Transgene Expression Is Associated with Copy Number and Cytomegalovirus Promoter Methylation in Transgenic Pigs

Transgenic animals have been used for years to study gene function, produce important proteins, and generate models for the study of human diseases. However, inheritance and expression instability of the transgene in transgenic animals is a major limitation. Copy number and promoter methylation are known to regulate gene expression, but no report has systematically examined their effect on transgene expression. In the study, we generated two transgenic pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by cytomegalovirus (CMV). Absolute quantitative real-time PCR and bisulfite sequencing were performed to determine transgene copy number and promoter methylation level. The correlation of transgene expression with copy number and promoter methylation was analyzed in individual development, fibroblast cells, various tissues, and offspring of the transgenic pigs. Our results demonstrate that transgene expression is associated with copy number and CMV promoter methylation in transgenic pigs.     

Identification of Novel Serological Biomarkers for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Escherichia coli Proteome Chip

Specific antimicrobial antibodies present in the sera of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been proven to be valuable serological biomarkers for diagnosis/prognosis of the disease. Herein we describe the use of a whole Escherichia coli proteome microarray as a novel high throughput proteomics approach to screen and identify new serological biomarkers for IBD. Each protein array, which contains 4,256 E. coli K12 proteins, was screened using individual serum from healthy controls (n = 39) and clinically well characterized patients with IBD (66 Crohn disease (CD) and 29 ulcerative colitis (UC)). Proteins that could be recognized by serum antibodies were visualized and quantified using Cy3-labeled goat anti-human antibodies. Surprisingly significance analysis of microarrays identified a total of 417 E. coli proteins that were differentially recognized by serum antibodies between healthy controls and CD or UC. Among those, 169 proteins were identified as highly immunogenic in healthy controls, 186 proteins were identified as highly immunogenic in CD, and only 19 were identified as highly immunogenic in UC. Using a supervised learning algorithm (k-top scoring pairs), we identified two sets of serum antibodies that were novel biomarkers for specifically distinguishing CD from healthy controls (accuracy, 86 ± 4%; p < 0.01) and CD from UC (accuracy, 80 ± 2%; p < 0.01), respectively. The Set 1 antibodies recognized three pairs of E. coli proteins: Era versus YbaN, YhgN versus FocA, and GabT versus YcdG, and the Set 2 antibodies recognized YidX versus FrvX. The specificity and sensitivity of Set 1 antibodies were 81 ± 5 and 89 ± 3%, respectively, whereas those of Set 2 antibodies were 84 ± 1 and 70 ± 6%, respectively. Serum antibodies identified for distinguishing healthy controls versus UC were only marginal because their accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity were 66 ± 5, 69 ± 5, and 61 ± 7%, respectively (p < 0.04). Taken together, we identified novel sets of serological biomarkers for diagnosis of CD versus healthy control and CD versus UC.Crohn disease (CD)¹ and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, idiopathic, and clinically heterogeneous intestinal disorders collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (1, 2). Although the distinction between UC and CD would seem clear based on the combination of clinical, endoscopic, and radiological criteria, indeterminate colitis is present in up to 10 and 20% of adult and pediatric patients with isolated colitis, respectively (3, 4).Serological testing is a non-invasive method for diagnosing IBD and differentiating UC from CD (5–7). Several serological IBD biomarkers have been identified in the past decade, and some have been used in IBD clinics (5–7) (see the list below). Many of these antibodies are produced on intestinal exposure to normal commensal bacteria in genetically susceptible individuals. Although it is not known whether these antibodies are pathogenic or not, they are specific to patients with either CD or UC and may reflect a dysregulated immune inflammatory response to intestinal bacterial antigens (2, 8–10). Several experimental animal models of IBD have led to the theory that the pathogenesis of IBD is the result of an aberrant immune response to normal commensal bacteria in genetically susceptible individuals (11, 12). In fact, most of the major serological biomarkers being used in IBD clinics are antibodies to microbial antigens, including yeast oligomannose (anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA)), bacterial outer membrane porin C (OmpC), Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial sequence I2 (anti-I2), and most recently bacterial flagellin (CBir 1) (5–7, 13). All of these antimicrobial antibodies show a preponderance in patients with CD. However, ASCA has been identified in up to 5% of patients with UC (13, 14).In comparison, perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (pANCA) with perinuclear highlighting was first described in 1990. Although generally considered an autoantibody, the specific antigenic stimulation for pANCA production remains unclear. This autoantibody is present in up to 70% of patients with UC and in up to 20% of patients with CD (6, 10). Recently a panel of five new anti-glycan antibodies have been identified, including anti-chitobioside IgA, anti-laminaribioside IgG, anti-mannobioside IgG, and antibodies against two major chemically synthesized (Σ) oligomannose epitopes, Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan3) and Man α-1,3 Man α-1,2 Man α-1,2 Man (ΣMan4) (5, 13, 15). These new biomarkers serve as valuable complimentary tools to the available serological biomarkers mentioned above. Collectively these antibodies are not generally present in either children or adults with non-IBD disease and may represent serological markers of intestinal inflammation specific to UC or CD.Although encouraging, none of the current commercially available biomarker tests/assays, including all of those mentioned above, can be used as stand alone tools in clinics and therefore are only recommended as an adjunct to endoscopy in diagnosis and prognosis of the disease (5, 7, 16). Therefore, additional specific and sensitive IBD biomarkers are needed as are prospective studies to assess the utility of current and newly identified biomarkers (5, 13). Proteomics technologies such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, various variations of mass spectrometry, and protein chip (array) technology are now proving to be powerful tools in biomarker discovery and are beginning to be utilized in IBD biomarker discovery (5, 17). These technologies enable robust and/or large scale and high throughput identification and analysis of differential protein expression when comparing disease with control. Blood-based (serum- or plasma-based) proteomics holds particular promises for biomarker discovery of various human diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancers (18–20). Antigen microarrays are also powerful tools that allow high throughput serum analysis of aberrant immune responses in autoimmune diseases (21–23) as well as efficient discovery of biomarkers for infectious pathogens (24). Herein we describe the use of an Escherichia coli proteome microarray to characterize the differential immune response (serum anti-E. coli antibodies) among patients clinically classified as CD, UC, and healthy controls. We hypothesized that novel IBD-specific antimicrobial antibodies, particularly anti-E. coli antibodies, are present in IBD patients and are likely to be identified by screening the sera with E. coli protein arrays.     

