The Regulation and Function of Histone Methylation

Histones are wrapped around by genomic DNA to form nucleosomes which are the basic units of chromatin. In eukaryotes histones undergo various covalent modifications such as methylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination and ribosylation. Histone modifications play a fundamental role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in multicellular eukaryotes. Histone methylation is one of the most important modifications occurring on Lysine (K) and Arginine (R) residues of histones, dynamically regulated by histone methyltransferases and demethylases. Identifications of such histone modification enzymes and to study how they work are the most fundamental questions needs to be answered. Uncovering the regulation and functions of the various histone methylation enzymes will help us to better understand the epigenetic code. This review summarizes the regulation of histone methyltransferases activity, the recruitment of methyltransferases and the distribution patterns and function of histone methylations.     

A combined A431 cell membrane chromatography and online high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for screening compounds from total alkaloid of Radix Caulophylli acting on the human EGFR

We have developed an online analytical method that combines A431 cell membrane chromatography (A431/CMC) with high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC/MS) for identifying active components from Radix Caulophylli acting on human EGFR. Retention fractions on A431/CMC model were captured onto an enrichment column and the components were directly analyzed by combining a 10-port column switcher with an LC/MS system for separation and preliminary identification. Using Sorafenib tosylate as a positive control, taspine and caulophine from Radix Caulophylli were identified as the active molecules which could act on the EGFR. This A431/CMC-online-LC/MS method can be applied for screening active components acting on EGFR from traditional Chinese medicines exemplified by Radix Caulophylli and will be of great utility in drug discovery using natural medicinal herbs as a source of novel compounds.     

免疫毒素Luffin B-Ng76对人黑色素瘤细胞的体外抑制作用

用ＢｌｕｅＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＣＬ－６Ｂ凝胶亲和层析法从丝瓜籽中分离纯化了单链致核糖体失活蛋白（ｒｉｂｏｓｏｍｅｉｎａｃ－ｔｉｖａｔｉｎｇｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ,ＲＩＰ）——ｌｕｆｉｎＢ。并将ｌｕｆｉｎＢ与抗人黑色素瘤细胞单抗Ｎｇ７６制成了免疫毒素,命名为ｌｕｆｉｎＢ－Ｎｇ７６,它对体外培养的黑色素瘤细胞Ｍ２１有很强的抑制作用,ＩＣ５０为２．５×１０－１１ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,毒性比游离的ｌｕｆｉｎＢ提高４０００倍,而它对非靶的ＨｅＬａ细胞的毒性较Ｍ２１细胞低１２００倍。结果提示ｌｕｆｉｎＢ用于制备免疫毒素具有良好的应用前景。     

不同基因型甘蔗种质资源的表型遗传多样性

为探明甘蔗原种和地方种的遗传多样性和亲缘关系,以期筛选出优良甘蔗种质和优良杂交亲本.该研究对18份甘蔗原种和地方种的14个数量性状进行了表型遗传多样性分析.结果表明：通过14个数量性状的变异系数(coefficient of variance,CV)和性状之间的相关分析,18份甘蔗原种和地方种的数量性状遗传变异主要来自甘蔗蔗糖分、单茎重、叶宽、茎径和纤维分;对14个数量性状进行主成分分析提取获得了4个主成分因子,分别命名为“品质因子”、“生长因子”、“成熟度因子”和“光合因子”,主成分因子累积贡献率达83．482％;进一步通过对主成分因子开展综合评价分析,获得数量性状综合表型高于平均水平的10份材料,依次为 Sampana→甜圪塔→合庆草甘蔗→桂林竹蔗→坦桑尼亚→芒戈→古芝蔗→大岛再来→托江红→春尼;聚类分析基于不同的遗传距离可将18份种质聚为5个类别,潜在的优良杂交组合是 Sampana 和甜圪塔或 Sampana 和合庆草甘蔗,表明在甘蔗遗传育种亲本选择上既要考虑各性状主要因子的互补,又要保持一定的遗传距离.该研究认为,在甘蔗育种工作中,利用因子分析法进行表型遗传多样性分析,将更加有助于亲本和杂交组合的选择.     

西安城市热环境格局的动态演变

以TM和ETM+热红外数据为基础,采用单窗算法,研究了西安1995-2006年间热岛效应景观分布及其动态变化特征.研究表明:西安城市热岛效应明显,热场空间分布格局与城市的建成区基本一致;随着城市化进程的加快,西安市热环境格局表现出异质性加剧的趋势;东西和南北方向上,温度剖面线与土地利用与覆被关系密切,以建设用地地表温度最高、水域最小,其大小关系依次为建设用地＞未利用地＞耕地＞草地＞林地＞水域.相关性分析表明,地表温度与归一化裸露指数( NDBI)呈正相关,与归一化植被指数(NDVI)呈负相关.     

