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Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology

Secretion Of Proteins And Antibody Fragments From Transiently Transfected Endothelial Progenitor Cells, Loree Heller, Reynald Thinard, Melanie Chevalier, Sezgi Arpag, Yu Jing, Ruth Greferath, Richard Heller, Claude Nicolau Jul 2020

Secretion Of Proteins And Antibody Fragments From Transiently Transfected Endothelial Progenitor Cells, Loree Heller, Reynald Thinard, Melanie Chevalier, Sezgi Arpag, Yu Jing, Ruth Greferath, Richard Heller, Claude Nicolau

Bioelectrics Publications

In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neuroinflammation can lead to blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. After intravenous or intra-arterial injection into mice, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) home to the damaged BBB to promote neurovascular repair. Autologous EPCs transfected to express specific therapeutic proteins offer an innovative therapeutic option. Here, we demonstrate that EPC transfection by electroporation with plasmids encoding the reporter protein GFP or an anti-beta-amyloid antibody fragment (Fab) leads to secretion of each protein. We also demonstrate the secreted anti-beta-amyloid Fab protein functions in beta-amyloid aggregate solubilization.


Wild-Type P53 Enhances Endothelial Barrier Function By Mediating Rac1 Signalling And Rhoa Inhibition, Nektarios Barabutis, Christiana Dimitropoulou, Betsy Gregory, John D. Catravas Jan 2018

Wild-Type P53 Enhances Endothelial Barrier Function By Mediating Rac1 Signalling And Rhoa Inhibition, Nektarios Barabutis, Christiana Dimitropoulou, Betsy Gregory, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

Inflammation is the major cause of endothelial barrier hyper-permeability, associated with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This study reports that p53 "orchestrates" the defence of vascular endothelium against LPS, by mediating the opposing actions of Rac1 and RhoA in pulmonary tissues. Human lung microvascular endothelial cells treated with HSP90 inhibitors activated both Rac1- and P21-activated kinase, which is an essential element of vascular barrier function. 17AAG increased the phosphorylation of both LIMK and cofilin, in contrast to LPS which counteracted those effects. Mouse lung microvascular endothelial cells exposed to LPS exhibited decreased expression of phospho-cofilin. 17AAG treatment …


Asymmetric Patterns Of Small Molecule Transport After Nanosecond And Microsecond Electropermeabilization, Esin B. Sözer, C. Florencia Pocetti, P. Thomas Vernier Jan 2018

Asymmetric Patterns Of Small Molecule Transport After Nanosecond And Microsecond Electropermeabilization, Esin B. Sözer, C. Florencia Pocetti, P. Thomas Vernier

Bioelectrics Publications

Imaging of fluorescent small molecule transport into electropermeabilized cells reveals polarized patterns of entry, which must reflect in some way the mechanisms of the migration of these molecules across the compromised membrane barrier. In some reports, transport occurs primarily across the areas of the membrane nearest the positive electrode (anode), but in others cathode-facing entry dominates. Here we compare YO-PRO-1, propidium, and calcein uptake into U-937 cells after nanosecond (6 ns) and microsecond (220 µs) electric pulse exposures. Each of the three dyes exhibits a different pattern. Calcein shows no preference for anode- or cathode-facing entry that is detectable with …


Cold Atmospheric Plasma As A Potential Tool For Multiple Myeloma Treatment, Dehui Xu, Yujing Xu, Qingjie Cui, Dingxin Liu, Zhijie Liu, Xiaohua Wang, Yanjie Yang, Niaojuan Feng, Rong Liang, Hailan Chen, Kai Ye, Michael G. Kong Jan 2018

Cold Atmospheric Plasma As A Potential Tool For Multiple Myeloma Treatment, Dehui Xu, Yujing Xu, Qingjie Cui, Dingxin Liu, Zhijie Liu, Xiaohua Wang, Yanjie Yang, Niaojuan Feng, Rong Liang, Hailan Chen, Kai Ye, Michael G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a fatal and incurable hematological malignancy thus new therapy need to be developed. Cold atmospheric plasma, a new technology that could generate various active species, could efficiently induce various tumor cells apoptosis. More details about the interaction of plasma and tumor cells need to be addressed before the application of gas plasma in clinical cancer treatment. In this study, we demonstrate that He+O2 plasma could efficiently induce myeloma cell apoptosis through the activation of CD95 and downstream caspase cascades. Extracellular and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation is essential for CD95-mediated cell apoptosis in response …


