耐辐射奇球菌dps突变株的构建和蛋白功能初步研究

Dps(DNAprotection during starvation)蛋白是原核生物中特有的一类具有铁离子结合和抗氧化损伤功能的重要蛋白。利用体外PCR扩增技术和体内同源重组方法,获得了耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)dps全基因(DRB0092)缺失突变株。对突变株和野生型分别进行不同浓度过氧化氢(H₂O₂)处理,结果表明:与野生型菌株R1相比,dps突变株在低浓度H₂O₂(≤10mmol/L)条件下存活率急剧下降,而高浓度(≥30mmol/L)下则完全致死。Native-PAGE活性染色结果显示,稳定生长期dps突变株体内两种过氧化氢酶(KatA和KatB)的活性较野生型R1分别上调2.3倍和2.6倍。通过质粒构建和大肠杆菌诱导表达,获得可溶性Dps蛋白。体外结合和DNA保护实验结果显示:Dps具有明显的DNA结合功能,并能保护质粒DNA免受羟自由基攻击。本研究证明,Dps蛋白在耐辐射奇球菌抗氧化体系中发挥重要作用,可能对该菌极端抗性机制有重要贡献。     

水稻CPR5基因参与氧化胁迫响应

为探讨水稻(Oryza sativa L.)中CPR5 基因的功能,以其cDNA 文库为基础进行序列比对,并将1 个同源性较高的序列命名为OsCPR5.生物信息学分析表明,OsCPR5 的开放阅读框长度为1551 bp,编码516 个氨基酸.软件预测该编码蛋白可能是1 个具有5 个跨膜区的膜蛋白和核定位蛋白.组织表达和亚细胞定位分析表明,OsCPR5 在根中的表达水平较高,且广泛分布在细胞膜、细胞质和细胞核上.逆境胁迫分析实验表明,植物激素脱落酸(Abscisic acid, ABA)、过氧化氢(Hydrogen peroxide,H₂O₂)、氯化钠(NaCl)、甲基紫精(Methyl viologen, MV)等环境胁迫可诱导OsCPR5 的上调表达,其中氧化胁迫相关的MV 和H₂O₂ 处理效果最为明显.拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)转基因株系atcpr5/OsCPR5 在浓度为0.5 μmol L^-1、 1.0 μmol L^-1 的MV以及6 mmol L^-1、 8 mmol L^-1 的H₂O₂ 处理下,种子萌发率明显高于atcpr5 突变体.这揭示了OsCPR5 基因在植物抗氧化胁迫响应中具有一定的作用.     

华丽龙胆GsF3′5′H和GsFNS基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究以华丽龙胆(Gentiana sino ornata)5个不同开放阶段(H₁~H₅)的蓝色花冠为试材,利用RT PCR技术克隆GsF3′5′H和GsFNS全长序列,并进行生物信息学分析,比较GsF3′5′H和GsFNS在不同组织和不同开放阶段的基因表达模式。结果显示：(1)所克隆的GsF3′5′H和GsFNS基因分别包含1 560 bp和1 590 bp开放阅读框(OFR),并分别编码520和529个氨基酸。(2)结构分析显示,GsF3′5′H和GsFNS均具有典型的F3′5′H和FNSⅡ蛋白保守结构域。(3)系统进化树分析表明,GsF3′5′H和GsFNS亲缘关系最近的物种是三花龙胆(Gentiana triflora)。(4)qRT PCR结果显示,GsF3′5′H和GsFNS基因在根、茎、叶和花冠中均表达,其中GsF3′5′H基因在花冠H₃阶段表达量最高。GsFNS在根中表达量最高,其次在花冠H₄阶段两基因的表达均较高。研究推测,GsF3′5′H基因表达产生的飞燕草素苷和GsFNS表达产生的黄酮共着色作用可能使华丽龙胆的花冠呈更稳定艳丽的蓝色,为蓝色花分子育种提供重要的基因资源。     

