IKK interacts with rictor and regulates mTORC2

mTORC2, the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 is activated by upstream growth factors, and performs two major functions, phosphorylation of AKT at the serine of 473 and cell cycle-dependent organization of actin cytoskeleton. However, the mechanisms through which mTORC2 is triggered by these signals remain unclear. We demonstrated, for the first time, that inhibitor of nuclear factor κ-B kinase (IKK) interacted with rictor and regulated mTORC2 activity. Not only endogenously, but ectopically expressed IKK α and IKK β physically interacted with rictor. An in vitro binding assay revealed that rictor interacted with IKKα and IKKβ from amino acids 999 to 1397. Moreover, chemical inhibition of IKK, knockdown of IKK by small interference RNA (siRNA), or ectopic expression of kinase-dead IKK (IKK KD) repressed phosphorylation of AKT (S473) in a variety of cell lines and decreased the kinase activity of mTORC2. In NIH 3 T3 cells, inhibition of IKK also reduced phosphorylation of protein kinase α (PKCα) (S657) and resulted in disorganization of actin cytoskeleton. Interestingly, the interaction between IKKα/β and rictor was increased, while the mTOR-rictor association was attenuated by inhibition of IKK. We identified a novel signaling mechanism for the regulation of mTORC2 by IKK: IKK interacted with rictor and regulated the function of mTORC2 including phosphorylation of AKT (S473) and organization of actin cytoskeleton. Inactivated IKK interacted with rictor and competed against mTOR, which resulted in a reduced mTORC2 level and a decrease in mTORC2 activity.     

铁棍山药组织培养快繁及试管珠芽离体再生体系研究

以河南温县铁棍山药带腋芽的茎段为外植体进行铁棍山药种苗快繁及珠芽离体再生体系的研究。结果表明:（1）75%乙醇浸泡30 s和5% NaClO消毒15 min配合使用灭菌效果最好;腋芽诱导最适培养基为MS+0.5 mg·L^-1 6-BA+0.1 mg·L^-1 NAA,培养20 d后诱导的多芽体倍数最高,为2.22,高度最高为3.3 cm;继代增殖最适培养基为MS+1.5 mg·L^-1 6-BA,增殖倍数可达4.1;生根培养最适培养基为1/2MS+0.2 mg·L^-1 6-BA+1.0 mg·L^-1 NAA+0.02%活性炭,平均生根天数为12 d,生根率达100%,根系最长为1.04 cm。（2）用单芽带外植体的接种方式,其珠芽诱导率及诱导的珠芽数显著高于只接单芽的接种方式,珠芽诱导率达88.9%,平均珠芽数为1.50,大小为0.38 cm×0.54 cm;蔗糖浓度为1%～3%有利于珠芽诱导,珠芽整齐度好,形状规则,试管苗叶色浓绿;离体珠芽芽诱导的最适培养基为MS+1.5 mg·L^-1 6-BA+0.2 mg·L^-1 NAA,珠芽在18～22 d发芽,30 d后诱导率最高为83.3%。该实验结果为铁棍山药试管苗的工厂化生产奠定了技术基础。     

Rice Dwarf Virus P2 Protein Hijacks Auxin Signaling by Directly Targeting the Rice OsIAA10 Protein,Enhancing Viral Infection and Disease Development

The phytohormone auxin plays critical roles in regulating myriads of plant growth and developmental processes. Microbe infection can disturb auxin signaling resulting in defects in these processes, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Auxin signaling begins with perception of auxin by a transient co-receptor complex consisting of an F-box transport inhibitor response 1/auxin signaling F-box (TIR1/AFB) protein and an auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) protein. Auxin binding to the co-receptor triggers ubiquitination and 26S proteasome degradation of the Aux/IAA proteins, leading to subsequent events, including expression of auxin-responsive genes. Here we report that Rice dwarf virus (RDV), a devastating pathogen of rice, causes disease symptoms including dwarfing, increased tiller number and short crown roots in infected rice as a result of reduced sensitivity to auxin signaling. The RDV capsid protein P2 binds OsIAA10, blocking the interaction between OsIAA10 and OsTIR1 and inhibiting 26S proteasome-mediated OsIAA10 degradation. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing wild-type or a dominant-negative (degradation-resistant) mutant of OsIAA10 phenocopy RDV symptoms are more susceptible to RDV infection; however, knockdown of OsIAA10 enhances the resistance of rice to RDV infection. Our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism of viral protein reprogramming of a key step in auxin signaling initiation that enhances viral infection and pathogenesis.     

