大豆SbPRP3基因表达及转基因烟草非生物胁迫鉴定

为研究大豆(Glycine max L.)细胞壁脯氨酸富集蛋白基因(SbPRP3)在逆境胁迫中的作用,利用实时荧光定量PCR,对SbPRP3在高盐、干旱和低温处理下的表达情况进行检测。结果显示,SbPRP3在高盐处理下表达量升高,在干旱和低温处理下表达量先升高后降低。将SbPRP3构建到植物表达载体pRI101-AN上并转化烟草,获得阳性转基因烟草3株。对转基因烟草植株进行高盐、干旱和低温胁迫处理。结果表明,与对照相比,高盐和低温处理下转基因烟草脯氨酸积累量增加,而丙二醛产生量降低。但干旱处理后转基因烟草脯氨酸和丙二醛的含量与对照相比没有显著差异。由此推测SbPRP3可以提高转基因烟草的耐盐性和耐寒性。     

细胞色素c(Cyt c)诱导烟草悬浮细胞(BY-2)凋亡

用不同浓度细胞色素c(Cyt c)诱导继代时间不同的烟草悬浮细胞48 h后观察形态学特征的结果表明,继代培养10和13 d的细胞均在10 mmol·L-1Cyt c时出现最高的细胞凋亡率,而继代5 d的细胞在Cyt c浓度为12.5 mmol·L-1时细胞凋亡的诱导率仍表现上升趋势;DNA电泳检测结果显示凋亡处理的细胞中DNA呈现较明显的DNA梯度.     

二烯丙基二硫诱导人白血病K562 细胞凋亡及其对Bax、Bag-1 表达的影响

目的:探讨二烯丙基二硫(Diallyl disulfide)诱导白血病K562细胞凋亡的作用及其机制。方法:采用吖啶橙/溴化乙啶(AO/EB)染色法观察细胞凋亡形态学变化;DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳测定DNA梯度带;RT-PCR法检测BAG-1、BAX基因的mRNA表达变化。结果:DADS可诱导K562细胞凋亡。其对K562细胞的凋亡效用与药物浓度、有明显依赖关系;DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳示:40mg/LDADS作用K562细胞48小时后能够产生明显的梯形电泳图谱(DNA ladder):DADS作用48h后,BAX mRNA表达水平较对照组上调;BAG-1 mRNA较对照组下调(差异具有统计学意义,P<0.05)。结论:DADS能够诱导K562细胞凋亡,其凋亡机制可能与上调BAX,下调BAG-1有关。     

转MhGlu基因烟草灰霉病抗性及光合特性研究

以湖北海棠盆栽及组培苗叶片为材料,经NaCl、PEG-6000及4℃下ABA处理后,通过RT-PCR技术克隆了湖北海棠β-1,3-葡聚糖酶基因MhGlu;构建MhGlu基因的植物表达载体,通过农杆菌介导法将MhGlu基因转入烟草中,并通过PCR和RT-PCR检测,成功获得了4个转基因株系T6、T8、T11和T18;以转基因烟草株系T6及T8和非转基因对照植株为材料,对MhGlu基因的功能进行了进一步分析。结果显示:(1)半定量qRT-PCR显示,NaCl、PEG-6000及4℃下ABA处理均可以诱导湖北海棠盆栽及组培苗叶片MhGlu基因的表达;NaCl和PEG-6000处理48h内MhGlu基因的表达随处理时间延长逐渐增强,4℃下ABA处理的MhGlu基因表达量在4h时开始上调,12h时略降低,48h时又达到最大。(2)半定量RT-PCR检测转基因烟草植株几个病程相关基因PRs的表达量,表明过表达的MhGlu基因诱导并增强了烟草病程相关基因NtPR1、NtPR3和NtPR5的表达。(3)用灰霉病侵染烟草叶片,转基因烟草株系T6、T8均表现出较强的抗灰霉病特性。(4)测定烟草植株光合特性参数,转MhGlu基因烟草株系的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和气孔导度(Gs)较对照组均显著提高,且T8的净光合速率和蒸腾速率均显著高于T6,而T8与T6的气孔导度差异不显著。MhGlu基因在烟草中的过量表达能诱导病程相关基因PRs的表达,激活了烟草的光合特性保护机制,提高了转MhGlu基因烟草植株的灰霉病抗性。     

