拟南芥Atkin8a和Atkin8b基因表达特性

以拟南芥动蛋白(kinesin)kin-8家族的AtKin8a和AtKin8b这两个动蛋白基因作为研究对象,以组成型表达的肌动蛋白基因(Actin2)作为对照,利用半定量RT-PCR的方法,分析其在拟南芥各器官中的表达状况。结果表明:AtKin8a和AtKin8b基因主要在花器官中特异表达;随后克隆AtKin8a和AtKin8b基因启动子区域并与GUS基因融合,转基因植株花器官GUS染色表明:AtKin8a和AtKin8b基因的表达主要分别在胚珠、花药部位。由此推测它们可能分别在胚珠、花药发育过程中发挥作用。     

The Zinc Transporter Slc30a8/ZnT8 Is Required in a Subpopulation of Pancreatic α-Cells for Hypoglycemia-induced Glucagon Secretion

SLC30A8 encodes a zinc transporter ZnT8 largely restricted to pancreatic islet β- and α-cells, and responsible for zinc accumulation into secretory granules. Although common SLC30A8 variants, believed to reduce ZnT8 activity, increase type 2 diabetes risk in humans, rare inactivating mutations are protective. To investigate the role of Slc30a8 in the control of glucagon secretion, Slc30a8 was inactivated selectively in α-cells by crossing mice with alleles floxed at exon 1 to animals expressing Cre recombinase under the pre-proglucagon promoter. Further crossing to Rosa26:tdRFP mice, and sorting of RFP⁺: glucagon⁺ cells from KO mice, revealed recombination in ∼30% of α-cells, of which ∼50% were ZnT8-negative (14 ± 1.8% of all α-cells). Although glucose and insulin tolerance were normal, female αZnT8KO mice required lower glucose infusion rates during hypoglycemic clamps and displayed enhanced glucagon release (p < 0.001) versus WT mice. Correspondingly, islets isolated from αZnT8KO mice secreted more glucagon at 1 mm glucose, but not 17 mm glucose, than WT controls (n = 5; p = 0.008). Although the expression of other ZnT family members was unchanged, cytoplasmic (n = 4 mice per genotype; p < 0.0001) and granular (n = 3, p < 0.01) free Zn²⁺ levels were significantly lower in KO α-cells versus control cells. In response to low glucose, the amplitude and frequency of intracellular Ca²⁺ increases were unchanged in α-cells of αZnT8KO KO mice. ZnT8 is thus important in a subset of α-cells for normal responses to hypoglycemia and acts via Ca²⁺-independent mechanisms.     

TMEM8 – a non-globin gene entrapped in the globin web

For more than 30 years it was believed that globin gene domains included only genes encoding globin chains. Here we show that in chickens, the domain of α-globin genes also harbor the non-globin gene TMEM8. It was relocated to the vicinity of the α-globin cluster due to inversion of an ∼170-kb genomic fragment. Although in humans TMEM8 is preferentially expressed in resting T-lymphocytes, in chickens it acquired an erythroid-specific expression profile and is upregulated upon terminal differentiation of erythroblasts. This correlates with the presence of erythroid-specific regulatory elements in the body of chicken TMEM8, which interact with regulatory elements of the α-globin genes. Surprisingly, TMEM8 is not simply recruited to the α-globin gene domain active chromatin hub. An alternative chromatin hub is assembled, which includes some of the regulatory elements essential for the activation of globin gene expression. These regulatory elements should thus shuttle between two different chromatin hubs.     

Human Aurora-B binds to a proteasome α-subunit HC8 and undergoes degradation in a proteasome-dependent manner

Human Aurora/Ipl1-related kinase 2 (Aurora-B) is a key regulator of mitosis. Here human proteasome -subunit C8 (HC8) was identified to interact with the Aurora-B by yeast two-hybrid screen. This finding was confirmed by GST pull-down assays and immunoprecipitation experiments. The Aurora-B protein level increased in HeLa cells cultured with proteasome inhibitor ALLN. Our data suggest that Aurora-B might undergo degradation by binding to HC8 in a proteasome-dependent manner during mitosis.     

