Degradation of microbial polyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) in environmental samples and in culture

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] test-pieces prepared from the polymer produced by Azotobacter chroococcum were degraded in natural environments like soil, water, compost and sewage sludge incubated under laboratory conditions. Degradation in terms of % weight loss of the polymer was maximum (45%) in sewage sludge after 200 days of incubation at 30°C. The P(3HB)-degrading bacterial cultures (36) isolated from degraded test-pieces showed different degrees of degradation in polymer overlayer method. The extent of P(3HB) degradation increases up to 12 days of incubation and was maximum at 30°C for majority of the cultures. For most efficient cultures the optimum concentration of P(3HB) for degradation was 0.3% (w/v). Supplementation of soluble carbon sources like glucose, fructose and arabinose reduced the degradation while it was almost unaffected with lactose. Though the cultures degraded P(3HB) significantly, they were comparatively less efficient in utilizing copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate [P(3HB-co-3HV)].     

受体相互作用蛋白质激酶3通过上调整合素β3促进骨关节炎相关病变

骨关节炎（osteoarthritis,OA）是最常见的慢性致残性关节疾患,目前尚无针对病因的有效治疗手段。程序性坏死在多种疾病中扮演关键角色,受体相互作用蛋白质激酶3（receptor-interacting protein kinase 3, RIP3）是程序性坏死进程的关键调控因子。有研究显示,RIP3在人与鼠骨关节炎退变软骨组织中表达水平显著上调,提示程序性坏死的发生,但RIP3在软骨中的具体病生理角色仍不明确。本研究拟对过表达RIP3前后的软骨细胞转录物组进行测序分析,探索RIP3在骨关节炎进程中发挥作用的具体机制。RNA测序结果显示,RIP3的过表达诱发软骨细胞中244个基因表达上调,277个表达下调。通过进一步构建基因间共表达作用网络,筛选出16个候选靶基因在mRNA水平进行验证,证实RIP3对磷脂酰肌醇3激酶调节亚单位5（phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 5,Pik3r5）、整合素β3（integrin subunit beta 3,Itgb3）及成髓细胞瘤转录因子第2亚型（MYB proto-oncogene like 2,Mybl2）的表达上调作用最为显著。CCK-8以及乳酸脱氢酶活性检测结果表明,利用siRNA沉默Itgb3的表达可显著抑制RIP3诱发的软骨细胞活力下降及程序性坏死,同时也抑制了RIP3对软骨细胞中分解代谢相关基因Mmp1、Mmp13与Il6的表达上调作用,以及其对合成代谢相关基因Acan、Col2a1与Sox9的下调作用。本研究证实,RIP3通过上调软骨细胞中Itgb3的表达诱发软骨细胞坏死与软骨基质代谢紊乱,并最终导致软骨退变,为骨关节炎的临床治疗提供了新靶点,同时进一步明确了程序性坏死的病理生理学意义。     

RNA结合模体蛋白3对细胞总蛋白质合成的影响及其靶基因的鉴定

RNA结合模体蛋白3 (RNA binding motif protein 3, RBM3) 受低温应激产生,参与介导亚低温的神经保护功能,但其作用机制及其下游靶分子尚不清楚。本研究构建了人RBM3基因的重组表达质粒,运用一种新型的、非放射性方法即翻译表面感应 (surface sensing of translation, SUnSET) 来检测RBM3过表达对细胞总蛋白质合成(global protein synthesis, GPS)的影响。结果显示,RBM3过表达使细胞总蛋白质的合成水平上调23.7% (P < 0.001),这与RBM3过表达引发的真核翻译延伸因子2 (eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2, eEF2)及真核翻译起始因子2α (eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, eIF2α) 的活性增高相一致。对RBM3可能的下游靶基因内质网蛋白3 (reticulon 3,RTN3),以及Yes相关蛋白1 (Yes-associated protein 1,YAP1) 的表达进行分析。结果显示,RBM3使RTN3及YAP1在蛋白质水平的表达分别提高了51.7% (P < 0.01) 与43.3% (P < 0.01)。与蛋白质水平变化相比,RBM3使YAP1在mRNA水平上调了2.0倍 (P < 0.001),但对RTN3的mRNA表达未见显著影响。以上研究表明,SUnSET是一种稳定、可靠的细胞GPS的检测手段;RBM3可显著促进细胞GPS,且对其下游基因RTN3和YAP1存在靶向关系。本研究的结果为深入探讨RBM3的神经保护作用机制提供了理论基础。     

Prolonged Alzheimer-like tau hyperphosphorylation induced by simultaneous inhibition of phosphoinositol-3 kinase and protein kinase C in N2a cells

