Blue Light Inhibits Mitosis in Tissue Culture Cells

Irradiation of the mitotic (prophase and prometaphase) tissue culture PK (pig kidney embryo) cells using mercury arc lamp and band-pass filters postponed or inhibited anaphase onset. The biological responses observed after irradiation were: (i) normal cell division, (ii) delay in metaphase and then normal anaphase and incomplete cytokinesis, (iii) exit into interphase without separation of chromosomes, (iv) complete mitotic blockage. Cell sensitivity to the light at wavelengths from 423 and 488 nm was nearly the same; to the near UV light (wavelength 360 nm) it was 5–10 times more; to the green light (wavelength >500 nm) it was at least 10 times less. To elucidate the possible mechanism of the action of blue light we measured cell adsorption and examined cell autofluorescence. Autofluorescence of cytoplasmic granules was exited at wavelengths of 450–490 nm, but not at >500 nm. In mitotic cells fluorescent granules accumulated around the spindle. We suppose blue light irradiation induces formation of the free radicals and/or peroxide, and thus perturb the checkpoint system responsible for anaphase onset.     

Patterns of Genomic Integration of Nuclear Chloroplast DNA Fragments in Plant Species

The transfer of organelle DNA fragments to the nuclear genome is frequently observed in eukaryotes. These transfers are thought to play an important role in gene and genome evolution of eukaryotes. In plants, such transfers occur from plastid to nuclear [nuclear plastid DNAs (NUPTs)] and mitochondrial to nuclear (nuclear mitochondrial DNAs) genomes. The amount and genomic organization of organelle DNA fragments have been studied in model plant species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. At present, publicly available genomic data can be used to conduct such studies in non-model plants. In this study, we analysed the amount and genomic organization of NUPTs in 17 plant species for which genome sequences are available. The amount and distribution of NUPTs varied among the species. We also estimated the distribution of NUPTs according to the time of integration (relative age) by conducting sequence similarity analysis between NUPTs and the plastid genome. The age distributions suggested that the present genomic constitutions of NUPTs could be explained by the combination of the rapidly eliminated deleterious parts and few but constantly existing less deleterious parts.     

骨骼肌卫星细胞的特性及其增殖与分化的调控

成体骨骼肌细胞的数量基本保持恒定,骨骼肌的再生主要依赖肌卫星细胞的增殖与分化。骨骼肌卫星细胞是能够被激活、进而分化为肌细胞的一类成肌细胞。现对肌卫星细胞的发生、体外培养以及增殖与分化的调控进行综述,并对能否通过激活肌卫星细胞的增殖来实现肌肉组织生长的调控进行探讨。     

HeLa细胞核和核骨架含有肌动蛋白

提取HeLa细胞核并制备核骨架标本,以抗肌动蛋白抗体为探针,采用SDS－PAGE、免疫荧光和免疫印迹等方法,对HeLa细胞细胞核和核骨架中的肌动蛋白进行了研究,并用鬼笔环肽荧光染色方法研究了其中的F－肌动蛋白。在荧光显微镜下观察到：代表肌动蛋白的特异性荧光分布在细胞核和核骨架中,说明肌支蛋白是细胞核和核骨架的固有成分;代表F－肌动蛋白的特异性荧光存在于细胞和核骨架中,说明细胞核和核骨架含有F－肌动蛋白。免疫印迹结果进一步肯定了细胞核和核骨架中肌动蛋白的存在。     

Protein Kinase Activity of in vitro Cultured Plant Cells in Relation to Growth and Starch Metabolism

