title: Purification and characterization of an anti-apoptotic protein isolated from Lonomia obliqua hemolymph.
abstract: Previously it was reported that supplementation of insect cell culture with Lonomia obliqua hemolymph could extend culture longevity (Maranga et al. Biotechnol. Prog. 2003, 19, 58-63). In this work the anti-apoptotic properties of this hemolymph in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) cell culture were investigated. The presence or absence of apoptotic cells was characterized by light microscopy, flow cytometry, and agarose gel electrophoresis. Hemolymph was fractionated by several ion exchange and gel filtration chromatographic steps for identification of the compounds responsible for this effect. Fractions exhibiting a potent anti-apoptotic effect were isolated and tested in cell culture. A protein of about 51 kDa was identified, isolated, and tested for apoptosis inhibition. Addition of this purified protein to Sf-9 cultures was able to prevent apoptosis induced by nutrient depletion as well as by potent apoptosis chemical inducers such as Actinomycin D. This work confirms that the enhanced culture longevity obtained by supplementation with L. obliqua hemolymph is due to the presence of potent anti-apoptotic factors.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia Viral, Laboratório de Parasitologia, and Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500 São Paulo SP, 05503-900 Brazil.
authors.forename: Alvaro P B
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Cristina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maranga
authors.forename: Ana V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Carvalhal
authors.forename: Roberto H P
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Rita M Z
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Manuel J T
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carrondo
authors.forename: Ronaldo Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Mendonça
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002850:Chromatography, Gel / Q000379:methods; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange / Q000379:methods; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry*; D009036:Moths / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011506:Proteins; D003609:Dactinomycin; D004247:DNA