刺参管足SMART cDNA文库构建及EST分析

以大连广鹿岛野生刺参的管足mRNA为材料,利用SMART cDNA Construction Kit构建了表达型cDNA文库.初始文库的滴度为1.3 × 106PFU/mL,蓝白斑估测量组率合格.扩增后获得96 mL文库,滴度为1.8 × 1010PFU/mL,从扩增文库中随机挑取200个噬菌斑进行PCR检测,电泳检测结果表明重组率大于90％,片段大小在0.25 -2.0 kb之间的插入片段占80.4％,文库构建成功.随机选择122个噬菌斑转化为质拉pTriplEx2并测序,测序成功率83.6％,软件处理后100 bp以上的clean ESTs有72条,测通的为65条,占成功测序样品的63.7％.72条序列经SeqMan软件拼接,获得48条conting/singletons,在线Blast比对发现其中26条具有同源序列并获得注释,另外20条可能为新基因,其功能和结构有待进一步利用生物信息学的方法进行分析和研究.     

PAX3基因及其蛋白的生物信息学分析

目的：对PAX3基因和PAX3蛋白进行生物信息学分析,更多的了解该基因的相关信息,为进一步研究PAX3与神经管畸形的相关性研究提供基础。方法：运用生物信息学方法对PAX3基因的基因结构、单核苷酸多态性位点（SNP）、PAX3基因与其他基因的相互作用网络、PAX3蛋白结构域、蛋白二级结构、蛋白间相互作用网络、以及PAX3蛋白所调控和影响的靶基因进行分析。结果：PAX3基因有9中可变剪切形式,编码区存在14个SNP位点,其中错意突变13个,移码突变1个。PAX3蛋白由479个氨基酸组成,分子量52968Da,PAX3蛋白可能调控和影响151个靶基因的转录和表达,与PAX3基因存在相互作用的基因和与PAX3蛋白存在相互作用的蛋白多数与发育相关。结论：通过对PAX3基因和PAX3蛋白的生物信息学分析获得了其相应的分子生物学特征,为进一步研究提供基础。     

PAX3 基因及其蛋白的生物信息学分析

目的:对PAX3基因和PAX3蛋白进行生物信息学分析,更多的了解该基因的相关信息,为进一步研究PAX3与神经管畸形的相关性研究提供基础。方法:运用生物信息学方法对PAX3基因的基因结构、单核苷酸多态性位点(SNP)、PAX3基因与其他基因的相互作用网络、PAX3蛋白结构域、蛋白二级结构、蛋白间相互作用网络、以及PAX3蛋白所调控和影响的靶基因进行分析。结果:PAX3基因有9中可变剪切形式,编码区存在14个SNP位点,其中错意突变13个,移码突变1个。PAX3蛋白由479个氨基酸组成,分子量52968Da,PAX3蛋白可能调控和影响151个靶基因的转录和表达,与PAX3基因存在相互作用的基因和与PAX3蛋白存在相互作用的蛋白多数与发育相关。结论:通过对PAX3基因和PAX3蛋白的生物信息学分析获得了其相应的分子生物学特征,为进一步研究提供基础。     

Plasma levels of amino acids in elderly long term care residents with oropharyngeal dysphagia: Comparison of hand-oral with tube-enteral-fed patients

Summary. Background: Dysphagia and eating difficulties are highly prevalent in long term care patients. Evaluation of their nutritional status is complicated by comorbidity, frailty and individual patterns of feeding. In previous studies we found vitamin deficiencies (folic acid B6 and B12) in orally fed elderly in early stages of oropharyngeal dysphagia despite satisfactory nutritional parameters (BMI, albumin and hemoglobin). The aim of this study is to evaluate the plasma amino acids levels in these hand-oral fed elderly patients with dysphagia. Methods: Plasma amino acids were measured in 15 orally fed elderly patients in early functional outcome swallowing scale (FOSS), stage 2, and compared with those of 15 matched nasogastric-tube-fed counterparts. Results: The plasma levels of all measured amino acids, ratio of essential to nonessential, levels of conditionally essential and the immune-enhancing amino acids were similar in both groups and within the normal range of our laboratory. The traditional nutritional parameters were also similar in both groups and within the normal range. Conclusions: Plasma levels of amino acids in elderly patients in early stage of FOSS are satisfactory, supporting the view that their protein intake is adequate. Further studies should concentrate on patients in advanced stages of FOSS.     

