Effects of mutations at glycine residues in the hydrophobic region of the Escherichia coli prolipoprotein signal peptide on the secretion across the membrane

Each of the 2 glycine residues in the hydrophobic region of the prolipoprotein signal peptide of Escherichia coli was systematically deleted or substituted with a valine residue by oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis. Functional analysis of four such mutants as well as four double mutants, resulting from combinations of any two of the single mutations, revealed that (a) glycine residues at positions 9 and 14 could be replaced individually or at the same time with a valine residue without affecting the secretion of prolipoprotein; (b) the deletion of glycine at position 9 had no effect on the secretion of prolipoprotein whereas, when glycine at position 14 was deleted, the glyceride modification and the processing of the mutant prolipoprotein occurred at a much slower rate at 42 degrees C than those of the wild type prolipoprotein; and (c) the effects of deleting glycine at position 14 could be suppressed by the deletion of glycine at position 9, which resulted in shortening the hydrophobic region of the prolipoprotein signal peptide by 2 amino acid residues. These results indicate that the hydrophobic region of the prolipoprotein signal peptide has remarkable flexibility in terms of the relationship between its primary structure and function in protein secretion.     

Asynchronous depression of responses to T- and B-cell mitogens during acute infection with cytomegalovirus in the guinea pig

The nonspecific functional capacity of spleen cells, taken from female guinea pigs with primary acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, was assessed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a B-cell mitogen, and concanavalin A (Con A), a T-cell mitogen. Proliferative responses to the two mitogens were found to be significantly depressed in animals inoculated with CMV as compared to control animals. The defect in Con A responsiveness occurred earlier during the course of the infection than the defect in LPS responses. Although responses to the mitogens were depressed at the time of peak virus activity in the spleen, the possibility of lytic destruction of the spleen cells by the virus during in vitro culture was excluded. In addition, the depression in Con A responsiveness was noted with a wide range of Con A concentrations, and preculture studies failed to result in enhanced reactivity of the cells from infected animals. We conclude that reductions of both B- and T-cell functions, which differ in their timing during the course of acute CMV infection, occur concurrently with an enhanced viral specific immune response in guinea pigs acutely infected with CMV.     

中国陆相新第三系的初步划分与对比

本文着重介绍了欧洲地中海区新第三纪研究的进展、分期和对比,并提出我国新第三纪哺乳动物群的分期及与世界对比的初步设想。文中着重阐明将蓬蒂期(Pontian(s. s. )相当于我国保德三趾马红土)置于中新世的根据,并建议把新第三纪/第四纪的界限放在1.8百万年(相当奥杜威事件)。对中新世,作者建议划分为五个不同的期:早中新世,谢家期;中中新世早期,山旺期;中中新世晚期,通古尔期;晚中新世,坝河期和最晚中新世,保德期。对上新世的划分目前尚有困难,建议暂时保留静乐期,代表上新世早期,大体相当欧洲的路西南期(Ruscinian, MN14—MN15)。借用游河期代表上新世晚期,约相当于欧洲的维兰尼期(Villanyian,MN16—MN17)。     

Kinetic analysis of 11α-hydroxylation of steroids by Rhizopus nigricans

Optimization of bioconversion of 16,17α-epoxyprogesterone by Rhizopus nigricans TJ 108 was investigated by means of uniform design. Batch cell growth and bioconversion kinetics were simulated under optimal conditions. Contois equation was used in the kinetics study of fungal growth on glucose. Simulation of bioconversion process was done at a constant value of substrate concentration according to the reaction mechanism. It was demonstrated that the above model satisfactorily described the kinetic behaviors of cell growth and bioconversion of the filamentous fungi.     

S1PR3 deficiency alleviates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis through the regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition by targeting miR-495-3p

Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a life-threatening complication of thoracic radiotherapy, which contributes to continued deterioration in pulmonary function. Sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3) has been identified as a crucial molecule in fibrosis. Accumulating evidence indicated that the inhibition of the S1PRs ameliorates fibrogenesis. Thus, this study aims to explore whether S1PR3 participates in RIPF and elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying S1PR3-modulated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in transforming growth factor-β1-induced pulmonary epithelia. A recombinant adeno-associated viral-mediated S1PR3 (AAV-S1PR3) gene therapy analyzed the effect of S1PR3 gene deficiency on the altered histology structure and molecular mechanisms in the lung of mice with whole-lung irradiation. Compared with the AAV-negative control mice, AAV-mediated S1PR3 knockdown in the lung of mice attenuated pulmonary fibrosis induced by the radiation, as indicated by the alleviation of collagen accumulation, lessened histopathological alterations, and the suppression of inflammatory cells infiltration. S1PR3 deficiency reversed the RIPF concomitantly with abrogated EMT-related protein (α-smooth muscle actin). Consistently, S1PR3-deficient pulmonary epithelia inhibited the EMT process changes and fibrosis formation. Furthermore, S1PR3 was designated as one of the target genes for microRNA-495-3p (miR-495-3p). The inhibition of miR-495-3p promoted the expression of S1PR3 in pulmonary epithelia, whereas the overexpression of miR-495-3p inhibited the S1PR3/SMAD2/3 pathway and suppressed the EMT process. Collectively, miR-495-3p might be a negative regulator of the EMT process in fibrosis formation by inhibiting the targeted S1PR3 gene. These results established a link between the S1PR3 gene, the EMT process, and the fibrosis, suggesting the pharmacological blockage of S1PR3 as a potential therapeutic strategy for RIPF.     

