SIRT1 suppresses cellular accumulation of β-TrCP E3 ligase via protein degradation

β-Transducin repeat-containing protein (β-TrCP), an E3 ligase, promotes the degradation of substrate proteins in response to various stimuli. Even though several β-TrCP substrates have been identified to date, limited information of its upstream regulators is available. Here, we showed that SIRT1 suppresses β-TrCP protein synthesis via post-translational degradation. SIRT1 depletion led to a significant increase in the β-TrCP accumulation without affecting the mRNA level. Consistently, β-TrCP protein accumulation induced by resveratrol was further enhanced upon SIRT1 depletion. Rescue of SIRT1 reversed the effect of resveratrol, leading to reduced β-TrCP protein levels. Proteasomal inhibition led to recovery of β-TrCP in cells with SIRT1 overexpression. Notably, the recovered β-TrCP colocalized mostly with SIRT1. Thus, SIRT1 acts as a negative regulator of β-TrCP synthesis via promoting protein degradation.     

Crystal structures of human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 (AS160) RabGTPase-activating protein (RabGAP) domains reveal critical elements for GLUT4 translocation

We have solved the x-ray crystal structures of the RabGAP domains of human TBC1D1 and human TBC1D4 (AS160), at 2.2 and 3.5 Å resolution, respectively. Like the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP domain, whose structure was solved previously in complex with mouse Rab33B, the human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 domains both have 16 α-helices and no β-sheet elements. We expected the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP/mouse Rab33B structure to predict the corresponding interfaces between cognate mammalian RabGAPs and Rabs, but found that residues were poorly conserved. We further tested the relevance of this model by Ala-scanning mutagenesis, but only one of five substitutions within the inferred binding site of the TBC1D1 RabGAP significantly perturbed catalytic efficiency. In addition, substitution of TBC1D1 residues with corresponding residues from Gyp1p did not enhance catalytic efficiency. We hypothesized that biologically relevant RabGAP/Rab partners utilize additional contacts not described in the yeast Gyp1p/mouse Rab33B structure, which we predicted using our two new human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 structures. Ala substitution of TBC1D1 Met⁹³⁰, corresponding to a residue outside of the Gyp1p/Rab33B contact, substantially reduced catalytic activity. GLUT4 translocation assays confirmed the biological relevance of our findings. Substitutions with lowest RabGAP activity, including catalytically dead RK and Met⁹³⁰ and Leu¹⁰¹⁹ predicted to perturb Rab binding, confirmed that biological activity requires contacts between cognate RabGAPs and Rabs beyond those in the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP/mouse Rab33B structure.     

新型基因重组α-半乳糖苷酶工程菌菌种稳定性研究

观察脆弱类杆菌来源的新型重组α-半乳糖苷酶工程菌菌株的遗传稳定性.在有选择压力(Kan+)条件下,将重组α-半乳糖苷酶工程菌菌株在LB固体培养基上采用划线法连续传60代,每隔20代取样保存菌种,最后同时进行菌体形态、生长速度和抗生素抗性、平板传代及诱导过程中的质粒稳定性、限制酶切图谱、测序、表达量和酶活力检测.结果表明细菌形态、生长速度和抗生素抗性等与原始种子库无明显差异;LB固体培养基上传60代后质粒稳定性接近100％,但诱导过程中质粒易丢失.第20、40和60代提取质粒进行酶切检查,酶切图谱没有改变.DNA测序未见α-半乳糖苷酶基因变异.原代菌株及第20、40和60代菌株经诱导培养,其α-半乳糖苷酶表达水平、酶活力及菌体蛋白的SDS-PAGE图谱均无明显差异.说明α-半乳糖苷酶工程菌株在平板传代中具有良好的遗传稳定性     

Dobrava-Belgrade hantavirus from Germany shows receptor usage and innate immunity induction consistent with the pathogenicity of the virus in humans

Background

Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) is a European hantavirus causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in humans with fatality rates of up to 12%. DOBV-associated clinical cases typically occur also in the northern part of Germany where the virus is carried by the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). However, the causative agent responsible for human illness has not been previously isolated.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here we report on characterization of a novel cell culture isolate from Germany obtained from a lung tissue of “spillover” infected yellow necked mouse (A. flavicollis) trapped near the city of Greifswald. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated close clustering of the new strain, designated Greifswald/Aa (GRW/Aa) with the nucleotide sequence obtained from a northern German HFRS patient. The virus was effectively blocked by specific antibodies directed against β3 integrins and Decay Accelerating Factor (DAF) indicating that the virus uses same receptors as the highly pathogenic Hantaan virus (HTNV). In addition, activation of selected innate immunity markers as interferon β and λ and antiviral protein MxA after viral infection of A549 cells was investigated and showed that the virus modulates the first-line antiviral response in a similar way as HTNV.

Conclusions/Significance

In summary, our study reveals novel data on DOBV receptor usage and innate immunity induction in relationship to virus pathogenicity and underlines the potency of German DOBV strains to act as human pathogen.     

