假结核耶尔森氏菌flhDC基因影响细菌运动性和生物膜形成

假结核耶尔森氏菌YPIII鞭毛系统的一级主调控基因flhDC缺失突变, 所得突变株在细菌泳动实验中丧失了泳动能力; 对fliA启动子融合报告菌株的检测发现, 与大肠杆菌一样, 在假结核耶尔森氏菌中二级调控基因fliA的表达也受到flhDC的调控; 对野生型和突变株在非生物活性表面和生物活性表面生物膜形成的观察和统计表明, flhDC突变株在不同表面上生物膜的形成明显减少, 并降低了对线虫表面侵染的严重度. 以上结果表明, flhDC的突变不仅直接使YPIII的运动性丧失, 而且影响了细菌在不同表面上生物膜的形成, 这一新功能的鉴定为细菌生物膜形成机制的研究提供了新的视点.     

芽孢杆菌鞭毛及其运动相关特性的研究进展

鞭毛是着生在很多细菌体表的细长弯曲丝状物,作为细菌的运动“器官”,鞭毛是微生物学中研究最深入的生理系统之一。细菌可以通过鞭毛运动更好地适应栖息环境,并在环境条件不利时及时逃离。此外,鞭毛运动对于有害细菌或者有益细菌在宿主表面的定殖、生物膜形成及其与宿主其他互作过程中都发挥着重要作用。芽孢杆菌(Bacillus sp.)是一类在自然界中广泛分布的细菌,其许多菌株在工农业生产及医药等领域都有重要的应用价值,本文对芽孢杆菌鞭毛及其运动相关特性的研究进展进行了综述：芽孢杆菌鞭毛的结构组成、组装过程及合成基因的表达调控;芽孢杆菌运动性与相关生物学特性,包括生物膜形成和分散、芽孢的形成、感受态形成、γ-聚谷氨酸和抗生素生产等方面之间的相互关系及其底层分子机制。本综述旨在为本领域的相关研究提供可参考的综合知识和理论指导依据。     

单核细胞增多性李斯特菌谷胱甘肽合成酶调控鞭毛形成研究

[目的] 本试验旨在构建单核细胞增多性李斯特菌谷胱甘肽合成酶基因gshF缺失株和互补株并研究其在细菌运动和鞭毛形成中的调控作用。[方法] 采用同源重组的方法构建得到gshF缺失株后,测定野生株及缺失株的运动性和体外生长能力;同时利用荧光定量PCR方法检测gshF缺失株中鞭毛相关基因转录水平的变化。[结果] 缺失gshF后细菌在体外培养基中的生长能力未受影响,但缺失株的运动性及鞭毛形成能力显著降低。此外,缺失株中鞭毛形成重要调控基因gmaR以及鞭毛结构元件基因flaA的转录水平显著低于野生株,而其他鞭毛相关基因的转录水平变化不明显。[结论] 研究首次表明单增李斯特菌谷胱甘肽合成酶通过调控鞭毛重要基因的转录进而影响细菌的运动性和鞭毛形成,研究有助于深入理解重要食源性胞内菌通过精确调控鞭毛形成以适应外界和宿主环境的分子机制。     

群体感应QseB/QseC系统对外界环境变化的响应机制

细菌群体感应(quorum sensing, QS)是一种细菌种群之间和与环境之间的相互作用机制，不仅可以评估其自身物种的种群密度，还可以评估给定环境中其他细菌物种的种群密度，是维持细菌感知并响应环境变化的重要协调途径。编码鞭毛表达和组装以及运动性的基因是潜在的毒力相关因子，受细菌种群密度调节，利用群体感应激活。QseB/QseC双组分系统是参与鞭毛和运动基因调节的群体感应调节级联反应的一个重要组成部分。本文综述了细菌群体感应系统的种类及其作用，将近年来有关QseB/QseC双组分系统介导的群体感应系统结构功能、QseB/QseC信号转导调控机制以及QseB/QseC双组分系统在调控细菌致病性、生物膜形成、鞭毛运动性等方面所发挥的作用进行整理、归纳和总结，并对目前研究不足的地方作出了展望，希望能找出下一个研究的方向。对QseB/QseC信号系统介导的群体感应机制的深入研究，不仅为解决细菌耐药及致病机制等问题提供新思路，还可能为开发疫苗和药物提供新靶点。     

