Spatiotemporal Expression of Connexin 39 and -43 During Myoblast Differentiation in Cultured Cells and in the Mouse Embryo

Connexin39 (Cx39) and connexin43 (Cx43) are known to be expressed during development of skeletal muscles. Here we have compared the expression pattern of both connexins during differentiation of established C₂C₁₂ mouse myoblasts and in the mouse embryo. Cx43 is highly abundant in undifferentiated myoblasts, but no Cx39 protein was detected in these cells. Upon differentiation into myotubes, Cx39 expression increased. The consecutive expression of these connexins was also observed in the mouse embryo. Cx39 and Cx43 were found in different plaques in accordance with the notion that Cx43 is exclusively expressed in myoblasts and Cx39 in myotubes. Thus, differentiating C₂C₁₂ cells in culture can serve to study the involvement of gap junctions in myogenesis, since expression of corresponding Cx39 and Cx43 proteins appears to be very similar as in the mouse embryo.     

特异腐质霉角质酶-OMP25融合蛋白在大肠杆菌中的高效表达

【目的】通过探究特异腐质霉角质酶-OMP25融合蛋白(HiC-OMP25)在不同大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)菌株中的表达情况、底物降解情况、热稳定性及宿主菌细胞膜通透性与细胞表面疏水性,揭示表达HiC-OMP25时不同宿主菌的差异性,并进一步提高HiC-OMP25在大肠杆菌中的表达量。【方法】分别在E.coli BL21(DE3)及E.coli C43(DE3)中表达HiC-OMP25,并测定其对对硝基苯丁酸酯(4-nitrophenol butyrate,pNPB)、聚丙烯酸乙酯(polyethyl acrylate,PEA)的降解效果、50℃稳定性;测定表达HiC-OMP25时宿主菌的细胞膜通透性及细胞表面疏水性变化;共表达伴侣蛋白提高HiC-OMP25在E.coli C43(DE3)中的表达量。【结果】HiC-OMP25在E.coli BL21(DE3)与E.coli C43(DE3)中均成功表达并降解pNPB,但前者对PEA的降解效果及50 ℃稳定性均低于后者。同时,表达HiC-OMP25显著增强了E.coli BL21(DE3)的细胞膜通透性及细胞表面疏水性。HiC-OMP25与巯基氧化酶(Erv1p)、二硫键异构酶(DsbC)在E.coli C43(DE3)中共表达时,其表达量为原始菌株的2.14倍,且对pNPB及PEA均有良好的降解效果。【结论】异源表达时,HiC-OMP25在E.coli C43(DE3)中正确折叠,而在E.coli BL21(DE3)中未完全正确折叠;通过共表达伴侣蛋白提高了HiC-OMP25在E.coli C43(DE3)中的表达量,为以后HiC-OMP25的工业化生产及应用奠定了基础。     

Diversity and distribution of hidden cultivable fungi associated with marine animals of Antarctica

In the present study, we surveyed the distribution and diversity of fungal assemblages associated with 10 species of marine animals from Antarctica. The collections yielded 83 taxa from 27 distinct genera, which were identified using molecular biology methods. The most abundant taxa were Cladosporium sp. 1, Debaryomyces hansenii, Glaciozyma martinii, Metschnikowia australis, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, Thelebolus cf. globosus, Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Tolypocladium tundrense, Metschnikowia australis, and different Penicillium species. The diversity, richness, and dominance of fungal assemblages ranged among the host; however, in general, the fungal community, which was composed of endemic and cold-adapted cosmopolitan taxa distributed across the different sites of Antarctic Peninsula, displayed high diversity, richness, and dominance indices. Our results contribute to knowledge about fungal diversity in the marine environment across the Antarctic Peninsula and their phylogenetic relationships with species that occur in other cold, temperate, and tropical regions of the World. Additionally, despite their extreme habitats, marine Antarctic animals shelter cryptic and complex fungal assemblages represented by endemic and cosmopolitan cold-adapted taxa, which may represent interesting models to study different symbiotic associations between fungi and their animal hosts in the extreme conditions of Antarctica.     

