Density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) is a powerful method for analyzing lipoprotein particles in great detail. It yields considerable amounts of information regarding the density distribution of these particles when coupled with fluorometric analysis and is an invaluable tool in determining their relative abundance. This union allows relationships between subclasses of lipoproteins to be established that gives researchers a more focused path to aid them in developing methods to predict the early onset of coronary artery disease (CAD). The research presented here focuses on the pairing of DGU with post-separatory techniques including matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), capillary electrophoresis (CE), isoelectric focusing (IEF) and apoptosis studies involving cell cultures. It is becoming clearer that cholesterol concentrations themselves do not provide sufficient data to assess the quality of cardiovascular health. As a result, research is becoming more focused on identifying better markers that may be indicative of development of CAD in a patient. Of specific interest is group of particles known as high density lipoproteins (HDL). Classically, this molecule is considered the “good cholesterol”, but literature from the last decade suggests that there may be atherogenic variants to this group. By utilizing DGU as a preparatory method for secondary analyses, new dimensions can be added to the density distribution analysis to allow a better determination of markers of cardiovascular health. The aim of this work is to utilize the principles involved with these various techniques to develop a comprehensive set of methods to aid in the detection of potential risk markers. In this study, the properties of metal ion complexes of EDTA as solute systems for analysis of lipoproteins by DGU are analyzed. We show that by varying the complexing ion and counter-ion of these metal-ion complexes, we gain the ability to control the separation of lipoprotein subclasses for subsequent analyses. Qualitative and quantitative data is presented that describes the analysis of different density regions of HDL for apolipoprotein content. Trends between control and atherogenic samples are also described and a clinical link between the biological activity of these regions and the chemical analysis is discussed.

Receptors that transport vitellogenin into oocytes are of vital importance to egg-laying species because they promote oocyte development. In this study, we describe the cloning of the first hymenopteran vitellogenin receptor (VgR) cDNA. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and both 5’- and 3’- rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), cDNA fragments encompassing the entire coding region of a putative VgR from fire ant (= SiVgR) were cloned and sequenced. The complete SiVgR cDNA has a length of 5764 bp encoding a 1782-residue protein with a predicted molecular mass of 201.3 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of the SiVgR revealed that it encoded a protein belonging to the low-density lipoprotein receptor superfamily. The number and arrangement of modular domains of SiVgR are the same as those of mosquito and fruit fly VgRs, except there are only four Class A cysteine-rich repeats in the first ligand binding domain of SiVgR compared to five in the mosquito and fruit fly. The deduced amino acid sequence of the SiVgR exhibited 35% and 31% identity to those of the mosquito and fruit fly VgRs, respectively. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the 7.4-kb SiVgR mRNA was present only in Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the 7.4-kb SiVgR mRNA was present only in ovaries of reproductive females − both alates (virgins) and queens (mated) and was more abundant in alates. The developmental profile of transcriptional expression was determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR. It showed that the SiVgR transcript increased 6-fold from 0- to 10-days after mating, then remained constant through 30 days. It also showed that the SiVgR transcripts increased with age in alate virgin females. The transcriptional expression of the SiVgR was up-regulated more than two-fold by methoprene, a juvenile hormone analog, as determined by using an in vitro system. This suggested the SiVgR gene is JH regulated.

