Novel transmembrane protein 126A (TMEM126A) couples with CD137L reverse signals in myeloid cells

Members of the TNF family can promote signals in myeloid cells and both positively and negatively regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines depending on the target myeloid cell type. Using the yeast-two hybrid system, we identified transmembrane protein 126A (TMEM126A) as a binding partner for CD137L (4-1BB ligand). We found that TMEM126A associated and co-localized with CD137L in a mouse macrophage cell line and knockdown of TMEM126A with siRNA abolished the CD137L-induced tyrosine phosphorylation as well as the up-regulation of M-CSF, IL-1β and TN-C expressions. Knockdown of TMEM126A also blocked the down-regulation of IL-1β and IL-6 expressions induced by CD137L in thioglycollate-elicited primary peritoneal macrophages. Knockdown of TMEM126A by stable retroviral TMEM126A shRNA transduction also abolished CD137L-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and cell adherence. These findings identify a novel molecule that bridges TNF family cytokines and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in myeloid cells.     

Windows操作系统下二代测序数据处理平台的建立及高通量信息分析标准流程在个人计算机上的实现

当前二代测序数据的处理广泛使用基于标准版本的Linux操作系统分析方法。这一系统专业性强,成本较高,操作界面不够友好,严重限制了大多数科研人员对数据的自主分析。本文创建了一个基于微软Windows操作系统的全功能二代测序数据的生物信息学分析系统,利用该系统经优选实现当前多种高通量测序数据的主流标准化分析流程。通过RNA-Seq的代表性案例,演算实测数据与传统Linux系统驱动的数据分析结果相比较,结果显示,本系统的组件和流程在常用的数据分析过程中,可以基本取代目前主流的Linux服务器或云计算平台,在运行效率相近的情况下,其操作极为简便且成本大大降低。本系统与所配附的编译软件及流程脚本,不仅为测序数据的生物信息学分析实操演练提供全面的解决方案,而且可以直接应用于专业的测序数据分析中。     

Fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of dense and erect panicle 3, DEP3, which confers high grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Architecture of the rice inflorescence, which is determined mainly by the morphology, number and length of primary and secondary inflorescence branches, is an important agronomical trait. In the current study, we characterized a novel dense and erect panicle (EP) mutant, dep3, derived from the Oryza sativa ssp. japonica cultivar Hwacheong treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. The panicle of the dep3 mutant remained erect from flowering to full maturation, whereas the panicle of the wild type plant began to droop after flowering. The dep3 mutation also regulated other panicle characteristics, including panicle length, grain shape and grain number per panicle. Anatomical observations revealed that the dep3 mutant had more small vascular bundles and a thicker culm than wild type plants, explaining the EP phenotype. Genetic analysis indicated that the phenotype with the dense and EP was controlled by a single recessive gene, termed dep3. The DEP3 gene was identified as the candidate via a map-based cloning approach and was predicted to encode a patatin-like phospholipase A2 (PLA2) superfamily domain-containing protein. The mutant allele gene carried a 408?bp genomic deletion within LOC_Os06g46350, which included the last 47?bp coding region of the third exon and the first 361?bp of the 3??-untranslated region. Taken together, our results indicated that the patatin-like PLA2 might play a significant role in the formation of vascular bundles, and that the dep3 mutant may provide another EP resource for rice breeding programs.     

Production of nattokinase by high cell density fed-batch culture of Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis was cultivated to high cell density for nattokinase production by pH-stat fed-batch culture. A concentrated mixture solution of glucose and peptone was automatically added by acid-supplying pump when culture pH rose above high limit. Effect of the ratio of glucose to peptone in feeding solution was investigated on cell growth and nattokinase production by changing the ratio from 0.2 to 5 g glucose/g peptone. The highest cell concentration was 77 g/L when the ratio was 0.2 g glucose/g peptone. Cell concentration decreased with increasing the ratio of glucose to peptone in feeding solution, while the optimum condition existed for nattokinase production. The highest nattokinase activity was 14,500 unit/mL at a ratio of 0.33 g glucose/g peptone, which was 4.3 times higher than that in batch culture.     

Cadmium resistance in tobacco plants expressing the MuSI gene

MuSI, a gene that corresponds to a domain that contains the rubber elongation factor (REF), is highly homologous to many stress-related proteins in plants. Since MuSI is up-regulated in the roots of plants treated with cadmium or copper, the involvement of MuSI in cadmium tolerance was investigated in this study. Escherichia coli cells overexpressing MuSI were more resistant to Cd than wild-type cells transfected with vector alone. MuSI transgenic plants were also more resistant to Cd. MuSI transgenic tobacco plants absorbed less Cd than wild-type plants. Cd translocation from roots to shoots was reduced in the transgenic plants, thereby avoiding Cd toxicity. The number of short trichomes in the leaves of wild-type tobacco plants was increased by Cd treatment, while this was unchanged in MuSI transgenic tobacco. These results suggest that MuSI transgenic tobacco plants have enhanced tolerance to Cd via reduced Cd uptake and/or increased Cd immobilization in the roots, resulting in less Cd translocation to the shoots.     

