The RhoGEF DOCK10 is essential for dendritic spine morphogenesis

By regulating actin cytoskeleton dynamics, Rho GTPases and their activators RhoGEFs are implicated in various aspects of neuronal differentiation, including dendritogenesis and synaptogenesis. Purkinje cells (PCs) of the cerebellum, by developing spectacular dendrites covered with spines, represent an attractive model system in which to decipher the molecular signaling underlying these processes. To identify novel regulators of dendritic spine morphogenesis among members of the poorly characterized DOCK family of RhoGEFs, we performed gene expression profiling of fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-purified murine PCs at various stages of their postnatal differentiation. We found a strong increase in the expression of the Cdc42-specific GEF DOCK10. Depleting DOCK10 in organotypic cerebellar cultures resulted in dramatic dendritic spine defects in PCs. Accordingly, in mouse hippocampal neurons, depletion of DOCK10 or expression of a DOCK10 GEF-dead mutant led to a strong decrease in spine density and size. Conversely, overexpression of DOCK10 led to increased spine formation. We show that DOCK10 function in spinogenesis is mediated mainly by Cdc42 and its downstream effectors N-WASP and PAK3, although DOCK10 is also able to activate Rac1. Our global approach thus identifies an unprecedented function for DOCK10 as a novel regulator of dendritic spine morphogenesis via a Cdc42-mediated pathway.     

PKCε regulates contraction‐stimulated GLUT4 traffic in skeletal muscle cells

The signaling pathways that stimulate glucose uptake in response to muscle contraction are not well defined. Recently, we showed that carbachol, an acetylcholine analog, stimulates contraction of C2C12 myotube cultures and the rapid arrival of myc‐epitope tagged GLUT4 glucose transporters at the cell surface. Here, we explore a role for protein kinase C (PKC) in regulating GLUT4 traffic. Cell surface carbachol‐induced GLUT4myc levels were partly inhibited by the conventional/novel PKC inhibitors GF‐109203X, Gö6983, and Ro‐31‐8425 but not by the conventional PKC inhibitor Gö6976. C2C12 myotubes expressed several novel isoforms of PKC mRNA with PKCδ and PKCε in greater abundance. Carbachol stimulated phosphorylation of PKC isoforms and translocation of PKCδ and PKCε to membranes within 5 min. However, only a peptidic inhibitor of PKCε translocation (myristoylated‐EAVSLKPT), but not one of PKCδ (myristoylated‐SFNSYELGSL), prevented the GLUT4myc response to carbachol. Significant participation of PKCε in the carbachol‐induced gain of GLUT4myc at the surface of C2C12 myotubes was further supported through siRNA‐mediated PKCε protein knockdown. These findings support a role for novel PKC isoforms, especially PKCε, in contraction‐stimulated GLUT4 traffic in muscle cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 173–180, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

分子标记技术的发展及应用

介绍了几种应用前景较广的分子标记,如基于DNA杂交技术的分子标记:限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)和DNA可变串联重复数标记(VNRT);基于PCR技术的分子标记:随机扩增多态性 DNA(RAPD)、酶切扩增多态性(CAPS)、扩增片段长度多态性(AFLP)、微卫星DNA(SSR)和DNA单链构象多态性(SSCP);以及新兴的第3代分子标记,即基于DNA芯片技术的分子标记:单核苷酸多态性(SNP)等。分别阐述了它们的原理、方法步骤与优缺点、应用注意事项和适用范围,同时概述了它们在生物学研究中的应用和进展。     

Patterns of Expression in the Matrix Proteins Responsible for Nucleation and Growth of Aragonite Crystals in Flat Pearls of Pinctada fucata

The initial growth of the nacreous layer is crucial for comprehending the formation of nacreous aragonite. A flat pearl method in the presence of the inner-shell film was conducted to evaluate the role of matrix proteins in the initial stages of nacre biomineralization in vivo. We examined the crystals deposited on a substrate and the expression patterns of the matrix proteins in the mantle facing the substrate. In this study, the aragonite crystals nucleated on the surface at 5 days in the inner-shell film system. In the film-free system, the calcite crystals nucleated at 5 days, a new organic film covered the calcite, and the aragonite nucleated at 10 days. This meant that the nacre lamellae appeared in the inner-shell film system 5 days earlier than that in the film-free system, timing that was consistent with the maximum level of matrix proteins during the first 20 days. In addition, matrix proteins (Nacrein, MSI60, N19, N16 and Pif80) had similar expression patterns in controlling the sequential morphologies of the nacre growth in the inner-film system, while these proteins in the film-free system also had similar patterns of expression. These results suggest that matrix proteins regulate aragonite nucleation and growth with the inner-shell film in vivo.     

