PLK1 phosphorylates mitotic centromere-associated kinesin and promotes its depolymerase activity

During cell division, interaction between kinetochores and dynamic spindle microtubules governs chromosome movements. The microtubule depolymerase mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK) is a key regulator of mitotic spindle assembly and dynamics. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying its depolymerase activity during the cell cycle remain elusive. Here, we showed that PLK1 is a novel regulator of MCAK in mammalian cells. MCAK interacts with PLK1 in vitro and in vivo. The neck and motor domain of MCAK associates with the kinase domain of PLK1. MCAK is a novel substrate of PLK1, and the phosphorylation stimulates its microtubule depolymerization activity of MCAK in vivo. Overexpression of a polo-like kinase 1 phosphomimetic mutant MCAK causes a dramatic increase in misaligned chromosomes and in multipolar spindles in mitotic cells, whereas overexpression of a nonphosphorylatable MCAK mutant results in aberrant anaphase with sister chromatid bridges, suggesting that precise regulation of the MCAK activity by PLK1 phosphorylation is critical for proper microtubule dynamics and essential for the faithful chromosome segregation. We reasoned that dynamic regulation of MCAK phosphorylation by PLK1 is required to orchestrate faithful cell division, whereas the high levels of PLK1 and MCAK activities seen in cancer cells may account for a mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of genomic instability.     

κ-卡拉胶邻苯二甲酰基化衍生物的抗氧化活性研究

对κ-卡拉胶进行酸降解得到三种卡拉胶低聚糖,并进一步与苯二甲酰基合成制得三种分子量分别为1450、2520和3430的κ-卡拉胶邻苯二甲酰衍生物(LA、LB和LC)。对产物进行IR表征并对其取代度(DS)进行测定,并检测了产物对羟基自由基.OH、DPPH自由基和过氧化氢的清除活性以及还原能力。结果表明,上述三种κ-卡拉胶邻苯二甲酰衍生物的抗氧化能力强弱顺序依次为:LC>LA>LB,这可能与衍生物的羟基含量、取代基团的性质以及取代度等因素有关。     

广西邦亮长臂猿自然保护区的鸟类

摘要：于2006年5月及2010年的1月、5月和9～ 10月,采用样线法和定点观察法,结合雾网法对邦亮自然保护区鸟类资源进行了调查。共记录到鸟类223种,隶属于14目49科,其中留鸟146种、夏候鸟40种、冬候鸟34种、旅鸟3种。区系分析表明,保护区鸟类具有典型的华南区区系特点和显著的北热带特征。保护区有国家Ⅱ级重点保...     

An emerging role for TOR signaling in mammalian tissue and stem cell physiology

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a kinase that responds to a myriad of signals, ranging from nutrient availability and energy status, to cellular stressors, oxygen sensors and growth factors. The finely tuned response of mTOR to these stimuli results in alterations to cell metabolism and cell growth. Recent studies of conditional knockouts of mTOR pathway components in mice have affirmed the role of mTOR signaling in energy balance, both at the cell and whole organism levels. Such studies have also highlighted a role for mTOR in stem cell homeostasis and lifespan determination. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of TOR signaling and review recent in vitro and in vivo studies of mTOR tissue-specific activities in mammals.     

六个肥胖相关基因在食蟹猴2型糖尿病不同发病时期的差异表达

2型糖尿病(T2DM)是一种与基因密切相关的高发性代谢性疾病。采用高脂饮食(其中含15%猪油)喂养25只中老年雄性食蟹猴的方法,制备T2DM模型,通过检测血糖与血脂水平确定疾病发展进程,并利用实时PCR对外周血白细胞中的6个肥胖相关基因mRNA表达量进行测定。食蟹猴T2DM在临床前期和临床期口服糖耐量实验(OGTT)2-h血糖值分别为(11.06±6.05)mmol/L和(13.12±2.89)mmol/L,显著高于正常组;空腹血糖在临床期达到最大值,为(7.58±1.56)mmol/L(P<0.01),说明其T2DM模型被成功诱导。但所检测的6个糖尿病肥胖相关基因中只有CDKN2B、IGF2BP2和FTOmRNA表达量与糖尿病发病进程呈正相关,且临床期IGF2BP2和FTO的表达量分别是对照组的65.92倍和4.30倍,差异极显著(P<0.01)。因此,基因CDKN2B、IGF2BP2和FTO可作为食蟹猴糖尿病早期诊断及预后评价的参考指标。     

