Atrogin-1/MAFbx,a Muscle-Specific Ubiquitin Ligase,Is Highly Expressed in the Smooth Muscle of the Chicken Gizzard

To improve the transformation efficiency of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii by electroporation, glycerol was added to the electroporation buffer and the cells were frozen at ?80 °C. These alterations drastically increased transformation efficiency, and we found that competent cells can be preserved at ?80 °C without decreasing their transformation efficiency for at least 30 d.     

肥厚预刺激对苯肾上腺素诱导的心肌细胞肥大的保护作用

目的:研究不同肥厚预刺激对苯肾上腺素(Phenylephrine,PE)诱导的心肌细胞肥大的影响。方法:胶原酶联合差速贴壁法分离培养原代SD乳鼠心肌细胞后分组:(1)对照组(常规培养48 h);(2)PE组(50μM PE刺激48 h);(3)不同预刺激+PE组:A,不同浓度的PE(10、20、50μM)预刺激(12 h干预,12 h常规培养);B,PE(50μM)预刺激不同时间(period-1,6 h干预,6 h常规培养;period-2,6 h干预,6 h常规培养,再次6 h干预,6 h常规培养;period-3,8 h干预,8 h常规培养;period-4,12 h干预,12 h常规培养)。预刺激后再用PE(50μM)刺激48 h。经细胞骨架蛋白(α-actining)免疫荧光染色,利用激光共聚焦显微镜观察细胞表型,Image J软件计算心肌细胞表面积,利用实时定量PCR检测肥厚相关标志物表达水平。结果:分离的心肌细胞纯度在90%以上。PE组较对照组心肌细胞明显肥大,细胞表面积增加2.3倍,心肌肥厚标记基因心钠肽(atrial natriuretic peptide,ANP)、脑钠肽(brain natriuretic peptide,BNP)和β肌球蛋白重链(βmyosin heavy chain,βMHC)表达明显升高(P0.05);而不同预刺激+PE组心肌细胞肥大表型明显缓解,其中PE(50μM)两次6 h预刺激最为显著(P0.05)。结论:肥厚预刺激可以减轻PE诱导的心肌细胞肥大的程度,从而对心肌肥厚有保护作用。     

BML-111 对糖尿病大鼠心肌炎症反应及细胞凋亡的影响

目的:探讨BML-111治疗对糖尿病大鼠心肌细胞凋亡及炎症反应的影响。方法:33只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照(Control)组、糖尿病(DM)组和BML-111组,每组各11只。Control组喂以普通饲料,而其它两组大鼠喂以高糖高脂饲料。饲养6周后,DM组及BML-111组大鼠分别腹腔注射链尿佐菌素30 mg/kg,并于1周后建立糖尿病模型。模型制备完成后12周,BML-111组大鼠每日腹腔注射BML-111 0.5 mg/kg,其它两组大鼠腹腔注射相同容量生理盐水。12周后,测定体重、甘油三酯(TC)、总胆固醇(TG)水平、空腹血糖,采用TUNEL法测定心肌细胞凋亡指数(AI),Western blot法测定IL-6、TNF-α蛋白表达水平,并使用试剂盒测定心肌SOD活性和MDA含量。结果:与Control组比较,DM组大鼠体重显著下降,TC、TG、空腹血糖水平明显升高(P0.05);与DM组比较,BML-111组大鼠体重增加,甘油三酯、总胆固醇、空腹血糖水平下降(P0.05)。与Control组比较,DM组大鼠心肌凋亡指数显著增加(P0.05);而与DM组比较,BML-111组大鼠心肌凋亡指数显著降低(P0.05)。与Control组比较,DM组大鼠心肌IL-6、TNF-α、p-NF-κB、p-p38MAPK蛋白表达水平及MDA含量明显增高(P0.05),而SOD活性降低(P0.05);与DM组比较,BML-111组大鼠心肌IL-6、TNF-α、p-NF-κB、p-p38MAPK蛋白表达水平及MDA含量较低(P0.05),而SOD活性增加(P0.05)。结论:BML-111可减轻糖尿病大鼠心肌炎症反应及细胞凋亡。     

