This study aims to acetylate Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharides by acetic anhydride method, optimize process parameters and evaluate their antioxidant activity. With the degree of substitution(D_s) as a criterion, the effects of reaction time, acetic anhydride-to-polysaccharides ratio and temperature were investigated. Process parameters were optimized by single-factor experiment and response surface methodology. The infrared spectroscopy(IR) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) proved the successful acetylation and were employed to preliminarily analyze the structural characteristics of acetylated derivatives. The results showed that the D_s was 0.327 under the optimal technological conditions, including m(acetic anhydride):m(R. glutinosa polysaccharides)=2.70, reaction time 3.0 h and temperature 48 ℃. Further, the antioxidant properties of acetylated derivatives were investigated in vitro and acetylation was found effective to improve the antioxidant activity of R. glutinosa polysaccharides. This study provides a reference for the further development and application of R. glutinosa polysaccharides.
Acetylation ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Rehmannia/chemistry*

Formation of malignant tumor originating from normal healthy cell is a multistep process including genetic and epigenetic lesions. Previous studies of cell line model systems displayed that early important epigenetic events happened in stepwise fashion prior to cell immortalization. Once these epigenetic alterations are integrated into chromatin, they will perform vertical propagation through cell subculture. Hence, status of epigenetics is dramatically important in maintaining of cell identity. Histone modification is another factor of epigenetic alterations during human oncogenesis. Histones, one of main components of chromatin, can be modified post-translationally. Histone tail modifications are regulated by corresponding modification enzymes. This review focuses on the description of relationship between the main sites of histone modification and oncogenesis.
Acetylation ; Carcinogenesis ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Methylation ; Phosphorylation

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effects of bio-intensity electric field on directional migration and microtubule acetylation in human epidermal cell line HaCaT, aiming to provide molecular theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of wound repair. Methods: The experimental research methods were used. HaCaT cells were collected and divided into simulated electric field group (n=54) placed in the electric field device without electricity for 3 h and electric field treatment group (n=52) treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for 3 h (the same treatment methods below). The cell movement direction was observed in the living cell workstation and the movement velocity, trajectory velocity, and direction of cosθ of cell movement within 3 h of treatment were calculated. HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 2 h group, and electric field treatment 3 h group which were treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for corresponding time. HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 300 mV/mm electric field group treated with electric field of corresponding intensities for 3 h. The protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin was detected by Western blotting (n=3). HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and electric field treatment group, and the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin was detected and located by immunofluorescence method (n=3). Data were statistically analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis H test,Mann-Whitney U test, Bonferroni correction, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference test, and independent sample t test. Results: Within 3 h of treatment, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the cells in electric field treatment group had obvious tendency to move directionally, the movement velocity and trajectory velocity were increased significantly (with Z values of -8.53 and -2.05, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the directionality was significantly enhanced (Z=-8.65, P<0.01). Compared with (0.80±0.14) in simulated electric field group, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin in electric field treatment 1 h group (1.50±0.08) and electric field treatment 2 h group (1.89±0.06) were not changed obviously (P>0.05), while the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in electric field treatment 3 h group (3.37±0.36) was increased significantly (Z=-3.06, P<0.05). After treatment for 3 h, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 300 mV/mm electric field group were 1.63±0.05, 2.24±0.08, and 2.00±0.13, respectively, which were significantly more than 0.95±0.27 in simulated electric field group (P<0.01). Compared with that in 100 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin in 200 mV/mm electric field group and 300 mV/mm electric field group were increased significantly (P<0.01); the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in 300 mV/mm electric field group was significantly lower than that in 200 mV/mm electric field group (P<0.05). After treatment for 3 h, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the acetylated α-tubulin of cells had enhanced directional distribution and higher protein expression (t=5.78, P<0.01). Conclusions: Bio-intensity electric field can induce the directional migration of HaCaT cells and obviously up-regulate the level of α-ubulin acetylation after treatment at 200 mV/mm bio-intensity electric field for 3 h.
Humans ; Acetylation ; Tubulin/metabolism* ; Microtubules/metabolism* ; Electricity ; Epidermal Cells/metabolism*

Butyrate, normally produced by probiotics in the gut, not only provides energy for cells, but also changes the phosphorylation, acetylation and methylation levels of many proteins in cells. As a result, it affects the expression of many genes and the transmission of cell signals. Through G protein-coupled receptors, butyrate promotes the secretion of intestinal mucus and the formation of epithelial barriers, and attenuates the impacts of the pathogenic bacteria and their metabolites on human body. The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a group of pattern recognition receptors, and their activation causes the translocation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and eventually leads to expression and secretion of various pro-inflammatory factors and chemokines. The expression of TLRs is also involved in the pathogenesis of some inflammatory diseases and tumors. The purpose of this review is to summarize the effects of butyrate on TLRs and their downstream signaling pathways. We not only summarized the production of butyrate, the expression of TLRs and the influence of their interaction on the body under the conditions of inflammation and tumor, but also discussed the potential role of butyrate as a bacterial metabolite in the treatments of some human diseases.
Humans ; Butyrates ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Acetylation ; Phosphorylation ; Inflammation

