Resistance to change and vulnerability to stress: autistic‐like features of GAP43‐deficient mice

There is an urgent need for animal models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to understand the underlying pathology and facilitate development and testing of new treatments. The synaptic growth‐associated protein‐43 (GAP43) has recently been identified as an autism candidate gene of interest. Our previous studies show many brain abnormalities in mice lacking one allele for GAP43 [GAP43 (+/?)] that are consistent with the disordered connectivity theory of ASD. Thus, we hypothesized that GAP43 (+/?) mice would show at least some autistic‐like behaviors. We found that GAP43 (+/?) mice, relative to wild‐type (+/+) littermates, displayed resistance to change, consistent with one of the diagnostic criteria for ASD. GAP43 (+/?) mice also displayed stress‐induced behavioral withdrawal and anxiety, as seen in many autistic individuals. In addition, both GAP43 (+/?) mice and (+/+) littermates showed low social approach and lack of preference for social novelty, consistent with another diagnostic criterion for ASD. This low sociability is likely because of the mixed C57BL/6J 129S3/SvImJ background. We conclude that GAP43 deficiency leads to the development of a subset of autistic‐like behaviors. As these behaviors occur in a mouse that displays disordered connectivity, we propose that future anatomical and functional studies in this mouse may help uncover underlying mechanisms for these specific behaviors. Strain‐specific low sociability may be advantageous in these studies, creating a more autistic‐like environment for study of the GAP43‐mediated deficits of resistance to change and vulnerability to stress.     

The role of 5‐HT2A receptor and 5‐HT2A/5‐HT1A receptor interaction in the suppression of catalepsy

In the present study, the 5‐HT_2A and 5‐HT_1A receptors functional activity and 5‐HT_2A receptor gene expression were examined in the brain of ASC/Icg and congenic AKR.CBAD13Mit76C mouse strains (genetically predisposed to catalepsy) in comparison with the parental catalepsy‐resistant AKR/J and catalepsy‐prone CBA/Lac mouse strains. The significantly reduced 5‐HT_2A receptor functional activity along with decreased 5‐HT_2A receptor gene expression in the frontal cortex was found in all mice predisposed to catalepsy compared with catalepsy‐resistant AKR/J. 5‐HT_2A agonist DOI (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced catalepsy in ASC/Icg and CBA/Lac, but not in AKR.CBAD13Mit76C mice. Essential increase in 5‐HT_1A receptor functional activity was shown in catalepsy‐prone mouse strains in comparison with catalepsy‐resistant AKR/J mice. However, in AKR.CBAD13Mit76C mice it was lower than in ASC/Icg and CBA/Lac mice. The inter‐relation between 5‐HT_2A and 5‐HT_1A receptors in the regulation of catalepsy was suggested. This suggestion was confirmed by prevention of DOI anticataleptic effect in ASC/Icg and CBA/Lac mice by pretreatment with 5‐HT_1A receptor antagonist p‐MPPI (3 mg/kg, i.p.). At the same time, the activation of 5‐HT_2A receptor led to the essential suppression of 5‐HT_1A receptor functional activity, indicating the opposite effect of 5‐HT_2A receptor on pre‐ and postsynaptic 5‐HT_1A receptors. Thus, 5‐HT_2A/5‐HT_1A receptor interaction in the mechanism of catalepsy suppression in mice was shown.     

Vitamin B<Subscript>12</Subscript>-independent strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Methylophaga marina</Emphasis> isolated from Red Sea algae

