Effects of stress and tranylcypromine on amphetamine-induced locomotor activity and GABA(B) receptor function in rat brain

Modification in gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABA(B)) receptors may contribute to the symptoms of some neurological and psychiatric disorders and to the clinical response to psychotherapeutics. The present study was undertaken to determine whether chronic administration of tranylcypromine (TCP), an antidepressant, and chronic stress influence GABA(B) receptor function in rat brain. The results indicate that TCP treatment, but not stress, increases GABA(B) receptor activity in the cerebral cortex, as measured by baclofen-stimulated GTPgammaS binding. In addition, chronic administration of TCP enhances significantly the locomotor response to a single dose of amphetamine, an effect that is abolished by restraint stress. These results indicate that although TCP administration modifies brain GABA(B) receptor activity, which may contribute to the antidepressant response to this agent, this effect is unrelated to the interaction of stress and TCP treatment on the locomotor response to amphetamine.     

Regulation of cytoplasmic tubulin carboxypeptidase activity during neural and muscle differentiation: characterization using a microtubule-based assay.

A cycle of posttranslational modification of alpha-tubulin has previously been described in higher eukaryotes, in which a C-terminal tyrosine residue is removed and replaced by two complementary cytoplasmic enzymes. The activity of the detyrosinating enzyme, tubulin carboxypeptidase (TCP), and its potential for regulating the level of detyrosinated (Glu) subunits in microtubules (MTs) is of great interest, since TCP catalyzes the primary modification of tubulin and since the level of Glu alpha-tubulin in MTs increases during a variety of differentiative and morphogenetic events. As a first step in examining the role of TCP in cellular morphogenesis, it was necessary to develop an assay for TCP with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to detect TCP activity during these events. Unlike previously described assays for TCP, ours makes use of the affinity TCP exhibits for MTs. NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells was accompanied by a moderate (approximately 2-fold) increase in TCP activity, while myogenesis of L6 cells resulted in an almost insignificant decrease in activity. Measurements of TCP activity during differentiation were correlated with the level of extract Tyr tubulin, which increased (approximately 37%) during neurite outgrowth and was unchanged during myogenic differentiation. Our results suggest that TCP activity is regulated relative to its substrate, Tyr tubulin, and that changes in MT dynamics, rather than enzymatic activities, are the primary determinants of MT posttranslational modification state during differentiation. In addition, the assay we have devised for TCP and the characterization of TCP during differentiation may allow the future delineation of the mechanism(s) of regulation of TCP and the role this enzyme plays in modulating MT function during differentiation.     

A novel stress-acclimation response in Spirodela punctata (Lemnaceae): 2,4,6-trichlorophenol triggers an increase in the level of an extracellular peroxidase, capable of the oxidative dechlorination of this xenobiotic pollutant

Peroxidases are haem‐containing enzymes capable of oxidizing a wide range of substrates. This article describes the presence of peroxidase activity in the growth medium of axenic Spirodela punctata (Lemnaceae) cultures. It was found that the release of extracellular peroxidase activity is specifically enhanced by phytotoxic, halogenated phenols but not by other abiotic stress‐factors, elicitors or plant metabolites. Based on the concentration dependence of 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (TCP)‐enhanced peroxidase release, it is concluded that release is not simply a consequence of physiological damage, but rather requires metabolically healthy fronds. In vitro studies (UV/VIS spectroscopy and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry) show that the extracellular duckweed peroxidase (SpEx), which was partially purified from Spirodela growth medium, is capable of catalysing the oxidative dechlorination of TCP with hydrogen peroxide as the electron acceptor. It is proposed that the ability of S. punctata to specifically sense environmentally persistent phytotoxic chlorophenols, and to respond by increasing extracellular levels of a peroxidase capable of catalysing their oxidative dechlorination, is part of the protection strategy of this aquatic plant against xenobiotic stress.     

