Cloning and characterization of theeapB andeapC genes ofCryphonectria parasitica encoding two new acid proteinases, and disruption ofeapC

Two new proteinases secreted byCryphonectria parasitica, namely EapB and EapC, have been purified. The corresponding structural genes were isolated by screening a cosmid library, and sequenced. Comparison of genomic and cDNA sequences revealed that theeapB andeapC genes contain three and two introns, respectively. The products of theeapB andeapC genes as deduced from the nucleotide sequences, are 268 and 269 residues long, respectively. N-terminal amino acid sequencing data indicates that EapC is synthesized as a zymogen, which yields a mature 206-amino acid enzyme after cleavage of the prepro sequence. Similarly, sequence alignment studies suggest that EapB is secreted as a 203-residue form which shares extensive similarities not only with EapC but also with two other acid fungal proteinases. However, they display distinct structural features; for example, no cysteine residue is found in EapC. TheeapC gene was mutated using a two-step gene replacement strategy which allowed the specific introduction of several stop codons at the beginning of theeapC coding sequence in an endothiapepsin-deficient (EapA⁺)C. parasitica strain. Although the resulting strain did not secrete EapC, it still exhibited residual extracellular proteolytic activity, which could be due to EapB.     

Nitrobacter winogradskyi cytochrome c oxidase genes are organized in a repeated gene cluster

Cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) is one of the components of the electron transport chain by which Nitrobacter, a facultative lithoautotrophic bacterium, recovers energy from nitrite oxidation. The genes encoding the two catalytic core subunits of the enzyme were isolated from a Nitrobacter winogradskyi gene library. Sequencing of one of the 14 cloned DNA segments revealed that the subunit genes are side by side in an operon-like cluster. Remarkably the cluster appears to be present in at least two copies per genome. It extends over a 5–6 kb length including, besides the catalytic core subunit genes, other cytochrome oxidase related genes, especially a heme O synthase gene. Noteworthy is the new kind of gene order identified within the cluster. Deduced sequences for the cytochrome oxidase subunits and for the heme O synthase look closest to their counterparts in other -subdivision Proteobacteria, particularly the Rhizobiaceae. This confirms the phylogenetic relationships established only upon 16S rRNA data. Furthermore, interesting similarities exist between N. winogradskyi and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunits while the heme O synthase sequence gives some new insights about the other similar published -subdivision proteobacterial sequences.Abbreviations COI cytochrome oxidase subunit I - COII cytochrome oxidase subunit II - COIII cytochrome oxidase subunit III - HOS Heme O synthase - ORF open reading frame - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

传染性软疣病毒（MCV）的电镜观察

传染性软疣病毒（ＭＣＶ）的电镜观察李德忠,肖同浩,武晓华（广州军区武汉总医院电镜室,武汉４３００７０）吴宁（广州军区武汉总医院皮肤科,武汉４３００７０）关键词传染性软疣病毒,病毒形态,电镜观察曾有研究描述ＭＣＶ的发育周期中有８种形态,也有按发育过程将...     

Age at onset in two common neurodegenerative diseases is genetically controlled

To identify genes influencing age at onset (AAO) in two common neurodegenerative diseases, a genomic screen was performed for AAO in families with Alzheimer disease (AD; n=449) and Parkinson disease (PD; n=174). Heritabilities between 40%–60% were found in both the AD and PD data sets. For PD, significant evidence for linkage to AAO was found on chromosome 1p (LOD = 3.41). For AD, the AAO effect of APOE (LOD = 3.28) was confirmed. In addition, evidence for AAO linkage on chromosomes 6 and 10 was identified independently in both the AD and PD data sets. Subsequent unified analyses of these regions identified a single peak on chromosome 10q between D10S1239 and D10S1237, with a maximum LOD score of 2.62. These data suggest that a common gene affects AAO in these two common complex neurodegenerative diseases.     

蚯蚓体内一种纤溶酶原激活剂(e-PA)的部分性质研究

从赤子爱胜蚓（Ｅｉｓｅｎｉａｆａｅｔｉｄａ）中纯化出的一种纤溶酶原激活剂（ｅ－ＰＡ）在纤维蛋白平板上可表现出三种活性,分别记为：ＣＦＰｇ,ｕＣＦＰｇ和ｕＣＦ．为更好了解各种活性与ｅ－ＰＡ的纤溶能力的关系,考察了在ＳＤＳ和不同抑制剂存在下各种活性的变化．结果表明,ＳＤＳ可以增强ＣＦＰｇ活性且使得ｅ－ＰＡ变得对一些抑制剂更敏感;ｌｅｕｐｅｐｔｉｎ,ｃｈｙｍｏｓｔａｔｉｎ,ｐｅｐｓｔａｔｉｎ,ａｐｒｏ－ｔｉｎｉｎ,ｐｈｅｎｙｌｍｅｔｈｙｌｓｕｌｆｏｎｙｌｆｌｕｏｒｉｄｅ（ＰＭＳＦ）和ｄｉｔｈｉｏｔｈｒｅｉｔｏｌ（ＤＴＴ）对ｕＣＦ没有影响;ｐｅｐ－ｓｔａｔｉｎ能增强ＣＦＰｇ和ｕＣＦＰｇ活性,Ｅ－６４（一种巯基抑制剂）能增强ｕＣＦＰｇ和ｕＣＦ活性．这些现象说明不能简单将ｅ－ＰＡ归结为丝氨酸蛋白酶或巯基蛋白酶．此外又以纤溶酶原为底物,分析了ｅ－ＰＡ在体外降解天然蛋白质的肽键特异性,结果表明：ｅ－ＰＡ可以切割碱性氨基酸,小的中性氨基酸及Ｍｅｔ的羧基端,同时ｅ－ＰＡ确能将纤溶酶原切割为纤溶酶;这一结论为ｅ－ＰＡ有可能成为新型溶栓药物提供了生化基础．     

蚯蚓体内一种纤溶酶原激活剂(e-PA)对ATEE的降解

赤子爱胜蚓（Ｅｉｓｅｎｉａｆｅｔｉｄａ）体内的一种纤溶酶原激活剂（ｅ－ＰＡ）能够降解人工合成底物Ｎ－乙酰－Ｌ－酪氨酸乙酯（ＡＴＥＥ）,该降解反应的最适ｐＨ为８．５,而且在０．２ｍｏｌ／ＬＮａ２ＨＰＯ４中的活性要强于在０．０５ｍｏｌ／ＬＴｒｉｓ－ＨＣｌ（ｐＨ８．５）中．分别测定了ｅ－ＰＡ的大小亚基及全酶在０．２ｍｏｌ／ＬＮａ２ＨＰＯ４与０．０５ｍｏｌ／ＬＴｒｉｓ－ＨＣｌ（ｐＨ８．５）两种体系中的Ｋｍ和Ｋｃａｔ．结果表明,在０．２ｍｏｌ／ＬＮａ２ＨＰＯ４中,全酶的ＡＴＥＥ活性远远高于大小亚基单独的ＡＴＥＥ活性,而在０．０５ｍｏｌ／ＬＴｒｉｓ－ＨＣｌ（ｐＨ８．５）中则没有这种现象．从蛋白质结构的角度对这一结果作了解释．用不同抑制剂和ｅ－ＰＡ作用,结果表明,ｐｅｐｓｔａｔｉｎ,Ｅ－６４和ＥＤＴＡ对ｅ－ＰＡ的ＡＴＥＥ活性都有不同程度的抑制,这一点与ｅ－ＰＡ的ＢＡＥＥ活性不同．     

大花黄牡丹分类学地位的研究

通过野外调查、引种试验,对大花黄牡丹与黄牡丹的形态特征、生长和繁殖特性进行了综合比较研究,结果表明,二者之间在植株高度、心皮数目、花色、花瓣基部有无棕红斑及繁殖特性等存在明显差异;同时,染色体组型、带型及蛋白亚基构成分析也表明二者之间有明显差异,因此我们认为,大花黄牡丹应上升为种的等级：Ｐａｅｏｎｉａ ｌｕｄｌｏｗｉｉ（Ｓｔｅｒｎ ｅｔ Ｔａｙｌｏｒ）Ｊ．Ｊ．Ｌｉ ｅｔ Ｄ．Ｚ．Ｃｈｅｎ,ｓｔａｔ     

