Control of type II transforming growth factor-beta receptor expression by integrin ligation

Ectopic expression of the alpha5 integrin subunit in cancer cells with little or no endogenous expression of this integrin often results in reduced proliferation as well as reduced malignancy. We now show that inhibition resulting from ectopic expression of alpha5 integrin is due to induction of autocrine negative transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) activity. MCF-7 breast cancer cells do not express either alpha5 integrin or type II TGF-beta receptor and hence are unable to generate TGF-beta signal transduction. Ectopic expression of alpha5integrin expression enhanced cell adhesion to fibronectin, reduced proliferation, and increased the expression of type II TGF-beta receptor mRNA and cell surface protein. Receptor expression was increased to a higher level in alpha5 transfectants by growth on fibronectin-coated plates. Induction of type II TGF-beta receptor expression also resulted in the generation of autocrine negative TGF-beta activity because colony formation was increased after TGF-beta neutralizing antibody treatment. Transient transfection with a TGF-beta promoter response element in tandem with a luciferase cDNA into cells stably transfected with alpha5 integrin resulted in basal promoter activities 5-10-fold higher than those of control cells. Moreover, when alpha5 transfectants were treated with a neutralizing antibody to either TGF-beta or integrin alpha5, this increased basal promoter activity was blocked. Autocrine TGF-beta activity also induced 3-fold higher endogenous fibronectin expression in alpha5 transfectants relative to that of control cells. Re-expression of type II receptor by alpha5 transfection also restored the ability of the cells to respond to exogenous TGF-beta and led to reduced tumor growth in athymic nude mice. Taken together, these results show for the first time that TGF-beta type II receptor expression can be controlled by alpha5beta1 ligation and integrin signal transduction. Moreover, TGF-beta and integrin signal transduction appear to cooperate in their tumor-suppressive functions.     

决策失利后情绪的接近性效应与ERP证据

接近性效应是一种决策失利后的情绪体验受实际结果与意愿结果的接近程度影响的现象. 本研究采用事件相关电位(ERP)研究技术, 运用抽奖赌博任务实验范式考察了这一效应. 行为评定结果表明, 被试在实际结果与意愿结果很接近时更可能体验到后悔情绪, 且体验强度较高, 在实际结果与意愿结果相差较远时更可能体验到失望情绪, 且体验强度较低. 脑电结果显示, 接近性主效应在P300上表现显著, 同时, 与接近性的中、远水平条件相比, 近水平条件诱发一个新异晚正成分(LPC). 决策失利后实际结果与意愿结果接近程度不仅影响决策后情绪的性质, 而且调节情绪的强度.     

Response of osteoblasts to low fluid shear stress is time dependent

The process of mechanotransduction of bone, the conversion of a mechanical stimulus into a biochemical response, is known to occur in osteoblasts in response to fluid shear stress. In order to understand the reaction of osteoblasts to various times of flow perfusion, osteoblasts were seeded on three-dimensional scaffolds, and cultured in the following conditions: continuous flow perfusion, intermittent flow perfusion, and static condition. We collected samples on day 4, 8 and 12 for analysis. Osteoblast proliferation was demonstrated by cell proliferation and scanning electron microscopy assay. Additionally, the expression of known markers of differentiation, including alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, were tested by qRT-PCR and alkaline phosphatase activity assay, and the deposition of calcium was used as an indicator of mineralization demonstrated by calcium content assay. The results supported that low fluid shear stress plays an important role in the activation of osteoblasts: enhance cell proliferation, increase calcium deposition, and promote the expression of osteoblastic markers. Furthermore, the continuous flow perfusion is a more favorable environment for the initiation of osteoblast activity compared with intermittent flow perfusion. Therefore, the force and time of fluid shear stress are important parameters for osteoblast activation.     

ETA基因作为荧光定量PCR靶基因设计TaqMan探针快速检测铜绿假单胞菌的研究

铜绿假单胞菌是临床上常见致病菌, 传统的检测方法有各种弊端。本研究对该细菌的ETA基因用生物信息学方法加以分析, 选取相对保守且高度特异的DNA序列, 设计一对特异性引物和一个TaqMan探针, 建立FQ-PCR (fluorescence quantitative PCR)检测PA的方法。通过对梯度浓度的铜绿假单胞菌基因组DNA样品进行FQ-PCR检测和对多种细菌的DNA进行扩增, 来检测其灵敏度和验证引物和探针的特异性。试验结果表明, 对比现有的检测方法, 以ETA基因为靶基因, 基于TaqMan探针的快速FQ-PCR检测技术有更高的灵敏度和更好的特异性等优点, 具有很好的研究价值和应用前景。     

Soil Diversity and Land Use in the United States

Soils are dynamic components of terrestrial ecosystems that historically have been viewed as economic resources by government and private interests. The large-scale conversion of many sections of the United States to agriculture and urban land uses, combined with the growing awareness of the role of soils in global biogeochemistry and ecology, ultimately requires an assessment of the remaining distribution of undisturbed soils in the country. Here we conduct the first quantitative analysis of disturbed and undisturbed soil distribution in the USA using a GIS-based approach. We find that a sizable fraction (4.5%) of the nation's soils are in danger of substantial loss, or complete extinction, due to agriculture and urbanization. In the agricultural belt of the country, up to 80% of the soils that were naturally of low abundance are now severely impacted (greater than 50% conversion to agricultural/urban uses). Undisturbed soils provide ecosystem services that warrant their preservation, including a somewhat complex relationship with rare or endangered plants. The known and unknown attributes of undisturbed soils suggests the need for an integrated biogeodiversity perspective in landscape preservation efforts.     

