MicroRNA-21 protects from mesangial cell proliferation induced by diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major diabetic complication. But the initiating molecular events triggering DN are unknown. Recent researches have addressed the role of microRNAs in diabetes and its complications. In this study, we looked for microRNAs expression during early DN, and showed microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression was downregulated in response to early DN in vitro and in vivo. Over-expression of miR-21 inhibited proliferation of mesangial cells and decreased the 24-h urine albumin excretion rate in diabetic db/db mice. Moreover, we identified PTEN as a target of miR-21. We also found PI3 K and p-Akt increased in miR-21 treated mesangial cells and db/db mice. Overall, these studies for the first time provide evidence for the potential role of miR-21 in early DN.     

Association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of interleukin-10 and susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease

The aim of this study was to assess the association of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene with the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Fifteen studies (3,693 cases and 4,574 controls) were included in a meta-analysis of association between IL-10 ?1082G/A, ?819C/T and ?592C/A polymorphisms, and IBD, CD and UC using allele contrast and the recessive, dominant, and additive models. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was confirmed for each study. Heterogeneity and study quality were investigated using stratification analyses and sensitivity analyses. Polymorphism ?1082G/A showed significant association with CD, with odds ratios (ORs) for the GG + GA genotype and GG versus AA genotype of 1.278 (1.004–1.627) and 1.238 (1.027–1.492) in all subjects. Significant associations were found in the Caucasian subgroup using the allele contrast, dominant, and additive models. C-allele carriers of the ?819C/T polymorphism were at increased risk of IBD (OR 1.093, 95 % CI 1.004–1.190). Association with the ?819C/T polymorphism was also found in Caucasians with CD (C vs. T: OR 1.104, 95 % CI 1.010–1.206; CC + CT vs. TT: OR 1.328, 95 % CI 1.006–1.754; CC vs. TT: OR 1.339, 95 % CI 1.008–1.778), and with UC (CC vs. CT + TT: OR 1.188, 95 % CI 1.019–1.385). No significant association was found between the ?592C/A polymorphism and IBD, CD or UC. In conclusion, the meta-analysis demonstrated clear association between the IL-10 polymorphisms ?1082G/A and ?819C/T and the risk of IBD.     

Quantitative Detection of 15 Serum Bile Acid Metabolic Products by LC/MS/MS in the Diagnosis of Primary Biliary Cholangitis

To determine 15 bile acid metabolic products in human serum by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and value their diagnostic outcome in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Serum from 20 healthy controls and 26 patients with PBC were collected and went LC/MS/MS analysis of 15 bile acid metabolic products. The test results were analyzed by bile acid metabolomics, and the potential biomarkers were screened and their diagnostic performance was judged by statistical methods such as principal component and partial least squares discriminant analysis and area under curve (AUC). 8 differential metabolites can be screened out: Deoxycholic acid (DCA), Glycine deoxycholic acid (GDCA), Lithocholic acid (LCA), Glycine ursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA), Taurolithocholic acid (TLCA), Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), Taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA), Glycine chenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA). The performance of the biomarkers was evaluated by the AUC, specificity and sensitivity. In conclusion, DCA, GDCA, LCA, GUDCA, TLCA, TUDCA, TDCA and GCDCA were identified as eight potential biomarkers to distinguish between healthy people and PBC patients by multivariate statistical analysis, which provided reliable experimental basis for clinical practice.     

木聚糖酶EvXyn11TS耐热性与其N端二硫键的相关性分析

[目的]以糖苷水解酶11家族耐热木聚糖酶EvXyn11TS为研究对象,定点突变其编码基因Syxyn11,揭示EvXyn11TS耐热性与其N端二硫键的相关性.[方法]对不同来源的、与EvXyn11TS一级结构相似度较高的若干11家族木聚糖酶进行多序列同源比对,发现只有耐热的EvXyn11TS在其N端存在一个二硫键(Cys5-Cys32);运用分子动力学模拟预测该N端二硫键存在与否对木聚糖酶热稳定性的影响.以人工合成的Syxyn11为母本,采用PCR技术将其编码Cys5的密码子TGT突变为编码Thr5的ACT,构建去除了N端二硫键的突变酶(EvXyn11M)的编码基因Syxyn11M;分别将Syxyn11和Syxyn11M在毕赤酵母GS115中进行表达,并分析表达产物EvXyn 11 TS和EvXyn11M的温度和pH特性.[结果]酶学性质研究结果表明:EvXyn11M的最适温度Topt由突变前的85℃降至70℃;EvXyn11TS在90℃的半衰期t1/290为32 min,而EvXyn11M在70℃的半衰期t1/270仅为8.0 min.[结论]运用分子动力学模拟预测了N端二硫键对EvXyn11TS耐热性的重要作用,并通过定点突变验证之,为其它与耐热EvXyn11TS一级结构相似的、11家族常温高比活性木聚糖酶的耐热性改造提供了新的技术策略.     