Πρόσφατα δεδομένα σε πειραματικά μοντέλα ζώων αλλά και σε ασθενείς καταδεικνύουν την σημαντικότητα της «ποιότητας» της λιποπρωτεΐνης υψηλής πυκνότητας (HDL), σε σχέση με την ποσότητά της, στην προστασία από τη στεφανιαία νόσο. Τα κύρια χαρακτηριστικά της HDL τα οποία καθορίζουν την «ποιότητά» της, είναι η ανάστροφη μεταφορά χοληστερόλης, οι αντιοξειδωτικές και αντιφλεγμονώδεις ιδιότητές της καθώς επίσης και η ικανότητά της να προάγει την παραγωγή ΝΟ στο αρτηριακό επιθήλιο και να ρυθμίζει την ομοιόσταση της γλυκόζης αίματος. Στην συγκεκριμένη ερευνητική εργασία μελετάμε την επίδραση που έχει η ενεργοποίηση του φαιού λιπώδους ιστού, μέσω της έκθεσης φυσιολογικών πειραματικών μοντέλων μυών, σε περιβάλλον χαμηλής θερμοκρασίας, στο λιπιδαιμικό προφίλ, καθώς και στην λειτουργικότητα της HDL. Είναι γνωστό είναι ότι η ενεργοποίηση του φαιού λιπώδους ιστού, λόγω έκθεσης πειραματόζωων σε περιβάλλον χαμηλής θερμοκρασίας, οδηγεί σε θερμογένεση, κάθαρση των τριγλυκεριδίων από το αίμα παχύσαρκων ποντικών, μείωση του βάρους τους, έλεγχο του καταβολισμού των λιποπρωτεϊνών και ομαλοποίηση της ανοχής τους στην γλυκόζη. Έτσι θελήσαμε να επεκτείνουμε την μελέτη μας, στον ενδεχόμενο ρόλο του εγκλιματισμού των πειραματόζωων μετά από μακρόχρονη έκθεσή τους στο ψύχος στους παραπάνω παράγοντες. Για την επίτευξη των πειραματικών μας στόχων δημιουργήθηκαν τρεις ομάδες C57BL/6 μυών εκ των οποίων η μια εκτέθηκε σε περιβάλλον χαμηλής θερμοκρασίας για 2 εβδομάδες (βραχύχρονη έκθεση στο ψύχος), η άλλη ομάδα για 12 εβδομάδες (μακρόχρονη έκθεση στο ψύχος), ενώ η τρίτη αποτέλεσε την ομάδα ελέγχου. Στις δύο ομάδες μυών έγιναν κινητικές μελέτες έκκρισης και κάθαρσης τριγλυκεριδίων. Επίσης απομονώθηκαν από το πλάσμα του αίματος, τα λιποπρωτεϊνικά κλάσματα στα οποία έγιναν αναλύσεις για τον έλεγχο της ποσότητας και της ποιότητας της HDL. Τα αποτελέσματά μας καταδεικνύουν την επαγωγή θερμογένεσης από τον φαιό λιπώδη ιστό και στις δύο πειραματικές ομάδες, με αυτή να είναι πιο έντονη κατά την βραχύχρονη έκθεση στο ψύχος. Παρόλο που η κατανάλωση τροφής στις ομάδες που εκτέθηκαν στο ψύχος αυξήθηκε, το σωματικό τους βάρος παρέμεινε το ίδιο, μιας και η περίσσεια διατροφικών λιπιδίων χρησιμοποιούνταν από τον φαιό λιπώδη ιστό για την παραγωγή θερμότητας παρά για αποθήκευσή τους στον λευκό λιπώδη ιστό. Η εντερική απορρόφηση τριγλυκεριδίων αυξήθηκε σε σχέση με την ομάδα ελέγχου καθώς πιθανά ο οργανισμός χρειαζόταν τα λιπίδια για θερμογένεση, ενώ η ηπατική έκκριση τριγλυκεριδίων μειώθηκε. Η ολική χοληστερόλη των λιποπρωτεϊνικών κλασμάτων, στις πειραματικές ομάδες, έτεινε να βρίσκεται συγκεντρωμένη στα πιο ώριμα κλάσματα, ιδιαίτερα έπειτα από μακρόχρονη έκθεση στο πειραματικό περιβάλλον. Επιπλέον η HDL την 12η εβδομάδα, παρουσίασε καλύτερη αντιοξειδωτική δράση καθώς και διατήρησε αμιγή την ικανότητα να επιτελεί εκροή χοληστερόλης από τα κύτταρα. Τα ευρήματά μας οδηγούν σε δύο ενδιαφέρουσες ανακαλύψεις: 1) Η βραχεία έκθεση στο ψύχος έχει μεγαλύτερη επίδραση στη θερμογένεση και την παραγωγή ATP, απ’ ότι η μακρά έκθεση. 2) Η μακρά έκθεση στο ψύχος οδηγεί σε πιο λειτουργική HDL σε σχέση με την ομάδα βραχείας έκθεσης. Κατά συνέπεια τα αποτελέσματα μας αυτά, καταδεικνύουν εγκλιματισμό των πειραματόζωων στο ψύχος, ο οποίος συνοδεύεται από ποιοτικότερη και πιο λειτουργική HDL. / Recent data indicate the significance of “HDL quality” in atherosclerosis, rather than HDL cholesterol levels in plasma, suggesting that composition as well as functionality of HDL particle, imparts the atheroprotective property of HDL. The main atheroprotective property of HDL is cholesterol efflux in addition to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. HDL has also the ability to promote NO production in the arterial lining and to regulate blood glucose levels. In this study we intend to examine whether brown adipose tissue activation, through low environmental temperature, affects lipid profile and functionality of HDL in C57BL/6 mice. Previous studies have shown that BAT is activated in animals which have been exposed to low temperature environment, resulting in thermogenesis, blood triglycerides clearance, weight reduction, control of lipoproteins catabolism