Two strains (KM3 and KM5) of halophilic methylobacteria isolated from Red Sea algae do not require vitamin B₁₂ for growth and can use methanol, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, dimethyl sulfide, and fructose as sources of carbon and energy. The cells of these strains are gram-negative motile monotrichous (strain KM3) or peritrichous (strain KM5) rods. The strains are strictly aerobic and require Na⁺ ions but not growth factors. They are oxidase-and catalase-positive and reduce nitrates to nitrites. Both strains can grow in a temperature range of 4 to 37°C (with optimal growth at 29–34°C), at pH between 5.5 and 8.5 (with optimal growth at pH 7.5–8.0), and in a range of salt concentrations between 0.5 and 15% NaCl (with optimal growth at 5–9% NaCl). The phospholipids of these strains are dominated by phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol and also include phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, and cardiolipin. The dominant fatty acids are C_16:1ω7c and C_16:0. The major ubiquinone is Q₈. The cells accumulate ectoin, glutamate, and sucrose as intracellular osmoprotectants. The strains implement the 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate-dependent variant of the ribulose monophosphate pathway. The G+C content of the DNA is 44.4–44.7 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA genes showed that both strains belong to Gammaproteobacteria and have a high degree of homology (99.4%) to Methylophaga marina ATCC 35842^T. Based on the data of polyphasic taxonomy, isolates KM3 and KM5 are identified as new strains M. marina KM3 (VKM B-2386) and M. marina KM5 (VKM B-2387). The ability of these strains to produce auxins (indole-3-acetic acid) suggests their metabolic association with marine algae.     

Comparative characterization of the conjugation capacity and large plasmids in native strains of Bacillus subtilis from different regions of the East European Plain

The properties of large plasmids harbored by Bacillus subtilis strains isolated from soils of Moscow and Moscow oblast and from different regions of the Republic of Belarus have been studied. All large plasmids in the collection of strains from Belarus were capable of conjugative mobilization of the small plasmid pUB110 and were similar in size and other properties. Most of the tested plasmids harbored by strains isolated from Moscow soils had no mobilization ability; they were of different sizes and showed no homology with the replication region of plasmids from the Belarussian collection. The uniformity of the plasmids present in strains from Belarussian soils may be due to their active horizontal transfer under natural conditions.     

产氢菌Enterobacter sp.和Clostridium sp.的分离鉴定及产氢特性

在高温水体中分离得到2株具有较高产氢活性的微生物菌株Z-16和C-32。根据两菌株的16SrDNA序列分析,初步鉴定菌株Z-16为Enterobactersp.,菌株C-32为Clostridiumsp.。研究了起始pH值、反应温度、碳源等对菌株放氢活性的影响。菌株Z-16的最适产氢条件为:反应系统起始pH7·0,反应温度35℃,以蔗糖为产氢底物。在最适条件下,菌株Z-16的氢转化率为2·68molH2/mol蔗糖。菌株C-32的最适产氢条件为:反应系统起始pH8·0,反应温度35℃,以麦芽糖为产氢底物。在最适条件下,菌株C-32的氢转化率为2·71molH2/mol麦芽糖。以葡萄糖为碳源时,菌株Z-16和菌株C-32的氢转化率分别为2·35和2·48molH2/mol葡萄糖。     

提高微生物发酵辅酶Q10产量的研究进展

辅酶Q10具有很高的保健和临床应用价值,开发潜力巨大。主要从菌种筛选、发酵条件优化以及提取方法改进三方面介绍了如何提高微生物发酵辅酶Q10产量的一些研究进展。     

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of ebselen: role of the yeast plasma membrane H+-ATPase

Ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) is a selenium-containing antioxidant demonstrating anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties in mammalian cells and cytotoxicity in lower organisms. The mechanism underlying the antimicrobial activity of ebselen remains unclear. It has recently been proposed that, in lower organisms like yeast, the plasma membrane H+-ATPase (Pma1p) could serve as a potential target for this synthetic organoselenium compound. Using yeast and bacteria, the present study found ebselen to inhibit microbial growth in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and yeast and Gram-positive bacteria to be more sensitive to this action (IC50 approximately 2-5 microM) than Gram-negative bacteria (IC50 < 80 microM). Washout experiments and scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed ebselen to possess fungicidal activity. In addition, ebselen was found to inhibit medium acidification by PMA1-proficient haploid yeast in a concentration-dependent manner. Additional studies comparing PMA1 (+/-) and PMA1 (+/+) diploid yeast cells revealed the mutant to be more sensitive to treatment with ebselen than the wild type. Ebselen also inhibited the ATPase activity of Pma1p from S. cerevisiae in a concentration-dependent manner. The interaction of ebselen with the sulfhydryl-containing compounds L-cysteine and reduced glutathione resulted in the complete and partial prevention, respectively, of the inhibition of Pma1p ATPase activity by ebselen. Taken together, these results suggest that the fungicidal action of ebselen is due, at least in part, to interference with both the proton-translocating function and the ATPase activity of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase.     