群体感应系统介导细菌生物膜形成的研究进展

群体感应(QS)是微生物之间的通讯机制,通过信号分子调控基因表达,这种交流可使细菌表达不同的生理行为,包括病原微生物的毒性、对抗生素的形成、生物膜的形成与生长等。生物膜的形成对微生物的代谢、毒力因子的表达等密切相关。群体感应现象与生物膜的形成相互依赖,生物膜提供菌体聚集场所,避免群体感应信号分子的扩散,聚集菌体的群体感应现象为生物膜的形成提供基础。群体感应系统不仅可直接介导细菌生物膜的形成,还可调节胞内第二信使分子水平,间接调控生物膜的生成。本文中,笔者从直接和协同其他信号分子两方面对细菌生物膜形成机制研究进展进行综述,为在工业应用中降低细菌耐药性、指导食品生产安全、提高功能性生物膜产量等方面提供理论依据。     

病原菌非编码sRNA的功能及研究新方法北大核心CSCD

细菌中的非编码小RNA(small RNA,sRNA)作为一种靶向调控分子在细胞生理代谢过程中具有重要作用。sRNA作用于特定靶标,调控基因的表达。大肠杆菌大约有100种sRNA,其中1/3sRNA需要伴侣蛋白Hfq的介导。病原细菌中sRNA分子如何调控致病基因的表达,目前研究仍处于初级阶段。本文将从生物膜形成、细菌耐药性以及对宿主的影响等方面,结合新颖的sRNA的研究方法,综述sRNA在调控代谢网络及控制病原菌致病性方面的作用。     

病原菌非编码sRNA的功能及研究新方法

细菌中的非编码小RNA（small RNA, sRNA）作为一种靶向调控分子在细胞生理代谢过程中具有重要作用。sRNA作用于特定靶标,调控基因的表达。大肠杆菌大约有100种sRNA,其中1/3 sRNA需要伴侣蛋白Hfq的介导。病原细菌中sRNA分子如何调控致病基因的表达,目前研究仍处于初级阶段。本文将从生物膜形成、细菌耐药性以及对宿主的影响等方面,结合新颖的sRNA的研究方法,综述sRNA在调控代谢网络及控制病原菌致病性方面的作用。     

AI-2通过调节c-di-GMP代谢酶DosC影响类志贺邻单胞菌生物膜形成及运动性

细菌中广泛分布的群体感应信号分子autoinducer-2 (AI-2)会影响细菌的生物膜形成及运动性等生理过程,然而该信号对类志贺邻单胞菌相关表型的调控作用及其分子机制尚未有所报道。【目的】揭示AI-2通过影响胞内环二鸟苷单磷酸(c-di-GMP)水平调控类志贺邻单胞菌生物膜形成及运动性的内在机制,为类志贺邻单胞菌感染的防治提供新思路。【方法】首先利用同源重组方法构建luxS基因敲除菌株(ΔluxS),通过软琼脂平板法和结晶紫染色法分别检测其与野生型泳动能力和生物膜形成水平的差异;之后通过序列比对找到AI-2的潜在受体蛋白DosC(SAMEA2665130＿2180),利用哈维氏弧菌生物发光实验及等温滴定量热实验(ITC)研究DosC的配体结合结构域(ligand-binding domain,LBD)与AI-2的结合能力;通过体外酶活实验、胞内c-di-GMP定量分析研究AI-2对DosC受体活性的影响;最后参照前述方法构建受体DosC编码基因敲除菌株(ΔdosC)并检测其与野生型相比泳动能力和生物膜形成水平的变化。【结果】AI-2与DosC-LBD显示出高亲和作用力;通过高效液相...     

ArlR反应调节蛋白在表皮葡萄球菌不同生长期表达的检测

表皮葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus epidermidis,SE)是寄居在人体和黏膜表面的条件致病菌,因可在医疗植入材料表面形成生物膜(biofilm)而具有致病性。细菌双组分信号转导系统可调控生物膜形成,但其调控机制在SE中研究甚少。本课题对arlRS双组分信号转导系统的反应蛋白ArlR在细菌不同生长期的表达情况进行初步研究。首先构建ArlR原核表达质粒,用纯化重组ArlR免疫小鼠,获得多克隆抗-ArlR抗体,免疫Dot方法检测结果显示小鼠抗-ArlR血清效价>1∶100000。进一步采用蛋白免疫印迹法检测ArlR在SE1457野生株不同生长期中的表达水平,结果显示,ArlR在2h表达量较低,到4h达高峰,6～10h表达量较4h降低。利用反转录实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应检测arlR基因在不同生长期的转录水平,结果显示相应时间点ArlR蛋白表达水平与arlR基因转录水平一致。本研究结果为后期研究双组分信号转导系统arlRS对SE生物膜形成的影响奠定基础。     

