研究报告: EIF2B5表达下调的人星形胶质细胞与人神经元在内质网应激后细胞存活及miRNA表达的差异

目的 探讨白质消融性白质脑病中胶质细胞选择性受累而神经元受累轻微的原因。方法 将EIF2B5-RNAi表达载体转染至人星形胶质细胞和人神经元,检测基础状态下及内质网应激（endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS）后细胞凋亡和活力,检测参与ERS调控的已知和未知miRNA,筛选EIF2B5-RNAi人星形胶质细胞在ERS后miRNA变化。结果 与EIF2B5-RNAi人神经元相比,星形胶质细胞自发凋亡及细胞活力下降。较之神经元,更多miRNA参与星形胶质细胞ERS刺激后的调控,EIF2B5-RNAi组参与调控的miRNA数目显著减少。聚类分析发现,5条已知miRNA是通路连接的关键组分。结论 人星形胶质细胞在ERS后可能更加依赖众多促细胞增殖分化的miRNA修复,而EIF2B5-RNAi人星形胶质细胞存在自发凋亡,ERS后严重减少的miRNA可能导致细胞无法存活。     

综述与专论: 白质消融性白质脑病研究进展

白质消融性白质脑病（leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter,VWM）是一种常染色体隐性遗传性脑白质病,其致病基因EIF2B 1~5分别编码真核细胞蛋白质翻译起始因子2B（eukaryotic initiation factor 2B,eIF2B）的5个亚基α~ε,其中任一编码基因突变均可引起发病。起病多见于婴幼儿及儿童期,临床表型差异大,典型表现为进行性运动功能退行,可伴共济失调和癫痫。应激（发热、外伤等）可导致发作性加重。影像学显示大脑白质进行性液化。尸解神经病理学特征主要表现为广泛性白质稀疏和囊性变性,无神经胶质细胞反应性增生,星形胶质细胞形态异常,过表达祖细胞标志物巢蛋白（Nestin）和胶质纤维酸性蛋白δ（GFAPδ）,少突前体细胞数量增加和成熟少突胶质细胞减少、泡沫化且凋亡增加。VWM致病基因EIF2B 1~5是管家基因,但多数患者通常仅脑白质受累。少数胎儿期及婴儿早期发病的患者可出现多系统受累,成年女性患者可有卵巢功能障碍。目前认为,星形胶质细胞在其致病机制中起着核心作用,病理性星形胶质细胞继发性引起少突胶质细胞成熟障碍和髓鞘形成异常,进而导致脑白质病变。其他疾病机制包括内质网应激后未折叠蛋白反应（UPR）过度激活、线粒体功能障碍、自噬抑制等,尚不完全明确。     

研究报告: TMEM163变异致髓鞘形成低下患者随访两例及iPSC构建

目的 探讨TMEM163变异导致髓鞘形成低下性脑白质营养不良（HLD）患者的临床特征及遗传学特点，归纳自然病程，以提高对该疾病认识，并构建患者来源诱导多能干细胞，为致病机制研究建立基础。方法 随访2009~2022年北京大学第一医院儿科就诊的2例TMEM163变异致病患儿，对临床表现、遗传学数据、蛋白质结构数据进行分析，总结临床遗传学特点，并采集患儿外周血构建诱导多能干细胞。结果 临床特点：2例患儿均具有早期运动语言发育迟缓、头颅磁共振成像显示脑白质髓鞘化不良，且症状随生长发育逐渐减轻的特点；均于婴儿期起病，以眼球震颤为首发症状，学龄期症状好转。遗传学特点：2例患儿均为TMEM163同一位点新发错义变异c.227T>G p.（L76R）、c.227T>C p.（L76P），均为国际上首例报道。病例2来源外周血单个核细胞成功重编程为诱导多能干细胞。结论 本研究为国际首次随访TMEM163变异致病髓鞘形成低下性脑白质营养不良患儿，完善了其自然病程，扩展了对髓鞘形成低下性脑白质营养不良临床表型认识，并首次构建了TMEM163 c.227T>C p.（L76P）变异患者来源诱导多能干细胞，为进一步致病机制研究打下基础。     

