小鼠睾丸特异表达基因TSEG-1的克隆及序列分析

从表达序列标签(expressed sequence tags, ESTs)数据库ZooDDD中获得小鼠正常睾丸表达的EST, 通过dbEST数据库检索出与其高度同源的EST序列, 构建EST叠加群(contigs), Biolign软件拼接, GeneScan软件预测contigs对应的基因组序列中的外显子、内含子; 针对开放阅读框设计引物序列, 采用RT-PCR从小鼠睾丸组织中克隆新基因的cDNA, 分析该基因在小鼠各脏器中的mRNA表达, 并对测序结果进行生物信息学分析。结果表明: 在小鼠X染色体的1 668~2 011 kb间克隆出一新基因TSEG-1, 全长为510 bp, 开放阅读框为336 bp, 编码111氨基酸, 分子量12.84258 kDa, 等电点11.4000。RT-PCR证实该基因开放阅读框正确, 在小鼠睾丸组织中特异性表达, 且与小鼠其他cDNA 无同源性, 获得GenBank 登录号EU079024。功能区分析发现TSEG-1蛋白可能为一种跨膜蛋白, 跨膜区位于第41~61氨基酸残基。TSEG-1基因与人类睾丸特异性组蛋白2a变异体基因有较高同源性, 在TSEG-1基因5′-端非编码侧翼预测发现存在1个启动子区域, 范围为680 bp。 TSEG-1蛋白可能有4个抗原性位点, 2个特异性蛋白激酶的磷酸化位点, 其亚细胞定位可能位于线粒体。小鼠睾丸特异性基因TSEG-1的克隆为进一步研究其生物学功能和表达调控奠定了基础。     

MMP-9、TIMP-1及细菌L型在卵巢乳头状癌中的表达及意义

目的探讨MMP-9、TIMP-1及细菌L型在卵巢上皮性肿瘤中的表达及临床意义。方法采用原位杂交和免疫组化及革兰染色方法检测97例卵巢乳头状癌及23例卵巢乳头状瘤组织中MMP-9、TIMP-1的表达及细菌L型检出率,并用2χ检验进行统计学处理。结果卵巢乳头状癌中MMP-9及TIMP-1的表达率均明显高于良性肿瘤(P<0.005)。MMP-9在卵巢乳头状癌中临床分期Ⅲ、Ⅳ期中的表达率明显高于Ⅰ、Ⅱ期(P<0.005~P<0.01),随着病理分级增高而显著增加(P<0.005~P<0.05),腹腔淋巴结有转移和有腹水者均高于无腹腔淋巴结转移和无腹水者(P<0.005~P<0.05)。而TIMP-1阳性表达与MMP-9阳性表达相反,呈负相关。细菌L型检出阳性率与病理分级及临床分期差异有显著性,腹腔淋巴结有转移比无转移者、有腹水比无腹水者差异有显著性(P<0.005)。结论MMP-9、TIMP-1基因及蛋白在卵巢肿瘤中有不同程度的异常表达,两者均可作为判断卵巢肿瘤生物学行为及患者预后参考指标。L型感染极有可能成为诱发肿瘤因素之一,它与MMP-9、TIMP-1可能有协同致瘤及恶性肿瘤侵袭和转移作用。研究细菌L型感染与肿瘤的关系,具有重要的临床应用价值。     

类泛素家族SUMO-1和UBC9的克隆、融合表达及纯化

目的：克隆类泛素化家族SUMO-1和UBC9基因,表达并纯化二者与谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（GST）的融合蛋白。方法：用PCR方法从乳腺文库中扩增SUMO-1和UBC9的编码序列,分别将其以正确相位与pGEX-KG载体中的GST编码序列融合,得到重组质粒pGST-SUMO-1和pGST-UBC9,分别转化大肠杆菌DH5α,表达融合蛋白GST-SUMO-1和GST-UBC9;用谷胱甘肽-Sepharose4B亲和纯化融合蛋白;用Western印迹检测融合蛋白的表达及纯化。结果：分别构建了SUMO-1和UBC9的融合表达载体;Western印迹检测表明,GST-SUMO-1和GST-UBC9融合蛋白获得表达;纯化得到了融合蛋白。结论：克隆、表达并纯化了SUMO-1和UBC9与GST的融合蛋白。     