整合REV LTR序列的MDV弱毒株的分离鉴定与生物学特性

【目的】从非免疫健康三黄鸡中分离到一株马立克氏病病毒(MDV),命名为MDV GD06株,本工作系统研究了其生物学特性。【方法】PCR扩增GD06株Meq基因及短末端重复区(RS)序列,进行序列分析,并用间接免疫荧光试验进行血清型特异性鉴定;通过接种SPF鸡和鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)来判定GD06株体内外的增殖能力;为确定GD06株的致病性,用1日龄SPF鸡进行攻毒试验。【结果】GD06株为MDV血清I型病毒,其基因组中自然整合禽网状内皮增殖症病毒(REV)的长末端重复序列(LTR),Meq基因富含脯氨酸的结构域比参考强毒株Md5多59个氨基酸,与MD商品化疫苗CVI988/Rispens和814株相符,具有弱毒株的特征。在接种CEF细胞96、120、144、168、192 h,GD06株病毒滴度分别为1.9×105、3.9×105、6.1×105、6.5×105、5.8×105PFU,明显比CVI988/Rispens(病毒滴度分别为1.3×105、3.5×105、5.0×105、5.7×105、4.7×105PFU)高(P0.05);接种SPF鸡21、28天,GD06株在鸡体内的病毒滴度分别为740和350 PFU,明显比CVI988/Rispens株(病毒滴度分别为460、216 PFU)高(P0.05),结果表明,GD06株在CEF细胞和鸡体内具有比CVI988/Rispens更快的增殖能力。人工接种攻毒实验表明,GD06株对SPF鸡没有致病性,不引免疫抑制。【结论】研究结果表明,MDV GD06株为国内首次分离的自然整合有REV LTR序列的重组MDV弱毒株。     

黄酒酿造原料及生产工艺研究现状与展望

黄酒的质量取决于酿造原料、酒曲、加工工艺以及酿造环境,不同的酿造原料、酒曲、加工工艺和环境能赋予黄酒不同的品质与风味。本文在检索文献、比较分析新旧版黄酒国标的基础上,介绍了南北地区黄酒酿造原料的差异以及新型功能性黄酒原辅料研发现状,综述了浸米、蒸饭与发酵三个工艺关键环节的最新研究进展,旨在为黄酒技术的创新,功能性、饮料性、国际性黄酒新产品开发提供借鉴及参考。     

Molecular mechanisms governing plant responses to high temperatures

The increased prevalence of high temperatures(HTs) around the world is a major global concern, as they dramatically affect agronomic productivity. Upon HT exposure, plants sense the temperature change and initiate cellular and metabolic responses that enable them to adapt to their new environmental conditions.Decoding the mechanisms by which plants cope with HT will facilitate the development of molecular markers to enable the production of plants with improved thermotolerance. In recent decades, genetic, physiological, molecular, and biochemical studies have revealed a number of vital cellular components and processes involved in thermoresponsive growth and the acquisition of thermotolerance in plants. This review summarizes the major mechanisms involved in plant HT responses, with a special focus on recent discoveries related to plant thermosensing, heat stress signaling, and HT-regulated gene expression networks that promote plant adaptation to elevated environmental temperatures.     

Identification and characterization of an archaeon-specific riboflavin kinase

The riboflavin kinase in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii has been identified as the product of the MJ0056 gene. Recombinant expression of the MJ0056 gene in Escherichia coli led to a large increase in the amount of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) in the E. coli cell extract. The unexpected features of the purified recombinant enzyme were its use of CTP as the phosphoryl donor and the absence of a requirement for added metal ion to catalyze the formation of FMN. Identification of this riboflavin kinase fills another gap in the archaeal flavin biosynthetic pathway. Some divalent metals were found to be potent inhibitors of the reaction. The enzyme represents a unique CTP-dependent family of kinases.