Inhibition of tumor growth in mice by endostatin derived from abdominal transplanted encapsulated cells

Endostatin,a C-terminal fragment of collagen 18a,inhibits the growth of established tumorsand metastases in vivo by inhibiting angiogenesis.However,the purification procedures required for large-scale production and the attendant cost of these processes,together with the low effectiveness in clinicaltests,suggest that alternative delivery methods might be required for efficient therapeutic use of endostatin.In the present study,we transfected Chinese hamster ovary(CHO)cells with a human endostatin geneexpression vector and encapsulated the CHO cells in alginate-poly-L-lysine microcapsules.The release ofbiologically active endostatin was confirmed using the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay.The encap-sulated endostatin-expressing CHO cells can inhibit the growth of primary tumors in a subcutaneous B 16tumor model when injected into the abdominal cavity of mouse.These results widen the clinical applicationof the microencapsulated cell endostatin delivery system in cancer treatment.     

猪细小病毒VP2蛋白主要抗原表位基因真核表达载体的构建及表达

Using a pair of specific primers designed according to the relevant nucleotide sequences from GenBank, the main antigen domain for VP2 gene of Porcine parvovirus was ampilified with PCR method using the genomic DNA as template. The PCR product was cloned into the expression vector pIREShyg to get a recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pIREShyg-VP2, which was then transfected into the CHO-K1 cells. The expressed product was detected by IFA after the positive cell clone was selected with hygromycin. The result revealed that the main antigen domain for VP2 gene of porcine parvovirus was stably expressed in CHO-K1 cells.     

Diversity of fungal isolates from fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi and characterization of bioactive compound from Xylaria escharoidea

Owing to their potential applications,as well as their structural diversity,the discovery of novel secondary metabolites from insect-associated fungi has been of interest to researchers in recent years.The aim of this study was therefore to estimate the diversity of fungi associated with fungus-growing termites and bioprospecting these for potential secondary metabolites.In total,18 fungal species were isolated and described from the gut and comb of Macrotermes barneyi based on 18S ribosomal DNA gene sequence analysis.Antimicrobial activity assays were carried out on all the known fungi,and nine isolates were recorded as active against pathogenic fungi.Xylaria escharoidea,the best performing isolate,was grown at laboratory scale and 4,8-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-l(2H)was isolated and characterized.The minimum inhibitory concentration of this isolated compound against tested pathogenic organisms was found to be 6.25 fig.In addition,molecular docking studies have revealed that 4,8-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-l(2H)is a prominent antibacterial agent with a marked interaction with key residues on protein A(agrAc)that regulates the accessory gene.The findings of this study support the drug discovery of antimicrobial properties in insect-associated fungi,which may lead to novel secondary metabolites.     

Resistance of SKW6 cell to apoptosis induction with anti-Fas antibody upon transduction of a reverse fragment to a cDNA encoding human 6A8 α-mannosidase

The effect of transduction with a reverse fragment to a cDNA encoding human 6A8 ?-mannosidase on apoptosis induction of human B cell line SKW6 by anti-Fas antibody was tested. Apoptosis-inducer of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody was used to induce apoptosis in SKW6 cells. Giemsa’s staining, Annexin-V-FLUOS staining and DNA ladder test were used to determine the events of apoptosis. Indirect immunofluorescent staining with anti-Fas antibody was performed to detect the surface Fas expression. In a time-course test of 12, 24 and 36 h for apoptosis induction by anti-Fas antibody, DNA ladder was observed in the wild-type SKW6 cells in a time-dependent fashion. Mock transduction had no effect on DNA ladder production. However, no DNA ladder was detected in the rAAV-antisense 6A8 cDNA-transduced SKW6. Results from Annexin-V-FLUOS staining on anti-Fas antibody-treated cells revealed that the staining-positive rate in the rAAV-antisense 6A8 cDNA-transduced SKW6 cells was decreased in comparison to that in the wild-type and the mock-transduced cells. Giemsa’s staining observation showed that the number of dying (with apoptotic bodies) and dead cells was reduced in the rAAV-antisense 6A8 cDNA-transduced SKW6 cells in comparison with that in the wild-type and the mock-transduced cells upon anti-Fas antibody induction. The transduction did not affect the expression of Fas molecular on cell surface. 100% cells in all the groups showed Fas expression. The SKW6 cells became resistant to apoptosis induction by anti-Fas antibody upon transduction with a reverse fragment to a cDNA encoding human 6A8 a-mannosidase. The transduction did not affect the expression of Fas molecule on cells.     