沙棘果油对过氧化氢诱导氧化损伤的保护作用

沙棘(Hippophae rhamnoides)是一种具有药用价值的植物,沙棘果油具有抗氧化、抗炎症及抗肿瘤等多种药理作用。为了探讨沙棘果油对H₂O₂造成氧化性损伤的细胞生长的影响及其抗氧化性,该研究选择H₂O₂对RAW264.7细胞氧化损伤模型,通过DPPH(1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼)自由基清除实验检测沙棘果油体外抗氧化能力,用[3-(4,5-二甲基噻唑-2)-2,5-二苯基四氮唑溴盐]MTT法和流式细胞仪检测超氧化物阴离子荧光探针(DHE)信号,分别检测不同浓度沙棘果油对H₂O₂损伤细胞的存活率和超氧化物阴离子水平。结果表明:(1)在DPPH自由基清除实验中,当沙棘果油浓度小于4.9%时,沙棘果油的抗氧化能力大于维生素C。(2)通过MTT法发现,浓度为3.125%的沙棘果油对H₂O₂损伤细胞的存活率显著升高(P<0.01)。(3)从DHE检测发现,在同一检测时间点,随着沙棘果油浓度增加,DHE阳性细胞比例显著下降(P<0.01); 在不同检测时间点,随着沙棘果油浓度增加,DHE阳性细胞比例显著升高(P<0.01)。沙棘果油对过氧化氢诱导的RAW264.7细胞氧化损伤模型有一定修复作用,可能与细胞内超氧化物阴离子水平受到抑制有关,它具有抗氧化性损伤的潜能。     

SelS高表达保护人脐静脉内皮细胞免于H2O2诱导的细胞损伤

采用以下方法探讨SelS在内皮细胞中的表达和作用：将SelS基因克隆到真核表达载体pLNCX2，RT-PCR、XhoⅠ/ClaⅠ双酶切以及DNA序列分析验证目的基因；利用脂质体转染技术将pLNCX2-SelS或pLNCX2转染至人脐静脉内皮细胞(ECV₃₀₄细胞)，RT-PCR检测重组基因SelS的表达；MTT方法检测转染后过氧化氢(H₂O₂)对内皮细胞增殖能力的影响；硫代巴比妥酸法测定暴露于H₂O₂中不同转染组细胞脂质过氧化产物丙二醛含量. 结果表明：成功构建真核表达载体pLNCX2-SelS；转染后重组SelS mRNA表达水平是内源性水平的1.76倍；H₂O₂对ECV₃₀₄细胞损伤后，高表达SelS组细胞活性增强、H₂O₂诱导产生的丙二醛减少. 上述结果表明，高表达SelS可保护内皮细胞免于H₂O₂诱导的细胞损伤，其作用机制与抗氧化有关.     

外源H2O2对盐碱胁迫下苹果矮化砧木幼苗生理特性的影响

以2年生苹果矮化砧木M9 T337为试材,采用盆栽试验法,设置浇灌清水(CK)和盐碱胁迫(0.1 mol/L NaCl+NaHCO₃溶液)+ 喷施5种浓度的H₂O₂ ［0(T₁)、0.2 mmol/L(T₂)、0.4 mmol/L(T₃)、0.6 mmol/L(T₄)、0.8 mmol/L(T₅)］ 处理,测定各处理叶片叶绿素含量、光合气体交换参数、渗透调节物质含量、抗氧化酶活性和细胞膜透性,并利用相关性与主成分分析进行综合评价,以探讨外源过氧化氢(H₂O₂)增强其盐碱耐性的生理机制。结果表明：(1)随着盐碱胁迫(T₁)的时间延长,M9 T337幼苗叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)含量、叶绿素b (Chl b)含量、叶绿素总量(Chl t)、净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、可溶性蛋白(SP)含量均呈逐渐下降趋势;胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、可溶性总糖(TSS)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性、相对电导率(REC)、丙二醛(MDA)含量均呈上升趋势;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性均呈先升后降趋势。(2)与CK相比,盐碱胁迫+外源H₂O₂(T₂- T₅)处理后M9 T337幼苗叶片各指标均呈现不同幅度变化,且存在明显浓度效应,并以T₃(0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂)处理叶片的Chl a、Chl b、Chl t、SP和G_s降幅最小,C_i、REC、MDA升幅最小,TSS、Pro、APX升幅最大。(3)M9 T337幼苗叶片P_n与T_r、G_s、Chl a、Chl b、Chl t、SP、SOD、POD呈显著正相关,与C_i、MDA、CAT、APX、REC呈显著负相关。(4)综合评价表明,各处理对M9 T337幼苗叶片生理特性的效应依次为：CK>T₃>T₄>T₂>T₅>T₁。研究发现,叶面喷施适宜浓度H₂O₂可有效改善盐碱胁迫下M9 T337幼苗光合能力,显著提高抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质的含量,降低细胞膜透性,从而达到缓解盐碱胁迫的作用,并以0.4 mmol/L H₂O₂处理效果最佳。     

