Ligand‐induced formation of transient dimers of mammalian 12/15‐lipoxygenase: A key to allosteric behavior of this class of enzymes?

Mammalian lipoxygenases (LOXs) have been implicated in cellular defense response and are important for physiological homeostasis. Since their discovery, LOXs have been believed to function as monomeric enzymes that exhibit allosteric properties. In aqueous solutions, the rabbit 12/15-LOX is mainly present as hydrated monomer but changes in the local physiochemical environment suggested a monomer-dimer equilibrium. Because the allosteric character of the enzyme can hardly be explained using a single ligand binding-site model, we proposed that the binding of allosteric effectors may shift the monomer-dimer equilibrium toward dimer formation. To test this hypothesis, we explored the impact of an allosteric effector [13(S)-hydroxyoctadeca-9(Z),11(E)-dienoic acid] on the structural properties of rabbit 12/15-LOX by small-angle X-ray scattering. Our data indicate that the enzyme undergoes ligand-induced dimerization in aqueous solution, and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that LOX dimers may be stable in the presence of substrate fatty acids. These data provide direct structural evidence for the existence of LOX dimers, where two noncovalently linked enzyme molecules might work in unison and, therefore, such mode of association might be related to the allosteric character of 12/15-LOX. Introduction of negatively charged residues (W181E + H585E and L183E + L192E) at the intermonomer interface disturbs the hydrophobic dimer interaction of the wild-type LOX, and this structural alteration may lead to functional distortion of mutant enzymes.     

亚洲玉米螟发育速率与温度关系研究

利用１０￣３４℃的９个恒温对亚洲玉米螟Ｏｓｔｒｉｎｉａ ｆｕｒｎａｃａｌｉｓ（Ｇｕｅｎｅｅ）发育与温度的关系进行了研究。亚洲玉米晕除了在１０℃不能发育以外,在其８种恒温中均可发育,但其死亡率在１２０℃和３４℃中较高。从产卵成到虫羽化,卵期占整个发育过程中１７％,幼虫期占５７％,蛹期占２５％。最低发育起点温度卵期为１０．３８℃,幼虫期为１０．０６℃,蛹期为１１．０７℃。高温限制温度卵期为２８．００℃     

鞑靼滨藜幼嫩花序的组织培养及植株再生

1 植物名称 鞑靼滨藜（Atriplex tatarica L．）。 2 材料类别 幼嫩花序。 3 培养条件 （1）不定芽诱导和增殖培养基：MS＋6-BA 3mg·L^-1（单位下同）＋IAA0．3;     

人胱硫醚β合成酶原核表达纯化及鉴定

目的:构建人胱硫醚β合成酶(human cystathionineβ-synthase,hCBS)基因原核表达载体,在E.coli BL21(DE3)中表达,并进行纯化和酶活性检测。方法:以胰腺细胞cDNA文库为模板,采用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)扩增hCBS基因蛋白编码区的全序列,克隆入原核表达载体pET32a(+),构建重组质粒pET32a(+)-hCBS。经限制性内切酶双酶切及DNA序列分析鉴定目的基因后与人CBS基因(基因bank号:BT007154.1)完全一致,转入E.coli BL21(DE3)中,由IPTG诱导表达融合蛋白。结果:经SDS-PAGE、Western blot分析,证明诱导表达的蛋白为重组人CBS(rhCBS)。再由Ni-NTA树脂亲和层析,并脱盐冷冻干燥后获得重组rhCBS(约19 mg/L培养物),并测得其比活力约为57 kU/g。结论:成功地表达纯化出具有功能活性的重组蛋白rhCBS,为进一步研究该酶的相互作用蛋白以及其在生物学和临床科学的作用奠定了基础。     

Free cholesterol-loaded macrophages are an abundant source of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6: model of NF-kappaB- and map kinase-dependent inflammation in advanced atherosclerosis

Two key features of atherosclerotic plaques that precipitate acute atherothrombotic vascular occlusion ("vulnerable plaques") are abundant inflammatory mediators and macrophages with excess unesterified, or "free," cholesterol (FC). Herein we show that FC accumulation in macrophages leads to the induction and secretion of two inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The increases in TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA and protein were mediated by FC-induced activation of the IkappaB kinase/NF-kappaB pathway as well as activation of MKK3/p38, Erk1/2, and JNK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Activation of IkappaB kinase and JNK1/2 was needed for the induction of both cytokines. However, MKK3/p38 signaling was specifically involved in TNF-alpha induction, and Erk1/2 signaling was required for IL-6. Most interestingly, activation of all of the signaling pathways and induction of both cytokines required cholesterol trafficking to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The CHOP branch of the unfolded protein response, an ER stress pathway, was required for Erk1/2 activation and IL-6 induction. In contrast, one or more other ER-related pathways were responsible for activation of p38, JNK1/2, and IkappaB kinase/NF-kappaB and for the induction of TNF-alpha. These data suggest a novel scenario in which cytokines are induced in macrophages by endogenous cellular events triggered by excess ER cholesterol rather than by exogenous immune cell mediators. Moreover, this model may help explain the relationship between FC accumulation and inflammation in vulnerable plaques.     