棉铃虫离子型受体基因HarmIR8a的克隆及表达定位

【目的】昆虫离子型受体(ionotropic receptors, IRs)是新发现的一类化学感觉受体,对昆虫感受环境中酸类和胺类等物质发挥着重要作用。基因克隆、序列比对以及表达定位的研究将有助于初步解析棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera离子型受体的功能。【方法】本研究在棉铃虫触角转录组测序和分析的基础上,利用PCR技术克隆了一个离子型受体基因的全长序列,并进行序列结构预测等分析;利用荧光定量PCR技术对该基因在棉铃虫雌、雄成虫不同组织中的表达量进行了分析;同时利用原位杂交技术检测了该基因在棉铃虫雄虫触角中的表达定位。【结果】克隆获得棉铃虫HarmIR8a基因全长cDNA序列(GenBank登录号:MH638313),开放阅读框为2 688 bp,编码895个氨基酸,预测有3个跨膜区域。HarmIR8a氨基酸序列包含了一个氨基末端区域(amino terminal domain, ATD),一个由S1和S2两部分构成的配体结合域(ligand binding domain, LBD),一个孔环(pore loop, P),3个跨膜区(M1, M2和M3)和一个胞内C末端(C terminus)。荧光定量PCR结果显示,HarmIR8a在棉铃虫雌、雄成虫头(除去附器)和触角等组织中均有表达,而且在触角中高表达。棉铃虫雄虫触角原位杂交结果表明,HarmIR8a主要在触角腔锥形感器下表达。【结论】本研究初步探析了HarmIR8a基因的转录水平和表达部位,为进一步研究棉铃虫离子型受体基因的功能和生理作用奠定了基础。     

Presumptive long arm deletion of chromosome 8: a new syndrome?

Summary This communication describes an infant with growth and psychomotor retardation and severe congenital malformations, who was found to have an interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 8: 46,XY,del(8) (q13q22). Comparison with the only other previously reported patient with a deletion of a similar chromosomal segment suggested that deletion of the long arm of chromosome 8 may constitute a clinically recognizable syndrome.     

8R-Lipoxygenase-catalyzed synthesis of a prominent cis-epoxyalcohol from dihomo-γ-linolenic acid: a distinctive transformation compared with S-lipoxygenases

Conversion of fatty acid hydroperoxides to epoxyalcohols is a well known secondary reaction of lipoxygenases, described for S-specific lipoxygenases forming epoxyalcohols with a trans-epoxide configuration. Here we report on R-specific lipoxygenase synthesis of a cis-epoxyalcohol. Although arachidonic and dihomo-γ-linolenic acids are metabolized by extracts of the Caribbean coral Plexaura homomalla via 8R-lipoxygenase and allene oxide synthase activities, 20:3ω6 forms an additional prominent product, identified using UV, GC-MS, and NMR in comparison to synthetic standards as 8R,9S-cis-epoxy-10S-erythro-hydroxy-eicosa-11Z,14Z-dienoic acid. Both oxygens of (18)O-labeled 8R-hydroperoxide are retained in the product, indicating a hydroperoxide isomerase activity. Recombinant allene oxide synthase formed only allene epoxide from 8R-hydroperoxy-20:3ω6, whereas two different 8R-lipoxygenases selectively produced the epoxyalcohol.A biosynthetic scheme is proposed in which a partial rotation of the reacting intermediate is required to give the observed erythro epoxyalcohol product. This characteristic and the synthesis of cis-epoxy epoxyalcohol may be a feature of R-specific lipoxygenases.     

8a间院内深部真菌感染的临床分布特点及耐药性分析

了解深部真菌感染的临床分布特点及耐药情况,以指导临床合理应用抗真菌药物。回顾性分析近8a自住院患者送检标本分离的深部感染真菌,利用ATB FUNGUS3真菌药敏卡进行体外药敏试验。2003年至2010年共检出9 854株假丝酵母菌,检出率呈上升趋势,由2003年的19.9%上升至2010年的34.3%。院内深部感染的真菌主要分布于内科（55.9%）;主要感染部位为呼吸道（84.6%）;主要菌种为白色念珠菌（60.9%）;非白色念珠菌比例逐年增高。真菌药敏试验结果表明,深部真菌对两性霉素B、伏立康唑和5-氟胞嘧啶耐药率分别为0.9%、4.0%和4.6%;对伊曲康唑的耐药率有上升趋势,为28%。临床深部真菌感染逐年增加,对唑类药物的耐药情况日趋严重。应重视临床真菌感染的病原学检查和耐药性监测,才能有效地控制深部真菌院内感染。     

转化法分离枯草芽孢杆菌8a5α-淀粉酶基因

用EcoRI部分降解枯草芽孢杜菌8a5染色体DNA,琼脂糖疑胶电泳分离纯化各降解片段,用转化法逐一测定各降解片段的转化活性。实验结果证明,a-淀粉酶基因本身可作为选择性标记用于a-淀粉酶基因的分离。用Hind III降解的λ-DNA 作为分子量对照,确定能高效转化淀粉酶基因的DNA片段大小约4.3kb.本实验获得的a-淀粉酶基因的转化率为1×10⁴转化子/μg DNA.     

