Sequential unfolding of ankyrin repeats in tumor suppressor p16

The ANK repeat is a ubiquitous 33-residue motif that adopts a beta hairpin helix-loop-helix fold. Multiple tandem repeats stack in a linear manner to produce an elongated structure that is stabilized predominantly by short-range interactions between residues close in sequence. The tumor suppressor p16(INK4) consists of four repeats and represents the minimal ANK folding unit. We found from Phi value analysis that p16 unfolded sequentially. The two N-terminal ANK repeats, which are distorted from the canonical ANK structure in all INK4 proteins and which are important for functional specificity, were mainly unstructured in the rate-limiting transition state for folding/unfolding, while the two C-terminal repeats were fully formed. A sequential unfolding mechanism could have implications for the cellular fate of wild-type and cancer-associated mutant p16 proteins.     

粉防己碱拮抗豚鼠庆大霉素急性肾损伤的实验研究

目的 :探讨粉防己碱 (Tet)在庆大霉素 (GM)急性肾损伤中的拮抗作用。方法 :将豚鼠分为对照组、Tet组、GM组和Tet+GM组 ,于第 1 1d留取尿标本和肾组织 ,测定尿中NAG活性 ,观察肾组织学改变 ,用免疫组化技术测定Actin和TGF β1 在肾脏的表达。结果 :光镜和电镜显示Tet+GM组肾脏病理变化比GM组轻 ,细胞凋亡也明显少于GM组。Tet+GM组NAG活性比GM组低 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,而TGF β1 和Actin的表达在Tet +GM组高于GM组(P <0 .0 1 )。结论 :Tet能明显降低GM所致的急性肾损伤时NAG活性 ,减少Actin的破坏和细胞凋亡 ,诱导内源性TGF β1 蛋白表达水平上调 ,对GM急性肾损伤有拮抗作用     

高肺血流对大鼠肺血管结构及尾加压素Ⅱ表达的影响

目的：探讨新型血管活性肽人类尾加压素Ⅱ(hUⅡ)在高肺血流量所致肺动脉高压大鼠肺动脉中的表达及其作用。方法：对大鼠行腹主动脉-下腔静脉分流术。11周后,以右心导管法测肺动脉压力,观测肺血管显微结构的变化,以免疫组织化学方法检测肺动脉hUⅡ的表达。结果：分流术后11周,大鼠肺动脉高压形成,肺小血管肌化程度明显增强,肺中、小型肌型动脉相对中膜厚度明显增加。分流组大鼠肺动脉内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞hUⅡ蛋白表达上调,并且与肺动脉压力和肺血管结构的改变呈正相关。结论：肺动脉内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞hUⅡ的上调可能参与了高肺血流量所致肺血管结构重建和肺动脉高压的形成。     

脱氢紫堇碱对正常和低氧豚鼠心肌细胞内钙的影响

目的 :探讨脱氢紫堇碱 (dehydeocorydaline,DHC)及维拉帕米 (verapamil,Ver)对豚鼠心肌细胞内游离钙浓度([Ca2 + ] i)变化的影响。方法 :采用离体豚鼠心脏Langendorff法灌注 ,用荧光指示剂方法 (Fure 2 /AM)标记心肌([Ca2 + ] i)变化。观察低氧后心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 的变化。结果 :①正常氧状态心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 均值为 (1 2 0 .5± 8.3)nmol/L(n =2 0 ) ;②正常氧条件下 ,DHC、Ver均使心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 明显下降。 (3)低氧状态下 ,心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 增加与缺氧时间(程度 )直线相关 (r=0 .98)。④DHC对低氧后心肌 [Ca2 + ] i 增加明显减缓。结论 :DHC在正常氧、低氧条件下阻止心肌细胞内钙超载 ,我们认为DHC可能提高心肌细胞的自我保护作用     

Behavioral modification in choice process of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis>

In visual operant conditioning ofDrosophila at the flight simulator, only motor output of flies—yaw torque—is recorded, which is involved in the conditioning process. The current study used a newly-designed data analysis method to study the torque distribution ofDrosophila. Modification of torque distribution represents the effects of operant conditioning on flies’ behavioral mode. Earlier works^[10] showed that, when facing contradictory visual cues, flies could make choices based upon the relative weightiness of different cues, and it was demonstrated that mushroom bodies might play an important role in such choice behavior. The new “torque-position map” method was used to explore the CS-US associative learning and choice behavior inDrosophila from the aspect of its behavioral mode. Finally, this work also discussed various possible neural bases involved in visual associative learning, choice processing and modification processing of the behavioral mode in the visual operant conditioning ofDrosophila.     