Introduction To Fifth Special Issue On Electroporation-Based Technologies And Treatments, Damijan Miklavčič, Lluis M. Mir, P. Thomas Vernier Jan 2015

Introduction To Fifth Special Issue On Electroporation-Based Technologies And Treatments, Damijan Miklavčič, Lluis M. Mir, P. Thomas Vernier

Bioelectrics Publications

This special issue of the Journal of Membrane Biology contains reports on recent developments in the field of electroporation by participants in the International Workshop and Postgraduate Course on Electroporation-Based Technologies and Treatments held in November 2014 in Ljubljana. This was the eighth session of what is now an annual event, first organized in 2003.


Cellular Regulation Of Extension And Retraction Of Pseudopod-Like Blebs Produced By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field, Mikhail A. Rassokhin, Andrei G. Pakhomov Jan 2014

Cellular Regulation Of Extension And Retraction Of Pseudopod-Like Blebs Produced By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field, Mikhail A. Rassokhin, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Recently we described a new phenomenon of anodotropic pseudopod-like blebbing in U937 cells exposed to nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF). In Ca2+ -free buffer such exposure initiates formation of pseudopod-like blebs (PLBs), protrusive cylindrical cell extensions that are distinct from apoptotic and necrotic blebs. PLBs nucleate predominantly on anode-facing cell pole and extend toward anode during nsPEF exposure. Bleb extension depends on actin polymerization and availability of actin monomers. Inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ , cell contractility, and RhoA produced no effect on PLB initiation. Meanwhile, inhibition of WASP by wiskostatin causes dose-dependent suppression of PLB growth. Soon after …


Basic Features Of A Cell Electroporation Model: Illustrative Behavior For Two Very Different Pulses, Reuben S. Son, Kyle C. Smith, Thiruvallur R. Gowrishankar, P. Thomas Vernier, James C. Weaver Jan 2014

Basic Features Of A Cell Electroporation Model: Illustrative Behavior For Two Very Different Pulses, Reuben S. Son, Kyle C. Smith, Thiruvallur R. Gowrishankar, P. Thomas Vernier, James C. Weaver

Bioelectrics Publications

Science increasingly involves complex modeling. Here we describe a model for cell electroporation in which membrane properties are dynamically modified by poration. Spatial scales range from cell membrane thickness (5 nm) to a typical mammalian cell radius (10 μm), and can be used with idealized and experimental pulse waveforms. The model consists of traditional passive components and additional active components representing nonequilibrium processes. Model responses include measurable quantities: transmembrane voltage, membrane electrical conductance, and solute transport rates and amounts for the representative "long" and "short" pulses. The long pulse-1.5 kV/cm, 100 μs-evolves two pore subpopulations with a valley at ~5 …


Introduction To Fourth Special Issue On Electroporation-Based Technologies And Treatments, Damijan Miklavčič, Lluis M. Mir, P. Thomas Vernier Jan 2014

Introduction To Fourth Special Issue On Electroporation-Based Technologies And Treatments, Damijan Miklavčič, Lluis M. Mir, P. Thomas Vernier

Bioelectrics Publications

This fourth special electroporation-based technologies and treatments issue of the Journal of Membrane Biology contains reports on recent developments in the field of electroporation by participants in the 7th International Workshop and Postgraduate Course on electroporation based technologies and treatments (EBTT 2013) held in Ljubljana, November 17–23, 2013. The 65 participants included faculty members, invited lecturers, special guests, and young scientists, and students from 16 countries. In addition to lectures on the fundamentals, this year’s sessions included talks on microbial inactivation by pulsed electric fields, modeling of intracellular electroporation, electroporation in food processing, and electrotransfer-facilitated DNA vaccination.


