Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is an oligomeric lectin that binds neutral carbohydrates on pathogens, forms complexes with MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP)-1, -2, and -3 and 19-kDa MBL-associated protein (MAp19), and triggers the complement lectin pathway through activation of MASP-2. To identify the MASP binding site(s) of human MBL, point mutants targeting residues C-terminal to the hinge region were produced and tested for their interaction with the MASPs and MAp19 using surface plasmon resonance and functional assays. Mutation Lys55Ala abolished interaction with the MASPs and MAp19 and prevented formation of functional MBL-MASP-2 complexes. Mutations Lys55Gln and Lys55Glu abolished binding to MASP-1 and -3 and strongly inhibited interaction with MAp19. Conversely, mutation Lys55Arg abolished interaction with MASP-2 and MAp19, but only weakened interaction with MASP-1 and -3. Mutation Arg47Glu inhibited interaction with MAp19 and decreased the ability of MBL to trigger the lectin pathway. Mutant Arg47Lys showed no interaction with the MASPs or MAp19, likely resulting from a defect in oligomerization. In contrast, mutation Arg47Ala had no impact on the interaction with the MASPs and MAp19, nor on the ability of MBL to trigger the lectin pathway. Mutation Pro53Ala only had a slight effect on the interaction with MASP-1 and -3, whereas mutations at residues Leu49 and Leu56 were ineffective. In conclusion, the MASP binding site of MBL involves a sequence stretch centered on residue Lys55, which may form an ionic bond representing the major component of the MBL-MASP interaction. The binding sites for MASP-2/MAp19 and MASP-1/3 have common features but are not strictly identical.
Mannan-binding lectin (MBL), a human plasma protein, plays an important role in the innate immune defence. MBL recognizes microorganisms through surface carbohydrate structures. Due to genetic polymorphisms, MBL plasma concentrations range from 5 to 10,000 ng/mL. Approximately 30% of the human population have low levels of MBL (below 500 ng/mL). MBL deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infections in immunosuppressed individuals, e.g., during chemotherapeutically induced neutropenia. Replacement therapy with MBL may be beneficial in this patient group, and recombinant human MBL (rhMBL) is in development as a novel therapeutic approach. To assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of rhMBL, a placebo-controlled double-blinded study was performed in MBL-deficient healthy male subjects. rhMBL was administered as both single intravenous (i.v.) infusions (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/kg) and repeated i.v. infusions (0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg given at 3-day intervals). There were no difference in incidence and type of adverse events reported in the study between the groups of subjects receiving rhMBL and the placebo group. All adverse events reported as drug-related were mild and no serious adverse events were recorded. There were no clinically significant changes in laboratory evaluations, ECG or vital signs, and no anti-MBL antibodies were detected following rhMBL administration. After single i.v. doses of rhMBL the maximal plasma levels increased in a dose-dependent manner reaching a geometric mean of 9710 ng/mL+/-10.5% in the highest dose group (0.5 mg/kg), with an elimination half-life of approximately 30 h. No rhMBL accumulation in plasma was observed following repeat dosing. Administration of rhMBL restored the ability to activate the MBL pathway of the complement system without non-specific activation of the complement cascade. In conclusion, no safety or tolerability concern was raised following rhMBL administration no signs of immunogenicity detected, and an rhMBL plasma level judged sufficient to achieve therapeutic benefit (>1000 ng/mL) can be achieved.
The effect of biomass concentration on the formation of Aspergillus oryzae alpha-amylase during submerged cultivation with A. oryzae and recombinant A. nidulans strains has been investigated. It was found that the specific rate of alpha-amylase formation in chemostats decreased significantly with increasing biomass concentration in the range of approx. 2-12 g dry weight kg(-1). When using a recombinant A. nidulans strain in which the gene responsible for carbon catabolite repression of the A. oryzae alpha-amylase gene (creA) was deleted, no significant decrease in the specific rate of alpha-amylase formation was observed. On the basis of the experimental results, it is suggested that the low value of the specific alpha-amylase productivity observed at high biomass concentration is caused by slow mixing of the concentrated feed solution in the viscous fermentation medium.
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