黄色黏细菌转录因子FruA对自身基因的表达不具自调节作用

 粘细菌是研究多细胞结构形态发生机制的良好模型.FruA是粘细菌发育所必需的一种 关键性转录因子, 调节一系列发育相关基因的表达,本文研究FruA对自身基因是否存在反馈调节从而导致发育后期fruA表达水平的下调.以野生型粘细菌模式菌株DK1622为基础构建fruA基因敲除突变株DK1622ΔfruA,再将fruA-lacZ转录融合载体pMF1A整合入fruA突变株染色体attB, 获得重组菌株DK1622ΔfruA/pMF1A,通过检测β-半乳糖苷酶活性来确认FruA对自身基因的表达水平是否有影响. 结果表明fruA调控序列完整的fruA-lacZ转录融合体β-半乳糖苷酶活性在DK1622/pMF1A和DK1622ΔfruA/pMF1A之间无明显差异, 即fruA表达产物作为一种转录因子对自身基因的转录没有调节作用,黏细菌发育后期fruA表达水平的下降存在其它调节机制.     

一种粘细菌发育相关基因的分离及敲除分析

FruB是与粘细菌(Myxococcus xanthus)发育特异性转录因子FruA具有亲和力的蛋白因子,协同FruA参与对靶基因的调控。根据FruB氨基端氨基酸序列,设计简并性寡核苷酸引物对染色体DNA进行PCR扩增,以扩增产物为探针自粘细菌小型基因文库筛选出同源的4.5kb SacI阳性片段。fruB基因阻断分析表明,fruB功能缺失延缓子实体发育并降低粘孢子产率,提示fruB与粘细菌发育分化有一定联系。     

棉花微管蛋白基因GhTub1在纤维细胞中的特异表达

以陆地棉(Gossypium hirsutum )纤维发育前期和中期的胚珠及纤维细胞为材料构建cDNA文库, 通过ESTs分析获得了一个β-微管蛋白家族成员(GhTub1). 以该cDNA的3′-UTR为探针, 利用Northern杂交方法, 对GhTub1基因在棉花不同器官及棉纤维不同发育阶段的表达进行了分析, 发现该基因的表达具有棉纤维细胞特异性. 在纤维发育过程中, GhTub1转录产物的累积主要发生在纤维细胞延伸阶段, 在纤维延伸速度最快时达到高峰. 利用裂殖酵母系统, 对GhTub1的细胞内功能进行了初步分析, 发现该基因在酵母中过量表达能使其细胞显著伸长或分支. 这些实验结果暗示GhTub1基因可能在纤维细胞的极性延伸中具有功能.     

Sox2基因3'非翻译区保守元件对基因表达的调控作用

转录因子Sox2是脊椎动物早期发育中最早表达的神经系统特异性基因之一,同时在干细胞的维持中也起着关键作用。通过生物信息学分析,作者发现在脊椎动物Sox2 mRNA 3'非翻译区中存在4段非常保守的富含AU的区域。将这些片段按照不同的组合克隆到GFP和荧光素酶两种报告基因载体中,在非洲爪蟾胚胎和培养细胞中检测了这些片段对报告基因表达的影响。结果显示,Sox2的3'UTR可影响报告基因的表达水平,特别是其中的保守片段2可显著提高报告基因的表达水平,表明Sox2 3'非翻译区有可能参与Sox2表达的转录后调控。     

