一个调控抗菌肽表达的小菜蛾肽聚糖识别蛋白(PxPGRP-SA)

【目的】肽聚糖识别蛋白(peptidoglycan recognition proteins,PGRPs)是昆虫免疫系统中一类重要的模式识别蛋白。本研究旨在阐明经苏云金芽孢杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis侵染后,小菜蛾Plutella xylostella PGRP-SA基因(命名为Px PGRP-SA)在体内的表达模式和对抗菌肽基因的表达调控。【方法】本研究利用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)技术分析B.thuringiensis侵染小菜蛾幼虫后Px PGRP-SA的转录模式,通过RNAi技术结合抗血清封闭实验检测Px PGRP-SA对小菜蛾抗菌肽基因的表达调控作用。【结果】qRT-PCR检测表明,小菜蛾4龄幼虫在注射具有活性的B.thuringiensis 6 h后,Px PGRP-SA在脂肪体和血细胞中表达量迅速上升,其中脂肪体中的表达量在注射24 h后达到高峰,而在血细胞中的表达量在18 h后达到高峰。RNAi沉默小菜蛾4龄幼虫Px PGRP-SA的转录后,可显著降低小菜蛾脂肪体中cecropin,moricin-2,lysozyme和defensin 4个抗菌肽基因及Dorsal和Sptzle基因的mRNA转录水平;注射anti-Px PGRP-SA封闭小菜蛾体内Px PGRP-SA的活性后,也可降低小菜蛾脂肪体中4个抗菌肽基因的mRNA转录水平;Px PGRP-SA转录沉默后,同时导致添食B.thuringiensis的小菜蛾幼虫的存活率明显降低。【结论】Px PGRP-SA参与了小菜蛾体内抗菌肽cecropin,moricin-2,lysozyme和defensin基因的表达调控,并在免疫防御B.thuringiensis的侵染过程中起了重要的作用。     

本期重点推介

正肽聚糖识别蛋白(peptidoglycan recognition proteins,PGRPs)是昆虫免疫系统中一类重要的模式识别蛋白。苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis是广泛应用的微生物杀虫剂,其晶体毒素杀虫机理得到较多研究,但与宿主的免疫互作机制研究较少。为了阐明苏云金芽胞杆菌侵染后小菜蛾Plutella xylostella PGRP-SA基因(Px PGRP-SA)的免疫响应机制,华南农业大学农学院郑志华和金丰良等利用qRT-PCR技术测定了B.thuringiensis侵染小菜蛾幼虫后Px PGRP-SA的转录模式,通过RNAi技术结合抗血清封闭实验检测和分析     

家蝇肽聚糖识别蛋白(PGRP-SA)的克隆表达及细菌结合研究

对家蝇PGRP-SA基因进行克隆表达以及研究其重组蛋白与细菌结合能力。从构建的家蝇(Musca domestica)幼虫cDNA质粒文库中筛选到PGRP-SA基因,以cDNA质粒为模板设计引物,通过PCR扩增,获得PGRP-SA基因完整编码序列。运用生物信息学方法对该基因及其编码蛋白进行预测和分析。构建pET-28a(+)-PGRP-SA重组质粒,转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中进行诱导表达及蛋白纯化。利用半定量RT-PCR检测PGRP-SA在家蝇3龄幼虫不同组织中的表达量差异。PGRP-SA重组蛋白进行微生物结合实验。结果表明,PGRP-SA基因ORF全长615 bp,编码204个氨基酸,理论分子量22.8 k D,等电点9.11,具有保守的PGRP结构域。成功构建了pET-28a(+)-PGRP-SA重组质粒,蛋白经IPTG诱导后在大肠杆菌中获得表达,经亲和层析柱纯化获得目的蛋白,利用Western blot检测证明纯化蛋白与预期大小相符。PGRP-SA在家蝇3龄幼虫血淋巴、脂肪体、前肠、中肠、气管、马氏管都有表达,血淋巴组织中表达量最高,后肠无表达,由此说明PGRP-SA基因的表达具有一定的组织性。PGRP-SA重组蛋白能与金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌结合,与白色念珠菌不能结合。成功表达及纯化家蝇PGRP-SA蛋白,证实家蝇PGRP-SA能与金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌结合。     

小鼠S100A3蛋白的表达纯化及其多克隆抗体的制备

富含半胱氨酸的S100A3是S100蛋白家族成员,其表达具有组织和细胞特异性。本研究利用基因克隆技术将小鼠S100A3克隆到原核表达载体p ET28a(+)上,经过原核表达纯化获得了高纯度的目的蛋白,制备了高效价的兔多克隆抗体。重组小鼠S100A3蛋白原核表达和纯化方法的建立及多克隆抗体的制备为其生物学功能研究提供了材料,并对其它S100蛋白家族的表达纯化具有一定的参考意义。     

