miR-23b-3p通过靶向PDE4B基因调控山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞的分化

本研究旨在明确miR-23b-3p对山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞分化的影响，并确定这种作用是通过靶向基因PDE4B来实现的。基于实验室前期转录组测序结果，以筛选得到的山羊肌内脂肪细胞分化前后差异表达的miR-23b-3p为切入点，利用实时荧光定量PCR (real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction, qPCR)技术检测miR-23b-3p在山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞分化过程中的表达模式，从形态学水平和分子水平确定miR-23b-3p对脂肪分化及脂肪分化标志基因的影响；利用生物信息学预测以及双荧光素酶报告基因试验确定miR-23b-3p的下游靶基因，明确miR-23b-3p与预测靶标基因的靶向关系。结果表明，过表达miR-23b-3p后山羊肌内脂肪细胞脂滴积聚减少，成脂标志基因AP2、C/EBPα、FASN、LPL表达水平极显著下调(P＜0.01)，C/EBPβ、DGAT2、GLUT4和PPARγ的表达水平显著下调(P＜0.05)。干扰miR-23b-3p表达后，山羊肌内脂肪细胞中脂滴积聚增多，ACC、ATGL、AP2、DGAT2、GLUT4、FASN和SREBP1表达水平极显著上调(P＜0.01)，C/EBPβ、LPL和PPARγ的表达水平显著上调(P＜0.05)。通过生物信息学分析预测，PDE4B可能为miR-23b-3p的靶标基因，且过表达miR-23b-3p后极显著降低PDE4B的mRNA表达水平(P＜0.01)，干扰miR-23b-3p后PDE4B的mRNA水平得到了显著提升(P＜0.05)。双荧光素酶报告基因试验结果表明，miR-23b-3p与PDE4B基因存在靶向关系。miR-23b-3p通过靶向PDE4B基因调控山羊肌内前体脂肪细胞的分化。     

3T3-L1前体脂肪细胞分化过程中G蛋白偶联受体48的表达研究

目的 观察G蛋白偶联受体48（GPR48）、过氧化物酶体增殖体激活受体g2（PPARγ2）和CCAAT增强子结合蛋白α（C/EBPα）基因在小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞（3T3-L1）前体脂肪细胞诱导分化过程中不同时段表达水平的变化,探讨GPR48在脂肪细胞分化过程的作用。方法 体外培养3T3-L1前体脂肪细胞诱导分化为成熟脂肪细胞,在分化不同时段（第0~14天）,采用Real-timePCR技术检测脂肪细胞中GPR48、PPARγ2和C/EBPα基因信使核糖核酸（mRNA）的表达水平。结果 GPR48基因在3T3-L1前体脂肪细胞诱导分化第2天和第3天表达显著上调,差异均有统计学意义（t=4.12,P=0.015;t=6.21,P=0.003）,分化第6~14天与分化前表达无差异。PPARγ2表达在诱导分化后明显上调,分化第6天达高峰,第10~14天持续处于较高水平并趋于稳定,与诱导前期相比各时段间表达水平差异均有统计学意义（t在4.17~22.65间,P均〈0.01）。C/EBPα表达在诱导分化后明显上调,分化后第3天达高峰,第6~10天持续保持在较高水平,与诱导前期相比各时段表达水平差异均有统计学意义（t在4.38~13.87间,P均〈0.01）,第14天趋于下调,与分化前比较无差异。GPR48基因表达高峰早于PPARγ2和C/EBPα。结论 在3T3-L1脂肪细胞分化过程中PPARγ2和C/EBPα表达变化与脂肪细胞分化、脂质积聚过程相一致。GPR48基因表达高峰早于PPARγ2和C/EBPα,可能参与了脂肪细胞分化的早期过程。     

EGCG对猪前体脂肪细胞增殖和分化的作用

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（Epigallocatechin-3-gallate,EGCG）是绿茶提取物EGCG的生物活性成分,为了探讨其对猪前体脂肪细胞增殖和分化的影响,以不同浓度EGCG处理猪前体脂肪细胞,MTT法测定EGCG对猪前体脂肪细胞生长的影响;油红O染色检测猪前体脂肪细胞的形态学变化;油红O染色提取法定量分析脂肪细胞充脂量的变化;半定量RT-PCR检测分化转录因子过氧化物酶体增生物激活受体佗（PPARγ2）和CCAAT／增强子结合蛋白α（C／EBPα）mRNA表达水平变化。结果显示：EGCG随着浓度的递增显著抑制猪前体脂肪细胞的增殖（P〈0．01）;低浓度的EGCG（5μmol／L）不影响脂肪细胞分化,而高浓度EGCG（200μmol／L）显著抑制猪前体脂肪细胞分化,同时下调PPARγ2和C／EBPαmRNA表达,本研究结果表明EGCG可抑制猪前体脂肪细胞的增殖和分化。     

