ICE1 CBF信号通路在植物抵御低温胁迫和调控发育过程中的作用研究进展

低温作为重要的环境因子影响着植物的地理分布和物种多样性,并且对农业可持续发展造成了严重的威胁。ICE1(INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION1) CBF(C REPEAT BINDING FACTOR)信号通路不仅在植物抵御低温胁迫的过程中发挥着关键作用,也在植物调控生长发育的过程中也扮演着重要角色,对ICE1 CBF调控机理的了解有助于深入认识植物如何在逆境条件下平衡生长与生存之间的关系。该文对近年来国内外有关ICE1 CBF通路在低温信号转导中的精细调控过程的研究进展进行了综述,并重点对ICE1 CBF在调控植物发育中的作用进行了讨论。     

Catalytic and inhibitor binding properties of zebrafish monoamine oxidase (zMAO): comparisons with human MAO A and MAO B

A comparative investigation of substrate specificity and inhibitor binding properties of recombinant zebrafish (Danio rerio) monoamine oxidase (zMAO) with those of recombinant human monoamine oxidases A and B (hMAO A and hMAO B) is presented. zMAO oxidizes the neurotransmitter amines (serotonin, dopamine and tyramine) with k(cat) values that exceed those of hMAO A or of hMAO B. The enzyme is competitively inhibited by hMAO A selective reversible inhibitors with the exception of d-amphetamine where uncompetitive inhibition is exhibited. The enzyme is unreactive with most MAO B-specific reversible inhibitors with the exception of chlorostyrylcaffeine. zMAO catalyzes the oxidation of para-substituted benzylamine analogs exhibiting (D)k(cat) and (D)(k(cat)/K(m)) values ranging from 2 to 8. Structure-activity correlations show a dependence of log k(cat) with the electronic factor σ(p) with a ρ value of +1.55±0.34; a value close to that for hMAO A but not with MAO B. zMAO differs from hMAO A or hMAO B in benzylamine analog binding correlations where an electronic effect (ρ=+1.29±0.31) is observed. These data demonstrate zMAO exhibits functional properties similar to hMAO A as well as exhibits its own unique behavior. These results should be useful for studies of MAO function in zebrafish models of human disease states.     

An investigation of the relationship between SULT1A1 Arg213His polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility in a Turkish population

Human sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1), the most expressed isoform of the phenol SULT1 subfamily, is an important member of sulfotransferase superfamily. A transition, G to A at position 638, in SULT1A1 gene, results in Arg²¹³His change. This single nucleotide polymorphism reduces the activity and thermostability of SULT1A1 enzyme. Thus, in the present study the relationship between SULT1A1 Arg²¹³His polymorphism and lung cancer was investigated. One hundred and six case and 271 control samples were studied using PCR‐RFLP. There was no significant difference in genotype and allele distribution between lung cancer and control populations (p = 0.07; p = 0.06, respectively). Compared with the SULT1A1*1/SULT1A1*1 genotype the variant SULT1A1 genotype (SULT1A1*1/SULT1A1*2 or SULT1A1*2/SULT1A1*2) was associated with a significantly increased lung cancer risk in cases (p = 0.027). In male populations, there was no significant difference between case and controls (p = 0.313). In female populations, however, this difference was found to be significant (p = 0.04). In smoker and non‐smoker populations, no significant relationship was evident between lung cancer and control population (p = 0.170, p = 0.065, respectively). Statistical analyses of histological types of lung cancer in comparison with the control individuals indicated a significant difference between SULT1A1 Arg²¹³His polymorphism and SCC (p = 0.027) and other types of cancer (p = 0.037), except SMCC (p = 0.854). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

