Differential role of D cyclins in the regulation of cell cycle by influencing Ki67 expression in HaCaT cells

D-type cyclins are important regulatory proteins of the G1/S phase of the cell cycle however, their specific functions are only partially understood. We show that silencing of individual D-type cyclins has no effect on the proliferation and morphology of Immortalized non-tumorigenic human epidermal (HaCaT) cells, while double and triple D cyclin silencing results in the failure of the cytokinesis leading to the appearance of large multinucleated cells. Both CDC20 and Ki67 mRNA is downregulated in these cells. Ki67 mRNA silenced cells show similar multinucleated cellular phenotype as double or triple D cyclin silenced cells without affecting D cyclin expression, suggesting that Ki67 is necessary for normal G2/M transition. Our data have revealed that cyclin D1 may have a leading role in G1/S phase regulation and suggest an incomplete functional overlap among D cyclins. Our results indicate that beside their well-known functions during the G0-G1/S phase, D-type cyclins play a pivotal role in the regulation of mitosis via influencing Ki67 expression in a downstream manner probably through E2F1 activation in HaCaT cells.     

Effects of nanofibrillated cellulose hydrogels on adipose tissue extract and hepatocellular carcinoma cell spheroids in freeze-drying

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) hydrogels on two human derivatives during freeze-drying. Native NFC hydrogel is a suitable platform to culture 3D cell spheroids and a hydrogel processed further, called anionic NFC (ANFC) hydrogel, is an excellent platform for controlled release of proteins. Moreover, it has been shown to be compatible with freeze-drying when correct lyoprotectants are implemented. Freeze-drying is a method, where substance is first frozen, and then vacuum dried trough sublimation of water in order to achieve dry matter without the loss of the original three-dimensional structures.The first chosen human derivative was adipose tissue extract (ATE) which is a cell-free growth factor-rich preparation capable of promoting growth of regenerative cells. The release of growth factors from the freeze-dried mixture of ATE and ANFC was compared to that of non-freeze-dried control mixtures. The release profiles remained at the same level after freeze-drying. The second derivative was hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell spheroids which were evaluated before and after freeze-drying. The 3D structure of the HepG2 cell spheroids was preserved and the spheroids retained 18% of their metabolic activity after rehydration. However, the freeze-dried and rehydrated HepG2 cell spheroids did not proliferate and the cell membrane was damaged by fusion and formation of crystals.     

兽用博落回散对饲用酶制剂酶活性的影响

博落回散能抑菌消炎、改善畜禽肠道内环境,兼具营养和药用双重作用,已经成为一类新型饲料添加剂。酶制剂是目前已在养殖业广泛使用的饲料添加剂,它能提高动物对饲料的消化利用率、提高饲料转化率、降低饲喂成本。博落回散能否和酶制剂同时使用目前尚未有相关的研究报道。本文研究了不同浓度博落回散溶液对8种常用饲用酶制剂活性的影响,实验结果表明,在正常使用浓度(30～50 mg/L)范围内,博落回散不会明显影响淀粉酶、纤维素酶、果胶酶、甘露聚糖酶和木聚糖酶这5种糖基水解酶的活性;对植酸酶、酸性蛋白酶和脂肪酶这3种非糖基水解酶的活性影响不大,这说明博落回散能和酶制剂同时添加到饲料中。本研究为兽用博落回散饲料添加剂在养殖行业的广泛应用提供了实验支持。     

Biochemical and biophysical study of chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic anti-tumor potential of some Egyptian plant extracts

the present study the was done to evaluate chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic anti-tumor potential of some Egyptian plant extract (moringa, graviola, ginger garden cress and artemisinin) against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice. chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic evaluation was assessed by monitoring the tumor incidence and tumor volume as well as by analyzing the status of (a) biochemical markers (maspin, survivin, livin, caveolin-1, osteopontin and Fucosyltransferase 4 gene expressions), oxidative stress related profile including; total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione reductase (GR) activity, glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activity assay, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity and lipid peroxidation (MDA), renal and hepatic toxicity markers (urea, creatinine, alanine transaminase (alt) activity, aspartate aminotransferase (ast) activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) Activity and γ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity also study of (b) biophysical markers (trace and heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)), dielectric properties and body water distribution) finally (c) histopathological examination oral administration of increasing dose of moringa, graviola, ginger garden cress and artemisinin extracts, respectively significantly prevented the tumor incidence and tumor volume as well as brought back the status of the above mentioned biochemical and biophysical variables. Histopathological changes also confirmed the formation of tumor tubules and neovascularization after the treatment. Overall, these results suggest that treatment with moringa, graviola, ginger garden cress and artemisinin extracts provided antioxidant defense with strong chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activity against DMBA-induced mammary tumors.     