姜黄素诱导沉默MDR1基因的SGC7901/ADM细胞凋亡

为探讨MDR1基因沉默对姜黄素诱导人胃癌SGC7901/ADM细胞凋亡的影响,将已构建的靶向MDR1基因的RNAi表达载体转染SGC7901/ADM细胞,建立转染细胞单克隆,流式细胞术检测细胞外排功能。姜黄素处理SGC7901/ADM细胞48 h后,通过激光共聚焦显微镜下观察细胞形态结构,琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测DNA片段化。结果显示,各干扰载体转染组细胞内Rho-123荧光强度不同程度增强,细胞经姜黄素处理48 h后,激光共聚焦显微镜下呈明显的凋亡形态结构,DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳呈梯状条带,说明MDR1基因沉默能促进姜黄素诱导SGC7901/ADM细胞凋亡。     

棉花抗枯萎病相关转录因子基因的克隆与表达

以枯萎病菌诱导棉花基因表达谱中获得的差异表达bZIP作为探针,采用电子克隆结合RT-PCR方法从棉花抗枯萎病品种‘中棉所12’中克隆了1个TGA转录因子基因,命名为GhTGA2.2。序列分析表明,该基因的cDNA全长1 356bp,编码451个氨基酸,预测分子量为50.04kD,等电点为5.85,含有保守的bZIP结构域。系统进化树分析表明,GhTGA2.2属于bZIP亚家族的TGA转录因子,与拟南芥AtTGA2、烟草NtTGA2.2亲缘关系最近。qRT-PCR分析表明,经枯萎病菌诱导后,GhTGA2.2基因在抗病品种中呈上调表达,随处理后时间的推移,其相对表达量呈先升高后降低的趋势,并于处理后24h表达量达到最大;水杨酸诱导后1h,GhTGA2.2基因相对表达量迅速增加;茉莉酸和乙烯诱导后GhTGA2.2基因的相对表达量明显降低,呈下调表达。研究推测,GhTGA2.2基因可能通过水杨酸信号传导途径参与对枯萎病菌的防御反应。     

单纯疱疹病毒2型潜伏相关转录体ORF2的表达及其抗凋亡作用

本文探讨了单纯疱疹病毒2型 (HSV-2)潜伏相关转录体 (LAT)的开放读码框2 (ORF2)在细胞中的表达, 及其对5-氟尿嘧啶 (5-FU)诱导的非洲绿猴肾细胞 (Vero)凋亡的影响。通过将重组质粒pEGPF-ORF2转染Vero细胞, 绿色荧光蛋白检测转染效率, RT-PCR验证目的基因的表达, 5-FU 诱导细胞凋亡, 通过荧光显微镜观察凋亡小体, Gimesa染色检测细胞核形态, MTT法检测细胞的存活率, DNA ladder片段分析, 结果表明, 转染后绿色荧光蛋白表达效率很高, RT-PCR验证有目的基因的转录。凋亡诱导后的细胞形态正常, MTT法分析活性率与正常无差异, 而显著高于空质粒组, DNA ladder未见凋亡条带。由此我们认为HSV-2 LAT ORF2 基因在Vero细胞中得到了高效表达, 并且具有抗5-FU诱导的凋亡作用。     