Purification of full-length human Pregnane and Xenobiotic Receptor： polyclonal antibody preparation for immunological characterization

Pregnane and Xenobiotic Receptor （PXR; or Steroid and Xenobiotic Receptor, SXR）, a new member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is thought to modulate a network of genes that are involved in xenobiotic metabolism and elimination. To further explore the role of PXR in body＇s homeostatic mechanisms, we for the first time, report successful prokaryotic expression and purification of full-length PXR and preparation of polyclonal antibody against the whole protein. The full-length cDNA encoding a 434 amino acids protein was sub-cloned into prokaryotic expression vector, pET-30b and transformed into E. coli BL21（DE3） cells for efficient over expression. The inclusion body fraction, containing the expressed recombinant protein, was purified first by solubilizing in sarcosine extraction buffer and then by affinity column chromatography using Ni-NTA His-Bind matrix. The efficacy of anti-PXR antibody was confirmed by immunocytology, Western blot analysis, EMSA and immunohistochemistry. The antibody obtained was capable of detecting human and mouse PXR with high specificity and sensitivity. Immunofluorescence staining of COS-1 cells transfected with human or mouse PXR showed a clear nuclear localization. Results from immunohistochemistry showed that level of PXR in liver sections is immunologically detectable in the nuclei. Similar to exogenously transfected PXR, Western blot analysis of cell extract from HepG2 and COLO320DM cells revealed a major protein band for endogenous PXR having the expected molecular weight of 50 kDa. Relevance of other immunodetectable bands with reference to PXR isoforms and current testimony are evaluated. Advantages of antibody raised against full-length PXR protein for functional characterization of receptor is discussed and its application for clinical purposes is envisaged.     

Expression of. Arabidopsis tryptophan biosynthetic pathway genes: effect of the 5' coding region of phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase gene

There are three non-allelic isogenes encoding phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase (PAI) in Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression plasmids were constructed by fusion of the GUS reporter gene to the three PAI promoters with or without the 5' region encoding PAI N-terminal polypeptides and transferred into Arabidopsis plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Analysis of GUS activity revealed that the PAI 5' coding region was necessary for high expression of GUS activity. GUS activity in transgenic plants transformed with the expression plasmids containing the 5' coding region of PAI1 or PAI3 was 60—100-fold higher than that without the corresponding 5' region. However, the effect of 5' coding region of PAI2 gene on the GUS activity was very small (only about 1 time difference). The GUS histochemical staining showed a similar result as revealed by GUS activity assay. It was expressed in the mesophyll cells and guard cells, but not in the epidermic cells, indicating that the N-terminal polypeptides encoded by t     

Properties of serine：glyoxylate aminotransferase purified from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves

The photorespiratory enzyme L-serine：glyoxylate amino- transferase （SGAT; EC 2.6.1.45） was purified from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. The f＇mal enzyme was approximately 80 % pure as revealed by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with silver staining. The identity of the enzyme was confirmed by LC/MS/MS analysis. The molecular mass estimated by gel filtration chromato- graphy on Sephadex G-150 under non-denaturing conditions, mass spectrometry （matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization/time of flight technique） and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 82.4 kDa, 42.0 kDa, and 39.8 kDa, respectively, indicating dimer as the active form. The optimum pH value was 9.2. The enzyme activity was inhibited by aminooxyacetate and β-chloro-L-alanine both compounds reacting with the carbonyl group of pyridoxal phosphate. The enzyme＇s transaminating activity with L-alanine and glyoxylate as substrates was approximately 55 % of that observed with L-serine and glyoxylate. The lower Kmvalue （1.25 mM） for L-alanine, compared with that of other plant SGATs, and the kcat/Km（Ala） ratio being approxi- mately 2-fold higher than kcat/Km（Ser） suggested that, during photorespiration, Ala and Ser are used by Arabidopsis SGAT with equal efficiency as amino group donors for glyoxylate. The equilibrium constant （Keq）, derived from the Haldane relation, for the transamination reaction between L-serine and glyoxylate with the formation of hydroxypyruvate and glycine was 79.1, strongly favoring glycine synthesis. However, it was accompanied by a low Km value of 2.83 mM for glycine. A comparison of some kinetic properties of the studied enzymes with the recombinant Arabidopsis SGATs previously obtained revealed substantial differences. The ratio of the velocity of the transamination reaction with L-alanine and glyoxylate as substrates versus that with L-serine and glyoxylate was 1：1.8 for the native enzyme, whereas it was 1：7 for the recombinant SGAT. Native SGAT showed a much lower Km value for L-alanine compared to the recombinant enzyme.     

