A CLIQUE algorithm using DNA computing techniques based on closed-circle DNA sequences

DNA computing has been applied in broad fields such as graph theory, finite state problems, and combinatorial problem. DNA computing approaches are more suitable used to solve many combinatorial problems because of the vast parallelism and high-density storage. The CLIQUE algorithm is one of the gird-based clustering techniques for spatial data. It is the combinatorial problem of the density cells. Therefore we utilize DNA computing using the closed-circle DNA sequences to execute the CLIQUE algorithm for the two-dimensional data. In our study, the process of clustering becomes a parallel bio-chemical reaction and the DNA sequences representing the marked cells can be combined to form a closed-circle DNA sequences. This strategy is a new application of DNA computing. Although the strategy is only for the two-dimensional data, it provides a new idea to consider the grids to be vertexes in a graph and transform the search problem into a combinatorial problem.     

A unique FGF23 with the ability to activate FGFR signaling through both αKlotho and βKlotho

Three fibroblast growth factor (FGF) molecules, FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23, form a unique subfamily that functions as endocrine hormones. FGF19 and FGF21 can regulate glucose, lipid, and energy metabolism, while FGF23 regulates phosphate homeostasis. The FGF receptors and co-receptors for these three FGF molecules have been identified, and domains important for receptor interaction and specificity determination are beginning to be elucidated. However, a number of questions remain unanswered, such as the identification of fibroblast growth factor receptor responsible for glucose regulation. Here, we have generated a variant of FGF23: FGF23-21c, where the C-terminal domain of FGF23 was replaced with the corresponding regions from FGF21. FGF23-21c showed a number of interesting and unexpected properties in vitro. In contrast to wild-type FGF23, FGF23-21c gained the ability to activate FGFR1c and FGFR2c in the presence of βKlotho and was able to stimulate glucose uptake into adipocytes in vitro and lower glucose levels in ob/ob diabetic mice model to similar extent as FGF21 in vivo. These results suggest that βKlotho/FGFR1c or FGFR2c receptor complexes are sufficient for glucose regulation. Interestingly, without the FGF23 C-terminal domain, FGF23-21c was still able to activate fibroblast growth factor receptors in the presence of αKlotho. This suggests not only that sequences outside of the C-terminal region may also contribute to the interaction with co-receptors but also that FGF23-21c may be able to regulate both glucose and phosphate metabolisms. This raises an interesting concept of designing an FGF molecule that may be able to address multiple diseases simultaneously. Further understanding of FGF/receptor interactions may allow the development of exciting opportunities for novel therapeutic discovery.     

TCR介导“inside-out”信号通路调控整合素的活化

整合素（integrin）是一类重要的跨膜黏附分子,在T细胞定向迁移到淋巴器官、感染或炎症部位以及T细胞与抗原呈递细胞（antigen presenting cell,APC）之间相互作用等过程中起重要作用。T细胞受到抗原或趋化因子等的刺激后,启动细胞内大量的信号传导分子,并形成＂inside-out＂信号通路,导致整合素构像的改变（conformation change）或促进整合素在细胞表面的聚集（integrinclustering）,最终增强整合素的affinity或avidity,促进其与配体结合的能力,提高淋巴细胞间的黏附。近年来的研究已经鉴定出调控整合素活化的多个关键的信号分子及其形成的信号转导复合体。该文主要阐述T细胞受到抗原刺激后,由T细胞受体（T cell receptor,TCR）介导的＂inside-out＂信号通路中关键的信号分子如ADAP、SKAP-55、RapL、Rap1、Talin和Kindlins等如何与上下游信号分子协同作用,调控整合素LFA-1活化的分子机制。     

果实表达PGIPs的基因克隆及功能研究进展

多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PGs)是病原真菌早期侵染植物的一个重要致病因子。多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白(PGIPs)作为植物防御蛋白,能特异性抑制真菌分泌的多聚半乳糖醛酸酶,并通过延长寡聚半乳糖醛酸(OGs)的稳定期激活植物防御反应。综述PGIPs在植物细胞中的定位,PGIPs与PGs之间的作用方式,PGIPs基因的分离与克隆,以及PGIPs对果实感病的影响,并对PGIPs的研究前景进行展望。     

