Immunoglobulins from Graves' disease patients interact with different sites on TSH receptor/LH-CG receptor chimeras than either TSH or immunoglobulins from idiopathic myxedema patients

To examine the identity of binding sites for thyrotropin (TSH) and thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) associated with Graves' disease, we constructed eight human TSH receptor/rat LH-CG receptor chimeras. Substitution of amino acid residues 8-165 of the TSH receptor with the corresponding LH-CG receptor segment (Mc1 + 2) results in a chimera which retains high affinity TSH binding and the cAMP response to TSH but loses both the cAMP response to Graves' IgG and Graves' IgG inhibition of TSH binding. Two of three IgGs from idiopathic myxedema patients which contain thyroid stimulation blocking antibodies (TSBAbs) still, however, react with this chimera. Chimeras which substitute residues 90-165 (Mc2) and 261-370 (Mc4) retain the ability to interact with TSH, Graves' IgG, and idiopathic myxedema IgG. The data thus suggest that residues 8-165 contain an epitope specific for TSAbs and that TSH receptor determinants important for the activities of TSAbs and TSH are not identical. Further, binding sites for TSBAbs in idiopathic myxedema may be different from receptor binding sites for both Graves' IgG TSAb as well as TSH and may be different in individual patients.     

构建重组枯草芽孢杆菌催化制备D-对羟基苯甘氨酸

目的: 在Bacillus subtilis中表达异源D-海因酶基因(hyd)和D-氨甲酰水解酶基因(adc),构建重组细胞作为催化剂,用于生产D-对羟基苯甘氨酸(D-HPG)。方法: 构建hyd表达质粒,考察培养基中二价金属离子对D-海因酶活性的影响。过表达acoR基因,考察AcoR蛋白胞内水平与P_acoA-hyd基因拷贝数的关系。筛选表达adc基因的启动子,构建hyd和adc基因共表达质粒,考察双酶活性菌株的催化特性。结果: 成功构建了海因酶表达质粒pHPS和pUBS,培养基中添加0.8mmol/L的MnCl₂·4H₂O,使168N/pUBS菌株的D-海因酶活性达到956U/gDCW。整合表达P_cdd-acoR基因,使LSL02/pUBS菌株的D-海因酶活性达到1 470U/gDCW。单拷贝P_AE-adc基因的表达水平相对最高。双酶共表达质粒pUBSC被成功构建,菌株LSL02/pUBSC的最适催化温度为40℃45℃,催化活性能够持续12h,当底物起始浓度为20g/L时,反应12h生成的D-HPG达到14.32g/L,转化率达到95%,收率超过80%。结论: 构建具有D-海因酶和D-氨甲酰水解酶双酶活性的重组Bacillus subtilis作为全细胞催化剂,用于海因酶法生产D-HPG,具有技术上的可行性和优势。     

Conjugation of Benzylvanillin and Benzimidazole Structure Improves DNA Binding with Enhanced Antileukemic Properties

Benzyl-o-vanillin and benzimidazole nucleus serve as important pharmacophore in drug discovery. The benzyl vanillin (2-(benzyloxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) compound shows anti-proliferative activity in HL60 leukemia cancer cells and can effect cell cycle progression at G2/M phase. Its apoptosis activity was due to disruption of mitochondrial functioning. In this study, we have studied a series of compounds consisting of benzyl vanillin and benzimidazole structures. We hypothesize that by fusing these two structures we can produce compounds that have better anticancer activity with improved specificity particularly towards the leukemia cell line. Here we explored the anticancer activity of three compounds namely 2-(2-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzimidazole, 2MP, N-1-(2-benzyloxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-2-(2-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzimidazole, 2XP, and (R) and (S)-1-(2-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2, 2, 2-trichloroethyl benzenesulfonate, 3BS and compared their activity to 2-benzyloxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, (Bn1), the parent compound. 2XP and 3BS induces cell death of U937 leukemic cell line through DNA fragmentation that lead to the intrinsic caspase 9 activation. DNA binding study primarily by the equilibrium binding titration assay followed by the Viscosity study reveal the DNA binding through groove region with intrinsic binding constant 7.39 µM/bp and 6.86 µM/bp for 3BS and 2XP respectively. 2XP and 3BS showed strong DNA binding activity by the UV titration method with the computational drug modeling showed that both 2XP and 3BS failed to form any electrostatic linkages except via hydrophobic interaction through the minor groove region of the nucleic acid. The benzylvanillin alone (Bn1) has weak anticancer activity even after it was combined with the benzimidazole (2MP), but after addition of another benzylvanillin structure (2XP), stronger activity was observed. Also, the combination of benzylvanillin with benzenesulfonate (3BS) significantly improved the anticancer activity of Bn1. The present study provides a new insight of benzyl vanillin derivatives as potential anti-leukemic agent.     

