5'非翻译区条形码揭示2019新型冠状病毒毒力

2019年12月,中国武汉报道了2019新型冠状病毒(2019 novel coronavirus,2019-nCoV)引起的肺炎。在前期研究中,我们在国际上首次报道了有关2019-nCoV的两个重要发现:①Beta冠状病毒B亚群存在大量的可变翻译;②2019-nCoV的S蛋白可能存在Furin蛋白酶切位点。本研究在国际上首次报道了2019-nCoV的5'非翻译区分析的结果:Beta冠状病毒可以根据其5'非翻译区条形码分为不同毒力的四个类;这四类对应Beta冠状病毒的四个亚群;已知的2019-nCoV与SARS冠状病毒的5'非翻译区条形码完全一样。作为本研究的最大贡献,我们在国际上首次提出5'非翻译区条形码可应用于病毒的检测、鉴定、分类以及进化研究。这种方法对于冠状病毒的预警和防控至关重要。本研究的最重要发现是内部核糖体进入位点很可能是影响冠状病毒毒力的重要因素。这个发现从分子水平揭示了2019-nCoV的毒力,并且为药物、抗体和疫苗的开发等应用提供直接指导。同时,我们提出一个基础理论方面的假说,起始密码子上游临近的茎环结构在真核生物的蛋白质翻译中起到重要作用。     

2019新型冠状病毒基因组的生物信息学分析

2019年12月,中国武汉报道了冠状病毒引起的肺炎,其临床症状与2003年爆发的严重急性呼吸综合征(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS)不同,因此推断该病毒可能是冠状病毒的一个新变种。不同于简单使用全基因组序列的其它研究,我们于2018年在国际上首次提出分子功能与进化分析相结合的研究思想,并应用于Beta冠状病毒B亚群(BB冠状病毒)基因组的研究。在这一思想指导下,本研究使用BB冠状病毒基因组中的一个互补回文序列(命名为Nankai complemented palindrome)与其所在的编码区(命名为Nankai CDS)对新发布的2019新型冠状病毒基因组(GenBank:MN908947)进行分析以期准确溯源,并对BB冠状病毒的跨物种传播和宿主适应性进行初步研究。溯源分析的结果支持2019新型冠状病毒源自蝙蝠,但与SARS冠状病毒差异巨大,这一结果与两者临床症状差异一致。本研究的最重要发现是BB冠状病毒存在大量的可变翻译,从分子水平揭示了BB冠状病毒变异快、多样性高的特点。从BB冠状病毒可变翻译中获取的信息可应用于(但不限于)其快速检测、基因分型、疫苗开发以及药物设计。另外,我们推断BB冠状病毒可能通过可变翻译以适应不同宿主。基于大量基因组数据的实证分析,本研究在国际上首次从分子水平尝试解释了BB冠状病毒变异快、宿主多且具有较强的宿主适应性的原因。     

冠状病毒PLpro蛋白酶对泛素样分子的DUB活性

SARS冠状病毒基因组中非结构基因nsp3编码的木瓜样蛋白酶 (PLpro) 在病毒基因组复制及逃避宿主天然免疫中发挥重要作用,是研发抗病毒药物的重要靶标．SARS冠状病毒PLpro是一种病毒编码的去泛素化酶 (DUB)．为深入研究SARS冠状病毒 PLpro对泛素样分子 (ubiquitin-like protein,UBL) 的DUB特性,本研究构建缺失 PLpro N末端泛素样结构域 (Ubl) 和下游跨膜结构域 (TM) 的PLpro构建体（constructs）,并构建3种缺失蛋白酶催化活性的突变体,检测PLpro对泛素样分子干扰素刺激基因15 (ISG15)及SUMO-1的作用．实验结果表明,PLpro和PLpro-TM 在细胞内具有很强的去ISG(DeISGylation) 活性;缺失PLpro N末端泛素样结构域(Ubl) 对PLpro 的去ISG15 活性没有影响;对PLpro蛋白酶活性位点C1651 和 H1812 突变后,PLpro-TM的去ISG15活性消失,而对D1826位点突变后不影响此活性．PLpro 不具有去SUMO (DeSUMOylation)活性,而PLpro-TM具有一定的去SUMO活性;PLpro催化活性相关的3个关键氨基酸残基 Cys-His-Asp突变后对去SUMO活性有一定的影响．研究结果提示,SARS PLpro除了具有DUB的活性,还具有体内去ISG活性和去SUMO活性;PLpro蛋白酶活性与其去ISG活性之间有一定相关性;PLpro去SUMO-1 活性具有TM 依赖性．SARS冠状病毒PLpro 对泛素样分子作用特性的研究为阐明病毒逃避宿主天然免疫机制和开发新型抗病毒药物提供重要的理论依据．     