视黄酸X受体α促进猪前体脂肪细胞分化

采用细胞转染、油红O染色、油红O染色提取法、GPDH活性测定、semi-qRT-PCR等方法研究了视黄酸X受体α (retinoic acid X receptor α, RXRα)在猪原代前体脂肪细胞分化中的作用及其机理.结果表明,转染pRXRα-EGFP促进了猪前体脂肪细胞RXRα 的表达,脂肪细胞分化能力随之增强, 脂肪细胞GPDH活性、分化转录因子PPARγ和C/EBPαmRNA表达水平均显著升高(P<0.05). 结果提示,RXRα可能通过调控过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ, PPARγ)和CAAT/增强子结合蛋白家族（CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins, C/EBP）C/EBPα 基因表达变化促进猪前体脂肪细胞分化.     

KLF转录因子家族与脂肪细胞分化

Kruppel样转录因子（Kruppel-like factors, KLF）是一类具有锌指结构的转录因子,其典型结构特征是在其羧基端具有3个C2H2锌指结构. KLF广泛参与细胞增殖、凋亡、分化以及胚胎发育等多个生命活动的调控. 近年来脂肪细胞分化研究的结果显示,KLF家族的多个成员参与脂肪细胞分化过程的调控,既有促进脂肪细胞分化的,也有抑制脂肪细胞分化的. 其中KLF4通过与Krox20协同作用,激活C/EBPβ（CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein β）基因表达,促进脂肪细胞分化;KLF5和 KLF15都通过直接结合到氧化物酶增殖体激活受体γ（peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, PPARγ）基因的启动子,激活PPARγ基因表达,促进脂肪细胞分化;而KLF6则通过抑制前脂肪细胞因子（pre-adipocyte factor 1, PREF1）基因表达,促进脂肪细胞分化. 抑制脂肪细胞分化的KLF2通过结合于PPARγ的启动子,抑制PPARγ基因表达,从而抑制脂肪细胞的分化;KLF3通过募集辅助抑制因子C-末端结合蛋白（c-terminal binding protein, CtBP）形成KLF3 CtBP抑制复合体,结合于C/EBPα（CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α）基因的启动子,抑制C/EBPα表达,进而抑制脂肪细胞的分化;KLF7通过抑制葡萄糖转运蛋白2（glucose transporter2,GLUT2）基因的表达抑制脂肪细胞的成熟. 本文综述这些KLF转录因子在脂肪细胞分化过程的作用及其作用的机制.     

小鼠胚胎干细胞向脂肪细胞分化过程中PPARγ2基因的表达模式

将PPARγ2基因启动子和报告基因荧光素酶相连接克隆于特定载体构建成表达质粒 ,电穿孔转染小鼠ES细胞 ,筛选阳性克隆。诱导ES细胞向脂肪细胞分化 ,通过定量检测荧光素酶活性跟踪PPARγ2基因的表达情况 ,以此研究脂肪细胞分化过程中该基因的表达模式。结果显示PPARγ2基因在未分化的ES细胞和EB形成的前两天中不表达 ,从EB形成的第 3天开始表达 ,直至脂肪细胞分化完成。该基因在已完成分化的脂肪细胞中的表达远强于在分化中的前脂肪细胞中的表达。首次报道了从小鼠ES细胞到脂肪细胞分化过程中PPARγ2基因的表达模式 ,支持了PPARγ2基因为脂肪组织特异性表达基因的已有报道 ,并为脂肪细胞分化机理研究提供了线索。     

鸡PPARγ基因的表达特性及其对脂肪细胞增殖分化的影响

为分析鸡PPARγ基因的组织表达特性及其在脂肪细胞增殖和分化过程中的功能,文章以东北农业大学高、低腹脂双向选择品系肉鸡为实验材料,利用Western blotting方法,检测PPARγ基因的组织表达特性及其在高、低脂系肉鸡腹部脂肪组织间的表达差异;采用RNAi技术,在鸡原代脂肪细胞中抑制PPARγ基因的表达后,通过MTT和油红O提取比色的方法,研究鸡PPARγ基因对脂肪细胞增殖和分化的调控作用;利用Real-timePCR和Western blotting技术,分析PPARγ基因表达下调后,其他脂肪细胞分化转录因子以及与脂肪细胞分化相关的重要基因的表达变化情况。结果表明,PPARγ基因在7周龄高脂系肉鸡腹部脂肪组织、肌胃、脾脏、肾脏组织中表达量较高,在心脏中表达量较低,在肝脏、胸肌、腿肌、十二指肠中未检测到表达信号;与高脂系相比,PPARγ基因在5和7周龄低脂系肉鸡腹部脂肪组织中的表达量较低(P<0.05);PPARγ基因的表达量下降后,鸡脂肪细胞的增殖能力增强,分化能力减弱;同时,C/EBPα、SREBP1、A-FABP、Perilipin1、LPL、IGFBP-2基因的表达量均下降(P<0.05)。由此可见,PPARγ基因的表达可能与肉鸡腹部脂肪的沉积有一定的关系,该基因可能是调控鸡脂肪细胞增殖与分化的关键因子。     

