海伦脑炎微孢子虫分泌蛋白EhPTP4对宿主内质网蛋白降解通路的调控作用

【目的】微孢子虫是一类专性细胞内寄生的真核病原微生物,能够感染人类和几乎所有的动物。本课题以海伦脑炎微孢子虫（Encephalitozoon hellem）为研究对象,探讨其极管蛋白4（EhPTP4）作为一个潜在的分泌性毒力因子在宿主细胞内的定位和功能。【方法】制备EhPTP4的鼠源多克隆抗体,利用间接免疫荧光分析和Western blotting确定EhPTP4在感染细胞中的亚细胞定位;基于序列特征,在HEK293细胞中转染野生型和突变体EhPTP4,分析该蛋白的定位及其对病原增殖的作用;利用RNA-seq对转染EhPTP4的HEK293细胞进行转录组测序,分析EhPTP4引起的宿主基因表达和通路的变化;进一步通过RNAi和细胞转染分析差异表达基因的调控作用,利用RT-qPCR和Western blotting验证调控效果。【结果】EhPTP4的N端具有信号肽,C端具有富含组氨酸的结构域（HRD）和核定位信号序列（NLS）。蛋白定位分析显示,在感染和转染细胞中,EhPTP4均被分泌至宿主细胞核内。在HEK293细胞中过表达EhPTP4显著促进了病原的增殖。RNA-seq和蛋白泛素化分...     

Loureirin C and Xanthoceraside Attenuate Depression-Like Behaviors and Expression of Interleukin-17 in the Prefrontal Cortex Induced by Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress in Mice

Neurochemical Research - Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent and serious psychiatric disease involving inflammation. Loureirin C and Xanthoceraside are extracts of dragon’s...     

1H, 13C, and 15N NMR assignments of the Pyrococcus abyssi DNA polymerase II intein

Protein splicing is a precise post-translational process mediated by inteins. Inteins are intervening proteins that cleave themselves from a precursor protein while joining the flanking sequences. Here we report the ¹⁵N, ¹³C, and ¹H chemical shift assignments of the intein from DNA polymerase II of Pyrococcus abyssi (Pab PolII intein), which has been recombinantly overexpressed and isotopically labeled. The NMR assignments of Pab PolII intein are essential for solution structure determination and protein dynamics study.     

Ero1-Pdi1 module-catalysed dimerization of a nucleotide sugar transporter,FonNst2, regulates virulence of Fusarium oxysporum on watermelon

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon) is a soil-borne fungus causing vascular Fusarium wilt on watermelon; however, the molecular network regulating Fon virulence remains to be elucidated. Here, we report the function and mechanism of nucleotide sugar transporters (Nsts) in Fon. Fon genome harbours nine FonNst genes with distinct functions in vegetative growth, asexual production, cell wall stress response and virulence. FonNst2 and FonNst3 are required for full virulence of Fon on watermelon and FonNst2 is mainly involved in fungal colonization of the plant tissues. FonNst2 and FonNst3 form homo- or hetero-dimers but function independently in Fon virulence. FonNst2, which has UDP-galactose transporter activity in yeast, interacts with FonEro1 and FonPdi1, both of which are required for full virulence of Fon. FonNst2, FonPdi1 and FonEro1 target to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and are essential for ER homeostasis and function. FonEro1-FonPdi1 module catalyses the dimerization of FonNst2, which is critical for Fon virulence. Undimerized FonNst2 is unstable and degraded via ER-associated protein degradation in vivo. These data demonstrate that FonEro1-FonPdi1 module-catalysed dimerization of FonNst2 is critical for Fon virulence on watermelon and provide new insights into the regulation of virulence in plant fungal pathogens via disulfide bond formation of key pathogenicity factors.     

Pharmacokinetics and liver uptake of three Schisandra lignans in rats after oral administration of liposome encapsulating β-cyclodextrin inclusion compound of Schisandra extract

Schisandra chinensis fructus (SCF) is widely used traditional Chinese medicine, which possesses hepato-protective potential. Schisandrin (SD), schisantherin (ST), and γ-schizandrin (SZ) are the major bioactive lignans. The main problem associated with the major bioactive lignans oral administration is low oral bioavailability due to the lignans’ poor aqueous solubility and taste. The aim of the present research work was to develop liposome (SCL) encapsulated β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complex loaded with SCF extract (SCF-E). The SD, ST, and SZ were selected as effective candidates to perform comparisons of liver targeting among the solution (SES), β-cyclodextrin inclusion compound (SCF-E-β-CD), liposome (SEL), and SCL of SCF-E to characterize the pharmacokinetic behaviors and liver targeting in rats. The β-CD inclusion complex (SCF-E-β-CD) was used to improve the solubility. The concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed by DAS3.0. The pharmacokinetic results indicate that the plasma concentration-time courses were fitted well to the one-compartment model with the first weighing factor. The half-life period (t_1/2) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of the three components in SCL were the largest. The SCL exhibit a relatively high liver targeting effect. The results would be helpful for guiding the clinical application of this herbal medicine.     

Functionalization of sawdust with monosodium glutamate for enhancing its malachite green removal capacity

In this paper, waste sawdust was functionalized by monosodium glutamate for improving its cationic sorption capacity. The functionalized sawdust (FS) and crude sawdust (CS) were compared for their malachite green (MG) sorption behaviors with a batch system. The effects of various experimental parameters (e.g. initial pH, sorbent dose, dye concentration, contact time, and temperature etc.) were investigated and the sorption kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics were understood. The MG removal ratios on FS and on CS increased with increasing initial pH and came up to the maximum value beyond pH 6 for FS and pH 8 for CS, respectively. The ratio of sorbed MG kept above 95% for 250 mg/l of MG solution when 2.0 g/l or more of FS was used. The MG removal percentage decreased more on CS than on FS with increasing initial MG concentration. The isothermal data of MG sorbed on FS and on CS followed the Langmuir model. By functionalizing, the sorption capacity (Q(m)) of sawdust for MG was increased from 85.47 to 196.08 mg/g and the sorption equilibrium time of MG was shortened from 23 to 4.5 h. The MG sorption processes on FS and on CS followed the pseudo-second-order rate kinetics. The sorptions of MG on FS and on CS were spontaneous and exothermic processes and lower temperatures were favorable for the sorption processes.