Matrine modulates HSC70 levels and rescues ΔF508-CFTR

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-dependent Cl(-) channel located in the plasma membrane, and its malfunction results in cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal genetic disease in Caucasians. Most CF patients carry the deletion of Phe508 (ΔF508 mutation); this mutation prevents the delivery of the CFTR to its correct cellular location, the apical (lumen-facing) membrane of epithelial cells. Molecular chaperones play a central role in determining the fate of ΔF508-CFTR. In this report, we show that the Matrine, a quinolizidine alkaloid, downregulates the expression of the molecular chaperone HSC70 and increases the protein levels of ΔF508-CFTR in human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549 cell line), stably transfected with a ΔF508-CFTR-expressing construct. Moreover, Matrine induced ΔF508-CFTR release from endoplasmic reticulum to cell cytosol and its localization on the cell membrane. Interestingly, downregulation of HSC70 resulted in increased levels of ΔF508-CFTR complexes with the co-chaperone BAG3 that in addition appeared to co-localize with the mutated protein on the cell surface. These results shed new light on ΔF508-CFTR interactions with proteins of the chaperones/co-chaperones system and could be useful in strategies for future medical treatments for CF.     

盐芥热激同源蛋白70基因(Thhsc70)的分子克隆及鉴定(英文)

热激蛋白70(hsp70s)具有分子伴侣的功能,其中在非胁迫条件下表达的hsp70s称为热激同源蛋白70(hsc70)。为更好地了解hsc70基因的特性,鉴定了盐芥(Thellungiella halophila(C. A. Mey. )O. E. Schulz)中编码胞质hsc70蛋白的基因Thhsc70。实验结果表明:在非胁迫条件下,Thhsc70基因具有组织特异性表达;Thhsc70基因受热胁迫和冷胁迫的诱导表达,但几乎不受盐诱导和干旱诱导。Thhsc70基因在拟南芥中过量表达后提高了转基因拟南芥的热耐受性和冷耐受性。     

HSP_(70)基因表达对高粱育性的影响(英文)

高粱细胞质雄性不育系３１９７Ａ（３Ａ）在常温条件下是不育的（Ｆｉｇｓ．１１＆２）,经热激（４５℃）诱导不同程度地恢复了育性（Ｆｉｇｓ．１３＆４）,为研究其不育机理提供了线索。热激２ｈ后,３Ａ中即可产生一类线粒体热激蛋白（ＨＳＰｓ）。其中,分子量为７０ｋＤ的ＨＳＰ７０含量最高,也最为稳定。不过,３Ａ中ＨＳＰｓ的稳定性弱于保持系３１９７Ｂ（３Ｂ）（Ｆｉｇ．２,Ｐａｎｅｌｓ１～４）。放线菌素Ｄ抑制ＨＳＰｓ的合成,而氯霉素无此作用（Ｆｉｇ．２,Ｐａｎｅｌｓ５＆６）,表明：ＨＳＰｓ是由核基因编码、在细胞质中合成、再跨膜转运到线粒体中的。３Ａ幼穗经热激后,线粒体的总蛋白量猛增了２．７倍（Ｆｉｇ．３）,达到３Ｂ的水平,育性亦变为可育的。Ｆｉｇ．４表明：ＨＳＰ７０反义链ｃＤＮＡ（Ｒ１）能进入到３Ｂ花药细胞中,并与靶ＲＮＡ（ＨＳＣ７０ｍＲＮＡ）结合,而对照、正义链ｃＤＮＡ（Ｄ）链无此反应。由此、再增加一个通用保守序列的反义链ｃＤＮＡ（Ｒ２）、共两个探针（Ｒ１、Ｒ２）,可以检测到：３Ａ在常温下没有能力合成ＨＳＣ７０ｍＲＮＡ（Ｆｉｇ．５）,而在热激条件下,转变为有能力（Ｆｉｇ．６）。启示：３Ａ在热激条件下由不育转变为可育     

Leaf-consumption levels in subtropical mangroves of Paranaguá Bay (SE Brazil)

