Evaluation of housekeeping genes as references for quantitative real-time PCR analysis of European eel,Anguilla anguilla

Eels are important aquaculture species for which an increasing number of reference genes are being identified and applied. In this study, five housekeeping genes [RPL7 (ribosomal protein L7), 18 S (18 S ribosomal RNA), EF1A (elongation factor 1α), ACTB (β-actin) and GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase)] were chosen to evaluate their reliability as reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for the study of Anguilla anguilla. The expression of the selected genes in different eel tissues was determined using qPCR at different growth stages or upon challenge by Anguillid herpesvirus (AngHV), and the expression levels of these genes were then compared and evaluated using the geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. Then, RefFinder was used to comprehensively rank the examined housekeeping genes. Interestingly, the expression of the evaluated housekeeping genes exhibited tissue-dependent and treatment-dependent variations. In different growth periods A. anguilla tissues, the most stable genes were the following: ACTB in mucus; 18 S in skin and kidney; RPL7 in muscle, gill, intestine and brain; EF1A in heart and liver; and GAPDH in spleen. In contrast, in AngHV-challenged A. anguilla tissues, the most stable genes were the following: 18 S in mucus; RPL7 in skin, gill, heart, spleen, kidney and intestine; EF1A in muscle and liver; and ACTB in brain. Further comparison analysis indicated that the expression of RPL7 and EF1A was stable in multiple A. anguilla tissues in different growth periods and in eels challenged by AngHV. Nonetheless, the expression level of GAPDH in eel tissues was lower, and it was unstable in several tissues. These results indicated that the selection of reference genes for qPCR analysis in A. anguilla should be made in accordance with experimental parameters, and both RPL7 and EF1A could be used as reference genes for qPCR study of A. anguilla at different growth stages or upon challenge by AngHV. The reference genes identified in this study could improve the accuracy of qPCR data and facilitate further studies aimed at understanding the biology of eels.     

心肌细胞钾通道的研究进展

从分子水平上看,所有钾通道都是由一个基因家族中的基因所编码的４个亚基组成,通道的失活门控机制在Ｎ型、Ｃ型和Ｐ型三种,通道的孔道结构均在跨膜片段Ｓ５至Ｓ６之间,尽管各种钾通道在分子结构上的共处远多于不同之处,但每种钾通道的个性表现却有非常重要的生理意义,迄今为止在心肌细胞上发现的８种钾通道的电导值,门控动力学特征、离子动力学特征,通道激动剂,阻断剂和调制剂均不同。     

An anti-inflammatory isoflavone from soybean inoculated with a marine fungus Aspergillus terreus C23-3

ABSTRACT

A new isoflavone derivative compound 1 (psoralenone) was isolated from soybean inoculated with a marine fungus Aspergillus terreus C23-3, together with seven known compounds including isoflavones 2–6, butyrolactone I (7) and blumenol A (8). Their structures were elucidated by MS, NMR, and ECD. Psoralenone displayed moderate in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell model. Compound 2 (genistein) showed moderate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity whereas compounds 2, 5 (biochanin A), 6 (psoralenol), and 7 exhibited potent larvicidal activity against brine shrimp. Compounds 3 (daidzein), 4 (4?-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyisoflavone), and 5–7 showed broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity, and compound 7 also showed moderate 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity.     

