Synthesis of Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (hBMP-2) in E. coli Periplasmic Space: Its Characterization and Preclinical Testing.

Human BMP-2, a homodimeric protein that belongs to the TGF- ß family, is a recognized osteoinductor due to its capacity of inducing bone regeneration and ectopic bone formation. The administration of its recombinant form is an alternative to autologous bone grafting. A variety of E. coli-derived hBMP-2 has been synthesized through refolding of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. The present work reports the synthesis, purification, and characterization of periplasmic hBMP-2, obtained directly in its correctly folded and authentic form, i.e., without the initial methionine typical of the cytoplasmic product that can induce undesired immunoreactivity. A bacterial expression vector was constructed including the DsbA signal peptide and the cDNA of hBMP-2. The periplasmic fluid was extracted by osmotic shock and analyzed via SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The purification was carried out by heparin affinity chromatography, followed by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). HPSEC was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the final product, which showed >95% purity. The classical in vitro bioassay based on the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity in myoblastic murine C2C12 cells and the in vivo bioassay consisting of treating calvarial critical-size defects in rats confirmed its bioactivity, which matched the analogous literature data for hBMP-2.

Styrene-Butadiene Rubber by Miniemulsion Polymerization Using In Situ Generated Surfactant.

An alternative approach for the synthesis of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) copolymer latexes was explored in order to obtain low gel fractions and high solid contents. The ultra-turrax-assisted miniemulsion stabilized by in situ surfactant generation was adopted as the main strategy since this technique can inhibit the eventual presence of secondary nucleation producing polybutadiene particles and also control the cross-linking degree. Styrene monomer was first miniemulsified using an ultra-turrax and in situ generated surfactant using either hexadecane (HD) or octadecyl acrylate (ODA) as the hydrophobe. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements of droplet size indicated faster stabilization and the production of smaller droplet diameters ca. 190 nm (PdI = 0.08) when employing in situ generated potassium oleate (K-Oleate) in comparison to SDS-based miniemulsions. High butadiene-level SBR latexes with ca. 50% solids content, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of -52 °C, and a butadiene to styrene weight ratio of 75:25, were then obtained using the miniemulsion droplets as seeds. Turbiscan and DLS measurements revealed a very stable resulting latex with SBR particle diameter of ca. 220 nm and a low polydispersity index (PdI). Secondary nucleation was prevented as indicated by the low Np/Nd value. Cryo-TEM images showed a narrow distribution of particle size as well as the absence of agglomeration. The gel content was below 10% when tert-dodecyl mercaptan (t-DM) was used as chain transfer agent (CTA).

Single-Dose and Multiple-Dose Pharmacokinetics of Vaniprevir in Healthy Men.

Vaniprevir is an inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A protease. The aim of these double-blind, placebo-controlled phase I studies was to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of vaniprevir in healthy male volunteers. The primary objective for both studies was the safety and tolerability of vaniprevir. Single-dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics were also assessed. In both studies, there was no apparent relationship between the frequency or intensity of adverse events and vaniprevir dose. At single doses >20 mg, the plasma area under the curve (AUC)0-∞ and maximum concentration (Cmax ) increased in a greater-than-dose-proportional manner. The geometric mean ratios (GMRs; fed/fasted) were 1.22 and 0.79 for AUC0-∞ and Cmax , respectively. Following multiple doses, GMR accumulations for AUC0-12h and Cmax (day 14/day 1) ranged from 1.53 to 1.90 and from 1.41 to 1.92, respectively. These data support the use of vaniprevir with peginterferon and ribavirin in patients with HCV infection.

Effect of Vorapaxar Alone and in Combination with Aspirin on Bleeding Time and Platelet Aggregation in Healthy Adult Subjects.

The effect of the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) antagonist vorapaxar on human bleeding time is not known. This was a randomized, two-period, open-label trial in healthy men (n = 31) and women (n = 5). In period 1, subjects received 81 mg aspirin q.d. or a vorapaxar regimen achieving steady-state plasma concentrations equivalent to chronic 2.5 mg q.d. doses, for 7 days. In period 2, each group added 7 days of the therapy alternate to that of period 1 without washout. Bleeding time and platelet aggregation using arachidonic acid, ADP, and TRAP agonists were assessed. Bleeding time geometric mean ratio (90% CI) for vorapaxar/baseline was 1.01 (0.88-1.15), aspirin/baseline was 1.32 (1.15-1.51), vorapaxar + aspirin/vorapaxar was 1.47 (1.26-1.70), and vorapaxar + aspirin/aspirin was 1.12 (0.96-1.30). Unlike aspirin, vorapaxar did not prolong bleeding time compared with baseline. Bleeding time following administration of vorapaxar with aspirin was similar to that following aspirin alone.

