Matrine promotes apoptosis in SW480 colorectal cancer cells via elevating MIEF1-related mitochondrial division in a manner dependent on LATS2-Hippo pathway

Matrine, an alkaloid compound isolated from Sophora flavescens Ait, has been shown to exert cancer-killing actions in a variety of tumors; however, its anticancer mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not clear. The goal of our study was to characterize the anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of matrine in SW480 CRC cells in vitro. Matrine treatment reduced mitochondrial metabolic function and ATP levels, repressed mitochondrial membrane potential, evoked mitochondrial reactive oxygen species accumulation, and promoted cyt-c-related mitochondrial apoptosis activation. In addition, we found that matrine treatment activated mitochondrial fission through upregulating mitochondrial elongation factor 1 (MIEF1); silencing of MIEF1 prevented matrine-mediated mitochondrial damage and reversed the decrease in SW480 cell viability. Moreover, matrine treatment affected MIEF1 expression via the large tumor suppressor-2 (LATS2)-Hippo axis, and LATS2 deficiency suppressed the anticancer actions exerted by matrine on SW480 cancer cells. In summary, we show for the first time that matrine inhibits SW480 cell survival by activating MIEF1-related mitochondrial division via the LATS2-Hippo pathway. These findings explain the anticancer mechanisms of matrine in CRC and also identify the LATS2-MIEF1 signaling pathway as an effective target for the treatment of CRC.     

sTRAIL levels and TRAIL gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with fatty liver disease

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the TNF superfamily, and has been identified as a novel mediator of fatty liver disease (FLD). The aim of our study was to further investigate the relationship between TRAIL and FLD. We found that soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL) concentrations in non-alcoholic FLD (NAFLD) patients were significantly higher than those of controls, and that sTRAIL levels positively correlated with triglyceride concentrations in NAFLD patients. Our results also indicated that the AA/TT genotypes of TRAIL at 1525/1595 engendered a lower risk of FLD attack and a less severe form of steatosis for NAFLD patients in Chinese population. This study provides a means to test for susceptibility to FLD and may assist in the diagnosis of FLD. In addition, we found that 1525G/A and 1595C/T sites were in complete linkage disequilibrium in Chinese population. This might indicate a haplotype with high genetic frequency of TRAIL.     

吡那地尔对缺血缺氧PC12细胞凋亡及Bcl-2蛋白表达的影响

目的探讨吡那地尔对缺血缺氧PC12细胞凋亡及对Bcl-2蛋白表达的影响。方法取传代后3d PC12细胞,分为A（对照组）,B（缺血缺氧组）,C（KATP通道开放剂）,D（KATP通道开放剂＋阻断剂组）。采用Annexin—v FITC／PI双染流式细胞分析仪检测凋亡率,应用免疫荧光染色和Western blot检测Bcl-2蛋白表达水平。结果缺血缺氧后B,C,D组细胞凋亡率随时间点增加而增加,24h达高峰。B,C,D组与A组比较均有显著性差异（P〈0．01）,C组和B,D组比较有统计学意义（P〈0．01）,B,C,D组细胞Bcl-2蛋白表达随时间点增加而增加,12h达高峰。B,C,D组均显著高于对照组（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）。C组表达显著高于B和D组（P〈0．01）。B与D组各时间点细胞凋亡及Bcl—2蛋白表达均无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论KATP通道开放剂能抑制缺血缺氧PC12细胞凋亡,这一作用机制可能与增加Bcl—2蛋白表达有关。     

Helicobacter pylori proteins response to nitric oxide stress

Helicobacter pylori is a highly pathogenic microorganism with various strategies to evade human immune responses. Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated via nitric oxide synthase pathway are important effectors during the innate immune response. However, the mechanisms of H. pylori to survive the nitrosative stress are not clear. Here the proteomic approach has been used to define the adaptive response of H. pylori to nitrosative stress. Proteomic analysis showed that 38 protein spots were regulated by NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP). These proteins were involved in protein processing, anti-oxidation, general stress response, and virulence, as well as some unknown functions. Particularly, some of them were participated in iron metabolism, potentially under the control of ferric uptake regulator (Fur). Real time PCR revealed that fur was induced under nitrosative stress, consistent with our deduction. One stress-related protein up-regulated under nitrosative conditions was thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Inactiva-tion of fur or trxR can lead to increased susceptivity to nitrosative stress respectively. These studies described the adaptive response of H. pylori to nitric oxide stress, and analyzed the relevant role of Fur regulon and TrxR in nitrosative stress management.     

