Spectroscopy of Cu(II)-PcoC and the multicopper oxidase function of PcoA,two essential components of Escherichia coli pco copper resistance operon

The plasmid-encoded pco copper resistance operon in Escherichia coli consists of seven genes that are expressed from two pco promoters in response to elevated copper; however, little is known about how they mediate resistance to excess environmental copper. Two of the genes encode the soluble periplasmic proteins PcoA and PcoC. We show here that inactivation of PcoC, and PcoA to a lesser extent, causes cells to become more sensitive to copper than wild-type nonresistant strains, consistent with a tightly coupled detoxification pathway. Periplasmic extracts show copper-inducible oxidase activity, attributed to the multicopper oxidase function of PcoA. PcoC, a much smaller protein than PcoA, binds one Cu(II) and exhibits a weak electronic transition characteristic of a type II copper center. ENDOR and ESEEM spectroscopy of Cu(II)-PcoC and the (15)N- and Met-CD(3)-labeled samples are consistent with a tetragonal ligand environment of three nitrogens and one aqua ligand "in the plane". A weakly associated S-Met and aqua are likely axial ligands. At least one N is a histidine and is likely trans to the in-plane aqua ligand. The copper chemistry of PcoC and the oxidase function of PcoA are consistent with the emerging picture of the chromosomally encoded copper homeostasis apparatus in the E. coli cell envelope [Outten, F. W., Huffman, D. L., Hale, J. A., and O'Halloran, T. V. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 30670-30677]. We propose a model for the plasmid system in which Cu(I)-PcoC functions in this copper efflux pathway as a periplasmic copper binding protein that docks with the multiple repeats of Met-rich domains in PcoA to effect oxidation of Cu(I) to the less toxic Cu(II) form. The solvent accessibility of the Cu(II) in PcoC may allow for metal transfer to other plasmid and chromosomal factors and thus facilitate removal of Cu(II) from the cell envelope.     

Cryosolvents useful for protein and enzyme studies below -100 degrees C

For the study of protein structure, dynamics, and function, at very low temperatures it is desirable to use cryosolvents that resist phase separation and crystallisation. We have examined these properties in a variety of cryosolvents. Using visual and X-ray diffraction criteria, methanol:ethanediol (70%:10%), methanol:glycerol (70%:10%), acetone:methoxy-ethanol:ethanediol (35%:35%:10%), dimethylformamide:ethanediol (70%:10%), dimethylformamide (80%), methoxyethanol (80%), and methoxyethanol:ethanediol (70%:10%) were all found to be free of phase-changes down to at least -160 degrees C. The least viscous of these, methanol:ethanediol (70%:10%), was miscible down to -125 degrees C and showed no exo or endothermic transitions when examined using DSC. It is therefore potentially particularly suitable for very low temperature cryoenzymology.     

研究报告：CRBGP通过抑制FAK-AKT通路和白介素-6的分泌抑制胶质瘤U251细胞的活性

目的电压门控钠通道(voltage-gated sodium channels,VGSCs)表达于胶质瘤U251细胞,并影响U251细胞的增殖、侵袭和凋亡。富含半胱氨酸的颊腺蛋白(cysteine-rich buccal gland protein,CRBGP)是一种从日本七鳃鳗颊腺中分离出来的VGSCs阻断剂。本文旨在探究CRBGP是否因具有VGSCs阻断功能从而能够抑制U251细胞的活性。方法首先采用MTT法检测了CRBGP对U251细胞增殖的作用,并分别利用莱特-吉姆萨、FITC-phalloidin和Hoechst 33258染色法观察CRBGP处理后U251细胞的形态、细胞骨架和细胞核。细胞外基质蛋白如IV型胶原蛋白、纤连蛋白和层黏连蛋白用于检测CRBGP对U251细胞黏附的影响。此外,本文采用transwell法检测CRBGP处理后U251细胞的迁移和侵袭能力,并通过Western blot方法探讨CRBGP诱导U251细胞凋亡并抑制其运动的内在机理。最后,通过酶联免疫吸附测定法检测CRBGP对U251细胞的抑炎效果。结果 CRBGP通过线粒体依赖途径诱导U251细胞凋亡,...     

