Cloning,expression and cellular localization of Daphnia pulex senescence-associated protein,DpSAP

Daphnia (water fleas) are small crustaceans that undergo an unusual switch from asexual to sexual reproduction that is dependent on environmental conditions. In this study, a senescence-associated protein (SAP) from the common freshwater species Daphnia pulex was cloned using primers based on homologous sequences and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Real-time PCR was employed to quantify the expression of D. pulex SAP (DpSAP) in individual organisms. The role of DpSAP in the reproductive transformation was further investigated in both parthenogenetic and sexual females by using digoxin-labeled SAP RNA probes and RNA whole-mount in situ hybridization. DpSAP was more highly expressed in sexual females, indicating a role in growth and reproduction. Cellular localization studies using RNA whole-mount in situ hybridization showed specific expression in the second tentacle joints. These expression patterns suggest an important role for DpSAP in the reproductive transformation of D. pulex.     

Suppressing mutation-induced protein aggregation in mammalian cells by mutating residues significantly displaced upon the original mutation

Mutations introduced to wild-type proteins naturally, or intentionally via protein engineering, often lead to protein aggregation. In particular, protein aggregation within mammalian cells has significant implications in the disease pathology and biologics production; making protein aggregation modulation within mammalian cells a very important engineering topic. Previously, we showed that the semi-rational design approach can be used to reduce the intracellular aggregation of a protein by recovering the conformational stability that was lowered by the mutation. However, this approach has limited utility when no rational design approach to enhance conformational stability is readily available. In order to overcome this limitation, we investigated whether the modification of residues significantly displaced upon the original mutation is an effective way to reduce protein aggregation in mammalian cells. As a model system, human copper, zinc superoxide dismutase mutant containing glycine to alanine mutation at position 93 (SOD1^G93A) was used. A panel of mutations was introduced into residues substantially displaced upon the G93A mutation. By using cell-based aggregation assays, we identified several novel variants of SOD1^G93A with reduced aggregation propensity within mammalian cells. Our findings successfully demonstrate that the aggregation of a mutant protein can be suppressed by mutating the residues significantly displaced upon the original mutation.     

Changes in mitochondrial membrane composition and oxidative status during rapid growth,maturation and aging in zebrafish, Danio rerio

Considering membranes and membrane components as possible pacemakers of the main processes taking place inside mitochondria, changes in phospholipids or fatty acids could play a central role linking different mechanisms involved in cumulative damage to cell molecules and dysfunction during periods of high stress, such as rapid growth and aging. Changes affecting either lipid class or fatty acid compositions could affect phospholipid and membrane properties and alter mitochondrial function and cell viability. In the present study, mitochondrial oxidative status and mitochondrial membrane phospholipid compositions were analyzed throughout the life-cycle of zebrafish. TBARS content significantly increased in 18-month-old fish while aconitase activity decreased in 24-month-old fish, which have been related with oxidative damage to molecules. Mitochondria-specific superoxide dismutase decreased in 24-month-old animals although this change was not statistically significant. Age affected both mitochondrial phospholipid content and the peroxidation index of most phospholipid classes suggesting that oxidative damage to mitochondrial lipids was occurring.     

Up-Regulated Lipocalin-2 in Pulmonary Hypertension Involving in Pulmonary Artery SMC Resistance to Apoptosis

A key feature of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is the remodeling of small pulmonary arteries due to abnormal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying how PASMCs in the pathological condition of pulmonary hypertension become resistant to apoptosis remain unknown. It was recently reported that lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is up-regulated in a wide array of malignant conditions, which facilitates tumorigenesis partly by inhibiting cell apoptosis. In this study, we observed that the expression levels of Lcn2 were significantly elevated in a rat PH model induced with monocrotaline and in patients with congenital heart disease-associated PH (CHD-PH) when compared with respective control. Therefore, we hypothesize that Lcn2 could regulate human PASMC (HPASMC) apoptosis through a mechanism. By the detection of DNA fragmentation using the TUNEL assay, the detection of Annexin V/PI-positive cells using flow cytometry, and the detection of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-3 activity, we observed that Lcn2 significantly inhibited HPASMC apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal and H₂O₂ treatment. We also observed that Lcn2 down-regulated the proapoptotic protein Bax, decreased the levels of cellular ROS, and up-regulated the expression of superoxide dismutases (SOD1 and SOD2). In conclusion, Lcn2 significantly inhibits HPASMC apoptosis induced by oxidative stress via decreased intracellular ROS and elevated SODs. Up-regulation of Lcn2 in a rat PH model and CHD-PH patients may be involved in the pathological process of PH.     

