Intracellular Localization and Sustained Prodrug Cell Killing Activity of TAT-HSVTK Fusion Protein in Hepatocelullar Carcinoma Cells

Limin Cao,Jin Si,Weiyu Wang,Xiaorong Zhao,Xiaomei Yuan,Huifen Zhu,Xiaolong Wu,Jianzhong Zhu,Guanxin Shen 한국분자세포생물학회 2006 Molecules and cells Vol.21 No.1

Gene therapy with nonviral vectors using the suicide gene/prodrug activating system of herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK)/ganciclovir (GCV) is inefficient in killing malignant tumor cells due to two major factors: (a) an unsatisfactory bystander effect; (b) short-lived expression of the protein. To study the capacity of the protein transduction domain (PTD) of HIV-1 TAT protein to enhance HSV1-TK/GCV cancer gene therapy, we constructed three fusion proteins TAT-TK, TK-TAT and TK. TATTK retained as much enzyme activity as TK, whereas that of TK-TAT was much lower. TAT-TK can enter HepG2 cells and much of it is translocated to the nucleus. The transduced HepG2 cells are killed by exogenously added GCV and have bystander effects on untransduced HepG2 cells. Most importantly, the introduced recombinant protein is stable and remains functional for several days at least, probably because nuclear localization protects it from the cytoplasmic degradation machinery and provides access to the nuclear transcription machinery. Our results indicate that TAT fusion proteins traffic intercellularly and have enhanced stability and prodrug cell killing activity. We conclude that TAT has potential for enhancing enzyme prodrug treatment of liver cancers.

Effects of Huzhangoside C on Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Stimulated Colitis in Mice

Limin Chen,Yonghong Zhang,Jinhuang Shen,Ying Wu,Fan Cao,Hongying Hua,Xinhua Ma 한국식품영양과학회 2024 Journal of medicinal food Vol.27 No.1

Chronic inflammation is a major risk factor for cancer. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronicinflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, ultimately leading to a breakdown of intestinal barrier function. Clematisflorida var. plena is a folk prescription used to treat inflammation and rheumatism in She pharmacy. The bioactivity of C. florida var. plena is primarily due to triterpene saponins. Huzhangoside C (HZ) is an active component of C. florida var. plena. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of HZ on a mouse colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) wasinvestigated. Result indicated a notable reduction in body weight loss and colon length shortening in HZ-mediated micecompared to DSS-stimulated control mice. Furthermore, inflammatory signaling mechanisms involving interleukin-6 andtumor necrosis factor-a were suppressed in HZ-treated mice. HZ treatment significantly suppressed the expression of nuclearfactor kappa B (NF-jB), STAT3, and iNOS in colon tissue. After HZ treatment, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels weresignificantly decreased, while Nrf-2, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione expression levels were notably improved. Theresult indicated that HZ could activate the Nrf-2 signal cascade, inhibit the expression of NF-jB, eNOS, and STAT3, andenhance the intestinal barrier function of DSS stimulated ulcerative colitis intestinal injury. The results suggest that HZ ispotential anti-inflammatory agent for treating IBD.

Simultaneous optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction for total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of the tender stem of Triarrhena lutarioriparia using response surface methodology

Qingming Cao,Jianye Yan,Zhicheng Sun,Limin Gong,Hongnian Wu,Shihan Tan,Yating Lei,Bo Jiang,Yuanqing Wang 한국식품과학회 2021 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.30 No.1

The asparagus of Triarrhena lutarioriparia (TL)is a popular vegetable with abundant chemical compoundsin China. This study aims to optimize the ultrasound-assistedextraction (UAE) method for its content of totalflavonoid and antioxidant activities by response surfacemethodology (RSM). Box-Behnken design was adopted toevaluate the influences of ethanol concentration, extractiontime and solvent-to-sample ratio on the extraction yield oftotal flavonoid and the antioxidant activity. Considering themaximum content of extracted total flavonoids andantioxidant activity, the optimal extraction conditions wereacquired with 70% (v/v) ethanol by UAE for 60 min at asolvent-to-sample ratio of 40 mL/g. The proportion of theextraction of total flavonoid was 15.88 mg/g and antioxidantactivity reached 79.53%. The RSM would be recommendedas an appropriate model for simultaneousoptimization of the UAE conditions for the content of totalflavonoid and the antioxidant activity of asparagus of TL.

