scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers on "Lysis published in 2006"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This mechanism of caspase‐1‐mediated cell death provides additional experimental evidence supporting pyroptosis as a novel pathway of inflammatory programmed cell death.
Abstract: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium invades host macrophages and induces a unique caspase-1-dependent pathway of cell death termed pyroptosis, which is activated during bacterial infection in vivo. We demonstrate DNA cleavage during pyroptosis results from caspase-1-stimulated nuclease activity. Although poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation by fragmented DNA depletes cellular ATP to cause lysis during oncosis, the rapid lysis characteristic of Salmonella-infected macrophages does not require PARP activity or DNA fragmentation. Membrane pores between 1.1 and 2.4 nm in diameter form during pyroptosis of host cells and cause swelling and osmotic lysis. Pore formation requires host cell actin cytoskeleton rearrangements and caspase-1 activity, as well as the bacterial type III secretion system (TTSS); however, insertion of functional TTSS translocons into the host membrane is not sufficient to directly evoke pore formation. Concurrent with pore formation, inflammatory cytokines are released from infected macrophages. This mechanism of caspase-1-mediated cell death provides additional experimental evidence supporting pyroptosis as a novel pathway of inflammatory programmed cell death.

894 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A very simple and rapid method for extracting genomic DNA from Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts is presented and the supernatant contains DNA suitable for molecular analyses, such as PCR, restriction enzyme digestion and genomic library construction.
Abstract: A very simple and rapid method for extracting genomic DNA from Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts is presented. In this method, bacteria or yeasts are lysed directly by phenol and the supernatant is extracted with chloroform to remove traces of phenol. The supernatant contains DNA that is suitable for molecular analyses, such as PCR, restriction enzyme digestion and genomic library construction. This method is reproducible and simple for the routine DNA extraction from bacteria and yeasts.

294 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that Cr accumulation in unsaturated biofilms occurs with enzymatic reduction of Cr, cellular lysis, cellular association, and extracellular DNA binding of Cr(III), which altogether can facilitate localized biotic stabilization of Cr in contaminated vadose zones.
Abstract: Chromium-contaminated soils threaten surface and groundwater quality at many industrial sites. In vadose zones, indigenous bacteria can reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III), but the subsequent fate of Cr(III) and the roles of bacterial biofilms are relatively unknown. To investigate, we cultured Pseudomonas putida, a model organism for vadose zone bioremediation, as unsaturated biofilms on membranes overlaying iron-deficient solid media either containing molecular dichromate from potassium dichromate (Cr-only treatment) or with deposits of solid, dichromate-coated hematite (Fe+Cr treatment) to simulate vadose zone conditions. Controls included iron-deficient solid medium and an Fe-only treatment using solid hematite deposits. Under iron-deficient conditions, chromium exposure resulted in lower cell yield and lower amounts of cellular protein and carbohydrate, but providing iron in the form of hematite overcame these toxic effects of Cr. For the Cr and Fe+Cr treatments, Cr(VI) was completely reduced to Cr(III) that accumulated on biofilm cells and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). Chromium exposure resulted in elevated extracellular carbohydrates, protein, DNA, and EPS sugars that were relatively enriched in N-acetyl-glucosamine, rhamnose, glucose, and mannose. The proportions of EPS protein and carbohydrate relative to intracellular pools suggested Cr toxicity-mediated cell lysis as the origin. However, DNA accumulated extracellularly in amounts far greater than expected from cell lysis, and Cr was liberated when extracted EPS was treated with DNase. These results demonstrate that Cr accumulation in unsaturated biofilms occurs with enzymatic reduction of Cr(VI), cellular lysis, cellular association, and extracellular DNA binding of Cr(III), which altogether can facilitate localized biotic stabilization of Cr in contaminated vadose zones.