Toxicoproteomics integrates the proteomic knowledge into toxicology by enabling protein quantification in biofluids and tissues, thus taking toxicological research to the next level. Post-translational modification (PTM) alters the three-dimensional (3D) structure of proteins by covalently binding small molecules to them and therefore represents a major protein function diversification mechanism. Because of the crucial roles PTM plays in biological systems, the identification of novel PTMs and study of the role of PTMs are gaining much attention in proteomics research. Of the 300 known PTMs, protein acylation, including lysine formylation, acetylation, propionylation, butyrylation, malonylation, succinylation, and crotonylation, regulates the crucial functions of many eukaryotic proteins involved in cellular metabolism, cell cycle, aging, growth, angiogenesis, and cancer. Here, I reviewed recent studies regarding novel types of lysine acylation, their biological functions, and their applicationsin toxicoproteomics research.
Acetylation ; Acylation ; Aging ; Cell Cycle ; Lysine ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Proteins ; Proteomics ; Toxicology

BACKGROUND: N-acetyl transferase (NAT) inactivates the pro-drug isoniazid (INH) to N-acetyl INH through a process of acetylation, and confers low-level resistance to INH in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Similar to NAT of MTB, NAT2 in humans performs the same function of acetylation. Rapid acetylators, may not respond to INH treatment efficiently, and could be a potential risk factor, for the development of INH resistance in humans. METHODS: To understand the contribution of NAT of MTB and NAT2 of humans in developing INH resistance using in silico approaches, in this study, the wild type (WT) and mutant (MT)-NATs of MTB, and humans, were modeled and docked, with substrates and product (acetyl CoA, INH, and acetyl INH). The MT models were built, using templates 4BGF of MTB, and 2PFR of humans. RESULTS: On the basis of docking results of MTB-NAT, it can be suggested that in comparison to the WT, binding affinity of MT-G207R, was found to be lower with acetyl CoA, and higher with acetyl-INH and INH. In case of MT-NAT2 from humans, the pattern of score with respect to acetyl CoA and acetyl-INH, was similar to MT-NAT of MTB, but revealed a decrease in INH score. CONCLUSION: In MTB, MT-NAT revealed high affinity towards acetyl-INH, which can be interpreted as increased formation of acetyl-INH, and therefore, may lead to INH resistance through inactivation of INH. Similarly, in MT-NAT2 (rapid acetylators), acetylation occurs rapidly, serving as a possible risk factor for developing INH resistance in humans.
Acetyl Coenzyme A ; Acetylation ; Computer Simulation* ; Humans* ; Isoniazid* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Risk Factors ; Transferases*

OBJECTIVETo study the aberration in histone H3K4 and H3K9 methylation and H3 and H4 acetylation in human acute leukemia (AL) cells.

METHODSThe histone H3K4 and H3K9 methylation and H3 and H4 acetylation were detected by Western blot in 34 AL patients and 13 controls (9 non leukemia patients, 4 healthy volunteers).

RESULTSThe level of H3K4 methylation was significantly lower in 19 AL patients than in non leukemia (0.220 ± 0.096 vs 0.447 ± 0.186, P < 0.01), while the level of H3K9 methylation was significantly higher (0.409 ± 0.106 vs 0.168 ± 0.015, P < 0.01); Both level of histone H3 and H4 acetylation in 15 AL patients were significantly lower (H3: 0.128 ± 0.013 vs 0.386 ± 0.104, H4: 0.096 ± 0.008 vs 0.341 ± 0.096, respectively, both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAberration of histone methylation and deficient histone acetylation in AL may represent the markers for an aberrant post-translational modification of histones and chromatin structure. It might be a potential epigenetic target for anti-leukemia agent.

Acetylation ; DNA Methylation ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Methylation ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Gata4 is an important transcription factor in heart development. Gata4 post-transcriptional protein modification regulates transcriptional activity and DNA binding, which in turn affects expression of downstream genes and transcription factors, differentiation of embryonic stem cells and cardiogenesis. This article summarizes the effect of post-transcriptional protein modification on transcriptional activity of Gata4 and the relationship between this effect and congenital heart disease. It was shown that acetylation, phosphorylation and SUMOylation upregulate transcriptional activity, DNA binding, downstream gene expression and embryonic stem cell differentiation. On the other hand, methylation and deacetylation downregulate Gata4 transcriptional activity. Post-transcriptional protein modification of Gata4 is very important in clinical research on congenital and other heart diseases.
Acetylation ; Animals ; GATA4 Transcription Factor ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Methylation ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Sumoylation

Acetylation ; Animals ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of valproic acid(VPA) on anti-myeloma activity of Doxorubicin(DOX) or Melphalan(MEL) and its related mechanism.

METHODSHuman multiple myeloma(MM) cells were treated with VPA of non-toxic dose in absence and presence of DOX or MEL at different concentrations (ie. IC10, IC20, IC40). The cell proliferation was detected by MTT method. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins (LC3, ATG5, ATG7) and acetylated histone H4K16ac.

RESULTSCell proliferation inhibition markedly increased in VPA plus DOX or MEL as compared with DOX or MEL alone (P<0.05). Both LC3 and H4K16ac expression levels in co-treatment were between VPA and DOX or MEL treated alone. Importantly, VPA of non-toxic dose not only augmented the anti-myeloma activity of DOX or MEL, but also down-regulated the autophagy-related protein expression and increases H4K16ac protein levels.

CONCLUSIONH4K16ac can inhibit the transcription of autophagy-related genes, The VPA enhance the anti-myeloma activity of DNA-damaging drugs, at least in part, via H4K16ac-mediated suppression of cytoprotective autophagy.

Acetylation ; Autophagy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; Doxorubicin ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Valproic Acid