赤芍总苷对培养乳鼠心肌细胞损伤的保护作用

为了探讨赤芍总苷对心肌细胞损伤的保护作用,以异丙基肾上腺素加入培养的乳鼠心肌细胞造成缺血缺氧损伤模型,对比分析正常对照组、药物损伤组、辅酶Q10阳性对照组、以及不同剂量赤芍总苷保护组的细胞形态学、心肌酶谱等指标、结果显示：损伤组细胞搏动加速,存活率下降,GOT、LDH、CK等3种心肌酶活力均显著升高;而辅酶Q10组和赤芍总苷组上述指标都有不同程度的改善,其中高剂量赤芍总苷组的保护作用优于阳性对照组．证明赤芍总苷对异丙基肾上腺素造成的培养乳鼠心肌细胞损伤具有保护作用,并且呈现剂量依赖关系．     

Comparison of Atrogin-1/MAFbx mRNA Expression in the Gizzards of Egg- and Meat-Type Chickens

We examined atrogin-1/MAFbx mRNA expression in the smooth muscle of gizzards from egg- and meat-type chickens. Gizzard weight relative to body weight was significantly lower in the meat-type chickens than in the egg-type at 14 d of age. In contrast, the level of atrogin-1/MAFbx mRNA in the gizzard was significantly higher in the meat-type chickens than in the egg-type chickens. Thus atrogin-1/MAFbx mRNA expression in the smooth muscle of the gizzard was higher in meat-type chickens than in egg-type chickens, in contrast to its expression in the skeletal muscles.     

吡格列酮诱导心肌细胞凋亡和抑制心肌细胞肥大的作用及其机制研究

摘要 目的：探讨吡格列酮诱导心肌细胞凋亡和抑制心肌细胞肥大的作用及其机制研究。方法：选取1-3日龄的健康新生SD大鼠,采用酶学分离心肌细胞并培养。将心肌细胞分为4组：对照组、吡格列酮10 μM组、吡格列酮20 μM组、阿帕替尼2 μM组。采用自动细胞计数器（BioRad）计数吡格列酮和阿帕替尼对心肌细胞增殖的影响,流式细胞术检测心肌细胞凋亡率,[3H]-亮氨酸掺入法评估心肌细胞的肥厚,用相差显微镜检测心肌细胞直径。蛋白免疫印迹试验检测VEGFR-2,磷酸化VEGFR-2,蛋白激酶B （Akt）,磷酸化人体抑癌基因（P53）,兔抗人单克隆抗体（Bax）,B淋巴细胞瘤-2（Bcl-2）,哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白（mTOR）表达水平。免疫组织化学检测心肌细胞VEGFR-2、Bcl-2及Bax阳性指数。结果：吡格列酮和阿帕替尼均能抑制心肌细胞活力,其中吡格列酮以剂量依赖的方式抑制心肌细胞活力,即吡格列酮剂量越大,其抑制心肌细胞活力越强。吡格列酮或阿帕替尼治疗后,心肌细胞凋亡率显著增加,表明两者均诱导心肌细胞凋亡。吡格列酮或阿帕替尼治疗后,血管紧张素II（Ang II）诱导的[3H]-亮氨酸掺入量显著减少,心肌细胞直径减小,表明两者均抑制心肌细胞肥大。吡格列酮显著提高了新生大鼠心肌细胞中Bax和磷酸化-P53的蛋白表达,降低了mTOR、Akt、VEGFR-2、Bcl-2和磷酸化-VEGFR-2蛋白表达。与对照组比较,吡格列酮和阿帕替尼治疗后,VEGFR-2阳性指数和Bcl-2阳性指数显著降低,Bax阳性指数显著升高（P＜0.05）。结论：吡格列酮通过调节VEGFR-2信号通路诱导心肌细胞凋亡,抑制心肌细胞肥大。     