204 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The critical phenomenon determining antifungal effect of cationic surfactants and lipids is not cell lysis but rather the change of cell surface charge from negative to positive.
Abstract: Objectives: To determine the mechanism of antimicrobial action for cationic lipid dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) against Candida albicans. Methods: Determination of DODAB or CTAB adsorption isotherms; cell viability; cell electrophoretic mobility (EM); and leakage of small phosphorylated compounds, proteins or DNA from fungus or haemoglobin from erythrocytes. Results: High affinity isotherms for CTAB and DODAB adsorption onto fungus cells (10 8 cfu/mL) yield limiting adsorption at 7.8 and 3.7 · 10 9 molecules per cell, respectively. Negatively charged C. albicans cells (10 6 cfu/mL) remain viable whereas positively charged ones die. At 0.3 mM CTAB or 0.01 mM DODAB, EM is zero and fungus viability is 50%. Cells start to die at submicellar CTAB concentrations and fungus lysis does not play a significant role in the mechanism of antifungal action. Over 0.1–10 mM CTAB or DODAB, there is no leakage of tested compounds from C. albicans cells despite the low cell viability. In contrast to the fungus, under isotonic conditions, cationic amphiphiles induce haemolysis over a range of low DODAB (>0.01 mM) and CTAB (>0.001 mM) concentrations. Conclusions: The critical phenomenon determining antifungal effect of cationic surfactants and lipids is not cell lysis but rather the change of cell surface charge from negative to positive.

197 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Time-resolved imaging was used to examine the use of pulsed laser microbeam irradiation to produce cell lysis and indicated that cells subject to transient shear stresses in excess of a critical value were lysed while cells exposed to lowerShear stresses remained adherent and viable.

197 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that virus-mediated DOM is a source of a variety of organic compounds, which contribute significantly to the pool of rapidly recycling material in the ocean.
Abstract: ��������� � �� ���������� Viral infection of bacteria causes release of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which is available for bacterial uptake. In aquatic environments, this virus-mediated transformation of living cells into dissolved and colloidal organic matter may be a quantitatively important process in the pelagic recycling of carbon and nutrients, but little is known about the amount, composition, or bioavailability of viral lysates. By using a model system of a marine bacterium (Cellulophaga sp.) and a virus speci¢c to this bacterium, the present study provides a ¢rst quanti¢cation of the input of dissolved free and combined amino acids (DFAA and DCAA) and bacterial cell wall compounds following viral lysis. The DCAA constituted 51^86% of the total virus-mediated organic carbon release of 1087^1825m gCl 71 (estimated biomass of the lysed bacteria), whereas DFAA and glucosamine each accounted for 2^3% of total lysate-C. The viral particles themselves constituted 4^6% of the released organic carbon, and altogether, the applied analyses thus identi¢ed 53^92% of the released lysates. Approximately 12% of the identi¢ed compounds were derived from bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan, including various D-isomers of DFAA and DCAA, glucosamine and diaminopimelic acid (DAPA). Although a portion of this cell wall material may have entered the pool of refractory material, a signi¢cant fraction of some peptidoglycan-derived components, e.g. 83% of the released D-DFAA, were removed from the dissolved phase during the last part of the incubations, suggesting that part of the cell wall material were utilized by the developing virus-resistant Cellulophaga population. Therefore, we suggest that virus-mediated DOM is a source of a variety of organic compounds, which contribute signi¢cantly to the pool of rapidly recycling material in the ocean.

152 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A simple microfluidic flow-through device which lysed Escherichia coli cells under a continuous dc voltage will be ideal for high throughput processing of bacterial cells for chemical analysis of intracellular contents such as DNA and proteins.

152 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that the activation of dormant cells requires peptidoglycan hydrolysis, which either alters the mechanical properties of the cell wall to facilitate cell division or releases lysis products that function as anti-dormancy signals.

142 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: DNA yields obtained by robotic extraction in the presence of carrier RNA were as high, or higher, as those obtained by organic extraction lacking carrier RNA, while experiments that utilized carrier RNA in both types of extractions showed increased sensitivity for both methods.
Abstract: Robotic extraction of DNA from dilutions of blood and semen using either the BioRobots EZ1 or BioRobots M48 consistently produced lower recoveries than standard organic extractions of the same samples. In an effort to increase the efficiency of robotically extracted DNA, glycogen and carrier RNA were added following cell lysis. The addition of glycogen, postlysis, resulted in no improvement in DNA recovery with the BioRobot EZ1. However, when carrier RNA was added to the cell lysate of limited and degraded samples extracted on the EZ1 or the M48, DNA recoveries dramatically increased four- to 20-fold. DNA yields obtained by robotic extraction in the presence of carrier RNA were as high, or higher, as those obtained by organic extraction lacking carrier RNA, while experiments that utilized carrier RNA in both types of extractions showed increased sensitivity for both methods. Furthermore, carrier RNA substantially increased the recovery of fragmented DNA with the EZ1.