Long-Term Carriage of Medicopsis romeroi,an Agent of Black-Grain Mycetoma,Presenting as Phaeohyphomycosis in a Renal Transplant Patient

Mycopathologia - Medicopsis species are rare fungal pathogens that frequently resist common antifungal therapies and are difficult to identify morphologically as conidia are produced in pycnidia, a...     

Extracellular vesicles in bone and tooth: A state-of-art paradigm in skeletal regeneration

Bone and tooth, fundamental parts of the craniofacial skeleton, are anatomically and developmentally interconnected structures. Notably, pathological processes in these tissues underwent together and progressed in multilevels. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-released small organelles and transfer proteins and genetic information into cells and tissues. Although EVs have been identified in bone and tooth, particularly EVs have been identified in the bone formation and resorption, the concrete roles of EVs in bone and tooth development and diseases remain elusive. As such, we review the recent progress of EVs in bone and tooth to highlight the novel findings of EVs in cellular communication, tissue homeostasis, and interventions. This will enhance our comprehension on the skeletal biology and shed new light on the modulation of skeletal disorders and the potential of genetic treatment.     

Metformin protects PC12 cells and hippocampal neurons from H2O 2-induced oxidative damage through activation of AMPK pathway

Metformin, a first line anti type 2 diabetes drug, has recently been shown to extend lifespan in various species, and therefore, became the first antiaging drug in clinical trial. Oxidative stress due to excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered to be an important factor in aging and related disease, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the antioxidative effects of metformin and its underlying mechanisms in neuronal cells is not known. In the present study, we showed that metformin, in clinically relevant concentrations, protected neuronal PC12 cells from H₂O₂-induced cell death. Metformin significantly ameliorated cell death due to H₂O₂ insult by restoring abnormal changes in nuclear morphology, intracellular ROS, lactate dehydrogenase, and mitochondrial membrane potential induced by H₂O₂. Hoechst staining assay and flow cytometry analysis revealed that metformin significantly reduced the apoptosis in PC12 cells exposed to H₂O₂. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that metformin stimulated the phosphorylation and activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in PC12 cells, while application of AMPK inhibitor compound C, or knockdown of the expression of AMPK by specific small interfering RNA or short hairpin RNA blocked the protective effect of metformin. Similar results were obtained in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Taken together, these results indicated that metformin is able to protect neuronal cells from oxidative injury, at least in part, via the activation of AMPK. As metformin is comparatively cheaper with much less side effects in clinic, our findings support its potential to be a drug for prevention and treatment of aging and aging-related diseases.     

真盐生植物盐地碱蓬根系边缘细胞在耐盐中的作用初探

以黄河三角洲潮间带盐地碱蓬种子生成的幼苗为材料,研究了NaCl胁迫对盐地碱蓬生长与根系边缘细胞的影响。盐地碱蓬的第一个边缘细胞几乎与根尖同步产生,当根长达到13mm时,边缘细胞数目达到最大值。NaCl胁迫抑制边缘细胞的活性,但低浓度的NaCl处理增加边缘细胞的数目。低浓度NaCl处理时果胶甲基酯酶（PME）的活性比对照有明显增加,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性随着NaCl浓度的增加呈现先上升后下降的趋势,低浓度NaCl可以增加盐地碱蓬根内过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活性,NaCl处理时间和处理浓度都对过氧化物酶（POD）活性的影响不明显。这些结果表明,盐地碱蓬至少部分通过增加调控活性氧（ROS）水平增加PME活性及根系边缘细胞数目来抵抗NaCl胁迫。