amrG1基因在谷氨酸棒杆菌乙酸活化中的作用

谷氨酸棒杆菌Corynebacterium glutamicum可以利用乙酸为碳源和能源进行生长. 乙酸代谢中涉及乙酸活化的两个酶为磷酸转乙酰酶PTA和乙酸激酶AK, 它们是由pta-ack操纵子经诱导表达产生的. 采用转座子挽救法, 我们从调控突变株C. glutamicum G25中获得了amrG1和amrG2两个目标基因. 经分析鉴定, amrG1基因(NCBI GenBank 接受号为AF532964)可能参与乙酸代谢调控, 编码作用于pta-ack操纵子的一个调控因子. 该调控因子基因序列全长732 bp, 开放阅读框含有243个氨基酸, 分子量约为27 kD. 通过基因定点缺失和过量表达技术, 在谷氨酸棒杆菌野生型菌株中分别构建了amrG1基因缺失菌株和表达菌株, 并研究了它们在含有葡萄糖和/或乙酸不同碳源的基本培养基上生长时产生的PTA和AK酶活性特征. 酶活性测定结果发现其中的amrG1基因缺失菌株和表达菌株存在着与野生型菌株不同的一系列酶学特征, 分析显示: 以野生型菌株为对照, amrG1基因缺失菌株在含有葡萄糖碳源的培养基上生长时表现出较高的PTA和AK酶活性, 并且在葡萄糖和乙酸两种碳源上生长时表现出与乙酸碳源上生长时几乎同样的PTA和AK酶活性; amrG1基因过量表达对葡萄糖碳源上生长产生的PTA和AK酶活性有一定程度的抑制, 即表现出与基因缺失情况相反的调控效应. 根据以上结果分析, amrG1可能编码了作用于pta-ack操纵子的一个阻遏因子或共阻遏因子.     

青霉素G酰化酶调节基因的定位

为了定位青霉素G酰化酶的调节基因,从质粒Ppa6克隆了一系列青霉索G酰化酶基因(pac)的片段,将这些重组质粒转化E.coli D816,测定克隆片段对pac表达的影响。如果克隆片段含有完整的调节基因(pacR)。诱导剂不能使由高拷贝pacR表达的阻抑物失活,部分阻抑物结合pac操纵基困,阻碍RNA聚合酶对加pac的转录,因此pac的表达量降低。发酵结果表明,阻抑物可能是由pac结构基因内部的ORFⅡ编码的蛋白因子。     

抗草甘膦抗虫植物表达载体的构建及其转基因烟草的分析

构建了含草甘膦抗性突变基因（aroAM12）和人工合成重组Bt抗虫基因（Bts1m）的植物表达载体pCM12_s1m。aroAM12基因的表达由CaMV35S启动子控制,Bts1m基因的表达由2E_CaMV35S启动子和Ω因子控制。通过农杆菌介导,将aroAM12和Bts1m基因转化到烟草中,转基因烟草通过在含草甘膦的MS培养基上筛选而获得。Southern blot分析表明所有经过草甘膦筛选出的转化植株都整合有aroAM12基因,约70%的转化植株同时整合有aroAM12和Bts1m基因。Northern blot、Immunodot blot分析进一步证明整合的两个基因在转录、翻译水平上均进行了表达,不同植株之间表达存在着差异。草甘膦抗性和虫试实验证明,获得的转基因烟草对草甘膦和烟青虫具有很强的抗性。     

棉花半乳糖苷酶基因启动子的分离及其在转基因烟草中的表达

β-半乳糖苷酶(β-galactosidase, EC 3.2.1.23)由植物中广泛分布的一类糖基水解酶组成, 被认为与细胞壁多糖的代谢相关. 棉花(Gossypium hirsutum) β-半乳糖苷酶基因已被成功分离, 被命名为GhGal1. RNA杂交实验显示该基因在棉花纤维发育的伸长期优势表达. 为了分析GhGal1基因的时空表达调控, 本研究构建了GhGal1启动子区域(1770 bp)与β-葡糖醛酸糖苷酶(glucuronidase, GUS)基因融合的双元载体, 通过农杆菌转化烟草植株. 对转基因植株分析的结果表明: 此转基因果实中的GUS活性比阴性和阳性对照的活性高. GUS组织定位分析表明: β-半乳糖苷酶基因能在根组织的分生区、子叶、维管束组织、果实和表皮毛中表达. 此外, 调控区域的序列分析揭示该序列含有一些果实/种子特异表达以及与表皮毛表达相关的保守元件. 这些结果显示了GhGal1启动子在转基因烟草植株中的时空表达特征, 并提供了GhGal1基因参与棉花纤维发育的一些重要线索.     