122 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results of this work demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating microchip‐based cell lysis and DNA extraction into forensic casework analysis, and a variety of chemical lysing agents are assessed for inclusion in the extraction protocol.
Abstract: The current backlog of casework is among the most significant challenges facing crime laboratories at this time. While the development of next-generation microchip-based technology for expedited forensic casework analysis offers one solution to this problem, this will require the adaptation of manual, large-volume, benchtop chemistry to small volume microfluidic devices. Analysis of evidentiary materials from rape kits where semen or sperm cells are commonly found represents a unique set of challenges for on-chip cell lysis and DNA extraction that must be addressed for successful application. The work presented here details the development of a microdevice capable of DNA extraction directly from sperm cells for application to the analysis of sexual assault evidence. A variety of chemical lysing agents are assessed for inclusion in the extraction protocol and a method for DNA purification from sperm cells is described. Suitability of the extracted DNA for short tandem repeat (STR) analysis is assessed and genetic profiles shown. Finally, on-chip cell lysis methods are evaluated, with results from fluorescence visualization of cell rupture and DNA extraction from an integrated cell lysis and purification with subsequent STR amplification presented. A method for on-chip cell lysis and DNA purification is described, with considerations toward inclusion in an integrated microdevice capable of both differential cell sorting and DNA extraction. The results of this work demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating microchip-based cell lysis and DNA extraction into forensic casework analysis.

