Interactions of oxidative stress with thiamine homeostasis promote neurodegeneration

Thiamine-dependent processes are diminished in brains of patients with several neurodegenerative diseases. The decline in thiamine-dependent enzymes can be readily linked to the symptoms and pathology of the disorders. Why the reductions in thiamine linked processes occur is an important experimental and clinical question. Oxidative stress (i.e. abnormal metabolism of free radicals) accompanies neurodegeneration and causes abnormalities in thiamine-dependent processes. The vulnerability of thiamine homeostasis to oxidative stress may explain deficits in thiamine homeostasis in numerous neurological disorders. The interactions of thiamine with oxidative processes may be part of a spiral of events that lead to neurodegeneration, because reductions in thiamine and thiamine-dependent processes promote neurodegeneration and cause oxidative stress. The reversal of the effects of thiamine deficiency by antioxidants, and amelioration of other forms of oxidative stress by thiamine, suggest that thiamine may act as a site-directed antioxidant. The data indicate that the interactions of thiamine-dependent processes with oxidative stress are critical in neurodegenerative processes.     

Information transformations in molecular evolution

The prebiotic evolution of chemical systems is characterized by their development of increasingly complex levels of molecular organization. This development is dependent upon the capacity of these systems to acquire and transform chemical information. The informational content of a chemical system can be divided into configurational, energetic, and thermal contributions. The thermal information is specifically related to the number of molecules in the system, and is therefore a function of molecular size or complexity. The molecular complexity of a chemical system can be increased through reactions in which reductions in configurational or energetic information are coupled to increases in thermal information, as limited by the second law of thermodynamics.     

Mechanisms of amyloid fibril self-assembly and inhibition. Model short peptides as a key research tool

The formation of amyloid fibrils is associated with various human medical disorders of unrelated origin. Recent research indicates that self-assembled amyloid fibrils are also involved in physiological processes in several micro-organisms. Yet, the molecular basis for the recognition and self-assembly processes mediating the formation of such structures from their soluble protein precursors is not fully understood. Short peptide models have provided novel insight into the mechanistic issues of amyloid formation, revealing that very short peptides (as short as a tetrapeptide) contain all the necessary molecular information for forming typical amyloid fibrils. A careful analysis of short peptides has not only facilitated the identification of molecular recognition modules that promote the interaction and self-assembly of fibrils but also revealed that aromatic interactions are important in many cases of amyloid formation. The realization of the role of aromatic moieties in fibril formation is currently being used to develop novel inhibitors that can serve as therapeutic agents to treat amyloid-associated disorders.     

The value of high quality protein-protein interaction networks for systems biology

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks contain a large amount of useful information for the functional characterization of proteins and promote the understanding of the complex molecular relationships that determine the phenotype of a cell. Recently, large human interaction maps have been generated with high throughput technologies such as the yeast two-hybrid system. However, they are static and incomplete and do not provide immediate clues about the cellular processes that convert genetic information into complex phenotypes. Refined multiple-aspect PPI screening and confirmation strategies will have to be put in place to increase the validity of interaction maps. Integration of interaction data with other qualitative and quantitative information (e.g. protein expression or localization data), will be required to construct networks of protein function that reflect dynamic processes in the cell. In this way, combined PPI networks can become valuable resources for a systems-level understanding of cellular processes and complex phenotypes.     

Target network analysis of adiponectin,a multifaceted adipokine

Application of network analysis to dissect the potential molecular mechanisms of biological processes and complicated diseases has been the new trend in biology and medicine in recent years. Among which, the protein–protein interactions (PPI) networks attract interests of most researchers. Adiponectin, a cytokine secreted from adipose tissue, participates in a number of metabolic processes, including glucose regulation and fatty acid metabolism and involves in a series of complicated diseases from head to toe. Hundreds of proteins including many identified and potential drug targets have been reported to be involved in adiponectin related signaling pathways, which comprised a complicated regulation network. Therapeutic target database (TTD) provides extensive information about the known and explored therapeutic protein targets and the signaling pathway information. In this study, adiponectin associated drug targets based PPI was constructed and its topological properties were analyzed, which might provide some insight into the dissection of adiponectin action mechanisms and promote adiponectin signaling based drug target identification and drug discovery. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1145–1152, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The peroxisome: orchestrating important developmental decisions from inside the cell

The peroxisome has long been known for its role in lipid metabolism and hydrogen peroxide detoxification. However, growing evidence supports the view that this organelle can also function both as an intracellular signaling compartment and as an organizing platform that orchestrates certain developmental decisions from inside the cell. This review highlights various strategies that peroxisomes employ to regulate the processes of development, differentiation, and morphogenesis and critically evaluates several molecular mechanisms by which peroxisomes promote these processes.     

