Design, expression, and characterization of a novel targeted plectasin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A novel specifically targeted antimicrobial peptide (STAMP) that was especially effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was designed by fusing the AgrD1 pheromone to the N-terminal end of plectasin. This STAMP was named Agplectasin, and its gene was synthesized and expressed in Pichia pastoris X-33 via pPICZαA. The highest amount of total secreted protein reached 1,285.5 mg/l at 108 h during the 120-h induction. The recombinant Agplectasin (rAgP) was purified by cation exchange chromatography and hydrophobic exchange chromatography; its yield reached 150 mg/l with 94 % purity. The rAgP exhibited strong bactericidal activity against S. aureus but not Staphylococcus epidermidis or other types of tested bacteria. A bactericidal kinetics assay showed that the rAgP killed over 99.9 % of tested S. aureus (ATCC 25923 and ATCC 43300) in both Mueller–Hinton medium and human blood within 10 h when treated with 4× minimal inhibitory concentration. The rAgP caused only approximately 1 % hemolysis of human blood cells, even when the concentration reached 512 μg/ml, making it potentially feasible as a clinical injection agent. In addition, it maintained a high activity over a wide range of pH values (2.0–10.0) and demonstrated a high thermal stability at 100 °C for 1 h. These results suggested that this STAMP has the potential to eliminate MRSA strains without disrupting the normal flora.     

利用农杆菌介导的瞬时表达系统研究CYC类TCP蛋白的亚细胞定位

CYCLOIDEA（CYC）类TCP基因在豆科与玄参科植物中都参与了两侧对称花型的发育,但它们的具体功能有明显的差异。通过在豌豆花瓣中建立农杆菌EHA105介导的瞬时表达系统,观察到豆科植物百脉根和玄参科植物金鱼草的CYC类TCP蛋白亚细胞定位有明显区别。     

Plasmid RFLP profiling and DNA homology inThermus isolated from hot springs of different geographical areas

Thirty-four strains belonging to various species of the genus Thermus (T. aquaticus, "T. thermophilus," "T. brockianus," T. scotoductus, and genomic species 2) isolated from hot springs of different geographical areas were examined for plasmid content and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of plasmid DNAs. The four strains of the numerical taxonomy cluster E of genomic species 2 did not harbor plasmid DNA. Overall examination of the HindIII-RFLP profiling of plasmid DNA showed considerable variability between and within genomic species, with the exception of presumed clonal isolates. In spite of this heterogeneity, HindIII plasmid digests within a numerical taxonomic cluster gave a subset of restriction fragments of similar or identical length. Strains belonging to genomic species 2 or unclassified isolates from S. Pedro do Sul that harbored plasmid DNA (7 of the 14 strains studied) exhibited strong DNA homology between plasmid regions. No homologous sequences to these plasmid regions were found in chromosomal DNA from strains isolated from S. Pedro do Sul in which no plasmids were detected. The strains belonging to T. scotoductus formed two plasmid DNA homology groups, as estimated by probing with a plasmid fragment that coincided with the two numerical taxonomy clusters proposed previously. Among the other species, homology of plasmid regions was also found between some strains. Strong homology was also found between plasmid regions from some strains of different taxonomic groups, isolated from the same and from different sources, suggesting that these sequences are highly conserved in plasmids present in Thermus. For plasmid-containing strains, results of plasmid RFLP profiling/DNA homology appear promising for the typing of Thermus at the level of biotypes or of individual strains, namely, for monitoring the diversity and frequency of isolates from a particular hot spring. Received: 24 October 1994 / Accepted: 6 March 1995     

阳离子诱导大叶藻叶绿体膜中激发能在PSⅡ和PSⅠ之间分配变化的机理(英文)

用Ｃａ２＋ 和胰酶处理大叶藻（Ｚｏｓｔｅｒａ ｍ ａｒｉｎａ）叶绿体膜研究了其类囊体膜多肽成分与Ｍｇ２＋ 诱导其Ｃｈｌａ荧光和类囊体膜表面电荷变化之间的相互关系,观察到：１．在正常的叶绿体膜中,Ｍｇ２＋ 诱导ＰＳⅡ荧光强度的增高与其诱导类囊体膜表面电荷密度的降低密切相关;２．用Ｃａ２＋ 处理这种叶绿体膜,除去类囊体膜表面的３２～３４ ｋＤ多肽对Ｍｇ２＋ 诱导的上述现象无影响;３．如果用胰酶消化Ｃａ２＋ 处理过的叶绿体膜,进一步除去膜表面的２６ ｋＤ多肽,Ｍｇ２＋诱导的这些现象则全部消失。这些实验结果清楚地表明,在大叶藻的叶绿体膜中,类囊体膜表面的２６ ｋＤ 多肽是阳离子诱导这两种相关现象的特异性作用部位。对阳离子调节激发能在ＰＳⅡ和ＰＳⅠ之间分配的机理进行了讨论     

水稻OsTB1基因的结构及其表达分析

TCP基因是一类植物中新发现的、可能具有转录因子活性的基因家族,成员包括金鱼草的Cyclodiea (Cyc)、玉米的Teosinte Branched1 (TB1)以及水稻中的PCF1、PCF2等.玉米的TB1基因有维持玉米顶端优势的作用,与分蘖的发生密切相关;水稻和玉米同属禾本科,在发育的过程中都有分蘖的发生.通过筛选水稻的基因组文库,得到了水稻中的一个TB1同源基因Oryza sativa Teosinte Branched1 (OsTB1).该基因不含内含子,基因编码一个长度为388个氨基酸的蛋白,在氨基酸水平上与TB1的同源性为70%,含有保守的TCP区和R区,是属于TCP基因家族的一个成员.RT-PCR和mRNA原位杂交分析结果表明,OsTB1在水稻的侧芽中有很强的表达,在花序中有较弱的表达.以上结果显示该基因可能在水稻侧芽和花序的起始和发育过程中起重要作用.     

