MicroRNA-21 Is a Downstream Effector of AKT That Mediates Its Antiapoptotic Effects via Suppression of Fas Ligand

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is highly up-regulated during hypertrophic and cancerous cell growth. In contrast, we found that it declines in cardiac myocytes upon exposure to hypoxia. Thus, the objective was to explore its role during hypoxia. We show that miR-21 not only regulates phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), but also targets Fas ligand (FasL). During prolonged hypoxia, down-regulation of miR-21 proved necessary and sufficient for enhancing expression of both proteins. We demonstrate here for the first time that miR-21 is positively regulated via an AKT-dependent pathway, which is depressed during prolonged hypoxia. Accordingly, hypoxia-induced down-regulation of miR-21 and up-regulation of FasL and PTEN were reversed by activated AKT and reproduced by a dominant negative mutant, wortmannin, or PTEN. Moreover, the antiapoptotic function of AKT partly required miR-21, which was sufficient for inhibition of caspase-8 activity and mitochondrial damage. In consensus, overexpression of miR-21 in a transgenic mouse heart resulted in suppression of ischemia-induced up-regulation of PTEN and FasL expression, an increase in phospho-AKT, a smaller infarct size, and ameliorated heart failure. Thus, we have identified a unique aspect of the function of AKT by which it inhibits apoptosis through miR-21-dependent suppression of FasL.     

CK2 phosphorylates TNFAIP1 to affect its subcellular localization and interaction with PCNA

TNFAIP1 is a protein which can be induced by tumor necrosis factorα (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), it may play roles in DNA synthesis, DNA repair, cell apoptosis and human diseases. However, very little has been known about how TNFAIP1 acts in these physiological processes. In this paper, CK2β was identified as a partner of TNFAIP1 by screening the HeLa cDNA library in yeast two-hybrid system with TNFAIP1 as a bait. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that CK2 could phosphorylate TNFAIP1 in vitro and in vivo, which facilitated the distribution of TNFAIP1 in nucleus and enhanced its interaction with PCNA. It is suggested that the phosphorylation of TNFAIP1 may be required for its functions.     

酸性区3融合重链促进基于蛋白质内含子的双载体B域缺失型凝血因子Ⅷ转基因表达

最近的研究表明,蛋白质内含子(intein)介导的B区缺失型凝血因子Ⅷ (BDD-FⅧ)的轻链和重链剪接可顺式促进后者的分泌,而且剪接反应在细胞内、外均可发生．为进一步提高基于蛋白质内含子的双载体转BDD-FⅧ基因的功效,将具有促进重链分泌作用的位于Pro¹⁶⁴⁰～Ser¹⁶⁹⁰的酸性区3(acidic region-3,AR-3)引入重链,检验对蛋白质内含子剪接的BDD-FⅧ蛋白分泌和活性的影响．用融合蛋白内含子的附加ar-3重链(HCAR3IntN)基因和轻链(IntCLC)基因共转染培养的HEK293细胞,分别用ELISA和Coatest法定量分析分泌至培养上清中剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白量和生物活性,并用免疫印迹观察了细胞内的BDD-FⅧ剪接．结果显示,共转HCAR3IntN和IntCLC基因细胞,分泌至上清的剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白量和活性分别为(173±26) μg/L和(1.31±0.15) U/ml,明显高于未添加ar-3的蛋白质内含子融合重链(HCIntN)与轻链(IntCLC)基因共转染细胞[(102±12) μg/L和(0.79±0.09) U/ml],提示AR-3对蛋白质内含子剪接的BDD-FⅧ蛋白分泌和活性有明显改善作用．而且,分别转HCAR3IntN和IntCLC基因细胞混合培养后的上清中,亦检测到剪接的BDD-FⅧ蛋白和活性[(35±7) μg/L和(0.28±0.08) U/ml],表明蛋白质内含子可进行不依赖细胞机制的蛋白质剪接．另外,转基因细胞总蛋白呈现明显的可与FⅧ多克隆抗体进行反应的剪接BDD-FⅧ蛋白条带,直观地反映细胞内BDD-FⅧ的剪接．为动物模体内运用蛋白质反式剪接技术的双腺相关病毒载体(AAV)转BDD-FⅧ基因实验提供了依据．     

