An expanded conformation of single-ring GroEL-GroES complex encapsulates an 86 kDa substrate

Electron cryomicroscopy reveals an unprecedented conformation of the single-ring mutant of GroEL (SR398) bound to GroES in the presence of Mg-ATP. This conformation exhibits a considerable expansion of the folding cavity, with approximately 80% more volume than the X-ray structure of the equivalent cis cavity in the GroEL-GroES-(ADP)(7) complex. This expanded conformation can encapsulate an 86 kDa heterodimeric (alphabeta) assembly intermediate of mitochondrial branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase, the largest substrate ever observed to be cis encapsulated. The SR398-GroES-Mg-ATP complex is found to exist as a mixture of standard and expanded conformations, regardless of the absence or presence of the substrate. However, the presence of even a small substrate causes a pronounced bias toward the expanded conformation. Encapsulation of the large assembly intermediate is supported by a series of electron cryomicroscopy studies as well as the protection of both alpha and beta subunits of the substrate from tryptic digestion.     

Genetic Variations in Radiation and Chemotherapy Drug Action Pathways and Survival in locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated with Chemoradiotherapy

Background and Purpose

Treatment outcomes vary greatly in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of radiation and chemotherapy drug action pathway gene polymorphisms on the survival of patients with locoregionally advanced NPC treated with cisplatin- and fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy.

Material and Methods

Four hundred twenty-one consecutive patients with locoregionally advanced NPC were prospectively recruited. We utilized a pathway approach and examined 18 polymorphisms in 13 major genes. Polymorphisms were detected using the LDR-PCR technique. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis was performed to detect potential gene-gene interaction.

Results

After adjustment for clinicopathological characteristics, overall survival was significantly decreased in patients with the MPO rs2243828 CT/CC genotype (HR=2.453, 95% CI, 1.687-3.566, P<0.001). The ERCC1 rs3212986 CC (HR=1.711, 95% CI, 1.135-2.579, P=0.010), MDM2 rs2279744 GT/GG (HR=1.743, 95% CI, 1.086-2.798, P=0.021), MPO rs2243828 CT/CC (HR=3.184, 95% CI, 2.261-4.483, P<0.001) and ABCB1 rs2032582 AT/AA (HR=1.997, 95% CI, 1.086-3.670, P=0.026) genotypes were associated with poor progression-free survival. Prognostic score models based on independent prognostic factors successfully classified patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. Furthermore, MDR analysis showed no significant interaction between polymorphisms.

Conclusions

Four single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with survival in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC treated with cisplatin- and fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy. Combining clinical prognostic factors with genetic information was valuable in identifying patients with different risk.     

Dissection of the functional structure of aptamer17, which specifically recognizes differentiated PC12 cells

A specific single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamer (aptamer17) that specifically recognizes differentiated PC12 cells had been previously obtained after 6 rounds of whole cell-based subtractive systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment selection from a random ssDNA library. To further investigate the relationship between the structure and function of this aptamer, 3 truncated ssDNA aptamers were designed according to the predicted secondary structure of aptamer17. Our results show that the stem-loop is the core structure of the aptamers required for specific binding to differentiated PC12 cells, specifically loops I and II. Aptamer17 and the truncated aptamers with this basic structure could bind specifically to differentiated PC12 cells and identify these cells from a mixture of differentiated and undifferentiated PC12 cells. Therefore, truncated forms of aptamer17 may be useful in the clinic to identify undifferentiated and differentiated PC12 cells from a mixture of cells.     

A type of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel on Vicia faba guard cell plasma membrane outwardly permeates K+