金黄色葡萄球菌LDH多克隆抗体制备及其交叉反应性

目的:在原核载体中表达、纯化金黄色葡萄球菌乳酸脱氢酶,免疫小鼠获得多克隆抗体,使用多克隆抗体分析与其它菌种的交叉反应性。方法:复苏p ET28a-ldh/Bl21重组菌,IPTG诱导重组融合蛋白表达、以抗HIS标签的单克隆抗体进行western-blot鉴定重组蛋白。使用纯化的重组蛋白以及相应的佐剂免疫小鼠,利用ELISA测定血清抗体效价,并使用小鼠抗血清进行免疫印迹法鉴定重组蛋白的反应原性及其与金黄色葡萄球菌、表皮葡萄球菌、肺炎链球菌、粪肠球菌、大肠埃希菌的交叉反应性。结果:SDS-PAGE电泳在39 KDa处可见目的条带,免疫印迹法验证了重组LDH的表达,纯化后获得2.8 mg重组蛋白。纯化蛋白免疫小鼠能诱导产生特异性体液免疫应答,ELISA检测特异性Ig G效价为1:50000,western-blot鉴定显示所制备的多克隆抗血清能分别识别金黄色葡萄球菌重组及天然乳酸脱氢酶,但不识别表皮葡萄球菌、肺炎链球菌、粪肠球菌、大肠埃希菌中天然乳酸脱氢酶。结论:纯化的LDH具有良好的免疫活性,免疫小鼠获得高滴度的多克隆抗体。使用多克隆抗体western-blot显示与其它菌种LDH不存在交叉反应性,为后续使用该重组蛋白进行金黄色葡萄球菌感染的诊断研究奠定基础。     

大蜡螟中类肽聚糖识别蛋白Gm21的鉴定、基因克隆及序列分析

为了调查毒素蛋白免疫下大蜡螟Galleria mellonella L.产生的免疫相关蛋白,采用双向电泳的方法,从大蜡螟血淋巴中鉴定得到一种昆虫肽聚糖识别蛋白Gm21,通过RT-PCR、cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)技术克隆得到其全长基因,该基因全长cDNA具有完整的编码框,编码211个氨基酸,序列分析表明该蛋白是一种具有潜在酰胺酶活性的S型肽聚糖识别蛋白.本研究中Gm21蛋白在免疫压力下的上调表达及其cDNA序列的克隆,对进一步深入研究昆虫肽聚糖识别蛋白的功能具有重要的意义.     

黄粉虫β-1,3-葡聚糖识别蛋白的分离纯化及部分生物学功能

采用中性盐沉淀、凝胶层析等常规方法纯化黄粉虫Tenebrio molitor血淋巴中的β-1,3-葡聚糖识别蛋白,并对其在酚氧化酶原激活系统中的作用进行了初步的研究。结果表明:黄粉虫血淋巴的β-1,3-葡聚糖识别蛋白的分子量约为70 kDa,主要分布于血浆中。纯化的β-1,3-葡聚糖识别蛋白只能特异性地识别β-1,3-葡聚糖而不能识别肽聚糖。在β-1,3- 葡聚糖所诱导的酚氧化酶原的激活过程中,随着酚氧化酶原激活程度的提高,内源性β-1,3-葡聚糖识别蛋白的含量逐渐减少。抗β-1,3-葡聚糖识别蛋白多克隆抗体对黄粉虫血淋巴中由β-1,3-葡聚糖所诱导的酚氧化酶活性起抑制作用,且该抑制作用呈现一种剂量依赖性的趋势。上述结果有助于深入了解β-1,3-葡聚糖对黄粉虫血淋巴酚氧化酶原激活系统的激活作用。     