118 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A novel semiquantitative method is described to determine abundance factors of proteins in 2‐DE gels of cell envelope fractions relative to whole cell lysates and discusses these data in the context of true cell envelope localization versus experimentally caused cell lysis.
Abstract: The emergence of highly virulent community acquired Staphylococcus aureus and continued progression of resistance to multiple antimicrobials, including methicillin and vancomycin, marks the reemergence of S. aureus as a serious health care threat. Investigation of proteins localized to the cell surface could help to elucidate mechanisms of virulence and antibiotic resistance in S. aureus. In this study, proteomic profiling methods were developed to solubilize, display, and evaluate abundance levels of proteins present in the supernatants of the lysostaphin-digested cell envelope from cultured vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) cells. Combining approaches of 2-DE or chromatographic separation of proteins with MS analyses resulted in the identification of 144 proteins of particular interest. Of these proteins, 48 contained predicted cell wall localization or export signal motifs, including 14 with distinct covalent peptidoglycan-anchor sites, four of which are uncharacterized to date. One of the two most abundant cell envelope proteins, which showed remarkably high variations in MW and pI in the 2-DE gel display, was the S. aureus surface protein G. The display of numerous secreted proteins that are not covalently cell wall-anchored, suggests that, in the exponential growth phase, secreted proteins can be retained physiologically in the cell envelope and may interact with cell wall-anchored proteins and carbohydrate structures in a manner yet to be determined. The remaining 96 proteins, devoid of recognizable motifs, were repeatedly profiled in the VISA cell envelope fractions. We describe a novel semiquantitative method to determine abundance factors of such proteins in 2-DE gels of cell envelope fractions relative to whole cell lysates and discuss these data in the context of true cell envelope localization versus experimentally caused cell lysis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An Esophagus acellular matrix tissue scaffold with preserved ECM proteins, biomechanical properties, and the ability to support esophageal cell proliferation to serve as the foundation for a tissue-engineered esophagus is presented.
Abstract: A cell-extraction protocol yielding an esophagus acellular matrix (EAM) scaffold for use in tissue engineering of an esophagus, including hypotonic lysis, multiple detergent cell extraction steps, and nucleic acid digestion, was developed in a rat model. Histological techniques, burst pressure studies, in vitro esophageal epithelial cell seeding, and in vivo implantation were used to assess cell extraction, extracellular matrix (ECM) preservation, and biocompatibility. Microscopy demonstrated that cell extraction protocols using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (0.5%, wt/vol) as a detergent resulted in cell-free EAM with retained ECM protein collagen, elastin, laminin, and fibronectin. Burst pressure studies indicated a loss of tensile strength in EAMs, but at intraluminal pressures that were unlikely to affect in vivo application. In vitro cell seeding studies exhibited epithelial cell proliferation with stratification similar to native esophagi after 11 days, and subcutaneously implanted EAMs displayed neov...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: To understand the potential use of bacteriophage K to treat bovine Staphylococcus aureus mastitis, the role of whey proteins in the inhibition of the phage–pathogen interaction in vitro was studied.
Abstract: Aims: To understand the potential use of bacteriophage K to treat bovine Staphylococcus aureus mastitis, we studied the role of whey proteins in the inhibition of the phage–pathogen interaction in vitro. Methods and Results: The interaction of bacteriophage K and S. aureus strain Newbould 305 was studied in raw bovine whey and serum. Incubation of S. aureus with phage in whey showed that the bacteria are more resistant to phage lysis when grown in whey and also bovine serum. Whey collected from 23 animals showed a wide variation in the level of phage-binding inhibition. The role of the protein component of milk whey in this inhibition was established; treatment of the whey by heat, proteases and ultrafiltration removed the inhibitory activity. Brief exposure of S. aureus cells to whey, followed by resuspension in broth, also reduced phage binding. Microscopy showed the adhesion of extracellular material to the S. aureus cell surface following exposure to whey. Chromatographic fractionation of the whey demonstrated that the inhibitory proteins were present in the high molecular weight fraction. Conclusions: The adsorption of whey proteins to the S. aureus cell surface appeared to inhibit phage attachment and thereby hindered lysis. The inhibitory whey proteins are of high molecular weight in their native form and may sterically block phage attachment sites on the cell surface. Significance and Impact of the Study: These findings have implications for any future use of phage therapy in the treatment of mastitis, and other diseases, caused by S. aureus. This pathogen is predicted to be much more resistant to phage treatment in vivo than would be expected from in vitro broth culture experiments.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that VIGS of NbAXS1 caused a severe deficiency in the major side chains of RG-II and that the growth defect and cell death was likely caused by structural alterations inRG-II due to a d-apiose deficiency.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was found that the use of a bead-beating method followed by extraction with AL buffer (Qiagen) was the most successful extraction technique, giving the greatest yield of DNA, and was also the least time-consuming method assessed.
Abstract: Newer methods such as PCR are being investigated in order to improve the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. One of the major obstacles to using PCR to diagnose aspergillosis is a reliable, simple method for extraction of the fungal DNA. The presence of a complex, sturdy cell wall that is resistant to lysis impairs extraction of the DNA by conventional methods employed for bacteria. Numerous fungal DNA extraction protocols have been described in the literature. However, these methods are time-consuming, require a high level of skill and may not be suitable for use as a routine diagnostic technique. Here, a number of extraction methods were compared: a freeze-thaw method, a freeze-boil method, enzyme extraction and a bead-beating method using Mini-BeadBeater-8. The quality and quantity of the DNA extracted was compared using real-time PCR. It was found that the use of a bead-beating method followed by extraction with AL buffer (Qiagen) was the most successful extraction technique, giving the greatest yield of DNA, and was also the least time-consuming method assessed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that Prm1 and Fig1 have a role in enhancing membrane fusion and maintaining its fidelity.
Abstract: As for most cell–cell fusion events, the molecular details of membrane fusion during yeast mating are poorly understood. The multipass membrane protein Prm1 is the only known component that acts at the step of bilayer fusion. In its absence, mutant mating pairs lyse or arrest in the mating reaction with tightly apposed plasma membranes. We show that deletion of FIG 1, which controls pheromone-induced Ca2+ influx, yields similar cell fusion defects. Although extracellular Ca2+ is not required for efficient cell fusion of wild-type cells, cell fusion in prm1 mutant mating pairs is dramatically reduced when Ca2+ is removed. This enhanced fusion defect is due to lysis. Time-lapse microscopy reveals that fusion and lysis events initiate with identical kinetics, suggesting that both outcomes result from engagement of the fusion machinery. The yeast synaptotagmin orthologue and Ca2+ binding protein Tcb3 has a role in reducing lysis of prm1 mutants, which opens the possibility that the observed role of Ca2+ is to engage a wound repair mechanism. Thus, our results suggest that Prm1 and Fig1 have a role in enhancing membrane fusion and maintaining its fidelity. Their absence results in frequent mating pair lysis, which is counteracted by Ca2+-dependent membrane repair.

