Mass spectrometric U-series dating of Huanglong Cave in Hubei Province,central China: Evidence for early presence of modern humans in eastern Asia

Most researchers believe that anatomically modern humans (AMH) first appeared in Africa 160-190 ka ago, and would not have reached eastern Asia until ∼50 ka ago. However, the credibility of these scenarios might have been compromised by a largely inaccurate and compressed chronological framework previously established for hominin fossils found in China. Recently there has been a growing body of evidence indicating the possible presence of AMH in eastern Asia ca. 100 ka ago or even earlier. Here we report high-precision mass spectrometric U-series dating of intercalated flowstone samples from Huanglong Cave, a recently discovered Late Pleistocene hominin site in northern Hubei Province, central China. Systematic excavations there have led to the in situ discovery of seven hominin teeth and dozens of stone and bone artifacts. The U-series dates on localized thin flowstone formations bracket the hominin specimens between 81 and 101 ka, currently the most narrow time span for all AMH beyond 45 ka in China, if the assignment of the hominin teeth to modern Homo sapiens holds. Alternatively this study provides further evidence for the early presence of an AMH morphology in China, through either independent evolution of local archaic populations or their assimilation with incoming AMH. Along with recent dating results for hominin samples from Homo erectus to AMH, a new extended and continuous timeline for Chinese hominin fossils is taking shape, which warrants a reconstruction of human evolution, especially the origins of modern humans in eastern Asia.     

一株产纤溶酶菌株的分离、鉴定及其酶活特征的初步研究

[目的]分离筛选并鉴定产纤溶酶的菌株.[方法]采用血粉培养基富集,琼脂糖-纤维蛋白平板筛选,从自然界中分离筛选出一株产纤溶活性物质的菌株.通过形态学特征、生理生化特征研究,并结合16S rRNA基因序列分析及分子系统发育树的构建结果,确定菌株的种类.[结果]从自然界分离筛到一株产纤溶酶的菌株EF608,经鉴定该菌株为粪肠球菌(Enterococcus faecalis). SDS-PAGE和纤维蛋白自显影表明该纤溶酶的分子量为37 kD,最适反应温度和pH分别为35℃和7.5,EDTA能完全抑制其纤溶活性,而PMSF对其活性无抑制作用.菌株EF608发酵液不仅可以直接水解纤维蛋白,而且具有体外溶栓的作用,对血红细胞没有溶解作用.[结论]筛选到一株具有纤溶活性的粪肠球菌——EF608,为获取新型纤溶酶提供了一种的新的菌源.     

鳊鱼和宽鳍鱲幼鱼流速选择与运动能量代谢特征的关联

为考察喜好激流环境的宽鳍鱲(Zacco platypus)和喜好缓流环境的鳊鱼(Parabramis pekinensis)的最适游泳速度和流速选择的关联以及运动能量代谢特征对流速选择的影响,在(25±0.5)℃条件下将实验鱼(n=13×2)单尾分别置于梯度流速选择仪(设定流速范围为18.6—102.7 cm/s,等距离划分为5个流速区域)中获取视频资料,采用Ethovision XT19软件分析视频资料并计算两种实验鱼在5个流速区域的平均停留时间百分比(P_t)和平均出入频率百分比(Pf);另外,使用游泳代谢仪测定两种实验鱼的临界游泳速度(U_(crit))和不同游泳速度下的运动耗氧率(M_(O2)),并计算出不同速度下单位位移耗能(COT)、最适游泳速度(U_(opt))、静止耗氧率(RMR)和净单位位移耗能(COTnet)。结果显示:鳊鱼的U_(crit)和RMR均显著小于宽鳍鱲(P0.05),但二者的最大耗氧率(MMR)无显著差异;随游泳速度的增加,两种实验鱼的M_(O2)均显著上升,尽管在较低游泳速度下,鳊鱼的M_(O2)和COT均小于宽鳍鱲,但在高游泳速度下则相反;两种实验鱼的U_(opt)分别为(6.20±1.29)体长(BL)/s和(11.56±1.57)BL/s,鳊鱼显著小于宽鳍鱲;两种实验鱼的COTnet随着游泳速度增加差异逐渐增大,鳊鱼显著高于宽鳍鱲(P0.05);两种实验鱼在最低流速区域(18.6—23.8 cm/s)的P_t和Pf显著大于其他速度区域(P0.05),由此可见两种实验鱼的偏好游泳速度(U_(perf))等于或小于(18.6—23.8 cm/s),然而鳊鱼在最低速度区域P_t和Pf均显著大于且在较高速度区域的P_t和Pf则均显著小于宽鳍鱲(P0.05)。结果表明:有别于过往研究的是两种实验鱼的U_(perf)均与U_(opt)偏离;在激流环境中生存的宽鳍鱲更加偏好较高的水流速度,生境水流对实验鱼的水流速度选择特征存在显著影响,这种影响的主要能量学机制与鱼类的运动能量效率有关。     