Multiple functions of Rice dwarf phytoreovirus Pns10 in suppressing systemic RNA silencing

RNA silencing is a potent mechanism of antiviral defense response in plants and other organisms. For counterdefense, viruses have evolved a variety of suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs) that can inhibit distinct steps of a silencing pathway. We previously identified Pns10 encoded by Rice dwarf phytoreovirus (RDV) as a VSR, the first of its kind from double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses. In this study we investigated the mechanisms of Pns10 function in suppressing systemic RNA silencing in the widely used Nicotiana benthamiana model plant. We report that Pns10 suppresses local and systemic RNA silencing triggered by sense mRNA, enhances viral replication and/or viral RNA stability in inoculated leaves, accelerates the systemic spread of viral infection, and enables viral invasion of shoot apices. Mechanistically, Pns10 interferes with the perception of silencing signals in recipient tissues, binds double-stranded small interfering RNA (siRNAs) with two-nucleotide 3' overhangs, and causes the downregulated expression of RDR6. These results significantly deepen our mechanistic understanding of the VSR functions encoded by a dsRNA virus and contribute additional evidence that binding siRNAs and interfering with RDR6 expression are broad mechanisms of VSR functions encoded by diverse groups of viruses.     

细胞穿膜肽pep-1与vMIP-Ⅱ的融合表达与纯化

细胞穿膜肽是一类能携带大分子物质进入细胞的短肽,其穿膜能力不依赖经典的胞吞作用。本研究构建了含有细胞穿膜肽pep-1和病毒巨噬细胞炎症蛋白-Ⅱ(viral macrophage inflammatory protein-Ⅱ,vMIP-Ⅱ)的融合表达质粒pET15b-pep-1-vMIP-Ⅱ,并将其转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)plysS中经IPTG诱导表达,经SDS-PAGE和Western-blot鉴定出可溶性的融合蛋白pep-1-vMIP-Ⅱ。通过对IPTG浓度、温度等诱导表达条件进行优化,确定在IPTG浓度为0.2mmol/L、28℃下诱导7h可溶性蛋白的表达量相对较高,经Ni-NTA亲和层析,超滤除盐纯化获得高纯度的融合蛋白pep-1-vMIP-Ⅱ,将该蛋白作用于Hela细胞,激光共聚焦显微镜观察结果显示该融合蛋白能够携带目的基因穿透细胞膜。本文结果将为进一步研究vMIP-Ⅱ的功能和细胞穿膜肽技术的应用奠定基础。     

A whole-genome shotgun optical map of Yersinia pestis strain KIM

Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of the bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plagues (also known as black death) and has been responsible for recurrent devastating pandemics throughout history. To further understand this virulent bacterium and to accelerate an ongoing sequencing project, two whole-genome restriction maps (XhoI and PvuII) of Y. pestis strain KIM were constructed using shotgun optical mapping. This approach constructs ordered restriction maps from randomly sheared individual DNA molecules directly extracted from cells. The two maps served different purposes; the XhoI map facilitated sequence assembly by providing a scaffold for high-resolution alignment, while the PvuII map verified genome sequence assembly. Our results show that such maps facilitated the closure of sequence gaps and, most importantly, provided a purely independent means for sequence validation. Given the recent advancements to the optical mapping system, increased resolution and throughput are enabling such maps to guide sequence assembly at a very early stage of a microbial sequencing project.     

Isolation and characterization of two pathogen- and salicylic acid-induced genes encoding WRKY DNA-binding proteins from tobacco

A pathogen- and salicylic acid (SA)-induced DNA-binding activity has been recently identified in tobacco that is related to a previously identified class of WRKY DNA-binding proteins. To identify members of the WRKY gene family associated with this DNA-binding activity, we have attempted to isolate those WRKY genes that are induced by pathogen infection. Using a domain-specific differential display procedure, we have isolated two tobacco WRKY genes, tWRKY3 and tWRKY4, that are rapidly induced in resistant tobacco plants after infection by tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Both tWRK3 and tWRKY4 encode proteins with a single WRKY domain that contain the conserved WRKYGQK sequence. Unlike other isolated WRKY proteins that contain the Cys₂His₂ zinc motif, tWRKY3 and tWRKY4 appear to contain the Cys₂HisCys zinc motif. Nonetheless, both tWRKY3 and tWRKY4 are capable of binding DNA molecules with the W-box (TTGAC) element recognized by other WRKY proteins. Expression of the tWRKY3 and tWRKY4 genes could be rapidly induced not only by TMV infection but also by SA or its biologically active analogues that are capable of inducing pathogenesis-related genes and enhanced resistance. Interestingly, induction of both genes by TMV infection was still observed in resistant tobacco plants expressing the bacterial salicylate hydroxylase gene (nahG), although the levels of induction appeared to be reduced. Identification of pathogen- and SA-induced genes encoding WRKY DNA-binding proteins should facilitate future studies on the regulation and functions of this novel group of DNA-binding proteins.