Development of glycan specific lectin based immunoassay for detection of prostate specific antigen.

We describe an analytical approach for the detection and verification of glycosylation patterns of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a key biomarker currently used for understanding the onset and prognosis of prostate cancer. PSA has been purified from the human seminal plasma and total PSA from prostate cancer sera. PSA is a monomeric glycoprotein with an apparent molecular mass 28040.467 Da, which exhibits a characteristic protease activity against casein and gelatin. Its optimal protease activity is centered on neutral pH. Peptide mass fingerprint analysis of the purified PSA has yielded peptides that partially match with known database sequences (Uniprot ID P07288). Tryptic digestion profile of isolated PSA, infer the exclusive nature of PSA and may be additive molecule in the dictionary of seminal proteins. Surface plasmon resonance and lectin immunoassay revealed direct interaction between a newly developed anti-PSA monoclonal antibody (C4E6) and PSA. A lectin based immunoassay is reported here which was achieved with the C4E6 anti-PSA antibody and biotinylated plant lectins. This investigation provides an alternative method to isolate and quantify PSA with altered glycosylation which might be seen in the prostate cancer and developing a lectin based immunoassay to detect PSA in serum of prostate cancer patients.

Mycobacterial tlyA gene product is localized to the cell-wall without signal sequence.

The mycobacterial tlyA gene product, Rv1694 (MtbTlyA), has been annotated as "hemolysin" which was re-annotated as 2'-O rRNA methyl transferase. In order to function as a hemolysin, it must reach the extracellular milieu with the help of signal sequence(s) and/or transmembrane segment(s). However, the MtbTlyA neither has classical signals sequences that signify general/Sec/Tat pathways nor transmembrane segments. Interestingly, the tlyA gene appears to be restricted to pathogenic strains such as H37Rv, M. marinum, M. leprae, than M. smegmatis, M. vaccae, M. kansasii etc., which highlights the need for a detailed investigation to understand its functions. In this study, we have provided several evidences which highlight the presence of TlyA on the surface of M. marinum (native host) and upon expression in M. smegmatis (surrogate host) and E. coli (heterologous host). The TlyA was visualized at the bacterial-surface by confocal microscopy and accessible to Proteinase K. In addition, sub-cellular fractionation has revealed the presence of TlyA in the membrane fractions and this sequestration is not dependent on TatA, TatC or SecA2 pathways. As a consequence of expression, the recombinant bacteria exhibit distinct hemolysis. Interestingly, the MtbTlyA was also detected in both membrane vesicles secreted by M. smegmatis and outer membrane vesicles secreted by E. coli. Our experimental evidences unambiguously confirm that the mycobacterial TlyA can reach the extra cellular milieu without any signal sequence. Hence, the localization of TlyA class of proteins at the bacterial surface may highlight the existence of non-classical bacterial secretion mechanisms.

Inhibition of CD40-induced N-Ras activation reduces leishmania major infection.

Leishmania major is a parasite that resides and replicates in macrophages. We previously showed that the parasite enhanced CD40-induced Raf-MEK-ERK signaling but inhibited PI3K-MKK-p38MAPK signaling to proleishmanial effects. As Raf and PI3K have a Ras-binding domain but exert opposite effects on Leishmania infection, we examined whether Ras isoforms had differential roles in Leishmania infection. We observed that L. major enhanced N-Ras and H-Ras expression but inhibited K-Ras expression in macrophages. L. major infection enhanced N-Ras activity but inhibited H-Ras and K-Ras activity. TLR2 short hairpin RNA or anti-TLR2 or anti-lipophosphoglycan Abs reversed the L. major-altered N-Ras and K-Ras expressions. Pam3CSK4, a TLR2 ligand, enhanced N-Ras expression but reduced K-Ras expression, indicating TLR2-regulated Ras expression in L. major infection. Whereas N-Ras silencing reduced L. major infection, K-Ras and H-Ras silencing enhanced the infection both in macrophages in vitro and in C57BL/6 mice. BALB/c-derived macrophages transduced with lentivirally expressed N-Ras short hairpin RNA and pulsed with L. major-expressed MAPK10 enhanced MAPK10-specific Th1-type response. CD40-deficient mice primed with these macrophages had reduced L. major infection, accompanied by higher IFN-γ but less IL-4 production. As N-Ras is activated by Sos, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, we modeled the N-Ras-Sos interaction and designed two peptides from their interface. Both the cell-permeable peptides reduced L. major infection in BALB/c mice but not in CD40-deficient mice. These data reveal the L. major-enhanced CD40-induced N-Ras activation as a novel immune evasion strategy and the potential for Ras isoform-targeted antileishmanial immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis.

