Protein purification and nucleotide sequence of a lysozyme from the bacteria-induced larvae of the fall webworm,Hyphantria cunea

A protein with lytic activity against Micrococcus luteus was purified from the hemolymph of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, larvae challenged with live E. coli. A bacteriolytic protein of about 14,000 daltons in mass was purified by cation exchange chromatography and reverse-phased HPLC. The optimum pH and optimum temperature range for activity were around pH 6.2 and 50°C, respectively, in a 100 mM phosphate buffer. The aminoterminal amino acid sequence of this protein was determined and the corresponding cDNA was isolated and analyzed. The deduced protein of 142 amino acid residues was composed of a putative leader sequence of 20 residues and the mature enzyme of 122 residues. The cloned lysozyme gene was strongly induced in response to bacterial injection, implying that the enzyme is a part of the immune response of H. cunea. Comparison with other known lysozyme sequences shows that our lysozyme belongs to the chicken lysozyme. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 35:335–345, 1997.© 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

没食子酸对美国白蛾幼虫营养效应及解毒酶活性的影响

美国白蛾是我国重大外来入侵害虫,寄主范围十分广泛。酚类物质是最广泛的植物次生代谢物之一,在植物抵御昆虫取食的化学防御中具有重要作用。本研究通过人工饲料添加没食子酸的方法,探究不同浓度的没食子酸对美国白蛾幼虫的营养效应及解毒酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶活性的影响。结果表明,各浓度(1.0%、1.5%、2.0%、2.5%、3.0%)没食子酸对美国白蛾4龄幼虫的近似消化率、食物利用率、相对取食量和相对生长率均具有显著影响(P<0.05),近似消化率和相对取食量不同程度下降,食物利用率和相对生长率则不同程度上升。不同浓度的没食子酸处理对美国白蛾幼虫的乙酰胆碱酯酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶和细胞色素P450的活性均具有显著影响(P<0.05)。1.0%没食子酸作用时间不同,美国白蛾4龄幼虫的乙酰胆碱酯酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶和细胞色素P450的活性差异显著(P<0.05)。没食子酸能够始终诱导细胞色素P450的活性,而羧酸酯酶的活性却受到抑制。不同浓度的没食子酸对乙酰胆碱酯酶作用总体上不明显,但较低浓度时(1.0%)对乙酰胆碱酯酶活性却随处理时间延长而抑制作用加强。较低浓度(1.0%~1.5%)的没食子酸对谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的活性有一定诱导作用,但随着没食子酸浓度提高谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的活性却受到一定程度的抑制。没食子酸能抑制美国白蛾幼虫的取食,并且对解毒酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶的活性表现出一定的时间效应和剂量效应,表明美国白蛾幼虫可能通过调节食物利用和解毒代谢等多种途径降低没食子酸的毒害作用,从而对含没食子酸的寄主植物产生适应。     

绿原酸对美国白蛾幼虫生长发育和解毒相关蛋白活性的影响

【目的】明确植物次生代谢物质绿原酸对美国白蛾Hyphantria cunea幼虫生长发育和解毒相关蛋白活性的影响。【方法】将含不同浓度绿原酸(0, 0.125%, 0.250%, 0.500%, 1.000%和2.000%)的人工饲料饲养美国白蛾幼虫,测定各组中5龄幼虫6 d内的死亡率, 各组中5龄幼虫在取食48 h时的营养效应指标,0.500%绿原酸处理组中幼虫(3龄幼虫开始)的生长发育,以及在取食36 h时各组中5龄幼虫肠道中的解毒相关蛋白活性。【结果】绿原酸处理组中美国白蛾5龄幼虫6 d内的死亡率随着人工饲料中绿原酸浓度的增大而逐渐升高,且显著高于对照组(取食含10% DMSO人工饲料的)。绿原酸对美国白蛾5龄幼虫的营养效应指标有显著影响,各处理组幼虫的相对取食量和近似消化率显著高于对照组,食物转化率显著低于对照组,除0.125%绿原酸处理组外,其余处理组幼虫的食物利用率和相对生长速率也显著低于对照组。0.500%绿原酸处理使美国白蛾3-5龄幼虫发育历期比对照组显著延长28.24%(3.7 d),老熟幼虫(6-7龄幼虫)的发育历期缩短8.97%(0.7 d),且幼虫总成活率、化蛹率、羽化率、雌雄性比及产卵量等各项指标均显著低于对照组。不同浓度绿原酸处理对美国白蛾幼虫肠道中的细胞色素P450酶(CYP450)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTs)、尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖醛酸转移酶(UGT)和ABC转运蛋白(ABC transporters)的活性具有显著影响,但对羧酸酯酶(CarE)活性未见显著影响。【结论】绿原酸可影响美国白蛾幼虫的存活率、食物利用效率、生长发育和繁殖,而美国白蛾幼虫可能通过调节食物利用率和诱导其解毒相关蛋白活性从而对食物中绿原酸产生适应性。     

miR-27a suppresses triglyceride accumulation and affects gene mRNA expression associated with fat metabolism in dairy goat mammary gland epithelial cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a well-defined group of small RNAs containing about 22 nucleotides, participate in various biological metabolic processes. miR-27a is a miRNA that is known to regulate fat synthesis and differentiation in preadipocyte cells. However, little is known regarding the role that miR-27a plays in regulating goat milk fat synthesis. In this study, we determined the miR-27a expression profile in goat mammary gland and found that miR-27a expression was correlated with the lactation cycle. Additionally, prolactin promoted miR-27a expression in goat mammary gland epithelial cells. Further functional analysis showed that over-expression of miR-27a down-regulated triglyceride accumulation and decreased the ratio of unsaturated/saturated fatty acid in mammary gland epithelial cells. miR-27a also significantly affected mRNA expression related to milk fat metabolism. Specifically, over-expression of miR-27a reduced gene mRNA expression associated with triglyceride synthesis by suppressing PPARγ protein levels. This study provides the first experimental evidence that miR-27a regulates triglyceride synthesis in goat mammary gland epithelial cells and improves our understanding about the importance of miRNAs in milk fat synthesis.