氧化应激对磷酸三钙磨损颗粒诱导的假体周围骨溶解的影响及其机制

目的：探讨氧化应激对磷酸三钙（TCP）磨损颗粒诱导的假体周围骨溶解的影响及其作用机制。方法：36只雄性ICR小鼠随机分为3组（n=12）：假手术（Sham）组、TCP磨损颗粒（TCP）组和N-乙酰-L-半胱氨酸（NAC）组。将TCP磨损颗粒30 mg包埋于小鼠颅骨顶部构建假体周围骨溶解模型,于术后第2天颅顶骨膜局部注射NAC（1.0 mg/kg）,隔日1次,持续2周后处死动物采血、取颅骨。抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（TRAP）染色观察小鼠颅骨假体周围骨溶解情况;ELISA和化学比色法检测血清中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白介素-1β（IL-1β）、白介素-6（IL-6）和总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）含量及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性;Western blot检测假体周围骨组织中内质网应激标志蛋白葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78）、蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶（PERK）、磷酸化PERK（p-PERK）、真核细胞翻译起始因子2α（eIF2α）和磷酸化eIF2α（p-eIF2α）的表达。结果：与Sham组比较,TCP组小鼠血清TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平及假体周围骨溶解面积显著增加（P<0.05）,T-AOC含量和SOD活性明显降低（P<0.05）,GRP78蛋白质表达、p-PERK/PERK和p-eIF2α/eIF2α值显著升高。与TCP组比较,NAC组小鼠血清TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平及骨溶解面积明显减少（P<0.05）,血清T-AOC含量和SOD活性明显增加（P<0.05）,GRP78蛋白质表达、p-PERK/PERK和p-eIF2α/eIF2α值明显降低。结论：抑制氧化应激可阻止TCP磨损颗粒诱导的假体周围骨溶解,其机制可能与PERK/eIF2α通路的失活有关。     

植物TCP转录因子的作用机理及其应用研究进展

TCP转录因子是一类植物特有蛋白,含有保守的TCP domain,其中由60个氨基酸组成的b HLH结构是结合DNA和蛋白互作所必需的。TCP转录因子由于其广泛参与调控植物的生长发育过程(如分枝、株高、叶型、花型等)而备受关注。最近有报道显示,TCP转录因子在植物逆境胁迫应答中(如低温和高盐)同样发挥重要作用。TCP蛋白参与多种信号转导途径(如油菜素内酯、茉莉酸、赤霉素、细胞分裂素等),可能是连接生长发育和介导胁迫响应的一个交叉点。本文从分子生物学角度,系统综述了植物TCP转录因子的作用机理及其在激素应答、发育调控及环境胁迫响应等过程中的功能,以期为基因工程方法改良作物生长模式和抗性提供参考。     

马铃薯低氮肥胁迫响应TCP转录因子的鉴定与分析

TCP转录因子是植物特有的一类转录因子,参与植物生物学过程的多个方面。为研究马铃薯TCP转录因子在响应低氮肥胁迫中的作用,该研究以氮肥供应不足(0.05 mmol·L^-1)和氮肥供应充足(7.5 mmol·L^-1)条件下马铃薯的根和叶片构建4个转录组文库进行测序,并对差异表达的TCP转录因子进行分析。结果表明:(1)在4个转录组文库中共鉴定TCP转录因子24个,它们主要分布在2号、3号、6号染色体上。(2)经结构域分析显示,24个TCP 转录因子均具有典型的basic-Helix-Loop-Helix结构域。(3)经系统进化分析显示,马铃薯与拟南芥TCP蛋白可聚集在一起,分属于10个亚类。(4)转录组测序结果显示,在低氮肥胁迫下,大多数TCP转录因子被抑制表达,有3个TCP转录因子在根中显著性差异表达,5个TCP转录因子在叶中特异性表达。(5)根据GO功能注释分析和马铃薯TCP转录因子与拟南芥TCP转录因子的亲缘关系分析推测,这些TCP转录因子参与了马铃薯对低氮肥胁迫的响应。该研究结果为进一步研究马铃薯与其他粮食作物TCP转录因子响应低氮肥胁迫的分子功能奠定了基础。     

Impact of long-term partial aeration on the removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in an initially methanogenic fluidized bed bioreactor

