A novel SMC protein complex in Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains the Rad18 DNA repair protein

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, rad18 is an essential gene involved in the repair of DNA damage produced by ionizing radiation and in tolerance of UV-induced DNA damage. The Rad18 protein is a member of the SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) superfamily, and we show that, like the other SMC proteins in condensin and cohesin, Rad18 is a component of a high-molecular-weight complex. This complex contains at least six other proteins, the largest of which is Spr18, a novel SMC family member closely related to Rad18, and likely to be its heterodimeric partner. SMC proteins have ATP-binding domains at the N- and C-termini, and two extended coiled-coil domains separated by a hinge in the middle. We show that the N-terminal ATP-binding domain of Rad18 is essential for all functions, and overexpression of an N-terminal mutant has a dominant-negative effect. We have identified an important mutation (S1045A) near the C-terminus of Rad18 that separates its repair and essential roles. Potential models for the role of the Rad18-Spr18 complex during DNA repair are discussed.     

UV damage causes uncontrolled DNA breakage in cells from patients with combined features of XP-D and Cockayne syndrome

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) removes damage from DNA in a tightly regulated multiprotein process. Defects in NER result in three different human disorders, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), trichothiodystrophy (TTD) and Cockayne syndrome (CS). Two cases with the combined features of XP and CS have been assigned to the XP-D complementation group. Despite their extreme UV sensitivity, these cells appeared to incise their DNA as efficiently as normal cells in response to UV damage. These incisions were, however, uncoupled from the rest of the repair process. Using cell-free extracts, we were unable to detect any incision activity in the neighbourhood of the damage. When irradiated plasmids were introduced into unirradiated XP-D/CS cells, the ectopically introduced damage triggered the induction of breaks in the undamaged genomic DNA. XP-D/CS cells thus have a unique response to sensing UV damage, which results in the introduction of breaks into the DNA at sites distant from the damage. We propose that it is these spurious breaks that are responsible for the extreme UV sensitivity of these cells.     

RNA聚合酶Ⅲ启动子的结构与功能

ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ (ｐｏｌⅢ )是真核生物催化合成ｔＲＮＡ和 5ＳｒＲＮＡ及一些核小ＲＮＡ和胞质ＲＮＡ必需的酶。ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ能够识别ｔＲＮＡ基因中一些高度保守的特征性ＤＮＡ序列而启动下游ＤＮＡ的转录 ,这些序列称为ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ启动子。ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ启动子不仅广泛存在于真核细胞中ｔＲＮＡ、Ｕ6核小ＲＮＡ(ＳＮＲ6 )等的基因中 ,也是病毒催化合成一些小片段ＲＮＡ如腺病毒ＶＡＲＮＡ所必需的。ＲＮＡ聚合酶Ⅲ启动子因其能在体内外高效快速地转录某些小片段基因 ,已被人们广泛地应用于核酶和反义ＲＮＡ技术中 ,在众多的ＲＮＡ…     

集胞藻Synechocystissp.PCC6803利用葡萄糖生长与光合能量转化的关系

用PAM叶绿素荧光仪测定了饥饿细胞、光自养细胞和混合营养细胞的叶绿素荧光 ,并对 3种类型细胞的荧光参数 :PSⅡ实际光化学效率 φⅡ和还原型质醌Q-A 进行了比较。用双重转盘磷光机测定了光自养细胞和混合营养细胞的毫秒延迟发光。根据叶绿素荧光动力学分析和毫秒延迟发光的结果及光合电子传递抑制剂 3,4_二氯苯基二甲脲 (DCMU)、二溴百里香醌 (DBMIB)对集胞藻 6 80 3(Synechocystissp .PCC 6 80 3)混合营养生长影响进行了分析 ,集胞藻 6 80 3混合营养培养的生长速率显著高于光自养培养的原因可能在于一是外源葡萄糖没有抑制反而是促进了混合营养细胞的光自养生长 ,二是呼吸基质向质醌库提供电子 ,使光合机构的能量转化加强 ,从而促进了集胞藻6 80 3细胞的利用葡萄糖的合成代谢。     