The objective of this study was to measure leaf consumption levels, mainly by insect herbivores and the tree-dwelling crab Aratus pisonii (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), in mangrove forests of a large subtropical estuarine system in the South Atlantic Ocean, to determine if patterns of herbivory varied with forest structure, tree species and marked seasonal differences in rainfall and temperature. We analyzed three structurally different mangroves located in the euhaline high-energy sector of Paranaguá Bay, all of them with known values of annual litter fall. Consumption levels varied from 2.2–5.4% of total leaf area considering each site as a whole, and from 2.0–6.0% considering each tree species separately. No significant differences in consumption levels were found between summer and winter samples, but significant differences were found among sites and among tree species. Leaves from Laguncularia racemosa were most consumed. The site with lower consumption levels was the one covered with dwarf trees, a condition usually caused by low nutrient availability in the soil. Analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus levels revealed lower amounts of both nutrients in soils and of phosphorus in leaves from this site when compared to the ones containing more developed trees. This result suggests a relationship between herbivory and nutrient availability in the plants.     

重金属对HeLa细胞中热激蛋白70(HSP70)表达的影响

热激蛋白(HSPs)是受热等因素刺激后而诱导产生的蛋白质,是一类可以调节应激反应并且保护机体防止细胞损伤的蛋白质,在机体的应激反应中具有重要作用。它们作为一般标志物被广泛应用于环境监测中。CdCl2,Cu2+,Zn2+这三种重金属是普遍存在的环境污染物,对人体和动物的一些主要器官造成损伤。以HeLa细胞(子宫肿瘤细胞)为材料,采用不同浓度的CdCl2,Cu2+,Zn2+三种重金属物质诱导细胞,并利用免疫荧光染色(IFS),SDS-PAGE,Western blotting和RT-PCR四种手段分别从基因和蛋白质的水平来研究重金属对HSP70表达的影响。结果表明,三种金属对HSP70表达的影响程度为CdCl2>Zn2+>Cu2+,且HSP70的产生量与重金属的浓度呈正相关。通过研究,以建立一种对HSPs的表达更有效的检测手段用于以后的研究。     

盐芥热激同源蛋白70基因(Thhsc70)的分子克隆及鉴定

热激蛋白70(hsp70s)具有分子伴侣的功能,其中在非胁迫条件下表达的hsp70s称为热激同源蛋白70(hsc70).为更好地了解hsc70基因的特性,鉴定了盐芥(Thellungiella halophila(C.A.Mey.)O.E. Schulz)中编码胞质hsc70蛋白的基因Thhsc70.实验结果表明:在非胁迫条件下,Thhsc70基因具有组织特异性表达;Thhsc70基因受热胁迫和冷胁迫的诱导表达,但几乎不受盐诱导和干旱诱导.Thhsc70基因在拟南芥中过量表达后提高了转基因拟南芥的热耐受性和冷耐受性.     

Serum neutrophil gelatinase-B associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in Down’s syndrome patients

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a group of proteins with different functions.NGAL is released by different cell types such as epithelial cell, hepatocytes and renal tubular cells during inflammation and after cell injury. Expression of NGAL is induced under various pathophysiological conditions such as infection, cancer, inflammation, kidney injury, cardiovascular disease, burn injury, and intoxication, which has an important anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory role.Subjects with Down's syndrome (DS) are affected by many pathological age related conditions such as mental retardation, Alzheimer's disease, immune defects and increased susceptibility to infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate possible use of NGAL as a marker of inflammatory status for allow an early diagnosis of inflammatory disease such as autoimmune disease in DS patients, that are more susceptible to these pathologies, especially in elderly subjects.In this study were recruited 3 groups of DS subjects (children, adults and elderly) and compared them to healthy control group.The molecules of interest was determinated by immuno-enzymatic assay (ELISA).Our results show that NGAL plasmatic level was significantly higher in DS patients compared to healthy controls. Moreover NGAL levels increase in correlation with the age, and showed a significantly correlation between the increase with the severity of disease.DS is characterized by an enhancement of gene production such as GART, SOD-1 and CBS that encode specific protein and enzyme involved in hydrogen peroxide and superoxide production, species highly cytotoxic implicated in inflammation and ageing.NGAL may have the potential application to ameliorate the toxicity induced by oxidative stress conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, thalassemia, cardiovascular disease, burn injury, transplantation, diabetes, and aging.     

日本三角涡虫热休克蛋白70(DjHSP70)C-端多肽表达及其抗血清制备

首先运用在线生物学软件对日本三角涡虫(Degusia japonica)热休克蛋白70(DjHSP70)氨基酸序列进行亲水区分析,发现该蛋白C-端含有较多亲水性氨基酸,然后以该段多肽序列为基础构建原核表达载体.采用PCR方法扩增450 bp cDNA片段,编码DjHSP70 C-端150个氨基酸多肽.将双酶切的cDNA...     