SARS冠状病毒PLpro蛋白酶的结构与功能

SARS冠状病毒基因组编码2种病毒蛋白酶,即木瓜样蛋白酶（PLpro）和3C样蛋白酶(3CLpro).其中,PLpro蛋白酶结构与功能研究是近年来冠状病毒分子生物学研究的热点之一. PLpro蛋白酶参与SARS冠状病毒1a(1ab)复制酶多聚蛋白N端部分的切割加工,是SARS冠状病毒复制酶复合体(RC)形成的重要调节蛋白分子;最新研究表明,SARS冠状病毒PLpro蛋白酶是一种病毒编码的去泛素化酶（DUB）,对细胞蛋白具有明显去泛素化作用;而且对泛素(Ub)和泛素样分子ISG15均具有活性. PLpro蛋白酶对宿主抗病毒天然免疫反应具有负调节作用,是SARS冠状病毒的一种重要干扰素拮抗分子.PLpro蛋白酶是一种多功能病毒蛋白酶.本文结合作者课题组研究工作,对SARS冠状病毒PLpro蛋白酶结构和功能研究最新进展进行综述.     

新型冠状病毒（2019-nCoV）治疗药物体内外研究及药物研发进展

2019年12月以来,中国湖北省武汉市陆续发现了多例新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎患者,随着疫情的蔓延,中国其他地区及境外也相继发现了此类病例。2020年1月12日,世界卫生组织(WHO)将该新病毒暂定命名为2019新型冠状病毒(2019-nCoV)。2019-nCoV是继SARS冠状病毒(SARS-CoV)、MERS冠状病毒(MERS-CoV)之后发现的一种具有高传染性且可以引起重症呼吸道疾病的新型病毒,临床尚无特效治疗药物。本文结合临床治疗、体内外的研究对相关指南推荐的治疗药物及药物研发进展进行综述,旨在为2019-nCoV病毒感染的肺炎患者的临床治疗提供借鉴。     

弗林蛋白酶——一种重要的前体蛋白内切蛋白酶

在真核生物细胞中,许多具有生物活性的多肽和蛋白是在其分泌过程中由前体蛋白经内切蛋白酶切割后激活形成的。弗林蛋白酶（Furin)就是这个内切蛋白酶家族重要成员之一,它可以识别剪切多种蛋白质,如生长因子、血清蛋白、基因金属蛋白酶、受体、病毒囊膜蛋白和细菌外毒 素等。近年来Furin得到了迅速而广泛的研究,本简介了它的表达与加工运输、生物学功能、与病毒侵染的关系,以及它的抑制剂。     

药物所研究人员发现可同时治疗SARS和感冒的双效天然产物

日前,中国科学院上海生命科学研究院药物研究所和新加坡理工学院的研究人员通过合作,成功找到一种天然产物,可以和SARS冠状病毒及感冒病毒中负责病毒复制和传播的蛋白酶强烈结合,导致该蛋白酶的功能丧失,从而阻断SARS病毒和感冒病毒在人体细胞内的进一步复制与传播,达到预防或治疗SARS和感冒的目的。     

冠状病毒相关研究工具进展

冠状病毒宿主范围广,可跨越动物宿主屏障感染人类,甚至造成人际传播。2019年12月新型冠状病毒(2019novel coronavirus,2019-nCoV)在中国武汉引发肺炎疫情,引起全世界的关注。截至2020年2月10日,中国实验室确诊病例40 235例,死亡909例,病死率2.3%;重症6 484例,重症率16.1%;全球已有25个国家和地区有确诊病例。至此,2019-nCoV成为继出现在中国内地的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒(Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus,SARS-CoV)、出现在中东沙特的中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒(Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus,MERS-CoV)之后,第三种可引起人类致死的冠状病毒。对于2019-nCoV的来源、中间宿主、传播方式、致病机制、防控措施等一系列问题,丞待科学家去研究探索。了解新病原的研究工具,借鉴SARS-CoV和MERS-CoV的研究经验,在基因合成技术提升的背景下,仅需新病原基因组序列就可开发基础研究工具,进行减毒疫苗株、筛...     

北京地区传播的SARS冠状病毒N区基因变异分析

SARS冠状病毒的N蛋白具有很强的免疫原性 ,是机体产生特异性体液反应主要针对的靶分子之一。收集并提取了我院收治的北京地区 1 2位确诊SARS患者的病毒RNA样本 ,用反转录巢式聚合酶链式反应分 3个片段扩增出N基因全序列 ,用pGEM T载体克隆后进行DNA序列分析。结果发现 ,在 1 2条病毒N基因序列中 ,与北京地区最早报告的BJ0 1株SARS冠状病毒N基因序列相比 ,有 3个核苷酸替换 ,分布于 2个序列位点 ,分别为 2 841 7G→C(aa1 0 6S→T)和 2 8433C→T(aa1 1 1F→F同义突变 ) ,均为新发现的变异位点。结果表明 ,北京地区传播的SARS冠状病毒N基因存在变异序列 ,但发生频率较低 ,提示N基因的结构稳定对病毒的生存较为重要。     

