Gibberellin-Induced Alterations to the Expression of Cell Wall-Related Genes in the Xylem of Carrot Root

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Gibberellins (GAs) are a group of plant hormones that play important roles in various processes. Previous studies demonstrated that GA can increase the...     

One-pot synthesis of new A-ring fused steroidal pyridines

The preparation of pyridine rings fused to the 3,4-positions of the steroid nucleus is herein described. These new pyridine derivatives were prepared in good yields by the reaction of propargylamine with 17beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one, 17alpha-methyl-17beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one, 17beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one catalyzed by Cu(II). The structure of 17beta-hydroxy-5-ene-androst-3-eno[3,4-b]pyridine was determined by X-ray analysis.     

田间栽培喜树不同品系枝叶喜树碱产量动态分析

采用高效液相色谱法和生物量法,以四川种源的普通喜树为对照,对生长季内喜树新品系海喜1号不同冠层枝叶喜树碱产量进行了测定。结果表明：由于海喜1号枝叶喜树碱含量、生物量均高于普通喜树,其产量更加显著地高于普通喜树;虽然海喜1号幼嫩的上层枝叶喜树碱含量高于中层和下层,但由于生物量偏低,产量明显低于中下层枝叶;虽然基于喜树碱含量较高（即优质为目标时）,采收期应确定为6月份,但为了达到持续产量,在6月份可采收上层枝叶,7~10月以适度透光为方法连续采收中下部枝叶,11月份,即生长季末采收冠层下部全部1/3枝叶。     

Kinectin participates in microtubule-dependent hormone secretion in pancreatic islet beta-cells

Kinectin (KNT) is a candidate membrane receptor for kinesin in the movement of intracellular organelles along microtubules. Isoforms of KNT exist containing different combinations of six small (residues 23-33) variable domains (vd) vd1-6 within the C-terminus. Here we investigate a role for KNT and its isoform KNTvd4(-) in the transport of amylin and insulin-containing secretory vesicles in the pancreatic islet beta-cell line RINm5F. KNTvd4(-) lacks vd4 that forms the kinesin-binding domain, and hence its role in the cell is an enigma. We report that amylin-containing vesicles also contained insulin, and exhibited microtubule, and small G-protein-dependent secretion. Knockdown of KNT by small interference RNA (siRNA) inhibited amylin expression and secretion. In contrast, recombinant KNTvd4(-) overexpressed in RINm5F cells associated with amylin-containing vesicles and inhibited amylin secretion, but had no discernible affect on amylin expression. The data suggests that both KNT and KNTvd4(-) participate in microtubule-dependent secretion of amylin in islet beta-cells.     

毕赤酵母发酵生产中的水蛭素降解顺序

水蛭素 (rHV2 Lys4 7)是一个具有 65个氨基酸的抗凝活性肽。在毕赤酵母高密度发酵分泌表达过程中 ,发酵上清中可检出 4个水蛭素活性组份 ,分别为Hir65及其C 末端切除 1～ 3个氨基酸的Hir64、Hir63和Hir62。但目前 4种组份间的衍生关系还不清楚 ,以从发酵上清液中纯化分离所得的 4个组份作为底物 ,加入到菌体裂解液中 ,发现Hir64、Hir63和Hir62组份是由羧肽酶依次降解Hir65肽链C 末端 1个氨基酸后的产物。     

基因功能的研究方法

人类基因组计划的顺利进行使基因功能研究成为生命科学领域中的重大课题,基因转导、反义技术、转基因和基因剔除、染色体转导、RNA干涉等是目前研究基因功能的主要方法,新的技术不断涌现,且各有其特点和局限性。     

氧化固醇结合蛋白结构、功能与应用

氧化固醇结合蛋白(oxysterol binding protein,OSBP)是存在于真核细胞内的一类参与脂质代谢的非囊泡运输蛋白质,在哺乳动物中被称为氧化固醇结合蛋白相关蛋白质(oxysterol binding protein-related proteins,ORPs),而在酵母中被称为氧化固醇结合蛋白同源物质(oxysterol-binding protein homologues,OSH）。近年来人们对氧化固醇结合蛋白的研究不断深入,特别是对其同源蛋白质（例如,ORP5/8、Osh3/4、ORP4L等）的结构功能差异和其在信号转导中的作用的相关研究,以及在生物医药方面的应用更成为了本领域的热点。本文综述了关于OSBP及其同源蛋白质结构和功能的相关研究,指出了该领域存在的一些关键问题。与此同时,对OSH和ORPs在细胞内的膜接触位点（membrane contact sites,MCS）进行对比,以及对今后OSBP的研究方向做了展望。     

Partial Protective Effect of Intranasal Immunization with Recombinant Toxoplasma gondii Rhoptry Protein 17 against Toxoplasmosis in Mice

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that infects a variety of mammals, including humans. An effective vaccine for this parasite is therefore needed. In this study, RH strain T. gondii rhoptry protein 17 was expressed in bacteria as a fusion with glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the recombinant proteins (rTgROP17) were purified via GST-affinity chromatography. BALB/c mice were nasally immunised with rTgROP17, and induction of immune responses and protection against chronic and lethal T. gondii infections were investigated. The results revealed that mice immunised with rTgROP17 produced high levels of specific anti-rTgROP17 IgGs and a mixed IgG1/IgG2a response of IgG2a predominance. The systemic immune response was associated with increased production of Th1 (IFN-γand IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines, and enhanced lymphoproliferation (stimulation index, SI) in the mice immunised with rTgROP17. Strong mucosal immune responses with increased secretion of TgROP17-specific secretory IgA (SIgA) in nasal, vaginal and intestinal washes were also observed in these mice. The vaccinated mice displayed apparent protection against chronic RH strain infection as evidenced by their lower liver and brain parasite burdens (59.17% and 49.08%, respectively) than those of the controls. The vaccinated mice also exhibited significant protection against lethal infection of the virulent RH strain (survival increased by 50%) compared to the controls. Our data demonstrate that rTgROP17 can trigger strong systemic and mucosal immune responses against T. gondii and that ROP17 is a promising candidate vaccine for toxoplasmosis.     

A cell-permeable dominant-negative survivin protein induces apoptosis and sensitizes prostate cancer cells to TNF-α therapy

Background

Survivin is a member of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) family which is widely expressed by many different cancers. Overexpression of survivin is associated with drug resistance in cancer cells, and reduced patient survival after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Agents that antagonize the function of survivin hold promise for treating many forms of cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a cell-permeable dominant-negative survivin protein would demonstrate bioactivity against prostate and cervical cancer cells grown in three dimensional culture.

Results

A dominant-negative survivin (C84A) protein fused to the cell penetrating peptide poly-arginine (R9) was expressed in E. coli and purified by affinity chromatography. Western blot analysis revealed that dNSurR9-C84A penetrated into 3D-cultured HeLa and DU145 cancer cells, and a cell viability assay revealed it induced cancer cell death. It increased the activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and rendered DU145 cells sensitive to TNF-α via by a mechanism involving activation of caspase-8.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that antagonism of survivin function triggers the apoptosis of prostate and cervical cancer cells grown in 3D culture. It renders cancer cells sensitive to the proapoptotic affects of TNF-α, suggesting that survivin blocks the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Combination of the biologically active dNSurR9-C84A protein or other survivin antagonists with TNF-α therapy warrants consideration as an approach to cancer therapy.