Atomic force microscope mediated chromatography.

An atomic force microscope (AFM) is presented as an instrument for rapid, miniaturized chromatography. The AFM is used to inject a sample, provide shear driven liquid flow over a functionalized substrate, and detect separated components. The components are then analyzed with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy using AFM deposition of gold nanoparticles on the separated bands. This AFM mediated chromatography (AFM-MC) is demonstrated using lipophilic dyes and normal phase chemistry. A significant reduction in both size and separation time scales is achieved with 25 µm length scale and 1 s separation times. AFM-MC has general applications to trace chemical analysis and microfluidics.

In situ cleaning of instruments for the sensitive detection of organics on Mars.

A method is presented for in situ cleaning of spacecraft instruments that analyze planetary soil and rock. We have found that vibrating hardware, used to facilitate powder transport, was also effective at removing contamination. Surfaces can be cleaned below monolayer levels using vibrating surfaces in the presence of mineral powder. Both organic and particulate contamination is efficiently removed. Fine grained regolith from the planetary surface or an organic free reference material may serve as the powder used for cleaning. We present both analytical and experimental results for the contamination transfer fraction and the conditions required to clean the hardware prior to sensitive chemical analysis.

Biosignature detection at an Arctic analog to Europa.

The compelling evidence for an ocean beneath the ice shell of Europa makes it a high priority for astrobiological investigations. Future missions to the icy surface of this moon will query the plausibly sulfur-rich materials for potential indications of the presence of life carried to the surface by mobile ice or partial melt. However, the potential for generation and preservation of biosignatures under cold, sulfur-rich conditions has not previously been investigated, as there have not been suitable environments on Earth to study. Here, we describe the characterization of a range of biosignatures within potentially analogous sulfur deposits from the surface of an Arctic glacier at Borup Fiord Pass to evaluate whether evidence for microbial activities is produced and preserved within these deposits. Optical and electron microscopy revealed microorganisms and extracellular materials. Elemental sulfur (S°), the dominant mineralogy within field samples, is present as rhombic and needle-shaped mineral grains and spherical mineral aggregates, commonly observed in association with extracellular polymeric substances. Orthorhombic α-sulfur represents the stable form of S°, whereas the monoclinic (needle-shaped) γ-sulfur form rosickyite is metastable and has previously been associated with sulfide-oxidizing microbial communities. Scanning transmission electron microscopy showed mineral deposition on cellular and extracellular materials in the form of submicron-sized, needle-shaped crystals. X-ray diffraction measurements supply supporting evidence for the presence of a minor component of rosickyite. Infrared spectroscopy revealed parts-per-million level organics in the Borup sulfur deposits and organic functional groups diagnostic of biomolecules such as proteins and fatty acids. Organic components are below the detection limit for Raman spectra, which were dominated by sulfur peaks. These combined investigations indicate that sulfur mineral deposits may contain identifiable biosignatures that can be stabilized and preserved under low-temperature conditions. Borup Fiord Pass represents a useful testing ground for instruments and techniques relevant to future astrobiological exploration at Europa.

Peyronie's disease cell culture models: phenotypic, genotypic and functional analyses.

Peyronie's disease is a fibromatosis of the tunica albuginea. While trauma is believed to be the inciting event, the exact pathophysiology of this condition is unknown. In vitro analysis of cell biology can shed light on the pathogenesis of medical conditions and has been used for many decades as a research tool. We have established a cell culture model, which we have used to study the pathobiology of cells derived from Peyronie's disease plaque tissue. In 10 separate cell cultures derived from different individuals, these cells have demonstrated consistent phenotypic, genotypic and functional alterations. In neither of the control cell cultures, neonatal foreskin fibroblasts and normal tunica-derived fibroblasts have any of the above aberrations been demonstrated. The cells studied have been shown to be fibroblasts in nature with a sub-population of myofibroblasts present in culture. The Peyronie's disease plaque tissue-derived fibroblasts have demonstrated (i) consistent morphologic transformation (ii) increased S-phase on flow cytometry (iii) decreased dependence on culture medium (iv) cytogenic instability (v) excess production of fibrogenic cytokines and (vi) stabilization and dysfunctionalization of p53. Further refinement of this model and future analyses may permit an increased understanding of the pathogenesis of this condition and allow the development of therapeutic strategies.

Help from faculty: findings from the Acadia Institute Graduate Education Study.