Nox2在AngII诱导的H295R细胞醛固酮合成中的作用

摘要 目的：观察Nox2对AngII活化的人肾上腺皮质腺癌细胞（H295R细胞）醛固酮合成的影响。方法：将H295R细胞分为正常对照组、AngII、AngII＋gp91ds-tat（Nox2抑制剂）组、AngII+PEG-Cat（H₂O₂清除剂）组、AngII+Nox2 siRNA组及不同时间的AngII组，采用Q-PCR和western blot检测醛固酮合成酶（CYP11B2）和Nox2基因及蛋白水平；放免法检测细胞上清液醛固酮浓度；应用流式细胞术和酶标仪检测细胞内Nox2来源的ROS和H₂O₂的含量。结果：10 nmol/L AngII以时间依赖性增加H295R细胞内ROS和H₂O₂含量、Nox2和CYP11B2表达、醛固酮合成（P<0.05）。与正常对照组相比，gp91ds-tat和PEG-Cat明显降低AngII诱导的细胞内ROS和H2O2含量（P<0.05），而gp91ds-tat组和PEG-Cat组AngII诱导的细胞内ROS和H₂O₂抑制作用无差别（P>0.05）。10 nmol/L AngII 处理24 h诱导H295R细胞CYP11B2表达（P<0.05），而gp91ds-tat组、PEG-Cat组和Nox2 siRNA组明显抑制AngII诱导H295R细胞CYP11B2表达（P<0.05）。结论：Nox2来源的ROS在AngII诱导的醛固酮合成过程中起主要调控作用。     

白菜型油菜RbohC和RbohF基因克隆与表达分析

该研究以白菜型油菜（Brassica rapa L.）‘陇油6号’为实验材料,采用RT PCR方法克隆油菜RbohC和RbohF基因,并采用实时荧光定量PCR技术对RbohC、RbohF基因在不同组织及非生物胁迫下的表达进行分析,为深入研究油菜RbohC、RbohF基因的生物学功能提供依据。结果显示：(1) 成功克隆得到2个全长分别为3 050 bp和2 995 bp的油菜RbohC (GenBank登录号：XM_009134386) 和RbohF (GenBank登录号：XM_009114548) 基因序列。(2) 生物信息学分析显示,油菜RbohC和RbohF基因开放阅读框（ORF）分别为2 733 bp和2 847 bp,编码910和948个氨基酸,推测二者的蛋白质分子量分别为103 kDa和108 kDa,理论等电点分别为9.47和9.21; 油菜RbohC、RbohF编码的氨基酸序列与萝卜等多种植物相应蛋白氨基酸序列具有较高的同源性,且这些序列高度保守并含有NADPH氧化酶的典型保守结构域,包括2个可以与Ca²⁺结合的EF手性模体结构、6个跨膜结构域、黄素腺嘌呤二核苷酸结合结构域、NAD焦磷酸结合结构域和C末端区域中的NADP核糖保守结合位点。(3) 油菜RbohC和RbohF基因在根、茎、叶和下胚轴中均表达,无组织特异性,但RbohC基因在根中表达量最高, RbohF基因在下胚轴中表达量最高。(4) 低温、干旱、盐、ABA、H₂O₂处理都能够诱导油菜RbohC和RbohF基因的表达,但抗寒性强的 ‘陇油6号’的RbohC和RbohF基因对胁迫的响应更敏感,且RbohC基因的表达量均高于RbohF基因。(5) 用H₂O₂清除剂DMTU、NADPH氧化酶抑制剂DPI和IMD、MAPKK抑制剂U0126处理后,油菜RbohC和RbohF基因的表达均较对照下降,说明U0126和DMTU对油菜RbohC和RbohF基因的表达有抑制作用。研究认为,油菜RbohC和RbohF基因在油菜适应逆境胁迫中具有重要作用,两基因的表达均受MAPK激酶信号途径的调节,并受到H₂O₂的反馈调节,而且抗寒性强的‘陇油6号’品种中RbohC和RbohF基因对H2O2和MAPK激酶信号途径的响应更敏感。     