Thermal shock resistance of porous alumina ceramics with different internal and external porosity

Maochang Cao,Xinxin Jin,Le Chen,Limin Dong,Bo Li,Xianyou Zhang 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2021 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.22 No.4

Porous alumina ceramics with porosity of 24.42-41.10% were prepared by gel casting process with polymethylmethacrylatemicrosphere(PMMA) as pore-forming agent. The mechanical/thermal properties and porosity of the obtained ceramic areinfluenced by two structures that composed of spherical shaped micro pores(external pores) depending on PMMA content andirregular sub-micro pores(internal pores) formed by the stacking of ceramic particles. Mechanical properties and thermalconductivity decreased as the porosity increased. The thermal shock resistance of the samples was excellent when the porositywas 33.45%. This phenomenon caused by the matching of external and internal pores is inconsistent with the trend of thermalshock fracture resistance and thermal shock damage resistance varying with porosity in previous researches. In the case of thesame total porosity, the introduction of external pores improved the mechanical properties and critical temperature difference,reduced the thermal conductivity and fracture surface energy that affected the thermal stability of the material.

PREPARATION AND PHOTOCHROMISM OF SINGLE AG-TCNQ MICROSTRUCTURE

Guanying Cao,Limin Ma,Xiuyan Zhao,Xin Zhao,Xueheng Tao 한국멀티미디어학회 2006 한국멀티미디어학회 국제학술대회 Vol.2006 No.-

The micro/nanostructures of metal-organic complex Ag-TCNQ were successfully synthesized via the reaction between Ag film and TCNQ dissolved in acetonitrile solution. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the as-obtained Ag-TCNQ was crystalline one-dimensional micro/nanowires or tubes. The reversible photochromic property of single Ag-TCNQ microstructure was investigated both by home-made optical testing system and Raman

Preparation and Electrochemical Performances of Rod-Like LiV3O8/Carbon Composites Using Polyaniline as Carbon Source

Xiao-Yu Cao,Limin Zhu,Hailian Wu 대한금속·재료학회 2015 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.11 No.4

Rod-like LiV3O8/carbon composites were successfully prepared by the polymer graphitization of LiV3O8/polyaniline composites, which were synthesized through the in-situ oxidative polymerization method. The crystal phases of as-prepared samples, confirmed by X-ray diffraction, show that the interlayer spacing in LiV3O8/ carbon composites is much wider than that of the pristine LiV3O8. Compared to the bare LiV3O8, the longer and smoother rod-like LiV3O8/carbon composites, investigated by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope, were covered by a continuously thin layer of fluffy carbon with a thickness of approximate 20 nm. The optimal LiV3O8/carbon composite delivered a discharge capacity of 219.37 mAh g−1 in the initial cycle, and maintained a high capacity of 263.538 mAh g−1 at the 30th cycle, which was much higher than that of the pristine LiV3O8 (227.645 mAh g−1). Cyclic voltammetry measurements disclose that, after the carbon coating treatment, the phase transition of the optimal LiV3O8/carbon composite proceeds more reversibly and smoothly during charging/discharging. The improved cyclability of the optimal LiV3O8/carbon composite should be attributed to the confinement from thin carbon layer, the structural stability, the good interfacial compatibility, and the well-preserved electrode morphology after prolonged cycles.

Isolation, characterization, and identification of proteins interfering with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of antibiotics in fish matrix

Wang, Xiudan,Lin, Hong,Cao, Limin,Zheng, Hongwei,Cui, Mengqi,Du, Shuyuan,Sui, Jianxin 한국식품과학회 2016 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.25 No.5

The interaction between some proteins and immune globulin has been confirmed as an important source of matrix interference with the immunoassay of fishery products, but detailed biochemical properties of these proteins have not been indicated. Two interference-inducing proteins (42 and 36 kD) in flounder were isolated, characterized, and identified. Their influences on the immunoassay of norfloxacin were confirmed by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pI value and pH stability of the two proteins were also investigated. Using LC-MS/MS, the two proteins were identified as fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, and such results were partly verified by the aldolase activity of the 42 and 36 kD isolates. Considering the prevalence of these proteins (as multi-functional aldolase of muscles) in foods, these results would help to further understand the matrix effects in various immunoassays as well as the development of effective techniques to improve the efficiency of immunoassays.

Isolation, characterization, and identification of proteins interfering with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of antibiotics in fish matrix

Xiudan Wang,Hong Lin,Limin Cao,Hongwei Zheng,Mengqi Cui,Shuyuan Du,Jianxin Sui 한국식품과학회 2016 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.25 No.5

The interaction between some proteins and immune globulin has been confirmed as an important source of matrix interference with the immunoassay of fishery products, but detailed biochemical properties of these proteins have not been indicated. Two interference-inducing proteins (42 and 36 kD) in flounder were isolated, characterized, and identified. Their influences on the immunoassay of norfloxacin were confirmed by western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pI value and pH stability of the two proteins were also investigated. Using LC-MS/MS, the two proteins were identified as fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, and such results were partly verified by the aldolase activity of the 42 and 36 kD isolates. Considering the prevalence of these proteins (as multi-functional aldolase of muscles) in foods, these results would help to further understand the matrix effects in various immunoassays as well as the development of effective techniques to improve the efficiency of immunoassays.