红霉素对慢性阻塞性肺疾病大鼠ICAM-1、MMP-9的表达影响

目的:观察慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)大鼠肺组织中ICAM-1及MMP-9的表达及红霉素的干预作用。方法:复制COPD大鼠模型,并用红霉素干预,收集支气管肺泡灌洗液行细胞学计数和分类检查;采用HE染色观察病理形态变化;免疫组化法检测大鼠支气管肺组织ICAM-1、MMP-9的表达。结果:与模型组比较,干预组支气管肺组织中ICAM-1、MMP-9表达显著降低;模型组中ICAM-1、MMP-9的表达与BALF中白细胞总数及中性粒细胞数成正相关;ICAM-1与MMP-9的表达成正相关。结论:COPD大鼠肺组织中的ICAM-1、MMP-9表达明显升高,可能与COPD的发病机制有关;红霉素可降低ICAM-1、MMP-9的表达,可能是红霉素在COPD中抗炎症反应的作用机制之一。     

pcsk9基因突变与胆固醇血症

  常染色体显性高胆固醇血症（ADH）是家族早发性动脉粥样硬化的最主要的危险因素.在与ADH有关的基因突变中,LDL-R、apoB100基因突变导致ADH的机制已经比较明确,而pcsk9基因突变与ADH相关是最近发现的.pcsk9基因编码神经凋亡调节转化酶即NARC-1, 它通过在蛋白水平降低肝细胞上LDL受体的数量,使血液中LDL不能被清除,从而与高胆固醇血症相关联.研究pcsk9与LDL之间的关系,探索pcsk9在高胆固醇血症以及动脉粥样硬化发生中的作用及机制,将有助于高胆固醇血症和动脉粥样硬化发病机制的研究,也能为防治高胆固醇血症和动脉粥样硬化提供新思路.     

转录因子Ets-1与MMP-9在胃癌中的表达及临床意义

目的观察转录因子Ets-1和MMP-9在胃癌组织中的表达;探讨两者在胃癌浸润转移中的作用、相互关系及意义。方法采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测97例胃癌及癌旁组织、28例正常胃黏膜组织中Ets-1和MMP-9的表达。结果胃癌组织中Ets-1和MMP-9的阳性表达率分别为74.2%(72/97)、75.3%(73/97),均明显高于癌旁组织(40.2%、18.6%)及正常胃黏膜组织(17.9%、14.3%)(P0.01);而在癌旁组织及正常胃黏膜组织中两者的表达差异无显著性(P0.05)。Ets-1和MMP-9的阳性表达率在乳头状腺癌、管状腺癌及低分化腺癌与黏液癌之间差异有显著性(P0.01)。Ets-1和MMP-9的高表达与胃癌浸润深度、淋巴结转移及临床分期有关(P0.01),与性别、年龄、肿瘤大小及肿瘤位置均无关(P0.05)。Ets-1和MMP-9的表达成正相关(r=0.700,P0.01)。结论Ets-1和MMP-9高表达与胃癌的浸润、转移密切相关;通过上调MMP-9的表达,可能是Ets-1促进胃癌浸润转移的机制之一。     

猪β防御素1基因在毕赤酵母中的分泌表达

PBD-1是猪防御系统起重要作用的抗菌小肽,为实现其在毕赤酵母中的表达,根据已发表的猪β防御素1(PBD-1)氨基酸序列和酵母偏好密码子,用PCR方法获得PBD-1基因,克隆到分泌型表达载体pPIC9K信号序列α因子之后,构建重组表达质粒pPIC9K-PBD-1,用SalⅠ将其线性化后转化毕赤酵母SMD1168,采用PCR法筛选Mut 表型,在AOX1启动子调控下,分子量约4.5kD的PBD-1抗菌肽得到表达。抗菌特性研究表明,该表达产物对金黄色葡萄球菌有较好的抑菌活性。首次在毕赤酵母表达系统中实现了PBD-1的分泌表达。     

高质量抗体揭示Rad1蛋白在细胞中新的潜在活动机理

一组在进化上(从酵母到人)保守的基因Rad9、Rad1和Hus1在细胞周期监控点调控和DNA损伤修复中发挥重要作用．这三个蛋白可以形成环形异源三聚体,即9-1-1蛋白复合体．9-1-1复合体被认为是Rad9、Rad1和Hus1行使功能的主要形式．到目前为止,没有一个好的抗Rad1的抗体,严重阻碍了对Rad1和9-1-1复合体的研究．在本研究中,我们成功地制备了一株小鼠抗Rad1蛋白的单克隆抗体．这个抗体能够有效地检测小鼠和人的内源Rad1蛋白,可以用于酶联免疫吸附、蛋白质免疫印迹、免疫共沉淀和免疫荧光等实验．利用该抗体,我们发现在DNA损伤剂羟基脲(HU)的诱导下,小鼠Rad1蛋白在Rad9^+/+小鼠胚胎干细胞中表达明显增加,而在Rad9^-/-的小鼠胚胎干细胞中没有观察到该现象,这表明Rad9对Rad1的蛋白表达有调控作用．此外,内源的Rad1蛋白主要分布在细胞质中,在HU处理后并没有迁移进入细胞核的现象,这与先前广泛被人们所接受的在DNA损伤压力下Rad1和Hus1能够迁移进入细胞核并与Rad9形成9-1-1蛋白复合体的说法相矛盾．综合看来,Rad1和9-1-1蛋白复合体的分子作用机制比预期的要复杂,我们成功制备的Rad1单克隆抗体将成为研究Rad1以及9-1-1蛋白复合体的强有力的工具．     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 9α- and 9β-hydroxyamino-parthenolides as novel anticancer agents