基因重组大肠杆菌表达类人胶原蛋白诱导条件优化研究

为了提高重组大肠杆菌BL21高密度发酵生产类人胶原蛋白的产量,分别研究了诱导时机、乙酸浓度、诱导强度以及补氮方式对外源基因表达的影响,并对各因素进行了优化。采用补料-分批式发酵,初始装液体积为6L。最终细胞密度可达到84.3g／L,类人胶原蛋白的表达量为14.6g/L。结果表明:在对数生长的中后期进行诱导,尽量减少乙酸的积累量,42℃诱导3h后降温至39℃继续诱导,并采用每隔10min补36ml补料氮溶液的周期操作方式,有利于细胞的生长和外源蛋白的表达。     

Combination of an Antigen-Specific Therapy and an Immunomodulatory Treatment to Simultaneous Block Recurrent Autoimmunity and Alloreactivity in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice

Restoration of endogenous insulin production by islet transplantation is considered a curative option for patients with type 1 diabetes. However, recurrent autoimmunity and alloreactivity cause graft rejection hindering successful transplantation. Here we tested whether transplant tolerance to allogeneic islets could be achieved in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice by simultaneously tackling autoimmunity via antigen-specific immunization, and alloreactivity via granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and rapamycin (RAPA) treatment. Immunization with insB_9-23 peptide alone or in combination with two islet peptides (IGRP_206-214 and GAD_524-543) in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) were tested for promoting syngeneic pancreatic islet engraftment in spontaneously diabetic NOD mice. Treatment with G-CSF/RAPA alone or in combination with insB_9-23/IFA was examined for promoting allogeneic islet engraftment in the same mouse model. InsB_9-23/IFA immunization significantly prolonged syngeneic pancreatic islet survival in NOD mice by a mechanism that necessitated the presence of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T regulatory (Treg) cells, while combination of three islet epitopes was less efficacious in controlling recurrent autoimmunity. G-CSF/RAPA treatment was unable to reverse T1D or control recurrent autoimmunity but significantly prolonged islet allograft survival in NOD mice. Blockade of interleukin-10 (IL-10) during G-CSF/RAPA treatment resulted in allograft rejection suggesting that IL-10-producing cells were fundamental to achieve transplant tolerance. G-CSF/RAPA treatment combined with insB_9-23/IFA did not further increase the survival of allogeneic islets. Thus, insB_9-23/IFA immunization controls recurrent autoimmunity and G-CSF/RAPA treatment limits alloreactivity, however their combination does not further promote allogeneic pancreatic islet engraftment in NOD mice.     

基于新一代高通量测序技术开发巨人半边莲Lobelia deckenii的SSR标记

为了开发东非半边莲属特有植物的微卫星分子标记(SSR),本研究基于Illumina-HiSeq 2000测序平台对巨人半边莲Lobelia deckenii的基因组进行高通量测序。利用MISA软件对获得的基因组数据库进行搜索与分析,共鉴别出58 966个SSR位点,并利用Primer软件成功设计出3558对特异性的SSR引物。利用L.deckenii 3个居群的6个样品对随机挑选的40对SSR引物进行扩增效率检验,发现有32对重复性好且可扩增出清晰条带。利用筛选出的32对SSR引物对来自肯尼亚山居群的24株个体进行PCR扩增并采用荧光分型技术检测多态性,结果显示有14对可扩增出稳定的多态性条带,共有86个等位基因,各SSR位点的等位基因数(NA)为4~9个,观测杂合度(Ho)和期望杂合度(He)分别为0.000~1.000和0.625~0.854。本研究结果表明,通过高通量测序技术开发东非特有植物巨人半边莲的SSR标记是一种简单而高效的途径,这些新的SSR分子标记为巨人半边莲的居群遗传多样性、遗传结构以及对其开展保护生物学研究提供了工具。