哺乳动物朊蛋白基因序列变异及其系统发育意义

以朊蛋白基因(PRNP)为研究对象,从GenBank中选取代表哺乳动物的17目61属共84个物种PRNP的编码区序列,分析了该基因的结构及其在不同层次分类阶元间的进化关系.发现由于在基因内序列重复区存在插入或缺失,PRNP的编码区长度在哺乳动物不同目的物种间存在差异.在终止密码子的使用上不同目的物种之间存在明显的偏好性, TGA和TAG是哺乳动物PRNP最常用的终止密码子,只有奇蹄目的5个种和有袋目袋鼠科的2个种是使用TAA终止.所有84条序列呈现了较高的核苷酸多样性(10.54%).以PRNP为分子标记构建的系统进化树总体上是和以往研究一致的,结果表明PRNP可以应用于哺乳动物较高分类单元的系统进化研究,但对于能否用于种间和种内不能肯定.最后应用系统进化树对尚未有患病报道的哺乳动物的患病可能性进行了预测.     

通气对乳酸发酵过程的影响

对拟干酪乳杆菌发酵产乳酸的过程进行研究,通过改变不同的通气量(不通气、0.1vvm、0.2 vvm、0.5 vvm)确定0.1vvm的通气量最有利于产生乳酸;再通过优化通气策略,在发酵0～15 h不通空气,15～50 h通0.1 vvm空气使得乳酸的产量比全程通0.1 vvm空气又提高了11.7%,同时乳酸产率也提高了16.2%。最后通过对胞内NAD~+、NADH、乳酸脱氢酶和NADH氧化酶活性、以及发酵过程氧化还原电位(Oxidation-reduction potential,ORP)变化进行分析,阐述了通气影响乳酸发酵过程的机理。     

Tissue‐dependent induction of apoptosis by matrix metalloproteinase stromelysin‐3 during amphibian metamorphosis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a superfamily of Zn²⁺‐dependent proteases that are capable of cleaving the proteinaceous component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is a critical medium for cell–cell interactions and can also directly signal cells through cell surface ECM receptors, such as integrins. In addition, many growth factors and signaling molecules are stored in the ECM. Thus, ECM remodeling and/or degradation by MMPs are expected to affect cell fate and behavior during many developmental and pathological processes. Numerous studies have shown that the expression of MMP mRNAs and proteins associates tightly with diverse developmental and pathological processes, such as tumor metastasis and mammary gland involution. In vivo evidence to support the roles of MMPs in these processes has been much harder to get. Here, we will review some of our studies on MMP11, or stromelysin‐3, during the thyroid hormone‐dependent amphibian metamorphosis, a process that resembles the so‐called postembryonic development in mammals (from a few months before to several months after birth in humans when organ growth and maturation take place). Our investigations demonstrate that stromelysin‐3 controls apoptosis in different tissues via at least two distinct mechanisms. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 90:55–66, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

IKK beta suppression of TSC1 links inflammation and tumor angiogenesis via the mTOR pathway

TNFalpha has recently emerged as a regulator linking inflammation to cancer pathogenesis, but the detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this link remain to be elucidated. The tuberous sclerosis 1 (TSC1)/TSC2 tumor suppressor complex serves as a repressor of the mTOR pathway, and disruption of TSC1/TSC2 complex function may contribute to tumorigenesis. Here we show that IKKbeta, a major downstream kinase in the TNFalpha signaling pathway, physically interacts with and phosphorylates TSC1 at Ser487 and Ser511, resulting in suppression of TSC1. The IKKbeta-mediated TSC1 suppression activates the mTOR pathway, enhances angiogenesis, and results in tumor development. We further find that expression of activated IKKbeta is associated with TSC1 Ser511 phosphorylation and VEGF production in multiple tumor types and correlates with poor clinical outcome of breast cancer patients. Our findings identify a pathway that is critical for inflammation-mediated tumor angiogenesis and may provide a target for clinical intervention in human cancer.     

