Direct activation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1(TRPV1) by Diacylglycerol (DAG)

Voltage-gated sodium channels play important roles in modulating dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron hyperexcitability and hyperalgesia after peripheral nerve injury or inflammation. We report that chronic compression of DRG (CCD) produces profound effect on tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) and tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) sodium currents, which are different from that by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in small DRG neurons. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were obtained in vitro from L₄ and/or L₅ dissociated, small DRG neurons following in vivo DRG compression or nerve injury. The small DRG neurons were classified into slow and fast subtype neurons based on expression of the slow-inactivating TTX-R and fast-inactivating TTX-S Na⁺ currents. CCD treatment significantly reduced TTX-R and TTX-S current densities in the slow and fast neurons, but CCI selectively reduced the TTX-R and TTX-S current densities in the slow neurons. Changes in half-maximal potential (V_1/2) and curve slope (k) of steady-state inactivation of Na⁺ currents were different in the slow and fast neurons after CCD and CCI treatment. The window current of TTX-R and TTX-S currents in fast neurons were enlarged by CCD and CCI, while only that of TTX-S currents in slow neurons was increased by CCI. The decay rate of TTX-S and both TTX-R and TTX-S currents in fast neurons were reduced by CCD and CCI, respectively. These findings provide a possible sodium channel mechanism underlying CCD-induced DRG neuron hyperexcitability and hyperalgesia and demonstrate a differential effect in the Na⁺ currents of small DRG neurons after somata compression and peripheral nerve injury. This study also points to a complexity of hyperexcitability mechanisms contributing to CCD and CCI hyperexcitability in small DRG neurons.     

GI双突变体GIK253RA198C的构建及其性质分析

以双引物法对葡萄糖异构酶（GI）基因进行定点突变,将突变体基因于大肠杆菌中表达,获得了GI双点突变体GIK253RA198C.研究K253R和A198C双点突变对GI的结构和性质的作用,结果表明GIK253RA198C的热稳定性明显下降,最适反应温度降低5℃.文章从结构和机制上解释了为何同是K253R突变,对SM33 GI和密苏里游动放线菌GI的热稳定性产生不同的影响,认为这是由于Lys253在两种GI结构的位置上存在微小差异,从而使引入的Arg对亚基间的相互作用产生了相反效应所引起.     

土壤干旱条件下玉米叶片内源激素含量及光合作用的变化

利用HPLC和ELISA技术研究了土壤干旱条件下玉米叶片内源IAA、ABA、ZR、DHZR、iPA含量的变化情况 ,以及叶片光合作用过程中 ,光合速率 (Pn) ,气孔导度 (Gs) ,PSⅡ光化学效率 (Fv/Fm)的变化情况 ,结果发现 :叶片中IAA浓度 ,在整个干旱过程中变化不大 ,与对照相比下降不明显 ;IAA的浓度对干旱的反应不敏感 ;叶片中ABA浓度在干旱最初 3d里急剧升高 ,直至最大值 ,之后有所下降 ;ABA的浓度对干旱反应敏感 ,但在整个干旱过程中ABA浓度并不随土壤相对含水量的减少而逐步升高 ;叶片中ZR和DHZR的浓度在干旱过程中与对照相比变化不明显 ,iPA浓度在干旱 4d后显著下降 ;叶片Pn在干旱初始 4d里随RWC的减小而缓慢下降 ,4d之后下降迅速 ;Gs从干旱第一天起即迅速减小 ,到第 4天近乎于零 ,Fv/Fm从干旱第 5天后开始逐步减小。这些结果证实在干旱过程中叶片ABA浓度的升高对气孔导度的调节作用 ,干旱初期光合速率的下降主要是气孔关闭所致 ;干旱后期光合速率的快速下降可能是PSⅡ光反应效率降低造成的     

熊猫等动物犬瘟热病毒附着蛋白基因的遗传多样性

为了研究犬瘟热病毒（ｃａｎｉｎｅ ｄｉｓｔｅｍｐｅｒ ｖｉｒｕｓ,ＣＤＶ）大熊猫株、小熊猫株和长春犬株附着蛋白（Ｈ）基因的遗传这异,对Ｈ基因进行了序列测定。上述３个ＣＤＶ毒株的Ｈ基因全长均为１９４６ｂｐ,开放阅读框架（ＯＲＦ）始于２１－２３位的ＡＴＧ,终止于１８４２－１８４４位的ＴＧＡ,编码６０７个氨基酸。与ＧｅｎＢａｎｋ中１５个ＣＤＶ株推导的Ｈ蛋白氨基酸序列比较发现,１６个野毒株潜在的Ｈ－联糖基     