Patent
09 Jan 2006
TL;DR: A scalable alkaline lysis process, including procedures and devices for the isolation of large quantities (grams and kilograms) of plasmid DNA from recombinant E. coli cells, is described in this paper.
Abstract: A scalable alkaline lysis process, including procedures and devices for the isolation of large quantities (grams and kilograms) of plasmid DNA from recombinant E. coli cells. Effective, controllable, and economical operation, and consistent low level of host chromosomal DNA in the final plasmid product. Involves a series of new unit operations and devices for cell resuspension, cell lysis, and neutralization.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Only the commercial kit and a direct extraction method using freeze-thaw cell lysis in combination with an in-gel patch electrophoresis with hydroxyapatite to remove humic acid substances yielded DNA, which was completely digested by all restriction enzymes.
Abstract: An important prerequisite for successful construction of a metagenome library is an efficient procedure for extracting DNA from environmental samples. We compared three indirect and four direct extraction methods, including a commercial kit, in terms of DNA yield, purity, and time requirement. A special focus was on methods that are appropriate for the extraction of environmental DNA (eDNA) from very limited sample sizes (0.1 g) to enable a highly parallel approach. Direct extraction procedures yielded on average 100-fold higher DNA amounts than indirect ones. A drawback of direct extraction was the small fragment sizeof approx 12 kb. The quality of the extracted DNA was evaluated by the ability of different restriction enzymes to digest the eDNA. Only the commercial kit and a direct extraction method using freeze-thaw cell lysis in combination with an in-gel patch electrophoresis with hydroxyapatite to remove humic acid substances yielded DNA, which was completely digested by all restriction enzymes. Moreover, only DNA extracted by these two procedures could be used as template for the amplification of fragments of several 16S rDNA, 18SrDNA groups under standard polymerase chain reaction conditions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that cell aggregation is an energy-dependent response of P. aeruginosa to detergent stress which might serve as a survival strategy during growth with SDS.
Abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 grew with the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The growth started with the formation of macroscopic cell aggregates which consisted of respiring cells embedded in an extracellular matrix composed of acidic polysaccharides and DNA. Damaged and uncultivable cells accumulated in these aggregates compared to those cells that remained suspended. We investigated the response of suspended cells to SDS under different conditions. At high energy supply, the cells responded with a decrease in optical density and in viable counts, release of protein and DNA, and formation of macroscopic aggregates. This response was not observed if the energy supply was reduced by inhibiting respiration with KCN, or if cells not induced for SDS degradation were exposed to SDS. Exposure to SDS caused cell lysis without aggregation if cells were completely deprived of energy, either by applying anoxic conditions, by addition of CCCP, or by addition of KCN to a mutant defective in cyanide-insensitive respiration. Aggregated cells showed a more than 100-fold higher survival rate after exposure to SDS plus CCCP than suspended cells. Our results demonstrate that cell aggregation is an energy-dependent response of P. aeruginosa to detergent stress which might serve as a survival strategy during growth with SDS.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of electric field generated by 3D cylindrical electrodes to perform cell lysis via electroporation in a microfluidic platform, and compared with that by 2D design.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that cell lysis in distilled water is incomplete and leads to an overestimate of microbial killing, which hinders identification of partial defects and makes complete defects appear as partial.
Abstract: Microbicidal activity of neutrophils is usually measured by colony-counting techniques after cell lysis in distilled water. While studying the effect of the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) on the staphylocidal activity of neutrophils, we obtained inconsistent results: various degrees of inhibition in some experiments and no effect in others. The lysis step, i.e., dilution of neutrophils in distilled water, was the source of error. Cell-associated microorganisms were not dispersed effectively by this treatment. We overcame this problem by using water at pH 11 for cell lysis. Under these conditions, killing was inhibited completely and reproducibly by DPI. Here, we show that cell lysis in distilled water is incomplete and leads to an overestimate of microbial killing. This hinders identification of partial defects and makes complete defects appear as