The Relationship between the Structure of the Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Strains and Their Pathogenic Properties

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is transmitted to vertebrates by taiga or forest ticks through bites, inducing disease of variable severity. The reasons underlying these differences in the severity of the disease are unknown. In order to identify genetic factors affecting the pathogenicity of virus strains, we have sequenced and compared the complete genomes of 34 Far-Eastern subtype (FE) TBEV strains isolated from patients with different disease severity (Primorye, the Russian Far East). We analyzed the complete genomes of 11 human pathogenic strains isolated from the brains of dead patients with the encephalitic form of the disease (Efd), 4 strains from the blood of patients with the febrile form of TBE (Ffd), and 19 strains from patients with the subclinical form of TBE (Sfd). On the phylogenetic tree, pathogenic Efd strains formed two clusters containing the prototype strains, Senzhang and Sofjin, respectively. Sfd strains formed a third separate cluster, including the Oshima strain. The strains that caused the febrile form of the disease did not form a separate cluster. In the viral proteins, we found 198 positions with at least one amino acid residue substitution, of which only 17 amino acid residue substitutions were correlated with the variable pathogenicity of these strains in humans and they authentically differed between the groups. We considered the role of each amino acid substitution and assumed that the deletion of 111 amino acids in the capsid protein in combination with the amino acid substitutions R16K and S45F in the NS3 protease may affect the budding process of viral particles. These changes may be the major reason for the diminished pathogenicity of TBEV strains. We recommend Sfd strains for testing as attenuation vaccine candidates.     

l-methionine-γ-lyase in Citrobacter intermedius cells: Stereochemical requirements with respect to the thiol structure

The specificity of -methionine-γ-lyase with respect to the stereochemical structure of the thiol substrate in the γ-substitution reaction has been demonstrated. Cells of Citrobacter intermedius containing -methionine-γ-lyase catalyze the exchange reactions between -methionine and 2-propylthiol or 2-butylthiol which leads to the formation of -2-propylhomocysteine and -2-butylhomocysteine, respectively. The yields of these products are comparable to the yield of -butylhomocysteine in the reaction of normal butylthiol with -methionine, thus 2-propylthiol and 2-butylthiol are effective substrates of -methionine-γ-lyase. On the other hand in the reaction of 3-pentylthiol, only traces of the expected product, -3-pentylhomocysteine, were formed and in the case of 2-methyl-2-butylthiol, the expected product of γ-substitution, -2-methyl-2-butylhomocysteine, was not formed at all. In the reaction with racemic 2-butylthiol, only one diastereomer of -2-butylhomocysteine was obtained. The unreacted 2-butylthiol isolated after the reaction catalyzed by partially purified preparation of -methionine-γ-lyase was enriched with (R)-enantiomer which indicated the preferential reaction of the (S)-enantiomer.     

理解运动行为抑制调控的新视角：乙酰胆碱门控氯离子通道受体

Acetylcholine, the first identified neurotransmitter, plays crucial roles in various brain functions. One well-known case is its involvement as an activating neurotransmitter in the regulation of locomotion. However, its inhibitory regulatory role, particularly in locomotion, remains poorly understood. In a study conducted by Polat et al., the authors investigated the inhibitory role of acetylcholine in locomotion in C. elegans. In this organism, the acetylcholine-gated chloride channel receptor consists of four subunits. The authors thoroughly examined the loss-of-function of each subunit in movement regulation. Interestingly, the mutant worms were still capable of performing various movements such as forward, backward crawling, and turning, suggesting that the overall movement was not significantly affected. However, quantitative behavior analysis revealed subtle yet significant differences in the timing and postures of the movement in these mutants. Furthermore, the authors employed optogenetics to stimulate a specific neuron involved in backward crawling and demonstrated that the loss-of-function of the receptors in individual neurons affects the transitioning between locomotion modes. This work provides evidence for the inhibitory regulatory role of acetylcholine in locomotion. The loss-of-function of acetylcholine-gated chloride channel receptors likely disrupts the balance of neuronal and circuit physiology, thereby affecting the regulation of locomotion. Moreover, this study highlights the powerful role of quantitative behavior analysis in discovering and understanding more sophisticated functions of neural circuits.     

The evolutionary relationships of two families of cottoid fishes of Lake Baikal (East Siberia) as suggested by analysis of mitochondrial DNA

Fragments of mtDNA genes Cyt B, ATPase 6, and ATPase 8 of six cottoid fishes species of Lake Baikal (East Siberia) were amplified and sequenced. In addition mtDNAs of the same fish were subjected to restriction analysis. The data obtained were used to construct phylogenetic trees. The topology of the ATPase tree differs from those of the Res (restriction) and Cyt B trees. Clustering of species within the trees confirms the viewpoint of Taliev (1955, Baicalian Sculpins (Cottoidei)) according to which Baikalian cottoids originate from two ancestral forms. The times of branching obtained do not confirm the existing viewpoint according to which the two golomyankas (Comephorus baicalensis and Comephorus dybowskii) are pre-Baikal (Myocene) relicts: these two species may have originated 1.2–1.8 million years ago in Baikal, and they seem to represent an example of rapid morphological evolution which resulted in the formation of a new family. Correspondence to: S. Ja. Slobodyanuk     