2017–2019年中国南方五省规模化养猪场副猪格拉菌血清型、耐药性及β-内酰胺类耐药基因bla-TEM分子特征分析

【目的】旨在分析当前规模化养殖场副猪格拉菌(Glaesserella parasuis)优势血清型、耐药特性、耐药基因与分子特征。【方法】对源自规模化养猪场21株副猪格拉菌临床分离株,采用PCR鉴定血清型;利用K-B纸片扩散法鉴定其对25种抗生素的耐药表型;采用PCR检测bla-_TEM、bla-_NDM和bla-_CTX等7种耐药基因,并采用Chi-square test和Fisher exact test分析耐药表型和耐药基因型的相关性;耐药基因目的条带测序,并应用CLC Sequence Viewer软件分析β-内酰胺类耐药基因(bla-_TEM)编码蛋白氨基酸关键位点差异与耐药性的关系。【结果】21株副猪格拉菌临床分离株的优势血清型为4和12型;对β-内酰胺类药物苯唑西林的耐药性较强,耐药菌占比达61.9%(13/21);多重耐药菌株占比高达90.5%(19/21);β-内酰胺类耐药基因bla-_TEM携带率较高(52.4%,11/21),且bla-_TEM与β-内酰胺类药物青霉素G、苯唑西林和头孢拉定的耐药性显著相关,部分bla-_TEM编码氨基酸存在可能与副猪格拉菌耐药能力有关的差异位点。【结论】本研究表明,规模化养猪场的副猪格拉菌多重耐药情况仍很严重,并明确了被调查区域β-内酰胺类药物耐药率高的主要原因是携带耐药基因bla-_TEM,为加强对规模化养猪场副猪格拉菌耐药性监测提供理论依据。     

类胡萝卜素在耐辐射奇球菌辐射抗性中的作用

为研究耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)中类胡萝卜素的生化合成基因及其在该细菌抗辐射机制中的生物学作用,通过有机溶剂提取及LC-MS技术分析了D. radiodurans所产类胡萝卜素物质的主要组分,运用PCR及基因同源重组技术,对该菌中类胡萝卜素生化合成途径的八氢番茄红素合成酶(phytoene synthase,crtB)及八氢番茄红素脱氢酶(phytoene desaturase,crtI)基因进行了缺失突变,通过表型观察及HPLC定量分析突变株所产类胡萝卜素的组分变化确证突变株构建成功．野生株及crtB 与crtI基因缺失突变株对电离辐射和H₂O₂的敏感性差异比较分析显示,和野生株相比,两种突变株对不同剂量电离辐射和不同浓度H₂O₂的敏感性更强．crtB及crtI基因功能研究表明,这两个关键性合成基因的缺失,导致突变株不能催化合成类胡萝卜素生化合成途径中的重要中间体——番茄红素及一系列下游产物．通过λ原噬菌体紫外线诱导系统、电子自旋共振 (ESR)及DMPO自旋捕集技术,分别在体内和体外评价了其类胡萝卜素的抗氧化能力．结果表明,两种类胡萝卜素对超氧阴离子(O₂^·)及羟自由基(·OH)均表现出较强的清除作用．上述研究结果为探究D. radiodurans的类胡萝卜素合成基因和生物学功能,及类胡萝卜素在D. radiodurans抗辐射机制中的作用提供了新的直接实验证据．     

Mitophagy is not induced by mitochondrial damage but plays a role in the regulation of cellular autophagic activity