9-顺式维甲酸在原代培养猪前体脂肪细胞分化中的调控作用

采用RT-PCR、油红O染色法、油红O染色提取法和分光光度计法,探讨不同浓度9-顺式维甲酸(9-cisRA)(0-10$mol/L)对体外原代培养猪前体脂肪细胞分化的影响及其可能机制。结果表明,9-cisRA在脂肪细胞分化中因浓度不同而发挥不同作用。低浓度9-cisRA(0-10nmol/L)促进前体脂肪细胞分化,并上调RXRα、PPARγmRNA表达,增加前体脂肪细胞分化标志酶3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶(glyc-erol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase,GPDH)的活性;高浓度9-cisRA(100nmol/L-10$mol/L)则抑制前体脂肪细胞分化,并下调RXRα、PPARγmRNA表达,减少GPDH的活性。结果提示9-cisRA在猪前体脂肪细胞分化中,可能通过调控RXRα和PPARγ基因表达变化来发挥其促进或抑制作用。     

Systematic significance of mature embryo of bamboos

The mature embryo of seven species belonging to five genera of Indian bamboos is described. In all these the basic pattern of embryo organisation is same: the scutellar and coleoptilar bundles are not separated by an internode, the epiblast is absent, the lower portion of the scutellum and the coleorhiza are separated by a cleft and the margins of embryonic leaves overlap. The features unique to fleshy fruited bamboos are: presence of a massive scutellum, the juxtaposition of plumule and radicle and the occurrence of a bud in the axil of the coleoptile. The fleshy fruit bearing bamboos should be classified into one group, the tribeMelocanneae. Evidence is provided to recognise additional groups in the subfamilyBambusoideae.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Host plants of someRhinanthoideae (Scrophulariaceae) of eastern North America

Twenty three species in 11 genera were examined in the field to determine hosts. OnlyStriga asiatica andSeymeria cassioides have a narrow host range being restricted to grasses and pines, respectively. These are the only species which cause pronounced and sometimes serious host damage. The other species attach to a great diversity of hosts.     

Apoptotic Regulation of Caspase Activity

Intracellular cysteine aspartate-specific proteases (caspases) play both signaling and effector roles in realizing the program of cell death. Caspases function as proteolytic cascades unique for each cell type and signal triggering apoptosis. All parts of the proteolytic cascades are duplicated and controlled by feedback signals. Amplification cycles between pairs of caspases (the third and the sixth, the ninth and the third, the twelfth and the sixth, and others) help multiply the initial apoptotic signal. The presence of physiological inhibitors of apoptosis that directly interact with caspases creates a multilevel regulatory network of apoptosis in cell. The caspase proteolytic cascades are also regulated by sphingolipid secondary messengers, among them ceramide, sphingosine, and their phosphates. Moreover, an association of the caspase signaling with ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis is shown in cells. In particular, the use of extracellular activators and inhibitors of caspases allows irreversible activation of apoptosis in tumor cells or the prevention of apoptosis in cortical neurons under neurodegenerative diseases.     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

Analysis of twin of eyeless regulation during early embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

The Drosophila Pax6 homolog twin of eyeless (toy) is so far the first zygotically expressed gene involved in eye morphogenesis in Drosophila. The study of its expression during embryogenesis is therefore informative of the initial events of eye development in Drosophila. We have analyzed how the initial expression domain of toy at cellular blastoderm is regulated. We show that the three maternal patterning systems active in the cephalic region (the anterior, terminal and dorsal-ventral systems) cooperate with zygotically activated gap genes to shape the initial expression domain of toy. Whereas Bicoid, Dorsal and Torso signaling synergistically act as activators, Hunchback, Knirps and Decapentaplegic act as repressors.     

New species of Peruvian Orchidaceae III

Sixteen new species are proposed in the generaAckermania, Dressleria, Epidendrum, Maxillaria, Oncidium, Rodriguezia, Sigmatostalix, andTrigonidium. All new species are illustrated.Maxillaria vittariifolia L. O. Williams is newly recorded for Peru. A key is provided forTrigonidium of Peru.Trigonidium loretoense Schltr. andT. peruvianum Schltr. are lectotypified.     

Interaction of Synthetic Analogues of Natural Chalcones and Flavones with Guanidine

The reaction of chalcones and flavones with guanidine in ethanol results in 2-(2-aminopyrimidinyl-4)-phenols.