Surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy and spectroscopy study of redox-induced conformational equilibrium of cytochrome c adsorbed on DNA-modified metal electrode

The redox-induced conformational equilibrium of cytochrome c (cyt c) adsorbed on DNA-modified metal electrode and the interaction mechanism of DNA with cyt c have been studied by electrochemical, spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical techniques. The results indicate that the external electric field induces potential-dependent coordination equilibrium of the adsorbed cyt c between its oxidized state (with native six-coordinate low-spin and non-native five-coordinate high-spin heme configuration) and its reduced state (with native six-coordinate low-spin heme configuration) on DNA-modified metal electrode. The strong interactions between DNA and cyt c induce the self-aggregation of cyt c adsorbed on DNA. The orientational distribution of cyt c adsorbed on DNA-modified metal electrode is potential-dependent, which results in the deviation from an ideal Nernstian behavior of the adsorbed cyt c at high electrode potentials. The electric-field-induced increase in the activation barrier of proton-transfer steps attributed to the rearrangement of the hydrogen bond network and the self-aggregation of cyt c upon adsorption on DNA-modified electrode strongly decrease the interfacial electron transfer rate. In addition, the strongly Coulombic interactions between DNA and cyt c only disturb the microenvironment of the heme, and do not affect the states of heme ligation and spin. The secondary structure of the adsorbed cyt c is retained, while the conformation of DNA is changed from the B form DNA to A form DNA.     

吸附剂及培养基组成对香荚兰细胞悬浮培养产生香兰素的影响

本文报道了培养基的组成及添加吸附剂对香荚兰细胞悬浮培养产生香兰素的影响。结果表明,添加吸附剂活性炭及XAD-2后,香荚兰细胞产生的香兰素含量明显增加,而且活性炭的效果优于XAD-2;香荚兰细胞在全组成的MS培养基中香兰素含量均低于由矿物质盐组成培养基中的含量。可以考虑采用二步培养法来培养香荚兰细胞及产生香兰素。     

副产物途径的缺失对大肠杆菌合成D-1,2,4-丁三醇的影响

【目的】敲除副产物途径,提高重组大肠杆菌D-1,2,4-丁三醇(D-1,2,4-Butanetriol,BT)产量。【方法】利用Red重组技术敲除木糖途径xyl AB基因及2-酮-3-脱氧木糖酸代谢途径的yag E及yjh H基因,考察其对重组菌生长、BT生产及副产物积累的影响。【结果】敲除xyl AB基因后,重组菌生物量降低57%,BT产量降低20%,单位菌体产量提高84%,木糖酸积累量提高52%。yag E或yjh H基因单独缺失重组菌生物量分别提高10%和5%,BT产量提高36%和14%。基因共同缺失后重组菌生物量降低了21%,BT产量提高184%,达到2.44 g/L,单位菌体产量提高258%。而共同敲除两途径,生物量降低了72%,虽然单位菌体产量提高了约4倍,但BT产量仅提高43%。p H调控下,重组菌木糖酸积累量下降,BT产量进一步提高,最高达3.11 g/L。【结论】xyl AB基因缺失后,虽有利于提高BT途径的效率,但由于木糖无法进入PPP途径及木糖酸积累,造成生物量降低,不利于BT合成。单独敲除yag E或yjh H后BT产量略有提高,而共同敲除这两基因更为有效地调整碳流向BT合成偏转。两途径共同敲除利于BT的合成,但由于菌体量的减少,无法大量获得BT。     

Comparative analysis of vascular endothelial cell activation by TNF-α and LPS in humans and baboons

As an Old World nonhuman primate, baboons have been extensively used for research on dyslipidemia and atherogenesis. With increasing knowledge about the endothelium's role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, the value of the baboon model can be increased by developing it for research on the role of dysfunctional endothelium in atherogenesis. Toward that goal, we have established and validated methods of isolating and culturing baboon femoral artery endothelial cells (BFAECs) and compared baboon endothelial cellular characteristics with those of humans. Our results indicated that baboon and human endothelial cells share similar growth and culture behaviors. As was the case for human endothelial cells, BFAECs responded to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α stimulation with increased expression of adhesion molecules (maximum increase for intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM): 1.76±0.26-fold; vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM): 1.65±0.25-fold; E-selectin: 2.86±0.57-fold). However, BFAECs were hyporesponsive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (range, 0.25–20 μg/mL) in adhesion molecule expression, whereas 1 μg/mL LPS induced 2.14- to 3.71-fold increases in human endothelial cells. The differential responses to LPS were not related to TLR-2 and toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 expression on the cell surface. And baboon microvascular endothelial cells had similar features as BFAECs. We observed constitutive expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in both human and baboon endothelial cells, and these cytokines were further induced by TNF-α and LPS. We also demonstrated that the responses to TNF-α or LPS varied among baboons maintained under the same dietary and environmental conditions, suggesting that response may be controlled by genetic factors.     