The fine regulation of stomatal aperture is important for both plant photosynthesis and transpiration, while stomatal closing is an essential plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, wounding, and pathogens. Quick stomatal closing is primarily due to rapid solute loss. Cytosolic free calcium ([Ca(2+)](cyt)) is a ubiquitous second messenger, and its elevation or oscillation plays important roles in stomatal movements, which can be triggered by the opening of Ca(2+)-permeable channels on the plasma membrane. For Ca(2+)-permeable channel recordings, Ba(2+) is preferred as a charge-carrying ion because it has higher permeability to Ca(2+) channels and blocks K(+) channel activities to facilitate current recordings; however, it prevents visualization of Ca(2+) channels' K(+) permeability. Here, we employed Ca(2+) instead of Ba(2+) in recording Ca(2+)-permeable channels on Vicia faba guard cell plasma membrane to mimic physiological solute conditions inside guard cells more accurately. Inward Ca(2+) currents could be recorded at the single-channel level, and these currents could be inhibited by micromolar Gd(3+), but their reversal potential is far away from the theoretical equilibrium potential for Ca(2+). Further experiments showed that the discrepancy of the reversal potential of the recorded Ca(2+) currents is influenced by cytosolic K(+). This suggests that voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels also mediate K(+) efflux at depolarization voltages. In addition, a new kind of high-conductance channels with fivefold to normal Ca(2+) channel and 18-fold to normal outward K(+) conductance was found. Our data presented here suggest that plants have their own saving strategies in their rapid response to stress stimuli, and multiple kinds of hyperpolarization-activated Ca(2+)-permeable channels coexist on plasma membranes.     

Purification and enzymatic characterization of two β-endoxylanases from Trichoderma sp. K9301 and their actions in xylooligosaccharide production

Trichoderma sp. K9301 secreting endoxylanases with an activity of 2836 U/g (dry weight) was screened for XOs production. Two acidic β-endoxylanases EX1 (30.1 kDa) and EX2 (20.1 kDa) were purified from crude extract of the strain K9301 in solid fermentation. Action modes of EX1 and EX2 towards XOs showed similar hydrolysis characters to endoxylanases belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 10 and 11, respectively. EX1 exhibited better affinity but lower hydrolytic efficiency than EX2 to xylans from beechwood, birchwood, and oat-spelt. They had synergistic action on xylan hydrolysis. The optimum condition to prepare XOs from corncobs was obtained as 10 mg/ml corncob xylan incubated with 10 U/mg crude enzymes at 50 °C for 3 h. The yield of XOs reached 43.3%, and only a little amount of xylose (3.1%) was simultaneously produced, suggesting the good potential of strain K9301 in XOs production.     

基于水声学探测的两个广东鲂产卵群体繁殖生态的差异性

2006年4～5月利用Simrad EY60型分束回声探测仪对珠江西江江段罗旁及青皮塘广东鲂产卵场中的繁殖群体进行水声学探测.在人工标定及渔获物统计的基础上,对广东鲂的回声信号进行了判别.结果表明:广东鲂在两个产卵场都有明显的聚群行为,但在罗旁产卵场的聚群规模明显比青皮塘产卵场的大,频次更多.两个产卵场中广东鲂的繁殖生态行为存在明显差异,在青皮塘江段洄游的速度(均值0.24m/s)也低于罗旁的(均值0.61 m/s);另外,在两个产卵场广东鲂的数量动态变化上存在差异.产卵场生境的差异性是导致广东鲂繁殖生态行为差异的主要原因,维护产卵场生境特征对保护广东鲂种群具重要意义.     

隐地蛋白(cryptogein)基因定点突变及其广谱抗病烟草转化植株的获得

用PCR法从隐地疫霉 (Phytophthoracryptogea)基因组DNA中克隆了cryptogein(Cry)基因。将Cry基因的 13位赖氨酸 (K)突变成缬氨酸 (V) ,获突变基因CryK13V ,并将其构建于CaMV35S启动子控制的植物表达载体上。通过农杆菌介导的叶盘转化法转入烟草 ,经卡那霉素抗性筛选获 33株再生植株 ,PCR检测和Southern杂交分析表明CryK13V基因已整合到烟草基因组中。接种试验结果表明 ,转基因烟草植株对黑胫病菌、赤星病菌和野火病菌等的抗性均有提高。Northern杂交分析表明 ,微弱的CryK13V基因在转化植株中的表达就足以激活PR1和OPBP1等防卫反应相关基因的表达 ,而且表达丰度与转基因植株的抗病性有着一定的正相关性。研究结果还表明 ,隐地蛋白13位上的赖氨酸在诱导细胞死亡中起着关键的作用。