A series of 9α-hydroxyamino-parthenolides 3–10, 9β-hydroxyamino-parthenolides 11–13 and 9α-hydroxy-1β,10α-epoxyamino-parthenolides 15–19 were efficiently synthesized starting from 9α-hydroxyparthenolide 1 and 9β-hydroxyparthenolide 2, which were isolated from Anvillea radiata. Compounds 1–13 and 15–19 were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity by the MTT colorimetric assay against one murine and six human cancer cell lines. This work provides new details about the structural requisites for anticancer activity.     

Expression and intracellular localization of TBC1D9, a Rab GTPase-accelerating protein,in mouse testes

Membrane trafficking in male germ cells contributes to their development via cell morphological changes and acrosome formation. TBC family proteins work as Rab GTPase accelerating proteins (GAPs), which negatively regulate Rab proteins, to mediate membrane trafficking. In this study, we analyzed the expression of a Rab GAP, TBC1D9, in mouse organs and the intracellular localization of the gene products. Tbc1d9 showed abundant expression in adult mice testis. We found that the Tbc1d9 mRNA was expressed in primary and secondary spermatocytes, and that the TBC1D9 protein was expressed in spermatocytes and round spermatids. In 293T cells, TBC1D9-GFP proteins were localized in the endosome and Golgi apparatus. Compartments that were positive for the constitutive active mutants of Rab7 and Rab9 were also positive for TBC1D9 isoform 1. In addition, TBC1D9 proteins were associated with Rab7 and Rab9, respectively. These results indicate that TBC1D9 is expressed mainly in spermatocytes, and suggest that TBC1D9 regulates membrane trafficking pathways related to Rab9- or Rab7-positive vesicles.     

Apical distribution of HFE–β2-microglobulin is associated with inhibition of apical iron uptake in intestinal epithelia cells

Mutations in the HFE gene result in hereditary hemochromatosis, a disorder of iron metabolism characterized by increased intestinal iron absorption. Based on the observation that ectopic expression of HFE strongly inhibits apical iron uptake (Arredondo et al., 2001, FASEB J 15, 1276–1278), a negative regulation of HFE on the apical membrane transporter DMT1 was proposed as a mechanism by which HFE regulates iron absorption. To test this hypothesis, we investigated: (i) the effect of HFE antisense oligonucleotides on apical iron uptake by polarized Caco-2 cells; (ii) the apical/basolateral membrane distribution of HFE, β-2 microglobulin and DMT1; (iii) the putative molecular association between HFE and DMT1. We found that HFE antisense treatment reduced HFE expression and increased apical iron uptake, whereas transfection with wild-type HFE inhibited iron uptake. Thus, an inverse relationship was established between HFE levels and apical iron uptake activity. Selective apical or basolateral biotinylation indicated preferential localization of DMT1 to the apical membrane and of HFE and β-2 microglobulin (β2m) to the basolateral membrane. Ectopic expression of HFE resulted in increased distribution of HFE–β2m to the apical membrane. The amount of HFE–β2m in the apical membrane inversely correlated with apical iron uptake rates. Immunoprecipitations of HFE or β2m with specific antibodies resulted in the co-precipitation of DMT1. These results sustain a model by which direct interaction between DMT1 and HFE–β2m in the apical membrane of Caco-2 cells result in down-regulation of apical iron uptake activity.     

Partial conservation of functions between eukaryotic frataxin and the Escherichia coli frataxin homolog CyaY

Frataxin is a mitochondrial protein structurally conserved from bacteria to humans. Eukaryotic frataxins are known to be involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial iron balance via roles in iron delivery and iron detoxification. The prokaryotic frataxin homolog, CyaY, has been shown to bind and donate iron for the assembly of [2Fe-2S] clusters in vitro. However, in contrast to the severe phenotypes associated with the partial or complete loss of frataxin in humans and other eukaryotes, deletion of the cyaY gene does not cause any obvious alteration of iron balance in bacterial cells, an effect that probably reflects functional redundancy between CyaY and other bacterial proteins. To study CyaY function in a nonredundant setting, we have expressed a mitochondria-targeted form of CyaY in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain depleted of the endogenous yeast frataxin protein (yfh1Delta). We show that in this strain CyaY complements to a large extent the loss of iron-sulfur cluster enzyme activities and heme synthesis, and thereby maintains a nearly normal respiratory growth. In addition, CyaY effectively protects yfh1Delta from oxidative damage during treatment with hydrogen peroxide but is less efficient in detoxifying excess labile iron during aerobic growth.