瘦素诱导体外培养大鼠脂肪间充质干细胞凋亡

为观察瘦素诱导体外培养大鼠脂肪间充质干细胞凋亡的作用, 采用胶原酶消化法分离培养大鼠附睾脂肪垫间充质干细胞, 第3代细胞用于实验。细胞免疫荧光化学方法鉴定CD105、Vimentin表达阳性率约80%以上, 10-6 mol/L的瘦素作用细胞48 h、72 h后激光共聚焦显微镜观察分别可见早期及中晚期特征表现; 0 mol/L、10-8 mol/L、10-7 mol/L、10-6 mol/L瘦素分别作用于细胞48 h后, 应用AnnexinⅤ/PI双染色法流式细胞仪检测早期凋亡率分别为2.50%±0.72%、6.78%±1.99%、11.99%±1.58%、17.93%±4.82% (P<0.05); 随着瘦素浓度的增加和作用时间的延长, Caspase-3的活性逐渐增高, 至48 h时达到高峰。说明瘦素可以直接诱导脂肪间充质干细胞凋亡, 从数量上减少脂肪组织的含量。     

生长温度对烟草叶片环式电子传递活性的影响（英文）

高等植物的光合机构在环境胁迫条件下非常容易产生光抑制,环式电子传递在光合机构的光保护中发挥着重要的作用。但是,生长温度对环式电子传递的影响并不清楚。本研究测定了在24/18℃和32/26℃条件下生长40天的烟草(K326)叶片的气体交换、叶绿素荧光和P700氧化还原态的光响应曲线。结果表明,烟草叶片在两种生长温度下的的光合能力、光化学淬灭、非光化学淬灭和通过光系统II的电子传递速率(ETR II)均没有差异。但是,在强光条件下,生长在24/18℃的叶片比生长在32/26℃的具有更高的通过光系统I的电子传递速率(ETR I)和ETR I/ETR II比值。短时间的强光处理后,生长在24/18℃的叶片具有较高的光系统II最大量子产额(Fv/Fm),表明环式电子传递活性的上调有助于缓解生长在24/18℃的叶片光系统II受到的光损伤。综上所述,环式电子传递活性的增强是植物适应较低生长温度的重要策略。     

Detection of an intermediate during the unfolding process of the dimeric ketosteroid isomerase

Failure to detect the intermediate in spite of its existence often leads to the conclusion that two-state transition in the unfolding process of the protein can be justified. In contrast to the previous equilibrium unfolding experiment fitted to a two-state model by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopies, an equilibrium unfolding intermediate of a dimeric ketosteroid isomerase (KSI) could be detected by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and analytical ultracentrifugation. The sizes of KSI were determined to be 18.7A in 0M urea, 17.3A in 5.2M urea, and 25.1A in 7M urea by SAXS. The size of KSI in 5.2M urea was significantly decreased compared with those in 0M and 7M urea, suggesting the existence of a compact intermediate. Sedimentation velocity as obtained by ultracentrifugation confirmed that KSI in 5.2M urea is distinctly different from native and fully-unfolded forms. The sizes measured by pulse field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were consistent with those obtained by SAXS. Discrepancy of equilibrium unfolding studies between size measurement methods and optical spectroscopies might be due to the failure in detecting the intermediate by optical spectroscopic methods. Further characterization of the intermediate using (1)H NMR spectroscopy and Kratky plot supported the existence of a partially-folded form of KSI which is distinct from those of native and fully-unfolded KSIs. Taken together, our results suggest that the formation of a compact intermediate should precede the association of monomers prior to the dimerization process during the folding of KSI.     

The Drosophila caspase Ice is important for many apoptotic cell deaths and for spermatid individualization, a nonapoptotic process

Caspase family proteases play important roles in the regulation of apoptotic cell death. Initiator caspases are activated in response to death stimuli, and they transduce and amplify these signals by cleaving and thereby activating effector caspases. In Drosophila, the initiator caspase Nc (previously Dronc) cleaves and activates two short-prodomain caspases, Dcp-1 and Ice (previously Drice), suggesting these as candidate effectors of Nc killing activity. dcp-1-null mutants are healthy and possess few defects in normally occurring cell death. To explore roles for Ice in cell death, we generated and characterized an Ice null mutant. Animals lacking Ice show a number of defects in cell death, including those that occur during embryonic development, as well as during formation of adult eyes, arista and wings. Ice mutants exhibit subtle defects in the destruction of larval tissues, and do not prevent destruction of salivary glands during metamorphosis. Cells from Ice animals are also markedly resistant to several stresses, including X-irradiation and inhibition of protein synthesis. Mutations in Ice also suppress cell death that is induced by expression of Rpr, Wrinkled (previously Hid) and Grim. These observations demonstrate that Ice plays an important non-redundant role as a cell death effector. Finally, we demonstrate that Ice participates in, but is not absolutely required for, the non-apoptotic process of spermatid differentiation.     