2种鼠尾草对NaCl胁迫的耐受性比较及其生理机制研究

以具有较高药用和观赏价值的美丽鼠尾草和贵州鼠尾草为实验材料,分析2种鼠尾草在NaCl(0、200、300、400、500、600mmol·L-1)胁迫下的生长、叶绿素含量、保护酶活性和有机渗透调节物质含量的变化,以明确2种鼠尾草对NaCl胁迫的耐受性差异及其生理机制。结果显示:(1)在实验NaCl浓度范围内,美丽鼠尾草的受害程度均高于贵州鼠尾草;(2)随着NaCl浓度的提高,贵州鼠尾草叶片叶绿素含量无显著变化,而美丽鼠尾草叶绿素含量逐渐显著降低;(3)当NaCl浓度从0增加到500mmol·L-1时,2种鼠尾草叶片的POD、CAT活性以及可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸含量逐渐升高,且美丽鼠尾草叶片的SOD活性也逐渐升高;(4)当NaCl浓度达到600mmol·L-1时,美丽鼠尾草叶片可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸含量继续增加,SOD、POD和CAT活性开始降低但仍显著高于对照,而贵州鼠尾草叶片的POD和CAT活性继续增加,可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸含量开始降低但仍显著高于对照。研究表明,贵州鼠尾草在NaCl胁迫下具有较高的渗透调节物质含量,而且随着NaCl浓度的增加能够维持较高的保护酶活性,因此对NaCl胁迫的耐受性强于美丽鼠尾草。     

Building homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays for characterization of bivalent inhibitors of an inhibitor of apoptosis protein target

XIAP (X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein) is a central apoptosis regulator that blocks cell death by inhibiting caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-9 via binding interactions with the XIAP BIR2 and BIR3 domains (where BIR is baculovirus IAP repeat). Smac protein, in its dimeric form, effectively antagonizes XIAP by concurrently targeting both its BIR2 and BIR3 domains. Here we describe the development of highly sensitive homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (HTRF) assays to measure binding affinities of potent bivalent peptidomimetic inhibitors of XIAP. Our results indicate that these assays can differentiate Smac-mimetic inhibitors with a wide range of binding affinities down to the picomolar range. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of these fluorescent tools for characterization of inhibitor off-rates, which as a crucial determinant of target engagement and cellular potency is another important parameter to guide optimization in a structure-based drug discovery effort. Our study also explores how increased inhibitor valency can lead to enhanced potency at multimeric proteins such as IAP.     

葡萄糖淀粉酶在高压静电纺PEI/PVA纳米纤维膜上的离子吸附固定

旨在应用离子结合法将葡萄糖淀粉酶固定在PEI/PVA纳米纤维膜上并对其理化性质进行研究。采用高压静电纺丝技术制备聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)/聚乙烯醇(PVA)纳米纤维膜,采用热交联方法使其具备水稳定性后,再利用离子吸附法固定葡萄糖淀粉酶。结果显示,利用红外光谱(FT-IR)表征固定有葡萄糖淀粉酶的PEI/PVA纳米纤维膜,表明葡萄糖淀粉酶可成功固定在静电纺丝形成的PEI/PVA纳米纤维膜表面。通过固定化葡萄糖淀粉酶的酶学性质鉴定,发现固定化葡萄糖淀粉酶的最适反应温度为65℃,比游离的葡萄糖淀粉酶提高了6℃;固定化葡萄糖淀粉酶的适用p H值范围明显变宽;热稳定性和存贮稳定性显著增强且可以重复使用。利用离子吸附法能简便地将蛋白质分子固定于纳米纤维膜上,具有一定的应用前景。     

同源重组法构建枯草芽孢杆菌224 yugS基因缺失突变株

从枯草芽孢杆菌224的基因组DNA中分别扩增出溶血样基因yugS的上、下游片段,并利用携带新霉素抗性基因(neor)的重组质粒pMD18-T-neo作为骨架,构建了基于yugS基因位点的基因阻断质粒pMD18-T-neo-yugS,线性化后电转化入枯草杆菌224,从新霉素抗性平板上挑取转化子,通过对基因组的PCR鉴定和核苷酸测序证明,确定转化子yugS156为yugS基因缺失突变株。     

Hepatitis B virus sensitizes hepatocytes to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through Bax

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection afflicts >300 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of hepatocyte death, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. While the morphological characteristics of dying hepatocytes are well documented, the molecular mechanisms leading to the death of hepatocytes during HBV infection are not well understood. TRAIL, the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, has recently been implicated in the death of hepatocytes under certain inflammatory but not normal conditions. To determine the potential roles of TRAIL in HBV-induced hepatitis, we examined the effects of HBV and its X protein (HBx) on TRAIL-induced hepatocyte apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. We found that hepatitis and hepatic cell death in HBV transgenic mice were significantly inhibited by a soluble TRAIL receptor that blocks TRAIL function. We also found that HBV or HBx transfection of a hepatoma cell line significantly increased its sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The increase in TRAIL sensitivity were associated with a dramatic up-regulation of Bax protein expression. Knocking down Bax expression using Bax-specific small interference RNA blocked HBV-induced hepatitis and hepatocyte apoptosis. The degradation of caspases 3 and 9, but not that of Bid or caspase-8, was preferentially affected by Bax knockdown. These results establish that HBV sensitizes hepatocytes to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through Bax and that Bax-specific small interference RNA can be used to inhibit HBV-induced hepatic cell death.