水稻bZIP蛋白REB结合Wx基因启动子中的GCN4基序

在水稻Wx基因启动子中找到了一个由胚乳基序(EM)和GCN4基序组成的双元胚乳盒. 许多文献报道,种子贮存蛋白基因启动子中的胚乳盒与基因的种子专一性表达有关,一类bZIP家族的转录因子通过结合胚乳盒中的GCN4基序而调控相应基因在种子中专一性表达.本文证明了水稻Wx基因启动子的胚乳盒中的GCN4基序能被水稻未成熟种子中的核蛋白识别并结合.进一步采用PCR的方法克隆了水稻bZIP家族的转录因子——REB的部分cDNA,并在E.coli中表达了REB融合蛋白.凝胶滞后试验结果表明,除文献报道,REB能结合α-globulin启动子上的靶位点外,REB也能识别并结合水稻Wx基因启动子的GCN4基序.     

黑曲霉糖化酶cis调控区上两个CCAAT框协同参与基因启动子的转录激活作用

已报道的EMSA和Footprinting试验表明黑曲霉Aspergillus niger T21糖化酶基因glaA启动子区−489~−414 bp及−390~−345 bp (分别简称为DC, PC)是与蛋白粗提液中同一蛋白因子结合, 并均含有CCAAT五核苷酸的序列. 对DC, PC在糖化酶表达调控中的作用进行了分析. 用CGTAA取代CCAAT, 获得突变体DCm, PCm, 两者均丧失体外结合蛋白因子的能力. 突变体的体内分析结果显示, DC和PC中任何一个发生突变或改变DC, PC在原启动子中的相对方向, 则启动子的活性下降到基础表达水平. 将多拷贝串联后的DC引入A. niger T21glaA启动子原位, 则内源糖化酶的表达和由该启动子引导的外源uidA基因的表达均发生下降, 但由构巢曲霉3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶启动子PgpdA引导的uidA的表达不受影响, 而且EMSA结果表明不等DC拷贝的A. niger转化子中DNA结合蛋白的含量没有明显变化, 表明多拷贝DC的引入引起了调控蛋白的滴定效应. 从A. niger T21cDNA中克隆到AngHapC基因, 将AngHapC基因引入上述含多拷贝DC而糖化酶低表达的A. niger菌株, AngHapC基因的表达使糖化酶的表达量得到明显回升. 上述结果表明, DC和PC中CCAAT五核苷酸序列为蛋白因子结合所必需, 而且两者必须同时与调控蛋白结合才能发挥促进转录的作用, AngHapC为与DC区域结合的正调节蛋白.     

Crystal structure, detonation performance, and thermal stability of a new polynitro cage compound: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptacyclo [5.5.1.13, 11. 15, 9] pentadecane

A new polynitro cage compound 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptcyclo [5.5.1.1(3,11).1(5,9)] pentadecane (NNNAHP) was designed in the present work. Its molecular structure was optimized at the B3LYP/6-31 G(d,p) level of density functional theory (DFT) and crystal structure was predicted using the Compass and Dreiding force fields and refined by DFT GGA-RPBE method. The obtained crystal structure of NNNAHP belongs to the P-1 space group and the lattice parameters are a = 9.99 ?, b = 10.78 ?, c = 9.99 ?, α = 90.01°, β = 120.01°, γ = 90.00°, and Z = 2, respectively. Based on the optimized crystal structure, the band gap, density of state, thermodynamic properties, infrared spectrum, strain energy, detonation characteristics, and thermal stability were predicted. Calculation results show that NNNAHP has detonation properties close to those of CL-20 and is a high energy density compound with moderate stability.     