Mutant TDP-43 Causes Early-Stage Dose-Dependent Motor Neuron Degeneration in a TARDBP Knockin Mouse Model of ALS

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Effect of cyanobacterial extracellular products on high-frequency in vitro induction and elongation of Gossypium hirsutum L organs through shoot apex explants

The challenging task of bringing high efficiency transformed plants attracts lot of attention in recent times. In search for this, there have been many attempts made using, different techniques like tissue culture and plant breeding methods. Here we report a suitable alternative facile route, where cyanobacterial extracellular products are utilized as growth regulators and its performance validated on Gossypium hirsutum L. MS medium is tested with cyanobacterial extracellular products of Nostoc ellipsosporum, Dolichospermum flos-aquae and Oscillatoria acuminata .Our best results show that the addition of O. acuminata extracellular product with plant growth hormones gives the excellent induction and elongation in cotton. In addition to this, the multiple shoot was obtained on MS medium fortified with 1.0 mg L^?1 BA with 8% O. acuminata and 1.5 mg L^?1 TDZ with 12% O. acuminata. High frequency of shoot elongation supplemented with MS medium, iP 2.5 mg L^?1 and 16% O. acuminata and root production MS medium fortified with 12% O. acuminata best responsible for regeneration in cotton plants. The rooted plants were hardened and transferred to soil with 90% survival rate.     

InSAC: A novel sub-nuclear body essential for Interleukin-6 and -10 RNA processing and stability

Dysregulation of cytokine expression causes inflammatory diseases or chronic infection conditions. We have identified that Tat-activating regulatory DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is involved in cytokine RNA processing in order to promote an optimal immune response. The interaction of TDP-43 with spliceosomal components from the Cajal body leads to the formation of a novel sub-nuclear body called the Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 Splicing Activating Compartment (InSAC). TDP-43 binds to the IL-6 and IL-10 RNAs in a sequence-dependent manner. In cell-based studies, we observed that lipopoly-saccharide (LPS) stimulation induces the formation of the InSAC through TDP-43 ubiquitination, thereby influencing the processing and expression levels of IL-6 RNA. Moreover, TDP-43 knockdown in vivo results in a decrease in IL-6 production and its RNA splicing and stability. Thus, these findings demonstrate that the InSAC is linked to the activation and modulation of the immune response. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(5): 239-240]     

A novel TXNIP‐based mechanism for Cx43‐mediated regulation of oxidative drug injury

Gap junctions (GJs) play an important role in the regulation of cell response to many drugs. However, little is known about their mechanisms. Using an in vitro model of cytotoxicity induced by geneticin (G418), we explored the potential signalling mechanisms involved. Incubation of cells with G418 resulted in cell death, as indicated by the change in cell morphology, loss of cell viability and activation of caspase‐3. Before the onset of cell injury, G418 induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activated oxidative sensitive kinase P38 and caused a shift of connexin 43 (Cx43) from non‐phosphorylated form to hyperphosphorylated form. These changes were largely prevented by antioxidants, suggesting an implication of oxidative stress. Downregulation of Cx43 with inhibitors or siRNA suppressed the expression of thioredoxin‐interacting protein (TXNIP), activated Akt and protected cells against the toxicity of G418. Further analysis revealed that inhibition of TXNIP with siRNA activated Akt and reproduced the protective effect of Cx43‐inhibiting agents, whereas suppression of Akt sensitized cells to the toxicity of G418. Furthermore, interference of TXNIP/Akt also affected puromycin‐ and adriamycin‐induced cell injury. Our study thus characterized TXNIP as a presently unrecognized molecule implicated in the regulatory actions of Cx43 on oxidative drug injury. Targeting Cx43/TXNIP/Akt signalling cascade might be a promising approach to modulate cell response to drugs.