Doctoral students receive many kinds of assistance from faculty members, but much of this support falls short of mentoring. This paper takes the perspective that it is more important to find out what kinds of help students receive from faculty than to assume that students are taken care of by mentors, as distinct from advisors or role models. The findings here are based on both survey and interview data collected through the Acadia Institute's project on Professional Values and Ethical Issues in the Graduate Education of Scientists and Engineers. The paper describes various kinds of assistance that students receive (or do not receive) from faculty members in their roles as teacher/coach, sponsor, and counselor, It concludes with a section on advisors assigned to doctoral students, notably the extent of their contact with and influence on students.

Glucose transporter protein responses to selective hyperglycemia or hyperinsulinemia in fetal sheep.

The acute effect of selective hyperglycemia or hyperinsulinemia on late gestation fetal ovine glucose transporter protein (GLUT-1, GLUT-3, and GLUT-4) concentrations was examined in insulin-insensitive (brain and liver) and insulin-sensitive (myocardium and fat) tissues at 1, 2.5, and 24 h. Hyperglycemia with euinsulinemia caused a two- to threefold increase in brain GLUT-3, liver GLUT-1, and myocardial GLUT-1 concentrations only at 1 h. There was no change in GLUT-4 protein amounts at any time during the selective hyperglycemia. In contrast, selective hyperinsulinemia with euglycemia led to an immediate and persistent twofold increase in liver GLUT-1, which lasted from 1 until 24 h with a concomitant decline in myocardial tissue GLUT-4 amounts, reaching statistical significance at 24 h. No other significant change in response to hyperinsulinemia was noted in any of the other isoforms in any of the other tissues. Simultaneous assessment of total fetal glucose utilization rate (GURf) during selective hyperglycemia demonstrated a transient 40% increase at 1 and 2.5 h, corresponding temporally with a transient increase in brain GLUT-3 and liver and myocardial GLUT-1 protein amounts. In contrast, selective hyperinsulinemia led to a sustained increase in GURf, corresponding temporally with the persistent increase in hepatic GLUT-1 concentrations. We conclude that excess substrate acutely increases GURf associated with an increase in various tissues of the transporter isoforms GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 that mediate fetal basal glucose transport without an effect on the GLUT-4 isoform that mediates insulin action. This contrasts with the tissue-specific effects of selective hyperinsulinemia with a sustained increase in GURf associated with a sustained increase in hepatic basal glucose transporter (GLUT-1) amounts and a myocardial-specific emergence of mild insulin resistance associated with a downregulation of GLUT-4.

Effects of selective hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia on glucose transporters in fetal ovine skeletal muscle.

We measured net fetal glucose uptake rate from the placenta, shown previously to be equal to total fetal glucose utilization rate (GUR(f)) and proportional to fetal hindlimb skeletal muscle glucose utilization, under normal conditions and after 1, 2.5, and 24 h of selective hyperglycemia increasing G or selective hyperinsulinemia increasing I. We simultaneously measured the amount of Glut 1 and Glut 4 glucose transporter proteins in fetal sheep skeletal muscle. With increasing G , GUR(f) was increased approximately 40% at 1 and 2.5 h but returned to the control rate by 24 h. This transient increasing G -specific increasing GUR(f) was associated with increased plasma membrane-associated Glut 1 (4-fold) and intracellular Glut 4 (3-fold) protein beginning at 1 h. With increasing I, GUR(f) was increased approximately 70% at 1, 2.5, and 24 h. This more sustained increasing I-specific increasing GUR(f) was associated with a significant increase in Glut 4 protein (2-fold) at 2.5 h but no change in Glut 1 protein. These results show that increasing G and increasing I have independent effects on the amount of Glut 1 and Glut 4 glucose transporter proteins in ovine fetal skeletal muscle. These effects are time dependent and isoform specific and may contribute to increased glucose utilization in fetal skeletal muscle. The lack of a sustained temporal correlation between the increase in transporter proteins and glucose utilization rates indicates that subcellular localization and activity of a transporter or tissues other than the skeletal muscle contribute to net GUR(f).