武汉桂子山地区冬季鸟类群落结构及多样性研究

2005年11月～2006年3月,对武汉桂子山地区冬季鸟类群落进行了调查,共记录鸟类44种,隶属10目22科。有国家Ⅱ级保护鸟类2种,湖北省重点保护鸟类16种;留鸟32种,冬候鸟11种,旅鸟1种,留鸟构成了冬季鸟类的主体;该地区冬季鸟类密度为4．30只／hm^2,物种多样性指数为2．6477,均匀性指数为0．6997。居民点、乔灌林、绿地和水域生境中,乔灌林鸟类多样性最高,数量最多。     

RILP suppresses invasion of breast cancer cells by modulating the activity of RalA through interaction with RalGDS

RILP (Rab7-interacting lysosomal protein) is a key regulator for late endosomal/lysosomal trafficking, and probably a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer. However, the role of RILP in other cancers and the underlying mechanism for RILP in regulating the invasion of cancer cells remain to be investigated. In this study, we showed that overexpression of RILP in breast cancer cells inhibits the migration and invasion, whereas the depletion of RILP by RNAi-mediated knockdown promotes the migration and invasion. We identified RalGDS (Ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator) as a novel interacting partner for RILP, and truncation analysis revealed the N-terminal region of RILP is responsible for interacting with the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) domain of RalGDS. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that RalGDS can be recruited to the late endosomal compartments by RILP. Further investigations indicated that the overexpression of RILP inhibits the activity of RalA, a downstream target of RalGDS. Our data suggest that RILP suppresses the invasion of breast cancer cells by interacting with RalGDS to inhibit its GEF activity for RalA.Diverse alternations of oncogenic factors can either activate or inactivate signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis that are intimately associated with cancer development.^{1, 2, 3} Recent studies suggest that the derailed membrane trafficking is also closely related to cancer development. Activation or attenuation of signal transduction is usually linked to membrane trafficking. The recycling and degradation of surface receptors, such as EGFR, will influence downstream signaling pathways.^{4, 5} Therefore, the cross-talk between membrane trafficking and signaling pathway could be the novel mechanism associated with cancer development.Alternations of the membrane trafficking machineries are established as the causes for some cancers. For examples, Rab25 is overexpressed in breast and ovary caners,⁶ and recent investigations suggest that Rab25 is also related to other cancers.^{7, 8, 9} Arf6 is a vital regulator for the invasive activity of breast cancer cells.¹⁰ Disordered membrane trafficking is emerging as an important property during tumorigenesis, thus the membrane trafficking machineries are potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.Rab small GTPases are considered as the master regulators for membrane trafficking.¹¹ The interactions between Rab proteins and their downstream effectors are involved in various steps of vesicle trafficking such as tethering and fusion. Aberrant activities of Rab proteins are closely related to some cancers.^{12, 13, 14, 15} Some Rab proteins mediate the trafficking of cargos, especially membrane proteins on the plasma membrane, such as integrin and E-cadherin. Their aberrant trafficking is proposed to be the underlying mechanism for the functional regulation of Rab protein in cancer cells.^{16, 17}Rab7, together with its downstream effector RILP (Rab7-interacting lysosomal protein), are the key regulators for late endosomal/lysosomal trafficking. RILP interacts with activated GTP-bound Rab7 through its carboxylic terminal region, whereas interacting with dynein/dynactin complex is mediated through its amino region, driving late endosomal/lysosomal trafficking, especially lysosomal positioning.^{18, 19} Rab7 has been demonstrated to be an important factor for cell growth and survival.^{20, 21} Recently, Steffan et al.²² found that RILP suppresses the invasion of prostate cancer cells through inhibiting the anterograde trafficking of lysosomes.²³ Whether the potential role of Rab7-RILP in cell migration/invasion is also implicated in other cancers is of interest to investigate and the underlying molecular mechanism is yet to be defined.In this study, we found that RILP suppresses the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. We also identified (Ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator (RalGDS) as a novel interacting partner for RILP. The interaction of RILP with RalGDS modulates the activity of RalA. Our results suggest that RILP suppresses the invasion of breast cancer cells by modulating the activity of RalA through interaction with RalGDS.     

八种昆虫离体细胞系对灭多威农药的敏感性研究

采用ＭＴＴ法,研究了灭多威农药对八昆虫离体细胞系敏感性的差异。结果显示,同一浓度处理下,不同细胞系细胞病变的程度不同,敏感性差异很大。ＬＣ５０值在１０＾２－１０＾５μｇ／ｍｌ范围内变化,其中,白纹伊蚊细胞系是最敏感的,而小菜蛾细胞系几乎不敏感。     

Ultrasensitive nucleic acid biosensors for early cancer diagnostics

We have developed ultrasensitive nucleic acid detection systems involving an amplification step where the analytical signal correlates directly to the amount of nucleic acid in the solution So far, we have performed nucleic acid quantification on several breast cancer susceptibility genes and were able to detect nucleic acid amounts that ranged from 0.1–1.0 fg of nucleic acid, which is at least 1000 times more sensitive than conventional fluorescent detection methods. The biosensors are so sensitive that they can be used for direct detection of breast cancer susceptibility genes in mRNA without involving a PCR step.     

实验室繁育树鼩生理指标的检测分析

对实验室繁育的22只成年树鼩进行生理指标的检测,并与正常人参考值进行对比分析。结果显示,树鼩红细胞数8.19×1012/L,高于人参考值上限;白细胞数2.21×109/L,低于人参考值下限;肌酐16.63μmol/L,低于人参考值下限;丙氨酸氨基转移酶77.92U/L和天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶179.9U/L,都高于人参考值上限;HBsAg均为阴性0.022ng/ml±0.005。表明树鼩作为更接近人类的低等灵长类动物,适合应用于研究人类疾病的动物模型。