Ⅰ型马立克病毒UL24蛋白的原核表达及其亚细胞定位的研究

为研究Ⅰ型马立克病毒(MDV)UL24蛋白的亚细胞定位,以MDV GX0101为模板,PCR扩增UL24基因全长,分别克隆到原核表达载体pGEX-6P-1、pET-32a(+)和真核表达载体pEGFP-C1中。将原核表达重组质粒转化到大肠杆菌感受态细胞BL21(DE3)中表达,并进行纯化和鉴定。用纯化蛋白免疫Balb/c小鼠,制备并鉴定抗UL24蛋白的多克隆抗体。通过间接免疫荧光试验(IFA)检测感染GX0101的鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)中的UL24蛋白。同时,将真核表达重组质粒pEGFP-C1-UL24转染CEF细胞,通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察UL24蛋白在CEF中的亚细胞定位。结果显示Ⅰ型MDV的UL24基因在原核表达载体中能够正确表达,免疫小鼠后获得抗UL24蛋白的多克隆抗体。该抗体可特异性识别MDV UL24蛋白,且MDV UL24蛋白在CEF的细胞质和细胞核中定位,以上研究结果为进一步研究MDV UL24基因的功能奠定基础。     

亚洲玉米螟酚氧化酶原的原核表达和性质分析

【目的】昆虫体内酚氧化酶原（PPO）是一种重要的天然免疫蛋白,参与昆虫的体液免疫和细胞免疫过程。本研究采用原核表达体系,大量表达可溶且具有活性的重组PPO蛋白,可用于各种酚氧化酶（PO）抑制剂的筛选,从而为创制抑制昆虫免疫系统的新型杀虫剂提供条件。【方法】利用从亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis 5龄幼虫体内克隆获得PPO基因,构建了pET-28b-PPO原核表达载体,在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli中重组表达了亚洲玉米螟PPO蛋白;采用Ni-NAT亲和层析柱快速纯化目的蛋白,进行了Western杂交鉴定;测定分析了重组PPO蛋白激活为PO后的酶学性质以及不同金属离子（Mg²⁺,Cu²⁺和Fe²⁺）对PPO二级结构的影响。【结果】融合蛋白PPO得到了表达和纯化。重组PPO蛋白激活为PO后最适反应温度为30℃,最适pH为7.2,以L-DOPA为底物时PO催化反应的V_max为140.8 U/mg·min,Km为2.96 mmol/L。Fe²⁺存在的情况下重组PPO蛋白中β-折叠结构成分显著增加至53.7%±4.6%,α-螺旋结构成分则显著下降至2.6%±1.2%（P<0.05）;有Mg2+存在的情况下,重组PPO蛋白中β-折叠结构成分显著下降,α-螺旋结构成分稍有上升。有Cu²⁺存在的情况下,重组PPO蛋白中β-折叠结构成分显著下降为10.0%±1.6%,而α-螺旋结构成分则上升至35.3%±6.9%。【结论】结果说明不同金属离子对重组PPO蛋白的二级结构有显著影响。     

无脊椎动物模式识别蛋白研究进展

对非己的识别是免疫反应的第一步,模式识别蛋白与微生物表面分子模式的识别和结合触发一系列免疫反应,包括吞噬、包裹和酚氧化酶原级联等。本文就脂多糖结合蛋白、肽聚糖结合蛋白、β-1,3-葡聚糖结合蛋白、脂多糖葡聚糖结合蛋白和血素等五种模式识别蛋白的结构、免疫功能和作用机制进行了综述。     

A chromium-tolerant plant growing in Cr-contaminated land

In this paper, a kind of Typhaceae plant species, Typha angustifolia L, with a high tolerance to Cr is described. Experiments were carried out to examine its ability to tolerant Cr and its physiological response. The results showed that there was no difference in growth, plant height, and biomass response to external Cr (VI) between the plants exposed to 100 microM Cr (VI) and control (0 microM), while increasing Cr levels to 200-800 microM induced a significant decrease in plant height and biomass, but no significant injury was detected, even for the plants exposed to 800 microM Cr. Chromium induced significant increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities. Meanwhile, a significantly positive correlation was found between Cr and Mn or Cu in leaves and roots, respectively. The Cr tolerance of the plant appeared to be associated with the enhancement of SOD and POD activities and the improvement in uptake and translocation of the essential microelements.     

Mitochondrial antioxidant defence in radio-resistantLepidopteran insect cells

Cells isolated from Lepidopteran insects (butterfly and moths) display very high radioresistance as compared to mammals and other insect species. Since free radical induced mitochondrial damage under stress conditions is very crucial for cellular fate determination, antioxidant system is the major protective modality required to minimize stress-induced damage and to modulate cellular sensitivity. In this study, we predict the mitochondrial localization potential and co-existence of important antioxidant enzymes in insect cells and compare with other radiosensitive (mammals, Dipteran insects) and radioresistant (nematodes) species. Our study clearly demonstrates the inter-species variation in then localization potential of various antioxidant enzymes. A higher mitochondrial localization potential as a function of mitoprot score was evident for all important antioxidant enzymes in the lepidopteran insect Bombyx mori (Mn-SOD, 0.694; GPx, 0.862; TRPx, 0.997; TR, 0.9), besides an unusual mitochondrial localization prediction for catalase (0.453). We further found coexistence of glutathione and thioredoxin system in the mitochondria of lepidopteran insects as also reported in various plant species. On the basis of above observations, we hypothesize that a strong mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme system including the unusual coexistence of catalase, glutathione and thioredoxin system may help minimize the free radical mediated damage to mitochondria and can contribute to the intrinsic radioresistance of lepidopteran insects.     