TMPRSS2重组蛋白阻断SARS-CoV-2假病毒的感染

为了探究Ⅱ型跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶(type II transmembrane serine protease, TMPRSS2)重组蛋白阻断严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2)侵染宿主的能力,在体外构建假病毒感染细胞的体系,使用SARS-CoV-2 S (spike glycoprotein)蛋白携带水疱性口炎病毒(ΔG-VSV/荧光素酶)感染细胞,利用293F细胞体外纯化酶活及自身剪切位点突变的TMPRSS2重组蛋白,发现纯化的剪切位点R255Q和酶活位点S441A双突变的TMPRSS2重组蛋白,能够有效降低S蛋白与宿主细胞表面TMPRSS2的结合,进而阻断SARS-CoV-2假病毒对Calu3肺癌细胞系的感染。实验结果表明,使用突变的TMPRSS2重组蛋白竞争性结合病毒的刺突蛋白S,同抑制TMPRSS2蛋白酶的活性一样,都能阻断S蛋白的切割活化,抑制病毒与宿主细胞的膜融合,最终达到阻止病毒入侵的目的,这为阻断SARS-CoV-2感染提供了新的潜在靶点和思路。     

Ectogenesis and the case against the right to the death of the foetus

Ectogenesis, or the use of an artificial womb to allow a foetus to develop, will likely become a reality within a few decades, and could significantly affect the abortion debate. We first examine the implications for Judith Jarvis Thomson’s violinist analogy, which argues for a woman’s right to withdraw life support from the foetus and so terminate her pregnancy, even if the foetus is granted full moral status. We show that on Thomson’s reasoning, there is no right to the death of the foetus, and abortion is not permissible if ectogenesis is available, provided it is safe and inexpensive. This raises the question of whether there are persuasive reasons for the right to the death of the foetus that could be exercised in the context of ectogenesis. Eric Mathison and Jeremy Davis have examined several arguments for this right, doubting that it exists, while Joona Räsänen has recently criticized their reasoning. We respond to Räsänen’s analysis, concluding that his arguments are unsuccessful, and that there is no right to the death of the foetus in these circumstances.     

On the diversity of the Cladocera in the tropics

The mythical concept of an impoverished tropical cladoceran fauna is refuted. On a planetary scale, around half of the cladoceran species presently known occur exclusively in the tropics-subtropics, often with considerable restriction to particular geographical subzones. On a regional (political) scale, the situation is often unclear because of the continued fragmentary nature of studies, and because political units are not a good basis for biogeographical comparisons. At the finest level of resolution (lake-perlake comparisons), there appears to be an upper limit of c. 50 cladoceran species per individual lake. No significant difference between lakes in the temperate zone and in the tropics could be established here. Daphnia is largely absent from the tropics, but is replaced by more Sidids, Moinids, and Bosminids, such that the average cladoceran community in the limnetic zone of a tropical lake is not characterized by less species but rather by lower population densities. This, in turn, is considered a consequence of higher prevalent predation levels in the tropics.     

Tubular networks in the terminal endings of the visual receptor cells in the human,the monkey,the cat and the dog

Summary A tubular network was found in the terminal endings of the visual receptor cells in the human, the monkey (Macaca mulatta), the cat and the dog. These tubules are arranged in close groups in the vicinity of the synaptic lamellae and the invaginated dendrites. According to the form, diameter, density of the tubules and to the consistence of the network formed by them one can distinguish at these places an initial type (type I), a transitory (type II) and a vesicular one (type III). In the the type III branching, bizarre forms are frequent. The diameter of all the tubules reaches 500–600 Å, their density and walls being the same as in the synaptic vesicles.Similar networks also occur in the axons of the visual receptor cells of the monkey.

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Zusammenfassung In den Endigungen der Photorezeptorzellen von Mensch, Affe (Macaca mulatta), Katze und Hund kommen aus Tubuli bestehende Komplexe vor. Organellenartig in geschlossenen Gruppen angeordnet, liegen sie in Nähe der synaptischen Lamellen und der invaginierten Dendriten. An diesen Stellen kann man nach Form, Durchmesser, Dichte und Konsistenz der von den Tubuli gebildeten Komplexe drei Typen unterscheiden: 1. einen initialen (Typus I), 2. einen Übergangstypus (Typus II) und 3. einen vesiculären Typus (Typus III). In letzterem kommen häufig verzweigte, bizarre Formen vor. Der Durchmesser sämtlicher Tubuli erreicht 500–600 Å. Ihre Dichte und ihre Wand gleicht denen der synaptischen Vesikel.Ähnliche Komplexe fanden wir auch in den Axonen der Photorezeptorzellen vom Affen.