螺旋藻多糖的研究进展

螺旋藻多糖是从螺旋藻中提取的生物活性物质,具有广泛的药理作用。简要的评述了螺旋藻多糖在提取、组成与结构分析、生物活性、结构修饰与改性(主要是硒化改性)等方面的研究进展,并对螺旋藻多糖的结构及活性研究等发展方向提出展望。     

蓖麻粗毒的获取及草原灭鼠的应用研究

本研究修改了蓖麻脱脂方法,获取蓖麻种子的粗毒,进而研究了粗毒的灭鼠功效。蓖麻粗毒对小鼠灌胃实验测得LD50为11．494mg／kg。实验室有毒饵料饲喂小鼠结果显示,小鼠对蓖麻粗毒混合饵料无明显拒食现象。野外实验结果显示,粗毒饵料对高原鼠兔的灭洞率在81．6％到90．1％之间。研究结果表明蓖麻粗毒具有很好的应用于生物防治的潜力。     

青钱柳种皮甲醇浸提液的生物测定

通过对青钱柳[Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinskaja]种皮甲醇浸提液的生物测定,探讨青钱柳种子休眠与种皮内源抑制物质的关系.结果表明,青钱柳种皮不同浓度的甲醇浸提液(10%、20%、25%、30%和40%)对白菜(Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis)种子发芽率和种子活力以及幼苗的高生长、根生长均有抑制作用,浓度越高抑制作用越明显.用30%和40%浸提液处理, 白菜种子不能萌发;用10%、 20%和25%浸提液处理, 白菜种子的萌发率分别为98.6%、 75.0%和9.0%;苗高和根长分别比对照降低了31.6%、 48.1%、 79.7%和21.3%、 70.8%、 90.2%.表明青钱柳种子的种皮中含有抑制种子萌发和幼苗生长的成分.     

Downstream process for the production of yeast extract using brewer's yeast cells

A downstream process was developed for the production of yeast extract from brewer's yeast cells. Various downstream processing conditions including clarification, debittering, and the Maillard reaction were considered in the development of the process. This simple and economic clarification process used flocculating agents, specifically calcium chloride (1%). After the clarification step, a Maillard reaction is initiated as a flavor-enhancing step. By investigating the effects of several operation parameters, including the type of sugar added, sugar dosage, glycine addition, and temperature, on the degree of browning (DB), glucose addition and reaction temperature were found to have significant effects on DB. A synthetic adsorption resin (HP20) was used for the debittering process, which induced a compositional change of the hydrophobic amino acids in the yeast hydrolysate, thereby reducing the bitter taste. The overall dry matter yield and protein yield for the entire process, including the downstream process proposed for the production of brewer's yeast extract were 50 and 50%, respectively.     

Evolutionary Phycology: Toward a Macroalgal Species Conceptual Framework

Species concepts formalize evolutionary and ecological processes, but often conflict with one another when considering the mechanisms that ultimately lead to species delimitation. Evolutionary biologists are, however, recognizing that the conceptualization of a species is separate and distinct from the delimitation of species. Indeed, if species are generally defined as separately evolving metapopulation lineages, then characteristics, such as reproductive isolation or monophyly, can be used as evidence of lineage separation and no longer conflict with the conceptualization of a species. However, little of this discussion has addressed the formalization of this evolutionary conceptual framework for macroalgal species. This may be due to the complexity and variation found in macroalgal life cycles. While macroalgal mating system variation and patterns of hybridization and introgression have been identified, complex algal life cycles generate unique eco-evolutionary consequences. Moreover, the discovery of frequent macroalgal cryptic speciation has not been accompanied by the study of the evolutionary ecology of those lineages, and, thus, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying such rampant speciation remain elusive. In this perspective, we aim to further the discussion and interest in species concepts and speciation processes in macroalgae. We propose a conceptual framework to enable phycological researchers and students alike to portray these processes in a manner consistent with dialogue at the forefront of evolutionary biology. We define a macroalgal species as an independently evolving metapopulation lineage, whereby we can test for reproductive isolation or the occupation of distinct adaptive zones, among other mechanisms, as secondary lines of supporting evidence.     

桦褐孔菌发酵鸭跖草提取物对铜绿假单胞菌群体感应系统的影响

【背景】群体感应在铜绿假单胞菌感染中常引起对抗生素的耐药性,因此迫切需要寻找新型抑制剂。【目的】研究桦褐孔菌发酵鸭跖草提取物(fermented Commelina communis extract,FCC)对铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa,PA)群体感应系统的影响及其原因。【方法】采用微量稀释法测定FCC对PA的最小抑菌浓度(minimal inhibitory concentration,MIC),通过微量法测定FCC对生物膜形成、以及毒力因子(绿脓素、LasA蛋白酶及鼠李糖脂)合成的影响,利用高效液相色谱(high performance liquidchromatography,HPLC)法分析发酵前后化学物质的变化,采用福林酚(Folinand Ciocalteu's phenolreagent,Folin-Ciocalteu)法测量FCC和未发酵鸭跖草提取物(unfermented Commelina communis extract,UCC)的总酚含量。【结果】发酵前后提取物的MIC分别为16 g/L和64 g/L,FCC抑制了生物膜的形成,降低了毒力因子的产生,发酵提取物的化学组分在发酵过程中产生了很大的变化,发酵后提取物总酚含量相较于未发酵增加了219.97%。【结论】桦褐孔菌固体发酵具有增强鸭跖草提取物抗PA群体感应的作用,通过抑制群体感应系统产生抑菌作用。