一氧化氮合酶的遗传、生理研究进展

一氧化氮具有广泛的生理功能,哺乳动物体内的NO是由NO合酶(NOS)氧化L-精氨酸而合成的,合成后的NO迅速跨膜扩散释放,NO合成失调能介导多种疾病。催化NO生物合成的NOS有三种亚型:神经元型NOS(nNOS)、内皮型NOS(eNOS)和诱导型NOS(iNOS),目前,人的三型NOS已纯化并且已分子克隆成功,对一氧化氮合酶的遗传研究确认了NOS家族的基因结构和染色体定位。     

UV-B辐射对香蕉光合作用和不同氮源利用的影响

生长在NO3^--N、NH4^--N和NH4NO3－N的香蕉叶片有相近似的最大光合速率,UV－B辐射引起生长在不同氮源的香蕉叶片光合速率、表现量子产率和光肥利用效率的降低。UV－B辐射使生长在不同氮源的植株叶面积干重和叶氮含是降低。生长在NH4^--N的植株Vcmax和Jmax均较生长在其它氮源的高。UV－B辐射引起生长在NH4^-N的植株Vcmax和Jmax降低较相同处理的NO3^-－N和NH4NO3－N植株明显,表明生长在NH4^ －N的香蕉对UV－B辐射更加敏感。UV－B辐射改变植株的叶片的碳氢比和碳氮比。经过UV－B辐射处理的NH4^ －N生长植株的碳氮生长在NO3^--N和NH4NO3－N的低。UV－B辐射可能改变植株对不同氮源的吸收利用,从而引起碳氮代谢和酸碱调节的变化。UV－B辐射降低叶氮在Rubisco和生物力能学组分的分配系数,可能使这些组分合成减少,使叶片光调节的变化。UV－B辐射降低叶氮在Rubisco和生物力能学组分的分配系数,可能使这些组分合成减少,使叶片光合速率下降。结果表明,生长在不同氮源的香蕉植树对UV－B辐射有不同响应,NH4^ -N有利于主要光合参数增高,但其对UV－B辐射亦最为敏感。氮供应受限制或植株生长在中性盐如NH4NO3－N则对UV－B辐射不甚敏感。     

白细胞介素—10对血管一氧化氮／一氧化氮合酶系统的影响

为探讨抗炎因子－－白细胞介素－10（IL－10）对大鼠主动脉一氧化氮（NO）／一氧化氮合酶（NOS）系统的影响,应用Griess试剂、^3H－瓜氨酸生成及蛋白免疫印迹杂交等方法,测定IL－10孵育对血管NO释放、NOS活性及表达的影响。结果发现细菌脂多糖（LPS）呈浓度领带性地激活诱导型NOS（iNOS）,促进NO生成。IL－10（10^-10-10^-8g/ml）呈浓度依赖性地上调内皮型NOS（eNOS）蛋白表达及其活性,但对iNOS活性及表达无明显影响,IL－10（10^-9-10^-8g/ml）显著抑制10μg/ml LPS诱导的NO生成和iNOS激活;而高浓度IL－10（10^-7g/ml）则上调iNOS的活性,对eNOS蛋白的表达知活性无明显影响。因此IL－10对NO／NOS系统具有双重影响,一方面可抑制炎症介质诱发的作为炎性物质的iNOS的表达及激活,另一方面可上调内皮源扩血管物质NO的释放。     

植物精氨酸及其代谢产物的生理功能

L-精氨酸在植物中除作为一种重要的氮素贮藏营养物供再利用外,还是生成多胺（PA）和-氧化氮（NO）等的前体物质,而PA和NO都是植物中重要的信使分子,参与包括生长发育、抗逆性等在内的几乎所有的生理生化过程。精氨酸脱羧酶（ADC）、精氨酸酶和一氧化氮合酶（NOS）是L-精氨酸分解代谢的关键酶,精氨酸可经ADC或精氨酸酶-鸟氨酸脱羧酶（ODC）途径形成PA,也可经NOS途径形成NO,3个酶活性的相对强弱,决定了精氨酸的代谢方向。根系在越冬期间会积累丰富的精氨酸;精氨酸代谢对于植物感知和适应环境变化有重要意义。     