Formation of tyrosine from glycine, formaldehyde and phenol under the action of a partially purified preparation of tyrosine phenol lyase: The participation of a different enzyme

In the presence of a partially purified preparation of tyrosine phenol lyase, tyrosine is formed in solutions containing glycine, formaldehyde and phenol. The enzyme preparation also catalysed the splitting of allothreonine to glycine and acetaldehyde. An enzyme which is different from tyrosine phenol lyase was shown to be responsible for this aldolase reaction. When an enzyme preparation with a higher specific activity of tyrosine phenol lyase, but without aldolase activity, was used the formation of tyrosine from glycine, formaldehyde and phenol was not observed. It is assumed that the first stage of the process is the formation of serine from glycine and formaldehyde catalysed by the enzyme responsible for the aldolase reaction. Serine in its turn is converted to tyrosine by tyrosine phenol lyase.     

The mechanism of the resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to phages from the International Collection

The resistance of methicillin-resistant staphylococci to phage 85 is due to the presence of a certain system restriction modification in microbial cells. The loss of the capacity for restricting phage DNA by the cell as the consequence of the loss of the mec determinant is not accompanied by the loss of its capacity for modifying phage DNA.     

铁皮石斛花总RNA提取方法的比较研究

为筛选铁皮石斛(Dendrobiumofficinale)花总RNA提取方法,对8种提取方法进行了比较研究,包括改良CTAB-LiCl法(M1)、改良CTAB-异丙醇法(M2)、改良SDS-LiCl法(M3)、改良SDS-异丙醇法(M4)、多糖多酚植物RNA提取试剂盒法(M5)、柱式植物RNAout 2.0试剂盒法(M6)、RNAprep Pure多糖多酚植物总RNA提取试剂盒法(M7)和Biospin多糖多酚植物总RNA提取试剂盒法(M8)。结果表明,以M4和M5提取的总RNA带型清晰,完整性好,A260 nm/A280 nm为1.8～2.0,A260 nm/A230 nm大于2.0,RNA产率分别为(159.45±1.45)和(170.84±3.53)μg/g。利用M4、M5提取霍山石斛、金钗石斛、鼓槌石斛和美花石斛花的总RNA,样品的完整性、浓度和纯度均符合质量要求。以M4、M5提取的铁皮石斛总RNA为模板,扩增Actin基因片段,扩增产物大小与预期一致且条带单一。这说明M4、M5方法操作简便,结果重复性好,能够较好地提取石斛属植物花的总RNA。     

猪流行性腹泻病毒S蛋白胞内区线性B细胞表位最小基序鉴定

[背景] S蛋白是猪流行性腹泻病毒（Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus,PEDV）的主要结构蛋白和免疫原性蛋白,在前期的研究中,本课题组在S蛋白的胞内区鉴定到2个包含线性B细胞表位的短肽。[目的] 鉴定PEDV S蛋白胞内区线性B细胞表位的最小基序。[方法] 原核表达2个短肽的每次后移1个氨基酸的系列8肽,以兔抗S蛋白血清为一抗,通过Western Blot筛选阳性反应8肽,鉴定S蛋白胞内区线性B细胞表位的最小基序。[结果] S蛋白胞内区的2个包含线性B细胞表位的短肽共享一个表位,该表位的最小基序为¹³⁷¹QPYE¹³⁷⁴。同源性分析显示该B细胞表位基序为保守性表位。[结论] 确定了S蛋白胞内区线性B细胞表位的最小基序为¹³⁷¹QPYE¹³⁷⁴;S蛋白抗原表位的鉴定有助于提高对其结构和功能的理解。     

限制性内切酶Mlu I蛋白及其硒代衍生物的制备

【背景】限制性内切酶Mlu I是一种常用的工具酶,在分子生物学领域发挥着重要的作用,其三维结构尚未被解析。【目的】在大肠杆菌中克隆表达、纯化重组Mlu I蛋白及其硒代蛋白,并进行结晶条件的研究。【方法】构建重组表达载体pET28b-Mlu I,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)pLysS中诱导表达,利用亲和层析和凝胶过滤层析纯化重组Mlu I蛋白和硒代Mlu I蛋白。对蛋白进行质谱检测、圆二色谱检测以及酶活检测,利用坐滴法进行结晶条件的筛选。【结果】构建了重组表达载体pET28b-Mlu I并纯化获得达到结晶纯度的蛋白,通过质谱检测确定硒代Mlu I蛋白中的8个甲硫氨酸全部被取代,结合酶活测试及圆二色谱检测确定了硒代对Mlu I蛋白的活性、结构无明显影响。采用坐滴法进行初步的晶体生长研究,重组蛋白目前已在1种条件下获得针状晶体并进行初步衍射,获得分辨率在0.32 nm左右的衍射数据。【结论】Mlu I蛋白及硒代Mlu I蛋白纯化体系的构建和结晶条件的研究,可为下一步解析Mlu I三维结构、作用机制的探讨及定向改造奠定基础。