黄芪甲苷后处理对乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧复氧损伤的作用研究

目的:观察黄芪甲苷(AstragalosideⅣ,AsⅣ)后处理对缺氧复氧损伤(simulated ischemia reperfusion injury,SI/RI)的SD乳鼠心肌细胞是否具有保护作用。方法:将乳鼠原代心肌细胞平均分为五组,即空白对照组(Control)、缺氧复氧处理组(SI/RI)、黄芪甲苷预处理(5,10、20μM)+SI/RI组(AsIV+SI/RI)。各组细胞经处理后,四氮唑溴盐比色法(MTT)检测各组细胞存活率;TUNEL染色法测定各组细胞凋亡率;SOD测试盒检测培养液中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量,总嘌呤氧化酶(XOD)测试盒检测丙二醛(MDA)含量。Western blot法检测各组细胞抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2和促凋亡蛋白Caspase-3的表达。结果:与空白组相比,缺氧复氧损伤组细胞活力显著下降(P0.05),凋亡率显著上升(P0.05),其培养液中SOD水平显著降低(P0.05),MDA水平显著升高。而不同浓度AsⅣ后处理组的心肌细胞存活率显著上升,凋亡率显著下降,培养液中SOD水平显著上升,MDA水平显著下降(P0.05),且呈浓度呈依赖性。Western blot结果显示AsⅣ后处理组细胞中的Bcl-2表达明显上升,Caspase-3明显下降。结论:黄芪甲苷后处理对缺氧复氧诱导的乳鼠心肌细胞损伤具有显著的保护作用,能够显著上调抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达,下调促凋亡蛋白Caspase-3的表达。     

植物SIZ1 SUMO E3连接酶的研究进展

SUMO化修饰是一种重要的翻译后修饰,对蛋白的翻译后调控起到重要作用。植物SIZ1是一种SUMOE3连接酶,在SUMO化的过程中起着关键作用。本文概述了SIZ1的基本结构和功能,阐述了其在植物响应非生物胁迫如高温、低温、干旱、盐和离子胁迫时所发挥的调节功能,并展望了植物SIZ1研究中有待解决的问题。     

Identification of essential sequences for cellular localization in the muscle-specific ubiquitin E3 ligase MAFbx/Atrogin 1

In skeletal muscle atrophy, upregulation and nuclear accumulation of the Ubiquitin E3 ligase MAFbx is essential for accelerated muscle protein loss, but the nuclear/cytoplasmic shuttling of MAFbx is undefined. Here we found that MAFbx contains two functional nuclear localization signals (NLS). Mutation or deletion of only one NLS induced cytoplasmic localization of MAFbx. We identified a non-classical NES located in the leucine charged domain (LCD) of MAFbx, which is leptomycin B insensitive. We demonstrated that mutation (L169Q) in LLXXL motif of LCD suppressed cytoplasmic retention of MAFbx. Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of MAFbx represents a novel mechanism for targeting its substrates and its cytosolic partners in muscle atrophy.     

Iron Overload and Apoptosis of HL-1 Cardiomyocytes: Effects of Calcium Channel Blockade

Background

Iron overload cardiomyopathy that prevails in some forms of hemosiderosis is caused by excessive deposition of iron into the heart tissue and ensuing damage caused by a raise in labile cell iron. The underlying mechanisms of iron uptake into cardiomyocytes in iron overload condition are still under investigation. Both L-type calcium channels (LTCC) and T-type calcium channels (TTCC) have been proposed to be the main portals of non-transferrinic iron into heart cells, but controversies remain. Here, we investigated the roles of LTCC and TTCC as mediators of cardiac iron overload and cellular damage by using specific Calcium channel blockers as potential suppressors of labile Fe(II) and Fe(III) ingress in cultured cardiomyocytes and ensuing apoptosis.

Methods

Fe(II) and Fe(III) uptake was assessed by exposing HL-1 cardiomyocytes to iron sources and quantitative real-time fluorescence imaging of cytosolic labile iron with the fluorescent iron sensor calcein while iron-induced apoptosis was quantitatively measured by flow cytometry analysis with Annexin V. The role of calcium channels as routes of iron uptake was assessed by cell pretreatment with specific blockers of LTCC and TTCC.

Results

Iron entered HL-1 cardiomyocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner and induced cardiac apoptosis via mitochondria-mediated caspase-3 dependent pathways. Blockade of LTCC but not of TTCC demonstrably inhibited the uptake of ferric but not of ferrous iron. However, neither channel blocker conferred cardiomyocytes with protection from iron-induced apoptosis.