耐热水稻品种“Nagina 22”高温胁迫下的生理响应

为研究耐热水稻品种Nagina 22(N22)开花结实期高温胁迫下的主要生理响应,采用温室盆栽试验,在各供试材料的开花期,利用人工气候室进行高温胁迫处理。研究结果表明:N22在高温胁迫下不改变开花期但表现出日开花量的转峰;与N22相比,水稻感热品种Moroberekan花药开裂显著受阻,柱头上萌发的花粉数显著减少;花粉萌发数与花药开裂状况呈极显著的相关关系,进而表现出主穗结实率与柱头上花粉萌发数呈显著的相关关系;主穗日结实率在高温下呈递减趋势,且Moroberekan较N22的下降速率显著加快,表明耐热品种与高温胁迫对结实率存在累积效应,而且高温胁迫效应发生在开花授粉之前。     

Lactobacillus reuteri Maintains a Functional Mucosal Barrier during DSS Treatment Despite Mucus Layer Dysfunction

Treatment with the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri has been shown to prevent dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. This is partly due to reduced P-selectin-dependent leukocyte- and platelet-endothelial cell interactions, however, the mechanism behind this protective effect is still unknown. In the present study a combination of culture dependent and molecular based T-RFLP profiling was used to investigate the influence of L. reuteri on the colonic mucosal barrier of DSS treated rats. It was first demonstrated that the two colonic mucus layers of control animals had different bacterial community composition and that fewer bacteria resided in the firmly adherent layer. During DSS induced colitis, the number of bacteria in the inner firmly adherent mucus layer increased and bacterial composition of the two layers no longer differed. In addition, induction of colitis dramatically altered the microbial composition in both firmly and loosely adherent mucus layers. Despite protecting against colitis, treatment with L. reuteri did not improve the integrity of the mucus layer or prevent distortion of the mucus microbiota caused by DSS. However, L. reuteri decreased the bacterial translocation from the intestine to mesenteric lymph nodes during DSS treatment, which might be an important part of the mechanisms by which L. reuteri ameliorates DSS induced colitis.     

一株产紫杉醇内生真菌液体发酵工艺的优化

紫杉醇是一种高效、低毒、广谱的天然抗癌药物,可以有效地治疗乳腺癌、子宫癌等。近年来的研究发现,从植物内生真菌中发酵生产紫杉醇被证明是解决药源问题的有效途径。从分离到的420株内生真菌中筛选到一株产紫杉醇的内生真菌XC1-07为实验材料进行发酵条件的初步优化。结果表明：最适碳源、氮源分别是麦芽糖和NH4NO3;在含10g/L NH4NO3、90g/L麦芽糖、1.0g/L MgSO4、pH6的优化培养基中培养13d,紫杉醇的产量为1,124.34μg/L。为目前报道的植物内生真菌发酵生产紫杉醇最高的产量。     

Antiviral activity of interferon-alpha against hepatitis B virus can be studied in non-hepatic cells and Is independent of MxA.

It is well established that interferon-alpha can induce non-cytotoxic intracellular suppression of hepatitis B virus replication, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. Cell culture studies to characterize these mechanisms are restricted, in part because hepatitis B virus replicates almost exclusively in liver-derived cells. To overcome this limitation we used a cytomegalovirus promoter-controlled hepatitis B virus expression system, which leads to intracellular viral replication even in non-hepatic cell lines. In this experimental system interferon-alpha treatment specifically suppressed viral replication demonstrating that antiviral activities against hepatitis B virus are not restricted to hepatic cells. Furthermore, the interferon-inducible MxA protein was recently reported to play a key role in the antiviral action of interferon-alpha against hepatitis B virus. Our data demonstrate that interferon-alpha also suppresses hepatitis B virus replication in MxA-deficient HEp2 cells, indicating that MxA is not essential for these activities. Taken together, our data imply that the experimental approach presented can also be adapted to established cell lines which are deficient in parts of the signal transduction pathway or other elements located further downstream, providing important insights into mechanisms specifically suppressing hepatitis B virus.     

古尼虫草胞内多糖高产培养基优化研究

以古尼虫草Cordyceps gunnii胞内多糖产量为目标,利用单因素法筛选古尼虫草产胞内多糖的最适碳源、氮源和无机盐,运用正交试验筛选最佳培养基组合,用最佳培养基研究古尼虫草产胞内多糖的发酵动力学。结果表明：古尼虫草产胞内多糖最佳培养基为葡萄糖35g/L、蛋白胨15g/L、硫酸锌1g/L、KH₂PO₄ 1g/L、K₂HPO₄ 0.5g/L,用最佳培养基获得胞内多糖（5.169±0.274）g/L,产量是优化前的1.81倍;动力学研究表明,144h是古尼虫草胞内多糖最佳培养时间,此时产量最高为（6.794±0.221）g/L,是目前报道古尼虫草胞内多糖的最高产量。