Occult Leydig cell tumor in a patient with gynecomastia.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of a clinically occult testicular tumor causing gynecomastia and to alert physicians to the importance of use of testicular ultrasonography in patients with progressive gynecomastia despite normal findings on testicular examination. METHODS: We present a detailed case, including results of clinical, laboratory, and radiologic assessment, of a man with hyperprolactinemia and gynecomastia. RESULTS: A 36-year-old man with progressive gynecomastia was referred to our clinic because of an increased serum prolactin level. Subsequent clinical investigation revealed no evidence of hypogonadism and several possible causes of the gynecomastia. Because of the patient's age and progressive symptoms, testicular ultrasonography was performed despite normal findings on testicular examination. This ultrasound study showed a right testicular mass, which proved to be a Leydig cell tumor. The patient was referred for definitive therapy with orchiectomy. Follow-up studies showed resolution of the gynecomastia and substantial decreases in prolactin and estradiol levels. CONCLUSION: Although gynecomastia is a relatively common disorder with a benign cause in most cases, physicians should be aware that normal findings on testicular examination do not completely rule out the possibility of a testicular tumor as the cause. Because of the potentially high morbidity of testicular tumors and their known association with gynecomastia, early performance of testicular ultrasonography in a patient with gynecomastia of unknown cause is advised.

Separation of lidocaine and its metabolites by capillary electrophoresis using volatile aqueous and nonaqueous electrolyte systems.

The separation of the basic drug lidocaine and six of its metabolites has been investigated both by using volatile aqueous electrolyte system, at low pH and by employing non-aqueous electrolyte systems. In aqueous systems, the best separation of the compounds under the investigated conditions was achieved by using the electrolyte 60 mM trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)/triethylamine (TEA) at pH 2.5 containing 15% methanol. With this electrolyte, all seven compounds were well separated with high efficiency and migration time repeatability. The separations with bare fused-silica capillaries and polyacrylamide-coated capillaries were compared with higher separation efficiency with the latter. On the other hand, near baseline separation of all the seven compounds was also obtained by employing the non-aqueous electrolyte, 40 mM ammonium acetate in methanol and TFA (99:1, v/v), with comparable migration time repeatability but lower separation efficiency relative to the aqueous system.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein discrepancy and high prevalence of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: An outbreak of Kawasaki disease (KD) in Colorado between November, 1997, and June, 1998, provided the opportunity to study inflammatory indices and coronary artery abnormalities. METHODS: Medical records of the 33 patients diagnosed with KD at The Children's Hospital during the outbreak were reviewed. Demographic and clinical information, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and echocardiogram results were recorded. Traditional abnormalities (dilatation, aneurysm, ectasia), as well as "prominence" of the coronary arteries were noted. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients had CRP and ESR performed on the day of admission; 11 of 25 (44%) had a discrepancy between the height of the ESR and CRP values (high ESR and low CRP or low ESR and high CRP). The mean CRP was higher in patients who presented in <10 days than in patients who presented in > or =10 days: 13.9 mg/dl vs. 5.2 mg/dl (P = 0.01). The ESR value did not correlate with the day of illness. Age, gender or presence of coronary artery abnormalities did not correlate with the height of CRP or ESR elevation. Thirty percent of patients had at least one abnormality on their initial echocardiogram (dilatation, aneurysm, ectasia). An additional 24% of patients displayed prominence as the only finding on their initial echocardiogram. Of the 33 patients 7 (21.2%) had coronary artery aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with KD have discrepancies in the degree of elevation of CRP and ESR. Physicians should consider obtaining both tests in patients with KD. This outbreak was associated with a high degree of coronary artery abnormalities. The finding of coronary artery prominence is an observation that deserves further study.

Fetal hyperinsulinemia increases farnesylation of p21 Ras in fetal tissues.

Even though the role of fetal hyperinsulinemia in the pathogenesis of fetal macrosomia in patients with overt diabetes and gestational diabetes mellitus seems plausible, the molecular mechanisms of action of hyperinsulinemia remain largely enigmatic. Recent indications that hyperinsulinemia "primes" various tissues to the mitogenic influence of growth factors by increasing the pool of prenylated Ras proteins prompted us to investigate the effect of fetal hyperinsulinemia on the activitiy of farnesyltransferase (FTase) and the amounts of farnesylated p21 Ras in fetal tissues in the ovine experimental model. Induction of fetal hyperinsulinemia by direct infusion of insulin into the fetus and by either fetal or maternal infusions of glucose resulted in significant increases in the activity of FTase and the amounts of farnesylated p21 Ras in fetal liver, skeletal muscle, fat, and white blood cells. An additional infusion of somatostatin into hyperglycemic fetuses blocked fetal hyperinsulinemia and completely prevented these increases, specifying insulin as the causative factor. We conclude that the ability of fetal hyperinsulinemia to increase the size of the pool of farnesylated p21 Ras may prime fetal tissues to the action of other growth factors and thereby constitute one mechanism by which fetal hyperinsulinemia could induce macrosomia in diabetic pregnancies.