Invited Review Free Radicals in Foods

During the last decade increasing attention has been given to the role of free radicals in biological oxidations. The subject has been of increasing interest to both the food scientist and the physiologist. Free radical scavengers in the form of both indigenous and added antioxidants are necessary for the successful preservation of food; free radicals are increasingly being implicated in the onset of, among others, ischaemic heart disease and for protection against these diseases it is suggested that the dietary intake of the antioxidant vitamins should be increased especially for diets high in polyunsaturated fats. ^1,2 Convenience and snack foods which absorb substantial amounts of frying oils are being increasingly consumed. Since poly-unsaturated fatty acids are particularly susceptible to oxidation by free radicals during the storage, cooking and frying of foods, the potential risk of exposure to lipid degradation products' is likely to have increased. In foods the non-enzymic and lipoxygenase catalysed oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, β-carotene and vitamin A can result in the loss of essential nutrients and the development of off-flavours.     

Land,livestock, and livelihoods: Changing dynamics of gender,caste, and ethnicity in a Nepalese Village

Over the past 10 years, Ghusel VDC, Lalitpur District has moved from primarily subsistence agriculture into the wider cash economy aided by the Small Farmers' Development Program (SFDP), which provides credit to farmers mainly for the purchase of buffalo for milk production, and by the National Dairy Corporation, which supports local dairy cooperatives. Analysis reveals that buffalo-keeping and milk sales are increasing the well-being of many households, while at the same time creating new inequalities in gender roles and responsibilities, greater inequities between Brahmin and Tamang residents in Ghusel, and placing pressures on the ecosystem for increased supplies of fodder and fuelwood. Evidence suggests that there is critical, need for attention to the social, and particularly gender-based, implications of maintaining livestock for milk sales and to the ecological underpinnings of this livelihood system.     

镉(Cd)与UV-B复合胁迫影响大豆胚轴生长的生理调节机制研究

通过研究大豆胚轴生长及内源吲哚乙酸(IAA)、赤霉素(GAs)、过氧化物酶(POD)和吲哚乙酸氧化酶(IAA oxidase)活性变化对Cd、UV-B辐射和Cd UV-B(复合胁迫)的响应。分析了激素水平、酶活性变化以及胚轴生长变化特性。结果表明,UV—B辐射引起大豆上胚轴伸长减小;但Cd对上胚轴伸长无明显影响;Cd UV—B使上胚轴长度比UV—B作用时明显增加。UVB辐射显著降低了胚轴IAA含量;而GAs含量却显著升高;Cd胁迫下IAA和GAs变化并不明显;但Cd UV—B使IAA含量显著升高,而对GAs无明显影响。UVB辐射使IAA氧化酶和POD活性显著增强,而Cd对这两种酶活性影响并不明显;但Cd UV—B复合胁迫下胚轴的IAA水平较高。尽管UVB辐射引起胚轴中GAs含量显著增加,但研究结果显示IAA含量变化是胁迫下引起胚轴生长改变的更直接原因。研究还表明Cd UV—B时,大大削弱了UV—B辐射下IAA氧化酶活性增强,加之Cd对POD活性的抑制,导致复合胁迫下胚轴的IAA水平较高。证明复合胁迫可以改变单一胁迫下植物激素的调控机制。     

Cellulose-microfibril-orienting mechanisms in plant cells walls

A brief review is given of the changing views over the years, as knowledge of wall structure has developed, concerning the mechanism whereby cellulose chains may be oriented. This leads to an examination of current concepts, particularly those concerning microtubules. It is shown that none of the mechanisms suggested whereby microtubules might cause orientation of cellulose microfibrils is consistent with the known range of molecular architectures found in plant cell walls. It is further concluded that any mechanism which necessitates an indissoluble link between the plasmalemma and the cellulose-synthesising complex at the tip of a microfibril is unacceptable. A new proposal is presented in which it is speculated that both microtubules and microfibrils are oriented by a mechanism separate from both. It is shown that if two vectors are contemplated, one parallel to cell length and one at right angles, and a sensor exists on the plasmalemma surface which responds to changes in the vectors, then all known wall structures may be explained. The possible nature of the vectors and the sensor are considered.     

