Ginsenoside Rd Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Akt/GSK-3β Signaling and Inhibition of the Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptotic Pathway

Evidence suggests Ginsenoside Rd (GSRd), a biologically active extract from the medical plant Panax Ginseng, exerts antioxidant effect, decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Current study determined the effect of GSRd on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury (a pathological condition where ROS production is significantly increased) and investigated the underlying mechanisms. The current study utilized an in vivo rat model of MI/R injury and an in vitro neonatal rat cardiomyocyte (NRC) model of simulated ischemia/reperfusion (SI/R) injury. Infarct size was measured by Evans blue/TTC double staining. NRC injury was determined by MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay. ROS accumulation and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined by 5, 5′, 6, 6′-tetrachloro-1, 1′, 3, 3′-tetrathylbenzimidazol carbocyanine iodide (JC-1). Cytosolic translocation of mitochondrial cytochrome c and expression of caspase-9, caspase-3, Bcl-2 family proteins, and phosphorylated Akt and GSK-3β were determined by western blot. Pretreatment with GSRd (50 mg/kg) significantly augmented rat cardiac function, as evidenced by increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and ±dP/dt. GSRd reduced myocardial infarct size, apoptotic cell death, and blood creatine kinase/lactate dehydrogenase levels after MI/R. In NRCs, GSRd (10 µM) inhibited SI/R-induced ROS generation (P<0.01), decreased cellular apoptosis, stabilized the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and attenuated cytosolic translocation of mitochondrial cytochrome c. GSRd inhibited activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, increased the phosphorylated Akt and GSK-3β, and increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Together, these data demonstrate GSRd mediated cardioprotective effect against MI/R–induced apoptosis via a mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway.     

The Ras GTPase-activating-like protein IQGAP1 is downregulated in human diabetic nephropathy and associated with ERK1/2 pathway activation

Podocyte injury may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN), but the underlying mechanism of hyperglycemia induced podocyte damage is not fully understood. The Ras GTPase-activating-like protein IQGAP1 is associated to the slit diaphragm proteins and the actin cytoskeleton in podocyte. Here, we studied IQGAP1 expression alterations in human DN biopsies and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent pathways of IQGAP1 expression in podocyte under high glucose (HG) media. In vivo, analysis of renal biopsies from patients with DN revealed a significant reduction in IQGAP1 expression compared to controls. In vitro, IQGAP1 mRNA and protein expression were observed to decline under HG media at 48 h. But phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was activated under HG media at 24 h and 48 h. However, HG-induced downregulation of IQGAP1 protein was attenuated by specific ERK1/2 activation inhibitor PD98059. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of IQGAP1 in DN, and suggest that IQGAP1 expression in podocyte under HG media is modulated by the ERK1/2 pathway, which may lead to the future development of therapies targeting IQGAP1 dysfunction in podocytes in DN.     

Screening and characterization of astaxanthin-hyperproducing mutants of Haematococcus pluvialis

Haematococcus pluvialis was mutated by UV or ethyl methanesulphonate. Mutants resistant to nicotine, diphenylamine, fluridone or norflurazon were then selected. Several nicotine-resistant mutants showed increased (1.9% to 2.5% vs. 1.2% w/w) astaxanthin production. Mutants maintained high astaxanthin production over 4 months of repeated culture.     

人14p＋标记染色体的分子细胞遗传学研究

一例23岁女性患者因近五、六年来出现胡须、四肢多毛及偶有月经不规则而就诊。细胞遗传学检查发现一个短臂明显增大的亚中着丝粒的14号标记染色体14p ·p 区域GTG显带呈浅染,C-带暗染,都呈均匀的染色区。硝酸银染色在p 远侧端显现一个Ag-NOR,其大小与正常近端着丝粒染色体的无明显差异。应用~3H标记的7.3 kb长的rRNA基因探针进行染色体原位杂交,自显影银颗粒沿整个p 区域分布,p 上的银颗粒数是正常近端着丝粒染色体短臂上银颗粒平均数的5倍。这些结果排除了Y或其他染色体参加的重排形成p 的可能性,并表明Ag-NOR的大小或NOR的数目并不一定与rRNA基因的数量成正比。研究Dp 或Gp 类型的染色体变异,对了解人二倍体细胞内rRNA基因表达的调控有重要意义。     