Modulation of phagolysosome maturation by bacterial tlyA gene product.

The pathogenic traits of TlyA proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are not known. Expressions of TlyA in bacteria that do not express endogenous TlyA adhere better to RAW264.7 macrophages and get phagocytosed efficiently. The internalized bacteria avoid acidification to the extent of greater than 65 percent in the case of both TlyA-expressing E. coli and M. smegmatis. Consistent with this observation, we have observed decreased co-localizaton of Lysosomal Membrane Associated Protein-1 (approx. 35 percent), Early Endosomal Antigen-1 (approx. 34 percent), Rab5 (approx. 30 percent) and Rab7 (approx. 35 percent) and enhanced colocalizaton of Rab14 (approx. 80 percent) on both TlyA-expressing bacteria as well as on TlyA-coated latex beads. These results suggest that the mycobacterial TlyA, in general, can modulate phagolysosome maturation pathway immediately after entry into macrophages, while other important molecules may aid the bacterium for long-term, intracellular survival at later point of time.

Solution and in silico studies on the recombinant lectin from Cicer arietinum seeds.

The Cicer arietinum seed lectin was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and purified in active form. Conformational characterization of the recombinant lectin (rCAL) was performed using biophysical and bioinformatics tools. Thermal denaturation of rCAL caused rapid secondary structural rearrangements above 50 °C and transient exposure of hydrophobic residues at 55 °C, leading to aggregation. Treatment of rCAL with GdnHCl resulted in unfolding followed by dissociation of the dimer. The single tryptophan in rCAL present on the surface of the protein is surrounded by hydrophobic and acidic amino acids and exists as different conformers. The experimental observations correlated well with the structural information revealed from the homology model of rCAL.

Dissection of functional sites in herpesvirus saimiri complement control protein homolog.

Herpesvirus saimiri is known to encode a homolog of human complement regulators named complement control protein homolog (CCPH). We have previously reported that this virally encoded inhibitor effectively inactivates complement by supporting factor I-mediated inactivation of complement proteins C3b and C4b (termed cofactor activity), as well as by accelerating the irreversible decay of the classical/lectin and alternative pathway C3 convertases (termed decay-accelerating activity). To fine map its functional sites, in the present study, we have generated a homology model of CCPH and performed substitution mutagenesis of its conserved residues. Functional analyses of 24 substitution mutants of CCPH indicated that (i) amino acids R118 and F144 play a critical role in imparting C3b and C4b cofactor activities, (ii) amino acids R35, K142, and K191 are required for efficient decay of the C3 convertases, (iii) positively charged amino acids of the linker regions, which are dubbed to be critical for functioning in other complement regulators, are not crucial for its function, and (iv) S100K and G110D mutations substantially enhance its decay-accelerating activities without affecting the cofactor activities. Overall, our data point out that ionic interactions form a major component of the binding interface between CCPH and its interacting partners.

Molecular characterization of tlyA gene product, Rv1694 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a non-conventional hemolysin and a ribosomal RNA methyl transferase.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a virulent bacillus causing tuberculosis, a disease responsible for million deaths each year worldwide. In order to understand its mechanism of pathogenesis in humans and to help control tuberculosis, functions of numerous Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes are being characterized. In this study we report the dual functionality of tlyA gene product of Mycobacterium tuberculosis annotated as Rv1694, a 268 amino acid long basic protein. RESULTS: The recombinant purified Rv1694 protein was found to exhibit hemolytic activity in vitro. It showed concentration and time-dependent hemolysis of rabbit and human erythrocytes. Multiple oligomeric forms (dimers to heptamers) of this protein were seen on the membranes of the lysed erythrocytes. Like the oligomers of conventional, well-known, pore-forming toxins, the oligomers of Rv1694 were found to be resistant to heat and SDS, but were susceptible to reducing agents like ß-mercaptoethanol as it had abolished the hemolytic activity of Rv1694 indicating the role of disulfide bond(s). The Rv1694 generated de novo by in vitro transcription and translation also exhibited unambiguous hemolysis confirming the self assembly and oligomerization properties of this protein. Limited proteolytic digestion of this protein has revealed that the amino terminus is susceptible while in solution but is protected in presence of membrane. Striking feature of Rv1694 is its presence on the cell wall of E. coli as visualized by confocal microscopy. The surface expression is consistent with the contact dependent haemolytic ability of E. coli expressing this protein. Also, immune serum specific to this protein inhibits the contact dependent hemolysis. Moreover, Rv1694 protein binds to and forms stable oligomers on the macrophage phagosomal membranes. In addition to all these properties, E. coli expressing Rv1694 was found to be susceptible to the antibiotic capreomycin as its growth was significantly slower than mock vector transformed E. coli. The S30 extract of E. coli expressing the Rv1694 had poor translational activity in presence of capreomycin, further confirming its methylation activity. Finally, incorporation of methyl group of [3H]-S-adenosylmethionine in isolated ribosomes also confirmed its methylation activity. CONCLUSIONS: The Rv1694 has an unusual dual activity. It appears to contain two diverse functions such as haemolytic activity and ribosomal RNA methylation activity. It is possible that the haemolytic activity might be relevant to intra-cellular compartments such as phagosomes rather than cell lysis of erythrocytes and the self-assembly trait may have a potential role after successful entry into macrophages by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Modulation of PP2A activity by Jacalin: is it through caveolae and ER chaperones?