粪肠球菌Fsr群体感应系统的感染调控

群体感应(quorum sensing,QS)是细菌间的一种通讯方式,是控制微生物信号传递的重要机制,它使细菌能够感知周围环境中其他细菌的存在,并对其密度的变化做出快速反应,在调控基因表达和生物膜形成过程中起着重要作用。作为粪肠球菌(Enterococcus faecalis,E. faecalis)特有的Fsr QS系统,通过调控E. faecalis毒力因子及生物膜等的表达,从而引起机体的各种感染。本综述通过阐述E. faecalis Fsr QS系统在介导毒力因子的表达及生物膜的形成中的作用,为E. faecalis所引起的感染提供理论基础。     

Land,livestock, and livelihoods: Changing dynamics of gender,caste, and ethnicity in a Nepalese Village

Over the past 10 years, Ghusel VDC, Lalitpur District has moved from primarily subsistence agriculture into the wider cash economy aided by the Small Farmers' Development Program (SFDP), which provides credit to farmers mainly for the purchase of buffalo for milk production, and by the National Dairy Corporation, which supports local dairy cooperatives. Analysis reveals that buffalo-keeping and milk sales are increasing the well-being of many households, while at the same time creating new inequalities in gender roles and responsibilities, greater inequities between Brahmin and Tamang residents in Ghusel, and placing pressures on the ecosystem for increased supplies of fodder and fuelwood. Evidence suggests that there is critical, need for attention to the social, and particularly gender-based, implications of maintaining livestock for milk sales and to the ecological underpinnings of this livelihood system.     

Reorientation of Microfibrils and Microtubules at the Outer Epidermal Wall of Maize Coleoptiles During Auxin-Mediated Growth

Auxin-mediated elongation growth of isolated subapical coleoptile segments of maize (Zea mays L.) is controlled by the extensibility of the outer cell wall of the outer epidermis (Kutschera et al., 1987). Here we investigate the hypothesis that auxin controls the extensibility of this wall by changing the orientation of newly deposited microfibrils through a corresponding change in the orientation of cortical microtubules. On the basis of electron micrographs it is shown that cessation of growth after removal of the endogenous source of auxin is correlated with a relative increase of longitudinally orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. Conversely, reinduction of growth by exogenous auxin is correlated with a relative increase of transversely orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. These changes can be detected 30–60 min after the removal and addition of auxin, respectively. The functional significance of directional changes of newly desposited wall microfibrils for the control of elongation growth is discussed.     

多马胺能药物对鲇鱼促性腺激素（GtH）分泌活动的影响

以珠江流域鲇鱼（silurus asotus)为实验材料,研究了多巴胺（DA）能药物（DA及其D－2型受体拮抗物 ,DOM）对鲇鱼促性腺激素（GtH)释放的影响,结果表明,在性腺发育的各个时期,单独注射DOM（5ug/g)均不能显著提高鲇鱼血液基础GtH水平,当DOM与LHRH－A联合注射时能显著增强LHRH－A刺激GtH释放的作用;DA只能抑制GnRH诱导的GtH释放,对基础GtH释放无抑制作用,这种生殖内分泌调节方式与鲇形目的革胡子鲇（Clarias gariepinus)和大鳍Hu（Mystus macropterus)相似,而与鲤形目的鲁科（Cyrpindiae)鱼类不同。     

Gamma-glutamylcysteine protects ergothioneine-deficient Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutants against oxidative and nitrosative stress

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), cannot synthesize GSH, but synthesizes two major low molecular weight thiols namely mycothiol (MSH) and ergothioneine (ERG). Gamma-glutamylcysteine (GGC), an intermediate in GSH synthesis, has been implicated in the protection of lactic acid bacteria from oxidative stress in the absence of GSH. In mycobacteria, GGC is an intermediate in ERG biosynthesis, and its formation is catalysed by EgtA (GshA). GGC is subsequently used by EgtB in the formation of hercynine-sulphoxide-GGC. In this study, M.tb. mutants harbouring unmarked, in-frame deletions in each of the fives genes involved in ERG biosynthesis (egtA, egtB, egtC, egtD and egtE) or a marked deletion of the mshA gene (required for MSH biosynthesis) were generated. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses (LC-MS) revealed that the production of GGC was elevated in the MSH-deficient and the ERG-deficient mutants. The ERG-deficient ΔegtB mutant which accumulated GGC was more resistant to oxidative and nitrosative stress than the ERG-deficient, GGC-deficient ΔegtA mutant. This implicates GGC in the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in M.tb.     