The cell wall and cell division gene cluster in the Mra operon of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: cloning, production, and purification of active enzymes.

We have cloned the Pseudomonas aeruginosa cell wall biosynthesis and cell division gene cluster that corresponds to the mra operon in the 2-min region of the Escherichia coli chromosome. The organization of the two chromosomal regions in P. aeruginosa and E. coli is remarkably similar with the following gene order: pbp3/pbpB, murE, murF, mraY, murD, ftsW, murG, murC, ddlB, ftsQ, ftsA, ftsZ, and envA/LpxC. All of the above P. aeruginosa genes are transcribed from the same strand of DNA with very small, if any, intragenic regions, indicating that these genes may constitute a single operon. All five amino acid ligases, MurC, MurD, MurE, MurF, and DdlB, in addition to MurG and MraY were cloned in expression vectors. The four recombinant P. aeruginosa Mur ligases, MurC, MurD, MurE, and MurF were overproduced in E. coli and purified as active enzymes.

An ex vivo angiogenesis assay utilizing commercial porcine carotid artery: modification of the rat aortic ring assay.

The study of angiogenesis as a therapeutic target requires a reliable, physiologically relevant, and technically straightforward assay. An ex vivo assay bridges the gap between cell-based assays, which may not realistically represent the complex process of vessel sprouting, and in vivo assays, which are time consuming and expensive. Porcine carotid arteries provide an ideal tissue source for angiogenesis inhibitor screens due to their availability, physiological relevance and large size. 1.5 mm2 fragments of porcine carotid arteries were incubated in 48-well culture plates and sandwiched between two 100 microliters layers of Matrigel. Sprouting was observed from the explants and quantitated, using a digital imaging system, after two weeks of incubation. Histological analysis using Factor VIII-related antigen (von Willebrand Factor) as an endothelial cell-specific marker identified these sprouts, which were consistent with endothelial cell morphology, supporting the system as a model of angiogenesis. Accordingly, the angiogenesis inhibitors suramin, 2-methoxyestradiol, and the matrix metalloprotease inhibitor Batimastat were shown to completely inhibit sprouting at 50, 0.5, and 5.0 micrograms/ml, respectively and to have ED50 values of 23, 0.15, and 0.14 microgram/ml. This assay shows good reproducibility and eliminates animal to animal variation. The system should prove adaptable to other forms of angiogenic stimulation, ultimately making a variety of assays for angiogenesis available to laboratories of limited resources.

Crystal structure of Escherichia coli UDPMurNAc-tripeptide d-alanyl-d-alanine-adding enzyme (MurF) at 2.3 A resolution.

MurF is required to catalyze the final step in the synthesis of the cytoplasmic precursor of the bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan, rendering it an attractive target for antibacterial drug development. The crystal structure of the MurF apo-enzyme has been determined using the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method and refined to 2.3 A resolution. It contains three consecutive open alpha/beta-sheet domains. In comparison with the complex crystal structures of MurD and its substrates, The topology of the N-terminal domain of MurF is unique, while its central and C-terminal domains exhibit similar mononucleotide and dinucleotide-binding folds, respectively. The apo-enzyme of MurF crystal structure reveals an open conformation with the three domains juxtaposed in a crescent-like arrangement creating a wide-open space where substrates are expected to bind. As such, catalysis is not feasible and significant domain closure is expected upon substrate binding.

Conserved cytoplasmic motifs that distinguish sub-groups of the polyprenol phosphate:N-acetylhexosamine-1-phosphate transferase family.

WecA, MraY and WbcO are conserved members of the polyprenol phosphate:N-acetylhexosamine-1-phosphate transferase family involved in the assembly of bacterial cell walls, and catalyze reactions involving a membrane-associated polyprenol phosphate acceptor substrate and a cytoplasmically located UDP-D-amino sugar donor. MraY, WbcO and WecA purportedly utilize different UDP-sugars, although the molecular basis of this specificity is largely unknown. However, domain variations involved in specificity are predicted to occur on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane, adjacent to conserved domains involved in the mechanistic activity, and with access to the cytoplasmically located sugar nucleotides. Conserved C-terminal domains have been identified that satisfy these criteria. Topological analyses indicate that they form the highly basic, fifth cytoplasmic loop between transmembrane regions IX and X. Four diverse loops are apparent, for MraY, WecA, WbcO and RgpG, that uniquely characterize these sub-groups of the transferase family, and a correlation is evident with the known or implied UDP-sugar specificity.