维生素C对嗜酸乳杆菌GIM1.208 β-葡萄糖苷酶激活效应及分子互作关系

【背景】研究发现维生素C(vitaminC,VC)对嗜酸乳杆菌GIM1.208β-葡萄糖苷酶(β-glucosidase, BGL)具有明显激活作用。【目的】探究VC对BGL的影响特性以及二者互作关系。【方法】通过对硝基苯酚法、电化学法、Zeta电位法及核磁共振氢谱法研究VC对BGL的活性影响及互作特性。【结果】VC对BGL催化底物活性具有明显促效作用，Km=1.167 mmol/L,Vmax随着VC浓度增大而增大；VC浓度为3.5%时酶活性达到最高；在VC浓度为3.5%、温度低于30℃时，酶活性受温度影响较小，VC对BGL具有良好的稳定作用，相对酶活保持在90%以上。VC与BGL结合，两者存在弱静电作用且两者的相互作用使得VC的电氧化反应变得更加容易，同时推测VC分子中乙二醇支链片段与BGL之间存在氢键作用。【结论】VC对BGL具有明显激活作用，试验探究了两者作用力类型及作用位点，为BGL应用及天然酶激活剂的高效利用提供设计理论参考。     

金矿床区蜡状芽孢杆菌孢壁蛋白SDS-PAGE图谱及聚类分析

用SDS PAGE方法对 5株从我国金矿床区采集到的典型的蜡状芽孢杆菌 (Bacilluscereus)C6,C14 ,B2 ,JY I T1,JY X T9的孢壁蛋白同标准株AS1.12 6的孢壁蛋白共同进行比较分析 ,计算出了各蛋白电泳带的近似分子量 ,又以它们的迁移距离为标准同苏云金芽孢杆菌 (Bacillusthuringiensis)的孢壁蛋白相比较 ,得到聚类分析树状图谱 ,表明具有聚金作用的蜡状芽孢杆菌在分类学上具有相似性 ,而与具有杀虫作用的Bt菌株在分类学上则相差较远。     

L-茶氨酸对H2O2致L02细胞损伤的保护作用及其机制研究

研究L-茶氨酸对肝细胞损伤的保护作用及其机制。利用H2O2诱导的LO2肝细胞损伤模型,分别用MTT法检测细胞存活率、测定LDH、流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率、Western blot法检测Caspase-3和PARP蛋白表达7LBax／Bcl-2比值的变化,评价L-茶氨酸是否能保护H2O2诱导的肝细胞损伤。结果表明,L-茶氨酸能提高H2O2损伤的L02细胞存活率,减少LDH的渗漏,降低肝细胞凋亡,且L-茶氨酸通过抑制caspase-3的激活和PARP的切割及Bax／Bcl-2比值的升高而发挥抗凋亡的作用。L-茶氨酸对肝细胞损伤有一定的治疗和保护作用。     

曾候乙墓穴木椁微生物的分离与鉴定

从曾侯乙墓中椁室、东椁室、西椁室和北椁室分别取样,经平板划线培养,分离,纯化共获得典型的菌株16株。将16株分别涂片镜检,生理生化分析鉴定,结果证明芽孢杆菌属11株,其中苏云金变种1株,地衣芽孢杆菌1株,巨大芽孢杆菌1株,球形芽孢杆菌5株,蜡状芽孢杆菌2株,多粘芽孢杆菌1株。其余菌株微杆菌属4株,黄色杆菌属黄杆菌1株。     

曾候乙墓穴木椁微生物降解对木材危害及防治措施研究

从曾候乙墓分离到的16株菌,其中有11株为芽孢杆菌属类,4株微杆菌属,1林为黄色杆菌属。将16株细菌分别侵染6种木材,结果证明细菌降解对6种木材均有不同的韧性下降,个别木材出现腐烂病灶。2号菌降解后对泡桐、枣树、马尾松、香樟、刺槐和桑树分别下降8％,12％,10％,5％,10％和13％。3,5,6,7,8,9和16号菌对上述6种木材也有不同程度影响。而4,11,12,13,14和15号菌对6种木材的韧性下降影响不明显。但其渗透性大大提高了,因此也会影响木材的使用年限。采用杀菌、杀虫的石油气,乙醇等有机溶济,防治微生物降解产物对木材的浸蚀,均有较好的防菌、防认腐效果。