β-转化生长因子与肝细胞生长因子在肾间质纤维化中的关系

肾间质纤维化是各种慢性肾脏疾病的最终通路。研究发现,β-转化生长因子与肝细胞生长因子的平衡关系可能在肾间质纤维化发生发展过程中起着重要作用。     

三峡水库及香溪河库湾理化特征的比较研究

根据2003年6月三峡水库初期蓄水后对香溪河库湾的常规监测,对该水域的理化特征及其动态进行了分析,并与三峡水库库首的数据进行了比较研究。结果显示库湾TN、NO3-N浓度要显著低于库首,前者两周年平均值为1.29mg/L,0.88mg/L,后者两周年平均值为1.62mg/L,1.22mg/L。而PO4-P则是库湾显著高于库首,并且在7—9月库首的TP/PO4-P有显著提高。结果同时表明库首的水土流失较严重,而库湾则有较好的水土保持。最后对TSIM的计算结果表明,由于TP、TN都处于高水平,库首呈现中营养化(TSIM>37),而库湾则呈现严重富营养化(TSIM>53)。     

不同黄芪品种根中多糖的动态积累及多糖含量比较研究

多糖是药用黄芪根中的主要有效成分之一。本研究分析测定了分属于膜荚黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus)和蒙古黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus var.mongolicus)的6个品种在不同时期根中多糖含量的变化以及采收期根中多糖含量的差异和可溶性糖含量的变化。结果表明:各品种均从8月开始根中多糖迅速积累,至受霜害时多糖含量达到最高,受霜害后多糖含量迅速下降,可溶性糖含量上升;在初霜降时(10月4日)6个品种中以旬邑野生膜荚黄芪多糖含量最高。因此8月至初霜降是黄芪多糖积累的主要时期,黄芪的最佳采收期为初霜降前后。而旬邑野生膜荚黄芪是多糖含量较高的优良品种。     

小麦成熟胚愈伤组织诱导及分化研究

以2个小麦品种成熟胚为外植体进行离体培养,研究了不同预处理、不同2,4-D浓度及与KT组合、不同蔗糖浓度等因素对愈伤组织诱导及分化的影响。结果表明:4℃低温预处理可提高愈伤组织的出愈率及再生苗率,2个材料的出愈率及再生苗率均达到90%和30%以上;在不同预处理条件下,2,4-D浓度对出愈率及再生苗率的影响与基因型有关,2,4-D浓度为1~2 mg/L更有利于愈伤组织诱导及分化;附加KT能缓解高浓度2,4-D对再生苗率的抑制作用,而对于在1、2 mg/L 2,4-D的培养基中附加KT则不表现这种作用;蔗糖浓度则在30 g/L条件下更有利于愈伤组织诱导。因此通过4℃低温预处理,在MS基本培养基中附加1~2mg/L 2,4-D及30 g/L蔗糖亦可促进小麦成熟胚愈伤组织的诱导和分化。     