Plant lectins have been reported to affect the proliferation of different human cancer cell line probably by binding to the specific carbohydrate moieties. In the present study, Badan labeled single cysteine mutant (present in the caveolin-1 binding motif) of jacalin (rJacalin) was found to penetrate the target membrane, indicating a protein-protein or protein-membrane interaction apart from its primary mode of binding i.e. protein-carbohydrate interaction. Further, Jacalin treatment has resulted in the movement of the GFP-Caveolin-1 predominantly at the cell-cell contact region with much restricted dynamics. Jacalin treatment has resulted in the perinuclear accumulation of PP2A and dissociation of the PHAP1/PP2A complex. PP2A was found to act as a negative regulator of ERK signaling and a significant decrease in the phosphorylation level of MEK and AKT (T308) in A431. In addition, we have also identified several ER resident proteins including molecular chaperones like ORP150, Hsp70, Grp78, BiP of A431 cells, which were bound to the Jacalin-sepharose column. Among various ER chaperones that were identified, ORP150 was found to present on the cell surface of A431 cells.

Assembly of alpha-hemolysin on A431 cells leads to clustering of Caveolin-1.

Assembly and penetration of 14-strand beta-barrel of staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin (alpha-HL) is an intriguing phenomenon due to its water soluble property. alpha-HL interacts with the Caveolin-1 of A431 cells for its rapid assembly. A nine amino acid, non-hydrophobic peptide derived from alpha-HL has been shown to block the interaction of alpha-HL with the scaffolding domain of Caveolin-1. alpha-HL's presence was also detected in the Caveolin-1 enriched membrane fractions isolated by ultracentrifugation. Moreover, alpha-HL co-precipitates with Caveolin-1 specifically. In a time-dependent process, alpha-HL associates with the Caveolin-1 and co-localizes with Caveolin-1 that results in an extensive clustering of Caveolin-1 at cell-cell contacts. Mutants of alpha-HL devoid of Caveolin-1 binding motif failed to assemble into heptameric oligomers on the surface of A431 cells. Our data suggest that the conformational changes required to form the heptameric assembly might be triggered at the Caveolin-1 binding motif of alpha-HL.

Functional form of Caveolin-1 is necessary for the assembly of alpha-hemolysin.

The assembly of alpha-HL was shown to rapidly progress upon its interaction with Caveolin-1. Treatment of A431 cells with alpha-HL has resulted in clustering of Caveolin-1 at cell-cell contacts. Consistent with this observation, alpha-HL mutants devoid of assembly property have not induced the clustering of Caveolin-1. While cholesterol depletion of A431 cells completely arrests the assembly of alpha-HL, chelation of membrane cholesterol results in its retarded assembly. Interestingly, HT29 cells, with low Caveolin-1 levels, are resistant to alpha-HL attack. Clustering of Caveolin-1, as seen in case of A431 cells, was readily observed in case of HT29 cells transfected with Caveolin-1 construct, thus overexpressing the full length Caveolin-1, upon alpha-HL treatment. A model was constructed to visualize the interactions between alpha-HL and Caveolin-1 which suggests that facile penetration of alpha-HL's beta-barrel might occur through protein-protein interactions with the surrounding 7 alpha-helices of Caveolin-1.