Taking tetcyclacis, a norbornenodiazentine derivative, as an example, the influence of a growth retardant on the shoot growth of sunflower, soybean, and maize seedlings grown and treated in hydroculture was investigated. In detail, the reduction in the length of various shoot sections {epicotyl, 1st internode, leaf blade) caused by the retardant was studied. At low concentrations of the retardant (\lt10^-6 M) the shortening effects are substantially attributable to an influence on cell elongation, whereas cell division is inhibited as the concentration increases (τ10^-6 M). A comparison of the effects of tetcyclacis in cell suspension cultures of appropriate plant species showed that also in this system concentrations τ 10^-6 M inhibited cell division growth, i. e. there is comparability of plant/ cell culture regarding the retardant effect on cell division. In contrast to the intact plants, however, cell elongation appears to be of only subordinate importance for the growth of cell cultures, as it has been shown using parsley cell suspension cultures.It is discussed to what extent influencing the gibberellin or sterol biosynthesis by means of tetcyclacis provides an explanation for the concentration-dependent effect on the cell division and cell elongation processes.     

Changes in Carotenoid Composition and Function of the Photosynthetic Apparatus during Light-dependent Chloroplast Differentiation in Mutant C-6D of Scenedesmus obliquus*

Changes in pigment composition during light-dependent chloroplast differentiation in mutant C-6D of Scenedesmus obliquus were followed by HPLC. The system used enables the separation and quantitative determination of five xanthophylls (neoxanthin, violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin), α- and β-carotene and chlorophyll a and b (and their epimeric forms). Dark-grown cells of the mutant contain only chlorophyll a, traces of chlorophyll b and acyclic precursors of carotenoids. During subsequent illumination, precursors decrease and high amounts of xanthophylls, carotenes and chlorophyll a and b are formed. Dark-grown cultures of mutant C-6D show high photosystem I-activity and contain the photosystem I-complex CP I, but lack photosystem II-activity, the photosystem II-complex CPa and the LHCP. Immediately after transfer to light, photosystem II-activity increases rapidly, as also do the amounts of CPa and lutein. Under anaerobiosis no lutein and PS II-activity can be detected. This indicates a role of lutein in the assembly of an active photosystem II-complex. All other xanthophylls and the LHCP exhibit high rates of synthesis only after a delay of about 1 hour. Thus, our results reveal an asynchronous fashion of formation of CPa and LHCP.     

Comparative Analysis of Codon Usage Patterns Among Mitochondrion, Chloroplast and Nuclear Genes in Triticum aestivum L.

In many organisms, the difference in codon usage patterns among genes reflects variation in local base compositional biases and the intensity of natural selection. In this study, a comparative analysis was performed to investigate the characteristics of codon bias and factors in shaping the codon usage patterns among mitochondrion, chloroplast and nuclear genes in common wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）. GC contents in nuclear genes were higher than that in mitochondrion and chloroplast genes. The neutrality and correspondence analyses indicated that the codon usage in nuclear genes would be a result of relative strong mutational bias, while the codon usage patterns of mitochondrion and chloroplast genes were more conserved in GC content and influenced by translation level. The Parity Rule 2 （PR2） plot analysis showed that pyrimidines were used more frequently than purines at the third codon position in the three genomes. In addition, using a new alterative strategy, 11, 12, and 24 triplets were defined as preferred codons in the mitochondrion, chloroplast and nuclear genes, respectively. These findings suggested that the mitochondrion, chloroplast and nuclear genes shared particularly different features of codon usage and evolutionary constraints.     