Co-injection of wortmannin (inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, PI3K) and GF109203X(inhibitor of protein kinase C, PKC) into the rat brain was found to induce spatial memory deficiency and enhance tau hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampus of rat brain. To establish a cell model with durative Alzheimer-like tau hyperphosphorylation in this study, we treated N2a neuroblastoma cells with wortmannin and GF109203X separately and simultaneously, and measured the glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3)activity by y-32p-labeling and the level of tau phosphorylation by Western blotting. It was found that the application of wortmannin alone only transitorily increased the activity of GSK-3 (about 1 h) and the level of tau hyperphosphorylation at Ser^396/Ser^404 and Ser^199/Ser^202 sites (no longer than 3 h); however, a prolonged and intense activation of GSK-3 (over 12 h) and enhanced tau hyperphosphorylation (about 24 h) were observed when these two selective kinase inhibitors were applied together. We conclude that the simultaneous inhibition of PI3K and PKC can induce GSK-3 overactivation, and further strengthen and prolong the Alzheimerlike tau hyperphosphorylation in N2a cells, suggesting the establishment of a cell model with early pathological events of Alzheimer‘s disease.     

Estimation of the Number of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-Degraders in Soil and Isolation of Degraders Based on the Method of Most Probable Number (MPN) Using PHA-Film

A new method to estimate the number of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)-degraders in soil and to isolate degraders, called the film-MPN method, is proposed. The incubation time was measured by the first order reaction (FOR) model. This method was used to estimate numbers of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)[P(3HB-co-3HV)]- and poly(3-hydroxyvalerate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)[P(3HB-co-4HB)]-degraders in garden soil (4.30 × 10⁵ and 2.15 × 10⁵ aerobic degraders per gram of dry soil, respectively). The number of P(3HB-co-3HV)-degraders in paddy field soil was 5.06 × 10⁵ aerobic degraders per gram dry soil. Also, several P(3HB-co-3HV)-degraders were isolated directly from positive-growth tubes of high dilution.     

Effect of protease and helicase mutations on HCV NS3 activity

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes serious infections in the liver which may lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Non structural 3 (NS3) protein is one of the most important proteins of the virus which has protease and helicase activities. Protease activity has a crucial role in the replication and persistence of the virus. Site directed mutation was carried out in the protease region of one NS3 and another site directed mutation in the helicase region of another NS3. The expression of both mutated NS3 was compared with wild NS3. Expression of the three different NS3 types was confirmed by in situ staining and western blotting using an anti-NS3 antibody and correlated with a reduced antiviral response after treatment with interferon-α. Mutation analysis showed that the NS3 protease activity andnot the NS3 helicase was essential for the inhibition of the interferon-α response.     

Biosynthesis and native granule characteristics of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in Delftia acidovorans

The ability of Delftia acidovorans to incorporate a broad range of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) monomers into polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers was evaluated in this study. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] containing 0–90 mol% of 3HV was obtained when a mixture of sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate and sodium valerate was used as the carbon sources. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed an interesting aspect of the P(3HB-co-3HV) granules containing high molar ratios of 3HV whereby, the copolymer granules were generally larger than those of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] granules, despite having almost the same cellular PHA contents. The large number of P(3HB-co-3HV) granules occupying almost the entire cell volume did not correspond to a higher amount of polymer by weight. This indicated that the granules of P(3HB-co-3HV) contain polymer chains that are loosely packed and therefore have lower density than P(3HB) granules. It was also interesting to note that a decrease in the length of the side chain from 3HV to 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) corresponded to an increase in the density of the respective PHA granules. The presence of longer side chain monomers (3HV) in the PHA structure seem to exhibit steric effects that prevent the polymer chains in the granules from being closely packed. The results reported here have important implications on the maximum ability of bacterial cells to accumulate PHA containing monomers with longer side chain length.     

Production of D-(--)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid by recombinant Escherichia coli

Pathways for extracellular production of chiral D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (3HB) and D-(-)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid (mcl-3HA) were constructed by co-expression of genes of beta-ketothiolase (phbA), acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (phbB) and 3-hydroxyacyl-ACP CoA transacylase (phaG), respectively, in Escherichia coli strain DH5alpha. The effect of acrylic acid and glucose on production of both 3HB and mcl-3HA was investigated. It was found that the addition of acrylic acid significantly increased production of 3HB and mcl-3HA consisting of 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid and 3-hydroxydecanoic acid in a ratio of 1:3 from 199 mg x l(-1) to 661 mg x l(-1) and from 27 mg x l(-1) to 135 mg x l(-1), respectively, in shake flask studies when glucose was present in the medium at the very beginning of fermentation. The timing of glucose addition had no effect on 3HB production. In contrast, mcl-3HA production was affected by glucose addition, an mcl-3HA concentration of 193 mg x l(-1) was obtained when glucose was added to the culture at 12 h. A more than seven-fold increase was obtained when compared with that in medium containing glucose at the beginning of fermentation. However, a decrease in production of 3HB and mcl-3HA was found when glucose was added at 12 h to the culture containing acrylic acid. The repressive effect of acrylic acid on acetic acid production was also evaluated and discussed.     

