阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白与植物细胞分化

阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白（ａｒａｂｉｎｏｇａｌａｃｔａｎ－ｐｒｏ－ｔｅｉｎｓ,ＡＧＰｓ）是广泛存在于高等动植物中的一种糖蛋白。该文就其化学组成、特性、合成、代谢和功能的研究进展作了介绍。     

高等植物阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白的功能研究

阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白(AGPs)是广泛分布于植物体内的一类富含羟脯氨酸糖蛋白的总称,前人研究结果表明,该类蛋白参与了高等植物生长发育的诸多生物学过程.本文对高等植物AGPs基因家族的分类、AGPs糖基化的氨基酸密码和AGPs鉴定的方法进行了系统的阐述,并对在生殖发育、营养器官发生、植物与环境间的互作等方面AGPs基因的功能研究现状进行了概述,对AGPs研究的前景进行了探讨,希望为今后的相关研究带来启迪.     

阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白在被子植物中的功能

阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白(arabinogalactan proteins,AGPs)是一类富含羟脯氨酸/脯氨酸的高度糖基化的蛋白分子,在高等植物的细胞壁、质膜和胞外基质中广泛存在。AGPs是一类重要的糖蛋白,它在被子植物营养生长和生殖发育的各个环节都可能发挥作用,涉及体细胞胚胎发生、细胞增殖、细胞膨大、细胞程序性死亡、损伤防御、根形态建成、花粉管生长以及植物激素信号传导等。植物结构基因组学及功能基因组学的快速发展,使得人们对AGPs的表达模式和功能特点有了更深入的认识。本文首先就AGPs的分子结构和分类,然后重点就利用基因组序列信息分析以及正、反向遗传学等手段进行的AGPs在植物营养生长、生殖发育、细胞程序性死亡,以及分子互作和信号传导等方面的作用的研究进行了综述。     

阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白在被子植物有性生殖中的作用

阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白(arabinogalactan-proteins,AGPs)是一类主要分布在细胞表面和胞外基质中的糖蛋白.它们在植物的雄性器官(花粉、花粉管、精细胞)、雌性器官(柱头、花柱、子房)和胚胎(合子胚和体细胞胚)等组织和细胞中均有大量的表达.大量研究表明AGPs在被子植物有性生殖过程中起着非常重要的作用,既可能参与花粉管粘附、营养、传导或提供信号的作用,也可能参与受精过程中配子识别和受精后胚胎的发育与分化等过程.该文就其分子结构、特性以及在植物有性生殖过程中各种器官和组织内的表达和功能研究进展做了较为全面的概述.     

烟草柱头和花柱中阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白的定位

通过Western印迹法、免疫组织化学和超微细胞化学等技术,研究了烟草柱头和花柱中阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白（arabinogalactan-proteins,AGPs）的分布。结果表明烟草柱头和花柱组织中含有大量的AGPs,主要分布于柱头表皮细胞的细胞质和分泌层细胞的胞外基质中,且授粉前后AGPs的分布情况差异不明显;而花柱中的AGPs主要分布于表皮细胞的外层细胞壁、维管组织周围细胞的细胞质及引导组织的胞外基质中;花粉管通过后,引导组织胞外基质中AGPs减少,而花粉管细胞质和花粉管壁中检测到大量AGPs。     

在烟草和蓝猪耳花粉萌发及花粉管生长中阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白的作用

采用花粉离体培养技术研究了阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白(arab inogalactan prote ins,AGPs)在烟草和蓝猪耳花粉萌发及花粉管生长中的作用。结果表明:βG lcY(-βG lucosyl Yariv reagent,一种能与AGPs特异结合的试剂)处理导致蓝猪耳花粉萌发率和花粉管生长速度下降;βG lcY对烟草花粉管的生长也有一定的抑制作用。另外,采用免疫荧光技术,发现在烟草和蓝猪耳未萌发的花粉粒中,AGPs主要分布在萌发孔上;在烟草离体生长的花粉管中AGPs呈均匀分布,但是在蓝猪耳离体生长的花粉管中未观察到AGPs的分布。     