It was postulated that mitophagy removes damaged mitochondria, which is critical for proper cellular homeostasis; dysfunctional mitochondria can generate excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can further damage the organelle as well as other cellular components. Although proper cell physiology requires the maintenance of a healthy pool of mitochondria, little is known about the mechanism underlying the recognition and selection of damaged organelles. We investigated the cellular fate of mitochondria damaged by the action of oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors (antimycin A, myxothiazol, KCN, oligomycin, CCCP). Only antimycin A and KCN effectively induce nonspecific autophagy, but not mitophagy, in a wild-type strain; however, low or no autophagic activity was measured in strains deficient in genes, including ATG32, ATG11 and BCK1, encoding proteins that are involved in mitophagy. These results provide evidence for a major role of specific mitophagy factors in the control of a general autophagic cellular response induced by mitochondrial alteration. Moreover, significant reduction of cytochrome b, one of the components of the respiratory chain, could be the first signal of this induction pathway.     

SNCA (α-synuclein)-induced toxicity in yeast cells is dependent on Sir2-mediated mitophagy

SNCA (α-synuclein) misfolding and aggregation is strongly associated with both idiopathic and familial forms of Parkinson disease (PD). Evidence suggests that SNCA has an impact on cell clearance routes and protein quality control systems such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Recent advances in the key role of the autosomal recessive PARK2/PARKIN and PINK1 genes in mitophagy, highlighted this process as a prominent new pathogenic mechanism. Nevertheless, the role of autophagy/mitophagy in the pathogenesis of sporadic and autosomal dominant familial forms of PD is still enigmatic. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a powerful “empty room” model that has been exploited to clarify different molecular aspects associated with SNCA toxicity, which combines the advantage of being an established system for aging research. The contribution of autophagy/mitophagy for the toxicity induced by the heterologous expression of the human wild-type SNCA gene and the clinical A53T mutant during yeast chronological life span (CLS) was explored. A reduced CLS together with an increase of autophagy and mitophagy activities were observed in cells expressing both forms of SNCA. Impairment of mitophagy by deletion of ATG11 or ATG32 resulted in a CLS extension, further implicating mitophagy in the SNCA toxicity. Deletion of SIR2, essential for SNCA toxicity, abolished autophagy and mitophagy, thereby rescuing cells. These data show that Sir2 functions as a regulator of autophagy, like its mammalian homolog, SIRT1, but also of mitophagy. Our work highlights that increased mitophagy activity, mediated by the regulation of ATG32 by Sir2, is an important phenomenon linked to SNCA-induced toxicity during aging.     

Iron-depletion promotes mitophagy to maintain mitochondrial integrity in pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata

Candida glabrata, a haploid budding yeast, is the cause of severe systemic infections in immune-compromised hosts. The amount of free iron supplied to C. glabrata cells during systemic infections is severely limited by iron-chelating proteins such as transferrin. Thus, the iron-deficiency response in C. glabrata cells is thought to play important roles in their survival inside the host's body. In this study, we found that mitophagy was induced under iron-depleted conditions, and that the disruption of a gene homologous to ATG32, which is responsible for mitophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, blocked mitophagy in C. glabrata. The mitophagic activity in C. glabrata cells was not detected on short-period exposure to nitrogen-starved conditions, which is a mitophagy-inducing condition used in S. cerevisiae. The mitophagy-deficient atg32Δ mutant of C. glabrata also exhibited decreased longevity under iron-deficient conditions. The mitochondrial membrane potential in Cgatg32Δ cells was significantly lower than that in wild-type cells under iron-depleted conditions. In a mouse model of disseminated infection, the Cgatg32Δ strain resulted in significantly decreased kidney and spleen fungal burdens compared with the wild-type strain. These results indicate that mitophagy in C. glabrata occurs in an iron-poor host tissue environment, and it may contribute to the longevity of cells, mitochondrial quality control, and pathogenesis.     