RIP3蛋白的研究进展

受体相互作用蛋白-3是丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族成员（RIPs）之一,该蛋白家族作为细胞重要应激传感分子,在调控细胞存活、细胞凋亡和细胞坏死通路中发挥重要作用.近年研究发现,RIP3参与肿瘤坏死因子TNF-α诱导的细胞程序性坏死生物学过程,是TNF-α诱导的细胞凋亡与坏死不同死亡途径转换的关键开关分子.本文就RIP3分子的发现、结构特点、细胞亚定位、生理功能及其分子机制进行综述,并对RIP3分子的研究进行了展望.     

Isolation of 3-(2-carboxyethyl)thymine following in vitro reaction of β-propiolactone with calf thymus DNA

3-(2-Carboxyethyl)thymine (3-CET) was synthesized from β-propiolactone (BPL) and dThd5′P at pH 9.0–9.5 via the intermediate 3-(2-carboxyethyl)thymidine-5′-monophosphoric acid (3-CEdThd5′P). 3-CEdThd5′P was converted to 3-CET by hydrolysis in 1.5 N HCl at 100°C for 2 h. The structure of 3-CET was assigned on the basis of UV spectra, electron impact (EI) and isobutane chemical ionization mass spectra and the EI mass spectrum of a trimethylsilyl derivative of 3-CET. BPL was reacted in vitro with calf thymus DNA at pH 7.5. 100 A units of BPL-reacted DNA yielded, following perchloric acid hydrolysis and preparative paper chromatography, 3 A units of 3-CET. Reaction of BPL with the phosphodiester thymidylyl-(3′-5′)thymidine gave 3-(2-carboxyethyl)thymidylyl-(3′-5′)-3-(2-carboxyethyl)thymidine (～3%). Phosphotriester formation was not detected.     

拟南芥转录因子Ethylene-insensitive3（EIN3）抑制花青素的合成

Ethylene-insensitive3（EIN3）和 EIN3-like1（EIL1）蛋白是乙烯信号转导途径中一类重要的核转录因子。花青素是植物体中的一类水溶性天然色素,在植物的许多生理过程中起重要作用。本研究以拟南芥双突变体ein3-1eil1-3为研究材料,通过RT-PCR技术确定了拟南芥双突变体ein3-1eil1-3中EIN3和EIL1基因均已被敲除,单突变体ein3-1中的EIN3基因被敲除。通过肉眼定性观察发现突变体ein3-1eil1-3的种子和叶片内均呈紫色。通过紫外分光光度计定量分析发现,花青素积累量也明显比突变体ein3-1和野生型多。通过GUS染色发现EIN3启动子主要在花、柱头、成熟花粉、种子胚和果荚等组织中有较强的表达。这与突变体ein3-1eil1-3的种子和叶片内均呈紫色并花青素含量增高一致。因此,拟南芥转录因子EIN3可能与EIL1共同参与抑制花青素的合成。     

补料培养提高真养产碱杆菌产3-羟基丁酸和3-羟基戊酸共聚物生产强度的研究

对Alcaligenes eutrophus进行高密度培养,研究表明在发酵过程中进行有效控制,可以较大幅度地提高3－羟基丁酸和3－羟基戊酸共聚物[P(3HB-co-3HV)]的生产强度。实验中选择使用限氮的方法积累P(3HB-co-3HV),分别采用丙酸和戊酸为3HV前体,对摇瓶种子生长状态,停氮时机对菌体生产P(3HB-co-3HV)的影响以及补酸（3HV前体）策略进行了研究,在6．6L罐中,以葡萄糖为碳源,以丙酸为3HV前体培养50h,细胞干重,PHA产量,PHA含量分别达到149．9g/L,149.9g/L,83.3%(其中3HV组分占PHA的12．4mol%),生产强度达到2．50（g.h^-1.L^-1);以戊酸为3HV前体培养45h,细胞干重,PHA产量,PHA含量分别达到160．2g/L,119.0g/L,74.2%（其中3HV组分占PHA的17．7mol%)生产强度达到2．64（g.h^-1.L^-1)。     