人同源盒基因NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞的诱导凋亡作用

构建人同源盒基因NKX3.1 cDNA真核表达载体,研究其在前列腺癌细胞PC-3、LNCaP 中的表达及对细胞的促凋亡作用.以人前列腺癌细胞LNCaP细胞中的总RNA为模板,RT-PCR扩增NKX3.1基因全长编码片段,将NKX3.1 cDNA重组到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（+）中; 将pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1表达载体瞬时转染前列腺癌细胞PC-3和LNCaP 细胞,用RT-PCR和Western印迹检测NKX3.1 cDNA在转录水平和蛋白水平的表达;绘制细胞生长曲线,观察NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞增殖的抑制作用;用DNA/ladder和流式细胞术检测NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞凋亡的影响,进一步用RT PCR检测凋亡相关基因caspase3、caspase8、caspase9、Apaf1、survivin和Bcl2表达的变化.人同源盒基因NKX3.1 cDNA真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1经酶切及测序鉴定正确. pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1转染PC-3和LNCaP细胞后,经RT-PCR和Western印迹证明能有效表达NKX3.1.生长曲线显示,前列腺癌细胞转染NKX3.1 cDNA后细胞增殖受到抑制;前列腺癌细胞转染NKX3.1 cDNA 48 h后,DNA电泳呈现具有凋亡特征的DNA ladder;流式细胞术检测出现明显凋亡峰;RT-PCR检测凋亡相关基因.结果显示,caspase3、caspase8、caspase9基因表达明显增加,Bcl2基因表达明显减少.本研究成功构建了真核表达载体pcDNA3.1 NKX3.1, 转染PC3和LNCaP细胞后能有效表达,并对细胞具有诱导凋亡作用     

拟南芥AtCIPK23基因对烟草抗旱能力的影响

为了探索拟南芥AtCIPK23基因对烟草耐旱能力的影响,对3个转AtCIPK23基因阳性纯合株系KA13、KA14和KA44与野生型烟草K326（对照）进行了自然干旱处理,测定离体叶片的失水速率、叶绿素含量、相对电导率、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量,并分析了转基因及野生型材料对活性氧的清除能力,对活性氧清除基因NtSOD、NtCAT和NtAPX及干旱胁迫相关基因NtDREB、NtLEA5和NtCDPK2的表达量进行检测。结果表明：（1）转基因烟草离体叶片的失水速率明显低于K326;自然干旱7 d后,野生型K326出现了明显的干旱胁迫症状;干旱7 d进行复水后,转基因株系的复水存活率明显高于K326。（2）转基因株系中的叶绿素、脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量比K326显著提高,电导率则明显降低。（3）野生型烟草K326中H₂O₂的积累量明显高于3个转基因株系,转基因株系中ROS清除机制的3个关键基因NtSOD、NtCAT和NtAPX被诱导上调表达。（4）抗旱相关基因NtDREB、NtLEA5和NtCDPK2仅在转基因烟草中受干旱诱导。研究认为,AtCIPK23基因可能具有提高植物抗旱能力的功能。     

转GhB301基因烟草的防御酶活性及抗病相关基因表达分析

为了明确棉花ERF-B3亚族转录因子基因GhB301在烟草异位表达后(抗枯萎病中)的功能,该研究以过表达GhB301基因烟草和野生型烟草为材料,采用枯萎病菌孢子悬浮液接菌方法,分析病原菌侵染前后防御酶活性变化以及防卫相关基因的表达变化与抗病性的关系。结果显示:(1)棉花枯萎病菌处理15d后,2个转基因株系烟草叶片黄化程度与野生型相比较轻。(2)棉花枯萎病菌处理后,过表达GhB301转基因烟草和野生型烟草叶片过氧化物酶(POD)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)的活性较未接菌对照显著提高,并且酶活峰值出现均早于野生型材料;转基因材料叶片的POD、PAL、PPO活性均在处理3d后达到峰值,而野生型材料叶片的POD、PAL活性在处理5d后才达到峰值。(3)接种棉花枯萎病菌后活性氧相关基因、乙烯(ET)/茉莉酸(JA)途径相关基因、病程相关基因的表达量在转基因株系OE1和OE2中均受到明显影响。研究推测,GhB301在烟草中的异位表达激活了防卫相关基因的表达,提高了防御酶的活性,从而增强了烟草对枯萎病菌的抗性。     

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.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.