siRNA沉默整合素beta1 基因对子宫内膜癌细胞侵袭、转移的影响

目的：探讨siRNA 沉默整合素茁1 基因对子宫内膜癌细胞侵袭、转移的影响。方法：选取子宫内膜癌ECC-1细胞系(ER阳性) 和KLE细胞系(ER阴性)，分别转染Integrin beta1 siRNA 质粒(Integrin beta1 siRNA 组)、无义序列siRNA质粒(无义序列对照组)和空载 质粒(空载对照组)，利用实时荧光定量PCR 检测各组细胞中Integrin 茁1 mRNA的表达，Western blot 检测各组细胞中Integrin beta1、 beta-catenin 和C-Myc 蛋白的表达，Transwell 小室检测各组细胞迁移和侵袭能力，MTT 法检测各组细胞的增殖情况。结果：Integrin beta1 siRNA 组ECC-1 细胞和KLE 细胞中Integrin beta1 mRNA 和蛋白相对表达量均低于无义序列对照组和空载对照组(P<0.05)； Integrin beta 1 siRNA组ECC-1 细胞和KLE细胞中beta-catenin 蛋白和C-Myc 蛋白相对表达量均低于无义序列对照组和空载对照组， 差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)；Integrin beta1 siRNA组ECC-1 细胞和KLE 细胞中迁移细胞数和侵袭细胞数均低于无义序列对照组 和空载对照组(P<0.05)；Integrin beta1 siRNA 组ECC-1细胞和KLE 细胞的A 值均低于无义序列对照组和空载对照组(P<0.05)。结 论：特异性抑制Integrin beta1 基因可抑制子宫内膜癌细胞迁移、侵袭和增殖，可能与抑制Wnt信号传导有关。     

Contest and scramble competitions inCallosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) II. Larval competition and interference mechanisms

Competition between contest and scramble strategists was examined using two strains of Callosobruchus maculatus, the contest strain (iQ) and the scramble strain (tQ). The direct larval interference experiment within each strain showed that the contest strain performed strong direct interference throughout its larval stage against the conspecific opponent(s). The scramble strain also performed its interference, but only during the 3rd and the 4th larval stages. The inter-strain larval competition experiments inside a large and small mung bean (Vigna radiata) showed that the contest strain was, in general, superior to the scramble strain in competition, but the competition results were density- and frequency-dependent. In the large beans, the proportion of adult emergence of the contest strain increased with the increase of its own initial density but decreased as the initial density of the scramble strain increased. The shape of the proportion of adult emergence became nonlinear in the small beans. The cause of the complexity of inter-strain competition results was discussed in the light of the difference in larval interference ability between the two strains.     

The effects of different PMSG doses on estrus behavior and pregnancy rate in Angora goats

Artificial insemination protocols depend on efficient behavioral estrus detection and insemination time in Angora goat. Therefore, we aim to determine the accuracy of an estrus scoring system in Angora goats with different PMSG doses during the breeding season. Does (n: 260) were randomly divided into three groups: group-1 (n: 93), group-2 (n: 85) and group-3 (n: 82). All animals received an intravaginal sponge on day 0 for 11 days, and on the day of sponge insertion 150 μg prostaglandin F2Α was administered. Pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin was injected 300, 400 and 500 IU intramuscularly 24 h before sponge removal to groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Estrus signs were detected with a teaser buck, 24 h after sponge removal according to a visual scoring system. Artificial insemination was performed with 0.25 ml fresh diluted semen at 43 to 45 h after sponge removal. Differences were observed within PMSG groups in terms of standing, tail wagging, courtship behavior, vaginal discharge and vaginal hyperemia (P<0.001). Nevertheless, the most accurate indicators of estrus that result in pregnancy were tail wagging and courtship behavior followed by standing estrus (P<0.05). According to the results obtained, 300 IU PMSG dose is sufficient, both to inseminate at a fixed time (43 to 45 h after sponge removal) and to record the estrus behavior by teaser male 24 h after sponge removal. Higher PMSG doses (400 to 500 IU) altered the timing of ovulation; specifically, 500 IU dose shortened the duration of estrus behaviors. In conclusion, even though the different doses of PMSG displayed similar effects on estrus synchronization and pregnancy rates, we concluded that tail wagging, courtship behavior and standing heat are the most reliable estrus signs for artificial insemination in Angora goat.     

Settlement and habitat use by juvenile pike in early winter

The spatial distribution and social behaviour of young-of-the-year pike Esox lucius was investigated in early winter. Reed beds were selected in the early exploration phase but thereafter, pike congregated in the pool habitat. A significant increase in pool occupancy combined with a decrease in reed bed occupancy and movement indicated settlement within 3 days. There was no evidence of territoriality, which has been reported previously in adult pike: indeed, inter-individual spacing was consistent with social grouping rather than territory defence. The strong preference for reed cover among juveniles reported in other studies that were undertaken during summer was not observed here. Among-individual variation in exploratory behaviour was observed but this was not related to activity levels or habitat use.     

Engineering lysine‐rich caleosins as carrier proteins to render biotin as a hapten on artificial oil bodies for antibody production

It has been demonstrated that caleosin alone is sufficient to stabilize artificial oil bodies. A series of recombinant caleosins, mutated with 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 15, and 17 extra Lys residues and over‐expressed in Escherichia coli, were used as carrier proteins to render biotin as a hapten on the surface of artificial oil bodies for antibody production. Biotinylation levels of the recombinant caleosins were step‐wisely elevated as the number of extra Lys residues increased, and the biotinylated Lys residues were identified by mass spectrometric analysis. Polyclonal antibodies against biotin were successfully generated in rats injected with artificial oil bodies constituted with each of the biotinylated caleosins. Moreover, those generated via the biotinylated caleosins with eight or more extra Lys residues no longer recognized caleosin. It appears that engineered Lys‐rich caleosins are suitable carrier proteins for the production of antibodies against small molecules. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011     

Prey: predator ratio dependence in the functional response of a freshwater amphipod

1. First known for their shredding activity, freshwater amphipods also behave as active predators with consequences for prey population regulation and amphipod coexistence in the context of biological invasions. 2. A way to quantify predation is to determine the average consumption rate per predator, also known as its functional response (FR). 3. Although amphipods are gregarious and can display social interactions that can alter per capita consumption rates, previous studies using the FR approach to investigate amphipod predation ignored such potential mutual interference because they did not consider variations in predator density. 4. We investigated the FR of Echinogammarus berilloni feeding on dipteran larvae with joint variations in prey and predator densities. This bivariate experimental design allowed us to estimate interference and to compare the fits of the three main classes of theoretical FR models, in which the predation rate is a function of prey density alone (prey‐dependent models), of both prey and predator densities (predator‐dependent models) or of the prey‐to‐predator ratio (ratio‐dependent models). 5. The Arditi–Ginzburg ratio‐dependent FR model provided the best representation of the FR of E. berilloni, whose predation rate showed a decelerating rise to a horizontal asymptote as prey abundance increased. 6. Ratio dependence means that mutual interference between amphipods leads to prey sharing. Mutual interference is likely to vary between amphipod species, depending on their level of aggressiveness.