COMMUNITY ANALYSIS OF AGGREGATED BACTERIA IN SOUTHERN LAKE BAIKAL

Bacteria in lake ecosystems can be classified asfree-living and attached.Aggregated bacteria are oftenlarger,present in higher local concentrations and aremore active on a per-cell basis than free-living bacteriain surrounding water[1].Higher specific exoenzyme ac-tivities have also been found with macroaggregates[2].Thus they may have an important role in carbon cyclingin aquatic ecosystems.Recently,new molecular techniques such as fluo-rescent in situ hybridization(FISH)with group-specific…     

阿哈湖深层水中微生物和硫酸还原菌数量及群落结构空间变化

采用荧光原位杂交法分析了贵州阿哈湖深层水环境中总微生物、真细菌和硫酸盐还原菌数量。结果表明:该湖水中微生物总量为1.6×107个.L-1,真细菌占微生物总量的52.9%,且微生物总量和真细菌数量垂直变化无明显差异。随着水体深度的增加,活性微生物数量增加,且微生物的群落结构更加复杂。阿哈湖深层水体中有一定数量的硫酸盐还原菌存在。     

Potent in vivo antimalarial activity of 3,15-di-O-acetylbruceolide against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

The antimalarial activity of the O-acylated bruceolide derivative, 3,15-di-O-acetylbruceolide, was evaluated against Plasmodium berghei in vivo. The concentration of 3,15-di-O-acetylbruceolide required for 50% suppression (ED50) of P. berghei in mice was 0.46 +/- 0.06 mg/kg/day, whereas bruceolide was only half as effective as 3,15-di-O-acetylbruceolide. Two antimalarial drugs used clinically, chloroquine and artemisinin, demonstrated only low activity corresponding to 1/4 and 1/12 of the ED50 value of 3,15-di-O-acetylbruceolide, respectively. These results may be helpful in the design of better chemotherapeutic bruceolides against falciparum malaria.     

甘油三酯代谢对紫外线照射后HaCaT细胞的影响及机制研究

目的:研究甘油三酯代谢过程对紫外线照射后HaCaT细胞的影响及机制研究。方法:HaCaT细胞分为4组,分别为对照组、紫外线照射组、紫外线照射并予甘油三酯组、紫外线照射并予甘油三酯合成酶抑制剂TOFA组,查看MMP-1、COX-2和IL-1β在mRNA及蛋白水平上的变化,并查看其上游转录因子NF-κB/IκB的表达情况。结果:1)甘油三酯可以抑制紫外线照射后细胞外基质溶解蛋白MMP-1的表达(P0.05)。2)甘油三酯可以抑制紫外线照射后炎症相关蛋白COX-2和IL-1β的表达(P0.05)。3)甘油三酯合成酶抑制剂TOFA可以增强外线照射后细胞外基质溶解蛋白MMP-1以及炎症相关蛋白COX-2和IL-1β的表达(P0.05)。4)其调节过程可能通过NF-κB/IκB信号传导通路实现(P0.05)。结论:甘油三酯对紫外线的照射后的HaCaT细胞有保护作用,若抑制其代谢将减弱其保护作用。     

l-Glutamate-Dependent Medium Alkalinization by Asparagus Mesophyll Cells : Cotransport or Metabolism?

Mechanically isolated Asparagus sprengeri Regel mesophyll cells cause alkalinization of the suspension medium on the addition of l-glutamate or its analog l-methionine-d,l-sulfoximine. Using a radiolabeled pH probe, it was found that both compounds caused internal acidification whereas l-aspartate did not. Fusicoccin stimulated H⁺ efflux from the cells by 111% and the uptake of l-[U-¹⁴C]glutamate by 55%. Manometric experiments demonstrated that, unlike l-methionine-d,l-sulfoximine, l-glutamate stimulated CO₂ evolution from nonilluminated cells. Simultaneous measurements of medium alkalinization and ¹⁴CO₂ evolution upon the addition of labeled l-glutamate showed that alkalinization was immediate and reached a maximum value after 45 minutes whereas ¹⁴CO₂ evolution exhibited a lag before its appearance and continued in a linear manner for at least 100 minutes. Rates of alkalinization and uptake of l-[U-¹⁴C]glutamate were higher in the light while rates of ¹⁴CO₂ evolution were higher in the dark. The major labeled product of glutamate decarboxylation, γ-aminobutyric acid, was found in the cells and the suspension medium. Its addition to the cell suspension did not result in medium alkalinization and evidence indicates that it is lost from the cell to the medium. The data suggest that the origin of medium alkalinization is co-transport not metabolism, and that the loss of labeled CO₂ and γ-aminobutyric acid from the cell result in an overestimation of the stoichiometry of the H⁺/l-glutamate uptake process.