一氧化氮参与炎症及自身免疫反应

一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)是一种无机气体。在生物体内有多种生理和毒性作用。哺乳动物体内多种细胞可产生NO,如内皮细胞、神经细胞、巨噬细胞、血小板等,其靶细胞也多种多样。NO在体内是通过一氧化氮合成酶(NOS)由L-精氨酸合成。NOS有原生酶和诱生酶两种。原生酶为钙依赖     

β-肾上腺素能受体在NO抑制小鼠回肠自主收缩中的作用

目的：观察一氧化氮（nitric oxide,NO）供体左旋精氨酸（L-argnine,L—Arg）对小鼠回肠自主收缩幅度的影响,探讨肛肾上腺素能受体在NO抑制小鼠回肠自主收缩中的作用。方法：应用张力换能器记录标本自主收缩的方法,以回肠肌条自主收缩幅度变化为指标,观察一氧化氮合酶（nitric oxide synthase,NOS）抑制剂L-NNA,可溶性鸟苷酸环化酶（soluble guanylyl cyclase,sGC）抑制剂ODQ（1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-aJquinoxalin-1-one）,β-肾上腺素能受体激动荆异丙肾上腺素（Isoprenaline,ISO）和拮抗剂普萘洛尔（Propranolol）对NO作用的影响。结果：①L—Arg抑制小鼠回肠自主收缩幅度,呈浓度依赖性。②L-NNA（3×10^-4mol／L）,ODQ（3×10^-4mol／L）均减弱L-Arg的抑制效应。③Propranolol（3×10^-6mol／L）明显减弱L—Arg的抑制效应。④ISCO（1×100mol／L）明显增强L—Arg的抑制效应。而Propranolol（3×10^-6mol／L）和ISCO（1×10^-7mol／L）孵育组,L—Arg的抑制作用无明显变化。结论：L-Arg经NOS催化生成NO后经cGMP途径发挥对小鼠回肠自主收缩的抑制作用,良受体途径也部分参与了NO的作用过程。     

NO介质在大鼠红藻氨酸诱导癫痫发作中的作用

目的：进一步探讨脑内一氧化氮(NO)介质(NO或NO衍生物)在复杂部分性及全身强直阵挛性癫痫发作中的作用。方法：采用红藻氨酸(KA)诱导大鼠癫痫发作,以NO合酶抑制剂L-硝基精氨酸(L-NNA)或NO前体L-精氨酸(L-Arg)予以预处理,观察其癫痫发作行为及海马结构内NO含量(NO2^-/NO3^-)的变化。结果：给予大鼠惊厥剂量KA(10mg/kg),15min时出现湿狗样抖动(WDS),1～3h出现全身痉挛;经L-NNA(50mg/kg)或L-Arg(40mg/kg)预处理的大鼠,注射相同剂量的KA后,其癫痫行为发生明显变化,L-NNA预处理的大鼠癫痫发作行为明显加重,表现为全身痉挛的潜伏期缩短、时间延长、死亡率提高;L-Arg预处理的大鼠癫痫发作行为减弱,WDS和全身痉挛的潜伏期均延长,发作程度减轻、时间缩短,观察时间内无一例死亡。KA给药后30min海马结构内的NO2^-/NO3^-含量迅速增多,7d时仍持续增高;与NS预处理组相比,经L-Arg预处理的动物,KA给药后3h及3d,其NO2^-/NO3^-浓度升高明显。结论：兴奋诱导性癫痫发作过程中内源性NO介质的变化可能具有重要的抗发作作用。     

蛋白激酶C在血管紧张素Ⅱ抑制心肌细胞一氧化氮合成中的作用

实验用硝酸还原酶法测定培养新生大鼠心肌细胞亚硝酸盐 (NO 2 )和硝酸盐 (NO 3)总量 (NO 2 /NO 3) ,反映心肌细胞一氧化氮 (NO)生成情况 ,观察血管紧张素Ⅱ (AngⅡ )对心肌细胞NO生成的影响及其蛋白激酶C (PKC)在该效应中的作用。结果显示 :AngⅡ可减少心肌细胞NO的含量 ,并具有明显的剂量 效应关系 ;AngⅡ受体拮抗剂saralasin可明显抑制AngⅡ对NO生成的影响 ;L 精氨酸 (L Arg)明显增加心肌细胞NO的浓度 ,此效应可被一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)抑制剂L NAME所抑制 ,L Arg未能消除AngⅡ抑制NO的作用 ;用佛波酯 (PMA)处理心肌细胞 ,其NO的生成明显减少 ,L NAME可加强此抑制效应 ;PKC抑制剂staurosporine (Stau)可明显削弱AngⅡ抑制心肌细胞NO生成的效应。结果提示 :AngⅡ具有抑制心肌细胞NO生成的作用 ,此作用可能是通过抑制心肌细胞NOS的活性而实现的 ;AngⅡ受体介导AngⅡ抑制心肌细胞NO生成的作用 ;激活PKC可使新生大鼠心肌细胞NO生成减少 ,NOS参与此抑制效应 ,新生大鼠心肌细胞NO生成过程的信号转导通路可能与PKC有关 ;PKC参与AngⅡ抑制心肌细胞NO的生成。     

