Regulation of Na,K-pump-mediated transport by prolactin in cultured human prostate epithelial cells.

The prostate gland is unique in its ability to secrete large amounts of zinc and citrate, suggesting that it employs unusual transport mechanisms. Intracellular ionic homeostasis in prostate is likely to be mediated by the Na,K-pump, yet there have been few studies of its regulation in this tissue. Accordingly, we explored the expression of the Na,K-pump in PC3 cells, an established cell line of human prostate epithelial cells. Total RNA from confluent monolayers of PC3 cells was isolated, reverse transcribed, and the resulting complementary DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for each of the pump's constituent subunits. The amplification revealed a complex pattern of Na,K-pump expression, with detection of mRNAs encoding the alpha1-, alpha3-, alpha4-, betal-, beta2- and beta3-isoforms. We next examined the effect on pump activity of prolactin, an important mediator of cell proliferation in prostate cancer. Monolayers exposed to 10 nM prolactin for 24 hr revealed an inhibition of 40% in ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ uptake, a sensitive measure of pump-mediated transport. These experiments suggest that the unique transport properties of prostate may depend, at least in part, on a complicated pattern of Na,K-pump expression and regulation.     

不同放牧强度下短花针茅荒漠草原植被的空间异质性

分析不同放牧强度下植物群落中物种的空间分布特征, 有助于阐明群落在放牧胁迫下的演替规律。该研究基于幂函数法则, 探讨了不同放牧强度下短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)荒漠草原群落植物的频率和空间异质性。结果表明: 不同放牧强度下物种空间分布与幂函数法则能很好地吻合; 不同物种空间异质性具有特异性, 随着放牧强度的增加, 提高群落空间异质性的物种分别由无芒隐子草(Cleistogenes songorica)、冷蒿(Artemisia frigida)、短花针茅、银灰旋花(Convolvulus ammannii)等多个物种逐渐转变为以无芒隐子草、短花针茅为主的少数物种, 同时, 物种空间异质性大于群落空间异质性的物种数逐渐减少。     

Structural basis for polyspecificity in the POT family of proton‐coupled oligopeptide transporters

An enigma in the field of peptide transport is the structural basis for ligand promiscuity, as exemplified by PepT1, the mammalian plasma membrane peptide transporter. Here, we present crystal structures of di‐ and tripeptide‐bound complexes of a bacterial homologue of PepT1, which reveal at least two mechanisms for peptide recognition that operate within a single, centrally located binding site. The dipeptide was orientated laterally in the binding site, whereas the tripeptide revealed an alternative vertical binding mode. The co‐crystal structures combined with functional studies reveal that biochemically distinct peptide‐binding sites likely operate within the POT/PTR family of proton‐coupled symporters and suggest that transport promiscuity has arisen in part through the ability of the binding site to accommodate peptides in multiple orientations for transport.     

可切除的食管胃结合部腺癌的联合治疗

近年来胃癌的发病率有所下降,相比之下胃食管结合部腺癌的发病率却快速增长。手术治疗仍然是早期食管胃结合部腺癌的标准治疗方法,同时手术联合化疗、放化疗治疗食管胃结合部腺癌也逐渐得到国际认可。尽管在手术治疗、放疗和化疗治疗技术得到完善和改进,但食管癌和食管胃结合部腺癌的预后仍然较差。目前有数个大型临床随机对照试验数据支持对食管下端和食管胃交界部腺癌使用术前联合化疗,但辅助治疗的贡献仍不能确定。最近有meta分析表明手术联合化疗、放化疗可以提高胃食管结合部腺癌患者术后存活率,但也有一些临床随机试验的数据表明手术联合化疗、放化疗并无明显好处。本文通过总结最新的临床试验及meta分析结果,阐述不同的可切除的胃食管结合部腺癌的联合治疗方法。     

Comparison of dot chromosome sequences from D. melanogaster and D. virilis reveals an enrichment of DNA transposon sequences in heterochromatic domains

Background

Chromosome four of Drosophila melanogaster, known as the dot chromosome, is largely heterochromatic, as shown by immunofluorescent staining with antibodies to heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and histone H3K9me. In contrast, the absence of HP1 and H3K9me from the dot chromosome in D. virilis suggests that this region is euchromatic. D. virilis diverged from D. melanogaster 40 to 60 million years ago.