Anti-inflammatory effect of chitosan oligosaccharides in RAW 264.7 cells

We examined the effects of chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs) with different molecular weights (COS-A, 10 kDa < MW < 20 kDa; COS-C, 1 kDa < MW < 3 kDa) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of prostaglandin E₂ and nitric oxide and on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in RAW264.7 macrophages. COS-A (0.4%) and COS-C (0.2%) significantly inhibited PGE2 production in LPS-stimulated macrophages without cytotoxicity. The effect of COS-A and COS-C on COX-2 expression in activated macrophages was also investigated by immunoblotting. The inhibition of PGE₂ by COS-A and COS-C can be attributed to the blocking of COX-2 protein expression. COS-A (0.4%) and COS-C (0.2%) also markedly inhibited the LPS-induced NO production of RAW 264.7 cells by 50.2% and 44.1%, respectively. The inhibition of NO by COSs was consistent with decreases in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression. To test the inhibitory effects of COS-A and COS-C on other cytokines, we also performed ELISA assays for IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, but only a dose-dependent decrease in the IL-1β production exerted by COS-A was observed. In order to test for irritation and the potential sensitization of COS-A and COS-C for use as cosmetic materials, human skin primary irritation tests were performed on 32 volunteers; no adverse reactions of COSs usage were observed. Based on these results, we suggest that COS-A and COS-C be considered possible anti-inflammatory candidates for topical application.     

Computational approaches for microRNA studies: a review

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are one class of tiny, endogenous RNAs that can regulate messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by targeting homologous sequences in mRNAs. Their aberrant expressions have been observed in many cancers and several miRNAs have been convincingly shown to play important roles in carcinogenesis. Since the discovery of this small regulator, computational methods have been indispensable tools in miRNA gene finding and functional studies. In this review we first briefly outline the biological findings of miRNA genes, such as genomic feature, biogenesis, gene structure, and functional mechanism. We then discuss in detail the three main aspects of miRNA computational studies: miRNA gene finding, miRNA target prediction, and regulation of miRNA genes. Finally, we provide perspectives on some emerging issues, including combinatorial regulation by miRNAs and functional binding sites beyond the 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) of target mRNAs. Available online resources for miRNA computational studies are also provided.     

Diversified chromosomal distribution of tandemly repeated sequences revealed evolutionary trends in Secale (Poaceae)

Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) with Secale cereale cv. ‘Jingzhou rye’ DNA as a probe to chromosomes of hexaploid triticale line Fenzhi-1 revealed that not only were all chromosomes of rye strongly hybridized along the entire chromosome length, but there were also stronger signals in terminal or subtelomeric regions. This pattern of hybridization signals is referred to as GISH banding. After GISH banding, sequential fluorescene in situ hybridizaion (FISH) with tandem repeated sequence pSc200 and pSc250 as probes showed that the chromosomal distribution of pSc200 is highly coincident with the GISH banding pattern, suggesting that GISH banding revealed chromosomal distribution of pSc200 in rye. In addition, FISH using pSc200 and pSc250 as probes to chromosomes of 11 species of the genus Secale and two artificial amphiploids (Triticum aestivum-S. strictum subsp. africanum amphiploid and Aegilops tauschii-S. silvestre amphiploid) showed that (1) the chromosomal distribution of pSc200 and pSc250 differed greatly in Secale species, and the trend towards an increase in pSc200 and pSc250 binding sites from wild species to cultivated rye suggested that pSc200 and pSc250 sequences gradually accumulated during Secale evolution; (2) the chromosomal distribution of pSc200 and pSc250 presented polymorphism on homologous chromosomes, suggesting that the same species has two heterogeneous homologous chromosomes; (3) the intensity and number of hybridization signals varied differently on chromosomes between pSc200 and pSc250, suggesting that each repetitive family evolved independently.     