果胶酶对灵武长枣果实发育中阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白分布的影响

以3种不同浓度的果胶酶处理灵武长枣（Ziziphus jujuba ‘Lingwu Changzao’）4个不同发育时期的果实,采用免疫细胞化学技术,在细胞水平上对果实阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白（AGPs）表位进行原位分析,探讨果胶酶对其不同发育时期的果实中AGPs分布的影响,为明确果胶酶对果实成熟软化的影响提供解剖学依据。结果表明：JIM13、JIM8和MAC204抗体所标记的抗原荧光强弱在各时期果实的不同组织存在一定的差异。当果肉组织用较低浓度的果胶酶0.028 U·mL^-1（E1）处理,果皮组织结构没有明显的变化,果皮及内部薄壁细胞细胞壁表面和细胞间隙中的AGPs抗原表位减少;0.056 U·mL^-1（E2）和0.084 U·mL^-1（E3）浓度果胶酶处理的果实,果实组织细胞壁解体程度增加,果皮及内部薄壁细胞细胞壁中AGPs抗原表位检测量逐渐降低,果胶酶浓度的增加导致AGPs在果实所有表位排列的更大影响和较低的荧光信号。经果胶酶最高浓度0.084 U·mL^-1（E3）处理后,Calcofluor White染色显示细胞壁区域荧光也不同程度减弱或降低,AGPs分布的紊乱和抗原表位的缺失与细胞中纤维素组装的变化有关。比较分析表明,不同发育时期的果实AGPs碳水化合物的分布不同,这与组织结构的变化有关;果胶酶作用下AGPs聚糖链的缺失导致细胞壁组分之间的相关性建立和细胞壁结构的重塑受阻,诱导了整个细胞壁结构的改变,影响了果实的成熟。     

分枝杆菌聚阿拉伯半乳糖的结构和生物合成过程及其应用意义

聚阿拉伯半乳糖(Arabinogalactan,AG)是分枝杆菌细胞壁的主要组成成分,对于维持分枝杆菌细胞壁的完整具有重要意义。AG由衔接双糖、聚阿拉伯糖及聚半乳糖组成,连接方式各异、结构复杂。AG的合成是以UDP-GlcNAc、dTDP-Rha、UDP-Galf、多聚异戊二烯磷酸阿拉伯糖(DPA)为糖基供体,其中参与糖基供体形成及AG合成的酶是研发抗结核新药的作用靶点,而由此研发出的新药对治疗结核病具有高度专一性且对人类无毒性副作用。     

中华鳖肝金属硫蛋白的分离、纯化及鉴定

金属硫蛋白metallothionein,MT)是一类低分子量、富含半胱氨酸的金属结合蛋白。MT几乎广泛分布于所有生物,包括哺乳动物、两栖动物、鱼、植物、真菌和蓝细菌,不同生物金属硫蛋白理化特性和其氨基酸序列及中心片段的比较研究,对研究MT的结构和生物功能及生物的分子进化提供重要依据。哺乳动物MT研究较多,爬行动物鳖MT的研究尚属空白,本文报道鳖肝的金属硫蛋白,中华鳖（Pelodiscus sinensis)分别经皮下注射ZnSO4,CuSO4和CdCl2溶液诱导后,取乙醇沉淀的肝脏无细胞提取液再经SephadexG-50、DEAE-SepharoseCL-6B及SephadexG-25凝胶过滤和离子交换柱层析分离,自鳖肝脏中分别获得Zn-MT、Cu-MT和Cd-MT,未经诱导的鳖肝脏中无MT,质谱和HPLC分析其分子量约为6300dalton。根据氨基酸组成分析。鳖肝脏MT含61个氨基酸残基,其中MT的典型氨基酸Cys含量占17%。Lys,Glu和Asp含量较高,而芳香族氨基酸和组氨酸含量极低,从紫外光谱特性分析,Zn-MT、Cu-MT、Cd-MT紫外吸收肩分别在220nm、270nm和250nm。表明确为鳖肝脏MT。从氨基酸残基数和分子量看,鳖肝脏MT与哺乳动物MT类似;而从氨基酸组成和结合金属离子的量看,又与低等生物蚯蚓酵母菌的MT类似。鳖MT的特性介于哺乳动物MT与低等生物MT之间,体现了鳖这种生物进化的特点。     

节杆菌β-半乳糖苷酶的分离纯化及酶学性质研究

分离纯化了由节杆菌所产的fI-半乳糖苷酶(EC 3.2.1.23)并研究了其酶学性质.以乳糖发酵培养基培养,离心收集茵体,超声破碎细胞得到粗酶液;采用硫酸铵沉淀、Phenyl-Sepharose疏水、DEAE-Sepharose离子交换和p-aminobelazyl-1-thio-β-galactopyranoside...     