Hsp90 inhibitor 17-AAG sensitizes Bcl-2 inhibitor (-)-gossypol by suppressing ERK-mediated protective autophagy and Mcl-1 accumulation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Natural BH3-memitic (-)-gossypol shows promising antitumor efficacy in several kinds of cancer. However, our previous studies have demonstrated that protective autophagy decreases the drug sensitivities of Bcl-2 inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. In the present study, we are the first to report that Hsp90 inhibitor 17-AAG enhanced (-)-gossypol-induced apoptosis via suppressing (-)-gossypol-triggered protective autophagy and Mcl-1 accumulation. The suppression effect of 17-AAG on autophagy was mediated by inhibiting ERK-mediated Bcl-2 phosphorylation while was not related to Beclin1 or LC3 protein instability. Meanwhile, 17-AAG downregulated (-)-gossypol-triggered Mcl-1 accumulation by suppressing Mcl-1^Thr163 phosphorylation and promoting protein degradation. Collectively, our study indicates that Hsp90 plays an important role in tumor maintenance and inhibition of Hsp90 may become a new strategy for sensitizing Bcl-2-targeted chemotherapies in HCC cells.     

The metabolic responses and acid–base status after feeding, exhaustive exercise, and both feeding and exhaustive exercise in Chinese catfish (Silurus asotus Linnaeus)

Feeding and exhaustive exercise are known to elevate metabolism. However, acid–base status may be oppositely affected by the two processes. In this study, we first investigated the acid–base response of Chinese catfish to feeding (the meal size was about 8% of body mass) to test whether an alkaline tide (a metabolic alkalosis created by gastric HCl secretion after feeding) would occur. We then determined the combined effects of feeding and exhaustive exercise on excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and acid–base status to determine whether the alkaline tide induced by feeding protects against acid–base disturbance during exhaustive exercise and affects subsequent recovery. Arterial blood pH increased from 7.74 ± 0.02 before feeding to 7.88 ± 0.02 and plasma [HCO₃ ⁻]_pl increased from 5.42 ± 0.29 to 7.83 ± 0.37 mmol L⁻¹ 6 h after feeding, while feeding had no significant effect on P_\textCO2 P_{{{\text{CO}}_{2} }} . Exhaustive exercise led to a significant reduction in pH by 0.46 units and a reduction of [HCO₃ ⁻]_pl by ~3 mmol L⁻¹. Lactate concentrations in white muscle and plasma increased by 2.4 mmol L⁻¹ and 13.4 μmol g⁻¹, respectively. Fed fish had a higher pH and [HCO₃ ⁻]_pl than fasting fish at rest, and the reductions in pH (0.36 units) and [HCO₃ ⁻]_pl (~2 mmol L⁻¹) were thus lower after exhaustive exercise. However, the recovery of acid–base status and metabolites were similar in digesting and fasting fish. Overall, a significant alkaline tide was found in Chinese catfish after feeding. The alkaline tide elicited by feeding significantly prevented the decreases in pH and [HCO₃ ⁻]_pl immediately after exhaustive exercise, but recovery from exhaustive exercise was not affected by digestion.     