Conclusion

Our study implicates LTCC as major mediators of Fe(III) uptake into cardiomyocytes exposed to ferric salts but not necessarily as contributors to ensuing apoptosis. Thus, to the extent that apoptosis can be considered a biological indicator of damage, the etiopathology of cardiosiderotic damage that accompanies some forms of hemosiderosis would seem to be unrelated to LTCC or TTCC, but rather to other routes of iron ingress present in heart cells.     

氯胺酮麻醉对乳鼠脑细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨临床上常用的麻醉剂氯胺酮对乳鼠脑细胞凋亡的影响。方法新生7日龄SD大鼠15只,随机分成3组：氯胺酮低剂量组、高剂量组分别腹腔注射20 mg/kg、80 mg/kg氯胺酮,对照组给予等量的生理盐水。麻醉后24 h,取脑组织作HE染色,用TUNEL法检测脑细胞的凋亡情况,用免疫组织化学法检测Caspase-3的表达水平。结果与对照组比较,氯胺酮低剂量组的凋亡细胞增多但不明显（P〉0.05）,神经元核固缩和Caspase-3阳性细胞数明显增多（P〈0.05）;氯胺酮高剂量组的凋亡细胞数、神经元核固缩及Caspase-3阳性细胞数显著性增加（P〈0.05）。神经元核固缩、凋亡细胞和Caspase-3阳性细胞均以皮层区多见。结论 80 mg/kg氯胺酮可引起乳鼠脑细胞凋亡,以皮层区为主,Caspase-3的激活可能是其作用机制之一;20 mg/kg氯胺酮对乳鼠脑细胞凋亡的影响较轻微,其临床等效剂量为3 mg/kg。氯胺酮小儿麻醉用量不宜过多,避免引起脑细胞的凋亡。     

HECT类泛素连接酶NEDL1和NEDL2的功能研究进展

泛素化能够促使底物蛋白降解或调节其它生理过程,在生命活动中具有极其重要的作用。E3即泛素连接酶,在泛素化过程中决定底物分子的特异性,因此,E3的功能研究一直是蛋白质泛素化研究领域的一个热点。NEDL1和NEDL2是HECT类泛素连接酶NEDD4家族中同源性较高的两个成员。它们通过不同的方式分别增强p53和p73的转录活性。NEDL1又与多种肿瘤(如神经母细胞瘤、结直肠癌、乳腺癌)和神经退行性疾病(如脊髓侧索硬化病)的发生发展密切相关。因此,对NEDL1和NEDL2的研究对于揭示相关疾病机理具有非常重要的意义。     

Deubiquitinase FAM/USP9X Interacts with the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase SMURF1 Protein and Protects It from Ligase Activity-dependent Self-degradation

Ubiquitination is an essential post-translational modification that mediates diverse cellular functions. SMAD-specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (SMURF1) belongs to the Nedd4 family of HECT ubiquitin ligases that directly catalyzes ubiquitin conjugation onto diverse substrates. As a result, SMURF1 regulates a great variety of cellular physiologies including bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, cell migration, and planar cell polarity. Structurally, SMURF1 consists of a C2 domain, two WW domain repeats, and a catalytic HECT domain essential for its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. This modular architecture allows for interactions with other proteins, which are either substrates or adaptors of SMURF1. Despite the increasing number of SMURF1 substrates identified, current knowledge regarding regulatory proteins and their modes of action on controlling SMURF1 activity is still limited. In this study, we employed quantitative mass spectrometry to analyze SMURF1-associated cellular complexes, and identified the deubiquitinase FAM/USP9X as a novel interacting protein for SMURF1. Through domain mapping study, we found the second WW domain of SMURF1 and the carboxyl terminus of USP9X critical for this interaction. SMURF1 is autoubiquitinated through its intrinsic HECT E3 ligase activity, and is degraded by the proteasome. USP9X association antagonizes this activity, resulting in deubiquitination and stabilization of SMURF1. In MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, SMURF1 expression is elevated and is required for cellular motility. USP9X stabilizes endogenous SMURF1 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Depletion of USP9X led to down-regulation of SMURF1 and significantly impaired cellular migration. Taken together, our data reveal USP9X as an important regulatory protein of SMURF1 and suggest that the association between deubiquitinase and E3 ligase may serve as a common strategy to control the cellular protein dynamics through modulating E3 ligase stability.