and normalization of glucose tolerance. Thus we intended to study the possible role of acclimatization after long-term exposure to cold temperature regarding the above factors. Therefore we formed three groups of C57BL/6 mice, one of which was exposed to 4oC environment for 2 weeks (short-term exposure), the other one for 12 weeks (long-term exposure) and the last one at 28oC environment (control group). Kinetic studies of triglyceride secretion and clearance where performed, to all groups of animals. Analyses regarding HDL quantity and quality, where performed in lipoprotein fractions isolated from plasma. Our data demonstrate the induction of thermogenesis in BAT in both experimental groups, which appeared to be more intense during the short-term exposure. Although food consumption, in groups exposed to cold, was increased, body weight did not change, as BAT used the excess dietary lipids in order to produce heat rather than storing them in white adipose tissue. Intestinal absorption of triglycerides was increased compared to the control group, possibly because lipids are needed due thermogenesis. Total cholesterol in HDL fractions, tended to be concentrated in more mature fragments, especially after long-term exposure. In addition HDL, during long-term exposure, showed to have more effective antioxidant potential and cholesterol efflux, compared to the group exposed to cold temperature for 2 weeks. Our observations lead to two interesting findings: 1) Short-term exposure to cold has greater effect on thermogenesis and ATP production rather than long-term exposure. 2) After long-term exposure to cold, HDL appears to be more functional compared to the short-term exposure group. Therefore our results indicate acclimation of the animals to low temperature environment, followed by a qualitative HDL.

Tuberculosis and malaria are among the most deadly infectious diseases in the world. The prevalence in regions without well-established public health causes economical and financial burdens for both society and patients. There is an urgent need to find effective treatments due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains. The aim of the studies reported here was to gain knowledge from the protein structures that can lead to the elimination of these pathogens. In these studies, protein crystallography is the main method used to solve protein structure. Based on the protein structure, we used different methods to characterize the protein function of three lipid-binding proteins (LprG, LprA, and gp232), and to identify potent inhibitors against Plasmodium falciparum enoyl-ACP reductase (PfENR), a drug target protein involved in central lipid metabolism. To characterize the function of two lipid-binding proteins (LprG and LprA), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to analyze the ligand extract. In the study of tail fiber protein from mycobacteriophage, we used protein sequence alignment to identify gp232 as a major tail fiber protein, which potentially binds to lipids on the cellular surface of mycobacteria. A pull-down assay and imaging methods (fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy) were conducted to confirm the function of gp232. In the structural study of PfENR, the structure-activity relationships method was used to find potent inhibitors against PfENR, which would show stronger inhibition than the known inhibitor triclosan. The triclosan-like analogs with modification at the 5-position revealed a new binding site in PfENR that has great potential for improving the potency of inhibition. We found that two inhibitors containing the core structure of piperidine and tetrahydroquinoline reached this new binding site and were 10-fold more potent than triclosan. The structural study of PfENR provides structural insights into the inhibitor-binding site that can lead to the discovery of new drugs. The comprehensive knowledge that we gained from the structural studies of these lipid-binding proteins provide new information that could lead to a greater understanding of pathogen physiology or guide the discovery of effective treatments to eliminate the pathogens.