A fluidized bed bioreactor (FBBR) was operated for more than 1000 days under two regimes, Methanogenic (M) and Methanogenic-Aerobic (M-A), to remove 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) and phenol (Phe) from a synthetic wastewater, containing different amounts of TCP and Phe, using different aeration flow-rates (0, 2.13, and 1.06 NL O(2)/L.day). M conditions (80:20 mg/L of TCP:Phe, 0 NL O(2)/L.day) showed similar TCP and Phe removal (>95%). Nevertheless accumulation of 4-chlorophenol (4CP) up to 16 mg/L and Phe up to 4 mg/L was observed, while in M-A conditions (80:20 mg/L of TCP:Phe, 2.13 NL O(2)/L.day) TCP and Phe removal achieved 99.9(+)% and after 70 days no accumulation of intermediates were detected. The increase of TCP and Phe in the influent under M-A conditions from 80:20 to 120:30 mg/L of TCP:Phe did not negatively affect the removal of TCP, intermediates and Phe; in fact, they were similar to those in previous M-A conditions. The decrease in the oxygen flow rate from 2.13 to 1.06 NL O(2)/L.day had no negative effect on pollutant removals, which were as high as in previous two M-A conditions. The specific methanogenic activity of bioparticles of the fluidized bed decreased with long-term partial aeration, starting from 1.097 mmol CH(4)/h.g(TKN) in the M regime (day 60) to <0.02 mmolCH(4)/h.g(TKN) at day 1050, suggesting aerobic regime in the bioreactor rather than an M-A regime. In conclusion, complete removal of TCP and less chlorinated intermediates could be achieved in an initially methanogenic FBBR under conditions of partial aeration, although long-term operation seemed to negatively affect the methanogenic activity of biomass. It is also likely that after extended aeration the microbial community was finally enriched with strains with the ability to attack 2,4,6-TCP under aerobic conditions. This report represents the first evidence of a long exposure to oxygen of an anaerobic microbial consortium that efficiently remove TCP.     

原花青素对磷酸三钙磨损颗粒所致小鼠颅骨溶解的干预作用及其机制

目的:研究原花青素对磷酸三钙(TCP)磨损颗粒诱导小鼠颅骨溶解的保护作用,并探讨其机制。方法:48只雄性ICR小鼠,随机分为假手术(Sham)组、TCP磨损颗粒(TCP)组、原花青素(0.2mg/kg,1mg/kg,5mg/kg)组,每组12只。将TCP磨损颗粒30mg包埋于小鼠颅骨顶部构建假体周围模型,于术后第2日颅顶局部注射原花青素,隔日1次。2周后处死小鼠采血、取颅骨。抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶(TRAP)染色和HE染色观察假体周围骨溶解和破骨细胞生成情况;实时荧光定量PCR检测假体周围骨组织中破骨细胞调控基因TRAP、capthesinK、c-Fos和NFATc1的mRNA水平;化学比色法检测血清中丙二醛(MDA)和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性;Westernblot法检测小鼠假体周围骨组织中自噬标志蛋白Beclin-1和微管相关蛋白1轻链3(LC-3)表达变化。结果:与Sham组比较,TCP组假体周围骨溶解面积、破骨细胞生成及其调控基因mRNA水平显著增加(P<0.05),血清MDA含量均明显升高、T-AOC水平和SOD活性明显降低(P<0.05),假体周围骨组织中Beclin-1和LC-3均表达显著上调、LC-3I向LC-3II转换明显增加(P<0.05)。与TCP组比较,原花青素组假体周围骨溶解面积、破骨细胞生成及其上述调控基因、血清MDA含量明显减少(P<0.05),血清T-AOC含量和SOD活性显著增加(P<0.05)且Beclin-1和LC-3等蛋白表达及LC-3I向LC-3II转换也明显下调。结论:原花青素对TCP磨损颗粒所致的假体周围骨溶解具有明显保护作用,其机制可能与减轻氧化应激反应和自噬的活化密切相关。     

甘薯基因组 TCP转录因子鉴定与逆境胁迫表达分析

基于甘薯( Ipomoea batatas ( L.) Lam.)全基因组序列, 利用生物信息学方法鉴定筛选了全基因组中的TCP( teosinte branched1/cincinnata/proliferating cell factor)转录因子, 并分析了甘薯苗期在蔓割病菌胁迫及块根储藏期低温胁迫下TCP基因的...     

Inhibition of six copper-containing amine oxidases by the antidepressant drug tranylcypromine

Potential inhibitory effects of the clinically utilized monoamine oxidase inhibitor tranylcypromine (TCP) on mammalian, plant, bacterial, and fungal copper-containing amine oxidases have been examined. The following enzymes have been investigated: human kidney diamine oxidase (HKAO), bovine plasma amine oxidase (BPAO), equine plasma amine oxidase (EPAO), pea seedling amine oxidase (PSAO), Arthrobacter globiformis amine oxidase (AGAO), and Pichia pastoris lysyl oxidase (PPLO). Only BPAO, EPAO, and AGAO were found to lose significant levels of activity when incubated with varying amounts of TCP. Inhibition of BPAO was completely reversible, with dialysis restoring full activity. TCP inhibition of AGAO was also found to be ultimately reversible; however, dialysis did not remove all bound compounds. Chemical displacement with either substrate or a substrate analogue successfully removed all bound TCP, indicating that this compound has a high affinity for the active site of AGAO. The notable lack of TCP inhibition on HKAO argues against the inhibition of diamine oxidase as a potential source for some of the deleterious side effects occurring in patients treated with this antidepressant. The marked differences observed in behavior among these enzymes speaks to the importance of intrinsic structural differences between the active sites of copper amine oxidases (CAO) which affect reactivity with a given inhibitor.     

