Liver-type fatty acid binding protein interacts with hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) regulates liver type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) gene expression. Conversely as shown herein, L-FABP structurally and functionally also interacts with HNF4α. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Cy3-HNF4α (donor) and Cy5-L-FABP (acceptor) as well as FRET microscopy detected L-FABP in close proximity (∼80 Å) to HNF4α, binding with high affinity K_d ∼250–300 nM. Circular dichroism (CD) determined that the HNF4α/L-FABP interaction altered protein secondary structure. Finally, L-FABP potentiated transactivation of HNF4α in COS7 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that L-FABP provides a signaling path to HNF4α activation in the nucleus.     

激光辐照微藻的显微图像观察及荧光定量分析

利用激光共聚焦扫描显微镜观察激光辐照前后微藻细胞叶绿体自体荧光图像,并对荧光变化进行定量分析。用Nd:YAP激光辐照扁藻、金藻及三角褐指藻。实验结果表明:Nd:YAP激光辐照后,藻细胞荧光光谱峰位不变,但荧光峰值发生较大变化,在激光促长剂量辐照下,几种微藻细胞的荧光强度均比对照组强。激光辐照微藻产生的生理刺激效应可以反映在细胞的荧光特性与强度变化上。激光共聚焦扫描显微镜可以作为微藻激光生物效应研究的一种有效方法。     

Metabolic activity of Glomus intraradices in Arum- and Paris-type arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization

Colonization of two plant species by Glomus intraradices was studied to investigate the two morphological types (Arum and Paris), their symbiotic interfaces and metabolic activities. Root pieces and sections were stained to observe the colonization and metabolic activity of all mycorrhizal structures. There were no growth responses observed in the plants caused by mycorrhizal symbiosis. The two morphological types had a similar percentage of root colonized, but the Arum-type had higher metabolic activity. Most of the mycorrhizal structures (88%) showed succinate dehydrogenase activity; about half showed acid phosphatase activity; and a small percentage showed alkaline phosphatase activity. Phosphatase activity was highest in arbuscules and low in intercellular hyphae in the Arum-type colonization. In the Paris-type, hyphal coils and arbusculate coils showed a similar intermediate percentage of phosphatase activity. We conclude that acid phosphatase is more important than alkaline phosphatase in both colonization types. We discuss the possibility that, whereas arbuscules in Arum-type are the main site for phosphorus release to the host plant, both the hyphal and arbusculate coils may be involved in the Paris-type.     

小麦叶肉细胞原生质体中微管骨架的排列格局与[Ca2+]cyt的关系

以小麦叶肉细胞原生质体为材料,通过免疫荧光标记和Ca~(2 )荧光染料的装载并结合药物学试验,借助激光共聚焦扫描显微镜观察,探讨微管骨架和Ca~(2 )之间的内在联系。试验结果表明,[Ca~(2 )]_(cyt)的升高能够诱发微管骨架的解聚;而微管骨架的解聚也会促使胞外Ca~(2 )内流,进而造成[Ca~(2 )]_(cyt)的升高。     

动态检测血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激后STAT3信号核转位及其与衰老的关系

为了动态观察复制性衰老细胞中血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)激活人信号转导与转录活化因子3(hSTAT3)信号转导途径的核转位情况及该途径在细胞衰老过程中的变化。将载体pMS1-hSTAT3上的目的基因STAT3序列亚克隆到pEGFP-C3报告载体中,构建出pEGFP-hSTAT3质粒选择人胚肺二倍体成纤维细胞WI-38细胞株进行细胞培养,通过脂质体(Effectene)转染的方法,将pEGFP-STAT3质粒分别转染至19代,42代WI-38细胞中;在激光共聚焦显微镜下动态观察血管紧张素Ⅱ激活STAT3的核转位的变化及不同代数的差别．结果显示AngⅡ刺激细胞后,出现活化的STAT3在胞核内聚集现象,并且在19代细胞中15分钟开始出现,30—45分钟左右时达到高峰;42代细胞中30分钟左右开始出现,50—60分钟左右达到高峰。因此我们认为AngⅡ刺激WI-38细胞,能出现hSTAT3信号转导的核内集聚现象;并且随着WI-38细胞传代数的增加,STAT3信号转导入核时间延迟。说明随着细胞的复制性衰老,通过STAT3通路转导的信号活性逐渐降低,最终影响细胞的增殖,可能是促进细胞衰老的原因之一。     