An arabinogalactan isolated from the stems of Cistanche deserticola induces the proliferation of cultured lymphocytes

A purified polysaccharide ACDP-2 was isolated from water extract of the stems of Cistanche deserticola. Chemical and spectroscopic analyses indicated that ACDP-2 is a highly branched arabinogalactan polymer that composes of linked d-galactopyranose and d-glucopyranose, which contains predominantly a branching point at the 6-carbon. The branched side-chains compose of terminal-, 1,5-, and 1,3,5-linked arabinofuranosyl residues. ACDP-2 showed an effect in stimulating the immune response, which when applied onto the cultured mouse lymphocytes induced the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.     

胆汁致消化道黏膜损伤机制的研究进展

胆汁是由肝细胞分泌的胆道内的消化液,为等渗溶液,主要成分包括胆盐、胆汁酸、胆红素、还原型谷胱甘肽及其结合物、氧化型谷胱甘肽等。在消化期,胆汁可由肝脏和胆囊大量排到十二指肠,将脂肪乳化成微滴以利于消化;还能促进脂肪酸及脂溶性维生素的吸收。生理状态下胆汁不会反流入胃及食管,也不会损伤肠道。病理状态下胆汁会反流入胃甚至反流到食管损伤胃及食管黏膜,在一些情况下胆汁甚至会损伤肠道的黏膜。目前认为胆汁是较明确的致癌因素,与消化道肿瘤的相关性较大,但仍缺乏针对性的防治方案。明确胆汁对消化道黏膜的损伤机制,有助探索消化道肿瘤防治的新靶点。本文回顾了近年来有关胆汁对食管黏膜、胃黏膜及肠黏膜损伤机制的研究进展,以期为进一步的研究提供思路。     

扶桑绵粉蚧组织蛋白酶B基因的克隆、原核表达和不同发育阶段表达分析

昆虫组织蛋白酶B在昆虫代谢过程中发挥重要作用。本研究利用RACE技术克隆了扶桑绵粉蚧Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley组织蛋白酶B基因的开放阅读框（ORF）序列, 命名为PsCb （GenBank登录号: JQ727999）。生物信息学分析表明, 该基因的开放阅读框包含927 bp的片段, 编码308个氨基酸。多序列比对表明, 该基因编码的蛋白在N端变异较大, 在C端保守性高。组织蛋白酶B基因的系统进化树结果表明扶桑绵粉蚧组织蛋白酶独自成为一支。原核表达电泳检测到一条大约35 kDa的目的条带, 与预测的蛋白分子量相符。组织蛋白酶B基因在扶桑绵粉蚧各个虫态均有表达, 卵期表达量相对较低, 2龄若虫期达到最高峰, 然后下降。本研究为进一步研究该基因的功能并开发出组织蛋白酶抑制剂, 从而研制出扶桑绵粉蚧杀卵剂和胚胎发育抑制剂等提供理论依据。     

P2X7 receptor inhibition attenuated sympathetic nerve sprouting after myocardial infarction via the NLRP3/IL‐1β pathway

Mounting evidence supports the hypothesis that inflammation modulates sympathetic sprouting after myocardial infarction (MI). The myeloid P2X₇ signal has been shown to activate the nucleotide‐binding and oligomerization domain‐like receptor family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, a master regulator of inflammation. We investigated whether P2X₇ signal participated in the pathogenesis of sympathetic reinnervation after MI, and whether NLRP3/interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) axis is involved in the process. We explored the relationship between P2X₇ receptor (P2X₇R) and IL‐1β in the heart tissue of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐primed naive rats. 3′‐O‐(4‐benzoyl) benzoyl adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (BzATP), a P2X₇R agonist, induced caspase‐1 activation and mature IL‐1β release, which was further neutralized by a NLRP3 inhibitor (16673‐34‐0). MI was induced by coronary artery ligation. Following infarction, a marked increase in P2X₇R was localized within infiltrated macrophages and observed in parallel with an up‐regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome levels and the release of IL‐1β in the left ventricle. The administration of A‐740003 (a P2X₇R antagonist) significantly prevented the NLRP3/IL‐1β increase. A‐740003 and/or Anakinra (an IL‐1 receptor antagonist) significantly reduced macrophage infiltration as well as macrophage‐based IL‐1β and NGF (nerve growth factor) production and eventually blunted sympathetic hyperinnervation, as assessed by the immunofluorescence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth‐associated protein 43 (GAP 43). Moreover, the use of Anakinra partly attenuated sympathetic sprouting. This indicated that the effect of P2X₇ on neural remodelling was mediated at least partially by IL‐1β. The arrhythmia score of programmed electric stimulation was in accordance with the degree of sympathetic hyperinnervation. In vitro studies showed that BzATP up‐regulated secretion of nerve growth factor (NGF) in M1 macrophages via IL‐1β. Together, these data indicate that P2X₇R contributes to neural and cardiac remodelling, at least partly mediated by NLRP3/IL‐1β axis. Therapeutic interventions targeting P2X₇ signal may be a novel approach to ameliorate arrhythmia following MI.     

持久性有机污染物γ-六六六生物降解研究进展

γ-六六六(γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane,γ-HCH)是一种有机氯杀虫剂,由于它具有持久性和很高的毒性,成为顽固性的世界性污染物。目前从世界上不同的受HCH污染的地区中已经分离出许多能够降解HCH的微生物,其中一些微生物对γ-HCH的降解途径得到了阐明,降解基因/酶也得到了鉴定。综述了γ-HCH降解菌的多样性、降解途径、降解基因和酶,为γ-HCH的生物修复提供了参考。