Increasing cell-free gene expression yields from linear templates in Escherichia coli and Vibrio natriegens extracts by using DNA-binding proteins

In crude extract-based cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), DNA templates are transcribed and translated into functional proteins. Although linear expression templates (LETs) are less laborious and expensive to generate, plasmid templates are often desired over polymerase chain reaction-generated LETs due to increased stability and protection against exonucleases present in the extract of the reaction. Here we demonstrate that addition of a double stranded DNA-binding protein to the CFPS reaction, termed single-chain Cro protein (scCro), achieves terminal protection of LETs. This CroP-LET (scCro-based protection of LET) method effectively increases superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) expression levels from LETs in Escherichia coli CFPS reactions by sixfold. Our yields are comparable to other strategies that provide chemical and enzymatic DNA stabilization in E. coli CFPS. Notably, we also report that the CroP-LET method successfully enhanced yields in CFPS platforms derived from nonmodel organisms. Our results show that CroP-LET increased sfGFP yields by 18-fold in the Vibrio natriegens CFPS platform. With the fast-expanding applications of CFPS platforms, this method provides a practical and generalizable solution to protect linear expression DNA templates.     

中分辨率遥感像元尺度生物土壤结皮覆盖与植被及土壤间的交互关系

生物土壤结皮（Biological soil crust,BSC）作为干旱、半干旱地区健康生态系统的重要组成部分,具有固碳、固氮、降低土壤水分蒸发、减少土壤径流等多种生态功能,这些功能与BSC的发展阶段及覆盖度密切相关,使其在维系荒漠自然生态系统的稳定性中扮演重要角色。因此,结合遥感数据尺度定量研究影响BSC分布的环境因素是评估沙区生态系统稳定性并以此为依据进行沙化土地治理的重要基础性研究。影响BSC覆盖度的环境因子较为复杂,现有研究方法存在两方面局限,其一是多为小尺度定性分析,其二是多侧重于孤立地分析BSC与环境因子间的单向关系。利用结构方程模型（Structural Equation Modeling,SEM）中的非递归路径分析（Nonrecursive Path Analysis,NPA）对遥感30 m分辨率像元尺度BSC覆盖度、植被覆盖度、土壤pH值、盐度、有机质与粒度进行路径分析,旨在使用综合性方法从整体上阐明大尺度BSC分布与植被、土壤间的交互关系。结果表明：（1）在毛乌素沙地,BSC覆盖度受各环境因子综合影响,无法用单一变量说明。BSC覆盖度与植被覆盖度、土壤有机质、平均粒径和细颗粒占比呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）,与粗颗粒占比呈极显著负相关（P<0.01）。（2） BSC覆盖度与植被覆盖度通过有机质相互影响,BSC覆盖度对植被覆盖度有较大的正向直接影响,路径系数（Path Coefficient,PC）=0.43（P>0.05）,植被覆盖度对BSC覆盖度有交大的负向影响（PC=－0.22;P>0.05）。（3）土壤平均粒径和细颗粒占比均正向影响BSC的覆盖度,其中,平均粒径对BSC覆盖度的总体影响较大（PC=0.67;总效果值=0.590）,细颗粒占比对BSC覆盖度的间接影响较大（间接效果值=0.052）。（4）盐度对BSC覆盖度呈显著负向直接影响（PC=－0.41;P<0.05;总效果值=－0.398）,pH值对BSC覆盖度有极小的正向影响（总效果值=0.072）。上述研究结果可为遥感探测BSC、制定有效的荒漠生态系统保护与修复政策措施提供科学依据。     

Induction of apoptosis mediated by fas receptor and activation of caspase-3 in MRL-+/+ or MRL-lpr/lpr murine oocytes

The molecular mechanisms leading to ovarian follicular atresia in the typical pathways of programmed cell death remain to be clarified. Here we have demonstrated that the apoptotic signalling pathway in MRL-+/+ (MRL/+) murine oocytes is through the Fas receptor followed by the activation of caspase-3. In contrast, we found that the aberrant expression and dysfunction of the mutant Fas receptor in MRL-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) murine oocytes caused by insertion of the early transposable element (ETn) into the Fas gene were associated with an inability to activate the caspase cascade (especially caspase-3) and to induce nuclear DNA fragmentation. These findings indicate that the induction of apoptosis in MRL/lpr murine oocytes did not occur in the presence of a defective Fas receptor lacking the death domain to trigger the caspase cascade, suggesting a failure to induce ovarian follicular atresia.     

Exendin-4 Protects Mitochondria from Reactive Oxygen Species Induced Apoptosis in Pancreatic Beta Cells

Objective

Mitochondrial oxidative stress is the basis for pancreatic β-cell apoptosis and a common pathway for numerous types of damage, including glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity. We cultivated mice pancreatic β-cell tumor Min6 cell lines in vitro and observed pancreatic β-cell apoptosis and changes in mitochondrial function before and after the addition of Exendin-4. Based on these observations, we discuss the protective role of Exendin-4 against mitochondrial oxidative damage and its relationship with Ca²⁺-independent phospholipase A2.

Methods

We established a pancreatic β-cell oxidative stress damage model using Min6 cell lines cultured in vitro with tert-buty1 hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide. We then added Exendin-4 to observe changes in the rate of cell apoptosis (Annexin-V-FITC-PI staining flow cytometry and DNA ladder). We detected the activity of the caspase 3 and 8 apoptotic factors, measured the mitochondrial membrane potential losses and reactive oxygen species production levels, and detected the expression of cytochrome c and Smac/DLAMO in the cytosol and mitochondria, mitochondrial Ca₂-independent phospholipase A2 and Ca²⁺-independent phospholipase A2 mRNA.