Solution structure of the isolated Pelle death domain

The interaction between the death domains (DDs) of Tube and the protein kinase Pelle is an important component of the Toll pathway. Published crystallographic data suggests that the Pelle-Tube DD interface is plastic and implies that in addition to the two predominant Pelle-Tube interfaces, a third interaction is possible. We present the NMR solution structure of the isolated death domain of Pelle and a study of the interaction between the DDs of Pelle and Tube. Our data suggests the solution structure of the isolated Pelle DD is similar to that of Pelle DD in complex with Tube. Additionally, they suggest that the plasticity observed in the crystal structure may not be relevant in the functioning death domain complex.     

Quaternary structure of LOV-domain containing polypeptide of Arabidopsis FKF1 protein

Flavin-binding, Kelch repeat, F-box (FKF1) protein is a photoreceptor to regulate flowering of Arabidopsis. The protein has a light, oxygen and voltage (LOV)-sensing domain binding a flavin mononucleotide. The photo-activation of the domain is an indispensable step to initiate the cellular signaling for flowering. In the present study, a LOV-containing polypeptide of FKF1 was prepared by an overexpression system, and the quaternary structure of it was studied by size exclusion chromatography and small-angle X-ray scattering. The apparent molecular weight from chromatography suggested a globular trimeric or an anisotropic-shaped dimeric association of the polypeptide in solution. The scattering experiment demonstrated a dimeric association of the polypeptides with an elongated molecular shape displaying the radius of gyration of 27 A and the maximum dimension of 94 A. The molecular shape simulated from scattering profiles suggests an antiparallel association of the LOV domains in the dimer. Though the absorption spectrum of blue-light irradiated polypeptide was stable in the photoactivated state for a long period, the scattering profiles showed very small changes between the dark and light conditions. Based on the homologies in the amino-acid sequences and the scattering profiles, these results are discussed in connection with the structures and function of LOV domains of phototropin.     

S4 movement in a mammalian HCN channel

Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (HCN) mediate an inward cation current that contributes to spontaneous rhythmic firing activity in the heart and the brain. HCN channels share sequence homology with depolarization-activated Kv channels, including six transmembrane domains and a positively charged S4 segment. S4 has been shown to function as the voltage sensor and to undergo a voltage-dependent movement in the Shaker K+ channel (a Kv channel) and in the spHCN channel (an HCN channel from sea urchin). However, it is still unknown whether S4 undergoes a similar movement in mammalian HCN channels. In this study, we used cysteine accessibility to determine whether there is voltage-dependent S4 movement in a mammalian HCN1 channel. Six cysteine mutations (R247C, T249C, I251C, S253C, L254C, and S261C) were used to assess S4 movement of the heterologously expressed HCN1 channel in Xenopus oocytes. We found a state-dependent accessibility for four S4 residues: T249C and S253C from the extracellular solution, and L254C and S261C from the internal solution. We conclude that S4 moves in a voltage-dependent manner in HCN1 channels, similar to its movement in the spHCN channel. This S4 movement suggests that the role of S4 as a voltage sensor is conserved in HCN channels. In addition, to determine the reason for the different cAMP modulation and the different voltage range of activation in spHCN channels compared with HCN1 channels, we constructed a COOH-terminal-deleted spHCN. This channel appeared to be similar to a COOH-terminal-deleted HCN1 channel, suggesting that the main functional differences between spHCN and HCN1 channels are due to differences in their COOH termini or in the interaction between the COOH terminus and the rest of the channel protein in spHCN channels compared with HCN1 channels.     