辣椒镰孢根腐病防病促生细菌的筛选及其效应

【目的】筛选辣椒(Capsicum annuum L.)根腐病防病促生细菌并明确其防病促生效应。【方法】采集健康辣椒根围土壤样品,以辣椒根腐病病原真菌茄镰孢(Fusarium solani)和尖镰孢(Fusarium oxysporum)为指示菌,采用平板对峙法筛选生防细菌,采用选择性培养基筛选溶无机磷、溶有机磷、固氮菌和解钾菌等促生菌,钼锑抗比色法测定溶磷量,凯氏定氮法测定固氮量,火焰原子吸收光谱法测定解钾量。对特性良好组合的菌株进行16S rDNA序列分析鉴定并制作菌剂,最后采用盆栽法测定菌剂防病促生效果。【结果】共筛选得到323株特性良好的功能菌株,拮抗菌78株,溶有机磷菌87株,溶无机磷菌107株,固氮菌128株,解钾菌123株,部分菌株同时具有多个功能特性。互作组合得到6个特性良好的菌株组合,包括8株功能菌株,鉴定发现XP271和XP181为枯草芽胞杆菌(Bacillus subtilis),XP125为特基拉芽胞杆菌(Bacillus tequilensis),XP236为耐盐芽胞杆菌(Bacillus halotolerans),XP79为巨大芽胞杆菌(Bacillus ...     

马奶酒样乳杆菌ZW3中WANG_1291基因的表达

【目的】马奶酒样乳杆菌ZW3含有一段长度为14.4 kb的胞外多糖合成基因簇,包含17个与胞外多糖合成相关的基因(WANG_1283?WANG_1299),主要分析17个基因在马奶酒样乳杆菌ZW3生长过程中不同时间段的表达量,探究其中一个表达量发生变化的基因对乳酸菌产胞外多糖的影响。【方法】通过半定量RT-PCR实验,对基因簇上各基因的表达量进行分析;通过构建含有表达量变化基因的重组乳酸乳球菌,比较重组菌与野生菌的产胞外多糖差异。【结果】经分析,WANG_1284、WANG_1286、WANG_1287、WANG_1288、WANG_1290、WANG_1291、WANG_1292、WANG_1294、WANG_1296、WANG_1297、WANG_1298、WANG_1299这12个基因在菌体生长的50 h和60 h (产糖量上升阶段)表达量最高,推测这些基因在多糖聚合过程中起作用。从这12个基因中选出一个表达量发生明显变化的基因WANG_1291做进一步研究。将WANG_1291插入乳酸菌表达载体pMG36e中,构建了重组表达载体pMG36e-1291。将构建的重组表达载体转化到乳酸乳球菌WH-C1中,得到重组菌株。测定重组菌与野生菌生长特性,发现重组菌与野生菌之间的生长速度存在一定差异。然后利用苯酚-硫酸法测得重组乳酸乳球菌的胞外多糖产量是野生菌的2.1倍,胞外多糖产量有了明显的提高。【结论】确定WANG_1291基因是调控马奶酒样乳杆菌ZW3产胞外多糖的关键基因之一。     

Significance of oxygen supply in production of a novel antibiotic by Pseudomonas sp. SJT25

A new agricultural antibiotic, 2-heptyl-5-hexylfuran-3-carboxylic acid (HHCA), was recently discovered, but its further application was limited due to its low production titer. In shake flask fermentation, the effect of initial K(L)a within the range of 2.12-18.87 h?1 on HHCA production was investigated. The cell growth and glycerol consumption were faster at a higher initial K(L)a value, but the maximum production (14.43 mg/L) was attained at an initial K(L)a value of 12.46 h?1. The oxygen supply information was further applied to a 2-L bubble column bioreactor (BCB) by varying initial K(L)a from 1.45 to 30.18 h?1, and the hyperproduction of HHCA was achieved at a relatively low initial K(L)a around 5-10 h?1. The control of oxygen supply is considered to be an important strategy to enhance HHCA production, and the information obtained will be useful to production of this powerful new antibiotic on a large scale.