Aerobic secondary utilization of a non-growth and inhibitory substrate 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by Sphingopyxis chilensis S37 and sphingopyxis-like strain S32

This paper reports 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (246TCP) degradation bySphingopyxis chilensis S37 and Sphingopyxis chilensis-like strain S32,which were unable to use 246TCP as the sole carbon and energy source. In R2A broth, the strainsdegraded 246TCP up to 0.5 mM. Results with mixtures of different 246TCP and glucose concentrations in mineral salt media demonstrated dependence on glucose to allow bacterial growth and degradation of 246TCP. Strain S32 degraded halophenol up to 0.2 mM when 5.33 mM glucose was simultaneously added, while strain S37 degraded the compound up to 0.1 mM when 1.33 mM glucose was added. These 246TCP concentrations were lethal for inocula in absence of glucose. Stoichiometricreleases of chloride and analysis by HPLC, GC-ECD and GC-MS indicated 246TCP mineralisation by both strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bacteriaable to mineralize a chlorophenol as a non-growth and inhibitory substrate. The concept of secondary utilization instead of cometabolism is proposed for this activity.     

In vitro inhibition of vitamin K dependent carboxylation by tetrachloropyridinol and the imidazopyridines

The compounds 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-pyridinol (TCP) and the structurally related imidazopyridines (IP) cause hemorrhage and lower the plasma prothrombin level in animals. In vitro, TCP and the IP are more potent inhibitors of both the vitamin K dependent carboxylase which catalyzes the posttranslational gamma-carboxylation of specific glutamyl residues in proteins and the related vitamin K epoxidase activity than they are either of vitamin K epoxide reductase or of NAD-(P)H-K oxidoreductase. TCP and IP, as is the case with the coumarin and indandione anticoagulants, are competitive inhibitors of NAD(P)H-K oxidoreductae with respect to NADH. The epoxide reductase from coumarin-resistant rats is quite resistant to inhibition not only by warfarin but also by the IP, and to a lesser extent by TCP. When interpreted in light of published in vivo experiments, the data suggest that the principal site of anticoagulant action of the IP, but not TCP, is the epoxide reductase. The anticoagulant effect of TCP may be inhibition of the carboxylase itself. TCP is a significantly more potent inhibitor of the carboxylase and epoxidase than the IP; it inhibits both the enzymatic activities to the same degree with 50% inhibition observed at about 10(-5) M. Inhibition of the carboxylase by TCP is not competitive with respect to the pentapeptide substrate phenylalanyl-leucylglutamylglutamylleucine nor with respect to the following components of the in vitro carboxylase assay: imidazole, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, dithiothreitol, KCl, sodium bicarbonate, oxygen, and vitamin K. The order of addition of components of the assay relative to the addition of inhibitor did not affect the degree of inhibition. Inhibition is readily reversed in experiments designed to dissociate an enzyme-inhibitor complex. Analysis of double-inhibitor experiments suggests that TCP and IP have the same binding site on the carboxylase.     

苦荞TCP转录因子全基因组鉴定及非生物胁迫分析

TCP是植物特有的一类转录因子,在植物生长发育过程中发挥着重要作用。该研究利用生物信息学方法对苦荞TCP家族进行全基因组鉴定,并通过实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)技术分析苦荞TCP基因在干旱胁迫和盐胁迫下的表达特征。结果表明:(1)在苦荞的基因组中鉴定出28个TCP家族成员,它们不均匀地分布在苦荞的8条染色体上。(2)多数的苦荞TCP基因包含1～5个外显子。(3)系统发育分析将苦荞TCP家族分为5个亚家族,种内TCP蛋白多聚集在同一分支上。(4)共线性分析表明,5个苦荞TCP基因来自全基因组复制事件。(5)顺式元件分析显示,苦荞TCP基因的启动子区域的顺式响应元件主要包含胁迫响应元件和激素响应元件两大类。(6)转录组数据分析结果显示,所有苦荞TCP基因在检测组织中均有表达。(7)qRT-PCR结果显示,FtTCP3、FtTCP6、FtTCP12和FtTCP13基因在干旱胁迫和盐胁迫下的表达量发生变化,其中FtTCP3在6 h干旱处理和盐处理时表达量均达到峰值,说明FtTCP3基因在苦荞应对干旱胁迫和盐胁迫中起正向调控作用。该研究结果为了解TCP基因家族的进化和功能提供了新的见解,为苦荞TCP基因家族的功能研究和利用奠定了基础。     