Polyamine levels during the onset of “CAM” inOpuntia F. indica (Miller)

Summary Polyamines have been related to the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) in higher plants. Such relationship was however observed in plants where CAM activity is inducible by external factors. Results presented here indicate that, inOpuntia F. indica, cladodes where onset of CAM is dependent on internal conditions, i.e. leaf age, the concentration of putrescine increases in parallel to the acidity of the cytoplasm. The parallel increase of putrescine concentration and acidity (malic acid concentration) can be best evaluated during the onset of CAM (young cladodes), while such correlation is not observed in mature cladodes where CAM is already in it's full function. Spermidine and spermine show no correlation with CAM activity neither during the onset of CAM nor during it's full function. However, spermidine levels correlate negatively to CAM activity when cladodes attain > 30 days of age. The results suggest that putrescine in free form could possibly counteract the increase of cellular acidity during onset of CAM inOpuntia F. indica; the possible roles of spermidine are discussed.Abbreviations PA polyamines - put putrescine - spd spermidine - spm spermine - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography This work was supported by grants from Italian Ministry of University and Scientific Research (60%).     

Do residue levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human blood produce mild hypothyroidism?

PCBs are nearly ubiquitous environmental contaminants, occurring in most human adipose tissue and blood samples. It has recently been recognized that PCBs and related compounds share important structural properties with thyroid hormones and can bind thyroid hormone binding proteins. It is reasonable that such specific binding interactions can modulate the distribution of these compounds in the body and alter hormone-protein interactions that are responsible for the maintenance of normal thyroid status. Most of the available evidence indicates that the levels of free thyroid hormones in plasma are a reflection of the maintenance of normal thyroid status in any individual. A theoretical model for the transport of thyroid hormones in blood has been extended to estimate the modulating effects of PCBs on free thyroid hormones. Using conservative assumptions based on experimental data, our calculations indicate that PCB concentrations normally found in humans can effect significant increases in free thyroxine levels in serum by competing with serum thyroid hormone binding proteins. Experimental data are discussed which support the proposal that antagonist binding of PCBs to thyroid hormone binding proteins in serum could produce varying degrees of hypothyroidism. The biological result is compatible with the "equilibrium hypothesis" in which thyroid hormone redistributes between specific and nonspecific binding proteins rather than emphasizing the importance of free hormone as the active moiety.     

Heteromeric complexes of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family members,including Hsp70B′, in differentiated human neuronal cells

Human neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have been termed “protein misfolding disorders.” Upregulation of heat shock proteins that target misfolded aggregation-prone proteins has been proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy to counter neurodegenerative disorders. The heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family is well characterized for its cytoprotective effects against cell death and has been implicated in neuroprotection by overexpression studies. HSP70 family members exhibit sequence and structural conservation. The significance of the multiplicity of HSP70 proteins is unknown. In this study, coimmunoprecipitation was employed to determine if association of HSP70 family members occurs, including Hsp70B′ which is present in the human genome but not in mouse and rat. Heteromeric complexes of Hsp70B′, Hsp70, and Hsc70 were detected in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. Hsp70B′ also formed complexes with Hsp40 suggesting a common co-chaperone for HSP70 family members.     

Holococcolithophore‐heterococcolithophore (Haptophyta) life cycles: Flow cytometric analysis of relative ploidy levels

Several coccolithophore species are known to exhibit heteromorphic life cycles. In certain species, notably Emiliania huxleyi, the heterococcolith‐bearing phase alternates with a non‐calcifying stage, whereas in others the heterococcolith‐bearing phase alternates with a holococcolith‐bearing phase. Heterococcolithophore‐holococcolithophore life cycles have previously been observed for only one species in culture, but have also been inferred from an increasing number of observations of combination coccospheres. 18S rDNA sequences from pure cultures of both the heterococcolith‐bearing and holococcolith‐bearing phases of Coccolithus pelagicus were identical, providing an additional indication of their identity as different life cycle stages of the same species. Flow cytometric analyses have been undertaken on SybrGreen‐stained nuclei isolated from pure cultures of the two phases of four coccolithophore species (Coccolithus pelagicus, Calcidiscus leptoporus, Coronosphaera mediterranea and Emiliania huxleyi) in order to determine relative DNA content. Results confirm the hypothesis that holococcolithophore‐heterococcolithophore life cycles are haplo‐diploid in nature. Light microscope observations of the processes of sexual fusion and meiosis are reported for two of the experimental species. The results are discussed in the context of the evolution of bio‐mineralization in the coccolithophores and the possible ubiquity of haplo‐diploidy in the haptophytes.     