人脂肪间充质干细胞外泌体通过上调β-catenin、c-Myc和细胞周期蛋白表达促进表皮干细胞增殖

本研究探讨人脂肪间充质干细胞来源的外泌体(ADSC-Exos)对人表皮干细胞(EpSCs)增殖的影响及机制.首先使用Ⅰ型胶原酶分离人脂肪组织ADSCs,中性蛋白酶Ⅱ和胰酶分离人皮肤组织EpSCs;采用ExoQuick-TC试剂分离ADSCs培养上清中的外泌体.然后通过MTT法、细胞免疫荧光检测Ki67,BrdU掺入实验检测ADSC-Exos对EpSCs增殖的影响,流式细胞术检测ADSC-Exos对EpSCs细胞周期的影响.通过HE染色、免疫组化染色检测细胞增殖标志分子及表皮干细胞标志分子的表达,以观察ADSC-Exos对体外培养皮肤组织的结构及EpSCs增殖的影响.结果显示:ADSC-Exos能以浓度依赖性和时间依赖性的方式促进EpSCs增殖,增加S期细胞数,减少G1期细胞数;ADSC-Exos也能促进体外培养皮肤组织中的EpSCs增殖.机制研究发现:ADSC-Exos对EpSCs的促增殖作用能部分被β-catenin抑制剂XAV-939或c-Myc抑制剂10058-F4所抑制.ADSC-Exos能促进EpSCs表达β-catenin、c-Myc及cyclin E1、A2、D1,XAV-939能抑制ADSC-Exos诱导的β-catenin、c-Myc以及cyclinE1、A2、D1表达,10058-F4能抑制ADSC-Exos诱导的c-Myc和cyclin D1、A2、E1表达.综上,ADSC-Exos能显著促进EpSCs增殖,其作用部分是由上调β-catenin、c-Myc和cyclinE1、A2、D1表达所介导.     

New Phenylpropanoid Glycosides from Illicium majus and Their Radical Scavenging Activities

Chemical investigation of the ethanol extract of the branch and leaves of Illicium majus resulted in the isolation of four new phenylpropanoid glycosides ( 1 – 4 ) and one new phenolic glycoside ( 9 ), along with 13 known ones. Spectroscopic techniques were used to elucidate the structures of the new isolates such as 3-[(2R,3S)-7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]propyl β-D-glucopyranoside ( 1 ), [(2R,3S)-7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-3-yl]methyl 2-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 2 ), [(2R,3S)-7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-3-yl]methyl 2-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-β-D-xylopyranoside ( 3 ), 3-[(2R,3S)-3-({[2-O-(4-O-acetyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-D-xylopyranosyl]oxy}methyl)-7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]propyl acetate ( 4 ), and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 9 ). Free radical scavenging activities of the isolates were elucidated through the DPPH assay method. The most active compounds, 1-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranose ( 17 ) and soulieana acid 1 ( 18 ), exhibited moderate radical scavenging activities (IC₅₀=37.7±4.4 μM and IC₅₀=97.2±3.4 μM, respectively). The antibacterial activities of the isolates against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were also assessed, and no activity was shown at the measured concentration (<32 μg/mL).     

Overexpression of a C-type lectin enhances bacterial resistance in red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii

C-type lectins play important roles in the innate immune system of crustaceans. In this study, a novel C-type lectin gene, designated as PcLec4, was obtained from the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that PcLec4 is mainly expressed in the crayfish hepatopancreas and intestine, and the PcLec4 mRNA expression is upregulated after challenged with the bacteria Vibrio anguillarum. PcLec4 was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and anti-PcLec4 polyclonal antiserum was prepared. Binding experiments revealed that the recombinant PcLec4 binds to various bacteria and polysaccharides on the bacterial surface, which suggests that PcLec4 recognizes bacterial pathogens. Overexpression of PcLec4 in crayfish using the pIeLec4 vector was performed. The results show that the crayfish overexpressing PcLec4 eliminate injected V. anguillarum more quickly than the control, which suggests that PcLec4 elicits further immune response for removing invading bacteria. The results of the survival experiment confirmed the function of PcLec4 in resisting V. anguillarum because PcLec4 overexpression in crayfish significantly increased the crayfish survival rate. These results reveal that PcLec4 has an important role in the antibacterial immunity of crayfish, and in vivo PcLec4 overexpression might be used as a disease control strategy in aquiculture.     

Aliskiren Attenuates Steatohepatitis and Increases Turnover of Hepatic Fat in Mice Fed with a Methionine and Choline Deficient Diet

Background & Aims

Activation of the renin-angiotensin-system is known to play a role in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Renin knockout mice manifest decreased hepatic steatosis. Aliskiren is the first direct renin inhibitor to be approved for clinical use. Our study aims to evaluate the possible therapeutic effects and mechanism of the chronic administration of aliskiren in a dietary steatohepatitis murine model.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet to induce steatohepatitis. After 8 weeks of feeding, the injured mice were randomly assigned to receive aliskiren (50 mg_·kg^-1 per day) or vehicle administration for 4 weeks. Normal controls were also administered aliskiren (50 mg_·kg^-1 per day) or a vehicle for 4 weeks.

