抗siRNA的GFP-Plk1同义突变表达载体及其稳定细胞系的构建

目的:构建GFP-Plk1同义突变表达载体及其稳定转染细胞系。方法:设计Polo样激酶1(Plk1)si RNA序列及相对应的同义突变引物,并利用二次PCR方法扩增Plk1基因,定向克隆到p Rex-EGFP-IRES-Hygro载体中,构建p Rex-EGFP-r Plk1-IRES-Hygro表达载体;利用逆转录病毒感染的方法,构建He La/GFP-r Plk1稳定细胞系;利用免疫印迹及激光共聚焦显微镜,验证Plk1 si RNA的干扰效果及稳定细胞系的构建。结果:双酶切鉴定和测序结果表明构建的p Rex-EGFP-r Plk1-IRES-Hygro正确;免疫印迹实验证明Plk1 si RNA序列可以有效抑制He La/GFP-r Plk1细胞中内源性Plk1蛋白的表达,但不能干扰掉外源GFP-r Plk1蛋白;在荧光共聚焦显微镜下,观察到有丝分裂的前中期和末期,GFP-r Plk1分别定位于着丝粒和中间体上。结论:构建了Plk1同义突变表达载体p Rex-EGFP-r Plk1-IRES-Hygro和He La/GFP-r Plk1稳定细胞系,为下一步研究Plk1在有丝分裂期的调控机制提供了模型。     

Identification of Novel miRNAs and miRNA Expression Profiling in Wheat Hybrid Necrosis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in a vast array of biological processes, including growth and development, defense against viral infection, and responses to environmental changes in plant. Wheat hybrid necrosis is an interesting genetic phenomenon observed frequency and it is lethal or semi lethal, resulting in gradual death or loss of productivity. However, the molecular basis and mechanisms associated with hybrid necrosis in wheat are still not well understood. Here, we report the population and expression profiles of miRNAs in wheat hybrid necrosis. We identified a total of 57 conserved miRNA families as well as 182 putative novel miRNAs. Expression profiling revealed that expression of 49 known miRNAs and 165 novel miRNAs was changed in hybrid necrosis. And the expression levels of some miRNAs and their predicated targets have been confirmed by qRT-PCR. These results indicate that these miRNAs, especially miR159, miR166, miR167 and miR5072 could be involved in the extensive regulation of gene expression in response to hybrid necrosis.     

Lipidomic Analysis Links Mycobactin Synthase K to Iron Uptake and Virulence in M. tuberculosis

The prolonged survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) in the host fundamentally depends on scavenging essential nutrients from host sources. M. tb scavenges non-heme iron using mycobactin and carboxymycobactin siderophores, synthesized by mycobactin synthases (Mbt). Although a general mechanism for mycobactin biosynthesis has been proposed, the biological functions of individual mbt genes remain largely untested. Through targeted gene deletion and global lipidomic profiling of intact bacteria, we identify the essential biochemical functions of two mycobactin synthases, MbtK and MbtN, in siderophore biosynthesis and their effects on bacterial growth in vitro and in vivo. The deletion mutant, ΔmbtN, produces only saturated mycobactin and carboxymycobactin, demonstrating an essential function of MbtN as the mycobactin dehydrogenase, which affects antigenicity but not iron uptake or M. tb growth. In contrast, deletion of mbtK ablated all known forms of mycobactin and its deoxy precursors, defining MbtK as the essential acyl transferase. The mbtK mutant showed markedly reduced iron scavenging and growth in vitro. Further, ΔmbtK was attenuated for growth in mice, demonstrating a non-redundant role of hydroxamate siderophores in virulence, even when other M. tb iron scavenging mechanisms are operative. The unbiased lipidomic approach also revealed unexpected consequences of perturbing mycobactin biosynthesis, including extreme depletion of mycobacterial phospholipids. Thus, lipidomic profiling highlights connections among iron acquisition, phospholipid homeostasis, and virulence, and identifies MbtK as a lynchpin at the crossroads of these phenotypes.     

Prediction of trabecular bone principal structural orientation using quantitative ultrasound scanning

Bone has the ability to adapt its structure in response to the mechanical environment as defined as Wolff's Law. The alignment of trabecular structure is intended to adapt to the particular mechanical milieu applied to it. Due to the absence of normal mechanical loading, it will be extremely important to assess the anisotropic deterioration of bone during the extreme conditions, i.e., long term space mission and disease orientated disuse, to predict risk of fractures. The propagation of ultrasound wave in trabecular bone is substantially influenced by the anisotropy of the trabecular structure. Previous studies have shown that both ultrasound velocity and amplitude is dependent on the incident angle of the ultrasound signal into the bone sample. In this work, seven bovine trabecular bone balls were used for rotational ultrasound measurement around three anatomical axes to elucidate the ability of ultrasound to identify trabecular orientation. Both ultrasound attenuation (ATT) and fast wave velocity (UV) were used to calculate the principal orientation of the trabecular bone. By comparing to the mean intercept length (MIL) tensor obtained from μCT, the angle difference of the prediction by UV was 4.45°, while it resulted in 11.67° angle difference between direction predicted by μCT and the prediction by ATT. This result demonstrates the ability of ultrasound as a non-invasive measurement tool for the principal structural orientation of the trabecular bone.     

Effect of berberine hydrochloride on grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella serum bactericidal activity against Edwardsiella ictaluri

Bactericidal activity of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) serum was significantly enhanced when pre-treated with 15 mg l?1 or 3 mg l?1 of berberine hydrochloride, an effective component of several commonly used herbal medicines in aquaculture. The complement consumption experiment demonstrated that berberine hydrochloride can certainly activate fish complement system. The results of both experiments suggested that berberine hydrochloride could enhance the serum bactericidal activity in grass carp by activating the complement system and indicating the potential in the prevention or treatment of fish diseases.