The plant pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum contains a functional formate hydrogenlyase‐2 complex

Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 is a phytopathogenic Gram‐negative enterobacterium. Genomic analysis has identified that genes required for both respiration and fermentation are expressed under anaerobic conditions. One set of anaerobically expressed genes is predicted to encode an important but poorly understood membrane‐bound enzyme termed formate hydrogenlyase‐2 (FHL‐2), which has fascinating evolutionary links to the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I). In this work, molecular genetic and biochemical approaches were taken to establish that FHL‐2 is fully functional in P. atrosepticum and is the major source of molecular hydrogen gas generated by this bacterium. The FHL‐2 complex was shown to comprise a rare example of an active [NiFe]‐hydrogenase‐4 (Hyd‐4) isoenzyme, itself linked to an unusual selenium‐free formate dehydrogenase in the final complex. In addition, further genetic dissection of the genes encoding the predicted membrane arm of FHL‐2 established surprisingly that the majority of genes encoding this domain are not required for physiological hydrogen production activity. Overall, this study presents P. atrosepticum as a new model bacterial system for understanding anaerobic formate and hydrogen metabolism in general, and FHL‐2 function and structure in particular.     

中国蓼属萹蓄组植物果实形态的研究

应用解剖镜和电子扫描显微镜对中国产蓼属萹蓄组Polygonum sect.Polygonum 16种1变种及1变型植物的果实形态进行了研究。发现该组5种一年生植物的果实具有两型性,即有长、短两种果实类型。短果类型为卵形,具三棱,包于宿存花被内或与花被近等长,呈黑褐色。在解剖镜下观察到其表面具小点、无光泽,而在电子扫描显微镜下观察到其表面具有散乱分布或排列成行的瘤状颗粒;长果类型为狭卵形,具三棱,长于宿存花被,黄褐色或淡黄绿色,在解剖镜下观察到其表面平滑、有光泽,而在电子扫描显微镜下观察到其表面上部具有散乱分布的瘤状颗粒,中、下部则具不规则洼点、星花状褶皱或浅波纹状。果实具两型性的植物有萹蓄P.aviculare、乌鲁木齐萹蓄P.urumqiense、展枝萹蓄P.patulum、直立萹蓄P.avicularef.erectum和尖果萹蓄P.rigidum。果实微形态可分为两种类型：1.果实表面无瘤状颗粒或疣状突起、有光泽,此类型又可以分为2种亚类型：（1）果实表面平滑、浅波纹状,如岩萹蓄P.cognatum、松叶萹蓄P.acerosum和帚萹蓄P.argyrocoleum;（2）果实表面具浅洼点或洼点,如铁马鞭P.plebeium和针叶萹蓄P.polycnemoides。2.果实表面有瘤状颗粒或疣状突起,无或具微光泽,此类型又可分为4种亚类型：（1）果实表面具疣状突起,如圆叶萹蓄P.intramongolicum.;（2）果实表面具散乱分布的瘤状颗粒,如普通萹蓄P.humifusum和展枝萹蓄的短果;（3）果实表面具有纵行排列的瘤状颗粒,如萹蓄和乌鲁木齐萹蓄的短果;（4）果实表面上部具散乱分布的瘤状颗粒,中、下部具不规则洼点、星花状褶皱或浅波纹状,如萹蓄、展枝萹蓄、直立萹蓄和尖果萹蓄的长果。因此果实两型性和果实微形态特征对蓼属萹蓄组种、变种的鉴定具有较大的分类学价值。基于果实微形态特征以及其他形态特征,确定了新种晖春萹蓄Polygonum huichunense F.Z.Li,Y.T.Hou＆C.Y.Qu,同时恢复褐鞘萹蓄Polygonum aviculareL.var.fusco-ochreatum（Kom.）A.J.Li为原种,即Polygonum fusco-ochreatum Kom.。     