The spirochete Borrelia hermsii avoids the immune response of its mammalian host through multiphasic antigenic variation. Serotype specificity is determined by Variable major proteins (Vmp), in the outer membrane. Through a non reciprocal recombination between linear plasmids, a formerly silent vmp gene replaces another vmp gene at a telomeric expression locus downstream from a common expression site. B. hermsii before and after the switch from serotype 7 to serotype 21, was examined in detail. The nucleotide sequence of the vmp7 and vmp21 genes and flanking regions was determined. The vmp7 and vmp21 are 77% identical in their coding sequence, and the deduced translation products are 63% identical. No antigenic cross reactivity is observed between Vmp7 and Vmp21. This suggests a folding of the proteins in which the similar regions are buried, and not exposed when it is presented at the bacterial surface. Vmp7 and Vmp21 have consensus sequences of prokaryotic lipoproteins and are processed as such when expressed in E. coli. The 5' regions of silent and expressed vmp7 and vmp21 were compared. Silent and active vmp7 and vmp21 genes shared a block of homologous sequence at their 5' ends. Sequences upstream of silent vmp7 and vmp21 genes lacked a promoter and differed substantially from each other. In this antigenic switch a vmp gene was activated by a recombination event which placed it downstream of a promoter. The vmp gene promoter is preceded by a poly(dT dA) ran and three imperfectlyrepeated elements of 2 kb. Each of the 2 kb repeats contains inverted repeats of approximately 0.2 kb at their termini. There is no evidence of the presence of similar elements elsewhere in the genome of B. hermsii. One or more of these elements may stimulate vmp gene switch or expression. The African relapsing fever species Borrelia crocidurae and the American species B. hermsii display many similarities. In both species the vmp genes are localised to linear plasmids, and the vmp genes are activated on the transcriptional level. The nucleotide sequence of their expression sites, however, are not related. Still, the possibility that the switch is mechanistically similar in B. crocidurae and B. hermsii, cannot be ruled out. The binding of B. crocidurae causes aggregation of erythrocytes around the spirochete. The aggregation is reminiscent of the erythrocyte rosetting seen in malarial infections. The erythrocytes at the B. crocidurae surface may protect them from clearance by the host. Thus, the rosetting may constitute an additional mechanism in B. crocidurae for the evasion of the immune reaction. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1994, härtill 5 uppsatser.</p> / digitalisering@umu

Emerging evidence has shown that an abnormal postprandial accumulation of dietary tat IS atherogenic. The aim of this study is to measure triacylglycerol (TAG) kinetics in endogenous and exogenous lipoproteins in both fed and fasted states using stable isotopes.

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children. Several proto-oncogenes that encode nuclear proteins are activated by various chromosomal translocations in ALL including TALI, TAL2, and LMO1 and LMO2. Ectopic TALI expression is observed in about 50 % of T-ALL and is the most common genetic anomaly associated with this pathology. Of interest to the present work is the characterization of various multiprotein complexes and protein protein interactions that drive T-ALL progression (as it relates to TALI and LMO1) and over expression of TALI and LMO1 has been shown to have inhibitory effects on apoptosis. Recent data suggests possible interactions between these two oncoproteins and the protein product of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene. Lipoprotein lipase has a complex pattern of regulation and can be regulated in different ways including down-regulation upon induction of TNF-a in 3T3-L1 cells. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine if LPL is expressed in cells over expressing TAL1 and LMO1. Results from this study demonstrated an increase in LPL expression at both transcriptional and translational level in cells engineered to express TAL1 alone and TAL1 and LMO1 together. This finding is a step forward to understanding mechanisms that result in apoptosis prevention in T-ALL. Therefore, the apoptosis preventive role seen in cells that over express TAL and LMO1 and the presence of LPL in the same cell line, theorizes an apoptosis preventive role for lipoprotein lipase as well. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

Streptococcus agalactiae is a significant pathogen causing invasive disease in neonates and thus an understanding of the molecular basis of the pathogenicity of this organism is of importance. N-terminal lipidation is a major mechanism by which bacteria can tether proteins to membranes. Lipidation is directed by the presence of a cysteine-containing lsquolipoboxrsquo within specific signal peptides and this feature has greatly facilitated the bioinformatic identification of putative lipoproteins. We have designed previously a taxon-specific pattern (G+LPP) for the identification of Gram-positive bacterial lipoproteins, based on the signal peptides of experimentally verified lipoproteins (Sutcliffe I.C. and Harrington D.J. Microbiology 148: 2065¿2077). Patterns searches with this pattern and other bioinformatic methods have been used to identify putative lipoproteins in the recently published genomes of S. agalactiae strains 2603/V and NEM316. A core of 39 common putative lipoproteins was identified, along with 5 putative lipoproteins unique to strain 2603/V and 2 putative lipoproteins unique to strain NEM316. Thus putative lipoproteins represent ca. 2% of the S. agalactiae proteome. As in other Gram-positive bacteria, the largest functional category of S. agalactiae lipoproteins is that predicted to comprise of substrate binding proteins of ABC transport systems. Other roles include lipoproteins that appear to participate in adhesion (including the previously characterised Lmb protein), protein export and folding, enzymes and several species-specific proteins of unknown function. These data suggest lipoproteins may have significant roles that influence the virulence of this important pathogen.