32份辣椒种质遗传多样性的同工酶分析

基于叶片的过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)及花蕾的酯酶(EST)同工酶酶谱的聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)分析,对32份辣椒种质的遗传多样性进行了研究。结果表明:(1)共产生29种谱带,其中POD谱带13种234条,多态性位点比例(PPL)和相对迁移率(Rf)变化范围分别为50.0%~80.0%和0.05~0.69;SOD谱带8种140条,PPL、Rf分别为100.0%、0.38~0.88;EST谱带8种163条,PPL、Rf分别为50.0%~87.5%、0.16~0.89。(2)共发现多态位点26个,PPL、总基因频率(Pt)、等位基因平均数(A)、Nei基因多样性指数(He)、Shannon信息指数(SII)、平均遗传一致度(GI)和遗传距离(GD)分别为89.66%、0.578 7、1.896 6、0.272 2、0.415 2、0.736 6和0.314 3;32份辣椒材料的Jaccard遗传相似系数为0.348~0.905,并聚类为4个栽培种群。(3)4个栽培种群内基因多样度(HS)为0.143 6;种群间基因多样度(DST)、基因分化系数(GST)、GI和GD分别为0.149 4、0.51、0.784 4和0.246 6。(4)9份紫色辣椒种质共发现多态位点16个,PPL、Pt、A、He、SII、GI和GD分别为55.17%、0.611 1、1.551 7、0.194 1、0.291 9、0.781 6和0.249 4。研究认为,32份辣椒材料的总体、栽培种间和种内以及紫色材料间遗传分化程度大,为紫色辣椒杂交育种的亲本选配与绿色品种的遗传改良提供了参考依据。     

小檗碱对动脉粥样硬化性损伤的保护作用

目的:探讨小檗碱对动脉粥样硬化损伤的保护作用。方法:将56只大鼠,随机分为对照组(C),高脂饮食假手术组(HD),肾动脉狭窄组(RAS),肾动脉狭窄高脂饮食组(HD+RAS)。C及RAS组给予正常饮食,HD及HD+RAS组给予高脂饮食,RAS及HD+RAS组采用固定内径银夹夹左肾动脉。饲养12周,每组处死6只进行检测,剩余除C外每日灌胃小檗碱(150mg/kg),C予以等量生理盐水灌服,持续4周,四周后处死进行相同检测,用药前后结果进行对比评价小檗碱功能。结果:与C相比,HD,RAS,HD+RAS组肌酐显著升高(P<0.05),HD及HD+RAS组胆固醇明显升高(P<0.05),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)在HD,RAS及HD+RAS组显著降低(P<0.05),丙二醛(MDA)在HD,RAS及HD+RAS组显著增高(P<0.05),血管内皮生长因子VEGF在HC,RAS及HD+RAS组表达量升高。给予小檗碱灌胃处理后,检测指标各组间无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:小檗碱对动脉粥样硬化性损伤具有良好的保护作用。     

Increased tolerance of rice to cold, drought and oxidative stresses mediated by the overexpression of a gene that encodes the zinc finger protein ZFP245

ZFP245 is a cold- and drought-responsive gene that encodes a zinc finger protein in rice. The ZFP245 protein localizes in the nucleus and exhibits trans-activation activity. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing ZFP245 were generated and found to display high tolerance to cold and drought stresses. The transgenic plants did not exhibit growth retardation, but showed growth sensitivity against exogenous abscisic acid, increased free proline levels and elevated expression of rice pyrroline-5-carboxylatesynthetase and proline transporter genes under stress conditions. Overproduction of ZFP245 enhanced the activities of reactive oxygen species-scavenging enzymes under stress conditions and increased the tolerance of rice seedlings to oxidative stress. Our data suggest that ZFP245 may contribute to the tolerance of rice plants to cold and drought stresses by regulating proline levels and reactive oxygen species-scavenging activities, and therefore may be useful for developing transgenic crops with enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress.     

Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked mutant SOD1 aberrantly interacts with tubulin

Mutations in the Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene cause 20-25% of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutant SOD1 causes motor neuron degeneration through toxic gain-of-function(s). However, the direct molecular targets of mutant SOD1, underlying its toxicity, are not fully understood. In this study, we found that α/β-tubulin is one of the major mutant SOD1-interacting proteins, but that wild-type SOD1 does not interact with it. The interaction between tubulin and mutant SOD1 was detected in the spinal cords of mutant G93A SOD1 transgenic mice before the onset of symptoms. Tubulin interacted with amino acid residues 1-23 and 116-153 of SOD1. Overexpression of mutant SOD1 resulted in the accumulation of tubulin in detergent-insoluble fractions. In a cell-free system, mutant SOD1 modulated tubulin polymerization, while wild-type SOD1 did not. Since tightly regulated microtubule dynamics is essential for neurons to remain viable, α/β-tubulin could be an important direct target of mutant SOD1.