LIVIN和HLA-I类分子在肾透明细胞癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨凋亡抑制蛋白Livin与人类白细胞抗原(HLA)I类分子在人类肾脏透明细胞癌(clear cell renal cell carcinoma,ccRCC)中的表达及其临床意义。方法:选择哈尔滨医科大学附属第一医院2007年12月至2011年12月收治的拟行肾癌根治术的患者80例,应用免疫组织化学方法检测80例ccRCC组织与10例癌旁正常肾组织中Livin及HLA-I类分子的表达,并分析其与患者临床病理特征之间的关系。结果:10例癌旁正常肾组织中均未见Livin的阳性表达,而HLA-I类分子的阳性表达率为100%。ccRCC组织中,Livin的阳性表达率及HLA I类分子表达下调百分率分别为41(51.25%)例和48(60.00%)例,Livin的阳性表达率与正常组相比差异有统计学差异(P0.05)。ccRCC组织中Livin的阳性表达率与淋巴结转移、组织分化程度显著相关(P0.05),而HLA I类分子的表达下调百分率与患者的性别、年龄、肿瘤分级、淋巴结转移及分期均无相关性(P0.05)。ccRCC组织中Livin的表达与HLA I类分子的表达亦无显著相关性(P0.05)。结论:Livin、HLA I类分子表达异常参与了ccRCC的发生、发展过程,Livin可能成为ccRCC的一个重要预后指标和治疗靶点。     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: purification and inhibition studies of pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica) red blood cell carbonic anhydrase with sulfonamides

A carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) from red blood cells of pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica), clCA, was purified to homogeneity. Its kinetic parameters for the CO(2) hydration reaction were measured. With a k(cat)/K(m) of 1.1?×?10(8) M(-1) s(-1), and a k(cat) of 1.3?×?10(6) s(-1), clCA has a high activity, similar to that of the human isoform hCA II. A group of 25 aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides incorporating the sulfanilamide, homosulfanilamide, benzene-1,3-disulfonamide, and acetazolamide scaffolds showed variable inhibitory activity against the pigeon enzyme, with K(I)s in the range of 1.9-3460?nM. Red blood cells of pigeons, like those of ostriches, contain thus just one CA isoform, unlike the blood of mammals, which normally contain two isoforms, one of low (CA I-like) and one of very high activity (CA II-like). However, from the sulfonamide inhibition viewpoint, the pigeon enzyme was more similar to hCA II than to the ostrich enzyme.     

毛白杨PtFT1和PtFT2基因编码区克隆与表达模式分析

以毛白杨为材料,采用同源基因克隆法从毛白杨中分离了FT(FLOWERING LOCUS T)同源基因PtFT1和PtFT2编码区序列。测序结果表明PtFT1和PtFT2 编码区长度均为525bp,可编码174个氨基酸。蛋白序列比对发现这两个基因与拟南芥、葡萄等物种中FT同源基因所编码的氨基酸同源性达到75%以上, PtFT1 和 PtFT2 所推测的氨基酸序列包含FT类蛋白保守基序(LGRQTVYAPGWRQN)和两个关键性氨基酸残基Tyr84(Y),Gln139(Q)。系统进化分析进一步表明 PtFT1 和 PtFT2 属于FT亚家族成员。采用Real-time qRT-PCR技术检测 PtFT1 和 PtFT2 在各个组织部位中的表达模式,结果表明 PtFT1 和 PtFT2 在各个组织部位均有表达,但这两个基因的表达水平存在差异;两个基因在早期雌雄花芽(7月5日)表达量明显高于成熟雌雄花芽(翌年3月10日)表达量,进而推测在毛白杨中 PtFT1 和 PtFT2 的表达响应日照长短,长日照条件促进这两个基因的表达,它们可能在光周期调控的开花途径中促进花芽分化和开花发挥特定作用。这些研究对于阐明 PtFT1 和 PtFT2 在光周期开花调控途径中的作用机制具有重要意义,为进一步开展毛白杨开花调控基因工程研究奠定了工作基础。     

毛白杨PtSEP2基因启动子克隆和瞬时表达特性分析

利用PCR技术从毛白杨基因组DNA中扩增获得花器官发育相关的SEPALLATA2类似基因PtSEP25′侧翼约2.3kb的一段序列,经PlantCARE序列分析表明,该序列中含有启动子特征的保守序列及多种光应答元件,初步推测其为PtSEP2基因启动子.进一步以GUS为报告基因,构建了pPtSEP2 promoter::...     