Any lipoproteins and cells present in the inflammatory environment of atherosclerotic plaques are likely to be exposed to high levels of oxidative stress. As 7,8-dihydroneopterin (7,8-NP) is synthesized by interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-activated macrophages, this pteridine is also thought to exist at sites of inflammation. 7,8-NP s in vivo role remains controversial, but numerous in vitro studies have identified a radical scavenging activity. The possibility of 7,8-NP protecting against oxidative damage in inflammatory environments like plaque was investigated in this thesis. Both human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDMs) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were used as substrates. The extent of protein hydroperoxide formation in each model, and 7,8-NP s effect on this process, were specifically studied since most previous research has focussed on lipid rather than protein peroxidation. For the first time, neopterin (including oxidized 7,8-NP) was also directly detected by high performance liquid chromatography in the inflammatory environments of 19 pus and two atherosclerotic plaque samples. Peak concentrations even reached the low micromolar range. The positive correlation identified in the pus between neopterin and a well known antioxidant, vitamin E, further hinted at a potential antioxidant function. However, no significant association was noted between neopterin and markers of protein or lipid oxidation. Exposure of HMDMs to the AAPH peroxyl radical generator resulted in significant quantities of lipid hydroperoxides but not protein hydroperoxides, as detected by the FOX assays. This is likely due to the large accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acidrich lipid in the primary HMDMs during differentiation in 10% human serum and is of relevance to atherosclerotic plaque, where macrophages also become lipid-loaded. The addition of up to 200μM 7,8-NP failed to prevent AAPH-induced lipid peroxidation and was also unable to inhibit a loss of cellular thiols or viability. This lack of effect suggests the damaging peroxyl radicals are not being scavenged by 7,8-NP. The high lipid content of HMDM cells appears to cause the AAPH and/or 7,8-NP to localize to a cellular site, where they are unable to interact. Macrophage-mediated oxidation of LDL in iron(II)-supplemented Hams F10 was associated with the formation of 30-40 moles of protein hydroperoxides per mole of LDL. The close parallel between protein and lipid peroxidation supports the theory that lipid-derived radicals are involved in protein hydroperoxide formation on LDL and indicates that protein hydroperoxides are an early product of LDL oxidation. Their detection during exposure of LDL to both the THP-1 macrophage cell line and primary HMDM cells confirms that protein hydroperoxides are also a normal consequence of macrophage-mediated LDL oxidation. Incubation of LDL with micromolar 7,8-NP prevented macrophage-mediated protein hydroperoxide formation in a concentration-dependent manner. Lipid oxidation and vitamin E loss were similarly inhibited by 7,8-NP during the cell-mediated attack of LDL. Kinetic analysis revealed protection due to extension of the lag phase, with 7,8-NP depletion and initiation of the propagation phase coinciding. This supports a radical scavenging activity for 7,8-NP, resulting in protection of the entire LDL particle. By contrast, the release of nanomolar quantities of 7,8-NP by IFN-γ-stimulated THP-1 macrophages failed to prevent LDL oxidation. HMDMs activated by IFN-γ did significantly inhibit LDL oxidation, including protein hydroperoxide formation, for up to 48 hours but this antioxidant effect was not due to the de novo synthesis of 7,8-NP. These results indicate that both the prevalence of protein hydroperoxides, and the ability of 7,8-NP to act as an antioxidant, depend on the system under investigation. Neopterin exists in inflammatory environments but, considering the lack of protection against AAPH-mediated HMDM oxidation and the 7,8-NP concentration required to inhibit macrophage-mediated LDL oxidation, strong evidence for an antioxidant activity of 7,8-NP in atherosclerotic plaque is currently lacking.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.