partial. We found that DPI-treated neutrophils and chronic granulomatous disease neutrophils were completely defective in killing of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans and partially defective in killing of Escherichia coli after lysis with water pH 11, whereas after lysis in distilled water, killing of S. aureus and C. albicans was approximately 60% and approximately 70% of control killing, respectively, and killing of E. coli was normal. Likewise, killing of S. aureus by myeloperoxidase-deficient neutrophils was severely impaired after lysis in water pH 11 but appeared normal after lysis in distilled water. As most studies about neutrophil microbicidal activity have been performed using distilled water, our findings indicate that previous data about killing defects and the effects of agents that modulate microbicidal activity of neutrophils should be re-evaluated.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The presence of inhibitors was overcome by all DNA extraction techniques in urine samples, as evidenced by semiquantitative PCR amplification, and the most effective extraction methods were the phenol/chloroform technique and the silica gel extraction procedure for urine and serum samples, respectively.
Abstract: The sensitivity and reliability of PCR for diagnostic and research purposes require efficient unbiased procedures of extraction and purification of nucleic acids. One of the major limitations of PCR-based tests is the inhibition of the amplification process by substances present in clinical samples. This study used specimens spiked with a known amount of plasmid pBKV (ATCC 33-1) to compare six methods for extraction and purification of viral DNA from urine and serum samples based on recovery efficiency in terms of yield of DNA and percentage of plasmid pBKV recovered, purity of extracted DNA, and percentage of inhibition. The most effective extraction methods were the phenol/chloroform technique and the silica gel extraction procedure for urine and serum samples, respectively. Considering DNA purity, the silica gel extraction procedure and the phenol/chloroform method produced the most satisfactory results in urine and serum samples, respectively. The presence of inhibitors was overcome by all DNA extraction techniques in urine samples, as evidenced by semiquantitative PCR amplification. In serum samples, the lysis method and the proteinase K procedure did not completely overcome the presence of inhibitors.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate that the extraction of extracellular polymers by enzymes is a rather quick process reaching equilibrium within only a few hours, and generally gives a lower estimate of polymers compared to the CER method, but correctly detects the trends in the polymer quantity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Plasmid DNA dissociation from polyamine gene vectors after cellular uptake has not been well characterized and a more detailed understanding of this process could lead to more efficient gene transfer agents.
Abstract: Background Plasmid DNA (pDNA) dissociation from polyamine gene vectors after cellular uptake has not been well characterized. A more detailed understanding of this process could lead to more efficient gene transfer agents. Since RNA is present in the cytoplasm at high concentrations and due to its structural similarity to DNA, we were interested in its conceivable interaction with polyamine gene vectors. Methods In a first set of experiments gene vectors were incubated in cell lysate and pDNA release was investigated by Southern blot analysis with or without RNase A pretreatment and by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Further, interaction of polyamine gene vectors with RNA was investigated by fluorescence quenching assay. These methods were complemented by a functionality assay using isolated nuclei. Results The incubation of gene vectors with cell lysate resulted in the dissociation of pDNA from the complexes. This effect was abolished when the cell lysate was pretreated with RNase A. The addition of RNA in the absence of cell lysate led also to a dissociation of pDNA. This process commenced instantaneously after the addition of RNA as analyzed by fluorescence quenching. When gene vectors were incubated in cell lysate containing isolated nuclei, the dissociation of pDNA from the polyamine gene vectors occurred preferentially extranuclearally as confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. These results were further corroborated in a functional assay. Conclusions These data suggest that RNA induces pDNA dissociation from the polyamine gene vectors. Furthermore, this process apparently occurs in the cytoplasm before the gene vectors enter the nucleus. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Electron microscopic analysis showed that the purified HBcAg assembled into particles that closely resemble the viral nucleocapsid form and reacted with anti-HBcAg monoclonal antibody in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showing that it is functionally active.