Identifying functional residues in Arabidopsis thaliana zeta class glutathione S-transferase through screening inactive point mutants

The functional residues of z-class glutathione S-transferase were identified by screening inactive point mutants from a random mutagenesis library. First, a random mutant library was constructed using error-prone polymerase chain reaction, and then candidate inactive mutants were screened by a high-throughput colorimetric assay. Twenty-five mutants were obtained, and 12 that formed inclusion bodies were discarded. The remaining 13 mutants that expressed soluble protein were used for accurate quantification of enzymatic activity and sequencing. The mutants W15R, C19Y, R22H/K83E, P61S, S73P, S109P, and Q112R were found to have activity lower than 1% of the wild-type and were considered as “inactive mutants”, whereas the mutants K83E, Q102R, and L147F still have a large fraction of the activity and were thus considered as “partially inactivated mutants”. Molecular modeling experiments disclosed that mutations resulting in inactivation of the enzyme were found in or near the binding pocket, whereas mutations resulting in partial inactivation were distant from both substrates. The role of the residue Ser73 in the enzyme was verified by site-directed mutagenesis. The result suggested that screening inactive point mutants from a random mutagenesis library is an efficient way of identifying functional residues in enzymes.     

不同pH调节剂对产琥珀酸放线杆菌NJ113发酵产丁二酸的影响

在3L发酵罐中分别采用不同的碱性物质作为pH调节剂,考察其对产琥珀酸放线杆菌Actinobacillus succinogenes NJ113厌氧发酵制备丁二酸的影响。结果表明:Ca2+、NH4+调节剂对菌体生长代谢有较大阻碍作用,丁二酸产量较低;采用含Na+调节剂,在发酵中后期菌体出现絮凝现象严重,且产丁二酸能力骤降;采用含Mg2+调节剂,整个发酵过程菌体代谢旺盛,发酵效果较佳。根据各碱性物质的调节能力以及对菌体生长代谢的影响,选择NaOH、Mg(OH)2和Na2CO3、Mg(OH)2分别作为混合碱组分调节pH,并对两组混合碱中各物质的质量比例进行优化。结果表明,以NaOH、Mg(OH)2混合,两者质量比为1:1时,发酵效果最好,丁二酸质量浓度高达到69.8g/L,质量收率74.5%。该种混合碱配比可有效替代碱式MgCO3调节pH,既达到高产丁二酸的目的,又可降低生物制备丁二酸的成本。     

滤光膜对喜树幼苗叶片生长和喜树碱含量的影响

喜树 (Camptotheca acuminata)为中国特有树种 ,因其次生代谢产物喜树碱具有抗癌作用而闻名。通过用黄色、红色、蓝色 3种滤光膜对温室栽培的喜树幼苗进行遮光处理 ,研究了不同光照环境下喜树幼苗叶片生物量、叶绿素含量、光合作用和喜树碱含量的差异。结果表明在 30 d的遮光过程中 ,红膜和蓝膜遮光明显导致幼苗叶片生物量降低 ,黄膜遮光下幼苗叶片生物量在处理后 2 5 d才表现明显降低。不同滤光膜下幼苗叶片叶绿素含量先降低然后升高 ,遮光幼苗的叶绿素 a/ b明显低于日光幼苗。幼苗日最大净光合速率的顺序是 :日光 >黄膜 >红膜 >蓝膜。处理后第 2 0天 ,不同滤光膜下幼苗的光饱和光合速率 (Amax)、光饱和点 (Is)、光补偿点 (Ic)、最大表观量子效率 (AQYmax)都不同程度的低于日光幼苗。处理后第 10天至第 30天 ,遮光幼苗叶片喜树碱含量均显著高于日光下幼苗 ,以蓝膜下幼苗的喜树碱含量最高。蓝膜和黄膜下幼苗的喜树碱产量在后期处理中显著高于日光下幼苗 ,蓝膜下幼苗喜树碱产量在第 30天最高 ,是日光下幼苗的 2 .4 9倍。红膜下幼苗的喜树碱产量在第 10天后与日光下幼苗差异不显著。通过滤光膜遮光促进喜树碱在幼苗叶片中的积累 ,提高了叶片喜树碱产量 ,对喜树碱的生产实践有一定的意义