Nitric oxide inhibition decreases bleomycin-detectable iron in spleen,bone marrow cells and heart but not in liver in exercise rats

The possible role of nitric oxide on the exercise-induced changes in bleomycin-detectable iron (BDI) in the liver, spleen, bone marrow cells and heart was investigated. Female Sprague—Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: S1 (Sedentary), S2 (Sedentary + L-NAME [N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester]), E1 (Exercise) and E2 (Exercise + L-NAME). Animals in the E1 and E2 swam for 2 h/day for 3 months. L-NAME in the drinking water (1 mg/ml) was administrated to rats in the S2 and E2 groups for the same period. At the end of the 3rd month, nitrite and nitrate (NOx), BDI and non-heme iron (NHI) contents in the liver, spleen, bone marrow cells and heart were measured. The ratio of BDI/NHI was calculated. The exercise induced a significant increase in NOx and BDI contents and/or BDI/NHI ratio in the spleen, bone morrow cells and heart. Treatment with L-NAME, an inhibitor of NOS, led to a significant decrease in NOx and an increase in BDI levels and BDI/NHI ratios in these tissues. The correlative analysis showed that there is significantly positive correlation between NOx levels and BDI contents and/or BDI/NHI ratios in the spleen, bone marrow cells and heart. These results suggest that the increased nitric oxide might be one of the reasons leading to the increased BDI levels in these tissues in the exercised rats. In contrast to the above tissues, in the liver, exercise led to a significant decrease rather than increase in BDI levels and BDI/NHI ratios with a significant increase in NOx contents. Treatment with L-NAME led to a significant increase in BDI levels and BDI/NHI ratios and a decrease in NOx contents in the tissue. These findings plus the results reported by others imply that nitric oxide might have an inhibitory effect on BDI in the liver.     

The effects of microRNAs in activating neovascularization pathways in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus that causes diabetic macular edema and visual loss. DR is categorized, based on the presence of vascular lesions and neovascularization, into non-proliferative and proliferative DR. Vascular changes in DR correlate with the cellular damage and pathological changes in the capillaries of blood-retinal barrier. Several cytokines have been involved in inducing neovascularization. These cytokines activate different signaling pathways which are mainly responsible for the complications of DR. Recently; microRNAs (miRNAs) have been introduced as the key factors in the regulation of the cytokine expression which plays a critical role in neovascularization of retinal cells. Some studies have demonstrated that changing levels of miRNAs have essential role in the pathophysiology of vascular changes in patients with DR. The aim of this study is to identify the effects of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of DR via activating neovascularization pathways.     

Changes in defence-related enzymes in rice responding to challenges by Rhizoctonia solani

Sheath blight disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn is becoming a major constraint to rice production, especially in the intensified cultivation system. To know the in rice, it is important to get the knowledge of the activity of defence-related enzymes due to the fungal infection. The pathogen induced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and chitinase activities in rice plants, while suppressing peroxidase (POD) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities at 36 and 24 h after inoculation, respectively. Induction of two POD isozymes, POD-3 and -4, up to 48 h after inoculation and disappearance of the said isomers at 72 h onwards in rice–Rhizoctonia interaction implicated the role of these isomers in susceptible host–pathogen interaction. Apart from POD and SOD, the activities of other stress-related enzymes, viz. PAL, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and β-1,3-glucanase were also studied. From this study, it was found that these defence-related enzymes are most significantly related to host–pathogenic interaction.     

Microparticles in physiological and in pathological conditions

Chronic diseases pose a severe burden to modern National Health Systems. Individuals nowadays have a far more extended lifespan than in the past, but healthy living was only scantily extended. As much as longer life is desirable, it is saddened by chronic diseases and organ malfunctions. One contributor to these problems was recognized to be represented by microparticles (MPs). Our purpose is to better understand MPs, to contrast their ominous threat and possible clinical importance. For this intent we correlated MPs with thrombotic pathologies, hemophilia, malaria, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, endothelial dysfunctions, pulmonary hypertension, ischemic stroke, pre-eclampsia, rheumatologic diseases-rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis-dermatomyositis, angiogenesis and tumor progression-cancer; we listed the possibilities of using them to improve transfusion methods, as a marker for acute allograft rejection, in stem cell transplantation, as neuronal biomarkers, to understand gender-specific susceptibility for diseases and to improve vaccination methods and we presented some methods for the detection of MPs.