菜粉蝶热激蛋白70(HSP70)基因的分子特性及其对杀虫剂胁迫的响应

[目的]明确菜粉蝶Pieris rapae热激蛋白70(HSP70)基因的分子特性及其对杀虫剂胁迫的响应,为探索菜粉蝶HSP70基因在抵御杀虫剂胁迫中的功能提供前期基础.[方法]利用同源检索方法,从菜粉蝶转录组数据中鉴定HSP70基因;使用生物信息学方法分析HSP70基因的分子特性;采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析HSP...     

BRI2 protein regulates β-amyloid degradation by increasing levels of secreted insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE)

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is one of the major proteins involved in Alzheimer disease (AD). Proteolytic cleavage of APP gives rise to amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides that aggregate and deposit extensively in the brain of AD patients. Although the increase in levels of aberrantly folded Aβ peptide is considered to be important to disease pathogenesis, the regulation of APP processing and Aβ metabolism is not fully understood. Recently, the British precursor protein (BRI2, ITM2B) has been implicated in influencing APP processing in cells and Aβ deposition in vivo. Here, we show that the wild type BRI2 protein reduces plaque load in an AD mouse model, similar to its disease-associated mutant form, ADan precursor protein (ADanPP), and analyze in more detail the mechanism of how BRI2 and ADanPP influence APP processing and Aβ metabolism. We find that overexpression of either BRI2 or ADanPP reduces extracellular Aβ by increasing levels of secreted insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), a major Aβ-degrading protease. This effect is also observed with BRI2 lacking its C-terminal 23-amino acid peptide sequence. Our results suggest that BRI2 might act as a receptor protein that regulates IDE levels that in turn influences APP metabolism in a previously unrecognized way. Targeting the regulation of IDE may be a promising therapeutic approach to sporadic AD.     

Photosynthesis in willows (Salix × dasyclados) grown at different CO2 concentrations and fertilization levels

Summary Willows (Salix x dasyclados) were grown for 4 months in growth chambers at four nutrient and CO₂ levels, and photosynthesis measurements were made during the latter half of this period. Photosynthesis became saturated at lower light intensities at low CO₂ concentrations than at higher ones. The effect of CO₂ concentration on photosynthesis was greater at higher temperatures. The willows grown at the highest CO₂ concentration (1000 ppm) had a lower photosynthetic capacity than the others when measured at various concentrations. The effect of nutrient status on photosynthesis clearly increased with rising CO₂ concentrations. Although photosynthetic acclimation took place to a certain extent at higher CO₂ concentrations, photosynthesis still remained higher the higher the growth concentration was. At each CO₂ level photosynthesis increased contemporaneously with leaf nitrogen content, but at each fertilization level a rise in CO₂ concentration slightly increased photosynthesis and reduced the nitrogen content. The relative increase in photosynthesis achieved by a rise in CO₂ was greater than the corresponding increase in biomass growth, whereas the effect of fertilization was greater on biomass growth than on the rate of photosynthesis in the same willows.     

DR-70~(TM)和CA50肺癌免疫测定的应用价值

目的 :评价DR 70 TM和CA5 0两种肿瘤标志物在肺癌检测中的价值。方法 :应用DR 70 TMELISA和CA5 0IRMA对77例肺癌患者 ,42例健康者及 48例其它肺癌者进行对照检测。结果 :各组DR 70 TMCA5 0测定值比例显示肺癌组平均值显著其它两组 (P <0 .0 1)。DR 70 TM检测的敏感性和有效性高于CA5 0检测 (83.1%比 6 6 .2 % ,85 .7%比 75 .6 % )。两项联合检测的敏感性 ,有效性分别为 96 .1% ,93.1% ,优于单项DR 70 TM 检测的 83.1% ,85 .7% ,及CA5 0的 6 6 .2 9%、75 .6 %。结论 :DR 70 TM在肺癌检测中有较大应用价值。DR 70 TM 和CA5 0两项联合检测是较理想的肺癌检测组合