δ-catenin overexpression promotes angiogenic potential of CWR22Rv-1 prostate cancer cells via HIF-1α and VEGF

This study revealed that CWR22Rv-1 cells overexpressing δ-catenin display bigger tumor formation and higher angiogenic potentials than their matched control cells in the CAM assay. In addition, δ-catenin overexpression in CWR22Rv-1 cells results in increased hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Furthermore, δ-catenin overexpression was found to enhance nuclear distribution of both β-catenin and HIF-1α in hypoxic condition, which is diminished by knockdown of δ-catenin. Our current study adds novel evidence regarding contribution of δ-catenin to the progression of prostate cancer.     

Mechanism of How Salt-Gradient-Induced Charges Affect the Translocation of DNA Molecules through a Nanopore

Experiments using nanopores demonstrated that a salt gradient enhances the capture rate of DNA and reduces its translocation speed. These two effects can help to enable electrical DNA sequencing with nanopores. Here, we provide a quantitative theoretical evaluation that shows the positive net charges, which accumulate around the pore entrance due to the salt gradient, are responsible for the two observed effects: they reinforce the electric capture field, resulting in promoted molecule capture rate; and they induce cationic electroosmotic flow through the nanopore, thus significantly retarding the motion of the anionic DNA through the nanopore. Our multiphysical simulation results show that, during the polymer trapping stage, the former effect plays the major role, thus resulting in promoted DNA capture rate, while during the nanopore-penetrating stage the latter effect dominates and consequently reduces the DNA translocation speed significantly. Quantitative agreement with experimental results has been reached by further taking nanopore wall surface charges into account.     

新城疫病毒基质蛋白与禽细胞核磷蛋白B23.1在HEK-293T细胞中的相互作用

【目的】探讨新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）基质（matrix,M）蛋白和禽细胞核磷蛋白B23.1在HEK-293T细胞中的相互作用。【方法】分别参照GenBank中NDV JS/5/05/Go株全基因序列（JN631747）和禽细胞核磷蛋白B23.1基因序列（NM₂05267）,设计、合成扩增M基因和B23.1基因的引物,利用RT-PCR扩增出M基因和DF1细胞的B23.1基因,分别克隆至真核表达载体获得重组表达质粒pEGFP-M、pCMV-HA-M和pDsRed-B23.1;将pEGFP-M和pDsRed-B23.1共转染HEK-293T细胞,利用荧光显微镜观察M蛋白与B23.1蛋白的共定位;利用免疫共沉淀（Co-IP）技术进一步验证两种蛋白的相互作用。【结果】Western blot结果表明构建的重组质粒在转染的HEK-293T细胞中正确表达;荧光显微镜观察显示M蛋白与B23.1蛋白在核仁具有共定位特征;Co-IP进一步证实两者能发生相互作用。【结论】NDV M蛋白与禽细胞核磷蛋白B23.1存在相互作用,M蛋白可能通过与B23.1蛋白的相互作用进入核仁。     

高浓度氯苯优势降解菌的筛选及其降解酶的纯化

[目的]分离纯化出一株高浓度氯苯优势降解菌株,对其所产氯苯降解酶进行分离与纯化,为该菌株及其氯苯降解酶的研究提供理论参考.[方法]利用梯度富集培养技术和无菌滤纸片平板法分离菌株,通过形态特征及16S rRNA基因序列分析初步鉴定菌株,用气相色谱法测定培养液中氯苯浓度,以单位细胞氯苯降解率评价菌株对氯苯的降解能力,以氯苯降解率表示氯苯降解酶的活性.取纯化菌株的发酵酶液制备粗酶液,经硫酸铵梯度盐析、透析脱盐、DE-52离子交换层析、G-100凝胶层析和透析浓缩后,进行SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳检验酶的纯度并测定酶的分子量.[结果]从氯苯长期驯化的成熟期活性污泥中筛选到一株以氯苯为唯一碳源和能源的氯苯优势降解细菌LW13,该菌株在以2000 mg/L氯苯为唯一碳源的无机盐培养基中仍能正常生长,其单位细胞氯苯降解率可达1.37 ×10-10.扫描电镜观察到该菌株细胞大小约为2.3 ×0.8μm,长有数根端生鞭毛.16S rRNA基因序列相似性比较表明该菌株与Lysinibacillus fusiformis(溶藻菌)的相似性达95.5％.所纯化的氯苯降解酶为胞外酶,带正电荷,其分子大小约为57 kDa.整个纯化过程中酶纯化倍数化达8.0倍,酶活回收率达52.51％,酶量回收率达6.57％.纯化后的氯苯降解酶在30℃-55℃和pH在6.0-8.0之间都保持较高的酶活性,其最适反应温度和pH分别在40℃和pH8.0左右.[结论]所分离的氯苯优势降解菌属于Lysinibacillus属菌株,该菌株能有效降解高浓度(500-2000 mg/L)氯苯废水,通过逐级分离纯化,可获得氯苯降解酶纯酶,纯化指标符合分离纯化基本规律,纯化效果较为理想.     

不同成熟度煤样产甲烷潜力

摘要:【目的】评估不同类型煤炭生物降解转化为甲烷的潜力,研究原位煤层的微生物群落结构特征。【方法】分别在原位模拟、补加烃降解产甲烷菌系和补加碳源下厌氧培养煤样,利用气相色谱监测甲烷产生趋势,及高通量测序技术研究原位煤层的细菌和古菌群落。【结果】10个样品中有3个高成熟度煤样可以被厌氧降解转化为甲烷。通过生物强化和添加外源底物可以促进HF煤样的产甲烷潜力。其中SL 煤样中的古菌类群主要是氢营养型产甲烷菌Methanoculleus和乙酸营养型产甲烷菌Methanosaeta为主,细菌类群主要 属于Firmicutes(54.4%)、Proteobacteria(30.9%)、未培养微生物(10.8%)、Caldiserica(1.5%)及Thermotogae(1.3%)。【结论】不同成熟度煤样降解产气潜力不同,在部分原位煤层中可能存在参与烃降解与甲烷产生的功能菌。     

A monoclonal antibody targeting a highly conserved epitope in influenza B neuraminidase provides protection against drug resistant strains

All influenza viral neuraminidases (NA) of both type A and B viruses have only one universally conserved sequence located between amino acids 222–230. A monoclonal antibody against this region has been previously reported to provide broad inhibition against all nine subtypes of influenza A NA; yet its inhibitory effect against influenza B viral NA remained unknown. Here, we report that the monoclonal antibody provides a broad inhibition against various strains of influenza B viruses of both Victoria and Yamagata genetic lineage. Moreover, the growth and NA enzymatic activity of two drug resistant influenza B strains (E117D and D197E) are also inhibited by the antibody even though these two mutations are conformationally proximal to the universal epitope. Collectively, these data suggest that this unique, highly-conserved linear sequence in viral NA is exposed sufficiently to allow access by inhibitory antibody during the course of infection; it could represent a potential target for antiviral agents and vaccine-induced immune responses against diverse strains of type B influenza virus.     

Coxsackievirus A16 infection triggers apoptosis in RD cells by inducing ER stress

Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) infection, which is responsible for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), has become a common health problem in Asia due to the prevalence of the virus. Thus, it is important to understand the pathogenesis of CA16 infection. Viruses that induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are confronted with the unfolded protein response (UPR), which may lead to apoptotic cell death and influence viral replication. In this study, we found that CA16 infection could induce apoptosis and ER stress in RD cells. Interestingly, apoptosis via the activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9 in the extrinsic or intrinsic apoptotic pathways in RD cells was inhibited by 4-phenyl butyric acid (4PBA), a chemical chaperone that reduces ER stress. These results suggest that CA16 infection leads to ER stress, which in turn results in prolonged ER stress-induced apoptosis. This study provides a new basis for understanding CA16 infection and host responses.     

Molecular Profiling of Genetic Variability in Domesticated Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Based on ISJ, URP, and DAMD Markers

To detect DNA polymorphisms in the peanut, we screened 26 polymorphic primers using intron–exon splice junction (ISJ), universal rice primer (URP), and directed amplification of minisatellite region DNA (DAMD) techniques. Amplification of genomic DNA of 16 peanut accessions yielded 121 ISJ, 50 URP, and 25 DAMD fragments, of which 34, 25 and 16 were polymorphic, respectively. The range of polymorphism was 10.0–62.5%, averaging 27.7%, for ISJ; 20–80%, averaging 49.5%, for URP; and 28.6–50.0%, averaging 36.3%, for DAMD. In comparisons of multiplex ratio, average polymorphism information content, and marker index, the URP markers were relatively more efficient than ISJ and DAMD markers. Clustering results remained more or less the same with ISJ and URP markers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the study of the genetic diversity of the peanut using ISJ, URP, and DAMD markers.     

Evidence for Tissue-Specific JAK/STAT Target Genes in Drosophila Optic Lobe Development

The evolutionarily conserved JAK/STAT pathway plays important roles in development and disease processes in humans. Although the signaling process has been well established, we know relatively little about what the relevant target genes are that mediate JAK/STAT activation during development. Here, we have used genome-wide microarrays to identify JAK/STAT targets in the optic lobes of the Drosophila brain and identified 47 genes that are positively regulated by JAK/STAT. About two-thirds of the genes encode proteins that have orthologs in humans. The STAT targets in the optic lobe appear to be different from the targets identified in other tissues, suggesting that JAK/STAT signaling may regulate different target genes in a tissue-specific manner. Functional analysis of Nop56, a cell-autonomous STAT target, revealed an essential role for this gene in the growth and proliferation of neuroepithelial stem cells in the optic lobe and an inhibitory role in lamina neurogenesis.