盐胁迫对甜菊细胞内游离Ca2+浓度的影响

钙离子不仅是植物生长发育所需的一种大量元素,而且起了偶联细胞外刺激与胞内反应第二信使的作用,是多种受体激动后信息传递过程的中心环节。近年的研究表明:高温、干旱、触摸、低渗、低温、风、机械刺激、病原菌感染等多种环境胁迫均能引起胞质Ca~(2+)水平的改变。这种变化被认为是植物细胞感受环境胁迫的原初反应之一,它通过启动基因表达和胞内一系列生理生化过程调节细胞对环境改变的适应反应。胞质Ca~(2+)水平的改变有两种来源:胞外Ca~(2+)跨膜内流和胞内钙库如内质网中的Ca~(2+)释放。其中由肌醇磷     

激光共聚焦显微镜在肿瘤免疫治疗检测中的应用

目的:通过激光共聚焦显微镜对肿瘤生物治疗后患者的外周血淋巴细胞进行亚群计数,为生物治疗后外周血淋巴细胞无法分群的肿瘤患者提供新的监测免疫功能状态的方法。方法:收集35例肿瘤生物治疗后患者的外周血标本,通过激光共聚焦显微镜和流式细胞仪两种方法分别对患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群进行分类计数。结果:流式细胞仪和激光共聚焦显微镜同时分类计数的患者外周血细胞标本30例,两种方法在检测CD3、CD3~+/CD4~+、CD3~+/CD8~+、CD3-/CD16~+56~+、CD3-/CD19~+细胞时均无统计学差异(P值0.05);5例流式细胞仪无法将患者外周血淋巴细胞分群的样本,通过激光共聚焦显微镜可以进行分类计数。结论:激光共聚焦显微镜亦可以用于外周血淋巴细胞的分类计数。     

ROS-Ca is associated with mitochondria permeability transition pore involved in surfactin-induced MCF-7 cells apoptosis

The surfactin can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Moreover, surfactin can induce cell death in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through mitochondrial pathway. However, the molecular mechanism involved in this pathway remains to be elucidated. Here, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca²⁺ on mitochondria permeability transition pore (MPTP) activity, and MCF-7 cell apoptosis which induced by surfactin were investigated. It is found that surfactin evoked mitochondrial ROS generation, and the surfactin-induced cell death was prevented by N-acetylcysteine (NAC, an inhibitor of ROS). An increasing cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration was detected in surfactin-induced MCF-7 apoptosis, which was inhibited by 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA-AM, a chelator of calcium). In addition, the relationship between ROS generation and the increase of cytoplasm Ca²⁺ was determined. The results showed that surfactin initially induced the ROS formation, leading to the MPTP opening accompanied with the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m). Then the cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration increased in virtue of the changes of mitochondrial permeability, which was prevented by BAPTA-AM. Besides, cytochrome c (cyt c) was released from mitochondria to cytoplasm through the MPTP and activated caspase-9, eventually induced apoptosis. In summary, surfactin has notable anti-tumor effect on MCF-7 cells, however, there was no obvious cytotoxicity on normal cells.     

Visualization and quantification of endoplasmic reticulum Ca in renal cells using confocal microscopy and Fluo5F

Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺ is the most abundant store of intracellular Ca²⁺, and its release is an important trigger of physiological and cell death pathways. Previous work in our laboratory revealed the importance of ER Ca²⁺ in toxicant-induced renal proximal tubular cell (RPTC) death. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of confocal microscopy and Fluo5F, a low affinity Ca²⁺ indicator, to directly monitor changes in RPTC ER Ca²⁺. Fluo5F staining reflected ER Ca²⁺, resolved ER structure, and showed no colocalization with tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester (TMRM), a marker of mitochondrial membrane potential. Thapsigargin, an ER Ca²⁺ pump inhibitor, decreased ER fluorescence by 30% and 55% at 5 and 15 min, respectively, whereas A23187, a Ca²⁺ ionophore caused more rapid ER Ca²⁺ release (55% and 75% decrease in fluorescence at 5 and 15 min).Carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP), a mitochondrial uncoupler, added at the end of the experiment, further decreased ER fluorescence after thapsigargin treatment, revealing that thapsigargin did not release all ER Ca²⁺. In contrast, FCCP did not decrease ER fluorescence after A23187 treatment, suggesting complete ER Ca²⁺ release. ER Ca²⁺ release in response to A23187 or thapsigargin resulted in a modest but significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. These data provide evidence that confocal microscopy and Fluo5F are useful and effective tools for directly monitoring ER Ca²⁺ in live cells.