白质消融性白质脑病致病基因EIF2B的突变功能研究

白质消融性白质脑病(leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter,VWM)是儿童最常见的遗传性白质脑病之一,是目前人类遗传性疾病中首个被确定由于mRNA翻译启动异常所致疾病,是由编码真核细胞翻译启动因子2B(eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B,eIF2B)的五个亚单位(eIF2Bα、β、γ、δ、ε)的基因(EIF2B1-5)任一突变所致。eIF2B是一种鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子,调控全部mRNA的翻译起始过程。eIF2B突变功能研究尚处于起步阶段。EIF2B突变可能通过不同的途径影响eIF2B的功能。例如,通过影响eIF2B复合体的形成或其与底物的结合从而破坏eIF2B的鸟苷酸转移因子(GEF)活性或引起细胞应激反应异常。EIF2B突变是否影响胶质前体细胞的分化是VWM发病机制的另一个关键问题。     

YPS1/YPS2失活改进酿酒酵母An-α菌株β-葡萄糖苷酶分泌表达

[背景] 工业酵母菌株的蛋白质表达通常存在表达量低、分泌效率低的问题。[目的] 考察失活Yapsin蛋白酶Yps1p和Yps2p对β-葡萄糖苷酶在酿酒酵母An-α菌株中表达的影响。[方法] 利用CRISPR/Cas9基因组编辑技术,首先构建得到未折叠蛋白响应（Unfolded Protein Response,UPR）指示菌株An-α（leu2：：UPRE-lacZ）即An-αL,然后分别失活其YPS1和YPS2基因,导入以YEplac195为载体的β-葡萄糖苷酶表达质粒（简称BG）,进行生长和酶活分析评价。[结果] 菌株An-αL的YPS1和YPS2基因失活对其在酵母浸出粉胨葡萄糖（Yeast Extract Peptone Dextrose,YPD）培养基中的生长未造成明显的不利影响;导入质粒BG后将在酵母浸出粉胨纤维二糖（Yeast Extract Peptone Cellobiose,YPC）培养基中生长的最大OD₆₀₀分别提高了21.9%和7.4%;最大总酶活值为0.087 5和0.068 6 U/（mL·OD₆₀₀）,是对照菌株相应值的2.268倍和1.778倍;分泌比例提高了19.4%和22.2%;β-葡萄糖苷酶表达水平与β-半乳糖苷酶酶活水平所代表的UPR信号响应值之间呈现良好的相关性。[结论] YPS1和YPS2基因失活有助于改进酿酒酵母An-α菌株中β-葡萄糖苷酶的分泌表达。     

非编码的mRNA

非编码的mRNA是近年发现的一类不含典型ORF的mRNA.目前已发现或克隆的这类基因主要有：H19基因,XIST基因,XLSIRT基因,His-1基因,bic基因,rox1和rox2基因等.它们与胚胎发育,肿瘤发生及X染色体失活密切相关.     

p14ARF对人黑色素瘤细胞增殖的影响及其作用机理的初探

ARF(alternative reading frame)作为INK4a/ARF的β转录产物,能够稳定p53, 诱导细胞周期阻断或凋亡.利用高表达p14^ARF的人黑色素瘤细胞模型,探讨了ARF抑制细胞增殖的分子作用机理.研究发现p14^ARF高表达能将细胞周期阻断在G1和G2期, p53, p21^cip1和p27^kip1蛋白水平明显增强, 而p-ERK1/2,CyclinD1和CyclinE蛋白水平下降, 明显抑制细胞生长. 提示p14^ARF能通过ERK(extracellular signal-regulated kinase)信号通路相互协调作用抑制A375细胞增殖.     

水稻条斑病菌gacA基因的克隆及功能初析

根据黄单胞菌gacA基因的同源性设计简并引物,采用PCR方法从水稻条斑病菌(Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzicola,Xooc)中克隆了gacA同源基因,命名为gacA_Xooc。序列比较显示,该基因在黄单胞菌中是相对保守的。通过同源重组的方法,构建了gacA_Xooc的插入突变株。对0.1% Tryptone的趋化应答能力检测发现,gacA突变株的趋化能力明显降低,证明gacA与Xooc的趋化性相关。     

基于Cre/loxP系统的睾丸组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因小鼠模型的构建及敲除效率检测