Biodegradation of 1,2,3-trichloropropane through directed evolution and heterologous expression of a haloalkane dehalogenase gene

Using a combined strategy of random mutagenesis of haloalkane dehalogenase and genetic engineering of a chloropropanol-utilizing bacterium, we constructed an organism that is capable of growth on 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP). This highly toxic and recalcitrant compound is a waste product generated from the manufacture of the industrial chemical epichlorohydrin. Attempts to select and enrich bacterial cultures that can degrade TCP from environmental samples have repeatedly been unsuccessful, prohibiting the development of a biological process for groundwater treatment. The critical step in the aerobic degradation of TCP is the initial dehalogenation to 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol. We used random mutagenesis and screening on eosin-methylene blue agar plates to improve the activity on TCP of the haloalkane dehalogenase from Rhodococcus sp. m15-3 (DhaA). A second-generation mutant containing two amino acid substitutions, Cys176Tyr and Tyr273Phe, was nearly eight times more efficient in dehalogenating TCP than wild-type dehalogenase. Molecular modeling of the mutant dehalogenase indicated that the Cys176Tyr mutation has a global effect on the active-site structure, allowing a more productive binding of TCP within the active site, which was further fine tuned by Tyr273Phe. The evolved haloalkane dehalogenase was expressed under control of a constitutive promoter in the 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol-utilizing bacterium Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1, and the resulting strain was able to utilize TCP as the sole carbon and energy source. These results demonstrated that directed evolution of a key catabolic enzyme and its subsequent recruitment by a suitable host organism can be used for the construction of bacteria for the degradation of a toxic and environmentally recalcitrant chemical.     

Biodegradation of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane through Directed Evolution and Heterologous Expression of a Haloalkane Dehalogenase Gene

Using a combined strategy of random mutagenesis of haloalkane dehalogenase and genetic engineering of a chloropropanol-utilizing bacterium, we constructed an organism that is capable of growth on 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP). This highly toxic and recalcitrant compound is a waste product generated from the manufacture of the industrial chemical epichlorohydrin. Attempts to select and enrich bacterial cultures that can degrade TCP from environmental samples have repeatedly been unsuccessful, prohibiting the development of a biological process for groundwater treatment. The critical step in the aerobic degradation of TCP is the initial dehalogenation to 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol. We used random mutagenesis and screening on eosin-methylene blue agar plates to improve the activity on TCP of the haloalkane dehalogenase from Rhodococcus sp. m15-3 (DhaA). A second-generation mutant containing two amino acid substitutions, Cys176Tyr and Tyr273Phe, was nearly eight times more efficient in dehalogenating TCP than wild-type dehalogenase. Molecular modeling of the mutant dehalogenase indicated that the Cys176Tyr mutation has a global effect on the active-site structure, allowing a more productive binding of TCP within the active site, which was further fine tuned by Tyr273Phe. The evolved haloalkane dehalogenase was expressed under control of a constitutive promoter in the 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol-utilizing bacterium Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1, and the resulting strain was able to utilize TCP as the sole carbon and energy source. These results demonstrated that directed evolution of a key catabolic enzyme and its subsequent recruitment by a suitable host organism can be used for the construction of bacteria for the degradation of a toxic and environmentally recalcitrant chemical.     

Effect of Mineral Phosphate Solubilization on Biological Nitrogen Fixation by Diazotrophic Cyanobacteria

The ability of two diazotrophic cyanobacteria Westiellopsis prolifica and Anabaena variabilis were examined to solubilize extracellular insoluble tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and Mussorie rock phosphate (MRP). The two strains exhibited a differential response to insoluble forms of phosphorus used. W. prolifica showed better growth in presence of MRP while A. variabilis proliferated better in presence of TCP. Biological nitrogen fixation measured in terms of acetylene reduction (AR) activity showed significant variation among the concentrations of TCP or MRP and time of incubation. W. prolifica and A. variabilis showed maximum AR activity on 14 and 21 days of incubation respectively. In general AR activity in presence of MRP was always less than that in presence of TCP at all concentrations. Among the two cyanobacteria A. variabilis was best in terms of P-solubilization and nitrogen fixation and TCP (20 mg P l⁻¹) was the best source of insoluble P rather than MRP or K₂HPO₄.