上海市树附生苔藓植物生态位

生态位理论在植被生态研究中有着重要的应用价值,引入生态位理论对树附生苔藓植物进行了研究。在上海市市区和郊区主要公园、部分街道及校园,包括崇明岛等地区,共设立18个样点,调查发现43种树附生苔藓植物,其中藓类植物39种,苔类植物4种。根据盖度值计算了43种树附生苔藓植物的生态位宽度。结果表明,树附生苔藓植物种数(N)与生态位宽度(B)符合公式N=0.3423e-0.0369B,r=0.9347,大部分的树附生植物生态位宽度很窄,67.44%种类的生态位宽度小于0.1。本文计算了43种树附生苔藓植物的生态位重叠值,应用主分量分析法和最小生成树法对它们进行分类。将43种树附生苔藓植物分成3个生态类群,它们与生境关系显著。因此,在苔藓植物保护中应特别注意对树附生苔藓植物及其生境的保护。     

不同水分条件下氮素供应对小麦植株氮代谢及籽粒蛋白质积累的影响

土壤水分逆境是限制小麦籽粒品质形成的重要生态因子,明确土壤水分逆境下小麦籽粒品质形成的生理机制及调优技术途径,对于深化小麦品质生理生态研究和指导小麦调优栽培具有重要的理论意义和应用前景。在防雨池栽条件下,设置渍水、干旱和对照3个水分处理,每个水分处理下再设置120和240 kg.hm-2两个施氮水平,研究了花后渍水和干旱逆境下氮素对两个籽粒蛋白质含量不同的小麦品种植株氮代谢和籽粒蛋白质积累的影响。结果表明,与正常水分处理相比,花后干旱和渍水均降低旗叶硝酸还原酶活性、叶片总氮含量和游离氨基酸含量。干旱处理提高了茎鞘总氮与游离氨基酸含量以及籽粒蛋白质含量,而渍水处理则使其降低。水分逆境下增施氮肥提高旗叶硝酸还原酶活性、叶片与茎鞘总氮和游离氨基酸含量以及籽粒游离氨基酸和蛋白质含量。花后干旱和渍水均显著降低了小麦籽粒产量和蛋白质产量。增施氮肥提高适宜水分和水分亏缺条件下小麦籽粒产量,但不利于渍水下小麦产量的提高。这说明,花后渍水和干旱逆境下施用氮肥对小麦植株氮代谢和籽粒蛋白质积累有明显的调节效应。     

Blocking of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V induces cellular endoplasmic reticulum stress in human hepatocarcinoma 7,721 cells

N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V （GnT-V） is an important tumorigenesis and metastasis-associated enzyme. To study its biofunction, the GnT-V stably suppressed cell line （GnT-V-AS/7721） was constructed from 7721 hepatocarcinoma cells in previous study. In this study, cDNA array gene expression profiles were compared between GnT-V-AS/7721 and parental 7721 cells. The data indicated that GnT-V-AS/7721 showed a characteristic expression pattern consistent with the ER stress. The molecular mechanism of the ER stress was explored in GnT-V-AS/7721 by the analysis on key molecules in both two unfolded protein response （UPR） pathways. For ATF6 and Irel/XBP-1 pathway, it was evidenced by the up-regulation of BIP at mRNA and protein level, and the appearance of the spliced form ofXBP-1. As for PERK/eIF2α pathway, the activation of ER eIF2α kinase PERK was observed. To confirm the results from GriT-V-AS/7721 cells, the key molecules in the UPR were examined again in 7721 cells interfered with the GnT-V by the specific RNAi treatment. The results were similar with those from GnT-V-AS/7721, indicating that blocking of GnT-V can specifically activate ER stress in 7721 cells. Rate of 3H-Man incorporation corrected with rate of 3H-Leu incorporation in GnT-V-AS/7721 was down-regulated greatly compared with the control, which demonstrated the deficient function of the enzyme synthesizing N-glycans after GnT-V blocking. Moreover, the faster migrating form of chaperone GRP94 associated with the underglycosylation, and the extensively changed N-glycans structures of intracellular glycoproteins were also detected in GnT-V-AS/7721. These results supported the mechanism that blocking of GnT-V expression impaired functions of chaperones and N-glycan-synthesizing enzymes, which caused UPR in vivo.     

小花清风藤的化学成分研究

利用Sephadex LH-20,硅胶柱色谱和硅胶制备薄层色谱等分离方法反复分离纯化,从小花清风藤（Sabia parviflora Wall．ex Roxb）中分离得到9个化合物,通过波谱数据分析分别鉴定它们为二十五烷酸（1）、木栓酮（2）、5-氧阿朴菲碱（3）、3-氧化齐墩果酸甲酯（4）、齐墩果酸（5）、羽扇豆-20（29）-烯-3-酮（6）、羽扇豆醇（7）、β-谷甾醇（8）、脱镁叶绿甲酯酸（9）。化合物2,6、7、9首次从该植物中分离得到。