天名精倍半萜内酯化合物

从菊科天名精全草中分得天名精内酯酮,特勒内酯,11（13）－二氢特勒内酯和异埃瓦内酯。其中11（13）－二氢特勒内酯和异埃瓦内酯为新的天然产物。     

GADD45α mediates arsenite‐induced cell apoptotic effect in human hepatoma cells via JNKs/AP‐1‐dependent pathway

Arsenite (As(III)), an effective chemotherapeutic agent for the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and multiple myeloma (MM), might be also a promise for the therapy of other cancers, including the solid tumors. However, the molecular bases of arsenite‐induced cytotoxicity in the tumor cells have not been fully defined. In this study, we have disclosed that arsenite effectively induces the apoptotic response in the HepG2 human hepatoma cells by triggering GADD45α induction and the subsequent activation of JNKs/AP‐1 cell death pathway. However, signaling events relating to GADD45α/JNKs/AP‐1 pathway activation have not been observed in HL7702 human diploid hepatic cells under the same arsenite exposure condition. Our results thus have illustrated the selective pro‐apoptotic role of arsenite in the hepatoma cells by activating GADD45α‐dependent cell death pathway whereas with little effect on the normal hepatic cells. The approaches to up‐regulate GADD45α levels might be helpful in improving the chemotherapeutic action of arsenite on certain solid tumors including hepatoma. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 1264–1273, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

在线推定和控制葡萄糖浓度改善谷氨酸发酵性能

谷氨酸发酵过程一般需要定时、人工分批式地添加葡萄糖。该流加操作方式会引起发酵罐内葡萄糖浓度的剧烈波动, 不利于高效、稳定的谷氨酸生产。谷氨酸发酵具有显著的非增殖耦联特征, 产酸期葡萄糖耗量与氨水耗量存在非常明显的关联性。通过在线计量氨水耗量推定糖耗以及葡萄糖浓度, 可比较准确地将谷氨酸发酵产酸期的糖浓度控制在预先设定的水平。当糖浓度控制在5 g/L~10 g/L的低水平时, 最终谷氨酸浓度可以达到80 g/L的较高水平, 高糖浓度下的渗透压效应有望得到缓解, 有利于发酵生产的稳定。     

重庆市爬行动物物种多样性研究及保护

1996～2004年对重庆市35个县(区、市)进行野外调查采集,结合有关资料记载,重庆市共有爬行动物2目12科38属58种,其中龟鳖目4种,有鳞目蜥蜴亚目12种、蛇亚目42种(含重庆市蛇类新记录3属4种)。建议加强对该市爬行动物物种多样性及其生境的保护,合理利用爬行动物资源。     

The Kv2.1 channels mediate neuronal apoptosis induced by excitotoxicity

Chronic loss of intracellular K⁺ can induce neuronal apoptosis in pathological conditions. However, the mechanism by which the K⁺ channels are regulated in this process remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the increased membrane expression of Kv2.1 proteins in cortical neurons deprived of serum, a condition known to induce K⁺ loss, promotes neuronal apoptosis. The increase in I _K current density and apoptosis in the neurons deprived of serum were inhibited by a dominant negative form of Kv2.1 and MK801, an antagonist to NMDA receptors. The membrane level of Kv2.1 and its interaction with SNAP25 were increased, whereas the Kv2.1 phosphorylation was inhibited in the neurons deprived of serum. Botulinum neurotoxin, an agent known to prevent formation of soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex, suppressed the increase in I _K current density. Together, these results suggest that NMDA receptor-dependent Kv2.1 membrane translocation is regulated by a soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor-dependent vesicular trafficking mechanism and is responsible for neuronal cell death induced by chronic loss of K⁺.