NKG2D ligand RAE1ε induces generation and enhances the inhibitor function of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells in mice

Expression of surface NKG2D ligands on tumour cells, which activates nature killer (NK) cells and CD8⁺ T cells, is crucial in antitumour immunity. Some types of tumours have evolved mechanisms to suppress NKG2D‐mediated immune cell activation, such as tumour‐derived soluble NKG2D ligands or sustained NKG2D ligands produced by tumours down‐regulate the expression of NKG2D on NK cells and CD8⁺ T cells. Here, we report that surface NKG2D ligand RAE1ε on tumour cells induces CD11b⁺Gr‐1⁺ myeloid‐derived suppressor cell (MDSC) via NKG2D in vitro and in vivo. MDSCs induced by RAE1ε display a robust induction of IL‐10 and arginase, and these MDSCs show greater suppressive activity by inhibiting antigen‐non‐specific CD8⁺ T‐cell proliferation. Consistently, upon adoptive transfer, MDSCs induced by RAE1ε significantly promote CT26 tumour growth in IL‐10‐ and arginase‐dependent manners. RAE1ε moves cytokine balance towards Th2 but not Th1 in vivo. Furthermore, RAE1ε enhances inhibitory function of CT26‐derived MDSCs and promotes IL‐4 rather than IFN‐γ production from CT26‐derived MDSCs through NKG2D in vitro. Our study has demonstrated a novel mechanism for NKG2D ligand⁺ tumour cells escaping from immunosurveillance by facilitating the proliferation and the inhibitory function of MDSCs.     

Comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genome sequences of two subtropical trees, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoebe sheareri</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoebe omeiensis</Emphasis> (Lauraceae)

Phoebe is an economically important genus from the family Lauraceae. It is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia, but systematics of the genus is unclear, and currently there is no species-level phylogeny. Here, we determined the complete chloroplast genome sequences of two species with long-range PCR and next genome sequencing technologies, and identified mutation sites and highly variable regions. These highly variable sites were used to reconstruct the phylogeny. The plastomes of Phoebe sheareri and P. omeiensis were 152, 876, and 152, 855 bp, respectively. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that there are 222 mutation sites including 146 substitutions, 73 indels, and 3 microinversions in both plastomes. Fifty-six single-nucleotide changes were identified in gene-coding regions, and 45 microsatellite sites were found for use in species identification. Fourteen divergence hotspots of 38 variable regions were located. Phylogeny was reconstructed using a Bayesian and maximum likelihood approach for 12 Phoebe species and other five related Lauraceae based on 15 of the highly variable regions including accD-psaI, atpB-rbcL, ndhC-trnV, ndhF-rpl32, petA-psbJ, psaA, psbA-trnH, rbcL, rps8-rpl14, rps16-trnQ, rpl32-trnL, trnC-petN, trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, and ycf1 indicated that variability in the chloroplast regions proposed as variable is enough to detect divergence events among 12 taxa of Phoebe, and that maybe also useful to help to elucidate further relationships among other taxa of the genus.     

Spectroscopic and in silico study of binding mechanism of cynidine‐3‐O‐glucoside with human serum albumin and glycated human serum albumin

The drug–serum albumin interaction plays a dominant role in drug efficacy and disposition. The glycation of serum albumin that occurs during diabetes may affect its drug‐binding properties in vivo. In order to evaluate the interactivity characteristics of cyanidin‐3‐O‐glucoside (C3G) with human serum albumin (HSA) and glycated human serum albumin (gHSA), this study was undertaken using multiple spectroscopic techniques and molecular modeling analysis. Time‐resolved fluorescence and the thermodynamic parameters indicated that the quenching mechanism was static quenching, and hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals force were the main forces. The protein fluorescence could be quenched by C3G, whereas the polarity of the fluorophore was not obviously changed. C3G significantly altered the secondary structure of the proteins. Furthermore, the interaction force that existed in the HSA–C3G system was greater than that in the gHSA–C3G system. Fluorescence excitation emission matrix spectra, red edge excitation shift, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectra provided further evidence that glycation could inhibit the binding between C3G and proteins. In addition, molecular modeling analysis supported the experimental results. The results provided more details for the application of C3G in the treatment of diabetes.     

利用磁珠构建稻瘟菌cDNA文库

本文以稻瘟菌菌丝体为材料提取RNA,[目的]改进张学敏等人的方法,通过磁珠构建稻瘟菌cDNA文库,并用于下一步研究稻瘟菌与水稻之间的互作关系.[方法]通过共价键连接的寡聚oligo(dT)磁珠纯化mRNA,并以磁珠上的oligo(dT)为引物引导第一链cDNA的合成,再利用末端转移酶加尾法合成第二链cDNA.构建过程中避免使用限制酶和连接接头.[结果]用此方法构建的文库容量为8.9×107cfu,滴度为8.9×106 cfu/mL,随机挑取的25个克隆插入片断平均大小达到1380bp.[结论]实验结果表明用改进的方法可构建高质量的cDNA文库,并且方便快捷,所用材料少,构建时间短,利于大规模的功能基因分析.     

粟酒裂殖酵母N-糖酰胺酶在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及活性分析

根据GenBank中公布的粟酒裂殖酵母(Schizosaccharomyces pombe)N-糖酰胺酶(Png1p)cDNA序列, 设计并合成一对特异性引物, 利用RT-PCR技术从粟酒裂殖酵母中克隆出糖酰胺酶cDNA。将得到的基因克隆到表达载体pET-15b中。重组质粒转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中, 经诱导表达和纯化提取后, 进行酶活测定。实验结果表明, 该酶的分子量约为39 kD, 纯化后的重组N-糖酰胺酶可以对变性处理的糖蛋白进行糖链的切除, 且这种作用需要还原剂DTT的辅助作用; N-糖酰胺酶只对错误折叠的糖蛋白有作用, 对天然的糖蛋白没有作用。等量粟酒裂殖酵母Png1p在不同温度、pH、DTT浓度和底物变性温度下对等量核糖核酸酶B(RNase B)的脱糖基化检测发现, 重组酶的最适反应温度30°C, 最适反应pH为7.0, 需要的最适DTT浓度为10 mmol/L, 底物在100°C处理10 min时酶的脱糖基化率最高。     

利用纤维床反应器固定化发酵生产丙酸

构建了一种纤维床反应器(FBB), 并将其应用于丙酸的生产。将棉纤维绕成桶状, 固定于反应器中, 即可用于丙酸固定化发酵。以40 g/L的葡萄糖为碳源, 与游离细胞相比, 利用FBB生产丙酸, 丙酸产量由14.58 g/L提高至20.41 g/L, 发酵时间由120 h缩短至60 h。研究了不同糖浓度条件下FBB生产丙酸情况, 并将补料策略应用于丙酸发酵中。结果表明: 补料发酵能够有效改善Propionibacterium freudenreichii CCTCC M207015在高糖条件下丙酸对葡萄糖转化率较低、副产物较多的问题。经补料发酵280 h, 丙酸产量达45.91 g/L, 丙酸质量约占有机酸总质量比例为72.31%。