Multiple sites of ethanol action in alpha1 and alpha2 glycine receptors suggested by sensitivity to pressure antagonism

The current study used an ethanol antagonist, increased atmospheric pressure, to test the hypothesis that ethanol acts on multiple sites in glycine receptors (GlyRs). The effects of 12 times normal atmospheric pressure of helium-oxygen gas (pressure) on ethanol-induced potentiation of GlyR function in Xenopus oocytes expressing human alpha1, alpha2 or the mutant alpha1(A52S) GlyRs were measured using two-electrode voltage clamp. Pressure reversibly antagonized potentiation of glycine in alpha1 GlyR by 40-200 mm ethanol, but did not antagonize 10 and 25 mm ethanol in the same oocytes. In contrast, pressure did not significantly affect potentiation of glycine by 25-100 mm ethanol in alpha2 GlyRs, nor did pressure alter ethanol response in the A52S mutant. Pressure did not affect baseline receptor function or response to glycine in the absence of ethanol. These findings provide the first direct evidence for multiple sites of ethanol action in GlyRs. The sites can be differentiated on the basis of ethanol concentration, subunit and structural composition and sensitivities to pressure antagonism of ethanol. Parallel studies with butanol support this conclusion. The mutant alpha1(A52S) GlyR findings suggest that increased attention should be focused on the amino terminus as a potential target for ethanol action.     

A point mutation in the ectodomain-transmembrane 2 interface eliminates the inhibitory effects of ethanol in P2X4 receptors

ATP-gated P2X4 receptors (P2X4R) are abundantly expressed in the CNS. However, little is known about the molecular targets for ethanol action in P2X4Rs. The current investigation tested the hypothesis that the ectodomain-transmembrane (TM) interface contains residues that are important for the action of ethanol in P2X4Rs. Wild type (WT) and mutant P2X4R were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. ATP concentration–response curves and ethanol (10–200 mM)-induced changes in ATP EC₁₀-gated currents were determined using two-electrode voltage clamp (−70 mV). Alanine substitution at the ectodomain-TM1 interface (positions 50–61) resulted in minimal changes in ethanol response. On the other hand, alanine substitution at the ectodomain-TM2 interface (positions 321–337) identified two key residues (D331 and M336) that significantly reduced ethanol inhibition of ATP-gated currents without causing marked changes in ATP I _max, EC₅₀, or Hill's slope. Other amino acid substitutions at positions 331 and 336 significantly altered or eliminated the modulatory effects of ethanol. Linear regression analyses revealed a significant relationship between hydropathy and polarity, but not molecular volume/molecular weight of the residues at these two positions. The results support the proposed hypothesis and represent an important step toward developing ethanol-insensitive receptors for investigating the role of P2X4Rs in mediating behavioral effects of ethanol.     

A matrix metalloproteinase mediates airway remodeling in Drosophila

Organ size typically increases dramatically during juvenile growth. This growth presents a fundamental tension, as organs need resiliency to resist stresses while still maintaining plasticity to accommodate growth. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is central to providing resiliency, but how ECM is remodeled to accommodate growth is poorly understood. We investigated remodeling of Drosophila respiratory tubes (tracheae) that elongate continually during larval growth, despite being lined with a rigid cuticular ECM. Cuticle is initially deposited with a characteristic pattern of repeating ridges and valleys known as taenidia. We find that for tubes to elongate, the extracellular protease Mmp1 is required for expansion of ECM between the taenidial ridges during each intermolt period. Mmp1 protein localizes in periodically spaced puncta that are in register with the taenidial spacing. Mmp1 also degrades old cuticle at molts, promotes apical membrane expansion in larval tracheae, and promotes tube elongation in embryonic tracheae. Whereas work in other developmental systems has demonstrated that MMPs are required for axial elongation occurring in localized growth zones, this study demonstrates that MMPs can also mediate interstitial matrix remodeling during growth of an organ system.