Application of impedance spectroscopy for monitoring colloid Au-enhanced antibody immobilization and antibody-antigen reactions

We used colloidal Au to enhance the amount of antibody immobilized on a gold electrode and ultimately monitored the interaction of antigen-antibody by impedance measurement. Self-assembly of 6 nm (diameter) colloidal Au onto the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4-aminothiophenol modified gold electrode resulted in an easier attachment of antibody. The redox reactions of [Fe(CN)6](4-)/[Fe(CN)6](3-) on the gold surface were blocked due to the procedures of self-assembly of 4-aminothiophenol and antibody immobilization, which were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. The interaction of antigen with grafted antibody recognition layers was carried out by soaking the modified electrode into a phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 with various concentrations of antigen at 37 degrees C for 30 min. The antibody recognition layers and their interactions with various concentrations of antigen could be detected by measurements of the impedance change. The results show that this method has good correlation for detection of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen in the range of 0.5-200 microg/l and a detection limit of about 50 ng/l.     

A Novel Integrated Method Tor Large-scale Detection,Identification, and Quantification of Widely Targeted Metabolites： Application in the Study of Rice Metabolomics

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry （LC-MS）-based metabolomics has been facilitated by the con- struction of MSz spectral tag （MS2T） library from the total scan ESI MS/MS data, and the development of widely targeted metabolomics method using MS/MS data gathered from authentic standards. In this report, a novel strategy called step- wise multiple ion monitoring-enhanced product ions （stepwise MIM-EPI） was developed to construct the MS2T library, in which stepwise MIM was used as survey scans to trigger the acquisition of EPI. A total number of 698 （almost） non- redundant metabolites with MS2 spectra were obtained, of which 135 metabolites were identified/annotated. Integrating the data gathered from our MS2T library and other available multiple reaction monitoring （MRM） information, a widely targeted metabolomics method was developed to quantify 277 metabolites, including some phytohormones. Evaluation of the dehydration responses and natural variations of these metabolites in rice leaf not only suggested the coordinated regulation of abscisic acid （ABA） with metabolites such as serotonin derivative（s）, polyamine conjugates under drought stress, but also revealed some C-glycosylated flavones as the potential markers for the discrimination of indica and japonica rice subspecies. The new MS2T library construction and widely targeted metabolomics strategy could be used as a tool for rice functional genomics.     

水稻转导外源总DNA变异后代盐胁迫下株高及生理指标分析

通过田间筛选的G系列水稻耐盐新品系生理生化指标和形态学指标的测定,进一步鉴定筛选的耐盐水稻的耐盐性.采用沙培法培养水稻幼苗,在水稻幼芽期和两叶一心期进行盐处理,设清水、0.3％ NaCl、0.6％ NaCl、0.9％ NaCl 4个浓度盐溶液浇灌植株.前者,待两叶一心期,测定丙二醛(MDA)含量、脯氨酸(Pro)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和株高;后者,从浇盐水当天开始算起,分别测定第3天和第6天水稻的上述4个指标.结果显示,G16、G20这两个新品系在两个处理下都是随着盐浓度的增加,MDA含量逐渐降低,但在同一浇灌条件下均低于对照G6;Pro含量逐渐升高,但在同一浇灌条件下均高于对照G6;SOD活性先增强后减弱,但在同一浇灌条件下均高于对照G6;随着盐浓度的增加株高逐渐减小,但在同一浇灌条件下均高于对照G6.通过MDA含量、PRO含量、SOD活性和株高的显著变化,由此得出田间筛选出的水稻G16、G20的耐盐性都强于对照G6,从生理角度和形态学角度证实了田间筛选耐盐水稻结果的正确性,也证实了丙二醛含量、脯氨酸含量、SOD活性和株高可以做为水稻耐盐性鉴定的生理生化指标和形态学指标.     

高三尖杉酯碱对兔红细胞膜钙调蛋白的抑制作用

本实验显示高三尖杉酯碱能在>5μg/ml浓度以上抑制兔红细胞膜上钙调蛋白活性(P<0.05).推测高三尖杉酯碱能通过影响癌细胞钙调蛋白活性干扰细胞钙代谢和减少阿霉素和长春新碱的抗药性.