Distribution of N,P, K,Ca, Mg,S, Zn,Fe, Mn and Cu in groundnut

Summary Concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in summer groundnut crop was higher than in kharif while Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents were higher in summer crop. Kernel's N, P and Zn; Leaflet's Ca and Mn; Stem's K and Fe; Root's S and Cu and Petiole's Mg contents were highest. Shell's N, P, K, Mg, S, Zn and Cu; Kernel's Ca, Fe and Mn contents were the least. N, P, K, S, Zn and Cu concentrations decreased linearly as the crop grew. Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn concentrations did not display any distinct pattern. Ca concentration was positively correlated with pod yield in both the seasons.     

Relations of the Al,B, Ba,Br, Ca,Cl, Cu,Fe, K,Li, Mg,Mn, Na,P, S,Si, Sr,and Zn mass fractions to morphometric parameters in pediatric and nonhyperplastic young adult prostate glands

The variation with age of the 18 trace element mass fractions and some histological characteristics of intact prostate glands of 50 subjects aged 0–30 years was investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and a quantitative morphometric analysis. Mean values ± standard error of the mean (M ± SΕΜ) for the mass fractions (in milligrams per kilogram wet tissue) of these trace elements in pre-puberty were: Al 28.5 ± 9.0, B 0.40 ± 0.11, Ba 1.48 ± 0.44, Br 10.5 ± 1.5, Ca 241 ± 30, Cl 3,203 ± 278, Cu 3.51 ± 0.89, Fe 33.7 ± 4.1, K 2,364 ± 145, Li 0.020 ± 0.004, Mg 153 ± 23, Mn 0.46 ± 0.06, Na 2,286 ± 130, P 1,391 ± 100, S 1,698 ± 132, Si 62 ± 11, Sr 0.38 ± 0.08, and Zn 27.6 ± 2.3. During puberty and postpuberty, when there is a significant increase in circulating androgens, the mean values were: Al 7.2 ± 1.4, B 0.21 ± 0.05, Ba 0.25 ± 0.06, Br 5.8 ± 1.0, Ca 433 ± 81, Cl 2,314 ± 201, Cu 1.77 ± 0.13, Fe 20.9 ± 1.6, K 2,585 ± 118, Li 0.0088 ± 0.0014, Mg 232 ± 27, Mn 0.34 ± 0.04, Na 1,875 ± 107, P 1,403 ± 98, S 1,673 ± 73, Si 22.2 ± 3.1, Sr 0.22 ± 0.03, and Zn 93.3 ± 8.9. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) of percent volumes (%) of the stroma, epithelium and lumen in the prostate before puberty were 73.4 ± 2.6, 20.4 ± 1.7, and 4.45 ± 0.94, respectively, versus 46.5 ± 2.5, 38.5 ± 1.9, and 14.9 ± 1.2 during puberty and postpuberty. This work’s results confirm that the Zn mass fraction in prostate tissue is an androgen-dependent parameter. For the first time it has been demonstrated that the glandular lumen is a main pool of Ca, Mg, and Zn accumulation and that the stroma is a main pool of Al, B, Ba, Br, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, and Si accumulation in the normal human prostate, for the age range 0–30 years. It was concluded that the Ca, Mg, and Zn binds tightly within the prostatic fluid, because the volume of glandular lumen reflects the volume of prostatic fluid.     

Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS

The goal of this article was to establish reference ranges of the concentration of trace elements in human serum and to compare these results with those reported by other authors. We describe the sample preparation and measurement conditions that allow the rapid, precise, and accurate determination of Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum samples (n=110) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy and precision were determined by analyzing three reconstituted reference serum samples by comparison with other methods and by the standard addition procedure. The advantages of the ICP-MS method include short time of analysis of the elements mentioned, low detection limit, high precision, and high accuracy. Disadventages include a high risk of contamination due to the presence of some of the elements of interest in the environment, the relatively delicate sample handling, and the high cost of the equipment.     