     

Assessing the Physiological State of the Fucoids from the Barents Sea Littoral by the End of the Polar Night

Methods of amperometry and potentiometric titration were used to follow dark respiration (DR) and apparent photosynthesis (AP) in the fucoids Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol, Fucus vesiculosus L., and F. serratus L. from the Barents Sea littoral by the end of the 40-day-long polar night. The macroalgae were shown to manifest species-specific low rates of photosynthesis and respiration. However, in spite of their low photosynthetic status due to the effects of subzero temperature and prolonged low or zero illumination, the macroalgae have been able to restore DR and AP to the initial level already by the day 9; the ability to restore AP depended on the level of illumination. The study of the changes in the carbonate–bicarbonate system in the light and darkness demonstrated that the macroalgae grown in darkness, in contrast to those grown in twilight, could absorb bicarbonate in darkness; however, they lost this capacity after two-day-long illumination at an irradiance of 7 mol/(m² s). Bicarbonate uptake in darkness and the capacity to restore the systems of photosynthesis and respiration in fucoid cells are discussed in the context of algal energy metabolism under the polar night conditions.     

Arranging the elements of the potassium channel: the T1 domain occludes the cytoplasmic face of the channel

The voltage-gated potassium channel is currently one of the few membrane proteins where functional roles have been mapped onto specific segments of sequence. Although high-resolution structures of the transmembrane portions of three bacterial potassium channels, the tetramerization domain and the cytoplasmic ball are available, their relative spatial arrangement in mammalian channels remains a matter of ongoing debate. Cryo-electron microscopic images of the six transmembrane voltage-gated Kv channel have been reconstructed at up to 18 Å resolution, revealing that the T1 domain tetramerizes and is suspended below the transmembrane segments. However, the resolution of these images is insufficient to reveal the location of the third piece of the puzzle, the inactivating ball domain. We have used the aberrant interactions observed in a series of chimæric channels to establish that an assembled T1 domain restricts access to the cytoplasmic face of the channel, suggesting that the N-terminal ball and chain may be confined in the space between the T1 domain and the transmembrane portion of the channel.     

Feeding the vertebrate retina from the Cambrian to the Tertiary

The retina of the vertebrate eye is metabolically active and requires nutritive support. During the last 540 million years it has evolved into forms as complicated and nutritionally demanding as those found in avian or primate eyes. Diffusion from the choroid is generally able to supply the metabolic needs of thin retinae. However, when the thickness exceeds the limits of diffusion, structures are needed to supplement the vascular supply from the choroid. These supplemental nutritive devices include the choroidal gland, the falciform process and preretinal vascular plexus of fish, the conus papillaris of lizards, the pecten oculi of birds, the intraretinal vessels of mammals and a few novel systems that remain difficult to classify. These vascular systems are among the most variable features of the vertebrate eye. Here, we review classical and recent findings regarding such retinal nutrition systems, propose a three category classification for them based on histologic origins and speculate on the evolutionary forces which drove their development.     

Observations on the permeability of the choriocapillaris of the eye

Summary The choriocapillaris is a fenestrated capillary bed located posterior to the retinal pigment epithelium. It serves as the main source of supply to the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and other cells of the outer retina. The permeability of these capillaries to intravenously injected ferritin (MW — approx. 480,000; mol. diam. 11 nm) was examined in the mouse, rabbit, and guinea pig, each of which is characterized by a different type of retinal vascularization. In all three species, the bulk of the ferritin remained in the capillary lumina, where it appeared to be blocked at the level of the diaphragmed fenestrae. Some ferritin was present in endothelial cell vacuoles. The results confirm previous work on the rat choriocapillaris and indicate that the barrier function of the choriocapillary endothelium is present even among species in which the retinal circulation differs significantly.Supported by NIH grant EY03418     

Separation of the pineal vesicle from the wall of the third ventricle during the post-hatching development of the chicken

Summary According to light- and electron-microscopic observations the pineal organ of the 3-day-old chicken consists of a prominent end vesicle and a tapering parenchymal stalk. During this stage the pineal lumen is in open communication with the third ventricle. However, in the 40-day-old chicken, which still possesses a well-developed end vesicle, the proximal portion of the pineal stalk displays regressive changes leading to local fragmentation. At this stage the pineal stalk is reduced, and the pineal lumen is missing. In 1-year-old chickens the parenchyma of the proximal portion of the stalk is further diminished, and in 3-year-old domestic fowl is completely displaced by bundles of collagenous fibers, only some nerve fibers being present. This post-hatching pineal development may reflect the sequence of changes leading from pineal sense organs to pineal glands.This work was supported by a grant-in-aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan