The NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal fragments of dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) localize differently in the compartments of dentin and growth plate of bone

Multiple studies have shown that dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) is essential for bone and dentin mineralization. After post-translational proteolytic cleavage, DMP1 exists within the extracellular matrix of bone and dentin as an NH2-terminal fragment, a COOH-terminal fragment, and the proteoglycan form of the NH2-terminal fragment (DMP1-PG). To begin to assess the biological function of each fragment, we evaluated the distribution of both fragments in the rat tooth and bone using antibodies specific to the NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal regions of DMP1 and confocal microscopy. In rat first molar organs, the NH2-terminal fragment localized to predentin, whereas the COOH-terminal fragment was mainly restricted to mineralized dentin. In the growth plate of bone, the NH2-terminal fragment appeared in the proliferation and hypertrophic zones, whereas the COOH-terminal fragment occupied the ossification zone. Forster resonance energy transfer analysis showed colocalization of both fragments of DMP1 in odontoblasts and predentin, as well as hypertrophic chondrocytes within the growth plates of bone. The biochemical analysis of bovine teeth showed that predentin is rich in DMP1-PG, whereas mineralized dentin primarily contains the COOH-terminal fragment. We conclude that the differential patterns of expression of NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal fragments of DMP1 reflect their potentially distinct roles in the biomineralization of dentin and bone matrices.     

The EF‐1α promoter maintains high‐level transgene expression from episomal vectors in transfected CHO‐K1 cells

In our previous study, we demonstrated that episomal vectors based on the characteristic sequence of matrix attachment regions (MARs) and containing the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter allow transgenes to be maintained episomally in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. However, the transgene expression was unstable and the number of copies was low. In this study, we focused on enhancers, various promoters and promoter variants that could improve the transgene expression stability, expression magnitude (level) and the copy number of a MAR‐based episomal vector in CHO‐K1 cells. In comparison with the CMV promoter, the eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 α (EF‐1α, gene symbol EEF1A1) promoter increased the transfection efficiency, the transgene expression, the proportion of expression‐positive clones and the copy number of the episomal vector in long‐term culture. By contrast, no significant positive effects were observed with an enhancer, CMV promoter variants or CAG promoter in the episomal vector in long‐term culture. Moreover, the high‐expression clones harbouring the EF‐1α promoter tended to be more stable in long‐term culture, even in the absence of selection pressure. According to these findings, we concluded that the EF‐1α promoter is a potent regulatory sequence for episomal vectors because it maintains high transgene expression, transgene stability and copy number. These results provide valuable information on improvement of transgene stability and the copy number of episomal vectors.     

小寨子沟自然保护区珍稀濒危植物资源现状

本文利用现代全球定位(GPS)技术和地理信息系统(GIS)手段,对四川省小寨子沟自然保护区内的珍稀濒危植物资源进行了精确定位和详尽地调查,基本掌握其种类、数量、地理分布、濒危状况等信息,并针对目前珍稀濒危植物的受威状况提出保护对策.     

疏水性氨基酸的羟基化研究进展

羟基化氨基酸在生物技术和分子生物学中具有独特价值,具有抗真菌、抗菌、抗病毒和抗癌的特性。通过比较化学合成与生物催化合成羟基氨基酸的异同,选择具有高对映结构选择性的生物催化合成方法成为羟基氨基酸合成的首选。生物催化实现疏水性氨基酸的羟基化和羟化酶紧密相关,而羟化酶又是单核非血红素Fe(Ⅱ)和α-酮戊二酸依赖型双加氧酶(Fe/αKGDs)的一种,Fe/αKGDs存在共性催化机制。因此,疏水性氨基酸在被催化的过程中,会利用关键中间体高价铁-超氧复合体(Fe(Ⅳ)=O)引起多种氧化转化,从而完成羟基化过程。文中就疏水性氨基酸的羟基化合成及功能应用,尤其是(2S,3R,4S)-4-羟基-异亮氨酸(4-HIL)和羟脯氨酸,进行了详细的阐述,探讨了Fe/αKGDs的共性催化反应机制,并对羟基氨基酸在基础研究和工业中的应用进行了综述。     

Biochemical properties of a native β-1,4-mannanase from Aspergillus aculeatus QH1 and partial characterization of its N-glycosylation

N-glycosylation plays critical roles in protein secretion, sorting, stability, activity modulation, and interactions to other molecules in the eukaryotic organisms. Fungal β-1,4-mannanases have been widely used in the agri-food industry and contribute to the pathogenesis on plants. However, the information on N-glycosylation of a specific fungal carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) is currently limited. Herein, a cDNA was cloned from Aspergillus aculeatus QH1, displaying a full length of 1302 bp with an open reading frame of 1134 bp encoding for a GH5 subfamily 7 β-1, 4-mannanase, namely AacMan5_7A. The enzyme was purified and exhibited an optimal activity at pH 4.6 and 60 °C, hydrolyzing glucomannan and galactomannan, but not yeast mannan. AacMan5_7A is an N-glycosylated protein decorated with a high-mannose type glycan. Further through UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, one of the four predicted N-glycosylation sites at N255 position was experimentally verified. The present study expands the information of N-glycosylation in fungal CAZymes, providing scientific bases for enhancing the production of fungal enzymes and their applications in food, feed, and plant biomass conversions.     

广西巴马小型猪血清淀粉样P物质基因真核载体构建及细胞转染

血清淀粉样P物质(Serum Amyloid Pcomponent,SAP)是一种在进化上高度保守的血清糖蛋白,它可与各种类型的原纤维结合,在免疫应答和炎症反应等多种免疫疾病中发挥作用.以广西巴马小型猪肝组织总RNA为模板,利用RT-PCR技术扩增出相应cDNA片段,连接到克隆载体pMD18-T上进行检测,测序结果为675 bp,与GenBank所提供相关序列同源性为100％,并成功构建pEGFP-N1 -SAP重组真核表达载体,利用脂质体(Lipofectamine 2000)介导法将重组质粒导入到NIH-3T3细胞中培养,经转染24 h后,置于倒置荧光显微镜下观察,发现含有重组质粒的NIH-3T3细胞中表达出绿色荧光,为进一步研究SAP基因的功能特点及在试验动物相关疾病模型的应用提供务件.     

Electrochemical CO2 Reduction with Atomic Iron‐Dispersed on Nitrogen‐Doped Graphene

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ provides an opportunity to reach a carbon‐neutral energy recycling regime, in which CO₂ emissions from fuel use are collected and converted back to fuels. The reduction of CO₂ to CO is the first step toward the synthesis of more complex carbon‐based fuels and chemicals. Therefore, understanding this step is crucial for the development of high‐performance electrocatalyst for CO₂ conversion to higher order products such as hydrocarbons. Here, atomic iron dispersed on nitrogen‐doped graphene (Fe/NG) is synthesized as an efficient electrocatalyst for CO₂ reduction to CO. Fe/NG has a low reduction overpotential with high Faradic efficiency up to 80%. The existence of nitrogen‐confined atomic Fe moieties on the nitrogen‐doped graphene layer is confirmed by aberration‐corrected high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis. The Fe/NG catalysts provide an ideal platform for comparative studies of the effect of the catalytic center on the electrocatalytic performance. The CO₂ reduction reaction mechanism on atomic Fe surrounded by four N atoms (Fe–N₄) embedded in nitrogen‐doped graphene is further investigated through density functional theory calculations, revealing a possible promotional effect of nitrogen doping on graphene.     

AMPK activation protects cells from oxidative stress‐induced senescence via autophagic flux restoration and intracellular NAD+ elevation

AMPK activation is beneficial for cellular homeostasis and senescence prevention. However, the molecular events involved in AMPK activation are not well defined. In this study, we addressed the mechanism underlying the protective effect of AMPK on oxidative stress‐induced senescence. The results showed that AMPK was inactivated in senescent cells. However, pharmacological activation of AMPK by metformin and berberine significantly prevented the development of senescence and, accordingly, inhibition of AMPK by Compound C was accelerated. Importantly, AMPK activation prevented hydrogen peroxide‐induced impairment of the autophagic flux in senescent cells, evidenced by the decreased p62 degradation, GFP‐RFP‐LC3 cancellation, and activity of lysosomal hydrolases. We also found that AMPK activation restored the NAD⁺ levels in the senescent cells via a mechanism involving mostly the salvage pathway for NAD⁺ synthesis. In addition, the mechanistic relationship of autophagic flux and NAD⁺ synthesis and the involvement of mTOR and Sirt1 activities were assessed. In summary, our results suggest that AMPK prevents oxidative stress‐induced senescence by improving autophagic flux and NAD⁺ homeostasis. This study provides a new insight for exploring the mechanisms of aging, autophagy and NAD⁺ homeostasis, and it is also valuable in the development of innovative strategies to combat aging.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者肠道菌群与肝脏生化指标的相关性

乙型肝炎病毒感染引起的慢性乙型肝炎(Chronic hepatitis B,CHB)是一种全球性流行疾病,严重时可引起肝功能衰竭,甚至发展成肝硬化和肝癌.也已发现CHB的发生和发展与肠道菌群的组成和结构的变化密切相关.为进一步探究肠道菌群结构与肝脏生化指标之间的联系,文中随机纳入14名CHB患者和11名健康对照者(Co...