CD28/B7 regulation of anti-CD3-mediated immunosuppression in vivo

FcR-binding "classical" anti-CD3 mAb is a potent immunosuppressive drug that alters CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell function in vivo via anergy induction and programmed cell death (PCD). Anti-CD3-mediated PCD was Fas independent but was mediated by the mitochondria-initiated apoptosis that was abrogated in Bcl-x(L)-transgenic T cells. The PCD was more pronounced in CD28-deficient mice consistent with defective Bcl-x(L) up-regulation. Residual T cells isolated from anti-CD3-treated wild-type, CD28(-/-), and Bcl-x(L)-transgenic mice were hyporesponsive. The hyporesponsiveness was more pronounced in CD28(-/-) and wild-type mice treated with anti-B7-2, suggesting that CD28 interaction with B7-2 regulates T cell responsiveness in anti-CD3-treated animals. Finally, anti-CD3 treatment led to indefinite cardiac allograft survival in wild-type but not Bcl-x(L) animals. Together these results implicate CD28/B7 signaling in the regulation of both anti-CD3-induced T cell depletion and hyporesponsiveness in vivo, but T cell depletion, not hyporesponsiveness, appears to be critical for anti-CD3 mAb-mediated long-term immune regulation.     

Crystal structure of tabtoxin resistance protein complexed with acetyl coenzyme A reveals the mechanism for beta-lactam acetylation

Tabtoxin resistance protein (TTR) is an enzyme that renders tabtoxin-producing pathogens, such as Pseudomonas syringae, tolerant to their own phytotoxins. Here, we report the crystal structure of TTR complexed with its natural cofactor, acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA), to 1.55A resolution. The binary complex forms a characteristic "V" shape for substrate binding and contains the four motifs conserved in the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) superfamily, which also includes the histone acetyltransferases (HATs). A single-step mechanism is proposed to explain the function of three conserved residues, Glu92, Asp130 and Tyr141, in catalyzing the acetyl group transfer to its substrate. We also report that TTR possesses HAT activity and suggest an evolutionary relationship between TTR and other GNAT members.     

Root pressurization affects growth-induced water potentials and growth in dehydrated maize leaves

Profiles of water potential (Psi w) were measured from the soil to the tips of growing leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) when pressure (P) was applied to the soil/root system. At moderately low soil Psi w, leaf elongation was somewhat inhibited, large tensions existed in the xylem, and Psi w were slightly lower in the elongating leaf tissues than in the xylem, i.e. a growth-induced Psi w was present but small. With P, the tension was relieved, enlarging the difference in Psi w between the xylem and the elongating tissues, i.e. enlarging the growth-induced Psi w, which is critical for growth. Guttation occurred, confirming the high Psi w of the xylem, and the mature leaf tissue rehydrated. Water uptake increased and met the requirements of transpiration. Leaf elongation recovered to control rates. Under more severe conditions at lower soil Psi w, P induced only a brief elongation and the growth-induced Psi w responded only slightly. Guttation did not occur, water flow did not meet the requirements of transpiration, and the mature leaf tissues did not rehydrate. A rewatering experiment indicated that a low conductance existed in the severely dehydrated soil, which limited water delivery to the root and shoot. Therefore, the initial growth inhibition appeared to be hydraulic because the enlargement of the growth-induced Psi w by P together with rehydration of the mature leaf tissue were essential for growth recovery. In more severe conditions, P was ineffective because the soil could not supply water at the required rate, and metabolic factors began to contribute to the inhibition.     

A catalytically inactive form of protein kinase C-associated kinase/receptor interacting protein 4, a protein kinase C beta-associated kinase that mediates NF-kappa B activation,interferes with early B cell development

Protein kinase C-associated kinase (PKK)/receptor interacting protein 4 (RIP4) is a protein kinase C (PKC) beta-associated kinase that links PKC to NF-kappaB activation. The kinase domain of PKK is similar to that of RIP, RIP2, and RIP3. We show in this study that PKK is expressed early during lymphocyte development and can be detected in common lymphoid progenitor cells. Targeting of a catalytically inactive version of PKK to lymphoid cells resulted in a marked impairment in pro-B cell generation in the bone marrow. Although peripheral B cell numbers were markedly reduced, differentiation into follicular and marginal zone B cells was not defective in these mice. B-1a and B-1b B cells could not be detected in these mice, but this might be a reflection of the overall defect in B cell production observed in these animals. In keeping with a possible link to PKCbeta, peripheral B cells in these mice exhibit a defect in anti-IgM-mediated proliferation. These studies suggest that PKK may be required early in B cell development and for BCR-mediated B cell proliferation.