Protection of iron-catalysed the radical damage to DNA and lipids by copper (II) bleomycin

The ability of Copper(II)-bleomycin to inhibit oxygen-free-radical damage to biomolecules has been assessed. This copper complex showed inhibitory properties towards iron-catalysed damage to phospholipid membranes and cell-free DNA. It was also able to prevent superoxide-dependent reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). Unlike iron, copper-bleomycin does not damage DNA $\text{in vitro}$. This may result from a site-specific dismutation of superoxide radicals on the DNA molecule.     

An interspecific somatic hybrid between Actinidia chinensis and Actinidia kolomikta and its chilling tolerance

Protoplasts isolated from cotyledon-derived callus of Actinidia chinensisPlanch. var. chinensis (2N=2x=58) were fused with mesophyll protoplasts of Actiniadia kolomikta(Maxim. et Rupr.) Maxim (2N=2x=58) using a PEG method. Plantlets were regenerated from the fusion product clone 11. RAPD analyses, chromosome numbers of root tip cells and fluorescence peak position of leaf nuclei confirmed that clone 11 was an interspecific somatic hybrid (2N=4x=116) between A. chinensis and A. kolomikta. The chilling tolerance of the somatic hybrid was tested with in vitro leaves at low temperatures. Based on data of leaf thickness, electroconductivity, proline levels, malondialdehyde content and activity of superoxide dismutase, dendrogram cluster analysis suggested that the interspecific somatic hybrid was similar to A. kolomikta, and might have a higher capacity of cold resistance than A. chinensis.     

固定化酶的微环境效应—载体离子基团性质的影响

作者合成了阴离子型和阳离子型葡聚糖,以此为载体,用CNBr活化其剩余羟基,固定化了葡萄糖淀粉酶和葡萄糖异构酶。就离子型载体对固定化酶的蛋白载量、最适pH和热稳定性等的影响做了考察。发现固定化酶的蛋白载量不仅与载体的电性质有关,也与酶分子自身的电性质有关。当载体电性质与酶蛋白电性质相反时,固定化酶的蛋白载量增加,热稳定性提高、载体电性质与酶蛋白电性质相同时,固定化酶的蛋白载量不变或下降,其热稳定性不变。作者还发现当离子型载体孔度和体系缓冲液浓度一定时,酶分子能否进入多孔性载体内部,对其最适pH是否变化影响极大。若酶分子仅被连接在载体的外表层,其最适pH不发生变化,反之亦然。作者还观察到当多糖类载体引入氨基或羧基后,大大增强了其抵抗微生物侵蚀的能力。     

Distribution and behaviour of Acetes sibogae Hansen (Decapoda, Crustacea) in an estuary in relation to tidal and diel environmental changes

Quantitative samples of Acetes sibogae were collected at 2 hintervals for 48 h at three sites across the axis of a tidalestuary to examine their distribution within the water bodyover tidal and diel cycles, and to assess the role of behaviourin maintaining population distribution in estuarine/coastalwaters in relation to selected environmental factors. Watertemperature, salinity, tidal height and light intensity wereconcurrently measured. Distribution of the shrimp across theestuary was uniform and consistent between daylight or darkperiods, and among flood or ebb tides. Changes of A.sibogaeabundance were related to light and tidal cycles at each sitewith higher catches in dark periods and during flood tides.Acetes sibogae also exhibited both nocturnal and tidal verticalmovements in the water body, with greater numbers being onlyfound near-surface rather than near-bottom during flood tidesand at night. No significant differences in the distributionof size groups were found between any sampled levels of anysite. Acetes sibogae was highly aggregated in the water body.It is suggested that aggregating behaviour and tidal and nocturnalvertical movements act to facilitate population maintenancein estuarine/coastal waters.     

体外重构STUB1介导α-1抗胰蛋白酶突变体Z蛋白泛素化修饰反应体系

α-1抗胰蛋白酶Z型突变体蛋白(α-1 antitrypsin Z-mutant protein, ATZ)是引发α-1抗胰蛋白酶缺陷症(α-1 antitrypsin deficiency, AATD)的主要原因,研究ATZ蛋白的泛素化修饰和降解对于治疗AATD具有重要意义。STUB1是一种重要的E3泛素连接酶,参与调节多种蛋白质的泛素化修饰。然而,STUB1是否参与ATZ的泛素化修饰尚未明确。本研究首先将ATZ和STUB1的编码基因克隆到pET28a质粒,构建了这2个蛋白的表达质粒。随后,将重组质粒转入大肠杆菌表达系统,在优化诱导条件实现了重组蛋白的异源表达。通过金属螯合亲和层析技术纯化得到目的蛋白,并通过蛋白质谱分析验证了其氨基酸序列的准确性。利用纯化的ATZ和STUB1重组蛋白,构建了一个体外泛素化修饰反应体系。实验结果显示,在ATP、E1泛素激活酶和E2泛素结合酶的协同作用下,STUB1成功催化了ATZ的泛素化修饰。本研究提供了一种体外获得Z型突变体ATZ纯化蛋白的方法,并确认了STUB1介导ATZ的泛素化修饰功能,推进了对α-1抗胰蛋白酶Z型突变体蛋白在细胞内降解过程的调控机制的理解。     

Hemin with Peroxidase Activity Can Inhibit the Oxidative Damage Induced by Ultraviolet A

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), a highly reactive substance that contains oxygen, induced by ultraviolet A (UVA) cause oxidative damage to skin. We confirmed that hemin can catalyze the reaction of tyrosine (Tyr) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Catalysis was found to effectively reduce or eliminate oxidative damage to cells induced by H₂O₂ or UVA. The scavenging effects of hemin for other free-radical ROS were also evaluated through pyrogallol autoxidation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH·)-scavenging assays, and phenanthroline–Fe²⁺ assays. The results show that a mixture of hemin and tyrosine exhibits strong scavenging activities for H₂O₂, superoxide anion (O₂⁻·), DPPH·, and the hydroxyl radical (·OH). Furthermore, the inhibition of oxidative damage to human skin keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells induced by H₂O₂ or UVA was evaluated. The results show that catalysis can significantly reduce the ratio of cell apoptosis and death and inhibit the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the resistance to apoptosis was found to be enhanced. These results show that the mixture of hemin and tyrosine has a significantly protective effect against oxidative damage to HaCaT cells caused by UVA, suggesting it as a protective agent for combating UVA damage.