Oxidative Effects Of Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field Exposure In Cells And Cell-Free Media, Olga N. Pakhomova, Vera A. Khorokhorina, Angela M. Bowman, Raminta Rodaitė-Riševičienė, Gintautas Saulis, Shu Xiao, Andrei G. Pakhomov Jan 2012

Oxidative Effects Of Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field Exposure In Cells And Cell-Free Media, Olga N. Pakhomova, Vera A. Khorokhorina, Angela M. Bowman, Raminta Rodaitė-Riševičienė, Gintautas Saulis, Shu Xiao, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

Nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) is a novel modality for permeabilization of membranous structures and intracellular delivery of xenobiotics. We hypothesized that oxidative effects of nsPEF could be a separate primary mechanism responsible for bioeffects. ROS production in cultured cells and media exposed to 300-ns PEF (1–13 kV/cm) was assessed by oxidation of 2′, 7′-dichlorodihydrofluoresein (H2DCF), dihidroethidium (DHE), or Amplex Red. When a suspension of H2DCF-loaded cells was subjected to nsPEF, the yield of fluorescent 2′,7′dichlorofluorescein (DCF) increased proportionally to the pulse number and cell density. DCF emission increased with time after exposure in nsPEF-sensitive Jurkat …


An Apoptosis Targeted Stimulus With Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields (Nspefs) In E4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Wei Ren, Stephen J. Beebe Jan 2011

An Apoptosis Targeted Stimulus With Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields (Nspefs) In E4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Wei Ren, Stephen J. Beebe

Bioelectrics Publications

Stimuli directed towards activation of apoptosis mechanisms are an attractive approach to eliminate evasion of apoptosis, a ubiquitous cancer hallmark. In these in vitro studies, kinetics and electric field thresholds for several apoptosis characteristics are defined in E4 squamous carcinoma cells (SCC) exposed to ten 300 ns pulses with increasing electric fields. Cell death was [95% at the highest electric field and coincident with phosphatidylserine externalization, caspase and calpain activation in the presence and absence of cytochrome c release, decreases in Bid and mitochondria membrane potential (Δψm) without apparent changes reactive oxygen species levels or in Bcl2 and Bclxl levels. …


Type I Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase Delays Apoptosis In Human Neutrophils At A Site Upstream Of Caspase-3, Lav K. Parvathenani, E. Stephen Buescher, Enrique Chacon-Cruz, Stephen J. Beebe Jan 1998

Type I Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase Delays Apoptosis In Human Neutrophils At A Site Upstream Of Caspase-3, Lav K. Parvathenani, E. Stephen Buescher, Enrique Chacon-Cruz, Stephen J. Beebe

Bioelectrics Publications

Current data suggest that apoptosis controls neutrophil numbers in tissues. We analyzed roles for and the sites of action for the cAMP-dependent protein kinases (cAPKs) in apoptosis induced in human neutrophils by in vitro storage, cycloheximide (CHX) exposure, and anti-Fas exposure. Treatment with 8-chlorophenylthio-cAMP (8-CPT-cAMP) prolonged the time required for 50% of the cells to exhibit apoptotic morphology (t 50) from 16.3 to 41.8 h (in vitro culture), from 2.4 to 7.8 h (CHX), and from 4.8 to 6.5 h (anti-Fas). CHX ± 8-CPT-cAMP did not significantly alter resting intracellular calcium levels and H-89, a selective inhibitor of cAPK, had …


The Cγ Subunit Is A Unique Isozyme Of The Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase, Stephen J. Beebe, Paul Salomonsky, Tore Jahnsen, Yixin Li Jan 1992

The Cγ Subunit Is A Unique Isozyme Of The Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase, Stephen J. Beebe, Paul Salomonsky, Tore Jahnsen, Yixin Li

Bioelectrics Publications

There are at least three isozymes (Cα, Cβ, and Cγ) of the mammalian catalytic (C) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) (Beebe, S., Oyen, O., Sandberg, M., Froysa, A., Hansson, V., and Jahnsen, T. (1990) Mol. Endocrinol. 4, 465-475). To compare the Cγ and Cα isozymes, the respective cDNAs were expressed in permanently transformed Kin-8 PKA-deficient Y1 adrenal cells using the mouse metallothionein promoter. The recombinant C subunits were characterized as immunoreactive, zinc-inducible, cAMP-dependent kinase activities. In contrast to Cα, histone was a better substrate than Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Gly (Kemptide) for Cγ. Furthermore, Cγ histone kinase activity was not inhibited by the …


Cell Surface-Binding Sites For Progesterone Mediate Calcium Uptake In Human Sperm, Peter F. Blackmore, Joseph Neulan, Frank Lattanzio, Stephen J. Beebe Jan 1991

Cell Surface-Binding Sites For Progesterone Mediate Calcium Uptake In Human Sperm, Peter F. Blackmore, Joseph Neulan, Frank Lattanzio, Stephen J. Beebe

Bioelectrics Publications

Recent studies (e.g. Blackmore, P. F., Beebe, S. J., Danforth, D. R., and Alexander, N.) (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 1376-1380) have shown that in human sperm, progesterone produces a rapid increase in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and an induction of the acrosome reaction (e.g. Osman, R. A., Andria, M. L., Jones, A. D., and Meizel, S. (1989) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 160, 828-833). In this study, the location of progesterone receptors on the cell surface of human sperm was identified using progesterone immobilized on bovine serum albumin (BSA) (progesterone 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime:BSA) as well as progesterone and its 3-O-carboxymethyloxime derivative. Using …


Short-Term Feedback Regulation Of Camp By Accelerated Degradation In Rat Tissues, Tom W. Gettys, Peter F. Blackmore, J. Bruce Redmon, Stephen J. Beebe, Jackie D. Corbin Jan 1987

Short-Term Feedback Regulation Of Camp By Accelerated Degradation In Rat Tissues, Tom W. Gettys, Peter F. Blackmore, J. Bruce Redmon, Stephen J. Beebe, Jackie D. Corbin

Bioelectrics Publications

A recent study showed that cAMP analogs lowered cAMP levels in rat hepatocytes. The present work demonstrates that cAMP analogs also lowered cAMP in a rapid, concentration-dependent manner in heart and fat cells. In order to determine if the cAMP-dependent protein kinase mediated this effect, techniques were developed to assay the protein kinase activity ratio in hepatocytes treated with cAMP analogs. The activation of protein kinase and phosphorylase in hepatocytes by 8-pClΦS-cAMP (where 8-pClΦS- indicates 8-parachlorothiophenyl-) was concentration-dependent and occurred in parallel to proportionate decreases in cAMP. More than 20% of the cAMP binding sites on the protein kinase were …


Discriminative Insulin Antagonism Of Stimulatory Effects Of Various Camp Analogs On Adipocyte Lipolysis And Hepatocyte Glycogenolysis, Stephen J. Beebe, J. Bruce Redmon, Peter F. Blackmore, Jackie D. Corbin Jan 1985

Discriminative Insulin Antagonism Of Stimulatory Effects Of Various Camp Analogs On Adipocyte Lipolysis And Hepatocyte Glycogenolysis, Stephen J. Beebe, J. Bruce Redmon, Peter F. Blackmore, Jackie D. Corbin

Bioelectrics Publications

Although insulin effectively blocked hormone-stimulated glycerol output in adipocytes or phosphorylase activation in hepatocytes, the inhibitory effect of insulin on cAMP analog-stimulated cells depended on the cAMP analog used. Of the 20 analogs tested in adipocytes and 13 tested in hepatocytes, the effects of about half of them were effectively blocked by insulin, whereas the effects of many of them were not inhibited at all. In order to approach the explanation for this discriminative insulin action, the inhibitory effects of insulin on the responses to the analogs in the intact cells were correlated with the in vitro cAMP analog specificity …


Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase Activation Lowers Hepatocyte Camp, Jackie D. Corbin, Stephen J. Beebe, Peter F. Blackmore Jan 1985

Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase Activation Lowers Hepatocyte Camp, Jackie D. Corbin, Stephen J. Beebe, Peter F. Blackmore

Bioelectrics Publications

Rat hepatocyte protein kinase was activated by incubating the cells with various cAMP analogs. Boiled extracts were then prepared and Sephadex G-25 chromatography was carried out. The G-25 procedure separated the analogs from cAMP since the resin had the unexpected property of binding cyclic nucleotides with differing affinities. Separation was necessary because the analogs would otherwise interfere with the sensitive protein kinase activation method developed for assay of cAMP. The cAMP analogs, but not 5'-AMP, lowered basal cAMP by 50-70%. The effect was rapid, analog concentration-dependent, and occurred parallel with phosphorylase activation, suggesting that the cAMP analogs act through cAMP-dependent …


Purification And Characterization Of A Camp- And Ca2+-Calmodulin-Independent Glycogen Synthase Kinase From Porcine Renal Cortex, Stephen J. Beebe, Erwin M. Reimann, Keith K. Schlender Feb 1984

Purification And Characterization Of A Camp- And Ca2+-Calmodulin-Independent Glycogen Synthase Kinase From Porcine Renal Cortex, Stephen J. Beebe, Erwin M. Reimann, Keith K. Schlender

Bioelectrics Publications

We recently reported the partial purification of a cAMP-independent and Ca2+-calmodulin-independent glycogen synthase kinase from porcine renal cortex (Schlender, K. K., Beebe, S. J., and Reimann, E. M. (1981) Cold Spring Harbor Conf. Cell Proliferation, 389-400). Subsequent purification indicated that the enzyme preparation consisted of at least three forms of glycogen synthase kinase which could be resolved by ATP gradient elution from aminoethylphosphate-agarose (AEP-agarose). The predominant form of glycogen synthase kinase, which eluted from AEP-agarose between 2 and 6 mM ATP, was purified approximately 800-fold and is designated GSK-A1. It had a molecular weight of 45,000-50,000 as determined …


Microheterogeneity Of Type Ii Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase In Various Mammalian Species And Tissues, Alison M. Robinson-Steiner, Stephen J. Beebe, Stephen R. Rannels, Jackie D. Corbin Jan 1984

Microheterogeneity Of Type Ii Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase In Various Mammalian Species And Tissues, Alison M. Robinson-Steiner, Stephen J. Beebe, Stephen R. Rannels, Jackie D. Corbin

Bioelectrics Publications

Excluding autophosphorylated species, at least six forms of the regulatory subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase (R(II)) from various mammalian tissues were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis of purified samples and of crude preparations photoaffinity labeled with 8-azido[32P] cAMP and by gel filtration. After autophosphorylation some heart R(II) forms termed type IIA (bovine, porcine, equine, and dog) shifted to a more slowly migrating band on SDS gels while others termed type IIB (rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and monkey) did not detectably shift. Both subclasses of R(II) exhibited variation in apparent M(r) on SDS gels. Bovine and …


Two Classes Of Camp Analogs Which Are Selective For The Two Different Camp-Binding Sites Of Type Ii Protein Kinase Demonstrate Synergism When Added Together To Intact Adipocytes, Stephen J. Beebe, Rob Holloway, Stephen R. Rannels, Jackie D. Corbin Jan 1984

Two Classes Of Camp Analogs Which Are Selective For The Two Different Camp-Binding Sites Of Type Ii Protein Kinase Demonstrate Synergism When Added Together To Intact Adipocytes, Stephen J. Beebe, Rob Holloway, Stephen R. Rannels, Jackie D. Corbin

Bioelectrics Publications

Twenty-five cyclic nucleotide analogs were tested individually to act as lipolytic agents and to activate adipocyte protein kinase. The lipolytic potency of individual analogs correlated better with their K(a) for protein kinase and their lipophilicity rather than with either parameters alone. Some of the most potent lipolytic analogs had high I50 values for the particulate low K(m) cAMP phosphodiesterase suggesting that their effect was not due to raising endogenous cAMP levels through inhibition of phosphodiesterase. The most potent lipolytic analogs contained a thio moiety at the C-8 or C-6 position. These analogs exhibited concave upward dose-response curves. At high concentrations …