梨火疫病拮抗菌筛选及温室防效测定

【背景】梨火疫病是由梨火疫病菌(Erwinia amylovora)引起的细菌性病害,对苹果、梨、山楂等40余属220多种植物危害极大。近年来,与中国毗邻的中亚多国相继暴发梨火疫病。梨火疫病菌成为国内特别是对新疆地区的特高风险有害生物,梨火疫病已被中国农业农村部列入《一类农作物病虫害名录》。【目的】从新疆本土材料以及实验室现有菌株中进行梨火疫病菌拮抗菌株的筛选,为梨火疫病的防控奠定基础。【方法】采用平板对峙法从新疆香梨种植区土壤及实验室现有菌株中分离、筛选具有显著拮抗效果的菌株,通过生理生化特性分析和16SrRNA基因测序等方法对菌株进行初步鉴定,并采用牛津杯扩散法对抑菌效果进行复筛。利用两年生盆栽杜梨苗对拮抗菌进行温室内保护型和治疗型防效测定。【结果】筛选获得11株具有显著拮抗作用的菌株,均为革兰氏阳性菌。其中9株为芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)、2株为乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus)。平板对峙实验结果表明贝莱斯芽胞杆菌(Bacillus velezensis) JE7、植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum) LP1和植物乳杆菌LP2拮抗作用较强,其次为贝莱斯芽胞杆菌JE4。生理特性实验结果表明:JE4、JE7可在NaCl浓度为1%-7%时生长,JE4、JE7在pH 4.0-9.0时生长,LP1可在NaCl浓度为1%-9%时生长,在pH 5.0-9.0时生长良好。温室防效测定结果显示,贝莱斯芽胞杆菌JE4防效最佳,可达到73%以上。【结论】筛选获得一批梨火疫病拮抗菌,其中部分菌株在温室内防效显著并具有较强的盐碱耐受能力。     

MicroRNA-137-3p Protects PC12 Cells Against Oxidative Stress by Downregulation of Calpain-2 and nNOS

The imbalance between excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and insufficient antioxidant defenses contribute to a range of neurodegenerative diseases. High ROS levels damage cellular macromolecules such as DNA, proteins and lipids, leading to neuron vulnerability and eventual death. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of the ROS regulation is not fully elucidated. Recently, an increasing number of studies suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as the targets in regulating oxidative stress. We recently reported the neuroprotective effect of miR-137-3p for brachial plexus avulsion-induced motoneuron death. The present study is sought to investigate whether miR-137-3p also could protect PC12 cells against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) induced neurotoxicity. By using cell viability assay, ROS assay, gene and protein expression assay, we found that PC-12 cells exposed to H₂O₂ exhibited decreased cell viability, increased expression levels of calpain-2 and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), whereas a decreased miR-137-3p expression. Importantly, restoring the miR-137-3p levels in H₂O₂ exposure robustly inhibited the elevated nNOS, calpain-2 and ROS expression levels, which subsequently improved the cell viability. Furthermore, the suppressive effect of miR-137-3p on the elevated ROS level under oxidative stress was considerably blunted when we mutated the binding site of calpain-2 targted by miR-137-3p, suggesting the critical role of calpain-2 involving the neuroprotective effect of miR-137-3p. Collectively, these findings highlight the neuroprotective role of miR-137-3p through down-regulating calpain and NOS activity, suggesting its potential role for combating oxidative stress insults in the neurodegenerative diseases.

     

Typha as a wetland food resource: evidence from the Tianluoshan site,Lower Yangtze Region,China

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany - Wetlands have been attractive environments for early communities worldwide. In China, wetlands offered natural ecological settings for the start of rice...