, predominantly in supernatant. After purification by non-denatured way, SDS-PAGE showed one band. In the course of polyclonal antibodies purification, only one elution peak could be seen. Western blotting showed positive signals in the two purified proteins and the bacteria transformed with pGEX-4T-1(His) (6) C-ARL and pQE-30-ARL individually. CONCLUSION: Polyclonal antibodies are purified and highly specific against ARL-1 protein. ARL-GST and ARL-(His) (6) are highly expressed and purified.

[Preparation and specificity analysis of anti-Drosophila Dxl6 antibody].

In order to study the function of Dxl6 which is a novel member of SR protein family, its cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR, and the sequences of its RS domain and its middle part were subcloned into two fusion express vectors, pGEX-4T-1His(6)C and pET32a. After expressing in E.coli BL21, the truncated proteins of Dxl6 RS domain part and Dxl6 middle part in pGEX-4T-1His(6)C were purified and used to immunize rabbits. Purified antibodies against the RS domain and Dxl6 middle part were obtained by affinity chromatography with the expressed products of Dxl6 RS domain part and Dxl6 middle part in pET32a, respectively. The result shows the antibody against Dxl6 RS domain has a good specificity to Dxl6 in Drosophila larvae by Western blot analysis.

[Expression analysis of mouse homologous proteins with human aldose reductase like-1].

OBJECTIVE: To detect expression of mouse ARL-1 homologous proteins in mouse tissues, and analyze homology, genetic distance and phylogenetic relationship between human aldose reductase like-1 (ARL-1) and mouse homologous proteins. METHODS: Homology of mouse ARL-1 homologous proteins with human ARL-1 was analyzed by software Clustal X 1.8 using GenBank and Swiss-Prot database; genetic distance and phylogenetic relationship between mouse ARL-1 homologous proteins and human ARL-1 were analyzed by software Mega 2.0; mouse tissues were detected by Western blotting using polyclonal antibodies against ARL-1 protein from domestic rabbits. RESULTS: The amino acid sequence of human ARL-1 was 83%, 82%, 81%, 79%, 70%, 51%, 50% and 45% identical to that of the Chinese hamster ovary reductase (CHO-Red), the mouse fibroblast growth factor-regulated protein (FR-1), rat aldose reductase-like protein (rARLP), the mouse vas deferens protein (MVDP), rat lens aldose reductase (LeAR), delta4-3-ketosteroid-5beta-reductase (5beta-Red), rat aldo-keto reductase protein c (RaK-c) and 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3alpha-HSD). Among all the mouse ARL-1 homologous proteins, the genetic distance between CHO-Red and human ARL was the shortest (18.0%, P = 0.023), next was FR-1 (19.1%, P=0.023) and rARLP (19.9%, P = 0.025). From the phylogenetic tree, the protein whose relationship with human ARL-1 was the closest with CHO-Red, next was mouse FR-1, rARLP, MVDP and LeAR. Homologous proteins were found in mouse tissues including vas deferens, testis, bladder and uterus by Western blotting using polyclonal antibodies against ARL-1 protein from domestic rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: CHO-Red has the highest homology, the shortest genetic distance and the closest relationship with human ARL-1, next is FR-1, rARLP, MVDP. The major distribution of mouse ARL-1 homologous proteins is in vas deferens, testis, bladder and uterus, deducing they might be CHO-Red, FR-1, rARLP or MVDP

[Preparation and characterization of anti-Drosophila Dnop5 antibody].

AIM: To prepare the rabbit antibody against Dnop5 and identify its specificity. METHODS: Dnop5 cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR, and then was subcloned into the fusion expression vectors pET28a(+). After being expressed in E.coli BL21, the truncated Dnop5 protein was purified and used to immunize rabbit. Purified antibody was obtained through affinity chromatography column with the expressed Dnop5. The specificity of the purified antibody was characterized by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The Dnop5 gene was successfully inserted into pET28a(+). After induction, the fusion protein was expressed in the form of inclusion body. The purified fusion protein was obtained by affinity chromatography. After immunization of rabbits, the antibody against Dnop5 was obtained. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining showed that the antibody had a good specificity. CONCLUSION: The rabbit antibody against Dnop5 has been successfully prepared, which lays the foundation for further study on the Dnop5 function.

Heat shock protein 90 indirectly regulates ERK activity by affecting Raf protein metabolism.

Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several nerve system diseases. As more and more kinases have been discovered to be the client proteins of the molecular chaperone Hsp90, the use of Hsp90 inhibitors to reduce abnormal kinase activity is a new treatment strategy for nerve system diseases. This study investigated the regulation of the ERK pathway by Hsp90. We showed that Hsp90 inhibitors reduce ERK phosphorylation without affecting the total ERK protein level. Further investigation showed that Raf, the upstream kinase in the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway, forms a complex with Hsp90 and Hsp70. Treating cells with Hsp90 inhibitors facilitates Raf degradation, thereby down-regulating the activity of ERK.

Expression, purification, and characterization of a biologically active bovine enterokinase catalytic subunit in Escherichia coli.

Enterokinase (EC 3.4.21.9) is a serine proteinase in the duodenum that exhibits specificity for the sequence (Asp)(4)-Lys. It converts trypsinogen to trypsin. Its high specificity for the recognition site makes enterokinase (EK) a useful tool for in vitro cleavage of fusion proteins. cDNA encoding the catalytic chain of Chinese bovine enterokinase was cloned and its encoding amino acid sequence is identical to the previously reported sequence although there are two one-base mutations which do not change the encoded amino acid. The EK catalytic subunit cDNA was cloned into plasmid pET32a, and fused downstream to the fusion partner thioredoxin (Trx) and the following DDDDK enterokinase recognition sequence. The recombinant bovine enterokinase catalytic subunit was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), and most products existed in soluble form. After an in vivo autocatalytic cleavage of the recombinant Trx-EK catalytic domain fusion protein, intact, biologically active EK catalytic subunit was released from the fusion protein. The recombinant intact EK catalytic subunit was purified to homogeneity with a specific activity of 720 AUs/mg protein through ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified intact EK catalytic subunit has a K(m) of 0.17 mM, and K(cat) is 20.8s(-1). From 100 ml flask culture, 4.3 mg pure active EK catalytic subunits were obtained.