Three-dimensional transgenic cell model to quantify genotoxic effects of space environment.

In this paper we describe a three-dimensional, multicellular tissue-equivalent model, produced in NASA-designed, rotating wall bioreactors using mammalian cells engineered for genomic containment of multiple copies of defined target genes for genotoxic assessment. Rat 2 lambda fibroblasts, genetically engineered to contain high-density target genes for mutagenesis (Stratagene, Inc., Austin, TX), were cocultured with human epithelial cells on Cytodex beads in the High Aspect Ratio Bioreactor (Synthecon, Inc, Houston, TX). Multi-bead aggregates were formed by day 5 following the complete covering of the beads by fibroblasts. Cellular retraction occurred 8-14 days after coculture initiation culminating in spheroids retaining few or no beads. Analysis of the resulting tissue assemblies revealed: multicellular spheroids, fibroblasts synthesized collagen, and cell viability was retained for the 30-day test period after removal from the bioreactor. Quantification of mutation at the LacI gene in Rat 2 lambda fibroblasts in spheroids exposed to 0-2 Gy neon using the Big Blue color assay (Stratagene, Inc.), revealed a linear dose-response for mutation induction. Limited sequencing analysis of mutant clones from 0.25 or 1 Gy exposures revealed a higher frequency of deletions and multiple base sequencing changes with increasing dose. These results suggest that the three-dimensional, multicellular tissue assembly model produced in NASA bioreactors are applicable to a wide variety of studies involving the quantification and identification of genotoxicity including measurement of the inherent damage incurred in Space.

Investigation of the Ca2(+)-dependent interaction of trifluoperazine with S100a: a 19F NMR and circular dichroism study.

S100a is a heterodimeric, acidic calcium-binding protein that interacts with calmodulin antagonists in a Ca2(+)-dependent manner. In order to study the behavior of the hydrophobic domain on S100a when bound to Ca2+, its interaction with trifluoperazine (TFP) was investigated using 16F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The dissociation constant (Kd) values of TFP, as estimated from the chemical shifts of 19F NMR, were 191 and 29 microns in the absence and presence of Ca2+, respectively, and were similar to those previously reported for S100b. However, the TFP linewidth in the presence of Ca2(+)-bound S100a was 65 Hz greater than in the presence of Ca2(+)-bound S100b. This suggests a slower TFP exchange rate for S100a than for S100b. Thus, the TFP linewidths observed for each isoform may reflect differences in structural and modulatory properties of the Ca2(+)-dependent hydrophobic domains on S100a and S100b. Additionally, the presence of magnesium had no effect on the observed Ca2(+)-induced TFP spectral changes in S100a solutions. Circular dichroism studies indicate that Ca2+ induces a small transition from alpha-helix to random coil in S100a; in contrast, the opposite transition is reported for calmodulin (Hennessey et al., 1987). However, TFP did not significantly alter the secondary structure of Ca2(+)-bound S100a; this observation is similar to the effect of TFP on Ca2(+)-bound calmodulin and troponin C (Shimizu and Hatano, 1984; Gariépy and Hodges, 1983). It is, therefore, proposed that TFP binds to a hydrophobic domain on S100a in a fashion similar to other calcium-modulated proteins.

Spectral studies of the Ca2+-dependent interaction of trifluoperazine with S100b.

S100b is a calcium-binding protein that will bind to many calmodulin target molecules in a Ca2+-dependent manner. In order to study the Ca2+-dependent binding properties of S100b, its interaction with a calmodulin antagonist, trifluoperazine (TFP), was investigated using [19F]- and [1H]-NMR and UV-difference spectroscopy. It was estimated from [19F]-NMR that in the absence of Ca2+, the k1/2 value of TFP was 130 microM, while its k1/2 value decreased to 28 microM in the presence of Ca2+. The addition of KCl was not antagonistic to the Ca2+-dependent interaction of TFP to S100b. The chemical exchange rate of TFP with Ca2+-bound S100b was estimated to be 9 x 10(2) sec-1. By comparison with TFP-calmodulin exchange rates, it is suggested that the TFP-binding site on S100b is structurally different from its binding sites on calmodulin. Proton NMR resonance broadening in the range 6.8-7.2 ppm, corresponding to phenylalanine nuclei of S100b, indicates that these residues may be involved in TFP binding. Addition of Ca2+ to a 1:1 mixture of S100b and TFP resulted in a red-shifted UV-difference spectrum, while no significant difference spectrum was detected when Mg2+ was added to a S100b-TFP solution. Thus, we suggest that Ca2+ induces the exposure of a hydrophobic domain on S100b containing one or more phenylalanine residues that will bind TFP but that this domain is different from the hydrophobic domain on calmodulin.