病毒感染中的“双刃剑”——热激蛋白70

热激蛋白70(heat shock protein,Hsp70)是目前最为受人们关注的一类蛋白质因子,从低等细菌到高等人类中普遍存在,它结构保守、功能多样。Hsp70像是生物有机体的"防弹衣",使生物体在饥饿、酷热、氧化、感染等条件下避开不利因素的攻击;同时,它也是病菌、病毒等攻击寄主时的"作案工具",所以我们可以称之为细胞的"双刃剑"。本文主要对Hsp70的结构以及病毒感染过程中的"双刃"作用情况进行了综述。     

鼠骨髓间充质干细胞的分离培养及定向诱导分化为内皮样细胞

目的：探讨体外大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（rBMMSCs）的分离培养和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）对其定向诱导为内皮样细胞（ELCs）的可行性。方法：采用Percoll（1.073g/ml）分离液分离骨髓单个核细胞,用含10%胎牛血清（FBS）的LG-DMEM培养基贴壁纯化培养,倒置显微镜、免疫细胞化学法、流式细胞仪、MTT法、透射电镜（TEM）联合对rBMMSCs形态、表型、生长曲线、细胞周期以及超微结构进行鉴定;诱导后的细胞,采用倒置显微镜观察细胞形态,免疫细胞化学法检测CD31、CD144（VE-cadherin）和CD34表达以及摄取Dil-ac-LDL、结合FITC-UEA-1的功能特点。结果：rBMMSCs呈长梭形,漩涡状排列。细胞生长曲线显示潜伏期、对数生长期和平台期,符合干细胞的生长规律。透射电镜结果表明：rBMMSCs有两种不同的形态结构,其中体积较小、核质比大、胞质内细胞器稀少者为处于未分化或分化较低状态的幼稚型rBMMSCs。细胞周期分析显示：第4代细胞G0/G1期为95.67%,表明绝大部分细胞处于非增殖状态;诱导后的部分细胞形态可见类似ELCs改变,表达血管内皮细胞（ECs）特异性表面标志CD31、CD34和CD144,具有摄取Dil-ac-LDL以及结合FITC-UEA-1的功能特点。结论：采用Percoll密度梯度离心与贴壁培养相结合的方法所培养的rBMMSCs在体外具有定向诱导分化为ELCs的潜能,可能成为血管组织工程理想的种子细胞来源。     

河川沙塘鳢孵化腺的发生及孵化酶的分泌

利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察了河川沙塘鳢Odontobutis potamophila(Gnther)孵化腺的发生及孵化酶的分泌过程。河川沙塘鳢的孵化腺为单层细胞腺体,发生于外胚层。孵化腺(Hatching gland,HG)最早发生自眼晶体形成期的胚胎,初发生时孵化腺细胞(Hatching gland cells,HGCs)分布于头部腹面及其与卵黄囊连接处。随着胚胎的发育,HG仍以单层细胞分布于胚体和卵黄囊的外表面,HGCs数量急剧增多,细胞体积增大,分布范围更加广泛。至眼黑色素出现期的胚胎,HGCs的数量达到大约900-1200个,广泛分布于胚胎头部两侧、头部腹面及其与卵黄囊连接处、卵黄囊的前腹面。HGCs大多呈椭圆形,短径为5-8μm,长径为7-12μm,在HE染色中呈粉红色。至孵化前期时,孵化酶颗粒自HGCs顶部的开口分泌出来,分泌颗粒呈圆球形,直径为0.5-1.0μm,有的以单体的形式存在,有的粘结成团。孵化酶进入卵周液,对卵膜内层进行消化和降解,使胚胎破膜而出。孵化后2d,HGCs便从表皮中消失。     

虎斑颈槽蛇中国大陆亚种颈背腺毒液的研究

虎斑颈槽蛇中国大陆亚种（Rhabdophis tigrinus lateralis）具有已知蛇类中罕见的颈背腺及其毒液。肉眼观察发现腺体呈珠球状,8～13对腺体呈平行排列,腺体间隔分布;组织切片观察发现,腺体上无开口,无合成毒液的细胞器;实验表明毒液有神经毒性,对小白鼠的半致死量（LD50）为97．99mg／kg,SDS-PAGE电泳呈现4条蛋白条带。虎斑颈槽蛇中国大陆亚种颈背腺毒液很可能作为一种特殊辅助防御系统,增强DuvemoY腺毒液的防御作用。