Selective proliferation of human γδ T cells in vitro

The effect of monoethylphosphate (MEP,commercial available or synthesized) together with IL-2 on the selective proliferation of human γδT cells in vitro from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy donors and of cancer patients was investigated.The γδT cells were stimulated by MEP to proliferate in a dose-dependent manner.The effect of synthesized MEP was 10 times greater than that of commercial MEP.When the PBMCs of healthy donors were cultured for 25 d in the medium containing different concentrations of MEP,the total cell number increased about 1000-3000 fold;and the ratio of γδT cells reached to 70-80%.The selective expansion of γδT cells depended on the synergic action of MEP and IL-2.The bulk cultured γδT cells exhibited obvious cytotoxic activities against allogenic tumor cell lines (SQ-5,K562 and Daudi) and autologous tumor cells.The culture system described here not only offers a simple method for obtaining a large number of γδT cells which may become a new effector in the adoptive immunotherapy,but also provides a useful model for the further studies of the structure and function of γδT cells in vitro.     

Selective cytotoxicity of marine algae extracts to several human leukemic cell lines

Extracts from 8 species of marine algae which showed selective cytotoxicity in our previous screening program, were further examined for cytotoxic spectra to five human leukemic cell lines. The extract from a red alga, Amphiroa zonata exhibited strong cytotoxicity to all human leukemic cell lines tested and murine leukemic cells L1210 at the final concentrations from 15 to 375 μg ml−¹. Then the cytotoxicity was not found in normal human fibroblast HDF and murine normal cells NIH-3T3. The active extract fraction from this alga was soluble in higher polar organic solvents and water and heat-stable. The extract from a brown alga Dilophus okamurae with weak selective cytotoxic activity to L1210 cells exhibited not only strong cytotoxicity to L1210, but also to human leukemic cells, HL60 and MOLT-4 at 50 μg ml-¹. While, the extract from a green alga, Cladophoropsis vaucheriaeformis with most selective cytotoxic activity, did not show cytotoxicity to any human leukemic cell lines tested at 50 μg ml-¹. However, this extract showed strong cytotoxicity to two human leukemic cell lines and NIH-3T3 at 100 μg ml−¹. Thus, it was considered that a red alga, Amphiroa zonata might be suitable natural source for development of anti-cancer agents without side-effect. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparative Detection of Calcium Fluctuations in Single Female Sex Cells of Tobacco to Distinguish Calcium Signals Triggered by in vitro Fertilization

Double fertilization is a key process of sexual reproduction in higher plants. The role of calcium in the activation of female sex cells through fertilization has recently received a great deal of attention. The establishment of a Ca^2＋-imaging technique for living, single, female sex cells is a difficult but necessary prerequisite for evaluating the role of Ca^2＋ in the transduction of external stimuli, including the fusion with the sperm cell, to internal cellular processes. The present study describes the use of Fluo-3 for reporting the Ca^2＋ signal in isolated, single, female sex cells, egg cells and central cells, of tobacco plants. A suitable loading protocol was optimized by loading the cells at pH 5.6 with 2 μM Fluo-3 for 30 min at 30 ℃. Under these conditions, several key factors related to in vitro fertilization were also investigated in order to test their possible effects on the [Ca^2＋]cyt of the female sex cells. The results indicated that the bovine serum albumin-fusion system was superior to the polyethlene glycol-fusion system for detecting calcium fluctuations in female sex cells during fertilization. The central cell was fertilized with the sperm cell in bovine serum albumin; however, no evident calcium dynamic was detected, implying that a transient calcium rise might be a specific signal for egg cell fertilization.     

六种藓类植物茎的比较解剖学研究

通过对6种藓类植物,即褶叶青藓(Brachythecium salebrosum(Web.et Mohr.)B.S.G.)、湿地匐灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum(Lindb.)Kop.)、侧枝匐灯藓(Plagiomnium maximoviczii(Lindb.)Kop.)、大凤尾藓(Fissidensnobilis Griff.)、大羽藓(Thuidium cymbifolium(Doz.et Molk.)B.S.G.)和大灰藓(Hypnum plumaeforme Wils.)嫩茎和老茎的石蜡切片和显微观察发现,同一藓类植株的嫩茎和老茎,茎结构稳定,不同种藓类植物茎横切面具有不同特征.植物体茎横切面形状、表层细胞的层数、细胞大小和细胞壁厚薄、皮层细胞大小和形状、中轴的有无以及比例等特征可以作为藓类植物的分科分类依据之一.     