Black tea,green tea,and tea polyphenols

Previous studies have shown that tea consumption can impair trace element metabolism, particularly iron status, and increase the risk of anemia in humans and animals. More recently, however, evidence has been accumulating to show that, in animals, consumption of green tea or its polyphenols is associated with a reduction of the incidence and severity of a variety of experimentally induced cancers. In this study we have monitored the growth, trace element status, including hematological parameters of weanling rats given either (1) water, (2) 1% black tea, (3) 1% green, tea, or (4) 0.2% crude green tea extract as their sole drinking fluid while consuming diets containing either adequate or low amounts of iron. With the exception of manaanese, none of the trace elements studied (iron, copper, zinc, and manganese) or the hematological indices measured were affected by the type of beverage supplied, even though the polyphenol extract was shown to chelate metals in vitro and all the animals fed the low iron diet were shown to be anemic. There appeared to be an effect of black and green teas on manganese balance in, both the first and last weeks of the study. A lower level of brain managanese was associated with green tea consumption, and a higher level of this element in the kidneys of animals fed black tea. The results demonstrate that both black and green teas and a green tea polyphenol extract do not represent a risk to animals consuming the beverages as their sole fluid intake with respect to iron availability, although the interactions with manganese deserve further study.     

Cross sectional study of effects of drinking green tea on cardiovascular and liver diseases.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate the association between consumption of green tea and various serum markers in a Japanese population, with special reference to preventive effects of green tea against cardiovascular disease and disorders of the liver. DESIGN--Cross sectional study. SETTING--Yoshimi, Japan. SUBJECTS--1371 men aged over 40 years resident in Yoshimi and surveyed on their living habits including daily consumption of green tea. Their peripheral blood samples were subjected to several biochemical assays. RESULTS--Increased consumption of green tea was associated with decreased serum concentrations of total cholesterol (P for trend < 0.001) and triglyceride (P for trend = 0.02) and an increased proportion of high density lipoprotein cholesterol together with a decreased proportion of low and very low lipoprotein cholesterols (P for trend = 0.02), which resulted in a decreased atherogenic index (P for trend = 0.02). Moreover, increased consumption of green tea, especially more than 10 cups a day, was related to decreased concentrations of hepatological markers in serum, aspartate aminotransferase (P for trend = 0.06), alanine transferase (P for trend = 0.07), and ferritin (P for trend = 0.02). CONCLUSION--The inverse association between consumption of green tea and various serum markers shows that green tea may act protectively against cardiovascular disease and disorders of the liver.     

Separation used for purification of recombinant proteins

The purification of molecules from recombinant cells may be strongly influenced by the molecular biology of gene isolation and expression. At the beginning of the process there may be a demand for information on the minute amounts of proteins and thus for ever increasingly sensitive techniques. Purification of recombinant proteins can differ from conventional purifications in several ways, depending on the solubility of the protein, occurrence in inclusion bodies, creation of fusion proteins with tags that enable simpler purification. Sometimes a (re)naturation step is required to get a bioactive protein. On the other hand, the techniques used in separation are essentially the same as for purification from the natural source and environment.     

Antioxidant effects of green tea and its polyphenols on bladder cells

Genitourinary tract inflammation/ailments affect the quality of life and health of a large segment of society. In recent years, studies have demonstrated strong antioxidant effects of green tea and its associated polyphenols in inflammatory states. This in vitro study examined the antioxidant capabilities (and putative mechanisms of action) of green tea extract (GTE), polyphenon-60 (PP-60, 60% pure polyphenols), (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in normal/malignant human bladder cells following catechin treatment+/-1 mM H2O2 (oxidative agent). Cell viability, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation were evaluated. Our results showed that H2O2 exposure significantly reduced normal (UROtsa) and high-grade (TCCSUP, T24) bladder cancer (BlCa) cell viability compared with control-treated cells (p<0.001). No affect on low-grade RT4 and SW780 BlCa cell viability was observed with exposure to H2O2. Compared to H2O2-treated UROtsa, treatment with PP-60, ECG and EGCG in the presence of H2O2 significantly improved UROtsa viability (p<0.01), with strongest effects evoked by ECG. Additionally, though not as effective as in UROtsa cells, viability of both high-grade TCCSUP and T24 BlCa cells, in comparison to H2O2-treated cells, was significantly improved (p<0.01) by treatment with PP-60, ECG, and EGCG in the presence of H2O2. Overall, our findings demonstrate that urothelium cell death via H2O2-induced oxidative stress is mediated, in part, through superoxide (O2-.;), and potentially, direct H2O2 mechanisms, suggesting that green tea polyphenols can protect against oxidative stress/damage and bladder cell death.     