极长链多不饱和脂肪酸(very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids,VLC-PUFAs)是哺乳动物视网膜、睾丸等极少数组织中特有的脂肪酸,其生物合成的关键酶为极长链脂肪酸延长酶4(very long chain fatty acid elongase 4,Elovl4)。建立组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因的动物模型有利于深入研究VLC-PUFAs的生物学功能,因此,本研究基于Cre/loxP系统,先分别构建了Stra8-Cre小鼠和Elovl4 floxed小鼠,通过杂交获得(Elovl4[flox/+],Stra8-Cre)杂合子基因敲除小鼠,再选择雌鼠与Elovl4 floxed纯合子雄鼠即Elovl4 [flox/flox]雄鼠杂交,通过基因型鉴定筛选获得(Elovl4[flox/flox], Stra8-Cre)纯合子小鼠。利用RT-PCR、qRT-PCR、Western blotting、免疫组化和免疫荧光检测Elovl4在睾丸组织中的敲除效率,结果表明,无论是杂合子还是纯合子基因敲除小鼠,其睾丸组织中Elovl4的表达在mRNA及蛋白水平显著下调,但其他组织未受影响。本研究成功构建了睾丸组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因小鼠,为后续研究VLC-PUFAs对雄性小鼠生殖功能的影响及相关分子机制提供可靠的动物模型。     

不同代次牛成肌细胞的诱导分化及相关基因的表达分析

利用初生荷斯坦牛的成肌细胞,在不同代次以含体积分数为2%马血清的DMEM进行诱导分化,在之后0、2、4、6、8、10 d观察细胞的形态变化并收集细胞提取总RNA,检测成肌相关基因的表达情况,为进一步研究牛肌肉发生过程及相关基因的表达调控提供依据。同时利用实时荧光定量PCR分别检测肌性相关基因MyoD(生肌决定因子)、MyoG(肌细胞生成素)以及非肌性相关基因A-FABP(脂肪细胞型脂肪酸结合蛋白)表达水平的变化。研究表明：①各代细胞在诱导培养4 d后开始有肌管形成,其后越来越多,8 d时达高峰。②成肌细胞向成熟肌细胞分化过程中,MyoD、MyoG、A-FABP基因都呈先上升然后下降的趋势。③高代次成肌细胞比低代次细胞增殖慢,而且在诱导分化后,肌管的数目明显变少; MyoD、MyoG、A-FABP随着代次的升高而下降。故推断MyoD、MyoG以及A-FABP基因会在成肌分化开始后的不同阶段被激活,从而发挥不同的调控作用,而且随着传代次数的增加成肌细胞的分化能力减弱。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Characterization of SSEA-1 glycolipids from the brain of a patient with fucosidosis

Neutral glycolipids from the brain of a patient with Fucosidosis were analyzed and two complex glycolipids containing five and eight sugars were isolated from the cortical grey matter. These two glycolipids reacted with antibodies recognizing the SSEA-1 [Le^x(X)] carbohydrate determinant. SSEA-1 glycolipids are normally expressed in human embryonic brain but are found in only small amounts in postnatal human brain. The accumulation of the two SSEA-1 glycolipids in Fucosidosis brain thus represents a defect which affects the normal developmentally regulated decrease in postnatal, expression of these glycolipids, and may be a contributing factor in the abnormal brain development associated with the disease. Chemical characterization of the two isolated glycolipids by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses has identified the two glycolipids as lacto-N-fucopentaosylceramide (III) and difucosyl-neolactonorhexaosylceramide.Abbreviations DCl direct chemical ionization - FAB tastatiom bombardment - GC gas chromatography - GSLs glycosphingolipids - MS mass spectrometry - SSEA-1 stage specific embryonic antigen-1 - TLC thin layer chromatographys     

1H and13C-NMR analysis of four pentasaccharides from urine of blood-group A and B,Leb adults. Confirmation of the structure of two new oligosaccharides: Fuc(α1–2)[GalNAc(α1–3)]Gal(β1–3)[Fuc(α1–4)]Glc and Fuc(α1–2)[Gal(α1–3)]Gal(β1–3)[Fuc(α1–4)]Glc

The major pentasaccharides Fuc(1-2)[GalNAc(1-3)]Gal(1-4)[Fuc(1-3)]Glc and Fuc(1-2) [Gal(1-3)]Gal(1-4)[Fuc(1-3)]Glc, which are normally present in the urine of bloodgroup A Le^b and B Le^b healthy subjects, were each found to be contaminated by a minor component when analysed by¹H-NMR. The determination of these structures, Fuc(1-2) [GalNAc(1-3)]Gal(1-3)[Fuc(1-4)]Glc and Fuc(1-2) [Gal(1-3)]Gal(1-3)[Fuc(1-4)]Glc, was based on the results of methylation analysis and¹H/¹³C-NMR spectroscopy.Abbreviations HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - GLC gas liquid chromatography - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - COSY correlation spectroscopy - Gal d-galactopyranose - GalNAc 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-galactopyranose - Glc d-glucopyranose - Fuc l-fucopyranose - LNDFH I lacto-N-difucohexaose I (Le^b determinant     