N-糖基化位点突变的人IFN-λ1在毕赤酵母中的表达、纯化及表征

IFN-λ1是Ⅲ型干扰素家族的一个成员,具有与Ⅰ型干扰素相似的功能。此前,我们已经从毕赤酵母表达获得了可溶性重组人干扰素-λ1。然而,毕赤酵母表达中的高糖基化带来了免疫原性,影响了蛋白质的生产纯化效率。为了克服这个缺点,文中构建了一种干扰素突变体 (rhIFN-λ1-Nm),定点突变潜在糖基化位点。AOX1启动子与α因子信号序列存在的情况下,用甲醇诱导成功地实现了rhIFN-λ1-Nm在毕赤酵母GS115胞外分泌表达。对rhIFN-λ1-Nm进行纯化,获得了纯度>98%的产品,并对糖化水平、分子量、二级结构、N末端序列等理化性质和生物活性进行了研究。研究结果表明,rhIFN-λ1-Nm糖基化水平明显降低,蛋白质生产纯化收率显著提高,而对结构和生物活性无影响;糖基化位点突变rhIFN-λ1可以被开发为IFN-λ1的替代品,有望发展成为未来的生物免疫制剂。     

Polymorphic phase behaviour of dilinoleoylphosphatidylethanolamine and palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine mixtures: Structural changes between hexagonal,cubic and bilayer phases

The polymorphic phase behaviour of dilinoleoylphosphatidyethanolamine (DLPE) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) is investigated by freeze-fracture electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and ³¹P-NMR. The structures at 5% or less POPC are predominantly inverted hexagonal (H_II), whereas at 15% or more POPC, the structure is mostly bilayer (L), interrupted by defects (lipidic particles). A cubic phase structure is observed in the transition range between H and L phases; the cubic arrangement deteriorates at higher temperatures into an amorphous aggregate of spherical units. Both cubic and amorphous structures contribute to the isotropic ³¹P resonance, with no preference for PC or PE partitioning in the isotropic motion as observed by high resolution NMR. The existence of the cubic phase seems to depend critially on the homogeneity and the degree unsaturation of the phospholipids.     

F43Y及I354M,L358F定点突变对植酸酶热稳定性及酶活性的改善

对重组酵母PPNPm8的植酸酶phyAm基因进行PCR介导的定点突变,即将植酸酶43位的苯丙氨酸替换为酪氨酸(F43Y),将其354、358位的异亮氨酸、亮氨酸分别替换为甲硫氨酸和苯丙氨酸(I354M,L358F),得到了2个突变体PPNPm-1(F43Y)及PPNPm-2(I354M,L358F).含突变基因的重组表达载体pPIC9kphyAm-1,pPIC9kphyAm-2在毕赤酵母GS115中表达,对表达产物进行酶活性测定及热稳定性检测.结果表明:突变体PPNPm-1最适反应温度比未突变体PPNPm8上升了3℃,75℃处理10min,热稳定性提高15%,比活力提高11%;PPNPm-2最适反应温度未改变,热稳定性比PPNPm8仅提高3%,比活力降低6.5%.对突变前后的植酸酶空间结构进行比较预测,发现突变氨基酸Tyr43与空间位置相邻的Asn416之间形成氢键,增强了酶的热稳定性.     

Efficient mucosal vaccination mediated by the neonatal Fc receptor

Almost all infectious diseases are initiated at mucosal surfaces, yet intramuscular or subcutaneous vaccination usually provides only minimal protection at sites of infection owing to suboptimal activation of the mucosal immune system. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) mediates the transport of IgG across polarized epithelial cells lining mucosal surfaces. We mimicked this process by fusing a model antigen, herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein gD, to an IgG Fc fragment. Intranasal immunization, together with the adjuvant CpG, completely protected wild-type, but not FcRn knockout, mice after intravaginal challenge with virulent HSV-2 186. This immunization strategy induced efficient mucosal and systemic antibody, B- and T-cell immune responses, with stable protection for at least 6 months after vaccination in most of the immunized animals. The FcRn-IgG transcellular transport pathway may provide a general delivery route for subunit vaccines against many mucosal pathogens.     

云南省6个松墨天牛种群形态差异分析

对云南省松墨天牛Monochamus alternatus Hope 6个地理种群159个个体体长、前胸背板纵长、前胸背板横宽值及前胸背板斑纹进行了差异系数计算、聚类分析及判别分析.各松墨天牛种群间的差异系数均小于1.28;聚类分析表明,畹町种群形态与其他5个种群差异较大;基于4个形态特征建立的判别函数可以将畹町种群与云南其他种群区别开来.畹町种群与其他松墨天牛种群的形态差异可能由于其遗传差异造成.