大鼠慢性进行性肾病的病理学特点

目的为大鼠慢性进行性肾病(chronic progressive nephropathy,CPN)的发病和相关的病理学研究积累资料。方法进口SD大鼠60只、国产SD大鼠120只、国产Wistar大鼠240只,分别给予进口饲料和国产饲料,持续饲养104周后剖杀,采集大鼠肾并进行常规制片,HE和特殊染色后,显微镜观察组织形态改变,总结和比较不同品系、不同性别、不同饲料喂养的大鼠CPN的发生率和病变特点。结果肾小球毛细血管基底膜和系膜增生及节段硬化为CPN发病的先发病变,肾小管上皮的变性和再生以及间肾质纤维化是继发性改变;CPN的总发病率为31.87%,其中雄性大鼠的发生率为48.54%,雌性大鼠的发生率为15.12%;Wistar大鼠CPN的发生率高于SD大鼠;进口SD大鼠CPN发病率高于国产SD大鼠;用蛋白含量高的饲料喂养大鼠CPN的发生率高于蛋白含量低的饲料喂养的大鼠。结论肾小球病变在先,导致肾小管出现继发性改变。CPN有较高的发病率,性别和品系之间有差异,饲料蛋白含量不同CPN发生率有差异。     

Novel Daidzein Analogs and Their in Vitro Anti‐Influenza Activities

A series of novel isoflavonoids were synthesized based on structural modifications of daidzein, an active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and evaluated for their anti‐influenza activity, in vitro, against H1N1 Tamiflu‐resistant (H1N1 TR) virus in the MDCK cell line. Among them, 4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐8‐carbaldehydes 11a – 11g were most promising, and they demonstrated better activities and selectivities comparable to those the reference ribarivin, a nucleoside antiviral agent. 3‐(4‐Bromophenyl)‐7‐hydroxy‐4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐8‐carboxaldehyde ( 11c ) displayed the best inhibitory activity (EC₅₀, 29.0 μM ) and selectivity index (SI>10.3). Analysis of the structure? activity relationships (SAR) indicated that both the non‐naturally‐occurring Br‐substituted B‐ring and appropriate CHO and OH groups on the A‐ring might be critical for the activity and selectivity against H1N1 TR influenza viruses.     

Superior Lithium Storage Properties of β‐FeOOH

Several crystal forms of FeOOH are recently reported to be highly promising for lithium storage due to their high capacity, low cost, and environmental friendliness. In particular, β‐FeOOH has shown a capacity of ≈1000 mAh g^?1, which is comparable to other promising iron‐based anodes, such as Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O_4. However, its storage mechanisms are unclear and the potential for further improvement remains unexplored. Here, it is shown that this material can have a very high reversible capacity of ≈1400 mAh g^?1, which is 20%–40% higher than Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄. Such a high capacity is delivered from a series of reactions including intercalation and conversion reactions, formation/deformation of solid‐state electrolyte interface layers and interfacial storage. The mechanisms are studied by a combination of electrochemical and X‐ray absorption near edge spectroscopic approaches. Moreover, very long cycling performance, that is, after even more than 3000 cycles the material still has a significant capacity of more than 800 mAh g^?1, is obtained by a simple electrode design involving introducing a rigid support into porous electrodes. Such long cycling performance is for the first time achieved for high‐capacity materials based on conversion reactions.     

Learning chronobiology by improving wikipedia

Although chronobiology is of growing interest to scientists, physicians, and the general public, access to recent discoveries and historical perspectives is limited. Wikipedia is an online, user-written encyclopedia that could enhance public access to current understanding in chronobiology. However, Wikipedia is lacking important information and is not universally trusted. Here, 46 students in a university course edited Wikipedia to enhance public access to important discoveries in chronobiology. Students worked for an average of 9 h each to evaluate the primary literature and available Wikipedia information, nominated sites for editing, and, after voting, edited the 15 Wikipedia pages they determined to be highest priorities. This assignment (http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/courses/Bio4030/wikipedia_project.html) was easy to implement, required relatively short time commitments from the professor and students, and had measurable impacts on Wikipedia and the students. Students created 3 new Wikipedia sites, edited 12 additional sites, and cited 347 peer-reviewed articles. The targeted sites all became top hits in online search engines. Because their writing was and will be read by a worldwide audience, students found the experience rewarding. Students reported significantly increased comfort with reading, critiquing, and summarizing primary literature and benefited from seeing their work edited by other scientists and editors of Wikipedia. We conclude that, in a short project, students can assist in making chronobiology widely accessible and learn from the editorial process.