C.elegans野生型和par突变体早期胚胎卵裂的观察

不对称分裂在动植物的发育中起到了非常重要的作用。Caenorhabditis elegans（C．elegans）胚胎最早的两次卵裂为研究控制不对称分裂的机制提供了很好的机会。用普通光学显微镜观察了野生型胚胎早期卵裂和par-1、par-2、par-3、par-4突变体胚胎的早期卵裂。野生型胚胎最早的分裂是不等的,产生了两个不同大小的子细胞。两个子细胞又以不同的方向进行第二次分裂。在C．elegans中任意一个par基因的缺失会使胚胎的第一次卵裂丧失不对称性。这会导致一些发育调控因子不能在特定的胚胎细胞中准确地定位,造成细胞分裂纺锤体方向的异常。par类基因参与不对称性的建立,这种不对称性决定了C．elegans身体的前后轴。     

广东及香港、澳门鹅绒藤属药用植物资源

根据野外实地调查和文献查阅,对广东及香港、澳门鹅绒藤属药用植物资源的种类、分布、药用部位、化学成分与药理研究等方面进行了概述,并就该属植物在上述三地的资源保护与开发利用提出了建议。     

NaCl、Na_2SO_4和Na_2CO_3胁迫对小麦叶片自由基含量及质膜透性的比较研究

分别用浓度为２５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ、５０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ、１００ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ和２００ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＮａＣｌ、Ｎａ２ＳＯ４和Ｎａ２ＣＯ３的营养液培养小麦４ｄ,较之不含盐的营养液,其自由基含量上升,产生速率增加,叶片质膜透性增加。不同盐的影响也不同,在低浓度时,ＮａＣｌ的影响大于Ｎａ２ＳＯ４,高浓度时,ＮａＣｌ影响小于Ｎａ２ＳＯ４,Ｎａ２ＣＯ３的影响最为显著。实验结果也表现出小麦叶片自由基含量和质膜透性呈现较好的相关性。因此可认为,盐胁迫促使自由基含量增加,自由基通过过氧化作用影响质膜透性,从而影响植物的生长。     

糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛对大肠杆菌产丁二酸的影响

利用可再生生物质特别是木质纤维素水解液来生产平台化合物丁二酸,是目前研究的热点。虽然许多研究者相继报道了木质纤维素水解液对菌株生长和丁二酸生产存在一定抑制作用,但并没有水解液中各种抑制物对菌株影响的相关动力学研究及机理研究。我们选择了两种代表性木质纤维素水解液抑制物,即糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛,系统研究了它们对大肠杆菌的生长和丁二酸生产的影响。结果表明：糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛的初始抑制浓度均为0.8 g/L。当糠醛浓度大于6.4 g/L,5-羟甲基糠醛浓度大于12.8 g/L时,菌株生长完全受到抑制。在最高耐受浓度下,糠醛的存在使菌株生物量比对照菌株下降77.8%,丁二酸产量下降36.1%。5-羟甲基糠醛的存在使菌株生物量比对照菌株降低13.6%,丁二酸产量降低18.3%。糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛具有明显的协同作用。体外酶活测定表明丁二酸生产途径中关键酶磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶、苹果酸脱氢酶、富马酸还原酶均受糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛抑制。研究结果对丁二酸生产用纤维素水解液的预处理和脱毒工艺开发具有指导作用,有利于实现丁二酸发酵生产的工业化。     

Regional and Ontogenic Expression of the NMDA Receptor Subunit NR2D Protein in Rat Brain Using a Subunit-Specific Antibody

Abstract: A polyclonal antibody for the NMDA receptor subunit NR2D has been developed that identifies an ∼160-kDa band on immunoblots from NR2D transfected cells and CNS tissues. No cross-reactivity is seen with other NMDA receptor subunits. The NR2D receptor subunit is N -glycosylated in both brain and transfected cells. Transfected cells expressing NR2D are immunofluorescently labeled, whereas untransfected cells or cells transfected with other NMDA receptor subunit cDNAs are not. Similarly, the NR2D subunit is selectively and quantitatively immunoprecipitated, whereas the NR1, NR2A, or NR2B subunit is not. The relative densities of the NR2D subunit in nine areas of postnatal day 7 and adult rat brains have been determined by quantitative immunoblotting. NR2D was expressed at highest levels in the thalamus, midbrain, medulla, and spinal cord, whereas intermediate levels of this subunit were found in the cortex and hippocampus. Low or undetectable levels were seen in the olfactory bulb, striatum, and cerebellum. Following a peak after the first week of birth, NR2D protein levels decreased by about twofold in adulthood in all rat brain regions examined. More complete ontogenic profiles were determined for the diencephalon, telencephalon, and spinal cord where similar ontogenic patterns were seen. NR2D protein is present at high levels at embryonic stages of development, rises to a peak at postnatal day 7, and decreases but remains measurable during late postnatal life. This study demonstrates the generation and characterization of an antibody selective for the NR2D NMDA receptor subunit as well as a determination of the distribution and ontogenic profile of this subunit in rat brain. The results suggest that native NMDA receptors containing the NR2D subunit may have functional roles not only in the young brain but also in adult brain.