Hzf Determines cell survival upon genotoxic stress by modulating p53 transactivation

A critical unresolved issue about the genotoxic stress response is how the resulting activation of the p53 tumor suppressor can lead either to cell-cycle arrest and DNA repair or to apoptosis. We show here that hematopoietic zinc finger (Hzf), a zinc-finger-containing p53 target gene, modulates p53 transactivation functions in an autoregulatory feedback loop. Hzf is induced by p53 and binds to its DNA-binding domain, resulting in preferential transactivation of proarrest p53 target genes over its proapoptotic target genes. Thus, p53 activation results in cell-cycle arrest in Hzf wild-type MEFs, while in Hzf(-/-) MEFs, apoptosis is induced. Exposure of Hzf null mice to ionizing radiation resulted in enhanced apoptosis in several organs, as compared to in wild-type mice. These findings provide novel insights into the regulation of p53 transactivation function and suggest that Hzf functions as a key player in regulating cell fate decisions in response to genotoxic stress.     

Biotransformation of phenylpyruvic acid to phenyllactic acid by growing and resting cells of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus</Emphasis> sp.

Phenyllactic acid (PLA) is a novel antimicrobial compound derived from phenylalanine (Phe). Lactobacillus sp. SK007, having high PLA-producing ability, was isolated from Chinese traditional pickles. When 6.1 mM phenylpyruvic acid (PPA) was used to replace Phe as substrate at the same concentration, PLA production increased 14-fold and the fermentation time decreased from 72 h to 24 h with growing cells. With resting cells, however, 6.8 mM PLA could be obtained as optimal yield using the following conditions: 12 mM PPA, 55 mM glucose, pH 7.5, 35°C and 4 h.     

Preparation of a monolithic capillary column with immobilized alpha-mannose for affinity chromatography of lectins

A simple method for the preparation of an affinity monolithic (also called continuous bed) capillary column for alpha-mannose-specific lectins is described. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate in combination with (+)-N,N -diallyltartardiamide (DATD) and piperazine diacrylamide (PDA, 1,4-bisacryloyl-piperazine) as crosslinkers, were used as monomers for the monolith. After oxidation of DATD with periodate, alpha-mannose with spacer was bound to the aldehyde groups of the polymeric skeleton via reductive amination to form an affinity column for the separation, enrichment or binding studies of mannose-specific lectins. The permeability of the column was excellent. The porosity of the monolith was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and inverse size exclusion chromatography (ISEC). The affinity of the monolith was evaluated by frontal analysis (FA) and fluorescence microscopy (FM) using fluorescently labeled concanavalin (Con A). Frontal affinity chromatography showed a specific interaction of two different lectins with the alpha-mannose-modified monolith. According to FM the affinity sites were evenly distributed over the monolithic bed.     

Tissue kallikrein infusion prevents cardiomyocyte apoptosis, inflammation and ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction

We investigated the effect of tissue kallikrein infusion on cardiac protection at acute and sub-acute phases after myocardial infarction (MI). Immediately after MI, rats were infused with purified tissue kallikrein, with or without icatibant (a kinin B2 receptor antagonist). Intramyocardial injection of kallikrein reduced myocardial infarct size and inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis at 1 day after MI associated with increased nitric oxide levels, Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta phosphorylation and decreased caspase-3 activation. Kallikrein infusion for 7 days improved cardiac function, normalized left ventricular wall thickness and decreased monocyte/macrophage infiltration in the infarct heart. Kallikrein treatment reduced NADH oxidase expression and activity, superoxide formation and malondialdehyde levels, and reduced MAPK and Ikappa-Balpha phosphorylation, NF-kappaB activation and MCP-1 and VCAM-1 expression. Kallikrein's effects were all blocked by icatibant. These results indicate that kallikrein through kinin B2 receptor activation prevents apoptosis, inflammation and ventricular remodeling by increased nitric oxide formation and suppression of oxidative stress-mediated signaling pathways.