A critical role of superoxide anion in selenite-induced mitophagic cell death

Mitochondria, which are a major source of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), are extremely vulnerable to oxidative stress. We recently reported that selenite treatment of various glioma cells induced a non-apoptotic cell death accompanied by excessive mitophagy (selective autophagy of damaged mitochondria). Examination of various ROS revealed that the superoxide anion played a key role in selenite-induced mitochondrial damage, mitophagy and cell death. Treatment with superoxide generators (diquat and paraquat) was sufficient to trigger mitophagy in glioma cells. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of ATG6 or ATG7 attenuated selenite-induced mitophagy and cell death, demonstrating that the mitophagic pathway contributes to selenite-induced cell death. The effect of selenite in glioma cells may thus provide an example of superoxide-mediated mitophagic cell death, i.e., cell death caused by excessive mitophagy.

Addendum to: Kim EH, Sohn S, Kwon HJ, Kim SU, Kim MJ, Lee SJ, Choi KS. Sodium selenite induces superoxide-mediated mitochondrial damage and subsequent autophagic cell death in malignant glioma cells. Cancer Res 2007; 67:6314-24     

Dexamethasone-induced autophagy mediates muscle atrophy through mitochondrial clearance

Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone, enhance protein breakdown via ubiquitin–proteasome system. However, the role of autophagy in organelle and protein turnover in the glucocorticoid-dependent atrophy program remains unknown. Here, we show that dexamethasone stimulates an early activation of autophagy in L6 myotubes depending on protein kinase, AMPK, and glucocorticoid receptor activity. Dexamethasone increases expression of several autophagy genes, including ATG5, LC3, BECN1, and SQSTM1 and triggers AMPK-dependent mitochondrial fragmentation associated with increased DNM1L protein levels. This process is required for mitophagy induced by dexamethasone. Inhibition of mitochondrial fragmentation by Mdivi-1 results in disrupted dexamethasone-induced autophagy/mitophagy. Furthermore, Mdivi-1 increases the expression of genes associated with the atrophy program, suggesting that mitophagy may serve as part of the quality control process in dexamethasone-treated L6 myotubes. Collectively, these data suggest a novel role for dexamethasone-induced autophagy/mitophagy in the regulation of the muscle atrophy program.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Acetyltransferase Mpr1 confers ethanol tolerance on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> by reducing reactive oxygen species

N-Acetyltransferase Mpr1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can reduce intracellular oxidation levels and protect yeast cells under oxidative stress, including H₂O₂, heat-shock, or freeze-thaw treatment. Unlike many antioxidant enzyme genes induced in response to oxidative stress, the MPR1 gene seems to be constitutively expressed in yeast cells. Based on a recent report that ethanol toxicity is correlated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we examined here the role of Mpr1 under ethanol stress conditions. The null mutant of the MPR1 and MPR2 genes showed hypersensitivity to ethanol stress, and the expression of the MPR1 gene conferred stress tolerance. We also found that yeast cells exhibited increased ROS levels during exposure to ethanol stress, and that Mpr1 protects yeast cells from ethanol stress by reducing intracellular ROS levels. When the MPR1 gene was overexpressed in antioxidant enzyme-deficient mutants, increased resistance to H₂O₂ or heat shock was observed in cells lacking the CTA1, CTT1, or GPX1 gene encoding catalase A, catalase T, or glutathione peroxidase, respectively. These results suggest that Mpr1 might compensate the function of enzymes that detoxify H₂O₂. Hence, Mpr1 has promising potential for the breeding of novel ethanol-tolerant yeast strains.     

Eclalbasaponin I causes mitophagy to repress oxidative stress-induced apoptosis via activation of p38 and ERK in SH-SY5Y cells

Oxidative stress accompanying excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction leads to the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases. Our previous study showed that Eclalbasaponin I (EcI), a triterpene saponin isolated from Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. (A. elata), repressed oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this study, pretreatment with EcI in SH-SY5Y cells significantly activated the p38-mitogenactivated protein kinase (p38), the extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), whereas it did not affect the c-jun NH2 terminal kinases (JNK). In accordance with the initial findings, EcI-induced neuroprotective effect was attenuated by SB203580 (SB, a p38 inhibitor) or FR180204 (FR, an ERK inhibitor), being further confirmed by specific small interfering RNA (siRNA). Inhibition of either p38 or ERK up-regulated the apoptosis induction in EcI- and H₂O₂-cotreated cells. Furthermore, p38 or ERK suppression enhanced intracellular and mitochondrial ROS generation, decreased the activities of endogenous antioxidant defences as well as the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), resulting in dysfunction of mitochondria. In addition, EcI-induced autophagy and mitophagy were obviously down-regulated when p38 or ERK activation was blocked. Cumulatively, these findings supported that EcI-caused mitophagy contributed to the neuroprotective effect through p38 or ERK activation. Mitophagy induction might be an effective therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative diseases.     

