Programmed cell clearance: Molecular regulation of the elimination of apoptotic cell corpses and its role in the resolution of inflammation

Programmed cell clearance is a physiological process of elimination of apoptotic cell corpses. Recent studies have disclosed several ligand-receptor interactions that dictate the recognition or non-recognition of cells by macrophages and other phagocytes. The externalization of the anionic phospholipid, phosphatidylserine is effectively recognized by specific receptors on professional phagocytes and facilitates the clearance of apoptotic cells. Macrophage disposal of cells at sites of inflammation is believed to play an important role in the resolution of the inflammatory process, and recent studies have suggested a role for the NADPH oxidase in the process of macrophage elimination of activated neutrophils. The present review will focus on the molecular regulation of programmed cell clearance, and discuss the role of cell elimination in the resolution of inflammation.     

益气活血方对肝星形细胞（HSC）Ⅰ型胶原的表达影响的研究

研究益气活血方剂抑制HSC合成Ⅰ型胶原的作用和生物学机制。采用免疫性肝纤维化大鼠模型,制备不同造模时间的病理血清、正常血清和益气活血方药物血清培养肝星形细胞HSC（Hepatic stellate cells）激光共 焦显微镜定量分析Ⅰ型胶原的表达。结果显示：（1）正常大鼠血清培养继代HSC表达较多的Ⅰ型胶原。纤维化模型大鼠血清诱导HSC表达的Ⅰ型胶原低于正常大鼠,益气活血药物血清可抑制纤维化模型血清诱导的HSCⅠ型胶原的表达,P＜0.05。（2）3周模型血清培养的HSC中分别加入10^-6、10^-7和10^-8ngγ-干扰素表明;10^-6、10^-7ngγ-干扰素和益气活血方具有相同的抑制HSC表达Ⅰ型胶原的作用,10^-7ngγ－干扰素抑制作用次之,P＜0.01。（3）1％胎牛血清可使原代HSC表达低水平Ⅰ型胶原。结果表明:益气活血方剂能够抑制HSC合成Ⅰ型胶原,其作用机制是改变了HSC的生活状态。     

植物类萜生物合成途径及关键酶的研究进展

萜类化合物是植物中广泛存在的一类代谢产物,在植物的生长、发育过程中起着重要的作用。植物中的萜类化合物有两条合成途径:甲羟戊酸途径和5-磷酸脱氧木酮糖/2C-甲基4-磷酸-4D-赤藓糖醇途径。这两条途径中都存在一系列调控萜类化合物生成、结构和功能各异的酶,其中关键酶的作用决定了下游萜类化合物的产量。植物类萜生物合成途径的调控以及该途径中关键酶的研究已成为目前国内外生物学领域的一大热点。综述了植物类萜生物合成途径和参与该途径的关键酶及其基因工程的研究进展,并展望了其应用前景。     

人CD55基因的克隆及其转基因构件的组装

本实验采用人肝组织作为RNA的来源 ,经RT -PCR扩增得到CD55基因的cDNA片段。与人α -珠蛋白启动子及其polyA序列重组 ,插入质粒载体pGEM - 5zf,获得了可用于受精卵原核显微注射的基因构件 ,为建立人CD55转基因动物模型奠定了基础。     

Highly Sensitive SPR Sensor Based on Ag-ITO-BlueP/TMDCs-Graphene Heterostructure

Plasmonics - The novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on hybrid structure of Ag-indium tin oxide (ITO)-blue phosphorene (BlueP)/transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs)-graphene is...     

Overexpression of a NAC-domain protein promotes shoot branching in rice

For a better understanding of shoot branching in rice (Oryza sativa), a rice activation-tagging library was screened for mutations in tiller development. Here, an activation-tagging mutant Ostil1 (Oryza sativa tillering1) was characterized, which showed increased tillers, enlarged tiller angle and semidwarf phenotype. Flanking sequence was obtained by plasmid rescue. RNA-interfering and overexpression transgenic rice plants were produced using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The mutant phenotype was cosegregated with the reallocation of Ds element, and the flanking region of the reallocated Ds element was identified as part of the OsNAC2 gene. Northern analysis showed that expression of OsNAC2 was greatly induced in the mutant plants. Transgenic rice overexpressing the OsNAC2 resulted in recapture of the mutant phenotype, while downregulation of OsNAC2 in the Ostil1 mutant through RNA interfering (RNAi) complemented the mutant phenotype, confirming that the Ostil1 was caused by overexpression of OsNAC2. Overexpression of OsNAC2 regulates shoot branching in rice. Overexpression of OsNAC2 contributes tiller bud outgrowth, but does not affect tiller bud initiation. This suggests that OsNAC2 has potential utility for improving plant structure for higher light-use efficiency and higher yield potential in rice.