Experimental study of rat beta islet cells cultured under simulated microgravity conditions

To observe the effects of simulated microgravity on beta islet cell culture, we have compared the survival rates and the insulin levels of the isolated rat islet cells cultured at micro- and normal gravity conditions. The survival rates of the cells cultured were determined by acridine orange-propidium iodide double-staining on day 3, 7 and 14. The morphology of the cells was observed by electron microscopy. Insulin levels were measured by radio immuno assays. Our results show that the cell number cultured under the microgravity condition is significantly higher than that under the routine condition (P<0.01). Some tubular structure shown by transmission electron microscopy, possibly for the transport of nutrients, were formed intercellularly in the microgravity cultured group on day 7. There were also abundant secretion particles and mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the cells. Scanning electron microscopy showed that there were holes formed between each islet, possibly connecting with the nutrient trans     

Intein-mediated rapid purification of recombinant human pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide

In order to obtain the recombinant human PACAP efficiently by intein-mediated single column purification, a gene encoding human PACAP was synthesized and cloned into Escherichia coli expression vector pKYB. The recombinant vector pKY-PAC was transferred into E. coli ER2566 cells and the target protein was over-expressed as     

黑暗和光照对长春花培养细胞生长和生理生化特性的影响

以长春花(Catharanthus roseus(L.)G．Don)幼嫩叶片为外植体,在。MS NAA 0．5mg／L, 2,4一D0．5mg／L 6 BA 2．0mg／L培养基上诱导形成愈伤组织,愈伤组织置于不同条件下培养。结果表明,黑暗和光照下,培养细胞的生长周期为27d;过氧化物酶(POD)活性和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均出现2个峰值。对长春花总生物碱含量和总产量亦做了研究,结果发现最佳的收获时期为第27d。     

Binding activity of H-Ras is necessary for in vivo inhibition of ASK1 activity

H-Ras is well known as one of the essential components of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade, which is a critical prosurvival signaling mechanism in most eukaryotic cells. Ras targets Raf/MEK/ERK cascade by integrating and transmitting extracellular signals from growth factor receptors to Raf, leading to the propagation of signals to modulate a serious of cellular survival events. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinasel (ASK1) serves as a general mediator of cell death because it is responsive to a variety of death signals. In this study, we found that H-Ras interacted with ASK1 to cause the inhibition of both ASK1 activity and ASKl-induced apoptosis in vivo, which was reversed only partially by addition of RafS621 A, an antagonist of Raf, whereas MEK inhibitor, PD98059, and PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, did not disturb the inhibitory effect of H-Ras on ASK-1-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, by means of immunoprecipitate and kinase assays, we demonstrated that the interaction between H-Ras and ASK1 as well as the inhibition of ASKI activity were dependent on the binding activity of H-Ras. These results suggest that a novel mechanism may be involved in H-Rasmediated cell survival in addition to the well established MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt kinase-dependent enhancement of cell survival.     

The cell cycle related apoptotic susceptibility to arsenic trioxide is associated with the level of reactive oxygen species

Double staining flow cytometry was performed using 7-amino actinomycin D and 6-carboxy-2‘,7‘-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, to detect the level fluctuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the cell cycle of normal NB4 cells. Our results showed that NB4 cells possessed higher level of ROS in G2/M phase than in G1 and S phases. Double staining flow cytometry, with TdT mediated dUTP nick end labeling (Tunel) and propidium iodide(PI), indicated that As2O3 (2μM) could induce apoptosis in NB4 cells prevailingly from G2/M phase, and this efficacy was enhanced upon co-administration of 2, 3-dimethoxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ) (2.5μM) which could produce the endogenous ROS. These results suggested that different ROS level in different cell cycle phases of NB4 cells might determin the selective induction of G2/M apoptosis and the cells‘ susceptibility to apoptosis by As2O3.     

A new trick to tune down TGFβ signal

Signal transduction in early embryogenesis needs to be properly controlled. A new player involved in tuning down TGF β signaling has now been identified - new evidence that multi-layer control of signaling is essential in vivo.     

白细胞介素-2降低缺氧/复氧心肌细胞对细胞内钙的处理能力

目的 :研究在正常和缺氧 /复氧过程中白细胞介素 2 (IL 2 )对心肌细胞收缩和细胞内钙的处理能力的影响。方法 :采用酶解分离大鼠心室肌细胞化学缺氧模型 ,用视频跟踪系统和细胞内双波长钙荧光系统检测单个心肌细胞收缩和细胞内钙的变化。结果 :①缺氧过程中 ,心肌细胞收缩被抑制 ,钙瞬变幅度降低、静息钙水平增高 ,咖啡因诱导的钙释放减少 ,但对细胞膜L -型钙通道活性无明显影响 ;复氧期间 ,各指标不能恢复到对照水平。②IL 2 (2× 10 5U/L)抑制心肌细胞收缩 ,使钙瞬变幅度降低、静息钙水平增高 ,使咖啡因诱导的钙释放减少。③在缺氧期间加入IL 2 (2× 10 5U/L)后 ,复氧期间各参数回复均减慢。结论 :缺氧时同时存在IL 2 ,可加剧复氧时心肌细胞收缩功能和钙处理能力的降低 ,这可能与心肌细胞肌浆网内贮钙释放减少有关。     

NO在植物中的调控作用

一氧化氮(NO)是一种易扩散的生物活性分子,是生物体内重要的信号分子.植物细胞通过NO合酶、硝酸还原酶、或非生化反应途径产生NO.NO参与植物生长发育调控和对生物与非生物环境胁迫的应答反应,大量证据表明NO是植物防御反应中的关键信使,其信号转导机制也受到越来越多的关注.本文主要通过讨论NO的产生、对植物生长周期的影响、在植物代谢中的信号调节以及参与细胞凋亡来阐述NO在植物中的作用.