Systematic review of Atractus schach (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) species complex from the Guiana Shield with description of three new species

The Guiana Shield harbours one of the best preserved and largest extents of tropical forest on Earth and an immense biodiversity. The herpetofauna of this region remains poorly known. The species-rich snake genus Atractus contains ～140 species, many with complicated taxonomic histories, including A. schach. Examination of specimens in museums and newly collected material from French Guiana has allowed the illustration of hemipenial morphology for the first time and an expanded diagnosis. Concatenated molecular phylogenetic (mitochondrial and nuclear genes) and phenotypic (morphometrics, external and hemipenial morphology) analyses confirm non-monophyly of the A. flammigerus group and indicate that A. schach is a species complex with three new species described here. The geographic distribution of A. schach sensu stricto is restricted to Guiana, Surinam, and French Guiana north of Tumucumaque massif. Populations tentatively assigned to A. schach from the east from French Guiana in the Roura lowlands to Almeirim, and from central Amazonia between the Negro and Trombetas rivers in Brazil are also recognized as new species. Our results suggest that populations from south of the Amazon River are not conspecific with those from the Guiana Shield.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A7AE40BC-4716-4302-B3BE-1F43600B0A72     

Post-translational modifications in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity

Mercury (Hg) exposure remains a major public health concern due to its widespread distribution in the environment. Organic mercurials, such as MeHg, have been extensively investigated especially because of their congenital effects. In this context, studies on the molecular mechanism of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity are pivotal to the understanding of its toxic effects and the development of preventive measures. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation are essential for the proper function of proteins and play important roles in the regulation of cellular homeostasis. The rapid and transient nature of many PTMs allows efficient signal transduction in response to stress. This review summarizes the current knowledge of PTMs in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, including the most commonly PTMs, as well as PTMs induced by oxidative stress and PTMs of antioxidant proteins. Though PTMs represent an important molecular mechanism for maintaining cellular homeostasis and are involved in the neurotoxic effects of MeHg, we are far from understanding the complete picture on their role, and further research is warranted to increase our knowledge of PTMs in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity.     

人胰岛素原C肽的合成及专一性抗体制备

利用固相多肽合成中的Boc途径合成了人胰岛素原C肽 ,经TSK柱层析一步纯化 ,产物达HPLC及毛细管电泳均一 ,蛋白质序列分析和质谱分析符合理论值 ,总回收率高达 41 %。为了提高寡肽抗体的专一性 ,我们将丙烯酰化的C肽经催化聚合形成了以聚丙酰为骨架 ,C肽为侧链的聚合体 ,分子量约为 2 5kD。免疫新西兰大白兔 1月 ,获得专一性抗体。用酶联免疫吸附法测得抗血清滴度达 2 .5× 1 0 4 ,与BSA无交叉反应。聚丙酰C肽抗原是制备C肽抗体的一种新的尝试 ,而且也可能成为新的多肽工程疫苗之一 ,为其他传染性疾病多肽疫苗的研究提供新的途径     

脱脂蛋白模型多肽与脂质体相互作用的高效液相色谱研究

应用凝胶过滤高效液相色谱,测定了两个两亲性多肽Ａｍｐ１和Ａｍｐ２进入磷脂酰甘油／磷脂酰胆碱脂双层的表观分配常数,并利用三硝基苯磺酸分析研究了与脂质体结合的多肽的氨基暴露状况。由结果推测,处于膜结合状态的多肽的氨基端是暴露于水相的;Ａｍｐ１与脂双层相互作用强于Ａｍｐ２,一方面表现为Ａｍｐ１比Ａｍｐ２埋膜较深,另一方面表现为Ａｍｐ１与脂双层的结合能力比Ａｍｐ２强,而主要表现在于后者。此外也发现两个多肽在缓冲液中处于几乎不存在暴露的氨基的聚合状态。     

利用FRET技术在活细胞内研究红景天甙对Aβ25-35诱导PCI2细胞凋亡的抑制作用

为研究红景天甙（salidroside）对β淀粉样肽25-35（β amyloid peptide25-35,Aβ25-35）诱导PC12细胞凋亡的抑制作用,采用Cell Counting Kit-8（CCK-8）分析细胞的存活率,通过光镜检测细胞形态并配以Hoechst染色检测细胞核固缩,利用荧光共振能量转移（fluorescence resonance energy transfer,FRET）技术在单个活细胞中检测caspase-3和caspase-8活性的动态变化。结果表明,红景天甙可剂量依赖性抑制Aβ25-35引起的细胞凋亡,提高细胞的存活率;红景天甙对caspase-3的活性有明显的抑制作用,而且Aβ25-35诱导细胞凋亡不依赖于caspase-8的激活。这些结果提示抑制caspase-3的活性是红景天甙抑制Aβ25-35诱导PC12细胞凋亡的机制之一。