Results

In the MCD mice, aliskiren attenuated hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Aliskiren did not change expression of lipogenic genes but increase turnover of hepatic fat by up-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a, cytochrome P450-4A14 and phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase. Furthermore, aliskiren decreased the hepatic expression of angiotensin II and nuclear factor κB. The levels of oxidative stress, hepatocyte apoptosis, activation of Kupffer cells and hepatic stellate cells, and pro-fibrotic markers were also reduced in the livers of the MCD mice receiving aliskiren.

Conclusions

Aliskiren attenuates steatohepatitis and fibrosis in mice fed with a MCD diet. Thus, the noted therapeutic effects might come from not only the reduction of angiotensin II but also the up-regulation of fatty acid oxidation-related genes.     

一株海洋放线菌的鉴定及其促生作用机理

【背景】海洋放线菌BM-2是本实验室从连云港海域分离得到的一株具有抗菌和促生作用的优良菌株,具有良好的开发应用前景。【目的】明确海洋放线菌BM-2的分类地位,揭示该菌株的促生作用机理,为菌株的开发应用提供理论依据。【方法】通过形态观察、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列分析,对海洋放线菌BM-2菌株进行种属鉴定;采用透明圈法、平板划线法测定BM-2菌株解磷、解钾作用、固氮作用和产植酸酶、1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧基(1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate,ACC)脱氨酶的能力;运用沙尔科夫斯基反应(Salkowski法)和铬天青(chromeazurol S,CAS)法分别测定菌株产吲哚乙酸(indole acetic acid,IAA)和产铁载体的能力。【结果】培养特征、菌落形态观察及生理生化试验结果表明,BM-2菌株符合链霉菌属(Streptomyces)的特征,16S rRNA基因序列与GenBank中栗褐链霉菌(Streptomyces badius)的序列相似性为99.72%;BM-2菌株具有固氮和解有机磷活性,能够产生ACC脱氨酶、铁载体和IAA。【结论】BM-2菌株为栗褐连霉菌(Streptomyces badius),固氮、解有机磷作用以及产生ACC脱氨酶、IAA可能是该菌株的促生作用机制。     

来源于麦氏喙枝孢霉的玉米赤霉烯酮水解酶在毕赤酵母中的高效表达及活性分析

【背景】玉米赤霉烯酮(zearalenone,ZEN)及其衍生物是一群具有雌激素活性的霉菌毒素,广泛存在于被霉菌污染的谷物中,造成食品业和畜牧业的巨大损失。利用专一性高的水解酶进行生物转化可有效去除玉米赤霉烯酮。【目的】构建高效表达玉米赤霉烯酮水解酶的酵母系统,以促进玉米赤霉烯酮水解酶的研究和工业应用。【方法】将来源于麦氏喙枝孢霉(RhinocladiellamackenzieiCBS650.93)的Rmzhd基因转入毕赤酵母中,筛选获得高效表达菌株,通过高效液相色谱分析发酵液中重组酶的性质。【结果】发酵液中Rm ZHD对ZEN的酶活力为16.67 U/m L,对α-ZOL的酶活力为9.85 U/m L。SDS-PAGE检测表达产物的分子量,与理论值30.7k D符合,且发酵上清液蛋白纯度高。Rm ZHD的最适p H值为9.6,最适温度为45°C,并具有较好的耐热性。【结论】研究结果为玉米赤霉烯酮水解酶的异源表达及其潜在的工业应用提供了一定的指导。     

虫瘿与其生物群落及寄主植物间的关系

虫瘿是自然界极其常见的生物现象,是植物与昆虫互作的奇特产物。本文对虫瘿生物群落多样性、虫瘿与其生物群落的关系以及虫瘿与寄主植物的关系进行概述,探讨了致瘿昆虫在虫瘿形成中的作用、植物化学对致瘿昆虫产卵交配行为的影响以及植物激素在虫瘿形成中的作用,最后对虫瘿今后的研究方向进行了讨论,为虫瘿的致瘿生物学及其瘿内生物相互关系的进一步研究奠定基础。