Calcium binding mode of gamma-carboxyglutamic acids in conantokins.

Conantokin-T (con-T) and conantokin-G (con-G) are two highly homologous peptide toxins found in Conus venom. The former is a 21-residue peptide with four gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) residues (at positions 3, 4, 10 and 14), while the latter is a 17-residue peptide with five gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues (at positions 3, 4, 7, 10 and 14). Despite the apparent similarity in number and relative positions of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues, (113)Cd-NMR studies indicated a distinct metal binding behavior for con-G and con-T. There appears to be four binding sites in con-G in contrast to one metal binding site in con-T. To elucidate the mode of calcium binding by the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues in these conantokins, we designed various analogous peptides with their gamma-carboxyglutamic acid replaced by other amino acid residues. (113)Cd-NMR experiments on conantokin analogues reveal that the major difference in the number of metal binding sites between con-G and con-T is due to the residue at position 7. We also performed molecular simulations to calculate the relative binding free energies of several potential binding sites. Based on our theoretical and experimental results, we propose a 'four-site' binding model for conantokin-G and a 'single-site' binding model for conantokin-T.     

Genistein inhibits calcium release by platelet-derived growth factor but not bradykinin or cadmium in human fibroblasts

Cd²⁺ provokes inositol trisphosphateproduction and releases stored Ca²⁺, apparently by binding to a zinc site in the external domain of an orphan receptor. One pM Cd²⁺ evokes an immediate spike in cytosolic free Ca²⁺, which is similar to that evoked by bradykinin. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) also increases free Ca²⁺ in human dermalfibroblasts, but there is a distinct lag before free Ca²⁺ rises in response to PDGF. Genistein, which selectively inhibits tyrosine kinases, markedly inhibited Ca²⁺ mobilization evoked by PDGF. Calcium mobilization triggered by cadmium or bradykinin was relatively insensitive to genistein. The PDGF receptor is known to be a tyrosine kinase, whichphosphorylates and thereby activatesphospholipase C, whereas a G protein couples the bradykinin receptor to anotherphospholipase C isoform. These findings support the hypothesis that the orphan receptor triggered by cadmium is coupled to phospholipase C via a G protein.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - BK bradykinin - [Ca²⁺]_i cytosolic free calcium - DME Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium - FBS fetal bovine serum - HEPES 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulfonic acid - IC₅₀ concentration that produces 50% inhibition - PDGF platelet-derived growth factor - PSS physiological salts solution - SE standard error of the mean     

屎肠球菌对斑节对虾肠道代谢组学及炎性因子的影响

【背景】屎肠球菌(Enterococcus faecium)作为乳酸菌属的潜在益生菌,因其具有良好的生物学特性在动物养殖中应用广泛,但是屎肠球菌对肠道代谢组学的研究很少。【目的】以斑节对虾为试验动物,初步探究屎肠球菌R8对肠道代谢组学及炎性因子的影响,为屎肠球菌作为益生菌在对虾养殖中的应用提供理论基础。【方法】将400条斑节对虾随机分配,设计饲料中屎肠球菌添加量分别为107、108、109 CFU/g的3个试验组,不添加屎肠球菌为对照组进行试验,养殖周期为28 d。养殖周期结束后测定斑节对虾免疫球蛋白M (immunoglobulin M,IgM)、对虾酚氧化酶(phenoloxidase,PO)、白介素6 (interleukin 6,IL-6)、补体片段3a (complement fragment 3a,C3a)的活性含量并运用LC-MS代谢组学研究肠道内源代谢物的变化,分析差异代谢物和相关的代谢通路。【结果】添加屎肠球菌对斑节对虾炎性因子有积极的影响,增加了斑节对虾体内免疫球蛋白IgM、对虾酚氧化酶、补体片段3a的含量,降低了其体内IL-6的含量,对肠道差异代谢物的分析发现,对...     

Dasymaschalon tibetense (Annonaceae): a new species from China

A new species, Dasymaschalon tibetense, has been described from South Tibet, China. The species is related to D. rostratum, but can be easily distinguished by its rounded apex of fruitlets and its 7.7–9.5 cm long petals.     

Paleolimnology of Qilu Hu,Yunnan Province,China

Qilu Hu is a large (A = 36.9 km²), shallow (z_max = 6.8 m) lake that lies at an elevation of 1797 m above msl on the Yunnan Plateau, southern China. Lake waters are hard (Mg = 3.2m eq L^–1, Ca = 1.3 meq L^–1 ), fresh (conductivity = 380 S cm ^–1), and productive (Secchi < 40 cm). An 11-m sediment core has a basal ¹⁴C age of 30960 ± 860 B.P. Sediments between 11 m and 6 m are high in % dry weight, rich in clay components Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, K₂O, MgO, and low in organic C (6.1%), carbonate-C (<1.0%), total N (<3.2 mg g^–1), and total S (<-1.7 mg g^–1). Diatoms and pollen indicate open-water conditions between 9.0 m and 6.0 m (1342011790 B.P.). Above 6.0 m, CaCO₃ and organic matter concentrations increase relative to clastics. The transition marks a change to shallow-water conditions as inferred from diatoms and pollen, and probably reflects a shift to drier climate. Uppermost (80-0 cm) red clays were deposited rapidly, probably as a consequence of recent (decades to centuries) riparian disturbances (e.g. agriculture, lake-bottom reclamation, urban development). Dates assigned to events in the Qilu Hu profile are tentative because of potential hard-water-lake error.