TMEM43-S358L mutation enhances NF-κBTGFβ signal cascade in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is a genetic cardiac muscle disease that accounts for approximately 30% sudden cardiac death in young adults. The Ser358Leu mutation of transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43) was commonly identified in the patients of highly lethal and fully penetrant ARVD subtype, ARVD5. Here, we generated TMEM43 S358L mouse to explore the underlying mechanism. This mouse strain showed the classic pathologies of ARVD patients, including structural abnormalities and cardiac fibrofatty. TMEM43 S358L mutation led to hyper-activated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in heart tissues and primary cardiomyocyte cells. Importantly, this hyper activation of NF-κB directly drove the expression of pro-fibrotic gene, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ1), and enhanced downstream signal, indicating that TMEM43 S358L mutation up-regulates NF-κB-TGFβ signal cascade during ARVD cardiac fibrosis. Our study partially reveals the regulatory mechanism of ARVD development.     

Mg~(2+)和SeO_3~(2-)对鸡胚软骨细胞受模拟微重力不良影响的拮抗

在回转模拟微重力条件下 ,研究了鸡胚负重软骨细胞骨架的微管系统和碱性磷酸酶活性两项指标的变化 ,以及 1mg/L亚硒酸钠和 5mmol/LMg2 + 对这些指标的影响 .流式细胞仪对微管含量的测定显示回转后微管蛋白含量的减少 ,说明微管系统受到不良影响 .碱性磷酸酶活性比对照组明显降低 ,表明模拟微重力能降低软骨细胞的钙化能力 .如果在回转前加入SeO2 -3 和Mg2 + ,发现SeO2 -3 可以在一定程度上拮抗模拟微重力引起的微管蛋白及碱性磷酸酶活性改变 ,而Mg2 + 基本上可以完全拮抗模拟微重力对这两项指标的不良影响     

A lithium-induced conformational change in serotonin transporter alters cocaine binding, ion conductance, and reactivity of Cys-109.

Inactivation of serotonin transporter (SERT) expressed in HeLa cells by [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate (MTSET) occurred much more readily when Na(+) in the reaction medium was replaced with Li(+). This did not result from a protective effect of Na(+) but rather from a Li(+)-specific increase in the reactivity of Cys-109 in the first external loop of the transporter. Li(+) alone of the alkali cations caused this increase in reactivity. Replacing Na(+) with N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG(+)) did not reduce the affinity of cocaine for SERT, as measured by displacement of a high affinity cocaine analog, but replacement of Na(+) with Li(+) led to a 2-fold increase in the K(D) for cocaine. The addition of either cocaine or serotonin (5-HT) protected SERT against MTSET inactivation. When SERT was expressed in Xenopus oocytes, inward currents were elicited by superfusing the cell with 5-HT (in the presence of Na(+)) or by replacing Na(+) with Li(+) but not NMDG(+). MTSET treatment of oocytes in Li(+) but not in Na(+) decreased both 5-HT and Li(+) induced currents, although 5-HT-induced currents were inhibited to a greater extent. Na(+) antagonized the effects of Li(+) on both inactivation and current. These results are consistent with Li(+) inducing a conformational change that exposes Cys-109, decreases cocaine affinity, and increases the uncoupled inward current.     

2-Bromoethanesulfonate Affects Bacteria in a Trichloroethene-Dechlorinating Culture

Long-term exposure to 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES), an agent known to inhibit methanogenesis, altered the bacterial community structure of an anaerobic enrichment culture that reductively dechlorinated trichloroethene (TCE). BES did not hinder the dechlorination of TCE or other chlorinated ethenes as previously reported, although different intermediates and end products were observed.     

条斑紫菜抗高温和快速生长细胞株系HB的建立及栽培

本文主要应用单细胞培养技术培育紫菜新品系,以建立紫菜细胞工程快速育苗系统。通过酶解技术分离出紫菜叶状体细胞,并进行多克隆,从中获得4个细胞纯系植株(HA,HB,HC,HD)。对该4个细胞株系进行了纯系培养,并对其细胞苗和丝状体的生长速度和抗高温(19℃,21℃,23℃,25℃)性进行了测定。结果显示,船株系具有较高的抗高温性和最快生长速度。在1998年到2000年间,在江苏省启东县海丰海区对HB株系进行了海上栽培实验,结果显示,实验组的产量高于当地对照组产量,证明了条斑紫菜船株系不仅具有较高的抗高温性,而且也有较快生长速度。本实验说明应用细胞工程进行条斑紫菜育种是一条很好的快速育种途径。     

