TGF-beta signaling preserves RECK expression in activated pancreatic stellate cells

Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis, but the detailed mechanism for dysregulated accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) remains unclear. Cultured rat PSCs become activated by profibrogenic mediators, but these mediators failed to alter the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to the endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Here, we examined the expression of RECK, a novel membrane-anchored MMP inhibitor, in PSCs. Although RECK mRNA levels were largely unchanged, RECK protein expression was barely detected at 2, 5 days after plating PSCs, but appeared following continued in vitro culture and cell passage which result in PSC activation. When PSCs at 5 days after plating (PSCs-5d) were treated with pepstatin A, an aspartic protease inhibitor, or TGF-beta1, a profibrogenic mediator, RECK protein was detected in whole cell lysates. Conversely, Smad7 overexpression or suppression of Smad3 expression in PSCs after passage 2 (PSCs-P2) led to the loss of RECK protein expression. These findings suggest that RECK is post-translationally processed in pre-activated PSCs but protected from proteolytic degradation by TGF-beta signaling. Furthermore, collagenolytic activity of PSCs-5d was greatly reduced by TGF-beta1, whereas that of PSCs-P2 was increased by anti-RECK antibody. Increased RECK levels were also observed in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Therefore, our results suggest for the first time proteolytic processing of RECK as a mechanism regulating RECK activity, and demonstrate that TGF-beta signaling in activated PSCs may promote ECM accumulation via a mechanism that preserves the protease inhibitory activity of RECK.     

Overexpression of sweetpotato swpa4 peroxidase results in increased hydrogen peroxide production and enhances stress tolerance in tobacco

Plant peroxidases (POD) reduce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the presence of an electron donor. Extracellular POD can also induce H₂O₂ production and may perform a significant function in responses to environmental stresses via the regulation of H₂O₂ in plants. We previously described the isolation of 10 POD cDNA clones from cell cultures of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas). Among them, the expression of the swpa4 gene was profoundly induced by a variety of abiotic stresses and pathogenic infections (Park et al. in Mol Gen Genome 269:542–552 2003; Jang et al. in Plant Physiol Biochem 42:451–455 2004). In the present study, transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants overexpressing the swpa4 gene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter were generated in order to assess the function of swpa4 in planta. The transgenic plants exhibited an approximately 50-fold higher POD specific activity than was observed in control plants. Both transient expression analysis with the swpa4-GFP fusion protein and POD activity assays in the apoplastic washing fluid revealed that the swpa4 protein is secreted into the apoplastic space. In addition, a significantly enhanced tolerance to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses occurred in the transgenic plants. These plants harbored increased lignin and phenolic content, and H₂O₂ was also generated under normal conditions. Furthermore, they showed an increased expression level of a variety of apoplastic acidic pathogenesis-related (PR) genes following enhanced H₂O₂ production. These results suggest that the expression of swpa4 in the apoplastic space may function as a positive defense signal in the H₂O₂-regulated stress response signaling pathway.     

Extensive chromosomal polymorphism revealed by ribosomal DNA and satellite DNA loci in 13 Citrus species

Little is known about the chromosomal variability and polymorphism existing in mitotic chromosomes of Citrus, mainly due to lack of reliable chromosomal markers and small chromosome size. To test the hypothesis of chromosomal polymorphism and provide the foundation of the genome organization in the Citrus cultivars, we have developed molecular cytogenetic markers for 13 Citrus species collected from Jeju island, Korea. In this study, we demonstrated that the chromosomal locations of cytogenetic markers are quite variable and extremely polymorphic, in contrast to the previous studies. The data obtained in this study will be of utmost importance in cytological systematics and karyotyping of the Citrus species.     

骨形成蛋白诱导型真核载体的构建及其表达

成骨分化相关基因骨钙素 (OC)等的启动子内均含有成骨特异性转录因子Cbfa1特异性作用元件 ,而骨形成蛋白 (bonemorphogeneticprotein ,BMP)的促成骨分化作用正是通过其首先引起Cbfa1的升高 ,而后Cbfa1激活这些基因的表达 ,最终出现成骨分化表型 .为解决BMP没有理想的活性测定方法的问题 ,在RT PCR结果证实BMP 2可促进NIH3T3和C2C12细胞Cbfa1表达后 ,构建了串联6个Cbfa1作用元件的小鼠OC部分启动子 (6OCP)控制萤光素酶 (luciferase)报告基因的真核表达质粒 ,以期来放大BMP诱导报告基因表达的作用效果 .即通过细胞转染、rhBMP 2刺激后检测萤光素酶活性变化 ,从而间接定量测定rhBMP 2的生物学活性 .结果表明 ,pcDNA3 6OCP Luc转染细胞后其报告基因的基础活性较pcDNA3 Luc大为降低 ;而且在一定剂量范围内 ,转染细胞的萤光素酶活性 (荧光值 )随rhBMP 2剂量增加而升高 ,并呈线性正相关 ,为建立BMP活性定量测定的方法打下基础     

贵州兴义晚三叠世贵州龙层新发现的鱼类

描述贵州兴义地区贵州龙层中新发现的鱼类4新属、4新种和一件新材料,它们是小鳞贵州鳕(新属、新种)Guizhouniscus microlepidus Liu gen．et sp．nov．,小短体鱼(新属、新种)Brachysomus minor Liu gen．et sp．nov．,秀丽兴义鱼(新属、新种)Xingyia gracilis Liu gen．et sp．nov．,臀鳞贵州真颌鱼(新属、新种)Guizhouella analilepidn Liu gen．et sp.nov,和优美贵州弓鳍鱼Guizhouamia bellula Liu et a1．,2002的一件新材料。新的发现和研究表明这是一个颇具特色的晚三叠世早期鱼群。文章还简要讨论各新属新种的系统分类位置和该鱼群在整个鱼类进化中的地位,着重论述贵州弓鳍鱼Guizhouamia的进化意义及弓鳍鱼科的系统发育问题。根据鱼群的特征贵州龙层的地质时代为晚三叠世。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of adr and ivd genes from Frankia EuIK1 strain

The nucleotide sequences of adrenodoxin reductase (adr) gene and isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (ivd) gene and the expression pattern of adr from Frankia EuIK1 strain, symbiont of Elaeagnus umbellata, were determined. 5.5-kb NotI, 5.5-kb SacI, 1.3-kb SacI restriction fragments of pEuAR1, a cosmid clone hybridized with a squalene-hopene cyclase (shc) DNA probe, were subcloned and partially sequenced. Sequence analysis showed three fragments to overlap and harbor adr and ivd genes but not the targeted shc gene. The deduced amino acid sequence of AdR, consisting of 487 amino acids, showed sequence similarity of about 55% with other AdRs, and that of ivd, consisting of 384 amino acids, showed about 60% similarity with others. RT-PCR experiments revealed that the expression of adr was in low level at 6 weeks after inoculation (WAI), reached peak at 8 WAI, and decreased to some extent at 10 WAI. AdR is a probable redox partner of [2Fe–2S] ferredoxin involved in the biosynthesis of Fe/S cluster for cellular Fe/S proteins and also could be involved in nitrogen-fixation. It is the first report about adr and ivd in Frankia.     

Ogura CMS紫菜苔×萝卜×甘蓝型油菜杂种的获得及细胞遗传学研究

以OguraCMS紫菜苔×萝卜杂种F1(AR ,2n =19)为母本 ,以甘蓝型油菜 (AACC ,2n =38)为父本进行杂交 ,获得了 4棵杂种植株。其中 1株 (PRN 1)的花色为嵌合体 ,该植株上的花多为黄色 ,但是也有乳白色花 ,另外还有 1朵花甚至 1个花瓣上同时具有黄色和白色区域 ,其余 3株 (PRN 2、 3、 4 )都开白花。PRN 4的花药开花前退化 ,其余 3株都可以看到 3～ 6枚花药 ,能够产生部分花粉 ,但是PRN 2的花粉不能被I2 KI溶液染色。PRN 2具有 4个蜜腺 ,PRN 1和PRN 3具有 2个蜜腺 ,PRN 4无可见蜜腺。在低温下PRN 2叶色正常 ,其余 3株幼叶表现不同程度缺绿。PRN 1的染色体数目为 2n =38,染色体平均配对构型为 14 6 7Ⅰ +10 0 7Ⅱ +1 0 6Ⅲ ,其染色体组构成可能是AACR ;PRN 2的染色体数目为 2n =35 ,染色体平均配对构型为 13 89Ⅰ +8 33Ⅱ +1 33Ⅲ +0 11Ⅳ ,PRN 3的染色体数目为2n =33,染色体平均配对构型为 14 0 0Ⅰ +7 82Ⅱ +1 0 0Ⅲ +0 0 9Ⅳ。PRN 4的染色体数目未能确定。与甘蓝型油菜回交后PRN 1～ 3植株各自产生了一定数量的种子 ,而PRN 4则未产生种子。对这些杂种及其后代的遗传及育种意义进行了讨论     

江苏句容青山早三叠世鱼类

记述了在江苏句容东昌青山早三叠世下青龙组上部发现的鱼类,计有6属8种,其中4新属6新种,为属两目两科。属裂齿鱼目裂齿鱼科的有Perleidus piveteaui,Perleidus aff.P.madagascariensis.“Perleidus”eu-rylepidotrichia sp.nov.和Zhangina cylindrica gen.et sp.nov;属骨鱼目副半椎鱼科的有Stensionotus dongchangensis sp.nov.,Jurongia fusiformis gen.et sp.nov.,Qingshania cercida gen.et sp.nov.和Suius brevis gen.et sp.nov.。上列绝大部分属种的特征充分显示这个鱼群与马达加斯加北部早三叠世鱼群的亲密关系,少数属种的特征也反映其与东格陵兰早三叠世鱼群有某些关系。     

福建省栗树害虫的考查(Ⅱ)

本文记载福建省栗树害虫计昆虫纲 3目 ,6 6科 ,及蛛形纲蜱螨亚纲 1目 2科。考查 ( )( )两篇合计福建省栗树害虫约 2 90种。考查 ( )作为本刊 1 0 ( 2 )的续篇 ,含 2 6科约 1 2 6种。(四十三 )小蠹科 Scolytidae1 6 5.瘤胸材小蠹 Ambrosiodusrubricollis( Eichhoff) [1 4、1 7] 分布 :建阳、建瓯。 (黄建采集 ,黄复生鉴定 )1 6 6 .削尾材小蠹 H adrodemius mutilatus ( Blandford) [1 4 ] 分布 :将乐龙栖山。1 6 7.小咪小蠹 H ypothenemus eruditus Westwood[1 4 ] 分布 :福建。1 6 8.小滑材小蠹 Xylosandrus compactus Eichhoff[1 4…     

Metabolic Behavior of Lactococcus lactis MG1363 in Microaerobic Continuous Cultivation at a Low Dilution Rate

Minute amounts of oxygen were supplied to a continuous cultivation of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363 grown on a defined glucose-limited medium at a dilution rate of 0.1 h⁻¹. More than 80% of the carbon supplied with glucose ended up in fermentation products other than lactate. Addition of even minute amounts of oxygen increased the yield of biomass on glucose by more than 10% compared to that obtained under anaerobic conditions and had a dramatic impact on catabolic enzyme activities and hence on the distribution of carbon at the pyruvate branch point. Increasing aeration caused carbon dioxide and acetate to replace formate and ethanol as catabolic end products while hardly affecting the production of either acetoin or lactate. The negative impact of oxygen on the synthesis of pyruvate formate lyase was confirmed. Moreover, oxygen was shown to down regulate the protein level of alcohol dehydrogenase while increasing the enzyme activity levels of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, α-acetolactate synthase, and the NADH oxidases. Lactate dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme activity levels were unaffected by aeration.