Soluble expression, purification and functional identification of a disulfide-rich conotoxin derived from Conus litteratus

Conotoxins are a diverse array of small peptides mostly with multiple disulfide bridges. These peptides become an increasing significant source of neuro-pharmacological probes and drugs as a result of the high selectivity for ion channels and receptors. Usually, the analogue of natural conotoxins is produced by means of chemical synthesis. Here, we present a simple and fast strategy of producing disulfide-rich conotoxins via recombinant expression. By fused with thioredoxin and His tag, a novel O-superfamily conotoxin lt7a was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and purified, resulting in a high yield of recombinant lt7a about 6 mg/l. The purity of target protein is up to 95% as identified by HPLC results. Whole cell patch-clamp recording revealed that the new conotoxin blocked voltage-sensitive sodium channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, indicating it might be a novel microO-conotoxin.     

Effects of caffeine on in vivo and in vitro oocyte maturation in mice

The objective was to investigate, using a mouse model, the effects of caffeine on the number of ovulated oocytes, the rate of oocyte maturation, the susceptibility of oocytes to activating stimuli, spindle morphology, and distribution of cortical granules (CGs). Mice were given caffeine (150 mg/kg body weight ip) at various times relative to hCG (-2, 0, and +2h); in an in vitro study, 1, 5 or 10 mM caffeine was added to the maturation culture. Caffeine had no effect on the quality of oocytes in vivo maturation, but caffeine was detrimental to the quality of oocytes matured in vitro. Further studies are needed to determine caffeine concentration in follicles relative to that in culture medium.     

The protective effect of cycloastragenol on aging mouse circadian rhythmic disorder induced by d-galactose

Aging process in mammals is associated with a decline in amplitude and a long period of circadian behaviors which are regulated by a central circadian regulator in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and local oscillators in peripheral tissues. It is unclear whether enhancing clock function can retard aging. Using fibroblasts expressing per2::lucSV and senescent cells, we revealed cycloastragenol (CAG), a natural aglycone derivative from astragaloside IV, as a clock amplitude enhancing small molecule. CAG could activate telomerase to antiaging, but no reports focused on its effects on circadian rhythm disorders in aging mice. Here we analyze the potential effects of CAG on d -galactose-induced aging mice on the circadian behavior and expression of clock genes. For this purpose, CAG (20 mg/kg orally), was administered daily to d -galactose (150 mg/kg, subcutaneous) mice model of aging for 6 weeks. An actogram analysis of free-running activity of these mice showed that CAG significantly enhances the locomotor activity. We further found that CAG increase expressions of per2 and bmal1 genes in liver and kidney of aging mouse. Furthermore, CAG enhanced clock protein BMAL1 and PER2 levels in aging mouse liver and SCN. Our results indicated that the CAG could restore the behavior of circadian rhythm in aging mice induced by d -galactose. These data of present study suggested that CAG could be used as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of age-related circadian rhythm disruption.     

东海北部大管鞭虾的食性

根据对2009年6月至2010年5月在东海北部采集到的720尾大管鞭虾胃含物的分析,对不同季节、性别、个体大小以及发育条件下大管鞭虾的摄食习性进行了研究.结果表明: 东海大管鞭虾的饵料生物共有43种(包含未鉴定种),甲壳类、有孔虫类和多毛类为其主要的摄食群类,在食物中所占的数量百分比分别为34.7%、29.4%和12.4%.大管鞭虾的饵料组成具有明显的季节波动,春季以有孔虫、藻类和无脊椎卵为主要食物;夏、秋季以有孔虫、鱼类和多毛类为主要食物;冬季则以多毛类和有孔虫类为主要食物.其摄食强度在春季和夏季较高,秋季较低.不同甲长的个体食性变化显著,小于24 mm的个体主食有孔虫类和藻类,24 mm以上的个体主食有多毛类和十足类;随着性腺发育雌性个体摄食等级呈现减弱的趋势,表明大管鞭虾摄食活动受到繁殖周期的影响.不同性别和不同季节大管鞭虾的食物重叠指数均较高,与栖息环境饵料资源的波动有关.大管鞭虾的营养级为2.67,属低级肉食性动物.     

LncRNA882 regulates leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) by sponging miR-15b in the endometrial epithelium cells of dairy goat

Despite the fact that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play roles in almost all biological processes, little is known about their biological function in the endometrium during the formation of endometrial receptivity. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs in goat endometrial tissues on Day 5 (prereceptive endometrium, PE) and Day 15 (receptive endometrium, RE) of pregnancy was performed by using RNA-Seq. As a result, 668 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were found between the PE and RE. Further study showed that lncRNA882, regulated by estrogen (E2) and progestin (P4), could act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) for miR-15b, which inhibited the expression of transforming growth factor-b-activated kinase 1 binding protein 3 (TAB3) and then indirectly regulated the level of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). This was helpful for the formation of endometrial receptivity in dairy goats. In conclusion, we elucidated the endometrium lncRNA profiles of PE and RE in dairy goats; lncRNA882 acted as a ceRNA for miR-15b and then indirectly regulated the level of LIF in goat endometrial epithelium cells. Thus, this study helped us to better understand the molecular regulation of endometrial receptivity in dairy goats.     

两种苹果蠹蛾性引诱剂诱捕器诱捕效率比较及地面植被的影响

在甘肃省高台县通过对三角胶粘式和水盆式这2种类型苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella(L.)诱捕器的田间比较研究。结果显示,二者在诱捕效率上存在的明显差异。在苹果蠹蛾密度较低的条件下,三角胶粘式诱捕器平均日诱捕量为2.50只,比水盆式诱捕器高出近2.84倍,最早监测到成虫的时间也比水盆式诱捕器提前3~4d,因此,三角胶粘式诱捕器具有更高的监测效率。结果还显示地面植被的遮盖极大地降低诱捕器的诱捕效果,严重时会使诱捕器对密度较低的苹果蠹蛾种群的监测功能丧失。     

鞘内联合给予米诺环素和IL-6的中和抗体对脊神经结扎模型所引起的热痛敏的镇痛作用

目的:研究鞘内联合给予米诺环素和IL-6的中和抗体在大鼠脊神经结扎(spinal nerve ligation,SNL)模型所引起的神经病理性痛中的镇痛作用.方法:建立大鼠SNL模型,分别在手术前和手术后鞘内给予米诺环素100 μg、在手术后鞘内给予IL-6的中和抗体0.03 μg、手术后鞘内联合给予两种药物,观察给药3天各组大鼠热刺激的缩足反应潜伏期(paw withdrawal latencies,PWL).结果:①SNL手术前后给予米诺环素都可以提高大鼠的PWL(P＜0.05),但SNL手术前给药对大鼠PWL的提升明显高于手术后给药(P＜0.05).②手术后给予IL-6的中和抗体可以有效提升SNL组的PWL(P＜0.05),但是还是比给予生理盐水的假手术组大鼠的PWL明显减少(P＜0.05).③手术后联合给予两种药物可以明显逆转SNL组的PWL(P＜0.05).④联合给药对大鼠PWL的提高明显高于SNL手术后给予米诺环素组和给予IL-6的中和抗体组(P＜0.05),但与手术前给予米诺环素组的PWL相比无明显差异(P＞0.05).结论:鞘内联合给予米诺环素和IL-6的中和抗体对SNL引起的神经病理性痛有明显的镇痛作用.