Coxsackievirus entry across epithelial tight junctions requires occludin and the small GTPases Rab34 and Rab5

The major group B coxsackievirus (CVB) receptor is a component of the epithelial tight junction (TJ), a protein complex that regulates the selective passage of ions and molecules across the epithelium. CVB enters polarized epithelial cells from the TJ, causing a transient disruption of TJ integrity. Here we show that CVB does not induce major reorganization of the TJ, but stimulates the specific internalization of occludin-a TJ integral membrane component-within macropinosomes. Although occludin does not interact directly with virus, depletion of occludin prevents CVB entry into the cytoplasm and inhibits infection. Both occludin internalization and CVB entry require caveolin but not dynamin; both are blocked by inhibitors of macropinocytosis and require the activity of Rab34, Ras, and Rab5, GTPases known to regulate macropinocytosis. Thus, CVB entry depends on occludin and occurs by a process that combines aspects of caveolar endocytosis with features characteristic of macropinocytosis.     

Changes of 5＇ Terminal Nucleotides of PCR Primers Causing Variable T-A Cloning Efficiency

T-A cloning takes advantage of the unpaired adenosyl residue added to the 3＇ terminus of amplified DNAs by Taq and other thermostable DNA polymerase and uses a Ilnearlzed plasmld vector with a protruding 3＇ thymldylate residue at each of Its 3＇ termini to clone polymerase chain reaction （PCR）-derived DNA fragments. It Is a simple, reliable, and efficient Ilgatlon-dependent cloning method for PCR products, but the drawback of variable cloning efficiency occurs during application. In the present work, the relationship between variable T-A cloning efficiency and the different 5＇ end nucleotlde base of primers used In PCR amplification was studied. The results showed that different cloning efficiency was obtained with different primer pairs containing A, T, C and G at the 5＇ terminus respectively. The data shows that when the 5＇ end base of primer pair was adenosyl, more white colonies could be obtained In cloning the corresponding PCR product In comparison with other bases. And the least white colonies were formed when using the primer pair with 5＇ cytldylate end. The gluanylate end primers resulted In almost the same cloning efficiency In the white colonies amount as the thymldylate end primer did, and this efficiency was much lower than that of adenosyl end primers. This presumably is a consequence of variability In 3＇dA addition to PCR products mediated by Taq polymerase. Our results offer instructions for primer design for researchers who choose T-A cloning to clone PCR products.     

Leucine-rich repeat C4 protein is involved in nervous tissue development and neurite outgrowth, and induction of glioma cell differentiation

LRRC4, leucine-rich repeat C4 protein, has been identified in human （GenBank accession No. AF196976）, mouse （GenBank accession No. DQ177325）, rat （GenBank accession No. DQ119102） and bovine （GenBank accession No. DQ 164537） with identical domains. In terms of their similarity, the genes encoding LRRC4 in these four mammalian species are orthogs and therefore correspond to the same gene entity. Based on previous research, and using in situ hybridization, we found that LRRC4 had the strongest expression in hippocampal CA1 and CA2, the granule cells of the dentate gyrus region, the mediodoral thalamic nucleus, and cerebella Purkinje cell layers. Using a P19 cell model, we also found that LRRC4 participates in the differentiation of neuron and glia cells. In addition, extracellular proteins containing both an LRR cassette and immunoglobulin domains have been shown to participate in axon guidance. Our data from neurite outgrowth assays indicated that LRRC4 promoted neurite extension of hippocampal neurons, and induced differentiation of glioblastoma U251 cells into astrocyte-like cells, confirmed by morphology observation and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression.     

金龟子绿僵菌在森林土壤中的分布及对松墨天牛致病性测定

松墨天牛是重大森林植物检疫性病害——松材线虫病的主要媒介昆虫。本研究于2005年8月～2006年8月从福建、江西两省共110个林分样区(其中松林88个样区)采集土壤样品330份,采用选择性培养基分离土壤中的金龟子绿僵菌。从21个样区的26份土样中分离出的金龟子绿僵菌占采集样区的19．1％和样品的7．9％,成菌落数(CFU)500～72500CFU/g,表明金龟子绿僵菌在森林土壤中有较为广泛的分布。对分离到的9个产孢量高的菌株,采用浸渍法(1×10~7孢子/mL)接种3～4龄健康松墨天牛幼虫,采用跗节接种法接种2～15日龄健康成虫,测定其致病力。结果表明,MaYTTR-03、MaYTTR-04菌株对松墨天牛幼虫和成虫均有较高致病力,表现出良好的生防潜力。     