Results

The time-concentration curve showed that different percentages of apoptosis occurred at different time-concentrations in tert-buty1 hydroperoxide- and hydrogen peroxide-induced Min6 cells. Incubation with 100 µmol/l of Exendin-4 for 48 hours reduced the Min6 cell apoptosis rate (p<0.05). The mitochondrial membrane potential loss and total reactive oxygen species levels decreased (p<0.05), and the release of cytochrome c and Smac/DLAMO from the mitochondria was reduced. The study also showed that Ca²⁺-independent phospholipase A2 activity was positively related to Exendin-4 activity.

Conclusion

Exendin-4 reduces Min6 cell oxidative damage and the cell apoptosis rate, which may be related to Ca²-independent phospholipase A2.     

孕酮对蒙古绵羊输卵管上皮细胞β-防御素mRNA表达的影响

建立蒙古绵羊输卵管上皮细胞培养体系作为体外实验模型,分别添加10^-6、10^-7、10^-8、10^-9和10^-10 mol/L孕酮,运用实时荧光定量PCR方法测定孕酮对上皮细胞内β-防御素相对表达量的影响。结果显示,与对照组比较,10^-6和10^-7 mol/L孕酮组β-防御素相对表达量显著升高（P<0.05）;10^-8和10^-9 mol/L孕酮组极显著升高（P<0.01）;而10^-10 mol/L孕酮组未见显著性差异。孕酮添加组间比较显示,10^-8和10^-9 mol/L孕酮组极显著高于10^-10 mol/L组（P<0.01）,其它孕酮添加组间未见显著性差异。分析认为,一定浓度的孕酮（10^-9－10^-6 mol/L）对培养的输卵管上皮细胞β-防御素的表达有促进作用。且不同浓度的孕酮对β-防御素表达的影响程度不同。因而推断,雌性生理周期下,雌性生殖道β-防御素的表达与孕激素相关。     

Biotechnological approach to the synthesis of 9alpha-hydroxylated steroids

The steroid 9alpha-hydroxylase gene has been cloned from Mycobacterium smegmatis into Escherichia coli BL21. Progesterone added to bioreactors was subjected to in vivo transformation into 9alpha-hydroxyprogesterone. In 7 days, 43.6 mg 9alpha-hydroxyprogesterone was formed from 53.8 mg/L progesterone. The enzyme also has shown evidence of processing 4-androstene-3,17-dione in vivo. An extensive analytical method development, including LLE, HPLC-DAD, MS, and NMR was performed to verify the product and to enable a quantitative analysis. Protocols for analytical and preparative separation have been developed, using binaphtol as internal standard. Both the growth pattern and the bioconversion rate were unaffected by the presence of binaphtol in the bioreactor. The enzyme was purified by immobilised metal affinity and ion exchange chromatography, resulting in low in vitro activity.     

Growth factor TGF-β induces intestinal epithelial cell (IEC-6) differentiation: miR-146b as a regulatory component in the negative feedback loop

TGF-β is a potent pleiotropic factor that promotes small intestinal cell differentiation. The role of microRNAs in the TGF-β induction of intestinal epithelial phenotype is largely unknown. We hypothesized that microRNAs are functionally involved in TGF-β-induced intestinal cell growth. In this study, TGF-β caused a morphological change of IEC-6 cells and stimulated expression of the epithelial cell markers alkaline phosphatase, villin, and aminopeptidase N. By global microRNA profiling during TGF-β-induced intestinal crypt cell (IEC-6) differentiation, we identified 19 differentially expressed microRNAs. We showed by real-time Q-PCR that miR-146b expression increased rapidly after TGF-β treatment; sequence analysis and in vitro assays revealed that miR-146b targets SIAH2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, with decreased protein expression upon IEC-6 cell differentiation. Transfection of miR-146b inhibitor before TGF-β treatment blocked the down-regulation of SIAH2 in response to TGF-β. Moreover, SIAH2 over-expression during TGF-β treatment caused a significant decrease in Smad7 protein expression in IEC-6 cells. Furthermore, activation of the ERK1/2 pathway is active in the up-regulation of miR-146b by TGF-β. These findings suggest a novel mechanism whereby TGF-β signaling during IEC-6 cell differentiation may be modulated in part by microRNAs, and we propose a key role for miR-146b in the homeostasis of growth factor TGF-β signaling through a negative feedback regulation involving down-regulation of SIAH2 repressed Smad7 activities.     

Associations of plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among middle-aged and elderly individuals

Background

The plasma level of the inflammatory biomarker soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a strong predictor of disease development and premature mortality in the general population. Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking or unhealthy eating is known to elevate the suPAR level. We aimed to investigate whether change in lifestyle habits impact on the suPAR level, and whether the resultant levels are associated with mortality.

Results

Paired suPAR measurements from baseline- and the 5-year visit of the population-based Inter99 study were compared with the habits of diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Paired suPAR measurements for 3225 individuals were analyzed by linear regression, adjusted for demographics and lifestyle habits. Compared to individuals with a healthy lifestyle, an unhealthy diet, low physical activity, and daily smoking were associated with a 5.9, 12.8, and 17.6% higher 5-year suPAR, respectively. During 6.1 years of follow-up after the 5-year visit, 1.6% of those with a low suPAR (mean 2.93 ng/ml) died compared with 3.8% of individuals with a high suPAR (mean 4.73 ng/ml), P <  0.001. In Cox regression analysis, adjusted for demographics and lifestyle, the hazard ratio for mortality per 5-year suPAR doubling was 2.03 (95% CI: 1.22–3.37).

Conclusion

Lifestyle has a considerable impact on suPAR levels; the combination of unhealthy habits was associated with 44% higher 5-year suPAR values and the 5-year suPAR was a strong predictor of mortality. We propose suPAR as a candidate biomarker for lifestyle changes as well as the subsequent risk of mortality.