The construction of a genetic linkage map of non-heading Chinese cabbage （Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis Makino）

Non-heading Chinese cabbage （Brassica carnpestris ssp. chinensis Makino） is one of the most important vegetables in eastern China. A genetic linkage map was constructed using 127 doubled haploid （DH） lines, and the DH population was derived from a commercial hybrid ＂Hanxiao＂ （lines SW-13 x L-118）. Out of the 614 polyrnorphic markers, 43.49% were not assigned to any of the linkage groups （LGs）. Chi-square tests showed that 42.67% markers were distorted from expected Mendelian segregation ratios, and the direction of distorted segregation was mainly toward the paternal parent L-118. After sequentially removing the markers that had an interval distance smaller than 1 cM from the upper marker, the overall quality of the linkage map was increased. Two hundred and sixty-eight molecular markers were mapped into 10 LGs, which were anchored to the corresponding chromosome of the B. rapa reference map based on com- mon simple sequence repeat （SSR） markers. The map covers 973.38 cM of the genome and the average interval distance between markers was 3.63 cM. The number of markers on each LG ranged from 18 （R08） to 64 （R07）, with an average interval distance within a single LG from 1.70 cM （R07） to 6.71 cM （R06）. Among these mapped markers, 169 were sequence-related amplified polymorphism （SRAP） molecular markers, 50 were SSR markers and 49 were random amplification polymorphic DNA （RAPD） markers. With further saturation to the LG9 the current map offers a genetic tool for loci analysis for important agronomic traits.     

DNA mismatch repair system. Classical and fresh roles

The molecular mechanisms of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system have been uncovered over the last decade, especially in prokaryotes. The results obtained for prokaryotic MMR proteins have provided a framework for the study of the MMR system in eukaryotic organisms, such as yeast, mouse and human, because the functions of MMR proteins have been conserved during evolution from bacteria to humans. However, mutations in eukaryotic MMR genes result in pleiotropic phenotypes in addition to MMR defects, suggesting that eukaryotic MMR proteins have evolved to gain more diverse and specific roles in multicellular organisms. Here, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic MMR systems and describe various new functions of MMR proteins that have been intensively researched during the last few years, including DNA damage surveillance and diversification of antibodies.     

Design Characteristics Influence Performance of Clinical Prediction Rules in Validation: A Meta-Epidemiological Study

Background

Many new clinical prediction rules are derived and validated. But the design and reporting quality of clinical prediction research has been less than optimal. We aimed to assess whether design characteristics of validation studies were associated with the overestimation of clinical prediction rules’ performance. We also aimed to evaluate whether validation studies clearly reported important methodological characteristics.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched for systematic reviews of clinical prediction rule studies published between 2006 and 2010. Data were extracted from the eligible validation studies included in the systematic reviews. A meta-analytic meta-epidemiological approach was used to assess the influence of design characteristics on predictive performance. From each validation study, it was assessed whether 7 design and 7 reporting characteristics were properly described.

Results

A total of 287 validation studies of clinical prediction rule were collected from 15 systematic reviews (31 meta-analyses). Validation studies using case-control design produced a summary diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) 2.2 times (95% CI: 1.2–4.3) larger than validation studies using cohort design and unclear design. When differential verification was used, the summary DOR was overestimated by twofold (95% CI: 1.2 -3.1) compared to complete, partial and unclear verification. The summary RDOR of validation studies with inadequate sample size was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.2 -3.1) compared to studies with adequate sample size. Study site, reliability, and clinical prediction rule was adequately described in 10.1%, 9.4%, and 7.0% of validation studies respectively.

Conclusion

Validation studies with design shortcomings may overestimate the performance of clinical prediction rules. The quality of reporting among studies validating clinical prediction rules needs to be improved.     

iTRAQ Protein Profiling of Adventitious Root Formation in Mulberry Hardwood Cuttings

The ability to form mature adventitious roots (AR) provides a competitive advantage for clonal multiplication of elite genotypic plant species, because high economic losses occur as a result of insufficient rooting. To better understand potential mechanisms involved in AR formation, we utilized an iTRAQ-based proteomic approach on mulberry hardwood cuttings. A total of 4427 proteins were identified from the base of cuttings, of which 595 and 231 proteins showed differential accumulations in the two periods of rooting, respectively. Three differentially expressed enzyme proteins were validated by an enzyme assay and qPCR. Functional annotation analysis showed that dysregulated proteins were involved in glucose metabolism, flavonoids biosynthesis, cell wall modification, and hormone regulation, indicating potential contributions to adventitious rooting. These results provide fundamental and important information for research on the molecular mechanism of AR development in mulberry cuttings and facilitate rooting efficiency in agricultural practice.     

Immunohistochemical localization of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) in human atrial and ventricular myocardiocytes

To date, there have been few immunohistochemical investigations of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) in human cardiac tissue, especially the ventricles. In this study, myocardial tissue was obtained from two sources: the bilateral atria and ventricles at autopsy; and biopsy tissues from the right auricle and left ventricle of a patient with myocardial infarction undergoing surgery. These tissues were examined by the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique using three kinds of primary ANP-antibodies. ANP-immunoreactivity was observed in the perinuclear region of myocytes of all tissues examined. The intensity of the reaction was stronger in atrial tissue, weaker in ventricular tissue. In the later tissue, the positive-staining myocytes were not part of the pulse-conducting system. Although the tissues we studied were not obtained from normal hearts, our data demonstrates that ANP-reactivity can be detected in ventricular myocytes outside the pulse-conducting system.