枯草芽孢杆菌L-脯氨酸合成途径中glnA、proB、proA基因功能探究

【目的】从基因水平探究枯草芽孢杆菌渗透压调节因子L-脯氨酸合成途径中glnA、proB、proA基因的功能,通过分子改造实现对代谢途径的人工扰动。【方法】从枯草芽孢杆菌WB600出发,通过向胞内引入一系列基因敲除或过表达,分别构建了proB和proA基因过表达的重组菌WB601和WB602、glnA基因缺失的重组菌WB603以及在此基础之上过表达proB基因的重组菌WB604。借助菌株胞外和胞内游离脯氨酸积累的表型分析影响途径的关键节点。【结果】在非胁迫条件下,重组菌WB601和WB602胞外脯氨酸含量分别是原始菌的2.21倍和2.82倍,单位细胞胞外脯氨酸得率分别是原始菌的4.09倍和9.80倍,胞内游离脯氨酸含量分别是原始菌的1.91倍和3.34倍;重组菌WB603胞外脯氨酸含量上升至1221.43 mg/L,是原始菌的6.28倍,单位细胞胞外和胞内游离脯氨酸得率分别为原始菌的9.13倍和3.66倍;而重组菌WB604胞外脯氨酸含量最高达1391.65 mg/L,相比菌株WB603,其胞外脯氨酸含量及单位细胞得率分别提高了13.94%和14.10%,且胞内游离脯氨酸含量提高了32.60%。在5%Na Cl胁迫条件下,重组菌WB601和WB602的胞外脯氨酸含量分别是原始菌的1.94倍和1.54倍,单位细胞胞外脯氨酸得率分别是原始菌的2.15倍和2.19倍;重组菌WB603胞外脯氨酸含量及其单位细胞得率分别是原始菌的4.16倍和7.29倍;相同条件下,相比于重组菌WB603,重组菌WB604的胞外脯氨酸含量及其单位细胞得率分别提高了32.61%和5.54%。此外,实验组菌株的胞内游离脯氨酸含量均高于非胁迫时,并达到相对平衡状态。【结论】proB和proA基因的过表达均能显著提升细胞合成脯氨酸的能力,并且能增强细胞的耐盐性;glnA基因的缺失能增强脯氨酸合成途径,提高脯氨酸的积累;两种效应的正向叠加可进一步提升细胞脯氨酸合成能力。     

Autophagy proteins LC3B, ATG5 and ATG12 participate in quality control after mitochondrial damage and influence lifespan

Mitochondrial health is maintained by the quality control mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics (fission and fusion) and mitophagy. Decline of these processes is thought to contribute to aging and neurodegenerative diseases. To investigate the role of mitochondrial quality control in aging on the cellular level, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were subjected to mitochondria-targeted damage by combining staining of mitochondria and irradiation. This treatment induced a short boost of reactive oxygen species, which resulted in transient fragmentation of mitochondria followed by mitophagy, while mitochondrial dynamics were impaired. Furthermore, targeted mitochondrial damage upregulated autophagy factors LC3B, ATG5 and ATG12. Consequently these proteins were overexpressed in HUVEC as an in vitro aging model, which significantly enhanced the replicative life span up to 150% and the number of population doublings up to 200%, whereas overexpression of LAMP-1 did not alter the life span. Overexpression of LC3B, ATG5 and ATG12 resulted in an improved mitochondrial membrane potential, enhanced ATP production and generated anti-apoptotic effects, while ROS levels remained unchanged and the amount of oxidized proteins increased. Taken together, these data relate LC3B, ATG5 and ATG12 to mitochondrial quality control after oxidative damage, and to cellular longevity.