Phytoremediation of No. 2 Fuel Oil-Contaminated Soil

Phytoremediation has been implemented at an industrial site in Wisconsin to promote in situ remediation of No. 2 fuel oil-contaminated soil. The goal of the project is to utilize microbial-enhancing processes within the rhizosphere of trees to stimulate biodegradation of diesel range organics (DROs) within four contaminated hot spots at the site. Between 40 and 90% reductions in the concentrations of the DROs were observed over the course of a 24-week bench-scale bioventing study performed in 1994. In addition to a reduction in the concentration of DROs, the chromatograms for those analyses exhibited a relative decrease in the proportion of the more water soluble and available shorter chained or lower molecular weight DROs compared to their higher molecular weight counterparts in the fuel. In addition to a decrease in concentration, this observed change in the pattern of the chromatograms over time is consistent with biodegradation of DROs. An agronomic assessment performed in 1995 indicated that conditions were favorable for tree growth. Phytoremediation was implemented as a low-cost in situ alternative for remediation of the site. Willow trees were planted in the four hot spots in May 1996 and trees have exhibited fair to excellent growth in the first season.     

Bringing the physical sciences into your cell biology research

Historically, much of biology was studied by physicists and mathematicians. With the advent of modern molecular biology, a wave of researchers became trained in a new scientific discipline filled with the language of genes, mutants, and the central dogma. These new molecular approaches have provided volumes of information on biomolecules and molecular pathways from the cellular to the organismal level. The challenge now is to determine how this seemingly endless list of components works together to promote the healthy function of complex living systems. This effort requires an interdisciplinary approach by investigators from both the biological and the physical sciences.     

HBx参与肝细胞癌发生发展调控的分子机制

肝细胞癌 (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC)是我国最常见的恶性肿瘤之一,而HBV慢性感染是肝癌发生的主要原因.乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)中X基因编码的一种多功能蛋白(HBx),参与众多重要生物学过程的调控,并促进肝细胞癌的发生. 早期研究表明,HBx在HCC发生过程中发挥重要的调控功能,但其确切分子机制尚未完全明确. 近几年,HBx参与生物学过程的分子机制研究有了较快的进展. 有趣的是,研究发现,HBx在不同的细胞系以及HBV感染的不同阶段发挥促抑凋亡的双重作用,HBx还参与细胞自噬的调控. 此外,在HBx参与细胞增殖及肿瘤侵袭和转移等方面,也产生了一些新的认识. 本文将从HBx对肝细胞凋亡、自噬和增殖的调控及其对肝癌细胞转移和侵袭的调控等方面,对HBx参与肝细胞癌发生发展调控机制做一综述.     

Advances in molecular biology of hibernation in mammals

Mammalian hibernation is characterized by profound reductions in metabolism, oxygen consumption and heart rate. As a result, the animal enters a state of suspended animation where core body temperatures can plummet as low as -2.9 degrees C. Not only can hibernating mammals survive these physiological extremes, but they also return to a normothermic state of activity without reperfusion injury or other ill effects. This review examines recent findings on the genes, proteins and small molecules that control the induction and maintenance of hibernation in mammals. The molecular events involved with remodeling metabolism, inducing hypothermia and maintaining organ function are discussed and considered with respect to analogous processes in non-hibernating mammals such as mice and humans. The advent of sequenced genomes from three distantly related hibernators, a bat, hedgehog and ground squirrel, provides additional opportunities for molecular biologists to explore the mechanistic aspects of this biological adaptation in greater detail.     

Cells as semantic systems

Background

We consider cells as biological systems that process information by means of molecular codes. Many studies analyze cellular information processing exclusively in syntactic terms (e.g., by measuring Shannon entropy of sets of macromolecules), and abstract completely from semantic aspects that are related to the meaning of molecular information.

Methods

This mini-review focusses on semantic aspects of molecular information, particularly on codes that organize the semantic dimension of molecular information. First, a general conceptual framework for describing molecular information is proposed. Second, some examples of molecular codes are presented. Third, a mathematical approach that makes the identification of molecular codes in reaction networks possible, is developed.

Results

By combining a systematic conceptual framework for describing molecular information and a mathematical approach to identify molecular codes, it is possible to give a formally consistent and empirically adequate model of the code-based semantics of molecular information in cells.

General significance

Research on the semantics of molecular information is of great importance particularly to systems biology since molecular codes embedded in systems of interrelated codes govern main traits of cells. Describing cells as semantic systems may thus trigger new experiments and generate new insights into the fundamental processes of cellular information processing. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Systems Biology of Microorganisms.     