2004—2018年青海省乙型病毒性肝炎流行病学特征分析

目的 了解青海省2004—2018年乙型病毒性肝炎(简称乙肝)流行病学特征,为乙肝防治工作提供科学依据。方法 对青海省15年间乙肝监测数据进行描述性流行病学分析。结果 15年来青海省共报告乙肝患者201931例,年平均报告发病率239.71/10万,总体呈下降趋势。2004—2018年西宁市乙肝报告病例98218例,占48.64%;果洛藏族自治州最低,乙肝报告病例6766例,仅占3.35%。玉树藏族自治州乙肝报告发病率最高332.89/10万,海东市最低133.43/10万,不同地区乙肝报告发病率有统计学意义(χ^2=21997.32,P<0.05)。报告病例主要分布在25~55岁人群中,50~<55岁组发病率最高为454.99/10万,0~<5岁组发病率最低为23.69/10万;男、女性别比为1.57∶1。报告病例职业分布以农、牧民为主,占47.19%。结论 青海省经过多年的计划免疫的实施,乙肝防控效果明显,2009年以后乙肝报告病例呈现平稳状况。     

MethylScreen: DNA methylation density monitoring using quantitative PCR

Aberrant gene silencing of genes through cytosine methylation has been demonstrated during the development of many types of cancers including prostate cancer Several genes including GSTP1 have been shown to be methylated in prostate cancer leading to the suggestion and demonstration that methylation status of such genes could be used as cancer diagnosis markers alone or in support of histology. We developed a bisulfite-free alternative, MethylScreen technology, an assay for DNA methylation detection utilizing combined restriction from both methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes (MSRE) and methylation-dependent restriction enzymes (MDRE). MethylScreen was used to analyze the 5' region of GSTP1 in cell lines, in vitro methylated DNA populations, and flash-frozen tissue samples in an effort to characterize the output and analytical performance characteristics of the assay. The output from the quantitative PCR assay suggested that it could not only detect fully methylated molecules in a mixed population below the 1% level, but it could also quantify the abundance of intermediately methylated molecules. Interestingly, the interpreted output from the four quantitative PCRs closely resembled the molecular population as described by clone-based bisulfite genomic sequencing.     

Enzyme dynamics and activity: time-scale dependence of dynamical transitions in glutamate dehydrogenase solution.

We have examined the temperature dependence of motions in a cryosolution of the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and compared these with activity. Dynamic neutron scattering was performed with two instruments of different energy resolution, permitting the separate determination of the average dynamical mean square displacements on the sub-approximately 100 ps and sub-approximately 5 ns time scales. The results demonstrate a marked dependence on the time scale of the temperature profile of the mean square displacement. The lowest temperature at which anharmonic motion is observed is heavily dependent on the time window of the instrument used to observe the dynamics. Several dynamical transitions (inflexions of the mean squared displacement) are observed in the slower dynamics. Comparison with the temperature profile of the activity of the enzyme in the same solvent reveals dynamical transitions that have no effect on GDH function.     

蒙药材刺柏叶中槲皮苷的含量测定

本实验建立了蒙药材刺柏叶中槲皮苷的HPLC含量测定方法.色谱条件为:Diamonsil C18(4.6 mm ×250 mm,5μm)和Shim-Pack C18(4.6 mm× 250 mm,5μm),流动相:甲醇-0.01 mol/L磷酸二氢钾溶液-冰醋酸(40∶ 60∶ 1.5),检测波长:254 nm,流速:1.0 mL/min,柱温:30℃.槲皮苷进样量在40.2 ng ～603.0 ng范围内线性关系良好(r =0.9998),其平均加样回收率为100.45％,RSD为0.69％(n=6).本方法简便易行,结果准确,重复性好,可用于刺柏叶中槲皮苷的含量测定.     

新疆甘草化学成分研究

从新疆甘草(GlycyrrhizauralensisFisch.)根中分离得到5个化合物,分别鉴定为:槲皮素(1)、甘草次酸(2)、阿魏酸(3)、5,7,3′,4′-四羟基-7-葡萄糖基二氢黄酮醇(4)、8,5′-二羟基3′α-鼠李糖黄酮(5)。其中化合物4,5为首次从该植物中分离得到。