Identification of the gene imds-60 in mouse epididymis

Sperm maturation, including the acquisition of motility and the full ability to fertilize oocyte, occurs during its transit through the dynamic environment of the epididymis. However, the roles of many genes involved in the process of sperm maturation still remain to be found. Based on an expressed sequence tag named imds-60, which was first found in uterus but is highly expressed in epididymis, the full-length cDNA sequence of imds-60 with a complete open reading frame was obtained in mouse epididymis by GenBank searching, polymerase chain reaction-based procedures, and 5＇- and 3＇-rapid amplification of cDNA ends. This protein was predicted to have an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal DNase I-like domain with nine transmembrane motifs in the middle part of the protein. Northern blot analysis showed that the mRNA of imds-60 was highly expressed in epididymis but at a rather lower level in uterus, seminal vesicle gland, and stomach. Further study revealed that the mRNA of imds-60 is only expressed in corpus and cauda regions of epididymis, not in caput. It is regulated partially by androgen and peaked in male mice aged from 3 weeks to adult. The imds-60 protein might play an important role in cell communication during sperm maturation.     

虫草多糖治疗家犬夹闭肾动脉引起的急性肾衰

探讨了虫草多糖对家犬夹闭肾动脉造成的急性肾衰的治疗作用。将实验动物家犬分为假手术组、阴性模型组、阳性组、虫草多糖高、中、低三个剂量组,观察治疗后犬的肾功能、血液生化指标、尿常规、肾脏病理的变化。发现虫草多糖组肾功能受损程度明显轻于阴性模型组（P〈0．01）,肾脏病理损伤明显减轻。实验证明虫草多糖能够治疗肾缺血诱发的急性肾功能衰竭,其机理可能与改善肾功能、增加肾血流量、纠正代谢紊乱、促进肾小管的修复与再生等作用有关。     

高效液相色谱法测定大黄素在Caco-2细胞中的摄取

目的:采用反相高效液相色谱法,观察大黄素在Caco-2细胞中的摄取特点。方法:将大黄素与Caco-2细胞共同孵育,收集细胞样品,液氮反复冻融。取细胞裂解液,加入甲醇提取,提取液采用HPLC进行分析。色谱分析柱为C18柱(250mm×4．6mm,5μm,Diamonsil),流动相组成为85%乙腈及15%水(含0．1%乙酸),流速1ml·min-1,进样量20μl,柱温25℃,3D模式采集数据。结果:检测Caco-2细胞中大黄素的工作曲线的回归方程为Y=0．278x 0．148(Y=0．9996,n=5),线性范围为0．037～4．8μmol·L-1,最低检测浓度为0．018μmol·L-1。当细胞中大黄素的浓度为0．05、2和8．5μg·ml-1时,回收率分别为(101．3±7．3)%、(96．7±3．0)%和(98．7±2．1)%(n=5);相应的日内标准偏差分别为0．25%、2．9%和1．4%;相应的日间标准偏差分别为2．3%、5．6%和6．3%。大黄素在Caco-2细胞中的摄取达峰时间为10分钟,峰浓度为108．56±11．57 nmol/L·mg·protein,10分钟后Caco-2细胞中大黄素的含量迅速下降。浓度处于2-50μM之间时,Caco-2细胞对大黄素的摄取量呈线性增加,浓度达50μM后,随着剂量的增加大黄素的摄取量变化不明显。结论:大黄素可被Caco-2细胞迅速摄取,随着剂量的增加,大黄素在Caco-2细胞中的摄取存在饱和现象。     

肠三叶因子在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及其抗体制备

目的:获得肠三叶因子(ITF)的原核表达产物及抗rITF抗体,为深入研究ITF的作用机制及其受体研究奠定基础。方法:常规提取人小肠组织总RNA,用RT-PCR获得ITF编码基因片段,克隆至质粒pET32a获得原核表达栽体,双酶切和测序后转化至Origami B(DE3)用IPTG诱导表达,优化条件获得最大表达产量;用SDS-PAGE、Western blot鉴定表达产物,亲和层析纯化获得的重组蛋白rITF皮下多点注射家兔,制备多克隆抗体,并用此抗体进行大鼠肠组织免疫组化研究。结果:测序证实PCR扩增获得ITF全长基因序列与基因文库中的完全一致,将该基因片段正确插入表达载体pET32a中、优化表达条件后,重组蛋白的表达量达到50mg/L;Western blot证明重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性和特异性;通过Ni-NTA亲和层析、超滤离心后,得到90%纯度的蛋白;收集兔血清,纯化后获得特异性良好的ITF抗体,免疫组化染色肠组织显示ITF表达的部位定位于杯状细胞。结论:成功构建了表达载体pET32a-ITF,在大肠杆菌中表达并纯化获得纯度较高的rITF,并获得了生物活性较高的ITF抗体,ITF主要在肠道杯状细胞分泌表达。