A new class of anti-HIV-1 oligonucleotide targeted to the polypurine tract of viral RNA.

The PPT is highly conserved among the known HIV-1 strains, and is a possible target for triplex formation. We show triple-helix formation by a two-strand-system (FTFOs, DsDGloopT5-37) targeted to the polypurine tract (PPT) of HIV-1. In HIV-1 infected MOLT-4 cells, the FTFOs containing phosphorothioate groups at the antisense strand and guanosine rich parts within the third Hoogsteen base pairing sequence inhibit the replication of HIV-1 more effectively than the antisense phos-phorothioate oligonucleotides indicating sequence-specific inhibition of HIV-1 replication for 62 days. However, AZT, treated cells expressed high levels of p 24 products after 46 days.

Antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides targeted to the human chemokine receptor CXCR4.

The CXC chemokine receptor CXCR4 is used as a major co-receptor for fusion and entry by syncytia-inducing T-tropic (X4) isolates of HIV-1. In the present study, we report the effects of an antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide on the inhibition of CXCR4 gene expression in X4 HIV-1 infected HeLa-CD4 cells, to find more efficacious therapeutic possibilities for Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides (anti-S-ODNs) corresponding to the sequence of bases 69 to 88 of the human CXCR4 mRNA gene were synthesized. When the naked anti-S-ODN was incubated with HeLa-CD4 cells, the surface levels of this chemokine receptor were reduced up to 50%, indicating sequence-specific inhibition. We also examined the concomitant use of a basic peptide transfection reagent, nucleosomal histone proteins (RNP), for delivery of anti-S-ODNs. The anti-S-ODN encapsulated with RNP had higher inhibitory effects on p24 products than the naked anti-S-ODN.

Recombinant soluble CD59 inhibits reactive haemolysis with complement.

Three soluble forms of membrane attack complex inhibitory factor (MACIF or CD59) were prepared using recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells. They consisted of 70, 77 and 86 amino acids, starting from the amino terminus of naturally occurring CD59, and were designated recombinant (r) CD59 70, 77 and 86, respectively. All three rCD59 lacked a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, unlike membrane CD59 which has a GPI anchor at the anchor at the carboxyl terminus (77th amino acid). Their activities in inhibiting complement activation were assayed with C5b-7 intermediate cells and C8 and C9 components. The inhibitory activity of rCD59 70 was as high as that of rCD59 77 and twice that of rCD59 86. In addition, it was one-fourth and one-hundredth lower than the activities of urine and erythrocyte CD59, respectively. However, when assayed in the presence of human serum at a final concentration of 50% (v/v), the activities of both urine and erythrocyte CD59 were greatly decreased to to one-tenth of that of rCD59 70. Purified rCD59 70 molecules were all glycosylated, but rCD59 77 and 86 were mixtures of glycosylated and non-glycosylated molecules. The inhibitory activities of rCD59 77 and 86 were the same for the glycosylated and non-glycosylated forms. These results suggest that the soluble rCD59 provide a means for elucidating the biological roles of CD59.

Thrombolysis with intracoronary administration of YM866, a novel modified tissue-type plasminogen activator, in a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis.

We compared the thrombolytic activity of YM866, a novel modified tissue-type plasminogen activator, with that of t-PA by intracoronary administration in a canine thrombosis model of copper coil-induced 6-hr-old thrombi. Either drug was administered by a single injection (10 min) or multiple injection (4 x 10 min) under heparinization (300 IU/kg, i.v.). The reperfusion rate of YM866 was 4 times higher than that of t-PA when administered by single injection. Time to reperfusion of YM866 by single injection was shorter than that of either agent by multiple injection. No group showed any decrease in plasma fibrinogen levels. No acute reocclusion was seen in animals with YM866 by single injection. The improved thrombolytic activity of YM866 by single injection correlated with the relatively higher antigen levels of this agent due to its prolonged biological half-life. These results suggest that single intracoronary administration of YM866 is a safe and effective thrombolytic method for rapid recanalization and lowered acute reocclusion without activation of systemic fibrinolysis.

Thrombolytic activity of a novel modified tissue-type plasminogen activator, YM866, in a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis.

The thrombolytic activity of a novel modified t-PA, YM866, was compared with that of a recombinant t-PA in a canine model of copper coil-induced coronary thrombosis. The coronary thrombus was allowed to age for 1, 3 or 6 hr before either drug was administered. YM866 was administered by i.v. bolus injection, while t-PA was given by the same method, as well as by 60-min i.v. infusion. YM866 showed thrombolytic activity 2 to 4 times as potent as that of t-PA when administered by bolus injection, the difference in thrombolytic effect being obvious in the 3- and 6-hr-old thrombi. Coronary reperfusion was achieved more rapidly with YM866 than with i.v. infusion of t-PA. In animals injected with doses of more than 0.1 mg/kg of YM866, no acute reocclusion occurred. Depletion of plasma fibrinogen to 70% of baseline levels was observed in animals given 0.2 mg/kg YM866, 0.4 mg/kg t-PA by bolus, and 0.6 mg/kg t-PA via infusion. The residual plasma YM866 and t-PA antigen 30 min after bolus injection was 25% and 3% of the peak levels, respectively. YM866, administered by i.v. bolus injection, was thus confirmed to exert a thrombolytic effect superior to that of bolus injection and infusion of t-PA, without systemic fibrinolytic activation. These results suggest the potential clinical applicability of YM866 as a thrombolytic agent that can be administered by i.v. bolus injection for acute myocardial infarction.

Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the cDNA coding for rat lipocortin I (calpactin II).

Lipocortins (LC) are a family of proteins that were initially described to be induced by glucocorticosteroids and to inhibit phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Using oligodeoxynucleotide probes corresponding to partial amino acid (aa) sequences of rat lipocortin I (LCI), we have isolated a cDNA clone for rat LCI from a cDNA library prepared from poly(A)+RNA of peritoneal cells of dexamethasone-treated rat. The cDNA insert (1355 bp) had an open reading frame of 1038 bp that encoded a 346-aa polypeptide (Mr 38,784). The nucleotide sequence and the amino acid sequence deduced from it showed high homology with the reported sequences of human LCI. A plasmid containing the trc promoter and cDNA sequence for 346 aa residues of the rat LCI was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. Antibody to human LCI crossreacted with the recombinant rat LCI, and the recombinant protein had characteristics of natural rat LCI including PLA2 inhibitory activity in vitro.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the E. coli glutathione synthetase gsh-II.

The nucleotide sequence of the cloned DNA, 1,478 bp in length coding for glutathione synthetase (GSH-II) of E. coli B has been determined. Amino acid and nucleotide sequence analyses have assigned the open reading frame for GSH-II, starting with the ATG near its 5' terminus. The molecular weight calculated from the predicted amino acid sequence is 35,559 daltons, being in good agreement with that of a GSH-II subunit estimated by the SDS-PAGE method. Several signal sequences conserved in the promoter regions of E. coli were found in the non-coding regions of the gsh-II gene. They include the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, the Pribnow box and the sequence conserved in the "-35 region" with a preferable spacing from each other for an efficient transcription. Downstream from the termination codon, the inverted repeat sequences were present, followed by 6 successive T's. These structural features found in the non-coding regions have suggested to be involved in regulatory functions for the gsh-II gene expression.

Purification and characterization of glutathione synthetase from Escherichia coli B.

Glutathione synthetase was purified about 60-fold with 8.5% of activity yield from the cell extracts of Escherichia coli C600 cells transformed with a recombinant plasmid for the glutathione synthetase gene of E. coli B. The purified enzyme had a Mr of 152,000 and was composed of four identical subunits each with a Mr of 38,000. The Km values of the enzyme for gamma-glutamylcysteine, glycine, and ATP were 2.6, 2.0, and 1.8 mM, respectively. The enzyme was most active at pH 8.5 and at 45 degrees C and required divalent cations such as Mg2+, Mn2+, and Co2+ for activity. The activity was inhibited by oxidized glutathione (Ki = 4.4 mM). Reduced glutathione showed no effect on glutathione synthetase activity.

Construction of glutathione-producing strains of Escherichia coli B by recombinant DNA techniques.

The enzymatic production of glutathione (GSH) has been studied in a bioreactor system using toluene-treated cells of Escherichia coli B transformed with recombinant plasmids for gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH-I) and glutathione synthetase (GSH-II). As reported previously the genes for both enzymes were separately cloned onto vector plasmid pBR322. The plasmid for GSH-I was designated pGS100-2 and that for GSH-II as pGS200. The effect on GSH production in the bioreactor system, containing an ATP regenerating system, of using cells containing various hybrid plasmids has now been explored. Three kinds of hybrid plasmids, designated pGS300, pGS400, and pGS500, were constructed by subcloning the genes in pGS100-2 and pGS200 onto vector plasmid pBR325. pGS300 contained the E. coli B chromosomal DNA fragment with a gene for GSH-I in the PstI site of pBR325. pGS400 also contained E. coli B chromosomal DNA fragment with a gene for GSH-II in the HindIII site of pBR325. In contrast, pGS500 contained two kinds of DNA fragments with the genes for GSH-I and GSH-II in the PstI and HindIII sites of pBR325, respectively. All the hybrid plasmids thus prepared were stably maintained in E. coli cells when chloramphenicol was included at 10 micrograms/ml in the medium. The activity of the cells containing pGS300 was higher than that of the cells containing pGS400, although the former activity did not come up to that of cells having both pGS300 and pGS400. The highest glutathione-producing activity was found in the case of the cells transformed with pGS500 carrying both genes for GSH-I and GSH-II on the vector plasmid pBR325. About 5 mg/ml of glutathione was produced by E. coli cells with pGS500 from 80 mM L-glutamate, 20 mM L-cysteine, and 20 mM glycine within 3 h at 37 degrees C.