湖泊沉积植物古DNA的现代过程

对植被历史变化过程的研究是理解现代植被组成、分布及其对全球变化响应的基础。近年来, 随着分子古生态学的发展, 分析沉积介质中的陆生植物古DNA信号, 以研究植被及植物多样性演变的历史过程正在成为研究热点, 湖泊沉积植物古DNA已成为古植被和古生态学研究的成熟代用指标。然而与第四纪孢粉分析相比较, 湖泊沉积植物古DNA的现代过程依然不明确, 成为其进一步发展和应用的限制因素。基于此, 该文综述了湖泊沉积植物古DNA技术研究进展, 尝试阐明湖泊沉积植物古DNA的现代过程, 包括植物DNA的来源、沉积和保存过程及其影响因素, 以及植物DNA与现代植被的关系等。已有研究表明, 湖泊沉积植物古DNA主要来自湖泊周边或流域范围, 其丰度和组成除受到源植物生物量的影响外, 同样受到沉积物的搬运和沉积过程中DNA降解作用、土壤以及沉积物中颗粒的吸附过程和稀释作用等因素的影响。湖泊沉积物中植物DNA的保存则主要受到微生物活动、湖水的化学性质(电导率和pH值)、湖泊深度、沉积物组成等一系列生物与非生物因素的共同影响。湖泊沉积植物古DNA可以揭示其沉积时代的植物群落类型以及气候环境信息, 但目前并不能够用来定量重建古植被变化过程。鉴于湖泊沉积植物古DNA现代过程的复杂性, 对研究结果的解释要格外小心。与孢粉分析相比, 湖泊沉积植物古DNA研究仍处于起步阶段, 但随着分子生物技术的进步、实验设计的优化、物种条形码的扩充及参考数据库的完善等, 以DNA宏条形码和宏基因组学为主要技术手段的植物古DNA技术, 必将推动我国植物古生态研究的进一步发展。     

蛋白质组学技术在感染研究中的应用

蛋白质组学的目标在于阐明特定生物体、组织、细胞或亚细胞结构中全部蛋白质的表达模式和功能模式,其技术平台由高通量的蛋白质分离技术、鉴定技术和生物信息学组成。在许多研究领域,蛋白质组学技术为阐明疾病过程和生命现象的分子机制提供了全面、网络和动态的蛋白质组信息。感染是重要的基本致病因素之一,蛋白质组学的研究策略和技术方法有利于快速分离鉴定病原体蛋白质组、宿主免疫细胞蛋白质组、感染相关蛋白、疫苗候：选抗原蛋白、生物标志物和药物靶标,从而明显加快病原体、宿主反应、感染发病机制以及感染预防、诊断和治疗等相关研究的进程。     

Histone transfer among chaperones

The eukaryotic processes of nucleosome assembly and disassembly govern chromatin dynamics, in which histones exchange in a highly regulated manner to promote genome accessibility for all DNA-dependent processes. This regulation is partly carried out by histone chaperones, which serve multifaceted roles in co-ordinating the interactions of histone proteins with modification enzymes, nucleosome remodellers, other histone chaperones and nucleosomal DNA. The molecular details of the processes by which histone chaperones promote delivery of histones among their many functional partners are still largely undefined, but promise to offer insights into epigenome maintenance. In the present paper, we review recent findings on the histone chaperone interactions that guide the assembly of histones H3 and H4 into chromatin. This evidence supports the concepts of histone post-translational modifications and specific histone chaperone interactions as guiding principles for histone H3/H4 transactions during chromatin assembly.     

Modeling human endothelial cell transformation in vascular neoplasias

Endothelial cell (EC)-derived neoplasias range from benign hemangioma to aggressive metastatic angiosarcoma, which responds poorly to current treatments and has a very high mortality rate. The development of treatments that are more effective for these disorders will be expedited by insight into the processes that promote abnormal proliferation and malignant transformation of human ECs. The study of primary endothelial malignancy has been limited by the rarity of the disease; however, there is potential for carefully characterized EC lines and animal models to play a central role in the discovery, development and testing of molecular targeted therapies for vascular neoplasias. This review describes molecular alterations that have been identified in EC-derived neoplasias, as well as the processes that underpin the immortalization and tumorigenic conversion of ECs. Human EC lines, established through the introduction of defined genetic elements or by culture of primary tumor tissue, are catalogued and discussed in relation to their relevance as models of vascular neoplasia.     

The biochemistry of the neuron. Neurosecretory habituation to repetitive depolarizations in PC12 cells

Habituation in response to repetitive depolarization of PC12 cells can be used as a model for memory processes at the molecular level. In response to depolarization by high external potassium, a triphasic elevation in internal calcium levels occurred. Calcium elevation was maximal immediately after addition of the stimulus (phase 1), followed by a 2-min period in which the calcium level decreased (phase 2), leading to a new steady-state level which was higher than in the unstimulated cell (phase 3). In response to repetitive depolarizations, the calcium level in phase 1 was reduced by as much as 43%, and phase 3 was reduced by as much as 40%. By measuring the relationship between calcium elevation and secretion, it was shown that measured reductions in calcium levels were correlated with neurosecretory habituation. One of the components responsible for the reductions in calcium levels was a tetraethylammonium-sensitive potassium channel, and the habituation of this channel was reversed by addition of 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate.