Role of Drosophila gene dunc-115 in nervous system

Axonal guidance signals are transduced through growth cone surface receptors to the interior leading to changes of actin dynamics and actin binding proteins, which are critical in determining the outcome of actin cytoskeleton reorganization. We report here the characterization of the Drosophila actin binding protein abLIM/Unc-115 homolog Dunc-115 and its role in the nervous system. Three Dunc-115 isoforms are identified as Dunc-115L, M and S, respectively. While Dunc-115L is a canonical homolog of Unc-115 with four LIM domains and one villin headpiece domain, Dunc-115M and S are novel isoforms without counterparts in other species. Our molecular modeling shows Dunc-115L is likely to bind to actin. Mutant analysis reveals that Dunc-115 is involved in axonal projection in both the visual and central nervous system.     

Biochemical and photochemical changes in response to triacontanol in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Triacontanol (TRIA) increased the contents of total chlorophyll (Chl), Chl a and Chl b by 25.1%, 26.1% and 22.4% respectively 4 h after treatment in rice seedlings. The minimal fluorescence (F₀), the maximal fluorescence (Fm) and Fv/Fm were also higher in TRIA-treated plants. In actinic light, other Chl fluorescence parameters were measured at different photon flux densities (PFD) to construct light response curves of the quantum yield of PSII electron transport (_PSII), light response curves of photochemical quenching (qp), and light response curves of non-photochemical quenching (qN), respectively. The _PSII and qp declined with the increasing PFD with a higher level present in TRIA-treated plants. The qN increased with the increasing PFD with a lower level present in TRIA-treated plants. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated a protein expression difference between TRIA-treated materials and the controls at the total-soluble-protein level. Rubisco was 30% higher in TRIA-treated plants than in controls. The quantity of other proteins was unchanged in response to TRIA. These data provide biochemical and photochemical evidence for the effects of TRIA on photosynthesis.     

A review on the hybrids of hydroxycinnamic acid as multi-target-directed ligands against Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a complex chronic progressive central nervous system degenerative disease and a public health problem of the world, often characters cognitive dysfunction accompaning aggression and depression, and may lead to death. More attentions should be paid on it because there is no modified strategy against AD till now. AD is featured with the loss of cholinergic neurons, the amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) plaques and the neurofibrillary tangles and several hypotheses were established to explain the pathogenesis of AD. Hydroxycinnamic acids, including caffeic acid (CA) and ferulic acid (FA) are widely distributed in natural plants and fruits. CA and FA exert various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotection, anti-amyloid aggregation and so on. All these pharmacological activities are associated with the treatment of AD. Here we summarized the pharmacological activities of CA and FA, and their hybrids as multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) against AD. The future application of CA and FA was also discussed, hoping to provide beneficial information for the development of CA- and FA-based MTDLs against AD.     

The regulation of necroptosis by ubiquitylation

Necroptosis is a programmed necrosis that is mediated by receptor-interacting protein kinases RIPK1, RIPK3 and the mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein, MLKL. Necroptosis must be strictly regulated to maintain normal tissue homeostasis, and dysregulation of necroptosis leads to the development of various inflammatory, infectious, and degenerative diseases. Ubiquitylation is a widespread post-translational modification that is essential for balancing numerous physiological processes. Over the past decade, considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the role of ubiquitylation in regulating necroptosis. Here, we will discuss the regulatory functions of ubiquitylation in necroptosis signaling pathway. An enhanced understanding of the ubiquitylation enzymes and regulatory proteins in necroptotic signaling pathway will be exploited for the development of new therapeutic strategies for necroptosis-related diseases.

     

链霉菌Z94-2碱性脂肪酶产生条件及酶学性质

在１５２ 株脂肪酶产生菌中,链霉菌Ｚ９４２ 产脂肪酶活力为５９６ｕ／ ｍＬ,其最适培养基（ｇ／Ｌ） 为：糊精１０ 、黄豆饼粉３０ 、尿素１０ 、Ｋ２ＨＰＯ４ ０－５ 、ＭｇＳＯ４ ０－５ 、ＮａＣｌ １ 和ＡＥＯ９ ０ ．５ ,产酶的最适条件为：初始ｐＨ９ ．５ ～１０－０ ,在２６ ℃培养４８ｈ 。用ＰＶＡ 橄榄油乳化系统测定该酶的最适ｐＨ９ ．８ ,最适温度３７ ℃,在ｐＨ８－６ ～１０－２ 于５ ℃存放２４ ｈ ,酶活力不变。０－１４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ 的氯化钙有较大的激活作用。     

微乳体系中11β-羟基甲羟孕酮的C1,2生物脱氢

为改善过程传质,提高甾类药物中间体11β-羟基甲羟孕酮C1,2生物脱氢转化率,采用简单节杆菌Arthrobacter simplex UR016菌株在Tween-80/乙醇/食油/水构成的微乳体系中进行生物脱氢,并考察了微乳体系组成、转化温度、投料浓度对脱氢反应的影响。结果表明:以菌体培养液作为水相,食油作为油相构建微乳体系,食油最适加量为10g/L,表面活性剂Tween-80加量为4g/L;底物经醇溶后水析投料,乙醇最适加量为发酵液体积的7%(V/V);最适转化温度为33oC;当底物浓度为4g/L时,在构建的微乳体系中转化46h,脱氢转化率达88.6%,与水相转化工艺相比提高了66.2%。在该体系中疏水性11β-羟基甲羟孕酮底物得到了有效的增溶和扩散,生物脱氢转化率明显提高。     

CHIP facilitates ubiquitination of inducible nitric oxide synthase and promotes its proteasomal degradation

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is responsible for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis from l-arginine in response to inflammatory mediators. It is reported that iNOS is degraded mainly by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in RAW264.7 cells and human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. In this study, we showed that iNOS was ubiquitinated and degraded dependent on CHIP (COOH terminus of heat shock protein 70-interacting protein), a chaperone-dependent ubiquitin ligase. The results from overexpression and RNAi experiments demonstrated that CHIP decreased the protein level of iNOS, shortened the half-life of iNOS and attenuated the production of NO. Furthermore, CHIP promoted ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of iNOS by associating with iNOS. These results suggest that CHIP plays an important role in regulation iNOS activity.