Results

Here we describe finished sequencing and analysis of 11 fosmids hybridizing to the dot chromosome of D. virilis (372,650 base-pairs) and seven fosmids from major euchromatic chromosome arms (273,110 base-pairs). Most genes from the dot chromosome of D. melanogaster remain on the dot chromosome in D. virilis, but many inversions have occurred. The dot chromosomes of both species are similar to the major chromosome arms in gene density and coding density, but the dot chromosome genes of both species have larger introns. The D. virilis dot chromosome fosmids have a high repeat density (22.8%), similar to homologous regions of D. melanogaster (26.5%). There are, however, major differences in the representation of repetitive elements. Remnants of DNA transposons make up only 6.3% of the D. virilis dot chromosome fosmids, but 18.4% of the homologous regions from D. melanogaster; DINE-1 and 1360 elements are particularly enriched in D. melanogaster. Euchromatic domains on the major chromosomes in both species have very few DNA transposons (less than 0.4 %).

Conclusion

Combining these results with recent findings about RNAi, we suggest that specific repetitive elements, as well as density, play a role in determining higher-order chromatin packaging.     

Biologically relevant effects of mRNA amplification on gene expression profiles

Background  

Gene expression microarray technology permits the analysis of global gene expression profiles. The amount of sample needed limits the use of small excision biopsies and/or needle biopsies from human or animal tissues. Linear amplification techniques have been developed to increase the amount of sample derived cDNA. These amplified samples can be hybridised on microarrays. However, little information is available whether microarrays based on amplified and unamplified material yield comparable results.     

内蒙古魏家窝铺遗址陶器内淀粉粒反映的古人类食谱及相关问题

魏家窝铺遗址位于内蒙古赤峰市红山区文钟镇魏家窝铺村,是一处大型的红山文化中期环壕聚落遗址。在2009-2011年发掘出土的陶器中,许多平底器类标本内壁表面都发现有细腻的黑色灰烬,我们对这些灰烬和几件不含灰烬的陶器标本进行了植物残留物提取和鉴定,从六份样品中观测到了植物淀粉粒,这些淀粉粒可根据形态分为四种类型,分别代表了禾本科、植物地下储藏器官、疑似坚果的植物种类和未知种类。大量的禾本科淀粉粒在形态上与粟类(小米)淀粉粒极为相似,加之遗址中出土的大量炭化粟,我们推测,这些陶罐中的黑色灰烬为内部盛装的粟炭化分解所致,这些陶器正是红山文化中的食物储藏器。存在的其他类型淀粉粒表明,尽管魏家窝铺遗址出土的植物遗存已显示了较为确凿的农业经济,但采集经济也仍占有重要地位。     

Amblyomma sculptum: genetic diversity and rickettsias in the Brazilian Cerrado biome

Amblyomma sculptum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Berlese, 1888 is the most important tick vector in Brazil, transmitting the bioagent of the most severe form of spotted fever (SF) in part of the Cerrado (in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo). In another part of the Cerrado (Central‐West region of Brazil), a milder form of SF has been recorded. However, neither the rickettsia nor the vector involved have been characterized. The aim of the current study was to analyse genetic variation and the presence of rickettsia in A. sculptum in Cerrado, from silent areas and with the milder form of SF. Samples were subjected to DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing of 12S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit II and D‐loop mitochondrial genes (for tick population analyses), and gltA, htrA, ompA and gene D (sca4) genes for rickettsia researches. Exclusive haplotypes with low frequencies, high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity, star‐shaped networks and significant results in neutrality tests indicate A. sculptum population expansions in some areas. Rickettsia amblyommatis, Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae and Rickettsia felis were detected. The A. sculptum diversity is not geographically, or biome delimited, pointing to a different potential in vector capacity, possibly associated with differing tick genetic profiles.     

Characterization of sodium transport in gustatory epithelia from the hamster and rat

The transduction of sodium salts occurs through a variety of mechanisms, including sodium influx through amiloride-sensitive sodium channels, anion-dependent sodium movement through intercellular junctions and unidentified amiloride-insensitive mechanisms. Characterizations of sodium transport in lingual epithelium mounted in Ussing chambers have focused almost exclusively on epithelia containing only fungiform taste buds. In the present study we have investigated sodium transport by measuring NaCl-induced short-circuit current from lingual epithelia containing fungiform, foliate, vallate and palatine taste buds in the hamster and the rat. All areas show measurable sodium transport, yet significant differences were noted between the epithelia from the rat and the hamster and among the different epithelia within a single species in terms of current density, transepithelial resistance and mucosal amiloride sensitivity. In general, epithelia from the anterior tongue were of a lower resistance and transported sodium more effectively than from the posterior tongue. Moreover, fungiform- and vallate-containing epithelia in the rat had a greater current density than did the corresponding tissues in the hamster. Amiloride sensitivity also differed between the rat and the hamster. In the hamster all gustatory areas showed some amiloride sensitivity, while in the rat the vallate-containing epithelia were devoid of amiloride- sensitive sodium transport. The results are consistent with the interpretation that all chemosensitive areas may participate in the detection of salts but the degree of salt transport and the mechanism of transport is variable among different lingual epithelia and different species.