真菌类遗传学分析的知识结构教学

本文以认知结构理论为指导,讨论了真菌类遗传分析与高等动植物遗传分析的内在联系,认为利用这种内在联系进行教学可收到好的效果并说明了作者的具体教学过程。 Abstract:In the paper, the relationship between genetic analysis of Fungi and genetic analysis of high animal and plant was discussed.A good results were obtained when we adopted this method in the teaching.     

医疗机构合理用药评价模型的构建研究

目的 针对医疗机构的合理用药水平进行评价研究。方法 根据医疗机构合理用药的具体要求,构建医疗机构合理用药评价指标体系,采用基于模糊群决策的方法和多指标评价分析法构建医疗机构合理用药评价模型。结果 构建了基于模糊群决策的医疗机构合理用药评价模型,并通过实例分析证明了评价模型的可行性。结论 建立的基于模糊群决策的医疗机构合理用药评价模型能够对医疗机构的合理用药水平进行科学评价,为提高医疗机构合理用药水平奠定基础。     

棉铃虫钙粘蛋白N端多肽多克隆抗体制备及对Bt抗性的初步检测

用重组表达的棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner)中肠钙粘蛋白N端多肽片段制备兔多克隆抗体,并利用其对Bt抗性进行鉴定。通过RT-PCR方法对棉铃虫中肠钙粘蛋白N端多肽的基因片段Cad285进行PCR扩增,将其克隆到pET-30a原核表达载体中,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中经IPTG诱导表达,得到35ku的重组融和蛋白,融合表达的包涵体经过变性、Ni-NTA柱亲和纯化、复性等方法处理包涵体,获得可溶性纯化蛋白,用纯化后蛋白免疫新西兰兔制备多克隆抗体,ELISA检测其效价高于1∶16000;利用最终获得的多克隆抗体对室内纯合Bt抗/感品系的棉铃虫中肠钙粘蛋白进行Western blot分析,结果显示敏感和抗性品系之间有明显差异,表明其能够应用对Bt抗性进行初步检测。     

Cause of Senescence of Nine Sorts of Flowers

The levels of endogenous phytohormones and respiratory rate in nine sorts of flowers such as Cymbidium faberi Rolfe, Nopalxochia ackermannii Kunth and others were investigated both at full bloom and senescence and meanwhile the effect of exogenous phytohormones on prolonging the blossoms and promoting ethylene production were tested. There is a high content of endogenous ethylene in all the long-lived flowere, about 3–16 folds higer than the short-lived ones. There is a high level of ABA at full blooming flowers of short-lived flowers, in which there is no or only some cytokinins in it, but the ratio of CTK (6BA+zeatin)/ABA is smaller(l.7). The endogenous ABA reached a much higher level at senescence in all nine sorts of flowers, so it is reasonable to consider that it is ABA which plays an important role of regulation in controlling flower's senescence. There is a much higher level of GA3 and zeatin in the long-lived flowers which is not demonstrated in the shortlived ones. The respiratory rate is one of the factors controtling the longevity of flowers, but it does not play a decided role. Application of 6BA and zeatin prolongs distinctly orchid’s longevity, however exogenous IAA through the promotive action on ethylene production, evidently extends the longevity of the flowers of the Nopalxochia ackermannii Kunth.     

青蒿素生物合成机理研究现状

本文总结了目前有关青蒿素生物合成机理方面的研究,主要包括青蒿素生物合成中生理因子的影响,青蒿素生物合成中间体及前体,青蒿素生物合成细胞定位等。指出了存在的一些问题及今后的研究发展前景。     

龙胆科药用植物化学成分的研究现状

龙胆科植物在我国的分布范围很广,且多数为药用植物,其多数种属的药用植物,至今其化学成分尚未被系统研究。综述了目前龙胆科药用植物的化学成分的研究现状及一般提取方法,对近年来发现的环烯醚萜及裂环烯醚萜类化合物进行了总结,为本科药用植物的更深入研究提供了参考。