L-精氨酸和氨基胍对大鼠内毒素性肺损伤治疗作用的实验研究

目的：观察L-精氨酸（L-arginine）和一氧化氮合酶抑制剂氨基胍（AG）对内毒素性肺损伤的治疗作用。方法：采用静脉注射脂多糖（LPS）制备内毒素性肺损伤大鼠模型。将48只SD大鼠随机分为6组：空白对照组、LPS模型组、AG治疗组（50mg／kg）、L-精氨酸（500mg／kg）、（250mg／kg）和L-精氨酸（250mg／kg）＋AG（50mg／kg）治疗组。经腹腔给药,实验过程中监测大鼠平均动脉压（MAP）,定时取静脉血测定血浆中NO含量,于规定时间处死大鼠,迅速取出肺脏,观察LPS引起大鼠急性肺损伤后肺系数、肺水肿情况和肺组织中丙二醛（MDA）含量、一氧化氮合酶（NOS）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性的变化,以及L-精氨酸和氨基胍分别单独给药和二者联合给药对内毒素性肺损伤的治疗作用。结果：氨基胍可明显升高MAP,降低肺系数和肺含水量,减少血浆中NO含量,可显著降低肺组织中NOS活性,减少MDA含量,增强SOD活性,改善肺损伤;L-精氨酸可明显降低肺系数和肺含水量,减少MDA含量,增强SOD活性;L-精氨酸与氨基胍联合应用亦得到上述类似结果。结论：L-精氨酸和氨基胍分别单独给药以及二者联合给药对内毒索性肺损伤均具有治疗作用。     

NO和氧自由基在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的协同作用——心肌缺血再灌注损伤产生的NO自由基的ESR研究

用低温电子自旋共振(ESR)技术检测到了大鼠心肌缺血再灌注过程产生的NO自由基与含铁蛋白结合的ESR信号 并且利用这一技术研究了大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤过程中NO和氧自由基的协同作用.结果发现,在缺血再灌注损伤的心肌中可同时检测到氧自由基和与血红蛋白β-亚基铁结合的NO自由基(β-NO复合物).在正常心肌中检测不到这两个信号,即使在灌注液中加入L-精氨酸也检测不到这两个信号.在缺血再灌注损伤的心肌中就可以检测的这两个信号了,而且随着在灌注液中加入L-精氨酸浓度的增加,这一信号也随之增加.在灌注液中加入NO合成酶抑制剂N~G-硝基精氨酸甲脂(NAME),这两个信号受到抑制.在灌注液中检测标志心肌损伤的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)和肌酸激酶(CK)活性发现,在灌注液中加入低浓度的L-精氨酸(1mmol/L以下),对缺血再灌注心肌损伤有一定保护作用,但是,若加入高浓度L-精氨酸,则加重缺血再灌注心肌的损伤.加NAME对缺血再灌注心肌有明显保护作用.在灌注液中加入黄嘌吟/黄嘌吟氧化酶(X/XO)或Fe²⁺/H₂O₂,同时增加缺血再灌注心肌中的NO和氧自由基含量,并加重心肌的损伤.在灌注液中加入超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT),同时减少缺血再灌注心肌中NO和氧自由基的含量,并减轻心肌的损伤.     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

New or rare chromosome counts in Artemisia L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and related genera from Kazakhstan

Fifteen chromosome counts of six Artemisia taxa and one species of each of the genera Brachanthemum, Hippolytia, Kaschgaria, Lepidolopsis and Turaniphytum are reported from Kazakhstan. Three of them are new reports, two are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very scarce (one to four) earlier records. All the populations studied have the same basic chromosome number, x = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2x to 6x. Some correlations between ploidy level, morphological characters and distribution are noted.