“HAIRY CANOLA” – Arabidopsis GL3 Induces a Dense Covering of Trichomes on Brassica napus Seedlings

Transformation with the Arabidopsis bHLH gene 35S:GLABRA3 (GL3) produced novel B. napus plants with an extremely dense coverage of trichomes on seedling tissues (stems and young leaves). In contrast, trichomes were strongly induced in seedling stems and moderately induced in leaves of a hairy, purple phenotype transformed with a 2.2 kb allele of the maize anthocyanin regulator LEAF COLOUR (Lc), but only weakly induced by BOOSTER (B-Peru), the maize Lc 2.4 kb allele, or the Arabidopsis trichome MYB gene GLABRA1 (GL1). B. napus plants containing only the GL3 transgene had a greater proportion of trichomes on the adaxial leaf surface, whereas all other plant types had a greater proportion on the abaxial surface. Progeny of crosses between GL3⁺ and GL1⁺ plants resulted in trichome densities intermediate between a single-insertion GL3⁺ plant and a double-insertion GL3⁺ plant. None of the transformations stimulated trichomes on Brassica cotyledons or on non-seedling tissues. A small portion of bHLH gene-induced trichomes had a swollen terminal structure. The results suggest that trichome development in B. napus may be regulated differently from Arabidopsis. They also imply that insertion of GL3 into Brassica species under a tissue-specific promoter has strong potential for developing insect-resistant crop plants. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Genome Analysis inNeurospora crassa;Cloning of Four Lociarginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) and Associated Chromosome Walking

We have cloned fourNeurospora crassagenes by complementation analysis. Cloned genes include thearginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) loci. Chromosome walks were initiated in ordered cosmid libraries from the cloned loci. A total of about 700 kb of theNeurosporagenome is covered in these walks.     

Structural Peculiarities of Na+,K+-ATPase Isozymes from the Calf Brain

Functionally active preparations of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase isozymes from calf brain that contain catalytic subunits of three types (1, 2, and 3) were obtained using two approaches: a selective removal of contaminating proteins by the Jorgensen method and a selective solubilization of the enzyme with subsequent reconstitution of their membrane structure by the Esmann method. The ouabain inhibition constants were determined for the isozymes. The real isozyme composition of the Na⁺ pump from the grey matter containing glial cells and the brain stem containing neurons was determined. The plasma membranes of glial cells were shown to contain mainly Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase of the 11 type and minor amounts of isozymes of the 22(1) and the 31(2) type. The axolemma contains 21 and 31 isozymes. A carbohydrate analysis indicated that 11 enzyme preparations from the brain grey matter substantially differ from the renal enzymes of the same composition in the glycosylation of the 1 isoform. An enhanced sensitivity of the 3 catalytic subunit of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase from neurons to endogenous proteolysis was found. A point of specific proteolysis in the amino acid sequence PNDNR⁴⁹² Y⁴⁹³ was localized (residue numbering is that of the human 3 subunit). This sequence corresponds to one of the regions of the greatest variability in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-subunits, but at the same time, it is characteristic of the 3 isoforms of various species. The presence of the 3 isoform of tubulin (cytoskeletal protein) was found for the first time in the high-molecular-mass Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase 31 isozyme complex isolated from the axolemma of brain stem neurons, and its binding to the 3 catalytic subunit was shown.     

Identification of novel oocyte and granulosa cell markers

Here we present novel gene expression patterns in the ovary as part of an ongoing assessment of published micro-array data from mouse oocytes and embryos. We present the expression patterns of 13 genes that had been determined by micro-array to be expressed in the mature egg, but not during subsequent preimplantation development. In-situ hybridization of sectioned ovaries revealed that these genes were expressed in one of two distinct patterns: (1) oocyte-specific or (2) expressed in both the oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells. Despite the fact that micro-array data demonstrated expression in the egg, several of these genes are expressed at low levels in the oocyte, but strongly expressed in granulosa cells. Eleven of these genes have no reported function or expression during oogenesis, indicating that this approach is a necessary step towards functional annotation of the genome. Also of note is that while some of these gene products have been well characterized in other tissues and cell types, others are relatively unstudied in the literature. Our results provide novel gene expression information that may provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of follicular recruitment, oocyte maturation and ovulation and will direct further experimentation into the role these genes play during oogenesis.