Further Evidence for Multiple Forms of an N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Recognition Domain in Rat Brain Using Membrane Binding Techniques

Abstract— Pretreatment with sulfhydryl-reactive agents, such as N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuriphenylsul-fonic acid, invariably resulted in marked inhibition of the binding of dl -(E)-2-amino-4-[³H]propyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoic acid ([³H]CGP 39653), a competitive antagonist at an N-methyl-d -aspartate (NMDA)-sensitive subclass of central excitatory amino acid receptors, in brain synaptic membranes extensively washed and treated with Triton X-100, but did not significantly affect the binding of L-[³H]-glutamic acid ([³H]Glu), an endogenous agonist. The pre-treatment was effective in reducing the binding of [³H]-CGP 39653 at equilibrium, without altering the initial association rate, and decreased the affinity for the ligand. Pretreatment with sulfhydryl-reactive agents also enhanced the potencies of NMDA agonists to displace [³H]-CGP 39653 binding and attenuated those of NMDA antagonists, but had little effect on the potencies of the agonists and antagonists to displace [³H]Glu binding. The binding of both [³H]CGP 39653 and [³H]Glu was similarly sensitive to pretreatment with four different proteases in Tritontreated membranes, whereas pretreatment with phospho-lipase A₂ or C markedly inhibited [³H]CGP 39653 binding without altering [³H]Glu binding. Moreover, both phospho-lipases not only induced enhancement of the abilities of NMDA agonists to displace the binding of [³H]CGP 39653 and [³H]Glu, but also caused diminution of those of NMDA antagonists. These results suggest that both sulfhydryl-reactive agents and phospholipases may predominantly interfere with radiolabeling of the NMDA recognition domain in a state favorable to an antagonist by [³H]CGP 39653, with concomitant facilitation of that in an agonist-preferring form by [³H]Glu. The possible presence of multiple forms of the NMDA recognition domain is further supported by these data.     

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

Depression compromises antiviral innate immunity via the AVP-AHI1-Tyk2 axis

Depression is a serious public-health issue. Recent reports have suggested higher susceptibility to viral infections in depressive patients. However, how depression affects antiviral innate immune signaling remains unknown. Here, we revealed a reduction in expression of Abelson helper integration site 1 (AHI1) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and macrophages from the patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), which leads to attenuated antiviral immune response. We found that depression-related arginine vasopressin (AVP) induces reduction of AHI1 in macrophages. Further studies demonstrated that AHI1 is a critical stabilizer of basal type-I-interferon (IFN-I) signaling. Mechanistically, AHI1 recruits OTUD1 to deubiquitinate and stabilize Tyk2, while AHI1 reduction downregulates Tyk2 and IFN-I signaling activity in macrophages from both MDD patients and depression model mice. Interestingly, we identified a clinical analgesic meptazinol that effectively stimulates AHI1 expression, thus enhancing IFN-I antiviral defense in depression model mice. Our study promotes the understanding of the signaling mechanisms of depression-mediated antiviral immune dysfunction, and reveals meptazinol as an enhancer of antiviral innate immunity in depressive patients.Subject terms: Innate immunity, Ubiquitylation, Cell signalling     

AFLP analysis of genetic diversity and relationship among some Chinese domestic ducks and wild ducks

The amplified fragment length polymorphic(AFLP)technique was used to analyze the genome DNA polymorphism among 8 breeds of domestic ducks and 2 species of wild ducks.Nine of the 17 selected primers pairs gave reproducible polymorphic DNA amplification bands.The amplified bands ranged from 44 to 83 per primer pair.Of the 513 AFLP markers obtained.498 were polymorphic.The proportion of polymorphic loci was 97.1%.The genetic distance(D)and similarity coefficients(GS)were calculated based on the polymorphic data.Between domestic ducks D ranged from 0.331 to 0.589,while between domestic ducks and the wild ducks,it ranged from 0.298 to 0.520(vs.Anas Platyrhynchos)and from 0.316 to 0.522(vs.A.Poecilorhyncha),respectively.The variance analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups of data,which indicated that both mallard and spot-billed ducks made contributions to domestic duck evolution.A dendrogram was constructed according to the D value.     

青藏公路沿线白昼交通运输等人类活动对藏羚羊迁徙的影响

To study effects of traffic during daytime and other human activities, we conducted surveys on the migration of Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsoni along the Qinghai-Tibet highway between Kunlun Mountain Pass to Wudaoliang,using line transects (LT) from June to September in 2001 and 2002, Data were collected for 64 days with 17 days in 2001, and 47days in 2002. The Stationary Observation Method (SOM) was also adopted for the investigation of status of the disturbance from traffic when antelopes passing the highway and the traffic situation from August 6 to 28 (6 : 30-19: 00), 4 to 20 (6: 00- 18: 00) and from December 21 to 29 (9：00- 19: 00) in 2002. The results showed that,the period of migration in 2002 was more prolonged than in 2001, and it took at least 45 min for each group to cross the highway, with success ratio of only 30.2 %, and the traffic flow of summer daytime was 76/h, while the winter‘s traffic flow was 29/h. Highway and rail traffic should be managed during daylight hours from June to August, to allow for the migration of the antelopes. Also conservation education and a further survey should be emphasized for the protection on the species [Acta Zoologica Sinica 50 (4) : 669-674, 2004].