The structure of a truncated phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase suggests a unified model for evolution of the (βα)8 barrel fold

The (βα)₈ barrel is one of the most common protein folds, and enzymes with this architecture display a remarkable range of catalytic activities. Many of these functions are associated with ancient metabolic pathways, and phylogenetic reconstructions suggest that the (βα)₈ barrel was one of the very first protein folds to emerge. Consequently, there is considerable interest in understanding the evolutionary processes that gave rise to this fold. In particular, much attention has been focused on the plausibility of (βα)₈ barrel evolution from homodimers of half barrels. However, we previously isolated a three-quarter-barrel-sized fragment of a (βα)₈ barrel, termed truncated phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase (trPRAI), that is soluble and almost as thermostable as full-length N-(5′-phosphoribosyl)anthranilate isomerase (PRAI). Here, we report the NMR-derived structure of trPRAI. The subdomain is monomeric, is well ordered and adopts a native-like structure in solution. Side chains from strands β₁ (Glu3 and Lys5), β₂ (Tyr25) and β₆ (Lys122) of trPRAI repack to shield the hydrophobic core from the solvent. This result demonstrates that three-quarter barrels were viable intermediates in the evolution of the (βα)₈ barrel fold. We propose a unified model for (βα)₈ barrel evolution that combines our data, previously published work and plausible scenarios for the emergence of (initially error-prone) genetic systems. In this model, the earliest proto-cells contained diverse pools of part-barrel subdomains. Combinatorial assembly of these subdomains gave rise to many distinct lineages of (βα)₈ barrel proteins, that is, our model excludes the possibility that there was a single (βα)₈ barrel from which all present examples are descended.     

Isolation and characterization of a cold-active,alkaline, detergent stable α-amylase from a novel bacterium Bacillus subtilis N8

A cold-active alkaline amylase producer Bacillus subtilis N8 was isolated from soil samples. Amylase synthesis optimally occurred at 15°C and pH 10.0 on agar plates containing starch. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 205?kDa by performing SDS-PAGE. While the enzyme exhibited the highest activity at 25°C and pH 8.0, it was highly stable in alkaline media (pH 8.0–12.0) and retained 96% of its original activity at low temperatures (10–40°C) for 24?hr. While the amylase activity increased in the presence of β-mercaptoethanol (103%); Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, H₂O₂, and Triton X-100 slightly inhibited the activity. The enzyme showed resistance to some denaturants: such as SDS, EDTA, and urea (52, 65, and 42%, respectively). N8 α-amylase displayed the maximum remaining activity of 56% with 3% NaCl. The major final products of starch were glucose, maltose, and maltose-derived oligosaccharides. This novel cold-active α-amylase has the potential to be used in the industries of detergent and food, bioremediation process and production of prebiotics.     

四种重要医学媒介蚊虫离子受体基因IR8a和IR25a的特征及分类地位

【目的】鉴定中华按蚊Anopheles sinensis、冈比亚按蚊Anopheles gambiae、埃及伊蚊Aedes aegypti和致倦库蚊Culex quinquefasciatus 4种重要医学媒介蚊虫的离子受体基因IR8a与IR25a以及代表性的iGluRs基因和IRs基因,研究这些基因的特征及其系统发育关系,确定IR8a与IR25a基因在离子谷氨酸受体基因中的分类地位。【方法】以黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster的iGluRs和IRs基因序列作为询问序列,用BLASTP和BLASTN方法分别搜索中华按蚊、冈比亚按蚊、埃及伊蚊和致倦库蚊的基因组数据库,以鉴定这4个种内的iGluRs和IRs基因序列;用生物信息学方法比较分析鉴定获得的IR8a与IR25a及代表性的iGluRs和IRs基因氨基酸序列的特征;用最大似然法、贝叶斯法和最大简约法构建并讨论这些基因氨基酸序列的系统发育关系;用PAML软件计算这些基因的dN/dS(ω)值并分析其选择压力。【结果】通过对中华按蚊、冈比亚按蚊、埃及伊蚊和致倦库蚊中离子谷氨酸受体基因进行生物信息学鉴定,获得了所有IR8a和IR25a基因,24个代表性的iGluRs基因和30个代表性的IRs基因的序列。特征比较和系统发育关系分析结果表明,在4种蚊虫和黑腹果蝇中IR8a与IR25a基因的氨基酸序列长度与iGluRs的更接近,其平均值远大于其他IRs的;IR25a和IR8a有与传统iGluRs相同的氨基酸末端区域(amino-terminal domain,ATD),虽然IR8a的序列不太保守,而IRs则没有ATD;IR8a与IR25a序列有与传统iGluRs一样保守的配体结合区S1和S2,而IRs没有。所有这些基因的ω值远小于1,意味着这些基因在进化过程中都经历了纯化选择,而IR8a与IR25a的ω值更接近iGluRs。此外,IR8a与IR25a还有与non-NMDA相似的特异性位点,而这些位点在IRs不存在。再者,IR8a和IR25a与non-NMDA聚在一枝,形成一个姐妹群,群内序列间的遗传距离小于本研究中任何其他序列间的距离。根据这些研究结果,我们将IR8a与IR25a分类进入传统iGluRs中的non-NMDA类型,并命名为Putative受体。【讨论】本研究构建了蚊虫iGluRs和IRs基因的信息框架,确定了IR8a与IR25a基因的分类地位,对进一步的功能研究具有重要意义。