A Novel Integrated Method Tor Large-scale Detection,Identification, and Quantification of Widely Targeted Metabolites： Application in the Study of Rice Metabolomics

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry （LC-MS）-based metabolomics has been facilitated by the con- struction of MSz spectral tag （MS2T） library from the total scan ESI MS/MS data, and the development of widely targeted metabolomics method using MS/MS data gathered from authentic standards. In this report, a novel strategy called step- wise multiple ion monitoring-enhanced product ions （stepwise MIM-EPI） was developed to construct the MS2T library, in which stepwise MIM was used as survey scans to trigger the acquisition of EPI. A total number of 698 （almost） non- redundant metabolites with MS2 spectra were obtained, of which 135 metabolites were identified/annotated. Integrating the data gathered from our MS2T library and other available multiple reaction monitoring （MRM） information, a widely targeted metabolomics method was developed to quantify 277 metabolites, including some phytohormones. Evaluation of the dehydration responses and natural variations of these metabolites in rice leaf not only suggested the coordinated regulation of abscisic acid （ABA） with metabolites such as serotonin derivative（s）, polyamine conjugates under drought stress, but also revealed some C-glycosylated flavones as the potential markers for the discrimination of indica and japonica rice subspecies. The new MS2T library construction and widely targeted metabolomics strategy could be used as a tool for rice functional genomics.     

Studies on antigens of human lung adenocarcinoma with McAb LC-1]

The soluble antigens extracted from both human lung adenocarcinoma cell line SPC-A-1, and normal adult lung tissue with non-idet P-40 were subjected to 10% SDS-PAGE. The number of bands distinguishable by naked eyes of lung adenocarcinoma are 57, in which 4 bands are more significant. The bands of normal human lung tissue are 52, in which 2 bands are more significant. The molecular weights of these bands mainly are within 30 to 94 KD The thin layer chromatographs of these two antigenic extracts have shown that there is difference in their sugar content, but both of them shown little sialic acid. The Immunoblot pattern of McAb LC-1 reacted with the extracts of SPC-A-1 cells shows that all of 3 bands detected can be stained by alcian blue, indicating that they are glycoproteins. However, of them two bands, M. W. of 70 KD and 51 KD can also be stained by Sudan Black B, indicating that these two bands are glycolipoproteins. The ganglioside and neutral glycolipid can inhibit the binding of LC-1 with the extract of SPC-A-1 cells. The results indicate that the epitopes of SPC-A-1 cell extract reacted with McAb LC-1 are probably located in the polysaccharide.     

人胃粘膜G、D细胞与肠化生关系的研究

用免疫细胞化学和原位杂交技术探讨G、D细胞及胃泌素mRNA与肠化生的关系。标本来自胃镜活检的胃粘膜。结果显示,在与大肠化生区相邻的胃粘膜,G细胞突变消失,假幽门腺化生也缺乏G细胞,而淖肠化生仍保留少数G细胞;D细胞不仅见于小肠化生,而且也出现在假幽门腺化生以及某些大肠化生区。胃泌素mRNA仅限于G细胞分布区,未出现在大肠化生区和假幽门腺化生区,G细胞及胃泌素mRNA在大肠化生区的消失,可能由于局部杯状细胞分泌的硫酸粘蛋白改变了局部的微环境,从而影响了G细胞的分化与发育,至于假幽门腺化生区G细胞及胃泌素mRNA消失的原因还不清楚,应继续研究。     

达尔文把人类回归到自然界（1）——纪念达尔文《物种起源》出版150周年

1859年,达尔文的著作《物种起源》改变了人们对自己的看法：在1859年以前,人是上帝创造的产物：在1859年以后,人是自然选择的产物。而达尔文主张人是自然界的一部分。而不是在自然之外。他和T·H赫胥黎提出,人和大猿特别是非洲猿有近密的亲缘关系。E·海克尔甚至画出了包括某些似猿的人类祖先的系统树。然而,在20世纪,许多人类学家还是相信,人是独特的,是一种全新的生物。他们要寻找人类进化的特殊类型的解释。他们提出,脑必定引领着进化的方向,认为人和现代非洲猿之间的相似性是平行进化所造成的。后来,分子生物学的和化石的证据证实了达尔文原先的观点。今天,达尔文的理论对人类社会生活仍然具有重大意义。