Structure and Specificity of the Bacterial Cysteine Methyltransferase Effector NleE Suggests a Novel Substrate in Human DNA Repair Pathway

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and related enterobacteria rely on a type III secretion system (T3SS) effector NleE to block host NF-κB signaling. NleE is a first in class, novel S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase that methylates a zinc-coordinating cysteine in the Npl4-like Zinc Finger (NZF) domains in TAB2/3 adaptors in the NF-κB pathway, but its mechanism of action and other human substrates are unknown. Here we solve crystal structure of NleE-SAM complex, which reveals a methyltransferase fold different from those of known ones. The SAM, cradled snugly at the bottom of a deep and narrow cavity, adopts a unique conformation ready for nucleophilic attack by the methyl acceptor. The substrate NZF domain can be well docked into the cavity, and molecular dynamic simulation indicates that Cys673 in TAB2-NZF is spatially and energetically favorable for attacking the SAM. We further identify a new NleE substrate, ZRANB3, that functions in PCNA binding and remodeling of stalled replication forks at the DNA damage sites. Specific inactivation of the NZF domain in ZRANB3 by NleE offers a unique opportunity to suggest that ZRANB3-NZF domain functions in DNA repair processes other than ZRANB3 recruitment to DNA damage sites. Our analyses suggest a novel and unexpected link between EPEC infection, virulence proteins and genome integrity.     

凹唇壁蜂的耐寒性及生殖潜力研究

在滞育期和滞育结束后 (成虫出茧之前 ) ,分别测定凹唇壁蜂越冬成虫的耐寒性 ,结果表明 :滞育期成虫的过冷却点和体液冰点分别为 -2 6 4 8℃和 -2 0 91℃ ,解除滞育后分别为 -1 8 4 0℃和-1 1 78℃。自然条件下 ,凹唇壁蜂在我国北方大部分地区可安全越冬。在筑巢前期 ,对雌蜂的生殖系统解剖观察发现 ,卵巢由 6根卵巢管组成 ,卵母细胞总数平均为 55 9± 4 4 6个 ,卵原区在成虫筑巢期不再产生卵母细胞。     

Insulin-producing cells from human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells detected by atomic force microscope

We successfully differentiated human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (haMSCs) into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) in vitro and did not use any insulin which might be absorbed by cells during in vitro culture. Expression of insulin gene was massively increased by 28,000-fold at day 12 compared with haMSCs (P < 0.05). IPCs could secrete insulin after glucose was stimulated. The higher the concentration of glucose, the more production of insulin was noted. We reported AFM images of IPCs for the first time. AFM images showed that the sizes of cells were similar to each other, and all IPC surface had a porous structure in the cytoplasm area. In sugar-free group, the size of holes was similar (diameter, 1,086.98 ± 156.70 nm; depth, 185.22 ± 52.14 nm). In higher sugar-stimulated group, there were more holes with bigger diameter and smaller depth. (diameter, 3,183.65 ± 2,229.18 nm; depth 109.42 ± 56.26 nm, P < 0.05). We found that the hole diameter and depth could change with the concentration of glucose in media. Concurrently, laser scanning confocal microscopy images indicated that cortical actin network beneath plasma membrane in IPCs was dense and continuous. After glucose stimulation, we found the actin web depolymerized and became discontinuous in IPCs. We speculated that diameter augmentation of holes located in the cytoplasm area in IPCs was one manifestation of excytosis increase.     

慢性乙型肝炎舌红苔黄和舌淡苔白不同舌象的尿代谢组研究

目的：探索慢性乙型肝炎舌红苔黄和舌淡苔白不同舌象者的尿代谢差异指标,为中医舌象生物学物质基础微观辨证提供证据。方法：采用气相色谱／质谱联用（GC／MS ）技术方法获取慢性乙型肝炎舌红苔黄和舌淡苔白不同舌象者的尿液样本代谢指纹谱,用无监督的学习模式进行多变量统计分析,观察不同组别的人群之间是否存在“自然”的分类结构。利用有监督的学习模式进行数据分类模型的建立和检验,寻找造成样本聚集和离散的主要差异变量。利用商业化的代谢物谱库以及标准品数据库,进行物质鉴定。结果：慢性乙型肝炎舌红苔黄和舌淡苔白者在有监督的学习模式下具有良好的分开趋势,慢乙肝不同舌象者较健康者的差异代谢物谱主要与能量代谢、氨基酸代谢、核苷酸代谢以及肠道菌群代谢相关。结论：舌象是机体变化的重要窗口,不同舌象的外在表观潜在体内的代谢差异。     

吉林省东部粳稻生长和产量对移栽期和温度变化的反应

以中晚熟水稻品种"吉粳811"为研究对象,于2013年和2014年在延吉市进行分期播种/移栽试验,分析了吉林省东部地区一季粳稻生长速度和产量对移栽期及温度变化的响应规律,确定该品种在研究地区的适宜播种期和移栽期,以减免低温冷害的影响。结果表明:播期/移栽期的推迟提升了生长季平均气温,水稻生长发育进程加快,有效生育期缩短,主要生长季内平均气温每升高1℃,水稻生长速率提升19%,生育期缩短5 d左右;吉林省东部地区水稻的适宜移栽温度为日均气温13.0℃,移栽过早或偏晚均导致减产;中晚熟品种水稻在4月18日前后播种、5月26日前后移栽可保证在霜前成熟,且产量高;中晚熟品种水稻移栽至成熟适宜活动积温为2280℃·d左右,活动积温每减少100℃·d,水稻产量下降1095 kg·hm~(-2)(约减产13%);积温不足导致水稻冷害发生,因而减产。