Journal ArticleDOI
Ying Li1, Zhihong Liu1, Xiao-Hua Guo1, Jian Shu1, Zhaohong Chen1, Leishi Li1 
TL;DR: It is found that AAI-induced DNA damage prior to apoptosis and lysis in LLC-PK1 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01), which may explain why tubular epithelial cells present limited proliferation and regeneration abilities in the clinical presentation of AAi-associated nephrotoxicity.
Abstract: DNA damage is a critical event preceding cellular apoptosis or necrosis. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of aristolochic acid I (AAI) on DNA damage and cell cycle in porcine proximal tubular epithelial cell lines (LLC-PK1 cells). LLC-PK1 cells were stimulated with AAI at the concentrations of 80, 320, and 1,280 ng/ml for 24 h. DNA damage was examined by comet assay and the cell cycle was assayed by flow cytometry (FCM), cellular apoptosis and lysis were examined simultaneously. Cellular nuclear changes were observed by electron microscopy and the expression of wild-type p53 protein and mRNA were measured by FCM and RT-PCR. We found that AAI-induced DNA damage prior to apoptosis and lysis in LLC-PK1 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). The percentage of cells in the G2/M phase that were treated with AAI (320 and 1,280 ng/ml) for 24 h increased significantly (P<0.01). Electron micrographs showed the nuclear abnormalities in AAI-treated cells. The expression of p53 protein and mRNA did not change in the AAI-treated cells. AAI may cause DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in LLC-PK1 cells through a wild-type p53-independent pathway, prior to apoptosis or necrosis. This study on the molecular mechanism of AAI-induced toxicity may explain why tubular epithelial cells present limited proliferation and regeneration abilities in the clinical presentation of AAI-associated nephrotoxicity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: PA103 ability to induce oxidative stress in infected cells was investigated and it was concluded that AA-induced oxidative stress may be another mechanism of cell damage in the course of infection by ExoU-producing P. aeruginosa.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The combination of cell lysis, DNA binding to beads, and bead separation assay in a single structure offers a step forward in the development of an efficient and compact system for fully automated microfluidic DNA sample preparation.
Abstract: Continuous flow cell lysis by electroporation (EP), and cell and bead trapping by dielectrophoresis (DEP) have been demonstrated on a dielectrophoretic microfluidic chip. The results of lysing human white blood cells (WBC) and murine clonal cells (MN9D) by electroporation showed that lysis rates of up to 80% were achieved at 3 MHz and a flow rate of 30 μl/min. It was also shown that the lysis reactor can function as a dielelectrophoretic filter for trapping silica beads which selectively bind to DNA. The combination of cell lysis, DNA binding to beads, and bead separation assay in a single structure offers a step forward in the development of an efficient and compact system for fully automated microfluidic DNA sample preparation. The continuous flow protocol addresses major challenges faced in sample preparation such as lysate clogging, cell sedimentation, and cell agglomeration.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results show that insertion does not necessarily lead to membrane lysis, i.e. that insertion and lysis are not “coupled” phenomena.

Patent
16 Oct 2006
TL;DR: In this article, a magnetic elevator means for separating magnetic particles is described, and an automated RNA isolation method involving washing, elution, and lysis is disclosed, wherein an alkali metal salt at a concentration of about 2 M to about 10 M, a detergent at a level of 0.05 to 2.1%, wherein the solution has a pH of at least 7.
Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus, materials and methods for isolating RNA or DNA from a sample . The apparatus comprises magnetic elevator means for separating magnetic particles. Aspirating and dispensing pipettes are provided, and an automated isolation method involving washing, elution, and lysis is disclosed. A lysis solution for lysing cells comprises an alkali metal salt at a concentration of about 2 M to about 10 M, a detergent at a concentration of 0.05 to 2.0% w/v, a surfactant at a concentration of about 5 to 40% w/v, a chelating agent at a concentration of about 5 to 20 mM, an antifoaming agent, a buffer, and antifoam agent of about 0.005% to about 0.1%, wherein the solution has a pH of at least 7.