Reference values for the concentrations of As,Cd, Co,Cr, Cu,Fe, I,Hg, Mn,Mo, Ni,Pb, Se,and Zn in selected human tissues and body fluids

This report attempts to formulate reference ranges of elemental concentrations for 15 trace elements in selected human tissues and body fluids. A set of samples consisting of whole blood, blood serum, urine, milk, liver, and hair were chosen and considered for 15 elements of biological significance: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, I, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. The results represent wholly or partially data received from 40 countries of the global regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, North, South, and Central America, Australia, and New Zealand. This survey, even if qualitative, has been useful in demonstrating certain trends of trace-element scenarios around the world. It is of course recognized that both diet and environment exert a strong influence on the distribution pattern of several elements, such as As, Cd, Mn, Pb, Se, and Zn. A limited comparison of the available information on soil status of different countries reflected some interesting associations for elements, such as Mn and Zn. Importantly, this study revealed that only a few countries were in a position to identify a reasonable amount of data on samples requested for this project. Regretably, for a number of countries, any dependable data for even such essential elements as Cu, Fe, and Zn were not available. In view of the nutritional importance of many elements, the time is ripe for concerted efforts by intergovernmental agencies to initiate investigations or commission task forces/projects to generate reliable reference data for selected global regions, which sadly lack data of any kind at present.     

The Effect of Age and Gender on Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr, V, and Zn Contents in Rib Bone of Healthy Humans

The effect of age and gender on major, minor, and trace element contents in the intact rib bone of 80 relatively healthy 15–55-year-old women and men was investigated. Contents or upper limit of contents of 16 chemical elements in the rib bone were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Mean values (M?±?SΕΜ) for the mass fraction of Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn (milligram per kilogram of dry bone) were as follows: 2.54?±?0.16, 171,400?±?4,050, 1.35?±?0.22, 140?±?11, 1,874?±?71, 0.049?±?0.011, 2,139?±?38, 5,378?±?88, 75,140?±?1,660, 1,881?±?51, 291?±?20, and 92.8?±?1.5, respectively. The upper limits of contents of Al, B, Mn, and V were <7.20, <0.65, <0.36, and <0.03, respectively. Statistically significant tendency for the Ca, Mg, and P content to decrease with age was found in the human rib bone, regardless of gender. The mass fraction of Fe in the male rib bone increases with age. It was shown that higher Ca, Mg, Na, P, and Sr mass fractions as well as lower Fe content were typical of female ribs as compared to those in male ribs.     

Potential Compounds for Oral Cancer Treatment: Resveratrol,Nimbolide, Lovastatin,Bortezomib, Vorinostat,Berberine, Pterostilbene,Deguelin, Andrographolide,and Colchicine

Oral cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths in South-Asian countries. There are very limited treatment options available for oral cancer. Research endeavors focused on discovery and development of novel therapies for oral cancer, is necessary to control the ever rising oral cancer related mortalities. We mined the large pool of compounds from the publicly available compound databases, to identify potential therapeutic compounds for oral cancer. Over 84 million compounds were screened for the possible anti-cancer activity by custom build SVM classifier. The molecular targets of the predicted anti-cancer compounds were mined from reliable sources like experimental bioassays studies associated with the compound, and from protein-compound interaction databases. Therapeutic compounds from DrugBank, and a list of natural anti-cancer compounds derived from literature mining of published studies, were used for building partial least squares regression model. The regression model thus built, was used for the estimation of oral cancer specific weights based on the molecular targets. These weights were used to compute scores for screening the predicted anti-cancer compounds for their potential to treat oral cancer. The list of potential compounds was annotated with corresponding physicochemical properties, cancer specific bioactivity evidences, and literature evidences. In all, 288 compounds with the potential to treat oral cancer were identified in the current study. The majority of the compounds in this list are natural products, which are well-tolerated and have minimal side-effects compared to the synthetic counterparts. Some of the potential therapeutic compounds identified in the current study are resveratrol, nimbolide, lovastatin, bortezomib, vorinostat, berberine, pterostilbene, deguelin, andrographolide, and colchicine.