HMBA诱导人肝癌SMMC-7721 细胞分化过程中 Nucleophosmin 的表达与定位变化

通过选择性抽提经环六亚甲基双乙酰胺（hexamethylene bisacetamide,HMBA）诱导处理前后的人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞核基质,并运用亚细胞蛋白质组学等分析技术,研究nucleophosmin (NPM)在核基质上的表达和定位变化,及其与相关基因产物的共定位关系,观察研究了nucleophosmin 在诱导分化前后人肝癌SMMC-7721细胞核基质中的存在、分布及其与相关基因产物的共定位关系.双向凝胶电泳和质谱鉴定结果显示,nucleophosmin 存在于 SMMC-7721 细胞核基质蛋白组分中,在 HMBA 处理后细胞核基质中表达下调.蛋白质印迹杂交实验结果确证了 nucleophosmin 在核基质中的存在及其在诱导处理后细胞核基质中表达下调的变化.免疫荧光显微镜观察显示,nucleophosmin 定位在 SMMC-7721细胞核基质上,经 HMBA处理后出现分布位置与表达水平的变化.激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察结果显示,SMMC-7721细胞中,nucleophosmin与 c-fos、c-myc、rb、p53 等基因产物具有共定位关系,但在诱导处理后细胞内的共定位区域发生了改变.研究结果证实,nucleophosmin 是一种核基质蛋白,定位于核基质纤维上,nucleophosmin 在人肝癌 SMMC-7721 细胞诱导分化过程中的表达分布,及其与相关癌基因、抑癌基因产物的关系对 SMMC-7721 细胞分化具有重要影响.     

Nuclear Divisions of Isolated,In Vitro Cultured Generative Cells in Hemerocallis minor Mill

The generative cells isolated from pollen grains of Hemerocallis minor Mill. were cultured in modified Ks and MS agarose media surrounded by liquid media containing anthers as a feeder. Microscopical observations on a total of 5961 cells revealed that nuclear divisions occured leading to the formation of 2–4 nuclei within one cell. The average induction frequency among 14 culture experiments was 3.27% and the 11.46% as the highest. The generative cells varied considerably from spindle, oval to spherical shape. Among them the spherical cells appeared easier to be triggered. There were equal and unequal first nuclear divisions with almost equal chance of their occurence. A few of the cellspassed through the second nuclear division, producing 3--4 nucleate cells. Cytokinesis resulting in 2-celled structures seemed to be induced in rare cases. This is the first experimental attempt to culture isolated generative cells and the results show the potential of free generative cells surviving and developing under In Vitro conditions.     

Chloroplast changes and differentiation of callus cells in Eckloniopsis radicosa (Kjellman) Okamura (Phaeophyta, Laminariales)

Excised rectangular blade pieces of young sporophytes of Eckloniopsis radicosa (Kjellman) Okamura were cultured at four different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25 °C) and light intensities (10, 20, 40, 80 μmol photon m⁻² s⁻¹) to observe callus cell propagation and differentiation. Although rapidly propagating callus cells were observed at a low temperature (15 °C) and low light intensities of (10–20 μmol photon m⁻² s⁻¹), differentiation to bladelets was only observed at higher temperatures and light intensities. In rapidly propagating callus cells, the chloroplasts decreased in both size and number. When callus cells with few chloroplasts were exposed to high temperature and light intensity, the chloroplasts gradually increased in number and size until they were the same size as found in cells from young blades. Finally, these cells differentiated and produced bladelets. This is the first report describing a relationship between differentiation and chloroplast size and number in the callus cells on E. radicosa. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

黄花蒿培养细胞中青蒿素合成代谢的体外调节

黄花蒿培养细胞通过两步培养积累青蒿素．第１步在含有０．２～０．４ｍｇ／Ｌ６－苄基氨基嘌呤（６－ＢＡ）和３～４ｍｇ／Ｌ吲哚乙酸（ＩＡＡ）的Ｎ６培养基中进行细胞的增殖培养,第２步将培养好的细胞转入含０．２～０．４ｍｇ／Ｌ６－ＢＡ和０．２～０．４ｍｇ／ＬＩＡＡ的改良Ｎ６培养基中进行青蒿素的合成．青蒿素的合成量为１９０μｇ／ｇ干细胞左右．当在第２步培养中加入青蒿素合成前体青蒿酸,青蒿素合成量比仅靠激素诱导提高了３倍多．青蒿素的合成途径是植物固醇合成途径的分支途径,当在青蒿素合成过程即第２步培养中加入固醇生物合成抑制剂双氯苯咪唑和氯化氯胆碱处理,可使代谢向合成青蒿素的方向移动,青蒿素合成量明显提高．经２００ｍｇ／Ｌ氯化氯胆碱处理２ｄ,黄花蒿细胞合成青蒿素量为３７２μｇ／ｇ干细胞;经２０ｍｇ／Ｌ双氯苯咪唑处理４ｄ,黄花蒿细胞合成青蒿素量为１５４０μｇ／ｇ干细胞,比靠激素诱导提高了８倍多,与诱导脱分化细胞的黄花蒿叶中所含的青蒿素（３０００μｇ／ｇ干细胞）处于同一个数量级．以上结果表明：在通过植物激素调节可以合成青蒿素的黄花蒿培养细胞中,缺乏青蒿素合成前体是青蒿素合成量低的重要原因．因此,在青蒿素合成的过程中通过体外调节,     

人参皂苷Rg1组合诱导人成骨肉瘤MG-63细胞分化过程中Prohibitin的表达与定位变化

选择性抽提经人参皂苷Rg1组合（RCT）诱导处理前后的人成骨肉瘤MG-63细胞核基质,对prohibitin在核基质中的存在、分布及其与相关基因产物在RCT处理前后MG-63细胞中的共定位关系进行观察研究.蛋白质组学分析结果显示,prohibitin存在于人成骨肉瘤MG-63细胞核基质蛋白组分中,并在RCT处理后细胞核基质中表达下调;蛋白质印迹杂交确证了prohibitin在MG-63细胞核基质中的存在及其在RCT处理后下调变化;免疫荧光显微镜观察进一步证实prohibitin定位在核基质上,经RCT处理后出现分布位置与表达水平变化;激光共聚焦显微镜观察可见prohibitin与c-Fos、c-Myc、p53和Rb基因产物均存在共定位关系,并在RCT处理后共定位分布区域出现变化.本研究证实了prohibitin是一种新发现的核基质蛋白,其在核基质上的定位与表达在RCT诱导分化前后发生显著变化,并与相关癌基因、抑癌基因产物存在共定位关系.实验表明RCT处理引起的prohibitin的变化与人成骨肉瘤MG-63细胞的诱导分化与调控具有密切关系,为深入揭示RCT等中药有效成分诱导肿瘤细胞分化的机理提供了重要科学依据和深入探索的新方向.     

Changes in the Gene Expression of C-myc and CD38 in HL-60 Cells during Differentiation Induced by Nicotinic Acid-Related Compounds

Changes in gene expression levels of c-myc and CD38 were examined during the differentiation of HL-60 cells to granulocytes due to three nicotinic acid-related compounds. CD38 expression was increased by isonicotinic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Nicotinamide and nicotinamide N-oxide drastically decreased c-myc expression, but isonicotinic acid had no effect, suggesting that these compounds differentiate HL-60 to granulocytes through different pathways. These results should provide useful information as to the mechanisms of cell differentiation.     

Dpysl4 Is Involved in Tooth Germ Morphogenesis through Growth Regulation,Polarization and Differentiation of Dental Epithelial Cells

Dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 4 (Dpysl4) is a known regulator of hippocampal neuron development. Here, we report that Dpysl4 is involved in growth regulation, polarization and differentiation of dental epithelial cells during tooth germ morphogenesis. A reduction in Dpysl4 gene expression in the tooth germ produced a loss of ameloblasts, resulting in the decrease of synthesis and secretion of enamel. The inhibition of Dpysl4 gene expression led to promotion of cell proliferation of inner enamel epithelial cells and inhibition of the differentiation of these cells into pre-ameloblasts, which was confirmed by analyzing cell polarization, columnar cell structure formation and the expression of ameloblast marker genes. By contrast, overexpression of Dpysl4 in dental epithelial cells induces inhibition of growth and increases the expression of the inner enamel epithelial cell marker gene, Msx2. These findings suggest that Dpysl4 plays essential roles in tooth germ morphogenesis through the regulation of dental epithelial cell proliferation, cell polarization and differentiation.