A preliminary study of aluminium and the tea bush

Summary The phenomenon of uptake of aluminium by the tea bush has been examined in relation to its constancy as a characteristic feature, age of leaf and tree, genetic constitution, resistance to certain diseases, distribution within the plant, interactions with manganese and phosphorus, soil, essentiality and finally in relation to other aluminium-plants.Strong aluminium absorption appears to be a constant feature for all healthy bushes of any age, the element is stored in the oldest leaves but it does not impart any resistance to blister blight but it occurs to a greater extent than normal in flushes with tea yellows; it is gene-controlled, there being three distinct levels of accumulation corresponding with the three major divisions of the species. The presence of abundant available aluminium in the soil will not prevent excessive uptake of managanese accompanied by severe leaf scorch and spotting in bright light. Aluminium tends to diminish leaf phosphorus while manganese tends to increase it. Large amounts of available soil manganese may induce greater uptake of aluminium andvice versa. Small quantities of aluminium within tea leaves are associated with degree of greenness, but the large accumulations probably do not serve any useful purpose. Exchangeable soil aluminium may stimulate roots, particularly tap-roots or root-stocks. The tea bush may be a relict plant like so many of other aluminium accumulators.     

Separation, purification and characterization of three isoenzymes of UDP-glucuronyltransferase from rat liver microsomes

Three isoenzymes of UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) have been separated and purified from liver microsomes of untreated female rats or female rats pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene. The UDPGT isoenzymes were purified utilizing Chromatofocusing, column isoelectric focusing, and UDP-hexanolamine Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. UDPGT activities could also be separated during UDP-hexanolamine affinity chromatography by elution with different UDPGA (UDP-glucuronic acid) concentrations. One isoenzyme exhibits a subunit molecular weight of 56,000 and is capable of conjugating p-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol, and 4-methylumbelliferone. This isoenzyme is inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment and requires high UDPGA concentrations for elution from the UDP-hexanolamine affinity column in contrast to the other UDPGT isoenzymes. A second isoenzyme was purified and displayed a subunit molecular weight of 50,000. This isoenzyme was not induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and was active towards testosterone, the 17-OH position of beta-estradiol, p-nitrophenol, and 1-naphthol. A third isoenzyme was also purified and exhibited a subunit molecular weight of 52,000. This isoenzyme conjugated androsterone and etiocholanolone and was not induced by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment. This study reports the purification of two separate and distinct rat liver UDPGT isoenzymes capable of conjugating p-nitrophenol, only one of which is inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment. Also, this is the first report of the purification of a UDPGT isoenzyme active towards the 3-OH position of androgens.     

Theaflavin derivatives in black tea and catechin derivatives in green tea inhibit HIV-1 entry by targeting gp41

Theaflavin derivatives and catechin derivatives are the major polyphenols in black tea and green tea, respectively. Several tea polyphenols, especially those with galloyl moiety, can inhibit HIV-1 replication with multiple mechanisms of action. Here we showed that the theaflavin derivatives had more potent anti-HIV-1 activity than catechin derivatives. These tea polyphenols could inhibit HIV-1 entry into target cells by blocking HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein-mediated membrane fusion. The fusion inhibitory activity of the tea polyphenols was correlated with their ability to block the formation of the gp41 six-helix bundle, a fusion-active core conformation. Computer-aided molecular docking analyses indicate that these tea polyphenols, theaflavin-3,3'-digallate (TF3) as an example, may bind to the highly conserved hydrophobic pocket on the surface of the central trimeric coiled coil formed by the N-terminal heptad repeats of gp41. These results indicate that tea, especially black tea, may be used as a source of anti-HIV agents and theaflavin derivatives may be applied as lead compounds for developing HIV-1 entry inhibitors targeting gp41.     

Preventive effects of drinking green tea on cancer and cardiovascular disease: epidemiological evidence for multiple targeting prevention

The significance of drinking green tea in prevention of two of the main lifestyle-related diseases, cancer and cardiovascular disease, was demonstrated in terms of a prospective cohort study on a total of 8,552 general residents in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. On the basis of the follow-up study, we revealed decreased relative risk of cancer incidence for those consuming over 10 cups a day, compared with those consuming below 3 cups: 0.54 (95% confidence interval, 0.22-1.34) for men, 0.57 (0.34-0.98) for women, and 0.59 (0.35-0.98) for both sexes. Furthermore, a significant delay in cancer onset was associated with increased consumption of green tea. Next, decreased relative risk of death from cardiovascular disease was 0.58 (0.34-0.99) for men, 0.82 (0.49-1.38) for women, and 0.72 (0.60-1.04) for members of both sexes consuming over 10 cups a day. Finally, we evaluated the life-prolonging effects of drinking green tea on cumulative survival, using the life table.