小麦与叶锈菌互作过程中的H2O2与HR

以小麦品种洛夫林10为材料,与叶锈菌生理小种165和260分别组成亲和组合和不亲和组合.以荧光探针DCFHDA标记H2O2的变化,并借助荧光显微镜原位地直观显现了叶锈菌侵染过程中小麦叶片中H2O2的动态变化.结果表明,亲和组合中H2O2爆发表现为单峰曲线,峰值出现在接种后12h;不亲和组合中表现为双峰曲线.峰值分别出现在接种后12h和20h,第二个峰比第一个高约一倍,且不亲和组合中H2O2爆发的强度远远大于亲和组合.另外,通过药理学试验,采用活体注射法对小麦叶片在接种叶锈菌小种260之前分别预注射抗氧化药物AsA、DTT以及NADPH氧化酶抑制剂DPI和咪唑.观察这些药物对不亲和组合中寄主叶片产生的H2O2和HR的影响.结果表明,抗氧化药物和NADPH氧化酶抑制剂均使寄主叶片中H2O2爆发的强度降低,表现在两个H2O2峰均受到抑制,其中第二个峰受抑制的程度更明显,同时寄主细胞发生HR的面积减小.     

Temperature and light requirements for growth of two diatom species (Bacillariophyceae) isolated from an Arctic macroalga

In the present study, two abundant epiphytic diatom taxa were isolated from the assimilation hairs of the brown macroalga Chordaria flagelliformis collected in the Arctic Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen, Norway), established as unialgal cultures and their growth rates determined under controlled photon fluence rate and temperature conditions. Using morphological (light and scanning electron microscopy) and SSU rRNA gene data both isolates (ROS D99 and ROS D125) were identified as members of a Fragilaria–Synedropsis clade. The molecular data of ROS D99 and ROS D125 were not identical to any other published sequence. While ROS D99 has been identified as Fragilaria barbararum mainly due to the SEM characteristics, ROS D125 could not be definitely identified although morphological data speak for Fragilaria striatula. Both diatom species showed similar growth rates at all temperatures and photon fluence rates tested. They grew well between 0 and 15°C with optimum temperatures of 12–14°C, but did not survive 20°C. Therefore, compared to Antarctic diatoms both taxa from Kongsfjorden can be characterised as eurythermal organisms. Increasing photon fluence rates between 2 and 15 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ were accompanied with an almost twofold increase in growth rates, but photon fluence rates >15 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ did not further enhance growth pointing to low light requirements. From these data optimum, minimum and maximum photon fluence rates and temperatures for growth can be assessed indicating that both diatoms are well acclimated to the fluctuating environmental conditions in the Arctic habitat.     

Expression of viral microRNAs in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with about 6 to 16% of gastric carcinoma cases worldwide. Expression of the EBV microRNAs (miRNAs) was observed in B cells and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells infected with EBV. However, it is not clear if the EBV miRNAs are expressed in EBV-associated gastric carcinomas (EBVaGCs). We found that BART miRNAs but not BHRF1 miRNAs were expressed in EBV-infected gastric carcinoma cell lines and the tumor tissues from patients as well as the animal model. The expression of viral miRNAs in EBVaGCs suggests that these EBV miRNAs may play important roles in the tumorigenesis of EBVaGCs.     

Prediction of global geographic distribution of Metcalfa pruinosa using CLIMEX

Globalization has changed the habitats of various species, resulting in harmful pest invasion. Among these pests, Metcalfa pruinosa has caused worldwide economic and hygienic damage in both urban and agricultural/forested areas. It has been reported that prediction of pest distribution is key to the management of pest prevention. Hence, this study aimed to predict the potential geographic distribution of M. pruinosa under the current climate and under a climate change scenario. CLIMEX, modeling software that analyzes the habitat suitability of a target species based on comprehensive climatic and physiological data, was used mainly to establish a map of predictive distribution of M. pruinosa at present and in the future. Based on our simulations, we predict that M. pruinosa will tend to extend its distribution northward in North America and Europe. We conclude that climate change could result in M. pruinosa invasion in a northward direction, suggesting the need for a thorough system of control and prevention.     

Enhancement of the Efficiency of Secretion of Heterologous Lipase in Escherichia coli by Directed Evolution of the ABC Transporter System

The ABC transporter (TliDEF) from Pseudomonas fluorescens SIK W1, which mediated the secretion of a thermostable lipase (TliA) into the extracellular space in Escherichia coli, was engineered using directed evolution (error-prone PCR) to improve its secretion efficiency. TliD mutants with increased secretion efficiency were identified by coexpressing the mutated tliD library with the wild-type tliA lipase in E. coli and by screening the library with a tributyrin-emulsified indicator plate assay and a microtiter plate-based assay. Four selected mutants from one round of error-prone PCR mutagenesis, T6, T8, T24, and T35, showed 3.2-, 2.6-, 2.9-, and 3.0-fold increases in the level of secretion of TliA lipase, respectively, but had almost the same level of expression of TliD in the membrane as the strain with the wild-type TliDEF transporter. These results indicated that the improved secretion of TliA lipase was mediated by the transporter mutations. Each mutant had a single amino acid change in the predicted cytoplasmic regions in the membrane domain of TliD, implying that the corresponding region of TliD was important for the improved and successful secretion of the target protein. We therefore concluded that the efficiency of secretion of a heterologous protein in E. coli can be enhanced by in vitro engineering of the ABC transporter.