Influence of Fluoride on Rat Kidney Antioxidant System: Effects of Methionine and Vitamin E

The aim of the study has been to determine and compare the influence upon the kidney antioxidative system, exercised by administration of vitamin E, and vitamin E in combination with methionine, under conditions of oxidative stress induced by sodium fluoride. The experiment was carried out on Wistar FL rats (adult males) that, for 35 days, were administered water, NaF, NaF with vitamin E, or vitamin E with methionine (doses: 10 mg NaF/kg of body mass/24 h, 3 mg vitamin E per 10 μl per rat for 24 h, 2 mg methionine per rat for 24 h). The influence of administered sodium fluoride and antioxidants upon the antioxidative system in kidney was examined by analyzing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of the most important antioxidative enzymes (SOD, total and both its isoenzymes, GPX, GST, GR, and CAT). The studies carried out confirmed the disadvantageous effect of the administered dose of NaF upon the antixodiative system in rats (increase in the concentration MDA, decrease activity of all antioxidative enzymes). The administration of vitamin E increased the activity of studied enzymes with the exception of glutathione reductase GR; it also reduced the procesess of lipid peroxidation. It has been found that combined doses of vitamin E and methionine were most effective in inhibiting lipid peroxidation processes. The results confirmed the antioxidative properties of methionine.     

Tuning of electronic properties of one-dimensional cyano-bridged Cu-Ni, Cu-Pd, and Cu-Pt bimetallic assemblies by stereochemistry of ligands

Preparations, XPS and electronic spectroscopy, and magnetism of seven new one-dimensional cyano-bridged coordination polymers, chiral [Cu(RR-chxn)₂][Pd(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (1), [Cu(trans-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (2, 4, and 6 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt), and [Cu(cis-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (3, 5, and 7 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt) (RR-chxn = cyclohexane-(1R,2R)-diamine, trans-chxn = racemic trans-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine, and cis-chxn = racemic cis-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine) have been reported in view of tuning of their electronic properties by stereochemistry of chxn ligands and metal-substitution. Comparison of Cu 2p_1/2 and 2p_3/2 peaks of XPS and broad d-d bands around 18 000 cm⁻¹ of electronic spectra are described systematically for 1-7. Variable-temperature magnetic measurement shows that complexes 1-7 indicate weak antiferromagnetic interactions via cyano-bridges. Because of semi-coordination coupled with pseudo Jahn-Teller elongation and electrostatic interaction for 1, the axial Cu-N coordination bond distances of 2.330(7) and 3.092(8) Å are considerably longer than those of equatorial ones in the range from 2.016(6) to 2.030(6) Å. The former bond distances of 1 are intermediate values among the related Ni (2.324(6) and 3.120(8) Å) and Pt (2.34(1) and 3.09(1) Å) complexes.     

Structure and function of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase

In mammals, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AdoHcyase) is the only known enzyme to catalyze the breakdown of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) to homocysteine and adenosine. AdoHcy is the product of all adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent biological transmethylations. These reactions have a wide range of products, and are common in all facets of biometabolism. As a product inhibitor, elevated levels of AdoHcy suppress AdoMet-dependent transmethylations. Thus, AdoHcyase is a regulator of biological transmethylation in general. The three-dimensional structure of AdoHcyase complexed with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADH) and the inhibitor (1′R, 2′S, 3′R)-9-(2′,3′-dihyroxycyclopenten-1-yl)adenine (DHCeA) was solved by a combination of the crystallographic direct methods program, SnB, to determine the selenium atom substructure and by treating the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction data as a special case of multiple isomorphous replacement. The enzyme architecture resembles that observed for NAD-dependent dehydrogenases, with the catalytic domain and the cofactor binding domain each containing a modified Rossmann fold. The two domains form a deep active site cleft containing the cofactor and bound inhibitor molecule. A comparison of the inhibitor complex of the human enzyme and the structure of the rat enzyme, solved without inhibitor, suggests that a 17° rigid body movement of the catalytic domain occurs upon inhibitor/substrate binding.     