瑞舒伐他汀对载脂蛋白E 基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化中 调节性T 细胞的影响

目的:探讨瑞舒伐他汀对载脂蛋白E基因敲除(ApoEKO)小鼠动脉粥样硬化中调节性T细胞的影响。方法:首先将30只ApoEKO小鼠建立动脉粥样硬化模型,随机分为高胆固醇饮食组(对照组)、瑞舒伐他汀低剂量组和瑞舒伐他汀高剂量组,各组分别给予蒸馏水或瑞舒伐他汀进行干预8周;将主动脉根部行冰冻切片油红染色,评估粥样硬化斑块面积大小;免疫组织化学法检测主动脉根部粥样硬化斑块处调节性T细胞(Treg)的表达。结果:各组小鼠均有动脉粥样硬化斑块形成,采用瑞舒伐他汀治疗的小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块的面积明显小于未经治疗的小鼠(P<0.01),同时瑞舒伐他汀能明显增加粥样硬化病变处调节性T细胞的表达,且呈现剂效关系。结论:本实验观察到瑞舒伐他汀不仅能减小ApoEKO小鼠的主动脉粥样硬化斑块,且能使调节性T细胞的表达增多,推测瑞舒伐他汀可以通过促进调节性T细胞的生成而起到抑制动脉粥样硬化的作用。     

Coiled-coil intermediate filament stutter instability and molecular unfolding

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are the key components of cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and are critical for cell mechanics. The building block of IFs is a coiled-coil alpha-helical dimer, consisting of several domains that include linkers and other structural discontinuities. One of the discontinuities in the dimer's coiled-coil region is the so-called 'stutter' region. The stutter is a region where a variation of the amino acid sequence pattern from other parts of the alpha-helical domains of the protein is found. It was suggested in earlier works that due to this sequence variation, the perfect coiled-coil arrangement ceases to exist. Here, we show using explicit water molecular dynamics and well-tempered metadynamics that for the coil2 domain of vimentin IFs the stutter is more stable in a non-alpha-helical, unfolded state. This causes a local structural disturbance in the alpha helix, which has a global effect on the nanomechanics of the structure. Our analysis suggests that the stutter features an enhanced tendency to unfolding even under the absence of external forces, implying a much greater structural instability than previously assumed. As a result it features a smaller local bending stiffness than other segments and presents a seed for the initiation of molecular bending and unfolding at large deformation.     

Factors associated with inflammation markers, a cross-sectional analysis

Epidemiological studies have reported associations between circulating inflammation markers and risk of chronic diseases. It is of interest to examine whether risk factors for these diseases are associated with inflammation. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to evaluate whether reproductive and lifestyle factors and circulating vitamin D were associated with inflammation markers, including C-reactive protein, cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-13, TNFα), and cytokine modulators (IL-1RA, sIL-1RII, sIL-2Ra, sIL-4R, sIL-6R, sTNF-R1/R2), among 616 healthy women. We confirmed associations of several inflammation markers with age and BMI. We also observed significantly higher levels of certain inflammation markers in postmenopausal vs. premenopausal women (TNFα, sIL-1RII, sIL-2Ra), with increasing parity (IL-12p40), and with higher circulating 25(OH) vitamin D (IL-13) and lower levels among current users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-10, IL-12p70, and IL-12p40), current smokers (IL-4, IL-13, IL-12p40), and women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13). Our findings suggest that risk factors for chronic diseases (age, BMI, menopausal status, parity, NSAID use, family history of breast and ovarian cancer, and smoking) are associated with inflammation markers in healthy women.