在大肠杆菌中表达有活性的人STK11蛋白

STK11蛋白(serine/threonine kinase11)是近年来发现的具有多种重要功能的蛋白,可参与调控细胞周期、p53介导的细胞凋亡、ras诱导的细胞转化、细胞极化等多种生物学过程。利用大肠杆菌高效表达有活性的人STK11蛋白,可为其结构和功能的深入研究打下良好基础。利用本室克隆的人STK11 cDNA和原核表达载体pET-44a( )构建带有Nus融合标签的诱导型表达载体pET-Nus-STK11,在不同的大肠杆菌宿主中诱导表达。SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测表明,在BL21(DE3)宿主中表达的融合蛋白主要以包涵体形式存在,占菌体总蛋白的8.9%;在Rosetta-gami(DE3)pLysS宿主中主要表达为可溶性蛋白,占菌体总蛋白的16.7%。而经纯化和包涵体蛋白复性处理后,以Chariot介导重组融合蛋白进入人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721检测其对细胞生长和细胞周期的影响。与对照组相比,BL21(DE3)中表达的Nus-STK11蛋白几乎无抑制活性;而Rosetta-gami(DE3)pLysS中表达的Nus-STK11蛋白可以显著抑制SMMC-7721细胞的生长,抑制率达47.05%,并导致细胞周期的G0/G1期阻滞,证实表达的重组融合蛋白具有明显的生物学活性。上述结果为在大肠杆菌中成功表达有活性的重组STK11蛋白的首次报道。     

利用甘油发酵耦联生产3-羟基丙酸及1,3-丙二醇重组菌的构建及筛选

在肺炎克雷伯杆菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae)代谢甘油生产1,3-丙二醇(1,3-PD)的过程中,为了减少有毒中间产物3-羟基丙醛(3-HPA)的积累,可将其转化为3-羟基丙酸(3-HP),从而实现1,3-丙二醇和3-羟基丙酸的联产。克隆来自于酿酒酵母的NAD+依赖型的乙醛脱氢酶(ALDH)的基因aldh4,构建了表达载体pKP-aldh,转化K.pneumoniae,得到了有效表达乙醛脱氢酶的重组肺炎克雷伯杆菌(K.pneumoniae A+)。在此基础上,使用紫外诱变联合菌种驯化的方法对K.pneumoniae A+进行筛选,获得了可耐受较高3-HP浓度(≥35 g/L)的重组肺炎克雷伯杆菌K.pneumoniae A+5-3。发酵实验结果表明,K.pneumoniae A+5-3可将3-HPA转化为3-HP,能够同时利用甘油耦联生产3-HP和1,3-PD,产量分别达到5.0 g/L和74.5 g/L。     

Cytokine-induced activation of mixed lineage kinase 3 requires TRAF2 and TRAF6

Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) that activates multiple mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in response to growth factors, stresses and the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF). MLK3 is required for optimal activation of stress activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) signaling by TNF, however, the mechanism by which MLK3 is recruited and activated by the TNF receptor remains poorly understood. Here we report that both TNF and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) stimulation rapidly activate MLK3 kinase activity. We observed that TNF stimulates an interaction between MLK3 and TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF) 2 and IL-1β stimulates an interaction between MLK3 and TRAF6. RNA interference (RNAi) of traf2 or traf6 dramatically impairs MLK3 activation by TNF indicating that TRAF2 and TRAF6 are critically required for MLK3 activation. We show that TNF also stimulates ubiquitination of MLK3 and MLK3 can be conjugated with lysine 48 (K48)- and lysine 63 (K63)-linked polyubiquitin chains. Our results suggest that K48-linked ubiquitination directs MLK3 for proteosomal degradation while K63-linked ubiquitination is important for MLK3 kinase activity. These results reveal a novel mechanism for MLK3 activation by the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1β.     

LncRNA SNHG3 induces EMT and sorafenib resistance by modulating the miR-128/CD151 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) plays important roles in carcinogenesis and tumor progression, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Small nucleolar RNA host gene 3 (SNHG3) has been considered as an lncRNA to be associated with a poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Here, we reported that SNHG3 expression was significantly higher in the highly metastatic HCC (HCCLM3) cells compared with the lowly metastatic HCC cells (Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5). Furthermore, forced expression of SNHG3 promoted cell invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and sorafenib resistance in HCC. Moreover, SNHG3 overexpression induced HCC cells EMT via miR-128/CD151 cascade activation. Clinically, our data revealed that increased SNHG3 expression is correlated with poor HCC survival outcomes and sorafenib response. These data suggest that SNHG3 may be a novel therapeutic target and a biomarker for predicting response to sorafenib treatment of HCC.