Identification of specific binding sites for leukotriene C4 in human fetal lung

Specific leukotriene C₄ (LTC₄) binding sites were identified in membrane preparations from human fetal lung. Specific binding of [³H]-LTC₄ represented 95 percent of total binding, reached steadystate within 10 minutes and was rapidly reversible upon addition of excess unlabeled LTC₄. Binding assays were performed at 4°C under conditions which prevented metabolism of [³H]-LTC₄ (80 mM serineborate, 10 mM cysteine, 10 mM glycine). Under these conditions, greater than 95 percent of the membrane bound radioactivity, as analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, co-eluted with the LTC₄ standard. Computer-assisted analyses of saturation binding data showed a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant (K_d) of 26 + 6 nM and a density (B_max) of 84 ± 18 pmol/mg protein. Pharmacological specificity was demonstrated by competition studies in which specific binding of [³H]-LTC₄ was displaced by LTC₄ and its structural analogs with inhibition constants (K_j) of 10 to 30 nM, whereas LTD₄, diastereoisomers of LTD₁, LTE₄ and the end organ antagonist FPL 55712 were 150 to 700 fold less potent competitors than LTC₄. These results provide evidence for specific, reversible, saturable, high affinity binding sites for [³H]-LTC₄ in human fetal lung membranes.     

Cellulose-microfibril-orienting mechanisms in plant cells walls

A brief review is given of the changing views over the years, as knowledge of wall structure has developed, concerning the mechanism whereby cellulose chains may be oriented. This leads to an examination of current concepts, particularly those concerning microtubules. It is shown that none of the mechanisms suggested whereby microtubules might cause orientation of cellulose microfibrils is consistent with the known range of molecular architectures found in plant cell walls. It is further concluded that any mechanism which necessitates an indissoluble link between the plasmalemma and the cellulose-synthesising complex at the tip of a microfibril is unacceptable. A new proposal is presented in which it is speculated that both microtubules and microfibrils are oriented by a mechanism separate from both. It is shown that if two vectors are contemplated, one parallel to cell length and one at right angles, and a sensor exists on the plasmalemma surface which responds to changes in the vectors, then all known wall structures may be explained. The possible nature of the vectors and the sensor are considered.     

Interactions of an antitumor platinum compound with deoxyribonucleic acid, histones, L-amino acids, poly-L-amino acids, nucleosides and nucleotides

Interaction of cis-dichloro(dipyridine)platinum(II) (cis-PPC) with calf thymus DNA, calf thymus histone, l-amino acids, poly-l-amino acids, nucleosides, and nucleotides has been evaluated by equilibrium dialysis technics. At least a 28 % decrease in the association of cis-PPC with DNA occurs when the platinum compound is pre-incubated with l-amino acids. The greatest decrease in association is seen upon pre-incubation of the platinum compound with the free amino acids. Glut, Asp, Lys, Arg, and CySH, before the addition of a sack containing a solution of DNA. The low level of association between DNA and the amino acids tends to rule out competition between cis-PPC and amino acids for DNA association sites. cis-PPC was repelled from sacks containing positively charged poly-l-Lys, poly-l-Arg, and calf thymus histone; however, in the presence of poly-l-Glut and poly-l-Asp, cis-PPC associated with these negatively charged polymers to a considerable degree. Enhanced chloride dissociation from cis-PPC was observed in the presence of all of the amino acids and the nucleotides GMP, CMP, UMP, and TMP, but not in the presence of AMP or the nucleosides rG and dG. In the presence of calf thymus histone, the association of cis-PPC with calf thymus DNA was reduced by more than 50% at histone/DNA ratios of 0.8–1.0.These data suggest that cis-PPC or cis-Pt(II) may associate with electron-rich areas of not only nucleic acids and proteins but also with body pools of free nucleotides and amino acids. The presence of positively charged histones shielding DNA strands in vivo suggests that the most probable point of platinum-DNA association would be at de-repressed areas of DNA which are undergoing RNA synthesis. The aquated form of the platinum complex may also associate with acidic proteins which appear to be involved in the positive control of RNA synthesis and, as a result, this interaction may be of pharmacological significance.