新疆石河子棉蚜越冬卵的发育规律

棉蚜雌性蚜交配个体平均产卵量为 6 3± 1 1粒 ;未交配个体也产卵 ,卵亦变色 ,但卵量极少。越冬卵经 5 %NaOH浸泡 2 4h后卵壳透明 ,镜下观察可见受精卵胚胎发育到体躯分节期开始越冬。冬后胚胎发育仅处在颗粒团状的饱满卵应为无效卵 ,不会孵化 ;颜色发亮的卵处理后胚胎外貌清晰可见 ,此种卵当天即可破壳。棉蚜卵为滞育卵 ,春季降水对孵化有促进作用 ;室外棉蚜卵的饱满率和饱满卵的孵化率较低。该地区秋冬气候特点可能是石河子地区棉蚜卵低温条件下安全越冬的重要因素     

海南省新发现的林业外来入侵害虫——水椰八角铁甲

报道了最近发生在海南省东方市华盛顿棕榈 (Washingtoniafilifera)上的林业外来入侵害虫—水椰八角铁甲Octodontanipae(Maulik) ;对其形态特征 ,发生与危害等进行了简要介绍 ,并提出了应对措施和建议。由于及时采取了适当的根除措施 ,目前该入侵种没发现蔓延、扩散。水椰八角铁甲目前仅有文献报道在马来西亚有分布 ,危害当地的椰树叶和梢     

iaaM基因在烟草花粉中的表达及其在花粉发育中的作用

试验利用花粉特异表达的启动子（Lat52)和绒毡层特异表达的启动子（TA29）引导外源生长素合成代谢基因（iaaM)在烟草花粉中表达以研究生长素在花粉发育中的作用。转Lat52-iaaM基因或转TA29－iaaM基因烟草在形态上表现出变异,如从茎上形成不定根,叶呈卷曲状等典型的生长素表达的性状。另外,与对照相比,转基因烟草花药中IAA水平显著增加,且植株矮化,开花期推迟,有的转基因烟草未能开花。上述现象表明：Lat52和TA29启动子的表达并不仅限于花粉或绒毡层,或者说这两个启动子的表达有些泄漏。转基因烟草的花药形状有较大的变异,早期的每个花药中花粉数明显减少,但这些花粉可被醋酸－洋红染色。所有能开花的转基因烟草均可收到种子,但收自某些转基因株系的种子不能萌发。所有这些结果表明生长素在花粉发育过程中起重要作用,过量的生长素会导致花粉发育的异常。     

Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b Core Protein Does Not Exert Immunomodulatory Effects on Virus-Induced Cellular Immunity

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is among the most conserved proteins in HCV and is known to induce sensitization of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Therefore, it is a prime candidate for a component of a potential HCV vaccine. The HCV core protein has, however, been reported to exert multiple effects on cell functions, raising questions as to its suitability for this purpose. This question was investigated here with mice into which replication-deficient adenoviruses expressing core protein of an HCV genotype 1b isolate were injected. We show that induction of cytokines in response to the infection, infiltration of lymphocytes into the infected liver, priming of virus-specific CTL, and liver injury are not modulated by expression of the core protein in the liver. Moreover, no changes in the sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor alpha- or Fas-mediated liver injury are demonstrable. A similar lack of demonstrable effects of the core protein on immune functions has also been obtained using transgenic mice expressing another HCV genotype 1b core protein. It is concluded that the HCV core protein of genotype 1b has no modulatory effects on induction of virus-specific immune responses and may therefore be a suitable component of an HCV vaccine.     

休眠期和营养期包囊游仆虫的纤毛器骨架及其微管蛋白

应用光镜和透射电镜术 ,显示了包囊游仆虫休眠细胞中纤毛器骨架的形态 ,并对该纤毛虫休眠细胞和营养细胞的纤毛器及其α、β -微管蛋白进行了免疫荧光定位的比较研究。由免疫荧光显微术显示 ,包囊游仆虫形成休眠包囊后 ,背部毛基体完整地按原有模式保存下来 ;纤毛杆解聚后微管蛋白多集中在细胞皮层 ,小部分均匀散布在细胞质中。据所得结果认为 ,包囊游仆虫形成包囊后 ,微管蛋白主要有 3个去向 ,即 :①处于自噬泡内被逐步消化 ;②以“微管蛋白库”的形式分布于细胞皮层及细胞质中 ;③保留在残留的基体中。此外 ,以往研究中发现的棘毛基部纤维网络未被标记上 ,提示这些纤维体系可能不属于微管系统